Dancing Through The Paranormal

"Cease trying to work everything out with your own minds. It will get you nowhere. Live by intuition and inspiration and let your whole be revelation."

-Eileen Caddy

I read an interesting article today, from USA Today, by way of AOL news. "Millions Believe In The Paranormal - Particulary Women." According to the article many in America, more women then men, believe in some type of paranormal activity, that apparently, "don't fall under any particular religious umbrella," according to the a Baylor University sociologist who analyzed the survey.

So what comes to mind when we think of the paranormal? If you have been reading my for a while you already know my personal favorite category of the paranormal would be ghosts and haunting's. It fascinates me to think of life after death, and what it might be like. I have always enjoyed some of the first hand accounts of the many sightings of Abraham Lincoln, in the Lincoln bedroom, which have now become part of American folklore. When Winston Churchill stayed as a guest of the White House, he reported seeing the former president, late one evening, walking down the hallway just outside his bedroom door. But Lincoln is not the only ghost to have reportedly been seen. Abigail Adams, and Dolly Madison are said to have been seen roaming the halls and in the Rose Garden area.

Ghosts are not the only thing you will find under the category of the paranormal. UFO's, Spirit Photography, Automatic Writing, Prophetic Dreams, and the belief in advanced civilizations like Atlantis also made the survey. Personally, I think the one thing that we can all identify with is a little something I like to call the, "wiggins." You know, you will be going about your business, when suddenly you will get the distinct feeling that you are not alone, or that something unseen, has changed in the room you are in. The air feels thick and maybe even the hair on the back of your neck or arms will stand on end. Is this feeling actually a dance into the paranormal, or is there some more easily explained idea behind it? Is it merely another form of intuition, or is it pure and simple panic? As a former sufferer of panic attacks, I know a little something about the sudden onset of fear for no apparent reason. I also know that while it might seem as though there is no reason for panic attacks, often times the happen due to subliminal triggers. Triggers that can be a scent, or something you see out of the corner of your eye, that your mind accepts then files away till something triggers it's associative memory.

What about when two people have the "wiggins" at the same time? One summer evening, I went out to dinner with my friend Judy. We went across the bay to San Mateo, to the Red Robin which had been located at the now defunct Fashion Island Mall. We had a very pleasant time at dinner, and then decided to take a drive along the coast from Half Moon Bay, to Santa Cruz. It was a clear, warm summer night, and the conditions along the coastal highway were perfect. Judy was driving, and as we went along we held a conversation in-between the music on the radio. At one point a song came on the station we were listening to, which happened to be a favorite of both of us, and so the conversation went silent. I remember it like it was yesterday, it was Dion Warwick's, "Heartbreaker." That was a mellow little tune, that always reminded me of one of my past loves. Sigh. Anyway, the song was about 2/3 of the way through, when I felt the strangest feeling as if there was something or someone was in the back seat of the car. At the very same moment, so did Judy. We both looked into the back seat at the same time! Then we looked at each other...and asked the same question, "Did you feel it too?" We had both felt a presence at the same time! It was uncomfortable, and with no real way to know what had just happened, we decided to call it an early evening.

Personally, I happen to believe that some souls wander the earth, and to be honest, while I am a believer, I don't always associate the paranormal experiences I have had with spirituality. Truth is, I am not completely sure where the feelings and experiences come from. And like learning the secrets to a great magicians feats of magic, I don't think I ever really want to know their origins. Knowing the answer to all of life's mysteries would make for a boring world, and perhaps a stressful one. Some reportedly "haunted" houses have turned out to have been infected not so much with a ghost, as with toxic mold, which can many types of seemingly spooky happenings, such as strange odors and feelings of depression or oppression by the homes occupants. In those cases however, it is best to take care of it as soon as possible for the good of one's over all health and well being.

Most of us have probably had a "psychic" moment. You know, moments when you just know someone you love needs you, or the phone will ring and somehow you know who is on the other end. According to the survey, about 52% believed in prophetic dreams, and a little more than 40% believed that places can be haunted, but the most striking statistic of the survey said that alternative treatments and therapies such as yoga and aromatherapy are as affective as traditional medicines. I know since beginning a new regime of Yoga, Qi Gong, Meditation and T'ai Chi, this past year, I have found some comfort and peace from the pain that Fibromylagia. I don't use those disciplines exclusively, but coupled with regular check-ups with my doctor and watching my diet, I have found a great deal of benefit from them when practiced together.





