today was one of those days where absolutely everything sparkled!

what made the day so shiny that i don’t want to go to sleep? what made the day pass so quickly and so vibrantly? what made my day so bright, so exhilarating, so moving – so meaty?

it was a day spent being clear, complete, and open to whatever came at me. it was a day where the cat didn’t jump on my stomach to wake me up and i drove into the last spot open in an overcrowded parking lot.

it was a day where every person i encountered was a wonderful dream!

i met people of all shapes, sizes, shades, ages, professions, and sexual preferences. people who had nanny bills and mortgage payments. people with beautiful skin and hands, lovely voices, and gruff moods. people with dogs, large and small, barking furiously, jasmine and incense hovering around their doors. there was the man feeling betrayed by politics as usual who clears innocent prisoners on death row who were betrayed by the legal system. there were frazzled moms with freshly bathed children.

i met people visiting from israel, australia, and canada. i met an old couple sitting in an apartment sharing a meal and a young couple nestled on a couch in an apartment across the street. both spoke to me through screened windows while the tv flickered in the background. one elderly woman from chile confided in me. “shhh! she said, don’t tell anyone that…” so now, we are bonded for life!

i met an immigrant from ethiopia who happened to be a friend of a friend – both guys have wide smiles and happy eyes. fast music from le tigre played in one woman’s car. four guys, dressed identically in white tee-shirts and black jeans, napped in an SUV. their hip-hop beats thumping all over the block.

i ran into all kinds of people today who shared one thing – luminous, bare humanity.

nothing is as delicious as a human being being human!

the sky is pale blue from california coastal haze. i can see people in their cars and on the street wearing tee-shirts. no site of a tank top all morning. there is a breeze going thru my studio. is it hot outside?

that guy over there in the suit looks pretty comfortable. i’m going out on my bike and i want to be comfortable, too.

where will i ride? should i bring a lot of water? what time does the olympic swimming & track trials start. maybe, i’ll ride over to see my parents. i can watch it with them. good idea! i’ll meander over and bring the laptop, too.

perfect! a little editing, a little sports, some exercise, and a fun afternoon with the family! i can organize later!

everyday is someone’s birthday.

is it a day spent quietly with no fanfare or is it a day spent bouncing with friends in an inflatable hello kitty jumper, surrounded by pink and white balloons, curly streamers, kool-aid, and cake?

i used to be one of those sly people who let my birthday pass without a mention. then, i thought – why hide? why be so stingy! there are people who love to love you! supreme enjoyment is present when wishing a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! bursting with love and bubbling with generosity. how about soaking it in?

it’s a gift to accept love. it’s a gift to give it. do you know anyone who would love to be loved on their birthday? birthdays are a great opportunity to release love & joy into the world.

after the party’s over – then what?

well, live like it’s your birthday everyday. BE LOVE and LOVING!

go ahead, buy that musical card. mail it to yourself or to another.

today is the perfect day to shout HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU! and fill the day with LOVE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

i found a lovely poem at gerald ford’s blog, the level 8 buddhist, http://www.level8.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/moonlight/

the poem is by Honen. it’s called Tsukikage

Though the moon shines all over the world

Leaving no corner in darkness,

Only those who gaze upon the moon

Appreciate its serene light.

i had a lot that i wanted to write in response to the post. i left nothing. i frequently have a lot to say. sometimes, having a lot to say can just be having a lot to say just to say something.

i could have a good point or two to contribute. or, i may think i have to vigorously defend something or someone – usually that someone is me. i may even agree with what’s being said, so, i am soothing and sympathetic. at times, i just want to be the smart one.

i often ask myself – what is the intention behind what i am about to say? what is the intention behind what the other person is saying? does it move anything forward to speak at this moment?

sometimes, it works to gaze at the moon and appreciate how things are, to let go of everything else, and just listen.

thank you, gerald, for providing a gentle stop!

one of my all-time favorite foods is cotton candy. fresh is always the best; however, buying it wrapped in plastic off a cotton candy tree will do. it’s a simple treat that lights up any day when it turns up.

my sunday escape was fruitful. i returned from a quick ride ready to work. tee hee hee! the database that i escaped from wasn’t ready for me. 

sunday: grateful for finding cotton candy treat; biking in perfect blue sky conditions with no traffic and a hint of ocean air; having an opportunity to return emails to friends who i haven’t been in touch with in ages.

it’s already after 1pm and i haven’t taken my bike out! i did finish the first post for my new blog and cleaned up after the kids who were visiting last night.

i am avoiding work on a database that has been difficult to maneuver around. it doesn’t help that i blame the database for me being indoors at the moment. i act like it’s taking something away from me. my bike is all ready to go. my shoes are right here. i keep seeing smiley people riding their bikes outside my window. why am i allowing myself to be held hostage by a friggin’ database? time to escape!

