I had a bit of a problem with this lately...
I spend a lot of my time on the weekends away from the computer because I'd rather be outside, and at night I try to avoid it because I've been on it at work all day and I need to reconnect to other things in life. This has led to me coming in on Mondays trying to write back posts to make up for the missed days, and then I never catch up and get to today, and then weeks pass, which is silly because it takes me out of the present and puts me into the past. So rather than create a big mental mess, I'm just going to skip those days from here on in, unless something extraordinary happens, in which case I'll just include that item with the current. I know I give thanks for more than 21 things on those days because I am out living, and I think that is what really matters, whether I post about it or not. And the days I miss at work, it's just too busy, so I'll give my thanks after 5:30. So without further delay....
1. Common Ground for teaching me tons of new things every month. They really keep on top of things, and keep me aware.
2. Huge Bags of Mixed Greens for $2 Oh, how I love the farmers' market.
3. Sweet Yellow Cherry Tomatoes Yum.
4. Paying for part I of my raw nutrition certification program I'm so excited about this new aspect of my life unfolding. It's completely logical, and makes sense in so many ways, but if someone would have told me 10 years ago I'd be doing this, I'm not entirely sure I would have believed it 100%. I think I needed to get whole and healed first. So paying this deposit was an investment in my future, and my ability to help others heal, and I can't even begin to explain how amazing that feels.
5. Love Humiliation & Karaoke I went to see my friend Enzo's show a few days ago, and as I watched it, I was thinking about how I need to put it as one of my blessings. It was a funny one man show - a series of wonderful vignettes of his real life, told with such raw, honest emotion, and self-deprecating humour, accompanied by Filipino transvestite versions of Air Supply songs. It's basically a true story about his crazy, messed up life, how twisted his family is, how rough situations in life just screw with us sometimes, and how he created love in his life anyway by choosing to grow and change and make room for it. What a beautiful human being! Never will you laugh so much at misfortune, I promise. If you're in SF, go see it. It's great. It's funny. It's beautiful.
6. Cheap Pete's They make framing affordable, and when you're an artist, that can be quite costly.
7. Plane tickets I just love the freedom that comes from just purchasing them, before you've even left for a trip. It keeps you buzzing until you go.
8. Larkspur Free, locally grown, pretty flowers on my desk that just keep blooming and blooming.
9. Not stressing over the financial downturn I am extremely thankful that it really doesn't affect me and my mindset. I am sorry for those it is hard on, but I do believe this is a great opportunity for things in America to really change, and if people embrace that, they will be fine. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it. There is a sustainable future in sight.
10. Lassen Volcanic Park This is way past due, but I went a few weeks ago and it was absolutely amazing. Bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, tons of other hydro-thermal goodies, the fantastic lava beds (yes, that's really what they were called), a cinder cone with conifers triumphing against unlikely conditions, painted dunes, and so many other beautiful things.
11. The Island at Levi's Plaza Sometimes I eat lunch out in the roof garden, but most of the time I prefer sitting on my own private island with the hummingbirds and butterflies. It's exactly the re-charge I need midday to get through the rest of work.
12. Reconnecting with old friends Evelyn came to SF for a few days and we got to have lunch and reconnect. The last time I saw her was in NYC when I was frantically rushing to finish packing to move our west, and I was stressed, so it was what it was. It was great to reconnect at a much nicer place in life and just relax.
13. Parea one of my favorite wine bars in the city. I had some awesome Turkish and Slovenian tastes.
14. Easy dates and feeling level headed I went on a date with a guy who was smart, funny, cute, interesting, had good taste in music and literature, and it was nice to go out with someone and talk, but know that it wasn't going to lead anywhere. He's a good guy, just not the one for me. I prefer guys who like to talk about the infinite possibilities in the universe, not the infinite limits and frustration. This is not a good or a bad thing, it's just the kinds of guys I like meeting and being around. There will always be limits and frustrations, so why not focus on the positive instead? I want to be inspired by whomever I end up with, constantly grow in my relationship. But it was nice to feel so sure and confident about what I want out of a relationship, instead of the normal head-spinning insanity that I'm used to. Does this mean I'm growing up? I hope not. Does it mean I'm getting closer to manifesting what I really want and deserve? Definitely!
15. Dulse one of my favorite seaweeds. I love sprinkling the flakes in salads.
16. Orchids We have so many of them in the office and there are so many varieties. I love being surrounded by beautiful things.
17. The Dreambook App on facebook. It could use a few tweaks, but its existence alone is pretty neat. I went through and reinterpreted a dream from 2006 because it was easy to cut and paste, and its interpretation was even more relevant to me now.
18. Launches the Schmap with my photo of Chicago is finally out.
19. Trazzler also found another image published here and they were really nice about rectifying the issue of not having gotten my permission in the first place, and updated the info immediately. I was impressed. Their site looks pretty neat.
20. Google without which, I might not have found out someone was using my image without permission.
21. 5:30pm because I get to go back outside where I belong.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
monday, monday.... (7)
day 7...
1. Mimosas at work great way to start the week.
2. Weird people who apply for jobs at our office because they provide me with humour by stalking the design director, grunting, and keeping me on the phone forever by asking me weird questions, or as Arlene puts it "by using circular logic."
3. Lust, Caution This movie was just unbelievably HOT.
4. Google Custom Maps For allowing me to view other users awesome custom maps like this one that will help with this weekend's trip.
5. Kookie Karma for making healthy & delicious desserts. They have a few raw options, my favorite being the Lemon Fig, though I do think they are slightly overpriced, so I don't buy them often.
6. Cultured This awesome homegrownBerkeley company, run by Alex Hozven makes some of the yummiest raw sauerkraut and kimchee I've ever tasted. My favorite is the raw beet and ginger one. I have a spoon or two a day to get my daily dose of probiotics. Great piece on fermented foods at Conscious Dancer.
7. Kombucha while we're on the topic of fermentation, I might as well throw this little blessing in. Great for balancing! I'd love to make my own at home, but have been buying GT's Organic Raw Gingerade for the past year and can't seem to stop because it's sooo good!
8. Voicemail for diverting those less than savory phone calls at work. Again with the strange strangers.
9. Eric, Tanya, Victoria & Liah planning camping trips without them is so much fun, and I love how we all pull our trips together.
