Visit nunsonthebus.org for the bus schedule and more information.
About (from website): Every hour of each day, Catholic Sisters stand in solidarity with all who live in poverty, and we confront injustice and systems that cause suffering.
We cannot stand by silently when the U.S. Congress considers further enriching the wealthiest Americans at the expense of struggling, impoverished families.
As part of our campaign for budget fairness we are taking a bus trip. Our bus will travel to places in many states where Sisters actively serve people in need. For they are our best witnesses to the suffering our federal government must not ignore.
We ask all who visit this website to join us in prayer and to support our work to defeat government actions that would add to the suffering of already struggling families.
This bus trip has been organized and is sponsored by NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, and the NETWORK Education Program.
2011 turned out to be a year of renovation and dramatic change in so many areas. This year, I contracted my first home renovation — for my bathroom. This was not an eye candy renovation; it was a necessary one. Once the project was underway, my car decided to play dead at the same time. My lap top didn’t want to turn on. And internet access became sketchy until the lap top was repaired and Cricket mobile broadband entered the picture. Even this blog became a casualty of “my situation” (code for the renovation project) in addition to other things that began to reflect years of neglect. Multi-tasking was not an option. I was out of my element/my space for a month with my things in different places and work to do to pay the bills for everything and more. I could only focus on what was in the moment right there before me.
There are also emotional and even metaphysical adjustments that changes to one’s physical space can trigger. Can these things blow your mind? Hell yeah! Once a renovation gets started, it’s the point of no return. It’s a major investment that will require recovery and hand holding. I want to remember the material lessons from my first home renovation because the results (which are great) are making me forget the experience, or as I called it, “the middle passage.”
Here are my lessons that I’ve shared with others – especially apartment dwellers:
1. If you live in an apartment or home with only one bath or one kitchen, be prepared to live out of your apartment for at least 1 month. This mostly applies to any work requiring plumbing, major wiring, knocking out walls and major construction. Paint jobs are a breeze. Some carpentry like cabinets or shelves might not throw you out of your digs. But regardless of what your contractor tells you (like 7 – 10 days), I’d estimate 4 – 6 weeks per room. 2 – 4 months if an architect is involved.
2. Whatever budget you have, add 30 – 50% more (including item 5). People will say “yes” to your budget and “yes” to additional items for the project. I was advised years ago to purchase my own materials to avoid upticks. However, you know how time consuming shopping for materials is, especially if this is not your profession or even hobby. Basically you’re paying someone to do that for you and to use their discounts as much as possible; just be prepared to pay.
3. Pre-approve purchases all purchases. Some little items are necessary, some big items not so much. Know the difference. You need to know where your money is going and why.
4. Bring contractors down to earth re budget and time. See items 1 and 2. Once the room is gutted, there’s no turning back, so might as well keep it real from the top.
5. Budget for some pampering like a massage or even counseling. Major changes in your space are just that — major. They do affect your psyche. You may feel like your world’s turned upside down. You may find some other problems lurking in those walls or other places that needed attention years ago. It may feel like the world’s crumbling all around you. But always remember, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
6. I would suggest some kind of warranty in the contract. Stuff might not work 2 – 3 weeks later. It’s been a month for me, and so far so good. But it doesn’t hurt to be covered for the “what if.” If car mechanics offer it, why not everyone else.
7. Cover all your stuff with plastic or drop cloth. Regardless of what you’re told (remove items from surfaces), best to put everything under wraps or pack it away. The dust that gets kicked up is amazing. Unless you have Felix Unger doing the work, you’ll have to a clean up after. There will be lots of trips to the laundry and maybe the need for a professional cleaning crew.
8. Ask your contractor to bring their own damn paper towels and cloth wipes. Even when I tried to hide my dust cloths, they somehow found them and used them for their work. The paper towels were gone. I didn’t replace them. Perhaps contractors should ask for these items up front as part of prep.
Personally, I don’t know anyone who didn’t go through some kind of upheaval during a home renovation or major repair. It’s the way of that world I’ve learned. Self care is key. As I grow into my new world ordered, I see the need to make additional changes on so many levels….including this blog.
Mid August anticipation builds and I start nagging the newsstand shops about the arrival of the September issues – primarily Vogue. I started this draft around September 6 and now September’s almost over. But I’ve still got issues. And those issues are sitting on my coffee table. The September issue is to fashion magazines what Cannes may be to film. But these days, Venice and Toronto might change that seasonal trend. Pretty soon I’ll give the one more look and they’ll be gone. One I will keep around for a bit. Another may go on permanent loan. The first to go into the dead newspaper basket without another look will probably be American Harpers Bazaar.
