I ain't skeert. (yeah, right...)

Just got back from the doc, who wants to schedule a needle biopsy just to make sure all is well. He says it's definitely not just density from the radiation, which makes me just a teensy bit nervous. He was very positive and upbeat about things though, so I'm keeping a stiff upper lip but just sort of wishing Mike was home right now.

So I'm not sure if I should just go and get the local radiologist to do the biopsy, or whether I should go ahead and see the docs in B-ham like they said I should if anything came up. I do trust my local doctor, so I think I'll just do what he says and see what the needle turns up.

(For those new to my blog ~ I was recently treated for just the smallest case of breast cancer)

In sunnier news...the Deadwing album doth rock, every last moment of it. Well, maybe not every last moment. Because I haven't quite finished listening. It has stopped playing, but I suspect that it has one of those annoying ghost tracks. I usually just ignore them and eject the CD if it feeds me nothing but silence (the job of a CD is to entertain me, dammit!) but this album is too good to miss a note, so I just pray it's not too long of a silence...

OK, new impressions of Dylan...

If I ever become great, I hope Martin Scorcese does the story of my life. As pissed off as I am at Bob Dylan for not being the Bob Dylan of my fantasy world, I thoroughly enjoyed last night's conclusion of "No Direction Home". I did think it was just way too precious of Dylan to feign ignorance about the socio-political messages in his music. How pretentious of him to act as though he didn't even know what the interviewers were talking about. What a rude, pompous little clown. Which seems to be just the image he was going for, so kudos to BD for being a complete success in all his endeavors.


I bought the most AMAZING album last night...Porcupine Tree, "Deadwing". I've only heard the first couple of tracks so far, but oh, my. I guess the best way I can describe it is psych-prog-rock, with an emphasis on ROCK. As in, it rocked me so hard I thought I was going to die happy in traffic. I'm spending my lunch hour in my car today. :)

Just look at that little imp!

She was peeking around the corner at the Children's Museum. We had such a blast.

I watched the first half of the Dylan documentary last night. Frankly, once it got past the footage of his influences, I didn't care any more. He seems like a dreadful person. But the old footage of Hank Williams and Muddy Waters was coolness incarnate.

Yeah, I guess it really bothered me, because I love Dylan's music. And now I have to know that he is a thief, an egomaniac and a huckster. This is why I hate to know anything about my favorite artists. It's like when I met Adrian Belew. It just sucked all the magic out of his music for me. ::sigh::

Tornado Warnings

I spent a couple of hours in the basement today avoiding some of Rita's tornados, and as a result I made some progress going through some of the junk down there. I have a couple of enormous boxes ready to go to the Florence HS Drama Dept yard sale. I also managed to get the hearth cleaned off at long last. Flying with Flylady is easy as long as I'm dealing with my own stuff, but when I start trying to deal with my husband's space, that's a delicate proposition. It was a productive day.

Friday night's work gathering was a foodfest. I'm afraid that I was very, very bad. And I'm still eating leftovers.

Time for me to head to bed so that I can finally get back in the pool in the morning.

My letter to Alabama Public Radio

I don't suppose that tonight's Evening Jazz program is any worse than any other night's. It's just that tonight was the straw that finally broke my spirit. I want to love APR. I enjoy the news programming, K.T.Windham's stories, Lake Wobegon, even Car Talk. But here's the thing. I love music. I'm actually quite obsessed with it. Every night, with hope in my heart, I turn on my radio and hope to hear some on APR. So far, all I hear when I turn on APR in the evening is some strident, nasal jazz instrument or another, wildly running through scales as if it were trying to learn to play itself as quickly as possible. I call this, "Noodling", and it makes me physically ill to hear it.

I don't care what kind of music you play at night on APR. Jazz, trip hop, Americana, African tribal, or polka. Just please, I am begging you, make it GOOD music. INTERESTING music. Music with a purpose and a direction beyond an attempt to play as many notes in succession as possible.

I want to love APR. I want to support APR. But until APR provides me with something cool to listen to before I go to bed at night, I will continue to send all of my financial support to Radio Paradise.

Hopefully yours,
~Anna Gibson

And some of my husband's thoughts...

