in lieu of a card (which, of course, I neglected to get in the mail) I would like to celebrate with a little photo essay.
All weddings are similar, but every marriage is different.
John Berger (b. 1926) art critic and novelist
The goal in marriage is not to think alike, but to think together.
Robert C. Dodds (1919-1989)minister and psychologist
Shared laughter is erotic too.
Marge Piercy (b. 31 march 1936) novelist and poet
Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.
Mark Twain (1835-1910) humorist, writer, lecturer
The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.
Erma Bombeck (1927-1996) humorist and writer
happy anniversary mom and dad! maybe next year I'll get the card in the mail, in fact, I think I've had this card for a couple years now.....
notes on photos (with the exception of the last photo all pictures were transferred from film):
since there are what appears to be palm trees in the picture, I expect it was taken after their wedding. I don't think they traveled together outside of pennsylvania before getting married.
my parents have always had a playful and passionate relationship. this picture was snapped sometime in the late 1970s, during my dad's mustache years - I really loved his mustache
my folks 50th anniversary, march 31, 2001
my parents with their 'kids' at my dad's 86th birthday celebration, august 2008
sinatra, one of my parents favorite entertainers, singing "love and marriage" the vid is from the 1958 movie 'indiscreet' starring ingrid bergman and cary grant
You know, when I first went into the movies Lionel Barrymore played my grandfather. Later he played my father and finally he played my husband. If he had lived I'm sure I would have played his mother. That's the way it is in Hollywood. The men get younger and the women get older.
Lillian Gish (1893–1993) actor of stage, screen and television
yesterday was the last day of the cleveland international film festival (ciff), today I'm hoping that life will return to normal. I'm not complaining, it was been an amazing week even if I fell behind on everything!
this year I volunteered at the film festival - which afforded me the opportunity to see many more films than I normally do when the film festival comes to town. but, even better than being able to see more films, volunteering at the festival provided me the opportunity to meet all sorts of new, wonderful people and to feel a part of a really special community event. here's the list of films I saw, where they are from, and, if documentary, the subject of focus - roughly in order seen:
sin by silence - documentary, usa, domestic violence; criminal (in) justice system
generation rx - documentary, usa, the medicalization of childhood
herb and dorothy - documentary, usa, the love of art
dancing forest - documentary, uk, togo, france, successful grassroot development in africa
rooster's breakfast - slovenia
bahrtalo! comical documentary from hungary, russia & germany, the 'realities' of life in eastern europe
forgotten transports: to estonia - documentary from czech republic, incredible story of a group of czech women who survived the camps
trinidad - documentary, usa, the story of a frontier town which is regarded as the 'sex-change capital of the world'
between the folds - documentary, usa, exploring the artistry of paper folding
sing opera! - documentary, usa, showcasing an opera which stars 65 children
tricks - poland
war child - documentary, usa (primarily set in sudan), the incredible story of emmanuel jal and a story of the transformative nature of music
various independent shorts - from a number of countries
a place to live: the story of triangle square - documentary, usa, the story of the nation's first affordable, multicultural glbt housing development
a deal is a deal - united kingdom
chef's special - spain
the way we get by - documentary, usa, the lives of a group of seniors in bangor maine who have dedicated their lives to greeting us troops returning from war zones
of parents and children - czech republic
blind loves - documentary from slovakia, the lives of a group of blind people looking for love and happiness
fortunately none of the films I saw were losers, not surprising since film festivals try to showcase films that are at the cutting edge of the art form and give small films the start they need to contend with the overwhelming dominance of mainstream hollywood movies.
there were a number of films I wish I had seen, but hopefully they will be available elsewhere in the months ahead. in the past, I've been fortunate to find the cleveland public library will often have copies of films that I regretfully missed at the ciff. of course, there is cedar-lee theater and cinematheque which always bring independent films to town.
this year's film festival broke all sorts of attendance records and by the quality of the films I saw this year probably also broke some other sort of record too.
okay, time to start that process of returning to a non-celluloid life!
photos: top: a view of terminal tower from inside the tower city mall where the 33rd cleveland film festival was held; the producer, director, one of the women featured, and local community sponsor of the powerful and must see documentary sin by silence. I have made a commitment that when the film is released on dvd to buy at least one copy to contribute to the local high school. I hope the film airs on pbs, it is perhaps one of the most effective and powerful stories I've seen focused on the crisis of domestic violence. march 2009
oh by the way, for all you trivia freaks out there, did you know that today is the 45th anniversary of jeopardy! created by game show maven (and entertainer) merv griffin the original jeopardy! first aired on march 30 1964. by the way, current host alex trebek has been hosting the show since 1984 - not a bad gig. I confess, I'm a jeopardy! junkie; although I love playing along with the show, there is no way I would try out - it would inevitably be a case of this if I did.