10. Coco Loco for making some of the dopest coconut jewelry.
11. Coconut from coconut chips, to coconut oil, to coconut butter, I love it.
12. Cafe Gratitude Chocolate Mousse Hands down one of the most delicious raw desserts ever. And now I can make it at home.
13. Jeremy Fish I've been a longtime fan, so it's only right to thank this guy for existing. His art is amazing, and always makes me smile. Peep the gallery section for 30 tasty visual morsels.
14. B&H for always delivering my film in a timely manner. I miss the experience of the NY store with all the carts and pulleys going across the ceiling.
15. Geico for continuously lowering my rates every time I renew and for having amazing customer service reps.
16. Orion Magazine These guys are so amazing, I finally subscribed and got my first print issue. I'd seen and heard people who write & photograph for them a lot over the past year, and I think it's a really amazing, and relevant magazine. It's exactly the kind of publication I'd like to publish my images.
17. Nabila's I absolutely LOVE the wonderful Palestinian people who work here. They are all super nice, they let me get things on credit when I'm short, I always have great conversations with them & and they are all surprisingly good looking too. And it's always a plus to walk into your corner health store and hear Wax Tailor pumping on the speakers.
18. Wax Tailor Since I just mentioned him in #17, it's only right that I give him proper thanks. This man produces some of the sickest instrumentals you'll EVER hear. I first heard him when he sent me a few tracks over at Third Earth Music to collaborate with some of our artists, and I was really impressed, because we got a lot of low-quality stuff sent to us. And, man am I ever glad that the collaborations worked out. The end result was some of my wonderful friends in North Carolina getting the international exposure they deserve, because they are wicked talented and hard working guys. The combo of him + them is amazing.
19. Getting over past relationships sometimes it's a hell of a lot of work, but man when you finally let those last pieces go and move on, it's so liberating.
20. Identifying patterns this generally helps with #19. And the more I notice them & admit to them, the more confident I am that will stop repeating them and stop dating boys who can't give me what I need. If you keep accepting less than what you deserve, that's what you'll continue to get.
21. Silence it's so rare, and so beautiful. I like how it fills things up more than noise.
1. Mimosas at work great way to start the week.
2. Weird people who apply for jobs at our office because they provide me with humour by stalking the design director, grunting, and keeping me on the phone forever by asking me weird questions, or as Arlene puts it "by using circular logic."
3. Lust, Caution This movie was just unbelievably HOT.
4. Google Custom Maps For allowing me to view other users awesome custom maps like this one that will help with this weekend's trip.
5. Kookie Karma for making healthy & delicious desserts. They have a few raw options, my favorite being the Lemon Fig, though I do think they are slightly overpriced, so I don't buy them often.
6. Cultured This awesome homegrownBerkeley company, run by Alex Hozven makes some of the yummiest raw sauerkraut and kimchee I've ever tasted. My favorite is the raw beet and ginger one. I have a spoon or two a day to get my daily dose of probiotics. Great piece on fermented foods at Conscious Dancer.
7. Kombucha while we're on the topic of fermentation, I might as well throw this little blessing in. Great for balancing! I'd love to make my own at home, but have been buying GT's Organic Raw Gingerade for the past year and can't seem to stop because it's sooo good!
8. Voicemail for diverting those less than savory phone calls at work. Again with the strange strangers.
9. Eric, Tanya, Victoria & Liah planning camping trips without them is so much fun, and I love how we all pull our trips together.
10. Coco Loco for making some of the dopest coconut jewelry.
11. Coconut from coconut chips, to coconut oil, to coconut butter, I love it.
12. Cafe Gratitude Chocolate Mousse Hands down one of the most delicious raw desserts ever. And now I can make it at home.
13. Jeremy Fish I've been a longtime fan, so it's only right to thank this guy for existing. His art is amazing, and always makes me smile. Peep the gallery section for 30 tasty visual morsels.
14. B&H for always delivering my film in a timely manner. I miss the experience of the NY store with all the carts and pulleys going across the ceiling.
15. Geico for continuously lowering my rates every time I renew and for having amazing customer service reps.
16. Orion Magazine These guys are so amazing, I finally subscribed and got my first print issue. I'd seen and heard people who write & photograph for them a lot over the past year, and I think it's a really amazing, and relevant magazine. It's exactly the kind of publication I'd like to publish my images.
17. Nabila's I absolutely LOVE the wonderful Palestinian people who work here. They are all super nice, they let me get things on credit when I'm short, I always have great conversations with them & and they are all surprisingly good looking too. And it's always a plus to walk into your corner health store and hear Wax Tailor pumping on the speakers.
18. Wax Tailor Since I just mentioned him in #17, it's only right that I give him proper thanks. This man produces some of the sickest instrumentals you'll EVER hear. I first heard him when he sent me a few tracks over at Third Earth Music to collaborate with some of our artists, and I was really impressed, because we got a lot of low-quality stuff sent to us. And, man am I ever glad that the collaborations worked out. The end result was some of my wonderful friends in North Carolina getting the international exposure they deserve, because they are wicked talented and hard working guys. The combo of him + them is amazing.
19. Getting over past relationships sometimes it's a hell of a lot of work, but man when you finally let those last pieces go and move on, it's so liberating.
20. Identifying patterns this generally helps with #19. And the more I notice them & admit to them, the more confident I am that will stop repeating them and stop dating boys who can't give me what I need. If you keep accepting less than what you deserve, that's what you'll continue to get.
21. Silence it's so rare, and so beautiful. I like how it fills things up more than noise.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
day 6 delayed
more weekend fun from sunday....
day 6...
1. Gabe for helping me out
2. Serendipity for Gabe needing help when I needed help.
3. That weird political house on my walk home on Webster I need to go back and take pictures.
4. Seaweed Salad from Domo I always welcome more sushi to the neighborhood.
5. St Francis Creamery some of the best shakes in town and some great vegan options. They even have a Guinness float, if you're so inclined.
6. Schmap for wanting to use one of my photos in one of their guides. I hope it works out, since I really want to get my food in the travel photography door.
7. Lazy Sundays I like the slow, lazy pace most of my Sundays tend to have.
8. Santogold she makes my speakers happy. That Switch & Graeme remix is tight.
9. Wooloo for giving me another cool place to exhibit my art and look at other people's work. Inspiration is key.
10. Blue Bottle I don't drink coffee often, but it's nice to be able to get some of the best coffee in the city right around the corner. They individually drip each cup so it's super duper fresh, and make cute little hearts in the foam of their cappuccinos.
