a little red hen

MARTHA & KEITH, dynamic duo does pie + politics

Only by chance did I learn of the political pundit Keith Olbermann  appearance this week on the Martha Stewart Show.  No longer a virgin:  I have now watched an entire daytime TV show, or almost.   Tuned in a little late as Martha and Keith were talking about the election.  Commiserated on homophobia in California--link here is to his inspired rant about Proposition 8 in California.  They admired Obama  campaign's use of the internet, "He's thinking modern," Martha noted.

Great fun to watch Keith, the cooking novice, try to follow along with Martha to make a Triple Chocolate Pumpkin Pie.  Carried away at one moment--I can all relate-- she poured in too much ground cloves.  Keith gamely tried to use his fist, as she instructed to move graham cracker crumbs around the pie shell.

Martha Stewart has always impressed me as

basically a home economist.  First time I saw her program was in a hospital waiting room on my way to eye surgery.  First she did one of her detailed drills on how to set up a laundry room--what should be in it, the best arrangement.  I thought at the time she was providing a service for  at-home young women who never had a Home Ec class.  These began to fall out of favor in the 1980s, I believe.  Not that everyone needed ALL the detail Martha is so fond of providing. 

This was followed by an interview with a collector of antique irons.  Fascinating:  Home Ec as it should have been with history to add richness and context.

 In a similar way, Martha followed the hilarity of the pie-making with a long segment about the program, City Meals on Wheels, "No homebound senior should go without a meal on Thanksgiving or any holiday."  [Very  satisfying voluntary stint when I  delivered meals last year.]  Martha has been honored for her support of the program, a national one.  As pointed out in "Elders' Unique Economic Difficulties,"a recent post at Time Goes By, seniors are a very vulnerable, often little noticed population in our continued shaky times.  In New York City,   senior center programs are facing cutbacks.  They  could use  Martha Stewart's advocacy because  the City threatens to cut many of them.  

Disclaimer:  Ron Bloom, spouse, was chair of Home Economics at Morgan State University in Baltimore. I was very proud of  innovations he brought to the program--particularly a class on substance abuse.   In one of many unnecessary retrofits, so popular in academe, it had been  re-named "Human Ecology."  Please.

Chasing the Moon, Route 1, New Jersey

A Day in the Life...and Golden Lucy & I Get the Nod

Last night around 10 p.m.,Thursday, drilling began in the street.  New gas pipe being laid.  Continued through the night; ended  today, the early evening--unfinished and another hole.  View from my window, 21 stories up. Turned on air-conditioner for white noise.

On to the subway this morning, corner of 125th and St. Nicholas near the entrance to the A train, this woman cuts pineapple.  Ron always comments how she gives the appearance of sanitation by wearing rubber gloves--which she never changes.  Walking out of the Columbus Circle station at 59th street, a homeless man sleeps at the bottom of the stairs to the street.  

We met up with Nick, our son, at his office.  We'll be caring for Roxie while he goes to a meeting.  The screen-saver on his computer is a photo I took of her wearing my knit hat.  The framed photo is by  her other grandfather when he visited from North Carolina.  On the way into Central Park, we're curious if this little girl will find heavy machinery as fascinating as her male cousins...watches but no comment.    Dampness does not deter the regulars and tourists.
Roxie claimed someone's toy stroller, cried when it had to be returned.  Gets over it quickly as we crossed a bridge back to the park entrance.  Much photography, amateur and fashion.

Earlier this week, Henry Alford, a writer in the City, honored me as one of the "10 best senior bloggers" at Blogs.com .  Flattered to be on same list with Golden Lucy in Colorado.  I'll have to visit the others, all new to me.  Same day of my "naming," I'd read Henry's Op-Ed essay "All Apologies" in the New York Times.  Isn't it great when younger people than Elderbloggers  can share our crankiness about bad public behavior?

IRAQ WAR ENDS: Special Edition N.Y. Times, July 4, 2009

"Free New York Times," the woman said as we exited the subway at 14th Street and Seventh Avenue. "Really! Who did this?" "Someone just gave them to me to distribute." I look at her closely: smart, not going to tell me more. "Terrific idea...thanks." Seems 1.5 million of this free, fake, wishful edition distributed today. Amazing. [photo: Ron Bloom]

If not now, when...

  Walking beside Riverside Church, New York City, November 6, 2008, I saw bag-pipers as they prepared for the funeral of  Sgt. Deon Taylor.  He was 30 years old, an undercover NYPD police officer, killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on October 22.

Further along Riverside Drive, a car struggled for attention.

Lisa Anne Auerbach has been making art that matters for a
 long time.  

We are happy and restless as we wait for January 20, 2009.

Harlem, on THE night, November 4, 2008

 On the street today, I ran into a different Alice from the one who helped me with Halloween.  This Alice lives in another building here at Morningside Gardens in Harlem.  Though we'd only met on Election Night, we immediately rushed to embrace.  That's how it is in the City.  We want to hold onto our Election Night thrill. 

