When someone asked me today what my headache felt like, after I mentioned that I had a very infrequent headache, I said, "it's at the top of my head." Later, as I drove home after a long day, I came up with the following description. Can anyone relate?
The top of my skull is cut off, revealing the crown of my brain, with all the nerves exposed.
A hot iron is laid upon my head, for up to 15 minutes or so.
It begins to cool down, only now, the iron is pressing into the brain tissue, so much that I feel the pressure at the bottom of my eye sockets. My eyes begin to water.
Occasionally, a sharp kabob wire pokes into my right or left temple, usually the right, and it's difficult to not cry out.
The open brain is gradually released from the pressure, but then the "fluffy" period begins. It feels like the top of my head has become pillow fill, with a vise on the two temples, slowly increasing in pressure. That's where I am right now, and it's a place where I can function, but it's so uncomfortable!!
My ears are ringing, a consistent weeeeeeeeee, that is only interrupted when I am considering other things besides my miserable headache. Distraction is welcomed and necessary!
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Post-Production Midnight
You might be surprised at how many tricks are employed by movie producers to make a scene more beautiful, attractive, or bright. While doing some freelance public relations work in Dallas, I was called upon by a film post-production company to do some promotion. To do so, I needed a little education in the way that they did things. Post-production is the work that takes place AFTER the filming has taken place.
A trick of many scenes that are seemingly shot at night are actually filmed in broad daylight. A simple screen applied in post-production can make it appear to be recorded in the blackest of nights or the brightness of a full moon.
The other night, I tossed and turned on my bed, trying to fall asleep. I decided to get up and go to the kitchen to pour myself some water. As I stepped out of bed, I could see a bright square of light on my bathroom floor from the skylight above. I went and stood under it and peered at the moon. I wanted to be directly in that moonlight, not through the lens of the overhead window.
It was cool for an October night in central Texas, so I grabbed my robe and slippers and padded to the front door. As soon as I stepped outside, I could see the light was almost ethereal in it's blueness. It appeared as if it was the sun above, with a bluish post-production lens on it. This was real though, and I was appreciative of the cool light. I called in post-production midnight.
A trick of many scenes that are seemingly shot at night are actually filmed in broad daylight. A simple screen applied in post-production can make it appear to be recorded in the blackest of nights or the brightness of a full moon.
The other night, I tossed and turned on my bed, trying to fall asleep. I decided to get up and go to the kitchen to pour myself some water. As I stepped out of bed, I could see a bright square of light on my bathroom floor from the skylight above. I went and stood under it and peered at the moon. I wanted to be directly in that moonlight, not through the lens of the overhead window.
It was cool for an October night in central Texas, so I grabbed my robe and slippers and padded to the front door. As soon as I stepped outside, I could see the light was almost ethereal in it's blueness. It appeared as if it was the sun above, with a bluish post-production lens on it. This was real though, and I was appreciative of the cool light. I called in post-production midnight.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Chasing the Sun
Our home sits high in Briarcliff, looking north/northwest over the beautiful hill country. I can't seem to see enough of the incredible sunsets that God provides, night after night. The vibrant colors, the cloud shapes and the feeling of peace that I receive is very rewarding.
Tonight, as I was traveling west out of Bee Cave, I saw the brilliant fuchsia sun, low on the horizon, soon to disappear ahead of me, while an intense cloud formation was to the east, with clear sky in between. The pink upper landscape predicted a gorgeous sight. I felt compelled to drive as fast as I could to catch a glimpse of the sun on the edge of the earth as it turned and covered it up.
Of course our globe was moving too quickly to see that, and although after the halfway mark home on Highway 71 the terrain drops ahead of me to view the beauty of the Bee Creek valley, I was pursuing the sun anyway. Even driving 100 mph would not have covered the territory in time.
