Picture This

I am now the proud owner of a .Mac account which means I can do a whole bunch of cool things (I'll spare you my bragging).

The coolest thing I'm doing...moving my photos!

My new photo gallery home:

http://gallery.mac.com/vanessa.rae

What is the What

In this book, you may or may not find the answer to that question. You might even realize it's not really a question at all - but is - of course, worth trying to answer.

Often in life, as in this book, there is no bigger question I am left with aside from "Why?"
Reading the last page of this book tonight, I am no closer to the answer of that question but I am closer to an understanding of our interconnectedness. It is within everything in this world. My smile, every time I smile it, creates a smile which begets a smile which is passed on. Everything is contagious.

Make what you pass on to others good. Make it real. If a Lost Boy from Sudan like Achak, having experienced things you and I could never even fathom can do that, you and I, born "free" and in luxury of our own voices, sure as hell can.



This book gave me a few bad dreams but it also gave me an amazing sense of pride. Of what it is to be an American. To the have the means and ability to grant hope. To be hopeful. To reach dreams and to dream new dreams when those original dreams fade. We are a powerful country and in that we have immense pull and push to do. Good as well as bad.

So my message from this book is simple. Do good. Be good. Whatever that means to you. Be thankful for the bed you sleep in and the food that is your birthright. Hold out your hand as often as you can and use your voice as often as you can.

For more information on Achak and what his coming to American has done for the world, go here:

VAD

Chico = Cheaper Gas

"ChicoBags can save the average American 300 to 700 plastic shopping bags per year, which will save 3 to 7 gallons of crude oil. A population of 100,000 people can save up to 14,000 barrels of oil per year using reusable shopping bags."

I bought one of these two weeks ago and LOVE it.



Best $4.95 I've ever spent.

Buy one. I promise, you'll use it for so much more than groceries!

www.chicobag.com

Stimulus, Welfare, Whatever

There's been so much disagreement about what exactly to call the "stimulus" checks from IRS.

No matter what YOU call it, I call it money we wouldn't have otherwise had.

If you're curious about when yours is coming, check out this nifty table from the IRS which should shed some light - it can be found here .

The Best Neighbor Since Mr. Rogers

I've recently watched a few of Hayao Miyazaki's films - namely (and in this order) - Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke.

Where has this guy been all my life?! It's been a long time since films have captured me in this way, spoken to the child within my heart with such clear messages. I want to see everything he's ever done - I want to be transported to that calm and connected place all of these films, to varying degrees, took me. Again and again and again.

Who's buying tickets to the garbage that's in theaters right now? I want to know. Who's using their hard earned money to tell studios that we really want movies like another Harold and Kumar? They went to White Castle and THAT was bad enough, you can't possibly tell me their mis-adventures in Guantanamo Bay are really worth two hours of your life. Don't get me wrong - movies solely for entertainment purpose have their place and it's a place that shouldn't be challenged. However, we really are experiencing a shortage of major films. Perhaps I am just bitter because I live in a county that doesn't have an art house. Perhaps I am just more aware of this because I miss my evenings at Miracle 5, watching films that moved me. However, the fact remains that something has happened in Hollywood and it stinks.

Yet, perhaps I should be thankful for all of that, because it makes me look to things I haven't seen and in that, I've been led to something I now can't imagine life without. (Major thanks - Hilary, JP and Jenn)

So at this time, I feel the need to pass the message along. Watch these movies. You don't have to be in a certain mood, you can totally chomp popcorn and pause to use the restroom. These aren't, by nature, heavy films. Yet, if you wish, you will get something from this director. You will get something big. You will be entertained on a deep and penetrating level without even realizing what's happened until it has. Or at the very least, you will just be entertained and feel good about it...which is more than I can say for 95% of what I see currently released.

Perhaps timely enough in life, one message I took from My Neighbor Totoro is something the father in the film says to his children when they're worried about the noise the wind is making in their new home. Both of his daughters are really scared and he starts laughing. Hysterically. He tells them to laugh. To laugh at their fear, for by doing so, the fear will leave. I've been trying to do this the last week or so and I tell you what, it helps. It really, really does.

So tell me, what have your movies done for you lately?

Miyazaki is a genius. I'm 300% on this opinion. Try me.

Just Another Day in Paradise...

My mom and I struck gold on the beach the other day.



By that I mean, she found a $1 bill and I found a ton of sea glass. Freshly picked jasmine flowers were just the perfect way to end our excursion.



I love living here.

My Travels

The Travel Journal is done.

Thank you to all of those who participated in these journies of self and circumstance. It's been quite a ride!

http://immenseandcollected.blogspot.com/