I've been a fan of Nanci Griffith since the early 80s
Corny I know.....but I'm pretty corny and real and sentimental
She's on Prairie Home Companion this wkend.
Listen and fall in love..........
*Vintage & Handmade Clothes* Jewelry & Home Decor*
* always cute and never mediocre *
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
Juno, Grand, Kimya, Me
I was shocked to see the Juno movie preview in my email from Sony pictures a few months back....what, how is a movie about a pregnant teenager a comedy.....What a ...dramedy?
And then to read Roger Ebert go all wet in the pants over the movie.
And then people fall all over themselves with JOY!
OK, so now I am happy Kimya is getting some coinage so she can stay home or travel and write or whatever she wants to do..
Remember planning a show with Kimya at the Java Jive more than a year ago?
We were. I was positive if we got together just enough money we could call her up in Oly and say "Kimya, we are BIG fans !!!" And she woulda been happy to come and play for Tacoma. (was my idea first !)
But then my dog died and I was sick all of the fall/winter of 06/07 so I couldn't do much about anything, including a fashion show with Michael, Greg, Murphy and me.
So, Juno is out.
Why, I wondered is everyone so Positive ! about a pregnant teenager that gives up her baby.
At first I was just so angry. I've been a pregnant teenager. It is not fun. It is not quirky.
There are issues about sexuality, permissiveness, bad mothering, societal hatred and oh yeah, the Best Interest of the soon-to-be-baby.
In my case, abortion was illegal. Not that that option was off the table, so to speak.
My Catholic OB was happy to take me to San Francisco and sign the papers to have it done......long before Roe v.Wade was a twinkle in a girls eye.
And all the issues.....I won't go into all the detail of that Now......I am writing a book.
It isn't fun. And everyone blames the girl. And the girl has to make the decision.
So I kept the baby because it was the right decision for me. Period.
But, why , I wondered were all these White Middle-class people going all goo-goo over a movie about a pregnant teenager.
So I gave it some thought.
Well, no one really wants to admit they are bad parents and raise their kids to be sexually promiscuous. But most parents are not as good as they think they are especially these days when families trade $$ and real estate and trips to Disney land for a real family life.
So, teenagers are having sex, and lots of it these days. Sooner or later, a sweet middle class girl is gonna find herself in that state. And the boy? More on that another day...this is a short essay. He gets off...scot free.
Then, what is the best possible outcome for a set of parents or a single mother raising kids on her own ...since women are the ones who file for divorce about 70% of the time.........Women do and the court system backs them up... dispose of fathers and cash the child support checks and everyone pretends everyone is happy and everyone is acting in the Best Interest of the child.
I digressed slightly.
So, what does a middle class parent or set of parents want to happen to their pregnant teenager? They want the baby bump to go away, they want the teenager to skip to college and just not really slow down ...go go go go.....the Modern World.
So a precocious teenager, with parents that barely have a pulse (disconnected) are too happy that said teenager chooses a Pre-Formed McMansion Yup Couple to take the Baby Bump.
Of course. The McMansions are mirror images of the parents, and therefore a safe choice to dispose of problem baby bump.
See, everyone is happy ......again.
Teenager has a few moments of Deep Angst.......Clueless Parents get to dream of themselves in their younger days becoming "involved" if things were just so slightly different.
McMansion couple gets something their money can buy.....a baby.
Everyone lives happily ever after.
Middle Class people get the problem solved so prettily.
And Middle Class people get to watch a movie made of Silly Putty at the Grand.
Yes the Grand needs a Hit every once in a while (Coen Bros...Oh Brother........)
There has been a rash of movies in which the pregger one heroically keeps the baby.
But after the baby is born, the movie ends.............is no one there to help and support young poor moms. And is this country going to do what needs to be done. It's not that hard to truly offer genuine support...it's done in other countries.....hell, we just have to strive to do it in this country.
Family support? Crappy childcare in America..everyone is on their own. Taxpayer support....food stamps, health care...all get cut every chance a CEO/MBA can slash some great social program and make people Stand Up On Their Own 2 Feet !
So it's just a Feel Good Movie that is glossier than goose poop on glass.
It's a Hollywood Movie. Even if it is an "Indy" film. ha! It's Hollywood because
everyone gets a good outcome. And teenage pregnancy is not a problem. Just a condition to power through. And in a few months everyone will be OK !
So no abortion. No social programs. Everyone solves everything neatly in a vacuum. Who wrote this? Karl Rove or Karl Marx ?
But that's not the real world.... but that's the world I live in, and do my volunteer work in.
