My National Endowment for the Arts story

I thought I would make this whole NEA thing personal.

When I graduated from college in 1981, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was under attack by the new president, Ronald Reagan, an actor. It was saved from the cutting block because friends of the president convinced the administration that the NEA actually provided "benefits". Click Wikipedia link.

I majored in Economics in college and did a lot of theatre both on- and behind- stage. After graduation, I wanted to work as an administrator in a regional or major theater. Because of the threats to the NEA. no theater in the country was hiring. I still have the stack of rejection letters.

The economy was in desperate conditions in 1981. The mortgage interest rate was in double digits. Finding any job was difficult. I did eventually get hired as a Washington, DC congressional and legislative liaison for a Midwest manufacturing company.

Less than five years into my "career" as a congressional/legislative liaison I started working part-time at Arena Stage in Washington, DC. I worked both for manufacturer and Arena Stage jobs for a period of time until Arena was willing and able to hire me for full time.

That was the start of my career in theater. By then the NEA was back on solid footing and theaters were expanding and hiring once again. Because of funding from the NEA and associated state and city arts organization, I had a very successful career as a theatrical stage manager. Theaters were creating companies of actors and designers.

Guthrie Theater 1987

I eventually made it to the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis where I still live and OWN A HOME that I purchased while working at the Guthrie. Because the NEA is funded, many artists I know are making a living, buying homes and raising families.

The NEA that lead to my success was not elitist...was not wasteful.

A slight modification and an hour in the sun

A slight modification to the trashcan hang out. Turn over and just stick one's head in.

Gorgeous sunshine. Uno loves the sun. Back porch sunshine time.

Oh, Mr. Man

This started yesterday as far as I can tell. Though the flipped over trashcan may now have an explanation.

I did take him out but he just jumped right back in.

In this photo you can actually tell what is in the trash. When he is asleep, he is so curled up you don't know where his head or tail or whatever is.

And yes, there is trash in the trash can.

And now another unconventional hangout

Well, the bed hangout didn't last very long.

Frankie has now chosen the nightstand. All my efforts to discourage this location have been useless.

Those damn squirrels

When I first bought my house a quarter century ago, I decorated for Christmas like crazy. I put a ton of lights on one of the cedar trees. During the winter the squirrels at through the wires and left a thousand pieces of outdoor lighting wire that I still find occasionally even now.

Since then I have been careful and reluctant to do outdoor lights. I have often hung the lights in my porch so they can be seen but not eaten.

Late last fall I decided to move my solar outdoor light string from around the lamp post to around the boulevard tree. Since these are solar lights it was a great opportunity to light the tree without having to run anything from the house.

Everything seemed fine until the weather warmed up and the squirrels started to get active. A few weeks ago I noticed that the lights were not coming on. I thought the solar cell had gotten turned around again which had happened a while ago.

Instead I found the solar cell on the ground. First I thought it was vandals. Upon closer inspection I discovered the wires had been severed in a few places. This lead me to believe the squirrels had been at it again!

Well, over the last couple of nights I reattached the wires using hot glue and electrical tape. Now to figure out where to put the lights that will keep them from gnawing squirrels!

A more conventional hang out spot

Frankie has finally left the bathroom sink hang out form the foot of the bed. He even sleeps there overnight with me.

And on papa's sleeping underwear.

Valentine's 5K

Our theme-costume was "running with a big heart on"

First official 5K of the year. Shout out to my running group, Running For Brunch, for keeping the spirit alive.

I'm very happy with my time and pace. I really like the 'how many runners you passed' stat.