film love experiment

This week I was finally able to snap this photo that's been haunting me for a couple of weeks. I walk past this little combination of shapes and life in the morning when I get off the bus, but I'm usually with other people and don't feel I can whip out my camera and take the time I'd like. But the perfect opportunity arose this past week and once I had my camera out, everything became outrageously beautiful to me. Capturing simple, everyday beauty is definitely a true love of mine.


I also came down with one of the various bugs floating around these days, but I think I got off easy. Still I was laid low yesterday and the only thing that really worked for me was napping and watching movies on my Kindle Fire. (Oh, definitely that little gizmo is another true love of mine!) I watched a few little independent-type movies you might enjoy - consistently solid performances from wonderful actors and stories of alienation, longing, and connection. In other words, real life: The Giant Mechanical Man, Goats, and Take This Waltz. And today, while I'm much better, but still needing some rest, I watched the lovely Salmon Fishing in the Yemen on DVD. Oh, it's not news to any of you how much I love movies!

And some things never change. Even though I didn't handle film for any of these things I truly love, I'm still a girl who calls a CD a record. Heck, at this point even a CD is old school, isn't it?

freeing adventure

It has been a lovely Thanksgiving weekend, after a bit of a rocky start on Wednesday when I ran into some roadblocks in obtaining some essential food items for the weekend. I guess in past years I've gone earlier in the week, but I was completely blindsided by the insane parking lot and hour-long line to pick up a HoneyBaked ham and turkey breast - only to discover there were no turkey breasts left. I did track one down on the other side of town, so all was not lost, and I even got some good audiobook listening in. Still, it rattled me.

But we had a delightful Thanksgiving Day, complete with lots of fresh produce from our farmers - such a treat! There's something very relaxing about just spending a day fixing one dish after another, with plenty of time for a nap. And then eating all of that delicious food with my sweetie!

A fun thing about my volunteer gig with the Contributor is that my shift is on Friday afternoon, so this was the third year that I was lucky enough to spend the day after Thanksgiving serving my community, which is something I'm very thankful for. And you'll be happy to hear that everyone we spoke with had enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal, whether they're currently or formerly homeless.

Yesterday was the second time that a dear friend from work and I have offered a holiday drop-in craft program on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It's so fun to see people of all ages making art together. We call it a "craft buffet" and just put out all kinds of supplies - jingle bells, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, pom poms, felt, cloth, papers, stamps, stickers, magazines to cut up, glue, glue sticks, tape, crayons, markers, coloring pages, etc. You should see the amazing things people make! This year we partnered with Turnip Green Creative Reuse and I even pulled some things out of my closet, so I'm hoping it got folks thinking about making things as gifts for the holidays and repurposing things they might find in their own homes.

So having been able to experience pampering, service, and creativity this weekend, I woke up this morning aching to get out in nature for a bit. I'm so lucky to live near a beautiful park and it was a gorgeous morning for a walk. There's something so powerful for me about the feeling of walking on a trail. It helps me get back into balance. My mind stops racing and enjoys taking in the sights and sounds. My feet love walking on the earth.





I've also been enjoying wonderful birthday gifts this weekend: Moonrise Kingdom and A Monk in the Inner City (thanks Dad and Katie) and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Pema Chodron's Coming Closer to Ourselves (thanks Mom and Steve)!

gratitude adventure

A while back I watched Bird by Bird with Annie, a wonderful documentary about the lovely and amazing Anne Lamott. One scene stopped me short when I was watching it and remembering it never fails to put me in a state of radical gratitude:

Would you share your birthday wishes with us?

"My birthday wishes? You know, I have everything I’ve ever wanted. I can’t believe I turned out to be this well [laughs]. And I feel like the Elephant Man. I feel like I’m happy a lot of the time, ‘cause I’m loved. ‘Cause my life works and I got to be a writer when I grew up. You know, for all my complaints, it’s really all I ever wanted to do. There’s really nothing I need or want. Maybe a few more CDs is all."

Hearing her words made me realize how good my life is. I can always find a little something here and there that could be improved, but seriously, I have a beautiful life. I get a similar feeling listening to Alanis Morissette's "Thank U":

Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence

I love that this song genuinely thanks so many of the things I'm always dancing around and trying to avoid feeling. But the truth of the matter is that when I finally turn to those feelings, when I finally admit defeat, give up the dance, surrender, those very feelings bring me back to myself, bring me back to the present. And even if I'm in an uncomfortable place, I notice that the colors are brighter, I'm more in touch with my heart, I'm alive. And I'm thankful.

marigold adventure

I played hooky this week and went to see a movie that everyone is suddenly talking about: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. And I am in LOVE!!



Although I've never been there, I love many things relating to India, including the music, the food, the colors, and the spirituality. It wouldn't surprise me at all if I end up someday living for a period of time in an ashram there. And like the characters in this movie, it will probably be in my later years.

