Today is August 26, 2008

So, the reunion was fun. But more than anything it was really great to see people I hadn't seen in forever...and to know those folks are doing just fine. They're the Joes and Janes like all of us. They're doing jobs, raising families, and generally getting along just fine in life. Of course there was a list of people to be remembered...people no longer walking this earth. That was difficult to see. But it's part of the great cycle in which we're all tangled.

So now I'm focused on getting ready for the fundraiser I'm involved in. It's really amazing, really. It's called Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up. And it's a joint effort between The American Alpine Institute and the American Foundation for Children with AIDS.

My team is called KanyeKanye Climbers. The word KanyeKanye means 'all together' in Zulu. We're aiming to raise $5000. And there's no way we'll get there without support. In fact, we need quite a bit of support - is there any chance you'd be willing to help? Anything is going to be greatly appreciated! Here's our fundraising page: www.firstgiving.com/kanyekanyeclimbers.

Ok, enough solicitation. I'm tired, and I'm sure you have things you need to do! But know that you are wished peace. And a really fresh donut...and great coffee. (Hey, a girl's gotta indulge a bit!!)

Peace out, YO!

23rd aug oh ate.

[Addendum to this date's earlier post: We went to the reunion tonight. It was really quite nice to see folks and know they were doing well. They were all generally getting along in life just fine. And there is something totally comforting about that. Oh, and I totally wore black combat boots with a brocade dress. SWEET!]

First night of reunion last night. Very intersting to observe folks.

Went to Virginia Beach Rock Gym today - great workout. More importantly, saw a blind woman climbing. A guy from the gym was belaying her and giving her movement instructions. Really awesome - -she beat a chick that was climbing next to her. Totally kicked her tail! And the chick who got schooled had her sight! Yesssss.....

I'll let you ponder that one. There's quite a bit to take away from it.

Tis the twentieth. August, 2008

It's a beautiful, although scorchingly hot, day. I'm to attend my high school reunion this weekend. What an interesting prospect that is -- I have to be honest, my memory is not particularly great. I don't mean that I don't have great memories of high school....I mean to say that where remembering anything at all is concerned, I seem to be lacking in skill. Those who know me well know that my mind moves a billion miles per second, but in doing so, much of what was there falls away rather quickly. I have to suppose it's rather a gift in some regards. After all, I'm quite likely to forget all manner of unpleasantries associated with any normal existence.

At any rate, I'm focused on this reunion thing. This reassemblage of humans. This retreating into the past only to realize there's nothing there - -no past. We're here now, and that is what is palpable....so to try to run furiously toward some vaporous yesterday can be quite frustrating I'm sure. But as I attend this reunion I'll likely be thinking about the many new friends I've made since high school. And I'll be thinking about how grateful I am to have those new friends -- and when I see the people at this event with whom I've not had contact in decades, I'll likely say to myself, "how wonderful...people to meet..." and then I'll set about the task of meeting a couple of folks all over again. And the joy of getting to know a soul or two all over again will be excellent.

Of course, social phobia being a problem for me on occasion, I might just sit back and watch, observing and absorbing the comings and goings of these creatures, these lives, these energy units. Who knows.

So, I'll hop back on here early next week I should think. And if you're interested (all two of you...thanks Mom and Dad for reading this page!! lol ) I'll tell you a bit about what happened at the event....the event to which I fully intend to wear a brocade dress with black leather combat boots.

Peace, yo!

August 17, 2008

I'm quite sorry to say today is the last during a string of remarkable days during which the playwrights and actors have inhabited my studio to ply their crafts. Unbelievable energy has found its way around the place, through the walls, along the floorboards, and into the spaces inbetween.

I'm grateful to these people, these creative creatures who have flown about, their wild hairs sailing on the North Carolina breezes. And the amazing depth of energy and creative growth I've been fortunate to witness - well - it has been nothing less than stunning to observe.

