I am tired and should go to bed, but am still stewing over a conversation I had tonight. Who are we really if not what we seem to everyone else? Do we not become that shadow of our true selves when we act out the part too long? Does the poet get squelched by the clown? What shines forth?
As always, Uncle Walt made me feel understood.
"Of the terrible doubt of appearances"
Of the terrible doubt of appearances,
Of the uncertainty after all—that we may be deluded,
That may-be reliance and hope are but speculations after all,
That may-be identity beyond the grave is a beautiful fable only,
May-be the things I perceive—the animals, plants, men, hills, shining and flowing waters,
The skies of day and night—colors, densities, forms—May-be these are, (as doubtless they are,) only apparitions, and the real something has yet to be known;
(How often they dart out of themselves, as if to confound me and mock me!
How often I think neither I know, nor any man knows, aught of them;)
May-be seeming to me what they are, (as doubtless they indeed but seem,) as from my present point of view—And might prove, (as of course they would,) naught of what they appear, or naught any how, from entirely changed points of view;
—To me, these, and the like of these, are curiously answer’d by my lovers, my dear friends;
When he whom I love travels with me, or sits a long while holding me by the hand,
When the subtle air, the impalpable, the sense that words and reason hold not, surround us and pervade us,
Then I am charged with untold and untellable wisdom—I am silent—I require nothing further,
I cannot answer the question of appearances, or that of identity beyond the grave;
But I walk or sit indifferent—I am satisfied,
He ahold of my hand has completely satisfied me.
~ Walt Whitman
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
meandering thoughts on gardening
I wandered through our (TSO’s and my) garden plot yesterday to gather peas from TSO’s plants while he was away. Things are abloom and gathering height like a ball going downhill gathers speed. I have not yet had children, but I think that I feel a parents’ pride when I look over my advancing plants and wonder at the fruits of my labors to come.
My beets are leafy green arms reaching further out of the ground, stretching toward the sun to allow for the bulbous purple vegetable to round itself; making rings in its inside like the rings inside a tree. My green onions fatten and reach skyward; sharply flavored and crisp in color. My red peppers however are stunted—possible too much rain this season? My cosmos grow ever taller, something akin to a leafy fern or a soft evergreen. I am expectantly looking for buds and yet none thus far.
TSO’s peas and green beans climb and wrap themselves around poles, their fruits hanging down, absolutely begging to be picked and eaten even with dirty, weed-pulling hands. TSO was clever in his planning, placing his carrot seeds in the bottom of his bean pole tee pees; the carrot tops shooting up from the ground reaching out as the beans hang down around them—the very sight is almost as a Christmas tree of beans with its carrot presents wrapped in green hues underneath. It is something I enjoy looking at every time I go down to the garden. TSO also has rows of corn (I believe three types) growing fast in the sun and rain. I am looking forward to the corn gathering even more height so it can become a place for me to hide behind, left to my weed pulling and thoughts. Creeping along are TSO’s tomatoes and spinach, also some squash and melons which TSO transplanted from a friends’ garden. Why can’t the events of life model that of plants?—A slow and meandering pace, with inevitable results.
As I look forward to the changes in the garden I too look forward to the changes that seem to be sprouting up all around us. The first change to take place next weekend is Amos and CJ’s wedding. I am looking forward to it and also have been busy in my duties as DJ. With the help of my roomie J Bean, I have spent the last couple of weeks getting a list of music together and am now at the stage of making huge playlists on my Ipod: dinner music, dancing music, music for an after party. I still can’t believe the time has flown by and we are at the precipice of another wedding. Maybe life is modeled after the events in a garden—moving at a slow and meandering pace, with inevitable results; a Thornton Wilder-ish Our Town.
My beets are leafy green arms reaching further out of the ground, stretching toward the sun to allow for the bulbous purple vegetable to round itself; making rings in its inside like the rings inside a tree. My green onions fatten and reach skyward; sharply flavored and crisp in color. My red peppers however are stunted—possible too much rain this season? My cosmos grow ever taller, something akin to a leafy fern or a soft evergreen. I am expectantly looking for buds and yet none thus far.
TSO’s peas and green beans climb and wrap themselves around poles, their fruits hanging down, absolutely begging to be picked and eaten even with dirty, weed-pulling hands. TSO was clever in his planning, placing his carrot seeds in the bottom of his bean pole tee pees; the carrot tops shooting up from the ground reaching out as the beans hang down around them—the very sight is almost as a Christmas tree of beans with its carrot presents wrapped in green hues underneath. It is something I enjoy looking at every time I go down to the garden. TSO also has rows of corn (I believe three types) growing fast in the sun and rain. I am looking forward to the corn gathering even more height so it can become a place for me to hide behind, left to my weed pulling and thoughts. Creeping along are TSO’s tomatoes and spinach, also some squash and melons which TSO transplanted from a friends’ garden. Why can’t the events of life model that of plants?—A slow and meandering pace, with inevitable results.
