(no subject)

This is what I'm doing today....

MEDIA ALERT

WHAT: Public Witness to Shine the Light
on Abuse of Detainees
WHEN: Tuesday, January 17, 12:00 pm
WHERE: Federal Plaza (corner of Adams and Dearborn
in downtown Chicago)
WHO: Christian Peacemaker Teams
WHY: To shine light on torture and abuse
of Iraqi detainees in our current
time of war.


In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and active witness against all forms of violence, members and supporters of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) will gather at Federal Plaza. Participants will engage in a silent vigil/dramatization: shining light on hooded detainees to illuminate the less visible attrocities of war and occupation. Passersby will be invited to sign a giant petition/postcard which a delegation will present to Senator Durbin’s office at the close of the vigil.

Photo Op: Hooded detainees standing on cartons, with participants shining light on them.

Christian Peacemaker Teams is a faith-based organization that supports efforts to reduce violence around the world. CPT has roots in the Mennonite Church, the Church of the Bretheren and the Religious Society of Friends, and includes members from Protestant and Catholic traditions.




*On a whim last week, I put myself on the "arrestable" list. I highly doubt the CD we're going to do will actually get us arrested, which is good, because I figured out that I really don't have the energy to get arrested. I'm a bad activist.

(note: the action itself will not place anyone present in the danger of being arrested, you can still show up on your lunch hour and show support if you're interested)

(no subject)

What I really want to do today...


Today is the kind of day where I'd really like a couch, a fuzzy blanket, a big dog and a book. Fireplace optional.

(no subject)

So no arrests today. It was really easy. Four of us went up and spoke with aides to Durbin and Obama, and they were very welcoming. Maybe I'm naive, and they were just smiling, nodding and zoning out, but whatever- I'm not complaining. Then the whole group went to Miller's Pub for lunch. Which apparently started as a joke during the planning session and ended up kind of embedded in the day.

I haven't gotten much actual work done today.


But in the car on the way to the post office, I heard The Surprise Symphony on the radio- or at least the movement with the recognizeable theme in it. It immediately catapulted me back to my childhood. I was once again three or four, and listening to my sister's group piano teacher play the theme for the class and explain the joke, and then again six, sitting in Suzuki group class. And on the way back to the office I heard John Adams' Short Ride on a Fast Machine, which I really get a kick out of. Then another piece of music came on that I recognized but couldn't place. As I thought about it, I realized I knew the melody- it was a small, classical orchestral piece- which made me wonder if it was a quartet where I had maybe played first violin, but that wasn't it either. Turns out it was a collection of Country Dances by Beethoven that has been stuffed in the back of one of the advanced viola Suzuki books. While I've never studied them- when I was done with book four, books 5, 6 and 7 didn't exist yet- I've played them, and could feel my fingers twitching with the appropriate fingerings while I was listening to it. Weird sensation, especially during the moments I couldn't exactly place it.

Made me feel reminiscent for my true music geek days. And because of this, I'm choosing my dancing viola icon.


I'm going home now. Or, maybe to Libby's, I don't know yet. Depends on how tired I am when the el hits the Chicago stop.



Bye.

Quote of the day:

Lori: Tell Libby next time I come over to work out not to have peanut brittle and chocolate out on the counter.

(no subject)

I'm going through one of those phases where I feel as if my Life Priority list needs a major overhaul.