A cart laden with tourists leaves the Marriott and goes direct to the wharf where a small ship laden with supplies, including wool, copper, silver, gold, exotic woods... has just arrived. From there it proceeds up the hill and into the village.


An enormous, ornate hall houses an interactive dinner theatre.


We also see a large collection of wooden structures where carpenters build barrels, wheels, lances, longbows, arrows... An instructer is aiming his longbow at leather and glue targets. Wares from each shop are for sale; apprentices learn their individual trades..

The next group of shops perform work on copper. Bowls, utensils, hardware; next is a craftsman who makes a long trumpet on a mandrel from a single block of copper. His grandfather's grandfather's dad taught him, and so on. A trumpet can take 2 to 3 weeks to make. Next to him is a craftsman who hammers thin sheets of copper which he wraps around a mandrel and over fire hammers and welds succesive sheets to make a similar trumpet. The final layer may have silver inlay with hooks for a banner and be completed in 2 days; enlightenment, he says. The two craftsmen like to bicker.

Blacksmith shops make rings that go around a wheel or barrel. Armor, chainmail, mandrels...


As we progress up the street, the quality of the buildings is changing from wood to stone (local quarried limestone?) or brick. Perhaps higher ceilings in the high rent district.


Exotic woods are carved into handsome furniture/furnishings, some gilded. A clock tower is driven by the newly discovered pendulum whose enormous swinging arc through two stories guarantees accuracy to within 10-15 seconds per day.


The other side of the street has tanners ,weavers and tailors. How exciting, the idea of a portable clock that a person can carry with them! Lenses are created to enhance vision and explore the inner and outer cosmos. Somewhere I smell the brewing of beer.

The apprentices come from all over the world and receive reduced rates from the Marriott for their contracted extended stays. They may learn anything from making and shooting longbows to hammering gold into thin foil that will cover that precious keepsake.


A faculty of artisans/teachers will flock to this new city, which by the way, bears no resemblance to a bass pro shop.

Some great ideas for the Shoals...

Susann Elsass wrote a brilliant letter to Billy Ray Warren this week, and has given me permission to share:

Dear Billy,

I've been thinking about something and just had to share my thoughts. I
have spent the last 3 days at the Sheffield Charrette. One of the speakers
on Thursday night was John Elkington who is the primary developer of Beale
Street in Memphis. One of the main points he made was that Sheffield should
not "copy" what another city has done. He said that it's important to
create a new experience so that tourist who visit the area return home
saying "You have to see what they have done". I have also learned in the
last 3 days that Sheffield intends to create an entertainment/music district
downtown.

I couldn't help but think about our own plans for Florence and the tourist
attractions we are exploring here. I know we have been looking at a Bass
Plus and the possibility of an entertainment district in East Florence.
I've actually been a supporter of it. (the entertainment district, not the
Bass Plus) What I can't stop thinking about is how firm Mr. Elkington was
about his warning to "create something different". It seems obvious to me
that Sheffield is much better situated to create a music district downtown.
They have more large buildings with character that are better situated to
become nightclubs and restaurants. They also have a more direct historical
tie to the recording industry in that area. If we do the same type of
district it just seems to be boring duplication. I believe that a Bass Plus
would be the same duplication situation. Bass Plus was a big deal 10 years
ago. I realize that the nearest one may still be a drive, but I'm sure it's
only a matter of time before a competitor with the same product line comes
along to rival them. I just don't feel that it's a novel "look to the
future" type approach.

I'm writing to you because I'm aware of your desire to construct a
Renaissance Village and I know you have looked at Veterans Park as a
possible location. I'm aware of the ownership issue, and I know the city
has been asked to offer Bass Plus an incentive. What I would like to see
happen in Veterans Park is exactly what you propose. The link that Florence
has to the Renaissance period is what makes us unique. I did a little
research to see where there might be competition and all I could find is a
plan for a Renaissance village that isn't even under construction in
Colorado and a couple of Medieval Times restaurants in North Carolina and
Florida. I may be incorrect, but my guess is that a Renaissance village
could also be constructed in harmony with the existing landscape easier than
a Bass Plus, which I'm sure would please the environmentalists. If you look
at the enduring popularity of places like Silver Dollar City and
Williamsburg that also supports my position.

