on 2/14 eight years ago...

i launched this website to connect folks online across the universe. it looked much different then. it was a virtual salon with an emphasis on encouraging virtual ladies and virtual lady's men to use the internet to communicate and highlight accomplishments based on the principles listed in the "about us" section. it was very colorful and interactive and we had a lot of fun around the world.

it was also easy and the main focus of all that i was about, based upon a book i was writing at the time. i published/sold 100 copies of the first draft of "i wrote the book of love" and found myself back in minneapolis (my home town) to research the roots of my musical lifestyle before the final edit.

as time went on and i became a sort of mn resident, i changed the site's design to keep up with my ever increasing community activities and handed over the webmastering from my daughter kristin who was @ fox studios in los angeles, to my friend diane ingram in south minneapolis. for awhile we updated it with new events; now it just sort of sits waiting for me to add a thought here and there whenever i remember its existence.

the community links could be updated, but many useful references still remain. we don't use the forums to chitchat about nonsense and whims anymore (facebook and myspace handle that) and i haven't added an edited chapter to my book for a couple years. yet, somehow the vlas receives visits every day.

perhaps it's time for an overhaul and a bit more attention. i may have changed my relevance and focus due to castle building and such, but the virtual lady's aide society waits patiently while i remember that first and foremost, i am a writer... a virtual lady... the founder of the vlas!

xo

So this it it then...

As a first generation baby boomer op/ed writer, I wanted to write something profound... meaningful... witty even... but I can't seem to think of anything to say.

Maybe it's because I am one of those minorities (well, I think it goes something like "women & minorities") referred to in the not yet ratified Equal Rights Amendment which first began circulating around Congress during the 1920's and is still floating in the wind.

Or maybe it's because I'm not comfortable speaking about it at home because my roommate is a very conservative (as in The Right Way: Why the Left is Wrong and the Right is "Right") man, who was stunned by the outcome of this election. Ja. I could go on about how I had no idea this was how he felt beforehand or that anyone actually felt this way, but that's not the point.

I think it's quite simply that, as a woman who was unduly influenced as a kid by the sweet profusion of rock and roll love songs playing on transistor radios and the contrasting personas of McCarthy, Captain Kangaroo & Elvis appearing on television (all for the first time ever), while the fear of Communism, teenagers and the devil's music seized the USA's adult population and Carl Jung, Alan Freed and Dick Clark, liberated its youth: ie bomb shelters and Sputnik, hula-hoops and the twist, Kennedy and King, as if time was contradicting itself in shades of black and white, I think I'm just relieved that what always seemed to be so obvious to me re human rights and all folks being created equal is proving to be true and I don’t need to say anything except -- thank you!

RIP Elmer Valentine

Elmer Valentine (1923 – December 3, 2008)

The Whisky-A-Go-Go

8901 Sunset Blvd

Hollywood, CA

I could take apart various chapters of my own autobiography... perhaps it would be too much, though more than likely it wouldn't be enough. Suffice it to say that my life as it is now began in October 1969 when I arrived in LA and accompanied my lovely pal Enrico Rosenbaum to his gig with Gypsy @ everyone's beloved Whisky.

xoxoxo

shar kanan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmer_Valentine

We did it!

¡podemos hacer sí más!

(yes we can do more!)

I Voted!

(click on image to enlarge)

Are you now or have you ever been a... DEMOCRAT?

Accckkk! ...this is not my beautiful Minnesota.

I’m just your average Norwegian pagan… a.k.a. Lutheran who’s diligently studied yoga for the past twentysomething years. It wasn’t my plan. But sometime between moving to Los Angeles with my new babelet and hubby (who was seeking rock ‘n roll stardom following the hoopla of Woodstock) and moving back to Minnesota alone as a community organizer, it seemed like the right thing to do.

While examining discipline to dogma -- I’ve learned a lot about incorporating acceptance, gratitude, respect, peace, service and spirituality into my lifestyle. The core of me practices living in the moment while focusing on having a good day… every day. With these principles as my foundation, I have experienced and been embraced by so many wonderful social mores, alongside such a wide variety of cultures -- my joy is inexpressible. Yes, I have been blessed with an open heart and soul and I thank God daily for being aware of the goodness and abundance that surrounds me.

Speaking up, speaking out, caring, feeling, thinking for myself… these are choices I have appreciated while never taking them for granted in this land of the free. After all, it’s the American way, ja? Well, it says so right here:

Constitution of the United States of America

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Amendments to the Constitution Article [I.] Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

However, the times they are a-changin’ babe… and I mean a lot more rapidly than I ever dreamed possible. So please folks -- pay attention to the news! Get informed, get involved and whatever you do come November, get out and vote!

Namaste...

The power of one

Please, if you think one person can't make a diference, I remind you of this lovely video from the early 90s... it only takes a minute to watch. Literally.

