Just so you know, I am covered in bicycle grease, but I made it to my shuttle on time.
I heard a loud pop riding my bike to meet a friend for lunch yesterday and sure enough my back tire turned floppy a few minutes later. So, we had lunch, I disassembled my bike and got a ride back to my building.
I was planning to ditch la bicicleta at work and just bring the back tire to class with me, but we discovered that I could bring the whole bicycle, back tire included, on BART if I left from North Berkeley instead of West Oakland - hallelujah!
Our shuttle made it to the station a few minutes ahead of schedule so I caught the early train downtown, locked my bike, bought my last textbook (the store is only open till 7 on Mondays) and even bought a Clif bar to hold me through class since I forgot to get dinner.
Class was reasonably successful. Reading the textbook cover to cover is really starting to pay off. I'm def not the best kid in there, but after two weeks, I'm starting to be one of the better ones. Whoever I have to thank for a brain that's good with language, and has a good memory and the stubborn determination of a thousand mules, thank you.
I stayed after to ask el profesor a few questions and then headed home. I started a small pot of water boiling as I spread out some newspapers and set my bike upside down to begin surgery. I checked to see how to put the wheel back on with the gears in the right place, I figured out how to attach my little prying thing to my spoke so I could get the tire and then the tube out of the wheel. I checked to see where the nozzle was on my tire so I could look for more sharp things there when I figured out where the hole was. I filled up the old tube with air and found the culprit - a few tiny shards of glass - and removed them and their kind. I put some little raviolis in the water and got out the new tube, put a tiny bit of air in it to even it out, and stuck it in the tire so the nozzle lined up with the writing on the tire. By some act of god, I managed to get the tire back into it's spot on the wheel, filled the tube up the rest of the way with air. Then, I drained the water, added the pasta sauce and some chopped collard greens and covered the pot to keep it warm while I reattached the wheel to my bike. (!!!)
Reservedly pleased with myself, I ate dinner, took a shower and fell asleep not even that much later than my bedtime.
I was up early this morning, giving myself extra time to make it to West Oakland in case of any mishaps along the way. All was going well until I got to Adeline and MacArthur where all of a sudden it got REALLY hard to pedal and heard a rubbing sound. I pulled over past the intersection - because, bless it, it turned green right away - and had a looksy. I thought I'd just shifted off the bottom gear in the back so I shifted up to get the chain back on, but it was still way too hard to pedal, so I pulled over again a few blocks later and flipped the bike over on the sidewalk to investigate and sure enough my tire was rubbing up against my frame.
I couldn't have been fiddling with my wheel for more than a minute when a truck pulls up beside me. Young woman with bike trouble stranded in West Oakland at the crack of dawn. A man gets out to see what the trouble is and mentions that he has a truck full of tools, just in case. He helps me realign the wheel, I tighten the quick release, and we're off, strangers again.
My good as new properly aligned, fully inflated bicycle and I made it to the shuttle stop right on time with no more reservations about my pride.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Official volunteer
Just got off the phone with the volunteer coordinator at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. I am now an official volunteer and will start Saturday February 21st. I don't even have to change my flight to San Diego!!
Peace Corps still wants a year of farming experience for Ag volunteers, but from talking with the recruiter today, it sounds like it's pretty much a sure bet that they'll want me if only because I speak French. The good news is that they'll be looking mainly at my volunteer experience to figure out a placement for me, so as long as I make sure to volunteer to do things I love, I'm in good shape.
New tentative plan:
- Keep working till I get medical clearance (although maybe I can just keep up my health insurance through CalCOBRA - I should look into that...)
- Volunteer at the Botanical Garden at least ten hours a month till I'm not in town anymore.
- Look for more community gardening type volunteer work, if possible.
- Study Spanish until I can score at least a 50 on the CLEP exam. (I'm looking at some sample questions on the test now, and it doesn't look that hard).
- Start my Peace Corps application in May (when fall 2010 placements should start being available).
- Look for ecology/farming classes.
- See about working on farms maybe locally or in WA.
