Holiday Photo Expedition

Three years ago I started the tradition of taking a photo expedition to get a beautiful shot for my holiday card. Last year I took a ferry ride from Alameda to Oakland. The previous year it was the London Eye. This year I ventured up to the Oakland Hills for some breathtaking vistas and also Baker Beach for the beauty of the ocean. Living in such a beautiful area, so close to the ocean and mountains, I often take for granted the majesty of the Bay Area. Looking at some of these photos reminds me of how fortunate I am to be here.

Everything in Moderation

Hanging out with Calm and having a car for ten days has helped me recognize that moderation is a perfectly good approach to life. I've been thinking about adopting a dog and also about buying a car. Now that I temporarily have both it is clear that they are wonderful occasionally but not what I'm needing full time. Having the opportunity to be with Calm now and then for a few days fills my needs - and hers as well. A car has allowed me to visit some friends and locations out of touch of public transit but I certainly don't need a car everyday.

Extended Family

Tonight we celebrated my friend Stacey's big 40. It was her house I lived in for the past 14 months, before moving into my own place. Her party was filled with her extended family, many of which have become my extended family, something I didn't realize until tonight. As we danced to great 80s tunes in a restaurant overlooking Lake Merritt, I recognized that these folks have grown to know and care about me.

Each asked about my new place and the summer "relationship" that I had had - hoping that I was still in it. I forgot how much they know about me. The best moment was when little Lex, my former five-year-old roommate, sat down on the steps next to me and put his head on my lap. We rarely had close moments when I lived in his house but there were times when we were out and about and he touched me so sweetly. With family you know you can just reach out and they are there for you.

Curry Squash

I am eating the most heavenly curry dish made from Thanksgiving leftovers. I took the roasted squash and pumpkin I baked yesterday, removed the skin and mixed with a can of coconut milk, added a tablespoon of red curry paste. Mixed until creamy. Scooped it on top of my quinoa stuffing. Delicious. Took about five minutes to prepare.

Being Partnered

Hanging out with Com/Calm dog and observing her loyalty has helped me understand something about myself. I like being in a relationship. Just like Calm looking after me in the apartment and being tuned into me as we take walks, I like to be the same way with a partner. I previously was seeing this as a weakness that I had to overcome but actually it is a characteristic.

Calm is great one-to-one. She's good in groups too - she was in our game circle during post-Thanksgiving socializing. But she is very loyal to her primary person. After Thanksgiving dinner we went out for a walk and another person was going to hold Calm's leash. Calm kept looking for me to be the one holding her lead. It was amazing loyalty considering we've only been together for a few days. I believe I am the same way. I just have to be careful to whom I commit my loyalty.

Wild Turkey

Com/Calm and I went for an early morning walk and to our shock, and that of some other early-risers along Oakland's Piedmont Avenue, there was a wild turkey running down the street. He actually tried to stop a city bus and get on to escape. The bus finally got around Mr. Turkey who then started squawking as he ran down the center of the street, then on to the sidewalk and then across the street. The few cars on the street stopped to watch the bizarre and ironic site. Mr. Turkey impressed us all by puffing out its feathers.

I've cropped this iPhone photo so that you can see the turkey running along the sidewalk towards Fenton's Ice Creamery. He's about to cross the street. Run turkey, run.

This rivals my Thanksgiving in Houston where a man walked down our street exclaiming, in a deep Texas drawl, "somebody's turkey's burning up, somebody's turkey's burning up." In fact, someone burned down their house while trying to deep fry their turkey. This time the turkey got away.

Looking back on some past Thanksgivings, I've had some real adventures. Last year was in Berkeley with my cousin Diana - we had Tofurkey. The previous year was London, previous year in Scotland, the year before that was Houston. This year I'm hosting my cousin Diana and friends here in Oakland.

Com Dog

I have the pleasure of dog-sitting for Megan and Dallas' dog named Dog.com. She goes by Com and I like to pronounce it Calm because that's what she is. We've been together for a few hours and we've already taken two walks - one with Megan and another with Hal. Now she has taken over the papazan chair as her own while her lonely doggie bed sits waiting.

