Good Times

California with Ganesh

2008-01-08T14:24:00.001-08:00

Last summer, after traveling thousands of miles with two kids, a dog and Swede, I couldn't help but meditate on a little selfish thought: I need to return to California again, but this time with a girlfriend.

Not two days after arriving home did Lora call me and ask if I could go to California in the morning. She had tickets to see Esther Hicks, and her friend wouldn't be able to make it.

I didn't know anything about this Esther Hicks, but knowing Lora, it was going to be good!

Before Lora arrived, I had time to sit and meditate in the morning sun, as I so often do in my favorite outdoor spot facing the East, with Roxi at my feet. To my bewilderment, I saw Ganesh. I am a Yoga teacher, but I must admit, I get all those deities mixed up, and I'm not much into worshiping deities anyways. But, I know how my mind works, and if I was seeing a vision of Ganesh, there was a reason for it.

Lora was on my time, and she arrived about an hour late- perfect timing! One of the first things we did was stop in the middle of the desert so that Lora could offer some sprinkles of sage on an altar of Mary's. I couldn't help but think, "Gosh, that was nice. It's been a long time since I was in the presence of someone who gave thanks and offerings, something I should do more often." I knew it would be a special journey.

Our first task was to drive to Monterey Bay and see her son, Gary. An incredible host, he served us a gourmet grilled vegetarian kabob dinner when we arrived at 11pm, with Monk's Ale, made at a local monastery.

The next morning, Gary and Lora introduced me to the Pilgrim's Way Bookstore, the one I posted about in my last entry. Inside the Secret Garden, I ran across this statue of Ganesh and asked Gary what he represents. The removal of all hindrances and obstacles! I'm telling you, this is the deity you want on your road trips!

After that magical adventure, we hit the beach....

Yes, my favorite... do you know it by name?

Carmel.

It's impossible not to experience the bliss.

We had reservations at Tarpy's Roadhouse , a 5-star restaurant located in the historic Ryan Ranch Homestead, and also the place where Gary works. He treated us to whatever our hearts desired, and believe me, we were loved!

One of my favorite memories is sitting in the backseat, while Lora and Gary gave me my first taste of Blackalicious. Can you imagine a mom and son singing rap lyrics together at the top of their lungs?

We vibrate at higher frequencies
Welcome to our world
Fall into a space
Where there is no thoughts
Just moments captured
Here we go

It was a heartfelt goodbye, but Lora and I had an appointment to keep with Esther Hicks in San Diego the next morning at 7am!

She and I drove through the night on Highway 101 without a hiccup, as we shared our life's experiences and listened to Krishna Das. I remember when my Yoga teacher, Jim, started going through a Krishna Das phase in our class, and I was all, "Where's the Moby?" Oh, now I get it!

We parked in my favorite hotel in San Diego at about 4 am, the parking lot of the Marina on El Carmel Drive... coincidence? We cuddled up in our sleeping bags and grabbed a couple hours of shut-eye before the big day.

Running on higher vibrations, energy is abundant, and we were right on time for the main event, Esther and Abraham Hicks. Their message was perfect for me, and I was brought to tears as I heard the truth so eloquently articulated in a way I never had before.

For example, Abraham says: "You cannot judge the value of a life by its quantity. It is by the joy that you are feeling. The more joyful you are, the longer you live. Let yourself relax and breathe and be free and be joyous, and romp."

So after the reading by a group of non-physical entities called Abraham, that's exactly what we allowed ourselves to do!

We drove up the coast and made a bonfire on the edge of a cliff. With the waves crashing below and the stars shining above, we captured the moments one by one.

The next morning, on our way through Encinitas, we tripped over the Self-Realization Center, built by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1937. It was here that he lived and wrote Autobiography of a Yogi, a book I threw away years ago. I was so amazed at what I was reading, and I started to tell Swede about it. He said, "That's not a real autobiography... all of those stories are made-up." I felt so taken, because I had believed it to be true, so I threw the book in the garbage.

And then, I ended up in Yogananda's meditation garden.

Maybe it was a real autobiography...

Swede and I are moving to California on Monday, January 14th, 2008.

I had a vision of Vishnu the other night... can anyone tell me what it means?

Response 1: Mercy & Goodness

Choose One (Or More)

2007-12-30T15:34:00.001-08:00

This last year was so amazing! I had one of the most serendipitous summers ever, as I visited the coast of California not once, not twice, but three times! The first time, I planned it. The second time, Lora invited me on a whim, and I'll have more about that story on a later date. The third time, well, after hearing about the second time, Swede had to go again, and we dragged Ingrid along, too!

Carmel Beach.

PEACEFUL.

INSPIRING.

We stayed with Lora's son, Gary, one of the most
gracious hosts you could ever HOPE to know.

Huh? That's not me! TRUST me, I'm a lady.

Yes, ALL the signs had been converted to read NO WAR ANY TIME.

Stopping by Pilgrim's Way Books is worth a 2000 mile road trip in itself.

Here, pilgrims find what they have been searching for...

May you find what you are looking for this year.

Cheers!

No Hang Ups

2007-12-28T16:50:00.001-08:00

We have a secret neighborhood artist who displays work when no one is looking in various places. These hanging heads are one of my favorites. He uses great shoes.

I thought these pictures were apropos for the holidays. With so many events at once, it would be easy to get hung up if you were to make a poor choice, like, say, driving home in a blizzard from Utah (phew, no blizzard- I'm home safely); or driving home on New Years after a few drinkies and getting, you know, thrown in jail.

So lets all make sure we make good choices, and don't get hung up like this gal, kay?

Happy Holidays!

The Purple Elephant?

2007-12-17T15:50:00.000-08:00

As I promised, here are the photos from Audreys' White Elephant Gift Exchange. I will need Audrey's help to remember all of these wonderful folks' names, but these are the highlights of our evening together. Someone received what appears to be the Pink, or maybe Purple Elephant Massager.

This is my friend Ingrid, who just moved back from California, and Otis, a pet Audrey recently rescued and is nursing back to health from Valley Fever. Just so happens, Audrey is a nurse.
James, owner of JahGee Yoga, is capturing some attention here.
And, this is Owen, Audrey's first puppy, and the boss of Otis, despite his size, and of course, moi!
Who dares to take this gift home? James! He swapped the body products for the game, Speak Love Make Love, in the end!
Now that statue is a beauty! I took that marble piece of art home about three years ago. Can you believe no one even tried to steal it from me back then. Well, to their loss, because the next year, everyone asked me if I brought her back; they wanted a chance to win her. Ha! I wasn't ready to give her up yet. Then, Audrey moved and we missed a year, so I brought her back this year, but the crowd was a bit different, and I don't know if they were ready for her.

If this is not the iconographic Christmas photo, I don't know what is.
And here's Audrey, showing off her gifts. She chose the triptych I painted a few years ago, and am letting go of since we are moving soon. No one dared steal them from her, after all, it was her party and she deserved 'em!
We had a few late-comers, but better late than never, especially when they are adding another present to the pile!
These are a couple of nice couples.
I'm the first to gather in the kitchen, because, duh, that's where the food is! As usual, Audrey prepared Lasagne and provided the wine. What a dear:D

Hope your holidays are going fantastically!

White Elephant

2007-12-08T09:36:00.000-08:00

Last night was Audrey's annual White Elephant gift exchange party. She bought a new house last year, and because of rennovations, we didn't get a party. We've been waiting two years for this moment, and now it has passed. My rechargeables burned out after just one picture on my camera, and I took the rest on Audrey's. So, now I am just waiting for her to forward the pictures so I can post them. This is just a friendly reminder to her:D

Pita Jungle

2007-12-06T11:50:00.000-08:00

I'll be leaving Arizona soon, so it's time to sift through old pictures and bask in the mood of sentimentality, experiencing times I've forgotten like new again.

Swede adds to its character.

I enjoy the pensive mood this space creates, and the deep conversations that follow.

