Nanci Wants Us to Remember

Nanci Griffith ends her writer's block with her new album, as she explains here. The title song is about Mildred and Richard Loving, an interracial couple who married in 1958 and got thrown in jail because of it. The supreme court threw out their conviction and overturned the Virginia law that forbade interracial marriage. Mildred passed away in 2008.

With all of the different styles of music she has written and recorded (including with the London Symphony Orchestra) it's neat to know she can still write a real folk song.

This brings me to mind the case of Holly Puterbaugh and Lois Farnam, who, along with two other couples, filed suit in Vermont court for the right to be married. The Vermont Supreme Court sided with them, but DID NOT legislate from the bench. Instead, the court turned the case over to the legislature and said, "Solve this, or we will." The result was the nation's first civil union statute, which has been copied in a few other states. This year, the Vermont legislature abolished civil unions and instituted gay marriage, even overturning Governor Douglas's veto.

It just so happen that Karen and I have met Holly and Lois, on a cruise on Lake Champlain put on by a cruise company. This was the year after we had taken a two week cruise to Alaska, and we brought our picture book along to show the folks. Holly and Lois decided to take the same cruise we did.

In any event, I was very excited to meet them. To me, they represent the spirit of Rosa Parks, combating an unjust law based on bad Biblical interpretation. They are a wonderful pair, not the kind of fire-breathing instigators of anarchy we expect to see in people on the frontiers of civil rights.

Nanci's CD can be found here, along with a video of the title song. Way to go, Nanci Griffith!

Buried

Gosh, so much has been happening, whether I will it or not, and I just can't get the energy to write. Please read Theme and Variations when you can as that's where I've been writing lately - though, admittedly, not my best. To dash off some quick stuff:

Karen and I watched teary-eyed as Barack Obama was sworn in. We watched coverage by CBS, I think, and the best moment that summed it up occurred when the network interview and largish, middle-aged black woman, wrapped up against the cold and carrying flags, signs, and what not. When she was asked, how did the moment make her feel, she raised her flag up in the air and replied, "I'M HAPPY!"

I was also thrilled to see Gabriela Montero was part of the music quartet that played.

Ethan has gotten his first bicycle.

I finally got out of the neck brace and the implant is working well to stop pain from the back of my temples to to the back of my head, down my neck, and into my shoulders. I now struggle with pain behind and around the eyes and temples. I consider it a great step and one which has returned a degree of worthwhile existence to my life.

I wish I was like Beethoven, who turned his darkest times into great creations, but there can be only one Beethoven. Speaking of music, when you have an hour of time and wanna see a fun presentation on music, check this out.

Music in my head: For about a week now I've had the Meditation from Massenet's opera Thais playing in my head. I hope you like it.

Invisible

This isn't why you haven't seen anything from me lately.

Lost a Neighbor

We learned today that our neighbors' dog Dee-Dee died last week. They seem to be taking it pretty hard. Our dog Kane used to sneak over to their house when Dee-Dee was out. He'd head to the back of the yard and take a longcut path to their house. Dee-Dee would do the same. Why they just don't run straight across through the few trees between our houses I doubt I ever understand. They certainly came home that way, knowing they were in trouble.

Last month I began a taper on the pain meds, to take a "holiday" for a few weeks to let my tolerance lower. This will allow me to use the same amount of drug as I have been using. The other choice would be to go through a higher dose, but eventually I'd have to do this, so the current level seems a good place to start.

But, it's rough. Though not going "cold turkey", I still get the sweats and chills and upset stomach. And then, of course, there's the headaches without any real way to stop them. Sure makes me appreciate when the meds do work! On top of all this, I've got muscle aches, mostly in my lower back and hips. I have a few meds to help with the taper, but still I spend a lot of time hiding in the bedroom, which thermal curtains that block most of the light from outside. It isn't perfect darkness, but it's enough that closing my eyes, or using an eyebag, blocks out the tiny bits of light still getting through.

When I can, I try to spend as much time with Ethan as I can. He doesn't understand my need to lie down, and gets frustrated when I can't do things with him. So, I try to get in at least some time everyday with him.

Today I was slightly early for a doctor's appointment, so I meditated in the chair in the waiting room. I invoked the relaxation response, and it felt good, even if it was only a few minutes. When the doc came to get me, she commented, "Getting in a little doze?"

"No, I was meditating."

"Oh, that's a good thing to do. How often to you do that?"

"Anytime I find myself waiting, whatever it is (except while driving) I take the time to meditate."

This particular doctor teaches a seminar in mindfulness stress reduction, so she knows what I mean.

I've been reading Barak Obama's book Dreams of my Father, which was written before he was a U.S. senator. For the first time in a long time, I believe I will be casting my vote for him (as opposed to casting a vote against someone). He has a unique set of skills, and experience with a wide range of people, that I think he will make an excellent president. It's too bad that Republican followers are running smear campaigns. Negative selling is such a turn-off. If your campaign is based on showing the other guy's/gal's so-called shadowy background, it makes me wonder what you plan to offer in return.

I don't like to think about politics late at night, it keeps me awake, so I think I'll stop.

Music in my head: Call Me, Blondie

For September

OK, so half of the month is gone, but I've finally changed the calendar, to find the following:

Birth and death don't affect you;
You are free to go or to stay.

You needn't seek wonders,
For wonders come of themselves.
-Linji

To Blog or Not to Blog

I've been a long time away from the blog, partly because my main computer's main disk drive is running in a semi-comatose state (meaning I have about three minutes to save something after starting it up before it starts making clanging sounds and freezes up - and of those three minutes, about one and a half of those is spent booting up in safe mode). But a nice new system (with Vista, sadly...as a long-time Miscrosoft hater, I have to admit that XP worked pretty well; perhaps I'll finally get Vista to look/work enough like XP that I'll be content). The new system is made by Gateway (because I'm tired on talking to the Dell India Division of Customer Support - don't get me wrong, I have a high respect for much of India as a country and a culture, but the people Dell hired were nowhere near as talented as the folks that used to work in Austin). The system is a quad-core system with a screaming AMD Phenom, with a 64-bit architecture (which makes drivers for peripherals kinda hard to get) and a handful of other niceties that, together, are astounding, considering the price I paid for it.

As for getting an Apple, I actually have an Apple iMac sitting in a box in my hallway, but the desk for it is covered with the type of clutter that can't be just tossed in the trash or stashed in the basement (i.e. it belongs to Karen).

I'd be lying, though, if I was to blame the lack of blogging on system problems (well, computer system problems). For the most part, (1) I haven't had anything to say worthy of writing, and (2) I haven't had the energy, physically or spiritually, to sit down and compose entries. A long talk with Mike has sort of lit a fire (well, maybe a small flame) to write, and I kinda feel like writing again. (BTW Mike, thanks for being such a good listener - I feel like I hogged most of the phone time).

In my defense, I have been adding entries to my other blog, Theme and Variations, as I go through my classical music collection in order, and write my very amateur comments.

But I find myself with a muse hanging over my right shoulder, with whiskey on her breath and very hung-over (and I haven't a clue what that is all about).

When Microsoft Must Compete...

...they lose.