the dog stalker

finding one's neck

2011-07-27T23:53:00.001-04:00

sometimes inspiration is hard to find. yet when i hear a person discussing bad photography experiences, i can't help but want to get my camera out and help.

in this case, ms. alicja was in need of a neck...yes, after two different sittings and disappointing results, we took a stab at finding her neck and her inner diva. think we succeeded.

with limited room, we worked lighting and angles to define and enhance. the ever-important fan added a bit of fun sizzle while cooling us down under the hot lights and heat outside. although small, we made the most of the makeshift studio to deliver maximum results.

ms. alicja, it was great working with you. now, who will be my next model?

on display at CannesAlso

2011-06-22T07:51:00.001-04:00

The Brand Union has created a new exhibit this year at the 2011 Cannes Lion International Festival of Creativity called CannesAlso. "The Big Book" that showcases approximately 1,200 photographs from around the world is meant to highlight the external creative influences of industry members.

Three of my images were shortlisted and are currently on display in Cannes. Take a peek!

Torn Stockings: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Boy at Play: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Lone Ranger and OJ: Marrakesh, Morocco

the omg dog...jeff

2011-06-22T07:34:00.000-04:00

1250 Miles of Photographic Exploration

2011-03-23T23:28:00.001-04:00

Pour le plaisir des yeux by Kendra Peavy | Make Your Own Book

my qr code

2010-12-10T08:33:00.000-05:00

The Metro: A Parisian Paradise

2010-10-23T17:27:00.002-04:00

The Metro: A Parisian Paradise | Make Your Own Book

doing our part

2010-06-15T06:33:00.001-04:00

no one will deny that the bp spill is a travesty. however, how many people can say that they've done anything about it? step in 5th grader olivia bouler. she took her disappointment and sadness in the situation and has made an unbelievable difference. having raised $70,000 through her original bird artwork, she has done more than sit on the couch and watch the news...or complain about it. she's taken action and is a living testament to the power of caring, determination and unbridled belief that we do make a difference.

an inspiration for those of us who continue to walk aimlessly wondering what our calling may be or how we may contribute to a better good -- stop talking and start walking...or in this case, drawing. you go, girl!

To read more, visit USA Today: fifth-grader raises $70k

Or go to the National Audubon Society and see how you can help make a difference.

Choose to ‘Do Something’ and Share Some Love

2010-05-06T10:55:00.000-04:00

From Erwin-Penland's Food For Thought blog -- part of a three day inspirational ride:

When you think of Newark Mayor Cory Booker, the first thing that may come to mind is determination — a dogged resolve to not just BE better but DO better. That’s something he has been able to demonstrate firsthand by transforming a fairly self-destructive town into a city of possibilities.

He’s been recognized by many influential people throughout his career and certainly joins their ranks in terms of dedication to making a difference and inspiring others to take action. Wednesday at Food For Thought was no exception — Mayor Booker did not disappoint. In an hour’s time, he passionately illustrated the power of choice to mobilize action, and the power of love to transform lives. We didn’t sing “Kumbaya” during his presentation, but it is safe to say a few hearts were aflutter as he gave us a dose of Booker inspiration. Here’s a sampling of what he shared:

* We have the power to choose, and what we do with that choice can inspire others.
* Challenges do not define us, but our responses to them do.
* The world you see outside of you is a reflection of what you have inside of you.
* Change is not about “can,” but an issue of “will.”
* Accept things as they are or accept the responsibility to change them.

Yoda couldn’t have said it better. And while these ideas are not new to us, his words are a reminder of what we can do to inspire others with our actions. By approaching the world with a creative mind we can enact positive change, open our hearts to what is important, and open ourselves to the possibilities that await us.

Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” By sharing our thoughts and ideas, we can all help each other become better “unconventional” thinkers in a “conventional” world.

You can read more about Mayor Cory Booker by clicking HERE.

go outside

2010-03-11T07:46:00.001-05:00

kind of digging this song by the cults. makes me think of a mellow morning sitting in the sunshine, watching the grass grow, the clouds pass and contemplating this beautiful life.

check it out:

<a href="http://cults.bandcamp.com/track/go-outside">Go Outside by Cults</a>

henriettra lacks...to give and give and give some more

2010-03-09T10:26:00.000-05:00

a fascinating article and i'll guess a fascinating book about henrietta lacks in today's usa today. elizabeth weise has her questions answered by author rebecca skloot.

the story raises some interesting questions about patient rights and who should benefit from today's scientific advances.

check it out here: Q&A: How Henrietta Lacks' cells fueled medical breakthroughs

Raging Grannies Pissed About Tebow's Super Bowl Anti-Abortion Ad!

2010-02-03T23:56:00.000-05:00

Raging Grannies Pissed About Tebow's Super Bowl Anti-Abortion Ad!

think this says it all. when you allow an anti-abortion ad to run (and turn down a gay-dating site commercial), how can you expect anything else but controversy. is super bowl really the place to make this statement? time will tell.

grammy inspiration

2010-02-01T21:47:00.001-05:00

the grammys were phenomenal last night. truly a testament to the way music and art can inspire the masses to a higher level of performance and life. pink, in particular, kicked some serious ass last night demonstrating her elegant circus skills and what truly sets her a part from the competition. take a look at her performance her:

tzatziki yogurt recipe

2010-01-04T22:37:00.001-05:00

tzatziki sauce: easy, healthy and delicious recipe from about.com

In Greek: τζατζίκι, pronounced dza-DZEE-kee

Tzatziki is traditionally served as an appetizer and can be left on the table as an accompaniment to foods throughout the meal. The key to great tzatziki is the thick creamy texture that allows it to be eaten alone, as a dip, as a spread, and as a condiment.
(Recipe in Video)

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

16 ounces (2 cups) of thick Greek yogurt
4 to 10 cloves of garlic, finely chopped (definitely closer to 4)
1/2 cup of diced or grated cucumber (Kirby or "English")
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
2 teaspoons of dill
salt to taste

Preparation:

Prepare all ingredients in advance. Combine oil and lemon juice in a medium mixing bowl. Fold the yogurt in slowly, making sure it mixes completely with the oil. Add the garlic, according to taste, and the cucumber. Stir until evenly distributed. Garnish with a bit of green and serve well chilled.
Yield: about 2 1/2 cups

Preparation Tips:

Kirby or "English" cucumbers work best (usually wrapped in plastic wrap at the market). If not available, peel and seed the cucumber before dicing or grating.
After dicing or grating the cucumber, pat it dry with absorbent toweling to remove excess moisture.
The longer the tzatziki is refrigerated before serving, the more intense the garlic taste will become.

Storage:
Tzatziki will store safely in the refrigerator for several days. If excess liquid accumulates on top, just pour it off.

Serving Suggestions:
Those who are passionate about tzatziki serve it with non-Greek foods including fried chicken, lunch/dinner omelets, and in other ways suited to their tastes.

yum, yum!

authentification

2009-11-03T21:35:00.000-05:00

life
authentic inactment
breath hitting the mirror
curses hitting the air
another moment unsensored
ease, comfort, peace
life, nice, cool, unsealed -- real
pfffffffff

Sadie, Sadie -- Married Lady

2009-09-07T22:40:00.001-04:00

Funny Girl: Sadie, Sadie Lyrics
Act ii opens with the newly wed fanny and nick arriving at their home in long island.
Fanny’s friends have prepared a surprise party for them. Ziegfeld is there, hoping
Fanny will be in his new show; he’s even hired her friend Eddie as dance director.
Fanny’s Ziegfeld friends ask her what it’s like be married and she replies:

Fanny:
I’m sadie, sadie, married lady,
Bow when I go by.
I’m a corporation now,
Not me, myself and I.
Oh how that marriage license works
On chambermaids and hotel clerks.
The honeymoon was such delight
That we got married that same night.
I’m sadie, sadie, married lady,
Still in bed at noon,
Racking my brain deciding
Between orange juice and prune.
Nick says nothing is too good for me,
And who am I not to agree?
I’m sadie, sadie, married lady, that’s me!
All:
She’s sadie, sadie, married lady,
Fanny:
Meet a mortgagee,
All:
The owner of an icebox
Fanny:
With a ten-year guarantee.
Oh, sit me in the softest seat,
Quick, a cushion for my feet.
Do for me, buy for me, lift me, carry me,
Finally got a guy to marry me!
I do my nails,
Read up on sales,
All day the records play.
Then he comes home, I tell him
Oy--what a day I had today!
I swear I’ll do my wifely job,
Just sit at home--become a slob!
I’m sadie, sadie, married lady, that’s me!
All:
She’s sadie, sadie, married lady,
Boys:
Sadie, you did the trick.
Fanny:
It’s nothing!
Girls:
Not ev’ry girl can get herself
A guy who looks like nick.
Fanny:
Wait, to tell the truth, it hurt my pride--
The groom was prettier than the bride.
All:
Sadie, sadie, married lady,
Fanny:
Husband, house, a mortgage, a baby,
All:
Sadie, sadie, married lady,
Fanny:
That’s who?
All:
That’s you.
Fanny:
That’s me--married lady.
All:
Say hello to ziegfeld’s married lady--sadie!

