Friday, January 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Appreciation
This house is where my husband lived for three years; I moved in during my senior year of college. I always tell him to consider himself lucky because no other girl would have moved in there.
It all started when my husband (then my boyfriend) was looking for a place to move off-campus after our freshman year at Shawnee State University. He and his friend Cory found a nice rental property near campus and planned to live with several other guys. However, on move-in day, three of the others backed out, leaving Neil and Cory to split a $900 rent. They both worked on campus for $5.15 an hour. Obviously it wasn't going to work. They were stuck in a bad position since the quarter was about to begin and most apartments and rental houses had already been claimed by other students.
Neil and I headed back to Cincinnati to his parents' house to regroup and try to figure out his living arrangements. We had just settled in when Cory called. He'd found a place, he said, and the rent was less than $200. Surely this must be some sort of mistake, we thought.
I clearly recall arriving back in Portsmouth that night to see the place Cory had discovered. The previous tenants had already moved out, he said, but the landlord didn't know that yet. The guys said we could just walk right in because they left the door unlocked.
Immediately upon entering, I noticed a huge piece of furniture blocking our way. We reached to flip the switches, but the electricity had been shut off. In total darkness, we made our way through the foyer with its chipped and missing tiles, then up a rickety staircase. With flashlights, we peeked into each room. One had a dirty mattress on the bare floor and a floor model television. The bathtub was black with mold. The fridge drawer was filled with...(warning!) maggots and rotting food. I looked at Cory and asked him if he was kidding. He wasn't.
Out of options, they talked to the landlord the next day and moved in. I helped clean and paint and pretty soon it was livable. Not up to standards most people would accept, but it was what it was.
Eventually, Cory moved out and his friend from Australia, BJ, moved in. Lastly, during my senior year, BJ was gone and it was my turn to experience life in what was affectionately called "The Rat's Nest." Over the years when I both stayed and lived there, we experienced an ice storm, when we had no electricity for a week and the toilet was frozen, a bat crawling in through a hole in the ceiling and more bar fights in the alley behind the house than I care to admit to watching.
We were poor. We both attended school full time and worked when we could get hours at the library or communication office. Every dime went to simply living. The only saving grace in those days was that the house was directly across the street from campus.
The photos above are from the day before we moved out (top) and what the house looks like now that it has been renovated and rented out again (bottom). It's a lot cleaner and safer these days.
Today, we're back in Cincinnati living in a comfortable ranch home. We were married a year after college graduation. We've been through master's programs, first jobs and are settling into careers. For all of life's blessings, we are not quick to forget where we lived on Third Street in Portsmouth. We keep a framed photo of the house on a shelf as a symbol to remind us that we once lived far below our present lifestyle and we survived. When money is tight or we hear someone complain that they can't afford life's luxuries, we simply smile and know that we are safe if we ever have to live like that again. We made it.
This is a poem I wrote in jest when leaving and moving back to Cincinnati:
Sonnet for 927 ½ 3rd Street
Shall I weep to part from thee, you old house?
Your leaky ceiling and windows rattling
with each passing Portsmouth wind that doth rouse?
O! This landlord’s lease we seem to be battling!
Sometimes, this house in summer a hot hell,
and often, in dread winter, as cold as ice.
Why? Tell me, why here of all places dwell?
Is there no fairer place, for better price?
It has seen the flood, and often students
who paid the paltry sum destroyed its halls
Undergraduates, oft less than prudent,
kicked in doors, ripped up tiles and scratched the walls.
As long as I breath, shall always recall
Complaining, but surviving, after all.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Guerilla Knitting
gu
Though I find it to be interesting, most cities and towns would call traditional graffiti a nuisance and eyesore. I think you would be hard-pressed to find someone who objects to the growing trend of guerilla knitting!
That's right. Instead of cans of spray paint, these artists knit cozies around fence posts, on signs, and even on bench slats. From what I've seen, some actually knit on the spot, but most knit pieces at home and then stitch them to whatever needs a little color and fun!
I spotted these examples in one of my favorite towns. Yellow Springs, Ohio is always a pleasure to visit since the people are generally kind, laid back and creative.
These particular examples are by the Jafagirls:
Though I find it to be interesting, most cities and towns would call traditional graffiti a nuisance and eyesore. I think you would be hard-pressed to find someone who objects to the growing trend of guerilla knitting!
That's right. Instead of cans of spray paint, these artists knit cozies around fence posts, on signs, and even on bench slats. From what I've seen, some actually knit on the spot, but most knit pieces at home and then stitch them to whatever needs a little color and fun!
I spotted these examples in one of my favorite towns. Yellow Springs, Ohio is always a pleasure to visit since the people are generally kind, laid back and creative.
