à Paris Dansant

A young 100 year old female MD celebrating in style!

2009-04-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

I do not know about you,but personally I am in the mood for a party, a celebration of sorts??!!! hummm

in name only- photo

let me think a minute should we eat inside at my husbands newly crafted long and lean table( this is on order, i.e. my order for the first free minute, hubby has to make it, yeh right,I know get in line ....)

anne st marie,photo tom palumbo

photo -coté sud

it could be fun to have a party,inside

or should we chance it outside with those billowy afternoon clouds and sun showers?

opps- photocredit please,anyone?

either way we need more chairs,these are indeed lovely,no?

coté sud

let me just run to the kitchen for a moment

then I can decide on my attire,springy but, long

photo-df ,tom palumbo

no,I agree this is too ,too formal ,lest we say dated...

1866-8 day dress BowesMuseum

not like I will sit and be served in old french style

in my matching open-spaced salon

Regardless ,the mere thought of it makes me want to dance, I love remembering that no matter what my age,

( and no, I am not sporting senior fares or anything, really friends,)

37925391_p photo

that our spirit it indeed,always ---young at heart!

et,voila!!! case in point

Rita Levi Montalcini, Nobel Prize-Winning Scientist Turns 100, Still Works

Italian neurologist and senator for life Rita Levi Montalcini, Nobel Prize winner for Medicine in 1986, delivers her address at a press conference for her one hundredth birthday in Rome, Saturday April 18, 2009. Montalcini will be 100 years old on April 22. The Italian scientist received the Nobel prize for medicine with Stanley Cohen of the United States, in 1986, for discoveries of mechanisms that regulate the growth of cells and organs. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

right, I admire her mindset and her energy to face the racism of her youth with determination & to study and do reseach despite WWII Italy control under Musselini. (check out Huffington Post for details)
here's to prayers that Iran settles down and that the Durban II antiracisme conference in Geneva achieves just that a position of anti-racisme.
have a great week !

powder pink spring fever!

2009-04-11T04:29:00.000-07:00

persisting stars

photo above from an award winning photography,Maddie ---words mine

it is pouring here in the south of France,friends!! good for the vignerons,winemakers, who require a wet spring for their grape crops.

a tad frustrating for moi, because I am itching to finish my terrace made of recovered old clay tiles my husband found in an bakery he was redesigning ,the workmen were casting them out the window...alas, the kids were not keen on moving these heavy babies here to our wee bohemian chateau....yet,now they can see these tiles are breathing a new life....photos to follow.yes, I know I promised before!!

So imagine my surprise when the french relatives visited and exclaimed --these are like gold, they are so difficult to find now...and I used them as outdoor tiles....who knew?

Below is a sprinkling of powdery,pinks from a series of fabulous bloggers,

photo via blogger sunnyside up-words mine

photo unknown,do tell me if you know

photos -I am embarrassed to say I can not find my source on these to fanciful dance related images so please let me know it you know??

   photo-mine
   marieclairemaison
   Domino related content-- moodboard

I send you all wishes for a beautiful holiday weekend- !!!

2009-04-08T12:51:00.000-07:00

do you have a hero you can believe in? who aims high & inspires you to do the same?

stride confidently,

photo-TheLuxe Chronicles

head up, shoulders back, goals ever present

1999MET

ParisAtelier

fit for only your best efforts

photo unknown

tangocouplegerry

now!!!!

shorpypictures

have a great day & make a splash!!! smiling from the France!

Perspectives of contentment

2009-04-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

do you have a hero you can believe in?

who aims high & inspires you to do the same?

stride confidently,

photo-TheLuxe Chronicles

head up, shoulders back, goals ever present

1999MET

ParisAtelier

fit for only your best efforts

photo unknown

tangocouplegerry

now!!!!

shorpypictures

have a great day & make a splash!!! smiling from the France!

Modern Myth Medicine-hope and heros!!

2009-04-01T13:11:00.000-07:00

Somehow I could not help thinking all day about the G-20 Summit....OK, I'll be honest, I could not sleep last night very well, because I was worrying and during some of those awake moments, it occurred to me that the Summit is REALLY,REALLY, a BIG THING!!!

photo veronica tennant romeo plus my doodles

To me it seems almost mythic, you'll see what I am getting at below.

Now some of you know from my earliest posts I was blessed with a fine friend & mentor Chrisitane Corbat who was an internationally renowned sculptor & who was a student

of Joseph Campbell.

Similarly, you know, he wrote the "The Hero with a

Thousand Faces","The Masks of God", and "Creative Mythology".

And he influenced a number of artists and musicians including the Bob Dylan and George Lukas,to name a few. George Lucas has been noted to credit Campbell regarding the stories of the Star Wars films.

So what does this all have to do with the G-20 ???I know you thought I drifted off the subject, ((having been all sleep deprived,w-r-o-n-g! :).

You see, I had this image in my sleepy mind's eye of the Summit in London which, in the wee hours of the morning , reminded me of a Star Wars' scene

{ frankly, I am not that well versed in this double trilogy}

So what scene was it?

It involved Princess Leah and the cast of leaders from strange universes sitting in a circle discussing strategies to solve HUGE problems. Yes, you are right, Yoda was there too, looking wise- and naturally a candidate for Botox...,just joking! Come to think of it did not the King Arthur and his knights sit at the Round Table???

All of this musing surfaced because I have been worried about the world affairs as so many of us have, economic meltdowns, wars, changes in the environment...Right, I have to lay off the news Internet sites. but, really these concerns pressed on until I grasped that this is our modern day myth!!

each nation may have their own hero,but, nonetheless there are all the element of the hero's quest !

"We have not even to face the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time, have gone before us: the labyrinth is thoroughly known; we have only to follow the thread of the hero path. And where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god, and where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves. Where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence, and where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the World." (Chapter one, ending.) Joseph Campbell

Oddly enough, I found a mythical image from a meeting in Florence, Italy in 2007 called"Images and Myths of Europe: the Western and the Eastern perspectives"

Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation

and here was their accompanying program image

It appears to me as though the foundation or pillars had fallen under the weight of a Bull, (Wall Street icon of course.) And above this powerful and stubborn animal is the injured winged lady receiving support from another female with a halo. Are the female images depicting humanity's intuitive or spiritual side in effect opposing the base instinct of greed & misused power?

Note this was conference in 2007 !

Now back to Chrisitiane work with another Dancing Doc and good friend, Colleen Cavenaugh,MD.who choreographed this piece.

They worked together to create the Global Heart Installation performance.

Below are some still shots . I believe Christiane created these castings to portray that though our bodies are different we are all intimately connected and jointly responsible. Note how different each hearts light is....she began this piece in 2003 just before Bush waged war in Iraq.

"As we are told in the Vedas: 'Truth is one, the sages speak of it by many names,'

" (Third edition, page VII)

Joseph Campbell

There are of course differences between the numerous mythologies and religions of mankind, but this is a book about similarities; and once they are understood the differences will be found to be much less great than is popularly (and politically) supposed. My hope is that a comparative elucidation may contribute to the perhaps not-quite disparate causes of those forces that are working in the present world for unification, not in the name of some ecclesiastical or political empire, but in the sense of human mutual understanding" (Third edition, page VIII)

Joseph Campbell here shares a perspective with Obama and Brown,

that the solutions to the tests or quests facing the world are indeed found in our similarities not our differences.

Lastly, what are your personal myths, what is the archetype you find yourself returning to ?

There is perhaps,something comforting in knowing this.

photo anatomical man tres rich duc du barry

Emersion Therapy: cast iron clawfoot bathtub!

2009-03-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

It was before Mass today when the sunlight was suddenly basking the rim of the tub wistfully....

A funky old salle de bain can do this! It draws you in !What is it about lovely old bathrooms with charm oozing from their faded walls and antique mirrors?

Whether it be an Italian tiled shower room...

This refreshing salle begs lingering, it asks only for your silence, for your relaxation,

{I recommend you place large locks on the door or really obvious signs,no, better yet, let that be a billboard indicating to your family that you are indeed, quite unreachable!!! Now under a blanket of scented mandarin et citron vert bubbles you are rejuvinating ....

And why, can you tell me, is the slipper tub so fascinating? Is it it's shape? It's height? Is it the weight of the cast iron?

Even in the outdoors, a bath or shower is a place of sunlight and delight...

Though not being the camper kind ,

lets imagine a bit more luxury and uh,yeah, privacy! ...

Now imagine if you will my delight when sitting in the Ecurie of our Grange,or the barn at ground level tonight when I heard a dripping sound !!! Yes, I did say delight- read on,because the bathtub up above was leaking during one of the teen's long shower....my, too bad!

I actually loathe my salle de bain and guess what? That little ole' leak means , you guessed it,probably we will need a new tub, and tiles, and lighting ahhh,

I love when I can truly see a gift within a problem.....let me just go get a bucket!!!

Serious MD Advice-Take A Walk on the Wild Side

2009-03-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

photo- unknown

There has been a fox in the hen house or so it has seemed said the newspapers,TV's and radios...

photo- Cecilie7

However, staying centered in faith, love & compassion WE can fly....

to new heights {Isn't that how the story goes? mine does!!!}

photo- unknown

In our mind's eye and in our dreams, we can climb to new heights,dressed of course, like this willowy dancer

photo by Tim Walker UKVogue 2005

Mind you in my waking hours ,I have been painting the entry walls of my seemingly ancient french bohemian mini chateau,{breath} the color palette is full of blues and aquas, with a dash of black like the grand photo below....no, it is not mine! I shall promise though, to take photos soon!

photo-Elle Decor

Care for a café creme? or a glass of local wine or an ice cold Orangina?

hmmm...

If you could have lunch with anybody, alive or deceased...anyone at all, who would it be?

My painting pal asked me this very question today.... lovely!

Benefiting from the Bright Light of Spring without the UV exposure

2009-03-23T15:34:00.000-07:00

Whether in a flower filled field by a pond....celebrate! photo- MarieClaireMaison

Or on an old terrace donned with a colorful make shift awning, sipping a lime scented,icy drink , reading a great book and listening to cicadas competing with a tango tune.

photo - Chris Tubbs Photography

Or at dusk, taking in the falling sun, ready to embrace a night of dancing on an expansive lawn with an ocean view like in the Great Gatsby.. but, with a happier ending for sure!!!!

photo- MarieClaireMaison

perhaps an early day off work meeting your closest friend or sibling with a Perrier and lemon.

photo- HG

or maybe you world fancy an exotic cabana by the sea, of course, you would want fascinating beach side neighbors who talk loudly about interesting subjects while you wear your large brimmed hat and dark glasses acting like you are not the least bit curious....

photo- credit unknown let me know if you know so I can list it ---thanks

or lastly, you might aspire to a très private beach club with cocktails and lunch served where you and your honey can relax, read and play beach tennis or volley ball....ah, dreaming of the bright sunny days without the sunburns cuz of course, you have your SPF sunscreen and shade to protect you!!! Have a super Monday dreaming of sunny days to come!!!

Weekend prescriptions for a happy outlook !

