Trees Jungle

On Discovering the Meaning of 'lol'

2011-06-03T23:49:00.001-04:00

"I thought it was just 'laul'—a cute word someone invented for girls to use on email."

Questioning Tradition

2010-12-09T15:34:00.002-05:00

"I just don't get it. Why would anyone want to sit on his lap?"

— Ana, passing the "photo with Santa" installation at the mall.

"When you wish upon a star, sometimes it doesn't come true."

2010-12-09T15:32:00.002-05:00

— A lesson from my mom while peeling potatoes on Thanksgiving.

Mother Earth Meets Crazy Cat

2010-11-01T11:42:00.003-04:00

A Timely Question

2010-10-31T12:52:00.004-04:00

"Can I marry you Santa, even though I'm a vampire!?"

—Frantic, lispy query by Ana's friend Abby to a giant Santa at Home Depot (lispy due to the orange plastic vampire fangs she was wearing).

"Hattermilk" definition

2010-10-10T22:42:00.002-04:00

The product which is dispensed from a Leggo-constructed device which one wears on one's head when one is a robot farmer. And when one drinks from said hat, one takes on all the mannerisms of a robot, liberally referring to oneself and others as "units."

— A snippet from the hour long play session Ana enjoyed with her Uncle B. (thanks for being such a great uncle, B.) xo

"Verrrry Owl-wellian"

2010-09-29T00:43:00.003-04:00

And that's my one line movie review for Legend of the Guardians.

We left after about 10 minutes of 3D terror (lovely as the visuals were, sigh, once again, the storyline was over the top and all too predictable in its transparent strides to "vanquish evil").

Out the Back Window This Morning

2010-09-27T23:10:00.001-04:00

Wow (ok, she wins)

2010-09-22T22:30:00.003-04:00

Today we got into the whole "I love you/I love you more" dialogue while walking around the new neighborhood after a storm.

I told Ana that she can't possibly love me more because I gave birth to her and raised her from a baby. She said:

"I wanted you for a mom even before you were alive. I spotted you and waited for you to grow up so you could have me. Before that I had to wait for earth to be made."

"What did the earth look like while it was being made?"

"It was like a speck of dust. Then a lot of rocks were hitting it for a while. I don't remember much more because I was sort of asleep."

Former Neighbor Encounter

2010-09-19T11:59:00.003-04:00

First she killed a stink bug, leaving a bloody blot on the porch. Then she sat among her doilies and Christian DVDs, sweetly inquiring about my ex's nuptials. Meanwhile her manic niece ran in and out of the house multiple times, toting a skate board, and turning on and off the AC via remote.

That was shortly after I gave her a zucchini big as a thigh from my cousin's garden. Ana played Matchbox cars on the rug.

Cheshire Cha Cha

2010-09-17T00:18:00.001-04:00

"Number 2, air style"

2010-08-09T21:32:00.000-04:00

— Ana's new way to say "fart."

My Summer Vacation Snippet

2010-08-09T11:00:00.000-04:00

An elderly man collapsed in diabetic shock
just as we were about to order pancakes at an iHop.
And I found myself thinking, "Oh God,
now we'll never get to the beach on time."

And then I considered: what have I become?
This is someone's grandfather
and he might be dying at our feet,
at this moment, the second day of our vacation.

Just when I'd convinced myself that I actually AM
a compassionate being who would patiently send love
to the possibly expiring, probable grandfather
whom paramedics were crowding around,
I noticed that they were blocking our way
from fleeing the restaurant.

And in that moment,
I thought, "Oh God, he's ruining our vacation."

On Creating the Illusion of Foot Coverage

2010-08-08T11:00:00.000-04:00

"I hate socks. I'm going to get feet tattoos."

— My 73-year-old dad, in search of his socks

Where Money Comes From

2010-08-07T11:00:00.001-04:00

Overhead conversation among 7-year olds:

L: "I dreamt our whole family won the lottery."
A: "What's the lottery?"
L: "It's where money comes from."

"I hope I never get old, I really do."

2010-08-06T11:36:00.000-04:00

— My 72 year old aunt

Early Feng Shui Awareness

2010-07-30T10:00:00.000-04:00

"Now I get why you put those flowers there. It's like you're saying not to forget Buddha. And every time you look at it you get to be reminded."

— Ana's assessment of my placement of forget-me-nots at the feet of our garden Buddha statue.

Early "Homeland Security" Awareness

2010-07-29T14:05:00.005-04:00

"These boxes have to go through security. Not that they have bombs in them or anything—it's just all boxes have to go through."

— Ana playing post office with wooden blocks and Pet Shop animals

"Only five more months to Christmas!"

2010-07-26T23:54:00.002-04:00

— Ana's proclamation over breakfast this July morn.

Google Ad Non-sense

2010-07-22T09:52:00.002-04:00

Tree Planting
Biblical Stewardship
Build Powerful Intranets
China Guatemala Russia
The Wooden Horse
Pizza Hut
Unique Community Health Service
Family Wants to Adopt
Christian Bible Camp
Fix Child Behavior
Goat Cheese Pizza
Find a Local Babysitter
Best Toys
Jungle Wall Mural
Easy Pizza Dough Recipe
Find Buddhist Singles
Buddhist Ringtones
Barak Obama Exposed (a link to an extremely conservative—eek—website).

A collection of ads that have been "strategically" placed
on this site by Google, supposedly matching my content.
Maybe this post will cause spontaneous combustion!

"Probably About Ten Thousand Dollars"

2010-06-17T12:21:00.001-04:00

Answer to my question "I wonder what it would cost to have a maid?" (whiningly wishing we had one who would do the dishes while we got ready for bed).

Ana then added, "But if we got a clumsy one, it would only be about ten cents."

I think I might just settle for a clumsy one. Oh, that would be me.

Lucky Seven!

2010-06-16T12:34:00.003-04:00

Yep!

2010-03-21T23:29:00.002-04:00

"I feel like I'm crawling out of a coffin."

2010-03-05T17:39:00.003-05:00

— Karen (aka Plastic Girl), on the brutality of February in Pittsburgh, followed by these much-needed days of sun.

