Catch DULANEY BANKS, the young blues guitar and vocal duo that’s turning heads ears. They’re playing at Superfine on Sunday, March 11th at Superfine.

Sue Kramer, Writer-Director-Producer of the new film “Gray Matters” responded to my post about her movie.

Thank you so much for the mention of my film “Gray Matters. I can’t believe we have never met–now it’s our destiny to certainly do so! I would appreciate any support anyone in the Slope can give the film this coming weekend. The Village 7 is the best place to see it. I will be there on Saturday night introducing the two screenings. To learn more about the film
go to www.graymattersmovie.com

So it turns out the the producer-director-writer of Grey Matters has lived across the street from me for years. "A screwball comedy with a lesbian twist" Grey Matters sounds like a fun New York movie with Heather Graham, Tom Cavanagh, and Alan Cumming, A friend wrote to tell me about meeting her last night at Perch, where Sue Kramer was speaking last night. Dang. I missed it. But just back from Boston, I was tired. Oh well. Glad to get this report.

I recently met a really nice neighbor of yours who has lived across the street for you for years yet you have apparently not met-Her name is Sue Kramer.

I saw her again last night at Perch talking about her new film…she wrote, produced and directed Gray Matters, with Heather Graham, Tom Cavanaugh and Bridget Moynihan.

She’s a mom of a 2-year-old, and started the film when her kid was 5 months old-that takes cojones (or at least Beytzim -Hebrew for Eggs) !

I think we should talk about doing a local filmmakers film festival-we have so many in the neighborhood these days, and it would be great to support their work.

The film is playing in New York at these locations and times:

AMC Loews Village 7 – 66 3rd Ave., New York, NY – Map 2:15  4:45  7:30  10:15 AMC Empire 25 – 234 West 42nd St., New York, NY – Map 12:10  2:35  5:20  7:55  10:30

Leaving the borough today. Leaving the state. Going to Boston to see a friend perform in a production of Mahogonney by Kurt Weil and Bertolt Brecht.

Hard to go away on a Tuesday in the middle of everything. Everyone will survive.

Wendy Zarganis has the dope on all the big and biggish events in Brooklyn coming up in 2007. It’s a great list, a long list, and probably only a fraction of the story of what’s going on in 2007. 

But it’s gooood.  I know I’m going to keep it handy. Here it is.

This sounds like such crazy fun. I'm not sure I'd want to do it. But
I'm sure someone does. How about you? 

BURLESQUE @ BAX IS BACK!

w/ Victoria Libertore aka "Howling Vic" 

March 6, 13, 27, & April 3
(no class on 3/20)
7:30-10:00pm
Tuition: $125/4 weeks

Always a BAX favorite, Victoria Libertore is back! Let go of your 
inhibitions and get comfortable in your own skin in her provocative 
Burlesque workshop. "Howling Vic" will share her unique skills to help you 
develop a three to five-minute performance piece that reflects your 
individual attributes. Using tools of physical theatre, archetypal energy, 
intuition, character exploration and imagery, you'll build a solo 
performance incorporating a strip tease and learn how to be comfortable while 
doing it! Come and release the Goddess within. Women only.

BARC is very careful about who they adopt to. Their requirements reflect their humane approach.

We strongly advise interested adopters to come to the shelter and spend at minimum 1-2 hours visitng with and walking our dogs or playing with our cats to get a better idea of which animal would be best for them. BARC staff and experienced volunteers are always on hand to answer questions and provide more detailed information about specific animals. If you have specific breeds/temperaments in mind, please discuss your preferences with the BARC staff person so that he/she can help you select the best animal for you.

We are open for adoptions from Noon to 5:00 pm Tuesdays through Sundays. We are closed on Mondays.

Requirements to adopt a BARC animal:

    1. You must be at least 21 years old

    2. You must complete the BARC adoption application, (see information below)

    3. You must bring 2 pieces of valid (not expired) identification – a Photo ID and Proof of Current Address (utility bill in your names or similar)

    3. You need the names and telephone numbers of two references who can vouch for your willingness and ability to care for a pet for its full life. We prefer that references are NOT immediate family members. Acceptable references can be roommates, boss/co-workers, friends/colleagues, etc.

