Ending the Year with April 1st

On the last day of 2009, here’s a recap of what’s been happening in the April 1^st Project over the past few weeks:

I’ve come across a lot of book lists and recommendations.

The Bolter by Frances Osborne

Dreaming in Hindi by Katherine Russell Rich

On November 30^th, the WSJ headline indicated “Obama Sets Plan for Afghanistan.”

On December 10^th, Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize.

Oprah’s list of 10 books to watch for 2010:

Star: How Warren Beatty Seduced America

Unfinished Desires

The Happiness Project

Day Out of Days

Talking About Detective Fiction

Nanny Returns

U is for Undertow

Stones Into Schools

Footnotes in Gaza

Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession

Oprah and I don’t always share the same taste for books, but she’s got some good ones here. I have added The Happiness Project to my library list and also believe that I’ll venture into the last three on the list.

The Guardian in the UK created a list of ‘the decade’s best unread novels,’ which I found interesting and repeat here:

The Spare Room by Helen Garner

The Secrets of the Chess Machine

Don Quixote – Translated by John Rutherford

Mutiny by Lindsey Collen

Barefoot Soldier

War Reporting for Cowards

Born Yesterday by Gordon Burn

Black Juice by Margo Lanagan

Journal by Helene Berr

Boy A by Jonathan Trigell

The Three of Us

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming

I discovered www.filmsite.org as a great resource for film quotes and other movie-abilia.

“The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than its value.” – Charles Dudley Warner

Had a delicious feast with friends on Christmas. Our menu was:

Porcini Mushroom Soup

Beet Salad with Dijon-Honey Dressing

Baked Snapper with Potatoes, Oregano, and White Wine

Roasted Carrots

Brussels Sprouts Sauteed in Butter

Braised Fennel with Lemon

Berry Clafouti

“In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: They must be fit for it. They must not do too much of it. And they must have a sense of success in it.” – John Ruskin

Discovered www.vook.com and www.myebook.com.  And some great stationery sites: Kate’s Paperie, Jenni Bick Bookbinding, and Vickerey.

I was disturbed this morning by an article in the WSJ about Iran titled “Regime Wages a Quiet War on ‘Star Students’ of Iran” – An excerpt: “In most places, being a star means ranking top of the class, but in Iran it means your name appears on a list of students considered a threat by the intelligence ministry. It also means a partial or complete ban from education.”

I find all the news out of Iran disturbing, but the continued clashes, arrests and violence against people seeking truth, freedom, and democracy is outrageous. They are brave in a way that most of us will never have to be.

On a lighter note, Dan Pink – of whom I’m a fan – has a new book titled “Drive.” In it, he sets out to outline what it is that motivates us. According to Pink (from an interview in the WSJ), he says there are three things that motivate us:
autonomy, the desire to direct our own lives
mastery, the desire to continually improve at something that matters
purpose, the desire to do things in service of something larger than ourselves

Whatever motivates you, I hope you find an abundance of it in 2010. I hope that your dreams come true, your goals are realized, and that you remain in good health. Happy New Year.

Reflect and Renew

As the year comes to a close, it’s time to reflect and to renew.

I find that the best way to look back is to do so with gratitude, being mindful of and thankful for all of the goodness that I have enjoyed. I am blessed with an abundance of deep and lasting friendships, and it is through those that many of my joys have been experienced. I am blessed that my professional life has yielded success in many ways, but the most valuable have been the relationships and bonds that have transformed a business connection into a personal friendship. I give thanks for all the love and support that I receive, for the heart that has been connected to mine for so many years, and for the ability to give and share joy, a warm smile, and a good laugh.

