a much needed day off.

my apartment has a screened in sunroom that i like to call the 'treehouse' because when i'm sitting there i feel like i'm nestled in the branches of a tree. trees are wonderful. if you need convincing about this (which i hope you don't) you should read the children's book 'the giving tree' by shel silverstein. it's actually a book that everyone should read. not just children. afterall, we probably all need a reminder of how to give more. and want less.

nashville has been heating up so i don't get to use my treehouse as much as i would have liked to. last night leanna and i had dinner there and it was so nice to sit in a tranquil quiet spot with a girl who is quite possibly one of the most honest and caring people i know. sharing a dinner. and our thoughts.

today is 'independence day' in the us of a.

this means fireworks and a massive street party by the river. i'm not able to handle crowds lately. but the romantic in me loves a good fireworks display. so i'll be there rolling my eyes at all the red, white and blue ;-)

i watched michael moore's movie 'sicko' the other day. it really affected me. i know that Moore has his agenda and is a master of taking things out of context, pulling on heart strings and exposing only one side of an argument...but i still applaud any film that makes me think and inspires me to want to improve a situation. or at least opens my eyes up to the 'broken bits' of our world that could be repaired. i had a lot of prejudices about the states before i moved here. i had 'decided' what the people were like, what life here was all about...and i had misjudged and stereotyped and generalized to my little heart's content. now living in america for three years, moving to australia and coming back to this part of the world...i've realized that i really love this country with all its imperfections and struggles. there are so many people here doing their part. caring for the world. taking stand for what they believe in. and right or wrong it makes for a fascinating blend of ideas and cultures and religions and thoughts and all of this forms a catalyst for generating amazing dialogue. which people here are not scared to have.

and perhaps that ability to speak openly and without apology is what i love most.

i start my new job in a week.

i'm very excited about this.

lots of transitions and adventures happening. just need to take a few minutes each day to sit and have tea in the trees.

xg