I've taken a bit of a sabbatical this summer from creative work. My exhibit was a joy to produce, my poetry and artwork made their way into Kakalak, but other than that, I took a short break. And now, I've been accepted to graduate school for Philosophy, which will feed my creative work, and for that I'm truly grateful as well.

Oh, and while I'm on the topic, look up Minka Wiltz. Astounding in her talent, she was a joy to meet, as with the others who were at the studio. Thank you to all of you who visited.

Come back now, y'all. Y'hear?

Peace.

August 12, 2008

Today a group of playwrights and actors gathered at my studio. What a strange and interesting feeling to have so many people in there at once. Those who know me well know that typically I'm found with two or three folks at MAX. More than likely I can be found hanging out with one pal. I'm just not a group kinda person. However, I offered the use of my studio for a week to a friend whose playwrights' group gathers several times per year to read scripts in progress. How fascinating it was today not only to have so many people there but to hear those creative souls plying their crafts. Amazing.

So, while I was pondering that whole deal at the studio I was also floating on a bit of a cloud, I must admit. You see, I have this obsession (which one....? there are many....). Anyway, this obsession of which I am presently speaking is....philosophy. And yesterday I received word that I will get to dive into the study of philosophy via a Master's and ultimately a PhD program. I couldn't sleep last night. And today I alternated between permagrin and clouded elation. I've had a few friends along the way who've been interested in discussing philosophy -- thank you to you friends. And thank you to the folks along the way who've understood just how important the process of thought is to this human.

So, tonight I'm going to drift off to sleep and dream of essays and ponderings. I'm going to see vivid images of Kant and Hume, Descartes and Wittgenstein. And I'm going to know that like rock climbing, Philosophy is bound to figure in for quite some time to come.

Peace to you - and thank you from the bottom of my soul to the friends (and family, of course) who have been kind enough to gently embrace this wandering soul along the way.

August 7, 2008

I wandered outside this morning and immediately noticed the weight of my limbs. I've been climbing a TON recently, and I have to admit I'm a bit tired at the moment. But that will pass! In fact, I'm missing chunks of skin in some places on my hands and forearms from climbing -- but I'm here to tell you that passion will make you do strange and wonderful things -- like lead climb a crack with hands taped and continue to finish the climb even though your nerves are exposed where the rock has chewed into the fleshy heel of your palm. MMMMmmmmm good!!

So, the end of summer is approaching, and the school has begun sending stapled piles of papers through which I'm sorting as I prepare for the beginning of yet another school year. The density of the July air is beginning to give way to hope that Fall will bring more bearable temps, degree by degree. And though the leaves haven't begun the process of changing, they've definitely begun considering it. You know that feeling, don't you? It's that momentary pause you take just before you let go of whatever it is you cling to and sssssssWING out into the abyss as I did two days ago with a friend I took climbing.

I'm hopeful I'll return to the precious flow of images and words to which I've become so accustomed, but I have to admit that taking a break from art and creative writing this summer has been a real blessing. I've had time to exist without thinking about existing. And for those who understand my strange and rather obsessive need to pick apart every fiber of my soul in an effort to delve ever deeper into the pool of resonance that fills my core, you'll probably understand as well as do I that such exploration is extraordinarily exhausting. So I've spent the summer exploring crags and trails, trees and rocks. I've not explored my soul any further. And thank goodness for that!

All this said, I have to run...there is an amazing group of playwrites showing up on the doorstep of my studio on Monday. I'm so excited -- they're going to go through the process of analyzing their writing, sharing tales woven and unravelled, and we'll all dig a little bit deeper into our minds to see what's there. Wait....did I just say I'll be digging deeper into my mind...? Ah well, perhaps I should go ahead and dig out the old maps and headlamp. Maybe I'm ready to head back into the cave - spelunking is a marvelous pursuit. The good news is that I know the backroads...and the shortcuts. I know my way around those parts. And I know the easiest way to get back out of the deep (and just where the best ice cream stand is on the road back to daylight).

Be well, and enjoy your own explorations!

