Ms. Darby

It’s that time of year again; the time when we index the past year and assess where we’re at and where we’re heading. Most of 2008, I was concentrating on where I was heading, quite literally and physically. I’ve now arrived here in the Pacific Northwest, securing the place I’ve desired and the work I’ve desired, so it looks like, from where I’m sitting, at least, that 2009 will be about refining. Polishing the already beautiful gems I have and adoring them, taking extra care to appreciate their uniqueness.

Still in a slight state of transition with a whole new universe to discover, I want to make sure I listen more and talk less while I chart my path. For any of you who know me, this is BIG. I tend to “interject” while others are speaking, and trying to not do so is a challenge, but one I’m ready to take on.

I want to also learn the bass guitar, a la Kim Deal. Or maybe like Aston “Family Man” Barrett, of Bob Marley and the Wailers fame. Or George Porter, or Bootsie Collins - I wanna bring the funk, ya know? Or Mike Rutherford, for any of you Genesis fans…Or perhaps I’ll just spend 2009 trying to rack my brain to see how many bassists I can name. Besides Getty Lee.

Happy New Year!

Filed by darby at 12:12 pm under general
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The soil is fertile here in the Pacific Northwest, just they way you picture it would be in the world’s largest temperate rainforest. We, as humans, are definitely a part of nature, but it seems to take us quite a bit longer to adapt to our surroundings. At least to the point of feeling settled, like, say, a pine cone can adapt and settle from its former tree to the forest ground.

Perhaps it’s all of the extraneous stuff we bring to the new place; books and beds, couches and chairs, dishes and coffee pots, plus the TV, armed with blankets and pillows and clothes and candles, we arrive to a new place called home with not just ourselves, but our belongings, all looking for a place to be. To settle.

But finally, settle, we have. It has been fairly easy, really. Because people are smart here, across the board. And creative. And open, curious, and interesting. They like to read books, and have decent, if not totally elevated, senses of humor. While I realize this is a huge generalization just longing for pointed fingers to examples of people who do not fit my nicely crafted mold, it seems that the general vibe of the human species here is remarkable. And I haven’t yet mentioned the amazing food, coffee, wine, and general love of music found at every turn. And I mean EVERY turn.

Nor have I touted the amazing natural wonders that is Oregon herself. I have kept quiet about the beauty of our region - the Pacific Northwest, and the endless opportunities for discovery on a natural level.

At times, I feel like I have lived here forever, while simultaneously, it’s as if I am deep inside a dream. Perhaps there IS something to that whole follow your bliss thing. From where I’m perched at the moment, this Campbellian way of life has bestowed so many gifts upon me that I am continuously rendered breathless. So if I am lost in a dream, I beg of you, don’t wake me up.

Filed by darby at 9:53 pm under raves, travel
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As the movers pulled away from our Lowcountry (freshly empty) home Wednesday, it felt like I was watching the scene unfold upon me from outside of myself. It’s still all pretty surreal.

Strangely, I did not feel any attachment to our home of 3 1/2 years; not even to the sanctuary that was our house, which David and I spent many resources remodeling and fine tuning. It is and always will be in a place that doesn’t work for us.

Now, while I sit in an Omaha coffeehouse, it feels so good to be looking forward, having filled myself up with loving friends in Asheville, Cincinnati and Chicago along the way. It’s as if each mile we head North and West, I start coming back into myself, no longer viewing it from a place outside of my own two eyes, heart, and soul. I am becoming whole again, and although it is totally cliche, it is precisely what is happening. I feel like I have a solid footing, which provides me the ability to actually float at the same time.

We have already been treated to harness racing in Lexington, KY, laughing and joy in both Cincy and Chi-town, the most incredible (almost) full moon and sunset winding our way through the amazingly lush Iowan countryside, and now we walk upon the soil that birthed David.

Next, we visit the great Sand Hills of Nebraska, then to Salt Lake City to visit more good friends, then Portland, baby.

We are now among our people, and it feels so good to be back.

Filed by darby at 11:03 am under general, raves, travel
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The thread of community building and economic partnership on a hyper local scale has been stitching itself into my life’s canvas over the past number of months. First, it was Epicurus on Happiness, who believes there are three things needed for happiness: friendship/community, self-reliance/freedom, and an examined life.

Recently, I read an interview with Judy Wicks, “owner and founder of Philadelphia’s 25-year-old White Dog Cafe, and a national leader in the local, living economies movement.” Wicks has a message that is brave, honest, and needed now perhaps more than ever. From The Sun magazine interview by David Kupfer:

Kupfer: What exactly is a “local living economy”?

