Paul's Corner

Couldn't help but think of those that never are fortunate to reclaim that music in their hearts.

Great poem, Paul!

Interesting...I stopped by to see how much money was raised for the Great Walk...and instead got to read a very beautiful and poignant poem.

I have been lost in the "silence between the notes" since my separation/divorce in 2005 (at the age of 25! - too young for that much pain!)...and I've been traveling all over the world (literally) looking for my new song.

I appreciate the way that your thoughts have expressed what I've been feeling using the image of music, which is so beautiful and real to me.

I hope that whatever you're feeling, you can take comfort in knowing that your girls are your song.

Paul, your thoughts and emotions expressed in your beautiful poem resonate with me too.

While the sadness and emptiness and the not finding a voice for your soul's song is really tough, I try to understand it as a necessary time in which to cleanse and restore my soul, a time of re-filling, of replenishing my soul, my being, my energy, finding harmony and energy or finding my way again, so that I can find that voice again which sings and gives expression to my innermost being-joyously, freely, harmoniously.

Melody, thanks for IDing everyone in Sarah's picture. You all do look like you had a lot of fun together.

Reading the poem you wrote--I read that you have lost your song,for now, but at the same time a new one is already coming into being...I realize this in-between time is both sad and what's to come is yet undefined. You never cease to astonish me with what you do...I guess the proces of creating is not a comfortable one.

Speaking of singing (literally), I saw in reviews that you also are a singer and did sing in the play The Full Monty--are there recordings available of you singing?

Thank you Sarah for sharing the pics of the grand Virginia reunion!!! You and Rosie and Melody are real!!!Let me know if you end up anywhere near the NW and I will be there.

There's that beautiful sensitive side of Paul again. The side of Paul who KNOWS the song and has sang it and who will sing it again and again and again. I'm certain of this. Life is just so full of ebbs and tides. Like the notes of a song...sometimes high and sometimes low. The quiet moments are spent thinking up new lyrics. We keep this up, and sooner or later, the perfect sonnet is created. Thus is the music of our lives.

What a wonderful song writer you are Paul!

sang=sung? Hey, I never said I was the song writer. lol. Or any kind of writer, for that matter. I shouldn't write after work when I'm brain dead.
Have a great weekend everyone!

Go to bed MaryS, you must have had a long day. I am sure Paul will not be songless for long. I am also working but will stop soon as I have to start early. I know you're for real, MaryS :).

Boy this week's gone fast! Can it be only 7 days since being in Old Alexandria with Sarah and Rosie?!

Went to look at an auditorium last night for the show we'll do next spring. I'm quite pleased with what I saw and I think it will show us well.

MaryS you are right that Paul manages to find his song over and over. One special man!

And with that, happy weekend all!

Yes, Melody its been a week. This time last week I was still chatting (in person) with you and Rosie.

Liz, one of these days I hope I'll get to travel more and meet more of my online friends. I promise to let everyone know in advance where I'll be going. :o)

I've read Paul's post several times now. I find it very moving, and inspirational. The first time I read it I immediately wanted to share it with everyone I knew, but I don't know how readily I could get them to visit PC and that is the only way I'd share it. (I would never share someone else's work without their permission in any other format.) Perhaps after I've read it a few more times I can pinpoint exactly what calls out to me in the piece, but for now I can't. All I know is that is does speak to me. I'm glad Paul chose to share it here.

Happy Mother's Day to the PCs and to Paul's Mom and Andrea!!!And to the PCs who are not moms but of course have moms. Happy Mother's Day!!!

Thinking about Grandma Mil and wishing you a great mother's day. Are there previews of your movie now in release? Also I was wondering if Tara's movie will be in film festivals in the NW as we have those coming up: Pacific NW Film Festival, etc. That way the NW PCs can go to the opening. Thanks.

Liz--that would be grand! (Seeing Tara's movie if it plays out there!)

Joining Liza in saying Happy Mother's Day!

And a special hug to Grandma Mil--wishing special moments this weekend.

Liz, Thank you for the Happy Day of the mother. And also wish for all PCs!
Kisses

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers here at PC. :o)

I'm spending my weekend cleaning! Hey, spring cleaning is a necessity... especially after having major work done on your house. I want it all to be perfect now.

Enjoy the day!

Thank you Liz and Melody for the special Mother's
Day wishes, and the same to all PCers.

It didn't seem like it was going to be a special day since last Tuesday, when our daughter, Leah, one of our twin daughters, age 49, became ill and was hospitalized.

