Samurai Exhibit at Frazier-- Coming Soon!

I once had a boyfriend who gave me a sword for my birthday. Scratch that. He was actually my ex-boyfriend at the time. And although I think (that time), I was technically the dump-er and he was the dump-ee, I was so overwhelmingly moved by this gift. I remember thinking, "Man, I have always really wanted a sword, and he just knew I would never go out and buy a sword for myself. That's so sweet."

This wasn't, like, high school. I was in my late-early twenties at the time. And yes, I still have the sword, and no I have never had cause to use it. But it's pretty. And I am glad it's there.

And I happen to know that that ex-boyfriend recently married a woman who is totally the kind of person who would also appreciate being given a sword for her birthday. And I've recently-ish entered into a relationship with a man who gave me comic books about a samurai rabbit for Christmas (which I loved).

So... it's all good.

And you'd better bet that visiting the upcoming "Samurai" exhibit at the Frazier Museum will be an easy, no-brainer date for us. From their website:

May 12 through September 30, 2012

Centuries old armor made of iron, silk and gilded metal showcase how the Samurai used their artistry to convey ferocity and instill fear. Personal items, such as painted scrolls and screens, reveal a more intimate side of Samurai culture and help expose the role of women in Samurai society. An exhibition of extraordinary beauty, artistry and richness, “Samurai” tells the epic tale of the rise and fall of one of the greatest warrior cultures in history.

This original Frazier History Museum exhibition will feature national treasure-level artifacts from Japanese and American collections, and will be shown exclusively at the Frazier Museum. “Samurai” presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to see some of the finest artifacts relating to the legacy left by this great warrior culture.

So excited!

Young Survivors Benefit and Silent Auction 2/17

Once again, dear blog readers, you've come through with some fantastic donations for the Young Breast Cancer Survivors Benefit and Silent Auction (hoo, that's a mouthful).

This year, donations from Friends of Loueyville have included:

• 4 baskets of romance novels from Shiloh Walker and friends
• two sets of handmade pushpins from Sweeter Lemon
• A portrait session for up to 5 from Shutterboo 
• two pairs of earrings from the Daily Earring
• 4 tickets to Walden's Shakespeare Festival

There's still time to donate (although just barely...)!  Shoot me an email if you're interested.

In the meantime, mark your calendars: this fantastic event (really, so much fun every year) takes place THIS Friday, 2/17 at the Frazier Museum from 630p-10p. Admission (including food) is just $10. 

I hope you'll join me!  I'll be the one wrangling the team of 26 teen volunteers!  (Love my kids!)

Request for Donations: Breast Cancer Support Group Auction

Friends and Dear Readers,

It's silly to re-invent the wheel, especially when you invented the wheel in the first place.

When I sat down to write a post asking for donations for the upcoming Young Survivors Auction, I realized that I had said very many of the same things last year. And here's the thing about last year's post-- it worked! Last year my request for donations both here and on Twitter resulted in donations that raised more than $1000 for the Young Survivors. One of my proudest moments as a blogger.

The Young Survivors annual silent auction is right around the corner. It's February 17 at the Frazier Museum. I'll blog about the actual event closer to the date, but in the meantime, if you're a business owner or you make stuff or you have services you can donate to support this group, I hope you will consider doing so. It means so much to me.

Below is the text of last year's request (updated for appropriate dates). Whatever I can do to facilitate your donation, I will do. Email me at lou (at) loueyville.com for more information...

Friends and dear readers,


If you read this blog with any regularity, you know that I'm a happy, healthy breast cancer survivor.  Likewise, if you read this blog, you'll know that I've gone on something of a "pink diet" (or really, "pink fast") in the past year or so.  When I was newly diagnosed and in treatment, I felt compelled to show up at every "pink" event, to walk in every "pink" walk, and to avail myself of all the fantastic free services offered in our city to cancer patients and survivors. But I always ended up getting crazy weepy at those events, listening to other breast cancer survivors tell their stories.  I'm also the kind of person who is deeply uncomfortable with the idea of being called "heroic" just because I survived cancer-- and a lot of survivor rhetoric lapses into that (the doctors were heroic; my friends and family were at times heroic; I just muddled through the best that I could).  Because I'm so shy, support groups and organizations made me snap over to social anxiety overload as soon as I walked into the door.


