Holiday Shopping

I used to enjoy shopping for gifts. I would itemize a list of  special names and give thought to each and every one to find something perfect and unique. Even my wrappings became a work of art and creativity with yearly themes. But for the last decade, the mere mention of a Mall brings on anxiety attacks for me. I'm not sure when things took a turn for the worse. But I get overwhelmed and start shutting down. Perhaps in the new era of BIG, it all becomes sensory overload for me, and with my OCD I can't find a point of entry. The idea of waiting in line in the wee hours to grab a bargain on #BlackFriday baffles me.

But I was doing some reflecting of vintage shopping from my childhood and memories that I still cling to. Certainly at the holidays. Our version of Black Friday was going over to the Murphy's in North East to scour their penny candy bins so that we would use things on our gingerbread village decorations. One year I built a small theater with a marquee and Candy Corn light bulbs. There was always the palatial Boston Store downtown with grand holiday decorations and Santa. I fondly remember Grants for their sales on 45RPMs where I had a membership card and would get punches for every new single that I purchased. And of course the Kresge's on State where my grandmother Mary worked. My cousin Frank and I would sometimes pull up a counter stool and she would offer us up a free cup of soup in the deli. As I got older the MilcreekMall became the go-to destination where I fondly recall the early chains of Hickory Farms where we got samples, Spencer Gifts for blacklight posters in the bedroom, or Chess King when I was wanting that really cool polyester shirt for homecoming dance.

Occasionally a book store gives me pleasure. Or even grocery shopping! But I need to get back in touch with that spirit of giving and find a way to make Holiday Shopping still be that exciting experience that it once was!

The One Moment

This viral music video seemed a good fit to share for this holiday about being grateful. I know I am a huge fan of OK Go and have shared their incredible work prior. I am sure I am drawn to them because of they way they are able to balance creativity in both music and visual art all while making a statement as well as expression. To me it becomes a total package.

Technology is always at the forefront of their videos - to the point of amazement! In this one they employ a series of chain reactions that result in explosions of color - from tubes, balloons and even guitars. And even more stunning is that the sequence itself takes place over a mere 5 seconds from act to act. The art comes from slowing it down to sync up with the meter and lyrics of the song. I'm sure some extensive editing is involved, but the end product is seamless. And I cannot even fathom the precision of the performers to ensure that all marks are hit on the single shot of the sequence!

The profoundness of the piece is also represented in the lyrics to the song. "The song 'The One Moment' is a celebration of (and a prayer for) those moments in life when we are most alive," the band says in the video's credits. "Humans are not equipped to understand our own temporariness; it will never stop being deeply beautiful, deeply confusing, and deeply sad that our lives and our world are so fleeting. We have only these few moments. Luckily, among them there are a few that really matter, and it's our job to find them. (We had no idea when we wrote the song that we'd be releasing its video in such a critical moment for our nation and the world. It's one of those moments when everything changes, whether we like it or not, so the song feels particularly relevant)."

Happy Thanksgiving with gratitude.

All the World's a Stage

This post originated almost 6 months back - honoring the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. That is a monumental number celebrating a monumental figure. It called for a celebration and the Globe Theater, original site where many of his works premiered, took the helm. It is also fitting that this recently renovated theater sits only 750 feet from where the original was constructed back in 1599!

The project is called the Complete Walk and ambitiously sets all of his works as short films of 10 minutes, utilizing some of Great Britain's most esteemed actors. Even more astounding is the attempt to set many of these films at sites around the world where the original scenes were set. Dominic West portrays Coriolanus at Ostia Antica, the harbor city of ancient Rome; Jonathan Pryce as Shylock in the Merchant of Venice at Banco Rosso in the Jewish ghetto of Venice and David Harewood as Othello in Famagusta in north Cyprus. They also filmed at the Red Pyramid in Egypt for Antony and Cleopatra, the Tomba di Giulietta in Verona for Romeo and Juliet, Glamis Castle in Scotland for Macbeth and the Acropolis in Greece for Timon of Athens. How monumental is that? The intent was for them to play as a looped walking exhibit at stations along the Thames where pedestrians could stroll from one on to the next.

The traveling Fest played both Liverpool and London, as well as cities in Spain and even Poland and Egypt. But no plans of a US installation. There are a few scattered clips on YouTube of Timon of Athens, King Lear and Richard II shown here. But sadly, there is currently not a vehicle to expose this great project to other masses eager to see them.

Dogs in Drag

This is a catch up post from Halloween. I still celebrate the creative side of this holiday where everyone can play dress up and live out their alter-ego for the day. Less and less do I take the effort to do so myself and find I get caught up more in the carving of the pumpkins or brewing a hot cauldron of cider.