And the baby I kept......today she's a real live Social Worker with a BS, working on her Masters. She deals with the reality of her client's difficult family lives where the answers are not glossy, are not middle class, and where people desperately need the social programs that have been so gleefully cut to the bone.........
because if we don't fund programs to make people's lives better,
then people will just Pull Themselves Up all By Themselves and...it will always be alright, right?
So back to Kimya. Support Kimya. And tell her you love her!
And buy that CD. She has a baby to support !
And then to read Roger Ebert go all wet in the pants over the movie.
And then people fall all over themselves with JOY!
OK, so now I am happy Kimya is getting some coinage so she can stay home or travel and write or whatever she wants to do..
Remember planning a show with Kimya at the Java Jive more than a year ago?
We were. I was positive if we got together just enough money we could call her up in Oly and say "Kimya, we are BIG fans !!!" And she woulda been happy to come and play for Tacoma. (was my idea first !)
But then my dog died and I was sick all of the fall/winter of 06/07 so I couldn't do much about anything, including a fashion show with Michael, Greg, Murphy and me.
So, Juno is out.
Why, I wondered is everyone so Positive ! about a pregnant teenager that gives up her baby.
At first I was just so angry. I've been a pregnant teenager. It is not fun. It is not quirky.
There are issues about sexuality, permissiveness, bad mothering, societal hatred and oh yeah, the Best Interest of the soon-to-be-baby.
In my case, abortion was illegal. Not that that option was off the table, so to speak.
My Catholic OB was happy to take me to San Francisco and sign the papers to have it done......long before Roe v.Wade was a twinkle in a girls eye.
And all the issues.....I won't go into all the detail of that Now......I am writing a book.
It isn't fun. And everyone blames the girl. And the girl has to make the decision.
So I kept the baby because it was the right decision for me. Period.
But, why , I wondered were all these White Middle-class people going all goo-goo over a movie about a pregnant teenager.
So I gave it some thought.
Well, no one really wants to admit they are bad parents and raise their kids to be sexually promiscuous. But most parents are not as good as they think they are especially these days when families trade $$ and real estate and trips to Disney land for a real family life.
So, teenagers are having sex, and lots of it these days. Sooner or later, a sweet middle class girl is gonna find herself in that state. And the boy? More on that another day...this is a short essay. He gets off...scot free.
Then, what is the best possible outcome for a set of parents or a single mother raising kids on her own ...since women are the ones who file for divorce about 70% of the time.........Women do and the court system backs them up... dispose of fathers and cash the child support checks and everyone pretends everyone is happy and everyone is acting in the Best Interest of the child.
I digressed slightly.
So, what does a middle class parent or set of parents want to happen to their pregnant teenager? They want the baby bump to go away, they want the teenager to skip to college and just not really slow down ...go go go go.....the Modern World.
So a precocious teenager, with parents that barely have a pulse (disconnected) are too happy that said teenager chooses a Pre-Formed McMansion Yup Couple to take the Baby Bump.
Of course. The McMansions are mirror images of the parents, and therefore a safe choice to dispose of problem baby bump.
See, everyone is happy ......again.
Teenager has a few moments of Deep Angst.......Clueless Parents get to dream of themselves in their younger days becoming "involved" if things were just so slightly different.
McMansion couple gets something their money can buy.....a baby.
Everyone lives happily ever after.
Middle Class people get the problem solved so prettily.
And Middle Class people get to watch a movie made of Silly Putty at the Grand.
Yes the Grand needs a Hit every once in a while (Coen Bros...Oh Brother........)
There has been a rash of movies in which the pregger one heroically keeps the baby.
But after the baby is born, the movie ends.............is no one there to help and support young poor moms. And is this country going to do what needs to be done. It's not that hard to truly offer genuine support...it's done in other countries.....hell, we just have to strive to do it in this country.
Family support? Crappy childcare in America..everyone is on their own. Taxpayer support....food stamps, health care...all get cut every chance a CEO/MBA can slash some great social program and make people Stand Up On Their Own 2 Feet !
So it's just a Feel Good Movie that is glossier than goose poop on glass.
It's a Hollywood Movie. Even if it is an "Indy" film. ha! It's Hollywood because
everyone gets a good outcome. And teenage pregnancy is not a problem. Just a condition to power through. And in a few months everyone will be OK !
So no abortion. No social programs. Everyone solves everything neatly in a vacuum. Who wrote this? Karl Rove or Karl Marx ?
But that's not the real world.... but that's the world I live in, and do my volunteer work in.
