CAN YOU IMAGINE...

...it's a birthday party for you but you give everyone else a gift!

That's exactly what Valerie Foster Hoffman did as all 35 guests received the most delightful 'Chimes of Pluto' wind chimes. I placed mine at the bottom of the stairs leading to the studio so everyone can make a joyful sound as they enter.

This lovliest of parties was at Cal Tech in the Library at The Athenaeum. We also got to see the Albert Einstein Suite (so I feel much smarter now).

Here are our hostesses for this beautiful birthday luncheon:

Seated from the left, Carol Soucek King, Valerie the beautiful birthday girl, Joyce Hameetman and Valerie's lovely daughter Vanessa. Standing from the left are, Gayle Garner Roski, Virginia Kazanjian and Valerie's charming sister Vanya Foster Rohner.

Gayle Garner Roski should sound familiar to you as she is an amazingly talented, award winning artist.

For more information please go to:

http://www.gaylegarnerroski.com/

http://www.carolsoucekking.com/

www.its.caltech.edu/~ath/accommodations.html

WHY DIDN'T SOMEONE TELL ME....

...that I move my hands about so much. What music am I conducting?


Delightful, talented Jana Tether did the video work and set up to put me on 'YOU TUBE'. It was great fun...at least for me... as Jana did all the work. The first video is an introduction to the studio and if you can stay with it, I finally mention our Calligraphy classes at the end.


Studio:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01gtK4PAWvc

Be sure to Google Jana Tether for more information on this amazing young woman and check out her book, 'And God Created Human: A Collection of Scenes and Monologues'. It's 5 star on Amazon.

CHARLES, I KNOW IT'S THE NFL PLAYOFFS BUT...
... we have to hear Reverend George Regas at Carol and Richard King's monthly SALON on the SPIRITUALLY CREATIVE LIFE! And off we went ... on time too but there was nary a seat in the packed to overflowing house. How grateful I was when Richard retrieved a chair for me from the office.

To quote Carol's announcement, "One of the most compelling voices for peace and justice in the United States today, Rev George Regas is a prominent leader in the interfaith nuclear disarmament movement. An orator of uncommon brilliance, he spent 28 years as a rector of one of the largest Episcopal churches in the United States (All Saints. Pasadena) leading his congregation in its opposition to the Vietnam War, the escalating nuclear arms race, the covert Central American wars, and both the Gulf War and the Iraq War. He has done much good work in Southern California, including founding an AIDS service center, a homeless shelter and a medical program for uninsured children."

It's inspiring to hear a powerful voice saying, "hope is viable and peace is possible if we reaffirm our common humanity". Rev. Regas said, "When Carl Sandberg was asked what the worst expression was he answered, "Exclusivism" meaning... just because we have conviction, we can not become arrogant, as the One we call God is greater than our understanding about God.

To want to be exclusive is poisonous leading to revenge, violence and war. More importantly, we must go deep into our own personal truth and become authentic so that we may relate to one another in a positive way". The Dali Lama said that practicing compassion is more important than having more Buddhists. Finally, when we look at Michelangelo's painting, 'Hell' we observe truth that's seen too late. Quoting Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, "The world of tomorrow belongs to those who gave it its greatest hope."

I WISH YOU GREAT HOPE AND PEACE.
To Learn More:
http://www.youngandhealthy-pas.org/
http://www.unionstationhs.org/ www./cujp.org

Regas Institute
595 E. Colorado Blvd. Suite 400
Pasadena, CA. 91101
626.683.9400

I DON'T KNOW WHY......
but a sudden urge to straighten out a shelf in the garage swept over me. It started off with dusting various bottles of 'emergency' beverages and moved to the center of the shelf where there was a big box marked ... XMAS!

Now I must have seen that every day but somehow it never registered that there might indeed be 'XMAS' decorations within its confines. Sure enough, a treasure trove of Stat's 'day after Christmas' goodies from? Three years ago? Perhaps four!

The price tags were still on everything and I've had more fun adding to the trees even if it's only for one day as Stacey will be putting all the toys away Monday and Tuesday. HAPPY DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS TO YOU!