Spoken Like a True Artist

2010-03-04T11:19:00.002-05:00

"White pages. That's the most beautiful thing in the world."

— Ana's response to getting a new sketchbook

Nope.

2010-03-03T11:46:00.002-05:00

Is it Over Yet?

2010-02-23T10:14:00.000-05:00

Here's to True Love

2010-02-14T19:32:00.007-05:00

I'm taking this day to honor all those I love and who love me. Featured is Phil, a sweetheart from the early days who just happened to be in town to help out in the new place. I'm wearing the hat he gave me from our humble hometown.

Big hugs and kisses,

xxxxxs and ooooos

"This should definitely be on You Tube!"

2010-01-27T09:30:00.002-05:00

—Ana's response to her yogurt parfait breakfast.

In fact, she is trying to get me to "start a cooking show" that features the two of us. Except maybe we can "put in a background of a different kitchen." Indeed, she well aware of our present home improvement status....

I Dreamt I was Making Out with a Swedish Artist

2010-01-19T14:15:00.009-05:00

And woke up deciding I'm spending wayyy too much time at Ikea.

(settling the new home is officially under way and I've got the raw hands to prove it).

Interpretive Holiday Mime Routine

2009-12-10T12:15:00.003-05:00

Just one way to express Christian devotion this holiday season...found while channel surfing.

A Thing to Do While Waiting in Traffic in the Rain

2009-11-29T00:26:00.003-05:00

Thanksgiving Sound Byte

2009-11-28T01:57:00.004-05:00

Sometimes when sitting around my eldest Uncle (Walt), I can't resist the urge to want to put a babushka on his head and a shawl around his shoulders because then it would be just like having my grandma around again. This kind of singing (in Slovak) happened all the time in her house. There was definitely some dancing too.

The Cable Guy is Santa

2009-11-25T10:04:00.001-05:00

Yesterday after school there was an older guy from Verizon managing a neighborhood installation. He had white hair and a long, white beard and was even wearing a red shirt (though with khakis and work boots). Ana was so excited "Look mom...it's Santa on his day off!" He really did look like Santa. Since he had a clip board he was writing on, I told her he must be doing a check of the neighborhood to see who had chimneys and who didn't. Ah, the white lies we tell to support the magic of childhood.....

Fallen

2009-11-02T13:24:00.002-05:00

The Logic of Pencils vs. People

2009-11-02T12:29:00.004-05:00

(A brief discussion with Ana over breakfast)

She (holding up a newly sharpened pencil decorated with Halloween bats): "The people win, the pencils use."

Me: "Huh?"

She: "People use pencils more than pencils use people!"

Type Lecture at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh

2009-10-16T02:43:00.002-04:00

"Highly Dangerous: Hand Lettering in the Digital Age"
Susan Bradley of Pixar Animation Studios is going to be giving a talk at The Art Insitute of Pittsburgh, Thurs Oct 22, 2009 4-6pm in the main gallery. All type geeks should be there or be super square.

hello

2009-10-02T12:49:00.004-04:00

Too busy to say much. Just planning for a new slew of students and trying to stay warm under the grey clouds.

No More Looth Tooth

2009-08-02T23:54:00.004-04:00

Followed by an argument over the Tooth Fairy when I said the protocol is to put the tooth under a pillow to find it replaced by money in the morning. She argued that you only get money if you put it in a glass of water; then that, instead of money, the Fairy might leave a small pillow under the pillow (??). I suggested that everyone has a different Fairy and that maybe we ought just see what our Fairy leaves. She seemed to think this a good idea.

Post-punk Tea Party

2009-07-24T07:43:00.005-04:00

A cold Summer night tea party in pajamas, jackets and socks on the porch with lit candles and watermelon cubes on toothpicks, playing lip sync (Ana mouthing the words, then forcing me to sing faster by moving her mouth faster and wildly tossing her head about so that the spiritual folk tune turned into a staccato post-punk ditty).

That's probably so wrong to follow "post-punk" with "ditty."

Sometimes ya' just gotta' say "What the hell."

2009-07-17T22:23:00.001-04:00

— Words of wisdom from my mother.

Things Not to Mind About an Over-priced Beach Shack

2009-07-05T09:00:00.002-04:00

(and that one is likely to encounter in said, per a 6-year-old and 10-year-old):

1. A baby alien drinking a Pepsi
2. A big blob that sits in the middle of the room saying "Don't notice me at night or I'll eat you."
3. The rats gnawing through the window screens.
4. The green fur in the frig (to which an adult should add, in a Minnesota accent: "Oh yeh, thaet wuz ther' when we bought th'place and aull the places 'round these parts have thaet.")
5. A ferrit flying over the microwave with Disney Princess underwear, Chuckie Cheese armpit warmers, green pants and Hello Kitty socks.
6. A giant eyeball that flies over top of you, quivering while you sleep.
7. A naked guy sitting in the corner, twiddling his thumbs and eating a cucumber.
8. A drunken hobo
9. That the kitchenette and the screened-in porch are one in the same.
10. The cardboard bedding ("Aull the places 'round these parts have thaet too.")

And once you've exhausted this litany of jokes, find a better place.

This was, as my mother called it, our "hunky holiday" and the accommodations slip-up was only the beginning. The result was finding a little gem of a place through a kindly young guy (Jay) who worked in another gem of a place, Presque Ilse Gallery Coffee House. That's how we found Henry, a 2-room cabin with air conditioning, a swimming pool, hot showers (ok, well sort of hot and we only had to cross the grounds to get to them), a camp store that did not jack up the prices of things like lighters when we discovered the one we'd brought wasn't working, and a mere 100 stairs to a practically private pebble-covered beach. There, we set up camp and found Elvis in a toasted marshmallow, just before learning that Michael Jackson died. True story.

The entire trip we were just inches ahead of the rain. By the time flood warnings hit, we were safely snuggled in a Comfort Inn, with a dry tent in the trunk. Hunky or no, we were counting our blessings. Also among them: camp fried Erie Walleye and fresh strawberry pie that we stumbled into with equal blind luck along the way.