Now for some fun, I thought it might be kinda cool to see where we all are on a psychic level. I scored a whopping 82%. LOL. So don't even try to fool me, because I can read your mind! LOL. Seriously, if you want to, feel free to share with me in the comment thread for this entry, how you feel about the world of the paranormal. Have you ever had a psychic experience? Seen a UFO, or a ghost? How do you feel about alternative or new age remedies such as crystals or acupuncture? And, for fun, take the, "Are You Psychic" quiz and share with us your score. Come on... you know you want to. ;) Just click on the above graphic.

-OndineMonet
"Viceroy"
Conservatory of Flowers
San Francisco, California
August 30, 2006
Afternoon

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #129: It Just Doesn't Make Sense!

"Actually I think all addiction begins with soda. Every junkie did soda first. But no one counts that. Maybe they should. The soda connection is clear. Why isn't a presidential commission looking into this? Or at least some guys from the National Carbonation Council."

-Chris Rock

Weekend Assignment #129: Write about something that makes absolutely no sense to you, or that you find almost impossibly ironic. This covers a lot of ground, so let me make it simpler. Write about something you just don't get. You've rolled it around in your brain, you've thought about it, and it just doesn't add up. Yeah. Tell us about that thing. From the enduring popularity of talentless celebrities to people who put mayonnaise on their french fries (yes, I'm looking at you, Belgium,), there's got to be something out there that makes you go, "huh?" Or, for the kids, something that makes you go "WTF?"

Extra Credit: There's a song playing in your head right now. Tell us what it is.

-John Scalzi

Ut oh! I could get myself into big trouble pondering this assignment too much. Most of the time, when I can't seem to make something come together in my brain, it has to do with politics, and why in the world someone would support a certain politician. YIKES. My brain melts because, to date, I don't seem to be able to get a satisfying answer as to why it was good enough for George Bush's parents that he did so academically poor in school. I posed the question some time back, on my AOL journal Ellipsis, "Couldn't they have got him a tutor?" Ok, enough said about politics. How about a couple other things I find bizarre.

The Cola Wars...

I love soda, and Coco-Cola Classic is my very favorite guilty pleasure. I try not to drink the fully leaded sodas with caffeine/sugar, but it has such a yummy taste to me, that in times of stress...well... just one nice, very cold can of the delicious elixir makes everything right with the world. LOL. Also, it goes so well with a nice Black Forest Ham sandwich. LOL. So, when I indulge, I usually purchase that particular flavor exclusively, but lately, I have been noticing all kinds of new, and creative soda varieties of my favorite drink, and even those who consider themselves, "P" people can get in on the newness. Flavors like...

Coca-Cola BlaK, Mountain Dew Pitch Black, Coke Black Cherry Vanilla, Dr. Pepper Berries & Cream, Pepsi JAZZ Strawberries & Cream, Mountain Dew Baja Blast, and Coke with lemon and lime.

Sometimes it seems like cola companies are trying too hard. For years and years the straight up, regular or classic colas did pretty well for themselves. Then one day, someone came up with a genuinely good idea, and offered us our favorite sodas, sans caffeine. A great idea, because I had just discovered the wonderful world of panic attacks, and one of the things I learned was, to cut down on my caffeine intake. Duh me! It had never occurred to me that the sodas that had seen me through so many difficult times, would at some point, be the cause of some very difficult times. Well, that's not completely accurate, the sodas themselves probably never caused one of my panic attacks, but they sure didn't help it.

Now don't get me wrong here, variety is the spice of life, and soda, but with so many combinations available, how does someone, who already has a hard time being decisive, ever make up their mind? I suppose for most, it is as easy as ordering a coffee at Starbuck's. If the old-fashioned soda fountain ever comes back in style, ordering will probably be a lot like how you order your coffee at a trendy coffee house. "I would like a large, no ice, non-caffeine, classic coke, with one shot of cherry syrup and a hint of nutmeg." Or if one happens to have a terrible allergy to cherries, berries, or cream, I am sure the good old-fashioned classic sodas will be still be available and waiting for me, the soda puritans and the allergic consumers of the world. :)

FX...