Make Food NOT Bombs.

Make Love NOT War.

Christmas Time in Arizona

2007-12-03T11:02:00.001-08:00

Tis the season to be jolly! El Penasco, the restaurant Swede performs at on Fridays and Saturdays, put up their tree... the Charlie Brown Christmas tree, that is. Ha, the thing is leaning over Swede, I know you probably can't tell, but I got such a kick out of it. Maria, our favorite waitress said she did everything she could to fix it. Where is my Aunt Nancy, and can we get some of Lesley's decorations? Next to Swede is a vihuela, a Spanish descendant of the guitar. Great for Renaissance music.

As the holidays come into full swing, invites are flying for festive gatherings. Saturday after Swede's performance, I got us lost trying to find my friend Cliff's house. We arrived after they had already finished the flight of white wines. Cliff is a teacher friend of mine that I met at New Samaritan last year. We have been camping and Kayaking with Cliff and he is like an extended member of our family. We all adore him! How could you not? Look at him here, enthusiastically reading us the label of this fine red wine.

A votre service! As you can see, we each have a wine judging sheet, so that we can write down the names of the wines we try and rate them on a scale from 1-5.

Cliff is a History teacher and loves to take us back to the past. Zabrina and Wyatt had their first taste of Neil Diamond! "Hello my friend, hello.... just called to let you know... I think about you every night... da da da... hello.... "

Tosa, Kristina, Nicole

And some oldies that I know the words to but can't necessarily identify the original artists, like "la la la la la la la la la means, I love you!"

Beannie, Tosha and Cindy

"I'll leave my home in Arizona, and head for the Frisco Bay. 750 miles I'll roam, just to make Santa Cruz my home. Sitting on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll away, oooo, sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting time!" By the way, Swede and I are both applying for jobs in the areas south of Frisco. I'm applying for Stanford to study Sustainability Engineering, and there is a music conservatory Swede is interested in. We hope to move there by the end of December.

Before it was all over, we each got a fortune cookie. Mine said: "Genius does what it must. Talent does what it can... in bed!" BTW, Wyatt had Root Beer wine and Beannie had Orange Cream. The people I actually labeled above were the ones who stayed until the end and I was able to write down their info in my address book so as not to forget their names!!! These are all teachers at Cliff's school. What an amazing staff- made me want to work with them! And of course, they are special ed! Ha- that's my area of specialty... it takes a special person!

Thanks for the memories, Cliff!

SwedeHart Productions

2007-11-28T11:47:00.001-08:00

Well, I finally got around to making a blogsite for our business.

If you'd like to take a peaky, here's the linky:

www.swedehartproductions.blogspot.com

Grandpa Al Mollsen

2007-11-27T09:43:00.001-08:00

Well, before the most recent tragedy described, there was another in the family. My Grandpa Al's girlfriend, Ida, became so sick that she had to move out and into a care facility. Grandpa couldn't afford to live on his own in their Detroit home, so he moved to Phoenix, Arizona to live with his other son, Al Jr., probably hoping to enjoy the sunshine.

Just a day or so after arriving here in excellent shape, Al fell ill and became bedridden. A week or so later, Al received news that Ida had died.

Grandpa Al did not recover and soon moved to a care facility in Scottsdale. With Dad's condition, the two are sure to never see each other again.

Wyatt, Zabrina, Swede and I went to visit Grandpa the other day and took some pictures and videos, so I can make a movie short to send to Dad in Michigan.

BTW, these postings are not meant to make you feel sad- I just want to pay tribute to the people I love and care about.

These are the strongest people in the world who experience life's unexpected challenges with the perseverance to follow their bliss until the end.

Sometimes BeingThankful is Not Enough

2007-11-24T09:38:00.000-08:00

Last year on Thanksgiving morning, my dad, Doug Mollsen, went to the emergency room because he thought he had a cold and needed some antibiotics. When he never came home, my mother found out that he had been admitted to ICU, his lungs had collapsed, and only a 1/4 of one lung was working.

To ensure that he would not move and cause the rest of his lung to collapse, they induced a coma. As you can imagine, when I called my mother to wish her a Happy Thanksgiving last year, this was not what I was expecting to hear. I knew that my mother was not ready to lose her husband; I feared for her, knowing that his death could crush her sanity coming so unexpectedly, and on a holiday.

We gathered our courage and focused on his strength of character, and we said to each other, "He will pull through," giving death no power.

Because it was a holiday, they would not be able to get tests results for days. They assumed he had pneumonia, but after a few days, when he did not respond to the antibiotics, they put him on steroids. Finally, a week later, he was diagnosed with Wegeners. An extremely rare autoimmune disease that attacks the blood vessels. The inflammation in the b.v.s prevents adequate oxygen supply to the major organs, particularly the sinuses, lungs and kidneys. The tissues die of hypoxia (lack of oxygen). Dad had been wheezing for months previously, and had no idea that what was going on inside of him was extremely serious. His lungs had been dying.

My mother sat at his side from morning until night, making sure that no doctor or nurse spoke of any negativity in his presence. She held his hand and talked with him. He was in an induced coma with intubation for two months. During this time, she prevented doctors, who didn't read his charts properly, from giving him the wrong medicine! Imagine what a tiny mistake like that would have done to him in this fragile state.

Well, after two months, they stopped giving him coma meds. I can only imagine what an incredibly joyful moment that was for my mother to see his eyes. However, he still had the painful tube in his throat, and his eyes would tear up from the pain, as my mother tried to sooth him. To live for him was still a day-to-day struggle. There were still no guarantees. His recovery was extremely slow.

Finally, they took the tube out, and he breathed on his own- YEA!!! He started to talk to the doctors and nurses, and they were finally able to meet this incredible man that had caused this woman to sit by his side day in, day out. They loved him instantly, such a kind man. He would say how badly he wanted to live because he loved this woman so much.

One of the kindest things a doctor said, is that his recovery was a miracle only possible because of my mother's love for him.

Because of muscle atrophy, he was not strong enough to lift his arms up. He had to relearn how to use his muscles from scratch. He had to learn how to feed himself again and walk. Finally, at the end of January, he came home.

But, it has still been a battle. The only treatment for Wegener's is steroidal, and the side-effects are challenging for my Mother to live with. Many times she has wanted to wring his neck!!! Kind of ironic isn't it? He constantly worries about everything, following her around asking her why? why? why? about every little thing she does. Worries so much about money, that he refuses to see the psychologist to get medicine to offset the effects of the steroids.

When I called my mother this year for Thanksgiving, sadly, she was reliving last year. She said she was just breaking up. She was done cutting the onions and couldn't keep using them as an excuse for why her eyes were watery. She said, "I know I should be thankful that he is here with me, but I just can't shake this."

That's what daughters are for, and their boyfriends. I assured her, "I know just what you need! You need to hear one of Swede's jokes."

On speaker phone, Swede began to tell my mother about these rabbits that he has, they never go outside, they always stay inside, no, no, no, they've never been out... they're ingrown hares.

I once had these two rabbits, and they ran into a haystack, trying to escape from a pack of wolves. Well, one of the rabbits said to the other, huffing and puffin, out of breath, "Well, are we going to stay here and outnumber 'em, or are we going to make a run for it?" The other rabbit said, "We're gonna make a run for it, you idiot, we're brothers!"

When being thankful isn't enough, try rabbit jokes- it works.

Taco Town

2007-11-17T10:26:00.000-08:00

Making a movie, I spend hours everyday at the ASU computer lab. I have come to love the people who work there and those who come to edit their own work on a regular basis. I remember when Uncle Don started teaching and he described the experience by saying: "I am in my element." Well, that's how I feel when I am with other artists. I felt that way when I was involved in the Theory of the Red Nebula play. I love to be surrounded by people who are constantly "on." "On" in the way that the horoscope above describes.

