Good Vibrations

 Esalen's gardens, ablaze in poppies.

 Mr. Goat.

View outside yurt window.


Yes, I'm back at Esalen, original home of good vibrations, but that's not what this title refers to. On my drive up here I listened to Brian Wilson's CD Smile. To say I love this CD is an understatement. I LOVE this CD. Sure I like the Beach Boys, but I never really thought twice about Brian Wilson. I am here to declare that the man is pure genius. Smile is part Broadway musical, part Mozart composition.  It's hymns meets pop meets rock meets... meets... oh just listen for yourself... I am now hooked. I am now an ardent fan.

Hungry (like the wolf)

I'm on a baking/cooking tear. It is the perfect distraction to all the things I really have to do. Lately, I'm getting all my inspiration from this website, one of my favs for a long, long time.


I made this a few nights ago...


...and this is quite delicious...


This strawberry/rhubarb crumble just came out of the oven and it is divine.


Part of my inspiration came from Farm Fresh, an organic delivery service that I recently signed up for. These days, one rarely has to leave the house which is a little unnerving.


I suppose my next endeavor should be hitting the gym, or yoga studio, or bike, or rollerblades to shed these extra pounds. But that would mean leaving the house.


And there are wolves out there.

Artsy Fartsy Weekend

Grades are due tomorrow which means I can a) breathe, b) start planning my trips to Big Sur, N.Y. and Barcelona c) stop eating so much d) get back on yoga track. As distracting as last weekend was, it was full of art and I loved every second of it. From the Otis art show on Thursday and Friday to Otis alum Polly singing at a gallery on Saturday, with lots of lunches and brunches in between...

 faux cell phone tower with cassette tapes at the Otis art show (Artist unknown)

Watercolor nude. This painting was among 7 or 8 all hanging next to each other and all depicting the same body. (Artist unknown)

Ms. Polly Geller singing jazz at an art gallery on Abbot Kinney in Venice, followed by a poetry reading...

Anyhow... that's what's going on here. More soon from Esalen.

"Putting it Out There"

That was my New Year's resolution. I guess it's less of a resolution and more of a theme of how I wanted to live in 2012.


It's the reason I published my second book, "Imperfect."


It's the reason I applied to five artists colonies - the applications as daunting and complicated as applying to graduate school.


The downside of putting it out there is that there is more to be rejected. 


I didn't get into the Dora Maar House, the residency in France that Picasso built for his lover. I didn't get into the Italian residency on the Tuscany coast. I didn't get into two others... both in Italy...but I did get into one in Spain!


In July I'm heading to Barcelona and then to the town of "El Bruc" for a month of writing. I have been craving a trip to Europe, as well as craving some good, uninterrupted writing time. I've already contacted my friend in Oxford to make sure she can come for a visit. I've been to Europe a number of times, but I've never been to Spain. I can't wait for the tapas, the wine, the art - Picasso, Miro and Dali museums. I can't wait to settle into my room in the farm house and see what transpires.


For now, it's Spanish tapes and sorting out frequent flier miles but in July... in July it's a new adventure. The good thing about putting it out there is that sometimes you actually get what you want.