"Author David Kherdian is coming home to Racine"

From The Journal Times.com:

LEE B. ROBERTS lee.roberts@journaltimes.com

"Internationally acclaimed author and poet David Kherdian is coming home for a visit this month.

"The Racine native — whose large volume of work often draws inspiration from his time growing up here in the late 1930s and 1940s — recently released his memoir titled 'Root River Return' (http://root-river-return.tumblr.com). And he’d like to celebrate its release — along with the donation of his collected works to the Racine Heritage Museum last year — with his hometown community.

"Kherdian — who currently lives in New York state with his wife, award-winning writer/illustrator Nonny Hogrogian — will do so through a series of free public events being held in Racine May 19 through 24. His appearances have been coordinated by the Racine Heritage Museum, working in conjunction with other local organizations and individuals including the Racine Literacy Council, Racine Public Library, Racine Interfaith Coalition, Racine Arts Council, City of Racine, Root River Council and Racine’s poet laureate, Nick Ramsey (see accompanying story for event details).

“'David’s got such a huge body of work and so much of it is so locally significant,' said Chris Paulson, executive director of the RHM. 'Each event will provide different glimpses into his life and his work.'

"In addition to being great opportunities for both people who are familiar with Kherdian’s work, and those who want to know more about it, the programs will also provide insight to anyone interested in local history, Paulson said.

“'We will be rediscovering the community through his work,' he said.

"Kherdian said he is looking forward to once again exploring the city’s river, lake and park areas, as well as Downtown. It will be his first time back in Racine since 2008.

"In preparation for his trip here, the award-winning writer answered the following questions for Journal Times readers. More about Kherdian is also available at www.facebook.com/davidkherdian.author and www.beechhillpublishingcompany.com/2015—featured-author.html."

Read more:  http://journaltimes.com/lifestyles/relationships-and-special-occasions/author-david-kherdian-is-coming-home-to-racine/article_7c5294b0-9412-57a0-8a07-4d147bda347a.html

"David Kherdian's Racine appearances:" http://journaltimes.com/lifestyles/relationships-and-special-occasions/david-kherdian-s-racine-appearances/article_218058b3-07ca-5dd7-b2db-cb6d930f60b2.html


I've read some of his work.  He grew up around State Street, which used to be lined with small businesses of all kinds.

BC

Lucky worm!

Open Blog - Weekend

Please marry me.

"KATSU Drone Drawing 2015 on Kendall Jenner"

A graffiti drone.

For Lizardmom

Mercury and the Pleiades

Mercury is putting on its best show of the year in the evening sky for northern hemisphere observers. It is easy to spot well below the VERY bright Venus. Just passed the Pleiades cluster. Here are a few shots from Wednesday night.

Pimping it out with the iconic saguaros in the foreground. Mercury reaches its greatest height above the horizon around May 6th and will quickly get more difficult to spot after that.

No Comment From Me

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone and welcome back! So nice being on vacation..... I could get used to this. The rest and relaxation. Anyways, your questions...

1) What is the weirdest bit of news you heard lately?

2) Would you ever want to experience a paintball match?

3) Did you ever have a fish tank?

4) Whom do you "pick on" or tease the most?

Enjoy your weekend!  

Open Blog - Friday

Happy May!

"The AVERT Project"

http://new.avertproject.eu/

Now any car can be stolen, er, moved, by remote control.

Dog Plays With Himself

Alltime10s Thursdays

Open Blog - Thursday

What are you thankful for?

"Substitute Teacher Squares Off With Belligerent Student"

"School days, school days, dear old Golden Rule days..."

"Baltimore mom who smacked son during riots: 'I don't want him to be a Freddie Gray' | FULL VIDEO"

If that kid grows up straight, he can thank his mom.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my sugars and spices!  How are you?  It got pretty warm yesterday, but it’s supposed to be cooler today.  Don’t worry.  More 60+ degree days are in the forecast.  Admittedly, Ms. OKIE and Ms. Beejay are well into their springs.  The rest of us must be tortured by winter in order to appreciate spring.  What the hell is the matter with us?  Why do we take the punishment?  We should become snowbirds.  Next winter, Ms. Beejay and Ms. OKIE, expect guests.  Lots of them.  For the whole winter.  Maybe longer.  See you then.

At least the daffodils and some tulips have bloomed.  There are many more tulips to come.  And many more other flowers to bloom.  And many more trees to leave in.  And many more shrubs to do the same.  People are mowing their lawns.  That’s a sure sign of spring.  Once again I consider ripping out all the grass around the house and replacing it with green concrete.  I know that Junior, who usually cuts the lawn, is all in favor of my idea.  Señor Zanza, not so.

