Choosing Power

See "Down the Drain" before it closes!

2011-08-21T11:38:00.000-07:00

It is for gems like these that some of us become addicted to Theater. Like gambling addicts, we continue to attend plays because we never know when there will be another ‘pay-off’ of a fantastic script in combination with great actors and direction. I am thrilled to report that “Down the Drain,” a new play written and directed by Austin’s own A. John Boulanger, is one of those great payoffs. He admits that he wrote this script especially for the featured performers, Martin Burke and Meredith McCall, who have done countless plays together (including Boulanger’s last new piece, “House of Several Stories”). The writer describes this new piece as a “bleak” comedy and I couldn’t find a better description. The first act is so funny, I laughed so hard that I was in tears. Martin Burke pulled out all the stops and rode the emotions of his character like some kind of extreme roller coaster. The second act felt darker and more mysterious, and the audience was unsure whether Burke’s character was rooted in reality or sinking quickly into psychotic paranoia. The ending surprised me, but perhaps you will figure it out faster than I did. Meredith did a great job with her role, and her haunting melodies set the tone nicely at the beginning of the piece. Breanna Stogner also did a fantastic job playing a variety of strong characters with a variety of accents. The set featured a dramatic yet very tasteful bathroom with the most impressive mirrors I have ever seen.
Great job everyone, and the program reports that Boulanger is working on three new scripts slated to premiere in 2012. We in Austin can’t wait!
The play runs through August 28th at Hyde Park Theater. More information here:
http://www.nowplayingaustin.com/event/detail/441348793/Down_the_Drain

"A Night of Horror" Riveting and Quite Creepy

2011-01-09T15:49:00.000-08:00

Although we are quite familiar with Horror Movies, there is nothing quite like watching a Horror Play. When done well, the audience is riveted and leaves their comfortable, predictable world to enter uncertain, foreign lands. In a small theater, the audience is not quite sure that we ourselves are safe and immune from the craziness and creepiness that the live actors bring to life onstage. In this vein, Chaotic Theater produced great renditions of two plays by David Steele at the Austin Playhouse. In both plays, the actors did a fantastic job of bringing their characters to life. Especially in the first play, the family members were very believably creepy. Instead of allowing us to distance ourselves and discount them all as crazy, the oldest daughter in the first play, and reporter in the second play seem most normal and rational. Because of them, we are intrigued and can connect to their worlds, as we follow them down the slippery slopes of the horrific stories that unfold.
For more information, see http://www.nowplayingaustin.com/event/detail/441083393/A_Night_of_Horror

Shrek: The Musical

2010-11-02T21:23:00.000-07:00

From the beginning, I felt like I fell into a fairy tale. From the effervescent curtain to the magical set to the lighting to the costumes, the colors and characters all combined to bring this cartoon world to life like I have never seen done onstage before. Shrek, Fiona, the Donkey, and even the Dragon were simply unbelievable. The sunsets and sunrises were spectacular, walking through the fiery bridge was impressive, traveling through the forest was enchanting, and the other special effects all added up to create the Perfect Fairy Tale. All characters were played to a T, including the other fairy tale characters. (I want the Wicked Witch's dress!) Children were riveted. Adults will enjoy the jokes that are just a bit over their children's heads. Avid theater-goers will immensely enjoy all the references to other shows. From my favorite "Wicked" to "Lion King" to "Dream Girls" how many other references can you find? Fun for all! Don't miss it. Details found at http://www.texasperformingarts.org/season/shrek

Muses IV: Memories of a House

2010-08-30T16:54:00.000-07:00

I have been curious about the Muses project where the audience moves from room to room watching scenes in a different house each year. This year, the writers were given the story of one family, and the writers wrote scenes that may have occurred in different rooms of the house. What a fascinating concept! We were treated to a spectacular house as a backdrop, with brilliant colors, eye-capturing art, fun furniture, and the best percussion instrument from Vietnam that was so much fun to play. I was fortunate to meet the owner of the house, who had a sparking presence. As you might guess, some of the 10 scenes are better than others, and all provide glimpses into the innermost workings of a family. Be warned that different actors play the same characters, and that the scenes are not time-ordered, as that threw me until the 4th scene. Also, bring bug spray because half are outside. Ok, I admit I’m hooked, and look forward to being a part of the annual lively Muses tradition.

