This is a video from the Play Me, I'm Yours project. Two of the sixty pianos were indoors, and this one was in the Chelsea Market, one of the neatest places in the city. Inside the former brick meat market are quaint little shops and cafes. This was also one of the coolest pianos, with a plaster frame around it. Enjoy the video. To see photos from the project, click here . To see more videos, click here .

I don’t think I would survive the bus and train rides in and out of the New York City without my iPod. I got it free with my new computer and Eddie engraved the words, “ Gonna take a Sentimental Journey ” on the back, lyrics to my all time favorite song. Music makes the sudden stops, rude passengers, and overpowering scent of BO just a little more bearable. Today I put the headphones in my ears, selected “shuffle” for my 8-kilobytes of music, and absorbed the sites around me, noticing how they correlated in perfect synch to the music that only I could hear. Like the soundtrack to a movie. You won’t believe me, but the song that played as Bus 163 drove through the Lincoln Tunnel (connecting NJ to NYC), was “ Back to Manhattan ” by Norah Jones. I listened to her gentle voice as I stared out the smudged window at the beige tiles of the tunnel, reflecting the glare of the fluorescent headlights as cars made their way to and from the city. On the subway, I heard my ancient recording of “Ro...

That title got your attention, didn't it?! I’m writing on a heavy, controversial subject today, something I scarcely do. I didn’t intend on it, but after watching a short video of Gianna Jesson tell her story of surviving a late term abortion (she was the infant, not the mother), I was inspired to put my two cents in. I’ve always considered myself a feminist, and gotten some crazy reactions from people when they hear that. Once I even got a self-righteous, knee-jerk response, “So I guess you don’t believe in God.” It’s hard for me to control my emotions and not engage in arguing with these kinds of people. If I do, I may end up sounding just as ignorant and foolish as they do. Proverbs 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. I would like to ask them, “How much time have you spent seriously studying feminism? If the answer is zero, how can you possible say that it doesn’t fall in line with what God teaches?” Some people joke, “You’re for w...

I sat at the piano in the very first ballet class for the youngest beginners, no older than 4 and 5. I watched quietly as the teacher tried to settle the girls who explored the large room with excitement and wonder. They wore their brand new pink leotards and white tights, just taken out of the package today. Their mothers had brushed their hair into a ponytail, then twisted the loose ends into a pink, sparkly hair wrap. Bobby pins held the wispy hairs tight to their heads. The girls wandered inside, taking notice of their elegant appearance in the wall-sized mirrors, as if today was the ultimate of all “dress-up” days. They grasped the wooden bar, and mimicked the movements they’d seen ballerinas do on TV. The girls jumped up and down like popcorn when they finally took notice of the teacher, tall, sophisticated, and graceful. She wore a chiffon black skirt around her waist that gently swayed with each movement, and satin pointed shoes with pink ribbons that laced up around her ankl...

Before I joined the Army, I couldn’t run a block or do a push up. Actually, before my 3 years in Army ROTC, I spent half a semester in Air Force ROTC. I still remember my very first physical fitness test there. I did 7 - count ‘em 7 - push ups, and ran a mile and a half in about 17 minutes. The only event I passed was the sit-ups and that was only barely. After my decision to join Army ROTC and commit to 4 years active duty upon college graduation, I began really disciplining myself physically. I woke up early to run before class, I did-push ups and sit-ups every night before bed, and I even recall once going on a 4-mile ruck run by myself on Thanksgiving (running with a huge pack on my back). I would run laps around a track or in a gym and force myself not to cut corners, or quit before my planned distance was achieved. I wouldn’t let myself walk, no matter how exhausted I was. I remember thinking that it was all up to me and by taking it easy on myself, although no one would ever ...

My little friend lives just outside. She chirps and sings and flies with pride Today I watch her only through glass. I’ll stay inside till the rain has passed. The dark gray clouds have darkened my mood. The wet showers have dampened me too. But the rain won’t keep her hidden away. A puddle is the perfect spot to play. A few little drops won’t stifle her song. Soon the others start to sing along. A dripping wet wing is no nuisance to her, Instead she basks in a refreshing shower. Ok my friend, you’ve lured me out. I’ll save another day to pout. So clearly you show me, so plainly you say, “Rain’s no excuse to waste the day.” *Painting by Dot Small

I listened to a radio interview of author Sonny Brewer on NPR the other day. I’d never heard of him before, but what particularly caught my attention was his new project called Don’t Quit Your Day Job , a compilation of 23 authors sharing their work experience prior to their writing success. Coincidently, I myself recently googled, “how to write a novel,” thinking that maybe someday soon, I would write my novel idea that's been in my head for about 4 years now. There is wrinkled, used scratch paper in my desk, scribbled on napkins in my purse, and Word documents on my computer with random fragments for a half concocted novel. Every time I seriously consider beginning the writing process, I feel overwhelmed and totally lost as to how to go about it. After all, the publishing world is about as challenging and confusing as the music industry. One impossible thing at a time please. I did hear a piece of advise in the interview however, that I’ll hang on to and use on days like tod...