street art

I've always been fascinated by street art, or graffiti. I think it's amazing to take something everyday and make it beautiful and fantastic. It's the same sort of feeling I get when I see really beautiful architecture, buildings or structures. It's amazing to be within art; to be a part of it, to be using it.

Here's a great site on street art around the world. It has new updates from readers all the time -WoosterCollective

Quotes

Since I can't seem to post on my own, here are some great quotes (and the stories they belong to) from some of my favorite blogs:

"He's just like Joe," my Dad said to my mom as he handed her the issue of People. It was progress.

It's one time you won't hear us complain about our love being turned into an issue.

My top choices for green gifts from the grocery store (stop laughing!):

My phone is 6 years old, and certainly isn’t “smart.”

It makes the cells in my body boogie-down as if they were listening to Earth, Wind, & Fire!

good quote

It wasn't like, "Pass the papardam, I'm a pro-choice, pro-peace lesbian, here's the chutney." But close.

Martha would be proud

A few weeks ago I bought a bunch of new kitchen appliances online, and they started to slowly trickle in. I got a cheapo blender, because I didn't want to pay for the one that I really want; a small 4 cup food processor; and a dehydrator; then I 'inherited' a bread maker from my parents. Also, for my last birthday (in July) H bought me the ingredients to make homemade vegetable based soap. So, for the past couple weeks I've been playing house!

I started with the bread maker. I went hunting for wonderful bread recipes. I have recipes for desert bread, wheat bread, sandwich bread, french bread, sourdough bread, fruit bread, pizza dough... anything you could imagine. The first one I made tasted delicious, but the yeast messed up somehow and it never rose. It was as dense as a rock. We nibbled and then tossed it in the trash. Then I successfully made a blueberry oatmeal bread that rocked my socks, and then an nut bread that we used for sandwiches for a week. I'm 2 for 2 so far with successes in my bread maker. One day I'll get good at it.

A few days before Thanksgiving, I made a white bean soup that was delicious, if I do say so myself. I had to finely chop onion, carrots, garlic, tomatoes (which was a disaster) so I got to use my food processor. Then I added bay leaves, oregano, cilantro, and half pureed (in my blender!) half whole white beans. YUMMM!

Also, two weekends ago I spent the afternoon chopping and dicing to make some dehydrated snacks. The dehydrator worked wonderfully. I sliced red and green apples - the granny smith are perfect for this - and made apple chips; I also dehydrated bananas, which were more difficult to slice thin enough to dehydrate successfully. Then I did some red bell peppers, and I plan on dehydrating carrots and oranges as well. Best of all, I made 100% fruit, no sugar added fruit leather. It's like healthy fruit roll ups. The simplest way is to just pour a layer of apple sauce on the screens that lay on top of the dehydrator trays. It was so successful that next time I'd like to puree more fruits, like bananas, citrus and berries, to add to the apple sauce.

Now, for the most fun part. H and I made vegetable based soap last week. Our recipe included almost mostly olive oil, and then the rest made up of coconut oil, jojoba oil, and sweet almond oil. We scented it with lavender and peppermint. There are a few systems of soap making; we used lye to create the chemical reaction with the oils, that makes something called 'trace' which is, essentially, the point where the mixture begins to become creamy and harden. For the number of things that can go wrong when making soap, I was so ecstatic that our first attempt was successful.

Our soap is now hardening in our guest room, and it smells awesome. The only, very minor, hiccup in this all is that we didn't have wax paper to line our mold with so the soap has been sitting upside down on a table for over a week, and is still stuck in the mold. Hmmm. After we leap that hurdle, I plan to gift most of the soap for Christmas stockings. I also have recipes for liquid soaps that sound amazing. I can make shampoo, dish soap, puppy soap, hand soap... I'm never buying soap again.

Photos of some of my homemaking adventures are soon to come!

excitement

A late blog post, perhaps, but one that is good to finally write. H and I just finished putting together our wedding website, and sent it out to family and friends announcing our engagement.

For a long time I fought the whole idea of 'coming out.' My argument is always that it should not be so strange or unexpected that it has to be suggested as a possibility before it is. My brother didn't bring a girl home for the first time and say 'Mom, Dad, I'm a heterosexual, and this is my girlfriend.' It felt unfair that I should have to go through that rather embarrassing, very scary process. However, that is life. Homosexuality is in the minority. People never expect someone to be gay; people always expect someone not to be gay.

