Marmalade on Toast

A cafe, twitter account and a song, Marmalade on Toast, is simply scrumptious, piece de resistance.

My own Marmalade on Toast experience happened this past Thursday, my day off. I cherish Thursdays, my day off, a day of solitude, and if I'm lucky (don't know quite where the commas go on this sentence) I get to write a scene or add some paragraphs to my blog. The third Thursday of the month I help my cohorts clean the Brophy Chapel, an event that I'll miss as we go in to Junior year. What role will I be given next year? I don't like to vote myself in to a role so I just wait till the beginning of the year when voting has been accomplished and let those in charge that I can take over one of the open spots. That's what happened this year and it was a success, but only because I've got a great partner. It was a good role for me to work on the Chapel care co-chair and even though I sort of took a back seat, I still had fun and hopefully helped somewhat, at least maybe my prayers helped to get my son through this year. I love that beautiful Chapel and hope, my son, someday gets married there. Let's just keep in mind that that event is a few years in the distance and just graduating will be fine for me, but my hopes to plan a wedding in that sacred place would suit me just fine. At least I'd know where all the lights are located if one happens to be out on his day of wedded bliss.

The beginning of the week wasn't much fun for me as Adrian left Sunday night for Portland, his beloved city that if given the chance he'd move there in a heartbeat. I asked him what the weather was like and his reply was, "Cold and Raining" sort of like England. That's precisely why I can't live there and the irony that Wm received his first college recruitment brochure to Puget Sound University is par for the course. Adrian's been busy with his new job, fitting quite nicely into his new role as computer something-or-other, of which I don't know but big things may be on the horizon. The beautiful poi filled horizon as would take just as much for me to visit that place as it would Oregon as a five hour over-the-ocean flight doesn't quite appeal to me. I'm happy for him and love the fact that only good things happen to those that work hard. Hard work pays off, a storm of metaphors can fill the page but none-the-less as I was talking and explaining about my day off I got way off track. Writer's delight!

It's true, I'm a happy writer this year even though we've yet to find out the placement or lack thereof at the Phoenix Film Festival. I can only hope that I somehow touched the human emotion and made a difference to the reader of my script. It's a contest and I'm competitive. I've been successful thus far and hopefully that winning streak continues. I'm a happy writer, in that I couldn't ask for more! I've met wonderful, artistic people and like Meryl said in her Oscar winning speech, I've been lucky to work amongst friends. I've got to tell you that one of the things I did on my cherished day off, since I didn't have to clean the Chapel yesterday and since I'll have to help clean it next week, I took myself to the movie, enjoying a free movie pass I got as another winning of sorts. Let me just say that Meryl certainly deserved that Oscar she won and as I sat watching her performance on my day off, portraying the Iron Lady, I was amazed because Meryl was Margaret Thatcher! A perfect portrayal, down to the turkey-chin make-up that looked so real.

The movie was a love story of sorts. Margaret's love for country was as prominent as her love for her husband and implied that she loved the bottle, drinking at a young age as portrayed in the family scene at the beach. Perhaps she died from alcohol dementia? Something I will have to do some research on but there was booze in the form of flasks, thermoses, whiskey poured, her nightly drink made by the ghost who was her husband. The plot was Margaret trying to rid herself of the man who stood by her even though the love for country bet out the love and time spent with family. When a young, ambitious Margaret drove away, her twins running after her car, showed that she oftentimes did put work before family. The flashbacks of the husband and the dialogue therein also said volumes that he took a backseat throughout the marriage. The movie was about a woman having a difficult time packing up her dead husband's clothes. Margaret's own attire was most fascinating from the double strand pearls she insisted on wearing, depicting her twins as that's exactly what she called the strand, "her twins" a gift from her husband. When the powers that be were trying to groom her for office, they insisted Margaret not wear the pill box hat and that she change her voice to sound more authoritative. It was one woman working the room full of male counterparts. It was an interesting movie, a love story of sorts, down to the suits, broaches, rings, pearls and pink turban her husband used to wear, his humor oftentimes making her chuckle, even after he died, coming back on a daily basis as they shared their boiled eggs at breakfast, his place setting across from her own, his seat empty.

Thus my need for Marmalade on toast and a cup of tea with cream. Gotta love the UK movies, the set decor, the dialogue, the clothes and make-up. Meryl was Margaret in every sense of the word. What a great actress she is. One more movie to study and buy either script and or DVD or just script. Flashbacks of younger years, happenings in office and a family who stood by her side and became extremely hurt when dementia took over her mind. One things for sure, she missed her husband in every sense of the word and I didn't think the daughter should have judged her quite so harshly but her mental capabilities were deteriorating and effected those around her, the beginning of such was portrayed when Meryl yelled at one member of her staff for not being prepared for the meeting. The staff member resigned and Margaret was forced out of office as a result. Seemed everyone knew of her declining mental capabilities except for Margaret herself who when she went to visit her physician made one of those comments about this causing that, that causes that and so on and so forth. She was bright as a whip but was declining in her later years. Gotta love old age. Go figure. Of course the movie reminded me of Bill, in a way, a love one can never let go no matter how hard you try. You can throw out the clothes by taking them out of the closet and giving them all away but the memories remain forever etched in your heart. A love story. Loss of love being the single most difficult thing in life to deal with and this movie was an exceptional portrayal of loves loss.

