Conversations with Calliope- The Creative Heart

(Cellar Window)

You cannot find your soul with your mind, you must use your heart.~Gary Zukav

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What are you thinking about today?
JOE: I'm thinking about thinking and its limitations. I ran across the above quote by Gary Zukav and realized the limitation of thinking in the creative process.
CALLIOPE: Please elaborate.
JOE: I'd be glad to. Sometimes when I am ready to write I rack my mind for ideas and thoughts. Sometimes nothing emerges.
CALLIOPE: Then what do you do?
JOE: Turn off my mind and seek experiences, one of which will often inspire me to write something.
CALLIOPE: How well does that work?
JOE: I'm happy with it. I often find better topics through unexpected experiences than I do by trying to force my mind to think about something.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like serendipity.
JOE: It certainly does. Even the word serendipity conveys a sense of peaceful play.
CALLIOPE: So you enjoy wandering?
JOE: I do. I like the feeling of meandering with no particular goal and no pressure.
CALLIOPE: More people should try it.
JOE: I agree. Talk with you on Monday.

Conversations with Calliope- AmeriCorps at Last

There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth...not going all the way, and not starting. ~Buddha

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What's up for today?
JOE: A new beginning.
CALLIOPE: Oh?
JOE: You recall that in May I explored the possibility of involvement with AmeriCorps?
CALLIOPE: I do.
JOE: Well, it's finally time. I am going this morning to sign up and get my schedule so I can start my placement in January.
CALLIOPE: Remind me what you will be doing.
JOE: I will be working at GoArt in Batavia. It is the local arts council. I think I will be doing mainly publicity but I'm not entirely sure yet.
CALLIOPE: So you will become familiar with my fellow muses.
JOE: I will. GoArt focuses mostly on visual art, but also music sometimes and community events.
CALLIOPE: Anything special you would like to bring to it?
JOE: I am interested in working with teens interested in developing their creative writing.
CALLIOPE: Would that be something new.
JOE: It is there. We shall see what interest there is. I'll update you tomorrow.

Coversations with Calliope- Now What

(Ice Show)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What's new?
JOE: Nothing much. I'm just considering plans for the winter.
CALLIOPE: Anything different about this one?
JOE: For one thing, I will be starting my Americorps placement in January.
CALLIOPE: The one at the Arts Council?
JOE: Yes, GoArt in Batavia.
CALLIOPE: Do you know what you will be doing there?
JOE: Not yet. We talked about some ideas. I will meet with the director on Wednesday to discuss schedules and goals.
CALLIOPE: Sounds interesting.
JOE: I'm looking forward to it. I have spent most of my time alone lately with my writing. It will be good to be back in circulation.
CALLIOPE: How will it affect your writing?
JOE: I imagine I will have less time and might need to plan better. I will try to include some creative writing in my duties at GoArt.
CALLIOPE: Good luck with it.
JOE: Thanks. Talk with you on Monday.

Conversations with Calliope- Passion and What Really Matters

(Metropolitan Opera)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend?
JOE: Eventful and quiet.
CALLIOPE: Both?
JOE: Yes. Saturday Carol and I attended a simulcast of Metropolitan Opera's Turandot in which her son Mike performed and on Sunday I continued reading and reflecting on Joan Chittister' book, Welcome to the Wisdom of the World.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about the opera.
JOE: In addition to seeing Mike on stage I appreciated the passion of singers, actors and musicians putting their all into the production
CALLIOPE: Was reading the book a separate experience?
JOE: No. Joan wrote about the immediate distractions which interfere with our doing what matters most in our lives, such as the passion we saw on the stage Saturday.
CALLIOPE: Do you mean minutia blocking what's important ?
JOE: Exactly. The noise of living keeps us from hearing what's in our hearts.
CALLIOPE: How does this apply to you?
JOE: I attend to what is important but find myself frequently sidetracked by things which are not that important.
CALLIOPE: What does Joan suggest.
JOE: Being aware of what is important and what isn't and doing what you are meant to do rather than everything you can do. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Creativity and Adolescence