I was wondering what was in the air, astrologically speaking, on Thursday, because we were wild at the computer lab that night. It was like a party, and that doesn't usually happen. We wear headphones and keep it pretty quiet. But, John, the lab aid, decided to air Music Videos from the 80s, as we all sang New Edition and Peter Setara songs in unison. Then we had to watch a message from our sponsor, Taco Town:

Tacobell Taco Town Parody Commercial
Uploaded by FunnyTVCommercials

I was in my element.
I love artists.
I love what I do.
And I love you, too:D

The Wonder of You

2007-11-15T19:53:00.001-08:00

My incredible friend, Lora, who has opened my mind to so many doors, has shared yet another:

http://oneminuteshift.com

You can sign up to have them emailed to you:D

Rough Draft

2007-11-14T16:28:00.000-08:00

Jeff's cup, enjoying the view of the Rim.

I have mentioned it here and there that I am making a film, so I am going to share in the celebration with you today as I burned my first copy of it.

eeeeeeeee:D

Rachel, Swede & Jeff, our camera man, eating peanut butter.

We took our first footage in California, January 2006 and finally finished up filming two weeks ago at the Rim of the Grand Canyon.

It is a tribute to water, thus the name, and I am a water princess. I promised some pictures of my costume- although, that was a rough draft, too- I just finished the real thing Monday morning.

Now that Swede can watch the movie, he is already composing in his head! Today we went to Ace hardware as he wants to make some instruments this weekend. I'll be playing drums, flute, singing and dancing in this performance.

I'm growing, I'm growing!!!

San Diego Fires

2007-11-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

Swede and I are putting together a new program- this time we are making a film, with live music, and dance performance. I was inspired to get some footage of the fires in San Diego, as the smoke and fire would create a powerful impact in this environmental tribute. So, last Thursday, we just got in the car and drove into the sunset in search of the San Diego Fires.

We arrived in San Diego and didn't notice anything unusual. Michael Savage was on the AM radio crying about how tragic the fires were. I noticed that news reporters and radio DJs had been personally affected by the fires. This was not an attack upon the weak and poor. Mother nature walked right up to the celebrities who had paid good money to build their houses in the areas most abundant with nature. As if their encroachment on nature didn't have anything at all to do with the fact that their houses were threatened by fire, Michael tirelessly blamed environmentalists, claiming it's their fault there was a fire because they had preserved the natural habitat and no one was allowed to trim it down.

He whined about the fact that his property line was hedged in by kindling.

What a brat. There are consequences to be paid for building a permanent structure in the midst of nature. That's why Indians used tee pees. One of their proverbs is to move your tee pee often, to let the sun hit the earth.

I suppose that as a result of using such versatile housing, this would also enable them to move if there were any danger encroaching upon them. That seems smart. And here we are, technologically advanced, and people like Michael Savage think they are the most intelligent people on earth. Doesn't seem very smart to me to build a house on a pile of kindling.

We finally stopped for the night to sleep on the beach in Carlsbad. No sign of fire or people evacuating anywhere. In the morning, we stopped at a Starbucks and ran into a fireman there. He wasn't sure where the fire was, and didn't know what roads would be closed. Well, we just kind of drove around, chasing a ghost it seemed. Couldn't find any fire to save our lives. I thought San Diego was on fire. I mean, that's certainly what it sounded like on the news.

Well, finally, on the outskirts of town, heading into the mountains and wilderness, there were road closures. We couldn't go any farther. We happened upon a couple of spots where trees had been destroyed and a small piece of property that had been burned to the ground. We shot our video footage, we got what we came for, but it wasn't what we expected. In the light of what was happening, we exceeded our expectations. It was a beautiful morning and the police officers at the road block were brilliantly funny.

We needed to get back to Phoenix so that Swede wouldn't miss his performance that Friday evening. We didn't really know where we were going, were just sort of following the signs. Everything was so zen that morning, the video shooting was perfect, the locations that we wound up in- aaaahhhh, it never gets better than that, when it feels like you have a spiritual tour guide leading you to all the right places at all the right times.

And then, there it was, the sign above. There were tents and firetrucks everywhere. We found their base camp. Firemen from all over California were here. There was festive music playing over a PA system. Firemen were hosing down their trucks, making repairs, and just hanging out, having a good time.

No one ever complains about firemen; no one ever makes nasty accusations towards them the way they do cops. They love their jobs, the brotherhood, the camaraderie, and people love them.

And so, were it not for the mass communications efforts of the media to create this image of tragedy in San Diego, I don't know that as many people would truly have been affected by it. I heard a lot of callers on the radio saying huge "Thanks yous" for all of the support, and DJs saying things like, "We give, that's what we do in San Diego, we give." A lot of California vs. the rest of the world kind of propaganda. That Nationalistic divide and conquer propaganda the fires up every time there is a disaster.

What was happening in the real world, though, seemed so different from what was happening on the radio and newspapers. It was a beautiful day for a forest fire, and the firemen where joyously assembling.

Time Together this Summer

2007-10-29T19:02:00.001-07:00

So, I need to revert back to the very beginning- my birthday (June 26). This is our living room, and yes, those are my paintings- simple, calming and natural. But, most importantly, that's my birthday present from Wyatt and Zabrina in my arms. Two beautiful skirts that their mother, Taira, picked out in Hawaii and gave to the kids to give to me:D Their Mom is 100% native Hawaiian, and Swede is 100% Swedish- so they are lovely muts, affectionately, of course.

So, after Woody, Swede's father, left us in Eureka, CA, we journeyed about 15 miles south to a beautiful National Redwood Campground. Here's a picture of a Redwood now... "Hello, snail:D" We sort of had to watch where we walked- they were everywhere!

Here I am cooking as the kids do their thing.

So, I am trying to teach Wyatt the importance of pitching in and doing his part. Zabrina has got that down- always offering to help. In Eureka, we stopped at a Dutch Boys to grab some coffee and I noticed about 200 blackberry bushes in the parking lot- so I gave Wyatt a chance to earn his keep.

And when there's nothing else to do, you may as well learn to tie knots so complicated your hair turns gray. But the kids are good sports.

How could you resist taking lessons from that face?

We cruised down Highway 1 until we reached the Pismo Beach campground. I could have spent several days here, but we had to fight tooth and nail just to get two nights! We didn't have reservations.

Swede knows how to enjoy himself! We all had hammocks. In fact, Wyatt accidentally did a 180 in his. I think he was going for a 360 and missed the mark.

But the best part about this campground is that the Ocean is just a 5 minute walk through the sand!

Roxi and I are just hinging out together, when here comes Wyatt...

I remember doing this up at the cottage. Jump in the water and cover myself in sand!

You should have seen his Seaweed Monster routine. I created a make-shift seaweed whip to make sure my Monster behaved himself. No one even noticed how ridiculous we looked... a grown lady chasing a Seaweed Monster around the beach cracking a seaweed whip. Oh well, we tried.

The minute Swede hit the beach, he was building. I never realized how much creative energy he has built up inside of him. I hope we can put his skills to use some day.

We never saw our shovel again after this day, bless her heart. She dug many latrines for us.

Guerneville, CA

2007-10-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

So, where was I? Over the Salt Plains and through the Fires, to Highway 1 we go...

Salt Lake City via Hwy 80 to San Francisco, with an overnight stay planned at a cheap hotel so that we can wake up in the morning, fresh and ready to explore the coast! We stumbled upon a Motel 6 off the beaten path North of San Rafael. You see, in your mind, you are thinking, it's midnight, I'll just cruise a little ways North of San Francisco and catch a cheap hotel for the night. But then you stop in San Rafael expecting to find something, and find out there aren't any cheap motels there. So, you just keep driving on the pitch black back roads in hopes that something will pop up somewhere. You use your sixth sense and decide to take a right at a lit up intersection. You cross under the overpass, and decide, what the hell, I've been driving through the dark this long, I might as well take a left since there seem to be some businesses that way. Before you know it, you are at the Motel 6. I'm not kidding- it's my second time staying at this exact Motel 6, and both times I found it were just as random.