Invited to an Obama party at an apartment two floors below.  Barbara and Lee have one of those very big, on the wall TV screens.  Ron made guacamole...but no  Barackolate Chip Cookies      s    Earlier in the day I delighted a woman working at the campaign office by giving her the recipe.  Our hosts  always have a great spread, and it's a very comfortable place.  We were a small group.  Five of us were knitting off and on.  Lisa, usually very animated, was more contemplative. We mostly watched ABC  because that's what's on their Basic Cable.    Huge crowds in Times Square--so different from those on New Year's Eve.

First Barbara, whose grandmother was a suffragette from Ohio, went nuts when Obama won there. 

 When the big moment came, the really big one, when it was set in stone, we were beyond ourselves.  Alice and Lisa who have been friends for 35 years started the hugging (that's Barbara with Lisa) and we went around the room alternately hugs and high-fives.  Lisa called her 95 year old grandfather who lives in the South.  No "Hello" from him, just "Obama!"  And the faces we watched on the screen.

The big screen was perfect for a  sense of the crowd in Chicago's Grant Park.  We joked around about whether we could see Lisa's husband, a photographer for the New York Times, near the stage.  Then we listened to McCain concede.  Some thought he was gracious; I find him unredeemable for the way he betrayed who he'd been in the name of his ambition.

Watching Obama was something else entirely.  You have your own memory of the man, so I will let you fill in here.  We were so proud, loved seeing his family and Biden's.  He was so respectful of us, reminded that we need to make a commitment to, as Tom Brokaw said, "a re-enlistment of citizenship."  We became aware of much noise  down,  from outside.  Looked out the windows at Grant Houses, the public housing complex across the street.  Shouting, pots and pans banging, but this was a bigger noise.

 We left to go to the street,  picked up Lisa's daughter at the next door apartment where she was watching with another family and and a group of her  under-12 year old friends. People were coming from all directions moving toward 125th Street.  A few blocks away a stage and Jumbotron had been set up.   It was a little cooler than we'd expected so we returned to Barbara and Lee's. 

Alice told me today that they could not get near the stage but could see the crowd from a higher spot.  She was struck by the mix--black longtime residents of every age, white families who've moved to Harlem, Asians (many are grad students at Columbia University).

That was the evening.  Very tired, I dragged Ron back to our place just as he was about to invite Sally, the knitter with the huge needles, to see his spinning wheel.  Of course, I was also over-excited.  Election Day I'd carried my "good luck" canvas bag all day. 

America had changed in a very large and good way.  I'd lived through segregated schools and lunch counter sit-ins in 1940s St. Louis, disapproving stares when dating black men in 1950s New York City, and numbing racism in late 20th century Baltimore.

This day was what I'd hoped for.  I know there's less euphoria ahead;  I want to savor these moments longer.

OBAMA, a president we can believe in

 

Nader Says Something Important on Election Day

Asked today by reporters "What should Bush do on his last day in office?"  Ralph Nader replied "Surrender."

You too, Ralph.  Many of us older Americans who have admired you for your important work in the past, hope you can find a more useful way to be among us than running for national office.

Why Grandparents Vote...for Obama

Zach, now a first-grader at Sunnyside Elementary,  studies Spanish, one of several innovative afterschool efforts developed by parents. Portland, along with the rest of Oregon has  astoundingly underfunded public school and social services systems.  No sales tax there.

Like his father and grandfather, he is an earnest reader of history.  Our first Jewish president, first one from the far West?

Zoe, his three-year old sister, goes to a nursery school program that has an other-world quality, kind of magical, much like the parent-designed play space that's brought new life--and needed income--to a local church.   She is partial to dresses these days--since her little sister arrived.

Eliana, the new baby, has few stated preferences, kicks off my homemade booties which her mother loves but agrees: the commercial ones stay on longer. 

Roxie, 21 months, is definitely in charge of our son's household over here in New York (photo from recent visit to Dumbo neighborhood under the Brooklyn Bridge).

Lately she says "Obama," points to the many buttons in our very blue state.  Check out the children's  book her Mom found--last copy in the store...our first  woman president? Also likes dresses. 

 Just discovered billiards...or is it pool? 

  Thanks to all my friends in blogland for your good cheer about my recent strangely arranged posts.

Yes, I am thinking about how to leave TypePad and its "New Compose Editor" for a hope-for better place, one more in tune with my personal style and agenda, at Word Press.  Kind of like the election...just holding my breath.

  

 

Kew Gardens, Queens New York...Two blocks, Lefferts Boulevard

Visiting Kew Gardens takes us back to another time.  Manhattan's streetscape has become one of banks, chain stores.  Here delis, restaurants, bakeries, hair salons and barber shops line the streets.  Flight attendants gather to take the bus to Kennedy or LaGuardia airports.

  

The five-screen movie house with the latest films, is next door to the place that serves bagels twice the size of the one in Manhattan--some might choose girth over flavor.  We thought W. was dull and lacking insight.

Around the corner at the LIRR (Long Island Railroad) station is Bliss Cafe.  Joanne, the owner, now wears my  Obama button with "Hope" in Korean.  This is one of Roxie's favorite neighborhood places. Seven-Eleven joins the political mood.

 Kew Gardens keeps its village flavor with  many locally-owned businesses, a small post office. Plus a natural food store,  a new Cuban restaurant--next door to the comic book  store.