If you like your films wild & scenic...

Multitalented multitasker Forrest King works on four paintings at once for next Art Design and Dine

The next Art Design and Dine Artwalk features "Portraits in Progress – Live painting by Forrest King"

Thursday, June 14th from 5-8 at the Ancient Sage, 1726 Capital Ave in Historic Downtown Cheyenne

Four new portraits in progress by Forrest King, two of which have not been revealed to the public, will be worked on simultaneously!

The paintings worked will be Harry P. Hynds, Alex Frye, A Little Girl Named Jayne, and Leah Zegan.

Other works in progress will also be on display, including the Battered Bride, Repression Number One, and a nameless one!

Stop by for a refreshment, and if you purchase something from the Ancient Sage you will be entered into a drawing for a “one of a kind” signed 8×10 print of your favorite Forrest King painting. (Only customers who buy during the event will be entered)

Happy Mama Conference in N.C. for mothers of kids with real, but invisible, brain-based disabilities

This sounds like a fabulous retreat for mothers (and possibly fathers) of kids with ADHD, OCD, SPD, and so on. From the "Easy to Love but Hard to Raise" blog that I write for occasionally:

The Happy Mama Conference & Retreat will take place July 28–29, 2012, at the Rock Barn Golf & Spa, in Conover, North Carolina. Here’s what the retreat is all about, as described on the Happy Mama website, www.if-mama-aint-happy.com :

What: A CONFERENCE that focuses on your needs as the mom to a child with a very real, but invisible, brain-based disability, like ADHD, ADD, OCD, ODD, FASD, PBD, SPD, PDD, or one of the many other overlapping conditions that make parenting your child an extra challenging situation, and a RETREAT, where we’ll provide you with wonderful food, spa opportunities, fun activities, and camaraderie with other moms who know exactly where you’re coming from.

Why: Because parenting children with invisible disabilities is an extremely stressful, isolating, and emotional job and one which can impact your health and well-being in a negative way.

The retreat, hosted by DRT Press (publisher of Easy to Love but Hard to Raise) and the website {a mom’s view of ADHD} (founded and edited by Penny Williams) and supported by a growing list of sponsors, including CHADD and the Catawba Valley Medical Center, will offer the perfect blend of education, support, and pampering.

Saturday’s speakers will cover: “Parenthood, Stress, Health, and Resiliency,” “Advocating for Your Child in School,” and “How to Be Happy: Calming Techniques for You and Your Child.”Sunday will be devoted to fun and pampering, which may include spa treatments, relaxing by the pool, gem mining, hiking, yoga, horseback riding, or kayaking.

Doesn’t that sound fabulous? I can hardly wait!

Sharon Barbary Bryan registered for the conference, but has since found out that she’s unable to attend. Sharon is donating her conference registration and on-site lodging, approximately a $350 value, to a deserving mom! The retreat organizers are running a contest to determine what lucky mama will be the recipient of Sharon’s generous gift. Here’s how it works: Follow this link. Nominate a special needs mama whom you feel deserves to attend the retreat, by writing a sentence or two in the comments field (of that post, not this one!) explaining why she needs a break. The contest will run June 1 – June 22.

If you are interested in attending whether you win this contest or not, please don’t hesitate to register now. Registration is just $129 until July 1. If you are “in the business” of ADHD, FASD, ASD, or other brain-based disorders and wish to become a retreat sponsor, email happymamaretreat@gmail.com

for their sponsorship package

Meg Lanker-Simons' Cognitive Dissonance gets "Golden Thinkr" honors from ThinkProgress

Laramie blogging pal Meg Lanker-Simons (Cognitive Dissonance) has just been named one of 10 Tumblr Golden Thinkrs by ThinkProgress (see her sardonic visage at bottom left of graphic). Agreed -- Meg's blog is a hoot and filled with cool graphics and digs at wacko conservatives, of which we have many in Wyoming. Meg is off to NN12 in Providence this week where she will earn more fans. Here's the news:

The moment you’ve all been waiting for is here! After months (days) of eager anticipation (quiet indifference), ThinkProgress is pleased to award our inaugural Golden Thinkrs to 10 tumblrs that have made us laugh, cry, think, sing, skip and—in one particular moment of weakness—drink heavily.

