Creature Comforts

The critters in my house look pretty possessed in these photos, eyes aglow. Jinx really loves her (sort of) new bed, a silly thing in blue brocade that looks like a mini couch. When Abby takes her nap in the blue bed however, Jinx paces around restlessly. She doesn't have nerve enough to chase the cat out of her own bed! I thought maybe having her very own couch-bed would deter Jinx from sitting on my couch or chair -- but NOoooo. As soon as we leave the house, I imagine her jumping up. So we still have to stack the cusions just so to prevent her from getting up there. Alas, we love her dearly, so she is pretty spoiled, and as Rose and Dave would say, The Best Dog Ever! Abby, on the other hand, is still very bitey and bitchy, even tho she is especially pretty showing off her whitest-white belly against the Turkish rug. I couldn't live without them!

Observations on a February Evening

At 5:30, the almost full moon looks like crazy, white lace,
Laid against the blue sky, lunar craters reflecting blue.
The low angle of winter sun leaves the road in shade
But steeples, tall buildings and tree tops
Are bathed in warm, clear light.
A few lonely, white puffy clouds with purple bottoms
Seem to gravitate toward the golden glow of the sun
As it sets in the sky opposite the moon.

Tufts of intensely green grass push up
through the brown leaves that litter my back yard.
The Swiss Chard is making new leaves,
The Japonica is in full pink bloom.
My favorite perky wren is chirping as is the robin;
A squirrel scampers along a branch, nut in mouth.
The dog goes crazy.
The six o’clock train clacks swiftly along
On the southbound track some three blocks away.
The March-like wind has blown twiggy branches all over the yard,
The compost is too dry.
Five yellow crocuses give up their bloom,
Waiting for tomorrow’s sun.

College Radio

Looking backwards is always fun. Today my buddy Trent sent me the link to the VCU college radio -- WJRB --that was broadcast back in the late 60s and early 70s when we were there -- and will soomn be celebrating a big anniversary. Imagine paying $2 for a Poco concert! (Who?) Those really WERE the good old days. I think I paid $4 to see the Beatles. (And paid over $100 to see only Paul McCartney about 2 years ago.)

Well my daughter Lauren got into radio when she was a student at UR, as the Scenster Extrodinaire on WDCE and just recently, she started doing a new show on WDCE with a partner, 7-9 pm Wednesday (I think) and you can listen in online!

BTW, I'm sharing my virtual collection of SUN images with you with each post.

So Far So Good

Thanks to everyone for keeping their fingers crossed. Yesterday, through the haze of a bad cold and throbbing sinuses, I found a tasteful ecru envelope in the mail from UVA Press. The Dashiell manuscript I sent to them in January has now been sent out to two readers! They hope to have comments back by mid-March. Stay tuned... and don't uncross those fingers yet!

Here is today's SUN image, and me Simpsonized. Wish you could see the whole image of me with the dog and cat, all Simpsonized, but I guess they will only let us go so far with these images!

Good Luck to Me!

Good Luck to me because I finally sent off my [invited] manuscript to UVA Press, "Street Opera: The Life, Art and Writing of Margaret May Dashiell (1867-1958)." This is a short book about an interesting Richmonder who painted and wrote about the black servant class of the post-Civil War South (mostly). I also recently submitted my entry on her for the "Dictionary of Virginia Biography," to the Library of Virginia. I have been researching her for about 5 years, I guess, and curated a 2006 exhibition at Univ of Richmond Museums. So this is a major milestone to have submitted the ms to The Press. I invoked the luck of my office collection of lucky charms -- no, not the cereal but 4-leaf clovers (thanks Lauren!), lucky pigs, a horseshoe w/my name on it, and even a lucky monkey! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Imagine Peace

Where Have I Been? I cannot believe it has been so long since I posted. Well yesterday I got an email from Yoko reminding me that today is the 27th anniversary of John Lennon's death by murder. On a day in October that would have been John's birthday, Yoko, Sean, Ringo and Olivia lit the Imagine Peace Tower of lights in Iceland. Messages of Peace from all over the world are included in the base of the tower, I hope including the three Haikus for Peace that I sent.

We imagine Peace
Internal and abiding
The absence of war.

Intentional Peace
Sharing love instead of hate
The white dove becomes our heart.

Hands joined together
Endlessly circle the Earth
Make Peace for all lives.

Speaking of Scary...

Speaking of Scary... (see Breakdancing Godzilla blog), here are a couple of old photos I picked up in NYC that have a scary or ghost-like quality. The group portrait is labeled on the back "Mothers first family, Loie Jane Robertson John, Rey John, Verne John, Bruce John, Frankie John, all born in Gainsville, Texas." Poor Loie Jane looks startled enough with this brood; wonder if the poor thing had another whole batch where this photo was taken by "Zona Shick, Mound Valley, Kansas."
The second, single figure photo is labeled "Ruth Western" on the back, and to me the child seems to be levitating above the patterned carpet. What do YOU think?

