‘On Thursday, March 20, 2003, our friend and colleague Maher (Mike) Hawash was arrested (”detained”) as a “material witness” by the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force in the parking lot of Intel Corp’s Hawthorne Farms parking lot. Simultaneously, FBI agents in bulletproof vests and carrying assault rifles awoke Mike’s wife Lisa and their three children in the home, which they proceeded to search. Since then, Mike has been held in the Federal Prison at Sheridan, OR.’
You know what to do.

I’ve been wondering about one of the nicer houses in our neighborhood. I drive by it daily on my morning commute. Last week I noticed some digging had been done in the yard. A tree uprooted. And something was happening with the windows. It sort of looked like there may have been a fire. Or as though an addition might be built on. Or something. But as the week progressed, so did the destruction of both the house and the property. It wasn’t until yesterday that I realized what’s happening. With the entire house looking forlorn and up on blocks, so to speak, and already shifted a few hundred feet from its original location…it’s being prepped for a move. But I’m not sure why. Other than it has one of the best views in the river valley. I guess someone made the owners an offer they couldn’t refuse, for that piece of property. But it’s all so weird. I may never know where that house ends up. And I’m slightly nervous about what will be erected in its place.

We have no exciting plans to report for this weekend…save for some tentative plans to hang out with friends and family. And I’m half-considering dragging the little man to the Eleni Mandell in-store appearance at Treehouse Records on Sunday. But next weekend, dang, it’s gonna be action-packed. First off, on Friday “Cowboy Bepop: The Movie” opens at select Landmark Theaters, happily including one of ours (not “ours” in that we suddenly own a theater, dang, but that would be cool…but “ours” in the sense that one located in our town. Or a town adjacent to our town. Well, you get the idea). Hoping to take my Dad to see it, at any rate. Then there’s the Free First Saturday at the Walker. The theme for April? Community Map: Celebrate your neighborhood and see how it fits into the global community. Also Saturday…Bettie Serveert will be playing. Unfortunately their show is appoximately the same time that David Sedaris will be appearing at the State Theater. There is a chance we could catch Sedaris first, then cruise over to the Entry to catch the show…depending on the number of opening bands they’ve got, and how long Sedaris speaks. Hmmm. Hopefully it will be do-able. Then Sunday? Resting and relaxing after all the excitement. That’s the plan at least. We’ll see how the reality turns out.

I’m not going to say Merlin Mann’s recent post put me in my place, but it did give me pause.
“Given the din of enthusiastic bloggers who have switched from being experts on cheese sandwiches and kitty cats to full-on public policy wonks, you’d have to infer that there’s a whole lot of ravenous web surfers changing sides one way or another and back everyday. You know, from the persuasive arguments, and the links, and all. But I don’t think it’s happening. No, far from it.”
I have strong feelings and opinions on this subject, but I think my general stance is obvious by now…and not likely to change any minds. So I’ll leave the more poetic posting to the likes of Anne Lammott and others.
“But when we pay attention, we can see just as much messy mercy and hilarious grace as ever: Yesterday at Sam’s tiny school, the kindergarteners and first graders were out on the field when military planes flew overhead. They were so afraid, but when Peggy, their teacher, told them they were safe, that the planes were headed for the Middle East, the children relaxed. They watched. Then one smart child began to wonder if there might be children in the Middle East, too, and that these pilots just didn’t know that. The children began to fret and Peggy could not lie and tell them there weren’t children in the country where the army planes were headed. So they found a giant sheet of paper, and colored it with a peace dove bigger than any of them, and they got the older kids to come help, and they all signed their names, so Army planes flying overhead could see it: The kids kept telling Peggy that the pilots just must not have known. And now they would not go to the country where they might accidentally bomb children. So even amid the smashing and crashing and terrible silences, the trees are all in blossom, and it’s soft and warm and bright. Spring is pushing through.”
I’ll still give the occasional heads up regarding regional and/or online events that seem relevant to readers. But maybe I’ll stick to my path…to documenting the distractions that I am more of an expert on. Like books, Buffy, music, movies, and my little man. Shown below, smiling…and singing in a lack of rain.