2009-03-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

ok,breath,now close your eyes,listen very ,very closely to the silence,even if it only imagined...

photo-Boubat

now go somewhere lush, somewhere vibrant as though you are once again a child, innocent and loved....

painting mariechristine Marty (sold)

this is starting to make the crazy week of negative news fade...and you are open to seeing new and beautiful things!!!

you have been invited to the south of France by a famous artist,known for her brilliant palette which reflects the bright sun, the red earth,the rich wines, the presence of centuries of Spanish,Catalan, Italian, and North African layers of traditions, music,dance,arts, In Marie Christine's Salon there are paintings yielding sunflower yellows,burnt oranges,ochres, suggesting the smell of wild figs,lemons, herbs like thyme, sage,lavenders,

you are still feeling new , and fresh to these sensations....like a child of say,4 years old who still can see the auras of angels and the love of the good and the kind beings, those who use their gifts from the heavens,or the powers that be,for positive,for progress,for healing....

painting mariechristine Marty

As you grow hungry with all this ,chocolat fondant is offered by the kind Lady in red....

painting mariechristine Marty (sold)

she is strong,generous,and kind...you feel safe,she is like the woman of the healing stories about wisdom and fairness...sometimes she is perceived as too strong, or too focused,she knows

and appreciates beauty,loving the details and textures of fine things

Dior

she knows, as you do ,life can be a fight,a dance with danger or grace or passion or maybe all three, there is comfort in knowing that many have faced the challenges and that we survive and that we can thrive ....

painting mariechristine Marty -Sang et Or

you are feeling strong,your head is held high, proud,yet with a healthy dose of humility,you are sure to move into the challenges of the tomorrow without hesitation, but rather with faith and hope....

Dior

and now you can do a little Irish gig or any other dance for that matter, because you feel grateful and joyous

and so safe with the dancing nun!!

Now go spread the joy and hug someone you love!

8 YEAR OLD WITH LEUKEMIA UP AGAINST AIG’s MORAL COMPASS: plus 7 tools to Deal with Insurers!

2009-03-17T02:38:00.000-07:00

Little Jack & his sister Trisha in Paris!

Jack was 8 years old and in the midst of chemotheray treatments when he was awarded a fully paid trip for his family to France’s artistic and sacred places. He and his family experienced a modern day pilgrimage afforded by donations in his state and by AIR FRANCE.

As a precaution along with his two forms of health insurance, medicaid funded BlueCross of Rhode Island and private Bluecross of Mass, the A NONPROFIT paid for an AIG travel policy to cover for the unlikely event of sudden illness ,transports or hospitalizations. This seemed like a prudent and worthwhile expense.

Thus, it was with great dismay when Jack developed a life-threatening case of shingles, a varicella infection ( this is recurrent or secondary type of chicken pox) and required hospitalization in DAX ,France,an ambulance transport with a physician , and hospitlaization at France’s ,Pediatric Cancer Hospital, Hopital Necker in Paris.

Based on recent corporate behaviors making the front pages of the news worldwide, can you imagine, for a moment how AIG took care of little Jack ? Did they do the right thingbased on their contract? Did they provide standard of care? Or did they look to make a profit? Hum? Read on….

Our nonprofit team was on the overnight train from the southwest of France when Jack’s mom noted a mounting fever as she prepared him for bed. We were required to disembark in the next city, DAX. The city hospital was fabulous and provided a direct admission to the pediatric ward, a pediatrician arrived at near 3am and began the lifesaving, antiviral, IV therapy. During this detour of our pilgrimage to the sacred and artistic sites of France we confronted the following :

ps look below for proactive ways to use this experience in positive way!

1. 1. AIG refused to provide both hospitals with needed documentations of Jack’s coverage

2.       AIG would REFUSE to make any attempt to pay expenses. (Hospital Necker was appauld to know that USA ‘s insurers were so willing to leave claims unpaid while their profit margins proved excessive and remarked that this negligent behavior reflected worse t
han third world nations efforts.
3.       AIG ‘s physician on call at that time refused to supply his own medical/physician escort on the emergency transport.
4.       AIG was noted by the french medical staff to have asked me to serve in that role though they denied this too !
5.       AIG never paid for the ambulance fees ,physician fees nor the hospital fees .

Being the hotheaded patient advocate known to protest, call out the newspapers, and insurers for denied medical care or coverage, I could not let this intentional negligence go unaddressed. Thus upon my return to the states I contacted AIG and a conference call ensued with myself,the physician who had been on call, the quality assurance representative and the medical director.

Here is where things really became unbelievable to me!

Rightyou guessed it, they denied any responsibility, the on-call physician lied , and the Medical Director lied- WOW,when I heard this I responded like any naive physician would,

I asked if they were aware that this represents a very slippery slope!-like they cared!

How could they place their profits before their patient obligations?

I asked if they were aware of the impact of their actions in the long haul ?

Were they , in a small way ,by denying their obligations for little Jack , revealing to me and yo themselves,an even the bigger issue-- which was the erosion of their core values and moral obligations?

Yes, you are right if you think that , they probably thought that I was spitting in the wind, I had no power to change their behavior,though I threatened legal action but, could not afford it.

So was I surprised by their being at the center of the economic meltdown which has infected worldwide economies? No, unfortunately I was not.

The whole situation disappointed ,angered and saddened,and might I say, exhausted me(,mind you I too, was on a monthly chemotherapy and adjevunct treatment for nearly the 4th year at the time!

So as an Ivy League community pediatrician abroad all too familiar with both the clinician side and the patient side, I was livid- that they could dismiss a child's medical care in the same way which they dismissed the Congressional questioning , like the current outrage about the bonuses being paid to their financial leaders( with American tax payers money.)

THE GOOD NEWS:

Jack is playing HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL now nearly 10 years later.

Seven Proactive Steps for Dealing With Your Insurers

CARRY A BIG STICK!,no,just kidding!!!

1. Recognize the system is geared for profit even the nonprofit insurers hence while navigating your medical issues

Do not assume they have your best interest at heart be curious, ask questions,document conversations with names and dates and times to create your health diary of accountability.

2. Read or highlight the particulars of your policies: copays,hospitalizatons,dates of renewals,age specific allowances for care,

3. When you do get a bill contact the pharmacy or hospital and ask for the noninsured fees schedules and verify your insurers not milking the payments

4. When a treatment is denied ask to speak with the medical director not a clerk or data processor, stick with it and take his or her name,

5. Know most states have Health InsurersOversight committees and if you are not getting help from your insurer then notify them by e-mail or letter.

6. Call them out when they pass off their decisions on the physicians or medical staff, recall most clinicians( have taken an oath) and studied long hours and withgreat expense and want to help their patients. They are as frustrated as patients and their families.

7. Do this in small increments ONLY because it is indeed stressful to have to be an advocate when one is sick or caring for a sick family member.In between breath,have a cup of tea, listen to some soothing music or call a friend!

Red Dress Heart Health, Madoff Victim and His former Friend

2009-03-05T11:52:00.000-08:00

Ageless Beauty
Carmen Dell Orifice featured her in a Red Dress for the Heart Healthy Women's Campaign!

She has been working since nearly 15 years old as a model,as you can see below from her early photos!

Carmen is particularly fascinating because she defies the norms- she went back to modeling after a divorce as an older model who then broke the barriers of beauty as being only for the young!

She is considered a Super Model still! Let's face it, ---Beauty does defy age, race and religion and I personally am happy to see the blissful variety in the media! Especially now with the average life expectancy rising, our lens need to do likewise!

I find the taught,pinched faces of the older women redone are not particularly attractive! Yes ,granted it fuels a market for innovative skin care, lasers and plastic surgeries! I still find the time lined faces of Mother Teresa and Katherine Hepburn to convey a purity or truth !

Rather than a mask trying to restrain our view upon time and its impact on their faces I prefer the real insight into their life experiences! I recall my Grandmother at 103.5 years old, sharp as a tac yet, her face wrote a story about the early 1900's immigration from Italy to Riker's Island, the Great Depression, the birth of 9 children, the working in a factory on the shores of New Bedford or Fall River, living along side the American Indians from the region,the long days cooking and cleaning, the marriages of her children ,then the births of grandchildren, and then great, and great great Grandchildren....each line like a badge of honor, a tribute to her world!

Here Carmen defies these standard of the youth !!!
As,I mentioned I read recently that Carmen and her latest husband,now deceased, were close family Friends of the notorious Mr. Madoff. I recall the article in Vanity Fair,I believe, citing she bore great financial losses as apparently, many of Madoff's Chosen did.
She was courageous in her plans to continue working! I hope that she will reap enough for her 3eme age which in the USA, has a reputation for being very costly !

ps It is told that she was a dancer of classical ballet picked off the bus in NYC for her beauty! Have a great Wednesday!!

An Immune Booster-Beauty,Talent and Music,a blast from the Past

2009-03-05T11:48:00.000-08:00

These bright colorful photos were featured in Madame Figaro Magazine made to share- cheerful,creative talent!!!

Viola-Catherine Malandrino avec un peu de Americana -
On behalf of a fellow blogger-I found myself groov 'in out to some Old Tunes!

Friday's Dose of fun and facts

2009-03-05T10:36:00.000-08:00

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

The Dow Knows All

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

I so adore this man- brilliant political satire! so does Corine at Hidden In France

And oddly enough ,I was working on a simplistic visual representation of the Financial Meltdown and viola, look at what Corine discovered! Amazing!

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

VITAL SIGNS PLEASE for Child Actors of Slumdog Millionaire!

2009-03-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

We were all thrilled to celebrate the modern day beautiful "rag to riches" Oscar winner (x8)!!

It captured the world's imagination during this global period of economic crisis ,I believe, because it highlighted that love was the real prize,not the money or the illusions of living a rich lifestyle, or of obtaining power!

Underneath the celluloid tale,(ok maybe films are no longer made like this, I am not that old-seriously folks!!) Oh right, where was I, yes, underlying the Hollywood/Bollywood creation is the reality of these children's lives!??!

First photo presents little Rubina giving an interview prior to leaving for the Oscars.

check out the women's looks! oouch!

This second photo shows their joy and anticipation en route out of Mumbai

Of course , in LA at the Oscars, looking very westernized indeed,yet loving it!

Below, fatigue and intense emotions upon Rubina's return to Mumbai!

Their reactions returning home to the slums and to their families were concerning as described in The UK's Telegraph publication By Barney Henderson in Mumbai Last Updated: 2:23PM GMT 01 Mar 2009

"Having flown in a plane, slept in a soft bed and used a clean and functioning bathroom for the first time in their lives at a five-star hotel, the kids say they have now realised what life is like on the other side of the coin and the reality of being back in the slum is hitting them hard."

"I don't want to live here in the slum anymore," Rubina said, wearing the dirt stained ball gown that she has not wanted to take off since Oscars night. "I don't want to sleep on the floor anymore. I want a proper bed and live where the air does not smell of poo. I have seen what it is like in America. Here, there is garbage everywhere, people get angry, swear and shout. I have realised how bad life is here. I just want to get out."

further photos upon their return to the slums

At school exhausted, Azhar is looking confused and as a pediatrician I would say he is not appearing well--- actually as became clear later, he developed a fever of 103° and required antibiotics for an illness as defined by a local doctor!

Rubina settling in ?!

Further excerpts from the Telegraph article cited above:

Social workers have called for the children to be placed in care and state that they need to be given protection – either from Danny Boyle and the film production company or the Indian authorities.

"I cannot believe these kids have just been left like this after being taken to Hollywood. It is bound to affect them psychologically," said social worker Sanjay Bhatia, who works in the slum.

India's Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhary is "appalled" at the beating that Azhar took at the hands of his father on Friday. Azhar was thrashed for saying he wanted to sleep rather than talk to a journalist who had offered money to his father.

It is my prayer that these children can find peace and hope and can use this experience in a positive way, though I imagine it will place pressures on them to support their families financially

- I wondered as a child and also as an adult if people who are poor are made to feel worse when they obtain a point of comparison---does one miss what one does not know? or experience?
-does not a child within the Indian family unit find comfort,like all children, from their shared meals, from the banter of neighbors and friends, from the love of their parents?
-has modern life equiped with global communications, TV, radios brought the harshness of these comparisons into a more acute focus?

