I met my dear friend, Eleanor, in Palm Springs and we had a wonderful time. Since the weather was unseasonably hot - up to one hundred degrees - we found a wonderful inside diversion. The Palm Springs Art Museum has a great collection. Here are a few samples: The above is in the entry hall. Looking down inside of it, seems like looking at forever. A must see. Of course Picasso is represented. I also saw works by some of my other favorites, including Chihuly, Agam, and Vasarely. And of course we had to have some lunch, so we chose the museum's grille. We sat outside amidst the cactus gardens and sculpture, very close to the pool. The food we ate was so good, I couldn't stop gorging. After lunch we decided to risk the heat and visit the giant statue of Marilyn Monroe, called Forever Marilyn. It was well worth it. Bob and I saw it in 2012 when it first arrived in Palm Springs. I was very happy it is still there so I could see it again. Marilyn is definitely a forever … [Read more...]
Meet my guest, Tara Meissner, author of Stress Fracture
My son, a talented jazz composer and musician, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age twenty-one. As I got more and more informed about the disorder I heard that studies linked creativity with bipolar disorder, and my son's behavior seemed to indicate the studies were true. He refused to take his medications because they evened him out too much and hindered his ability to create his music. He, and I imagine others with bipolar disorder, very much liked their manic highs. However, I, like my guest today, Tara Meissner, author of Stress Fracture: A Memoir of Psychosis, never believed that all people with bipolar disorder are creative. It is also not true that all people with mental illness are violent, as so many people believe. Thank you Tara Meissner for being at Choices while on your WOW! Women on Writing book tour. I'm so glad you are here to share your views and bipolar experience with us. Being open about this disorder will go a long way to help erase stigma. Bipolar and … [Read more...]
Marilyn larger than life
We recently spent a couple of days in the Palm Springs, California area - ostensibly to see the 26-foot tall (equivalent to about three stories) and 34,000 pound statue of Marilyn Monroe, built out of stainless steel and aluminum. We also spent some time with some dear friends who live year-long in the desert. But for me the highlight was Marilyn. The statue, called "Forever Marilyn," created by sculptor, Seward Johnson, now age 80, will be in downtown Palm Springs until June 2013. Photos taken with my cell phone Still Life I walk up behind her. Her champagne-colored skirt billows up showing her matching panties, and long straight legs spread wide. I walk around to see her face on and find a Marilyn smiling, happy, her red lips parted, eyes closed. She holds her skirt to keep the wind from flying it up in front. as a pleated halter in the same champagne color keeps her breasts exactly in the right place. This Marilyn, strong, substantial, built larger … [Read more...]