    4. The name and telephone number of your vet if you currently have, or recently had a pet.

    5. Your dog if you already have one (to make sure the BARC dog will get along with your current dog)

    6. Any children in the household under 18 (to make sure the adopted animal is a good fit for your entire family)

    7. If you rent – a copy of your lease or letter from landlord stating you are allowed to have pets.

We require an adoption fee of $100 per animal.
This fee helps defray the cost of the animal’s initial medical treatment and up-keep at the shelter, including:

    Full medical exam by a licensed vet upon entering the shelter, and all necessary vaccinations (rabies, distemper, etc.)

    All animals, regardless of where they come from, automatically receive treatment for fleas, ear mites and worms.

    Dogs are tested fro canine heartworm and cats are tested for feline AIDS and feline leukemia.

    All animals are spayed/neutered (without exceptions)

    All dogs are microchipped

Come on in out of the deep freeze on Friday February 23rd
From 6-9 p.m. For the Lucky Gallery’s inaugural show.
“Oh, Lucky Day!”

Peter J. Ketchum, Ed Rosko, and Arthur Georgalas: 3 Brooklyn artists who each
carry on, in perhaps a twisted fashion, the fine tradition of Pop Art with a cutting
edge of social commentary!

“It is sort of senior citizen-me meets the next
generation of artists…”

Ketchum said of this interesting mix of artists being shown at Lucky Gallery through March
31st. The gallery hours are Friday-Sunday 12-5 or by
appointment. Information: 718 852 9232

The Gallery is located at the corner of Richards and Wolcott Streets in Redhook just a
block west of the HOPE & ANCHOR diner, BAKED coffee shop
and the KENTLER gallery.

OSFO and I are on our way to BARC in Williamsburg. Thanks to the readers who sent suggestions.

BARC’s mission is to provide safe haven for homeless animals and find permanent, loving homes for these animals. The animals in our care receive quality food, shelter, and medical attention. We meet the needs of homeless animals through the assistance of dedicated volunteers, revenues generated from the success of our pet supply business, and from private donations.

ANDY STATMAN AND HIS TRIO
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24th
DOORS AT 8:30pm $15

Jewish Music Cafe
401 9th street (btw. 6th & 7th ave.)
Park Slope Brooklyn
more info at http://www.jewishmusiccafe.com

About Andy Statman: A driving force behind the neo-klezmer movement since its inception in the early 1980s, Andy Statman, newly signed to Sony Classical, remains an extraordinary paradox: a musician devoted to musical tradition who also continues to break new artistic ground. A celebrated mandolin player in the “Newgrass” movement of the 1970s, Andy Statman (clarinettist/composer/bandleader) has recently reinvigorated yet another realm of traditional musicmaking – klezmer – with his own particular blend of virtuosity, and originality.

The Hidden Light (SK 60814), Andy Statman’s first release on Sony Classical, draws upon his commitment to traditional repertoire as well as his singular capacity as a composer in the klezmer revival style.

Fronting a quartet that features such jazz luminaries as pianist Bruce Barth, drummer Bob Weiner and bassist Scott Lee, Statman leads the listener into equal measures of traditional and new music. This recording marks a new direction for Statman, in that it combines the spiritual depth of klezmer captured here in the niggunim, melodies from the mystical Chassidim of Judaism with the improvisational qualities of jazz.

A founding member of the Newgrass collective “Country Cookin'” in the early seventies, he marked his turn to klezmer with three recordings by the Andy Statman Klezmer Orchestra. Subsequent releases included a collection of traditional Jewish songs with mandolin – great David Grisman and another collection of klezmer recordings with Itzhak Perlman.

We know all about this.

There’s an interesting article in the Times about flaming or the many ways peoplebehave with less restraint in cyber space.

The hallmark of the flame is precisely what Jett lamented: thoughts expressed while sitting alone at the keyboard would be put more diplomatically — or go unmentioned — face to face.

The Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for
Feminist Art opens in dazzling new quarters at the
Brooklyn Museum on Friday, March 23, 2007. As the
first public space of its kind in the country, the
Center’s mission is to present feminist art and to
explore its meaning and influence through a wide
range of public programs.

An icon of American art, The Dinner Party by
Judy Chicago, is at the spatial and symbolic heart
of the new 8,300-square-foot facility. Encircled by
galleries for
changing exhibitions and a space for educational
activities, The Dinner Party’s gallery is the
centerpiece of a dramatic design conceived and
developed by award-winning architect Susan T.
Rodriguez, FAIA, a partner in Polshek Partnership
Architects. Maura Reilly, Ph.D., is Curator of the
Center.

Three inaugural exhibitions open on
March 23rd: Global Feminisms, an
international survey of contemporary feminist art,
co-organized by Dr. Reilly and the noted art
historian and Institute of Fine Arts Professor Linda
Nochlin; Pharaohs, Queens,
and Goddesses, the first of a series of
biographical shows based on the figures and themes
of The Dinner Party, co-organized by Dr.
Reilly and Edward Bleiberg, Curator of Egyptian Art;
and the unveiling of The Dinner Party, which
was donated to the Brooklyn Museum in 2002 by The
Elizabeth A. Sackler Foundation and is part of the
Museum�s permanent collection.

A Press release from Park Slope Neighbors:

Park Slope Neighbors has launched a petitioning effort asking Whole Foods Market to modify its plans for the new store it intends to erect at Third Street and Third Avenue along the Gowanus Canal.  The petition calls upon Whole Foods to implement a comprehensive transportation-management plan designed to reduce traffic and promote alternative modes of travel, to reduce the store’s planned 420 parking spaces by at least 100, and to replace parking spaces planned for the building’s rooftop with a green roof or solar panels.

The petition, addressed to Whole Foods Chairman and CEO John Markey, recommends the implementation of a jitney service to ferry shoppers to mass-transit points and their homes, ample bike parking, and a fleet of pedicabs, among other strategies.  It also cites the energy and environmental benefits of green and solar roofs – especially important for the ecologically fragile Gowanus Basin.

"We think a Whole Foods Market would be a great addition to the neighborhood, but it’s disappointing that they appear intent on implementing a suburban-style plan," said Eric McClure, campaign coordinator for Park Slope Neighbors.  "Since only about 40% of households in this area own cars, we’d like to work with Whole Foods to de-emphasize vehicle traffic in favor of other modes of transportation to and from the store.  We also think Brooklyn deserves environmentally friendly measures like green or solar roofs, which Whole Foods has implemented or planned for in other markets."

McClure said that more than 500 residents have already signed the petition, despite the fact that PSN volunteers have not been able to hit the streets due to recent cold weather and snow.
"A number of people who’ve signed our petition have commented that taking steps to manage traffic and ‘go green’ would really generate a lot of positive feeling for Whole Foods," he said.  He credits the blog "Green Roof Whole Foods Market" and its founders, Marni Horwitz and Madalyn Warren, for raising community awareness of the roof issue.  The bloggers are working in concert with PSN on the petitioning campaign.

Park Slope Neighbors is committed to the protection and enhancement of quality of life in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  It is the mission of Park Slope Neighbors to encourage sustainable development, sensible transportation, locally owned business, public safety, respect for diversity, and responsible stewardship of one of Brooklyn’s most historic neighborhoods.  More information can be found at www.parkslopeneighbors.org.

ANDY STATMAN and His Trio
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24th
DOORS AT 8:30pm   $18

Jewish Music Cafe
401 9th street (btw. 6th & 7th ave.)
Park Slope Brooklyn
more info at http://www.jewishmusiccafe.com

Rory Kennedy, RFK’s daughter and a Park Slope filmmaker, has a new documentary called Ghosts of Abu Ghraib. This from New York Magazine.

Why Abu Ghraib?
I had planned on making a film exploring the question of how ordinary people commit extraordinary acts of evil, and Abu Ghraib kept coming up. It was really with the intention of doing a psychological profile of the MPs —were these people psychopaths? Or was it the pressure of working under these conditions?