We settled into our beds, someone slept on the floor, and it didn't take long before Woody, Swede's Dad, was sawing logs.

Yippee! The morning air is cool and foggy! Breakfast at IHOP and off to the coast we go.

Wow, the view gets me every time! We start off enjoying the rolling hills with sheep and happy cows grazing, and end up at Bodega Bay. The kids are dying to get in the water, so we find a little beach park and play for a couple of hours. Roxi (our doggi) drinks sea water for the first time. Hmmm, I wonder what the repercussions will be for her? Oh well, it's an experience she'll never forget.

Woody is excited to get back on the road so that we can make our way up to see the Redwoods! So, auf getz! We stop at a cute little gas station on the side of the Coastal Highway. Uh oh... Rose (Woody's car) won't start. So, we are stranded in one of the most beautiful places in the world. We also have our car, too, but we can't just leave Rose there! We find out the nearest auto repair shop is in Guerneville (pronounced: Gernville). The tow truck is in route and we are in luck, there is a cafe overlooking the ocean. After spending months, years in the desert I cannot begin to explain how sensational it is to feel and smell the misty breeze. Sure enough, Roxi is feeling the ill effects of that salt water she drank earlier.

We load into our car and follow the tow truck to Guerneville. Might I add, this truck driver doesn't dilly dally on the winding road through the Redwoods. The car is dropped at the service station and we search the area for a hotel- the station is closed until morning.

I don't know if dynamic is the word I'd use to describe this place, but it was definitely peaceful and restful. This town was full of rainbows, and our service repair shop was Irish Green as could be- I never did figure out what the Irish had to do with this place, but it is evident that the rainbows umbrella a peaceful retreat for gay couples. Not much to do in this town except sit back and watch the scenery at the local coffee shop.

See those three empty seats there... go ahead, make yourself at home. The car won't be ready for a few more hours. Rose had the most incredible auto-repair experience. This car shop was something out of the past. Sorry no picture, but imagine Aristotle's shop in "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior" times 100! The best things in life are never photographed. If you ever have a chance to plan your car's break-down, do it in Guerneville, or if you're just passing through, stop by for an oil change:D

We received a tip that we should stop where the Russian River meets the ocean to spot wildlife. Here it is, and if you look closely, those little dots are seals and pelicans.

The car repair set us back quite a bit, so unfortunately, Woody's trip to the Redwoods really culminated in this little visit to Guerneville. Woody, Swede and Wyatt took a little day-trip to the woods in our car while Rose was in the shop- but wouldn't you know it- he didn't take any pictures! I guess that gives him an excuse to take another trip when he has more time.

Our journey together ended in Eureka, CA. We shared a visit to the lighthouse and one last meal together at a cute little Italian restaurant.

And off Woody drove on his own, first North, then South-east to Salt Lake City. It was such a wonderful visit- too short- but, I am so happy to have been with you to see your first Redwoods! Thanks for all the memories:D

Theory of the Red Nebula

2007-10-11T10:11:00.000-07:00

My life is mysterious and mystical. One day I am posting about a nebula-like space ship that has come to probe me in my dreams, and the next I am drawn to a flier for the theatrical production of the Theory of the Red Nebula. It speaks to me- someone is trying to expand upon the typical theater production and create something new and different. They are looking for someone who has something special to share.

Hmmm... I'll have to jot that number down and see what this is all about! Swede writes and has directed at least one of his plays, and we have been doing multimedia productions in an effort to move in the direction of incorporating it all into one multi-sensory dynamic theatrical production. Is this person doing the same thing?

Gabrielle Rulnick is the director's name. This is her final project as an ASU student. She is a vibrant visionary with a knack for articulating the intent behind this consciousness-raising production. I am sucked in by her, and she by me! I had her at "I teach yoga." She sets up a schedule and asks me to lead several workshops in my area of expertise, specifically:

"What I would love is for you to consider how you might wish to approach the "ensemble building" portion of the rehearsal process. This is the process through which the cast becomes one organic and kinetic entity. For me this is often the most special part of being involved in a production. That said, I may find myself as a participant - rather than observer. I know this is what I need to continue to raise the frequency and tap into the energy that is creating this work. I feel at times that I am merely a vessel. In this way (which let me tell you is NOT a typical theatre approach) I know you are here for an important reason."

That was a pretty tall order, so I got right down to work, designing a workshop that incorporated theater games I learned from Brandon of 4-H last year when he was a visiting teacher in my Drama class at New Samaritan High, guided meditation, yoga, a sharing circle, partner yoga and a beautiful savasana. It was as if all of my crazy, seemingly disconnected activities I had pursued in the previous year had somehow miraculously come together for this specific purpose! As Gabrielle said, "Interestingly enough, things are taking shape rather naturally."

Words cannot express what an incredible experience that first workshop was for all of us. Yummy!

Just a few workshops in, Gabrielle asked if I would lead the cast in yoga at the "top of the show." Of course! Then, we'll all go into savasana, holding hands in a circle on stage... when we come out of it, we'll be in the show.

Tonight is opening night!

Prism Theater
Oct. 11, 12, 13 *** 7:00 pm ***
NE Corner University/Broadway
ASU building in the back of
Hollywood Video parking lot

A staged reading of a new work infused with live music, media, and the intention of consciousness raising.

Free admission with donation of clothing, food, toys, arts supplies, etc. to benefit Tumbleweeds and 1n10 youth outreach programs.

To heal, or not to heal?

2007-10-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

Two nights ago, I had a vision in my dream, very similar to this one. On Google Images, I looked up nebula and galaxy to try to find a picture remotely close to what I had seen in my dream. But, nothing turned up. Then today, when searching for an image to represent healing, here it was!

In my dream, this object (far more complex than this simple version) was a space ship that I presumed had come to probe me. But now that I have found this image, I wonder if this image holds a completely different message. This is called a Pranic Healing Angel. There is a CBS video you can watch about the spontaneous healing powers of Prana, which basically translates to life force.

This is the perfect segue for my response to the beautifully provocative discussion that sprang from the Stand Up post:

Poverty cannot be healed by sending shipments of cargo. This is the same error of Western medicine, to treat the symptoms, NOT the CAUSE. But, as we reveal the causes of poverty, we find that there is a cause of that cause, and a cause of that, and a cause of that... It is an endless unfolding, a process that when embarked upon leads to the source, the truth of our existence, that the power of creation lies within us, and that everything we experience is our creation.

We are co-creators. We are engaged in this process of creating together! We create with our thoughts, intentions and actions. Some may create via legislation, voting, running for office, working, volunteering, striking, fighting or warfare. But, one of the most powerful ways that we can create, is to STOP CREATING. One may simply stop cooperating with those who are creating what is undesirable.

It's as simple as that... really! The trick is to get many many people to stop cooperating, and this is where my work comes in. First it starts with me, and then, slowly, one by one, others join me in this process. Soon, just as population grows exponentially, so does non-cooperation, which I prefer to think of as expansion and healing. Pretty soon, corporations lose profits exponentially. Sorry for those who lose jobs and lives (that's the problem with creating nonsustainability), but the good news is, all get to start from scratch and create what truly serves them and the rest of the world (dead or alive). Tabula rasa!

Swede would ask: "Is the fish aware of the ocean?"

People are a part of the world, and because of that, they are not aware that they have created it, nor are they aware that they can stop creating it!

I have been a non-cooperative individual for years, and now I have many many non-cooperative friends. We are usually artists. Many of us have tried to cooperate, but failed, left with scars, and in my case am hugely indebted with school loans.

I do not let this type of pressure affect me. I continue steadily on my course, blazing my trail, inspired with the knowing that I set an example for others to follow.

Because I have survived the nightmares of going to hell for my non-cooperation with religion, and because I have diligently practiced communing with my source, I have experienced healing on a personal level. And now, as a teacher, I provide a space where others may practice healing. It has been the greatest joy of my life to watch my clients illuminate. As people share with me the exciting experience of co-creating what truly serves us, this space will grow exponentially.

