Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Preparing for Turkey Day


Fall is such a busy time. The season changes so quickly - and so beautifully - that I feel an almost urgent need to see and do everything I can to savor its richness while I can. My "harvest" this year (because I'm not a farmer - yet) has been lots of and lots of photos and little paintings of fall-like things: gourds, pumpkins, maple leaves, etc (and, as you can see, the Bell's seasoning packet - a package I've loved since childhood). There are still about two dozen things waiting to be painted on the assembly line (more gourds, more pumpkins, apples, etc). How will I possibly do them all with everything else I want to be doing at the same time - namely, cooking cozy stews at home, making a fire, walking through the woods, stringing holiday lights outdoors (to prepare for Christmas!), making pillows for the window seat (oh yes - now I have an urge to SEW for the first time in my life, good grief!), and so on and so on and so on.

And now it's Thankgiving and it's time to stop painting the Bell's seasoning and actually use it in a recipe. Time to turn my creative energies toward home, and the hearth - which I love doing, believe me - it's just that I wish I had two (or three) of me to do it all!

(That, of course, is my inner Martha Stewart talking. Fortunately, my inner Charles Bukowski is there to get her drunk and poetic later on, and forget all this striving-for-perfection holiday nonsense!)

This Life One Leaf







as freedom is a breakfastfood
or truth can live with right and wrong
or molehills are from mountains made
-long enough and just so long
will being pay the rent of seem
and genius please the talentgang
and water most encourage flame

as hatracks into peachtrees grow
or hopes dance best on bald men's hair
and every finger is a toe
and any courage is a fear
-long enough and just so long
will the impure think all things pure
and hornets wail by children stung

or as the seeing are the blind
and robins never welcome spring
nor flatfolk prove their world is round
nor dingsters die at break of dong
and common's rare and millstones float
-long enough and just so long
tomorrow will not be too late

worms are the words but joy's the voice
down shall go which and up come who
breasts will be breasts and thighs will be thighs
deeds cannot dream what dreams can do
-time is a tree (this life one leaf)
but love is the sky and i am for you
just so long and long enough
e.e. cummings

Painting Fall








Wow! The weeks are flying by as fast as the leaves from the trees. This is part of what I've been doing instead of blogging lately. Check out that sexy butternut! Is that a butt or not?

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Jesse Jackson


Every time I look at this photo of Jesse Jackson, I start to cry. I voted for him in the presidential primaries in 1988, which seems like 100 years ago now. I can only imagine the mixed emotions he was feeling last night. But what I saw mostly on his face was a deep aching pride, a feeling that the fights he fought were not in vain.

Election Night/Faces in the Crowd








I would have loved to have been in Chicago last night. We had to settle for watching the crowds on television, which was beautiful in itself. Just look at those faces. Something big is happening in this country. I'm glad I moved back in time to be part of it.

Sweetest Hangover!


Remember that song? I think it was from the 70s, a female singer.

"I've got the sweeeetest hangover/
I don't want to get over"

That's how I feel today. Pleasantly hungover and still a little drunk, even. Not from alcohol, but just from pure bliss and relief. My eyes are having trouble reading the good news. I keep tearing up. It is just all too, too much to believe. But it is real. I live in America again! The America I know and love, the one who has been held hostage for the past 8 years. No more apologies, no more pretending I'm Canadian while in Europe. I'm home!

OK, there is still a lot to be done. The battle is hardly won - just look at all the things Bush wants to do before he leaves office (just to insure that Obama's work will be all the harder):

But we won. WE won. The country I know and love, the PEOPLE I know and love, who I always felt I needed to defend while I heard Parisians rail against "les americains" as if we were a nation of aggressive devils. No, no, no, I always wanted to say, MOST of us want peace, MOST of us do NOT agree with Bush and his policies, we've been railroaded by big money and big oil, this is not what we would choose if we had the power!

And now, finally - AT LAST! - we have shown the world just what happens when Americans stand up and fight for a cause they believe in, when ALL of us take to the polls and make our voices heard. I was especially proud last night to see all the young black and brown faces in the crowds on TV, faces that have been exposed to so much bitterness and cynicism - who are now crying and full of joy, full of hope and purpose.

This is truly a transformational moment for America.

And like most real times of change, it was preluded by so much doubt and negativity, so much conviction that "it's not possible." Every step of the way!

Obama can't win against Hillary; he doesn't have enough experience.
WRONG.

Obama can't win against McCain; he won't seem tough enough on foreign policy.
WRONG.

Obama is black, and Americans are too racist to vote for a black man.
WRONG WRONG WRONG!!

