Boston for #Bernie

Posted on 2016/02/27 by circuskitchen

Saturday, Feb 27th 2016

We had the pleasure and privilege of marching through downtown Boston in support of Bernie Sanders today, a first in political activism in our family (aside what I do every day all day through social media these days).

2016-02-27 FAMILY MARCH FOR BERNIE [36 seconds]:

 

 

On the way there my son was terribly grumpy, throwing tantrums and eventually telling me the most hurtful thing he could come up with: “I wish I was OLDER so I could vote for Donald TRUMP!”

I just pushed ahead with my daughter in the stroller.  Things seemed to turn around for him once Daddy gave him the best view possible from anywhere; atop your 6’9″ Dad’s shoulders:

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Gavin atop the crowd

 

Sure enough his heart changed right around.  Imagine my delight returning home with my son chanting;

“HEY HEY!  HO HO!  CORPORATE GREED HAS GOT TO GO!”

And my daughter?

“WE DON’T NEED NO SUPER PAC! WE GOT BERNIE SANDERS’ BACK!”

Not bad for 7 and 4 years old.  Here’s to them growing up more aware and involved than I EVER was.  And moreover here’s to the possibility of them growing up in a system that is not an altogether corrupt oligarchy, dammit.

Screen Shot 2016-02-27 at 5.59.12 PM

 

To top it off, this lovely text from the good Senator that evening:

IMG_20160301_002642

 

#SANDERS2016!!!

 

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More Attempts to Not Make Pictures

Posted on 2016/02/27 by circuskitchen

aka: Total Fail!

Friday,  February 26th 2016

1) WORLD MAP:

2016-02-26 16.43.38-1 CJ WORLD

It’s her world and we live in it.

After literally years of waiting, we got this gorgeous and wonderful wall art map.

2) BRICOLEURS: 

2016-02-26 19.33.48-1 Bricoleurs

Tinkering with Tools

 

 

In French it’s called “bricolage” -tinkering- and it’s part of the culture to mess around with things and fix stuff.  At the risk of bragging, I was proud to see my (7 y/o) son take repair his (10 y/o) friend’s discarded automatic Nerf gun bullet round holder thingy (regrettable gun culture aside).  Using his own tools, Gavin disassembled it, removed the offending crayon (naturally inserted by a baby sister), reassembled it, tested it and returned it. ♥♥♥♥♥

Meanwhile ClaraJane was working on a booster seat problem.  I think she’s about ready for her own tools as well.

Saturday, February 27th

3) BED BROOD: 

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Being irresistible to mommy, per usual.

4) CAT ON PANTS: 

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Baby’s growing up

Now that the kitten is getting older, he seems to be taking on some responsibility around the house, like keeping pants from flying away.  #DarthSnowflake   #holdingdownthepants

 

As you can see, I’m failing to not make pictures.

The struggle is real.

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AMERICA FEELS GREAT: Album Cover and Song Titles

Posted on 2016/02/24 by circuskitchen

February 2016

You’ve no doubt heard the unbelievable news that my brother and I founded a brand new fake band: AMERICA FEELS GREAT.   Well here’s the new album cover!

 

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NEW ALBUM COVER!

 

And here is our working list of non-working song titles:

SET LIST: 

  1. Flight of the Tequilla
  2. The Limited Road to Golden Devotion
  3. Accidental Dick
  4. You’re Beautiful on the Outside
  5. Fuck Writing, It’s On Facebook (Suite in 3 parts)
  6. Bowl Real Quick
  7. It’s Hella Raining
  8. Thunder on San Pablo
  9. What’s Happy About No Donuts
  10. Up at the ‘Line
  11. Gizzy Thing

 

And because my band mate and I are separated by -literally- America, none of this has been worked out or is final (or in fact vetted by my bandmate).  But here are some more album cover possibilities we are busy considering (Slideshow in 3 parts):

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Which one is your favorite?

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This Guy, Right Here – #Sanders2016

Posted on 2016/02/24 by circuskitchen

Feb 2016

Anyone who knows me on Facebook can see the hailstorm of madness I stir up daily fighting what I consider to be a moral crusade to save the world in the name of truth, justice and humanity.  Mostly I relegate all my political activism there (praise the heavens for the Facebook platform).  And there are so many pressing issues that I truly don’t know how to encapsulate any of it and therefore haven’t blogged about it at all.

