Summer is officially here in Norman. And I'm not just talking the impressive lightening and thunderstorms that produced tornadoes and baseball sized hail (seriously, baseball-sized) a couple of weeks ago, or the blazing sun and 90 plus degree heat. This post is a shout out to all the creative folks who dedicate their time and energy into putting together amazing events and shows around the community. It makes the summer more educational, entertaining and interesting. Last weekend, the Firehouse Art Center, Jacobson House and Fred Jones Museum of Art sponsored "Luncheon on the Grass" at Lion's Park, which featured OU's Steel Drum Ensemble among other live music, free desserts, and my favorite: kids activities. Me and my main squeeze headed straight for the panels ready for painting and created some masterpieces that promote a couple of our proud endeavors: Touchstone Youth Project and Balcum Rancum Puppetry. I've got some Summer Field Trip groups lined up for Touchstone, at Rocktown Climbing Gym and will be supervising an OU School of Social Work (my Alma Mater) undergraduate student beginning in the fall. I'm also working on a fundraising push, so if anyone has any leads or is simply interested in donating to Touchstone, please contact me at cmgilman@touchstoneyouth.org.

The deadCenter Film Festival in Oklahoma City opened today, June 8th and will be screening films until Sunday, June 12th. If you live in the area, this could be a fun event to check out to see some of Oklahoma's own big screen talent, as well as some from surrounding states. But if you only have one evening to spare and live in Norman, come out for the 2nd Friday Circuit of Art walk on Main and Gray's Streets. And if you are for sure going, don't miss this.

My brave mother has been breast cancer-free for over one year now. She is participating in the North Texas Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure this Saturday. You can make a direct donation to Team PepsiCo here. Way to go, Momma. I love you.

I really love biking around town and most of the time the weather doesn't stop me. But every now and again, it's nice to be transported in air conditioning. Lucky for us in town, we can still conserve emissions and lay off the gas pedal by participating the CART bus service. They are having a promotion on June 17th and giving away free stuff and ending the night with music. Don't miss this gravy train.

Also, don't forget the man who introduced you to Hair, The Musical, made up his own words to popular songs for bedtime, took you to your favorite Oklahoma State Park every December and taught you how to get your real money's worth of theater movies. His day is Sunday, June 20th.

Speaking of music, Jazz in June is just around the corner. This is another great family friendly event sponsored by the Norman Arts Counsel, among other local endeavors. Sign up to volunteer for 4 hour slot and get a free t-shirt and help support a much anticipated annual celebration.

In other news, I'll be famous soon. You can say you knew me when. And you can pre-order your very own copy of the book from me and I'll autograph and personalize it just for you. My book signing is scheduled at Hastings in Norman, and you'll probably want to start camping out at least two days prior if it's anything like the Palin signing last November. Hurry, there are only 5 copies left.

If you need another fix of my amazingly creative and witty writing style and can't afford a copy of my book, here is the latest Nothin' But Non-Profit article in Voices of Oklahoma, the online magazine in which I contribute from time to time.

Me and one of my girl friends have been gardening a bit this summer. We've got onions and a couple of tomato plants, a cucumber plant, a pepper plant, beets and marigolds from seed and in the herb department, dill, chives, cilantro, and Thai basil. Although it's not super extensive, it's nice to see growth and progression from living things. And these living things get life from not only the natural elements, but gray water from doing the dishes.

I recently took a Haitian and Cuban inspired dance class at Sonder Music, Dance & Art, a studio located downtown that is owned and operated by a woman my age, which is very inspiring in and of itself. Classes are on going and there are many options to chose from, whether you are looking for something physically active or instrumentally centered. I recommend checking this place out and getting moving. I also decided to splurge on a summer class at the Firehouse Art Center, and boy howdy, am I excited about it. I've always thought glass work was beautiful, so I'm trying my hand at what's known as glass slumping. You've seen those pieces of pendants, earrings and broaches that are layered with colors of glass and those bowls and vases with swirls of colors and beads with glass dots. Those are glass slumped pieces and that's what I'm learning to do. I've only had one class so far and have no idea how my pieces are going to turn out, or if I'm even good at it, but it's super fun I've got lots of plans for my work and am already scheming ways for the pieces to end up in your homes and on your body.