So, what did you find?
They’re perfectly normal in many ways. Javal Davis—there’s a sweetness to his eyes, an honesty to him. They did horrible things, but it was pretty obvious that these guys were told to do 95 percent of what they did.

Did you deliberately avoid Michael Moore–style filmmaking?
I really tried not to sensationalize it or be cryptic or cute. I didn’t want it to be about me

THIS FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES:

Election results are in: Dr. Mathieu Eugene was elected to the
City Council yesterday, becoming the Council’s first Haitian-born
member. He will take the seat vacated by Yvette D. Clarke after her
election to Congress in November. Dr. Eugene, a physician
who runs a youth program in Brooklyn, led in a special election
that included 10 candidates in a Council district with a large number
of Caribbean-American voters.

Now that there are only two CD shops in the Slope, I always stop into Music Matters, on Seventh Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets, when I am in that neck of the woods.

I love the personal interaction with the people who work there, especially one who listens to music. Like the owner of Music Matters does.

Me: How do you like the new Lucinda Williams?

He: I love it.

Me: It’s gotten a lot of bad reviews.

He; I know. I just read one and it made me mad. I like the new album. I really do

Me: You can’t fault her for writing sad music.

He: Yeah.

Me: I’ll take the Of Montreal, too

He looks for it.

He: That one in the display is the last one.

I hand it to him.

He: Good for them (for selling out).

I buy both CDS. They are a tad more than iTunes. But at least I got some conversation, the packagaing, the liner notes, etc. I don’t know how to relate to an album without all of that. I am so old school I guess.

It’s so okay to be old school.

PS Something Else, the other CD shop in Park Slope is fun, too.

I’m just saying that Two Boots has been the de facto Mardi Gras headquarters in Park Slope for years and years. Which isn’t to say that Union Hall and NoNo Kitchen can’t bring something wonderful to the table. In fact, Two Boots gets WAY too crowded. Welcome aboard, NoNo Kitchen and Union Hall. Props to Union Hall for making it a benefit for New Orleans musicians.

TUESDAY FEB 20 IT’S THE BIG MARDI GRAS BASH!
Take a little trip down Bourbon Street right here in Brooklyn!
Authentic special New Orleans menu & cocktails, Mardi Gras beads,
Feast & dance the night away to the Cajun waltzes & swingin’two-steps of
NEW THANG from 4-6pm
THE VOODOOBILLIES  at 9pm
Get a free Hurricane if you come with a Mardi Gras mask or costume!

TUESDAY NIGHT AT UNION HALL: Fat Tuesday at Union Hall with a benefit show to aid the musicians of New Orleans featuring Snuggle T and the Huggs, Blue Vipers of Brooklyn, M Shanghai String Band, The Dansettes, Stephane Wrembel, Hungry March Band, The World Famous Pontani Sisters, Dave Hill, DJ Grand Pah and DJ Gannon

Admission $12. Door 6 p.m. Happy Hour 6-7 p.m. At Union Hall, 702 Union Street (off of 5th Avenue), (718) 638-4400.

Food donated by NoNO Kitchen.

Contest for photographers and writers:

The Brooklyn Public Library invites photographers or writers of all ages to describe what Brooklyn means to them in its sixth annual photo and essay contest. Gowanus Lounge had this to add:

We could advise that photographers avoid hagiographic images, but will say, instead, that you can see last year’s winners here and 2005’s winners here. They include some really, really good photos like this one.

The controversy surrounding the Footprints Show aside, This contest is a good thing for kids, teens and adults.

Prizes include a $500, $300 or $100 U.S. Savings Bond and the opportunity for the winning work to be exhibited at the Brooklyn Public Library.

Applications must be postmarked by Friday, March 30, 2007, midnight, or hand delivered by 5 p.m. to the Programs & Exhibitions Department located at the Park Slope Branch – 431 Sixth Avenue.

Click here to download an application and read more entry info.

Hepcat, you don’t need to move the car.

