the living room, post-sequester The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something. — … View Post

photo credit:  Bella Cirovic On November 1 2011, I began a project that took me forever to commit to:  writing a novel. Not such a big deal, to be sure– but for me, it was deeply challenging to first make the commitment and then (perhaps even harder?) telling people what I was doing. The goal was to have a first draft completed by November 1, 2012 — estimating a manuscript to come in at about 350 pages. above is the chair where I wrote 3 … View Post

The measure of achievement is not winning awards. It’s doing something that you appreciate, something you believe is worthwhile. I think of my strawberry souffle. I did that at least twenty-eight times before I finally conquered it.   – Julia Child Last day of July?  The hell? Okay, fine.  Seasons have to do their thing.  Whatever.  I don’t have to be happy about it.  I can cling to summer like a kid on her mom’s ankles being dropped at kindergarten for the first time.  I … View Post

There are moments upon moments, worlds upon worlds.  We all had our own experiences at Squam last week – many of them magical (if the word on the street is to be believed).  For myself, it was just the most perfect gathering ever.  Honestly, it was. Last night, which happened to be the 13th of June, I realized that this Spring gathering was the thirteenth time I have put on one of these events— more power to 2013, it seems to be rolling in with … View Post

When all the dark clouds roll away And the sun begins to shine I see my freedom from across the way And it comes right in on time Well it shines so bright and it gives so much light And it comes from the sky above Makes me feel so free makes me feel like me And lights my life with love* Where to begin?  Starting something new can be so hard.  It doesn’t really matter if it is the blank page of a blog … View Post