Uphill idealist

and the sooner I learn that twists and turns are supposed to be a part of the experience, I might enjoy it a little more! I'm beginning to get there. I think. My life for the last month or so has been one that has consisted of living with a never departing invisible question mark above my head. I've been asked how I'm doing with not being currently employed and for the most part I'm hanging in here OK. Part of me honestly has become strangely comforted by the company of the vocational question mark. I even mentioned to my husband the other day, "I'm not sure what I'm going to do once I find a new job and my professional question mark is gone!" All this uncertainty, pondering, and soul searching has actually gotten me to begin to wonder if in reality the question mark of life ever really goes away. When life is full of jobs, clubs and organizations that we've grow used to, I've often thought that my life is figured out, settled and my pat...

Daylight is dim. I'm longing to sleep in, needing some comfort and care. But there's to much to do and the worlds coming unglued - I need to keep it together. I need to know you're here. Seeing the things I'm facing. I need to know you're here. Walking with me in my pacing. In dishes piled high and laundry way too deep and papers impatiently waiting. Do I only see work and tasks to do or evidence of life and living? I need to know you're here. Helping me in these days. I need to know you're here. I'm trying to go your way. Hold it together, keep yourself calm. Cool as a cucumber wins. (I think) Wanting so much to fall all apart, so you can put me together again - again - I'll just fall apart so you can put me back together again. I need to know you're here. That I'm not in this all alone. I need to know you're standing close. Breathing each breath, taking me home. I need to know you're here. T.L.E. 2008

This gritty but inspiring article of an single obgyn's efforts to restore hope and healing to victimized women and children of the Congo. It will open your eyes to their great social, medical and counseling needs - and make you want to take action to help. To read this article, click on "Women left for dead" . Warning: this article contains some discussion and topics that may be upsetting. How you can help! The women of Eastern Congo, V-Day and UNICEF—the latter acting on behalf of United Nations Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict—are launching a new campaign to urge an end to the femicide and raise money for women’s groups in the Congo. You can… * Write a letter addressed to His Excellency, the President of the Democrat... Read Moreic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila Kabange; demand that he take action to stop the attacks on women. Send it to U.N. Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict, P.O. Box 3862, New York, NY 10163, and it will be delivered to Kabila...

The voice of Adonai is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, Adonai thunders over the rushing waters. Children play in aqua pools of sunlight, catching the gleam of pink and purple ruffles. Twirling in waves made by marco polo and freeze tag. Watching their joyful abandon on a summer afternoon brings me back to center. I return to my own moments of splashing, shimmering and glimmering in water and sun. Dancing and rejoicing in my turtle wading pool, singing songs of wonder and harmony with Adonai - my loving Adonai. TLE 2008

Photo: Desert Rose This last weekend, my friend James Reed and I had the time to wrap up recording the final touches on our upcoming Cd demo - "Samaritan". We started the recording project much earlier this spring and are so excited to have this stage of making a cd complete. All the songs on the CD ( You turned on the light, Blind, Brothers and Sisters dance, See-breathe-exhale-sing, Come to the water and Silver Moon) are original recordings that came out of a personal time of renewed interest and hope in creating, writing and performing music throughout the spring and summer of 2007. Thanks to you all that encouraged me to get back to creating music - I feel as if a part of me that was asleep has woken up with much to say and share. Thanks to my family ( Ian , Heather and Nigel) for not minding having "Pizza again" for dinner when I was working on creative projects - this would not have been possible without your help and love. Thanks to my drummer and friend, Jam...

This Fall, I'm excited to be included as a potential Teaching Artist in Residence with the Arts Council for Chautauqua County's "Arts in Education". This manual lists local artists that are available for teaching residences within daytime school opportunities and after school care programs. This partnership between local schools is to provide opportunity for students to become involved with art, writing, music and theater beginning at an early age and throughout their education experience. The Arts in Education Program is made possible in part by a grant from The New York State Council on the Arts and in cooperation with Erie2 - Chautauqua - Cattaragus BOCES. Below is the listing of classes and projects that I will be offering to the program as well as my biography. If you have any interest in these activities or would like to book a workshop in any of these areas, feel free to contact me at eastman_tara@yahoo.com. Arts Council Seeks Teaching Artists The Arts Council...

Hot Metal Bridge , The Open Door and Christ Community Church collaborated in bringing the Church Basement Roadshow to the south hills neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA last Saturday evening. This summer book tour included Doug Pagitt , Tony Jones and Mark Scandrette in a revival style event that truly captivated audiences nation-wide! Ian, Nigel and I pack up our Toyota and hit the road to take in this opportunity to see just what the road show was all about! As we drove 3 1/2 hours to the Church Basement Roadshow. Nigel kept asking us, "What are we going to see?" "Is it a concert?" "Who is going to perform?" After much explanation about the potential of the vaudevillesque nation-wide book tour, we simply concluded to our 11 year old. "It's kind of hard to explain, so we'll just have to see when we get there." We arrived early at Hot Metal Bridge Saturday evening to find Doug, Tony, Mark and crew setting up chairs, merchandise tables ...