Happy Tuesday!
Well, here we are at the final letter. It's funny how a month can seem to pass so quickly and so slowly at the same time. ☺
Today's video inspiration comes from an artist who's relatively new to me: self-taught Russian artist Lora Zombie. Zombie creates what she calls "grunge art," something that I think is better experienced than explained. The video I'm posting today shows Zombie at work on one of her pieces—a fascinating process. You can see more of Zombie's work at her Web site, found here. Enjoy!
Today also marks the end of National Poetry Month and the Pulitzer Remix, a wonderful project I'm honored to have participated in this month. I've had a great time, and I'm sad to see the project end.
You can find my final haiku here. I am truly grateful for those of you who have supported me by reading and commenting on my work. Poetry is my passion, and your comments have meant so much. Thank you.
Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing Tuesday. ☺
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Y is for Yawp
Happy Monday!
Throughout this challenge, I've been posting about the many things that inspire me. I'm excited to reach the letter Y because the word I've chosen for today, yawp, holds a very special meaning.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that this post—with a few changes—is the same one I used for Y during last year's Blogging from A to Z Challenge. I did write a new Y post to use this year, but I wasn't very happy with it. Since my A to Z theme is inspiration, I decided to go with the post that inspired me most. ☺
A yawp is a raucous noise, a yell. Children are, of course, masters of the yawp. Like all kids, mine love to be loud and boisterous and often exercise this love from the moment they wake up until the moment they lay their heads down at night. Yawp can also be used in reference to clamoring and complaining, which I'm sure describes us all from time to time. I heard the word used in this sense more than once when I was growing up: "Dana, quit your yawping and clean up your room." (I never thought I'd one day be saying the same thing to my own kids!)
However, the yawp I want to write about today is a different kind of yawp—it's the barbaric yawp that American poet Walt Whitman described in his "Song of Myself":
Who can forget that wonderful scene in Dead Poet's Society where English professor John Keating (played by Robin Williams) encourages his timid student (Todd Anderson, played by Ethan Hawke) to find his yawp--that indefinable something that lives inside each of us, waiting to be given its voice. In this clip, Todd hasn't been able to complete his assignment, which was to write a poem, and Mr. Keating uses Whitman's idea of the barbaric yawp to help Todd express himself through poetry in a way Todd had never thought possible:
I cry nearly every time I watch this scene. I used to teach college English, and I hope that I was able to inspire at least one student the way that Mr. Keating inspired Todd, showing him that not only does he have a barbaric yawp but he can express it--and needs to express it. We all do.
I, too, sound my barbaric yawp. I sound it each time I write a poem, and I sound it here. This blog is my barbaric yawp, my conduit for expressing myself. It's where I give voice to that something deep inside me that aches to be heard. Every time I post, I sound my barbaric yawp across the blogosphere.
We all do.
And I think Mr. Keating—and Mr. Whitman—would be proud.
What's your barbaric yawp? What have you chosen to give voice to today?
**My daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks again to all of you who have been reading and commenting. I'm honored to be participating in the Remix, and your support means so much.
Wishing you all a beautiful Monday. ☺
Throughout this challenge, I've been posting about the many things that inspire me. I'm excited to reach the letter Y because the word I've chosen for today, yawp, holds a very special meaning.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that this post—with a few changes—is the same one I used for Y during last year's Blogging from A to Z Challenge. I did write a new Y post to use this year, but I wasn't very happy with it. Since my A to Z theme is inspiration, I decided to go with the post that inspired me most. ☺
A yawp is a raucous noise, a yell. Children are, of course, masters of the yawp. Like all kids, mine love to be loud and boisterous and often exercise this love from the moment they wake up until the moment they lay their heads down at night. Yawp can also be used in reference to clamoring and complaining, which I'm sure describes us all from time to time. I heard the word used in this sense more than once when I was growing up: "Dana, quit your yawping and clean up your room." (I never thought I'd one day be saying the same thing to my own kids!)
However, the yawp I want to write about today is a different kind of yawp—it's the barbaric yawp that American poet Walt Whitman described in his "Song of Myself":
I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable,
I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.
Who can forget that wonderful scene in Dead Poet's Society where English professor John Keating (played by Robin Williams) encourages his timid student (Todd Anderson, played by Ethan Hawke) to find his yawp--that indefinable something that lives inside each of us, waiting to be given its voice. In this clip, Todd hasn't been able to complete his assignment, which was to write a poem, and Mr. Keating uses Whitman's idea of the barbaric yawp to help Todd express himself through poetry in a way Todd had never thought possible:
I cry nearly every time I watch this scene. I used to teach college English, and I hope that I was able to inspire at least one student the way that Mr. Keating inspired Todd, showing him that not only does he have a barbaric yawp but he can express it--and needs to express it. We all do.
I, too, sound my barbaric yawp. I sound it each time I write a poem, and I sound it here. This blog is my barbaric yawp, my conduit for expressing myself. It's where I give voice to that something deep inside me that aches to be heard. Every time I post, I sound my barbaric yawp across the blogosphere.
We all do.
And I think Mr. Keating—and Mr. Whitman—would be proud.
What's your barbaric yawp? What have you chosen to give voice to today?
**My daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks again to all of you who have been reading and commenting. I'm honored to be participating in the Remix, and your support means so much.
Wishing you all a beautiful Monday. ☺
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Can we really be nearing the end?
 |
| This little guy at the zoo has the right idea: Relax! It's Sunday. |
Happy Sunday! I can hardly believe that those of us participating in the challenge have only two letters to go before it's all over for another year. In many ways, this month has passed quickly, but I'll admit that some days (and some letters), made the month feel like it was dragging along. How has the challenge been for you? Am I the only one who feels like taking a nap?
