Confessions of an Un-Runner
I may or may not be running - but I'm always juggling! Three homeschooled children, assorted critters, a 1900's house of errors, a growing business and my own underdeveloped (yet no longer denied) dreams and ambitions... It's a crazy life... but it's MINE!
The Un-Runner
Smacking Suzy Sunshine – How to handle the Blues
by Cyndi Paxton Johnson
Changing your life involves a LOT of positive thought and actions. It means starting and living your day with gratitude, making straight forward goals and visualizing those rosy-red results. But what happens when you just can’t be upbeat and positive? When you feel like smacking Suzy Sunshine and inviting her to try out YOUR life for a change?
We all get the deep blue funks from time to time – and we all deal with them differently. Some folks exercise (that’s WAY too healthy for me), others treat themselves to a spa day or special treat, and still others – like me – simply give myself permission to be sad/sick/depressed for a day or two – and indulge myself!
Life without Electricity - and Flush Toilets
by Cyndi Paxton Johnson
It’s 8:30 at night and everything is dark and quiet. The oil lamp gives off barely enough light to read, the fire is glowing dimly in the woodstove, the candle in the next room is flickering rapidly as it prepares to extinguish itself. In the household of six , only three are awake – myself and two children. One child is cured by the fire, reading. The other is drawing in the dim light – creating his own worlds with paper and colored pencils.
It’s our second night without power. The entire neighborhood is affected – a felled tree took out a power line, and the snow is too deep to allow a repair truck access. Larger and larger equipment has been called into service – needed to dig out the smaller trucks that became wedged in the drifting snow. Hopefully sometime tomorrow we will rejoin the modern world and again have lights, refrigeration, electric stove and water. And working toilets – let’s not forget the working toilets! (especially since two out of three children have experienced “intestinal issues” during out black-out period.
Mother Nature's Dark Side
By Cyndi Paxton Johnson
I never knew the meaning of COLD until I moved into a 1900’s farmhouse. I’ve spent the last seven years building up an impressive collection of double-lined pants, fleecy pajamas, thick wool socks, and triple-weight sweats. When the temperature dips below 20 I’ve been known to wear them all simultaneously – to bed. Then I burrow under sheet, normal blanket, electric blanket, quilt THEN down-filled throw. I am one WARM, snuggly woman – even if I do need 3 pairs of socks to stay that way!
This year we moved into another house – no more drafts blowing through the walls. I was excited to finally, finally be warm through-out the winter. One problem solved.
That was my first mistake – thinking everything was perfect. That small piece of conceit awakened Mother Nature – who has serious control issues.
Exhibit A: the coldest, snowiest winter in fourteen years. (I’m choosing to take this as proof we did the right thing moving out of the 1900’s house – or we would be five human popsicles right now!) Still – this much snow is guaranteed to make even the warm blooded go diving for extra blankets.
Unless, of course, you’ve reached THE AGE.
Exhibit B: I speak, of course, of peri-menopause – and the infamous hot flashes. It started quickly – Mother Nature is one pushy broad. I was snuggled deep in my heavy pj’s, socks and multiple blankets. This was good. Then….without warning…it was TOO MUCH! The down comforter hit the floor first. The electric blanket was turned off and shoved aside. The two small dogs, snuggling for warmth, were kicked unceremoniously to the floor as sheets and blankets billowed with as much air as the Flying Nun’s wimple. The husband’s hand, usually enjoyed for its heat source (as well as the mushy love stuff) suddenly became a branding iron, trying to imprint itself upon my hip. (and if he complains to you about my pushing him away – remind him he’s just lucky he didn’t wind up on the floor with the dogs)
Trust in the Path
By Cyndi Paxton Johnson
Do you ever feel pulled in different directions – only to realize you’re doing all the pulling? There are SO many things you need to do, plus the things you SHOULD do – that there is rarely time for the things you WANT to do! You either spend all your time and energy on the “needs” and “shoulds” or, like me, you stand paralyzed at the crossroad, trying to decide which direction to take! (I have the same problem bowling – can NEVER pick up a split – the ball goes right down the middle!)
If this sounds familiar – the very first thing to do is get RID of the “shoulds”! Take a look at each one and see if it really belongs in a different category. For example: I have an elderly great aunt & uncle I SHOULD visit. Just phrasing it that way makes it sound like work. Instead, I’ll turn it around and realize why I WANT to visit them – because it will bring us all joy and sometimes there is no “later”. Go through each “should” – if one doesn’t move naturally into another category – release it. Don’t say you “can’t” do it (very disempowering word) – but realize you CHOOSE to do or not do something. Every time you make a conscious choice your world expands – and you grow to fill the void.
But even after you’ve eliminated the “should” – there’s a LOT let on your plate. How do you make time for the things you WANT to do?
The Life Organizer
by Cyndi Paxton Johnson
I am ALWAYS striving to be more organized and efficient. (and yes, I hear Yoda's voice: Do or do not... there is no try !) And, as a self-proclaimed bibliophile (aka: book slut) I read a lot about ways to organize - starting with decluttering. The books say pretty much the same thing: pare down, find a home for everything, put everything away. (and yes - it IS the same thing my mother always told me)
This week I'm reading The Life Organizer: A Woman's Guide to a Mindful Year by Jennifer Louden. This one's different, folks. There's no files and plastic boxes and printed labels. Rather, it's about getting in tune with your heart, your dreams, your passion - and listening to yourself and your body about what the next step should be. Since it's meant to be experienced over a year - I have no idea if it actually works (though the reviews were fantastic!). Still, I do feel more centered - and even more patient about interruptions. I feel like something's changing - hopefully for the better.
Unfortunately, I haven't been as compulsive about making my "to-do" lists. I wonder if Allstate will understand I was listening to my heart and not sweating the small stuff???
I think there's a middle road here somewhere.....lost in the fog. I'm open to advice - and will let you know what I eventually figure out!
In the meantime...where's that Allstate bill?
The Power of Gratitude!
by Cyndi Paxton Johnson
It’s easy to be grateful when everything is going our way – there’s no talent in it. In fact, when things ARE going well we tend to become complacent, to take good news and good fortune for granted.
And then something happens that reminds us to appreciate every moment. This week the terrible reminder came in the form of a horrific earthquake in Haiti. The devastating loss of life from the quake has turned into the tip of the iceberg. Now people that survived the quake are dying from hunger, lack of drinkable water and simple injuries.
The Ping-Pong Life
by Cyndi Paxton Johnson
It happens to most of us, at one time or another. We go through the motions of the day, feeling vaguely dissatisfied and slightly depressed. After awhile we become agitated and edgy, almost nervous as we wait for the “next thing”. The problem? We are spending our days striving to make other people happy, to meet others’ needs. We have neglected our own priorities in our effort to keep the peace – we may not even remember our own goals and ambitions.
We’ve become the Ping-Pong Ball. Others have all the control, we simply go where we are sent, mindlessly. Parents of infants and young children are quite familiar with this lifestyle – their days are spent in a constant state of meeting the next urgent need of their charge. Any long-term caregiver is at risk – and the world is now tuned into recognizing people in this situation and offering them support groups and respite care.
Organize Your Priorities – but Adapt to Life!
Everyone says the same thing – to change your life, change your priorities. It makes sense: if you insist on watching 8 hours of reality tv everyday, you probably won’t lose weight, get a degree, build a business or write that novel. Of course, just turning off the television won’t make those dreams magically happen, either. Realizing a dream requires organizing and prioritizing - and, in my case, a great deal of patience!
For example, my number one goal of this morning is to write this column. Simple, right? Except I’m also helping the kids with schoolwork, letting animals outside, answering the phone and working with my husband to get my computer to print. (which means I need to save everything and reboot any minute now). And then there’s housework, laundry and food preparation jumping up and down, demanding my attention. As much as I’d love a sound-proof office (surrounded by an electric fence) it’s just not my reality right now. My life involves a bunch of other people and animals that all need my time and attention – and yours probably does, too. So…what’s the solution?
A Christmas Tapestry
by Cyndi Paxton Johnson
It's funny how a holiday that comes (like clockwork!) every year can remain unique and special, creating in us a myriad of emotions, good and bad. Looking back over the years it's been a roller coaster ride of holiday experiences - and I don't know that any particular ONE year stands out as being "the perfect Christmas". Rather, I believe it's the total lifetime holiday memories that meld together to give us that warm, fuzzy feeling we identify as "Christmas".
The young years were, of course, all about the STUFF. Like the tiny, orange television set I received in 5th grade. Rumors of the impending gift caused me to wake the household at 4am to get Christmas morning underway. I don't know why I was so excited - it was the first "privilege" to be revoked when I failed to satisfy - and it spent MUCH more time in my parents' closet than in my bedroom. Christmas day back then also meant visiting the relatives - all of them within driving distance, anyway - to ooh and ahh over their Christmas goodies.
