Blog from Abroad

A Holiday Cup of EggBLOG

A few days after Christmas, but still officially the holiday week, a toast to:

The spirit of giving - the quote by Victor Hugo (French novelist, "Les Miserables"):

"Comme la bourse est vide'e, le coeur est rempli."

Translation: "When the purse is emptied, the heart is filled."


I filled my kid's hearts this Christmas, which filled my own. <3

The Blessed 'Burg & Crazy Karma or Cosmic Alignment

I, like most all of you probably, cannot believe it is Thanksgiving weekend already! The past month flew by and I can only imagine how quickly it'll be Christmas. I don't know how people who are much more actively engaged in online communication can keep up with tweeting, poking, posting, reading, etc. And the irony is, here I am writing more of such stuff.

Like the "Julie" of "Julie & Julia" (cute movie), I'm posting thoughts for the unknown audience out there in the cyber abyss (though I could never cook, nor eat that much, for 365 days straight), so I'll have to find some other appealing "hook" or sense of purpose for my blog. In my screenwriting class, I've learned it's called "chit chat" or "naked exposition", so I'm trying to write stuff with clothes on. Here goes:

Funny story: (cross ref. previous post titled "Fishbowl", and "What are the Chances?")

Since last August, there must be some sort of karma cosmic alignment going on in my life where players from past drama have unexpectedly crossed paths (or worlds colliding as it were), but one in particular, I would have never imagined posssible - the P(E) (probability of event) on par with the chances of winning those huge lottery jackpots-true enough, someone eventually wins.


When in high school, not much thought is given to the next 20 seconds let alone the next 20 years. I did all the usual high school stuff, sports and dance teams, student government, dances and dates, junior prom court, had fun, sometimes acted stupid outside class and smart in class, then graduated- thankful to be on my first round of "GTHOOD" (get the hell out of Dodge).

Off to college-make dean's list, interupt education with a wilderness experience, back to college, get engaged, transfer to Uof M-Minneapolis, get married, work full-time while my new husband goes to graduate school, go to night classes, he graduates, we transfer, back to college, buy a house, back to work, time for babies... college on hold. More babies, life, divorce and a couple of decades later, back in college at the same University where I last left off.

With only 2 required courses left to complete my degree requirements, but needing 12 credits for full-time student status, I enrolled in the aforementioned film class for fun. (I have some ideas I imagine could be the makings of a movie-purely fiction of course ;-D )

So I'm in my film class, I recognize the last name of another student, unlike me, attending at the usual post high school age. Same last name as my junior prom court date. Not once that night of prom, parading tierra and all, did I ever fast-forward life to this moment now, in class with such a kid.

Of course I had to ask. "Is your dad from the 'burg?" "Yeah, why?" he replied. I asked if his name was... but the name that came out was the nickname we had all called him in school, which apparently his son had never heard. He said his dad's real name. The words flew out of my mouth, "omg, I dated your dad!" Very awkward moment. Quick recovery...it's hard for kids to ever imagine their parents young like them and I didn't want to scare the child, for god's sake.

Crazy. And more work. I had to go back through my entire screenplay thus far and edit. It was a romantic comedy. Now it's a G-rated documentary.

I really should move-the 'burg fishbowl is a little crowded, although crazy karma like this cracks me up (most of the time). More for the mixed blessings in the 'burg file.

my bad on the blog, boss ;-)

My eastcoast "editor" emailed and told me to get back to work on the blog! Hard to believe it's almost November when I feel like the last blog was still summer. Since then:

Wine & Harvest Festival.

The 'burg is turned into a mainstreet festival with music, arts, food, drink, dancin' in the streets, events, fresh produce, mouth-watering carmel apples, locals, tourists and this year--beautiful weather. It is one of those 'burg events that makes you appreciate the uniqueness of living in a place so many others come to visit.

I was on my way walking down to the Harvest Festival to bring my daughter, a retro music groupie-vinyl album collector, money to buy an art poster of Mick Jaeger and the Rollings Stones, for whom I have a sentimental weakness. I happened to run into a long-time acquaintance; someone who has always been very kind to me and shared some artistic interests. They recently had renovated their home and invited me over for a tour. Having spent more than a few years married to an architect and the better part of a decade remodelling and designing/building a substantial addition to an old farmhouse, doing much of the work ourselves, I have great appreciation for the creative process that elevates a house into an aesthetic work of art.

