Fruitvale Station

We both loved this film.  It deals an emotional punch to your gut and reawakens feelings of anger and dismay at the Trayvon Martin decision.  First time director Ryan Coogler has cast Michael B. Jordan perfectly for the role of Oscar Grant, an imperfect young man.  Yet a man with deep passion for life and his various roles as son, father, lover/partner. Melonie Diaz (his partner) and Octavia Spencer (his mother) are strong women who do not let Oscar get away with stuff and he is fully aware how these important connections keep him grounded.  His daughter played by Ariana Neal is just plain smart and delicious!  We left the Violet Crown moved and sad and disturbed by the series of events and the loss of life which was so unnecessary.  For any of you who have not been pushed by a police officer I can only say it makes your blood boil and rage fills your brain.  It requires enormous effort to not fight back.  It is reminding yourself that their gun can kill you that is the crucial element here. Do not miss this film.  A story about America.

HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE (Documentary)

I lost too many friends in the 1980s-1990s to the AIDS epidemic.  I was busy having babies in the 80's so I didn't have a chance to lend my physical support to ACT UP, the group of brave, educated and passionate gay people who implored our government to provide healthcare to the thousands and then millions of people afflicted with this virus.  I remember so well the fear that hospital employees felt when working with AIDS patients.  All based on erroneous information and paranoia about contagion.  And President Bush asking for people to change their behavior! And watching people die lonely and pitiful deaths because of lack of services.  In the 1990's Abe was the AIDS Social Worker at St. Luke's Hospital on 112th Street and Amsterdam Ave. NYC.  We brought our children (ages 7 and 4) to that unit to see what their father did for a living and meet the patients who he cared about.  I will never forget that visit and neither have they!  Abe became seriously ill while working on that unit and was hospitalized himself for a couple of weeks and then a lengthy convalescence with visiting nurses for 2 months.  Yeah, we were scared.  But it wasn't the AIDS virus.  It was a curable liver abscess!  We were the lucky ones.  This documentary is passionate, revealing, informative and timeless.  See it on DVD like we did.

A Week-End With Janis and Graham

I'm not a lover of live music in Austin.  Film is my passion.  Sure the Symphony always works for me and some small bars where I go to hear specific musicians have been good experiences.  The SXSW and ACL events (tried them once) were just not my thing.  And most definitely not Abe's!  But this week-end music filled the air for us (not one film was seen) and it was perfect.  We celebrated our Anniversary with tickets to ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN at the ZACH theater Friday night.  OMG what a powerful performance.  Kacee Clanton as Janis is just magnificent. I had seen Janis at the Filmore East every time she performed (1968-1969) and this performance just brought me right back.  I was 19 y.o. and remembered it vividly!  Wild child days with wild child boyfriend in the East Village.
Last night we saw the super talented and creative Graham Reynolds perform with others at the Continental Club.  Lizzy has always told me to check out that club on S.Congress thinking I would like it. She was right.  His interpretations of his original Bernie score and Duke Ellington were my favorites.  While I've seen Graham's quiet intelligence on display at Q&As at the Blanton or Long Center when he plays his music that wild child inside of him is in full display and it's great!  We both loved this performance.  A great show.  Looking forward to more.

Where Is Home?

I will never be a Texan.  No way.  Just got back from a Brooklyn visit that included an emotional roller coaster.  Not the visit I had planned. A solo 5 days with all of my women friends was what I had in mind.  Films, theater, restaurants.  I got that all in while tending to a husband who was in crisis mode caring for a very elderly Mom.  This experience enhanced me and I observed incredible loving and kind human behavior from staff and family all caring about a very old 96 year old woman.  It doesn't get better than this in life.  But I am not a Texan.  I am a transplanted New Yorker with NYC roots in my blood.  Bronx/Brooklyn to be specific.  I am happy to be back in Austin. I am happy to be in our home.

THE HEAT

Melissa McCarthy is a wonder to watch as she pulls off both physically and verbally a big woman detective with no filters or fears of what you think! Screenplay by Katie Dippold was filled with great comedy.  A scene in the station house early on where McCarthy describes the size of her captain's balls sets the stage for some great jokes about men.  This is clearly a great film about two women and offers so much fun for women to watch.  Truth be told Abe loved it and the audience seemed to love it as well. Of course there's some formulaic sentimental moments toward the end but you can forgive those as you laugh your head off.  Hats off to Paul Feig for using McCarthy in something so much more developed than Bridesmaids.  Go see this.  For me it was great preparation for the work that needs to continue on Monday at the Capitol.  Women working together to get something done!

Wendy Davis Filibuster

I got to the Capitol Senate at 10:30a.m. to stand up for Wendy Davis, a State Senator fighting to keep abortion clinics open in Texas and provide access to these facilities for all women.  She planned on a 13 hour filibuster to prevent Republicans passing a bill that would close down all but 5 of these clinics.  She's a tiny beautiful 50y.o. Harvard educated lawyer who was a 19y.o. single mother.  Talk about a journey! She spoke for 10 hours while twice being caught on violations from The Taliban Texans (Republicans) who were so mean to her.  One violation was when Sen. Ellis helped her put on a back brace! Hundreds of people lined up to hear her talk.  I stayed until 4PM when I left to pee and get something to eat and returned at 4:30 until the end.  The gallery EXPLODED at 10 P.M. when she was given her third violation.  The Dems held the stage as they argued rules and procedures because for sure The Taliban knew they'd have a riot on their hands if they stopped the session and called for a vote on the bill. We cheered and clapped from 11:40 when a female senator reminded the President (Dewhurst) that female senators are never heard when they make motions until past midnight when they did a quiet vote at the podium.  The "brown cops" tried to make us leave, many did.  I did NOT appreciate a brown clothed cop pushing me out the door, told him so and ducked inside.  Ugh!  I did not like him! And so we end this day with the Taliban getting their vote passed illegally (past midnight) and them getting the message:  "We're Here, maybe queer. a lot smarter and kinder than you."  The whole world was watching tonight.  When Wendy Davis becomes governor maybe then Abe will stop saying "Texas is an awful state."  I will work so hard to make Wendy Davis our next governor.  I want Abe to feel better about Austin being in Texas.  For my kids too.

Sometimes You Have To Make Your Own Community

It's no secret that Abe and I will never ever ever be Texans. So I try very hard to find those experiences and people that validate what I value, what I stand for, what's worth paying attention to and fighting for.  So much about Texas legislation is so oppositional to what we believe in.  So EVERY opportunity I have to share my voice and speak out about what I believe in as a tax paying citizen of Texas finds me showing up!  And I am always so pleased to find myself surrounded by Texans who share my value system, are well educated and heartfelt about the rights of women to have access to their constitutional right to reproductive healthcare.  Today's turnout at The Capitol was fabulous.  Hundreds and hundreds of men and women showed up  to let the Legislators know we were there and cared very much about their discussion of bills that would close down all but 5 abortion clinics.  Keeping reproductive healthcare out of the Legislators hands is crucial to the well being of all Texans, men and women alike.  I'll keep fighting the fight.  This is how I find my community.