I had an easy chore, I think; easier than many others, at least. All of my friends reacted in one of two ways - either the classic, "I thought this was something new?" or "Yeah, that makes sense." And my family either said it out loud before I was ever even convinced, or responded with, "That's wonderful, and we love you." In a way this made it even easier for me to fight 'coming out', because I felt that people already knew or didn't care in the least. The scariest group to talk about this to was my family, but that is likely more of a result of how important they are to me, rather than their point of view. The most difficult group to talk to is the family that I gained while growing up in the church. This is most definitely because of their importance to me; but also a direct result of the church's teaching on homosexuality. There is no denial of the desire or tendency, but clear teaching that living out the lifestyle is wrong. The difficulty lies in asking or expecting someone who believes in these teaches so strongly to then turn their back on them in order to still think of me in a favorable light. Over the past few years there have been two major reasons why I decided to be completely open.

First, I have slowly, but oh-so-surely come to realize that this is truly and entirely me, and that I will never be able to live happily if I'm not true to it. Case in point - I have never been happier now or more excited for the future before Haley. If these people are really that important to me, then I want them to know this and still share in my life.

Second is a point I felt very strongly just after the vote in Maine came through. Well, rather, it is a point that someone else made that I agree wholeheartedly with. An excerpt:

For me, I know the most powerful thing I can do is to continue to raise my family. To be out, every step of the way, proud and willing to have any conversation to help people understand better what it means to be a lesbian in this country.

What it means to be a second class citizen.

Because deep down, I believe people will do the right thing when they have direct contact with what they fear is so different. That it's not about sex but humanity. It's about love and respect. It's about valuing human beings, all human beings, equally.

We are all God's children, to quote a friend of mine. I don't think you have to believe in God to believe in the sentiment. Someday, this nation will understand that.

Someday soon.

But not today.

Yes and yes.

So, essentially, I feel almost a duty to be totally open in order to inform people: This is homosexuality. I am what you are so against.

OK, now to the actual point of this post (or maybe not anymore.) Every detail of the most adorable, wonderful, romantic story is on the web site, so I won't rewrite them here. I am so excited to be engaged to this beautiful, amazing woman. I am so excited to begin our lives together; to inspire, to take care of, to share with and grow with each other. Check out our website if you have the time (it's a bit long... ha... because we felt the need to introduce ourselves to each other's families rather then just simply announce. I hope it's at least entertaining) and share in our excitement!

http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/LiannaBurton&HaleySchmidt

Women's Health VS Insurance companies

Check out this post at Suburban Lesbian Housewife - I concur.

I will make sure my boobies are healthy no matter what my age, thank you very much.

R.I.P. Ramona my betta fish

I took a couple days of contemplation before sitting down to write this entry. On Saturday, I came home from work to find my beautiful 2 year old betta, Ramona, floating on her side on the top of the tank. I gasped, of course, and upon closer inspection I pronounced her dead. Estimated time of death 6:30 AM.

Remembering Ramona will always put a smile on my face. While she came from humble beginnings (the neighborhood Petsmart and a 2 cup plastic bowl) she rose to great heights - literally. Ramona spent most of her days atop a bookshelf or counter top in a luxurious two gallon tank, complete with LED light and filter. She swam playfully through her fake rocks and Greecian columns. It was very important to her to connect with me and, therefore, with my roots. She always greeted me with a cute fish smile and fluttering side fins. I can see her now - swimming up towards my waiting fingers, fluttering away while I drop little betta pellets into her water.

Ramona was perseverant. She survived two moves across town to different apartments, and many, many taps on her bowl. Ramona was brave. She lived with, not just one, but two cats and a dog; all of whoom inspected her closely on more than one occasion. But Ramona did not falter in her bubbles. No, she did not hide. She did not stop fluttering.

H and I held a memorial service in Ramona's honor. We gathered the family (not an easy task) and each said some kind words, remembering Ramona and the happiness she brought to us. In the background, The Beatles sang "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" as Ramona's spirit drifted up to the big ocean in the sky. Then, while Coldplay reassured us the "Everything's Not Lost," we processed into the bathroom where H did the flushing honors.

It was a closed lid memorial. Please send any gifts to the betta support fund of Texas.

