MoxieLife

Hopeful and enduring viewing for the decade

Although I have been in a musically challenged decade I have been watching my share of movies and television - probably more than I should. Most of it is crap. There is no doubt in my mind that most of the things that I view either on DVD, at theaters (although that is a rare occasion) and on TV have become mostly drivel. I would sum the decade of TV up with reality - or some version of it. It seems that networks would rather see people squirm in pain rather then pay for good writers and actors. I could rant more about that but instead I'll share a few of my favorite things:

Television:

Six Feet Under - I can't really say enough about this high drama series from HBO. Alan Ball had these warped characters come into our lives and we loved them - imperfections and all. When this series ended I felt as if I watched my family fade away from me. The best television I have ever watched. Period.

Lost - We watch this on DVD in huge chunks rather then torture ourselves trying to keep up with it on TV. The drama, suspense, and overall odd quality of this epic TV journey has captivated our family. I am not, by nature, a sci-fi lover, but this quirky story about castaways took away any thoughts of Gilligan and the Skipper the moment they landed on that lonesome island. It isn't perfect, but it is fun!

The Office, The Daily Show, The Tudors, Gilmore Girls, Freaks and Geeks, Big Love, random reality tv shows about weight loss or singing, and The News Hour make up the rest of my TV viewing - eclectic at best.

Movies:

The Educators - this quirky foreign film that I can't seem to find is about a group of people who go into wealthy homes and move things around just to let them know they were there - subversive.

Up - this kids film broke my heart open and made me smile after months of being unhappy. I just adored the older man, his scouting sidekick and the dog in love with squirrels. Animation is always close to my top loves and when the story is endearing it is even better.

Spellbound, Michael Moore, Supersize Me, Rivers and Tides, Fast Food Nation - a decade of documentaries. I am a sucker for things I agree with told on film in a way that make me stand up and cheer. Is that leftist propaganda? Maybe, but it is my kind of documentary and after looking at my Netflix list I can see that I watch a lot of this. There was one on Kissinger (I forget the name) that had me angry for days and days - but I loved every minute of it.

A decade is a hard thing to wrap up in film - I watched everything from Oceans 11, Rabbit Proof Fence, Hotel Rwanda to every Coen brother film with drivel in between. If I had to give a film to someone from this decade I would share Lagaan - a 4 hour Bollywood film that is hopeful and enduring. When Slumdog Millionaire came out I was hoping it would have the majesty and beauty of Lagaan - but it was a dark story and a disappointment to me. Film is about capturing a moment and although the darker moments often captivate the award shows it is the ones with hope that steal my heart.

A decade without a soundtrack

There are all of these countless lists about the best/worst of the year/decade and I thought I would do a few of my own reflections. Granted, they will be completely centered on me (and my daughter), but that is what this blog is about darling.

First, let's start with music. It has been a hot topic in the house this break because our beloved daughter is home from Hendrix and has a huge music/sound craving. There has to be music on at all times and in every room or car. Silence is antimatter to be avoided at all costs. She COULD listen on her personal listening device with headphones, but she also has this desire/need to SHARE her music with everyone around her at all times. So, we go about our days listening to rap/hip hop/nerd country/pop/rock music that fits her mood - regardless of ours.

For Christmas we got her Rolling Stone magazine because if you aren't listening to music you could be reading about music. The first issue is about the best music of the decade (apparently Radiohead is the #1 Album of the decade) and year. She is now making sure that she has every album on the list downloaded to her iPod.

All of this got me started about what happened to music in my life. (I told you it would mostly be about me.) When I was in high school I was very into music, listening to KROQ and the new wave crap that was peddled out at that time. I can still listen to the Sirius 80's channel and sing pretty much anything that they play (Smiths, Ramones, Talking Heads, The Cure). I liked alternative funky bands from California and sad melancholy music from men who wore too much eyeliner - and the Beatles, but everyone likes them.

When I was 21 (1990) I had our daughter and quickly left the land of alternative rock to Raffi and Chipmunks Christmas. I lived in the land of folk songs, kid music, and Disney Princess music for 10 years. I missed the entire grunge moment only to begin liking Nirvana after Kurt had blown his head off.