My Favorite Environmentalist

For the current news on endangered species, CO2, how to save the world, etc, check out BC/Canadian environmental scientist, David Suzuki. He is very cool, very honest, and even with the Canadian perspective, he can inspire us all to take care of our planet. You can also check him out on MySpace: http://myspace.com/davidsuzuki

Saturday's work

Collage du jour (8-13-07)

the Buddhist series

OK, I made some collages that are about the Buddha or Kwan Yin...experimentation continues, with size, etc. As they post the sizes are a bit misleading. My previous 3 collages, and the standing Buddha are all postcard size (4" x 6 1/2"); the seated Buddha is 8" x 10"; the standing Kwan Yin with flowers is 6 1/2" x 2 1/2". I have some more collages 'in the works' so I'm not a total slacker. It is a new or renewed discipline I am trying to cultivate...I have other stuff to do too! Ultimately I will have one-a-day for my two weeks off, I promise myself! If you are seeing these, please comment!

Collages 2 & 3

Here are daily collages #2 (Carrie) & 3 (Tree). Actually #3 spanned 2 days, so I'll do another today so I'm on target for one a day. Some feel more successful than others, obviously, but this is more a process than about the product for now (tho I'd like the products to be good!).

Collage-a-Day

Yesterday, I began my first step toward achieving my vacation goal: A collage a day. They might all be post-card size, like this one, or they might grow. The date will be included on each one. I have a wealth of things to include in collages or the two-dimensional variety. Let me know what you think...

Spring has Sprung!

It has been so long since I last blogged....for the Vernal Equinox, I managed a labyrinth walk. But now...Spring Fever has set in: lethargy mixed with the desire to go out and play! (read that as : not go to work!) But I am working. Taking the scenic route to the job takes me by my favorite Redbud tree - a gorgeous profusion of fuschia petals on a leafless curved branch - I love it! Hope your springtime is filled with color and happiness.

We are stardust

Today I discovered TED, destined to become one of my new internet friends. Check out this interesting website.

Also, I give you the gift this delicious photograph of our hot red SUN. Where would we be without her?

Remember,

We Are Stardust.

Anniversary of my mother giving birth to me

Yesterday I celebrated the end/beginning of another year on the planet. Can't do that without thinking of my dear mother, Charlotte, gone ten years but never forgotten. She gave me my start, of course (with some help from Dad). My office mates treated me to lunch, cake and presents. Maya cooked dinner for me and Lauren and Joe. There were more presents and Dove Bars (mmmm... dark chocolate over vanilla...). Rose will come this weekend for continued festivities. (Love them kids!) So now I feel celebrated, but alas, have no profound philosophical pronouncements about having another birthday. Except maybe this: Getting Old Sucks.
One good thing that happened on my birthday: The Democrats Won! Including Webb for Senator from Virginia, defeating that poser and apparent racist Geo. Allen. The bad news is that stupid 'marriage amendment' was approved, by over a million Virginians who forgot to read the damn thing and voted 'yes' probably because they are repulsed by the idea of gay sex -- which isn't what it is about anyway! Now the lawyers are laughing as they will have plenty of work from anyone who wants to have any sort of contract with a person they happen to love (or maybe even with someone they don't love!).
Oh yeah, I've joined a group blog, Breakdancing Godzilla. Check it out!!

Happy Halloween

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In honor of Halloween, I'm posting last year's photo of Jinx in her shark costume! Maybe I'll get a better picture of her this year! She doesn't mind dressing up TOO much - but it is a rare thing. When I was a kid, we never dressed up the dog, but we did dress up, usually in home made costumes- I remember being a beatnik, a hobo, a gypsy...and we went out trick-or-treating TWO nights in a row - first on Beggar's Night, and then the next night, which was actually Halloween. We got a TON of candy! No wonder I have so many fillings in my teeth!

Quebec City

There is an old walled city, Vieux Quebec, filled with old row houses, shops and restaurants of all kinds. The narrow streets wind up and down hills, seeming to culminate at the old Chateau Frontenac, billed as the 'most photographed hotel in the world.' But instead of showing you a photo of the CF, I've posted one of the St. Jean Gate in the wall. I walked through here each day, past ice skaters, punk kids, street musicians, and some beautiful architecture. That IS a pile of snow on the curb (scraped from the ice rink) and the sculptural door is the entry to the skate rental.

Quebec City and the Musee des Beaux Arts

For about 4 days in Mid October, I took a [business] trip to Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. There was a meeting to go to for two of the days. It was great to be in Canada, and in Quebec, testing my French. I did pretty well, and the locals were pretty friendly and tolerant of my attempts. I went to the Musee des Beaux Arts and saw a beautiful collection on native sculpture (Inuit carvings in antler, bone, soapstone, serpentine, etc) of polar bears, birds and native life. The museum also had lots of Quebec and Canadian art, as well as an exhibition of Impressionists with pre- and post-Impressionist works as well. Here's an outdoor sculpture.

The Beach in Black and White

I still love black and white film, and using a non-digital camera. When we went to the beach I took both cameras I have - neither one of them is a great camera, but still fun. I miss my old Nikon EM! The vastness of the Atlantic Ocean is only imagined.