Love God, love and respect your brothers and sisters. Know that we are given this Earth for our use and pleasure, but must pass it on intact for future generations to use and enjoy.
today is the 30th anniversary of 3 mile island. let us matricide by nevermore
for you who wish to sing along....
Hear our Mother crying in silent tears For she can't speak, she only cries She cries to me Draw the final curtain, for senseless thoughts And senseless hands have shaped the future Is it not what you thought would come? Or maybe people no longer care for Mother Earth Earth Mother is screaming, we can't live without her No time left for dreaming here, she knows Have we forgot our future? Earth Mother, life giver, we can't live without her So foolish, men who say they don't care They'll be gone anyway Feel our Mother nurture, for we are the children Suckling at her breasts she gives us life, she give us all we need What do we give in return for life we take from her? Oh, forgive us Mother, forgive us For we know what we do We've blistered and burned you Our kind may soon be through, we've raped you Earth Mother is screaming, we can't live without her No time left for dreaming here, she knows Have we forgot our future? Earth Mother, life giver, we can't live without her So foolish, men who say they don't care They'll be gone anyway Earth Mother is screaming, we can't live without her No time left for dreaming here, she knows Have we forgot our future? Earth Mother, life giver, we can't live without her So foolish, men who say they don't care They'll be gone anyway Think of our little ones, for whom the world has just begun....
photos: 3 mile island snapped from the window of a car traveling on the pennsylvania turnpike (no I was not driving!), march 2008; license plate somewhere in the cleveland area, 2008
I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for.
Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986)
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
Buddha (563-483 B.C.E.) Hindu prince, teacher, philosopher
I never did anything alone. Whatever was accomplished in this country was accomplished collectively.
Golda Meir (1898-1978)Israeli founder and prime minister.
He who allows his day to pass by without practicing generosity and enjoying life's pleasures is like a blacksmith's bellows: he breathes but does not live.
Proverb
A very great vision is needed and the man who has it must follow it as the eagle seeks the deepest blue of the sky.
No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.
Emma Goldman (1869-1940)anarchist and activist
Life forms illogical patterns. It is haphazard and full of beauties which I try to catch as they fly by, for who knows whether any of them will ever return?
notes about photos: 1) cliff dwellings at bandelier national monument, new mexico - original photo on film, mid 1980s
2) roussillon ochre quarry on the outskirts of one of the most charming villages in the luberon, october 2005
3) coal generates 54% percent of our electricity and is the single biggest polluter in the nation - it is a fuel whose time has come and has gone. burning coal causes smog, soot, acid rain, global warming, and toxic air emissions. in terms of waste, coal creates ash, sludge, toxic chemicals, and waste heat create more environmental problems. a typical (500 megawatt) coal plant burns 1.4 million tons of coal each year. there are about 600 U.S. coal plants. coal cars, cleveland ohio. fall 2008
4) my maternal great-grandfathers (seated with pipe) immigrated to the united states at the end of turn of the 20th century. like many immigrants he found work in the mines; his son, my grandfather, was the last of the family who worked in the mines. unfortunately my grandfather died of lung disease (lung cancer and black lung disease) - I do not know how or of what my great-grandfather died of. photo from the family treasure box.
The troubles of the young are soon over; they leave no external mark. If you wound the tree in its youth the bark will quickly cover the gash; but when the tree is very old, peeling the bark off, and looking carefully, you will see the scar there still. All that is buried is not dead.
Olive Schreiner (24 March 1855 - 1920)author, pacifist and activist
photo: maple sugaring at lake metroparks farmpark, kirtland, march 2009
nick drake (1948-1974) haunting and oddly prescient fruit tree. knowing the story of nick, all of nick's songs are haunting...ah so sad, what a loss.
it has been a busy weekend with little time to get on the computer to post; I expect the next week will prove to be more of the same. first of all, the 33rd cleveland international film festival started thursday. this year I was smart I signed up to work as a volunteer - I've worked for money, food, books, and even art, but this will be the first time I've worked for films! my first session was friday, I didn't voluntee over the weekend as we had other things planned, but I'm signed up to work everyday but tomorrow for the rest of the festival.