But here.  This guy.  This wonderful wonderful human being:

Bernie Sanders on his Religious Beliefs – CNN Town Hall – February 23, 2016 [1min,7secs]:

 

He is so very decent and I love him.   AND I believe him wholly capable of the job of POTUS.  What an amazing honor it would be to have such a person of dignity and integrity -and his awesome wife- in the White House for the next term… preferably TWO.

 

 

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BackGavin

Posted on 2016/02/21 by circuskitchen

Sunday, February 21st 2016

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Baby learns “Backgammon”

 

2016-02-21 BACKGAVIN [28 seconds]:

 

PS:  To the uninitiated, her brother’s name there is “Gavin.”  (o:

 

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Attempt to Not Take Pictures – Day 1

Posted on 2016/02/20 by circuskitchen

Saturday, February 20th 2016

Partly on account of stupid “Disk Full” messages on my computer (and honestly sated from recent trip), I commit myself to refraining from photographing the children for a while.  Their lives are hyper-documented.  I don’t need more material.  Letting go of moments is healthy.

I make it as far as breakfast.  Well, blunch.  Daddy and I are finishing the wonderful meal and the kids have spun off when from behind me I hear, “WANNA SEE A BUTT?!”   I cannot resist.  Of course I want to see a butt.  I turn around and to the surprise of my wondering eyes, what do I see;   TWO BUTTS.

What joy, what rapture….  Zap.  My vow is broken and I’ve already taken a picture.  In a new twist, the kids helped me “sticker” it for… propriety’s sake.  You know, so Aunt Jane Ann won’t have to worry:

 

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Oh my stars it’s a DOUBLE FULL MOON.

 

Then later, in our spectacularly unstructured (no-gig) day, this (sacred mundane action) is happening:

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How’s a girl to resist?

[Note: Upon review, it looks like Paul farted and knocked out the cat.]

Gavin has taken the plunge into Harry Potter, and we have not heard from him since:

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Damn, a picture.  WHY!!??  (oh wait, look; Angels. *sigh*)

 

I think it’s clear I have an addiction problem.

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So does my son it appears.

 

Praise be.  We meet up with Mom, who is happy to celebrate Gavin’s completion of the first Harry Potter book:

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The Reader Re-Emerges

 

Ok no more photos.  But, wait…

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Gavin and Bubble Wow

 

*Sigh*

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The Goldfish Cracker Game

Posted on 2016/02/17 by circuskitchen

Wednesday, February 17th 2016

By Gavin and ClaraJane.

 

2016-02-17 Goldfish Cracker Game [28 seconds]:

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Gavin and Grandpa Bruce on Trumpets

Posted on 2016/02/17 by circuskitchen

Feb 17, 2016

2016-02-17 13.52.32

I can hear ’em buzzin’

 

What a joy to witness my dad teaching my son.  Could be anything as far as I care, but it happens to be trumpet.

2016-02-17 TWO TRUMPETEERS [1min,32secs]:

 

 

2016-02-17 14.13.49 TRUMPET TWINS

Twins

 

 

2016-02-17 13.48.54

Cognac inspects Gavin’s technique

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America Feels Great

Posted on 2016/02/16 by circuskitchen

Monday, February 15th 2015

“That sounds wonderful Jennifer,” Dad says after listening to me play him a song the other night.  “Do you ever go to any auditions or anything?”

Some open mics, a local TV station, but that’s it really.  “What do you mean?” I ask.

“You know, like on any of these shows.  Like… ‘America Feels Great!’?”

And with that, the name of a new band was born.  The band when my brother and I happen to get together and play.  Preferably with his amazing girlfriend, Sasha (working her magic on the washboard for starters).

Here is a tiny snippet of the first time we attempted our cousin Ed Bruce’s song about Mamas, Babies and Cowboys:

 

And here we are last night -live from the living room- after finally working out that tricky 2nd half of the 2nd verse, in our AMERICA FEELS GREAT debut!

2016-02-15 America Feels Great [1min,47secs]:

 

 

 

 

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Oakland Zoo with Grandpa Bruce

Posted on 2016/02/16 by circuskitchen

Tuesday, February 16th 2016

Things I learned from this trip to the zoo:

  1. A lion’s roar is louder than a lawnmower
  2. Circus elephants don’t graze
  3. Take the picture with Grandpa when you ARRIVE, not when it’s time to leave.

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2016-02-16 Oakland Zoo Adventure Landing [2mins,45secs]:

 

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Sore like an Eagle

 

2016-02-16 15.52.53

Ride that Train

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