The cast is amazing: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, and Maggie Smith. And totally delightful Dev Patel, who reminded me the whole time of my dear brother (I mean that in the best way possible). Plus, it is just a stunningly beautiful movie - perfect for the big screen.

And if you need any more convincing, it has lines like this in it: “We get up in the morning and do our best. Nothing else matters.” Run, don't walk, to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel!

lazy adventure

I didn't have to work at all this weekend and we don't have anything planned, so this is my first full-on lazy weekend since February. And a holiday weekend at that! It feels great to just rest and relax and soak up the lazyness.

Here are some things I've been enjoying this weekend:
NY Pie veggie pizza with a delicious farm-fresh salad
The much-anticipated George Harrison documentary
Half Nelson with Ryan Gosling - some great performances here
Squirrel Buster bird feeders

And some things I'm looking forward to doing:
Watching Hugo and Our Idiot Brother
Reading This I Know
Catching up on The Sun magazine recent issues

Hope your weekend is lovely and lazy or whatever tickles your fancy!

watching adventure

Here are some wonderful things I've been enjoying watching on my Joy Adventure lately:









How about you? Anything to share?

more joy adventure

I think I may be getting the hang of this joy thing! This week my joy adventure included two dinners with good friends, a trip to a local museum with tears at the beautiful art (especially a painting of my favorite skyline), a walk to look at the flowering trees, a massage, an awesome book, a completely delightful movie, an amazing gift of an hour with my dear Mr. Hadley, and a program at work complete with surprise guest performer that was over-the-top fun. Amazing how much happier my life is when I do the things that bring me joy. It's so obvious, but how often do we do it, really? And I loved how the universe got in on the action, too, bringing several of these joyful moments into my life completely unexpectedly. Ah, life, you delight me!














Oh, and here's a cool video!

joy adventure

This week I've really been aware of the things that bring me joy. Here are a couple of things you might also enjoy:

I've loved reading The Night Circus book on my Kindle Fire:



How did I miss Win Win, by the same writer/director as The Station Agent and The Visitor:



Hope you all have a joyful week!

kinship adventure

Photo from Buck Brannaman's website

"I've started horses since I was twelve years old and have been bit, kicked, bucked off and run over. I've tried every physical means to contain my horse in an effort to keep from getting myself killed.

"I started to realize that things would come much easier for me once I learned why a horse does what he does. The method works well for me because of the kinship that develops between horse and rider."

~Buck Brannaman

I know, first no movie recommendations, and now I can't stop, but I watched Buck this morning and was blown away by his pragmatic, compassionate wisdom. For me, it was a major lesson in the care and keeping of one's soul. May you be attentive and gentle with your own this week.

inspiration adventure

Temple Grandin

Opening Our Eyes

Dhamma Brothers
It's been a while since I've recommended any movies, but here are some recent highlights. They inspired me, they humbled me, they cracked me wide open.

savoring adventure

So enjoying a relaxing weekend off with my sweetie and wanting to share some great stuff:

The amazing August Art Bash at Dandelion Seeds and Dreams.

This movie blew me away this morning!



I loved the spirit of this post from Keri Smith, even if I don't have the technology to use what she's describing. The last part has stuck with me all week, though. May have to become my new motto:)

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend and here's to a beautiful week!

self care adventure

I'm no runner, but getting through this June I'm reminded of watching the Boston Marathon as it pounded past my apartment years ago. At this point my head is down and I'm concentrating on the finish line. While I know there is magic and beauty going on around me, most of my focus right now is on endurance. Self care is having to take the front seat - conserving my energy and making sure this introvert is getting enough silence, solitude, and stillness. And story. So while I'm delighted that the second exhibit is up and looks beautiful and has been received with much inspiration and delight from the public, the best parts of this week for me have been these quiet hours of restoration, alone in my house with my sweetie, sleeping until I'm not tired anymore, watching Somewhere and Blue Valentine, catching up with my Sun Magazine reading, volunteering, getting in my 750 Words a day (thanks for the amazing tip, Molly!), and keeping up with my meditation and stretching daily practices. Oh, and capturing some images that delighted me...





Yes, that is Ganesha on the right:) Have a wonderful week, everybody! And a very happy Father's Day to all you wonderful dads out there!

blessed adventure

Every day I get a little more caught up. This morning I finally checked out Lucinda Williams' videos for her amazing album, Blessed. If you haven't heard the title song I can't recommend it highly enough. And even if you have, I recommend listening to it again. There's a really nice version here. And these are my two favorite videos from the series they created of people talking about how they're blessed: Part 4 and Part 5. Enjoy and be blessed!

