As summer turns to fall—the so-called “quiet season”—there’s usually a gap period between major exhibitions. In Britain, many seem to close mid-September, new ones opening later in the month. Last week, on a two-day trip to London, I made the most of what was available, and there was still an abundance. When I lived in this city, as a student (late 70‘s - early 80‘s), many of these venues, exhibits, and activities didn’t exist (or weren’t open to the public)!  Wow! Nor, did the traffic…

Here are some of the high- (and low-) lights—and recommendations—from my whistle stop tour:

DAY ONE

• Tate Modern
No feature exhibit, but great to experience the building, ambiance, and other collections.  Would have liked to have taken the bridge connecting to the other side of the Thames, or the boat to the Tate Britain.  Maybe next time!

• Garden Museum, Lambeth
Quaint, but not as remarkable as anticipated from write-ups. Likely, nicer to coincide a visit with their events and lectures. Pleasant surprise: vegetarian restaurant’s pineapple and banana cake is yummy! Also, from here, I made a little detour towards and along the Thames, noticing newer attractions like the London Eye Ferris Wheel.

• Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms
An absolute must-see!  Even for those not interested in war, the history, memorabilia and presentation are excellent. Lots to think about, marvel over, and learn from! Also, note the "green" lunch delivery service at an adjacent government building:-)

• Thames Circular Cruise
Disappointing. Supposed to be an hour, but little more than 40 minutes. And, with no commentary, it was hard to know what all the sites and details were. Would have been nice to hear some local tales and history. Too bad the driver was busy texting…and not always looking!  Maybe during off-season efforts wain?

• Big Ben
Always there. Ever powerful, from every angle.  Wonderfully restored and in its 150th anniversary year (1859 - 2009)!

• Trafalgar Square Exhibits
Anthony Gormely’s One and Other was unimpressive.  Participants are not as high off the ground as imagined, if you walk the perimeter of the square.  I arrived at a “changing of the guard.”  Travel to the North of England (Mersey River’s Crosby Beach) to see a much more remarkable work by Gormley, the Another Place Figures.

The London Design Festival’s Centrepiece Chess Board was drawing a healthy crowd.

• Noel Coward Theatre, Calendar Girls
Lovely theater and easy to buy a last-minute upper balcony ticket at the door, prior to performance, then have a seat upgrade to the stalls!  Poor attendance for what, to me, seemed to work better as a movie then a play. Jerry Hall being in the cast was a plus, but not enough to keep me from dozing off. Long day!

DAY TWO

• Natural History Museum and Darwin Centre
The new Darwin Centre is incredible. Next time, hope to make it into the Cocoon!  Just caught the end of the Butterfly Jungle exhibit. Love the architecture and design of the original historic buildings. Just seeing and being in them is a great experience in itself.  Same goes for the V and A (next paragraph, below).

• Victoria and Albert Museum, London Design Festival, Sackler Centre
A great collaboration. Two (or three) for the price of one—in fact, no price. Each were free (and easy)!  Please check the heart artifact I had the opportunity to make during a London Design Festival activity, the Shape of My Heart (close up image at the start of this post can be found on the official Heart site as well). The Sackler Centre is a wonderful addition and resource—helps bring the museum (and beyond) to life!  As an undergrad, I spent many hours in the V and A library. No Sackler Centre then!  Also managed to catch the Telling Tales exhibit!

• Saatchi Gallery
Being a Saatchi on-line Gallery artist, I was very curious to see this new beyond cyber space venue. What an accomplishment!  It’s also interesting to note the setting, close to Sloane Square:  a luxe and lovely part of town!  Then there’s the school playing field and track just in front of it, full of little people enjoying gym classes.

• Kensington Palace and Gardens… and The Last Debutantes
1958, the year focused on by the palace’s feature exhibit was a significant time for me. I was about to come into being, but not as a debutante:-)  An interesting era with a lot of attention to detail, etiquette, couture, and culture.  Precious and lacking today!  Lucky with the weather. A glorious season to be outside there:  the swans and geese were plump and abundant, preening in the glow of an autumn dusk.

• Hyde Park and Princess Diana Fountain
You can get lost here.  But on a beautiful autumn evening, and if you’ve got the time, that’s okay…  The signage isn’t evident everywhere.  To find the Diana Fountain, down by the Serpentine, far from the Diana Playground, wasn’t easy (at least for me). The Fountain, itself, I thought, was disappointing—looked to me like a series of drain outlets: some flowing well, others not.  No adornment and nothing remarkable. I could, of course, have been missing something?

Royal park dog poop bins were neat and official looking. Could do with similar around Toronto:-)

 

CITY TRANSPORTATION

Wondering how I got around?  Via the Oyster travel card.  Worth the investment, but please be advised to take the tube for speed, buses if you’ve got all the time in the world… The Number 10 bus (from Hyde Park to Euston) took 1 hour and 15 mins! Oxford Street is particularly slow and congested (especially at rush hour) and there are easier ways to cross it…  Missed my train!  Nice that Euston Station now has such an amazing selection of take-out eateries!  Prête à Manger won out for me. Delicious advocado wrap!

A beautiful visit, like a beautiful butterfly (from the Natural History Exhibit):  too short-lived but very memorable.

 

Earlier posts about London on this blog include:

• LONDON Landmarks Change (March 2, 2008)
• Green LONDON: from Pink Cabs to Green Attitude (February 27, 2008)
• Taxi, Taxi! LONDON’S Colorful Cabbies (February 25, 2008)
• Sentimental and Historical London—A Quick Guide (October 7, 2007)

RESPECT is one of the "Three Rs": Respect, Reciprocity, Replies.  For more details about the two others, please see earlier blog posts (listed below) that have been highlighted in bold.

Back to basics:  showing respect for others

1. Arrive on time.
2. Listen with interest and focus.
3. Follow up on and stick to what’s been planned or discussed.
4. Give a  “please,”  “thank you,”  “sorry,” without prompt.
5. Show that we all matter equally, regardless of position.
6. Put yourself in the other’s shoes: value and acknowledge their effort.
7. Be prepared in advance, and present on the spot:  don’t waste anyone else’s time or energy.
8. Offer compensation or alternatives when/if things go wrong.
9. Don’t let your cell phone interrupt or take over.
10. Check self-importance at the door.

It’s surprising when (and where) there’s a need to point out “basics.”  Sadly, those in positions of the greatest authority may show the least consideration.  Expectations of them can lead to disappointments, and disappointments may be justified. The only “higher-ups” that deserve RESPECT are the ones who are able to give it.  In a world, and an economy, where anything can happen, being able to get back to basics helps us know (not just feel) what might be right and/or wrong.

How do you confirm you’ve not been respected?  

1. If 5 or more items on the ten-point list (above) appear to have been ignored, intentionally or not.  
2. If you have a stress response later, like IFS (Instant Fatigue Syndrome)

IFS (Instant Fatigue Syndrome)

Fatigue seems to come from nowhere.  One minute you were fine. The next, you feel drained.  Stress can do this!  A feeling of powerlessness and disappointment take over, and nothing (not even the kind words of those who understand) appears able to lift your spirits or energy.  

To go with the fatigue or not?  Sometimes you don’t have a choice.  Being able to sleep things off is a luxury and necessity. Dragging yourself around in pain (without gain) can often make things worse.  Take the time out that you need to regroup, and know better for next time, that no else has the power to drain your essential energies, hopes, and inspiration.  You are weren’t problem!  They were…  Let this be an isolated experience and learning opportunity…

Too polite, or awkward, to let it be known how you feel?

You are not alone!  Most of us would have a similar reaction.  If we were to speak up, we might not be heard anyway. So, what would be the point?  No one likes to be criticized, and complaints often fall on deaf ears.  No wonder there’s so much glumness around!  Fight glumness by moving on. When it’s clear that another can’t show you the respect you’re due, step back and away.  But, don’t be silent about what occurred, indefinitely.  Help make sure that no one else be unnecessarily upset in the same way.  “Forewarned is forearmed,” or so it’s said.