Running through September 12th
http://www.vestigegroup.org/ for more information.

The "Drowsy Chaperone" will keep you Wide Awake!

2010-08-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

There are so many great things to say about the “Drowsy Chaperone” – where to start? First, the deep-red stage is very inviting. Second, Martin Burke does an excellent job of hosting the play within the play. His opening line about sitting in the dark before a show begins, praying for a good show, resonated well with me, especially since we were still sitting in the dark! Since he is feeling “blue,” he puts on a record and the musical comes to life in his living room. He entertains us the whole time and brings his character perfectly to life.

I do love musicals. And this one does a fantastic job of making fun of itself at the same time that it is taking itself very seriously. How does one do that so well? It must be the ironic songs, such as a song about a dress that is hideous; the “Don’t want to show off” song where the actress cannot stop showing off; and a love song, where everyone comes out and starts dancing in Monkey suits! Be warned: Jamie Goodwin steals the show as Adolfo. Even after “Present Laughter” I didn’t realize he had the over-acting capacity within him, and didn’t even recognize him in this role at first. Robin Lewis has taken Zach choreography to the next level since he joined the company, and thus the dancing is phenomenal. The show is complete hilarious fun, and you only have one more week to enjoy it before it must close next weekend.
See http://www.zachtheatre.org/show/drowsy-chaperone for more information.

"Jersey Boys"

2010-08-20T22:11:00.000-07:00

It was fun to finally see "Jersey Boys"after hearing about it so long. Not quite my generation, but my mother played her Four Seasons album over and over, and my grade school girlfriends were named Candy, Dawn, and Sherry. It was not only a musical, but a comedy, too. I found it to be very funny, especially through the first act. It was very clever how the plot was divided into the Four Seasons. I had no idea what had really gone on in the group, and I won’t give it away so that you can witness the story unfold onstage. It brings the personalities to life and makes them personal. The costumes, images, and video are especially remarkable, as are the live filming and the way the band performed to different angles on the stage. It was too funny when they were bowing to our applause, although they were facing the back of the stage! I will never think of the song “Oh what a night” the same, now that I understand the “ended way too soon” part! Very fun and enjoyable show.
See http://www.texasperformingarts.org/season/jersey for more information.

"Spider's Web" performed by Different Stages at Vortex Theater

2010-07-11T14:37:00.000-07:00

The best thing about Different Stages productions is that they are consistently entertaining. Other Austinites agree, for the entire Vortex theater was filled to capacity, without one free seat. The company succeeds in delivering an Agatha Christie piece consisting of a very impressive set, and top-notch actors and actresses. Nikki Zook, as the lead, hits the mark in depicting Clarissa who is such a masterful storyteller that she observes more than once, that “No one believes me when I tell the truth.” She persuades three male friends to help her hide the dead body she trips over, just before the Inspector shows up responding to a anonymous call about a murder. As usual, Agatha Christie’s plots are so intricate and unexpected, I can never figure out “Whodunnit.” However, maybe you can, so give it a shot at this performance that is perfect for any “date night.” It consists of three acts with two intermissions and Vortex’s Café provides any drinks and food you might need. Enjoy!

Menopause: The Musical

2010-06-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

"Menopause: The Musical" is consistently a lot of fun and very entertaining. This musical has taken very well-known songs and replaced the original lyrics with new subjects of interest to older women. Therefore, “Staying Alive” becomes “Staying Awake” to describe insomnia. “Chain of Fools” becomes “Change of Life” and so on. Some of these lyrics are so funny, I had tears rolling down my face the first time I saw this show because I was laughing so hard! This performance at the Long Center is as successful as past performances I’ve seen. It is made up of energetic actresses with marvelous singing voices, and fun choreography. As always, women in the audience are invited to come up and dance onstage at the end. Although there are not typically many men in attendance at this show, those who do brave the subject matter end up laughing and clapping even louder than the women, at times! That is to say, there is nothing offensive to men. So come on out and celebrate the change of life!
For more information, see http://www.thelongcenter.org/performances.aspx?id=3766