This timeless award-winning empowerment message is widely used by speakers & organizations to empower audiences, staffs, teachers, students, volunteers & individuals to illustrate that each of us has the power to change the world. It highlights Mother Teresa, Gandhi & other 20th century individuals whose impact has been felt worldwide. Music by Oscar winning composer Hans Zimmer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9dz3wUn818

And please visit http://www.oneearth.org/ for similarly poignant messages.

Another reprint from 6/05 -- watch the cartoon @ the end!

oh brother! and if you believe that...

Having worked in the newsmaking business for years (which by the way you won't see anywhere on my resume but I'm sure those who know can find my words by whatever name I was using or writing for), I wasn't surprised when I read this morning's New York Times account of the "Koran Incidents at Base in Cuba" released last night.

Per the Times, "The splashing of urine was among the cases described as inadvertent. It was said to have occurred when a guard urinated near an air vent and the wind blew his urine through the vent into a detainee's cell... The military released the findings of the investigation about 7:15 p.m., Eastern time, well after the broadcasts of the network television evening news programs. A Pentagon spokesman, Bryan Whitman, denied that the military was trying to bury bad news late on a Friday night, a tactic often used by government agencies."

Ja... Newsweek's report was sorta true, but I swear it was an accident! All I can add to this is -- click on the link below and watch the Smigel clip from Saturday Night Live. His "divertor" cartoon gave me hope that I'm not the only one out there who realizes diversion from truth when I hear it!

http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&cdn=entertainment&tm=57&gps=26_9_1020_615&f=00&tt=9&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.crooksandliars.com/2005/05/23/2364/ (click on Video-WMP)

Posted by shar kanan* at 6/04/2005

Rockers know comfort food...

We may have moved to Hollywood together in '69, but we still know how to appreciate the simple pleasures in life. Granted Marie's currently @ CMT in Nashville & Cheryl's @ the Getty in Malibu & I'm all over the place, but when we get together -- some things never change. When Marie visited us in March, she gifted us with her infamous banana nut bread. And Cheryl treated us all to her homemade zucchini bread for Easter -- using a version of an old recipe of mine from 2000! (recipe below)

Lovely Cheryl showing off the goods ie zucchini bread (originating from her garden) while modeling a beautiful old timey apron she created in her sewing class.

Now you try it!

xo

shar

Wordplay -- repeat from 3+ years ago...

Saturday, June 18, 2005

Need a Dictionary?

As someone who made a near perfect score on my English SATs way back when, I tend to take words literally. I don’t particularly like being a dorky intellectual… i.e. it took years of practice to join fellow plebes shrieking common expletives at my television set. Though picturing "fudge" during upset usually changed my whole perspective of whatever the targeted subject may have been, I eventually got the hang of it and can exploit language proficiently nowadays.

That said, I still "hear" what’s being communicated and take exception to rampant intentional wordplay/newspeak (1984...) during news broadcasts. Listen carefully folks. And when in doubt, use a dictionary! Here’s one available to all: http://www.dictionary.com/

(examples)

dem·o·crat (dem o-kr at ) n. An advocate of democracy.

lib·er·al (lib er- al) adj. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.

re·pub·li·can (re -p ub li -k en) adj. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a republic.

con·ser·va·tive (k on-sûr vi -ti v) adj. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to OPPOSE CHANGE.


Posted by shar kanan* at 6/18/2005 0 comments

Our atelier tonight w/Jenny Case & friends...

Jenny Case & Run at the Dog!

http://www.epatelier.com/

Light a candle for Pluto...

Lovely Laurie Akermark and her dear puplet Pluto

RIP Pluto

prayers & hugs,

shar & all the virtual ladies

xox

Everyone deserves a second chance!

Leo the cuddly puplet...

I just saw this piece on NBC and had to share it with you all. Check it out for your own self!

Our Pack, Inc.
http://ourpack.org/leo.html

xox

Bravo Scott McClellan!

If I studied trad journalism in its original form (which I did) and I worked in public relations or for a media org (which I also did) and if I was a Republican (which I was) and if I was hired as the White House Press Secretary (which would never happen) -- I’d know that I’d be paid to be the primary spokesperson for the White House Administration.

As in any other paid P/R position, my duties would primarily include relaying news for whomever I was employed, the way they wanted it relayed. This is no big secret. Everyone in media knows it. Barring earthquakes, terrorist attacks, hurricanes and so forth, it’s the way news is made. We can see/hear/feel catastrophes, actual news occurrences for ourselves. However, the manner in which they are reported depends on the P/R spin given them by the reporting agencies -- the media in its entirety.

So what’s the big brouhaha? Anyone who has written anything on the web or for any other media outlet knows what’s what -- McClellan was paid by the White House to report the news the way they wanted it reported, despite what we knew to be commonsensically absurd. Then he quit his job. Now he’s telling his version of that news. And I for one am grateful!

Shar Kanan

Sing along...

I just heard this song on TV and it reminded me of my previous incarnation as a blonde hollywood rocker... so I looked it up on YouTube. Gawd I love YouTube!!!

