Trocks

Tricky trock drack pops, cooling coating calming soothing, peeper seer proper toppers, happy dappy dry no more :)

Kara's Ark

Even though it gets uglier by the day, I love my old squishy worn out couch. It's super comfy and cozy, but that's not why it's the best couch in the world. It's the best because it fits two cats two dogs and two lovebirds perfectly...and if LA flooded tomorrow, we'd be marvelously happy floating all together on our big old boat of a couch:)

After a long day of travel

All I can say is Thank God I'm home...home sweetest home:)

Moonshine

It's funny being on the Atlantic Ocean facing East...I'm used to the sun setting over the ocean like it does back home in the west! So I was disappointed at first as I sat at the window table I requested looking out over the ocean because I thought we were going to see a sunset, at least that's how I timed it. But instead of the light display I was expecting, it just got dark -- and that's when I was treated to an unexpected joy -- a moonrise over the ocean. I'm not sure if I've ever witnessed it before, but it took my breath away to see the translucent whisper of shimmering white in the darkening sky over the ocean. And as the sky grew darker, the moon grew brighter, shining down on the water making a path across the ocean that was so beautiful I was tempted to jump in and try to follow it. Ryan and I tried to think of names for that glowing path -- the moonshine mile, la avenida de la luna -- but ended up just laughing at how dumb they all sounded. We decided it was best not to try and name something so magical, to just let it be. So we did, and it was lovely:)

Meant to Be

I just saw WRITTEN BY ME up on the big screen for the first time tonight. And after all the self scrutiny and if only's and nit picking over the lines that were cut I am left tonight finally with a peaceful sense of gratitude. And humility...something I wrote made it out of my head and onto film...that doesn't happen every day. I am also left with a sense of joyful anticipation for the future movies I hope to see make the giant leap from my imagination to the screen. I'm thankful for the "divine discontent" that Martha Graham spoke of that sits on my shoulder and pushes me to want to be better, to learn more, to try harder.
My first movie. Wow. This is truly a night to remember. I can't wait to have the chance to share my unruly child (it's certainly not perfect, but it's lovable all the same) with all of you! Thanks for all of your support:)

The Right Stuff

I met a bunch of giggling 14 year old girls today who were all wearing matching "Bieber Fever" plastic bracelets and asking me if, since I'm from LA, I could help them meet Justin Bieber. They pleaded with their shiny brace faces, could I at least get his email address for them? The gleam in their eyes reminded me so much of myself at 14 when I could think of nothing more than plotting ways to get the New Kids on the Block to notice me. I staked out a hotel in Louisville they were staying at during the tour. I even bribed a disc jockey at the local radio station with two boxes of girl scout cookies. I had Duran Duran pins on my jacket, Corey Haim posters in my locker and Micheal J Fox magazine covers stacked by my bed. I'm thankful for all the teen heartthrobs - for The Beatles and Elvis and the Cassidy brothers - for that giddy feelings and the ridiculous memories they give us:)
But I'm especially thankful that after all these years, I found my very own heartthrob - the cutest guy that makes me feel like a giddy teenager every day - and got him not only to notice me, but to marry me. Sorry, Justin Timberlake.

32,000 feet

I am struck with what an awe-inspiring thing it is that I got to witness a beautiful and perfect pink sunset over the ocean from a view that in the history of humanity very few people have had the chance to see. I was mesmerized tonight as I watched, trying to experience it all the more for the millions of people who got to the earth too early to experience such a thing for themselves. They paved the way for us to reach such heights and I am thankful for all those first dreamers who each stood on their predecessor's shoulders until finally they reached the sky...and so did I.

Creative Saturday

I rejoice at the flow of creative juices on this thunder-stormy Spring day, especially when they are coming from my super talented offspring! As I write, my KaraMc is winging her way to sunny (hopefully) West Palm Beach to bask in the flickering lights of the movie projector which is painting a screen with the first images of "Meant To Be," her first big-time premier for a movie she wrote that finally made it through the gauntlet to the finish line. Even as she soars at 39000 feet (while probably working on her next big project), my AndyMc is putting the finishing touches on a professional recording session he is directing of a CD containing almost a dozen cello pieces that he wrote and scored (I eagerly await to hear them all, but especially the one entitled "Cello Haiku") that I bet Yoyo Ma would be proud to play. And even as his lucky cello player puts away his instrument, my EK Mc is accompanying Lady Evelyn Moore (may I call her Evie, too) through finishing school as she sits in the company of the "Dames" of her industry at a convention up near Chicago in an attempt to absorb every nuance and detail of her craft to make her Evie's story, and the others that will follow, the best they can be. How cool it is that on this one Saturday in Spring, as the Earth prepares to display her latest creations at her annual craft show, that all three of my artists accomplish major steps forward in displaying their own creations.

Early, early on, LynnMc and I asked God, the Origin of all creation and creativity, to equip them not only with their own unique talents, but also with the desire and motivation to develop them; how blessed we are to witness such success in our petitions. Think I'll go get a glass of wine and go outside and smell the fresh rain...you can just smell the fragrance of creativity in it...and that brings me great joy!

It's a girl!

I'm thankful for babies and the joy of brand new life. I'm grateful for the healthy delivery of Sarah's little girl and I can't wait to meet her. I love the infinite possibilities that lie ahead for her and I'm glad for the reminder that every day is a brand new day with new joys springing to life all around.

Positive Thinking

While we were at lunch today, Ryan and I saw a woman standing in the median of the street outside the restaurant, selling drawings she had made. She probably wasn't as old as she looked, but the sun had weathered her face and life had bent her back, and her hair was a wild mane of frizzy grey striped with some sort of do it yourself coloring. I don't think she was so much homeless as she was a vagabond, a wanderer -- and instead of begging for money, she colored pictures for it. Ryan ran out and bought one that I thought was particularly profound. It's a picture of the beach, drawn in colored marker and crayon with palm trees and a bright sun and purple and blue and red clouds and a rainbow thrown in for good measure. But the best part was what it says, up top the picture is titled "Positive Thinking" and below that reads: Your mind can only hold one thought at a time. Make it a positive one.
I'm thankful for that reminder, for the beauty of its simplicity, and for the woman who lovingly drew it.