I expected to be inspired by the detail, design, color and elements. And I was. I didn't expect to be caught off guard by the serenity, beauty, clean lines, earthy tones of the home and setting that took me back to that same feeling of our old/new farmhouse. I had not realized how much I missed living in a home that housed not only our physical selves but our creative souls as well. It was a brief moment of grief, in a bigger moment of beauty. Of friendship by a person, who in that moment, understood my loss and offered inspiration for what will be again.

Homecoming was next. Not so lucky weatherwise that weekend. The parade flew by at lightening speed to beat the rain. The half-time marching band and color guard, the main event I wanted to see as my son's sweetie was guard captain, was cancelled. But the hometeam kicked ass and won the football game with a blowout.

The dance was the next night. My kids let me chaperone. Well, truth is I didn't ask them. The Vegas-theme decorations transformed the field house into a fun place--who knew a simple run-way platform for the Homecoming court would prove so entertaining for all the rest of the kids. Practically every one of them, girls and guys, gave it a go as if they were on Project Runway! The more things change, the more they stay the same--goofy high schoolers all dressed up but still kids at heart. That's a good thing.


There's another story from Homecoming and that cosmic alignment thing, but that's next blog. (Have to space them out for time and editor's sake).

"What's in a Name?" Shakespeare "The Cedarblog"

Mark Twain: "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/marktwain109624.html



Shakespeare and Twain. Two prolific writers and icons for their eras. Thanks to internet search engines, their words are readily available to reference vs. rattling the brain to remember what we learned of them back in British and American Lit class.

While the work of these two authors are available to the public domain, it is much harder to be careful with lesser known original works instantly accessible on the world wide web. I want to maintain the integrity in my blog of not infringing on the work of others while at the same time protecting my own original ideas. I don't want it to be the case that "It's what you don't know..."

This past week I had opportunity through my local chapter of NSA (National Speakers Association) of which I am a member to discuss these issues and concerns with Chicago Attorney Mark Partridge, author of "The Guiding Rights: Trademarks, Copyright and the Internet" (2003), and "Intellectual Property for Professional Speakers: How to Build and Protect Your Most Valuable Asset" (2009).

I recommend any of his work to enterprising individuals. It was also recommended to protect one's work, which of course I want to do for all of my blog postings August 2009 and forward, by notice of copyright by stating that this material is protected as my original work and may not be used or reproduced without permission and/or attribution.

Since beginning my "blog from the 'burg" I've learned of another such named blog and while it also appears under "Burgblog", it made me rethink my blog name. So far as I can tell "Cedarblog" isn't used, per se...so that may be the new name... or maybe a different name all together will evolve.

The rhetorical answer to Shakespeare's question in most cases, especially in the market place of ideas and money to "What's in a name?" is "EVERYTHING".

What are the chances...???

Summer finally decided to show up now that we are back to school in the 'burg. Good thing--with "Fall of Fun" in full swing, it's much more enjoyable when the weather is warm.

Not so fun is shaking the brain back into action. Right off the bat, I was working with a student on a math unit reviewing probabilities, odds and chances...and random events occuring and recurring and whether or not they were mutually exclusive. But not as in "...is this mutual?" or "...are we exclusive?"

When talking colored marbles or roll of fair dice, this was not so interesting...but put a relationship spin on it and suddenly it becomes much more intriguing. Certain events of the past couple weeks have given me a whole new appreciation for random chance and what are the odds of things happening?

So what are the chances in any given day that events play out a certain way?

Along that line of thought, there is a scene in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", telling of how one thing leads to another, and another, until an end result, and how, when recounted, if just one of those events had happened differently...an altered outcome might have been realized.

In real life, of course, there is no rewind.

I think about that (probably way too much). It seems that split seconds of time decide outcomes and that unlikely odds end up occurring more often than random chance would dictate. It's like having a wide open fairway that defies the odds when seemingly everytime that tiny little golf ball hits dead center of that skinny tree in the middle of the fairway.