But the best part of the summer is that I'm going to see my favorite Indie band of all time, for the very first time, with my new favorite person with whom I've been spending my free time. We're road tripping to Des Moines for this 4th of July music festival and both Yo La Tengo and a band with whom he plays, Evangelicals, just happen to be playing. We're heading to Urbana and possibly Madison, and certainly Chicago, after that, to meet and visit each other's friends. Peace Corps reunion and birthday celebrating bee kerring fo sho!

I also got to see my Mom and Dad and sister and her boyfriend in Dallas, over Memorial Day and that was fabulous. We went to the Dallas World Aquarium and grilled out and I saw two fabulous bands that were both new to me.

Finally, I'd like to end this post with a little shock value. Wow is all I can say. And to think, my secondary project was simply singing toothbrush songs in Mandinka.

I like Spring, but cutting the grass, not so much.

Spring is finally here, bringing a lot of amazing things with it. The weather is finally becoming nice enough to open the windows to let the fresh air breeze through and the sun is shining for consecutive days again. I thought the winter was especially brutal this year, but that might have just been because I hadn't experienced one in a while. Day after day of gray, biting wind, layer upon layer of clothing (outside AND at the "office"), snow storms, ice storms, 5 degree weather and a month of no running water was a lot to handle.

But now it's nice and all I want to do is spend time outside. I was even getting pretty excited about mowing my lawn, which was a brand new responsibility to me, considering my parents always hired that task out when I was growing up. I bought what I'm now referring to as the Comanche Cottage in October and was able to get away with things beginning to go dormant at that time, so put off purchasing a lawn mower. I had way too many other expenses, anyway and my grandpa even offered a mower that had been used on his property when the weather was warm again. I borrowed a mower from a friend and he graciously helped me with the first season's cutting. Even though he did most of the yard, I thought to myself that this was going to be a serious chore! Every two weeks at the very least!? He tried to make me feel better by saying it was sort of a difficult mower. So when my grandparents came to visit last weekend and it was decided that I would be receiving a brand new, self-propelling, gasoline mower with mulching/side disposing/bag options, my excitement was restored. Grandpa even gave me a weed-eater and a tutorial. By the end of the afternoon, I was ready to open up my own lawn business.

Today was a particularly beautiful day, so I decided to give it a whirl, in preparation for a potluck I'm hosting on Sunday. The front yard went according to plan, although it still wasn't as fun as I had psyched it up for myself to be. The backyard is a somewhat different story. It has all these nooks and crannies (at least that's how it appears after trying to lug a 15 lb gas machine through it all). I tried to keep telling myself that it was just like vacuuming. I like vacuuming. And I like gardening. So it would only make sense that I'd like cutting my grass. But when I tried to turn the mower around in one of the crannies and it hit a concrete barrier and the motor stopped and decided not to begin again after I cussed and willed it too, I decided that I really didn't like it. And, with the weed-eater's cumbersome starting sequence and easily destroyed, but difficultly feeding thread mechanism, I began getting uncharacteristically upset. Such a silly thing to get upset about, in the grand scheme of things, I know! It made me feel powerless and helpless in my independent and organized world. So the machines were shoved back in the shed and I stormed into the house and pulled out my go-to empowerment tool but Roscoe's arch enemy- the vacuum. I guess everyone has their sore spots...

A few fun happenings:

Guestroom Records hosts the 3rd Annual Record Store Day. Support your local source for great music and entertainment by listening to live music and joining in on the fun at either the Norman or Oklahoma City stores.

Pick up a free tree at Reaves Park in Norman on Sunday, April 18th from noon-6pm, in celebration and preparation for Arbor Day, which takes place on April 30th this year.

