Gratitude is the sign of noble souls ~ Aesop


Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving ~ Kahlil Gabran


Joy delights in joy ~ William Shakespeare


Monday, February 28, 2011

The Oscars

It never matters to me who the hosts are -- for me it's always been about the joy of seeing a dream realized, when the winner takes the stage and grasps their trophy for the first time and then gushes out some enthusiastic or eloquent or ineloquent or touching speech. My heart just swells at the possibility and I can't help but imagine my own Oscar moment some day. I love the pomp and circumstance, love the beautiful dresses in our mostly sweatpants wearing world...sure it's pretentious at times and often boring...but it's a beacon of the power of dreams, and that's why I love it. Plus Kirk Douglas was freaking hilarious.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

LA freezes over

Snow! In LA! Pretty cool to be here for it. Ryan made a tiny snowman and I caught little hail pellets in my hand. The sky was a gorgeous swirl of light and dark, cloud and sun -- it was a wild day and I was thankful I got to witness it.

Friday, February 25, 2011

A good night

The sound of the steady rain outside, a fire in the hearth, pizza in my belly and love in my heart.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

A nice boost

I'm thankful for two great meetings in the last two days that were a much needed confidence booster...it feels good to get the mojo back:) I'm thankful that my family and friends have been there for me, bolstering and encouraging me, and for everyone who lets me know they believe in me -- it means more than I could ever sufficiently express. Like Moses's brother Aaron holding him up when he felt like he couldn't stand anymore...it is a beautiful thing to be held up and supported with love. I am blessed beyond measure.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Hot air balloons for the spirit

I'm thankful to be reunited with my hubby after a week apart (that felt like much much longer). Seeing his face at the bottom of the escalator at the end of a long flight lifted my spirit and made my heart dance a jig -- I nearly knocked down the entire row of people in front of me just so I could get to him quicker. Luckily I didn't...don't think I'd want to take my chances with airport security!

Also, I am thankful for my sister's lovely blog...the way she strings together words is so effortless and such a joy to read, even when she's dealing with something bittersweet, it's always more sweet than bitter.

And lastly, Lisa and I were talking about good lighthearted movies today (movies I call my "rainy day" movies, that always make me feel better when I watch them) and so I figured I'd post some of them here...I'm thankful for how often they have lightened my mood!

Overboard, Funny Face, Goonies, When Harry Met Sally, Can't Buy Me Love, License to Drive, Dirty Dancing, Legally Blonde, While You Were Sleeping, the first 3 Indiana Jones movies, French Kiss, The Sound of Music, Back to the Future, So I Married An Axe Murderer, Parent Trap, Father of the Bride, Houseguest (with Sinbad ha!), Roman Holiday, All of Me, Roxanne, Little Manhattan, Bridget Jones Diary, Weather Girl, Tootsie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Home Alone, Planes Trains & Automobiles, and A Fish Called Wanda.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Talking lizards

There's a show on Lifetime where Heidi Klum has a hidden camera show with kids ...it's pretty hit and miss, but there was an adorable bit where they had two pre-schoolers in the room and when the grown ups walked away, there was a lizard in a cage who would "talk" (really it was Heidi with a microphone behind a mirror.) It made me laugh so hard, those kids just having a conversation with the lizard like it was the most natural thing in the world. One little girl wanted to know why it's mouth didn't move when it talked, so the "lizard" said that lizards talk through their ears. Genius. And totally adorable. I wish I could've met a talking lizard when I was a kid!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Bonus Blog:)



Well, that farewell didn't stick too long, did it? I'm blaming Pippin and Alfie, they wanted me to share these pictures with you:)