Com/Calm is here until Sunday. This is a great opportunity for me to try life with a dog.

First Podcast

I'm interested in trying podcasting. This is my first effort. No script and off the top of my head. Future ones will be more polished.

First thing I notice is that I emphasize some of my words with a British precision - very interesting. I also see my sister in the way I talk, think and laugh. My voice is pretty good - not as nasal or high and girly as I thought.

Car Vacation

While my cousin Ben is away for Thanksgiving I am watching his cats and in exchange he is lending me his car. As you know I've been back and forth about getting some kind of motorized vehicle versus living my life with my two feet and Ike the Bike.

What I've realized this week is that borrowing a car every now and then is like having a Car Vacation. I get to go far and wide to visit my friends, run errands, and get up to the hills for hiking. However, I live my daily life just fine without a car. Finding parking, paying for gas and the stress of traffic, plus the lack of exercise, are challenges I never have to think about while walking, riding my bike or taking most forms of public transportation.

This realization definitely is coming from my new approach to goal setting. Instead of thinking about all or nothing - the ultimate success and having it now - I'm having my clients, students and even myself think about shades of reaching your goal. We all know there is the "ultimate" and then we know that there is the realistic - which can be a good stretch. I'm finding that as I use this approach in my work and life, big hairbally goals that seem overwhelming can be broken down into smaller, achievable, exciting goals.

The Hook

Yesterday, while teaching my Career Development course at the Art Institute of California my students and I came up with the concept of The Hook. It derived from the exercise where each student had 60 seconds to answer the question, "so, tell me about yourself". This would typically be your elevator pitch or speech. But at the heart of it there needs to be a Hook.

As one of my students wrote on the board, THE HOOK, is your unique selling point framed in a story that is engaging and easy to remember - both for you and your "audience". Ideally it has a beginning, middle and end. It demonstrates your core competencies beyond, "I am a team player" and all the other typical cliches that spew forth from us when we are on the job search or prospecting clients.

After each student got up in front of the class to do their 60 seconds, the rest of the class helped them define their Hook. Some didn't have one and so we kept probing until we got to something that made them memorable and unique. Helping a student translate how their gas station experience has prepared them for a job in interior decorating takes some clever thinking. My students are becoming pros at helping each other find the connection, the transition, the Hook.

I suppose that this links directly to defining moments. Framing a defining moment as a unique selling point in your professional career is a great way to connect with your audience. we also realized, if all else fails try humor.

Defining Moments

Today, following the co-facilitation of a staff team-building retreat with Dewey Schott, I had a realization that our lives are filled with "defining moments". There are times throughout our existence when something deeply informs our direction. They are incidents that are so influential that they impact how we perceives ourselves, define our values, direct our course or develop behavior. In the best cases these moments are positive and at the worst they are negative. Often we don't recognize these defining moments until someone asks us to reflect on them - which is often the case in a retreat setting.

What I recognized is that your response to these defining moments can be positive or negative, panic or excitement, inspiration or suffocation. As a defining moment the impact is going to be extreme in either direction. As I chart my own path I'm recognizing that stepping back in the "now" to reflect on these defining moments is essential, especially when you are moving towards panic. It is a choice to frame the situation as negative or positive. My theory is you only live once and you choose your own path. We also choose our reaction, although sometimes it feels like we don't have a choice.

My personal objective is to reduce stress, live peacefully and to do onto others as I would have them do on to me. Recognizing these values I am choosing to see potentially negative situations as learning opportunities, a chance to be a stronger, more pro-active, well-defined person with a vision and mission that drives me forward. I am taking hold of these defining moments and determining my own definition instead of letting them define me.

World Cup Soccer in Oakland? Cast Your Vote

Travel for Work and Pleasure

Over the past two weeks I've been living work-travel life that really suits me. Rhode Island for a conference, then DC for a family visit. A few days later travel by train to Sacramento and hotel stay with a colleague to present a training session. Later in the week an overnight out in the Marin Headlands and a retreat facilitation. Now to get some of this travel into the international arena. Plus, how to store my luggage without dragging it around all day. I'm sure there must be some secret that consultants know about storage options. Starbucks could make some money with this added service.

