Riding the Notes

A Bad Day

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:56:00 GMT

                                                                                       DANIEL POWTER ~ BAD DAY

Recently I had a very bad day. I don't have too many bad days so when I do they tend to be really bad. Now, however, I am so thankful for my bad day.  I don't know how I ever expected a white knight to come save the day if I never had a bad one. The video and song say it all.

I'm sorry for not keeping up with my blogging but I have been buried in research for my upcoming novel. Thanks to all of you who keep in contact and keep checking back. I think the work and wait will be worth it!

Have a great week folks.

Who Knows?

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:22:00 GMT

THE WHO ~ BEHIND BLUE EYES

It is always difficult when my characters decide it's time to write the last chapter and close the book.

I-may-be-totally-wrong-but-I'm-a...

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:09:03 GMT

                         Frank Zappa ~ Dancing Fool


My children (and a few other brave souls) will tease me that I can never say the words "I'm wr...wrro...wrrroo...wrrrrooon...wrrrrroooonn...wrrrooonnngggg. I like to answer that charge by saying I am wrong all the time, but choose not to open my mouth unless I know I'm right.

I know, I know, a very cheeky thing to say but still fun to watch people spit out coffee when I say it...

Anyhow, just for kicks I will say this:

"i-may-be-totally-wrong-but-I'm-a..."


                                                    DANCING FOOL

Thanks Frank for the inspiration.

Have some fun this week folks!.

Up Up and Away

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:01:00 GMT

                                                                          UP UP AND AWAY...

Hideeho Folks - its good to be back.

One day, when my girls were very young, we went to a local street festival. We stopped at a vendor’s booth where they were each given a balloon.   I tied a balloon on each of their wrists and enjoyed watching them gleefully bounce them up and down.

When we arrived back home, my girls wanted to play in the back yard, but didn’t want to lose their balloons. So I carefully untied each balloon, one yellow and one pink, and watched as they floated safely to the ceiling of our back porch.

I suppose it was inevitable that my girls would eventually want to involve the balloons in their play. Before I knew it, I had two little girls, tears streaming down their faces, their little bodies jumping up and down, four tiny hands stretched to the sky - all in the futile attempt to bring their balloons back to earth.

I think one of the saddest faces in the world is that of a child who has lost their balloon for the very first time.

I gathered both girls in my arms, kissed away the tears, and quickly told them to wave their balloons on to their Grandma Lorraine in heaven. While it didn’t get their balloons back, it did take away just a little of the sadness in their faces, gave them a connection to their Grandma Lorraine, and was a nice way to move beyond the lost balloons.

That was about eighteen years ago and many balloons have been lost since. My son was born five years after the girls and by the time he lost his first balloon we had all become experts at waving balloons on a safe journey to heaven.

But for me, one of the best parts to this balloon story has always been how much my children’s living Grandma enjoyed it. In fact, Grandma Bev (or as they proudly called her “Techno-Grandma” since she enjoyed and excelled at playing their video games) embraced not only this story, but so much more. She was the only other person who knew exactly what to do if my children lost a balloon, a tooth, a favorite toy, homework, a boyfriend/girlfriend, Mom’s car (ahem), and so much more.

My children unexpectedly lost their Grandma Bev this past month. As they began processing this overwhelming loss, I helplessly watched the great sadness return to their beautiful faces, something I honestly had not seen since the loss of their first balloon.

It is always humbling and heartbreaking to realize there are hurts I will not be able to take away for my children. I am not sure what will remove the great sadness from their faces, but maybe, just maybe, sending a few cyber balloons up to Grandma Bev will help us all figure it out. I think she would like that.

THE FIFTH DIMENSION ~ UP, UP, AND AWAY...

Have a great week folks – trying to get my writing mojo back.

SIDENOTE: No birds were hurt in the writing of this story. Please never intentionally send a balloon up in the sky. If they don’t make it all the way to heaven a bird could accidentally choke on it.

