baubles bangles,beads and snow!

Whenever I hear Nina Simone sing, everything seems to make sense . Is there an artist who does this for you? Please share!

It's snowing in October in New York City and Nina's voice and piano playing create a reality and form based on true musicianship. What a gift! God Bless Nina Simone for recognizing, sharing and nurturing her gift. And God Bless those who stood by her to do so.

As we pass through "All Hallow's Eve", look listen and send love and appreciation to those who came before you. May your passage be peaceful and enlightening.

Thank you again to Nina Simone Goddess of sound, fearless artist, woman of truth

Please allow me to share a quote from Stella Adler: "Acting is action, action is doing. Find ways to do it, not to say it." From Keith McKay's book, Robert Deniro: The Hero Behind the Masks. In 2005 I worked on Robert Deniro's film The Good Shepard, five days of work total, not including the wardrobe fitting. It was thrilling. First three days were in August, last two in December. Before the casting director called me back for the December shoot I had just listened and danced to Nina's song "Children Go Where I Send You". This is my truthful musing. As I said, her music moves me.

We shot on location in a Long Island Mansion and William Hurt was on the set. I love his work. The shoot was around a piano singing Christmas Carols. I think the child actor had a challenging scene with Santa. Christmas can be dramatic!

Well, cheers to great films and actors. At a local thrift shop I found "Dreams" by Akira Kurosawa to help me celebrate the night of the veils. This is going to be a mysterious sacred night of transition. Behold . But first let's make it through this snowstorm. Then Behold!

Invite the harvest in sweet honey bees

Lights on Broadway

"They say the city lights are bright on Broadway. " Yes , George Benson , that is true. Especially when you have a smile like this to walk with you. Prince Antonio forever bright. Keep shining. Farewell Sweet Prince of the Sun. Rest in Peace.

In the song "Nothing is Too Wonderful to be True"

It starts out .. "Magic can happen anywhere", well , here is a photo of someone rising to the occasion without even asking. He was ready for action. This summer had magical moments. This is a memory worth recording.

Harvest, Great Artists, Marking the Path of Now, Life In and Out of the theater

My how fast this year spins and spirals. The above city street photo was taken near second street on the lower east side.

Recently I read an old interview with Umberto Eco. He wrote a group of essays in the style of political commentary and collected them in a book "Turning Back the Clock". He describes media populism. He was asked if he cares if people read his novels 100 years from now? He responded with a deadpan " If somebody writes a book and doesn't care for the survival of that book, he's an imbecile."

Did that make you laugh? I love that kind of humor and truth. It's very direct , and very Italian.

In a different article, prodigious writer Nuruddin Farah , was quoted saying "We must pay attention to how societies treat women. Only when a society treats its women and children well can it thrive. " Mainly he was speaking of Africa. But this is a true statement all around for every civilization. His book "Knots" sounds like an intriguing , yet eye opening read.

My senior thesis in college was derived from the question in a 1970's art history essay entitled "Why are There No Great Women Artists?". This essay posed why throughout history were there a disproportionate number of women to men artists in shows and museum exhibits? I focused on Leonor Fini's career and paris in the 1930s. Part Italian, part Argentinian , Fini was a fascinating woman . She wrote back to me once as I was writing my thesis. I wanted to meet her after I graduated college, but moving to New York was more practical than going to Paris.

I still have the postcard she sent. It was one of her paintings. She gave me a hand- written note on the back of the postcard. The day I finished my letter to her, there was thunder and lightning. I knew then she would respond and receive my letter. It was really an affirmation to me when I got her letter. It was after New Year's on a winter's day. Seeing her handwritten note addressed to me, I was both moved and felt so connected to her. I am so grateful for this marker on my path into the arts. Although I never did meet her, she was a role model to me, and a brave artist who represented a voice of her time.

When I moved to New York , my first job was at a theater in Times Square. This theater has the motto : "Ye Shall Know The Truth and The Truth Shall Set You Free" inscribed on it.

Now that I am reminiscing , I wanted to say that last year around this time I had the honor of performing in a staged reading of Wesley Brown's play : Life During Wartime. I have to get the footage of this so I can upload it to my blog. His play will be on the classics shelf in years to come. To me, this playwright is of the caliber of Tennessee Williams.

Now it's time to greet the present, and acknowledge this gift of time.

Datura takes time to bloom, thank you southwest for enduring this plant and making her strong enough to bloom in northeast too

the a word

Yep, you guessed it, Audition. Yesterday I filled my calendar with auditions. Today I went to one. Then afterwards I went with a friend to see live theater, Love Loss and What I Wore.