I wish I knew where this came from, because I like it.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
My Recipe for Happy
Spend time at the ocean, so you remember that you are small and wild
Spend time in the mountains, so that you remember that you are strong, and that life is short.
Spend time with people who truly love you, they will help you heal.
Avoid people who judge you.
Spend time with people who annoy you, you will learn patience and remember how to laugh
Create things, even if the seams are uneven, the paint is gloopy, and your instrument is not in tune.
Cook for yourself and others.
Hug people tight. A limp hug is as bad as a limp handshake.
Tell people what helps.
Cry, when you need to, but don't let it drown you.
Laugh when you feel like it, and laugh loud and hard.
Look people in the eyes, even if it is scary.
Tell people you love them, tell them you'll miss them when they are leaving.
Write love letters.
Indulge in quiet moments.
Indulge in loud moments.
Dance and sing, a lot.
Sleep outside.
Exercise.
Make time to read books.
Hang a hammock, and use it.
What is your recipe for happy?
Spend time in the mountains, so that you remember that you are strong, and that life is short.
Spend time with people who truly love you, they will help you heal.
Avoid people who judge you.
Spend time with people who annoy you, you will learn patience and remember how to laugh
Create things, even if the seams are uneven, the paint is gloopy, and your instrument is not in tune.
Cook for yourself and others.
Hug people tight. A limp hug is as bad as a limp handshake.
Tell people what helps.
Cry, when you need to, but don't let it drown you.
Laugh when you feel like it, and laugh loud and hard.
Look people in the eyes, even if it is scary.
Tell people you love them, tell them you'll miss them when they are leaving.
Write love letters.
Indulge in quiet moments.
Indulge in loud moments.
Dance and sing, a lot.
Sleep outside.
Exercise.
Make time to read books.
Hang a hammock, and use it.
What is your recipe for happy?
Saturday, August 20, 2011
No Plans, Only Ideas
Hold your body strong against these winds of life.
I had a rough morning. So the news is this: Tahoe called me back and said "Not this season...I don't think." The catch is that if someone drops out or doesn't come, or they need an extra hand around the place, there might be space for me. Fingers crossed, but conflict rages in my bones from not wanting my friend to have to stress about someone not showing up, and having my home back. Mostly, in truth, I want to go home. Neither of my parents think I should be here. I don't want to say goodbye, but I know I need to if I'm going to survive.
In the mean time I'm looking outward with my sights on other places. Point Reyes, Big Sur are both in my sights, a spot in Texas is on my radar, and two outdoor schools in Big Bear and Santa Barbara have programs I'm interested in, respectively. I've also put my name on the crew list for the Baja Ha Ha to get down to Mexico and stay mid peninsula January through March... There's piles of paper work to be filled and a severe lack of funds to make this happen, but I could call upon some magic.
I had a rough morning. So the news is this: Tahoe called me back and said "Not this season...I don't think." The catch is that if someone drops out or doesn't come, or they need an extra hand around the place, there might be space for me. Fingers crossed, but conflict rages in my bones from not wanting my friend to have to stress about someone not showing up, and having my home back. Mostly, in truth, I want to go home. Neither of my parents think I should be here. I don't want to say goodbye, but I know I need to if I'm going to survive.
In the mean time I'm looking outward with my sights on other places. Point Reyes, Big Sur are both in my sights, a spot in Texas is on my radar, and two outdoor schools in Big Bear and Santa Barbara have programs I'm interested in, respectively. I've also put my name on the crew list for the Baja Ha Ha to get down to Mexico and stay mid peninsula January through March... There's piles of paper work to be filled and a severe lack of funds to make this happen, but I could call upon some magic.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Food, I Miss You.
So I'm not usually a double poster, or at least I haven't been so far, but seeing as how my mouth hurts so bad that I've had nothing but ice cream, yogurt, and water the last two days, (after a painful attempt to chew some bread last night) I'm feeling pretty inspired by food. My stomach rumbles agreement.
First, a salad brought to my attention via faceybook: Spinach, walnuts, goat cheese, blue berries, honey, olive oil, and salt. Holy moly. Spinach, walnuts, goat cheese and strawberries, dressed with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and a crank or two of pepper is one of my personal favorite salads, so I'm eager to try this version with blue berries, and dressed with honey (one of my most favorite things in life is a good honey). My mouth is watering thinking about it, and it's not because of the hole in my gums from my removed tooth. (photo from Emily's Kitchen, where you can also find a recipe for this salad.)