But when I was first diagnosed-- like the very day that I was diagnosed-- Norton Hospital put me in touch with Megan Schanie of the Young Survivors Group.  And she took me out to lunch and told me what to expect from surgery, chemo, fake boobs, the works.  And for the course of my treatment, the Young Survivors group was a fabulous source of support to me (right down to Megan's mother-in-law who fed me and took me to treatments when my own mom or Roommate couldn't be around).


And the Annual Young Survivors Auction is one "pink event" that I feel passionately about supporting.  First of all, it's a damned good time, and most years I come away with really good deals on silent auction goods.  Secondly, it supports a cause that truly helped me and truly helps a lot of young women.


So if you're a business owner or your make stuff or you have services you can offer to this group, I humbly ask that you donate something to the silent auction to be held at the Frazier Museum on February 17.  It doesn't matter how small your donation is.  Goods, services, gift certificates, experiences...  And I'll make it as easy on you as possible; I'm happy to come to you at your convenience and pick up the item.  These donations are tax deductible and a Young Survivors rep will provide you acknowledgment in writing of your donation.  Email me at lou [at] loueyville.com if you are interested or if you have any questions.


And for the rest of you, mark your calendars:  February 17 at the Frazier.  A good time and a great cause.


Thanks.  Y'all rock.
xo
Lou

My Brother, My Enemy at the Frazier Museum

"The War Between the States pitted brother against brother. In Kentucky, family lines were often the battle lines."

So reads the tagline for the new exhibit at the Frazier Museum called "My Brother, My Enemy." According to the website:

“My Brother, My Enemy,” which runs through April 8, 2012, examines how Kentucky’s distinctive physical and political positioning led to deep and lasting divisions among families and friends. Unlike many other Civil War studies that tend to focus on the battlefield chronology, the 3,800 square foot exhibition delves into the heart-wrenching and personal stories of the nationwide conflict that forever severed once close-knit relationships here in Kentucky.

This is an original exhibit produced by the Frazier and featuring more than a hundred artifacts.

I get to the Frazier about once a year, and I'm always surprised at how a museum that was once an "arms" museum (and still primarily is) can hold my interest the way that it does. Sure, I'm a sucker for anything all things knight-y and sword-y (what kind of self-respecting fantasy fan wouldn't be?). But I never expect to be as drawn into the gun exhibits as I generally am.

This summer, as part of my Mark Twain Adult Literary Nerd Camp Superfun Adventure, we spent a good deal of time studying the Colt family of Hartford, CT (as in Colt firearms). So I thought I would share a photo of a decorative piece on a church that Mrs. Colt had built in Hartford. See the guns? That's badass.

The same church features a stained-glass window with a pistol-packing angel. That's really badass.

Check out "My Brother, My Enemy" through April 8, 2012. I'm sure I will.

Save the Date: Feb 25-- Young Survivors Auction

In early January, I asked my readers to consider donating to my favorite local charity-- the Young Survivors Network.  

Only 5% of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are under the age of 35.  So understandably, most local support organizations for breast cancer survivors cater to women more advanced in years.

The Young Survivors cater their groups and activities to women who were diagnosed at age 35 or younger.  This is their major fundraiser of the year.  The BEST thing about this fundraiser is that you know that ALL of the money raised goes to support women in Louisville and in Southern Indiana.  It doesn't get lumped into a big national pool.

The Young Survivors were a huge support to me when I was first diagnosed and during my treatment.  I no longer take part in events, but I feel passionately about giving back to this organization that helped me so much.

The auction is always fun, sophisticated, and populated by exciting, inspiring women.  And, unlike 90% of the silent auctions I attend, I usually walk away from this one with some pretty good deals!  It's $10 per person in the beautiful Frazier Museum.

Save the date.