The optimist/dreamer in me is so happy to see all of those naysayers proven wrong! On a purely personal level, I feel vindicated, because I have always felt that people are mostly good, not bad, and it's up to our leaders to pull out our innate goodness, our "best selves." Of course it's so much easier to keep people in their comfort or default zones of ignorance and fear, which is what we've seen happen over the last 8 years, with Bush, Cheney et al. That's the easy way to lead. Just keep people apathetic and powerless; make people forget what being a citizen means, what a democracy really is (it isn't what we've had for the last 8 years). What I've loved about Obama from the beginning is his ability to motivate people, to make people WANT to do the right thing, and work harder than they're used to. He demands that we rise to the occasion as citizens of a democracy, that we don't expect our government to run by itself. And he makes us WANT to get involved. It's truly an amazing thing. (Hell, he made me pull my lazy butt out the door to go make calls and knock on doors for him - no politician has ever been able to do that before, even when I liked the candidate!)

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

On Voting, Ameri-European Relations, Pundits, and "Bamoa"



Oh my god. What a day. What a day!!! I haven't been able to sit still. Have you? I should be teaching aerobics right now, or running in a marathon, or SOMETHING. My house is cleaner than it's been since I moved here. I almost yanked my arm out of its socket sweeping the front porch. I keep telling myself, No matter what happens, at least you'll wake up to a clean house! As if that would be a consolation...!!

But really. Seriously. Did you expect to get to this point? To be on the verge of electing a president who doesn't look like any other president we've ever had, whose name ends with a vowel? To be on the verge of electing someone who actually seems human??

Voting was easy (that seems like ages ago; it was at 10 this morning). As Tom Petty says, "the waiting is the hardest part." But I didn't do much waiting in line, not like what I've been hearing about (though I was surprised at the long line, for such a small voting precinct, and everyone around me commented on how they'd never seen it so long, ever). I certainly didn't have the nightmare of friend/writer/comedienne Jill in New York, who describes her voting day thusly:

"It was exciting at first, but soon it devolved into a long, horrible experience. I had to switch lines 3 times, each time having to move to a danker, hotter part of the school's basement, full of passive skittish elderly women and bossy, obsessive elderly men. It was hot down there and one man was so obese I thought he was going to pass out. I finally thought I was having a nice chat with an elderly voting official, until she said that long lines must be due to that "Bamoa" guy (her tag said she was a democrat for christ sakes!) and then after I pulled the lever and came out of the booth she smiled at me and PUT HER PALM FLAT AGAINST MY STOMACH!! Did she think I was pregnant? Was she wishing me years of good digestion? Did she put a hex on me? I almost pushed her over to get out of there! I want electronic voting!!!"

(LOL....oh Jill, I miss your blog! I hope you will start blogging again, the world needs more of your observations!)

Nerves have seemed a little frayed today, I can certainly attest to that. For instance, I had a ridiculous argument on the way to the polling place with my other half (i.e., hubbie), regarding whether or not our darling young pup should wear an Obama sash (see photo). What should have been a non-issue became a minor transcontinental schism, with me accusing Frenchie of being too "uptight" about the sash (hence, life in general), while he condemned my American tendency to make a party and show about EVERYTHING (well, OK, c'est vrai!), and not giving politics - especially voting - the proper gravitas it demands.

Well, as the kids say (or used to say, the last time I knew any lingo): We were just wiggin'. And I know we aren't the only ones. Emotions are running high! I just saw this in the nytimes - check it out. A sort of wordy mood ring for the electorate. Kind of cool to see the rest of the country's feelings as the countdown continues...

What else? The whole world is watching what's going on in the States right now. That's another thing that is making today feel so exciting, nerve-wracking, important, and all the rest. Here's what a French friend wrote:

J'ai très envie d'être avec vous ce soir, de parler avec vous, bref d'être au coeur de cet événement. En tout cas, je ne vais pas dormir cette nuit et j'espère qu'à 4h, on saura que l'Amérique a voulu se réconcilier avec le monde !!!! même si ça ne change pas grand chose au plan des grandes options politiques, c'est fondamental sur le plan symbolique.

(she's basically saying that she wishes she could be here with us, she won't sleep tonight, and how important this race is for the world, symbolically if nothing else...)

Then there's good old Bob Herbert (god, I LOVE him), who reminds us that voting today is just a tiny sliver of what needs to be accomplished:

"As important as this choice has become, the election is just a small first step. What Americans really have to decide is what kind of country they want.

That decision will require more than casting a vote in one presidential election. It will require a great deal of reflective thought and hard work by a committed citizenry. The great promise of America hinges on a government that works, openly and honestly, for the broad interests of the American people, as opposed to the narrow benefit of the favored, wealthy few.

By all means, vote today. But that is just the first step toward meaningful change."

Bob, I couldn't agree more. There is so much more work to do!

