THAT TIME OF YEAR

My partner, the weather wimp, is basking in Palm Desert, and enjoying the warmth and sunshine as many people do. But fall and winter have their appeal.

The smell of burning brush, getting the yard cleaned up; the coolish, sometimes crispy weather feels good for a change.

Summer heat gets wearing and glaring. Enough is enough. Welcome fall with bold, colored leaves.  Cold starry nights to gaze upon those immutable orbs and wonder about the vast above. Tuck inside with hot soup simmering on the stove.

And, when you go to a meeting, as I did last night,, with the local Democrats Club,  you get dressed for a holiday party and get a small stocking full of treats by your plate.

And see folks dressed up like reindeer.
On the way home many houses already lit up declared Christmas is at hand. I listened to non-stop Carols on the radio. It puts you in a happy frame of mind and you recognize its that time of year when a bit of magic is in the air.  
They say the world will end in fire. Some say ice. If I had my drothers, I'd take the ice.

CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR ARTISTIC SOULS

In yesterday's blog,  I mentioned the Red Hats. Joellyn Gano, left,  is also a member of the Calaveras Arts Council and enjoyed both parties on the same evening at the Murphys Hotel.  Her husband Dave is a painter. Joellyn plays a mean accordion, just one of her many talents. Penny West, served as director  of the Calaveras County Arts Council and kept that organization growing and strong,  nurturing all of us since 1981.  She now shares that position with Mary Jane Genochio.

Judi Caine Papais, left, has a marvelous studio with wonderful north light and teaches as well as paints. She is a well known artists along with many others too numerous to name. Judi belongs to another arts group in the county. Murphys may have the most galleries of all the small towns in Calaveras, but there are many others if you wish to spend a day perusing the awesome talents of this community. If you are looking for culture,  music, dance, visual arts, sculpture, or pottery, you will find it here.

 Good friends, Dave Self and Pastor Meg Self attended. Dave, with talents previously hidden from view. He drew illustrations for Glen Wasson's book and will be coming out with a book of his own poetry soon. These talents I never knew about before in my friend, surprised and delighted me.

 Glen with his wife Joan, a talented photographer. Glen provided the entertainment for the night and kept us laughing with renditions from his current book, Tales Mark Twain Would Have Loved To Steal.
Glen is well known for his doggerel. He writes on the spot and read a poem he composed just for the evening. But, I mentioned the Red Hats. Glen wrote "A Gentleman's Response To The Red Hat Ladies" and kept us laughing at his indelicate response to the repression of men's natural tendencies.

When I am old I will not care
About the kind of clothes I wear
They may be tattered, old or ripped
And I won't care if my fly's not zipped.

In crowded elevators I may break wind
And look as though I'm quite chagrined
At some innocent person standing there
Whom I'll indict with a reproachful stare.

And I don't care if the ladies mind
That I pinch them hard on the behind
I've always longed to play such sports,
Especially those with bulging shorts.

I'll go to church in my overalls
Wear polyester plaid to formal balls
I'll watch TV in my under wear
And scatter beer cans everywhere.

I'll scratch myself in private places
Just to see the look on people's faces.
In mixed compay I'll tell lewd jokes
To scandalize those proper folks.

At dinner time I will pick my nose
And wipe the boogers on my clothes.
And to me it really doesn't matter
If I grab the last thing from the platter.

Until I'm old I'll still behave,
It isn't nice to be a knave.
But, I can't wait for that joyful day
When I'm old enough to act that way.

I SHALL WEAR PURPLE AND HAVE FUN AT THE DENTIST

  It struck me as funny when I saw one of the gals at my dentist, Dr. Paul Berger's office, walking around with a handful of teeth. I meant to get her name and didn't, but she smiled and let me take her picture.

Then one of the dental techs stepped into the room, and clowned around as well. This was my first visit to Dr. Berger, so his staff members are still strangers to me, and obviously fun to be around. The proof is in the pictures. These two beautiful women with a sense of humor made getting a filling a lot less stressful. 