Does anyone else find it annoying that cable networks like, FX, are able to turn the volume up on our televisions when the shows they air cut to commercials? Every morning when I go to bed at 5:00 am, I turn on FX to watch reruns of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer." I snuggle into the blankets, bring Elvis up really close for a cuddle, and try really hard to fall asleep to the comforting sounds of Buffy saving the world from some otherworldly ugly pugly, only to have my sleepy bliss shattered by some loud obnoxious commercials for "Nip Tuck" that is blasting at me. I know the FCC gave the networks their blessing to do such things, but really, I wish someone would ask me how I feel about it. I have a volume control on my remote for a reason. Thank goodness for the DVD boxed sets of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer." I own all seven seasons, which is good for those days when I simply am not in the mood to have my eardrums blasted.On the other hand, for days when I want that, I turn up the volumn...awww...open a Coke Classic, and let my nerves go where they may. It does a body good! Kinda. LOL.

Extra Credit: The song running through my mind right now is, "I Go Blind" by Hootie & The Blowfish. :)


-OndineMonet

Soup On A Late Summer's Day

"Soup puts the heart at ease, calms down the violence of hunger, eliminates the tension of the day, and awakens the appetite."

-Auguste Escoffier

I wasn't sure about today. The air was cool, but the sun was brilliantly hot. The fog rolled up from the bay earlier than usual, but the temperature stayed warm till late in the afternoon. It was the perfect late summer day, and yet, it was also the perfect early autumn day. I guess it was both. Sigh. My thoughts get all scattered on days like that. Decisions are especially difficult to reach, if they can be reached at all. I don't know why, but I tend to miss people more, and if I can find my own car keys, it is an event. But then again, I am not complaining, because misplacing my car keys isn't as bad as misplacing my shoes, which I also do from time to time. LOL.

With my keys, resting comfortably in some secret place, I decided to do a bit of walking today, between appointment. I am never without my camera when I go out, and I was feeling especially inspired today, because the leaves around town have started to turn. In another couple weeks, the whole town of Berkeley will explode into brilliant autumn lights. Right now, the most prominent indication of the end of summer, are the brown and gold leaves, that are serving as a crisp blanket along almost every street. Sigh.

I was a bit world weary today, my knee was acting up, I forgot my Yoga mat when I left the house, therapy was super nifty fun, and I forgot to eat, so I was feeling a teeny bit off-center. But I had my camera, so while it may not have been the most ideal day, it wasn't all that bad either. As I was coming out of my appointment with Sarah, I saw this old can of Campbell's Chicken Gumbo soup laying in the leaves outside her office. It was old and rusty, the label was faded and worn, but it made me smile because it reminded me of how a bowl of warm Campbell's Vegetarian Vegetable soup, would always make me feel better when I was a little girl. I thought of a couple days when I was around 6 or 7, that had been just awful, at least it had seemed so at the time. I came home from school, refusing to speak, so my mom went into the kitchen, and made me a can of soup. Yum.

To this day, when I am feeling blue, or indecisive, or just off-center, I know I can fix myself a bowl of soup and soon I am all better. I always stop for some veggie pizza on Wednesdays from my favorite pizza shop down on Shattuck. Today's featured pizza was goat cheese and fennel. It was delicious with a bowl of Campbell's Tomato Bisque. :) So, in honor of the goodness of soup, I have created a new poll which you will find on my sidebar, so be sure to vote for your favorite flavor of Campbell's soup! And feel free to share any fun stories you might have about soup in the comments thread of this entry. Sometimes, the simplest times are the best...aren't they?

Your pick for "Favorite TV Supporting Character."

Cpl. Walter Eugene "Radar" O' Reilly - M*A*S*H

"I don't think that this place is turning out to be that great an experience for me. I mean, I work under terrible pressure, and there's lots of death and destruction and stuff, but other than that, I don't think I'm getting much out of it." - M*A*S*H (Fallen Idol)
Click here to see the full results from our last poll, "Your Favorite TV Supporting Character."

-OndineMonet
"Soup On A Late Summer's Day"
Berkeley, California
September 13th, 2006
Afternoon

However You Choose To Look At It

"Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got."

-Art Buchwald

The Cities.

The last five days or so have been difficult, I felt an anxiety and depression over the events of 9/11 like I haven't in previous years. Not sure why. It might be because it has been five years since that day, or half a decade...however you choose to look at it. Somehow, it doesn't seem like it has been that long, and yet, doesn't seem like it actually happened a million years ago, instead of inside of our lifetime? There have been many things that occurred since then that I never thought I would see in my lifetime either... who would have even imagined that New Orleans would, in effect, be washed off the planet, and who would have thought that our own government would have done so little to bring that once vital and engaging city back to it's former glory...or even just to a livable existence. The people who live in those two cities are being let down.

The Heroes.

