HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!!!

Saguaro Christmas Sunset
Originally uploaded by paulgillphoto

Here is wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010.

Merry Christmas!

natural christmas sparkler
Originally uploaded by Gregor Halbwedl

Here is a wish for peace to everyone, everywhere - Merry Christmas!

Dudley on Camelback Mountain

I took Dudley up the Camel this a.m. to get a shot of the sunrise (it was beautiful yesterday, so I thought I would try to get a shot this morning, but it was not so great). Dudley loves to climb and he sailed up the mountain - I had to really work to keep up with him (even with his short little legs). He loved it!

Working at Andre House

I spent last night working at Andre House with fellow ASCPA staffers. We served about 580 meals to the homeless. This is a great place to volunteer - you cook, serve and clean up all in about the span of four hours or so. I think it was a positive experience for everyone. It does make you thankful for what you have.

Happy Halloween!

This is from the cover of a book that my sister made for me of pictures from all my kids past halloween days. It was very cool! Thanks, Sandy!

U2 Concert

Here is a short clip from the U2 Concert I attended this past week. They played with the Black Eyed Peas. The stage was huge and they sounded great. It was quite the production. Sorry about the poor quality of the video - I just used my little still camera on movie mode.

Let Everything Happen to You

I've been listening to some meditation podcasts on iTunes - a great way to relax and sometimes puts me to sleep at night. I love listening to a woman named Tara Branch who leads Buddhist mediation retreats. I found this one particularly inspiring - go here: http://www.imcw.org/audio/TBPodcasts.xml and click on the "Let Everything Happen to You" podcast.

It is very healing an enlightening and a little long, but worth the time. She sites the following poem "God Speaks":

God Speaks

God speaks to each of us as he makes us,

then walks with us silently out of the night.

These are the words we dimly hear:

You, sent out beyond your recall,

go to the limits of your longing.

Embody me.

Flare up like flame

and make big shadows I can move in.

Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.

Just keep going. No feeling is final.

Don't let yourself lose me.

Nearby is the country they call life.

You will know it by its seriousness.

Give me your hand.

- Rainer Maria Rilke


Great stuff! The photo is one I took in Bisbee a few years back.