Next weekend marks one of the most awesome reasons to live in Norman:
The Norman Music Festival. This year, for the first time, the completely free event spans two days and will host nearly 100 bands from around the country. I'm already coming up with my Excel spread sheet of not to be missed bands, including but not limited to Ghost of Monkshood, Brother Gruesome, Kite Flying Robot, Evangelicals, The Workweek, Native Lights, Gentle Ghost, Broncho, Depth and Current and even some on the Latin stage. Also, this year, Dustbowl Arts Market, the bountiful brainchild of a collaboration of friends, will be featured at the Festival. I signed up to volunteer at the Little Rocker's Kid Stage, which will include a puppet show from Balcum Rancum Puppetry and experiments from Science Museum Oklahoma. Hopefully I'll be contributing to some amazing punk-rock hairstyles and temporary tattoos.

Rocktown Climbing Gym will host their annual sport climbing competition on
April 24th. Pre-register to participate or volunteer for Superrock.

Oklahoma's Farmers Markets are in full swing. Pick up some delicious and mellifluous honey, fresh produce and herbs or grow your own from seeds or seedlings.

It's a great time to be in Oklahoma right now. Grab a friend and a Frisbee and get outside. You'll be swept away by the fabulous time you'll have, if not by the wind.

It Takes Two for Rockin'...

Lucky for your ears, that's just the arrangement of the dynamite duo, Cody Lee Fletcher and Lydia Gilman, who make up The Gunslingers.

My sister moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 2008, shortly after graduating from Full Sail Academy with enough knowledge about audio engineering to pursue her ambitions and land a couple of day gigs to supplement the evening ones. Music is one of her true loves and it oozes from every pore in her body and drips from her drumsticks. Never fail, every time we talk on the phone, she's at one of her jobs. She works hard for the money but lives for the music. And it truly shows. And I couldn't be more proud.

I've never asked her from where this passion derived, but if it was anything like mine, I'd say it couldn't have helped but come from our parent's ever-rotating vinyl records. I still remember the first time I heard Stairway to Heaven. It was the song that summed up the night at a sixth grade social. The next day, I asked my mom if she'd ever heard this song, which was precisely when she pulled out the album, picked up the arm, and placed the needle in the groove. I was 12 years old and I must have put it on play at least 12 times that very day.

As CDs became more popular, I recall my father acquiring more of his favorite artists. Mr. Young quickly became old and tired to my sister and my ears, until we realized the reality of his lyrics and the soul of his sound. How Tori Amos ended up in their bathroom stereo, I'm still unsure, but I'm sure it was Winter when I became hooked. In high school, the Dallas rock station, KDGE had this obscure show that aired on Sunday nights. I didn't know what I was listening to, I just knew Liz Phair was a Polyester Bride and Kate Bush put more than a literary spin to Wuthering Heights. Of course, Debbie Gibson, Erasure and The Steve Miller Band, among others, had their fair share of play in my tape deck. Ever heard of Don Williams? I'll sing you his greatest hits album next time we're driving to Beavers Bend State Park... College opened more doors than David Bowie in Labyrinth and Jim Morrison, combined and I can still picture the exact song and moment when I decided Yo La Tengo must be writing songs and playing their music just for me. Last spring I went to visit Lydia in Memphis and I re-borrowed a handful of my parent's albums that she had snagged. Last month, my parents came to visit me in Norman, and my father once again regained ownership of several of his treasures. He just so happened to leave Led Zepplin IV in the stack. A couple of days ago, I discovered I have the capability to listen to Joni Mitchell's Blue four different ways, all at the same time: vinyl, tape, laptop and mp3.

The Gunslingers begins their southern states and New England tour in a couple of days. Most likely they'll be coming to your town, so get out there, support an up and coming band while having your socks rockabillied off.

Touchstone is going fabulously. Recently, we collaborated on a and submitted a grant application for a ropes course to be added on to the Rocktown facility. Wish us luck!! The weather is FINALLY becoming grain-silo friendly, and I know the kids are enjoying the whole climbing experience much more. A slack-line is even set up, for a chance to test balance and soak up some sun while queuing up for the popular routes.