Retreat to Move Forward

The title of this post - Retreat to Move Forward - is a quote I once heard and it always sticks with me when I facilitate a retreat as I did yesterday for an arts organization. We were out in the Marin Headlands and it was the ideal setting for our session. After lunch we took a hike out to the beach and it was totally inspiring.

Prior to the hike I asked the group to think about goal setting - comfort, stretch and panic goals. As we walked I asked them to notice if there were times that they were in any of these zones and if so, what were the signs that alerted them that they were either in comfort, stretch or panic. As I hiked I realized that sometimes when I facilitate retreats I move in and out of all these zones. It is quite a challenge to facilitate an entire day, keep it flowing, finding the connections and having all the answers as to how to get un-stuck and move forward.

Thinking about this I realized that I need to figure out tactics that I have on hand to pull me back into the comfort and stretch zones in any challenging situation. All of us need these little comfort anchors - affirmations, reassurances, tools to keep us grounded in moments of panic. A friend posted on her Facebook update: To do something new you have to try something different. That's what I help my clients do when setting goals and I am going to take some time to challenge myself in the same way.









The title of this post - Retreat to Move Forward - is a quote I once heard and it always sticks with me when I facilitate a retreat as I did yesterday for an arts organization. We were out in the Marin Headlands and it was the ideal setting for our session. After lunch we took a hike out to the beach and it was totally inspiring.

Prior to the hike I asked the group to think about goal setting - comfort, stretch and panic goals. As we walked I asked them to notice if there were times that they were in any of these zones and if so, what were the signs that alerted them that they were either in comfort, stretch or panic. As I hiked I realized that sometimes when I facilitate retreats I move in and out of all these zones. It is quite a challenge to facilitate an entire day, keep it flowing, finding the connections and having all the answers as to how to get un-stuck and move forward.

Thinking about this I realized that I need to figure out tactics that I have on hand to pull me back into the comfort and stretch zones in any challenging situation. All of us need these little comfort anchors - affirmations, reassurances, tools to keep us grounded in moments of panic. A friend posted on her Facebook update: To do something new you have to try something different. That's what I help my clients do when setting goals and I am going to take some time to challenge myself in the same way.

Salsa Queen

Oh I had the most wonderful evening at the San Francisco Internationakl Art Festival's salsa dance party! I took a mini dance lesson at the start and then watched the fantastic couples dance up a storm to the live music.

There was one man in particular, Mario, who had a harem of three fantastic dancers. Later in the evening, as I stood on the sidelines practicing the moves, one of the women in the harem, who had the sexiest dress, shoes and moves, pulled me onto the floor to dance with her in Mario's group. I was so surprised and flattered. I love dancing and have the moves, if not the steps. Soon I was dancing along with them and having my spins with Mario. What fun! They took a photo with me and hopefully it will arrive by email. If so, I'll post it here.

Once off the floor my friends told me how impressed they were with my moves and that I looked so happy. They also said that I was clearly not telling the truth when I said I didn't know how to salsa. Reminds me of when I went skiing with Simone in Tahoe. We took a lesson and I said I wasn't good. Turns out I was great! I seem to be getting more coordinated as I mature.

One of my goals for this coming year is to take more salsa lessons and get really good. I'm sure there must be a place in Oakland where I can get in a monthly dance.

Photo of Mario on the dance floor.

Fish Tacos

Yet another happy meal for Amy. This time I made talapia fish tacos, yummy. A half pound of talapia for $2.65 was way too much food and way too delicious. I ate it all. So much better than going out to a restaurant. Cocina Amy.

Ingredients:
1/2 lb Talapia - sautéed with olive oil, lemon, salt, pepper and paprika
Corn tortillas - heated in olive oil
Coleslaw
Chopped chili peppers
Salsa

Sacramento All Aboard!

Leah and I had a fantastic time presenting our strategic planning for arts organizations course in Sacramento today. We're getting so good at anticipating each other's presentation needs. A real tag-team.

The best part of our mini-road-trip was that I took the train up to Sacramento and Leah drove up to meet me. What a beautiful trip it is up the Capitol Corridor on Amtrak. Much of the trip is along the many bays that dot our area and also through some marsh lands and it was at sunset so beautiful reflections in the placid waterways.