It was late in the day, and with mouth still slightly swollen, I dashed home, changed and headed for a party at the Murphys Hotel for the Calaveras Arts Council.  I walked in and there were the Red Hats enjoying a party of their own at the bar.

My good friend, Joellyn Gano was the first person I saw, outfitted in her gorgeous red hat and purple dress.

Several years ago,  I expected when I had "time", as though I could simply catch some, I would join the Red Hats because they have a lot of fun. I can always sit home and quilt when I'm old, which somehow is ten or more years beyond  my curent age.

I know nothing about the Red Hats organization, but I do know what inspired it, the poem: When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple.
I expect everyone has heard of, or read the poem, but just on the off chance, I copied it from the poem's author's book by the same name. She is Jenny Joseph.

 WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR PURPLE
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

TECHNOLOGY WILL SAVE US

I listened to industry giants on PBS debate the current, hazardous economy. They described Greenspan as a Chairman on marijuana and Bernanke as a Chairman on crack, as a way to describe their fiddling with the economy. Hmmm. The question is, what happens to the man on the street? 

Also on was the young Greenland Hedgefund manager who wrote the book You Can Fool All Of The People All Of The Time. He concludes the market should be left alone, but it only works if everybody and every institution, does their job correctly, like the FCC, the Banks, the Government, the Federal Reserve, and only if the government enforces the laws already on the books. We all know THAT isn't going to happen. They all seemed puzzled as we sink into the depths. They decried the bailout as the right thing to do, but that it was handled wrongly.
Technology will save us. Maybe. But which technology?

 

Truth to tell, I'm a little worried about how much technology we need. Phone communication is often  an ordeal. I ask myself,  do I  have a half or full hour to make the phone call and face the barrage of impersonal robots? Do I feel up to dealing with frustration right now?

I went for a mammogram yesterday, with the new, ultra sleek, exciting, digital machine. I don't believe the old (new) one our hospital bought  was even paid for yet.  But, the little gadget above seemed like an extravagant toy. I went to register for my appointment at central registration. They took my paperwork and gave me a pager and told me to sit down. I'm only 15 to 20 feet from this person, who basically handed off the paper work to another worker next to her. Then when the pager vibrated and flashed I approached the second woman and she registered me for my appointment and put an armband on my arm. I mean, whatever happened to calling my name? Then I moved a few seats away and waited for them to call my name for the procedure. I actually do know my own name, which they checked on my armband. The armbands are a good idea, I can see how it could prevent mistakes, like operating on the wrong arm, that kind of thing. If you are under anesthetic and fuzzy brained, it helps to know who you are. But, are we turning into zombies?

Well, one consolation, the weather was a beautiful, balmy, shirtsleeves day. The color is developing on the hillsides on the way. Hopefully, no technology will try to control the weather. 

There is that cartoon of futuristic people excavating ground layers from the early 2000nds, that explains, "...this is when the zombies let the computers take over..."   When you are becoming a fossil you get to be a bit cynical.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL AT GEARY ST. THEATER

Attending the beautifully, refurbished Geary Street Theater in San Francisco was a treat for the senses. The profound Dickens Christmas Carol, with old, familiar and endearing messages of greed and poverty; redemption and joy, of which we never tire. And, the theater itself, (no pictures,) but I can attest to its gold burnished decor, comfortable seating and rich, traditional interior that makes going to a "play", a grand experience. The huge cast performed on a stage with suggested scenery that still conveyed the setting even to our ten and eight year olds. They were spellbound, as I was.
My daughter, quite smartly read  Dickens story to Owen and Theo a couple of weeks before the event.

 We had good Indonesian food at Boroduro. The boys favorite was chicken sate and the shrimp krupuk.

