You Don't Bring Me Flowers...

A few months ago, I was standing in Kroger near the floral section thinking, "Wow, I would love to justify some fresh flowers today." They all looked so happy and bright and awake. I wanted that in my home. But, really, flowers are things other people give to you, or for special events, right? You don't just buy flowers for yourself. How lame.

But, in the time it takes to push your cart from the soda aisle to the frozen foods aisle, I stopped waiting for people to give me flowers and started getting my own. And that's a tiny bit of the weekly budget that I'd fight for now. Why? Because we really should be kinder to ourselves.

-b

Someone Asked Me Questions

A little bit of background. Thanks for the electronic press, Mr. Mount.

http://www.southerngospelblog.com/archives/8001

-b

Muses and Fruit

Sometimes writing a song is just copying down the words and music that something greater is giving me freely.

Sometimes writing a song a like birthing a watermelon.

Guess which one this is?

-b

Cliches and Records

I would like to go on record that the movie which made me want see Italy in person was a terrible movie from 1994 called, "Only You." It was really bad. Don't even rent it. However, because is was so bad, I was forced to look around the scenes for something--anything--interesting. And, that is when I decided I had to see Italy in person. It became a fat-free obsession.





It was NOT the book or the movie, "Under the Tuscan Sun."



It was NOT the book or the movie, "Eat. Pray. Love."



And I have signed up for a converstional Italian class because a) I will be going back to Italy soon and b) learning a new language helps to stimlate the brain, and I think my need for that goes without saying. I've been talking about signing up for a class for four years now mostly because I got lost in Montacatini and no one spoke English. It was kind of scary and I'd like to address that, post-trip even.




NOT because Elizabeth Gilbert likes Italian, too.



So there.



-b

Huge Announement

Today, Tuesday, August 17th, 2010, I, Belinda Smith, was EARLY for a writing appointment. Ten minutes early. Mr. Bourke captured the occasion video. I am not showing said video because the camera adds ten pounds. Still, it is documented.

And totally blogworthy.

-b

Birds

We went to dinner with my cousin, Darnell Arnoult and her husband, William Brock, last night.

The last time I visited Darnell and William at their home down I-40, there sat an extremely large bird in the yard. I had to walk past it to get around to the front door, but I really didn't want to disturb it. I knew William was making birds, but I didn't realize he was also displaying them in the yard. So, I crept down the sidewalk, fascinated by the huge bird, thinking, "Wow, this is what you get when you live in the country." Just about then, the sun hit it just right and I realized it was one of William's creations. Duh.

William makes each bird out of copper or tin and cuts each 'feather' by hand. Isn't that insane? I mean, in a really good way. You can see more images and get some information at www.rustedbirdstudio.com.

And to the lady who told him she could buy one of these at Wal-Mart: a double duh.

-b

Blue

Where have I been? Ugh. Has it really been a month since I've updated? Judge me. Go ahead.

The good news is the bad neighbor is gone. I'm guessing he abandoned the house since it appears to have been the landlord who removed the 100 or so tires that said bad neighbor had stacked up against my back fence. I haven't seen anyone over there for a few weeks. HOORAY! There is still a blue tarp over the roof of the house, but we'll take what we can get.


I played a show with Benton Stokes the other night. Benton makes me want to write different kinds of songs--a huge compliment to him. I think I've mentioned his record to you before, but if you don't have it, I would recommend it. He has a song on his CD called, "Blue."


I also spent a week at the TN Young Writers Workshop. We lived on the campus of Austin Peay University. My, how I'm missing that ridiculous plastic mattress. Yeah. Anyway, the young writers were really inspiring this year. I gave the kids a title prompt with the word "blue" in it, and the blue songs were some of my faves from the week.


And, in what is probably the most important news, for first time in my entire life, I've painted a room in my house blue. I know. Who have I become? Well, it's actually called, "Deep Ocean," and that's exactly what it looks like to me, and I LOVE it. And, if you're looking for a good paint, try Benjamin Moore's Aura line. It took one coat of paint to make a white wall blue. Stunning.