The young adult years were also about STUFF - but now I was giving it. I shopped til I dropped, from New York City to Baltimore, and spent Christmas Eve wrapping gifts in a panicked frenzy. The holidays meant spending time with friends and family - traveling the roads to visit everyone on my list.
The religious years followed, when I busied myself with church and reaching out to others. Mixed in were the lonely years, the depressed years, the feeling like a failure years, when I pasted a smile on my face and counted the minutes til the festive season was over. Then there's the Black Christmases - the first one after the death of a loved one. When you go through the motions, and try hard not to cry until you're alone. They may not be the "Made for tv Holiday Special", but they're important memories in my Christmas tapestry.
Marriage and children changed the holiday yet again. Now it was my turn to make the magic, time to question if I was doing enough to make the holiday special for my children. Also known as the Guilt years.
Make a New Holiday Favorite - Pumpkin Chili!
by Cyndi Paxton Johnon
Even if your family isn't gung-ho for pumpkin they'll enjoy this flavorful chili - according to one of the PICKIEST family on the shore - MINE! This would also work in a slow cooker - if you're organized enough to get an early start!
Pumpkin Chili
Ingredients:
1lb of ground pork
1lb of small beef cubes
1 large onion, chopped
1 green or red pepper, chopped
1 T minced garlic
2 cans (15 oz) kidney beans, drained & rinsed
1 cup V-8 or tomato juice
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, with juice
1-3 cups of pumpkin puree (I used 2+)
Country Canning Corner
Abundance: the inner peace that abounds when we gaze at our overflowing gardens and our stocked pantries and freezers. Canning is simple - we can all learn to preserve and savor nature's bounty!
Canning Blackberries and Corn and Beans - Oh My!
By James R. Coffey
My! How fast Summer is flying by and how quickly the busy part of canning and freezing are fast under way. I have had request for blackberry recipes and I will add several vegetables that are in season as well.
In this post – Canning:
Blackberry Jelly, Jam, & Blackberry Preserves!
Green Beans Sweet Corn
If you need instructions on HOW to can, refer to earlier blog posts!
Making Bread Spreads Using Commercial Pectin - Multiple Recipes!
by James R. Coffey
Spring is the time to make delicious, easy fruit spreads that will preserve the flavor of spring all year! First, I'll teach you how to make your own spreads - then share many fantastic recipes! This column includes recipes for Cranberry Apple Jelly, Pomegranate Jelly, Dandelion Jelly, Rhubarb Jelly, Raspberry Rhubarb Jam, Blueberry Rhubarb Jam and More!
General Directions For Making Bread Spreads Using Commercial Pectin
Wash and rinse jars (this can be done using a dishwasher). Prepare canning lids according to manufacturer’s directions. Measure sugar and set aside for later use. This is where the two pectin methods now change.
Make Your Own Marmalades!
by James R. Coffey
It's time to start canning! If you've missed my previous posts on HOW to can - you'll need to read them, first! I will share at this time Late Winter and Early spring recipes for seasonal items as they are available. Please feel free to send in your own favorite recipes and we will try to include them. Please include your name, e-mail, and phone number on all submissions. We reserve the right to update recipes, if necessary.
Oranges and Kumquats are in season at this time of the year and now is a good time to make these marmalades.
Orange Marmalade
6 large oranges
5 pounds sugar
1 #2 can crushed pineapple (Do not drain)
When Good Canning Goes Bad!
by James R. Coffey
Preserving food through canning is a fantastic way to enjoy fresh, delicious food year round! There’s nothing sweeter than opening a jar of food you’ve canned yourself – and nothing is more disappointing than realizing the food you’ve worked so hard to preserve is not safe to eat.
This column deals with first identifying spoiled food - and then preventing future occurrences. Yes, you may have a few failed attempts as you learn the art of food preserving- but don’t give up! Save and savor those fresh-picked flavors – all year round! You can do it!
Country Preserving
by James R. Coffey
Preserving the GardenWe have over the past two columns discussed the history of canning and the methods involved. Now we will tell you how to can and how to use both a water bath and a pressure canner.
This is also a good time to assemble jars, canning lids, canners and other equipment you will need. Many times once we get into canning season, some supplies run out and are not replaced quickly enough when you really need them. You can find used jars at flea markets, yard sales and even your family members who no longer cans. Purchase your pectin and lids early as your store may run out at the height of the season. Never reuse canning lids at any time. Rummage and Garage Sales as well as E-Bay are a good source to buy pressure canners and water baths. Beware of antique pressure canners as parts may no longer be available for them. I have provided more information in the insert from my canning book:
Methods of Canning through the Ages
by James R. Coffey
Water Bath CanningPressure Canner: This is the only method considered safe for canning low acid foods by U.S.D.A. and all canning authorities. A pressure canner is a sealed pot that allows steam to reach above the boiling point of water. This reduces time and gives a greater degree of safety. [we’ll be discussing pressure canning in greater detail in future articles!]
Water Bath: This is the oldest method and the one used by Nicholas Appert. The jars of food are placed on a rack in a pot and the jars are covered with water. When the water boils, the processing time is counted. When the processing time is up, the jars are removed from the bath, allowed to cool and the jars are checked to be sure they are all sealed. This method is also known as cold packing in some areas and the kettle as a cold packer.
This method is recommended for all high acid food. This is fruits, bread spreads, pickles, and most tomatoes, as long as they are acidified. This method was also used for vegetables and other low acid foods. It is still used in the Amish and Mennonite communities for this purpose.
An Introduction to Canning and Equipment
by James R. Coffey
Preserving the GardenHome canning is both art and science. Nothing is more satisfying than a full canning storeroom. The science, of course, is that is must be done right or it will not keep.
Canning tidbit: Canning, as we know it today, was invented by Nicholas Appert. This “Father of Canning” was awarded 12,000 Francs for developing his methods – which haven’t changed much through the years. Canning preserves food by sealing it airtight after a heating period which kills the germs and organisms that cause spoilage. If jars do not seal or the heating (processing) period is not long enough the food will spoil.
Why are we talking about canning in February? Because you’ll need to plan your garden around your future canning projects! You’ll also need to gather the necessary equipment. Some people like to can soups and meats in the winter – if so, here’s what you need to get started!
Dad's Shore Life
John's PictureI'm a lot of things, husband, son, business person, web site guy, photographer, wanna-be artist....the list just goes on; but the mostly, I'm dad.
Life in a Jar -- Irena Sendler
It's time for another look at the email inbox, this time I found one of those emails that sounded to good to be real. This had to be a made up story, just to get get people to forward it. Turns out that reality was actually better (worse?) than the email.
I will not go into details, but I will encourage you to follow the links below and read more about this remarkable woman from the old world and the remarkable young women from the new world that gave a story life.
Here is the email, I have inserted dates/corrections in parenthesis to correct the context of the email:
Irena Sendler
There recently (May, 2008) was a death of a 98 year-old lady named Irena. During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer (actually she worked for the health department) specialist. She had an 'ulterior motive' ... She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews, (being Polish.) Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried, and she carried in the back of her truck a burlap sack, (for larger kids..) She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises.. During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants. She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family. Most had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted.
The Spoiled Under-30 Crowd!
by John K. Johnson
We all have one (or more) friends who send us every stupid email in the world; every dumb joke, every cause - real or not, every outrage (again, real or not). Most of us delete 99% of these emails and get on with our lives. Me, I tend to read them, scream at them, research them and send them back to the original sender with the results of my research telling them just how WRONG the email was.
However, every once in a while, you get one that is worth your time, you read it, you enjoy it, you share it with your significant other, or forward it to you email list - or you post it on your website!
THE SPOILED UNDER-30 CROWD!!!
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking Twenty-five miles to school every morning....
Uphill... Barefoot... BOTH ways ...Yadda, yadda, yadda
And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in &*^% I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!
But now that... I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a $#^% Utopia!
There's a ???? ???? in the Toilet!
You just know that can't be good.
I'm just sitting there, minding my own business, and I hear the sound that makes every parent freeze in their tracks. At least, one of my kids is screaming with that voice; it's the voice that says "There is arterial gushing from my neck region", or "She touched me". I struggle to make out the content of the scream through the door that is separating us.
"There is ???? ______ in ???? upstairs toilet." Oh yeah, I wanted to hear that. Maybe I can pretend to be asleep?
Chickens are tough!
One Tough ChickenIt has started getting cold here on the shore. (Not as cold as Tok, Alaska, -78F last I heard) It has been getting down into the 20s at night and, of course, we are concerned for the newest members of our family.
This is our first winter with chickens and I have been having nightmares about getting up one morning and finding 8 chicken-sicles hanging upside down from the perch in their chicken coop. Guess what, chickens are a lot tougher than they appear.
Evening Contrails
Contrails at SunsetWe were heading to Cambridge to hear our friend Anne Watts and Boister play their latest CD live, when we got a feast for our eyes.
