Big CynthiaFest news! As you may, or may not know, our beloved Phil Lee is playing CynthiaFest. Phil Lee...sigh....we adore him and can not wait to have him here again. As we talked about it though we thought we kinda wanted an opening act because I believe Phil will just play one longish set. We tossed ideas around and then at one point one of us said to the other, "The Jans Project." And then we both cackled happily because it was just so perfect. Then of course we sat there wondering if they would be willing to do it..... I emailed quickly before I lost my nerve and within an hour all the guys had said yes. I went to bed just giddy....
The Jans Project is the latest incarnation of a band that goes back to well....a HELL of a long time ago! I've known them all since I was mmmmm 18, 19? When I turned 21 I went to see them that night at Mabel's and they played a Mott the Hoople song for me. I can't remember....was it All the Way From Memphis? Afterwards Steve muttered, complaining about their performance, and said, "WHY didn't we play a Johnny Thunders song?....we would have been FINE!" Despite Steve's muttering it was wonderful, hence my remembering it all these years later.....
So yeah, they go way back. We saw them last fall at Cowboy Monkey and they made me ridiculously happy...(although I will always miss our beloved Berni Proeschel...and other past members like David Wisnieswki whenever I see these guys) and Steve Lindstrom has a great writeup of their history and where they are now on their facebook page.
It is incredibly kind of them to do this. They will be playing for tips. I know everyone coming will have already generously put money in toward the party but please come with your pockets full if that is possible. Oh, and you'll be able to get their CD too! It means a lot to me that they are doing this. If it were anyone but Phil Lee I'd worry about him following them (no worries with Phil though).
Damn but I'm happy!
Oh, and look! I just found this clip from the last show of Jeff talking about our house concerts. You can hear me laughing. I always laugh too loudly. Sigh.
1. The boys had a friend sleep over last night. Just now Ernie found a pizza crust in his shoe. The delights in life are many....and unexpected....
2. Owen just asked for lunch and when I offered a peanut butter and jelly sandwich he said, "NO, that goes against everything I believe in." Huh. I figure when he's hungry enough his beliefs will change.
3. Man, Ernie and I were tired yesterday. I don't do well on not much sleep (I LOVE sleep) and after staying out later than usual on Friday night we still had to get up at 6:30 in the morning. Ugh. It was worth every bit of tiredness however to spend some time with Eric and Peter. I wish the babysitter and the looming birthday party hadn't pulled you away Amy and Tim but it was lovely to see you just the same!
4. Downtown Champaign was packed after the Prine concert. We thought we'd go to Quality because it's always empty but too many other people thought the same thing....the Esquire and the Blind Pig were spilling out so we headed to the Brass Rail and found blissful peace...at least until the juke box started. It was delightful just the same.....only the best for Eric and Peter...only the best.....
5. My thoughts have been with Eric and Mary Ann.....they lost her mother within the last day of his coming to Champaign and I could see Eric's exhaustion and grief when he let his guard slip every so often. I remember being surprised that knowing that a death was imminent didn't prepare you better. I remember my friend bob saying kindly that you can't practice what you've never done. And of course it's so true... And now they are without someone they loved....it can feel so surreal. I still catch myself thinking that I should call my mother, or expecting it to be her when the phone rings. It doesn't seem to go away.
6. Thinking about Mary Ann and Eric's loss made me think so much about my mother and then of course my sister. We've also been tossing around a lovely invitation from a friend to spend a weekend with them in Michigan. I'm not sure if we can swing it and it makes me feel the loss of family that I could turn to and just say, "can the boys stay with you a day or two?" Now honest to God....this is just one big myth in my mind....Judi was too far away for an off the cuff weekend and my parents were too old to ever watch the boys overnight....and now that the guys are pretty self sufficient they are gone. It still haunts me a bit. I guess we all have mythical family relationships we miss, huh?
