The Secret is out THERE!

Wippie - you can now watch The Secret online. Gotta love the internet!

Watch it! Watch it - Watch it now!

Random Art Attack VI

So today's art attack is a piece that attacks on a different level than the others (okay, so most of them aren't all that aggressive.) But this one is a sculpture of me...

I started working with the Edmonton-based artist Richard Tosczak in 2004, after we acted together in Arthur Miller's The Crucible at the Walterdale Playhouse. He was John Proctor; I was Abigail Williams. Interesting dynamic there, but the professional relationship we established
carried over to our many artist-model sessions during that summer. I left for England before he could finish but I have hopes now that I'm back in the country.

Our sessions were intense and I came away exhausted, like I had just finished a gym work-out. It took great concentration to hold this pose, but my muscles developed a memory and Richard's frequent exclamations of "Hold it! Did you move your hands? It looks different. Move your elbow out again!" certainly pushed me to get into a greater state of stillness.

It was remarkable seeing the clay take shape; muscles and sinews, tension and weight coaxed alive under Richard's master touch. I would look over at Richard working away on the inanimate form and imagine my clay doppleganger rising to her clay feet and towering over me. It was definitely a unique experience!

Richard was recently commissioned to create a sculpture for Hawrelak park so look for that next year.

Watching TV

Thunking aloud

Q: Ironically, studies have shown that criticism has often the exact opposite effect than entended. I'm someone who is very self-critical, and yet often find myself repeating same mistakes again and again. What can I do?

A: The best environment for success is one where we allow ourselves to relax, to let go of what we assume others expect of us and just accept ourselves as we are - at this very moment.

True acceptance comes from the acknowledgement that we have created each and every situation in our lives. We all have arrived at the exact spot we are standing because of the culminated effect of every single one of our past actions. And our actions are a direct result of our beliefs and expectations about ourselves and our opinions of how we must behave.

But here's the secret: our beliefs are simply thoughts and a thought - any thought, can be changed right this very minute. We choose our thoughts, be it that we're fantastic or that we're failures. And we have the ability to change that thought right now!

Then, when we acknowledge that we can change our thoughts about ourselves, then we find that we don't need to hold onto our old mistake patterns or react harshly to others' criticism. For they are simply criticising us because of their own fear of rejection (the opposite of acceptance.)

So what does this acceptance look like?

These statements are acceptance. Repeat them until they come automatically and you belive them whole-heartedly.

1. My thoughts are who I am. It's not I think, therefore I am, it is I am who I think I am.
2. My actions are the product of my beliefs. Every thought I have is creating my future.
   
3. I believe I am perfect just the way I am. I am at peace and harmony with the world.
   
4. I am responsible for where I am. There is no one to blame and I am the one who can change any situation.
5. I let go of all resentment and forgive every one in my life who I have been angry at.

Wee - that was fun! Hope you enjoyed the ride and thanks for reading!

(For more of this great stuff, you can check out Louise Hay's "You Can Heal Your Life")

Words

Sick of using the verb "to obtain" on my resume objective, I went in search of a more enthusiastic and active word to use.

I liked the idea of 'procuring'... I have always thought it to be a rather romantic and swashbuckling way of getting something.

However, the Cambridge Dictionary did a mighty fine job of squashing my lust for procuring. The second definition listed was:

"to obtain a prostitute for someone else to have sex with"

(But apparently, if you are in procurement of something, you're just in the act of getting supplies.)

Like a fairy tale... or a classic car aficionado's wet dream

This is incredible!!

"So imagine you live in Portugal and you're moving house. You find a lovely farm house set in a decent plot of land. The place has been empty for 15 years.

Whilst exploring your new property you find a large barn in the trees. The door is padlocked shut and its all rusted solid so you grind the padlock open.........

(Click on the photo for the rest of the story.)

From an era when chesterfields were Chesterfields

I was skeptical at first, mostly because of my previous, and rather tumultuous experience with a used couch (might have been the cats, though) but now there's no doubt in my mind how fabulous this "find" really is. It's definitely one of comfiest, retro-hip couches ever. The past owner, before it was modeled in the display case at Bungalow's, was an elderly woman who didn't smoke and didn't own cats. And it's 100% wool!

Great choice Nicholas! (and a big kudo goes out to the gang who spotted it first.)

Ramdom Art Attack V

Fantasy abandoned by reason produces impossible monsters: united with her, she is the mother of the arts and the origin of their marvels.

Francisco José de Goya

Snow storms, old friends and escapism

Where did the CN tower go?

It's a veritable snow globe out there and here I am, toasty warm with a cuppa mint tea, good tunes and an old friend on msn. It's 5am her time but she hasn't headed to bed yet and the topic of our discussion for the past half an hour has been generally around what we're reading these days.

P: At present I have an unfinished Beagle, Scalzi, and Eschbach at my right. Of course, I have a finished Isobelle Carmody in the pile as well. To my left is the ill fated Bernard Cornwell. And behind me is the as yet to be started Elizabeth Haydon book which I don't want to read because Ashe is still alive at the end and that irritates me.

J: I'm slogging my way through Thomas Friedman's The Lexus and the Olive Tree.

P: Good grief! Why on earth would you read someone that forces you face reality?

(P prefers her reality heavily coated in science fiction.)

...

What are you reading right now?

The View from Here

They will see us waving from such great heights,

'come down now' they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away,
'come down now' but we'll stay...

- Postal Service

The view from Nicholas' apartment is stunning. Massive, and oh, so metropolitan. Invigorating, and awe-inspiring; you could enjoy it forever and not get bored. But the best part of it all can be found inside the appartment... when he's not at work, that is.

Ciao for now.

Get Fuzzy is always a good giggle

Today's Horoscope

I'm not a huge believer of these things, but I do enjoy an uplifting and accurate horoscope....

Virgo, Thursday, February 1st, 2007

Cut yourself some slack, even if you think that you made a mistake. No matter how much you have to do today, make some time for yourself. Being alone now can begin an important healing process for you. Treat yourself gently and allow yourself to feel good. And even if you don't feel like you deserve it, act as if you do until you get the hang of it.