Cher-Roll

This is a story about three sisters of the WC fold and how they met one stormy, Providential evening. Some of these details are foggy, but I'm sure the errors will be highlighted by the story characters and so I offer no apologies. No embellishment needed.

It was an exceptionally humid early May afternoon, 2003. I drove home from work, moo-ed my pregnant self up the 3 flights of stairs, opened the door to our apartment, and plopped down on our gross country blue couch, hoping my water would break and I would be done with "the internal haul".  No such luck.

At some point near the end of the 5 o'clock hour, the tornado sirens blasted and many of us Glen Arlo residents found ourselves in the steamy basement laundry space, seeking shelter from the storm. It was there that Daphne and myself, sharing some Dove chocolate sqaures and laughing louder than we should have been, given the situation, were graced with the presence of the one and only, Cheryl Dyer, extraordinaire (I do believe Kyle was present as well).

Cheryl happened to be fairly pregnant herself and was at the GA taking some birthing classes with the nexus of GA unity, Monica Brasile. The entire class was continuing their studies in the basement and there was quite an interesting discussion about natural birthing stuff...Daphne and I, however, were unaware that the course instruction was continuing. So we kept scarfing chocolates and cackling with Tim the neighbor.

Here's the great thing: Monica had told me a million times that Jay and I would love this couple that she knew.  However, being so crazy in love and totally focused on each other, we never followed through on that "lead"...and it just so happens that she was talking about THE LOVELY DYER FAMILY. 

One of my favorite memories: We were spending a pretty quiet (read: BORING) evening at home shortly after the birth of Annabelle. There was a knock at the door and it was Kyle, Cheryl, and sweet [so cute!] Linus paying us a visit. We sat in the dark family room, nursing our babies and making small talk. It wasn't anything too crazy, but something shared and delicate. 

Thus began the friendship that is what it is today--two women that skinny dip any chance the get. Er, um, two women that sell knock-off Oakley's at small town carnivals. Er, um, two friends that jazzercise together til they can't stand up.  Or maybe the kind of friendship that could be any one of those...but only the skinny dipping at night. 

precursor

stompin' our feet on the wooden floors

ali and i are working on a video swap. here's my contribution, in our garage, during nap time. (ps: i took 3 takes to get it like this. in that 14 minute time span, chaos developed in our home. well worth it, though).

so the audio file is traveling to ali. she'll add. then we'll mix 'em up. just doesn't feel the same, though. i miss that static crazy dusk energy. wah wah.

the long awaited arrival

Alright you beautiful ladies,

1. click on link in this post

2. click pedro's derriere

3. click the slideshow button

4. Light a cigar/clove & enjoy!

a who cares history: caron

so, how'd we all meet each other? our founder caron should certainly be the first to focus on in the history of who cares.

i met caron in something like 1997 when she went to asbury college. i was visiting chris and phileena in their little studio apartment in wilmore. it was a really cool place with brick and rough floors and the 'bedroom' in a loft. caron was at their place when i arrived, i believe. she was with her then boyfriend matt ammerman. i think they were up in the loft area with caron's sister cathy, too.

first thing matt said to me was 'you look like that girl from point of grace'. caron laughed her laugh and said something smart to matt to diffuse it. i liked her right away. we became friends, or as friendly as you can be in an hour or so. i wish i could remember what we talked about -- if we were funny or serious or awkward. at the time i didn't know i was in the presence of one of my all-time favorite people!

a while after i went back to CA she once sent me an email about a rich mullens song she had been listening to in the car with her sister -- kinda out of the blue. i liked that. she also sent me some $$ for my first trip to india. another out of nowhere moment. i hardly knew her! i dont think we kept in touch really. but when i moved to omaha, she recommended the glen arlo and i took the apartment sight unseen. caron had left a can of generic salmon on the window as a welcome gift. and some gummi worms or something. come to think of it, how'd she get in????

the first weekend i was in town i ran into caron and jay and caleb in the parking lot. my friend rebecca had just gone home and i was sad, going up to a lonely apt full of boxes. they were on their way to dinner at the dell with caleb to wish him bon voyage to minneapolis...but that's another story of two proverbial ships, passing in the dying dundee light.

Bye-Bye

Trovato's will be closing shop this week.

While I am not entirely sure that I am sad (as I'm not the biggest fan of the food), it is awful to see another empty place in the neighborhood.

