Paul's Corner

ahhh....soo deep :D

Yah, you do spend too much time on the 'puter :\

But, it is a great outlet :D

Dear Paul,

Perhaps it is not a good idea to sit at the computer when you have a hangover, and I say this respectfully. All kinds of feelings seem to well up to the surface when one is in that state and sometimes we can only see the negatives through the haze.

Sitting at the computer, though, can be a catharsis as well. We are all here for you and don't mind if you want to vent. We certainly do, so if it makes you feel better, vent away.

You've always told us to embrace our feelings, accept them, and throw away the negatives. Hopefully, when you took out the rubbish, a lot of the negatives went with it.

Be well.
Sally C.

Paul, I know the feeling...I've been sitting here, at my computer, reading your letter over and over, and thinking, "Mil, what can you possibly say to make his pain go away?"

I agree with Sally that you can vent all you wish, and we will only love you more, if that is possible, for trusting us, for helping us, for empathizing with us, for bringing such joy and beauty to us, and for loving us.

Now, what can we do for YOU?

Peace and Love,

Gran Mil

Paul,

I have to admit, the post is familar to me, sitting at the blank screen, with ideas, no ideas, or ideas that I thought that stunk. The writers block that haunted me for three years until the day I decided not to be judgemental to myself and my ideas and over the next year or so I wrote the hundred pages of my first film.

Also it seems as though being in front of the screen isn't the best thing for a writer to do. This past sunday, as sick as I was and still am with this cold, I got dressed and went out to a local French Bakery for hot tea and a pastry, a breakfast habit that I picked up from my husband who is french. As I sat at one of the tables I started to stare with childhood amazement at all the little delicacies that were in the pastry cases. All lined up like little soldiers ready to attack the most weakest of willpowers. I took out a piece of paper and started to write how I was feeling at the moment, what I observed when pulling apart a Pan Au Chocolat with its goey chocolate in the middle, and dipping it into my cup of tea. It makes the worst of thoughts go away, relieves stress, and no wonder the French will riot if their pastry shops on every corner were suddenly to dissapear.

The cafe will always be the true inpiration for a writer, the blank computer screen is...not as welcoming and warm.

Take Care all,

Boy, can I feel your pain. When I get that way I am usually blabbering away and crying and my husband always tells me to just stop thinking. Just chill out and stop thinking for awhile. Easier said than done, but I agree with Sallie C. Walk away from the computer. Don't even try to think about anything at all. When you are feeling better come back and vent all your feelings. We all love you Paul and we miss you writing here, but take care of yourself first.

Paul-
Believe me-we are not going to be overwhelmed by anything you are feeling--Grandma Mil and Sallie said exactly the right thing and so eloquently--
Strong emotions and thoughts are like wild animals..if they are let loose, god knows what kind of damage will they do..if they are caged in, they will never know freedom, only frustration..
so what to do?
If you think writing your thoughts here could be too much...write them down somewhere...anywhere...get them out and then you can deal with the emotion.. Even the writing process helps you deal with it. You shouldn't keep it pent up inside you...Then when all the negative crap is gone, maybe there will more room for the positives to flow in.
But then, I'm a champion at brooding and wallowing in my own sorrow! ;)

Paul it isn't healthy to keep things bottled up. We are all here for each other whether it is good or bad. The support I've had from everyone here has been amazing and overwhelming. In fact I've had more from everyone here then I do from some of my own family.
Take time out for yourself and put yourself first, sod everyone else. Come back to us when you feel you are ready.
Take yourself of on your motorbike and try to blow away some of those cobwebs, it might help.
Take care
Kim

Hmmm, interesting or strange paradox you are experiencing right now, Paul, both so full you feel that you are about to explode with all the thoughts and feelings and completely empty at the same time. Hate that feeling of being all over the place and nowhere at all, all at the same time. Sorry you are in this stressful place. As Lyn already put it and Grandma, Sally, Jo, Julie & Kim, don’t keep it inside yourself, it’s only going to tear you apart more than it already is. Do whatever it takes for YOU to release the stress and tension and inner turmoil you are in to get YOU to that place of calm and safety, where YOU feel soothed, in control, at peace. Sometimes this involves doing absolutely nothing, waiting out the inner storm until the strength of the storm spends itself and moves out, while letting the feelings, emotions and thoughts run their own course. Sometimes it involves venting (here or somewhere else), kicking screaming, physical release. Sometimes it’s the small pleasures of life like Julie’s cup of tea and pastry that make the difference. Deep down inside of you YOU know what you need right now, trust yourself even in the midst of this emotional turmoil and do whatever it takes to make YOU feel better. Sending you whatever support you need, you know best what it is and be well!

I'm sure you must be under tremendous pressure at the moment, Paul, what with working two shows and preparing for the fundraiser all at the same time. In trying to be all things for all people, you must be wearing a bit thin by now and it shows in your post.

I am hoping you will find the strength you need from somewhere to carry on and to take care of yourself. Don't worry about us now, as we can carry a thread for quite a while, all by ourselves. You can peek in, but do not feel pressured to respond, eh?

We do miss you when you don't post, but we also know you need your down time. Please take some down time for yourself and return to us when you can.

Remember, we love you, no matter what.

Robyn

I was re-reading Paul's last post and realized that I missed something. So I will comment...

In my opinion Paul, you don't need your reader's permission or approval. This is Paul's corner, your corner, and however you like to conduct your corner is up to you not us. So shock us, unload or not unload post or not post, I respect whatever you decide to express and honored to be here for whatever you decide to share.

Do something good for yourself and your family (no matter how small or large) and the universe will provide an abundance of happiness.

take care all,

Paul, I think it's safe to say that the space is here for you to say whatever you are feeling. Your energy created a place where I think we all feel we can do that. But I agree with Evelyn when she says that you should do whatever feels right for you to ease things. I love reading your posts but I don't feel your presence any less when you're not around as often. The bonds of friendship here are true bonds of spirit and transcend many things. Everyone here has expressed so well the love and support that is always here for you, if that is what you need.

Trying to not feel is a tight place to be. The flow of the journey can get backed up pretty quickly this way in my experience. Just be true to yourself and to whatever is important to you. That way, you'll remain on solid ground.

Love to you,
Mary

Paul
What did you do the night before that caused this hangover? Were you at a party or just sitting at home drinking anf thinkind negative thoughts. We are all here to listen to your thoughts even though they are sad.

We love you, Paul. You have so much to give to a world that does care abou`t you. We all look forward to your postings, and understand when you don't post so often, when your mind is a blank and is like that blank screen.

Sometimes we all get to a low point of feelings and need to "take out the trash" hopefully these feelings will go with it.

On a funny note, the neighborhood boys had assembled in back of my house and were having a fireworks battle, with a fort. I started watering down my roof and deck and then decided to spray the boys. What a good time we had. Their water did go as far as mine was````````` (oops,that was my cat Smokey). Needless to say the fireworks battle stopped. The neighborhood firewords didn't quit until about 12:30am.

I am still coming off my high from seeing Cirque Du Soleil Cavalia.

Take care & Love to all.
A special ray of love and Hugs to you Paul.

Marge

Paul:

Everything offered here regarding your post is very good advice, and I truly hope you find things that you can keep that will help.

Not to be judgemental (because Lord knows, I have all kinds of issues of my own), but everyone knows that alcohol is a depressant and just makes things worse; it doesn't solve things, only postpones having to deal with them.

Remember also, that you need never make excuses for your feelings. They are YOURS; they are neither right nor wrong -they just ARE.

Cowboy up, Paul. One foot in front of the other. I truly hope this rough patch doesn't last long.

Vicki

"Often I sit here looking at you looking at me as you wonder "when is he going to write something" and I wonder - how can I write all of this that I am feeling? It is not safe, sane or appropriate. How can I even start to type what I am trying hard to not feel and trying even harder to keep at bay that which I am."

i find that part interesting...what do you mean here paul?? hmmmmmmmm

Paul,

Life is a fragile journey.

Please take care of yourself mentally and physically. We're all pulling for you.

Thinking of you,
Claire

hey paul i have a strange idea....

why not just write what you want to say and get it all out and stop worrying about if its bad or not. we are your friends tell us what you are feeling

he he sorry for writing so many times but um...lol..i was just looking at your filmography paul and i saw the movie "exit to eden" and i myself have never seen it cause when i was little i wanted to rent it and i saw the cover and i always thought it was some kind of porno movie or something by the way it looked so i was too scared to ask my dad to rent it for me...
anyway one of my friends saw it and she told me there was a scene where rosie HO donnel (sorry i hate her) was riding you like a pony and slapping your ass is that true??

I would just like to sing
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear JO, TIM & SARA, Happy Birthday to you.

I hope you all have a very special day and I hope it's a good one.

Love
Kim

Thank you Kim. That's nice of you to remember.

I have spent today looking for another kitten for my niece. She took her cat in last week for ear mites and the vet "accidently" put the cat to sleep. He was going to do a culture and gave the cat too much anesthetic. She had had the cat for 14 years. That afternoon she had to go for her second chemo treatment for breast cancer. She is going to have to have this done once a week for six months before they do surgery and then radiation. I found a beautiful little seal point siamese at the local shelter on Thursday and another beautiful little lilac point today at another shelter. It won't take the place of her 14 year old cat, but it might help some. The cancer has gone into the lymph nodes and we are all hoping that she is going to be okay. Maybe the new kittens will lift her spirit.

May I say this and you can tell me to leave if you want - Erika, grow up!

jo now that you know my comments annoy you you can simply skip over my posts and not read what i say :D
i dont think anyone is forcing you to read my posts. i will continue to be and post however i please to do so, so just simply look the other way and mind your own posts

love
ME!

