oh beautiful saturday.
farmer's market in the morning. swiss chard, broccoli and an amazing organic greens mix of red & white kale, mustard greens and tatsoi. fresh warm cinnamon donuts with mint leaf ice tea. mmmmmmm.
followed by salvation army. found some good summer garments for tashi: several cute old navy tops and a red dress made of a kitschy guitar and flower hawaiin print fabric. also found a great vintage set of dishes. i think i'll start a plate collection. so many hip patterns.
in the afternoon we took tashi to a rollerskating birthday party. while she was circling around to disco music dan and i took a loop drive from afton to batesville and back. butterflies, brooks, big trees, beautiful homes.
after picking tashi up we drove by the evan almighty film set in crozet. they've built a big wooden ark. today was a day off for the crew, but if we drive by on a weekday we may see live elephants and giraffes.
on the way home we scored a free table sitting on the side of the road. it's kinda vintage, and needs painting, but will be very useful as a sewing table. has a great drawer with compartments, perfect for spools of thread, buttons and other doo-dads. that will free up my other table for collaging. three cheers for more surface space.
and now a dinner of sauteed tofu and greens. followed by a bike ride. that's the plan.
notes from my twilight realm
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
am/pm
the morning came too soon, after insomnia. cat luna was scratching at the window and cat loki was meowling at the door. both desired a romp outside at 5am.
the day was spent at an "office technology conference." i thought it was going to be hideously boring, but actually i learned lots of tricks and gained a more in depth perspective of the tools at hand in my new workplace. i even made it through all five sessions on one latte.
the evening was boca burgers, kale and homefries. finishing "the horse and his boy" on the hammock with dan and tashi. watching hawks swoop and trees sway. trimming my daughter's dirty toe-nails.
now i am sitting at dan's computer, because mine is an ancient mess of an apple. dan is jamming via skype with his brother in denver, his other brother in portland, and two of his friends in milwaukee. every thursday they rehearse like this for a gig they have planned for portland in july. it's a technological wonder to behold.
so rather than sitting smack in the middle of it, i think i'll curl up in bed with the cats and my book and hope for a full night's rest.
the day was spent at an "office technology conference." i thought it was going to be hideously boring, but actually i learned lots of tricks and gained a more in depth perspective of the tools at hand in my new workplace. i even made it through all five sessions on one latte.
the evening was boca burgers, kale and homefries. finishing "the horse and his boy" on the hammock with dan and tashi. watching hawks swoop and trees sway. trimming my daughter's dirty toe-nails.
now i am sitting at dan's computer, because mine is an ancient mess of an apple. dan is jamming via skype with his brother in denver, his other brother in portland, and two of his friends in milwaukee. every thursday they rehearse like this for a gig they have planned for portland in july. it's a technological wonder to behold.
so rather than sitting smack in the middle of it, i think i'll curl up in bed with the cats and my book and hope for a full night's rest.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Thetis
"Eyes with with tears,
he spoke, and her ladyship his mother heard him
in green deeps where she lolled near her old father.
Gliding she rose and broke like mist from the inshore
grey sea face, to sit down softly before him,
her son in tears; and fondling him she said:
'Child, why do you weep? What grief is this?
Out with it, tell me, both of us should know.'"
(from Homer's The Iliad, translated by Robert Fitzgerald)
Her father was Nereus, considered an ancient sea god, son of Pontos and Gaea, who obtained a position under Poseidon and had the power of prophecy. Doris and Nereus had offspring of fifty, or perhaps one hundred, daughters, called the Nereides or Dorides, of whom Thetis was one of the most famous, at one time desired in betrothal by Zeus. Zeus was warned by Themis that such a union would produce a son who would surpass Zeus in might, so he withdrew from his engagment and Thetis the sea-goddess was given in marriage to Peleus, a young and pious prince of Phthia, in Thessaly. Together they bore the son, Achilles.
"Thetis
had kept in mind her mission for her son,
and rising like a dawn mist from the sea
into a cloud she soared aloft in heaven
to high Olympos. Zeus with massive brows
she found apart, on the chief crest enthroned,
and slipping down before him, her left hand
placed on his knees and her right hand held up
to cup his chin, she made her pleas to him:
'O father Zeus, if ever amid immortals
by word or deed I served you, grant my wish
and see to my son's honor! Doom for him
of all men came on quickest. . .'"
(from The Iliad, as above)
he spoke, and her ladyship his mother heard him
in green deeps where she lolled near her old father.
Gliding she rose and broke like mist from the inshore
grey sea face, to sit down softly before him,
her son in tears; and fondling him she said:
'Child, why do you weep? What grief is this?
Out with it, tell me, both of us should know.'"
(from Homer's The Iliad, translated by Robert Fitzgerald)
Her father was Nereus, considered an ancient sea god, son of Pontos and Gaea, who obtained a position under Poseidon and had the power of prophecy. Doris and Nereus had offspring of fifty, or perhaps one hundred, daughters, called the Nereides or Dorides, of whom Thetis was one of the most famous, at one time desired in betrothal by Zeus. Zeus was warned by Themis that such a union would produce a son who would surpass Zeus in might, so he withdrew from his engagment and Thetis the sea-goddess was given in marriage to Peleus, a young and pious prince of Phthia, in Thessaly. Together they bore the son, Achilles.
"Thetis
had kept in mind her mission for her son,
and rising like a dawn mist from the sea
into a cloud she soared aloft in heaven
to high Olympos. Zeus with massive brows
she found apart, on the chief crest enthroned,
and slipping down before him, her left hand
placed on his knees and her right hand held up
to cup his chin, she made her pleas to him:
'O father Zeus, if ever amid immortals
by word or deed I served you, grant my wish
and see to my son's honor! Doom for him
of all men came on quickest. . .'"