In closing, I not only had one piece of marmalade on toast, I had three, one was topped with ham and pepper jack cheese. After the movie, I wanted to treat myself, not by putting on my own strand of pearls but to make my surroundings exceptionally nice. With that, I stopped by the Home Depot next to Harkins and bought some spring flowers. Potting plants and rearranging the front patio made my day off that much better, just like the marmalade on toast and English movie about a fierce female leader who took the world by storm. Good stuff, that marmalade on toast!!! Felicity perfect Marmalade recipe below:

Perfect marmalade


Felicity Cloake's perfect marmalade on toast.
Makes: 3 x 1½lb 700g jars

1kg Seville oranges
1 lemon
1kg light muscovado sugar
1kg granulated white sugar
1 piece of muslin


Seville oranges.
1. Put a sieve over a preserving pan or other very large, non-aluminium saucepan – it's important to leave enough room in the pan to allow the marmalade to bubble without boiling over. Cut the oranges and lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the pan, using the sieve to catch any pips and pith.

2. Put your piece of muslin into a bowl and spoon the pips and pith into it. Cut the peel of the oranges to the desired thickness, tearing off any large pieces of remaining flesh and adding them to the muslin as you go. Put the shredded peel into the pan (any remaining flesh will dissolve during cooking) and tie the muslin bag up tightly and add that too. Pour over 2.5l of water, bring to the boil and then simmer gently for 2 hours. The peel should be soft.


Softening the peel with the muslin bag of pips.
3. Remove the muslin bag and allow to cool in a bowl. It needs to be cold enough to squeeze, so unless you have heatproof gloves, you can leave the marmalade to sit overnight at this point if you want to. Wash your jars in warm soapy water and allow to dry in a cool oven before you embark on the next step.

4. Bring the marmalade back to a simmer, and squeeze the muslin bag hard into it – a good quantity of gloopy juice should come out. Stir this in and then add the sugars and stir well until dissolved. Put a few saucers into the freezer.


Boiling the marmalade.
5. Turn the heat up and boil rapidly until the marmalade reaches setting point – a sugar thermometer will be helpful here (start checking when it reaches 104C) but to confirm this, put a teaspoonful of the marmalade on to a cold saucer and put in the fridge for a minute or so. If it crinkles when you run a finger through it, and your finger leaves a clear line in the preserve, it's ready. If not, check it every five minutes or so.


6. Allow to sit for 15 minutes then spoon into clean jars and seal immediately.

This blog wouldn't be complete without a WED update. If you remember weeks, maybe months ago, I mentioned that I was reading the big book on Walt, 800 pages to be exact, a book by Neal Gabler. I wrote that so I don't have to deal with copyright issues on this particular blog report on said book that I would abbreviate his name to WED. Come to find out that WED Productions was an actual entity that began with the desire of the studio to be able to market his name. WED branched out on his own, had complete control, a desired necessity that lead to train making passion and collection of miniature items such as houses, cars, grannys and the like. WED built a miniature town called, Disneylandia which lead to hiring of an engineer from SRI, Stanford Research Institute to do a study on best location for the much desired amusement park he wanted to create. The SRI report mentioned that Orange County would be the best place because low humidity and most future growth in population. WED financed the buying of acreage of $4800 per with his own money, most not supporting the dream although Roy did think it would be a great idea because they could use the property as a place to make movies and store film. Disneyland, which is what is became known and t.g because the other option was, "Mickey Mouse's Village" was the result of borrowing against a life insurance policy. Television would save WED to capture his dream of building the perfect American depiction o' heritage.

I'm getting ahead of myself as the chapter I currently finished was titled, "Adrift" and the one in the last paragraph was about the chapter I started titled, "City on the hill." The most exciting chapter yet and with the pages on the left becoming more abundant there is hope that I may finish the book before the next due date. Due Date~ what a wonderful title! That's what writing does as a daily exercise, force titles from ideas written. Walts love affair with trains began after the war and was a distraction of sorts, a new form of control when he lost it at his studio (468). Walt became a corporate magnate rather than artist, accused of exploiting rather than creating after his merchandise executive died in an Air France crash over the AZores (473). Walt bought his wife a 25th wedding anniversary gift, a new Holmby Hills home in which he was able to build a train and entertaining the neighbors with his soda fountain. At the time, Cinderella saved the studio from financial disaster with its tense subplot about helpful mice "menaced" by Lucifer, the evil feline. Walt was looking forward to creating a better fortress than the studio, thus the collection and display of his miniatures and love of trains, high ambitions of building the perfect Marceline town, the very place where he spent the best of childhood times. Thus the next chapter, "City on a Hill." See above chapter.