one of our weekend activities was our annual pilgrimage to the farmpark to attend the spring quilt show, but really viewing the quilts is just an excuse to check out the baby animals! and were there babies!!
in fact we even had the good fortune to be there when a lamb was born. the photo on the right shows a mother sheep washing her baby born just a few minutes earlier. it is amazing to see how just twenty minutes after being born a baby lamb can get on it's feet. over the last week or two it's been a virtual lambing extravaganza at the farmpark.
lambs sure do know how to have a good time. but this poor expectant ewe, she was subjected to being the hill in a round of 'king of the hill'
baby lambs weren't the only babies around, there were also the adorable piglets. you should have seen these guys when it came time to belly up to the milk bar. it was hilarious!
outside some older lambs are catching some warm spring rays
well, that's all the time I have for now....
connie dover's beautiful medley cantus, from her album somebody.
some readers of the mouse have asked for photos from new york! well you've got it! if there is any truth in the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, this is one wordy post!
simon and garfunkel's the 59th street bridge song (1966) here is a song that captures the feel of new york and the arrival of spring!
photo: crocus blooming in fort tyron park new york. march 2009
When a poor man goes to the market, often he comes home with only tears.
African Proverb
A vegetable garden in the beginning looks so promising and then after all little by little it grows nothing but vegetables, nothing, nothing but vegetables.
Gertrude Stein (1874-1946)writer and poet
Acting is nothing more or less than playing. The idea is to humanize life.
George Eliot ~ pen name of Mary Anne Evans (1819-1880)novelist, humanist & freethinker
I can only note that the past is beautiful because one never realises an emotion at the time. It expands later, and thus we don't have complete emotions about the present, only about the past.
Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)novelist and essayist
With every deed you are sowing a seed, though the harvest you may not see.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919)(1850-1919) poet and writer
It's all I have to bring to-day, This, and my heart beside, This, and my heart, and all the fields, And all the meadows wide. Be sure you count, should I forget, -- Someone the sum could tell, -- This, and my heart, and all the bees Which in the clover dwell.
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) poet
History as a discipline can be characterized as having a collective forgetfulness about women.
Clarice Stasz (birthdate unknown) emerita historian from Sonoma State University
2) flowering artichoke in the queen's hamlet, france, october 2005
3) peppers and oranges on a sidewalk market, reminiscent of the colors in some of bonnard's paintings viewed a couple days earlier, new york city, 15 march 2009
4) a friend's garden in mid-may, oberlin 2008
5) having fun with brussel sprouts, new york city, 15 march 2009
6) having fun with citrus fruit. by the way, soon after I snapped this picture I was told that photography inside of wegmans is verboten. what's with that! pennsylvania, may 2008
7) sign for the liberty, new york farmer's market, june 2008
8) berries at the lakewood farmer's market, july 2009
9) taken at e's 3rd birthday party. seems that we have a long history of having playing with our vegetables. for the life of me I can't remember the name of the woman who's lap e is sitting on! I remember a great deal about her - she was a nun, she taught math at albertus magnus, and she was living next door with her elderly mother who had serious emphysema and was on oxygen. her mother died soon after e's birthday and her daughter, our friend and neighbor, whose name I can not remember, moved back to where she lived before her mom took ill. new haven, june 1982
and now for something completely different monty python's salad days (1971)
Do not allow the Church or State to govern your thought or dictate your judgment.
Matilda Joslyn Gage (b.1826-d. 18 march 1898) author, suffragist, abolitionist
we got back into town yesterday (4:30 am to be exact) after a wonderful mini-vacation in new york city. the purpose of our trip was two-fold - a postponed celebration of f & my 30th anniversary and to attend p's surprise 50th birthday party on saturday evening. with the exception of not having the opportunity to visit any blogging buds, the trip was pretty close to perfect. we spent part of friday at the metropolitan museum of art, we went specifically to check out the pierre bonnard exhibit. I love bonnard's focus on everyday life and his incredible use of color. other highlights of the met were the postcard collection of walker evans, the photography exhibit truth and illusion, and encountering jules bastien-lepage magnificant painting joan of arc. (by the way, there's a snap of this painting on my march 13 flickr set).
after viewing the works of bonnard and bastien-lepage, perhaps we had france on the brain. with hours before dinner and rumbling tummies, we made our way to artisanal and treated ourselves to a glass of wine and a delightful array of cheese.
