The return of The Walking Dead

I can’t wait until Valentine’s Day because that is the day my true love returns. I am not talking about my husband – I am talking about AMC’s The Walking Dead.  My love affair with The Walking Dead started in the summer of 2014 when Dr. Alicia Crosby showed the pilot episode as part of a cult film course.   Because I am not someone who is into video games or graphic novels, I had never watched what I just assumed would be a zombie gore-fest.  Just ten minutes into the video, I discovered that my assumption was “dead” wrong. It turned out to be about people, community, and adapting under the worst imaginable circumstances.   So I went home and binge-watched the entire series on demand so I could catch up before the season premier.  I have now become a devoted and enthusiastic viewer with a desire to learn to use a cross-bow.                                                                   

In an interview, Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman said, “Zombies are inherently about people. Your average vampire or werewolf is about a supernatural monster that’s completely unrelatable.  But zombie stories are about human struggle, which is relatable to anybody. And I also think zombies are a physical embodiment of death, which is a fear we all have.”   Yes, the show is set in the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse but the show’s title can be seen as a reference to the survivors as well as the zombies because what it means to be human is forever altered once the virus is unleashed.

 

Take the quiz to see if you can survive

Blogger Dan Birlew writes “The zombie apocalypse scenario changes all the rules for the people who must live on afterwards.” Those who continue to survive are in constant danger, not only from the threat posed by the “walkers” but also from other survivors - everyone knows what the zombies want but it is difficult to determine the motives of the remaining human population.   Sanity and morality erode. The stress is unimaginable.  Surviving depends on doing whatever is necessary coupled with luck. But there’s no way to determine if the characters are behaving appropriately because there is no situation like their horrific experiences that we can use as a yardstick.  What defines a hero or a villain?

“If our understanding of what it means to be human is constantly betrayed by the disappointment of pernicious actions and schemes of others, why continue on with any human values at all?” – Loren-Paul Caplin

 

Each episode brings a fair amount of death –a reality in a zombie apocalypse- and neither Kirkman nor producer Scott Gimple is opposed to killing off major characters in order to further the plot.  So, it seems irresponsible, even perhaps a bit cruel, to bring a child into a world filled with so much inhumanity.  Not to mention the fact that babies cry.  Noise attracts the “walkers” so a newborn poses danger for the entire group.  Nevertheless the birth of baby Judith, nicknamed Little Asskicker, symbolized the hope that life will go on and the world will adapt.  She will never know a time without “walkers” so she will not be as emotionally damaged as her older brother. I can’t wait for the new season to begin now that Maggie is expecting a child.  

5 Scientific Reasons a Zombie Apocalypse Could Actually Happen

 

While the zombie apocalypse may be the stuff of science fiction, the concept ties in quite well with emergency preparedness. As a result, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) hosts a zombie preparedness blog on its website.  What started out as a humorous campaign to promote emergency preparedness evolved into an effective platform for getting the public to think about emergency preparedness before disasters like hurricanes or pandemics occur. The blog uses The Walking Dead to illustrate the need for planning before it's too late.

 

 

Zombies have become quite popular in the media.  In addition to The Walking Dead, there is the spin-off Fear the Walking Dead, the CW’s iZombie, and SyFy’s Z Nation – not to mention movies like World War Z and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  Robert Kirkman believes that this zombie popularity reflects our culture. “ [The] current world climate and situations that are on the news today kind of give people an overwhelming sense of dread about their everyday lives. It means that Walking Dead can be a way to sit down and experience those feelings of fear and dread in a manageable way. Like, I’m working through my issues of worrying about if my boss is going to lay me off because [things are] not going well at the company by worrying about Daryl Dixon dying because zombies are attacking him.”

 

 

The scrapbooker's lament - I know I’ve got it here somewhere

I bought eight (very expensive) packages of Jolie’s Big Ben stickers for my first England scrapbook - I kept going back to A.C. Moore and buying the same ones over and over again because I forgot what I had stashed away.  Unfortunately, when I finally got around to making the scrapbook, I discovered that I only took two photos of Big Ben.  I really liked those stickers but there was no way to put all eight of them on one page with just two 4X6 prints.  Ok, problem solved. I simply took another trip to London in 2014 so I could use up the stickers.  I know, the solution was a bit extreme but all my scrapbooking friends agreed that it was the best alternative.  On my second trip, I purposely took nine pictures of Big Ben (enough for three great layouts) and now I can’t find those stupid leftover stickers from my original trip.