Earlier respect-related Blog Posts include:

• Relationship Watch: Don’t Know What to Do? Do Something! Doing (and Thinking) Differently in 2009 (January 18, 2009)
• New Year’s Resolutions for 2009: Forgiveness Tops Many a List (December 30, 2008)
• Reflections on “The Season of Giving”: Who Cares? Doers, Takers, Nosey-Pokes, Nothingers (December 28, 2008)
• Veterans Day and SHARING (November 11, 2008)
• Secondhand Stress: Breaking-Up and Making-Up, “Frienemies,” and “Used-to-be-Friend” Types (November 16, 2008)
• MANIPULATION (August 9, 2008)
• No “PLEASE,” No “THANK-YOU,” No HAPPY (May 30, 2008)
• RECIPROCITY (February 8, 2008)
• CONFIDENCE (Februrary 1,2008)
• DEPRESSION ALERT! and Heath Ledger’s Unfortunate Death (January 24, 2008)
• GIVING: Give to Give (September 5, 2007)
• Keep Your Word (July 25, 2007)
• The COURAGE to Speak Up—Use POETRY (July 10, 2007)
• “A” and “B” List FRIENDS (July 8, 2007)
• COMPARISON-MAKING, ENVY, JEALOUSY (June 23, 2007)
• ABUSE Checklists (May 26, 2007)
• TRUTH Matters (May 8, 2007)
• Make Things CLEAR—Avoid MISUNDERSTANDINGS (April 17, 2007)
• A “NO” REPLY is Better than NO REPLY (April 13, 2007)
• REJECTION Protection (February 25, 2007)
• TIME is Precious (December 15, 2006)
• FRIENDS Help Friends (December 7, 2006)

 

This week, the Hebrew version of my book, Therapeutic Art Directives and Resources.  Activities and Initiatives for Individuals and Groups (with commentaries by mentor/friend, Cathy Malchiodi) was delivered to me.  A nice surprise and a lot fun to see it in another font!  This edition was published in 2006, and I knew it was out there, but hadn’t yet received an author copy.  In Hebrew, the text reads from right to left, and the book, itself, has a more compact format. However, the cover is identical to the English version. The Hebrew edition publishers are Ach Publishing, Ltd. 

 

For the Korean version, the look (and feel) has been changed: the black and yellow/greens are now white and yellow/oranges. 

 

For more about the Korean version, please see earlier blog posts:  Found in Translation—Korean (July 23, 2007) and All Good Things Come to Those Who Wait! From Ordinary to Exotic:  Breathing New Life Into an Old Book with Korean Font and Formatting (March 2, 2009). 

You might not be aware, it’s World Kidney Day, and March is "National Kidney Month" in the US.  Please visit the website Kidney.org for more information. The Kidney Foundation is on Facebook too! (You can become a fan.)  There are free kidney screenings all over the US today. Many of us take our kidneys fore granted, and don’t drink enough (water, that is)—me included. It wasn’t until I ended up in Emergency last October (for completely unrelated reasons) that I discovered this… Stone disease is on the rise, and you can help prevent it by drinking more (water), and with a change of diet and supplements.  If not, the alternatives aren’t fun, and might take you by surprise! 

 

My user-friendly book, Therapeutic Art Directives and Resources.  Activities and Initiatives for Individuals and Groups (with commentaries by mentor/friend, Cathy Malchiodi) was published in Korean last year.  I just received copies!  It’s amazing the difference a change of font can make.  Also, the care and attention to detail the foreign publishers have given to every page is obvious.  This week I’ll be meeting up with the once-little girl who did the cover art.  She’s now 22 years-old!  For an earlier blog post about this book’s translation, please see:  Found in Translation—Korean (July 23, 2007).

 

This is an exciting day and land-mark occasion world-wide—the swearing in of President Barack Hussein Obama as 44th President of the United States!

For those of us not in the US, some ways to connect and/or participate:

• Television:  BBC live Coverage will begin at 4:00 pm Greenwich Mean Time
• Social Networking:  CNN on Facebook, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (US)
• E-Bulletins and Links: CBS’s Couric and Co’s Inside Scoop
• On-Line Newspaper: TimesOnLine
• On-Line Broadcast Links:  CBC.ca

Question:  A New Media Inauguration?  The BBC asks who will triumph on the day, new or old media?

Watching the Clock…  Obama’s Inauguration Schedule Highlights (Eastern Standard Time, US)

• 11:30 a.m. Obama announced at West Front of Capitol
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Inauguration Ceremony
• 12:35 p.m. Departure ceremony for outgoing President George W. Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney
• 12:45 p.m. Signing ceremony in the President’s Room in the Capitol
• 1:05 p.m. Inaugural luncheon at Statuary Hall
• 2:20 p.m. Review of troops on East Front
• 2:25 to 6 p.m. The 56th Inaugural Parade travels down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House
• 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Obama to appear at 10 inaugural balls

Connect how and whenever you can—and enjoy in the moment!

For a very quick reminder of election night 08, please see: A Night to Remember: US Elections From Canadian Side of the Border—Best, Worst, and Unsurprising Details (November 6, 2008).

I took the flag-shot at the start of this post in Fort Williams Park by Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, Portland, Maine.  Well worth a visit!

 

Under the weather and housebound can have pluses!  At the end of 2008, I gave myself permission to indulge and rediscover old (but not sufficiently explored hobbies, like cooking and sewing. Usually, with a rigorous work schedule there’d be no time…

Lev and Sage agreed to assist me with projects—new designs for their dog clothes and matching beds:

Getting going with sewing, I found out that Toronto is quite a hub for those looking to learn more about this craft.  There’s a bunch of facilities and teachers to suit all interests and budgets!  Here’s what I came across, more or less accidentally, not far from home:

• The Sewing Studio
• Sew Be It, Studio Workshop
• The Workroom
• Creative Sewing School (Barbara Hobbs, 416 483 6102, Avenue and Lawrence)

Denise, from the Sewing Studio, provided motivation with easy assignments, like the beds above!

Also, for supplies and equipment, I discovered a variety of options:

• For equipment and accessories, there’s the Sewing Centre (416 487 4438, 2144 Yonge Street).  Great customer service and lessons from Joe Murphy!

• For fabrics, Designer Fabrics on Queen is recommended by the trade, with the best prices, and most interesting offerings, off sale.

• For the best one-stop shop and discounts (with membership) Fabricland seems to dominate—though shopping there might be a fun experience.

• The Dollerama on Queen (close to Designer Fabrics) has some interesting accessories and tools.

 

By chance, on Thanksgiving eve, I received notification that two more Boston charities were to be given my artwork for display.  I greatly appreciate how The Art Connection makes artist donorship possible, even for those who no longer live in the area.  I became involved with the Art Connection in 2006, and feel proud and honored to have had several dozen works chosen by 15 of their local charities in the last two years.  My artwork is now enjoyed by:

• Andrew Peabody School (A Rigorous Academic Approach with a Commitment to the Arts), Cambridge, MA
• Boston Public Health Commission (protecting, promoting, and preserverving the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly the most vunerable, Boston, MA
• Boston Rescue Mission (Transforming Lives at Risk Since 1899), Boston, MA
• Casa Esperanza (a bilingual bicultural Latino community sanctuary for those overcoming homelessness and/or addictions), Boston, MA
• CFCS_TLC (Cambridge Family and Children’s Sevice—Teens Learning Choices Programme), Cambridge, MA
• Community Work Services (promoting independence through employment, for challenged indivduals), Boston, MA
• Goddard House (Serving Elders Since 1849), Jamaica Plain, MA
• HAWC (Help for Abused Women and their Children), Salem, MA
• Health Care for All (providing comprehensive, affordable, accessible, culturally competent, high quality care for everyone, especially the most vulenerable), Boston, MA
• Malden Senior Community Center (a newly developed property providing services to Malden area seniors who previously utilized a center in a windowless basement), Malden, MA
• MAP for Health (health link for MA Asian and Pacific Islanders), Boston, MA
• Sherrill House, (a not-for proflt skilled nursing and rehabiliation Center), Jamaica Plain, MA
• St. Francis House (largest day shelter for the poor and homeless in New England), Boston, MA
• Triangle Inc (helping people with disabiliites), Malden, MA
• Year Up Inc (helping urban young adults), Boston, MA

 

In keeping with today’s food/Thanksgiving theme, the image at the start of this post is called "Ripe," and comes from the trilogy, "Ripe, Sweet, and Lonely," at St. Francis House (each image: 24 x 24, oil on canvas, 2005).  "Sweet" is inserted above this note, and "Lonely" below it. Thanksgiving is a great time to send kind wishes to, and care for, the "ripe," the "sweet," and the "lonely" —in the environment where this artwork is now on display, and beyond.  What a suitable home these paintings have found! 

