Artist Date, Weeks 19 and 20 ~ Playwriting Class

The reason I have not blogged for the last two weeks is not because I wasn't doing any Artist Dates, but one of my Artist Dates lasted two whole weeks.  I took a course in playwriting at the Theatre Artists Studio.  Hal Corley, playwriter and 5-time Emmy Award winner, taught the class.  The class was designed for people who never have written a play before and focused on writing a 10-minute play.  Not only did I write my first play over the two-week course, but I also participated in stage readings for all the other student's plays.  This course was exhilerating - but also extremely tiring.  The course just ended yesterday, and I'M POOPED!

Over the course of the last two weeks, I also managed to go see three productions.  The first two were Hal Corley productions - two plays he wrote and were performed at the Theater Artist Studio.

The first play I saw was Suocera - which means mother-in-law in Italian.  Suocera uncovers the rivalries and lethal dangers in a seldon explored family dynamic - mother-in-law and son-in law.

His second play Mama and Jack Carew is a harrowing look at an unlikely triangle that explores the dark corners of maternal relationships.  Both of his plays are very intense dramas and for mature audiences only. 

On a much light note - the third production I saw was The Producers at the Fountain Hills Community Theater.  All the actors were top notch, and the show was better than I expected.  I was impressed how a small comunity theater could pull off such a large broadway musical - but they did it - and it was GREAT!

Those who lose dreaming are lost.

AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL PROVERB

Artist Dates, Week 19 ~ Sunday A'Fair - Peace and Community Day

On Sunday, January 16th I spent the whole afternoon in Old Town Scottsdale at Sunday A'Fair.  The theme for this concert was Peace and Community Day  - A day of unity in conjunction with the Martin Luther King Jr. birthday.

The first musical group playing was a local favorite - Walt Richardson and the Peaceful Warriors. They were sensational.  I could have listened to them all afternoon.

The second performance was another local favorite -  jazz vocalist, Nancy Gee, and her protégée Judy Roberts.  Both women could really belt out a tune.

 

During the break at the concert I went over to SMoCA to check out their new exhibit - Dance with Camera.  Spanning films from the 1960s to today, Dance with Camera explores the visual and conceptual connections between Hollywood musicals, avant-garde cinema, postmodern dance and MTV.

Courage - fear that has said its prayers.

DOROTHY BERNARD

Artist Dates, Week 18 ~ Old Town Scottsdale with Ducks and Tigers - OH MY!

Oregan Ducks vs. Auburn Tigers
BCS Championship Game

I have been too couped up indoors for the past couple of weeks.  I really needed to get out in the fresh air and sunshine for one whole afternoon.  So I spent my Sunday afternoon in Old Town Scottsdale with just myself and no agenda.  First, I went to over to the Sunday A'Fair and heard Sara McAllister Band for awhile.  Then I went to SMoCA to see the exhibit Bridges: Spanning the Ideas of Paolo Soleri. 

Then I went over to Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and saw in their art @ young gallery the exhibition Bridges: Connecting Earth to Sky.  After that I walked over to the Soleri Bridge.  I had of course seen it, but never walked over it before.  Nice!

The downtown area was filled with Ducks and Tigers.  It was great seeing all the restaurants full of people.  I ventured over to the ESPN zone where the pep rally was going on, and watched a little from a far off distance.  Even though I really don't care who wins the BCS game, it was hard not to get caught up in all their excitement.  Their exuberant energy was intoxicating.

Next, I ventured over to the Artisan Market on 5th Avenue.  The streets were also full of musicians and bands, so I parked my butt by each of them and gave them all a listen.

I ended my day back at the Sunday A'Fair listening to Bríd Dower.  All in all, a very good Artist Date with myself.  A little music, a little art, and a lot of crazy Ducks and Tigers.

While you are upon the earth,

enjoy the good things that are here.

JOHN SELDEN

Artist Dates, Week 17 ~ New Year, New Starts

I am not one to make New Year resolutions - never have and this year is no exception.  I make changes when I feel like making changes...like I felt like making changes this past autumn so I started doing this Arist's Way course.

Other than going to see the film The King's Speech which was excellent, I stayed home this week and did more inner work.  I started off my inner work on 1-1-11 doing a global meditation with the World Puja Network.  I love when people from all over the planet get together at the same time and meditate together for humanity and planet Earth.  This meditation on 1-1-11 was to usher forth the next highest potential for humanity and planet Earth in the year 2011.

