13 April - Gallery Night in My Milwaukee

For as much time as I have spent in the historic Third Ward of Milwaukee, I have never experienced Gallery Night & Day. Bustling with boutiques, galleries and an international art school, this quaint arts district opens its doors four weekends per year, showcasing its wares and artwork by local photographers and artists. This 21-yr-old “art show” traditionally has spanned approximately six blocks. As it built a successful draw, the parameters have expanded to 61 venues throughout downtown to restaurants, the Calatrava, north to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and other venues like the historic Turner Hall, which held a fashion show to live music, featuring local bands.

In my preliminary research, a friend was kind enough to email me a hefty list of "must-sees". In my go-with-the-flow mode, we made it to...three. Shucks. At 5:30, friends Jean, Shanel and I started at Shoo to stop and say hello to proprietor and friend Kate. Shoo (http://www.shoostore.com/) carries one of the most unique collections of shoes, boots and accessories in the Midwest. Growing up in Chicago and traveling as a buyer, Kate has garnered street credit evidenced in her personal style and selection of inventory… pairs themselves that are works of art. We were doubly honored to find another friend and featured designer Heather greeting clientele and promoting her new line of handbags (http://www.home-threads.com/). As we perused the boutique, I happened to notice a woman I recognized from long ago… my former high school musical director. Mrs. Kramer and I reminisced and caught up on the lives and paths of past classmates from leads on Broadway, to theater directors to band members to actors on the big screen. While talking, I received a hug from another friend who just moved back from London. The whole evening continued to follow the same suit.

We all ventured to our next destination, the 320 East Buffalo building, with the goal of accomplishing three stops in one: Flux Design, CoPA and Picture Perfect Art Gallery. Ambitious as we were, we never made it past Flux. Was it reviewing their furniture line with too many glasses of wine? Perhaps catching up with former co-workers from my past advertising world and harassing a friend who leads a blues band that shares my husband's saxophone-playing skills once in a blue moon? Or Jean breaking out into different accents when talking to various people, strangers included? Perhaps it was just that time really does fly when one is having fun. Whichever way, we glanced at our watches to realize we only had 30 minutes left till the close of Gallery Night. How did that happen?

The pleasant weather contributed to the evening’s vibe of summer anticipation, as we walked to my companions’ old stomping grounds, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. The type of vibe where people find things a little funnier, have the itch to get outside and appreciate crowds -- to feel alive. It was an evening where any silly act was a welcome invitation for a stranger’s chuckle … like Shanel pulling an empty stroller behind her as though barreling through a busy airport to make her connection, hitting cement columns along the way. As we entered MIAD, we were greeted with crowds of onlookers and artists discussing the interesting works of senior thesis projects, including a fiberglass-type layered dome to a printmaking paper lounge. As we traversed the different floors and cross-disciplines of art, I recognized a smile and had to say hello to a face that knew my history, my old boyfriend. The warm feeling of security in an old friend who appreciated my family fabric manifested where, within five minutes of conversation, the same goofiness rose to the top.

As the evening wound down and exhibits came to a close, Shanel apologized we did not see more exhibits than…three. Nonsense. To me, this WAS Gallery Night. Its warmth and welcome to neophytes reaffirmed my affinity for this city, with its low-profile, abundant charm of a tight community offering little pockets of culture and historical treasure. I had no expectations walking into the evening, for expectation often leads to disappointment. And what I received was finding different elements of my history crossing paths …from Mrs. Kramer in my high school years, to my first boyfriend, to former co-workers and musicians connected to my husband, my present, to people who have entered my life only within the past few years that I am honored to consider very dear friends. I did not want to view Gallery Night as a tourist, checking sites off a list. Just like travel, one might interpret being "cultured" as heading overseas just to say it was done, as if one tick mark should be applied to his life list. Yet all the while, he never noticed the newspaper vendor's crooked smile as he greeted him everyday or inhaled the nostalgic smell of bread baking at the corner cafe that he will someday see tucked in the background of a photo when showing his friends. I think being cultured could simply be noticing, appreciating and living the small joys without having to leave your own city.

