The Love of a Panda: Part One

Once upon a time a panda lived freely in the bamboo forest of china. 

She spent many days chomping away on rich, green bamboo and really enjoyed her life. 

Then, one day an evil poacher came into the panda's world and trapped her in a cage! 

He dragged her out of her happy home and sold her to a creepy wizard at the misfits market in underground 

China.

The panda was very frightened for she did not know what the scary looking wizard was going to do with her. 

She was also very hungry and her tummy grumbled for the yummy bamboo back at home.

The wizard took the panda to his castle and set her cage right in the middle of his experimental laboratory.

 
He examined the panda closely and then cocked his head and went, "umph!"

The panda was confused and scared - until she heard a whisper coming from a cage behind her. 

"It's ok," said the voice. "he just saved you!"

"Huh?" said panda. "who said that?" she turned around in her cage to see rows and rows of pandas in cages 

and other special animals, too. 

"Where are we?" asked panda.

"I don't know, but you're safe now." the voice answered. 

"Safe? I wanna go home!!!"

"It's not the same in the forest anymore panda. The poachers are killing us left and right for our furs! 

You're lucky the wizard found you before you got sold to one of the bad guys!"

"Oh dear," cried the panda. "Nothing is as I thought."

"No, my sweet, it is not."


So the panda sobbed in her cage for she knew that she would never be able to return to her beloved forest. 


Her heart ached for the fresh green bamboo and the foggy mist that would roll onto her face and wake her every morning. 


As she remembered these things, she heard the lock on her cage lift up.


She lifted her neck to see who it was. 


It was the wizard and he was carrying a plate of purple bamboo, a special recipe he had created in his lab. 


He placed the plate on the floor of her cage and if it weren't for her incredible hunger, 


the panda would have left it there all night for she was scared that it may harm her.


However, her tummy tossed and turned from her starvation and the purple bamboo actually smelled amazingly
delicious, so she took one small bite and instantly felt the power of the bamboo rush through her veins and straight into her heart. 


She soon had gobbled up every last bite and when she was finished, she felt her heart begin to beat strongly in her chest. 


Her tears were long dried up and she felt different - new somehow - as if the wizard's creation had given her 
special loving powers in her heart. 


She did not know how he did it, but the panda immediately felt trust and love for her captor. 


Once wild and free, yet now captive, the panda felt the best she had ever felt and wanted to hug every animal 
around her. 


This feeling must be shared, she thought.


She concentrated really hard on the love in her heart and sent out vibrations to her new neighbors. 


One by one, they began to stir and soon the whole laboratory was buzzing with energy and love. 


It worked! 


To Be Continued...

Flying Frontier

Rollin' down the highway

In the sky way-

Seeing the point

So high in the line

And I see, finally,

The philosophy

Deep inside of me

Swimming in my dreams...

My mind in the clouds

And up here I see you

Doing a backstroke, too.

I wave slightly with my fingers

And you return the gesture.

We float on.

Then, I descend,

Close to land once again

Different now.

New from the changes

I spied in the sky.

Feet on the ground

I go.

My Jewelry

Not only do I tell stories with my writing, but I also create jewelry - 

and to me, every piece has a story.  

Just as characters and plots make stories complete, 

constructing finery consists of combining separates to create a whole as well.   

Therefore, I've dedicated a blog to telling my unique stories and 

honoring the creation of every design I make.  

And since I like feeling in direct contact with everyone I make jewelry for - 

I am calling it W.O.M.B. - Word Of Mouth Boutique.

Please visit W.O.M.B., leave feedback, 

and follow my new venture today! 

Word Of Mouth Boutique

by Amanda Steinhaus

Now? Yes, now.

After one of my lowest days in a long time, I feel like the only way I can go from here is up.

Today's horoscope proves that the stars are rooting me on in this journey.

I keep trying, but I must start doing. And in my doing I must not quit. This is my destiny and I must live it, or I will be wasting my gift.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift - that is why they call it the present.

PISCES Nov, 04, 2011
Theodore Seuss Geisel - or Dr. Seuss - was a renowned children's author and illustrator. He was also a Pisces. For decades now, Dr. Seuss's works have brought smiles to the faces of countless children, and taught them a thing or two in the process. But his first book, "And to Think that I Saw It on Mulberry Street," was rejected by about 43 publishers before it was accepted by the Vanguard Press. The point is, Pisces, you have a dream that you've put on a shelf out of frustration. But it has the potential to bring you and others much happiness. The stars say this is a great time to take it off the shelf, and make it happen. Dr. Seuss didn't give up - neither should you.

