05.03.07

Return to Blogland

Posted in Musings..., Minnesota at 2:33 pm by Administrator

This is just a short note to bring people up to date on my happenings. 

First, I have successfully located to Minnesota.  Yeah!  I love this state.  I now live in a small progressive college town in southern Minnesota.  Even though the town has only 35,000 residents there is a LOT to do.  I have been here less than two months and have: 1) join the community gardens; 2) meditated with real Buddhist monks; 3) attended a conference on community food security; 4) heard Barbara Ehrenreich (of “Nickel and Dimed” fame) speak; 5) attended a past life regression workshop; 6) seen the pop rock group Ok Go play live; 7) joined a yoga studio; joined a food-coop; 9) attended a march to bring awareness to global warming; and the list goes on and on.  This Saturday, I am planning to attend a dinner where Al Franken will be speaking.  And on Sunday, I am attending an animal communication workshop.

The presentation proposal I submitted on the role of libraries in a post peak oil world, is a no go.  I was disappointed to not be selected, but I think I can use this as an opportunity to tighten my proposal.  I did some research today and have discover lots of library buildings are going green.  I think the greening of libraries would make a good article topic.  Someone actually has written article with that title. 

That’s all for now.

Namaste,
Swan

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01.11.07

My Submission is Almost Finished

Posted in Musings..., Minnesota at 2:29 am by Administrator

Tuesday and Wednesday evening I did some more writing on my submission.  My word count is now up to 804.  Yeah!  And I think I am almost finished with it.  I will go over it again tomorrow and then submit it either Thursday or Friday.

I have to say I am very pleased with what I have come up with.  I just hope the people hosting the conference find it of interest.

Wish me luck,
Swan

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01.08.07

Moving Forward

Posted in Musings..., Minnesota at 9:53 pm by Administrator

Now that I have this new job, I have five years to apply for tenure.  That means I have to start writing NOW.  So this evening I have been working on an abstract to submit to a library conference on The Library in Its Socio-Cultural Context: Issues for Research and Practice.  I know it sounds kind of boring but I am really excited about my submission.  My topic will break new ground in library research.  Plus it is a topic near and dear to my heart. 

I have to come up with a 600 to 800 word abstract and submit it before February 1.  Right now I am at 367 words and am feeling stumped.  Tomorrow should provide more inspiration. 

Time for bed.
Swan

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10.08.06

A New Posting

Posted in Musings... at 10:34 am by Administrator

It has been awhile since my last entry.  I have been meaning to post something but I have just not been able to sit down and bang something out.  I have been feeling some guilt about this.

I was also feeling guilty yesterday because I had not meditated in the morning.  Instead I chose to do my laundry.  I thought I would do it “later”.  And, of course, I didn’t.  I need to remember that the important thing is to, “put the big rocks in the jar first.”  And meditating has become something that I need to do everyday if I am going to feel balanced through out the day.

As I sat for my morning meditation today, I was feeling ashamed.  Ashamed that I had missed my meditation yesterday, but really feeling ashamed for not writing.  I wanted to work on my writing yesterday.  But instead I spent my limited free time poking through a thrift store. I have come to realize that shopping is one of the distractions I use to avoid writing. 

During my meditation I asked myself, “How can I be a writer if I don’t write?”  And of course the answer is I can’t. Writers write.  Period.  End of story.

Writing in my journal does not count.  I have to do some external writing.

During my meditation I made a list of what is keeping me from writing:

1) Lack of Time.
2) Numerous Distractions.
3) Lack of Energy.

After I wrote that list I had an insight .  I realized that writing is not going to happen automatically.  I have to set aside time to write.  When I was being productive on my screenplay I set myself a goal to write so many pages a night and I did it.

So my goal tonight is to post a blog entry.  And so now I have done it.  It is not much but it is a start.

None of us are perfect.  Walking the path means sometimes we have to remember where we are going.

Nameste,
Swan

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09.04.06

Want the Truth? Ask a Comic.

Posted in Musings... at 5:31 pm by Administrator

Since we can’t depend on the mainstream media to tell us the truth, who can we turn to find out what is really going on in the world?  Ask a comic, of course.  Check out this online video to hear what I am talking about.    

George Carlin - Who Really Controls America http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=935607276

Laugh and be educated,
Swan

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08.31.06

I’m Back…

Posted in Musings..., Hero's Journey at 1:06 am by Administrator

I apologize for not posting for awhile.  I had a lot on my plate, including another job interview which it turns out I did not get.  That is fine with me. I do not think it was the right fit, although the town and surrounding countryside were lovely.