Paris66 Mais Oui!

2009-06-23T20:00:00.003-04:00

In a classic example of "build it and they will come," this Father's Day, friends Lori and Fred Rongier celebrated the grand opening of Paris66, the French bistro that touts "everyday French cuisine." After months of planning, labor and construction, there it was: an explosion of color and not just in the environment, but of the food and the faces there to offer blessings. There was the smell of sweet crepes, welcoming greetings and laughter, blasts of music from the patio and the shuffling of sandals against wood on a warm Summer eve. Then, just when you thought you'd taken in the whole scene, fanning out from the foot of the stairs were dozens of Pittsburghers glowingly celebrating the induction of our own little Paris on the ever-expanding landscape of East Liberty.

I couldn't help but admire the Rongier family of six from afar: all in party attire, from the smallest of them at ages 2 and 5 (yes, go figure how people manage four children and a restaurant on top of full-time and part-time careers) lending a hand for the festivities, volleying French repartee as the wine flowed, the crêpes sizzled, and the drum sounds of French Fete de la Musique filled the air.

Meanwhile, the kiddies were busy dancing and making spontaneous rock sculpture that morphed into instruments when the band invited them in for extra percussion, to which pipe parts (discards from construction?) were added. May I just say, these French folk know how to rock the house.

Angelo Ciotti christened the back patio with, as we were calling it, the first tango in Paris66—a fateful dance that happened only because Angelo's flight was unexpectedly delayed and Christine Frechard dragged him onto the dance floor. That's the sort of magic that Paris66 makes. And I'm not just saying that because I was a part of the startup team, but because Lori and Fred set out to create an environment that would feel like an escape and exceeded their own expectations. And mine. Please go and visit them soon, before there's a line out the door to get in.

Another Champion of 2012

2009-06-23T18:16:00.000-04:00

We were watching a documentary about global warming, showing the ice caps melting, soil erosion that looked like festering wounds on the land, struggling elk and polar bears, when I said to Ana, "What do you make of all this? Do you think there's anything we can do?" She shook her head no. I said, "Well what do you think is going to happen?" and she said "I'm not going to tell you." When pressed, she said, "Since all of this stuff is happening to the planet and we need cars and electricity, it's going to end. For real."

I Met the Walrus

2009-06-22T09:00:00.001-04:00

And you can too. Yet another reminder that the hippies were right. A rare John Lennon interview set to gorgeous animation (thanks for this link, Denver): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmR0V6s3NKk

So Much for Educational Toys in Happy Meals

2009-06-11T22:43:00.005-04:00

When Ana told me her grandma took her to McDonalds for lunch, I asked if she got a toy with her meal and she said, "Just this dumb guy."

Making Time for Spontaneous Play

2009-06-11T15:00:00.005-04:00

"Let's pretend all the animals are shipwrecked on an island. This one is the queen. Make her say 'Where's my throne? Where's my carpet? Why is the ground so squishy?'"

Now pretend she starts digging and really likes it." (I make the "queen" dog dig feverishly while Ana lines up all the other animals around her as if staring in disbelief at her unusual behavior).

Kittyglum is the name of our worrying/complaining cat who is like the character Puddleglum from The Chronicles of Narnia, or like Doctor Smith on Lost in Space. And like a good Kittyglum she must instantly set herself to pessimistic worry. "Oh no, we're all going to die. We'll never get off this island. Whatever shall we doooooo?"

The other animals have to reassure her and give her a job to quiet her complaints. They suggest she forage for food. Shortly, she turns up with "magic algae" (a strand of green Mardi Gras beads). All the cats try a bite finding it makes them fall back relaxed, with stars in their eyes (oops). Now stress-free (thank you, magic algae), they organize themselves to set up camp.

One of the cats seems to be connected to a flying saucer and when I ask what the deal is with it, Ana says, "Because it's not a real Pet Shop Animal, it's a piece of junk from McDonalds." Oh.
This cat is Kittyglum's mother who has found her way there via GPS (but Ana calls it a time machine) when she and her kitty are reunited. Kittyglum wants to know how she got there so quickly and wonders why they just can't fly back together (self-centered as Kittyglum is). "We can't leave your friends and crew here!" Kittyglum-mom proclaims righteously. "Besides," Ana makes her say, "it wasn't so fast as you think. See how torn my clothes are."

Kittyglum-mom becomes the ring-leader in camp setup, but just when it's completed, the queen demands they load everything back onto the ship and get to work fixing it.

Bending to the monarchy as our characters are wont to do, they comply to the whims of the queen. Meanwhile, the magic algae has blown off and landed on a mountain top. Kittyglum-mom sees this as Kittyglum's chance to redeem herself and commands her to climb the mountain (my leg) with the skunk character to retrieve it as it is their main source of sustenance. Kittyglum and skunk come through and make it back to the ship just as the engine kicks in, ready to set out to sea. Everyone cheers just as the kitchen timer is going off.

(Yes, I timed our "play date" as I had exactly 20 minutes to do so before taking another 20 minutes to get ready for work before getting Ana to her grandma's before getting to work. I may have to continue this strategy; apparently quite a lot can happen in 20 minutes).

Rumi-nations

2009-06-08T10:00:00.007-04:00

Sent by friend Stephanie with whom I've been talking about the "pain body" (see Eckhart Tolle's work). These words are by 13th Century poet and mystic, Rumi.

A Community of the Spirit

There is a community of the spirit.
Join it, and feel the delight
of walking in the noisy street
and being the noise.

Drink all your passion,
and be a disgrace.

Close both eyes
to see with the other eye.

Open your hands,
if you want to be held.

Sit down in the circle.

Quit acting like a wolf, and feel
the shepherd's love filling you.

At night, your beloved wanders.
Don't accept consolations.

Close your mouth against food.
Taste the lover's mouth in yours.

You moan, "She left me." "He left me."
Twenty more will come.

Be empty of worrying.
Think of who created thought!

Why do you stay in prison
when the door is so wide open?