"Becky's New Car" is Fast and Furious

2010-06-06T13:10:00.001-07:00

This is a very enjoyable show, as the plot twists and turns unexpectedly. It features some of Austin’s finest talent and teachers, who do a great job on Zachary Scott’s intimate theater-in-the-round.
The actors explore the “Fourth Wall” as they refer to the audience, and interact with us at unexpected times throughout the performance. This works well and causes the audience to feel like we are welcome in their homes. The writer also uses the delightful device of jumping from home to work in a split-second. Wouldn’t that be convenient if we could all do that? Since I have two degrees in Psychology, I thoroughly enjoyed the psychological references and terminology. The terms made the audience laugh yet added extra depth for me.
Especially the second act will keep you on your toes, as it is very fast-paced, with actors coming and going. I am confused by the ending, since it does not follow the New Car metaphor that Becky explains early on, but I don't wish to ruin the ending for you! Enjoy!
For more information, see http://www.zachtheatre.org/show/beckys-new-car

Enchanted by Sleeping Beauty: The Musical

2010-04-05T18:42:00.000-07:00

The ever-popular fairy tale is wakened back to life in Vortex's original new musical which is so aesthetically beautiful it is a delight to behold. From the minute you walk into the theater, you will be enchanted by the fairies who interact with the audience in the front row, and the magical laser lights dancing around the darkened theater. The set is impressive is size and function, and I loved the "living" vines that trap all the princes that were unable to make it into the castle. The costumes, makeup, and hair arrangements are all exquisite and beautiful. The theater itself has been recently improved as all the seating is now on one side, making it easier for the cast to play to the entire audience, compared with its historical setup. Unlike other Vortex shows, this play has no nudity and so is appropriate for children. The best part is the non-traditional, yet strong and happy ending. Well done Bonnie Cullum and Content Love Knowles! I predict it will be a hit and will go far.

For more information, see http://www.vortexrep.org/22_2010/22_sleeping.htm

"A Little Night Music" is Fantastic!

2010-02-24T09:23:00.000-08:00

Sit back and relax while you enjoy a fantastic night of music and theater. The singing quality is top-notch, and is as powerful as an opera. The costumes were phenomenal. It is simply amazing what Mary Ellen Butler and Sara De Cuir did with a mixture of dyed wedding dresses from local thrift shops, jackets, and other miscellaneous items. The director keeps the actors moving with intention, so that even the invalid grandmother stands and walks around during her pieces. The set is quite impressive, and appropriate in the setting of the Georgetown Palace Theater. The script is sexy and the dialogue makes you laugh. What better combination for a night of theater? The plot is a bit complicated and so you may prefer to read a copy of the synopsis before it begins for best results. All in all, it was such fun and delightful musical entertainment that both my companion and I are considering a repeat drive to Georgetown from Austin. Way to go, Georgetown Palace and Stephen Sondheim!

The Opera "Star" is a humorous and visual delight

2010-02-01T16:57:00.000-08:00

"A Delight to all the Senses"
Review posted by: Pammyla Brooks from Austin, Texas, Feb 01, 2010
Whether you like opera or not, you are in for a treat. Although most operas are tragic, this French opera promises fun and laughter for everyone who attends. The set and the costumes will immediately capture your attention. The set is made up of bright colors, mirrors, and an oversized “throne” for the king. The costumes range from the colorful to classic, black for the chorus. The choreography works well and makes full use of the stage and the singers’ dancing skills. (However, it must be more difficult than it looks to dance on a tilted stage like that!) The music and singing are also captivating. All performed well, yet Deborah Domanski steals the show playing the male lead, by having as much fun with the role as she possibly could. Did I mention that an astrolger plays a major role in all of the action? I had no trouble hearing from the fourth row, but a friend sitting farther back could not hear as well. Don't speak French? Never fear, English translations float above the action onstage. Go and Enjoy!

