tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12168200441759982522024-02-18T20:58:29.666-05:00Alpha FEmale MindThis is my brain "on words", not on drugs.Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-1105264380083613582015-12-09T16:19:00.002-05:002015-12-10T09:48:49.529-05:00New Year's Resolutional<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've tried the list--writing it and sticking to it. Doesn't work for me. Has it worked for you? I find that, for most people, making a <i>bucket list</i> and following through is easier than making and sticking to a list of <i>New Year's Resolutions</i>. Maybe it's because we share them publicly, maybe it's because we have too many items on our list, maybe it's because change is difficult. It's easier for me to work on one thing at a time, and a list feels too formal and too much like a list of chores.<br />
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If the resolutions work for you on the blank slate of the brand new year, go for it! I'll cheer you on. If they don't, then join me in resolving never to build such a list again...until it's time, even if it's three quarters of the way through the soon-to-be old year. If you don't care either way and would like a good laugh, try the list at this link. It's <a href="http://www.hitfix.com/comedy/20-new-years-resolutions-on-twitter-that-are-funnier-than-yours" target="_blank">20 New Year's Resolutions on Twitter That are Funnier Than Yours.</a> A laugh from 2014.<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><br />
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My friend, international speaker and presentations coach, <a href="http://debsofield.com/" target="_blank">Deb Sofield</a>, speaks to this in a recent episode of her radio show, <a href="http://debsofield.com/encouragement-for-your-life/stop-turning-your-troubles-into-your-excuses/" target="_blank">Encouragement for Your Life</a>. (The link will take you to her blog, which features the first part of her show in print and the full audio version of the show at the bottom.) Deb's December 4th show features a little tough love for us all about the way in which we make resolutions at the beginning of each year and then (for the majority of us) we break them all. Give this show a try and see if you don't agree with Deb.<br />
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Listening to Deb's shows or reading her blog or newsletter has strengthened me and has pushed me to take action towards some of my dreams. Deb has encouraged me to expect more of myself and to move forward with more kindness, but also with strength and determination. She's been a good and gently nudging conscience on my shoulder, pushing me to do and struggle and grow in the direction of my greatest goals and ambitions. Somehow, that little nudge each week has helped just enough, so...here I go!</div>
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If you'd like to listen to more of Deb's show, tune in to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/deb-sofields-speak-without/id608532908?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">iTunes</a> or <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/deb-sofield/speak-without-fear" target="_blank">Stitcher</a> for past and future shows.</div>
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Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-4571089814204638142015-07-14T15:58:00.000-04:002015-12-09T15:09:01.744-05:00THE GIFTS OF BRAIN CANCER: It is what it is; when it's over, it's over.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Haven't been here often in the last year. My mind has been engaged in other things, among them the beautiful life and inspirational departure from this life of my friend Lee Long.<br />
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<b>IT IS WHAT IT IS</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With her sister Kari following Lee's buzz cut prior to surgery</td></tr>
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A little over a year ago, Lee and her family began the full-time job of treating her brain tumor to allow for more than a few weeks of life. It's been a year and a half: Surgery, radiation, chemo and all of the yucky recovery issues that follow such things. Remarkably enough, and with formidable strength and faith, Lee and her family enjoyed living life to the fullest...albeit in between the treatments and recovery.<br />
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<b>WHEN IT'S OVER, IT'S OVER</b><br />
About 6 weeks ago, Lee shared with us that her treatments had come to an end. She began with a nod to her friend Linda Dolny who had often shared with Lee a favorite saying, "It is what it is; when it's over, it's over." <br />
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The tumor in Lee's brain was growing again, this time in all directions. In typical Lee fashion, she accepted it with grace and gratitude, often sharing on Facebook how blessed she was to have had the last year and a half. She'd seen her youngest son graduate from college, her other 2 children marry, had visited with her dying mother, enjoyed wonderful family reunions and she and her devoted husband, Don, had time together to accept her passing away to the new world, one that she'd anticipated and embraced. She was grateful for all of that and more.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wedding of son Harry to Cecelia.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Following the wedding of daughter Brita to Dan.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With husband Don and son Jeremy at his college graduation</td></tr>
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<b>GIFTS</b><br />
Lee has been writing a book, lessons and revelations from her journey with brain cancer that she wanted to pass on to those of us who would be left here still trying to figure out what is important and what's not. <i>The Gifts of Brain Cancer</i> is now in the capable hands and mind of daughter Brita, who will bring it to publication in time.<br />
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This lady was not perfect, sometimes she screwed up, sometimes forgot, sometimes...well, she was a normal human being. What made her stand out was her faith; her intelligence; her desire to help others and to be kind; her need to support her husband and raise responsible, kind and compassionate children; her love of learning and her desire to live the heck out of this life. She had a sense of adventure and was thrilled to ride as a passenger on the back of a motorcycle and (most recently) in a helicopter with son Jeremy.<br />
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It has been said that we are here to serve and to learn--to evolve into higher spiritual beings. If this is our truth, then Lee completed the courses, she learned her lessons well, met all the requirements and (on July 13, 2015) graduated from this living and from the encroaching and debilitating pain of brain cancer to a way that we cannot begin to understand fully. All that we have is faith and trust and (for some of us) the enlightened words of others who have written books to guide us: the Bible, Torah, Koran and others. If Lee taught us anything, Lee taught us by example to have faith and to trust. She and I talked about that a few weeks ago; we agreed that the end of our life, when we depend so much on others, teaches us humility and trust, which bolster our faith. My faith is not as strong as Lee's, but her journey has reconnected me with my own spiritual journey, and her example is helping me to let go.<br />
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<b>LETTING GO</b><br />
So now, a day after Lee's passing into that mystical world that she was anticipating with joy, we must let go of having Lee with us to talk to, to share with, laugh and cry with. Her family and friends will struggle with this loss. It will not be easy, but Lee has prepared us.<br />
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Lee has graduated. We are still here, left to finish our learning and to give with kindness and generosity--to live the heck out of this life and evolve into higher spiritual beings. Surely we will honor Lee as we do so.<br />
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<br />Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-34031705353964160272014-08-18T10:00:00.000-04:002014-08-18T10:00:07.949-04:00Beautiful SkeletonsI've always appreciated beauty. Even as a 7-year-old child who watched the sun setting on the island of <a href="http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/greek_islands/northeastern_aegean_islands/samos" target="_blank">Samos</a> in Greece, as an old man guided his donkey across the pebble beach. Even then, the beauty of that moment was not lost on me--that image is imprinted in my memory. I visit it often, and I see it now. It was striking!<br />
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This is how architecture has affected me. It can be ugly, yes, and not thoughtfully constructed, but what I prefer to focus on is how the architecture of a structure changes, as you move through it or around the exterior, and how light and weather affect and change the design. Upon visiting a city for the first time, I try to find a walking architectural tour to use as my introduction to the place. I did this in Chicago, and, while I enjoyed the history of the buildings, the memorable part was the looking up and around as I walked. A favourite photo is one that I took of a contemporary office building with mirrored windows. The reflection of an older city government building apparent in those windows made a beautiful statement for me--something about looking back as we move forward--a metaphor to stay connected to the past in a positive way.<br />
