Poetry from the 3:15 Experiment: August 3, 2009
August 3, 2009 3:15am
where does it start &
where does it end?
The baby sighs, snores
the fountain purrs
a car on the freeway
over ocean tide
no blare of fog horn
tells me sky is clear
the moon waxing near full
would cast enough light
to write this night if
I trusted I’d stay awake
Well, the moon is once again waxing full–it will be full tomorrow December 1. But I wrote this poem in August at 3:15am as part of the 3:15 Experiment 2009. Find out more here about the experiment and read poems from participants from around the world.
Ride the Poetry Train here.
Thankful for the Ventura Bicycle Union & Coop: learn how to fix a drivetrain Dec. 1!
The date is actually Dec. 1 (changed from Dec. 3 which is the Black Tie Ride in Santa Barbara).
Thankful for fresh snow on my tongue: Lake Tahoe’s Northstar
We didn’t make it to the Critical Mass ride in San Francisco as planned. A snow storm on I-80 made chains required, traffic awful, and rain likely for SF–a combination of factors which encouraged us to pull off I-80 at Highway 267 to check out Northstar as the traffic slowed near Truckee.
My iPhone had already shown us that traffic was not great for I-80 going West and the traffic looked mostly stopped heading East toward Tahoe from Sacramento. Sitting in that kind of a traffic jam didn’t seem like much of a vacation no matter how much we wanted to ride with the Critical Mass today.
So instead, we’re staying here at the Village at Northstar (stay and play deal got us a f=room in the village with 2 “free” lift tickets!) It’s been snowing steadily all afternoon and evening. I couldn’t tell you officially how many inches of snow fell, but informally, in places it came up to the small boy’s knees.
This was his first time to experience snowfall, Read more…
Thankful for bike rides: SF Critical Mass Takes Streets Last Friday, First Friday ArtRide Saves Santa Dec. 4
This Thanksgiving, Art Predator and family hope to hit the slopes at Lake Tahoe then the following day, drive to the SF Bay Area in time to join the Critical Mass ride. Meet up with us at the end of Market Street at 6pm–that’s where they meet every last Friday of the month.
I’ll be the one dressed as Mrs. Claus on a hot pink bikergo!
Join Us For First Friday ArtRides
Unlike Critical Mass rides in SF and cities around the world, ArtRide’s obey laws. We generate goodwill not ill will toward cyclists. With our costumes and lights, we make people smile rather than make mayhem. We show how much fun it is to ride bikes with friends new and old. And we get people out of their cars and to see art.
Meet 5:30pm Artists Union Gallery, CA St & Ventura Promenade
Ride 6pm To galleries & art studios around town
Socialize 8pm-10pm Ventura Visitor Center 101 So. CA St.
First Friday ArtRiders Thank Anacapa Brewery
for Frequently Donating Refreshments
More information: http://bikergogal.wordpress.com or here at https://artpredator.wordpress.com
Calling all Santas, Elves & Polar Bears: Save Santa Ride Dec. 4
starts 5pm Ventura College Telegraph & Day Rd,
travels Telegraph to Main,
arrives at the Artists Union before 6pm.
pdf here I hope… Santacon2(4)
Grateful for Snow: Early Season report from Squaw Valley
Early skiing in California is tricky. This is the first year in seven years that most of the resorts around Lake Tahoe had been open at all at Thanksgiving. Anything before Christmas is gravy. Even if a resort is open, how many lifts? How many runs? How much are they charging for limited skiing/
After our mixed experience the previous day at Boreal, we debated where to go next: Squaw Valley? Northstar? or somewhere else on the North side of Lake Tahoe? Read more…
Grateful for Snow: Lake Tahoe early season report–Boreal Ridge
We left Ventucky just before midnight and drove north all night, switching off between sleeping in the back of the van with the small boy and taking the wheel. At dawn, I pulled off and slept for an hour and the small boy read books and played. Then we were back on I-80 marveling at the fall color and more and more snow as we climbed higher into the Sierra.