Neurological tests were done and it was finally determined that she has Multiple Schlerosis.

She had been under terrible stress when her son, Joshua, a college student at the U. of Chicago, became very ill at school; he developed a terrible infection after an emergency appendectomy, and it was touch and go. Leah actually slept in his hospital room on a cot for a week.

Josh is fine now, and an aid and comfort to his mother. We were told that the MS was dormant
in Leah's system for perhaps 10 years... she was
an avid biker, and a runner, and was in good
physical shape all these years(we thought)and the
stress of Josh's illness probably brought it out.

She is taking steroids, is a bit unsteady on her feet, but is very resolute. Her twin sister, Marcia, has been with her since the hospitalization; how close they have always been.

Leah is planning to go back to work when she is allowed. She already told us that she went into the basement to do the laundry, and with the aid of a cane, walks carefully, but can't drive yet.

She is planning to spend Mother's Day going out to eat, or doing something special with her children, Josh and her daughter, Kayla.

Needless to say, with Ellie and me so far here in
Florida, we could only wait for phone calls, pray,
and cling to each other. We were not encouraged by Leah or Marica to visit at this time.

This Mother's Day looks brighter, and we pray that we hear good news during the day, for it is
quite early here in Florida.

So, Paul, you poem "Sad" really was approps to our situation. I hope it was allegorical, and not
literal to yours. Without good health for our children and ourselves, we are extremly challenged.

Liz, I haven't been in touch with Tara this week,
and that was intentional, because she met Leah and
Marcia, and their interview with her will be in MBF.

She has made hotel reservations at the Marriott near us, where our PCers stayed in 2005. She is planning to arrive on September 24th, with the premiere on Friday, September 26th. Big doings are planned for that time.

Her email last week informed me that the SBS Television Network (Australia) the International
Sales rep, has received requests from networks
from New Zealand, Canada, UK, Singapore,Ireland and the USA to review MBF, for they are interested. SBS will be showing it in Australia
eventually.

The USA networks include the Sundance Channel and PBS, so who knows, MBF may show up here in the states also, fingers crossed!

Please be informed that Ellie and I are more lighthearted on this day, and wish you all love and best wishes this day and always.

Shalom,

Grandma Mil

Happy Mother's Day to all who are Mum's and have Mum's!

Dearest Grandma! I'm so sorry to hear about all the challenges your family is going through. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers for good health and good spirits. Isn't it nice though to see how close knit you all are and going the extra mile to help each other out. I know so many families, where that is not the case which is really sad! Big HUG to you and Ellie!

About to drive back to St. Louis from Kalamazoo, MI, not looking forward to driving into severe weather and storm systems that produced deadly tornadoes in MO etc. yesterday.
Had a lovely lunch with Linda yesterday, who used to come here. She asked about you Paul how you are doing etc. so I tried to catch her up a bit based on what you post here. She herself had all sorts of health challenges in the last years, but she is in high spirits, quite a fighter with a cheerful mind. was very inspirational for me!

Hugs to all,
Evelyn

Millie I am truly sorry about what happened to your daughter. I send my best wishes that she'll recover from this.

much love,

Julie

Grandma Mil I wish for Leah's recovery. It must be very hard for parents to have their children become ill. You said in Leah's case, going through her son Josh's illness could have triggered the latent MS. I will be praying for you and your family.

My mom died at 50 from leukemia around ten years ago and what I learned from that is there is no dress rehearsal for life.. . Each moment is precious. Instead of saying I will live happily and enjoy life tomorrow or will be happy when such and such condition/person/thing arrives in my life, I try to enjoy life as it is. There is no postponing life anymore.

(((HUGS))) Millie. My thoughts are with you and your family at this time.

BTW, Sarah and Melody (and Paul too). Sometimes the song is there, we are just are too afraid or bogged down in "reality" to listen to it call us.

Sometimes you have let go, trust in yourself and others and take the "leap". YES (girls) I DID - and it was a thing of beauty (if I say so myself). ;o)

Hello Paul, just curious about your play playing in the Northern hemisphere, like Vancouver, as in the Full Monty. I was there not too long ago and The Full Monty was showing. Since it is fall season in Australia, can you move your production to the US/Canada? ie have your work/plays done in the N. hemisphere??? Just wondering as you said you loved Vancouver, the beer capital of the world and I saw the play still on up there. Thanks Liz.

Grandma Mil--so sorry to hear about Leah! Will get more prayers in action for all of you. :)

Rosie--bravo. Glad you finally made that leap!

