Inspiring, palpably painterly work by Keiko Narahashi

Keiko Narahashi's work is gentle, well tuned and tight as a drum. I stumbled on her work through a friend and found it such a pleasant surprise this afternoon. Here is a sampling of some of her work, below. But do go to her website to see more of her work and listings of her upcoming shows.

Keiko Narahashi holds an MFA from Bard and lives in New York. Her son, Micah Belamarich, is also an artist, though more of a graphic designer. He runs ONLY NY, a clothing brand, in addition to doing his own freelance work.

I'm a newly converted bus rider. Join me.

I now ride the bus to and from work because it became too ridiculous not to. The number five bus rolls up 100 feet from my house in the morning and 45 minutes later rolls in twenty feet from my office. I have no excuse.

I went on Capital Metro's website and found this commuting calculator that fully validated my desire to save money and the environment by riding the bus. Through a bunch of data I filled in, it calculated I spend $197 a month commuting to my job nine miles north of my house. That's $2373 a year I could be using for much more interesting things than a car. Like gaycations!! In the present too, the bus gives me more of an opportunity to draw, write, read, watch movies, listen to music, meditate, etc. because I'm not on Mopac navigating the highway like a zen surfer in a metal rocket on tires. 

I am also now predictably on time! My own car could wait for me indefinitely as I changed outfits three times, but the bus will leave me behind if I don't hustle. Now I arrive at work at 8:45 daily, as smoothly as a clock.

Riding the bus thusfar has produced: 2 poems, 3 small painting/drawings, the reading of two books, and the rediscovery of ancient gems in my iTunes including thought-provoking slam poems by the Suicide Kings and Saul Williams left over from my performance poet days. Too, my sense of connection to humanity and interest in learning about others has been effortlessly heightened as I sit next to blind teenagers and aging construction workers, professionals in ties and high heels bound by their laptop cases, young men headed to school or jobs who shout and laugh in Hindi while riding for only a few stops and then departing, and so on. 

The seclusion of our automobiles can feel like a cozy, moving shrine at times, or an extension of ourselves, but during other times, like 5:30 pm Mopac rush hour, cars can feel like boxy weights holding us back from the joy of home. I'm glad to be moving in a new direction. Try it out. I'll see you on the bus.

(This Friday, May 15th, is Bike to Work Day. Many local bike-loving businesses are providing breakfast for the cyclists: see a map of all the food stops here.) I'll be riding!

German Money Ad Doing it Raw

Wow Germany. Thanks for this compelling ad?

NOM and R.I.M., saving straight marriage one awkward acronym at a time.

First, do your research:
1. NOM ad about "the gathering storm" of gay marriage. And, the rainbow coalition of people gathering to "protect us from gay marriage:"

2. The audition videos for hilarious NOM video above:

And now, the main event:
3. Amazing. Thank you thank you gay actors, and straight actors. Thank you for your comedic literacy and perfect wit:

A Gaythering Storm from Jane Lynch

4. And finally, another little gem from Rachel Maddow:

Gay Slurs Lead to Child's Suicide

I found this tremendously important to watch and think about. Hearing this story too, makes me glad Austin has organizations like OutYouth, to help our young people with self-acceptance and raise the understanding, acceptance and celebration of diversity in Austin as well. There's so much further we could go, but at least we have resources to work with.

Susan Boyle

I just saw this clip from Britain's Got Talent and joyfully started crying at work.

Susan Boyle is a 48-year old Scottish woman who aspires to be a singer. After her performance on Britain's Got Talent it's clear that goal will become a reality soon. Enormous congratulations to her today.

Snuggie Pub Crawl

Maybe Austin needs one of these. The drawback is that you have to actually buy a Snuggie. Which is a HUGE drawback.

I prefer the mobile gay bar. But I do want to see pictures of this: Snuggie Pub Crawl, Chicago. 

The nice thing is the proceeds from tickets sales to the Snuggie Pub Crawl go to the AC-Orphanage in Tanzania, an orphanage that houses and supports children whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS or TB.

(Never heard of the Snuggie? See my old post about it here: Creepy Blankets).