[And for anyone who enjoyed my post yesterday about how I fell in love with "Halloween Girls" - you would likely really enjoy The Maiden Heist, now streaming on Netflix.]

beautiful adventure

Painting copyright Murat Kaboulov
"Nothing fascinates and inspires me more than human nature. Storms and calm of the human soul are the preeminent subjects of my art."
~ Murat Kaboulov

When I walked into a wonderful local gallery a couple of weeks ago, the last thing I was expecting to do was to fall deeply in love with a painting. But when I saw "Halloween Girls" it was as if I had found a long-lost treasure. I felt a deep recognition - there was my soul on the wall. All the people I carry in me, the witch, the gold-star girl, the wild animal, were looking back at me, beautifully. And so, to make a long story short, the painting now hangs on my bedroom wall and I love to lie in bed and look at it. Every time I walk past it it makes me smile. It makes my life feel more beautiful.

This is a big thing for me. Being given gallery duties at my job has had me worried in the past that it could take away some of the joy from my connection with art. I do feel like my creative impulse has changed for my own work now that I spend so much creative energy at my workplace. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, to be paid for being creative and for a much larger audience, but the projects I'm asked to work on often aren't my own ideas, although some do become something of my own creation. And my patience with artists sometimes runs a little thin... So it has been a real joy to reconnect with my deep passion for art, for the power a piece of art can have on one's life. It also doesn't hurt that a huge project that's been hanging over my head and terrifying me is looking pretty good these days. More on that next weekend...

And now for a list of other things that have been bringing joy into my life these days:

Viktor Frankl on the spark in everyone

A heartfelt pitch for a movie and the movie itself (thanks for the tip, Mom!)

Jack Goes Boating (now streaming on Netflix)

Paper Heart (also now streaming on Netflix - thanks for the tip, Kath!)

Signing up for the Slice of Life Project and WholeHearted Living and finding out about this

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone!

quiet adventure

I really am enjoying having a different relationship with my online time, but I miss you guys, too. Thought I'd share some of the things I've been enjoying lately:

A great Tim Burton quotation from Quiet: The Power of Introverts

Jen Lee in a similar state of mind

Please Give (So many things I could say about this one, maybe for a future post... Thanks for the tip, Mom!)

Orange Is the New Black (Totally LOVING this book!)

Hope you're all doing well! Sending you all much love from this quiet corner.

enjoy and love adventure - day 22

When I was a teenager I spent hours and hours and hours at the mall. Now I cannot imagine. Let's just say I am not a practitioner of retail therapy:) At least not for clothing. So today's shopping trip fell under the heading of Soul Care only as finally checking something off my to-do list that has been lurking in the back of my mind, not really as a pleasure in and of itself.

Happier hours were spent watching "Pow Wow Highway", though! Oh, I love Gary Farmer!

enjoy and love adventure - day 21

One surefire way for me to relax and rejuvenate is to watch movies. I've seen some good ones lately!

Today I watched "It's Kind of a Funny Story" on DVD:



And streamed "I'm with Lucy":



And streamed "Days and Clouds" earlier this week:

Monday's Inspiration Celebration - Independent Lens

Yesterday I was pretty seriously in need of some inspiration. I'd taken care of everything that "needed" to be done and I knew I could just fritter the day away in nervous anxiety or I could find some way to feed my soul. Mindlessly scanning my Netflix queue one title jumped out at me: The Parking Lot Movie. And that turned my whole day around.

I have always loved smart misfits and this documentary is full of them at their best. But the other great thing about this movie is that Netflix's copy of it has the Independent Lens information at the beginning. I'm ashamed to admit that the library has had an on-going series of showing these documentaries for years. I even helped with a craft before the start of one of them. But have I ever attended a screening? Not once. Not even for the one I helped with. Nope, I just cleaned up the craft and hit the road. So, I totally understand if you read this post and think it's not for you. But keep it in the back of your mind for a gray Sunday when you need to be reminded of our common humanity and all that is right in this troubled world. And then you might consider also watching Ram Dass: Fierce Grace and The Cats of Mirikitani. I don't believe I'm steering you wrong and yes, all of these are currently streaming on Netflix, as are many of the other Independent Lens titles.

five senses friday

tasting:

lots of yummy comfort food

smelling:

cozy fires in our fireplace

seeing:

Music Within - uplifting and well-acted!

feeling:

very, very, very tired of winter and very, very, very grateful all this snow melted yesterday:)

hearing:

70's Dylan and singing my heart out - oh, I love that man!

Monday's Inspiration Celebration

Yesterday morning I woke up early, finally feeling refreshed after spending a lot of Saturday catching up on my sleep, and was struck by the great light hitting the bedroom wall. So I headed out into a frosty morning to see what I might catch. Here are the results:







Also, have been feeling very inspired by great movies lately and really enjoyed Snow Cake. Love that Alan Rickman!