Big News about Big Love

I have Big News about "Big Love," the new HBO series coming March 12 - they're advertising on the "Art of Gracious Living" podcast. I'm very excited about this. It's a cool thing for me, especially since my podcast is so new. www.artofgraciousliving.com or http://www.podcasternews.com/details.php?N=792 to listen on your computer or portable device.

I haven't gotten to see the show yet, but have watched a trailer. You can see it by going to www.hbo.com/biglove. Time magazine says Big Love "may prove to be... the next cool thing on TV." It's certainly an interesting concept - a man with three wives who live in adjoining houses. It sounds like "Desperate Housewives," but with fewer husbands. Of course, HBO gave us "The Sopranos" so they obviously know a thing or two about interesting concepts.

I'm thrilled to have one of the podcasts they're advertising on. Podcasting is one of the parts in my plan to make a living being me, so I'm tickled to have an advertiser so early in the show's history, and really excited it's a well known company. Obviously, my show is far too new for this to generate tons of money for me, but it's a big step in the right direction.

It's also exciting that a company of HBO's stature understands the value of podcasting. Podtrac and PodcasterNews have been instrumental in making this deal happen. Podcasting is going to be a driving force in the advertising market, and it's gratifying to see that some companies are already grasping that.

That has been my big news for a few days but I couldn't announce it until this week. Needless to say, I'm tickled pink.

Ramblings

I have spent a large part my free time the last 24 hours at the computer. I've been working on websites I already have and also getting some new domains I'm interested in. I'm also trying to move one of my sites to a new server and that's not going as smoothly as I'd hoped.

I'm contemplating a couple of new podcasts and decided I should go ahead and see what domains were available before I picked a name. That's getting to be a necessity these days.

It was gorgeous here today. My neighbors were barbecueing when I got home from the office tonight. That may seem odd in February in Kansas but it was in the 70s today. It's supposed to be 80 tomorrow. I have more flowers blooming.

I took advantage of the weather to hang out clothes early this morning. It was a bit cloudy but already warm. I also got the numbers on the mailbox this afternoon. I don't suppose it's really necessary as I've never had them before, but I bought some small ones and put them on anyway.

I went up to see Terry's mom again tonight. She was sitting up and had been up for about an hour. They moved her out of intensive care today. I'm so tickled she's doing so well.

I'm thinking about scheduling another journalling class. The last one I taught went pretty well. I think there might be interest in another one - maybe with a different bent.

I'm trying to get motivated to work more on the house. But I just don't seem to have enough hours in the day to get everything done I need and want to get done.

I'm getting a lot of questions about podcasting these days. So, I'm going to attempt to answer the basics about doing a podcast.

One really important thing from a listening standpoint - anyone can listen to a podcast. You don't need an iPod. You can listen on your computer.

Podcasts are sort of like TIVO or VCRs for audio.

Please realize I'm a novice at this, so if you're really interested in getting into the podcasting business, it might be wise to invest in a book that gives you some details. Todd Cochrane is the head of the network I podcast with now and he wrote one of the first books about this format.

Here's what you need to do a podcast:
*computer that has a place to hook up a microphone - anything produced in the last few years will have that
*microphone
*software to record with - I use audacity - it's free - and it will convert to mp3 files, which you can use online
*somewhere to store your files - I used my own webspace until I started with the network, now they handle that - libsyn is a popular place for doing that - you upload your files just like you'd upload a photo or anything else
*if you want to take it a step further you'll need an rss feed - google for instructions on how to do that - I did it and I'm no technical whiz - but you don't have to have that

The other thing you need is a topic. There are lots of podcasts, and more every day, so spend some time listening to what's out there. Decide how much time you want to invest in this, and schedule yourself accordingly.

Art of Gracious Living is only five minutes long, but it certainly takes me more than five minutes to do it every week. I update every Friday but I think I'll move to Saturday because in my category on the network almost everyone updates on Friday and its too much content all at once in that category. So I'm going to move mine, I think.

There are lots of people who are doing this for "the fun." I am not. I'm doing this as part of my long term plan to make a living being me. The idea of doing it for fun is the same as people who get radio jobs because it's fun. It is fun, but I've never had any job that wasn't fun on some level. I've been paid for my voice work, producing and writing since I was in college - so more than half my life now - and I don't intend to start giving it away.

What many people who don't have a broadcasting background are going to find out a few weeks or months from now is that this is work. There are already podcasts that have mysteriously disappeared after a few episodes. So, be prepared that this is an extra job you're taking on. There's a reason people get paid to do radio - it's work - fun work, yes, but work.

I have a couple of other podcasts I'm considering, and bought the domains just today. But, at the moment, I have very exciting news about Art of Gracious Living. HBO has purchased some advertising on about 30 podcasts and Art of Gracious Living is one of them. I will be sharing more details in the near future, but it's for their new show, "Big Love." I could not publish this information until midnight EST on Feb. 27, but it's now officially public. Needless to say, I'm very excited about this development.

Ruth is Better

Ruth, Terry's mom, had surgery this morning. She is doing so much better it's amazing. She had a bowel obstruction in the small intestine, which I guess isn't uncommon - especially in older people.

She was awake only a couple of hours after surgery, lucid, talking and joking. I popped in to see her for a few minutes tonight and she looks so much better than she did yesterday.

I'm so relieved for everyone - especially for her. I hope she continues to feel better with each passing day and can come home soon.

It's amazing that an 87 year old woman kicked pnuemonia in about a week. Now she has been through surgery and seems to be doing quite well. It's good news all around.

Art of Gracious Living #11

Click here for the Art of Gracious Living PCN #11
When Diana, Jocelyn and I "played beads" this past week it made me think about resources.

I noticed each of us did the same thing - we got out the beads we had so we could examine everything at once. It was only when we had everything out that we could consider different combinations.