Sadie, Sadie, Married Lady - Barbra Striesand

pilots n paws -- on a mission

2009-08-26T05:37:00.003-04:00

this is a wonderful organization that makes me smile every time i read about it: pilots n paws. an organization that uses private planes and charitable pilots to fly dogs to no kill shelters in different areas across the u.s. according to usa today, they've set a lofty goal to save 5,000 dogs in september. fingers are crossed.

to read more, go to usa today or pilots n paws.

photo contest

2009-08-25T07:47:00.003-04:00

In an effort to follow the artist's way...to stop being a shadow artist and become the real artist i'm destined to be, i entered into the "world in focus" photography contest. just one entry, but a starting point to more hopefully.

here's your chance to vote for my photograph: children at play, rio de janeiro. feel free to pass the link along and we'll see what happens when we're done.

next up: the dog stalker exhibition.

carcassonne

2009-08-09T23:00:00.002-04:00

jacques prevert

2009-08-09T22:28:00.002-04:00

The Garden

Thousands and thousands of years
Would not be enough
To tell of
That small second of eternity
When you held me
When I held you
One morning
In winter's light
In Montsouris Park
In Paris
On earth
This earth
That is a star

Paris at Night

Three matches one by one struck in the night
The first to see your face in it's entirety
The second to see your eyes
The last to see your mouth
And the darkness all around to remind me of all these
As I hold you in my arms.

quitting time

2009-06-30T23:09:00.003-04:00

i wonder sometimes when the cracking point will come. when the mind will stop working...mush will set in and the quitting whistle will sound. i'm kind of ready for that whistle.

a new stage

2009-06-10T22:36:00.002-04:00

this week marks the end of an era for a girl i know well. she has officially moved on from lycee, once her essay is complete. she will walk across the stage and venture into a new world in the green northwest. be lost in library caverns and lush beds of intrigue and adventure. it is a new world she walks in tomorrow. a new experience mixed with wild lyrics of cacophonous emotion. hallelujah. she survived and so did we. tomorrow is proof.

moving foreward

2009-05-26T07:36:00.003-04:00

this morning i lie listlessly in bed, seeking the truth of the moment. the thought-provoking testament that will propel me from my back and onto my feet. i'm tired. i'm stressed. i'm anxious -- don't do it. but the sun and the knowledge that i'm one day closer to the weekend does.

on y va, i say...

the beginning.

2009-05-25T08:31:00.002-04:00

and this is when adventure grabbed hold. it reached inside my chest, wrapped its vigorous fingers around my slow, pedantic beating heart and squeezed. faster...faster..faster. so fast that the blood flow and energy stream could not be stopped.

at that moment surrounded by the steel gray of office furniture, the blinking light of my phone and the massive books at my feet, it was time to move. embrace the unknown and simply get going.

what can we do? what should we do...

2009-05-05T09:54:00.002-04:00

you know economic times are bad when tent cities are expanding. i didn't know these types of communities truly existed, but a recent article in usa today sheds light on the situation and makes me think that we're one step closer to a modern day grapes of wrath.

in this article, emily bazar points out some disturbing numbers about the growth rate of these communities across the country:

• In Massachusetts, a record number of homeless families need emergency shelter, says Robyn Frost, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. In mid-April, there were 2,763 families in shelters, including 655 in motels because the shelters were full, an increase of 36% since July, she says.

"We have a high number of foreclosure properties, and many of them are multifamily apartments," Frost says. "We were seeing a great number of families being displaced."

• Reno officials shut down a tent city in October after making more shelter space available, but new encampments are popping up along the Truckee River and elsewhere, says Kelly Marschall of the Reno Area Alliance for the Homeless.

The homeless include "a startling number of first-time homeless," she says. "We asked them what industries they were involved in. The majority were talking about construction, the housing industry, real estate. There was a direct correlation to the housing market crash."

• In Santa Barbara, Calif., 84 men and women sleep in their cars, trucks or recreational vehicles in 17 parking lots around the city, says Jason Johnson with the New Beginnings Counseling Center, which runs the RV Safe Parking Program. The city, which allows the use of three municipal lots at night, supports the program, says city parking superintendent Victor Garza. Last May, there were 58 participants and no waiting list. Now 40 people are waiting.

when you look at numbers like these, the question then becomes for us (those lucky enough to be working): What can we do to help these people who are willing and able to work...but simply can't find a job?

i don't have any answers today but it gives me, and hopefully others, something to ponder. it truly is times like these that the collective (the public and government) should come together to try and make a difference.

to see the complete article, go to usa today.

the mexican burro: a dying icon

2009-04-24T09:15:00.004-04:00

as the burro becomes an undesired and unfortunately unnecessary animal in mexico, advocates take action to protect this national icon. usa today shares a compelling piece on what organizations are trying to do to save these animals that have done so much and worked so hard through the centuries. it's an inspiring story that makes you hope their work will continue on successfully...

Mexican icon becoming a vanishing breed

By Sergio Solache, Special for USA TODAY

OTUMBA, Mexico — You can hear the Burroland donkey shelter long before seeing it. The braying mixes with the lonely whistles of freight trains in this small town outside Mexico City.

In a vacant lot beside the railroad tracks, 20 donkeys wander behind a wire fence, munching carrots and leftover tortillas and waiting for pats on the head from the occasional tourist.

This shelter for unwanted donkeys would have once seemed a laughable idea in Mexico, where the hard-working burro is practically a national symbol, manager German Flores says.

But Mexico's donkeys are quickly being replaced by pickups and tractors even in the poorest areas, prompting efforts to save the unwanted animals and to remind Mexicans how much their country owes to these beasts of burden.

"People love them, but there's not as much work for them anymore," says Luis Huerta, a member of the Donkey Sanctuary of Mexico, a group of veterinarians that helps the Burroland shelter.

An important part of history

Mexico's donkey population has plummeted to 581,000 in 2007, from 1 million in 1991, according to Mexican government statistics. Many are killed by their owners or end up in slaughterhouses, Mexico's Society for the Protection of Animals says.

It's a sad end for an animal that once thrived in Mexico. Burros — a Spanish term for medium-size donkeys used as pack animals — were brought to the New World by Spanish colonists, says Leah Patton of the American Donkey and Mule Society.

Otumba, 45 miles northeast of Mexico City, became a major animal market. Burros sold here hauled silver and gold from mines, bringing wealth to the Spanish empire. They also carried silks and spices from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic as part of the trade route to Asia. They accompanied pioneers pushing west and north through the Americas.

"These are animals that basically built the continent," Patton says.

Mexican speech and culture is full of references to burros, from the "burrito" style of soft taco to "Burro 16," a game known as leapfrog in English. Every weekend, thousands of Mexicans cheer on the White Burros, the sports teams of the National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico's second-largest college. Burros painted like zebras have become a kitschy tourist attraction in Tijuana.

Otumba holds an annual Burro Festival in late April and early May, with donkey races, a costume contest for donkeys and games of burro polo.

In most parts of Mexico, burros are associated with backwardness and rural poverty, Huerta says. As Mexicans become wealthier, many farmers are getting rid of their animals.

"They're not even worth 500 pesos ($38) these days," Flores says. "The people who have burros are peasants over age 60 who still value the animal's work. The newer generations prefer a pickup or a tractor to a burro."

Efforts to protect the burro

The burros' fate has inspired some action to save them. Donkey Sanctuary sends a mobile veterinary clinic around the country to treat the animals for free because farmers no longer want to spend money caring for them.

The Mexican Society for the Protection of Animals is campaigning to bar the killing of unwanted donkeys and horses at slaughterhouses. The government of Jalisco state imported a few male donkeys from a taller, stronger breed developed in Kentucky to revive interest in the animals for farmers.

Flores, an accountant, bought some land next to his family's home and opened the Burroland shelter in 2006. The place is not exactly scenic. There is no grass, and the donkeys wander among rusting 1940s-era cars scattered around the lot.

