Remember the Dream

40 years ago today, Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered in Memphis Tenn., where he was supporting a garbage worker's strike. I was one, so too young to remember that moment or remember when he was alive, but his impact on my life was profound. I'm not black, but his words transend race. We are all American; black, white, red, yellow, green, purple... who gives a shit? We are all one people. Dr. King's bravery, eloquence, and strength encourage and enlighten me every day of my life and his ongoing legacy lives on. For that, he is my hero.

My daughter wondered who he was and why he get's his "own day." I explained that a long time ago, white children and black children had to go to different schools and couldn't play with each other. She looked at me like I'd lost my mind. "That's silly," she exclaimed before stomping off to her room. You're absolutely right, my daughter. Right on!

KMEC radio interview now on line

Follow the link to hear the KMEC interview with my editor Jane and I about Medusa's Muse and the Punk Anthology.

www.kmecradio.org/p/midnitesociety/

(3-21-2008. the interview is split into two parts)

And a big thank you to Emilyn, who is a fabulous DJ and host. I had a great time!

I'm on KMEC

If you live anywhere near Ukiah, Ca, Jane (my editor) and I will be interviewed on KMEC radio on Midnight Society with Emilyn, tonight (Friday, 3/21) at 8:00. We'll be chatting about Small Press Month, starting Medusa's Muse, and our current project, a Punk Rock Anthology. If you live too far away from Ukiah to get KMEC on your radio, you can listen to it streaming from the KMEC website, or check out the mp3 archive of Emilyn's show.

www.kmecradio.org/p/midnitesociety/

KMEC LP is an independent, local, low power radio station broadcasting from the Mendocino Environmental Center. It's an eclectic mix of all types of music, politics, news, and views from Mendocino County. I love listening to this station because you never know what you'll hear. Blue-grass one hour, Hip-Hop the next, then some Punk followed by Enya. My kind of station!

Laura Fog, my author, is a very busy girl this weekend

This is a busy weekend for my author, Laura Fogg, and is the beginning of an even busier month.

On Saturday, March 8, One Earth Studio will open an exhibit of contemporary artwork called Pieces, so entitled because all three artists use "pieces" of things to create their work. Elizabeth Raybee creates mosaic, Susan Hadley works with collage, and Laura creates decorative quilts. If you are in the Ukiah, Northern Californa area, drop by. The gallery is located at 310 Mason St., and the opening reception begins at 4:00. This is a great opportunity to see Laura's textile art.

Then on Sunday, March 9, Laura will receive an award for her work in the arts at the annual Women's History Gala, hosted by the National Women's Political Caucus of Mendocino County. This event, now in its 25th year, honors women in Mendocino County and features Ronie Gilbert as well as many others. This is what the Willits newspaper has to say about Laura:

Laura Fogg's collage art quilts have been shown regularly since 2000 and received awards across the United States. Among her unique art quilts, Fogg's "An Unexpected Manifestation of Menopause/Laura Takes a Leap" was included in the documentary "Until the Violence Stops" aired on Lifetime TV and shown in theaters around the country in conjunction with performances of Eve Ensler's "Vagina Monologues." Of her success Laura says, "I couldn't have done it without my community-being nurtured and inspired as an artist and growing in all ways." Working in the field of Special Education for the past 35 years, Fogg recently authored a memoir of her experiences with blind children and their families, "Traveling Blind: Life Lessons From Unlikely Teachers."

Because this event has grown so large, with over 300 people in attendance, it has moved to the Fine Arts Building, Redwood Empire Fairgrounds, 1055 N. State St., Ukiah. The doors open at noon with time to view the silent auction, and the program will begin at 1 p.m. Ticketa are $10 and must be purchased in advance. Get yours at Mendocino Book Company, in Ukiah; Leaves of Grass, in Willits; Tangents, in Fort Bragg; or Out of This World, in Mendocino.

I'll be there as well, selling Laura's book, plus CD's from Ronnie Gilbert and books from Ann Kilkenny. Stop by the table and say hello.

Starbucks closed for three hours

Ah ha! Proof that the universe is out of wack!

www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml

Sick as the Proverbial DOG!

I've been sick for the last two and a half weeks with the horrible Mendocino County Flu that's taken out half the city! I'm on the mend finally, but can't get rid of this cough! I sound like a TB patient who smokes four packs a day! Slowly, slowly getting better, but this sucks!

