deset dana....

1. Purslane is amazing. I'm still buzzing from the salad I had last night for dinner. It's funny that it's considered a weed in the United States, when in reality wild edibles are chock full of nutrients. It's funny that people will pluck it from their garden and just throw it away instead of eating it. It contains more Omega-3s than any other leafy vegetable plant, loads of vitamins, and was also used in Greek medicine for its beneficial healing properties. I'd really like to sign up for a local wild edibles walk so I can learn more about foraging food and get beyond purslane and nettle.

2. Wild Blackberries. Since I'm talking about foraging...I have two favorite local spots where I like to pick and eat wild berries, each worth of their own spot on this list. There is nothing like the taste of a sun-kissed, freshly picked, super juicy blackberry melting in your mouth.

3. Lands End Labyrinth The trail near the Lands End Labyrinth in SF has some tasty berries, and the smell of fresh fennel mixed with ocean air is invigorating. The Labyrinth itself is an amazing place to catch a great view of the city, and do a little ritual if that's your thing.

4. Berkeley Bulb is one of the most magical places in the Bay Area - it's just pure expression. Also referred to as the Albany Bulb, this one-time dump, is now full of tons of crazy art made from trash and wood scraps. There are tons of brambles loaded with berries to take home, a really neat castle to have a picnic at, a bike graveyard, and last time I was there, I encountered a hermit who talks to God. I really wanted to talk to him, but was with a bunch of people and didn't want him to feel like a spectacle. I've heard that his shack and the library were burned to the ground, but have not seen it with my own eyes so I'm not sure. I hope not. The bulb is a very special place, not just to me, but to many in the Bay Area who cherish creativity and ingenuity.

5. Truth In Advertising. This lovely little video was snagged from my friend Brad's blog and he snagged it from Vimeo. I love the truth. It's a wonderful thing.


Gas Signs Truth in Advertising. from Donny Miller on Vimeo.

6. Bailout Truisms. My friend Jeff sent me this and I really wish every American could see it. Props to Marcy Kaptur.


7. Jenny Holzer. Since I'm talking about truth and truisms, it only makes sense that I give thanks to one of the greatest and most inspiring artists of all time, Jenny Holzer. She is someone I first learned about in college and I immediately devoured as much of her work as I could. Throughout the years, I've seen her work all over the globe, and I am always left inspired to live honestly, with integrity and to create work that hopefully will one day have has much of an impact as hers.

8. Liu Bolin. I saw some of his work in a group show of Chinese artists at Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery. I love the whole process of painting a person to camouflage them to fit in with their surroundings. Is it really any different what people do with clothing, makeup, cars and all these material things to try and fit into the commercial industrialized world? It makes me think of tribal people.

9. Madhu's updates make my inbox sparkle. I met Madhu last winter at the Pt. Reyes Hostel and we bonded over our addiction to travel, our love of photography, nature, and Indian music. And since she lived in SF, we became friends. She left a little while ago to go on another globe trekking adventure, and I really love receiving these email updates from all over the planet. Her most recent one is about Ladakh, which she describes as "a kind of beauty that forces you to hear your own silence." I love hearing what parts of themselves my friends uncover and nourish when they travel. It's so inspirational...Ladakh is now definitely on my list.

10. My boss traveling gives me 2 more days without stress and negativity. Hurray.

11. Miranda July is my hero. When I first saw 'Me, You and Everyone We Know' I was awestruck. It was such a poignant commentary on communication and love in today's society. Then I read some of her short stories, and saw some short films. Amazing. Then she wowed me with this project. Then she came out with a project called 'Learning To Love You More' which is a series of art projects that you do to learn to love yourself more. While that may sound sort of like a self-help book (which perhaps it is in some ways) it's really more about self-exploration. It's love through a deeper knowledge of the true self via creation, expression and experience. It turned into a book, and several museum exhibits around the world, and pretty soon people began starting their own blogs to show their progress of the assignments and it spread like wildfire. Oh, Miranda July and your interactive, participatory love, you truly are a blessing.

12. Cashews are amazing.

13. Free lunch at work, which means I can eat my own yummy salad for dinner or lunch tomorrow instead and save a few bucks.

14. Dr-Cow makes the best cashew cheese I have ever had in my entire life. I see they now make a cream cheese, though I haven't seen that at Rainbow yet.

15. Books in general. And my mom for getting me hooked on them as soon as I could read.

16. Budget Traveler's Guide To Sleeping in Airports is for those who are on a super tight budget and need to rest their weary heads between countries.

17. Yesterday I know it's important to stay in the present, but I want to give gratitude to yesterday, because I realized how much easier it is to write about all that I'm grateful for when I'm in a nicer, more comfortable environment like home. The day will come soon when I will be working from there more often, and can leave the office world behind, and yesterday was a glimpse at how wonderful it can be. I can't wait!

18. Banana dates. I picked up some of these fresh from the farmer's market. They were delicious! A weird sort of texture, and flavor, but I liked it. Until now, I'd only ever had dried dates. Raw is a whole different textural experience.

19. Carrot soap. I bought this new, super yummy smelling soap from Rainbow. It's pretty decadent.

20. Contact lenses. because I don't have to deal with glasses sliding down my nose and making my face sweat when it's hot out. Pretty amazing little things, those contacts.

21. Rose Quartz Oil from Sun's Eye is one of the best smells ever. I don't like perfume, so this is a nice natural scent to freshen things up a bit.