And the baby I kept......today she's a real live Social Worker with a BS, working on her Masters. She deals with the reality of her client's difficult family lives where the answers are not glossy, are not middle class, and where people desperately need the social programs that have been so gleefully cut to the bone.........
because if we don't fund programs to make people's lives better,
then people will just Pull Themselves Up all By Themselves and...it will always be alright, right?
So back to Kimya. Support Kimya. And tell her you love her!
And buy that CD. She has a baby to support !
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Hey Kids ! I'm moving to Etsy !
waaah, ebay is making some major changes very soon ....I'll keep a presence there, but the bulk of online selling will move to etsy.......I'm working on stocking it up......
and the link will be over there on the right.....right now ~
and the link will be over there on the right.....right now ~
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Tacoma: 2nd Place: Amazing Race !
Leaderboard
| Nathan & Jennifer - eliminated Kynt & Vyxsin - eliminated Azaria & Hendekea - eliminated Shana & Jennifer - eliminated Lorena & Jason - eliminated Marianna & Julia - eliminated Kate & Pat - eliminated Ari & Staella - eliminated |
Yeah, boy don't ya know it .
I pretty much stopped watching after Kynt & Vyxsin lost........but I was junkie for a while ?!!!!!!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Blog-Pals, Real Pals & Home Show !
Been so busy with taking over the world ! I haven't taken any new pics ...oh well, later on that gator.
But! I did have a visit from a virtual blog-pal.....yes, in the flesh .....Kevin!!
we chatted about all things Tacoma.....yeah Us!
my pal Julie was here hanging around and she is old school Tacoma so we 3 were all excited about chatting about Tacoma and all the doings, the bars, the restaurants, the rants, the SoDo, my neighbors, Freighthouse Sq., LeMay You-See-Um...will it come or not? And all manner, like I said, of Tacoma !!!!
And Kenny popped in .....used to have Yung's Teriyaki next door....
and folks from Seattle here to see Girl Trouble.....
I told them my daughter Jan was a Go-Go dancer for GT along with Neko Case
back in the day (yes that Neko Case!)
And many more visited funkoma (I directed folks to eateries...The Chamber of Commerce should pay ME !! big time !!)
Here's what I have now for a garden.....good start...needs a big weedin' and some color ! hurrrrry up spring !
Here's the 411, homies (I love using old outdated hip urban language since I must mock myself before you do)
Have I told you I had an organic farm, sold at GigHarbor Farmers Mkt, and had a landscaping business for a while? No. Consider yerself told, then.
;-)
Paris in Tacoma: A team of sand sculptors will create a 40-foot-high Parisian scene, including the Eiffel Tower, with 400 tons of sand.
Landscape dreams: Win a $25,000 Extreme Front Yard makeover. For entry info, visit www.kmps.com or stop by the entry booth at the show.
Display gardens: A classic garden with stepping stones, water features and protected patio seating.
DIY: Tools for sale for the do-it-yourself set come from Makita, DeWalt and other manufacturers; tough-and-ready clothing from Carhartt, Helly Hansen and more.
Garden greats: Area experts like Ed Hume, Marianne Binetti, Ciscoe Morris and others share their knowledge. Tommy Hill talks about garden ponds and keeping koi fish happy.
More expert talk: Pierce County Solid Waste Division educators teach you to turn kitchen scraps and yard waste to compost.
Show times: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Feb. 2; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 3.
Tickets: $9 general, $7 seniors (62 and older) weekdays only; children age 12 and younger admitted free. Two-day passes are available for $14, or $10 for seniors.
Discount coupons: Get $2 off adult and senior weekday admission; available at Puget Sound area KeyBank locations or at www.otshows.com.
Call: 253-756-2121.
But! I did have a visit from a virtual blog-pal.....yes, in the flesh .....Kevin!!
we chatted about all things Tacoma.....yeah Us!
my pal Julie was here hanging around and she is old school Tacoma so we 3 were all excited about chatting about Tacoma and all the doings, the bars, the restaurants, the rants, the SoDo, my neighbors, Freighthouse Sq., LeMay You-See-Um...will it come or not? And all manner, like I said, of Tacoma !!!!
And Kenny popped in .....used to have Yung's Teriyaki next door....
and folks from Seattle here to see Girl Trouble.....
I told them my daughter Jan was a Go-Go dancer for GT along with Neko Case
back in the day (yes that Neko Case!)
And many more visited funkoma (I directed folks to eateries...The Chamber of Commerce should pay ME !! big time !!)
Here's what I have now for a garden.....good start...needs a big weedin' and some color ! hurrrrry up spring !
