lemonade or worm bin?

I'm faced with one of those times when I'm looking at the current events of my life and wondering whether to press on and make lemonade. Or whether I have a bunch of rinds and seeds and inedible bits only fit for the recycling worm bin.

Not that I have a worm bin. Maybe that's the problem. I can't recognize what's right in front of me.

It's these moments when I see my looking for the horse in the barn syndrome come into view. I think I'm past the Pollyanna stage - but maybe not.

Yesterday one member of my relay team had to back out for personal reasons. Nothing to be done. She may become one of our volunteers, instead, but even that is up for grabs due to family commitment. That still left us with the minimum number of walkers needed: eight.

Then today, another member had to back out to do unavoidable and unresolvable work conflicts. Now we're one short. And that one short also came with a driver. So - I'm waiting to see if we are missing a driver now, too. Which I assume is a yes.

So, I'm trying to convince the other driver to become a walker for just two of the legs.

I've found over the years that there is sometimes a line when I need to let something go rather than trying to make it all work out. And sometimes the struggle and adversity is just what I need to do and it's a good thing. And I often don't know until further down the road.

This lemons versus garbage incident comes with a $900 registration price tag (non-refundable policy) - so I have more than just spiritual and ethics reason to persevere.

And I think it will be a darned good time! Yet I still wonder... And I hope. Little Pollyanna has raised up her head and says that we CAN do it, yes, indeed.

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workshop: (art and books)

From Serena Barton at The Art Of Your Life

Dear Art-Lovers, Escape mundane life and the awful heat by meeting us in my air-conditioned studio for one of my most popular workshops! Whether you're new to altered books or an experienced altering alchemist who needs a jump-start, you'll enjoy this inspiring and fun workshop! Happy July!

Altered Alchemy Books from a previous class Transform an old boring book in to your own fascinating work of art! Come join us for this mind and book-altering workshop. No previous experience necessary--just a desire to experiment and have fun creating! July 11, 2009 12-4:30 Tuition: 75. Bring an old book to alter. All other supplies provided! The Art of Your Life Studio 1210 SE Oak St. Portland 97214 971-404-7664 To see more altered book photos, go here To register, go here

reading: Wednesday 7/8

From David Oates, local Portland author:

HI FRIENDS -

Come hear a stimulating set of readings this coming Wednesday! Nice chance to check out the new Q-Center on Mississippi too.

Portland Queer is a new collection of short fiction and nonfiction pieces. I'll be reading "Unlocking the Hips." Also reading: Ariel Gore, Jacob Anderson-Minshall (the guy who got pregnant), and Nicole Vaicunas.

Q-Center: 4115 N. Mississippi (n. of Shaver, s. of Skidmore). map

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Cheers, David

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call for submissions

...from Lorette C. Luzajic....

Michael Jackson Tribute anthology
deadline August 29
Michael’s 51st bday

I’m compiling and editing an anthology of writings about Michael Jackson.

Not looking for “I pray we’ll never part/ you’re in my heart” stuff, just so we get that out of the way.

I’d like to see stuff you wrote when your heart was wrenched apart by the news of his passing. I don’t want to obsess over his death, though, to balance the stories with his life.

I’d like you to write something creative about your experience of one of the songs. I’d love you to get really open and write something interesting based on one of the songs. For example, some people have never even heard of Stranger in Moscow and yet it’s one of my favourite works. Not everything is cheesy. I could argue for the creative maturity here and contrast it with the emotional immaturity that still disturbs me. I could write about why I relate so much to Song X.

I’d like you to eulogize, philosophize, lament, theorize. Write about your experience of Michael, how his magic touched your madness. Poems, too. And again, try not to write the kind of stuff Mikey did in Dancing the Dream. I want this collection to be literary, but not snobby. Think Salon or Maissonneuve or Bust Magazine or Now or Discover or Rolling Stone if I get lucky. Or just be from the heart, but come at it from a different angle.

Absolutely zero bashings about dead pedophiles. I shy away from no topic, so feel free to discuss your thoughts intelligently. Discourse is good. But understand that I go with innocent until proven guilty, and the man was found innocent by the courts, so I have to go with that unless something else comes up. You don’t have to agree with me, but there’s no point sending bashings. Thoughtful considerations of the implications of this kind of tragedy and scandal are fine.

Humour, too, please.

There’s still plenty to say about Michael Jackson. I intend to compile it.