Discover Space to Live In
Tips on organizing your home
Organizing Your Thoughts
by Debbie Bowden of Organize Now
We’ve all had days, weeks, months where there is just too much to do. Let’s say you have three major projects at work, the kids all have after school activities, your mother needs a ride to the doctor, the dust is an inch thick in your house, and the laundry is looking like a monster from the Saturday morning cartoons. Whew! Where to you start? Everything needs to be taken care of now!
Just like organizing your space can help make you feel at peace in your home, so can organizing your thoughts. Situations like the one I describe above call for more than just a To Do list because of the pressure of the deadline. You need to take the mental organization one step further.
Despite the deadlines, not everything has to be now. In every case, there is an order of priority. It’s finding that priority that can seem daunting, and it calls for breaking down all that you have to do into manageable tasks day by day.
Taking the example above:
- Work projects: which project or project task has the closest deadline? You should concentrate on that first. You might try to work on the least time-consuming yet productive task so that something is done.
- Kids’ activities: Look for an alternate transportation option. Perhaps call in a favor and ask your neighbor to drop off and pick up the kids.
- Taking Mom to the doctor: this may be your one number priority because the appointment can’t be changed. You will need some
Don’t Organize on Snow Days
by Debbie Bowden Organize Now
It would be so
easy for me to recommend organizing while you are stuck in the house on these o’ so many snow days.
Let me be realistic. If you are stuck indoors, that means so are your kids. They are bored, as they will no doubt tell you every five seconds. So entertaining the children comes at the top of your to do list on a snow day.
Being organized can help with cabin fever. First of all, you will know right where the hats, gloves, and scarves are kept when the kids want to go outside. You may even have an idea if you have an old corncob pipe to place on the snowman.
Secondly, you can be prepared with activities and games for the snow bound. It helps to know right where all your craft supplies are or where that old Monopoly game is stored to make a quick answer to “I’m bored.”
Lastly, if your space is organized, you aren’t going to fret about “this mess” and be less stressed. You’ll be happy to spend the time in your home with your kids. And this winter, that’s been A LOT of time.
Distracted clutter; distracting clutter
by Debbie Bowden Organize Now
One of the reasons clutter starts pulling up is because we are all so busy. Think about it – you walk in the door after a long day at work, flop your purse and keys and mail and tote on the nearest table, and put the milk and eggs in the fridge. You may be lucky to get your coat hung on the back of a chair, much less in the closet. Then while your better half and kids are all chatting with you, you try to make dinner.
In the middle of the melee, you do manage to get the mail in a basket on the kitchen counter, on top of a week’s worth of other mail and a note to sign for your kid’s school. Later, after dinner has been served, the dishes cleaned up, and the load of laundry in the washer, you sit down to answer all your emails. Suddenly, its time to put the kids to bed, and just as you lean in to give little Johnny a goodnight kiss, he asks about the school note.
Yikes! “Where is it?” you ask yourself. Panic ensues. Is it in the office? No. In your purse? No. How about on the stack of magazines near your chair in the living room? Nope. Now you’ve spent 20 minutes looking for a piece of paper. As you walk into the kitchen for a drink, your brain does that magical thing it does and you remember the note is under the pile of mail. Disaster averted!
Get Organized for the New Year!
by Debbie Bowden Organize Now
New Year’s resolutions are as varied as the people who make them: lose weight, take a college class, eat healthy, keep in contact more with friends and family, and my favorite – get organized. Here’s a tip that can help you start and be successful in organizing any space.
Break your organizing project into small, manageable tasks. It can be a help to write down a plan in an outline form, for example:
Organize House
- Linen Closet
- Gather all towels and sheets
- Sort towels and sheets
- Categorize into keep, throw away, giveaway
- Distribute: put the “keep” into back, put the “throw aways” in the garage as rags, take “giveaways” to Goodwill
- Office
- Gather all paperwork and files
- Sort the bills, the junk mail, correspondence, pictures, etc.
- Categorize into bills to pay/file, paperwork to trash or shred, pictures and letters to file
- Distribute: file bills and paperwork, trash or shred items, put pictures away, put correspondence in the to do pile to take care of later.
By breaking the project into smaller tasks, you are more likely to perform each task because you will find you are the time and energy to “gather all towels and sheets” versus trying to tackle “organizing the whole house.” You’ll also find that your plan becomes a handy To Do list you can use to track your progress and show your success in keeping your New Year’s resolution!
Organizing your Email
by Debbie Bowden Organize Now
When I organize for a client, I focus mainly on the stuff in the house. But for my own organizing, I apply the principles to my email storage as well.
Like most of you, I get emails that vary from friends’ quick notes to requests for organizing services. And of course, the ever-present “junk!” I treat my email like the snail mail. The junk gets deleted immediately. I read the friendly notes, respond in kind, and usually delete them. I liken these types of emails to phone calls. I don’t record my phone calls so why would I save these emails. I will “save” the friendly email if I need to use it as a reminder (more on that later). Finally, I read and respond to business email, save to the appropriate folder, and print if necessary.
I have set up folders in the Inbox, much as I have hardcopy folders. The folders are labeled for the appropriate topic: “organize now,” “taxes,” “charities,” “saved,” etc. Some of these folders have subfolders to take the organizing one step further. As soon as I am done with an email thread, I file the LAST email in the folder and delete all the rest. I only save the last email when the person I am emailing and I reply to back and forth. That way, I have all that was written in one document.
I also use the “For Follow Up” option on my email as a reminder system. There are different colored “flags” and I assign one color per folder. This is a great system, and it keeps my main Inbox neat. Here’s an example: let’s say a friend wants to see a concert in a couple of months. We “e-chat” back and forth and finally decide on a date and time. Because I need the last email as a reminder for scheduling in a future date, I save it to my “friends” folder.” Then I flag it purple. Once or twice a week, I go through my “For Follow Up” folder to see what’s happening soon.
Email is a wonderful tool, but it can get just as cluttered as your home and then it becomes uneffective.
Maintaining a clutter-free home
by Debbie Bowden of Organize Now
Let’s say you get your house organized. You’ve worked hard, probably with a knot in your stomach, but you are rewarded with no junk, no clutter, no extraneous stuff. Good job. Now you can move on to the real secret of being organized – maintenance.
Maintenance isn’t nearly as time consuming as initially organizing, but it does call for diligence. This step in the process of being completely organized calls for a change in habit. Like any habit we change it means doing things differently and establishing a new pattern.
Here’s a tip that is a tremendous help with maintenance, and only takes 5 to 10 minutes a day. Go through your entire house and pick up stuff. It doesn’t matter what time of day as long as it is around the SAME time each day (I do this when I get home from work because I am NOT a morning person). To start this new habit, literally walk through every room. Look for stuff that is out of place and put it back in its spot. Remove items that don’t belong and put them where they do belong. Most importantly, finish the room before moving on to the next.
Let me repeat that – finish the room before moving on to the next. It is too easy to get distracted by trying to tackle multiple rooms all at once. Distraction is probably the number one culprit of not having a good maintenance routine.
When you first start a maintenance routine it may take you longer than 10 minutes. But each day the time you dedicate to maintaining will shorten. Before you know it, your house is consistently organized, and that is a habit you can definitely live with.
Does Empty Space Attract Clutter?
by Debbie Bowden of Organize Now
I hear, “Well, there sure is a lot of space now.” That statement puts fear into the heart of an organizer because when most people are faced with empty space, they feel a strong urge to fill it. Then guess what – more clutter!
Here are a few tricks to fool the eye that the empty space just doesn’t exist:
Arrange your clothes with 2 to 3 inches between each piece. This gives the illusion that the closet is full, but gives more actual space if needed. (An added benefit – your clothes won’t get wrinkled being crammed together.)
Get Control of Your Closet!
“What do I do with all these hangers?”
by Debbie Bowden
That is a frequent response of my client who have gone through a closet purge. It is as if the hangers are whispering sweet nothings, saying “put something on me. I’m lonely up here on this closet rod. How can you stand to just leave me hanging!”
I help those who suffer from “empty hanger” syndrome by taking the hangers away. Not all the empties; the client and I figure out how many extras are needed by taking a quick inventory of clothing that needs washing, ironing, or dry cleaning. I encourage the client to trash the freebie hangers from the dry cleaners and from purchases.
Now this can be the really scary part for the client – I tell them that the number of hangers they have right at that moment is finite! That means when they get new clothes, and they don’t have an extra hanger, they must purge something old. This is the ONLY way that a closet is going to stay clutter-free.
Is Sentimental Clutter Making You Miserable?
by Debbie Bowden
Debbie is the owner of
http://www.organizenowmd.com[_new]Organize Now, in Barclay, MD.
We all keep mementos of the past as a trigger for the memory connected to the thing. Presumably the memories attached to the thing are good memories, otherwise, why would we hold on to it? Many are afraid (strong word, but very appropriate) to get rid of the memento for fear the memory will fade also.
That good feeling from the memory triggered by the thing is trumped by the bad feeling of clutter!
What memories will you have 5 10, 15 years from now of your home? Will the plastic flamingo key chain from Florida with one of the legs broken be what you remember? Will you be thinking of the dried carnations from the corsage your boyfriend gave you at the senior prom? Will you remember the gads and gads of STUFF from places you visited (or worse, the gifts from places other people visited)?