Liz, it would be nice if Paul can make it up north and tour. I still say the US DWTS should ask him to be a guest judge. I'd be sure to watch! :)

Grandma Mil, my thoughts are with your family and especially Leah.

Rosie, was that leap captured on video? Inquiring minds want to know. :o)

Well the moat around my house has mostly dissipated, but we're still under a flood advisory in my county of residence. *sigh* I know rain is essential to life, but I prefer when it is spread out a bit. My week has started, and its very busy so far. I can't believe I haven't fallen into bed yet, but I will be shortly.

I hope all of PC have a lovely week.

Rosie, glad you made the leap! (I was rushing too much to read the post before me). I love your audacity, reminds me of Tara when she tells Scott "I have this idea...."

Sarah, I hope you settle back in your home soon. No more tree limbs this time.

Dearest Millie and Ellie, so sorry to hear about Leah. It seems that the stress of her son's sudden illness also brought out a sudden illness in her. They MUST be so connected, as we are with our children. I am hoping that she goes back into dormancy with the aid of medical attention. Usually a person is quite ill for many years with an extremely difficult time diagnosing MS. I'm shocked to hear that with this episode they were able to diagnose it, but this gives me hope that it might be intermittent and she will hopefully get strong again. I pray so. I know that MS isn't curable per say, but as you said it does go through flare ups and then quiet periods sometimes. It's such a strange illness. Please take care of yourself and don't stress yourself out. You need to be strong for all and please lean on Ellie for support also. My mother-in-law had it also.

My daughter-in-law's mother passed away about 5 months ago, so yesterday was very difficult for her. I am trying to be there for her, but she is angry and jealous that other mothers are still around and hers isn't. I know that sounds horrible, but she was more spiritually evolved before this horrible loss of her mother at such a young age. She was only 57 years old and died of cancer. My son felt he could not call me until she had gotten through the worst of her day. I understand completely and pray that this phase of her grieving will lead eventually to a place where memories of her mom will bring her comfort. I know that after my husband passed away at age 29, it took me well into my life to even come close to getting over it. I don't imagine I ever really will, but I do understand that immortality is not for this life, but for heaven if you believe in that. I do. Call it what ever you want, but it's not in this life. Everything comes to an end here in this form we are in.

O.K. enough morbidity. I didn't mean to go off like that. What mortality has taught me is that we need to try to make the most of each day and always tell our loved ones how much we love them. I wish I lived closed to my family at times of vulnerability like this. Sometimes I think I purposely live some distance from family to not face the pain of loss. Wow!! Again, I didn't mean to get all depressing here. Sorry folks!

Millie, your family, you and Ellie are in my thoughts and I pray your daughter and grandson regain their strength very soon!!

I planted flowers all weekend and I'm ready to enjoy the yard for a few months. Just as I finished mowing the front and back yards, I heard on the news that we were going to get rain mixed with snow tonight and tomorrow. Wow! Colorado really has a "don't plant before Memorial Weekend" rule, but usually Mother's Day is safe to start planting. If everything thrives and survives, it's going to be a glorious summer!

Love and peace to all of you!

MaryS, I certainly can sympathize with your daughter-in-law. That first Mother's Day without your mother is hard no matter the circumstance of losing her. May she find solace/comfort over time.

MaryS

My husband's mother also passed away a few months ago at the age of 66 from Cancer. He has gone through periods wishing that he had at least ten more years with his mother and its been difficult time for him. At least you can provide some emotional support for your daughter in law knowing from your experience what there is to endure. All we can do is be there for the ones we love and give them our support.

Julie

Thank you Julie and Melody. You can always count on support and love when you come to this Corner.

Millie, I hope you and the family are doing ok at this time. We're here for you!

Off to run errands now and will try to bake something yummy on this cloudy rainy day. All the flowers survived the little storm and we ended up not getting a drop of snow here in the Denver area, but allot of good cold rain. I think the garden loved it!

Make it a day of growth!

The ff articles are part of the required reading list for the PCs. There will be a surprise quiz.
http://jetstarmag.com/2008/04/01/retail-therapy-11/

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/31/1072546578180.html

The last one is a great article with a great pic.

The articles above are ok, but from 2004, but Paul's in it! And the picture's very nice.

My love and thanks to you all for your concern and prayers for our daughter Leah: MaryS, Melody,
Liz,Julie,Sarah,Rosie,and Evelyn.

Her doctor told her yesterday that MS cannot be cured, but managed, perhaps, with minimal flareups, and even then the medical profession cannot be certain. Drugs should help, and a regimen has been ordered for her.

