supporting the arts

Happy holidays friends & family!

Most of you know that I am a company member with dog & pony dc, a small non-profit theater company based here in Washington DC. I love working with this talented group of artists as we challenge the traditional theater experience of presenting a show to a passive audience. Instead, we devise our own plays and explore different ways to integrate and involve the audience in our production process. We've had an exciting year which included a run of Beertown off-broadway, the premier of a new show, TOAST, and the beginning stages of development for our next show, Squares. But not only is this an incredible ensemble, it is also a mama-friendly company that allows me to be involved to the extent that I can as a stay-at-home mom. When we toured to Beertown in New York City there was total support of me bringing along my entire family for the ride; dog & pony dc is a model for a family friendly work place and that means a lot to me as an artist and as a mama.

I'm sure you've received a plethora of requests for end-of-the-year charitable giving and no doubt you have your favorite causes you support, but I'm writing to ask you to consider donating a small (or large!) amount to dog & pony dc. Asking others for money is always a bit awkward, but I believe strongly in community support of art. Good art can be transformative and sharing our stories is an important way we connect with each other. 

Next year is another big year for dog & pony dc and we need your help in reaching our fundraising goals. Not only that, but a group of donors has pledged to match any donations up to $10,000! I've committed to raising $1000 for the company and I would be so grateful if you could help me reach that goal. Any amount would be appreciated; simply follow this link to a secure site to donate online. You can also pay through your work's charitable giving program, which is especially nice if they match your donation!

Whether you donate or not, please accept my wishes for a warm and happy holiday. Our Christmas will be especially sweet this year as we just welcomed our fourth child - baby boy Truman - last Thursday morning. It was a home birth (our first) and we have been enjoying our time together as a family of six while we adjust to life with a new baby. 

Hope your holidays are just as sweet and thanks in advance for your support!

yarn along: hats for hope

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for the regular Wednesday Yarn Along!

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ~ Ginny Sheller from Small Things

Knitting

Though it pains me to put aside the sweater I've been working on forever, I want to get involved in a new project close to my heart. My congregation has committed to making 500 hats for the oncology ward of Children's Hospital here in DC and our deadline is mid-March. They especially need hats for 8-13 year-old boys and girls, so I chose a fun slouchy hat pattern from Coco Knits. I've just cast on, but I think I can finish it in the next few days. Making 500 hats is a daunting task... perhaps you knitters/crocheters out there would like to help out? I've found that yarn lovers are a warm-hearted, giving bunch and I was hoping I could enlist you to contribute a few hats to our collection. There aren't many guidelines except that hats must be brand new, never worn, and preferably handmade. The hospital prefers handmade because these very sick kids enjoy seeing something made especially for them! Any type of yarn or pattern is okay (there are lots of free hat patterns on Ravelry). I can't really imagine what it must be like for these kids to have to face something as scary as cancer, but I hope that having a hat made with love just for them will help in some little way.

If you have the time and would like to contribute, please, please please do! Let me know if you're interested or have questions—I can pick up hats from locals and I can provide my mailing address for people far away. What a sweet way for our community to come together for a special cause!

Books

Mayumi is really into chapter books now, so we've been reading the American Girl, Little House and Betsy-Tacy books - whatever we can get our hands on through the library or thrift store. It's been wonderful revisiting the Little House series. As for me, I've started reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.  Her description of Chinese foot binding starting at six years old was heartbreaking. I understand there was an inspired-by-the-book movie made a few years ago and I just requested it from the library... we'll see how that is. I know I'm painfully slow at finishing anything nowadays, so it may be a while before I make it through this book. Making hats is my creative priority right now!

inaugural thoughts

Four years ago, despite the almost crippling cold, PapaQ and I bundled up our one year-old daughter and headed out to the national mall to watch Barack Obama be sworn in as president of the United States.

Inauguration Day 2009

This year we stayed in. We love the excitement of being there live, but we also love the ease and convenience of watching it on TV in a warm house.

Despite living in Washington DC, where it can sometimes seem that politics are a way of living, I'm sometimes embarrassed that I don't know much about policy, economics or other politically savvy subjects. Many of the people I know work for the government or for a particular senator or congressperson. PapaQ himself is a civil servant (and despite how easy it is to criticize the waste and redundancy in the government, the people I know who work for Uncle Sam are honest, hard-working, capable, if not brilliant, employees. PapaQ supervises a barebones staff and is still expected to move mountains... and by-and-large he does). Our friends (and family) span the political spectrum and I'm always learning new things from them. But despite differing beliefs I think we all just want what is best for our families and for our country and we're doing what we can to make that happen.

I think the president's inaugural speech touched on some of those things. Some of my favorite excerpts:

We recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names.  What makes us exceptional – what makes us American – is our allegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago:“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”...
We know that America thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work; when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brink of hardship.  We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American, she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own...
...we must be a source of hope to the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the victims of prejudice – not out of mere charity, but because peace in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that our common creed describes:  tolerance and opportunity; human dignity and justice. 

But let's be honest, my favorite part was my Obama Cake Redux. A sweet way to start the next four years!

Obams cake 2009

Obama Cake Redux 2013

This is a cake fantasize about. Our absolute favorite chocolate cake (from Barefoot Contessa Home cookbook). I had quite forgotten about Obama cake though until later in the day and I kind of threw this together. I didn't have enough cream cheese to frost the entire cake, so the filling is cream cheese frosting and the outside is simple whipped cream. But, ohhhh, we really like it. 
Happy Inauguration Day everyone.

circle of friends

When we arrived at Eastern Market last Saturday to meet some friends for breakfast, I was struck by how incredibly lucky we are to have a community of people here whom we love and respect. Who we can laugh and cry with, who we trust with our kids, who we can ask for advice, and who inspire and awe us. And who are forgiving when we admit the shocking truth that this is the first time we've had the famous pancakes at Eastern Market (and yes, they were wonderful!). 