The key to finding your keys
by Debbie Bowden
How many times have you misplaced* your keys in your purse? Go ahead, I’ll wait while you recount the number of times.
I have done it myself (it happens to all of us) even though my purse is organized. But a little piggy saved me – here’s how.
I was given an orange piggy key fob. I don’t collect pigs and I don’t like to have a lot of extraneous stuff on my key ring. But I thought, “wait a minute!” What a great tool to have to help me find my keys. The vibrant color makes it perfect to see when I’m searching the depths of my purse. The unusual shape is great to get a hold of when I’m rooting around the pockets. And if by a slim chance my keys are grouped with other sets, I instantly know which set belongs to me.
Dude, You Gotta Hear This!
Spotlighting the best of Maryland's music scene.
Review:DEANNA BOGART—LIVE AT NIGHTCAT
By Travis Mamone
No one can deny that Deanna Bogart has soul. It just seeps through her pores whether she’s singing, blowing her saxophone, or playing the piano. And this past weekend, fans got a double dose of that soul at Easton’s NightCat.
Bogart draws such a crowd that she had to play two shows this weekend: one on Friday the 8th and the other on Saturday the 9th. Opening Saturday’s show with an instrumental jam, Bogart pounded the piano keys and stomped on the floor while Mike Aubin kept time on the drums. She then launched into the boogie-woogie-inspired “Over Thirty (Down and Dirty),” a song that she claimed she wrote when she was 29. Bogart stuck with originals, mostly, although she did do a soulful cover of John Hiatt’s “Have a Little Faith in Me.”
Of course her set list included her signature song, “Still the Girl in the Band.” The bouncy number ended with an extended improvised coda that kept the audiences attention no matter where she went (she even hit a high note on the piano with the heel of her boot).
After a 20-minute break, Bogart and Aubin got back onstage and went straight into “Baby You Got What It Takes.” Things calmed down a bit during the touching number “Soulache,” written for Bogart’s daughter Alix. The show ended on a high-spirited note with “Down the Road,” which featured a scat solo by Aubin.
This is the second year Deanna Bogart has played at NightCat, and I don’t think it’ll be her last. To find out where she’s playing next, go to www.deannabogart.com.
RHIANNA LAROCQUE: RISING STAR
By Travis Mamone
Meet Rhianna LaRocque: former Severna Park native, current Northeastern University student, and a promising talent. Her laid back acoustic melodies and stunning voice have already garnered the attention of such seasoned veterans as Rob Levitt.
Q: How did you get into music? Was there a lot of music in your house?
A: I always loved music, but was always too shy to sing in front of people. It was really when my aunt's boyfriend came to our house for a visit and taught me couple chords on the guitar. For about six months, I sat in my room for hours at a time and practiced. An opportunity arose to perform when I decided I wanted to audition for a school production, and for that audition I sang in front of people for the first time. After that, I realized playing music was what I wanted to do.
My grandmother was a singer, but nobody in my immediate family plays any instruments. My mom claims my musical abilities came from her playing The Beatles, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and James Taylor when I was a baby.
Q: Who were some of your influences?
A: There is a ridiculously long list of artists that influence me, but to name a few, Joni Mitchell, Andrew Bird, Wilco, Feist, and Radiohead. I'm also lucky enough to be surrounded by a ridiculously talented group of friends, and I get a lot of ideas, support, and input from them.
Q: When did you start writing songs?
A: My first few songs were written in tenth grade about a failed relationship. They're really quite silly to me now, but it's cool to look back at how I've changed in the last few years.
Q: What inspires your music?
A: Honestly, I wish this wasn't the case, but for the most part...boys.
INTERNATIONAL JET SET AND BLACKWATER REFUGEES
INTERNATIONAL JET SET AND BLACKWATER REFUGEES—LIVE AT THE GREEN TURTLE
By Travis Mamone
Despite a crappy soundboard, local bands International Jet Set and Blackwater Refugees delivered an outstanding show this past Friday at the Green Turtle in Easton, MD. And with a standing-room only crowd, it turned out to be the sports bar’s biggest show to date.
Blackwater Refugees, a new alt-country trio from Easton, was the first act. Led by Mike Shorter on bass and vocals, the band takes the grit of old school country and adds a twist of rock and roll. At first it was unclear whether or not the Refugees would get to perform, since the soundboard blew out right when they were set to begin. But after some tinkering, the boys kicked off their 40-minute set with signature song “County Jail.” The Refugees did mostly originals, but through in a few covers, including “D.U.I. or Die” by Those Darlins. That was supposed to be their last song, but after a couple of audience members called for one more song, Shorter yelled, “I can’t disappoint my fans” into the mic, and the boys delivered a killer encore.
JAYME PLOFF AND MINUS ONE—LIVE AT NIGHTCAT
By Travis Mamone
After a few months off, Jayme Ploff returned to NightCat on August 29 singing jazz with the trio Minus One. And it was well worth the wait! Her expressive and dynamic voice dominated throughout the evening, and Minus One’s classic jazz sound proved to be the perfect match for Jayme.
Minus One opened with four tunes. Their sound is reminiscent of the classic piano-led jazz trio sound of Vince Guaraldi. Musically all three members--Rodrigo Pinchiera on keyboard, Bob Kammann on drums, and Gary Barnes on bass—were perfectly in tune, giving each other enough room to follow the songs wherever they lead. Barnes, however, was the one to watch for during his impressive bass solos.
After a short break, Minus One returned to the stage with Jayme on the mic. The set list both opened and closed with two of her original compositions. The opener, “Imperfect Me,” would fit perfectly in Cole Porter’s songbook, while the closing “Noah’s Song” was a sweet and beautiful lullaby written for Jayme’s newborn nephew. The rest of the songs were jazz standards.
TOMMY: AN AMAZING JOURNEY
by Travis Mamone
Easton High School has done it again with their production of the Who’s rock opera “Tommy.” Under the direction of Tom Quimby, the cast and crew bring Pete Townshed’s masterpiece to life with excitement, drama, humor, and great rock and roll.
Based on the Who’s 1969 double-album, “Tommy” tells the story a boy who, after witnessing his father kill his mother’s lover, becomes psychosomatically deaf, mute, and blind. He is abused by his Uncle Ernie and Cousin Kevin, grows up to be a champion at pinball, and, when he regains his senses, becomes a messianic figure to his fans.
“Tommy” was made into a move in 1975, and then went to Broadway in 1993. Easton High performs the Broadway version, so don’t expect to see Tommy’s mom roll around in a pool of beans.
But do expect to see an outstanding cast that includes Jacob Porch as Tommy, Sarah Lowe as Tommy’s Mother, Shane Taylor as Captain Walker, and Matt Filbert as Uncle Ernie. Filbert is a standout; he can bring out both the humorous and lecherous sides of Uncle Ernie convincingly. Another cast member to take notice of is 7th grader Ian Young, who plays Tommy as a child. He’s mostly quiet during the first act, but in the second act he finally gets a chance to display his tremendous voice.
Jordan Page
By Travis Mamone
Jordan Page
“Listen to the sound that you hear,” Jordan Page sings, “like an echo in your head/ there’s a strange vibration rising/ from the heart of America.” Page challenges his audience to do just that: listen. Listen to what’s going on in the world, to what our leaders are doing, and to an incredible local talent with a powerful message.
His brand of acoustic rock--a mixture of Bob Dylan and Pearl Jam, among other influences--is a powerful call-to-arms against injustice and war. "I will not submit to authority of man/ I'm alive I'm awake," Page announces on the percussion-driven "Listen." "Song for Bob" is an acoustic plea for peace dedicated to Dylan. “You taught us that war is a sin and a sham and a shame,” he sings, “and the penance we pay for our silence is more than just taking the blame.” But Page also has a softer side. “Evergreen” is a catchy, romantic song dedicated to his wife. “My love is evergreen,” he sings, “she’s got the ways and means to give me the heart of my desire.”
To find out more about Jordan Page, visit his website at www.jordanpagemusic.com.
Spotlight: Jayme Ploff
By Travis Mamone
Jayme Ploff
For the past couple of years Jayme Ploff has been dazzling audiences across the Eastern Shore with her soulful and dynamic voice. Originally a jazz singer (she studied Jazz Vocal Performance at the University of Miami), her repertoire also includes pop covers and original songs. Whatever she sings, her voice brings each song to life.
Ploff has two CDs; the first is a four-track demo of original compositions. “Release the Beast” is an empowering anthem written after some one referred to its author as a female dog. “Take your lips and plant them firmly on my ass,” she snarls, “’cause I’ve been to your house and I know you built it out of glass.” “My Life” explores the struggle between our parents’ wishes and our desires. “I hate to tell you it’s a fact of life,” she sings, “not everything you say and do is right/ I go my own way.”