Pets of the Season seem to really have taken off as well. There is no shortage of costumes for dogs and the creative quotient has ignited in the last few years. This is obvious by the shelves at Target to Chuck & Don's. We have tried with Waylon, but he is reluctant to a leash, much less a cape and a pair of dog booties! But we did venture out to the great #SidewalkDog event at the #Freehouse in the warehouse district. It was perfect weather for patio play. It is just too bad that there wasn't more space to be found and I pitied the poor waitstaff that was overwhelmed by trying to accommodate us all.

But at the center of the attention were the canines decked out in everything imaginable. Here are a few shots from their feed as well as a link to the whole feature.
Sidewalk Dog Blog

Finding Your Inner Voice

As with many friends and colleagues, I have been very carefully trying to find clarity in my thoughts as of late. And for me, I have learned that scratching thoughts on a piece of paper in B&W gives them focus. This can be a shopping list for the grocery store or my patter for a cabaret set. It starts with a basic concept and then with editing becomes clearer to me, as I add more and scrap what does not sound authentic or true.

I use several outlets in my life and have found the value in What goes Where. I wouldn't write my shopping list on the back of a resume draft. Or my Google Playlist in a column beside my Christmas list... I will never be a novelist or a poet. But I do think that I certainly have a "unique voice." I was made aware of that from old cards and letters sent to family and friends. And this was further pointed out to me in early travelogues that were sent via emails from abroad. Others let me know they got a keen sense of the journey I had taken and felt it was shared personally with them. Fast Forward 10+ years.

I now have a Blog and have become a Twitter fanatic. But today I was mindful of how each is a different channel and how I have used them each to further a cause. I think there are plenty of misconceptions in the concept of Social Media and what is literally "thrown out to the world." Just like Music - one needs to find the right outlet for that Voice. Are you going to be a Pop Star and invest in American Idol or the Voice? Are you going to be a classical diva and study for a degree in Vocal Performance? Maybe the acoustic world is your milieu where you can share political beliefs by raising your voice in song. But the realization needs to be that each is a different voice nonetheless. Find Your Audience!

I believe that Facebook has become the ground zero for voices. From the miles of diatribe there, one can easily descend down that rabbit hole into a void that only infuses but does not usually pacify or even unify. For me, my Blog is a glimpse into my very personal life. It can be a small token of baking, a fascination with a current trend or like this, something that is profound to me. It is an opinion that is mine alone to share. Although not by invitation only, it is a choice to share in those thoughts. Facebook to me is a broadcast network. Mine is huge - high school friends, distant cousins, acquaintances from years back from every career I have pursued. It is a varied pool and allows me a glimpse into their lives and them into mine - with a photo or a keepsake. I don't pretend to use it as a platform to convert or vent. It is not therapy. Twitter has become my most recent outlet. And to me this is where I make myself heard. Often a political statement or a product endorsement. Occasionally a witty comment. But I feel like these short outbursts are meant to connect only with the few that choose to listen or hit directly to those I am trying to oppose. I do not kid myself that this is a platform to carry out a conversation. I have no real connection to these people I converge with. That is the wonder of 140 characters - I need to be concise and accurate. This has been a great lesson in editing for me. I am not the kind who appreciates long chains of Text Messages or even email threads. If I have something that important to share, let's talk at the table over a cup of coffee.

So give this a read - if you are one of those who chooses to peruse a bit deeper into who I am and what I'm trying to say. But please! Decide what it is you truly want to say and then think about who is your audience and get your message out. Otherwise we are merely howling at the moon to people who have no intention of truly listening to us.

Dogs in the House

In trying to find some joy in the frenzy of the election outcome, I am drawn to seemingly trivial things like baking, yoga & meditation, remaining flowers in the garden or of course animals. Things that bring me joy instead of stress.

#SidewalkDog always manages to send me feeds that are a distraction and a joy on their Twitter page. This recent article looked back over a century of pets in the White House while their families served in the Presidency. Not only is it the wonder of the animals, but it also gives a glimpse into the person that makes them just a bit more human as well. Bill Clinton with his adorable chocolate lab Buddy.

A normally stoic Lyndon Johnson howling with his Yuki.

Herbert Hoover with his handsome shepherd King Tut.

And of course the Kennedy clan with an entourage of misfits and mutts at hand. I wonder if Donald Trump has had dogs in his life....? Howard Taft even had a pet cow named Pauline! For a sweet diversion check out the entire link to the library.
Sidewalk Dogs: Presidential Pups