Peace, friends!

July 30, 2008

Our climbing team made the paper! Check it out! Thank you VERY MUCH to the Charlotte Observer for helping us bring attention to our climb to help kids with HIV/AIDS. www.firstgiving.com/kanyekanye. Check out the article on the web: Climbers Help Kids with HIV/AIDS.

July 29, 2008

How could they do it??? HASBRO has made the developers of Scrabulous, a game on Facebook, shut down their application! I'm all for fairness and all, but I'm also a Scrabulous ADDICT. They've left a sister crouching in the corner, shaking and drooling because I can't get a hit of Scrabulous this morning. Sheesh.

(Hey....pssst....you got any? I'll pay you...maybe tomorrow...a few bucks? Really...I'm good for it if you just give me a hit....)

LOL

July 28, 2008

Several things have happened. Nothing earth shattering, mind you, but things none the less.

First, I went to the studio today and painted for the first time in more than two months. It was wonderful. It wasn't a long spell of work, but a great moment for sure. Second, my work was just published in Kakalak, and Anthology of Carolina Poets. I'm really excited about it -- two pieces of artwork and one poem appear in the book. Thank you to the Kakalak Publishers!! There are other things, but those are the two with which I'll leave you for now.

July 18, 2008

Am at my parents' house. Came with the kids to visit and to see my grandfather. He's an amazing soul. I actually had the opportunity to pick fresh cherry tomatoes and blueberries today. Doing so, with the kids, made me wonder how many times the things I'd eaten at my grandparents' house, most often cooked by my grandmother who has now passed away, were from their garden. it's an amazing thing to take the food you consume directly from the plant which produced it. I wonder how many of us have had the opportunity to do so.

I have a cousin whose family lives (survives) on a farm. Their farm has offered them more than their share of adventures (I'm using that word lightly here...). They have had rain come in and cause them to have to rush out to harvest soybeans. They have managed livestock - hogs and such. They have planted and harvested year after year. And now their children are nearly out of the nest, and I have to think that their perspective must be so very interesting.

At any rate, forgive the rambling of thoughts....I suppose the tomatoes I picked with my son today, and the blueberries I picked with my dad fed more than my body. Apparently my soul was hungry too.

Peace.

June 22, 2008

Wow. What a day. I went climbing on Thursday, and again today. Thursday was all top rope. Today was trad leading. And I broke through some barriers today in the old cranial cavity! I've been so scared at certain times when climbing and today I pushed through that creepy scary feeling and went on ahead with te climb I was doing. It's funny, but it felt like my artwork -- I've never been afraid to do my artwork - - never afraid of people's reactions, thoughts, commentary, criticism. So when I climbed today and pushed through, it was AWESOME! The friends I was climbing with are really great people and we just had a GREAT day.

Anyway, I hope you will consider contributing even $5 to the fundraiser I'm involved in -- our team will climb to raise money for kids with AIDS. It is totally worth it to give just a little...you could help a child live another day.

Peace to you, my friends.

June 12, 2008

Well, here we are! Summer has arrived (not officially, I guess, but it's hot and the kids are out of school...and to me, that means summer). But even in the midst of temps already at or over 100 degrees each day, my mind is on Fall. In September, the team of climbers with whom I'm working to raise funds as part of the national Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up effort will all land in the New River Gorge where we will complete the climbing for which we will receive donations. All of that is wonderful and exciting, but as I prepare for the event(s) I find myself thinking about the kids who will receive medication as a result of our efforts. And I find myself wishing I could sit and hold their hands, smile with them, cry with them....just BE with them. I want to look into the eyes of the human beings whose suffering I can't even begin to fathom, and tell them that I love them. I want to tell them that there are people in the world who want them to survive, who want to help, who believe it's possible to give them even just one more day, month...year.

I hope you'll think about helping our team reach our goal of raising $5,000 by September. We can't do it alone - - we know it must be done, as the Zulu people say, KANYEKANYE - "all together".

Peace, friends.