We neared Donner Pass and Boreal Ridge ski area just before 9am. We pulled off to check it out and decide where to go to ski for the day. The parking attendant convinced us with a report of $39 for lift tickets but it turned out they’d upped the price to $49 for adults, and $15 for kids.
Even at $49 for a lift ticket–cheap by Tahoe standards, I doubt if I’ll ever return to Boreal Ridge. It was the first time I’d ever been skiing when I wished desperately for a helmet. Read more…
Thankful for writers: “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” Cynthia Ozick
One of my favorite cartoons, Mutts by Patrick McDonnell, offers this quote today by Cynthia Ozick: “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”
I take for granted the comics, I admit it. Mutts is one my special pleasures in life, so much so that I have bought several of his books like The Gift of Nothing and Hug Time and gifted them to friends. His work consistently reminds us to pay attention to the small joys of life. Here he is reading his book, Hug Time:
Native American poet/activist John Trudell and his band Bad Dog featuring Quiltman will perform in Ventura on Saturday, November 28th. Also performing will be Conjunto Zacamandu, Jarocho music from the region of Vera Cruz, Mexico: lively, upbeat, infectious music. Call (805) 258-1160 for more info.
I’m sorry to miss out but we’re heading for the mountains!
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Independent Lens . TRUDELL | PBS
… reveals the philosophy and motivations behind Native American activist and poet John Trudell’s work and its relationship to contemporary Indian history.
www.pbs.org/independentlens/trudell/
Blue Indians by John Trudell – Rhapsody Music
Listen to Blue Indians by John Trudell FREE on Rhapsody.com. … Bad Dog. 3. All Nite Cafe. 4. Toy. 5. Devil and Me. 6. Johnny and Joe. 7. Angel of Sin …
www.rhapsody.com/john–trudell/blue-indians–inside-recordings
Yes you could say I’m grateful for Burning Man aka the Black Rock City Arts Festival held every year over the Labor Day weekend. I’ve been grateful for its life changing experiences since my first Burn rocked my world back in 1992. I’ve burned 17 times now.
Why am I grateful for Burning Man? These galleries of giant panoramas by Brad Templeton might indicate why:
http://pic.templetons.com/brad/pano/bman09.html
http://pic.templetons.com/brad/pano/bestburn.html
http://pic.templetons.com/brad/pano/bigburn.html
Or consider PHILIPPE GLADE’S IMPRESSIVE GALLERY OF BURNING MAN ARCHITECTURE
http://thisisblackrockcity.blogspot.com/
Or SCOTT LONDON’S BEST OF BURNING MAN 2009 GALLERY http://www.scottlondon.com/bm09
Need a holiday gift for yourself or a loved one? Ticket Pre-Sale opened on Friday: http://tickets.burningman.com
Art Predator will see you there!
August 25, 2009 3:15am
My small boy starts
first grade tomorrow.
Already over my shoulder
he reads aloud
status updates on facebook, twitter
stumbling over the rare long word
in a context he can’t determine
or a punctuation mishmash.
This morning it really hit me
how well he can read
how grown up he is
how no matter how often he wails
owee & I want Momeeeee
he is no longer a baby.
Over the summer his face lost
its roundness, his stomach flat & taut.
He can dribble a soccer ball.
He can remember & manipulate
elaborate rules for games.
He is not afraid
to ride his bike in the street.
There is so much he can do now.
The world is huge and full for him.
I wrote this poem last summer at 3:15am as part of the 3:15 Experiment. It’s now Thanksgiving time. The small boy has had a birthday and is 6. I just returned from his conference with his teacher: he’s doing really well and reading at the third grade level. I’m proud of my small boy. I am grateful too that I will be spending Thanksgiving with him off having adventures in our VW van.
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving season?
For more poetry, catch the train! I’ve been a regular on it for over two years now! Wow! Thanks Gautami for keeping the train running and on time now for over a year!
art predator 