7. We collapsed late afternoon and finally realized we just weren't going to make it to our beloved Sasha and Dick's party that evening. My favorite kind of party----lots of appetizers and great friends and a wonderful house....but man we were knocked out. We sat there saying to each other, "do you think it's o.k. if we don't go? I don't know, what do you think?" Finally I said to Ernie, "Well I know how much you love Sasha so you must really not feel up to it if you don't want to go." He nodded and his eyes welled up and he said, "I do love her.....I wish she were the guys' aunt." Of course then my eyes welled up too. I knew what he meant....it's not that Sasha reminds us of Judi that specifically, and no, we're not expecting her to act as the boys' aunt (don't worry Sasha) but she has certain spark that reminds us of Judi....and we SO miss the role Judi was going to play in the boys' lives. She was planning to take them on trips...she was going to get them a dog....oh, she had all sorts of things planned. It's not that the buys don't have a wonderful aunt (and a couple of great uncles). The boys have an absolutely wonderful---and very much adored Aunt in my sister Debbie....but she's a completely different person and plays a different role than Judi would have. I just want the boys to have both of them. So by that point we'd worked ourselves into a tearful state....eventually we laughed at ourselves, I emailed Sasha, we got a drink and watched a really bad Adam Sandler movie while Owen and Travis had sword fights in the next room.
8. I think I'd started us down the path when my glance caught the urn of Judi's ashes with the Obama sticker on it that says 'YES WE DID.' Owen begged to put that sticker on it because as he earnestly explained to me, "it will show everyone that YES WE DID love her." And as I thought about that I was stunned to realize that means that it will be four years next February. Wow. It's been four years since my father died this May.....just a bit over three for Judi and two for my mother. Time.
9. Last night I took a long shower and then Ernie and retreated upstairs with a pizza and some wine...and left the downstairs to the three guys. This morning I finished a novel and then worked on my sister's taxes. I got her federal ones done but the State...or is it the Commenwealth....of Massachusetts is frustrating my attempts to figure out how to pay taxes with a credit card. I know there was some form or something we did last year but I can't figure it out....I decided to take a break.
10. And there you have it....my weekend. Now I just want a good thunderstorm.
11. And in the last but not least category.....Owen's on a Batman kick.....I contributed an old skirt to help with the desire for a cape.....
Owen cooked dinner for Ernie and me last night. Grilled smoked paprika chicken with kale and chickpeas. He needed a bit of advice on the kale and chickpeas but handled it masterfully and of course his grilling skills are already without question. He set the table, even got out flint glass tumblers for our water and filled the Etched Dakota water pitcher he gave me with ice water for our refreshment. He waited on us formally. When he wasn't acting as our waiter he would charge in and join us (Leo chose not to join us which was fine...we're in easy spring break mode) in his Mr. Laughs persona. He invented Mr. Laughs when he was very little and we don't see him all that much anymore. Mr. Laughs is basically Owen channeling some old Borscht Belt comedian. He swept in last night saying, "sorry I'm late but I had to walk. What is it with the GAS prices?" and then he went into some joke I'm afraid I don't recall. When he thought we might need a waiter he would depart as Mr. Laughs saying he had to go to the restroom or go lock his car (although we pointed out he'd walked) and disappear into the kitchen only to reappear as his formal waiter. At one point Mr. Laughs said, "have you looked this place up online? One guy named Owen does EVERYTHING."
He asked us if we wanted to retire to the television room for our dessert. We acquiesced and were then served ice cream and brownies. Later he delivered the check to Ernie. It was 25 cents plus tip. I told Ernie to make sure to tip well---the food was fantastic and the service impeccable....
Lest you think our whole night was idyllic rest assured that by the end of the night 3 family members all got pissed at each other...the lucky one was already asleep. That dinner makes up for a plethora of sins however. Looking at Ernie's little smile as he watched Owen work madly.....watching Owen fly around the kitchen only to calmly glide into the diningroom and call me ma'am.....
In other news....GO VOTE! It's the primary....AND David Olney's new mini-album THE STONE is released today. I just ordered mine and I suggest you do the same. It's a measly $10 folks....for David's take on the greatest story ever told....
The March primary is coming up so I've been trying to dig around a bit and make some decisions. One of the few contested races is that of the Champaign County Circuit Clerk. I was introduced to Lori Hansen at some event and said hello and probably shook her hand but other than that I do not know her. However I have been very impressed with her run for Circuit Clerk. Here is someone who is QUALIFIED for the position...not because of her politics but because of her real life experience and skills. She is currently the law librarian at the Circuit Circuit Court and has hands-on experience in the office in addition to her educational background and vision. And given that the role of Circuit Clerk is to disseminate information and make the judicial process easier to access and interact with----I am pleased to see the organization of her campaign and how clear her message is---and how easy it is to find. This is exactly what we need for this office! You can download some info here.
