BIG BLOG BOOK GIVE-AWAY: Angry Conversations with God

OK. I've never hosted a give-away. But here goes. My brilliant friend, Susan Isaacs, has a fabulous new book hitting the shelves this very day. And you can get a copy by doing two things: a) signing up for my blog (if you haven't already); and also b) answering a question (see end of post). The give-away will last through March 25th and the top 4 will get their very own copy of the book (sorry, only available in US and Canada). So spread the word to All and Sundry ... Here's what Publisher's Weekly said in a rave review about her book: "God in couples counseling? Sounds sacrilegious, but in the adept hands of comedian, writer and actress Isaacs, it’s a success. Isaacs reached bottom at age 40: no job, no boyfriend, no home. Of course, she blamed God. So off they went to counseling with the ever-patient therapist Rudy ..." Originally staged as a solo show in New York and LA, Susan's book is a cheeky spiritual memoir and a page turner--startlingly honest, profound, refreshing, unique and very, very funny. It's snarky (as she herself admits) but even at its most scandalous, it's still an affirmation of faith. By the end Susan writes... “I saw now all too clearly why I had married God: for the power and the glory. For the money.” Publishers Weekly says: "Isaacs goes on a Job-like search for explanations from God, but instead finds the problem to be her. She’s funny, biting, earthy and brilliant." And gives the book a star. Quite right, too! I loved it. You can buy the book here. Or you can win your copy: tell me what is the funniest thing you've heard a child say (could be a made up word, a phrase, etc.; could be your child, someone else's child, you as a child...). The funniest will be the winners. I'll keep reminding you of this give-away until the closing date of 25th March...

happy quilt: Snake Charmer

"Snake Charmer" Quilt by Denyse Schmidt. More here.

sticks and stones

That old children's rhyme: "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." What were they thinking? Words, as anyone knows--especially children-–have tremendous power. For good or ill. And have to be wielded carefully. Like a very sharp sword. Or surgeon's scalpel. "To speak of 'mere words' is much like speaking of 'mere dynamite' "- C J Ducasse

a big bag hat, hat bag

(Isaac Mizrahi) What can you say? no, but you could sing something. Oh I don't know. Something like, for instance, what about, for example, say, I know, The Handbag Song?

happy quilt: Vine

"Vine" (detail) Quilt by Denyse Schmidt. More here.

nyc in snow

(photos: The New York Times)

The Greater Economy

Came across a fabulous piece by Stanley Fish in his Think Again blog in The New York Times called Faith and Deficits. Thank Heaven for the Greater Economy and more lasting treasure.

disappearing

Children at Puppet Theatre. Paris, 1963 The photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, (1898-1995) was a master of disappearing. He was just over five feet tall, didn't carry a load of fancy equipment or make a big fuss so people tended not to take him seriously. If they even noticed him at all. He used a 2 1/4" Rolleiflex "because you can hold a Rolleiflex without raising it to your eye; so they didn't see me taking the pictures." (note: that's the camera with the view finder on top) He would then just be still. "I just kept motionless like a statue." he said. "They never saw me clicking away. For the kind of photography I do, one has to be very unobtrusive and to blend in with the crowd." It takes humility and humanity to photograph like Eisenstaedt. To be able to disappear like that and let only your subject be the thing. He took the famous photo of a sailor kissing a nurse on VJ Day in Times Square on August 15th, 1945. Perhaps it's not unlike getting out of the way as a writer and letting the story through?