At 31 we moved from singable happy music onto Disney produced puff pop - aka Lizzie McGuire and other insipid twirly pop. Our daughter couldn't get enough of that easy to sing song garbage - although at some point she started to slowly become aware of our music collection and listened to the entire box set of Led Zeppelin (thanks to dad), Leonard Cohen, and the Ramones. We had picked up some U2 along the way, some Ani Difranco, and a few other couldn't be missed cd's in that 10 year void and she seemed to really like them.

For the first time we could listen to music that wasn't a family sing a long tape or produced by a marketing conglomerate. She was moving into music that we loved, which meant we got music back in the house. For the next 5 years we would buy music that we all liked (White Stripes, Rolling Stones, etc.) and were rolling around happily singing songs that weren't about whales, new worlds, or kittens.

Something happened though - she moved on, but we didn't. She got an iPod before we did and entered the world of downloading music. We stayed behind with our old CD's, but we weren't buying them anymore either -we were stuck with what we had bought. It seems odd to me to download music - what about the cover art, liner notes, and the flow of an album? It seems that it is leaving us behind and I don't like the sound of that.

Music had always been a part of my life growing up, my dad played the sax, I sang and we always had the radio on. I felt like I knew music up until 10 years ago - I would read Rolling Stone, watch the Grammy's and listen to NPR reviews of music (even if it wasn't playing I could keep up with it). Somewhere - and it isn't any one thing in particular - it has vanished from our lives and I am so sad about that. I am missing a soundtrack and I need to get that groove back. This may just be the decade I refind my music.

Out with the old

I am in another purge mode. Yesterday my daughter and I worked on the dining room/hall. I took all the Christmas decorations down in that room and then we started clearing it out of other things. We removed a small book case, a small table, crap from on top of our linen case, and stuff on the stairs. Then we worked on the art wall to pull that together better. It is a VERY small room and it tends to be the dumping grounds for stuff that doesn't have a real home. Hopefully it will stay a little clearer now that we have removed surfaces.

After that we quickly tackled the dishes in the kitchen getting rid of a host of mugs, linens we don't use, and an unmatched bowl. When your house is just under 800 square feet every inch counts.

Next is the office/guest bedroom/work out room - that is a huge mess and will take some creative organizing skills. Pictures of our creative endeavors to come! What are you purging before the new year starts?

Merry, Happy, Peace to you

Yesterday I had the great pleasure to be invited and attend a luncheon for the nonprofit group that I work for part-time. It was great fun to eat and celebrate a successful year with people who I generally like working with. The board president did a lovely vegetarian spread, including a beautiful cheesecake. She had the mayor's office all decked out in holiday festivities and gifts at each place. So nice.

Here comes the but-

But when I was leaving I was wishing the staff at city hall a happy holiday because I was sure I wouldn't see them until January. It was fine. I said, "happy holidays." Then on person perked up and said, "Merry Christmas." Which is also fine, but it had that feeling of being a political statement or a threat to my more non-confrontational greeting.

My question is this: why do people feel that they are under attack? Why do Christians feel that I, or others of my ilk, are taking away their holiday?

It is my sincere wish for everyone to celebrate whatever they want, but I am not going to assume that I know what it is that they celebrate. I don't expect a Jewish person to be offended if I wish them a Merry Christmas without knowing that they don't celebrate that particular holiday, but I do like to be sensitive to whatever they do celebrate.

What happened to Peace on Earth, Goodwill Towards Men? Personally, I blame Fox "News".

Happy Big Bang

For those who attend the UU church in Eureka Springs you have already heard this, but for those who are venturing for posts far and wide here is my meditation that I offered on December 20th.

The holiday season is in full force and for those of us who subscribe to the the big A (atheist) path we may find it difficult to get into the swing of it. Personally, I walk the path of fusion - delighting in the sounds, lights, and holiday baking that is offered. To join those spectacular offerings I have looked for a celebration that I can get behind during this delightful season.

