June 2020 Donations

Color of Change

OUR MISSION
Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization.

We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by 1.7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America.

OUR WORK

Color of Change leads campaigns that build real power for Black communities. We challenge injustice, hold corporate and political leaders accountable, commission game-changing research on systems of inequality, and advance solutions for racial justice that can transform our world.

RACIAL JUSTICE: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
The forces that shape our lives are interrelated. We cannot end racism in one area without tackling it in all areas. Racist policing is propped up by racist media narratives on crime and justice. Political inequality is reinforced by economic inequality. Unlivable wages and unfair hiring practices make it easier for corporations to continue to exploit Black workers and consumers.

We design winning strategies to change the written and unwritten rules in the industries that affect Black people’s lives the most and have the greatest potential to advance racial justice.

Please join me in the Low Budget Philanthropy movement and help out your community and beyond in the simplest way - donating any amount to whatever charity or organisation that you care about!

May 2020 Books

Breakfast of Champions ¹ by Kurt Vonnegut - Eh.

* Slaughterhouse 5 ¹ by Kurt Vonnegut - I loved this book after first reading it back in college so I decided to check out the audiobook version with Ethan Hawke as the narrator. He did a good job of it but I somehow remember being so blown away by it all those years ago. Now I just found it depressing.

♥ Justice by Dominick Dunne - I just love this man's writing. He comes across as observant, as a man who listens, pays attention, and reports back to his readers all that he witnessed in the many court rooms in which he found himself present. I read this book somewhat out of order since I didn't want to read about Simpson. I decided to at least try and read the first article Mr. Dunne wrote that covered the trial. I was in my senior year of high school when Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman were killed and so I didn't really pay attention. All I remember was that Simpson came across as crazy and that he clearly murdered his ex-wife and her friend. The trial was everywhere and at the time all the grown ups would be talking about all the goings-ons in the courtroom. Names like Judge Ito, Kato, and the Brown and Goldman families were frequently overheard in conversations. To me it fell in to the category of politics - something "old" people talked about that wasn't relevant to me and my life. I do remember coming home to an empty house and turning the TV on and seeing when it was announced live that he had been found not guilty. Tears streamed down my face and I couldn't explain why. Reading Mr. Dunne's words and stories I can only think that from what I had gathered from conversations that swirled around me at that time, was that this person with the pathetic face on that television screen made me feel sad that he was getting away with it. That the families of those murdered did not receive justice. Like my father, I loathe injustice, and so did Mr. Dunne. This collection of articles made me sad and angry but I felt like it was a kindred spirit that conveyed these stories to me; someone who felt the same about the outcome of trials that went so terribly wrong. I am looking forward to my next collection of Vanity Fair articles, Fatal Charms and The Mansions of Limbo because it looks like there's some fun and uplifting reads and I get to skip over the trials of von Bülow and the Menendez brothers, since I read those already. Can't wait!

¹ - audiobook
² - abridged version
* - liked
♥ - loved
Any unmarked titles were, in my opinion, so-so.

More from Jaeden

Few people are as warm and thoughtful as Jaeden. He's always been a complete sweetheart and so caring. The fact that at age eighteen he has managed to save every card and postie I've sent him since he was probably about nine is nothing short of astonishing. It lets me know that Jaeden feels the same way about me as I do for him. He's just a wonderful human being and I miss him terribly. 

Vindicated

Maria Bamford has a new show! And I'm gonna see it.

Jackie Kashian opened and co-hosted the Q&A (which is still going on!) and was a stinkin' riot. Maria is adorable as only Maria can be and it was lots of fun!

Take-aways from Jackie:
Dumpster fire
I've gone back to the land.
Maybe you're into the Brawny guy, Swiss Miss, and a Gummy Bear. It's a squish mix.
Dangle genders

Maria:
You can mute me, I've certainly muted you.
An emotional weighted blanket.
Comics in the Richard Scarry universe
Zoombombers
Bleeding out and Dairy Queen
(Marilyn Bamford has stage four lung cancer - how awful!)

Maya's Cookies

Bishop told me about this cookie company that has vegan options. I was intrigued...then I saw that Maya's Cookies has vegan gluten free chocolate chip cookies and placed an order immediately. They are a small company so it's like I'm helping out the underdogs. I get to feel good about putting money into a person's wallet rather than big bid-ness, I get mail (YAY!! I love getting packages!!), and I also get cookies. It's win-win-win!

Here's some info on the company that I stole from their site:

Maya's Cookies... How it all began.

I love cookies! Frustrated with the lack of options for vegans like myself that want an old fashioned crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside chocolate chip cookie in stores, I began making them myself. Over the years I have been perfecting my vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe for my three sons and husband. I would bring my secret recipe cookies to my kid's schools for birthdays and special events. The kids would mob me, begging for more...true story! My cookies were becoming local celebrities among friends and families. "Wow, this is the best cookie I have ever tasted" - This was repeated over and over. After explaining that the cookies were not only delicious and addicting, but also VEGAN...I would almost have to catch them from fainting in disbelief. Maya's Cookies were born. Maya's cookies are so delicious because I use only the finest organic, premium whole food ingredients. These cookies are made in small batches and mixed by hand for a genuine homemade taste. I am proud to say that Maya's Cookies are 100% plant based, dairy free and cruelty free.