A K.I.S.S. FOR YOU!

I've been saying this a lot lately and thought I would share.

Keep It Simple Sister = K.I.S.S.

Life gets hectic.

Gotta remember to K.I.S.S. yourself sometimes!

Worries have no end in sight?

K.I.S.S. them goodbye!

We can only control how we treat ourselves and others, so leave the heavy drama for the stage and K.I.S.S. everyday!

It seems to me that the surf culture really has a grasp on this concept. Honor the waves, work hard to paddle out, find your wave and ride it. Life is good. :)

Same for the yogis. Honor your body, work hard to perfect your breathing technique and flexibility, let go of unwanted pains and stress, and leave smiling and standing upright. :)

I guess K.I.S.S. is for anyone, not just sisters, but when I say it to myself, I like the feeling of love that it provokes. It's encouraging to K.I.S.S. myself. That's why I do it and also why I wanted to share!

How can you K.I.S.S. yourself today?

Ms. Panda

Who I am cannot be summed up into words.

Who I am cannot be merely my interests.

Who I am cannot be written in a book.

Who I am cannot be found in a name.

Who I am is a culmination.

Who I am is a totality.

Who I am is vast.

Who I am is me.

A name is a start.

A name is all we have sometimes.

A name gives us an idea of how we can relate.

A name is a bridge between two strangers -

And to remember that name serves as reinforcement of our interest in one another.

Yet, under the blanket of the name is where our true selves exist.

It is in this swirling, twirling of emotions and experiences, 

ups and downs of cycles and depths of expressions, 

pride in our culture and loyalty to our family's traditions,

that one being truly exists.

Yet, it is still deeper than that even.

In my cellular composition -

The things I consume -

The thoughts I think.

This is all me.

Everything plays a role in who I am.

And in who you are, too.

I see this.

Do you?

Road Trip Photo Recap

I finally got my pictures downloaded and they really do tell a story.

Even though the ending was dramatic, the whole drive seemed to be blessed by the best.

Me and LuLu

(Notice the infamous picnic basket)

Annie a.k.a. Falcora

My dogs were being extra good girls, especially for being that long in the car.

The 1,800 or so miles that make up our mission were gobbled up like dots on Ms. Pac-man.  Easy breezy...

The photos I took randomly seemed to capture images of something greater and it seriously felt like we had our angels with us.

Then, when Lucy survived that freak accident without any broken bones, I knew we were blessed.

The moral of the story:

Take lots of pictures.  They remind you of how blessed you are. 

:)

Sea of Change

So many things going on,
Not able to fetch a decent night's sleep.
Wrote a poem about the gypsy in me.
These days prove the difficulty of an unsettled lifestyle,
Especially after being so physically and emotionally close to my family the last three years.

My heart is heavy.
My poem is it's plea.


Sea of Change

This change is a change
of pace
Which the universe did
so unexpectedly give

My heart of gold
Sleeplessly weeps with heavy heaves
My chest grieves
As I begin to finally see what is now me

Moving forward
As my soul lingers in my recent memories
I stare into the high seas
To set sail could be the death of me

Still, I remain at bay
Ready, but steady - taking baby steps
To repair my worn down ship
A list of things to fix

But most important on my list
A new plank for my ship
Perfect to spring from
When the new tide comes

When the sky clears
And the sun melts my fears
It'll be into a calm sea I leap
Washing the uncertainty off of me.

Dear Blog

I miss you.

I have been meaning to write, but do not have an Internet connection and writing on my iPhone makes me go cross-eyed :p

I'll write soon. Promise.

All my love,
Ms. Panda

The Dog Days Are Over - Yeeeeaaaahhhh!!!

It's been a minute since I blogged, but a lot has changed.

First - I moved.  From Kansas City, MO to Dana Point, CA.  Two days of hard core driving.  Then, when I was just under 3 hours away from my new place, the worst thing ever happened.

