Every Morning

Every morning I wake up and say to myself, “No more social media! The political posts are the WRONG way to start the day. Start the day with gratitude and intention. Get up, go draw, go weave, READ the newspaper....stay away from social media.”  Then I reach for my iPad mini and open Facebook.  Well, I’m thinking this blog post might be the beginning of a new routine...

First, my gratitudes. I am grateful for my friends and family.  I will expand on that another day. For today today let me say they make me smile and give me energy.
I am grateful for my art and energy to make art. With every day that I practice I feel growth and motion toward satisfaction and peacefulness.

I am grateful that my first instinct for writing today’s post was NOT to write of my daily frustration with Trump and the media, social or antisocial..

Now I have to stop and move in to the non virtual day. Namaste.

Abstract expressionist thought

Splats of thoughts, related but only in value and hue...
Red hot thoughts: stop this campaign now! It can only get uglier-- birthers still REALLY?
Blue cold thought: how can The Daily Beast not talk about Mary Kennedy's struggle with depression UP FRONt. How just plain wrong and ignorant and misguided to bury that part of the tragedy.
Splat!!!

A good day!

I just got back from a good walk and I feel great. It's chilly out so I dressed warm with that thing that's like a tube of fleece, what is that called? Don't really care enough to figure it out-- I know it worked.

The other really good thing about today is my weaving. I was so frustrated by the "Fence" and my technical sloppiness that I decided to go back to square one and work on technique. I dressed my nice little Cactus loom with a warp about 4" x 8" with the intent of practice, practice practice... It's very satisfying, correcting errors that irritated me about the fence (too thick a weft bundle) and long slits (either plan for them and deal or design them out) and color problems (too much or too little contrast). I'm trying to weave a picture of a ribbon, and I'm now feeling like I will never (bad word for me) weave a large piece again without sampling both color and method. This makes me want to weave and weave and weave....

A true surprise:-)

So. I was truly ready to have hot pot for three or for--casual cold winter night hotspot with my coven sisters and my honey. When all of a sudden there are six and then seven loved friends. And sushi and fruit salad and shrimp and pulled pork and green salad. And we had the stuff for hot pot ready to go:-) Lovely! And a real surprise. ( and there is still enough to do spicy hot pot tomorrow -- c'mon down!)

So sweet of my DH to organize. So sweet of Judith and Jon , and Leslie and Jeff , Donna and Stu and Mark to venture out on this nasty night. Now I feel I have had a special birthday!

65? Really???

I use to think 65 was old. But I don't feel old, so I guess I was wrong:-)

For those who get The New Yorker AND get the digital version, there is nothing wrong with your device. I didn't get this until I got the print version today. VERY funny. And the twelve Eustace covers in the digital are WONDERFUL. Worth a year's subscription (and buying an iPad).

For posterity: 65 years ago there were no iPads. In fact there was barely tv. And it wasn't in color. I remember my grandfather taking about holding the reins for his father, a doctor, when he paid a house call. I remember my pediatrician paying house calls, as did my gp.

Tomorrow is actually the beginning of my 67th year. I am blessed by wher I live, by my husband, by my family, by the richness of my life.

SuperBowl Lull

I succeeded in missing all politics today -- actually I succeeded in missing almost everything today. After a restless night during which I wrote great poetry in my head, but not on paper, it was good to just take a breather. Accomplished little or, dare I admit, nothing.

Annie's post reminded me of a cat that picked me once. We were in Pohnpei and there was a beautiful tortoise shell feral female haunting our office. When we went on weekends we would feed her, took patience and quiet. Then one day she jumped in our truck and didn't make a sound as we drove home. We named her Mrs. Roosevelt as I always wanted to have talks with Mrs. R.. She stayed with us until we left... I still miss her.

My poetry thoughts last night were very simple--thoughts in the moment -- declarative sentences. Inspired by William Carlos Williams. All about seeing what I see.

Do you know that I was graced to meet Conrad Aiken when I was young? He and his wife Mary would come to Wormsloe to have martinis at sunset out on the end of the dock. They were both a bit odd, both worthy of respect.

I don't think I ever saw my mother awed by anyone. The base of privilege. Mitt Romney could have it but he is so controlled by the money people--too bad.. Good for Mr. President:-)

Eyes closing...stream of consciousness ebbing. Good night!

No central theme

Tom Lehrer once noted that if you have nothing to say you should shut up. Well, I have nothing to say, but my morning with former AARP colleagues has given me the urge to write. So, be warned: little or nothing of significance here. Sorry Tom.

