Science Twin

Science Twin is headed to Germany tonight, then off to Finland. There must be some exciting news in the science world that he will discover. Business Twin will be on his own for the week living large in the $3500 a month studio apartment they share in the building above my cupcake shop. The tall, dark and handsome duo moved in a couple of months ago and quickly became staff favorites after we figured out there were two of them and not one manically changing his clothes from street grunge to business attire.

Their adorable nature made it easy for us all to become super-best friends. Last month, while the girls and I were out celebrating the store's success at a champagne brunch, The Twins were at the exact same restaurant as we were in Lower East Side! What a surprise! And they accused us of stalking them! We laughed and accused them of the same thing. They told us their names again for the five hundredth time, but we just called them by their coffee drinks or how they're dressed. So that makes them Science Twin and Business Twin. Business is 1 minute older than Science and he plays the responsible, serious type well. Science Twin is happier by nature.

Business Twin has a bitchy, Upper West Side girlfriend. We saw her at brunch and she scowled at us, jealous of the beautiful girls fawning over her lover. It's okay sweetheart, none of us really want him anyway.

We create nicknames for all the regulars. It helps to not know their names but find out details about their lives slowly and then form random opinions and fantasies. We attract a lot of attractive men, down here on Wall Street. In our tiny cupcake shop the pulsating female energy pours onto the steel, cold high-rises.

More to come......

So much love,
All the way over here....
Linda

The Creative Process

I love watching interviews and profiles on artists and their process towards creating. It helps me to identify myself as an artist which is something I have struggled with in my adult life. Profiles on artists, musicians, chefs, are all good and my favorite is watching the process of architects, especially Frank Gehry and Frank Lloyd Wright. I don't think that you have to be named Frank to follow your creation in unconventional ways, but I guess it doesn't hurt.

Sydney Pollack made a documentary film for PBS's American Master's Series about his good friend, Frank Gehry and in the film asked him about his creative process. Where did he start when he had a new project? How did he start? Frank said he cleaned his desk, made unnecessary appointments, got a cup of coffee, made some calls, and avoided his desk. He said he suffered from anxiety and worry that he would not be able to top his last work or be able to do it again at all. When in reality, all his work gets better and better, he has that old fear that he won't be able to create again. Even with all his success, he is still afraid that he will not be able to do it again.

Frank also gets inspiration from other artists, paintings and crumpled pieces of paper. Inspiration can come in any form, the secret is remaining open to listen to the crumpled paper, which is obvious when looking at his work. But maybe it is obvious because he speaks the paper's language. Frank has taught himself to quiet his own mind so he is able to listen to the crumpled paper speak to him. He sees and hears his inspiration.

Is my mind open enough and quiet enough to hear the inspiration offered to me?

This weekend I was inspired by some tiny Clementines which I candied with ginger root.

Inspiration is everywhere. The real question is, am I ready to hear it? Is it time to receive?

So much love,
All the way from over here....
Linda

Excuses, excuses

I don't have a good opening first line to start writing something about, so I'll just start here. Even if it isn't grammatically correct. I promised that I'd write again so here it is.

It was surprising to me to realize that so many of my friends read my blog. It also has helped me face my performance anxiety. That's a good excuse, huh? Hang with me, I got a million of 'em!

I made a promise to my previous housemate that I would not write about him or his children during my duration of living there. Once I was out, my world and writing were my own again. He was going through a messy divorce having been with his wife for 18 years and they had two children together. When I moved in, he said he had 50% custody of the kids, that they'd be there every other weekend, and every Monday night to Wednesday mornings.

It sounded like it could work out and the room I was renting was priced all inclusive for heat, electric, wifi, paper goods, etc... I intended to save a lot of money so we all make sacrifices for our choices.

Several weeks after I moved in was when I discovered that the two kids were a bit off. It was after Simon, a 12 year old boy, sat outside my bedroom door barking like a dog for 45 minutes while the father was downstairs visiting the neighbors. He channeled many animals and liked to sound them out.

Turns out he is developmentally disabled and heavily medicated.

Sarah, a 10 year old girl, took to kicking our shared wall for hours on end. She is Autistic.

Long story short; if I wanted to be in a sexless marriage with two kids I couldn't stand, I'd have gotten married. I reached my breaking point and the universe provided me with a better opportunity.

So...here we are. Me unsure about what to write about and you reading my latest excuse for not writing.

It's like playing the piano or riding a bike...I need to get back into practice.

So much love,
All the way from over here....
Lindae

I heard that!

Most people don't do things that I do, like hitting the four corners of the continental US in about a week unless they are on some kind of press junket for a new movie or a book tour. My trip was more of a soul retrieval of the most extraordinary kind.

I received many hugs and much love during my journey and there was one loud complaint I heard in Seattle, Long Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, North Carolina and in New York.

No blog updates! What gives?

Here's the story: There were no blog updates because I wasn't writing.

Okay. I hear you. Time to write again.

I am often afraid that I have nothing to say, but that is an old story that has been playing in my head so I've smashed that record and am starting anew.

Thanks for your love, support and kick in the pants.

I have nothing but love for you....
All the way from over here,
Linda