Paul-
I don't feel I have anything more helpful to say than everyone else has, but I send all the same thoughts your way. I also feel a strong reflection of your post within myself. Sometimes it just isn't possible or necessary to let out those things in your mind. Sometimes life(positive or negative) is just too present inside us to encapsulate in words and then let out in the world. Sometimes I feel things have to stay inside for a while.
When I first found this site I spent some time reading the archives. I can't remember which month/year it was in, but you had a post that went on about all the hate/anger/resentment you had toward things in your past that live in your memory- this is the best I can describe it, and I don't know if you recall it. Well, that was one of the most powerful things I have ever read about someone's life. The honesty and clarity of your thoughts moved me very deeply and stayed with me for a long time, even today. What conclusions I drew about my own life because of it I will keep for myself. But I want you to know I value open-ness more than all other ways of being and I think all of us are here because we are the kind of people who are able to be that way. So never hesitate if you feel something is on it's way out of a pandora's box in your heart. You are not surrounded by indifference here. I believe something productive can come from it, whether in your life or ours.
-Astrid

HEY ALL !!

Astrid, I think we all felt and still feel the same way you do, at some point and time. When I first found this post, I read for 4 hours straight. I just couldn't believe Paul could open up that way. I read his poems and every post from this blog to date. I just could n't stop. I was amazed from the get go. I posted telling Paul how truley touched I was and how moved his poems and posting had made me feel, not expecting a reply, but he welcomed me, as did everyone. It felt wonderful. Acceptance in the purest form. I don't htink I had ever felt that before this blog, really, he he I know that sounds weird. But it's true, I went from a shocking childhood to an adulthood stil feeling worthless, then I got sick and everyone here made me feel like I was worth something and now I FEEL LIKE I AM WORTH SOMETHING. All because of Paul and all of our friends here. So, I understand how you feel

Jo, I think Erika IS young.

Erika, Paul did not do that in the film, but there is a nice spanking scene with his bottem. And, sorry Paul, it IS nice. Erika , perhaps you should wait a few years to watch that. : )

Love to all,

Kelly

Paul,

I forgot to ask how the big Moulon Rouge inspired event go over in Australia I was reading about. Did you and Andrea enjoy it?

Kelly

Jo-
I'm definitely not Mormon either! But it did cross my mind that you were doing geneology work and I thought, Is she? Nah! I also thought you would say that about my research, but let's just chalk it up as another one of those situations where I could "give 100%". Actually I couldn't help it if I wanted to. It's why I chose this as my course of study! That's nice of you to go looking for a kitten for your niece. What an awful loss at such a difficult time. I know that doesn't compare to my grandmother's hip replacement, but I feel like I know where you're at with your niece. My grandmother is improving after her comlpications(a blood clot), and all of us do whatever we can to help, right?

Mil- I'm with you on the Penn/Brando issue. I hate those comparisons with the oldies! Now there are no original ideas, but there are original people and actor is molded by the press to be like another, then where has all our charachter and imagination gone?

Speaking of imagination in that direction, i just saw my little cousin (whose birth knocked me out of youngest grandchild status after 20 years)this weekend while I was away. He had just seen Spiderman 2 the day before(I agree about Kristin Dunst's teeth B.T.W.) and he spent the whole weekend imitating a spider and playing out all these rescue scenarios on every piece of furniture, with every relative, with the dog...I swear that 3 year old boy is made of rubber! Funny how this little guy can do even the most mundane thing and all of us adults just sit around watching him as if we are glued to a TV set!

Anyway, I'm glad to be home, glad to read the posts again, not glad to come back to the heat...

-Astrid

kelly yes i am young i am 20 years old and i am not naive or immature i just like saying random things sometimes to see how paul will respond. :)
i come on here to have fun, i already have too much seriousness in my life.

Yea, sometimes seriousness and life overwhelms you to the point that you can't think of anything else. Oh, to be 20 years old again!!! Sorry Erika. You can go and rent the movie now. You will enjoy it. Personally I liked Exit to Eden. It was a fun movie on an exotic island. It looked like Cayman, but I don't know where it was.

Astrid, I am sorry about your Grandmother. I hope she will be okay.

Didn't Kristin Dunst play a young vampire in a movie with Brad Pitt or was that someone else?

paul: i get what you mean about all the feelings you have and not knowing where to begin. when thoughts are so fluid and unorganized inside, you need to let them out, but where to begin, and no matter where you start you don't know where the diatribe will take you or if it will ever end. in that regard, it's hard to write it all down without then explaining why you're writing every sentence, then the over analytical catharsis that pours out your fingers can become so confusing to the readers when all you really wanted to do was work it out on paper in a safe place. it's overwhelming. will people understand where the inappropriate comes from and know that sharing it for a moment in time should not define all you are. but if you only share a little will you really be helping yourself at all or just making the bits easier for the readers to digest.

am i making sense?? i hope i get your meaning.

jo and erika: i hope you can find some common ground.

xo --

alot of texas fans i see..
i am also from texas :D

Happy 25th Birthday Sara W., Happy 60th Birthday Jo (Texas) & Happy 44th Birthday Tim! and happy Birthday to my other two friends, Lyn (70) and Claudia (35) who also celebrate their birthdays today. I hope you feel particularly special today!!!

Paul, I hope you are feeling less frustrated and stressed as well. A very happy day to you as well & everyone else for that matter.

Paul
What were the circumstances of the hangover? What set you off? Were you partying, or just feeling blue and sad by yourself? Where was Andrea? Was she with you?

Hangovers
There is a new product on the market just out here in the States called "Chasers" You take 1 or 2 tablets before you go drinking. You might want to look for it 'downunder'.

I am not a drinker. I have a bottle of Irish Whiskey in my cupboard which is about 15 years old. I only use it to stop coughing during a cold. I hate those cough syrups, tooo sweet! My wild drinking days were in the sixtys. I am going to check out Whidbey's Loganberry Liqier though. It's only made here on Whideby Island.

Erika
Exit to Eden is my third favorite of Paul's movies, I loved the scene where Paul is in a thong competing in a roller blading race. All of the semi nude scenes are done in good taste. (I have seen worse videos on our public channel that leaves nothing to the imagination. My 1st is SB and the second is Joseph. Paul played a spectac-tular role in Joseph.

Last night one of the boys left the meelee and said as he was leaving, "I guess I will go home and play with myself. With a chuckle, I told him that that was what boys his age were supposed to to.

Today the boys were cleaning up all the trash from their fireworks fight and displays. The lawn got mowed as they were too lazy to walk around to pick up all the little pieces of paper. One of the boys even came over and cleaned up my yard and deck for me.

Love to all & take care.

Paul were here for you, you know that!
Marge

"Exit to Eden is my third favorite of Paul's movies, I loved the scene where Paul is in a thong competing in a roller blading race"

did you say paul is in a thong??!!!
THATS IT I AM LEAVING TO RENT THE MOVIE RIGHT NOW

and joseph is really the only movie ive seen from paul. i like the scene where paul is in the bathtub and the slut whore masters wife comes in and trys to slide her hand down to his.....*cough*
anyway paul has got a really nice body

Erida Crystal has her own website if anyone is interested in seeing her picture. Just click on her name, or type www.erikacrystal.com.

To Jo and Timmer, happy birthday, and also to Claudia and Lyn. Lyn, you're 70? I'm 71, and I extend special congratulations! Aren't we fortunate?

Erika, you're very sweet, but I can't believe that you haven't seen "Strictly Ballroom" yet, or have I misunderstood your last post?

Forget the thongs and the bathtub scenes, and run, don't walk to buy "Strictly Ballroom", for you will want to see it more than once.

It is a gorgeous film, with a compassionate love story told through sensual dance routines, and with only one sweet kiss shared by a fantastic couple. If I adore this film, even at my age, you're right!

Peace and Love,

Gran Mil

Thanks all the birthday wishes. I'm the first one awake at home this morning and it's a pleasure to see people sending me happy thoughts.

Paul..What I get out of your post reminds me of my circumstances over the past few years. I work, then I don't. I work again, then I don't. I work again at full pace 7 days a week 12 to 15 hours a day...then I'm stuck at home. Then when I finally go back to work I'm not really sure I "like" it. I want to make money to support my family..although that has been slight of late, but the work strains me. If you have so much going on..which you do...your page IS empty. The screen will stare back at you because you are giving every inch of yourself away right now. That's my two cents worth mate. You don't always have to say anything. Just type a : )..We'll know what you mean.

Erika..
You must buy SB. As for Exit to Eden..I have that one. Sorry but I like the Rose..she's funny ashell in this movie. As far as the ride and spank scene it's Dana Delaney...who is in a new Lifetime movie starting this week or next about illegal baby adoptions..Looks interesting enough. Paul doesn't wear a lot in this movie until the end of it. It didn't get good reviews, but it was funny. I like Joseph and The 1st 9 1/2 weeks. 9 1/2 weeks is another that you should rent.

Aunt Mil I'm shocked..did I detect a mis count or am I wrong. You said one kiss. Please help me calculate here
There is the moment at the fence when they share a very sweet kiss. Then as they dance with everyone at the end of the movie they kiss again right? Of course there are so many moments when it appears they would like too. My favorite is the "perhaps, perhaps, perhaps..dance"...what a great movie..and what excellent talent. I Tara would visit the site. Auntie Mil...you should invite her here. Tell her we'd all like to say Hi and talk..I'm sure Paul wouldn't mind..A little SB talk.

School was not open Monday night b/c of the holiday, however it started online. We were given the work and expected to post on line. My class tomorrow night has six chapters, over 100 pages of hand outs to review and analyze and two models to assess. (Economics) Dear God what have I gotten myself into? Then as I'm prepping forall this I think well why not just go all out and get my JD MBA? I think I'm a school junkie...

I think my son will enroll in a different dance school this year. He likes and is very good at tap, but he'd like to take hip hop and modern as well..Give him some other "moves"

We had a fund 4th. My wifes best friend from Tennessee is visiting with her 3 children. The girls are playing such girlie things. 2 2year olds pushing little pushcarts withbabies inthem,then taking them out wrappingthem up and feeding them. Talking to each other. Putting on fake jewelry and nails and wearing their moms shoes. It makes my heart swell. My incredible little girl. Of course my life would never be complete without my little men. The older two which are in fact "becoming" men. It's fascinating to watch froma parental view. My six year old still sits in my lap..even my 11 year old. It's hard to get a hug out of my 13 year old. But I do.