I do not doubt for a second that the life within these slums is difficult,dangerous and does not offer its inhabitants an easy way to optimize their personal potentials- why? I believe perhaps, they are too burdened with the primary issues of survival ( I call this the strain of survival mode)where there is more fatigue and potentially illness!

In any case, I hope you will join me in sending them good vibs ,thoughts or prayers !! What are your take about this issue ?

photos credits - click on them for the URL's

Healing Health Benefits of Community

2009-02-28T15:26:00.000-08:00

Healing Health Benefits of Community- A Shared Blessing Amplifies our Gifts and A Shared Challenge or Difficulty Lightens our Load and Invites Creative Solutions!!! This seems to be ever true in blog land and for this I am truly grateful!!! Merci , read on for the surprise and to find out why I have gone all warm and fuzzy on you in this post!

I am floored actually, upon catching up with my messages today, I received a delightful surprise from the sweet and talented, Catherine over at , A Thousand Clapping Hands!!!I am so touched and honored.

The surprise was

Apparently, as Catherine describes this award-"This award was started by the blogging team at Jane Austen Today" -

"The aim of the Award is to acknowledge writing excellence in the spirit of Jane Austen's genius in amusing and delighting readers with her irony, humor, wit, and talent for keen observation. Recipients will uphold the highest standards in the art of the sparkling banter, witty repartee, and gentle reprove."

As such I have also learned that-

" Recipients are to please claim your award. You may post the badge, list the name of the person who nominated you and link to their blog. Then you may nominate seven other blogs that you feel meet or exceed the standards set forth. But if by chance, you are Award weary - please just enjoy the honor!"

Right, so this is the Healing Aspect of Blogging Communities- at least to me,you see I believe that the concept of passing it on here is real and valid ! I think that , unlike mainstream Internet sites which focus on news, often very negative in its presentation and analysis, that perhaps blogging serves a higher purpose if, you will. It stretches us by allowing us to focus on ideas!! Rather than allowing us to get stuck in just the ever pressing minutia of everyday life- perhaps,it urges us to evaluate events and interactions with people on a more productive,positive level.

It connects , it listens, it offers genuine feedback, it broadens one's perspective, it instructs, it delights, it enchants, it fosters creativity, it honors an individuals personal story through her or his own unique lens.

I find this phenomenon fascinating and comforting . I am truly honored to be able to contribute in my own small way and to have the privilege of sharing in the worlds of my favorite bloggers. Speaking of whom -now it is my turn to thoughtfully select the next set of nominees---

I would like to nominate the following blogs:

The Things We Carried
Paris Parfait
Country French Antiques
A Cuban in London
From the Desk of Bee Drunken
JohnstoneJournal
Creme de la Mode

Life at Willow Manor

I hope you are all as tickled as I was to receive this tasteful award,it sure made my day!! Thanks again Catherine at AThousand Clapping Hands

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.

Eleanor Roosevelt

photos credit Internet french properties.com

When our Children get sick- Keeping it LIGHT!

2009-02-28T12:29:00.000-08:00

Happy Weekend All! Happy Mardi Gras!!!!

We are finally all back on our feet after the nasty gastro that gripped our family for nearly 2 weeks. I have managed to get back my appetite enough to prepare meals again- hooray !

I do not like being sick nor playing the bathroom cleanup fairy and shall we say that awaking multiple times a night reminds me of nights on call responding to the in 's and outs of bodily functions of my adorable patients

It is altogether different when the whining patient is your preteen daughter who is having a fit because her hair , recently straightened and washed, is in the way of projectile vomitus and I can do nothing to assuage her ! It is at times like these which are rather bittersweet, happy to be of aid to my own children during their discomfort with illness yet, noting that it is far easier to care for patients because there is no personal stuff to get in the way of treatments!

So I have been musing alot over these past days away from my blog world and there are a few things I wanted to share:

Taking time to honor great things happening in the world like---

I so loved Obama's Congressional Address - he delivered a clear message to Americans about his objectives regarding Energy, Health care, and Education. He drew a line for all to see about how these three issues were necessary to address NOW because they impact the economic picture so acutely. Hooray for logical,bright leaders who can see the forest and the trees.

Taking time to notice nature's beauty----

It has been magnificent these last few days with far reaching rays of gorgeous Mediterranean sunlight beaming through the french windows.... taunting spring to arrive early!

Taking time to be a bit creative---

I have been sketching up ideas for my horrific garden, which is styled to date in early hillbilly. Yes, my husband is a pack rat, so is my son and OK, I admit to having 8 french,iron beds,in parts mind you , in a corner near the outbuilding....I feel a decluttering coming along. And no, we have no chickens,roosters or pigs.
For the children/ adolescents here the transition back to school was slowed as I mentioned due to virus ville,here at the bohemian mini chateau, I advise pushing them to regain their rhythm with sports and studies( I was a tad eager and ended up doing a round trip to the city where my daughter attends school some 1hour away after she redecorated the girls bathroom- if you follow my drift....
Oh the positives of virus season, you ask- easily inspired weight loss, decrease in the grocery bills for 2 weeks -oh and excuses for long naps and family movie time.

THANKS AGAIN to those of you who kindly alerted me to the problem of being able to follow my WDF- I hope I was able to fix it! Let me know if it persists!

photos credit-victorian images

Doctor Recommends Dreaming While Awake

2009-02-18T05:16:00.000-08:00

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Eleanor Roosevelt

photo-mine, old house,dance studio
I am suddenly longing for more space, wide open living spaces like in our former french home which you have seen on my blog in the past. Perhaps it is because, we know now we will have lots of spring and summer visits, family sized visits. Hence, I found myself actually scoping out homes for sale in our tiny village. I call this, a type of window shopping. I only look at the photos on line and do not want to move again. I would like to be able to renovate our grenier, (attic) which has 5 large windows and gorgeous beams, old tiles and a friendly bat. Right ,I suppose he would have to find a home elsewhere because I am not fond of flying things in the night, I do not know about you?

It seems counterintuitive to consider any renovation work for various reasons, mostly the ole' bank account, but also the sense that the world has changed. There is a feeling, at least to me, that the world has contracted and as such it is only reponsible to appreciate this climate. Oh, sure I can window shop and gather lovely photos of inspiring spaces and be patient. All in good time. I sense I missed that lesson -patience- I sense many of my generation and the ones that came later have become accustomed to instant gratification.

McDonald's fast pace, is not model for life in general. That is why living in France has forced me to slow down. You can not do anything, or nearly anything, during lunch hours or on Sundays- just relax ,eat well, nap perhaps, enjoy family and friends. Having worked those long hours I loved and told you about during my pediatric practice, I have found the change in pace both relieving and yet unsettling. Still it is ok to dream, in fact dreaming awake and asleep is healthy for the soul.

Tell me what do you dream about? Are they dreams about places, things or experiences? Of course there is no correct answer for this- just fun to think about and share. Have a great day!

photos credit-Figaro.fr

Open Heart - All Kinds of Love and Affection!!

2009-02-14T08:14:00.000-08:00

Romantic Loves!!! photo by Brassai
Love of Self!! photo Capa for Dior
Love of Family!! photo by Boubat
Love of our furry friends! photo by Doisneau
Impromtu Kisses on Victory over Japan. photo by Jorgenson
Admiration or Adoration! Picasso photo by Capa
Love from man's best friends!!! photo Horvat
Check back for more images of Love... you know some forms are missing !!!

Gratitudes a Corrective Lens for our Attitudes during the Gray season of Winter!

2009-02-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my favorite gratitudes of the St. Valentine season which I share with you as my gift !

As I sit here by my frosty window looking upon the vineyards in their winter grace, I give thanks for the heat we have- blessed thing called central heating using town gas- HOOOORAY!

I am truly grateful that Daddy is in Atria, hidden from the realities of the irresponsible financial worldwide crisis- he would be really outraged by the government handling of the bailout and the Mad-Off scam. Really, to truly appreciate this one must imagine Dad watching this unraval on TV ,Fox and C-Span, as was his routine, then imagine his sorrow and anger and fears he would have had experienced about his nest egg. Lest it be said ,his angels have protected him from this scandal - and for this I am truly grateful he is insulated by those whose focus is supremely about his comfort!!! And so when you all visit him this season, try not to fret , and recall that the Atria is his haven , divinely chosen!

I am grateful for Mom that she after so many intense years of trying to provide relief and conforting connections each day with Daddy, that she has a more life- giving solution in place for both of them and can appreciate him now through a more positive lens within his haven at the Atria.

I am grateful I have had a head start on living a more simple life-
I am grateful for our new President Obama and pray each day that he is protected and allowed to fulfill his missions with the assistance of our hopeful nation.
I am grateful for my blessed children with their bilingual, or trilingual, skills and their adaptive abilites in this ever changing world
I am grateful for my soulmate, Thierry, who is a man who lives each day as though he were already in heaven- yes, I know, not entirely profitable or practical sometimes, but, his heart is well intentioned and he loves me in his own way.
I am grateful for the time I have had to spend with my family- focused on them not patients or projects.
I am grateful for having seen the light of change and of perceiving the collapse of the bubbles, housing and credit and lifestlye- noting , I could not feasibly maintain living a script from Dad and Mom's generation -in otherwords , for noting the cheese has moved and so must I.
I am grateful for our food, our gas tanks when full, for crazy glue ,(which worked to keep my window from falling as a drove, the repair of the mechanism was trop cher.)for my sweet dogs, Aunt Betty-Bailey and Uncle Ralph-Nutella who are attentive to never leave my side,
For medicine, for internet, for our working telephones, our fireplaces which brings back to days in Vermont with all of you, for friends old and new, for my creativity which spells out solutions to cramped living spaces and various other quandries.
Lastly, I give thanks for all of you, and each of you- you bring a special something into my life even from afar, the shared memories, which now we know represent one of the most important and comforting gifts of all!

Even when it might appear one does not remember or understand , I always believed standing beside my various patients afflicted with severe disorders ,traumas or neurologic diseases - that though we , on the outside think they are not connecting with us ,

on the inside or rather on the otherside, on the other plane, they are fully or even more fully, understanding our intentions and our love to connect in that moment. THUS---- The quality of the moment is more important than we ever thought possible! So to each of you I send hugs and kisses and gratitudes !!!!

love

Moi

Living Room Dancing---a Heart Healthy Way to Clean !

2009-02-07T14:37:00.000-08:00

Yes, you heard me right- dancing while cleaning makes it downright fun! Actually, in my past life as a full time pediatrician, I was blessed with alot of assistance both at my office and at my home.

I had a secretary, nurse, medical assistant, physical trainer for teens, a massage therapist at the office.-

At home, I had a part time Nanny who cooked dinners, great food from Cape Verde, a cleaner, an occasional gardener, and pool specialists ----all this to say that I had absolutely superb back up for maintaining an organized and clean environment---Well, then we moved to France, and right, we simplified, downsized and you can guess who is the obsessive cleaner, secretary etc- MOI!