Oh, come on, I’d never take out whatever turf we have.  The more organic green, from chlorophyll produced during photosynthesis, is my green.  You can’t run barefoot on hot, green concrete.  And if you fall, ouch!  You can’t even grow dandelions on concrete.  As Joni Mitchell, who either is or is not in a coma, once sang in “Big Yellow Taxi:”

“They took all the trees                                    

Put 'em in a tree museum
And they charged the people                                       
A dollar and a half just to see 'em”

I like the feeling of earth under my feet.  Too bad I’m getting too old, too heavy, and too self-conscious to walk around barefoot anymore.  At least, outside of my yard.  I think I broke a toe once on the grass.  It snagged on something, and the fourth toe on the left foot dragged lower than the other toes, turning purple.  I had to watch how I walked for awhile when I had on only sox or slippers.  I still snagged the toe a few more times before it finally healed.  I screamed in agony each time.  Such a small toe, but such a big pain.  Reminds me of young Junior.  No, just teasing.  Actually, I’m quite proud of him.  When you’ve gone through the things that he has, it usually leaves a negative attitude.  But Junior bounces right back up from adversity.  Maybe some of that “baby fat” is flubber.

Rev. Melvin Hargrove has been elected the head of the Racine Unified School District: http://journaltimes.com/news/local/hargrove-elected-school-board-president/article_8d168807-2072-57bc-abbb-2cf0e4b9748a.html That’s the same Rev. Hargrove who recently lost against Mr. Mayor Dickert in Racine’s mayoral election.  Out of the frying pan and into the fire, eh, Rev. Hargrove?  I wouldn’t want either job.

It bothers me that people post blogs and comments like this one by Ms. Polly Pundit: http://www.jtirregulars.com/2015/04/the-bad-news-keeps-coming.html   There’s a vague uneasiness, a malaise, which has affected our country.  Nothing seems to make sense anymore.  Nothing seems worth fighting for.  We are a land of people staring down into our gadgets while the world goes passing by.  I feel like a runaway train is headed our way, but it’s too far away to make out much now.

That’s it for this week, my dears.  I humbly thank you for visiting my place on the internet.  I love getting visitors.  The more the merrier.  Tell all your friends, Madame Zoltar® loves them.

Turn your blender into a lawn mower: MadameZoltar@jtirregulars.com

Enjoy whatever good weather we get.  It just feels better with all the snow melted.  I love the Irregulars and regulars.  I think we can love evil to death. 

Open Blog - Wednesday

Too much information.

"Is This What They Mean By Belly Dancing?"

From Break:



This makes me seasick.

Open Blog - Tuesday

Have a good one!

Attention!

God, I feel sorry for the old-timers who live here.  We get notes like this posted all over the place.  Simple stuff, like telling people not to throw trash in the hallways.  When they dropped the 55 age limit, the animals started moving in.

Someone on a bike is doing donuts in the basement parking area.  People are propping doors open that are supposed to remain shut.  I hear stereos blasting.  And on and on.  These are our "golden years." 

Open Blog - Monday

Don't let the boss see you doing that.

Expectations vs. Reality

From Knuckledraggin My Life Away:

Those gosh-darned Baby Boomers.

"Margarita's Epiitaph"

 

 

Read more: http://neveryetmelted.com/2015/04/21/margaritas-epitaph/


That's quite a grave marker for a dog.  She must've been something.

The Bad News Keeps Coming

Where are our tax dollars really going?  Are we funding the state as we should be, or are we funding a campaign to elect a president from Wisconsin? Where is Scotty? Shaking hands in Iowa again, you say?

Let's have the real truth on how that budget you are so proud of is working for the residents of your state. Now even the wealthier cities are beginning to cry that they can't fund their school districts on the upcoming cuts to education. Our state pride of UW-Madison is buying out seasoned professors.

Where are those 250,000 jobs you promised? You are looking to outsource and sell off our clean water to private investors, our farm fields to mining and drilling, our state parks. Your representatives have pushed through legislation to allow anyone to buy a gun without a waiting period, when shootings are occurring at a record pace.

Your own party is saying enough is enough.  

Our state is crashing and burning!

photo courtesy of Megan McCormick

http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/story/news/local/2015/04/25/wisconsin-roads-third-worst-nation-study-finds/26377551/