REST IN PEACE: I also lost a great friend this week, Keith Cummins. We were internet friends but I was so thrilled to have actually met him and his wife last summer. Keith gave me one of the best lines to help persevere through difficult times…”Any day above ground is a good one…” Rest in Peace my friend… Thoughts and prayers to his wife Karrol and a few cyber balloons as well.

Learning Something New...

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 19:05:00 GMT

                                   Can you believe it - me with a parasol? A special thanks to Lucy for snapping the pic!

I have seen parasols many times.

In Asia I saw dainty women carrying them to block the hot sun.

From movies I know there was a time when every proper lady carried a parasol - and knew how to hold it just so...

Once, I even attended a performance dedicated to the art of twirling and dancing with magnificently colored parasols.

But never, not once, have I ever thought of using one myself.

There are valid reasons for this.

First, it can be difficult for me to remember simple accessories such as an umbrella when it's raining or a beach towel when I go to the beach.  Coordinating a parasol (I have been told you should have different colors to match each outfit) was not something I have ever felt capable of doing.

Second, if I'm in a hurry it is best that my hands are free of all objects that can swing, flip, roll, or otherwise accidently fling on some unsuspecting person passing my way.

Third, I thought the parasol was just an accessory, something to be used for decoration or dance props. I never had a need for one.

Well, now I have learned the real value of the parasol. My life before I fell off the face of the earth was a bit sheltered - literally. I will never take the precious gift of shade from a tree or a building or a...a...a... parasol for granted again!

And as for dangerous objects in my hands - well most people seem more afraid of my overheated brain than any object accidently flying their way...

~     ~     ~

I am learning a new language as well and want to send a special shout out to my tutor, Lola, who has the patience, persistence, and perfectionism I need to accomplish such a task. But soon, for the fun of it, I think I will try out this word on her and see what she does with me.


                                                                                  Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Side Note: Take a look at some of the parasol dancing Julie Andrews does in this scene. Maybe I'll try a few steps when it gets a little cooler...

Soon I will be highlighting some of the incredible people and places I have found here...

Have a great week folks!

A Woman I'll Never Know

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:41:00 GMT

This week, just kiddie corner from where I am, a woman took her own life.  I did not know her, although I may have nodded a quick hello once or twice.

Regardless, such a tragic event has a way of imposing great sadness on a neighborhood.  Cars putter where they once whisked by, all the bright summer clothes disappear, and everyone walks with just a little less bounce to their step.

I did not know this woman, and now I never will - a missed opportunity to be sure. But if I had, if I had known of her desperation, I would have gotten out of the car and walked with her. Watch to the end of the video and you'll understand.


                                                              REM -~ Everybody Hurts

Side Note:  I've had some interesting theological discussions this week. After sifting through it all I know only this:

Every time I have thought God sent someone to me for help, repair, or guidance it has turned out to be the other way around.

It may be something for others to consider as well...

Gotta keep my heart, mind, and (most importantly) my ears open.

Have a peaceful week folks.

The Test of Time

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:52:00 GMT

                                                            The Cactus Cuties ~ The Star Spangled Banner

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!

As a wanderer, it is interesting to see which things have made it through my numerous moves. The one item that has made it through all my travels and relocations is the tenor saxaphone my parents bought when I was in the fifth grade. I'm sure a key chain or something would be a lot easier to carry around from sea to shining sea, but I don't think we get to pick which items will withstand the test of time.

I think , however, that this performance of our National Anthem by The Cactus Cuties will also withstand the test of time and be considered a national treasure for years to come. As we celebrate another Fourth of July, I could find no other performance that inspires me more. The introductory message from one of our precious marines just makes it all that more special.

God grant all Americans the wisdom and strength to insure the USA stands the test of time as well! "Yes we can..."

Have a relaxing, safe, and memorable holiday!