Leah is resolute and is talking about going back to work, for the doctor said her activites now are up to her.

She used to be an avid runner, biker, and even a physical therapist, so you can understand our pain. Her twin sister, Marcia, has been with her, and what a comfort she has been to Leah and to us.

I just got an email from the MS Association. They are having a Walk Against MS this weekend in the
Southern New York area, and a Team Leah has been started by a friend of Leah's. We used to live in that area, near Bear Mountain.

Mary from Ireland wrote: "We will storm Heaven with our prayers..."

Shalom, and Love,

Grandma Mil

Hello Grandma Mil, star of MBF, I am glad to hear that Leah will be in the march. We will "storm heaven with our prayers!" I have come across a lot of women with MS and majority manage it well. I noticed almost all have thought through how they want to live their lives, no more wasting life on what's not impt. The are more deliberate about living and cannot help but enjoy life more. The seasons seem to influence the flares, and I know of one who takes sabbaticals in the WTR and lives in a sunny area when our NW weather gets bad. Shalom.

Joining in the "storming heaven with our prayers".

Wishing the best for Leah and all your family and friends, Grandma Mil. May Josh also continue to regain his strength.

Also prayers to all those in Asia after the cyclone, the earthquake and the bombing. So much happening in less than two weeks!

Confirmed dates for next May's concert. The class looked great last night. Love it when a "plan" (meaning choreography and staging) come together. Vivan los estudiantes!

Dear Liz,

Thank you for your encouraging thoughts.

Leah will not be actually marching in the Walk MS.

Her friend has set up a portion of the website called "Team Leah" in her honor. Donations from
family and friends will be siphoned into that site, and all proceeds go to the fight against MS.

Yes, the incidence of MS seems to be higher in the northern hemphisphere; heat, however is not good for a person with MS. Leah and family live in
New Jersey, that has its share of heat and cold.

Leah's present symptoms are numbness and some pain in her feet, although she manages to walk around without a cane. Her house has many steps,
and she was planning to sell it before she became ill...it's a hard real estate market today. She has an apartment in mind but...

Shalom and Love,

Grandma Mil

Thanks Grandma Mil, I had it backwards, it is the heat that is not good for the MS.

Melody, so happy for your production... Vivir con miedo esta vivir a la media; that's all the Spanish I know. :)

Grandma Mil, maybe we can post the link to Leah's site to help others know more about MS and if any one wants to support the walk. Thanks.

Today your poem speaks my heart. Today my oldest child moved away from home. Tomorrow will come quickly and my song will return. I hope yours does as well.

I will be storming heaven also!I am so very sorry to hear about Leah and send not sorrow but all the strength I can muster for the way ahead.

A life lived with half a fight is only half a life lived.

Mary Cooper having a child leave home must be a very difficult and frighteningly something that is looming in my household - but life must go on.

Dear Paul,

Your thoughts are so insightful; you have brought
comfort to me, and Leah's attitude last night also
has helped.

I spoke to her and although she had a bad morning, by afternoon she was better, and even went to buy some makeup, and was enjoying the comfortable and stylish shoes and clothing that we insisted she buy as a gift from us.

Her twin sister,Marcia, went shopping with her, but Marcia had to go back to Connecticut where she lives...the parting was hard, but Marcia will return next week again.

The disease is insideous and unpredictable, but
Ellie tells Leah (and me) it is one day at a time.

Leah agrees, and I know she will not give up and give in. I know she is trying to be strong when she speaks to me, and I, in turn, try to sound
the same although my heart is heavy. I'm a mother, what else is new???

Thank you, Paul.

Shalom and Love,

Grandma Mil

Paul, my brother (and sis-in-law) are working with my nephew to prepare for college in the fall. He'll be going over the border (state border) to Purdue in Indiana (we're in Illinois). Frank is already saying "I'm going to miss that kid!", and Chris is just graduating HS next month. Just being an aunt I can only imagine when the kids are old enough to start leaving the nest.

Paul, you and Andrea have given the girls a sound base to stand on and your love will always be there, and their love for the two of you, too.

Grandma Mil, I think Liz has a great idea to post a link for contributions and awareness.

Liz, since seeing SB, that has been one of my mottos, which gets me through the flamenco projects along with other things I do. Paul's rendition of it (above) is another great thought!

Happy weekend all.

Grandma Mil, Leah's strength and attitude is something we could all learn from. It is something we should all learn to embrace, not just when faced with adversity but also in our everyday lives. I'm storming along with the rest of the gang!