And in this cherished city, I was fortunate to end the week with another new experience in an old venue. Date night with my husband included watching one of our favorite standup comedians, Louis CK. As brash as he may be, Louis CK remembered Milwaukee left a great impression from his last visit. He paid due respect by handpicking its gorgeous Pabst Theater to film live for an upcoming film (http://www.pabsttheater.org/). The Pabst Theater was built by Captain Frederick Pabst to emulate the opulent European opera houses of his time. Donned in golds and reds, the theater boasts a 2-ton Austrian crystal chandelier, which is lowered to seat level once per year for cleaning. This theater "has been designated as a City of Milwaukee Landmark, a State of Wisconsin Historical Site, and a National Historic Landmark. Built in 1895, The Pabst is the fourth oldest continuous operating theater in the United States." And one of the most beautiful.

Gallery Night with friends and a date night with my husband and a comedian. My soul needed new light-hearted experiences as these. I drove around with my windows down and noticed light installations of periwinkle hues casting shadows on the freeway. I inhaled that familiar breath of home ... only my Milwaukee.

For more information on Gallery Night & Day, please visit http://www.historicthirdward.org/.

6 April - Tween and Twilight

I have never read a “tween” book before...no Quidditch games nor magical rings resound in my literary history. I used to be in book clubs until I realized I no longer bothered to read the book…huh. Good books, too. I could chime in on anyone's comments of character development, premise, struggles, inner conflicts. I enjoyed all of that. All I needed was a nice glass of Sangiovese or Pinot Grigio. In most recent years, I probably would have joined clubs that began with the words "In" and "Style". Give me quick snippets of info and photos. Even this particular antithetical magazine has two current issues yearning to see sunlight. And I will even admit I have that bestseller Eat, Pray, Love on my bedside table. Excuse me… IN my bedside table. I enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert’s writing style, but I lost steam somewhere in Italy for the past year.

The books towards which I gravitate involve some type of adventure...page turners that keep me invested and engaged; yes romance, but no fluff. I have respect for an author who does a great deal of historical and cultural research. I enjoy losing myself in character and story, melding history with gripping problem solving suspense and premise like Da Vinci Code (though I thought parts became quite self-indulgent in its tangents). My flavor has the affinity for period pieces as in The Other Boleyn Girl and Memoirs of a Geisha, where I can taste a glimpse of life in a completely different time and culture. Give me clever short stories intertwined with character development as in When the Elephants Dance or the cultural Her Wild American Self written by Milwaukee’s own, friend and award-winning author, M. Evelina Galang (www.mevelinagalang.com).

This week’s task was to read an engaging “tween” book. But I think what I found was technically a bit older to be considered “tween.” Of course, I did not realize that until 1 ½ days later and 490+ pages into it. One day, I overheard friends Shannon and Maggie gushing over a man named Edward. The look on Shannon’s face warmed and intrigued me, her face flush as she whispered. Then I realized her husband’s name is not Edward. "Cute", I thought, "maybe she has a crush." Maggie then chimed in, “I know! I am on the treadmill at 5:30 in the morning and I can't get him out of my mind!" I wondered if Edward were a kind, local gentleman who gravitated towards women my age. As they both giggled, they asked if I had read the book Twilight. It was apparently a love story about a human and a vampire. Red Flag: the Believability Factor. Or lack thereof, not that I do not allow myself to get lost in what may or may not be possible. So I had to turn to my literary expert by night (assistant athletic director by day), Kath. She brought it with her on our trip to Mexico. Did it deem her stamp of approval? Um…yes, as well as eight other of our girlfriends. And the number keeps multiplying as confessions come to light. I would like to see some demographic data on this book. With whom was it more popular: Girls 12-18 or Women 25+? And why?