Two of the other candidates, Stephanie Holderfield and Evelyn Underwood, both have information about themselves online and although worthy of consideration, I don't find their actual life experiences to be what is needed for this office. The other candidate is Barb Wysocki...and geesh.... Let me tell you....for better or worse I love the internet. I have always been someone who upon being confronted with a new problem or challenge----goes straight for the library. Find a book and read it...then I'll feel much better. So the internet is a perfect match for me. Need to know something? Google and I were made for one another! Of course one also needs a healthy dose of skepticism to sort between the reputable and everything else that wallows in the murk, but given time and Google I can usually form a reasonably measured opinion. So I gotta say....when I can't find a damn thing on a candidate it really lessens the chance of my supporting them. Searching for information on Barb Wysocki's run for Champaign County Circuit Clerk? The only thing I've come up with is her name on the sample ballot, various news reports listing individuals that have filed and a pdf of her statement of organization----which was filed at the end of February. Hansen's was filed last October. Nothing else. Wysocki's name is pretty well known in local Democratic circles so there are other mentions but not a thing of substance about her current run. This really sets me back on my heels.....it appears to me that the mission of this office is to clearly disseminate information and assist the public in their interactions with this judicial system--make the judicial system accessible and work for them. So this lack of available information concerns me greatly and really makes it appear that she assumes the familiarity of her name will win the primary. Maybe not...maybe I'm missing it. I see yard signs but nothing to back them up. If someone has information please leave me a link but I am really astounded by this.
Lori Hansen has an event tonight at Cowboy Monkey that I wanted to go to because ummm.....the food sounds REALLY good...and of course to support her lol.....but I have to work late and have some other things to do later on so don't think we'll make it. I need to get a sign for our yard. We're kind of off the beaten path but we still like to make a stand for those we support. So there you have it.....the sandwich life for Lori Hansen.... If you agree, please skip on over to her facebook page and like it or go have yakitori with Lori tonight or email her for a yard sign.....just do something! Thanks for reading!
Some of you know that one of our dearest, dearest friends, Bob Rasmus, is the pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Urbana, or "Bob's Place," as the boys referred to it when they were little. I'm not a member of St. Matthew's but you could certainly call me a friend of St. Matthew's---and I am always impressed with their warm and thoughtful support of social values that I believe in.
So I am WAY excited about their newest venture, Sola Gratia Farm!!
Here is some of the story:
Sola Gratia Farm is a community-based farm enterprise dedicated to producing locally-grown, high-quality, natural produce. Responding to the Gospel, the Farm is committed to helping those who lack adequate food resources by donating ten percent of its produce to support regional hunger programs. The Farm promotes healthy lifestyles and community building through education, service and outreach programs.
Sola Gratia Farm is a four-acre community garden located behind St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Urbana, Il. Sola Gratia Farm developed out of a joint vision with St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Urbana, which owns the land, and an organization called Faith in Place, whose fundamental ministry is aiding communities of faith develop responsible and sustainable practices.
Sola Gratia is Latin for ‘by grace alone,’ and arose as a rallying cry of the Reformation. Its original context asserts that our salvation is the work of Christ alone, which we receive as a gift of grace. That is the spirit of this farm. We acknowledge that this land is a gift from God and are now committed to sharing its bounty with our immediate community in the form of fresh, naturally produced vegetables available to shareholders, and with the commitment to share at least ten percent of the farm’s production with the Eastern Illinois Food Bank and other hunger abatement programs. As we receive in grace, so we share in grace.
The Farm will also be a venue for teaching the values of stewardship and the care of creation, for community building through volunteer opportunities, field days and an annual harvest festival, for strengthening the link between farmer and consumer, and for lifting up our responsibilities to one another, especially those who suffer from inadequate food resources or hunger.