My black lab, Lucy, got spooked by my road trip picnic basket when it fell in her seat, and instantly jumped out of the window of my car while we were driving 80 mph!!!  I watched in horror as she flipped over and over uncontrollably.  I slammed on the brakes, threw the car in park on the median and got out just as she flipped her last couple of times.  I expected the worst, but as soon as she stopped tumbling, she got back up on all fours and ran right to me!  It was a miracle!

I loaded her in the car and examined the damage.  The first thing I could see was blood, and LOTS of it.  I got some Subway napkins from my lunch and went to town on her, dabbing here and there.  It seemed like everywhere.  I breathed deeply - in through my nose and out of my mouth.  My hands and knees were shaking, but somehow my mind was clear.  I knew what needed to be done.  It's crazy how the maternal instinct kicks in - fight or flight is some real deal stuff.

I thought back to a similar incident, when my 11 year old nephew freaked out in the face of fear and I channeled my thoughts about how he could've handled HIS situation and applied them to my reasoning abilities.  It worked.  I drove carefully and cautiously, while calling on loved ones to help.  We made it safely to a vet and got her stitched up and on pain meds ASAP!  I spent the night with her - my car still packed to the brim with my stuff.

Here are some words I wrote when she was in surgery:

9-27-11

She can't tell me where it hurts

But I can hear her screaming in pain

Reacting to fear, an emotional day

As I try to play with Annie, 

I can't help but hear you, Lucy Q.

Jumped into the street while we were going 80.

I couldn't help but see you, Lucy Q.

I'll never forget that image, Lucy Q.

It took us three more days before we finally got to our new place, and Lucy is getting better everyday! I love her more now than ever before!

Here's a pic of Lu wearing the collar of shame.  She hates it.  But we gotta do what we gotta do! ;)

I never realized how one little thing, which was completely out of my control, could change my entire life, but now I do.  What I had envisioned for my first week in California became something TOTALLY different and taught me a LOT about life and what really matters.  It's amazing who you call, who you can count on, and how others interpret the whole situation.  Just sayin'.  It's been a week from hell and I am actually glad it is Monday!  Crazy!?

I can honestly say that God was watching over us and the fact that she didn't have ONE broken bone gives me reason to believe that we definitely had our angels with us.  I took this picture from my sunroof - and if you look closely, it looks like God's feet...walking above us.  Pretty AWESOME!!!

Here's to the end of the "Dog Days" and a fresh, and completely unexpected new direction for Ms. Panda.  Keep ya posted!

Yard Sale Treasure

In an effort to condense my life,
I invited my neighbors to shop in a store I created on my front lawn.

My front walkway transformed into the main artery of an outdoor trading post,
which was comprised of various card tables topped with trinkets,
boxes of books, DVDs, music, art and various clothing racks,
like one we made by lodging a long wooden bar in a knot of a huge maple tree
and propping the other end on a ladder. Classy!

Two days of selling and I would say I have found a new calling!

As one of my favorite female authors, Anais Nin says,
"good things happen to those who hustle."
Come to my sale and you're sure to leave with a treasure.

However, upon examining the remnants of the upheaval,
my attention was drawn to a vintage paperback book titled,
"Living Altars of The Ozarks," by Omer E. Creech.

It was published in 1973, and was originally titled, "Soul Talk of the Ozark Hills."
I have no idea where this book came from, but the title page had been autographed
directly below a stamp that read, "Look often toward the crest of the hills."  I was sold.

I flipped the page to the Dedication.  It was golden.
"To all living souls, who have the will and the courage to search for and discover a personal truth,
and follow that truth to it's destiny; I dedicate this book."
Ohhh, goosebumps.  I hit the jackpot!

I read on to find a beautiful poem that has easily become the treasure of my day. Here it is for you:

WOODLAND THERAPY

Let me walk in the woods

away from the crowded thoroughfare.

Let me commune with living things;

Things uninhibited by the cares of men.

With unshod feet let me tread softly 

upon the floor of the cool earth;

A floor carpeted by rich brown leaves

washed clean by the falling rain.

Grant me the privilege of listening;

Listening to the stillness of the eternal quiet.

Give unto me the sensitivity of response;

The response to the divine quietness

that whispers to the inner soul of man--

"Be still and know that I am God." 

And having responded to this divine call

let me walk from the woods

a wiser and stronger man;

Capable of re-entering and

living in the mainstream of life.

