Intrigued, and contemplating how my own safety and comfort have been guiding me, rather than my sense of adventure and fun ( Read more... )

"We must offer ourselves to God like a clean, smooth canvas and not worry ourselves about what God may choose to paint on it, but at each moment, feel only the stroke of His brush."
~Jean Pierre de Caussade

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The evil geniuses of the advertising industry are hard at work in their labs dreaming up seductive new mojo to artificially stimulate your consumer lusts. Meanwhile, the media's relentless campaign to get you to believe in debilitating fantasies and divert you from doing what's really good for you has reached a fever pitch ( Read more... )

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I need a break from watching you work your psyche to the bone. At least for now, I'm not willing to indulge you in your inclination to do your duty so exhaustively that you suffer. And as much as I admire your drive to get things perfect, I cannot in good conscience encourage you to do that, either. It is therefore with a ( Read more... )

Where do you get your fountain pens repaired? I have about 6 that need some lovin' to get going again. I found the Fountain Pen Network's forum with all kinds of tips on how to do it myself, but I don't want to. I'd rather pay an expert to do it right the first time. Is Richard Binder the main man, or are there others ( Read more... )

You know what I hate? You know what fills me with firebrand rage ( Read more... )

Interesting - Murakami says something similar to the quote I posted from Flaubert back in November:

Haruki Murakami said, "I write weird stories. Myself, I'm a very realistic person ... I wake up at six in the morning and go to bed at 10, jogging every day and swimming, eating healthy food. ... But when I write, I write weird."I like his style a ( Read more... )

Please do yourself the Sunday favor of clicking on this photo to see the rest of the series. AHHHHHH


( Read more... )

Flaubert. Paraphrased by Martin Amis in his intro to J.G. Ballard's Complete Short Stories as, "Writers should be orderly and predictable in their lives, so that they can be ferocious and sinister in their work."

Soyez réglé dans votre vie et ordinaire comme un bourgeois, afin d’être violent et original dans vos œuvres. Be regular and ( Read more... )

Agh! I'm going to a friend's karaoke party in 45 minutes and I need excellent song recommendations for a scaredy-cat alto who has no upper range!

Quickly! Recommend away!

ETA: Success! I forgot about the influence of alcohol on my bravery and willingness to not care. I sang these songs, plus some others that I've now forgotten: "Careless Whispers ( Read more... )