On a tangent, there are a gazillion methods or tools people can use to heal, but I prefer instantaneous healing because it gets right to the source and is currently practiced all over the world unbeknownst to most.

War is a great hindrance to healing. There are no forceful measures that we can use to stop war. But, I do know that darkness cannot exist in the light. The little people in the world who are cultivating the light, the prana, the divine within, are the ones who are doing the real work in this world.

Here are some things about me that you may not know:

I do not own a TV.
I do not have a job.
I do not eat animals.
I ride a bike.
My occupation is green.
I create experiences.

I create as little impact on the Earth as possible, while creating the biggest impact on people as possible.

I have very little and am grateful to continue to desire less and less.

I am one of the lightest persons I know.

If I get any lighter, I may just float away...

[of course, clicking this last image will take you to a website that was a real treat]

STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY

2007-09-28T17:40:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again!
Oct. 16th and 17th.
Our chance to peacefully express our desires that our nations hold true to their word that we will eradicate poverty by 2015.

Why stand up?
http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/en/node/13587

Anybody can create a Stand Up event in their area!
http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/en/create-an-event

On the Road Again

2007-09-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

So, after spending many pleasant afternoons in Our Special Spot in early July, the time came to hit the road again. This time, Swede's father, Woody, would be joining us.

Woody has never seen the Redwoods, and this would be his first chance to drive up the California Coastal Highway. Set to Depart on a Tuesday, we drove two hours West and were nearing the edge of the Salt Flats in Utah, when Swede's Dad pulled off the highway (Zabrina and I had a car to ourselves and were following the boys).

Swede had forgotten his guitar?!@#

They could go back to get it and Zabrina and I could drive on slowly without them, and pull off the road somewhere to wait for them, was the plan Swede came up with in an effort to inconvenience us the least. It didn't sound safe to me- I would rather return with them and stay together. The decision was to turn around and go back to Orem, and leave early in the morning.

This purpose was a little far removed from the limited life experience of Wyatt and Zabrina, who cried passionately, begging to ride with me, to keep driving, to keep moving, ensuring that Dad and Woody would meet up with us soon. Of course, I would not give in and ensured them that our detour had a purpose we may never understand.

I explained to Zabrina, in an attempt to make sense of her sniffles and tears that this would not be the last time in her life that she had made such great progress, only to have to turn around and go back, to start all over. It happens to the best of us! The lesson: pay attention.

Back in Orem, we sat out on the deck and enjoyed the evening breeze, and then we watched "1 Giant Leap," one of my favorite movies, a wisdom series on various subjects like spirituality, death, sex, etc., with World Music as a guide. Yes, we were up until about 3am- but, still ready to travel at 7am!

It felt good to pass the marker where we had turned around the night before. It felt like we were finally flowing again.

We ventured merrily into the desert, where we unexpectedly encountered the smoke of the Southwest Wildfires eerily surrounding our path. We had seen it on the news the night before, and now we turned on the AM radio to listen to what was happening all around us. It didn't take long before we saw the fire ourselves, blackening what little vegetation the desert had to offer.

The fires had crossed over the highway during the night, and there was a certainty that the reason Swede had forgotten his guitar was to avoid this natural disaster and the inconveniences and possible dangers associated with it.

Zabrina and I traveled alone together, following the boys, amazed by the power of fire. I was inspired to teach her the Gayatri mantra:

oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tát savitúr váren_iyaṃ
bhárgo devásya dhīmahi
dhíyo yó naḥ prachodáyāt

which roughly translates,

O God, Thou art the giver of life, the remover of pain and sorrow, the bestower of happiness; O Creator of the Universe, may we receive Thy supreme, sin destroying light; may Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.

The Milford Flat fire, pictured above, which consumed over 363,000 acres (about the size of Los Angeles), was the largest wildfire in Utah's history.

There is a story of Hatsumi that Swede tells often. A student approached Hatsumi and asked what he would do if he were tied up, had a gun pointed at his head in point range, while being carried up a mountain in a wheel barrel. Hatsumi replied, "I would not show up in the first place."

This philosophy was imparted to me by my father, John Hart. When I was a girl, my father informed me as to the dangers of the world, and he advised that I prevent myself from winding up in a situation where anyone or anything had the opportunity to inflict harm upon me. For this reason, I use my sixth sense to sniff out any possibility of danger, and walk the path furthest from it.

On the rare occasions that I have been hurt, I can honestly say that I was not honoring the advice my father had given. But, when I said no to Wyatt and Zabrina's pleas to continue through the desert that night, it was obvious to me that my father was guiding me.

So, this takes me back to 1 Giant Leap. We returned to Orem, UT, just in time to watch the last FREE showing of it on Direct TV. Since Swede and I were so excited about it, the kids questioned the validity of it (you know how parents can be). But, the kids really enjoyed it, and we had some extremely intellectual discussions based on the content.

But, now I can look back and see even more purpose. This story has led me to talk about my father, to express my appreciation to him. And as I search for images on the web, I am brought to the words of a song from 1 Giant Leap by Maxi Jazz and Robby Williams called "My Culture":

When I look back over the years
At the things that brought tears to my eyes
Papa said we have to be wise to live long lives

This is what my Daddy told me
I wished he would hold me
A little more than he did
But he taught me my culture
And how to live positive
I never wanna shame
The blood in my veins and bring pain
To my sweet grandfather’s face, in his resting place
I make haste to learn and not waste
Everything my forefathers earned in tears

For my culture

This is just an excerpt, all the words can be read at: http://www.geekroar.com/leopoldo/2004/02/06/lyrics-my-culture-by-1-giant-leap/

and you can even watch the video!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiwW7E800hk

HAPPY 55th BIRTHDAY, DAD!

Even as the World Is Racing By

2007-09-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

Ingrid came on a trip to Monterrey, CA with Swede and I over Labor Day weekend. She posted her pictures on her blog, recently.

Today, while I was reading a book called We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For by Alice Walker, a stanza from a poem jumped out at me. I had just been there, and Ingrid had a picture of it on her blog to prove it. These are Walker's words and Ingrid's proof:

"Following is a poem about the writer's life, riddled as it is with pauses, times of incredible emptiness, times that can sometimes feel as fearful as the deepest night. And yet, with time, with maturity, and above all, with patience, one learns to dance with them.

The Writer's Life

During those times
I possess the imagination to ignore
The chaos
I live
The writer's life:
I lie in bed
Gazing out
The window

To my right
I notice
My neighbor
Is always painting
And repainting
His house.
To my left
My other neighbor
Speaks of too much shade
Of tearing
Out
Our trees.

Sometimes
I paint
My house-
Orange and apricot,
butterscotch & plum-
Sometimes
I speak up
To save
The trees.

The days
I like best
Have
Meditation
Lovemaking
Eating scones
With my lover
In them.
Walks on the beach
Picnics in the
Hammock
That overlooks
The sea.
Hiking in the hills
Leaning on
Our
Hiking sticks.

Writers perfect
The art
Of doing nothing
So beautifully.

We know
If there is
A butterfly
Anywhere
For miles
Around
It will come
Hover
& maybe
Land
On our head.

If there is a bird
Even flying aimless
In the next
County
It will not only
Appear
Where we are
But sing.

If there is a
Story
It will
Cough
In the middle
Of our
Lazy
Day
Only once
Maybe more
& Announce
itself."

Thank you for that affirmation, Alice Walker, reminding me to pursue my path leisurely, even as the world is racing by me.

Addendum:

You can go to the Synchronizing blog for more details about Aunt Ruth, 'cause her daughter, my cousin, Lesley, definitely made a cool discovery:)

http://closetenvironmentalist.com/

Hear the Other Side

2007-09-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

"Evolution of democracy is not possible if we are not prepared to hear the other side." -Ghandi

See what I mean about silence being my friend. When I remove all the ranting and raving, what could be coined negative thought (but what is positive and what is negative anyway), the judgments, the criticism, the me vs. you thought, I feel energized.