Hugs to everyone. Enjoy your week.

Paul, take care of yourself mate. Andrea is there to hold you and comfort you and listen to you. And we're here to listen as well. Vent..feel better.

Tim

Good Morning All,

I agree with Grandma Millie, "Strickly Ballroom" is the best one. Go see if you haven't or you're missing out on Paul's real talents.

I'm still feeling crummy with this cold but I won't let it totally ruin my week off. I'm may stop at the health food store later to purchase a multi-vitamin and a bottle Eucalyptis. I called Grandma Millie yesterday and I have to aadmit it was the best medicine of all. Thanks Mil!

Maybe in my wildest dreams someone will knock on the door with some hot soup (particularly someone who's a hunk of burning love but I'm too sick to even enjoy it if it did happen). Who knows **Sigh**.

Time to take my Claritin D and drink my protein shake...so exciting.

Take care all,

Julie, I hope you're feeling much better!

Talking to you is always a treat, and having you close where we can visit together is so special also!

Timmer, I had a senior moment by forgetting that last kiss between Scott and Fran.

However, that was the end of the movie (boo hoo) so I guess I goofed!

I had been in touch with Tara Morice in 2002 when I wrote her my first fan letter, and she graciously answered me herself with a lovely letter and a signed picture of her and a poster of SB also signed.

When you come to FIF, you will see those items hanging among our family pictures. (When Whit was here she saw it and called it my "shrine.")

I think at this point she probably thinks I am a pesky Grannie-fan, for I send her a birthday card each year through her managment agency.

I think by now she thinks of me as a pesky Grannie-fan, but that does not diminish my love for her as my favorite contemporary actress!

Even her small role in "Salem's Lot" did not change my mind.

Peace and Love,

Mil

Happy Birthday Tim! Hope it is a good one.

Also, Happy Birthday Sara W. Hope you have a good one too!!!

Hi Paul and everyone! I posting here for a first time. Ad I want to say that the only feeling which making me feel bad and breaking my brain is - love. It's the only thing that bringing me pain and sorrow. Why? Just because my soul hasn't been loved by onyone else...I know it's stupid, but a fact. Sometimes I just want to seat in a car and break it and myself (just like Madonna in "What It Feels Like For A Girl") but I'm living and waiting till the day when I'll meet someone whom I'll be able to love and care. And I don't know how much time I got to wait...Why God don't give us an anwsers?...

Good morning from the subtropical, mosquito-infested, mold and pollen-filled, '91 degrees at 8 a.m.' and 89% humidity paradise known as NW Florida!! "Happy Face!"
BTW--how many Lyn's are there here? I'm only 47!!
Whoa--Erika has never seen SB?...OMG! Someone hold her back after she does...It's the ultimate movie for incurable romantics..and it's still playing on Starz and Sundance channels.

Lyn, I apologize, I thought Evelyn was talking about you!

Only 47? You're qualified to be a child of mine...my "babies" are twins, age 45, and my eldest, almost 49, is a grandmother also.

Peace and Love,

Gran Mil

Sorry, didn’t mean to confuse anyone, least of all Lyn B, the Lyn I was referring to is a friend of mine (not on this site) but I guess I got carried away with wishing everyone I know who has his/her birthday today a happy day, 5 people in one day doesn’t happen too often, at least not in my life.

Just got a phone call a little while ago that my request for employment authorization was approved by Immigration services. Yeah! I still have to go to the interview at the US Consulate in Germany, but I think it’s more of a formality now, at least I hope so! Okay, back to packing, apartment hunting etc.

Erika, so did you go see Exit to Eden last night? And really do get SB as well!!! & Enjoy!

Texas, I meant to say this a while ago, but I also took a look at your website and liked the playfulness of it all. I just hope you ladies don't have to wear stilletto heals while cleaning ...

Lyn B, you mentioned that you live in NW Florida.

Are you close enough to attend FIF (the Strictly Ballroom convention) in February by driving to the Ft. Lauderdale area? (Febr. 5-7, 2005.)

Peace and Love,

Gran Mil

I was just having fun with you about the age, Evelyn (ahem, that's MY real name, too! But I have always gone by Lyn) Actually, you did say it was a friend of yours.
Mil- I would LOVE to do the convention...don't know many of the details... but it sounds like fun! Ft. Lauderdale is quite a ways but since my mother lives in Clearwater, I could break it up into a 2-day trip. What in the world would I tell the hubby? LOL!! He'd think I had gone over the top! Might have to suggest a fishing trip to the Keys to make this work! (Been with him since we were 17....in 30 years, you learn what works, don't ya?)

Happy Birthday to Jo, Tim, and Sara! I wish you much love and happiness for this year and forever!

Paul, you seem to have what I refer to as Monkey Mind. An inability to clear out the crap and sort out the important stuff. Don't get me wrong, it's a great defense mechanism. I use it quite frequently when I'm stressed out because it keeps me from concentrating and doing the work I need to do to move on with things.

Change and growth are likely to come out of this frustration you're feeling, so try to weather the storm. Maybe a little more Self-nurturing is needed. It couldn't hurt! In the mean time, spill your guts if you have to. We can take it!

I wish you clarity and peace,
Michelle

Michelle, I laughed when I saw what you wrote on Paul's 'sense' post! It's great to be sharing the journey with you. Love to you.

Lyn, thanks for making me appreciate where I am right now!

Abeth, hope you are feeling better and that all is well.

Welcome to you Alex!

Paul, I came across this today and thought about how you have always led the way here in doing just this. Thought I'd share it on account of the topic in hand.

'There is only one thing you can do. You must honor your feelings. For honoring your feelings means honoring your Self.'

Conversations With God

Hope everyone is well in the Corner tonight.
Love to you all,
Mary

Lyn B, subtropical, mosquito infested, mold and pollen filled 91 degrees sounds pretty good from where I'm sitting. Here in the UK is wet, windy, chillyish, some sun but not for long, just miserable weather at the moment and it's Summer! I'll gladly swap!

Jo I hope you didn't have to much ironing to do and on your birthday of all days, where is the justice in that.

Evelyn that is great news your employment authorisation was approved, does this mean it is all systems go now? I'm really pleased for you.

Monika I hope to see you back here soon, you are missed.

Hello to everyone else here
Love
Kim

Evelyn, just remembered that I forgot to congratulate you on getting your employment authorization. I'm delighted for you! Good luck with the packing and the apartment hunting!

Love to you,
Mary

Hellos and hugs to all my friends here at PC! I haven't posted for a little while and am checking in.

I heard the baby's heartbeat today which makes the pregnancy seem more real than ever!! I'm excited. Morning sickness is going away except in the evenings I still feel a little yuckity.

Happy Birthday to all of those celebrating one this month!

Paul-Being bipolar-I know what it's like to have a Swiss cheese brain. And, talking-even when I'm making no sense-helps to put my thoughts into perspective. And, I've learned that those intense and jumbled feelings are only temporary.

Talk to everyone later!!

HUGS!
Abeth

hey guys and i guess ill wish everyone a happy birthdya whos birthday it is/was too :)

no i didnt go see it last night it was too late to go and rent it it was already like 1 am lol so i will more than likely go out and rent both movies later today for sure!

Hi guys,

Have been quiet lately but have been catching up with the posts.

Paul, you have gotten great advice from everyone, so I won't repeat what they have so eloquently expressed. I will just encourage you to hang in there, my friend; we all go through days/nights like the one you were having when you posted. The good news is that, even though we may not be able to see it at the point where we are standing, there is light at the end of the dark tunnel. Hope you are at a point right now where you can already see it in the distance. :-)

The posts and the group of frineds here remind me of the "Friends" theme ... When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year... I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour; I'll be there for you, 'cause I've been there before; I'll be there for you, 'cause you're there for me, too!

Hugs,
Nertha

Jo, forgot to say I hope your niece is doing well. I'm sending positive thoughts her way.

Evelyn belated congratulations. Sorry to be so out of the loop but where is your job?? I know I should have gleaned this somewhere, but some days I can only skim through the blog is getting so busy.

Only kidding here, but just have to say it. Erika you can't be an "official" poster til you've seen SB. Remember just kidding, but so many people come here AFTER they've seen it. I did.

It's been a great day. I played in the pool with the kids all day. Studied for my class. Did a lot of "me" stuff and didn't feel guilty about it. : ) 44 is great
It's not a bore, chore, core, pore, or sore, but it's like a door
for more
room to soar.

corny I know, but I'm not a poet.

Love
Tim

Erika!!!
I am willing to call this a SIN! You must must must must must see S.B.! Oh, that was just an awful thing to reveal. It makes my heart hurt. J/K!

Evelyn- congratulations on your job! My father's family is from Germany! So I'm biased in saying I'm happy for you, but I wish you the best of luck.

Jo- Yes, Kristin Dunst was also in Interview With A Vampire. She played Claudia, an orphan turned into a vampire by Louis(Brad Pitt). She was rather young then and I havn't seen her play anything since that I liked. I was a fan of that film at the time it came out, though. She certainly wasn't in need of prosthetics for the role!

-Astrid

Dear Lyn B,

I will contact you personally about the FIF convention!

We must convince the husbands and other family members that this is NOT a questionable Internet site, filled with weirdos looking for thrills!

Just refer them to me...one look at my gray hair and all fears will be put to rest!

Peace and Love,

Mil

LOL! Mil-too funny! No one would think it was weird...would just have to have something for hubby to do as well..i.e. fishing.

Weather's much better today...only 90 at noon but 57% humidity is so...refreshing! (not!)
I'm heading for the No. Carolina mountains next week to get away from this heat.

Tim-loved what you said about being 44, but for me, 47 is when I went from looking in the mirror and thinking, "Oh my god...what is happening to me?" to "Ahhh...who gives a s**t? I'm gonna go have some fun!" I guess I just don't stress out about things that really don't matter in the grand scheme of things. But then, thank goodness for now, I'm healthy, my family's healthy and happy and so I'm relishing the moment... because you never know when something will come along and change everything.

