I’m in the process of rebuilding my homepage, so I thought I’d relocate past postings from that blog to this one…
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
A very bad day, indeed…
It was one week ago tomorrow that I woke up and received the most awful of emails – that Sam Clay, Stephanie’s son, had died.
The accident was a complete fluke apparently; although, truth to tell, and maybe this is just an indication that I am still in shock about the whole thing, but I can’t help but feel that there was someone else involved. There’s just no way to wrap my head around it; and now that I’ve been to the scene and examined the clues myself, I’m convinced: something (a deer, another vehicle) made that kid turn the car suddenly to the right while hitting the brakes. Because of the terrain, once he went off the road, that was pretty much the end of the story; not even an experienced driver could have kept control of the vehicle on that slope.
For those who would like to read a bit about Sam, his obit [scroll down to Clay, Samuel] and an article that ran two days after his death are online at the State Journal.
My heart is full of hurting, and my thoughts go out to SL and Sam’s large circle of friends.
Friday, December 17, 2004
On the verge…
It’s that magical an annoying time of year once again; the time when one is filled with Xmas spirit and joy, even as one curses at traffic caused by rabid consumers’ attempt to be the last shopper standing…
Well, I’m thinking less about shopping and more about traveling, with just a few days before my vacation begins and M and I head east. It’s been several years since I’ve taken the journey, and I’m a little scared of the what the weather might do; but, I’ve given Old Blue an early lube job and full check-up so I know it’s in good shape.
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Well, now THAT’s dissappointing…
Finally found a way to get live Air America feeds through Meriter’s firewall (though I must admit I miss the convenience of fast-forwarding/rewinding through the MP3 “podcast” versions I’ve been downloading lately); so, of course I “heard it first” as they announced that Kerry had called Bush to concede. What an annoying turn of events; yet again, the Dem’s have decided to play the “it’s better for the nation if we move on” card. As if all the events of the past four years haven’t taught us anything…
We on the left can at least rest assured that the Bush “victory” was not decisive; it still comes down to a 50/50 debate. Our job now, it seems, is to begin (again, anew) the struggle to get those people who voted for Bush as well as for other Republican candidates as well as for bans on gay marriage to see the error of their ways. They voted that way, I’m convinced, not because they truly believe in and trust the current administration, but rather because they are living their lives in fear and have been misled that A) some rigidly defined morality is their ticket to heaven and away from fear, and B) that somehow government is fundamentally untrustworthy and therefore striving to elect officials and hold them accountable to their responsibility to stand for truth and equality rather than partisan interests is a struggle that they are, on some deep unconscious level, unworthy of…
They are wrong on both counts. Government is not corrupt. Some who govern are, and when they are it is the job and the will of the people that they be removed and replaced.
We have four years to get ready. Start the clock now.
ADDENDUM: Just got email from the folks at NARAL; they have an online petition to President Bush regarding pending Supreme Court nominations which you can sign; this one allows for text, and though they’ve provided some default text, you are allowed to edit the message. Here’s mine:
Our Constitution protects the right to freely practice religion; it does not, however, mandate that one’s belief systems can be used to legislate. You have the right to have faith and to believe and to assemble and preach your beliefs, but laws that govern the rights of the entire citizenry must be founded upon fact; they must rest upon the bedrock of science, or the best science available to us at the time of the law’s writing.
As you govern in the next four years, remember that what you feel in your heart and believe in your prayers is between you and God. What you put on paper and sign your name to is between you and some 294 million U.S. citizens.
Provide for the healthcare needs of your citizens, that is your job as President; do not use your post to pass some moral judgement upon them. Judge not, lest you be judged.
– in peace,
Stephen Montagna
aka: a taxpaying American who pays your salary…
Friday, October 29, 2004
Well, closing weekend is upon us; as is Halloween (with the potential for yet another downtown Madison riot); as is, of course the “most important election of our lifetime” (I really wish they would stop saying that; every election is important, and none more so than the one that we have yet to vote in…).
Despite this, I have a hard time feeling enthusiastic. I’m glad to have the show closing; not because I want to see it end – it’s been tons of fun (hear that, Joseph – tons…), and I’m proud of the work (despite what the Isthmus says), but as anyone who knows me knows, working on a show takes so much out of me – on the days when we perform my whole day revolves around the fact that I’ve got to go on stage that night. A week or two of this is o.k.; three or more weeks gets to be prohibitive to leading any kind of normal life (unless, of course, I’m getting paid for said stage time…).
And speaking of days being consumed – I thought yesterday’s rally would just be an hour or two; it consumed nearly the entire day. Travel logistics, parking logistics, navigating pedestrian traffic, getting into the right queue, snaking up and down, back and forth along West Washington Ave. for what seemed like hours (wait a sec, it WAS hours!), all to get two and a half blocks away from that tiny blobs on the stage that were Bruce Springsteen (fully worth it of course) and Sen. John Kerry (who was, amazingly, very easy to make out from that distance thanks to a distinctive light blue shirt and, you know, height).
A good speech – but I have to admit, and I think Salon.com agrees with me, Bruce’s description of the situation outshines any politician’s attempt made over the entirety of the whole campaign going back to the primaries; his clear, simple, straightforward oration puts most political pundits (and Sun. morning spin-meisters) to shame. Leave it to the poets and artists I always say…
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Well, Lonely Planet has opened and is getting favorable word of mouth, if not any actual print reviews (note to news editors: ahem…). The Cap Times did a nice (if perhaps too thorough) write up prior to opening – you can read it here.
It is bizarre to be on stage again. One forgets how dis-orienting stage lighting can be; and how hot – I can only be glad that Stage Q did not pick a June/July timeslot, and thankfully Carl is smart enough to wear fibers that breath properly…
Mom and Dad came in for another nice visit. It was fun playing chauffer (sp?), and, heck, even at the age of thirty-five it’s still nice to not have to pay for meals for a few days (minus, of course, the nice meal I and my brother treated them to for their – (gulp!) – fortieth wedding anniversary!
Monday, October 11, 2004
Goodbye Christopher Reeve – What can one say, except that in a day and age when America’s behavior on the global stage has been so appalling, and where a strong, self-serving administration has brought so much destruction and corruption into our political system and threatened the stability of the foundation of our freedoms and democracy, it is refreshing to know that this country can still produce citizens of the caliber of Mr. Reeve. His courage and determination to see that his life would pave the way for easing pain and suffering of generations yet to come should act as a reminder of what the true purpose of government is, and we should vote accordingly.
Please take some time and perhaps make a contribution to The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.