Catching Up

Playing catch up for the past few days. Here we have:



Love--my 18-year-old Annie loves a foot. I was modelling this sock for a Rav Notebooks upload, and she couldn't help but head-butt it for attention. I love this cat with every fiber of my being and will be heartbroken when her time is come.



Joy--this stray came into work #2 and needs a home. She is such an affectionate, happy pup that getting a picture of her is next to impossible, because she vibrates with joy whenever anyone pays attention to her. I hope she finds her perfect place very soon!



Home--RTH is about reclaiming the gentle arts in the home, such as knitting. Tessa has been resisting learning to knit, it being something "mom does" and therefore something she won't. But today she actually acquiesed to really work on it. She's learned before, of course, but today she's really sitting down and concentrating on it. And she's doing really, really well.

Heart

Jeremy's hand

My husband is a prince. He wouldn't actually want anyone to know that, of course. He wants to give off a batsh*t crazy, gonna-snap-at-any-moment, mad and dangerous vibe that will frighten away everyone. But in reality, he's a softy.

Jeremy's a man who will do anything for a friend or a loved one. Today was a rough day--as in, I probably shouldn't have gotten out of bed if I knew what was good for me. I won't relive it for you, suffice it to say I am killing myself by inches, culminating in the spectacular hitting-of-the-broiler insides which resulted in a really painful burn on my left hand.

Without missing a beat or thinking twice, Jeremy drove to Walgreens and picked up burn ointment and chocolate. He helped me wash my hair and started the dishwasher. He let me relax. And while visiting on the porch with friends, he glanced in and flashed me the above symbol--our little aside to one another--an ASL sign meaning "I love you."

I love you too, honey. Thank you for showing me in so many ways.

Trying for it

I'm attempting photojournaling this month as part of a Reclaiming the Home project. The idea is to photojournal 30 words in 30 days, beginning June 1. I can't promise I'll post daily, but I'm sure going to try.

Before I begin, I would like to add the caveat that I have a very ill-behaved camera. We're trying to work through these issues, but it doesn't like bright light. Therefore my shots will be much less spontaneous than I would like. I'm hoping some day to be able to afford a much better camera. There may be days when video happens, rather than photos, because my camera hates sunlight.

That said, this is our word list.

heart
love
joy
home
happiness
serenity
hope inspire
create
illusion
strength
comfort
peace
unity
beuty
ancestry
silence
technology
sustenance
crafted
persistence
light
contentment
purpose
full-circle
small
natural
history
relaxation
handmade
solitude

Check this space often for what I can come up with.

Memorial Weekend (so far)

We had a good weekend here. Yesterday, my friend Chad and ClaireElaine drove up from Ft. Wayne, about 2 hours south of here. We had a picnic in the park and then came home to socialize. Tessa really had fun with their sons, Topher and Xander, although Xander got tired and cranky by the time it was time to go and tried to lock himself in Jack's crate. :-)

Path of destruction

Done with his day--going to bed?

My friend Vicki's daughter Noel won passes to Allskate, the local skating center, and invited us and many of our friends. This is Tessa with her "twin" TJ, trying to help him skate:

Ow! Falling hurts!

And with Coley, her friend and Noel's brother, discussing how rude some of the other skaters were!

Sk8tr Grrl

After Allskate, we went to Jeremy's sister Jessica (& her husband Justin)'s new house. My camera is having issues with pictures in bright light, so here's a video of the Davis "clan"--I think everyone is in there but the videographer (me).

13.4%

13.4% is the current unemployment statistic for Jackson County, MI, according to this Jackson Cit Pat article. Is it little wonder we've begun contemplating moving out of state? I like Michigan, and I like my hometown...mostly...but I have to admit, I'm getting weary of it.

It won't end there, either. Sparton Corp. is closing soon, and the article mentions many other "temporary" shutdowns planned for this summer. How temporary will they truly be? How far will this stone plummet?

Nearly everyone I know is on some sort of supportive care, whether it's food benefits, medicare or some other means of government support. It's sometimes enough to squeak by. And those not on benefits aren't squeaking at all.

More and more people are in the library, daily, looking to file for unemployment, build a resume, post craigslist ads, and filing for state benefits. The state is just about out of money, and so there are tons of cops on the street--you can't go two blocks without seeing someone pulled over in an effort to raise funds. But they're "raising funds" from people who simply don't have them.

It's so discouraging. And yet well-meaning friends and relatives still ask whether J's found work, or has any prospects. They ask whether we're solvent. The fact is, we don't know. We're doing as well as can be expected, but everything is so uncertain, and not only for us. Right now we're staticly treading water, holding out hope for times to pass and get better, and doing as much as we possibly can to be ready to make a move if the need arises.

So if you see me, please assume that if I'm smiling, it's a good day, and don't make it bad by asking about us. If I'm not, assume it's a bad day, and don't make it worse by making me dwell on it. Just love me and let me be--and remember that I will always take care of my husband and daughter, no matter what it takes.

Oh, and if anyone DOES feel the need to help--I really could use some help cleaning out my basement and attic, and frankly every other room, to rid of excess clutter so that if we are forced to leave this house I won't have to pack so damn much. Thanks.

Sweet Peace

How I often feel about living in Jackson, MI during this nightmare of a recession. A smart, moving tune by wonderful, talented women. A prayer for peace.

Avila--the Wailin' Jennys (Click for music/video)

Oh sweet peace, never have you fallen

Never have you fallen upon this town

Oh sweet peace, never have you fallen

Never have you fallen upon this town

The black crows are loaded

With the call of things discarded

The ribboned shard of battle

And everything burned

Have they forgotten we live here

Do they think that we gave up

Lay down and grew over

Weeds at every turn

Oh sweet peace, never have you fallen
Never have you fallen upon this town
Oh sweet peace, never have you fallen
Never have you fallen upon this town

I will not rest

Until this place is full of sunlight

Or at least until the darkness

Is quiet for a while

And we will not wait

For that murder to come calling

The night will simply fall

And the morning will rise

Oh sweet peace, never have you fallen
Never have you fallen upon this town
Oh sweet peace, when will you be callin'

When will you be callin' upon this town

Goodbye, Good Man

Dear Gary,

Like my peers, I simply cannot believe you're gone.

I hardly feel worthy of mourning you. I was in only one class. I was never in your plays. I never even tried to be that girl. I was the hanger-on, the theatre-rat-wanna-be, the one who "married into" the wild and crazy theatre family you helped form. We were not close, but there was not a soul who knew you who wasn't impacted by you in some great way.

I have few personal memories of you. More of them are of the collective memory variety, of hearing stories told by my husband and friends. I knew your personality, and some of your history. I heard a share of your war stories. You taught me the basics of theatre, reinforcing what I'd been taught in high school and bringing a newer perspective to it. I did not know you well, but I respected you, worried about you, cared about you, and loved you in my way.

There are a couple things I remember. I remember your concern for me when I was having some health issues that were affecting my balance. I remember you telling me to "sit there, don't move" and asking me for my word that I would not move off the stool. Fast forward a few years: I remember the way your face just lit up when you realized I was with Jeremy, we had married and were expecting our daughter. You were as proud as a parent, happy for both of us for finding each other.

Thank you for your patience and caring. Thank you for your warm heart. Thank you for being not only endlessly entertaining, but also tremendously attentitive to each of your students. You will be sorely missed--and I think I speak for many when I say that while a little of the magic of this world has gone out with you, the residue of it remains and will resound for generations to come.

Blessed to be your student,
Mandy