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Not long ago I watched a documentary on South Carolina ETV, <a href="http://www.aptonline.org/catalog.nsf/vLinkTitle/JOHN+PORTMAN+A+LIFE+OF+BUILDING" target="_blank">John Portman: A life of building</a>. How impressive! Never heard of him before (shame on me), but now I'm in love with so many of the beautiful images from the interiors of his buildings. I've even been in some of them, looked up and enjoyed the design changing with the light, the shadows and even with where I was emotionally in my life. A thoughtfully designed structure has a way of enveloping you when you need it, so that you feel comforted during tough times; it can make you feel as if it's moving with you, like a friend who walks beside you on a sunny sidewalk through the city one Sunday afternoon; it can even make you feel as if you're floating in space!<br />
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These images are of some of Portman's hotel interiors. So much for the eye to take in and deliver to the brain. Very pleasing. Very satisfying. The two on the bottom remind me of beautiful skeletons. Such beautiful skeletons!</div>
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For me, this beautiful documentary was satisfying visually, but it was also satisfying on another level--<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Portman,_Jr." target="_blank">John Portman</a> is a South Carolina native (yay for the local boys) who not only designed several key buildings in Atlanta's skyline, but also the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Marriott_Marquis" target="_blank">Marriott Marquis </a>hotel in NYC's Times Square. This Marriott hotel played a big role in the clean up and redirection of Times Square--the first step in the process. All sorts of metaphors in this story, skeletons and all!</div>
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Architecture can be an exquisite metaphor--the beautiful skeleton supporting life, people, activities and even emotions. If sometime you see me walking around a city's buildings with my head in the air, it's because I'm looking at the changing design of the city's structures--the patterns on the sidewalks made by a building's shadows, the geometric lacework of power lines and bridges against a sun-setting sky or even the beautiful skeletons.</div>
<br />Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-90028933049724816122014-02-18T16:26:00.000-05:002014-02-18T16:26:25.644-05:00What A Difference A Day Makes!Dinah Washington's beautiful and romantic reminder, the song, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmBxVfQTuvI" target="_blank">What A Difference A Day Makes</a>, stirs my emotions and my logic. Yes, logic. On the surface, this time-tested song is about a woman who is happy to have met a new lover, but it is about so much more, if you look beyond the immediate pop appeal and memorable tune. Logically, it's a reminder to pack joy into every new day and to put the pain and struggles of our past behind us.<br />
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Here in South Carolina, in just one week, we've experience snow, sleet, ice and an earthquake. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palm With Icicles</td></tr>
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I was attending a conference in Myrtle Beach, ready to network and learn from Monday until Wednesday and then head back home across the state. A four-hour drive made shorter by my lively playlist and the anticipation of a half-finished project that would be completed in time for my sweetheart Dewey to return home from his trip out of state for a Valentine's Day dinner. Monday was great. Even the potentially odd weather forecast (lots of snow and ice and school closings) didn't dampen plans and spirits, but <i>what a difference a day made!</i> Tuesday, the conference organizers were monitoring weather reports and speaker cancellations, finally deciding to cut short the conference by a day and give everyone time to drive home. I did not drive home. Home was now icy roads and sleet and rain and below-freezing temperatures. All of the roads on my drive home had already begun to ice over, and even ever-sunshiny Myrtle Beach was sporting icicles off the roof of the hotel, off the leaves of potted palms and all of the pool furniture. <i>What a difference a day makes! </i>Indeed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-WzxCgiBsCPqjwmyd1liy2Tld7DXVwKeJkoHunkCjggSAIag7synNSFmgjFzYozQ9FyoRswdMXXq7iHM26Uf6R69AXIU2td2dcFmYYlww17DHCoHEKuIbAgSd6w4aM6kH7XaHpciEik/s1600/sunny+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-WzxCgiBsCPqjwmyd1liy2Tld7DXVwKeJkoHunkCjggSAIag7synNSFmgjFzYozQ9FyoRswdMXXq7iHM26Uf6R69AXIU2td2dcFmYYlww17DHCoHEKuIbAgSd6w4aM6kH7XaHpciEik/s1600/sunny+day.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what the beach is supposed to look like</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The good news is that I finally made the drive home...two days after my original departure date. I also finished the project and my Dewey made it home on time. As I left Myrtle Beach, I took a little time for posting on Facebook and shared a photo of sunny skies and perky palm trees. My status update: <i>What a difference a day makes!</i><br />
<br />
Today I was reminded (AGAIN) of how important and precious each new day should be for all of us. A friend lost a friend to cancer, and she shared this quote, "Don't postpone joy". With every new day we have another opportunity to engage in and share joy. Typically, mostly, casually and absent-mindedly we engage in bitterness, fear, and regret and so many other negatives. Why do we slip away from joy so easily? What will it take for us to change? I am hopeful that we will all begin looking at each new day as a new opportunity to smile, to sing happy songs, to thank the people in our lives, to hug those closest to us, to think of sunshine and to make space in our hearts and minds for joy! No matter what happened yesterday or the day before or even 20 years ago, today is a brand new opportunity. Today is a clean slate. Today can be filled with joy! Let's do it. We know it's possible. We can begin by singing along. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmBxVfQTuvI" target="_blank">What a difference a day makes</a>!<br />
<br />
<br />Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-3887419774690370632013-08-15T11:17:00.003-04:002013-08-15T11:17:51.271-04:00Let’s Fete: Celebrating the Culture Cultivators<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ggaoJ1NITM7KHnIPNTFnv_8x9I4oSKqUTp75wLCJjFOe_mXN6I7H1p2a_dwuvit_2-mpCIedQhwE58XDt21b9YIubj-U8Yd6_9EuMBzgWwrhe6kZa4fxkxtpGgPrZmvWUWoO7-sW13I/s1600/Jack+and+Jay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ggaoJ1NITM7KHnIPNTFnv_8x9I4oSKqUTp75wLCJjFOe_mXN6I7H1p2a_dwuvit_2-mpCIedQhwE58XDt21b9YIubj-U8Yd6_9EuMBzgWwrhe6kZa4fxkxtpGgPrZmvWUWoO7-sW13I/s400/Jack+and+Jay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I suppose it
was an ordinary day in Greenville, South Carolina, about 1,095 days ago.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I suppose there was some electricity in the
air as two friends and who-knows-who-else had a casual “what if” session,
perhaps downed a local craft beer or two, did a little brainstorming and, </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">boom</b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, a <a href="http://emag.fetegreenville.com/" target="_blank">digital magazine</a> was born.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jack DelGado and Jay Spivey had birthed an
electronic culture cultivating machine and they named it </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://emag.fetegreenville.com/" target="_blank">Fete</a></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> to celebrate all things Greenville.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fete</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> (from French) is defined in various
dictionaries as <i>a party</i>, <i>a celebration</i> and even as <i>a festival</i>. In French, it refers to <i>a holiday</i> or <i>party</i>. So, kudos to Jack and Jay for finding the
appropriate name, but we can only imagine the assortment of mispronunciations,
the questioning looks and rolling of eyes that may have occurred when this new
e-mag arrived in people’s in-boxes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Fete? What is that?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“How do you
say that?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Who named this thing?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“FAY-ette? “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That was
many issues ago; many colorful stories, entertaining videos and video
“editorials” have been delivered to our in-boxes since then. We’ve learned to pronounce <i>fete </i>and we now know what it means. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://blog.fetegreenville.com/" target="_blank">Fete Greenville</a>
is celebrating 3 years of feting Greenville area activities, events, arts, story-telling
and music. For 3 years, the Fete staff
have been celebrating us. Now it’s time
to celebrate them, so let’s join hands and fete the <i>Feters</i>! Let’s celebrate
Greenville’s culture cultivators.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here’s what our favorite Feters have
been celebrating for the past 3 years:</span></b></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Amazing
artists and a growing arts community:
Thanks for promoting visual arts with 36 different artist works on all
of your 36 magazine covers! </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Theatre,
creative performers, poetry and comedy:
Thanks for helping us to discover the performing arts!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Non-profits: Thanks for donating close to $300,000 in
advertising to support our area’s non-profit organizations and events!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Fun
interactive videos: Thanks for making
advertising and news entertaining!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Live
music: Thanks for promoting local music
venues and for introducing us to cool new music!</span></li>
</ul>
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bravo, ladies and gentlemen of Fete!</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
<b><i>You done good!</i></b> (That’s
