This one is for my friend E (you know who you are) who has a little over fifty-two days until he finishes school!

It's never too late to be who you might have been. George Eliot (1819 - 1880)

If anyone has any more inspirational thoughts to share with him, please leave a comment!

I was watching Larry King the other night and Edward Norton was on. He didn't discuss his latest movie or new acting projects, instead he told us about his $1.1 million USD donation to the Enterprise Foundation. I found it inspiring that there are high profile actors supporting projects like this.

Edward has made a deal with BP Solar called the BP Solar Neighbours program in which solar energy is given to low-income families when celebrities sign up to get a system themselves. It's basically like a 2-for-1 special on solar power. What a brilliant idea! Good work Edward!

It would also help California with their power dependencies. However, now that I think about it, it might make Canadians poorer as the state of California may not need as much of our hydroelectric power...

It's been a while, I know but I have just been so tied up with work that I haven't been able to access the site. I got a temporary promotion (two months) within the office and I imagine that this will mean that I am even more busy. One thing that may result from this is that I actually acquire some time management skills. Who knows?

After I read and re-read my horoscope (previously posted on this site) I decided that this year would truly be a better year. I am not the type to pursue things, usually settling for letting life happen to me but the old horoscope convinced me to ask for this temporary position instead of waiting for something to happen. And, I got it with little difficulty. Weird how these things work... Perhaps this is a sign that if I pursue things, they will be given to me.

That said, I will start to spend more time pursuing the out of the office opportunities as they are what I truly want to do. I have never used the word career in reference to this nine-to-five thing that is my job and the truth is, I would be much happier being the artist that I am meant to be. It's never to late. Not even if one is fourty.

I wanted to pass on to everyone the blogsite of a really cool and special person who has just returned to his home country. I must say that he is one of those people who touches one's life and enhances it with what seems to be little or no effort. So, take a look at jazzism21. I think that you will be enthralled by what he says.

I took the country quiz. And I managed to get it right the first time. What about you?

You're Canada!

People make fun of you a lot, but they're stupid because you've
got a much better life than they do.  In fact, they're probably just jealous.
 You believe in crazy things like human rights and health care and not
dying in the streets, and you end up securing these rights for yourself and
others.  If it weren't for your weird affection for ice hockey, you'd be
the perfect person.
Take
the Country Quiz at the href="http://bluepyramid.org">Blue Pyramid

Bored with the run-of-the-mill hotdog? Maybe you should purchase this new kitchen tool!

I certainly hope that Lorena Bobbitt doesn't get her hands on one...

Has anyone out there heard of Jamzvillage? I saw this guy on a music show the other day and thought he was trying to be Jamiroquai.

Can anyone fill me in on the Japanese guy? I got a new computer and am unable to read the Nihongo...

My favourite astrologer, and the most accurate, is Georgia Nicols. She has columns all over the place here and I read religiously. This year, her forecasts were printed for all signs. This is what she had to say about me... (and, yes, the stuff in the brackets are her words as well)


********************

LEO (July 23 - August 22)

The Real You: You'd enjoy being a highly overpaid actor. You've got the presence, the style, and you'd know what to do with all that money. Leo reule the theatre and show business. That's why you're so dramatic and over-the-top. You love zee beeg gesture. You're the hit of the party, and you're also the center of attention at lunchtime where truth is stranger than fiction. That's because you know that life is a theatre! (But you don't do supporting roles.) Naturally, everyone thinks you're fun-loving and extroverted because you constantly readiate warmth and enthusiasm (and you're super generous) - but the truth is you're very serious. You've just got a great cover. You're dignified, powerful, and a natural leader. (That's because Leo rules royalty.) You have integrity (sometimes to the point of naivete) and you spread joy wherever you go. Others want to be in your presence. (And this is where you have a slight advantage over everyone else. Leo rules the Sun and the Sun is energy - vital, life-giving energy. Guess who's got it all?) You live life in a creative way, but you need this to be acknowledged by the world. Feedback defines you to an extent. You believe in yourself when you get endorsement from an external source. (There were only three people in the house but they all clapped!) Essentially, you're a performer. You rise to positions of authority. (It's the royalty thang.) You love the theatre, movies, the arts, and everthing to do with the entertainment world and show business. You teach every day of your life whether you get paid for it or not. You often work in the hospitality industry or in the fringes of entertainment and sports. And you know that hell is a half-filled auditorium. (But they loved me!)

The Year 2004: Ka-ching! You're gonna love this year. Money, money, money. Don't you like the sound of cash? It's no secret that you're a big spender - especially on entertainment and restaurants. Expect increased earnings. Some of you will make a dent in your debt load. Others will take a vacation. All of you will buy goodies and gifts for yourself and loved ones. (When Leo drinks - everybody drinks!) Trust you moneymaking ideas. And trust your desire to invist in yourself by increasing your assets and possessions. Money is energy and if you use it right, you can benefit yourself and others.