Visitors are given fake burro ears and tails to wear as they visit a small museum to learn about the animals' history. Children can pose for pictures with staff members dressed like the donkey from Shrek or Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. Admission is free.

Flores also plans to sell a comic book he is writing about "Super Burro," a white donkey who works to prevent the extinction of burros in Latin America.

The shelter depends on donations from visitors, local companies and international groups such as Donkey Sanctuary in Britain. It costs about $15 a day to feed each burro, Flores says.

"I'd like to have more burros here, but it would be irresponsible because we don't have the money to keep and feed them," he says.

The animals have colorful histories. Roberto used to pull a junk collector's cart in Mexico City until he was hit by a bus and broke both front legs. Apache was rescued from a forest fire.

Flores says about 30 visitors show up on a good weekend. He wants to add a snack shop, expand the museum and build stables for all the burros.

"We want it to be a sustainable project and leave it as a legacy for Otumba and all of Mexico," he says.

Contributing: Chris Hawley in Mexico City

citizen journalism

2009-04-19T21:34:00.002-04:00

until the other day, the question of citizen journalism had never been a topic of consideration. but i read a profnet that perked my interest as it asked if the future of news (and most likely the print industry) relies on the role of citizen journalism, or the collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating of news pro.

so it got me thinking, with the continued evolution of media channels, if in fact citizens seeking the truth and a voice are who hold the future in their hands. i hope not. not because individuals of all backgrounds, educations and experiences shouldn't be able to record the facts of the day, but it could mean that hundreds of thousands of people in the journalist space could be jobless. i mean, can you imagine if people across the country and the world take action. find meaning in the who, what, when, where and why of daily events in their own town.

well, if they do, then these are things to keep in mind--thanks to the huffington post:

1) just stick to the facts, no editorializing.
2) avoid hearsay: verify all sources and claims.
3) omit irrelevant opinion: stick to the events.
4) give credit where credit is due: never plagiarize -- you're asking for trouble!
5) use spellcheck: typos are not allowed and proper grammar is not optional (this isn't creative writing).
6) keep the photos real: you may be a pro in photoshop, but save that for your creative projects -- report the facts and only the facts as you see them.
7) never misrepresent yourself to get the scoop: you loose credibility with your sources and show the utmost disrespect if you do.
8) get your sources on the record: it ups the anti on your coverage, but respect them if they say no. also, know the difference between off the record and on background.
9) fact check your sources: which means having more sources in your back pocket, to make sure the information you receive is correct and the information you share is on point...when it comes to reporting sensitive issues, you have a person or a brand's image in your hands. respect the power you hold.

to find out more, check out this recent article from huffington post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/07/citizen-journalism-publis_n_184075.html

ponder imperfections

2009-04-07T00:18:00.003-04:00

restlessness

2009-04-07T00:07:00.002-04:00

madness grabs hold
as monotony plants itself firmly at my desk.
thoughts scream to be heard
as my heart pounds at the awkward silence.
where is the heartbeat of the leader,
where rests the pool of babbling inspiration
and spirited unrest, outside of me
i seek you, elusive saint.
i hunt you like an endangered beast
to prize, to flaunt
to use for financial gain.
yet you continue to evade my grasp.
come out, come out and play.

silk screening 101

2009-03-09T23:56:00.001-04:00

something i've been dreaming about for years...maybe it is time to make it a reality.

book club 101

2009-03-09T22:39:00.003-04:00

sometimes i have moments of clarity. and today was one of those days.

as i listened to my colleague discuss her book club and the special evenings they have discussing books, cooking dinner, drinking wine, i decided that one of these may be a good fit for me. but seeing that an invite would not make it's way across desks (not that i should expect such a thing), i finally figured out that maybe i can start my own.

so tonight i began the search, looking for tricks, tips and anything that will help ash and me produce an awesome, inspiring and fun-filled group of passionate readers.

things to consider when starting a book club:

choose a set number of people you would like to join (not too many and not too few, depending on who will be able to come regularly and where you will meet)
find a place that is comfortable, conducive to talking and offers space to pull out books, take notes.
choose how you will make book selections. voting at the end of each book or selecting several books in advance to limit debate and wasting time during meetings. keep in mind the tastes of your readers and consider looking at well-accepted books by critics and the general public.

thanks to book-club-resource.com for getting us off to the right start.

castellane champagne

2009-03-01T17:19:00.003-05:00

last night, the evening kicked off with a delicious treat. j popped the cork on a champagne bottle brought especially from france. castellane, the champagne tour most famous for the line: any questions? no. it's that simple, filled our mouths with delight and our heads with might.

taking us back to epernay and the beautiful countryside of champagne, we filled our glasses several times toasting our special guest and the many special moments we've had along way.

check out the castellane site and make sure to say hi when you stop by.

rio de janeiro

2009-02-19T07:41:00.004-05:00

the samba beat,

sun thumping heads and feet,

carnival music invades the air,

with people dancing every where.

football legend lives in time,

as flamengos cheer -- now, now.

mountains peak upon the sea,

green hats in clouds circle the streets.

sugar loaf eyes the city from afar

and the redeemer, with hands outstretched

and standing tall,

protects them one and all.

new toys

2009-01-27T00:06:00.003-05:00

so...tired of being uninspired with a broken camera. i decided to branch out a bit and look at what i found:

a holga medium format camera and a pinhole camera...two different designs...two messy images that are going to take me to a new level of creativity -- tis time, tis time!

this week, this beautiful toy will be mine! can't wait for the inspiration to begin.

now it's your turn...

2009-01-13T23:44:00.002-05:00

next week. one day. 3,000 dogs. it's your choice. your chance. your turn!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-01-13-pet-adoption_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

One day, 3,000 adoptions from pet shelters, no fees

By Sharon L. Peters, Special for USA TODAY
They're pulling out all the stops next week — including giving pets to some adopters at no charge — in a nationwide effort to boost the number of shelter animals that find new homes.

Three hundred shelters across the USA are holding Change a Pet's Life Day on Jan. 24, aimed at focusing attention on shelters and rescue groups and enticing potential adopters. Fees for the first 10 adoptions at each participating shelter will be paid for by Topeka-based Hill's Pet Nutrition, which organized the event.
Adoption fees generally range anywhere from $25 to $300, depending on the shelter, species, pet's age and whether it's purebred...

fear not

2009-01-13T00:00:00.004-05:00

why do we fear? i find myself fighting this dreaded emotion regularly...fear of offending, fear of failure, fear of the unknown. at times i can harness this emotion and transform it into positive energy, drive, a catalyst to perform. but more often than not, it stays within me...eating me up inside, causing worry, concern, loss of sleep and dreaded wrinkles.

i seek answers to know how it is that sometimes i can replace anxiety with action, a static state of 'what if' with a dynamic state of 'yes i can.' i have not mastered that switch. but if i can at least click it on and off every now and then, perhaps there is hope that i will find that magic balance between fearful and fearless. that hazy place in the middle that drives me to success without creating a frenzied state of inaction.

for the time being, i will turn the knob...surround myself with those that i love, those that find happiness in the little things and those that understand life has many callings -- fear not.

eiffel tower closes due to inclement weather

2009-01-05T15:22:00.003-05:00

happy new year, everyone!

when the eiffel tower closes, you know the weather is bad. luckily, i'm sitting in new york city today with mild temperatures of 40 degrees. and of course it took a usa today article with a picture of the eiffel tower to get me back to blogging.

for those of you experiencing the european snowstorm...stay warm and enjoy the read:

European snowstorm forces Eiffel Tower closure
PARIS (AP) — A winter storm brought blankets of snow across Europe on Monday, forcing the closure of an icy Eiffel Tower in Paris and causing flight cancellations. Up to four inches of snow was recorded in parts of France, the national weather service said. Most areas, including Paris, got around half that amount. French authorities issued traffic alerts in around 30 regions because of icy roads.

The Eiffel Tower, one of Paris' main tourist attractions, was closed because of slippery conditions. "We can't put down salt because it's metallic," Eiffel Tower press officer Isabelle Esnous said. "We can't use sand either ... because it risks getting into the elevator (cogs)."

The cold, she said, is no problem, but snow can be dangerous.

A dozen flights were canceled at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport, officials said. The Paris airport authority said bad weather in other parts of Europe contributed to the cancellations. Workers had been deployed since midnight Sunday to clear runways at Charles de Gaulle and the smaller Orly airport.