Ploff also has a live jazz CD, which features standards like “What a Difference a Day Makes,” “Blame it on My Youth,” and “Besame Mucho” (the only song Ploff says she knows in Spanish).
For more information, go to her website. And if you go to any of her shows, she likes it when the audience says, “Woo-hoo!” Just something to keep in mind.
Punk Rock at Easton Historical Society
Procrastination Records
by Travis Mamone
Local punk bands Press Black, World Class Defects, and Psycho Rainbow will perform at the Historical Society in Easton, MD this Saturday, January 24th, at 7 p.m. The show celebrates the release of a new album featuring Press Black and World Class Defects. According to Press Black’s MySpace blog, the CD “will have four unreleased originals from each band, and each band covering one of the other band’s songs.”
For those expecting radio-friendly pop punk like Blink 182 and Good Charlotte, look elsewhere! Press Black and World Class Defects--from Easton and Greensboro, respectfully—are bringing back the original sound and attitude of classic hardcore punk. These aren’t catchy little numbers about skater boys and high school proms; these guys sing about destruction, mind control, death, and nonconformity.
Psycho Rainbow is an up-and-coming indie band from New York. Don’t let their huge ironic sunglasses fool you—these guys have the talent! Their blend of psychedelic, surfer rock, and noise pop make them a band worth seeing live.
Coffee Cat: What's In a Name?
By Travis Mamone
The Coffee Cat in EastonMany of you have noticed several changes with Coffee East coffee shop in Easton, MD, especially their name. Is it Coffee East, Coffee Cat, Night Cat, or what? And will anything else change? Hopefully this will clear things up.
Coffee Cat is the café portion, where you can order lattes, sandwiches (try the chicken Panini with goat cheese!), and pastries. Night Cat is where you can see live shows every weekend from a variety of artists. It’s the same building, of course.
But why change the name? As you may or may not know, the coffee shop is now under new management. The same people who now own Coffee Cat also own Hair o’ the Dog Wine and Spirits. So to keep with the pet theme, Coffee East
Erin's Bookshelf
New Cookbook Introduces Healthy Persian Cooking
by Erin Mawn
I suppose every nationality takes immense pride in its food; each St. Patrick’s Day my father insisted on having a traditional Irish dinner complete with corned beef, potatoes and cabbage. As a self-described ‘foodie’, one of my joys in life in trying new foods. When I was young I visited Australia and actually tried shark meat, kangaroo meat (it’s equivalent to Americans eating venison) and the pride of the Aussies: Vegemite. In college I went to England, and I was more than happy to go out each night to a different pub and try the fare. However, rather than spending all the dough to travel to a foreign country every time I want to try a new food, I have learned to look for local venues that offer interesting dishes. My newest experience though, is a do-it-yourself one.
Persian cuisine, or the cuisine of Iran, is deliciously diverse and also very health conscious. Many of the dishes use rice as a staple ingredient, and almost all of them have fruits and vegetables either as main ingredients or as sides. I realize that most people would have no idea how to begin cooking a Persian dish, and so to make the process easier, here is the book to lead the way: Simply Persian Cuisine. The book is presented in a very straight forward manner, so that anyone, even those whose free time is at a premium such as working mothers or college students, can pull together a healthy and delicious meal.
Review: The Lovely Bones Movie
by Erin Mawn
This past Friday night, I was one of the many people who saw “The Lovely Bones” on its opening night. I was surprised at how many young people there were in the theater, but that was probably due to the fact that the movie is rated PG-13, so no parents are required. I must admit that I was concerned about the quality of the movie; beforehand, I could not resist looking up some reviews of it and the majority of them seemed disappointed that the movie did meet its potential.
It is true that the movie takes some liberties, but I was relieved that it leaves the more important things alone. For example, the reader and movie go-er are not surprised at what happens to Susie Salmon because both the book and the film tell us immediately that something horrible befalls the young narrator. I was worried that perhaps the film would focus on that one terrible scene in order to increase the drama and horror of the story, but like in the book, the terrible incident is merely the catalyst for the story, not the focus of it.
Since I already talked about the story when I reviewed the book a couple months ago, I’ll focus on the film aspects of it: I was impressed with Stanley Tucci’s portrayal of George Harvey. I did not even realize that it was Tucci in this role when I saw the movie trailers because he looks like the quintessential creep. (I am used to Tucci in more likeable roles, such as “The Devil Wears Parada” and the Kit Kittredge American Girl movie.) His performance almost overshadows that of
Saoirse Ronan, who plays the protagonist Susie Salmon because the audience is so horrified by his character. Not to say that Ronan is not ideal for the role of Susie Salmon: her adolescent beauty (caught perfectly between a girl and a woman) is striking and she emanates an innocence so endearing and believable that the audience is truly saddened when she is robbed of it.Enjoy the Works of Laurie Halse Anderson
By Erin Mawn
Hello readers (and editor)! I apologize not posting again sooner, but I have adopted the popular mantra that everyone seems to be saying lately: “life’s crazy right now”. If anyone is curious, I HAVE been doing a ton of reading lately, I just have been lax in the writing part. Sometimes when I read a book, I think “I cannot wait to write a blog about this incredible story!”. Other times, I enjoy the story but it just does not motivate me to write.
As my best friend said to me recently, I have had quite a literary year. First, I attended a talk at my local library hosted by Joshua Wolf Shenk regarding his insightful book “Lincoln’s Melancholy”. I used this book for two of my projects in graduate school and I was very excited to finally meet the man who wrote it. Then, over my summer vacation, I traveled to Colorado where I was able to meet my favorite illustrator, Michael Hague. (I did write a blog about him; it is one of my earlier posts.) This was a very special experience for me because I grew up reading his books and those pictures have always stayed in my mind. Most recently, I drove to Newark, Delaware to see Laurie Halse Anderson “speak” (if you don’t get my little joke yet, you will in a minute.)
Laurie Halse Anderson has written both young adult novels and picture books; her first YA novel, titled “Speak” was a New York Times Best Seller, as well as a Printz Honor Book, and National Book Award Finalist. It was also made into a movie for television starring a now-uber-famous Kristen Stewart. Her other novels include: “Catalyst”, “Prom”, “Fever 1793”, “Twisted”, and “Chains” (another multi-award winner). During the event, she read an excerpt from her most recent novel “Wintergirls” which is available now. She the welcomed questions from her live audience as well as from readers across the country who were able to view the event through a live internet feed. Afterwards, she was available to sign books for her adoring fans, who ranged from middle-aged adults to little children. My favorite fan was the little eight-year old girl clutching a copy of one of the Vet Volunteer books, a series written for children about children who work in a veterinarian’s office.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
The Classic Regency Romance - Now with Ultra-Violent Zombie Mayhem!
I have a confession to make: I have never read a Jane Austen book to the end. Believe me, I have tried. I feel I owe it to the world of literature that I love so much to not just ‘get through it’, but to actually enjoy reading it, too. I know the stories of Austen, especially when they are reimagined in modern cinema. For example, one of my favorite 90’s movies is “Clueless” which is loosely based on Austen’s “Emma”. (“What-ev-er!“)The book and movie “Bridget Jones Diary” is based on “Pride and Prejudice”; the sequel to this smash success (both book and movie) was titled “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” and was based on “Persuasion”. I have seen the mini-series “Pride and Prejudice” as well as the more recent movie starring Kiera Knightley, and I dragged my boyfriend to the theater to see “Becoming Jane”, a biopic starring Anne Hathaway. I love Jane Austen’s stories, I just could not get through one of her books. Well, not until the zombies came, anyway. . .
“Mr. Collins tells me that you are schooled in the deadly arts, Miss Bennet.”
“I am, though not to half the level of proficiency your Ladyship has attained.”
“Oh! Then — some time or other I shall be happy to see you spar with one of my ninjas.
Are you sisters likewise trained?”
“They are.”
When asked what inspired him to re-write the Austen’s famous love story, Smith replied, “I just thought it’d be really funny to desecrate a classic work.” He seems like one of the geniuses with an off-beat, dark sense of humor that I’d love to meet sometime, if only to pick his brain. (Sorry, couldn’t resist the zombie pun.) Ever true to the modern literary discussion circle, Smith includes thoughtful questions for discussion at the end of the novel, such as:
Book Review: The Lovely Bones
by Erin Mawn
I was introduced to this book by one of my students while I was teaching literary terms. I was discussing the different points of view that literature has and when I was discussing the idea of the omniscient narrator, one of my students asked “Like in “The Lovely Bones”?” . Not having read the book myself, I asked her to explain the story to me. My student went on to explain that the story is being seen, literally from above, by the narrator of the story. However, “The Lovely Bones” differs from the usual type of omniscient narrator because unlike the majority of them, who are unnamed and who never reveal HOW they know the story or how they are significant to the story in any way, this dilemma is cleared up on the very first page of the novel:
“My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.”
