Winter Weekend at El Rancho

Posted on 2017/02/20 by circuskitchen

Feb 19th 2017

Weekend with Auntie Liz, Granpda Pops and cousins Zachary & Olivia in Plymouth!

2017-02-20 EL RANCHO WINTER WEEKEND [4:00]: 

 

 

Thanks for coming Grandpa Pops!

♥

Posted in animals, childhood, comedy, domestic life, family, grandparenthood, health, love, making art, nature, parenthood | 1 Comment

Fans of Love

Posted on 2017/02/15 by circuskitchen

Tuesday, February 14th 2017

Fans of Love [2:41]: 

“On Valentine’s Day ‘Fans of Love’ highlights that love has the power to bring people together regardless of our differences – a message that is more important now than ever,” said Lisa Sherman, president and CEO of the Ad Council. “We hope that this new creative will encourage all of us to reflect on our own biases and the role we can play in creating a more accepting and inclusive world.”
             – Love Has No Labels

 

 

 

Posted in art, Bernie Sanders, education, faith, fight, love, mental health, nature, politics, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Snow Day Monkeys

Posted on 2017/02/13 by circuskitchen

Monday, February 13th 2017

Spontaneously employing son and nephew to help sort paperwork on this snow day was like Christmas in February.  Baby Mary in her new hand-me-down jammies is the icing on the fruit cake.

2017-02-13 Snow Day Monkeys [1:14]: 

 

 

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Tax Prep Assistance by Gavin & Miles, at your service

 

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Best dressed in a vest

 

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Mary thrills to her own invention:  Whack-a-Bunny

 

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Ladies in the Tattoo Parlour

 

♥♥

 

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School of HONK – A Joyful Noise

Posted on 2017/02/12 by circuskitchen

Sunday, February 12th 2017

After what I made my kids do yesterday, here is what I made the Boy do TODAY:

2017-02-12 HONK PRACTICE [1:40]: 

 

Here in our town -on our own STREET- the incredible HONK Band practices in this beautiful art center I’d never even seen before.  With his trumpet and a bit of understanding bestowed upon him by his Grandpa Bruce, Gavin reluctantly dipped his toe in this world today at his mother’s behest.

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He may not have liked it that much but I *LOVED* it.   And strangely I don’t feel much regret in forcing his exposure to this spectacular scene.

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The Honk folks are SO welcoming; literally anyone can walk in and help themselves to an instrument, get a little training and give it a whirl.  Like, if I didn’t already have a career occupying me most Sundays I believe I would be THERE.

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Hopefully I didn’t ruin his chances of ever liking the trumpet a little.  We’ll see, with as little pressure as possible… except when he’s blowing into the mouthpiece.

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See:  SchoolofHonk.org

♣

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Better than Normal – Improv Boston

Posted on 2017/02/11 by circuskitchen

Saturday, February 11th 2017

On this afternoon we made it to our local comedy store, Boston Improv, for their weekly (100% improvised) Kids Show.

2017-02-11 IMPROV BOSTON KIDS SHOW [1:16]: 

 

Here are the kids with the actors afterwards:

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And look ma, friends!

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The O’s with Lorin, Olivia & Jen Rees (& CJ hiding in the back)

♥

Gavin loved it so much, and enjoyed such rapport with the actors, he’s now interested in attending a week of their summer camp!  And if exposing him to the inestimable benefits of theatre was coincidentally my secret hope behind this afternoon’s excursion, let’s just say… “mum”s the word.

 

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Resistance in the Democracy House

Posted on 2017/02/11 by circuskitchen

Saturday, February 11th 2017

 

The middle of my action-packed Saturday entailed my first ever official business at this intriguing little building nestled inconspicuously in the middle of Harvard Square:  The Democracy House. I mean Center.

After recently becoming aware of this little gem which I must have passed thousands of times, I was extra thrilled to find myself with official business there to meet up with my PEOPLE; fellow Bernie Sanders disciples taking progressive action organized through OurRevolution.com.

