Hello Gents,
It has been some time since we have had a new posting.
The organizing work for the 15th annual NC Spring Mens Gathering has started and we are very excited that this event continues. We will be gathering again in April of 2010 in Eflin NC.
Next week, John Lee will be hosting the Mentone Men’s conference in Menton AL. I will be attending. John says that it may be the last year for this conference. It is sad to think that such a wonderful event will stop but as Dr. Seuss said, “smile because it happened, don’t cry because it is over.”
Finally, under the category of “In the News”, I saw today that there is a new book being released regarding men. Here is a link http://www.projo.com/books/content/artsun-goodmen_11-01-09_DMG60RP_v34.12ea666.html.
“The Good Men Project,” a collection of stories by men, for men, about men.
Here is quote from Bryan Rourke, the author of the article.
“Sometimes when men share their feelings they’re regarded with variations of ” weakness. People will say, ‘You (insert epithet here).’
Horwitz shared anyway. And the book did get published, eventually.
“It was a hard sell,” says James Houghton, one of book’s three editors. “That was the message that publishers made very clear very early.”
So organizers of the book organized themselves into the Good Men Foundation, and published the paperback ($14.99) and a companion DVD ($14.99) themselves, with an official release date of Nov. 15.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
The loss of a dear friend
We received a note this morning about the passing of a dear friend from the NC Spring Gathering.
Michael (“Mustard Man”) Porter, 71-year-old, after enduring months of agony with metastatic bone cancer, died tonight of a pulmonary thrombosis in the Farmington (CT) hospital.
He had many great memories of his times with us at the Gatherings, and he made many friends there.
Michael's brothers are on the road now going to CT. We wish them a safe and speedy trip. For those of us who have driven in Richmond and DC you know that they could use some positive thoughts.
Michael really enjoyed life. He was easy to smile and loved hearing and telling a good joke. I remember a few years back there were a number of us down at the pond during the Gathering. We started sharing jokes and Michael was having a great time. Michael and all his brothers have a sense of self confidence and self deprication that I admire.
I was thinking of sharing a poem that shed some mystic light on death and then I realized that just didn't feel right for Michael. So here is one that I enjoy by William Stafford. The Porter brothers often shared family stories and this is a family story that makes me smile.
A Family Turn
All her kamikaze friends admired my aunt,
their leader, charmed in vinegar,
a woman who could blaze with such white blasts
as Lawrence's that lit Arabia.
Her mean opinions bent her hatpins.
We'd take a ride in her old car
that ripped like Sherman through society:
Main Street's oases sheltered no one
when she pulled up at Thirty-first
and whirled that Ford for another charge.
We swept headlines from under rugs, names
all over town, which I learned her way, by heart,
and blazed with love that burns because it's real.
With a turn that's our family's own,
she'd say, "Our town is not the same" -
Pause - "And it's never been."
My thoughts are with the Porter family.
(posted by ethan)
Michael (“Mustard Man”) Porter, 71-year-old, after enduring months of agony with metastatic bone cancer, died tonight of a pulmonary thrombosis in the Farmington (CT) hospital.
He had many great memories of his times with us at the Gatherings, and he made many friends there.
Michael's brothers are on the road now going to CT. We wish them a safe and speedy trip. For those of us who have driven in Richmond and DC you know that they could use some positive thoughts.
Michael really enjoyed life. He was easy to smile and loved hearing and telling a good joke. I remember a few years back there were a number of us down at the pond during the Gathering. We started sharing jokes and Michael was having a great time. Michael and all his brothers have a sense of self confidence and self deprication that I admire.
I was thinking of sharing a poem that shed some mystic light on death and then I realized that just didn't feel right for Michael. So here is one that I enjoy by William Stafford. The Porter brothers often shared family stories and this is a family story that makes me smile.
A Family Turn
All her kamikaze friends admired my aunt,
their leader, charmed in vinegar,
a woman who could blaze with such white blasts
as Lawrence's that lit Arabia.
Her mean opinions bent her hatpins.
