rajafacesbothways

Let the Great World Spin--A Review

Colum McCann won the 2009 National Book Award for his novel, Let the Great World Spin, a well-deserved award and an excellent choice.

On August 1974 Philippe Petit stunned New York with the extraordinary, bold feat of dancing a quarter mile above the ground on a cable stretched between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. McCann used Petit's event as a slice of time to send ripples of connection between ten varied, converging lives. He creates a symphony of people--a chorus of gritty, caring, disturbed and loving characters--brilliantly weaving them together with remarkable skill and imagination. The individuals that readers know at the  beginning of the story, change, as lives evolve through unexpected, subsequent events.

This is a remarkable book; it captures the era of the Vietnam War, Watergate and the essence of New York in that period. Do things happen by chance or is there a plan that intervenes in lives? That question lingers with the reader after reaching the end of this brilliant novel.

Clip Clop, Clip Clop

Last night heard the unfamiliar clip clop sound of horses under my window. Below there were two open white carriages each pulled a white horse with a formal driver, taking occupants on a trip down Main Street. This scene continued over a couple of hours as pairs of carriage riders were given a true Victorian experience.

When on the farm, I used to hear the gallop of hoof beats during the night from thoroughbreds fenced next to my window. This was different; a step back in time and unlike the carriage rides offered in downtown Chicago that weave among throngs of people and traffic.

And a huge improvement from the wailing fire trucks and police cars that usually go screaming down the street.

Holiday Decorating --Completed

With Christmas decorations either packed up or given away, I don't even try for the festive look. It's really kind of a relief; all I have to do is look out the window.

An acquaintance from the CofC generously made an evergreen arrangement for my front door. So this ounce of image is perfect cover for the lack of effort upstairs in my loft.

Do Rectangles Prevent Well-Rounded Minds?

I read research has discovered that Americans consume 34 gigabytes of content a day, equaling 100,000 words of information, and amounting to 11.8 hours of consumption. Content is mostly from TV and computers, but also incorporates movies, games, radio and any hand-held communication equipment. It does not include actual reading of items like papers and books, unless they appear on computers or other electronic devises.

Including time spent eating, sleeping, basic functioning, there seems to be no allowance for actual thinking, experiencing nature, observational insights. Makes me wonder how many of those 34 gigabytes are actually absorbed or have any value; it seems a form of gluttony to me.

And like gluttony,  since there is no time for healthy digestion most of it ends up as kee-rap!

Old Scene--New Season

Had our first snowfall this week.

Six months earlier:

Whoo! Hoo! Here Comes the Parade!

Watched the Main Street Christmas Parade from my loft joined by a couple of friends, viewing it from my windows, avoiding the 30 degree weather and fortified by Bloody Marys.

It was a better than usual parade with a few big flatbed floats pulled by semis and featuring Victorian vignettes, about a dozen horses, 3 Homeland Security trucks, a couple of queens (not of the gay community), and an "oh my Gawd" size fire truck (big enough for Kentucky's tallest buildings) with Santa waving from a space above the cab.

Only one manger scene float; this one did not have a previous manger vignette that also displayed 3 crosses as if to say, "Don't get too excited Mary, this babe is going to get nailed." With due respect Georgetown has no Easter parade and they probably wanted to include full coverage.

I'm getting soft:  did not leave my comfort for the street to take photos among the bystanders and the children groveling for the candy tossed to them by Homeland Security vehicles and a few walkers in costume.

It was led by a few marchers in uniform and ended with the usual police car. That sums up small town excitement on a Saturday night.

Holiday Happenings

Because I have limited space, I've given away or stored all holiday decorations. As a result, my loft looks about as Christmas-y as hell. However, from my window I can see lights and trees in all the storefronts and the lamp posts are decorated with lighted snowflakes. And last night was the lighting of the large tree at the courthouse.

Tonight is the annual Christmas parade. The newspaper said it was happening on the 6th (tomorrow) but didn't give a time. When I checked at the CofC I learned it was tonight (5th)  and the time was 6 pm.  The usual who, what, when, where and why in journalism is not a requirement for the local News Graphic. It actually is Georgetown's answer to The Onion--except it takes itself seriously.

Political Pundit

I was totally against the Iraq war from day one. I think I've been proved correct. As far as sending more troops to Afghanistan, I'm very dubious but once again, I was never consulted. Actually, has our country really won a war since WW2?

Anyway, the conservatives fussing about the 18 month withdrawal amuses me. In that same approximate time frame  Sarah Palin left Alaska, which is bigger than Afghanistan and her departure has been successful for her and that state. What's good for Alaska should be good for Afghanistan.

i know this makes no sense but neither does war.

Artist's Statement

Nothing is more ambiguous--or dumber--than most artist's statements. When we had our Bricologe exhibit at Georgetown College, the three of us wrote short statements on scraps of paper to be pulled out, read and returned to the waste basket.

Here's one for my next exhibit?

"A disquisition on our shared narratives which re-encodes ambiguity and authenticity by mediating cliches through a retro-nostalgic lens."

A  southern Senator couldn't say it better.

It Ain't Over Til It's Over

And concerning the leftover turkey and 2 of the latest books mentioned earlier, they are finished. Garrison Keillor's Life Among the Lutherans was a fun read, filled with his droll humor. And each story in Too Much Happiness was incredible. Alice Monro's talent for short story writing is unsurpassed.

And the last of the turkey appeared in a white turkey chili, topped with avocado, grated cheese, cilantro, sour cream and lime wedges and served with crusty bread to the four other First Friday members tonight. It's a great recipe passed along from Karen. However it was the usual tasty tidbits of conversation that really enhanced the meal.