Re posted

I copied this link from a favorite blog of mine bilerico.com. I do not always agree with this website and the many different writers' views; and actually this article could do a nice job of even explaining why that may be. But most of all, I think this article is insightful and truthful. It inspires me to really step back, realize my own personal position and attempt to become a better ally to those who hold a different experience than me. It's a bit long, but so worth it.

"You wanna know why the gays are apathetic?"

Action punchlist for this fall

Action punchlist for this fall’s statewide elections

Posted using ShareThis

Direct from the Courage Campaign website (thanks to a reminder from hekebolos at DailyKos in “Action: Help the nationwide fight for LGBT equality” ):

Progressives are closer than ever to a victory on health care reform. As 2009 comes to a close, we’ve moved forward on other issues. But what’s looming up ahead could be a disappointment.

On Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009- less than a week away- there will be critical votes on on LGBT equality in three states: Washington State, Maine, and Michigan. With so much attention devoted to other issues in the political realm, bloggers have banded together to ensure we don’t forget the ones with a firm deadline next week.

For that reason, we’ve joined with these three campaigns to put together a summary of who, what, and how. If you haven’t heard of these campaigns, and/or haven’t done anything yet to support them, please consider helping out. If you are a blogger please feel free to grab this content whole cloth and use it for your blog posts. Scroll down to the bottom to grab the formatted HTML to drop into a post.

Last year, as Obama and Democrats were winning across the country, we lost marriage equality in California. It was a bittersweet victory. Pitch in to make sure 2009 isn’t a bittersweet year. Take action to support LGBT equality TODAY.

Herewith, content grabbed whole cloth:

Washington:

Who we are: Approve Referendum 71 is the campaign to preserve domestic partnerships in Washington State. By voting to approve, voters retain the domestic partnership laws that were passed during this year’s legislative session, including using sick leave to care for a partner, adoption rights, insurance rights, and more.

What we need: We need phone bankers to get our supporters out to vote. Washington is an all mail-in ballot state, and we need to ensure our supporters put their ballots in the mail. Also, youth turnout is a critical component of our campaign, and youth turnout historically drops in off-year elections. So we need a lot of help to turn them out.

How you do it: Sign up here to make remote calls for Approve 71. We’ll then contact you for a training, and you can make GOTV calls.

Maine:

Who we are: The No On 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign is working to protect Maine’s recently-passed law legalizing marriage equality for same-sex couples. Our opponents have put the issue on the ballot for Nov 3, 2009. Because of Maine’s early voting election laws, people are already voting at the polls, so we need help immediately to turn out our side at the polls.

What we need: We need you to devote a few hours to Call for Equality. Call for Equality is a virtual phonebank set up so that you can call Maine voters wherever you are. Much of Maine is rural, where canvassing isn’t effective, so we need to reach these voters- along with other supporters- by phone. All you need is a phone and internet connection. No experience required! We’ll provide the training, and all you need is a a few hours to help get a win in Maine.

How you do it: Click here to sign up for a training and your shift. There are lots of times available for your convenience.

Kalamazoo, MI:

Who We Are: The Yes on Ordinance 1856 / One Kalamazoo campaign is working in Michigan to support the City Commission of Kalamazoo’s twice approved ordinance for housing, employment, and public accommodation protections for gay and transgender residents. Opponents forced a public referendum on the ordinance so dedicated local volunteers, led by former Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Jon Hoadley, are working to ensure voters say YES to fairness and equality and keep Ordinance 1856.

Why The Urgency: In the final weeks, the opposition has gone all out with aggressive disinformation and misleading red herrings to try to defeat the ordinance. This includes signs that say “No to Discrimination” (even though voting No actually supports continued discrimination of GLBT residents), transphobic door hangers and fliers, and now radio ads that falsely suggest that criminal behavior will become legal when this simply isn’t true. The Yes on Ordinance 1856 supporters are better organized but many voters who want to vote for gay and transgender people are getting confused by the opposition.

How To Help:

1) Help the One Kalamazoo campaign raise a final $10,000 specifically dedicated to fight back against the lies on the local TV and radio airwaves and fully fund the campaign’s final field and GOTV efforts.