I was struck that this is something we must do in all areas of life - understand our resources, talents and energies - know what we have to work with.

Click here for the Art of Gracious Living PCN #11

Mailboxes and Beads

I went to the post office this morning for the MHA and also picked up my own mail. Now, you might be asking yourself, why would that be? Well, because since my mailbox disintegrated a few weeks ago, I have had my mail held and picked it up at the post office. You'd think this is a great solution. And it would be if the postal service cared about customer service at all.

They will hold your mail for only 30 days. After that, they will return it to the sender. If you're having your mail held, they will delight in pointing out the power that they have to return it after 30 days each time you pick up your mail.

I love the postal employees here who work at the counter - well, with one exception - but overall they're great. Friendly, charming, pleasant - I love to visit with them when I pop in. They're really nice. The carriers have become another story. Their favorite pasttime seems to be putting slips in the mailbox saying to not park on front of the box. Do I look like a person who controls public parking? What leads you to believe that I possess this power? Do I have rights of which I'm unaware? It's an old neighborhood. Lots of people don't have driveways. Of course they're going to park on the street. Where else would they park? I have graciously offered to put my mailbox back on the porch, where no one is EVER parked. But, they're already so lazy they don't want to walk up to the porch, which is why they want to be able to ride along and stick the mail in the boxes. My neighbors have never put theirs out at the street and I remind them to not do it. Once you do, you're screwed.

I purchased a new mailbox just a day or two after mine fell apart under suspicious circumstances related to the people working at my house. I wasn't there when whatever it was happened, but came home to the handyman announcing that it had "fallen over." That may be true, but it seems odd that gravity suddenly overtook it with no provocation. The fact that people were parked near it was probably more related to its demise.

I wasn't too upset because it needed to be replaced anyway. The wooden post had split and been repaired, the box had been banged, etc. etc. etc. If I'd had ANY idea what an ordeal this would turn into, I would have raised hell when I found it on the ground when I got home.

This is the fourth time I've had to do something to the mailbox since I've moved in. Ask me if I enjoy it? OK, don't. It will just remind me of how pissed off I am at the whole process.

The new post I purchased - plastic, which supposedly lasts longer than anything else - was impossible to assemble. Three of us tried at various times. Yesterday I took it back to Lowes and told them it was not possible to assemble this. To top it off, its design flaws were so numerous I don't have the fingertip power to type them all. Lets just say it must have been designed by people at Rubbermaid who have never been in the wind - much less Kansas wind.

Lowes took it back without blinking an eye, as if they'd done this very thing a few times. I went back to purchase something else that was more durable. I didn't want another wood one - they rot - in a pretty short amount of time. This left me with one option - a metal post. So, that's what I got. At least it has some materials in it that seem a bit sturdier. Greg helped assemble it and pound it into the ground. Yes, pounding. Lots of pounding was involved.


What I've learned is that all mailbox posts readily available on the market in Hutchinson, Kansas are crap. They're poorly designed and complete crap. Crap. I have NO experience designing such things and I'm certain I could do better. Parts that fit and are made of sturdy materials would be a good start - not to be too obvious.

Finally, before 6 p.m., the new mailbox was in place. I was so relieved. I had told them today when I picked up the mail to resume delivery, so I had to have a box to put the mail in tomorrow. I'm sure my carrier has been counting the days until she could send my mail back.

When I picked up my mail today, I had two wonderful surprises in it. It was just as well I got it at the postoffice because one of them was something that couldn't be bent. Well, shouldn't have been bent. Although, for all my complaining about my carrier, she is good about that sort of thing. She has never bent anything that shouldn't be.

Anyway, it was this big envelope - more than a foot square. I had no idea what was inside.

When I opened it up, it was a beautiful Scotland calendar from my friend, Trevis. It's gorgeous and I now want to visit Scotland - if only the exchange rate weren't so awful between the dollar and the pound.

Trevis and I met through GAMIAN conferences and we just bonded immediately. I really adore her. We didn't get to see each other this past year and I really missed her.

This was completely unexpected and just made me smile.

Looking at the photos of Scotland make me really want to visit there. I'm sure the photos are "the best" of course, but there are 12 gorgeous views. Plus, if I were in Scotland I'd get to see Trevis, which would be a huge bonus.

I had another surprise in the mail, too. It was a package from Chacra Music. I wrote on here a few days ago that Chacra music had given me permission to use Tino Izzo's music in my podcasts. Today was the first one I did with music at the end of the show and it really adds to it.

Many podcasters just use music without permission, but I wanted to make sure I had permission so there was never a problem. They were very generous in letting me use the music. I'm using "Elusive Memories" from the Foreign Skies CD. I have had that CD for many years and loved it from the first time I heard it. When I was looking for music for The Art of Gracious Living, I knew it would be on that CD. I'm so tickled they gave me permission to use it.

The owner told me he wanted to send me Tino Izzo's other CDs in case there was something on them I wanted to use in the future. That's what arrived today. It was so very kind of him to do that. I haven't had a chance to listen to all of them yet, but "Four September Suns" is in my laptop right now.
I always enjoy seeing French, and being able to read a bit here and there so the packaging was an additional treat for me.


After getting the mailbox up this afternoon, Greg and I went out to get something to eat and then went to the hospital to see Terry's mom. They had just given her some pain medication so we didn't see her but did visit with Terry and his sister and brother in law.

Diana and Jocelyn were coming over tonight to play beads again. We had a nice evening and actually accomplished something tonight. I made three pair of earrings. Jocelyn did about seven pair, although she still has to put the wires on them. Diana made a couple of necklaces, including the one she's wearing in this photo.

Mia, Greg's girlfriend, who is a beader extraordinaire, emailed tonight that she thinks the rocks I showed the other day that Diana has are turquoise. I told her they're not heavy, but apparently the density of turquoise can vary depending on where it's from.


