‎"Pearls II" by Diego Fernandez from Buenos Aires, Argentina

Beautiful piece. To me this has a very quiet, powerful presence about it. Her expression is full of emotion, it lies behind the eyes, in the shape of her mouth, and in what looks like a relaxed expression. There is a resigned look on her face but she also looks like she is thinking over some issue. There seems to be a secret of sadness in her eyes and a wisdom beyond her years. The use of color in her skin adds to the emotion being more of a bluish white. I love the light and dark, her hair blending into the background, and the elegance of pearls. She looks like a young woman contemplating life. I think it's a beautiful portrait. Click on the title of this post to see the artist's profile on artistaday.com

Running Down a Dream

I have a few favorite quotes that I live by and I think they give insight to who I am. The first quote is "Great Difficulties May Be Overcome by Patience and Perseverance." by Abigail Adams. The Second quote that I live by is “Give me the arrows of enthusiasm as opposed to the wisdom of complacency. It is unknown who said that, but a CNN reporter passed it along to me and I have been affected by it ever since. The third quote is by Maya Angelou "Human beings are more alike than unalike, and what is true anywhere is true everywhere, yet I encourage travel to as many destinations as possible for the sake of education as well as pleasure."

I have always tried to use travel as an opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. I believe you can learn a great deal from being surrounded by diversity. I first decided to travel and live different places on my own because of this very reason. Travel is part of who I am. I did this for several years before returning home to finish school. It was an invaluable education that changed me as an individual.

Since I have gone back to school in the last few years I have undergone a significant transformation. Just like the first quote I listed, I believe in never giving up. With patience and perseverance, all things can be accomplished. Even when I feel like giving in or taking the easy way, I remind myself that the best things in life are fought hard for. It is my firm belief that if you have enthusiasm for life you can expand your horizons and avoid becoming complacent. You’ll be able to reinvent yourself over and over again. When I have a day like today where I feel insecure, or somehow unworthy, or not good enough, unsure of my decisions, or maybe I don’t belong, I remind myself that everything in my life has led me to this point and that I am exactly where I need to be so I can do what I was meant to do.

Dionysus In Pursuit

Dionysus In Pursuit
"Give me the arrows of enthusiasm as opposed to the wisdom of complacency" –Unknown
Above is a link to my google website where I store all of my writings. Writing is what heals me, teaches me, it is how I grow, and learn from life lessons.

I am currently a student. It has changed my perspective, opened my mind, and is helping me fulfill my potential. I want to incorporate writing into whatever job I pursue. The degree I'm pursuing is Marketing and Media Studies. I want to be involved on the creative end but also understand the quantitative side. I will be taking courses in internet marketing, social media, product innovation and branding, creative writing, journalism, and anything else I fancy. I’m using blogs as a forum to hone my writing skills and share my life with the world.

"Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire" -St. Catherine of Siena

The ECOCLUB Interview: Louis D'Amore, International Institute of Peace through Tourism

Incredible piece on Louis D’Amore, one of my role models. I believe his vision will help the world build peace by connecting people through travel. What better way to help people appreciate each other’s differences than by travel and tourism.
The ECOCLUB Interview: Louis D'Amore, International Institute of Peace through Tourism

Dionysus In Pursuit - My entertainment blog

Dionysus In Pursuit - An entertainment blog on everything from movies to photography to my virtual second life and anything else I fancy;)
Just a quick post about my new blog dedicated to entertainment. I post movie reviews, articles on my second life; a virtual reality program, concerts, artists I like, and pictures I take. Check it out and tell me what you think, hope you like it!

Ch. 1 Passion and Angst

“Ever notice how quiet it gets right before you’re about to kiss someone?” Cindy mused staring up at the night sky.

“No…don’t really think about that kind of thing.” David shrugged, shuffling his feet back and forth.

“You know, the first time, that first kiss. There’s a moment, right before, when everything gets really still, and all you can feel is each other’s heat and breath and everything kind of slows down.” She stared at the sky, lost in her words.

David looked over at her, all pale and moonlight dancing off her face. Her blonde hair was down and blowing in the light breeze, held up only on the left side by a single barrette that showed her small little ear. He wondered what made her think of this and if maybe she was giving him some kind of signal or something.

“Anyway…” she broke her train of thought with a sigh and a smile as she turned back around to face him. “C’mon, let’s go back.” she said. David knew the moment was gone as she playfully pushed him and starting walking back to the party.