Move outside the tangle of fear-thinking.
Live in silence.

Flow down and down in always
widening rings of being.

Bullfrogs at Beechwood Farms

2009-06-06T16:12:00.003-04:00

Watch for the exciting ripple and bubble pop! (and thanks, Ann Rosenthal)

Another First

2009-06-06T14:55:00.010-04:00

Hearing a censored reading (by Karen Santelli) of Alan Ginsberg's Howl with "bleeps" input where the non-G-rated words fell so they would not fall upon the ears of our 10 and 6 year olds, unexpectedly in tow for our Late Night AiP poetry reading:

"...who got busted in their [bleep] beards returning through
Laredo with a belt of [bleep] for New York,
who ate fire in paint hotels or drank turpentine in
Paradise Alley, death, or purgatoried their
torsos night after night
with dreams, with [bleep], with waking nightmares,
alcohol and [bleep] and endless [bleep]..."

And then there is my favorite line (no bleeps required):

"...and who therefore ran through the icy streets obsessed with a sudden flash of the alchemy of the use
of the ellipse the catalog the meter & the vibrating plane."

Ah, Ginsberg....

Ain't No Time to Prop 8

2009-05-27T08:44:00.001-04:00

When, oh when, will we evolve?

Diety Confusion

2009-05-26T15:13:00.001-04:00

Ana: "Mom, what was the name of that fat Hari Krishna guy I used to like when I was a baby?"

Me: "Um. Are you talking about Krishna...the blue guy?"

Ana: "No. He's bald and wears a bunch of bracelets."

Me: "I can't really think of it. Do you mean Ganesh, the elephant god? I think his head looks kind of bald."

Ana (growing frustrated): "No! It's not the elephant. We used to see it in our old neighborhood."

Me: "Maybe we should ask Aunt LoLo the next time we talk to her."

While I did dishes, she rifled through a pile of magazines that happened to be by the table, uncovered an old copy of Ode and shouted "Here it is!" while poking her finger at an image of...

Buddha.

Icon-Worthy Warning

2009-05-25T14:55:00.004-04:00

Pittsburghese Pick o The Week

2009-05-15T08:15:00.000-04:00

"Rowzes" and "Flaurz"

As in:
"Fresh rowzes and flaurz for Mother's Day here!"

Rowzes = roses
Flaurz = flowers
(heard on Smithfield Street downtown).

The Uni-Mom-er

2009-05-12T14:37:00.005-04:00

We took a road trip to Chicago to see our friends Stephanie and Saskia. Steph and I met at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, were roommates for a time, lost touch for a while, and when we finally caught up, discovered we'd both been dating Eastern Europeans. When she called to tell me she was six months pregnant, I was three months pregnant. So these are our girls who have become dear friends as well.

And here we are on Mother's Day, having made the drive cross town just for our friend Amalea's restaurant, LuLa's; a place that evolved from being a funky cafe about a dozen years ago when we lived in the neighborhood (Logan Square...check out this video), to a "casual chic" bistro now, with all the local accolades. Lula's website.

But, being the fabulous moms that we are, it didn't occur to us to feed the girls at home first, knowing we would be getting there at prime time and would have a wait. So by the time we arrived, the girls were cranky and cold and didn't want to cooperate with a "nice" Mother's Day photo...portraits by "Smile Farmer" Christopher Keenan.

Being in denial about it not yet being Summer, I didn't dress warmly enough either, so am wearing my hoodie over my hat. When Steph said I looked like the Unibomber and I suggested more like the Uni-mom-er (oh geez) we were all laughing. Except for my precious daughter who burrowed into my shoulder and whined as her hair whipped about her face. Windy City indeed.

The only solution was to feed them at Johnny's Diner next door while we waited, then to kill another 20 minutes letting them climb the eagle-topped obelisk at the center of Logan Square (see mentioned Logan Square video). Yes, we're the kind of women who will do such things just to get fancy brunch into our bellies. But only because, at Lula's it's truly worth it. We got food to die for and the girls couldn't resist the plum-topped vanilla pound cake sent to our table by Lea when we were at last seated.

It was beautiful fuel for kite flying and sand castles on the beach of Lake Michigan afterwards and, all in all, my best Mother's Day on record.

Freaky Friday Critique

2009-04-29T11:40:00.000-04:00

A conversation about our trading places led me to tell Ana about the movie Freaky Friday, which bears that very plot. I rented the classic Disney version of it because it's rated G (as opposed to the updated PG version) and while watching it, there was this discussion:

Ana: "I'm like her [Jodie Foster]: I wish I could do whatever I wanted."

Me: "What would you do that you can't do now?"

Ana: "Um. Like go swimming any time I wanted. That's pretty much it."

Me: "Swimming, eh? That's it?"

Ana: "Well, and just...have paradise."

Why I Cut My Head Off

2009-04-28T11:00:00.005-04:00

(Or, I Think Too Much Therefore I Am Not)

A note about the dress photo in the post below. Yes I did cut off my head for reasons unrelated to self-censorship.

Typically this kind of image goes against the grain of my thinking. I recall seeing those first Hans Bellmer works and leaping to issues of misogyny; a juvenile perception of women as a collection of disjointed parts, yada yada (fill in the art school and/or women's studies blanks).

On taking the image I expected to feel uncomfortable at the result; of how it might work symbolically against the grain of my more holistic perspective.

Alas, it was just the image I needed to remind me to stay in my body. While that may seem par for the course for many, I feel that I am more often than not, living within a head that floats somewhere about a foot above my body. The head is thinking about calendars, schedules, appointments and To Do lists. It is inventing a future art project or product; wondering if the stove is off; where a folder went and what emails must be sent by day's end. It is pondering how to repair a kitchen cabinet while telling the body to write a note about a design or volunteer project; it is packing a bag for a day trip well before the trip. It is at the same time wondering when it can pause and have nothing to do. It is planning for pauses. It is doing all of these things while chipping away at remembering a quickly escaping dream from the night before, about a beloved friend who moved on a very different trajectory. It is orchestrating a meal, asking questions, being on time, answering students, prepping lessons, wondering if it mailed a letter. It is seemingly in control in its perpetual organization of chaos. And it is necessary.

