For a while now I've been getting out of the gym (8 weeks now and still going strong - 3 inches off the waist and arms starting to look as though they belong to somebody who doesn't need a map to find the nearest 'nasium) and buying organic bits and bobs from the people at the farmer's market.
So it was weird last night to be switching Jude's car into AWD and bumping along the muddy lanes of Frog Holler Farm for Hollerfest - the smallest music festival I've ever seen.
Opening was Judith's program director Tom and his band "Rock, Paper, Scissors" - they specialize in "songs that make you wanna dance, songs that make you think and songs that make you wanna slit your wrists"
But as the night draw on, the sun went down, the bonfores were lit and the stage became a burning orange against the pitch darkness of the woods behind, as the HollerT flowed and the organic pizza was sliced - wrist slitting was the last thing on my mind.
It ain't New York - but you know what - it ain't worse
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wanna be in my gang?
When I was a kid I loved Gary Glitter. He was a big, shiny, real life cartoon who churned out monster glam anthems and always had a sense of spectacle.
When they found 'child porn' on his computer I took advantage of the sudden number of seats available for what turned out to be his last shows - thinking 'innocent until proven guilty'. He was later proven guilty. Ooops.
Since then Mr Glitter has lived in Spain and Cuba, in Cambodia and most recently a Vietnamese prison. The prison thing was for abusing two young girls.
Since his release there's been a media hoopla around where he was going to go next. Thailand refused to allow him in - even after he 'feigned' having a heart attack. Hong Kong turned him back at the border. Singapore want nothing to do with him. In fact 19 countries so far have said that they will refuse Mr Glitter entry.
Leaving him a hostile reception waiting back in the UK.
What surprises me here is the relentlessness with which the UK press has pursued this guy. They found him in Cambodia. They chased him through Thailand. And they're in every airport with him now. All this despite the fact that his career was short-lived and effectively over 30 years ago.
Now I'm not going to defend the guy. He's pretty indefensible. But where was the clamour for jail when UK author and scientist Arthur C Clarke said this from his long term home in Sri Lanka
"''Once they have reached the age of puberty, it is OK... It doesn't do any harm. I am trying to think of the youngest boy I have ever had because, of course, you can't tell it here. I think most of the damage comes from the fuss made by hysterical parents afterwards. If the kids don't mind, fair enough.''
Clarke didn't get jail - he got a knighthood.
Which may prove that a penchant for bacofoil is bad for your chances of staying out of jail. Or proof that the tabloids hold you accountable only to the level of your peak fame. Or perhaps, saddest of all, this has nothing to do with protecting kids from men like Clarke and Glitter and all about filling the front pages for a day or three during a slow summer.
Perhaps we could start a campaign to have Clarke's Knighthood posthumously stripped?
When they found 'child porn' on his computer I took advantage of the sudden number of seats available for what turned out to be his last shows - thinking 'innocent until proven guilty'. He was later proven guilty. Ooops.
Since then Mr Glitter has lived in Spain and Cuba, in Cambodia and most recently a Vietnamese prison. The prison thing was for abusing two young girls.
Since his release there's been a media hoopla around where he was going to go next. Thailand refused to allow him in - even after he 'feigned' having a heart attack. Hong Kong turned him back at the border. Singapore want nothing to do with him. In fact 19 countries so far have said that they will refuse Mr Glitter entry.
Leaving him a hostile reception waiting back in the UK.
What surprises me here is the relentlessness with which the UK press has pursued this guy. They found him in Cambodia. They chased him through Thailand. And they're in every airport with him now. All this despite the fact that his career was short-lived and effectively over 30 years ago.
Now I'm not going to defend the guy. He's pretty indefensible. But where was the clamour for jail when UK author and scientist Arthur C Clarke said this from his long term home in Sri Lanka
"''Once they have reached the age of puberty, it is OK... It doesn't do any harm. I am trying to think of the youngest boy I have ever had because, of course, you can't tell it here. I think most of the damage comes from the fuss made by hysterical parents afterwards. If the kids don't mind, fair enough.''
