As is

Name today: Spaghetti

Aha-phrodisiacs:

For Dotty Day, use dots as a trigger for your art.  Make large dots and fill them in with favorite quotes or see how adding dots can add interest or whimsy to a piece or a collage. 

A Dose of Mirth:  "A line is a dot that went for a walk." ~ Paul Klee

While working on the "dotty" image above, I was watching an old Star Trek episode where they took shore leave on this planet and everything they thought about instantly manifested.  It made me think of today's "Law of Attraction" philosophy.

Personal reflection

Referring to an old adage, "What we resist persists." and reading "When you simply look at a situation, see it as it is, and stop wishing it were different, the situation loses its dominating power over you."

In keeping with that, I accept my life just as it is: perfectly imperfect; driven to create only when the impulse and time allows; accepting that what results simply is and move on.

"When things go wrong, don't go with them." ~ Elvis Presley

Name Today:  Ballerina

Today I get to: Breathe and catch up on chores

Aha-phrodisiac:

Water can be therapeutic in so many ways.  Climb inside a tub of nurturing warm water ...

Toast of the Day:  "Here's to the smell of a soothing bath salt."

Received Notice of Final Judgment ...
Found out where Bri was moved ...
Noting cumulative consequences of a lifetime of hasty choices and chaotic passions ...
Will I improve myself as a human and work daily to minimize my vices? ...

Poetry is a packsack of invisible keepsakes. ~ Carl Sandburg

Name Today: Nina

Of Interesting Note: It's National Be On-Purpose Month!

Toast of the Day: "Here's to reading something you really like and realizing you wrote it."

(Model: Laura, my muse)

A Muse I Do Summon

Too focused to wither, to let it all fall,
A muse I do summon, to answer the call.

Imbue me with textures and tasty delights,
Help it flow freely, the wave of insights.

A map I do have, to show me the way,
Resistance tugs; I shall keep it at bay.

Courage and discipline, I traverse alone,
Help target from whence inspiration doth shone.

The hierarchy of helpers, I do so implore,
Effortless prose, shall now come to the fore.

So shall it be!

~ Lita

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Me in a past life)

Dance for Yourself

From the depths of the Earth to the core of our being
the pulse of life beats, a rhythm unceasing.

Sounds take on shape with design and style
forming patterns and motifs, enough to beguile.

With circles and lines, sways and curves
zigzags galore, textures and swerves.

Movement emerges, like a wave from the ocean
a dance they call it, all action and motion.

Diverse and varied, dance does come
fulfilling needs in any spectrum.

From expression and healing, to birthing and fun
exercise, fertility ... mostly celebration.

Too many to name, but many to favor
Belly Dance is one I especially savor.

With flutters and shimmies done loosely or tight,
undulations and accents, an amazing sight.

With women dancing for women is how it began
to entertain and party, not seduce a man.

Keeping it sensual, not sexual, we continue to strive
it takes commitment, skill and plenty of drive.

With varied styles based upon region,
blending them wisely creates a nice fusion.

With colorful costumes of coins and beading
the dance may look simple.  This is misleading.

It takes muscle control to master isolations.
This art requires energy and a lot of patience.

Regardless of age, shape, creed or race,
Belly Dance can be done by anyone with grace.

Hired for parties, weddings and special events
paid gigs and shows are not always incumbent.

A thing to remember in any case

is dance for yourself first and the rest falls into place.

~ Lita

Yesterday was spent working out, catching up on E-mails and rest ... so I'll revisit yesterday's exercise this time next year ☺

Due to my busy-ness, I had to keep today's post simple, and figured there was no better time to get maximum picture mileage. 

♥

Rising above

Name today:  Dorothy

(Model:  Me ☺ ... Thanks to Shadowed Light Waves for the background pic)

Today's image was inspired by today's exercise about lack of gravity.  Of course, if there truly was no gravity, my hair and dress would be facing every which way ...

One thing I can say about these exercises is I'm finally starting to process pictures that have been begging for attention.

Aha-phrodisiac:  Write about a day without gravity.

No one would have to worry about how much they weigh ... a scale would refreshingly have no meaning.

Most modes of transportation would be rendered useless.

Tethering ourselves to people and things we love would be useful.

Everyone could take a break from having to brush their hair.

Jumping off of a high cliff or building would be a viable option.

We could "fly" among each other, among animals ... both vicious and friendly.

Trying to "right" ourselves could prove difficult.

If desired, one can literally run in place.



Savor a nap

Energy levels exceptionally low today, so I picked only those exercises (from The Awe-Manac) that called for little words ...

Name Today:  Dunham ;)

Today I get to: feel how much progress I made from yesterday's bootcamp by all the muscle soreness I awoke with.