After catching up, stuffing our faces, and watching our kids roll around on the ground, we went our separate ways for the day, stopping to pick up a few things among the market stalls. A beautiful day on Capitol Hill. My cup runneth over...

good citizens

We went for our first foray outside the house today... to VOTE! 

Bundled the babes up in the double stroller ($20 from the thrift store) and big sister Mayumi was excited to push it (with Dad's help ) the few blocks to our voting locale. 

Beautiful, brisk autumn day. No lines to wait in. Hope for the future...

You're never too young to practice good citizenship!

Double Your Red Cross Donation for Japan Relief on Living Social

MamaQ's last post helped to jog my memory that you can turn a $5 Red Cross donation for the Japanese quake and tsunami victims into $10 through Living Social HERE. Living Social is a group buying site similar to Groupon where you get daily deals delivered to your e-mail. I think it is so great when these deal sites can give us extra incentive to be charitable and make your donation go a little bit further. I think that this donation matching deal is only live for one more day so I hope you can dig in your pockets a little and get the most bang for your buck!

Prayers for Japan

Despite the anxiety and grief, it has been inspiring to observe how the tragedy in Japan has united so many people and brought out their humanity. Besides watching how the people of Japan are facing their situations with such grace and dignity, people all around the world are exhibiting compassion and contributing in any way they can.

Alicia Paulsen over at Posie Gets Cozy has compiled a list of various artists and crafters who are donating proceeeds to the relief effort. Handmade for Japan is holding an online auction to raise funds. People are donating to the Red Cross in hopes that even a small amount will be able to help somewhere.

And if you want to help, too, perhaps you would consider this small request. On Friday I received an email from my mother, who is living in Niigata prefecture on the west coast of Honshu. Though her area was relatively unaffected, the disaster has impacted all Japanese life and psyche. Her aunt and uncle live in Sendai and thankfully have survived, but now face a lack of supplies, gas, power and uncertain nuclear blowout. So her request seems like something we could all do:

Dear my friends,

I was asked to send this request to friends and families in USA to join the prayer, if you like. One sister in Japan suggested to pray (possibly fast also) at 9am on 20th of March for the affected people by last week's earthquake and Tsunami.
So many people lost their family member(s) and everything they had. And most likely, house insurance they have won't cover their damage, if they don't have a earthquake insurance. Many elderly people has been dying at evacuated places. There's not enough kerosene for their stove and not enough water and other stuff.
Thank you and I hope that forwarding this request is not offending any of you.

We believe in the power of prayer, particularly the collective power of prayer. We would be honored if you would join us in this hopeful act of faith, this gesture of solidarity, this collaborative effort. Let's pray for the people of Japan.

Bystanders

History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Back in January I heard a piece by Michel Martin on NPR about the dilemma of the bystander and I found myself a bit disturbed. She described an incident where a man was attacked on the Metro platform by two teenagers who just started beating him up for no apparent reason. There were other people there who witnessed the event, but no one stepped in to assist or call for help. I was appalled and then I choked up a bit and wondered what I would've done if I were in that situation. I'd like to think I would have yelled at the kids to stop it, or I would've run up to the Metro kiosk to request help or police assistance. I think I would, but I also know that I am much more loath to get involved in anything remotely dangerous when I have my daughter with me.

But the story stuck with me and I found myself bringing it up with everyone I talked to that week. I asked Mr. Q what he would've done if he were there and without hesitation he announced that he definitely would've stepped in to break up the fight. Which is no surprise considering he has stepped into fights before and he is the first one to speak up when he sees something unethical or suspicious going on. I love him for that (and for many other reasons, too).

When I brought it up with a group of girlfriends my friend Kimber (who also blogs with her sisters here) related a story when she was in line at the supermarket (with her baby) and witnessed a man verbally berating a small child and then threaten to physically "whip him." When he began to remove his belt Kimber piped up (something to the tune of), "Oh no, you are not going to hit that child." An argument ensued about whether or not this was any of her business, during which Kimber promptly called the police. But the store was packed with people and NO ONE else said anything to back her up.

My friend Suzanne once saw a group of teenagers beating up on another kid and when she called out to them to stop it or she would call the police, the kids turned on her. Despite the fact that she was out for a walk with her child in the stroller they hit her in the face and stole her cell phone.

So, to speak up or to stay silent? It can be a tough call to make, especially when you're with your child and your primary responsibility is to keep that child safe. But what are we teaching our children when we don't speak up and stand up for what is right? What kind of community are we living in when we aren't helping each other? I'm grateful to have such brave friends and family around me and I can only hope that when I'm in a similar situation (I hope and pray I never am!) that I will have the moral courage and clarity of thinking to make the best choice.

Back to the Earth

During these cold winter months I miss gardening; I miss talking to my worms and digging my hands through rich brown soil.  I miss participating in the growth cycle of all sorts of different plants and I miss benefitting from their growth - the fresh-cut flowers, the vegetables, the cheerful greenery...

But I'll settle for these encouraging articles about other people enjoying the process! I love these kinds of stories of people who are expanding their lives to include more conscientious lifestyle choices and community building. And I'll also settle for the scrumptious act of dreaming and planning what will be peeking through my dirt come spring.

Good bye January... hurry up and come spring! I'm ready for you!