Simple things are great when viewed through the lense of gladness. The turtles laying their eggs earlier in the year, the eagles over the pond, the frog symphony outside the back of the house. The fun cooking class with neighbors, time perusing Food & Wine, Gourmet, and Bon Appetit, and dirtying my hands, the kitchen, and a lot of plates. I’m thankful for time to read (presently am enjoying the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith), time to write, good music (love that iPod), and moments of silence. This year, I particularly enjoyed the Houston Grand Opera’s Cavalleria Rusticana and  Rigoletto, the Alley’s Eurydice and Gruesome Playground Injuries, the Menil’s exihibit of Joaquin Torres-Garcia (not too late to see this great work, ends January 3), and countless other visual arts and performances. I have enjoyed my involvement with the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, enjoy my friendship with Alecia, and continue to be absolutely thrilled when I see them perform. I enjoyed my weeks of Looking at Art with a girlfriend as it gave us time to have a bite and catch up each week for a period – a true gift in the midst of busy lives and coordinated schedules. And there is so much more; these are but a sampling of my blessings.

In November, we kept a basket shaped as a cornucopia on the kitchen counter, a Post-It pad and a pen alongside. From the first until Thanksgiving, we became more attentive to those things for which we were/are grateful, and we wrote them down as they came to us, folded our notes, and deposited them into the basket. On Thanksgiving Day, we unfolded and read each one. From the big ideas to the small things, our gratitude overflowed.

I watched a podcast some months back that featured Oprah interviewing Sarah Ban Breathnach, the author of Simple Abundance, a book that I have not read or picked up – yet. I enjoyed the dialogue between these two women, and the focus was on gratitude. Sarah urged the keeping of a gratitude journal and the practice of writing in it daily. I did not adopt the journal then, but I have now. And I begin 2010 with a lovely journal that will spill over with kindness, goodwill, modest pleasures, and some extravagances. Life is so rich. My life is so very rich. For that I am tremendously grateful.

And it is because of this that I also take time now to renew – renew the commitments that I’ve made to myself, renew my aspirations, renew the strategy that I have for my life and my work. I make renewed commitments instead of resolutions because the word “resolution” seems to have finality to it. A beginning and an end, a resolved issue, a goal attained. Life is an ongoing process, a journey that will take you down a number of paths, each contributing to who you are and how you see the world. I renew, make adjustments as I feel are needed, and continue into the new year with boldness and an open and glad heart.

Wishing you daily moments of joy and the time to reflect. And I hope that 2010 renews your spirit and fills your heart. Happy New Year!

Road Trip

I have two good reasons for not having posted in a while -- writing and a road trip.

I've had two writing projects knocking around in my head, so I took some time to finish the first draft of a play (quite good if I may say) and dumping out a story that could become a novella (still working on this and hoping to finish it for NaNoWriMo). I enjoyed clearing my calendar and focusing on getting the words out. It was one of those times when characters just do and say what they want.

Then came the road trip. I was headed to see my dear friend Hilary who was visiting San Antonio for a conference. I had set the deadline for the draft of my play as the night before I would depart. As a reward for finishing (read: creatively making an excuse to head down the highway), Tom and I decided to enjoy a week of windshield time. So off we went. San Antonio - Santa Fe - Durango - Taos - Home.

Our timing was perfect. It had snowed just before we had set out, so there was a light dusting left on ground and blankets in the mountains. Santa Fe is a favorite destination for food, art, and nature. We enjoyed two nights there, ate really great meals at Amavi and Ristra, and fell in love with a painting by Nikolai Timkov.

From there, we headed to Durango. The drive was spectacular. After a while, you just can't say anything other than "Wow!" And I gave up trying to take pictures - you just can't capture it.

In Durango, we stayed at the Strater Hotel, dined at Cosmopolitan (nice meal), and found a great gallery, Ellis Contemporary, and met Monica, the owner. She carries wonderful glass and jewelry along with other arts.

The next day, we headed back down into New Mexico to Taos. Stayed in a private condo, time share, thing. Nice and quiet. Taos was quiet. Actually, every place was quiet and without much traffic. I guess everyone was gearing up for the holiday week. And it was time for us to head back.

The next morning, we boogied home.

Here are some shots out of the April 1st Project:

Beginning November with April 1st

The April 1st Project continues, and I've really been enjoying cataloging the things that enter my life. While it's not a perfect snapshot, I am able to jot down quotes, lists of things to explore, URLs, etc. And while I try to add a post as frequently as possible, I find that I can get behind. Here's a catch up:

A quote by Jorge Luis Borges, from The Threatened One
"Being with you and not being with you is the only way I have to measure time."

