Well, I have been ill from a stress-based illness for the last two months or so and haven't been keeping up with writing my blogs and feel very sorry about that. I realize it's good FOR ME to write here and helps me connect with some of you out there, so, now in the face of retirement, I will work on regaining my health and be writing more (I'm hoping).
But I did write a response to the Ed Norton interview so I thought I could share it here too to make up for what I haven't been writing:
Well, I like Ed Norton and what he has done in films and for films. AndI I was caught up in the idealism and excitement of the election and victory. But we have a very bad political system which puts profits before people, that rewards the rich and powerful--both individual and corporate--with more money, power and influence because they can pay their way into that political system. So it's hard not to be depressed by an interview like this--wihout seeing it in the larger context and a president who is fighting two wars--is in fact a warmonger. And a president that cannot get a health care bill passed despite it being already watered down an not even that close to what the rest of the advanced countries have found a way to offer to their citizens. And a president who can dole out money aid to the banks in a time of national pain and sadness when the average person out there needs the aid and the bankers were the ones who started all this in the first place...
So, short of something approaching a Marxist or socialist answer, I can't see what there is to get so excited about.
(Yes, as a civil rights worker in the early 60's in Alabama I do feel a sense of pride that we can elect a black man as president. Now how about working to end racism?)
All the best to all of you. Love, peace and understanding! r-h
But I did write a response to the Ed Norton interview so I thought I could share it here too to make up for what I haven't been writing:
Well, I like Ed Norton and what he has done in films and for films. AndI I was caught up in the idealism and excitement of the election and victory. But we have a very bad political system which puts profits before people, that rewards the rich and powerful--both individual and corporate--with more money, power and influence because they can pay their way into that political system. So it's hard not to be depressed by an interview like this--wihout seeing it in the larger context and a president who is fighting two wars--is in fact a warmonger. And a president that cannot get a health care bill passed despite it being already watered down an not even that close to what the rest of the advanced countries have found a way to offer to their citizens. And a president who can dole out money aid to the banks in a time of national pain and sadness when the average person out there needs the aid and the bankers were the ones who started all this in the first place...
So, short of something approaching a Marxist or socialist answer, I can't see what there is to get so excited about.
(Yes, as a civil rights worker in the early 60's in Alabama I do feel a sense of pride that we can elect a black man as president. Now how about working to end racism?)
All the best to all of you. Love, peace and understanding! r-h
Here it is, the weekend again, and I am trying to keep to a commitment to write a blog post at least once a week. Today I'm a little uner the weather (wonder where that expression came from?). I;ve got a plain old feel-lousy cold. Slept to 12:45 then sort of limped through the day. Now it's earlly evening and I'm feeling a little better so here I am. I'm litening to aq little Bonnie Raitt, who is a good ole' singer. Energetic and positive. Nice fo such a "grumpy and cranky" (my wife's words) ole man like me.
It's been good at work this week. I've been getting some very positive feedback from some of my recovering from abuse clients who seem to think i'm helping them a lot and let me know it. That is very gratifying. And I feel so strongly for this group of women (and some men) who have suffered so long and hard with very little unerstanding from anyone or relief from the pain of the past. It's a great feeling to be told you are helping someone get by and see the way forward in a good way for the first time in a long time. Don't know a better feeling. People in this situation just need to learn to protect themselves in all situations, all the time, no matter what it takes and to be safe and secure now and always. Then the healing can take place. I am also blessed with a colleague who specializes in this treatment and she encourages me to keep going forward no matter how warn and discouraged I can get (facing so much human suffering).
Well, I thinnk I've given you a peek in to what I've been iving and feeling recently.
I am proud as I can be with my dear wife Julia in her first play and I sat last Sunday in the theatre and just about burst with happiness and pride to see her up there on the stage and doing so well. She's been taking acting lessons for 2 years and now she's doing it. It's really wonderful.