Was it the butterflies, head games and inner monologues that resonated when we were young and falling in love? As older, married, mature women, do we yearn for those feelings again, which come back so quickly when tapped? Was it the simple writing style of the author (which I realized indeed played to a younger audience)? Or the initial enmity between the two main characters, which transformed to whimsical playful banter, then grew to deep-seeded love, respect and loyalty? I think the draw for me was I did not feel cheated by the typical prince storyline swooping in to save the damsel several times over. It did not become hokey, just…precious. I felt sympathy for a misjudged outcast who redeemed himself as being the complete opposite in having a soul…who also happened to be a stereotypical gorgeous gentleman of a vampire. Another premise is what friend Yvette pointed out – the struggle of self-control between doing what is right versus what we yearn.

I will say, the trip to a misty, rainy Washington and welcoming these new friends into my life was a nice escape for two days. As Shannon said regretfully, “I am jealous of everyone who has not read it yet!” So if you have, no need to deny you liked it. Come on. You know who you are. And if you are not doing anything next week, my girls and I are viewing Twilight at our Movie Club. Just bring jammies and wine.

30 March - To Give and To Receive

Mom always said to practice charity. “And when you give, give wholeheartedly -- otherwise, what is the point? Don't count the cost. It will come back tenfold...." And it literally worked. I gave a boy scout $10 once and joked with a stranger, "According to Mom, I should get $100 tomorrow." Lo and behold, I received a $100 check the next day for a wedding I sang for and completely forgot about. Huh.

This week's task was to follow my wise mother and practice charity with random acts of kindness. The easiest avenue was to fill out my Milwaukee Rescue Mission (http://www.milmission.org/) pledge card, which I received a few weeks ago. This organization has been helping the homeless get back on their feet since 1893. It provides two separate shelters for women and men, as well as offers uplifting programs. What better way to start the week? Time to commit. Filled out the card and dropped my donation in the mail. It felt great to get that done and out the door, but the purpose of this week was not to check something off a list.

To explore more opportunities of kindness, what better person to consult with than my dear friend Amy J.? She not only is one of my go-tos for a sounding board and brainstorming, but she has such a charitable heart. She is a creative, humble, thoughtful, hilarious woman who was an executive at a national event marketing firm. She left to raise a family of three wonderful children and does her own charity work. Amy suggested doing something she and her mom used to do – pay for someone’s toll. “They would speed and pull up next to us to wave thank you.” So of course I had to tie this task in with a little bit of shopping across the border. I told the nice toll lady to tell the driver behind me to pay it forward and to have a great week. Um, no such response of anyone waving to thank me. Neither on the way back home. Nor could I enjoy the reaction of a woman who enjoyed a free pizza on me at Pizza Hut. But that is just fine…what is a couple of bucks? And as Mom said, do not count the cost.

On to the next random act of kindness. Being a bit extroverted, one would think approaching a stranger with a nice gesture should be no embarrassing task. Well, it is. After waiting for any customer to drive thru at the local Starbucks, I resorted to approaching a lady already waiting for her coffee at the window. Twas a bit awkward, but necessary to follow through. I threw any inhibitions aside for a greater cause, so I offered to pay for her coffee. She sheepishly asked, "But why would you want to do that?" I answered, "just because." She was extremely touched and felt embarrassed to accept my favor. But she graciously did, and promised to do the same for the next person. We chatted a bit and I was on my way. Huh. Paying it forward might actually catch on.

The following morning, I went to workout. Decided to treat myself to my favorite a.m. cocktail: Panera’s chai latte. I noticed a soldier sitting and working in the corner. Regardless of our beliefs in putting young men and women in harm's way, I commend these people for not only sacrificing their time for others, but time with their own families and putting their lives in danger for something they believe in. All for strangers. How many of us would actually do that? Ever since I realized the selflessness in this humble commitment, I have been trying to overcome my shyness and simply say, "Thank you for serving." So I did. Felt the tingles and started to sweat a bit as I approached him, said my thank you and left. After savoring my chai in my toasty car, I realized that that was not a true random act of kindness. What was I sacrificing? So I went back, purchased a gift card and said, “This is for your next meal. And again, thank you.” I quickly scanned his uniform and read "ARMY" and “Rivera.” Well, it was nice to meet you, Mr. Rivera. Be safe.