What is increasingly unnecessary, is being mostly there, most of the time. So I took the liberty to cut—or I suppose I should say crop—it off. Here I am, waiting patiently in this task-free space; a proper sort of body language begging a more proper and fitting existence that, in the end, would ironically be more holistic. I of course think that would be a great place to be.

Art All Night 2009

2009-04-27T17:18:00.030-04:00

Another year of Art All Night came and went in, as usual, a night. For those who don't know about this event (and I've come to learn there are still quite a few Pittsburghers who've never heard of it and have never been): It's an annual art show that anyone can enter, any age, any art. You register online, bring your work in, volunteers like me check it in, the show goes up at 6 p.m. and is up all night until noon the following day. Then you go back and claim your work the following afternoon, at which time you find out if you have any interested buyers.

This year I entered this photo:

In miniature (that's it in the white frame):

I also entered one of Ana's drawings (Golden):

The show is an all-ages eclectic mix of people and art with food, music and activities for the kids, all for free. This year there was also a happy-making "treats" truck dishing up home made ice cream sandwiches (though they weren't free) and blaring old soul music from its speakers.

I bumped into quite a few Art Institute people there, and caught these two pieces of former Ai students, Steph Neary and Andrew Scott (respectively):

I think my favorite piece would have to be this self-portrait (though I was not able to make out the name of the artist on my photo of the label):

Here's a large-scale chess set made out of tile and bathroom fixtures:

And just some general pics of the crowd(s) and art:

Get on their mailing list if you don't want to miss it next year:
Art All Night

Boredom Buster

2009-04-26T10:00:00.000-04:00

Place a plastic cup over your mouth and sing Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head. Do this 22 times, gradually morphing your voice into that of a Lollypop Guild munchkin from The Wizard of Oz.

First Religious Dialogue

2009-04-25T10:00:00.003-04:00

I have purposely unsubscribed to the religious dogma I grew up with, that forced us to while away our beautiful, youthful Sundays in church and Sunday school. Whenever there is religious discussion, I frame it for my daughter as belief systems. I tell her that her aunt has one belief system that is such-and-such (fill in the blanks), that her dad has a belief system that is such-and-such, that her grandma has another belief system, etc. I tell her that many people with different belief systems believe that theirs is the best one. I tell her that we don't really know if there is a God or what God truly means or what happens when we die—even though Heaven is a really nice idea. I tell her there are many unsolved mysteries, even for grownups.

Need I say that church service is not a regular part of our routine. In fact, the only time we've gone to church was last Easter Sunday and only because she complained that I never take her. We got dressed up and went to St. Paul's Cathedral in Oakland. Part of the sermon included the priest talking about how Jesus died for our sins but is alive in all of us, to which Ana whispered: "He's dead, he's alive; he's dead, he's alive: which is it?!"

At the end of the mass I asked her how she liked it and she said "It was beautiful, but boring." Let's just say she never accused me of depraving her in this way since.

She did, however, suggest we pray at a meal once. And since I have a belief system that includes gratitude and God, I was happy to comply. The conversation went like this:

Ana: "Let's pray."
Me: "Ok. What is pray?"
Ana: "Talking at the table."
Me: "Talking to who?"
Ana: "To the Lord."
Me: "Who is the Lord?"
Ana: "The Lord God who makes all the food."
Me: "Ok. Thank you Lord God for this food."
Ana: "And for taking care of us."
Me: "Amen."

Let the Surrealism Begin

2009-04-24T10:00:00.004-04:00

"I had a dream I was holding a apple piece that made ghosts become real. I saw a scuba diver eating a sandwich under water.
And I had two dads."

Re-purposing Our House

2009-04-23T10:00:00.003-04:00

"Mom, when our house gets old—not really, really old; just old—can we make it into a restaurant?"

What One is When Going in Fast Circles on Hands and Knees

2009-04-22T10:00:00.002-04:00

(and how to contact said):

"I'm a cheetah chasing my tail. And my name is Strawberry. And my phone number is cheetah-1-4, cheetah-1-4, 6-3-2-9. Dot com."

While At a Red Light...

2009-04-21T11:00:00.000-04:00

A Timely Invention

2009-04-21T10:00:00.000-04:00

"Wouldn't it be great if they had a back scratcher machine. And we could get a large one and a small one. And it could have two cups on it where you could put a glass of water and a My Little Pony."

Today's Directive

2009-04-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

"Close our eyes and sniff.
And make the baby say 'I'm hungry.'"

In Mellon Park

2009-04-20T09:25:00.001-04:00

On the Evolution of Musical Tastes

2009-04-19T10:00:00.002-04:00

"Mom, I think I'm growing out of liking jazz."

First Love

2009-04-17T21:14:00.002-04:00

"Mom, I think I love...

candy."

Today's Lesson

2009-04-14T13:00:00.000-04:00

"This is what you call an ironing board. And this is called an iron."

Yes, I think I have managed to avoid ironing for the entirety of my daughter's near six years of life. The only reason I broke them out today was to iron a piece of fabric we are using to make a table for her dolls.

Easter Sunday

2009-04-14T12:29:00.003-04:00

I couldn't resist capturing this image of my mom relaxing under the blossoms on Easter Sunday.

Smile-Activation Flick

2009-04-10T14:53:00.003-04:00

This link was sent to me almost 3 years ago to the day (thanks Bernie), but I didn't actually get the email until today. How that happens is a mystery. In any case, it made me grin from ear to ear. How could a felt log set to ambient/punk music not have that affect I ask?

http://www.brunx.com/stuffed.mov

How to Play Barbies

2009-04-09T16:46:00.008-04:00

Without getting into a whole discussion about the political correctness and/or general appeal of Barbie, save to say I have succumbed and she is now a permanent fixture in our lives, this is just one way in which we interact.