- France/Iceland for my birthday.
- Save $$ so I can quit and start doing environmental/agriculture/nutrition stuff full time.
- Look into getting an organic farming credentials.
Yay.
(and by Yay. I mean !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Peace Corps still wants a year of farming experience for Ag volunteers, but from talking with the recruiter today, it sounds like it's pretty much a sure bet that they'll want me if only because I speak French. The good news is that they'll be looking mainly at my volunteer experience to figure out a placement for me, so as long as I make sure to volunteer to do things I love, I'm in good shape.
New tentative plan:
- Keep working till I get medical clearance (although maybe I can just keep up my health insurance through CalCOBRA - I should look into that...)
- Volunteer at the Botanical Garden at least ten hours a month till I'm not in town anymore.
- Look for more community gardening type volunteer work, if possible.
- Study Spanish until I can score at least a 50 on the CLEP exam. (I'm looking at some sample questions on the test now, and it doesn't look that hard).
- Start my Peace Corps application in May (when fall 2010 placements should start being available).
- Look for ecology/farming classes.
- See about working on farms maybe locally or in WA.
- France/Iceland for my birthday.
- Save $$ so I can quit and start doing environmental/agriculture/nutrition stuff full time.
- Look into getting an organic farming credentials.
Yay.
(and by Yay. I mean !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Brick walls are meant to stop other people
My phone started buzzing during a meeting with my manager yesterday. The chair of the Modern Languages department at the Peralta Colleges was calling to express his concern about my Spanish skills. He asked that I email him so that we might discuss my ability to continue in Spanish 1B. On the last day, of course, before I was enrolled officially.
I wrote him back, doing my best to explain that I'm not every other kid asking to skip a class. I already have a college degree. I can do this. I know I can do this.
He wants me to take a placement test, but getting to any of the Peralta colleges during normal school hours is bordering on impossible considering I already leave work early three days a week to take these classes. I hoping he'll let me use the first test of the class instead, which gives me about a week and a half to prove that I have the first five months of Spanish at my command.
If I were anyone else, I might accept his judgement that studying on one's own is "troublesome," but I know I can do this. I know I will be speaking Spanish with the best of them if I make it through to the end of the semester. I just need to prove that I can do it by a week from Monday. I don't have time to be terrified.
Necesito estudiar. Tengo que tener éxito.
I wrote him back, doing my best to explain that I'm not every other kid asking to skip a class. I already have a college degree. I can do this. I know I can do this.
He wants me to take a placement test, but getting to any of the Peralta colleges during normal school hours is bordering on impossible considering I already leave work early three days a week to take these classes. I hoping he'll let me use the first test of the class instead, which gives me about a week and a half to prove that I have the first five months of Spanish at my command.
If I were anyone else, I might accept his judgement that studying on one's own is "troublesome," but I know I can do this. I know I will be speaking Spanish with the best of them if I make it through to the end of the semester. I just need to prove that I can do it by a week from Monday. I don't have time to be terrified.
Necesito estudiar. Tengo que tener éxito.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Change
So many good things this weekend.
1. Dim Sum in SF with Tim the banjo teacher, Anna (his gf) and his parents (so cute) and some friends. We all left appropriately stuffed and happy.
2. Ginger cake from Crixa at Yerba Buena park.
3. Amazing weather. I am sure that we're having the best weather in the country right now. I've opened the windows and put all the heavy blankets back in the closet. I haven't needed a jacket in over a week. Beautiful.
4. SFMOMA. The SF MoMA always surprises me when they have exhibits by people I've never heard of. This one by Martin Puryear was the perfect mixture of earthy and whimsical. Almost all his sculptures are made of wood and I had the best possible viewing of it tagging along with Tim's dad with his thick Tennessee accent sniffing all the sculptures and pronouncing which woods they were made of. And wouldn't you know he was always right. On the fourth floor it was all about the art of participation. There were recordings of performance art, and microphones for you to speak into and chairs to sit in (to become a living sculpture), and other things to play with and touch. Touch! And of course, there is always my favorite Rothko in its spot on the second floor, so I paid my usual respects.