Excellent Play, "What Was I Thinking" at Hyde Park Theater

2009-10-29T21:14:00.001-07:00

I know that there are a THOUSAND things to do in Austin this Halloween Weekend, but grab your girlfriends or come by yourself to see "What Was I Thinking" at Hyde Park Theater. You will feel more than welcome as these women sit with you tell you their favorite stories of men they have known. None of them are shy AT ALL about who they are and what they have experienced in their lives. They exude the confidence of lives lived authentically. If you are female, I guarantee that you will relate. Funny, how we can have such a great time turning bad decisions and heartbreaks into great stories! The best part is the sing-along. I wish they had published the lyrics -- the song was so perfect. Warning: there were some women that could not stop laughing throughout the entire second act. Oh, and my personal recommendation is to purchase some of the bubbly white wine; it was fantastic! I know there are a thousand things to do in Austin this weekend, but fit it in if you can. For more information, see http://hydeparktheatre.org/site/wwit.html

The Power of Names, Part Two

2009-09-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

I wrote a previous blog about the Power of Names, and received some mixed feedback about whether my friends think that repeating names are important or not. Here are some more stories and data for your consideration.

My friend, Linda, did an autobiographical performance where she revealed that her first husband was named Joe. She explained how they had grown apart and she moved to Austin. Now she is engaged. Guess what her beloved's name is: Joe. When I brought this up to her afterward, she commented about how she had heard that her ex-husband had started dating someone named Linda after they had broken up. She said that she had thought that was so corny!!! And now, she had done the same thing and become engaged to another Joe.

I wrote about my ongoing recent experience with the name Mike and Michael. Someone had mentioned that Mike was the most common name. So, why hadn't Linda ended up dating a Michael. How come I have never dated anyone name Joe? How is it that each of us may be primed for certain names and not other names? What accounts for this: numerology, astrology, something else, anything?

I teach Psychology at DeVry University and I ran across this story that I wanted to share:

"Identical twins have shed even more light on the role of genetics. Consider the famous case of the "Jim twins." James Lewis and James Springer were born identical twins and then adopted out to different families 37 days after birth. They had no contact until they were reunited 38 years later. As boys they both had dogs with the same name ("Toy"), and named sons named James Allan. This may indeed be chalked up to coincidence, but what happens when it is noted that they both had first wives named "Linda" and second wives named "Betty," had part time sheriff positions, had pale blue Chevrolets that they drove to Pas Grille beach in Florida for family vacations, were fingernail bitters, and left love notes for their wives around the house? (Segal, 2000) Clearly the role of genetics is not to be dismissed."

I also wanted to add that my friend Linda gave considerable credit to two other Linda's that significantly helped her with her production. This reminds me today that I need to follow-up with another woman named "Lynda" about a volunteer opportunity. Plus, I have not yet contacted my friend, Linda, who moved away from Austin and I miss immensely. Could this be another reminder from the universe to contact her?

I bet my friend, Linda, believes in the Power of Names.

How about you?

Powerfully Submitted,

Pammyla Brooks
Author of the book "Choose Power: Tools and Techniques for Home and Work"
www.Pammyla.com

The Power of Names

2009-08-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

I have often wondered about the Power of the Names that we hear over and over in our lives. I have even more reason to wonder after last night.

First, a little background. I will tell you my stories about certain names, but I do not wish to imply that you should draw the same conclusions about people with these names. It probably varies from person to person.

My first, most successful relationship was with a man named Steve. We lived together for two years and moved from Texas to Florida and then Baton Rouge together, pursuing our higher education. I also had a major crush on a Steve when I was in High School. He was 8 years older and moving to California, and I went to visit him after I graduated. Since then, it seemed like I continued to run into men named Steve who wanted to date me. However, they never seemed to be the best men for me.

On the other hand, I had bad situations with men and women named Chris. I don't want to go into the stories except to say that the two times I feared for my life were due to a crazy guy and a stalker who were both named Chris.

Then came the Mikes and Michaels. Last year, I married my husband who is named Mike. Last Christmas, I get a job offer at a party to teach at the local university, so I work for someone named Mike. The man who interviewed me to usher at the UT PAC was named Mike. Another house manager named Mike at the UT PAC gave me a guide to e-books that really helped me out. In the past few months I have made two new male friends named Michael.

