Fall's Harvest

A gateway into what is next! and a serious case of strange fruit.

My neighbor doesn't like to pick the lemons off his massive lemon trees... he allows them to morph into bedeviled unharvested fruit baking in the California sun and like any unharvested fruit left on the vine past its prime they mutate and morph into something that is positively crazy. After staring at them for many months covetously the occasion presented itself for me to pick some of the lemons when for a dinner party we were short of lemons for a BBQ of some freshly purchased fish....

Up close and personal, many of the lemons were unusable having gone bad, others looked goofy but had good juice, and still others defied description, taking on personalities all their own. One Lemon in particular stood out, it looked like a great lemon brain... it was out of its mind... Showing it to one of my friends saying "look at this crazy lemon" laughing at the sheer absurdity of the fruit. Without a beat he turned to me and said "that should be the name of your new company, a brand like no other. Crazy Lemon. I looked at the lemon, I looked at him, I took a photo of the lemon and threw it into photoshop...  Here's the results...

Let me know your thoughts and what you are harvesting this fall....  info@alwaysalice.com

Belle Amour!!

Monday's with Dr. Angelou

Since I have long been a fan of Dr. Maya Angelou I thought I'd set aside Monday as the day to celebrate her contribution to the literary landscape... 

We'll kick it off with Phenomenal Women and dedicate it to all those women living and loving and laughing and nourishing the planet...


Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Maya Angelou

Enrich Each Moment

 

 Sunday, October 3rd 11 - 3

Cantoni 

420 N. La Brea Ave

A Woman's Tea & Converation

Hello Super Harvest Moon!

Goodbye Summer.

According to NASA as Northern summer changes to fall at 11:09 pm EDT.

At that precise moment, called the autumnal equinox, the Harvest Moon will be found soaring high overhead with the planet Jupiter right beside it.


Check it out tonight.

For more info --

NASA on Super Harvest Moon...

NAT GEO on Autumnal Equinox and Super Harvest Moon.

Clear it out!

It's that magical time of the year I like to call "going with the flow" day... where we can dance and celebrate all prosperity before casting our Ganesh into the sea sending it on its journey of abundance letting anything not of its light dissolve away... and bringing forth full radiant wholeness.

"Devotees carry an idol of the Hindu elephant god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, for immersion in the sea on the last day of "Ganesh Chaturthi", in Mumbai on September 22, 2010. Idols of Ganesh are made two to three months before the day of "Ganesh Chaturthi", a popular religious festival in India. The idols are taken through the streets in a procession accompanied by dancing and singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual send-off of his journey towards his abode in "Kailash", while taking away with him the misfortunes of all mankind."

From the MSNBC photoblog
http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/09/22/5157703-festival-in-india

Andiamo!

There's nothing like Two Dames. Pearl Bailey and Carol Channing.

The first time I saw Carol Channing was on the Pearl Bailey special, she was a pure delight. Later in life, living in Los Angeles working at one of the Studios I got to experience Carol Channing at a benefit for The Actors Fund featuring the music of Jerry Herman. She loved an audience, loved to perform, loved to delight. It is one of my most treasured memories as a huge musical theater fan and someone who loves a great show. Music and Song colliding with BIG personality.  

One of the reasons my heart sings at the sheer mention of a musical theater evening and why I've hosted evenings of Cabernet and Cabaret is on full display here with two of the iconic women of their generations. Found this clip that brings me to the center of my being.

Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey

Side by side.

Unique.

Loving.

Joyful.

Radiant.

Entertaining.

Two women who won the Tony for their role of Dolly Levi in Jerry Herman's Hello Dolly.

Magnifique!

So much love to these two, now and always.

A Universal Message...

"I am only a child yet I know if all the money spent on war was spent on finding environmental  answers, ending poverty and finding treaties what a wonderful place this earth would be. At school, even in kindergarten, you teach us how to behave in the world, you teach us not to fight with others, to work things out, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share not to be greedy. 

Why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do.  Do not forget... who you are doing this for... You are deciding what kind of a world we are growing up in."

Please make your actions speak for themselves.