Whether on the stage or on a cliff, it looks like rock is just the way these Gilman girls roll.

Nothin' But Non-Profit

"Voices of Oklahoma is a non-profit, non-commercial, non-sectarian media outlet for central Oklahoma." A couple of weeks ago, I contacted them about contributing a section that highlights local not-for-profit organizations. When they said awesome, I said sweet, can I start with my own? The interview was posted last Thursday.

If you have a suggestion or would like your non-profit agency or organization featured in this segment, send an email to cmgilman@gmail.com.

It's gonna be a sun-shiney day!




The Medieval Fair(y)

365 Days of Re-adjustment

After way too many months of feeling like a parallelogram peg trying to fit into a trapezoid whole, I'm finally really beginning to find my groove. Only after moving back in with the parents in my mid-twenties, taking a month long solo train excursion around the States, contemplating where to re-locate with Roscoe until the cows chose our home, accepting a job offer which led to an incredibly unique and rewarding opportunity to utilize my degree, purchasing intimidating adult-like possessions, a month without running water in a first-world country, and experiencing four full seasons (winter, okay, you win with your bitter, ice cold 'tude), am I truly feeling like I belong.

A couple of weeks will bring the end of the month of March and the anniversary of my return from The Gambia. Incredible. Unbelievable, actually. It is safe to say that I barely recognize any faces in pictures posted by people I barely knew upon departing, but friended on Facebook because that was the status quo. Time just goes by so much faster with 24-hour electricity and pancake houses. Or maybe it's just that America's pace is like Africa on steroids. The Chaco tan-lines on my feet have completely faded, although those fine ones on my face from 24 months of sun have not. Last month I found my first gray hair. Last week I found my second one.

I kept telling myself Norman was the right place where to re-locate. After all, it WAS voted 6th best place to live in 2008 by Money Magazine. But all around me are familiar faces, worn out places, worn out faces... And to admit that "it's not easy," would be the understatement of the century. However, since moving to back Oklahoma, I've begun to gain this sincere sense of pride that I have yet to experience anywhere else I have ever resided. I want friends to visit and for people to discover this secret jewel of a state. Our red-dirt, Native America has much to offer, and this eclectic little university town is just the tip of the termite mound.

In fact, I'd like to spend the rest of the post promoting a handful of mind, body and soul-enriching activities, all of which take place in the time span of about a month:

March 26-28th: 34th Medieval Fair at Reeves Park

April 9th: Live Broadcast of Science Friday on KGOU!!

April 22nd: Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools visits. Three Cups of Tea was one of those Peace Corps "must reads."

April 24th and 25th: 3rd Annual Norman Music Festival, a monumental event that is putting Norman on the music map and was nearly a deciding factor to come after one year in the Peace Corps.

April 25th: Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon

Finally, on Monday, I was invited to sit on a panel for the Women's and Gender Studies Department at OU, as the result of attending a lecture on the organization, International Rescue Committee. After the lecture, the audience mingled and I found myself telling one of the many Peace Corps stories, as well as speaking passionately about Touchstone, the non-profit for which I now work. The next day, I received an out-of-the-blue email from the director of the WGS department, who happened to be captivated and "impressed" by the stories, inviting me to participate in a career workshop for WGS majors and minors and potential majors and minors. The panel will take place on Tuesday, March 30th from 5-6:30 in the Memorial Student Union, so come listen!

One year later, it truly is good to be back, Boy-Boy.

Mother Nature Has a Bizarre Sense of Humor

But, it's okay because I do too! Yes, I understand she will always have the last laugh, but I like to think of it as laughing with us, not at us. However, I am an optimist.

