A Pebble Cast

Today I threw a pebble into my community pond. I treasured watching every ripple it created and was amazed at the instantaneousness of it all.

I planned a meeting a couple of weeks ago with two of the organizers from ERACCE. We got together over coffee to talk about what I might know about anti-racism work in Battle Creek.

At one point in the conversation I mentioned I was looking for volunteer opportunities. Almost as soon as I said it, a woman one of my associates knew walked in. I was introduced to “Denise from Fire.” As I was introduced, she was told I was looking to volunteer. Seems all I had to do was throw that first pebble.

And so, I’m off to expand my view of Kalamazoo!

Limbo Again?

I’m still hopeful in a big-picture way. But feeling very constricted on a micro level today.

My frustration with politics in this country is hugely amplified by the absence of my amazing, adventurous friend. This in turn has sent me inward to a very uncomfortable place. The place that feels lonely and hopeless. It paralyzes me.

I want to talk about how wrong it all is, what we can do to fix it, then dance and sing and end the evening with outstanding sex. Not having that outlet, and the thought that this once-in-a-lifetime connection is gone forever, is making it very hard to move forward today.

So, this is a thanks to the Suburban Farmer for the reminder that this too shall pass.

Open Again, and Ready for Twenty-Ten

I learned last week that my work hours are being cut. Initially I was filled with anxiety and panic. My mind went to thoughts like “How am I going to make it on so much less?” “What if something happens to my car/house/cat, etc?”

It was disturbing because I had really embraced the “idea” of 2010 and all it’s possibilities. Nothing negative was getting in the way. Over the last five months of 2009, I had begun to open up after making an incredible new friend. He made me realize a lot of things about myself — and, our "relationship" was pure fun! I am so grateful for that experience.

But, he’s moved on to a new and really exciting chapter in his life — along with many other people close to me. I am very happy for all of them. Thinking of them seemed to keep me “open” to new possibilities in my own life.

So I got quiet and stopped the panic. Instead, I reflected deeply on the abundance I DO have, and began to think about “what’s next” for me (there’s that question again!). And, in doing so, I realize that I have been given a gift. Less money will definitely challenge me to do things differently, and that’s a good thing. Plus, having more time will allow me to focus on my community — something I’ve thought a lot about, but have taken very little action on.

I am a very lucky person indeed. I still have a job, a place to live, food to eat, a healthy body and people who love me. I am open and ready — for whatever 2010 brings my way! I may even post more meaningful entries — or at least more interesting! (I just hope one of the first "challenges" of the year is not Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat going to a Republican!)

Mislead by the Washington Post

Not that I'm surprised, but an article in the Washington Post last night gave me the impression that the public option was still a part of the Senate health care reform bill. But, I see now that they have substituted a PRIVATE plan for a government-run public option.

This is outrageous! Private plans are UNACCEPTABLE. Corporate control of our health care system is why millions of American's end up going bankrupt or become homeless year after year. What is WRONG with these weak don't-know-what-to-do-with-the-power-they've-been-given Democrats! This country overwhelmingly elected them a year ago to CHANGE things in this country. What a bunch of cowards!

Fight for the public option! Contact your Senators now!

The View is Getting Wider

The View from Kalamazoo has a new contributor! T Roosevelt Con and I have been talking politics and social justice issues since we met about four months ago. There have been some really great discussions between us, and I hope we can continue the conversation and share it with a wider audience on this blog.

Gaudy Gateway vs Saving East Hall

I’ve been thinking about this post since the new “gateway” at the intersection of Lovell, Oakland and Stadium Dr. was built in 2008. I’ve been so pissed off about it, I’ve had a hard time writing something that didn’t sound like a lunatic rant. Still not sure it doesn’t.


I visited East Hall this spring with my sister-in-law and took these photos. Whenever I have visitors from out of town, it is the one place I’m sure to take them. (All the photo’s in my blog header where taken there). I’ve recently discovered that many people that grew up in Kalamazoo have never seen this view either. After showing it to just such a friend, and sharing my passion on the subject, he told me that “people need to know it’s there — there needs to be a reason for them to go up there and see it.” I argued for a museum, but he said “museum’s don’t make money.” So now I’m on a mission to share it with everyone I talk to. If I can get a small, determined group of people to help, East Hall might have a chance for survival.


When I took these photos in April, it was covered with graffiti. I was happy to see that it had been cleaned up when I visited recently with my new friend. The Friends of Historic East Campus (formerly the Friends of East Hall) have cared for the building as best they can and they have made some progress in talking with WMU and the City about preserving the building.



The “gateway” cost over $650,000 — that kind of money would have gone a long way to make some of the much needed repairs to this historic building. East Hall is the original site of Western Michigan Normal School — now Western Michigan University. The City donated the site —Prospect Hill — to Western in 1904 for the purpose of creating an institute of higher education. WMU seems determined to let it crumble and fall. It’s not a priority for them. Instead, they want to build a new medical school (even though Kalamazoo already has one on East Campus) and have started to raise the money for it. That recent news has sparked my concerned about the fate of this beautiful, historic building and it’s view of our City. (I question many of WMU’s decisions, and even more so the City’s willingness to go along with them — no matter how they impact the neighborhoods around them. How can the City thrive without being trampled by this giant?)



I’ve been struck with an idea that I think could be a great joint venture for Western and the City. A way to partner in saving East Hall and create business opportunities and jobs while saving the view of Kalamazoo for all it’s citizens. More on that later.

What do you think? Isn’t East Hall worth saving? Sign the petition!

Life is Full of Surprises

Good ones, like meeting someone in real life that you really click with. A huge surprise because if I had read a “profile,” of this person, I would have passed him by in a quick minute. Lots of other reasons this connection was a surprise, but suffice it to say, it made the end of the summer (and the beginning of autumn — my favorite time of year) one of the best of my life.

And not so good ones, like hanging out on my patio with above friend and my next door neighbor last weekend having drinks, grilling dinner and watching in disbelief as two young, white males come walking down the hill in back of my house. They came from “the big house” at the top of the hill. They walked down along the fence line, and I wondered to myself (and then out loud) what are these guys doing? “Are they coming down to introduce themselves as neighbors?” No! They were cutting through my yard — with all the privilege and arrogance of GW Bush himself. “Steve” claimed that he thought “Greg” knew us (he sure acted like it). But “Greg” was the biggest little prick I’ve ever had the misfortune of “meeting.” He felt he had every right to just cut through my yard with no comment to me, no introduction — or explanation! I’m still in shock.

Good thing my friend was there. He was able to calm me down, and have a somewhat civilized conversation with them. Got us to introduce ourselves. (I was outraged and ready to punch that little prick!) It was a very good example of the entitlement this most recent crop of WMU students have. It’s shocking to me, though I’m not sure why. I see examples of it everyday living in Kalamazoo. I guess it was because it was literally in my own back yard.