For those of you who are interested in checking it out, my daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. I've been having such a great time with the Remix; I'll be sad when it's over at the end of the month. Thank you again to everyone who has been reading and commenting. I'm grateful for your support.
Wishing you all a relaxing Sunday. ☺
Saturday, April 27, 2013
X is for X-ray Art
Happy Saturday!
Today's inspiration comes from a type of art that I learned of only recently but find completely fascinating and inspiring: X-ray art. Nick Veasey, a British photographer, works with images created from X-ray imaging, some of which he then manipulates with Photoshop to create some absolutely remarkable results. This video showcases some of his work. Enjoy!
My daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. National Poetry Month is nearly over, and I've been having such a great time participating in this project. Thank you to all of you who have been reading and commenting. Your support means so much.
Wishing you all a fantastic weekend. ☺
Today's inspiration comes from a type of art that I learned of only recently but find completely fascinating and inspiring: X-ray art. Nick Veasey, a British photographer, works with images created from X-ray imaging, some of which he then manipulates with Photoshop to create some absolutely remarkable results. This video showcases some of his work. Enjoy!
My daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. National Poetry Month is nearly over, and I've been having such a great time participating in this project. Thank you to all of you who have been reading and commenting. Your support means so much.
Wishing you all a fantastic weekend. ☺
Friday, April 26, 2013
W is for Words
Happy Friday, friends!
Today's inspiration is all about words. I love words. I always have. When I was in elementary school, my favorite word was identification. I remember spelling it out loud over and over again, no doubt driving everyone around me crazy. I just liked the way it sounded: id-en-ti-fi-ca-ti-on. I admired its beauty and rhythm, even if I couldn't express those feelings at such a young age.
Now, at a significantly older age, I can appreciate the sound and beauty of words, how they hit the ear and feel on the tongue, and as a writer, I'm inspired by the way they can be crafted and turned into something quite beautiful. I think that's the main reason I enjoy writing poetry so much, particularly haiku. I love the pictures I can paint with the right choice of words.
In addition to being beautiful, though, words are also powerful, as you'll see in today's video inspiration. I hope you enjoy it.
My daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. To those of you who have been reading and commenting: Thank you. Your support means so much!
Wishing you all a wonderful Friday. ☺
Today's inspiration is all about words. I love words. I always have. When I was in elementary school, my favorite word was identification. I remember spelling it out loud over and over again, no doubt driving everyone around me crazy. I just liked the way it sounded: id-en-ti-fi-ca-ti-on. I admired its beauty and rhythm, even if I couldn't express those feelings at such a young age.
Now, at a significantly older age, I can appreciate the sound and beauty of words, how they hit the ear and feel on the tongue, and as a writer, I'm inspired by the way they can be crafted and turned into something quite beautiful. I think that's the main reason I enjoy writing poetry so much, particularly haiku. I love the pictures I can paint with the right choice of words.
In addition to being beautiful, though, words are also powerful, as you'll see in today's video inspiration. I hope you enjoy it.
My daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. To those of you who have been reading and commenting: Thank you. Your support means so much!
Wishing you all a wonderful Friday. ☺
Thursday, April 25, 2013
V is for (Creative) Videos
Happy Thursday! Can you believe we have only four more letters to go in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge? ☺
My inspiration today comes from the interesting and innovative videos I find on YouTube. I'd like to feature two of my favorites today. I've posted both of them in the past year or so, but I think they're exceptional and definitely worth posting again! I hope you enjoy them.
The first video comes from UK-based filmmakers Luke White and Remi Weekes. Known as Tell No One, the duo posts videos of their experiments with in-motion sculpture and other video techniques. You can see more examples of their work at their Web site, found here.
I'm absolutely in love with this second video, which was filmed for A Fine Frenzy's "Sleepwalking." It's done using stop-motion techniques, and I think it's creative and magical and beautifully done. ☺
Lyrics here.
My daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. A big thanks to those of you who are reading and commenting. I appreciate your support!
Wishing you all a magical Thursday. ☺
My inspiration today comes from the interesting and innovative videos I find on YouTube. I'd like to feature two of my favorites today. I've posted both of them in the past year or so, but I think they're exceptional and definitely worth posting again! I hope you enjoy them.
The first video comes from UK-based filmmakers Luke White and Remi Weekes. Known as Tell No One, the duo posts videos of their experiments with in-motion sculpture and other video techniques. You can see more examples of their work at their Web site, found here.
I'm absolutely in love with this second video, which was filmed for A Fine Frenzy's "Sleepwalking." It's done using stop-motion techniques, and I think it's creative and magical and beautifully done. ☺
Lyrics here.
My daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. A big thanks to those of you who are reading and commenting. I appreciate your support!
Wishing you all a magical Thursday. ☺
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
U is for Unique Art
Happy Wednesday!
Today's inspiration comes from the unique art of multimedia artist Phil Hansen, whose work as been featured on the Discovery Channel, Dr. Phil, Good Morning America, CNN, and many other media venues. He is a master at creating art from such nontraditional objects as burger grease, worms, and tricycle wheel imprints. In this video, he shows how he uses a pushpin to tattoo a banana—pretty creative!
If you'd like to learn more about Phil, be sure to check out his sites: At Phil in the Whaaat? you can see more of Phil's nontraditional art. To check out his more traditional work, go to Phil in the Circle.
My daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Many thanks once again to all of you who have been taking the time to read and comment. It really means a lot!
Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday. ☺
Today's inspiration comes from the unique art of multimedia artist Phil Hansen, whose work as been featured on the Discovery Channel, Dr. Phil, Good Morning America, CNN, and many other media venues. He is a master at creating art from such nontraditional objects as burger grease, worms, and tricycle wheel imprints. In this video, he shows how he uses a pushpin to tattoo a banana—pretty creative!
If you'd like to learn more about Phil, be sure to check out his sites: At Phil in the Whaaat? you can see more of Phil's nontraditional art. To check out his more traditional work, go to Phil in the Circle.
My daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Many thanks once again to all of you who have been taking the time to read and comment. It really means a lot!
Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday. ☺
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
T is for (Reality) TV
Happy Tuesday!
I love reality TV—good reality TV. I'm talking about the kinds of shows that feature people who are working toward obtaining a serious goal, something they've dreamed about doing for most (if not all) of their lives. Some of my favorites are Top Chef, Project Runway, the now-canceled Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, The Voice, and American Idol. The men and women participating in these shows have dreams—to be a great chef or fashion designer, to become the next big thing in the art world, to rise to the top of the music charts—and I admire their determination to go through whatever obstacles they must go through to make those dreams come true.
(Now if only they made a reality show about writers working toward book contracts. I would definitely tune in to that!)
How about you? Do you watch any reality shows? What do you like (or dislike) about them?
The following video clip is from The Voice. It features Judith Hill, just one of the singers hoping to make her dream come true.
My daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Many thanks to those of you who have been taking the time to read and comment. I'm very grateful for your support!
Wishing you all a fantastic Tuesday. ☺
I love reality TV—good reality TV. I'm talking about the kinds of shows that feature people who are working toward obtaining a serious goal, something they've dreamed about doing for most (if not all) of their lives. Some of my favorites are Top Chef, Project Runway, the now-canceled Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, The Voice, and American Idol. The men and women participating in these shows have dreams—to be a great chef or fashion designer, to become the next big thing in the art world, to rise to the top of the music charts—and I admire their determination to go through whatever obstacles they must go through to make those dreams come true.
(Now if only they made a reality show about writers working toward book contracts. I would definitely tune in to that!)
How about you? Do you watch any reality shows? What do you like (or dislike) about them?
The following video clip is from The Voice. It features Judith Hill, just one of the singers hoping to make her dream come true.
My daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Many thanks to those of you who have been taking the time to read and comment. I'm very grateful for your support!
Wishing you all a fantastic Tuesday. ☺
Monday, April 22, 2013
S is for Stop-Motion Videos
Happy Monday! Can you believe we're already up to Day S in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge?
Today's inspiration comes from my fascination with stop-motion video, which Wikipedia defines as "an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence."
I admire and respect everyone who works with this technique, but my absolute favorite stop-motion video features singer Oren Lavie's "Her Morning Elegance." It's a beautiful video comprised of an amazing 2,096 still frames. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Lyrics here.
My daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks again (and again!) to all of you who have been reading and commenting. Your support means so much!
Wishing you all a lovely Monday. ☺
Today's inspiration comes from my fascination with stop-motion video, which Wikipedia defines as "an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence."
I admire and respect everyone who works with this technique, but my absolute favorite stop-motion video features singer Oren Lavie's "Her Morning Elegance." It's a beautiful video comprised of an amazing 2,096 still frames. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Lyrics here.
My daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks again (and again!) to all of you who have been reading and commenting. Your support means so much!
Wishing you all a lovely Monday. ☺
Sunday, April 21, 2013
It's Sunday!
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| I think it's finally spring! |
I hope those of you participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge are resting up for the final leg. I know I am. I can't believe we're almost at the end of the month (and the alphabet)! It's been quite the journey: tiring but also a lot of fun.
For those of you who are interested in checking it out, my daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Many thanks to those of you have been reading and commenting. I'm having so much fun with the project, and I really appreciate all your support!
Wishing you all a peaceful and happy Sunday. ☺
Saturday, April 20, 2013
R is for Reba McEntire
Happy Saturday!
Today's inspiration comes from Reba McEntire. As a rule, I'm not a huge fan of country music. I love Johnny Cash and enjoy a few contemporary country artists, but I usually prefer listening to other types of music. However, the video I've chosen for today—"Because of You," a duet by Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson—is one I can watch again and again. It's a beautiful song and a wonderfully done video, and I find it inspirational simply because I enjoy it so much.
How about you? Do you find any music videos inspirational? Are there any collaborations that you just love?
Lyrics here.
My daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks again to everyone who has been reading and commenting. I'm grateful for your support!
Wishing you all a relaxing Saturday. ☺
Today's inspiration comes from Reba McEntire. As a rule, I'm not a huge fan of country music. I love Johnny Cash and enjoy a few contemporary country artists, but I usually prefer listening to other types of music. However, the video I've chosen for today—"Because of You," a duet by Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson—is one I can watch again and again. It's a beautiful song and a wonderfully done video, and I find it inspirational simply because I enjoy it so much.
How about you? Do you find any music videos inspirational? Are there any collaborations that you just love?
Lyrics here.
My daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks again to everyone who has been reading and commenting. I'm grateful for your support!
Wishing you all a relaxing Saturday. ☺
Friday, April 19, 2013
Q is for Quiet
Happy Friday!
Today we've arrived at what I think is one of the hardest letters, Q. Last year, when my topic was My Favorite Things, I wrote about quiet and how much I enjoy—and need—quiet time to myself. As I searched for a Q-word to go with this year's theme, Things That Inspire Me, I realized that "quiet" fits once again.
Quiet inspires me. I like to write when I'm alone, when no one is around me, somewhere there's no background noise to interfere with my thoughts. Oh, occasionally I'll jot down a note or two—a line of poetry, perhaps—when I'm out with others, but otherwise, quiet is a key component of my writing life. It inspires me to write.
Today's video inspiration isn't about being quiet as much as it's about being alone. I posted it once before—almost exactly a year ago—and because I love it so much, I've been waiting for the opportunity to post it again. It's a poem called "How To Be Alone," written and performed by poet/singer/songwriter Tanya Davis and directed and animated by filmmaker Andrea Dorfman. It's an inspiring piece that shows why being alone—even in public—is a great thing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
My daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. I'm grateful for those of you who have been reading and commenting on my work this month. Thank you for your support!
Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing Friday. ☺
Today we've arrived at what I think is one of the hardest letters, Q. Last year, when my topic was My Favorite Things, I wrote about quiet and how much I enjoy—and need—quiet time to myself. As I searched for a Q-word to go with this year's theme, Things That Inspire Me, I realized that "quiet" fits once again.
Quiet inspires me. I like to write when I'm alone, when no one is around me, somewhere there's no background noise to interfere with my thoughts. Oh, occasionally I'll jot down a note or two—a line of poetry, perhaps—when I'm out with others, but otherwise, quiet is a key component of my writing life. It inspires me to write.
Today's video inspiration isn't about being quiet as much as it's about being alone. I posted it once before—almost exactly a year ago—and because I love it so much, I've been waiting for the opportunity to post it again. It's a poem called "How To Be Alone," written and performed by poet/singer/songwriter Tanya Davis and directed and animated by filmmaker Andrea Dorfman. It's an inspiring piece that shows why being alone—even in public—is a great thing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
My daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. I'm grateful for those of you who have been reading and commenting on my work this month. Thank you for your support!
Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing Friday. ☺
Thursday, April 18, 2013
P is for Pilobolus
Happy Thursday!
Today's inspiration comes from Pilobolus, an amazing Connecticut-based dance company. Like all of the people I've featured this month, the members of Pilobolus have a dream and work hard for it. Seeing that kind of dedication to a goal drives me all the more to work toward my own goals. If these talented men and women can reach their goals, so can I. ☺
I'm including two clips here because I just couldn't choose a favorite. Enjoy!
My daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks to all of you who read and comment on my poems each day. Your support means so much!
Wishing you all a thrilling Thursday. ☺
Today's inspiration comes from Pilobolus, an amazing Connecticut-based dance company. Like all of the people I've featured this month, the members of Pilobolus have a dream and work hard for it. Seeing that kind of dedication to a goal drives me all the more to work toward my own goals. If these talented men and women can reach their goals, so can I. ☺
I'm including two clips here because I just couldn't choose a favorite. Enjoy!
My daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks to all of you who read and comment on my poems each day. Your support means so much!
Wishing you all a thrilling Thursday. ☺
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
O is for "Over the Rainbow"
Happy Wednesday!
I don't know how I could write a list of things that inspire me without including "Over the Rainbow," that classic song about dreams coming true. So many people have recorded versions of this tune—Eva Cassidy, Frank Sinatra, and Eric Clapton among them—but to me the Rainbow will always belong to Judy Garland and her beautiful voice.
How about you? Are there any songs that inspire you to follow your dreams?
My haiku for today is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks to everyone who has been supporting me by reading and commenting. I truly appreciate it!
Wishing you all an inspiring Wednesday. ☺
I don't know how I could write a list of things that inspire me without including "Over the Rainbow," that classic song about dreams coming true. So many people have recorded versions of this tune—Eva Cassidy, Frank Sinatra, and Eric Clapton among them—but to me the Rainbow will always belong to Judy Garland and her beautiful voice.
How about you? Are there any songs that inspire you to follow your dreams?
My haiku for today is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks to everyone who has been supporting me by reading and commenting. I truly appreciate it!
Wishing you all an inspiring Wednesday. ☺
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
N is for Nestlé Nostalgia
Happy Tuesday, friends!
Admittedly, today's bit of inspiration probably comes off as a bit strange. It's kind of like one of those Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon games—sort of. ☺
Here goes: As a child, I loved Nestlé Quik. I couldn't get enough of it. I'd drink it; I'd put it on ice cream. When I got older, I'd sometimes put it in coffee. I thought it was great. But in another way, it was very, very bad. I think—no, I know—that it started my chocolate obsession.
Nowadays, chocolate is something I need, and not in powder form. Oh, no. I want the hard stuff: the Cadbury and the Hershey's and the Lindt. My waistline begs for mercy, and still I crave milk chocolate and dark chocolate. I'll even eat unsweetened baking chocolate. (It's actually quite good!) The only chocolate I don't care for is white chocolate, which technically isn't even chocolate at all and shouldn't be sullying chocolate's good name—but I digress.
So I know what you're thinking: Dana, your A to Z theme is about things that inspire you. How in the world does "Nestlé Nostalgia" fit in? It's a good question. Here's your answer:
If it weren't for Nestlé Quik, I wouldn't be a writer. (How's that for dramatic? ☺) Seriously, chocolate is my writing reward. Chocolate drives me to create—to eat chocolate, I must create—so therefore, I find chocolate to be very inspiring.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why Nestlé Nostalgia is on my list of things that inspire me.
Now please enjoy this nostalgic Nestlé Quik commercial. It's glorious in all of its cheesiness!
My daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks again to everyone who has been reading and commenting. I love writing haiku, and I'm having a great time with the project. Your support means so much!
Wishing you all a wonderful Tuesday. ☺
Admittedly, today's bit of inspiration probably comes off as a bit strange. It's kind of like one of those Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon games—sort of. ☺
Here goes: As a child, I loved Nestlé Quik. I couldn't get enough of it. I'd drink it; I'd put it on ice cream. When I got older, I'd sometimes put it in coffee. I thought it was great. But in another way, it was very, very bad. I think—no, I know—that it started my chocolate obsession.
Nowadays, chocolate is something I need, and not in powder form. Oh, no. I want the hard stuff: the Cadbury and the Hershey's and the Lindt. My waistline begs for mercy, and still I crave milk chocolate and dark chocolate. I'll even eat unsweetened baking chocolate. (It's actually quite good!) The only chocolate I don't care for is white chocolate, which technically isn't even chocolate at all and shouldn't be sullying chocolate's good name—but I digress.