In performing these random acts of kindness, the joy comes from not only the experience itself, but from the person's reaction. We all know that it does not take money to make someone happy, but moreso our time. I phoned the local nursing home and asked if there were any guests who had no visitors. The director had chosen five patients and described the disposition of each. There was one in particular who had Alzheimers and lost her husband only a few weeks prior. The director was not certain, but thought this guest might be a bit sad, though she showed no difference in emotion. The director felt it might be a wasted visit if the patient is incoherent. I asked for her anyway. Her name was Lorraine. I found her outside the cafeteria in a bed. Her fingers were intertwined like roots of the rain forest covering the floor. She had beautiful long silver hair, no teeth, tongue swirling inside her mouth like a serpeant. I thought perhaps a sense of touch might connect us, so I held her hands in mine and talked to her. I asked her questions about family and her past, while her beautiful blue eyes stared intently with brows furrowed. It was as though she was processing the information, digging through trunks of history in a dusty attic. I do not know much about Alzheimers but hoped something in her had to connect with the outside world. After a few minutes of intermittent giggling, she quieted down when I spoke. She was listening. She then reached forward and tickled my side. She began cackling. Then quieted down once more when I showed her the bright red plant I brought her. I put the petals to my nose and inhaled, then held it out under her nose to do the same. And she did. When my visit was up, I asked if I could come visit her again. She began mouthing what I thought was, "whe-, whe-?" Hopefully it meant "When?" The director logged our interaction and Lorraine's response. My answer is next Thursday, Lorraine.

In thinking of Mom's comments of charity coming back tenfold, the reward of kindness and connection is immeasurable. This gift is inside each of us. But the only way to truly receive it is to give it.

23 March - Bella Bela and the Art of Mehndi

When I started researching the art of Mehndi, I was looking for something decorative to wear on my arm. I found a piece of jewelry that satiated that search but what I was looking for was true wearable artwork. When friend Mike Eitel, wife Bela and I were emailing each other a while back, I noticed her website (www.belatees.com) on her signature. I saw beautiful artwork in her apparel and stationery. What I did not realize was those were her personal designs. In bringing to fruition this week’s task of wearing Mehndi, I stumbled upon the beautiful personal story of Bela Roongta Eitel, the artist.

Bela shared that only two years into marriage and six years into a successful legal career, she had a personal epiphany of the need to connect with her Indian ancestry. Bela was fascinated with her husband’s knowledge of her own culture, having taken a language-intensive course on Hindi and living in Nepal and Thailand. Two of her goals included learning the language and learning the art of Mehndi. With her husband’s support, she decided to leave her legal career behind to travel to Bombay, India, and immerse herself in the culture for six months.

After Bela’s experience in India, resolution came full circle when she no longer felt the need to fight her cultural identity as being one or the other. “I realized I was Western and had access to many more opportunities than I would have had if I had been raised the traditional way. There were so many things about the (Indian) culture that I loved while being there, but I really was at home here.” Bela added, “I really appreciate the freedoms and individuality here. You can still have family, still be committed, dedicated and love someone while still pursuing your own dreams without…necessarily giving up individuality, especially (for) women. I came back feeling stronger knowing who I was as an American, as a Westerner, as woman of Indian descent living in America.”

Upon her return, she and Mike started a family. Bela was also fortunate to fall back into a career focusing on one of her passions as a director at the Task Force of Domestic Violence. However, her busy schedule left no time to focus on her Mehndi. Until one day, her core group of Indian friends saw her “doodling” on a card she had made. By happenstance, this card proved her skill and garnered encouragement to pursue this craft. “I did a fundraiser for a group working with domestic violence and created a Sun design that I thought would look better on a t-shirt versus a card. I ended up creating this and an Om design, then had them printed.” Thus, came the creation of her current business “Belabela.”