Southern, not French.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a very short and super-cool video of Fete's 3-year anniversary steel and copper logo made by Ryan Calloway of <a href="http://www.creativeironworks.net/" target="_blank">Creative Iron Works</a> in Greenville, South Carolina.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RW5qkDffa9o" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-69096634562126000132013-08-07T05:30:00.000-04:002013-08-07T05:30:00.399-04:00Let's K.I.S.S.: A Little Systems Thinking Saves Time<div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrwFvdUI-YREQYjEuDzvHQNOWG1EWV8Se2fSS8dgPgOhIzj7IA1M0c4hk97cYMAke00UO2Wao5_0gCsLoUBtTKxuVlJalb8e3HtPVu9Jn29VBuFqg0Zi4jSGd0rjjYUjLkeCHM9mM-Mg/s1600/KISS2+the+band.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrwFvdUI-YREQYjEuDzvHQNOWG1EWV8Se2fSS8dgPgOhIzj7IA1M0c4hk97cYMAke00UO2Wao5_0gCsLoUBtTKxuVlJalb8e3HtPVu9Jn29VBuFqg0Zi4jSGd0rjjYUjLkeCHM9mM-Mg/s200/KISS2+the+band.gif" width="200" /></a>No, not this KISS.</div>
<br />
How about something else? I'm talking about the acronym, K.I.S.S., which stands for Keep It Simple Stupid!<br />
<br />
Life is complicated, work is complicated, projects are complicated...or are they? Yes, I believe that our lives and work and even projects CAN be complicated. I also believe that we either allow them to be so or we make them unnecessarily so.<br />
<br />
We are told throughout our lives to stop and smell the roses. How about if, before we embark on a new phase of our lives or a new job or project, we stop and look at the big picture? Don't understand? Well, here's the <span style="color: orange;"><strong><em>biz buzzz</em></strong></span>.<br />
Everything in our professional and personal lives is part of a <a href="http://managementhelp.org/systems/#anchor5518">system</a>. We are part of a system. We are one piece in a family system, one part of a system that drives a corporation or small business and one part of a project or a relationship. Every action that we take or do not take influences these systems. Are you with me?<br />
<br />
This systems thinking seems complicated, but it's easier than you might be thinking right now. One way to KISS all this complexity is through systems-thinking. Consider this. Next time you imagine a project, stop and draw. Draw a map or a picture with words...really.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Begin by naming the project with a clear and easily understood name. Make sure it's easy for others to understand what it's all about.</li>
<li>Next, list all of the pieces, parts or components of this project. Let's look at putting a new coffee pot in the office. List: location, electrical outlet, trash can, people who drink coffee, supplies for making coffee, supplies for cleaning up and disposal of grounds, cups, sugar, cream.</li>
<li>Now, go through this list and, beside each part or word, list all of the connections. For example: Location--in reception area, in kitchen, in bathroom, in closet, by the copier, on Jane's desk, and so on.</li>
<li>What I like to do at this point is ask questions. If it goes on Jane's desk, will Jane still have room enough for her papers and work? What if someone spilled coffee on one of her papers? Does Jane even drink coffee? How far from this desk is the nearest water faucet? Is it easy to clean up here? Is it too far from other work stations?...and so on.</li>
<li>It may turn out that Jane does not drink coffee and she becomes ill when she smells coffee brewing. Wouldn't it be awful and create complications for Jane and her relationship with coffee-drinking co-workers if you put the coffee pot here? When would this surface as an issue? Perhaps Jane would say nothing and quit. Jane might think that this had been done purposefully to drive her out of the office. You may be laughing, but I'll wager you can think back to a situation similar to this one that seemed strange when it happened. Perhaps much later, a few things came to light and you realized that a difficult or complicated situation could have been avoided?</li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg684auo99a__OIDnkmqwa9zDlYoqVdirewX7VrZ9tKeShKxYnytUjTLYMxDrMeEnCHLcwgzVu7vLL2nzsd6EzHfRV3T2tm3u1wI1vsjn9YZqjytLYlQrlGF1tAL3gey4-unm3BVkOJbkA/s1600/firth+discipline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg684auo99a__OIDnkmqwa9zDlYoqVdirewX7VrZ9tKeShKxYnytUjTLYMxDrMeEnCHLcwgzVu7vLL2nzsd6EzHfRV3T2tm3u1wI1vsjn9YZqjytLYlQrlGF1tAL3gey4-unm3BVkOJbkA/s200/firth+discipline.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.systems-thinking.org/stada/stada.htm">Systems-Thinking</a> is a wonderful tool. In the early 1990s, Peter Senge helped organizations and businesses to adopt systems-thinking via his book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0385517254?tag=freemanagemen-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0385517254&adid=1X57PAAS7X57BV84DQN0&">The Fifth Discipline</a> (which is systems-thinking). The <a href="http://managementhelp.org/systems/#anchor123477">other four disciplines</a> that he recommended are: personal vision or mastery, mental models, building a shared vision and team learning.<br />
<br />
Once you begin exploring systems-thinking and develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for this tool, you'll see how useful it is when you apply it to almost every activity or potential action in your life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-72686258635624338352013-07-31T14:07:00.000-04:002013-07-31T14:25:55.029-04:00Creativity--what is it?What is creativity? Having a difficult time understanding exactly what a creative mind does? Try this.<br />
<br />
Creativity is when you take this song,<br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/LMOKlXfXn50?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
and recreate it so that it comes out like this.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1XBw3KRFlSk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Any questions?<br />
<br />Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-45977573609788396912013-04-01T15:02:00.002-04:002013-04-01T15:02:22.790-04:00Poetry: Life After TEDxGreenvilleMarch 22, 2013. A great deal of work, a few upsets, but a very satisfying feeling in the end. When the curator for the first 3 TEDxGreenville events tells you that he believes this was "the best one yet", that is a very gratifying feeling. It's also very humbling, particularly when I think of all that could have gone wrong, but that it didn't because of the good work of so many people.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitON03eDIufAoXeOFSpodcrx2_-sIEs3gLu4jG86qTr54R28UOvN9G8tJPZu2Ay72cG4duaSgr-vrkhsQ0xA1SmDlPr23LIxfP-70tfhsyy8B700y6GP_M2a3eQiulc-wZ534JVh9A4o/s1600/Russell+and+Despina+March+22+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitON03eDIufAoXeOFSpodcrx2_-sIEs3gLu4jG86qTr54R28UOvN9G8tJPZu2Ay72cG4duaSgr-vrkhsQ0xA1SmDlPr23LIxfP-70tfhsyy8B700y6GP_M2a3eQiulc-wZ534JVh9A4o/s400/Russell+and+Despina+March+22+2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
First, I think of Russell Stall (to my right in the photo), director of Greenville Forward, a kind person who thought that it was a natural fit for his organization to shepherd TEDxGreenville through a transition of leadership and a growth spurt. A good fit, but so much more work than he bargained for, I'm sure. Then I think of the many months of work crammed in between home and work that all of the members of the Program and Interactive teams contributed to our success. Without these people and their creativity and dedication, our content would not have been of the caliber that it was, engaging people during breaks as well as time in the theatre. Of course, I try to remember that a great event in it's fourth year is only as good as the work of so many others who started it and grew it for the 3 years before we came along. Let me not forget, also, the commitment of others on our Planning team who nudged the sponsor funding along, who managed marketing, AV and volunteer coordination. A good event made very special by the contributions of so many. Thanks to all!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiXl17K2U2Fglhf2RxIFSOCSeLvsSXc9w-43T1_27f_Nj6tVoBwbnwiNvY5pE6teVAuIKHS65XNzPXM23tILjpyT4m1UEfKH9S-2VM_mVfotLpSK6kjpTIWZ58IuM_6OU-QAey9pJ8Z0/s1600/Program+Team+Closer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiXl17K2U2Fglhf2RxIFSOCSeLvsSXc9w-43T1_27f_Nj6tVoBwbnwiNvY5pE6teVAuIKHS65XNzPXM23tILjpyT4m1UEfKH9S-2VM_mVfotLpSK6kjpTIWZ58IuM_6OU-QAey9pJ8Z0/s400/Program+Team+Closer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The team that did so much, working from July until early December to research nominees, interview finalists and decide who made it on the stage this year: Keith Smith, Jennifer Oladipo, Ana Parra, Patrick Mieritz, Jawana Sihra-Leach, Marc Bolick and two not in the photo, Eddie Smith and Rob Green.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJgx8TA85wssHMJuhW0kMmfdSPq6YKJTPcIChZX1CQBWcSnD4Cswg-OVuvQieCtjilffawF1P_BiixbrSaIOF01uvZYFjHUCpH6Y_4OcfKKW8XeDCMr3fn8gRkF76Xgaqxd6wyyw2PWk/s1600/Interactive+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJgx8TA85wssHMJuhW0kMmfdSPq6YKJTPcIChZX1CQBWcSnD4Cswg-OVuvQieCtjilffawF1P_BiixbrSaIOF01uvZYFjHUCpH6Y_4OcfKKW8XeDCMr3fn8gRkF76Xgaqxd6wyyw2PWk/s400/Interactive+close+up.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Interactive activities, anyone? These are the fine folks who dreamed it and then made it happen, including an art director, architect, designer a web developer and a couple of those people who do too much for their own good: Phil McCreight, Lisa Corley, Jason Pleakis, Bridget Kirkland, Joel Van Dyke, Tanya Thompson, Joel McCreight and (not pictured) John Digney & Tim March.<br />
<br />
Now, a week later, what to do? Now we try to dash off one poem for each day in April. Yes, April is National Poetry Month and this is my 3rd year of attempting to write one poem a day. It's a personal challenge, which proved to be too challenging last year. This is the first year in which I actually begin on April Fool's Day! Let's see what my observations and creativity can assist me in concocting today. Won't you join me on this journey of a fool that I'm on? "A poem a day! Who was the fool who dreamed this up?"<br />
