Going to N'awlins!

I can't believe it, but it's true. I'm traveling to New Orleans to play my saxophone in the Mardi Gras parades next March! I never intended to go. In fact, I had pretty much decided not to, but got talked into it. It all started when I decided on a lark, to play with the Edison High School Alumni Marching Band in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Minneapolis in March 2010. I had so much fun that I also played in the Aquatennial parade, the Northeast Parade and the St. Anthony Villagefest parade. In late summer, talk began circulating about how the band had been invited to perform in several Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. Playing in town was enough excitement, I decided. I didn't need to add the expense and separation from family of flying out town. However, prior to one of the performances, a flute player named Kim approached me and asked if I was planning to travel to New Orleans. I said "No, I've already been to Mardi Gras," Kim said, "Do it for the band. We really need woodwinds." I was taken aback by this, and went home to think it over. Next thing I knew, I was buying a plane ticket, and planning to go after all.

The folks back home can watch us live on the telly. We'll be featured on the 5 o'clock news on KARE-11 in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 5th. Wish me luck as I practice and prepare for the trip of a lifetime!

Please donate to Hooved Animal Rescue Benefit

As a volunteer for the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation, I am seeking donations of baked goods, money (to purchase baked goods), and silent auction items for an upcoming fundraiser. A bake sale and silent auction will be held on
Saturday, Nov. 20th from Noon to 4 p.m., in conjunction with the Sunrise Equine Veterinary Services’ (North Branch, MN, sunriseequine.com) Annual Open House and Client Education Day.

All bake sale and silent auction proceeds will benefit the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue (mnhoovedanimalrescue.org). All are welcome to attend this free event. There will be educational programs about horse care, door prizes and refreshments.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

• Drop off baked goods (pies are especially popular at this event) at my house on Nov. 18 or 19.
• Mail me a check, and I will use the money to buy high quality baked items at A Baker’s Wife pastry shop in South Minneapolis.
• Mail or drop off silent auction items at my house. Must be received by Nov. 19.

My address is:

Janet Lenius
910 Main Street NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

Donations are tax deductible. I will be dropping off all items at Sunrise Equine on the morning of the event. Please call me with any questions at 612-331-5175. Thank you in advance for your donation!

— Janet Lenius

TONIGHT: The 3rd Ward Neighborhood Fest

Tonight I am exhibiting at a wonderful gathering at the Nicollet Island Pavilion from 6-9 p.m., called the 3rd Ward Neighborhoodfest. Many businesses will be exibiting, and you can find out about neighborhood projects, the Habitat for Humanity project in north Minneapolis with former President Jimmy Carter, plus enjoy free food and entertainment. Hope to see you there!

Courtney Love Rocks First Avenue

I went down to "the hole" (First Avenue nightclub) to see the band Hole Friday night, and despite their very late start, was glad I went. Courtney Love turned 46 the day before the show, making her my contemporary. She still has the Seattle Grunge style, and really rocked out, playing her hits such as "Doll Parts," and even a Replacements song. She came across as a "female Kurt Cobain" -- raw, voicing her frustration in screams that punctuated her songs. I did not care for her free use of profanity, but admired her ease at talking to the audience. She talked about Minneapolis landmarks that no longer exist, such as Goofy's bar, where she wrote one of her songs. At one point during the show, she stopped a song to berate her 20-year-old guitarist for not understanding how significant First Avenue was in her life (she "basically lost her virginity in the bathroom!"). Then she apologized to the guitarist and the audience for her difficulty with intergenerational communication. The only weak part of the show were her two ballads, and I took that opportunity to duck next door into the 7th Street Entry to check out a band I know that was performing there called "Gotterdammerung." Friends watching that show were interested to hear my review about Courtney's show, as they did not buy tickets so could not "cross over" as I could. I loved how she strutted onto the stage in six-inch heels, then announced that she was done wearing those and would not change into flats, which she pulled out of her purse. ("These are cute flats, not practical shoes!, she said defensively.") Courtney ended the show with an acoustic ditty she called "Good Night Minneapolis" -- a send-off as sweet as a good-night lullaby.

An Incredible Week

With three kids, a business, home and marriage, I have a pretty active life. However, last week was even more of a whirlwind than usual. Here are the highlights:

• Sunday - Daughter Tacy departs for her first week of overnight camp in Loretto.

• Monday - Met at music teacher's house with seller to purchase a gorgeous 3/4 size guitar for Tacy (to surprise her with when she returns home from camp). In p.m. attended tap dancing class at Zenon Dance School.

• Tuesday - Had my first Pilates reformer personal training session with Gail at the downtown Y. Love how that machine really makes you balance and coordinate your body. Evening: attended Joan Baez concert at the Minnesota Zoo with David. It was a gorgeous evening, listening to a living legend and her glorious set of pipes and wonderful guitar playing. Talented backup band, too.

