FILM FESTIVALS OPEN ALL KINDS OF DOORS

For the past 10 days, I have been totally absorbed in seeing as many movies, documentaries and forums for the Florida Film Festival as possible. One of the many reasons I chose Orlando was the fact that there was a film festival organized by a movie house which showed only foreign and independent films. The Enzian. Although I only managed to see 28 films and 3 forums out of the 150 films shown, it got the creative side of brain spinning in an eddy of ideas. Who wouldn't? The place was filled with celebrities, film makers, producers, writers, critics etc. What a high!
One very special thing happened this year. I joined a local meetup group in February (Independent Film Group, started by Christine) where new friends were made and found that when alone, I began chatting away with people in the queue before we were allowed in the theater. Everyone was so open and friendly. There was so much to talk about as well.
Many discoveries were made during my 10 day journey. I found where people had lived before coming to the area, their likes and dislikes, what films were a"must see "and all kinds of things. Of course, I ran in many of my friends coming and going that I hadn't seen for a bit. It is a bonus to make new friends who enjoy many of the things I like. The future is now filled with invitations from some newly found and from some old friends...and all it took was to start a simple conversation and to be there.

Thoughts from Painterly Muse

AN INSPIRING THOUGHT FROM WWW.PAINTERLYMUSE.NING.COM

Sometimes trying harder is easier

Posted by Jason on April 9, 2008 at 4:40pm

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Recently, I decided it was time to run a marathon. I just turned 40, and it's not going to get any easier. You learn a lot about yourself, and about life trying to do something like this, and last weekend was one of those times.

Last Sunday morning, I ran the Carlsbad 5K, which is widely known as the fastest 5k run in the area, if not the US. And now that I'm in the "Masters" category, we run at 7:05am. (I love the euphemism. I suppose they can't call it the Geezer's race.) Just to make it perfect, my marathon training routine had us running 16 miles the day before. I did well, but the inside of my knee was very stiff all weekend.

Last weekend was also my dad's birthday. So I had concert reservations at a local Jazz club, including dinner before. We all drank our first absinthe, and enjoyed a great concert, and good food. I was a little stiff in the legs when I got up, but it did not feel too bad.

The problem is that my dad also wanted to catch a movie that was only playing in San Diego that week. So after all that, we go see a 10:30 movie. As you can guess, I did not get home until after 1am. And I have to get up at 6am to make it to the race. And sitting through the movie meant my legs were even more stiff.

So finally, I'm at the race, on probably 4 hours sleep, with a knee that is too stiff to extend fully. We do a little warm up run waiting for the race to start. Everything is moving, just not well. We line up with the 8 minute/mile flag, thinking I'll be lucky to keep that pace. Everyone starts crowding towards the front as the race is about to start.

Once the race starts, it's so crowded, it's hard to move at first. The crowd is moving slow, so I start passing people. As I run faster, my knee starts feeling better. Pretty soon, I'm running the fastest pace I've ran since I started training. Instead of 8 minutes per mile, I'm under 7.5, and getting faster. And everything is loosening up as my body comes awake. Somewhere along the line I dropped my GPS cell phone, so I'm not sure how fast I ran at the end. But it read 6:57 pace for the last .15 miles.

Running was actually easier running harder, because I got my body going. I wonder how often things would get easier in life if I actually tried a little harder to get past the obstacles and really get things rolling?

New Event

The first online short film festival with the best international women's short films will be on February 8th. Don't forget to watch other creative people and their work. Go to glamourfilmfest.tv.

Isabel Allende at the TED conference 2007

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/204

Novelist Isabel Allende video relating tales of some wonderful women who manage to live in a sometimes unjust world.

I think you will find this an inspiring talk for either gender. So I thought I would share this with you.

Happy Hogmanay to all and make your dream collage come true this New Year!

Your Muse,

Margie

Things to do around town

Here's to getting into the holiday spirit now that it's Advent already!

While wandering through the Altamonte Mall, I discovered a wonderful shop to please the child within all of us. It is called Pinocchio's. Not only do they sell puppets and toys but they also give shows during the week beginning December 12th. For information and reservations (recommended) call 407 677-8831 or email www.Richard@Pinocchios.net. for more information.
I made sure to pick up a brochure so I don't miss any of their fun. They are featuring The Little Drummer Boy for this holiday season.

Seminole County College is showing the one man production of The Christmas Carol tonight, tomorrow night and Sunday for the holidays.

Big Bobby Blackmon is performing tonight at 7 PM free Crane's Roost. He is a great local blues impresario so don't miss him. First saw him open for Buddy Guy at HOB last year.

And I see Orlando's own Amy Steinberg is singing here December 23rd.at the Paramount. Welcome back Amy.

Signing off for now to get back to decorating my tree.

Painterly Muse

Happy Birthday Knute is one today!

To View this cuddly one year old polar bear go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2007/dec/04/photography.wildlife?picture=331453705

Something Heart Humming to Share Today

This was an article in today's Scotsman. Hope it brings a sweet smile to your wonderful faces.

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1885182007.