Just So You Know

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:29:00 GMT

                                                                                  MORPHINE ~ FRENCH FRIES WITH PEPPER

There are some challenges to dangling off the face of the earth. One of them is that no one is 100% sure about the water. When you first arrive it is recommended that you boil or buy bottled water whenever possible.

Every house or establishment has a very handy kettle thingamabob for just this purpose. I have learned to use it well.

My challenge presented itself when I decided to make my own salad and didn't have any bottled water available. I didn't want to walk in to town to buy some, so, I looked at the nice little kettle and just boiled up a batch of fresh water to rinse off my lettuce.

Just so you know...if you don't let the boiling water cool down before pouring it over fresh lettuce you will have cooked lettuce pasted to the bottom of the colander.

I had to make a trip in to town after all...

Of course, I probably should have just settled in at a nice café and enjoyed some french fries with pepper...


                                                                                  MORPHINE ~ FRENCH FRIES WITH PEPPER

Some news is so big... Michael Jackson Rest in Peace

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:27:00 GMT

Some news events are so big they even reach people dangling off the face of the earth.

Such is the case with the reported death of Michael Jackson.

With the passing of any person, I try to remember and reflect on at least one thing they taught me.

Michael Jackson left me this:

We all have a mission or two we are supposed to accomplish here on earth - each and every one of us. Sometimes, the most difficult part of a mission can be ignoring the gossip mongers and the mean spirited people encountered along the way.   Michael taught me that even though gossip can hurt,  the most important thing is to keep plodding along with what you are supposed to do. The only people that really need to know the truth are your children, the only real caretakers of your legacy.

Worrying about what the gossip mongers have to say during your life is the surest way to leave nothing of value when you are gone...
Janelle Marie

Rest in peace Michael ~ you deserve it as you have left us much.  Many thoughts and prayers to his children...


                                                MICHAEL JACKSON ~ HEAL THE WORLD

Side note: My favorite Michael Jackson song is still, after all these years, BEN. I'm not going to link you up though as I think we can all afford one purchase and to really enjoy this song you need one of the highest quality.

WANTED: One HUGE Hat Box

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 03:05:00 GMT

                                                                                   DIXIE CHICKS
                                                     Landslide
                              With a very appreciatative tip of the hat to the incredible Stevie Nicks

Hideeho everyone!

Sorry for my lack of correspondence but I am still completing research in a comfortable place almost off the face of the earth.  I have even taken to working on parts of my novel in longhand - loving every moment of it!

For those of you who have read my first work, Every Girl Needs a Hat Box, you know that I have put a lot of things in a hat box.  This song has haunted me for a few years; enjoying it without ever really knowing where it fit in my own life.  Maybe it fits now (really, honest, I'm not sure), but if I am going for a landslide I want a nice sled for the ride. My only problem is finding a hat box big enough to store a sled...



All are welcome to join me here when ready! Just bring a strong rope with a little chair on the end for those times you slip of the edge. I think it is important to be comfortable when just dangling around for awhile.



Have a great week folks!

Something Special

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Sun, 17 May 2009 09:30:00 GMT

                                                                                                       COLBIE CAILLET
Hideeho!

There is something to be said for this "falling off the face of the earth" thing. While I miss so many of you I am getting an incredible amount of work, research, and writing done. I will be doing a feature shortly to fill you in on all the details but for now I am "Enjoying the Journey" which just happens to be the title of my next fun book.  All I can say right now is I have really found something special.

But I really believe there is something (or someone) special in so many corners of this big world. I hope you soon get a chance to look around and discover something special in your own neck of the woods.

I know of one special person who quietly resides in the North Georgia Mountains. He has finally decided to share his talent with the world via a new blog.

Robert Kimsey is a poet, author, philosopher, and a gentleman (even though he won't own up to all of these). I have mentioned him just once before in a previous blog. He is the chap who evoked an audible, unified, gasp from the audience prior to the thundering round of applause in appreciation of his poetry reading - something I had never seen before and have yet to come across again.