We'd take a ride in her old car
that ripped like Sherman through society:
Main Street's oases sheltered no one
when she pulled up at Thirty-first
and whirled that Ford for another charge.
We swept headlines from under rugs, names
all over town, which I learned her way, by heart,
and blazed with love that burns because it's real.
With a turn that's our family's own,
she'd say, "Our town is not the same" -
Pause - "And it's never been."
My thoughts are with the Porter family.
(posted by ethan)
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Mentone registration is open
Hello Gents,
The details for the 2009 Mentone Mens' Gathering have been posted on their web page www.mentonemen.com. The dates are November 6 - 9 2009.
I have attended this event in the past and it is a wonderful time. Most the time is spent in a panel format with the speakers discussing issues with the whole group.
The drive from the Triangle area is a pleasure in itself. Mentone is a small town in northern Alabama.
Have a wonderful summer.
(Posted by Ethan)
The details for the 2009 Mentone Mens' Gathering have been posted on their web page www.mentonemen.com. The dates are November 6 - 9 2009.
I have attended this event in the past and it is a wonderful time. Most the time is spent in a panel format with the speakers discussing issues with the whole group.
The drive from the Triangle area is a pleasure in itself. Mentone is a small town in northern Alabama.
Have a wonderful summer.
(Posted by Ethan)
Monday, July 6, 2009
I am still reading the book about passivity. I am struggling to find the right words to describe it. This morning I came by a poem by Bill Stafford that hits on this issue of passivity. In particular the idea that we become attached to certain emotional responses to life that we experienced as a child. These responses may not serve us and they may hide the truth and power that resides within us, yet we remain attached to these responses.
Turn Over Your Hand
Those lines on your hand, they can be read
for a hidden part of your life that only
those links can say – nobody’s voice can
find so tiny a message as comes
across your hand. Forbidden to complain,
you have tried to be like somebody else,
and only this fine record you examine
sometimes like this can remember where
you were going before that long
silent evasion that your life became.
If you are forbidden to complain then how are those feelings going to come out?
“silent evasion” – that sure rings true. I’ll just keep my mouth shut and move along.
Posted by Ethan
Turn Over Your Hand
Those lines on your hand, they can be read
for a hidden part of your life that only
those links can say – nobody’s voice can
find so tiny a message as comes
across your hand. Forbidden to complain,
you have tried to be like somebody else,
and only this fine record you examine
sometimes like this can remember where
you were going before that long
silent evasion that your life became.
If you are forbidden to complain then how are those feelings going to come out?
“silent evasion” – that sure rings true. I’ll just keep my mouth shut and move along.
Posted by Ethan
Thursday, July 2, 2009
John Lee
Greetings Blog readers,
I wanted to let you know what our friend John Lee is up to these days. He is doing a number of workshops and weekend retreats this year. Here is a link to his web site - http://www.flyingboy.com/
John Lee has been doing workshops of late about passivity. This is a curious topic. I am currently reading a book by Peter Michaelson, The Phantom of the Psyche – Freeing Ourself From Inner Passivity. I will write more about it later after it makes more sense to me.
Just to highlight some of John’s work –
He will be at the Unity church in Greensboro the weekend of July 11 and 12.
Friday, July 10, 2009, 7 - 9:30 p.m.
More Intimacy, Passion and Communication Whether you are single, married, divorced, gay or straight, man or woman you can acquire information, insights and tools to help you become the person you always wanted to be in relationships. You can learn to pay attention to your lover's longings in ways not taught to most of us until now.
I wanted to let you know what our friend John Lee is up to these days. He is doing a number of workshops and weekend retreats this year. Here is a link to his web site - http://www.flyingboy.com/
John Lee has been doing workshops of late about passivity. This is a curious topic. I am currently reading a book by Peter Michaelson, The Phantom of the Psyche – Freeing Ourself From Inner Passivity. I will write more about it later after it makes more sense to me.
Just to highlight some of John’s work –
He will be at the Unity church in Greensboro the weekend of July 11 and 12.
Friday, July 10, 2009, 7 - 9:30 p.m.