Speech by Twelve year old Severn Suzuki in 1992 to the United Nations.

Return to Yom Kippur | MEL'S LOVE LAND FORGIVENESS PRACTICE

Today's invocation of spirit from the Machzor for Yom Kippur

this day of At-one-ment,
for forgiving,
for clearing,
for at-one-ing.)


May the grace of God
ascend within us, open our ears,
open our hearts and minds,
to the flame of our ancestors,
to the flame of the Messiah,
to our people Israel,
to all humankind.

We open to the cleansing energy within us
the Power of purification present in every age:
Let it clear out the debris;
let it wash away our mistakes and our suffering,
so we may truly see, as it teaches,
"I, only I, Self of your self,
erase your lack of faith in your Self,
and I do this to make known
my reality through you.
Your mistakes I will not recall.
Indeed, I have swept away your mistakes

     like clouds blown away,
     like mist that vanishes.
     Turn to me-- I have already freed you!"
     For you have been promised:
     "On this day a-mending will be made for you,
     to cleanse you from all your mistakes.
     Before the Infinite you shall be clear."

Our Power and Power of our parents,
Let us make our lives holy
through deeds of justice, love and joy.
Let us make our part in the Torah.
Let us enjoy God's world
and rejoice in freedom.

May our prayers
open our eyes and expand our vision,
revealing your divine plan
whose path leads us all to the holy of holies.
May our heartfelt prayers be a conduit
swiftly carrying us to the time
when all Israel, all peoples, serve the divine plan.

May our eyes witness the return of Your Presence

to our lives, to Zion, and to the whole world.

Blessed are You, Source of blessings
awakening the world to your Presence
through our deeds of goodness.

We will continue to offer thanks
to the eternal One,
steadfast Source of strength
throughout all generations,
for our lives which rest in Your embrace,
for our souls which are in Your care,
for the miracles and wonders
which greet us day after day,

Allow me the grace to invite total forgiveness into my heart to wash away all that no longer serves.
Allow me to embrace life in love with all that is.

Allow me your light to radiate through me in a feast of forgiveness.

Love, Mel

Wow.... Check out The Julie Andrews Show from 1965!

While she may have torpedoed the fashion industries movement to make skirts from tableclothes I could listen to Julie Andrews sing all night!

Magnificent Women Make History

Movements start in so many different ways, in living rooms, on battlefields, on playgrounds, in tragedy and in joy born in the hearts of those answering a greater call.

The birth of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is one such example.

In her upcoming book Promise Me, its founder Nancy Brinker shares the life story of her sister Susie whose death at 36 set a dramatic series of events in motion that would become the leading support system for millions of women battling cancer.




AMP EXPERIENCE honors these moments of magnificence and holds the space for the greatest expression of grace in action on the planet.

Andiamo!

Ce Est Magnifique!

Praise and Kind words for MELANIE LUTZ'S  I AM  BOOKS

I am loving your book.  I am spending time getting to know one of them each day....in random order depending on the title and which one calls me that evening.   I read them on my balcony and just let the nourishing words sink in.

--Katie

Each of these pieces in your collection are incredible. The healing one was piercing, in the most authentic and nourishing way.  Thank you for your gift of words, of healing, of light, of love, which poured through your strands of thoughts. Wow.  So powerful.

-- Sarah

I have felt SO encouraged by each one in a unique way - kind of like each one is a conversation directly into my heart leaving me with a smile on my face and empowered in a precious and different way.

--  Gayle

These books need to be shared with everyone. They could save a lot of lives; and make a lot of other lives better. You have no idea what a blessing you are to this world. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

--Joe

I bought your book online not knowing what to expect.  I am loving it.  I am spending time getting to know one of them each day....in random order depending on the title and which one calls me that evening.   I read them on my balcony. Truly beautiful!!

-- Sonia

 

"I've spent many days now crying after reading your book and telling my daughter .."these are happy tears." You reminded me of myself and helped me open the door."