So give yourself a treat today and enjoy something special by clicking on Writing on the Ridge.

Sidenote: this is a must read for any of you poets or writers out there!

Have a great week folks and enjoy Something Special by Colbie Caillet. These lyrics really hit home for me and the tune is kind of catchy...

I have Fallen Off The Face of The Earth and It Is Beautful Here

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:19:40 GMT

                        More to come in future posts but here is a song I am carrying with me along the way...

                                                                                      Moon River ~ Audrey Hepburn

Now on to someone near and dear to me that deserves a little spotlight. While my blog subjects can range from music, to writing, to travel, to almost anything, I have had the chance to feature my daughter Amanda and, of course, Patch was in pictures all throughout our recent travels.

But I have one more daughter, Meghan, whom I have not yet introduced to you. In part that is because she has a personality and spirit that needs no introduction.  All who meet her are immediately enveloped by her unique and welcoming spirit.

Still, Meghan is the middle child (like me) and for whatever reason, the middle child really does tend to get overlooked. I think it is just a fact of life - something all you oldest and babies of the family just wouldn't understand!


None of my children had candy or cake before their 1st birthday but Meg's reaction to her first bite of frosting was the most enthusiastic. One bite and her eyebrows raised in surprise, her mouth gave the biggest smile, but best of all her head nodded yes so emphatically we all rushed to get her a second bite...

Meghan (left) with sister Amanda (right) the night of prom.                     Meg at her best - fly fishing without a care in the world.

That said, I think being overlooked once in awhile can be a good thing. Not only does it force you to resolve your own issues, but it allows you a bit more freedom as you journey through life.

Meg, this blog is for you and, as requested, I have put on the song you and I listened to together when you were just five years old. I still can't believe how well you understood the pain and sorrow Gordon Lightfoot conveys in this tribute to the men of the Edmund Fitzgerald.


                                                          The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald ~ Gordon Lightfoot

                                                                                    Favorite Lines
                            Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
                     The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay if they'd put fifteen more miles behind her.

For any of you that may not know the story here is a great video with some pictures ~ too bad they removed the audio...
                                        The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald edited by Joseph Fulton

A special hope and prayer for good health to all of you!

Fresh and New

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 14:45:00 GMT

Happy Easter to those celebrating today. I was not aware before this year that the Greek Orthodox Easter does not always fall on the same Sunday as the Western Catholics/Christians I am excited to be landing in Athens right before the Greek Orthodox Easter . What a treat to celebrate this special event twice!

As mentioned in my previous blog, I enjoy the Easter holiday not only for the scrumptious treats brought by the Easter Bunny, but for the unique gift of looking at everything with a fresh and new view. So it is that I woke up this morning, looked outside to a beautiful Spring day and chose the following song to help keep my new outlook.

There are many, many, videos made around this song but I feel extra lucky to have found a version with the Great Louis Armstrong performing it live. What a performer and what a person - couldn't you just imagine running up on stage to give him a big hug after this performance?

The late great tennis player Arthur Ashe discovered he had contracted AIDS from a heart surgery performed in 1983. People around the world were stunned and saddened prompting one fan to ask him "...Why does God have to select you for such a bad disease..." To this Arthur Ashe replied: "If I were to ask 'God, Why Me?' about the bad things, then I should have said "God Why Me?' about the good things as well."

What a profound statement and terrific legacy Mr. Ashe left for us all.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG ~ WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

Bunny Caution

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:32:00 GMT

As we all prepare for Easter perhaps we can take a little bit of extra care not to hit the little bunny rabbits trying to cross the road.

And for goodness sake parents, if you happen to hit one by mistake please try not to yell out, "I just hit the Easter Bunny!" Forty some years later and that little comment is still not funny to me...

Here's a great old video of this classic Easter song...

Peter Cottontail

The celebrations during Holy Week are as important to me as the actual Easter Holiday. It gives me a good chance to reflect and renew in a world of budding flowers and baby birds.