This cautionary tale of illusive stickers illustrates the need to keep scrapbook projects and materials organized.  Maria Gracia of Get Organized Now writes in her blog that getting scrapbook supplies into some sort of orderly storage makes them easier to retrieve when needed and helps to eliminate duplicate purchases.  Why didn’t I read this before I spent $40 on those Big Bens? Her 50 Ideas to Get Organized and Enjoy Your Scrapbooking Hobby includes:

“USE WHAT YOU HAVE FIRST. Resist the urge to buy a million new papers, punches, and so on, until you’ve used some of the craft supplies you already have. Unless you’re planning on opening a  scrapbooking warehouse, it’s best to be choosy before emptying your wallet on new items, when you already have items you could use in  your current supply.”
 

 

But beware!  Scrapbook organization is not for the faint-of-heart. Keeping paper organized is hard enough but adding punches, stickers, and embellishments takes Herculean effort.   And some of the organizational systems on the market are outrageously expensive - the Cadillac of scrapbook organization, The Original Scrapbox, costs over $1200.  But scrapbookers don’t have to invest in specialized furniture to get everything in its place. Inexpensive plastic containers, jars, and even Ziplock bags work great for taming scrapbook clutter.  Scrapbook blogger Kim Layton says “I don’t want to stash things away where I’ll never see them, so I try to organize in a way that keeps my pretty supplies in sight and right at my fingertips when creativity strikes.”  Her 12 creative and inexpensive storage ideas are budget-friendly and cover many types of scrapbooking necessities.  
 

 

Just as much effort should go into craft room design as goes into designing a scrapbook page. The team at Apartments.com says “Turning your chaotic scrapbook room into a place you love requires some creativity and planning. It should be as inviting to look at as a favorite page in your scrapbook.” Their website offers 8 organization tips that work for any size space.   However, if your interior design experience is limited to watching Joanna Gaines on HGTV as she effortlessly creates a craft room on Fixer-Upper, you should probably get some practical advice from The Keeper of Memories before you begin.  If I had only seen her blog post 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Organizing Your Creative Space sooner, I might not still be hunting for Big Ben.
 

I started this hobby (read that “obsession”) in 1999 and I have seen many new innovations. My daughter-in-law will look at my latest scrapbook and remark, “Oh, I see you got a ______________ (fill in the blank with snowflake punch, tag maker, paper crimper, corner rounder, etc.)” Something new comes along, all my friends have it and I believe I can’t be creative without it.  I convince myself it will be perfect for scrapbooking my trip to Hawaii, or France, or my Christmas 2008 photos, or my nephew’s graduation party, or some other “pending” project on my to-do list yet many of these must-haves now sit abandoned because something else came along.  Organizing expert Aby Garvey founded simplify 101 on the philosophy that life is more fun when things are organized.  Her affordable online classes let clients “create customized organizing systems that cut clutter and reduce stress.” Aby writes, “It’s perfectly acceptable to donate unused supplies. Simply grab a bag and collect a few easy items… and donate your castoffs to a local school, daycare center or retirement center.”  From her lips to God’s ears.
 

 

 

Scrapbook blogger Ali Edwards sums up the real reason to get organized. “Remember, my goal is to not spend a lot of time organizing stuff. My goal is to make stuff… I want options… not excess. I don't need every color of album, every letter sticker option, etc. I want breathing room in here.”  My thoughts exactly.

 

"There's a starman waiting in the sky"

Photo from Cleveland.com

People die. But if we are lucky, a few, like David Bowie, will share their talents with us before they go. Singer, song-writer, actor, and musical influencer, Bowie lost his battle with liver cancer on January 10, just days after his 69th birthday and the release of his latest album entitled Blackstar.   After hearing the sad news, his long-time friend and colleague Elton John posted on Facebook "I am still in shock. Never saw it coming. My deepest condolences to Iman and the family.  An amazing life.  An amazing career."

Indeed, the news of Bowie’s death was totally unexpected. How in an era of instant information dissemination did his fans not know about his illness? 

I was in high school when I first heard David Bowie’s music.  NASA had recently launched Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing mission, when the local radio stations started playing Bowie’s song Space Oddity.   The eerie lyrics and haunting melody combined with Bowie’s unique voice captivated listeners who had just witnessed science fiction come to life when astronauts walked on the moon in July 1969.

But you don’t have to be a Bowie fan to be familiar with his music. His Little Drummer Boy duet with Bing Crosby is part of nearly every radio station’s Christmas playlist and his song Starman is on the sound track of the Oscar-nominated Ridley Scott film, The Martian. Not surprisingly, Bowie is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, class of 1996.

 

 

David Byrne of the Talking Heads inducted David Bowie into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ( from You Tube) 

 

 

Costume photos from Cleveland.com

I will always remember my first visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum back in 1998 when I got to see some Bowie memorabilia that is part of the permanent collection.  One of my favorite exhibits (then and when I visited again in 2009) is a collection of stage costumes worn by legendary performers.  The display includes the eccentric and androgynous jumpsuit worn by Ziggy Stardust, Bowie’s alter ego for many years. With his outrageous clothes, outlandish make-up, and bizarre hairstyles, Bowie pioneered what became known as glam rock, and along with artists like Elton John, he was a major influence for groups such as Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, and Culture Club.   