In Germany, heavy snowfall snarled road traffic and flight delays and cancellations at the country's international airports. Duesseldorf International Airport said no flights were allowed in or out between 6-9 a.m. local time Monday because clearing crews were unable to keep up with the snow. More than 30 flights were canceled because of the bad weather, airport spokesman Christian Witt said. Up to four inches of snow was reported in Duesseldorf and around six inches in Potsdam, just outside Berlin.

Flights from Frankfurt International Airport were delayed as much as an hour but none had to be canceled.
Traffic stopped for hours on many of Germany's autobahns as snowplows struggled to clear the roads amid heavy post-holiday traffic. Germany's National Weather Service is forecasting subzero temperatures for the coming days. Snow also fell across Britain. Children built snowmen in parts of England, including Cambridge.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

light and fluffy

2008-12-22T09:58:00.003-05:00

i can't help but wonder if a publicist was behind usa today's dog photo contest or if it was simply the thought of a reporter looking for something light and fluffy to tie-in to the marley and me movie coming out later this week.

i'm guessing a publicist. but either way, i've found myself checking out this segment for the last two weeks...so now it is your turn.

enjoy!

Top dog winner: This primo pooch is the pick of the litter

By Cindy Clark, USA TODAY

Gracie, a 10-month-old Yorkie and Maltese mix from Nashville, is USA TODAY's top dog. With more than 11,000 votes, she is the winner of our pup photo contest inspired by the movie Marley & Me, in theaters Christmas Day.

Owner Chelseay Miller admits to a little ballot-bumping help from friends and co-workers. (No. 2 came in at almost 6,500.) "I told my manager my dog was in a contest, so we announced it over the phone during a conference call meeting," says Miller, 22, a marketing coordinator.

TOP 10: See photos of all the top dogs

Weighing 4 pounds ("the biggest she'll get"), Gracie shares Miller with two guinea pigs. "She is definitely a ball of energy, that's for sure," Miller says with Gracie barking in the background.

They'll be traveling to nearby Johnson City, Tenn., to visit family for Christmas. What's wrapped up for Gracie? "Stuffed animals. She has a little pink lamb she got on Easter that she carries everywhere."

the power of the euro

2008-12-22T01:12:00.002-05:00

the strength of the euro, according to an article in usa today, is becoming a lofty goal for quite a few countries these days as the recession takes hold around the globe. everyone from iceland to poland and even britain is looking at the euro as an infallible option. hmmm...it will be interesting to see how stable it remains as countries around the eurozone hit hard times. just last month the euro was swinging quite low. but here is to wishful thinking...and the housemate who benefits from its strength.

sicko or else...

2008-12-10T23:07:00.004-05:00

so a year and a half after its debut, sicko found its way to my tv. i've known for years that our healthcare system is in shambles. but seeing the way in which moore interviewed and asked the questions that you know he already knows the answers to, you couldn't help but be bewitched by the message. everything he highlighted from clinton's attempts for universal healthcare to his trips outside of the country (canada, the uk, france, cuba), you couldn't help but think why can't america help its people. we're one of the hardest working countries with the lest amount of benefits. and even when he raised the notion of taxes -- something we know france pays plenty of -- the people were still satisfied with their government offered free nanny service, three month paid leave, etc. i almost cried numerous times after he offered one story and then another about americans who had lost loved ones when it could have been avoided -- how devastating. but the great thing about this documentary is that, with his raw sarcasm and inquisitiveness, he gives viewers hope. his trip to cuba with volunteers from 9-11 was inspiring. it offered a true testament to the power of questioning authority and the need for humanity. it took so little to bring happiness and a bit of health to these peoples' lives.

my only question -- what would it take for the us government to start rearranging expenses to benefit the people and not big business?

if you haven't checked out sicko yet, it's time you did. go to http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/checkup/ to find out more about the facts behind this film. if it's not your health at stake now, it will be soon enough.

perfect use of a private plane

2008-11-26T09:39:00.004-05:00

you know it's the holiday season when you start to see inspiring stories focused on helping the less fortunate...in particular those precious canines who can't help themselves...everywhere.

today, usa today has highlighted pilots n paws and one of the best uses of private planes yet seen. pilots are rescuing dogs from crowded shelters to give them a chance for life at other shelters located throughout the u.s.

take a look at their site and see if this doesn't inspire you to keep thinking about getting involved in something bigger and better than yourself...i only wish i knew how to fly!

Pilots fly doomed dogs to better life
By Sharon L. Peters, Special for USA TODAY

Puppy love is reaching new heights.
Pilots are donating their time, planes and fuel to transport dozens of dogs a month from overcrowded shelters where they face almost certain death to rescue groups and shelters several states away that are committed to finding them homes.

The mission-of-mercy relocations are flown by general aviation pilots who have signed on with the recently formed Pilots N Paws, a Web-based message board where pilots can access information about animals in need.

Once the electronic connection is made, dogs plucked by rescuers from death row — mostly in the South where sterilization rates are low and pet overpopulation is rampant — are loaded onto small planes and flown one, two or six at a time to rescue groups and shelters that have available space.

"These are wonderful dogs that simply had the bad luck of winding up in a place where there are too many pets in shelters," says Pilots N Paws co-founder Jon Wehrenberg of Knoxville, Tenn. The retired manufacturing executive and weekend pilot has flown scores of dogs from high-kill shelters this year. Earlier this month, his mission involved six small mixed-breed dogs from Knoxville's Young-Williams Animal Center.

The happy half-dozen enjoyed a smooth-sailing, 90-minute flight to Greensboro, N.C., where they were met by radio station executive Jennifer Hart, head of Animal Rescue & Foster Program, who had arranged foster care. One dog has been adopted; the others are receiving additional attention, socialization and training and should be ready for new homes soon after Thanksgiving.

Beginning of the journey
"Pilots N Paws has given about 20 of our animals a second chance," says Tim Adams, executive director of the Young-Williams shelter, which euthanizes 70% of the animals that land there.

"We take in 17,000 animals a year, and Knoxville simply isn't big enough… to get new homes for them here. Twenty animals saved may not sound like much, but every one of them matters."

Pilots N Paws started operating in February soon after Wehrenberg offered to fly a Doberman in Florida to his pal Debi Boies of Landrum, S.C., who is a retired nurse, horse breeder and long-time rescuer. He began asking questions about the rescue world and learned about the passionate underground railroad of animal lovers who orchestrate days-long road journeys to save some of the 4 million to 6 million animals destined for euthanasia in U.S. shelters annually.

"I'd had no idea of the number of animals being euthanized, and the ordeal people and animals were going through in transports," Wehrenberg says. "Pilots love to fly. I believed that if we created a means for them to discover situations where they could fly and also save animals, many would do it."

He and Boies joined forces to spread the word, and within months, 85 pilots had signed on. Nearly 200 dogs have now been flown from several shelters and rescue groups to welcoming arms hundreds of miles away.

"For most of these dogs, the next walk they would have taken would have been to death's door," says administrative assistant Dawn Thompson of Falconer, N.Y., who for 18 years has taken in, nursed, socialized and re-homed more than 100 dogs a year from various high-kill areas. In recent months 30 have arrived via Pilots N Paws, and she's learned the ones that arrive by plane rather than ground transport "don't have the stress that two days on the road creates, and that makes them almost instantly adoptable."

'Doggy kisses' are worth gas
Each flight costs the pilot hundreds of dollars in fuel alone, not including routine maintenance and other operating expenses. Boies and Wehrenberg are working to gain non-profit status for the group so pilots could declare the fuel costs a charitable contribution. But the pilots aren't exactly agitating for that.

"Doggy kisses are worth the $6 a gallon," says Westminster, Md., businesswoman and small-plane pilot Michele McGuire. She was recently part of a two-leg rely that flew a 110-pound skin-and-bones Great Dane from Arab, Ala., where a rescue group saved it from euthanasia, to a new family in Baldwin, Mass.

"I don't know what (the animals') opinion of flying is, but it sure makes their trip a lot shorter," says Nick O'Connell, a Williamsburg, Va., contractor who did his first such flight earlier this month. The two-leg hand-off involved two pilots, several hundred miles and two chow-mix puppies rescued from a dump near Atlanta and delivered to their new family in Chesterfield, Va.

The animals are almost always remarkably calm about the adventure, O'Connell and other pilots report.

"It's almost as if they understand that this is their chance for life," Boies says.
Sometimes pilots scroll through the "Transport needed" section of Pilots N Paws and find a plea to fly an animal to a town or city they already were planning to visit.

Most times, however, they study the requests, see a need that touches them and offer their services.