Things in my corner of the world are ok. I have good and bad days (more mentally than anything), and thankfully I've been feeling pretty good health-wise. Work has been beyond busy and that has me a bit stressed, but I'm trying to stay as relaxed as possible. Tomorrow I'm having a cookout for some of my friends. Now if only Mother Nature would cooperate and give us nice weather. LOL

Storming heaven as one of our group activities and living by "a life lived with half a fight is only half a life lived" as Paul says.--This site is for the fearless! Evelyn, Sarah, MaryS, G. Mil, and Melody and the PCs, when you all encountered hardships and losses, you had the resilience of spirit to roll with the punches or put an all out fight when needed.

Hi Folks!

Well its been an interesting week and a half for me. I came down with a cold and its been a very slow recovery. In the part of Florida where I live we've been having wildfires in the Everglades and my sinus problems that are still lingering may be a result of the conditions here. I haven't been able to work during this time which is no big deal but I'm kinda of getting restless at home. I've been reading a book on investments, thinking of a new business idea, working on my writing project, and cleaning out some closets to keep occupied and I'm seeing the doctor today to see if he can give me something clear this up so I can go back to work.

I talked my neighbor Guy for a few minutes yesterday when he dropped by to give me some of my mail that got put in his mailbox by mistake. He told me that this week he was going sailing in the Bahamas with a group of friends. One of these friends owns a big luxury sailboat. I was glad for my neighbor but hearing that didn't help my spirits, (I think guy figured it out looking at the expression on my face) knowing that I'll be stuck in the house watching re-runs of "the Price is Right" or even worse Fitness TV's, "Buff Brides"(the only time I'll watch any tv is when I'm sick). The doctor better give me something to dry out my nose or I'll really go insane here.

I went on the Great Walk to Beijing site and besides having the song "we are magic" stuck in my head, I was wondering if Paul is going to give us an account of his experience on the walk. From the pictures it looks like it was quite a time.

Millie Leah stays in my thoughts and I hope her fundraiser for MS went well.

Julie

I was rereading Paul's poem and these lines grabbed my attention--

Rythym lies beneath the silence
Ready to soar to its natural note

Paul, maybe life's asking you to return to dance? Or lend yourself to a choreography that's dancing in the ethos needing you to give it substance?

Let's face it, once a dancer, always a dancer, even if it's dancing within your heart.

Julie, I hope you feel better soon, both physically and in your spirits! I know how health problems affect your spirit. The last few weeks I've gone from one cold or flu or other form of exhaustion triggered illness and I keep injuring different muscles throughout my body--burn out sucks big time!!!
But I'm leaving for Germany on Thursday!!! I hope that a bit of "Mum and sister therapy" will do me good, being with people who love me unconditionally no matter what, before I then head to Munich for 2 months of research, Munich, where the now ex currently resides and who will be difficult to avoid. I hope we can manage to get on some more peaceful terms with each other, but I'm not sure about that at this point. Feeling deeply conflicted about it all and I almost let this spoil my joy about finally being able to go home after 3 years, but then a friend reminded me that this is MY home country not his and that I have more of a right to being there than he does. So I'm going to enjoy Munich as much as I can, even though I don't really know anyone there, but interestingly enough, several friends and colleagues of mine will be in Munich at different times throughout the summer, so it won't be so lonely after all. Someone clearly is looking out for me in unexpected ways after crossing out the initial plans for whatever reason. It isn't easy for me, but I'm working on a positive outlook for this summer and on being open to new experiences.

Grandma Millie, how are you, Ellie, Leah and Josh and the rest of the family doing? you are all in my thoughts and prayers!

Love to everyone!

To you all dear people I say thank you for your support and your best wishes and prayers for our
daughter Leah.

It is almost 3 weeks since she was diagnosed, and
after a difficult couple of weeks she picked
herself up, and is now driving her car to local spots, and goes up and down the steps in her older house that has so many steps, we could never
stay there when we could travel.

Her feet are still numb, the first indication of the MS, but Paul, we sent her out with her twin sister, Marcia, to her favorite store, Nordstrom,
and she bought those great shoes from Australia,
the Uggies! Then she bought a pair of Merrills, and will be able to wear them to work one day.

Her spirit is to be admired; she is not feeling sorry for herself and gives Ellie and me hope that she will not give up and give in.

The MS Walk last Saturday is over, and in her honor, Team Leah, $1100.00 was donated to the MS
Fund. I thank you all for wishing to donate, but I did not have the smarts to put in the link, but I know that your hearts are with Leah.