Joaquin Torres Garcia - No longer living, but very relevant. The Menil has an impressive sampling of his work. More here. While I always enjoy discovering new artists, I wish I would have found him earlier.

Georgeanne Brennan puts on 'Provence in California' culinary weekends all year round.

From watching an Oprah podcast with Sarah Ban Breathnach - I must be the only person to have not read Simple Abundance - I jotted down three things worth remembering, although I suspect there are more gems with further study:

1. Gratitude is grace
2. The authentic self is the soul made visible
3. Regret is the only wound from which we don't recover

A few books to consider:

• I Love Your Voice by Selim Nassib
• Blue Window by Craig Lucas
• An Anatomy of Drama by Martin Esslin

And if you love theatre and/or opera, then I suggest you see the Alley's production of Gruesome Playground Injuries and HGO's Elixir of Love and Lohengrin. Time is running out and all three are worth it.

Below are a few of the journal pages:

The Elegance of the Hedgehog or How a Good Book Warms the Soul

I finished reading Muriel Barbery’s The Elegance of the Hedgehog a few days ago, actually it has almost been a week. I wanted to write something about it but haven’t been able to put anything into words, at least appropriate words.

It was one of those rare books that gladdens the heart and makes you weep at the same time. I couldn’t read it fast enough, couldn’t put it down, couldn’t wait to get back to it. With a little more than 50 pages left, I settled into my spot on the back patio and dove headlong into this beautiful text.

This book is about big ideas and small things. The tiny pleasures of life fully enjoyed. Small observations leading to great understanding. Opposite stories gracefully intertwined.

As always, I jotted down sentences and noted things to further explore. But two quotes from the book really stood out:

“…but we all know perfectly well that, in essence, dreams and waking hours do not have the same texture…”

Think about the truth in those words.

And then:

“You might note that the most noble concepts often emerge from the most coarse and commonplace things.”

To compose common language into sentences that move the soul is a true art, and it is one to which I aspire. To do so requires living life and broadening experience, and one of the many ways to do so is to read. My father used to say, “learn another language, live another life.” I think the same is true about reading.

Giving yourself totally to another world, one made up of people and places and situations that you may never encounter, is more than a great way to spend a few hours. It’s a way to explore who you are, what you believe, and what the world means to you. At least it is so for me.

This book moved me in a way that I haven’t experienced in quite some time, and the sadness of ending such a masterpiece is in determining what comes next. What could I possibly follow this with? When will I shake the characters, or will I? Do I even want to?

My friend Teresa Southwell directed me to this book. Truly a gift, and one that I share with you now. Give it a go and see if it warms your soul.

Food and Wine

This past Sunday afternoon, I sat out back and read some of my food magazines. I’m the sort of reader that starts from the front and works to the back with a pen in hand and a pad of small Post-Its. I take several culinary publications, but I had limited time and decided to tackle Food & Wine. It was the October issue.

After more than hour, I finished. I had a great list of things to seek out and multiple tabs of food to prepare and wine to try.

Let’s start with the food.

I discovered Rancho Gordo, Steve Santo, and his heirloom beans. This is something I will definitely explore, particularly in the cooler (hopefully cold) months ahead. Although I must say that beans are good all year and can be prepared in so many ways.

There was a great article about Oaxaca that linked food and art and highlighted creativity in both arenas. The artists featured were Francisco Toledo, Gabriela Leon, Demian Flores Cortes, Guillermo Olguin, and Jessica Wozny. I was particularly intrigued by the lime and cucumber frappe, and on Monday evening I prepared the roasted pork loin with orange-herb sauce. With a nodding of the head and a mouthful, I was told it was quite delicious. I had a salad.

The magazine also included a story about cooking in clay pots, a technique that I must explore further and frankly know nothing about.

I usually copy down any interesting web resources, and there was no shortage in this issue. Here’s a brief list:

mexgrocer.com

vannsspices.com

zingermans.com

bramcookware.com

spanishtable.com

tienda.com

mytoque.com

gourmetsleuth.com

billsaxpottery.com

claycoyote.com

emilehenryusa.com

urbanicpaper.com

trudeaucorp.com

allmodern.com

broadwaypanhandler.com

Now for the wine.

