5 Alive 30 January 2008

When a local Barack-backer called yesterday, she reminded me just how “now” the time is in New York. They are looking for volunteers to hit the streets & drum up more Barack business here in Manhattan. As I’ll be scoping the Seattle scene until Super Tuesday, I promised to Pixie-post (again). So here I am, pounding the virtual pavement for Obamanation, & looking for 5 fresh faces. If you’re ready to feel the real deal, please meet Mr. Obama for the first time, or all over again:

& you can keep hope hopping by giving here:

They take it all – time, talent, treasure – so just tell ‘em I sent you, & thanks!

The Road Rules 29 January 2008

While I sometimes over-analyze, hem, haw & beat decisions to death, today I didn’t do that. I glided, instead, into an altered evening agenda & it was perfect! In order to squeeze everything my aspiring self set-up this week, some things had to go. I’ll not tell you too much, but trust me when I tell you, my art’s about to evolve. I’m all a twitter with possibility, plans & potential involving partnerships & as my dear Johnny D. would say, “the piyanny.”

Get your ears ready, as my Enlightened Inner-Eminem is about to get off its ass. & it’s about freaking time.

May your life lead you where you need to go, whether you know it or not.

p.s. Thanks, RSC & JJ, for the gift that I know’ll keep on giving. God is so good & you kids are already famous!

Here Come the Kennedys 29 January 2008

Thanks to moviebuddy, I’m sharing this truthout article in its entirety. The time has come, people, & The Torch Is Passed.

There are moments in American politics when you know you are witnessing history. When Ted Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy and Patrick Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama Monday it was one of those moments. In front of a packed house of mostly college students at Bender Arena on the campus of American University, the Kennedys passed the torch to the person they believe will transform American politics.

As she introduced her uncle, Caroline, the daughter of slain President John F. Kennedy, told the cheering crowd: “Over the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wish they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This longing is even more profound today. Fortunately, there is one candidate who offers that same sense of hope and inspiration, and I am proud to endorse Senator Barack Obama for president.”

Senator Kennedy told the crowd that he “respected the strength, the work and dedication of two other Democrats still in the race: Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. They are my friends; they have been my colleagues in the Senate. John Edwards has been a powerful advocate for economic and social justice. And Hillary Clinton has been in the forefront on issues ranging from health care to the rights of women around the world. Whoever is our nominee will have my enthusiastic support.”

But the senior senator from Massachusetts went on to say: “I am proud to stand here today and offer my help, my voice, my energy and my commitment to make Barack Obama the next president of the United States.”

Countering criticism of Obama’s qualifications, Kennedy had the following to say:

I know that he’s ready to be president on day one. And when he raises his hand on Inauguration Day, at that very moment, we will lift the spirits of our nation and begin to restore America’s standing in the world. There was another time, when another young candidate was running for president and challenging America to cross a New Frontier. He faced public criticism from the preceding Democratic president, who was widely respected in the party. Harry Truman said we needed “someone with greater experience” – and added: “May I urge you to be patient.” And John Kennedy replied: “The world is changing. The old ways will not do…. It is time for a new generation of leadership.”

Senator Kennedy also made a series of thinly veiled references to clashes with the Clintons over recent weeks. He said that Barack Obama would represent a break with “cynical” tactics of “demonizing” opponents.

“With Barack Obama we can turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion,” he said; “we can close the book on the old politics of race against race.”

Mr. Kennedy is understood to have been repulsed by Mr. Clinton’s alleged use of racial politics.

Even Sunday, Bill Clinton compared Obama’s victory in South Carolina to Jesse Jackson’s win there, reminding everyone that Jackson didn’t get the nomination. Stephanie Wilson, a supporter of Obama, said she wonders why Clinton didn’t mention that John Edwards or Al Gore won South Carolina. She went on to say that “we know the real answer to that; they weren’t black, and Bill Clinton is trying to say that Obama only won because he is black. Is that why he won Iowa too?”

The Kennedys’ endorsements follow other key Massachusetts endorsements. Senator John Kerry and Governor Deval L. Patrick have already endorsed Obama in a state that will be one of the major contests next Tuesday. Other key states Tuesday will be California, Missouri, Georgia, Minnesota and New Jersey, along with Senators Obama and Clinton’s home states of Illinois and New York.