So I know what you're thinking: Dana, your A to Z theme is about things that inspire you. How in the world does "Nestlé Nostalgia" fit in? It's a good question. Here's your answer:
If it weren't for Nestlé Quik, I wouldn't be a writer. (How's that for dramatic? ☺) Seriously, chocolate is my writing reward. Chocolate drives me to create—to eat chocolate, I must create—so therefore, I find chocolate to be very inspiring.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why Nestlé Nostalgia is on my list of things that inspire me.
Now please enjoy this nostalgic Nestlé Quik commercial. It's glorious in all of its cheesiness!
My daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks again to everyone who has been reading and commenting. I love writing haiku, and I'm having a great time with the project. Your support means so much!
Wishing you all a wonderful Tuesday. ☺
Monday, April 15, 2013
M is for Mural Art
Happy Monday!
Today's inspiration comes from mural art—specifically the work of mural artist Jamie Kerr. I'm not an artist by any means, but I still admire people like Kerr who do have that talent and pursue it. It took Kerr six days to paint the mural in the video below, and I think the result is completely fantastic. Be sure to check out how realistic the people in the finished mural look. They're pretty amazing!
My haiku for today is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Many thanks to all of you who have been reading and commenting. I appreciate your support!
Wishing you all a fantastic Monday. ☺
Today's inspiration comes from mural art—specifically the work of mural artist Jamie Kerr. I'm not an artist by any means, but I still admire people like Kerr who do have that talent and pursue it. It took Kerr six days to paint the mural in the video below, and I think the result is completely fantastic. Be sure to check out how realistic the people in the finished mural look. They're pretty amazing!
My haiku for today is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Many thanks to all of you who have been reading and commenting. I appreciate your support!
Wishing you all a fantastic Monday. ☺
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Congratulations! (and a small request)
Happy Sunday, friends!
Tomorrow marks the halfway point for those of us participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Congratulations to everyone who has made it this far, and good luck with the rest of your posts!
Tomorrow also marks the halfway point in another challenge I'm participating in—the Pulitzer Remix. For those who haven't heard of the project, here's a brief explanation of what it's all about, taken from the Pulitzer Remix site:
"Eighty-five poets are creating found poetry from the 85 Pulitzer Prize-winning works of fiction as part of Pulitzer Remix, a 2013 National Poetry Month initiative. Each poet will post one poem per day on this website during the month of April, resulting in the creation of more than 2,500 poems by the project’s conclusion."
It's really a fascinating project, and I'm thrilled that I was one of the poets chosen to participate! I'm writing daily haiku taken from words I've found and remixed in John Updike's Rabbit is Rich.
On to my request: If you have a moment, please go to the Remix site and take a look at my haiku for today. You can find it here. Now, I've said this before and I'll continue to say it: Thank you so much to those of you who have been reading and commenting on my poems. I know April is a busy month for a lot of us, and I appreciate your support more than you know!
Wishing you all a beautiful and relaxing Sunday. ☺
Tomorrow marks the halfway point for those of us participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Congratulations to everyone who has made it this far, and good luck with the rest of your posts!
Tomorrow also marks the halfway point in another challenge I'm participating in—the Pulitzer Remix. For those who haven't heard of the project, here's a brief explanation of what it's all about, taken from the Pulitzer Remix site:
"Eighty-five poets are creating found poetry from the 85 Pulitzer Prize-winning works of fiction as part of Pulitzer Remix, a 2013 National Poetry Month initiative. Each poet will post one poem per day on this website during the month of April, resulting in the creation of more than 2,500 poems by the project’s conclusion."
It's really a fascinating project, and I'm thrilled that I was one of the poets chosen to participate! I'm writing daily haiku taken from words I've found and remixed in John Updike's Rabbit is Rich.
On to my request: If you have a moment, please go to the Remix site and take a look at my haiku for today. You can find it here. Now, I've said this before and I'll continue to say it: Thank you so much to those of you who have been reading and commenting on my poems. I know April is a busy month for a lot of us, and I appreciate your support more than you know!
Wishing you all a beautiful and relaxing Sunday. ☺
Saturday, April 13, 2013
L is for LEGO Art
Happy Saturday!
Today's inspiration comes from a man who's simply fantastic at what he does: LEGO Artist Nathan Sawaya. (You can find his Web site here.) Sawaya, a former New York City attorney, builds custom three-dimensional LEGO sculptures that are commissioned by people and galleries all over the world. Most of his pieces sell for $10,000 to $20,000, and one of his large pieces sold for six figures. Amazing!
I admire Sawaya not only for his remarkable talent but because he wasn't afraid to go after what he knew would make him happy in life. He left his job as a corporate attorney in 2004 to focus on becoming a full-time artist. That took determination, and I admire that.
I decided to post two short videos about Sawaya and his art. In the first, he talks a little about his process, and in the second, he tells how he got started as a LEGO artist. In both, you'll see wonderful examples of his work. I hope you enjoy them!
Also, my daily haiku for the Pulitzer Remix project is now up. You can find it here. Thanks again to those of you who have been reading and commenting on my poems. I'm so grateful for your support!
Wishing you all a creative Saturday. ☺
Today's inspiration comes from a man who's simply fantastic at what he does: LEGO Artist Nathan Sawaya. (You can find his Web site here.) Sawaya, a former New York City attorney, builds custom three-dimensional LEGO sculptures that are commissioned by people and galleries all over the world. Most of his pieces sell for $10,000 to $20,000, and one of his large pieces sold for six figures. Amazing!
I admire Sawaya not only for his remarkable talent but because he wasn't afraid to go after what he knew would make him happy in life. He left his job as a corporate attorney in 2004 to focus on becoming a full-time artist. That took determination, and I admire that.
