a penny for your thoughts

(I suppose most of these are works in progress)

2010-06-29T17:16:00.000-07:00

The tender discipline of the water

Drift wood rubbed smooth

Gray sand under white clean foam

Out of black tender sea

Cue the violins in true melancholy

The gasp of fingers across the strings

Returned and harmonizing with the wind

I walk along gazing and swelling

With the driftwood

Peacefully longing to be a violin

To sing this song written in your eyes.

(this is a work in progress)

2010-06-14T17:03:00.000-07:00

Weary and dry and finally unaffected,

For some it takes months and passing seasons,

but for others discipline comes quickly.

When four days past- delightfully whisked about

By a simple true breeze of friendly intention,

But now, after picking fights with the spring time air,

after neglect of silence following storms,

and after upheaval:

Speckled with mud and stretched from storm

hanging by a thread in the yard,

tired after such a tantrum: defeated

Obstinately, wearily taken down.

Enduring an industrial sized washer,

Followed by another four quarters to dry

to avoid another tangle with the precocious wind.

Starchy like a newly ironed army uniform

Though there was a particular happiness outside

a thrill hanging by a pin,

Linen is resigned to be pulled tight over a mattress,

Or folded in the closet, dusty but secure.

"...since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us set aside every weight and sin that CLINGS so closely, and run with perseverance the

2010-06-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

RACE.

Most people hate running.

But, some people must run so to be healthy.

And, a few live to run.

I suppose I simply run to run, but the more fanatic group of people interest me.

I was reading a runner's magazine (which I might just subscribe to) and after excitedly examining the articles and special features, I realized that these people structure their entire lives to improve their running. They invest in special shorts and jog bras and gps watches and performance socks.

There was a feature about what to do before, during, and after a run which included a new look at everything: sleeping, when to wake up, when and what to eat, what to listen to, strategic fasting from technology, how to avoid stress, etc. ...and all for a better run.

And I found myself admiring this dedication in the hypothetical people who live like this.

I wanted to be able to associate with them.

But then I was struck with a post-Monty python feeling of "what's it all about?"

Not to be completely robbed of my new found love of the exhilaration of a daily run, I realized that running does have its place, and it's not gold medal, cause otherwise the gold medal would be sadly reduced to nothing more than a small human experience. And that's not enough.

What is my equivalent "run"? and for what am I running?

(ps: obviously this was not part of my series of poems, just a brief diversion)

this is probably my favorite:

2010-06-03T22:00:00.000-07:00

White sheets outside before a July storm

With such sweet breath, by humble present hands,

Quiet deep eyes, an honest shape of mouth:

Quiet, gentle -near- my very self.

Whispering in reverence to sacred space

There is weight here, though sweet and simple

Settled in a meadow at the peak's base.

Thought-filled and spontaneous blossoms

Scattered by wind and sown by children's hands,

And red popsicle running down their sleeves.

Oh! And of laughing in stitches restitched

Tired threads holding old sighing seams

Foolish to believe this is my verse,

My soul is read when I try to read yours.

something from this past fall:

2010-06-02T20:41:00.000-07:00

As I look to you

What grand universe

Such splendor and light.

My smallness is pearl,

universe in microcosm.

and what now-

but beckoned, from lowly

to Beauty.

How does one answer?

Your embrace is infinite

A deep calling

burrowing further

on deep.

[Though my praise falls short/amazed and speechless/give me grace to know you more]

a poem per post:

2010-05-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

so there has been recent complaints about the rather stagnic nature of this blog, and while digging through my journals and stuff from this last year, I found some barely blog-worthy material, if only to fill space.

ps: most don't have titles, patterns or rhyms, so its probably a stretch to call them "poems" but hey now! be happy I'm putting them up, don't get too picky
; )
...................

When I look at this blank page,
I am compelled to fill it.
Then I hesitate. I am afraid.
The pen in my hand hovers.
I don't want to mess this up.
I shouldn't write anything of insignificance.
what a waste.
But, what do I have to write,
What could I offer.
I have nothing.
Weekend plans, doodles, and signatures.
They all are waiting for the future.
But if I can't write ona simple blank page,
Then how can I expect myself to step forward
into a day?
What is wasted in a scrap paper
compared to an empty day
after day

Roma

2008-12-03T20:42:00.000-08:00

I recently visted Rome, and throughout my time spent there I was overwhelmed with the masterpieces found in every church.
Everything, from the buildings to the food to the frescoes and sculptures, everything emulated beauty, truth, and goodness;
everything reached for transcendence.
I noticed particularly how the white marble statues seemed as if they were more alive than the tiny figures staring up at them.
They were ferocious and passionate.
They looked as if each was the life work of an artist, and each was significantly unique.
As I am discerning what I want to do with my pending degree in Com Arts, I was profoundly inspired.
This is what I wanted to be when I grow up.
Without words Rome was able to dramatically tell me the story of Christianity from the first century to Advent 2008.
I want to capture the same element of drama, of movement, of a story behind a single image, from lighting to choreographing to expression- I want to capture it on film.
I want to make films that don't need to tell a person what to think because they cause him to experience exactly how the subject feels and thinks.
I want to use metaphor and parables to so effectively depict beauty, truth, and goodness as my Christian predecessors did in Rome.