the new blog is audaciousbodacious.wordpress.com – it will be an adventure in spreading the gospel of being bold! thanks to all the great blogs out there! so much communication zinging around the web!

i’m grateful for accomplishing a lot today and taking time for a short bike ride.

i’m grateful for accomplishing a lot and taking time to watch the lakers/celtics blow-out. wow! but, i always want a seven game finals – love the excitement of down to the wire! the lakers lost their focus early on and never really got it back. the celtics were astounding – it’s the best concentration i’ve seen from them during this series. what a difference sharp intention and execution has in fulfilling on one’s goals!

in the 4th quarter of one game against the lakers, the celtics blew a huge lead coz they were playing with their heads on the moment after the last buzzer sounds. pulling back into the present, handling the ball one play at a time, is what won them that game.

one intended outcome of this blog is getting back in touch with my creative drive – my inner pierce/allen/garnett/bryant or rondo! writing opens up my mind. it sharpens my focus on where i’ve been, where i’m at, and what i can complete today. i’ve been playing the tomorrow game lately. nothing happens tomorrow. it all occurs right now!

i’m grateful for having so many photos that i like. my ideal job is travelling all over creating images  – anywhere will do! yep!

right now, i’m going to travel to bed and head off to dreamland.

good night!

it can be quite easy to be sideswiped by someone else’s experience and believe something is true just because they said so. it’s easy to make assumptions about all kinds of things.

tonite, i saw a blog headline about al gore really being a stupid fat idiot or something to that effect. at first, i assumed it was because he endorsed barack obama. i assumed the person making the comment was one of those wild hillary supporters who are going to vote for john mccain just because he’s not barack obama. i realize - how can i make up anything about the person calling al gore names since i don’t even remember the exact headline nor did i bother to read the post. 

maybe, al did do something stupid like getting stuck in a little bitty sticky box when he could of stepped into a gigantic one or avoid being in a box alltogether. maybe, stepping into the little box won him 3 zillion dollars to give to his favorite cause and the person calling him names didn’t have the entire background of the incident – otherwise, he’d be called al gore, the smartest man in the world. oh! the writer might have accidentally typed in al gore instead of another person or meant to tell a joke in the blog and i missed it. maybe, no one is calling al gore anything?

i could read the story and find out why al is so stupid, but, hey, it’s more fun inventing!

anyway, a man who was vice president of the usa, who has an academy award, AND received a nobel peace prize doesn’t strike me as being stupid and he certainly could be given a little leeway from time to time should he have a characteristic as human as that!

being grateful….

tonite, i’m grateful for the opportunity to learn about tennis rackets of the 21st century. i want to play tennis again to get fit and maintain peace of mind. i have misplaced my classic jack kramer wood racket, so, i’ve been going to sporting goods stores to see what’s available.  wow! what a variety! colorful, too!  any suggestions?

i’m grateful for having three adorable cats. i call them all booboo even though i gave each their own names when i first adopted them. i got the furry black cat from a vet in benson, arizona. spooky was the casualty of a messy divorce. moustached ezell came from the cat rescue people who spend saturdays at petco on inglewood avenue. the third cat, juji2, boldly strolled into my neighbor’s office one day. juan is fiercely allergic to cats. his eyes were all red and swollen when i happily took the kitten away. my cats are great entertainers and perfect companions!

lastly, i’m grateful for having run across that goofy headline about al gore. my curiosity has been sparked. i’m going to look for it and see if any of my assumptions are even close. tomorrow – later today – i will exercise my brain and make up stuff all day long!

being grateful is one of the best ways to turn an ordinary day into one of joy. when i notice any low energy or crankiness, i stop and ask - what am i grateful for?

i am grateful for the glendale memorial hospital woundcare center. the wonderful doctor and nurses there are treating my dad for wounds on his foot. one open sore on the top of his foot was so bad his tendons were showing. it wouldn’t heal. amputation was suggested by a doctor elsewhere. instead, my sister found glendale memorial and a new approach. his sore is almost completely healed. props to the woundcare team for their vision and the excellent care they give all their patients! thanks to the other doctor for waiting regarding the amputation and his staff for their kindness as well.

i am grateful for having found glue for the sew-up tires on my road bike. performance bikes in north torrance has the tires too! left in the garage, my bike became the afternoon snack of my sister’s dog. what a surprise to find it in such a mess! now, i get to re-build it back to the fine-tuned machine it is born to be.

i am grateful for the curiosity and why not! of children. my brother’s kids are fun! they are always creating and experimenting. i love seeing what they come up with whether it’s legos, drawings of aliens, or stuffed animal outfits!

i am grateful for the opportunity of weeding at my parent’s house. i love gardening. i have plants in containers in my studio but being out in the yard with a shovel and dirt is the best!

what are you grateful for?

there are a lot of interesting people and cool projects which cross my path. 

they are exciting and inspirational.

artists, healers, baby huggers - folks high on life making a difference in the lives of those around them. and, soon, yours!