Anyway, click on the link and sing along to the lyrics on the right side of my page. C'mon you'll have fun... I promise! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EO1nfSCKrU

xo
shar

light a candle for...

Eric-the-Wonderful-Cat

our sweet kitty angel

January 30, 2008
R.I.P.

we love you!

xo

shar & chris

(and so many pals)

Pencils down...

Writers Guild of America West

for up-to-date info click here: http://www.wga.org/

What... ?

(if someone knows who this cartoon is by -- please let me know... it was sent to me years ago and i've never had a clue who created it. thanks! sk)

Kudos to Di for ep atelier's myspace...

I haven't really figured out how to use this popular interactive communication tool, but thanks to Di our atelier's MYSPACE seems to be very active!

We sure have some cool friends...

Check 'em out!

http://www.myspace.com/ep_atelier

Light a candle for Mikki Wood...

Prayers, love and big hugs to my petlet Karen Wood Elliot...

WOOD-MONTIFORTE -- Micheline "Mikki" Wood-Montiforte, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister and loving daughter passed away Thursday, August 16, 2007 in Palm Desert, California.

Micheline Pipolo, better known by her loved ones as "Mikki" was born in New York City to Antoinette and Carmine Pipolo. The youngest of four children, Mikki was adored by her siblings Camille, Frank and Pat.

She was a graduate of the New York City High School for Performing Arts. In 1960 she moved with her family to California. Her educational background, coupled with her love of people, made her a natural for real estate sales. During her many years in the real estate business, she developed a highly successful and well respected reputation. In 1995, she met and fell in love with Frank Montiforte. After a brief courtship they married.

She is survived by her husband Frank, children Michele, Anthony and Karen, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, two stepchildren and an extended family that spans the globe. She was preceded in death by parents , Antoinette and Carmine, sister Camille and brother Frank.

God-speed Mikki! xo

Do we know how to throw a party?

National Night Out ep atelier style!

Our event was a HUGE success…

see for yourself via the slideshows on our atelier's website.

www.epatelier.com/gallery.html

(when you get there -- click on the flier)
We have an amazing neighborhood!

Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, talent and camaraderie.

greetings from ep atelier!

i love the little community center my biz partner di & i created here in downtown minneapolis... our patrons, performers and pals are incomparable! we have witnessed so many new friendships cultivated from the general camaraderie our nurturing "3rd place" provides the hood... every day is truly a blessing. what are you doing to serve your community today?

everything new is old again...

following a knee-jerk four month stint of moving all my earthly possessions, old kitty cat and mr. chris d across country from minneapolis minnesota to ojai california (above) to participate in an inchoate whirlwind junket of retreats and road trips to phoenix, denver, chicago, atlanta and seattle with new pals & old pulls @ the david allen company, i find myself returning to minneapolis to save our atelier next week! and then -- geez. i dunno what's next. but rest assured, it will be easy. er.

what a difference a year makes...

it was a bit foggy in my back yard today. scroll down to march last year... and the year before that... eeekkk! oh ja, i moved to ojai. california. lovely, isn't it?

xox

shar

holiday cheers...

from me of course, as i spent a trad christmas eve celebration with the lovely christopher haugen and his family in minneapolis, mn. yup! lookee here...

12/24/06

Light a Candle for Cody Marthaler...

dogs are miracles with paws...

a dog's nose in the palm of your hand can cure almost anything.dogs are made of love and fur. let your dog take you for a walk. dogs are a sure thing. some little known dog secrets: dogs have no secrets. dogs are like vanilla ice cream: reliably delicious. dogs are wise agents directly from heaven. if you had a tail, wouldn't you wag it? there are no bad dogs. be your dog's best friend. dogs like dancing, drive-in movies and dreaming. god made dogs and spelled his own name backwards! dogs make great therapists. kiss your dog all the time.some dogs are nap dogs. dogs invented unconditional love. dogs are party animals. apply dog logic to life: eat well, be loved, get petted, sleep a lot, dream of a leash-free world. live your dog's life! http://www.campsark.com/

Media finally grow some...

By now most of you have probably heard snippets from the White House Correspondents' dinner last Saturday night... it was a doozy. In fact, I could hardly believe it!

Now thanks to Google Video -- you can actually watch Stephen Colbert as he roasts President Bush (taped live on C-SPAN 24 min 10 sec - Apr 29, 2006).

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-869183917758574879

my back yard this week, in living color...

yes, there is a god!

Just when I thought I couldn't make it through the -20 degree temps, windchill and -20 dewpoint (that would be a dry cold...) during mid February, I was blessed with visits from my two fav virtual ladies... Cheryl Freeman from Los Angeles (pictured @ the Getty Villa in Malibu where she's helping in the renovation) and Marie Nehls from Nashville at our atelier w/infamous road dawg Don Forte.

Thank you and big big hugs! (click on photos to enlarge)

god bless...