11. Frommer's Their National Parks of the American West book helped me make the most of my time driving cross country from NY to SF, and has proven to be a valuable source for planning all my weekend National Park excursions since and helping me avoid the crowds, see the most spectacular things, and what to limit myself to if I only have a day or 2.
12. The National Park Service for up to date, detailed info by season. This helps me a lot for figuring out when to go to get the best shots. Maybe one day they'll hire me so they can have more photos on their sites.
13. Yoga Tree I love having an amazing studio right around the corner.
14. Vanilla for making some of the most gorgeous bicycles on the planet. I have to have one!
15. People who put the toilet seat down 'nuff said.
16. Living alone I love having guests, but also really love having my own space and having me time to curl up and read, so my lovely, little studio is perfect for me.
17. Indian Cushions cuz I love sharing a meal in a circle around my coffee table. Low to the ground is nice.
18. My fuzzy green Columbia blanket It's so snuggly and comforting. Thanks, Mom!
19. Jonathan Carroll He writes some of the most amazing books I've ever read. I highly recommend starting with 'White Apples' as it's the one a friend recommended to me years ago and got me hooked!
20. Yawning and sighing They just send the right stuff to your brain to trigger good feelings.
21. Credo Mobile because Sprint was seriously ripping me off, had awful customer service and was always trying to get more money from me. Credo donates a percentage of your charges to progressive non-profits, and everyone in customer service is just so charming and nice!
day 6...
1. Gabe for helping me out
2. Serendipity for Gabe needing help when I needed help.
3. That weird political house on my walk home on Webster I need to go back and take pictures.
4. Seaweed Salad from Domo I always welcome more sushi to the neighborhood.
5. St Francis Creamery some of the best shakes in town and some great vegan options. They even have a Guinness float, if you're so inclined.
6. Schmap for wanting to use one of my photos in one of their guides. I hope it works out, since I really want to get my food in the travel photography door.
7. Lazy Sundays I like the slow, lazy pace most of my Sundays tend to have.
8. Santogold she makes my speakers happy. That Switch & Graeme remix is tight.
9. Wooloo for giving me another cool place to exhibit my art and look at other people's work. Inspiration is key.
10. Blue Bottle I don't drink coffee often, but it's nice to be able to get some of the best coffee in the city right around the corner. They individually drip each cup so it's super duper fresh, and make cute little hearts in the foam of their cappuccinos.
11. Frommer's Their National Parks of the American West book helped me make the most of my time driving cross country from NY to SF, and has proven to be a valuable source for planning all my weekend National Park excursions since and helping me avoid the crowds, see the most spectacular things, and what to limit myself to if I only have a day or 2.
12. The National Park Service for up to date, detailed info by season. This helps me a lot for figuring out when to go to get the best shots. Maybe one day they'll hire me so they can have more photos on their sites.
13. Yoga Tree I love having an amazing studio right around the corner.
14. Vanilla for making some of the most gorgeous bicycles on the planet. I have to have one!
15. People who put the toilet seat down 'nuff said.
16. Living alone I love having guests, but also really love having my own space and having me time to curl up and read, so my lovely, little studio is perfect for me.
17. Indian Cushions cuz I love sharing a meal in a circle around my coffee table. Low to the ground is nice.
18. My fuzzy green Columbia blanket It's so snuggly and comforting. Thanks, Mom!
19. Jonathan Carroll He writes some of the most amazing books I've ever read. I highly recommend starting with 'White Apples' as it's the one a friend recommended to me years ago and got me hooked!
20. Yawning and sighing They just send the right stuff to your brain to trigger good feelings.
21. Credo Mobile because Sprint was seriously ripping me off, had awful customer service and was always trying to get more money from me. Credo donates a percentage of your charges to progressive non-profits, and everyone in customer service is just so charming and nice!
side note...
on a sidenote, Lynn from the Cornucopia Institute saw my posting on 9.11.08, and asked me to let you all know they are in great need of funds to help their lawsuit against the USDA. Beyond the almond pasteurization issue, there are a lot of other really unjust things happening with organic labeling/regulations and irradiated foods. If you'd like to know how you can help, shoot them an email.
day 5, albeit a bit late...
I don't think I'll have time on the weekends to really sit and write these things out, as I prefer to spend my time away from the computer and outside in nature with no technology or running around town with friends, so I'll try to commit things to memory over the weekends and update the following week.
1. Saturdays because I love being on my own schedule.
2. Singing with a stranger on the beach under the Golden Gate bridge That totally made my night! Fugees vocal chorus stylings with Sublime-like freestyles. How sweet.
3. Justine what a delight to meet this lovely lady and connect on so many good things.
4. The Alemany Farmers' Market which I go to almost every Saturday morning. Fresh, cheap, yummy organic goodness.
5. Joe Chamillionaire I just really enjoyed hearing about his life and childhood. It's amazing how much humans can endure.
6. Cha-ya because it's so yummy
7. The Golden Gate Bridge I just never stop being wowed that I live here.
8. Dolores Park one of my favorite places to pass the time in the sunshine.
9. Cilantro one of the best smells and tastes ever.
10. Fresh Lime Juice adds that zing.
11. Nama Shoyu So I can have soy sauce and still be raw. It's unpasteurized, aged for four years in cedar kegs so it can be made with less salt naturally, while still being full of flavor.
12. The Pirate Store I love taking visitors there, and showing them Karl and the lard.
13. Paxton Gate one of the greatest stores in all of San Francisco. It's full of curiosities, bat skeletons and tree rings and makes me deliriously happy. It's my version of being a little kid in a candy store.
14. Carnivorous Plants cuz they're just so damn cool! Chomp.
15. Cucumbers Cool and classic. So many ways to use them!
16. Sleeping In I wish I could sleep til 9 or 10 most days.
17. A Fantastic Day With Jill I knew I missed her, but didn't quite realize how much until I got to spend so much time with her. Oh, what fun!
18. TV on DVD for allowing me to not waste time, brain space, and energy on commercials for stuff I don't need and will never buy. And for helping me fall asleep at night.
19. Marisa her birthday party is always an unusual event. It was so great to sit and look at her work and talk about photography for awhile. I really miss critiques, so maybe we can start one soon.