Jocelyn is making things for an upcoming show in mid March. She's taking stock of what she has as far as paintings, jewelry, etc.

I made brownies tonight and we had some tea. We have gotten out of the habit of gathering for creative nights and we need to get back into it. We learn from each other and it also helps all of us to get started on new things.

I was thinking tonight that I didn't even know how to make jewelry until Jocelyn taught me a year or two ago. I bought some lapis a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure what to do with it but I've always loved it - it's very Egyptian - so I need to think about that.

Leah Organizes Me

I've had a really long day today. It was a rewarding day and a trying day. I'm exhausted and after I finish this and get my next podcast done I'm going to bed.

Leah came up to my office tonight and helped me organize some MHA things. She's a GREAT paper organizer and she generously gave me some of her time to work on things.

I'm great with the computer, but not so good with hard copy. She worked on things for a few hours and it was also just nice because we could chat while we worked. She made some great progress.

I had a speech earlier today and then after lunch with Teresa and Jocelyn, went to the hospital to see Terry's mom. Jocelyn went with me and did some Reiki on her. She's doing better tonight.

On the way back to the office, I noticed a buggy going down 17th street. Although the Amish do not like to have their photos taken, there are no issues with taking photos of the buggies as far as I know. I thought you might enjoy seeing the scene.


It's one of the things I love about living here. It's not uncommon to see a horse and buggy tied up at Walmart. Today was Aldi's but the same principle is at work. I'm not sure why I enjoy it so much, but I do.

I guess we're drawn to anything that's out of our normal every day activities.

Yesterday I noticed I have another flower blooming. At the same time, the daffodils that were a few inches tall and now bent over, having frozen in the single digit temperatures we had last week. The weather is very odd. It was in the 60s today - very nice.

Playing Beads

Last night Jocelyn, Diana and I got together to "play beads." It had been a long time since we had gathered to make jewelry - so long that in fact all we really did was look at our things.

Jocelyn had these really cool beads that were Hawaiian Pussywillow beads. Diana and I couldn't stop feeling them - there were fuzzy and very soft.

Jocelyn had thought we were going to meet at the store and had made arrangements to give Andrea a Reiki treatment there. But, eventually we all made it to my house and Andrea had her Reiki treatment on my couch instead of the massage table at the store. Diana and I played beads while they were doing that. We tried to get Andrea to stay, but she had some work to do.

Jocelyn also had some very cool African beads. I love the bright, clear colors of African beads. I bought some when I was in Egypt that had been brought up to Cairo from the Sudan. Very interesting.




Someone had come into Diana's store with lots of interesting beads, including these blue ones that have that Betty Rubble look to them. Such interesting shapes and color combinations. I'm eager to see what she comes up with.

It had been so long since we'd gotten together that we had to reacquaint ourselves with all the things we had.

I couldn't even find all of my things. My studio is still not back to normal and they're in there somewhere.

Busy, Busy Day

I got up about 6 this morning and at midnight I'm still not done.

Tonight was my first board meeting of the new year. It's always an important one to get ready for. I was running around all day gathering things - no matter how organized I think I am, I can always find more to do.

I got to have lunch with Julie on the spur of the moment. After lunch it was so beautiful and sunny that I took a little drive outside of town. I only drove about 10 minutes out of town, but it was nice to see the bright sunshine.




I also ran across this very cool structure. At the top it says Thos Rayl 1919. I'm not sure if it was built originally as a grain bin or a barn but it's very cool. I've driven by it dozens of times, but for some reason today it struck me that it would be cool to share it here so I snapped a photo.




After the board meeting tonight, Jane Holzrichter of Horizons did a presentation for us on Bullying Prevention. It was really good. Jane is the local expert and had some suggestions to share with us.

It was about 8:30 when we left and I still hadn't had dinner so met Greg out and we had a quick bite.

Afterwards, we went over to visit Terry and his sister. Their mom is still in the hospital and we wanted to check on things at the hospital. I've been trying to do a little online research since I got home but haven't been successful.

I'm just about worn out. I don't have anything time specific tomorrow until 2 and I'm going to sleep until I wake up in the morning. I've had a whole bunch of 12 and 16 hour days lately. I think a morning of comp time will do me some good. I also need to do a couple of things around the house that are becoming urgent - like get my mailbox replaced. It has been a long time now.

Beautiful Morning

The rising sun is bright this morning, although it's still chilly. But, it's early yet, maybe it will warm up as the day goes on. It looks like we'll have sunshine and plenty of it, which makes me feel good.

I'm up early to prepare for my board meeting tonight. Always seem to be more details to take care of than I can juggle in my brain. And, much paper to generate. It will be a busy tree-killing day.

Relaxed Weekend, Frantic Monday

I had a very relaxed weekend. Last night Greg and I had a three hour plus dinner and it was nice to visit with him. That was after a very laid back day.

However, today that had to come to a crashing halt with a Monday looming. I did have lunch with Andrea and that was good. We don't do that often enough.

Tonight was Red Hat, although we've pretty much given up on the hats - none of us were wearing the "appropriate" clothing or hats. We just have dinner. It was good.

Since dinner I've been working on things for tomorrow's board meeting. This meeting will be the first one for new board members and this time of year there's a lot to deal with. So, it takes a lot of time and effort to prepare for it.

I'm exhausted and headed up to bed. I just can't seem to get enough rest these days, which is very unlike me.

Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo on Route 66 Trip

Here are some more photos from my Route 66 Trip last summer.

The Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo is a beacon to art and kitsch lovers everywhere. You can easily pass by it on I-40 if you're not paying attention, but if you're on the lookout, you can't miss it.

I've made a trip - or shall we say pilgrimmage - to the Cadillac Ranch before. When Greg and Mark and I went this summer it was HOT. Who would have guessed? Late July in Texas... hot... what a shock.