There are too many unique and worthy voices on Tumblr to cram into one award ceremony, so instead we relied on a complicated, mathematical formula to whittle down our list to what you see here. We did not—repeat, DID NOT—throw darts at a board and choose the first 10 we hit.

We be ugly in Wyoming

From TV reviewer Mary McNamara's LA Times review of the "Longmire" pilot:

Where Longmire strides, Vic bounces, and though Sackhoff doesn't have quite enough to do in the pilot, the chemistry between the two will no doubt be the river running through the show. While anything can happen over time in a TV series, their relationship appears remarkably, and mercifully, free of sexual or even romantic tension, despite their being the two best-looking people in the county and probably the state. (No offense meant, citizens of Wyoming.)

"Longmire" on A&E is based on the novels of Craig Johnson of Ucross, Wyoming, pop. 25, in Sheridan County, home to several ruggedly attractive people.

Obama for America phone bank June 4 in Cheyenne

From Obama for America, Wyoming chapter:

What: Obama for America team meeting and phone bank in Cheyenne

Where: Laramie County Public Library, 2200 Pioneer Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82001

When: Monday, June 4, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Contact: 307-461-1702

M.L. Liebler "rides the quatrains" in Afghanistan

Detroit's "Beat Angel" M.L. Liebler is one of the presenters this weekend at the Wyoming Writers, Inc., conference in Casper. He just wrote a great story in the Detroit Metro Times about a recent trip teaching poetry workshops in Afghanistan. Go to this link on the Wyomingarts blog: http://wyomingarts.blogspot.com/2012/05/from-ml-liebler-poet-and-teacher.html

Dems' Spring Hat Tea postponed until June 24

This just in...

Unfortunately, the Spring Hat Tea, originally scheduled for June 2, has been cancelled due to unforeseen events. However, please save the date for Sunday, June 24, 2012. Another exciting Grassroots Coalition event is being planned.

Wear a fashionable hat -- and raise funds for Dems

From fun-loving Dem Wendy Soto: You are invited to a lovely Spring Hat Tea this Saturday. Come join your Democratic friends for tea and desserts. Let's celebrate Spring by planning to elect Democrats in November.   Please join us and invite a friend!  Saturday, June 2, 2-4 pm  Wendy Soto's home, 3439 Essex Special guest speaker: Robin Van Ausdall, E.D. State Party Tickets $15, second ticket of nonmember guest $10 Show off your most fabulous hat!

Meet upstart Dem Lee Filer at June 1 barbecue

Lee Filer is a Democratic Party candidate for HD 12 running against Republican Amy Edmonds. He is having  a fundraiser on Friday, June 1 at 6:30 at 1503 West College Drive which is AB Camping. The cost is $25 per plate (great BBQ). Please join Lee in his effort to defeat Amy Edmonds in November.

Here's a WTE story about Lee's fund-raiser, followed by some interesting comments. Seems that there are more that a few GOPers in right-winger Amy Edmonds' district who want someone else....

"Are we artists or monkeys?" -- three essays about the current state of "creative placemaking"

We've spent a decade hearing about the "creative class" and "creatives" and "creative placemaking" at one arts conference after another. Young creatives are transforming neglected city centers into arts oases where the artrepreneurial economy thrives, or so the story goes. There are success stories, to be sure, but not every imagined "creative placemaking" project comes to fruition. In Cheyenne, we're still working on several projects that, if successful, can revitalize downtown. But we still have that ugly gaping hole at the core of our city center. Hard to imagine a thriving downtown with a hole in its middle.