Hollywood's Versions of "Little House" Fail to Impress
by Erin Mawn
I am a fervent fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder. I own the whole collection of Little House books, all of her nine original books from “Little House in the Big Woods” to “The First Four Years”. I also have in my vast collection of books all of the prequels and sequels to her stories; the stories about Martha (her great-grandmother, Charlotte (her grandmother), Caroline (her mother, Ma Ingalls) and her daughter Rose. The prequels and sequels are written in the same simple style that made Wilder’s books so easily accessible to generations of readers. The stories possess the wholesome values that made these generations’ parents comfortable and able to enjoy the books alongside their children.
Meet Illustrator Michael Hague
by Erin Mawn
This post is not not about a book, but an illustrator. Some people do not understand what appeal children’s books have to a ‘grown-up’, but personally I cannot see how they are able to resists the temptations of them! Their covers call to me, the artwork inside is slipping into childhood again; to spend hours just leafing through books, absorbing the drawings and memorizing them so that I can see them again in my memory whenever I like is a great privilege.
I was fortunate enough to meet one of my favorite illustrators recently. I was visiting relatives in Colorado and was informed that there was to be a book signing with this illustrator, whom I had a corresponded with before on a couple of occasions.
Michael Hague has illustrated classics such as The Wind in the Willows, The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, and The Secret Garden. He also illustrates books written by his wife, Kathleen Hague who has penned the popular books Alphabears and Good Night, Fairies.
Sarah Emma Edmonds, Civil War Soldier
by Erin Mawn "The Mysterious Private Thompson: The Double Life of Sarah Emma Edmonds, Civil War Soldier" I recently finished reading the biography of Sarah Emma Edmonds, one of the women who, during the Civil War, disguised herself as a man and fought in the conflict. It was a fascinating book- and I don’t think that’s just because I’m a “History geek”. I think anyone who is interested in women’s history, American history, the Civil War, or likes stories about spies would enjoy this book as well. The book is a fairly easy read; it explains ideas such as the ‘Cult of Domesticity’ which is well known to history scholars, but may not be familiar to other readers. The narrative of the book focuses mainly on the life of ‘Emma’, but in the chapters which deal heavily with the war and the military campaigns during it, the author includes much information about George McClellan. This is meant to help the reader understand the battles the Army of the Potomac fought in and the outcomes of these battles. ‘Emma’, or Frank Thompson as she was called, served in the Michigan regiment of the Potomac as a nurse, mail carrier, and a spy.
Perfection for Bibliophiles
Unicorn Bookshopby Erin Mawn
If you’re not sure what a bibliophile is, then you’re probably not one. A bibliophile is a person who loves or collects books, although I think in many cases this is an understatement. This word enters my head numerous times a day as I wander about my house; every room in my home has some sort of book collection in it. History books (categorized by topic, of course) , classic literature, children’s books (despite the fact that I have no children, I have two bookcases filled with them), some precious signed copies of favorite books, and antique books that emit a wonderful musty smell that only old books have. . .I frequently attempt to reduce the number in my collection by giving them away, selling them or trading them but somehow I always end up bringing more books. I comfort myself with the idea that as long as my selection is ever-changing, it cannot be considered “hoarding” behavior.
In one of my recent efforts to rid myself of some excess books, I ventured out to The Unicorn Bookshop in Trappe, MD. It is one of those wonderful places where the bibliophile feels completely at home, and as a favorite literary (and film) heroine of mine once said, “There’s no place like home.” The store is packed from floor to ceiling with books for every browser and collector; most impressive is the selection of rare and signed books, including a drool-worthy authenticated, signed masterpiece signed by Samuel Clemens. (If that name isn’t familiar, then you’re definitely not a bibliophile).
Spiritual Currents
“Spiritual Currents” is a regular column that promotes and explores the Mid-Shore’s deep spiritual diversity—with “spirituality” broadly defined as our search for enduring meaning in life. This ongoing quest can unfold within religious traditions and without them, within our relationships and in solitude.
If you would like to share a local event or a personal story that reflects this journey on the Shore, please contact me here (put “Spiritual Currents” as the subject line).
A Buddhist Wizard of Oz
By Dwayne Eutsey
Suppose I were to give you the following clues and asked you to name the story they describe:
- A young and somewhat naïve individual follows a path on a strange journey to a colorful place where special information they need can be found.
- At separate points along the way, the young person encounters and befriends three peculiar characters (one of them a talking animal) who each agrees to join the person on their journey to the colorful place.
- When the four characters arrive at their ultimate destination, the young person discovers that the information they thought they were seeking wasn’t really what they were expecting to find.
You’d be correct if you said these clues resemble the basic plot of The Wizard of Oz, but that’s not the story I have in mind. The one I’m thinking of is Journey to the West, a classic folk novel from China.
Written in the 1590s, Journey to the West follows the legendary quest (based loosely on an actual journey) of Tripitaka, a young Buddhist monk from China who makes a long and difficult trip to retrieve sacred Buddhist scriptures from India. Along the way, he meets the magical Monkey King (who is as recognizable in Chinese culture as Mickey Mouse is in ours); the loutish Pigsy; and the strong and ever-patient Sandy.
Lent: A Time for Deepening Our Lives as the Days Grow Longer
By Dwayne Eutsey
I had every intention of writing a column last week about Lent in time for it to be published here on Ash Wednesday, the day this traditional Christian observance begins.
Ironically, though, I wasn’t able to write the column because I found myself too busy juggling work deadlines, family issues, and getting sucked into the distracting time-drains on TV and the Internet.
I say ironically because the fact that I couldn’t write something about Lent because my life was too hectic and unfocused is why this time of introspection is so important for everyone, regardless of your spiritual world view.
Maybe it’s because the winter doldrums have frozen me in a monotonous combination of cold weather, cabin fever, and shoveling endless snow, but I find myself functioning on automatic pilot a lot lately…just dully going through the motions.
I’m ready to shake off the ice and sing a lively version of “Here Comes the Sun.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZtQh5EIgWQ
Apparently, that’s not far from the original meaning of “Lent.” According to the BBC, the word is derived from the old English word for “lengthen” and refers to how the days begin to lengthen during this time of year as spring approaches. The site also defines the religious Lenten observance as:
Remembering Black History on the Shore
By Dwayne Eutsey
With all the snow we’ve had to dig out from lately, it’s easy to forget that February is Black History Month. http://www.history.com/content/blackhistory
This observance originally began as Negro History Week in 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson, the largely self-educated son of former slaves who went on to receive a PhD from Harvard, wanted to establish a time for remembering and celebrating the significant contributions African Americans have made to our national history.
Woodson initially set this observance during the second week in February because two major figures in African American history were born during that week: Frederick Douglass, the former slave and outspoken abolitionist who escaped from Talbot County, was born on February 14; Abraham Lincoln, the president who signed the Emancipation Proclamation ending chattel slavery in the United States, was born February 12.
The week became a month-long observance in 1976 and is also known as African American Heritage Month. In addition to Frederick Douglass, the Eastern Shore has made a few other noteworthy contributions to that heritage.
There is Harriet Tubman, of course. Growing up in Dorchester County back in the ‘70s, I remember learning a lot about how she bravely helped hundreds of slaves escape from the Shore through the Underground Railroad. http://www.midshorelife.com/content/harriet-tubman%E2%80%99s-legacy-lives
However, one piece of history I didn’t learn much about when I was school kid on the Shore was the important role Cambridge played in the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Maybe that history was too recent and too raw for teachers to make sense of and to teach at the time, but I don’t remember learning anything about it in school. I did overhear, occasionally, vague references adults made about that time, and I even remember when I was almost 4 years old that my grandfather made me scrunch down in the backseat of his car as he drove me and my mom through a riot-torn section of Cambridge.
Howard Zinn’s Undying Faith in Democracy
By Dwayne Eutsey
Someone I admired very much, activist historian Howard Zinn, died recently at age 87.
You may know Zinn from a book he wrote in 1980 called A People’s History of the United States. With over 1 million copies sold since its publication, this landmark (and controversial) volume retells American history from the point of view of “common people” often not included in our official historical narrative—Native Americans, slaves, workers, the poor, women, pacifists, anarchists, unionizers.
Last month, the History Channel broadcast “The People Speak”, a documentary co-produced, incidentally, by Easton native Chris Moore and his friend, actor Matt Damon. With Zinn narrating, the film featured the likes of Morgan Freeman, Marisa Tormei, and Bruce Springsteen reading and singing words from the original letters, songs, diaries, and speeches that Zinn used to write A People’s History and other works. (http://www.history.com/content/people-speak)
Coming from a working-class background myself, I am forever in debt to Zinn for showing me how this often marginalized group is actually an integral strand among many other strands that together make up our national history. His inclusive view of American identity is true to our country’s unofficial motto, E pluribus unum: “Out of many, one.”
A Serious Man Ponders "Why Me?"
By Dwayne Eutsey
Like many people, I’ve been dismayed by the devastating earthquake in Haiti recently.
The rising death toll (possibly in the hundreds of thousands), the heart-wrenching suffering, the inability to get medical aid and food supplies to the homeless survivors in a fast and effective way…It’s all been depressing, frustrating, and overwhelming.
