What’ll You Have?
Are you a glass half full, or a glass half empty kind of person? We’ve all heard those kinds of questions about one’s “outlook”.
A little self-reflection never hurts, right? But I think there’s more to it than that.
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Exhibition Opening – Mud, Darkness, Wind, Smoke, Fire…Dooley Lawrence
St. Joseph, MO, January 13, 2020 – The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art is proud to present Mud, Darkness, Wind, Smoke, Fire…Dooley Lawrence from January 17 through April 8, 2020.
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Jaybird On Schools
When you put your thoughts and words out there on a regular basis, folks come to expect an opinion on everything that comes up. While I generally have strong ideas on a lot of subjects, sometimes I’m torn. The hard issues are hard for everybody and I’m no exception.
And since I’ve been pretty vocal about schools on multiple occasions, I’m repeatedly asked about the latest controversy.
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You Write Where You Are
You Write WHERE?
David Mamet’s collection of essays entitled WRITING IN RESTAURANTS inspired me to write just about everywhere. Like the pervert-preacher in MIDNIGHT COWBOY, I’ve written on rooftops, I’ve written in bus stations, I’ve written in brothels.
In the interest of full disclosure: Mamet argues that radio is a great training ground for writers, so, perhaps he is not to be trusted.
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Pratchett brings laughter and tears in Nation
What happens when cultures collide? Terry Pratchett explores this in his often-hilarious book, Nation. This coming-of-age story takes place on…
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100 Beaches in a Bowl
Someday, in I hope the far distant future, somebody will throw out the glass bowl that currently sits on a shelf in our bathroom. While it means the world to me, both literally and figuratively, it will sadly be near worthless to anybody else after we’re gone. Though I won’t be surprised if they dump it and keep the bowl.
It’s filled with sand and seashells mostly, with a few tiny coral pieces mixed in, and a generous sprinkling of colorful sea glass. They’re the treasures of maybe a hundred perfect days with my family, on some beach or another.
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Patee Park Steam Engine Getting Much Needed Restoration
My interest in steam locomotives goes back to my childhood in the late 60’s. Now my sights are set on 5614 and at least restoring her to the condition she was in when donated to Saint Joseph.
Because Saint Joseph’s history is steeped in CB&Q history and in the American railroading, the value of this locomotives’ contribution to local and state history can not be under-scored enough, and warrants it being restored to its former glory.
Playing With Dolls
Somewhere around ten or twelve, it became my job to put up my grandmother’s Christmas trees. She had three. One in each of her second story picture windows, and a third, downstairs in her beauty salon on St. Joe Avenue.
There was a big, fake one, a smaller fake one, and the fakiest of all, the aluminum with the colored light wheel. She rotated them around from year to year.
But one constant was her Character Dolls. One of her customers made them. Fairy tale icons mostly. Robin Hood’s in there. So is Bo Peep. And the Jolly Green Giant for some reason.
Talking S*** About Sewers
I value my sewer connection. Let me be clear on that!
I think sanitation is what separates us from the lesser beasts. (Though some are certainly separated further than others.)
But modern sanitation ain’t a walk in the park.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to go back to those halcyon days, when you could just dump your waste in the river? Arrogantly thumbing our noses at anybody downstream, and blessedly ignorant of anybody above.
But these days, we handle our s*** differently.
Let’s Dance!
We used to dance. Most people did.
Dancing cut across all divisions and divides. Young, old. North, south. Regardless of color or station. Rich folks danced in palaces, built for the purpose. Po’ folks danced when they had nothing else.
But, one of the things I never thought I’d see in my lifetime, is the slow demise of dancing.