(Pushing the Limits)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Any further thoughts on Michael Jackson?
JOE: My newsletter topic this week centers on trying to make sense of his life.
CALLIOPE: How did you do that?
JOE: I didn't exactly. Making sense of something is an intellectual task which his life defied.
CALLIOPE: Tell me more.
JOE: Thoughts of his creativity, childishness, and adolescent mentality swirled in my head and finally came together along with a couple quotes from his songs.
CALLIOPE: Such as?
JOE: "We are the world, we are the children. We are the ones who make a brighter day." from his song, We're the Children.
CALLIOPE: It sounds like you see a parallel between creativity and adolescence.
JOE: I do. Adolescence and creativity are both experiences in testing and expanding limits, ignoring boundaries and rules and venturing into new domains.
CALLIOPE: Interesting parallel. What about the rest of his life?
JOE: Creativity inclines its owner toward experimenting with personal life sometimes with0uut considering consequences.
CALLIOPE: Not entirely a rational pursuit.
JOE: That's the nature of creativity. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- This Is It

(Triboro Bridge)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good m0rning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Fine. I was contemplating Saturday's experience.
CALLIOPE: Tell me more.
JOE: Carol invited me to see "This Is It", the Michael Jackson movie.
CALLIOPE: Please share the results of your contemplation.
JOE: I had a vague interest in the movie while Carol was quite anxious to see it.
CALLIOPE: And?
JOE: We were equally enthralled.
CALLIOPE: What captivated you?
JOE: The degree of his creative energy, much beyond what I had imagined.
CALLIOPE: Compared with whose?
JOE: Anyone else on the popular music or entertaining circuit.
CALLIOPE: What stood out the most?
JOE: Watching him craft and fine tune each detail and seeing them performed.
CALLIOPE: Sounds a bit mystical.
JOE: It was. I was trying to see how his mind worked, but it remained a mystery. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Creativity and Business

(Moonflowers)

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Where were you this morning?
JOE: Carol and I walked to the farmers' market and then drove to Batavia for my grandson's Pop Warner Football game.
CALLIOPE: A busy start.
JOE: Yes, but fun.
CALLIOPE: Did you think about your priorities with business and creativity?
JOE: Yes but I didn't reach any conclusions.
CALLIOPE: How will you approach it?
JOE: Hard to say. It's not something I can quantify. Making a list of the advantages of each does not seem like it would help.
CALLIOPE: So now what?
JOE: I recall Napoleon Hill talking about a man he once met who took time each day sitting for ideas. Maybe I'll try that.
CALLIOPE: You're not in any rush?
JOE: No one will starve to death or go homeless based on what I decide.
CALLIOPE: I guess you don't have to force a decision.
JOE: No I don't. If you feel like dropping me an inspiration, please do so. Talk with you on Monday.

Conversations with Calliope- Hawaiian Hula

(Coconut Palm)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Doing well. I got some exercise yesterday morning and went to say goodbye to my brother Bob and his girlfriend Carol who are returning to Hawaii this morning.
CALLIOPE: Any further musical adventures?
JOE: As a matter of fact yes.
CALLIOPE: Tell me.
JOE: Carol takes lessons and is in a traditional Hawaiian Hula group. She performed a couple dances for us last night.
CALLIOPE: Sounds interesting.
JOE: I thought so. It went beyond the typical Luau dancing. She also took time to introduce and later explain the movements of each dance.
CALLIOPE: A treat.
JOE: Indeed. It reminded me of the unbounded creativity across the world.
CALLIOPE: Any personal message for you?
JOE: It encouraged me to continue exploring my own creative side and express whatever you and the other muses might bring me as gifts.
CALLIOPE: Glad you appreciate them.
JOE: I do. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Mozart on the Beach

