a. have a lot to say

b. have been learning a ton about social media & should be a crazy blogger by now

c. have plenty of times to watch “so you think you can dance”, but not enough time for true writing

d. just haven’t had felt like it. . .

answer: all of the above.

I am going to work on the Best of 2009 Blog Challenge to try and get myself back on track for the new year. I’ll start with a simple one.

December 1st

What was your best trip in 2009?

My best trip was last February. Ken and I went on the Cayamo Singer/Songwriter cruise through the US & British Virgin Islands. We went snorkeling, listened to amazing live music every night, ate amazing food, and I really fell in love with traveling all over again. Traveling is like a muscle if you don’t use it, it gets flabby (or even worse, you forget how much you love it).

Second best, seeing my sister’s new apartment in Chicago. Don’t get me wrong, Chicago is awesome, but what is really thrilling is seeing someone you love open themselves up to adventure and moving to a new city where they don’t know anyone because a quiet voice whispers “there is something more for you to do and be.” She is brave. No doubt.

Check pics from our cruise:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lapster/sets/72157615017843955/

– laura

It’s is especially nice to have such a great friend to travel with. That makes it all worth while!

My second best “travel” as been in and out of Portland, OR. I’ve been conscripted by my job to do IT support down there and I try to explore the city every time I go. There are some fantastic restaurants in Portland. Check them out.

– ken

• a husband
• a size 8 jean
• maybe a baby
• a job in the leadership of an organization
• professionally being sought out as “an expert” of something — who knows what
• a funky modern loft or house
• and the list goes on and on

The thing that surprises me most about my life is how different it is from the life I envisioned and how much better it is now that I have arrived in this moment.

• no husband, but a partner I’m madly in love with.� My relationship with him is even better than I dreamed it could be.
• no size 8, but a size 12, and a healthy outlook on my body — and I’m still hitting the gym and letting myself eat pizza, a brilliant balance if I do say so myself.
• no baby, but two animals who I can nurture and spoil — and the best part, I can just ignore their early morning meow and whining and sleep in.
• Yeah, expert is all relative. If you become an expert, there is less to learn, so I’ll celebrate myself as a student and beginner forever.
• The modern loft and house I still want.� See my current inspiration from Caroline Eclectic
• But now my list goes on and on with hope and possibilities

So here are a few birthday wishes for myself.

• That my prayers manifest themselves as laughter, creativity, and dancing
• That I envision and act on a life so unique and so authentic to whom I am — it seems almost ridiculous that I didn’t get here earlier because it is so obvious that it’s my calling.
• That my spiritual life blooms into a daily practice — whatever that means
• That my work continues to be filled with innovation, service, and arms outstretched toward a better world. You gotta give em hope!
• That I am able to communicate and act in a way that lets all those who I love most, feel loved and supported always
• That I am able to learn the lesson without carrying the circumstance of difficult challenges
• That my life turns out to be even better than I can even dream for myself
• And my wishes go on and on. . .

Bring it on 32!

Dominique Gabella was one of those teachers for me, and she might not know it.� During my time as a volunteer director for Seeds of Compassion, I was always a little frazzled.� We were building a movement from scratch — we never had enough money and never enough time.�� A project that started as a small three day conference took up momentum and transformed into concerts, stadium events, and five days of activities.� We were asking people to donate their talents as volunteers and trying to use everyone’s amazing skills to capacity.� Needless to say, I was stressed, and often falling into a less than compassionate mindset.

Enter Dominique.

Dominique joined the Seeds of Compassion volunteer team early on.� An accomplished dancer and the expertise of a woman who had run her own company for years wrapped in beautiful long hair and a European disposition.� I came across hundreds of amazing volunteers during my work, but Dominique was uniquely helpful to me.�� She would walk right across a buzzing room, look me in the eye, and ask with quiet simplicity — “how can i help you?” At moments it gave me such relief I could cry.� She came in several days a week, and did whatever needed to be done without pretense.� The woman probably should have been doing my job since she was a businesswoman who had run a company for years with mostly volunteers — her skills were so far above the work she would do for me.� She organized my volunteer forms, answered emails I couldn’t get to, researched random tasks I had promised to others but had not yet begun.� Honestly, it was grunt work.

But she would smile, take the project from my hands, and glide across the room to return later with a perfect task completed.� Never a complaint.� Never a critique.� Never a drop of ego.� She went on to run one of our biggest campaign — What Does Compassion Look Like.� Working with students and teachers and hundreds of art pieces.� She would arrive early in the morning to set up the artwork, return late in the night to take it all down.� She held each piece like treasure — delicate and golden.

Recounting her help to the project, is not what made her so special.� First, it is no secret that I love to dance.� In fact, in my next life — I’ll devote myself to it.�� So, to just have a professional dancer around was wonderful.� The dance lives throughout a dancer’s entire body –� just watch Dominique pick up a pencil or glide across a room.� She is graceful and strong, and to me, that is a deadly combination.� Sometimes, late in the afternoon, when just a few of us were left, she would tell amazing stories of Switzerland or a past show she had done, or her current project she was working on, and just hearing her talk makes you feel like more of an artist.

Second, she was the embodiment of compassion.� She was not always treated with care.� We were all racing with high expectation and she was given several difficult challenges and high maintenance clients — but she always calm, focused, and joyful.� I don’t know how she did it.� I guess that is why I liked having her around.� You couldn’t help but slow down — her personality emanated the energy — “you are going to be fine”� “we are doing the best we can”� “you know this can actually be fun”.� I wanted so desperately to have that kind of presence in my leadership and management (I think the use of the word “desperately” proves I have not yet mastered the skill). I attribute her style to her European upbringing or a life in the theater, but also to her individual soul.