Ana suggests I play the part of Barbie’s friend Theresa. Barbie, she says, had made a whole apartment for Theresa and Theresa is to go there, expecting an empty apartment but find it nicely decorated. So Theresa goes to the apartment and gasps at how lovely it is. “There’s even a cat!” she (I) exclaims but suddenly Ana makes the cat hiss.

“Ya' can’t pet the cat when she’s in her litter box,” she says.
When the cat comes out of its litter, it purrs and lets Theresa hold her.

Another Barbie appears (my idea) and says she’s the new neighbor and just wanted to introduce herself. She says her name is Jeanette and asks Barbie her name, to which she replies, “Oh, hi, my name is…Chocolate.”) Jeanette suggests “Chocolate” come over for coffee some day to which she agrees pleasantly. Then, when Jeanette leaves, Chocolate Barbie mutters, “What a strange lady….”

Now we must round up the horses so our Barbies can ride up into the mountains. Ana’s Barbie is, as she says, “a cowboy trainer.”
“Don’t you mean a horse trainer?” I ask.
“It’s what they call it here. She trains people to work with horses,” she sternly retorts.

As I’m changing Theresa into jeans and boots, I put the boots on my fingers and get a laugh when I sing “These Boots were Made for Walkin’” and make them walk all over.

So I’m up in the mountains when I decide it’s a magic mountain where whatever you wish comes true. My Theresa doll wishes for a hot cocoa and it appears. Then she wants cold water and that, too, manifests. Next she wants to make new friends and Jeanette turns up (Ana’s idea) and chats pleasantly with Theresa. But when she leaves Ana says I should say “What a strange lady...” which I decline to say. She won’t tell me why she thinks the “Jeanette” Barbie so strange. Theresa’s next wish is to go to a dance and find a great dress. Just then, a great dress appears on her in place of her Cowgirl gear.

“Now they’re going to wait on this couch for their princes,” she repeats the age-old archetype and I think to myself (and am instantly amused at my own cynicism), “Good luck with that one.”

Shortly the Barbies are going to get married (her idea). I have to switch clothes with Barbie, er, “Chocolate,” because she wants the dress my doll is wearing. Theresa is going to marry a Persian cat and Barbie is going to marry a charming country cat wearing a floral bonnet. “We’re marrying stuffed cats?!” I ask. Ana laughs, “Well we don’t have any Kens. WE NEED KENS!”

A horse acts as the pastor. We all say “we do” and then we have to kiss. But the means by which we have to kiss is via a plate of plastic spaghetti. This is how Ana saw her first romantic kiss. Or at least it sunk in the deepest when she saw Lady and the Tramp kiss over a plate of spaghetti in the Disney animation. So my Barbie and my cat have to pretend to be eating it, suck in the same noodle and then wind up kissing. Her Barbie and cat do the same. We then get in our carriage to go off on our honeymoon when suddenly Ana says “Ok, now we have to leave our husbands” and yells “Bye husbands!” When I ask why she says because they don’t fit in the carriage. How quickly practicality supersedes romance (sigh).

That night I dream Donny Osmond tells me that, with some separation anxiety, he gave away all of his childhood male dolls (G.I. Joe and the like) and I exclaim, “You should have asked us first: we need male dolls!”

So, ya’ll have fun with that one.

Individuation? Bring it on.

2009-04-08T00:35:00.004-04:00

She’s singing the Beatles Here Comes the Sun in an operatic voice really loud in a store. Charmed smiles erupt around me. She’s singing Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer (in April) in an ear-piercing equally operatic voice as I’m draining our noodles for dinner. Shortly after, she interrupts my singing to say she doesn't like how I sing a particular song but "didn't want to hurt my feelings." I have to tell her that I didn't especially adore her operatic rendition of Rudolph either. She seems suddenly bemused by this idea that maybe I don't love everything she does.

Music That Has Me Under Its Spell Lately

2009-04-07T23:24:00.004-04:00

I so enjoyed The Slant Old North CD, that I went to see them live at Club Cafe. They opened for Blind Pilot who equally took me by surprise. In both cases, there is hope, good will and depth in the complex sounds they create. A good balance of anima/animus through lyrics, vocals and eclectic instrumentation, both bands seem to capture the violence and vulnerability of the times and season.

What People Desperate for Baked Goods May Do

2009-04-06T00:28:00.001-04:00

While making cookies one eve, Ana suggests we pretend we own a bakery and we’re getting ready to open for the day. But we’re not ready to open. We have to hurry as the customers are coming. In fact, there’s a long line of them outside the bakery, waiting until we open. Ana says she has to look for them out the back door because they’re sneaking up on us. They’re wearing glowing suits, though, so she can still see them in the dark. (Thank God).

And then...

2009-04-05T19:00:00.002-04:00

What Goes On Inside a Life-Sized Sand Castle

2009-04-04T00:20:00.002-04:00

Ana’s answer to her own question: “If you could be anywhere in a Summer kind of scene right now, where would it be?” Apparently she wasn’t so satisfied with my version of a beach vacation, so she said:

“Being on a beach in my bathing suit with a sand castle so big we can walk into it, and getting a massage…by Barbie.”

Alrighty.

Great Hat

2009-04-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

Litterbug Response

2009-03-23T10:06:00.004-04:00

I did this quick sketch on a paper towel after Ana and I found ourselves driving behind someone who was throwing litter out of her car. "Stop trashing our city!" we yelled out the windows as we passed, honking the horn feverishly.

Around the Block Adventures

2009-03-22T11:22:00.008-04:00

In the past three years, my daughter and I have circled our block about 450 times. That's averaging 3 walks a week (1 or 2 days a week in Winter and 4-5 days a week in Summer). We don't always go with Ana's friend Jaelin pictured in this slide show, but we've probably gone with her about 30 times.

There are many stories accompanying these walks, from being chased by pirates whose ship's bells we can hear in the distance; who leave mysterious and often deceptive markings on the sidewalk (typically where power lines are indicated by city workers); and whom we're able to trick by slipping down certain streets that make us invisible. When a car approaches, we must freeze until it passes as they, along with any crows we may hear cawing, could be pirate informants. The goal is to get back to our "cottage" (as Ana has taken to calling it) before the pirates overtake us.