As I look forward to the changes in the garden I too look forward to the changes that seem to be sprouting up all around us. The first change to take place next weekend is Amos and CJ’s wedding. I am looking forward to it and also have been busy in my duties as DJ. With the help of my roomie J Bean, I have spent the last couple of weeks getting a list of music together and am now at the stage of making huge playlists on my Ipod: dinner music, dancing music, music for an after party. I still can’t believe the time has flown by and we are at the precipice of another wedding. Maybe life is modeled after the events in a garden—moving at a slow and meandering pace, with inevitable results; a Thornton Wilder-ish Our Town.
Friday, July 24, 2009
intake of summer
I am a big fan of rain. I have a memory of myself at age five, gearing up in my rain boots and rain coat, hanging an umbrella over my arm, making my way into our city yard—we were living in the Kensington district of Detroit then—all stipulations my mother put on me before going out into the rain shower. I can still remember the satisfaction that came from jumping into puddles; a sensory moment as crisp as biting into a fall apple or a luscious summer watermelon—it’s juices running in rivulets down chins and necks, declaring stickiness king.
I still feel that same way about puddles. And I am not ashamed to say that I still enjoy playing in mud, though these days that declaration is made respectable when one considers that most of this “play” takes place in our garden. Yesterday and today have been a dance for the senses, tactile exercises in weed pulling in soft, muddish soil; finger filching of blueberries between summer showers.
Last night I spent two hours pulling weeds. Weed pulling was one of those jobs which I hated as a child, but have grown into in my adult years. For whatever reason I find that I can clear my head of all the muddling factors of life and really focus on working problems out reasonably (I am not always a reasonable person,) when I am weeding. This is a fact which I am still trying to understand. What provides for this to happen? Is it the fresh air and sunshine that give my body extra vitamins which enhance clarity? Is it that in the presence of growing, changing life, the complicated dance of nature does not allow for anything but beauty to abound? Whatever the magic is that contributes to the calm I feel in the garden I am thankful for it. The time spent allowed me to keep clear the paths around my cucumber mounds, between the rows of beets and green onions and TSO’s corn—this was light work. The more difficult task lay in unearthing huge, deeply rooted weeds which I had let lie and behemoth-ize for weeks. There was a sense of satisfaction in tugging up the weeds whose root systems yanked handfuls of dirt and Asian beetles up as well. The very damp soil from a recent rain both hindered and aided my attempts and left me a very dirty gardener indeed. I was very pleased with myself, standing back to gaze upon my aerated, weed-less flower garden, which now spotlights not huge weeds, but rather my growing and gangling cosmos (the only flowers of the five I planted which took, this rainy summer).
This afternoon, after a very gloomy looking morning and a ten minute rain shower, I opened our front door to find Mummy Dearest, Big and Little Fish and E (another Farm child) picking blueberries on the knoll across the street from my house. I grabbed a bottle and started collecting too—how can you not get swept away by berry picking? In no time I had gathered 4 cups of berries, aiding the kids and Mummy in sweeping the bushes and leaving behind mostly white, ripening berries in the place of the fat, slightly tart berries which had been on the bushes upon our arrival.
Moments like I’ve experienced yesterday and today make me grateful again—thankful for this great community, for the moments of sheer beauty which can be found in nature; thankful for the green, dressed mountains to gaze out at while berry picking; thankful for these cool summer nights; thankful to share moments with friends who are my rural family. The nature all around has become a religion to me, the fields and mountains are my pews and altars where I praise God and find goodness in everything. Life is good.
I still feel that same way about puddles. And I am not ashamed to say that I still enjoy playing in mud, though these days that declaration is made respectable when one considers that most of this “play” takes place in our garden. Yesterday and today have been a dance for the senses, tactile exercises in weed pulling in soft, muddish soil; finger filching of blueberries between summer showers.
Last night I spent two hours pulling weeds. Weed pulling was one of those jobs which I hated as a child, but have grown into in my adult years. For whatever reason I find that I can clear my head of all the muddling factors of life and really focus on working problems out reasonably (I am not always a reasonable person,) when I am weeding. This is a fact which I am still trying to understand. What provides for this to happen? Is it the fresh air and sunshine that give my body extra vitamins which enhance clarity? Is it that in the presence of growing, changing life, the complicated dance of nature does not allow for anything but beauty to abound? Whatever the magic is that contributes to the calm I feel in the garden I am thankful for it. The time spent allowed me to keep clear the paths around my cucumber mounds, between the rows of beets and green onions and TSO’s corn—this was light work. The more difficult task lay in unearthing huge, deeply rooted weeds which I had let lie and behemoth-ize for weeks. There was a sense of satisfaction in tugging up the weeds whose root systems yanked handfuls of dirt and Asian beetles up as well. The very damp soil from a recent rain both hindered and aided my attempts and left me a very dirty gardener indeed. I was very pleased with myself, standing back to gaze upon my aerated, weed-less flower garden, which now spotlights not huge weeds, but rather my growing and gangling cosmos (the only flowers of the five I planted which took, this rainy summer).
