Mar 26 2006
This short essay is worth a look, if you’re interested in how the future of humankind might play out. Or even if you’re not.
When you’re finished with that, head over to SignWall.com and see the newest additions to this rapidly growing online museum of vanishing urban history.
Mar 17 2006
Today is Jen and my 10th wedding anniversary. Ten years ago today, Jen and I were in the foothills of the Tucson mountains with my grandparents Dot and Bernie Flanders, my aunt Linda and uncle Richard, my two cousins Tammy and Todd, Jen’s brother Sandy, and our friends David Gordon and Priscilla Havlis. We were married by a justice of the peace in front of my aunt and uncle’s house on a beautiful Sonoran Desert afternoon.
The wedding party was small because we were planning to travel back east for two receptions — one in Pennsylvania and one in upstate New York. We got married when we did because were about to move overseas. Or so we hoped.
A small wedding was a fantastic idea. David (my best man) and I had a relaxed morning before the wedding, stopping at Baggins Sandwiches to eat a little food and chat. Then we headed to Michaels Crafts and bought some ribbon to string between chairs so we could create a little aisle to walk down for the wedding. Jen and Priscilla made some flower arrangements at my aunt and uncle’s house.
Shortly before the wedding, Dave and I arrived at the house to change into our wedding clothes. I wore a vintage 1930’s blue pinstriped wool suit. Yup — a wool suit for a desert wedding. That’s macho! And stupid! Jen wore a beatiful cream colored silk outfit with a sleeveless blouse and pants. Her hair was long and flowing and she looked gorgeous.
Dave and I set up chairs for the guests, and hung the ribbon from the chairs to make the aisle. We also set up a semi-circle of rocks, inside of which Jen and I stood during the ceremony. Dave is an artist, and he actually made my gold wedding band. Jen’s wedding ring was a family heirloom given to me by my mother.
We walked down the aisle to a Yo-Yo Ma/Bobby McFerrin tune from their album Hush. The JP did his thing, and we said our vows. Mine included a verse from the song “Sweet Lorraine” — When it’s raining I don’t miss the sun / For that’s when my baby smiles. / And to think that I’m the lucky one / Who will lead her down the aisle. I’m not sure whether Jen heard any of that, because she cried throughout the ceremony. I tried not to take it personally.
Following the ceremony, I walked over to the JP with a check to pay him for his services. He said he only took cash. Dave overheard and went in the house to ask my grandfather whether he had any money. Grandpa came up with the $75, and I avoided going to jail, or whatever happens when you don’t pay the JP.
Then it was off in my grandparents’ white Chevy Corsica (complete with cans hanging off the bumper and the traditional “Just Married” sign) to La Indita, a great Mexican restaurant in downtown Tucson. The whole gang was there, and we had a great dinner on the outdoor patio behind the restaurant. The patio was surrounded by vine-covered trellises filled with singing birds. Dave made a lovely toast, and Jen and I danced our wedding dance to Chet Baker’s recording of “Time After Time.”
When we got back to our apartment (a guest house on Dodge Blvd. that Dave Gordon described fondly as a “hole”), Dave had put flowers on the bed and lit candles around the apartment. Given the dry weather, it’s fairly surprising that the guest house didn’t burn down.
I’m pretty sure that most folks we knew thought the marriage wouldn’t last, but they were wrong. Here we are, 10 years, two kids, five states, and two countries later, more in love than ever.
Mar 15 2006
If you’ve got a minute, check out my newest project, SignWall.com. I’ve been noticing all those faded business ads and political signs painted on the walls of city buildings recently, and I decided to create a site to record and preserve those images. Let me know what you think.
Mar 15 2006
Everyone is home safe and sound. I brought Jen and John back from the hospital at 9 p.m. on Monday. My sister, Gretchen, came over to stay with Bernie (who was sound asleep). She took some nice photos, which are now over at the Photos section.
John is doing really well. He’s breastfeeding very successfully. Jen is quite tired, but she’s recovering. We’re all just very happy to be home.
I really need to take a shot of John’s feet. They’re huge!
More soon. For now, take a look at the photos.
Mar 12 2006
It can’t be a bad thing when your new boy shares a birthday with Douglas Adams.