So what are the chances... of meeting someone in the first place... is there that same sort of gravitational pull of people like the golf ball to the tree?

We've all met many people--co-workers, friends, spouses, or even death-- just because we happened to be at a particular place at a particular time (with the converse true too, we won't meet someone if we are not at a particular place at a particular time).

In the 'burg you can't help but run into the same people-regularly... but in the course of a couple of summer's past, some people came into my life through seemingly random events... and then as things played out and time lapsed--I had not seen them in quite some time.

Until the last few weeks in "flash from the past" chance encounters.

One friend happened to be in town on business and so we met up for dinner in the Big City (not the 'burg). We were walking back to the car when we turned the corner... and we happened to be, by chance, on the same street at the same time as another person from my past.

It was a person that I had felt badly about --someone who if events had played out differently they still might be in my life.

You know, when you can't help but feel there's unfinished business without the opportunity to resolve it--a person I had not too long before emailed that no doubt we would run into each other because even though it was the Big City, it was still a fairly small town. I just didn't expect it to happen so soon after saying that!

Surprised to see each other, we chatted briefly and then said we should get together... but that was talk at the time... .as we have all had... that you say it, but know in saying it that it won't really happen. Those are the ones you let go... no rewind.

Then a week or so later, I was in Chicago--the really Big City! (well compared to the 'burg anyway-ha) I swear there must've been that gravitational pull of the golf ball to the tree-- because the odds of events happening as they did would've seemed pretty unlikely according to what I knew of math stats 101.

There's a certain significant person with a recurring chance of showing up in my life, but it has been random at best.

I had my choice of at least half a dozen hotels in the downtown Chicago area to select from for a friends and family promotion, so I picked one because of it's proximity to Michigan Ave. We shopped, ate, and shopped some more before checking into the hotel that evening.

We went up to the hot tub. I looked across the pool and was in shock to see this certain someone.

We both looked at each other in disbelief and amusement--is that who I think it is??? Because of the situation, we couldn't find out for sure-- and I left thinking "omg did I just see who I think I saw???"

I anticipated at every turn the possibility of a recurring event...that the elevator would open up and it'd be this person... it was crazy, so I thought, "no, that must not have been..."

Neither of us had know the others plans for that weekend... the possibility existed, but it seemed highly improbable that we would be at the exact same place at the exact same time--but then again, that is how we first met--by seemingly random chance exactly to the date a few years before.

I sent no text, made no call to answer the question--was that you? At least not for about 24 hours until curiosity got the best of me! I said, "think my mind is playing tricks on me...could've sworn I saw you at the hotel...or maybe I just dreamed that?"

No reply. No surprise. That was predictable.

And then, the next day, the call came confirming the fact that it was this person. I'm still trying to do the math to figure out what were the chances...

...maybe sometimes life defies the odds.

Predictability serves its purposes, but sometimes it's nice to be surprised.

I just may go buy my first ever lottery ticket.

FAME...15 Minutes and Counting

Well, Zac Sunderland's "15 minutes of fame" was just about that long, unfortunately. On August 27, the British sailor Mike Perham, who is a few months younger than Zac, claimed the record. My impression was that Zac didn't do it for the fame. He did it for all the right reasons that remain true even without the record title.
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/28/mike-perham-17yearold-bri_n_270932.html)

As I checked different sites to confirm the details of Zac's transfer of title, I also "lite-researched" (googled and binged) that famous "15 minute" quote by Andy Warhol. I spent at least 15 minutes just reading the origin of the quote, about Warhol, and other equally iconic remarks he made. They cracked me up (and made for a fun 15 minutes of history/pop-culture education). After his original "15 minutes of Fame" became so over-used, Warhol changed it up (and quite possibly prophetically defined blogging):

"In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes." I'm bored with that line. I never use it anymore. My new line is, "In fifteen minutes everybody will be famous."
http://blogbusinessworld.blogspot.com/2006/11/andy-warhol-fifteen-minutes-of-fame.html

I spent another 15 minutes more on "research". I YouTubed David Bowie's "Fame" (also seemingly 15 minutes of song) and "Fame" the musical. Then I "googled-imaged" Zac Sunderland and was surprised to find my face right behind one of the pictures of Zac! I clicked on the pic (Zac Sunderland was more 500 x 750 - 59k - jpg celebgalz.com)--then "enlarged this image" and left it on my computer screen for oh... about 15 minutes! Figured this might be the closest I get to "Fame"! Face it -- in the obscurity that is life in the 'burg, the best shot at celebrity-status is most likely basking in the glow of another's 15 minutes. In my case it's a kid of 17 from California.