Tim & Astrid- I had to laugh about Erika because I couldn't believe she's never seen SB--hmmm...where is she anyway? in "post-Ballroom" shock? Or "post-Eden" shock? or both?
I remember the first time I saw SB- it was so funny/sweet but I knew I had to wait for the credits to see who played that guy??!! He was incredible! (Blatant ass-kissing here...how many points do I get?)

evelyn, i'm out of your loop, too. what's this job? you moving overseas? sounds exciting. oh, and as far as stilettos go...they have to wear them for dusting and vacuuming, but we sure don't want to puncture a cheek, if you know what i mean, when scrubbing tubs and toilets!

astrid, i love your name. is it a family name?

backyard bbq tonite i need to get ready for (read: clean this house before guests arrive).

bye guys

Gran Mil & Paul
I just saw the tail end of a documentary called Amargosa, on the Sundance channel. It's the profile of a 76 year old Ballet Dancer who left New York for Death Valley, where she still creates her own dances & performs in an opera house. You can read her story at www.amargosafilm.com/story.asp. I am sure this documentary will be shown again. I thought you might be interested in reading her profile.

Marge

question. what year did SB come out and was it in the movie theatres?

When you were 8 years old and yes.

I thought I would quickly drop in to say hi to everyone. I can't sleep because of the strong winds so I'm not sure whether to stitch Paul's face or watch SB. What a hard choice to make, not sure if I could do both at the same time as I no I would get distracted by one or the other, hmmmm!

Grandma Millie are you still doing your rehearsals for the Follies, are you getting excited about it all? I wish I could be there to see it.

Jo thank you for the lovely surprise, it was so nice to speak to you, I loved that accent of yours.

Well I'm getting tired again now so I think I might try going back to bed.

Goodnight everyone
Love
Kim

ohhhhhh im sooo bored right now
sooo im going to ATTEMPT at building Paul a nicer website for fun :)

My greatest wish of late almost came true today. I have a terribly unreliable automobile that has given me a great deal of grief which I have cursed and prayed would just dissapear alltogether and it was almost stolen today from the parking lot behind my business. The guy who works in the building next door saw it and stopped them. Call me crazy, but I'm dissapointed! Hell, I've got the insurance!

Well, it would actually be rather inconvenient right now and no one really wants all that they ask for.

We have two family friends coming in tonight from Milan. I am so excited! My mother and one brother are fluent in Italian and I've ben trying to brush up. It's going to be an interesting 3 weeks since we've never had houseguests before. Good thing I had such a nice trip to the lake this past weekend! I don't know why they wanted to come at the hottest time of the year, but whatever.

It's like someone flipped on the hot switch around here! Plus we have some rare humidity this week and if that's not just the worst thing! You'd think that after all my years in Utah I wouldn't have much to say about the weather, but god I sure hate the winters and summers here. People say I should be grateful I can experience four entire seasons of extremes, but I can't wait for the day I get out here.

Lyn B- yeah, where is Erika? Wonder what she'll say about S.B. after viewing it, hopefully knowing full well the folly of her ways!

texas- Yes, it is a family name, and thank you for the compliment. It's one of two middle names and I appropriated it for social uses long ago. It's a name from my paternal grandmother's family. Being as German as a German can be, this pleases her immensely.

Love and best wishes to all-
Astrid

Erika,

If you want to read more about SB just go to Amazon.com and do a search for Strictly Ballroom ... and read all the reviews from fans of all ages. It will also give you some idea about the plot, too. It will keep you busy for a long while. :-)

Nertha

Wow did you read all of them, Nertha? It sounds like an intriguing idea...

Here's to Paul and all of the people he's encouraged and inspired! I hope that we can be half of that to him when those computer-screen days come along. Thank God that, although the screen may be stationary, Life always wakes up and moves on...

Hi Maile,

Well, at the time that I went, which was last year, I was still able to read all of them, but I doubt I could do it now! Don't know if it's still the same, but people were using it almost as a message board because one person would kind of comment on another person's review. What I found interesting is that people really think about the movie, the message, unspoken words and feelings ... although it's such a fun movie, it is also a thought provoking movie. :-)

Nertha

Hi guys,

"Timmer, I had a senior moment by forgetting that last kiss between Scott and Fran.
However, that was the end of the movie (boo hoo) so I guess I goofed!"
==========================
Grandma Mil, I can see that you need to see SB again! LOL Yes, you must see it again and refresh your memory of the kiss while "Love is in the air" is playing. :-) I did a scene in miniature which I entitled "Love is in the air".

Hope the weather in Florida is a bit cooler than it has been lately, and the rains have subsided making way for the Florida sunshine. ;-)

Hugs,
Nertha

Paul writes: "how can I write all of this that I am feeling? It is not safe, sane or appropriate."

Ah yes, those things crawling in the deep recesses. I have them sometimes, dark thoughts that shouldn't enjoy polite company. The sentinel must keeps them at bay, for the sake of propriety, friendships, reputation, peace, love. Once released it is Pandora's box in its finality and cannot be undone, unsaid, unthought, unacknowledged, and one never knows if it would be forgiven.

I release them sometimes on a leash, the unacknowledged thoughts -- write them down then burn them up, at least they get a little exercise and can be put to bed without a fuss.

Sometimes, there is a door which must remain shut because ultimately in the deepest of nooks and crannies, it is perhaps true that every man is an island.

Still, there is hope in the possibility of archipelagos, in finding amidst a sea of strangers those for whom our dark thoughts are for them not so beyond the acceptable realm of being justifiably human.

Millie,

I don't know how bad this is on the Richter scale, but (hold on to your feather boa, Mil) my dance teacher does NOT like SB!! (YES, my DANCE teacher! That was not a typo).

Is that allowed? Is that possible? Do I have a deviant sicko for a dance instructor?

I didn't know what to say. I was speechless. I was without speech.

Upon close interrogation (I could not simply leave it at that, even as minutes ticked by at $50/hour a lesson), it turned out that she may have deep rooted issues with the so-called "latin rhythm" phenomenon which allows people of latin persuasion to dance like Antonio Vargas with apparently no formal training. The issue is not with Antonio Vargas himself, but with Antonio Vargas playing a character who can dance as well as Antonio Vargas without any formal training -- better than Scott (who has no natural dancing ability at the genius level, being born, poor lad, white), who's been dancing since he was 6!!! Got that? Got all that? Because even now as I relay that explanation I am still reeling a little with the reasoning.

Evidently, that issue entirely overshadowed all other merits of the movie and consequently made it a "thumbs-down" in her review book.

The only good comment was that Paul's arms were good. Got that Paul? Keep those arms up, buddy!

But, I can't let this be the deciding factor in the criteria for dance instruction (can I?). I do like her, and one must dance, no? even in cow country.

Hanh, I am deeply wounded, not by you, but by a DANCE teacher who doesn't like SB! It's outrageous, and un-American...(or is it un-Australian??)

I suggest that a) you drop her, (literally) or b) ask her to charge less per hour for her instruction.

We seniors also love Paul's arms, but we love the rest of him too. Maybe it is a generational thing.

As far as the latin factor goes, I have tons of latin in "Follies"...I would invite your teacher to FIF to see the show, but I am deeply pissed at her, and I will not give her the satisfaction!

I join you in your wrath. Have you looked into singing lessons instead?

Peace and Love,

Mil

astrid, thanks for sharing name origin. my family has always been interested in such things, and i guess i inherited it. my mom actually wants to write a book, a little off topic, on the origin of band names...from the stones to the smashing pumpkins to good charlotte, she's always been the type to find the story behind people or their names very telling. astrid is beautiful.

cheers all

Paul,
I can JUST see you sitting at the computer, face in hands, making a move toward the keyboard, catching yourself, sighing, making another more resolute move, catching yourself...etc.

(((hugs))) and a shoulder squeeze,
Dhi

Hahn,
OH! How much will you sell THAT book title for? I want the rights!!!!

"One Must Dance, Even in Cow Country"

mine mine mine mine mine mine mine

THAT is totally the story of my life, girlfriend!
It's killing me just how appropriate that tag line is.

Hanh-Your dance teacher sounds like Barry Fife!
Barry: "Where do you think we'd be if everyone went around making up their own steps?"
Scott: "Out of a job!"
Natural talent and creativity threaten job security, eh?

Hanh, not loving SB on first encounter - unbelievable! Singling out one part of the whole lovely package that is Paul in SB - unforgivable!
This woman needs help!!

Mary

Un-American? Un-Australian? I say it's Un-Human! Or in-humane, whatever the grammar is on that.
My lord- what an absurd way to live one's life! Besides, all of Paul's parts and all of Paul's talents are great, not just his arms! How simplistic! How stupid! What a silly woman. I'm going to watch SB all afternoon tomorrow on my day off just so I can fume over this.
I'm beginning some ballet lessons for the first time in 17 years next week. I think "What are your feelings about Strictly Ballroom?" has just become a prerequisite question for all dance instructors in my future.

So, this is a bit unrelated, but I came across this quote in a book I'm reading and I liked it so much I tacked it to my wall and I wanted to share it. It's from Ralph Waldo Emmerson, I believe:

"Insist on yourself; never immitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous half-posession."

Hanh- you make me laugh!

I hope everyone is well, especially Paul and his family. I send my best wishes for a lovely day ahead.

-Astrid

yay! just rented strictly ballroom today so im going to watch it in a little bit cant wait

God help us!

just kidding Erika! Seriously, can't wait to see what you write after you pick your jaw up off the floor.

wel....i just finished watching strictly ball room and...it was pretty good...paul looked fiiiiiiiiine on the part when they told him and his partner to leave the floor cause they were disqualified and hes just standing there starting....he has such a beautiful face..anyway it was a very good movie but can someone help me out i didnt understand what the whole thing was about the father dancing and his past? the mother didnt want scott to win or what? i didnt get it i was a bit confused...anyway someone please explain.
it was great but i think joseph is still my favorite :D

wel....i just finished watching strictly ball room and...it was pretty good...paul looked fiiiiiiiiine on the part when they told him and his partner to leave the floor cause they were disqualified and hes just standing there staring....he has such a beautiful face..anyway it was a very good movie but can someone help me out i didnt understand what the whole thing was about the father dancing and his past? the mother didnt want scott to win or what? i didnt get it i was a bit confused...anyway someone please explain.
it was great but i think joseph is still my favorite :D

WOOPS i accidentally posted twice and i meant to say "when he was standing there STARING not STARTING" lol

Paul...not to make light of your computer/brain freeze....but while driving home tonight from commute i was following this big truck which had a bumper sticker that was done up in Greenpeace or eco/wildlife conservation style and it read,"
"SAVE the ALES" (and of course a stein overflowing...next to it)

Needless to say, I thought of you, and it put a big grinn on my face. Had to share it.

