And now for something inspirational

This video made me cry also.... but because it is so beautiful... watch for yourself then you'll know what I mean.

Poetry or prose?

Notes of Rhapsody
in blue-green flow around me
lucid, fluid sharps and flats clarified by perfect Cs
round like pebbles
laying in the shadows
of leafy trees
along the waters edge.

It's about time

That which is done with time, time respects."
~Henri Cartier-Bresson, photographer




I'm late posting this, which is funny since the quote is about time. I must admit this post was not done with time, unless of course you count the time I spent noodling this quote.


When I was in New York earlier this year, on one of my wandering around Manhattan days, I happened upon this museum, at the International Center of Photography. It wasn't on my list. I just ended up there. And it looked interesting, so I pluncked down the ten dollar admission fee and wandered. It was a quiet little museum. Not packed like the Met or the Guggenheim. Not a big tourist draw. Which is a shame because the exhibits were terrific. This is the kind of place where I would hang out, take classes, attend events, if I lived in New York.



The exhibit for Henri Cartier-Bresson included a mini documentary with the artist talking about his work. This quote struck a chord with me so I wrote it down in my notebook.

It bears repeating. "That which is done with time, time respects."

Don't rush. Take the time to do a thing right, and it will last.

Another interesting thing about Cartier-Bresson is that he was a patient man. He would set up his camera and wait. He didn't stage the scene, but rather waited for the scene to happen. Sometimes he waited for a long time. His pictures show the care with which he took them. And they are as relevant and beautiful now as they were 70 years ago.

I'm not the next NPR star

yet.

Well, thanks everyone for your votes. The voting has closed. The judging is over. And I did not make the list of top 100 vote getters at the public radio talent quest... nor did I make the list of entries nominated by more than one judge.

I only listened to 200 entries. A few stinkers, a lot of really good entries and a couple of Wows. There is an amazing group of talented people over there at the public radio talent quest. I'd like to think that I made it to the list of 200 entries that were passed on the judges. I don't know if that is true or not, but I learned a lot in pursuing this.

First and foremost, why not me? In this case I don't know. Many of the entries were prepared by real live radio professionals. I'm not saying that in a sour grapes kind of way, it's an honest appraisal. I think I held my own. I learned a lot about putting together a small piece. I got a little more practice using my recording equipment, and using a sound editing program. Although my idea about Creativity Is has been percolating for a while... this project forced me to distill it, formulate the words, and articulate what I was trying to say. What I can still say.

And I know for sure that I would not have won if I had not entered. Ya gotta play to win, right? This is big for me... to actually put stuff out there. To give it a shot. I have to say I am really proud of myself for trying, giving it my best shot.

And you know the adage, "Be careful what you wish for you just might get it...." In this case, it probably is a good thing I did not win. How demanding will Round 2 of the contest be? Round 3? I have a job. A good paying job that I enjoy very much. And I am writing a book. And there are still only 24 hours in a day last time I checked. 6-8 hours for sleeping. 8 hours for work, and 8 hours for friends, family, eating, hanging out, writing, recording, movies, reading, etc.

So, I'll continue noodling around with audio, working with my friend Rich to produce his short story, work on something audio of my own, or with other fellow writers... maybe I'll make more sound sculptures, layers of words and music, pieces that wouldn't really fit into a public radio show format, like this piece called "F_ck, Pause."
it may be offensive (I warned you) I was in a weird mood.
OR

Maybe I'll go ahead and produce a show, Creativity Is, and podcast it, or submit it to public radio via the Public Radio Exchange. Or not.
Oh the ideas they are a flowing....

What about that radio show?

Of course I should be working on my book... but I have 6 more days to generate 60 pages. Cake, right? hah!!

Anyway, Regarding my Audio Audition over at the Public Radio Talent Quest.... Creativity is... you may recall my mini doculogue movie from a while ago of the same title I used some of that audio and re-worked it, laid down a background music track -- me on guitar, Julie on harmonica-- and framed it with some commentary:

When you think of creativity, of people you consider creative, if you're like most people you think of artists: writers, painters, sculptors, poets, dancers,
... musicians

maybe you even think of crafters, you know, those people in your life that can take a piece of string and a paperclip and with McGyver like skill turn it into something useful like a doorstop, or a potholder.

Now I can hear you shaking your head even before I make this next statement, but...
I believe EVERYBODY is creative.

Yeah.
Really.

Everybody.

Even you.


You probably just don’t recognize what you do as creative.

That’s where I come in.



Come along with me as I get to know artists, writers, musicians,

and business owners, scientists, teachers, engineers, carpenters, moms, bankers, pet sitters

Creative people from all walks of life

So it is done. It is what it is. I'm happy with my submission. Maybe it will turn to naught but another clip for my blog... or the start of my new radio show or podcast, or whatever. Just a reminder... you can listen to Creativity Is and vote. You have until June to vote (I'll remind you again, don't worry)

PS: what about that radio show

Logging in and commenting on my entry would make me look really popular.... just a suggestion :-)

and now I'm back to work on MY BOOK. Seriously. I have a good hour until the mariachis begin. (long story)

Shameless Plug: Public Radio Talent Quest

OK, since this IS my blog, I guess I can plug anything I want... myself included.

If you get a few minutes, 2 to be exact, check out my entry over at the Public Radio Talent Quest, Creativity Is....

If you have a couple more minutes, like maybe 4, you can register and vote.... and hang around, grab a mug of coffee and listen to some other awesome audiophiles.

sometimes ya gotta wonder

So I was invited to see a show last night with my friend Rich. Actually it started as "a modest proposal" which of course got me to thinking all kinds of strange thoughts (read Jonathan Swift's essay "A Modest Proposal")

EMAIL SUBJECT: a modest proposal

I just had an idea (too much coffee at work). Remember I told you about my friend the Burlesque/Caberet girl? Her one-woman show is next Friday, May 4th at this place called the Funhouse. My friend and I are going. Do you want to go? I'm not sure what to expect from the show, but she's really entertaining and says it will be a mixture of comedy/music/caberet and a gameshow (??).

