Lise Funderburg

As A Life’s End Draws Near

lise — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:10:58 +0000

StoryCorps/NPR

Maybe because I am stepparent as well as a daughter who lost her own father not too long ago, this brief and heart-achingly lovely audio interview between a man and his terminally ill stepfather stopped me in my tracks. It’s a beautiful testimony to both men, to what happens when one generous spirit crosses the path of another, and to how we can go gentle into that good night. As a writer, after all my own thinking and feeling and writing on the topic, I’m amazed at how many big ideas are offered up in such a short space of time. Extraordinary how economical deep truths can be. Click here to hear the story.

If you’re interested in hearing more, this is from the StoryCorps Legacy project. From their web page: “The mission of StoryCorps Legacy is to provide people with life-threatening conditions and their families the opportunity to record, preserve, and share their stories. Recording interviews is the perfect way to celebrate and share the lives of our loved ones with generations to come. StoryCorps has heard many participants say they strengthened their human connections and felt their lives were validated as a result of their interviews.”

Mother of a Son

lise — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 01:03:37 +0000

Great new music from M’Balia that for some reason she’s just giving away. I mean free. No cost. Zippo. Zilch. Your money’s no good. Put that wallet away. Don’t even try it.

This song is yours just by going on the cloud. Not to mention you can also hear Pray there. What could be easier?

Listen. Enjoy. Share.

Deeply disturbing film about elephants used in Thailand’s tourism industry

lise — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:06:23 +0000

Here’s the link to a well-produced (if occasionally chilling) documentary from Singapore about how elephants are used in Thailand’s tourism industry, and how the seemingly benign roles they play (as painters, ride-givers, street beggars, etc.) often entail inhumane practices, such as prematurely separating babies from their mothers and a spirit-breaking training method called “The Crush” (pictured above). Elephant Nature Park founder Lek Chailert (my personal hero and a serious rock star when it comes to doing the right thing) is also featured in the film, which is called “The Elephants’ Messenger,” and is just 36 minutes long. Please watch and share.

Thai Elephants at Risk

lise — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:27:11 +0000

Here’s a super disturbing update from Lek Chailert, founder of the elephant sanctuary I volunteered at last June. Seems she’s been targeted by the government because she’s been outspoken about widespread elephant abuses…now they’re coming after her. Click HERE to view a brief video of Lek from either today or yesterday. To follow the story, you can “like” the Elephant Nature Park & Foundation page on facebook.To read about my time at ENP, click HERE.

French Lessons

lise — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:54:05 +0000

I’ve found a new source for brushing up: It’s a “post-beginners” series called Ma France from the BBC, and I love it. Here’s the first video in a 24-part series…my favorite feature of it is that it’s under 8 minutes!

Tough (but uplifting) Love from Ira Glass

lise — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:54:15 +0000

Part 3 of a 4-part YouTube series on storytelling from This American Life’s Ira Glass. Using his own work as an example, Glass addresses the painful gulf between taste and skill among creative people in their early careers.CLICK HERE

Bangkok sawasdee ka; Bonjour Paris

lise — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:14:52 +0000

Snack Time, Chang-style

Rue Linné

Three months ago, summer in the 6th Borough was shaping up to be one of the stay-at-home kind (which would not have been too shabby, given the full-of-fun household we have these days, the capacity for last-minute cookouts with equally spontaneous friends, and a garden in need of some serious rehab).

Then fate intervened.

Now I’m back from three weeks in Thailand (on assignment for MORE magazine) and about to spend July teaching creative nonfiction in a fabulous program at the Paris American Academy. Ensconced in a sweet little studio apt. on Rue Linné. With a lovely band of colleagues and many talented students. In France. Where they have baguettes.

Bottom line 1: If ever there were an argument for keeping your passport up to date…. Bottom Line 2: If anyone hears me complaining about ANYTHING in the next month or so, tell me to zip it.

Divide & Conquer Driveway Plant Sale, 5/14/11

lise — Sun, 08 May 2011 19:16:15 +0000

7th quasi-annual Divide & Conquer
Driveway Plant Sale

Saturday, May 14
9:00 AM—noon
515 W. Carpenter Lane
Phila., PA 19119

More than 700 plants!
Perennials, re-seeders, and select herbs dug up from ~~one~~ two Mt. Airy gardens and lovingly offered at rockbottom prices. From ajuga to aster, echinacea to iris, hosta to hellebore, and sedum to sweet woodruff…plus ferns, ferns, ferns! Get our spin-offs, volunteers, and never-looked-right-theres while you can.

Please note: Plastic Pot Recycling Project has been suspended now that the city will take #5 and #6 plastics.

No seedling left behind!

Here Comes the Sun. Not so much.

lise — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:31:18 +0000

The Scene: Bargain Thrift Center, Northwest Philadelphia
The Excuse: Had to drop off my sister at her auto mechanic’s, which is in the direction of BTC.
The Haul Highlights: Many (many, many) summer outfits for the grandbaby-in-residence, who needs a little sump’n-sump’n to wear with her two new teeth. Also, two breezy button-down cotton overshirts for me, which will come in handy until such time as the new regime of gym visits begins to pay off.
The Top Prize: This cotton canvas Indira hat by Australian designer Helen Kaminski. Apparently, it offers a UPF 50+ sun protection and retails for $75.00. My price for the entire spree: $22.50.

What I’m Reading: By the Lake

lise — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:06:25 +0000

In the realm of great literature knowing no geopolitical or cultural bounds, I sing the praises of John McGahern’s By the Lake, an Irish novel lent to me by a Mexican-American poet. Such a deft hand McGahern has with scene-setting! How quietly yet powerfully he conveys his characters’ emotions! How much fun it is to read! Now, if only I knew what a Fusilier was….

Read a review of the book by The Christian Science Monitor’s Ron Charles here. Buy the book here or here. And please share your recommendations in the Comments section (below)!