Broomfield, Colo., software engineer/pilot Mike Boyd was involved in a multi-state, multi-person transport of a German shepherd in October, and he's aiming to do more missions. "To take my hobby and apply it to help this situation, well, it's just a great feeling," he says.

Adds O'Connell: "It is rewarding beyond my wildest imagination."

another great find

2008-11-25T23:41:00.002-05:00

today, i was introduced to several new time wasters thanks to janet kornblum and her article in usa today.

in it, she mentions everything from speak like a pirate sites to i can has cheeseburger...all sites that give people relief from (as one person says) everything happening in the world that is so overwhelming.

but one that stood out was ustream.tv in which people (4 million in fact) can watch six little shiba inu puppies playing in and around their pen. it peaked my interest and i couldn't help but check it out...and being the dog lover that i am, i did giggle just a bit when watching. but in the end, i already have my time waster. it starts with an f and ends with a k.

nonetheless, i'm amazed at what people are willing to do and watch for entertainment and what usa today is willing to cover...

holiday greetings from yours truly

2008-11-23T23:12:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

reteez the gifts this year...

2008-11-22T00:37:00.002-05:00

every now and then the day job introduces me to items of interest. it's been a little while lately, but this week in the daily reporter announcements there was a company called reteez.

the holidays are almost here and practical, affordable gifts are on the agenda this season. so check out the bags at reteez. not only are they cool, but they are also affordable.

check them out and let me know what you think: reteez.

beaujolais nouveau

2008-11-22T00:25:00.002-05:00

it's that time again. yesterday was the day beaujolais nouveau landed on the shelves for another year of delicious drinking.

for those looking to learn more about this young, red wine, look no further:

Beaujolais Nouveau is a purple-pink wine that is particularly lightweight, even by the standards of Beaujolais. The method of production means that there is very little tannin, and the wine can be dominated by fruity, ester flavours of bananas and pear drops. These are enhanced by the frequent recommendation to serve the wine lightly chilled, at approximately 13°C (55°F).

Beaujolais Nouveau is intended for immediate drinking, and in general should not be kept for more than a year. On the other hand, it usually benefits from being left a few weeks to recover from the effects of bottle-shock - and in the Northern Hemisphere the weather is more suited to Beaujolais drinking in Spring than in the chill of November. However, this rather misses the point of Beaujolais Nouveau's "immediacy", and patient drinkers can buy standard Beaujolais AOC wines released the following year at lower prices without the Nouveau hype. The wines show definite variation between vintages, at worst the wines start to decline after Christmas, wines from a very good year might still be drinking well 12 months later.

Beaujolais Nouveau is made from the Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc grape, better known simply as Gamay. The grapes must come from the Beaujolais AOC, but grapes from the ten "cru" appellations are excluded. By law, all grapes in the region must be harvested by hand. This is because Beaujolais is made using carbonic maceration, whole berry fermentation which emphasizes fruit flavors without extracting bitter tannins from the skins of the grapes. The wine is then pasteurized to preserve the 'fresh' taste of the wine by preventing malolactic fermentation. The wine is ready to be drunk just 6-8 weeks after the harvest.

Around 49 million liters of Beaujolais Nouveau is produced each year, making up nearly half of the region's total wine production. About half of this is exported, with Germany and Japan the biggest markets, followed by the USA.

sante!

laugh out loud

2008-11-16T22:30:00.002-05:00

When you need a little laughter to get the inspiration going...check this out! never take yourself too seriously!

yes we can

2008-11-05T00:28:00.003-05:00

today is historic. today is the beginning of something new. today the nation -- led by one man -- proved that spirit, hope, intelligence moves mountains and creates change. let the fireworks fly. let the yelps ring through the air. today the nation proved: yes we can!

photo slide show

2008-10-31T13:38:00.002-04:00

this is for all those animal lovers out there: happy halloween!

i've never been a fan of dressing dogs in costumes (no matter how much we treat them like family), but i'm not ashamed to admit that these loved ones look pretty darn cute.

enjoy the pics from usa today.

choochy escapes

2008-10-27T13:39:00.002-04:00

i love stories about wacky dogs...especially when the havoc they wreak doesn't involve me. i can enjoy from afar the way dogs play tricks on our days.

take into consideration, choochy -- who escaped from her kennel -- to run rampant for 17 hours at boston's logan airport:

Runaway poodle delays flights at Boston airport

BOSTON (AP) — Choochy the poodle is a "runway runaway."
Boston's Logan International Airport officials say Choochy escaped from her kennel as she was being unloaded after a flight from Detroit on Saturday night and scampered across runways and taxiways.

Airport spokesman Phil Orlandella says the poodle evaded airport personnel for more than 17 hours and delayed at least eight flights.

About 15 state police, firefighters, operations personnel and even electricians chased Choochy late into the night, delaying flights for up 30 minutes.

Orlandella says the poodle was frightened, tired and hungry when she was finally lured to safety with food early Sunday afternoon.

The dog was treated for minor injuries at an animal hospital and returned to her family.

a thought

2008-10-22T22:07:00.001-04:00

what if osama bin laden were a nyc taxi driver...

old friends, new beginnings

2008-10-20T22:30:00.002-04:00

today offered a blast from the past...as social networks finally shed light on long lost friends. what a great and inspirational feeling when you wake up from a dream and say -- where are they now -- only to click on facebook and find out!

time to catch up and discover where the last eight years have gone...how they've passed the time and when i'll see them again. so many memories. so many laughs. so many adventures have come and gone. now they will come and go again.

the chef jeff project

2008-10-12T22:59:00.002-04:00

a true inspiration hit my tv tonight. and believe it or not, it was on the food network. chef jeff, a former drug dealer who spent years in jail, found his calling in the prison kitchen. opening up his own catering company -- urban cuisine -- he is bringing six at-risk young adults into the kitchen to change their lives and give them hope for the future.

the first show tonight was outstanding, inspirational and truly worthy of the watch. i can't imagine what it's like to have a record, to be a drug addict, to not be able to get a job...but i do know people who have chosen different paths and had to work their way back to even. these people have a long road ahead of them, but with chef jeff in the driver's seat, they're going to make it to culinary school.

i can't help while watching ponder the fact that one more person has found their passion, developed an idea and put it in play in an intriguing way...for this reason, the chef jeff project gives me hope. i see a man who has accomplished so much. i'd like to ask him how long it took him to come up with this idea, did it happen overnight, one day in the shower, because a friend came up with the idea, etc?

i try to imagine what it's like to not only do what you love but help people in the process. this is a situation that inspires....

truly an inspiration. congratulations chef jeff to a wonderful idea and a great delivery. i look forward to being inspired again next week. bon appetite...or should i simply say...good eating!

cheff jeff

get involved

2008-10-08T23:04:00.004-04:00

so...i love it when famous people use their popularity with the media to raise awareness about causes greater than themselves. natalie portman in a well written article (by donna freydkin) on usa today this week has done just that. the organization she represents finca international, a group that provides microloans to women in developing countries -- a group that inspires and empowers is always worthy of a mention.

check out the article and the organization.

finca international article
finca international site

now. do you feel as inspired as me?

the perfect bbq

2008-10-01T21:57:00.002-04:00

medium rare, juicy, cheesy, peppery, good. a beer in hand and french fries on the side.

test and wear

2008-09-27T09:32:00.003-04:00

every now and then an ad pops up online that speaks to you. in my case, it was a shoe ad yesterday on facebook that grabbed my attention. it didn't look sexy or promote shoes that i'd even be interested in buying. but it did offer a bit of creative inspiration and immediately i was intrigued. i clicked it and was introduced to a new world of personalized shoes from keds.

not the hottest brand, unless we travel back to 1991, it has created a unique marketing proposition: design your own keds, add personal pics, colors, designs and express yourself.

check it out and let your design skills soar...

http://www.keds.com/text/kedsstudio/

the amazing things dogs do...

2008-09-27T09:22:00.002-04:00

this is just one example of why they call me the dog stalker:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2008-09-14-dog-911_N.htm

PHOENIX (AP) — "Man's best friend" doesn't go far enough for Buddy — a German shepherd who remembered his training and saved his owner's life by calling 911 when the man had a seizure.

And it's not the first time Buddy has been there for owner Joe Stalnaker, a police officer said Sunday.

On a recording of the 911 call Wednesday, Buddy is heard whimpering and barking after the dispatcher answers and repeatedly asks if the caller needs help.

"Hello, this is 911. Hello ... Can you hear me? Is there somebody there you can give the phone to," says the dispatcher, Chris Scott.

Police were sent to Stalnaker's home, and after about three minutes Buddy is heard barking loudly when the officers arrived.

Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark said Stalnaker spent two days in a hospital and recovered from the seizure.

"It's pretty incredible," Clark said. "Even the veteran dispatchers — they haven't heard of anything like this."

job satisfaction

2008-09-16T21:43:00.003-04:00

job satisfaction seems to be missing these days from my circle of friends. and this realization...or basic fundamental of today's young workers put me in search of answers. why is it that a great work environment, genial work colleagues and a basic ease is not enough?

i've personally read book after book...what color is my parachute...the power of now...the four hour work week...and yet these popular texts are not doing the trick. So here are some reasons from tammy erickson (harvard publishing group) that gen x'ers are not satisfied with corporate america today. i agree with some, like 3 and 4, but others do not necessarily apply...this could be perhaps, because like many, i'm on the cusp of gen x and gen y. you be the judge:

1. X’ers’ corporate careers got off to a slow start and many are still feeling the pain. You graduated when the economy was slow and the huge bulge of Boomers had already grabbed most of the key jobs. As an article in the May, 1985 issue of Fortune said: “[T]hese pioneers of the baby-bust generation are finding life on the career frontier harsher than ever . . . they’re snarled in a demographic traffic jam . . . stuck behind all those surplus graduates of the past decade.”

2. When you were teens, X’ers witnessed adults in your lives being laid off from large corporations, as re-engineering swept through the business lexicon. This engendered in most X’ers a lack of trust in large institutions and a strong desire for a life filled with back-up plans, just in case. Many of the adults you saw laid off and then struggling to reintegrate were in their 40’s – about the age X’ers are reaching today.

3. Most corporate career paths “narrow” at the top – the perceived range of options diminishes as individuals become increasingly specialized in specific functions or roles. X’ers crave options, which assuage your concerns about being backed into a corner, laid off from one path. The sense of narrowing career paths and increased vulnerability is often most palpable at the transition from middle to upper management – just where many of you are today. This step also often brings demands for relocation and separation from established social networks – an additional assault on your sense of self-reliance.

4. Just your luck – the economy was slow when you entered the workforce and now its slowing once again – just as you are standing at the threshold of senior management. Stepping into leadership roles right now looks more difficult and the roles themselves, more vulnerable than they have at any point in the past decade.

5. And then there are those pesky Gen Y’s. Many X’ers are charged with “managing” Y’s which – let’s face it – is an impossible task, at least if you define “manage” as controlling their channels of communication. While vying for promotions and trying to look good, many of you feel that Y’s are doing an end run around.

6. X’ers are, in fact, surrounded by a love fest – and not feeling the love. As I wrote in last week’s post, Boomers and Y’s are learning from each other – and enjoying their interactions. It’s easy to feel left out.

7. X’ers are the most conservative cohort in today’s workforce – and you’re surrounded by “shake ‘em up” types on both sides. In your personal lives, X’ers are not particularly keen on rules, but you had to follow them in the workplace – and you resent it when others now don’t. It seems unfair to be rewriting corporate etiquette when you’ve had to toe the line for so long.

8. Many X’ers’ are guarding a closely held secret: you’re not all as comfortable with the technology that is changing the way things are done as everyone seems to think you are. While it’s perfectly acceptable for Boomers to feign ignorance and ask for help, it’s embarrassing for X’ers to do so.

9. And if Boomer colleagues are annoying, the Boomer parents of your Y reports are down-right over-the-top. X’ers can’t believe the frequency of Y-parent interactions and are deeply turned off by parents who make their presence felt in the workplace.

10. Finally, your own parenting pressures are at a peak. You’re deeply committed to spending more time with your kids than your parents did or were able to spend with you, but juggling is getting more and more difficult.

susan g. komen

2008-09-15T07:37:00.004-04:00

yesterday was a big day. we ran for something bigger than ourselves, we ran for the cure. in celebration of grandma mac and all those who have suffered, battled and conquered breast cancer, j and i ran in spectacular fashion -- smiling, taking pictures and sharing the love.

we ran 5k in 30 minutes and 20 seconds! if you haven't already read about susan g. komen, check it out. we were 30,000 strong yesterday and it was amazing.

http://www.komen.org/

change is here

2008-09-07T14:04:00.002-04:00

"there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things."
— niccolo machiavelli, the prince (1532)

last week was full of wanted, warranted and wished for change. it came to me unexpectedly and in such a whirlwind that i had very little time to believe it happened. that was, of course, until i found myself reading empowering emails minus the nastiness i'd grown accustomed to over the last year. what relief. what deserved change. now i need sleep.

but that is not an option, as side projects mingle with the need to catch on to a new industry...and of course the evolving scope of my personal life takes new shape. change is everywhere. and for certain people i know -- near and dear to my heart -- we have this way of inducing change, preparing for it and then freaking out two days before it arrives.

oh sweet stress. oh dreamed of change. why is it that we grow uncomfortable with you as your head peeks over the horizon? is this bipolar relationship with you different, distinct from others or is it simply an innate response that we all share? either way, i will heed machiavelli's words and continue to face the perilous act of change head on.

dad in the city

2008-09-01T10:13:00.002-04:00

a weekend of tourist exploration and expeditions into the big bad world of nyc. new experiences everywhere. main take away. taxis are a great way to tour the city. the smell, the insanity, the diversity mixed in one expensive experience (several times over).

sheraton towers
rosa mexicana
yankees stadium
brooklyn bridge drive
the bronx
mario's
chicago (the show)
d train
battery park
4 hour work week
walking and waiting
waiting and walking
liberty island
ellis island
st. marks ave
dakota house
imagine
central park
madison ave

in no particular order.

political statement: united for change

2008-08-29T00:08:00.003-04:00

a night that will go down in history, 45 years after another historic moment in time. let's put aside our differences to find common ground. let's not question our patriotism, simply because our views are different.

obama video to come...what a speech.

mutt-i-gree, i agree

2008-08-28T23:22:00.004-04:00

sometimes even as a pr professional, i'm caught off guard when a story talks about how pr is raising awareness for a certain brand or service.

the other day i came across an interesting article on mutts and how certain organizations have been working diligently to change americans' perspectives on mixed breeds. you know, dogs mixed by puppy lust and open-mindedness. not worried about the same exact dna or coat color. yes, i jest. but i take very seriously the message and mission of groups working to raise the profiles of mutt mixes in an effort to make them fashionably desirable to all.

take a look at which groups are making changes for dogs across the country and working hard to change perceptions of americans everywhere. no more doggy gas chambers. let's love our dogs -- black, white, cockapoo or full-blooded german shephard.

usa today

my favorite mongrel: chiquita

acting on inspiration

2008-08-25T00:44:00.002-04:00

thanks henri. thanks karen. together (one from the distant past, another from the present) they have inspired a creation. image transfer on canvas with oil pastel and acrylic paint. love and paris remain in the air and on the walls...until my love returns.

my love is here

2008-08-23T08:03:00.003-04:00

my love is here. and here is where i want to be. walking the streets. eating chocolate croissants. drinking french wine. kissing everywhere. laughing at everything. and talking. talking into each other's eyes while touching each other's skin. smelling his masculine scent and taking it on. this is where i want to be. this is who i want to be with. paris sounds call my name. your voice rings through the internet. a resounding miss you leaves my lips.

i join you in spirit. i kiss you in disguise. as the wind that touches your cheek and passes over your lips. as the sun rises over strasbourg and sets in normandy. i'm there with you.

a voice is meant to be heard. period.