Protest / Escapism. Finding myself switching off from one to the other. If I pay attention too closely to the brutality of this obscene and unjust war I’m prone to panic attacks. But as powerless as I think I am, it still feels good to speak out against it…to and with friends and co-workers…by contacting my “representatives” and by adding my mass to the masses…so the world knows we’re not all going along with baby Bush’s joy ride. But I don’t have the energy to keep it up constantly. So I need to take little breaks from reality (when haven’t I?) and escape into my distractions. Currently I’m in the middle of “100 Years of Solitude“, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, which I’ve been meaning to read for some time. Also enjoying some recently acquired music by: Au Pairs, Bangs, Erase Errata, i am the world trade center, Mirah, Peaches, Signal to Trust, The Sound, and Ten Grand, to name a few. And I’ve compiled this baker’s dozen list (couldn’t narrow it down to a top ten) of some of my all-time favorite movies, to be used as needed.
01. “The Princess Bride“
02. “In the Mood For Love“
03. “Amelie“
04. “Happy Accidents“
05. “Double Happiness“
06. “Anna Magdalena“
07. “Strictly Ballroom“
08. “Antonia’s Line“
09. “The Big Lebowski“
10. “Moonstruck“
11. “Almost Famous“
12. “Muriel’s Wedding“
13. “About a Boy“
But there will be plenty more opportunies to get back to speaking out, to be sure.

It was an interesting weekend. The weather was the best we’ve had in a long time. And was partially responsible for me staying awake Friday night, long enough to see “Punch-drunk Love” at the dollar theater. And Saturday was a beautiful, almost balmy day for hanging out at the coffee shop, playing at the playground…and going to a protest. The three of us took part in the Neighbors for Peace March & Rally. To my surprise we made it through the entire route, with J and I taking turns pulling the little man in his little wagon. And about halfway through we picked up a hitchhiker. One tired-looking mother asked if her exhausted daughter could rideshare with our monkey. J was pulling the wagon at the time (and most of the time, really) so I let him be the judge. But he was up to the challenge. Also surprising, the sheer number of people attending. All told there were about ten thousand of us, roused from a long winter of hibernation. But by the end of the march I was ready to backslide into sleepyland. The rally looked promising, but we were beat and opted to have an early dinner out instead. On the way home from a fine meal, the monkey fell asleep in the car. And didn’t wake up until the next morning. When he did arise, I was slightly achey and didn’t have the spring in my step that I’d had the morning before. So we got out and about a little later, but still with plenty of time to revisit the coffee shop and playground. Where we played, obviously, and got to know some of our neighbors a little better. Especially the two sets of twins, all siblings belonging to one amazing single mom. Which reminds me how easy I’ve got it, with just one monkey to look after…and in general, compared to most.

On my way back from lunch I drove past these posters. They reminded me of a story I’d recently heard. A work friend had been out with one of his sons. As they’d driven past a similar sign, declaring baby Bush to be a moron, my friend chuckled and asked his twelve year-old what he thought of that. His son took a moment before replying.
“Well…I wouldn’t call him a moron. But I’d say he’s making some very bad decisions.”
Kids these days.

So, to reiterate…Clarinex=bad. For me, anyhow. I’ll be taking it the next time I want to simulate a hangover, replete with the dry-heaves and spinning rooms. Which is to say, never. I am feeling better now. And I managed to muddle through an evening alone with the little man, as J had gone to last night’s protest. Which I would have joined. If I’d felt up to it. I considered taking the monkey to the Children’s Museum instead. But if I didn’t have the stamina to stand or march at a protest, chasing an active three year-old around the MCM was out of the question. The more feasible alternative, a trip to the neighborhood coffee shop for beverages and a snack. As he’s getting older the monkey is having less trouble in public places. More sitting still, less wreaking of the havoc. And he picks up after himself when we’re out and about. Much more so than he does at home. Go figure. So after a blissfully uneventful visit we headed home for more lounging, and some music listening. Mainly Ida’s children’s album, “You Are My Flower“. He particularly enjoys their rendition of “Jingle Bells”, and would prefer that I left that song on repeat until every last shred of my sanity has slipped away, down the drain. Instead I allowed the CD to play on, incurring his wrath for a bit. Until he fell asleep, curled up against me in the comfy chair.

Was just looking at the blog of an Iraqi citizen, and noticed this great quote:
“the West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do.” — Samuel Huntington

In more local news…well, very local…news relating to me…I am at home today. Sick. I’ve been ill for a while now, but finally went to the doctor just yesterday. She prescribed Clarinex (for my allergies). Which seems to be making me feel worse. Woke up dizzy and queasy. Gonna go lie down now. Yeah.