I must admit I do like Amarillo. It's a cool town.

When we went through, on the way to California, we added our own bits and piece to America's great collaborative art project.








When I came back through alone a couple of weeks later I had not planned to stop but the ladies at the MidPoint Cafe in Adrian (a must stop with cobbler made with fresh peaches) told me the Cadillac Ranch had been painted Pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness so I had to make another stop.









This young man was part of a family of dad, an older brother, and grandma and grandpa. Mother was ominously missing.



I left a message honoring another mother, who would have been about my age, who lost her fight with breast cancer more than a decade ago.

Saturday

I had planned to take down my Christmas tree today but that didn't happen. I didn't even leave my bedroom until 1:30. Yes, in the afternoon. I lounged and slept and lounged some more. It's really unlike me but it was so very cozy under the electric blanket. The last time I looked at the temperature last night it was 3.8 degrees.


Jocelyn was doing massages today. She wanted to practice for the class she's taking. So, I went down to Diana's to be a willing participant. Her granddaughter, Lauren, was there. I also got to see Lily for a little bit. She was there with Taylor and Tom. Austin and Amy came in after a bit and so I got to see them too.

Lily had wallowed her ponytail out and was having a bad hair day.



Taylor managed to tame it, but had to do it on the run.



Of course, then she was looking just as adorable as could be.

I don't think Lauren stopped for a second. She played with Tom until they left, then Amy and then Austin.







I call this "gymnast Austin." Lauren just looked puzzled. He couldn't get her to try it.

I'm watching yet another story about how insurance companies are refusing to pay for losses as a result of Katrina and Rita. What in the hell? Storm surge my ass.

Yeah, there was a storm surge. Yeah, it did a lot of damage. It also washed away some of the evidence of what the 120 plus MPH winds did before then. Do they really think we're all stupid enough to believe that 100 MPH winds did NO damage and all of that is from the flooding?

We all pay our insurance premiums, assuming we're "covered." I have State Farm and I have always been very pleased with them personally. But, the horror stories I'm hearing out of the Gulf Coast with a variety of companies are terrible. As if people have not suffered enough, there is this indignity to add to it. Pay the damned claims. Charge each of us an extra few dollars next year to make up for it if you have to, but pay the damned claims. Because it's what we're all banking on when we pay our premiums - that you'll pay the claims. And next time it could be me or my neighbor, or my brother or his neighbor, and the people who've rebuilt on the gulf coast by then will pay an extra couple of dollars so our claims can be paid.

Don't be assholes about it. You're spending enough time and energy to get out of paying it, it would just be cheaper to pay the claims.

And don't think we're too stupid to figure out that it's been a very long time since we've heard of an insurance company going out of business. We know you're being tight asses to line your pockets, not to protect your other customers. And, hey, just like you always tell us to buy more "just in case," this time you got caught holding the bag - you were betting on not having a disaster this big - you lost this time. Pay the damned claims.

Winter Has Arrived

Well, winter has arrived in central Kansas. It's currently a balmy 5 degrees. The air literally feels like it's freezing your skin the second you step outside.

It seems so much colder because just last week it was nearly 70. I'm always saying I like the changing of the seasons, and I do, I just don't expect them all in the span of a week.

I had a speech tonight at Head Start. I have a soft place in my heart for that program. I attended the first year it was offered. It's one of those programs that has a tremendous success rate. If you want to change a society, start with kids 0-6. It's when so much is set into motion.

Afterwards, Greg and I went to the hospital to see Terry's mom. We just found out yesterday that she has been in since Monday with pneumonia. She's 87, so this isn't ever good news. But, she is doing better today. She has turned the corner and is on the road to recovery. Greg and I both wore masks to go into her room. I also stopped in the ladies room on the way and washed my hands thoroughly since I'd just been with a bunch of kids, who are just little germ factories.

I'm glad it's Friday. It has been a long work week and I'm tired. I hope to tackle the Christmas tree this weekend. I swore I was not going to touch it until I had a whole weekend to focus on it. This weekend is going to be the closest I have in awhile so I guess I'd better get to it if at all possible.

But, number one on my agenda tomorrow is sleep. I'm going to stay in bed until the urge strikes me to get up. I will be warm under the electric blanket and it will probably be the only time tomorrow I'm warm - when I first wake up - so I'm going to enjoy it.

The Honda Ad

Mia sent this... it's worth the two minutes you'll invest in it... See "Cog"...

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/flash/honda-ad.html

Defending Dick

Well, it doesn't seem like the end times, but here I go about to defend Dick Cheney, so the end must be near.

I can't stand the administration - Cheney included - but this was an accident. There was nothing extraordinary about it and if he were not the VP we would never even have heard about it. Give the man a break.

These sorts of minor injuries occur all the time and are not reported. All gun shots are reported to the police as a matter of course. Reporters look at the police blotter every day. When it's a major incident or the person is of note, it's reported, but most are ignored. Otherwise, the news would be filled with such incidents every night during hunting season.

While I realize the late night comedians are going to have a field day with this - lets leave it where it belongs, with the comedians, not the news people. There's no reason the American public needs to know this much about the incident.

If it weren't a slow news time, or if Americans could stomach looking at real news issues, this would have been gone in a day. But, people would rather think about this than about real issues - like the fact that China pretty much owns the US, and that we haven't gotten "Bin Laden's head on a platter" as was the stated goal of these wars that are going on and on and on. Not to mention, if you want to focus on Cheney, there's the whole Scooter Libby issue.

The man had an accident while hunting. Having been around lots of hunters, I can tell you that everyone becomes lax about safety rules. Just as we all become lax about safety in every aspect of our lives. Yeah, we shouldn't. We also shouldn't drive over the speed limit, but most people do at times. As far as accidents go, cars are far more dangerous than guns.