Next on 1-1-11, I listened to the kick off program for the Awakening Zone...The International Network for Empowered Awakening.  Long story short...I had my own awakening a couple of decades ago.  For the past several years I just no longer choose to hit the snooze button.  It's time to get up and get out of bed.  I'm up..let's go!

Later on 1-1-11 and throughout the week I have been watching Oprah Winfrey's new network OWN.   I am so happy she is now on cable TV.  She said awhile back that she wants to highlight guests she has had on her Soul Series radio show to her television audience.  Now that she has her own network she will be able to do just that...bring it on Oprah. 

Each night this week I listened via the internet to Prediction 2011 Week hosted by Jennifer McLean.  One of my favorite shows was with local Phoenix Psychic and Professional Astrologer Joseph Anthony.   Joseph stated that 2011 is much more significant than 2012 because it will be the year of the great awakening. Mars, the action planet, will kick us into higher gear as it moves into Aries on March 3rd, and we’ll become more aware of self and consciousness. As Mars starts to align with other planets, it will trigger more energy and move us beyond our limits. That's good!  I need a good kick in the butt sometime.

The general consensus of Prediction Week 2011 was that many of us will shift from "seeking" to "manifesting."  Also, we'll experience an increase in our personal intuition and a greater knowing.  All I can say is, "Bring It On!" 

I am what is around me.

WALLACE STEVENS

 

Artist Dates, Week 16 ~ Movie Week

I love movies.  Films are my favorite art form.  Not only do I like seeing films, I equally like discussing films with others.  This week turned into another themed week by chance.  I saw five films this week...two in a theater, and three I rented.  All five films deal with dysfunctional families to some degree and all the trials and tribulations they go through.  I guess if it weren't for dysfunctional families and their stories, then what would a Hollywood screen writer have to write about? :-)

The first film I went to see by myself was Rabbit Hole, starring Nicole Kidman.  I loved this film, and it is on my top 10 best movies of the year list.  The film was adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning play of the same name.  Nicole Kidman was outstanding and gave one of the most stellar performances of the year.  I hope she walks away with another Oscar...she deserves it.  When I told my friends I wanted to see this film, they all said they could not stomach seeing a depressing film.  The film is not at all depressing, in fact I found it extremely uplifting, and also very comical.  Plus the topics brought up in the film are right up my alley.  I am one of those What The Bleep Do We Know thinking people.

Next, my hubby and I saw The Fighter.  Both of us liked this film very much. It's based on a true story, but exactly how true the story is..I'm not too sure.  Nonetheless, it was enjoyable.  This film should be honored with many awards this season, especially in the acting department.

Over the week I also rented a few movies that I wanted to see, but never got to the theater to catch.  So continuing on with dysfunctional family week, I rented Mother and Child, City Island, and Cyrus.

Mother and Child

As much as I like The Kid's Are Alright, I liked this film even more.  Now this one was a real tear-jerker.  This film only made a little more than one million dollars at the box office and was only in a handful of theaters around the country.  Too bad because it was a great film.  Annette Bening is even better in this film than she is in The Kids Are Alright, and sadly she is not being recognized for this stellar performance as well.

This film is a HOOT!  Another great film which only made six million dollars at the box office.  This film is laugh out loud funny.  I rented it because director/producer Stephen Simon of The Spiritual Cinema Circle highly recommended it to the circle members.  I am glad he did, because this film is a real gem.



The next film I rented I thought would be very weird and quirky, and it was, so it did not disappoint.  The characters in this film were by far the most dysfunctional of all.  This little filmed made over seven million dollars, better than the other two films.  Even though I liked it, it was still my least favorite of the three films I rented.

I prefer to see films on the big screen, but I don't always get a chance to see them in movie theater.  Thank goodness they come out so fast on DVD and Blu-Ray these days.  I love films so much that I will always watch all the extra features on a DVD or Blu-Ray.  If I really like a film, I will even watch the whole movie with the director's commentary if there is one. 


Next movies I am planning on seeing are True Grit, The King's Speech, and Blue Valentine.  Movies I missed seeing in the theater but are waiting for them to come out to rent are Get Low, Conviction, Never Let Me Go, and Nowhere Boy.

What a man thinks of

himself...determines,

or rather indicates,

his fate.

HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Artist Dates, Week 15 ~ Ebenezer Scrooge Week

My Artist Date's theme for this week was Ebenezer Scrooge.  Last Sunday I attended by myself the Fountain Hills community theater production of A Carol for Tiny Tim.  Their Youth Theater put on this production which presents this twist on Charles Dicken's classic holiday tale about the spirit of giving.  The play takes place 15 years after Ebenezer Scrooge changed his ways, and once-sweet Tiny Tim has grown into a spoiled and selfish young man.  The ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future return to work their magic this time around on Tiny Tim. It was a wonderful performance.  There were only five adults in the play, all the rest were kids.  Santa Claus came out at the end and everyone sang Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  Then the kids were allowed to visit with Santa.  They had hot chocolate and cookies outside on the patio, plus fun games to play for the kids.   It was a very enjoyable afternoon.

On Christmas Eve my husband and I took my in-laws to see the very last production of A Christmas Carol at the Herberger Theater.  I bought these tickets in October when I first heard that the Actors Studio was going to end their 19-year run of the play.  What a GREAT show!  I am sorry to see it end.  All the actors came out to the lobby after the show and talked and took pictures with everyone.  My in-laws really appreciated us taking them to see this play.  I love giving gifts of experiences and entertainment rather than a store bought gift.  People always seem to remember a shared experience when you take them someplace, but often have amnesia when it comes to remembering what store bought gift you gave them last year.

Then I finished off my Ebeneser Scrooge week on Christmas night.  After returning from our friends house we sat down and watched one of my favorite Bill Murray movies, Scrooged.  Watching this film was a great way to end my Ebenezer Scrooge week.  :-)

No man can know where he is

going unless he knows exactly

where he has been and exactly how

he arrived at this present place.

MAYA ANGELOU

Artist Date, Week 14 ~ Ballet Week

This week of Artist Dates turned into another theme week centered around the Ballet.

On Tuesday I went to see Black Swan at Harkin's Camelview Theater.  This is one film I would have probably not have gone to see without all the Oscar buzz.  I really get into award season and love to watch all the award shows like the Golden Globes and the SAG awards too, besides the big show - the Oscars.

The film was good, and Natalie Portman really transformed herself into a believable ballerina.  But as a psychological thriller, I have to say I would much prefer the film Shutter Island to be getting all the award nominations instead.  I thought Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island was far more entertaining and thrilling than this one.  I even like the director, Darren Aronofsky's film The Wrestler much better than this also.  Just one chick's opinion.

I continued with the Ballet theme this week by attending on Thursday night the Harkin's Theater Ballet in Cinema showing of The Nutcracker.  This was not a live performance like the opera Carmen I saw in October.  This performance of The Nutcracker was taped from an earlier performance from the Royal Opera House in London.  I have not seen The Nutcracker in a very long time.  So it was a treat to see it again. 

Some people would probably argue that seeing a live performance is superior over seeing one in a theater.  There is something about the energy of seeing it live that can't be duplicated by seeing it on a movie screen.  I agree somewhat.  But unless you have some of the best seats in the house, then seeing it at a theater can actually be just as rewarding, if not better.  You can see every bead of sweat run down the dancers faces.  You can see the detail in their costumes, and you could even hear their feet hitting the floor even over the music.  The camera can zoom in on their faces for their expressions at pivotal moments.  Plus the camera can move in on their bodies while they perform some amazing dance poses and movements.  I admit I am not an Opera or Ballet buff, but people who attend these at the theater really want to see all versions of their favorite Operas and Ballets, and this allows them to see the European productions without getting on an airplane.

The eyes upturned to Heaven

are an act of creation.

VICTOR HUGO

Artist Date, Week 13 ~ Christmas Angel Week

First off, I am not Christian.  I was raised Catholic, but I could have told you by age seven that I was not a Christian.  Christianity was never my personal truth.  Christ Consciousness is my more of my personal truth, but that is another complete topic. 

Since my family is still Catholic, I do the dog and pony show every year.  I endure the Holidays with as much grace as I can stand.  Some years I exemplify more grace than other years. 

It was actually James Van Praagh who helped me see the holidays a little differently.  In an email he sent out many, many years ago he said, "This is one of my favorite seasons of the year.  As it says in the Hebrew tradition, it is the Season of Light.  It is a time to remember all the loved ones in your life who have made an impression in your heart.  With light, we illuminate the darkness and have clearer idea of where we are going.

