book review: the third angel

I had totally forgotten about this book! I read it a few weeks ago, and just saw it linked from "The Rain Before it Falls".

What I liked about this book was that it looked at three generations of women and how their lives intertwined, sometimes without their knowledge. It starts with the present and works backward, which at first was confusing. But I came to appreciate this approach as it made for greater suspense as the book moved toward the originating event. The women are complex and easy to empathize.

The Third Angel
by Alice Hoffman

Summary (from Amazon):
"In this elegant and stunning novel, veteran heartstring-puller Hoffman (Here on Earth; Seventh Heaven) examines the lives of three women at different crossroads in their lives, tying their London-centered stories together in devastating retrospect."

book review: the rain before it falls

Just finished a novel in record time: less than 3 days! I haven't picked up a new book since my trip to San Diego a few weeks ago. Every book I've picked up recently was either too close to home, or didn't grab me. This book was a pleasant surprise, as I was not entirely convinced that I was going to read it by perusing the description on the jacket.

I really enjoyed his writing style and turn of phrase. The narrative painted bleak landscapes of family history, colored with an unexpected depth of feeling and complexity. It was like a gray muggy sky for me, moist and heavy, at times cold, then unexpectedly warm.

I finished it on the way to work this morning. It lingers still in my mind, which is always the sign of a good book.

The Rain Before it Falls
by Jonathan Coe

Summary (from Amazon):
"Time seems to collapse in this troubling family saga, more notable for its meditative aspects than for its relatively straightforward story of betrayal and loss. From her deathbed, the elderly Rosamond tells the story of her life and relationships through a series of photographs dating from nineteen-thirties rural England to London in the nineteen-eighties."

dream: don't run from the snake

Another dream, last week:

I was driving with my son through this ruin, stone carvings, moss covered, the jungle growing up and through them. I saw a statue of a fertility god, with a round belly and laughing face. I parked the car and ran up to touch it. Then I noticed the ENORMOUS snake in the pool surrounding the figure. I started to run away, and the snake rose up out of the pool. Its head was above mine, it was at least three feet in diameter. I stopped, and thought to myself "If I run, it will surely kill me. If I stay still, I have a chance"

I felt a big thump on the top of my head, and knew that the snake had bitten me, and I was going to die.

my bodhisattva vow

On Saturday, I went to an all-day meditation retreat whose theme was the Bodhisattva Vow. The Bodhisattva is a Buddhist figure, a being whose mission in life (and across all their lifetimes) is the enlightenment of all beings.

As lofty as this sounds, we can take on the aspiration to be an ordinary bodhisattva. For me, that means lifting my spiritual practice from one of purely self-realization to one that includes service to and awareness of others.

here is my bodhisattva vow:

May I always act with wisdom and love.
May I radiate joy to everyone around me.
May I bring clarity and compassion to all beings.

now, I may not acheive those all the time. BUT it gives me something to shoot for. one of the teachers told us her vow was to always see the beauty in others. She also read a poem about a convenience store clerk whose smile transformed her experience of life, in the wake of her father's death. That man was an ordinary bodhisattva.

it is a turning point in my spirituality. it was one of the most profound experiences of my life.

an ordinary bodhisattva

This Saturday I am going to a day-long meditation retreat at Spirit Rock. I'm looking forward to the silence, although I will miss my little guy.

I am particularly inspired by this retreat: The Bodhisattva Vows

From the Spirit Rock website:

This daylong will explore the Bodhisattva, the vows he or she takes, the living embodiments, and how any of us can become an "Ordinary Bodhisattva"; dedicating our practice to the liberation of all things, without exception.

...we will hold the fourth annual Spirit Rock Bodhisattva Ceremony, where we can take our version of the bodhisattva vows to deepen our practice and connect with all things.

Special thanks to J for watching my boy so I can attend.

dream: the world is on fire

Last night's dream:

I went to the parking lot to get my car, and D had it painted purple. I argued with the attendant, asking him how he could have let this happen as it is MY car.

I pulled out of the lot, looked out and saw block after block of office buildings and skyscrapers (i was downtown). and I saw all these buildings on fire. I looked closer, and saw the flames engulf a block of buildings. it was coming my way.

I backed up to pull out the other way, to try to outrun the flames. I looked across and saw the fire race past me. then the flames engulfed me, and i thought "so this is how it feels to die". I did not feel any pain.

This morning I made an appointment for D and I to meet with a paralegal to start our divorce.

ask and you shall receive

The dark lord (TDL) and my best friend (MBF) came over to my house last night and I had a lovely time with both of them. TDL helped me get my studio working (the culprits: one bad USB cable, one bad mic cable, one spazzy audio interface) There is still a high pitched whine, but its not audible on recording, just in the headphones.

So now I can start working on music at home again :)

ALSO I helped create an animated presentation (basically a two minute ad) for my company, to be shown the exec team today. I did some design and scored the music. It was SO FUN. Made with Soundtrack (Apple) and its basic loops.

Okay universe, thank you!!

I had a dream about you last night

We were giggling together, like children.
I turned away to catch my breath.
You came up behind me (I could feel you smiling)
and whispered in my ear a question
to which I replied a single word:

"music"

We both became hushed.

your myspace comments won't save you

I downloaded this song a few months ago. It amused me then and still does :)

Your MySpace Comments Won't Save You
by Dustin and the Furniture

source
(which also features songs titled "Look Who Got a Website" and "I Started a Blog Nobody Read")

I miss making music

I had some words float into my head today, took note on my iPhone. I've stalled out getting my studio together. Sigh.

How Many Five Year Olds Could You Take In A Fight?

OK, I have to admit this cracked me up.. especially since my son is 5 years old:

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