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Caucus Day: Election Process

Here a dude is training us up on how to become a delegate for our local ward in the upcoming state caucus.  Although I learn my schedule conflicts with the upcoming dates, it occurs to me for the first time in my life that SHOWING UP to such a thing in order to ELECT such very local representatives who share your values is a THING. 

It is astonishing to feel the light dawn on one’s own very marble head.

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This is what Democracy looks like

They had computers at the ready with a program loaded for us to look up our respective ward districts right there on the spot, and sign in so they can coordinate representation for all the districts.

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How to use SLACK

Here an intelligent kid who looks like he simultaneously just rolled out of bed yet somehow had a shower introduces us to a new social media tool that is more powerful and effective than email or Facebook for our purposes here.

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Mike Connolly shares his perspective on a new housing project in the area

As for familiar faces in the crowd, look who it is; my own favorite State Representative, Mike Connolly.  Toward the end of the meeting he was given time to share with us his concerns about a multi-billion dollar housing project going up in our town for which our City Counselors seem poised to approve an EXEMPTION for any of the standard requirements to make a portion of the units AFFORDABLE.  FFS!

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North Point Affordable Housing huddle with State Rep. Mike Connolly

Those who were interested could stay afterwards to learn more about this situation.  And considering that I am literally a poster-child of an artist who has been afforded the ability to stay in Cambridge thanks to affordable housing, you bet your ass I stayed.

Besides, Mike is not only so very affable, he is informed and compassionate and a lawyer.  He was able to explain complicated zoning issues simply.  And when I asked, WHY wouldn’t our City Council members be motivated to impose the normal percentages of affordable housing on the (enormous global corporate) developers… oh my stars.  Imagine the crushing of my credulous, naive ears when my neighbors informed me it is because of CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.  “Welcome to ‘Progressive Cambridge’!” one of them said to me.

Oh my beloved, accessible City Councilors!  Reportedly not Corlone, Mazen or Devereux, but the other six, including the Mayor!  One of them is even a father in my daughter’s class.

Cambridge City Council Members

Mayor Denise Simmons
E. Denise Simmons (Mayor)
(dsimmons@cambridgema.gov)
195 Brookline Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
617 349-4321 (work)
Marc Mcgover
Marc C. McGovern (Vice Mayor)
(mmcgovern@cambridgema.gov)
15 Pleasant Street #2
Cambridge, MA 02139
617 642-1731 (home)
617 349-4280 (work)
Dennis Carlone
Dennis J. Carlone
(dcarlone@cambridgema.gov)
9 Washington Avenue #6,
Cambridge, MA 02140
617 494-9559 (home)
617 349-4280 (work)
Leland Cheung
Leland Cheung
(lcheung@cambridgema.gov)
157 Garden Street,
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-444-9080 (home)
617-349-4280 (work)
Jan Devereux
Jan Devereux
(jdevereux@cambridgema.gov)
255 Lakeview Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
781-296-2969 (home)
617-349-4280 (work)
Craig Kelley
Craig A. Kelley
(ckelley@cambridgema.gov)
6 Saint Gerard Terrace. #2
Cambridge, MA 02140
617 354-8353 (home)
617 349-4280 (work)
David P. Maher
(dmaher@cambridgema.gov)
120 Appleton Street,
Cambridge, MA 02138
617 547-7219 (home)
617 349-4280 (work)
Nadeem Mazen
Nadeem A. Mazen
(nmazen@cambridgema.gov)
720 Massachusetts Ave, Apt.4,
Cambridge, MA 02139
617 852-4638 (home)
617 349-4280 (work)
 Timothy Toomey
Timothy J. Toomey, JR.
(ttoomey@cambridgema.gov)
88 Sixth Street,
Cambridge, MA 02141
617 576-6483 (home)
617-349-4280 (work)

 

Survey says:  6 out of 9 City Councilors are in the pockets of the multi-national developers. UGH!

I will be waiting to learn more about this before taking any action, although when I asked, everyone in the group agreed that sending postcards and contacting the councilors to let them know we are concerned about this issues is a good idea.  I understand there is a special meeting on the topic scheduled for Feb 28th.  And I look forward to following Mike’s lead.