Give here: http://www.actblue.com/page/3-2-1-countdown

2) If you live nearby and can physically volunteer in Kalamazoo sign up here. If you know anyone that lives in Kalamazoo, use the One Kalamazoo campaign’s online canvass tool to remind those voters that they need to vote on November 3rd and vote YES on Ordinance 1856 to support equality for gay and transgender people.

Contact voters: http://www.onekalamazoo.com/tellfriends2

musically nostalgic

Feeling a little... daydreamy. This song seems to match my mood, or desired mood, and I can't get enough of it:

Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now Lyrics

Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere, I've looked at clouds that way.
But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on everyone.
So many things I would have done but clouds got in my way.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall.
I really don't know clouds at all.

Moons and Junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real; I've looked at love that way.
But now it's just another show. You leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know, don't give yourself away.

I've looked at love from both sides now,
From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall.
I really don't know love at all.

Tears and fears and feeling proud
to say "I love you" right out loud,
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds; I've looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange,
they shake their heads, they say I've changed.
Something's lost but something's gained in living every day.

I've looked at life from both sides now,
From win and lose, and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall.
I really don't know life at all.

The lyrics seem so nostalgic, so wise, so subdued, but somehow not sad. Just knowing. And overall, they feel warm and comforting.

Sunny San Diego

A couple weeks ago H. and I took a road trip out to San Diego to visit family and deliver a car to my brother. My dad had found an inexpensive Infiniti (actually it was a 'nfinity'; just the lesser known counterpart) and needed a way to deliver it to my brother so we jumped at the chance. Seemed like a fun, cheap adventure for us. The total drive from Austin, TX to San Diego, CA was about 20 hours and 1,300 miles. Wow. We took off on a Tuesday morning, just after working our 10pm - 7am shift, and we set a rule that neither of us could fall asleep the whole time. At one point we put in some books on tape that my parents had given us and about 5 minutes into it I looked over to see H in the passengers seat with her eyes closed. Needless to say, I punched her in the arm and that was the end of story time.

The worst part had to be that we didn't bring CD's, counting instead on the tape plug-in to our iPods. Then, 20 minutes on the highway we realize it's broken. We played so many games - favorites guessing games, 'newlyweds' style questions (what would your spouse say is your favorite outfit; who would your spouse say is the better catch - yeah, guess her answer), words games, country letter games (oslo, oregon, new hampshire, ethiopia, arkansas...), 20 questions (which I won every time.) Now we know so much about each other we would win any quiz show, blindfolded.

We pulled into Las Cruces, NM around 7 pm, and we were asleep in our La Quinta hotel room by 8 pm. The next morning we explored the historic part of the city. It took us about an hour to walk in and out of every open shop, and to stop at a cafe to have some delicious Mexican food. Overall the town was a little... quiet... and brown. It was nice weather, though! The only exciting thing about the drive through NM was me accidently going East after a gas stop. Seems when you're driving through the desert there's no need for exit ramps. For over 10 miles. Seriously. After 10 miles of driving the wrong direction with no chance of getting off the highway, we challenged the law and took a U-turn on a median that was "For Official Use Only." Ooooh... rebels. Also, we must have cruised through 5 different 'border patrol' stops. Apparently we look American citizen-y because we made it through each time with out incident.


We actually liked the drive through Arizona a lot better. Maybe part of that is because we picked up a new tape plug-in thingy. But the scenery was really beautiful - the colors, the rock formations, and the awesome saguaro cacti. H. had to stop three separate times to get a good photo of those.

And then on to California. The weather was perfect; though, what else could one expect of southern California. We had such a fun, relaxing time. We drove up to Huntington Beach to visit more family, including a new baby cousin! She was so very precious. It was really great to see everyone, catch up on news, and have H. meet more family. We explored my brother and sister-in-law's neighborhood a bit. I was a big fan of the local coffee shop, where we walked their pup to one morning.

My family was wonderful. We were treated to more than one delicious meal to celebrate; and my aunt bought both H. and I new clothes from my cousin's store, including two great dresses that we then wore to Christine's wedding the next week.

On the morning before we left we drove to Coronado Island, and sat in the sun on the beach. I forgot how relaxing that kind of trip is. It was so great, and way too short. I realized, as I returned to work the following evening, that it really balanced me out. I had not felt that happy or calm in some time. We already have plans to go back soon!

lick

lick
Originally uploaded by liannaburton

heh heh heh

It's 8:55 PM and OU still sucks.