5. Wine and girl talk. Hajera and Erin came over Saturday night to talk about girly things. We all got quite drunk and had the best time. I must do this again soon, although maybe I'll eat a little more dinner first heh.
6. Getting my volunteer on at the Berkeley Aquatic Park. The Berkeley Aquatic Park is actually starting to be quite nice these days. I picked up some gardening gloves at Longs and biked over to do some tree planting prep. We weren't allowed to actually plant the trees because I guess the city of Berkeley isn't crazy about the idea of there being plants preventing them from being able to shine search lights Everywhere, but hopefully they'll confirm that we're not going to hit any utility lines and let us plant the trees in a week or two. It was so lovely and just heartening to see so many people come out (they were expecting 55, but 90+ of us showed up). I got to chat with all sorts of people from all over who came out to start making a change in their communities. Who were ready to take matters into their own hands instead of waiting for the government or anyone else to do the things we care about. There were kids and seniors and teenagers and parents and everyone in between taking some time out to mark this momentous occasion and it gave me hope. Change is possible.
7. A nice clean traffic island out in front of my house. I noticed on my way home yesterday that the island was filthy. Littered with trash, and I decided - not in my neighborhood. So, to do my part today for MLKJr Day, I got up and cleaned it. I brought out two empty plastic bags, and came in with four sacks stuffed with trash and one left over. And my island is clean now.
8. Spanish immersion. With Spanish music playing and Gmail in Spanish and Facebook in Spanish, it seems easy to work through my text book. I am going to speak Spanish by May.
And today it feels like there is a spot for me in the world. Like I can make a difference, like anything is possible.
1. Dim Sum in SF with Tim the banjo teacher, Anna (his gf) and his parents (so cute) and some friends. We all left appropriately stuffed and happy.
2. Ginger cake from Crixa at Yerba Buena park.
3. Amazing weather. I am sure that we're having the best weather in the country right now. I've opened the windows and put all the heavy blankets back in the closet. I haven't needed a jacket in over a week. Beautiful.
4. SFMOMA. The SF MoMA always surprises me when they have exhibits by people I've never heard of. This one by Martin Puryear was the perfect mixture of earthy and whimsical. Almost all his sculptures are made of wood and I had the best possible viewing of it tagging along with Tim's dad with his thick Tennessee accent sniffing all the sculptures and pronouncing which woods they were made of. And wouldn't you know he was always right. On the fourth floor it was all about the art of participation. There were recordings of performance art, and microphones for you to speak into and chairs to sit in (to become a living sculpture), and other things to play with and touch. Touch! And of course, there is always my favorite Rothko in its spot on the second floor, so I paid my usual respects.
5. Wine and girl talk. Hajera and Erin came over Saturday night to talk about girly things. We all got quite drunk and had the best time. I must do this again soon, although maybe I'll eat a little more dinner first heh.
6. Getting my volunteer on at the Berkeley Aquatic Park. The Berkeley Aquatic Park is actually starting to be quite nice these days. I picked up some gardening gloves at Longs and biked over to do some tree planting prep. We weren't allowed to actually plant the trees because I guess the city of Berkeley isn't crazy about the idea of there being plants preventing them from being able to shine search lights Everywhere, but hopefully they'll confirm that we're not going to hit any utility lines and let us plant the trees in a week or two. It was so lovely and just heartening to see so many people come out (they were expecting 55, but 90+ of us showed up). I got to chat with all sorts of people from all over who came out to start making a change in their communities. Who were ready to take matters into their own hands instead of waiting for the government or anyone else to do the things we care about. There were kids and seniors and teenagers and parents and everyone in between taking some time out to mark this momentous occasion and it gave me hope. Change is possible.
7. A nice clean traffic island out in front of my house. I noticed on my way home yesterday that the island was filthy. Littered with trash, and I decided - not in my neighborhood. So, to do my part today for MLKJr Day, I got up and cleaned it. I brought out two empty plastic bags, and came in with four sacks stuffed with trash and one left over. And my island is clean now.