I decided to post two short videos about Sawaya and his art. In the first, he talks a little about his process, and in the second, he tells how he got started as a LEGO artist. In both, you'll see wonderful examples of his work. I hope you enjoy them!
Also, my daily haiku for the Pulitzer Remix project is now up. You can find it here. Thanks again to those of you who have been reading and commenting on my poems. I'm so grateful for your support!
Wishing you all a creative Saturday. ☺
Friday, April 12, 2013
K is for Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway"
Happy Friday, and welcome to Day "K" of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge!
Today's inspiration comes from Kelly Clarkson and her 2004 hit song, "Breakaway." I don't know much about Clarkson's recent work, but I've always felt inspired by this song about growing up, moving on, and having the courage to follow dreams. Although Clarkson didn't write the song, she has said that she can relate to its story and as a child always felt that there was something else out there for her. In the video—as in real life—we see Clarkson, the first winner of American Idol, following her dream, and I think that's very inspiring. ☺
Lyrics here.
Also, just a reminder that my daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Many thanks to everyone reading and commenting. Your support means so much!
Wishing you all an inspiring Friday. ☺
Today's inspiration comes from Kelly Clarkson and her 2004 hit song, "Breakaway." I don't know much about Clarkson's recent work, but I've always felt inspired by this song about growing up, moving on, and having the courage to follow dreams. Although Clarkson didn't write the song, she has said that she can relate to its story and as a child always felt that there was something else out there for her. In the video—as in real life—we see Clarkson, the first winner of American Idol, following her dream, and I think that's very inspiring. ☺
Lyrics here.
Also, just a reminder that my daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Many thanks to everyone reading and commenting. Your support means so much!
Wishing you all an inspiring Friday. ☺
Thursday, April 11, 2013
J is for (The) Johnny Cash Project
Happy Thursday! ☺
Today's video inspiration comes from The Johnny Cash Project, an ongoing, collaborative effort to create "a living portrait of the Man in Black." What I find most inspirational about this video is that anyone can contribute to it. All you have to do is go to the Web site and use their program to create a portrait of Johnny. (And you don't even have to be an artist!) All the portraits are then integrated into the video for Cash's "Ain't No Grave."
I first posted about this project about six months ago, but I wanted to include it in my A to Z of Inspiration because the video is constantly changing as people contribute their artwork. The version below is from 2012. To see the latest version and/or contribute your own portrait, visit the Web site. I haven't made my contribution yet, but I plan to. Let me know if you decide to contribute, too.
My latest haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Many thanks to all of you who have been reading and commenting! I appreciate your support.
Wishing you all a fantastic Thursday. ☺
Today's video inspiration comes from The Johnny Cash Project, an ongoing, collaborative effort to create "a living portrait of the Man in Black." What I find most inspirational about this video is that anyone can contribute to it. All you have to do is go to the Web site and use their program to create a portrait of Johnny. (And you don't even have to be an artist!) All the portraits are then integrated into the video for Cash's "Ain't No Grave."
I first posted about this project about six months ago, but I wanted to include it in my A to Z of Inspiration because the video is constantly changing as people contribute their artwork. The version below is from 2012. To see the latest version and/or contribute your own portrait, visit the Web site. I haven't made my contribution yet, but I plan to. Let me know if you decide to contribute, too.
My latest haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Many thanks to all of you who have been reading and commenting! I appreciate your support.
Wishing you all a fantastic Thursday. ☺
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
I is for Improv Everywhere
Happy Wednesday, friends!
Today's inspiration comes from Improv Everywhere, a prank collective whose mission is to "cause scenes of chaos and joy in public places." This group, created by Charlie Todd, inspires me to think about the things that bring joy to other people's lives. I also admire the level of creativity involved in their pranks. They've done some great ones over the years; the one I've posted below is probably my favorite. In it, over 200 people freeze in place on cue in Grand Central Terminal in New York! If you enjoy this prank, check out the group's Web site to learn more and view other videos. (No Pants Subway Ride and Star Wars Subway Car are both pretty popular!)
My daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks again for all the views and comments. I appreciate the support!
Wishing you all an inspirational Wednesday. ☺
Today's inspiration comes from Improv Everywhere, a prank collective whose mission is to "cause scenes of chaos and joy in public places." This group, created by Charlie Todd, inspires me to think about the things that bring joy to other people's lives. I also admire the level of creativity involved in their pranks. They've done some great ones over the years; the one I've posted below is probably my favorite. In it, over 200 people freeze in place on cue in Grand Central Terminal in New York! If you enjoy this prank, check out the group's Web site to learn more and view other videos. (No Pants Subway Ride and Star Wars Subway Car are both pretty popular!)
My daily haiku is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Thanks again for all the views and comments. I appreciate the support!
Wishing you all an inspirational Wednesday. ☺
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
H is for (The) Happiness Project
Happy Tuesday!
Today's video inspiration comes from Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project and Happier at Home. Rubin has said that "the days are long, but the years are short," and I think there's a lot of truth to that. Although this video focuses on parenthood, I think it also serves as a reminder to all of us that our happiness should be found in the present. The future is important, of course, but so is today, and we should focus on the things that matter to us right now and enjoy each moment we have. I find that very inspiring.
What makes you happy? Are you focusing on those things today?
Many of you know that I'm a writer—a poet who enjoys writing haiku (another "h" word!). If you're interested in learning a bit more about types of haiku, please see my short post from last year's Blogging from A to Z Challenge. And once again, I want to let you know that my haiku for the Pulitzer Remix project is up at the site. You can find it here. Again, I'd like to thank those of you who have been reading and commenting. I know I say that every day, but your comments truly do mean a lot, and I appreciate them.
Wishing you all a beautiful Tuesday. Carpe diem! ☺
Today's video inspiration comes from Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project and Happier at Home. Rubin has said that "the days are long, but the years are short," and I think there's a lot of truth to that. Although this video focuses on parenthood, I think it also serves as a reminder to all of us that our happiness should be found in the present. The future is important, of course, but so is today, and we should focus on the things that matter to us right now and enjoy each moment we have. I find that very inspiring.
