March Schedule

My storytelling schedule for the month of March thus far:

Saturday, March 8 at 10:00-10:45am and 1:30-2:00pm
Dallas Museum of Art Family Celebration Day. In the morning, join me for a walk through the largest J.M.W. Turner exhibit to be shown in the U.S.A. Children and their families will listen to stories inspired by Turner's gorgeous landscape paintings. OR, in the afternoon, children and their families are invited to meet me on the 4th floor to hear stories inspired by Turner's work.

M-F, March 10-14 from 1 pm to 4 pm daily.
MaskART Spring Break Camp for 6-8 year olds at the Dallas Museum of Art.
I am teaching a unique camp designed around the museum's mask collection from indigenous people around the world. Kids will experience interactive storytelling in the mask galleries, learn theater basics, create their own mask & instruments and on the final day, perform in their masks an original storytelling/theatre program that I have created. Fun, fun, fun!

Friday, March 21 at 2:30
NETLS Performers Showcase. Performance will focus on telling stories to Young Adults.

Friday, March 21 at 7:30-8:00
Dallas Museum of Art's Friday Night Live. Stories on the 4th floor for children and their families.

Wednesday, March 26 Late morning.
I will be telling stories to preschoolers at the NorthPark Mall in Dallas.

That's it for now...

Spinning Woman Experiment

Recently Jeff brought to my attention an experiment where the viewer (you) looks at a spinning woman to see if she is spinning clockwise or counter-clockwise. If you see her turning clockwise, you are using your right-brain hemisphere and if you see her turning counter-clockwise, you are using your left-brain hemisphere. The ability to see her switch and spin both ways is also an option; meaning you can switch from right to left & back again according to your will. This experiment illustrates two very different ways of thinking and learning. See below.

LEFT BRAIN
Logical

Sequential

Rational

Analytical

Objective

Looks at parts

RIGHT BRAIN

Random

Intuitive

Holistic

Synthesizing

Subjective

Looks at wholes

I tested as an extremely right-brained thinker. In fact, I can't switch on the left-brain no matter how hard I try. Jeff & Lily can switch back & forth as most of the people who responded to my email did. Lucky folks. Several creative people I know (artists & writers) showed more right brain thinking.

This test explains so much for me personally.

1. My inability to learn in the traditional school setting in my early years. (I eventually figured out how to learn my own way.)
2. My continuing challenges coping with scheduling and paperwork. I can do it, but it takes lots of focused will power.
3. The way creative ideas come to me. Usually, they come as a complete “whole”. This morning for example, as I was waking up, two new art sculptures "popped" into my head. I then deconstructed them and figured out how to go about building them. My best stories come together within minutes too. The details are not all there, BUT the main story transitions are and so is the ending. In fact, I often can't work out a story until I have some idea of how it will end. Note: The ending can change if it needs to, but I can't even begin without some final image or final goal in sight.
4. My bazaar spelling and mispronunciations. If you know me personally, you will understand.
5. My war with technology. Machines require thinking step-by-bloody plodding through mud step. It bores me. I lose interest quickly. I frequently have to review how to use machines like digital cameras and computer programs because my brain doesn't want to retain the information. Truly, truly frustrating!

Cool experiment for sure. Thanks to all my family & friends for sending me your results.

Grow, GrOW, GROW says the Universe

Apparently, because all indications lead me to this conclusion, I am supposed to do some serious growing as a professional teller this year. SERIOUS GROWING!

I am getting lots of truly exciting storytelling opportunities. My calendar is filling up folks! This afternoon I bought a better, more efficient calendar to keep track of all the scheduling and planning that is now required. Plus, everyday, seven days a week, I make an effort to dedicate a certain amount of time to the business side of things. That is the only way that I can keep from wigging out. Really. My organizational & marketing skills must develop right along with my storytelling programs if I am to provide quality performances.

Aaarrghhhh! I love, love, love the creative work of being a storyteller, but boy does paperwork suck lemons! Surely, this will get easier as I create a routine. Right? Please agree.

So, what I'm trying to say is this - I love storytelling and find it miraculous to be where I'm at today. I can't adequately express how grateful I am - but, OUchy! The growing pains of having to figure out the paperwork and tax stuff are zinging me right & left.

Maybe, someday, the universe will send me a personal assistant or better yet, a business manager? Wouldn't that be wild!

Timing Dental Work

My work as a storyteller relies on my being able to actually talk, of course that's obvious right? So, certain kinds of dental procedures have to be carefully timed around gigs to allow adequate healing time and restoration work.

Presently I have a three week window of time to take care of a failed root canal. For 1 1/2 years I have been coping with an infection below said tooth allong the gum line. I had surgery last February to remove the infection, which promptly came back. I spent another year with my dear premolar praying that it would somehow miraculously save itself. Alas, it did not. >sniff!< Earlier this week I had the tooth removed. It was TRAUMATIC. I'd love to say that this was my first time, but it was actually the second adult tooth and failed root canal that I have lost. I wear a permanent bridge over the first tooth's site.