Unless I count the other California celebrity story. True story*. I was out in Los Angeles, in Venice Beach. The famous boardwalk along the beach from Venice to Santa Monica (with the Pier and the famous aforementioned ferris wheel) is iconic in itself, but a few blocks east of the ocean is a Mainstreet with shops, restaurants, coffee houses--not unlike our Mainstreet back in the 'burg--only much more eclectic.

I was at one of these local spots and ended up talking with the people at the table next to me. That's not too surprising because I end up talking to a lot of people a lot of the time. I didn't give it much thought after that (actually no thought after that).

About a month later, I was sitting in my night class at the University and I got this text: "Watch this show on FOX tonite". I recognized the area code as California, but not the number, but I didn't want to let on that I didn't know who it was, so I texted, "why?"

The next text back said, "'cause I'm in it!"

That's a pretty big deal, so I thought I better try and figure out who this might be. "Really?!," I replied, "That's great--I'll be sure to watch" (hoping that I might be able to recognize some one in the show).

Then he sent another message, "we met in Venice Beach"

Not really a big clue there since I already narrowed down the area code. I said, "I'll be sure to watch and good luck w/ the show," then had to get back to paying attention to my professor.

I googled the show to take a look at the cast and jog my memory. I thought I recognized one in the ensemble as my possible mystery texter. I would have watched the show too, but I had class the same nights as it was on, plus I'm not even sure my t.v. works, and I don't have dvr, tivo or even cable --yeah, I'm that isolated (though that's partly by choice-- not because the 'burg is technology void)!

A short time later, I sent a text to him to see how the show was going and to try to confirm my hunch of who he was. Not too long after that, I was back out in Venice and we texted to meet up again at the same place we first met. I made sure I got there first. Turns out I had a whole conversation with someone I thought might be my mystery celebrity texter, but was not.

The real celebrity texter showed up next. It was too funny (but then again, I'm easily amused 8-D). We hung out for at least 15 minutes--actually more. He invited my friends and me to a few fun events going on in L.A., which was pretty cool! Since then, we have remained friends. He's a great guy, always kind and very personable towards me--not the ego-centric, arrogant or self-absorbed celeb most think of as famous people.

This past week, after a former high school classmate read the previous postings on this blog, she emailed me about all the things she's done since high school. It's been fun to reconnect with her, but a bit depressing.

After high school, she graduated from college, traveled the world, and worked for International corporations with high profile individuals. She pursued her profession, then married a successful man and now enjoys her children, a career, and a wonderful life.

As I read her email, a couple favorite lines from 2 different movies came to mind: 1) "I think I just threw up a little in my mouth" (from Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story); and 2) "I'm heading for the shower curtain [to hang myself]" (says Carrie sarcastically, played by Sara Jessica-Parker in "Sex in the City" after her "Big" break-up).

It's not that I wasn't impressed, inspired, and awed by all that this seemingly unassuming classmate in high school had actually gone out and accomplished once she got out of the 'burg, because I am. It just made me feel so unaccomplished in my small life and small town--going nowhere in a hurry here. My life did not turn out as I aspired it would-- and when I was living the dream, with a happy husband, household full of children and homestead we loved-- it turned on a dime into a nightmare that I've just recently been able to wake up from.

I'm thankful for the re-connection with her and though we weren't necessarily friends in high school, I count myself fortunate to have a friendship now stemming from our common hometown history.

I was sitting at my laptop, still feeling a little funky, emailing her back.

Then a text came in: "My show debuts again for the coming season in Sept. and I have a movie coming out in Feb."

It was my famous friend again. Suddenly I felt a little better. I had a connection to the outside, more exciting, world. So I locked that text in my cell and kept it on my display screen for about... oh, 15 minutes. :D