Rosemary Clooney & Gene Puerling - "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off"

"Delight the mind and awaken the soul"

I could never hold a candle.

I could never hold a candle
to your life.

I could never hold a candle
to your life,
but I will do my best.

I could never hold a candle
to your life,
but I will do my best
to hold my own.

(Anderson 40).



This poem by Kevin Anderson is only one of the "Nested Meditations" from his book "Divinity in Disguise." He developed this awesome form of poetry, which changes the piece's meaning as each line is added. In the introduction of his book, Mr. Anderson has this to say about his new form of the written word:

"I call these pieces meditations rather than poems because they are at odds in several ways with what is considered poetry today. These meditations are presented in a layered or "nested" format. They reveal themselves one line at a time, much like a set of Russian matryoshka dolls" (12).

I feel personally attached to Mr. Anderson's work for several reasons. Not only did my mother help to design the cover of the book, which uses Van Gogh's "Wheat Fields with Reaper, Auvers" (hanging in the Toledo Museum of Art), but I also have a signed copy by the author. His poetry reading was the first I ever attended, and I loved fully experiencing his pieces. Finally, Mr. Anderson's meditation entitled "Joy is succulent, wild!" was part of my award winning Prose and Poetry Reading speech. I competed with my piece, aptly named "Life According to Anne," at several Ohio High School Speech League tournaments and even at the state competition. I hope you enjoy this meditation as much as I do, and I wish that it reminds you to suck the joy of life out of every moment:

Joy is succulent, wild!

Joy is succulent, wild
black raspberries.

Joy is succulent, wild
black raspberries
overhanging every path.

Joy is succulent,
wild black raspberries
overhanging every path,
scratching for your attention right and left.

Joy is succulent, wild
black raspberries
overhanging every path,
scratching for your attention, right? And left
mostly unpicked?

(176).


All poems and excerpts are from Kevin Anderson's book "Divinity in Disguise":
Anderson, Kevin. Divinity in Disguise. Phoenix Color: Hagerstown, 2003.

For more information about Kevin Anderson and his books, visit his website: http://www.divinityindisguise.com/index.html

What do you do with your Friday nights?

Is there anything more visually and intellectually stimulating than a trip to the art museum? No, of course not! Many people do not know about the gem of a museum we have right here in Toledo: the world renowned Toledo Museum of Art at 2445 Monroe Street.

Not only does the TMA have a fantastic collection of art from all over the world and all time periods, but it also brings its art alive through public events and exhibitions. From Tuesday to Sunday (it's closed on Mondays) the TMA is open for free to the public, though occasional exhibits do cost money. Fridays are especially exciting, for the museum stays open until 10:00 pm and features special tours, live music, and glass blowing demonstrations in the super-awesome Glass Pavilion. To those who think art museums are boring, I dare you to walk around the Toledo Museum of Art. Meander until something catches your eye, then approach it (but don't touch) and read the dynamic and fascinating description or explanation of the artist's work that is before you. You may be shocked to learn we have artwork by Andy Warhol, Matisse, VanGogh and many other artists whose pieces you have only seen on calendars. You will be surprised by how much you learn and love-- and if you don't find a thing you like, you simply have no culture.

Here are a few of the things I have done at the Toledo Museum of Art:

1. Taken art lessons (That was in 5th grade, but I still have the pieces I made in a portfolio :))

2. Attended several Friday night programs, the best of which was the unveiling of Guercino's Lot and His Daughters

3. Enjoyed a perfect cup of tea with Mom at the Glass Pavilion's gift shop

4. Brought a friend to the sculpture garden, where we pondered the meaning of abstract art

5. Made a colorful glass flower in the hot shop in celebration of my eighteenth birthday

6. Deepened my respect for art, religion, and foreign cultures

7. Fallen in love with beauty

A few of the gems

These are only a few of my favorite pieces from the Toledo Museum of Art's immense collection.

To see more of the collection or to learn more about the TMA, visit their website: http://www.toledomuseum.org/

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

A world of truth

"A country can be judged by the quality of its proverbs." ~German Proverb

I was moved by my mother's cute inspirational calendar in her office to do a little research on proverbs. A little Googling led me to this description from the '96 Tokyo International Proverb Forum (go figure, an entire proverb convention!):

"The proverb is existent in various peoples' languages and in circulation by formulaic phrases in spoken language as what comprehensively transmits experiences and lessons for a struggle of existence. Different peoples share with each other such features as proverbial forms and contents, because they share practical experiences and wisdom for human beings in order to survive.
The proverb is nevertheless rooted in the soil on which the people live and is realized as formulaic phrases in its language system. Therefore the character of the people is clearly branded in its proverbs. By comparing proverbs of different people with each other, we can find that each people's characteristics of history, economic life, cultural tradition, mentality, morality, sense of value , geographical environments and others are fully expressed in its proverbs. Consequently, in order to understand a people's proverbs, we should observe them in relation with such conditions as its history, economics, culture, customs and mentality. It is by the very method that we can get hold of a people's proverbs in a correct, scientific and deep way."