We are each made of light and it seems throughout the year as we go about our daily lives we get caught up in the trials and tribulations of succeeding and forget about our light.  We leave little, if any time, to reconnect with that light, and when we do, we often realize how dim it is due to taking on fears and expectations of others.

So, my wish for each one of you and every member of your soul family is for you to take a few minutes throughout this holiday season and, once again, celebrate your light.  May your light shine on everyone's path you share.  May it open up their hearts and take away fears, limitations, expectations and disease while it regenerates and rejuvenates their spirit. 

Remember, every light bulb needs to be changed every now and then!"

Greetings to you all of Peace, Love and Light.
James Van Praagh

That one email gave me a whole new perspective on Christmas, and a way to find a way to celebrate it without feeling like a phony and a fraud.  I found a new meaning for the Holidays, and a new way to celebrate. I now choose to celebrate my own light, as well as everyone else's light.

This past week was spent putting up my three Christmas trees.  I have one in my family room, one in my dining room, and even a little angel tree in my living room.  I have an angel theme that runs throughout my house. Plus, my house is filled with light from candles I have everywhere.  I try to be creative by changing  things up every year by rearranging all my Christmas decorations.  I also change up my table settings for my Christmas Eve dinner.  By celebrating my creativity, I also celebrate my light.  

I also went to Paradise Valley Mall this past week just for the Salvation Army's Christmas Tree Angel program.  I try every year to participate in this program where you buy clothes and toys for a specific child who would not have otherwise gifts to open during the holidays.  I cannot ever forget how Oprah Winfrey said  how nuns brought her a doll for Christmas when she had no other presents from her family that year. She said that gift of that one doll helped change her life.  The gifts I purchased this week need not be life changing, but I only hope they bring a little light to a small child and their family. 

In Heaven an angel is nobody in particular.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

My Thoughts On Completing 12-Week Artist's Way Course



My Artist Dates

in

Pictures

Weeks 1 - 6

Today is the last day of my Artist's Way course. I started this course on Saturday, September 11th, and today is the last day in the 12-week course. First off, let me just say that I am so not done with this course. I am only just beginning, but more on that later.

This post is just about my thoughts on what I discovered for myself over the past 12-weeks. For starters, this course helps you open up and realize all synchronistic events in your life. Just how I found this course was a major synchronistic event in my life. Most people wait until a milestone marker in their life to make changes. Mostly it’s turning a certain age, be it 30, 40, 50, or 60 years of age. When we hit a milestone age we start to look back and forward and see what needs to be changed. For me I am just 48 years old, so no milestone age yet, but I just celebrated my 25th Wedding Anniversary on September 14th of this year. That date was my milestone marker.

The first 12-1/2 years of my marriage was spent living in the suburbs of Chicago. The first six years were focused on taking care of my parents. Once they both died I said to myself, now what is it that I love to do, and let’s make a career out of it. I come from a family of travelers, we love to travel. Even my mother was always trying to push me into the travel field in some way since our family loves to travel. Long story short…on Mother’s Day of all days a job in the travel business just landed in my lap. I spent the next 6-1/2 years working in a field that was meant for me. I had travel benefits and perks, and boy did we use them.

Next, it was not enough to just travel several weeks a year, now I wanted to live in a vacation destination. Long story short…synchronistic events got my husband’s family and us to move to glorious Arizona. Now I wake-up every day and feel I am always on vacation. The beauty of where I live still intoxicates me. My career this past 12 years has been working with hubby and his family in a business.  Now with the recent economic decline, business is not very good. With no business or work for me to do, I have more free time to do anything I wish. So back in August before my 25th Wedding Anniversary I was thinking…what is the next phase of my life going to look like?  What am I going to do next?  I was ready to reinvent myself once again.

Well I am on a lot of e-mails lists, and back in late August I received an e-mail from someone I never heard of inviting me to join his Autumn Series of webinars called Beyond Awakening. He had a link to his blog to introduce himself, so I clicked on and read it. Then he asked people who were interested in his webinar to introduce them selves in the comment section. Well, I read a few of the peoples comments, and one lady said she was looking forward to this webinar series, but she also was very busy doing The Artist’s Way course. A few comments down from that, another woman said she was doing The Artist’s Way course too. Well I just had to Google this and see what this course was all about.