What makes you happy? Are you focusing on those things today?
Many of you know that I'm a writer—a poet who enjoys writing haiku (another "h" word!). If you're interested in learning a bit more about types of haiku, please see my short post from last year's Blogging from A to Z Challenge. And once again, I want to let you know that my haiku for the Pulitzer Remix project is up at the site. You can find it here. Again, I'd like to thank those of you who have been reading and commenting. I know I say that every day, but your comments truly do mean a lot, and I appreciate them.
Wishing you all a beautiful Tuesday. Carpe diem! ☺
Monday, April 8, 2013
G is for Great Movie Speeches
Happy Monday, and welcome back to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge!
Today I'm inspired by this short compilation of inspirational speeches from forty movies. The video's creator, Matthew Belinkie, did a phenomenal job of putting the scenes together. You can find a transcript of the video as well as some other information from Belinkie here. Enjoy!
My haiku for today is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Again, many thanks to those of you who have been reading and commenting. I'm very grateful!
Wishing you all an inspirational Monday. ☺
Today I'm inspired by this short compilation of inspirational speeches from forty movies. The video's creator, Matthew Belinkie, did a phenomenal job of putting the scenes together. You can find a transcript of the video as well as some other information from Belinkie here. Enjoy!
My haiku for today is up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. Again, many thanks to those of you who have been reading and commenting. I'm very grateful!
Wishing you all an inspirational Monday. ☺
Sunday, April 7, 2013
A great week and a big thank you!
Happy Sunday!
I wanted to thank those of you who have been visiting my blog this week. I've been having a great time with the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. It's such a wonderful opportunity to discover great new blogs and meet new friends. ☺
I also wanted to let you know that my daily haiku is up over at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. I know I keep saying this, but I truly am grateful to those of you who are reading and commenting on my poems. I'm honored that I was one of the eighty-five poets chosen to participate in this project, and I'm so appreciative of those who take the time to read. Thank you!
Wishing you all a fantastic Sunday! Now I'm off to read some blogs. ☺
I wanted to thank those of you who have been visiting my blog this week. I've been having a great time with the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. It's such a wonderful opportunity to discover great new blogs and meet new friends. ☺
I also wanted to let you know that my daily haiku is up over at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. I know I keep saying this, but I truly am grateful to those of you who are reading and commenting on my poems. I'm honored that I was one of the eighty-five poets chosen to participate in this project, and I'm so appreciative of those who take the time to read. Thank you!
Wishing you all a fantastic Sunday! Now I'm off to read some blogs. ☺
Saturday, April 6, 2013
F is for Famous Failures
Happy Saturday!
My A to Z posts are all about the people and things that inspire me to keep following my dreams, no matter what obstacles I encounter. I find a lot of inspiration in today's video, which features several famous people who were told they'd never make it—but they did! If you ever feel like giving up on your dreams, this short video is sure to help you rediscover your motivation. Enjoy!
I'd be grateful if you checked out the haiku I posted for today's Pulitzer Remix Project. You can find it here. Thanks so much to those of you who have been reading and commenting on my poems. I'm very grateful for your support!
Wishing you all an inspirational Saturday. ☺
My A to Z posts are all about the people and things that inspire me to keep following my dreams, no matter what obstacles I encounter. I find a lot of inspiration in today's video, which features several famous people who were told they'd never make it—but they did! If you ever feel like giving up on your dreams, this short video is sure to help you rediscover your motivation. Enjoy!
I'd be grateful if you checked out the haiku I posted for today's Pulitzer Remix Project. You can find it here. Thanks so much to those of you who have been reading and commenting on my poems. I'm very grateful for your support!
Wishing you all an inspirational Saturday. ☺
Friday, April 5, 2013
E is for Etch A Sketch Art
Happy Friday! Welcome to Day E of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. ☺
Today's inspiration is something I didn't learn about until recently, but I find it absolutely fascinating—Etch A Sketch Art! George Vlosich has been creating art using the Etch A Sketch since he was ten years old. Now his pieces are featured in galleries throughout the world. Talk about inspiring! You can see photos of Vlosich's amazing creations at his Web site. The video I've posted here is a time-lapse of the creation of one of his pieces, which took one hundred hours to make. Enjoy!
Also, just a reminder: If you have a minute, please check out the haiku I posted today for the Pulitzer Remix Project. You can find it here. Thanks again to those of you who have been reading and commenting on my poems. I'm very grateful for your support!
Wishing you all a creative and magical Friday. ☺
Today's inspiration is something I didn't learn about until recently, but I find it absolutely fascinating—Etch A Sketch Art! George Vlosich has been creating art using the Etch A Sketch since he was ten years old. Now his pieces are featured in galleries throughout the world. Talk about inspiring! You can see photos of Vlosich's amazing creations at his Web site. The video I've posted here is a time-lapse of the creation of one of his pieces, which took one hundred hours to make. Enjoy!
Also, just a reminder: If you have a minute, please check out the haiku I posted today for the Pulitzer Remix Project. You can find it here. Thanks again to those of you who have been reading and commenting on my poems. I'm very grateful for your support!
Wishing you all a creative and magical Friday. ☺
Thursday, April 4, 2013
D is for Dance
Happy Thursday!
Today I'm feeling inspired by dance. Now I'm not a dancer by any means. You know that person you always see out in the middle of the dance floor who's flailing around all off beat? Yes, 'tis I. ☺
Today I want to highlight someone who can dance: Judson Laipply, an inspirational comedian and the creator of Evolution of Dance. His dance moves are absolutely hilarious, but his message—"Life isn't always the party you hoped for, but while you're here, you might as well dance"—is one in which I think everyone can find some inspiration. Enjoy!