Well, I'll be moving along--as the old cowboys used to say. Hang in there everybody. Try for a smile and if it doesn't come at least get close to someone and feel some human warmth. It's the best feeling we have as humans. Love to you all.
It's been good at work this week. I've been getting some very positive feedback from some of my recovering from abuse clients who seem to think i'm helping them a lot and let me know it. That is very gratifying. And I feel so strongly for this group of women (and some men) who have suffered so long and hard with very little unerstanding from anyone or relief from the pain of the past. It's a great feeling to be told you are helping someone get by and see the way forward in a good way for the first time in a long time. Don't know a better feeling. People in this situation just need to learn to protect themselves in all situations, all the time, no matter what it takes and to be safe and secure now and always. Then the healing can take place. I am also blessed with a colleague who specializes in this treatment and she encourages me to keep going forward no matter how warn and discouraged I can get (facing so much human suffering).
Well, I thinnk I've given you a peek in to what I've been iving and feeling recently.
I am proud as I can be with my dear wife Julia in her first play and I sat last Sunday in the theatre and just about burst with happiness and pride to see her up there on the stage and doing so well. She's been taking acting lessons for 2 years and now she's doing it. It's really wonderful.
Well, I'll be moving along--as the old cowboys used to say. Hang in there everybody. Try for a smile and if it doesn't come at least get close to someone and feel some human warmth. It's the best feeling we have as humans. Love to you all.
Well, it's been a two week break since I've written here. Lots of stress at work and off for a week's vacation. Last weekend was wonderful--a 4 day summer camp for adults with general topic of the Union of Radical Political Economics. Workshops, sleeping in bunk beds--4 beds in a room--campfilre, folk sings and a lot of new friends. And trying to figure out what's wrong with our country which is so dominated by welfare for big business (banks etc) and wealthy individuals but so little concern for working people, the poor or the disabled. It seems that we in the US are ages behind other countries in the "advanced" (or shall we say advantaged) world. And so heartless that we can't even pass a simple health care bill without taking the guts out of it for fear of a little opposition from the lunatics on the right. Oh my, what a sad mess. But so good to connect with other radicals. It's almost like saying you are on the left or a socialist is still an obscenity in America. I don't know why. We are all so captivated by the very capitalist system that has pulled us (and the world) into such a dismal situation.
We need to put people before profits. That simple. To care. To love. To join in friendship with others like us and not like us. Not so hard, really.
Well, me and the family are well. that is a blessing And my youngest son David (26 years) just got a new job as an assistant teacher at the Rockefeller University nursery school in New York City. He will work with 4 year olds--just exactly what he wants to do with his life--when he's not doing his art (being an artist, first of all). We are so proud of him and so happy for him. And he has a new apartment rented with a young woman ballet dancer and choreographer who happens to be a black lesbian (David being a straight Caucasian). They are new to each other but off to a great start. So all is happy in the Boylan family!
We need to put people before profits. That simple. To care. To love. To join in friendship with others like us and not like us. Not so hard, really.
Well, me and the family are well. that is a blessing And my youngest son David (26 years) just got a new job as an assistant teacher at the Rockefeller University nursery school in New York City. He will work with 4 year olds--just exactly what he wants to do with his life--when he's not doing his art (being an artist, first of all). We are so proud of him and so happy for him. And he has a new apartment rented with a young woman ballet dancer and choreographer who happens to be a black lesbian (David being a straight Caucasian). They are new to each other but off to a great start. So all is happy in the Boylan family!
Saturday again. Lovely weather here in Upstate New York. Really needed my 2 week vacation from work. Went back last Monday and was just sort of more "spongy"--more adaptable and things didn't put me down in a funk so much (I rose out of funk much easier! ) so life is fixable--even my over-stressed and bombarded by difficult changing regulations at work life. Great to get away for a week traveling with Julia--it refreshes a relationship and you just look at each other differently. 