So one e-mail opened, one blog read, a few comments noticed, and one Google search brought me here, and now I am just completing the 12-week Artist’s Way course. If you only knew just how many e-mails I delete without ever opening them, but this one I opened even though I did not know who it was from.  Just finding this course was a major synchronistic event in my life.  This course is exactly what I need at this phase of my life.  It has opened me up to new possibilities that I never even thought of before.

Julia Camerson says in her section about synchronicity, "Answered prayers are scary.  They imply responsibility.  You asked for it.  Now that you've got it, what are you going to do?"  Well, what I am going to do first is to keep going on with her courses.  I bought her book, The Complete Artist's Way, which contains her first book The Artist's Way, plus her two other books which are 12-week courses as well, Walking in this World, and Finding Water.  So tomorrow I shall start Walking in this World.  In this 12-week course you still continue to write your Morning Pages, go on weekly Artist Dates, and in this one you take weekly walks, either by yourself or with someone.  I pretty much walk or hike weekly anyway, especially now that it is below 100 degrees.

But more importantly I am not going to be one of those people who just takes courses, and never gets off their butt to make changes or reinvent them selves.  I asked for it, now I have to do something, and something I will do.  Without mentioning what exactly, I came up with a plan of action that I am going to pursue over the next couple of months.  This idea never even occurred to me before, but my doing this Artist's Way course, the idea just fell from the sky right to me. 

So over the next 12 weeks I will follow Walking in this World course, I will continue to write my Morning Pages, which by the way, I NEVER missed one morning of writing in the past 12-weeks.  I will go on an Artist Date with myself weekly.  This time I may just stick to once a week, and not 3, 4, or 5 times a week like I did with this past course.  I will walk or hike in the mountains once a week.  But more importantly I will follow my inner voice with my next phase in my life.  I will devote the time and energy to pursue the ideas I came up with.  I am starting on a new path, a journey to reinvent myself. 



My Artist Dates in Pictures
Weeks 7 -12

 

Until we accept the fact that life itself is

founded in mystery, we shall learn nothing.

HENRY MILLER

.



                                                                                         



Artist Date, Week Twelve ~ On Golden Pond at Desert Stages Theater

Today I went to the Desert Stages Theater in Scottsdale to see the play On Golden Pond.  My husband and I have seen other productions in this theater before, but I have not been there in quite of long time.  I sat next to a woman who was also from the northwest side of Chicago. We reminisced about going to many theatrical productions in downtown Chicago.  She told me how she would take her two daughters downtown to see plays and musicals.   My mother usually had subscription tickets to see  Broadway shows at one of Chicago's main theaters.  I guess I really took going to see a theater production for granted growing up in Chicago.

I feel so fortunate that there are so many community theaters in close proximity to my house.   The Desert Stages Theater where I saw On Golden Pond holds about 60 or so people.  There is not a bad seat in the theater, and it provides you with a very up-close and personal feel with the actors on stage.  All the actors in this stage production were absolutely outstanding and could have been in the film version of this stage play...they were that good.  All the actors were standing outside of the theater and we got to greet and meet each on of them as we exited the theater.  I will definitely be going back to more productions at this theater.

Oh, and I came home to find the Chicago Bears beat the Eagles.  Hubby was happy and so was I.   Another great Sunday for each of us.  :-)

Bill Kane as Norman Thayer 
Corene Heaps as Ethel Thayer
Courtesy of Wade Moran

The most beautiful thing we can

experience is the mysterious.

ALBERT EINSTEIN

Artist Date, Week Eleven ~ I Made My First Turkey

I am 48 years old and have never in my life ever made a turkey, and have never hosted a Thanksgiving holiday.  When we lived in Chicago, we always went to my aunt's house for Thanksgiving. Once we moved to Arizona, we went to my mother-in-laws, friends, neighbors, client's houses, and even a couple of times to the French restaurant Voltaire for Thanksgiving dinner. 

This year I volunteered to have Thanksgiving.  I thought it was time I tackled making a turkey.  For most people, making a turkey and all the other Thanksgiving dishes and desserts is no big deal, but I really do not like to cook or bake.  I know cooking/baking is a real creative outlet for many people, but not me.  I really want to like to cook, and I want to enjoy the experience, but I can't lie...I hate it. 