Bela's affinity for Mehndi was inspired by family nostalgia. Every two to three years, she and her sister traveled to India. "The one thing we always looked forward to was getting Mehndi the day before we left. My cousin taught me the whole art. Every night we would sit in the living room and she would apply the henna. My family said I was really good at it and gave me the confidence I needed." Bela explained that Mehndi is traditionally worn for special occasions like weddings or festivals. The application for a relatively intricate design can take 20 minutes to an hour; drying time takes at least an hour. (For Bela's wedding, the application took two to three hours.) To begin, you can mix the powder form of henna with water to the consistency of pancake mix. You will also need a coneshaped bag to apply the paste. Simply take a square piece of plastic (ziploc bag) and twist to make a cone. Create an opening less than 1/4" thick, taping any necessary edges to secure the cone tightly. Some Indian stores also carry readymade paste in coneshaped bags.

For the application, as with anything, practice makes perfect. You can use patterns found online or at your local bookstore. Fortunately for Bela, she has a natural creative ability to freehand. After applying the henna, let it dry for at least 30-45 minutes. Create a mixture of 3 parts water, 1 part lemon juice and 2 tablespoons sugar. Use a cottonball to dab the skin with this mixture. This allows the acidity of the lemon to react with the henna. After it dries, you can scrape off any remaining henna using a dull knife. The longer the henna stays on the skin, the darker the color. The Mehndi should stay for 7 to 10 days.

Bela considers her “artwork of Mehndi and apparel as a beautiful fusion of my eastern heritage and western upbringing.… It is an extension of my self-expression. Fortunately, all of this was a ‘happy accident’.”

Well, congratulations on your success, Bela, and happy birthday.

Information on Bela's Mehndi workshops, artwork, apparel and stationery can be found at http://www.belatees.com/.

16 March - Exotic Fruits and Vegetables

I nurture a love/hate relationship. I lean on her several times a day, actually. Sometimes, I get so frustrated and want to wring her neck, then miraculously she redeems herself and becomes my lifesaver. You might have met her. She goes by the name "Technology." All this week, my personal computer had been extremely moody and would shut down when she randomly chose. Not a good thing when putting together a movie of photos to music for a surprise party and am already days behind schedule. So I looked for a task that might refresh my bloodboiling spirit, as the countdown of my deadline quickly approached.

How about going away to some tropical place via sense of taste? I recalled a photo I took a few years back of a roadside fruitstand outside Manila, Philippines. The nostalgia in tasting some of these fresh produce teased me, as I thought I could so easily find them here in the States. Stands like these lined the poverty-stricken streets, hoping for a few pesos' sale. (And for some, these stands unfortunately also doubled as homes.) Had not given enough forethought, however, on whether exotic foods are even in season because I found truly unique fruits were a bit difficult to locate. Are not tropical exotic fruits and vegetables always in season? I have enjoyed lychee, mango, guava and papaya before (as one of my favorite 9-yr-olds commented on its seeds, "is that salmon roe?"). So I went to 3 different places and found the following:

- Ugli Fruit. Poor thing will have some deep-seeded issues as she ripens. Unfortunately, the shoe fits. This comes from Jamaica and is apparently a cross between a Seville orange, grapefruit and tangelo. The size is larger and thicker-skinned than a grapefruit, making it easier to peel. The taste is more tart than a regular orange but certainly not bitter like a grapefruit. Sweet, juicy and tasty.

- Pepino Melon. This yellow heartshaped, almost plum-skinned fruit comes from Ecuador and Peru. The size is similar to that of a tennis ball and is exquisitely fragrant when cut open. It smells like a muted perfume of a true ripe cantaloupe more than a honeydew. The taste is more mild than one would assume, given its fantastic aroma.

- Manila Mango. This little guy comes from Mexico. Its title was a bit confusing as I noticed at different stores, it was labeled as a honey mango, Champagne mango and ataulfo mango. The small mango fit in my hand and its top half tapers and curves, giving it a “s” shape. Its taste is just as delicious and sweet as a regular ripe mango, but the meat lacks the stringiness, which makes it easier to enjoy.