As you might guess, it can get confusing. Yesterday, I was calling one of my friends early on my cell phone, and a different Mike answered than the one I had intended to call! Yikes! I hoped I hadn't woken him up, so I quickly hung up.

What does this mean when names repeat in our lives live this? It must be the universe trying to get our attention about something, right? There is obviously a pattern that we have discovered or are creating. I asked the Mike at the UT PAC about this last month and whether men named Mike were all good men. He said yes, and that it is because they are all named after the Archangel.

My mother likes to remind me about my crush on the boy next door when I was in Kindergarten and that I kept talking about his "pretty, blue eyes." His name was Mike (and his brother's name was Chris.) Do you think this early experience imprinted on me somehow to produce the experiences described above?

I had to write about this because it happened again last night. At the last minute, I invited 24 female friends out for a Girls' Night Out dancing to LeeAnn Atherton singing the blues. The only two who showed up were both named Linda. This served to remind me about a dear friend of mine named Linda who had moved away from Austin to Ohio to take care of her aging parents. I realized that I had not called her in months, and that I really missed her.

Was the universe taking a moment to remind me to call my friend?

Does this happen to you? If so, how do you interpret this? Is there a Power in the names that are significant in our lives? Do the interpretations vary from person to person, or do you think that all men named Mike are good men?

Thanks for reading and responding, and remember to Choose Power.

~Pammyla
Author of "Choose Power"
www.Pammyla.com

How can Astrology improve my Love Life?

2009-07-22T19:25:00.000-07:00

There are several ways that Astrology can help your Love Life. First, you can find out which signs are best for you and which signs are not the best for your Sun Sign.

Second, you can look at your Venus and Mars and analyze how they relate to your partner's Mars and Venus. That is, look at how your Venus affects your partner's Mars, and vice versa. Are there good or bad aspects between then?

Third, we can identify the good days to meet someone or to broach a difficult conversation with someone. Conversely, we know the bad days, like Full Moons, that it is important NOT to bring up a loaded subject. This is a huge benefit -- to be able to identify good and bad aspects that are around the corner.

These are some of the things that we will teach you on August 1st at the Chemistry of Love Workshop in Austin, Texas from 1 -4pm at Nia Space on South Congress.

We have planned several games for you to practice and learn these basic skills. You will walk away with a better understanding of yourself, a list of online resources, and the skills to identify good and bad days for you. This will all happen while you are having fun.

How does it get any better than that?

I do hope you can join us. To register go to http://www.pammyla.com/ChemistryofLove.html

And remember to Choose Power.

~Pammyla

Full Moon and New Moon Eclipses

2009-07-10T17:02:00.000-07:00

Many of my friends and family experienced tears, fights, and frustrations during the week of July 6th, 2009. This was because there was a Full Moon Eclipse on Tuesday, July 7th. Full Moons in general signify endings and conflicts, but my mother, the astrologer, always said that if I got in a fight on a Full Moon eclipse it would last a year. Yikes!

Luckily, every cloud has a silver lining, right? Even while I and my contacts were immersed in the doom and gloom of the Full Moon eclipse, I took the opportunity to let them know that there was a good New Moon Eclipse right around the corner. It is a great time to take advantage of new intentions and opportunities.

Just like the effects of a Full Moon eclipse can last a year, the effects of a New Moon eclipse can also last a year. In general, any New Moon is a great time to start something new. For example, planting a garden, starting a new exercise program, or having a first date are great ways to take advantage of this energy.

However, on a New Moon Eclipse, the effects are blessed for an entire year. I have tested this and found it to be true. One boyfriend I had reignited our relationship on a New Moon eclipse. We ended up living together and sure enough it lasted for a good year. Then, we broke up. Oh well.

On another New Moon eclipse, my husband and I climbed Mount Bonnell and did a ritual handfasting with just the two of us to signify our commitments to each other. Years later, we are still together.

Anyway, you get the idea. Luckily, you still have plenty of time to prepare for the next New Moon eclipse because it is on Monday July 20th. (The effects of any moon last for two days, just in case you don't get to it until Tuesday or Wednesday). Prepare a good intention or ritual or start your new diet or exercise program on this day and watch how the magic of the New Moon unfolds to enhance your life!

