Blog OnBlog Onhttp://www.karenrugg.com/blog/2010-01-28T18:34:26ZSquarespaceRiot Acthttp://www.karenrugg.com/blog/2010/1/28/riot-act.htmlKaren Rugg2010-01-28T18:21:24Z2010-01-28T18:21:24ZGot read one last night. Politicians did. And deservedly so.

I have this sinking feeling that if we were all ever really able to pay real attention to what politicians at the federal level have done to damage and disrupt our lives, I'd be searching for an exit door pretty quick.

At least the Republicans didn't sit on their bums during last night's State of the Union. To not show any sign of unity or agreement is just what divides us even further. Get out of your chairs! Act like adults who give a damn! I would have given *anything* to see one Republican stand up and applaud when no one else in his/her party was doing so.

What turns the tide is unity. What turns the tide is people reaching out and shaking hands -- making connections however they can. Become the better man. Become the better woman. 

What lifts spirits and energizes hearts is acting from a place that you weren't before -- the next level, the one where the "I" becomes "i" and the "Me" becomes "We." When courage pushes you from behind and pulls you ahead.

That, and Barack's smile.

]]>Focus on Fluteshttp://www.karenrugg.com/blog/2010/1/25/focus-on-flutes.htmlKaren Rugg2010-01-25T14:44:12Z2010-01-25T14:44:12ZI got myself involved in organizing an annual Native American Flute festival. And so I've learned that, if you want to see something move forward, you have to become involved.

As many times as I've tried to stay on the periphery, it doesn't work.

And with it come all the requisite headaches, stresses and occasional high moments when everything runs well.

It's worth it, though. As a medallion embedded in the wood of my first harp says, "Music Will Save the World." Not only that, music shapes it, defines it, soothes and heals it.

Got music? :)

]]>The Blog Black Holehttp://www.karenrugg.com/blog/2010/1/17/the-blog-black-hole.htmlKaren Rugg2010-01-18T02:32:15Z2010-01-18T02:32:15ZDoes this happen to everyone? I started this blog because I wanted to have my own space. To express myself. My authentic voice and my truth. To write. Because that's what I do. I write.

And then nothing happens. For a long time. Little thoughts and ideas come up but they come up when I'm driving or when I'm jogging or when I'm doing other work. And it's too hard and it's too inconvenient and it's too time-consuming to log in and write them down. And it's easier to write a Facebook status or a Tweet because there are all kinds of other people there, too. And I know they'll read what I wrote because they kinda have to.

So, this blog canvas remains blank for longer than I like. But I'm here now. 

And that's something.

]]>The Lowes Effecthttp://www.karenrugg.com/blog/2009/10/8/the-lowes-effect.htmlKaren Rugg2009-10-08T13:01:56Z2009-10-08T13:01:56ZI'm renovating my kitchen. Completely.

This means a lot of research and visioning and planning and scoping things out. So I ventured for the first time to a nearby Lowes to dive into the world of countertops and flooring. Just to see what's out there.

I discovered something else. That, in the land of home improvement -- at Lowes or Home Depot or wherever -- everyone becomes one in confusion, searching, deciding between options. You're all in it together. Strangers talk to strangers. Strangers help strangers find something. Strangers stand next to each other and trade ideas or opinions or a "hey, I never thought of doing that!."

Strangers pass each other and smile at the mirrored bewildered look on the other person's face.

It happened to me a few times at Lowes.

I found the place an unexpected and odd nexus for camraderie. Ad oddly reassuring feeling as I know I'll have to go back again.

Nice to know my fellow renovators have my back as I head for the front line.

]]>Velvet Nighthttp://www.karenrugg.com/blog/2009/9/22/velvet-night.htmlKaren Rugg2009-09-22T13:53:48Z2009-09-22T13:53:48ZLast night was a velvet night.

One of those evenings when the air feels like it's part of your own being. It's not too hot or cold or windy or stinky or sticky. It's right there and it's a pleasure to move through it.

The sky was that Maxfield Parrish blue. I've mentioned that before because it happens a lot in this part of the country at this time of year.

People were moving more slowly and smiling more often.

And the wonderful little yellow-and-black Smart Car buzzed past me on the way home. It always makes me smile.

A little metal bumblebee flying through the late summer night.

]]>When Fiction Becomes Fictionhttp://www.karenrugg.com/blog/2009/9/9/when-fiction-becomes-fiction.htmlKaren Rugg2009-09-09T22:40:19Z2009-09-09T22:40:19ZWhen does someone's reading tastes shift from fiction to non-fiction?

After a life spent growing up on science fiction or mystery or adventure, why does someone shift entirely to stories taken from real life?

What shifts inside a psyche that causes it to no longer find escape or inspiration in characters of other times or worlds but in the characters of the World?

It's not that one is "better" than the other. Or more "real" than the other. Or more "substantive" than the other. Not at all.

I so rarely pick up a fiction book any longer. Only when written by the few remaining authors I follow and trust.

Instead, the bookshelves are bending under hardcovers (easier to read the bigger type with these older eyes) about advocates and journalists and suffragists and immigrants and Native Americans and essayists and senators-now-presidents.

Just wondering.

 

]]>Brennan's Video Blog Entryhttp://www.karenrugg.com/blog/2009/9/5/brennans-video-blog-entry.htmlKaren Rugg2009-09-05T19:03:08Z2009-09-05T19:03:08ZAnd here's a video of Brennan.

 

]]>Amazing NPR Interviewhttp://www.karenrugg.com/blog/2009/9/5/amazing-npr-interview.htmlKaren Rugg2009-09-05T18:54:50Z2009-09-05T18:54:50ZYou have *got* to listen to this interview by Scott Simon with 9-year-old journlist Brennan LaBrie.

Just makes you smile your a** off.

 

]]>Flute Sharinghttp://www.karenrugg.com/blog/2009/9/3/flute-sharing.htmlKaren Rugg2009-09-04T00:58:41Z2009-09-04T00:58:41ZHad the chance to play my Native American flutes at St. Elmo's CoffeePub last Friday. The picture's courtesy of staff member Brett, who had posted it at Elmo's Facebook page. (Fan them!)

I answered lots of questions. Lulled some kids to sleep (that's a good thing). Got into a couple of pretty cool and deep improvs.

I am so grateful to be in this neighborhood that gives me the chance to stretch my wings, uh, fingers, uh, breath. All that stuff.

]]>Thank Youhttp://www.karenrugg.com/blog/2009/8/29/thank-you.htmlKaren Rugg2009-08-30T00:21:27Z2009-08-30T00:21:27ZThank you to Ted Kennedy and all the Kennedy's who have given so much to the cause of public service. Thank you to the people who worked so hard to organize everything today. Thank you to the many people who visited him at the library and the church and the Capitol steps and the streets through Washington and across the bridge into Arlington Cemetery. Thank you to the military personnel who move so gracefully and precisely and beautifully and in the true spirit of protecting those who should be protected and honored. Thank you to the pilots who flew everyone around safely today. Thank you to Chris Matthews of MSNBC for saying what I'd been thinking all day, "I've never seen so many good-looking children in one place." Thank you to the congressional staff for their service. Thank you to those who revealed stories of his sailing and his love of the sea. I understand now. Thank you to President Obama for your grace and beautiful smile and empathy.

And gently, into the good night.

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