You can find out more here

six degrees (or less) of separation

Bad hair day today. I hid it under a 15-year-old bandana that I remember purchasing for a Workcamp (sounds like jail? more like youth group, cross-country Habitat for Humanity) in high school. I remember who was there, and I remember another Workcamp I went on where a hip gal named Caron was a youth leader. Then I started drawing all these connections from the current Whocaresians to past near-encounters. This could be a Craigslist 'missed connections' post; or, as I like to call it:

So Much Past Inside My Present
(My Back-Roads Journey to Whocares)

1. Workcamp, 1995: Lafayette, Louisiana. Going into my freshman year of high school. Among the group going were a couple of hip chicks named Dawn Bailey and Audra Coppock. They wore matching clunky shoes. Probably Doc Martens, but they were sparkly. I thought that was so cutting edge. (I have a photo somewhere of those two in said shoes.)

2. Workcamp, 1997: Rocky Boy, Montana. I was a junior in high school. Caron Smith seranaded the crowd with a duet (accompanied by our youth pastor) of "This World" by Caedmon's Call. She was so hip, quiet and brooding. I don't think I even said a word to her, as evidenced by her not even remembering I was on the trip. We did, however, both have a crush on Doug Chambers. (I may have a photo of her breakout performance.)

3. Terra Nova Retreat, circa 2002. This tall, thin and gorgeous girl named Daphne (who wore a cool hat) bummed a ride from my roommate, Jane, last-minute. Jane thought she was really neat. I think Chris Heuertz was the speaker for that weekend. Everything he said was over my head, becuase I was only half-listening, as I was way too preoccupied with the new ring on my left hand. Oops.

4. Junior High Summer Camp, 1992: L-Bar-C Camp, Kansas. Speaking of Chris, he was one of the youth leaders for this group of awkward adolescents. He wore a hooded poncho thingy that looked like it was made from a Mexican blanket, flip flops before they were back in style and still called 'thongs', and always had a cup of coffee in hand. (I have a great photo of this somewhere too.)

5. Eighth grade, 1993-1994: I remember sometimes carpooling with the Whealy family to school. Andrew was in my math class, and knew all the answers. Everyone thought he would swim in the Olympics. Our class did secret santas that year, and he was mine. I got impostor cologne. (Come to think of it, my mom was in BSF with Brenda. Mom was my age when she did BSF. Wow.)

6. Michael and I have fond memories of listening to Alicia's dad perform the 'special music' in church on Sundays when we were younger. We always thought he had an amazing vibrato. I always wondered if he sang in the opera.

That's all I got, right off the top of my head. Anybody else have a blast from the Whocares past?

my little secret to cleanliness

kill your tv, seriously

slate.com just published a rather shocking article about new evidence of a connection between babies/toddlers watching tv and autism. i'm not into fear-mongering or alarmist parent-alerts, but this one got my attention.

http://www.slate.com/id/2151538/

and a link to another organization concerned about this:

http://www.whitedot.org/issue/iss_front.asp

home-edumacated

since there are enough of us interested in the idea of home-education, i've decided to start regularly posting with nourishing passages from the books i'm reading on home-schooling.

"Although we should give a child access to varied creative work by other people, how about seeing that he grows up with as much daily access as possible to his Lord's created works? The Bible is a direct verbal word. But we have a place also for other ways of knowing Him, for 'the heavens declare the glory of God.'

Do children know the feel of dew-fresh grass on their bare feet, and lush freshness of the shade of a leafy tree on a hot afternoon? Do they know the fun of autumn leaves, and the fairy-tale beauty of an icy morning? Wherever the child lives, we should consider his contact with nature as part of his life." p85, For the Children's Sake, S. Schaeffer Macaulay

our cracking bones make noise

Last night we went to see Dave Matthews (check #2 off my list of 3 arena concerts to see before I die), which is a story in itself...anyway, when we got there we caught the last part of Ingrid Michaelson's opening set - and I recognized her song "Overboard" from the Feist Pandora station I am partial to. She's kind of indie-pop, wears glasses (which reminds me of Lisa Loeb, although less retro), is more pop than Feist (in my opinion), but fun summer music, nonetheless. I also adore the melody to her song "Breakable" - also heard on my Feist station. I was surprised to see her opening for DMB, even more surprised that I recognized a few of her songs (I felt like such an audiophile!) and I really recommend you check her out! (click title for website)

Just another way Feist is saving my musical bacon this summer.

this can't be.

someone recently told me that polaroid was discontinuing production of instant film, but i guess i thought that was a myth or mistake.  sure enough, most instant polaroid film will be out of supply by late 2009.  i'm pretty sad about this, as i have 2 polaroid camera that i've used extensively over the past 6 years of ownership.  boo.  better sell them on ebay while i've got a chance!!  

i got a fever...

and the only prescription is WC WEEKEND PHOTOS!!! (please)

Book Signing: Chris Heuertz

Chris Heuertz, WMF executive director (AND my friend and neighbor), has written his first book -- it's called Simple Spirituality. I read it in one day and loved it -- he did a really great job with it!