Warm Regards,
Pammyla

We have all heard about the Law of Attraction. How about the Power of Intention?

2009-06-15T22:38:00.000-07:00

We all hear about the Law of Attraction. I maintain that there is a difference between the Power of Attraction and the Power of Intention.

The Power of Intention builds on the Power of Attraction and takes it to the next level. The Power of Intention requires more effort than the Power of Attraction. Whether we are aware of our thoughts or not, the Power of Attraction is in process. In contrast, we need to deliberately form an image or goal to activate the Power of Intention. Another way to describe the difference is that the Power of Attraction feel more passive to me, and the Power of Intention feels more active. I'm curious to know whether it is the same for you. Here is a story about a strong power of intention.

One time when I was between jobs, and conserving my cash, I heard that one of my favorite bands (originally from my hometown) was coming to town. I decided really hard that I would win tickets. My favorite radio station was giving them away all weekend, and I knew I was going to win!

So, all weekend, I called in to the radio station at the specified times. Finally, it was Sunday night and the concert was the next night. The DJ at KGSR said he had one last pair of tickets to give away to the person who knew the answer to the question, “Where are theViolent Femmes from?” Of course, I knew the answer! They are from Milwaukee. I called in, I was the lucky caller, I knew the answer, and I won the tickets! I believe it was a result of a strong Power of Intention.

The story continues. In addition to winning tickets to the show, from that day forward I continued to win tickets from that radio station and many other radio stations. I could not believe my incredible luck, and neither could my closest friends at the time, because they got to accompany me to a lot of great shows. I got to see the Violent Femmes, Melissa Etheridge, Buddy Guy, Sheryl Crow and many other great performers just for being the lucky caller and winning tickets from radio stations. I also won some leather pants, tickets to theater performances and other prizes. It was so exciting because I could continue to enjoy great live music and other nice things without having to pay for them.

I enjoyed my good fortune for about six months. Then, I started feeling guilty about winning so much. All of a sudden, I lost my Golden Touch. I no longer had the magic. Winning tickets to the first concert was a direct result of the Power of Intention. The feelings of guilt and unworthiness that came later stopped the Power, and stopped the good luck.

Whenever I have told this story to other people, I usually explain that, “I decided really hard and it happened.”Have you ever had that experience? Do you remember a time in your life when you wanted something so bad that it was as if you made it happen?

Or have you felt as if you were 100% certain that something would occur in the future that you would have bet your life on it? Of course, it turned out exactly as you knew it would. If you have experienced something like that, then you know what I am talking about. Feel free to share below about your experience or to comment on this blog.

I hope you enjoyed this excerpt from Chapter 5 of my new book.

Have a Fantastic Day!

~Pammyla

Does our memory focus on the positive and screen out the negative?

2009-05-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

Have you ever recommended a book or movie to someone, and then when you went back to read the book or watch the movie, you were surprised by some of the negative content that you had forgotten about? That is, did you have a tendency to remember the good parts and to forget the negative parts?

I had this experience this week. I was excited to go to a Book Group that was new to me because they would be discussing, “House of Spirits,” by Isabelle Allende. I was excited because I love the Magical Realism genre and Allende is considered one of the first writers in this genre. I loved the character Clara from the book and so I immediately suggested this book to my regular Book Group list, inviting them to join me at the Book Discussion.

Only then did I begin to skim the book in order to be prepared for the book discussion.

Imagine my surprise to run across all of the violence against women in the book that I had not remembered. In fact, as I read about the main character raping peasant girls, I was immediately sorry that I had recommended this book to my friends. It is, in fact, a hard read if you are sensitive to violence against women.

I had to ask myself, how is it that I only recalled the good parts of the book and not the bad?

As I participated in the book discussion last night, I met a woman that could not get past this violence in the book and so she did not read it. Only in the middle of that discussion did I recall that this had happened to me before with another book, “The Temple of my Familiar,” by Alice Walker. I had suggested this book to different friends and family members, and then when I had the opportunity to re-read it, I became distressed by all of the stories about enslaved men and women that I had forgotten and that were really hard to read.