I have heard the other side of me, and now I'm going to let it go...

Seth Speaks

2007-09-10T18:13:00.000-07:00

Ingrid received her book in the mail, so we started reading.

We also agreed that a book circle blog was in order, so that we could share favorite quotes and ideas.

If you would like to join us in our book circle- pleeeeaaaazzzz do:)

http://bookcircleblog.blogspot.com/

Open House

2007-09-07T14:56:00.000-07:00

Excuse me for not replying to your messages quite yet, as I am preparing for my very first Yoga Open House!!!

I know, I know, I haven't even begun to tell you the details, but know this- I am aligned with an amazing new studio in Tempe, AZ, and I am working my buns off today to finish up our advertising campaign for tomorrow's open house.

You see, we are in Jen Tilly Gardens, Tempe's best kept secret. We're the studio off the beaten path, the one on the road less traveled.

OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, September 8th
9am-7pm

1801 S. Jentilly Ln., Ste. B8
Tempe, AZ 85281
928.208.1047

New Dissertation Post

2007-09-06T12:43:00.001-07:00

http://www.dizertacia.blogspot.com/

Our Special Spot

2007-09-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

I have been procrastinating in getting my summer adventures posted. Well, not actually procrastinating, just overwhelmingly busy!

Swede, Wyatt, Zabrina and I went to Provo, UT to visit Swede's familia. The four of us all have distinctly unique activities we like to involve ourselves in on any given day. Swede likes to run, lift weights and read. Wyatt likes to swim, fish and eat. Zabrina likes to knit, swim and go to the movies. I like to meditate, run, swim and read. So, we had to figure out a way that we could all get what we wanted out of the days we were to spend together over the next month.

We devised a special plan. In the mornings, each of us received three pieces of paper to write what we wanted to do that day. We put the pieces of paper in a bowl and drew them out one at a time. We then discussed how we could all do what we liked. Well, 95% of the days activities, we found, could be fulfilled at our special spot.

I must say, this picture is a pretty good representation of it, but not quite as pristine. I did not take any pictures of our special spot. But, there was a weeping willow on the edge of a stream with soft grass, not the grass that feels like needles under your feet like we have in Tempe. We put our blankets under the weeping willow, and everyone was able to proceed doing exactly what they wanted!

Wyatt was able to fish from the stream. Zabrina and I bought floatie toys and had our fun drifting down a more tame part of the stream.

A running trail goes for miles alongside the river. I ran my longest distance on the trail: six and a half miles!!! I met my friend, Dave, on the trail. He has popped into my blog. He is a tennis star, who runs 10 miles a day on the Provo Canyon Parkway, and he also eats 120 different foods a day!!!

During the run, I passed the Bridal Veil Falls. So tired, it was my honor to bow before them.

For nearly two weeks, Wyatt, Zabrina, Swede (how could I forget Roxi???) and I made all of our dreams come true at what we like to call "our special spot."

Thanks for the beautiful memories guys.

The Road Less Traveled

2007-08-28T07:10:00.000-07:00

My friend Jeff is at a crossroads in his life. Swede has been teaching him Music Theory off-and-on now for a year or so, hoping that Jeff would use it to try to get into music school. Jeff has not been studying guitar for long, and his playing is exquisite.

Jeff went to Trader Joe's to get a job, because he heard they have the best benefits and get raises three times a year. Some store clerks make $18 an hour. It was all sounding really good, but during the interview, when they asked him what he was interested in, he felt a dischord that haunted him. He couldn't really think of anything, so out comes, "Wine... I like learning about wines." It is very apparent to him in that moment, that this is not the road leading to his dreams.

So, over a glass of wine, Swede, Jeff and I toasted Jeff's decision to go to music school!

Here's to you!

The Road Less Traveled—by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Dissertation Blog

2007-08-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

I have started a new blog:

www.dizertacia.blogspot.com

It is in the usual format of writing an APA paper; i.e., I did not use the following terms: I, you, me, we. Except for at the end- one, all, any, many, some, anyone just didn't have the same impact as you! I hope Harvard will forgive.

The Flame Alphabet

2007-08-23T16:58:00.000-07:00

Aunt Ruth directed us to Free Will Astrology in her blog, today. I am not the type of person to read a horoscope on a daily basis, but every now and then it's fun to see if it aligns with where you are at.

Cancer Horoscope for week of August 23, 2007

According to the Haggadah, an ancient Jewish text, the first thing God made, before anything else, was the Torah. This book was "written with black fire on white fire." The 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet became the raw materials out of which the Divine One forged heaven and earth. Now you, Cancerian, have a chance to get firsthand evidence of the power that language has to shape experience. In the coming days, I suggest that you formulate what you say with great precision. The words you use will have the power of the ancient magical incantation, abracadabra, which is derived from the Aramaic word meaning "I create as I speak."

Well, there are a couple of interesting things about this horoscope. For one thing, I recently met a woman who told me how to pronounce my name in Hebrew-completely out of left field. She pronounced it Roohall. Then I looked it up on line, and found it pronounced Raw Kale. I found this pronunciation pretty synchronistic. Even more so is the way the "22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet became raw materials!!!"

Lately, silence has been my friend. I find myself speaking almost inaudibly, so as not to create inharmonious vibrations in the calm.

Silence is my benefactor.
Silence is the only way for me.

Using my time effectively +
efficiently to harness the
energy + resources needed
to create a great work of art.

Time is my friend.
A higher vibration my frequency.
Expansion my work.
Allow the process to begin.

Off on a Tangent

2007-08-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

I am constantly dreaming and going off on tangents in my imagination. It's how I come up with all my brilliant ideas. I write many of them down in my journal so that I can go back to them later and figure out ways to incorporate my dreams into this physical reality.

Well, it's really hot here in Phoenix- obscenely! But our second-floor apartment stays nice and cool as the AC kicks day and night. There is a faulty sensor on it, so sometimes it just never shuts off. Swede loves it because it is freezing, and if it's over 60 degrees, Swede starts to sweat (that Swedish blood).

As I was gazing out the window, I fell into a trance as the wind picked up the leaves on the trees and shook them so. I wrote this poem:

If I am inside, looing out at the trees,
softly gazing, seeing all at once,
the wind may billow, and
suddenly, the trees are communicating to me.

They say the breeze is intoxicating,
erotic vibrations of bliss emerge
in the quaking and trembling
expressions of an ancient dance.

I am captivated, their only audience,
I am invited to share this exchange
of heat and vibration, manifested
as uncontrollable shivers.

Brrrr... it could be cold out
there, were my eyes the only
windows to this world.

Gratitude

2007-08-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

This was no ordinary summer. It was indeed the blossoming of an intense vision quest.

One of the important things I have learned is that to live in gratitude is to align oneself with the authentic vibration of his or her soul source.

For this reason, I would like to shower gratitude on the friends who took Swede and I in as guests during the month of June:

Thank you so much Frank for allowing us to stay in your spacious spare room with cold AC and a powerful ceiling fan. You have a real knack for interior design. I love the bathroom cabinets!!! No, this is not Frank pictured here, but this is his world-famous album cover. If you click on it, it will send you to his website and you can hear his most popular tune: Kiss My Irish Ass. Let us know when you release your new CD, Frank!Next, thanks to Jefe, the wonderful friend who introduced Swede and I. He is showing off his arm here, because the poor chap dislocated his elbow probably landing a stunt like this from the top of his friend's shoulders during a Capoeita class. Capoeita is a beautiful Brazilian war dance. Jefe has been practicing this art for a couple of years now. He has been studying Flamenco guitar since I met him and is an amicable barista. Some day he would like to own his own cafe which would also be a cultural center where people could enjoy Capoeira, African Dancing, Flamenco, and much more. I hope your dreams come true!And finally, my beautiful friend, Delmy, invited us to stay at her tropical paradise nestled in Apache Junction. If you hear Delmy say the words: "That's something to coach about," you know you had better reassess the way you're responding to any given situation! She is one of the most positive people I have ever met, full of energy and an amazing entrepreneur involved in many altruistic endeavors.