Anyway, I was thinking she would be a perfect person for you to record an interview about creativity for your future radio show. She's a single mom, works her ass off entertaining San Diego 7 nights a week (seriously, her resume/work schedule is off the hook), is a great storyteller, and I'm assuming the show will be very creative. I think she'd be an interesting subject--she's EXTREMELY candid--and I can set it up easy if you're interested.

Whaddya think?
-rjb

I didn't know what to think.... except first off, I'm not doing a radio show! I'm writing a book. Or at least I'm supposed to be. Even though the idea of a radio show has been tossed around, and I LOVE audio. Bottom line, this proposal stressed me out on so many levels. So, after several emails back and forth, by which time I'm sure Rich was like "sheesh its just a show/idea/email and I had no idea Jenn was so damn neurotic." I suggested we start with I would (forego First Friday Open Mic) go see the show. (Note: Rich has read most of my memoir, so he should know how neurotic I am)

Of course I stressed about the First Friday thing all Friday long. I mean I'm a REGULAR at First Friday. I'm comfortable there. People KNOW me. I'm in the IN crowd. sort of. I mean I get invited to dinner after the show. And best of all if the show is bad, wait three minutes, someone else will be on!

But this... trapped in a tiny theater. Watching a One Woman Show. Put on by a burlesque dancer. I was skeptical, but I decided to reach outside my comfort zone and go. Besides, I like Rich (I'll fill you in on him in another post-- he's an awesome writer and I promised to review his manuscript).

So it wasn't as bad as I thought it could be. But (there's always a but!)it wasn't as good as I had hoped either.

The One Woman is a woman named Laura Jane of San Diego. Wilcock she'll tell you... not Wilcox, only one cock, not two cocks, one cock dangling at the end of her name just in case she needs one. is that funny? she likes to say the word "cock" a lot. Oh, and Celine Dion is a slut. whatever that means.

Laura Jane has a lot going for her:

• She actually CAN sing. Of course she yucks it up with a lot of crude humor, but she has a decent voice.


• Her poetry is pretty good as well. Delivery campy of course, but some fun word play.


• Some of her "skits" (for lack of a better word) were funny (she does bill herself as a comedienne). I particulary enjoyed her song medley of different impressions from Lou Rawls and Elvis to Carol Channing, Britney Spears, Cher... sans Celine, of course.


• And she has a lot of guts getting up there on stage and baring her... well you knew that was coming, didn't you... more on that later...


• It was acceptable to brown-bag booze, but I didn't know that ahead of time

For me, what the show lacked was a coherent story line. Or an added layer of some sort of social commentary.

Maybe I'm a snob, maybe I've become an old fart, a stuffed shirt, I don't know, but the humor was the kind of thing I would have laughed at when I was 13.

I wasn't offended by any of the crude humor, I just didn't think it was very funny, and often, instead of getting more complex, digging deeper, I felt like Laura Jane was going for the easy laugh, the cheap shot or just trying to be shocking.

Nudity was to be expected, especially since Rich said she was a "burlesque/caberet gal," but the full frontal boobage didn't really add to the story, except perhaps to give Laura Jane an opportunity to show off her very ample and pendulous breasts.

The "skit" which afforded Laura Jane this opportunity was when she told a story about her being torn between wanting to suckle one of the pastries or some chick's breasts... so she came out on stage, topless of course, carrying a full plate of pastries. It was predictable.

The game show portion of the show, thank god didn't involve me as a contestant. I won't go into details, but one of the gals that was with us actually won and the gift prize bag included a small bottle of Jaeggermeister and some Red Bull. And kindly enough 4 plastic glasses. So we silently toasted Laura Jane from the back row. And let me tell you I thought Red Bull alone was bad. It's three times as bad mixed with Jaegger. bleckh.

So. I'm glad I went. It was amusing. Kudos to Laura Jane for getting out there and doing it-- whatever "it" is. She does appear to have an audience of regulars who enjoy her show and had lots of opportunities to laugh. It's just not for me.

As to an interview. Well, we'll see. I've got a May 18 deadline to mail my manuscript. So I don't really have the time right this minute to work on a radio show of any kind. Maybe next month.

Dare to Dream

I've not been posting much lately as you may (or may not) have noticed. I spent a few days in New York and since my return, it's been busy busy at work (where I have been creating blog posts). Oh, and I'm trying to write my book. I need to be done sometime in early May. Because I signed up for a Master Class. In Taos. With Gregory Martin... and it's hard to keep on track when people are pulling me in other directions and it's So. Much. Easier to do things for other people than do things for myself.

In New York I attended a conference, Blogher for Business, to learn how to utilize blogs in a business, how to measure effectiveness, what's the R in ROI... good stuff. I also met an interesting woman from Boston, Whitney Johnson. I'm not sure if or how she'll fit into my life, but you know the saying "when the student is ready, the teacher will come?" I've been reading her blog sporadically since my return from New York. I think there are some messages there that I need to hear.

Her latest post, What Not To Wear, first attracted my attention because I love the show What Not To Wear. And then, it got me thinking about dreams.

How do successful people become successful? What's the difference between someone who dreams and someone who Does? Do you have to live your dream at the expense of other people? How do you keep good boundaries while at the same time keep good relationships? And if you do change, if you do decide to pursue your dream, have you noticed that sometimes that choice upsets the balance of "power" in a given relationship?

I have more to say... but no time for now. What do you say?