Fellini

If we'd all be more quiet, I think we might understand something."
-Fellini

Advice I take to heart.

Twilight

I just finished reading Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. It's safe to say the I now have a new book obsession. The way I was hooked reminded me of when I started reading the Harry Potter books. Any free minute I had I would steal away and read Twilight. You immediately love Bella and identify with her (at least the girls will) and you love (in quite a different way) Edward Cullen. The story is simple. Bella is a human. Edward is a Vampire. They are in love. You can imagine all that can ensue. Meyer's portrayal of vampires is amazing and complete. She manages to portray them in a way that seems familiar yet uttery original. If you haven't picked this up, now is the time! It will fill the hole left in you when the Harry Potter saga ended. It is a four book series and I am out the door to buy book two. Thank you Stephenie!

The long lost art of letter writing

Emails, texting, instant messages, facebook... Sure, they all carry the same components as letters: words to communicate a message. But they are far from the same. And something I miss. My grandfather passed away this past spring and was a master letter writer. I read through his letters I've saved and they are much more than any text or email I've ever received. They are rich in language, wisdom, beautiful quotes and, best of all, love. In looking through my grandpa's things I found first and seconds drafts of letters, which reinforced the importance of them to me. They weren't just half hearted thoughts jotted down. They were thoroughly thought out. There is something in putting the pen to page and writing a letter. An art now lost or losing ground rapidly anyway.

So, the next time you want to touch base with someone and shoot them an email, surprise them and write a long letter.

All the writing advice you need...

"First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!!" (Or her...)
– Ray Bradbury

Learning from failure

That's what we're told right? To learn from our mistakes, our failures. That is the theme of J.K. Rowling's commencement speech she gave at Harvard. It's worth a watch or read. Check it out.


http://harvardmagazine.com/go/jkrowling.html

Walt Whitman's Birthday!

Happy birthday Walt! Below is my favorite poem of his and a couple great quotes too.

Darest Thou Now, O Soul

"DAREST thou now, O Soul,
Walk out with me toward the Unknown Region,
Where neither ground is for the feet, nor any path to follow?
No map, there, nor guide,
Nor voice sounding, nor touch of human hand
Nor face with blooming flesh, nor lips, nor eyes, are in that land.

I know it not, O Soul;
Nor dost thou—all is a blank before us;
All waits, undream’d of, in that region—that inaccessible land.
Till, when the ties loosen,
All but the ties eternal, Time and Space,
Nor darkness, gravitation, sense, nor any bounds, bound us.
Then we burst forth—we float,
In Time and Space, O Soul—prepared for them;
Equal, equipt at last—(O joy! O fruit of all!) them to fulfil, O Soul."

"And your very flesh shall be a great poem."
Walt Whitman

"If you done it, it ain't bragging."
Walt Whitman

Won't you be my neighbor...

Today in 1967 was the premiere of Mister Roger's Neighborhood! Kid's television wouldn't be here as we know it today if it weren't for Fred Rogers and his passion for educating children. Linda Urban had this awesome link on her blog and it affected me so deeply I thought I would share it with you all. It is of Fred Rogers testifying about the importance of children's programming. I can't watch it without crying. He was an amazing man.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEuEUQIP3Q