O is for Opportunity

The Quote of the Day that inspired my A to Z Blogging Challenge theme -
A Word for the Day that takes on many meanings.

Quote of the Day: A writer lives in awe of words for they can be cruel or kind, and they can change their meanings right in front of you. They pick up flavors and odors like butter in a refrigerator. John Steinbeck

Word of the Day: Opportunity

You know the definition of luck; it's where Hard Work meets Opportunity. Freedictionary.com has some great examples.

1.

a. A favorable or advantageous circumstance or combination of circumstances.

b. A favorable or suitable occasion or time.

2. A chance for progress or advancement.

Synonyms: opportunity, occasion, opening, chance, break
These nouns refer to a favorable or advantageous circumstance or combination of circumstances. Opportunity is an auspicious state of affairs or a suitable time: "If you prepare yourself . . . you will be able to grasp opportunity for broader experience when it appears" (Eleanor Roosevelt).Occasion suggests the proper time for action: an auspicious occasion; an occasion for celebration.
An opening is an opportunity affording a good possibility of success: waited patiently for her opening, then exposed the report's inconsistency.
Chance often implies an opportunity that arises through luck or accident: a chance for us to chat; no chance of losing.
A break is an often sudden piece of luck, especially good luck: got his first big break in Hollywood.

Love that Eleanor Roosevelt quote. A big part of success is saying Yes! to new challenges and working towards a goal even when you aren't sure you're making any progress. You might say that I'm lucky to be invited to theaters like the Guthrie and the Children's Theater in Minneapolis to write reviews. I certainly feel lucky. Every time I walk through their doors and pick up my tickets, my heart pumps a little faster and my senses come alive. And, to think, it all started with my blog. My best writermamapal, Roxane at Peace Garden Mama, had been blogging for a year or so and encouraged me to start a blog. After I'd been blogging for a year or so, I saw, via facebook, that the Guthrie was looking for bloggers to come to their shows and write reviews. Without a moments hesitation, I signed up. Anne, the PR person at the Children's Theatre, found me online and invited me to shows there. Now, I'm doing something I love and getting a good education as a playwright as well. The theaters benefit from having reviews online. I'm making more and more connections, and the circle is widening.

Each time I go to the theater is a new adventure. I get to bring a guest, and this time my cousin Angie accompanied me.

The view from the 9th floor where they have shows in the studio is one of my favorite places. I'm usually here at night and the view of the city and all its twinkly lights is so romantic. Angie and I were here for a matinee, and it was the first I realized that the window is tinted yellow. It's bright and beautiful up here, warm and magical. Angie liked looking at the patterns below.

The Level Five Cafe has delicious food and it is so convenient to eat there. Since it's part of the theater experience, the seating host asks what show you're seeing. He hadn't seen Time Stands Still, yet, so I gave him my card and told him to watch for the review. Our waiter, Michael, was great. He said, "I'll start with the quiche of the day." He didn't need to go any further. He had us at bacon, ham, cheese, and squash.

I dove right in. I was hungry. It was delicious. The crust was light and flakey. Then, I pulled out my camera to share with all of you because I knew you'd like some too. Michael popped on over to ask how we liked it and jumped in a picture.

Isn't that great! He's cute and funny. We said no to dessert, and he said, "So, the dessert card didn't do its work." I said, "It didn't have pictures." (I can't resist a good lookin' dessert.) This was a perfect segue for him to talk photography. He was admiring my camera, asking about its features and if I'd go with the lower priced one or spend the money on the upgrade. I said for me it's a part of my creativity and I use my own photos on my blog. I'd love to get the better lens, then I'll have more options for my photos. He said, "You've sold me." (I'll have Nikon send me my commission check.)

It's fun that we had a camera theme to our day since the play was about a photo journalist and one of the people on the panel after the play was a local photographer.

Keep doing what you love. Keep building your brand and honing your skills. You never know what opportunity is waiting to meet you.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  When has hard work met opportunity in your life? What do you hope will happen with what you're working on, now?

O is for Oscars

I need to start with a correction from N is for Name.  The photo of Nancy in the green sweatshirt was actually taken by our younger sister Joy.  We were passing my camera around that day, which is where I got confused.  Sorry, Joy, for the mistake.  I regret the error.

Letter of the Day:  O

O, I've been waiting for this day.  I love the Oscars.  I love the glitz, the glamour, the show, the highlights, the red carpet, and the speeches. O, and don't forget the movies themselves.  Not all our favorite movies get Oscar awards, or even nominations.  Usually, they're arty or bizarre.  They often have complicated plots and characters, and they aren't the kind you watch over and over.  My son wondered why so many are rated R. 

I think that comedy is horribly ignored on awards night.  It takes great skill and timing to do comedy well.  If you want to unwind and escape from your stress, don't you reach for the comedy?  I do.

During our Spring Break, we had a stay-cation, which means we stayed home, slept in, had friends over, and watched movies.  I caught up on some of the Oscars from 2010 and before.  Here are some supplies you need for movie night, double or triple the recipe for a whole week of movies.

I was planning on doing some movie reviews following our stay-cation, but got caught up in the A-Z challenge of April, so sorry to make you wait.  Today, I'll write about The Social Network, and Juno.  I'll save Slumdog Millionaire for S Day.

As a movie, The Social Network is well done.  It has great pacing, good storytelling, interesting characters, and a fascinating setting. It won the Oscar for Writing.  I don't think I'll ever watch it again.  I found myself not liking Mr. Zuckerberg at all.  His date at the beginning of the movie says it best, "You're going to think that you don't have a girlfriend because you're a computer geek, but that's not true. You won't have a girlfriend because you're a jerk."  And, he is.  He steals ideas.  He uses his friend, then tries to cut him off. He retaliates for the rejection he feels from his date by forming a rating system for women on his campus.  It turns out that a person who lacks real life social skills created an online network where you interact through screens.  (This could get me on a whole new topic on our social needs, but I'll save that for another day.)  What this movie lacks, for me, is a hero.  I didn't have anyone to root for.

Then, I watched Juno.  O, I loved Juno, the movie and the character.  Of course, the setting is near and dear to my heart, Minnesota.  It is so wonderfully midwestern, not the "midwestern" where it's depicted as simple, calm, white-picket fence, peaceful and mundane.  A girl gets pregnant and she handles it with grace and courage.  It's not shameful or horrible.  It's a big deal, yes, but not the end of the world.  It won the Oscar for Best Writing!  I love cheering for the best original screenplay.  That is my dream.  I watch the Oscars and write my acceptance speech in my head.  Juno is original and thoughtful with authentic characters and dialogue and has the most satisfying ending.  I found myself rooting for many of the characters in this story who are trying to make a less than ideal situation something honorable and beautiful.  Juno wants the best possible family for her child.  She says, "I don't want them to be shitty and broken like everyone else's family."  As she's trying to figure out the complexities of life and relationships, her dad asks what's going on. She responds, "Just out dealing with things way beyond my maturity level."

I would give Juno the Oscar for best original music.  It fits the story and setting beautifully.

Journaling Prompt:  Do you have opinions about either of these movies or any Oscar nominees?  Do you watch the Oscars?  Who had the best dress this year?  Best acceptance speech?  I liked the gal who was so shocked that she swore. (Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”)