the sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers,
but for the wide world’s joy.
– henry ward beecher
—
spring in ann arbor, mi
Apr22
Tag Archives: ann arbor
Apr19
nor do i.
—-
a walk in gallup park, ann arbor, mi
i never get tired of the blue sky – vincent van gogh
Jan3
hope floats. until it sinks.
(this is hope. she is not me, but is an enthusiastic re-enactor)
—
went to the gym
on what
had to be
the most
hopeful day
of the entire year
january first
new year’s day
first day
of resolutions kept
the energy palpable
electricity in the air
and sweat
and
postive thinking
and vim
and vigor
(a crack team of synchronized re-enactors)
—
with enthusiasm
brimming over
and cheering
and
a shared
spirit
we all
worked hard
while we
watched the rose bowl parade together
and
celebrated
our own
new coach’s
long-awaited
return home
and
each of us
believed
and
hoped
for our
own reasons
that
this was
just
the beginning
of
wonderful changes
coming into
our lives
at least for this day.
—
hope is a waking dream.
– aristotle
—
image credits: getty images, popsugar.com, latimes.com, mlive.com,
Sep10
and at long last, the light has returned once more.
“In that distant beginning season, Sun Man’s warm magic flowed over all the land. Whenever he raised his arms, it was day. whenever he lowered them, it was night. The Bee People and the Elephant People and the Tic People loved the rhythm of Sun Man’s light. Their faces crinkled with pleasure in his heat.
But inside the dreamtime, Sun Man grew old. His back grew stiff and his knee joints ached. He rose later and later each morning. He napped soon after breakfast and went to bed in the afternoon.
“What’s going on here?” complained Grandfather Mantis. “I’m not getting heat anymore.” Grandfather Mantis sent the Bird People to find out. The Bird People returned, rumpled and solemn. Darkness was everywhere, even though it was supposed to be daytime. “Sun Man is getting old,” they explained. “This shining all the time is getting too much for him.”
“Well, I’m old,” snapped Grandfather Mantis. “Doesn’t stop me.”
His wife raised her eyebrows but said nothing.
― Carolyn McVickar Edwards, The Return of the Light
—
image credit: kyras.com
Sep9
“life itself is the best (and the only) timekeeper.” ― rasheed ogunlaru
as i head into
day 5
still
off the
power grid
the pace of life
has
slowed
days
spent
walking
writing
reading
thinking
bathing by candlelight
catching up with friends
in the coffee shop
on the street
with
neighbors
there is a natural rhythm to it all
waking with the return of the light
sleeping when the dark returns once more
it’s a peaceful and quiet existence
*
until
monday comes
and
i have to
wake up
in the pitch black
to go to school
there’s an art
to applying
makeup
by
flashlight
and
with
only
two hands
luckily
my loyal
carpool partner
has
promised
to alert me
if
my clothes are on backwards
or
anything looks dramatically amiss
and
i find
that
while
i
look
forward to the light
i
am
enjoying the calm
of the dark
—
wisely, and slow. they stumble that run fast.
William Shakespeare
—
image credit: maggielissel.com
Sep7
are the lights back on yet?
no
little one
not today
not tomorrow
may be a while
so
run and play
—
many thanks to aussie artist extraordinaire, jenni gray of art candy, for sharing this baby
and to the power company warriors who are working so hard to bring back the light.
Sep6
“you have to jump into disaster with both feet.” ― chuck palahniuk
worst walk ever
yesterday
on a very, very hot
late summer’s eve
humid as hell
headed out
on a
forced death march
downtown
all in the name
of being healthy
and
enjoying the city
at eye level
when i
noticed the signs
that i was headed
right
looked up
into a black cloudy sky
the air began to swirl
rain blew sideways
into my eyes
i had happened
into
a
wizard of oz
storm
somehow
and
made a decision
to head on back
lightning flashed
a mile to go
put my phone
in my shorts
to save my connection
to the world
i-pod
deep in my pocket
to save the music
people running
kind of scary
as i
quickly
transformed
into
an
unwitting
wet t-shirt contestant
cut through the park
ran into wall
of construction
turned around
shortcut down street
closed off
for resurfacing
finally made it
home to the cottage
nacho the cat not the food
was outside and missing
flipped on light
to put key in door
no light
opened door
pitch black
only light
came from my eyes
power out
fumbled for flashlight
apparently it is a 1910 model
didn’t have much effect
on the darkness
so, so sweaty
and
rain sodden
no hot shower
cell phone
powering off
internet gone
decided
only thing to do
was go to bed
stumbled up the dark stairs
still no cat
still no light
room was 157 degrees
or so
no fan
no air
heard sirens
fire department
on my street
buzzing
flashes of electric light
couldn’t just lay
on the bed
naked
and
fall asleep
in all my glory
trying
to cool things down a bit
had to be on high alert
kept the teva’s on
shorts, shirt
ready to flee
at a
moment’s notice
drifted off
dreaming of a better day to come..