More Intimacy, Passion and Communication Whether you are single, married, divorced, gay or straight, man or woman you can acquire information, insights and tools to help you become the person you always wanted to be in relationships. You can learn to pay attention to your lover's longings in ways not taught to most of us until now.
Saturday, July 11, 2009, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
A day long workshop for men that will focus on enhancing and increasing the ability to identify feelings and express all emotions appropriately and at the same time be able to be attentive to the feelings and emotions others are expressing.
John has also written his first piece of fiction.
When the Buddha Met Bubba
This is the heart-warming story of Billy Bob (Bubba) Coker, a redneck who reached rock bottom, until a freak head injury results in the appearance of his own personal Buddha. From that moment forward, Bubba is led on a humorous journey of introspection through the backwoods of the deep South and through his own flawed preconceptions and relationships.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Independence Day weekend.
Ethan
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
W. S. Merwin
Last week on Bill Moyer’s Journal on PBS he interviewed the Pulitzer Prize winning poet W. S. Merwin. I admit I have never heard of him before. It was a joy listening to him.
He spoke of the power of poetry and what it has to offer to us. Of the many topics, they spoke about the magic of Shakespeare.
He talked about a poem ‘working’. He speaks about the idea that when a poem works then there are no words that can be changed. This caught me because words that don’t work often jump out at me in my own work. Not until I change that word am I happy with the line.
He talks about loss, grief and lament. They discuss a poem about a father and his grown son visiting. The father thinks that the son wants to leave and even though the son does not need to leave, he does. He laments that decision.
Here is one piece that he read on the show. The formatting is mine.
Youth
Through all of youth I was looking for you
Without knowing what I was looking for
Or what to call you
I don’t think I even knew I was looking
Would I have known you when I saw you as I did
Time after time when you appeared to me
As you did
Naked, offering yourself entirely at that moment
And you let me breath you, touch you, taste you,
Knowing no more than I did
And only when I began to think of losing you
Did I recognize you
When you were already part memory
Part distance
Remaining mine in the ways that I learned to miss you
From what we can not hold the stars are made
You can get Bill Moyer's show on podcast, either video or audio. That is how I listen to it since his show is on too late for me.
posted by Ethan
He spoke of the power of poetry and what it has to offer to us. Of the many topics, they spoke about the magic of Shakespeare.
He talked about a poem ‘working’. He speaks about the idea that when a poem works then there are no words that can be changed. This caught me because words that don’t work often jump out at me in my own work. Not until I change that word am I happy with the line.
He talks about loss, grief and lament. They discuss a poem about a father and his grown son visiting. The father thinks that the son wants to leave and even though the son does not need to leave, he does. He laments that decision.
Here is one piece that he read on the show. The formatting is mine.
Youth
Through all of youth I was looking for you
Without knowing what I was looking for
Or what to call you
I don’t think I even knew I was looking
Would I have known you when I saw you as I did
Time after time when you appeared to me
As you did
Naked, offering yourself entirely at that moment
And you let me breath you, touch you, taste you,
Knowing no more than I did
And only when I began to think of losing you
Did I recognize you
When you were already part memory
Part distance
Remaining mine in the ways that I learned to miss you
From what we can not hold the stars are made
You can get Bill Moyer's show on podcast, either video or audio. That is how I listen to it since his show is on too late for me.
posted by Ethan
Monday, June 1, 2009
Drum Building Workshop (6-20-09)
Honey in the Heart Drum Company
Date: June 20 - 21, 2009
Raleigh, NC
Drum Building Workshop
Join Tom Harris for an exciting weekend of drum building. During this two day workshop, participants will be introduced to the joy of building a West African drum. All tools and materials are provided. Choose one of the following drums to build:
Ashiko - this Nigerian hand drum is a tapered cylinder with a goat skin across the large end. Dimensions are 12'” x 7" x 26". The drum shell is made from 18 wooden staves. The head is mounted using the Mali weave.
Dun Dun or Sangban - These Malinke drums form the bottom of the djembe ensemble. They are built Guinea style - Dun Duns are 15"x27", and Sangbans are 12"x22". They are constructed of 27 and 21 wooden staves, respectively. They have thick West African cow skins for heads and are played with a stick.