(from The Iliad, as above)
mythology in the morning
this morning i awoke at 4:30 am because of cat noise and the moon shining through a window and hitting in me in the eyes. i decided to rise and take advantage of a couple more hours added to my day, though i know i am going to suffer for it come afternoon.
i am attempting to read the iliad and thought it might be a good exercise to talk about the characters in here. perhaps it will urge me on. i've read the odyssey a few times and love it, but i tend to get trampled in the battles of the iliad.
this morning we will begin with a meditation on Thetis.
i am attempting to read the iliad and thought it might be a good exercise to talk about the characters in here. perhaps it will urge me on. i've read the odyssey a few times and love it, but i tend to get trampled in the battles of the iliad.
this morning we will begin with a meditation on Thetis.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
happy mother's day!
may you all get extra hugs, kisses, sweet nothings, flowers, restful moments and maybe even breakfast in bed!
Saturday, May 13, 2006
this week in review
1) our isuzu trooper with over 225,000 miles failed inspection because of a crack in the windshield and a few other details which will cost us way more than we are willing to pay. we've had this vehicle for six years with a crack in the windshield. it moved us from california to michigan where it endured four harsh winters and then moved us from michigan to charlottesville where it may finally be put out of its misery. i've been in denial since day one that it falls into the suv catagory. but indeed it does. politically incorrect or not, it's been a good friend.
2) i took tashi to see the movie hoot. her ranger rick magazine hyped it and she'd been counting the days until it hit the screen. it was very much a kid movie, not very realistic and just plain dumb in parts. but i can't complain too much about a movie that might make kids think protecting the environment is cool as well as making them more aware of corrupt corporate decision makers.
3) the african violet in my office at work opened up two of its red blossoms.
4) i had a great lunch at the new noodle bar behind the satellite ballroom. dan and i shared a california roll, and then i had a delicious soup of soba noodles, shitake mushrooms, bok choy and ginger while dan had a delightful curry. we give it four thumbs up.
5) on thursday tashi got her hearing aids. somehow it doesn't feel right lumping this in with all the rest, but i was too exhausted that night to give it an entry of its own. we discovered a year ago that our daughter has a mild hearing loss that is probably not progressive and is probably genetic. the recommendation all along has been hearing aids, though we took our time examining the situation. after a second opinion confirmed that she does indeed have a hearing loss significant enough to warrant hearing aids, we took her in and let her pick them out. she ordered a lovely violet colored set with earmolds that have sparkles. i felt a range of emotions when the audiologist fit the hearing aids into tashi's ears and we all tested her new soundscape. tashi has never had a single doubt or concern about having to wear hearing aids. but as her mom i wonder about so many things, how these will improve her life in so many ways, and how they might affect her life in others. the expression of relief that registered on her face when those hearing aids were finally on her ears confirmed that we were making the right choice. the first thing tashi noticed was the whirring sound of the fan in the clinic. the fresh sonic clarity of her world comes to us in bits and pieces, when she starts because of a click or a thump, or she tests her own voice by repeating the same word or phrase in various tones over and over and over and -- did i say over?-- again, and when she notices birdsong or turning signal or cat bell or miscellaneous clatter. it's an amazing new dimension for all of us.
6) last night dan and i watched a very good somewhat disturbing movie called, "disco pigs." it had cillian murphy in it, the star of "breakfast on pluto." we give it four thumbs up.
7) today we had fun at the festival of cultures in lee park. the afghani dancers were gorgeous and the show of burmese refugees was impressive. tashi participated in some fun crafts, we ate some good food and heard some decent music. it was beautiful and sunny with just the right amount of cool in the air.
8) when i came home there was a brand new bike in the living room. dan and tashi giggled and snorted as my shock registered. they bought me a beautiful new trek for mother's day! they couldn't wait until tomorrow, so they gave it to me today. this is just so amazing. both dan and tashi have awesome bikes and i've been the speed walker. but now i can share in the joy of petrol free tansportation on wheels. i am so warmed and grateful. thanks loves!
2) i took tashi to see the movie hoot. her ranger rick magazine hyped it and she'd been counting the days until it hit the screen. it was very much a kid movie, not very realistic and just plain dumb in parts. but i can't complain too much about a movie that might make kids think protecting the environment is cool as well as making them more aware of corrupt corporate decision makers.
3) the african violet in my office at work opened up two of its red blossoms.
4) i had a great lunch at the new noodle bar behind the satellite ballroom. dan and i shared a california roll, and then i had a delicious soup of soba noodles, shitake mushrooms, bok choy and ginger while dan had a delightful curry. we give it four thumbs up.
5) on thursday tashi got her hearing aids. somehow it doesn't feel right lumping this in with all the rest, but i was too exhausted that night to give it an entry of its own. we discovered a year ago that our daughter has a mild hearing loss that is probably not progressive and is probably genetic. the recommendation all along has been hearing aids, though we took our time examining the situation. after a second opinion confirmed that she does indeed have a hearing loss significant enough to warrant hearing aids, we took her in and let her pick them out. she ordered a lovely violet colored set with earmolds that have sparkles. i felt a range of emotions when the audiologist fit the hearing aids into tashi's ears and we all tested her new soundscape. tashi has never had a single doubt or concern about having to wear hearing aids. but as her mom i wonder about so many things, how these will improve her life in so many ways, and how they might affect her life in others. the expression of relief that registered on her face when those hearing aids were finally on her ears confirmed that we were making the right choice. the first thing tashi noticed was the whirring sound of the fan in the clinic. the fresh sonic clarity of her world comes to us in bits and pieces, when she starts because of a click or a thump, or she tests her own voice by repeating the same word or phrase in various tones over and over and over and -- did i say over?-- again, and when she notices birdsong or turning signal or cat bell or miscellaneous clatter. it's an amazing new dimension for all of us.
6) last night dan and i watched a very good somewhat disturbing movie called, "disco pigs." it had cillian murphy in it, the star of "breakfast on pluto." we give it four thumbs up.