This afternoon, after a very gloomy looking morning and a ten minute rain shower, I opened our front door to find Mummy Dearest, Big and Little Fish and E (another Farm child) picking blueberries on the knoll across the street from my house. I grabbed a bottle and started collecting too—how can you not get swept away by berry picking? In no time I had gathered 4 cups of berries, aiding the kids and Mummy in sweeping the bushes and leaving behind mostly white, ripening berries in the place of the fat, slightly tart berries which had been on the bushes upon our arrival.
Moments like I’ve experienced yesterday and today make me grateful again—thankful for this great community, for the moments of sheer beauty which can be found in nature; thankful for the green, dressed mountains to gaze out at while berry picking; thankful for these cool summer nights; thankful to share moments with friends who are my rural family. The nature all around has become a religion to me, the fields and mountains are my pews and altars where I praise God and find goodness in everything. Life is good.
the silence and the muffled drum
Just watched Four Weddings and a Funeral (which I love) with Mummy Dearest and Hubby, M and roomie B, all who didn't love it. I could go into detail about why I love that movie and why it makes me laugh, but instead I will share a poem which I LOVE LOVE LOVE; this is read at the Funeral in the movie. It is sad, but so lovely in sentiment.
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.
He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.
The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
W. H. Auden
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.
He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.
The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
W. H. Auden
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
it's here
So, I finally did it. Ordered a refurbished Acer Aspire One a week and a half ago from Woot.com which my friend N turned me on to. Woot.com picks an item and puts it on sale at a discounted price and N just happened to show me the site the night we were talking about laptops. I took that as a sign or Providence or something and ordered the damn thing. Now just getting used to a smaller screen (8-10 inches, can't remember) and smaller keys--I feel like a fricking Yeti typing with this. Otherwise, so far, so good.
Another great thing about Woot.com (aside from the fact that they sold me my new laptop mad cheap--$264), is that the Woot-ians also come up with clever descriptions for their products. Today's great catch is a set of Star Wars bobbly heads--I know, I know, not quite as cool as a cheap laptop!) The description reads,
"Bobble bobble, toil and trouble.
CLAUDIUS: So let me see if I’m following you. We’re trying to prepare for an invasion because of a perceived weakness after the death of your father, the king, and you want us to take a few hours off to watch a play that you wrote?
HAMLET: Aye, my lord.
GERTRUDE: It would mean so much to him, darling.
CLAUDIUS: Okay, what the hell. Do we need to go anywhere or can we just stay here in the kitchen?
HAMLET: Here’s fine, my lord, I’ve got everything I need with me now.
CLAUDIUS: Hold up. Are those Star Wars Bobbleheads?
HAMLET: Aye, my lord, the actors.
CLAUDIUS: So we’re gonna be watching you play with dolls?
HAMLET: The play’s the thing, my lord.
CLAUDIUS: Did you buy him those?
GERTRUDE: Be gentle with him, darling, he’s always been a bit special.
CLAUDIUS: Ah, hell. Let’s just get this over with.
HAMLET: Act one, my lord. In which 4-Lom and Bossk meet a Tie Fighter Pilot on the edge of the muirs.
CLAUDIUS: What the hell are muirs? Is this about Lando?
GERTRUDE: They’re like a swamp, darling, only for english majors.
CLAUDIUS: Why isn’t Yoda there, then? He’s all about swamps.
GERTRUDE: Muirs, darling.
HAMLET: My lord, Yoda has been murdered. The Tie Fighter Pilot has been sent to inform 4-Lom and Bossk.
CLAUDUS: It hasn’t even started yet and I can’t follow a damn thing. Who’s got a beer? Can’t a king get a beer in his own damn castle?
ENTER OPHELIA
CLAUDIUS: What in the hell is she wearing? Is that some goth fishnet crap? Good god, son, you need to date a cheerleader or something. Your mother babies you too much.
OPHELIA: O, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown! The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s-
CLAUDIUS: Yap, yap, yap. Is this part of the damn play? Where’s that Skywalker guy? I want to see him get kicked in the teeth.
HAMLET: My lord, pray ye observe now the entrance of Luke Skywalker and Ham Solo, two gentlemen of-
CLAUDIUS: Ham Solo? You’ve been on the Internet too much, kid. It’s Han! Luke and Han!
GERTRUDE: Darling, it’s symbolic. He’s projecting himself into the play.
CLAUDIUS: Projecting? What kind of damn fool kid are you raising? Why doesn’t he just walk over there and act instead of playing with dolls?
OPHELIA: And I, of ladies most deject and wretched, that suck’d the honey of his music vows-
CLAUDIUS: Oh. My. God. Listen, Siouxie, nobody wants to hear about how much you suck! Okay, Ham, this little Star Wars Bobblety-boo thing is great and all, but I got things to do. Is there some twist ending or something? What’s the point here?
