Misery loves company

This seriously does not reflect how I feel about my current locale, but I cannot help but post this link. Apparently Lynn and I live in #1 and #2 of a list of the worlds 10 worst cities (See link here). Lucky us.

Another pen pal in Michigan

This week This American Life re-broadcast a show originally aired in 2003 called, My Pen Pal. It describes a true story of a pen pal relationship between an 11 year old northern Michigan native, Sarah York, and the infamous dictator, Manuel Noriega. (You can see a picture of them here.) I love this story. It makes you think about how we classify who is bad. Noriega goes above and beyond in his letters to York in a way that cannot be justified only by political motive. You are left to wonder about the soft side of an evil man's heart and whether York's pen pal relationship led her to live off the grid with her family.

The last seven minutes of the show tells a second story. A woman describes her pen pal relationship with her husband to be preferable to the one they have when they live in the same house. This reminds me of a passage I once read in Margaret Atwood's book Blind Assassin that describes a reunion after a long period of time. The character's memories had softened and distorted over time, but when she met the person again all their harsh lines and wrinkles were once again revealed. There are some people we prefer at distance.

I am going to have to track down a copy of that book to find out how the eloquent Atwood described this, especially since I last read it when it came out 10 years ago. In the meantime, enjoy the podcast!

A fan of all things green

March=green! And pears are such a nice shade of green. Jessica's cut card theme continued on, and went beyond scenery with this lovely bowl of pears.

On the back of the post card she told me about being in NYC for 12" of snow, with stong winds that almost knocked her down. I am glad that today, my view is of sun melting what little is left of our snow.

But, back the the front, by cutting rather than drawing the fruit her top down view becomes more abstract in a very fun and pleasing way! I like it lots. It reminds me of Matisse, you?

From somewhere warmer than here

I am a little behind, posting this cut out card from Jess in February of last year. She writes "I cut it while watching the Superbowl. It is clear I was thinking of Africa I guess." Her mountain view reminds me of warmer places, ones I wish I was traveling to while it was still cold and snowy out. There is a time in Michigan where the grey skies and dark of winter gets hard to bear, but I think we've broken through. March has arrived with high 30's weather, blue skies and sun. I almost feel like I am in a warm savannah with a view! Where do you wish you were when the winter months grind on and on?