20. Living so close to everything my neighborhood is smack dab in the middle of it all, so I can walk everywhere.
21. Slumber parties the most people I've had crash on my floor so far!
1. Saturdays because I love being on my own schedule.
2. Singing with a stranger on the beach under the Golden Gate bridge That totally made my night! Fugees vocal chorus stylings with Sublime-like freestyles. How sweet.
3. Justine what a delight to meet this lovely lady and connect on so many good things.
4. The Alemany Farmers' Market which I go to almost every Saturday morning. Fresh, cheap, yummy organic goodness.
5. Joe Chamillionaire I just really enjoyed hearing about his life and childhood. It's amazing how much humans can endure.
6. Cha-ya because it's so yummy
7. The Golden Gate Bridge I just never stop being wowed that I live here.
8. Dolores Park one of my favorite places to pass the time in the sunshine.
9. Cilantro one of the best smells and tastes ever.
10. Fresh Lime Juice adds that zing.
11. Nama Shoyu So I can have soy sauce and still be raw. It's unpasteurized, aged for four years in cedar kegs so it can be made with less salt naturally, while still being full of flavor.
12. The Pirate Store I love taking visitors there, and showing them Karl and the lard.
13. Paxton Gate one of the greatest stores in all of San Francisco. It's full of curiosities, bat skeletons and tree rings and makes me deliriously happy. It's my version of being a little kid in a candy store.
14. Carnivorous Plants cuz they're just so damn cool! Chomp.
15. Cucumbers Cool and classic. So many ways to use them!
16. Sleeping In I wish I could sleep til 9 or 10 most days.
17. A Fantastic Day With Jill I knew I missed her, but didn't quite realize how much until I got to spend so much time with her. Oh, what fun!
18. TV on DVD for allowing me to not waste time, brain space, and energy on commercials for stuff I don't need and will never buy. And for helping me fall asleep at night.
19. Marisa her birthday party is always an unusual event. It was so great to sit and look at her work and talk about photography for awhile. I really miss critiques, so maybe we can start one soon.
20. Living so close to everything my neighborhood is smack dab in the middle of it all, so I can walk everywhere.
21. Slumber parties the most people I've had crash on my floor so far!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Quatrième journée...
1. Morning Visitors Jill came from Portland this morning and met me at work to get my keys. We haven't seen each other in almost 3 years (since I left NY) so it was a great way to start the day!
2. Bonfires Thanks to Burners Without Borders, several Black Rock artists, the Surfrider Foundation and a few other groups bound together, the fire pits (check the designs) at Ocean Beach were installed last year and we've been enjoying them ever since. The mixture of open heat and crackling logs and cool, fresh, ocean air is fantastic.
3. Stephanie sometimes she's not entirely aware of how truly amazing she is, and forgets that she's going to be extraordinary, because there simply is no other option in the plan. I like that we can help each other through the work madness just by talking daily. She's been an immense help in making my days here brighter.
4. Sprouting My kitchen is covered - I've got a colander full of chickpeas sprouting in one corner, and another full of mung beans, and I just love the whole process of watching life burst forth from within these tiny little pods. Enzymes are incredible. It's magical, and the living foods transfer their life force energy on to me which feels fantastic.
5. Caitanya because having friendships so full of trust, honesty, growth, change last this many years is a rare and beautiful thing to be cherished. This girl has no idea how important she is, and I am truly blessed to have her in my life. She forces me to look inside myself and seek out the changes I need, and I always feel I can openly speak my mind and she never judges and I always feel supported, even when I'm making decisions most people don't agree with. We've been through so many things from the old school jungle Spanish Harlem David bowie days in the late 90s in NYC to our present nature loving, hiking, spiritually seeking, weekend adventure, couchsurfing SF worlds. It's great when things come together that way.
6. Kale magical greens.
7. Akoha Jack is holding onto a mission card for me cuz I'm so excited to play! I'm going to borrow his words to describe it: "Akoha is basically a social reality game that encourages random acts of kindness. Every user is a player of the game. To play, you get a card with a mission on it. It'll be something like "buy someone a coffee." You complete the mission, and then when you're done, you hand the card off to the next person. Each card has a tracking number that tracks geolocation, time, date, and a story that goes with it. Basically, you get to see how far your random acts of kindness go." How awesome is that? Thanks, Jack!
8. Bon Iver for blessing my ipod this morning and making music so beautiful it makes my heart break. I got to see them (him, but technically a them) at Outside Lands this summer, and after a year of listening to 'Skinny Love' digitally, it was fantastic to finally hear them perform live.
9. Angela for keeping me entertained with her ever-changed g-chat status messages that force me to ask questions and get glimpses of her life 3000 miles away.
10. Excalibur Thanks to them I can now make flax crackers, raw quiches, crusts, and breads. I'm in heaven now!
11. Elsewhere for creating such an amazing opportunity. I hope to apply for sometime next year, when I've had more time to think of what sort of project to do there. I imagine it will have something to do with my childhood, as the space somehow reminds me of playing in my old basement in the Ocean Avenue house. It's such a unique space and there are so many options!
12. Virgin America for allowing Wes to make his first trip to the West Coast in comfort and style. So exciting!
13. Raw For 30 Days for giving people a chance to reverse their diabetes and giving them hope and support to heal themselves naturally. I finally got to watch the whole documentary, and it was really inspiring. Especially the guy Kirt, who decided he wants to become a naturopath. I know he is going to make a difference in people's lives. And Pam - her energy was great! I don't think it will be enough to convince my dad, but one never knows until they try so I think I'll try to get my hands on a copy to send to my parents.
14. The African Outlet My friend Horgan runs this fantastic shop around the corner from my house, and they bring such life to our neighborhood. There's always a party outside! Lots of great music, drumming, dancing, and the smell of sage and incense wafting down the block. It's part of what I love coming home to. And the store itself is an anomaly, I'm always amazed at how they can possibly fit that much stuff into such a small space! Horgan's energy is really amazing too - he's a great person to sit and talk to.
15. Fennel It grows wild in SF, so I get whiffs of it walking around the city. And oh, the taste! In salads with lemon, garlic and olive oil, or in a tart, or with cilantro yogurt sauce. Mmmmm, fennel.
