Random Thoughts

I could not get into my blogger account for the last couple days for some reason. Just when you really want to write, really have something to say, poof...locked out and rerouted by technology. I checked in tonight when I got home and blogger.com is back. This white space is back. Yeah!! And now I don't know what to say. Caught off guard and overdue for an entry. In previous entries, I have written in Marilyn speak: personally speaking, technically speaking, artistically speaking, twitter-ly speaking. Are you ready for a new one...?

Introducing Randomly Speaking.....

Thoughts and ideas I've collected from things I've heard and read:

• Make sure you enjoy the work you're doing before you try to make a living at it

• Are you an artist from 9-5 or an artist all the time?

• What or when is the moment you became an artist?
  

• Your spiritual life begins in the toilet bowl

• Achievement is talent plus preparation

• Let People know what you are doing:

This Friday night from 4-9, I will be selling my art at the Harvest Fall Fest with

Mimi's Organic Exchange.

• Lastly, I walked into new Tejas Yoga Studio Monday and was greeted with Uh-oh, here comes trouble... Excuse me, and for the record, it was said with a BIG smile:) I do hear that from time to time. Endearing reputation. (BTW: When and if you are ever in Chicago, you must check Tejas out-the best!!)

Does blogger.com feel the same way? Am I really trouble? That is a rhetorical question. Don't answer.

Random thoughts. Randomly speaking.

Chicago Marathon: Performance Art

It is 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Today is the running of the Chicago Marathon. 45,000+ runners from around the world partake in pounding the pavement. Not for employment. Rather for passion, a cause, personal challenge and individual achievement. It is a dramatic, intense, motivating event to watch and witness. This is one event I have absolutely no problem being an spectator. Unlike my previous admission about art shows, I have no feelings of envy. Just pure admiration, awe and respect. The muscle tone alone on some...omg.

A stretch of the Chicago Marathon route goes by my building and neighborhood starting @ 8:00am. I watch, support and cheer on friends I know, and those I don't, who are participating. I have for the last seven years. This year I won't able to observe much since I now work Sunday with my new job :( I will catch a little glimpse. If I can, I will take some pictures and promise to post.

If you have not seen or been to a marathon, briefly, it begins with paraplegics in wheelchairs, an emotionally moving and inspiring start, followed by The Elite class- athletes who usually finish under 3 hours, and are indeed a class unto themselves. Blink and they disappear before your very eyes. The grace, speed, intensity, focus and determination displayed is amazing and beautiful. They are not easily distracted.

Next comes timed-paced corral groups which are broken out and grouped by a runner's qualifying time. Groups of like-paced runners supporting, encouraging and motivating each other, along with the help and support of the spectators: friends, family, strangers and the media. What begins as a trickle of humanity expands into masses of people before your very eyes. All shapes, all garb, all sizes, all ages, all levels. You can easily distinguish who runs and trains professionally (did I mention incredible muscle tone?), versus those who run and train for personal achievement, personal causes, and, for all, individual accomplishment. That doesn't matter. They are doing it.

Hmmmmmmmmmm where could I possibly be going with this? Certainly not the 26 mile distance. I'm taking these 45,000 observations and qualities: respect, talent, dedication, preparation, determination, training, perseverance, focus, stamina, commitment and the courage it took and takes, to go the distance and complete a marathon and applying it my personal performance: Creating art and doing art shows. Just pacing it. Except for that run on sentence I just wrote.

Congratulations and thank you to all the Marathoners who ran!! I caught a glimpse and youtube. I was rooting for you. You inspire me. You too artists!!