Ritagail's posterous

February 18, 2009

of 300 dpi and "Oh Joy!"

My first book. It's ready. Only thing is, I was told that some of the inside images, which I DID save, according to the software I was working with in "300 dpi".....that's "dots per inch".........some of them came out lesser dpi and so I've been told they may print fuzzy. I can now order my proof copy or redo the images and resubmit the entire file.

sigh................I'll work on the images and resubmit the file.

However, the Oh Joy! is that this was the ONLY problem with my file and I'm on my way to making my own books.

Of course, the economic climate would seem to say that it's ridiculous of me to try this. Ah, so what? I'm joining the ranks of others before me who self-published. The only thing it costs me is my time and the cost of the "proof" book. Even if none of them sell to the public, I've got something to pass down through the generations.

I'm even going to see how to get them into electronic format.....after I figure out the dpi problem............

So, I will be busy fighting software, writing, drawing, photographing, etc. because I've got books to make!

Stay tuned. I'll let you know what the proof looks like, hopefully in a week or so. Maybe I'll post later about why this is all so important to me.

For those of you who want to try your own creative endeavors, can't remember if I posted this or not, I am going through Createspace.com, which is associated with Amazon.com There is also a Lulu.com and perhaps others. The pdf creator I use is Cutepdf, which goes into the Word file as a printer, and is free.

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February 16, 2009

pausing to enjoy the path......page numbers.....

My first book file--it's finished.

Finished and waiting for the library to open on Tuesday so I can upload it to Createspace and hopefully get it printed/published.

The whole book design is my own. Simple. But not just words.......there are over 30, though relatively small, but still over 30 photos/drawings scattered among the poems. Each of the three poetry sections has a little "bar" at the top of the page, a separate one for each section. That took some of my nerves to figure out!

I don't expect this book to sell, it's mostly for me to honor the gifts God has given me, to learn how the whole process works, and then I can work on adding more titles. I really want to have a book of my Mass sketches out there, that one might be a "seller".

As I sit here late at night, having also worked as much on next week's parish bulletin as I can for now, I am very grateful, even joyful.

Something has happened to me inside my soul. I made a small note in my book that it may be some unexpected healing has occurred in the book design process. You see, I could have chosen to just slap the poems in there and have it done with. But I drove myself nuts.......my husband will vouch for this........wading through my many images, choosing them, working with them to get them to the specs (I hope) of the printer, etc.

I even put in a Table of Contents. Which meant I had to put "dummy" images in where I thought I wanted them and then stick to that pattern so I wouldn't have to redo the page numbers!

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhnnnnnnoooooooo.........writing this reminds me that I didn't redo the page numbers........I have to go back and do that......................will save this as a draft.

Be back tomorrow, it's too late to finish this tonight.

*************************

Monday morning: John Denver and I got through the page numbering, it wasn't quite 1AM.....poor John's CD went through twice, and then some.

It wasn't a simple matter of letting auto repage do it, I won't go into the technical details, suffice it to say that the first part of it gave me fits, and, one of the "bars" is permanently over the first page, no matter what I did, the page numbers insisted, so, it's there on the first page............gives it character.

Anyway........Table of Contents and page numbers seem to be in synch. The work is as done as I can get it. Stay tuned to see if it gets accepted or not.

May all your creative efforts go smoother than mine. (grin)

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February 14, 2009

feb. 14/15 weekend reflection/ideas for Lent

(This weekend I am posting the New Living Translation, so as not to give offense to anyone with the usual translation of "profitable"....given the economic circumstances of our times. ;-) )

1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 (NLT)

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ."

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This Scripture reading is set off from the other two readings which deal with outcasts, particularly leprosy, and healing, and Jesus not being able to enter town because one guy was so thrilled with being made whole that he told everyone and everyone wanted to get what was theirs.

Instead of dealing with justice for outcasts, we have St. Paul going against current thought that states: "Don't Be a People Pleaser". Paul is one of those persons who appears hypocritical He does one thing when he's with one group of people, something different when he's with another. No wonder the poor guy is miserable, trying to adjust to each group that he's trying to persuade.

What's he trying to persuade them to do?

Believe in the Risen Jesus Christ and that this life isn't The End.