GERTRUDE: Darling, I think he’s accusing you of killing his father and also demanding revenge.
CLAUDIUS: A wuss like Hamlet is doing all that? Is that true, Ham? You mannin’ up at last?
HAMLET stabs CLAUDIUS
CLAUDIUS: See, now that’s a damn fine way for a man to act. Damn fine. Too bad you missed all the important bits. Didn’t you ever learn how to stab a guy? What did your mother teach you?
OPHELIA: Blasted with ecstasy: O, woe is me, to have seen what-
CLAUDIUS: Nobody cares! Ham, really, are you gonna let this go so we can get on with taking over Norway? You and me, we could rule the world as father and son. Just put down the bobbleheads and talk to me. Huh? We okay? Ready to kick a little Norwegian butt?
HAMLET: My lord…
CLAUDIUS: Huh? You and me? Kings of the world? Sounds pretty good, right?
HAMLET: Your beer, my lord.
CLAUDIUS: Smart boy, smart boy. Hey, listen, kid, maybe I was a little hard on you. Tell you what, why don’t we dump off your mom and Stevie Nicks over there at the hair salon and you and me go down to Ye Old Topless Joint and have a few… did you put poison in this beer?
HAMLET: Aye, my lord.
CLAUDIUS: Kid, I’m beginning to like you more and more."
So, if you are looking for stuff, or just some entertaining blurbs about products from the useful to the obscure, check out Woot.com.
Another great thing about Woot.com (aside from the fact that they sold me my new laptop mad cheap--$264), is that the Woot-ians also come up with clever descriptions for their products. Today's great catch is a set of Star Wars bobbly heads--I know, I know, not quite as cool as a cheap laptop!) The description reads,
"Bobble bobble, toil and trouble.
CLAUDIUS: So let me see if I’m following you. We’re trying to prepare for an invasion because of a perceived weakness after the death of your father, the king, and you want us to take a few hours off to watch a play that you wrote?
HAMLET: Aye, my lord.
GERTRUDE: It would mean so much to him, darling.
CLAUDIUS: Okay, what the hell. Do we need to go anywhere or can we just stay here in the kitchen?
HAMLET: Here’s fine, my lord, I’ve got everything I need with me now.
CLAUDIUS: Hold up. Are those Star Wars Bobbleheads?
HAMLET: Aye, my lord, the actors.
CLAUDIUS: So we’re gonna be watching you play with dolls?
HAMLET: The play’s the thing, my lord.
CLAUDIUS: Did you buy him those?
GERTRUDE: Be gentle with him, darling, he’s always been a bit special.
CLAUDIUS: Ah, hell. Let’s just get this over with.
HAMLET: Act one, my lord. In which 4-Lom and Bossk meet a Tie Fighter Pilot on the edge of the muirs.
CLAUDIUS: What the hell are muirs? Is this about Lando?
GERTRUDE: They’re like a swamp, darling, only for english majors.
CLAUDIUS: Why isn’t Yoda there, then? He’s all about swamps.
GERTRUDE: Muirs, darling.
HAMLET: My lord, Yoda has been murdered. The Tie Fighter Pilot has been sent to inform 4-Lom and Bossk.
CLAUDUS: It hasn’t even started yet and I can’t follow a damn thing. Who’s got a beer? Can’t a king get a beer in his own damn castle?
ENTER OPHELIA
CLAUDIUS: What in the hell is she wearing? Is that some goth fishnet crap? Good god, son, you need to date a cheerleader or something. Your mother babies you too much.
OPHELIA: O, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown! The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s-
CLAUDIUS: Yap, yap, yap. Is this part of the damn play? Where’s that Skywalker guy? I want to see him get kicked in the teeth.
HAMLET: My lord, pray ye observe now the entrance of Luke Skywalker and Ham Solo, two gentlemen of-
CLAUDIUS: Ham Solo? You’ve been on the Internet too much, kid. It’s Han! Luke and Han!
GERTRUDE: Darling, it’s symbolic. He’s projecting himself into the play.
CLAUDIUS: Projecting? What kind of damn fool kid are you raising? Why doesn’t he just walk over there and act instead of playing with dolls?
OPHELIA: And I, of ladies most deject and wretched, that suck’d the honey of his music vows-
CLAUDIUS: Oh. My. God. Listen, Siouxie, nobody wants to hear about how much you suck! Okay, Ham, this little Star Wars Bobblety-boo thing is great and all, but I got things to do. Is there some twist ending or something? What’s the point here?
GERTRUDE: Darling, I think he’s accusing you of killing his father and also demanding revenge.
CLAUDIUS: A wuss like Hamlet is doing all that? Is that true, Ham? You mannin’ up at last?
HAMLET stabs CLAUDIUS
CLAUDIUS: See, now that’s a damn fine way for a man to act. Damn fine. Too bad you missed all the important bits. Didn’t you ever learn how to stab a guy? What did your mother teach you?