P1020823
Originally uploaded by liannaburton

It was a gorgeous wedding. Beautiful dresses, beautiful church, beautiful ceremony and reception. But, seriously, only an Aggie would hold their ceremony at the same time as the Texas OU games. Thank goodness we won. (just kidding. it was wonderful, no 'buts')

Awesome

There was an awesome clip on Letterman tonight. He shows things "more
fun than reading Sarah Palin's memoir" and tonight was number 18 -
Bear Grylls eating a yak eyeball out of a dead carcass from Man Versus Wild.

Another reason why I love Austin -

Leslie found in critical condition

No other city would embrace, support and identify so strongly and
kindly with a cross dressing homeless man who cruised into Austin
years ago in his bike. It's just awesome.

And here's some info I found interesting about most national parks in
the US - apparently, the 'model' of creating national parks by kicking out
people who've lived there for decades, perhaps centuries is called the
Yosemite model. And, it is actually used regularly in this country.
In contrast, there is a national park in Canada that actually utilized
the peoples who live on the land by allowing to still care for it and
actually run the park. Ingenious. I suppose just another reason why
Canada is more awesome than the US. Hmm.

Lianna M.O. Burton

ACL you complete me

I made it to the fest afterall!!!

Batter Blaster Review!

The votes are in - Batter Blaster - the original pancake batter in a can - is AWESOME! check out the photos on my flickr page.

Fox news reported on it, too

Click to check out the story: Judge calls Texas' gay-marriage ban into question

a festive air

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic for Austin today even though I haven't actually left yet. I chose not to go to ACL this year for job and money reasons, mostly, but it's impossible to escape it's feel. I live about a mile south of Zilker, so the music actually just floats through the air to meet me right in my home. It's amazing how electric the whole city becomes during festivals like this. It's something that I will sorely miss when I leave. I wonder if any city in the country balances the big city/small town vibe as well as ATX.

Lately, every time I cruise over the river on my way into downtown, a huge smile takes over me. I love the view of Austin's skyline mixed with the beautiful water. There's so many amazing memories for me just in that snapshot; the tower, the river with every bend and bridge and 500 meter mark, the old power plant, the trail, the view up Congress Ave. I know I'll never be able to let go of this city. I wonder if I'll ever find my way back.

best thing since sliced bread

This was on display today at Whole Foods:

Batter Blaster

The best part is that it's all real ingredients. That's my new thing these days - I want to be able to pronounce the ingredients on the things that I put in - or on - my body. I try and only drink natural sodas now; I even bought Tom's toothpaste.

Which leads us to an interesting issue. Here's an article at Organicconsumers.org speaking about who owns brands that tout themselves as organic, natural, earth friendly. Somewhat ironically, many well known 'natural' food and product brands are owned by HUGE companies that are faaaarrrrr from natural. Examples - Odwalla is owned by Coca-Cola; Tom's of Maine is owned by Colgate-Palmolive; Burt's Bees is owned by Clorox - the list goes on.

So the question is, is this a bad thing? In some ways it's equivalent to a local, unknown band making it big. You know the situation. It leads to such statements as "I've had that CD since 3 years ago" or "Yeah well I heard about them in the 90s when I went to see their concert in a tiny little club." Personally, I'm completely against this. I think no matter the origins that when someone or something is successful it should be met with excitement. And, let's be honest, in this society how can a small business make it without some help from the big guys.

Another thing, H made a good point that the reason these products are even remotely affordable for us, the consumer, is because they have the financial backing of huge conglomerates. The crucial issue then becomes - who controls these companies? When Tom's is bought by Colgate, who makes the business decisions? When Dannon buys most shares of Brown Cow and Stonyfield, are their cows still treatment humanely?

Then all you have left to decide is exactly how pure you wish to be. The argument could be made that by buying these products you are supporting the big companies. By wearing Burt's Bees chapstick you are giving money to Clorox - a huge contributor of chemicals and pollutants in our world. But aren't you also perpetuating the use of natural products? If natural and organic can become corporate than who wins?

Quotes from the childrens

*One early AM last week, when J, in true "brother" style plants himself just outside T's door and proceeds to constantly kick it. T rips open the door and screams, "You're ruining my life!!"

*M: Yeah, and in Sunday school they taught us about evil house crickets, and they fly east.
L: They fly east??
M: Uh huh, and I saw a movie of a guy gettin' eatin' by one.