My small disappointment at missing the sun on the western sky was replaced by an incredible gratitude when I turned north onto Pace Bend Road. On my right, to the east, was a magnificent pink cloud formation. I followed it with my eyes as much as I could, but did not have much of a place to pull over to snap a photo. By the time I pulled into the neighborhood and took the photo below, just the tip top of the cloud was still clothed in pink. What a wonderful gift it was, to see a reverse sunset.
The lead pastor of our church, Ross Parsley, recently pointed out something about the hermeneutics of The Lord's Prayer, where it states in the first line, "Our Father, who art in heaven ..." Early writers had fewer words to describe God, heaven, and the world in general. The word "heaven" at the time of the writing of the prayer that Jesus gave his disciples when they asked him how to pray, had a different reference than what many people today think of heaven. What heaven meant in the first century was everywhere! God, our creator is described as being in the air we breathe, all the living things we see and touch, and the beautiful sunsets that we enjoy. Many think of heaven as being far away, in the top of our atmosphere, and beyond. This new revelation for me gives me a new appreciation for the air I breathe, the life I see, and the gorgeous sunset that I pursued tonight.
Tonight, as I was traveling west out of Bee Cave, I saw the brilliant fuchsia sun, low on the horizon, soon to disappear ahead of me, while an intense cloud formation was to the east, with clear sky in between. The pink upper landscape predicted a gorgeous sight. I felt compelled to drive as fast as I could to catch a glimpse of the sun on the edge of the earth as it turned and covered it up.
Of course our globe was moving too quickly to see that, and although after the halfway mark home on Highway 71 the terrain drops ahead of me to view the beauty of the Bee Creek valley, I was pursuing the sun anyway. Even driving 100 mph would not have covered the territory in time.
My small disappointment at missing the sun on the western sky was replaced by an incredible gratitude when I turned north onto Pace Bend Road. On my right, to the east, was a magnificent pink cloud formation. I followed it with my eyes as much as I could, but did not have much of a place to pull over to snap a photo. By the time I pulled into the neighborhood and took the photo below, just the tip top of the cloud was still clothed in pink. What a wonderful gift it was, to see a reverse sunset.
The lead pastor of our church, Ross Parsley, recently pointed out something about the hermeneutics of The Lord's Prayer, where it states in the first line, "Our Father, who art in heaven ..." Early writers had fewer words to describe God, heaven, and the world in general. The word "heaven" at the time of the writing of the prayer that Jesus gave his disciples when they asked him how to pray, had a different reference than what many people today think of heaven. What heaven meant in the first century was everywhere! God, our creator is described as being in the air we breathe, all the living things we see and touch, and the beautiful sunsets that we enjoy. Many think of heaven as being far away, in the top of our atmosphere, and beyond. This new revelation for me gives me a new appreciation for the air I breathe, the life I see, and the gorgeous sunset that I pursued tonight.
Sunday, September 8, 2019
Peace = Jesus
Peace is one of my favorite words – because of what God
offers with it. It is a word of the sixties, when I was born, and I have heard it
and spoken it a great deal. It was not until the middle of my life that I
considered the word in the context of God’s peace, however. Peace is freedom! Freedom from oppressive
thoughts or emotions, as a definition states.
With my Catholic
upbringing, we performed the weekly peace offering to each other, accepting, “Peace
be with you,” from the congregation member
on your right, his or her hands over yours, and then sharing it with the person on your left. That was a warm,
good feeling for me. Today … after becoming a true Christian, (being saved,
following Jesus, and surrendering to his plans for my life), I always use peace in
my prayers when praying for others. It is the word I give in love to those who are
going through a stressful time, because of illness, financial or relationship difficulties.
Yes, God is love, and peace makes me think of Jesus.