Another state with a contest next Tuesday is Kansas, where Governor Kathleen Sebelius is expected to endorse Obama perhaps as early as today. Sebelius delivered the Democratic response to Bush’s State of the Union address Monday night. According to ABC News, she made up her mind to endorse Obama over the weekend.

This will be a crucial week in the campaign. To date, Barack Obama has earned 34 delegates, Hillary Clinton 21 and John Edwards 12. Those numbers do not include “super delegates,” who can change their mind anytime they want, or Iowa and Nevada delegates who won’t be selected for a couple of months. On February 5, there are 2,064 delegates up for grabs, and 2,022 is the magic number for securing the nomination.

By Scott Galindez
t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Tuesday 29 January 2008

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been more hopeful!!

Chemistry Test 26 January 2008

In the past few weeks, I’ve started to taper off the anti-depressant I went on in 2004. Something had to help me survive that sweltering summer of chemo hell. And trust me, it worked wonders. But I’ve been feeling for months like I didn’t need it anymore; signs started showing up to support my suspicions: The doctor who originally prescribed it wouldn’t renew; my insurance carrier required all kinds of crap to cover the cost; I ponied up full-price for many months in the meantime. You name it, it happened to make it hard. While I knew what to do, my friend fear found me & raised all the right questions:

• Without my Wellbutrin, would I return to the pre-cancer state in which I essentially gave up on my life?

• Would the me I’ve rediscovered get lost again?

• Would I turn back to eating & drinking for comfort in the absence of my chemical crutch?

Nonetheless, I fought to find the place inside myself that said I could do it & I’d be just fine. But, let me tell you, it’s been anything but fun. Riding the roller-coaster of withdrawal, I’ve been hungry, weepy, angry, unmotivated, irate & anti-social, among other attractive emotions. I apologize to all those around me who might have experienced any of the above personally although I tried to keep it under control. But here I am now – down to every other day – one happy camper again.

I know the hole I have needs to be filled with something. Here’s hoping that yoga, singing lessons, playing the piano & loving myself like a mofo is the best medicine. Thanks, Wellbutrin, for being there when I needed you the most. I might not miss you but that’s a testament to what we’ve accomplished together.

The only way is up!

Heathcliff Note 23 January 2008

Like many in the world, I’m still shocked & saddened by Heath Ledger’s tragic death yesterday. Words seem inadequate to capture his essence but I’ll skip the YouTube tribute. Instead, I ask only that you use this event as an awakening opportunity of your own. Look around your precious life with an attitude of gratitude right now, for none of us knows when the end may come.

I’m going to spend tonight soaking in the sounds of Brokeback Mountain. As Ennis, Heath gave us an incredible gift wrapped inside each & every lock-jawed line. Living & loving large seems a good way to say, “We appreciate it.”

He was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
Every time I hear his name
Lord I just can’t keep from cryin’
‘Cause he was a friend of mine. – Willie Nelson

Marching On, Martin 21 January 2008

Thanks to my dear friend, Jackie, I had the pleasure of attending “Our God is Marching on!: A Gospel Festival of Hope Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.” last Sunday at the Marble Collegiate Church. The service was a moving, musical tribute to MLK Junior’s lasting impact on the world, peppered with his words & those of fellow activists. As many mentioned in the service, his message is as relevant today as ever & it is our responsibility, both as individuals & a collective, to keep his dream alive:

As you enjoy (I hope!) the holiday today, please remember, in the words of the man himself, “Life’s most urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”

“Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”  MLK Jr.

Me, Myself and I Time 20 January 2008

Having been home in sweats since Thursday night, my latest illness-induced “retreat” has been another I-opening experience. Cancer taught me the hard way that sometimes the body says “stop” & I’ve learned to lovingly listen. Rather than fight the fever, I surrender to the experience knowing something’ll show up that I’ve needed to know.

For my entertainment, I’ve enjoyed Season One of the Bravo hit show, Project Runway. I fell in love with Austin Scarlett this weekend & so appreciate his unabashed sense of self. While others might find him too something, he has an uncanny ability to bring his bright, beautiful, authentic Austin-ness into his work & the world. He may have been “out” in the contest but clearly, Mr. Scarlett’s won the battle of being self-actualized. Slap on that ascot, I say.