My turkey came out pretty well, and my family enjoyed it.  I did not overwhelm myself by baking too.  I did not want to get too carried away. :-)  I just picked up a few pies from the bakery at the grocery store and that is why I had time on Wednesday to go to the MIM for their Wednesday Morning Interlude concert.  At the concert I sat next to a nice woman and we talked turkeys and Thanksgiving dinner.  I told her how I was making my first ever turkey dinner, but had no plans on baking.  I've got better things to do with my time, like going to this concert I told her.  She laughed and said she wished that some of her friends and relatives wouldn't bake because their home made cakes and pies were not as good as the ones you get at Costco.  :-)

One tradition I love that my husband and I started doing on Thanksgiving morning was to go on a super long hike.  Since I was hosting Thanksgiving this year we skipped the hike, but we went today for an even extra long hike.  I came home from the hike and finished off the last of the delicious store bought pumpkin pie.  YUM!  It tasted even better to me since I did not waste anytime baking it myself.

I can scratch off making a turkey from my list of things I have not yet done.  Making a home-made pumpkin pie is still on the list, and it can stay on the list for all I care.  I would rather spend my time going to concerts to inspire me, or hiking to keep my body healthy and fit. 

To keep the body in good health is a duty...Otherwise

we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.

BUDDHA

  

Artist Date, Week Eleven ~ Wednesday Morning Interlude at MIM

Today was the last Wednesday Morning Interlude at the Musical Instrument Museum for the year.  I have gone to the last two Wednesday Morning Interludes and enjoyed them very much.  They start at 10:30am and it is a great way to start off your day...listening to beautiful music. 

I always meet the most interesting people at these concerts.  Today I met a couple in line who moved here from Russia.  Their daughter teaches music here in Phoenix, and they followed her to Arizona.  They informed me about all the free musical concerts, international films, and theater productions at Paradise Community College.  I came home and looked up the their website, and now I have another venue here in Arizona to explore.

I sat next to a woman who is a snow bird from Nebraska.  We talked turkeys and Thanksgiving dinner.  More on that subject tomorrow.

Walter Cosand

Todays concert featured ASU professor and Steinway Artist Walter Cosand who presented a peformance of works for the solo piano.  I was not as familar with some of the pieces he played, but it did not impair my enjoyment and appreciation for his great talent. The pieces he played definitely kept you awake and totally inspired. 

I took two years of piano lessons as a kid and hated every minute of it.  I now have a baby grand piano in my living room with a Piano Disc system attached to it so I can hear beautiful piano music anytime I wish.  A few years ago I tried to teach myself the piano again.  It was fun and it helped open up my right side of the brain a bit more.  I know I drove my husband crazy because the two songs I played over and over were the theme songs from Titanic and the Lion King. :-)

You are lost the instant you

know what the result will be.

JUAN GRIS

Artist Date, Week Eleven ~ Art Fest of Scottsdale and Pandora Showcase

Today I headed out once again for Old Town Scottsdale for a full day of activities.  I first made a quick stop at the Old Town Farmer's Market.  Unfortunatley the people selling the apple cobbler I wanted to buy were not there today.  I'll be back, just hope they are back too.

Next, I spent a few leisurely hours viewing all the artists at the ArtFest of Scottsdale. There are not as many artist at the Fall fair then there are at the Spring one. The crowds are not as big either. The Civic Center Mall in Scottsdale is a beautiful spot for any affair. I just love walking there with all the beautiful flowers, plants, trees, art sculptures and water fountains.




 
 

After spending time at the ArtFest I went to see the second Pandora Showcase which I enjoyed as much as the first one I saw last Saturday afternoon.  Today I sat next to one of the actresses from last week's showcase.  She said she was not a professional actress, but she should be.  I thought she was one of the best actresses from last week.  I am the most inspired when I meet people who do what they love to do for just the sake of channeling their creativity. They are just happy doing their art, whatever that may be, even if they are not getting paid for their talent.  These people always seem to be the brightest lights in any room. 

No amount of skillful invention can

replace the essential element of imagination.

EDWARD HOPPER

Artist Date, Week Ten ~ The Great Gatsby at Biltmore Fashion Park

Hubby and I went for the first time to the Biltmore Fashion Park for their Movies in the Park.  They show for free favorite classic old films under the stars on Friday night. People bring lawn chairs, sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, pizza, popcorn, wine and other goodies and get comfortable on the lawn in front of the big screen in the park.  Since it was still reasonably not too cold outside, at least by Arizonian standards, we went this past Friday to see the feature film, The Great Gatsby.  I have seen this film only once before when it came out in theaters in 1974, but hubby never saw it. 