16. Stuff White People Like for always making me laugh my ass off.
17. Arlene because she makes sure that I laugh at least once a day. She's one of the most giving, open-hearted, creative people I know and I am better for having known her. And talking to her about her relationship dysfunctions helps me better understand my own relationship dysfunctions which is helpful with eliminating patterns. She's also awesome because I got to play banana thief at work for an entire day, where I got to write ransom notes and plot diversionary tactics, which was way better than actually working.
18. Noma Shoyu because giving up soy sauce would have been hard.
19. Sunshine at noon no matter how grey it is in the mornings sometimes, by noon, the sun is almost always bright and shining. The weather is unpredictably predictable.
20. Herbivore for adding a few raw items to their already delicious menu. I hope the visiting Portlanders enjoy their lunch.
21. Fark no explanation necessary.
2. Bonfires Thanks to Burners Without Borders, several Black Rock artists, the Surfrider Foundation and a few other groups bound together, the fire pits (check the designs) at Ocean Beach were installed last year and we've been enjoying them ever since. The mixture of open heat and crackling logs and cool, fresh, ocean air is fantastic.
3. Stephanie sometimes she's not entirely aware of how truly amazing she is, and forgets that she's going to be extraordinary, because there simply is no other option in the plan. I like that we can help each other through the work madness just by talking daily. She's been an immense help in making my days here brighter.
4. Sprouting My kitchen is covered - I've got a colander full of chickpeas sprouting in one corner, and another full of mung beans, and I just love the whole process of watching life burst forth from within these tiny little pods. Enzymes are incredible. It's magical, and the living foods transfer their life force energy on to me which feels fantastic.
5. Caitanya because having friendships so full of trust, honesty, growth, change last this many years is a rare and beautiful thing to be cherished. This girl has no idea how important she is, and I am truly blessed to have her in my life. She forces me to look inside myself and seek out the changes I need, and I always feel I can openly speak my mind and she never judges and I always feel supported, even when I'm making decisions most people don't agree with. We've been through so many things from the old school jungle Spanish Harlem David bowie days in the late 90s in NYC to our present nature loving, hiking, spiritually seeking, weekend adventure, couchsurfing SF worlds. It's great when things come together that way.
6. Kale magical greens.
7. Akoha Jack is holding onto a mission card for me cuz I'm so excited to play! I'm going to borrow his words to describe it: "Akoha is basically a social reality game that encourages random acts of kindness. Every user is a player of the game. To play, you get a card with a mission on it. It'll be something like "buy someone a coffee." You complete the mission, and then when you're done, you hand the card off to the next person. Each card has a tracking number that tracks geolocation, time, date, and a story that goes with it. Basically, you get to see how far your random acts of kindness go." How awesome is that? Thanks, Jack!
8. Bon Iver for blessing my ipod this morning and making music so beautiful it makes my heart break. I got to see them (him, but technically a them) at Outside Lands this summer, and after a year of listening to 'Skinny Love' digitally, it was fantastic to finally hear them perform live.
9. Angela for keeping me entertained with her ever-changed g-chat status messages that force me to ask questions and get glimpses of her life 3000 miles away.
10. Excalibur Thanks to them I can now make flax crackers, raw quiches, crusts, and breads. I'm in heaven now!
11. Elsewhere for creating such an amazing opportunity. I hope to apply for sometime next year, when I've had more time to think of what sort of project to do there. I imagine it will have something to do with my childhood, as the space somehow reminds me of playing in my old basement in the Ocean Avenue house. It's such a unique space and there are so many options!
12. Virgin America for allowing Wes to make his first trip to the West Coast in comfort and style. So exciting!
13. Raw For 30 Days for giving people a chance to reverse their diabetes and giving them hope and support to heal themselves naturally. I finally got to watch the whole documentary, and it was really inspiring. Especially the guy Kirt, who decided he wants to become a naturopath. I know he is going to make a difference in people's lives. And Pam - her energy was great! I don't think it will be enough to convince my dad, but one never knows until they try so I think I'll try to get my hands on a copy to send to my parents.
14. The African Outlet My friend Horgan runs this fantastic shop around the corner from my house, and they bring such life to our neighborhood. There's always a party outside! Lots of great music, drumming, dancing, and the smell of sage and incense wafting down the block. It's part of what I love coming home to. And the store itself is an anomaly, I'm always amazed at how they can possibly fit that much stuff into such a small space! Horgan's energy is really amazing too - he's a great person to sit and talk to.
15. Fennel It grows wild in SF, so I get whiffs of it walking around the city. And oh, the taste! In salads with lemon, garlic and olive oil, or in a tart, or with cilantro yogurt sauce. Mmmmm, fennel.
16. Stuff White People Like for always making me laugh my ass off.
17. Arlene because she makes sure that I laugh at least once a day. She's one of the most giving, open-hearted, creative people I know and I am better for having known her. And talking to her about her relationship dysfunctions helps me better understand my own relationship dysfunctions which is helpful with eliminating patterns. She's also awesome because I got to play banana thief at work for an entire day, where I got to write ransom notes and plot diversionary tactics, which was way better than actually working.
18. Noma Shoyu because giving up soy sauce would have been hard.
19. Sunshine at noon no matter how grey it is in the mornings sometimes, by noon, the sun is almost always bright and shining. The weather is unpredictably predictable.
20. Herbivore for adding a few raw items to their already delicious menu. I hope the visiting Portlanders enjoy their lunch.
21. Fark no explanation necessary.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
day 3...
1. Weekend Sherpa For sending me the dopest hikes, weekend escapes, and adventures in the bay area every single week. This site (and their newsletter) have given me access to so many wonderful experiences.
2. Talent with Words Because speaking my mind to in that letter to my angry, ego-centered boss made me feel so good and happy. I'm going to keep fighting for what is right until it's time to quit and move on.
3. Almond Law Suits and the Cornucopia Institute for fighting the bigger battles.
4. Thuc For daily stimulation, great inspiring conversations, and laughter via g-chat. She's always working on these funny little projects like ask a weasel to make people smile while working on the deeper political issues as well.
5. Emily For being part of the universe's master plan. I was thinking about helping others with healing and raw food transitions, and then her inquiry fell into my lap a few short hours later. And she is truly wonderful to work with. What a great opportunity!