In the early years, we used to joke that the whole neighborhood knew we'd be out walking as their (automatic) lights would go on to help us see our way, or their dogs would bark as if greeting us. We came to know their dogs by name: Magic and Shimmer and Shelby and Roxie. After not seeing Shimmer for a long time, Ana finally proposed that maybe Magic made him disappear. But then Magic disappeared (we later learned his owner died and left the dog to a friend).

We met cats who we named "Beauty" and "Tweetie," lay in the grass of someone else's lawn, watching storms roll in while geese honked, moving into formation directly above us. We've made countless balance beam walks on curbs and walls. There was also the concrete donkey whose paint is chipping off and in the Spring we'd pretend plant flowers in its cart.

As this is the kind of neighborhood where lawn ornaments are the norm, we have personified a few others, too. In one yard there's a dwarf pushing a wheelbarrow. Next to him are two stone puppies and a stone bunny. It is typical to stop at that yard and "take" one of the animals through the yard's gate. If you get the bunny you have to put him in your pocket and make sure he's warm. If you get the dwarf, you have to hold his hand. And the puppies can be a problem as they're liable to take off which means you'll be running after them hanging onto an invisible leash pulling you at full speed.

When needing to get back efficiently, say, when it was colder than we thought, we'd take the short cut up "the mountain" (a steep hill separating the parallel streets of our block). Ana would prepare our make-believe back packs full of climbing gear, and somehow I'd always wind up with the "slow rope" making my climb more difficult than hers. By the time we'd near the top, she's always throw me an "easy rope" so I could catch up to her. But the easy rope would make it too easy and so fast so that she'd have to throw me a "medium rope" to get us back to normal.

We've collected countless treasures on these walks, from pine cones to pebbles to crab apples to Autumn leaves that became part of a nature installation on our mantle; brought strollers full of baby dolls and animals and eventually just one doll or animal tucked into a zippered coat; have gone with a flashlight after dark; with umbrellas in the rain; learned songs in rounds from my singing group; talked about our days; or just walked silently, wearing skirts and flip flops, eating popsickles in a warm Summer breeze. That last bit is what we're looking forward to most as Spring begins to unfold.

What's Up With The Single Bed, Bob?

2009-03-18T16:47:00.005-04:00

Subtitle: Let's Just Say it Better be Love

(Just a question that popped into mind when I heard this Bob Marley song on Valentines Day).

I wanna love you and treat you right;
(etc.)

We'll be together, yeah! - with a roof right over our heads;
We'll share the shelter, yeah, oh now! - of my single bed;
We'll share the same room, yeah! - for Jah provide the bread.

Is this love - is this love - is this love -
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
Is this love - is this love - is this love -
Is this love that I'm feelin'?

(etc.)

Two Worlds

2009-03-11T10:57:00.000-04:00

Tree Reflection Thaw

2009-03-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

Last Winter Days

2009-03-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

Winter Misadventures

2009-03-08T09:00:00.003-04:00

Last week as the sun blasted through Winter trees and seemed to melt the snow in our yard within a couple of hours, I concocted a Winter "get away," inviting friends Karen and her daughter Gabi to drive up North with us. I envisioned a leisurely country drive, getting out early and maybe doing some envigorating snow activity. Tubing seemed fun.

Upon checking the 7 Springs website, I saw they had tubing all day. When we got there, however, we discovered that all sessions were full. There was no indication on the website that one had to make reservations. We wound up eating gingerbread and watching the skiers from the main lodge deck. Then I discovered I'd lost my hat and we had to backtrack to the tubing lodge where I found it. We then waited and waited for the bus back up the hill to the parking lot, contemplating every few minutes if we should just walk. After 20 minutes we decided to walk. Halfway up, our bus was about to pass us when I jokingly put out my hitch hiker's thumb. Surprisingly, it screeched to a halt and we boarded, 30 faces on a packed bus all looking at us expectantly. Several yards later we realized we were at our parking lot. We'd thought the ride down was longer and that we had further to go.

Karen suggested a place closer to home called Wildwood. So we drove alllllll the way back, with Gabi singing an irritating song ("Aria, Aria...oh my friend, if you leave me here alone, may your feet begin to hurt before you walk the first mile...") a good part of the way, stopping only to ask how much further.

At the Wildwood ticket window I asked if it was safe for a 5-year old and they said it was. But as we stood at the base of the hill we'd be going down, I found myself panic-stricken. It was steep. They towed us up via cable and, at the top, I held onto Ana's tube, then, just as we launched off, the guy yelled, "You hafta' use your heels to brake!" (WHAAAA???!!!!!) The next thing I knew, the two of us were careening backwards down hill at what felt like a speed of 60 miles per hour, snow flying in our faces from the lame brake effort of my digging heels. I looked at Ana, bouncing over every little bump, without a helmet, and felt so stupid for thinking this was a good idea.

When we go to the bottom I pulled our tubes aside and told Ana that we would not be going down the hill again. She burst into tears and called me a "bad mother." I said I was sorry if she felt I was a bad mom for not wanting her to be hurt or killed on an ice hill. She sulked for about 15 minutes as Karen and Gabi and I discussed what to do. Eventually I suggested we complain to the ticket people and get a refund. Which we did. And they did, very eagerly I might add.

As we stood at the counter, Ana suddenly hugged my legs and said, "I'm sorry about my reaction mom." :'-) Then she asked for a hot pretzel and we all went home. I went to bed relieved that night that I had not accidentally killed my child via teen-run Winter sport.

Choco Peace, Man

2009-03-07T11:31:00.001-05:00

Chloe and Lori at Vanilla, an East Liberty cupcake place where we belatedly celebrated Chloe's 5th birthday. Favorite flavors were coconut and red velvet.

Turns Out I'm More Special Than Anyone Imagined

2009-03-07T09:00:00.004-05:00

The condensed (though no less thrilling) version of an 8-page letter I received via first class mail:

Dear Trees,

This is a personal letter just to you. Notice: this is not a mass mailing; this letter came to you by first-class mail, not by third-class bulk mail. This is not a solicitation for money. In fact, you will get something of immense value from us absolutely free with no strings attached. So, read every word very carefully because you will never get another letter from us again.