People have said in the last couple of days that they find hunting barbaric and would rather get their meat at the grocery store. Obviously, if you feel that way, you need to go hunting once and go to a packing plant once and you'll discover hunting is the far kinder of the two. I've seen both up close. Hunting is the gentler, kinder, more humane, fill in the adjective of your choice, by far.

Hunting is part of the natural order of nature. It's how birds eat snakes that eat mice that eat insects. All animals hunt - including man. The reason we control what/when man can hunt is that we have tools other animals don't have that give us a huge advantage. And because man has gotten so far removed from the natural order of things that we don't understand the basics of how things are supposed to work.

But, of course, it was not always that way. Man hunted for his food just like every other animal. Some animals are omnivores and some are herbavores. Man is an omnivore, as are many other animals. I don't eat a lot of meat myself, but for many meat is a big part of the diet.

Some people do eat their kill, but for some it's just sport. However, if people do not want to eat it, the kill is generally passed on to someone else who does. I do not care for any sort of game, nor does anyone in my family, but some of the people in my family still like to hunt. It's never hard to find someone who wants the deer, goose or whatever. I don't get the thrill of sitting in the wet, freezing cold at dark :30 in a blind, waiting for something to fly. But there are things I enjoy that others don't get the thrill of so it's not mine to judge.

People have strong views about things like hunting. While I'm not a hunter, and do not have any guns in my home, I'm very familiar with it and realize it's not about a "power" thing for people who hunt. It's the same rush I get in hunting out a bargain on a pair of shoes or something of that nature. The "hunting" aspect remains the same, regardless of the desired target.

Although I don't agree with the Vice President's politics, I feel for him as a human in this circumstance. I can only imagine how bad he feels. And I suppose in such circumstances there's always the idea in the back of my mind of "but for the grace of God, there go I..." I grew up with guns and hunting and only by the grace of God did we all get to adulthood without any major gun incidents.

We had plenty of other injuries, and they were the result of accidents. I grew up on a farm and it was a rough and tumble existence in many ways - not that I would trade it at all. But, for those of us with that sort of background, we have more of a sense of how an accident can happen at any time. Most of us have a very limited amount of "accident potential" in our daily work lives. When you're a farmer, that is tremendously increased.

I never thought I'd find myself speaking on behalf of Dick Cheney, but here goes. Back off and give the man a break. He was involved in a hunting accident. It was an accident. He didn't intentionally try to shoot and kill someone.

To people who don't have the background, hearing that someone has been SHOT seems major. To those of us who have that background, we realize there are "degrees" of being shot, and it's all too common. Many people who have no rural background would be shocked by that. It's just a difference in how people perceive the world and the history we bring with us to today.

It's always those sorts of things that are of greater interest to me in the long run. I think the fact that so few people have a rural upbringing anymore will have dramatic effects on our country and how we perceive the world and our place in it.

Although I do not care for Mr. Cheney's politics, I do not think he's an unfeeling man with regard to his friends. I'm sure he is feeling tremendous remorse for the incident as anyone would. Maybe, just this once, we should delay the blaming and let he and his friend get past this in their own way.

Lets all just hope that Mr. Whittington does well and recovers fully.

Creative Sisterhood

Tonight was Creative Sisterhood and it was a great evening. My topic for the night was about my session with the energy healer and how positive the experience was.

Martha was telling us that she recently had the opportunity to hear Newt Gingrich speak and was impressed with his theme regarding "Real change requires real change." It seems so straightforward and yet it does seem to be a concept that's difficult for people to grasp. That if we want to really change our society, we have to be willing to change what we're already doing.

She and Diana had both been to see the energy healer so we had some conversation about those things, too.

It was a really good night. They're always good, but some nights are just really exceptional and tonight was a really positive evening. It seems hard to imagine that my life did not include these monthly gatherings until a couple of years ago. I'm so very glad to have these women in my life.

Teresa mentioned the photos from the Petrified Forest tonight. I'll try to post some more photos from the Route 66 trip soon.

I made brownies again tonight. I was just really in the mood for some chocolate, and everyone else seemed to be too, so it was a good choice. I've posted the recipe here before but in case you missed it, it's below. It's one of my favorite recipes. It can be mixed up quickly when you're having unexpected company.

Brownies (Patsy)

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2/3 cup flour
4 T cocoa
2/3 cup pecans

Bake in 8 by 8 pan at 350 degrees for approximately 15 minutes.

No Longer Natural to be Happy

I've been thinking lately about being happy. I'm blessed to be a pretty happy person, but I've also realized that I do a lot of things that are proven to make us happier. Many of these are just natural for me, but they're things that anyone can learn.

We know that meditation and journaling are two things that make us happier. I spend some time each day with both of those. Having sunshine and getting exercise also increase our happiness level.

I was thinking about how these things used to be a natural part of our lives. Most people worked outside, getting daylight. Even on a cloudy day, you're getting 90% more sun than you are in a well light room. Most people were working physically hard, so getting exercise was not difficult for them.

To top it off, most people went to church. While they were not engaged in meditation as we think of it today, they were having some quiet, reflective time - at least on Sunday - when they were not working. And that's another thing - everyone had one day a week when they did not work.

Although not everyone kept a journal, many people wrote letters, which serves some of the same purposes.

So, when you consider how much our lives have changed in these ways it seems obvious that we would be less happy. We've stopped doing so many of the things that naturally make us happier.

I'm sure it's not wise to get so far removed from what is "natural" to us.

Happy Valentine's Day

He is a Lope of Romance, as one would expect. Read more about his adventures at www.thelope.blogspot.com.

Petrified Forest

In early August, Greg, Mark and I visited the Petrified Forest. I liked it so much that I made another stop on my drive back toward Kansas.

On both trips, we stayed at the Route 66 institution, The Wigwam Motel, in Holbrook, Arizona. I will be posting some pix of the Wigwam eventually, but I have to tell you that I agree with the slogan that you should "Sleep in a Wigwam."