OPHELIA: Blasted with ecstasy: O, woe is me, to have seen what-
CLAUDIUS: Nobody cares! Ham, really, are you gonna let this go so we can get on with taking over Norway? You and me, we could rule the world as father and son. Just put down the bobbleheads and talk to me. Huh? We okay? Ready to kick a little Norwegian butt?
HAMLET: My lord…
CLAUDIUS: Huh? You and me? Kings of the world? Sounds pretty good, right?
HAMLET: Your beer, my lord.
CLAUDIUS: Smart boy, smart boy. Hey, listen, kid, maybe I was a little hard on you. Tell you what, why don’t we dump off your mom and Stevie Nicks over there at the hair salon and you and me go down to Ye Old Topless Joint and have a few… did you put poison in this beer?
HAMLET: Aye, my lord.
CLAUDIUS: Kid, I’m beginning to like you more and more."
So, if you are looking for stuff, or just some entertaining blurbs about products from the useful to the obscure, check out Woot.com.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
with good comes the struggle
I am seeking something calming.
I turn to Utopia; finding some passages fascinatingly familiar, as though they could have been written about life at the Farm. This is not to say that we are a Utopian society at all, just a community who had it's best interests in mind at it's inception.
- "They cultivate their gardens with great care, so that they have vines, fruits, herbs, and flowers in them; and all is so well ordered, and so finely kept, that I never saw gardens anywhere that were both so fruitful and so beautiful as theirs. And this humor of ordering their gardens so well is not only kept up by the pleasure they find in it, but also by an emulation between the inhabitants of the several streets, who vie with each other; and there is indeed nothing belonging to the whole town that is both more useful and more pleasant." ~ "BOOK II: OF THEIR TOWNS, PARTICULARLY OF AMAUROT"
- "Besides agriculture, which is so common to them all, every man has some peculiar trade to which he applies himself, such as the manufacture of wool, or flax, masonry, smith's work, or carpenter's work; for there is no sort of trade that is not in great esteem among them...And if after a person has learned one trade, he desires to acquire another, that is also allowed, and is managed in the same manner as the former." ~ "BOOK II: OF THEIR TRADES, AND MANNER OF LIFE"
Definitely found reading and rereading these passages interesting.
rating Harry
For those of you Harry Potter fans out there, I LOVED movie #6, the adaption of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince from book into movie format. I rated this movie second of all the Potters, or a close tie to the movie version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (which was previously my favorite).
SPOILER ALERT!
While of course the movie has to leave out some things (and I was disappointed with Director Yates' choice to leave out the battle inside Hogwarts--between the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters--and the Funeral at the end of the book). However, I thought Yates did a good job of balancing the light and the dark: Harry's last year at Hogwarts; the awkward dating games between Ron and Lavender Brown; Quidditch; and Harry's continued education of Voldemorte. There was also some weird choices on how to make the Harry and Ginny Weasley connection happen on film (it flows more naturally in print), but all in all, Half Blood Prince was great. The special effects were really good. I was especially pleased with the scene in the cave where Tom Riddle hid the necklace--CREEPY!!
I was so pleasantly surprised, especially after the huge disappointment I felt after watching Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (which Yates also directed; but the film was lacking Steve Klove who wrote all the movie scripts EXCEPT Order of the Phoenix--coincidence? I think not).
Now...if only we didn't have to wait so long for the TWO installments of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! Allegedly, at this point, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows release dates are scheduled to be:
Part I opening Nov. 19, 2010
Part II opening July 15, 2011
For more Harry Potter reviews:
Rolling Stone's Peter Travers
Rotten Tomatoes -- 98% rating!
And for those of you Catholics out there: NPR has a short article on the Pope's take.
Friday, July 17, 2009
amazement of things and thoughts on house-sitting
I love house-sitting at the Farm. House-sitting at the Farm provides such an opportunity to really enjoy the variety of houses we have here. In the past couple of months I have stayed at Mummy Dearest and Hubby's house; B1 & B2's small, old school cabin in the woods; and now, here I find myself sitting in one of the newest editions to the farm, N&M's adorable cabin in the woods.
N&M and their adorable girls M&S are in Ithaca for the weekend visiting N's family and I find myself here, shrouded in the silence that trees and tall grasses on three sides of a house provide. I promised to keep the pets company: Cooper (a chocolate lab), Beeker and Chester (cats), but I feel as though they are keeping me company this weekend. The weather has been wonderful so far, providing me with a full array of Mother Nature through the windows of this tidy little cabin.
Last night it rained hard and I found myself coming "home" to a fog swept forest (even believing that I saw one of the Farm's many bears while I was walking, which led me to run down and borrow Mummy Dearest's car to get up here. I am still not sure if I saw the bear or if it was a trick of a very tired mind.) Earlier today while I was walking Cooper it was sunny and hot and humid, though now it seems an entirely different place. Rain clouds swept across the skies and gave us a slight rain/thunder/lightning storm which did not last long, though now it seems to be making a reappearance. It is wonderful to sit and type and look out the windows at the darkened forest, gaze at the cat on the window seat on one side and the dozing, curled up cat on my other side and know too that Cooper is not far away.