Yes, I was spoiled before,stateside because I worked long hours but, it has just occurred to me why, in writing this post, that things seemed easier- hellloooo- with a staff it should have! Now I am the official toilet paper fairy, bathroom scrubber, duster, flooring cleaner.... I am not complaining, well kind of, but, to reframe this domestic charge I have adopted my new technique-

Dance N' Clean

need good music, cleaning products, no audience , good light , a towel., a duster !!
protocol in place , music at high volume- dusting to classical or a slow song for these long feathery strokes...
vacuuming with headphones and timer ,I use the Dyson vacuum because of the dogs and allergens and right, the dust bunnies which seem to seep out of these ancient french homes and threaten the dogs!!
Then instead of a soft mop, I use a soft bristle broom, kind of like a long handled scrub brush, get it, and off to the upper & lower body aerobic work out- music, rock, R&B, Salsa
For drying the floors I use the towels, using both feet , a swishing rhythm, until the ancient tiles are buffed dry.

Results:

clean house AND
pediatrician morphed into a whirling dervish, germ hunting, dancing mom, with hopefully, more toned legs and arms.

Have a great weekend!

photos mine

Capping corporate greed and the Health Care Model

2009-02-05T02:46:00.000-08:00

Firstly, I must share some of new finds in the blog world- real gems---
The Pink Cowboy -well written, funny at times , poignant at others,love that he shares his own experiences and not

just his observations- the design is fab!

From the Desk of Bee Drunken

- here is writer who has class, elegance and is consistently updating her blog

High Desert Diva-a spunky, creative diva who has charmed me with Americana and her photos

Thank you all for your sharing !

Secondly, I read an interesting blog post on MSN - Obama pay cap puts overdue squeeze on bank CEOs

Posted Feb 04 2009, 02:28 PM by Anthony Mirhaydari

I think it was well written and covered the issues succinctly! Right, this is something I can not seem to do lately, my run on sentences and dangling participles are out of control, but, do troll on if you dare! These"wall street monkeys", as I call them, gambled away the American dreams of so many during the past 8 years !! Their outrageous risk taking with other people's money created the Fleecing of America grace à Bush/Cheney's policies.

Right, you may detect a sour taste here at WDF, and you would indeed be right. You see fellow bloggers, I witnessed, both as a physician and a patient ,the evisceration of the American health care system by the insurers who operated with the so called " business model of Wall Street" Here is how it worked:

- they answered first to their stockholders and paid board of directors ,

-then to their top-heavy administrators, who over a five year period from 2001 to 2005, received a 100% increase in salaries

- and somewhere after advertising, accounting manipulations,ie kiting ,they dealt with paying for health care!!! After a little whose bill is it pingpong .....An upside down arrangement for sure!

Meanwhile the small businesses and families of Rhode Island ( a microcosm of America, being the smallest state) sustained 20% increases each year for 5 years- thus a family plan originally costing 425USD per MONTH increased over this period to over 1000USD per MONTH-not including the costs of medications and supplemental fees.

And we wonder why most Americans have no health insurance?( for those following this from other more civilized nations where health care is a right and not a privilege - this seems outrageous!!!) ps the doctors do not , I repeat, DO NOT see any of this profit because of the strict regulations set forth by the government to date by medicare and a complicated formula similar to a derivative

For me, the corporate manipulations of the medical system was just the tip of the economic crash's iceberg! Shall we say foreshadowing?

How could the medical world dedicated to caring for the sick and suffering have allowed these parasites, often masquerading in nonprofit status (ie BCBS), to bleed off the very best medical system in the world to the point where it now stands at 27 by WHO standards. Luckily, France is #1 and still directed by physicians.

Why did so many of my colleagues leave practice early? because among other things, they were in moral conflict with themselves to withhold care from patients to obtain, what I called, "kickbacks" but, the insurers called incentives, bonuses! sound familiar?

For me the demise of the American economic Wall Street driven system FIRST took its toll on the weakest of the weak; the sick and the naivest of the workforce ;the doctors and nurses. These third party players placed antitrust laws on doctors preventing them from gathering to discuss fees or collaborative platforms to address these issues to protect patients. They placed gag rules preventing doctors from communicating to their patients about the insurer's incentives. They passed the risks onto the physicians, hence the malpractice insurance costs went up as more and more patients experienced the fallout of this process wherein the almighty dollar came before the primary intention to heal.

Why do I say the doctors and nurses were naive? Because they thought that everyone was working toward the same goal on behalf of the patients. Rather, the objectives of the insurers could not have been more diametrically opposed to this goal.

The insurers used monies to create warm and fussy advertisements to seduce the businesses but, their modus operandie sp? was to create a quagmire of ridiculous paperwork, billing procedures, audits, oversight subsidiaries who were made up of non clinicians geared toward debating with the doctors about their choices of medications , treatments or services. Hence, more than 60-70% of clinicians' time in the USA was spent tackling the paperwork and billing codes to JUSTIFY their clinical decisions. Talk about regulation and capping earnings! Hellllooo!

Now ,you are no doubt wondering why I have linked my experience with managed care medicine to the financial collapse of the Wall Street....it is because the greedy fed on the weak or highly distracted medical world first before it went onto feed on the home buyers and credit markets in the USA and EU, China, Russia...

At least this is how I see it.

For me leaving my work as a pediatrician, trained at an Ivy League Medical Center, and who experienced the realities of being a patient at the mercy of care plans which were directed by the greed from those in control, the 3rd party payer corporations yes, who were bought and sold on Wall Street ,breath--- I can tell you frankly, I saw this financial downturn coming! Why so many experts have denied understanding this infection of the financial systems is beyond belief and borders on disillusionment.

Lastly, on a more positive note:

I am glad Daschle withdrew, he was as related in the NYT and THE NATION in bed with these 3rd Party Payers, United Health etc. earning millions from them- this is much more of a detriment to avoiding taxes.
I am confident in Obama to find the right fit for health care reform, I am rooting for a physician or nurse or someone with more experience with patients.
Those of you who know me personally, know I fought not just my cancer, to stay in practice, to keep food on the table for my children and good education in the picture for my children but, also,to stage protests in the dead of winter at an Insurer, to help my patients access their care, to serve as an advocate for what is a human right not a privilege of ONLY the wealthy, to gain media support from major networks, to question the editors of major newspapers about their conflict of interest taking big advertising dollars from insurers and not featuring the real new of the abuses at RIBCBS, to write and lecture and teach about how to be proactive when disease or trauma strikes- and yes, I would say, I am tooting my own horn or as we used to say about my Sicilian Grandma, I am on my soap box.

However,as is true to form, from my Grandma in the factories defending the rights of immigrant women during the depression, to my Father as he fought to bring pediatric surgical and intensive care up to the forefront in RI, Italy, Argentina, to my cousin who was one of the first to challenge (and win against) the Vatican regarding the Priest abuses - I hope I have been of service to a cause greater than myself. I so miss practicing, I miss my patients, watching them grow, advising them, being there for them. I see it as the end of a love affair yet, I know that the future hold promise with the intention for HOPE and CHANGE. Thanks for listening to me rant about a subject close to my heart.

An aggressive treatment plan :wings and wishes

2009-02-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

The wings of a bird or a plane taunt us with new adventures, new horizons!
I liken wings as symbolic of my love of travel, new smells, new faces, new tastes...
For me wings are associated with freedom, otherworldliness,transformation, perhaps a sense of magic,or that which we do not truly understand in a quantifiable,say, scientific way!
Wings connect me to my wishes and dreams. Et viola,here are some of my favorite saved images to share! Take a whirl!

Every wish needs an enchanted castle- this one is in France ,Chateau Monbrun ...it is said that Richard the Lionheart died at this location after a battle.

These photos are from Graham Green Brocante - love the telephone wires and the birds perched on there, and the fencing! wow!
May your day or night be filled with wishes that come true! Cheers from the south of France

Medical Monday' s Musings: Inspiration & Illness

2009-02-02T09:15:00.000-08:00

Here is a sampling of some of my work using choreography, sculpture, photography and poetry to express the profound ways in which diseases are impacted by the human spirit and the human spirit is affected by diseases.

These performances were fortunately well received at the American Medical Women's Association in Atlanta. They reflected my commitment (as well a large group of professional and nonprofessional artist's commitments) to exploring the relationship of the Arts ,Spirituality and Medicine. I have previously shared this passion with my blogland friends because it has been so meaningful to me as a clinician and patient .

This work demonstrates the arts abiltiy to explore various disease states- Cancers, Affective Disorders, Cardiac Illness,the Surgical setting among just a few.

This was called Dark Night of the Soul- I was invited to create a piece about depression and suicide on behalf of a physician who lost her battle with this lifethreatening disease at an early age. It was an opportunity to "reframe" clinicians perspective of the disease in a biochemical, behavioral and social context.

Below is a piece called Tour de Force- about the nature of Breast Cancer,its affects on the family, groups, body image, sexuality, and motherhood. The sculpture is by Christiane Corbat

Truly, there is a movement out there in the medical world which recognizes the value of spirituality in any of its forms or traditions-do explore this subject because I believe that regardless of our religious or cultural backgrounds that there are universal truths which bind us and inspire us during times of crisis or illness or loss. I find that knowing the medical world has opened up to embrace all facets, or at least more facets of the our healing potentials , might be reassuring to all of us.

like Dr. Herbert Benson's Harvard Mind ,Medicine and Spirituality Conferences,
like Waking Dreams & Warrior Women's programs

like the work of Christina Puchalski, MD

Puchalski, M.D."

Dr. Puchalski is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Health Care Sciences at The George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish), a center that develops educational, clinical, and research programs for physicians and other healthcare professionals regarding the role of spirituality and health in medicine. Dr. Puchalski is an internationally known leader in the field of spirituality and health and a recognized pioneer in the field, especially in curriculum development for Spirituality and Health. Her curriculum has received honors and has been the model for innovative curricula throughout the country. Through her efforts, over 75% of medical schools today teach courses in spirituality and health.

My work has intersected Christina's work to a some degree in my authorship of a chapter in her bookA time for Listening and Caring and End of Life Issues---.The Arts: A Nondenominational Tool for Reconnecting Spirituality & Medicine, Oxford Press chapter 20

Monday's medical musings are not so painful,yes?

Tommorrow night is about wings:

friday's fanastic find-

2009-01-30T15:32:00.000-08:00

If only the world would break out in contagious,utterly blissful dancing- this is made to share!

Music as Healing, Medical Data supports!Tuesday Tunes!

2009-01-27T03:43:00.000-08:00

Edith Piaf

2009-01-26T12:02:00.000-08:00

A post of gratitude to some of my visitors from around the world-Iran,London,England,Thailand, Nashville, Tennessee, North Holland, Lithuania, Paris - what a gift to see visitors who make blogging feel like a connection to a far away land. Here in South of France, it has been stormy and blustery, with the sun making its debut late this afternoon. I joined the sun on the horizon of the beach, where sand and sky and a sailboat met. I was blessed to have my sister-in-law here where we were sharing a chat while her sweet son slept. I want to share the vista with you all and hope it brightens your day and inspires hopeful thoughts and hugs among you and your loved ones. and yes, these photos represent the summer vistas---the gift of summer seasons and vacations to come!

TREATMENT- LIFELINE: an infusion of HOPE,DREAMS,PROMISES and yes,I detected alot of LOVE!!

2009-01-21T07:16:00.000-08:00

What struck me throughout the day yesterday? as well as today- is the feeling of a global connectedness , a feeling like when the grinch's heart, grew and grew and grew....revealing possibilities long forgotten.

I could not help thinking of a favorite Eleanor Roosevelt quote which I often shared with my teen patients --"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." and
"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness"

We have all been witnesses of these truths, what a gift !! made more special by sharing it. have blissful day!

ps the photo is from The Huffington Post

Share the Hope!

2009-01-18T22:43:00.000-08:00

Hooray! To see the contagious hope and vitality of the crowds at the "We are One" Inaugural Concert in Washington has been real soul food! May the best intentions and their related actions give rise to healing the effects of the last 8 years!!! Joy and Hope --!

