Ode to Baz Luhrman

On Thursday nights a gathering of local artists, writers, and musicians amble over to the Water Canyon Coffee Co., a quirky li'l coffee house rich in ambiance and fragrant java, to air their latest creations at "Open Mike Night" via new chapter, music, or poetry. These are fledgling talents not meant to seek stardom, but encouragement. I've been at the Canyon on a handful of Thursday nights, but I have to sheepishly admit that I've only done so during the off season of Grey's Anatomy, my saltlick cryptonite of night-time dramedy. Maybe one day I'll get up the nerve to share my own creative work, but for the most part I'm satisfied with just sitting in the back and listening to virgin material. In the mean time, I want to re-play a classic by Mr. Baz Luhrman, who in a wonderous creative moment crafted one of the most brilliant pieces of prose ever written, which later went on to become a well-sought song. So sit back and relax, and enjoy a one of a kind classic:

"Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)"

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '99:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the

future,
sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.

I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth;

oh never mind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.

You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that

worrying is as effective as trying tosolve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4:00 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing.

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts; don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead;
sometimes you’re behind; the race is long, and in the end it’s only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive; forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters; throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch. .................

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you wanna do with your life; the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives; some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees; you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry -- maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll have children --
maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll divorce at 40 -- maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either -- your choices are half chance; so are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body; use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it. It’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.

Dance.
Even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living
room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do not read beauty magazines; they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents; you
never know when they’ll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; they're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography, in lifestyle, because the older you get the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.

Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: prices will rise; politicians will philander; you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund; maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia: dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts, and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

~Baz Luhrman .... director, producer, screenwriter & profound speech maker

Day of the Dead Celebration

The day after Halloween, I headed to Palm Springs to participate in the Latino version of this holiday called "Dia De Los Muertos" or "Day of the Dead" hosted by the Palm Springs Art Museum. It goes without saying that living in California close to the border of Mexico, there is a wide-spread Latino influence here. "Day of the Dead" falls during the week of Halloween and the Catholic observances of All Saint's Day. For Latin-Americans, it is a time of celebration and honored remembrance of loved ones who have passed; recognizing death as a continuation of life. Traditions vary within each Latino community such as elaborate altar displays, gravesite visits, and colorful art and music venues.




The "Day of the Dead" celebration kicked off with a dance procession near this statue, as ancestrally-dressed Mexican dancers led spectators down Tahquitz Canyon Way to the Palm Springs Art Museum.

At the museum, a Mariachi band entertained the crowd with festive Latino music.

The museum was gaily decorated, and exhibited artwork of famous Latino artists.

My favorite was Chihuly's eye-catching blown glass display.

The gift shop had an attractive display of D.o.D. items for sale.

Beautiful altars throughout the museum commemorated loved ones who have passed.

The altar exhibits were created by Latino groups in the community.

Overall, it was a fun-filled day as arts n' crafts and food tables were set up for revelers to sample Latino cuisines and bring home handmade crafts such as colorful paper mache' flowers and vibrant Day of the Dead skull masks. Learning something new about this time-honored Latin American holiday was a festive way to wrap up Halloween, and enjoy the differences that make up America's melting pot great.

ME2 @ JOSHUA TREE

One of my favorite albums (and yes, I'm dating myself) is U2's "The Joshua Tree" released in 1987. Living at the time in a dorm room at UNC - Wilmington, little would I realize that I'd be living near the place over 20 years later where it was inspired. Joshua Trees were named by Mormon settlers in the 1800's who thought its branches looked like "Joshua beckoning them to the promised land." Joshua Trees grow only in the Mojave Desert, and are considered neither cactus or tree, but simply a giant yucca plant.

Joshua Trees have been described as having "an other-worldly appearance unlike anything else that can be found in the national park system." Located a stone's throw away from the town of Joshua Tree, the national park with the same name is a visual treat. Formerly a national monument since the 1920's, it was upgraded to a national park in 1994, becoming one of America's newest national parks.

Joshua Tree National Park sits at an elevation level of 3,000 feet, spans 793,000 acres, and has over 2 million Joshua Trees spread throughout in "sparse-forest" fashion.

In the Spring, an explosion of color breaks the monochromatic landscape.

It is a great place to get away ... to think... to enjoy nature.

Its ascending boulders are a lure for rock climbing enthusiasts from around the world.

Joshua Trees are believed to surpass 700 years in age.

Resting under the spell of the Joshua Tree....

There is a timeless beauty to Joshua Tree National Park.

Like, OMG.... it's a Joshua Tree!!!

Please Be Kind & Summer Rewind

Can't help but smile on my Summer of Fun. Shall I rewind? Went home to NC for my 40th.



Gotta love blackmail cake!
Yeesh! I thought I had destroyed all copies of this photo. LoL.

Early on, I enjoyed a "staycation" at Lake Havasu, AZ where I sun, swam, and fished. While there, I took a gander at the original London Bridge that came out of Merry Ol' England.

In 1968 London Bridge was bought by eccentric millionaire Robert McCulloch for over $2M to boost tourism in his beloved city.

"What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas," but I gotta tell ya -The Beatles LOVE Cirque du Soleil show at The Mirage "was a gas! gas! gas!" [Get back, Jo Jo!!]


The hourly fountain show at the Bellagio was spectacular! A water n' light show set to music that was simply mesmerizing.


Visited friends in Maryland, and then took a trip to Philadelphia, the "City of Brotherly Love". While there I toured Independance Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, and the Founding Fathers statue exhibit at the National Constitution Center.

"Crack is Wack!" ~Whitney Houston (do ya think the Liberty Bell was her inspiration?)

Visited friends in Rochester, NY. Their Victorian home they restored was impressive, and their city pleasantly charming.

Pics courtesy of their collection.

... and then it was off to Niagra Falls,
which I found awe inspiring and best seen from Canada's vantage point, aaaay.



Mid-Summer found me at Sea World San Diego.

I totally was in tune with my inner child and in love with acrobatic whales!


Went horseback riding Labor Day weekend on the ridges of Pine Mountain, CA located outside of Los Angeles. After a summer vista of every shade of sand, it was refreshing to see other colors for a change.

Summer ended at Six Flags Magic Mountain, which carried me awaaaay on a tumultuous ride!