8. Spanish immersion. With Spanish music playing and Gmail in Spanish and Facebook in Spanish, it seems easy to work through my text book. I am going to speak Spanish by May.
And today it feels like there is a spot for me in the world. Like I can make a difference, like anything is possible.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Proof that I am insane
I have in my possession a small blue slip of paper with Willy Lizarraga's autograph. When I fill the rest of it out and present it to Berkeley City College tomorrow, I will be enrolled in the second semester of Spanish, also known as the "worst" (read: hardest, most grammar-filled) semester. I have two and a half weeks to learn all of the first semester of Spanish, eight chapters of Dos Mundos, a book not yet in my possession.
I am out of my league. I know decidedly less than the worst person in the class probably, but it feels good. It is true: Willy is the best. I can do this. I will learn a semester of Spanish in two weeks. I will pass this test and I will pass this class. I will know all of Spanish grammar by the middle of May.
I will need to live and breathe Spanish. And not only that I will volunteer at the Botanical Garden if I can. Otherwise, I will patrol the Ecology Center list and USAService and find another way to fill this volunteering requirement. And I will impress my boss at work so that he doesn't notice that I'm leaving at 4:30 every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. And I will be in two bands. And I will somehow do yoga and eat and sleep. And I will visit John in San Diego. And I will go to my cousin's wedding. And I will visit Ciana in New York. This will work. I will be tired, but I will do it.
Ok off to change my Facebook to español, do a little yoga, shower and sleep so I can get up early, bike to West Oakland, work, bike to BCC, enroll in Spanish, acquire text books and attend an Ecology Center lecture on - get this - Iceland: Birds, People, and Conservation in a Land of Glaciers, Geysers, Volcanos, and Splendid Isolation.
I am out of my league. I know decidedly less than the worst person in the class probably, but it feels good. It is true: Willy is the best. I can do this. I will learn a semester of Spanish in two weeks. I will pass this test and I will pass this class. I will know all of Spanish grammar by the middle of May.
I will need to live and breathe Spanish. And not only that I will volunteer at the Botanical Garden if I can. Otherwise, I will patrol the Ecology Center list and USAService and find another way to fill this volunteering requirement. And I will impress my boss at work so that he doesn't notice that I'm leaving at 4:30 every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. And I will be in two bands. And I will somehow do yoga and eat and sleep. And I will visit John in San Diego. And I will go to my cousin's wedding. And I will visit Ciana in New York. This will work. I will be tired, but I will do it.
Ok off to change my Facebook to español, do a little yoga, shower and sleep so I can get up early, bike to West Oakland, work, bike to BCC, enroll in Spanish, acquire text books and attend an Ecology Center lecture on - get this - Iceland: Birds, People, and Conservation in a Land of Glaciers, Geysers, Volcanos, and Splendid Isolation.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
so it goes
It turns out that the 800 number that's been calling me was the credit card company asking if I was really sure I had bought such and such things, but I wasn't. So, they've canceled my credit card, or at least that's what it sounds like. Bad reception, but the last four digits of my account are different now when I sign in. Apparently someone stole my credit card number to make a donation to charity. Curious.
Monday, January 12, 2009
More news from nowhere
I have made the most amazing and terrible discoveries (in order of discovery):
1. Television on the internet.
People always bring this up when I tell them I don't have a tv and therefore have never seen such and such must see show they are talking about. My sister has even demonstrated it for me as we watched episodes of Grey's Anatomy as "homework" for her premed studies. But, Television On The Internet! I watched all two full episodes of Eli Stone last night and am craving more more more.
2. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
I have Nick Cave songs. I have had Nick Cave songs for a long time. I even listen to them. But today as I was streaming KEXP through my iTunes, they played "Red Hand Right" and I think I am in love. Nick Cave might be the best thing ever. How did I not realize this before?