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Happy Anniversary

Tonight as I gaze out the window at the large luminous moon shining in, smiling at me, I can't help but be as full as he is -- full of such gratitude and joy and love that I could shine out across the whole earth. It is the one year anniversary of this blog. What started out as a 40 day Lenten experiment has become a year-long lesson in finding joy when you look for it. When I began, I couldn't imagine how I would possibly be able to come up with something to be thankful for every day for forty whole days -- and now I have three hundred and sixty five days worth of proof that even on the darkest, hardest, sickest, tiredest, fill in the -est days -- there is always something to be grateful for. I pray that a spirit of gratitude has become a part of my very nature now, an unbreakable habit, a lifelong discipline that will accompany me like a friend through this gift called Life. Thank you all for being with me on this year's journey and for sharing in my joys while adding your own...I do believe that together we have upped the joy quotient in the world...and heavens knows it needs it. May each one of you fellow journeymen be given the grace to find your own daily gratitudes and share them with the people in your lives, and may we all recognize how truly blessed we are. I feel this is a fitting time to take some time away from blogging here...some time to listen and recharge and just to be. I am so excited for new horizons ahead and can't wait to see where the path leads. I have always loved the Spanish expression Vaya con Dios -- Go with God.
Yes, let's:)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Art History

The sunset across the sound
and over the snowy rocks
was a study in art history
a parade of techniques and styles
first came Watercolor
pastels splashed across the sky
dripping soft and sentimental
next, the oils were brought in
and the world became an Impression
of itself with imprecise splotches
that looked like ripples of water
from afar, but closer
they were individual Pixels
alternating orange white blue
orange white blue
stretching into a Surreal phase
with shadows becoming
strange creatures of the sea
that morphed into larger Cubes
blocks of bright neon
bold and powerful
Modernism at its most mesmerizing
until finally the whole canvas
became a single color
and the earth entered its Blue Period

Monday, February 14, 2011

Sunrise Spectaculous


This morning the day opened its heart and blushed like new love...and it was glorious.

St. Valentine's Day


Well, even though I couldn't be with my Valentine today, it was quite a joy to get lovely flowers delivered to my door and then a delightful surprise of hidden chocolates that were astoundingly delicious. I'm thankful that my mom sent me a happy little love bug to make me smile and I'm grateful for a day (that while admittedly pretty commercial) celebrates a real man who did a beautiful thing in the name of love. It's nice to remember what a privilege it is to be able to love whomever we choose...not so long ago people were confined to classes and families and arrangements -- thank goodness I wasn't born back then!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

New girl

I decided to go to a new church today that I saw in the center of town and loved for its lovely old stonework...but as usual for me on Sunday mornings, I was running a bit behind, so I was ten minutes late. I had no idea what door to go in as everyone was already inside (back in at my other church in Beverly Hills, ten minutes late was fashionable and I had lots of company:) Anyway, I heard singing, and so I followed the sound of the voices and came to a door just as it grew very quiet -- I opened the door with a loud screeeech -- and found myself in front of the congregation at the choir entrance! I had already opened the door, so I walked right through, took a seat in the very front pew closest to me and tried very hard to suppress my nervous giggles as I felt every set of eyes boring into the back of my head. It was quite interesting being in the very front row -- the priest seemed to be delivering the sermon directly to me...good thing it was a good sermon! I'm proud of myself for trying something new...I was going to sleep in, and then when I was late, I almost just kept driving past it -- but I'm glad I didn't because it was a wonderful way to start a Sunday morning. And I'm sure I gave everyone a good chuckle afterwards when they must've wondered who the new girl was that made such a grand entrance. I may wear a disguise next week...

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Blue jean sky

The sunset is spectacular
all sparkle and sequins
jazz hands spreading
across the western sky
such a show off
like the Liza Minnelli
of natural phenomena
but the eastern sky
is what calls to me tonight
with its coy whisper
of washed indigo
faded pink at the edges
the perfect pair of jeans
cool and worn cotton
like Carol King would wear
and it's all kinds of wonderful

Friday, February 11, 2011

Clean plate club:)



We just happened upon a restaurant tonight and were treated to the most delightful feast I've had in a long time! I'll let the menu do the talking: Stracciatela: creamy pugliese mozzarella, grilled broccoli, chilies and orange - Funghi al forno: roasted trumpet royal mushrooms, fonduta, truffle and hazelnuts - Quadratti: gorgonzola dolce filled pasta, savoy butter cabbage and truffles.
Did I mention TRUFFLES?? Belissimo!!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Cool consignment

