Tonite
while driving from rehearsal
the setting sun and lights from the city
were especially vivid
I don't know
it made me feel its beauty
but sad
because you and Jonathan weren't here
to see
that on the western side
of our huge and troubled country
things are beautiful too
and shouldn't we be together?

The kids are rioting in the suburbs of Paris again and from what I can read it seems that it is a resurfacing of old wounds. Two Algerian boys were killed very recently in a motorcycle "accident" involving a police car. Two other boys were killed escaping the police in 2005 which also sparked a riot.

The last time our oppressed American brothers rebelled against the police Fred Hampton was shot to death (in his sleep) with multiple rounds by the police.

It makes me ask many questions.

FROM AMERICAN GANGSTER TO GREAT DEBATER, WHICH ONE YOU WANT?
I am pleased Denzel Washington is also doing a movie, "The Great Debaters" that can be inspiration to African Americans who are sick of being portrayed as violent or lazy in the media.

"From two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and an ensemble cast lead by Washington that includes Academy Award® winner Forest Whitaker, comes "The Great Debaters." Inspired by a true story, "The Great Debaters" chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson (Denzel Washington), a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from a small African American college in the deep south into a historically elite debate team. A controversial figure, Professor Tolson challenged the social mores of the time and was under constant fire for his unconventional and ferocious teaching methods as well as his radical political views." Rotten Tomatoes review

Thank You Mask Man


While my brother and sister were here we went to Amoeba Music and purchased many items. My brother and sister bought movies from our past like Planet of the Apes, Wizards and The Poseidon Adventure. I bought a Lenny Bruce DVD which included the short animated feature Thank You Mask Man written and performed by Lenny Bruce.

Thanks
for giving me
the worst pecan pie ever made.

The day my brother and sister were expected to arrive we suddenly had hours to wait as their first two flights were "rescheduled". As a gesture of forshadowing, we used that wait time to see the movie "Darjeeling Limited" which is about three brothers and their family dysfunction. Once my siblings arrived we were able to witness our own interpersonal trials.

Their trip included a hike around Muir Woods(pictured here), tour of Alcatraz,the hills of San Francisco and Haight St., Berkeley, Wildcat Canyon, an al fresco thanksgiving dinner and the worst pecan pie ever made.

Volunteers continue to clean up the remaining live birds oiled by the container ship crash but its business as usual for the tourist industry.

Patriotism: Here is what I am talking about.
Keith Olbermann on waterboarding, if you care to hear an American for whom you can be proud.

Another beautiful Waldorf Harvest (Holiday) Faire!

Happy Diwali!
Happy Birthday to my mom and sister-in-law!
Unhappy day for the birds in our neighborhood, many of whom will die. Another d**ned oil spill. Please see the article in the San Francisco Chronicle: Container Ship Oil Leak.

Oiled Wildlife Care Network is an organisation that is trying to help.

My question is, If people can't be trusted to navigate these precious waters why are they being allowed to do so?

NOTICE OF FAVORABLE DETERMINATION CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR ADVANCE PROCESSING OF ORPHAN PETITION:

IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO FURNISH PROPER CARE TO AN ORPHAN...

We are officially off hold.

Oh yeah. Finally.

We just received a notice from our agency stating that parents picking up their children in Ethiopia who are not staying at the orphanage cannot bring their children back to the hotel while the adoption is in process.

I guess some people are creating some bad press with the locals in Addis Ababa. I am so curious what went down. What did the Americans do this time?

The
Coolest
coin by far
is the Wyoming quarter.
A smooth, elegant outline of a rodeo rider.

It made us think, my Chicago comrade and I.
What would our coin look like? What would our symbol and few choice words be?

As for me my coin would contain these words:

Belongingness
Responsibility
Generosity

It would be simple like the Wyoming coin with a picture of an adult holding a child's hand overlooking a garden. At least one is a person of color.


Now onto my Rock album...