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In the meantime the Democracy House Center offers a “GrownUp Study Hall” on Mondays, I’m conceiving a #NODAPL action evening myself and oh yeah it’s high time to study the Indivisible Guide.

So much to do.  Never realized knew how much work is involved in the fight to maintain Democracy.  Never knew our own government itself could be so hellhound and determined to destroy her.  Right now I’m still catching up to understand how she even works.  Just like a woman apparently; complicated!

Nevertheless, we persist.

the-future-is-female

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My First Town Hall Meeting – Cambridge MA

Posted on 2017/02/09 by circuskitchen

Wednesday, February 8th 2017

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On this day, after Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote to approve Barf-Betsy De-fucking-Vos for Destruction of Education Secretary…

and Turkey Dick Mouth Mitch McConnell “silenced” our fair indomitable Senator Elizabeth Warren from reading the letter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s widow, Coretta Scott King, about the racist legal persecution practices of our since confirmed Attorney General, Jeff fucking KKK Sessions…

I made it to my first ever Town Hall Meeting!  Maybe not a big deal, but yet a single step on my quest to understand HOW the hell everything works and WHAT -specifically- else I can do to help effect a positive impact against the horror show coming out of Washington (D.C.).

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Here is MA State Rep. Marjorie Decker addressing the crowd, and our Cambridge City Mayor Denise Simmons in a red hat a couple seats over from me:

After some Q&A we broke into groups to more specifically determine what everyone’s interests and desires are.  Mine is to find an ACTION GROUP to work with in REAL LIFE instead of mostly just solo online all the time.

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In celebration of my first time meeting each of them I decided to not be shy about asking for the proverbial selfie with each of my State Representatives, Marjorie Decker and Mike Connolly respectively, for whom I am glad I was able to say I voted.

Look Mom; Two of our State Representatives!

Mr. Connolly (had more time to talk and) was very kind, recognized my name from Facebook and when I asked him about meeting Bernie Sanders backstage in Boston (on the book tour Paul and I got to see), he professed it to be “possibly the greatest moment of my life.”  And I have now officially shaken a hand that shook Bernie’s. ♥

Here they are back in November:

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Mike Connolly with Bernie in Boston 11/20/16

Slowly I am learning more about how our legislative representation works, starting locally:   https://www.cambridgema.gov/election/FAQ/electedofficialsfaqpage

Mr. Connolly even asked me about my blog (ahem), but of course you as reader know I am but a hack!  So instead I turn to his blog: http://www.mikeconnolly.org/blog

And as I await Marjorie Decker’s summary of the resources we generated in the Town Hall Meeting, here are 15 wonderful minutes of this infectious guy sharing what he believes in:

2016-12-03 The Next Four Years: Issues Panel [1:13:34]: 

Thank you Representative Connolly!

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CJ Ballet Watch Day with Roze

Posted on 2017/02/08 by circuskitchen

Wednesday, February 8th 2017

This day was highlighted by the kids being surprised at the bus by none other than our beloved ROZE!  

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Roze is technically the daughter of my friends Brady and Ina, but since neither of them are nearby, I get to periodically claim her as my own… Daughter-Niece-Friend-Angel-Thingy.  Sometimes she even babysits or in this case helps me with office work.

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After greetings and dollhouse and kitten oh my, she accompanied us to ClaraJane’s Ballet Watch Day!

 

 

2017-02-08 CJ BALLET WATCH DAY WITH ROZE [1:42]:

 

 

2017-02-08 16.16.07.jpg

4 Ballerinas (o;

♥♥♥♥

Thanks Roze!  We love you always.

♥

 

 

 

 

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Dick McConnell – Repugnican Majority Scumbag

Posted on 2017/02/08 by circuskitchen

February 8th 2017

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Mitch McConnell, Repuglican Majority Leader

 

Although I prefer shining light on the positive, here I will make a profound exception so we can just all take a moment to appreciate what a profound fucking douche bag this asshole really is.  Maybe that language is too strong?  Instead perhaps we can just euphemistically agree,”total dick,”  which I in no way mean hyperbolically.

