Monthly Archives: May 2013

(Community Matters) Kudos to the Boy Scouts of America for lifting their ban on gay scouts. Of course, I would liked to have seen the ban on gay adult leaders lifted too, and this is an important, monumental first step. AAS 

(Community Matters) ughhh, happened again. I have 3 of the same black linen shirts and all are missing. I know exactly what’s going on. Blanca sometimes hides my stuff. So, today I’m hiding her check among the cleaning supplies – where she’s sure to never look.

Blanca has worked with us for nearly 14 years. She demands paid time off, bonuses, Christmas gifts and to be paid even the weeks when we’re away (which these days are many) – plus she takes off Mondays whenever she feels like it.

She’s great and we drive each other crazy – sorta for entertainment. Scares the heck out of Steven. He stays far away from of our antics – but we lasso him in from time to time.

On Monday, I told him I’d attributed a complaint about her to him. Come to think about it, that might be why this unexpected Wed night/Thurs trip to Baltimore came about. He’s such a chicken.

Hey, don’t judge me as the bad one – she does this too. She routinely reinforces his world vision – telling him things like how when I’m away she has almost no work because he is so clean, neat and orderly.

(Community Matters) Enjoyed last night’s Blue Lapis Light performance, and Graham Reynolds’ opening. Steven, Lisa Saunders and I attended. The weather threatened the performance right up to the moment they began. As it turns out, just the right amount of wind and ominous sky makes a perfect setting. The duet and the column dances at the end were especially crowd pleasers. Sally Jacques and Nicole Whiteside choreographed many pieces that show off every aspect of their work (a little bit the kitchen sink but it works).

(Community Matters) I’ve been hearing Eric Garcetti will be a really big deal. The first part of this prediction has come true – congratulations LA Mayor-elect Garcetti.

(Community Matters) Unbelievable devastation in Moore, OK, from the 2-mile wide tornado. Spoke with Carol Tomlinson yesterday and they were safe in Shawnee, where two people died in tornado damage on Sunday. Lots of family all around the state but luckily they are all safe. Not so, unfortunately, for the 50 residents of Moore, OK who were killed and hundreds of others injured.

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(Community Matters) Wow, very interesting lunch. First, I’d been mentally preparing on how best to constructively engage a young man from a visible Republican family – and I wanted to learn where he stood on important social issues. I arrived at lunch early, and wouldn’t you just know it, there sat Karl Rove and about 12 highly-engaged Texas Republicans at the next table. When the young man arrived, I was feeling a little behind enemy lines. I’d already been struggling not to be rude & eavesdrop.

Turns out the young man (& his family) are very, socially progressive. And, the young man and I probably have a lot more in common than what might separate us. So glad I pushed this envelope. I probably need to do this more often – even if it isn’t always comfortable. And, yes it does go better with thoughtful preparation. Imagining you’re likely to agree on many values & principles and framing the conversation from there is usually a good start.

(Community Matters) Celebrated Dad’s 78th birthday at Hudson’s on the Bend Restaurant with Mom, Steven & Michael Mitchell.

Corrected. 78 years old. I’d written 88

(Community Matters) It was St James Day. Steven’s been a member 24 years, me 14. We’re a multicultural, inclusive community.

(Community Matters) Friday night at Olive & June, beautiful star-lit celebration for the incomparable Suzanne Winkelman. There’s an aura around this beautiful woman who makes everyone smile.

(Community Matters) Interesting to read about Gallup’s review, learning how they got the presidential race so wrong. They’re publicly releasing their report next month but some of the preview includes:

• how they ask about race makes a difference – appears yes or no doesn’t work as well as allowing respondents to choose more than one answer (& since they extrapolate and model sample results in part based on race, this can significantly impact modeled results)
• In the future traditional polling could be supplemented by non-probability data, administrative data, social media data.

Huff Post

(Community Matters) A little college graduation party at the house last night for our godson Austin Knaplund. His mamma, our adopted sister, Janet Maykus handled all the heavy lifting. Austin’s girlfriend, Caitlin Mickey, in from Vanderbilt, where she’s pursuing a PhD in audiology. Funny how there’s always that one lifelong friend who feels like a godkid as well – in Austin’s case it’s Isaac Winburne. He’s hitting the road for a couple of months with Mother Falcon. We’re gonna connect in the city; I promised the buy the band a good dinner.

Lots of their great friends here kinda late, and we had fun. Austin’s hoping for an international medical aid internship before medical school next year

(Community Matters) Our gardener recommends this

http://www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerilla_gardener_in_south_central_la.html