BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WITH TOMIKO at MUSSO &amp; FRANK’S…….

Saturday, June 8, 2013

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WITH TOMIKO at MUSSO & FRANK’S…….

Since 1919 Musso & Frank’s has been an icon of Hollywood’s golden era….It’s a time capsule as nothing inside has changed including the worn red leather booths.

Gentlemen’s Quarterly has called their martini perfect, the standard against which all others must be judged.

Tomiko agrees and said it really is the best martini ever! Even the olives are fabulous!!

I had my ‘usual’…Campari & soda with lime & lots of ice.

I am really over the top crazy for onion soup but it’s usually a disappointment as the gold standard was Bellini’s in Chicago on Rush Street going back more years than I care to remember. We decided to be chicken and split an order. What a mistake….I could have had a gallon of it…’roll your eyes back in your head’ delicious!

Who in the world likes liver & onions? I do!!! But they have to be cooked perfectly and I figured Musso & Frank’s would know how to do it as they’ve been practicing for almost a hundred years. They were sensational! And they were topped with the most delicious bacon ever…..perfection multiplied!!!

Tomiko had the duck & it too was perfect!

Now it’s time for presents……

…..and cake….

We barely made it to the Pantages for Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Great cast………

All your favorite music…………

Terrific staging……………

Fantastic costumes………

Try not to miss this…it’s a hoot!

Heartfelt thanks Tomiko for a most memorable evening!!!

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Introduction

There is no avoiding the pull of the internet, the blogs, the YouTube imaginings. It's as if we're all 'On the Road' with Jack Kerouac each in our own world of meanderings. When we tell someone to 'get a life' it might be a bit difficult when you're dragged into other people's 24/7.

I've come to realize two foundational principals, there are no accidents and everyone has a purpose. More and more I'm desiring everyone to come into a full realization of their purpose as we all find our way on this little jewel of a planet.

For me, as a professional 'Western style artist', I stumbled into Chinese Brush Painting after a trip in 1980 to Monet's home/garden. Seeing all of his collection of Japanese woodblock prints was an ahh haa moment for me and when I returned to the States I started painting in the Chinese manner and never looked back. The first year was extremely painful for me as I felt that I should be able to master the technique since I was a 'trained' artist. Not a chance ... that just gets in your way.

Now, after teaching close to 3,000 students and having my book 'The Ch'i of the Brush' published by Watson Guptill, I can say that every one of my students does better their first day than I did my first year! Why? Because I insist that they leave their critical parent outside and just enjoy the journey, respecting the work that they do. I never let anyone throw anything away because that just ingrains frustration and defeat.

We really only begin to learn when we stop and figure out how to 'save' a painting. It works every time.I am so proud of my students, their receptivity and eagerness to express themselves is a continuing blessing for me.So, back to finding your purpose. Perhaps it starts with realizing 'it's not about me'. It so easy to want our needs met and to filter everything thru this attitude. When we realize that we're here to be of benefit to every life that we touch the universe really provides the ways and means.

The best part is that it's really exciting to not have yourself on your mind all the time!I'm re-reading a wonderful book about authenticity and in my next meandering I'll tell you about it. In the meantime I'd love to hear about your journey and am here to answer any and all questions about Chinese Brush Painting.