<br />Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-78100860559518807962013-02-17T10:30:00.001-05:002013-02-17T10:30:22.535-05:00Love x 14 = real connections<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXPbVRmmVTC7su5GrwqmKMXJLr7PuLYXcoAuRky1XA2GvBStQRzQjUZPiQdc-aaUU1FKVzdIwlF1ZlS9cx1cN3EETW1tvz5S-OFTWdBek08X5b5l5JizAS8jq-pKJdoWLaRwJSrxY7V8/s1600/0213131534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXPbVRmmVTC7su5GrwqmKMXJLr7PuLYXcoAuRky1XA2GvBStQRzQjUZPiQdc-aaUU1FKVzdIwlF1ZlS9cx1cN3EETW1tvz5S-OFTWdBek08X5b5l5JizAS8jq-pKJdoWLaRwJSrxY7V8/s400/0213131534.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Custom Valentine For Granddaughters, Corley and Olivia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Occasionally we stumble upon some little idea which manages to make big things appear (or reappear) in our lives. This month I read a tweet by <a href="http://www.brainsonfire.com/individuals/view/amy_taylor/" target="_blank">Amy Taylor</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/brainsonfire" target="_blank">Brains of Fire</a>. @NoMeatballs (Amy's twitter handle) had a teeny idea. She was going to do things in a very back-to-the-future way. Idea: Take time to focus on 14 special friends and create a custom valentine for them. One card per person. One meditation per person. One break at a time stolen from our hurry-up-and-hurry world.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XoRVIYKULnUBjwzd4hEiqqdSBZ6xjwCgUIPTgpP1J-8gQgPbvkgktPddjCtnXlsWNDf1K3JelxxrpWIyWoX8E1bbM22jHplYQvc53SOkw8Wnh6ysrGBfvk5z2EHZlGXRmIf5drneYMk/s1600/LOVEx14+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XoRVIYKULnUBjwzd4hEiqqdSBZ6xjwCgUIPTgpP1J-8gQgPbvkgktPddjCtnXlsWNDf1K3JelxxrpWIyWoX8E1bbM22jHplYQvc53SOkw8Wnh6ysrGBfvk5z2EHZlGXRmIf5drneYMk/s200/LOVEx14+3.PNG" width="200" /></a>Bravo, Amy. As usual, the "little things", when fully realized, became THE BIG THINGS.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOg6nKRzskww7nYRVKt0ocX_jk1ISX8tVSHrSEYTBkfQr6NsuY61NCLvIJwqE6ik-LDlA1DfGvFjp31spa5OifrCvvi23lgoyOr57j977dBDrODRgOJyn5OhW0rRMD1HNTl_4ER8TDgA/s1600/LOVEx14+4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOg6nKRzskww7nYRVKt0ocX_jk1ISX8tVSHrSEYTBkfQr6NsuY61NCLvIJwqE6ik-LDlA1DfGvFjp31spa5OifrCvvi23lgoyOr57j977dBDrODRgOJyn5OhW0rRMD1HNTl_4ER8TDgA/s200/LOVEx14+4.PNG" width="200" /></a>For each of the friends that I sent my cards to, I want you all to know that as I worked on your valentine I thought about you and who you are to me in my life. I meditated on who I see you as, what might be important to you in your life or perhaps an experience that we've shared. I wondered about which Sharpies I would use to craft your custom valentine and I thought of you smiling and maybe shrieking with delight when you opened your gift.<br />
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Amy's <a href="http://goodpeopleofearth.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/join-in-the-lovex14-project-for-valentines-day/" target="_blank">#Lovex14</a> project was small this year. Next year it will be BIG, I am convinced of this. Why don't you connect with <a href="https://twitter.com/NoMeatballs" target="_blank">@NoMeatballs</a> now, and get ahead of the big swarm of activity for next year's Valentines Day?Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-19837522460030556752012-12-26T10:49:00.002-05:002012-12-26T13:24:08.081-05:00Surviving the BetweenersIn these days between the big celebrations--in this ordinary filling between the crusty, crunchy focaccia-style deliciousness of Christmas and New Year's Eve partying--it is often easy to fall into a slump. You'd think that we'd be happy for the break, but it's tough to return to the daily decision-making of work. It's difficult to move so quickly from the happy rhythm of celebrations to the dull thumping of the last few days of responsibility of our current year.<br />
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Sometimes, during <i>the betweeners</i>, the internet helps in connecting us to lovely medicine, some simple something from the mind of a wordsmith like <a href="http://www.jason-howard.com/bio.html" target="_blank">Jason Howard</a>, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Few-Honest-Words-Kentucky-Popular/dp/0813136458/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356534470&sr=1-1&keywords=a+few+honest+words+the+kentucky+roots+of+popular+music" target="_blank">A Few Honest Word</a>s. In his <a href="http://www.jason-howard.com/blog.html" target="_blank">blog</a>, he lists a smattering of his most-loved music of 2012.<br />
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One of the recommendations of his that I particularly like is <i>Old Believers</i>--Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons. What a treat on my first day back to work!<br />
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If the musical recommendations don't raise your spirits, try Jason's book, A Few Honest Words: The Kentucky Roots of Popular Music, which is a lovely read. Enjoy the well-crafted introduction and then read the interviews and stories of several of Kentucky's musical sons and daughters in any order that you wish, sort of like a CD of personal stories. I read this book at home and at music festivals, enjoying it on the sofa with a cup of tea or under a tree with live music playing and ants wandering in and out and over the leaves around my shoes. I can recommend it as an enjoyable experience in either setting, but there is something poetic in reading this book at a music festival, I must admit.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading at Albino Skunk Music Festival</td></tr>
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Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-71254296376102562292012-10-23T13:12:00.000-04:002012-10-23T13:12:10.575-04:00Fun (book) FestivalA monster, music, creative people, writing workshops and a bunch o' books. Recipe for confusion or recipe for success? Success, of course! Such is the stuff that the<a href="http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2012/index.php" target="_blank"> AJC Decatur Book Festival</a> is made of. No snails and puppy dog tails here, but you may rub shoulders with Pulitzer Prize-winning authors and even share a drink with<a href="http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2012/09/white-truffles-in-winter-by-nm-kelby.html" target="_blank"> PASTE magazine's books editor</a>, Charles McNair.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowd building for poetry slam at Java Monkey</td></tr>
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My husband Dewey and I have been enjoying the fruits of the Atlanta Journal Constitution's labor for three years in a row. It's a given--every Labor Day weekend will be time well-spent in Decatur, Georgia, for three days of literary fun and exploration.<br />
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Between Bookzilla, the festival's monstrously large mascot, and Monday, the working man and woman's day off, are:<br />
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<li>Friday's writing workshops, which are free and open to the public. In the morning, there are sessions at SCAD's Atlanta facility, and in the afternoon, workshops and a keyonote at Decatur's Agnes Scott College.</li>
<li>Saturday is filled with talks, readings, book signings and other creative literary events, such as Atlanta's story-telling group, Carapace, offering 3 story-tellers around a theme like 20-eleven's "A Room of One's Own" by Virginia Wolf or singer-songwriter, Rodney Crowell's performance of songs from his collaboration CD of songs written with writer, Mary Karr.</li>
<li>Sunday is a slower day of surprises and more of what you experienced on Saturday, if you have room to absorb more.</li>
<li>Oh, and then there are the delicious and refreshing breaks drinking beer in any of the town square's inviting and cozy eating spots.</li>
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THIS, my friends, is the festival for all of the cool, fun-loving book nerds. The organizers are so creative. For example, in this election year you can even vote for <a href="http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2012/bookzilla/vote.php" target="_blank">Bookzilla</a>, the festival's mascot, for president!</div>
Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-55726904435761682012-07-31T16:11:00.000-04:002012-08-01T07:25:06.421-04:00Blow Your Mind!I'm addicted to people, music, kindness, helping others and watching reruns of NCIS. I love a good book, I am grateful for the quiet time in the outdoors--it never fails to ignite my ability to write--and I really dig dirt! What I mean is, I really enjoy gardening. C'mon, you didn't really fall for that, did you?<br />
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When people come together around a meal that I've prepared, when we raise our glasses in gratitude to the heavens, when we listen to a new song or discuss a book we've read or when we sit around a fire on a cold night, that's when I cannot imagine that life on any other realm could be as sweet or as satisfying. The truth is, however, that--gasp--it can get better and there are new flavors to try. You just have to know where to go and your life is automatically revved up!<br />
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One such place is TED--not the man, the annual idea-generating machine in Long Beach, California. TED and its offspring, all the little TEDx events around the world, are sparks of energy that just blow my mind. If you've never listened to a <a href="http://ted.com/">TED.com</a> talk, or attended a TEDx event, then you're missing the opportunity to blow your mind with Ideas Worth Spreading.<br />