 And, from our seven course lunch, Virginia and I favored the lumpia and the chicken soup. The soup was redolent of lemon grass, the sprouts were crunchy, boiled egg and greens added protein and flavor. Oops, can't forget the black sticky rice and coconut milk desert. Such flavorful choices.

 Then comes the other joy of a day trip to one of the world's greatest cities, walkin' and gawkin'.
 
 Street scenes where you are likely to meet unlikely looking Santas at this time of year.

 And, crowds of happy shoppers;

 Or a piece of street sculpture just waiting for you to happen upon it, half hidden in a shop indent.

Decorations on the buildings that signal a festive time of year, no matter what your belief's about Christmas are. A day isn't enough and each time we visit we pledge to come more often.

TIES THAT DON'T SUCK

Murphys  Open House, the first Friday in December every year, is a do not miss. Ramblin' through town, running into old friends, nibbling and sipping at every shop. Its a grand affair not only attended by locals, but certainly designed to jump start your Christmas shopping locally.

 

First, we gathered at my house for a bowl of soup and bread pudding. Jan, Karen, Denise,David, Margo and Pam. 

 

Sharing a glass of wine before we head downtown may help loosen the pocketbook, and it certainly put us in a cheery mood.

 Finding new stores open is part of the appeal for me. I often drive through town without noticing a new start-up. And, at INDEPENDENT we found useful, thoughtful, well designed original items, some hand made, some vintage or recycled. Truly items of lasting quality. Plus INDEPENDENT is a working studio that opens you to creativity. And, they have ties that don't suck. We chuckled over the sign, but unique they are.

This piece is steel or bronze.

I'm a sucker for childrens art and this little kitty called to me. Then, when I turned it over to see the price, it was a gift to whoever read the back. Project ART FROM THE HEART from the students of Martha Wallace. It expresses the importance that art plays in children's lives. What a joyful experience to walk out of the store gifted by this sweet kitty. Thank you Abby.

 Our next stop was also a newly opened boutique , just off Main on Scott St. downtown called MAISIEBLUE. Filled with gorgeous yarns, books, plants, art, T-pots. "Things we like", explained sisters Kimberli Smith and Megan Fischer, the proprietors of MAISIEBLUE.. They've returned to Murphys to open up this store in their old stomping grounds. Their middle sister, Amy Pollard was a friend of my daughter Virginia. They all graduated from Bret Harte High. See what happens when you wonder out for an evening? Its a lovely place to read, create, and relax. They have a group of knitters that meet on Thursday nights in the shop to do just that.

 

We got a late start but enjoyed everything we saw from buttons...

...to glass purses.

Old friends..

and new.


We finished the evening at the Murphys Hotel where the dance floor was crowded, energetic and fun.

A HUMOROUS LOOK AT THE AFTERLIFE

These were compiled by Jon Winokur for Funny Times. Peoples beliefs shape their lives and philosophers, comedians, scholars and just plain folks weigh in on the subject of an afterlife. At Christmas time, the religionists want us to keep Jesus in Christmas, and I expect they will be offended by afterlife humor. Others want to avoid the word Christmas and call this time of year a generic "the holidays." Many people, myself included, don't believe in an afterlife.  In short, there is enough here to offend or amuse just about anyone.

From Woody Allen:
I do not believe in an afterlife, although I am bringing a change of  underwear.

I don't believe in a big vacation village up in the sky. Bill Maher

The Baptists believe in The Right to Life before you're born. They also believe in Life After Death, but that is a privilege and you have to earn it by spending the interim in guilt ridden misery. At an early age I decided that living a life of pious misery in the hope of going to heaven when its over is a lot like keeping your eyes shut all through a movie in the hope of getting your money back at the end. Whitney Brown

From Samuel Beckett:
We'll sit around talking about the good old days, when we wished that we were dead.

Woody Allen, again:
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it by not dying.

