Haunted
Naomi Shihab Nye
We are looking for your laugh.
Trying to find the path back to it
between drooping trees.
Listening for your rustle
under bamboo,
brush of fig leaves,
feeling your step
on the porch,
natty lantana blossom
poked into your buttonhole.
We see your raised face
at both sides of a day.
How was it, you lived around
the edge of everything we did,
seasons of ailing & growing,
mountains of laundry & mail?
I am looking for you first & last
in the dark places,
when I turn my face away
from headlines at dawn,
dropping the rolled news to the floor.
Your rumble of calm
poured into me.
There was the saving grace
of care, from day one, the watching
and being watched
from every corner of the yard.
The last few weeks I have been dreaming of my uncle, William, a man killed in WWI France. I never knew him. What I know of him is from the second-hand stories my father relates from the stories his own father told him. And from the stories I have written, imagining the life he never had the opportunity to live.
My interest with William began with a dream almost ten years ago, then with the tree planted for him in Veteran's Park, and now he is back in my dreamworld. In recent dreams he is more of a ghost than a person, never menacing, but always a presence, like a shadow in bright sunlight.
I still don't know what this obsession/interest/fascination with my uncle means.
I like to think that my ancestors take an interest in my life, guide me as best they can. I like to think I listen to their whispers.
Land of Deseret: It Gets Better - Brigham Young University
It Gets Better at Brigham Young University
This 9:37 video is from the courageous people of USGA - Understanding Same-Gender Attraction an unofficial group of Brigham Young University students, faculty, and friends who wish to strengthen families and the BYU community by providing a place for open, respectful discussions on the topic of same-gender attraction.
I was in Wyoming the weekend Matthew Shepard was beaten, tied to a snow break fence, and left in freezing temperatures, alone, to die. I remember reading the newspaper headlines at a truck stop. The brutality was incomprehensible. At that time the details were sketchy and it wasn't until I got home and watched the news, the reasons for Shepard's murder became known. Like the majority of the country, I could not understand the brutality, nor the intolerance of the two attackers, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson.
Being a member of a majority lends a certain filter, an invisible buffer, a safety zone, in which the realities and experiences of people outside of that majority are not at the forefront of consideration. I identify as female. I know what sexism is. I identify as Caucasian. I have absolutely no idea what racism is as far as personal experience. I will admit I was ill-treated, once, because of my light olive skin color. And, when I complained about it to a friend, she said, "shut up white girl." I shut up. And rightly so.
I have friends, coworkers, and aquaintances that identify as lgbt, but I really have no idea about their daily, on the ground, personal and professional struggles. It Gets Better and The Trevor Project is a window into that world.
Interesting Reading:
Huffington Post - Gay Mormon Students From Brigham Young University Produce 'It Gets Better' Video
The Trevor Project
Wikipedia - Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
This 9:37 video is from the courageous people of USGA - Understanding Same-Gender Attraction an unofficial group of Brigham Young University students, faculty, and friends who wish to strengthen families and the BYU community by providing a place for open, respectful discussions on the topic of same-gender attraction.
I was in Wyoming the weekend Matthew Shepard was beaten, tied to a snow break fence, and left in freezing temperatures, alone, to die. I remember reading the newspaper headlines at a truck stop. The brutality was incomprehensible. At that time the details were sketchy and it wasn't until I got home and watched the news, the reasons for Shepard's murder became known. Like the majority of the country, I could not understand the brutality, nor the intolerance of the two attackers, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson.
Being a member of a majority lends a certain filter, an invisible buffer, a safety zone, in which the realities and experiences of people outside of that majority are not at the forefront of consideration. I identify as female. I know what sexism is. I identify as Caucasian. I have absolutely no idea what racism is as far as personal experience. I will admit I was ill-treated, once, because of my light olive skin color. And, when I complained about it to a friend, she said, "shut up white girl." I shut up. And rightly so.
I have friends, coworkers, and aquaintances that identify as lgbt, but I really have no idea about their daily, on the ground, personal and professional struggles. It Gets Better and The Trevor Project is a window into that world.