Like for example, this expose on his fully immersive relationship with lobbyists:

“More Money Than I Could Count”: Mitch McConnell’s Very Special Relationship With Lobbyists – by Mother Jones OCT. 17, 2014

Or, say:

Dickipedia:  Mitch McConnell [3:48]: 

 

And no I am not attempting a nonpartisan view here.  If you find yourself in defense of this man you obviously; A) are on his team, B) enjoy a privileged lifestyle untainted by annoying concern for the less fortunate, and C) share the same disregard for the disenfranchised that he does.  In that case you’re probably not reading this so you’re not going to get offended anyway!

For the rest of us, please enjoy.

What I think about when watching Senator Mitch McConnell Speak [11 seconds]: 

#ThanksKentucky

And in case there is any question as to what the Repugnican Majority did with Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions after hearing the many entreaties against him on account of his lifelong career in racist policies…

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And although LATE TO THE GAME, I just sent my first-ever letter to an elected official.  Looks like I’m starting at the bottom -the asshole to be exact- and will have to work my way UP.

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

♥

 

 

 

 

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Nevertheless She Persisted

Posted on 2017/02/07 by circuskitchen

Tuesday, February 7th 2017

nevertheless-she-persisted

 

What an iconic battle cry that shitbag has given us!

Never did I imagine the galling scumbag whom Gavin and I agree must be a “human turtle-turkey with a fat man’s neck” would become the source of inspiration of any kind.

Here is the moment, where our beloved Senator Elizabeth Warren, invoking the words of the late Coretta Scott King in opposition to fucking Jeff Sessions as a candidate for becoming a federal judge back in 1986, is shut down by shit-breath testicle-neck himself:

Sen. McConnell Refuses to Let Sen. Warren Speak About Attorney General Nominee Sessions [1:07]: 

 

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And historically, he goes on to moronically utter these indelible words:

She was warned. She was given an explanation. Neverthless she persisted [10 seconds]:

 

A•MAZE•BALLS

 

Such a gift.  I do believe I’m going to send that mother fucker a Valentine Card, thanking him for it.  For the reminder of our strength and will to persist with our resistance to the overall GOP Agenda.

darth-leia

She was warned.

 

NOT TO MENTION… four other (good, Democratic) senators stood up and ALSO read Mrs. King’s letter… to NO OBJECTION from the right.  That people are astonished as to WHY they would allow the others to read it and not Warren… it is strange to have to remind them of the obvious fact that when the 4 other senators were reading, the LIPS THEY WERE FLAPPING WERE NOT FEMALE.   That is the only difference.

To wit, here is my BF Bernie Sanders both condemning the silencing of Warren for reading this letter, then going on to read the damn letter.

Bernie Sanders Reads Scott King Letter, Calls Warren’s Silencing ‘Incomprehensible’ [2:08]: 

 

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And neither Elizabeth Warren nor any other of the badass women who rise up -like the 3+ million participants in the WOMEN’S MARCH- will stand down or be silenced.

Senator Elizabeth Warren Reacts to Being Silenced: The Daily Show [5:51]: 

 

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Needless to say, she was not silenced.  On the contrary:

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Perhaps my mom has been trying to get me to appreciate the feminist movement all my life.  I have been blessed to enjoy so many freedoms she has not, and have probably spent most of my life taking them for granted.  Before this election cycle I never considered myself a “feminist” exactly.  But now I finally understand that because I simply believe in equal rights and opportunity for all people regardless of color, socioeconomic status, whom you love or GENDER, that makes me radical AF, a “Progressive,” and yes among other things I am a FEMINIST.

Just one of the many reasons I will continue wearing my “pussy(cat) hat” for the duration of this resistance.

And when it gets too warm for winter hats, you will find me wearing THIS and THIS:

Screen Shot 2017-02-10 at 10.13.44 AM.jpg

Yes, because injustice anywhere = injustice everywhere,                              we will resist and persist… for as long as it takes.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

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