Wicks: It’s an economy in which basic needs are produced close to home in ways that are sustainable and don’t harm the environment. This requires a cooperative mentality, because there’s no such thing as a stand-alone sustainable business — it must be part of a sustainable system. Individuals, or individual businesses, can’t provide for all our basic needs by themselves. We need a local food system, a local energy system, local clothing manufacturing, and green building methods. In the face of climate change and peak oil, our survival depends on community self-reliance.

In local living economies, goods we can’t produce at home, such as coffee or sugar or bananas, are traded for fairly, so that the exchange benefits both our community and the community where those products originate. We can still have a global economy, but it will be a network of thousands of sustainable local economies that trade in products that improve our quality of life. If we create products that are unique to our region — whether it’s a style of clothing, a type of cheese or wine, or a unique invention — they’ll be sought after in the global marketplace. So this movement is not anti-trade or antiglobalization; it’s about creating security at home and not depending on foreign trade for our basic needs.

Kupfer: The goal of traditional investment strategy is to maximize profits. Why are you working to change that?

Wicks: One reason that many people want a high return on their investment is that they’re afraid of not having enough money when they’re old. In indigenous societies, security in old age comes from the wealth of the community, not from individual income. If we felt secure in our communities, we wouldn’t be afraid of how we might end up. But our society often does not include elderly people in the community. We marginalize them. It’s no wonder we’re all afraid of being old and penniless. What could be worse in our society?

The alternative to the stock market is investing your money in your own community so that you receive a modest financial return and also a “living return,” which is the benefit of living in a more sustainable local economy and a healthier community. I made the decision to take all my money out of the stock market and put it into Philadelphia’s Reinvestment Fund. I get a straight financial return of between 4.5 and 5.5 percent, and the money I invest also benefits my community. For instance, it helped to finance the wind turbines that produce the electricity the White Dog Cafe buys. Money invested in the stock market, on the other hand, is just taken out of the community.

We’re taught that we’re suckers if we don’t make the highest profit or pay the lowest price. If you invest where you don’t make as much money, then you’re a loser. There’s no thought given to the effect our financial decisions have on the long-term well-being of our communities.

It is perfect mental and emotional preparation for my move to Portland. Having felt that my movements and thoughts are running completely against the tide here in the Lowcountry, I am eager to begin flowing with the river that is the Pacific Northwest. A culture that, in general, is interested in these concepts and supporting the local, living economies movement. The time for happiness, via building community, friendships, self-reliance, and some time to reflect on it, is now.

Filed by darby at 9:50 am under general
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While watching a documentary on Paul Bowles last night, I was reminded how much I truly adore language. I love interesting words, even if only in the way they sound. Or if they are just fun to say. Like Zeitgeist. Say it. It’s fun!

So, I thought it would be interesting to showcase a word a week. I want to concentrate on words I hear other people say during that week, which will hopefully help me to be a better listener. Plus, it would keep me disciplined enough to add at least one post a week to this blog. Or at least, that’s the idea at the moment.

Like I said, I was watching this great film, called Let It Come Down: The Life of Paul Bowles, and a fellow composer/author - Ned Rorem - used the word slapdash. Is that not the greatest word ever? Slapdash…let it wash over you.

The word was used to describe Bowles’ musical education, and I’m not sure if there could possibly be a more perfect word to convey what Rorem was trying to get across. He said more with slapdash than he could have said with 10 adverbs AND adjectives combined.

slap·dash
–adverb
1. in a hasty, haphazard manner: He assembled the motor slapdash.
–adjective
2. hasty and careless; offhand: a slapdash answer.
[Origin: 1670–80; slap1 (adv.) + dash1]

Filed by darby at 9:35 am under Word of the Week
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Ever since I’ve moved to the land of outlet malls (well disguised outlet malls, thankfully), I find myself especially drawn to the Banana Republic outlet.

This may not be odd to most, but I never quite found myself to fit the “B.R.” demographic. Ever since I realized I was never gonna take that African Safari and make like Meryl Streep in Out of Africa back in 8th Grade, the “B.R.” dream of wearing khaki short suits fell by the wayside.

The original draw was that this place has really GREAT deals, and clothes that, mostly, fit me well. Add to that the fact that my black and more funky clothes never quite worked within the Southern environment (not the only thing that doesn’t work, but I digress…), and I found myself more and more drawn to “B.R.” to fulfill my functional, mostly business, fashion needs.

Now that I work from home and don’t find much need for business casual clothes, I still find my car heading straight to the local Banana Republic. I have also found that some of the things I think are FANTASTIC for the brief moment while I’m in the store turn out to lack that luster once I get them home. But this week, I experienced an epiphany to explain my (unknown) initial draw to the place.