3. Using the internet from my bed.
I never even tried this before, but hanging off the end of my bed to keep pressing play through two episodes of Eli Stone sparked some bit of genius in my brain, and upon some further investigation it turns out the cables attached to my little modem Are In Fact Long Enough To Reach My Bed. I am in utter shock that I have been using the internet from my desk exclusively for the past three years. I am a changed woman. Oh the luxury and justice of using the internet from the comfort of my bed!
This could be a dangerous combination. Except for Nick Cave. Nothing bad about that.
1. Television on the internet.
People always bring this up when I tell them I don't have a tv and therefore have never seen such and such must see show they are talking about. My sister has even demonstrated it for me as we watched episodes of Grey's Anatomy as "homework" for her premed studies. But, Television On The Internet! I watched all two full episodes of Eli Stone last night and am craving more more more.
2. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
I have Nick Cave songs. I have had Nick Cave songs for a long time. I even listen to them. But today as I was streaming KEXP through my iTunes, they played "Red Hand Right" and I think I am in love. Nick Cave might be the best thing ever. How did I not realize this before?
3. Using the internet from my bed.
I never even tried this before, but hanging off the end of my bed to keep pressing play through two episodes of Eli Stone sparked some bit of genius in my brain, and upon some further investigation it turns out the cables attached to my little modem Are In Fact Long Enough To Reach My Bed. I am in utter shock that I have been using the internet from my desk exclusively for the past three years. I am a changed woman. Oh the luxury and justice of using the internet from the comfort of my bed!
This could be a dangerous combination. Except for Nick Cave. Nothing bad about that.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Constant gardener to be
I have an interview to volunteer at the SF Botanical Garden Nursery on Jan 23rd!
I hope hope hope they accept me. Even if it means my Saturdays are booked from 10-3 for the foreseeable future. The volunteer coordinator man said that the Nursery spots are the most hands on with plants of all the volunteer jobs, and I'd learn the most about plant growing. It would be so ideal!
If I keep up with the banjo (which I plan to do) and get this nursery spot (fingers crossed) and manage to swing this Spanish class (please please), I will be unfathomably busy, but the thought of all that just feels so good. Maybe I'd burn out, but the anticipation is invigorating.
Think happy thoughts for me on the 23rd!
I hope hope hope they accept me. Even if it means my Saturdays are booked from 10-3 for the foreseeable future. The volunteer coordinator man said that the Nursery spots are the most hands on with plants of all the volunteer jobs, and I'd learn the most about plant growing. It would be so ideal!
If I keep up with the banjo (which I plan to do) and get this nursery spot (fingers crossed) and manage to swing this Spanish class (please please), I will be unfathomably busy, but the thought of all that just feels so good. Maybe I'd burn out, but the anticipation is invigorating.
Think happy thoughts for me on the 23rd!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Decisions, decisions!
My Iceland insider has just forwarded me the invite to this year's Þorrablót put on by the Icelandic Society of New York.
Just think - I could dine and dance with scores and scores of elegantly dressed Icelanders.
Can't Icelanders throw crazy parties on the West Coast?? Send them to my house, I'll find them rotten shark and sheep heads. I'll even dress up nice, I promise.
Am I desperate to meet Icelanders six hundred dollars' worth? If they would just throw in some hot springs and a bit of glacier or volcano, I would so totally be there.
Just think - I could dine and dance with scores and scores of elegantly dressed Icelanders.
Can't Icelanders throw crazy parties on the West Coast?? Send them to my house, I'll find them rotten shark and sheep heads. I'll even dress up nice, I promise.
Am I desperate to meet Icelanders six hundred dollars' worth? If they would just throw in some hot springs and a bit of glacier or volcano, I would so totally be there.
College applicant
Not only did I search the interwebs for Spanish classes today, I found the most perfect one through Berkeley City College - on the UCB campus, no less - Mondays and Wednesdays from 630-930pm, AND I applied to the Peralta Community Colleges so I can enroll. If only all college applications were that easy. With any luck, I will be accepted by tomorrow and there'll still be a spot left in this Spanish class.
