Grand Rapids....come for the churches, stay for the Nascar and Deer Hunting.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Bead Good, Liver Bad
Tonight, we're having a party. A Bead for Life party. I say we, but I really mean Cheryl. I will help set up, and approximately 15 minutes before 40 people descend on the house I will change into my raggedy jeans, throw on my Jukes Bar T-shirt, grab my 20 year old pool cue and head out to pool league. I got my ass kicked the last time I went to league, so I'm out for revenge. I get my ass kicked at lots of games, but rarely pool. There is an old saying: "A good pool player is the sign of a wasted youth." If this is true, I think I bypassed ages 5-18. I'm not bragging...it's just that after 20+ years of constant play I expect a little more of myself than your average joe. The bar I play for, Jukes, is called that because the owner has a computer behind the bar with thousands and thousands of songs on it. No crap, no top forty, no hair bands or Britney Spears. You ask for the binder of songs, write down what you want to hear, and they play it. Free. It's the only place I know where you can have a great drink, shoot pool on an 8 foot table (not those dinky bar tables) and hear Professor Longhair, Tom Waits, Morphine, Adrian Belew, The Band, Elvis Costello and Lucinda Williams all in the span of one hour.
My pool team t-shirt is black, with a little yellow box in the middle of it, about chest high. The yellow box is the size of a playing card. Inside the box it says:
"The liver is evil and must be punished."
I love to wear it on days when it is not pool league night and watch people try and make out the words as I pass them in a store or on the sidewalk. If they smile I smile back. If they frown I offer to buy them a drink.
Back to the Bead for Life party. I think this is a great idea. Here's what their website says:
"BeadforLife is a unique poverty eradication project that builds economic and cultural bridges between impoverished women in Uganda and concerned citizens in North America. It is an income generating project focused on eradicating poverty. BeadforLife connects people on two continents, sharing knowledge, caring, mutual respect, and hope for a world that works for all.
Through the sale of beautiful, handmade bead jewelry, the project generates income for over 160 Ugandan bead makers and their families, affecting over a thousand people to assist them in overcoming poverty, HIV/AIDS, and war. The handmade bead jewelry is carefully selected for the highest quality of colorful bead necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and chokers. Your participation through buying the beads or hosting a party or event helps to “eradicate poverty one bead at a time."
I really like the idea of eradicating poverty. I don't really care what country it is. I know some people out there wonder why we all don't just eradicate it here at home first and then move on to other countries. What does it matter where? If you're hungry you're hungry regardless of time zone.
Here is the invitation I made for Cheryl to mail out.
There will be African tea, banana punch, and I'm picking up the food trays from the groovy ethiopian restaurant that is down the block from us on my way home from work. Cheryl is cooking up some plantains and making a couple of stews and such. Last night I made up a cool play list to loop at the party...Angelique Kidjo, King Sunny Ade, Peter Tosh, and a few other groovy world-beat artists.
I think she'll have a fun time at the party. I think I'll have a fun time at pool. I hope there are some leftover plantains and I wish it was Friday.
Name: Jonathan Home: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States About Me: Just a guy who trying to eek out a living as a graphic designer in SW Michigan. See my complete profile
Name: Jonathan
I spank my liver all the time.
How'd the pool hustling go?
A wonderful thing Cheryl is doing!