(Portuguese Street Tile)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What news today?
JOE: I continued my creative restoration program yesterday.
CALLIOPE: How?
JOE: Carol and I spent the afternoon at her cousin's cottage on Canisus Lake, one of the New York State Finger Lakes.
CALLIOPE: And you relaxed all day?
JOE: For the most part. However the afternoon was punctuated by a musical surprise.
CALLIOPE: Tell me.
JOE: Zack, a thirteen year old grandson of one of Carol's cousin's friends, began talking about his interest in opera. It turned out to be more than an interest.
CALLIOPE: How so.
JOE: He had amassed quite a bit of knowledge about opera, favored Mozart, particularly La Nozza de Figaro and Die Zauberflaut. In mid discussion he broke into song favoring us with several arias from each of his favorite operas.
JOE: How a mature baritone voice could emanate from a thirteen year old boy astounded me.
CALLIOPE: I wish I had been there.
JOE: Some of your more musically inclined sister muses would have been impressed.
CALLIOPE: Perhaps one of them had a hand in drawing him to opera.
JOE: Perhaps. In any case it was a pleasant surprise, bordering on a peak experience.

Conversations with Calliope- Mid Summer

(Swimming Racehorses)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Fine. I feel rested, relaxed and energetic.
CALLIOPE: How nice.
JOE: I think so.
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to do with the state in which you find yourself?
JOE: Good question. I can always count on you for a little prod.
CALLIOPE: Well?
JOE: I was thinking earlier this morning about how technology has drained all my energy lately.
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to do about it?
JOE: Patience! Patience! I'm getting to that.
CALLIOPE: Not very quickly.
JOE: That's just the point. There's no rush.
CALLIOPE: Proceed.
JOE: My plan is to take some time in the second half of summer (such as it is) to recharge my creative batteries.
CALLIOPE: Now we're getting somewhere. How?
JOE: My art supplies are getting dusty. I plan to get them out and get to work painting and drawing. I also plan to delve into reading to start my creative juices flowing again. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Angels and Demons

(Barbary Apes)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I thought about what you said yesterday about Michael Jackson. Have you had any further insights?
JOE: Indeed. I woke up very early today pondering the relationship between creativity and madness.
CALLIOPE: What do you think was the relationship with Michael between his art and mood?
JOE: I don't know. I haven't seen any speculation about this and am not aware of anything he has written or said about the issue.
CALLIOPE: So that remains a mystery. Do you know anything else about it?
JOE: One artist I knew painted only when he was depressed to express his mood. His color blindness further darkened his art. Another time I met a sculptor who only worked when he was not depressed to avoid contaminating his art with his dark moods. I recall my son struggling with taking his medication and thinking clearly or not taking it and having his hand steady enough to draw.
CALLIOPE: Do you think creativity and what you call madness are interrelated or just exist in parallel dimensions.
JOE: I wish I knew.
CALLIOPE: What's your opinion?
JOE: I think it could be both. Some people seem to write about wrestling with their demons while others wait until the demons recede so they can listen to the angels (or muses)whispering in their ears.
CALLIOPE: Very interesting.
JOE: I agree. I don't think mental and emotional turmoil give one a corner on creativity but they do seem to be paths to it.
CALLIOPE: I think you might be right.
JOE: I don't know if I am but you asked my opinion. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Walking with Dinosaurs

(Walking with Dinosaurs)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Welcome to a new week.
JOE: Thank you.
CALLIOPE: What's this about dinosaurs?
JOE: Saturday morning I had a chance to see the much ballyhood Walking with Dinosaurs.
CALLIOPE: Did it meet your expectations?
JOE: More than that. I had questions about how lifelike giant puppets could be.
CALLIOPE: Tell me more.
JOE: The combination of excellent technology and imagination based on historical research resulted in a very entertaining and informative experience for my son, grandson and me.
CALLIOPE: Any lessons for you?
JOE: The point of bringing together technology and creativity is to reach the audience and connect with their needs and interests.
CALLIOPE: So it's the same process with the dinosaur show and with writing?
JOE: As far as I can tell it is.
CALLIOPE: Keep this in mind as you work on your website.
JOE: I certainly will. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Messages to Myself