The epiphany is this, dear friends. The music. EVERY time I am in there, I am groovin’ on the tunes. I sing, hum, and even sometimes semi-groove - publicly - to the music that is played. EVERY TIME. Of course, this is where I fit the demographic. Which seems a tad disconnected to the clothes, I might add, but I think I realized that I subconsciously go there for the music. Because in the last 4 visits, I have purchased nothing, but not been disappointed in the least by not finding anything.

Instead, I have come away, almost gleefully, not even realizing why until the other day. When I was all, like, what is this song? I know this song? But it’s not the song I think it is. But it is. All this within the first 5 notes…and it is a remake of one of my favorite Ryan Adams songs, called Amy. And I have discovered Mark Ronson in the process, which I am quite thankful for. This is an incredibly beautiful song, originally, and this remake takes it to a different level. I would put the MP3 here for your listening pleasure, but it is SO INVOLVED (especially since I only have the MP4 version, etc., etc….)

Go get it. It’s 2 bucks, if you get the original Ryan Adams’ version AND the Mark Ronson remake. SO WORTH IT. Trust me.

P.S. I was also re-invigorated with New Order’s Love Vigilantes during my recent Banana discovery, too. Reminded me of my high-school friend (and prom date), Matt Vidmar. He owned and sported the classic Substance all-white t-shirt back in the day. I love the 80’s.

Filed by darby at 7:53 am under arts, general, rants, raves
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Our relationship with food is an interesting delve into passion, survival, hedonism, disease, and social interaction, among other things. I love food, and although I am a picky eater and trying desperately not to be, cooking is my chill zone. I love to get into that rhythm, where the timing is like a precise and lovely mambo, with the aroma of spices and sauces wafting through the space, mixing with the music playing in the background. Ahhhh, the kitchen, that hearth of home that everyone gravitates to, especially once they are drunken.

The biggest joy I derive from cooking is seeing the ones I love enjoy what I’ve made. Although I probably rebelled against this seemingly gender based role, one reeking of June Cleaver goodness, (not goddess), I eventually just allowed myself to do what I found joy in. Cooking fits that bill, and I have since been re-inspired with the hopes of helping our household to be more vegetarian.

While I have been around vegetarians and vegans since my late teens, I grew up on the Irish cooking of a very meat and potatoes based diet. (Still, it was GREAT food). This has made it a challenge for me to find my way towards doing things creatively with vegetables, so that even I would enjoy it, a kid who hated all vegetables except corn. (Which is a grain, anyway…) All that said, I will likely not want to pass up the amazing taste of Argentinian Beef and a fresh Chimichurri sauce every once in a while.

While I work my way away from meat and have always loved falafel, tempeh, and pasta, introducing TVP and tofu (I can’t get past the texture) is tricky for me. Still, I love the way I’m feeling after only a few days of eating some hearty vegetarian fare. Not to mention the enormous environmental benefits to be had from consuming less meat.

Plus, I have been infatuated with the idea of self-reliance forever. And if I am fulfilled with a vegetarian diet, I don’t ever have to confront the killing of 4 legged animals, an act I am incredibly freaked out by. Unless, of course, it’s all wrapped in a nice plastic cellophane, removing me completely from the enormous miracle that it took to get that cow, chicken, turkey, and pig so easily in front of me. Geez, how I long to respect and appreciate the food that I consume much more than I presently do.

Over the past couple of days, I’ve made a vegetarian moussaka and peanut noodles with mixed veggies in a lemon-infused chile sauce. I’m going to make some baba ghanouj, curried celery soup, griddled pineapple and mango with vanilla yogurt, and a sweet potato roulade. All of these wonderful dishes come from a cookbook I picked up a couple of months ago, apparently when the seed was planted, somewhat unbeknownst to me. It’s called, plainly, Vegetarian, and is put together by Nicola Graimes. I can’t find it anywhere online, probably because it’s one of those mass produced books commissioned by Borders Books or something. The 126 page intro, with fabulous pictures, food anecdotes, nutritional factoids and preparation info is broken down into categories and makes for a tantalizing foray into the world of gourmet vegetarian cooking.

Bon Appetit!

Filed by darby at 7:08 pm under arts, general
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Imagine making a midnight run, armed only with peonies and tulips, a hand spade and packet of seeds. This is a typical evening for one Mr. Richard Reynolds, the Londoner credited with bringing back the beautifully defiant act of guerilla gardening.