6. Activate World News Filtered by Flavorpill gathers all the news I'd be reading eventually throughout the week and puts it all in one clever email with loads of links, photos and simplicity! I cannot even explain how much time this one saves me, while still allowing me to know what's going on all over the world. I used to spend HOURS every day reading the news before this, and still ended up knowing just as much.
7. Headphones My daily walks home just wouldn't be the same without them. Nor would bus rides, long flights, train rides or anything else that requires waiting.
8. California Produce I am soooo blessed to have a longer span of time in which to get so many fresh, delicious things to eat. Our climate allows for a lot of diversity in luscious organic crops, and even during the winter, I can eat like a queen.
9. The Living Light Institute How is it possible that a place like this even exists? I'm going to begin my nutrition certification next month. Yay!
10. Biomimicry cuz nature is wisdom.
11. Marina Abramovic One of the most amazing and inspiring Serbian artists! Her little girls with guns photo is printed out and hanging by my desk, like a little group of guardians protecting me while I watch over them. Every time my boss drives me insane, I look at this image and it makes me smile and want to make the world better. She also sold her house to establish an art foundation on the Hudson, and if that's not generosity, than I don't know what is.
12. Elyssa For taking the time to try and make her wedding as green and sustainable as possible. Each and every person that tries to do a little individually adds up into a very large difference.
13. My other boss For being nice to me, and for just being such a character. He gives me a million things to laugh at every day just by being who he is.
14. My dream last night It was really comforting, inspiring and mysterious. lately, I keep having dreams with faceless figures in them.
15. Daniel Pinchbeck For writing "2012" and putting together all the different thoughts and theories into one place. I wanted a book that did this before it even existed, so finally finding it was extra special.
16. Basil The smell of it freshly chopped permeates any room.
17. Today Because I lived in NYC on this day in 2001 and we all went through a lot. It's also my parents 40th anniversary today, and in 40 years they have gone through a lot too.
18. Purified Water The water at work is super filtered clean and tastes amazing.
19. Flannel Sheets They just feel so great on my skin. I like rubbing my feet against them when the wind blows in and I've just hit the snooze button.
20. Clean Air Public Transportation SF's bus system runs on electric cables, so it's not using tons of oil and spewing nasty chemicals out into the air. Even though I'd rather ride a bike, I still love this!
21. Grey Mornings Though I generally am a bigger fan of sunshiney mornings, the greyness when I woke up today was quite nice. It has a romantic, mysterious, melancholy feel to it that sometimes just feels so nice.
2. Talent with Words Because speaking my mind to in that letter to my angry, ego-centered boss made me feel so good and happy. I'm going to keep fighting for what is right until it's time to quit and move on.
3. Almond Law Suits and the Cornucopia Institute for fighting the bigger battles.
4. Thuc For daily stimulation, great inspiring conversations, and laughter via g-chat. She's always working on these funny little projects like ask a weasel to make people smile while working on the deeper political issues as well.
5. Emily For being part of the universe's master plan. I was thinking about helping others with healing and raw food transitions, and then her inquiry fell into my lap a few short hours later. And she is truly wonderful to work with. What a great opportunity!
6. Activate World News Filtered by Flavorpill gathers all the news I'd be reading eventually throughout the week and puts it all in one clever email with loads of links, photos and simplicity! I cannot even explain how much time this one saves me, while still allowing me to know what's going on all over the world. I used to spend HOURS every day reading the news before this, and still ended up knowing just as much.
7. Headphones My daily walks home just wouldn't be the same without them. Nor would bus rides, long flights, train rides or anything else that requires waiting.
8. California Produce I am soooo blessed to have a longer span of time in which to get so many fresh, delicious things to eat. Our climate allows for a lot of diversity in luscious organic crops, and even during the winter, I can eat like a queen.
9. The Living Light Institute How is it possible that a place like this even exists? I'm going to begin my nutrition certification next month. Yay!
10. Biomimicry cuz nature is wisdom.
11. Marina Abramovic One of the most amazing and inspiring Serbian artists! Her little girls with guns photo is printed out and hanging by my desk, like a little group of guardians protecting me while I watch over them. Every time my boss drives me insane, I look at this image and it makes me smile and want to make the world better. She also sold her house to establish an art foundation on the Hudson, and if that's not generosity, than I don't know what is.
12. Elyssa For taking the time to try and make her wedding as green and sustainable as possible. Each and every person that tries to do a little individually adds up into a very large difference.
13. My other boss For being nice to me, and for just being such a character. He gives me a million things to laugh at every day just by being who he is.
14. My dream last night It was really comforting, inspiring and mysterious. lately, I keep having dreams with faceless figures in them.
15. Daniel Pinchbeck For writing "2012" and putting together all the different thoughts and theories into one place. I wanted a book that did this before it even existed, so finally finding it was extra special.
16. Basil The smell of it freshly chopped permeates any room.
17. Today Because I lived in NYC on this day in 2001 and we all went through a lot. It's also my parents 40th anniversary today, and in 40 years they have gone through a lot too.
18. Purified Water The water at work is super filtered clean and tastes amazing.
19. Flannel Sheets They just feel so great on my skin. I like rubbing my feet against them when the wind blows in and I've just hit the snooze button.
20. Clean Air Public Transportation SF's bus system runs on electric cables, so it's not using tons of oil and spewing nasty chemicals out into the air. Even though I'd rather ride a bike, I still love this!
21. Grey Mornings Though I generally am a bigger fan of sunshiney mornings, the greyness when I woke up today was quite nice. It has a romantic, mysterious, melancholy feel to it that sometimes just feels so nice.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
day two...
perhaps in a few days i'll also start posting things i'd like to place my intentions on, to help manifest, but for now, just the 21...
1. Intuition perhaps the greatest gift of them all. I know when I'm struggling with making a decision and something just doesn't feel right that as soon as I decide to not proceed with that plan, I feel much better and know it was the right thing to do. As I get older and healthier, it becomes much easier to listen to this inner voice and ignore the people that tell me otherwise.
2. A Steady Job even though it is not the one I want, it is the one I need for now to get me on to the next place and knowing I'm on the right path makes it easier to continue doing something I don't love because it's leading to something I do love.
3. Rainbow Grocery my local co-op has it all!
4. Figs by far, one of my favorite things to eat. sometimes with rasperry agave syrup and freshly sliced mint, sometimes in a cashew honey smoothie, but often just plain and slice in half so i can see the beauty of their perfect design.