I haven’t seen her much since our project ended, but got an email this morning with a link to an article about her from KUOW about “Old Masters”.�� How lucky we are to have teachers and friends who dance into our lives when they are so needed — making us better just by their presence.

Listen to Dominique’s story and look at some of the amazing photos in the slideshow.

Dominique Gabella, Dancer

Friday, April 10, 2009

Dominique Gabella can’t imagine her world without dance. She said that is “like silk; it’s an ingredient of my life.” Gabella has been a professional dancer for more than 40 years. Unfortunately, the older she gets, the less her body is able to cooperate with her creative spirit. Today we continue our weekly series “Old Masters.” It’s about how art shapes artists, and how age influences their art. KUOW’s Marcie Sillman introduces us to a woman who says age won’t keep her from the artform she loves.

• Slideshow of Photos
• Interview� – Real Audio and MP3
• Next Stage Dance Theater
  

Cheers to the dancer in all of us.

CAYAMO!
I haven’t written about anything for awhile but I want to send my thanks to Laura for getting us a room on this cruise. I haven’t had so much fun in years!

Top of the list:

• Snorkeling
• Great musicians!
• Blue water (so blue that I couldn’t get over it)
• A giant boat with 10 restaurants
• Snorkeling!

I have never seen coral in the ocean – live, up close and personal. I didn’t know that it came in brain versions and purple fan versions. Because I love flower photography, because the color is both extreme and natural at the same time, I was mezmorized by the coral and the fish that had every stripe of the rainbow in them.

There were several memorable moments snorkeling: One was seeing a live octopus, another was being followed by a school of striped fish for the entire time we were in the water, and lastly was watching a school of silver shimmers float ahead of me while the tide pushed them around into strange and elegant formations.

Each day we arrived back to the boat to see, not only music, but some favorite musicians. Our lineup of number ones was the Indigo Girls, Brandi Carlile and Patty Griffin. We luckily managed to see all of them several times in the seven days at sea which was truely ‘totally awesome’.

Then we caught a few acts late at night, like everyone else, joining the exhilarated crowds looking for an opportunity to witness performers inviting favorite performers onstage with them. My heart is still sitting on the floor with a cheap camera shooting video of Vienna Teng and Brandi Carlile doing a lovely rendition of ‘Let It Be’.

I was a little overwhelmed by the experience of this cruise. I guess that is why I have to apologize to Brandi Carlile. As everyone was heading off the boat and dragging they’re luggage behind them, Laura and I happened to be hoping for an elevator. She was waiting nearby for one or two of four doors to open, I was at door number four. At that moment it opened and there stood Brandi Carlile and entourage heading to the exit with luggage. I sincerely wanted to thank her – for her music, her shows and her love of singing and supporting other musicians.

So, of course I said, ‘Hey Brittany – thanks…’ – for everything.

She kind of scowled at me.

The elevator doors closed and I realized I had called her Brittany too late to take it back. I have been tortured by that moment for two weeks now. I have also laughed about it in the parking lot of an Everglades overlook with Laura to the point of physical disability and tears. We couldn’t drive our rental out of the lot.

So, sorry Brandi Carlile. I called you Brittany. I was nervous. Sorry.

Vacation Schedule

Thursday, Feb. 26th: Ken and Laura fly to Miami

1. Saturday, Feb 28th: Launch from Port of Miami
2. Monday, March 2: Port, Samana – Dominican Republic
3. Tuesday, March 3: Port, St. Thomas – Virgin Islands
4. Wednesday, March 4: Port, Tortola – British Virgin Islands
5. Thursday, March 5: Port, Great Stirrup Cay – Private Island of NCL
6. Saturday, March 7: Return to Miami, Florida and fly back to Seattle

Neither of us have ever been on a cruise before.� So we can’t wait.� We don’t think we’ll have much online time, but will try to send quick updates and post pics as possible.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. “

– Teddy Roosevelt, 1910

http://ibnlive.com/news/indian-doc-develops-enzyme-that-can-destroy-hiv/48654-17.html

Read up and spread the good word…

Lloyd Dobler just saved my night. Sweet dreams.

1. How can I make the most money with minimum work? How can I make a living from a creative endeavor that has a flexible schedule? Is that just wishful thinking? (Ok, that’s more than one question)
2. Is the future of our society a “Godless” society based on Atheism and a “religion” based on reason? After reading an article about New Athesim in Wired magazine and a great talk with my mom — maybe.
3. Where should I travel for my 30th birthday? One of my best friends went to India to celebrate her 30th and she inspired me to plan my own trip. My requirements – swimming, adventure, and a fruity cocktail.
4. Why do I have this crazy knot in the center of my back in between my shoulder blades that never goes away? What can I do to get rid of it? Acupuncture? Get a hot Swedish man named Sven to rub it away?
5. How do I create daily rituals and a spiritual practice that fulfills me?
6. Should I go to graduate school? It is beginning to feel like it might be time. There is no easy answer — what would I study? Can I afford it? Yikes.
7. How many sugar cookies can I eat in one sitting? Answer: 6. I know it’s scary.
8. How do you begin to build a thriving financial life? Retirement? Buy a House? Or more importantly — buy the new iphone?
9. Where should we move? Chicago? Philly? San Fran? Bali? Yemen? So many options . . .
10. Why do people like MySpace? I just don’t get it.

My list goes on and on, but I have resolved not to answer any of these questions today. Maybe that is the true answer. I’ll keep you updated.