When I read this, it felt like a spoken meditation that I could easily take with me and ponder on nature walks and hiking adventures with my dogs.  I once wrote, "Greater than the test of society is the examination within," and Creech confirms my thought, "Every man's soul is his own sanctuary."  -Creech

Thank you yard sale treasure :) 

Eli the Eelephant

Eli the Eelephant

By Amanda Lynn Steinhaus

Illustrations by True Delorenzo

An Eelephant ALWAYS forgets. 

In fact, it takes steps to remember.

But let's start in the beginning.


***

Eli, the eelephant, was born in the warm waters of Thailand.

He was the only son of Erwin the Albino elephant, who loved to swim,
and Eos, the most beautiful Moray eel in the ocean,
who swam to shore at the dawn of each day.

Erwin and Eos loved to swim together every morning! 

They fell in love and soon gave birth to Eli,
the only eelephant in the entire history of Asian waters.

Legend has it that fishermen heard of this unique creation by Erwin and Eos
and have been hunting Eli for many moons.

The tides never lie, and with every new moon in the sky,
when the water is at its lowest, Eli gets very lonely and sad.

He searches for a friend to comfort him,
but his awkward appearance scares the other ocean creatures away.

Eli swims as fast as he can through the shallow waters and along a dangerously strong current,
which his parents warned Eli about when he was young.

They said,
"Eli, above the water, fishermen will cast their nets down below
 in hopes of trapping ocean creatures as they travel along the quick ocean current."

However, Eli forgot their words as he let his lonliness take over his emotions
and he swam carelessly into the powerful current. 

His mom and dad also told him about a special gift that he had as an eelephant
that no other sea creature possessed.

However, in his current state of mind, he wasn't thinking about his gifts.

Eli focused on the things he did NOT have.

He thought about the things he wanted and needed, but was not getting.

His thoughts drove him deeper into the dangerous current.

Until....SNAP! 

Eli got caught in his tracks! 

The net pulled him up and Eli suddenly became very scared!

Lifted onto the deck of an old fishing boat,

when the nets fell, the fishermen gasped and pointed their fingers at Eli.

They pointed their fingers down in awe.

It was the myth they now saw!

Eli, the eelephant had FEET!

And with them he crept off the boat and back into the sea!

Where he swims peacefully free.

Until the new moon rises again, and Eli gets lonely...

THE END

Moral #1:  Sometimes your best traits are the ones that others notice.

Moral #2: Sometimes others can point out the things you need to learn about yourself.

Soundtrack In My Mind

I'm leaving home and I am coming home all at once...

As I pack to move, this song plays in my head.

It is so moving to me, in so many ways--

I hope you agree.



Oh let us rise
Above the bones
Let us remember the memories

Filled with compassion
Not scarred by hunger
No not blinded by the ashes of the past

My eyes have not seen it
Yet in my soul I know
No conception is hidden
Let there be love

I wanna go home
Take me home
I've got to go home
Take me home

And we gonna rise yeah
High above the flames
Our hearts open as the endless sky
No more deception
No more shame
Just a reflection of the natural high

Ah do you remember that melody
Ah yeah do you remember that song so free
Yeah I wanna go home
Take me come
I've got to go home
Take me home

Oh let us rise
Above the bones
Let us remember the memories
No more afraid
No more alone
Let our spirits fly so free

In my arms a little child wrapped tight in prayer
Safe from harm, oh yeah
Ever guided by Jah Jah fire

I wanna go home
Take me home
I've got to go home
Take me home
I wanna go home
Take me home
Got to go home

So take me home... (repeat)

Vibrations and Communication

I recently heard that only 7% of communication is actually what you say.

The other 93% is how you say it, your body language, and the interpretation of the receiver...but we already knew that.

However, I did some investigating into his "7% Verbal + 38% Vocal + 55% Facial" rule anyway.  You can do it too, here.  

The guy who came up with the rule is Albert Mehrabian, a professor at UCLA.  It's pretty interesting to read his theory, because we all know that a person can say something, but their body says something else.  Non-verbal communication is JUST AS IMPORTANT as verbal.  Take for example if someone is avoiding eye contact, turning their body away from you, etc and you ask, "Is something wrong?" and get a "Nothing!" answer...you know it's BS.