Yes, I know, these days we don't like to use the word "saved", and I understand why. I personally went through decades of trying to become "saved". Paul simply means that he wants us to know this Jesus who knocked him down blindly in the road to change the course of his life with a revelation of resurrection.

And so, Paul is willing to do anything it takes to help as many people as he can believe in the Jesus Who has become Paul's dearest intimate friend.

Anybody and Everybody.

Are we that enraptured with Jesus that we will do whatever it takes to tell others about Him? Or, are we so bogged down by the cares of this world, the snares of organized Christianity, that we hide our Jesus, and instead promote our own social group (aka "Church") for the many benefits of gathering together and making socio-political connections?

Or, are we so tired of the whole mess that is an alleged religion bearing the name of this Jesus Christ, that we go clean out flower beds and plant poppy seeds when Winter has yet to finish, telling Jesus to deal with His people Himself? (that would me me)

"People pleasing" even for the Gospel wears a person down. Which is why we need to keep running to Jesus.....even if He runs outside the city, outside the Church, to escape the onslaught of those of us searching for Him. Only by His touch can we continue....."Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed." (from the liturgy)

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I'm not keen on Valentine's Day, but many are. Here is a "true" love story that is very different: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29165913/

Lent is approaching. I'm personally going to re-read "The Autobiography of God", as well as already signing up for Fr. Ed Hays' Lent reflections and read his book "Chasing Joy: Musings on LIfe in a Bittersweet World".

"The Autobiography of God" is written by Julius Lester, an African-American who converted to Judaism. If you want something that will challenge your view of God......AND simultaneously cause you to think of your own personal relationship with God, you might consider reading it. Alternatively, while I haven't read the author's book about his spiritual journey, it's a good guess it wouldn't be dull! Here is a link to his website: http://members.authorsguild.net/juliuslester/

Fr. Ed Hays is someone I read a long time ago, around the time I went to Methodist seminary, before I became Catholic. I am including the link to sign up for his Lent reflections. He also wrote a book specifically for persons who have left Church or are struggling to stay, "Letters to Exodus Christians: Comfort and Hope for Those Who Have Trouble Going to Church". You can find out more about him, his books, and an interview, etc.:
http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/2569

If you want something more traditional, St. Therese of Lisiuex's "Story of a Soul" is online here: http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=16772

And, of course, gee whiz, there's always the Bible in lots of different translations: http://www.biblegateway.com

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February 6, 2009

weekend reflection Mark 1:35-37

(from the New American Standard Bible):

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place and was praying there. Simon and his companions searched for Him; they found Him, and said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."

***********************************

You
Who intimately know
Each and every star--
Foolish feat to our finite minds--
What torture was it
To be infinity bound
In human flesh,
To have a constant clammering
For Your touch,
Such that You wandered away
Only to be found?

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February 3, 2009

caution on reading Peyton Place

I feel it necessary to caution others who might be thinking of reading Peyton Place. While I intend to read it all the way through, as well as Return to Peyton Place, I strongly caution folks who are sensitive to Jesus Christ and God being used as swear words, and, even more strongly caution persons who have been around domestic violence.

It also uses an ugly racial slur more than once.

The author's ability to charm with beautiful description of the countryside and the characterization of the idealistic writer, Allison, becomes equally brutal in the realistic descriptions of abusive, drunken, and sometimes just plain mean acts, of members of the town.

It is this interplay of innocent idealism and harsh reality that seems to me to be the genius of the work

Beauty and hope, hatred and sadism growing side by side.

Times haven't changed, have they? Not even the covering up of secrets that will eventually be uncovered.

Grace Metallious could've written this today. Sad thing is, I don't know if anyone would take notice of her writing today. We're too used to the ugliness of our lives, while being in severe communal denial.

We'd rather read, for example, Stephen King novels, where the same nastiness can sometimes be explained on outside or alien forces, not from within ourselves. It keeps our sinfulness at a safe distance. This never really happens here in America, except in fiction. And we can blame it on Dear Old Stephen's imagination and rant about his royalty checks.

(I love Stephen King, just trying to make a point.)

Anyway, if you decide to read it, be very careful, particularly if you are a sensitive creative type like myself.

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January 31, 2009

celebrating the End Of Jury Pool!

Yes! In this county, when the jury summons is mailed, there is a page with a phone number to call the night before to see if your group of jurors is still needed. I forgot to call last night, and, honestly, I really didn't want to listen to the same old "still required to report".