Interesting Reading:
Huffington Post - Gay Mormon Students From Brigham Young University Produce 'It Gets Better' Video
The Trevor Project
Wikipedia - Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
The Day in Cartoons: It Ain't Over 'til The Fat Lady Sings - Jimmy Margulies
It Ain't Over 'Til The Fat Lady Sings Jimmy Margulies, The RecordDear Mr. Santorum,
One should never overstay one's welcome.
Sincerly,
Miss Manners
Interesting reading:
Why don’t Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum just quit?
Artist of the Day: Don't Stop Believing - Ginger Oliphant
Don't Stop Believing GoingPlaces2.etsy.com I have a lot to learn from my dogs. If they want something, they will find a way to make it happen.
You will have to stop by Oliphant's etsy shop. It's a good start for the weekend.
Artist Bio:
I love bright colors, inspirational and funny quotes, laughing, giving and creating! I have always loved crafting, designing and learning new things. At work I am a graphic designer, web designer and office manager. At home, it's designing, walking, Zumba, reading & spending time with my husband with occasional dog sitting weeks (where I take advantage of free modeling for payments of food, kisses and hugs). Whatever I am creating, I throw myself into it and enjoy what I am doing. I have an incredibly supportive husband who understands that I sometimes forget that there is laundry to do (fortunately he is very good at it). - Life is good.{Ginger}
April Books
A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing - Lawrence M. Krauss
Lawrence Krauss’s provocative answers to these and other timeless questions in a wildly popular lecture now on YouTube have attracted almost a million viewers. The last of these questions in particular has been at the center of religious and philosophical debates about the existence of God, and it’s the supposed counterargument to anyone who questions the need for God. As Krauss argues, scientists have, however, historically focused on other, more pressing issues—such as figuring out how the universe actually functions, which can ultimately help us to improve the quality of our lives.
From the Memoirs of a Non-Enemy Combatant: A Novel - Alex Gilvarry
Boyet Hernandez is a small man with a big American dream when he arrives in New York in 2002, fresh out of fashion school in the Philippines. But on the brink of fame and fortune, there comes instead a knock on the door in the middle of the night: the flamboyant ex-Catholic is swept to America’s most notorious prison, administered a Qur’an and locked away indefinitely to discover his link to a terrorist plot.
The Gathering: A Novel - Anne Enright
A dazzling writer of international stature, Anne Enright is one of Ireland’s most singular voices. Now she delivers The Gathering, a return to an intimate canvas and a moving, evocative portrait of a large Irish family haunted by the past. The nine surviving children of the Hegarty clan are gathering in Dublin for the wake of their wayward brother, Liam, drowned in the sea. His sister, Veronica, collects the body and keeps the dead man company, guarding the secret she shares with him—something that happened in their grandmother’s house in the winter of 1968. As Enright traces the line of betrayal and redemption through three generations, she shows how memories warp and secrets fester. As in all Enright’s work, her distinctive intelligence twists the world a fraction, and gives it back to us in a new and unforgettable light.
Amsterdam: A Novel - Ian McEwan
On a chilly February day, two old friends meet in the throng outside a London crematorium to pay their last respects to Molly Lane. Both Clive Linley and Vernon Halliday had been Molly's lovers in the days before they reached their current eminence: Clive is Britain's most successful modern composer, and Vernon is editor of the newspaper The Judge. Gorgeous, feisty Molly had other lovers, too, notably Julian Garmony, Foreign Secretary, a notorious right-winger tipped to be the next prime minister.
The King of America: A Novel - Samantha Gillison
Loosely based on the mysterious 1961 disappearance of Michael Rockefeller, The King of America traces the short, brilliant life of Stephen Hesse, firstborn son of one of America’s wealthiest, most powerful men. After a lonely and restless childhood in a broken family, Stephen attends Harvard, eventually accompanying his mentor, a charismatic anthropology professor, to the impossibly strange and distant world of New Guinea, where a thriving Neolithic culture still practices its ancient rites. There Stephen hopes to make an archaeological discovery that will secure his professional standing and guarantee him a lasting place in the world’s–and his father’s–esteem. But his hardheaded insistence on securing his treasure before the onset of the monsoon season has tragic consequences.