According to the documentary, "9/11: Toxic Legacy," which is airing on the Discover Times Channel, the Bush Administration pledged $175 million in compensation funds for the medical claims of the over 15,000 clean-up workers at ground zero who have become ill since 9/11, and then took $125 million of those funds back, when the money was not used within a certain time window. There were 40,000 men and women working to clean up ground zero, as first responders, inhaling toxic fumes and contaminents, and doing so without the proper safety equipment such as proper masks and gloves. Over 15,000, of the 40,000 have filed claims. That is a staggering statistic. It made me sick last night to listen to George Bush politicize 9/11. His insistence that the war in Iraq is a vital part to winning the war on terror, is irrational and dangerous. He and his administration are lying to us everyday, just as he did when he said that he was there for the people of New York City and New Orleans.

You and I.

As you probably know, ABC aired a two-part miniseries on Sunday and Monday night called, "The Path To 9/11," which was supposedly based on the 9/11 Commission Report. When I first saw promos for the series, it looked like it would be done in documentary form. Although I have read the report...many times...I was interested in seeing a documentary based on that report. I spend a lot of time watching factual documentaries on the History Channel, Discovery Times, and the National Geographic Channel. The thought of seeing a factual documentary, produced by one of the major networks, was a refreshing idea. Then the truth came out that it was, in fact, a dramatization of the 9/11 Commission Report.

A dramatization? What does that mean? Apparently what it meant was that the producers and writers of the television movie believed it would be ok to "dramatize" certain portions for dramatic effect. In some cases, to blatently mislead anyone who didn't actually read the report as to place considerable blame on the Clinton administration, by stating facts that never occurred in history or during the course of the commissions fact finding hearings. It's inconscionable to me. Given the events of 9/11 what exactly needed to be dramatized? Is it possible that we have become so numb to the facts of this world, that we can't tell reality from fantasy anymore? I hate the term "reality TV," and I wish it would go away. The sad truth is, sleaze sells. And we buy it. We let each other down.

Carly The Republican?

The first Tuesday in November is midterm election day here in California, as it is in many other states as well. I am a registered democrat, but it doesn't mean that I go to the polls and cast my vote without looking closely at my options. The thing is, the democratic party has given us very little to work with. Back in June, when we held our primary, I was supporting Steve Westly for governor, however, there was one thing he said during the last few days of his campaigning that put me off a good but, he looked into the camera, smiled, and said, "I am the only politician that can beat Arnold Schwarzenegger." That is supposed to be a reason to vote for him? Because he can beat Arnold Schwarzenegger? Over all I thought he was a good choice to run against Schwarzeneggar, and I voted for him, however, he lost the primary to Phil Angelides.

In the last few days, so dirty politics has taken place here in California. So dirty that I have just about come to the decision to vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger for governor. I would be voting republican for the first time since I was old enough to vote. Schwarzenegger has made his share of mistakes in office. Who could forget that amazingly bad idea from last fall known as the, "Special Election." The people of California, including myself, sent him a clear message about how we felt about that incredible waste of taxpayer money. We sent it loud, in that every single initiative he placed on the ballot was shot down. Now, here is where I have to be fair to the man, see, I really think he listened to that message, because he took personal responsibility for that failure, and in fact, apologized for not listening to the voters in the first place.

I can respect that. He is by no means the worst governor California has ever had, and I have agreed with many things he has done since he took office. He is a republican, so there are many things I don't agree with his handling of, but over all I would not completely disregard him as a governor just because of political party affiliation. Angelides is a democrat, and he is running against Schwarzenegger in November. I have very little respect for Angiledes, especially in that last few days, since the story broke about staff members from the Angelides camp, lifting audio from Schwarzenegger's web site, in an apparent move to embarrass the governor for racial remarks made during a closed door meeting last week. The Angelides camp admitted to leaking the tape to the Los Angeles Times, only after and FBI investigations indicated that they were investigating whether or not Schwarzenegger's web site had been hacked into. Angelides campaign manager insists that the audio was downloaded legally, and that anyone could have done it. So here is the question I have... If everything was so ethical, why was it leaked to the press, instead of issued to the press out in the open?

Thinking It Through...

A lot of things have been on my mind the last few days, some made me sad, some confused me, some made me angry and frustrated. The most pronounced thing that I felt, was the incredible loss of 9/11. I had the honor of dedicating and entry to one of those lost all those Tuesday's ago, David Angell. He was a fine man, and his wife was a lady of great compassion and grace. I will never feel like I did good enough with the tribute I wrote to him. In the research I did about his life, I came to know him a little bit and what he was about. He put a face and a soul on 9/11 for me.