5. Dinner with Tanya, Regs & Zack exactly what I needed to feel comfort and nourishment last night.
6. Indian Summers Now that it's been a few years and I've gone through the cycles more than once, I think I've finally adjusted to the seasons here and the fact that summer generally begins at the end of August and goes til October.
7. Sleeping with Open Windows I'm always grateful when it's warm enough to sleep with the windows open. I always feel best in the morning when I've slept breathing fresh air, and it's found its way in through my skin.
8. Shoes with Zippers shoe laces are just so over-rated.
9. The Sun it gives me so much energy and makes me feel so good. Radiant, really.
10. Tracie for being such an amazingly thorough and smart project manager and sparing me lots of headaches. It makes my job so much easier to work with people who are pro-active.
11. Layne for holding our entire office together every single day. I don't know how he finds the strength to deal with all the crap that he has to manage, and it's a definite inspiration.
12. Denim without which I might be naked every day. Not that I would mind, but you know...there are laws and whatnot.
13. Burt's Bees Tomato Complexion Soap the earthy smell of it is intoxicating.
14. Skin it's our largest organ, and I do my best to not pollute it with chemicals, lotions, perfumes, etc and in return I get rewarded with it staying super soft and smooth.
15. The SFBC for which I am extremely honoured to be involved with. They're a first rate organization, dedicated to making the world a better place by making it safer for the greatest invention of all time, and every time I volunteer with them I meet the most amazing people. Plus Kate, Lisa Ruth, Kash and the folks that make it all happen are such inspriring folks to talk to, and being able to spend time with people who believe so passionately in changing the world is a serious blessing.
16. Unsavory Looking Peaches I just love peaches soooo much so I usually opt for tons of them as often as possible during the season, but since the locally grown ones haven't been looking so great this last week, I've been eating nectarines every day and if not for the lack of good peaches this last week I might not have been forced to realize how delicious nectarines really are.
17. Macs every single day that I am stuck working on a PC at work just makes me love my Apple at home even more.
18. Wataya her advice on putting together retreats is going to come in very handy for the trips Tanya and I are planning. Her energy is wonderful, and talking to her about how much I love anasura and why (she's an instructor) re-affirmed to me that I really need to get back to my practice very soon.
19. The anticipation of Jill's visit it's been like 2.5 years since I've seen her, and since she moved to Portland last winter, we've been trying to find time in our schedules that works for both of us. I'm super excited to see her and will be thankful for her visit when it's actually here, but right now that anticipation of seeing a friend is so nice.
20. Dying orchids i really like saving things and bringing them back to live. Nourishment is so important for them and me.
21. David Wolfe and Nick Good for writing the following beautiful words which I have been nodding my head to the past few days:
"...the forces of nature are never in balance - the yin-yang symbol is incorrect - overall constructive forces must predominate in the universe or nothing could exist."
1. Intuition perhaps the greatest gift of them all. I know when I'm struggling with making a decision and something just doesn't feel right that as soon as I decide to not proceed with that plan, I feel much better and know it was the right thing to do. As I get older and healthier, it becomes much easier to listen to this inner voice and ignore the people that tell me otherwise.
2. A Steady Job even though it is not the one I want, it is the one I need for now to get me on to the next place and knowing I'm on the right path makes it easier to continue doing something I don't love because it's leading to something I do love.
3. Rainbow Grocery my local co-op has it all!
4. Figs by far, one of my favorite things to eat. sometimes with rasperry agave syrup and freshly sliced mint, sometimes in a cashew honey smoothie, but often just plain and slice in half so i can see the beauty of their perfect design.
5. Dinner with Tanya, Regs & Zack exactly what I needed to feel comfort and nourishment last night.
6. Indian Summers Now that it's been a few years and I've gone through the cycles more than once, I think I've finally adjusted to the seasons here and the fact that summer generally begins at the end of August and goes til October.
7. Sleeping with Open Windows I'm always grateful when it's warm enough to sleep with the windows open. I always feel best in the morning when I've slept breathing fresh air, and it's found its way in through my skin.
8. Shoes with Zippers shoe laces are just so over-rated.
9. The Sun it gives me so much energy and makes me feel so good. Radiant, really.
10. Tracie for being such an amazingly thorough and smart project manager and sparing me lots of headaches. It makes my job so much easier to work with people who are pro-active.
11. Layne for holding our entire office together every single day. I don't know how he finds the strength to deal with all the crap that he has to manage, and it's a definite inspiration.
12. Denim without which I might be naked every day. Not that I would mind, but you know...there are laws and whatnot.
13. Burt's Bees Tomato Complexion Soap the earthy smell of it is intoxicating.
14. Skin it's our largest organ, and I do my best to not pollute it with chemicals, lotions, perfumes, etc and in return I get rewarded with it staying super soft and smooth.
15. The SFBC for which I am extremely honoured to be involved with. They're a first rate organization, dedicated to making the world a better place by making it safer for the greatest invention of all time, and every time I volunteer with them I meet the most amazing people. Plus Kate, Lisa Ruth, Kash and the folks that make it all happen are such inspriring folks to talk to, and being able to spend time with people who believe so passionately in changing the world is a serious blessing.
16. Unsavory Looking Peaches I just love peaches soooo much so I usually opt for tons of them as often as possible during the season, but since the locally grown ones haven't been looking so great this last week, I've been eating nectarines every day and if not for the lack of good peaches this last week I might not have been forced to realize how delicious nectarines really are.
17. Macs every single day that I am stuck working on a PC at work just makes me love my Apple at home even more.
18. Wataya her advice on putting together retreats is going to come in very handy for the trips Tanya and I are planning. Her energy is wonderful, and talking to her about how much I love anasura and why (she's an instructor) re-affirmed to me that I really need to get back to my practice very soon.
19. The anticipation of Jill's visit it's been like 2.5 years since I've seen her, and since she moved to Portland last winter, we've been trying to find time in our schedules that works for both of us. I'm super excited to see her and will be thankful for her visit when it's actually here, but right now that anticipation of seeing a friend is so nice.
20. Dying orchids i really like saving things and bringing them back to live. Nourishment is so important for them and me.
21. David Wolfe and Nick Good for writing the following beautiful words which I have been nodding my head to the past few days:
"...the forces of nature are never in balance - the yin-yang symbol is incorrect - overall constructive forces must predominate in the universe or nothing could exist."
