Day: March 4, 2011

The winter pasture hangs on, but winter has lost its grip, and the light and sun give the lie that it is going to be with us much longer. I’m ready to change.

The winter pasture. Something is changing.

Notes from the technological revolution.

Got a satellite radio two months ago and I loved it. When I bought it, the company said I could add up to five radios on the account and since I wanted to get one on my new car, I happily agreed.

Today, the service to my radio and my car was shut off, and after an hour or so, I reached “Customer Care” and was told the trial period for the car radio had expired, and they couldn’t imagine why the first radio has been turned off, but it was. Furthermore, my phone was registered to many people and couldn’t be used to find my account, so I didn’t, technically exist.

After much searching, clacking and delays, I was located. It turns out you can add four new radios, but you have to pay more than $100 to do it. So I did. And the first radio came on. Then, the woman – she  seemed nervous and very far away –  she said she would have to turn all of the radios off because the only way to change an account is to cancel it. Of course, the radio went off and she disappeared. After awhile I reconnected with another person and we started the whole process over again. This time, the two radios were turned on, but I had to sit in the car for three minutes, and so I turned the car on and sat for a bit and then went inside and forgot the car was running. A half hour later, I remembered.

I find that technology is a powerful shaper of a spiritual life. Now, when I have a transaction like this, I make some tea, get my Ipad, take a deep breath and tell myself this, like everything else, is an opportunity to be better, calmer and more accepting. More and more, I am digging into the notion that although we are made to feel insane by a culture gone mad with insecurity and greed, you can also look at this way: we may be sane, and they are all nuts.

I love this witch in Maria’s Studio. It is the witch of creative space in my mind. I think Maria is a good witch. I’ve always thought that.

Rose likes to jump up on the highest spots, anywhere she goes. Looking for sheep, I think.

Today, a step forward for me personally and for my understanding of the fusion between writing and new technology, especially social media – Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The meeting of the old and the new. My first children’s book “Meet The Dogs of Bedlam Farm” is coming out in April. School Library Journal has called it “gorgeous and heartwarming” and I like that description, for sure. Another fusion – my writing and my photography, the first.

Last week, I read Lenore the chapter introducing her. This morning, I read Frieda the chapter describing her, and her response was touching and surprising, as was the last minute entrance into the video by Lenore herself, the star of the story. Poignantly, the chapter I was reading was partly about how Lenore helped introduce Frieda to the farm and make her welcome. They adore one another and Frieda isn’t great at making friends.

Maria shot this video and it is the first one in which my face appears. Not easy for me, but it’s time.

I like this use of video. It is touching, speaks for itself and clearly is a powerful new way to introduce the ideas behind a book, and even to sell some. Let’s not forget that. Somebody has to pay for all this stuff. That would be me.

Anyway, this is a milestone for me, and I like. I want to move forward, rationally and creatively. I had 20,000 views of my videos last week on You Tube, my first week. The dogs sure helped. Lenore is a rock star.

And  am humbled by the fact that this video captures the willing heart of Frieda more effectively than I have in my words. Something to work on. I am writing a book about Frieda. I will have to figure out how to get some video into it. And thanks to the people at Henry Holt for their enthusiasm and to Maria for her generous spirit and creative eye. Sometimes, it’s liberating to be the subject. And thanks to Frieda, a wonderful dog with a great and forgiving heart.

And to Lenore, whose love just infuses the world around her. She is the star of this book and the reason, I think, that people are loving it.