Chris will be doing a book signing at Soul Desires bookshop in the Old Market this Wednesday 12-2pm and 4-7pm. Come on out! I'm gonna be there.

Check out the press release or Amazon for more info about the book.

cheap tricks

i was browsing the domino website, looking for low-cost/diy decorating ideas, and discovered that they have a whole gallery of such ideas submitted by their readers. some were especially good. cheap. easy. my kind of deal.

PEPFAR Victory

Thank you to any and all of you who may have called on this issue ...

From the ONE.org website:

After weeks of ONE Campaign members relentlessly writing and calling their senators, and great work by so many partner organizations, we’ve successfully unstuck billions of dollars in AIDS, TB and malaria funding tonight!
We dodged several potentially devastating amendments over the last 2 days - pieces of legislation that would have put millions of lives at risk. We did lose one amendment-fight, however, so the total funding for PEPFAR for the next five years will now be $48 billion, instead of the original $50 billion.
After tonight’s successful Senate vote, the bill will go back to the House and then onto the president to sign. We are hopeful those processes will be swift.
Given how much we had to fight to reauthorize this bill this year- this is a great victory for us. Thank you to everyone who contacted their members of Congress to pass PEPFAR. Literally, millions of lives will be saved with this funding.
Below, a quote from our Legislative Director Tom Hart:
“Even as Americans face serious concerns at home, the Senate has proved America’s commitment to providing lifesaving medicines to the world’s most vulnerable people. PEPFAR is an investment in people around the world; but it is also an example of America’s generosity and a critical piece of American diplomacy. By treating and preventing disease and saving lives, we can help to create more stable communities and a more secure future for Americans.
Senators Biden, Lugar and Reid are true heroes for their persistence and patience in passing this bill. This legislation received strong support from co-sponsoring Senators on both sides of the aisle, including both Presidential candidates.”

bag lady/vote/sauce/trip/hand off

***i have some reusable grocery sacks. i'd like to use them rather than stash hundreds of plastic kroger sacks under the kitchen sink.  but how?  if you do this...what's your routine? it already seems like my arms are full of children/list/purse full of snacks/etc.

***we already have whocares and whocarescooks...how about who cares votes? i know the perfect person to run a little blog that offers tips on being involved in the political process.  or edit the "who cares" for "omaha" or something that reaches a wider audience? mm?  any seconds?

***speaking of seconds, i made "dyer's favorite red sauce" last night and it was sooo very good. 

***perhaps one year we should use our profits from the crowded house sale to offset costs and go to my parent's condo in florida.

***if you are interested in beautifying the whocares page, let me know. i'll add you as administrator and you can do as you will.  DELEGATION!! 

i love you all. happy friday. we are making homemade ice cream tonight. the owner of ted & wally's gave us an ice cream maker for our wedding...we're just now trying it out.  

Love In This Club (Performed by Showbiz Pizza Band)

sort of like the birthday parties of old...but sort of not...

another feist fan

hey do you omaha craft mafia ladies know jen altman? i subscribe to her blog nectar and light for the fabulous photo inspiration and saw her featured on a design*sponge 'in the kitchen with' feature a bit ago. 

today i was reading this post on her blog about "feist in memorial park" ...  !?  ... started putting two and two together .... she lives in omaha!? what?!

finley hearts feist

there's no question that finley was lovin feist the other night. he danced the night away...all the way through the end of the encore! so there is no doubt he will dig this when it hits the tube.

washer/dryer??

hey everyone...
anyone need a washer and dryer?
the washer is older but works great. this would be free to whoever wants it. it's a maytag.
the dryer is only 3 years old and is AWESOME. we bought it for around $350, and would sell it for around $200. i forget what brand it is, but we bought it at sears, and i love it! but we aren't going to be needing it, and don't want to move it.

need to be picked up before next tuesday, or on tuesday, since we will be there!