I have also made contact with the SF Botanical Garden folks about getting my volunteer on. According to their volunteer coordinator guy, they do indeed take garden volunteers for weekend help. All I need to do is fill out their application and hope they accept me. I calculated this morning that if I can volunteer for five hours every other weekend, I'll have enough time under my belt to apply to the Peace Corps in just three months.
I even studied my Icelandic this morning. And confirmed that I can in fact still take 3 months of unpaid leave from work and be covered by health/dental insurance.
How proud of me are you??
I have also made contact with the SF Botanical Garden folks about getting my volunteer on. According to their volunteer coordinator guy, they do indeed take garden volunteers for weekend help. All I need to do is fill out their application and hope they accept me. I calculated this morning that if I can volunteer for five hours every other weekend, I'll have enough time under my belt to apply to the Peace Corps in just three months.
I even studied my Icelandic this morning. And confirmed that I can in fact still take 3 months of unpaid leave from work and be covered by health/dental insurance.
How proud of me are you??
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
PROFESSIONAL
I thought you would like to know that I am now a professional musician.
I almost always have to wait about ten minutes to catch the BART home after my banjo lessons and usually I wander down to the far end of the station and play quietly to myself, but the Fremont trains always have just three cars, so today I plopped myself down right in the middle and started playing to pass the time. Usually I keep my case closed to keep it out of the way, but it was mentioned to me that I should leave it open with a dollar and some coins lying there suggestively. That would be going too far, but I figured it wouldn't hurt anyone if I just didn't happen to close the case back up after taking the banjo out.
And wouldn't you know that a crumpled piece of paper fell just beside me during the middle of Salt Creek. Adrenaline! I very nearly bungled the song and couldn't bear to look at what the mystery paper was or even make eye contact with the stranger who dropped it, but there it was when I went to pack up! One whole dollar! And without knowing who it was that contributed to my musicianhood, it was almost like everyone had. My public loves me, and I love them back!
I need to find a dollar-shaped frame so I can put this on my wall!
I almost always have to wait about ten minutes to catch the BART home after my banjo lessons and usually I wander down to the far end of the station and play quietly to myself, but the Fremont trains always have just three cars, so today I plopped myself down right in the middle and started playing to pass the time. Usually I keep my case closed to keep it out of the way, but it was mentioned to me that I should leave it open with a dollar and some coins lying there suggestively. That would be going too far, but I figured it wouldn't hurt anyone if I just didn't happen to close the case back up after taking the banjo out.
And wouldn't you know that a crumpled piece of paper fell just beside me during the middle of Salt Creek. Adrenaline! I very nearly bungled the song and couldn't bear to look at what the mystery paper was or even make eye contact with the stranger who dropped it, but there it was when I went to pack up! One whole dollar! And without knowing who it was that contributed to my musicianhood, it was almost like everyone had. My public loves me, and I love them back!
I need to find a dollar-shaped frame so I can put this on my wall!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Time for a lil change
I am feeling hopeful about 2009. We're already getting rain and the air is clear and Obama will be our president.
I always like to do a little new year's planning (and mid year's planning and fall planning and spring planning and planning in general) but somehow this year feels even just a little fresher and brimming with possibility.
I've gotten into the habit of telling everybody what it is that I want to do and that I care about, and I like that. Other people may have figured this out a long time ago, but I am still surprised and exhilarated by people who are not myself getting excited with me about my plans and getting fussy about my Victorian non-romances. So, may 2009 bring more of the same!
In the spirit of sharing and being held accountable, here are a few more things I'm hoping to work on this year:
I want to be more thankful. Seems like a cheesy thing to say, but there really are so many great little things and big things that happen and people that I love, and I want to be better about calling that stuff out and really appreciating what there is to be appreciated.
I want to do something completely different. I want a new career path, and I want to help people and the Earth. Full time. I want to be someone who does plant/health/environmental things. I adore each of the plants in my little jungle, but I want to take it to the next level. I want to know what organic farming is about. I want to know the names of things and where they come from and what makes them happy. And I want that to be the sort of thing my parents tell people when explaining what I get up to these days. I want to volunteer at a Botanical Garden (or something similar) and I want to apply to the Peace Corps before the year is out.