I hadn't gotten around to sharing pix of the Petrified Forest, but they're just too cool to keep to myself.

I've always loved rocks.

Route 66 Trip

Last summer, Greg and Mark and I went on a two week cross country trip, doing some of Route 66, and taking in the sights along the way. While I had the best of intentions of blogging the whole trip, that didn't happen. Between the three of us, we took about 6gb of photos. So, it's not that I didn't have plenty to work with. But, the best laid plans, yadda yadda yadda.

So, I'm going to just share some of the photos here. They're in any particular order. I am obviously not going to get that done. So, there will just be photos coming.

Maybe after doing some of these I'll get around to doing the ones from Puerto Rico, a trip I took before the Rt. 66 trip.

If I don't get to it soon, it will be summer again... Ah, life... going at a faster pace than I am...

Sleepy Sunday

I went back to bed this morning at about 6:30 and slept until about 11:30. Then Greg, Mia and I went to lunch at Anchor. I came home and went back to bed and slept until about 5. I went to dinner with them and could have easily went right back to bed afterwards. But, I've been working on things I wanted to get done this weekend for the MHA. I'm going out to drop things at the post office in a few minutes and then I'm going back to bed.

The energy healer's work has obviously left me needing a lot of rest. She always warns of that, but I've never had this much of a reaction to her working on me before. But I feel so much better emotionally than I have in ages. Last year was a really hard year for me on many levels and they all took a toll on me.

I have a grant that's due on Wednesday and I'm going to take very good care of myself the next couple of days to make sure that gets to its destination on time as it's a very important one. I've got a lot of the work done it already - just have to put it in the proper format.

The moon was gorgeous tonight. I drove out to the edge of town to try and get a photo, but I didn't get anything decent. However, in hunting for a photo foreground, I did drive down to the courthouse. There were too many street lights to get a moon photo, though.

Body Healing

I can tell my body is healing. This is good. The emotional things have physical components and I can really feel them this time. I went to bed before 10:30 last night - practically unheard of for me - and didn't wake up until a bit before 4 this morning. I generally wake up about 4 hours after going to sleep, again at 6 hours if I don't get up. So, to sleep for more than that is pretty unusual.

I got up and ate some yogurt and pecans and drank some orange juice. I think I'm going back to bed and try to sleep some more.

But, it's interesting that I can feel so much of a physical component this time when I never have before.

Saturday

I got up this morning and started working on the house a bit. It's getting a little messy and I know it's on the border. If I don't get a handle on it, it's going to turn into a big mess. I got a little bit done today.

Then Greg and Mia and I went to Roys. They're closing for a couple of weeks for vacation so we had to get a fix. Then we went to Wichita to hit Ebersoles for rocks and jewelry bits, and then to pick up my fabric at JoAnns.

They're having a romantic dinner now, celebrating Valentine's Day. I've been working on some MHA things, but I think I'm going to go on upstairs and work on some house things and then hit the sack early. It has been a hard week and I'm exhausted.

On the upside, I'm feeling the best emotionally I've felt in more than a year, so that's a bonus. Obviously, the money spent on the energy healer was well spent.

Saturday

I got up this morning and started working on the house a bit. It's getting a little messy and I know it's on the border. If I don't get a handle on it, it's going to turn into a big mess. I got a little bit done today.

Then Greg and Mia and I went to Roys. They're closing for a couple of weeks for vacation so we had to get a fix. Then we went to Wichita to hit Ebersoles for rocks and jewelry bits, and then to pick up my fabric at JoAnns.

They're having a romantic dinner now, celebrating Valentine's Day. I've been working on some MHA things, but I think I'm going to go on upstairs and work on some house things and then hit the sack early. It has been a hard week and I'm exhausted.

On the upside, I'm feeling the best emotionally I've felt in more than a year, so that's a bonus. Obviously, the money spent on the energy healer was well spent.

Energy Healer

I went to see my energy healer today. She was in town at Diana's store for appointments and I had one this afternoon. This is the third time I've been to her and it was one of the more "intense" experiences I've had with her. It was good. Very good. Healthy.


I had a speech at 6:30 this morning, and went to the office after that. It was so pretty watching the sun start to hit the building across the street. I love my office and now that I have high speed internet and a different computer there can actually be there much more, which is nice. I'm still in and out all the time because I can't really do my job sitting behind a desk, but it's cool to get to spend more time there.


Today was Lily's first birthday. I didn't get to see her today, but saw her briefly this week. I'm not sure what day - I've been working so much the days are kind of a blur - it may have been Wednesday, but I'm not sure. Anyway, she's looking so darned adorable these days, as you can clearly see.


Mia is in town. She and Greg are celebrating Valentine's Day this weekend since it's on a Tuesday and they can't be together. I went out to have a snack with them tonight and say hello.

I think we're going to hit Roy's tomorrow. They're going to be closed for a couple of weeks so they can go on vacation, so we need to get a Roy's fix before then.

Art of Gracious Living PCN #9

Click here for the Art of Gracious Living PCN #9
Journaling is one way you can increase your happiness level. It is growing in popularity.

It's something almost everyone has the tools to do - all you need are paper and pencil. You do not have to write every day and there is no right or wrong way to journal.

You can find many sites online that offer prompts or you can come up with your own topics. Recording your thoughts and emotions is beneficial.

Click here for the Art of Gracious Living PCN #9

Friends

The last couple of days I've had some good times with friends. When I'm working on something intensely as I have been the last few weeks, I always make it a point to have some fun everyday. Otherwise, I get really bitchy. None of us wants that. Especially not me. I can't get away from me.

Yesterday, Virginia and I went to lunch. It's a rare treat to get to have lunch with her and always pleasant. We went to Jeanettes, and I had not eaten there at lunch, so it was good to try out something new. Virginia came up to the office because she hadn't been there before and wanted to see it.