These particular examples are by the Jafagirls:
http://jafagirlart.blogspot.com
A big thank you to the artists who brightened up my day! I was in Yellow Springs with my husband to research for a book chapter and this was a pleasant surprise, especially since I had not been to the town in some time.Thursday, December 18, 2008
Family Heirloom
I am a big believer in objects having meaning only insofar as it is given to them.
For instance, I have to laugh a little when I see jewelry commercials this time of year advertising the newest jewelry design that "means" something. The three-stone ring or necklace, for instance, means past, present and future only because that jewelry company says so.
While many meanings are given to things in order to sell them, this phenomena can also have a positive function.
Most people have some sort of heirloom--I wear my husband's grandmother's engagement ring--but them meanings we give to them usually have more value than the object itself.
Pictured above is a piece of garland that is a section of the original, longer one. This hung on my grandmother's tree when she was little. She lived in a cabin with no electricity, so there were no Christmas lights. The aluminum discs of the garland captured the light from the fireplace, illuminating the tree.
My mom and my aunt each have a piece, and when I married, my mom cut a section for me that now hangs on my own tree. I paused for a moment this year when I hung it next to my high-tech LEDs. What a difference two generations makes.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Symbolism and Christmas
The symbol of the season, a fresh-cut evergreen tree, is one I will accept no substitutes for. For as long as I remember, my family has trekked in the freezing cold in search of the perfect tree. Now that I'm married, my husband and I still go with my family but get a tree of our own as well.
In addition to symbols passed down from the yule log tradition, each ornament on my mom and dad's tree, and now on ours, means something. I respect the preference some people have for matchy-matchy sets of color-coordinated ornaments, but my family trees are a mish-mash of antiques, baubles purchased on journeys all over, and even some made in elementary school. Though I am not always a sentimental person, it does give me pause to take each ornament out of its newspaper wrapping and reflect on when and where I came into possession of it. I have ornaments from my travels in Europe, some that were wedding gifts, some passed down from the days when my grandmother lived in a log cabin with no electricity. When I really think about it, I realize that my yearly Christmas tree is in many ways a collection of the symbols of my life.
We're decorating the tree tomorrow, so more pics coming soon!
Enjoy these pictures of 2008's Christmas tree, found at Dirr Nurseries in Goshen, Ohio.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Leo Petroglyph
According to the Ohio Historical Society, Leo Petroglyph contains 37 carvings that depict humans and animals. The Fort Ancient Indians are the likely creators.
The carvings appear on a large piece of sandstone on the edge of a large ravine, making it susceptible to weather and erosion; it’s isolated location and minimal barriers make it a target for vandals who like to add to the ancient carvings.
With tightening budgets, I wonder how well this attraction is patrolled. Sadly, the signs have been damaged and the rock is protected by what is basically a picnic shelter. It seems odd, somehow, to be able to have a picnic near what may very well be a religious or ceremonial relic.
Nobody knows for sure what the carvings mean, though to me it appears to be a hunting scene of some sort. Most intriguing is a monster-like horned figure that may represent a shaman or mythical beast.
If you are ever in the
Leo Petroglyph is near the village of Leo, five miles northwest of Jackson, in
It’s also wise to call ahead to make sure there are no unexpected or special closings. When we attempted to visit Fort Hill on the same trip, the trails were closed for deer season.
Phone:
614-297-2630
1-800-686-1535 (toll free)
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/se05/index.shtml
Sunday, November 23, 2008
50th Post- My favorite stone so far
Today was sunny and a little warmer than it has been, so my husband and I set out to find some cemeteries and take some photos.
The day was cut short by a terrible Ohio Valley sinus headache, but not before we captured some fantastic stones with symbols we'd never come across before. More posts will follow, as we found a mother lode of ornate gravestones at Stonelick Township's Rapp Cemetery, but I wanted to celebrate my 50th post with this particular one.
According to Beth over at Grave Addiction, whose site I visit often, this scene of Father Time and a weeping virgin is chock-full of interesting symbols. She writes:
To further elaborate, the sprig of acacia is a commonly used Masonic symbol of purity and resurrection. It also has significance in funerary practice as it represents immortality and resurrection. In addition, incense is made from certain parts of the tree and there is speculation that it was an acacia tree that appeared in the Christian Bible as the burning bush.[This is a] Masonic carving. The carving consists of a weeping virgin holding a sprig of acacia in one hand, and an urn in the other hand. A broken column is in front of her. Father Time is behind her, attempting to untangle the ringlets of her hair. It symbolizes that time, patience, and perseverance will accomplish all things.
A broken column represents a life which has ended. An urn can represent the soul. An hourglass representing the passage of time appears beside the male figure's foot. Of course, the Masonic level and compass appears below this scene, further proof connecting this carving to the secret society.