We are hoping and praying that the disease will
go into remission, and the early symptoms that she has will be manageable with drugs.

Evelyn, have a safe trip and a wonderful reunion with your family...I presume you will go with your
laptop, so we can get all the news. Munich sounds like it is big enough so one could easily not run into certain people.

Julie, feel better..we can smell the odor of the burning Everglades in our area. Stay inside in the air-conditioning!

Tara will be turning over the completed MBF to the SBS Television Network on May 29th, and then the Network will decide on a date to air it in Australia. I will let all my favorite Aussies know. She expects to come to Wynmoor as planned
on September 25th for the U.S. premiere in our village.

Shalom and Love,

Grandma Mil

Yes, grandma Millie, laptop and me are joined at the hip :) and besides I do need it for my research. So reports will be forthcoming, not in the first few days though when I will be staying with my sister who refuses to have internet access at home (she works in the computer industry and has enough of computers at the end of the day, fair enough) so as long as you don't hear about plane problems/disasters on Thursday/Friday between St. Louis to Chicago, Chicago to London Heathrow, London H to Frankfurt with American Airlines and British Airways, just assume I got there all right. I am getting more and more excited about going (finally!!!)

I admire Leah, and please tell her that! Continued best wishes to you all.

Sarah, how is living in your new-old house?

Evelyn have a safe a wonderful trip to Germany and don't let Mr. ex bother you in the least (ok easier said than done but I send my support regardless). I do admit I wish I was on my way to Europe right now for a great adventure. The late spring is a nice time to go.

Millie its good to hear that Leah is coming along and I'm sure she's thankful to have so many supportive people around her. And its amazing to think the MBF will be hitting the networks in a few months. Soon Millie you're going to need your own fan website.

My cold/sinus thing is much better today but we still have those fires lingering and breathing outside is a challenge. Last week when all these fires were starting I was concerned about my neighbor Tom, a former boat captain, down the street who is on oxygen because of an auto immune disease he has that affects his breathing. I called him asking if he needed anything from the store and he said to me, "From the way you sound I think its me who has to go to the store for you!"

We both had a good laugh.

take care all!

Julie

The morning glories I planted in pots at the base of the pergola posts are sprouting! Flowers at this time of year sure make me happy. I miss living in a climate where flowers grow all year, but I do so love Colorado. I guess only having a few months to enjoy the greenery makes me appreciate it all the more.

I think this is sort of what happens in our lives. We take so many things for granted and all it takes is for one of our normal functions to be compromised and we REALLY understand how fragile we really are.

Just think about the small things that we take for granted....

Our teeth
Our sense of smell, taste, sight, touch and sound
Our fingers and toes, arms and legs

Then there is the less subtle, like a smile from a stranger, a flower, a ray of sunshine on your face.

Yes, we will all experience suffering in this life, but all in all, we are so very lucky and blessed.

I am keeping good thoughts and praying for good health and strength for all of us, especially Grandma's family at this time.

Thanks MaryS for this positive and uplifting perspective!! I make a conscious effort in crises (and otherwise) to look for the good in my life and there is plenty, and to be thankful for it, but sometimes the negative and the painful just get into the way. :(

Practicing forgiving is also a very good thing and something I really need to do and keep doing at the moment. It's been amazing for me over the course of the last two days how much of the physical pain in my back and neck has gone down (granted there are some muscle injuries there as well that are healing VERY slowly), but that psychosomatic link is pretty strong between the emotional and physical well-being or lack thereof. finding it quite fascinating.

Yes, the sun was lovely today and I'm grateful that the last three days I was able to go for 5 & 5.5K runs, something I just couldn't do in the last 3 weeks because of injuries, and the pleasure of buying a new sexy red summer dress 4 sizes smaller than what I wore last summer :), coming here and reading uplifting, thoughtful messages--- life really does have a lot of good sides! Thanks MaryS for making me think about all this.

Thanks Evelyn!

You hang in there. It sounds like your heart and your thoughts are in the right place and I am confident that you will work through it this summer and find some answers that will bring you peace. It sounds like you're doing awesome. 4 sizes smaller! That's so wonderful. I would love that myself! Running isn't for me..but I'll stick with 3 hour workouts in the yard gardening! :)

Have a great trip, Evelyn. I admire your courage to continue with your trip even though it may be hard. G. Mil, our intentions and prayers for Leah. MaryS, how's your garden growing? I imagine you living in the wildnerness of the Rocky Mountains, but this is probably inaccurate. I always imagine Melody dressed as Fran in SB, as she teaches her classes. Ole!