Lawrence Krauss’s provocative answers to these and other timeless questions in a wildly popular lecture now on YouTube have attracted almost a million viewers. The last of these questions in particular has been at the center of religious and philosophical debates about the existence of God, and it’s the supposed counterargument to anyone who questions the need for God. As Krauss argues, scientists have, however, historically focused on other, more pressing issues—such as figuring out how the universe actually functions, which can ultimately help us to improve the quality of our lives.
From the Memoirs of a Non-Enemy Combatant: A Novel - Alex Gilvarry
Boyet Hernandez is a small man with a big American dream when he arrives in New York in 2002, fresh out of fashion school in the Philippines. But on the brink of fame and fortune, there comes instead a knock on the door in the middle of the night: the flamboyant ex-Catholic is swept to America’s most notorious prison, administered a Qur’an and locked away indefinitely to discover his link to a terrorist plot.
The Gathering: A Novel - Anne Enright
A dazzling writer of international stature, Anne Enright is one of Ireland’s most singular voices. Now she delivers The Gathering, a return to an intimate canvas and a moving, evocative portrait of a large Irish family haunted by the past. The nine surviving children of the Hegarty clan are gathering in Dublin for the wake of their wayward brother, Liam, drowned in the sea. His sister, Veronica, collects the body and keeps the dead man company, guarding the secret she shares with him—something that happened in their grandmother’s house in the winter of 1968. As Enright traces the line of betrayal and redemption through three generations, she shows how memories warp and secrets fester. As in all Enright’s work, her distinctive intelligence twists the world a fraction, and gives it back to us in a new and unforgettable light.
Amsterdam: A Novel - Ian McEwan
On a chilly February day, two old friends meet in the throng outside a London crematorium to pay their last respects to Molly Lane. Both Clive Linley and Vernon Halliday had been Molly's lovers in the days before they reached their current eminence: Clive is Britain's most successful modern composer, and Vernon is editor of the newspaper The Judge. Gorgeous, feisty Molly had other lovers, too, notably Julian Garmony, Foreign Secretary, a notorious right-winger tipped to be the next prime minister.
The King of America: A Novel - Samantha Gillison
Loosely based on the mysterious 1961 disappearance of Michael Rockefeller, The King of America traces the short, brilliant life of Stephen Hesse, firstborn son of one of America’s wealthiest, most powerful men. After a lonely and restless childhood in a broken family, Stephen attends Harvard, eventually accompanying his mentor, a charismatic anthropology professor, to the impossibly strange and distant world of New Guinea, where a thriving Neolithic culture still practices its ancient rites. There Stephen hopes to make an archaeological discovery that will secure his professional standing and guarantee him a lasting place in the world’s–and his father’s–esteem. But his hardheaded insistence on securing his treasure before the onset of the monsoon season has tragic consequences.
Easter Wish List - Vintage and Homemade Gifts
Easter Basket Alina Gonciarz 
crochet hemp straw hat WhatsOliviaWearing 
Ruffle Skirt camelliatune 
Ukrainian Easter Eggs - Pysanky Dana Lenec 
Swimming with the Sharks Cupcake Toppers Sachiko Windbiel 
Easter Bunny Sugar Cookies Picket Fence Confections
Spring Garden
Heirloom Thai Basil HeirloomsRUsSeeds Isn't this Thai basil lovely? I can smell it just looking at the photo. I can 't believe I've never taken photos of my garden. I will this year. I wish I had a photo of that sweet first head of butter lettuce. It was almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
Every year I plant a wide variety of basil. I'm adding red osmin, anise, lettuce leaf, and dark opal basil. I'm looking forward to planting a variety of heirloom tomatoes, my favorite baby Thai chilies, and especially chocolate and purple peppers.
My plan is to have a designated 5 ft row for each garden: Mexican, Thai, Italian, Greek, and Indian.
These are the magazines and books I am looking to for inspiration for my garden:
Sunset Easy Edible Garden
The Accidental Vegetarian
The Moosewood Restaurant Kitchen Garden
The Book Club Cookbook
The Best of Vietnamese & Thai Cooking
Mesa Mexicana
Hot Italian Dish
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