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It's not too late, so if you're curious and close to Greenville, South Carolina, visit <a href="http://www.tedxgreenville.org/">www.TEDxGreenville.org</a> and see what it's all about. You can sample talks from the 2010, 2011 and 2012 events and keep an ear to the ground for the date for 2013. Go ahead--risk it. It will blow your mind!Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-71133165669124949332012-06-11T16:01:00.000-04:002016-01-13T15:54:17.480-05:00Do friends matter?<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me (on the phone) Walter and Esther (far left at the door) Drawing by yet another good friend.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Walter Hill, 64, of 505 Willowbrook Road, died Nov. 10, 2010 at Self Regional Medical Center after a courageous 6-year battle with Cancer.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">He spent his final hours of life with his devoted wife and daughter by his side. Walter was well known and loved by many. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Walter was born on Sept. 22, 1946 to the late Cora Lee Hill and Sullivan "Sute" Hill of Greenwood. He is survived by a wife, Eddie Mae Hill of the home; a daughter, Andrea Hill-Freeman, son-in-law Eddie </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Shawn) Freeman of Greenwood; a son, Walter L. Hill of Georgia; a brother, Sullivan Hill Jr. and wife Rochelle Hill of North Carolina; a brother, Stanley Hill of Greenwood; four grandchildren, Andrew Martin, Anthony Martin, Aaron Freeman of Greenwood and E-Myah Hendrix of Atlanta. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">He was a retiree of Piedmont Technical College.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">He was a member of The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Hodges, SC. He devoted his life to sharing all the wonderful things he learned from God's Word, the life-giving good news of God's Kingdom. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">At his request, no formal service will be held. Friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010, 3 p.m. at The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Hodges, SC, at the corner of Highway 246 and Conner Road.</span></blockquote>
A man dies. If you haven't seen him in several years, do you mourn? Does this friend matter?<br />
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Walter Hill was a happy man. He smiled big and he laughed loud. He embraced family, his faith, being kind, helping others, having fun and working to correct the mistakes he'd made in his life.<br />
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Walter was practical and he was a good friend.<br />
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Esther was a good friend of mine too. She passed away many years ago. She worked in a volunteer position at The Museum-Greenwood, where Walter and I worked. Walter was the janitor and I was the director. All three of us were friends. Together, we laughed, coached each other through hardships and worked to advance The Museum in our community of Greenwood, South Carolina.<br />
Three people from three different cultures merged in Greenwood and I was one of them. I am richer now in my development as a human being, through the contact I had with Esther and Walter.<br />
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There were others during my time at The Museum: Fred Schlein, the first director, who mentored me through my initial role as the executive assistant to being named his successor, upon his retirement. What a kind and devoted friend, and as supportive as any good father. Alan MacTaggart, Board member at The Museum and supporter of my creative ideas for growing membership and attendance; Wilson Hayes, honorary curator at The Museum. He and his wife Pansy supported me in my museum work and helped me during major transitions in my life, especially during times of few resources. And there were more. Just a sampling here, of people who became my friends through our connection at work. They've all departed this life.<br />
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"Gone, but not forgotten", that's what we say, but is it true? For me, it's true! All of these people, and the others who are not mentioned here, were in my life and now in my heart and in some of my most cherished memories. These friends mattered. They matter still.Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-28995619381088666542012-04-24T07:00:00.000-04:002012-05-03T15:43:30.632-04:00Taste a little...poetry to feed your soul.Towards the end of last year, my husband and I got to enjoy our second year of the AJC (Atlanta Journal Constitution) <a href="http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/Community/About-the-Festival/">Decatur Book Festival</a> in one of Atlanta's loveliest neighborhoods, Decatur. <br />
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Performers, story-tellers, poets, writers and, yes, even a monster entertained us at this annual book-lovers' book buffet. At this, the largest independent book festival in the U.S., we've struggled (at times) to decide which event or activity to attend over another. While <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Franzen/e/B00458HQ7S">Jonathan Franzen</a> spoke at the 2010 event and Decemberists lead singer, <a href="http://decemberists.com/about/colin-meloy/">Colin Meloy</a> spoke about his <a href="http://www.wildwoodchronicles.com/">new book</a> at the 2011 event, my favourite memories are of less anticipated experiences. The highlight of our 2010 visit to the festival was sitting in a S.R.O. packed <a href="http://www.eddiesattic.com/">Eddie's Attic</a> for the story-telling a la <a href="http://themoth.org/">Moth</a>. Entertaining x 100! For our 2011 visit to the festival, we were treated to the antics of writers at a <a href="http://writeclubrules.com/">Write Club</a> match. What hilarity! It's difficult to imagine that a literary event can also be as much fun as a barrel of monkeys, but in this setting, it "soitanly" can be! <br />
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Sometimes, the memorable presentation is not fun, but equally energizing. Last year poet, <a href="http://www.jerichobrown.com/tracks.html">Jericho Brown</a>, gave a reading that had us completely engaged and poised to absorb every new word or line from the author's mouth. Once again at Eddie's Attic, Brown gave a brilliant reading, which (for me) was icing on my poetic plate. I had participated in his poetry-writing workshop at the beginning of the festival, one day earlier. To hear him offer his words at the reading...sigh! Painful and beautiful sentiments and experiences brought to life in one of Atlanta's coolest music-listening rooms, courtesy of Jericho Brown's lovely brown soul.<br />
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Looking forward to the 2012 festival and to the events that will make my Labor Day weekend in Atlanta better than award-winning barbecue hot and spicy in my mouth. Mm-mmm-good!Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-75493640317605596262012-04-19T12:38:00.000-04:002012-04-20T13:52:44.971-04:00TEDxGreenville: BreakthroughIn <a href="http://www.greenvillesc.gov/">Greenville</a>, South Carolina, things are happening! People are dreaming and creating, technology is spreading and people are on the move, shaping their ideas to life. One example of this dreaming, creativity and technology coming together is <a href="http://www.tedxgreenville.org/">TEDxGreenville</a>, an independently organized event, designed to offer a local community a <a href="http://www.ted.com/">TED</a>-like experience.<br />
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For the last two of these events, I've been fortunate to help shape the offering of presenters through my contributions and time on the Program Team, which researches, reviews and selects individual speakers and performers to present their Idea Worth Spreading to the Greenville TEDx audience. It's always a draining but deeply satisfying experience. Even better, however, is sitting in the audience and taking it all in.<br />
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This year, one of our presenter's was <a href="http://www.glenisredmond.com/">Glenis Redmond</a>, a beautiful lady with an equally beautiful spirit. Glenis is a nationally recognized and awarded poet. She spoke about Poetry as Healer.<br />
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Glenis is a Southeast Regional Individual Poetry Slam Champion and twice has placed in the top ten at the National Individual Slam Championship.<br />
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Now if this talk doesn't inspire you to seek out poetry for your personal healing, then rewind and pay attention to Glenis at the end. She says, "If you don't have poetry in your life, then get you some." Excellent advice!Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-20399488358029009312011-06-15T10:49:00.001-04:002011-06-15T10:52:27.753-04:00The one-month poetry challenge that took almost three months to finish!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingYTJJbcncdYNq7Ie-9LTQbwXoX5ZEdQ8tIQnOHi7MoSnF9QHpKYPQ0dRfVF3Ks4wxacDkDxUoCWYIlbd-5rQ_DLumLCFXkqt9wkfGr9badQ8OtWeqqGUe47Q5oJkdEkW_cLl_43md28/s1600/TED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingYTJJbcncdYNq7Ie-9LTQbwXoX5ZEdQ8tIQnOHi7MoSnF9QHpKYPQ0dRfVF3Ks4wxacDkDxUoCWYIlbd-5rQ_DLumLCFXkqt9wkfGr9badQ8OtWeqqGUe47Q5oJkdEkW_cLl_43md28/s320/TED.jpg" t8="true" width="320px" /></a>Done! It's done! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you've been following along lately, you'll know that I gave myself a challenge in April to write one poem per day. It was a concentrated effort in the beginning, because I had to write several poems just to catch up with the month. I started on the sixth day of April, so I had to find six poems. I found the six poems (or they found me), and I found all of the remaining 24. I had a great time and forced a little discipline into my writing.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>While I managed to write one poem per day (mostly), I struggled with finding the time to post them. Today I have completed the posting of the poems. You can visit the <a href="http://alphafemalemind.blogspot.com/p/national-poetry-month-2011.html">poetry challenge page</a> to read 29 of my 30 poems. When you reach the bottom of the page, you will see a link to the 30th poem, <strong>Movement</strong>, which is posted on my facebook page. <strong><span style="color: #990000;">I invite you to click on the link, read the poem and add your own line</span></strong>. I also encourage you to invite your friends to add a line.<br />
