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I fly because it releases my mind
from the tyranny of petty things.

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I know but one freedom,
and that is the freedom of the mind.

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I love Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Cassidy and I are currently reading The Little Prince together and I don’t really know how much of the story or nuance of meaning is getting through to her, but she is definitely under the spell of the prose, so precise and delicate; and the beautifully romantic illustrations.

And I’m sure that, to some extent, she can hear the caress in my voice.

I love this story. It is so simple and pure and true and universal; it is the sort of story that makes me want to curl up into a ball and give up on the idea of writing, anything, ever.

I first read this book in French and still the words had the power to move me.

I’ve never read any other of his writings, although Wind, Sand and Starssits on my bookshelf waiting for me to get to it.

I do have quotes of his scrawled all over my notebooks, discovered here and there and noted for later. Taken together, they are a powerful force.

“We say nothing essential about the cathedral when we speak of its stones.
We say nothing essential about Man when we seek to define him by the qualities of men. “

“Tell me who admires and loves you, and I will tell you who you are.”

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

“Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.”

“How could there be any question of acquiring or possessing, when the one thing needful for a man is to become – to be at last, and to die in the fullness of his being.”

“A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us.
To live is to be slowly born.”

I bring this up because I have been mulling over the question, “What would you do if you could not fail?” It is not an easy thing to answer precisely. Write, yes, of course; but what, and why?

I think for me the answer is this: I would teach my words to fly.

What does that mean, exactly? I’m not sure yet. But it is a beginning.

What would you do if you could not fail?

The first fall of snow is not only an event,

it is a magical event.

You go to bed in one kind of a world

and wake up in another quite different,

and if this is not enchantment

then where is it to be found?

J. B. Priestley

And like that everything is new and beautiful again.

I walk in a world of crystals with the wondering eyes and heart of a child.

Enchantment.

Two items via the Huffington Post:

Sarah Palin gives interview while man in background slaughters turkeys. No, I am not kidding.

and, Chicago Chryster dealer offers Buy One Get One for $1 deal. Pretty sweet, I guess, except for the fact that I wouldn’t pay a whole dollar for a PT Cruiser.

The EPA is asking the public, Do greenhouse gases that cause global warming endanger public health and welfare? Tell them what you think. Comments close on November 28th.

One more reason to disapprove of video games: $1 Billion in Wasted Energy a Year. See which are the worst offenders. We do keep the TV and the consoles on a “killswitch” that shuts everything down when they’re not on (Monday through Friday), hope that’s helping.

Speaking of the killswitch, Danny Seo of Daily Danny is giving away an awesome surge protector with remote. I’m not seeing a deadline on this giveaway, but I would hop on over ASAP.

Attention fellow Facebookers: become a fan of Papa John’s pizza and get a free medium pizza with any online order.

I am excited: I love mazes and labyrinths, and I’ve just learned that we have one of the 10 Most Incredible right here in Pennsylvania.

I can’t wait to do this! As a bonus, they have loads of kid farm activities; we could easily make a day of it. I’m not going to lie to you, I am totally looking forward to the singing chicken show.

Thinking about buying an Energy Star washer and dryer, a hybrid car, solar panels? Be sure to check out the databases of Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency: Federal and by state. (via ecogeek)

It’s snowing at the moment; I’m off to frolic. Picture and quote later in the day!