Toast of the Day:  Here's to a refreshing midday nap.

Aha-phrodisiacs:

Use the title "Festival of Sleep" for a collage, drawing, painting or doodling.  Well, here ya' go:

♥

It's January 2, 2011 at 8:33 pm, and I am ...

fulfilling today's exercise from The Awe-Manic, as follows:

Name today:  The world is my playground

Toast of the day:  "Here's to the calm presence of a sitting cat."

Today I get to burn some holiday calories.

Aha-phrodisiacs:

Write a list of why you write or do art or why you want to. Pick one of those and write at length about it, getting deep into it even if it doesn't seem to make sense.

I do it because I get such a natural rush becoming a vessel for creativity to flow forth ... Yes, to the thrill of becoming surprised by it, seduced by it, to fall in love with it ... Ahhh to basking in the afterglow that stays with you, keeping you addicted to it ...

Write down some event that happened recently. Recount it adding a few otherworldly powers and characters.

I walked into the studio eager, yet apprehensive. Would the hosts be receptive to me after my extended absence? Would I stick out too much from the rest of the bunch? What if I passed out from unconditioned exertion?

I found comfort in familiar sights and sounds, in elements I hadn't had exposure to in a very long time ... Stray concerns ultimately evaporated once I was greeted by one of the hosts, Amasan. She and Kika developed the ability to transform into mermaids during my time away. I forgot to ask what it felt like. I also wasn't able to take pictures, because our entire group was immersed in intensive drills for the 3-hour bootcamp we signed up for. 

Words I heard a lot were "breathe," "just a few more" and "shake it out." The ladder being my favorite.

Our host, for the last hour, had the ability to move at the speed of light, so it was hard keeping up with her. All in all, it was nice knowing that despite my modest amount of time in strenuous exercise, I could *somewhat* hang stamina-wise with these extraordinary beings ... although, it shined light on areas I could totally improve on.

Is it bad that after putting myself through all of that I've been indulging in chocolate nonstop?

Kika snapshot this 3 hours in (we're such a blur since we we had to move lightning fast to keep up with the host ;)

A picture where Amasan and Kika swim publicly at the Wreck Bar.  You can watch them in action on this Youtube video.

Happy New Year ☺ !

Unplanned New Year's celebration at IHop!  LOL!!! 

It was SO fun getting together with close friends on this important (to me anyway) holiday.  We intended to get high on kava, eat Mexican and come back for more kava at the stroke of midnight ... Instead we dined on some of the food laid out at the kava bar ... After our fair share of kava, the loud music and our general malaise had us seeking comfort in breakfast food.

We improvised by shredding strips of IHop paper to use as our confetti that we tamely tossed at midnight  =)

Breakfast with close friends an hour before the New Year ☺

Loraine and Laura -- Virgin kava drinkers.  Before and after their first sip of the Earthy-tasting brew, LOL ;)

Our photogenic bartender

Candids of strangers texting ... I may use it to propel future writing exercises (who are they texting? ... what are they texting about? ... etc. )

Kava bar ambience

Bula!

Today's Notes:

Finding my bed at 4:30 am ... Awaking at 8:30 am ...

Watching the shadows of trees sway through my curtains ... Open the glass sliding door to get a feel for the weather, and it's heavenly.  Under the warmth and light of the morning sun, I thumb through The Awe-Manac book ... Looking through tired, yet excited eyes ... Totally falling in love with all phrases of inspiration ...

The Awe-Manac's genuine claim is it will:

" ... make you younger by providing a regular diet of creative thought.  It will enhance your sex appeal because creative people are known to be more sexy, uninhibited, and resourceful.  And no dust bunnies were harmed in the writing of this book ... "

Begin to process pictures from the night / morning prior ...

Picked up the The Awe-Manac book again to get a handle on current Daily Dose of Wonder exercises ... I am instructed to go to a bookstore to discover what my message is on page 56 of any book I find there!  I will so blog about that after my next bookstore trip. ☺

Awe-Manic Exercises:

Ebbing: what will you release 5 percent of this month? Reasons to complain.

Flowing: what will you increase 5 percent? Time spent in homeostasis.

Vessel of strength: What self-talk will keep you afloat? "There is nothing like a dream to
create the future."

Today, I get to begin the most wonderful year EVER!

Make one of the things that worked for you last year a New Year's resolution: Giving in to temptation. ;P

Journal Juju: I wrote my 1st entry in my physical journal. (Laura, so loving having a physical journal to play on and in; thanks so much!)

... Off to possibly nap ... catch up on e-mails ... get my daily dose of chocolate ... and if I'm lucky work out ...

... Also, I have older pics I will process and post ... but will do so later ...

♥