Clarke didn't get jail - he got a knighthood.
Which may prove that a penchant for bacofoil is bad for your chances of staying out of jail. Or proof that the tabloids hold you accountable only to the level of your peak fame. Or perhaps, saddest of all, this has nothing to do with protecting kids from men like Clarke and Glitter and all about filling the front pages for a day or three during a slow summer.
Perhaps we could start a campaign to have Clarke's Knighthood posthumously stripped?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Horribly, horribly tense
I will kill thee a hundred and fifty ways. Therefore tremble and depart.
Originally uploaded by mostlysunny1
I've tried running from the feeling on a treadmill. I've tried zen meditation (so zen was I yesterday that I ran a red light and avoided being hit my millimeters). I've tried being organized. I've tried being annoyed. I've tried nasty. I've tried rising above it - but still the knot of anger at the people responsible grows .
How come I can feel so passionately about something that ultimately doesn't matter - and be so unmoved by the great imjustices in the world.
Time I think for some perspective
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
A weekend to look forward to
Lots planned this weekend and I have to say that the plans are pulling me through the week.
On Friday I'm going to try to convince the girls to head down to the Roller Coast with me and get on some of the biggest coasters in the world. Then on Friday night it's off to Hollerfest - a laid back music festival where we have some friends playing.
Saturday is a trip to the lakes to try to get some time on the beach in. Should be good - especially as the coastline seems to stretch on forever and the sand dunes look impressively high.
Sunday is the State Fair - and a rodeo I believe. Should be very butch. At least I hope so - I have a very Wrangler ad inspired image of what a rodeo should be and there are no tongues in cheeks there.
Then it's back to work on Monday - refreshed, revitalized and maybe the proud owner of a prize bull (or something)
On Friday I'm going to try to convince the girls to head down to the Roller Coast with me and get on some of the biggest coasters in the world. Then on Friday night it's off to Hollerfest - a laid back music festival where we have some friends playing.
Saturday is a trip to the lakes to try to get some time on the beach in. Should be good - especially as the coastline seems to stretch on forever and the sand dunes look impressively high.
Sunday is the State Fair - and a rodeo I believe. Should be very butch. At least I hope so - I have a very Wrangler ad inspired image of what a rodeo should be and there are no tongues in cheeks there.
Then it's back to work on Monday - refreshed, revitalized and maybe the proud owner of a prize bull (or something)
Monday, August 18, 2008
Self knowledge
I've learned a lot about the way that I work over the last couple of years. Translating that knowlege into something that can work for me is still an issue.
I know for example that I am terrible at organizing things - but that I'm a dreadful micro-manager when it comes to other people organizing for me.
I also know that I cope badly when working with people who aren't 'buttoned up' ---> perceiving them as weak minded and spineless.
I know too that I tip into openly aggressive once my respect for somebody goes.
I know that given a camera I can forget everything - and end up experiencing events only through a viewfinder.
And I know that while I enjoy the viciousness of wit I can also be too eager to please at times.
This doesn't make me a monster. I get on with 99% of the people that I work with. Clients like my honesty. Colleagues like my energy. But that last 1% - well they think that I'm impossible. Still I reckon that's less than half a dozen people from the more than 600 I've worked with directly --- is that a bad strike rate?
I know for example that I am terrible at organizing things - but that I'm a dreadful micro-manager when it comes to other people organizing for me.
I also know that I cope badly when working with people who aren't 'buttoned up' ---> perceiving them as weak minded and spineless.
I know too that I tip into openly aggressive once my respect for somebody goes.
I know that given a camera I can forget everything - and end up experiencing events only through a viewfinder.
And I know that while I enjoy the viciousness of wit I can also be too eager to please at times.
This doesn't make me a monster. I get on with 99% of the people that I work with. Clients like my honesty. Colleagues like my energy. But that last 1% - well they think that I'm impossible. Still I reckon that's less than half a dozen people from the more than 600 I've worked with directly --- is that a bad strike rate?
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