MY BOGGY BLOG: find your way through the murk

A Good Sign

Last night, I took DD out to the Walker Art Museum, so we could squeeze in a visit to the touring Frida Kahlo exhibit before it leaves on January 20. We have been blessed this winter to have the work of two famous women artists touring in Minneapolis museums... Georgia O'Keefe was at the Minneapolis Institute of Art earlier. Since DD is such an artist herself, I thought it would be important for her to get to see their work in person, up close, but DD was rather ambivalent. She was more interested in O'Keefe so we went their over winter break, having a nice mother-daughter outiing and seeing the wonderful paintings.

DD said she new about Frida Kahlo, had seen a film about her work at school (but not the recent film with Selma Hayek), and she didn't really care to go. It seemed like too great an opportunity to miss, so I rented the recent movie from the library. DD watched it in one gulp and then said, "we've got to go! She was such a cool person!" Yay!

And luckily, we had an open night Thursday, and I made plans to pick her up from school and get there early to avoid the rush. Because of course, everyone else would have waited until the last minute too! We got there to find out that Thursdays are the free day at the museum, and then I knew it would really be crowded. But we had arrived by 5:00, and we only had to wait in line 20 minutes to get in. The exhibit was very crowded, with lots of people crowded around each painting. But it was very worth it-- her work is stunning and though-provoking, almost dream-like with the details that you could psychoanalyze for a long time. It was a large exhibit with lots of work and photographs displayed... and how very heartening and hopeful to see people of all ages here to see this art, lots of families with little kids who were all somehow very well behaved, old folks, some people speaking foreign languages, everyone there to look with awe upon this talented woman's life work.

It all gives me hope for the future, and the nature of my fellow humans, that so many would come on a cold night to eagerly wait in line and brave crowds to look at art.

And when we left, the lines were three times as long to enter the exhibit. Whew, our early arrival saved my sanity!

Now I've got to get that movie back from DD and re-watch it myself.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well, it's about time! Don't know why I haven't been in a bloggy mood, but 2008 is a great time to get back to it, nicht wahr? I am writing this at 11:50 am; I've been up for about 2 hours and I'm still the only one awake! We were all up until about 3 am for New Year's, and I'm wondering just how long they would all sleep if I let them?

We all had a good New Year's eve, in our own ways. For DH and I, we got to go out to a real live PARTY, at the new home of some new friends of ours... last spring, DH met best friends A&L when he worked for US Bank, and they are such warm and social women that they scooped him up into their social network, and me along with him. We've now been to numerous parties and gatherings with their wide-ranging group of smart, fun and outgoing friends, including monthly "movie night" parties. There is always someone fascinating to talk to. Last night, we partied at A and her partner S's large new house which even had a big enough living room to push back the couches and dance the night away! We were all coaxed onto the dance floor in the end, even DH who is very reluctant nowadays. It was the funnest New Year's Eve we've had in a long time... and we didn't get home until 2:30 am!

The kids had their own version of 16 and 13 year old fun, which right now is having the house to themselves with no bossy grown-ups, getting to play video games/be on the computers all they want/watch movies/eat whatever they want. We came home to find them sleepily watching the third Matrix movie on the couch (I don't know if they were watching all three movies, or just this one). It didn't take much enticing to make them turn it off and go to bed.

Now the house is quiet and I'm looking out the window at the first Very Snowy Winter we've had in Minnesota in many years. The icicles are long and dramatic hanging off the archway outside my window. Soon it will be after noon and I'll wake everyone up. The plan for the day is lounging around and playing board games, and I'm going to make lamb stew. Happy New Year everyone!