 

Interestingly, The Art Connection is working on a "pilot project" at St. Francis House.  Accordingly, they asked me to write about the the pieces I have hanging there, including the "Ripe, Sweet, and Lonely" trilogy. In an effort to make art placements a bit more educational for clients, a statement from the artist, it’s hoped, can help give the viewer a better understanding of the work. This is what I wrote:

 "Ripe," "Sweet," and "Lonely":  three things I thought about while painting this trilogy.  Even though I’m ripe (all grown-up) and sweet (kind), I’m often lonely (as a single adult), just like so many others out there.  People might be compared to fruit, with outside (skin) and inside (taste) provoking different responses  Also, fruit cut up into pieces (like for a salad), can be arranged on the plate in a variety of ways.  Some fruits are placed close together and/or touch.  Others end up further apart.  Each of the three paintings focus on one description—the" ripe," the "sweet," or the "lonely"—and they are intended to be arranged in that order, from left to right.  I am quite comfortable painting food, as well as writing about it.  As an art therapist, I had a book published called, More Than Just a Meal:  The Art of Eating Disorders. (2000).  Also, when I didn’t get into a conventional landscape painting class at SMFA (the Museum of Fine Arts School, Boston) I decided to create my own landscapes in other ways.  Food offers many possibilities and gives much cause for thought.  There is not only the selecting and arranging of it, but the eating (to celebrate) that comes afterwards.  In my earlier work (to which these paintings belong) I came to like using pale blue backgrounds.  They show reflections and shadows well, especially when objects are not crowded together.  I also like the softness (and restfulness) of this color, and the contrasts it can encourage.  All the fruits painted in the "ripe, " sweet," and "lonely" set are among my favorites.  Their shapes, colors, textures, and flavors each have their own significance, as well as work well together.  As with most of the artwork I create, I don’t  like to create one-off single pieces.  I also prefer to work on several pieces simultaneously, going from one to the next, consistently.

To view more of my "food art," please check out the Snack Happy! and Buon Appetito! collections as well as the Representational Gallery, all on the DocSusan website.

 

 

I managed to catch the last day of the Toronto International Fine Art Fair, a week ago, Monday. An enervating experience!  This had little to do with (many) gallery representatives being tired and inattentive.  Quite simply, the atmosphere seemed flat and nothing stood out as different or exceptional.  Having shown at Toronto Art Expo in March (at the Toronto Convention Center as well), this previous disappointing experience sprung to mind.  Also, I hear from others that Toronto’s Nuit Blanche (which coincided on the Saturday night of the Fine Art Fair) was even worse this year than last.  Despite the organizational PR and swish website, I understand that people appeared to be wandering the streets aimlessly, seeking something that might impress them, but going home tired and deflated.

Having just returned from the Liverpool Biennale, which was hopping, it’s hard not to make comparisons.  I think there’s a lot Toronto’s arts community (and sponsors) can learn from what’s happening across the Atlantic—not just from how artwork is exhibited, but to how ambiance is induced.  User-friendliness, approachability/accessibility, and interactive involvement (at all levels) help create a more fun environment that keeps you engaged. 

From the Walker Art Gallery’s (first photo in this blog entry) John Moores’ and Ben Johnson’s exhibits, to the Conservation Center (second photo in this blog entry), to the Tate Gallery, to Bloomberg’s New Contemporaries, I was surprised and delighted to see the range of possibilities—something for all tastes, attention spans, and budgets.

What’s nice about the British approach is that everyone can get involved somehow, and keep passion alive. (Please see the photo of the interactive display, above, at the Conservation Center.)  Also, most museums and galleries are free (and government/trust supported), with lots of helpers around to explain and motivate.  You can even try things out for yourself, with projects like The Big Draw, which reminds that "drawing is for life, not just for children!"  (Please see the the photo below, also check out www.campaignfordrawing.org.)

 

Canada-based artists, currently on exhibit in Liverpool, include, David Altmedj, at the Tate, with his piece, The Holes, and Paul Ygartua, in Bar Four at the Hard Days’ Night Hotel.  And, then there’s street art, from all parts and in all parts, that’s catching a lot of attention—like the spider behind Liverpool’s Town Hall. (Anthony Gormley’s spectacular installation "Another Place" exhibit in the Mersey Estuary ended up staying more permanently.  Be fun if this one could too!) That’s my photo of the spider, but the Telegraph has a better night-time shot.

 

The point is that art excites and motivates. The more of it that’s around, the more people get interested, causing new opportunities/creativity (of all types) to emerge, as well as interesting juxtapositions of old and new—like with Liverpool Town Hall, behind which the spider dazzles, by night. 

 

Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) starts tonight.  When the "gates" close at sunset tomorrow a New Year will begin, contemplation (and repentance time) shoved to the back-burner for many. 

Trying to remain mindful and careful year-round isn’t always easy—perhaps why three simple words seem to get growing attention:  "reliability," "vulnerability," and "fear."  They highlight problems many of us encounter daily.  They also point to short-comings (our own as well as others’).  Here are a few snapshots of how, told through acrostic poetry:

Reliability

Ready, willing, and able
Efficiency matters
Linked to what you do—or don’t
Impression stands for something
Actions too
But not everyone plays fair
Integrity matters, or so you’d hope
Letting things go
"I" counts more than "you," "he," "she," "they", or, "we"
Tales to tell
Yes, a slide in values, symptomatic of our times, but no excuse

Vulnerability

Very open
Unguarded
Lots to tell
Not always to the right people
Excitement and energy often misplaced
Reason and rationality lacking
Anxious, maybe as a result
Brave, but losing it
Irritated by consequences
Left out, regardless how much shared
Intimidated
Tense
Yearning

Fear

False impressions of what might be
Emotions taking over, justifiably and not
Ahhhhh!  It wasn’t so bad after all
Relief, thinking about it is worse than actually doing it

Artists and academics have opportunities to give back in creative ways, if they’re alert to them.  Sometimes, it simply requires a little extra energy and resourcefulness. There are too many possessions (the fruits of our labours, as well as research/study aids) that we store up, but don’t use.  So, why not donate them to others, and have them put to good use?  

I have been involved with Boston’s Art Connection since 2006, and am thrilled to have had  artwork chosen for display in a dozen of their member-charities.  Yesterday, I drove to Boston to transport 20 more paintings to them.  I also delivered my entire arts therapies journal collection.  The intention is for this to be divided between Lesley University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA), two of my alma maters.  (Right now, it will be housed at Lesley’s Porter Square campus, at the art therapy core program.)

The journal collection contains:

• Arts in Psychotherapy, 1992 - 2000,  Vol 19 #1 - Vol  27 #3 (42 journals)
• American Journal of Art Therapy, 1992 - 2000, Vol 30 #3 - Vol 38 #4  (32 journals)
• Art Therapy. Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 1992 - 2008, Vol 9 #1 - Vol 25 #1 (55 journals)
• American Art Therapy Association Newsletters, 1992 - 2008, Vol 25 #3 - Vol 12#5 (62 newsletters)
• Canadian Journal of Art Therapy, 1992 - 2008, Vol 6 #1 - Vol 21 #1, and Newsletters (26 journals, 11 newsletters)
• Inscape. Journal of the British Association of Art Therapists,  1984 - 2000 (24 miscellaneous journals and one newsletter)
• Journal of Poetry Therapy, 1993 - 2000. Vol 7 #1 - Vol 13 #3 (25 journals)

Other entries on this blog that look at opportunities for artist-giving, include:

• Creating a Magic Pot: Artists and Community-Giving (May 8, 2008)
• Nuit Blanche/Live With Culture: Give a Litte Get a Lot, Give a Lot Get a Little. C’est la Vie! (September 30, 2007)
• Giving:  Give to Give (September 5, 2008)

With my constantly changing routines and busy travel schedule, I usually find it hard to commit to extra-curricula classes.  Also, I am not a "gym person".  But, this past week, a neighborhood offering met my needs and interests admirably.  Roots’ flagship store in Rosedale has free one-class passes for their yoga studio.  Stimulated by the first class, I decided to take advantage of a "summer special"—unlimited classes for a week for $20. Though classes are reduced in number for the season, there were enough to meet my needs, and four out of five were enjoyable—especially the pilates. The studio is low-key, no mirrors or fancy accessories, and appears to have a regular clientele (all female).  Positioned at the back of the building (away from Yonge Street) the view of tree-tops through the window is well-planned and soothing.  And, eventually, you stop noticing the rattles of the subway line down below.  Definitely a positive experience!

Apple raises the bar on customer service and satisfaction, encouraging repeat business and spontaneous purchases. Win-win for everyone!