Previously published or posts is fine by me, as long as you can prove it’s legally ok for me to use it- ie, you own the rights, or the first publisher gives me permission.

I hope to have this project out by the end of the year, crazy I know, so get writing.

I’m so sorry that I am a woman of few means and this is a labour of love, so I can’t pay you. You will be fully credited with a bio and any websites or whatever you want. It’s a great chance to use Michael Jackson stuff that might otherwise never speak to anyone. It’s a gift to Michael, too, taking his work and impact seriously.

Please feel free to send me a note with any questions. Feel free to run something by me. To check in. Don’t worry, I’m a very friendly editor and I’m not too busy for you because this project is important to me. Like I said, it’s a labour of love, and like many of you, I have a deep, abiding, intense, sometimes upsetting relationship with Michael Jackson. I believe his reign and fall say a lot about our culture, and there were so many aspects to the story that merit pondering. And so, I want to contribute to the shrines in my own way, not just by waving an old poster at the downtown memorials- though I was there, too….

Lorette C. Luzajic
thegirlcanwrite@hotmail.com

www.thegirlcanwrite.net

profundity

...or not.

I want to say something meaningful - worthy of taking up space. I want to give you inspiration and recognition and a boost that makes you want to go create -- something. Create.

But the truth - which is already evident in my slowed posts - is that I am feeling a little uninspired and just trying to get through each day. Well, that's being a bit dramatic. But at this moment that's how it feels and I don't see an end in sight. Which is also a lie because, while it's true that I have a very long work day tomorrow and Saturday which was book-ended with regular work days today and Sunday - I will then be off work until the following Saturday.

So - I'm feeling kind of empty and should have probably just left this post off, too. But it's already been too many days, so you get the excuses and the boring Woe, Is Me posts so that I can keep my self-designated minimum two posts a week -- or else. (I have no idea what my Or Else is.)

Next week promises to be different! Highlights to look forward to when I'm not working:
- a drive to Medford for a meeting about the relay (I was already booked for work for the local meetings; and it's cheaper to drive 9-10 hours round trip than take the time off work to go local).
- a massage
- acupuncture
- a mini-vacation to central Oregon, where I will scout out the relay route and do some training walks
- do the 10k at the Smith Rock Sunrise Classic
- therapy
- two sessions with my personal trainer
- miles of walking
- a kayak lesson on a lake: wet exits and rescues

is that what they meant to say?

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While out for my daily training walk this morning, I came across two signs within one block of each other that made me pause.

RoadTrafficSigns.com

The first one was a little different than this - unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me, so I couldn't capture the exact image. The sign I saw actually said "slow down for children and pets."

I guess it's okay to run over the adults on the road, then? *smile*

The second one looked like this: Exactly like this.

I guess the fast children are inside studying or doing laundry?
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prompt #27 or thereabouts

...for 10 minutes : write, paint, draw, sculpt, or create whatever first comes into your mind using the picture and / or the prompt below the picture....

When I stepped outside, I was surprised to see ...

on or off the road, it's all the same

dear B -

if you ever need to know where the construction zones are, just call me. send me out as a route scout and I'm sure to find them all, no matter where you want to go. especially if it seems like a more relaxing, pleasant drive - I will find any number of irritations to avoid!

D - trying to diffuse road rage in the heat and stinky lines of cars due to torn up roads!!!

ps: - don't worry about me driving and texting. that would be assuming that I had actually moved in the last 20 minutes. seriously.

pss: still haven't moved. time to get out avril's cathartic "let go" cd.

book on the brink

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Okay! Okay! I know I should wait until we get the final proof editing done of the printed version. But I am so excited about the (extremely near) completion of this anthology that I want to tell my virtual world inhabitants that the book is on the brink of being released. Everything is uploaded and we are waiting for our proof copies to check the formatting and how it all looks in print. Once all of that is given the green light, I will post information about how you can order your own extremely reasonably priced ($6.32) copy of our book .

On the Fly: Stories in Eight Minutes or Less

A collection of short fiction and creative non-fiction -- each written in eight minutes -- these gems range from the raw as originally put to paper, to the peer edited and polished story. The writing shows the strength and energy that can be generated by writing quickly and honestly using prompts. The Collective's hope is to inspire writers in the sitting-down-and-writing-process and to provide enjoyment to both readers and writers. Introduction by Ariel Gore.

Soon, readers, soon! I will give a link to the publishing site when we've done our final proof. As a matter of fact, the book will probably live on the left side of my website for a while!
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