--Lisa

You need to know NOW that I received your book and could not put it down. I cried and cried. What a wonderful contribution. It will be the first book I RE-read in a long, long time.
-- Dave

I AM is a triumph.
-- Mia

I just now finished my first reading of a book I will return to again and again.  I have already ordered your second book as well and if you have a third I'll be buying that pronto.

-- Sally

The power of simple affirmations with complex meanings just explodes off those pages.  I am amazed that you were able to capture such essential and central emotion so thoroughly and precisely.

You must have lived, must BE living, an incredible life. Thank you for sharing.

-- Dan

I wanted to thank you  for creating such a beautiful collection of inspirational words.  I am still running off the strength and empowerment that I harvested from reading the book. What a pleasure to be able to refer to your book, to keep it on my nightstand and to use it to nourish my being. It is exceptional!

-- Gina

Check out our site's BE MAGNIFICENT section.

Return to Prayer

Today's invocation of spirit by Paulo Coelho.

Lord, protect our doubts, because Doubt is a way of praying. It is Doubt that makes us grow because it forces us to look fearlessly at the many answers that exist to one question. And in order for this to be possible…

Lord, protect our decisions, because making Decisions is a way of praying. Give us the courage, after our doubts, to be able to choose between one road and another. May our YES always be a YES, and NO always be a NO. Once we have chosen our road, may we never look back nor allow our soul to be eaten away by remorse. And in order for this to be possible…

Lord, protect our actions, because Action is a way of praying. May our daily bread be the result of the very best that we carry within us. May we, through work and Action, share a little of the love we receive. And in order for this to be possible…

Lord, protect our dreams, because to Dream is a way of praying. Make sure that, regardless of our age or our circumstances, we are capable of keeping alight in our heart the sacred flame of hope and perseverance. And in order for this to be possible…

Lord, give us enthusiasm, because Enthusiasm is a way of praying. It is what binds us to the Heavens and to Earth, to grown-ups, and to children; it is what tells us that our desires are important and deserve our best efforts. It is Enthusiasm that reaffirms to us that everything is possible, as long as we are totally committed to what we are doing. And in order for this to be possible…

Lord, protect us, because Life is the only way we have of making manifest Your miracle. May the earth continue to transform seeds into wheat, may we continue to transmute wheat into bread. And this is only possible if we have Love; therefore, do not leave us in solitude. Always give us Your company, and the company of men and women who have doubts, who act and dream and feel enthusiasm, and who live each day as if it were totally dedicated to Your glory.

Amen.

 

Search Amazon.com for paul Coelho

Happy Crazy Melon Day!

Today is the one year anniversary of my journey into getting bare and divesting myself of everything I held dear.  Sometimes you don't have a choice in what you give birth to... such is the mystery of diving into the creative depths... In that spirit I offer my newest friend and alter Mel ego...

There are many reasons the watermelon would come up at this phase of my falling in love with myself. From the movie The Family Stone  "You have a freak flag. You just don't fly it." I've been shying away from taking this final step into my madness and remembering the perfection that resides in my reclaiming the truth. But it is time to embrace that inner crazy Mel. I look at this as a new era. A rebirth. I have no idea what hugging my inner nut will do but I have a kind of faith in this turn toward the crazy.  I am ready.

As William Jennings Bryan wrote about the mystery of the Watermelon --

I have observed the power of the watermelon seed. It has the power of drawing from the ground and through itself 200,000 times its weight. When you can tell me how it takes this material and out of it colors an outside surface beyond the imitation of art, and then forms inside of it a white rind and within that again a red heart, thickly inlaid with black seeds, each one of which in turn is capable of drawing through itself 200,000 times its weight—when you can explain to me the mystery of a watermelon, you can ask me to explain the mystery of God.

Bryan, a politician and best known as a prosecutor in the celebrated Scopes trail that would be fictionalized in one of my favorite theater works Inherit the Wind written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee which is also one of the greatest film adaptations of all time directed brilliantly by Stanley Kramer. 

What more could any Crazy Melon ask for as a tribute to leaving the past behind, nevermore to be remembered. A different present, where a future is unlike the past in every attribute.

From ACIM - "the world in infancy is newly born. And we will watch it grow in health and strength."

I bless you Crazy Melon.