Djembe - The shells for this Malinke drum are from the Ivory Coast. Drum shells are imported, and participants re-finish them and mount the heads on themselves. New rings, rope and goat skins are provided.
This weekend workshop is intense and joyful. While Tom is able to share the experience and skill he has acquired from building over 1000 drums since 1996, each person is faced with a significant challenge to bring their first drum to completion. Most people finish the weekend feeling a deep sense of satisfaction while also feeling like they have finished the equivalent of a marathon. It is also a strong bonding experience for the participants who have shared this process.
Saturday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Oil and wax. Wrap rings with fabric, tie cradle loops around rings.
1 PM – 4:00 PM Lace on skins, pre-tighten skins and level rings, shave heads.
Sunday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pull vertical ropes tight, tie diamonds to tune the drum, re-shave head, add handle and strap.
Drum Order Form
Workshop Date: _ Date: June 20-21,2009
Name________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________
Phone_______________________ Email____________________
Drum Type (except for djembe, indicate paduk (bright orange), purple heart, bloodwood, cherry or black walnut for wood)
Wood Type
Ashiko ________ $240 _____________
Super Dununba $475 _____________ (18”x36”)
Dununba _______ $395 _____________ (15 1/2” x27”)
Sangban _______ $375 _____________
Kenkini_________ $350 _____________
Djembe _______ $340
Decorative Metal Work $75 ________
Guinea Wrap (red/green/gold) $75 ______
For more information, contact:
Tom Harris
5014 Lakemont Drive
Douglasville, GA 30135
cell – 770-843-3556
email tomharris57@comcast.net
Date: June 20 - 21, 2009
Raleigh, NC
Drum Building Workshop
Join Tom Harris for an exciting weekend of drum building. During this two day workshop, participants will be introduced to the joy of building a West African drum. All tools and materials are provided. Choose one of the following drums to build:
Ashiko - this Nigerian hand drum is a tapered cylinder with a goat skin across the large end. Dimensions are 12'” x 7" x 26". The drum shell is made from 18 wooden staves. The head is mounted using the Mali weave.
Dun Dun or Sangban - These Malinke drums form the bottom of the djembe ensemble. They are built Guinea style - Dun Duns are 15"x27", and Sangbans are 12"x22". They are constructed of 27 and 21 wooden staves, respectively. They have thick West African cow skins for heads and are played with a stick.
Djembe - The shells for this Malinke drum are from the Ivory Coast. Drum shells are imported, and participants re-finish them and mount the heads on themselves. New rings, rope and goat skins are provided.
This weekend workshop is intense and joyful. While Tom is able to share the experience and skill he has acquired from building over 1000 drums since 1996, each person is faced with a significant challenge to bring their first drum to completion. Most people finish the weekend feeling a deep sense of satisfaction while also feeling like they have finished the equivalent of a marathon. It is also a strong bonding experience for the participants who have shared this process.
Saturday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Oil and wax. Wrap rings with fabric, tie cradle loops around rings.
1 PM – 4:00 PM Lace on skins, pre-tighten skins and level rings, shave heads.
Sunday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pull vertical ropes tight, tie diamonds to tune the drum, re-shave head, add handle and strap.
Drum Order Form
Workshop Date: _ Date: June 20-21,2009
Name________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________
Phone_______________________ Email____________________
Drum Type (except for djembe, indicate paduk (bright orange), purple heart, bloodwood, cherry or black walnut for wood)
Wood Type
Ashiko ________ $240 _____________
Super Dununba $475 _____________ (18”x36”)
Dununba _______ $395 _____________ (15 1/2” x27”)
Sangban _______ $375 _____________
Kenkini_________ $350 _____________
Djembe _______ $340
Decorative Metal Work $75 ________
Guinea Wrap (red/green/gold) $75 ______
For more information, contact:
Tom Harris
5014 Lakemont Drive
Douglasville, GA 30135
cell – 770-843-3556
email tomharris57@comcast.net
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