As I scoot along like my own little train that could mentality, I, too like the control that creating a script allows a writer like myself, hobby fortified. Walt wanted control in crafting a better reality. Disney was "a touchstone, a tonic force during the Depression, providing comfort in a time of foreboding" In gaining control, WED knew he needed assistance in building his city on the hill, one he didn't want to ever be static, one in which had to move. WED used Buddy Ebsen as an experiment, his movements resulting in the first audio-animatronic robot. One person close to him asked, "Why do you do it?" WED replied, "Damned if I know." After visiting and studying places like Griffith Park WED noted that he wanted a place where the whole family could go, where they can have fun." Disneyland would be, "a land of WED's imagination and a land under his absolute power (489). Disneyland was "apotheosis of LA architecture, of Hollywood layout of a movie, scene 1, 2, 3 (497) surrounded by a "berm" keeping the world at bay. A "puritan" dream of perfection, control and order that would unify America. Disneyland is a roadmap of WED's life, entices guests (the entrance to Sleeping Beauty's castle). A human desire to return through time to an earlier state of mind. Disneyland is a "repository of values." Television would allow WED to create his dream of building the perfect amusement park.

To be continued. Little train that could. Hoot, Hoot ~ chuga, chuga, choo, choo!!!



Above picture is the beloved Sedona Cathedral Rock ~ a place where we are reminded that there's only one God!!!

Lent

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips (Ps. 141:3)

I attended an Ash Wednesday service, received the ashes on my forward and the words whispered to me, "Dust we began, dust we will return again." A scary thought, but true none-the-less as I try not to dwell too much on the inevitable. Life is a gift, each day being grateful to make just one small difference in someone's life through friendship, love, kindness, words of wisdom.

Being acknowledged for my writing is always a nice life event. Yesterday, I read an email from the Beverly Hills Film Festival that began with the words, "Congratulations." I love that word. It denotes that you won something or your life is about to change. In my case, I'm going to Beverly Hills to enjoy a weekend of prestige, awards, Rodeo, Sunset Blvd, PCH and my beloved Pac O. How I love sitting by the sea, looking back behind me and wondering what it would take to live in that exact spot, 180 degrees to my east.

One of the very things that I was going to give up for Lent was Facebook! I got home, ashes falling from my forehead and into my eyes and turned on my computer. The very first page that pops up is Facebook so there was hardly any ignoring it for forty days because I had already been enticed to view what people, friends were posting. I couldn't log out without making some comments or liking some pictures. I tried and failed to give up the social media site that takes up a lot of people's time, mine included. If I gave it up I wouldn't be friends with the one who created and gives so much love and attention to Sundance. Looking at his pictures with Paul Newman when they starred together in, "The Sting" is worth the log in time and wondering if it's the real Bob is even more fascinating. I've arrived and I texted my mother, "Guess who I'm friends with on FB?" I typed in Bob's name in lower case letters and my mom texts me back, "His name deserves capital letters." The virgo is correct and if it wasn't for shear laziness on the text, having to press the up arrow button I would have to agree. This man deserves capital letters when texting his name.

I'm looking forward to meeting the honorary host at the upcoming Beverly Hills event. The first year was Hot Lips Houlahan who kept fixing my sequined dress while I was nervously searching for a pen and piece of paper for her autograph. We were at the Beverly Hills hotel and I was so nervous that I thought it would be rude for me to ask for a pictures or an autograph because I was in a room full of filmmakers. Adrian calls it "star-fucking." I hate that term. I call it excitement. It's exciting to be in the same room with stars. The next year was Elliot Gould and I did ask for a picture with him. I missed the year with John Voight, last year as something came up and we couldn't go. The something was a bochy ball tournament, having to attend because it was at a lawyer's home and Adrian was in law school. I missed John Voight and Adrian dropped out of law school. Go figure. I should've went to Beverly Hills sans Adrian because I ended up being so cold at the Bochefest that I sat in the car with the heater turned up to high. I made my teammate mad because I left too soon. Fashionably late and leaving too soon as Jackie O says in one of the books I've read about her, "Leave them with wanting more." I'm a professional at that!

