Seasonal Writer’s Block? September 2, 2009

I have been terrible about keeping up with this blog lately.  I have started two or three different posts that are just languishing in my draft box.  I attribute that to a variety of reasons.  I have also been terrible about writing at all lately.  I attribute that to fewer reasons: busy-ness, lots of life happening, and just plain old laziness.  I will be the first to admit that sometimes I just get lazy about writing.  I get out of a routine or writing or I don’t have classes requiring me to write and before I know it, I haven’t written a page in weeks (or sometimes months)!  There is something else though that I am just now realizing.  I almost never write in the summer.

I read in the summer.  Sometimes during the summer I read shelves of books.  But I hardly ever write.  Oh, I may turn out a poem or two, maybe even start a short story, but nothing serious or that ever really comes to anything.  I started to realize this yesterday when I walked home in the rain and came up with two or three separate short story ideas in the space of forty minutes.  I fully realized it this morning as I walked to the bus and noticed the cooler air and autumn light of September.  Something in my mind is stirring and something in my heart is beating harder and I want to write.

Now I’m trying to figure out why I never write in the summer.  Is it something I trained myself to do after years of school?  I write so much during the school year that I want the summer to rest?  Or maybe because I have a freer schedule my writing just gets neglected?  Is it related to the warmer weather?  Does the heat dampen my feelings of creativity?  Whatever the reason, I need to take steps to keep writing creatively even when I’m not feeling creativity.

In the meantime, I’m enjoying the renewed creativity and really looking forward to autumn words.

Job Searching June 3, 2009

Another mention of Majid Majidi’s latest film in this article.

Trivial Beauty May 26, 2009

It’s been a while since I’ve had a completely self-indulgent post so I think I deserve one.  And also, people seem to respond more to my completely silly posts than my trying-to-be-all-philosophical-and-profound posts.  (Does that sound self-obsessed enough?)

Anyway, I wandered into a clothing store (not Anthropologie) the other day because I was bored and they had interesting window dressing.  I was not planning on buying anything and then I saw these headbands:

I have always like peacock feathers.  I think it is because of the colors and the way that they seem to invoke bygone eras.  The current trend of headbands with decoration on the side comes off as very classy (as opposed to little girlish) and is more flattering to most women’s faces.

Alas, these headbands were $24 (and that’s before California’s ridiculously high sales tax) which just seemed a little excessive for a headband with a few feathers glued on so I backed away slowly and left the store.  I’m hoping to maybe find one in a knock-off fashion store.

Now, was that trivial enough?  Can little things like trendy headbands even deserve the word beauty attached to them?

Making the Most of a Commercial’s Budget May 5, 2009

This is a beautiful ad for Chanel No. 5.   I really like the director took the time to actually craft a short story for this commercial.  And then followed through with great directing, acting, cinematography, and locations.  Trains.  Istanbul.  And the lovely Audrey Tautou.  What more could you ask for?

On Attempting to Write Poetry While Ill May 5, 2009

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

ACHOOOO!

Now where was I?

(I was in bed with a cold for most of the week and feeling rather moody so I thought I would try to write some moody poetry.  The problem was that when I am sick I cannot keep a thought in my head for more than a few moments at a time so I ended up with a bunch of moody lines but no poems.  This is the result of that experience.)

More About Majidi April 22, 2009

Proof that I’m not the only that thinks Majidi is on to something:

From Iran, A Parable of Faith Lost (And Found)

Happy Navruz! March 23, 2009

Lately I’ve been thinking about the relationship between stories and holidays.  Every holiday has a story that it is celebrating.  St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the incredible story of St. Patrick’s many adventures.  Thanksgiving celebrates the story of the Pilgrims coming to America.  Easter celebrates the resurrection of Christ and new life.

One of my favorite things about learning about new cultures is learning about the holidays they celebrate.  The holidays that a society celebrates indicate the stories that they find most important.  The way that they go about celebrating that holiday is also based on what that society finds most meaningful and valuable.

This week is Navruz.  The Central Asian New Year’s festival.  It is full of feasting, games, dancing, and community.  It celebrates new life, the end of winter, and the beginning of planting season.  It is full of hope and and new things and looking forward while still valuing the ancient and time-honored customs of an old culture.  In a part of the world where surviving is difficult and your family depends on a good planting season, it is amazing to see life celebrated so well.

Uzbekistan

Afghanistan

Mubarak Bulsin!

The Song of Sparrows March 23, 2009

Guess whose newest movie I’ll be seeing the first week in April?  Here’s a hint:  There’s sure to be goldfish and at least one shot in the rain.

The Song of Sparrows

Can master storyteller Majid Majidi win my heart all over again?

Enjoying the Quiet Moments March 13, 2009

I had never heard of this movie before last week.  I was just browsing the foreign language section of my local public library when I came across it.  I liked the cover.  I liked that it was about food.  I liked that it was in a foreign language.  And I liked that there was a cute little girl on the back cover.  That was all that went into my decision to borrow this DVD.  Never call me a film snob.

Anyway, I watched it this evening and thoroughly enjoyed it!  Maybe because I had no expectations going into it.  Maybe because I was hungry when I watched it so all of the food shots looked extra delicious.  Maybe because I had a good day so I was feeling more generous in my criticism than usual.  But I think it was more than that.  This film delightfully portrays the simple beauty that can only be enjoyed in quiet moments.  The smell of rosemary before it is added to potatoes.  The color of rasberry sauce next to a chocolate mousse.  The feeling of a quick stolen moment of cool air in an otherwise hot stuffy room.  The glance of a stolen smile across a crowded kitchen.  All of these very small moments of beauty were highlighted and savored in this film.

The human interactions were all also about the quiet, simple moments of life that can be so quickly overlooked by the callous.  The developing relationship between the aunt and her niece was portrayed with true depth of emotion by the actors.  The developing romance between two chefs stuck in the same kitchen was full of humor and unexpected tenderness.  Though the film only runs 100 minutes, I felt that I was given time to just sit and observe.  Just like the preparation of a fine dinner, nothing was rushed.

It is a simple reminder to all of the Marthas of the world to slow down a little and look for glimpses of the beauty that surrounds.  It’s winking at you from the steel pots and peeking at you through the garlic cloves.  It’s waiting quietly on the counter for you to finish feverishly chopping and notice.  And more than notice, to enjoy.

All that to say, I felt like I was enjoying a thoughtfully prepared meal full of the only the best ingredients.  I highly recommend it.  Bon Appetit!

Lent March 3, 2009

Some good observations from an artist on the importance of Lent.

http://dansiedell.typepad.com/blog/2009/02/lenten-painting.html