What strikes me most about this stone is the menacing look of Father Time. I noticed the sickle and assumed that's who it was, but at first glance it seemed to sinister, almost devil-like. His pointed ears and angry eyes added to this effect.
If you are ever out for a drive in Clermont County's Stonelick Township, I highly recommend swinging by this cemetery. Check out this site for detailed location.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Serpent Mound
Serpent Mound, located in Adams County, Ohio, is mysterious for many reasons. I've been visiting this effigy mound my entire life, and it never ceases to amaze me. When I was little, I even wrote to the governor when I heard the mound was in danger of washing away due to erosion.
I like to call this Ohio's Stonehenge.
Like Stonehenge, which I have also visited, part of the allure is that nobody quite knows what it's purpose is or was. Also like Stonehenge, it could have had religious, supernatural, funerary or astronomic purposes. In fact, the structure and placement of the mound does seem to match up rather well to locations of heavenly bodies on significant dates.
In yet another strange twist, when my husband and I visited the British Museum in 2003, we found artifacts from this mound and a small display about its history. It was odd to find something so under-appreciated here to be celebrated in one of the world's great museum collections.
This is not a burial mound, though two (or possibly more) are located nearby. In addition to it's cryptic purpose, legend has it a large black panther, obviously not indigenous to Ohio, is spotted by locals. A totem animal perhaps?
I prefer to visit the mound at this time of year. Even though it's cold and you are perched on top of a valley (which incidentally may have been caused by a meteor strike!) where you can feel the chilly wind, it's an excellent time to visit. With fewer people around and no leaves on the trees, you can explore as long as you want and see for miles.
In fact, in just a few weeks, the mound will be edged with hundreds of luminaries to honor the solstice. This is a rare treat, as the park is usually closed after dark. Maybe you can even leave a prayer, as depicted here (don't worry, when we figured out what it was we put it right back).
Check it out on December 21, from 4-8:30 p.m.
For more information, check out these sites:
http://greatserpentmound.com/
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/sw16/index.shtml
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/archaeology/sites/northamerica/serpent.html
And of course a shout out to my favorite Ohio site:
http://www.forgottenoh.com/Counties/Adams/serpent.html
Thursday, November 6, 2008
What this election meant to me
I sat up late watching CNN, transfixed. I watched as state after state went to Barack Obama, recalling nervously how I had waited up all night in college watching the 2004 election results come in only to be disappointed.
Suddenly, a graphic appeared at the bottom of the screen. Obama was the projected winner. Then it was official—President Barack Obama will be sworn in on January 20th, 2009. For the first time in eight years, my heart swelled with pride and I cried tears of joy. After living as a liberal democrat for the past two terms, I (and others like me) had been called a domestic terrorist, unpatriotic, had been blamed for 9/11 (thanks, Ann Coulter and Jerry Falwell) and had been told to leave the country if I had problems with it.
The problem is, I didn’t agree with lies, wiretapping, invisible WMDs, who knew what library books I checked out or with people being tortured and killed on behalf of the citizens of the United States. I also didn’t agree that bringing these things up made me unpatriotic. In fact, I felt they made me more so. Still do.
As I watched Obama walk out onto the stage with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha, I felt my heart lift a little. Putting aside all politics for a moment and focusing strictly on the good feeling of it all, the Obamas are a physical manifestation of the new American ideal. Smart parents, beaming kids…and Barack, a biracial man from an nontraditional family background. How many people in this country can now identify with the next First Family? How many peoples’ hopes were lifted by a speech that acknowledged all sorts of people? How many saw the diversity of the crowd in Grant Park and felt they were right there with them listening to history in the making?
As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve been down about my country. I’ll be honest here. I have hesitated to make overtly patriotic displays or plaster yellow ribbons all over my property not because I don’t love America or support the troops, but because I feared these things were endorsements of ideals and popular opinion I did not share.
I feel that John McCain, while an honorable man, is not in touch with the needs of this nation. We can only take so much strong-arming and toughness before we become callous.
It saddens me that people took Obama’s message of hope and opportunity as a sign of weakness or naïveté. Since when is looking forward and conducting a positive campaign something we should detest or not trust?
While McCain was respectful and fought a good fight, his biggest mistake was putting a self-proclaimed hockey mom in the co-pilot’s seat.
Sarah Palin, while poised and pretty, does not scream substance, but rather shows a pageant queen façade that crumbles at the first hint of a difficult question or even an inquiry as simple as what newspaper she reads. There is a hint of that girl we all knew in high school who hung around the guys, applying lip gloss and occasionally catching a football in gym class, getting in return a cute nickname and a reputation as being tough (for a girl).
Palin is the homecoming queen who gets A’s because she sounds smart and looks good in glasses, hinting at a cross between naughty schoolgirl and sexy librarian, while the smart girl sits in the back and never gets called on or asked out because she doesn’t have the pretty clothes or the Mustang.