Lent is a special time and I still haven't really given anything up but I've been reading my Bible on a daily basis. For me, that's a good thing. I take my Bible everywhere, reading it before work, at lunch and at night before I go to bed. I'm currently on Leviticus, Mark, Psalms and Proverbs. Old, New, Song and Wisdom. I'm currently still reading Walt Disney's biography and found out that I can't renew the book because I've had it so long. I'm currently on the chapter titled, "Adrift" and it talks about the racial discrimination of the movie, "Song of the South" and how WED attempted to fight communism that hit Hollywood after WWII and the Motion Picture Alliance, MPA affiliation thereof. Walt was accused of a lot of things but the chapter proved he wasn't anti-Semite or that he didn't mean to discriminate. The film portrayed how educational films began, Walt taking a trip up to Alaska and filming a documentary about Seals that won an Academy Award. Good stuff and proves I'm keeping busy during the Lenten season, Wm telling me he doesn't want us to watch television in the new house. I agree and when I mentioned we should watch the Netflix movie, "Boyz in the Hood" that had been sitting on the counter collecting dust because I didn't know how to work the X-Box to watch movies, needing his assistance, he stated at the end, "Thanks, mom, now I'm gonna have bad dreams." Wm's having his own issues with his writing, being critiqued in a negative way, a minus 3 from the students at his schools literary magazine in which he bravely submitted a story about his own life only to be knocked down to the ground. I told him last night that it's nice to have your writing acknowledged and he needs to keep trying just as his teacher thinks he has potential. Wm captures the human spirit, something the kids in the group fail to do, in my opinion because if they captured the human spirit they would know that writers are a sensitive folk and wouldn't give a minus 3. It will be interesting, even though Wm says he wants to give up the craft, what will happen in the future with his writing career. I, too, see potential, huge but it's difficult to help someone up when he's been knocked down by classmates. If they only knew about the human spirit then, like I said, it's gonna be interesting. I wrote Wm a poem about how proud I am on him and will paste it below.

Wm's birthday, this year, falls on Easter Sunday, the day we end Lent. I'm supposed to be in California because my mom is expecting us and I've got a four day weekend. She's gonna give Wm her car. My eldest child is going to be 16. A sensitive boy who soaks up the attitudes of others like a sponge taking a hot bath. Potential. Huge. Wm's been swimming in the Senior state meet, taking time off his swims right and left. He's taller, too. Everyday I have to crank up my neck a tad more to look into his gorgeous brown eyes, so much like his Uncle Johns. I believe in this kid like there's no tomorrow and maybe my Lent is to give him the encouragement he needs to get by each day. It's a competitive world and Wm lives smack dab in it. It's hard being the best when others are making comments as they look over your shoulder. Jealousy reigns in a Christian world. Love conquers all! Happy Lent everyone!!!


My Writer

My writer is a sensitive human being
Human kindness, difficult to find
Crushed by words that lack integrity
Why can’t people just be kind?

My writer is my son
An important part of my life
He’s second to none
His accomplishments a big part
I love him dearly
His writing always captures my heart

My writer is going to succeed
Because he captures the human spirit
And that’s what every reader wants to read
Make us cry, make us laugh
Dignity in others on your own behalf
Will shine through
No matter what
It’s a sin to boast
You don’t need to anyway
Because out of them all
You’ve got the most

My writer has to believe
In himself
At all times
Even when his words don’t rhyme
Because my writer is the best
In the North, East, South and West

My writer will survive
The Jesuit thing we call pride
One day at a time
Breath in, Breath Out
Keep on standing
Even when you get knocked out
By others actions, words and doubts of self
You’re my writer son
I love my heart raves about!!!

Mustard seed

"How shall w picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? It's like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade."
Mark 4:30-32

The color of the house is mustard seed yellow. It's on a New Testament named street and my motto for attaining it is, "Third times a charm" and with a little help from above it may be ours in the future. Just in time as gas prices are rising on a daily basis, at least every time I show up at the pump it seems the price has a couple more numbers that aren't lucky .77! Costco gas here we come and I assume that gas lines at Costco will be getting longer and longer as we head into summer. Thinking back to last fall, I should've enjoyed those 2.83/gallon gas prices as I'm quite dependent on gas at the present moment. As the Arabs get richer over our own dependency on their resource, I'm hoping that the people in charge can at least look for ways to stop importing and obtain oil domestically.

The mustard seed is the smallest seed but grows the biggest tree. The underdog has a chance if he/she puts his/her mind to it. I often tell my kids to think and be positive in their own life events. Alice, for instance, has qualifying times for the upcoming state swim meet. She's also got a 102.9 fever and sinus infection. I sort of knew, with all the swim meets and training, that something like this would happen. I've never tried to push my children in swimming, although I'm quite proud of their motivation, I do believe in lots of Vitamin C and rest. Alice needs plenty of rest and I'm glad that she doesn't have strep-throat or something worse. She's got a terrible headache and has been placed on Z-pack and rest just in case there is a bug in her system that will prevent her from swimming in the state meet. Prevention is key. I'm happy to be able to have a day off to pick her up and tend to her needs like taking her to urgent care and getting her prescription filled, my day off. I can only wonder what those Olympians do when their training schedules are even more intense. We're hoping to see as I prepare the family vacation with a trip to Omaha to see the Olympic finals, something Wm and Alice will certainly enjoy. I tell my kids that it's just another swim meet, those Olympic trials. They've been to so many swim meets, Wm at senior state meet this weekend, misses school today, can leave a mom feeling proud as they take the sport to the next level. Mustard seeds. Proud of them!!!