With their Procare and One to One assistance, you can get Apple technical support (for 15 mins) and/or personal instruction (for one hour) weekly.  Annual fees are very reasonable, and trainers savvy, friendly, and versatile.  Also, depending on location, canine assistants have been known to enjoy participating too!  

Lev and Sage are always eager to learn, and happy to observe from their travel bag.

 

Lev (as editor in chief of this blog) is pensive. 

Sage (as editor in chief of the DocSusan website) takes his job seriously (sometimes).

p.s.  Please note that the Eaton Centre Apple Store will be "undergoing renovations" mid-August for 10 weeks, so their space and services will be reduced during that time.

 

We research some hotels in advance.  Others, are found by chance.  When the Florence Biennale travel agent billeted me at the Hotel Cellai, I didn’t know what to expect, but ended up being surprised and delighted. This boutique hotel, I think, might enhance any arts enthusiast’s visit to Florence—epitomizes the Florentine spirit and its evolution. 

Originally, a small bed and breakfast, the premise has been in the Carvallo family for three generations—passing from grandmother to daughter to son.  Francesco, the current owner/manger credits his three decades of "international renaissance education" with strongly influencing his hotel’s remodeling and expansion.  The Cellai now has 70 rooms, and is brimming with artwork, ornaments, fine furnishings, and old-world charm. Each room is different from the next and the lounge areas are comfortable and intriguing.  Magazines and books are are in key locations throughout, opened on pages with special quotes, images and articles.  Also, various contemporary artists’ canvases are exhibited on a rotating basis in a living room area.

Although the hotel looks complete the way it is, Carvallo is in the process of adding three more common areas:  a billiard room (with a purple-clothed table).  Geometry is one of this designer’s passions, and the room’s intention will be to give a sense of the "forces of the universe." The second addition will be a "love room"—one that’s not really intended for use, but to be viewed as an installation of sorts, built around a red velvet sofa (from a 1890 - 1905 "pleasure house").  "It cost a fortune," Carvallo admitted, reminding that people will be looking at it, not sitting on it.  There’ll also be special mirrors (from another "pleasure house").  Finally, there’ll be Libertine prints, showing people flirting. The third, and final, new space, will be a wine bar with books and silk curtains.  20th century style will be set off to advantage here, with black and white photos from 1920 - 1970 being an important decoration (from Carvallo’s extensive personal collection).

Interior design, according to Carvallo, is like "a medicine" for him.  His own home celebrates the 1940s - 60s, but has paintings from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries as well.  Carvallo especially loves still-lives from the nineteenth century that have dark backgrounds and Italian origins—mostly from Florence and Naples.

Carvallo appears a modest and diligent man, and blushes when telling that his interior designs have been featured in niche magazines. He is also very excited about another space, adjacent to the hotel, that is also nearing completion.  It is to be called the "Spazio Bianco" (White Space).  This is where his designs will have a chance to leap into the contemporary world (beyond the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries).  He loves the idea of covering centuries, room by room, as he has done so far.  The "Spazio Bianco" (White Space), as its name indicates, will be totally white and have a wooden floor, also painted white.  Carvallo is particularly looking forward to creating special effects in there.  The simplicity of the decor, he thinks, will offer unique possibilities, like to change the color of the air.  

The event space/gallery is 150 square meters, and will be the hotel’s cinema, if there’s no special event or exhibition happening.  Carvallo plans to show Italian black and white movies from 1948 - 1968 (from his personal collection).   He’s also looking forward to playing there once a week, with his band, "The Pink Freuds."  Carvallo is the vocalist.  In the band, there’s vocal, piano, guitar, electric guitar, and drum.  Apart from a female lawyer, all the other band members are male—and professionals with significant day jobs:  an architect, economist, town planner, and geologist (responsible for Florence’s public water systems).

Carvallo’s attention to detail shows everywhere, and not least in his agenda for the event space/gallery.  The product line "San Zanobi" (local oils and wines) will be available for tastings.  Then, once a month, vintage dresses will be shown, from a flee market close by.   And, there’ll be a salon-type atmosphere with literary readings and art shows.  Carvallo is "connected," so the offerings are guaranteed to be interesting!  Cecco Mariniello, the number one (and reclusive) Italian childrens’ book illustrator is the Cellai’s postcard designer—and, right now, these postcards are "giveaways"!

Carvallo doesn’t have a secretary, and says he makes all his own decisions and designs.  His days are long and guests catch him fluffing cushions early morning, or with papers all over his desk well into the evening. In the day, he drifts in and out, covered in dust from construction. Carvallo explains how, in Italy, "Everyone wants to change things themselves, and put in their soul…and then there’s Italian mothers who ‘kill’ Italian boys…"  His own mother, at 83,  went paragliding in Florida recently, and his father lived a healthy life until his passing at 90.  Carvallo’s mother still helps out at the Cellai, and he says he’s appreciative of that.  "Traditionally, Italian men talk but don’t do.  Women do…," he stresses.  Carvallo might just be an exception to his own rule!

Carvallo is hoping to open all his new additions this spring.  Then, he’s planning to start selling artifacts that he’s collected, as well as artworks from displays.

 

 

Traditionally, if you search on-line, the Florence Biennale has had mixed reviews.  Having now participated, personally, I feel somewhat qualified to share pros and cons.  My You Tube video interview was filmed on Day 4, and focuses on the positive (though we are still waiting for the Biennale folks to post it).  This blog entry considers the whole picture (no pun intended).

Let’s stress the positive (in random order):

1.   Abundant networking opportunities between artists
2.   A live how-to guide for how to show your artwork (or not)
3.   A chance to discover what’s hot (possible) and what’s not, in art, and beyond
4.   An extended stay in Florence (and not as a tourist)
5.   Web presence enhancement (through participation)
6.   Time out from the studio—chance to taste "la dolce vita"
7.   General public’s feedback—international audience
8.   Connections made with viewers passing through
9.   Networking locally (in Florence)
10. Opportunities for commissions, sales, shows
11. International perspective and acknowledgment
12. Personal development opportunities

Familiar common complaints (in random order):

1.   Not enough visitors (likely not helped by time of year)
2.   Difficult layout and unfair allocation of display spaces
3.   Inadequate local publicity and attendance
4.   Most judges more aloof than approachable
5.   Select work given attention by judges, much of the rest ignored
6.   Certain presenters stood out, others had listeners walking out
7.   Environmental conditions challenging (heat, air, light…)
8.   Display equipment challenging (not flattering to artwork)
9.   Snack bar (food and service) not as expected for Italy
10. Many better works weren’t considered for prizes  
11. Too many artist-participant expenses and frustrating "administrivia"
12. Too much sitting around for artists who stayed on site

Those who go back again (participate in subsequent Biennales) demonstrate they’re not concerned with the glitches.  Those who don’t, have either been put off the first time, or simply can’t participate again for a myriad of other reasons.  In a world, and at a time, when fresh possibilities arise daily, pros, cons, and alternatives are reviewed carefully—as are first-hand accounts.  No matter what’s been considered disappointing about the Biennale, there’s still a lot of good to be said about it.  The opportunity to follow-through on the invitation to show at such an epic event comes to most of us only once.

In an ealier blog entry, I explained how preparing for the Biennale likely enabled me to complete the Kilimanjaro climb.  Now, having completed the Biennale, I realize that the Kilimanjaro climb might have helped me to make the most of participating at the Biennale.

 

(Photo:  those who made it to the top of Kilimanjaro, with self and guide) 

Even though my Kilimanjaro climb is less recent, certain lessons from it are memorable.  These include:

1.   Better sustain the cold
2.   Bathe less extravagantly
3.   Economize on clothes and possessions
4.   Stop clock-watching
5.   Take things more slowly
6.   Observe and listen
7.   Not fuss about comfort and convenience
8.   Require less sleep
9.   Sleep in uncomfortable conditions
10. Eat more simply and be less picky
11. Not need news from elsewhere
12. Take time out from electronics (TV, Internet, cell, etc.)
13. Push self further and harder, and not complain or avoid
14. Get less flustered about externals/what can’t be changed
15. Focus, no distraction, whereever and whenever
16. Chat with strangers and hear their stories
17. Open up to seizing the moment
18. Get back to basics (with everything!)
19. Assess what really matters
20. Be more fearless

Just like New Year’s resolutions, lessons learned on the trail can be hard to follow long-term, especially when there’s so many of them (and potential obstacles).  Though everyday hastles aren’t exactly the same as chance-in-a-lifetime climbing challenges, circumstances and reactions mightn’t be too different!