MTV's Be The Change: Live From The Inaugural - Celebrity News

Eye Candy for Dance Addicts from Richard Calmes

2009-01-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

Richard's post-war career as an architect, along with his dedicated athleticism as a distance aerobic athlete, laid the groundwork for his artistic appreciation of another form of "flight" – the world of dance. His wife and daughter were immersed in classical ballet, and Richard, the architect-artist-athlete, discovered great beauty and inspiration in this most visually ephemeral of art forms.

Richard Calmes Dance Photography

angelica burgos photo above -wow

below the uncanny images of a dancer interfacing with the ordinary!

The Mind's Mythic Landscapes- the raw material of artistic expression

2009-01-16T16:00:00.000-08:00

"Christina's World," 1948Christina'"Christina's World," 1948

"Christinac's Worldcc," 1main immobiliwzed and dependent.

Andrew Wyeth died today at the age of 91. Aside from the one painting here of his wife smiling , his work is known mostly for a rather melancholy portrayal of rural American scenes- they are veiled in a brownish ,gray hues like that of his living space.

This reminds me of the transformative power of art to create meaning out of the mundane allowing us a privaleged entry into other's inner worlds.
It creates connections where there may have been none, or understanding where it is lacking.
His most famous painting, 1948 's Christina's World- takes on special meaning when this woman in the dreary, overcast field was captured in her crab-like gesture crawling up the hill due to her physically handicapped condition.
We are told that Wyeth saw dignity in her perserverance. Even without seeing her face ,I am drawn by her grace which seems frozen in time.

May the skies this weekend bring sun and warmth to you all, peace in Gaza and comfort from your family and friends--and pets!!

It has been quite a week and not to go all victorian on you, but, the idea of lounging on one these beautiful couches is very appealing!

2009-01-15T12:01:00.000-08:00

replaying old favorites, like music or re-reading an old love letter- good for the soul

2009-01-09T12:47:00.000-08:00

(f.y.i. this photo below is from a piece I choreographed with Donald Acevedo below for the American Medical Women's Association conference in Atlanta-creativity is truly healing!! for those of you, bloggy friends who are curious ,I will share what the piece was about?)

old and dear,life-giving friends are great medecine!!!

you know those special life-giving friends....when you meet someone who transforms your path into an adventure,a kind of surreal,magical,awe inspiring place??
I have heard it said that we are lucky to have a handful of such friends who serve as mirrors into our best selves,who make the ordinary seem and feel truly extraordinary?
Who are those people in your life? When did you last connect via a telephone chat or e-mail or visit?
Today I had such a connection with a dear friend - a professional dancer & pilates teacher- who,telephoned from the states while I was at the beach with my daughter,Miss A. We laughed,caught up and for me I remembered the best parts of myself in hearing this voice from the past honoring the present,like an echo!

We shared a dream with others when slowly a group formed and the dream grew bigger until we were choreographing multi-media performances for hundreds in cities in the pre-9/11 USA and in Europe. It seemed our creativity and convictions inspired things far bigger then each of us alone could have attained! Waking Dreams was the name we felt best described our shared vision of connecting the Arts and Medecine!

Lastly,just to pass on some inspiration ,I will add some gorgeous photos which depict dance in this breath taking,for me healing, fashion- these photos are from Felicity, who had the most magnificant blog , but, she left the blog world and I will always be grateful to her for her

insightful directives and postings ! I do miss All things Bright and Beautiful !!
Photographer: Ralph Mecke

if you know what happened to her ,let me know- ! I pray that all is well!

Have a great weekend where ever you are--- let the light of the full moon inspire you!!

Passing it backwards -apparently, this is highly contagious, via Creme de la Mode!!!

2009-01-08T01:47:00.000-08:00

After purusing the news on the internet this am, I announced to my sweet french hubby that I thought I should lay off the news, eventhough I want to be informed , I realized it really be a bummer. So to counter this side effect, my antidote was to check out my favorite bloggers:

Here is where I went to get my infusion of hope and a morning giggle - to a rocking,upbeat blog, Creme de la Mode !
here the "cone girls or creme girls", as they call themselves, dazzle me with perky posts, no pun intended!
Hence, this post was no different and they chose a resource which is a favorite of mine, The Huffington Post- ok, so out with it ,you say, what is so contagious?

Prescription : Take once , repeat again if necessary in 1d!

must read carefully, unbelievable results.

by Arthur Rosenfeld, courtesy of The Huffington Post

Just before Christmas of 2007, almost exactly a year ago, I steered into a Starbucks drive-thru line for a cup of tea on my way to teach a morning tai chi lesson. There were a few cars in line, and I got in behind them. When my turn came I gave my order at the billboard menu and moved up as far as I could while waiting patiently for the cars in front of me to get through the cashier line. While the South Florida weather would probably would have felt tropical to much of the rest of the country, I was a bit chilled and was looking forward to my hot drink.

The fellow in the SUV behind me reached the menu. Dissatisfied with the alignment between his mouth and the microphone, he laid on his horn, leaned out his window, yelled an insult and exhorted me to move up. There was nowhere to go. I was in a line, and mere inches separated my car from the one in front of me. Indignant at rudeness, I felt my temper come up, and because I am a pure and enlightened being who entertains nothing but positive thoughts, I reached for the door handle with the intention popping out of the car, taking a few steps, reaching into his open window, and sending him to the dentist for a holiday visit.

I’ll show you what happens to rude and impatient people, I thought. I’ll teach you that a martial artist is waiting in every car around you with the express mission of settling the world down into just the fair, quiet, and patient place they think it should be. Running that tape in my head, my ire grew even further. Testosterone and adrenaline flooded my body and in a few seconds I had transformed from the peaceful, content, slightly thirsty writer/teacher to a raving lunatic. My heartbeat was up, my hands were clammy, my muscles were tense, and the whole world had constricted down to the tiny business of completing my hostile mission.

Then I glanced in the mirror. The face of the impatient driver behind me was florid and twisted with anger and hate. I refocused my eyes and noticed that my own face didn’t look much different. Whatever plague had taken him had penetrated the steel and glass of my car to infect me too, robbing me of my much-vaunted equilibrium, my peace, my balance, my equanimity–precisely that thing that my beloved tai chi training, and the Chinese philosophy behind it prizes most highly.

I teach my students that it is best not to lose that balance–wuji in Chinese–through meditation, breathing, and tai chi training, but when you do, you can use any of three “doors” to get it back. Door number one is meeting force with force: I could go ahead and start a fight. Door number two is yielding: I could kowtow on the concrete, admit to being an idiot, and beg the other driver’s forgiveness. The best option, however, is door number three. That door is different every time. The trick is to figure out what that is.

The car in front of me moved off and I pulled up to pay. “I’d like to buy the coffee for the guy behind me,” I said.

The barista looked at me in surprise. “But he’s a jerk!”

“Just having a bad day, ” I said. “Happens to the best of us.”

“A random act of kindness, eh?”

I shook my head, thinking how I could explain door number three to her before the guy rammed my bumper with his. “Not really. I’m not doing it for him; I’m doing it for me. I was mad right back at him, but now that I’m doing this I feel much better.”

I had only a $10 bill in my wallet, and I handed it over. She checked her order screen. “He has ordered breakfast for five people. It’s a lot more than ten dollars.”

That gave me pause. I’d already regain my wuji. Did I really need to go through with more? I took out my credit card and handed it over.

She searched my face. “You’re sure?”

“Do it,” I said.

After I’d signed the charge slip, I drove away without a backward glance. I had found my door number three, was finished with the act, and indeed was already forgetting about it. I didn’t want to meet the guy on the road, either to hear thanks or more yelling, so I took a circuitous root to my lesson, avoiding the main highway.

Six hours later, I returned home to find my answering machine full of messages from the Starbucks manager, and from a reporter for NBC news. They had me using my credit card information. Apparently the guy behind me had continued my act of giving and the person behind him had done the same, and on and on. No doubt encouraged by the store manager, the chain was intact well into the afternoon. NBC covered the story.

Consciousness

The news spread around the world. Within 24 hours I had received calls and e-mails from as far away as Australia. The key point, of course, is that I had performed a random act of consciousness rather than a random act of kindness. I’d nearly lost my cool, had retrieved it, and done something good for myself and someone else in the process.

In a sense, you can think of this as self-centered, but in a good way. Keeping your cool, maintaining your wuji is just like putting your own oxygen mask on in a damaged airplane before helping those around you. If you pass out, you can’t help anyone. If you lose your temper, you are of no good to the world. Cool, calm and collected you are ready and willing to participate in the world.

Violent crimes and burglaries are up this holiday season. The financial crisis is creating anxiety, depression, desperation and anger. Spread the word about wuji. Do your best to control your own feelings before acting rashly. Think twice before doing or saying something you’ll regret. Random acts of consciousness are perhaps even more contagious than random acts of kindness. Raise your level of view, dig deep for perspective, and help make this a more peaceful holiday season for everyone.

dance,dance,dance -doctors orders!

2009-01-05T10:19:00.000-08:00

Image LevT-click on images forURL

photo 2 is by a superb french photographer Philippe Pedat

Aside from these gorgeous photos!!! check this blog I stumbled on!!
ok gang-here is a midwinter perk! a bolt of great energy A Cuban In London - here is a blissful,upbeat blogger, go there and have whirl ---do you not feel like you have found a gemstone on a sandy beach when you discover a new beautiful blog just knowing that the spirit behind the blog is out there in the blogosphere - kind of re-assuring,yes! Like an angel sighting!

Do check out his post on this movie--- a dream.....gives you goosebumps, like a movie has captured to the bliss of harmony on screen using music and dance!!! Lastly to see this harmony in motion click below and savor
pure joy!!!

Hombre Mirando al Sudeste'

If only wars could be surgically excised ? art as diagnostic??

2009-01-05T03:15:00.000-08:00

I believe art can be a window to our subconscious as well as our conscious,hence it prompted me to look at the artwork of painters from Palestine and Israel because of their ongoing conflicts.

This first image is by an artist from Palestine by the name of Zuhdie al Adawi He spent time in prison and began to create his images on fabric which were smuggled out by visiting relatives as a way to communicate his experience-the barred window and fiery building dominate the painting with a dark misery related to his confinement.
Likewise , this second painter,Samar Ghttass also a palestian artist,
chose to paint an outlet ,like the window- which is a door,yes, I knew we would get that !! It is however, closed and the threshold is covered by crumbling rocks. Not particularly optimistic symbols. and yet in each painting there are symbols of HOPE and PEACE, at least that is how I see them- a rainbow in the upper one and a dove in the lower one. Even amidst trauma, the human spirit clings to HOPE-

I wonder if the pain of the traumas and restrictions prevent people from accessing their best inner resources for creating meaningful change? I know from medicine that this is so ,yet when applied to a society rooted in a long history of violence,displacement, and wars- is the human spirit so overwhelmed that they are incapable of trusting and halting their attempts for change even if it is self destructive and provocative-as is shooting rockets into a neighboring nation?

The painting here by David Gerstein,an Israeli artist,
reflects an openness, using similar symbols- here though there are open windows, playful figures, flowers and space!

Similarly,Pamela Silver's colorful, yes, vibrant rendering of a garden has trees,plants and life giving space that breaths calm and creativity.

It looks like the first set of paintings reflect a very traumatized culture who may need help sorting out viable solutions and yet, the second set of painting reflects a society with more resources to think outside the box--to react with a set of options that are not primitive, cruel and backward moving- it is like reopening a wound to such a degree that it will not heal and perhaps become outrageously infected,thus fulminating and contaminating others.