Peek-a-Boo Kids has moved into its new location on Seventh Avenue on the corner of Berkeley Place. The children’s shoe emporium, which also carries a full supply of Kitano baby and toddler ware, is in a smaller storefront now but it’s a much more attractive setting for their cheerful and colorful wares.

Natural light pouring in, the shop looks much more like a Park Slope-style children’s store now. The old shop just didn’t have much character. But they did have a great selection of shoes. The clothing leaned toward the European and pricey — and a little fancy.

It seems that in the new, smaller shop they’re going to emphasize the shoes and the Kitano selection, a very winning combination.

In honor of President’s Day a number of businesses and services will be closed Monday.

–Financial markets, banks, government offices, and schools will be closed.

–There will also be no regular mail delivery or garbage and recycling pickup.

–Alternate side parking rules are suspended, which should give those still digging out of the snow a break.

–Because of the holiday, subways and buses are running on a weekend schedule.

Hepcat feels vindicated. Actually, I made that up. But he does think that Bloomberg’s decision to cancel all parking tickets from the day after the Valentine’s Day snowstorm was reasonable. Very reasonable. And it shows that Bloomberg is listening to his 311 calls.

Because there were a lot of pissed off people.

Hepcat grew up in California on a 300 acre farm. They never throw out cars on that farm. His uncle kept a barn full 1959 Chevrolets. "He had about 60 of those Chevy’s with the big monster fins on them," Hepcat says.

His other uncle kept a barn full of Porsches. Hepcat is a Porsche man.

So, parking wasn’t much of an issue for Hepcat’s family. But after being in New York for almost 30 years, he is starting to get used to alternate side of the street parking. "It’s very annoying but they do need to clean the streets."

Hepcat likes cars a lot. But he thinks that they’re more interesting as cultural artifacts than as transportation. This surprises me as he’s traveled cross country by car more than twenty times.

Thing is, he just doesn’t like driving in New York. Consequently, the only time he uses the car is for moving things that are too heavy to carry (like Teen Spirit’s mega bass amp) or leaving town. And he also uses the car to move it to the other side of the street every week or so.

We almost never use the car to get around Brooklyn. That’s what car service’s are for. And subways and buses, of course.

They are oh-so-serious at Club Loco about not letting adults, especially parents, into the well-supervised shows at Old First Church on Seventh Avenue at Carroll Street.

Wouldn’t you know — Smartmom wanted to be a fly on the wall. She wanted to see how many people had gathered at Old First Church  for the second teen-only music event.

The bouncer asked for my I.D. Then he realized his mistake. I was told no adults allowed.

I knew that. I was so busted. But, but, but: I just want to see my son’s band. Plus he’s part of the organizing committee of these  events (and I’m just a proud mom).

Really, I was just curious. And you know what happened to that cat. I got to eavesdrop on the concert for like five minutes and then I had to go.

They had a big crowd and I bet the music by Dulaney Banks, Cool and Unusual, and The Floor is Lava! sounded great.

I wouldn’t know.  Next event for teens only: MARCH 24th. 7:30 p.m. High School I.D. required for entry.

I am a huge Jet Blue fan — and I’ve been very vocal about it. So you can imagine my confusion  about their  lousy performance during the Valentine’s Day snowstorm. How dare they act like a regular airline?

Full disclosure: my downstair’s neighbor, Phizz was one of those stuck at the airport on Friday. She, too, is a huge Jet Blue fan. She flies out to California frequently. Heck, she’s practically bi-coastal. I’m guessing she didn’t make it to California, yet. I hope she does. I’m wondering how she feels about Jet Blue now.  Phizz? 

Sure, I’ve heard about other airlines trapping passengers in planes on the tarmac for hours and hours — but Jet Blue always seemed above all that. Jet Blue was the alt airline, the airline that really tried to empathize with their passengers, the airline that was thinking outside of the box and doing things right. What happened? Are they getting too big for their blue britches and beginning to act like other airlines?