I want to get out and see the world. Specifically, Iceland. I am promising me in public that economy or no economy, I will set foot in Iceland before the end of this year. I will. I Will.
I want to exercise my brain muscle. Every year I try to read 24 books. It always sounds perfectly reasonable in January and utterly impossible in December. I've never quite made it, but I do like trying. (The Tale of Genji totally counts as six books, btw).
I want to exercise my muscle muscles. Which means riding my bike to catch the West Oakland shuttle when it's not raining and doing yoga multiple times per week. Because it feels good and I sleep better.
I want to make art. I want to learn up some bluegrass banjo before I can't afford lessons anymore and I want to finally figure out how to turn on (and use) one of the sewing machines in my closet. It would also be cool to learn silk screening, draw (or collage mosaic or sew) more plants and birds, take photos and use some of my now giant stash of photographic paper in the darkroom, and/or do some of the art ideas saved in my notebook.
I want to be great and inspire greatness. Whatever that means, I want to be that when I grow up.
So there you have it.
I always like to do a little new year's planning (and mid year's planning and fall planning and spring planning and planning in general) but somehow this year feels even just a little fresher and brimming with possibility.
I've gotten into the habit of telling everybody what it is that I want to do and that I care about, and I like that. Other people may have figured this out a long time ago, but I am still surprised and exhilarated by people who are not myself getting excited with me about my plans and getting fussy about my Victorian non-romances. So, may 2009 bring more of the same!
In the spirit of sharing and being held accountable, here are a few more things I'm hoping to work on this year:
I want to be more thankful. Seems like a cheesy thing to say, but there really are so many great little things and big things that happen and people that I love, and I want to be better about calling that stuff out and really appreciating what there is to be appreciated.
I want to do something completely different. I want a new career path, and I want to help people and the Earth. Full time. I want to be someone who does plant/health/environmental things. I adore each of the plants in my little jungle, but I want to take it to the next level. I want to know what organic farming is about. I want to know the names of things and where they come from and what makes them happy. And I want that to be the sort of thing my parents tell people when explaining what I get up to these days. I want to volunteer at a Botanical Garden (or something similar) and I want to apply to the Peace Corps before the year is out.
I want to get out and see the world. Specifically, Iceland. I am promising me in public that economy or no economy, I will set foot in Iceland before the end of this year. I will. I Will.
I want to exercise my brain muscle. Every year I try to read 24 books. It always sounds perfectly reasonable in January and utterly impossible in December. I've never quite made it, but I do like trying. (The Tale of Genji totally counts as six books, btw).
I want to exercise my muscle muscles. Which means riding my bike to catch the West Oakland shuttle when it's not raining and doing yoga multiple times per week. Because it feels good and I sleep better.
I want to make art. I want to learn up some bluegrass banjo before I can't afford lessons anymore and I want to finally figure out how to turn on (and use) one of the sewing machines in my closet. It would also be cool to learn silk screening, draw (or collage mosaic or sew) more plants and birds, take photos and use some of my now giant stash of photographic paper in the darkroom, and/or do some of the art ideas saved in my notebook.
I want to be great and inspire greatness. Whatever that means, I want to be that when I grow up.
So there you have it.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Banjo check in
I can totally play six songs now. Six whole songs. Practically fluidly. Still a little bit slow, but I kinda like the drawl of them slow. Some I can even play at a speed neighboring fastness.
Here is my usual practicing playlist:
1. Fireball Mail
2. Cripple Creek
3. Down the Road
4. Salt Creek
5. Groundspeed
6. Kansas City Railroad Blues
How great is it that most of the songs talk either about creeks or trains?? (Fireball Mail is about trains and Groundspeed probably would be about trains if it had words). You should just hear Don Reno and Red Smiley playing Kansas City Railroad Blues. The fiddle sounds just like a train whistle. And the banjo is like the train clickety clack.
Happiness.