7) today we had fun at the festival of cultures in lee park. the afghani dancers were gorgeous and the show of burmese refugees was impressive. tashi participated in some fun crafts, we ate some good food and heard some decent music. it was beautiful and sunny with just the right amount of cool in the air.
8) when i came home there was a brand new bike in the living room. dan and tashi giggled and snorted as my shock registered. they bought me a beautiful new trek for mother's day! they couldn't wait until tomorrow, so they gave it to me today. this is just so amazing. both dan and tashi have awesome bikes and i've been the speed walker. but now i can share in the joy of petrol free tansportation on wheels. i am so warmed and grateful. thanks loves!
Saturday, May 06, 2006
virginia plant sightings
the tulip poplar
one of the trees our new heavenly hammock is attached to is a tall tree that has been dropping these crazy green and orange flowers. i finally identified it by clicking through the various trees on an awesome identification page. it is a tulip poplar or a tulip tree or a yellow poplar or a liriodendron tulipifera. perhaps i should have known this already but, as much as i love them, i can't seem to keep all the trees straight.
the tulip poplar tree is one of the tallest north eastern hardwood trees (up to 120 feet). the leaves actually have the tulip flower shape for which the tree is named. the flowers are showy green and orange cups full of creamy stamens. apparently they are very popular with the honey bees.
the wood is not very strong on the trees and from what i've read they fall easily in strong winds. watch out house.
Friday, May 05, 2006
home town friday
i just love charlottesville on a friday.
first dan and tashi picked me up from work. it was pouring rain and i was completely on a stress bender. we decided to have dinner at the south street brew pub which has an absolutely amazing blackened catfish sandwich w/ fries for $8.95. it's the best damn deal in the place, don't doubt it. the beer is delightful also. i was sad to discover that as we were eating we were missing a free show of morwenna lasko and jay pun at the charlottesville pavilion fridays after five spectacular. i like to describe morwenna lasko as the jimi hendrix of violin.
but the good food and and beer made up for any sadness.
after dinner we booked down the swarming main street pedestrian mall toward the guano boys, the next act at the pavilion. on the way we saw the buford school steppers who were a bunch of kids doing some amazing synchronized moves and calls and clapping. i got all choked up watching them 'cuz i'm just that way. yay for kids gettin' it together in a world that is totally falling apart.
we had fun watching the guano boys, dancing a little, playing tag, seeing some familiar faces, and yes, drinking more beer. none of that budweiser crap either, just the real starr hill thang. sometimes i feel a little guilty drinking beer in front of my child, but there's something comforting about being in a crowd of many parents doing the same. disfunctional maybe. but frankly, i think hops rock.
the charlottesville pavilion warrants many complaints. it's ugly. the sound sucks. it keeps the surrounding neighbors up too late. the music is bad and good and really great and awful. but on a friday night, there's something just so fine about being able to see some good music with the family for free amongst lots of folks with familiar faces while drinking yummy microbrew as the kids play chase and occasionally do the two step. small pleasures, yes.
but i'm also wondering, where are all the black people?????? please come out and see music at the charlottesville pavilion. the crowd is so white sometimes that i think there is something very, very wrong around here. and well, obviously there is.
after the guano boys ended we went the bridge gallery which is next to spudnuts. spudnuts has some sort of cult following around here as they make donuts from potato flour. but anyway, that's a whole other topic. we went to an art gallery in a sort of old building that was once and auto shop or an insurance agency or an air conditioning dealer. i was pleased to see that one of the exhibits was by a girl who i had met at work recently. she does these mixed media, photo, legal pad, string, anatomical installations floating in space. another room was a giant sandbox which tashi just loved. while she played in the sand we watched an apocalyptic video loop of countryside, sunset, river and industrial wasteland set to the tune of weird answering machine messages. i got grossed out in another room where there was of a film of a guy puking in a cafe. and then there were more photos of italy and factories and then we saw a kindergarten teacher from tashi's school and everything just got too mixed up.
we went back to main street where things were really starting to take turn at 9pm. tashi and dan were getting an ice cream cone and i was waiting outside and a toothless guy seemed to think i was waiting for something else. why can't a woman just wait? there were drunk teenagers and drunk college students and drunk childless couples and drunk old people and drunk toothless people and slightly tipsy tired parents getting their children ice cream cones. it was definitely time to go home.
and home i am, if i dare declare it that, after a night in charlottesville that makes me both pleased and puzzeled about where i might spend the many years ahead.
first dan and tashi picked me up from work. it was pouring rain and i was completely on a stress bender. we decided to have dinner at the south street brew pub which has an absolutely amazing blackened catfish sandwich w/ fries for $8.95. it's the best damn deal in the place, don't doubt it. the beer is delightful also. i was sad to discover that as we were eating we were missing a free show of morwenna lasko and jay pun at the charlottesville pavilion fridays after five spectacular. i like to describe morwenna lasko as the jimi hendrix of violin.
but the good food and and beer made up for any sadness.
after dinner we booked down the swarming main street pedestrian mall toward the guano boys, the next act at the pavilion. on the way we saw the buford school steppers who were a bunch of kids doing some amazing synchronized moves and calls and clapping. i got all choked up watching them 'cuz i'm just that way. yay for kids gettin' it together in a world that is totally falling apart.
we had fun watching the guano boys, dancing a little, playing tag, seeing some familiar faces, and yes, drinking more beer. none of that budweiser crap either, just the real starr hill thang. sometimes i feel a little guilty drinking beer in front of my child, but there's something comforting about being in a crowd of many parents doing the same. disfunctional maybe. but frankly, i think hops rock.
the charlottesville pavilion warrants many complaints. it's ugly. the sound sucks. it keeps the surrounding neighbors up too late. the music is bad and good and really great and awful. but on a friday night, there's something just so fine about being able to see some good music with the family for free amongst lots of folks with familiar faces while drinking yummy microbrew as the kids play chase and occasionally do the two step. small pleasures, yes.