And with Bobby McFerrin, Ralph Abernathy, and Lawrence Welk. Wacky!
Mar 12 2006
John is out from under the oxygen tent, although he’s still in the special care unit. Jen is doing quite well. We hope to have John in Jen’s room by late tonight, and we really hope to have the whole gang home by tomorrow (Monday).
Mar 12 2006
For those of you keeping score at home, Bernie was born on 11/3, and John was born on 3/11. Coincidence? Yup, but it’s still kinda cool.
We hope to be able to take John out of the O2 tent to feed him around lunchtime today. And we hope to have everyone home tomorrow.
Mar 11 2006
Jen and I are thrilled to announce the birth of John Flanders Crane. He came into the world at 6:13 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2006. He weighed 6 lbs 11 oz at birth.
He’s already taking after his brother — he has a little problem with his lungs, so he’s in an oxygen tent in the special care nursery until at least tomorrow. Bernie had to do the same thing, and he’s completely fine, so we expect to have John with us very soon.
Jen came through with flying colors. She’s really doing well. As for Bernie — he gets to meet his new baby brother tomorrow!
Here are some photos of the day. More details will come in the days ahead.
Mar 08 2006
Hot on the heels of the MoKA announcement (see below), Michelle Cardulla sent this message announcing a poetry contest run by her excellent arts mag, Lake Affect Magazine:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
MICHELLE CARDULLA
PUBLISHER, LAKE AFFECT MAGAZINE
585-317-9191
Lake Affect Magazine to Honor Book Publisher with Poetry Contest
Lake Affect Magazine is sponsoring a poetry contest to honor BOA Editions, Ltd. the award-winning Rochester-based publisher of poetry books. The contest will help mark BOA’s 30th anniversary. The winning poem will receive $250. The second place poem will receive $150, and the third place poem, $75. In addition, all three winning poems will be eligible for publication in an upcoming issue of Lake Affect Magazine. And each winner will receive three copies of BOA Editions poetry books. There are no limits on style, length, or content, although overtly religious or political poems are not encouraged. Poems which, because of content, are not suitable for publication in a family-oriented magazine, will still be eligible for the monetary prize, but will not be published in the magazine. The contest is open to all residents of the greater Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse areas. Entrants must be citizens or legal residents of the United States, at least 18 years old, and cannot be employees, board members, family or volunteers at either BOA or Lake Affect. Each entry may contain up to two poems and must be accompanied by a check or money order for $5 payable to Lake Affect Magazine. All entries must be postmarked no later than May 1, and should be sent to Poetry Contest, Lake Affect Magazine, P.O. Box 10016, Rochester, NY 14610. Poems will not be returned. Entrants wanting to know the results of the contest should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Thom Ward, Editor of BOA, will serve as final judge of the contest.
Mar 08 2006
Michelle Cardulla is a great supporter of the arts here in Rochester. She publishes the excellent arts magazine Lake Affect Magazine, and she’s about to launch a new and exciting creative space — The Museum of Kids Art (MoKA). She can really use your help to make this a lasting success. Please visit mokarochester.com and give her some money. Here’s the press release:
Warm Greetings To All!
The Museum of Kids Art (MoKA) will officially open its doors on Tuesday, March 20th, as a registered museum of New York State. We will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 1-6 pm. We are offering modern dance as our very first program in April. The program will be conducted by Nicolette Depass, a Garth Fagan dancer. Nicolette joined the company in 1994. She was raised in Queens, New York, and graduated cum laude from SUNY Brockport with a Bachelor of Science degree in dance and communications. So cool!
All programming will be free to kids in the Sector 8 area. We plan to have 16 programs ranging from cooking, dancing, gardening painting, sculpture and film. There will be regularly scheduled exhibits throughout the year to display the children’s work.
Our grand opening will be held this summer after we’ve worked the bugs out of the start-up transition to our new facility.
Please come and visit. And please note this advisory:
Be sure to bring an extra pair of socks with you, because MoKA will knock the other ones off!
Much Love and Peace to all.
Michelle Cardulla, Executive Director
Museum of Kids Art
90 Webster Avenue
Rochester, NY 14609
mokarochester.com
phone: (585) 288.4239
Board of Directors:
