Bravo, Obama!

Jiminy Cricket. I was moved to tears by Obama’s speech. He nailed it. I’m proud to call him my president. I believe in health care reform. I support it. People close to me — people with families, young children, serious medical problems — are going without insurance because of cost. I’m considering letting my own health insurance go because I simply can’t afford the rising costs. It was affordable five years ago — but no more.

I’m so glad, so grateful, that he is America’s President.

Writing my religion

I write frequently about truth and lies in this column. I guess it’s because I believe, bottom line, that truth, lies, and the intentions behind them, are what make our character.

And the pursuit of character — which for me means living with integrity, honor, and truth – is as close to having a religion as I come.

I often falter or outright fail in the practice of my faith. No surprise there. I comfort myself, though, with the hope that perhaps character lies at least partly in the effort to have one in the first place.

While I’m forgiving about my own lapses, I’m sometimes less so when it comes to the lapses of others. Not very fair, huh? Still, I prefer to be around people who are at least trying to live with integrity — people who have evolved past the self-serving truthiness, the “I didn’t tell you because you never asked,” kind of ethos that worms through most relationships.

A while back, I told a friend I felt he wasn’t being straight with me. As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I knew what his response would be. I could see it in the panicked flicker of his eyes, the involuntary scrunching of his shoulders – and sure enough, out it came: “Everything I’ve said to you was true …” he began confidently, then added sheepishly, “… I just didn’t tell you everything.”

Ah. The slippery slope.

I didn’t feel hurt personally by his lies of omission (whatever they were, at that point, I didn’t even want to know) but my spirit took a blow, as if a great fissure had cracked across the continent of my religion.

We were friends; good ones, I’d thought. He didn’t need to be coy with the truth. I’d already given my friendship, my acceptance. His dissimulation wasn’t worthy of him or me. And that’s what hurt.

The question isn’t whether we owe the complete and total truth to everyone, about everything.

The question is: are we telling and disclosing everything someone would want to know, should know, deserves to know, in the context of their relationship to us?

Or are we just telling them what we want them to know — to avoid confrontation, an uncomfortable conversation, or worse, to manipulate a situation the way we want it?

The difference is something you know and feel in your bones. And so does the other person. Truth will out, whether it’s spoken or not.

I’ve told my share of lies, unfortunately. And whether it was an outright lie, a white lie or the ever-popular “lie of omission,” every single time, my distortion of the truth cheapened the relationship with the person to whom I lied, and, more importantly, it cheapened my own character.

We’re bombarded with lies and half-truths and double-speak every day. It’s become the norm to play fast and loose with the truth. But I don’t want to live that way. I want to believe character matters, despite way too much evidence to the contrary — despite my own shortcomings, despite the shortcomings of others.

I don’t want to lose my religion.

WSLR Celebrates Fourth Year!

Saturday, September 5, WSLR 96.5 LPFM radio programmers, volunteers, and listeners hosted “Dining On Air” fundraising dinner gatherings – some held in private homes, some at restaurants — throughout Sarasota, to raise money to support the non-profit, community radio station.

Among the many attending were Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton, WSLR Station Manager Arlene Sweeting, and local artist Pam Marwede.

I went to one of the events — the one put on by Zest! of Sarasota where Chef John Arico and his wife Nina put on a dinner that blew my mind. It was a New Orleans-themed dinner and I’ve never been to the Big Easy, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But the Arico’s wow’ed me with gumbo so good I scarfed it down like a mad dag, yummy mini-crab cakes, a SUPER good Sauvignon Blanc, and an absolutely-to-die-for Cajun Catfish (I think it was cajun spice!) with a side dish of corn and other veggies that was so fresh and yummy it was all I could do to stop myself from licking the plate.

WSLR supporters Debbie and Bruce Zeilman with Chef John Arico, owner/chef of Zest! of Sarasota Catering.

Louisiana Gumbo Show radio host John Osgood and Attorney Adam Tebrugge.

An after-dinner dessert, art and music party was held at Arts Center Sarasota, where scrumptious desserts, wine, beer, and coffee were provided by local businesses such as Pastry Arts, Publix, Carr’s Corner, and Gyro the Great, among others. The after-dinner crowd also enjoyed live music by Los Rumberos.

“Louisiana Gumbo” program host John Osgood greets local realtor Christina Pitchford (one of BIZ 941’s recently named “People to Watch”) at the Arts Center After Party.

WSLR enthusiasts enjoy the art(s) of conversation.

WSLR has over one hundred volunteer programmers from the Sarasota and Manatee communities providing diverse, non-commercial radio shows that include everything from arts, to local and political commentary, to Native American issues, and a broad range of music programming including blues, classical, zydeco, and world beat. Visit www.wslr.org to learn more.

Last night’s Harvest Moon … in the early morning

“When we were strangers, I loved you from afar; when we were lovers, I loved you with all my heart … on this Harvest Moon.”
~ Neil Young

Snake in the grass …

Hey, can anyone tell me what kind of snake is in my yard. He’s soooooo pretty. He’s been out there all this morning and I think he ate something and was digesting it. And, then after I took these photos, later I found he had moved along.

Labor Day weekend — Louisiana-style!

John and Nina Arico of Zest Catering are hosting a super Dining On Air Party to benefit WSLR 96.5 LPFM radio this coming Saturday, September 5th at 7:00 p.m. I think the restaurant is located in the Gulf Gate area on Superior Ave. The Arico’s are serving up a fabulous New Orleans-themed dinner with yummy crab cakes, chicken and sausage gumbo, blackened fish with corn relish and mirliton (what the heck is that!?) Wine, beer, ice tea and sparkling water are included.

John Osgood — the radio host of WSLR’s popular Sunday night Louisiana Gumbo show (which airs every Sunday from 7 to 9 pm) — is creating a special mix of Louisiana-flavored music to complement the cuisine and will be dining with guests and answering any questions about zydeco, blues, Louisiana music, and lots more ….

A free after party is planned at Arts Center Sarasota with LIVE music by Los Rumberos and scrumptious desserts donated by local businesses including Pastry Arts, Carr’s Corner, Ben and Jerry’s and more.

The price is $50 per person — not too bad considering you’re getting a four-course specially-prepared gourmet meal and drinks, music and good conversation AND DESSERT! (I’m so there!) And though WSLR’s website and publicity about the event doesn’t say how much of the ticket price goes back to WSLR and doesn’t tell whether or not any portion of the ticket price is tax-deductible, you might be able to find out by calling the station; at the very least, you’ll be getting great cuisine and supporting local radio. Visit www.wslr.org to learn more.

Zest! of Sarasota Catering
6584 Superior Ave., Sarasota, FL 34231 941-924-2535
Sarasota County Green Business Partner
www.zestofsarasota.com

Happy Anniversary — MC Reality Online hits one year mark!

Last week on August 25th, this online column cum blog reached its one-year anniversary! I was so crazy-busy last week that I missed the actual anniversary … but I’m celebrating it on Friday night (September 4) under the light of the full Harvest Moon (sounds appropriate, doesn’t it — celebrating at harvest time?). I plan to have a martini (or two) and toast my little Internet endeavor.

All I ever wanted to be — from the time I was old enough to remember — was a writer. By reading my work … each one of you make me one. Really can’t thank you enough.

Reading in my Beacon Hill apartment the year I decided I was going to become a columnist come hell or high water. I got damn near burned up before I nearly drowned but I'm on dry land, now. Big thanks to Brian for capturing the moment, for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself. XO ad infinitum

Some fast facts:

• I launched MC’s Reality Online in August 2008, just one month after the debut of my book — Sideways in Sarasota. Because both anniversaries fall so closely together … and since several people have asked me in the days of Sarasota News & Books closing, where they could buy a copy of my book — I’m also celebrating my book (oh, good — another reason for a martini on Friday night) and offering an anniversary price via my own website of $13 (taxes and shipping included; signed copy). Just click on the hypelinked words Sideways in Sarasota above and you’ll be directed to information to buy, if you’re interested. Also, Sideways is available at Circle Books on St. Armands Circle.