Here is my usual practicing playlist:
1. Fireball Mail
2. Cripple Creek
3. Down the Road
4. Salt Creek
5. Groundspeed
6. Kansas City Railroad Blues
How great is it that most of the songs talk either about creeks or trains?? (Fireball Mail is about trains and Groundspeed probably would be about trains if it had words). You should just hear Don Reno and Red Smiley playing Kansas City Railroad Blues. The fiddle sounds just like a train whistle. And the banjo is like the train clickety clack.
Happiness.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Bridesmaidenhood
The most exciting news of the year is clearly that Russ and Ciana are getting married. How great and wonderful and perfect and lovely and best is that? Also awesome is that I got to have brunch with the newly affianced just minutes after things were settled. And if that weren't enough, I get to be a bridesmaid! Which is very nearly as good as actually getting married! So, yay!
I could not even dream up a lovelier couple and feel honored just to know them, let alone get to prance about in a fancy dress (or whatever Ciana would like because she has the most refined and delicious taste of anyone I know and therefore if it is decided that I am to wear orange taffeta with maybe one of those enormous hats with animal fur print trim, that is indeed what I will wear) on the big day. Swoon.
I wish you both a continuation of all the best and then some! May your days be filled with beauty and romance and good wine and Edwardian balls and sparkly chandeliers and good books and warm fireplaces and exciting adventures.
I could not even dream up a lovelier couple and feel honored just to know them, let alone get to prance about in a fancy dress (or whatever Ciana would like because she has the most refined and delicious taste of anyone I know and therefore if it is decided that I am to wear orange taffeta with maybe one of those enormous hats with animal fur print trim, that is indeed what I will wear) on the big day. Swoon.
I wish you both a continuation of all the best and then some! May your days be filled with beauty and romance and good wine and Edwardian balls and sparkly chandeliers and good books and warm fireplaces and exciting adventures.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Greeting cards, take one
I made some of these for my mom for Christmas, since I was a little late getting started with the Christmas cards she asked for. I was still cardless as of the morning of 12/24, but I managed to carve the design and print twenty of these babies in just a few hours. Not too shabby for a first attempt, granted I got the paper and envelopes premade from the art store.
Anyway, she liked them so much that she ordered ten more for me to send to my aunt in Colorado, so it looks like I'll be making another trip to the post office.
**Credit is also due to my dad for remembering that my mom loves poppies and Laura for explaining over and over how to lock the door to her bedroom/my workshop so as to preserve the Christmas surprise factor. Twenty-seventh time's a charm!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Were you aware of it? vol. 13: Glögg
GlöggServes 6
For Finns, mulled wine isn’t good enough. They spike it with vodka, set it on fire, and call it glögg. This ice melter is sweet and spicy, with caramelized sugar and cardamom. It’s got nuts and raisins. It’s got an umlaut. What more could you want from a winter drink?
Ingredients
* 1/2 cup brandy
* 1 cup sugar cubes (actually, i'd recommend going easy on the sugar - half a cup should be PLENTY, although maybe if you actually set the stuff on fire, the sugar would chill out).
* 1 teaspoon cardamom seeds
* 5-6 whole cloves
* 1 orange, zested and sliced
* Cheesecloth
* 1 bottle dry red wine
* 2-3 tablespoons Madeira
* 1/4 cup vodka
* 1/3 cup raisins
* 1/4 cup blanched, slivered almonds (and feel free to go crazy with the almonds)
* 2 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
Pour brandy and sugar cubes into a small skillet. Set aside. Tie up cardamom, orange zest, and spices in cheesecloth and combine with wine, Madeira, raisins, and almonds in a roomy saucepan. Place over low heat.
When the wine begins to steam, set the brandy and sugar mixture over high heat. As soon as it comes to a vigorous simmer, kill the lights, strike a match, and set the sucker on fire. When the flames die down, pour the thick syrup into the hot wine and stir. Add the vodka and serve immediately in small mugs garnished with a cinnamon stick and orange slice.
**Courtesy of Galen Moore of ReadyMade
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