Jon Mooallem caught up with Reynolds sometime in April, apparently to write this wonderful treat of an article from the Sunday Times magazine a couple of weeks back. I’m obviously late to the party on these happenings, as the BBC and others have been reporting on Reynolds’ movement since early 2005. Reynolds and his crews focus on neglected public land, taking over plots of weeds and turning them into cared for public spaces. It seems they have re-ignited a worldwide movement of bewildering, another term synonymous with guerilla gardening coined by Australian gardener Bob Crombie. Or rather, it seems this natural act is becoming a part of the collective consciousness once again.

Still, the most famous group of Londoners employing these tactics should probably go to the activists associated with the group The Land is Ours, a group that occupied 13 acres of derelict land belonging to the Guiness company, for five and a half months before being evicted. Their mission was to highlight “the appalling misuse of urban land, the lack of provision of affordable housing and the deterioration of the urban environment”. And they potentially learned all this from Liz Christy and her Green Guerillas from the Bowery in New York in the 1970’s, who learned it from a couple of Brits, who must’ve read the bible at some juncture. Point is, this act of using public space for the community’s greater good has been around a long time. Everything runs in a circular motion.

And to think that I have a half of an acre with no garden growing…hmph. I always felt that I needed to own a home before I had a garden, and now that I do, I think that I need to find a place that I want to put down roots before I sow. Instead, I think, I should just stop thinking so much and perhaps pick up a hoe and take some action for a moment. (grab a hoe…did you like that? It makes me feel giddy and juvenile, so I couldn’t help but mention it…)

Enjoy the video that the Nation fashioned over two years ago, if you’d like. And if you’re feelin’ it, get yourself some tools, cuttings, and maybe a headlamp and have a go at it, yeah?

Filed by darby at 9:36 pm under docu potent, raves
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Photo courtesy of Roujo

As I unloaded the last bit of our groceries onto the belt this morning, David prepared to pay as I got our bags together and helped collect our overpriced produce and organic goods. Moments before, I walked past this happy, upbeat young girl riding in the seat of one of those car slash grocery carts, smiling and sweet. When I looked at her and smiled, she beamed.

She and her mom, I suspect, were ahead of us in line, and I had come from the other end and jimmied myself past them and their many bags of groceries. When it came time for them to pay, the mom began to present a check, and the cashier informed her that “starter checks” were not accepted there. The mom asked if the woman knew anywhere that they were accepted, but the cashier said no. The mom went and collected her daughter from underneath the cart. The daughter, not knowing any better, started to push the cart away, seemingly excited for all of the goods inside. Except that they would be going home with nothing.

Breaking and debilitating emotions coursed through me, and I thought, “maybe she could write me the check and we could pay for her groceries.” Then the cashier asked her if she was coming back for her bagged cart full of groceries. The woman said, calmly, “this is all the money I have. This check. So no. I won’t be coming back for these groceries.” As she and her daughter quietly left the store, the staff began to dismantle her cart in order to get it back on the shelves for the next paying customer.

It was a rude awakening, and it made me truly sad. As we continued to bag our wine and cheese and chips and salsa, the whole thing seemed somewhat surreal. By the time David and I got to the car, I couldn’t stop thinking about it - the woman and her daughter and the idea of them going home without anything. He said that he also thought to pay for this woman’s groceries. So, what stopped us from acting? That answer is not an easy, nor quick one, to come by.

Partly, the fact that we feel pretty far removed from our community here definitely does not help us to act when our neighbors are in need. But more than that, it seems to be a sign of the times. Somewhere along the way, I, too, must have become infested with the apathy bug. And as white houses are stolen, wars are waged, and neighbors may not have enough available cash (if any at all) to feed their kids, I, simply, do not act.

The issue of this mom being legitimate or not isn’t relevant, in my mind. Once, today, I was given the opportunity to reach out and directly help somebody. Instead, I chose to do nothing. By doing nothing when given a glaring opportunity to do so, it is as good as not voting, blindly consuming, and not speaking out against injustices. All to remain seemingly “safe” in an apathetic, or at least, non-active, state.

This needs to change, and this message today brought it home, as hard as a bed of nails. No longer can I choose, every day, to pretend that I am not affected by what is happening in the world around me, merely because of the fact that David and I have the means -today - to pay for our groceries. One of these days, it very easily could be us. It has been me before, so I should know better.

Filed by darby at 9:24 pm under politics, rants
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I came across this article in the NY Times a week or so ago, and couldn’t help but laugh. It chronicles the rise in fry grease theft, from coast to coast. Burger King managers across the land are looking over their shoulders these days, watching out for grease thieves in the night.