I called it today. "All trials have been resolved.....all jurors are excused, except those on call............". Yippee!!!!

Thank You God!!!!!

(Somebody is going to say, "It wasn't God." Too bad--I'm still thankin' God......and Thomas Merton and St. Brigid.......)

Of course, at some point I will have to write about other things that this experience brought up, but, right now, I'm going to read Peyton Place (got myself a used copy), work on my book file, and, oh yes, start next week's bulletin.

I can't believe nobody has suggested in my near 48 years to read Peyton Place. Yet, if this is what my parents and other relatives thought of as what writing women are like, then it explains a lot. I suggest all writers, particularly female ones, read it. I don't know how I'll like the rest of it, but I didn't want to put it down after the first four chapters. I already identify with Allison, the young writer in the story.

I'm going to have to really convince myself to go to Mass this evening rather than stay home reading.

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January 31, 2009

Thomas Merton's birthday (Jan. 31) and St. Brigid's feast day (Feb. 1)

For those of you wondering about jury pool duty, my name was drawn to report back the next Monday, Feb. 2.........Groundhog Day/Presentation of Our Lord/Candlemas Day.......oh goodie.......I was going to draw a cartoon but probably won't get it done now. Basically, the cartoon was about wearing citizens down by the constant dutiful returning to court.....How I've gone all the way from outrage on day one to sharing my gardening seed/plant catalogs with the ladies sitting on the bench on day five.....hearing my name called for yet another "return" then telling people "Have a nice day" and "I'll see you next week."

Rather than reflect on any liturgical readings this weekend, I'm posting two links for your enjoyment:

Today is the celebration of Thomas Merton's birthday. Here is a site that has lovingly put some of Thomas' words onto beautiful photos. Yes, I've posted this elsewhere before, but it bears repeating:

http://www.octanecreativecom/merton/index.html

Tomorrow is St. Brigid's feast day, trumped by Sunday, which is fine. Sometimes they "transfer" the day to another one, but I couldn't find a date, so, I'm going to celebrate tomorrow anyway. She is the patron saint I took when I naively joined the Catholic Church in 1995. What I knew about her then was that she had formed a monastery where the arts were nurtured. Later I found out she is one of the few patrons of poets.

There are some who say the woman never existed. Some who say she is the Christian fable of a Celtic goddess. While I don't doubt things got mixed up a bit, I also don't doubt she really existed. I mean, WHY would patriarchal Church credit a woman with the founding of a double monastery that nurtured the arts if she never existed?

Yes, the stories tell us she was a nature woman and gave generously. But, if we are going to accept that part of the stories, in my loud mouth opinion, we also need to accept her faith in Jesus Christ, her faithfulness to the religion of her day, and her nurturing of the arts/artists/poets, etc.

(There, now I've sufficiently ticked off everyone on all sides....I hope Mr. Thomas/Fr. Louis is chuckling, as well as my patroness.)

The following site which has some beautiful photos from Ireland, is by the Brigidine Sisters, who, as far as I can tell, are Roman Catholic. However, the church building you will see is evidently Church of Ireland, which is a member of the Anglican Communion. I think its wonderful that they've put this together:

http://www.brigidine.org.au/reflection/tour/01.asp

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January 25, 2009

testing oop image

testing

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January 24, 2009

poems for St. Paul weekend

I wrote a lengthy, dreary post about the difference between St Peter, who the Church uses to represent religious politics, and St. Paul, who to me, represents basic faith in the Resurrected Jesus Christ and, perhaps, the prophetic voice in the Church.

Instead of posting that here, I am posting some of my poems I wrote this past summer. They will be in an anthology some day, I hope. I wrote several with the beginning line: "Beloved neighboring cellmate Paul,"

I also strongly suggest reading Acts 22, Acts 26, and, Galatians chapters 1 and 2 (in the Bible). Meditate on WHY both Peter and Paul were needed in the Church.......ARE needed in the Church.

(I know some will take offense at the hint that church folk treat the poor among them shabbily. I've been in many denominations, and, while when I write poems it may be my angst at the given moment coming out, I know I'm not the only one who has felt this......many simply never darken the door of any church again. I post for them every bit as much as for myself or fellow church folk.)

