October 13, 2008
if they don't win it's a shame
10/13/08
Let's use today for some positive reinforcement, shall we? The following people on the home team should be commended for their recent behavior:
My sister Michelle - Not that she'd ever tell you this, but Michelle basically erased clean and rewrote the rules of reviving the Arts in an entire California valley. After taking on a system that never quite worked and turning Napa into a powerhouse arts community, I can't imagine her not being hired to do the same thing in some other town/city in dire need. Click on the picture (courtesy of the Napa Valley Register) below for the newspaper article:
My brother Steve - A few miles south of Michelle, Steve is in the other valley – the "Silicon" one – and is constantly in the news saving historic Moffett Field Airport and the old Hangar One, which needs to be re-skinned by the Navy. If left to their own devices, the Navy would leave the un-husked frame of the hangar out like a giant set of desiccated dinosaur bones, and let's just say that won't happen on my brother's watch. Click on Steve's airplane below for the newspaper article (cached by Google, since the Palo Alto Daily News website is a disaster):
My old roommate Greg Humphreys - Lordy knows I've sung the praises of Greggy Homefries for years on this blog, but he has finally gone solo from both bands, and released a gorgeous, pastoral album of his guitar home-cookin'. Greg has now become one of the old bluesmen he once revered, and lets it shine on "Trunk Songs". Click here to download the album from iTunes, and click on the picture below (of Greg with Lucy on his 41st birthday) for the excellent News & Observer story:
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Our old friends Bliss and Nell - Bliss Broyard's book One Drop: My Father's Hidden Life--A Story of Race and Family Secrets just came out on paperback, and Nell Casey's collection An Uncertain Inheritance: Writers on Caring for Family will do so on December 2nd. Both are intensely wonderful works of non-fiction; the first is Bliss' story of her father, the famed New York critic who had a deathbed secret... and the latter is Nell's collection of essays written by people on the brink of mortality and those who take care of them.
Click on the top pic of Tessa and Nell (with brood) to get "Inheritance" and the bottom pic of Tessa with Lulu and Bliss' lovely daughter Esme for "One Drop".
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Our most excellent neighbor David Petrarca - We don't see much of Uncle David these days, despite his living twenty feet above us, and here's why: he's the new Executive Producer of "Eli Stone", which is premiering tonight (Wednesday) at 10pm. Check your local listings, but let me tell you this: I've seen some dailies of the musical numbers, and they are stunners.
And in the comments, please nominate others who deserve recognition, both large and small!
Posted by Ian Williams at October 13, 2008 11:29 PMCongratulations to everyone! How wonderful!
I have read both Bliss and Nell's work, and they count among my favorite writers.
I will nominate my daughter, Helen, for being such a wonderful person. She is 9 years old, and has such a maturity, kindness, and joy for life that I am constantly amazed that she came from ME. She makes me proud every day. Helen is a soccer superstar and just decided to join the school band. Her instrument of choice? The saxophone!
I'd like to nominate my big brother who refuses to ever give up or quit. Imagine the "Energizer Bunny" with Michael J. Fox's head. He keeps going and going and going....
What a creative and amazing circle of friends and relatives, Ian.
That is a gorgeous photo of Michelle.
LFMD: It's so touching that you admire your daughter openly for her sterling qualities.
I nominate all my good friends and community organizers at ACORN who are obviously doing God's work if only the FBI and those silly things known as laws would leave them alone.
Lots of people make excuses not to get involved, saying one person can't make a difference or that things will never change, so I want to applaud Michele and Steve too.
Swoon! No time for nominations now. Pardon me as I head over to I-Tunes to hear grumphreys latest.
I'll nominate my friend, Sharon Stevens. Last year Sharon lost her mom to breast cancer and then lost her father just a few months later. While I would have simply coiled in fetal position, Sharon began creating a piece of art each day to benefit breast cancer research and the arts. And somehow she managed to do this while being an energetic, loving stay-at-home mom to three small children.
Visit her website, http://www.artformymom.com and pick up a great piece of original art for $50 and benefit some great causes!
Thanks, Ian. I'm lucky to have you as a friend. Go xtcian-ers!
Dean, you really lowered the bar today.
This is a great entry, Ian--reminding us how much good work is being done by so many, quietly, each day.
Ian,
I'm so grateful for the shout out!
And I"m so impressed with everyone else's work.
But you forgot 2 other important nominees: You and your lovely wife. You guys have been kicking ass in Hollywood! No easy feat.
And I nominate Lucy too just for being so incredibly cute.
xx
Nell
i'll nominate my daughter who is going to have her first writing project produced (for TV).
and is that icky comment above from "atta boy" dean from several days ago? i hope his evil twin wrote that one.
Don't attack the messenger. Can we not all agree that ACORN is corrupt and should be universally shunned, tarred & feathered?
I refer you to the first sentence of today's post.
I am two degrees of separation from Nell Casey! Hurrah! My fellow cubicle-dwellers have no idea how well-connected I am! : )
Ian, can we hear some more about the kicking of Hollywood ass of which Nell speaks??? I know you can't divulge and all, but I find myself searching for your names whenever I read a Hollywood writer-related article. . . Surely you can reveal something!
Oh, and Michelle - one of my co-workers caught me looking at the blog when your photo was on the screen. He inquired as to the possibility of a DATE, and I had to inform him that you were in CA. I agree with Anne - that is a stunning photo!
Man, if ACORN is so bad, why did McCain work with them as recently as 2006?
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/10/a_lifetime_ago_sen_john.php
Or, is this one of those things, like torture, where if we do it, it's okay, but if they do it, it's bad?
I nominate my friend and fellow xtcian, Emma, who recently rode 150 miles(in the mts no less!) for the MS bike ride. If that wasn't hard enough she also raised over $1500 and was the highest earner on her bike team! Go Emma!
http://emalice.livejournal.com/
Wow! Thanks, Neva. But I can't take full credit - I did the short rides both days and only rode 75 miles.
That's still a whole lot. I'm still impressed :)
LFMD, is your co-worker a lawyer and a lib'ral and a nice guy? Geography be damned; I say you should set him up with Michele!
Gorgeous photo of Michelle.
CM - unfortunately, my co-worker is a disgruntled conservative. I don't see a Love Connection. Apparently, Michelle's beauty crosses party lines!
Good gracious, how hilarious. LFMD, please give my thanks to your disgruntled conservative coworker, but even if he was an enlightened liberal, I'm spoken for. :)
Emma, 75 miles is no small feat- I've done it myself, and might still have the scars to prove it, in places where the sun doesn't shine. Congrats on your ride, and your fundraising!
Chris Landgraff, for running (and finishing) the Chicago marathon on Sunday.
I nominate the little tyke with the good grip and the bold attitude. Booyah!