An update on the Disney book as I trod on, my own mustard seed of reading and attempting to finish such a large book, eight-hundred pages but I just finished the chapter titled, "Two Wars." The two wars were the World War II and the war between Walt and his staff, the making of an animator's union, in which animators would have more control in the workplace. On page 357, Walt states, "You know how it is boys. If I can't have my own way.....if somebody tries to tell me to do something, I do the complete opposite, and if necessary, I will close down the studio." Tension mounted because Walt hated the idea of a union, which was influenced by Walt's past animator, Arthur Babbitt, who wanted to boycott Disney films (page 363).

Especially after the military took refuge in Walt's Burbank studio, using the place to store military goods, personnel bunkers, and the like. Walt made money making wartime, instructional films to be shown during this time to convince the people not to form the union. He traveled to South America to make short films but had refused to return to US when his father, Elias had become ill and eventually died, not attending the funeral. After the Pearl Harbor incident, Walt was busier than ever when the Navy Dept of Aeronautics contracted with Walt to make twenty films on aircraft and warship identification, a $90,000 cost (page 383). The government wanted Walt to produce films that would encourage Americans to pay their taxes, an urgency because the government needed money to fund the war (page 384), the movie titled, "The New Spirit." Walt became disillusioned over making the kinds of films he was forced to make during the war, government contracted, unimaginative and educational films, leading Americans to believe Walt had political affiliations, beliefs making such "propaganda" (page 389).

Bambi was finally released in August, 1943. While the audience wanted to escape the thoughts of war, they began to dislike the juvenile qualities of animation. The war had imposed a sort of "grimness" on Burbank (page 399). Lockheed rented space on the Burbank studio lot, the animators forced to wear orange name tags to identify themselves. Quality took a backseat to efficiency and economy (page 400). The war saved Walt Disney otherwise the studio would probably be forced into bankruptcy and forced to close. Walt was beginning to understand the dollar. Prewar film was 30,000 feet, during the war 300,000 feet of film produced making it Walt's busiest year ever making of government films (page 401). When the Americans invaded Normandy the code word was, "Mikey Mouse." (page 411). When the European version of the war ended and then the Japanese version in 1945 the Disney studio closed for three days to celebrate. Walt Disney had contributed much to the American success in the war (page 412). He had designed 1200 designs for military insignia and the Treasury Dept gave him $50 million worth of savings bonds. Walt said, "For Christ's sake, Marc, I never want to do a training film as long as I live." (page 412) Walt also made films on mosquito control called, "The Winged Scourge" which, at the time, created a greater sensation then "Gone with the Wind." (page 412). After the two wars, the union formation and the world war, Walt was excited to make great films that would entertain audiences. His war movie, "Victory" was just that, a victory!

Two Wars Chapter Vocabulary:
capitulated
surreptitiously
dept 3 mill
derisory terms
japery
draconian
bon homme
despot
reapproachment
brusque
revered
apostates
paternalism
precepts
chafe
dissension
vaunted
incipient
truculent
facile
temenity
riveter
radiculized
austerity
blitzkrieg
sanguine
comity
ineluctable
intransigent
desultory
cuasded
profligacy
fiefdom
purgatie

Buying A Farm

Today I endured a root canal and a crown prep. I feel like a bad hygienist but honestly it's not my fault because I floss. Daily. It's like defending Moses as he built the ark or defending George for not getting the Oscar. I'm a great worker who had a two year minor problem. No insurance. I know, that's not an excuse, but it is. In my case, it is. I've got access to all the necessary equipment and it did hurt, upper left, when I bit down on the Southwestern Salad from McDonald's every time I'd crunch down on one of those really good tortilla chips they place on top of the salad, the same ones you say to yourself, as you eat, "I can enjoy these because, I'm eating a salad with vinegar and oil dressing." I haven't been to McDonald's for a salad since the diagnosis, my second eyes concentrating on tooth #15, a beloved Upper Left second molar, one that has beautiful long roots, appearing that much longer and more beautiful filled with gutta percha.