Last night, the newly launched Yonge/St. Clair Good Neighbours’ Fund held its first community celebration/fundraiser at Grano, which from all reports in was a great success.  The event was on behalf of my Florence Biennale exhibit.

Here are some quotes included in the Good Neighbours’ Fund brochure: 

"St. Clair to ArtWalk and the new Wychwood Barns project, to the recent success with Luminato, we have a great deal to be proud of here in Toronto. I am proud to be part of a small effort to make up for the misguided cancellation of the Public Diplomacy Program which used to help fund artists to show their works abroad.   We are truly blessed to have such a talented artist in Susan Makin living and working in our Riding of St. Paul’s.” 
CAROLYN BENNETT
Member of Parliament
St. Paul’s, Toronto

"I have always felt that all arts (and crafts) benefit by rubbing elbows with one another, so I am happy to see food and the visual arts doing just that at The Good Neighbours’ Fund Celebration.  Congratulations on your launch!  Having had significant support from my own community over my life, I am a firm believer in initiatives like this one.  There’s no better place to discover and
support talent than close to home. Very best of luck to you!"
LAURA CALDER
French Food at Home
Food Network, Canada

(Earlier related blog entries include:  Toronto Preview—Florence Biennale Exhibit, Yonge/St. Clair Innovation—The Good Neighbours’ Fund, and Why Canadian Talent Moves Away from Canada.)

Instead of giving a thank-you speech, I read the poem that follows—written especially for the event.  For those who weren’t able to make it to the event, and those who’d like to know more about it, I thought this was the best place to share what I said:

From Boston, to Toronto, to Florence—and Back?

Painting happily in Boston
An invitation arrived

You’ve been chosen by an International Committee of Judges
The President of the Biennale wrote

Which country will you represent?  he needed to know

Canada, of course!  No hesitation

I was ready to come "home"

26 years ago, I settled here
And, to me, this place has become very dear

But, in order to succeed, as many do
A forée across the border broadened my scope
Prompted opportunities
Enabled fresh hope

Thus my work began
To make Canada proud, or so I thought
To become an "emerging Canadian artist," or so I wished

Alas, barely started, I nearly stopped
The painting was my passion, but not the expense
The painting was my vocation, but not the run-around

After close to ten months of rejections
A thousand e-mails and phone calls unanswered
I’m still here to tell the tale
and say THANK YOU

I don’t give up easily
And nor do you!

From one little lead
There got planted a valuable seed
When all else fails, neighbors can be there to help you out
Hear you shout
Stand by your side
Protect another Canadian hyde

An idea for a celebration/fundraiser came into being
Thank you Dr. Carolyn Bennett, MP for St. Paul’s

That idea for a celebration connected to a venue
Thank you Roberto Martella, proprietor of Grano

Next, a committee formed
Thank you David, Danny, Graham, Peter, Ryan and Saverio
My men in shining armour, who’ve enabled this happening

Thank you also to all the business keepers, friends, and acquaintances
who understood the plight

I aplologize if anyone is missed
Please don’t be that little word that rhymes—P-I-S-S-E-D

From those who donated prizes
to those who provided rereshments
to those who volunteered time and energy before and on this night
to those who displayed and forwarded posters and invitations
put up with me…and more

An Academy Awards Speech this is not, but to remember there’s a lot

Off to Florence my precious collection will go
And in six weeks, I will join them

For now, that’s all we know

Looking to the future, no one really can predict what’s ahead

Long live the Good Neighbors’ Fund
For whatever assistance it can provide
Nurture the dreams of other talented Canadians
that they stay in Canada
Not feel forced in other countries to reside.

What’s sentimental for one person, might not be for another.  My recent overnight visit to London had me surprising myself by the photos I took—what I might not have given any special attention to, on a daily basis, when living there.  I was a student in London from 1979 - 1981, and my recollections go back to then.

Unfortunately, the shots in this blog entry (taken in less than 24 hours) could only cover a fraction of the city, from Picadilly to Bloomsbury.

Nothing seems to change with Fortnum and Mason, at least externally.  Its neighbor Simpsons was turned into Waterstones a while back (making it the biggest bookstore in Europe), giving Picadilly a slightly different feel.

 

Something that will never move from directly across the street is the Royal Academy.

My timing was lucky!  I got to catch the exhibit, Impressionists by the Sea. I also got to dash through the National Portrait Gallery.  However, a display in the lobby from the book cover of Zerbanoo Gifford’s new book, Confessions to a Serial Womaniser made me slow down for a moment.  Her wall-like display of womens’ faces made me think of my wall-like display of food options (my upcoming Florence Biennale exhibit, Buon Appetito!)

And talking of food, Food for Thought, an old vegetarian haunt of mine (close to Covent Garden)  looked exactly the same (from the outside).  Too early to go in, they were stocking up…

Neal’s Yard, a well-known health food establishment is also still there.  But, it has evolved—looks (and tastes) a little less "natural" (according to my memories).

Covent Garden seems to be changing all over, but not Floral Street, where The Sanctuary (a pioneering spa) looks like it’s still going strong—with Agnes B, Campers, Radley, and more, all at close proximity.

The Covent Garden Market area, itself, has been spruced up.  Arriving before opening hours, I got to see the merchants setting out their wares.  It’s quite a job unpacking and repacking every day!

Wandering from the main area, I felt the cobblestones beneath my feet.  What history they hold!  Who has walked over them before?  Who is walking over them now?  How long can they stay as they are?

In London, history and modernity dance before our eyes, as do traditions, habits, and brand development.  Other coffee shops, chains and one-of-a-kind (Café Nero, The Brew Café, Cafe Life, Espresso Capucino) give Starbucks a lot of competition.

Long "tea breaks" still seem to be popular with workmen, throughout the day.

And, after work, it’s the pub. Beer drinkers spill out onto the street to enjoy a balmy September evening (after a rotten-weather summer):

Then there’s all the theaters, large and small.  What fun to be able to go and see something light! Boeing Boeing was at the Comedy Theater on Panton Street—a charming setting for an evening’s entertainment.    

By the way, though Bloomsbury and its adjacent neighborhoods may be a little off the well-beaten tourist path (except for the landmark British Museum), it’s worth a meander.  Check out all the eating options on and around Charlotte Street…as well as the picturesque side-lanes. Then there’s Dr. Marie Stopes’ first birth control clinic.

You never realize the contrasts you’ll notice when you keep your eyes open—things that have always been there, but might not have attracted attention or mention, previously (like this "lady of the night").

 

 

 
Yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, it was a treat to attend Toronto’s 18th annual Word on the Street celebration.  Not only was it a picture perfect autumn day, but it was also exciting to pick up on the energy at Queen’s Park Circle—experience so many Torontians’ thirst for reading, learning, and communicating being quenched. 

 

I went home feeling refreshed and revived—an interesting contrast to the evening before when Nuit Blanche festivities had skimmed the same location.

 

Apart from the booths and readings, a variety of performers engaged the crowd, informally, a key ingredient I thought missing the evening before (or perhaps they’d been active in zones I hadn’t managed to cover).

Art-making (visual arts, music, dance, or writing) is a risky business.  Much is stolen before it ever gets out there.  Competitive, jealous, and sneaky others have no qualms putting their name to something that’s not theirs, and running to make money or gain from it in other ways. 

Sometimes, the true creator can take action.  Often, not.  Litigation costs money, time, and emotional energy.  Then, there’s the case that needs to be built, and loop holes that wrong-doers successfully identify and take advantage of…

The victory might be the thief’s in terms of securing the actual creation/idea stolen.  But, even if that person is very clever, he or she is unlikely to be able to replicate the true creator’s style, process, or thoughts.  There’s an essence/spirit that will never be anyone else’s, and this, ultimately, will be clear, somehow. 

Maybe thieves’ marketing/redevelopment skills will help procure cash/recognition rewards.  But, even then, they can’t give genuine meaning or authentic sparkle to what is and was never theirs. At the end of the day, they do know that, as do the real creators, and those familiar with them and their work…

p.s. Coincidentally, CARFAC Ontario’s Spring 07 newsletter (Vol 10, no. 1) has two articles that are well worth checking out, "Fair is Fair, (COPY) RIGHT?  Living Without Fear as an Appropriation Artist," and "VISUAL ART PHYSICAL PROPERTY, COPYRIGHT, AND MORAL RIGHTS, A Canadian Overview."