“So what are you thinking of doing this summer with all the free time you’ll have?” She smirked back at him.

“I don’t know….think I might take it easy for a bit, do a little fishing, camping, maybe write some..” David grinned broadly, his hands stuck firmly in his pockets, “ Why, what are you doing, any big plans?”

Cindy paused for a second, thinking about her upcoming move. She hadn’t mentioned it to David yet, too worried it would change things between them. He was her best friend, her sole confident. He should have been the first person she told, but for some reason she had been putting it off, not sure how to say it.

“Umm, well…actually I am thinking of moving…" she started fidgeting with her hands, suddenly very aware of her fingers and how humid the night air was, that it made them a little damp with moisture. "Okay, I am moving, I’m going back home.” She held her breath for a minute, there it was.

“What?? Since when are you moving?” He scrunched his face up confused. He was used to her impulsivity and spontaneity but this was extreme even for her.

Cindy looked over seeming distracted; he looks so cute, she thought, all bewildered with her news. His dark, furrowed brow showing his concern. She was really going to miss that.

“This is a little out of the blue,” he muttered when she didn’t say anything.

Cindy stopped and turned to look at him, a sad resigned look on her face.

“I’m going back, it’s been too long, eight years is a really long time to be away from your family, I miss them David.”

“Sure you do, but isn’t this kind of sudden?” He stood looking puzzled, secretly thinking in the back of his mind he’d always known this moment was coming, dreading it more like.

“Been thinking about it for awhile…..this place isn’t right for me anymore, it’s time to go I think. I need to finish school, I need a change.”

“Yea…..I know you do.” David looked down at his feet, pushing the sand around with his right foot, looking up he said “It’s not going to be the same without you here.”

She grinned and laughed, “Yea right, you’ve been waiting to get rid of me.” Her eyes twinkled in the moonlight and she flashed that big smile of hers, ear to ear, the one that made her eyes sparkle and the small dimple in her right cheek show. She had seven smiles and this was one of his favorites. She used it anytime she was either trying to get something or looking to downplay the situation. This time was obviously the latter.
_________________________________________________________________________
This is a rough draft of a short story I’m working on, maybe it will turn into something more, but for now it’s just the beginning of something I was inspired to write.

Graduation:)

Another invitation by Smilebox

I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always

I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.

Youtube video of speech in "Le Dictateur" film by Charlie Chaplin

This is one of my favorite speeches of all time. I think it is eloquent and beautifully written. The words in this speech say what my heart wishes it could. I pay homage to the great Charlie Chaplin and his creative genius. Oh what a world it would be if we could all heed these words:)

‎"Hope......I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor, that's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, Gentile, Black man, White. We all want to help one another; human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there's room for everyone and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful. But we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men's souls, has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little; more than machinery we need humanity; more than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.

The aero plane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say "Do not despair”. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass and dictators die and the power they took from the people will return to the people, and so long as men die, liberty will never perish.

Soldiers, don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you, who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate, only the unloved hate, the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers, don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty. In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written “the kingdom of God is within man”, not one man, nor a group of men - but in all men - in you!

You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work that will give you the future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfill their promise, they never will.

Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfill that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness. Soldiers - in the name of democracy, let us all unite!"

-Charlie Chaplin, "The Great Dictator"(Below are a few more excerpts from the movie)

"Look up! Look up! The clouds are lifting - the sun is breaking through. We are coming out of the darkness into the light. We are coming into a new world, a kind new world where men will rise above their hate and brutality.”

“The soul of man has been given wings - and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow - into the light of hope - into the future, that glorious future that belongs to you, to me and to all of us. Look up. Look up."

Downtown Norfolk at Sunset

I took these photos from my apartment on the fire escape balcony and from my living room bay window. Norfolk is such a pretty city by the water. I love taking pictures, at the bottom of this blog are some of my favorite photos I have taken of Norfolk.

Great Films

From left to right: "The Age of Innocence", "The Last Emperor", "The Wizard of Oz", "Shawshank Redemption","UP", "The Thirteenth Floor", and "What dreams May Come".