I love the way this brings together the beliefs and goals of the church, the community, the opportunity to provide fresh produce---something food banks are often short on, the move toward sustainability---both spiritually and well....physically. Is this the coolest thing? Remember, 10% will go to the foodbank and you can contribute part of your share as well. I love it!
Ernie and I are going to buy a half share and I'm going to share my experiments and recipes with the produce here on my blog. As always, I will have successes and failures but I'm excited and looking forward to having kind of a regular feature to play with.
You can find more on their website and their facebook page. I'm excited about this and proud of Bob and the work he does---and of all that are involved with this as well.
I browsed the News-Gazette while eating Ernie's Sunday biscuits and saw that the paper's movie series at the Virginia Theater includes Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
THAT'S IT!
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins.....THAT'S why the new Virginia marqee vaguely makes me think of Dick Van Dyke. Now, I've nothing against Dick Van Dyke but I'm always left with a slightly icky feeling when I think Mary Poppins or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Actually I'm not sure I've ever seen all of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang but there's something about that faux Gay Nineties or the fake 1920esque style always makes me feel....embarrassed.
And that's how that new Virginia marquee makes me feel....slightly embarassed and somehow reminiscent of the fire hydrants that people painted like revolutionary soldiers during the Bicentennial. Just kinda....not right.
I felt sick to my stomack when I heard they were getting rid of the Virginia's glowing neon marquee that had stood there since the 40's. I really, really thought that in the end somebody would say "NOOOO.....STOP!" Nobody did though and the new plan was that they would replicate the original 1921 marquee.
No.
Instead they created this mash-up that screams Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.....and bad fake colonial storefronts.
I suppose I'll survive my children. I mean....other people manage to do it. They both pissed me off royally this morning. Then when I suggested we go take a walk I got negative feedback. So I said it was either take a walk or clean. Owen said he'd rather clean. REALLY Owen? So we cleaned with me doing everything loudly so nobody would forget I was pissed. Eventually Owen came over and said, "uh, if we go for a walk, can we stop cleaning?" I made him do a little bit more and then we headed over to Busey Woods. Geesh.
We'd only walked a little way when we saw the first deer. There was a group of about 7 or 8 eating and frolicking a bit....watching us warily. Even Leo (who earlier had said, "STOP trying to encourage me to enjoy this. I do NOT like being outside") was taken with them.
First Owen had to tap the almost frozen top layer of the water....
then all of three of them had to do it.
Using a camera set to automatic has its downfalls....here it focused on the tree instead of the deer....but after looking at it for a bit I decided I kinda liked it that way....
Now it's gotten much grayer and I don't mind being snuggled in the house.....it felt good to be outside in the woods. Leo asked why we always do walks like these when it's cold. He pointed out that didn't make much sense. He's probably right.....I tried to explain that during the summer I can be outside in the yard so I don't get as restless.....in the winter though....periodically I need to be outside.... Now that I got that out of my system I guess I can hunker down with some seed catalogues.....
1. Friday night, during the Blaze Foley documentary at the Highdive, Ernie's phone rang. He went and found a spot of quiet to take the call from Owen and when he came back he told me Owen had wanted to know where the pumpkin carving knife was. I looked alarmed and said, "he's not going to CARVE one by himself, is he?" Ernie assured me that he wouldn't....that he just wanted to know where it was. So of course when we arrived home late there was a carved pumpking, complete with burning candle, on the front porch. Sigh.
2. Lovely event for Naomi Jakobsson out at Farm Lake yesterday (fantastic job Teri!). The boys were a tad grumpy about going but I told them we'd done things on our own yesterday, we wanted to spend the day with them and it's important to support people that you think are doing good work. They aquiesced and I told them my only request was that they attempt not to look sullen. Leo smirked at that. I love his smirks. In fact when we got there Don Gerard got him to smirk again. I was most impressed.
Owen perked up once we got there because there were hot dogs, grapes and candy. Woo-hoooo! And also hayrides. Leo begged off on the hayride but Owen and I went and damn but he's good company. We saw peacocks and lakes and trees and swans....and an old outhouse (Owen's favorite)....it was lovely. When we got back from our hayride we saw that Ernie had actually convinced Leo to sit down and we were suitably impressed. Earlier I had shrugged when Leo refused a seat and I told Owen the story of how when Leo was little, and scared by lightning and thunder, he would come in our bedroom and just stand there. He refused to sit down or get into bed with us.....so he would just stand there...sometimes getting so sleepy that he would almost tip over. We giggled. Leo glared at us but I don't think he heard....
