Rubber duckie you're the one...

The Power of Will

Way back in 1935 a teacher named Angus Bowmer, who lived in Ashland Oregon, used to get together with his friends and put on Shakespeare plays. One year he decided it would be fun to perform his plays at the town Fourth of July celebration. He talked to town council and they loaned him $500. Angus and his friend rehearsed two plays but a few days before the Fourth, town council said that they were a bit nervous and wanted to stage some wrestling matches before the plays to offset any potential loss of the loan. Angus agreed. The plays were performed (Merchant of Venice and one other) People LOVED the plays and according to our tour director, Angus was able to make enough to not only pay back the loan but also to cover the losses from the wrestling matches. Today thousands of people flock to Ashland to see Shakespeare. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is the longest running rep festival in the nation. Dad and I loved it! Thanks Angus!
Here's a quote from a book Dad and I are reading for our annual combined book/film club - The Power of One. Doc is talking to Peekay, his seven year old student.
"Ja Peekay, always in life an idea starts small, it is only a sapling idea, but the vines will come and they will try to choke your idea so it cannot grow and it will die and you will never know you had a big idea, an idea so big it could have grown thirty meters through the dark canopy of leaves and touched the face of the sky.... When you are a young plant, [vines] are very dangerous. Always listen to yourself, Peekay. It is better to be wrong than simply to follow convention. If you are wrong, no matter, you have learned somthing and you will grow stronger. If you are right, you have taken another step toward a fulfilling life."
Love you guys - Mom/Nano

I heart LA too!!

So ya, maybe it's that there's so much talent here. My roomate just came home with amazing headshots she got for $10... or the aspiring rockstars who just want to make music at the Musician's Institute where I work, or that there's fashion everywhere you look. Maybe it's that there are so many people here my age - a couple of them performed at a local club last night, or all the tourists with their flowery shirts and cameras around their necks walking the sunset strip. Maybe it's the surfer dudes walking away from the beach in just bare feet, heading back home after a morning surf. Or maybe it's that I JUST MET BRAD PITT!! But, yea, I'm liking L.A too. Did I mention that? I just met BRAD!!! he's so hot! i was driving Ben, the guy I'm working with - to Brentwood. I looked over at the convertible beside us and I'm like, 'hey, that looks like Brad Pitt!' . We pulled up to the stop light and I'm like, 'it IS Brad Pitt!' He was so cute!! so i waved to him and he waved back !!!!!! I freaked out when I got home and told my roomates.

i heart LA

Something has shifted over the past few weeks, or was it the past year? maybe it was when we discovered 'dainties' the fantastic cupcake bakery two blocks from our house, inconspicuously wedged behind Winchell's and Chicken Zankou. Maybe it's that the weather is amazing- 70 degrees most days of the year- crowned with a sky perfected by ocean breezes and unblemished by drizzle. Maybe it's that we started going to the beach more often and Ian's tried his hand (er... legs) at surfing. Or that we live just down the street from the temple, or that I love the jackarannas that burst out in spring on the avenues, like Anne of Green Gable's white way of delight only gorgeous purple. Or maybe it's the sweeet park just a brisk jaunt from our front door with the lovely cool creek perfect for bare little tootsies, or the new H&M that opened last year at the Beverly Center. It's got to be one of those things, because Los Angeles feels like home the way no place has in a very long time.
i know LA's got a bit of a shady past- the city is watered by subterfuge, General Motor's robbed us of a good public transportation system, and housing prices skyrocketed since we got here. Yes, it's not perfect- Los Angeles has too many broke waiter-actors, too many insecure old dudes who feel the need to buy Hummers. People complain LA's got no culture, no architecture, no... soul. But if you should find yourself here, somewhere in the Los Angeles sprawl- somewhere not too far from the gorgeous Union Station, the hallowed old MGM studio lot where Ian works (now Sony Studios), or yummy Pinkberry's on a little leaguers night, let's just say that there is no doubt about this: there are far worse places to wind up.

Moving To Springfield

Thought you guys might get a kick out of this. You can simpsonize yourself at www.simpsonizeme.com.

Only Then Will Your House Be Blessed

I don't know if this is what you're looking for Linds but recently there is one guitar song which has been my mantra for the past two weeks. I've listened to it so many times as I've needed to resolve some negative feelings towards someone and it's reinforced my efforts to "let it go." Performed by Harry Manx - it's a good time.

Let it go, let it go, well, well, let it go, go
Let your sword of vengeance rest
Do the blind lead the blind?
Well, well, don’t be cruel to be kind,
Only then will your house be blessed

Ya, Offer prayer, offer prayer, well, well,
Offer, sweet prayer ya, now
To your uninvited guest
Oh whoa, won’t you give him the right ya, ya,
To be welcome through the night
Only then will your house be blessed.

Turn your cheek, turn your cheek, oh well,
Turn your, your other cheek,
May your mercy manifest oh whao,
When the hawk and the dove, ya, ya
Fly circles round your love
Only then will your house be blessed.

Let it go, let it go, let it go, go
Let your sword of vengeance rest
Do the blind lead the blind, well, well,
Don’t be cruel to be kind,
Only then will your house be blessed.

Ukilele Soothing

So I was at this BBQ last night and one of the guys there played the Ukilele. It was the funnest thing! He knew all kinds of cool songs, and he'd spin it and hit the back of it like a drum. I liked hearing different, luau type music.

I'm inspired to get more songs on guitar under my belt. Has anyone else been to a cool concert lately or heard a street performer doing something funky?