I have always been a somewhat vain person...it matters how I look. I like to present a clean, well-groomed, well-coifed outer shell. I wore braces forEVER in order to have a nice smile. Now, until next week - I'm going to look like a HILLBILLY!!! Yikes! That is how long it will take to get my temporary bridge fitted. And then, I have to wait 6 months to complete the implant that should be done. (The Doc assures me that this is actually a very easy procedure. Guess I will find out first hand.)

My next gig is March 8 at the Dallas Museum of Art. They are having a family day and I will be giving a gallery storytelling tour of the Turner Exhibit, in addition to another storytelling event on the 4th floor later that day. I will be pain free, completely healed,and have my temporary bridge in. So that is the good news, right? I will not look like a toothless hillbilly, I will be able to tell my tales in clear, audible, character rich voices and I will keep my vanity intact.

Timing is everything folks and that is what gives this little tale a happy ending...I guess...

Wonderful, Wacky, Wildly Original, Worldwide Websites for Storytellers!

Wonderful, Wacky, Wildly Original, Worldwide
Websites for Storytellers!
(a.k.a. WWWOWWS!)

WWWOWWS are out there storytellers and story lovers! These inspirational and informative websites are waiting in cyberspace just for you. They are excellent resources for researching stories, networking with tellers from around the world, learning the marketing skills for becoming a professional teller, and keeping up with current storytelling trends.

I am a HUGE web surfer. There are so many interesting and inspirational storytellers out there generously sharing their knowledge and gifts with the world. They keep me inspired and informed about this awesome storytelling journey I find myself on.

Let me share some of my favorite websites with you:

* http://www.storytellingwithchildren.com/
This is a WONDERFUL site! I cannot stress enough how helpful this site is. It features articles and interviews with the crème de la crème in children’s storytelling who share valuable insight and knowledge on a multitude of different subjects related to telling stories to children.
* http://www.story-lovers.com/frameright.html
Storytellers contribute to this site where a huge database has been created for searching out stories of ALL kinds. It is always my first stop when I’m looking for new material.
* http://www.billharley.com/
* http://www.myspace.com/billharleymusic
Grammy winning storyteller, Bill Harley’s website and myspace are wonderful places to visit. Listen to several of his delightful songs, read his newsletter and see where he’s been going on his travels. He’s one of my hero’s in the world of storytelling – what a guy!
* http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/folktexts.html
Folktexts: A library of folktales, folklore, fairy tales and mythology. This is a huge resource site that is invaluable for searching out tales of every kind.
* http://www.storyarts.org/
Storyteller Heather Forest’s website. She has lots of helpful information for anyone who tells stories to children.
* http://www.storyteller.net/
Network with other tellers and read excellent articles about the business of storytelling.
* http://professionalstoryteller.ning.com:80/
Great new website for professional storytellers. I plan on joining soon.

Okay, that’s enough for now. The above should provide a well-rounded introduction to WWWOWWS! Happy Surfing!

Yes, it was haunted...

The Cook-Hill House in Desoto Parish, LA was indeed haunted. Oh, Judy, the very nice woman who met us at the door when we arrived said it wasn't, but it was! The house was built around 1850 and had lots of charm, clean & cozy bedrooms, wonderful food, AND at least one ghost. The pictures above are of me standing in front of the house after I had not slept for two straight nights. I was still waiting for the coffee I had drank to kick in.

I have never, ever, not slept for two straight nights. An argument could be made that I had not slept due to the excitement and the incredible success of the trip. I mean, how can one settle down and rest when they are presenting a workshop for the first time with three super talented storytelling friends and have it so well recieved. Plus, everyone was so friendly and chatty. We had the best time talking to the locals and the attendees of our workshops. We found ourselves laughing all the time - great big belly laughs! The trip and the workshops couldn't have been more creatively and spiritually satisyfing - that is for CERTAIN!

That said, I still must insist that the B&B is haunted. Not by spooky, nefarious ghosts mind you. Just...past echoes 0r presences. When you can't sleep at night you can feel em. Hear voices that seem to come from far away and nearby all at the same time. Other sounds...too. O'course there were mice living there as well. One took Genie's chocolate candy and ate it. She found the empty wrapper on the floor.

At least, we think it was a mouse...we really don't know WHAT or WHO ate the candy. OOOHHHOOhhooOOOHHOoooHHHHH!

Off to Louisiana!

I'm off to Louisiana tommorrow for the workshop. I will stay with my fellow storytellers at the Cook Hill House B&B. It is circa 1850 - hope there aren't any ghosts! I have never stayed at a B&B, so I'm very excited. The pictures of the place are lovely.

The Quaker storytelling event was FUN! I did a very improvisational program and had a blast. Sometimes comedy happens in the most unexpected & magical ways.

Lily is sick. She has been ailing for a while. I really hate to leave when she's sick. Jeff will be here for her if she needs anything. She is 17 1/2 years old, so I guess she can do okay without her mom hovering over her.

Soon as I get back, I need to work on material for the Dallas Museum of Art. It never ends folks. I guess it's a real blessing that I LOVE what I do.

Ah yes, I really do love telling stories. (I need to remind myself of this when the workload gets heavy.)