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Challenge over. There, see, Despina--it wasn't so bad, after all.Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-41331798323552982782011-04-19T10:55:00.003-04:002011-04-19T17:12:42.093-04:00Kay Ryan & Conrad Aiken & the PulitzerYesterday, the 2011 Pulitzer Prize recipients were announced. A new poet for me to study, <a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/kay-ryan">Kay Ryan</a>, was awarded the prize for poetry. She's been around and writing for a while (1983), she served as U.S. Poet Laureate from 2008 to 2010, but not until now in her 65th year, is she awarded an international prize. This stuff takes some time, folks! Here, for you enjoyment, is a link to her poem, <a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/172275">A Hundred Bolts of Satin</a>.<br />
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In 1930, Conrad Aiken won his <a href="http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1930">Pulitzer</a> for poetry. I am familiar with the work of Aiken and I am inspired by some of his work. Yesterday, a friend shared with me an interview with Aiken that was published by <a href="http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/4283/the-art-of-poetry-no-9-conrad-aiken">The Paris Review</a>. This is a quote, which reminds me of my self-appointed <a href="http://alphafemalemind.blogspot.com/p/national-poetry-month-2011.html">poem-a-day challenge</a> for this month. It is a reminder that the drudgery of trying to push it out every day, no matter what it is that you do, can be useful. Don't give up!<br />
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<blockquote>Yes. I compelled myself all through to write an exercise in verse, in a different form, every day of the year. I turned out my page every day, of some sort—I mean I didn’t give a damn about the meaning, I just wanted to master the form—all the way from free verse, Walt Whitman, to the most elaborate of villanelles and ballad forms. Very good training. I’ve always told everybody who has ever come to me that I thought that was the first thing to do. And to study all the vowel effects and all the consonant effects and the variation in vowel sounds. For example, I gave Malcolm Lowry an exercise to do at Cuernavaca, of writing ten lines of blank verse with the caesura changing one step in each line. Going forward, you see, and then reversing on itself.<br />
INTERVIEWER<br />
How did Lowry take to these exercises<br />
AIKEN<br />
Superbly. I still have a group of them sent to me at his rented house in Cuernavaca, sent to me by hand from the bar with a request for money, and in the form of a letter—and unfortunately not used in his collected letters; very fine, and very funny. As an example of his attention to vowel sounds, one line still haunts me: “Airplane or aeroplane, or just plain plane.” Couldn’t be better.<br />
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</blockquote>Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-36959819660944708862011-04-13T17:51:00.002-04:002011-04-14T21:34:51.034-04:00Symmetry in a poem?<a href="http://poetrywithmathematics.blogspot.com/2010/11/symmetric-stanza.html">Lewis Carroll</a> wrote a poem--a square poem. It's only a few lines and it is not remarkable as a poem, except for the way that it reads. It's written symmetrically, so that you can read it from left to right and top to bottom. Now, that is remarkable! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNc3tODt9UZzAXdge_aVKewPk8zxQmwE1x1XgfrTkqP3z4EqDlB4a_trv-ffxDf_NYHDW4CIrD0ZPTLN-GRw6pL1QKjZ4_U1nxpjAw6D-LLH7oImWcLYAT_Ys8L1VQNYaU14bUGyLSHyA/s1600/2009-05-18-square-stanza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNc3tODt9UZzAXdge_aVKewPk8zxQmwE1x1XgfrTkqP3z4EqDlB4a_trv-ffxDf_NYHDW4CIrD0ZPTLN-GRw6pL1QKjZ4_U1nxpjAw6D-LLH7oImWcLYAT_Ys8L1VQNYaU14bUGyLSHyA/s320/2009-05-18-square-stanza.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is not an easy thing to duplicate. I've been working for several days on my own symmetrical poem, as part of my one-poem-a-day challenge. Perhaps you'd like to try to write one too?Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-82147252888308753702011-04-10T21:54:00.001-04:002011-04-10T21:56:50.063-04:00Day 10 and I'm StrugglingToday was the final day of the 75th Masters golf tournament.<br />
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Some people, and I used to be one of them, find golf uninspiring--plain boring. Other people, me included now, find golf amazing. The skill, the tenacity, the mental discipline that a player must have, in order to make it to the top, well it's just unbelievable. Certainly, that kind of discipline is beyond me at this time in my life, but it's also one of the reasons I gave myself this poem-a-day challenge.<br />
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How am I doing? I am struggling to balance the rest of my life with the discipline of writing one poem every day, but I do find inspiration in the golfers who made it to the leader board in today's Masters game. There was Tiger Wood who was failing yesterday. When the game was over, this guy went back to practice his putting! Today his discipline showed. He finished fourth in a very close game. There was Rory McIlroy--just a kid--who led this entire tournament for three days! Three days!!! Today, he did poorly from the beginning, but the kid didn't quit, and when he was interviewed he spoke with wisdom and maturity. WTG, Rory! Then there was this guy from South Africa, Charle Schwartzel, who was barely noticed in the first three days and he wins! He wins with a 14 under par, which is quite amazing.<br />
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So, I look at these golfers and say to myself, keep writing. I am writing. Maybe by the last week of April I'll be 14 poems ahead. Let's see.Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-15745534468987988042011-04-07T10:58:00.000-04:002011-04-07T10:58:46.700-04:00Poem number 6 on day 7: The Day Lyle Lovett Came to TownOn the last weekend of April, my husband and I head to Wilkesboro, North Carolina, for one of the most wonderful music festivals in the country, MerleFest, which honors the memory and musical accomplishments of Doc Watson’s son Merle Watson. This year, any day now, Lyle Lovett will be heading to Wilkesboro to perform at MerleFest. I wondered what it might be like, the day he comes to town. <a href="http://alphafemalemind.blogspot.com/p/national-poetry-month-2011.html">The Poem</a>...<br />
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If you’re not familiar with his musical style, you may want to watch this video of Lyle Lovett singing, “That’s Right, You’re Not from Texas”.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KQoXnz3h_FE" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-27984343495051345532011-04-06T14:50:00.001-04:002011-04-06T14:52:02.193-04:00April is National Poetry Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpra2ihz5bVbLxLCmumhwHUalrA6HhPxudb3FIKBo30ZkyrPwwVm66Yx1REWdKvPPaeBVwyvaw_FYuqJyvtEyCG9XiZOzeoWHh7lDh1pb0_pwiMqlXxoYsly4snQ-xRX7E70wXeCx9Hb0/s1600/fire+sofa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpra2ihz5bVbLxLCmumhwHUalrA6HhPxudb3FIKBo30ZkyrPwwVm66Yx1REWdKvPPaeBVwyvaw_FYuqJyvtEyCG9XiZOzeoWHh7lDh1pb0_pwiMqlXxoYsly4snQ-xRX7E70wXeCx9Hb0/s320/fire+sofa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yes, National Poetry Month, and I'm a little late getting started, but I'm going to <a href="http://alphafemalemind.blogspot.com/p/national-poetry-month-2011.html">challenge myself to write one poem a day.</a> Today is the sixth day of April, so I'm spending a little time catching up. I've got three to share with you so far (it's only 1:45 pm) and the other three will come later today. All three poems were inspired by photos created by the talented Greenville (SC) photographer, <a href="http://www.iancurcio.com/">Ian Curcio</a>, who spoke recently at TEDxGreenville about letting go of the desire for technical perfection in photography and just taking the photos or capturing a feeling. This is a photo that Ian created for the rock band, <a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/avacantsoul">A Vacant Soul</a>. It's hot, isn't it? (Are you smiling?)<this is="" smile="" where="" you=""><br />
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See what you think. I hope you'll share in the conversation.Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-71334823289427034332010-09-13T23:06:00.002-04:002010-09-13T23:18:59.287-04:00The Decatur Book Festival: Variation on a theme<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitK1pyUx34e4-qnRRPuQjPjzm2iFGI2WgEhn0yXi1DJQokXu5TCflx2CDmkmgzJF66dfJTx3g_LSdiU5wQ9Gc30gYnNS-GgXWsDuFPU0v0-EsGZFRLvASf2TXkVzO96s5JppeQQCVDcSM/s1600/Bookzilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitK1pyUx34e4-qnRRPuQjPjzm2iFGI2WgEhn0yXi1DJQokXu5TCflx2CDmkmgzJF66dfJTx3g_LSdiU5wQ9Gc30gYnNS-GgXWsDuFPU0v0-EsGZFRLvASf2TXkVzO96s5JppeQQCVDcSM/s320/Bookzilla.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bookzilla grunts, "BOOOOKS"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Labor Day Weekend 2010: A couple of days filled with beer, barbeque, the great outdoors and lots of chillin’ out. An extra day off for those of us who labor for five days out of all but a few weeks of every year of our working lives. <br />
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In Atlanta, five years ago, the folks of the well-read and well-written Atlanta Journal-constitution decided to sponsor the first ever Decatur Book Festival. Now, five festivals later, Decatur (one of Atlanta’s thriving arts neighborhoods) is still hosting what has become the largest independent book festival in the country.<br />