Start the work week by saying, doing, and thinking nice things and you’ll feel much better.  Sure, bad things (and people) happen, but if you fester over them unnecessarily you’ll stay stuck in a mode that’s counterproductive.  If you smile, others are more likely to smile back.  If you frown, you will get a different response—possibly making things worse…

re. Surroundings:  Keep them as upbeat as possible and your mood will be similar.

re. Health and Nutrition:  Stay informed and make wise choices—you’re important too!

re. Relationships:  Favor harmony over confrontation and reconciliation over isolation.

re. Activities:  Proceed like everything is going to work out, and your journeys will be easier, whatever their destinations/results.

Don’t put yourself, or others, down and welcome and encourage compliments!  By setting yourself, and others, up for feeling better/successful we’ll all be in more agreable mind-sets to cope with disappointments should they occur.  Bouncing back repeatedly is hard, but that’s what most of us have to do.  Some people just make things look easier…

This coming weekend (May 5th and 6th, 07), I’ll be missing Grub Street’s annual conference, the "Muse and the Maketplace," for the first time.  Now, in its 6th year, it’s been billed as the best one yet, a stellar list of authors, editors, and agents presenting and consulting.  During the four years that I lived in Boston, I experienced Grub going from strength to strength, providing both veteran and novice writers opportunities to grow and network through night school and weekend classes, as well as special events.

There is no organization in Toronto—formal or informal—that compares to Grub.  In fact, I’m certain, there’s nothing like it in any other North American city.  Grub has a totally unique ambiance and programs. And, as it has evolved, it’s become a vital part of Boston’s arts and cultural scene.  Also, since relocating to offices that overlook Boston Common, it’s at the center of everything—a true asset to the city, as well as neighboring communities.

We never know how we touch other people with a word, action, look, or silence.

On the surface, we believe we know who others are.  But, deep down, do we really? Only when a crisis happens, do we get a wake-up call.  "If only…" really doesn’t matter then.  Sadly, it’s too late.  Right now we’re all too well aware of the Virginia Tech massacre, and wonder who the killer was—what could have motivated this benign looking loner to commit such horrific carnage.  

It was just an ordinary day.  Then, out of the blue, lives were ended or changed for ever.  Even those of us who don’t know individuals who had the bad luck to be in the wrong place at the wrong time feel grief, pain, and hopelessness—question whether or not authorities could have responded differently (saved more innocent lives).

It’s all too easy to look at events that don’t involve us directly and be amazed and scared by what we see and hear.  However, often, we overlook extremely harmful circumstances happening day after day in our own homes—with family, friends, and acquaintances.  There are many "time-bombs" waiting to go off—that are hard to talk about/do something about—till it’s too late.

For those who know individuals who are close to them that might be a danger to themselves and others, perhaps it’s time to speak up—be proactive not reactive.  

Usually people don’t speak up because they’re afraid of the consequences.  They:
1.  already feel bullied enough and have no more energy.
2.  worry about someone else getting hurt, instead of them (which could be worse).
3.  are in a financial bind, and risk losing all (perhaps because the abuser holds the purse strings).
4.  feel embarrassed, awkward and ashamed—don’t want to lose face.

Those who do speak up often suffer horrible consequences.  They’re:
1.  outlawed by the abuser as well as other family and/or friends (who might not want to acknowledge the problem).
2.  victimized further—made to suffer beyond all reason (to the point at which their own mental faculties start failing).
3.  all alone—have a poor support network, because their stories are too incredible to share, or the abuser has succeeded in isolating them from outsiders.
4.  deemed to be the one with the "issues" because they won’t accept the status quo—feel isolated/estranged in this struggle and many more.

It doesn’t matter who you are.  Everyone, regardless of education, class, or finances can fall prey to someone who is as destructive as (s)he is deranged.  We never realize how bad things are till we’re able to step out of a situation, or have others witness it.  Those who are dysfunctional and dangerous are very manipulative and clever at hiding what they’re capable of achieving—especially if they’re supposed to be "near and dear" to us.

Our gut tells us when something’s wrong, but whether or not we’re able to stop the inevitable is another matter.  In order to tackle a monster, it’s not possible to go the journey alone.  Allies are necessary—individuals who believe in the person they’re backing—that (s)he is reasonable and right.  At the end of the day, what they think of the potential perpetrator is secondary.  So long as one person is struggling alone against him/her, (s)he will not be properly identified, weakened, or put down.

It’s important to be more mindful of those around us—where and how they might be struggling and suffering—and heed warning signs.  At a time when family ties and close friendships seem to be less reliable, it should no longer be every (wo)man for her/himself.  Social responsibility and action need to come into play.  Also, in a society whose members come from many different backgrounds, no one can be sure with whom and what they’re actually dealing.  Right and wrong lack conventional bounds (as do reason and respect).

Most people who are not personally affected by situations don’t want to get involved because they:
1. don’t have time.
2.  see there’s nothing in it for them.
3.  accept it’s none of their business.
4.  admit they don’t really care.  

Others shouldn’t be expected to meddle in the personal business of those they do not know.  But, when they pick up on how something doesn’t sound or look right, perhaps they can try and lose the fear by:
1.  speaking to authorities or connected others.
2.  showing concern to those involved/seeking help—be there for them in whatever small way possible.
3.  not fading away, assuming the problem is someone else’s and will go away by itself.
4.  being a support or resource if at all reasonable.

There’s no particular message in this blog entry other than to affirm that there are a lot of angry, upset, vindictive, and toxic individuals ready to ignite anytime—and they’re all around us.  We worry about terrorism and war, accidents and natural disasters.  But, in actuality, we’re less likely to be destroyed by them, personally, than by a neighbor, brother, boss, co-worker, or stranger in the street.  Armed and dangerous (emotionally and/or physically), they can do us more harm than we’d like to imagine, or can endure.  

Some of us suffer in silence, already realizing this.  Others live in denial, not believing anything bad will ultimately happen—if we play their game/do everything required.  So long as nothing is done, said, pushed, or provoked, it’s possible to keep on treading water—or so many think. 

We’d like to dream on, but can we any longer?

Being able to reply, even when you don’t want to, shows courage, honesty, respect, and more… Also, it might be easier than you think—clear your conscience and lighten your load.

Unfortunately, these days, most people can be cowardly, lazy, or deceitful (take the easy way out), even if we don’t expect this of them. 

The problem:  Why be direct, kind, or considerate, when you don’t have to?   Manners and morals seem to matter less and less, publicly or privately—and nobody will really notice your faux pas (mistakes) except you and the person you’re upsetting or disappointing.  Then, time will pass without any major consequences (at least on the surface).

If your tendency is not to reply, question yourself, and see what’s really driving that behavior. You might:
1. not be interested
2. have other priorities
3. feel awkward and not know what to say or do
4. think not replying is the best way to send an obvious (no) message
5. still not be sure how to proceed
6. have concerns about what the other party might think, feel or say
7. not care because you won’t have to deal with the other party again
8. have no common friends or acquaintances to witness what happens
9. be at long-distance and not have to see the other person face to face
10. never have met the other person directly (maybe only on-line)

Then, think about changing your pattern. Maybe you only behave this way in certain aspects of your life—professionally not personally, or personally not professionally. Would you like to be a better and more consistent/appealing person all round?

If you are able to let a "no reply" be better than no reply you’ll help make the world a better place (one person at a time), and, along the way:
1. lose the fear
2. stop playing games
3. know you’ve done the "right thing"
4. not have old "stuff" hanging over you, while being seen to be reliable
5. have more chance of being trusted and counted on in the future
6. like yourself better and be more likely to have others like you
 

Physicians and other suitably credentialed healthcare professionals are advantaged in a variety of ways. Their specialized knowledge and aspirations to get ahead give access to educational opportunities others might not have, such as Harvard Medical School Continuing Education Programs.  Julie K. Silver’s "Publishing Books, Memoirs and Other Creative Nonfiction" (March 15 - 17, 2007) is a significant example.  

Over the years, I’ve been to a variety of conferences, courses, and workshops put on by bodies more specifically geared to writers and their craft.  These include:  ASJA (American Society of Journalists and Authors), Boston Center for Adult Education, Cambridge Center for Adult Education, Grub Street (Boston writers’ group), International Women’s Writing Guild, National Writers’ Union, and Harvard’s Nieman Program (for narrative journalism).