I have been interested in getting a diesel car for ages now, in hopes of putting a conversion on the engine to run it on SVO and/or WVO. Many factors have been at play in this not happening yet, but I do have an advantage. NOBODY where I live is hip to this alternative fuel option, thus providing me with all the fry grease I could ever dream of. I bet I can even get paid to take it away still where I live.

Ahhhh, the favorable aspects of living in a small(ish) non-progressive town.

Filed by darby at 9:47 am under general
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I was in Orlando last weekend, amidst the sea of childhood imaginations and restaurant row. I had a great time visiting with David’s parents, and while Orlando isn’t a place I would typically choose to visit, it is the half-way point between our homes, making it a fairly easy drive for both of us.

None of this has anything to do with Einstein, though. But cars everywhere with American flags ablaze next to airbrushed, roaring, larger-than-life Bald Eagles slapped onto the ENTIRE BACK WINDOW of a Chevy 2-ton truck made me think of good ol’ Albert Einstein. So did the one car with 12 American flags of varying sizes, just on its backside.

The reason Einstein comes to mind in the midst of this sea of flag waving is because of this quote:

“Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.”

Being appreciative for the fruits ones culture provides is one thing. I love this country, its natural wonders, its ingenuity, and the varying types of Dorito’s I have to choose from no matter where I find myself. I like that I can still basically say what I want, do what I want, and not be persecuted for either. I realize that is not true in many places, and am cognizant of the fact that I might not really even know how great I have it. At least for now…

Still, this idea of blind loyalty and adherence to ones natural born country seems idiotic and short sighted to me. Waving the flag denotes an approval of our most recent actions abroad and abhorrent behavior as a governing body. Our PEOPLE continue to amaze me in so many ways, but our government, which is symbolized - for me - by the flag, has too much egg on its face to garnish this gesture.

It also tends to instill a sort of suprioritysuperiority, too, and besides, ALL the freaky people make the beauty of the world…

Filed by darby at 6:27 pm under politics, rants, travel
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Me man and I enjoyed the outdoors this weekend while camping in Moravian Falls, NC - about 4 miles from Wilkesboro, NC, home of Merlefest. In honor of Merle Watson, Doc Watson’s son who died in a tractor accident back in 1985, Merlefest has been bringing “traditional plus” music to Wilkesboro ever since.

During our visit, we were lucky enough to see some amazing music. Here’s the line-up:

Levon Helm Band
Ollabelle
Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder with Bruce Hornsby
Hot Buttered Rum
Bearfoot
Allison Brown Quartet with Joe Craven
Donna the Buffalo with Jim Lauderdale and Tim O’Brien
The Avett Brothers
Peter Rowan + Tony Rice
Sam Bush Band
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Donna the Buffalo
The Infamous Stringdusters with Tim O’Brien
Ralph Stanley & Clinch Mountain Boys

Pretty sweet, huh?

Many thoughts become clear while camping, people watching, and ingesting art at this level. Among them came forth these random ponderings…

I need to learn to play the Bass. Guitar or stand-up is the question.

Where can I get me one of them there washboards? Seriously…

Um, where’s the Beer? Wine? Spirits?

Is it feasible to take a year, or 6 months, or 3 months - even, and go travel. Right now, Chile, Argentina, and Patagonia (with a “quick” sidetrip to Easter Island via Santiago) is the first big trip on my list. Second is maybe Paris and the South of France. Third is New Zealand or Ireland and Scotland. Damn it…I’ll go anywhere, really.

Oh, how I love my indoor plumbing and running water. Especially in the middle of the night when I invariably have to pee. And I’m naked. DOH!

Why is everyone so attracted to Evangelicalism? Don’t they find it highly oppressive?

It takes all kinds to make the world go ’round. Keep an open heart.

Filed by darby at 5:20 pm under arts, travel
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Renzo Piano’s California Academy of Sciences. Pic from Vanity Fair

It’s been a while, dear internet. And I know that I say that mostly for myself, because truly, I write on this here blog to create a database of sorts for future recollections. But then, some people started to read it. And then, some more. And while it was never about that for me (I was actually inspired to start it by my dearest in order to have a repository for documentary ideas while pursuing a never fulfilled dream of working towards being an audio documentarian), I feel some sort of responsibility to update it often, which I have not been successful with, lately. C’est la vie.

Between the intense realizations of our global crisis that seem to emanate from every cell in the universe straight to my bare bones and trying to digest our collective realities here on Earth, it seems that Spring has come despite all of this bad news. And she is as beautiful as ever. With her, she brings the regular characters; hope, life, rebirth, possibilities…

And with all of this heaviness, I have compiled a list of thoughts that seemed to hit me all at once today, while the squirrels frolicked, red-headed woodpeckers pecked, and flowers sang forth their songs.