On Susan Komen/ Planned Parenthood fiasco. Supposedly it's over and all has been returned to the status quo ante. I doubt it. SK is likely to still be under immense political pressure. How terribly sad that we are at a moment in history when an organization with the mission of supporting cancer survivors and research should decide, in essence, to not support low income cancer survivors or victims. For whatever reason. (BTW my guess is that employees of PP are not making a ton of money working for PP.) now my prediction will be another media blitz on how vile PP is because it allows for abortion as ONE of a number of tools for reproductive health.

GOP campaign: we can only hope that the Gingrich / Romney melee continues. Among other things that would support my resolution to watch a minimal amount of brain eating television punditry. Both folks are utterly repulsive to me.

Here's the good news! I am weaving and may actually finish the "Penland Fence" piece that has been resident on my loom, refusing to weave itself. I will post pics when complete. I love weaving--I feel peaceful and as tho my brain molecules have coalesced and settled down when I am weaving:-).

In fact, time for a little dose of weaving therapy right now. Ta all!

Post warm/ pre- snow-ice thoughts

This is going to be pretty random...1) thank goodness for my sister-in-law--not only is she doing important research, but she is responsible for my discovering the comfort of an old-fashioned hot water bottle; 2) I think that tiered shelves are better than turn table/lazy Susans for spices; 3)it is wonderful to have the view from St.John to St. Thomas so embedded in my memory that I don't even have t draw it to weave it; 4) if Newt Ginrich is the GOP candidate I will work VERY hard for Barack Obama!

Warned you it would be random...

Resolutions?

Have to be honest--I have neither drawn nor woven since New Year's. HOWEVER, I have cleaned the fridge, made and frozen absolutely fabulous vegetable stock, shopped for and actually bought a new bathing suit, let card cos know we're going to be out of town, packed, found the camera that Mike lost (in my bedside table drawer-- oh dear I guess I lost it), replaced the head on my electric toothbrush, spent way too many hours worrying about the misinformation that is available on the Internet, and seriously considered deactivating my FB account until after November. No wonder I haven't woven or drawn...

Looming possibilities!

Inspired today by Tommye Scanlin's blog about her tapestry calendar. But my work room was too chaotic to even begin to think about weaving. So, pushing aside New Year's Day exhaustion I rearranged. I even re-rearranged:-). And I am thrilled by the outcome. I now have three looms I can work at at any moment:-)

New Year's resolutions: weave every day (even when traveling) and draw every day. Drink more water. Exhale:-) All doable...

Tomorrow I will put away Christmas ornaments, try on bathing suits, clear the decks for sybaritic travel. With a baby loom and yarn the color of the sea and of sun and sunsets!

Rambling on:-)

So! I suppose everyone who reads this has been waiting for the post holiday hiatus return! Well, here I am...
Christmas was nice, but a bit of a stretch--missed my kids and grand kids a lot. It always seems so sensible to stay out of the fray on the Vineyard where grands seem to have WAY more family than they can deal with. But next year I would like to mitigate MY blues by being on the Vineyard for Christmas..and maybe even New Years...:-). School of Rock may have supplanted Cat Ballou for Holiday videos. Anyone have others?
A busy day today..

But lack of babes has been replaced with an abundance of jess and Dave and Maris . Yesterday park walk and shopping for the guys: today Zatinya yum for lunch, Portrait Galley, and the M and I went to the Sp Museum--way too many people in line, but interesting once we got there. I think that M may mostly have been hoping for a fountain pen video camera, but G'ma wasn't going to subsidized that one...

Honest to God we are so lucky to live in the land of free museums.
The Spy Museum cost 45 mins of waiting in line and $34 for me and M ... Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum were free. Thank god for our tax dollars at work!

Fading.....happy new year if I miss you later. And whawt is the policy base for the quantity of arms we r selling to Iraq? Really? Aaarrrggghhh...

Spoiler Alert: Political Rant

Actually serious question: why is the GOP so bent on destroying the presidency? Do they think they will never have the White House again? Do they really hate having 3 branches of govt so much? Do they really want to hold American citizens/ employees hostage? What is going on?
And at Christmas time? Aaaaarrgghh...

A really good day:-)

A really good day is one when:
1) Newt Ginrich says he's going to arrest justices who don't interpret the law the way he does...
2) when you have brunch with good friends in your shiny new kitchen and your quiche pie crust is tender:-)
3) when it is in the low 40s outside but your house stays in the 60s even tho the furnace isn't working;
4) when your HVAC guys walk you thru fixing your furnace over the phone and it WORKS!!!
5) when a brunch friend has not only brought you cookies but sends you a USVI sailing contact!!