I had a cigarette earlier on the porch after Angie and Kelly left (we watched "Last Chance Harvey with Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson--good!) and mused at the creakings and groanings of the woods all around; the noises of the forest which are no less different than those of an old house, noises which incite much fear in children--imaginations gone wild of what could be causing those noises. I became that child for a moment, at first fearful of the noises, then slowly allowed myself to remember that these woods are home and a place I know so well. I let my mind wonder over what could be making the noises and found myself not afraid, but rather calmed by the sleepy neighbor creatures that begin to stir in the dark: perhaps behind the groaning oak trees pairs of eyes peeked out and wondered at this stranger producing smoke? Maybe a mother raccoon with her family in tow; rustling movements, a deer, carefully picking her way through underbrush looking for just the right snack; the larger rumblings, perhaps thunder in the distance were to me those of a bear, walking nonchalantly through the underbrush, bumping against upturned trees' roots, not caring who heard.
All this wonderful nature all around. All this peace and quiet is part of what makes my life more magical. When I lack the words I turn to Uncle Walt:
"Wonderful how I celebrate you and myself!
How my thoughts play subtly at the spectacles around!
How the clouds pass silently overhead!
How the earth darts on and on! and how the sun, moon, stars, dart on and on!
How the water sports and sings! (Surely it is alive!)
How the trees rise and stand up—with strong trunks—with branches and leaves!
(Surely there is something more in each of the tree—some living Soul.)
O amazement of things! even the least particle!
O spirituality of things!
O strain musical, flowing through ages and continents—now reaching me and America!
I take your strong chords—I intersperse them, and cheerfully pass them forward.
I too carol the sun, usher’d, or at noon, or, as now, setting,
I too throb to the brain and beauty of the earth, and of all the growths of the earth,
I too have felt the resistless call of myself..." ~ Walt Whitman, "Song at Sunset"
How my thoughts play subtly at the spectacles around!
How the clouds pass silently overhead!
How the earth darts on and on! and how the sun, moon, stars, dart on and on!
How the water sports and sings! (Surely it is alive!)
How the trees rise and stand up—with strong trunks—with branches and leaves!
(Surely there is something more in each of the tree—some living Soul.)
O amazement of things! even the least particle!
O spirituality of things!
O strain musical, flowing through ages and continents—now reaching me and America!
I take your strong chords—I intersperse them, and cheerfully pass them forward.
I too carol the sun, usher’d, or at noon, or, as now, setting,
I too throb to the brain and beauty of the earth, and of all the growths of the earth,
I too have felt the resistless call of myself..." ~ Walt Whitman, "Song at Sunset"
It is getting late and the thunder is getting louder, the perfect reason to leave the computer for the window seat and a book; to listen to the thunder and increasing frenzy of a storm which promises to not disappoint the flowers and trees and good food stuff growing in the gardens not too far away!
the voice of American history for a while
Walter Cronkite has died. The New York Times had a good piece on this fascinating man. Though Mr. Cronkite stopped giving us the news when I was still a baby I understand the profound loss of such a character, considering today's hail storm of media. It seems in today's world we are hit from so many different sides by so many different voices; Mr. Cronkite offered a news reporters perspective to the worlds events that were happening around him while not being afraid to show the emotion that he felt: JFK's assassination, the Vietnam War, Watergate and the first Americans landing on the news.
So, today I celebrate the passing of another interesting person.
"In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story." ~Walter Cronkite
we must act
A fellow WSU alumni shared this today on our listserv:
"Governor Granholm issued her Executive Order Monday, July 13 calling for the elimination of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Following is an overview of pertinent sections of the Executive Order that pertain to the library community, MLA’s current position, the options and issues before the library community and the timeline for action.
Overview of the Executive Order: The Governor’s Executive Order calls for moving all of the authorities, powers, duties, functions, responsibilities, personnel, equipment, collections and budgetary resources of the Library of Michigan to the Department of Education except for those pertaining to the blind and physically handicapped, which would be transferred to the Michigan Commission for the Blind, and those related to the census data functions, which would be transferred to the Department of Information Technology.
The Governor appointed State Librarian position would be eliminated but the position would be moved to the Department of Education and become a civil service position. This position would report to either the Superintendent of Public Instruction or his or her designee.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction is charged with “implementing cost-saving measures designed to reduce expenditures while protecting the core mission of the library. Unless the Superintendent deems it impracticable, these measures shall include:
"Governor Granholm issued her Executive Order Monday, July 13 calling for the elimination of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Following is an overview of pertinent sections of the Executive Order that pertain to the library community, MLA’s current position, the options and issues before the library community and the timeline for action.