My hope is a cease fire can be brought about somehow !!!

if only physicians,like my Dad, could heal themselves

2009-01-02T15:23:00.000-08:00

It still feels like I am traversing the end of 2008 and the welcome start of the new year. Something I have left behind with longing regret is knowing my Dad as he was before the veil of Alzheimer's fell more tightly upon him.

The Dad I knew was a surgeon for infants and children,one of the first twelve trained in the USA. He was rather a legend in our small state. He usually had an entourage of residents, medical students and foreign physicians following him everywhere. He loved teaching the students in the operating room , on the wards and intensive care units. He could be spotted in his white coat and his characteristic bow tie or his scrubs. Families of his young patients knew him to be available and willing to ease their emotional distress with long explanations and diagrams. The nurses throughout the hospital could always count on him to put in an IV or access a port or assess a problem. In addition,there were those who thought he had a special sense of impending disaster and intuitively was in the right place at the right time when a young patient, not necessarily his own,would go into crisis. He was surely called to serve the sick and dying. He was my mentor and my reason for studying all those long years to become a pediatrician. He caste a big shadow and now he is being cared for by some of his patient's mothers who work as nurses in the hospital where he lives. So perhaps the sense of saying goodbye to the Dad I knew all those years has made me reticent to enter into the reality of 2009. At little bit at time was my father's favorite saying...

bliss in action,a choice...an attitude! Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T07:11:00.000-08:00

mon amour doing his thing- loving the process and wood and the history of the Hotel Particulaire from the middle ages located in the Herault. My your new year allow for following your bliss too!!!

and here's to new creative talent featuring long living style

2008-12-30T12:47:00.000-08:00

From L'Armoire de nos Coeurs>
timeless designs for easy feelings, fresh clean and ethereal-

No, Mr. Potter of It's A Wonderful Life, was not Right- that would be Thomas Jefferson who over 200years ago knew the score!

2008-12-30T06:15:00.000-08:00

'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'

Thomas Jefferson 1802

"je pense que les institutions bancaires sont plus dangereuses pour nos libertés que des armées entières prêtes au combat. Si le peuple américain permet un jour que des banques privées contrôlent leur monnaie, les banques et toutes les institutions qui fleuriront autour des banques priveront les gens de toute possession, d'abord par l'inflation, ensuite par la récession, jusqu'au jour où leurs enfants se réveilleront, sans maison et sans toit, sur la terre que leurs parents ont conquis"

Thomas Jefferson 1802
so throw out all the adoration for those who have for too long been adored and who for too long have merited unwarrented trust- here's to new beginnings, simple and clean and fair!

Post Holiday Shopping, nope- I will have none of that!

2008-12-28T12:35:00.000-08:00

Just like the guys at
Extremely Poor Richard’$ Almanac we are working on the premise that old fashioned fun is back in style. yes, how cozy can sitting around the fire playing cards and making cookies or preparing a luscious pasta dinner be....no reason to feel consumer deprived...saving is what it is all about,the cool crowd do not waste nor want...a return to the basics, heck, I may try knitting. From their site you can check out Jane Fonda's Dad in the photo from Grapes of Wrath, a cheerful film for the kids -it will make them count their
blessings for internet and all things techy! and I thank corine at
Hidden in France for her lead to yet the new funny link above-Bravo!

ps photo credit unknown save for Julien24340612 jpeg, if you know please ,do tell

simplify and reduce the stress and the associated cost

2008-12-26T12:02:00.000-08:00

get comfy on a couch in front of the fire!

Summer children and dreamy vintage photography

2008-06-27T14:13:00.000-07:00

why do black and white photos make us dream? capture our imaginations the way they do? as a pediatrician I wonder if it how we first viewed the world ,the images seen by infants are in black and whites and grays? hum?

here are some fabulous vintage photos of Frank Horvat from the 50's and 60's- magical and different in that they contain children along side the models! I know my children are finished with school and are beachside and very much with me...

and this one is fun because it reminds me of the feather duster when the children help with chores before beach time!

ps Frank Horvatland
1928 :Né le 28 avril, à Abbazia, Italie (maintenant Opatija, Croatia).
Mon père Karl, était médecin pédiâtre. Ma mère, Adele Edelstein, était médecin et psychoanalyste.

pss I have been studying for my continuing medical credits and as such have not been blogging,but, thanks for stopping by- it is always great to hear from you !

What was the contagion at the French outdoor village dancing fetes?

2008-06-14T16:23:00.000-07:00

Ok,it is Saturday night and this is the second night of our village fete--this is how it works in our region: each village,no matter how small,ie a 1000 inhabitants or so, hosts a full weekend or 5 day feast,partying, meals and a live,talented 12-20 piece bands...and the French are very clever having each village takes a different weekend so there is always a live event-FREE live event---community, connections... joyous, real, palpable...everyone is included ....ok,are you, still with me?

What exactly was it that was so contagious? we were some of us strangers,some were descendents from generations of wine makers...I suppose it makes sense that my family and I would catch it....!!!

www.paulselmer.com

I did not expect it to happen so fast though...

Picture this...folks of all ages from babies in strollers to the elderly ,to the handicapped all partying from 6pm to 2-3am....of, course there is a 3 course meal, luscious wine and dancing mania,clapping and tonight they even did a line dance orginating from the middle ages but, with a country western-like tune...oola!!! ... here above are the photos from the this delightful soiree fete !!

By now it is not a surprise really, in a setting of old fashion, non consumerism fun.... with movement, music and laughter we all got it ,yes, an intense infusion of PURE JOY!!! Utterly devine!

For this reason, I am reminded why I am thrilled to live here and have my children catch this bug of authentique living,breathing outdoor fun! Gratitudes abound- definately no need for treatment here! And for those of you coming soon to France in the summer months...you might find yourself at risk of catching this so be on the alert-LOL

stephanecambon.com

old and dear,life-giving friends are great medecine

2008-06-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

you know those special life-giving friends....when you meet someone who transforms your path into an adventure,a kind of surreal,magical,awe inspiring place??
I have heard it said that we are lucky to have a handful of such friends who serve as mirrors into our best selves,who make the ordinary seem and feel truly extraordinary?
Who are those people in your life? When did you last connect via a telephone chat or e-mail or visit?
Today I had such a connection with a dear friend - a professional dancer & pilates teacher- who,telephoned from the states while I was at the beach with my daughter,Miss A. We laughed,caught up and for me I remembered the best parts of myself in hearing this voice from the past honoring the present,like an echo!

We shared a dream with others when slowly a group formed and the dream grew bigger until we were choreographing multi-media performances for hundreds in cities in the pre-9/11 USA and in Europe. It seemed our creativity and convictions inspired things far bigger then each of us alone could have attained! Waking Dreams was the name we felt best described our shared vision of connecting the Arts and Medecine!

Lastly,just to pass on some inspiration ,I will add some gorgeous photos which depict dance in this breath taking,for me healing, fashion- these photos are from Felicity at All things Bright and Beautiful
Photographer: Ralph Mecke

art and the blessed variety of women's form throughout the ages

2008-05-24T16:14:00.000-07:00

This great presentation was created by a talented french graphic artist CALI REZO

This work depicts the evolution of the female form using art!

I sure wished I had had this tool in my pediatric and adolescent office when I was working on art and healing projects with teens with body image destortions and eating disorders!
Get this,I used to use long pieces of examining table paper which my patient and I would put on the floor and then we would trace his or her body shape. Most often they had determined it would have been much bigger than it turned out to be in reality. Then they would take the paper tracing home and creat a collage within the space using words,objects or colors which later we would discuss.

It was very rewarding work for both of us-They discovered their unconscious symbols by using them to create a rich,detailed mosaic which portrayed their inner beauty.

They told their story in a visual way full of textures and subliminal meanings and they learned to honor their own stories within their own forms!
It was a wonderful collaborative connection and made me feel grateful to be witnessing a healing they brought about for themselves.

Let's face it the mass media is still pushing stick figures forms,prepubital at that! so when I came across this piece by CALI REZO I thought hooorah someone has taken the time and used her talents to give women a wake up call that no, the beauty of the female form has varied over time and within cultures.

It has been altered by the socio-economics and the art and design of the times!
Here the artist shares that fullness and curvatiousness of a women was initially related to her strength and potentially a sign of fertility!

So lighten up , it may be bathing suit season soon but, let's reframe,after all choose any form and it relates to a work or period of art!

reminiscing- the beauty of visual memories

2008-05-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

Sitting in the pink room full of sunshine with the light dancing off the chandelier and the long antique spotted mirror above the rose marble fireplace, I am blessed with snoring, yes,with the snoring- like hum of my two canine friends. Bailey is a Cavelier King Charles,red haired and a tad overweight and Nutella, a yorkie with an attitude like that of a New York City Cop. He stands at attention upon hearing the slightest noise. Right now they are both snuggled on the old iron bed by my feet. Sounds simple enough, not fancy or very exciting but, it does summarize the peaceful, simple pleasures of my lifestyle as a french mother living with my soul mate,thierry and my sweet children.Now how come this interlude is ever so special- because it was a long road here from the fast paced lifestyle of a New England Doctor .And for this passage I am grateful.

This was our old kitchen and I dare sare I miss it sooo much! I will have faith that our new old house will be transformed with more love ,care and €€€€ 's

who knows who the little girl is in the photo banner?

2008-05-22T16:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some hints:
She lived in the late 1800's
She is french.
She believed in doing good in little ways.
She had 2 sisters who chose the same life work.
She has a special relationship with roses.
I am almost sure you know who it is?!!!

Strikes and fonctionaires

2008-05-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Ok,so I did the lazy,I do not want get out of my car/golf cart sized vehicle to pump my own gazole thing and was running on fumes to take my youngest to school when I began to detect long lines at all Petrol stations!
hoorah for electric cars!!!
***
Alas, huffing under my breath that Bush and his cronies at Haliburton( spell much?) have struck another deal with the oil mongers to raise the price of oil to 130$ a barrel, I sighed " great another day of feeling ashamed of the USA's policies which inconvenience the rest of the world "
-huh,down another couple more streets, an illegal U-rurn and I am still noting the lines getting longer at each new station! So when I finally stopped it took me only an hour to reach the pump to find out that my lane had no more gazole! eeek!

I cleverly asked a kind and stylish french woman if she would let me back up into her lane to access her pump- et viola, diplomacy and human connections worked ...then after filling my tank, miniscule that it is for a mere 80usd ,I reached into my trunk to offer her a smashing reusable shopping bag with chic lipstick covered smiles in various shades! She was delighted as ,was I- kindness being passed on in the midst of chaos and panic. You never know when an few extra gifts in the trunk will come in handy?

You see in France there are strikes by all transit related businesses, as well as the unhappy fonctionaires and sanctions by the fisherman and mariners because the price of gas has risen so steeply infringing on profits and increasing expenses. True activism at its best even if rather inconvenient. So get this, to make a point the fisherman/mariners have blocked all the ports where the petrol arrives to coerce the government with true French dramatic flame that their rights have been messed with- kind of like the docs in the USA blocking entry of medications at hospitals and pharmacies bec/ the rights of patients and folks who care for them are being threatened....hum, bold moves,yes, effective? yes...the mariners just recieved some 47million euros in gov funds and created enormous awareness with their antics!

so to relax I took a gander at some fun and well worth visiting blogs:they are coming to France too- intelligent and well read ,talented expats to shake up the norm here!
According to b
Funtions of Time

no folks,these spots are not really contagious!

