Clare Consultation, LLCPosted on July 6, 2012 by Mary Clare
On the Radio TODAY — Listen in!
So, I got another call from Ben Merens, the host of AT ISSUE on Wisconsin Public Radio. He was inviting me to be his guest again. I said yes and it’s today — Friday, July 6. We’ll be on the air for call-in at 3:00 Central Time (WI-time), 4:00 for all you east coasters, and 1:00 here on the Pacific side. LISTEN! Call and chat. This is the url for the stream:… Read More
Posted on June 28, 2012 by Mary Clare
Independence Shared
On the day the only living Pinta Island Giant Tortoise was found dead, fires raged in the foothills of the Colorado front range and the Supreme Court of the U.S. decided the state of Montana could not assert its 100+ year old legislative policy stating the corporations are not people. It was raining in Portland, OR where today the sun peeks regularly between clouds making for dappled shadows instead of monochrome. That… Read More
Posted on June 22, 2012 by Mary Clare
A Short Blog
Last Friday a friend said, “I read your blog.” I was flattered. “But usually only to the place where it says ‘more,’ ” she added. “They’re lots longer,” I offered, maybe hoping she’d be delighted at the news. “I know,” she half gasped, half laughed. While I can’t pretend that I’ll ever stop conflating the words blog and essay, I think this week I’ll give a shorter version a try. Let’s see… Read More
Posted on June 15, 2012 by Mary Clare
Listening to “Madness”
I could be referring to life in the U.S.A. this week what with the celebrated obstruction of voting rights in Florida, a spate of sensationalized cannibalism and, from our president and senior legislators astonishing bipartisan horror about leaks with not even a mention of concern for human life (aka, collateral damage) or the existence of a “kill list” in the first place. This, my friends, is surely madness whether we are privy… Read More
Posted on June 8, 2012 by Mary Clare
Rose Festival, Jubilee and Jazz
My friend, Mark, is teaching himself to play the piano. He’s reading a book by David Sudnow called Ways of the Hand. Sudnow’s book sounds daunting (at its easiest). It’s a phenomenological inquiry into the intersection of physical forms (hands and all their linked physiology), consciousness and the music of jazz piano. Or at least that’s the closest I can come to a description. Mark says, “Music lives in the hands. Every… Read More
Posted on May 31, 2012 by Mary Clare
AIDS Lifecycle – “I’m doing this for all of us.”
“I am leaving on Saturday to join a team of medical professionals to support AIDS LifeCycle – a 7 day, 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to LA.” These were the first words of an email I received this week from Calliope Crane (Voice 99 in 100 Voices – Americans Talk about Change). Calliope and her cycling companions are pictured here. In the way people in this country do with pretty… Read More
Posted on May 24, 2012 by Mary Clare
“We have to talk about these things”
I am back in Portland. Three weeks, now. Shortly after my return I receive email with the subject line: yes-youmadeit/Dr. Dapo! My dear and long-time friend, Dr. Dapo Sobomehin (voice 90 in 100 Voices – Americans Talk about Change), wanted to get together for coffee. This morning we finally made it to the corner of Hawthorne and SE 37th for a few hours of catching up. Every time we meet, I am compelled… Read More
Posted on May 18, 2012 by Mary Clare
Turn Around — Another Take on 99%
Last night I got to have a long phone conversation with my friend Barbara Gutkin. Barbara and Terry have known me more than half my life. They also happen to be two of the Americans in 100 Voices – Americans Talk about Change. Barbara and Terry are experimenting with retirement. Barbara retired for a while, then decided to go back to work a few days a week because she missed being active… Read More
Posted on May 2, 2012 by Mary Clare
American Words Heading West
A few days ago, a poet in Colorado Springs said to me, “I’m really not interested in theory. There is far more that is real in art. I like keeping my work close to life itself.” Later in the afternoon, a first year student at Colorado College said, “It’s been amazing to me to see how much we aren’t told about history in public school. Unless someone tells you, you never really… Read More
Posted on April 28, 2012 by Mary Clare
On the Road in Omaha
Yesterday I drove through rain at the end of 8 hours on the highway. I drove I-80W again — through what this time I learned is the National Silos and Smokestacks Historic Area. I hadn’t noticed this three years ago and found myself tweeting ( a behavior I still can’t quite square with my sense of self), “Who knew?” Beyond the rain was Council Bluffs, Iowa and a family of four —… Read More