Theater Ppl and Body Positivity

On our way home from NYC the other night there was a fire around the train tracks, so the two hour trip from Boston to Portland took about six hours. So that was fun. But, I caught up on a few podcasts and wanted to share a couple with you! (Also, NYC was amazing. The Lion King was incredible. Julie Taymor is a goddess. Can’t wait to go back.)

Theater People Podcast

The delightful Patrick interviews amazing stage actors, choreographers, directors and more, while occasionally talking about his adorable daughter Daisy and, of course, “My husband Steve.” There’s something about his energy that just makes you love him. As I listened I realized I cared about him as much as I did the people he was interviewing.

Obviously this podcast has a specific audience in mind, and maybe you think that isn’t you, but Jennifer Tepper says we’re heading into a new Golden Age of musical theater, and I believe it. So hurry up and become a theater people, okay?

Besides, who doesn’t enjoy listening to Lea DeLaria, who just might be the funniest woman alive? And that episode with Alex Brightman is one big lesson in gratitude. He should be a positive thinking coach. The host, Patrick has infectious enthusiasm that could actually turn you into a theater lover.

(Also, if you already ARE a theater people, I also suggest The Ensemblist.)

The Body Poscast

Do you remember Lillian Bustle’s Ted Talk? If not, here:


Lillian is one of the women behind The Body Poscast, and I absolutely LOVE this show.

The Barbie Doll episode is actually what prompted this post. On that episode they talked about how they pick and choose who to follow on Instagram and twitter in order to create a happy place for themselves online. Facebook is hard and emotional and lately with all the trans bathroom stuff it’s making me want to ... well, anyway. It isn’t always a happy place. But this episode got me thinking about what I’m pressing “like” on and how it’s affecting my emotions and my day. And that’s what I love about this show is how it makes me think.

Plus these women are fierce and amazing and will make you feel so good about life, even while touching on tough topics.

Vacationland Photos

These are older photos, but I figured they were a good way to get us ready for summertime. These were taken in Monhegan Bay, Maine, in 2009.

 

Faerie Tale by Signe Pike: A Book Review

If there is even a small part of you that still believes in faeries, a part that still claps when Tinkerbell says to clap, Signe Pike will touch that part of you.

Her first book, Faery Tale: One Woman's Search for Enchantment in a Modern World, dubbed "Eat Pray Love with Faeries" by Inciting a Riot, is a journey through grief, faeries, and the UK.

As a long time fan of faeries and faery lore I was completely entranced by this book. I want to read it again and I can't wait to explore the books she references throughout it. (I added many of them to my wish list before I began this review.) Pike helped me remember things I'd forgotten from my childhood, like groves of trees my sisters and I played in and a tiny doll I believed was a faery. She made me reconsider my love for the word Imagine.

After the death of her father and an odd experience in Mexico, Pike quits her Manhattan job (as a book editor) and goes to Europe in search of faeries, faery lore, and enchantment.

Peppered with beautiful facts, myths and lore, alongside amazing descriptions that make the reader feel like they're traveling with Pike, this book is well worth a read. And a second read. Pike threads the modern into the historic quite well, with references to Yoda and Highlander intertwined through her narrative as the explores ancient forts and sacred pools of water.

There were a few places where Pike's language could have been a little tighter, or her story pulled out a bit further. If she were in a writer's workshop with me I might have moved some of the story around, and I definitely would have edited out a few typos (though I hear that was changed with later printings) but really, it's all minor in the grand scheme of the wonderful book.

A few reviews I've read said this book was specifically aimed at a Pagan audience, but I'm going to disagree with that. Pike has written something that I think much of the world can learn from. Beneath the fantastical examination of what some may consider "supernatural" she is talking about a need to get back to nature. A universal urge to explore the spiritual and to welcome life with a childlike view of it all. Pike has written a faery tale story (with absolutely no princes on white horses, thank you very much!) for everyone.

Even if you don't believe in faeries.

Books Signe Pike suggests:

The Celtic Twilight
(Next on my list!)

Celtic Myths and Legends
(I've read and loved this one, too.

One last thought: If you're a reader and a writer and you're interested in doing a guest post on my blog, shoot me an email at kraysaulis@gmail.com.

Key Largo, Montego, Baby Why Don't We Go...

South of the Border in South Carolina

I am a woman of routine. I get up, make coffee, check my social networking, shower, dress, go to work/school, read, write. When I do something out of the routine it is well-planned. I make lists. I look at maps. I research and read and plan.

Which is why when my wife called me at work on a Saturday and said, "we need to leave tonight for Miami," I had a mini-heart attack. Until that moment I had managed to spend twenty nine years of my life in New England. I have always wanted to travel further, but the opportunity (and money) never arose with the amount of planning and forethought I require.

Due to a series of unfortunate events my mother-in-law needed to travel quickly from her sailboat in Key Biscayne to Maine. Due to a series of unfortunate circumstances there was no way for her to fly the distance back. She (and her two cats) needed a ride.