I had so much fun at the consignment furniture store in town today...such unique and quirky cool stuff to look at and be inspired by. I bought a beautiful new desk with lovely curved legs that I can't wait to paint and a really cool cabinet for the bathroom...and they were cheap which makes it all the sweeter! I fell in love with a wild little green leather chair...but alas there is no where to put it, so I couldn't bring it home with me. But it made me happy such a thing exists in the world:) It's funny to think of how far I've come...I remember being in 7th grade and feeling like I might actual die if anyone ever knew I stepped foot in a consignment shop...now I don't care if the whole world knows, it feels good to be a savvy shopper. I'm thankful to have outgrown that scared little snobby girl stage!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Blessing for a new journal

May the friendly yellow
and gilded gold cover
be a portent of things to come
May it's pages be filled
with epiphinal rays of light
and bright shining moments
rich experiences
and all of the hope
that the breaking dawn brings
May there be
unexpected beauty
to write about
like the shock of teal
splashed across the back cover
May all of my fears
be chased away
by the mighty lion I can see
when I squint at the top left corner
and May my thoughts
be worthy of such
a carefully crafted container

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Two minute war

There was a war between the geese and the dogs today with lots of honking and barking and flapping and wagging, but the dogs wouldn't go into the freezing water, and the geese wouldn't come up onto the frozen land, so they realized the whole thing was moot and went back to swimming and sniffing and all was right in the world:)

Monday, February 7, 2011

Bed sweet bed

After a month in hotel beds and guest room beds and another month on an air mattress, words can not describe the soft yet supported sublimeness of finally getting to sleep in my own bed:)

And ode to my toes

In a weekend filled with migraines, melting ice, movers, and mayhem, I found myself being very thankful for my sturdy and reliable toes. They're the Brits of my body with their stiff upper lip and "keep calm and carry on" attitude. Even with all of the pressure I put on them day in and day out, especially recently, my toes never complain. I can count on them to press on and keep fighting, even when the rest of my body has retreated and waved white flags, and for that, I am grateful. Being a toe isn't very glamorous, I suppose, and they don't get much credit for what they do -- keeping us in balance and moving forward -- but to me they are unsung heroes. When I grow up, I want to be more like my toes:)

Friday, February 4, 2011

Books and letters

A dear friend and confidant sent me the gift of a wonderful book today called TO BLESS THE SPACE BETWEEN US by a great writer named John O'Donohue. It arrived by mail, which made it even more wonderful. It made me remember being a child and getting letters from my grandmother in the mail addressed to Miss Kara. It was so thrilling to think that a piece of paper with my name on it could find it's way all the way across the country to my hands. I felt famous...like people other than my family knew my name -- all those mail carriers and sorters and drivers. I still have that feeling when I get personal mail...and today not only did I get a card, but a book too! I hope someday to have my very own library...a giant room filled to the top with books, and a section for stationary too. And I want a ladder all the way to the top shelf that slides, so I can reach the books, but also so I can have a little fun doing it:) There's a scene in FUNNY FACE with Audrey Hepburn where she plays a mousy little clerk in a tiny bookstore in the Village -- I want my library to look like that, complete with a superfluous spiral staircase right in the middle of the room. And I'll dance through the stacks with Fred Astaire...or at least the daydream of him:) Letters in the mail, books and dancing -- now that's my idea of heaven.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

How to start a script

Tonight I'm thankful for two little words, FADE IN. They mean that I have started my next script, and beginning for me is always the hardest part, so if I can write those two words...I know I can write the rest. Two little words fraught with such risk and such promise. This is the 15th time I have written those words, and yet it is still scary/exciting/overwhelming/thrilling -- it is still an adventure. Here I go!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Grayscale

A gray gaggle of visitors
gather and float
in a pool of liquid onyx
encircled by pure white snow
under an alabaster sky
dappled trunks
reflecting silver
in the rippled waters
Kodachrome need not apply