As overpowering as the news coverage of this disaster can be, though, unless you know someone affected by the suffering there, it’s easy enough in our media-driven culture to tune out the bad news and tune into something more pleasant.
It’s like Rev. Jim, a character on the classic ‘70s sitcom Taxi, once wryly observed, “You know the really great thing about television? If something important happens anywhere in the world, night or day…you can always change the channel.” Or to update it for our times: surf the web, pop in a DVD, etc.
The Magic of Winter?
By Dwayne Eutsey
(This column is adapted from a lay sermon I delivered at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Easton on Sunday, December 27, 2009).
I’m not a big fan of winter. In fact, I can be downright Scrooge-like when it comes to this time of year.
What little there may be to like about winter is lost to me among my sore back from shoveling an endless layer of snow; driving on dangerously icy roads with the tires of other vehicles spitting and splattering that brown salty glop all over my car; paying those crushingly high heating bills; suffering through colds and flues, numb fingers and toes, and the never-ending sniffly, snotty noses.
With all that going on, is it any wonder I cringe when I hear those sappy songs about winter that we hear around this time? Songs like:
When it snows, ain't it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
Especially as I dug out after the recent big snow storm, all I can say to that winterist propaganda is: Bah humbug!
When I think it about it, though, maybe like Scrooge in A Christmas Carol I’ve allowed myself to become so consumed by the cold, dark, and dreary aspects of this season that I have forgotten the magical light of the season that’s shining all around me.
Shining a Candle on the Miracle of Our Wonderful Life
By Dwayne Eutsey
Although I’m something of a cynic when it comes to over-sentimentalized movies, I can’t help but be a fan of that corny but heartfelt holiday flick, It’s a Wonderful Life.
There’s just something uplifting about the story of how the beleaguered George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart with homespun American hope and defiant scrappiness) triumphs over Old Man Potter’s warped and self-centered view of life.
If you’ve seen the movie as many times as I have, you can probably recite from memory when George, after his father’s death, tells the banker/slumlord Mr. Potter why his father’s savings and loan sought to help give ordinary working people a decent life:
“Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you’re talking about...they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn’t think so. People were human beings to him.”
Although it’s nice to fantasize about living in such a world shaped by George Bailey’s economic idealism, unfortunately, evidence increasingly suggests that more and more of us are struggling just to hang on in grim financial Pottersvilles.
According to Elizabeth Warren, Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel created to oversee the banking bailouts:
“Today, one in five Americans is unemployed, underemployed or just plain out of work. One in nine families can't make the minimum payment on their credit cards. One in eight mortgages is in default or foreclosure. One in eight Americans is on food stamps. More than 120,000 families are filing for bankruptcy every month. The economic crisis has wiped more than $5 trillion from pensions and savings, has left family balance sheets upside down, and threatens to put ten million homeowners out on the street.”
Celebrate Gratitude in Tough Times
By Dwayne Eutsey
As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about making gratitude a more active, integral part of my daily life.
Thanksgiving is a great ti,e for everyone in the community to share food and music and celebrate the many things we have to be thankful for. Even though times are tough, there is still much to be grateful about.
Now, a moment of confession. As much as I believe all this talk about thankfulness, I have to admit that grousing about life’s sucky situations can sometimes be a lot easier for me (and maybe even more satisfying) than expressing gratefulness. In fact, trying to be thankful during particularly difficult times can even seem annoyingly superficial to me at times, like I’m avoiding harsh reality.
However, according to the results of a study done earlier this decade, the daily practice of gratitude can apparently not only help you better face reality; it can actually improve your reality as well.
Thanksgiving: A Lesson in Gratitude and Hospitality
By Dwayne Eutsey
Every year around this time when I was a kid, I remember learning in school about the origin of this month’s big holiday.
As we made pilgrim hats and Indian headbands out of construction paper, the teacher told us the familiar story of how the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians celebrated the first Thanksgiving together in 1621. It’s a nice story about the Indians teaching the pilgrims how to plant their first crops in the New World and the pilgrims inviting the Indians over for a feast to thank them and God for the harvest.
However, as with many of our national myths, the story we were taught in school is greatly embellished. In fact, beyond two brief accounts written by pilgrims Edward Winslow and William Bradford we know very little about what happened during this event. There was a harvest feast in Plymouth and Indians were there, but a lot of the rest is open to interpretation.
http://www.pilgrimhall.org/1stthnks.htm
Tough Economic Times Call for Community Action
By Dwayne Eutsey
About 10 years ago, I worked briefly in a small homeless shelter in Frederick, Maryland.
I remember thinking one evening as I looked out from the staff room to where our residents watched TV in the lounge that the televised images they saw must have seemed as alien to them as transmissions from Mars.
It was the late ‘90s, so the dot-com bubble was still inflating many Americans’ perceptions of endless prosperity while heralding a new faith in cut-throat corporatism. Popular shows like Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Survivor reflected these prevailing sensibilities while the persistently high homeless rate at the time barely made a footnote in the national narrative relentlessly promoted on TV sets around the country.
As I saw our homeless residents in the shelter’s lounge that evening watching commercials for shiny new luxury cars and SUVs, I wondered how they must have felt seeing the elusive promises of consumer bliss beamed into their impoverished reality night after night.
After watching an unsettling episode of Frontline recently, I think I may have an idea. Called “Close to Home”, the show “chronicles the recession’s impact on one unlikely American neighborhood -- New York’s Upper East Side.” http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/closetohome/
Unlike most of the people featured in this show, I come from a poor, working-class background and can appreciate some criticisms viewers have expressed about the upscale people featured on the program. “If times are so hard for them,” many viewers have asked, “do they really need the expensive haircuts and massages some of them still charge to their overburdened credit cards?”
Relevant question, but overall, seeing how the worst recession in 63 years has shaken even the most affluent members of our society underscored for me just how unstable the economic situation is for all of us today. In particular the story of the not-so-affluent carpenter featured in the program was heart-wrenching. Not only did his business go under, but his wife died three days before the bank foreclosed their home and dumped all their belongings on the curb.
The Centrevillain
"a funky blog about life in downtown Centreville, the capital of Queen Anne's County on Maryland's Eastern Shore"
Christmas in Centreville
by Mary McCarthy
The holidays are here again in our cozy little town. Lights line the streets, wreaths grace the old courthouse, the quaint bridges, and the gorgeous new iron entryway to the cemetery. On Lawyers Row, a whimsical "Scrooge and Marley" sign hangs on a historic law office, and this year for the first time, beautiful trees line the brick sidewalks; decorated by girl scout troops and other local organizations.
Beautiful!
But the true beginning of the holiday season kicks off with the Centreville Christmas parade this Friday, December 4 at 6 p.m. The parade leaves the high school, travels down Kidwell, up Commerce (to a grandstand with judging in front of the courthouse), across Broadway and ending on Chesterfield across from the Board of Education. Being on the parade route was one of the reasons we bought our house!
It's the cutest small town parade anywhere, and this year the big man himself will be hanging out in the courthouse square. Thanks to the local Centreville Alive group, Santa has set up his workshop on the vacant lot between the old barber shop in the spot where they tore down that old building (across from the courthouse). It looks great! And kids can visit Santa before, during and after the parade.
If you miss Santa on that busy night, he's in town for Breakfast With Santa the next morning! He'll be in Corbaley Hall (on Homewood Ave, next to Centreville Elementary, behind Mother of Sorrows Church on Chesterfield) on Saturday morning Dec. 5 from 9-11 a.m. There's also a Gingerbread contest, White Elephant sale, silent auction, bake sale and luncheon featuring the popular local favorite Chicken and Dumplings (or crab soup!). There's even a Secret Santa workshop so kids can pick out gifts for their family members and get them wrapped!
Also goin on in town Saturday is the Heck With the Malls sale, with tons of cool craft vendors and artisans at the Arts Council building and specials at all the shops in town.
I'll be there (specifically- running the Secret Santa at Corbaley Hall!) Hope to see you around town during all the fun holiday cheerfulness...it's the most wonderful time of the year!
Chestertown Charm
by Mary McCarthy
I had a chance to visit Chestertown this week as part of the cool "Eat Drink Buy Art" passport program where I'm visiting nine towns around the Eastern Shore.
I love downtown Chestertown- the food at Feast of Reason, the shops like Twigs and Teacups, coffee at Play it Again Sam's, the cute kids' clothes at Pride & Joy, you name it. I even stopped by the Chestertown Natural Foods store to get some stuff for my vegan teen (egg substitute- I finally found it on the Eastern Shore!).
But you know what my favorite part was? Finding the Chestertown Old Book Company and chatting with Jerry. He is so amazingly knowledgeable about old and rare books and his shop is so cozy and cool. I am in love with books and now I am in love with his shop! Chestertown is so fortunate to be able to support not one, not two but THREE bookstores and I learned that:
THIS WEEKEND is the first ever Chestertown Book Festival!