3. So after the hayride, and listening to the wonderful----and inimitable---Duke of Uke, we took off for Fries and Peanuts. We headed in and there was a great crowd for the Toys for Troops fundraiser. I was so impressed and pleased for Lori. We got food and Owen was besotted with a Beanie Baby robin that was at the table as an ad for the fundraiser. Great hilarity ensued when he thought it was a turkey..... When Lori kindly stopped by our table she mentioned to Owen that he was welcome to take it home. I could tell that inside his head was exploding but he held it together and said thank you.
4. Leo had a fever Friday and Saturday. He seemed better yesterday but now it has developed into a deep cough and he sounds terrible...so he's home today. Let's all pray that no one else gets it. Last night Owen sighed deeply and said, "Gee, Leo really doesn't feel good, I sure hope I don't get it" and then gave the most pathetic fake sneeze that I just stared at him. He got defensive and said, "WHAT?" and I just shook my head and told him I loved him.
5. I'm too bleary to write more so I'll just leave you with a couple of pictures....
Yesterday was a bit of a blur....maybe that's why I'm being FAR lazier than usual today. Ernie and I hit the farmers' market....two colors of cauliflower, green beans, sweet potatoes, beautiful little tender new potatoes, a couple of tomatoes, those outrageiously sweet little orange cherry tomatoes, spinach, smoked pork chops, peppered bacon, three mums and a blue pumpkin. Two trips to the car!
Then we trotted around to places like Lowe's, Menard's and Bed, Bath and Beyond. Good Lord that place makes me claustrophobic...and everywhere you go there are little screens talking to you. Ugh. Curtain rods in hand, we fled. For some reason, namely that our couch in the media room has....um....caved in....I suggested we stop and look at Carter's Furniture on Prospect. Well....you know how it is when you're not really looking? You find something. A floor model with discontinued fabric so marked way down. We went home and measured and went through the, "well, if we move that over there and that here maybe...." and decided it would fit. The next thing you know we were acting like we could afford it and buying it. We're going to have to do major rearranging of the cd shelves so we're going to paint as well. So next weekend looks to be a painting project and then we will have a new little nest in there.
By the time we were done with that all I had time for was a shower and a quick bowl of leftover chili before we headed out to the Blaze Foley movie/Gurf Morlix thing at the Highdive. We really enjoyed the movie but we were anxious to head over to the Cowboy Monkey. We slid in as the House of Brunettes was starting---sounded great. When we'd sat down at the bar I thought the guy sitting the other side of Ernie looked like David Wisniewski but then I thought to myself that he wasn't coming and I didn't want to turn and stare so I sat and watched the band. When they were over....David walked over. Oh MAN were we happy! I don't think we've seen him since....mmmmm 1984ish? Crazy, crazy, crazy how it feels so comfortable to pick up so many years later. It's such a funny thing. When we walked in there were a lot of familiar faces....and as I sat there all I could think was....I really like us. This crowd of people, the love of music that joined us whether strongly or casually back then---it's strong now, and I really like us.
The Jans Project.
Well.
They were absolutely wonderful.
When I look at them I do see the other line ups that meant so much to us in the past----with our beloved Berni, and then with David as well. But this group, right here and now....was absolutely fluid and joyful. What rhythm section could be better than Jeff and Steve? And the other Steve adds a wonderful forcefulness that is a perfect counterweight. And Nick....well Nick's guitar playing is better than ever without doubt....but it's his vocals that have always had the ability to cut right through to my heart. That's something that can't be learned, can't be taught....and it's very, very special. I know that Nick has no idea how special he is.
They've got my heart, these guys....
And there were lots of people to smile at and hug....met a few new people and it all felt really good.
Thanks guys.....
Lousy pictures....I should have brought my camera instead of using Ernie's phone but that's o.k....they're just for atmosphere.....Della will have good pictures for us later!
with David Wisniewski---seeing him was one of the great pleasures of the evening!
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