I shared this experience with the group last night and a third woman agreed that someone had suggested Walker’s book as a beautiful book, and she was so surprised to run across all of the violence and cruelty when she read it. She shared that she has experienced the same phenomenon with movies. That is, she has suggested a movie that she remembered loving and then when she watched it again, she was surprised by the negative scenes that she had forgotten.

In fact, she went on to share that this same phgenomenon happened with her grandmother. After her grandmother died, she said, she could have listed all of the bad things that she remembered about her grandmother, but now, looking back, she only remembers the good memories.

How is it that we remember the good parts of a book or movie or a relationship and ignore the offensive aspects?

Perhaps this is explained well in these song lyrics from “Memories,” sung by Barbara Streisand:

“Memories may be beautiful and yet
What’s too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget.
So it’s the laughter we will remember
Whenever we remember…”

Has this happened to you?
I find this really curious and am interested in your comments below.

Warm Regards,

Pammyla
http://www.pammyla.com/

Five Reasons to See the Musical “Wicked” (No spoilers)

2009-05-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

I have seen so many plays in my life and recommend this one more than any other one I have seen.

There are 5 reasons why it is important to drop everything and see this musical when it comes to your town.

1) The plot is fantastic. There are many twists and turns that will keep you off-balance. I adore clever plots. Did you know that Glenda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West were roommates in college? Then, they fell for the same guy, and the story goes on from there. You will also learn where the Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow came from. Haven’t you always wanted to know? (Let me explain that this musical, “Wicked,” is nothing at all like the book. The musical was written by a woman who writes for television and so it is upbeat and fun, where the book was dark and gloomy. If you have not yet read the book, I strongly recommend that you see the musical instead.)

2) The music is fantastic. I do not typically purchase Broadway soundtracks, but when I saw this musical in Chicago two years ago, I had to buy the soundtrack so I could listen to my favorite songs over and over. The music is written by the talented Steven Sondheim. Some of it is dark, and yet there are beautiful songs including one love song, “As Long As You're Mine.” Yes, it is a love story, too, and I’m not even going to tell you which witch sings it!

3) The play shows that there is more than one side to every story. Although we all know the green witch in the Wizard of Oz as the epitome of the Wicked Witch, this musical explains that she wasn’t an evil person. She had good intentions; she was just misunderstood. This musical totally helps us to see her side of the story, which helps us to remember to have more compassion for other people because everyone has their own side of the story.

4) The musical helps us to modify our concept and connotation of the word “Witch.” We identify with this green woman and understand her humanity because it reminds us of our own feelings when we felt like an outsider. Her story of fighting injustice will resonate with us when we understand her cause and what she is fighting for.

5) The special effects are fun and worth the price of admission itself. OK, I haven’t seen the touring production, but I assume they will have the flying monkeys and other fantastic special effects that were in place in the Chicago production.

So for these five reasons and more, I urge you to purchase tickets for Wicked when it comes through your town. (It will be in Austin at Bass Concert Hall August, 2009.) It is appropriate for children, and your young girls will love it!

Feeling Connected or "In the Flow"

2009-03-02T21:33:00.000-08:00

I love it when I feel that I am truly living my purpose.
It does not seem to happen very often, but when it does, Time seems to stop.
I feel that I am connected or "in the flow."

People report that it tends to occurs while doing "right-brained" activities, such as painting, writing, playing music. and other similar, artistic activities. I know that when I took a painting class, I was surprised at how super-fast that 3-hour class sped by me. I felt that I was so much in the "doing" that I wasn't thinking. That is not something that I allow myself to do very often.

Have you had that experience?

The best time that I felt so connected, or "in the flow" was when I was writing my book. I was so happy and excited, and became very obsessed by it. There is nothing like the feeling of living your purpose.

I am watching my husband "in the flow" now as he finalizes his original songs on his first CD in his home studio. He loses track of time, and is really happy and excited about what he is doing. Like an addict, he wants to work on his music during every spare minute. I remember being lke that. He says and does the exact same things that I did when I was writing my book.

I hope everyone has a chance to experience this sense of being connected to your purpose.
If you have experienced it, then you know what bliss it is.

I want to give myself permission to go to that place of bliss more frequently.
How about you?

