So this song popped up on my iTunes on my drive back to my office from a program at the other library up the Mountain. Seems appropriate after Trump’s incredible press conference this afternoon.
Politics
Neoliberalism
Books
“I often think that Neoliberalism is what lovelessness looks like as policy. … it looks like water pipes leaking lead in Flint. It looks like foreclosed mortgages on homes that were built to collapse. … It looks like trashing the beauty of the planet as if it had no value at all. It is, much like Trump himself, greed and carelessness incarnate.”
– Naomi Klein, No Is Not Enough.
I finished reading “No Is Not Enough” by Naomi Klein. Very highly recommended. In fact, I would say it’s a must read, especially if you are bewildered by current events. She does a good job of giving historical context for our current situation and what exactly got us here. It is a major wake up call. It is not an easy read, but a necessary one.
February Postcard Swap
Life, Thoughts and OpinionsThe February postcard swap is posted on Elfster and ready for you to sign up. You may do so by clicking here:
I am really enjoying the Elfster format! I love that there is a discussion feature and I also especially love the gallery feature where we can share photos of the postcards we receive. There are some things that make it a little confusing for our purposes. I’m taking note of all of this so that when my husband codes something it will work really well for this. If you have any thoughts about features you would like please let me know!
In January I received this fantastic darkroom print from Daniel Schnieder! I’ve been following him on Twitter for awhile now and love his work. You can see more on his website.
And speaking of postcards, my political thought of today:
I am gathering up resources to take action against what is happening with our government. Among the various things I’m doing at the moment, is gathering together a shit ton of postcards that I can have on hand to send to congress about issues that come up. For example, today I found out that a bill was introduced to terminate the Environmental Protection Agency (CAN YOU FUCKING BELIEVE THAT?!?) So I am going to send a postcard to my congressmen. I have a feeling I will be sending lots of postcards out in the near future.
So anyway, I’ve been thinking about postcards. I discovered that you can download a handy postcard template from the Women’s March website to mass print at a printer. And these are also some really cool downloadable templates. I also started following this (completely awesome) small press. You can buy their postcards here. I’m also just thinking about making my own with card stock. It might be a good way to focus some of my anger into something creative.
Why can’t we give love that one more chance
Lifevia Daily Prompt: Overwhelming
I’ve been obsessing and worrying a lot lately. There have been lots of tears. There have been lots of dark moments. I’m working extra hard keeping myself on level ground. I feel like I can’t afford to fall into a hole that is impossible to dig myself out of.
I realized that I need a project. I need to give my brain something to do to keep it from worrying about the future. I keep coming back to sketching, which is perfect because it is just enough of a challenge for me to keep my brain occupied. At some point I will, once again, get back into a daily drawing habit (why is it so hard for me to stick with it?!?) However, I realized that I kind of already have a project that I can do, that is much easier for me to jump right in to. It’s this blog. This blog has been with me through thick and thin. Through Bush and Obama. Writing has been the way I sort though thoughts. It has been my trusty companion my entire life.
So I am going to work through these tough times by blogging everyday. I don’t know what that is going to look like. It might be messy some days. It might be uplifting. It might just be a song, or a photo, or something that particularly touched me that day.
I’m hoping, mostly, that it will be a way for me to connect with you, because the last thing anyone should do during this time isolate.
The song Under Pressure made me happy twice today. It randomly played while I was running and also while I was getting ready for work. It is one of those songs that always fills me with hope when I hear it. And because I love a good coincidence, I can’t help but think that the Universe is trying to tell me something.
Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you
No man ask for
Under pressure
That brings a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets
Um ba ba be
Um ba ba be
De day da
Ee day da – that’s okay
It’s the terror of knowing
What the world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming
‘Let me out’
Pray tomorrow gets me higher
Pressure on people people on streets
Day day de mm hm
Da da da ba ba
Okay
Chipping around – kick my brains around the floor
These are the days it never rains but it pours
Ee do ba be
Ee da ba ba ba
Um bo bo
Be lap
People on streets
ee da de da de
People on streets
ee da de da de da de da
It’s the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming
‘Let me out’
Pray tomorrow – gets me higher
Higher
High
Pressure on people people on streets
Turned away from it all like a blind man
Sat on a fence but it don’t work
Keep coming up with love
But it’s so slashed and torn
Why – why – why?
Love love love love love
Insanity laughs under pressure we’re breaking
Can’t we give ourselves one more chance
Why can’t we give love that one more chance
Why can’t we give love give love give love give love
Give love give love give love give love give love
Because love’s such an old fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people on the (People on streets) edge of the night
And loves (People on streets) dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves
This is our last dance
This is our last dance
This is ourselves
Under pressure
Under pressure
Pressure
Keep on the Sunny Side
LifeYesterday evening I gathered with some friends for our monthly Women’s Group dinner. As we chatted about current events, the conversation came around to what had been happening yesterday, the way Trump shockingly and quickly signed executive orders for several controversial things. This circled around to me saying, “It’s so scary.” My friend quickly corrected me: “Don’t say it’s scary. Don’t invoke fear because fear is paralyzing. We need to stay strong and empowered.”
This was a great reminder, and I’m writing it here so I can remind myself when I eventually go back down the path of fear.
One of my friends brought this amazing lemon pie, and she formed a happy, sunny face on the top of it. As she made the pie she thought of the following song. She decided that before we ate the pie we would sing the song together. It was a fun release of energy. Here are words:
Keep on the Sunny Side
June Carter Cash
Well there’s a dark and a troubled side of life
There’s a bright and a sunny side too
But if you meet with the darkness and strife
The sunny side we also may view
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way
If we keep on the sunny side of life
Oh, the storm and its fury broke today
Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear
Clouds and storms will in time pass away
The sun again will shine bright and clear
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way
If we’ll keep on the sunny side of life
Another thing we talked about was our unique ability in our day and age to share our moments of subversiveness and resistance. My friends remember the protests in the Sixties. There were many protests in D.C. that happened that never got reported. We are in a unique time when we the people can do the reporting. We can film and get it out to our friends who might need need to be empowered and encouraged. I can’t tell you how amazing it was to see photos from the Women’s march in my feed from so many friends all over the world. It was empowering. So don’t stop sharing those moments. As my friend Marisa has said, it is important for us to document. And it it is important for us to share.
Blatherskite 