Prayer vigil for Dunbar Village

Although Dunbar Village in West Palm Beach is still Hell on earth for many African Americans, especially women and children at least some community members are trying to bring some healing to this place and there is a fund for the victims of the Dunbar Village torture.

Dunbar Village Victim's Assistance Fund
Checks can be made payable to the Dunbar Village Victim Assistance Fund-St. Ann. They can be dropped off at any Wachovia branch or mailed to: St. Ann Catholic Church, 310 N. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33401. The church’s phone number is (561) 832-3757.

CHILD.
We are still waiting. I thought for sure the I-600A would arrive by now since we were already cleared by the state of MA. And the wait time for Ethiopian infants continues to increase every month. Sometimes I wonder. Sometimes I stop and feel as though I am disappearing.

Last night we went to a sports bar/brewery pub to watch the Patriots play the Colts since we don't have cable and Mr.D is into football (a little).It seemed we were surrounded by Colts fans and when the Colts jumped ahead toward the end of the game we were deafened by the cheers. Unfortunately for them their joy was short-lived. The Patriots pulled ahead during the last few minutes and won the game.

When we arrived home I insisted on watching the Marx brothers movie, The Cocoanuts because there are auditions for this show at the Contra Costa Civic Theater and I wanted to see if there are any good parts.

I am totally taken by Harpo, who I think was an absolute genius, (not to take away from the brilliance of Groucho or Chico). But how many actors (Not MIMES) can communicate intensity without speech? I really dislike the three stooges but not because I don't like physical humor. I appreciate the art of physical comedy (Peter Sellers, Charlie Chaplin etc.) but I don't enjoy cruelty or stupidity (3 Stooges). The Marx brothers aren't dumb or even out of touch. I am. For just having discovered them.

Mr. D discovered last week that in San Francisco if you find yourself involved in a fender bender you DO NOT CALL THE POLICE! They do not have the funding to attend to fender benders unless someone is injured and needs an ambulance. My theory is that there are so many minor traffic accidents (because of the lawlessness of the California driver) the police could not possibly staff the reporting. I have not been a fan of intersection cameras in the past (having fallen victim in Canada during our honeymoon) but in California I believe it is necessary. Who is at fault when both parties claim innocence? Mr. D needed a photographic record or witness to vouch for the recklessness of the driver passing him (on the left)in an intersection as Mr.D was turning left.

The driver who met fenders with Mr. D was a US Postal Worker speeding to keep up with the demands of the job, (or Netflix).

California,
CALIFORNIA! (sung by Joni Mitchell)

Today I drove to El Sobrante to work on crafts for the Waldorf Harvest fair.
I made lanterns from old paintings. I handed over some sweaters that had been felted in the washing machine and turned into vests. I made 10 blossom fairies. And gnomes. Other people were making jewelry or labeling items for the fair.

Ha ha! I stole this picture from my chicago comrade's blog!

Halloween
When you were young:
Dusk approaches.
There is a chill in the air
and you are becoming someone or something else.
A witch with a green store bought mask three years in a row (ages 7,8 and 9)
A hobo with a sac on a stick (I didn't even know what hobo meant, age 10)
One of the members of the band Kiss (lots of black and white make up age 11)
A detective (overcoat for hiding eggs and such age 12).

And then each progressing year it became more and more
"What your parents don't want you to turn into".

Favorite Halloween:
Milwalkee ave. Chicago (age 27 Puss-in-boots)loft party.
Mr. Cates is talking to a man in a chicken mask. The man in the mask is from France but he did not learn english and speaks in small sentences. Mr. Cates does not know it but the masked chicken man is his brother, just flown in from Scotland for a surprise. Those of us who do know are painfully giddy. We are good friends with Mr. Cates and his brother. I am doubled over laughing until my stomach aches, tears streaming. It is unbearably funny.

(Skip forward 15 years)
Halloween
A middle aged woman, tasteful head-scarf, real jewelry, cardigan sweater and off-white pants.
Its dark.
You are sitting in your parked car under the BART tracks waiting...
to pick up your husband returning from a late meeting in the city.
Scary.