Friday Quote Day (an occasional resurrection)

"Is it ignorance or apathy?

Hey, I don't know and I don't care."

~ Jimmy Buffett

So here I am, the morning after the final day of an overscheduled week in which I got everything done and all my expectations were met.

I tried very hard not to think about how many people would attend last night's screening of Iron Jawed Angels. I knew of a couple people who were bringing a couple more people, but I'd really hoped to meet new people, people who weren't already a part of the Devoted Democrats.

And I did, actually. I met three new people, one of whom was just 17. She took a voter registration form with her. She'll turn 18 next month and will vote for her first president November 6. 

All in all, though, we could have held this event in a large living room. The upstairs of my garage (usable floor space is about 25-by-20 feet), for instance, where we had several exciting and enthusiastic parties four years ago. Instead of in a cavernous public hall with more empty chairs than filled ones.

Yes, I'm disappointed. I tried not to show it, but you guys know the real me, and there's no point in covering it up with my brand-new smile. Each of the summer meetings of our Democratic women's club have been sparsely attended. Fewer than half of our members came to the event last night, which the Executive Committee (a separate group) called the "kickoff" to the election season. Only two of their members attended.

No sense dwelling on disappointment, right? Those who came were treated to a helluva good film. None of us older women were aware of the torture our sisters endured so that we could cast our ballots 92 years later.

There's a glimmer of hope for younger women, though. That high-school senior will be watching the movie a second time.

Today.

In her civics class.

Next up …

I need to start making lists again. How is it that life gets so busy I can't remember everything that needs to be done in my head? Early fall always seems to be a hectic time here in the Middle of Nowhere. I'm almost grateful the deer ate all the tomatoes. I seriously don't have much time for kitchen duties these days.

I've moved my grocery list to my smartphone, which was a brilliant idea. I could never remember to grab the paper list from the front of the refrigerator, but I always have my phone with me. I use an app called Listonic, which categorizes the items for you, lets you save them, offers quick lists and favorite/recent items. It's easy-peasy and works great for grocery shopping.

I've downloaded Evernote, which is probably what I'll use to keep track of all the upcoming projects. I haven't started exploring it yet. One of its main features is that you can sync it across all your devices. Not sure if that's really a feature I need, since the device I use most often is the phone. But it might be easier to input things initially using the laptop keyboard.

Anyway. On to the projects.

We've set a date and secured a venue for the public screening of Iron Jawed Angels. Now I need to create a poster and get the word out to local papers and radio stations. That's today's job. (So why am I blogging? Because I signed up for NaBloPoMo! I'm so glad I moved the photo posts over here, it's the only way I can keep the daily blogging streak going sometimes. Oh, and thanks to both of you for looking at them.)

I dreamed about creating a poster. Remember when I first wrote about showing the film? I had dreams that night, as well. Last night's design dreams were very helpful, actually, all I'm going to have to do is find a high-resolution image of the film's poster (or scan the cover of the DVD), put the words I dreamed with the image and print it.

Another upcoming project involves running. We're not called Knit. Run. Reap. Eat. for nothing around here. The lovely Shauna and I were texting back and forth during the Olympics and she offered me a spot in the next 5K program of Up and Running. AWESOME! (I should have written this post yesterday, and I apologize profusely for not doing so. Shauna was giving away three more spots, but the deadline was last night. Arghhh. I feel like CARP for not being more on the ball. Another reason I need to start making that list.)

I'm excited to have the kickstart of a formal running program. When I've trained for previous races, I've printed out schedules from Runner's World or Hal Higdon, and they've worked – I've crossed the finish line each time I've started a race. But this will be different, more supportive and with no race on a future schedule. It's strictly for me-me-me, to get me back in running form so that I can maybe lose some lard and not have to buy bigger clothes for winter. (My closet is much like a department store at this point, with items available in every size. I'd like to clear it out, not add to it!)

My husband and I have an annual retreat coming up in a couple weeks, and we're trying to arrange a visit from his son and family. I want to visit my son and his family during my granddaughter's fall soccer season. I'll be going to the West Virginia Jefferson-Jackson Dinner as my county's Democrat of the Year in October, and we want to have a couple of election-season parties.

So. My plate is full. And I love it that way.

When's your busy season? What time of year do you wish you could add more hours to the day, or more days to the week?

A bit discouraged

I know it's summer and people are busy. I realize re-electing President Obama isn't everyone's cuppa, and his chances of winning West Virginia are zero and none. I get that time is limited and it's important to spend it wisely.

Last night was the monthly meeting of the local Democratic women's club, of which I am the Democratic woman in charge. In June, eight members came. Last month, only five. Last night, seven.

We haven't been able to vote on anything all summer. There are items to vote on and money to disperse. The election is less than three months from now. A handful of members can't be expected to plan and [wo]man fundraisers or events or receptions.

Our next event is a public screening of the HBO film Iron Jawed Angels. I'm going to try to make arrangements for a late September showing. Voter registration ends October 23 and early voting begins October 24, so airing it in September – NEXT MONTH – makes sense.

And apparently, if it is to be, it's up to me.

I feel strongly about making this happen, and the members who showed up last night all thought it was a great idea. One had seen it, said it was very powerful and definitely something we should do. And if more people had been at the meeting, I might have gotten more constructive input. More than, "Wow, what a great idea."

In order to show it without paying royalties on the film or rent on the venue, it has to

1. be shown for educational purposes [check]
2. have no admission charge [check]
3. be open to the public [check]

That leaves a lot of leeway as to what our group can do. I went to bed thinking about making post cards to put on each chair with future meeting dates printed on them. I woke up wondering if we should rent a popcorn machine. In between, I thought about publicity, inviting special guests, having a discussion period prior to or following the film, and more.

In other words, there was not much sleeping going on here at Chez Middle of Nowhere.

This election seems to be one in which women will make the difference. Fifty-one percent of voters are women, and Republicans seem to be hell-bent on selling us out. If you're a woman, or if you love a woman, how can you support a party who is against ALL abortion, even in the case of rape, incest or the life of the mother? (And if you're pro-life, doesn't the mother's life count?) Someone who voted against the Lilly Leadbetter Fair Pay Act. Someone who would, somehow, get rid of in vitro fertilization. (How is that possible?)

The film depicts what women went through – ridicule, imprisonment, torture – to secure the right to vote. I don't even have to see it to realize that my whiny little rant about lack of participation at a meeting is nothing compared to the original struggle to cast a ballot.

Thank you, Blogger, for that insight.