(Old Factory- Leroy, NY)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Matching the weather.
CALLIOPE: Which is?
JOE: Overcast.
CALLIOPE: How so?
JOE: No particular reason. Sometimes I'm affected by my surroundings. Today is one of those days.
CALLIOPE: How do you plan to handle it?
JOE: This morning I will be busy helping a friend open his pool.
CALLIOPE: And then?
JOE: Hard to say. Perhaps I will be in a more creative mood when I get back.
CALLIOPE: Does your mood bother you?
JOE: No, Sometimes I think a little down time gives me a chance to regroup and return to creativity.
CALLIOPE: We shall see.
JOE: I'll keep you posted. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- The Gift of Time

(Big Ben)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I thought you might take today off in honor or Memorial Day.
JOE: No, I'm up early.
CALLIOPE: What thoughts entertain you today?
JOE: Who, not what. I read Julia Cameron's thoughts about time in her Vein of Gold.
CALLIOPE:Tell me about it.
JOE: She talked about the excuse most of us find from time to time not to create. “If I only had more time!”
CALLIOPE: Sounds familiar.
JOE: It is. I tend to wast time wishing I had more of it instead of using the small chunks which come available to create something even on a small scale.
CALLIOPE: Where do you lose out the most.
JOE: In visual art. I find time to read, write and photograph. Ten feet from where I sit wait my drawing and painting materials, gathering dust while I procrastinate.
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to do about it.
JOE: Redefine my time requirements.
CALLIOPE: How?
JOE: By using small chunks of it to create something even if it's only a beginning rather than a finished work.
CALLIOPE: Go for it.
JOE: I will. Wait for tomorrow's report.

Conversations with Calliope- Exploring Opportunities

(Antique Cognac Still- Herez, Spain)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Still sorting out yesterday's events.
CALLIOPE: Please explain.
JOE: As you know, I signed up for AmeriCorps yesterday and considered one position.
CALLIOPE: I recall.
JOE: The position I considered appeared to be an all consuming one. I would have to put the rest of my life on hold while I pursued it.
CALLIOPE: Too much for you?
JOE: Exactly. I am looking for more balance in my life, not a total change.
CALLIOPE: So you're not ready to give up your writing efforts?
JOE: Not after all I have invested. But I wouldn't mind contributing to society some of what I have learned.
CALLIOPE: How would you do it?
JOE: My idea was to work with teens on creative writing, but there do not appear to be a project opening with this specific focus, at least around here.
CALLIOPE: So now what?
JOE: I will explore what might be available in the arts and focus on creativity. Talk with you on Monday.

Conversations with Calliope- Playing in the Dirt

(Sunflowers- Leroy, NY)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I missed you yesterday.
JOE: I thought you might.
CALLIOPE: Where were you?
JOE: Playing hooky or more accurately playing in the dirt.
CALLIOPE: So I see from today's title. Tell me a little more.
JOE: I told you I was starting to read Julia Cameron's Vein of Gold.
CALLIOPE: Yes.
JOE: One of her suggestions is to relearn how to play. I set up a play date for myself yesterday on impulse.
CALLIOPE: How did that develop?
JOE: I was shopping and decided to buy some vegetable and flower seeds as well as a bird feeder and seeds for my feathered friends, especially gold finches and woodpeckers.
CALLIOPE: Sounds interesting.
JOE: Not just interesting but critical. When I spend all my time slaving away on my writing I tend to lose track of my creativity and playfulness.
CALLIOPE: God forbid.
JOE: My thoughts precisely. The seeds are planted. Today I will stock the bird feeders. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Inspiration and Perspiration

(Sunset- St. Lucia)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Inspired. By the way, what time were you at work this morning?
CALLIOPE: Why do you ask?
JOE: I was up at ten to five with two inspirations floating in my consciousness.
CALLIOPE: Well...
JOE: I thought so.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about the inspirations.
JOE: One was about inspiration and perspiration which had thought of for my next column. I realized I was on the right track.
CALLIOPE: And the other?
JOE: My friend Gerry had suggested a conversational tone for my publicity flier I am preparing for Navigating Life.
CALLIOPE: And?
JOE: I wasn't quite sure how to do it.
CALLIOPE: And that was your second inspiration?
JOE: It was. Since I am distributing my flier mostly on the internet, why not embed a video where I can introduce myself and my book?
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good idea.
JOE: I think so. I'm on it. Talk with you on Monday.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