You are going to LOVE them!

Full review to come in a few weeks when I receive my wee little package. Hurray!

Sketches By Star

Here are some random things I drew and tacked up on my office bulletin board.

In the Heat of the Night

I'm re-reading (well, listening to, actually) Sidney Poitier's book The Measure of a Man which prompted me to look and see if In the Heat of the Night was streaming on any of the four streaming sites. Lo and behold it was on Amazon. I re-watched it and it's such a solid film. Then I saw that the 80s TV series with Carroll O'Connor was also available. Well, y'all know I love me some classic television, so I gave it a shot. Holy cow - it is so good! Some familiar faces (like Mariska Hargitay and Iman! Both of whom have not aged a minute.) and really just superb writing and acting. I just finished season two episode entitled A Trip Upstate, which was really phenomenal. Carroll O'Connor sports a plaid button down shirt like one my father would have worn. My dad loved to tell the story of the time he was walking in Center City Philadelphia when a black guy stopped him and said, "anyone ever tell you that you look like Archie Bunker?!" Papa Tom threw up his hands and said, "hey, man, I don't think like him!" At which the both of them broke into laughter. Needless to say, our entire family, extended included, just adore all things Carroll O'Connor and I can't believe it's taken me so long to discover this gem of a series.

(photo kidnapped from americanprofile)

Here's a text I sent to Xavier:

Pride Power

I wasn't super crazy about the Pride flag I saw last year with the brown and black stripes added, but only for aesthetic reasons. It just looked weird to me. Today I saw this and it is PERFECT! Classic Pride flag in the back, Transgender flag in a circle in the center then with the Black Power fist that features stripes of all colours. Baby, this is inclusive and just beautiful. I need this on a t-shirt like yesterday.

Belated Bday Giftie for Me!

Look at what lovely Miss Autumn sent me! A card for me, a super rad beadie bracelet AND three note cards for me to send out to people I love. The ideal gift for sure.

Coupling

I dug out my old DVDs of Coupling and laughed just as hard as I had all those years back. I was working at the café and when Terri would stop in to visit we would always talk about the latest episode that was airing on Comedy Central (I think?!?) and all the zany things Jeff got up to that no one could believe. Still such fun.

(photo kidnapped from tellyvisions)

Texts from Jaeden

Out of the blue I got a lovely string of texts from my wonderful nephew.

Abuela

So I have surpassed 900 days of studying Spanish (no days missed at all!) on Duolingo. I watch shows and films where there's Spanish being spoken and still can't catch but maybe one or two words and I feel like all my efforts have been for nothing. Then I read a post on Instagram that Natalia wrote in Spanish and was so thrilled that I pretty much got the gist of what she said before I hit the "See Translation" link. Here is the post:

This is what I thought it said:

My grandmother, Ángela. I have very few memories of her. I was only five years old when she passed. But the few memories that I have are ?lovely?: I sang to her, closing the door to her bedroom, something my brush something and using as a microphone and singing to her. ?Laying? on the bed with her and conversing many times (??) Also lunches together, only the two of us, my most vivid memory is tomato (??) soup day, I ?sat? on my green little chair and she looked across the table (??). In every (??) memory that I have she doesn't speak, only looks at me and something, like in this photo. ♥

This is the translation, which IG messed up the gender:

I didn't do too bad, did I?! Maybe one day I'll be able to take a night class at a local community college and learn to understand and speak this glorious language. Til then, I'll keep studying with Duolingo because the little owl makes me feel good about myself and the cast of characters that help me along the way lift my spirits.

Hedgehog!

Anne and I got together on the 9th at her place for the first time since lockdown. Yesterday I received this adorable little note:

Another Favourite is Gone

During the Coronavirus lockdown I've been worrying about some of my fave shops and was so unbelievably sad to find out that Hampden Junque in Charm City is no more. There is talk about moving it to be an online shop, but it's not the same. I'll never get to go in that funky little hole in the wall and see Michal, who will inevitably compliment my hair and strike up a lovely conversation. Why do all the things I love seem to go away...

The best was when Jackson saw this pic of Christ and said "Nana Rose has this exact same picture in her house." Umm....I wouldn't necessarily say exact...

Harbor in Pink

Took this pic of Harbor in the window not too long ago and how crazy pink is that shrub?!

Pink Bearded Brother

Big brother Dave dyed his rad beard hot, hot pink as a reward to his employees who raised money for Feed America. Mum, Syd, and I all said the same thing when we saw this pic - "it really brings out your eyes!" Sadly, he won't be keeping the look. 

Springtime Jam

Saw an old ep of The Graham Norton Show and discovered Christine and the Queens. I hopped over to Apple Music and downloaded the album Chris and every song is pure gold. Perfect to listen to with the windows down as I roll down the highway.

(photo kidnapped from consequenceofsound)

Who Gives a Crap?

I do!! I placed an order with Who Gives a Crap?, a groovy Australian-based TP company and had it delivered to Mama Rose's home, since there's been thefts at my place. She was none too pleased:

(I love the candy-coloured wrappers!)