but i'm also wondering, where are all the black people?????? please come out and see music at the charlottesville pavilion. the crowd is so white sometimes that i think there is something very, very wrong around here. and well, obviously there is.
after the guano boys ended we went the bridge gallery which is next to spudnuts. spudnuts has some sort of cult following around here as they make donuts from potato flour. but anyway, that's a whole other topic. we went to an art gallery in a sort of old building that was once and auto shop or an insurance agency or an air conditioning dealer. i was pleased to see that one of the exhibits was by a girl who i had met at work recently. she does these mixed media, photo, legal pad, string, anatomical installations floating in space. another room was a giant sandbox which tashi just loved. while she played in the sand we watched an apocalyptic video loop of countryside, sunset, river and industrial wasteland set to the tune of weird answering machine messages. i got grossed out in another room where there was of a film of a guy puking in a cafe. and then there were more photos of italy and factories and then we saw a kindergarten teacher from tashi's school and everything just got too mixed up.
we went back to main street where things were really starting to take turn at 9pm. tashi and dan were getting an ice cream cone and i was waiting outside and a toothless guy seemed to think i was waiting for something else. why can't a woman just wait? there were drunk teenagers and drunk college students and drunk childless couples and drunk old people and drunk toothless people and slightly tipsy tired parents getting their children ice cream cones. it was definitely time to go home.
and home i am, if i dare declare it that, after a night in charlottesville that makes me both pleased and puzzeled about where i might spend the many years ahead.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
neil young, spring chicken and eight hours
today at work i listened to neil young's free album on the web, living with war. it's awesome and neil young is an artist of true integrity.
there was an end of term picnic where i ate fried chicken and pizza. i introduced myself to a faculty member in my department and he said, "which undergraduate program are you in?" the expensive facial lotion must be working. he felt pretty sheepish when i told him i was the new staff member.
i'm slowly resigning myself to the fact that i'm not going to have much of a life outside of work, at least not until i learn the ropes and can do my tasks in a semi-conscious state. i'm usually a late night person and that is where i fit in things like writing and reading and making things and watching david letterman. but if i'm going to make it through the days without picking up a coffee habit, i'm going to have to be in bed by 10:00 to get my eight hours of sleep. that gives me a total of 90 minutes to myself after tashi's light is out. and the house, oh what a mess.
don't worry, the blog might get interesting again someday. if it ever was interesting to begin with.
there was an end of term picnic where i ate fried chicken and pizza. i introduced myself to a faculty member in my department and he said, "which undergraduate program are you in?" the expensive facial lotion must be working. he felt pretty sheepish when i told him i was the new staff member.
i'm slowly resigning myself to the fact that i'm not going to have much of a life outside of work, at least not until i learn the ropes and can do my tasks in a semi-conscious state. i'm usually a late night person and that is where i fit in things like writing and reading and making things and watching david letterman. but if i'm going to make it through the days without picking up a coffee habit, i'm going to have to be in bed by 10:00 to get my eight hours of sleep. that gives me a total of 90 minutes to myself after tashi's light is out. and the house, oh what a mess.
don't worry, the blog might get interesting again someday. if it ever was interesting to begin with.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
free mulch
today was free mulch day. we lined up with dozens of other vehicles by a local park headquarters and when it was our turn we got to pull in, park, and shovel mulch into as many bags as we wished. some people filled the cabs of their pick-ups. other people brought tubs and garbage cans to fill. we had bunches of big bags the city gave us for leaf collection, and we filled perhaps 16 of them. yay for free mulch.
later in our yard i covered up poison ivy areas with newspaper and poured mulch on top. dan cleared our potential hammock area of the weeds and scrub and pulled down the huge poison ivy vine from the tree. you can actually walk up to the tree now and give it a big hug. tomorrow i'll dump mulch all over that area and maybe we'll hang the hammock. it's going to be sweet.
later in our yard i covered up poison ivy areas with newspaper and poured mulch on top. dan cleared our potential hammock area of the weeds and scrub and pulled down the huge poison ivy vine from the tree. you can actually walk up to the tree now and give it a big hug. tomorrow i'll dump mulch all over that area and maybe we'll hang the hammock. it's going to be sweet.
Friday, April 28, 2006
welcome to the weekend
thus endeth the first five days of my new job.
in celebration we went out to dinner. i'd heard there was a newish middle eastern restaurant and so we decided to check it out. charlottesville is sorely lacking in middle eastern food, i must say. so we drove down stripmall lane to a small, tucked away eatery called zandi's. by day it is a sub shop, by night it transforms into fine halal dining. well, if you don't mind eating with plastic forks off of styrofoam. the food was scrumptious.
dan and i started off with a large bowl of smokey fine babaganoush and pita. then we both had the chicken kabab platter. the kababs of marinated grilled chicken were delightful and tender to the palatte. the grilled tomatoes & onions combined with a heap of rice and some sides of mint yogurt and tabouli were perfectly savory accompaniments. tashi was satisfied with her kid's kubedeh and it all disappeared into her happy little tum. parents are pleased when kids clear their platter. the vegetarian dishes looked very nice too. i saw some golden falafel land on a neighboring table, along with some sizable grape leaves and a bowl of fresh salad. i brought home a beautiful piece of baklava which right now is a shiny centerpiece on our kitchen table until i have some room in my belly for it. so much for a diet. but heck, it's friday. after my first week at a new job.
what have i to say about the new job, you ask, oh faithful invisible reader of my minutiae? the job is not yet as intense as i was predicting, but i think that might come in waves. my brain is getting some much needed exercise. i work amongst a really great cast of loons. my supervisor rocks. my office windows are full of sunlight and trees. i have to play detective to figure out what to do and how to do it, as the woman i'm replacing is not there to train me, and my supervisor hasn't much experience with my specific tasks. i am enjoying myself and sometimes wanting to cry. time flies. i'm learning a new language. i'm meeting lots of scholars. i'm tooling around with several new computer applications and have to memorize like a dozen passwords. sometimes i write small poems on yellow stickies. sometimes i just pretend. chai, lotion, energy bars. tashi's artwork surrounds me. i need to get more sleep at night so that i don't need to drink coffee in the late afternoon.