• Wednesday - Departed home at 3:30 p.m. and spent the evening volunteering at the WECAN (Women's Education Career Advancement Network) event at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park. It was a great night of networking and laughter, as we were entertained with a presentation by the Brave New Workshop comedy troupe.

• Thursday - Attended the Turnquist Child Enrichment Center's (the girls' day care) ice cream social in the evening. It was an idyllic night, and we got to hang out at Bottineau Park with other parents and their kids, eating free pizza and ice cream.

• Friday - In the morning, I had a doctors' appt., where I got my new IUD and learned that my endometrial biopsy results had came back normal. What a great relief! At Noon I took a ballet class at Zenon Dance School. Immediately following, picked Tacy up at camp, 45 minutes each way in an unairconditioned car. Late Evening: biked downtown to First Avenue nightclub and saw Courtney Love and Hole in concert. She strode onstage at 12:45 a.m. and played until bar closing at 2:00 a.m. As I biked home along First Avenue, I was greeted by the intimidating sight of four police horses lined up across the street, ready to keep rowdy bar patrons from rioting.

• Saturday - Attended a free concert with the kids at Orchestra Hall. We enjoyed lovely music by Mozart, Vivaldi, Holst & St.-Saens. Bonus: the kids were all well behaved! Afterwards, we checked out a jazz band around the corner at the Dakota Street Fest and saw incredibly talented tap dancers performing on Peavey Plaza, right next to Orchestra Hall.

• Sunday - (Okay, technically, this belongs to the following week, but it follows a string of amazing days so I'm including it.) We moved our bedroom into the downstairs front room, which I spent many hours painting during the past two weeks. Afterwards, we were exhausted, finally eating dinner at 11 p.m. However, it was great to finally move into the room. The girls are ecstatic to FINALLY get their own bedroom!!!!

Other Blogs to Check Out

Here are some blogs I am following:

• drawn.ca Collaborative weblog for people who like to draw
• mypapercrane Craft projects
• we-make-money-not-art Internet treasures, this site won Best European Blog in 2006
• woostercollective.com showcase of street art around the world
• Wish War Journal Keri Smith's advice on how not to be boring
• Dave Barry Pulitzer prize winning humorist
• Jamieoliver.com British celebrity, The Naked Chef (one of my favorite cookbook authors)
• Meganut Meg Hourihan, co-founder of Pyra, which created Blogger, wide variety of topics
• 2XY Wide variety of topics
• Dilbert Blog Scott Adams speaks his mind
• Pop Candy How to catch up the nerds on pop culture
• Penny Arcade Interesting tidbits from the web
• Weblogg-ed Advice on using blogs in the schools
• Strange New Products Odd new products are reviewed
• Loobylu Australian illustrator Claire Robertson's blog
• Plastic Bag Award-winning site by British blogger
• Catherine Jamieson Art photography and more
• Chromasia Beautiful photoblog
• Make You Go Hmm Tech culture commentary
• Slashdot Space travel, aliens, and other topics to avoid on a first date
• Jobstuff Stephen Harris' advice for job hunters in transition
• Occupational Adventure Turn your passions into paying work

Book Review: "The Courage to Raise Good Men" by Olga Silverstein

The Courage to Raise Good Men by Olga Silverstein is rather lofty and intellectual, and it takes a bit of work to get through it. Despite this, it is worth reading, and I enjoyed the many literary and historical references. Silverstein goes into depth about how cultural expectations affect how we treat boys at each stage of life, including the men they turn into and what wives often end up dealing with. She said that we expect boys to leave home at precisely the age of 18, whether they are ready or not, and mothers withdraw from them much earlier emotionally to “toughen them up” for the time they are going to be kicked out of the nest. This creates a lot of problems that they and the people they end up in relationships with pay for later on. The same standards are not in place for girls, and support for them is generally stable throughout their lives.

Based on the book, I am changing my attitudes and behavior towards my 14-year-old son. What a gift to have this knowledge and new perspective while there is still time to use it! Instead of pressuring him to leave the house at 18 and attend college far away, I will try to keep several options open. Perhaps staying at home for a while and helping with cooking and cleaning will be what he wants to do for a while after graduating from high school. Or maybe he will want to try living on his own, only to discover that it was not all it was cracked up to be and wants to come back home and regroup. Maybe he will want to live in his own apartment, but would like to call me on the phone for advice or practical tips. This won't be about letting him "freeload" -- we will make sure that we as a family find a solution agreeable to all members, and make sure he contributes his fair share towards his upkeep. My goals is to being present for him and to listen (and hear!), instead of superimposing my own hopes and dreams on him.

If anyone else has read this book, I'd love to hear your opinion!