Harpers Bazaar is usually the first out the gate and consistently my first disappointment. More on that later. The hanger-on will be New York Fall Fashion. This one comes in my mailbox. When I pulled out the magazine with China Mashad on the cover (1 of 4 covers for the weekly), I knew instantly, August had trumped September.
Mashad was photographer Richard Avedon’s muse in the 1950s and 60s. Not only does she have attitude (in the good sense) and style in her photos, she has a fascinating story. Same for New York magazine in recent months: attitude, style, and fascinating stories. There was something decisive about this fall fashion issue even the fashion spreads. Decisive not in a “yes/no” way but more like a road map that actually gets you to your destination. Interpret that as you wish. I declare New York the winner of my annual September issues review.
My only issue with New York is the same-o-same-o about “different.” “Diversity” isn’t different. It just is. By now I get it that Harpers Bazaar doesn’t recognize what is. They just are what they are and aren’t interested. While riots burned in London, Manchester and other austerity drenched U.K. cities, Bazaar was happily putting “Upstairs Downstairs” and Maggie Thatcher to bed. Yes, I’m a fan of “Masterpiece Theatre” and if we’re doing downstairs fashion, it would help to be able to see and distinguish the fashion models from the stand ins. Am I saying, draw sharper class lines? I know Meryl Streep is playing the Iron Maiden in a film due out this year, but is that a catalyst for fall fashion? I suppose in its effort to beat Vogue to the September issues punch, there was no time for anyone to shout “Stop the presses” and reshoot at least the Thatcher spread with more punk pepper. Perhaps they’ll make up for it with a Wall Street theme for December. Gifting time. The occupation of lower Manhattan began right after NY fashion week and continues. This Wall Street Upstairs/Downstairs has everything the fashion editors at HB could want in a theme for a fashion spread.
I’m not the only one with September issues.
Ironically, British Bazaar’s September issue featured Beyonce on the cover. If it’s celebrity bump they’re looking for, then good for B HB since Beyonce’s baby bump was the crack news of the first week of September and then fell flat during fashion week.
I have nothing against Lea Michele of “Glee” fame. I love “Glee” and never miss it. But my “Glee” buzz never goes beyond the broadcast. I own no “Glee” CDs, downloads, or DVD sets. Even Vogue jumped on the “Glee” bandwagon with a centerfold of the cast to promote “Fashion’s Night Out.” The last reason I’d do FNO would be to see the “Glee” cast. Again, nothing personal. IMO British Harpers Bazaar‘s editor had the Wintour celebrity cover foresight.
BTW according to Women’s Wear Daily, the rag page for the serious, professional fashionista:
At the newsstands Vogue is up 12.7%, Harper’s Bazaar is down 14.3%
American HB editor in chief Glenda Bailey had this to say:
“It would be a lot easier if we could feature proven sellers like Jennifer Aniston or Gwyneth Paltrow on the cover every month, but we took some risks this year and tried stars that were a little outside of the norm for us, and they didn’t always translate into newsstand sales.”
Yes, everyone’s trying to reign in the teens, and in defiance, HB took the lead in ringing in the women who lunch and have the cash flow to buy the magazine’s features. Former super model and actress Isabella Rosellini had this to say in her interview in New York magazine:
“I don’t look at Vogue to ask what I”m going to wear. Because it’s something on a body too young. I have to look at the social pages to see women my age. To see how Amanda Burden is dressed and say, ‘Hmmmm, Maybe I should try that.’ They give advice to young people: ‘If you are brunette, this color would be best.’ But I would love it if the magazine said, ‘When you are in your sixties and your neck is like this, consider wearing this'”
Rosellini and her daughter Elettra Wiedemann (now a model) were one of 4 Fall Fashion covers for this year’s New York magazine (see above).
Some Vogue September issues are better than others and none has been better than the September issue that became the subject of the documentary of the same title. No documentary has promoted a magazine and its brand so effectively than “September Issue.” I actually own a DVD copy. One of the fashion features in this year’s September issue was a China theme dressed up kinda in the same way Vogue and HB does Kenya or another “Out of Africa” location with 21st century locals as backdrop. Models were capped with black page boys wigs. A few prominent Chinese movie types are included — director Lu Chuan, Daniel Wu and Fan Bing Bing as well as other cultural celebrities. This is no Sophia Coppola movie moment. When you’re hobnobbing with the ones who can buy, you gotta blend.