at this moment i'm feeling pretty crispy. so i'm going to go crumble into a heap on the couch and watch the dvd i rented.
in celebration we went out to dinner. i'd heard there was a newish middle eastern restaurant and so we decided to check it out. charlottesville is sorely lacking in middle eastern food, i must say. so we drove down stripmall lane to a small, tucked away eatery called zandi's. by day it is a sub shop, by night it transforms into fine halal dining. well, if you don't mind eating with plastic forks off of styrofoam. the food was scrumptious.
dan and i started off with a large bowl of smokey fine babaganoush and pita. then we both had the chicken kabab platter. the kababs of marinated grilled chicken were delightful and tender to the palatte. the grilled tomatoes & onions combined with a heap of rice and some sides of mint yogurt and tabouli were perfectly savory accompaniments. tashi was satisfied with her kid's kubedeh and it all disappeared into her happy little tum. parents are pleased when kids clear their platter. the vegetarian dishes looked very nice too. i saw some golden falafel land on a neighboring table, along with some sizable grape leaves and a bowl of fresh salad. i brought home a beautiful piece of baklava which right now is a shiny centerpiece on our kitchen table until i have some room in my belly for it. so much for a diet. but heck, it's friday. after my first week at a new job.
what have i to say about the new job, you ask, oh faithful invisible reader of my minutiae? the job is not yet as intense as i was predicting, but i think that might come in waves. my brain is getting some much needed exercise. i work amongst a really great cast of loons. my supervisor rocks. my office windows are full of sunlight and trees. i have to play detective to figure out what to do and how to do it, as the woman i'm replacing is not there to train me, and my supervisor hasn't much experience with my specific tasks. i am enjoying myself and sometimes wanting to cry. time flies. i'm learning a new language. i'm meeting lots of scholars. i'm tooling around with several new computer applications and have to memorize like a dozen passwords. sometimes i write small poems on yellow stickies. sometimes i just pretend. chai, lotion, energy bars. tashi's artwork surrounds me. i need to get more sleep at night so that i don't need to drink coffee in the late afternoon.
at this moment i'm feeling pretty crispy. so i'm going to go crumble into a heap on the couch and watch the dvd i rented.
Monday, April 24, 2006
quick bit
indeed today i stepped into the alternate universe of my new job. i met many interesting people and acquainted myself with my new computer. my office is sunny with a view of leafy trees and red brick.
i am sad to have missed wilco at the charlottesville pavilion last night. dan was out of town and i didn't want to drag tashi down to the balcony seat when really it was her bedtime. some reverberations traveled the distance to our house, but not such that i could identify the songs.
i have been having major technical difficulties with the blog. my very old mac powerbook can't seem to hold its cookies, which means i can't log into the posting page. right now i'm using dan's computer. my entries may be infrequent until this problem is resolved.
i am sad to have missed wilco at the charlottesville pavilion last night. dan was out of town and i didn't want to drag tashi down to the balcony seat when really it was her bedtime. some reverberations traveled the distance to our house, but not such that i could identify the songs.
i have been having major technical difficulties with the blog. my very old mac powerbook can't seem to hold its cookies, which means i can't log into the posting page. right now i'm using dan's computer. my entries may be infrequent until this problem is resolved.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
the world is crawling with life
squirrels have been darting out onto the roadways lately and flinging themselves at my car. it is a terrible, terrible situation. and then yesterday i went into the basement to do some laundry and i saw something greyish move around in the shadowy depths. i thought, oh god, rats. i looked around and noticed things were askew, tipped over, messier than the mess had been. i saw more grey movement and then realized that the creature was not a rat at all, but a squirrel. two squirrels. hanging out in my basement. chattering. and tipping things over. i opened wide the door to the outside and a squirrel scaled the wall right up to the door, and then scampered off further into the basement, rather than outside. so the whole time i did my laundry i did it with the fear that a squirrel was going to fling itself at my head.
and as if overnight, the edges of my yard have errupted with poison ivy. the tree that we were planning to hang the awesome new hammock from, poison ivy has wound itself around the trunk and crept high up above our heads. poison ivy by the gate. by the firepit. at the edge of tashi's playspace under the big pine tree. poison ivy everywhere. a friend told me to cover it up with several layers of newspaper and then dump dead leaves on top. a great idea for select areas. i've been doing it, but i'm going to need a lot of newspaper. and unfortunately our dozens of bags of leaves were picked up by the city weeks ago. blargh. if there are any charlottesvillians who want us to come and pick up their bags of leaves, let me know :)
and the hawks. i can still see the huge nest in the tall pine tree two doors down. it's amazing. it looks like the home of a giant prehistoric dinosaur bird. occasionally i'll see the hawk's tale sticking out. and when i'm lucky, i see the hawk standing at the edge of her nest, and then taking the plunge toward dinner. the other day we were on our deck and i heard the tell tale cluck, and there were two small hawks, right there just feet away from our deck, hanging out in the tree. and a few days later tashi found a beautiful hawk feather in the grass. we're hoping they'll take up residence in our yard too.
today the irises are blooming. and everything is verdant after an amazing and much needed monsoon shower. there are fuzzy caterpillars crawling up the sides of our house. the cats are rolling in the dirt, lounging on bricks, tramping through poison ivy, sitting by the basement door wishing i'd let them have squirrel for lunch.