No, actually really refreshing. My younger son just got a great job in the area he really wants to work in--with young kids in a school or special program. He'll do pre-school (nursery school) with a group of 4 year olds at a great University hospital and research center in New York City--where most of the kids are children of the people on the staff. He's 26 and I'm very proud of him. Finding his way in the world. Ben, the older son continues with okay office work but GREAT after-work work which he calls PLAY because he's an active DJ in New York City spinning the records--now actually all ipod type recordings that go onto 2 turntables so he doesn't have to haul around 50 to 100 albums to the gigs like he used to. So hurray for him. His girlfriend just lost her job to the economy but she'll come out okay--very talented women's clothes designer.
Well, enough for now. Just checking in with all of you. Be happy, reach out to someone. Live and breathe!
) so life is fixable--even my over-stressed and bombarded by difficult changing regulations at work life. Great to get away for a week traveling with Julia--it refreshes a relationship and you just look at each other differently. No, actually really refreshing. My younger son just got a great job in the area he really wants to work in--with young kids in a school or special program. He'll do pre-school (nursery school) with a group of 4 year olds at a great University hospital and research center in New York City--where most of the kids are children of the people on the staff. He's 26 and I'm very proud of him. Finding his way in the world. Ben, the older son continues with okay office work but GREAT after-work work which he calls PLAY because he's an active DJ in New York City spinning the records--now actually all ipod type recordings that go onto 2 turntables so he doesn't have to haul around 50 to 100 albums to the gigs like he used to. So hurray for him. His girlfriend just lost her job to the economy but she'll come out okay--very talented women's clothes designer. Well, enough for now. Just checking in with all of you. Be happy, reach out to someone. Live and breathe!
Well, Julia and I got back home from our holidays (very English way to say it). We greatly enjoyed our 4 days in Vermont and our two days in the unique town of Northhampton, MA. You know, Northhampton is the home of Smith College, formerly all girls and part of the women's Ivy League group. Now home for a number of lesbians, a fair group of gay men and just women all over the place. It really changes the character of the town. You just don't have this testosterone/male chauvinist feeling that you realize is in so many other places. Women walk (sit and stand) with a relaxed feeling--their bodies sort of loose and free. You see men walking down the street carrying babies the right way for a change. They don't do dumb things like push strollers dangerously in the streets like they do in my hometown of Woodstock, New York. The whole place has a softer feel, a mellower feel. The restaurants are filled with people really taking advantage of a place to really talk to each other without so much tense, chauvinist pressure that you begin to realize is in most other places. Could I be making this all up? But I've tried these ideas on others who have been there and they say the same thing. So it is a very nice place to visit. The only problem this year, Julia commented on just how there were too many people on the streets. Well, we went the week they were having sidewalk sales so that made it a little mad out on the sidewalks.
Otherwise, Julia and I finished that week and are finishing this second week with me at home, in goo spirits. We have short "tiffs" over little things that come up and not such full-blown arguments as has been our MO in the past. So I'm pretty relaxed in getting ready to go back to work Monday.
Hope you are all well. Get close to somebody this week. Reach out. Relax. Read a poem. And enjoy life.
r-h
Otherwise, Julia and I finished that week and are finishing this second week with me at home, in goo spirits. We have short "tiffs" over little things that come up and not such full-blown arguments as has been our MO in the past. So I'm pretty relaxed in getting ready to go back to work Monday.