Friday, March 22, 2019
Novel Update
The Great American Novel could be any writer's dream. To put it in perspective - let's have a few definitions:
The Great American Novel (GAN) - a book fought over by publishers, placed in every Barnes and Noble in the world, Number 1 on Amazon and on The New York Times Bestseller list, selling millions of copies and grossing millions of dollars.
could be - every writer has this potential, it just requires the right connections first, and then lots and lots of talent. Or maybe just a really creative idea and the right relationship to a promoter. Or an awesome editor. (Asking is the key to success, in my opinion.)
any - A very ambiguous word - meaning, and I quote Merriam Webster: one or some indiscriminately of whatever kind. That means everybody, almost, wants to be a writer of some sort, but may not easily, or ever, admit it.
writer's - As referenced to above, a writer can be anybody. If you went to first grade, you were taught to write. Noun + verb + adjectives and adverbs, participles and pronouns, etc. etc. Whether or not pursued in college or professionally is a different matter. Americans can write.
dream - Merriam Webster, definition 4a is the reference I am attributing to this comment: a strongly desired goal or purpose.
I myself, as a writer with a bachelor of journalism, employed by ad agencies and hospitals, a bank and a church, in Texas, California and Montana, to write news releases and newsletters, brochures and blogs, have a dream to write The Great American Novel.
After recently finishing a really incredible book, and collaborating with a friend about writing and producing a cookbook, my fire has been reignited! I know I've posted before, as tonight, ashamedly, I read my post of November 2017, when I said that I wanted to write a book in 2018. Watching Julia and Julia was another inspiration, as was assisting my brother-in-law with the publishing of his book, Optimal Dose, last summer.
My goal is to set up a schedule, for either the cookbook or the GAN, and post as often as possible to keep my commitment. 2019 is the year!
The Great American Novel (GAN) - a book fought over by publishers, placed in every Barnes and Noble in the world, Number 1 on Amazon and on The New York Times Bestseller list, selling millions of copies and grossing millions of dollars.
could be - every writer has this potential, it just requires the right connections first, and then lots and lots of talent. Or maybe just a really creative idea and the right relationship to a promoter. Or an awesome editor. (Asking is the key to success, in my opinion.)
any - A very ambiguous word - meaning, and I quote Merriam Webster: one or some indiscriminately of whatever kind. That means everybody, almost, wants to be a writer of some sort, but may not easily, or ever, admit it.
writer's - As referenced to above, a writer can be anybody. If you went to first grade, you were taught to write. Noun + verb + adjectives and adverbs, participles and pronouns, etc. etc. Whether or not pursued in college or professionally is a different matter. Americans can write.
dream - Merriam Webster, definition 4a is the reference I am attributing to this comment: a strongly desired goal or purpose.
I myself, as a writer with a bachelor of journalism, employed by ad agencies and hospitals, a bank and a church, in Texas, California and Montana, to write news releases and newsletters, brochures and blogs, have a dream to write The Great American Novel.
After recently finishing a really incredible book, and collaborating with a friend about writing and producing a cookbook, my fire has been reignited! I know I've posted before, as tonight, ashamedly, I read my post of November 2017, when I said that I wanted to write a book in 2018. Watching Julia and Julia was another inspiration, as was assisting my brother-in-law with the publishing of his book, Optimal Dose, last summer.
My goal is to set up a schedule, for either the cookbook or the GAN, and post as often as possible to keep my commitment. 2019 is the year!
Friday, February 22, 2019
Mall Shopping
It’s been a long time
There have been a lot of changes
Edge is very edgy
Macy’s is kind of, well.
All sorts of staff, from every home life possible
Smiling, serving, greeting.
Shoppers, the same
But not as happy.
I loved it but I didn’t spend more than my time
From glittery to grubby and fashionable to whoa
The variety is the attraction.
There have been a lot of changes
Edge is very edgy
Macy’s is kind of, well.
All sorts of staff, from every home life possible
Smiling, serving, greeting.
Shoppers, the same
But not as happy.
I loved it but I didn’t spend more than my time
From glittery to grubby and fashionable to whoa
The variety is the attraction.
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