If Frida Kahlo had Photobooth

On Saturday, I listened to this AMAZING interview with Stuart Brown, founder and head of the National Institute for Play, on the importance of play in the development of humans and in daily life. I found it moving and inspiring. Dr. Brown said that if he doesn't get at least 3 hours of play--that is something that he enjoys and loses time in--by dinnertime he is not doing so well. I thought, what a GREAT philosophy--and it's something that I have already been researching in my ideas about creativity and the workplace. In any case, I've been feeling A LOT of pressure lately on various projects and Dr. Brown's interview reminded me that I need to play.

So, for no reason, other than fun I dressed up like Frida Kahlo and used photo booth. It was literally just what the doctor ordered.

One of the great surprise gifts I got as a wedding present from a group of my oldest friends was a new computer. This was a direct act of synchronicity, because I had not shared with anyone other than Graham that I was DESPERATE for a new computer. My ibook dates back to before the Millennium, and literally has keys missing. The week before we left for California, I had taken to using a large RUBBER BAND to keep the disc drive closed. Add to this that it was supporting a system that it was not designed to support, creating an unstable (at best) system that would, shall we say, HICCUP daily. In a moment of pre-wedding/financial freak-out, I sat on the bed and decried how I had NO WAY of affording something that has become increasingly necessary as a functioning computer. Graham had to listen to me and try not to behead me, while he knew that behind the scenes my friends were plotting and scheming. They had called him and asked if it might be a useful gift. He had answered something along the lines of, "How can I express this clearly: DO IT NOW!"

On the card they said they hoped it would encourage more creativity. Somehow I don't think they knew what they were getting themselves into. AH, I am only BEGINNING to scratch the surface!