- Bitter Melon. This green gourd grows in South and Southeast Asia. The oblong shape is covered by its broccoli/moss-like skin. When cut lengthwise, the inside reminds me of a zucchini. When picking through these vegetables, an Indian man next to me explained I should be sure to scrape out the seeds and sauté it with Indian spices, as the bitterness is found in the seeds. It is sometimes served with yogurt or mixed with coconut to offset its bitterness. In talking to Mom, she said she used to prepare this “ampalaya” with meat and scrambled eggs when I was younger. Can’t say I recall it. My husband and I made that tart lemon face, trying to pinpoint the closest resemblance to this fresh bitter melon: a rubber band.

- Eddo. These hairy root plants look like a mix between a coconut and large ginger. It can be found in West Africa, Asia, Central America, South America and the Caribbean and Polynesian Islands. I did not quite know if I should peel it as we do when using our microplane, or slice it like ginger for tea. This variety of taro root (poi) can be eaten and used like potatoes or yams. When baked, the taste can take on a sweeter and or nuttier taste than a regular potato. When sliced, one notices the tubular purple speckles inside.

- Squash Chayote. This interesting light green vegetable can be found in Mexico. I was actually impressed with the funny look on its face juxtaposed with its surprising crunchy texture and mild taste. Hubbo pegged its texture being reminiscent to jicama. One can use these raw on salads or prepare it baked, boiled, mashed, or stuffed. Interestingly enough, its leaves can be used as tea which is strong enough to dissolve kidney stones. All this from a simple squash. Who knew?

- Cactus Leaf. Yes, I was surprised when I actually pricked myself when handling it. Twice. As was the clerk, AFTER she held it and asked, "is this really a cactus leaf?" The size is larger than the span of my 7"-long hand. The inside is what one might imagine...a bit slimy and stringy like aloe and okra. The taste is like green beans and can be used in salads.

So after my tastebud adventure, I noticed my pc had still been moody and down for days. Though it took the DVD two hours to burn, I was able to make it to a wonderful surprise 40th birthday party in time. I still appreciate my dear friend Technology. She has again redeemed herself, particularly through helping me post this entry via yet another one of her children she lovingly named the iPhone.

2 March - Two weeks of Zen

Dear friend Yvette, who recently took up mixed martial arts, inspired me to visit my former dojang. It has been almost 2 years since I trained at Chosun Black Belt Academy (http://www.chosunacademy.com/). Mr. Peterson, my Sah Bum Nim or instructor, was kind enough to spend time over the past two weeks to teach me several things. I found it unexpectedly exhilarating to suit up once again, as though putting on an armor of memories where attaining my first degree was somewhere in a past life. All the etiquette of respect for teacher, surroundings and the martial art of tae kwon do returned as I stepped into the dojang and bowed. I panicked as students were still milling about, not knowing whether class was beginning or ending. As a higher rank, there is much responsibility in class, i.e. opening and ending class in Korean, as well as leading exercises, sparring, forms and techniques. I was grateful in being greeted with some familiar and unfamiliar faces assuring me class had indeed just ended.

My goal was to learn my next form, Keumgang. Mr. Peterson suggested I also learn a weaponry form with a bo staff, a completely new endeavor. A form or poomse is a series of movements in a response to attacks from imaginary assailants from several directions. Here, one can see the strike of a bo staff. It has, at minimum, the strength to break a one-inch board (i.e. skull, knee, etc). This is the bo staff form, which is actually a Japanese art form.

I also wanted to see if I could brush off some dust and break some boards using some of the simpler techniques, a spinning knifehand strike and a jumpback kick.