and as if overnight, the edges of my yard have errupted with poison ivy. the tree that we were planning to hang the awesome new hammock from, poison ivy has wound itself around the trunk and crept high up above our heads. poison ivy by the gate. by the firepit. at the edge of tashi's playspace under the big pine tree. poison ivy everywhere. a friend told me to cover it up with several layers of newspaper and then dump dead leaves on top. a great idea for select areas. i've been doing it, but i'm going to need a lot of newspaper. and unfortunately our dozens of bags of leaves were picked up by the city weeks ago. blargh. if there are any charlottesvillians who want us to come and pick up their bags of leaves, let me know :)
and the hawks. i can still see the huge nest in the tall pine tree two doors down. it's amazing. it looks like the home of a giant prehistoric dinosaur bird. occasionally i'll see the hawk's tale sticking out. and when i'm lucky, i see the hawk standing at the edge of her nest, and then taking the plunge toward dinner. the other day we were on our deck and i heard the tell tale cluck, and there were two small hawks, right there just feet away from our deck, hanging out in the tree. and a few days later tashi found a beautiful hawk feather in the grass. we're hoping they'll take up residence in our yard too.
today the irises are blooming. and everything is verdant after an amazing and much needed monsoon shower. there are fuzzy caterpillars crawling up the sides of our house. the cats are rolling in the dirt, lounging on bricks, tramping through poison ivy, sitting by the basement door wishing i'd let them have squirrel for lunch.
Friday, April 21, 2006
the golden border
summary of teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, september 1--7, 2000
offer flower (it is given back)
place at forehead (bliss)
remove blindfold (see clearly)
offer flower (it is given back)
place at forehead (bliss)
remove blindfold (see clearly)
further
today i had my last shift at the barn swallow. a tear came to my eye when i sat for the last time in the gorgeous $1200 rocking chair made of white oak, cherry, mountain laurel and dogwood and gazed wishfully at a painting called "furrow" (also $1200) by local painter abby kasonik. i've coveted the painting since i first set eyes on it. ah well, i can always visit.
soon tashi and i are going to run off to the charlottesville pavilion and watch the hackensaw boys at fridays after five. yes, tis the season again, rain or shine.
soon tashi and i are going to run off to the charlottesville pavilion and watch the hackensaw boys at fridays after five. yes, tis the season again, rain or shine.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
onward
today was my last day at rebecca's natural food store. what a nice bunch of supportive people. a tear came to my eye when i handed in my boxcutter.
but you know, after about an hour of hearing other peoples' children screaming and crying with fatigue, hunger and boredom, i felt pretty relieved that i was getting out of the retail scene. yup.
but you know, after about an hour of hearing other peoples' children screaming and crying with fatigue, hunger and boredom, i felt pretty relieved that i was getting out of the retail scene. yup.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
the golden border
windows of another place
reel in
color of their season
leagues of passing texture
maps
the landed palm
to look closely at spread of one's hand
wafting powder from mound of pigment
hornsong comes somber and in steps turns celebratory
earthen pommel of foot to path
birds web a fine lace from branch to branch
the way prayer is conducted
circle of stones and skulls
reel in
color of their season
leagues of passing texture
maps
the landed palm
to look closely at spread of one's hand
wafting powder from mound of pigment
hornsong comes somber and in steps turns celebratory
earthen pommel of foot to path
birds web a fine lace from branch to branch
the way prayer is conducted
circle of stones and skulls
Sunday, April 16, 2006
happy ostara
the wee bunny was well received. tashi named her miss pudgy bun.
ostara is actually the spring equinox from which pagan traditions such as easter bunnies distributing eggs come from. spring equinox was at the end of march, but since the christian easter has stolen our pagan bunny for its day, i call easter ostara, regardless of the date.
at 6:30am tashi jumped on our bed begging to begin the egg hunt. all 13 eggs were found, in the crooks of trees, amongst bricks and scrub, under fallen timber. we dyed our eggs with colors derived from cabbage and beets and onion skins and turmeric. we do it every year but for some reason this year the eggs turned out blotchy and pukey. they were even more so after sitting in the damp of dawn, amongst leaf mold and soil.
our big spring gift to ourselves was a hammock we purchased yesterday. the twin oaks intentional community has a stand at the farmer's market where they sell fresh flowers, their delicious tofu and their hand crafted hammocks. yesterday they had some hammocks on clearance so we seized the opportunity to spring for a sweet purple and blue rope hammock at 50% off. we have the perfect two trees for it in our back yard; we just have to clear some scrub out from around the one. hurray for hammock days ahead.
ostara is actually the spring equinox from which pagan traditions such as easter bunnies distributing eggs come from. spring equinox was at the end of march, but since the christian easter has stolen our pagan bunny for its day, i call easter ostara, regardless of the date.
at 6:30am tashi jumped on our bed begging to begin the egg hunt. all 13 eggs were found, in the crooks of trees, amongst bricks and scrub, under fallen timber. we dyed our eggs with colors derived from cabbage and beets and onion skins and turmeric. we do it every year but for some reason this year the eggs turned out blotchy and pukey. they were even more so after sitting in the damp of dawn, amongst leaf mold and soil.
our big spring gift to ourselves was a hammock we purchased yesterday. the twin oaks intentional community has a stand at the farmer's market where they sell fresh flowers, their delicious tofu and their hand crafted hammocks. yesterday they had some hammocks on clearance so we seized the opportunity to spring for a sweet purple and blue rope hammock at 50% off. we have the perfect two trees for it in our back yard; we just have to clear some scrub out from around the one. hurray for hammock days ahead.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
beautiful dreamer
if you're in the mood for renting a dvd i highly recommend breakfast on pluto directed by neil jordan. i watched it last night and was blown away.
cillian murphy does an outstanding job playing patrick kitten braden, a beautiful dreamy confused vulnerable kind-hearted irish transvestite in search of a mother he's built a huge fantasy around. ira violence figures into a story that is funny, tragic, hopeful and a little bit silly. i rented it on a whim and wasn't expecting to be quite so enthralled. kitten is a feminine odysseus on a journey to and from the underbelly of london. check it out.
cillian murphy does an outstanding job playing patrick kitten braden, a beautiful dreamy confused vulnerable kind-hearted irish transvestite in search of a mother he's built a huge fantasy around. ira violence figures into a story that is funny, tragic, hopeful and a little bit silly. i rented it on a whim and wasn't expecting to be quite so enthralled. kitten is a feminine odysseus on a journey to and from the underbelly of london. check it out.
