this one will be our peace

At The Garage, in Charlottesville, on Friday, starting at 4 PM: "This One Will Be Our Peace"-- an exploration of proclamations and coverings. This is my first attempt at an installation. So, let this be an experience in grace.

ARTIST STATEMENT

These banners explore a common language to name both the sacred and the profane. Rather than keeping our faults in the dark while esteeming our achievements, these praises and defeats acknowledge the co-existence of glory and mistake—to identify each as true. By abandoning the exclusive use of proclamation for celebration, these flags describe the character of both the sanctuary and the cul-de-sac, considering a way to lessen the margin between the church and daily life.

The garage's covering is the most bold and merciful layer. The knitting gracefully covers and triumphantly states its claim over both the exaltations and the faults of the space—or neighbor, community association, local church body, relatives, school board, self. “His banner over me is Love.”

In light of Advent, these banners find their roots in the redemption story. Though Israel abandoned the proclamations given by God to identify as His people, He still remembered His covenant and mercifully provided an everlasting covering—the Messiah. Woven through promised and fulfilled salvation, His ornament covers both the rebellion and performance of His people. This One will be our peace.

a high five

bicycling in nyc serves an alternative purpose:
http://www.todaysbigthing.com/2009/09/29

also, according to Natalie, this is what we call a "signpost to redemption."

bluegrass and breakfast

i am a statistic. i spent my college years thinking that Brooklyn or the North Shore could probably boast of a better breakfast joint. i graduated with hope in hand that my new life-after-college-neighborhood would hold for me a new home-made biscuit. i thought there'd be new locals and a different world on the horizon. i'm certainly no qualified breakfast boss, but i've tasted and seen some (and sometimes the "best of") only to conclude: Virginians, your hope remains on 2nd street.

Friend of a Farmer certainly has her french presses ready-to-order and her wallpaper nicely blanketing the wall and her griddles personal and simmering. but the salt on her home fries often slips to the bottom. and she requires a wait in the shivering plastic cold. and she was an hour away.

Kitchenette can boast of glass covered cake covers and weekend turnovers of different french toast specialties and doors-turned-into-tables. her kitschy decor makes you think that even your coffee might be polka-dotted. but her coffee is weak. and her wait is even longer, due to a staff that is seriously disgruntled (and not just locally so for flavor and "atmosphere"). and she commits the most serious morning-munch faux paux by staying open for... dare i say... dinner. we were faithful to her because she was like manna, falling at our doorstep when we were desperate for an early morning luxury.

however, according to housemates, there's just something about the tedious amount of painstaking concentration Bluegrass must've required to saw, place, and mantle tacky plastic covering over her country apple wallpaper in the glass building on 2nd st. she probably made those quilts that are crookedly spotted on the wall. her quality coffee makes thy cup overfloweth from her collection of mismatched mugs. her menu is simple, satisfying, and the same. her 1-2 hour wait is written by hand, and she only accepts cash for her hand-written tabs. there's something about not being open on Mondays that makes her mysterious enough to be "chased." she's fulfilling and full of friends. her hearty-ness makes her feel like family, like breakfast should be, and reminds her breakfast-buyer that... well... you might as well be home.

rock on, little high street.

i met my roommate's stuff before i met her. i peeked through the kitchen door and into her... vinyl collection. creepy? maybe.

julie's records are set in a plastic crate, a box identical to the one my parents have chosen to store their old tapes n' tapes. at age 23, julie's impression is made by the range of choosings: from niche findings (Breathe Owl Breathe) to more main-streamed indie likings (The National and Grizzly Bear) all the way to the classics (Emmylou Harris and Bob Dylan).

those examples are a very incomplete listing. the thickness of the stack implies that she's actually investing, rather than just picking up a trendy hobby. and you know hobbies are legit when research and mail orders become a sustainable part of your everyday life.

thankfully, she occupies the downstairs bedroom, where she can play house DJ after her 9-5 workday. we've vinyl-ly made a friend we can music-ly rely on.

Parks & Rec

my mom's new job is good for a lot of reasons. but it is mainly good for stories.

as a recently established Parks & Rec employee, Donna works for the Loudoun Area on Aging. every lunchtime hour brings a new scenario with the elderly to report to the rest of the elderly-loving Lovett family.

our favorite friend is a women with Alzheimer's who knows very well that she has Alzheimer's: Densy: "Hi, I'm Densy but don't tell me your name because I'll just forget it."

Of most recent, my mom brought the William Water's House home-baked cookies. When Densy was given some more to take to her room, one of her friends exclaimed, "Oh, Densy! You can eat those with your coffee!"
Densy: Breaking down in tears admitted, "I don't remember how to make coffee!"
Elderly friends: "It's OK! We all forget sometimes."
Densy: "I'm just so sorry. I'm acting like a baby!"
Elderly friends: "It's fine! You're not acting!"

My mom called to make sure that when she was older and forgot how to measure and stir, I would be there to help out. Upon hearing Densy's account, Natalie admitted that, despite working at a coffee shop and not having Alzheimer's, she too has no idea how to make coffee and can empathize with Densy's feelings of forgetfulness. Rest assured, I'm happy to provide.

Law & Order: SVU @ Crunch

a celebrity sighting update. Richard Belzer and I go to the same gym. He even wears those sunglasses when he works out. And yes, he still works out. We did crunches together.

Best Funeral Ever

i totally got April Fooled because of this. i seriously considered removing my membership. well done, IE.