He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt. Joseph Heller

I don't believe in an afterlife, so I don't have to spend my life fearing hell, or fearing heaven even more. For whatever the tortures of hell, I think the boredom of heaven would be even worse. Isaac Asimov

Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.  Susan Ertz

We have no reliable guarantee that the afterlife will be any less exasperating than this one, have we?
Noel Coward

It is a curious thing...that every creed promises a paradise which will be absolutely uninhabitable for anyone of civilized taste.  Evelyn Waugh

When I think of the number of disagreeable people that I know who have gone to a better world, I am sure hell won't be so bad at all.  Mark Twain

It must require an inordinate share of vanity and presumption too, after enjoying so much that is good and beautiful on earth, to ask the Lord for immortality in addition to it all.   Heinrich Heine

A belief in hell and the knowledge that every ambition is doomed to frustration at the hands of a skeleton have never prevented the majority of human beings from behaving as though death were no more than an unfounded rumor.  Aldous Huxley

Our current obsession with creativity is the result of our continued striving for immortality in an era when most people no longer believe in an afterlife.  Arianna Huffington

He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.   Douglas Adams

And as the wife says to her husband:
You realize if you go to Heaven, my relatives will all be there.  LasHowski

Eternity's a terrible thought. I mean, where's it all going to end?  Tom Stoppard

AFFORDABLE GIFTS OF ART

Every year at Christmas time, the Calaveras County Arts Council encourages artists to provide affordable works of art. The Arts Council Gallery is located on Main St. in San Andreas and I've peeked inside to give you an idea of what is available.

 Here find a variety of ceramics, vases, teapots, mugs, planters, a painted wall hanging and whimsical decorations.

Affordably priced, something original and exciting, makes for a great gift.

You will find all manner of paintings, large and small. Much to choose from and this is just one wall.

 photographs-

Original cards and jewelry.

The gallery is open all year long.  Throughout the year, the staff hangs special exhibits featuring various talents. Their gallery/office hours are 9-4 Mon. through Fri. Sat. 11-3.
The arts are alive and well in Calaveras with musical events, shows, dinners and seasonal programming. For instance, right now tickets are available for a Christmas special, The Nutcracker. Tickets can be ordered by phone. 209-754-1774.  Visit their website at:  /http://www.calaverasarts.org/
for more information. A strong arts community is a healthy community.

Two large paintings by Giles, normally sell in the $1,700 range. They are affordably priced at $700 each during the Christmas Boutique. Not exactly affordable for most people, but certainly a bargain for this artist.

VOLUNTEERS, ARCHIVES AND HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION

Calaveras is a small County with their own building, with staff, that runs and maintains a treasure of historical documents, as does nearby Tuolumne County and Amador County. The Calaveras County website gives you access to researchers and information. You can order copies of documents. They maintain research hours for your convenience and they research for you for a fee. A very valuable service.
  /www.co.calaveras.ca.us/cc/Departments/Administration/Archives.aspx

 Volunteering has always been a way of life for myself and other family members. And, since I am a founding member of Calaveras Community Television, a Public Access organization, I joined  archivist, Shannon Van Zant, Public Television employee and journalist, Sarah Lunsford, and Historian, Julia Costello, to choose tapes produced by our access groups for archiving. The choices are those tapes that deal with historical families, events, or places of historical interest, such as historical buildings or places where amazing events happened. It kind of makes me realize I'm becoming an old fossil myself.

It also makes me realize we are all a part of history in the grand scheme of things. I'm glad to be in the company of these talented women and grateful for the project.
Calaveras County also has an active Historical Society, of which I am a member. There website provides wonderful information about displays and the history of this county, a very interesting history, I might add.  www.calaverascohistorical.com/


I volunteer with the Alameda County Sheriff's Department Archives which has no paid staff and no regular source of funding. The difference is telling.  Take every chance you get to support historical and archival projects wherever you are.
Maybe some day, a Ken Burns will come along and make your history exciting and viewable on PBS television.
Hey, I'm working on that.