Friday, April 14, 2006
free ween
so once the thumpity thump from the pavilion started shaking my windows i decided to go downtown to see what i could see of ween. yup, the "balcony seats" were just the thing. there was a whole line of people there enjoying the show for free. we could see the stage better than probably a lot of people in the audience. and the sound was just fine. not like being in the mosh pit right in front of the stage, but i wouldn't want to be there anyway. and for $27? forget it! i think i got there half way through the show, though i'm not sure. i arrived just in time for them to sing a bit of "redemption song" which i thought was an interesting continuation of my previous night at a reggae show. but then they went on to sing their landmark crude and thrashing varieties of rock, from punk to heavy metal to weird 70's style stuff. i have only two ween albums and didn't recognize most of the songs but for the bawdy sailor song. that was fun. dan swears he heard them singing the mollusk from his office window while i was in the car on my way down. i'm sad to have missed that one. but i'll have to find a set list to be sure.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
full moon music
last night i went to star hill music hall to dance da reggae. burning spear was in town and his opening act was soldiers of jah army. it was very fun indeed.
the soldiers were a group of white boys that have the rasta voice going on. they also added in some mean guitar jams and warpy soundscapes. i sat in the geriatric section for most of their show because i wanted to conserve my energy for burning spear. i also wanted to peacefully drink my dark starr stout and people-watch. one of the people i saw dancing to the warm up band was burning spear himself.
once the audience was properly warmed up and full of anticipation, burning spear came out with all his legendary energy and a great horn section. he liked to call out every so often,"talk to me people, talk to me!" which sent the crowd into a roaring frenzy. i settled myself to dancing in what i perceived to be the good energy section of the crowd and apparently i was correct because of the sweet smelling something being passed around behind me. a good dose of aromatherapy was all i needed.
isn't it sad that i am happily married but have to go out to clubs by myself? we have no baby sitter. in ann arbor it was so easy with my mom living less than a mile away. now dan and i take turns going out individually to see what we want to see.
tonight ween is playing at the charlottesville pavilion. it's one of those shows i could hear just by standing on the overpass near the pavilion, but i'm too tired from last night. and in a few days wilco is playing in the same location. and somewhere at uva at this moment is free indian music that i'm missing because we're in the process of coloring easter eggs.
it's good music season in charlottesville. happy full moon!
the soldiers were a group of white boys that have the rasta voice going on. they also added in some mean guitar jams and warpy soundscapes. i sat in the geriatric section for most of their show because i wanted to conserve my energy for burning spear. i also wanted to peacefully drink my dark starr stout and people-watch. one of the people i saw dancing to the warm up band was burning spear himself.
once the audience was properly warmed up and full of anticipation, burning spear came out with all his legendary energy and a great horn section. he liked to call out every so often,"talk to me people, talk to me!" which sent the crowd into a roaring frenzy. i settled myself to dancing in what i perceived to be the good energy section of the crowd and apparently i was correct because of the sweet smelling something being passed around behind me. a good dose of aromatherapy was all i needed.
isn't it sad that i am happily married but have to go out to clubs by myself? we have no baby sitter. in ann arbor it was so easy with my mom living less than a mile away. now dan and i take turns going out individually to see what we want to see.
tonight ween is playing at the charlottesville pavilion. it's one of those shows i could hear just by standing on the overpass near the pavilion, but i'm too tired from last night. and in a few days wilco is playing in the same location. and somewhere at uva at this moment is free indian music that i'm missing because we're in the process of coloring easter eggs.
it's good music season in charlottesville. happy full moon!
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
a wee bunny is born
i did it! i made the wee bunny!
i am such an amateur sewer, i had to sew two and a half sets of ears before i got the zig zag stitch to look alright going around the tips of the ears. i guess it just takes practice.
there are many little flaws in my wee bunny but i'll just keep those to myself. tashi will love it despite its imperfections. even Loki the cat loves it. watch out bunny!
all the photos were taken with dan's logitech web cam which stinks for taking stills. but it's better than nothing. i think.
the golden border
in 2000 i went to india. upon my return i created a book about the experience. the book is a compilation of poems, journal entries, notes from buddhist philosophy and medical classes, prose vignettes and emails. every time i think the book is complete i pick it up and start revising it again. i hope to someday have it published, but in the mean time i thought it might be fun to share some of it here. so anytime you see a post titled "the golden border," you'll know it's an excerpt from my book.
the following is about our first morning in dharamsala, the village we lived in for a year.
Awakening
loads of beggars line streets hoping for cash on saga dawa, the buddha's birthday. entire families camp on roadside, huddle under one blanket, laugh and extend ragged limbs. man with thick black dreadlocks cooks dal over tiny open fire, his small children squatting close, gazing out.
rising at 4:00 am for sunrise puja, we have been in dharamsala just eight hours.
run into mark moore and dara ackerman at gates of temple, friends of dan's from previous visits, proprietors of khana nirvana cafe. mark, sharp and quick, dashing about casually. dara in comfortable chuba greeting us with lengthy smile and intelligent dark eyes.
on flagstones, blanketed by dalai lama's prayer, crawling through veils of dusk and light, morning dawns. we huddle close in cool mist. small skeletal trees grow in courtyard. areas of construction lie in disarray.
having understood little of what his holiness had chanted or uttered, we file out with crowds of jostling tibetans. mark yells to us from high perch. in two hours we'll join him and dara at cafe.
khana nirvana cafe is up steep numerous concrete stairs, a lofty room overlooking kangra valley. interior is comfortable, wooden, with khadi pillows and dusty pink walls that resemble adobe. there is an exhibit, fading photographs of local lepers, their histories included. already i recognize some. on bamboo bookshelves we find quirky collection of children's stories, tattered travel guides, various religious tracts and cryptic hebrew texts. barstools are piled with binders of volunteer information and fliers, near table buried deep with educational matter. there are a few shabby stringed instruments and several drums.
dara and mark serve us vegan muffins and huge plates of tofu scramble.
tashi wrestles with amma la, matronly tibetan woman who works at khana nirvana, and on this particular morning, sleeps there. her toothless grin and mad laughter stir us.
dan, tashi and i flipped from sleep deprivation.
the following is about our first morning in dharamsala, the village we lived in for a year.