Or, on the other hand, we can talk til we are blue in the face, but it won't matter unless we have a captive audience - and with all the distractions in today's world - that is very challenging!  It's so important to be engaging and creative these days, or our communication doesn't stand a chance!

When you communicate think of all of this.  Not just what you say - but how you say it - and who you are saying it to.


Here's a commentary from my friend who shared this theory with me:

"Conclusion is the non-verbal vibrational language of the body and character of the sound account for over 5 times the communication than the actual words - no matter who you talk to it is the notions and the 'brations baby.

Think of your communication with your babies (dogs) how they seem to understand you.  Well they do.  They interprete your emotions because you are human and wear your feelings all over your body.  The "heart on your sleeve" is the subconscious vibration of your emotions and your projection of thoughts and feelings characterized by your actions and demeanor whether you are aware of it or not.  


The best liars either don’t have this inherent posture or are in tune with it so they assess and construe it – me….I blink like hell when I lie!  Some you hear in it their tone, some shake etc."


What do you do when you lie?
How do you keep the attention of your audience?


Thanks for being here :)
Panda

Moving Pains

The most stressful things in life, popular opinion has it, are bereavement, divorce and moving house. 


Unfortunately, I am in the midst of the latter and as much as I want to rejoice in this transition and all that I stand to gain once I get there, my body is having a freak out moment.  Sleep is messed with, body is aching, emotions are bubbling up, and the to-do list seems infinite.


One week 'til I depart!  One week!  And so much to do. 


My List 


Go through my life.
Creatively assess my new needs.
Pack only the necessities.
Sell the rest - either on Craigslist, or in a garage sale, or give to friends/charities.
See as many friends and family members as possible during lunches, dinners, and just making them come sort through my life with me.
Plan a going away party.  
Attend a going away party after having a garage sale all day.
Try not to become too intoxicated and an emotional basketcase at my party.
Hope to not wake up with a hangover.  
Continue garage sale.
Play car Tetris with my carefully selected belongings, my dogs and myself.
Try to sleep before I leave.
Drive 12 hours a day for two days.


Wooo Hoooo!!!  Not so bad now that I look at it.  I can do this.   Just gotta keep breathing.  Stress is relentless and I found this list on www.mayoclinic.com,

Top 10 stress relievers

1. Get active - Virtually any form of exercise and physical activity can act as a stress reliever. Even if you're not an athlete or you're out of shape, exercise is still a good stress reliever. Physical activity pumps up your feel-good endorphins and refocuses your mind on your body's movements, improving your mood and helping the day's irritations fade away. Consider walking, jogging, gardening, house cleaning, biking, swimming, weightlifting or anything else that gets you active.

2. Meditate - During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. Meditation instills a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. Guided meditation, guided imagery, visualization and other forms of meditation can be practiced anywhere at any time, whether you're out for a walk, riding the bus to work or waiting at the doctor's office.


I use this technique for visualizing my dreams, so as not to lose sight of them!

3. Laugh - A good sense of humor can't cure all ailments, but it can help you feel better, even if you have to force a fake laugh through your grumpiness. When you start to laugh, it lightens your mental load and actually causes positive physical changes in your body. Laughter fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure, producing a good, relaxed feeling. So read some jokes, tell some jokes, watch a comedy or hang out with your funny friends.

4. Connect - When you're stressed and irritable, your instinct may be to wrap yourself in a cocoon. Instead, reach out to family and friends and make social connections. Social contact is a good stress reliever because it can distract you, provide support, help you weather life's up and downs, and make you feel good by doing good. So take a coffee break with a friend, email a relative, volunteer for a charitable group, or visit your place of worship.

5. Assert yourself - You might want to do it all, but you probably can't, at least not without paying a price. Learn to say no to some tasks or to delegate them. Saying yes may seem like an easy way to keep the peace, prevent conflicts and get the job done right. But it may actually cause you internal conflict because your needs and those of your family come second, which can lead to stress, anger, resentment and even the desire to exact revenge. And that's not very calm and peaceful.

6. Do yoga - With its series of postures and controlled-breathing exercises, yoga is a popular stress reliever. Yoga brings together physical and mental disciplines to achieve peacefulness of body and mind, helping you relax and manage stress and anxiety. Try yoga on your own or find a class — you can find classes in most communities. Hatha yoga, in particular, is a good stress reliever because of its slower pace and easier movements.