In addition I have a different approach to what I would like to see happen
in East Florence. I would like to see an entertainment district with an
international flair. I believe that the success of the Celtic Concert
Series and the Indian Dance Troupe point to an interest in such
entertainment. I personally really miss the Indian, Thai, Mediterranean,
and other ethnic restaurants in Los Angeles. I know that I'm not alone
because I've been in 3 completely different groups of local citizens lately
where the subject came up and they have all echoed the same sentiment. I
also think the old depot over there would make a wonderful farmer's market
with an exotic flair and I know there is some interest in a more upscale
gourmet grocery store. They could carry international spices and produce
and maybe even offer cooking classes in ethnic cuisine.

I would further support my proposal by pointing out that when Dr. Borah
introduced the Mamata Shankar Ballet Troupe he mentioned research that
indicated communities that demonstrate an openness to ethnic diversity are
more likely to attract industry in the new world economy. I'm paraphrasing
what I remember of his comments, and will contact him to inquirer about his
sources. I would also point out that in terms of tourist attractions this
area is overrun with Southern History and Southern Music History. I'm sure
I'll lose friends talking like that, but I'm not saying it's bad - just that
there is a lot of it. You have the Smokey Mountains, Nashville, Beale
Street, New Orleans (the music district isn't that far from being back
online) and I know that Tupelo is working toward jumping on that bandwagon.
I know that there is a rich music heritage in this area, but you can only
capitalize on it so much. I especially think that in terms of attracting
folks from Nashville, Memphis, and Birmingham for repeat visits it makes
sense to do something a little different. Picture this... Downtown Florence
becomes an art district (there are already 3 galleries and the First Friday
event), Sheffield and Muscle Shoals have a music district and a new
recording industry, Tuscumbia has the Indian Heritage and Railroad link
along with upscale shopping and children's attractions, and the East
Florence area is a Renaissance Village that flows into an adjacent
international entertainment district. It seems to me that if we do it that
way a traveler wouldn't feel like they had "Done the Shoals" until they
visited all these communities. It gives them a reason to stay longer no
matter what hotel they are in. I also think that these attractions would be
much more likely to be used by a larger percentage of the locals. I just
don't see a big number of the college kids going to Bass Plus.

I would like to hear your thoughts on what I propose and I hope they you
will keep me on your list of supporters for the Renaissance Village. I feel
strongly about this and I will likely tell anyone I can get to listen. I
would like to give you an opportunity to respond first, but may then forward
this letter to city officials, the planners at NACOLG, and friends in the
community.

Best regards,

Susann Elsass

Sheffield Charrette

I really enjoyed Thursday night's planning session at the Ritz Theater regarding Sheffield's concepts for an entertainment district. John Elkington of Performa Real Estate was apparently instrumental in the recent changes in Beale St. and he had quite a lot to say that made sense.

One thing that struck me was his warning that it would tend to weaken the effect of the attraction if other cities; Florence, Muscle Shoals or Tuscumbia also decided to build their own music districts. I had been behind the idea of an entertainment district in East Florence, but now I think something else needs to happen there.

He also emphasized the importance of building an unique attraction, not a carbon copy of another city's entertainment district, but something that only the Shoals has to offer.

I've heard some great ideas, and Mike has come up with an amazing concept that I'll talk about later.

Changes are afoot, and I hope everyone will throw their energies and blessings behind what's happening in the Shoals.

Ubu's newest assault on the world of art and local politics:

This was completed early this morning and emailed to me at my breakfast.

Well, this was predictable...

I answered this online questionaire to find out what sort of elitist I might be, and here are the results:

Your CD collection is almost as big as your ego,
and you can most likely play an instrument or
three. You're a real hit at parties, but you're
SO above karaoke.
What people love: You're instant entertainment.
Unless you play the obo.
What people hate: Your tendency to sing louder than
the radio and compare everything to a freaking
song.


What Kind of Elitist Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Hip hop

Kyle just brought over a couple of newly formed tree frogs and I took some pics. Check out how it's doing the chameleon thing with that amethyst.