I had actually written a tribute to the Angells' for one of my 9/11 entries, several years ago, on my AOL journal Ellipsis, so I thought writing another one would be easier somehow. It wasn't. In many ways it was much more difficult to pay true honor to him, and for the last few days I hadn't been sure why. I think I know now, as I sit here it occurs to me that since the first tribute I wrote to him in 2004, this country has had to endure two additional years of dirty politics, regarding the events of 9/11. It all adds up, and it hits one when it is least expected, and it hurts that this is what America has become in five short years, or half a decade, however you choose to look at it.

-OndineMonet
"Calla At Night"
Berkeley, California

Angelides' Aides Leaked Gov. Tape (ABC/KGO TV)

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Profiles

"The problem with cats is that they get the same exact look , whether they see a moth or an ax-murderer.

-Paula Poundstone

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Get a picture of someone in profile. Could be you, a family member, a friend, a pet - just as long as we see their side.

-John Scalzi

I like this photo shoot assignment. It was a lot of fun looking through my archives to see what I had in the way of profiles. To my surprise, I had more then I thought I had. That gives me something to consider with my photography, being more aware of the angles I an shooting. Sometimes, like with the butterflies, I don't have time to consider all that I should, I get busy with background and foreground. Sometimes both area's look better to me if I had a side view of the subject. I enjoy making quick decisions, reminds me that instinct does indeed play a big part of what I try to accomplish. :)

And now, a view from the side...

"Yeah I flirt, I'm not blind and I'm not dead."
-Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton, Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford 10/99

"Julia" butterfly closed wings

"Julia" sideview, open wings

Penguin

Ground Squirrel

"We told you a hundred times, good officer, sir. We last saw him inside the john... er...comfort room."
-Micky Dolenz, from the movie, "Head"

Micky Dolenz of The Monkees

The other Elvis...thank you, thank you very much! :)

The first photo at the very top is of comedienne Paula Poundstone. I went to one of her shows at the Alameda County Fair, in June of 2000. She was so funny, and so sweet. We had a good time. The second photo was taken in San Francisco, on the Marina Green. We were members of the studio audience, for a taping of "Live With Regis & Kathie Lee." Dolly Parton, former mayor of San Francisco Willie Brown and Barry Bonds were also guests that day. All of them were quite personable. Regis was the most impressive however, he really seemed to love interacting with the audience. :) Nice man.

-OndineMonet

The 2996 Project: I Am Honoring The Life of David Angell

"David Angell was unique among the comedy writers I've met. Like David himself, his humor was gentle and kind, yet deeply funny. He had a brilliant comedy mind, but more importantly he was a good man, and nice person."

-Bruce Rasmussen, Executive Producer, The Drew Carey Show


David Angell was a man of many talents, but his greatest talent might have been his ability to make others laugh. As a co-executive producer of the NBC series, "Frasier," he made his living by bringing laughter into the homes of millions of viewers each week, but not just with "Frasier," but also through the brilliance of the hit NBC shows, "Wings," which he co-created, and "Cheers," a show that earned him numerous Emmy awards. In total, David Angell received 8 Emmy awards for his work on "Cheers," Wings" and "Frasier."

David Lawrence Angell, was born in West Barrington, Rhode Island, on April 10th, 1946, he was the youngest of three children. In college he received a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Providence College. Upon graduation, he entered into the U.S. military, and served in the army at the Pentagon until 1972. After leaving military service, he moved to Boston, where he worked as a methods analyst at an engineering company, and then later he was employed at an insurance firm in Rhode Island. But comedy was calling his name, and in 1977 he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy writing. One of his first scripts was sold for an episode of "Archie Bunker's Place," and in 1983 he joined "Cheers," as a staff writer. Eventually, David Angell became partners with Peter Casey and David Lee. By 2001, the trio's production company, Grub Street Productions, had been nominated for 37 Emmy Award nominations and collectively had won 24.


David Angell and his wife Lynn, shared an amazing love and enthusiasm for life. Together, they were well known for not just their kindness and humor, but also for their humanitarian efforts. The two gave of their time to many charities and built a library, for their favorite charity, "Hillsides," which is now named in Lynn Angell's honor. "Hillsides," is a residential facility located in Pasadena, California, for abused and neglected children. The Angells were also benefactors of the Boch Center. In life, the Angells fought passionately for many social causes, by writing their senators and congressmen on issues close to their hearts. Their tireless efforts for charitable causes, earned them the love and respect of their peers in the entertainment industry. After his death, the American Screenwriter's Association, created the "David Angell Humanitarian Award," in his honor. An award which is given to an individual in the entertainment industry, who contributes to global well being through their donations of time, expertise or other support, to improve the human condition.