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
- Marcel Proust

Summer Vacation

2007-06-06T13:44:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends,

Swede and I just spent the last week moving and now we are staying at various friends' homes during the month of June while he and I teach summer school.

Then, in July, we are free birds.

I suspect I will be spending some time in Michigan to try to heal my step-Dad who has been recovering from a very rare disease called Wegeners and hopefully making it to the Hart Family 4th of July Weekend.

Also, I will be rendezvousing with Swede in Utah for some caving and hiking in the Mountains and to visit his family there, and travelling the coast of California for awhile, visiting my wonderful friend, Ingrid.

So, the summer is here in the Valley of the Sun, and luckily, it will only be 97 today and tomorrow, before it jumps back up to 107!!! It's not too bad yet, though, because the pavement has not yet soaked up so much radiation that it doesn't cool down in the evenings.

By mid-June, we'll be in the hundies night and day:)

Thanks for visiting my blog.

I'm not sure when my next post will be.

Have a wonderful summer if I don't catch up with you:)

Love, Rachel

Camelback Mountain

2007-05-27T11:54:00.001-07:00

http://www.robertbody.com/arizona2/images/2003-03-camelback-sunset.jpg

Yesterday morning, Swede and I arose at the crack of dawn, 5:30, and made our way to Camelback Mountain to hike. Can you see from the picture above how Camelback got its name?

You can start at the head and work your way up the steep neck to the top of its hump on the Echo Canyon Trail. Or you can take the relatively relaxing hike up its backside on the Cholla Trail. The trails are named after the streets leading to the trail heads.

This home is directly across the street from the Cholla trail head. When the weather is not so hot, the people inside do actually use this space quite regularly. It's fun to spy and see what lifestyles of the rich and famous are up to.

This is a new sign, not usually up. We have mostly Africanized Bees in Phoenix, which are dangerous I hear. But, since a child, my Mother taught me that Bees will not harm you if you do not show fear or agression. So, I have always welcomed Bees to land on me to explore me as if I were a flower. It doesn't take them long to realize I am not made of pollen.

Speaking of Bees, my Aunt Ruth posted an entry titled "honeybees: colony collapse disorder," a read I highly recommend.

Early enough to catch the lawn mower.

Slowly making the incline, the golf course comes into full view.
We should have left at 4:30.
The sun has already risen and it is 90 already!

We like to stay hydrated. I forgot Roxi's bowl and
had to improvise with a plastic baggy.

Swede is already working up a sweat, and we aren't even pushing it! Usually, Swede wears these tiny little shorts and his headphones and runs all the way up the camel's back, over the hump and down it's neck to the other side! Then he runs back up. By the time I have only reached the top and make it back down the same side, Swede will have caught up with me! He's an animal!

Speaking of animals- we ran into this Iguana on the trail- a rare treat! Seconds after taking this shot,
he retreated into his 5-star hole in the rock.

Here is a view of the Phoenician, a five-star resort. We live in Tempe, slightly beyond the boulders on the far right. The little mountain to the left of those boulders is A Mountain,
just walking distance from our home.

A close-up for those of you who like to dream:)

Well, it's been awhile since I hiked, and my limbs are numb. I think this is as far as I will go today.
Want to make it down before it's too hot.

On our descent, I noticed a Rattle Snake peaking it's head out from around the shadow of a rock, right on the trail. I have been hiking in this desert for nearly seven years now, and stories is all I have ever known of Rattle Snakes. Today, I actually saw my very first!

We met a couple of neat people who were just as thrilled to see a Rattler on the trail: David Wagner and Robert Hansen.

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:rT7DaKqpY7SkSM:http://photo.net/bboard-uploads/001mtt-6590584.jpg

From our brief interaction, Swede and I had the sneakiest suspicion that they had climbed Mount Everest. When we checked out their website, we noticed their motivational video "Reaching For New Heights," was all about working together, accountability, passion for excellence, creation of value, and changing the world by reaching for new heights- specifically the heights of Mount Everest! Did our new friends take this footage themselves?

A Nap Can Do Wonders

2007-05-16T16:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I decided to take a nap before going to my last pottery class at The Farm. I attribute that nap to the incredible amount of creative energy I unfurled.

(A piece Rachel made last week, another student in my class)

First of all, a friend in my class taught me how to use the close-up setting on my new little digital camera, releasing the inner photographer that lay dormant since the gift of this camera entered my life last Christmas. As Dave says, "It's amazing what reading the directions will do."

My instructor, James Pyper, has built his own kiln out of found objects and sand, something the desert has plenty of. As kind as he is, he gave me permission to do pottery with my Art class at New Samaritan, firing our work for half the price of the wood. What a swell guy:)

So, my class worked hard, and this is what they came up with.

(My apologies to any students whose pieces did not show up here- I took those pictures before I learned to use the close-up setting)

Once I used up most of the good lighting to take pictures of their work, I decided to see if this new close-up feature I had learned on my camera would work on flowers and other treasures around the farm, like James' old Ford crammed full of wood for the kiln.

So long Dave, Christine, Rachel and James.

I'm a born again photographer.

**** Please Note****
These are not FREE RANGE chicken.
I encourage you to find FREE RANGE eggs.
PLEASE:)

CAGE FREE is not the same as FREE RANGE.
They are still caged, just not in tiny compartments.

Mixed greens in their natural environment.

I love fuzzy wuzzies!

My dog, Roxi and I delighted for about an hour in taking pictures around the farm.

A Pecan Tree Grove.

Happy little pecan- perfectly delicious.

It's starting to get dark, as Roxi and I make our way back to the Artists' Studio, the little red cottage in the very back of this picture up above.

On our way back, we enter the enchanted nursery.

The darkness brings shapes to life.

A maiden, turned to stone, guards the gift shop.

But I am still able to sneak a peak.

Almost there, just past the Retreat.

We even slipped into the Art Gallery. Above is a piece by my teacher- the one that inspired my candle.

This mask is by another artist featuring his work at The Farm

And then, I had just enough time to return to pottery class and learn to use the wheel.

I cannot tell you the thrill of holding clay between your hands as it spins on the wheel. It's tactiley delicious.

I don't have pictures of any more of
my work, except for this necklace piece I made.
It is not quite finished yet.

Once my work is fired, I'll let you see it.

The Farm at South Mountain

2007-05-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

This is how the mountains look at about 5:45pm, on my way to my pottery class, which is held at The Artist's Studio at the Farm at South Mountain.

The sun is getting ready to settle down for the evening and the wind is starting to kick up dust.

As you can tell in the photo above,
we don't have many vegetable farms around these parts!

The Farm at South Mountain is a rarity.

It's become a retreat from the city, within the city.

There are cafes, restaurants, a healing arts retreat, an artist studio, outdoor yoga, shops, gardens, weddings, pecan groves, fresh air (well, we imagine it is),
and the sounds of birds chirping.

Once inside the Artist's Studio, this is the centerpiece that drives creativity.

This is my work of art.
I wanted to make a candle holder that created beautiful shadows on the wall. I didn't have a solid design in mind- just thought I would play around and see what happened. During the process, it started to dry out quite a bit. A piece chipped off at one point. A very important piece. So, I decided to go with it. We are going for the aged effect, so I started ruthlessly chipping, allowing the process of decay to unfold.

And so here it is, the final product. I can't wait to see how it looks after it has been fired. Mostly, I want to watch the shadows dancing on the wall!

Prom Night

2007-05-07T20:42:00.000-07:00

Saturday was Prom Night at New Samaritan High School.

This is the beautiful cake that Stephanie Wiczynski's mom made:)

Here is the Prom King and Queen.
No, not really; it's just Swede and I, on the red carpet.