A triple dose of reality comes from a story by Ian David Moss at Createquity.com and two others from the Adobe Airstream blog written by arts writer Ellen Berkovitch and "young arts professional" Hannah Hoel about the Imagined Futures project in Santa Fe which hasn't gone much beyond the imagining stage. One only has to look at the URL wording to see the tenor of the articles:

Ian David Ross: http://createquity.com/2012/05/creative-placemaking-has-an-outcomes-problem.html

Ellen Berkovitch: http://adobeairstream.com/art/creative-santa-fe-coals-to-newcastle/

Hannah Hoel: http://adobeairstream.com/art/placemaking-in-santa-fe-are-we-artists-or-monkeys/

Morris House Bistro: Blending the art of food & historic preservation

The Morris House Bistro, a fine dining establishment in downtown Cheyenne featuring South Carolina Lowcountry cuisine, received the Bill Dubois Award for Historic Preservation on Tuesday. Bill Dubois, grandson (and namesake) of Cheyenne's most famous architect, presented the award to Morris House Bistro co-owners Dameione Cameron and Troy Rumpf. The restaurant has been opened barely a year and it's thriving, and soon will offer a Sunday brunch. Read the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle article: Restaurant honored for historic preservation. For more about MHB, go to http://www.morrishousebistro.com/.

A long drive made short -- on the road with the "Blue Heaven" audiobook

Yesterday, Cheyenne writer Karen Cotton's blog featured a Q&A with best-selling writer C.J. Box that included news about the upcoming film of "Blue Heaven." It made me think about the long drive across Wyoming last summer that was made shorter (and much more fun) with the accompaniment of the "Blue Heaven" audiobook.

A long drive made short. That may be the best way to describe the effects of a great audiobook. "Blue Heaven" is that kind of experience. This was Chuck's (that's how most Wyomingites know C.J.) first stand-alone novel, the first outside of his best-selling Joe Pickett series. It came out in 2008 and was a big hit. It was selected by the American Library Association as a 2008 Reading List award winner in the category "Adrenaline." The action is intense as 12-year-old Annie and her younger brother William witness a murder in the Idaho woods and now have to escape pursuit by a group of retired L.A. cops who have big secrets to hide. Some unexpected heroes help them, but readers are kept guessing all the way to the end.

One of Chuck's gifts is his ability to portray "us," those of us who live and work in the Rocky Mountain West. He's adept at showing the clashes between Old West and New West. In "Blue Heaven," rancher Jess Rawlins, one of the main characters, is beset by realtors and bankers and clueless newcomers from "The Coast." While the setting is northern Idaho, this could be Anywhere, Wyoming, those places Chuck knows so well -- Rawlins, Cheyenne, Sheridan, Encampment, even the mythical Saddlestring, Game Warden Joe Pickett's home base. This authenticity has earned the author many fans who aren't necessarily big readers. His book signings features teen boys, retirees, ranchers, bikers, teachers, and diehard Baby Boomer book-buyers like me. His audience is broad and deep. They like him in Germany, France, Japan, the U.K. and 20-some other countries, too.

My preferred delivery system for a good story is the actual book that I can read on a summer afternoon under the shade of a high plains cottonwood. Reading and long-distance driving (especially when you're the driver) aren't a good mix, which led to the invention of audiobooks. Last summer, I listened to the Laramie County Public Library's copy of "Blue Heaven." They may now have multiple copies, or soon will, and copies of the book. Read or listen to it now, before the film comes out and there's a big rush to see what the fuss is all about.

Jalan Crossland's "Portrait of a Fish" tour rolls into Cheyenne

Not a self-portrait of Jalan...

As he wrapped up last night's second set at the Historic Plains Hotel in Cheyenne, Jalan Crossland invited the audience to his hometown August hootenanny -- the NoWoodstock Festival in Ten Sleep.

"Did he say NoWoodstock?" my wife Chris asked.

I nodded. And tried to explain. NoWoodstock is not exactly the opposite of the legendary gathering. It is held outdoors, and sometimes it rains, but it's not likely to draw 500,000 retro-hippies for three days of peace and love and cause a blockbuster film and album (remember those?) to be made.

NoWoodstock is a bit like Jalan. A little bit country, a little bit folk, a little bit storytelling, with equal parts singing and picking the guitar and banjo. Throw in some food and drink, mosquitoes and sunburn, and there you have it.