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
the beginning...
There are soooo many things to be thankful for each day, but sometimes the mind gets clouded and we spend more time and energy on things that don't really matter. My intention is to cultivate a deeper awareness of even more of these little things and events I appreciate, and allow the proper time for giving thanks to their existence, instead of the usual small acknowledgements. Sometimes these things will be serious, sometimes they will be extremely silly, sometimes they will not make sense to anyone but me, sometimes they will have details, and sometimes just a few words, but I think we need all these different kinds of things and experiences to be whole, not just one kind.
I hope that you will all share some of your blessings with me in the comment section. You can remain anonymous if you wish.
1. My Family I'm thankful to have chosen the parents I have, for the opportunities for learning and growth that they each present in my life, and my sister for the sharing of different perspectives. I am also extremely grateful to have a large wealth of cousins, uncles and aunts, who though sometimes far away in ways beyond just distance, show me the value of history and connections when things come together.
2. Cacao How on earth would I have ever been able to go raw without this beautiful superfood? Chocolate has always made me feel good, and knowing I can make a multitude of mousses, nutmilk ice creams, sauces, smoothies and even just a handful of nibs to munch on has made my transition oh so amazing.
3. Melissa G For helping me to remember to trust the universe and all its gifts when I was broken and had battle scars too deep into my heart from the broken trust of people who were supposed to help me in the past, but did not have the resources available to really provide the help I needed. And for introducing me to Lauri.
4. Lauri For always calling me on my shit, especially when I need it most. For saying the truths I already know inside out loud, so that I can't deny them and can bring an end to patterns and "rewire my nervous system" as Melissa says.
5. Briksha For inspiring this blog to exist in the first place by telling me about the 21 blessings one of his mandala yoga groups does.
6. San Francisco I give thanks to living here daily, out loud, in emails, and in thought a million times a day, so let's make it blog-official.
7. Hazelnut Milk Why drink milk from a cow when you can have this? Seriously! Yum.
8. Gmail Without which I might never find any of my emails, references, research, articles, and without which I might not be able to organize events so well.
9. Heirloom tomatoes A million different ways to make them, yet I still prefer them with fresh basil & olive oil.
10. Blogger For giving me an easy way to try to hold onto this discipline and share it with others.
11. Netflix Do I really need to explain this one?
12. Chai More spice in my life.
13. Charles & Ray Eames The kind of relationship I hope to someday have.
14. The rooftop garden at work For providing me with seclusion and sunshine so I can spend my lunch breaks reading in quiet.
15. Lavender One of my favorite smells.
16. Hayes Valley For being the most perfect neighborhood for me to dwell.
17. Working only 2.5 miles from home So I can walk home every day instead of being yet another one of the sardines stuffed into tin cans during rush hour.
18. Compost Bins For allowing me to reduce the amount of waste I put out into the landfill, and for making it possible to only take my trash out once a month.
19. For a lighter workload Only one of my bosses has been here at a time for the last 3-4 weeks, making life a lot less stressful and more focused and free.
20. That little request on Goodreads Because even though nothing was said, perhaps it means things will be ok between us in the future if we take the steps to make it right.
21. Amanda Even though we had to let go and go our separate ways, I still think about you all the time, and our friendship has had one of the most meaningful impacts on my life throughout the ages. Your beauty, search for knowledge of self, and creation of life as you want it to be have always been, and always will be an inspiration even when you're not in my life.
I hope that you will all share some of your blessings with me in the comment section. You can remain anonymous if you wish.
1. My Family I'm thankful to have chosen the parents I have, for the opportunities for learning and growth that they each present in my life, and my sister for the sharing of different perspectives. I am also extremely grateful to have a large wealth of cousins, uncles and aunts, who though sometimes far away in ways beyond just distance, show me the value of history and connections when things come together.
2. Cacao How on earth would I have ever been able to go raw without this beautiful superfood? Chocolate has always made me feel good, and knowing I can make a multitude of mousses, nutmilk ice creams, sauces, smoothies and even just a handful of nibs to munch on has made my transition oh so amazing.
3. Melissa G For helping me to remember to trust the universe and all its gifts when I was broken and had battle scars too deep into my heart from the broken trust of people who were supposed to help me in the past, but did not have the resources available to really provide the help I needed. And for introducing me to Lauri.
4. Lauri For always calling me on my shit, especially when I need it most. For saying the truths I already know inside out loud, so that I can't deny them and can bring an end to patterns and "rewire my nervous system" as Melissa says.
5. Briksha For inspiring this blog to exist in the first place by telling me about the 21 blessings one of his mandala yoga groups does.
6. San Francisco I give thanks to living here daily, out loud, in emails, and in thought a million times a day, so let's make it blog-official.
7. Hazelnut Milk Why drink milk from a cow when you can have this? Seriously! Yum.
8. Gmail Without which I might never find any of my emails, references, research, articles, and without which I might not be able to organize events so well.
9. Heirloom tomatoes A million different ways to make them, yet I still prefer them with fresh basil & olive oil.
10. Blogger For giving me an easy way to try to hold onto this discipline and share it with others.
11. Netflix Do I really need to explain this one?
12. Chai More spice in my life.
13. Charles & Ray Eames The kind of relationship I hope to someday have.
14. The rooftop garden at work For providing me with seclusion and sunshine so I can spend my lunch breaks reading in quiet.
15. Lavender One of my favorite smells.
16. Hayes Valley For being the most perfect neighborhood for me to dwell.
17. Working only 2.5 miles from home So I can walk home every day instead of being yet another one of the sardines stuffed into tin cans during rush hour.
18. Compost Bins For allowing me to reduce the amount of waste I put out into the landfill, and for making it possible to only take my trash out once a month.
19. For a lighter workload Only one of my bosses has been here at a time for the last 3-4 weeks, making life a lot less stressful and more focused and free.
20. That little request on Goodreads Because even though nothing was said, perhaps it means things will be ok between us in the future if we take the steps to make it right.
21. Amanda Even though we had to let go and go our separate ways, I still think about you all the time, and our friendship has had one of the most meaningful impacts on my life throughout the ages. Your beauty, search for knowledge of self, and creation of life as you want it to be have always been, and always will be an inspiration even when you're not in my life.
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