Trees, please keep what I tell you secret, because this information is confidential. There has existed for many years an exclusive association, a secret society, of some of the world’s most famous and powerful people. These include renowned actors and musicians, leading scientists and intellectuals, self-made millionaires, [my personal favorites:] professional gamblers, Casanovas, statesmen. Many of these people you would instantly recognize.

This association has uncovered some shockingly powerful secrets. And they share these secrets only amongst themselves.

Trees, have some incredibly exciting news to share with you. The association has analyzed your profile (you’d be unbelievably flattered if you knew who these individuals were). Please forgive us, but we’ve discovered something special about you.

It seems you, Trees, possess several rare traits we are searching for. Because of these traits, which we’ll talk about later, you are eligible to become part of our exclusive club and to share our Greatest Kept Secrets, too, absolutely free! By the way, as you read this, you may be saying to yourself that this is all a bunch of hooey. But I swear on the Bible [grammatical error coming up] will send you our Greatest Kept Secrets free of charge. You see, every year the association hand-picks individuals from around the world possessing your unique traits…your hidden talents must be phenomenal for the members to select you!

Seven years ago I was like you. Out of the blue, I received an invitation to the association. Just like you, they said I possessed special traits. I was flattered, excited, yet skeptical. They sent their Greatest Kept Secrets to me personally and, Trees, my luck changed so completely I thought God must be guiding me, giving me special powers!

You’ll know exactly what to do to make $5,000, $10,000 even $100,000 cash. Plus, prosper in every area of your life: emotionally, personally, physically, romantically and financially. You’ll even learn how to control anyone and make any man or woman like you, admire you, or love you!

[The author, who says that his lawyer “will not let me reveal my name” then goes on to list how miserable he was before he read these magic secrets, including describing his “beat up car.” He said that for seven months he went to every library he could find, “reading everything on successful, powerful and Casanova-like people.” After that he read the secret book by the secret people and now he is a multimillionaire.

He ends by informing me that, once I sign up at no charge, “the secret system and the association are the best insurance policy you could ever own. The association’s power protects you and gives you the advantages needed.”

I’m thinking Scientology. or mafia.].

Address to send post cards to the secret society: P.O. Box 6304, Dover, DE 19905-6304.

Cloud Logos

2009-03-05T16:42:00.004-05:00

"In the late 1990's, two international special effects inventors, Francisco Guerra and Brian Glover, wondered what would happen if we could make clouds into shapes."
—About Us page of the Flogos.net website

Wondered indeed. What happened is they created a machine that turns bubbles (albethey environmentally safe) into corporate logos to be blown into the sky during special events. The "cloud" logos last about 45 minutes, can travel up to 30 miles and at an altitute of up to 5000 feet.

In usual form, I was horrified. But my students just chuckled and thought it purty awesome.

"This could be a case where a big galaxy ate a smaller galaxy."

2009-03-05T08:02:00.007-05:00

— Todd Boroson, astronomer, explaining the nature of colossal black holes (this one being a billion times the sun's mass). Read the article.

The White Album of Kids Music

2009-02-16T15:08:00.002-05:00

We can't stop listening to this fabulous, sophisticated music for kids
by Jason Kleinberg of Me3.

Ana and I are constantly picking out new instruments from the
complex arrangements and plus her Uncle B is part of it....

http://www.jkleinberg.com/me3.html

A Show!

2009-02-09T00:12:00.007-05:00

I started a photo project last Summer and one large-scale piece (Titled 11:11, above) is in the Art Institute's Faculty Show. Here's the info:

Art Institute of Pittsburgh Faculty Show
Opening Reception: Friday, February 13, 2009
Time: 5 p.m.– about 9?
Show runs through March 28, 2009

Where:
420 Boulevard of the Allies (near Smithfield)
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 800.275.2470

Caw Caw

2009-02-06T09:00:00.001-05:00

Still Winter...Still

2009-02-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

Still Winter

2009-02-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

Fence Saga, Part 4

2009-02-01T10:45:00.000-05:00

So this was the fence evolution over Christmas. Yes the candy canes turned out to be lame once installed, but I can't wait to see them in August.

Inauguration Highlights

2009-01-23T21:41:00.009-05:00

1. Being able to say "President Obama," of course.
2. Barack's remarkable speech. ("What the cynics fail to understand
is that the ground has shifted beneath them.")
3. Those gorgeous millions of people there to witness it.
4. George Bush having to helicopter over them and survey the whole as he departed.
5. Dick Cheney all Doctor Strangelove-like, wheelchair-bound due to a severely pulled groin muscle. Though everyone else in the media covered it as a "back injury," Katie Couric took obvious delight in reporting that it was actually Dick's groin.
6. Poetic justice.

Barack Obama: President of Pittsburgh

2009-01-20T10:09:00.004-05:00

While at the MLK Day event at Union Project, speaker Rev. Saleem Ghubril said Barack Obama will be inaugurated as President of ... and Ana yelled out "Pittsburgh!"

"Your Skin is Lellow and Mine is Brown"

2009-01-20T09:31:00.009-05:00

And all this time I thought I was white. The irony made me smile, when our 3-year-old friend Anya (one of the dancers in the movie) said this to me at the Martin Luther King Day celebration at Union Project.
Feel the love:

Remarkable Movie on Color

2009-01-15T11:23:00.004-05:00

Light, Darkness, and Colours
A fascinating film about Goethe's color theory that turns Newton on his head. Color is not from the presence of light only, but light and darkness. Really well-produced and directed.
http://www.icarusfilms.com/new2000/light.html
Directed by Henrik Boetius, Marie Louise Lauridsen
and Marie Louise Lefevre

Just wanted to share this; though I've found it hard to get...it's not available through Amazon, Netflix or the usual channels. I got it from the Art Institute's library and am overdue to return it. Yet I don't want to return it. But I will.