(The photo is of St. Andrew found in the St. John Lateran basilica)

Twilight (the movie and update)

2008-11-24T10:14:00.000-08:00

After going to Twilight in theatres and talking with afew people about the book series, I found that updating my views would be appropriate.

Let me start with my recommendation. If you are a novice to the Twilight hype and have yet to read the book, I suggest you read the first book, go to the movie, and stop- in that order. Talk to your friends who've read number 2,3,4 and then go to those movies.

So let me explain.
Despite having a great idea and story, Stephenie Meyer did not deliver a great literary work. The concept and some themes are substantial, but she should have cut almost half of the story, often falling into redundance or sensational emotion. Her execution of the story is without risk or notable skill. If you compare her to J.K.Rowling, for instance, I think you will see my point. Her literary allusions are obvious and her characters static and frustrating. She didn't seem to have a large picture in view.

Therefore, I don't see the point in a person wasting their time when the movie does a better job of telling the story, as they weren't able to show half of the gushing and emotional scenes. But the movie itself has some faults. Though I was emensely entertained, the special effects were on the low end and the dialogue lacking. The casting was great: Charlie and Billy, especially Charlie, had a great performance. I just felt the movie was put together hastily. Both the movie and book, it seems, would have benefited from a more tactful editing.

the office season 5

2008-11-14T13:11:00.000-08:00

The Office

"When you work on a farm, your sense of smell gets very sharp. For example, there are beets in the condo two doors down that way. And someone over there, I believe, is a fan of olives."
-Dwight

As a magnet for all that is awkward, I have a certain appreciation for the NBC series "the office", but as of the beginning of this season I am left more depressed on Thursday nights because of a subtle change. The humor has become heavy and dark. I've noticed that from the crowd around the TV there are more frequently gasps of sympathy instead gasps of amazement. At the end of the half-hour people look around stupidly wondering if "that's it?". Yet, every Thursday night there is always a loyal group waiting patiently for "the office" to inspire them to greater works of the awkward and uncalled for.

My one thought is that the characters have become too well known, we love them too much to see humiliating or depressing situations occur to them. We want Jim and Pam to be together, we are upset every time Michael looks into the camera with his longing to have a family, and some (shockingly) even have hopes for Dwight.

Have you been disappointed at all by this new season, or are you amazed that anyone could claim it to be anything less than the best? What have you seen different in this season compared to others? What is your favorite season and why?

Welcome

2008-11-11T19:22:00.000-08:00

Welcome to "a penny for your thoughts"

My hope for this blog is to bring a new perspective to a variety of topics,

from movie and book reviews to recent news stories in order to reveal beauty, truth, and goodness within each.

The topic I would like to start with is the book series of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

Twilight follows the life of a teenage girl named Bella and her romance with vampire Edward. When I first heard about the series, I thought to myself that I would not read it.

But then a friend of mine brought it up months later, and before I could state my ill feelings and assumptions, he began to pitch the novel as a parallel to practicing chastity.

I was caught off guard. This book which was allegdely a teenage girl romance tale was now being proponed by a college guy as a good example of virtue. Hmmm.

The way my friend explained it is that Edward, the vampire, has to protect Bella from himself, from his desires. She is literally endangered by him, and so he must exercise great self control. My friend suggested that it reveals the "vampire in us all" - how we must approach our desires with self mastery and prudence.

Now, after having read the series, I have a few responses.

1. Meyer is Mormon, and this is important because many of the themes are depicted in the Morman thought- something to be aware of.

2. There are some great themes of chastity as well as sacrifice, society, and free will to name a few.

3. It is not well written. The style seems unedited, with much superfluous details and redundancies. Meyer settles for being sensational instead of profound; she didn't take many risks. Many of the scenes read like a soap opera: very dramatic and emotional vs. reasonable. Being in the fantasy genre, it's important to respect the suspence of belief.

4. But the content, the idea of the Twilight series, was the compelling force behind my continued reading. I was hopeful and curious as to where Meyer would take her story, though as of right now, I cannot say she left me satisfied.

So now is your turn. What do you think? What have you heard? What makes a book worth while?