2008-05-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

ok ,they are kind of catchy- in that they are cute and colorful and fun for yogurts, petit swiss,fresh fruit or individual quiches or tartes! and the mugs are real coffee sized --reminiscent of a Starbucks grand! These cute little items I found at McDan's with my friend Teresa. This store is an inexpensive deco type store- the closest thing to TJ Maxx-when one needs a little gift in a hurry!If anyone finds them irresistable they are so inexpensive and tiny enough to post!

These are cool for lining shelves or drawers or the French use them for their outdoor tables-I still prefer cloth!

and as I promised some of my new finds for gorgeous blogs related to deco!
An Indian
Summer a special blog with heavenly photos, real eye candy!!

Poppy Fields-another american expat who has captured the glory of the poppies! super photos!
La Belette Rouge
an extremely well written blog which can move us and inspire us,oh and also soon to be here in France!

fresh air and good food and blog viewing ,this weeks prescription for myself!!

2008-05-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

wowie- I can not believe it is the weekend again and I have been enjoying too many great blogs this week, working on my funny garden and eating lots of cherries, which are ripe now in the region! I have been on passementerie a traveler and francophile,style diary, fun blog! -she and I were certainly on the same ecologic track when we found these shopping trolleys which my kids too ,refer to as my grandma trolley!
trolleys from MacDans for going to the marché
and below the one passementrie featured-

these days in a french life
another expat american living in france who is a down to earth food writer and mother and travel enthusiat with authentic convictions to simple living- in practical ways! also adorable photos of her beautiful little girl!

I believe that sharing is the essence of blogging for me and honoring other like-minded,creative, earth loving bloggers with good taste! I have more shopping bags to share that put a smile on your face at check out-but, that will be tommorrow! as well as more inspiring blogs I have discovered!
have a super weekend,may the sun shine where ever you are and remember to stop by and say hello again soon!

yes,long weekend in France, recommending rest and moving meditation ---

2008-05-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

inspiration can come from sacred yet,abandoned spaces!!!

designers guild colors reminded me of these sublime photos below of Fulvio Romiti

very talented artist who can translate a form of pentimento in such a sublime way --it makes me want to hear the laughter of the students at the abandoned boarding school

it makes me want to dance to their old songs,

it makes me think of the colors of early spring,

it conveys, joys and sorrows

it was created by a

very talented artist and, Italian of course,Fulvio Romiti

photos cna take you to places of the spirit-

http://www.flickr.com/people/wenevereverlied/Fulvio Romiti

a waking dream of hope for change OBAMA

2008-05-07T13:57:00.000-07:00

I am an Ivy league trained physician.

I am a teacher of medical students and residents.

I am a patient too, who learned 1st hand what it meant to be ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES -- one of THE insured in America, as a cancer patient!

I am a doctor who picketed and bucked the system to advocate for my patients rights and their care!

I was audited! I was sanctioned and eventurally, even I ,as a physician, could NOT keep up with the 20 percent yearly increases in healthcare premiums- so I left the USA---a healthcare refugee!

I emmigrated to France where everyone has the right to receive healthcare!

From here, I have watched the primaries and the unfair war in Iraq ,the dropping dollar value, and the plummeting USA reputation!

I have ONE CURRENT HOPE---- THAT THE USA WILL WAKE UP TO THEIR FOUNDING DREAMS BY ELECTING BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!!!!

">The world needs him and America NEEDS HIM---now!!!

this came to me tonoc from PARIS PARFAIT

please pass on the hope for change and vote for OBAMA!!!!

please note Clinton, Hilary sold out long ago and ruptured the chance to honest healthcare by selling out to the highest bidder, namely the 3rd party payers !!!

EXERCISE IS GOOD FOR OUR HEALTH!! and it shows!!!

2008-05-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

MICHEAL KORS NORTROM
JANTZEN
jUICY COUTURE

ok,it is bathing suit season à la plage! and yes,I agree with All Things Bright and Beautiful,blogger,that we need some retro one piece bathing suits which enhance by suggestion and are not of the string variety! At least for me because I like the comfort of a one piece for swimming and sun protection yet, I do not want to look like I am in a swim meet!

However, here in France the mediterrenean beaches sport all sizes and shapes-of women of all ages who comfortably opt for topless-the french are great about loving their own body images, embracing the way nature changes us over the years! does this not broaden my own warped, media influencedd size 2 for all women or else you have become a close cousin to the beached whale point of view? Alas, there I was in a mini dress,size 8, while the glamorous french women sported olive skin tanned toplessness! I know, get over it!

asking for prayers for another ex-pat and her father who is in intensive care

2008-04-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

photo courtesy of Tongue in Cheek tongue in cheek,author,corey amaro's dad is sick and each day she writes a gorgeous post about the surreal life of caring for a loved one who is critically sick- she is gifted in many ways! please visit her blog and more importantly send a prayer or a positive thought her way!!related to this:

the intangible,unseen,formidable power of prayer is real and somehow when most needed, palpable- finally medicine is realizing that while often not quantifiable by scientifically sound methods -prayer is beyond a doubt REAL!! In a 2006,book I was asked to write a small chapter about the medicine and spirituality-called  "The Arts: A Nondenominational Tool for Reconnecting Spirituality & Medicine", Oxford Press chapter 20 of Christina Puchalski, MD's A Time for Listening and Caring End of Life Issues.
Interestingly,it was prefaced by the Dali Lama who,among others, has joined Dr. Herbert Benson,(of Harvard's Mind,body, Medicine) to explore further these amazing questions and feelings about spirit and healing and life and passing on to our other home...all this to say, it is a good book made for all readers for precisely this juncture of decision making and it is done in a way to honor the whole person,not just the physical, through this extraordinary journey!
my prayers abound for you and your dad and family!
betheanne

followings one's inner voice,intuition and/or faith?

2008-04-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

sometimes I wonder why I chose the name of my blog to be dancing doc design- it is a good question really!
when I was little I loved to dance,I studied classical ballet under a strict yet, talented teacher,among any other types of dance I could find,save tap! I choreograghed pieces using modern and jazz and ballet technique as early as 11 years old. I soon found a school where I could dance 3 hours a day and get this,even merit a varsity letter-who knew?
Northfield Mount Hermon,a small boarding school in the hill of western Massechusetts, was where I learned to believe in myself and my dancing! It is where I felt my wings grow, where I felt my faith connect with music,lyrics and movements to tell a story or highlight a sentiment.

Dancing made me feel whole,tall,large,and connected with a creative force which I knew to be not entirely mine, I was but, an instument of something greater,(this was also how I felt when practicing medicine!) Dancing to me is about resonance! Resonance is about connections and I BELIEVE WE ALL FEEL MORE ALIVE WHEN WE DANCE!
at least I do! Hence the dancing in my blog name. I will share more about the rest of the title as I go on.....

Concrete Diagnosis Under Foot!

2008-04-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

these fine patterned tiles are concrete tiles of late 1800's and are typical for the southern french village homes of the period-âpparently the previous owners,being antique dealers,appreciated their monetary value and striped our home of virtually all of them,except for one room,the salon which we use as our bedroom! Our former village house sported 10 rooms all in different yet related patterns! I would love to retrieve photos of more examples of these patterns. Note that the tiles are said to be cool on the bare feet of the hot southern French summers!a kind of airconditoning for the feet,sort of reverse theory for floor heat,I would say!

TAKE 2 PINK AND GOLD CHAIRS AND CALL ME IN THE MORNING§

2008-04-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

photos courtesy of Vogue-Living and All Things bright and Beautiful
hoorah for cyberspace connections, serendipity and all that- over at a favorite blog of mine I smiled the big one today bec:
&-great minds think alike
&-for me I found a pair, yes, 2 pink and gold chairs at a local brocante ,which had been crying out for me to buy them since last fall! I offered half the going price and whammy-immediate retail therapy relief. Actually I could not believe that these chairs were still there and would fit in nicely with the Napoleon III architecture! Vogue-Living and I have taken the same prescription for a spring day !swell!

Injecting some coziness on a decorating budget of zero!

2008-04-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

well,my perhaps, naive belief is that it is a piece of cake to design exquisite spaces if one has a large budget but, to use only things on hand in new ways, transforming old curtains into say a new duvet cover,à la Sound of Music's,Marie, or an old window pane into a vehicle for light refraction and reflection.... that feels like something of value to me- ok, I tell myself, beauty is an ever changing perspective, a new lens for enjoying old things!
Like my Grandma's old ice cream chairs from her ice cream shop from the early 1900's,infused with memories from long sunny afternoons under grapevines among family and friends!
Like a tati couch comfy from lounging covered with say, an old set of curtains !
Saint Thérèse's tender black and white photos taken by her sister Celine inspiring me to embrace that there is a gift in everything!
-
That is why I adore the blog - all things bright and beautiful - indeed this is a perspective of beauty in all shapes and forms!! And Decor8 noting that she is away now, but has some grat leads---and of course another expat,Corey Amaro ,a gifted writer and fine inspirational individual and Tongue in Cheek !!!these are women with a focused lens for beauty and style makers!

grandma's chairs

2008-04-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

wim wender's wings of desire

like objects with a story to tell from a child's point of view-

This reminds me of one of my favorite movies Wings of Desire-

"The sky over Wenders' war-scarred Berlin is full of gentle, trenchcoated angels who listen to the tortured thoughts of mortals and try to comfort them. One, Damiel (Bruno Ganz), wishes to become mortal after falling in love with a beautiful trapeze artist, Marion (Solveig Dommartin). Peter Falk, as himself, assists in the transformation by explaining the simple joys of a human experience, such as the sublime combination of coffee and cigarettes.

Told from the angel's point of view, the film is shot in black and white, blossoming into color only when the angels perceive the realities of humankind. Ultimately, Damiel determines that he must experience humanity in full, and breaks through in to the real world to pursue a life with Marion.

A hugely acclaimed and multi-award winning movie including Best Director for Wenders at Cannes 1987; which was remade in 1998 into City of Angels starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan."

Song of Childhood
By Peter Handke

When the child was a child
It walked with its arms swinging,
wanted the brook to be a river,
the river to be a torrent,
and this puddle to be the sea.

When the child was a child,
it didn’t know that it was a child,
everything was soulful,
and all souls were one.....

courtesy of-
Wim Wender's Wings of Desire

do heart transplants involve need for new linens?

2008-04-21T14:04:00.000-07:00

When I refer to a heart transplant I mean the moving of our hearts to new spaces, new homes - like we just did,from one village house to another-from one country to another so ..........
loooking for heart warming set of french linens by Clair-FONCE these are cozyand make me long for summer! check it out!

A DESIGNING DANCING DOC

2008-04-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

OK,I am back at it, missing my blogging friends although must admit I have been continually,except when internet acting up, visiting my favorite design blogs! This image above is a playful version of our Maison de Maitre, in need of intense resuscitation! new breath,via color,via flowers, via lots of furniture moving, watching the changes of light throughout the house, and retaining a huge sense of HUMOUR! when things get rough with the unpacking and when the projects become tediously slowed down - I am releived to see the beautiful images and inspiring words blogosphere!

avec la joie de vivre- I AM BACK FROM MOVING HOUSE MANIA!!!!

