Abracadabra

You know you're being fooled, yet you watch like a hawk.  You will figure it out, this magic trick, if it's the last thing you do.  But, over and over again, the assistant gets sawed in half, the rabbit is pulled out of the hat, and Uncle Charlie pulls the quarter from behind your ear.

Have you ever wondered about magician's secrets?  The brain, it seems, continues seeing the reality of the situation it has already assessed.  Reality and our perception of it are not always aligned, in fact are "off" by fragments of time.  According to a recent New York Times article, our perceptions lag behind reality by a split second and it is that delay that magicians utilize for their trickery. 

Scientists are researching this phenomenon to study human behavior in order to better understand the connection between reality and perception.  To read more about these fascinating ideas, click here:  The Science of Illusion

Have a magical day!

Summer

Sun lovers take note:  Summer officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere on June 20, 2012, at 7:09 P.M. (EDT).  That's tomorrow.  The Summer Solstice.  The longest day of the year. 

I plan to enjoy the extra rays of sunshine starting with early morning golf and ending with sunset drinks on the patio (with dashes outside during the work day to soak up a little more of the golden goodness).

What about you?  Will you turn your face upward as your garden?  Bask in a hammock?  Bake on a beach chair?  Will you walk a little more slowly to your car and let the sun's warmth relax your shoulders, warm you to the marrow?  Will you sit on a porch and watch the kids play way beyond bedtime? 

Whatever you do, enjoy the extra light and the little emotional charge we all get knowing that summer has finally arrived. 

And if you're having trouble getting into the mood, watch this video of The Beatles singing their fabulous song, Here Comes the Sun

Summer Viewing

I'm not much of a T.V. watcher and am always late in getting into the latest television thing (maybe not such a bad trait).  But, I am later than late in discovering  –  and subsequently becoming addicted to  –  the wonderful television drama, Downton Abbey.  The British-American television series shown in the United States on PBS is set on the fictional estate of Downton Abbey in the North Riding of Yorkshire area of England.  The show is a wonderful blend of drama and trauma highlighting the early 1900s.  Award-winning writer Julian Fellowes co-created the immensely popular series with Gareth Neame.   Season I and II are available for viewing on Netflix, etc.  Since summer is traditionally slow for movies and the like, if you're looking for a great series to immerse yourself into, this, in my opinon, is the one.  

Inspiration

Today, I am lucky to be the featured guest blogger on famed Smoky Zeidel's "Inspiration Series."  Click below for my musings about one way I get inspired as a writer . . . by being with and experiencing the wonderful works of other writers.  Then, explore the rest of Smoky's blog!

Click here to read my guest post and to explore Smoky's amazing blog:  Inspiration