And I have so much more to say. But I'm about to faint from all the excitment. I've superstitiously not looked at any polls yet. And it's after 7 pm! Time to start watching TV and getting sucked into all the sound and fury. Will this be a perfect storm for Obama? As my stepfather Carl just said on the phone, "Even Mother Nature doesn't like John McCain" (the weather is gorgeous here, and supposedly everywhere else along the east coast and midwest).

OMG - the next time I write we'll have a new president!!!!!!!

Day of Reckoning


Election day is here. It is a clear, cold day in Somerville, perfect November weather, perfect day to go and vote, make my voice heard again for the first time since 2004. So much has been said and done, not said and not done, since that last election day. Is there still time to repair the damage, to heal the wounds? Can we ride on the beautiful momentum of this campaign to actually effect real change in this country?

I've been thinking about patriotism in the last few days, what it means, specifically, what it means to me. It is one of those labels, those empty words, like "values," which can be twisted to use in any context. I started thinking about it after talking to a McCain voter in New Hampshire on Sunday, who said he questioned "Obama's patriotism," pointing to the fact that Obama hadn't served in the military as the ultimate proof of his unpatriotic nature.

It was a predictable comment coming from the McCain side, and I could have given the whole "he's got a great foreign policy team; Colin Powell endorsed him", etc., to make Obama look "tough," but I wanted to respond to the meaning behind the words. Like, Why is serving in the military the only way to be patriotic in this country? Why isn't community service, helping the poor, seen as equally patriotic, equally important? Shouldn't the real measure of pride in one's country be tested on an everyday scale, as in, what our country actually looks like to the average person visiting it? What it feels like, not only to drive on its roads (can you say "pothole"?), but also to listen to its people, to see what their lives are like, and most importantly, how we are treating our fellow human beings, here and elsewhere?

I haven't been back from Europe for that long, only six months. And I certainly haven't seen all corners of this country, or even of New England, where I live. But I have seen the flags waving everywhere (including right outside my bedroom window). I have seen the pride - sometimes earned, sometimes misplaced - in this country's supposed "values." And - I'll be perfectly honest - I have felt pride myself, at certain moments, when I see just how friendly, open, and downright nice Americans can be to strangers, to everyone. It warms my heart, after some of the coldness and rudeness I experienced (and watched others experience) in Paris. But I've also felt the opposite of pride - that is, shame (and anger) - when I've read about or seen firsthand what our government has done with America's wealth and power, how we've damaged our reputation around the world and left the average American (the real Joe the Plumber) out in the cold.

I don't know if patriotism is a "good" or "bad" thing, and that is a whole debate for another venue. But either way, I think if we're going to use that word, and build our ideals around it, then we need a new definition of patriotism in this country. Once again, as for so many things, I am looking to Obama to lead us in the right direction. And I think he can.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Foliage in the 'hood








My favorite tree for foliage in the neighborhood is just around the corner, and it really is stunning right now. I stood for ten minutes the other day taking pictures of it, and was joined by another photographer who was on his way to a workshop - but felt compelled to stop and take pictures as well. We both just stood under the tree and marveled at the beauty together (and no, we didn't exchange numbers - I'm a married woman, get your mind out of the gutter!)

I love the fact that the residents haven't bothered to rake the leaves, letting them spill over the lawn and sidewalk and street, creating the most beautiful, multi-colored (and pleasingly audible) carpet.

By the way, did you know why leaves turn red?

I was curious, so I did hours and hours of research about it - NOT! I spent 3 minutes searching on the internet and found it on this site:

"Leaves get their green color from chlorophyll, a pigment found in plant leaves that enables them to process sunlight. Fall's shorter days and cooler temperatures cause the chlorophyll to move from the leaves to the branches, trunk and roots, and the yellow and orange pigments that are always present become visible.

Other chemical processes produce the brilliant reds, purples and bronzes. On warm fall days, sugar is produced in the leaves of some trees and then trapped by the chill of night. As sugar accumulates, the leaves turn brighter red."

Talk about a sugar high! So is that why they're called sugar maples? Feel free to do more heavy "research" and get back to me!

First Soup of the Season!


This was actually from a couple of weeks ago. The photo doesn't really, uh, do it justice. It was a combination of split peas, garlic, and sweet potato. Yum yum yum. It kept me going for three days.

*****

Note (written a few hours later): Um....I just re-read the above sentence, and realize what it sounds like. Oh well. Blame it on euphemisms!

Edward Hopper House


I walked by this house in my neighborhood and felt like I was looking at an Edward Hopper painting. I love the oval window and the pumpkin (yay! pumpkin!) on the front porch, adding a touch of color to what is mostly stark white. It's rare to see a house of this kind (especially in the city) left so simple, so visually uncluttered. It looks more like it belongs on a wind-swept isle off of Maine, or Nova Scotia, than right in the middle of Somerville.

Gourd Still Life


I couldn't help thinking of DeChirico when looking at this. Something about those strange shapes and shadows.