Ups and downs

I recently applied to grad school for Creative Writing. While I have not received entirely negative feedback, I have not gotten in to many of the schools that I was interested in. boo. So, do I allow the board of 'professionals' to tell me that I can't? I will not.

If only life came with a permanent pro/con list, it would make things a lot easier, but it doesn't.

So, I have decided to dedicate this post to those things that inspire me to create, be creative, and see all that is beautiful in life.


1. My dog: Monkey - She is the single happiest creature I have ever had the pleasure of encountering. I think life would be a lot better if we all lived more like a dog.
2. Seattle - through the rain and, well, more rain, you are a beautiful city with beautiful people that never cease to amaze me. I love this city, down to every last raindrop


3. Art/Artists/Authors - all of the people the create and the things they create keep me going and make me realize that it is possible to live the dream and do what you love. Thank you.
4. My friends and family (who I won't name for their happiness) - I am surrounded my a wonderful group of people who make everyday better and who always encourage me to follow my dreams.

Somedays, ya' just need a little inspiration.

Wednesday's Word: Candle

I just got the best new lilac-scented candle, and I got to thinking about where that word came from. It doesn't seem to have any relation to light, or fire (at least that my plain, English eye can spot) -- so I thought I would do a little poking around and find out where the word candle comes from. Here's what I found:

Definition: can·dle (kndl) n.

1.

a. A solid, usually cylindrical mass of tallow, wax, or other fatty substance with an axially embedded wick that is burned to provide light.

b. Something resembling this object in shape or use.

2. Physics

a. Abbr. c An obsolete unit of luminous intensity, originally defined in terms of a wax candle with standard composition and equal to 1.02 candelas. Also called international candle.

(definition from The Free Dictionary.)

The word is from the base "candare", which means to shine.

Candle use dates back to as early at the 4th century B.C. (wow!), but use of the modern "wicked" candle seems to be credited to the ancient Romans.

"The earliest people credited with developing the "wicked" candle are the ancient Romans, before 3,000 B.C. They used rolled papyrus and dipped it repeatedly in melted tallow (cattle or sheep fat) or beeswax," according to Devlyn Candles.

Fun fact: birthday candles started as a German tradition.

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag (Happy Birthday)!

So now you know! Don't burn the candle at both ends! :)

What is your favorite kind of candle?

David Garrett tomorrow night

If you haven' t heard about this super cute, super talented violinist -- you most certainly need to check. him. out.

He currently holds the record for playing "Flight of the Bumblebees" faster than anyone else has ever played it. In only 1 minute, and 6 seconds, he plays the entire piece -- you barely even notice he's moving.

Seriously.


Aside from the classical training, and obvious talent, he plays a wide variety of popular music on the violin as well. I'm most excited to hear my favorite band, Queen.

He's going to be in Seattle tomorrow night at the Moore Theater, and I am more than ready to put on my 12-year-old fan shoes.

Wednesday's Word: Namaste

(This beautiful garden post comes from Shining Sun Garden Works)

As a casual yoga lover, the words used to describe breath, movement and the sense of being in yoga practice have always been of much interest to me. In class, I often feel that the words represent a person or other living thing. They often carry so much character.

On word in particular has really made me wonder about its origin, Namaste.

It is a word (as anyone who has ever been to a yoga class knows) that you, and your instructor, say at the end of every class. When I first heard the word, I expected it meant something like "Thank You," but I have found out that it is so much more. It is a word that we should use in every practice of every day.

Definition: This Hindu salutation says "the divine in me honors the divine in you." The expression is used on meeting or parting and usually is accompanied by the gesture of holding the palms together in front of the bosom. Pronounced NUM-ah-stay, according to Yoga Movement.
Orijen: Sanskrit

It is an acknowledgment of the others "self," and when I began thinking of it that way, it took on a much greater meaning in my life. We can acknowledge, like this, the life in everything, not just other people. Other animals, possessions, land....It seems the list goes on and on.

So this week, I hope to use this word in my day-to-day life, and honor all of the beautiful life around me. You can practice yoga, and namaste, with this free 20-minute video at Yoga Journal's great website.

What you want to want to honor in your life?

Namaste -
C

I'm Back...and REAAADING! :)

I'm back home, after a lovely trip to Kentucky, and now it's back to the "Real World." I am, however, now a member of a new thing called The Slow Reader's Book Club, which I am very excited about.

With everything that flashes by in the day-to-day, it is a club about really enjoying and thinking about what is read. It's not just about checking it off the list.

Our first book is going to be Half-Broke Horses, by Jeannette Walls, another true life story by the same author that gave us the wonderful The Glass Castle, which I read a couple years ago. We will be blogging about the first book on March 4.

Slow Readers Button 4
Originally uploaded by ourcitylights

This book club is the brain child of the awesome blog our.city.lights, which you should totally check-out and get involved in the club!Come on, you know you want to...

Off to Kentucky...

Tomorrow I am heading off to Kentucky to visit my best friend. She is living in Lexington, going to grad school. I have never been anywhere in the South before, so I am a little nervous, but excited. I intend to try a mint julep for sure, and who knows what else (no fried chicken, that's for sure!)?!

In the meantime, I am working on building a bird feeder and my butterfly painting (which hasn't really taken it's wings yet...but it will come. For now a few pictures of noteworthy feeders....


This house has great detail that can't go unnoticed. I wouldn't mind living there myself!

This is an adorable, hand-made bird house that I found on Etsy.com. The seller has a lot of great items that you should check out here.

I also have an Etsy shop, with mostly paintings...but if you feel like taking a gander, you can find it here.

Happy making!

c.

I went to Mars today...

Tomorrow is my birthday (woo!), and so my parents came up to Seattle for the day to play around. We decided to go to the Pacific Science Center and see the new Mars exhibit. First we watched a pretty sweet video about two rovers, that jetted of to Mars to take pictures of rocks. Afterward, we walked through the exhibit (spinning chairs, weightless walking, etc...). All and all, a pretty fun time.

The best part, however, was quite Earthly. The butterfly exhibit is housed in an 80 degree room that smells of fruit and flowers. Immediately upon entrance, you spot hundreds of butterflies, big ones and small, fluttering around the room. A sight to behold. Their beauty is remarkable, and makes me think about how fabulous the little things can be. Each wing has more natural patterns on it than most humans can dream of. Their fragile, but striking form begs the mind to calm and take it all in. They are amazing little creatures, and quite inspirational.

Leaving the exhibit (after 6 different butterflies landed on me!) I have decided to try to immortalize what I saw today in my next painting. I only wish I could have taken one home. So pretty.

Almost another year older - bring it.

c.