Wishing you good cheer my friend (and all here at PC) Have a better day, week...

latte luv n a wink n a grinn
Katalina

ps. where's my Hairdeenie aka TriviaQueen? LOL

Lyn,

You are right! My teacher IS Barry Fife! Life imitates Art! I need to break out! Dance my own steps! Learn how to stop writing with so many exclamation marks!! ;)

Dhi,

You and me kiddo -- co-writers of that soon-to-be best seller "One Must Dance, Even in Cow Country".

Of course, we'll need to take time off from cow feeding and the other daily pastoral chores to do the Tonight Show, Late Night w/ David Letterman, E!, etc. And there will be those inevitable parties with Paris Hilton, photo shoots for Rolling Stones, etc. I have a horsey outfit that's just superb for that, with lil' silvery tassle thingies sewn in here and there.

Mil,

Singing lessons? Surely you jest. Clearly you have not heard me in the shower doing Aretha. Let's just say it has been known to cause cow stampedes.

Gran Mil
Just got through viewing the Japanese virsion of "Shall We Dance" It was a good little story, but doesn't compare to SB. Maybe the new on coming out will have a little more fire in it.

Take care & love to all
Especially you Paul. Are you getting out of your doldrumes? I sure hope so. How is the choreography going? Are you doing anything else? Are you still working at the liquer store?

Love
Marge

Marge,

I cantered for 2 hours today through the Withlacoochee State Forest. YEE, and might I say, HAW!!!

The key to it all is this fantastic Australian saddle with those fabulous wings! I am addicted. I feel the need for speed. Not allowed to gallop yet, but am pushing the envelope (via a constant process of incessant nagging) and I think my instructor is beginning to fold.

Must re-prioritize husband's work plan and expedite construction of horse stable (a pre-requisite for purchasing of horses) ASAP.

His plan is slightly skewed -- the argument goes: we need to finish the house FIRST before the stables, yadda yadda yadda. Must devise devious plan to re-orient this flawed thinking. Stable, horse, then house. Sounds like good plan to me.

Astrid,

"Insist on yourself". I LOVE it!

Personally, I loved the Japanese Shall We Dance.
I saw the trailer for this silly American version the other day and I was appaled! Of course, it pales in comparison to SB! But it is the subtle quality of the acting and the tensions of Japanese culture that make that movie so endearing. Anything that silly Jenifer Lopez touches is an utter tradgedy, in my opinion, and that's not even the tip of the iceburg concerning Richard Gere!

Aretha in the shower, Hanh? Try Madame Butterfly or Diane Ross...

Shall We Dance? I agree, Astrid, that the original will not lose its stature when JLo and Richard Gere trash the original concept.

Marge, you said it...it's a good little story. (I found it slow moving, just like the bored accountant!) Of course, I always compare any musicals these days against you-know-what.

Nothing in world will take the place of SB ever, in my not-so-humble opinion!

Peace and Love,

Mil

I saw an interview with Paul once (I don't remember when it was, but it was a few years ago) and the interviewer asked him about SB. I think he said something about enjoying making it, but he had moved beyond that. I don't remember the exact phrasing of it. We would need Paul's input for that. I love SB. It is my tonic when I am depressed (which means I watch it A LOT). There is no other movie that lifts my spirits and gets my mind off whatever is bothering me. He did such an outstanding acting job in Red Ribbon Blues though. I am still trying to get a copy of that and haven't been able to. (I have all of his other movies.) If anyone knows where to get a copy please let me know.

A big hello to everyone at P.C. and I hope you are feeling better Paul.

I just read in the paper thismorning that George Michael shut down the blog on his own fan web site. All these newbies came along after his recent album release and posted all this stuff about him being old, fat and washed up. His statement about it said something about it becoming a situation out of control, where his steady fans put up a lot of defense for him and it was unfair to their loyal efforts when all of this poisonous blathering came along to overwhelm what had been a good thing.

It made me very sad to think of how easily these things can occur and how hurtful it must be for the star as well as longstanding fans to no longer have access to such a connection because of a few bad apples. It's so much more important to be supportive, and positive. Oftentimes the bad ones weed themselves out, but as in the case of George Micheal, it doesn't always move on so smoothly.

Though I'm a newbie, I just want to say that I'm glad we all seem to feel the same way about Paul, and eachother. I hope things here never have to come to that sort of bad end.

I support and want to cheer you on in everything you do, Paul. Though SB is such a constant theme here, you are so much more than that. This web site is a perfect testament to this. You have the talent to keep going every day, whatever you choose to do.

Love to all-
Astrid

You know, Astrid, I also read about George Michael shutting down his blog, but did you know Guy Pearce did the same? We had some bad apples here not too long ago and Paul had to step in to straighten things out. I would hope that the problems on other blogs not affect us, but who knows? Paul sounded pretty distraught when he wrote this thread and I'm hoping that keeping up the blog is not overwhelming him to the point that he feels he should also shut down.

I don't know what I would do if he did...

Claire

I was and still am a little worried about the
"put the rubbish out and dont return" part of Paul's posting.

People have said mean, nasty or just stupid things here (sometimes), but I think for the most part they are jealous, immature individuals that I sincerely hope he doesn't listen to. I have often thought how overwhelming it must be for Paul to have people EXPECTING him to sit down and write something. I go to write a letter and still come up with "How are you? I am fine. Blank." So to have a group of fans wanting you to write something every few weeks must really be hard on an individual. So I think the best thing we can do is be supportive as a group, let Paul know that he is a special individual to all of us and that he doesn't need to write great things here, just be around. Isn't that all we really want?

I have a bushel of freestone East Texas peaches that my husband brought home at noon from his boss that I wish I could share with all of you. I have no idea what I am going to do with a bushel of peaches! I made a cobbler with about 12 of them. That still leaves about 60 plus.

mmmm cobbler....
I've been eyeing our slowly emerging blackberries along the trail i walk into work lately..
oooh i love summer and all the frutas of the season. Hugs to you Jo,

Katalina

Oh! ...peaches. The peaches we get in Hawaii are always mushy and gross and not at all what peaches should be. Have fun with them, Jo! peach jam, maybe? hmm.

I lent out my copy of SB and have been missing it ever since. Tells me not to do that again anytime soon. SB withdrawals!

Erika, Scott's mother knew that Scott wouldn't win dancing his own steps, so she wanted him to have the right partner and to dance the way he'd been trained to. That's why she was so upset, because he didn't care about winning. In that way, he was just like his father, who had made up his own steps, and, in the process, (ruined) the people around him. She wanted to win, they wanted to dance their own steps.

Am I making any sense? Anyways, I hope things are a wee bit clearer... perhaps just watch it again!

Jo-If I could hop a plane right at this moment-I would come to take care of the peach problem!!

As for George Michael shutting down his blog-it truly is ashame. If only people could just follow "if you've got nothing nice to say than don't say anything at all"-he wouldn't have needed to shut his site down.

Hellos and hugs to all at PC! Have a lovely weekend!!

Abeth

I think those peaches are multiplying! I have taken peaches to all my neighbors, made cobbler and there is still enough for about 12 pints of perserves, which I didn't want to make, but quess I will have to.

Abeth, please think about hoping that plane and save me from canning peaches!!

Yummm, peaches. Jo, wish I lived closer to you, too. Peach cobbler, peach pie, canned peaches, peach ice cream, peach, peach, peach. Can't get enough of them and the ones we get from the market here aren't that good. Always too hard or green or soft and mushy. But, when you get that perfect one - heavenly.

Jo, Astrid, Maile and Claire, I totally agree with you about what is happening with people's blogs. I, too, hope Paul is not having second thoughts about carrying on with this wonderful place. I wouldn't know what to do either, if I couldn't come here anymore.

Hope all is well with everyone. The weekend looks lovely here for a change, and I can't wait to go out with the grandkids tomorrow to Six Flags Great Adventure. Not too hot, not too humid so I intend to enjoy!

Have a good one,

Sally C.

Jo I'll also be joining Abeth on that Plane, I will gladly help you solve your peach problem. It's had to of been years since I last had a good peach.
Have you tried Amazon or e-bay for Paul's other film? I'm still on the hunt for his films but they are so hard to get here.

Just out of curiosity where is Withlacoochee State Forest?

A big hello to everyone and I hope you all have a great weekend.
Paul I hope you and your family are well.

Love
Kim

What is a peach cobbler?

Sally, hope you and your grandchildren have a lovely day.

Jo, too far away to take you up on your offer of the peaches, but I want to thank you for the thought! I thought that what you said about Paul being around is very true.

Paul, you've been in my thoughts over the last few days. Hope you are doing okay.

Love to all,
Mary

*wonders what paul is doing*

Kim,
A cobbler has fruit on the bottom with lots and lots of crust on the top. You cook it until the juice bubbles up through the crust and the top is nice and brown. It is really nice with ice cream. East Texas peaches are the best in the world when they are fresh because when you slice them they just fall away from the stone and they are juicy and sweet.

I didnt expect that you guys would see this post as a downer on my part. And rest assured I have no intention of quiting the blog. I have been in Uluru shooting my last day on the TV mini series and posted this just prior to leaving. Andrea and the girls were away on a little holiday and I had some mates over for several too many beers and a good feed. We spent most the night making up silly, songs had a good time! Had a nice hang over the next day too. The post was something I have been thinking about for a while - what is it I want to say and when you have too much to say - constipated it wont come out. It is much like being in a crowd and yet feeling lonely.