I am curious to see their attempt at damage control. My fantasy is that they’re working around the clock to figure out ways to avoid something like this happening again. They were the airline that locked the cockpit door after 9/11 and gave out free hand lotion and other fun things from  Bliss after the liquid bomb scare.

Let’s see what they do now.

The other day, Catherine Bohne, the owner of the Community Bookstore, explained to me the dire straits that her bookstore is in.  The situation is far worse than I imagined. The store, located on Seventh Avenue between Carroll and President Street, is seriously under-financed and things cannot go on this way.

There was, however, a silver lining to her story. 

And that’s what Catherine wanted to tell me the day she pulled me aside to talk. Catherine has reached out to the community she loves for help. And they have heeded her call.

Many neighbors and friends are meeting next week to put their heads together and brainstorm about the financial future of the bookstore. Some good financial heads have been brought in already and there is hope that help, in the form of a "thinking outside of the box" financial plan, is on the way.

Hey, this is Park Slope. We can do anything.

A more recent missive from Catherine reflects her growing optimism that the store can be saved. In it she writes, "This store isn’t going to die…there is simply too much love.

I want to remind Catherine that there is no shame in reaching out for help. Many a great New York independent bookseller has had to reach out to the book-buying public. The city is littered with the skeletons of fabulous independent bookstores that are no more. Books and Co. a glorious bookshop on Madison Avenue next door to the Whitney Museum, comes to mind. Let’s not let the Community Bookstore suffer a similar fate.

If you are interested in helping the Community Bookstore (or even investing money) email me at louise_crawford@yahoo.com

PS 321 mourns Jim Ferretti, staff computer specialist, AV-guy and essential person at PS 321. He died on Valentine’s Day of heart failure. He leaves behind his wife, Leslie Ferretti, a retired PS 321 teacher and ceramicist, and his son, Michael.

“Jim’s impact on our community is enormous and full of love and goodness,” says Marge Raphelson, the Parent Coordinator at PS 321.

He will be remembered by thousands of teachers, administrators, kids and parents, who appreciated his generosity of spirit, and can-do attitude during the many years he was associated with the school.

Jim started working at PS 321 in the fall of 1993 as a parent volunteer. When the school received a large donation of computers from A.I. Corp, they needed someone who understood how to assemble them. “Jim came and gently took over…I turned the basement workshop over to him—lock, stock and barrel,” recalls Mary Sue Lindley, who runs PS 321’s Computer Lab.

Born August 23rd 1949, Jim was a regular guy who loved children almost as much as he loved fixing and building things. When he was younger “he always had grease under his nails and car motors in the middle of his room,” remembers Francesca Pope, a friend and PS 321 parent, in a note posted on a school bulletin board.

In recent years he built a pottery studio for his wife and was always happy to lend a  hand when friends and family needed help with their computers.

Jim was also the person responsible for the annual slide shown shown at the fifth grade graduation, probably the most touching feature of the graduation ceremony.

He was also a musician remembered for his artistry on the 12-string guitar.  As recently as Saturday afternoon, he played a show celebrating the 40th anniversary of the school with Frank McGarry, Bill Fullbrecht, and other teachers.

As parents learned about Jim’s death, they gathered in the Parents Office to share their memories. He was a good, good man,” Raphelson said. "He was so modest with a quiet kindness. He’d never say no and he could fix just about anything.”

Friday I was trying to get a car service for my son to get to his school in Bay Ridge. Eastern Car Service wasn’t answering their phone — which usually means they are super busy.

So I decided to call Arecibo, the next best car service in Park Slope. I am one of those people who remembers phone numbers for years and years.

I haven’t called Arecibo in more than a year but the number came to me. They picked up right away.

"Hello," the dispacther said.

"I need a car," I said.

"I don’t have a car. Mine is stuck in the snow. I can’t drive it,"

And I’ve just reached my downstair’s neighbor, Mr. Kravitz, by mistake. Oops. I guess I’m not so great at remembering phone numbers anymore.

I coulda sworn that was Arecibo’s number. Their number really is:
718-783-6465 (it’s nothing like the Kravitz’s phone number).

PS I ended up calling Eastern and they picked up.