Was checking out some things on Amazon.com and saw this comment from a customer on Paul in SB--
"Mecurio is a formally trained dancer and you simply can't fake, edit, or body-double the moves he pulls off in this film. Even if you're not a dancer, Mecurio's athletiscism alone is worth seeing."

Liz, I actually have a picture of me in a black dress with a long train in back which we call a "bata de cola." It certainly would remind you of Tara as Fran. :)

Evelyn, all the best on your trip. Looking forward to your future posts.

Grandma Mil, still thinking good thoughts and prayers for Leah and all of you. Wishing Leah many good days ahead!

Going to see my nephew Chris in his last concert at HS--graduates in less than two weeks. My niece will also perform and my brother will get up in the parents participation number and play his sax with the kids. (Any parent that plays an instrument can join in with the band in this one section. Should be fun to see how it turns out.)

Wishing a good Memorial Day for US PCs but no less a happy weekend to Paul and all!

MaryS, just saw video of the tornadoes in Colorado, and hoping you are safe in your area.

Thank you all for your prayers for Leah. She's a fighter, and since her first attack on May 5th, she is now driving the car a bit, tries not to walk with a cane, and hopes to go to work on June 2...fingers crossed.

She will be giving herself a regimen of drug injections at home, and we pray that will stop the
disease from progressing. Her twin, Marcia spends
2 days a week with her, and she is a wonderful tonic for Leah...and for us, knowing that they are together, supporting each other.

Yes, the grace and beauty of Melody posing in her costume(I have seen a picture) reminds me of Tara (Fran) too! Ole! Ole!

Shalom and Love,

Grandma Mil

Shalom and Love,

Grandma Mil

Hello all. Thanks for the well wishes as Springtime in the Rockies goes a little (lot) crazy! The tornados were about 50 miles from Denver. I live in a suburb about 20 minutes north of Denver. It's been a VERY weird weather day. So much wind and a couple of nights ago, we had over 80 strikes of lightning per minute!! It was a light show in the sky! This isn't even tornado month here. We normally call June the heaviest month. Eeeks.

The hail was about the size of baseballs! Not here though. We got a few sprinkles and mostly crazy winds. It's very rare to get a tornado where I live, but we've had plenty of close calls and the lightning is so deadly when it strikes.

Another reminder of our lack of control over our world.

I just took a picture of a beautiful bunny curled up on my front lawn. So cute!

Liz, you're so funny. I WAS in the Rockies on Sunday. I went with a couple of friends into the Rocky Mountain National Forest and saw so many elk and beautiful wild flowers already blooming. It was glorious! But that's another mile above sea level from where I live, which is already one mile above sea level. :) I'm only about 45 minutes from being in the mountains! What a site!

Hope everyone is well and hanging in there with life's challenges. I find it so exciting when nature shows it's power!!

Need to state that in no way do I find it exciting that people lost their homes and belongings today. I re-read my post and I sound flippant about today's events. I am seriously so sad for the people who were affected by this today. You just never know what each day will bring and each day that you make it through the day is a miracle!

p.s. Liz, guess what? I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I came to Colorado in 1993 and I now call this home. :)

my test message number 4

MaryS, you described spring so beautifully that I thought you were in the wildnerness, but you really were in the Rocky Mt over the wkend. Your independent streak is mostly LA then, with a little Colorado wilderness thrown in. Melody, I would like to see you in the bata de cola, a la Fran...were the pics in the site, as G. Mil said she saw it.

Enjoy your memorial day wkend PCs! Also happy wkend to Paul and your family. And also to Cat!

While the "bata" picture isn't part of this album, it will give an idea of our last concert.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=15394&l=d0516&id=723484024

I'll try to get the "bata" pix scanned (still no scanner at home!) and will send a link soon.

Happy weekend all!

Melody! The pictures are so cool! Thanks for sharing with us. I bet the performances are wonderful to see.

What a talented bunch hang out on this corner.

Have a great weekend everyone. :)

Melody, you are so beautiful. You resemble Fran so much...Maybe we can add Scott to the pictures. Then it will be Scott and Fran/Melody. You are one beautiful talented artist. Thank you for sharing the pictures!!! Will look forward to the bata picture when scanned or maybe even video clips of you dancing.