All fairly basic but adding up to a REALLY good day:-)

Love

This year we have asked various family where we could contribute in lieu of 'stuff' gifts in this year of struggle for so many. We also asked that the 'where' be the result of a family conversation. Here is one reply:

"The boys have a favorite charity but don't know if it fits the bill. They have a second local charity as well.

Their first choice is found at http://www.kiva.org/lend. You probably know this one already -- kiva gives microloans for people to start mostly subsistence farms and businesses to support their families. Is this close to a child supporting charity -- or would you like the Seattle one the boys know and like?

They are really liking doing the research and talking out options. it's really cute.

Love and miss you."

More than cute! Love!

Mississippi Gulf Coast -- Defending The Gulf

Mississippi Gulf Coast -- Defending The Gulf

Post BP 1

Warning:The 1 in the title is because I can't promise this will be my only post BP spill rant...

If anyone within 6 degrees of separation can connect to the Surgeon General or Ken Feinberg, how about suggesting an INVESTIGATION of the possible health impacts of the spill? Honest to God -- NOT doing anything for folks because information is JUST anecdotal seems to be negligent at least. I would think an obligation to Public Health would demand investigating. And that investigation should include REACHING OUT, not waiting for people who may be frightened or unaware to come to doctors dependent on industry.

For background to this rant please listen to Segment C of the NPR piece I think I've published.

Livable Communities Forum

Livable Communities forum waaaay too stimulating:-)  Excellent speakers from Minnesota, Utah, Colorado, and Georgia -- different cultures with one goal.  Transit Oriented Development in southern Utah?  Who would have ever expected?  Public/private intercity bus in Washington state?
As a erstwhile lawyer/policy researcher I am fascinated in how STATE policy can enable livable community development.  I don't think it's ALL about authorizing money expenditures.  Anyone have thoughts?  Any "model" legislation?

 I ALMOST talked to local ACTION Montgomery folks -- might have resulted in obligation -- happily dodged it:-)  Glad to know that there are "villages" (senior villages?) in Montgomery County -- wonder how people who want to get one established find out about them.  Ahhhh, sharing information:-)

By the way, I do have obligations that I accept gladly: family, DH, tapestry weaving. Commitment to learning every day -- something:-)  Almost anything will do....

Disappointments

I just don't get it. I thought the Administration was back on track both policy wise and politically. So what is the HHS Secy doing denying the medically approved morning after pill to teens who are either too frightened or too naive or too poor or too spontaneous to get prophylactic contraception? Aaarrrggghhh... And what is Michelle doing using a Christmas mailing to raise money?? Aaaaarrrgghh....

Livable Communities

I'd love it if any of my blog reader/friends would post comments on what makes their community livable. What does being livable mean to you? Do you know of any efforts in your community to make it more livable?

I worked on transportation aspects of livable communities when I worked for AARP. My perspective now is shaped by being a traveling retiree. Here are a couple of examples of when I have thought, "wow! I'd could live here!"
Lunch today in downtown Rockville--could have eaten at least 5 different ethnic foods, went to a gallery like store, went to an artists' studio, could have walked to the library (anchor for the town square). And a grocery store is going in right across from the town square! And I could RENT. And walk to the movies! You go , Rockville!!
(if only our grandchildren lived nearby it would be perfect...)

Grands do live in or near south end of Boston. Walkable (can't say it's drivable), apartments, theater, restaurants, parks, all within walking distance. And community gardens. And decent taxis.

Too long a blog, but I would love to hear from you!

The last of a certain generation

I learned today that my mother's 1st cousin died, just short of her 98th birthday. I had visited her a little over a year ago, at her home where she lived with assistance. Although frail and short on memory she was charming, and took a great interest in what was going on in our lives and the world outside the confines of her frailty.

I am very sad for her passing, even if she had reached the fullness of her years. For me, she represented my last connection to my mother, who died in 1969. We had not been in direct contact but somehow we picked up in conversation where we had left off 30 years before. I am sad that I did not ask her questions about what she knew about my mother's childhood. It seemed too intrusive. And more importantly, in that conversation a year ago, we were both very focussed on the moment.
Perhaps my feeling is best summed up by her answer to my question of how long she and her husband, who died a few years ago, had been married. She thought for a moment and then said, "I don't remember, but not long enough."