Josh On Dan Nation

Son Josh blew his dad back in his recliner when he made a phone-in appearance on The Dan Patrick Show yesterday. Husband Mark was just sitting at home concentrating on Patrick’s discussion of the beating quarterbacks Brett Favre and Kurt Warner took during last weekend’s playoff games when Dan said, “Josh from Virginia Beach, you’re on the Dan Patrick Show.” Josh replied, “Dan Patrick. One small step for radio, one giant step for hair.” Go here to listen to the January 29, 2010, show.

I was particularly glad to tune in as Dan, a native of Cincinnati, gave me a bit of a cultural education about Cincinnati. Referring to the New Orleans expression “Who Dat?”, Dan pointed out that Cincinnatians say, “Who Dey?” Evidently, once upon a time, Hu-Dey beer was sold in the stands of all Reds and Bengals game, so when a fan ran out of beer, he or she hollered, “Who Dey?” No wonder moving is so stressful… so much to learn, so little time.

Who would’ve thought a guy with such great hair would be so smart?

Listen Up!

Last Sunday’s Weekend Edition on NPR featured a cappella group Sonos. The group released a new album last September, SonoSings (see left). Especially intriguing is the group’s grown-up version of the Jackson Five’s “I Want You Back.” (For a trip down memory lane, go here for the Jackson Five’s 1969 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.) To hear a snippet of Sonos’ version, go here, then download the full-length version from your favorite mp3 provider. For the interview on Weekend Edition, go here.

In Virginia Beach, we enjoy two NPR stations with some wonderful local programs. One such program is Sinnett in Session hosted by jazz musician and local celebrity Jae Sinnett. That’s my favorite photo of Jae on the right taken when he posed for the Hampton Roads edition of Skirt! magazine. For more photos of Jae, visit his website here. Jae is also an excellent cook, making him a candidate for The Perfect Man. At any rate, I caught his show the other evening and heard a nice rendition of the old Bill Withers’ hit “Ain’t No Sunshine” performed by the Billy Childs Trio. You can find the  Billy Childs Trio’s version on their album Speak Like a Child (photo left) as well as Bedtime Stories. Listen to Bill here and to the Billy Childs Trio here.

Another local public radio gem is Hearsay with Kathy Lewis. Kathy recently hosted a program on the handicrafts movement chronicled by Faith Levine in her movie Handmade Nation. (Read more about Faith and her movie in my October 26, 2009, post.) You can download the podcast of Kathy’s January 15, 2010, broadcast here. The broadcast also features Erin Bried, author of How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew, a Money-Saving, Heart-Warming, Life-Simplifying Guide (photo left).

And last but by no means least, Corinne Bailey Rae (photo right) has released a new cd. The Sea is Rae’s sophomore effort and follows the 2008 death of Rae’s husband, jazz musician Jason Rae, from an accidental overdose. Rae says her latest cd (photo left) is a journal of her grief and is quite a contrast to her Grammy-winning Put Your Records On. Rae recently appeared on The Tavis Smiley Show. You can watch the interview here.

Play nice!

In the late 1980s, Robert Fulghum struck a note with all of us when he wrote All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Fulghum’s book came on the heels of our obsession with designer clothes (remember the need for that alligator on your shirt?) and living like the rich and famous (as depicted on tv shows Dallas and Dynasty). Some legitimately argue that it was the decadence of the 80s that got us where we are today.

But neither Fulghum’s folksy wisdom nor the current harsh financial circumstances we’re experiencing seem to get it through our thick heads. People, we are all in this together.

We can sit on our own personal self-righteous islands and point fingers, but we’re just deluding ourselves. Like the teabaggers on Medicare who protest government subsidies for health care, we’re confused in a really fundamental way. Rushing to the front of the line to get mine while knocking others out of the way doesn’t prove that I’m entitled or deserving. It just proves that I’m a rude, ignorant jerk.

When I express these views, people often agree with me but then say that if those other people would only shape up, all would be right with the world. Well, here’s a news flash. We ARE those other people.

Let’s start a revolution and set the world on its ear. How? Let’s start by playing nice. We can use good manners and be courteous. We’ll think before we speak (or forward or text). We’ll show some respect. We’ll surround ourselves with tv and music that challenges us to do better or makes us laugh. We’ll paint pictures and read to a child.  We’ll take walks to cool off. We’ll focus on what’s important.

And when we see the less fortunate, if we can’t find it within ourselves to help, we won’t make it worse by looking down our noses. We’ll remember that we all need a little help sometimes. Because people, we’re all in this together.

A Pledge of Allegiance

As an American, I pledge that on my watch, to the best of my ability…

No child and no poor, mentally ill or elderly person shall go without food, shelter, medical care and legal representation.

No disaster victim shall wait unaided; no vaccines will be hoarded during epidemics.

No bigotry shall go unchallenged.

No opportunity for peace will be overlooked.

No one shall be prevented from access to education, employment and housing, participation in military service, or the freedom to speak out. All spiritual seeking shall be respected; all human attempts of lovingkindness shall be celebrated.

Speaking truth to power will be my credo, so I will not stand idly by as the rich and powerful perpetrate their greed upon others, taking even from the poor to ensure their wealth.

While others debate and argue, smirk and name-call, I will spend my energy working for justice.

I pledge this because, to me, this is democracy.

Grace, the Book

My husband and I are in the process of moving. I will get back to blogging… eventually. Meanwhile, someone asked me about a link to my book entitled Grace. You can preview/purchase it here [recommended]. The other book you will find in my “store” is entitled Mary, Mary, Mary: Visions of Grace which is a catalog from an art exhibit.