• Since September ’08, the number of unique readers who visit the site each month has grown from 377 to 1,225. Guess it’s a tortoise – slow and steady growth. But what matters to me is that a lot of you keep coming back to read more. SO appreciated!
• MC Reality Online readers donated $1,943 to All Faith’s Food Bank in my 2008 drive. Stay tuned for news about the 2009 drive.
• MC’s Reality Online averages 26,000 hits per month.
• 938 of you have posted a comment at one time or another – I invite you to continue to use this site as a place for dialogue.
• I instituted advertising on the site in summer ’09 and have already sold several ads and the advertisers have received a pretty darn good return-on-investment in terms of hits to their own sites, etc. BIG thanks to those advertisers who have already supported my site and my writing by choosing to advertise here!
• I have to thank David Martin of Brighter Technologies, Inc. He’s my all-things-web guru and keeps me going when I can’t figure things out. If you need a great web guru, check him out and tell him MC referred you.
• My first blog ever – MC enters the blogosphere.
• In the year that I’ve been blogging, I’ve been asked to speak as a local blogger on a media panel , in a classroom and as an occasional guest panelist on WEDU’s political roundtable television program — Florida This Week, with moderator Rob Lorei.
• And BEST OF ALL, the folks who read this blog – um, that’s ALL OF YOU – were super, super kind to vote me as Creative Loafing Best of the Suncoast Best Local Blogger in the 2008 Reader Poll, and in Sarasota Magazine’s Best of 2009 Reader Poll as one of the best local bloggers. THANK you so much for helping me spread the word about my blog, achieve some street cred as a blogger, and most importantly, give me more reasons to ask bartenders all across Sarasota to “Shake me another ‘tini, baby!”
• And, lastly, if you like what you read here and want to help me snag another year as Best Local Columnist and/or Best Local Blogger in Creative Loafing’s annual Best of the Suncoast Readers Poll – you can vote for me in either or both categories – online right here! I sure would appreciate it!

Mostly, though, thanks for reading – for taking the time to visit this site, agree, disagree, encourage, chastise … I love being able to stay connected to readers even though I don’t have a weekly print column. It’s been a great year.

Sarasota News & Books closing … vita sine libris mors est*

*Life without books is death.

I don’t pretend to know the business side of running a bookstore/café like Sarasota News & Books, but I do claim to know the emotional side of being one of its patrons.

When I moved back to Sarasota five years ago after living in Boston for years, Sarasota News & Books saved my sanity. Not being a barfly or club-goer, it was at this bookstore that I became a regular, staving off crazy-lonely feelings in the company of books and book-lovers. It was there that I scribbled out the beginnings of an essay entitled Café Chess – Très Sexy that would later launch my (so-called) career as a writer in Sarasota in a column that celebrated the cerebrally-sexy chess players sitting at the café’s outdoor tables. (more…)

Gulliver reports on Sarasota doctors leading the push against health reform bill

Very interesting column by Health Reporter, David Gulliver on Sarasota Health News —

http://www.sarasotahealthnews.org/articles/2009/08_11_Sarasota_docs_revolt.htm

And then blogs about health care … and makes it personal. Pretty powerful stuff.

http://www.sarasotahealthnews.org/articles/2009/08_14_Editor_Note.htm

Here’s to your health! Chin, chin. Salut! — but you better have healthcare first!

Tim Sukits, staff writer at Creative Loafing, sent some good info on the health care issue …. I’m a strong proponent of health care reform — in a way that insures that all citizens have access to good, regular, and affordable health care, so I thought I’d share Tim’s message with my reality readers as well. Your comments — pro or con — are welcome at this post! (more…)