Are You More Yin or Yang?

You Are More Yin

Feminine Devoted Forgiving Fall Winter Afternoon Moon Time Passive Metal Honey

Are You More Yin or Yang?

I took this quiz--- not surprisingly, I'm more Yin. I agree with all the words pertaining to me-- but 'metal' is a little out of place. 'Mental' perhaps??

Brain Lateralization

What's your brain dominance? Lefty or righty? Below are my results.

Brain Lateralization Test Results

Right Brain (40%) The right hemisphere is the visual, figurative, artistic, and intuitive side of the brain. Left Brain (62%) The left hemisphere is the logical, articulate, assertive, and practical side of the brain

Are You Right or Left Brained?
personality tests by similarminds.com

I AM STella

This past weekend I had my first acting debut. I have NEVER taken an acting class previous. For my assignment, I was Stella in "A Streetcar Named Desire." Not exactly an easy first debut, but an easier part than my acting partner, E.E.F., a.k.a., "Blanche DuBois."

Blanche DuBois is undoubtedly one of the most complex characters in American theater to portray. ((Thanks to Tennessee Williams. A drag queen trapped in a straight woman's body))
My acting partner played her admirably.

I was Stella, the lover of brute Stanley, the matronly woman, the salt of the earth, the Eve of the universe. Though my lines may have been easy to memorize, it was difficult for me to "find" the character.

Still, it was a fantastic experience. I wish to act again, perhaps in a 'beginners' class this time.

We acted out Act One, Scene One, where Blanche has just arrived to New Orleans. After participating in the scene, I'd like to rent the 1951 (Elia Kazan) film version again to watch and analyze Kim Hunter's performance. I want to see the rest of the stellar (pardon the pun) cast's performances as well-- Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, & Karl Malden.


Trivia Fun Fact: To audition for the Broadway version of "Streetcar," Marlon Brando was given car fare to Tennessee Williams' home in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where he not only gave a sensational reading, but did some house repairs as well.

Altered Books

We've all heard of Altered Minds, but what's an Altered Book???? According to the International Society of Altered Books Artists, an altered book is..... simply put:
"It is any book, old or new that has been recycled by creative means into a work of art. They can be ... rebound, painted, cut, burned, folded, added to, collaged in, gold-leafed, rubber stamped, drilled or otherwise adorned ..."
http://www.alteredbookartists.com/
This past Sunday my friend M & I took a course entitled "Altered Books" at the Paper Source in Cambridge, MA. I had heard of altered books, and had seen a few at some exhibits and open studios. I was intrigued & fascinated by the concept, but had never yet made an altered book myself! I knew very little of the techniques.
What was the course like? Well, we did learn a few techniques, but not as many as I would have liked. The demonstrations only fueled my fire. Still, it was quite the female bonding experience--- kind of like an old quilting bee. Mainly, a bunch of women (yes, it's mainly a chick thing) sat around on a rainy afternoon for 3 hours barely talking & intensively creating.
And it was loads of fun!! I definitely went into 'the zone'....
The Altered Book I made that day was my 'experimental' book. I have a more extensive and meaningful project in mind. I wish to take an old book I have from 1905, about the "Kings of Norway," and transform it into a tribute/ genealogical record of my grandfather. My grandfather, Hjalmar Nilsson Grimstad, was born in Norway in 1905. I have photos, letters, family trees, etc...., about my grandfather Hjalmar's life, but no meaningful way to integrate all this information. I'm hoping my Altered Book will be this outlet. I've started my book & I'll keep you posted!
Meanwhile, here are some samples of some fantastic Altered Books...

A Simpleton's Guide To Sexual Terminology

1. PUSSY 2. SCREW

3. BALLS 4. ASS

5. KNOCKERS 6. WEINER

7. NUTS 8. BEAVER

The TBR Challenge

For the NEw Year, I've decided to take the TBR Books Challenge... Throughout the year, I have to read 12 books. I came across this "To BE READ" challenge on the http://www.librarything.com/ website. The description of the challenge is below.

The challenge is to read ONE "to be read" book from your collection each month during 2007. Create a list of 12 books that have been on your TBR List for at least 6 months or more, and then you read one of those twelve books a month from January 1st to December 31st, 2007.

Are YOU up for the challenge?

If you want to 'officially' take the challenge, there's a yahoo group that you can join to report in on your progress. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tbr_challenge/join It's also fun to see what books other people have selected.

Here's My Kitty Approved List, not necessarily in Order. As you can see, I'm not much fiction reader. Only 2 novels made the list:

1. Journal of Solitude May Sarton
2. Walden Henry David Thoreau
3. The Autobiography of Malcolm X Alex Haley
4. The Hungry Ocean Linda Greenlaw DONE
5. On the Road Jack Kerouac
6. In the Shadow of Man Jane Goodall DONE
7. An Ordinary Life Transformed Stephanie Rutt DONE
8. A Walk in the Woods Bill Bryson
9. Speak, Memory Vladimir Nabokov
10. The Day the World Came to Town 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland Jim Defede
11. Prozac Diary Lauren Slater
12. Cold Mountain Charles Frazier