Anyway. Happy birthday to all those now a little older than you were when I last posted. On your birthday do you turn one year older or one day older? Mmmm....

Well, that's a big relief!!!!!!!!!!

Paul,
You must see the cross stitch picture of you that Kim is doing. It is absolutely fantastic. I think the following address will take you to it.

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=4615499&uid=2346938

If this doesn't work then Kim can tell you how to get to the picture.

"It is much like being in a crowd and yet feeling lonely."

i know the feeling well

Good to see you back, Paul

Paul, I’d have to go with both, getting a day and a year older, and a few other things. And I’m glad to hear you weren’t feeling as badly as it sounded to us. Happy yeah!!! What to do about thought constipation (sorry couldn’t help myself)? When I get bogged down in too many thoughts, not knowing how to let them out or where to begin, especially in some sort of coherent form, I usually end up writing stream of consciousness type style for myself where the thoughts come out whichever way they want, in whatever order they please and though the writing often makes little sense in the end, I feel clarity in my thoughts afterwards and tend to find purpose and know what I want to say or do. Enjoy your weekend and the time with your family.

Tim & texas you wanted to know about my new job, it’s an Assistant Professor of German tenure-track position at Minnesota State University, Mankato and texas the living overseas experience for me is my experience in the US.
Good god, texas, having to wear stilettos at work and clean … yikes, I think I’ve only ever worn stilettos once, felt completely off balance and was so very glad I didn’t break an ankle or leg.

Jo (in texas) I agree with you about what you said re. our expectations of Paul, this blog, each other. Thanks for putting it out here. And thanks for making my mouth water with all the peach talk I’d stop by and relieve you of a few peaches, but don’t have the time. This makes me wonder how the peaches are doing on the peach tree at home. They have a really wonderful and unique aroma and taste. Yummm. I know Saturday in a week I’ll be heading up into the cherry tree to get the last cherries off the tree at home. Next week at this time I’ll be on the transatlantic flight heading towards Europe—excitement bubbling up :)))

Hanh & Dhi, I want to read that book NOW!!! So please get writing ASAP and consider this your first request for a copy, signed, of course :) Okay, I’ll volunteer to copy-edit …

Hello everyone, happy weekend, I wish you great joy and happiness.

Is Peter here?

We just got home from a lovely evening of Bass Ale and Colin Hay. He was awesome! He did his one man show rather than the full band, which made it much more intimate. It was a beautiful setting, an arboretum no less. Lots of trees and a setting sun with storm clouds in the distance. I had a few beers or maybe four, so here's hoping this makes sense!

Paul, he did a song called Melbourne Song, so I naturally thought of you. He mentioned a club there called The Razor that he used to enjoy. Is it still around? Not that you do much clubbing!

Peter, because we were in a wooded setting I looked for rabbits (possibly purle hued) when he sang Overkill. Not seeing any I chose to keep you close in my thoughts while he sang it, so I hope you felt the connection!

Love to everyone. Too much beer here so I'm off to take a shower and climb into bed. Sweet dreams.

Michelle

I'm off to Redwood forest to get back to Nature for a week, but I hear there is a new "Paul's Rant" new to be released, so on return perhaps there will be something in the news about it. I think it's episode 3, "Paul's Rant: The Return of the Hangover". Must confirm with press agent.

Anywho, ciao y'all, I'm off to frighten furry woodland creatures.

In the pipeline: Episode 4, Paul's Rant: The Attack of Verbal Constipation.

Hanh,

Did your teacher really understand SB? Did she see the same movie?

You said:
"it turned out that she may have deep rooted issues with the so-called "latin rhythm" phenomenon which allows people of latin persuasion to dance like Antonio Vargas with apparently no formal training."
==========
I have news for her, there ARE people who can dance, or play an instrument, or sing, without having had formal lessons! I have a friend who has a country music band, plays the guitar and fiddle at virtuoso level, and cannot read music at all! Oh, and he can tune a piano, too! Not a note of music, and no formal training, but he has perfect pitch and boy can he play, sing, and fiddle!!! He's Italian, by the way ... I guess that may qualify as Latin Persuassion. :-)

Then you added:
"The issue is not with Antonio Vargas himself, but with Antonio Vargas playing a character who can dance as well as Antonio Vargas without any formal training -- better than Scott (who has no natural dancing ability at the genius level, being born, poor lad, white), who's been dancing since he was 6!!!"
=================
Your teacher totally missed the point! Fran's mother and father were performers; that fact is revealed when the grandmother is fitting the dress for her and talks about her mother lighting up a stage whenever she performed. It follows that Fran's father was a performer, too. As a matter of fact, the whole point was that Scott may have had training in ballroom dancing, but that is not real flamenco or pasodoble! Who dances the real thing best? "Untrained" dancers in Southern Spain! Because most of the best dancers come from Andalucia, since flamenco (which is what they were dancing in SB) is a dance with the influence of the Moors, and the people who dance it best are mixed.

If your teacher's theory were true, then people like Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and other great ones could not have made it because they were not "formally trained" ... can you imagine that? :-O

Certain forms of dance DO require formal training ... ballet is one. I mean, unless you take lessons you don't even know how to stand correctly, let alone dance! But the movie was not about ballet, or even ballroom dancing ... it was about FEELING the music ... dancing music that you feel in your guts, and injecting that music with your own passion.

Paul has said he doesn't enjoy ballroom dancing and that is because he prefers music that he can feel and add his own personality to it. Ballroom dancing is too restrictive. I remember in the old days when a really large part of the score was for the "compulsory" part of the competition, when they had to do the figure eights and other technical stuff, at the Olympics. They did away with that and now the technical stuff is nicely hidden in the programs. The skaters are still doing the hard jumps, but they can add their own feeling to their presentation, even though they all have to include the same elements in their programs. I believe that after they eliminated the compulsory ice skating became more popular because it was more interesting for the regular spectator.

Sorry, didn't mean to go on so long, but as a spectator individualism and personality in a performance are things that I really appreciate because it makes me feel that there is an emotional connection, a feeling that is transmited from performer to spectator.

This brings me to Erika's question about whether the mother didn't want Scott to win. Yes, the mother wanted him to win, but in order to do that he would have to sacrifice the "flame" that burned inside him. His father had that flame, too, and wanted to dance "his own steps" but the mother was afraid that they would not be able to be certified as teachers and earn a living as dance teachers, so she listened to Barry Fife's advice (which is like Adam and Eve listening to the serpent) LOL

The whole movie is summed up in "Vivir con miedo es como vivir a medias." So simple, and so true! ;-)

Nertha (movie and dance teacher critic at large)
LOL

Thanks, Astrid, for that wonderful quote!

It's from Ralph Waldo Emmerson, I believe:

"Insist on yourself; never immitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous half-posession."

Nertha

Michelle,
If you look long and hard, the purle hued rabbits will eventually appear. I promise.

I'm glad you had a nice time.

I've been taking some big steps forward lately, in terms of re-discovering self. I like what I found.

Paul, "..constipated".., that's a good analogy.
Silly songs and beers with mates sounds like a great way to pass time while the family is away.
Mine has been gone for a few days too, but I've had to settle for a bit of a rest.

Cheers to all.

Best wishes to all.

Paul,

So good to have you back on PC! As usually happens, we let our imagination run away (we are a very creative group, after all) and came up with all sorts of scenarios to explain your silence. But, you must admit, you didn't tell us you were going away, so I think we had some reason to be worried. And you must know that we worry because we really care about what happens to you and your family. :-)

About your question on birthdays (even though mine won't be until September) ... I find that the older I get the more like it seems that I am a day older, not a year older. Not sure if it is that time and relativity have sped up, or I have slowed down, so everything appears to be faster by comparison, but I find myself just enjoying more and more the present day and not worrying so much about tomorrow. ;-)

Hope your day is a good one. We had a gorgeous evening, nice and cool, highly unusual for summer!

Nertha

Great to hear from you Paul.

Evelyn, you must be really excited about your trip. It's nice to think that you will be closer than usual for a while. Enjoy the build-up!

Hi Michelle! So glad you enjoyed the concert. The setting sounds amazing. I'll have to check out Colin Hay for sure.

Hope you enjoy your week away Hanh.

Peter, I wish you lots more steps forward.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far.

Love to you all,
Mary

Good Morning All!

I"m laundering some work out clothes this morning before going to the gym and I'd thought I'd check in. It's nice to have Paul back, hope the shoot was successful, I'm sure it was. And hope Andrea and the Kids had a good holiday.

I finally went to the doctor the other day and my so called "cold" turned out to be a major allergy attack. He put me on some meds for that and I'm feeling 100%. And last night I was able to finally get out of the house and went to the book store. I picked up some travel essay books on Italy and France started reading the first chapter of "A Year in Provence" and did some people watching. I would rather have gotton a bunch of friends together, drink wine, eat good food and share stories and outragous jokes but it seems that since I started school all my friends have dropped out of my social circle. Usually when my husband's out of town I always have an agenda. It was pretty depressing this past week while I was off from school, as much as a value being "undependant" a person's got to have contact with people sometime. Maybe I need to join a club, a Kayaking club or butterfly watching I don't know something of the sort ( I can imagine who'd I'd meet butterfly watching), book club, the lonely club ( I could start that one). I"m just glad my husband's comming home tommorrow and school starts back up next week, at least the days will be busy once again and the evenings to. I guess sometimes it takes one of the couple to leave for a while to really appreciate each other. Next time I have a week off like this and I happen to be making a good salary from massaging ( Oh do I wish) I'll just hop on a plane to Italy or England and just go for the adventure. Hm.

I feel like a blank sometimes if that makes sense and the challange is to get un-blanked if you know what I mean. I"ll go back to the bakery maybe that will be a good start.

Well got to go the gym.

Take care all!

hmm i see..thanks for the explanations

Great to see you pop in, Paul. Some of us were starting to go into panic mode, me included, and I feel silly now. Thank you for the reassurance.

Julie, it would be great to just jump on a plane and go somewhere on a whim, wouldn't it? I'm afraid I'm not that adventurous at this point in my life, even if I had the time and means to do it! One can dream, though.