Awakening
loads of beggars line streets hoping for cash on saga dawa, the buddha's birthday. entire families camp on roadside, huddle under one blanket, laugh and extend ragged limbs. man with thick black dreadlocks cooks dal over tiny open fire, his small children squatting close, gazing out.
rising at 4:00 am for sunrise puja, we have been in dharamsala just eight hours.
run into mark moore and dara ackerman at gates of temple, friends of dan's from previous visits, proprietors of khana nirvana cafe. mark, sharp and quick, dashing about casually. dara in comfortable chuba greeting us with lengthy smile and intelligent dark eyes.
on flagstones, blanketed by dalai lama's prayer, crawling through veils of dusk and light, morning dawns. we huddle close in cool mist. small skeletal trees grow in courtyard. areas of construction lie in disarray.
having understood little of what his holiness had chanted or uttered, we file out with crowds of jostling tibetans. mark yells to us from high perch. in two hours we'll join him and dara at cafe.
khana nirvana cafe is up steep numerous concrete stairs, a lofty room overlooking kangra valley. interior is comfortable, wooden, with khadi pillows and dusty pink walls that resemble adobe. there is an exhibit, fading photographs of local lepers, their histories included. already i recognize some. on bamboo bookshelves we find quirky collection of children's stories, tattered travel guides, various religious tracts and cryptic hebrew texts. barstools are piled with binders of volunteer information and fliers, near table buried deep with educational matter. there are a few shabby stringed instruments and several drums.
dara and mark serve us vegan muffins and huge plates of tofu scramble.
tashi wrestles with amma la, matronly tibetan woman who works at khana nirvana, and on this particular morning, sleeps there. her toothless grin and mad laughter stir us.
dan, tashi and i flipped from sleep deprivation.
Monday, April 10, 2006
it's official
i'm now graduate student coordinator in the department of religious studies at the university of virginia. my start date is in two weeks!
vacation ending
we spent most of saturday at virginia beach. the day was warm, windy, with impending storm. we lolled about on the long sandy stretch, tashi jumping about at the edge of the cold, cold water. we saw pelicans and ships and seagulls. it was wonderful to be at the ocean. no, the backdrop wasn't a redwood forest or a dramatic cliff. yes, there was an impenetrable row of tall hotels. but we still loved it. the boardwalk was pleasant, 42 blocks long, with groovy sculptures of turtles and shore birds and crabs and other sea creatures at each entrance. we particularly liked the towering sculpture of neptune and we made sure to pay him our respects.
we left the beach just when the rain started to fall and found our way to the recommended lynnhaven fish house where we had a delicious, reasonably priced lunch of fresh seafood. the ferocious storm worked its wonders on the sea outside the big picture windows and thunder drummed on the roof. we couldn't stop giggling about a family sitting across the room. while eating their lunch, the father and two small boys were all watching different movies on their separate laptops, each with headphones on. two women sat at the table with them looking glassy eyed and bored.
after lunch we drove through mostly unpleasant urban blight to the ghent district of norfolk (pronounced nor-fuck to all of you who aren't in the know) seeking espresso. we succeeded in avoiding starbucks and getting appropriately amped up at the "fair grounds cafe." while sitting there looking at local left wing polito rags, we realized tashi had left her bag with precious sketch book at the restaurant. so we had to make our way back across urban blight, past military zone and around inlet after inlet to the restaurant which by that time was bursting at the seams with saturday evening dinner guests in their finery. then we drove through more rain back to williamsburg where we ate subs in our hotel room and watched animal planet.
yesterday we stopped in richmond on our way back to charlottesville. we took tashi to the children's museum where we climbed and hid and pressed buttons and made shadows and built things and glued things and left. we ate another amazing meal afterwards at athens tavern. i was determined to find a greek restaurant and a greek restaurant i found. it was very yum.
and now we're back home. ho hum.
we left the beach just when the rain started to fall and found our way to the recommended lynnhaven fish house where we had a delicious, reasonably priced lunch of fresh seafood. the ferocious storm worked its wonders on the sea outside the big picture windows and thunder drummed on the roof. we couldn't stop giggling about a family sitting across the room. while eating their lunch, the father and two small boys were all watching different movies on their separate laptops, each with headphones on. two women sat at the table with them looking glassy eyed and bored.
after lunch we drove through mostly unpleasant urban blight to the ghent district of norfolk (pronounced nor-fuck to all of you who aren't in the know) seeking espresso. we succeeded in avoiding starbucks and getting appropriately amped up at the "fair grounds cafe." while sitting there looking at local left wing polito rags, we realized tashi had left her bag with precious sketch book at the restaurant. so we had to make our way back across urban blight, past military zone and around inlet after inlet to the restaurant which by that time was bursting at the seams with saturday evening dinner guests in their finery. then we drove through more rain back to williamsburg where we ate subs in our hotel room and watched animal planet.
yesterday we stopped in richmond on our way back to charlottesville. we took tashi to the children's museum where we climbed and hid and pressed buttons and made shadows and built things and glued things and left. we ate another amazing meal afterwards at athens tavern. i was determined to find a greek restaurant and a greek restaurant i found. it was very yum.
and now we're back home. ho hum.
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