Overview of the Executive Order: The Governor’s Executive Order calls for moving all of the authorities, powers, duties, functions, responsibilities, personnel, equipment, collections and budgetary resources of the Library of Michigan to the Department of Education except for those pertaining to the blind and physically handicapped, which would be transferred to the Michigan Commission for the Blind, and those related to the census data functions, which would be transferred to the Department of Information Technology.
The Governor appointed State Librarian position would be eliminated but the position would be moved to the Department of Education and become a civil service position. This position would report to either the Superintendent of Public Instruction or his or her designee.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction is charged with “implementing cost-saving measures designed to reduce expenditures while protecting the core mission of the library. Unless the Superintendent deems it impracticable, these measures shall include:
- Eliminating circulation of specific collections including the Main, Dewey, General Reference Collections, the Michigan Collection, the Michigan Documents collection and the rare books collection, or transferring such collections to other suitable institutions
- Eliminating circulation and document delivery for the law collection
- Suspending or eliminating participation as a participating lending library in MeLCat
- Eliminating or transferring to other suitable institutions the Federal Documents Depository and the non-Michigan Genealogy collection.
The Executive Order calls for the creation of the Michigan Center for Innovation and Reinvention Board which would serve as an advisory board within the Department of Natural Resources. This nine member board would be comprised of: the Director of the Department of Natural Resources or a designee, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, three members appointed by the Governor, three members appointed from a list nominated by Michigan State University and one member from a list nominated by the Mayor of Lansing.
The Board would be charged with the following objectives: “Preserve and maximize the benefits to the public of existing state library and historical resources including collections, buildings and skilled personnel. Explore creative and innovative ideas for using existing state library and historical resources, in combination with the resources of potential partners, to: serve the public more effectively and more efficiently; promote knowledge and understanding of the state’s history and heritage, educate children and adults in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; enhance the competitiveness of the citizens of this state in the world economy.”
The Board may hire or retain contractors, subcontractors, advisors, consultants, and agents and should complete its plan by June 1, 2010.
Michigan Library Association Position: The Michigan Library Association strongly believes that ongoing state support for library services is vital to success in the 21st century economy. We urge the Governor and Legislature to:
- Maintain library services within state government and keep their functions whole under the Library of Michigan in the Department of Education or Department of Management and Budget or a new department of Administrative Services.
- Maintain state aid to public libraries at $10 million in 2009.
- Retain the position and role of the State Librarian.
Options and Issues Before the Library Community: The library community is faced with some stark choices and options. The Governor’s Executive Order essentially calls for maintaining statewide library services and oversight within state government. Her budget calls for maintaining state aid to public libraries at $10 million and as a result, the federal maintenance of effort to support MeL and MeLCat. But the EO calls for reducing or eliminating the state library of Michigan, without a real plan for those library functions.
The Senate Republicans have introduced legislation that would move all of the Library functions (as well as other HAL functions) to the Secretary of State’s office, keeping them whole and intact. But their budget cuts state aid to public libraries and the MeL/MeLCat support to $7.5 million, which ultimately would make MeL and MeLCat unsustainable.
The library community must have a conversation about what is most essential. MLA will be seeking member input to shape its policy going forward.
Timeline for Action: The Senate Commerce Committee is holding a hearing tomorrow morning on the legislation which would move everything to the Secretary of State, at which time MLA will testify in support of its original position and raise issues and concerns with both plans. MLA will seek input from its members on the issues before us, and the Legislative Committee will make a recommendation to the board on how to proceed. The Executive Order will take effect in 60 days unless it is rejected by both the House and the Senate. "
For those of you in MI, try sending a letter to your Senator expressing your concerns!! PLEASE!! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT and will have repercussions throughout all libraries in Michigan!!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
taking the Berkshires by storm
My family (my Mom, sister A1 and bro-in-law M, and Monster niece and nephew S and A: ages 4.5 and 3 years) came out for a long weekend, driving from Michigan. I had some time off while they were here, but also had to work a little, so I found some things for us and them to do. If you are ever in Berkshire County, MA, here are some things worth checking out:
- Umpachene Falls: One of the best kept secrets in the Berkshires; Umpachene is a series of tiered rocks which splash the Umpachene River down. You can either hike (carefully) up the falls on the very slippery rocks (I fell and took Monster niece S with me, though we both got up and laughed it off), or hike the trail through the woods which follows the falls. Be careful, you eventually hike to a point where it becomes private property. We had a great afternoon; Mummy Dearest, Hubby and their two kids (Big and Little Fish) and M&N and their two kids (M&S) joined my family. We ate a picnic hodge podge lunch, the kids played with bouncey balls and on the swing sets, we climbed in the Falls--a great day. Why can't every day in the summer feel that wholesome and good? It was like one of those old Country Time Lemonade commercials, where the old man is doing the voice over while the camera pans out over a sleepy summer field with blowing reeds and a kid swinging in a tire swing somewhere in the background. A good day.