If you have a chance, please check out the haiku I wrote for today's edition of the Pulitzer Remix project. You can find it here. Many thanks to those of you who have been reading and commenting on my poems. I'm very grateful for your support!
Wishing you all a joyful Thursday. ☺
Today I'm feeling inspired by dance. Now I'm not a dancer by any means. You know that person you always see out in the middle of the dance floor who's flailing around all off beat? Yes, 'tis I. ☺
Today I want to highlight someone who can dance: Judson Laipply, an inspirational comedian and the creator of Evolution of Dance. His dance moves are absolutely hilarious, but his message—"Life isn't always the party you hoped for, but while you're here, you might as well dance"—is one in which I think everyone can find some inspiration. Enjoy!
If you have a chance, please check out the haiku I wrote for today's edition of the Pulitzer Remix project. You can find it here. Many thanks to those of you who have been reading and commenting on my poems. I'm very grateful for your support!
Wishing you all a joyful Thursday. ☺
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
C is for Chalk Art
Happy Wednesday!
Today's inspiration comes from an art form I've been fascinated with for some time: chalk art. One of the most well-known of all pavement artists is Julian Beever. He's renowned for his 3-D illusions. Although I myself can barely draw a stick figure, I find a lot of inspiration in Beever's passion for his craft. You can find out more about him and his work at his Web site, found here.
Also, I'm happy to announce that my haiku for today's edition of the Pulitzer Remix is up. You can find it here. If you have a chance, please check it out. I'm so appreciative of those of you who have been visiting and/or commenting on my poems. Thanks so much!
Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday. ☺
Today's inspiration comes from an art form I've been fascinated with for some time: chalk art. One of the most well-known of all pavement artists is Julian Beever. He's renowned for his 3-D illusions. Although I myself can barely draw a stick figure, I find a lot of inspiration in Beever's passion for his craft. You can find out more about him and his work at his Web site, found here.
Also, I'm happy to announce that my haiku for today's edition of the Pulitzer Remix is up. You can find it here. If you have a chance, please check it out. I'm so appreciative of those of you who have been visiting and/or commenting on my poems. Thanks so much!
Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday. ☺
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
B is for Books
Happy Tuesday!
Today's bit of inspiration comes from books—and specifically from this short video about them created by director, editor, and cinematographer Sean Ohlenkamp. Not only does the video inspire me to continue writing in the hopes of one day seeing my own books on the shelves, but I'm also inspired by the artistry of the stop-motion animation Ohlenkamp used in the video's creation. I hope you enjoy his work as much as I do!
Also, my haiku for the Pulitzer Remix is up. You can find it here. If you have a chance, please check it out. I'd really appreciate it!
Wishing you all a happy and creative Tuesday. ☺
Today's bit of inspiration comes from books—and specifically from this short video about them created by director, editor, and cinematographer Sean Ohlenkamp. Not only does the video inspire me to continue writing in the hopes of one day seeing my own books on the shelves, but I'm also inspired by the artistry of the stop-motion animation Ohlenkamp used in the video's creation. I hope you enjoy his work as much as I do!
Also, my haiku for the Pulitzer Remix is up. You can find it here. If you have a chance, please check it out. I'd really appreciate it!
Wishing you all a happy and creative Tuesday. ☺
Monday, April 1, 2013
A is for Art
Happy Monday, and for those of you who are also participating, Happy Blogging from A to Z!
Those of you who are regular readers of my blog know that every Sunday I post what I call Sunday inspiration—short posts and videos about the creative people and things that inspire me. I always have a great time discovering amazing artists and creative people of all genres, so I decided that I would do the same for the A to Z. My theme: Things That Inspire Me. ☺
Today's inspiration really sets the stage for my A to Z posts. It's a music video created by Andrea Dorfman and written and performed by poet/musician Tanya Davis. In it, Davis "ponders the point of art in this life," finally deciding (in my opinion) that following her creative ambitions is certainly worth it. I have to say that I agree. I think this is a great video for all of us who have a dream—whatever it is! Enjoy. ☺
Lyrics here.
An Announcement: Some of you know that this month I'm also participating in the Pulitzer Remix, where I will join eighty-four other poets in writing thirty found poems in thirty days. I've chosen to write thirty haiku. You can find out more information at the Pulitzer Remix site or read my post about the project here. Every day I'll be posting the link to my poem, and I'd appreciate it if you would click it and visit me at the site. Thanks so much!
My haiku for today can be found here.
Also, if you're interested, you can find my interview about poetry and the project here.
Wishing you all a beautiful and inspirational Monday. ☺
Those of you who are regular readers of my blog know that every Sunday I post what I call Sunday inspiration—short posts and videos about the creative people and things that inspire me. I always have a great time discovering amazing artists and creative people of all genres, so I decided that I would do the same for the A to Z. My theme: Things That Inspire Me. ☺
Today's inspiration really sets the stage for my A to Z posts. It's a music video created by Andrea Dorfman and written and performed by poet/musician Tanya Davis. In it, Davis "ponders the point of art in this life," finally deciding (in my opinion) that following her creative ambitions is certainly worth it. I have to say that I agree. I think this is a great video for all of us who have a dream—whatever it is! Enjoy. ☺
Lyrics here.
An Announcement: Some of you know that this month I'm also participating in the Pulitzer Remix, where I will join eighty-four other poets in writing thirty found poems in thirty days. I've chosen to write thirty haiku. You can find out more information at the Pulitzer Remix site or read my post about the project here. Every day I'll be posting the link to my poem, and I'd appreciate it if you would click it and visit me at the site. Thanks so much!
My haiku for today can be found here.
Also, if you're interested, you can find my interview about poetry and the project here.
Wishing you all a beautiful and inspirational Monday. ☺
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