Rockin Robin ~ The Jackson Five

May the world have a peaceful week!

"Thinking Outside the Borders"

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:24:00 GMT

Frank Sinatra ~ My Way
                                                                                  DINO, SAMMY AND FRANK

I am excited to have been invited to speak at the Thirteenth Annual Blue Ridge Writers' Conference this Saturday March 28, 2009. It is an honor and I hope to make my session full of informational fun.

The title of my presentation is "Thinking Outside the Borders". I know I have mostly written here about my fun adventures in England, Italy, and Greece, but I actually compiled quite a bit of information!

As most of you know, I have enjoyed writing for most of my life but was never interested in publication.  Then, a few years ago, I was offered a traditional contract which picqued my interest in the entire publishing world. Being the unusually curious cat I am, I chose another route, one which allowed me a chance to research and investigate this industry unknown to me.  While I have hiccupped a few times at that decision, for the most part it has been the right path for me. I hope some of what I have learned will be useful to others I meet along the way including those attending the conference this weekend.

This past week, however, I have spent with my daughter Amanda (just turned 21 - yahoo!) in Las Vegas. Interestingly, it proved to be the perfect place for me to prepare and meditate on what message I really want to leave with conference attendees.

Las Vegas is a new city from the days of the Rat Pack. It has diligently worked to become a family destination and now boasts so many attractions that appeal to people of all ages.  But I like to imagine a city's history as I walk through it so I found myself walking around with the ghosts of Frank, Dino, and Sammy (sorry Joey and Peter - maybe next time). I imagined how incredible this city looked in the 1960's with so many new lights popping out of the dessert, so many people traveling long distances just to witness the Las Vegas magic, and so many people heartbroken over gaming tables.

I have played the wonderful music of Frank, Dino and Sammy all week, inspired by their talent, amused by their antics, and saddened that they couldn't be here for me to enjoy. Their music, as well as their lives, were filled with so much fun, energy, romance, heartache, and tragedy!  I enjoyed my quest to get to know more about these gentlemen and suddenly began to understand that they remain in the hearts of so many not only because of their incredible talent, but because they were able to work around the racial, economic, and moral boundaries of the 1960's.

Aha - I thought - here is how these three tie in with my preparation!

Today's writers face boundaries of their own. While the traditional publishing world holds on to established distributorship, new digital libraries are being created every day. While many insist they must have the feel of a book to enjoy reading, electronic readers are becoming the popular choice for many who don't care to lug books around or purchase them at the suggested retail price. And no matter how hard they try, it is becoming less and less economically feasible for publishers to warehouse large quantities of books that may or may not sell when on demand internet publishing is a viable option.   In the same way Frank, Dino, and Sammy stepped out of the touted entertainment venues of New York and Hollywood, today's American writer must look not only beyond our physical border, but beyond traditional publication and writing methods as well.

There were a lot of songs I enjoyed this week, but there is really only one that conveys what I hope to pass on to the conference attendees and anyone else who wants to listen...

Frank Sinatra ~ My Way

Here's a neat link displaying some great pictures of the entire Rat Pack:

The Rat Pack ~ When Kool Was King

Discovering the Diva within Me

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 22:20:00 GMT

EXTRA - EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT... PATCH AND I ARE FEATURED EXTRAS ON THE MOVIE SET OF GET LOW

                                   My Favorite Personal Picture from the event ~ Patch by an authentic 1930's Model T

My son Patch and I recently had the extraordinary experience of being "featured extras" on the movie "Get Low". Directed by Aaron Schneider, with an incredible starring cast of Robert Duval, Bill Murray Sissy Spacek, and Lucas Black, it was an opportunity we could not pass up.

Although I have been to movie shoots before, this was my first time in front of the camera; my first time enduring the wardrobe and make up process, and the first time I have ever, ever, gotten up at 3 am so I could stand in a frozen field in high heels!