"Be Careful What You Wish For, You Might Get It"

2009-02-25T21:11:00.001-08:00

There are different versions of where this original quote came from. One version says that it was printed with the short story, "The Monkey's Paw" in which the characters make wishes that come true, but with evil consequences.

Have you read that story?
I can remember reading it as a kid, and it was very creepy.

However, I have heard that saying repeated so many times in my life since then: "Be Careful What You Wish For, You Might Get It." What I do not understand is why do we have to be careful about getting what we wish for? I believe that we all know what is best for ourselves, so why not go out there and make our dreams and wishes come true? This adage scares us unnecessarily, but maybe this explains why so many people do not have what they want.

For I have learned long ago, that I DO get what I wish for. Whenever I have consistently sent an intention out into the universe, I have received exactly what I wished for, with no regrets. Most of the examples I can give involve relationships. I consistently sent out intentions for better and better men, and I have since married the man I wished for. So, I choose to igonore the "doom and gloom" in that saying.

So, let us set aside the veiled warning and ask ourselves better questions.

What if it were true, that you could get what you wished for?
What would you wish for?
A new job? Your ideal relationship? Devoted friends?

To learn the steps to getting what you want, you are invited to listen to me read a selection from my new book, Choose Power: Tools and Techniques for Home and Work. Then, I will lead you through the steps of attracting exactly what you want into your lives.

Make a note to attend my Book Launch at Book People in Austin on Monday, April 6, 2009 at 7 pm. For best results, please bring a pen and some paper.

This brief presentation will be followed with a reception at BookPeople with wine and cheese and live music.

Please RSVP on the Evite so that we know how many to plan for.

You are Powerful.
Believe that you can get what you wish for and be entirely happy with it, and you will.

Remember to Choose Power,
~Pammyla Brooks

http://www.pammyla.com/
FACEBOOK: http://profile.to/pammyla
http://twitter.com/ChoosePower

Do We Get What We Ask For?

2008-12-15T15:58:00.000-08:00

I continue to be amazed at the ways in which the Power of Attraction works in my life.
A friend told me that the universe is speeding up and so our intentions are returning our results to us quicker than ever before.

Do you believe that this is true? I have two stories for your consideration.

Recently, I was imagining what it might be like to teach psychology classes to make some extra money. Every time we drove by a certain university location, I was reminded about this exciting new possibility.

I was enjoying myself at the Powwow in Austin, Texas, when I unexpectedly ran into a booth for a popular nation-wide university. I made a contact and sent out an old resume. Within one day, it sailed up the chain of command, and the person in charge of hiring asked when we could talk on the phone. My hopes were high!

However, he proceeded to cancel three scheduled phone interviews with me because "something came up." When we finally talked on the fourth try, we scheduled an interview for the next week. Needless to say, based on his recent behavior, I did not have high hopes that this would turn into a substantial opportunity, but I continued to think about what fun it would be.

The next weekend, I happened to be at a party and was introducing two friends. Suddenly, I remembered that I wanted to tell my girlfriend about my upcoming interview. My other friend overheard the conversation and told me, "You should send my your resume, we need a Psychology Instructor at our school."

Long story short: I was hired three days later without even having an interview or knowing anything about the school, or even where it is located!
Is that the Power of Attraction, or merely being in the right place at the right time?

My second story involves my upcoming book, Choose Power. I wanted to ask a certain friend of mine some advice for talking to bookstores. I saw him at a party with his girlfriend and hoped for an opportunity to chat, but our paths never crossed.

Last night, we were doing our weekly shopping. While my husband and I were discussing the fish selection, I thought I saw this friend of mine. I wasn't sure it was him and I decided not to run after him since the man looked like he was in a hurry.

Ten minutes later, our grocery carts ran smack-dab into each other (luckily not literally). Yes, it was him. I was able to ask the questions that were on my mind, and we both went on our way.

Is that the Power of Attraction or a mere coincidence?
Both of these occurred within a week of each other, so I just had to write about them.

How do you notice the Power of Attraction occurring in your own life?
Feel free to share a comment below with your own examples.

Powerfully Yours,

~Pammyla Brooks
Monday, December 15th