There were many wines listed and featured, and the issue had more features than usual about wine. All good stuff and worth a read and review. I made a short list of wines to pursue.

2008 Aphonse Mellot La Moussiere Sancerre

2009 Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes – Argentinean white

2008 Te Muna Road Sauvignon Blanc

2007 Westerly Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

2008 Sigalas Barrel Assyrtiko – Greek

2008 Gaia Thalassitis Assyrtiko – also Greek

2005 Domaine de Nizas

2001 Crasto

2006 Gabo Do Xil

2005 Masi Campofiorin

2005 E. Guigal Cotes Du Rhone

2007 Qupe Marsanne

2008 Tiefenbrunner d elle venezie

2007 Kunin Red Zinfandel

2007 Errazuriz Merlot Estate

2005 Chateau d’ Aiguilhe Cotes de Castillon

2006 Taurino Salice Salentino Rosso Riserva

NX Freixenet Cordon Negro – sparkling

From the issue, I also prepared the Moroccan-spiced lamb patties with peppers and halloumi, and tonight plan to cook the Chilaquiles-style roasted chicken, although I’ll modify it a bit. By now you’re probably wondering what I eat. Well, sans the lamb the halloumi dish was fantastic served with a cucumber and chickpea salad. Halloumi is a Cypriot cheese, one that I love, and it is versatile and particularly good for grilling as it doesn’t melt down. For the chilaquiles, I will also make two batches, omitting the chicken in one. I substitute where necessary and always have a salad alongside.

With a grumbling stomach, I’m now hungry and think it’s time to head off into the kitchen. Kali Orexe!

Ladies Who Letterpress

On Saturday, I attended a workshop on letterpress printing at the Museum of Printing History. We were a group of five students and one instructor, all women. In short, it was a delightful and inspiring day. After the introductions, we quickly slipped into conversation, and it was like putting on a favorite old pair of jeans – we were comfortable, without restriction, and willing to share creative vulnerabilities. Kind of like showing your knee through a hole and not feeling exposed.

Our instructor, Suzanne, had/has a tremendous enthusiasm for letterpress. She has been teaching at the museum for many years and is currently pursuing a MFA at the University of Houston. She provided us with many take-home resources, and she was very helpful with all of us first-timers.

The museum is an amazing place, and I’m surprised that I’ve driven past it for several decades without having visited. Out of nowhere, it surfaced on my radar from two directions. My friend Andis Applewhite is part of a show of a newly formed Houston printmakers group. And then, my friend Kilby invited me to attend the workshop. Life is just that way.

Larger than one would expect, the museum has a small, well-lit gallery in the front and a uniquely stocked gift shop. It has large exhibit spaces for traveling shows and has a permanent collection showcasing the history of printing. It has many old and interesting pieces of equipment, and it houses resident printmakers and bookbinders.

But back to the ladies who letterpress. Here’s my shout out to the gals – Brenda, Ceci, Sarah, Molly, Kilby, and Suzanne. You all are fun! Our goal for the day was to create business cards, but we decided on calling cards. It allowed us more flexibility in terms of size, and we were a bit more creative with color and lettering.

In a dark room with wood floors and low ceilings, surrounded by really old letterpress machines, we dispersed to select our fonts. Kennerly and Park Avenue for me. We were using lead type, although the museum does have wood fonts as well, and were reminded that we should wash our hands and not lick our fingers. Selecting and setting type provides a new appreciation for the days of old when books like the Bible were set by hand. Spacing is tricky, and the letters are laid out upside down.

It took a bit longer than expected, but we laid out our cards and began to print. We used black and one additional color. Suzanne inked the black press for us, and then we used another for the various colors. Ceci was up first. We were a true assembly line as you’ll see from the photos below. In many, we are blurred from moving around because we were busy inking, cranking, stacking, and passing. There are a few also of us hunting for fonts.

This creative group of women was truly inspiring. I learned a lot about letterpress, but I also learned that we are companions in our artistic walks, sharing the same desires, the same impediments, and the same love for all things that afford us expression. I believe the universe conspires, and I think it did so on Saturday. It was successful.