one thousand

 

Vintage Skates, from Etsy.

Dear Counting,

Well, here we are, here I am, on the 1000th day of roller skating.  Let's do a little roller dance to celebrate, shall we?

In 12 years and a thousand consecutive days of skating, I have only convinced maybe 15 people to try it, and made converts out of 6 or so.  It's slow work, exhorting y'all to have some fun.  But, I blame myself; if I was more persuasive, if I asked you more often, if I didn't lose confidence in my conviction.

Think about it, and I will ask you again, a hundred days from now.

PS  

Think about this, too:  Maybe you wonder what kind of people would like roller skating?  Here is a short, but by no means complete list!

People who like wheels, people who like shoes, people who like ice skating, people who like excitement, who like yoga, skiing, riding a bike, skateboarding, riding a scooter.  People who like to wear socks, people who like trying new things, people who like trying old things; who like to dance, to jump rope, to unicycle.  People who like stilts!  People who like cats, dogs, horses; people who collect stamps.  People who like to dive, to fly, to walk, and to listen to music will all like roller skating!

til tuesdays

 

Dear Days,

On Tuesdays, my favorite DJ is on- she plays the dream sets.  Last week she played this, your song of the day!  I had never heard this fabulous version.  I love this anthem!  It's a very fine song for you to sing on the way to your car at the end of your work day!  Don't worry, it's a parking lot- it's fine to sing there!

Have the Steely Dan, too.

cats and dogs

Felted cat fur hat, 

by Ryo and Hiromi Yamzaki.

Dear Pets,

Here is a song I have been wanting to play for you for a long time; it's your song of the day on Radio Dodo!  I'm partial to Norma Tanega, and you might find you are, too.  Try Hey Girl, too.

the long voyage

 

Dear Radio Dodo Heads,

Here is your song for today, going up, up, up, and going down, down, down.

1-800-ICHEERU

 

Dear Pages,

In my old journals, the ones I tore up to make things out of, there was a plaintive page of words; actually, most of the pages were plaintive, but that's not what matters now; this plaintive page, this plea, was to be the sparkling spirit I always wanted to be- I wanted to make it my daily pursuit, this lightness of being.  That was back in the day, for sure, but, I think I have done alright by this creed.  And no one is more surprised than I to have made some progress!

But, it's the vocation, the Vocation, the Calling, that I want to talk to you about today.  My other Calling is To Make Things, but, it might be that this secondary Calling should be my first.  My secondary Calling is to Be Cheerful.  To spread cheer.  To sow cheer.  To reflect cheer.  

Maybe you have a job right now (I have one), and maybe it isn't in line with your core values (whatever those are!), and maybe it is even in conflict with your core values (Whatever. Those. Are.) and maybe you are supporting great gobs of awfulness indirectly.  I urge you to consider going on the dole.  Because I have been thinking that maybe productivity as defined by workplaces and employers and businesses and corporations is actually working for The Man in its most negative sense.  Because, maybe we are not the world, like the song insists; maybe we are, unwittingly, The Man. 

See, because here is the thing:  They can pay me to believe in The American Way.  That'd be a start, at least.  Anything else is pretty hypocritical on the part of both me and my employer.  Me and The Man.

But, what of the Calling?  Because the Calling is what you do, and it isn't the same as your job, and it isn't necessarily how you get money.  So, my new job, my new primary Calling, is to Be Cheerful.  I plan to have some business cards made, and maybe even get an 800 number; and then, you can call me, anytime you need me, absolutely toll free!

A year of Metal Ox.

 

Dear All,

Happy Lunar New Year!  Check out what this auspicious new year holds for you!

The Dodo: Open 24 hours!

 

Dear Old Friends,

How long is it we have been coming here?  I love this place; the worn vinyl booths, the chipped formica table tops.  I am so happy to have a place I can go at all hours and set and write your a few lines.  It's been 8 years I've been coming here and leaving you messages, and that seems like a nice number to celebrate.  

Remember this first post?  How about a reprise of that day's song?  What else can we do to commemorate the years?  We might crack a few cascarones over each other's heads and open some champagne.  We should also have some party music; how about this?

Until the next post!

An absolute treasure trove!

Dear Art Lovers,

There is an artist (William Kentridge), and he has a place (The Centre for the Less Good Idea*), and his place is filled with interesting projects.  Enter at your own risk, there is much to explore.  Don't open the link if you are in a hurry, at a stoplight, waiting for a subway; you will need more time than that!  If you are waiting for a bus, then try just this one minute of interesting art film.

*  I know; pure frisson!  The name is so wunderbar, so perfect, so just what I want in an arts/idea space.

photographs

 

Zofia Rydet, 1981.

Dear Shutterbugs,

Here at the Dodo I receive links and fascinating digital tidbits from all over. Today, it's a suite of really inspiring photographs of women on their front stoops taken by photographer Zofia Rydet.  

Enjoy this Photograph, too; it's your song of the day!