Henry Valentine Miller

When I got rid of everything (and I mean everything) the one piece of art I kept was Henry Miller's Happy Day. He was primarily known through his career as a novelist but towards the later part of his career he was churning out works of art in inspired breaths.

For me Happy Day always evokes exactly what the title calls for.

“To the person who thinks with his head, life is a comedy. To those who thinks with their feelings, or work through their feelings, life is a tragedy.”
--Henry Miller

Henry Miller's Happy Day - for sale $10,000

It brought to mind one of my favorite laughs from Dustin Hoffman regarding his gender bending role in Tootsie.

“I never thought of it as a comedy”

It’s all how we see it.

Let's choose to have a Happy Day!

What Price Liberty?

Sizzling, Sacred and Surreal

The freedom expressed and endured that created our reality retreats even as I write these words.

Our sons and daughters mourn the richness of purpose that once flowed effortlessly through the air. We stopped deeply breathing long ago, began accepting instant gratification and became hardened to the longer possibilities of meaning and purpose and discipline.

Within the walls of our confinement we have lost our way. Each of us needs to reclaim the passion and purpose of being. We know not what can be done because trying has been supplanted with apathy. The war lost before it has begun.

I say no more.

Is our thirst for instilled freedom a clipped eagle of intention that no longer holds any exuberance? The towering oneness of an America merged with all positions and perils and profundity in and around the world enrapturing our humanity in a powerful vision of understanding.

Pick up your liberties, not holding them as a shield but as an anthem for endless fostered longings, as an emblem for oneness stretching and ever searching and ever growing toward social justice for all.

Rising from the ashes of entitlement. A kernel of hope blossoms.

 

I love.

I love the kindnesses, the accomplishments, the people who came into my life, the jobs, the experiences, all part of a life affirming chain of being and letting myself flow into creation. An oh so interconnected existence. Integrated and special and perfect.


There is no nobler pursuit than that of your dreams, and I love how lucky I am to be able to pursue my dreams wholeheartedly. I love how I can celebrate all that I have and appreciate all the ways they have made me who I am.

When you are open and free from the chaos of daily existence and the to dos, when you can find a place as William Blake said, ”Where Satan can not find you,” everything is there waiting. You just have to be willing to pull off the blinders and breathe.

So many people have helped me in my life. One of my favorite things on the old Mel path had been the deep knowledge that I could always “count on the kindness of strangers.” How strange and wonderful at last to have the wild realization that you can rely on loved ones as well. I love the way receiving support was more and more effortless the freer I became from my shameful past belief that help was a hindrance and something to be avoided at all costs.

How much happier would I be
If I knew the secrets of the tree
If I let myself be
What a wondrous thing for me
Never to have a doubt
Never to have a care
If I let myself be
the tree.

I love things now that are effortless. That I don’t need to struggle, and mangle, and manhandle and force into existence. I love that I can just be.

Excerpted from Melanie Lutz's THE BARE MELCESSITIES.

Save the Date - Oct 3rd!

The Bare Mel teams up with the Amazing (Connie Sui), Magnificent (Melanie Lutz) and Phenomenal (Phoenix G.) it equals…

AMP Experience

For an “Afternoon Tea Party” with lots of special treats!!!

PLACE: in Los Angeles near Beverly center… TBD
DATE: October 3, 2010
TIME: 11am-3:00pm
FEE: $10 in advance
$20 at the door

Our first event sponsored by:

Bare Escentuals:















The Bare Melcessities:

Puri Tea:

AMP EXPERIENCE holds events that encourage motivate and uplift women inside and out. The group cover areas as nutrition and diet to skin care and fashion. Experiential, educational, philanthropic and fun! AMP is a network that offers women the opportunity to reinvent themselves, step out of their comfort zone, and fulfill their dreams and goals. The group is made up of women who want to reach their goals, and connect with other like-minded women.

Please let me know if you would like to attend!!!!!

Expand in Possibility!