So in what is either the smartest or craziest thing I've ever done I asked my (very kind and understanding) boss for two days off from work, came home and did some mad-rush packing. Found someone (a couple of people actually) to care for the animals left behind. Packed up the ones who weren't staying home. I cooked, cut and prepared every bit of perishable food in our fridge and put it into two coolers. Packed clothing for all four seasons and by seven that night we were in the car.

Sunrise in Islemorada

This little guy spent breakfast with us (I think my wife took this shot.)

Over the next fifty three hours we drove from Old Orchard Beach, ME, to Jupiter, FL. In one day I drove through NYC, Washington DC, Baltimore. By the third day I had driven in Jacksonville and Miami, FL.

View of Miami out the back of the sailboat

We spent one day at a resort on Islemorada in the Keys. We did a little kayaking, I'm not quite sure how my muscles put up with that after all that driving but it was beautiful. We swam in a lukewarm ocean, then soaked in a hot tub. We talked to people from Iowa and Canada and Georgia who were staying in the resort.

Chia is lookout.

The next day we drove up to Key Biscayne and picked up mom. We took a dive off the back of her sailboat into the bay, saw a few porpoises, collected a few shells and finally loaded up all the kitties into the car for the long drive back.

In one week we put over 3,000 miles on my fabulous Nissan Sentra. (I love my car!) So glad we had just put new tires and had an oil change and fluids checked a week before this random trip!

Along with pneumonia (grr) I came back with a dozen story ideas, but more importantly a few ideas of how to fix a few I'm already working on. And some idea of what is most important in trying to portray the feeling of Maine in my historical fiction collection versus the feeling of other places. It was a wonderful, kind of scary experience but I'm glad we did it. Hopefully next time we can actually relax in a few places along the way and perhaps hit a few museums or theaters.

My Summer in Photographs

Orr's Island

My brother and niece enjoying some big Maine coast waves.

My brother-in-law with one of my nephews.

My oldest nephew also known as Monkey-Child

Trisha... being Trisha in Salem, Mass.

Salem, Mass

Aine

Butterbeer from the new Harry Potter store in Salem, Mass.

Three beautiful children at a wedding in Aroostook County

Trisha fishing while I read a Linda Greenlaw book nearby

Ani Difranco and Melissa Ferrick

Orr's Island

Somewhere in Mid-Maine

My Next Sand Castle Will Definitely Feel Weak After This

On the way home from a tour of NHIA a couple of weeks ago we decided to go for a swim. We weren't anticipating walking into this event, but it was fascinating. The 2012 Master Sand Sculping Competition at Hampton Beach, NH.

Bucket List

I have seen quite a few posts recently about "bucket lists" and life plans. I bought this little notebook awhile back on impulse and a few weeks ago I began writing in it. Each page of the book has either a life goal or something I am grateful for. A bucket list alone felt like it was missing something. It's important to be grateful for what we have, as well as wish for other things.

Among other things I have a list of places I want to go and, of course, my goal to finish a novel.

What's on your list?

Making a Life

My sister Kymmy went to Jamaica.
My brother to Egypt.
My other two sisters have done their share of traveling.
My dad has been everywhere.

I have never left New England.

I was asked recently why this is. I am an ambitious person. I love to be busy, so it doesn't make sense. I should have seen the world by now. Last night I came up with the answer. I have been making a living and forgot to make a life.

I moved out of my parents house ten years ago and I have spent the last ten years working. I have taken only two real vacations. I spent both of them in the state of Maine or in Boston. I have been successful at every job, but have been so busy earning a paycheck I forgot to take time for myself.

That's not to say I haven't done some amazing things. Maine I know well. I have traveled every inch - from Fort Kent to Kittery - and I love Maine. I have been on puffin watches and whale watches. I have hand fed baby bats and held reticulated pythons. I have pulled lobster traps and climbed mountains. I have seen Elton John in concert and been to nearly every museum in Maine. But all of this has been done within New England, without the need to get a hotel or a passport. With appropriate plans made ahead of time. Never last minute and rarely with much financial risk.

Last night at 4:45 Trisha called me at work and said "Ani Difranco is doing a free concert in New Hampshire tonight. Let's go." I said "you're crazy." the apartment we were counting on fell through so we are not sure where we will live in two months. We are transferring to a new school and will be going to New Hampshire on Friday for that. It was completely irresponsible and crazy to go to this concert.

So we picked up a friend and the three of us hit the road.

And I am so glad we did. The concert was amazing. The drive was fun. And it was an eye-opener for me. I have missed similar opportunities because of responsibilities and obligation and now I am wishing I hadn't.

And ya know what? The boxes I need to pack are still here. I am headed to work this morning, but I can pack later. There is something to be said for responsibility, but sometimes you have to throw caution to the wind and live. Life is going on today even though I wasn't home last night.

The paperwork for my passport is in my backpack. It's time to fill it out.