I was aware from Silver’s introduction that this Harvard educational and networking opportunity would be a little different than those provided by these others.  Early on, she drew attention to 10 interesting points:

1.  As a "health expert" it’s perfectly okay for someone else to write your book and you still be the primary author—so long as the ideas included are yours.

(Note:  This doesn’t just happen with  "health experts." Many others, with the funds or power position, let others do the grunt work while they get the recognition.)

2.  Publishing is a field to be respected on its own, where you can expect rejection, editing, "egos," and having to meet deadlines—publishers/editors have really "big egos" and they don’t like authors with "egos."

(Note:  Should "health experts" expect different "ground rules"?  Publishing and its protocols is just as significant as medicine and its protocols.  Being an expert in one area, doesn’t guarantee you’ll be an expert in another. Writing is more than just a "delivery mode"—it’s an art.  And art, not unlike medicine, requires practice, perseverance, creativity, and education.  Not everyone’s a "natural.")

3.  Publishing is all about deadlines.  Medical people are notorious about being late for deadlines.

(Note:  How long have you been stuck in a medical waiting room, without explanation?  In other professions, there’s different rules, responses, and consequences—and less excuses.)

4.  Re. "Platform":  "’Platform’ is who you are and how you can reach your audience.  ‘Platform’ is about bragging in a nice humble way."

(Note:  More than most, "health experts" might have an edge with platform.  On all kinds of levels at all kinds of times, they’re more likely to be viewed as having "authority." But, doctors can be wrong too.)

5.  "Bristley" literary agents weed out "riff raff"

(Note:  Some "health experts" might consider themselves exempt.)

6.  Brag when you sell yourself to the publishing industry.

(Note:  This may be easier for "health experts" to do, and they may be more able to get away with it than others.)

7.  Book title objective:  to be positive with a promise.  That means being "ethical" about what you’re presenting, but you have to do something to get people to open the book…."Over-promising can make you sound silly…or you can get by with it…"

(Note:  Experience shows us that promises are often broken, and too many supposed "authorities" get by with silliness.)

8.  A key reason why a book might not sell:  an author lacking a "platform" ("platform" describing "who you are and how you can reach your audience").

(Note:  For some "medical experts," a "platform" is a "given."  Others may be  surprised to learn that being a "medical expert" isn’t always enough.  That’s when support teams (paid for by their instituions) and devoted spouses come in handy.

9.  Non-fiction sells better than fiction.  People like to buy things that will help them.

(Note:  Present company considered?)

10.  "Americans have smaller and smaller attention spans and want the information in more and more compact ways, and we have to give them that."

(Note:  Present company included?)

Other faculty members for the program included (in order of presentation):

• Jonathan Edlow
• Jean Tomson Black
• Lawrence Kutner
• Susanne Klingenstein
• Edward Hallowell
• Larry Dossey
• Howard Zaharoff
• Suzanne Kovern
• Cheryl Olson
• Julia Fox Garrison
• Marvin Krims
• Jeff May
• Joni B. Cole
• Katherine Russell Rich
• Susan Aiello
• Lisa Tener
• Regina Brooks
• Rusty Shelton
• Linda Konner
• Elizabeth Rider
• Debbie Carvalko

Creating a hybrid program from medicine and writing, it was evident, is not an easy task.  Julie Silver’s efforts were commendable. I was also impressed by Regina Brooks (Serendipity), Debbie Carvlko, Lawrence Kutner, Suzanne Klingenstein, Lisa Tener, and Howard Zaharoff.

Julia Fox Garrison, whose book about her stroke, Don’t Leave Me This Way, put her in a league of her own.  She had the first and only standing ovation in the history of the program.  Physicians, it was clear, have a lot to learn from non-physicians.  It’s a long hard road to become an MD, but becoming a published author can be even longer and harder—as well as a lot more uncertain.  The MD credential helps, but isn’t an automatic ticket to an audience or publication.

Unfortunately, Larry Dossey, the presenter I most expected to be engaging, wasn’t.  Either he was "on stage" at points in the day when people were most likely to doze off, or he’s a more stimulating writer than speaker.

After a three day program like this, it’s only when you get home, and back to work, that you can appreciate how motivational it’s been.  You need to follow-up and -through—take suggestions, examples, and networking opportunities seriously (as soon as possible).

The Fairmont, Copley Paza, Boston, the setting for the program, isn’t only an exquisite hotel, but it also has a very unique staff member, Catie Copley.  Since this dog-star has a new book coming out about her, perhaps, next year, she should be invited to present too!

Rejection is hard.  Not knowing why you’ve been rejected is harder, especially when explanations could be more educational than painful.  They would help make you more aware for next time, or learn that you weren’t a fit anyway—might have had a close escape.  

Those who send back insincere form letters, more often than not, don’t read applications properly (if at all).  Larger companies might not have time for the little guy seeking help.  But, it’s probably that little guy, gutsy enough to approach them, who’s helped their business get where it is—buying their products or engaging their services, year after year. Then, there are the dates who don’t want to see you again, or the clients that don’t call back. 

In most situations, there’s no way of knowing your competition.  But, is your competition better?  Perhaps they just have superior marketing techniques, friends in "high places," or luck and timing?  Unfortunately, there are many better ideas, products, and people out there than the ones that actually end up getting recognized!

People who don’t know rejection are extremely fortunate.  People who are familiar with multiple rejections are more fortunate.  The greater number of rejections you’ve had, the lower your expectations.  Disappointments are a natural part of life and make you try all the harder.  The less rejections you’ve had, the more shocked and personally hurt you are by them.  A first miinor rejection can trigger a major crisis.

Rejections toughen you up.  Nevertheless, there is a point when even the tough have had enough.  Those around us applaud success, but aren’t always aware of the effort (and failures) it might have taken to get there—or be stuck not getting there.  If you’ve had a bumpy ride you’re usually more appreciative of making it.  Success is not just about the end destination, it’s about the journey too.  The process of not giving up makes being accepted (finally) all the sweeter.

People who reject frequently can be oblivious to the impact of a poorly delivered rejection.  They can’t imagine the repercussions sometimes sparked.  The rejected are generally good at putting on a brave face and not revealing their disappointment.  Cudos, however, to those who do speak up—ask for clarification and express their surprise or sadness.  What’s the worst thing that can happen?  You know who, where, and what to avoid in the future, especially if circumstances change and you become the decision-maker.

Energy is precious and time passes quickly.  That’s why it’s important not to brood on what’s been/can’t be.  Even if you don’t win (keep on getting rejected), know that you’ve tried as hard as you can.  Your conscience is clear!  Your rejection isn’t just about you—the other side might have made a mistake.  Over time, you might step back and see the whole picture—have your ideas evolve.  You’re more able to recognize why things happened the way they did, even if the end results aren’t ideal.

No one gets all they want all of the time.  Some don’t get any of what they want any of the time.  If you keep comparison-making  or constantly feel entitled to rewards and recognition, you’re going to have a lot harder time living with rejection. 

• Pursue other avenues—stop going where (and to whom) you’re not welcome.  Identify your comfort zones/people, and test those first.

• Take a break:  stop reaching out till the dust settles.  Appreciate what can be, even if it’s not what you really want, and hope for the best.

• Believe in, like, and improve yourself.  Perhaps, those who rejected you will change their minds.

• Engage in positive activities and relationships, where you don’t have to pass or fail—are acceptable just the way you are.  Capitalize on the possible, not the impossible!

• Join peer groups for those experiencing similar circumstances.  You’ll find you’re not alone!

• Discuss, research, and network, and share what you’re thinking, feeling, or wishing.  Fresh ideas and helpful feedback will pop up along the way.

The delightful movie, Miss Potter, debunks the myth that spinsters are truly whole and happy without a love interest—even those who are comfortably off and impassioned about their work.  It also underscores the importance of not settling for the sake of it (at any point), just to please others and "fit in."  The settings, acting, costumes, and artifacts, all contribute to a sad, inspiring, enchanting, and credible interpretation of Beatrix Potter’s life. 

Whether viewers identify with the protagonist’s artistic dedication, oneness with nature, self-determination, or personal sorrows and frustrations, her journey, stage-by-stage, encourages hope and possiblity.  A good person shines through in work and out of it, overcoming familial weaknesses and the social pressures of Victorian times. 

Potter held true to who she was and what she liked to do, and along the way others saw that.  They fell in love with her, herself, despite the "odds" (of her age and contrary to expectations).

