Because a Great Nation Deserves Great Art

There's a whole lotta wrangling going on with the stimulus bill and some 50 million (0f the more than 800 billion) going to the National Endowment for the Arts. Now I know that even a sum so small, when multiplied many times for many "pet" projects adds up. But, if there were ever a time in our history when we need museums, libraries, theatres, art programs in schools, opera, symphony and the like, it is most certainly now. We need our spirits nourished and lifted. And there are so many communities across this country who could lose their art presence with this economic downturn ne'er to have it return.

We don't really have to worry about the New Yorks, the LAs, Seattles, Houstons -- we have to worry about Omaha or Midland or Jacksonville or Springfield... And it's not just how many people are employed downstream of the NEA, it's really about holding on to who we are during tough times.

So, pony up. I am tired of republicans throwing around the acronym NEA with derision like it's so ridiculous that we spend money on art and culture. Who are we without it?

My Big Break

So This American Life's theme this week was all about people who'd gotten their big break only to find that it was probably the worst thing that could ever happen to them. One story was about a couple who had a sketch comedy act and their big break came being on the Ed Sullivan show the same night as The Beatles. The Beatles first time on TV in the US.

It's funny to me because I recently thought that I was glad that some of my dreams didn't come true - that I didn't really know what I was dreaming about when I was hoping for them. I've discovered, for example, that in a lot of ways I'm a private person and being famous is probably something I would hate. Although I dreamed of being famous when I was a little girl. I don't like to travel all that much - more of a homebody, but I used to sort of fancy myself someone who'd travel the world. I now realize I probably would hate that.

Anyway, it's interesting... the synchronicity of the universe... that just when I was thinking that I heard a whole show about it...

This is the day...

It's Inauguration Day! It's Inauguration Day! I have a song in my heart:

This is the day
(this is the day)

That God has made
(that God has made)

I will rejoice
(I will rejoice)

and be glad in it
(and be glad in it)

This is the day that God has made
I will rejoice and be glad in it

This is the day
(this is the day)

That God has made


Happy Inaugural 2009!

Harald the Shaggy

This morning Emery was telling me all about Harald the Shaggy, who was some Norse Mythological figure who would not let his facial hair or the hair on his head be cut or combed until he conquered all of Norway . Emery said all that and then Wilbur said, "Big hair."

Andrew Wyeth

“I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show.”

Andrew Wyeth

This is why Doug loves Andrew Wyeth's paintings so much. Doug loves any movie or story that is set in winter - stark, cold - not lush and green. When we start a movie, in the theatre or at home, if it's cold he'll say, "I love a movie that's set in winter." A Simple Plan, Fargo, Affliction. There are many, but those come to mind at this hour.

I don't mean that any movie set in a cold climate is a great movie to him, nor does he dislike movies where climate isn't a factor or where it's warm or what-have-you... It's just that he particularly likes what happens when there's shivering and snow and wind. And a starkness to the landscape. I think he likes what Andrew Wyeth likes. The thing beneath and the promise of what's coming but isn't visible. And that idea that the whole story doesn't show.

Goodbye to Andrew Wyeth, whose art is loved by us.

Traveling Wilburys Wisdom During Tough Times

Well it's all right
Riding around in the breeze
Well it's all right
If you live the life you please
Well it's all right
Doing the best you can
Well it's all right
As long as you lend a hand

You can sit around and wait for the phone to ring
(at the end of the line)
Waiting for someone to tell you everything
(at the end of the line)
Sit around and wonder what tomorrow'll bring
(at the end of the line)
Maybe a diamond ring

Well it's all right
Even if they say you're wrong
Well it's all right
Sometimes you gotta be strong
Well it's all right
As long as you got someone to lay with
Well it's all right
Every day is judgment day

Maybe somewhere down the road a ways
(at the end of the line)
You'll think of me and wonder where i am these days
(at the end of the line)
Maybe somewhere down the road when somebody plays
(at the end of the line)
Purple Haze

Well it's all right
Even when push comes to shove
Well it's all right
If you got someone to love
Well it's all right
Everything will work out fine
Well it's all right
We're going to the end of the line

Don't have to be ashamed of the car I drive
(at the end of the line)
I'm just glad to be here happy to be alive
(at the end of the line)
And it don't matter if you're by my side
(at the end of the line)
I'm satisfied

Well it's all right
Even if you're old and gray
Well it's all right
You still got something to say
Well it's all right
Remember live and let live
Well it's all right
The best you can do is forgive
Well it's all right
Riding around on the breeze
Well it's all right
If you live the life you please
Well it's all right
Even if the sun don't shine
Well it's all right
We're going to the end of the line

Whatever

Wilbur always puts his shoes on the wrong feet. I don't know why, we've gone over it a million times, he's a very capable, smart child... But for some reason he really insists on putting them on the wrong feet. If we are just headed out to school I don't really worry with it anymore. He looks a little like Eugene Levy in Waiting for Guffman and his two left feet, but no matter. When he gets to school he's going to change into his 'inside' shoes anyway. But if we are going somewhere together in public I have to insist that he change them; I think people will think, "now why wouldn't his mother put his shoes on the right feet?"

Yesterday, Emery had to stay after school to finish his geography work and Wilbur and I went over to Starbucks (a sign he instantly recognizes) to kill a half hour. As we walked from the car I told him that his shoes were on the wrong feet and couldn't we stop and switch them? He kept saying "no they're not" and I kept saying "yes they are" and finally he sighed and said, with great exasperation, "Whatever..."

Global Storming

As we flood in Western Washington and people are evacuated from their homes and all the major highways that lead to Seattle are closed, I think back to last week when we had record snows - there are a lot of people around here of a conservative ilk who said, "Global Warming, heh!" I had a science teacher in 7th grade who used to ask us tricky questions and when anyone gave an answer that wasn't well thought out or too obvious he'd say, "you can pick the dummies out of the crowd..."

That's what I think about people who, during bouts of intense, abnormal and devastating weather, say, "Global warming, hmph." As if they are somehow the scientists. As if it's really that simple. Wow, more snow this year, I guess that hot planet theory is all wet.

The predictions about global warming, from what I've read, predict more hurricane activity, intensified storm systems, and hotter heat waves. Cold snaps and snow falling in the Southern reaches of the US isn't evidence against the warming of this planet.

The thing is, if I were God and I created the world and the heavens, I would get pretty sad and hurt and angry seeing people crap on it. I would get pretty tired of all their carbon footprints marking up the beautiful home I made for them. And I think that would make me more disappointed than anything else human beings do. Except maybe war. War and crapping on the beautiful world I gave my selfish, petty, ungrateful children. I could do without praises and lauding if the the people in the world I made would just treat it and each other decently.

Little Brother

Wilbur just asked me, "Am I a little brother?" And I said, "Yes." And he said, "I have a bigger brother?" And I said, "Yes."

Loving Lent

I love Lent. Growing up we didn't really observe lent - it seemed distinctly Catholic and Baptists didn't really want to have anything to do with that. But I love the 40 days (minus Sundays) that make up lent much more than I enjoy the 12 days of Christmas. Christmas feels public - as it should, bringing a baby into the world ushers you into community even if you've kept to yourselves prior to that event. Lent feels private. Lent feels like meditation and reflection.

I am working on something for Good Friday that really excites me. I saw this incredible documentary about a death row minister in Texas and it's a Good Friday story. I will work on that through Lent. That's my lenten project.