PBS POV is airing a documentary tonight in honor of Veteran's Day.
The Way We Get By
If you have a tv, the time or the inclination, you should watch it.
The trailer leaves me in pieces:
For several years I coordinated a used book sale with our elementary school. One of the charities we gave extra books to was Operation Paperback, started ten years ago by a military wife whos… Continue
Added by Mel on November 11, 2009 at 9:30am —
2 Comments
Same wetland trail, different season. I took almost a hundred photos. Went back the next day without my camera and saw a dozen spiderwebs dripping dew and sparkling in the sun - at least I have my memories.....
Oh, one of the yellow flowers grow almost 6 feet tall, it's magical. Enjoy....
I sat in a small stone bar on the fox river in a storm and listened to Jim Green, the most amazing guitarist I've ever sat 10 feet from. His video make me need to get in the car and drive far, and up, until the road ends.
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Added by Mel on March 11, 2009 at 11:52am —
2 Comments
So this is how it goes when hubby leaves town on a male bonding golf marathon:
Day one:
dishwasher leaks and trashes wood floor in kitchen. Discover when sleepy bare feet feel warped boards underfoot. Great. At least I get a break from loading and unloading, but how long will spoons and bowls last? Also, my computer locks up repeatedly, replacement is imminent, but patience for new annoying Windows Vista is low. Sigh.
Day Two:
Wake up to voice mail flashing, funny, I was here all night. Nois… Continue
Added by Mel on November 7, 2008 at 9:30am —
10 Comments
Out of Many One
Of the People, By the People and For the People
Yes We Can
youngandold richandpoor democraticandrepublican blackwhite hispanic asain nativeamerican asian gaystraight
disabled and not disabled : we have never been just a collection of individuals or red states or blue states -
We are and always will be the United States of America
When the euphoria wears off (or the shock or anger, depending) I'll be looking for more details, answers and insight on what has happened in… Continue
Added by Mel on November 5, 2008 at 8:30am —
4 Comments
I think it's ironic how themes can converge on me. I was leaving the polling place, having confidently and proudly cast my votes, when I switch on the radio to NPR for the end of this story. I was crying by the time I got home. It is an inspirational and beautiful program.
NPR The Story: Army Capt. Ivan Castro
Enjoy. (Click Listen on the left to play) Continue
Added by Mel on November 4, 2008 at 1:30pm —
1 Comment
Seriously, I just don't know what to say in the face of these types of emails anymore, and this one is mild in its oversimplification, racism, fear-mongering, truthlessness, intolerance and ignorance. Did I mention pessimism and divisiveness? Anyone with mad limerick or rhyming skills care to attempt a rewrite?? I am short-circuited, in shock.
Subject: Twas the Night
*'Twas the night before elections*
*And all through the town*
*Tempers were flaring*
*Emotions all up and down!*
*I, in my bath… Continue
Added by Mel on November 2, 2008 at 9:51am —
6 Comments
Plumpy'nut FTW! How can you not love this product - it's peanutty perfection!? Nutrion and hydration in a foil packet that saves the lives of starving, malnourished children. Go ahead, feel good for a minute:
Plumpy'nut makes so much sense, I wish I could start a factory to make it and ship it to hungry kids.
Peanuts rock, as far as world hunger is concerned. Sorry about the Peanut Allergy thing, though....
But think of the… Continue
Added by Mel on September 15, 2008 at 8:55am —
4 Comments
Journey! Yes, after all these years, I'm still feeling that way, and oh yeah, I'm forever yours, Faithfully!
Maybe it was the wine (Mad Housewife Chard!), maybe the roadtrip (Indy Rocks!), maybe the true blue and new friends gathered from near and far (Little Buddies!), maybe it was the nostalgia (70's or 80's anyone??), or maybe it was that Arnel Pineda is the second best rock tenor in the Universe (the best Steve since the first Steve), or maybe that Journey the band is as tight and ta… Continue
Added by Mel on September 12, 2008 at 10:30am —
3 Comments
I spent 10 days in the rural town where I was raised and I was struck by several recurring thoughts and images....
One, things there haven't changed much and a lot of the people who never left are a mess. But many of the people who did leave are a mess too, so I'm not sure that it's relevent. Maybe in a small town you see everyone and everything up really close, so you see all the flaws and everything feels more real and raw. Or maybe we're all just a mess and mostly don't notice.
Two, dinner… Continue
Added by Mel on August 4, 2008 at 11:30am —
4 Comments
Hmmmm..... So, I thought they overwintered, but here they are. They are much smaller than I expected and unable to fly as yet. Their legs seem unsteady and they keep falling off the flowers. I'm trying not to worry. They are so beautiful and fragile, it seems. Aren't we all :)
… Continue
Added by Mel on August 3, 2008 at 10:30am —
7 Comments
I read Leonard Pitts' editorial about forgetting how to read, and I thought, yes, me too! I thought it was midlife or hormones, but I can't concentrate and haven't finished a book in months - I used to read one or two a week. Leonard referenced an article in the Atlantic magazine by Nicholar Car titled Is Google Making Us Stupid?, so I Googled it,… Continue
Added by Mel on June 22, 2008 at 3:30pm —
5 Comments