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Beloved neighboring cellmate Paul,
Move over--I'm coming back in.
Your secret's out with me,
I know why you chose prison to parish life,
And, I agree.
The majority
Never never never
Get
What it means to follow Jesus:
Gentleness,
Kindness,
Defering to others,
Putting God first and foremost--
And God's Love,
Peace amongst ourselves.
Nope. Dear writing brother, you
Knew
That this was happening in your own time,
And that it would prevail,
Tho' you wrote against it,
To no avail
The only power in Church is not ordained, or non,
Power only belongs to God.
And so...you sew your tents and write your letters,
I'll sew my quilts and write my poems.
We'll both pray.
And hope--
Oh HOPE!!!

**********************************************

Beloved neighboring cellmate Paul,
Tell me, Please!
How do I love them all?
Their souls have become so blind
By the way things Must Be Done
That they can't see they are unkind.
Rush down to Communion,
No leeway for being slow,
Hurry up, Go!
Make sure to wear the best clothes
And don't have anything to do
With those who don't.
Make sure she who is poor
And does our work for our leftovers
Gets the job done
But don't give her any courtesy
Or she might get ideas that she
Is one of us in our elite community.
Bitterness and hatred is creeping inside of me
No matter how hard I fight.
No matter how hard I pray to do right.
Dear Beloved Cellmate Paul,
Please, please tell me
HOW
Do I love them all?

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I'm here,
Like Paul,
Because I believe in the Resurrection.
I'm in this prison we call
Church--
This prison of lies we call
Church--
I'm here not because of
Promises
Or
Community
Or
Blessedness
Or
Glorious Tradition.
No,
I'm here because I believe Jesus
Resurrected
Bodily.
Mightily.
Lovingly.
And, that there IS Life after this Death
We call
Church.
I believe.

God forgive me.

***************************************

Beloved neighboring cellmate Paul,
God's Stars shine bright
This summer night,
Moving me beyond prayer to poetry--
Even to rhyme,
Beyond the seasons, beyond human time.
They bring me before the Throne
Of the God of grace,
And, almost, by starlight I can
Kiss
His Blessed Face.
They remind me of what we so often
Forget,
That God loves us
More
Than each star that He set,
In what we humans call
"Above",
When, really, God and the Stars
Are all right here in our hearts--
What we call "Love".

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January 23, 2009

Interlude from Drama

The North Wind is reasserting Winter on us, but, yesterday was a gorgeous day here in northeastern Oklahoma. After trying to figure out how to get life back in order from the neverending jury pool drama, I biked to the local duck pond to get away from the "cares of the world" for awhile.

Before that, I treated myself to a banana split. Following are the two poems and some photos from the afternoon. Enjoy. (When I read the banana split poem to my banana loving husband, he said, "You don't know what's good!)

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Banana split,
On a warm January day.
The only way
A banana should be
Eaten:
Smothered in ice cream and goo
To cover its healthy
Banananess,
Which always makes me gag.
And so,
After several bites
With
Ice Cream,
I resort to the childhood tactic--
Eat that banana out as quickly as possible!
There!
Healthy part successfully down the hatch.
Aaahhh--ice cream, strwberries, nuts, and chocolatey goo--
Bananaless bliss
One warm January day.

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Bread,
Brown Wheat Bread,
$1.25 per loaf.
One for my husband.
It's not good for me to eat
Fresh soft yummy bread of wheat,
So I buy an extra
For ducks and geese.
Camera ready.
Surrounded by eager feathers.
Been too long
Since I visited the pond.
But,
Not so long that I don't remember
You--
Ok, here, but wait, now wait, there's
More
Here than you.
Shy ones.
Bold ones.
Feed, Click,
Wait a minute--here you go--
Throw
Pieces over there...
Pieces over there.
Nip. Nip.
Yes, I know
You
Are still right here.
Well, that loaf's gone--
Sorry, honey, will have to get you
Another loaf tomorrow.
Joyous feathers as I open second loaf.
Even the shyest come,
But not all the way to my hand.
Toss gently, aim well,
Yes!
Shyest hen got hers.
Click. Click.
Sorry, it's all gone.
Bright button eyes linger,
Watching me leave.
Feather therapy--just what I need.

Click here to download:

Interlude_from_Drama.zip (285 KB)

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