So many remember the Angells as having one of those marriages, that you just know, was truly made in heaven.Their love story began at a beach party when a shy David Angel introduced himself to a woman he had seen in the crowd, a woman who captivated him, her name was Lynn Edwards. By all accounts, it was love at first sight for the couple, and two years later they were married. On her wedding day, Lynn's mother told her ,"It's taken you twenty-two years to become an angel." The Angells loved each other to an infinite degree, telling friends that neither would have wanted to live without the other one. Lynn Angell loved ice cream and children, and she enjoyed planning visits to New England, for she and her husband. It was a place they visited as much as possible. The Angells, were returning home from a summer long vacation in Cape Cod, where they had just attended a family wedding, and were overseeing the building of their future retirement home, when they were killed onboard American Airlines Flight 11, after it was hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center, in New York, on September 11, 2001. They had just celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary, less then a month earlier, on August 14th.

I never got the chance to meet David Angell, to tell him how much I enjoyed his work, and how much it enriched my life, but through researching his life, I came to feel as if we had been old friends. The Angells were rare people, who gave of themselves for the good of others. It was apparent, through the many memorials and tributes in their honor, that they were well loved on this earth. David Angell lives on every time you laugh at one of the marvelous shows he was a part of, and Lynn every time you see a child smile. Bringing joy, compassion and relief from the woes of life, is their legacy. The next time you find yourself laughing out loud at one of the marvelous shows that David Angell was a part of... remember David Angell and smile. Thank you, David and Lynn Angell, for sharing your lives with us.

Besides their many friends, and entertainment colleagues, David Angell is survived by a brother, the Most Reverend Kenneth A. Angell, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Vermont, and a sister, Claire Miller and her husband Bernard. Lynn Angell was survived by her mother, Marilyn Edwards, and her brother, Dr. Thomas Edwards, and his wife Rennie.

Hillsides Home For Children
940 Avenue 64, Pasadena, Ca 91105
(323) 255-9005

-OndineMonet
Click the above banner to visit the 2996 Project web site.

Missing John Ritter

September 17th, 1948 - September 11, 2003

I miss his talent for humor so much. There is not enough laughter in the world.

"John was the kind of person, that if you spent 2 minutes with him, you felt as if you knew him for about 20 years."

-Martin Short

"He just had a way of making you feel special"

-Katey Segal

"I think the best way to pay a tribute to John Ritter and for the people who care about John, you should do two things. Do something really nice for somebody, and do something really goofy. You know, just stick your tongue out at the kid in the car next to you and I think that would make John happy."

-Paul Reiser

Is there ever enough laughter in the world?

-OndineMonet

A Summer Song

"I walk without flinching through the burning cathedral of summer. My bank of wild grass is majestic and full of music. It is a fire that solitude presses againist my lips."

-Violette Ludec Mad in Pursuit

Ok, I admit it, this is a sad weekend, and Monday is the sadest day in the universe, so I think I will concentrate on what was absolutely perfect about this summer, which is about to end...as all things eventually do...

A Summer Song (Chad & Jeremy)

Soft kisses on a summer's day, laughing all our cares away, just you and I.
Sweet sleepy warmth of summer nights, gazing at the distant lights
In the starry sky...

I went to a summer rock concert...

I saw the brush strokes of the master,Claude Monet...

I watched a sunset over San Francisco, from Twin Peaks...

Elvis and I nearly melted in the heat wave, but loved each other through it! :)

I photographed new beginnings...

Shared an afternoon with a new friend :)

I met a squirrel... :)

I watched as a new marriage began...

I photographed perfection of beauty and grace...

And saw the Dahlias bloom in Golden Gate Park...

Chased the Woodstock sculptures around Santa Rosa...

Witnessed true beauty...

Shared an afternoon, and lunch, with a singer...

Visited the wind farm at Altamont...

I saw the inspiration in water lilies...

And watched the fog roll into the Monterey Bay...

They say that all good things must end one day, autumn leaves must fall
But don't you know that it hurt's me so to say goodbye to you
Wish you didn't have to go, oh no, no, no...

And when the rain, beats against my window pane, I'll think of summer days again...and dream of you, and dream of you.

-OndineMonet
"Summer Series 2006"