Granted, I could celebrate the birth of the son or the return of the sun, but those don't quite feel right. So, in my search I have touched on the greatest birth of them all - the big bang! There is nothing more spectacular than the formation of our own universe.

Bringing this happy moment to our festivities is as easy as tuning into a little fuzz. Radio waves capture 2% of the radiation made by the actual event - just as we are viewing stars over a million years old - we can now listen to the moment we started to coalesce. Join me as we celebrate the birth of our universe during this magical season.

At this point I turned the radio to a little bit of fuzz. Happy Big bang!

Delicious Links

Soothing scents and sweet tea

December 16: Tea of the year. I walked into the meditation hall of Wattle Hollow retreat center and the smell of peppermint tea wafted through every step. The sweet, slightly medicinal, aroma swirled around my sweater like a whirlwind of comfort. Joy, the retreat leader, said that peppermint tea was the standard tea of every session and that it is available all afternoon and night. Kath, my friend, commented at the end that she would never think of peppermint tea the same way again. Calm, soothing, sweet - my tea of the year is peppermint.

Bread, Conflict, and Singing

The holidays are in full swing, but I have other things on my mind:

Artisan Bread - I have been making whole wheat bread from the Healthy Bread in 5 Minutes book and it is by far the easiest recipe I have used. The loaves are a nice crumb -moist consistency. They have a great crust. The big bonus, no kneading! Highly recommend!

Palestine/Israel Conflict - I am reading, or honestly trying to read, The Lemon Tree. I have read just the first chapter and I am frustrated. I didn't realize that for YEARS Arabs and Jews lived peacefully in what was Palestine and it wasn't until the British (who were occupying the country) decided to split it up and the rapid influx of Jewish settlers during WWII that all hell broke loose. It makes me wonder about occupying countries and immigration - is there any instance when occupying is a good thing? Are there reasons to limit immigration - even in our own country?

Singing - I used to sing in school - choir, solos, the whole thing, but as an adult I don't sing much at all. I don't really have a place to sing. At church - which I haven't attended in over a year - there are the folks that are already considered the "singers" and so I don't feel that comfortable joining that group. I realized after watching Glee and The Sing Off that I miss it. Wondering how to bring that back to my life.

What is on your mind?

Giving it up was the rush

December 14 Rush. When did you get your best rush of the year? When I gave up coffee. I was a die hard coffee drinker. I would drink at least a pot of coffee a day and the effects were starting to become obvious. Granted, all things in moderation are a good thing, but this was not moderation - this was a constant companion.

The thing is that I was angry, frustrated, and I felt terrible. I figured the best thing to do was just give it up. After three days of a horrible headache I survived. Then I put the coffee machine up on a shelf and haven't looked back twice.

The rush - the control to give up something that I loved so much. I figure if I can do that I can do anything!

Christmas bridges the past and present

I have been thinking of the things that bridge the past to the present - the personal things - that tie you to those that you have loved and lost. The holidays are a huge part of that thought pattern, but it happens all year long. When you hear a special song, eat a cookie with a certain spice... good and bad we are tied to those who we were once connected too.

For me, when I put up my Christmas tree I am reminded of my parents, my friend Wendy's mom, my brother, and my sister. They are all wrapped up in my tree and I am fuller because of it. When I unwrap the stuffed Santa that Ginger made with such precision I am transformed into the 9 year old who spent every day after school at her house with her daughter Wendy. She was entirely kind - never seeming to mind the intrusion - never asking for anything other than a playmate for her daughter.

Then, of course, there is the music and traditions that are carried through the season. Most of them have lost their intentional meaning - there is no Jesus in my house - but the sparkle of the lights is delightful. Last night I ventured out to my husband trying to remember when I realized there was no Santa. I don't remember when it happened and I don't remember being upset about it. Then I remembered that my husband never even had Santa. He took that tradition of mine and brought it with great joy to our daughter. He relishes the delight at Santa's cookies, presents from the big C and stockings - things he never really had.

The holidays are such a fusion of those we love, traditions from our childhoods and new ideas. I love that we are flexible to remember our past, but able to bring changes that fit our family now.

For those looking for some new traditions here is a great post!