Since I am working on a screenplay of my own, the experience was invaluable (A big hug and thank you to Mike Buchanan of
TinRoof Films!). I couldn't stop myself from taking mental notes on how things were done behind the scenes.

But on the personal side, I just couldn't believe how much of a diva I had lurking way deep inside of me!

Featured extras were fitted in wardrobe before the actual film dates. We went on a Sunday and the entire process took from 10 am until about 7 pm. We did leave for awhile, but most of that time was spent waiting in a tent. I even tried at one point to get my name of the list, but the list wasn't in wardrobe so I took my seat and waited some more.

It was during this process that I got my first inkling that a little bit of diva might be hidden somewhere inside of me. As production/wardrobe assistants just kept pointing me back to the holding tent I wanted to scream - "Don't you know I am in the middle of a novel and screenplay of my own?" Don't you understand I have clients depending on me to make sure they don't fall down the ever increasing economic black hole."  In my head I was going on and on, but I held the diva back until it was our turn.

Then, when I entered the wardrobe tent, I began to understand what had taken so long. It wasn't a matter of the costume designer, Julie Weiss, finding an outfit and putting us in it. It was a work of art in process. As an unusual Georgia snow fell furiously outside, Julie and her assistants were creating not only an authentic 1930's crowd, but doing an excellent job of making everyone look their personal best - just in case this was their one shot to be noticed by the film industry.

Julie put me in an outfit, then left me standing there without uttering another word while she made another girl switch shoes because one of the bows wouldn't have been authentic for the 1930's.  Eventually she came back and found a coat for me. As I stood in that for awhile, she moved on to a man who would have to shave off his beard and yelled over her shoulder for an assistant to replace a button on someone else.  Then came finding a hat for me and, believe it or not, that was the most difficult part. Too big, too small, or just not the right look for my face, Julie would place me in a hat, go on to others, all the while giving me an occasional glance until she was finally satisfied she had found one that would match the look she had in mind for me. A true artist at work I say!

After Patch and I both had our wardrobes came the final lecture. One of the wardrobe assistants grabbed my shoulders, made me look her square in the eyes, and gave me the rules... "Nude pantyhose - that does not mean suntan", "thermal underwear underneath are ok if I can't see it - if I see it I cut it...", "You are bringing your own black heels right?" and "You are not going to forget your black heels" and instead of goodbye I think she might have muttered "I bet she forgets her black heels".

Patch and I went home from the fitting exhausted but ultimately glad for the experience. I also found my diva was tucked back away with a little more understanding about the whole process.

Two days later came the day of the big shoot. We were told to be in wardrobe by 5 am, but preparation started the night before by putting my hair up in pin curls.  We arrived on the set at precisely 5 am - and we were an hour late. We had received the wrong email and "featured extras" were supposed to arrive at 4 am. Ok, ok, they all said as they shuffled us around from line to line - picking up our wardrobe, getting approval, processing through makeup (my lip color was red matte - I was not supposed to forget that and I still haven't), on to hair cuts and finally combing out the incredibly tight pin curls

Then came final approval before we were allowed on the shuttle bus to the set.

Patch and I stood nervously in the approval line, wanting Julie to be happy with our look, hoping we hadn't forgotten anything. I also stood just a litle taller knowing I had remembered my black heeled shoes after all.

Julie looked us up and down, moved Patch's hat, and then gave me a glare as she reached for my neckline. "What is this?" she said as she pulled out my thermal undershirt. No one else had seen it but little goes past Julie's experienced scrutiny. Her glare turned in to a "I can't believe you are wearing thermal with my wardrobe" look. She let go of my thermal with a final statement of "Get rid of it".

We were approved and excited that we were finally on our way to the actual movie set.

I have since decided that the warm shuttle bus was a ruse to make sure none of us jumped ship before they could deliver us to the set. A north Georgia field in early March, whether you have thermals on or not, is cold - very cold. And while most of the extras were huddled around the mushroom heaters chatting excitedly, Patch and I were both looking for a shuttle bus that might take us back.