2008-04-16T02:32:00.000-07:00

may it be said we all try in our own ways to find a ray of light, a little or alot of humor, a rosy outlook! where we do it does not matter,what does, is the intention of looking for the good, the bright ,the beautiful, the simple, the bizarre and often mundane truths in the ordinary aspects our lives---a cup of coffee beside a sunny window, the smile of an elderly neighbor, a thank you on the road, the smells of the beach or the newly mowed lawns .... call it a focus of passionate appreciation for our own lives and the spaces we live in with those we love!!for me it is in the South of France, the Midi a region of red earthed mountains and a teal sea....it can be afunny note from a friend or a good joke that has us reeling in laughter like kids ...
for me eventhough today, I have a virus of some form which has my energy on real low-I wanted to begin again with my blogging where i have met such fabulous people with incredible talents and oodles of creativity!

avec la joie de vivre- I AM BACK FROM MOVING HOUSE MANIA!!!!

2008-04-16T02:29:00.000-07:00

oh,yeh poppies are weeds here! too cool!
may it be said we all try in our own ways to find a ray of light, a little or alot of humor, a rosy outlook! where we do it does not matter,what does, is the intention of looking for the good, the bright ,the beautiful, the simple, the bizarre and often mundane truths in the ordinary aspects our lives---a cup of coffee beside a sunny window, the smile of an elderly neighbor, a thank you on the road, the smells of the beach or the newly mowed lawns .... call it a focus of passionate appreciation for our own lives and the spaces we live in with those we love!!for me it is in the South of France, the Midi a region of red earthed mountains and a teal sea....it can be afunny note from a friend or a good joke that has us reeling in laughter like kids ...
for me eventhough today, I have a virus of some form which has my energy on real low-I wanted to begin again with my blogging where i have met such fabulous people with incredible talents and oodles of creativity!

OPERATION NEW HOUSE!!

2008-01-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

Une petite maison bien d'aujourd'hui courtesy of Marie Claire Maison 2008
La styliste Marthe Desmoulins et son compagnon ont transformé une maison du XVIIe en un espace lumineux et coloré, où l'esprit des cabinets de curiosité règne en maître.

new house from old house
I have been tweaking out to tunes with moving boxes and wrapping tape in hand because we DO have a sale in the works for our beloved village house! alas,I have been away from blogging but,still manage to visit yours!
For me,moving is always a mixed bag, full of conflicting feelings yet,on this note I will begin my gratitude list:
§ new opportunies for designing a huge living space in the grenier of our Napoleon III maison de maitre! beams galor!
§ happy entry with stairs!
§ fresh color schemes-uncanny,but true-we actually painted the rooms in a Laduréé palate!
§ garden more accessible with a chateau in view!

my thought for the day!!!!

“We have not even to risk the adventure alone; for the heroes of all time have gone before us; the labyrinth is thoroughly known; we have only to follow the thread of the hero-path. And where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a God; where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves; where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence; where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world.”
joseph campbell

DISSECTING THE BEAUTIFUL LIKE A SURGEON,did I really do this?

2008-01-15T11:54:00.000-08:00

photos of La basilique Saint-Sernin
photos courtesy of office of tourisme in Toulouse
well, for one, it took me a few days away from blog to notice that I actually disected the blogging process, HELLLO!!!
I tried to give a diagnosis and weirdly a prognosis-jeepers-even with the beautiful blogs I read and I am trying to create, I feel a need to hyper-analyze!

I am mighty proud of myself though for catching this - my learning curve is very steep!so beauty for beauty's sake-whimsical, ethereal and visual!!!!

gratitudes list-saw 2 rainbows on our drive to Toulouse today!-a gift of rain,clouds and light,though Eldest tried to capture it on cellphone camera,not a chance!
-had 2 chocolate encounters,one making a fab Nutella bagette breakfast for Youngest and one in warm,cosy,chandelier filled Salon de Tea in Toulouse in the form of Chocolate fondant,shared with Middle
-had a hopeful feeling for the USA primary elections,noting that Obama still leads in delegate votes 25 to Clinton 24-hoooorah, gang, Bush's days are dwindling in office- but,would someone explain what exactly he is doing in the middle east? Is this a joke or what? empty diplomacy after making such a mess with everything....alas, the point here is perhaps there is some hope for change and fresh,authentic ideas and actions and huge change

also if you have not seen All things Brightand Beautiful -TIPS FOR NEW BLOGGERS it is a must! and ParisParfait has a few insights for Bush bunggling ,worth a look,as she is really politically savy with experience in international journalism as well as all things Paris and Antiques!

WOW FACTOR TAG GAME

2008-01-11T08:09:00.000-08:00

the following blogs ,as perhaps you have noticed since I have given birth to BLOG baby, are frequented by me because of the wow factor -I mentioned this recently!!!
my mini analysis is this- what makes me return time and time again?
*beautiful photos-either their own or others
*dream element-kindles healthy longing or appreciation
*fun writing-kind of conversational and/or narrative
*shared stories-a sense of the "genuine"
*inspiration-conveying one's passion for a topic,item or experience
*willinglyness to connect with other bloggers-mighty mentors

allthingsbright&beautiful-Hong Kong
parisparfait-Paris
rang-thecoloursoflife-India
hiddeninfrance-France
tongueincheek-southof France
reddirtramblings-Oklahoma,USA

so now I am going to ask these gems of blogosphere what they sense is their WOW factor special ingredient? I look forward to their answers and your comments too!

the wonder of our focus

2008-01-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

our recent guests have brought back some of the "wow" factor from giving us their new or fresh prospectives-meaning that their observations,comments,or photos tell us something new about something old!
I recently shared with the author of ALL THINGS BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL,of bloggers fame,how she has a real knack for translating her design passions into posts possessing the WOW factor!You can call it eye-candy or great taste but, it is more- it is an underlying way to invite others to see it from a fresh point of view! likewise ,I am now looking at my favorite blogs and I am considering doing a tagging inquiry into what promote the wow factor in each special blog!
but for now, I need some fresh inspiration for our new renovation project! soon to move....
I am starting with bedrooms! these are all from www.CotéSud.fr
looking forward to mu next challenge.

CIEL D'ORAGE- stormy sky bliss and a great blog too!

2008-01-07T11:10:00.000-08:00

Here again the French know how to gracefully move from the hectic holiday season to the rentrée or the return of routine,school and work. How do they do this? They celebrate with a bagel-shaped cake made with almond paste in which they place a small ceramic figure. Whoever gets the figure is king or queen for the epiphany!
A yummy tradition combining comfort food, company,and tradition-good wishes for an easy transition to all! I am finding this blog- cield'orage a masterpiece of camera still lifes which reflect the charm of French lifestyle! Please take a look at WWW.CielD'Orage.com to get a real impression-c'est magnifique!

making memories

2008-01-06T12:43:00.000-08:00

I think alot about how my children will remember our lives together,as I am sure we all do, I try to create settings where they feel welcome to bring friends and where food and or beverages,like tea or coffee or hot chocolate sit steaming in front of them while they giggle or play cards! I love my Grandma's round wooden pedestal table in the center of our kitchen because it reminds me of her. Her sunday italian dinners usually included 25 family members perched on different syle chairs. Their conversations were very animated, as all good Italian-Americans would be- think of TV's best characterizations of this-you get the picture! My Grandma would prepare hundreds of jars of organic tomato sauce on that very table during the 60's ,70's and 80's! she lived in her own home until she was 103 1/2 years old so I figure she had the right idea about staying focused on family and sharing a good cup of coffee with people you love!

step into it!

2008-01-04T12:47:00.000-08:00

yes, this a glimse into small part of my dream to come to France- vast spaces like the grange featured here- this was where the winemakers stored their large pieces of equipment, animals and wine vaults,vats- it was all dirt floored and well, my dream was to have an enchanting ,large space to entertain and DANCE-
viola!! we had a magical evening when the moon was red, I can not remember the scientific conditions which caused this to be so, but, we just used it as a splendid reason for dancing and eating - a mixture of 50 or so french and english speaking ex-pats, of all ages from infants to seniors!!!

cocooning during the blustery days of winter

2008-01-03T12:41:00.000-08:00

I do have to say the french have a delightful way of creating rituals and customs out the ordinary everyday things we all experience! Like, the way they invite the new year in with their linen sales and their soup making! Our neighbor has a veggie garden to die for,regardless of season. It seems this retired,young winemaker has a monopoly on GREEN THUMBS- you see ,he brought over a huge,I mean monster, huge orange squash ,which my hubby transformed into a hearty, delicious soup! (The color of homedepot as my eldest pointed out, homedepot is the haven for renovation mania which has conquered the USA!)
anyways, this was a warm & cosy occasion to be together here near Bezier,France!
Here is photo of Beziers-

hoorah for makeovers,reinvention and just plan learning something new!

2008-01-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

my,my- this blogging is rather addictive- in that it invites constant creativity and collaboration, kind of like the way I loved to practice pediatrics- team approach with listening and watching and hoping to inspire a healing change-

oola I was wondering how this bloggging world would dovetail into my past self as an over trained professional and mother of 3 and my new found self with a life in a small village in the South of France...

Really,this should be fun to allow things to enfold with the merry mentors I have been silently,until now,reading daily....just take a good look at my daily reads-these mentors are ,I am finding ,such a gift, such a pleasure, they present me with a new way to see things....thank you all in advance for sharing your insights and talents..It is going to a great year!photos are :
old me and perhaps the new me !!!!!before and after---noting the old me is trying to heal the world...lecturing...the new me accepts my sphere of influence to be lovingly concentrated on family and friends ! This way, perhaps small kindnesses and shared celebrations are just as important and lifegiving as big splashy speeches and professional accolades, in the end it is the love and caring that really matters!

a newyears wish to connect which other kindred spirits

2008-01-01T08:05:00.000-08:00

tagging or passing it on- a lovely notion and fun intention of sharing:

here is the mission as I understand it:

The rules are:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog;
2. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird;
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs;
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

http://parisparfait.typepad.com/ of the same visually seducing name- parisparfait

http://http//creaturecomforts.typepad.com/ -who could live without these blessed creature comforts a daily read for me!

ok folks I am a novice at this and hope this improves my skill set -much needed !

http://www.racket-free.blogspot.com/ -this is of inspire,move &touch fame ,another american in france whose site I admire

http://www.annejulie-art.com/blog/ of the gorgeous and talented artist from Ma Petite Theiere

this list could go on but, i am going to start slooowly

Happy New Years 2008

a view of our new home and the next renovation project-oola!

waking dreams-a dedication to a fine artist and friend who I think of often,

2007-12-31T07:50:00.000-08:00

For you, christiane who helped many people believe in the transformational beauty of their own dreams!!!

http://www.christianecorbat.com/

I miss you everyday and promise to believe in the power of our dreams and the connections we make with others

poem

Waking Dreams

It is the window between sleep and full consciousness.

It is when I realized that there is something sacred and healing in the self and that creativity can release its power...perhaps this power is our deepest connection to God and our souls and all that we, in our busy and conscious lives, are not still enough to hear or feel...
It is for some, a creativity...expressed by music, sculpture, painting, photography, gardening, cooking, writing, theater, or dance.

It is a call to the true self, to a path of growth...that feels full and life-giving like the best of friendships and the greatest of loves.

as promised to myself -new years creative leap!

2007-12-31T06:45:00.000-08:00

Alors, it has been almost 2 1/2 years since we,as a family made the leap across the Atlantic to live in fabulous France! It has been full of many ups and downs but all in all, it has been a gift for many reasons- mostly it has allowed me to focus my care and love onto my family, my children and my beloved husband Thierry!

We have endured some huge changes - inwardly and outwardly--transformations of our winemaker's home in the south of France!

the before was a horror as you can see from the 3photos...often wondered why we all love before and after shots -perhaps it is as one other fine blog suggests it is love made visable