I was visiting Red Eft and Dadu in Kingston over the weekend. On Sunday morning, their 9-year-old son, WM Thing, walked past the guest room (after serving me breakfast in bed I might add) and announced: “It’s Power Day Off. Please try not to use any electricity today.” I knew what he meant because I’ve been reading his mom’s blog. Now don’t for a minute thing that this is a family of Luddites or low-techies. Every member of the family, including their 7-year-old daughter Falling Broken Wings has either a web site or a blog. Still the family likes to do without electricity and they’re really enjoying their weekly day off.

Power Day Off: Less, as always, is more from Oswegatchie.blogspot.com

You’ve heard of the power lunch and the power nap, right? Well our family is making a tradition of the Power Day Off. Like its namesakes, it is a souped-up, more intense version of the average day off. What makes it new and improved is: we use as little power as possible. It’s a day off of work for us and for the energy we use.

We break out the candles and don’t run the dishwasher, the vacuum, the dryer. We don’t turn on lights. We shun our computers. We light a fire and play Scrabble, or read, or fumble in the kitchen to cook (we do use gas; we do keep our fridge plugged in and open it for food; we do turn on the front light so our house isn’t completely black; we use the phone. So far.)

It’s a real day of rest. Quiet. Still. Dark. Nothing to do but be together. The seed of the idea came to me while reading Michael Lerner’s eloquent discussion of the Sabbath—the original day of rest—in his book, Spirit Matters. Despite the change in routine they bring, I haven’t found Saturdays and Sundays to be so very restful. Power Day Off fixes the problem, I think because when I’m near a machine that’s plugged in, the thing draws some power from the outlet and a whole lot of power from me.

Checking email, pressing buttons, proliterating tasks that aren’t really urgent—what a lot of ciphons. It becomes harder to take power for granted with an imposed limitation. Yesterday I entered a darkened laundry room and turned on the light without thinking, but once I noticed, I really noticed. I’m still getting used to giving electricity a sabbatical. Earth needs more than a day off from us, but it’s a start, so spread it around:

Power down

I’d like to publically thank Creative Times, my sister blogger, for the lovely Valentine’s present of a book called, Seedfolks, a young adult novel by Paul Fleishman.

A vacant garbage-filled lot in Cleveland gets transformed into a community garden and hope springs eternal in this short, lyrical novel.

Here’s an excerpt from the first page:

I stood before our family altar. It was dawn. No one else in the apartment was awake. I stared at my father’s photograph–his thin face stern, lips latched tight, his eyes peering permanently to the right. I was nine years old and still hoped that perhaps his eyes might move. Might notice me.

The candles and the incense sticks, lit the day before to mark his death anniversary, had burned out. The rice and meat offered him were gone. After the evening feast, past midnight, I’d been wakened by my mother’s crying. My oldest sister had joined in. My own tears had then come as well, but for a different reason.

I turned from the altar, tiptoed to the kitchen, and quietly drew a spoon from a drawer. I filled my lunch thermos with water and reached into our jar of dried lima beans. Then I walked outside to the street.

The sidewalk was completely empty. It was Sunday, early in April. An icy wind teetered trash cans and turned my cheeks to marble. In Vietnam we had no weather like that. Here in Cleveland people call it spring. I walked half a block, then crossed the street and reached the vacant lot.

I stood tall and scouted. No one was sleeping on the old couch in the middle. I’d never entered the lot before, or wanted to. I did so now, picking my way between tires and trash bags. I nearly stepped on two rats gnawing and froze. Then I told myself that I must show my bravery. I continued further, and chose a spot far from the sidewalk and hidden from view by a rusty refrigerator. I had to keep my project safe.

I took out my spoon and began to dig. The snow had melted, but the ground was hard. After much work, I finished one hole, then a second, then a third. I thought about how my mother and sisters remembered my father, how they knew his face from every angle and held in their fingers the feel of his hands. I had no such memories to cry over. I’d been born eight months after he’d died. Worse, he had no memories of me. When his spirit hovered over our altar, did it even know who I was?