Sitting through both, experiencing both a root canal and a crown prep has given me new insight. I'm definitely grateful for having medical and dental insurance, especially when it was needed the most and that's what the radiograph, or lack thereof, and exposure to finding out the goings on in my own mouth have been delayed ever since the economy went bad. You've heard the story in the past blogs. Yes, Adrian lost his job but has regained employment and we've since gotten physicals from head to toe, some results good (mammography), some yet to be taken (imagination) and some bad results, but hey, I'm glad it's just a tooth, although I do feel bad about my filling breaking in said tooth and me not knowing bacteria was taking up resident and making it's way to the nerve. You see, once the bacteria make it's way through the enamel, which is the hardest substance in the body, then it's easy to make it's way through dentin and cementum. Easy Peasy. It's like the nerve of a tooth is the jackpot and bacteria won't stop putting the pennies in the slot machine. I'm a victim of gambling bacteria and I'm truly grateful for everyone who made the root canal and crown prep possible but I will hold off on the speech for fear the orchestra may start playing the "time's up" ballad like they did during the Oscar speeches.

Of course, while I'm laying back in the chair, I'm thinking that I should write about the experience. I mean, in a positive way, where people learn from my experience. Isn't that what writing's all about? What's the title gonna be? Bad Hygienist. Off to a great start because the title is the most difficult thing to come up with especially if you don't even have a story to write about. It's funny how a writer can be in any room and a story will completely unfold around him or her. We don;t even have to try but my own thing or story was going to be along the lines of Bad Santa. Bad Hygienist, Bad Santa and hey, I could even throw out some dialog about Apache Junction, first hand experience! I'm glad I write and any writer will tell you that they write or they are inspired by the really difficult life experiences. To me, a really bad life experience is to get a root canal and crown prep all in one day. I'm human. I write. I have the theme (even though you floss and brush with an Oral-B Triumph and use all the latest rinses, you must not miss your six-month check-up, which includes all the necessary radiographs to see if your own filling is broken in two).

Life is good. I survived and lived to tell about it. I'm surrounded by great people. People who care about my welfare and my health. It was one hell of a ride but I survived. I could even write a Whitney Houston song about the experience. I'm certainly not proud, but I survived! I know I don't need to tell anyone, and in fact I probably shouldn't but the whole writing thing, for me, is so that others can learn from my experience. Get your x-rays and check-ups, bi-annually. Floss daily, but have that second set of eyes that can see what you can't see. It worked for me and as I await my golden crown as my children have to inherit some sort of gift from me besides mom's property, plus I like to grind and gold is good for grinders, not that I'm diagnosing, but being in the biz for thirty odd years does lend one some insight into what's the best for ones dentition.

In closing, I'm done with the guilt. I'm sorry I'm human. I will, from now on get regular check-ups and like the movie, Bad Santa with Billy Bob, I could write my own script titled, "Bad Hygienist" but I'd have to put the profession that I've loved into a humorous perspective and I just won't do that. There's nothing funny here and I'm taking complete responsibility for my actions. Do you see an arc change? If not then re-read the first paragraph of this blog. I changed my perspective through writing these paragraphs just like a character changes through a script, a good script, as that's the goal.

In closing, I'd just like to say that I'm really sorry George didn't win the Best Actor Oscar. I'm kind of in mourning as I loved the movie and his character arc, the change his character went through to let go of his wife and hang on to the family property as portrayed at the end of the movie. Besides, Alexander wrote the script, an adaptation that did win Best Screenplay. Alexander, the one I wrote in the beginning of this whole writing experience, the one that lead me to my friends at Film Streams. Back then when it was all about money and once I met all these people, these wonderful people, I've come to learn that the best speech ever of Oscar night was Meryl Streep's speech about friendship. I've made friends with these people, not Alexander, but others who may or are associated with him and believe me, if I ever became friends with him, you'd be the first to know, but I'm happy he won and was super funny about how his co-write stuck out his leg just like Angie did. People ask, "Why did Angie do that?" Duh, because she got 23,000 Twitter followers for Angie's leg in less than 23 hours. It was a brave and creative thing to do as well as memorable because I even asked the same question, "Why she do that?" Genius. Good week everyone!!!

Picture: My Oscar pose, dress by LC, sunset by God and view by luck, lots and lots of luck!!!!

Routine

Prayers go out to the service people and their families of the Marines killed in the air collision routine training session near Yuma yesterday. When events happen such as this one, the pride in Country upholds the sadness incurred by such a tragedy. To risk ones life for service to one's country is second to none but our thoughts and prayers go out as we ask the question, "Why?"

Sometimes it's difficult to come up with such an answer to why things happen in life. Why is a very powerful word and as we go on our own daily routines we pray and give thanks for another day, pray our family is safe in their own travels to and from school or work and prayers for those who are fighting for ones country. Pride and Justice prevail and I'm sure that perhaps this untimely accident may have saved others, perhaps more people, when the question is answered. Routine training missions are just that, training for more experience, learning to accomplish said mission in a successful way.