Madonna looks fricking fantastic. She’s almost 50.

I believe that I am afflicted by pangs of the Imposter Syndrome, sans the fact that I am not an academic.

I HAVE GOT to get to San Francisco in September, maybe even October, but no later than November to see Renzo Piano’s newest marvel of a building, the California Academy of Sciences. It is the “greenest” museum ever built and sits within SF’s awesome Golden Gate Park. Mr. Piano is pulling a Frank Lloyd Wright, creating the best of his long line of fantastic work late in his career. He is 70.

Bobby Kennedy, Jr. is a bad-ass, with the blood of a band of fighters coursing through his veins. I love the work he has done, is doing, and will do in the future. Rock on, Mr. Kennedy!

I should probably get a subscription to Vanity Fair. The writing is great, the pictures are, too, and the editor slams the Bush Administration openly and proudly and OFTEN.

Teeth whitening hurts.

Camping is fun, cuz when didn’t you ever NOT want to make a fort?

Music will always save our souls.

Filed by darby at 6:59 pm under general
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Sy Safransky, the founder, editor, and publisher of the fantastic independent, ad-free magazine, The Sun, writes a one-page section (mostly) every month called Sy Safransky’s Notebook. Here are two of my favorite entries this month:

The Winter Solstice arrives, and not a moment too soon. These long nights stir up too many ghosts. I’m ready for the days to start lengthening again. But who am I to question the movement of the seasons? My wish for some kind of eternal springtime is laughable, like Bush’s plan to bring democracy to Iraq. As if we had a surplus of democracy here in the United States. As if all our democratic institutions were humming along to peak efficiency, and everyone’s basic rights were being respected, and we were all feeling so magnificently equal that we could afford to give some of it away. But I digress. Forget Bush. Forget the sad fact that the future hasn’t turned out the way my high school social-studies teacher predicted. The light returns - no matter how many times we’ve been wrong. The light doesn’t vote for president, or run for president, or care who’s president. The light doesn’t study itself in the mirror, compare itself to last year’s light, wonder how many light years it has left. The light isn’t afraid of darkness. When the light arrives, darkness flees.

Today I’m thankful for the word Gratitude, a word in which I can make myself at home. It’s not a prestigious Park Avenue condominium of a word like transcendence or a palatial mansion of a word like enlightenment. Gratitude is four walls, a ceiling, a floor. And a chair? Yes! And a window!

Filed by darby at 10:39 am under arts
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I had the pleasure of visiting two dear friends this past weekend in Cincinnati. With my visit, I was also treated to seeing many other good friends who also live there. Oh joy!

And the one (major) factor missing in my life these days are just that - my friends. While I have so much that I am incredibly thankful for every day, my friends have always been my family, an ethos which was naturally ignited in high-school and reinforced through the world of the Grateful Dead and westward travel. To this day, my friends are as important to me as my family, and the titles are interchangeable among the two groups, making me the luckiest gal in all the land.

I made two new friends, too. They are young boys, named E and R, and they are four and two years old, respectively. They are, as you may have guessed, the beautiful children of my dear sweet friends, A and T. And beautiful they are. SO SWEET, and smart, and artistic, and sensitive, whilst still being full-on, running, jumping, yelling, wrastlin’ BOYS. They melted my heart, and I can’t wait for their visit down South; To hunt for ‘gators and play in the sand.

R, me, and E, at the Cincinnati Cinergy Museum, part of the Museum Center. Notice R’s Elvis coat? What a rock star.

Filed by darby at 11:36 am under raves, travel
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Between climbing around the attics of newly built homes applying mastic to ductwork and performing blower door tests, and touring the warehouse of one exceptionally organized, design and environmentally conscious swedish furniture maker, I have not had time to write. But that is OK, because I have landed what is - today- my dream job.

It all started months ago, and if anyone is really keeping track besides me, it began when my friend Matt and I commiserated about the incompetence of our then employer a couple of years ago. He and I both parted ways with that employer, but thanks to a recent introduction he made for me, I now work for a conscientious and cool alternative energy provider. This type of entity is NOT an easy one to come by in these parts, and it was not even three years ago when my former employer looked at me like I had two heads when I mentioned differentiating ourselves from the rest of the market by implementing some green design. Apparently, the word “green” threw him.

Since last week, so many strange things have come full circle, reminding me that the universe works in complete and perfect ways. Like the first client I did a energy efficiency upgrade for last week. I know him. Met him last month at a campaign drive. And that former employer? Well, he just called our company because he wants to get their existing inventory “certified green.” The list goes on, but the story is the same. Do what you love, and the circles start to close. Then, you are inside of the circle, instead of trying to figure out how to jump into it from the outside.