Perusing my Chosun Black Belt Academy handbook helped me to stop, recall and appreciate anyone’s journey in receiving his or her first degree. In order to apply, we were required to submit two letters of recommendation, a statement of why we would be good candidates, our final round of zen quotes with our personal interpretations and have competed in at least four tournaments. The testing alone was a grueling 3 1/2 hours – 1 hour written and at least 2 1/2 hours physical. Upon hearing how rigorous the testing might be, I began running two weeks ahead of time just to prepare my body to sustain the exam. We were tested on the history of the art, different creeds, vocabulary and the meaning behind various symbols. We demonstrated the 65+ self-defense techniques and 12 forms, executed however the judges called them -- frontwards with somersaults in between each movement, backwards, combined with other forms. We showcased our sparring techniques with several assailants at once. Proved our knowledge of the 45 hand techniques of blocks, strikes, punches and 35 kicking techniques from simple flying side kicks, jump reverse hook kicks to 360 back kicks, breaking boards with any kicks the testing board might deem fit. I recall speaking with dear friend Shanel right after, just to exhale and decompress, but it manifested in sobbing.

I remembered the things I appreciated most during my three years at Chosun. I do believe the tone of any organization starts at the top. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson ran the school with an all-encompassing curriculum and foundation of philosophies…family first, respect, discipline and being goal-oriented, among others. With each class, we were inspired to help our fellow classmates to reach their next goal. Our instructors taught us to build camaraderie thru fun team exercises... we checked our egos at the door and participated in silly games like adult leapfrog. We utilized the same jump, which resulted in breaking two boards simultaneously by the end of class. We ended classes with meditation as well as contests such as team pushups where one person has his feet atop another’s shoulders, playing bombardment or baseball. Everyone truly felt he or she was a part of an extended family. With all the different walks of life that came through the door each day or night, we found we would choose these people as our friends outside the dojang.

Being a part of Chosun raised our standards as human beings to one another. We were reminded of simple human rules such as respect. It was a mandate to address higher ranks with a “yes mam” or “yes sir”. And as higher ranks, it was our duty to teach and respect the lower ranks. Mr. Peterson would ask the kids, "What is a good deed? It’s doing something nice for someone just because. You don’t need anything in return." The children were required to perform and list good deeds in a notebook, which was brought to every class. The curriculum outside the actual martial art…of learning the language, tasting the culture in Korean food, meditating and getting "centered", requiring us to research zen quotes, deciphering their meanings and articulating our interpretations…these were what left me with an affinity and loyalty to Chosun to this day. I relearned to work hard at something I believed in.

After teaching for almost 20 years, Mr. Peterson recently earned his fifth degree black belt, while building yet another successful school from the ground up. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Peterson. Choong Sung.

23 February - Screenplay to West Side to Midwest

This week's task of reading a script brought me back to heartwarming days of falling into character as Anita in "West Side Story." How quickly cobwebbed memories, long tucked away, quickly rise to the surface when asked. The memories of being surrounded by a new family with intense rehearsals, one-on-ones with the director and crazy exercises to help us get lost in finding our new personality -- the one we leave behind temporarily when exiting the auditorium, to awaken again right after the last period of class. I remembered the well-choreographed numbers like being lifted high into the air by the Jets, similar to a body pass. (And that lead Jet, friend Patrick Noonan, recently informed me we can catch him on "30 Rock" and an upcoming episode of "Law & Order.") This recreated the famous scene where Anita is harassed in Doc's shop, that which starts the trail of fatal misunderstandings...all in those funny black-heeled Mary Jane shoes.

This week's screenplay, however, was read in the comfort of my own Eurotop bed, far underneath the down comforter, with a nice mug of hot water and fresh lemon wedges. A dear friend who is a producer and former Miramax Films executive sent me one of his current screenplays to review. My excitement awaited as I understood this gripping Wisconsin-based tale to be quite an emotional feelgood based on a true story. I unfortunately cannot comment on the premise as it is in the process of being shopped for financing. I understand the L.A. director has already been selected. I will say, however, I needed a good cry anyway.

On another front, Wisconsin Governor Doyle recently announced eliminating film production incentives due to budgetary reasons. It will be interesting to see how the counterpoints (job creation, revenue, economic stimulus, etc.) and discussions will affect producing upcoming films such as this. (To learn more and to get involved, please see http://www.filmwisconsin.net/.)

In any case, I look forward to seeing this compelling film come to fruition.