Melody, you are a real life Fran! Why did you pick Flamenco dance over other types of dancing? As child it looked like you were dancing ballet or tap, was the flamenco a later choice/ What led to it? Dancers, poets, writers, singers, this site has so may creative people.

Liz--I think we need to leave Scott and Fran sacrosanct (that's sacred!!).

I was always drawn to Spanish music since I was a child--I have Polish ancestry, and along with the ballet and tap, I also performed Polish national dances while growing up. But there was something so mystically different about Spanish music, or if I saw the dance in films, like Tyrone Power's movies like Blood and Sand, Zorro, and also Jose Greco on Ed Sullivan and in movies.

One day I was riding my bike around the local university and I heard flamenco music coming from the windows while riding by. They were playing castanets while dancing, so on. I found myself enrolling within the month for a semester of Spanish Dance. I then received a scholarship to study with the company. That was 30 years ago!!

Believe me, if anyone had told me that I'd still be dancing and teaching this many years later, I would not have believed it!

Scott and Fran have a very special place in my heart. And ¡olé! to Paul and Tara for portraying these wonderful characters and giving us a memorable movie. :)

Wow, I go away for a few days... Ok, so more than a few days. ;o)

Evelyn, my house is good. I've been living in it now for a full 2 weeks. It's good to be home. (I'm sure you will feel the same when you see your mother and sister again.)

Mary S, I'm glad you were not affected by the tornado. Your post about going into the Rockies really sounded wonderful though. I don't live all that far from the mountains here in VA either... I don't know why I don't take a day to explore, or even a weekend and maybe find a B&B to stay in for the night.

Melody, you should get one of those all-in-one machines (printer, fax, scanner) so you will have all your needs taken care of. ;o) They aren't all that expensive - unless you're going for top of the line. LOL

Grandma Mil, I'm happy to hear that Leah is moving forward. I feel very positive that good things are in the future for her.

Julie, smoke is horrible for anyone with respiratory problems. When I was much younger growing up in FL we had horrible wild fires, and I remember the thick smoke and ash on everything for miles. I think if I had to go through that now I'd probably end up in the E/R on oxygen.

I do hope my friends here at PC are enjoying their weekend. Other than the computer break I'm taking, I plan to spend my 3-day weekend working on homework for my current uni course. *blech* The assignment didn't sound so time consuming when she posted it on the board Tuesday night - then I actually looked at the exercises in the book. Ah well, I'm doing all this for a good purpose. One day it will all be worth the hard work.

Just a quick hello from home (well, the German home that is :)) yes, it does feel good to be with my family and as of almost 2 hours ago, we are all together, me back from the states, my sister from the UK, Mum (who was in Switzerland last week) and my sister who was in Berlin for work. It's lovely to be together with them all, speaking of which, I should spend some time with them, shouldn't I? Hugs to all!

Follow this link to listen to Paul say toH-mahto not to-may-toe, talk about his dad, and caring about and saving chicken and pigs in captivity, biking and getting lost.

http://andyandadrian.com/2008/04/10/paulmercurio/

"Handsome, muscular Australian dancer turned actor, with thick, dark hair and a playfully boyish and naughty manner..."--Fr. Hollywood Review

Wow, Liz--that was great!!

Kudos to Paul for his thoughts on taking responsibility for where and how we buy our food. It is so important to know what we're eating and how it was produced. So many of our farmers are selling off their farms, not to mention those that are hopping on growing corn just for fuel consumption. With the global economy we have today, we no longer just effect home--it's worldwide.

Hope all PCs are enjoying their weekend. Chao!!

Melody,
I enjoyed looking at your pictures. I would love to see you and your group dance sometime. I noticed you were in Chicagoland in the pictures. I am from Peoria. Do you have a website/schedule of performances? My husband and I get to Chicago every once in a while and I would love to see flamenco dancing in person.
Grandma Mil, I have been checking the site daily to see how things are going with Leah. As a nurse, I have an understanding of MS and what she is going through. It sounds like she is a real trooper and I will pray for her. If Dona is still checking the site, I wonder how you are doing. If I recall correctly, you were diagnosed with MS also. I hope you are doing well.
I have been keeping up with everyone by reading the posts, though I don't write much (a litte shy perhaps). I am glad those affected by tornadoes and wildfires and those traveling are safe. Not much going on with my life,just trying to keep up home life and my surgery center. I will be remembering the fallen soldiers and my loved ones who have gone before me tomorrow. I hope you all have a safe Memorial Day.
I enjoyed listening to Paul's radio interview. His voice sounds just as cute as he is!
Take care everyone.
Jill