-Wang Qin (China, Xiangtan University, Professor)

Apparently, proverbs are pretty important pieces of "collective wisdom" from a society. Some are very similar from one society to another, while others differ according to the social class and environment which created them. Some proverbs even poke fun at other ethnic groups, recognizing the prejudices which are present in many countries ("A single Russian hair outweighs half a Pole" ~Traditional Russian saying).

Perhaps you never even realized you were using an old English proverb when you have said "A friend in need is a friend indeed," or perhaps 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Well now you know! I hope you enjoy reading some of my favorite international proverbs.

"You are made of stars!" ~Serbian proverb

"A monkey never thinks her baby is ugly" ~Haitian proverb

"A courtyard common to all will be swept by none" ~Chinese proverb
(this makes me wonder, if it were a Polish proverb, would it be read "A courtyard common to all will be swept by all"? --my aunts just can't sit still when a something needs cleaning!)

"A friend's eye is a good mirror" ~Irish proverb

"A spoon does not know the taste of soup, nor the learned fool the taste of wisdom" ~Welsh proverb

"He who has health has hope. He who has hope has everything" ~Arab proverb

"A throne is only a bench covered with velvet" ~French proverb

"God will be present, whether asked or not" ~Latin proverb

"A book is like a garden carried in the pocket" ~Arab proverb

"If heaven made him, earth will find some use for him" ~Chinese proverb

"Hide not your talents, for use they were made. What's a sundial in the shade?" ~Benjamin Franklin
(The dude was a walking proverb)

"If there is no wind, row." ~Latin proverb

"A heart in love with beauty never grows old" ~Turkish proverb

"Live your own life, for you will die your own death" ~Latin proverb

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline" ~Bible, Proverbs 1:7
(If you are ever in a wisdom-seeking mood, just open the Bible to the Book of Proverbs. I always find something that relates to me when I open to a page of Proverbs!)

"Fear less, hope more,
eat less, chew more,
whine less, breathe more,
talk less, say more,
hate less, love more,
and all good things will be yours"
~Swedish proverb


http://cogweb.ucla.edu/Abstracts/TokyoForum_96.html
http://www.tentmaker.org/Quotes/international_proverbs.htm
http://www.berro.com/entertainment/international_proverbs.htm
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1&version=NIV
http://www.theotherpages.org/quote-05c.html <-- this is the best site to find great sayings!

Mind your Ps and Qs

On my last adventure to the library, I picked up a book entitled Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior by Judith Martin. I was attracted to the book's lovely Tiffany blue and silver cover, but was unsure of how interesting and relevant its contents would be. In all honesty, Miss Manners is one of the most interesting and witty writers I have ever found! Judith Martin is considered to be the "gold standard" of etiquette advice for her years of work as a writer and columnist. This book is "freshly updated" and filled with entirely relevant and important guidelines about what to do when.
The chapter I have most enjoyed reading is the one entitled "Social Intercourse." I find her formula of conversation extremely interesting:

"Conversation consists of developing and playing with ideas by juxtapoing the accumulated conclusions of two or more people and then improvising on them. It requires such ingredients as information, experience, anecdotes, and opinions, but then being prepared to have them challenged and to contribute to a new mixture" (Martin 214).

I suppose I never thought about having a formula for a conversation, but Miss Manners offers this basic structure (paraphrased, of course- I am still working to attain her delightfully proper style of writing):
One speaker begins with a salutation and receives one in exchange. A speaker, usually the first, then makes a statement or asks a question, to which the other speaker responds with another comment or answer. The first speaker further inquires until a personal statement may be made, offering some sort of common ground between the two (or more) speakers. Upon finding a mutual topic of interest the conversation begins. Topics of conversation may be enhanced by short stories or changed entirely to keep all speakers interested and engaged. The speakers must respect other speakers and help them to feel comfortable by not offending their appearance, occupation, economic status, religious beliefs, and other such attributes. Bigotry and foul language must be avoided at all costs. This becomes tricky for many.

So there you have it! With these tips, I wish you the best of conversations and an utterly impressive lack of social awkwardness.


Some questions and answers from the witty and delightful Miss Manners:

"Dear Miss Manners:
When is a VASE a VAHZ?

Gentle Reader:
When it is filled with DAH-ZIES" (213).


"Dear Miss Manners:
What can you do after accidentally calling your present lover by your former lover's name?

Gentle Reader:
Seek a future lover. Such a mistake is easy to do and impossible to undo. Why do you think the term 'darling' was invented?" (350).


"Dear Miss Manners:
What do you consider a good conversation opener?

Gentle Reader:
Almost anything except, 'I've been on a wonderful journey of self-discovery lately, and I'd like to share it with you'" (214).



Check it out:
Martin, Judith. "Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior". New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2005.