Today, an insufficiently acknowledged illness, that I’ve termed Single Woman Syndrome (SWS), is rampant among never-married women in their mid 30s to late 40s.  Often professional (and usually successful, attractive, intelligent, and sincere), they’re confused, exhausted, and embarrassed by their singlehood.  When it seems like everyone else (younger males, especially) appear to be getting married and having children, why not them too? 

SWS isn’t about momentary disappointments:  one or two bad dates, three times a bridesmaid never a bride, or another Saturday night home alone.  Here’s Hilary’s Story:

After close to 30 years of being on the relationship market, Hilary finds her accumulation of rejections devastating.  Not only does this SWS sufferer feel like a social misfit, but she also struggles with self-criticism.  Life for Hilary, at 46, has become purposeless, dry, and not what it’s supposed to be—without life-cycle stages and goals.  Despite all her positive energy as a Humane Society volunteer and outdoors enthusiast, she still doesn’t have a satisfying personal life.  The worry that the ideal of husband and children may be permanently out of reach makes complete happiness feel untainable.

A customer service  manager by day, Hilary finds always having to put on a smile very tiring.  Making believe she’s quite content with her lot is more draining than others imagine.  This may sound silly to those who envy the freedom of a single without attachments or commitments.  But, it shouldn’t.  In the 1950s and ’60s, regardless of other social problems, a whole generation of women (and men) were brought up to believe that chronological life-cycle events mattered.  No false expectations, this was just what was done, lived for, and taken for granted.  Dating was time-limited and led to marriage and children.

SWS sufferers, like Hilary, don’t know where to put themselves if not in a marriage with children.  Nights, weekends, dinners for one, and Sundays seem interminable—family- and couple-friendly places and activities not being an option.  Hilary also feels that much has been assumed about her, inaccurately and unfairly—that she’s hard to get along with, eccentric, past her prime, and lesbian.  Though chirpy in public, she actually spends many hours in bed, or in trance-like states hoping that a tolerable date might still materialize for a wedding she doesn’t want to go to alone.  

Hilary cannot live the married life single and she’s tried extremely hard to live the single life happily, spontaneously, and without guilt.  So, who understands and accepts her? Mostly others who have SWS !  At the office, when family photos are shown, or the Christmas party organized, co-workers have no idea how those who may be seen as strong and independent, like Hilary, really aren’t and feel very left out.  Often, Hilary wants to hide in a hole till the day she’s able to appear more equal.  

With acceptance lacking and understanding limited, change feels impossible.  Occasionally, of course, Hilary will have a burst of energy:  try again to make the most of things and find fresh interests and routines. But these are never as much fun alone—mere time-fillers, for her.

Finally, Hilary succumbs to medical examinations, hoping to find out what might really be wrong.  Could she have a chronic health condition?  After all, she has symptoms galore:  fatigue, depression, too much or too little appetite, bad skin, bloating, backache, and headaches, for starters.  Medications are prescribed, some needed, some not.  More tests are suggested, but the only diagnosis she’s really worried about is the one that’s hardest to ask for, and creating most of the anxieties:  can she still have children?   For Hilary, after every menstrual cycle, one invasive thought surfaces:  "What a waste!"

Most SWS sufferers, Hilary included, don’t like to speak up.  It feels very awkward and shameful.  It also destroys the everything’s (otherwise) okay facade they endeavor to project publicly.  Regardless, the fatigue of being perpetually single and childless (not having been able to come close to reaching personal ideals) doesn’t go away.  Life still goes on, and as society evolves, those with SWS make extra efforts not to be judgmental or take for granted what they have, especially if it’s what others don’t.

When another set of holidays go by, being seen alone (and scrutinized) at the church, synagogue, mosque, or temple can be enough to make SWS sufferers lose their faith.  Though there are more ways for them to communicate their woes, they usually feel unsuccessful at being heard, understood, or accommodated.  A little acknowledgment and empathy might not solve their problems, but SWS sufferers, like Hilary, would certainly appreciate the sense of hope (and feeling of "normalcy") it could prompt.

Time is precious—others’ as well as your own.  However, many people seem to forget this. Whether they behave like jugglers, procrastinators, cowards, or egotists, they have their reasons, even if they’re not conscious of them.

Jugglers have many balls in the air—people as well as events and circumstances.  They also have their own best interests in mind:  are either looking for the "bigger better deal" or an easier way out.

Procrastinators put everything off till the last minute, or until it’s too late.  Even if they intend otherwise, indecision and lack of commitment are an end result, for others as well as themselves.

Cowards look to see how they can avoid situations, no matter how others might be impacted.  They find indirect, evasive, or manipulative ways to keep on going, lest details be discovered.

Egotists think only of themselves, and how they stand to gain.  Others’ feelings and needs or repercussions don’t concern them. Their own well-being is all important—nobody else’s.

Those who don’t respect your time (or you), might not:
    • give straight answers
    • call back
    • confirm plans
    • give clear explanations

Those who don’t respect your time (or you), might prefer to:
    • delay
    • avoid
    • pass responsibilities/blame to someone else
    • change the subject

Everyone is innocent till proven guilty.  If someone wastes your time by accident, it’s unfortunate.  We all make mistakes!  Someone who wastes your time, not by accident, signals greater dangers—especially if you stumble on the truth later.

Those who waste your time, and know that they are doing it, might:
    • lie to you
    • misrepresent information
    • make things appear different than they are
    • use you/situations for their own advantage

There’s often more to the story, when your time gets wasted by other people.  Unfortunately, it’s always hard to accept that those you trust with your time (and beyond) might behave this way—that the root issue is not just about loss of time.  
Being cautious/prepared to walk away from people who don’t have your best interests in mind is usually the wisest solution.  Those whom you let get away with wasting your time (and beyond) once, will likely do so again.  It’s up to you to stand up for yourself, and let others know that it’s not okay/you’ve found them out, however challenging that might be.  If they decide to have no more to do with you, no matter how difficult it is to accept at the time, it’ll be to your benefit in the long-run.  Time is precious.  Once gone, you don’t get it back!

I’ve made more than a dozen solo car trips between Boston and Toronto over the last few months, with audiobooks for companionship.  Some recordings require too much concentration and aren’t road trip-friendly. I won’t tell you about those!  Here are some that I do recommend—listed in alphabetical order (by author), with links to authors and publishers:

• Allen, David.  Ready for Anything:  Productivity Principles for Work and Life.  Approx 3 hours, 3 compact discs, read by the author, abridged, Simon and Schuster’s Audioworks.

• Craig, Edward.  Philosophy:  A Very Short Introduction.  3.5 hours, 3 compact discs, read by Maurice West, abridged, Naxos Audio.

• Degeneres, Ellen.  The Funny Thing Is.  Approx 3.75 hours, 4 compact discs, read by the author, unabridged, Simon and Schuster’s Audioworks.

• Dowd, Maureen.  Are Men Necessary?  When Sexes Collide.  Approx 8.5 hours, 7 compact discs, read by the author, unabridged, Penguin Audio.

• Ehrenrich, Barbara. Bait and Switch:  The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream.  7 hours, 6 compact discs, read by Anne Twomey, unabridged, Audio Renaissance.

• Kushner, Harold S. Overcoming Life’s Disappointments.  4 hours, 4 compact discs, read by Arthur Morey, unabridged, Random House.

• Levitt, Steven D. and Dubner, Stephen J.  Freakonomics.  A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything. 7 hours, 6 compact discs, read by Stephen Dubner, unabridged, HarperAudio.

• Lynch, Peter and Rothchild, John.  Learn to Earn:  A Beginner’s Guide to the Basics of Investing and Business. 1.5 hours, 2 compact discs, read by Peter Lynch, abridged, Simon and Schuster Audio.

• Mayes, Francis. A Year in the World.  6 hours, 5 compact discs, read by the author, abridged, Random House Audio.

• Singer, Peter. and Mason, Jim.  The Way We Eat:  Why Our Food Choices Matter. 12.5 hours, 10 compact discs, ready by Rick Adamson, unabridged, HighBridge Audio.

• Stewart, Martha. The Martha Rules:  10 Essentials for Achieving Success as You Start, Build, or Manage a Business.  Approx 6 hours, 5 compact discs, read by the author, unabridged, Random House Audio.

• Truss, Lynne.  Talk to the Hand#?*!  The Utter Bloody Rudenss of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door. 3 hours, 2 compact discs, read by the author, unabridged, Penguin Audio.

For more information on audiobooks, you might like to visit: www.audible.com, www.audioeditions.com, wwwbooksontape.com, www.recordedbooks.com, www.simply audiobooks.com.