On another note things are starting to shift for me. I have finally identified the name of my Goddess.  It is Gaia, the Earth Mother.  Now that I have a name I have a focus.  I want to serve Gaia as her Priestess.

Also in my meditations I realized that I am a leader.  My true nature is to be a loving leader.  I don’t need people to follow me, it is leadership enough just to be myself in the world of Empire.  I believe I have a role to play in the Great Turning.  The difficult part is staying focus and remaining awake. 

Namaste,
Swan

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07.02.06

Another Screenplay Update

Posted in Musings..., Screenplay at 7:35 pm by Administrator

The screenplay is coming along.  I have completed 60 pages, which means I have reached the half way point. Yeah!

I believe all of my characters have been introduced.  Rose is now traveling with the Caravan.  My two Villians are tracking her, one with more success than the other.  I have introduced the character of the drunk ex-girlfriend, Jezzy.  I love the character of Jezzy.  There is nothing more dramatic than a drunken ex-girlfriend.  I look forward to Jezzy causing a lot of conflict in my story.

More later.
Swan

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06.23.06

June, Juno, and the Continuing Saga of the Screenplay

Posted in Musings..., Screenplay at 6:15 pm by Administrator

The month of June takes it name from the Roman goddess, Juno.  According to Roman custom, the month of June was sacred to Juno, hence the name of our modern month.

As a goddess Juno was known as the Queen of Heaven.  She was the wife of Jupiter, the Roman god who fooled around with numerous mortal women.  This made her a jealous wife and who could blame her.  Having your husband cheat on you would have ticked off any wife, immortal or mortal.  Juno is also known as the goddess of marriage, the home, children, and child birth.  I wonder how many June brides are aware of the connection between their marriage and the goddess, Juno.  I guess it is appropriate that I am “giving birth” to my brain child in the month of June. 

June 21 was the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year.  In celebration of this auspicious date I held a lovely ritual in my backyard under Grandmother Tree, a giant oak that shelters my yard.  The ritual was quite moving.  I cleansed the area with sage smoke and salt water.  Then created a circle using my frame drum and dried rose petals.  In the circle I lit candles representing the four elements, the goddess and her consort.

Summer solstice has traditionally been a time to rededicate ones self to the Divine Source, which was the intent of my ritual.  I rededicate myself to the Divine Mother and thanked her for her guidance.   I again realized that I am not writing this screenplay, it is being channeled through me.  This is such a comfort.  I don’t have to be brilliant, I just have to still my chattering monkey mind and listen for the voice of the Muse to speak.

This morning in my meditation the Divine Force visited me again.  She brought several ideas for scenes that need to be developed.  I have two Villains in the script.  One Villain represents unchecked authoritarian power (Major Tolley) and other represents unchecked aggressive power (Crime Lord).  These Villains balance out my male lead (Pandemonium) who represents healthy male power in the role of community Protector and Leader.

An idea came through of using doves as a way for Pan to communicate with Mrs. MacMillan that Rose was with the Caravan and vice versa.  Also as the person who helped Rose leave the city, Mrs. MacMillan is destined to receive a visit from Major Tolley.  Lucky, the dog, can be use as a device to find Rose after she gets kidnapped by the Crime Lord.  I will stop there for now but the flow of information that is coming from the Divine Source seems to be endless. 

I am now on page 37 and plan to be on page 45 by Sunday evening.  Many thanks to everyone who is following my progress, I appreciate your support.

Peace,
Swan

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06.19.06

More Updates

Posted in Musings..., Screenplay at 6:00 pm by Administrator

I am going to cover a lot of things in this post.  Just in case you were wondering here is what has been going on.

I did not get the job, which I think is really for the best.  On the one hand I would have liked to have moved somewhere else and done something different.  On the other hand I don’t think it was a healthy work environment.  So I give thanks that things worked out this way.

The screenplay keeps chugging along.  I am now on page 29 and I am almost finished with the 1st Act.  I have introduced a Villain but I think I really need two Villains. 

I am now walking a mile or exercising seven days a week.  And have been doing this consistently for several weeks.  Because of this I am no longer taking Aikido classes.

And finally I have been meditating every day for over a month.  This is really making a positive difference in my life.  I am getting a lot of creative inspiration during my morning meditation sessions.

Blessings,
Swan

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05.25.06

Trusting the Divine Force

Posted in Musings... at 6:50 pm by Administrator

During my daily meditation session yesterday I came to the realization that I am blessed no matter what happens with the job.  I have put my trust in the Divine Mother.  If it is time for me to go she will open the door.  It I am supposed to stay I have a blessed life to live here.  What a weight has been lifted.  What will be will be.  My job is to appreciate the blessings that have come my way. 

Namaste,
Swan

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