(by the way, we sold our house, pending fha inspection... we will be packing up next tuesday if you want to stop on by! it has been a speedy process, accepted the junko offer last week, and are closing the 23rd! wowsa.)

while you were sleeping

lindsay and cheryl are snoring so i can't sleep. i googled "big leg" to post a picture alluding to a funny joke from the weekend, but all i came up with was a musician named "big leg emma". wow. my alarm will go off in 3.5 hours. i will ride back to illinois, still not quite believing that a weekend can be so full of depth and laughter and...talent?! i'm still thinking about a particular dance that happened on friday night, "did that really happen?".

to do list once i get home:
1. call my local senator.
2. make hummus and practice multi-tasking ala cher-roll.
3. figure out what "sea lion woman" MEANS!
4. buy "fox in socks"
5. purchase loofah and soap. "test" good hygiene for 1 month. see if i like it.
6. put stuff in NEW WALLET!!
7. find strong coffee, ala brooke's miracle brew.

i love you all so much. thanks for getting my tired self here. you....complete me.
hahahhahahaahaha. nothing like cackling quietly to yourself.

Why I Love My Banjo

Before today, I already loved my banjo. It's sweet and I love it. But, after today, I love my banjo even more. It turns out that my banjo has superpowers. Yes. Superpowers.

Today my banjo allowed me to walk into an intimidating music shop and not feel like the dumb kid. In fact, it gave me an unexpected kind of music-world street cred. No one cared or asked if I could actually play the thing (thankfully), but they did gather 'round and admire it. Caress it. Play it.

And, because the sometimes-intimidating sales folk were all enamored with my hero--my banjo--I could get what I needed and ask what I wanted to with confidence.

I just may carry my banjo everywhere I go from now on.

I found good coffee in Omaha!!!

Guys, I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. The kids and I were driving thru Benson today and on a whim stopped at "Sweet Georgine's" It is only 12 weeks old and though it has cool signs in the window, it is still adorned with the blazing "Benson Bakery" sign above the store front.

Anyway, the coffee is FRESH, roasted by a roaster in Lincoln and it is brewed the correct strength. Plus, they make wonderful goodies, breads, pastries from *real* ingredients-- not mixes-- many ingredients are from local sources. They also serve yummy looking panini sandwiches.

I promise I'm not being paid off by the owners, I'm really just this excited.

feel the Feist

it's gonna be 82 and partly cloudy on Saturday night. could it get any more perfect for an evening concert in the park? oh yes, it could, 'cause we have a smashingly delish dinner-al-fresco planned!

I AM SO EXCITED! here's something to wet your whistle...prime the pump, if you will (snort, giggle):

Free to good home.

Two new in-the-package USB cables. Call me if ya want one.

Whocares Weekend: 3 days to go

Festivites are to begin at 7:30 pm at Brooke's House. Hopefully you all received an e-mail from our hostess with her address and list of things to bring included. If you did not receive this for any reason, and don't know where you are going, contact any one of us and we will get you there!!!

Remember: Bring sheets for those bringing air mattresses, bring towels, lawn chairs, and last but not least, your talent!

See you ladies soon!!!

Joe Cocker gets lost in translation...

some of you know austin. he sent me this clip and it gave me a nice hearty laugh. let the endorphins flow.

want to go to the film streams party?

the whocares weekend happens to correspond with film streams feature, an event with alexander payne and laura dern as the keynotes. my civic-minded in-laws sponsored a table and asked me to invite any guests who might like to come, and i thought of YOU ALL immediately. it's on sunday night, and it would be a great way to wrap up the weekend. the table seats ten, which should be about enough for our group (or whoever would like to come). free entertainment, good food, and one more reason to hang out just a little longer...

On Sunday, July 13, 2008, Film Streams heads to the Holland Center, where Academy Award-winning director and Film Streams Board Member Alexander Payne will share the concert-hall stage with acclaimed actress Laura Dern for a conversation about her career and select clips from her movies.

EVENT DETAILS
What: A fundraiser in support of Film Streams, featuring Oscar-winning director Alexander Payne and acclaimed actress Laura Dern.
Date: Sunday, July 13, 2008
Time: Cocktails (5:30pm), Dinner (6:30pm), Presentation (8:00pm)
Place: Holland Performing Arts Center (13th & Douglas)

in search of: r&r with bff's

ISO: relaxing get-away with plenty of good friends, lounging around, cackling in that old way, tasting homemade eats, lingering at favorite restaurants, walking familiar streets (catching glimpses of ghosts), being in the same room with the nearest and dearest. deadline: 1 week.

We Celebrated...

in right Canadian fashion too.

Local photographers capture last Friday's storm + Saddlecreek

Scary stuff.  (Oops - can't believe I forgot the Saddlecreek photos when I posted this earlier... and thus where the road must have acquired its' name "Saddle Creek")