This picture is bittersweet for me as I enjoy remembering this field filled with such an authentic 1930's crowd but
                                                                 can't stop a shiver from running through me.

My diva completely returned when my toes turned in to blocks of ice no matter how many clothes I piled on top of them.  As I tried to walk from the mushroom heaters to a blanket Patch and I cuddled up on, I decided Julie didn't like me. All the comments about "black heels" were inside jokes among experienced wardrobe people. I imagined all of them chuckling as they watched me get on the shuttle bus knowing I was only minutes away from losing all feeling in my toes for about four hours. (I have warmed up and know this is not true but at the time...). In fact, the only thing that kept me in that field was the fact that I would have had to walk in those black heels back down the hill to the shuttle bus -and I didn't think I could make it.

It has been a long time since I watched the sun come up with such jubilation and practicality. The writer in me loves to absorb such scenes, searching for the right words to describe their beauty and meaning. This morning, however, I watched as the sun struggled to rise above a tree line so its warmth could hit me directly. The only words floating around in my head were "I wonder if props has an axe so I can just cut the damn trees down." Yes that's right, I used the word damn - diva's sometimes swear, at least in their heads.

I won't take you through the entire day but the diva within me subsided once the sun reached over the tree line and my toes came back to me. It was hard to be a diva around the professional people in the extra camp, people who do this all the time without complaining. It was impossible to be a diva once Mr. Robert Duval and Mr. Bill Murray stepped on to the set. It was time to get to work and I was way too busy following instructions to worry about the diva within me.

We did get some pictures of Bill Murray and Robert Duval (Sissy Spacek was not on the set that day and we missed the short time Lucas Black was filming) but none with us in them.  Once shooting began there was no opportunity to take pictures as we were too busy making sure we did our part to make the movie as successful as possible.

The most exciting part of the day for me came late in the afternoon when one of the production assistants pulled Patch and some other kids out to work directly in a scene with Bill Murray. I couldn't believe I was standing on a field watching my son work hand in hand with Mr. Murray.  Patch was called back to shoot some more scenes the next day but we couldn't be there because of a prior commitment in Florida. Because of this we have no idea if his original scenes will be cut completely, but I hope not. I really don't care about being seen on screen as I figured out about half way through the whole experience that my place is in a quiet village, hopefully writing something worthy of being filmed in the first place.

For Patch, while he enjoyed working with Bill Murray, there was the added bonus of wearing a helmet from the George Clooney movie Leatherheads.  I'm not sure but I think this may be his favorite picture and was the only wardrobe item he had a tough time giving up.

In the scene Patch had to take off the helmet for a moment of prayer. When he put the helmet back on it was backwards but some extras we spent the day with straightened him right out. Thanks guys - it was fun sitting around the campfire with you!

As for the diva within me there was only one more appearance before it was tucked away for good. After the entire shoot, the sun went down, the cold started creeping back in, and there was an incredibly long wait for the shuttle bus back to wardrobe.

Patch and I patiently stood in line, but began to get frustrated by the amount of people moving to the front of the line with little children. Other extras were also upset as the casting call indicated no one under the age of six were to be allowed, and now all these parents with little ones were moving to the front of the line.

The diva in me began imagining mothers pinching their little bundles of joy so they would wail loud enough to get to the front of the line. But a lady and her teen age daughter helped me tuck away my diva for good. They noticed a mother toward the back of the line who didn't want to upset anybody by moving to the front. She was earnestly trying to comfort her little one but the baby needed to get out of the cold. This middle aged mother and her teenage daughter would not listen to the people complaining around them.  Politely but firmly they got this mother and her child up to the front. And with that simple act of courage I remembered who I usually am in such situations and tucked away my diva for good.

AND NOW FOR THE SCARY PART...