Hope you are all well. Get close to somebody this week. Reach out. Relax. Read a poem. And enjoy life.
r-h
Well, I'm off on vacation with my home computer still down but able to use a computer here at the motel in Northhampton, Massachusetts. Julia and I have been having a real fine vacation--a week with 2 days in Woodstock, VT, 2 days in Brattleboro, VT and 2 days in Northhampton, MA then back to Woodstock, NEW YORK, home, tomorrow. We didn't get our arguing out of the way this year in the first 2 days as usual but have been off and on all week--but not arguing as much as talking things out--which has been very good. Let's say, talking out disatisfactions with each other. So it has been very productive--at least Julia tells me so and I always trust her intuition. I am slowly recovering from the way too much stress of my job and still have another week at home to hang out and relax. Reading a lot of poetry, as usual, and buying up CDs by trading in mine for store credit at this great store, "Turn It Up" in Northhampton. They gave me $48 in store credit for what I brought in and I have been trading the credit for the great 3 for $10 street sale of their CD's, mostly of songwriters sort of the folk kind. Love hearing new stuff. You can listen to what you might want in the store and sort it all out before buying. All's well with my two sons in New York City and that always makes for a good feeling. Well, enough for now. Be well. Reach out to somebody and enjoy something in life!
ugh! computer is shot. completely. something about the hard drive just dying. blowing out. my computer friend, who works at IBM says "You're hosed". Encouraging. Men are so encouraging to each other 
So I'm here at the library trying to write on this website without being spotted as being on a naughty, apparently porn site (beauty is in the mind of the beholder, right?) We really are such a repressed and backward country when it comes to the display of the human body. Anyway, that's not why I'm here. I like the friends I made and the ability to get involved in issues like in the Feminist group and also in special sexual interests that are "accepted" and encouraged on this site--like the boobs groups and the hirsute group (why I have such an interest in hair "down there", I don't know, but I do. It's definitely an erotic zone for me. I just feel lousy when I see women who have shaved off their pubic hair. They look like little girls to me. All clean and spic and span. Why? I like the jungle like attraction of a hairy you know what. Well, chacun a son gout. Right?)
So how's the world. People I know keep getting left by someone they love. Men keep acting immature. I see too much abuse (of course, in my job, I specialize in helping survivors of abuse, so what do I expect?). Life can be lonely, frustrating and frightening. But there is also the way of love, of hope, of the heart. Also the call of the wild, of fun, of joy, of dancing and singing.
This morning I was dancing around, listening to the Rolling Stones on my headphones, singing along in a loud voice and making merry when my dear wife comes in the front door, unbeknownst to me. I didn't see her or hear her. Well she almost had a fit that I wasn't paying the right kind of attention to her and I blew up saying: "Why can't a guy get away with some play and fun once in awhile, especially me, who has been in such a vice of stress at work for a number of weeks? Do you always have to come first?" Well, we really got into it, had a knock down, drag out VERBAL fight, respectfully, and really opened up some good doors for our relationship. We both realized that we had been carrying around a lot of anger for each other without really getting it expressed and it was holding back a lot of love that we both needed. So it turned out well. Sometimes you just need to have it out. Right?
All respect to all of you. Enjoy life. And argue when you need to.
r-h
So I'm here at the library trying to write on this website without being spotted as being on a naughty, apparently porn site (beauty is in the mind of the beholder, right?) We really are such a repressed and backward country when it comes to the display of the human body. Anyway, that's not why I'm here. I like the friends I made and the ability to get involved in issues like in the Feminist group and also in special sexual interests that are "accepted" and encouraged on this site--like the boobs groups and the hirsute group (why I have such an interest in hair "down there", I don't know, but I do. It's definitely an erotic zone for me. I just feel lousy when I see women who have shaved off their pubic hair. They look like little girls to me. All clean and spic and span. Why? I like the jungle like attraction of a hairy you know what. Well, chacun a son gout. Right?) So how's the world. People I know keep getting left by someone they love. Men keep acting immature. I see too much abuse (of course, in my job, I specialize in helping survivors of abuse, so what do I expect?). Life can be lonely, frustrating and frightening. But there is also the way of love, of hope, of the heart. Also the call of the wild, of fun, of joy, of dancing and singing.