And THIS story would not be complete unless I told you about solar Bill. He is the person that I work with in this market. He is my teacher, my mentor. He is an engineer, a former oceanographer, a hunter, a maker of musical instruments, a leader of kids’ and their science projects; he is better than MacGyver when it comes to his ability to re-purpose items to create astounding workable solutions, and he is humble and mellow and old-school and conscientious. They don’t make them like this anymore, and I could not have asked for a better person to show me the ropes and work with every day.

And as for the company, well, they are committed to solar, wind, and micro-hydro energy and in helping people get their homes to be more energy efficient. And they are smart, wonderful folk.

So here’s to landing a gig that has purpose, is fulfilling on many levels, and hopefully helps to make the world a better place while we earn our keep. My glass is held high. Cheers.

Filed by darby at 8:44 pm under general, raves
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Three years ago yesterday marks the anniversary of my move from Chicago to the Lowcountry, to join my other half who had arrived here two weeks earlier to start his new job.

Since then, our lives have changed considerably. Sometimes for the best, and sometimes not. We left many of our friends and moved to a place where we find it incredibly difficult to make new ones. We miss the music, the architecture, the social fabric, the walkability, and the culture, to name but a few voids we experience here. And while the culture (less) here doesn’t necessarily jive with our flow, it has taught me to be more tolerant and has really tested my belief in compassion and my ability to practice the idea that we are all one. Believe me, while this is fairly simple in theory, moving to a place that predominantly holds the opposite political and social viewpoints as you truly puts you to the test. And I can’t say I am succeeding yet, but I try.

On the flip side, we own a beautiful home that is our sanctuary and have built a life together, where we rely heavily on each other for friendship, companionship, love, understanding, humor, food, entertainment…uh, you get the idea. We basically rely on each other for EVERYTHING. The great part in that is that we have come to understand completely that we are absolutely made for each other, and that we are so damn lucky to have found one another.

In our work, we have excelled, both having reached goals and aspirations that may have taken us much longer to do so in a bigger city. It’s the big fish, small pond thing. And so far, it is working really well for both of us.

A couple of weekends ago, we walked the beach where the ocean is, and it took us 15 minutes to drive there. It was 70 degrees, crystal clear, sunny, and we saw dolphins. In January. Not bad.

It is calm and serene in our day to day lives, and we don’t expend too much energy commuting to work or doing errands. There are lots of wide open spaces, and it is green and lush and spanish moss hangs from the arms of their 200 year old lady hostesses, the live oak trees. We see blue heron, egrets, storks, and other crazy water birds every day. And ‘gators, too, in the spring and summer, and sometimes even in the fall and winter, on unusually warm days. The air is clean but thick in the summer, like bags of dew worn as scarves; sometimes heavy, but cleansing like a steam bath is. The BBQ is good, and makes up for the frustrations in other areas of pubic life here. The BBQ is REALLY good.

And while we may not call it home permanently, we call it home now. It’s where we hang our hats, live our lives, and look to the future. A future I can only hope holds as many gifts as the present. Life is good.

Filed by darby at 12:29 pm under general
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I’m not sure why I even waste my time watching the Grammys, but as soon as the Foo Fighters beat out Wilco AND Bruce for Best Rock Album, I had to change the channel and never come back. As any good music fan knows, the Grammys are not the place to celebrate all of the best artists of the year, so I’m not sure why I was surprised. Although there are definitely many talented artists represented, the field is amok with mediocrity, and mediocrity wins, too. Case in point, The Foo Fighters.

Here are some of the good highlights:
Herbie Hancock won album of the year for The Joni Letters.

Joni Mitchell won for best pop instrumental performance for her One Week Last Summer tune, from the album Shine.

Beastie Boys won best pop instrumental album for The Mix-up.

Bruce won for best solo rock vocal performance for his song Radio Nowhere off the Magic album (Lucinda Williams was also a contender for Come On off of her album West). Bruce also won a bunch of other stuff for Magic.

Icky Thump provided Meg and Jack another award.

Alicia Keys and Prince won for best female and male R&B artists, respectively. I don’t keep up much in this category, but it’s what I was raised on and these two artists are super talented. Also, Chaka Khan and Mary J. Blige won for best R&B performance for a duo. These ladies ROCK THA HOUSE!

Common won, and although I have fallen off the Hip-Hop train because most of it is wiggety-whack and it takes too much time to find good Hip-Hop, I haven’t closely followed Common’s recent work. I am a fan from the days of Resurrection.

Levon Helm, famous for his membership in The Band, took home a Grammy for best traditional folk album.