I had to include this picture, because Shannon has excellent taste in prom dresses. She and I both wore vintage pink lace dresses.

Ah yes, the real King and Queen.
Oops, another false alarm!
It's Dr. Miller, our Principal, and his lovely wife, KC.
She owns SWIHA, the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, where I did my Yoga Teacher Training. In fact, our prom was in the YTT room! It's going to need some serious Feng Shui after we're done with it!

No need to worry about getting spiked punch with the
Punch Patrol
on duty! Mrs. Alvis, Mrs. Fierro and Mrs. Fierro's Mama.

This is Tasha, our Registrar extraordinaire. Without her this prom night would not have been so special. She did all the organizing, shopping, and decorating. I am sure there are a million other details left unmentioned. Oh yes, the guy misbehaving- that's Robert.
You can pretty much expect this type of thing from him.

Our newest addition, Brittany, who is going to teach in Indonesia next year, and Mark, our greatest asset and DJ, who will be teaching in China.

I guess Mr. Alvis is our newest newest addition, yet it seems like he has been with us forever. He is the English teacher who takes our students on amazing intellectual adventures every day.

The boys.
Daniel, our Math teacher, Mr. Canfield, Social Studies, and Mark again.

Drop it like it's hot.

Well, we are all dying to know who will be Prom King and Queen, right?

Alas, the jury is in. Desiree Perez and Robert Gonzalez. This is the first time Robert has ever behaved.

Pratyahara

2007-05-02T17:28:00.000-07:00

"Pratyahara is the process of directing the senses inward to become aware of the subtle elements of sound, touch, sight, taste, and smell. Ultimately, all experience is consciousness. When you look at a flower in your garden, your eyes receive frequencies of electromagnetic radiation that trigger chemical reactions in the rods and cones at the back of your eyes. As a result of these chemical changes in your retinas, electrical impulses are generated that eventually reach the visual cortex at the back of your brain. The interpretation of these fluctuations in energy and information takes place in your consciousness. Although you imagine that you are seeing the flower outside of you, you are actually experiencing it within you on the screen of your awareness. "

- Deepak Chopra

Ingrid

2007-05-02T08:57:00.000-07:00

This is my friend, Ingrid.

I love this picture. Long ago, Swede had this cute little apartment, and Ingrid and I would come over for coffee and reading. Here we are reading Swede's favorite Martial Arts Teacher, Hatsumi's book, Understand? Good, Play! It looks like Ingrid has been busted by Hatsumi doing something naughty, not that Ingrid has ever been bad a day in her life! I guess that's what makes it so much funnier!

This picture is nice, too. The Three Musketeers:)

Remember, I said Ingrid has never been naughty a day in her life. Swede on the other hand is another story. On this special occasion, Ingrid and I have patched up Swede's eyes so he cannot see. He went blind the whole weekend, while Ingrid led him around town on various adventures. Swede was testing out his five-dollar-dance moves with his new perception on life, while Ingrid is clearly taken by surprise!

Ingrid took our blinded Swede to the Mill Avenue Taco Del Mar. I don't know what Swede is doing in this picture, but we are all cracking up!

Ingrid joins us for holidays when she is not out of town visiting her parents in London. Here she is making cider on Halloween with Zabrina.

We all just love Ingrid.
She is peaceful and kind.
She is a music therapist.
She plays Celtic music on the harp.
She used to live right across the street.
She lives on the ocean in California now.
She is far away.
She is still in our hearts and thoughts.

BTW: She has a blog, too- and her poetry is beautiful.

2007-04-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

Good morning all, and Happy Birthday Cousin Lesley!!! I love Mondays. I don't have to be to work until 10, so I can check all my favorite blogs just as the early morning sun comes through the office window. I didn't want to stay away too long for those of you who are checking in:)

This is what the view looks like from inside my office. There is a Swedish super model practicing Manuel Ponce on his Guitar as I write this blog.

The picture below is of Swede and I on our last journey to Utah. We hiked in the Timpanogos Mountains with our lovely Roxanne, searching for snow, and snow we found! We eventually came upon some Moose tracks and heard some heavy breathing far off in the woods, so decided to head back to civilization.

We ran the whole way down the Mountain and snuck up on a couple of Mountain Goats, an extremely rare find up here. So rare, Walkara, Chief of the Utes, used to call them White Buffalo. They escaped so quickly, it was obvious they didn't want to be seen. Rocks fell from up above, alerting us to their presence just seconds before they disappeared.

Wild Nights

2007-04-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

Wild Nights! Wild Nights!
Were I with thee,
Wild Nights should be
Our luxury!

Futile the winds
To a heart in port,
Done with the compass,
Done with the chart!

Rowing in Eden!
Ah! the sea!
Might I but moor
To-night in Thee!

This is my first blog posting. So, where does one begin... how far back should I go? I decided to start with one of my favorite memories, which honors a couple of great friends. As the poem suggests, wild nights are our luxury! I met Lynn at the Arizona School of Massage Therapy, where I used to teach Anatomy. We one day discovered that we had so much in common. She used to teach Anatomy, too. She is also an artist. And before you know it, she was no longer working at ASMT, because she got a job teaching Art. I missed my friend, but no worries, I, too, am teaching Art now, not to mention, Yoga and Anatomy, my other two favorite subjects:)

So, it all starts here, at my favorite place in my house... the fireplace:) Yes, I live in the Valley of the Sun, but who can resist a warm cozy fire every now and then? On this very special evening, Swede and I invited Lynn, and Jason, Lynn's son, over for dinner in front of the fire.

Would you believe, Jason is another anomaly? Swede is one to begin with, but that Lynn's son Jason shares also so much in common with Swede, I can only sigh, "Sadu, sadu," to the universe for such a strange twist of fate. By the way, that's our dog Roxanne with Lynn and Jason.

Of course we needed someone to chop the wood I'd foraged from the neighborhood refuse for the fire. Swede thought it might be an insult to hand our guest an ax, but we soon found another thing these boys have in common, they are both Mountain Men.

Lynn and I cheerfully chatted, and stacked the many many dishes from the evening's festivities a mile high into the sink... to be washed at a later date. It's hard to capture the vibrancy that emanates from the four of us when we all get together. It's like we are all children again, lost in the moment, keeping no track of time. We all went for a glorious walk in our beautiful historical Maple Ash Neighborhood of Tempe, AZ. We are shaded by fifty-year old trees. Lynn and I noticed many palm leaves had been blown to the ground by a monsoon wind storm from the day before. We wondered if they burned well. There's only one way to find out... so we snuck across the street and plucked a fran from the neighbor's yard. Sure enough, the palm fran was extremely flammable, as we suspected and provided a delightful glow:)

Keep the frans away from the fire!!!

In between nursing the flames, we told stories and laughed. The time ticked by effortlessly. I found myself performing Yoga tricks for my guests. Swede played the flute at one point. And then it was time for Swede to show off his Ken Sword. Swede and Jason both have studied Martial Arts extensively, so Jason was familiar with the ritual.

How cool for Swede! It's not very often that he meets another person of his caliber!

Jason was not up for sparring with Swede, but I'm always game. I have been working on sticky hands now for about two years. I am starting to develop my own style and strategy. I've got game. When I am ready, Swede will train me in Ninjitsu. Would you believe that when all was said and done, this wild night didn't end until 4:30 in the morning???

We weren't surprised, though. That's what happened the first time we were invited for dinner at Lynn and Jason's. So, whenever we plan to get together, we are really careful about picking a date. We have to pick a day of the week, and week of the school year that will allow us a couple of days to recover from our slumber party!

Before we met Lynn and Jason, I thought wild nights were gone for good! As we get older, we depend on getting to bed early to make it through our hectic lifestyles. It's fun to know that when Swede and I feel like throwing routine out the window to kick up our heals, we've got two great friends to share the festivities with. When is the last time you pulled an all nighter because you lost track of time?