our light repast at artisanal was the first of many incredible food experiences during this visit to new york. friday evening we joined p&k and checked out matilda, a relatively new restuarant which serves up a delicious fusion of mexican and tuscan cuisine. along with having wonderful food, maristella and esteban, matilda's chefs and owers, are just about the nicest folks imaginable. the restuarant itself is a feast for the eyes. if you are looking for a wondeful place to eat with reasonable prices, make sure you make your way to matilda!
well, that's all the time I have today - as you might expect I took a hundreds of photos. I just started working my way through them. I've organized the first day's pictures into a flickr set for anyone interested. click here to view a slide show of our first day.
another herstory milestone for this day in history: first public celebration of bat mitzvah, for the daughter of rabbi mordecai kaplan, is held in New York City on 18 march 1922.
photo: looking out of the a train, new york, 13 march 2009.
the mouse is off on a wander in nyc! posting will resume wednesday.
happy to report the weather has been absolutely marvelous and new york glitters, shines and is just about to burst with springtime energy. actually it is bursting -- we saw daffodils in bloom! cleveland is a couple/few weeks away from that....
a happy st. patrick's day to all.
sláinte - to your health!
photos: platform at 117th st. station, cleveland (okay, not the amtrak station I left from, but you get the idea); insert picture taken with cellphone of the back cover of new york by rail - amtrak's travel guide to destinations from nyc to canada.
bob dylan singing johnny's train of love (1999)
p.s. thanks for all the wonderful comments on my theme thursday post. I've been busy nibbling on some blogs in the 'hood' but wandering is taking precedent to computer time (I know you understand!) the computer I have access to is preventing me from posting comments on people's blogs if they have the pop-up word verification things.
The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men.
I believe we are still so innocent. The species are still so innocent that a person who is apt to be murdered believes that the murderer, just before he puts the final wrench on his throat, will have enough compassion to give him one sweet cup of water.
Maya Angelou (b.1928) memoirist, poet, activist
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.
Marie Curie (1867-1934)physicist and chemist, 2 time Nobel Laureate
The year's four changing seasons brought To her own door what thousands sought In wandering ways and did not find - Diversion and content of mind.
Myths can't be translated as they did in their ancient soil. We can only find our own meaning in our own time.
Margaret Atwood (b. 1939) poet, novelist, social activist
One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.
Jeanne d'Arc (c.1412-1431) national heroine of france, catholic saint
How do geese know when to fly to the sun? Who tells them the seasons? How do we, humans know when it is time to move on? As with the migrant birds, so surely with us, there is a voice within if only we would listen to it, that tells us certainly when to go forth into the unknown.
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1926-2004) psychiatrist, founder of death w/dignity movement, author
notes on photos: 1) art quilt by alice gant inspired by the peaceable kingdom paintings of quaker artist and minister edward hicks (1780-1849). embroidered inscription on bottom of gant's work reads "edward hicks painted many lions while pursuing the perfect illumination of isaiah's vision" the quilt hangs in the children's department of the tompkins county library, ithaca
2) one of the polar bears at the cleveland zoo. if this photo was snowball, I'm sorry to report she is no longer with us, she died unexpectantly last fall at age 37 (snowball's obit) however, the portrait could be of one of cleveland's other polar bears, I find it a bit difficult to tell them apart. because of global warming and the melting of our polar ice caps, these magnificant animals are facing extinction. to read more about the plight of polar bears go here, here, and here.
3) detail of a the thomason mural at the lakewood public library featuring heidi and her mountain goats. the mouse has highlighted other parts of this wonderful mural before, and before and before and before
4) luc and one of her chickens. I love how they are color coordinated. what can we say, these girls got style! eugene, oregon april 2006
5) piglets at lake metroparks farmpark. is there anything cuter than baby pigs? well, baby sheep are just as cute as baby pigs, oh geez, all babies are just about the cutest things ever! we have a date to make our annual pilgrimage to visit the baby animals and attend the spring quilt show in a couple weeks! spring 2008
6) bubba the cat (1990-2005)- one of the beloved cats who I've had the priviledge of sharing space with. portrait taken 2004
7) raccoon tracks....I just have a thing for tracks
10) dead dear, point reyes penisula near a one of my favorite places to experience animal life, may 2004
musical video created by chilean artist juan faundez with scenes from his animation series "animal, the last revolution" - the song coldplay's haunting and lyrical lost
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead (1901-1978)
All weddings are similar, but every marriage is different.
The goal in marriage is not to think alike, but to think together.
Shared laughter is erotic too.
Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.
The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.