This morning I was dancing around, listening to the Rolling Stones on my headphones, singing along in a loud voice and making merry when my dear wife comes in the front door, unbeknownst to me. I didn't see her or hear her. Well she almost had a fit that I wasn't paying the right kind of attention to her and I blew up saying: "Why can't a guy get away with some play and fun once in awhile, especially me, who has been in such a vice of stress at work for a number of weeks? Do you always have to come first?" Well, we really got into it, had a knock down, drag out VERBAL fight, respectfully, and really opened up some good doors for our relationship. We both realized that we had been carrying around a lot of anger for each other without really getting it expressed and it was holding back a lot of love that we both needed. So it turned out well. Sometimes you just need to have it out. Right?
All respect to all of you. Enjoy life. And argue when you need to.
r-h
I guess I'm here and I don't want a weekend to pass by without a post, if I can help it. Wife Julia and I went out to see a great, up-and-coming, strong woman songwriter this morning in Saugerties, N.Y. at brunch at a place called Cafe Mezzaluna. The woman was Erin Hobson and she'll be working out her first release as the Erin Hobson Compact very soon. I like her a lot. She has a wonderful background in jazz guitar, even though the music was really folk-oriented. Couldn't decide whether she sounded like the Grateful Dead or Jimi Hendrix in her really exciting guitar breaks. And her voice and songwriting are somewhat like all-time-greatest Joni Mitchell. So thoughtful and really like hearing someone reading from their diary. In other words, my favorite kind of music.
It seems that that directness also leads me into my favorite kind of film, poetry and book too. I really like directness. Something that takes you INTO the life of the person writing it, without any concern for flourishing it up at all. And I like to hear about the rough, edgy side of life. It shows us how much we are all alike on the inside, in those dark places where we are even afraid to shine a light on ourselves--not to mention reveal ourselves to another.
I guess that may be enough writing for today, for now.
I keep wondering if my strong words in my last blog about Michael Jackson--who thrilled me with his music and performance and disgusted me with his behavior--actually offended anyone, made anyone think I was just out-of-touch or maybe even found someone who agrees with me (beside dear Punkie, my sweet friend).
Well, off to a good week for all, hopefully. But we really don't know what's going to happen, do we?
It seems that that directness also leads me into my favorite kind of film, poetry and book too. I really like directness. Something that takes you INTO the life of the person writing it, without any concern for flourishing it up at all. And I like to hear about the rough, edgy side of life. It shows us how much we are all alike on the inside, in those dark places where we are even afraid to shine a light on ourselves--not to mention reveal ourselves to another.
I guess that may be enough writing for today, for now.
I keep wondering if my strong words in my last blog about Michael Jackson--who thrilled me with his music and performance and disgusted me with his behavior--actually offended anyone, made anyone think I was just out-of-touch or maybe even found someone who agrees with me (beside dear Punkie, my sweet friend).
Well, off to a good week for all, hopefully. But we really don't know what's going to happen, do we?
so Michael Jackson's dead. Ugh. You know, I don't care. I saw him as a straight up child abuser who just used his money and fame to get away with it. Well maybe now he won't get away with much anymore. Maybe not nice feelings from here, but I got to say it up straight myself because I work with too many people who are scarred for life by someone's abuse of them.
Now, Farrah Fawcett is another story entirely. I am so sad for the pain she had to go through. And maybe there is some rest now. I don't like death one bit. But I loved her and what she tried to do for women in making abuse/awareness go way up.
She went from breasts to heart over a lifetime!
She had that great movie where she fights off an abuser. Loved it. And her Burning Bed did a lot to show that someone can stand up and fight back. We all need to be empowered.
Rest in peace, dearly beloved Farrah.
Now, Farrah Fawcett is another story entirely. I am so sad for the pain she had to go through. And maybe there is some rest now. I don't like death one bit. But I loved her and what she tried to do for women in making abuse/awareness go way up.
She went from breasts to heart over a lifetime!
She had that great movie where she fights off an abuser. Loved it. And her Burning Bed did a lot to show that someone can stand up and fight back. We all need to be empowered.
Rest in peace, dearly beloved Farrah.
