A great movie! GO!

The Red Shoes

Reiki vs traditional massage -- or both?

Choosing not to take no for an answer
Lee Daniels, who directed the movie Precious, refused to take no for an answer when he received one no after another when he tried to get financing. No one wanted to support a film about an obese Harlem girl who had been raped by her father, abused by her mother, impregnated, and afflicted with H.I.V. But he persisted and this movie that he wasn't sure America was ready for has become enormously successful.Well, I'm not sure America is ready for my book about madness and suicide, but I'm encouraged by the success of Precious to keep on pushing. I won't take no for an answer either.

Happy Thanksgiving
I can't beat the words of President Obama on this day. So, here they are:Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, Americans across the country will sit down together, count our blessings, and give thanks for our families and our loved ones.American families reflect the diversity of this great nation. No two are exactly alike, but there is a common thread they each share.Our families are bound together through times of joy and times of grief. They shape us, support us, instill the values that guide us as individuals, and make possible all that we achieve. So tomorrow, I'll be giving thanks for my family -- for all the wisdom, support, and love t

A couple more November offerings
November PAD 17As mentioned above, today is Tuesday, which means we've got a "Two for Tuesday" offering. Remember: With "Two for Tuesday" prompts, you can write to either one or both (or none, if that's how you roll). Here are the two prompts: 1. Write an explosion poem. 2. Write an implosion poem.We recently caused a small explosionin a deep dark crater on the Moon.A little satellite, called LCROSS,crashed into it,creating such a disturbancethat water vapor burst out amidst the other debris.After further investigationthat explosion exposedthe presence of wateron the Moonin vast amou

Another November poem
A prompt from last weekend was perfect because we actually spent a lot of time renewing old friendships. And, I do mean old. We were with people I went to high school with back in the dark ages -- or as my mother used to say -- in the Year One.In fact we're going out to dinner with two of the couples again tonight -- probably to tell more lies to one another (just kidding). November PAD 13For today's prompt, I want you to write a renewable poem. I suppose you could write about renewable energy or renewable books (from the library). But there are other ways to come at this, too. Vows are renewable, as are promises and oaths. In fact, if you think abou

November poem a day challenge
I've almost kept up with the November poem a day prompts. The object of this challenge is to produce and submit a 10-20 page chapbook by the end of December -- so, not all of the November poems need to be included. Here's my first five days' attempts with the prompts.More will follow.November PAD 1For today’s prompt, I want you to write a poem in which you (or something) enters something new. Sound abstract? Some examples: Write a poem in which you travel somewhere new. Or try some new exercise. Or diet. Or hair stylist. Or, well, I’m think you get the idea. And remember: It doesn’t have to be about you. You could, I suppose, write a poem