PEACE

Peace comes from knowing peace

Love comes from being Loving

Peace radiates my deepest brilliance

Glowing brightly

Step not timidly on the path

Flowing forward

Fully

Alive

And

Alight

Peace is mine

Peace is my calling card

Fall with me

And radiate through me

I see life blossoming all around me

I see peace realized

I wake

Hearing the bluebirds of the Angels

Joining in the dance of love

I own my state of peace

In grace

I am a Magnificent Woman

Excerpted from Melanie Lutz's I am a Magnificent Woman 

Who Do You Think You Are?

I hope the answer is fabulous, unbelievable, power house, gorgeous and beautiful... Inside and out.

Cause you are.

If anyone tries to bring you down to their thinking. Remember...

Who are you not to be amazing, magnificent, phenomenal!

Join AMP EXPERIENCE --- Sunday, October 3rd in West Hollywood for an Amazing, Magnificent, and Phenomenal Tea celebrating our power, grace and beauty and be apart of an unstoppable social force accomplishing the miraculous.



I like that Sara writes upbeat tunes with decidedly emotional undertones.

e-Harmony keeps introducing me to men named Jesus

I am starting to get curious. Not curious enough to go out with Jesus or one of his other Jesus minions but curious.

With Edward Kleban, Marvin Hamlisch and Michael Bennett's direction...

...A Chorus Line struck a deep chord with theater goers.

Today the Music in the Mirror started playing in my head. The song relates Cassie's journey in the show from seasoned Gypsy and notable soloist having to return to New York jobless, homeless and fighting for her dance life to be part of the Chorus. In a beautifully crafted number she has to confront her demons, her ex and her love of her craft and everything she had to give up for that singular passion.... 

"All I ever wanted was the music and the mirror and the chance to dance for you."  

What's so powerful about the emotions pouring from this bare stage with a single line is the performer offers the cry of every person looking for permission to dance....

In her Peabody winning Martha Graham in Performance the dancer discusses the craft of Dance.

There comes a moment when she looks at you in the mirror and you realize that she is looking at you and recognizing you as herself. It is through you. Her love. her hope. Her fear. Her terror is to be expressed and there is a moment of fear on your own part. Dread. Sense of hazard feeling that perhaps you haven’t done quite enough work; perhaps you should have gone back to the studio and worked again. Because that which you do not want to do is to fail in either clarity or in passion. You give all your life to doing this one thing… it sounds grim… it sounds frightening. It isn’t. (beat) it has a great gaiety at times and a great wonder but at the same time there is that need to go back to the studio. Dance is communication and the great desire is to speak clearly and beautifully and with inevitability. And this is true of all of us. It’s true of me it’s true of every member of my company.

A dancer’s world is the heart of man. With its joys and its hopes and its fears and its loves… and a dancers world is arrived at by days and days of work, weeks of work, and years of work. But there is one wonderful line of Saint John Purse and it expresses more clearly than anything any of us can say, the privilege of the instant but he says you have so little time to be born to the instant.

May we all find that space in our hearts full of all we can handle.... I'm giving you permission to say "Hey listen they are playing my song" and dance. Wholeheartedly.

Andiamo!

A Tale of Two Cities

Two Artists. Two Videos. Two Visions....


London (Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger) from David Hubert on Vimeo.


Sincerely, Spain from Matthew Brown on Vimeo.

Mel Insights -- Tweaking Character Dialogue

Mel Tip -- In the early going don't edit yourself.

Subject: The Other dialogue

Don't worry -- when working on an early draft--

In this case an emotionally distant high powered executive ---Sometimes more needs to be more --- Go for it.... You can always pull back.

Lead character: ROSEMARY --

Does anybody need to live with an ‘other’, can’t we just be ourselves, have our residences, our own space, be lifelong friends, live as we live. Meet when need be. Have sex when we need to. Otherness isn’t meant to rule. What if one and one existed side by side, life by life, time by time and it was a good thing. Trees grow on their own. The squirrel scurries in solitude but they aren't alone... and I can feel that life meant us to couple at times but nature intended the solo performance. in all its brilliance. We dance together but we live our oneness. The otherness a fancy of cavemanian romance.

The expression flows out onto the page and is available for the editorial eye.

"the way is not difficult... it is just different"