Second, a cast iron skillet pizza. I've often wondered if this would work, and it turns out, Chicago style pizzas are made in cast iron pans. We have a pizzeria here in the Bay Area by the name of Zachary's (worker owned) which makes the most delicious and filling Chicago Style pizzas ever created on land. As their website says, over 150 awards have been given to them for their pizza. It's that good. Loads of Mozza and other toppings, topped with a tasty tomato sauce and a sprinkle of basil, really, it's heaven, if a little on the expensive side. But it's so worth it. (photo from Biggestmenu.com)
So, I've decided to have a dinner night for a couple of friends when my tooth is better, making a cast iron skillet pizza and this spinach salad. Who wants to be the lucky friends? (Sorry Vegans, I'm going for full on real cheese for this one.)
First, a salad brought to my attention via faceybook: Spinach, walnuts, goat cheese, blue berries, honey, olive oil, and salt. Holy moly. Spinach, walnuts, goat cheese and strawberries, dressed with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and a crank or two of pepper is one of my personal favorite salads, so I'm eager to try this version with blue berries, and dressed with honey (one of my most favorite things in life is a good honey). My mouth is watering thinking about it, and it's not because of the hole in my gums from my removed tooth. (photo from Emily's Kitchen, where you can also find a recipe for this salad.)
Second, a cast iron skillet pizza. I've often wondered if this would work, and it turns out, Chicago style pizzas are made in cast iron pans. We have a pizzeria here in the Bay Area by the name of Zachary's (worker owned) which makes the most delicious and filling Chicago Style pizzas ever created on land. As their website says, over 150 awards have been given to them for their pizza. It's that good. Loads of Mozza and other toppings, topped with a tasty tomato sauce and a sprinkle of basil, really, it's heaven, if a little on the expensive side. But it's so worth it. (photo from Biggestmenu.com)
So, I've decided to have a dinner night for a couple of friends when my tooth is better, making a cast iron skillet pizza and this spinach salad. Who wants to be the lucky friends? (Sorry Vegans, I'm going for full on real cheese for this one.)
On Being a Loud Creature
Someone told me a while back that when I sing loudly in social situations it bothers other people. This was not a nice thing to say, especially since I had revealed to this person that I'd been having panic attacks this year, and he knew I'd been having trouble working with music this year. I ended up deciding that generally, I don't think it's true and that I trust people to tell me to shut up if I'm making them unhappy with my music.
The other thing is that I've decided to own my loudness. It's a part of who I am, and something that came as a direct result of that loudness is Bike Party, and that is far more powerful than one person telling me I'm annoying for being too loud. I'm wicked proud of Bike Party, it has it's faults, but the east bay has not seen anything it's equal and it's changing this town. Critical Mass in Berkeley only ever reached a couple hundred people, and we had over 500 riders the last few months. It's something special and I am not sure it would have the same vibe if I wasn't obnoxiously outgoing and loud about it.
Now, this part of the blog has nothing to do really about being loud, but I want to post it anyways. About two months ago I had listened to some music by an artist by the name of Ben Howard, a surfer from the UK gone to music, along the lines of Jack Johnson, but with that perpetual UK foggy feel to his work. I didn't give it much thought, I think I liked it but didn't really explore it much more than listening to the one song. Today there's a video going around of Danny Macaskill riding around an abandoned industrial complex:
He uses Ben Howard's song, The Wolves, which is just lovely. So I wandered around YouTube watching the best of his videos, and needless to say, I'm kind of in love. Here, you listen. It's reminding me of Big Sur.
The other thing is that I've decided to own my loudness. It's a part of who I am, and something that came as a direct result of that loudness is Bike Party, and that is far more powerful than one person telling me I'm annoying for being too loud. I'm wicked proud of Bike Party, it has it's faults, but the east bay has not seen anything it's equal and it's changing this town. Critical Mass in Berkeley only ever reached a couple hundred people, and we had over 500 riders the last few months. It's something special and I am not sure it would have the same vibe if I wasn't obnoxiously outgoing and loud about it.
Now, this part of the blog has nothing to do really about being loud, but I want to post it anyways. About two months ago I had listened to some music by an artist by the name of Ben Howard, a surfer from the UK gone to music, along the lines of Jack Johnson, but with that perpetual UK foggy feel to his work. I didn't give it much thought, I think I liked it but didn't really explore it much more than listening to the one song. Today there's a video going around of Danny Macaskill riding around an abandoned industrial complex:
He uses Ben Howard's song, The Wolves, which is just lovely. So I wandered around YouTube watching the best of his videos, and needless to say, I'm kind of in love. Here, you listen. It's reminding me of Big Sur.
Friday, August 12, 2011
The Laughing Heart
By Charles Bukowski
your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.
Tom Waits reading it:
your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.
Tom Waits reading it:
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