Ok folks, the one thing about being an extra on a movie is that they can use whatever footage they have taken of you. If I am in any scenes at all I am very afraid of what I will look like. If you really want to find me once it is released (in about eight months) I will be the one trying to keep my hosiery from rolling down. Whether other extras beat me to the store or there just aren't that many nude hosiery products, I had a heck of a time finding a pair at all, let alone in the right size. For that reason and more, I hope I am just a hat in the crowd. But since you are all my loyal readers and friends I figure I owe you at least a peak - just in case...

This first one is not too bad really. My pin curls are straightening as it is towards the end of the day and a lot of the scenes were around campfires so I have a bit of a smoke screen thing going on...



But if one more person tells me they have a picture of their grandmother, or even worse their great-grandmother, who looks just like this...


SONG OF THE WEEK

These ladies, each one of them, deserve to be called and accepted as divas. The interesting thing is as I watch them perform now I can't stop myself from wondering how long they had to spend in make up, how comfortable their shoes are, or if they were able to find hosiery in their size.

Enjoy the tune - it is a really great version.


                                                        You Make me Feel Like a Natural Woman
                Divas ~ Aretha Franklin, Gloria Estefan, Celine Dion, Shania Twain, and Mariah Carey

Favorite line ~ "When my soul was in the lost and found - You came along to claim it..."

Have a great week folks and a big thank you to all who have loyally kept checking in while I have been away!

Shifting Gears

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:28:00 GMT

                                                                                              Sheryl Crow
                                                                    Steve McQueen

Time for a little fun.

This was an incredibly fun song to hear while I cruised around Greece - especially the mountainous hairpin turns along the coast - most without guard rails. Yikes!

And while I was imagining myself driving one of the cars from this video, all the people I passed saw only this little Hyundai Getz, with a crazy American woman belting out "Steeeeeeeeeeeve McQueeeeeeeeeeen".



Now that I'm back home, I just need to stop trying to step on a clutch that isn't there and shift gears on my automatic vehicle.

Have a great week folks!

Side Note: It's been harder than I thought to shift gears back to my own world stateside. Perhaps that's because I am not really sure I want to...

Treasuring Good Hearted Spirits

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:36:00 GMT

I know the world is in a financial crisis and a lot of people have too much on their plates.

Still, I don't understand people who believe cutting someone else down is the same thing as raising themselves up.

I have seen West Side Story at least fifty times in my life. I have cried at the end every time. I've always thought my tears were for such a sad ending to a beautiful love story.

But this week, for the first time, I realized that perhaps my tears are for the futility I feel when people turn someone as fun and energetic as this:

I Feel Pretty ~ West Side Story

Into someone as devastated as this :

West Side Story Finale

Does anyone really believe they can bow their heads with regret and shame and be able to repair the damage done?

All I can do is keep searching for "Somewhere" that treasures good hearted spirits - and believe one day I will find it.

Have a peaceful week my good hearted friends!

Side Note: I spotted the bumper sticker of the year -

"What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?"

Ha - isn't that great! I will work on something more fun and light-hearted next week, I promise.

Click here for an Instructional video if there really is anyoneout there who doesn't know how to do the Hokey Pokey.

...And Now Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Programming...

egnahb@yahoo.com (Egnahb Inc) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:34:00 GMT

                                                                                 Martina McBride
                                                                       This One's For The Girls

Valentine's Day has always been one of my least favorite holidays, regardless of whether I received beautiful flowers or gifts.

I'm not sure how to celebrate a day where I know there will be very deserving girls and women waiting for something that will never come - and they will be devastated. (Sorry guys - the day just doesn't seem to affect you the same way).

My friend Melissa's husband, Shannon Duggan, has one of the best life habits. He wakes up every day, looks into the mirror, and says to himself - "I like what I see".

I think that's what we all need to do today, and make a resolution to do it every day forward. Come on girls - everyone up from your computer and off to the bathroom mirror!

I - LIKE - WHAT - I - SEE

Good job! That done, here's a great song for women all around the world!

Martina McBride ~ This One's for the Girls