(Waiting for the music- Taste of Stafford)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Doing well.
CALLIOPE: What's going on?
JOE: I am taking a friend for a colonoscopy today. My job is medical driver.
CALLIOPE: Generous of you.
JOE: Just returning a favor.
CALLIOPE: What happened yesterday?
JOE: More packing. I had lunch with my daughter Becky,helped her with her computer and found some things in my out pile she could use. The pile is starting to diminish, but I still feel like I'm living in a mess.
CALLIOPE: Any writing progress?
JOE: I thought some about the video we discussed yesterday but didn't get to any actual recording.
CALLIOPE: Why do you think that is?
JOE: My theory is that my mind patterns itself on my environment. Once I get my trappings back in order, I will have a more ordered mind.
CALLIOPE: An interesting thought. So what's your plan?
JOE: To get my situation back to normal or at least as close as possible as soon as I can. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your writers' meeting last night?
JOE: Very good. We had a new member, Carol, who is gifted in my opinion and who is also an insightful, respectful contributor.
CALLIOPE: Always a nice addition. Did you receive good feedback on your story?
JOE: Good in the sense of helpful, yes. I worked on the story carefully but still made mistakes others noticed instantly. Some observations touched on personal writing style but were still worth considering.
CALLIOPE: So now what?
JOE: I will make revisions and post it as my Saturday column. This will be a new direction for me. If it goes over well, I will probably start posting stories on a more frequent basis.
CALLIOPE: What advantages do you see this providing?
JOE: Sometimes I don't notice what is happening around me and struggle for a column topic. If I can rely on my imagination I don't think I well ever run out of ideas.
CALLIOPE: But this story was about noticing details of ordinary life.
JOE: It was. I have come to realize that an interesting article or story comes from the intersection of observation, imagination, creativity and invention.
CALLIOPE: Quite a crossroads.
JOE: I'll say. That's what I have been busy considering lately, especially how to juggle all these elements and bring them together to produce writing people will want to read.
CALLIOPE: You seem to be up to the challenge.
JOE: Sometimes it seems daunting, but I'll do my best. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Breakwall- Dunkirk Harbor)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: A little more optimistic than I have been lately.
CALLIOPE: To what do we owe the honor?
JOE: I was just wondering that myself. Maybe taking a little time out to regroup has helped. I also found some marketing links in Writer's Digest, inspirational writing and a writing contest, all of which piqued my interest.
CALLIOPE: I hope they all help. How are you coming with the videos?
JOE: I have been ready to start. Unfortunately, construction hammers, saws and vacuums buzz upstairs and it has been too noisy to record my videos. I think they will have to wait until it is quieter.
CALLIOPE: There's always something, as Gilda would say. So what are your plans in the mean time?
JOE: I'm trying not to plan too much at the moment. My lighthouse painting continues to take shape. I am working on it a little at a time trying to pay close attention to detail. I am doing better in this regard than I have in the past.
CALLIOPE: Do you see any connection between your painting and writing?
JOE: Both involve creative ideas for inspiration, however in painting I usually work from a model or photo, whereas in writing inspiration comes from within. I am beginning to discover that with both pursuits, putting any old thing down on paper results in an amateur product. Although inspiration forms the start, the polished product, at least for me, results from going back and paying close attention to details which bring my writing and painting to life.
CALLIOPE: Have you discovered this while painting?
JOE: You guessed it. During the painting class I took a while ago, I struggled with concentration on detail. However, when I was finished, I had produced paintings of which I could be proud.
CALLIOPE: Do you think you can apply this to your writing as well?
JOE: I think so. I have been questioning my writing ability lately. Now I am wondering whether I am using all my inner resources to produce a polished and interesting piece. I will work on this. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Original Erie Canal Lock- Lockport, NY)