Tag Archives: Inspiration

Inspiration Strikes…in the Strangest Places

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The women in my family have a saying. At least four generations have been caught up by the idea, so it’s definitely a thing. “Warm, sudsy water cures all”. Yep, this is whipped out any time someone has a headache, the ‘flu, is in the throes of grief–or when there are dishes to be done. Especially that last one. (This is 2012, so the men aren’t immune from being roped into doing the after-meal washing up, either.) It’s often thrown around with more than a bit of sarcasm by the conscripted scrubbers; yet, when I think about it, there’s more than a bit of truth contained beneath the ruse. Continue reading →

The Dead Writers Round-Up: 27th April

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  • Ralph Waldo Emerson died on 4/27/1882.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson

“A chief event of life is the day in which we have encountered a mind that startled us.”

  • Hart Crane died on 4/27/1932.  “One must be drenched in words, literally soaked in them, to have the right ones form themselves into the proper pattern at the right moment.”

The Dead Writers Round-Up: 22nd-24th April

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  • Ellen Glasgow was born on 4/22/1873. Glasgow won the Pulitzer Prize in 1942 for In This Our Life. Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland starred in the film version.
  • Vladimir Nabokov was born on 4/22/1899. “A masterpiece of fiction is an original world and as such is not likely to fit the world of the reader.”
  • William Shakespeare died on 4/23/1616. “He does it with better grace, but I do it more natural.”
  • William Wordsworth died on 4/23/1850. “To begin, begin.”
  • Anthony Trollope was born on 4/24/1815. “I have no ambition to surprise my reader. Castles with unknown passages are not compatible with my homely muse.”
  • Willa Cather died on 4/24/1947. “Every artist makes himself born. It is very much harder than the other time, and longer.”

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The Dead Writers Round-Up: 19th-21st April

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  • Lord Byron died on 4/19/1824. “A celebrity is one who is known to many persons he is glad he doesn’t know.”
  • Bram Stoker died on 4/20/1912. “I shall cut off her head and fill her mouth with garlic, and I shall drive a stake through her body.”-Dracula, Chapter 15.
  • Charlotte Bronte was born on 4/21/1816. Charlotte, dying just short of her 39th birthday, outlived all five of her siblings.

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Diversions-15 April 2012

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  • The Fictional Characters Birthday Calendar on Flavorwire  is the best thing I have seen all year! Unfortunately, I share a birthday with a character from Type-Moon. Oh, well, it is still a fun bit of fluff.
    • When I saw the amazing band Alabama Shakes in concert back in December, I knew they were standing on the edge of big-time success. Their free show at a local dive bar brought out a few hundred of us die-hards. My friend and I were lucky enough to spend about 40 minutes chatting with the entire band; we even shared pet pics with Brittany (she has a bunny!). Now their first album has dropped and the Alabama Shakes are everywhere. Including on Letterman. Check out this brief profile of the band on Bust Magazine‘s blog, which includes footage of their recent Late Show performance.
    • I’ve been doing yoga and pilates for years. When I recently saw my first pair of Blake Brody In-Studio Footwear  ballerina flats, I squealed. Meant to be worn while working out, they combine comfort and eco-consciousness with serious style. They’re slightly pricey (for me, anyway) but I’m eager to invest in a pair, as I know I will get more than my money’s worth. By the time I decide between the Amanda and the Daryl, I should have enough dosh to make the purchase!
      The Daryl in Leopard by Blake Brody

      The Daryl in Leopard by Blake Brody. Image courtesy of blakebrody.com.

      • The closer I get to going home, the more homesick I become! I’m really looking forward to my (brief) visit in early May. Until then, I’m stalking Etsy for reminders of Columbus. I love this photo by illumiquest.

        Columbus Ohio Downtown Photograph by illumisquest

        Columbus Ohio Downtown Photograph by illumisquest. Photo courtesy of illumiquest on Etsy.

The Writing Life: Finding a Balance Between Creativity and ‘Mere Absorption’

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 “I easily sink into mere absorption of what other minds have done, and should like a whole life for that alone.”-George Eliot

George Eliot

George Eliot (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sing it, sister! I could-and I do mean this to be taken at face value-spend all of my time reading. Yep, from classic and classically obscure literature to history and biography, I’m more than willing to sit on my a** 16 hours a day just taking it all in and enjoying the lovely, lovely words. Continue reading →

Diversions-7 April 2012

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Here are some recent discoveries from around the ‘net. They are not all literary based but they are still compelling.

  • Few things in life beat the sensory joy-fest of clutching a book in your palms. But my love for the written word is too large to be contained by inky pages alone; I’m greedy, I want to read all of the words in the world! This voraciousness has forced me to accept technology in all of its modern mediums, from a Nook to downloadable PDF books. I still buy way too many physical volumes, as curling up with a glowing and buzzing machine is a huge atmospheric mood killer. However, since so many classics are free, it’s painless to give them a test-run before buying a real-life copy. I don’t do that as much as I should because I am a really compulsive book shopper; wandering through aisles between stacked books makes me absurdly happy. But there are times when I appreciate the chance to read something for free without hoofing it to the library. Finding a free downloadable PDF of Alan Watts’ ‘On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are’ is definitely one of those times. I’ve never gotten around to reading this volume-until now. You can find it here.
  • Sal at Already Pretty has a thoughtful, well-mannered piece about defying cultural expectations about dressing as we ladies get older. I’m an extremist and fierce individualist with authority issues, so I am not about to turn into a pearl-wringing, neutral-wearing forty-something when the time comes. Although she doesn’t take the discussion as far as I think it needs to go, it’s nice to see it discussed at all.
  • The lovely Gala Darling gives detailed pointers about how to have an at-home retreat. Yes, please.
  • Vintage hand-painted suitcase by bluebernice

    Vintage hand-painted suitcase by bluebernice

    Would it be a bit odd for me to pack a suitcase for that at-home retreat? If I had this one, I definitely would!

  • Marc Wavra is a fantastic Cincinnati-based photographer-artist. I’ve been crushing on his colourful images for a few months now.

    Mt. Adams Steps by Marc Wavra

    Mt. Adams Steps by Marc Wavra

  • I came across this scrumptious Grilled Portobello and Peach Burgers recipe by Green Kitchen Stories on Design Sponge just in time for grilling season. I want it in my belly now! The photographs are guaranteed to make your jaw drop and mouth water.

A Year in Books/Day 89: The Woman’s Book of Courage

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  • Title: The Woman’s Book of Courage Meditations for Empowerment & Peace of Mind
  • Author: Sue Patton Thoele
  • Year Published: 1991 (Conari Press)
  • Year Purchased: 1992
  • Source: According to the hand-written inscription, this was a Christmas gift from my Mom in 1992.
  • About: This pocket-size book contains one to two page ruminations on the emotional challenges faced by so many women, counterbalanced by practical wisdom and encouragement.
  • Motivation: I was a teenager with waffling self-esteem, in need of reassurance that I could handle the baffling transition to adulthood. Momma knows best!
  • Times Read: A few
  • Random Excerpt/Page 14: “Many times our automatic reaction when faced with an uncomfortable or confusing situation is to thrash around trying to change it immediately. We attempt to swallow the whole predicament at once and spit it out, solved. Very rarely does this approach ease our pain or alter the situation. In fact, thoughtless, quick action is often more frustrating than productive.”
  • Happiness Scale: 9 (at the time)