Pride reigns, servicemen who were fighting the good fight as two helicopters collide over California desert, a training mission gone bad, a learning experience that may save others down road of routine missions: Prayers to their families and loved ones:
The dead were listed as Maj. Thomas A. Budrejko, 37, of Montville, Conn.; Capt. Michael M. Quin, 28, of Purcellville, Va.; Capt. Benjamin N. Cerniglia, 31, of Montgomery, Ala.; Sgt. Justin A. Everett, 33, of Clovis, Calif.; Lance Cpl. Corey A. Little, 25, of Marietta, Ga.; Lance Cpl. Nickoulas H. Elliott, 21, of Spokane, Wash. and Capt. Nathan W. Anderson, 32, of Amarillo, Texas.

My own routine is so insignificant as those who do serve our beloved country, but I've got to say that a new routine has begun after this last Saturday's memorial of Whitney Houston. I always wondered why a nail was in my tire, keeping me from heading into town to review a movie with other writers. I didn't make the event that I positively rsvp'd for. I sought refuge at home, awaiting my husband to arrive home from the swim meet so he can fix my newly acquired problem. The new routine is to carry the Bible with me as Whitney did, hers tattered and torn because she took it with her everywhere she went. That information, given that day of her memorial, appealed to me. Investigation to follow in routine mission and the beloved Voice happening where we all can get some answers as to why these tragedies took place. Indeed, it took place for love of country and/or love of self, but still sad to have something like this take place in both cases.

Movie Day, creativity gets honored with Oscar given to best creative mind. A "Medal of Valor" of sorts. A good movie, one that depicts the American fight for ones country. A movie that just came out last Friday night. One, like the Artist, that is on my list of movies to see. I can't see as of this moment in time because, as I came up with the phrase yesterday when my children asked me over and over, "What are we going to do next?" as they jumped into my Prius after said Regional swim meet. I told them, with tuition and summer school fees due for B and X paid and due that we are going home because we're PSP. The kids looked at me funny and said, "What's PSP? I informed them that PSP stands for Private School Poor!

On with our normal routine even though PSP and ITP (of which I will leave to the imagination) won't be affecting too much of our daily one because all swim fees have been paid and that includes any escrow fees needed for the upcoming AZ State swim meet of which Alice, my middle child, has made qualifying times. Three swim meets in a row. I have to take mental note of this time of year to make sure that Alice gets plenty of rest and attention. Her dad took her this a.m as he's so good at doing. My Sunday routine includes listening to Fred's sermon at the UMC, something that I've done for the past 15 years. I give it all over to the Lord and say Thanks for all He's given to me. It's my day of rest as it says in either Exodus or Matthew. I think Exodus. I know that because Fred handed out yearly Bible reading plans, sheets of paper that includes a yearly plan of reading Old, New, Psalms and Proverbs. Loving every minute of it.

As I woke up to Wm banging around in the kitchen this morning, something him and his dad love to do. I think because the master is directly attached to the kitchen I'm just more sensitive to the noise incurred during the cooking of the meals or the washing of the dishes. I'm also more sensitive to the watching of the television and the chit chat about a movie, yesterdays being, "Land of the Lost." Adrian says to Wm, a father-son bonding moment, the two watching the movie while I take said afternoon nap, "Do you remember when you were three years old and you knew all the dinosaurs names?" Wm replies, "Yes, dad." Wm loved dinosaurs at a very young age so it will be something to look forward to when he picks a major in college or a job post. Will his passion for dinosaurs lead him to the expedition of a lifetime? He can begin a dig here on Rancho Mayfield because dinosaurs have been known to roam the area.

One thing, a project of sorts, that I want to do with Wm is to storyboard the ending chapters of Exodus Chapter 39, the one with the blue, purple and wine colored garments. I got the paper and colored pens out last night and I have to say that we're off to a great start. He drew the most beautiful dress. I will have to take a picture of it and post here. I want to adapt the greatest book ever told and see where it takes me. Do storyboards then interpret them to modern day. Genius. My routine of reading the Bible, as I've been told that doing so does change one's life for the better, will lead me into a screenwriting story of sorts. I have Wm draw and I interpret. I can't draw. I can inspire my son, though and that has paid off in fruition (love using that word). In closing, I hope the Descendent's wins best picture because the movie was simply beautiful, Hawaii and George at their best. We know George will win and it will be a happy, creative day!!! One that will most likely inspire me to keep treking on this path I've chosen for myself, the path of writer. Now to just bring it all into fruition!!! Happy Oscar Day, everyone!!! A day where anything can happen in the getting ready for said event routine!!!

A good scene entails the exact opposite of the original idea by giving the audience something completely unexpected (prh)
If only I could accomplish this task, or someday I will accomplish this task, or I've already accomplished this task ~ Smiley face.

The above images: Alice rocks the State meet (girl power), Wm's drawing, the moon and a planet taken 2/25/12

Air

“Present your requests to God.” Once we do that, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).