Movies make my world go 'round. A film can touch me and mold the way I think about a particular subject. I become enveloped in a world of imagination and imagery. Films have been my saving grace in difficult times and a reward after long days. I relate to characters and become engrossed in their artificial lives. I speak about fiction of course, but documentaries are close to my heart as well. I have learned so much about the world through documentaries. Nothing is ever as impactful as hands on learning but at least I can get a glimpse into the life of documentary subjects. Above are a few of my favorites; great films ranging from drama to romance, animated, musical, fantasy, and fiction:

My Second Life

My own virtual reality barbie doll. I guess I never grew out of that phase and now that I'm an adult I have found a way to keep playing with barbie dolls. These pictures are of my second life avatars. Yes I have a few. Every avatar has several looks and different personalities. For instance one of my Second Life avatars is Victorya Nikita who is of Russian descent and a spy who likes combat games, looking chic, and meeting playboys who can entertain her. Another avatar of mine is Jewel Bergiere, her parents were born and raised in France and she likes all things consumable and dancing until dawn. My original av who I titled this blog after is Dionysus Palmyra and she is who I truly am. She has no time for silly boys and likes to explore on her own, meet different people and she is adventurous. Is this some acceptable version of schizophrenia? Perhaps, but Second Life operated by Linden Labs allows you to have as many "alts" as you would like under one account.

Second life is a free 3D virtual reality program where users can connect with other users from around the world and create whatever their minds can imagine. Most users are there because of the free voice and text chat features. There are a lot of techno savvy users who enjoy building and creating from scratch instead of only using what Second Life has already created and provided. There are an endless amount of places you can visit, whatever your fancy may be it's in Second Life. It takes all kinds right? Personally it's an outlet for me. I have a limited amount of money in real life, (this is what users call their first life to differentiate between their second life avatars and their real life selves) but the "linden", which is the form of currency used in sl, is 2000 linden for every 8 U.S. dollars. You can imagine how happy that makes a girl who loves to shop. Actually, I dislike shopping in the real world because of the traffic, parking garages, and lack of privacy. I never have enough money or the exact figure to get everything I want but in Second Life my avatar can buy until her heart's content and it will fit perfectly. What a world!

Some days on second life I get into activities like sky diving and jet skiing, maybe I'll play golf or go to a dance club. The music on sl is amazing. The dj's are from around the world, as well as the performers. They stream their music live during concerts and you can dance the night away listening to them. You might wonder why don't I just do all of these things in real life? Well I do, when I have the money and time. I'm a student at the moment, so this is just a hobby I picked up shortly after I got my first laptop, and it became addictive. I'm also really into digital photography on sl, one of the main reasons I log in. I took all of the above pictures as profile pics for one of my av's. Second life is a bit of a creative outlet for me but also good for chatting with people all over the world. I've made connections with people from India, New Zealand, Whales, Egypt, and plenty of connections with people from inside the U.S. It's fun for the most part, the chat areas can be interesting, although sometimes there are "trolls" but you find those anywhere on the Internet, bored little pranksters who get their kicks out of being obnoxious, bothersome people. I don't log on as much anymore the initial thrill has worn off, but I still have my second life avatars to log onto whenever I feel the urge:)

Shiny Toy Guns - Major Tom OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO Lincoln MKZ Car Commerci...

Lyrics to one of one of My Favorite Songs and a cool fan made video.

Standing there alone the ship is waiting.
All systems are go, are you sure?
Control is not convinced
But the computer has the evidence
No need to abort.
The countdown starts

Watching in a trance the crew is certain.
Nothing left to chance all is working.
Trying to relax up in the capsule
"Send me up a drink." jokes Major Tom.
The count goes on

4 3 2 1
Earth below us
Drifting falling floating weightless
Calling calling home

Second stage is cut.
We´re now in orbit
Stabilizers up runnning perfect.
Starting to collect requested data.
"What will it affect when all is done?"
Thinks Major Tom

Back at ground control
There is a problem.
"Go to rockets full"
Not responding.
"Hello Major Tom are you receiving?
Turn the thrusters on.
We´re standing by."
There´s no reply.

4 3 2 1
Earth below us
Drifting falling floating weightless
Calling calling home


Across the stratosphere a final message
"Give my wife my love."
Then nothing more

Far beneath the ship the world is mourning.
They don´t realize he´s alive.
No one understands but Major Tom sees.
Now the light commands
This is my home I´m coming home."

Earth below us
Drifting falling.
Floating weightless
Calling home
Earth Below us
Drifting falling
Floating weightless
Calling coming
home.....