Yep. There she is again.

Watched a truly great film tonight...I (heart) Huckabees. I think I need to watch it every day, or at least keep it on in the background. Or at least buy myself a big rubber bouncy ball.

Ate too much, again...leftover ribs and baked beans. It was worth every artery-clogging morsel.

Just realized I never answered my emails today. I was so busy today, non-stop scrambling to get caught up; desperate to finish in time to go home before bedtime. I better go answer a couple, though they will be short.

My grandmother's hair pins

The world looks much brighter this morning, of course. If there's any aspect of my mother's spirit around here, it's here to give me comfort. I was just cleaning out a drawer in my bedroom, and came across a box full of my maternal grandmother's hair pins. Nothing fancy, just plain metal hair clips. She used to roll her hair into pincurls and fasten them with those clips. I'm decluttering my home, and this kind of thing is the hardest of all. I can let go of stuff that was mine in all my other lives...childhood, high school, college...but what am I supposed to do with my grandmother's hair pins?? Throw them away? Build a shrine to them? What about my mother's lifelong collection of cassette tapes? It's so hard to let these things go. But my house is only so big, and I can only have so much stuff. ;)

Out of the corner of my eye...

All evening, even when we had company here and conversation was lively, I kept seeing someone out of the corner of my eye; someone who isn't there when I turn to look. Now our guest has gone home, my husband has gone to bed and I am still seeing someone there. I'm getting awfully spooked here. Weird notions come to mind. My dear mother lived with me during the final years of her life. Just yesterday, I finally took down off the wall of what was her bedroom, two placemats depicting travel scenes that she loved, and a calendar still open to June of 2003, which was when she died. Is she protesting this? I can't stand to think of my mother as some sort of restless spirit. Of course, I've always considered ghosts to be, not the person from whom they were generated, but aspects of that person, somehow recorded into the spirit of a place

OMG I'm freezing. It's like ice in here. Oh yeah...I turned the air down earlier...I'm really doing number on myself. I need to go to bed and stop letting my imagination run wild.

A picture of Mother around 1940:

More Freia Photos...sorry, I can't resist her...

DH is getting the ribs ready for Labor Day, and Freia is his new best friend. ;)



And I don't have any excuse for this one.

Reflection...

Freia's reflection looking out our glass front door...

The Reverend Earnest T. "Rex" Ubu unleashes his work on an unsuspecting populace....

First Friday tonight was a rousing success. Byron sold several of Ubu's pieces. I didn't get to sing Showtunes with Zodiac because their accompaniest didn't show, but I had fun anyway. Saw lots of folks I hadn't seen in a while.

Teri made a new quilt square in my honor!!

Check it out!!! Isn't that the most awesome quilt pattern on earth?! Teri and several friends are making a quilt to be auctioned for breast cancer research, and this is the square she made in my honor. I seriously love this pattern!! I would love to see an entire quilt made from this pattern. Does anybody know the name of it? For all I know, Teri made it up. She is just amazing with quilts.

I will definitely be posting the link when their quilts are ready to be auctioned. In fact I will probaly post it so often that everyone will be sick of hearing about it!

Rebuild?? A city below sea level???

Why???

It's insane, all this talk about rebuilding New Orleans. The experts say we have 20-30 more years of massive hurricanes coming. I'm fine with the idea of rebuilding the city, but please, for the love of God, don't put it back in the same precarious spot it's in! Restore the French Quarter, the original city, the only part that's actually above sea level, as a tourist attraction, a monument to the city of New Orleans. But how pathetically stupid is it to repeat the colossal mistake of allowing a city to spread out around it on land that is destined to become swamp?

Let that land turn into the wetlands we so desperately need to protect our country from the onslaught of these deadly hurricanes. Build a city someplace else.

/end rant.

My mind has been trying to wrap itself around the concept of 1 million Americans displaced, homeless...

No luck so far. I just can't fathom it. As soon as I get word back from my employer about matching donations (they matched my Tsunami donation), I'm sending money to the Red Cross, but I just feel like I should be doing something. My heart is so heavy with this. Sometimes it sucks to be an empath.