But back to last night. Jalan's solo concert was arranged by the Cheyenne Guitar Society, its third event of the season. The series had a number of sponsors, including the Wyoming Arts Council and the LCCC Foundation. The performance was delayed by 20 minutes so that hotel staff could bring in more chairs. By the time Jalan took the stage, the room was packed and very warm. There was a long line at the ballroom bar.

Jalan writes and plays his own songs. Most come with a splash (sometimes a raging torrent) of humor. So when he said that this was the first time he'd played in Cheyenne outside of a couple of weddings, nobody knew if he was kidding. I didn't get to ask him, but it seems unlikely. In the past couple months, he's been to New Orleans and the annual songwriters' festival in Key West. His next stop is the Upper Meramac Flatpicking Guitar Camp & Americana Music Festival in Steelville, Mo. Then come stops in Nebraska and Iowa before a big concert June 1 at the WYO Theater in Sheridan. He arrives back in Ten Sleep August 12 for NoWoodstock. Get the full concert schedule at http://www.jalancrossland.com/concerts.htm

At the Plains, Jalan played some of his favorites, many of them shouted out from the audience. They included "Don't Taze Me Bro," "Trailer Park Fire," "The Little Girl & the Deadly Snake" and "The Loneliness of the Long-Distance, All-Night Chicken Trucker." We could almost smell the "Trailer Park Fire" -- open doors brought a whiff of wind-blown smoke from the wildland fires burning in northern Colorado. Jalan played some tunes from his new CD, "Portrait of a Fish," including a moving rendition of Gordon Lightfoot's "Don Quixote." He alternated between banjo and guitar. Some of the up-tempo numbers caused some impromptu dancing to break out at the front of the room.

The evening ended too soon. Judging by the crowd at the merchandise table, Jalan was selling a lot of T-shirts and signing scads of CDs and posters. Weddings are nice and all, but it seems odd that Jalan's public appearances in Cheyenne are so rare. But it is a long way from the wilds of Washakie County and NoWoodstock. That's not Jalan's next concert stop, but it may be ours.

Cross-posted to the Wyomingarts blog

Tickets to CIFF"s screening of "Bully" are free, thanks to Wyoming Humanities Council

All tickets are FREE for the May 17 Cheyenne International Film Festival screening of “Bully” at the Frontier 9 Theater. Thanks to the Wyoming Humanities Council for underwriting the program including discussions before and after the film. Doors open at 6:00pm – movie at 6:30 pm. There is no cost for tickets, but are required for admission to keep a seat count. There may be “Rush” tickets available at the door.

Daniel Junge returns to Cheyenne with an Oscar-winning doc and a new short film

This comes from the CIFF's Alan O'Hashi: The Cheyenne International Film Festival is honoring Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Daniel Junge on Saturday, May 19. The full evening event is selling out, but CIFF is offering tickets for the films, interview and questions and answers with Daniel Junge. The films include “One Day” which is Daniel’s latest short film followed by the Oscar-winning “Saving Face.” Tickets are also available at the Phoenix Books and Music walk-up box office 1612 Capitol Avenue in Downtown Cheyenne. Tickets for the reception honoring Daniel Junge are also on sale online and at the box office.

Firefighter Joe Fender announces election bid, warns Legislature: "Don't mess with" state retirement system

From a Wyoming Democratic Party press release:

Cheyenne Fire Fighter Joe Fender has announced his plan to seek the Democratic nomination for the House District 7 seat in the Wyoming Legislature. 

Fender, a fifteen-year veteran of the fire service, is a lieutenant with the Cheyenne Fire & Rescue Department. “I have dedicated nearly my entire adult life as a public servant, so I see serving in the Legislature as a way for me to continue to give back to the community that has been so good to me and my family” said Fender. 

Fender said his strengths are his understanding of the legislative process as well as local issues directly affecting the citizens of House District 7. He said his neighbors are concerned about water quality. They are concerned that hydraulic fracturing will damage their drinking water and don’t want to wind up like the people in Pavillion. Fender believes Wyoming can continue the economic development of minerals while protecting the land and water for future generations. 