Given all the chance in the world, she college hopped, demonstrating a lack of commitment and direction. Given a national platform, she repeatedly defaulted back to cute, winking and saying “you betcha” and “gosh darn.” The faux folksiness and high heels were easy to look past and lost her the pageant (er, election).
While I will not attack her children, who had no choice in this matter, Palin’s hypocritical stances on women’s issues and seeming ignorance that quite a few people out there don’t believe that having children make someone smarter than the rest of us were a major turnoff. While family is important, her strict definition of a family doesn’t cut it for me.
I voted for Barack Hussein Obama. I am proud of that fact. I understand that others distrust him and may be down, angry or even afraid. However, I ask you to let him prove himself. If a bleeding heart like mine survived eight years under Bush, you can at least give him a shot. After all, he is not only the president of me and others like me, but of you and everyone in this country. Make a judgement of his presidency when he has a chance to act, just as I waited to do when Bush took office.
Can this be the president who brings us closer together by overcoming stereotypes, encouraging community and inspiring hope? Does that sound impossible?
Barack Obama has already proven that more is possible now than ever before.
Suddenly, a graphic appeared at the bottom of the screen. Obama was the projected winner. Then it was official—President Barack Obama will be sworn in on January 20th, 2009. For the first time in eight years, my heart swelled with pride and I cried tears of joy. After living as a liberal democrat for the past two terms, I (and others like me) had been called a domestic terrorist, unpatriotic, had been blamed for 9/11 (thanks, Ann Coulter and Jerry Falwell) and had been told to leave the country if I had problems with it.
The problem is, I didn’t agree with lies, wiretapping, invisible WMDs, who knew what library books I checked out or with people being tortured and killed on behalf of the citizens of the United States. I also didn’t agree that bringing these things up made me unpatriotic. In fact, I felt they made me more so. Still do.
As I watched Obama walk out onto the stage with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha, I felt my heart lift a little. Putting aside all politics for a moment and focusing strictly on the good feeling of it all, the Obamas are a physical manifestation of the new American ideal. Smart parents, beaming kids…and Barack, a biracial man from an nontraditional family background. How many people in this country can now identify with the next First Family? How many peoples’ hopes were lifted by a speech that acknowledged all sorts of people? How many saw the diversity of the crowd in Grant Park and felt they were right there with them listening to history in the making?
As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve been down about my country. I’ll be honest here. I have hesitated to make overtly patriotic displays or plaster yellow ribbons all over my property not because I don’t love America or support the troops, but because I feared these things were endorsements of ideals and popular opinion I did not share.
I feel that John McCain, while an honorable man, is not in touch with the needs of this nation. We can only take so much strong-arming and toughness before we become callous.
It saddens me that people took Obama’s message of hope and opportunity as a sign of weakness or naïveté. Since when is looking forward and conducting a positive campaign something we should detest or not trust?
While McCain was respectful and fought a good fight, his biggest mistake was putting a self-proclaimed hockey mom in the co-pilot’s seat.
Sarah Palin, while poised and pretty, does not scream substance, but rather shows a pageant queen façade that crumbles at the first hint of a difficult question or even an inquiry as simple as what newspaper she reads. There is a hint of that girl we all knew in high school who hung around the guys, applying lip gloss and occasionally catching a football in gym class, getting in return a cute nickname and a reputation as being tough (for a girl).
Palin is the homecoming queen who gets A’s because she sounds smart and looks good in glasses, hinting at a cross between naughty schoolgirl and sexy librarian, while the smart girl sits in the back and never gets called on or asked out because she doesn’t have the pretty clothes or the Mustang.
Given all the chance in the world, she college hopped, demonstrating a lack of commitment and direction. Given a national platform, she repeatedly defaulted back to cute, winking and saying “you betcha” and “gosh darn.” The faux folksiness and high heels were easy to look past and lost her the pageant (er, election).
While I will not attack her children, who had no choice in this matter, Palin’s hypocritical stances on women’s issues and seeming ignorance that quite a few people out there don’t believe that having children make someone smarter than the rest of us were a major turnoff. While family is important, her strict definition of a family doesn’t cut it for me.
I voted for Barack Hussein Obama. I am proud of that fact. I understand that others distrust him and may be down, angry or even afraid. However, I ask you to let him prove himself. If a bleeding heart like mine survived eight years under Bush, you can at least give him a shot. After all, he is not only the president of me and others like me, but of you and everyone in this country. Make a judgement of his presidency when he has a chance to act, just as I waited to do when Bush took office.
Can this be the president who brings us closer together by overcoming stereotypes, encouraging community and inspiring hope? Does that sound impossible?
Barack Obama has already proven that more is possible now than ever before.
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