Disjointed Thoughts on The Killing of a Man

he was a human being

our nation is celebrating the killing/murder/execution of a man

i understand that he can be viewed as a representative and that people can receive "closure" from this - but I don't really buy into that notion

all day it has made me pretty sick to my stomach

I mean, yes - he was terrible - yes, he was a major terrorist - but killing one terrorist is like lopping a head off of the hydra

only the hydra is a human

today was barbaric - plain and simple

the fact that our nation celebrates violence makes me very worried about the state of the world I live in

So, I might try and flesh some of this out later.  But this is basically what the killing of Osama Bin Laden means to me.  Scary stuff, America.

Update:

I found this quote via FB feed - and it buttons this post off nicely:

‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." -- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

My First Post of 2011...is a little lacking.

So much for resolutions.

So, being the busy office assistant I am - I have not quite found enough time to sit and think about my life.  Which basically means I often find myself with not much to say...about anything.  No worries, though.  I am still living and smiling and laughing.  I think I just saw a tumble-weed blow across my blog...my twitter account seems a bit dusty, but I still find random stuff to post on facebook - so I'm not a completely anonymous.

Some examples of my awesome "random-shit" finding skills include:

and

Just a small sample of how I spend my time.

I'm looking forward to more reflection, and creativity in my life. Time to be a bit more pro-active.

Winter Song

Well - shocking - it has been quite some time since I posted.  There are times that I feel I have nothing of import to share with the world, so I just go on living.  I don't spend much time reflecting on all the experiences I take with me.  But I would like to attempt to change that.  As of now - my goal (baby steps, folks) is to post once a month in the year 2011.  Hold me to it.  We'll check in December of 2011 to see just how well I did.

I want 2011 to be the year of new projects.  Taking on new, somewhat terrifying objectives. As I will be required to do so whether I want to or not.  A great mentor and colleague of mine is going on maternity leave and I will be stepping up to fill some fairly large shoes while she is away.  Wish me luck.

I will also be working with my friend Courtney (I'll come back to update this post with a link) on a new blog on grieving.  She lost her father on December 9th, 2009.  So while it won't be as light-hearted as this blog (though I could hardly call some of my posts light-hearted) - it will be a venue to explore life without a loved one and everything that entails.  It'll be a space to vent/grieve/laugh and share stories.  Feel free to check it out once it's up and running.

So - in light of December, and another Christmas with the family (weather permitting as Dean and I are driving to Michigan on x-mas day) coming up - I thought I'd share this video and my thoughts on it.  Feel free to watch, re-watch and play as you see fit. (I'm playing it now). Click through to read my feelings on the song.

I spend most of my days...

Life and Orange Juice

Back to the blogosphere...yet again. As you may or may not notice, I tend to drop the ball on this beast from time to time. I have been quite the busy body these days, which is wonderful. My walk with Mom and the monument I found lit a little fire, and sure enough I am creating again and finding joy in life. So much to update on - I'll try and spread things out.

First thing's first: I am involved in an self-titled performance project called The In Between People. Directed by Andy Yanni - we're asking a whole lot of questions, exploring life, magic, and the power of humanity.

"The In Between People is currently exploring the affect that children's stories and their universal messages have on audiences of all ages. The self-titled project, The In Between People, is a performance that uses The Missing Piece Meets the Big O by Shel Silverstein as a launching point, and creates an extension of this story through performance.

We are combining personal stories and experiences with this universal message to find a new meaning in the interaction between people and performance. We are creating a theatrical experience that focuses not on any one of these stories, but the universal through-line of what it means to be human and every person's struggle to truly define who they are. " 

If you haven't backed this project yet, please do so (I know cash is sparse, but the support is priceless regardless of how much you donate). Head over to our kickstarter by clicking this link. It would mean the world to me to have you back this project.  We are also posting on our company blog - I'll update the link with the blog once we go public.  So I figured - for now, I can use my own space to hammer out some thoughts that I'll will be sharing with the company/ensemble members at the other blog.  With that said - here I go...

A Monument to You Through Infinity...

Long time no post. I'm used to it. The Gemini in me keeps my attention from lingering on any one project for too long. I wouldn't have it any other way, because when I come back - I come back somethin' fierce. Here it comes y'all. Buckle up, batten down - use the restroom, grab some snacks, 'cause this is a long post.

Words of Comfort from an Old Schoolmate

I am always impressed by the desire to connect, to reach out and touch someone with words. I guess that explains my fascination with online media - youtube, twitter, facebook. Many times, it is just an individual caught up in this idea that the world revolves around him or her - that friends and strangers are better for knowing what they are doing. Or yearning to know every move they make. I try not to get caught up in that illusion. But every now and then, it's fun to play in.

Sometimes these internet aficionados stumble (knowingly so at times) upon the power and possibility, the art (two letters shy of heart - lets add them in), of words. I am so grateful for these beautiful moments, when a single line can reveal so much depth of thought, feeling, or vision. Sometimes these few words unintentionally smack you in the face and grip your heart. Sometimes words make you chuckle out loud garnering quizzical looks from coworkers. And sometimes a message from an old acquaintance can release beautiful, healing tears.

One thing about facebook that always seems to boggle my mind is how it affects my perception of time. Yes, I can spend hours playing farmville (I want that damn Japanese tea house already, gah) or refreshing my friends' status updates - but that isn't what I mean when I talk about perceiving time. It's amazing to see how old friends have changed, to see how their lives are exciting or tragic or full of love (all very good qualifiers of a life well lived). If I ever need to be humbled, I just click through the old pictures of myself. I watch myself grow.

The other day, I mused to myself on my walk back from the subway. Time is like water spilled on a lacquered surface. It puddles up at first, and slowly begins to reach outward refracting light as it does. This light bounces off of each and every one of us - we've all been touched someone else's time. Sometimes it moves quicker than expected, it hits an unbalanced patch of woodwork and speeds away. Other times it hits a knot, or a rut and seems to pool in one area forever. Time is constantly replenishing itself, and the surface of life is infinite. Soon enough I am 23, post college, trying to say goodbye for now to a woman I have loved (and will love) all my life. And still I am amazed at how I am 5, and 10, and 15 in an instant. Memory is the ability to view what is infinite - to view time again and again. The pool of water turns in on itself, rounds a curved corner of the surface and comes right back. Memory bends time...