2008-08-21T09:57:00.003-04:00

so far, very little has been said about the government hosting this month's olympic games. although i understand, they have money to make and goodwill to represent, the us of a better be storing up some serious stories on the state of the chinese government once the broadcasters have returned safely home.

one article about two little old ladies is getting me a little riled up at the moment. this could be my grandma....or yours.

usa today

tools

2008-08-20T08:02:00.002-04:00

finding the right tool.

opening creative flood gates.

relief flows through.

satisfaction infiltrates

sleepless nights.

ensures nothing but

tired eyes and puffy

skin and smiles, all in the name

of creativity.

hopeful, still

2008-08-20T00:34:00.002-04:00

tired. busy. inspired...and hopeful, still.

your face shines on me
erases self doubt, dreaded fear
brings light to my day

i remain in the moment. dazzled

he did it

2008-08-17T00:00:00.002-04:00

michael makes history, inspires a nation of dreamers to dream bigger than big. congratulations and thank you.

phelps ties spitz

2008-08-16T11:35:00.002-04:00

the best way to watch historic moments: sitting in a bar with a drink in your hand, fabulous music playing loudly in the background and a friend sitting next to you.

then of course, the star of the moment winning by 1-100 of a second!

phelps wins his 7th gold medal. if you dream big, amazing things can happen.

phelps for president

2008-08-14T08:01:00.001-04:00

hahaha...not really. but as of yesterday, he was 5 for 5 in the gold category. biceps buffer than ever. let's see what the days ahead bring...

race for a cure

2008-08-14T07:47:00.003-04:00

it's that time of year again...time to celebrate life and help raise money to find a cure for breast cancer.

nyc's big run through central park is september 14. i'll be there with my grandma mac survivor sign and my special sidekick, running the 5k with me.

check out the race...susan g. komen race for a cure new york city...one of hundreds of events throughout the year organized to raise money and awareness about breast cancer.

when you read the susan g. komen story, you're inspired. but when you participate in an event--surrounded by people who have been touched by cancer--inspiration comes to you on a whole new level. the signs...the camaraderie...the energy in the air...brings tears to your eyes and makes you realize how blessed you are to be running for a survivor.

here's how you can get involved: support kp

olympic golden boy

2008-08-12T07:20:00.002-04:00

the olympics are underway and one shining star is coming to the surface...or should i say has resurfaced. phelps is turning heads as today he won his third gold medal. he's on the road to eight. if he wins half, he'll be the shiniest medal winner in history -- at 23. if he wins all eight, he'll break the record for most gold medals won in one olympics. phenomenal to say the least.

reflecting on this certainly makes me question, as it does many, what i've accomplished in my own 30 years of life. reflection on accomplishments, ponderings on the road ahead. it's a natural thought process as the quest for success continues on...

i'll leave my own thoughts in my head, but will hope that his fight for the gold is inspiring thousands of little kids everywhere to take their passion for one activity or another to the next level.

look back for the latest on phelps -- the man of the hour.

rest in peace

2008-08-09T21:24:00.001-04:00

bernie mac. may you rest in peace and laughter. may your family carry on your joy and celebrate the life that you imagined.

paris for president

2008-08-06T11:05:00.004-04:00

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

this is worth discussing...more to come. http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/64ad536a6d

how does she do it. is it the money. the connections. or simply her ability to laugh at herself. this is a fabulous laugh and an unfortunate documentary of our state of affairs. i wonder how many people will be writing in paris for president this november. questions never cease...and the impossible never looked so real.

almost there...

2008-08-05T07:02:00.002-04:00

a new day, smiles cast rays of sunshine,
hope sits lightly on my face,
eyes shut, mind quietly spinning,
i linger to soak up the moment.
move again --forward-- slowly,
methodically, assuredly.
time lingers as satisfaction nears. peace found
in private space, fingers touching
all that energizes, empowers--
emits electrical charges,
charging life.

expressing oneself

2008-08-03T23:42:00.005-04:00

tattoos. how do people decide what they want to put on their bodies for all eternity?

two of my sisters found ink this weekend...two new tattoos and two new piercings...all in the name of self expression.

my dad recently told me that he's been thinking long and hard about getting a tat, and actually went as far as walking into a parlor with a picture from mel ramos of sacramento, california. known for realist and abstract art -- sometimes pop art, he expresses a love for voluptuous women and mass-consumer products...both items near and dear to my father's heart.

well, this rather phallic piece does make for a unique tattoo (slightly different from the made in texas runner up) making my dad hot for ink. either way, i can't help but wonder what it is that makes people want to so badly express themselves in permanent ink and art. i love tats, love the opportunity they offer for self expression. but aren't people scared when they decide to finally make a permanent mark on their skin. aren't they afraid this form of artistic expression may leave them with regrets, not liking the art itself or perhaps the location they choose to place it.

these are just questions i'm pondering, as i try to better understand what makes body art so hip and hot. thoughts?

romance in its simplest, sexiest form

2008-08-02T01:01:00.002-04:00

a call. six hours ahead. drunk. very drunk. everything okay? i just...wanted to share the sunshine with you. silent smile, melting heart.

and the winner is...

2008-08-01T23:35:00.003-04:00

as friday comes to a close, i contemplate the week. conversations with friends and family. and conversations about friends and family.

one in particular stood out. while walking through the food coop tonight (hot date, huh ;p), i was told that my little sister -- who has decided to become a fitness fanatic -- won a bikini contest last weekend.

i can't help but look at pictures and be proud of her. she is working hard, seeing results and loving herself for it. but, at the same time, i have to step back and ask if strutting around a bar in a bikini is really all that empowering? with men oogling and ogling and ladies leaving very little to the imagination, i can imagine what a more conservative type might say. perhaps something to the affect: how can a girl parade around half naked. hmmm. female power?

of course. why should we limit ourselves by saying that one path is better than another. one demeaning and another acceptable? isn't the point that a woman find strength and pleasure from within? not relying on outside forces. so if it is found here or there, with clothes on or without, let's celebrate the strength found in taking care of our bodies and our minds. and build ourselves, our spirits, our futures as best we can. we all have a calling and the sooner we find it, the better.

keep smelling the roses, hotshot, and keep moving forward.

this is living

2008-07-31T07:46:00.004-04:00

lost in my head.
lights goes off, bells rings.
i look to the sky.
buildings smile down on me.
i reply in kind.
suddenly a new refrain resounds:
this is not vacation...this is living.
unusual yes. as i zip from one burrough
to the next.
i remember, pleasantly --
i live here.
this is not vacation...this is living.
365 days have passed.
unexpectedly i'm reminded
this city of metal and stone
is my home.
these noises are my noises
this polluted air, my air.
lights go off, bells ring.
this is not vacation, this is living.
a journey never before imagined
where devils and angels reside together.
where the homeless and the rich
pass by effortlessly.
where time passes at record speed.
this is not vacation, this is living.
i saunter down the sidewalk once more.
i look to the left, the right
and continue on...for the 365th time.
this is not vacation, this is living.

sweet inspiration

2008-07-30T10:32:00.001-04:00

oh, sweet inspiration: thinkgirl.net... more later, including their chocolate v treats...

staring blanks

2008-07-23T07:53:00.004-04:00

i sit still. staring blanks as whirlwinds fester.
slowly repetitive motion softens hard edges
and beat up visage. sedate, exhausted --
a white light appears.
your eyes, your smile,
your hands reach me. comfort me.
and peace returns.

mamma mia

2008-07-17T00:07:00.003-04:00

007, mr. darcy, magnificent meryl and the classic music of abba -- how can this movie be anything but marvelous?!

i don't know about you, but i will most assuredly be singing dancing queen for the next two weeks and quite possibly driving my coworkers insane, my neighbors up the wall and my boyfriend bazerk with gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight...while really just begging with song to have my man (in my arms), period!

and i have to admit...this abba love-fest may surface some fabulous flashbacks to muriel's wedding. so all i ask is: mamma mia, just make me laugh and imagine being on a greecian island with hot men and song and dance...and i'll feel like i got my money's worth.

a conversation

2008-07-16T23:30:00.004-04:00

every now and then, or perhaps (more optimistically) only once in your life, you may find yourself in a workplace that doesn't fit. it doesn't really matter why, but being aware of your rights never hurt anyone.

unfortunately, if you find yourself in new york during this experience, your rights are limited. nonetheless, check it out. do a little research and have a quick civics lesson on what support our government offers employees. you may find it interesting, ridiculously insufficient or have no opinion at all.

it's your turn to be the judge and take appropriate action.