Fender’s experience as a fire fighter has helped him to understand the role the state can play in making sure Wyoming’s citizens get the critical services they deserve. He said a consistent plan must be put in place to make sure local communities have quality basic services such as safe, well-maintained roads, clean water, good schools and public safety.  

“We need to take a hard look at our finances and determine whether we should continue our current level of Mineral Trust Fund deposits,” said Fender “or whether it is time to invest some of that money into critical infrastructure, where it will directly affect the lives of the citizens of Wyoming”. 

Fender has several important issues for legislative attention. Wyoming ranks at the bottom of the nation in worker deaths and injuries as well as ranks at the bottom in gender gap equality, he noted.“Women in Wyoming make only 67 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts,” said Fender. Fender said Wyoming women are often forced into low-paying jobs, or forced to stay home altogether, because childcare costs eat up too much of their paychecks. “Mothers need access to quality childcare,” he said.

Fender said many citizens worry about where the Legislature is taking the public pension system. Some 89,000 people rely on the Wyoming retirements they have earned for their years of service, he said. Most of them reinvest that money right back into Wyoming’s economy. “The reality is that the average monthly retirement benefit for public employees in Wyoming is $1,200 a month,” said Fender. “Anything we do that interrupts that revenue stream will have serious consequences to retirees and local economies”. Fender said several studies show the Wyoming retirement system is actually one of the most stable in the country. The Wyoming Legislature shouldn’t mess with something that works, he added. 

Fender pointed out that he has considerable experience working with the Wyoming Legislature. “With five years of lobbying experience representing firefighters and public safety under my belt, I feel as though I have the knowledge, skills and abilities to represent my district by being responsive to the constituents.”

From Blowing in the Wyoming Wind: Are we addicted to negative politics?

Cheyenne's Rodger McDaniel explores how the Twelve Steps can help progressives maintain their sanity during the upcoming presidential battle. Go to...

Blowing in the Wyoming Wind: Are we addicted to negative politics?: According to a recent analysis, 70% of presidential campaign commercials run so far have been negative. It will only get worse. ...

My favorite parts:

With one-tenth of one percent of the electoral votes necessary to elect a president, Wyoming voters are powerless to impact presidential elections. Regardless of whom we support, you and I are powerless to avoid the inevitable. Those measly three electoral votes will go to Romney no matter what you think or how much money or time you contribute. While we are powerless over the outcome, we can control our own sanity. But if we remain addicted and follow the campaign, reacting to the daily negativity of the candidates, their TV ads and surrogates, our lives will become unmanageable.

Regardless of how incensed we become listening to the attacks on our candidate, the only impact will be to our own blood pressure and our relationships with others. The same man (and it will be a man) will win regardless of how crazy it all makes us.

Here's what I plan to do during the election. I will keep a positive attitude, avoid those wacky talking heads on corporate news channels, avoid debates with Republicans over which candidate said which stupid thing, eat well, sleep the sleep of the righteous, exercise, and imagine an Obama second term.

Mother's Day has roots in early peace movement

From Nation of Change:  

Mother’s Day began in America in 1870 when Julia Ward Howe wrote the Mother’s Day Proclamation. Written in response to the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War, her proclamation called on women to use their position as mothers to influence society in fighting for an end to all wars. She called for women to stand up against the unjust violence of war through their roles as wife and mother, to protest the futility of their sons killing other mothers’ sons. Read more here

. 

Big turnout at Governor's Offfice for signing of Children's Mental Health Awareness Week proclamation

Top photo: Big turnout Wednesday morning for Governor Matt Mead's signing of the proclamation for Children's Mental Health Awareness Week. A large group of concerned parents and children joined with UPLIFT staffers and board members, representatives from the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division, and Sen. Floyd Esquibel. Everyone received a "Children's Mental Health Matters" ribbon and balloon, even the Governor. Bottom photo: UPLIFT’s Kim Conner asked me, as an UPLIFT board member, to share some national stats on children's mental health with Gov. Matt Mead at Wednesday’s proclamation signing.