I had to do a little downward dog yoga today to get my back moving! ;)

7. Sleep - Stress often gives sleep the heave-ho. You have too much to do — and too much to think about — and your sleep suffers. But sleep is the time when your brain and body recharge. And the quality and amount of sleep you get affects your mood, energy level, concentration and overall functioning. If you have sleep troubles, make sure that you have a quiet, relaxing bedtime routine, listen to soothing music, put clocks away, and stick to a consistent schedule.

8. Journal - Writing out thoughts and feelings can be a good release for otherwise pent-up emotions. Don't think about what to write — just let it happen. Write whatever comes to mind. No one else needs to read it, so don't strive for perfection in grammar or spelling. Just let your thoughts flow on paper — or computer screen. Once you're done, you can toss out what your wrote or save it to reflect on later.

9. Get musical - Listening to or playing music is a good stress reliever because it provides a mental distraction, reduces muscle tension and decreases stress hormones. Crank up the volume and let your mind be absorbed by the music. If music isn't your thing, though, turn your attention to another hobby you enjoy, such as gardening, sewing, sketching — anything that requires you to focus on what you're doing rather than what you think you should be doing.

I also kept these YouTube videos playing while I packed.

10. Seek counsel - If new stressors are challenging your ability to cope or if self-care stress relievers just aren't relieving your stress, you may need to look for reinforcements in the form of professional therapy or counseling. Therapy may be a good idea if stress leaves you feeling overwhelmed or trapped, if you worry excessively, or if you have trouble carrying out daily routines or meeting responsibilities at work, home or school. Professional counselors or therapists can help you identify sources of your stress and learn new coping tools.

If you haven't already guessed, I am compiling this list so that I can refer to it throughout the next few weeks.   It is my counsel for myself and is good to have it all organized in a spot to come to and remind myself how to de-stress.


Ahhh.  I feel better already just knowin it exists. :)))


Cheers you guys!  Here's to making moves!

Speak Easy in Haiku

A speakeasy, popularized during Prohibition, is an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages.

They are kept highly secret and usually attract an elitist crowd, who sip on swanky cocktails with ingredients unheard of in most bars.

The picture below is of the "Winter in Buenos Aires" cocktail at Manifesto in Kansas City, MO.  

It has a divine blend of Brazilian cachaca (ka-cha-sah), butternut squash puree and something infused with cinnamon and honey.  It's so amazing that I crave it.  

So, last night I satisfied my palate one final time as a farewell to my favorite KC secret. 

Ciao for now, Manifesto! This one's for you :)

Candlelight flickers

Along the dark basement walls

At my speak easy

Down a steep staircase

Led between blowing curtains

To my drinking throne 

The tempest in me

Is feeling kind of spicy

Like hot thai chile

First, I sip slowly

"Winter in Buenos Aires"

 A taste of cold days

Candied ginger bits

Paired with a crafty cocktail

Wake up my taste buds

Outside, when I leave

Two cool guys in an Airstream 

Cook Chilaquiles

I see the word "love"

On the phone pole in the street

Just as you call me

I had the final word

La palabra finale

And then you hung up

Driving home in rain
So late the check point was closed
Time to check myself

Gypsy Panda

"If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village,

she must seek them abroad."

–Jane Austen

If you have been on my blog lately,

you know that I am moving to California! 

I feel confident in this new adventure 

and decided to write a "Gypsy Panda" affirmation post.

Hope it inspires you :)

"You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go."
~Dr. Seuss

“I’ve decided that I’m going to live this life for some time to come.

The freedom and simple beauty of it is just too good to pass up.”

–Chris McCandless

"Not all those who wander are lost."
J. R. R. Tolkien

"When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money.

Then take half the clothes and twice the money."
-Susan Heller

(Or...just take things with you that you can make and sell along the way)

“Twenty years from now

you will be more disappointed

by the things you didn’t do

than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines,

sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.”

-Mark Twain

Clown School, Not Frown School!

Here's a little peek into a Children's story I am collaborating on...

(Sorry these came out sideways...I tried to redo it a gazillion times with no luck.  

So whatever.  I just have to turn my head sideways. Adaptation is survival.)

TO BE CONTINUED...