Back Again

I don't know why I haven't posted. I've been busy, but that doesn't cut it. 

We have big news. We bought a condo in Essex, Maryland! It wasn't either of the two we had already seen. It's in the same complex as one that we were considering, but it's so much nicer than the first. 

We close next Tuesday. We're nowhere near ready to move yet. I haven't done as much packing as I would have liked. I've been dealing with banks and other financial institutions and reading condominium documents.  

My work is cut out for me. 

Rally for Abortion Justice

Last Saturday October 2, I participated in a rally for abortion justice. We met on a bridge heading into the main shopping area of Westport, CT. We waved our signs, chanted "My body, my choice," "Mister, Mister, keep your laws off my sister," and "We won't go back," and cheered as passing motorists beeped at us. We were most encouraged by truck and bus drivers beeping to show their support. 

At first, I was annoyed that the organizers expected us to bring banners. Then I figured out what would work for me. I played around with sizes and fonts on my pc and printed out two 8.5 x 11 pages: one read "Abortion is Healthcare," and the second read "Keep Abortion Legal." I glued them on 9 x 12 mixed media pages. Next I taped them to a yardstick, so I had a two sided sign. My sign (not me) made the local News 12 telecast.

Here are two of my favorite signs from the rally.  I cropped out the people because I don't have permission to use them in my blog.

                "When government controls decisions for her, she is being treated as 

           less than a fully adult human, responsible for her own choices."

Other favorites:

"Hey GOP I'm only three but I already know it's my body."

"Nevertheless, she persisted."

There were a few signs with coat hanger imagery, "I Stand with Planned Parenthood" (I had this on a bumper sticker on my last car) and "My body my choice." I think I was the only one with "Abortion is Healthcare."

I only saw three people in cars who gave us a thumbs down. Many cars just drove by, but many beeped in support or waved. 

Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal showed up with a local candidate I didn't know (I don't live in Westport.)

I hope the politicians paid attention to us and all of the rallies across the nation.

Keep Abortion Legal.

Abortion is Healthcare. 

2020 Plans, Goals, Etc--Part II

Didn't think it would take me this long to return to this topic.

Reading: Read 25 books. Last year I read 24, re-read The Handmaid's Tale and parts of Gone with the Wind.

So far this year, I've read three books: City of Endless Night, The Money Drunk, and The Obsidian Chamber. 

I also read three poetry books: Art & Text, Woman-Words by Marylou Kelly Streznewski, and Inverse Origami by Mar Walker. The first is the companion to this exhibit; the second is by an author I met at the International Women's Writing Guild summer conference in 1998; the third is by a poet I met at a reading by another poet I knew from another writer's conference. I haven't decided on a set number of poetry books to read this year. I'll just play it by ear.

Job Search: At some point in the last two years, I abandoned my job search. I was busy with my mother's care and later her estate. I still get daily emails about job openings which I read occasionally, but will just work on my current part-time job.

Health: I've already written about working out. I also want to sleep better/get more sleep. I've been good about getting into bed earlier and not stressing too much about sleep or the lack thereof. I'm not sure I need a full eight hours of sleep; I seem to do fine on 7-7.5.

This year, I'm going to get a physical, shots such as a shingles vaccine, just take care of many things I've neglected. Already in January, I've been to the gynecologist and eye doctor, and had a mammogram and bone density test.

Finance/Legal: I need to get both fiances and legal matters in order.

Creativity: I want to do more "arty" things. This is a vague goal. I went to some artist receptions and open houses in the fall, and want to do more. I'd like to hear live music--never seem to do that anymore. I want to work on art journals. I recently read an issue of Art Journal which was inspiring, but I can't seem to give myself permission to work on a journal. It will just add to the mess that I need to clean and organize.

That leads me to Cleaning/Organizing goals: boring I know. The worst thing about cleaning is that it never ends. Everything gets dirty or in disarray again. But I want to try to stay on top of it more/better. I've been going through and getting rid of things I don't use/want. That has to be helping, right?

Finally (though I reserve the right to add or edit goals and plans) trips to plan. Jeff and I are planning to move somewhere south of here in the next few years. We need to explore some areas. I want to go on New Hope (Bucks County) Pennsylvania. I remember New Hope fondly--going there for plays on high school trips--and seeing some cute shopping areas. The area has beer, wine, and ice cream trails. Intriguing. I also have an invitation to visit Baltimore. Research!

Norwalk New Developments

In the past four days, I've attended three public meetings related to future projects in Norwalk.

The first involves work on an intersection on Route 1. This is a definite go and focused on traffic and pedestrian safety. I already try to avoid that area by taking back roads when appropriate, and it won't start for some time.

The second meeting involves a driving range on a public golf course. I got involved with this almost a year ago. Originally, there were competing plans: one was to place the driving range on woodlands. I was glad when that site was rejected. But the ongoing process has been very frustrating. The people overseeing the golf course don't want to listen to anyone else.

Tonight I went to a meeting about a proposed new mall. Most people I've talked to are against this project. I was too. I feel much better after hearing the company's presentation. The company is actively seeking public participation, which is a big plus.

I've been saying for a long time that I want to get more involved in the community. But damn, it can be tiring.

For Trayvon

I'm not a leader; I'm not an activist. I sometimes wish I were both, but I don't act upon those feelings.

When I first heard of the shooting and killing of Trayvon Martin, I had no doubt that racism played a major part in Trayvon's death. Racism is deeply embedded in our culture. The fact that it makes us feel so uncomfortable may be the reason we have to need to talk about it.

I watched much of the trial, but missed several key parts of the testimony. I also heard things that the jury didn't. I tried hard to disregard my feelings and beliefs about the case and imagine I were a member of that jury. Regardless, I don't understand how the jury could have acquitted Zimmerman on manslaughter. 

According to the juror interviewed on CNN (disclosure: I only saw part of the interview) the jury seemed to completely believe Zimmerman's version of his "encounter" with Trayvon. I didn't believe his story. Why did they?

The jury also didn't consider race as an issue. Another thing I don't get. As I said, it's embedded.

My heart goes out to the Martin family and friends, and all of us who believe in justice.

Believing in justice reminds me of this.

Cocoon

I've had a rough few days.

On Friday, the Florida probate judge rejected my interpretation of my father's will. The result--my father's wishes are being ignored. While I can certainly use that part of the inheritance that I will forfeit, the insult to my father is worse than the injury to me.

I've been sick since Saturday, weak, chilled and achy. I'm feeling much better today, but I'm still exhausted despite several hours of sleep.

For the most part I've retreated inside our condo. I played yahtzee, worked on SAT practice tests, read "The Myth of Bloody Mary" and watched baseball. Yesterday I walked Spike, cooked dinner and did the laundry.

I find myself wanting to cook and bake--tonight for dinner, I sauteed and then baked salmon fillet with ginger soy sauce on fresh spinach sauteed with garlic, lemon and wine. We also had sauteed string beans with red pepper, carrot, onion and garlic.

To use some older fruit, I baked apples and pears with oatmeal, butter, sugar cinnamon, raspberry liquor and orange juice. All in all, a nice meal. I'm already thinking about tomorrow. Marinara sauce, maybe some muffins. I need to keep busy right now.