Labor Day. Book Festival. Whoever it was who was drinking that night five or so years ago and said, “Hey, let’s take the barbeque out of the Labor Day equation and replace it with books,” thank you. This new equation really rocks!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyDz4K0051vynnGfVR1EDzGr0YF4H0naVssfXHA41w3Nb_ycy6mt6i7pNNTRG1rPAF0-w2v1-wQxli_DuPIGrRHyBkK26o-WniYRfSBTtne4Uno_tCbhqaz1nYzk7WZqIFpQ9U2rCO4c/s1600/DBF+Alice+Shapiro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyDz4K0051vynnGfVR1EDzGr0YF4H0naVssfXHA41w3Nb_ycy6mt6i7pNNTRG1rPAF0-w2v1-wQxli_DuPIGrRHyBkK26o-WniYRfSBTtne4Uno_tCbhqaz1nYzk7WZqIFpQ9U2rCO4c/s200/DBF+Alice+Shapiro.jpg" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting with poet, Alice Shapiro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Decatur’s town square and old-fashioned community feel is <em>the spot that hits the spot</em> for such a festival. With established and successful venues within reasonable walking distance of the town square, the festival supports poetry and prose readings, keynote presentations by internationally-recognized authors, an emerging authors stage, a fun and lively children’s stage, and good ol’ Southern-style story telling with enough room for a kids’ parade and a gigantic blow-up version of the festival mascot, BookZilla! Agnes Scott College hosted writing workshops and the keynote address by Jonathan Franzen; the popular coffeehouse, Java Monkey, featured surprisingly avant-garde poetry readings and Eddie’s Attic staged all-day events highlighted by a story telling session in the style of NYC’s non-profit, The Moth, and a singer-songwriter gathering around the stories and life of Eudora Welty. Famous in the folk and Americana music circles, Kate Campbell, Claire Holley and Atlanta’s own Caroline Herring shared conversation and some of their songs to a happily-packed house.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>In the midst of and surrounding all of this fun and more, were booths galore (over 600) filled with books and authors and publishers and independent bookstores. Some activities were indoors, but most were outdoors, in keeping with the traditional Labor Day holiday setting.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzciIUHf_RF0oN6VkuyawABaZl6NXp56jsVMa8hkDZFZWwXCXbMDx3PAn8LY9YKbmxxJcPHo3WuZ84f_KD631Jyy0cD-4qVvQpMn38-LuOgvURy78DwrDO4GfBhXImreFVsAARIuxop_w/s1600/DBF+Street+Music+Fishnet+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzciIUHf_RF0oN6VkuyawABaZl6NXp56jsVMa8hkDZFZWwXCXbMDx3PAn8LY9YKbmxxJcPHo3WuZ84f_KD631Jyy0cD-4qVvQpMn38-LuOgvURy78DwrDO4GfBhXImreFVsAARIuxop_w/s320/DBF+Street+Music+Fishnet+II.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So how does the beer fit into this new equation? It’s the location, location, location. Another plus for having the festival in Decatur is that the square is surrounded by a variety of restaurants, pubs and outdoor cafes to feed and whet the whistle of this year’s 70,000 plus festival attendees.<br />
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Choose from Eddie’s Attic with their burgers and sweet potato fries at the Rooftop Grill; the culinary cutting edge tapas for a midnight snack at The Iberian Pig; a cup of fancy Joe or a glass of wine at The Java Monkey or just a pint (or two) of some of the best hand-crafted beers in the country at the Brick Store Pub. Oh, and while you’re sitting under the umbrellas at the pub, you may be lucky enough to see a fishnet stocking-wearing unicyclist accompanied by a Poirot-like-mustachioed accordion player.<br />
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Now THAT is not your typical Labor Day weekend, but it’s one heck of a great variation on a theme!<br />
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<strong>A few links for planning your next Labor Day weekend at the Decatur Book Festival:</strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/">http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.brickstorepub.com/history/">http://www.brickstorepub.com/history/</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.eddiesattic.com/AbouttheAttic/tabid/82/Default.aspx">http://www.eddiesattic.com/AbouttheAttic/tabid/82/Default.aspx</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.iberianpigatl.com/kitchen.html">http://www.iberianpigatl.com/kitchen.html</a> (pork cheek tacos--yuummm)<br />
<a href="http://www.javamonkeydecatur.com/">http://www.javamonkeydecatur.com/</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_ced_sdsguide.aspx">http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_ced_sdsguide.aspx</a>Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-49620112518050484132010-05-11T14:37:00.008-04:002010-05-11T21:07:02.292-04:00Patchwork River--Second Hunter Lauderdale Collaboration<blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmOk24dqYkfGsF0rZctnLVJqACR_aH_dIjPObXZCq98PMbczN4HE3Qzip5zWIOn30x9zetvwqeCQpmRAQmfP7AsrO5N_PAZnXuZn1qu89WkgTiT1e38Cd_2Jh_ZkWTe5LEDcITE4fgHQ/s1600/full_77321.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470106094570708450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmOk24dqYkfGsF0rZctnLVJqACR_aH_dIjPObXZCq98PMbczN4HE3Qzip5zWIOn30x9zetvwqeCQpmRAQmfP7AsrO5N_PAZnXuZn1qu89WkgTiT1e38Cd_2Jh_ZkWTe5LEDcITE4fgHQ/s320/full_77321.jpg" border="0" /></a></blockquote><p>Former Grateful Dead lyricist, <a href="http://www.dead.net/band/robert-hunter">Robert Hunter</a>, has partnered with twice-Grammy-award-winning singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale for the second time. And, for the second time, the team offer us an opportunity to take a <a href="http://jimlauderdale.com/index.htm?id=17552">musical journey</a> through life mostly lived and now remembered--romance, regrets, love, questions unanswered, dreams not realized and an assortment of memories gathered in the quest of living life to the fullest.<br /><br />Somehow, I always get the feeling that Robert Hunter is teaching us about history and the American culture in his lyrics. A man who loves the work of Rilke, and who has even managed a rhyming translation of some of <a href="http://www.hunterarchive.com/files/Poetry/Elegies/Duino_Elegies.html">Rilke's</a> work doesn't just write songs that fill the spaces between the notes. That kind of writer has something bigger to say; if you pay attention, you'll get all of the lessons and you'll garner yourself a gold star for effort.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZXA6kyYZn85j5j44Wn-5hB5FZaZBH7qCyUyIsaFI7gqEDlsQTAlm9fF0_X87d8U__oqAqWW8F0q7QmNVmDn6o8MVrWEVOV36rVS87jxXoA-99W3QyvHSPnfgL6vx7uCf72C-7uSYXdE/s1600/Jim+Lauderdale.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470111061583906978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZXA6kyYZn85j5j44Wn-5hB5FZaZBH7qCyUyIsaFI7gqEDlsQTAlm9fF0_X87d8U__oqAqWW8F0q7QmNVmDn6o8MVrWEVOV36rVS87jxXoA-99W3QyvHSPnfgL6vx7uCf72C-7uSYXdE/s320/Jim+Lauderdale.JPG" border="0" /></a>However, the greatest reward for going on this journey through Patchwork River is listening to Lauderdale's singing.<br /><br />If you're used to his Grammy-award-winning bluegrass singing, you'll be surprised to hear Jim's delivery of the blues-like knockout, "Alligator Alley". It will slide right by you, if you don't pay attention, so <em>pay attention</em>. How about the humorous "Turn To Stone" with a chorus you'll want to sing along to, while you chuckle about your own teen-aged experiences with trying to talk to someone that you were infatuated with? Having heard Lauderdale sing this one live at one of his 2010 Merlefest performances, I can attest to the addictive quality of the chorus. I sang along all the way through!<br /><br />There are also several slower waltzes on the new CD. Try "Good Together", "Tall Eyes", "Far In the Far Away" and my personal favorite "Between Your Heart and Mine" with your special someone. But don't let the music carry you away--the lyrics are all about life lessons and might hit home with those of us who've lived a few years past the newlywed years.<br /><br />In their first collaboration, "Headed For the Hills", it was the musicianship that stood out. The best of the best of vocalists and instrumentalists bringing their best together for the sake of the song. This CD is cleaner and simpler, seeming to focus more on the singing with Lauderdale's voice right up front, and back up vocals from people who usually lead the singing. Think Patti Griffin, folks!<br /><br />If you've ever dreamed a movie for your life that included a man, a woman, a worn down bar with a small band playing while you dance with your lover, then you've got a pretty good idea of where these 13 songs will take you.<br /><br />A couple of lines from the song, "Patchwork River" to whet your appetite,<br /></p><blockquote>What you do for love alone will last;<br />the rest just clutters up your past.</blockquote><p>Today is the official release date for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Patchwork-River-Jim-Lauderdale/dp/B003E1QCK4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1273608049&sr=1-1">Patchwork River</a>, which can be purchased at amazon.com and all the usual outlets. You can also buy the CD at any of Jim Lauderdale's performance venues. For a list of upcoming tour dates, click <a href="http://jimlauderdale.com/index.htm?id=17553">here</a>, although you may not want to wait for a concert to buy the CD. This Hunter-Lauderdale gem of a musical adventure is even more worthy of seeking out sooner, because of the cover artwork by <a href="http://www.trumanstudio.citymax.com/page/page/1751856.htm">Tim Truman</a>. Tim is an illustrator who has designed many of the CD covers for The Grateful Dead, Hot Tuna and Carlos Santana.</p><p>-----------------------------------------------------------------</p><p>If you've never heard of Jim Lauderdale, this is a video example of how beautifully he sings. This song is from his CD, "<a href="http://jimlauderdale.com/index.htm?id=17552&inc=7&album_id=1300">Honey Songs</a>". I believe that it's one of the most beautiful country songs ever written. </p><p>On the CD he sings this with the vocal harmonies of Emmylou Harris. Try singinging this one all alone, with only the strumming of your guitar. He is just amazing! See what you think.<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oslqE1WRnR0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oslqE1WRnR0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />You can also buy the new CD from Jim's own store at http://jimlauderdale.com/index.htm?id=17572Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-28210965728147852432010-03-25T13:41:00.003-04:002010-04-06T13:37:27.701-04:00Poet Alice Shapiro Nominated for PushcartFriend and poet, Alice Shapiro has been nominated for a <a href="http://www.pushcartprize.com/">Pushcart Prize</a>. Instead of waiting patiently, this creative lady built a project on her website, which includes other Pushcart nominees. The project, "<a href="http://www.aliceshapiro.com/thechangeinterviews.html%20">The Change Interviews</a>", features an audio segment for each nominee and a link to their website. And, if you prefer to read each poem yourself, there's also a link to the featured poem. What a wonderful idea and what a treat to hear each poet read his or her poem!<br />