Just for fun, here’s the September issue cover for Vogue China. Hmmm. No page boys here.
Kate Moss was a good choice for the American Vogue cover having both model and celebrity wrapped into one package. Not only is she not 12 anymore she actually looks better with age. I pay more attention to Kate’s spreads now than I did in the 90s during the grunge/heroin chic era. In another Wintour coup, the September issue generated chatter in the fashionsphere (Read The Emperor’s Old Clothes blog). Vogue was the exclusive photographer for Kate Moss and rocker Jamie Hince’s wedding. Not only was the wedding a feature featured but also the designer of Moss’ wedding dress, the mericulous disgraced former Dior chief designer John Galliano. Regardless of Galliano’s remarks in that Paris bar or his dismissal from Christian Dior, it appears all is forgiven at Vogue especially when fashion’s concerned. And he did design and gift Kate Moss a stunning wedding dress inspired by the jazz age.
But Pultizer-prize winning fashion journalist Robin Givhan credits Moss for keeping the light on for Galliano:
“She is a model who has known Galliano some 20 years and must surely have a better sense of what is in his heart than those who can only judge him by what he said and what he did while in the haze of addiction. Standing on the outside looking in, the only thing to read into Moss’s choice of Galliano is this: She is his friend. And for a man who was once hailed as a creative genius, who has seen his professional life destroyed by his own hand, that must be a sweet salvation.”
Personally, I thought Wintour was hinting that this Kate’s wedding dress was her pick over the other Kate’s. Would Sara Burton’s design for Alexander McQueen make the cut for this year’s blockbuster exhibit at the Met.
Perhaps if fashion is going to have any relevance in the coming years, it might be wise to look to the edge with a golden parachute.
Saw E-Notes in front of Metro Center this afternoon. He was telling me about this photograph of President Barack Obama climbing the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial yesterday. Looks to me his Secret Service detail will be more out of breath than the President when they reach the top of the stairs. But I digress. Read E-Notes’ take here.
By now we get it that Republicans want to privatize and weaken government in critical social areas using skirmishes like “abortion” to rally their more passionate base. Somehow, the face of the new Republican generation, Rep. Paul Ryan of WI dropped off the front page this weekend with his 2012 budget proposal that chops away at medicare and medicaid while awarding more tax breaks to the top 1%. He’ll be back.
Democrats want to strengthen government in critical social areas but can’t seem to find the right words that stick with the American people or rally their base. Who’s the face of the new generation for that party cause?
My biggest disappointment with the battle of the budgets has been the framing by the press. The budget debate and the possible government shutdown appeared to have less to do with the direction and impact on American citizens and more with the personalities and cast of characters in a game of “chicken.” And what was gained? A one-week budget. Stalemate. Granted, budgets are massive documents, but the question of winners and losers shouldn’t be directed at lawmakers, but the people directly affected. Read “us.” If you’re looking for your score sheet, you won’t find it anytime soon in major media outlets. Some of the locals are trying to reveal line items:
The Washington Post on how the budget deal affects Washington (a ban on District government-funded abortion services, and needle exchanges. Funding for private school vouchers and cuts for DC court and public school improvement)
Boston Globe cuts in the Transit Administration capital investment grants may affect bus and rail transit systems throughout New England. Also affected could be funding to clean drains and sewage systems to comply with the Clean Water Act.
The White House sent David Plouffe their Senior Advisor on the talk-show circuit to frame the next round. Will his words stick? We shall see. Though this quote doesn’t quite make one leap to their feet – “Compromise is not a dirty word.” What IS compromise vs. what it isn’t in governing? The bedrock of getting the job done in a democratic society (?) Just a draft thought.
The President’s Weekly was about “good news.” “The biggest annual spending cut in history.” We avoided a government shutdown. People will get paid, parks will be open for the weekend, and some important projects like infrastructure will have to be shelved for the moment. Hopefully, a bridge maintenance project won’t send a message back with a structural collapse. Actions speak louder than words.
In the meantime, I’m looking for that score sheet on the budget. The one that keeps up with the American people. And perhaps President Obama will ask Lincoln where he can find three generals – Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan – for the next budget battle.