The Artist Way course has gotten me to do things that I have never done before, and once again this was a first for me to go watch a film under the stars in the cool autumn night.

The REAL reason I wanted to see it again was because I just heard recently that director Baz Luhrmann is remaking this classic film starring my all-time favorite actor Leonardo DiCaprio in the role of Jay Gatsby.  His best buddy, Tobey Maguire is suppose to play the role of the narrator, Nick Carraway, and Carey Mulligan is set to play Daisy Buchanan.

My husband just thought because I am doing this Artist Way course is why I had such a great desire to go see a movie at the Biltmore Fashion Park.  He was just happy I actually invited him to go along with me.  But at dinner before the film I told him how Leonardo was going to be part of the remake of this classic film.  He said, "Now this makes more sense to why you want to see this film."  After 30+ years together, he knows me all to well, and knows what makes me tick.  :-)

I enjoyed The Great Gatsby film very much once again. I am sure I will enjoy even more Baz Luhrmann's version of this classic novel.  It was Luhrmann's 1996 version of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet that brought my attention to the stellar talent of Leonardo DiCaprio, and I have been a fan of his ever since.  I think his casting of Leo, Tobey and Carey are perfect.  I can't wait to see who he casts in the other parts.

Film is my favorite art form.  There is nothing I like more than discussing films.  If I had a chance to pick the brains of people either living or dead, it would be people who are involved in making films, either writers, directors or actors.

What moves men of genious, or rather

what inspires their work, is not new ideas,

but their obsession with the idea that what has

already been said is still not enough.

EUGENE DELACROIX

Artist Date, Week Ten ~ Jane Seymour Discussion and Book Signing

I had no preplanned Artist Date set for today.  It was going to be a lazy Sunday for me, where I slept late, didn't shower, started reading a few books I picked up at the library this week, and maybe throw in a few loads of laundry.  Well my day was a whole lot better.  Last night while waiting for my dinner to finish cooking, I glanced over the newspaper and read Jane Seymour was going to be at the Barnes and Noble on 90th and Shea for a discussion and book signing.  I was not even aware she has written any books, but her new one is called Among Angels.

I am not very familiar with her acting roles.  I believe the only roles I have seen her in were in the films, Somewhere in Time, and Wedding Crashers.  I don't believe I have ever seen an episode of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.  So at first I really didn't have any interest in going to see her on Sunday.  I do though like to collect angel stuff, in particular...angel books.  So the thought of going was a little intriguing.  But I told myself that I will let the universe guide me on what I should do tomorrow.  Just go with the flow and see what happens.  Well the flow started when the universe got me up at 7:30 am when I heard my husband drop and break something from the kitchen.  It turned out to be the glass coffee carafe from our coffee maker.  The coffee maker was really old and it did need replacing, and now that the carafe was shattered, I had no choice but to go out today and buy a new coffee maker.  Since I had to get dressed and go out anyway, I then decided I would stop by Barnes and Noble and catch Jane Seymour's discussion. 

Well I am so very happy that my husband broke the coffee carafe today, because her discussion was so entertaining.  She is absolutely delightful and has many great stories to tell.  I could have listened to her a lot longer.  She talked for a little over 30 minutes and she took as many questions from the audience as time would allow.  She talked about her earlier marital troubles, her near death experience, her friendships with Christopher Reeves and Johnny Cash, plus a whole lot of inspiring stories from her life.  I am sure if you are a huge fan of hers, like so many in the audience were, then you would know all this, but this was all new to me.  I bought two of her books, Among Angels, one for me, and one for my mother-in-law.  Jane personally signed everyone's books, and was very gracious and took pictures with anyone who asked.

She told us she was in town for a charity event on Saturday night which she is very involved in called Camp Soaring Eagle, where children with life threatening illnesses discover the healing power of laughter.  Another great charity.

I was on such a high after leaving the book store that I decided to go back to the Fountain Hills Festival of Arts to hear Esteban play again.  I stayed there for about two hours until he played his last song. I let the universe guide me today, and my day turned out perfect.  The laundry is still sitting there...who cares.  I can do a few loads tomorrow.  And if something better comes up tomorrow, then the laundry can wait once again.  I just love going with the flow. 

Only when he no longer knows what he

is doing does the painter do good things.

EDGAR DEGAS