I really wanna see the flowers, the dahlias, the Tagro display (my gal pal Amber works for the County in the um, Tagro department ..she has a shitty job.....no joke)
At the Home & Garden show.............
Here's the 411, homies (I love using old outdated hip urban language since I must mock myself before you do)
Have I told you I had an organic farm, sold at GigHarbor Farmers Mkt, and had a landscaping business for a while? No. Consider yerself told, then.
;-)
Paris in Tacoma: A team of sand sculptors will create a 40-foot-high Parisian scene, including the Eiffel Tower, with 400 tons of sand.
Landscape dreams: Win a $25,000 Extreme Front Yard makeover. For entry info, visit www.kmps.com or stop by the entry booth at the show.
Display gardens: A classic garden with stepping stones, water features and protected patio seating.
DIY: Tools for sale for the do-it-yourself set come from Makita, DeWalt and other manufacturers; tough-and-ready clothing from Carhartt, Helly Hansen and more.
Garden greats: Area experts like Ed Hume, Marianne Binetti, Ciscoe Morris and others share their knowledge. Tommy Hill talks about garden ponds and keeping koi fish happy.
More expert talk: Pierce County Solid Waste Division educators teach you to turn kitchen scraps and yard waste to compost.
Show times: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Feb. 2; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 3.
Tickets: $9 general, $7 seniors (62 and older) weekdays only; children age 12 and younger admitted free. Two-day passes are available for $14, or $10 for seniors.
Discount coupons: Get $2 off adult and senior weekday admission; available at Puget Sound area KeyBank locations or at www.otshows.com.
Call: 253-756-2121.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Mr Exit 133 ...Radio...tonight
Mr. e-133 will be on a radio program tonight at 9pm. KUOW. 94.9 fm. You prolly knew that. Well, that's what they just said.
Wonder what Derek will say.
Wonder what Derek will say.
I'm a CASA, Are You & Govt at UWT
Got this the other day....in case you haven't
my pal James wanted me to go last yr, but I was quite ill all spring.
I'm going this time....are you????
***********************************
CASAs,
my pal James wanted me to go last yr, but I was quite ill all spring.
I'm going this time....are you????
***********************************
CASAs,
I thought some of you may be interested in this!
>>> NEWS_from_Pierce_County 1/22/2008 8:30:19 AM >>>
[Forwarded in the community interest by the Department of Communications]
The City of Tacoma's Neighborhood Council Office, in cooperation with the University of Washington Tacoma's Urban Studies Program, is offering six free public sessions of the Government Leadership Institute on Mondays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the UWT campus, Keystone Building Auditorium, 1900 Commerce St. The series begins Jan. 28, and registration isn't required.
The purpose of the sessions is to provide an opportunity for the general public and students to share the same classroom and to educate and inform both. It will also provide an opportunity for both citizens and students to consider real-life perspectives. The following sessions will be provided:
- Jan. 28: Government structure and organization
- Feb. 4: Intergovernmental coordination/regionalism
- Feb. 11: Economic development/quality of life
- Feb. 25: Homelessness/mental health/job training
- March 3: Schools
- March 10: Making decisions in Tacoma
CONTACT: Elton Gatewood, Community and Economic Development, egatewoo@cityoftacoma.org , 253-591-5229; or Roxanne Murphy, Community Relations, roxanne.murphy@cityoftacoma.org , 253-591-2054
>>> NEWS_from_Pierce_County 1/22/2008 8:30:19 AM >>>
[Forwarded in the community interest by the Department of Communications]
The City of Tacoma's Neighborhood Council Office, in cooperation with the University of Washington Tacoma's Urban Studies Program, is offering six free public sessions of the Government Leadership Institute on Mondays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the UWT campus, Keystone Building Auditorium, 1900 Commerce St. The series begins Jan. 28, and registration isn't required.
The purpose of the sessions is to provide an opportunity for the general public and students to share the same classroom and to educate and inform both. It will also provide an opportunity for both citizens and students to consider real-life perspectives. The following sessions will be provided:
- Jan. 28: Government structure and organization
- Feb. 4: Intergovernmental coordination/regionalism
- Feb. 11: Economic development/quality of life
- Feb. 25: Homelessness/mental health/job training
- March 3: Schools
- March 10: Making decisions in Tacoma
CONTACT: Elton Gatewood, Community and Economic Development, egatewoo@cityoftacoma.org , 253-591-5229; or Roxanne Murphy, Community Relations, roxanne.murphy@cityoftacoma.org , 253-591-2054
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