The Chestertown Book Festival is the first and only book festival on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and is a celebration of the authors, books, and literary traditions of the Eastern Shore. The inaugural event will take place November 13-14, 2009 with author visits in shops, restaurants, and other gathering places throughout Chestertown. Click the above link for details.
Now if we could only get ONE book store in Centreville I'd be thrilled. And I'd run it too if I could pay the rent!
Anyway, I hope to see you guys in Chestertown this weekend for the book festival! What a cool annual tradition to start on the Shore!
Dinner Theatre Comes to Queen Anne's County!
(Note: If you can't make opening night, the play also takes place November 8 at 3 pm, November 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. Regular ticket prices are adults $10, Students and Seniors $5)
by Mary McCarthy
How exciting is this?! Our local Queen Anne’s County High School Drama department has announced their first dinner theatre! Saturday November 7 is the opening night of the hilarious comedy A Delightful Quarantine by playwright Mark Dunn and will include the special dinner event. The play relates the story of what happens when seven different households are put under quarantine for three days. The households include individuals who are not necessarily friends or family, and includes seven story lines resulting in often laughable results, answering the question of what happens when you have nowhere to go.
The best part (in addition to DINNER and A PLAY?!)? The dinner theatre event is also benefitting a local charity. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) and the Queen Anne's County High School Drama Department are working together to host the opening night dinner theatre. Doc's Riverside Grille is catering the event in the lobby of the high school on opening night, Saturday, November 7 at 6 p.m. Tickets are only $20 (Jinkies! Cheap night out!)and include both dinner and the play, which immediately follows the dinner. I will absolutely be there, and not just because- um, my daughter is playing the role of Kitty! (Break a leg, sweetie!)
Halloween Around the Mid-Shore
by Mary McCarthy
I am a bit of a Halloween freak. Here's a picture of my Centreville 1881 Addams-family-looking Victorian at Halloween. The ghosts in the windows were drawn (on painters' dropcloths) by local artist Brian Draper, who I worship!
Some local folks have attended my Halloween parties- adult costume galas held in my neighborhood once a year, though I have to admit to this year's being a bit smaller (I hate the recession!). The competition for costume prizes is fierce, to say the least.
Many of the articles I write professionally are Halloween oriented. I am even Hallo-crazy enough to have my own Halloween website, Creative Halloween. This year, I am excited to announce I put together a Halloween book called Adult Halloween Parties in honor of the groan-up parties I've had at my house over the last decade. So if you are looking for food, decor, drinks, costume or other Halloween ideas, I hope you'll check out the book.
So what are some ways to celebrate this most spooktacular of seasons around the area? Well, I recommend visiting Adkins Arboretum for any of their fantastic fall events. The haunted trail is awesome! If you don't mind traveling just a bit (under an hour)- I wholeheartedly suggest taking a trip up to Middletown, Delaware to visit Frightland. I went this past weekend and came home hoarse from screaming in fear! It is a TON of fun- not for the faint of heart or young of child though! Also they have a carnival with carnival food including cheese fries. Cheese fries. Need I say more?!
Eat, Drink, Buy Art
This past weekend my bloggy friend Jen G. of Hip as I Wanna Be (check out her blog for more photos) and I visited Snow Hill and Berlin. We stayed at the gorgeous 1895 Atlantic Hotel in Berlin (pictured). Two movies have been filmed in Berlin- Runaway Bride and Tuck Everlasting. The reason? Berlin is gorgeous- buried power lines (like I wish we had in Centreville!!) create an original Victorian streetscape that's to die for- the restaurants, shops and art galleries are amazing. Berlin held their annual (huge!) Fiddler's Festival, so we got to meet banjo dudes and listen to cool bluegrass music.Harboring Some Fun
by Mary McCarthy
I have a confession to make. I had never, ever left the Centreville harbor by boat until the past week. Yeah, yeah, I know, I've lived on the Eastern Shore for nearly a decade! How could I NOT have gone anywhere by boat?! Well, putting aside the facts that we don't actually HAVE a boat (we've been on the boat slip waiting list since we moved here) and that, um, everyone hates me so I don't get invited, I really was surprised that I hadn't left the Centreville harbor until this week.
Within a week, I took two boat trips from Centreville. One 'quick boat ride' to Kent Narrows and back, and one day-long, tons of families beach picnic trip. Both were amazing! On our friends' 'fast boat' (so called by my four year old son), I loved zipping around the bay- seeing the Russian Embassy from the water, and how pretty the landscape is from the boat. Favorite? Seeing the amazing waterfront homes. And nearly a week later, the beach picnic (I actually ended up taking a nap in the shade with my little boy- heaven!) was a ton of fun, too. Not just because of the amazing hoagies (I say hoagies, I'm from Philly. You can go ahead and call them 'subs' if you like.), but because hanging out with friends, the kids playing in the tidal pools, catching crabs, digging for clams and tubing behind boats (not me. others.) just made for an amazing day.
CORSICA RIVER WATERSHED AWARENESS DAY
by Mary McCarthy
This Saturday is gonna be busy here in old Cville. In addition to the Quilt Affaire I told you about last week, this week the Corsica River Conservancy is also holding the fourth annual CORSICA RIVER WATERSHED AWARENESS DAY on Saturday, September 19, 12 noon to 4:00 p.m., at Bloomfield Farm located on Rt. 213 just north of Centreville.
There's also tours of the historic farmhouse, a variety of tasty food offerings, hayrides, a straw maze, pumpkin painting, and creative craft activities for children. Lively musical entertainment will be offered throughout the day by Chester River Runoff, a dynamic local bluegrass group that mixes original Chesapeake songs with unique takes on traditional favorites. The first 100 families attending the event will be given a free native tree. The Town of Centreville will be having a free raffle for a recycled oak rain barrel. There's also a raffle for an airplane ride over the Corsica Watershed. For more information call 410-758-0835 or visit www.corsicariverconservancy.org.
Having a Quilt Affaire
by Mary McCarthy
Yes. The Queen Anne's County Historical Society is spelling affaire with an 'e' because they're all old-fashioned cool like that.
Mark your calendars for the upcoming fun event on Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 11am to 4 pm.. QACHS (the Historical Society, not the High School -pay attention, people!) is holding a display of antique quilts and refreshments in the garden at Wright's Chance, 119 North Commerce Street and also at Tucker House, 124 Commerce St. right here in historic lovely downtown Centreville, MD. The tickets are only $5.00 per person and can be purchased the day of the event.
When I first moved to town, I was the first-ever Executive Director of the QAC Hist Soc, and I really enjoyed it. House tours, historic house museums and other old-y stuff is right up my alley. I even added Centreville as a district to the National Register of Historic Places so that we (in our 1881 Victorian) and others in town could take advantage of the historic tax credits for rehabilitation (20% helps when you're in The Money Pit!)
So please support your local Historical Society (and the two historic house museums they own and operate in town) by visiting Tucker House and Wrights Chance on September 19th to see their gorgeous quilt collections as well as the antique quilts of their members and friends.
Hope to see you there!
JELLY MUNCHKINS, A New Coffee Shop and Dollar Store Re-do
by Mary McCarthy
On my regular humor blog, www.pajamasandcoffee.com, I made a very small mention about how, when I was a kid, you used to be able to buy Jelly-Filled Munchkins. The internet and twitter and social media being what they are, SOMEHOW the CEO of Dunkin Donuts got ahold of it, sent me a tweet on twitter, and before I knew it, I found jelly-filled Munchkins have been added to our local DD! The first batch were AMAZING, very jelly-y, but the ones I bought last weekend had like hardly any jelly inside. Careful, DD, me and Dunkin Dave are tight now and I will rat you guys out if you get cheap on me!
The former Hayden’s Alley, which was opened-then-closed by Just Plain Joe’s and has been sitting empty for months and months is A-BUZZ with activity! How exciting is THAT?! When the “Coming Soon” sign went up I was so excited! You know what I miss the most? The little upstairs room that overlooks the courthouse (plus, unfortunately the UGLY POWER LINES that need to be BURIED when the state rips up the road again!). As a writer (and former council member), that spot was always one of my faves to hang out with a latte and a laptop. So, I hope the new shop still has that upstairs room open. I will post more details here when I know them- stay tuned!
Bus-ted
by Mary McCarthy
Welcome to Back to School season, everyone! Aahh, peanut butter and jelly, binder dividers, and thousands of trees falling as paperwork piles to the ceiling. So charming.
Forgive me, readers, while I step up onto this soap box for a tiny moment.
Did you know that it is the formal policy of the Board of Education of Queen Anne's County NOT to bus high school students who live within a MILE AND A HALF of the school? As in, a kid who lives at, say the Wharf, is supposed to walk to the high school in rain, darkness (they'd have to leave their house before 7 a.m.) or on icy sidewalks. Across a state highway. Twice. Past potentially unsavory characters outside the laundromat. Past several intersections at a busy shopping center with no crosswalks. Oh, and uphill both ways.
Ok, just kidding on the last one, but seriously?
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