More about your future: Two major shifts are taking place now: (a) the increased coin coming your way (yes!) and (b) the irrefutable recognition that it is time to move on. This latter acknowledgement is important. Timing is everything. Consider this: Once a year, the snake must shed its skin in order to stay alive. But, if you pull the skin off the snake - you'll kill it. There is a time for everything. Life unfolds in cycles. The cycle you are in now involves letting go. Therefore, you have to start to dismantle many things that you worked for in the last 10 to 15 years. You'll get rid of furnishings, possessions, clothing, books, records, CDs, videos (not The Godfather Trilogy!), dishes, and even people and places. Simplify, downsize and streamline your life. The reason you must do this is you're preparing for a major change in 2005-2006. This change will take you to a whole new world.

Relationships and Romance: Everything tradtionally connected with romance a la Hollywood - is actually a Leo thang. Flowers, candy, the romantic gesture, the dramatic flirting, the melodramatic quarrels, hurt feelings, the grateful passionate make-up and that heavenly walk into the sunset, happily ever after - all this stuff is Leo. And Leo is the stuff of movies. So what's the movie lineup for 2004? Three influences come into play; one influence which has been there for some time now, continues to cause confusion and uncertainty in committed relationships. It also contributes to unrealistic expectations and naive idealism. (Moi?) Another influence (mentioned above) is your need to give up things and let go of people becuase you're moving on to something new in 2005. This means you might be leaving a relationship, or unconsciously preparing for a new one to begin. The final influence is positive and upbeat. By late 2004, your entire headspace suddenly becomes happier, more optimistic and turned on by life! Why would this happen? It could be a new romance or a deepening relationship. (Or a convertible with a fab sound system paid for with your increased earnings) It's up to you.

Coping with Challenges in 2004: Because an old order in your life is passing away to make room for a new one, there might bechanges with respect to jointly held property, shared resources and possibly your partner's income. You're also entering a period of 7 to 10 years, where you will likely receive an inheritance. Actually, your greatest challenge is just letting go gracefully. Fortunately, a planetary shift takes place now that helps you to do this. Restrictions that were imposed upon you (either through you own doing or by allowing others to do it to you) will become so intolerable - you'll make a break for freedom. This will take guts. (You have a lot of style and panache, but you're more cautious and "safe" than people know.) But you are courageous.

Mantra: Everything I do now is in preparation for my immediate future.

I found this all very interesting. Most of the past year felt like a precurser to what she says. We will see, I suppose.

If any of you out there is interested in what Georgia said about your sign, go to her website. Apparently, you can purchase them...

Ciao and welcome to 2004!

I stumbled on to this website while searching out information on Jayne Mansfield. It's called Find a Grave.

Someone sent me this article on Diane Arbus' shows one of which was called Fragile Prey. Has anyone out there seen either of them? The images that were attached to the article were inspiring. It would be brilliant to see them up close...

Has anyone seen any other photography shows that they would like to share with us out here in cyberland?

I know. It's been a while. I have just been settling into life now that the year is a new one. I am not sure what direction I am going in yet and my end of the year house cleaning never really happened. Instead, I have become obsessed with knitting these sad examples of scarves out of all of the odds and sods of wool that has collected in the house. I hate knitting. Mostly because I am not really good at it and I am not the slightest bit able to be creative (just straight knitting... no purling or anything). All I want to do is use up all of this wool.

I could post my resolutions but most of those are really cloudy. I didn't come up with anything specific. Simply some wishes for this year, most of which involve me becoming wealthy enough not to have to work. But that is my wish every year and as of yet, it hasn't come to fruition. What can I do? I suppose just stop setting goals and getting on with life.

It will be a great year this year. My horoscope said so.

Hopefully the world will become a better place.

Interestingly enough, I came across this tidbit while looking at Madonna's website. It appears that she is getting involved in American politics and is now openly supporting Wesley Clark for president. Here is her letter of support for Wes. As far as I am concerned this is far more powerful than her scrapped video for "American Life". Let's hope the America she envisions actually comes to exist.

Speaking of America, is anyone else out there on the conspiracy bandwagon?

Does anyone else out there think it far too convenient that soon after there was no signal from the Beagle probe to Mars that the NASA probe landed safely? Perhaps NASA could not afford to have another failure and is somehow jamming the signal of the poor Beagle 2. Or worse yet, somehow destroyed it. (And, isn't it scary how the NASA probe landing was similar to the one in the movie Red Planet? You know... the big airbags...)

Over the holidays, my suspicions about the World Trade Centre disaster returned. How is it that many flights were cancelled because intelligence suggested another catastrophic attack yet, these same agencies seemed to have NO IDEA that terrorists were going to crash into the WTC? It is overkill, I say. Besides, one would have to think that terrorists already used airplanes so why would they do it again. We'd be expecting it. Why don't they think about large ships carrying hazardous materials.

This brings to mind the fact that the Americans knew about the Pearl Harbour attack long before it happened. They simply didn't warn anyone because an unwarranted attack would make it necessary that they get involved in the war. They would not have support for being a participant in the war unless it threatened Americans (Even though it didn't take place in the continental US. Sounds like they are using the WTC attack to muster support to get involved in an area that they had no business getting involved in.

I am guessing that I will get a lot of flack for these revelations. America's leaders should realize that they are so transparent in their actions that people cannot help but wonder. When will they learn?

Anyway all, just wanted to tune in for a bit. I trust that you are all doing well!