The theme of this session, then, has been “a return to me.” Here on day 3, I feel highly attuned to who I truly am again. I’m shocked by the creative “genius” flowing so freely forth; I’m also scared to unearth emotions that make me a little uneasy. Regardless, I know I shall emerge into the world on Monday with a clearer vision & voice.

Brimming again with ideas for my re-energized bunny time, talent & treasure, I can’t wait to get started on several new projects. One of them being making more place for play in my life. During a meditation, I saw myself as kid – climbing a tree, making mud pies in a garden lush with ladybugs – & I was really happy. Going forward, I know I’ll need more nature in my nurture.

Here’s to all of us living loud & proud in an Austin-inspired openness!

“No matter how much I try to be plain, people don’t accept me, so I might as well be fabulous.” – Austin Scarlett

What’s Your Dream? 17 January 2008

Pixiema loves the part at the end of Pretty Woman, when the “Happy Man” says, “Welcome to Hollywood! What’s your dream? Everybody comes here; this is Hollywood, land of dreams. Some dreams come true, some don’t; but keep on dreamin’ – this is Hollywood. Always time to dream, so keep on dreamin’.”

Seems my peeps at Unity of New York think he’s got a point. With that, I offer you the Word of the Week:

DREAMS

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal. – Pamela Vaull Starr

Unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it. – Don Herold

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours. – Thoreau

I don’t know about you, but I’m sure moved by 2! As I dig that Shawshank Redemption, I’ll end with my own personal favorite on the subject, “Get busy living or get busy dying.”

See you in Zihuatanejo, I say!

The Gift of Grief 16 January 2008

Seems the Daily OM & I agree: Sometimes you gotta get grieving to move on in life.

Grief Is Important

Change is something that happens each and every moment in our lives. Since nothing is constant, it may sometimes seem as if we are losing something whenever things do change. Understanding that this is part of our daily existence and that there will not only be gains but also losses in our lives can help us more readily accept and deal with whatever happens.

Whenever we lose something or somebody we love, it is important for us to take time out for ourselves and truly feel the weight of what we are experiencing. Although it may seem that doing so will push us into a deeper state of sadness, truly giving ourselves permission to be with whatever arises actually creates space for us to begin the healing process. This is because the act of grieving is a natural process, allowing us to sort through the range of emotions that are present in our everyday existence. Even though it may sometimes seem easier to involve ourselves in activities that take our minds off of our sadness, this will only make the route to healing more difficult. Unless we listen to where we are in the moment, the emotions we experience will only grow in intensity, and our feelings will manifest themselves in more powerful and less comfortable ways. Once we consciously acknowledge that these emotions are present, however, we are more able to soothe the sorrow of the moment. In so doing, we become more open to our natural ability to heal ourselves.

Grieving doesn’t have to be a process that keeps us rooted in our thoughts of fear and sadness. For the moment we might feel despondent, but by expressing and coping with our true feelings, we face the sadness head-on. When we allow ourselves to accept and deal with our loss fully, we will then be able to continue our life’s journey with a much more positive and accepting outlook. This will make it easier for us to see that our grief is ephemeral and, just like our moments of happiness, it will also come to pass.

P.S.

To VRC – thanks for being the voice of progress & for the most amazing adjectives a girl could ask for. You really are the boss of me & I couldn’t be happier about it!

&

To JMH – you always did & always will make my little heart sing. I wish you all the joy yours can handle in your NY life & beyond. While I didn’t need to see it to believe it, you sure did grow up great!

The Best, Jerry! 14 January 2008

We were given an assignment yesterday at Unity. As it’s such a good one, I thought you might like to try it, too. Here goes:

1) Start with the following affirmation:

“I deserve the best that God (Source, The Universe, or whatever word works for you) has waiting for me.”

2) Picture what your ideal existence looks like, down to the smallest detail. Be sure to include everything from living situation to love life in there. & don’t forget to dream bigger than you’ve ever imagined here, people, as we’re talking THE BEST!

3) For one week, embody this new reality. Walk around being & feeling (in addition to your own list):

• completely healthy
• ridiculously rich
• living in the lap of love

As far as homework goes, it ain’t so bad, eh? If you need a bit more incentive, I offer you this: It’s not even 8 a.m. & I’ve already had a magical moment with a hot guy on the train!

Wanna give it a whirl with me?