Shiny Toy Guns "Major Tom"

A little bit about me and my pursuit of love…

I’m 30 and single. That can mean many things in today’s world. In bigger American cities it’s pretty common and not that big of a deal. Where I live it is more rare. In my twenties, settling down was the farthest thing from my mind. For me, it was a smart choice not to get married, I simply wasn't ready. I wanted that time for myself to live, experience, and explore on my own. I was involved in serious relationships, fell in and out of love, but nothing I ever considered to be a lasting lifetime partnership. I have to ask myself, is that still the goal? I know what I want to find in my heart but I feel obligated to ask myself if we only get one life what do I really want to do with it and does that include sharing my entire life with one person? Whether it be because it is in my nature, human nature, or otherwise I have an innate feeling that experience shared intimately with another indivual is worth too much  not to go for. 

However, today, women are redefining happily ever after, so I have to consider redefining this pursuit of happiness for myself. I’ve also never been one to knock something until I try it, so I decided to fill out an eHarmony profile. I’m open to possibilities, and I’ve been single for awhile so maybe it’s time to put myself back in the game. Partly I do this as an experiment, to see what this Internet dating thing is all about. I also did it to get to know myself a little better, keep a record of it, and curiosity. So I guess the question is, can a gal like me really find love on the Internet?? The jury is still out but for now it's given me a reason to write about what I'm looking for and what I want. Eharmony has you fill out a very extensive profile full of the usual questions but focusing on personality traits and common interests. Below is the "In Your Own Words Section" of my eHarmony profile:

Denise, Norfolk, VA

The one thing I am most passionate about:

Travel. This life is short and I want to see all I can. Travel opens people's minds, it can bring people of all cultures closer together because it helps people understand each other better. Travel is good for the soul, it reminds you how connected we all are. People are the same everywhere innately, but it's interesting to me the differences we accumulate from our environment. I like being active, I am a dancer at heart, always laughing and smiling when I dance. I am very connected to music, it makes me feel alive. I like writing as well; in journals, blogs, and poetry, about dreams or life experiences. Art moves me, I like creativity.

The most important thing I'm looking for in a person:

Honesty. I can count on someone who is honest. I'm a very straightforward person, I don't believe in beating around the bush or lying to suit my purpose. It's a waste of time for me, I can get what I want more effectively if I'm truthful. However, even if and when I don't get exactly what I want by being honest, I always get what I need and what is best for me.

Basic Information

Occupation:	Student
Age	30
Height	5' 5"
Wants Kids:	Maybe
Kids at Home:	No

Ethnicity	White, non-Hispanic
Religion:	Christian
Drinks:	A few times a week
Smokes:	Never

In my own words...

The most influential person in my life has been:

My dad has had the most influence in my life, but other than my parents, there are several people that I've known and studied from afar that have heavily influenced me. For example Christian Amanpour, I aim to be like her. I like her journalistic integrity, her search for truth, and I believe she is a strong, intelligent example of a woman. I also like men like Robert Frost, his poetry inspires and influences the way I think. The people closest to me probably have had the most immediate influence from day to day. People like my sister, I spent most of my childhood years trying to be just like her, following in her footsteps. Both my sisters are positive influences in my life. They are strong and good people with warm hearts and intelligent minds. My mother is extremely self sufficient and savvy. There are characteristics that I admire in people close to me and from afar that influence who I am.

The three things which I am most thankful for:

• My family is the most wonderful gift in my life. My father is my best friend. My mother is a female role model to me, as well as my sisters. They are also my closest friends. They're good people with high morals and values. They are normal and well adjusted which creates dependability and stability in my life. They are also wonderful examples of solid relationships, all happily married. My parents have been married almost 45 years, they raised me well in a healthy, loving environment. My brother-in-laws are good men that care about family and have been great influences in my life, I'm thankful for them. I'm a lucky girl.

• My cat Jackson. He's my buddy, my best buddy. He has been there at times when I was lonely, or sad, and cuddled up right next to me until I felt better. He's sweet and playful and funny. He has been such a wonderful gift. I love animals, I believe it is important to have a connection with them. While I am not a mother, Jackson is the closest thing to a child for me. I think animals teach you a lot, and Jackson has made me a better individual. He's not your typical cat, even people who don't like cats love him. He makes me proud and I am so thankful to have him in my life.

• My best friends. I have never been the type of person to have a lot of close friends around me. I have always been able to count the people outside my family who are closest to me on one hand. Those friends are incredibly important to me and steady influences in my life. My best friend was usually my boyfriend when I was younger. While I still yearn for a relationship where my partner is my best friend I do understand the importance of close friendships outside of a relationship. I'm blessed to have friends that would stick with me through thick and thin. My best friend never wavers and has been there for me through the hardest of times.