I just love the National Weather Service's clip art from the seven day forecast. Always keeping the folks that post for Oklahoma on their toes:

Fri-32 Sat-34 Sun-28 Mon-60(BTW, this is "blowing snow")

I made plans to till up a couple of garden beds with a friend on Sunday. That was last week though. Apparently, I blocked it out in my head that one still can't plan 12 hours ahead, much less a week, when it comes to outdoor activities in this state. I did, however, walk to Walgreens tonight, in between rain showers, while the temps dropped, and picked up 6 packets of veggie seeds. They had a bunch of random packets, ranging from herbs to veggies and fruits to flowers, all for 3 for $.99. This is the least expensive I've found all around town. I am convinced that seeds don't need to be fancy. They'll grow if you plant them, if they want. In fact, if you do your research, you'll figure out exactly how to get extracted seeds from the fruit to germinate, for free. You're probably saying, duh, but some fruits just don't work that way, like hybridized seeds that come from the apple you just ate. Apparently, you have to stratify them (keep them cool for a period of time) after drying to get those suckers started.

Anyway, I guess it's her way of telling us to have a nice weekend. So I'm going to try to do that by road tripping farther north to Wichita, KS, to see some friends play at a show. Seriously, though, I hope this is the trump hand. I'm so ready to be warm and outside!!

My mom sent an email today informing me about World Water Day, which is this Monday, March 22nd. Most of the scheduled activities take place in Washington D.C., but obviously you can celebrate in your own way, depending on what water means to you. I did a little more research and stumbled upon this documentary called Tapped, that takes a look at the bottled water industry and access to and waste of water in general. A little corny (not to mention misuse of resources), a "mobile translucent recycling container will kick off the "Get off the H2O Bottle" tour in Los Angeles with an empty cabin that will be filled with the public’s empty water bottles by the time the team ends up in New York City on Earth Day (April 22nd, 2010)." This bottle thing will be coming through Norman, though, on April 6th. I couldn't find out where exactly or what this means, besides the possibility of free stuff from the sponsors, Klean Kanteen, Food and Water Watch, Multi-Pure water filters, and Aveda. A giant bottle on wheels; I wonder who was in charge of their PR...

On another note, I thought of a few more ways I've decided to reduce consumption and save energy:

*Unplugging small appliances. I think the only thing that is consistently in the wall is my bedside lamp. I also keep the refrigerator and washer and dryer connected, although now, writing this, I should probably unplug everything but the fridge.

*Setting up a clothesline outside. It was the only way my clothes dried in Gambia. It only makes sense to make use of this sun after so much winter. It's like cashing in double.

*Riding my bike around town. I almost didn't mention this because it is second nature. If setting up a clothesline is like cashing in double, riding your bike around town is like hitting jackpot. You save on fuel and reduce emissions, while giving your heart and muscles some lovin'.

Okie dokie, Okies, have a nice weekend!

Spring Clean Your Life

Reduce Your Junk Mail: Not many people will argue against recycling from home (although there will always be some). But you can go a step further, by reducing the amount of items you might otherwise recycle. One way to do that is to limit the amount of "junk mail" that arrives in your box day after day. You can also be conscious of purchasing items with a limited amount of packaging.

Reduce Your Mobile Minutes: Sign up for the national Do Not Call registry and limit the amount of calls from telemarketers, which can eat up your minutes. On my phone, I can also check my text and minute usage to make sure I'm staying within my plan, reducing the potential for unforeseen extra monthly charges on the bill.

Reduce Your Water Consumption: I've started washing my dishes in a tub of soapy water and rinsing them over another bowl, to catch that water, too. After they fill up, I use it to water my trees or flower beds. Practice the yellow/mellow toilet flushing method. According to creativecitizen.com, you can save up to 4380 gallons a year by just holding off from 2 flushes in one day. Imagine 6 milk gallons going down the toilet from just 2 flushes. This became all too familiar when my pipes froze and busted and I was without running water for one month. But if you MUST flush, fill your tank with a couple of bricks, to help displace the water. You can also install low pressure shower heads, or ones that you can switch off without turning the entire faucet.

Swap Your Clothes: If you are on Facebook and reside in the Norman, Oklahoma City area, log on and start cleaning out your closets for the city-wide clothing swap in celebration of Earth Day. This event takes place on April 10th, 2010.