These widely diffused initiatives, in part conceived and realized by Gian Guido Grassi, the local participation by Mayor Caterina Campani, and cooperation by multiple other local municipal governments, with the generous contributions of the Region of Tuscany, tell the story in a feast for the eyes and food for thought on the walls, outside and in, in the wide open spectacularly beautiful mountainous northwestern corner of Tuscany.
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Tell Me a Story
Thursday, December 21, 2023
A Moment in Time
This is an angry sky
or the blush
of an afterglow
that will miss you
very much
but wishes you well
at the return of the sun
the long dark nights
are over
Summer starts today
with the return of the light
mere minutes
at a time
Thursday, October 26, 2023
On Insomnia
Today there are a multitude of recommendations for combatting insomnia.
Counting sheep was traditionally a suggested method for calming the mind to get to sleep. More recently it has been suggested to count something you know, something you’re familiar with in everyday life.
I’m a clothing designer so that would be straight pins. So, I count them as if I were sorting them on the sewing table, one by one. I reach a certain point and then I find myself beginning to imagine sticking them into certain people I have known.
Sweet solace as all hope for sleep is abandoned.
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Sunday, May 8, 2022
A Mother's Descent A father's Journal 1958
partially gone
Bad fight
Slightly Tight
BF
Very T.
Appeared tight. BF.
I made supper
Slightly T.
I make supper
Slightly T.
sleepy, tongue thick, more tense. no goodnight.
Coakey bit K.
Called everything but smart. Very T.
Slightly T. One spat, short
Slightly T. One spat in bed.
slightly T.
She treats kids summarily. Sends to bed early. Falls asleep in chair after supper.
Discontinued in hopes of improvement
learning to recognize more quickly her condition of inebriation.
taken to hiding bottles, usually pints of blend or vodka, in drawers full of clothes, on obscure shelves.
J. will tell me when she has been drinking - as if I had to be told!
sloppy, hair messy, poor posture, off balance, weaving, eyes glazed - stupid looking.
Easily offended, quick to temper, lazy, doesn’t care what happens to the kids.
she falls asleep without making supper, the task falls to me.
This of course exasperates me no end.
she is extremely short with children, often sending them to bed as much as three hours ahead of schedule.
clouted me across the back of the head -from behind - with a shoe
sloppiness, unsteadiness, sulky, thick tongue, glazed eyes.
seated in front of LR chair drunkenly playing with children
(she seldom plays with them except when drunk)
I told her she was drunk and should stay home.
This clinched her decision to go.
She came up from behind and kicked me sharply, I stood up, saw she had a knife in her hand.
I was a bit afraid she might try to use it
she left home last night at 9:40 pm, to pick up babysitter and got home at 10:10 with no baby sitter
she didn’t get the BMR because she was late and overworked (and hung over?)
she sounded slightly tight.
The fifth of whiskey which had been almost half full was gone.
displayed the usual characteristics of drinking:
emotional, extremely dramatic in speech and gestures, irresponsible attitude
I left at 6:40, J. dressing, K. beginning supper.
did not prepare supper for herself.
definitely under the influence.
Hair all awry, eyes red and puffy, generally sloppy.
Physical coordination clumsy, tongue thick.
At 6:30 just feeding the baby.
No beds made today.
Closed bedroom door leaving my bedclothes out implying she wanted me to use den.
I will try sleeping in bedroom.
No harsh words tonight
© Kerry Bell 2022
Friday, May 6, 2022
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Marching Toward Normality
Last Friday, the Barga Jazz Club opened with live music for only one of the few times it has been open in the last two years. We were treated to a resounding set of American spirituals and gospel music rendered joyful by Dimitri Grechi Espinoza on sax, and jubilant by PeeWee Durante on piano.
The set included the traditional spiritual, Wade in the Water; Sister Rossetta Tharpe’s gospel to jazz influenced, When They Ring that Golden Bell; and on through Billie Holiday’s God Bless the Child; Louis Armstrong and others. The spiritual aspect was in evidence with the presence of Dimitri who specializes in using space and reverberation in mesmerizing original compositions, both live, in sacred spaces in Livorno, with the title of Il Significato Spirituale del Suono, and on two discs “Angels Blows” and “The Spiritual Way”
March: in like a lion, out like a lamb. As we move tentatively into the first seemingly normal Easter holiday and on to what hopefully promises to be a pleasant summer season, after all of the sacrifices we have made over the last two years, we can look forward to the comfort and joy of more great live music, celebrations and good company.
Marching In
https://youtu.be/divcuPsGW7w