Today I was on my way to the script review class and I noticed, as I was driving down the drive-way, after hearing a pop, that my tire was low light was once again illuminated. I drove to Walgreens, my mission to get a book of stamps before attending the "Toy Story" review with the other Phoenix Screenwriters. I made it back home and am dependent on my husband for help in the situation. My husband, who woke up early to take the kids to the swim meet, as wonderful as he is in these type of situations, makes me be more thankful than ever. The long, dirt and rock lined driveway is a bone of contention, but the view of the beloved mountain makes up for it. The view is extremely spectacular and am forever grateful again that the flat occurred at home.

Having a flat kept me from reviewing a script but I do get to watch Kevin Costner in his speech about Whitney Houston. The Bodyguard forever being a movie that is forever etched in all of our hearts. I love Kevin Costner movies anyway but the Bodyguard is one of those special times when two very artistic people came together to create something that we will all sing forever, the song, "I Will Always Love You." This is a sad occasion but Whitney was loved and her Baptist Church is clapping and singing and turning this in to a rejoicing event, death knocks and Heaven awaits. Whitney, for sure, will be in Heaven as she's touched so many people on her life path, touching them in the most positive way.

I'm thankful for being at this place at this time, watching this as I kind of thought about how I'd miss the televised event if I left for the review. Funny how life happens, but it does happen and fate determines what place or event you'll witness and enjoy. I'm exactly where I should be, low tires and all. RIP Whitney. You had great friends and family and will be truly missed by your fans!!! Never, ever take air for granted!!!

The above pics were taken today, pre-flat tire, a bird chirps, the place I love, the car's tire much in need of precious air!!! Have a great day everybody!!! Don't forget, as Rev. Winans words stated today, "Prioritize" put God first! God has let the Church say, "Amen!!!"

Congratulations to my daughter, Alice who got accepted to Xavier College Prep!!! She is the air that I breath and truly an inspiration of how I should've spent my own high school years as a student, swimmer and person!!! Good Luck, Alice

Obeisance

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
Revelation 2:1 To the Church in Ephesus

Time is too slow for those who wait
Too swift for those who fear
Too long for those who grieve,
Too short for those who rejoice
But for those who love, time is eternity.

Henry Van Dyke's, "Time."
May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Come enjoy rewards and crowns I have prepared for you ~ Hamlet

When you are born you cry and the world rejoices. Live your life in such a way that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice
-Native American Proverb

Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope.
- Prayer from St. Francis of Assisi

What's he like?
-page 304 of book by Jay Mulvaney about Jackie and Diana, "Maidens, Mothers and Myths."
JFK to his friend, Ben Bradlee, "What makes journalism so fascinating and biography so interesting is the struggle to answer this single question."

What's she like? She's elusive and complex
-page 304 of the Jackie and Diana book

I count myself in nothing else so happy as in a soul remembering my good friends
-William Shakespeare, Richard II

"Jack loved history so. History made him what he was. He devoured the Knights of the Round Table." page 221 Jackie and Diana book.

Books mentioned:

The Making of a President, 1960
A Conversation with Jacqueline Kennedy
Diana: Her true story
Prince of Wales
Another City, Not my own
The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton
The Death of a President by William Manchester
A Night to Remember by Walter Lord
A Thousand Days: JFK in the White House by Arthur Schlesinger
Kennedy by Ted Sorensen
Johnnie: We hardly know ye by Dave Powers
A Lady, first by Tish Baldridge
All About Eve
Answered Prayers by Truman Capote
How Christmas came to Hawaii by Roger Bye

Death lies on her like an untimely frost
Upon the sweetest flower of all the field
-Wm Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet mentioned on page 277 of Jackie and Diana book

When he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night,
And pay no worship to the garish sun

-Romeo and Juliet, mentioned on page 243 of Jackie and Diana book

Give me my scallop-shell of quiet,
My staff of faith to walk upon,
My scrip of joy, immortal diet.
My bottle of salvation,
My gown of glory, hope's true gage;
And thus I'll take my pilgrimage

-Sir Walter Raleigh page 291-292 of Jackie and Diana book

Ithaka
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbors you're seeing for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind-
as many sensual perfumes as you can

C.P Cavafy, page 293 Jackie and Diana book

In closing, I've finished this book, an accomplishment of sorts as I check out many library books and never seem to find the time to finish a one. This book was about two fascinating, yet different women who married powerful men. Both had a profound impact on people in two different, yet unique nations. Both will be remembered forever, in hopes that the heir or spare has a baby girl they name Diana!!! Hope for the future, but Wm is away for months but we all can't wait for that moment to happen as a quote from the book goes something like this when the flag stopped accidentally at half-staff, "The Queen may not have wanted the flag to rest at half-staff but God did." Page 286. Tradition. Life. Journey. Make yours unique and wonderful as I'll try to do the same with my own!!! For the first time the Queen finally showed Obeisance by bowing her head for Diana.