- The Berkshire Museum: The museum, which has a current exhibit on frogs, was a crowd pleaser for the most part. The kids enjoyed the museum, but only for about 2 hours and they grew a little antsy. Mom, A1 and M enjoyed it and all said that they would like to go there again when the kids are a little older and might get a little more out of it.
- The Berkshire Scenic Railway: Before I had to work on Sunday we
took the kids to historic Lenox (which is a gorgeous city that I would like to one day wander around in, if for nothing else, to at least stare at the old houses) and rode the historic train, stopping in Lee and then Stockbridge before returning back to Lenox. The ride was slow and scenic, offering views of the three cities with a back-yard glance. Instead of seeing the main streets and the shops, we passed through the more "rural" vistas. My favorite part of the ride was going past the Berkshire Quarry, which I had never seen before. The view from the train was spectacular (and reminded me a lot of that scene in Garden State where they go to the quarry). It was very cool to sit in the old cars and wonder about the travelers who made their slow journeys (slow in comparison to ours) to final destinations; and what those destinations meant to them.
Overall, the family visit was good and low stress. It was nice to show the kids around the farm and hear the oohs and ahhs as the kids saw the cows in the pasture next to my house sidle up to the fence for an evening greeting.
Yes, life is good.
hitting that wall
Had another interview today at a not too far away library. The position would be for a library assistant of sorts, doing circulation work, etc. Interview went well. If nothing else, I really enjoyed meeting and chatting with the Director, who was uber cool.
Won't hear anything for a few weeks, and now, in the meantime I have to think about the effect taking this job would have on life here. Listening to the time slots which will need to be filled (during the interview) I had to really realistically think about 1. how I would manage to work these library hours with my work schedule here, 2. am I willing to juggle my schedule at this point, while our work team is already feeling really stretched thin due to: upcoming vacations, training new volunteers, low staffing, etc., and 3. taking on another job with this many hours (another 18 hrs/week)--while being great to get back into library life and having a little more money would be great-- would really tie me down at a time when I am wanting to get out and travel a little more and see New England and beyond.
So much to consider. Ugh. I want to get back into library work but am hitting that time management wall--that's what this is all about.
Hmmm...
Won't hear anything for a few weeks, and now, in the meantime I have to think about the effect taking this job would have on life here. Listening to the time slots which will need to be filled (during the interview) I had to really realistically think about 1. how I would manage to work these library hours with my work schedule here, 2. am I willing to juggle my schedule at this point, while our work team is already feeling really stretched thin due to: upcoming vacations, training new volunteers, low staffing, etc., and 3. taking on another job with this many hours (another 18 hrs/week)--while being great to get back into library life and having a little more money would be great-- would really tie me down at a time when I am wanting to get out and travel a little more and see New England and beyond.
So much to consider. Ugh. I want to get back into library work but am hitting that time management wall--that's what this is all about.
Hmmm...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
the ambiguity of life
There is a big meeting to happen at the farm this weekend with the Board. Many people have high hopes of a positive outcome; steps taken to alleviate some stresses here at the Farm that many staff have been feeling for some months. I too am hopeful, but also looking at things realistically and knowing that a lot might not come out of the meeting; that things may stay the same. I know I am being vague, but that is due to my wanting to respect our privacy.
All I know is that lately many friends as well as myself have been looking ahead, hoping for the best, or trying to think of what comes next and how we will either have to roll with the punches or move on. It is emotionally and mentally draining.
I try not to let myself get to wrapped up in fearing things out of my control but that is so hard in community when sometimes living and working with people--friends and co-workers--means a lot of dialog and stewing over all things work related. I am praying for a sense of calm and for the right path to be chosen so that the Farm can continue on with our worthwhile work. I stumbled upon this quote today while checking my email, and after reading it and thinking it over have decided that this is where I want to begin my weekend; not knowing; moving in ambiguity. I don't know that the ambiguity is delicious, but taking baby steps none the less.
"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity." ~ Gilda Radner
All I know is that lately many friends as well as myself have been looking ahead, hoping for the best, or trying to think of what comes next and how we will either have to roll with the punches or move on. It is emotionally and mentally draining.
I try not to let myself get to wrapped up in fearing things out of my control but that is so hard in community when sometimes living and working with people--friends and co-workers--means a lot of dialog and stewing over all things work related. I am praying for a sense of calm and for the right path to be chosen so that the Farm can continue on with our worthwhile work. I stumbled upon this quote today while checking my email, and after reading it and thinking it over have decided that this is where I want to begin my weekend; not knowing; moving in ambiguity. I don't know that the ambiguity is delicious, but taking baby steps none the less.
"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity." ~ Gilda Radner
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
hooray for Harry
I know I am so overdue in writing about life here. Trying to catch up. Until then. SO EXCITED to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, due out next week!!
Here is a link to the preview!! YAY!!!
Here is a link to the preview!! YAY!!!
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