Three of my best life-skills are:

• A strong sense of intuition
• The ability to keep an open mind
• Tenacity and Resilience

The one thing I wish MORE people would notice about me:

My intelligence and wit. I think people get caught up in the package of a person and any preconceived notions they may have. I wish people could see how perceptive I am right away. It would save me the trouble of proving it. People like to judge you and put you in a box. I am not one thing or easily classified.

The things I can't live without are:

• Love
• Music
• Dance
• Travel
• Family

The first thing people notice about me:

I love life. It's apparent, I get excited about life experiences and doing anything new. The first thing people notice about me is my smile, and that may be part of my appearance but it's also a reflection of who I am on the inside. I just love life, and living it to the fullest. I want to try everything I can. People probably notice that I'm friendly and nice, I like to make people feel comfortable when they first meet me, it makes me feel more comfortable if they are as well.

Some additional information I want you to know:

We live in a tricky time for dating. There is a lot of confusing temptation out there. As a woman, it can be hard to trust and to set reasonable boundaries consistent with today's world. Men are raised differently today so finding someone like my father seems impossible. I don't want to seem too old fashioned but I'd love to find a gentleman, a modern gentleman. I respect qualities such a patience, persistence, and perseverance. I believe in love, and I want to find a partner. I know men and women are different from each other, I respect that, I'd like to learn from my partner. I hope to find someone I can share this crazy life with.

My interests:

I typically spend my leisure time:

I watch movies. I love films, I think they are fascinating. I can lose myself in a good movie, become completely enthralled as if I am in that movie. I really love my laptop, it thinks as quickly as I do. My mind can shoot off in a million different directions and surfing the Internet is very similar. I'm a very visual person so I'm usually observing, looking out at a beautiful view, going to brunch, people watching. I like hanging out with people, relaxing. I also love going dancing, any excuse to get dressed up and go out on the town. I like the energy of cities and being out at night you can experience that, it's stimulating.

The last book I read and enjoyed:

I've been in school for the last two years so all of the books I have read have had to do with the courses I am taking. I did really enjoy my philosophy and religions of the world books. I also like to read poetry. The last book I can remember reading that really stuck out in my mind was "Conversations with God." I read it awhile ago but it really affected me. I thought it was interesting, someone talking to God, something I do every night with no voice response. It made so much sense, every answer was clever and logical, to questions we all have about this life and the world we live in.

According to my friends:

My friends describe me as:

• Passionate
• Honest
• Loyal
• Sweet

________________________________________________________________

It's interesting to see how many matches eHarmony has paired me up with. The catch of course is until I pay to become a member I cannot see any of their photos and can only have very minimal contact like the icebreaker questions they provide for you, similar to taking a quiz. Overall, EHarmony has a more respectable reputation for matching serious minded people really looking for love and not just something short term or a hookup like Match.com but I've read some of the comments on their facebook page and the results seem very mixed. However, I think it's a positive site aiming to help people, provided you are willing to pay the monthly fees. I think I'll wait until they have an amazing deal or until I am a bit more serious about Internet dating.

Watching love evolve from a distance

Love is beautiful and difficult and not immune to the pressures in our society. As people we should encourage it wherever and however we can. Young love especially is lovely and difficult and hard to withstand. It is human nature to try and test love and you can be sure others will test your resolve for one another. I think we should do everything we can as a society to give love a fighting chance whenever we can and help it along however we can. That applies to legislation, how we treat each other, and the relationships around us.

I've been an observer of love this past year as I've stopped dating for awhile to concentrate on my studies and because of other various reasons I won't get into right now. Recently I've seen young love and it's tumultuous struggle and a close friend on the brink of a possible divorce. Love blinds people and perhaps that is not always a healthy thing. I've watched people around it act from a range of apathetic to overly concerned and stifling. I still believe even after having more misses than hits over the years that as Lord Tennyson says " 'tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all."

To me, love is the ultimate experience in life. I try to love as many people as I can in all its varied forms. I love my family, friends, animals, strangers I see going through celebrations and struggles, and nature. I think the point is to love as much as you can, to fall in love with as many things in life and people as you can whether as friends, lovers, or from afar. Love is truly all there is. To me, it is what makes this life all worthwhile. It shouldn't take a holiday to make us feel that so I say hang on to love, hold onto feelings, open your heart, and have respect for love.