Steve Earle picked up a statue for best contemporary/folk/americana album with his Washington Square Serenade.

Barack Obama won a Grammy - seriously - in the best spoken word album category.

Cassadega won the Bright Eyes’ art director, Zachary Nipper, an award for best recording package. Perhaps if he has some newfound pull, he can convince the prolific band to NOT RESIZE THEIR SITE when launched. An interwebs taboo, for sure. This album, BTW, is fantastic.

Best historical album went to the Woody Guthrie clan for The Live Wire album.

***And finally, in the best compilation soundtrack album (Film, TV, etc) there were so many fantastic options:
Across the Universe, a collection of Beatles’ tunes redone by the actors and Bono, to name but a few

The Dreamgirls soundtrack, which is SWEET

Hairspray, adapted from John Waters’ famous film, for 2007

Once, the masterful, beautiful and original love story with an equally heartfelt soundtrack, which really, the film was built around. God, these songs are so very pretty

But even though the competition was fierce, the music accompanying the Cirque Du Soleil production called Love, featuring Beatles songs, won the category. George Harrison (perhaps my favorite Beatle…it’s so hard to pick - him or John) began the projects discussion before his death, so I guess it’s nice that Paul, Ringo, and friends won, but these other soundtracks were all phenomenal.

And in case you hadn’t heard, Amy Winehouse won a ton of crap. I say this with a scowl, not because her album, Back to Black, isn’t great. It is. Although she borrows HEAVILY from Motown, she still brings her own talent to the table. Still, were there not tons of other artists that should have been celebrated instead? Last year at SXSW, Winehouse started 20 minutes late and sounded like crap. I am not impressed. Part of the longevity and soul of an artist is reflected in the way they relate with their craft; their professionalism, if you will. And while I love a bunch of wasted drunk and high artists, I never quite like them as much as I did before their demise and disrespect for themselves and their fans.

Filed by darby at 6:56 pm under arts
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A couple of weeks ago, I found myself head deep in design books while doing research for a potential interior re-design of a local private club. I love being head deep in design books, and the one that continues to blow me away is Fingerprint: The Art of Using Handmade Elements in Graphic Design , by Chen Design Associates out of San Francisco.

Josh Chen is a bad-ass designer, with 20 years of experience in design, broadcasting, journalism, and music. I love renaissance men and women. Within the school of renaissance thinking comes humanism and self-awareness, and it seems much of the design work Chen has compiled and highlighted here is lacking neither.

Take, for instance, the Futurefarmersgroup, also from San Francisco, that fertile ground which nourishes SO MUCH talent. Futurefarmers collaboration includes creating prototypes of an urban planning tool which allows users to visualize The Great Park’s health and creating a “lunchbox laboratory” which will encourage students to screen various algae strains, ultimately helping to find the strains that are optimal as a renewable energy resource. Basically, design used as a superpower for the forces of good and not evil. Think of a modern day Leonardo or Galileo.

Futurefarmers website describes the group as:

practitioners aligned through an open practice of making work that is relevant to the time and space surrounding us. Futurefarmers work across many media. We enjoy creating platforms for sociability, play and culitvating consciousness.

One of my favorite pieces is this sundial watch, by Futurefarmers Amy Franceschini. I don’t wear a watch, but I would wear this one:

Described as:

a reaction to the ubiquity of technological devices in our lives today. Sundial watch reminds us to depend on our own devices. It is an interface with nature…

The sun will always rise in the morning and set in the evening, and the length of the winter days will be shorter than the summer days. This portable sundial physically illustrates the wonders of the sun and its motion through the sky providing a stage for the suns’ shadow to dance upon.

This book is FULL of inspiration and genius creativity from some of the best designers today. And although I am working on becoming a full-fledged interior designer, cultivating ideas from many disciplines, be it graphic design, architecture, music, science, literature, philosophy, film, graffiti, fine art, or nature is what this cross-platform, renaissance thinking is all about. Count me in and on the bus.

Filed by darby at 11:11 am under arts, raves
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I used to think that only women like my grandma, a tidy Clevelander from a certain generation, made their beds every morning. But now, I find myself drawn to making my bed every morning. I’m not sure if this is a mark of my quickly approaching 40’s or just something new that I quite like, but it is a process, people.

This is no “throw the comforter over the top of messy sheets and make it look like it’s made” kinda bed-making, but an actual deconstruction and rebuilding exercise. I find it satisfying to both my sense of design and tendencies towards organization. I used to think it was a waste of time, as I was just going to mess it up every night, but I find that I like getting into a truly made bed. I am getting old, aren’t I?

Filed by darby at 12:10 pm under general
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