After work I called Teresa and asked if she wanted to get a bite to eat. I hadn't had a chance to see her lately and was missing her. We had a fun conversation.

Today I went to Horizons to judge a chili contest along with two other board members. It was a neat event. Jane pulls off some cool events out there. She's a jewel.

I only ate a little bit of each because Jocelyn and I were going to lunch afterwards. It's rare to catch her, so that was a treat.

Our energy healer is in town, and I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon. Then tomorrow evening she's giving a speech, which I'm going to attend. I've worked so many long days lately that I'm taking tomorrow afternoon off. I just have to have a little break. Plus, my day is starting at 6 in the morning with a speech, so it's not like it will be a leisurely start to the day! But, that's OK. I'll have time to get a lot done before lunch with Trish and Teresa.

Music for Art of Gracious Living

I'm so excited to learn this morning that I have permission to use Tino Izzo's music for the Art of Gracious Living Podcasts. Chacra Music has given me permission to use a bit of the music as a signature for the podcasts. The cut I will be using initially is "Elusive Memories" from the "Foreign Skies" CD.

This was an incredibly popular CD when I worked at Radio Kansas and I have loved having a copy of it. "Elusive Memories" is the Art of Gracious Living in sound, so I'm thrilled to have permission to use it. They are being most generous.

When I started thinking about music for the podcast, this was the first CD that came to mind. I ran to the kitchen and got it out of the CD player and popped it into the computer. It took only about 12 seconds to realize that this particular cut was perfect.

I had grown very attached to the idea of using it, so I'm tickled they have given permission. I realize many people who do podcasts just use music without permission, but I did not want to abuse the rights of the artist or his record company.

I will be posting additional information about the music, and a link to their website will become a permanent part of this page, but I wanted to share the good news right away.

Pretty Purple Flowers

As I was coming home from a meeting early this evening, I was talking to Greg on the phone about how my tulip and daffodil bulbs have started sprouting. It's too early for that, but it has been so warm, they're coming up.

As I walked by the flower bed and glanced down, I couldn't believe what I saw - a pretty little purple flower. Everything is supposed to be dead. It's February 7. In Kansas. It's supposed to be cold.

Instead, there are tender, green shoots all over the flower bed. I do have some daffodils that are supposed to be up early, but I'm not sure even they are supposed to be up this early.

I worked on the grant that's looming over my head today until a little after 4 when I had a United Way meeting. Tomorrow I'm hoping to get the grant a little further along and also finish up some membership things.

Early this morning I went to Dutch Kitchen for some breakfast. I took the laptop and did some writing while I was out there. It's an odd juxtaposition to be working on a laptop in the midst of a restaurant where you're surrounded by Mennonite/Amish farmers. But the cinnamon rolls are amazing.

I feel like I'm incredibly dull these days - all I do is work. I must find some time for fun in my life soon. I'm taking Friday afternoon off. My energy healer is in town and I have an appointment. I've worked so many 16 hour days lately that I need an afternoon off.

I've been looking at a trip to South Dakota. Just a long weekend kind of getaway. There are so many cool scenery sites within such a short distance there.

I've also been working on the Art of Gracious Living website and shows. This week's program is about journaling and will be available on Friday. The show is starting to get some notice here and there so I really need to put some attention toward it.

In addition to my flowers that shouldn't be here now, the other day Greg saw a frog. Yes, a frog. It was in the water in Missouri. It's on The Lope .

I'm so glad to know there's no global warming.

The Art of Gracious Living is Featured Podcast

The Art of Gracious Living is one of the featured podcasts at iTunes this month.

Podcast PCN#8 Available

Click here for the Art of Gracious Living PCN #8
This week's podcast is about how to find constants in our busy daily lives to help us focus. We live in a fast paced world. We deserve to take a break now and then to restore ourselves.

One of my favorite ways to take a break is to fix a cup of tea and do nothing but relax as long as it takes to drink it. If you happen to have a couple of cookies to enjoy with it, all the better.

Do not allow your employer, your family or anyone else to deny you the ability to relax and take a few deep breaths every day.

Click here for the Art of Gracious Living PCN #8

Mid Winter Dialogue

Marci Penner played host to the Mid Winter Dialogue group tonight at "The Barn." It was a fun evening with about 40 people attending.

Kansas Dialogue is modelled after Clinton's Renaissance weekends. It happens each August. This was the third year for a mid winter get together. I've been unable to attend either of the others, so this was my first time at one of these.

We were instructed to sit down and then the "waiters" came around and tied bibs on each of us. It was quite the production. Eric was having a bit of fun with Sheila about how tight it should be tied.




We were told to keep our drinks and such at the edge of the table. We were soon to find out why.




This is Lon, who's hosting us in Colby this August. I'm really looking forward to seeing his farm. It sounds amazing. Tonight he was wearing a chef hat instead of a farm hat.




Marci had music to accompany each part of the process. She was the director of tonight's extravaganza.







It was a fun night with much laughter and fun, as well as some interesting conversation.

The topic we discussed tonight was the rural/urban parts of Kansas - can we find some common ground.

The aftermath of our feast was not the most attractive thing I've ever seen, but clean up was a breeze.



Is this a prime example of "Many hands make light work?"

Busy Friday

I had an 8 a.m. meeting of the downtown committee. I'm not sure I really belong on that committee - I'm looking for my place. The whole day was a rush, trying to get mail out the door and keep other things going. Phyllis came in to help me this afternoon and that was a God send. I've been printing more letters tonight and discovered a problem with them. Apparently, my printer freaked out at some time when I didn't know it and I've wasted a lot of paper and ink. I HATE that. This paper is pricey. Oh well... nothing I can do about it.