Anyway, just wanted to update you after my last post, which I know was a bit down. The three children I've been praying for are all doing much better and are now home. Thank you everyone for your kind words and energy. There's still some heavy crap out there in the universe, but at least the children are home and healing.

What is going on right now?

It seems like so many people are going through really hard times. I know too many mothers with sick children, three of whom are actually in hospitals. Too many people on the verge of losing their homes. Marriages and relationships going through rocky challenges. People experiencing massive changes in their lives, and in themselves. These are people I know, not just people I hear about on the radio. It's like the whole world has tipped on its axis a bit and we're all feeling sideways.

Hard times. But there's also a scent in the air that makes me think this is the storm before the dawn. There's a lot of chaos, but also I see people digging in deeper into themselves and finding pools of strength they didn't even know they had. And I also feel the friendships I've been blessed with. I know there are people in this world who love me. I hope my friends can feel that too.

What's all this babble about? Not sure. Just thoughtful, and on this night when I am praying hard for three children and their parents who sit beside them, I wanted to reach out into the darkness and light a cosmic candle. Hang on, everyone, the light will shine again soon.

Until The Violence Stops

V-Day is here again, a time to focus our energy on stopping violence against women. Across the country, The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler is being performed, including this weekend in Willits (Willits High School Auditorium, Sat. at 7:00, Sun. at 2:00), just north of Ukiah on hwy 101.

There is also a documentary about the worldwide performance of the Vagina Monologues, called "Until the Violence Stops." And I just learned that my author, Laura Fogg, is in it. Ukiah is a featured city in the documentary because of the Vagina quilts (see the movie to understand) and Laura is one of the quilt makers. I hear her interview is beautiful!

Here's a link for more info about the movie:

www.popmatters.com/film/rev...nce.shtml

Following Rose

Hi, my name is:
Terena

Never in my life have I:
drank, smoked or had sex (my DAD is on Tribe!)

The one person who can drive me nuts is:
My MOTHER (she's not on Tribe)

My high school was:
extremely dramatic and I'm glad I'm done.

When I’m nervous:
I forget to breath

The last song I listened to was:
1969 by Iggy Pop

If I were to get married right now it would be to:
Johnny Depp. Sorry Rick.

My hair is:
brown

When I was 4:
We lived on a chicken ranch outside Porterville (right, Dad?)

Last Christmas:
was spent at home in my undies watching South Park videos with my hubby.

I should be:
sleeping, but I have to wait for ReeRee to crash first.

When I look down I see:
Red and White stars on my PJ bottoms.

The happiest recent event was:
when I sold the 200th copy of Laura's book. Cool!

If I were a character on ‘Friends’ :
I'd be Phoebe because she had the cooler doll-house.

By this time next year:
I'll be the mother of a teen-ager. Oy!

My current gripe is:
puberty is making my daughter crazy and I'm trying to not let me it make me that way.

I have a hard time understanding:
12 year old girls.

There’s these girls:
at my daughter's school, who are only 12 but chase boys already and I'm really worried about them.

If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be:
Rick

I want to buy:
a new dryer.

If I were to go to my favorite place I would go to:
Denali national park in Alaska, and sit on the top of the ridge to watch the Dall Sheep, Grizzly Bears, and Bald Eagles wake up after a long, cold winter.

If you spent the night at my house:
during the summer you can sleep in the loft of the barn where it feels like camping and the tivoli lights twinkle. Wintertime, you're on the couch.

The world could do without:
Dick Cheney and his side-kick George W. And Blackwater could go away. That would be nice.

Most recent thing I’ve bought myself:
books. (sigh)

Most recent thing someone else bought me:
Rick bought me lunch yesturday.

My middle name is:
Lee

In the morning :
I will be woken at 6:00 by a 12 year old girl demanding food.

Last night I was:
listening to punk rock music while compiling a mix CD and discussing what the Punk Rock book cover should look like.

There’s this guy I know who:
can fix anything, after a lot of cussing and spitting, but in the end, it will be fixed.

If I was an animal I’d be a:
a cat

A better name for me would be:
The Queen of Swords. Can't seem to get away from that.

Tomorrow I am:
celebrating my brother's birthday

Tonight I am:
sleeping just as soon as the child passes out for good.

My birthday is:
in February.