Never static, Bowie adopted several other stage personas during his more than forty years of entertaining.  The costume collection at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame includes several other tour costumes, including the outfit he wore on stage during his A Reality Tour in 2003.  The display symbolizes the artistry Bowie brought to the stage in his performances and can be appreciated by both die-hard fans and neophytes. 

“Bowie didn’t just alter the sound of rock; he shaped the way it looked, and he expanded what it could achieve as a medium. In doing so, he inspired millions.” - Greg Harris, Rock Hall Blog

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, OH

The curators at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with a group of music critics and historians have compiled a list of some of the most significant rock and roll songs ever recorded.  They believe that these songs best exemplify  the development of rock music over the years.  While the complete list covers myriad artists, four of the songs on the list were composed by David Bowie. They are:

• Changes
• Fame
• Space Oddity
• Ziggy Stardust

In addition to his epic music career, Bowie appeared in several motion pictures including The Hunger, The Labyrinth, and Zoolander.   According to WWMX Radio, in 1985, he was offered a role as a villain in A View to a Kill but turned it down saying “I didn't want to spend five months watching my stunt double fall off cliffs."  His movie roles earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In spite of his prolific body of work,  Bowie only had two songs that reached the number one spot on the charts in the US - Fame in 1975 and Let’s Dance in 1983.  David Bowie made music a little more special for the world,  so instead of mourning our loss, we should celebrate the contributions he made to the evolution of rock and roll.  Rock on, Starman!

 

A golden girl learns the secrets of alchemy

Thomas Wijck (1616-1677) Alchemist

In my high school yearbook, The Keough Current, I was voted most likely to become an alchemist.  Alchemy is a medieval practice that was based on the supposed magical transformation of matter, particularly turning lead into gold, but if you have ever read the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, you know that alchemy can also be a metaphor for transformation.  The protagonist in Coelho's story is Santiago, a shepherd who finds self-empowerment as he follows a seemingly impossible dream.  The yearbook editor’s prediction was right - I am now a golden girl in the image of Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia.  Yes, I will admit I am old - so old in fact that when a friend posted on Facebook to comment with a dog’s name that did not have the letter “a” in it, I replied with Rin-Tin-Tin.  But being a Baby Boomer is not the only thing that makes me a golden girl because I tend to disassociate my true age from my perceived one. I have learned that to be truly golden, it is necessary to understand that positive change comes from truly knowing yourself.  After much hesitation and soul-searching, I finally unlocked the profound secrets of alchemy as a fifty-something and decided to pursue my dream of earning a college degree.

So in 2009, more than thirty-five years after graduating from high school, I attended a First Thursday information session and enrolled in NDMU’s CAUS program (College of Adult Undergraduate Studies).   When my grown children asked me why I was returning to school at my age, I replied “So you can put BA on my tombstone”  and I graduated in 2012 with a bachelor’s  degree in Liberal Studies.  When I decided to continue my education with a Master’s degree in Contemporary Communications, my younger son quipped, “You really don’t need to get an MA because we were always going to put ‘Ma’ on your tombstone.”   I do think he is proud of my achievements though – he refers to me as “Smarty-pants”.  I guess it takes one to know one, right?

The truth is that I returned to school for personal fulfillment rather than for career advancement.  I had always dreamed of earning my college degree but circumstances forced me to defer that dream when I was younger.  I am the oldest of four siblings and can remember how my parents would introduce us. They would say “This is our daughter Karen.  She’s a nurse.  This is our son Ed.  He’s a teacher.  This is our son Scott.  He is a computer programmer.  And this is Denise, our oldest.”  No noteworthy tag line for me.  I don’t think they did this to intentionally make me feel bad – in fact, I don’t even know if they were aware that they did it at all.  A degree became a symbol of validation and credibility to me but sadly my parents did not live long enough to see me earn one. 

When I was a young woman, I was always looking forward to something new and exciting and I realized that I missed that feeling of anticipation.  As I have discovered, continuing to pursue my dreams is part of the secret to staying young.  Lisa is a blogger who commented on Huffington Post’s Generation Fabulous, a website that provides a forum for post-fifty women. She wrote:

"The feeling of youth is that vibration, a heady mixture of fear, thrill and adventure that ran through our bodies and minds when we were young. We experience it when we don’t know what will come next in some element of our lives.”  - Lisa on Grown and Flown

 I don’t know what new experiences to expect after I graduate in May but I’m enthusiastically looking forward to whatever comes along.   I have successfully fulfilled my dream and discovered wisdom as well as knowledge in the process.  In the tradition of a true alchemist, I have turned base metal into gold.