Good luck to Evelyn on your new adventure.

Hanh, your trek back to nature sounds wonderful. We have a trailer parked on a beautiful wooded lot in the mountains and we go there as often as we can.

Peter, it's good that you have found positive things on your re-discovering journey. Hope you find much more to like about yourself. You are deserving of it.

Nertha, I enjoyed your critique on SB. You are very knowledgeable.

Jo, did you get rid of all your peaches yet?

Ooops! Gotta run - the ice cream truck is coming up our street and the kids are clamoring to stop him. Can you believe the truck plays "La Cucaracha" as it trolls the streets? Maybe I should be a little leery about what he's selling??

Hello to Michelle, Mary, Kim, Kelly, Mil, Tim, Astrid, Inn, Kat, Sally, Texas, Erika, Robyn and all the other wonderful people here.

Enjoy your weekend.

Claire

LOL Oh Claire, thanks for the laugh, I needed it! I can just imagine the ice cream truck playing "La Cucaracha" ... and if they are Mexican ... well, let me just say that some Mexicans (and they are not the only ones, quite a few cultures around the world do, too) think of bugs as a delicacy. LOL

Claire, I'm glad you enjoyed my "critique" of SB, but I think I must dispel the notion that I am particularly knowledgeable! When it comes to Spanish dancers and such it's not a big achievement, since I am Hispanic, so I grew up hearing latin music, including flamenco and pasodoble. I remember when they performed on television and were interviewed, and the vast majority of them didn't have formal training, they picked it up growing up around performers.

As far as my looking at the message of the movie, I just picked up my husband's habit of looking at movies and trying to find the philosophy behind it, etc. He can examine a "B" or even a "C" movie and try to find some pearls of wisdom in it, so you can imagine how easy it is for me to find some pearls of wisdom in an "A+" movie! LOL

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. We have another great day here in NYC, sun is shining, not too hot, and we're alive! :-)

Hugs,
Nertha

i dont like how trained dancers move
the best dancers are ones just born with the natural talent

I certainly know how it feels to be so full of thought and feel unequipped to convey these thoughts. It is easy to say "just stop thinking" but not so easy to do. How do you turn off your thoughts? is there an actual way to consciously bring your mind to an unconscious state whereby you simply switch off? if you find a way let me know because as you can see i think a bit too much.

i'm going to go eat some chocolate maybe that'll help (it couldn't hurt! :D )

Hi Lucy: Isn't that the what they teach you to do in yoga? Quieting the mind?

Yeah glad to see Paul back with us again. I often get that feeling of being with people but feeling very lonely at the same time and being on my own and still feeling lonely, does that make sense? It's like I sometimes have so much to say but I know if I say it, it will come out all wrong or no one will listen to me so I keep quiet. Like Paul said feeling constipated, you want to get it out but you can't.

Jo thanks for explaining Cobbler to me, so it is sort of a pie but without the crusty bottom. It sounds lovely and Oooh with ice cream. I can almost taste it.

Paul if you would like to look at the picture I am doing it is on Picturetrail and just type in
kimscrossstitch. You need to look at the portraits section.

I hope everyone is enjoying there weekend, it is wet and cold here tonight.
Love
Kim

Mary, Claire, ..Thanks.

Have a nice weekend one and all.

Paul, did you include The Lumberjack Song amongst those silly songs?

question:

anyone here know how tall paul is?

Andrea is 5'9" and I think Paul is 5'8" or around that.

Peter,
Do I dare ask, but what in the world is The Lumberjack Song?

Tomorrow, Sunday, is my husband and my 39th wedding anniversary. I am determined NOT to be canning peaches on that day. Those peaches are multiplying. Today I have given away more peaches and canned some and still have a refrigerator full. I think it was more than a bushel after all.

Erika,
I agree that dancing is a gift of God. I have tried to learn to dance, but I am one of those people with two left feet.

Hello to Kim, Astrid, Nertha, Mary, Vicki, Evelyn, Claire, Lynn B., Lucy, Mil, Marge, Robyn, Julie, and anyone else I might have missed. And a big hello and hug to Paul, Andrea and the three E's ((((((:o))))))

Jo, The Lumberjack Song is a famous song from Monty Python.
Check out the lyrics on the website (Monty Python's Completely Useless Website) or, if you don't want to spoil the laugh, then see it on the Monty Python's Flying Circus video.
It's good.

Jo, congratulations on your anniversary. that's quite a grandly comforting old-fashioned achievement in this ridiculously modern world. =)

Perhaps those peaches are conspiring against you! the whole situation sounds rather suspicious.

greetings to Paul and his wonderfull family...happy (almost, or already) Sunday to everyone at PC.

thanks jo

Peter,
Thanks for the explanation of The Lumberjack Song. They have Monty Python on BBC America somethings so I will keep my eyes open for it and in the meantime I will go to the website.

Maile,
Thanks. "Our" song was When I Fall in Love sung by former Mouseketeer Johnny Crawford. There have been lots of bumps in the road but neither of use would have taken another route. All those bumps put us where we are today and that is just where I want to be.

Love to all.

Jo, congratulations on your 39th anniversary!

Please check your email for a little something from Ellie and me.

Our "song" is "All The Way" preferably sung by Frank Sinatra. He sang it in the film, "The Joker Is Wild".

Glad you're back, Paul! In the New York Times this morning there is a full page ad for "I, Robot." I don't like sci-fi films as a rule, but I may be persuaded to see this one only because you worked so hard in its production!

I read that the Lindy Chamberlain case has taken another twist. (That's the film that Paul was part of, about the story of a woman convicted of killing her infant daughter, after she swore a wild dog, a dingo, dragged the baby out of a camping tent, and devoured it.)

Lindy was convicted, spent some jail time, and then released after some years. Now, some old guy swore, before he died, that he saw the dingo do the deed after all! Did he have a senior moment?...and the beat goes on....

Peace and Love,

The Mil

Thank you so much Mil for the cards. They are absolutely lovely. It is the first card(s) we have ever gotten for our anniversary. They mean a lot to both of us.

Love,
Jo

By the way, I saw that too about the old guy confessing to seeing the dingo. It was on the local news actually and I thought it was going to be a review about the new mini-series, but it turned out to be an actual news story. Maybe he was afraid that he might get involved in the frenzy and be accussed of something if he came forth with the story before.

Good Morning ALL!

Happy Anniversary Jo!

Grandma Millie, boy that is a wild turn of events. Scary. That's why I'll never go camping.

Well, yesterday afternoon I got a call from my friends Gene and Ted who just moved here from Chicago seven months ago. Gene's a landscape architect and Ted is an Engineer who relocated to Florida to finish his PH.D. They invited me to go with them to Auction 84, an auction house located 10 minutes west of Fort Lauderdale in what we call "horse country". It's nothing glamorous just an very very old warehouse that is falling apart and every Satursday they auction everything and anything you could imagine and the place is always packed. It's family owned and operated business that has been around for thirty years. Its fun to go just to get a good laugh at some of the items up for grabs. The last time we all went a few months ago they auctioned off a set of Donald duck ice cream cup goblets for thirty dollars! Its amazing what people collect, what books people read, and what kind of furniture they buy. Last night they managed to auction off a goat skeleton head. It was sold for seven dollars unbelievable! Sometimes (rather most of the time) they'll show an item and you'll think to yourself "No one would possibly buy that" for instance a quilt with a hole in it or a box of old magazines but someone always manages to place a bid. They even have a website www.auction84.net and you can see all the previews of what they will be auctioning each week.

time to walk the dog.

Take care all!

Julie,
Thanks.
A lot of people buy that stuff for resale and make a fortune at it. I know that people buy things at garage sales and sell them on e-bay. My cousin makes and sells jewelry on e-bay and she says that it is all in how you list it.

..Julie, forget about the beach tour during FIF...maybe you'll take the gang to Auction 84!
(Well, maybe we'll have to take a vote!)

Jo, I'm glad you liked the card...actually, if I had sent it to you by regular mail, it would have been one card, front and inside. By email, each part was sent separately. This way, however, you got it immediately! Ah, the wonders of the Internet!

Peace and Love,

Mil

Here is the web site with the story about the old man that shot the dingo that killed Azaria Chamberlain.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/04/1088879359611.html?oneclick=true

Jo Happy Anniversary. WOW 39 years that's some going. My mum and dad celebrated 37 years not so long ago. What sort of jewellery does your cousin make?

Julie I had to laugh about the goats head, where on earth would you put something like that, maybe they use it as a table centre piece!
It amazes me that people pay good money to buy others rubbish e-bay is a good place for that. I'm not sure if I should have said that, I sell my cross stitch pictures on there!

A big hello to everyone today
Love
Kim

Thanks Peter, for reminding me of The Lumberjack Song! We never missed Monty Python when we were growing up. Zany and timeless.

Jo, Happy Anniversary!! I wish you both joy and health for many more years to come. I love this quote about soulmates and thought you might like to read it on this special day:

'Two people who love each other should never feel called to explain to an outside party why they love each other, or why it is that they belong together. The place where they belong is a secret place. Their souls know why they are together; and they should trust that togetherness.'

John O'Donohue

Diane, thinking of you and wishing you well.

Hello to all my friends here - Okay, I'm going to try a list ....Michelle, Evelyn, Peter, Mil, Diane, Kelly, Monika, Lori & Janice(I miss you both), Tim, Jo, Marge, Melinda, Vicki, Astrid, Claire, Sally C, Sally D, Julie, Robyn, Dhi, Inn, Whit, Kat, Tim, Nertha, Maile, Erika, Hanh, Lyn, Abeth, texas, Lucy, Jean and anyone else I forgot to mention. This is an amazing place. It just keeps growing! Special Hello to Paul, Andrea & the girls.

Love to all of you,
Mary

Hi Kim and thanks. My cousin sells mostly beaded jewelry that she strings herself. Very beautiful pearls for instance. She embellishes them with all kinds of things. Her husband is a jeweler and they work together. He fixed watches and things like that. Right now she is only selling individual beads and medallions on e-bay because she says that the summer is so slow for selling.