woke up this morning
bright and cool
nacho the cat not the food
came home
to the cottage
police tape
decorated
the town
transformers blown
power lines down
mighty trees
toppled
car
in garage
at mercy
of electric opener
walked
back downtown
to a
friendly coffee shop
read
and
wrote
and
talked to other
blackout neighbors
and
had
a
very, very, very
large
coffee
power company
estimates
i will
have power
restored
by
wednesday
night
at 11:30
or so
—
“the major difference between a thing that might go wrong
and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong
is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong
it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair”
– douglas adams
—
credits: planetcurioso.com, new line cinema
Aug3
i predict one of these two teams will win. – gilbert gottfried
international futball took over the city for the weekend
it started with a lively party on main street the night before
with rockers like flint eastwood entertaining the masses
and became more sedate when the sun came up
with ornamatik
an acoustic balkan band
and the outdoor outfitters got into the fun
and even the young tailgaters enjoyed the excitement
and it was a good weekend
to be on foot.
oh, and there was a match at the stadium.
May10
the hill is alive with the sounds of music
went to the 4th annual water hill music fest, held the first sunday of each may
in a neighborhood filled with artists, musicians, and eccentrics of the highest order, music rules the day
founded In 2011, Paul Tinkerhess (folksman, craftsman, businessman) to spotlight the cohesive personality of the neighborhood as well as its musicians, this un-sponsored event follows only one rule: at least one member of each performing band must reside in water hill.
so excited to see my very talented carpool mate create some jazz with the neighbors
every kind of music and settings and audience members were represented
all in the front yards, back yards, decks and gardens of their homes
people of all ages were welcome to participate
friends bonded together by their music
and a community bonded together by their sounds
and many joined into the drum circle
and they were from all walks of life
and everyone joined in to support the day
and many saw music that was new to them and old to others
and people came on foot, on bike, and by car to sit and listen and take it all in
and everyone had so much fun
and the maypole dance was the perfect way to welcome in the season
“Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.”
― Maria von Trapp
—
image credits: peaches, monte fowler, ann arbor.com
Apr27
six degrees of sexton-ation
we discovered last fall, in blog world, that we were connected, through many different avenues,
and mutual close friends. amazingly, we had never crossed paths in real life. until…..
i attended a wonderful and unusual book signing at our local ann arbor senior center,
with guest author, susie sexton.
susie read and offered anecdotes from her book,
and local Roy Sexton, Susie Duncan Sexton’s son,
(known throughout Michigan for his cabaret style performances),
sang some of his mom’s favorite musical show tunes.
they kept the audience laughing and clapping.
and roy was there to support his mother’s wonderful endeavor.
Susie Duncan Sexton – is a writer, political pundit, arts critic, animal rights advocate, (and mother of Roy) – has her own column on Jennifer Zartman Romano’s “Talk of the Town.” The column offers observations of growing up in a small Indiana town – the culture, the anecdotes, the legends, the gossip, the joys, the heartaches – and what Sexton has learned about life ever since. She also writes a column “Homeward Angle” for the Columbia City Post and Mail, and she recently published two books, “Secrets of an Old Typewriter,” and “More Secrets of an Old Typewriter.”
and just yesterday, i attended son roy’s own book signing,
at a new ann arbor local independent community bookstore, bookbound.
and susie was there to return the favor.
as roy shares a piece from his book, about growing up with films all around him,
susie is happily surprised by a shared love of favorite movies,
with yet another closely connected audience member, john.
roy (snarky and smart blogging movie reviewer), sang,
(accompanied by his longtime friend and fellow theater musician, rebecca biber),
and read and answered questions.
and susie was there to support him.
book bound owners, megan and peter blackshear
(former borders bargain book-buyer extraordanaire)
graciously hosted the event
in support of local authors.
they may have to create a ‘sexton section’ in the store.
only open seven months,
this store has brought a much needed bookstore to the north side of ann arbor.
and roy’s first book,
Reel Roy Reviews Volume 1: Keepin’ it Real.
has been making it’s way around the world.
there were so many sextons, so little time……
and i was so happy to be a part of it all,
and in awe of the heartfelt and mutual support shared by all.
——
links:
Susie’s blog: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5161078.Susie_Duncan_Sexton/blog
Roy’s Blog: http://www.reelroyreviews.com
Susie’s author website: http://www.susieduncansexton.com
Roy’s theatre group: http://www.pennyseats.org
Bookstore: http://www.bookboundbookstore.com
I didn't have my glasses on.... 