I also wandered along the river near Old Sacramento, located a half a black from the Embassy Suites we stayed in last night and Drexel University which hosted our workshop. Tower Bridge was across from our hotel and this tall ship was moored nearby.

Boxes of Art

Last night I attended the annual ProArts Box Art Show and auction and was the winning bidder on a fantastic piece by Barbara Maricle. The auction featured 50 pieces of Box Art, works all derived from the same source material, a 5"x5" square block. I made a piece which started as a felted block but, because of technical difficulties, eventually became a block covered by Polaroid transfer images I made about 10 years ago. The piece is called, "She's Pushing the Memories Outside the Box" and unfortunately I didn't take a photo of it to share with you.

Here's Barbara's piece. I particularly like the crack in the wood which is has covered with little pieces of handmade paper. She's created an interesting contrast between the solid wood and the delicate paper. Are the little "x's" an effort to hide the crack, heal it, or to keep it together? I like works that encourage me to create a story.
About seven years ago I purchased another piece of Box Art from the same event. It is displayed on the top of the shelving unit in this photo of my apartment. The artist is Linda Glickman and she had a piece in last night's event as well.

Here's a close-up. It is called "The Life of Olive" and you can turn Olive's head with the little piece on the top which says, "Ripen". The dress inside the box is made of woven paper with English, Hebrew and Arabic words on it. On the left side of the box is a vanity style hand mirror for Olive and the right side has a slip for her dress. So much care and craft went into making the little details and I sense a narrative. Does Olive have many sides to her personality, perhaps she comes from a family of many cultures?
I've also hung a beautiful textile on the wall. It keeps working its way around my house. First a table runner, then a bedspread and now a wall hanging. I love the blues. Hanging it on the wall has changed this area of my apartment into an active zone. Previously it was a very empty space that I just passed through.

Home Sweet Home

Every day my apartment is becoming more and more wonderful. It has all my favorite things, arranged in my favorite way and enjoyed by me and my friends. I am remembering how wonderful it is to have a place to myself.

I'm also loving cooking for one - allows me to get as risky and weird as I like with my recipes. Yesterday I cooked up a barley mushroom soup (Grammie inspired), curried carrots (not so good), cornbread (OK), roasted beets (very yummy) and coleslaw (Marlene and Mandeep inspired).

Cool Animal Companions

Lucy and Zack are housemates at my brother and sister-in-law's house in Maryland.
This cat is too cool for words - hanging out on my neighbor's motorcycle.

Vacation Brain

Hanging with my sibs in the DC area, following the Rhode Island conference, is clearing my mind. I have only a couple of days with them and within the first hours I was already more relaxed. Suddenly all the thoughts about this and that seem distant. Actually, the thoughts are gone. It is a brief respite and so worth the trip.

Staying Connected

Saying goodbye to my national friends, after we meet up at conferences and programs, is getting harder. This network of inspirational arts management folks are my extended family. We easily find our rhythm together, even if we only meet up once a year.

I may be feeling particularly emotional because of lack of sleep. All kinds of thoughts about past and future running through my mind. Ah, that difficult zen of being in the present.

10,000 Hours

Today's plennary speaker at the NAMP conference brought up Malcolm Gladwell's latest book Outliers, and the importance of building expertise by doing something for 10,000 hours.

What have I done for 10,000 hours which equals 5 years?

Blogging
Writing
Non-profit management
Team building
Teaching
Personal documentary photography

The speaker, David McIntosh, added that each time you do these things you should add one component that is new - that's when creativity happens.

Fire Water in Providence

Providence has a cool arts installation called Fire Water which are burning fires installed along the Providence River. It happens several times throughout the year. We were lucky enough to be here during the Halloween Fire Water. Sara, Nancy and I, friends from Houston and LA, walked along the river. The Fire Water event set the Halloween tone by piping classical music through the city and people meandering in their costumes. Very mellow compared to San Francisco's scene.

The best part was that we smelled like we had been sitting in front of a fireplace when we got back to the hotel. Very autumn.