I hope I get a lot accomplished tomorrow. I have a long list of things I want to get done around the house. Hopefully I won't feel the need to sleep half the day.

Greg and I went to Skaets tonight and met this guy who does haunted houses for a living. I didn't even know that was a job. But, hey, that's what happens when you talk to people - you find out interesting things!

I located some music today that I'd like to use in my podcasts. It's from Tino Izzo's Foreign Skies CD. I loved that music when I worked at Radio Kansas and this piece is just perfect. I wrote the record company to see if they'll give me permission to use it. We'll see.

I need to find time to work on my personal website as well as the podcast one. There never seems to be enough time to focus so I can actually accomplish those things. It does require some focused energy for me.

Anchor Inn Falling Down

This afternoon, Mark emailed telling me part of the fascade of Anchor Inn, a local institution restaurant, had collapsed. Odd that Mark is four hours away, and I'm about 10 blocks away, and he knew before I did. I was getting ready to go to a meeting so left a few minutes early to go take photos.



I arrived to find Tony, the owner, (on the right) and two other guys standing out looking at the damage. It wasn't too long before someone else arrived. It just struck me as so small town America that people were standing in the street looking at the damage.



I guess it happened about 10 this morning. It was after 4 when I went and took the photos, but it was still big news locally.




Greg and I went to dinner down the street tonight and he took some more pix.

Creative Class Conundrum

I have been thinking a great deal about work lately - in all circumstances - from my job to volunteering to any other situation where I'm engaged in "producing" something. I have one consistent difficulty no matter what I work on - a job, a volunteer project, whatever. People are never happy about HOW I do my job. Everyone's always satisfied with what I do and the fact that it's done and done on time, but they're never happy with how that happens.

Years ago, a supervisor said during an evaluation, "it's like you do nothing and then all at once I come in and you've pulled an all-nighter and there are more projects completed than would seem humanly possible." I couldn't then, and still can not, see what the problem with that is. You gave me X amount of work to do and a deadline by which to do it. I delivered the work, plus some, in advance of the deadline. So what is the problem? You wanted to WATCH me work? I'm not a goldfish. The fact that you couldn't SEE me working makes the work invalid?

I worked in broadcasting at various places for nearly 25 years. I was never once late for an on-air shift. I never missed a deadline. I never divulged a source. I never used the media inappropriately. And, yet, there was never much trust in me anywhere I ever worked. There was always much checking up to see how things were going, because things were not happening by the text book. After a few years of delivering decent work on time it would seem everyone could relax, but there is always a need to maintain that tension - I guess to prove the need for supervision.

I don't want to be judged on my methods. Things get done. Can you just never be happy with the end result? I'm sitting here at 12:18 a.m. doing work. I was also doing it at 6:30 this morning. What difference does it make when/where/how it happens as long as it gets done and on time. It would be better to wait until 9 a.m. tomorrow to do it?

It always feels to me like people are just looking for something to be annoyed about. And with me it's my methods.

I'm so looking forward to the day when I am working for myself only and I don't have to please anyone with my methods. No wonder I like writing - editors don't give a flip about when or where you write or by what method you choose to do it. They just care if it shows up on their desks when it's supposed to. It's really a good system.

People continually talk about the Creative Class people and how they want them. Hello? I am it. (The Rise of the Creative Class by Richard Florida) And you want to take the very thing that makes me who I am - the positives creative class people bring to a community - and kill them off. You want to shove me into your preconceived box of notions about what is "right" or "professional" or whatever else. Those things are all changing all the time. You're still stuck in 1953. Read the book. We HATE that. And then you wonder why we don't stay in the community/job/volunteer position/whatever. You won't let us be who we are. You won't look beyond the details and see the big picture. Creative Class people are going to be who they are - they'll just move on. Then you'll sit around and bemoan how your community doesn't have them.

You say you want us. But, you aren't willing to accept us as we are. It's a package. People who are geared toward creative thinking and fresh ideas are not people who fit archaic notions of what a perfect employee/volunteer is. Loosen up. Take us as we are. We bring you some really cool things. Accept them and accept us.

All of my life people have talked about what I'm "capable of," implying it's much more than I'm devoting to whatever project is on tap. I cannot give my all to any one thing. I've got thousands of things going on in my brain at any moment. Literally - thousands. Hundreds when I'm at rest. When it gets down to a couple of hundred I can go to sleep.

I always have dozens of projects that are in various stages of production at any one time. I can't drop everything else and focus only on one of them. And the fact that I have a lot going on is the very reason I bring creativity to whatever project I'm working on with you. Can't you just be happy and appreciative and not belabor the fact that I don't do it the way you would do it? If you wanted it done that way, why didn't you just do it? Why did you ask for my ideas? Because you were stuck. You wanted to use my brain. You wanted "fresh" ideas. Then you want to shove them into a box so they get stale as quickly as possible.

I've decided to call it the Creative Class Conundrum. You say you want us, but you're not willing to make any arrangements to get what you say you want from us. You want to use our brains and our creativity, but you don't want to give us anything in return. When you put us in a box, you get pablum out of us. You can make us sit in the chair from 9-5, but you're not going to get the best out of us that way. Creativity doesn't happen in a box.

If you really want what you say you want - you can't box us in - in any way. So, you've got to decide, do you want creativity and enthusiasm, or do you just want us to show up and do what was done yesterday and last year and the year before? You've got a whole crew of people to do that already. If that's what you want, why do you say you want the Creative Class people?

Why you really want us is because areas that have a large number of Creative Class people are booming - financially and every other way. You want that, too. If you want it, you've got to let go of all the ideas you have about how things are "supposed" to work. Face it, if those things were working all that great, you wouldn't be trying to figure out how to get the Creative Class. You'd be tickled with exactly what you have.

It's so easy, really... all you have to do is leave us alone and let us go at it... we'll do amazing things... if you'll just stop preventing it.