it's a nice day for a...

Two of my dearest StL friends were married today. Here's the toast I gave them:

When you make new friends in your mid-to-late 20s, you often meet people as part of a couple… where two individuals come prepackaged as one unit, like a pair of snack cakes or something. I moved to Saint Louis for graduate school in 2004 and almost immediately starting hanging out with Alissa, who was then a second year in my neuroscience program. Beyond school and science were knitting and riding bikes and the occasional show. I also got to know her boyfriend, Eric, who may not be aware that I vividly remember him from my interview weekend… when he showed up at Llweyln’s in the Central West End to meet Alissa, stuck graciously entertaining us recruits. At the time I thought, wow, what a nice guy.

I am lucky enough to have been friends with both of them for close to 5 years now. Through a move to South City, the purchasing of their house on Cherokee, 2 Masters degrees (and 3 more to follow), many more bike rides, dinners, art openings, music, long conversations about gardening and food, politics and public health. Through the ups and downs that ALL of us have had. Our friendships have supported each other. I am so thankful that they are both in my life and I hope that having me in theirs has brought them as much happiness and comfort.

This moment is to celebrate Alissa and Eric as a couple. But what I think about is how amazing each of them is as a person, as my friend. They are both so unique and talented and fun to be around. Alissa and Eric, the couple, are not like the pre-packaged snack cakes. First of all, I could hardly imagine either of them being full of preservatives. They are too awesomely independent to be lumped together and sealed in plastic, left sitting on convenience store shelves. Rather, I see Alissa and Eric, the couple, as the combination of two comic book heroes paired to battle some massive foe (except without the tights), or a rocknroll supergroup. They each maintain their own identity and power, but together, totally kick even more ass.

To Alissa. To Eric. To you both. All the best as you continue your lives and your life together. Cheers.

this tornado loves you

My friends may have noticed of late that I have been even more of a whirling dervish of obligations. Plans must be made far in advance if you would like me to attend whatever thing you've got going. What with work, training for my first triathlon, attempts at spring cleaning and gardening at the house, knitting, art openings, yoga, beer, music, weddings, and umpteen other social commitments I sometimes wonder when I sleep let alone find time to write on this blog.

So, first, an apology. To you. I do want to hang out with all of you, really. And then an apology to me. Exponentially growing lists of commitments should not be an excuse for not taking time for myself and my thoughts. While I have been having a blast as per usual, it's nice just to sit and get a few things down. Ironically, this post will consist of upcoming shows that I am psyched to check out... (you can reprimand the RnR girl for her lifestyle but you can't take the RnR lifestyle away from the girl)

Growing list of commitments #123 - Late Spring Music in the StL

1. Thao and the Get Down Stay Down - May 8th at Off Broadway
   This is Thao's second trip into town since her 2008 release of "We brave beestings and all". I caught her first show whilst sipping O'Fallon Wheach in a near-empty Off Broadway last summer. Good stuff. I hope that there are more kids there to dance their hearts out this time.


2. Midwest Mayhem - May 14th at the City Museum
   How can you not love 10 local bands, burlesque, beer, and climbing all over creation at the City Museum? MJS and I braved bruised knees last year to rock out at the Mayhem. Definitely up for a repeat performace.


3. The Decemberists - May 31st at the Pageant
   Lead singer Colin Malloy did creative writing at U of Montana in Missoula. I think that makes me love him even more. Come for the story-telling, stay for the sing-alongs...


4. Twangfest - June 10th - 13th, featuring...


5. Alejandro Escavedo - June 10th at the Pageant
   "The Boxing Mirror" was one of my favorite albums of 2006. Hoping to catch this guy live for the first time.


6. Jenny Lewis - June 14th at the Pageant
   Yes, I remember seeing "The Wizard" (aka Nintendo's big screen commercial) in the theater back in 1989. And yes, like Fred Savage, I wanted to get with Jenny Lewis even then. Absolutely CANNOT WAIT for this show.


7. The Avett Brothers - June 25th at the Pageant
   Missed these guys at the Sheldon last May during the massive music weekend (see 5 days, 3 shows, 1200 miles)... Won't be making that mistake again.


8. Whitaker Music Festival at MOBOT - Wednesdays starting June 3rd
   Gotta love walking across the street into the Gardens... carrying a sixer or a bottle of wine and some snacks... and walking home afterward. Friends are definitely encouraged to make this a routine visit with me!


9. ...

So... anyone wanna see a show? :)

Mono... doh!

As you can probably tell, I'm really excited about President Obama's strategic plan for a high-speed rail system. Woot.

driving south on 57: an unexpected economic microcosm...

I made a quick jaunt to Nashvegas last Saturday under the pretense of seeking tax advice. Really it was an excuse to see the fam and vacate my RNR lifestyle in the Lou for ~24 hrs. Driving my 11 YO standard transmission with no cruise control, tape deck, or functional windshield wipers may not sound like a joy ride to you, but I love a chance to unplug for a few hours. It's quality contemplation time.

There's one spot on the drive in Illinois, where the highway acts as a divider between worlds: to the east, a minimum security prison. To the west, a junior college. Maybe it was the fact that I was thinking about my W2s. Or the recent spate of worries about what the heck I'm going to do with my house when I defend my thesis come December. But for whatever reason, on this occasion I was really struck by the scene. Are these really the two choices that people face in our society: education or criminalization? They seem to be exquisitely linked. Looking at the demographics of the current unemployment numbers (at the highest levels since 1983! Whee!) one sees that minorities with less education are more affected. Does that leave these individuals more "at risk" for our massively costly criminal justice system? It's likely. But in today's economy, is one that much worse off than the other? What with lawyers being laid off in droves, professional degrees, let alone 2 year-trained semi-truck mechanics, seem to be not worth much weight. So is this the choice of today's working class youth? Community college vs. being locked up... Fans of season 4 of the Wire would recognize that both of these are "systems" in which individuals learn the rules to engage in that particular world. Think Namond Brice.

Given that it's a good year for the GWB's of the world to get into college, we have a ways to go before there is economic parity in education. And if education level dictates economic standing, especially in hard times, there's a good chance that without a massive change in how we teach (or another choice besides the east or west side of I-57) this will continue to be a never-ending cycle.