<br />
This is Alice's poem.<br />
<br />
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The Change Interviews project is also featured on the <a href="http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/poetryaudio/">Library of Congress</a> website, where you can explore other audio projects.<br />
Alice is also nominated for a GAYA prize, "...the oldest literary awards in the Southeastern United States...The GAYA honors both independently published authors, those whose books are published by traditional publishing houses." <br />
Our Ms. Shapiro is quite busy, yes, but not too busy to be finishing up her second book of poetry, so keep an eye out for that release. Alice's work has only improved, and her poems offer a musical treat to the ears. You may follow Alice via <a href="http://twitter.com/crackedpoems">http://twitter.com/crackedpoems</a> or <a href="http://www.aliceshapiro.com/">http://www.aliceshapiro.com/</a>Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216820044175998252.post-53476731486937920122010-02-03T09:22:00.005-05:002010-02-03T09:33:07.868-05:00Growing Genius<div>Where does genius grow? How does it happen? Is it in the big cities, with all the varied and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEgeSCyNATO33uD-H3rcDaVSrCYVaYJor5xwkY1mLHR-VSayaBJ3oi6x_nuQBGIfDM8e-wWWdGjr4HU4KTKgpxi64Bnt___F6JmowlxkNMugaALrFNygxeKa9aBJ94-bYeBr43Qwl9x0/s1600-h/Bo+on+stool.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434025006975228066" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEgeSCyNATO33uD-H3rcDaVSrCYVaYJor5xwkY1mLHR-VSayaBJ3oi6x_nuQBGIfDM8e-wWWdGjr4HU4KTKgpxi64Bnt___F6JmowlxkNMugaALrFNygxeKa9aBJ94-bYeBr43Qwl9x0/s320/Bo+on+stool.jpg" border="0" /></a>marvelous cultural stimulation and opportunities galore, that genius is most likely to grow? Is it, perhaps, in the watermelon patch, the ballroom of a Western saloon or the back yard of a small town?<br /><div><div><div><br />Last night I watched a documentary about Charles Wadsworth, the amazing man behind the huge popularity of The Chamber Music Series at The Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. There was much that I found pleasing about this man, and there were surprises, but the biggest surprise was that this impressive man and talented pianist was born and grew up in Newnan, Georgia. That’s “NOO-nan”, for those who are not proficient in the dialect of this part of Georgia.<br /><br />Just as Newnan, Georgia, nurtured and supported a budding talent and germinating genius, so has the small town of Greenwood, South Carolina, provided just the right mix of timing, support, opportunity and numerous stages upon which the previously put-aside musical genius of Bob Kilgore could once again play his guitar and experiment with new compositions.<br /><br />For readers who are YouTube fans, you may already know Bob Kilgore, “the guitar guy”, who (to date) has had over a million views, a whopping 1,289,151, to be accurate. For others who are MySpace members, you may have a friend called Bob Kilgore who is a guitar-playing inventor, and for the few musically gifted of you who are guitar-players, you surely know about Bob Kilgore, the inventor of the harmonic capo. You know about him and his capo, because you’ve seen tremendous reviews in many major guitar magazines nationally and internationally!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJYyYHgSD92qk0YhJJVrhb1AXp7D8wZJh6gdKiAUsNPPwUXpLqafEUHfV1Tpe6eH7ZI4QfGDVoh8VqM8ULOAU4PnY2j5_eTXcV2fnKi5nNmOBdli_np_lJ6b5SEfqXbuEBGf4U2QaeCw/s1600-h/Back+in+the+Day+Cover+(Trimmed).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434024101445520482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 399px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJYyYHgSD92qk0YhJJVrhb1AXp7D8wZJh6gdKiAUsNPPwUXpLqafEUHfV1Tpe6eH7ZI4QfGDVoh8VqM8ULOAU4PnY2j5_eTXcV2fnKi5nNmOBdli_np_lJ6b5SEfqXbuEBGf4U2QaeCw/s400/Back+in+the+Day+Cover+(Trimmed).jpg" border="0" /></a>A Yankee transplant to South Carolina, Bob Kilgore is the genius behind some amazing guitar compositions, unbelievable guitar work (which you can view on YouTube and MySpace) and the greatest thing in the guitar-playing world since, well, since the capo. Bob had an idea for the harmonic capo, worked up a prototype and sent it out to a number of professional guitar greats for feedback. A few years later, Kilgore is the new best friend of guitarists around the globe.<br />You don’t believe me? This is what the April 2008 issue of Vintage GuitarMagazine said:<br />"The Harmonic Capo is one of those ingeniously simple gizmos that makes you smack yourself on the forehead and say, 'Now why didn't I think of that!' It's a darn clever tone tool and one that's sure to reinvigorate the acoustic-fingerstyle scene."<br /><br />Why, they even called it “Accessory of the year!” And if that’s not proof enough for you, how about Guitar Player Magazine, who said:<br /><br />"...the coolest capo - and maybe the coolest gadget of any type - that we've seen in a long time...""It's incredible - you can combine fretted notesand harmonics in ways that would be flat-out impossible by any other means."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39z321FnXdWj6MP1ROJYKha-9XcSXlM6WlJthWTlj2ZLcxhFhc0SqySap6xPAqJ3xnOqvgJg5Cy1IeuChHJgN-2NiiA6D731qIh8OVOOevnpZN-pKRDKfaYZtjXEbh-MxU6SWeiel0IA/s1600-h/Bob+at+ONE+Festival.jpg"></a>But don’t worry, none of these accolades have gone to the head of our small-town genius, quite the opposite, actually. While he will now accept compliments, he is still a humble and rather down-to-earth person, who is interested in finishing the newest guitar composition, working on the new classical guitar version of his capo and in improving his guitar playing skills.<br /><br />The good news for those of us who cannot use the harmonic capo is that last July Bob released a new CD, “Back in the Day”, a joint effort by Weaseltrap Records and Homemade Genius Productions. You can sample some of the music by visiting Bob’s MySpace page.<br /><br />Bob’s musical influences are quite varied. Having grown up in a house filled with musicians and music of all kinds, it’s no wonder that he shows signs of Steve Reich and John Adams in his compositions, as well as the influence of a personal connection to Michael Hedges.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39z321FnXdWj6MP1ROJYKha-9XcSXlM6WlJthWTlj2ZLcxhFhc0SqySap6xPAqJ3xnOqvgJg5Cy1IeuChHJgN-2NiiA6D731qIh8OVOOevnpZN-pKRDKfaYZtjXEbh-MxU6SWeiel0IA/s1600-h/Bob+at+ONE+Festival.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434024367049224114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39z321FnXdWj6MP1ROJYKha-9XcSXlM6WlJthWTlj2ZLcxhFhc0SqySap6xPAqJ3xnOqvgJg5Cy1IeuChHJgN-2NiiA6D731qIh8OVOOevnpZN-pKRDKfaYZtjXEbh-MxU6SWeiel0IA/s320/Bob+at+ONE+Festival.jpg" border="0" /></a>Kilgore says that he has had more than one musical epiphany on his musical journey. “My first was in 1974, when I saw the Mahavishnu Orchestra.” He adds that, “they had to peel me off the wall after that show. It changed my life.”<br /><br />Bob’s second epiphany came with the music and guitar playing of Michael Hedges. “Michael opened the door to the whole Windham Hill catalog,” Kilgore says, and then came his exposure to Steve Reich. “Here was intense, pulsating counterpoint like I had never heard before,” he tells us, and adds, “People don’t have much trouble hearing Steve Reich and Michael Hedges in my music, but all the others are there…” </div><div><br />With the making of the new CD, came a family reunion of sorts when Bob’s brother, Tim, joined him on the keyboard for the recording of 10 of the 16 tracks on “Back in the Day”. They had not worked together for 18 years. Joining them on some of these is Sarah Morris, co-founder of Greenwood’s Homemade Genius. (Look for more about Homemade Genius in a future edition.) Sarah plays the cello and violin on the recording. Tim Kilgore played keyboards and percussion on Bob’s first two CDs, “Phoenix Song” and “Epicycles”, which are also being re-released this July, along with the newest CD, “Back in the Day”. Each of the first two CDs will include three bonus tracks for the original 1988-90 recording session, but which were never released.<br /><br />You can find out all about the Harmonic Capo, including how to get your own, at <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LndlYXNlbHRyYXAuY29t">http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LndlYXNlbHRyYXAuY29t</a>, and you can view videos of Bob’s guitar work by going to <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL2JvYmtpbGdvcmV2aWRlb3M=">http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL2JvYmtpbGdvcmV2aWRlb3M=</a>. Or you can visit Bob Kilgore at his MySpace page and chill out by listening to some of the loveliest guitar playing anywhere today. Try it out, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bobkilgore">www.myspace.com/bobkilgore</a> </div><br /><div><br />You may purchase the new CD from his website <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LndlYXNlbHRyYXAuY29t">http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LndlYXNlbHRyYXAuY29t</a> or at <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmhvbWVtYWRlZ2VuaXVzLm9yZw==">http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmhvbWVtYWRlZ2VuaXVzLm9yZw==</a>, and at amazon.com. If you prefer instant gratification, mp3 downloads are available at itunes.com and many other sites.<br /><br />Hey, folks, stay tuned!</div></div></div></div>Alpha Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13922069538300936093noreply@blogger.com0