Thanks for the quote Mary. I am saving that in my "Book of Quotes". It is lovely. I have always felt we were together before this life and will be together after this life so it is fitting we are together in this life.

Happy Anniversary Jo! (Or should we just nickname you "Peaches"??)
Ah...35 years? That's great! My husband and I have been married since 1977- but I can't, for the life of me, figure out why!! LOL! I know we belong together, but I blame that on some bad karma! We are SO different it's really unbelievable. We both laugh about it! Is it possible to get along by NOT being compatible? I tease him all the time about being my anti-soulmate! He says it works because we have so little in common...Our song was "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel. It was obvious..."don't go changin', to try and please me..."
Jeez....
My favorite E-bay item was the "Ghost in a Jar" that someone supposedly dug up out of a haunted graveyard. I love to look at the items under the "Bizarre" category.
Hope everyone is doing well.

Hi everyone.

Happy Birthday, and Happy Anniversary to all those who have had one of these. So many that we can't catch up.

Auctions
We used to go an Auction on Saturday nights here. They are no longer around. I think the garage sales have depleted their inventories. Yes it is amazing what people will bid on. Unless you bid on a lot of stuff, it was a good cheap Saturday night entertainment. The family that owned it had a 90 years old grandmother who cooked the hamburgers in the kitchen.

They used to have storage auctions. This is where storage companies’ auctioned off peoples stuff they haven't paid rent on. A lot of the time the owners of the storage to be auctioned off were in the audience and were trying to get their stuff back. The auctioneer had a rule that when your bid won the box you could not open it until you got off the property. Someone opened a box on site and started joking about the contents, and a fight ensued. My cousins' husband used to bid on unopened boxes and all he got were baby clothes or lampshades. It was a lot of fun though.

FYI Paul
The auctioneer had brought a big lot of stained glass windows in to be sold. These windows were from Australia, taken out of houses that were being demolished. Some of them were really beautiful.

My garden is calling.
Take Care & Love to All
Marge

Mary, darling, if everyone you mentioned on your list, (including Linda), came to the FIF, there would be a wonderful traffic jam outside the Marriott Courtyard Hotel, and the press would be there, and we'd get free publicity in the local papers, something that I plan to do anyway!

Peace and Love,

Mil

Oh, I wish I could come!

Hi guys,

Hi Mary, so nice to be remembered among your PC friends! Can you see me waving hello back at you??? :-) Thanks so much for visiting my web site, it was so neat to find your entry in my guestbook! ;-)

Happy 39th anniversary to Jo and hubby! Hope you had a truly wonderful day. May you spend many more years together. :-)

Kim, I sell some of my work on Ebay and also have sold some books and other stuff, but not real garage sale items. So far my favorite Ebay listing was a guy who sold his ex-wife's wedding dress (or it may have been his ex-fiancée). The funny thing is that he wrote a totally hilarious description and modeled the dress himself! LOL At one point the bids had gone up to over $15,000, but I guess when they checked they discarded quite a few and the dress actually sold for almost $4,000.

Grandma Mil, how is the weather treating you? Heard Florida has been having some fireworks -- and not the 4th of July kind. My aunt lives in Fort Myers and she mentioned having lost power due to lightening. For those outside the USA, Florida holds the honor of having the highest number of lightning striking. Stay safe, and get off the golf course as soon as you hear thunder!

Hugs,
Nertha

Paul-

nothing in life is safe... that's what makes life interesting and worth trying one more day....

what is or isn't appropriate is entirely dependent upon wether it is relavent to you and whom you say it to... how the other person receives and responds to it or not isn't.... Don't ever worry about feeling something if you didn't have your indivual feelings and thoughts no matter how dark sometimes they may be. The darkness must always balance the lighter side or you would never know what the lighter side was.

I'm just as guilty of having a few to many now and then. Everyone does even if they don't litteraly drink alchol, brooding over something has the same effect.

when I get stuck --I allow myself to feel evertyhing, not brood over it,then deciding what to do or not seems a litte easier. Having a drink sometimes allows me to give in and feel the thoughts and feelings I normally wouldn't.. drinking is irrelavent as long as you take care to be safe, not harm anyone including yourself and not act on any enlightenments while drunk. (I've done that a few to many times, before I thought it through with a clear head.)
If not I'm able to decide what to do or have to vent and writing it down doesn't work, I tell one and only one person. That way it focuses me on the feelings of the original thought and not the everything surrounding it. It's nice to feel all sides and even when a complete stranger may tell me something dark or light hearted it helps me connect and understand myself a little more.

Oh my... I humbly apollogize. This is why no one has seen me post before... I will stop before I cross to many lines...

Good health to all-
ever the silent friend to all,
Stephanie

Nertha, the weather here in south Florida has been fine, in the low 90s, not too much humidity, and no hurricanes in sight...yet!

Yes, we are the lightning center of the world, and people living here sometimes don't use their common sense. Dark clouds that seem so far away, could harbor potential lightning bolts, especially is one hears thunder! The worse places for people are the tennis courses, the golf courses, and the swimming pools! Don't go under a tree either! Stay in your car if you're caught!

We won't have to worry much about lightning in February during the FIF. There will be enough energy and love during that weekend to light up the sky without a cloud in sight!

Peace and Love,

Mil

Thanks to all for the anniversary wishes. We started to go out yesterday (it was 30% chance of rain) and it started raining so hard the streets were flooding. With the water rising my main concern was the feral cat colony that I take care of and I made my poor husband a nervous wreck wringing my hands and walking the floor. After the rain stopped and the sun came out I saw that they were all fine and nobody drowned. We have had more rain in Houston this year (according to the news) than Seattle has had this year.

Julie,
I was telling my husband about the goats head and he said that he actually saw one of those attached to the handle bars of a Harley Davidson motorcycle once.

I loved the Ghost in a Jar. Like my cousin that sells on e-bay says "It's all how you advertise it."

A big hello and good morning/good night to all at P.C.

Hi everybody :)
i don't know if thats what they teach in yoga Lyn, this quieting mind stuff is pretty new to me, i will check it out though!
And congrats on you anniversary Jo, 39 years my dear God that's an achievement, i wish you all the happiness for the next 39!!

hope everyone is keeping well,
Lucy

Hi everybody :)
i don't know if thats what they teach in yoga Lyn, this quieting of the mind stuff is pretty new to me, i will check it out though!
And congrats on your anniversary Jo, 39 years my dear God that's an achievement, i wish you all the happiness for the next 39!!

hope everyone is keeping well,
Lucy

Sorry for posting that twice, read the second one it's better written :)

Hellos and hugs to all my friends here at PC!!

Jo-Happy Anniversary-37 years is really something!

Nothing much going on here-just wanted to check in-catch up on the posts and say hello! Hope everyone is doing well.

HUGS!
Abeth

Linda! And as I type....Sherrlyn. And now, Stephanie(Welcome to you!). Paul's circle here is certainly a living organism.

Dearest Millie, you are so right about the love and energy in FIF! Something wonderful is being created in your very capable hands. Love to you, as always.

Hi Nertha! Caught the wave. Thanks!

Hugs back to you Abeth. Hope all is well.

Tim, hope the course is going well.

Love to all,
Mary

Hello to everyone! So nice to see my name pop up in the lists!

I went away on short notice 4 days ago with our houseguests from Italy, and there were so many posts to read! This gets cumbersome if you don't keep up, but really it's very wonderful at the same time.
We went to Yellowstone Park. I had never been there. It was neat to see all those animals up close, and the geysers, and all the different people! Wow, it was crowded. On the way, we stopped in Jackson Hole,WY which corresponded with my parent's 31st anniversary. My father was a riverguide at the time and he kept asking my mother to go on the river with him for the summer. She said, "No way unless we're married!" So he asked and they wed, and she spent the first 4 months of married life on the river, which was a much more rustic experience back then. So as we went through Jackson, I got to hear all the same stories over again, in English and Italian, with visual aides! LOL
So- to JO(in Texas), and all others who make it for the long haul- congratulations!

Paul- so nice to have some clarification about your activities of late! I'm glad you are doing well and thankyou for the reassurance.

Spending time with these Italians has thrown my language skills for a loop and I think I have some bad wiring in my head! Every time they would speak to me in Italian, I would instinctually reply in either German, French, or really loud, slow English. But I'm picking up fast enough. Six hours in the car is pretty good immersion, I think!

Julie- I strongly disliked A Year In Provence! If you havn't put yourself through too much of it, stop while you're ahead!

Well, I think I've gone on long enough. Take care everyone!

-Astrid

p.s.
I love Monty Python, too!

Paul, my wife and I have followed your career for some time and have to say that the things you share on this site, the personal things, reflect the soul of a very creative individual. While my wife's a left-brained broker and investment person, I'm a totally right-brained teacher, artist, writer. I guess even more than my wife I can relate. There's a lonliness that comes through that is the "curse" of the creative, I think. It's been my feeling anyhow. Thanks for the insights. The "giving 100%" mathematical formula was tops! Oh, one other thing. I know you could have made a difference in your career if you had moved to the States, Paul, but from all I've read, your marriage, your children would have suffered needlessly. In the very long run, I suspect there will be three young ladies who will be very grateful their dad (and mom) gave them a life among family and friends and culture, don't you? They will never understand the sacrifices you have been making, but they will understand how much you love them. Nothing in life can ever compensate for a failure in the home, Paul. Best regards: Rob (and Pam, in Denver, Colorado)

Hello All!

Grandma Millie is right about Florida in February. Its the best time of year when the weather is in the seventies and you enjoy a lot more being outside Its the time of year that people fall in love with Florida.

Went to pick up my husband from Miami international airport yesterday. Since I had to wait two hours (the plane was running late) and without much else to do unless I wanted browz the bookstand, I decided to walk around the airport, stand at the different airline counters and listen to where people were from. Hundreds of different accents, Italian, British, French, Jamaican, Spanish... I also listened to Americans talk about their travel adventures. Then an unexplainable sensation came over me. My feet were ti