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/labor/fired.html

therapy for the soul

2008-07-12T20:52:00.003-04:00

i'm not sure what's more therapeutic...simply being on weekend or doing specific things during the weekend. i was pondering this thought a few hours ago as i potted my new herb garden. a promised appointment of sweet bliss made to myself when j so pleasantly found himself with a job in nyc. what is a home without greenery, right?

as i smiled, sung and quite possibly scared my neighbors with my happiness, i wondered how is it that i'm so happy today -- when most days leading up to this one often feel miserably close to hell on earth.

let's start with what i did on this unusually pleasant day: i woke up earlier than i wanted. i ran in the sunny heat. i bought groceries at the farmers market and the before mentioned herbs. i made a trek to the coop and bought more groceries. i talked excessively to family (but truly to my heart's content). i organized files without a lick of alcohol. i even heard $6.20 worth of j-man's voice which equals 3 minutes and 50 seconds if you're wondering. of course, there were a few more things like the natural acts of a body...but who really needs to hear about peeing, sweating and farting, right? hahaha...except anyone who knows me knows how much i love to talk about these things.

so back to the ponder of the moment about being so happy. all of today's events culminated in this one moment of bliss, growth, achievement and allowance...buying plants and potting them -- a total splurge. a spending of a few bucks that means i'm in the process of setting down a few roots. transportable roots -- pots still move from place to place -- but roots nonetheless, that represent a short term stationary status. a sign that i'm okay saying this is home. i'm willing to make it just a bit cozier, a slightly warmer and more fragrant haven. and this, with my productiveness, is a big step in getting through the hellish days that drown me during the week.

so we're still left with the question of weekend or activities? for me at this moment, i think it has to be the activities of the day. they were activities that bring peace to my body and happiness to my heart. i must capture this feeling. keep it safe and share it with others who can benefit from its powerful magic.

and here's an organization to inspire: pan-mass challenge

a day of surprises

2008-07-10T22:52:00.002-04:00

every now and then beautiful things happen. unexpected things. like shooting for radio interviews and getting book mentions, shooting for a product mention and getting a column opportunity. after a hectic, stressful day, these wonderful happenings sealed my day with another kiss. and the excitement i heard from my client's voice was all i needed to hear to once again realize...it may be a little bit of luck, but it's also a little bit of know-how. no matter how much certain people try to beat me down, i will stay standing, strong and tall with internal steel and external french kisses.

what a feeling

2008-07-10T07:58:00.001-04:00

the early morning greeted me with a sweet kiss. a burst of energy, a sense of hope and a new resilience. may it last through the day.

airplay partners with big brother

2008-07-09T17:50:00.000-04:00

paris with a view

2008-07-09T06:31:00.008-04:00

it may not have been the seine, but the view of sacre coeur was unbelievable as we climbed the steps of parc des buttes-chaumont.

a person so full of energy, light, beauty stood by my side. the sun radiated through the blue sky and a cool breeze whipped around us. there was an unbelievable feeling of love and lust beating at my heart as the pulse of the city grew stronger, the view more vivid and his hand held mine.

During the 1860s, Baron Haussmann converted this hilly site from a garbage dump and quarry -- with gallows at its foot -- into beautiful English-style gardens, replete with a lake and man-made island, a Roman-style temple, waterfall, streams, and footbridges. Today, in summer, visitors will also find boating facilities, donkey rides, and sun worshipers on the beautifully kept lawns.Location: rue Manin, rue de Crimée. Hours: 8am-6pm daily. Métro: Botzaris, Buttes-Chaumont.

in my lover's arms

2008-07-01T23:46:00.003-04:00

this is me in 30 hours:

the cherry of my eye

2008-06-30T07:30:00.007-04:00

it's always funny when you have to leave a place to get a product that defines it. take for instance, my new bike. a beach cruiser you'd find on any sidewalk in newport. but did i have one? no. i had to move to big metal city to get hooked up. so check it out: a hot, cherry-red beach cruiser... leaving behind the cannondale and the trek for this sweet thing!

spain...and andorra...dream big

2008-06-29T22:35:00.002-04:00

in honor of spain's win today, i wanted to share adidas' video series of young soccer players traveling out of andorra to train...and dream big...with the stars of football!

sunday storm

2008-06-29T19:18:00.002-04:00

beautiful sunday.
rain falls, thudding --
thudding upon concrete, grass
all things. lightening strikes down.
straight down, crackling through the sky
with a thunder trail.
i sit and ponder, wind blowing,
cool humidity through my hair.
across my skin. freeing
visions locked away, coming
forward for a moment.
before slipping away
with the moving storm.

morning haiku

2008-06-27T07:24:00.002-04:00

lewd visions of love.
suggest manic lust, longing
needs fulfillment now.

heat in the morning,
night -- simmering seduction,
daily connection.

temperatures rise,
friction ignites white-hot flame,
until cooled by night.

memories of you
standing on the street, walking
toward me-i melt.

pure pleasure comfort
food, lust, song and dance with you.
celebration nears.

time to get creative

2008-06-26T22:07:00.006-04:00

the chopper fan club. let it begin.

good morning

2008-06-25T07:27:00.002-04:00

exercise: the breakfast of champions

the endorphins are pumping, the blood is flowing. i'm stretched, sculpted and one day closer to nakedness. sweet rebirth in the city of love with my lover.

morning cup of phil-o-sophy

2008-06-24T07:44:00.003-04:00

i woke to the world and said: what good can i put in it today? then i went back to sleep and dreamed of drowning while super rats flew to bite beloved dogs. then i knew...not much until i change my view.

interpretation is today's inspiration

2008-06-23T07:14:00.006-04:00

interpretation is today's inspiration:

inspirations making the world a better place

2008-06-22T21:36:00.006-04:00

i was reading in o magazine this weekend that one woman, when she's feeling rundown and ugly, does something good for someone else. she says that it inevitably makes her feel 100 percent prettier.

i wasn't feeling ugly this weekend, but i was feeling a little lonely. so i tried this woman's advice and sure enough if it didn't bring an extra spring to my step and a smile to my heart. if only i could find a way to bring this feeling of helping people into my daily existence. i think i'd be one step closer to living a fulfilled life.

check out a couple of places, organizations that make life a little better in different places locally and abroad:

International Educational Services

International Educational Services (IES) is a small, non-profit, non-governmental organization designed to serve the needs of rural dwellers in Ghana, West Africa. Our programs and projects over the past eleven years have been targeted toward increasing the inclusion and long-term retention of persistently neglected children in school-especially girls-in Ghana village communities. We work in partnership with parents, teachers and concerned local officials to design, implement,monitor and evaluate projects based on the needs of local children and their nurturing families.

Director Natalie Gray

Park Slope Food Coop

The Park Slope Food Coop, located in the heart of the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, New York, was founded in 1973 by a small group of committed neighbors who wanted to make healthy, affordable food available to everyone who wanted it. PSFC has more than 12,000 members, most of whom work once every four weeks in exchange for a 20 – 40% savings on groceries.

The Coop carries a wide variety of products, including local, organic and conventionally grown produce; pasture-raised and grass-fed meat; free-range, organic and kosher poultry; fair-traded chocolate and coffee; wild and sustainably farmed fish; supplements and vitamins; imported and artisan cheese; freshly baked bread; bulk grains and spices; environmentally safe cleaning supplies, and much more.

Brooklyn Public Library

Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation's great library systems. Financial support from individuals, foundations and corporations helps Brooklyn Public Library provide quality materials and services, like state-of-the-art technology in every branch, multilingual books, adult literacy classes, after-school programs, programs for older adults, and literary programs throughout our system.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Put together one very run-down house, a deserving family, several opinionated designers, seven days and what do you get? The answer is Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The show has won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Reality Program, plus the People's Choice Award for Favorite Reality Show/Makeover and the Family Television Award for Best Alternative/Reality Program.

Each episode begins with team leader Ty Pennington's now-famous "Good morning!" wake-up call, when he, along with the other designers, surprises the unsuspecting family with news that their home has been chosen to receive a makeover. Then viewers witness not only the unbelievable transformation of the house, but during the final and emotional reveal, they see how the home makeover has impacted the lives of the deserving families.

i see you...beauty intact

2008-06-22T15:06:00.005-04:00

paris...i see you.

your smell, vibrant essence is only a week away.

picturesque skies of blue and pink, give way to ponderings of that day -- july 3

when i will once again devour you with my eyes, mouth, hands.

wait for me. remain clear and posed to welcome your friend.

whose admiration will only linger with each breath she breathes,

with each step she takes, hand in hand with her lover upon your streets.

oh, excitement builds as i wait. i wait for our reunion.

my feet will touch your cobblestones

and my skin your metal, grass and water.

stay -- beauty intact -- for i'm coming soon.

a blast from the past

2008-06-22T07:19:00.003-04:00

i studied this test in psych 101 and, to this day, feel it is a great resource for trying to better understand your personality. if only i still had the original test so i could see (if) and how much i've evolved.

the color quiz

2008-06-21T07:38:00.003-04:00

yesterday, the borders guy made a recommendation: what color is your parachute. he said it is a classic book for finding career advice. well, you know when you're in the mood for a very specific thing, this will be the day that they don't have it. so instead i bought o magazine (enjoying so far) and another read -- the great man.

but then, tossing and turning after a decent night of sleep, i started my search again for this book. it led me to the color quiz (among other things) and here are the results. many of you may find this link to provide some valuable insight into your current situation.

here's what it said about me:

I took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test!

"Over-imaginative and given to fantasy or day-dream..."

Click here to read the rest of the results.