*J: I wish I had a girlfriend
S: Why J? You might be a little too young to have one.
J: Cause I want to talk to someone about Bigfoot all day.

a little sad

I don't feel like organizing my thoughts on this, just noting that I'm a little sad. So here is a link to a blog post that says exactly what I feel about Maine.

Passing it on

I always tell my kids (whom I work with, not my own kids, because they're unborn) that things do not have a gender, like people or animals. Examples -

Those are girl socks! (Socks aren't boys or girls, they're just socks.)

I want some girl toys. (So boy's can't play with pots and pans? They can't play with hula hoops?)

If you read that book about princesses then you're a girl. (This last one came from an older boy who loves the princess books... and sheets... and pictures... and coloring... and toys... and socks.)


Here is something I came across that I just had to pass on.

Kleenex for Men

... On a cold, wet day

Warm drinks...

Sized Down

There's been a few interesting articles and opinion pieces around lately stemming from a model used in Glamour magazine who is a size 12, therefore plus size, model. She's beautiful, no doubt. Almost because of how natural she looks as a result of her size.

I think it's sort of funny when these things pop up. I guess I wonder how much commentary we can have about how skinny girls are put in magazines and given perfect skin and perky boobs using photo editing software. It seems... redundant, unnecessary, cliche, in fact almost degrading. As in 'you poor women, always having to look at photos of completely unrealistic Barbie type figures whom you can't compare to ever; not in a million years. And we sympathize and identify the problem and it is truly horrible... but we won't change it.' So I say, what's the point of humoring us with the talk.
There is no editor of any "women's" magazine that will honestly only portray everyday women; no editor that will stop writing stories about the right way to apply make up to get that man to think your sexy so that he takes you home when you first meet, but not on the first date because what about safe sex practice, and then you please him immensely in bed, but also win at sports while still respecting his manhood which will make him want to settle down, bare your children, and support your every whim - as an independent woman, of course.
So what's the point. Don't pretend like the talk is the solution.

Oops. I ranted. Well, in the midst of the commentary and the effects of this woman's photo I have found some cool stuff. One thing is a NY Times article on the actual size of people these days. Interesting to note that the average women is the dimensions of size 12 clothing (I phrase the statement that way because there's the idea that clothes are labeled smaller sizes than they truly are - as in, the dimensions of Marilyn Monroe's size 12/14 were actually smaller than today's 12/14.)

Also, another kind of cool thing I happened upon is a model named Crystal Renn who has a quite successful career in Australia (and somewhere in Europe?) She is definitely plus size by model industry standards - I believe a 14 in US sizes. And Here's a post that comments about a Harper's Bazaar photo shoot in which the photographer actually does an amazing job of highlighting the curves and lines of her body instead of the more typical tendency to mask or hide it.

I'm not quite sure what I get out of these discussions, or even what I hope to convey to anyone reading this particular post. I know two things though - I don't buy fashion magazines and you don't have to tell me twice to appreciate the human body and form for exactly what it is. Without the editing software.

Eating Conscience

About three years ago, this movie turned me, once and for all, into a vegetarian - Baraka

And, now this author is educating me as to why - Michael Pollan

Oddly enough, Baraka is not a film about vegetarianism, the treatment of animals, or health, or eating. In fact it is not a film about food, necessarily, at all. It is a documentary of sorts, completely nonverbal, about daily life in a variety of different cultures, countries, and continents. It is about, in so many words, the interconnectedness of people.

Three scenes from this film always stand out in my mind.

The first is of the Kecak Dance in Bali. The rhythmic sounds and movements; the apparent trance like state of many of the men involved; the seemingly perfect understanding of every one of them; and the mystery, the meaning - it is so fascinating to me. How many peoples must have witnessed this or even been involved with it over how many centuries?
The second scene is from a factory (?) that 'processes' chicks. They ride conveyor belts through a dirty, metal factory, dropping from machine to machine where they are sorted, picked over, beak tips burned off, and then, finally, dropped to cages of some kind; I believe they are to be used to lay eggs.
The third is also a factory scene, from Indonesia, of a cigarette factory. It is so machine like and yet employs probably thousands of people. They roll, cut, count. It's such a different feeling then the sight of a simple, neat pack of cigarettes in a store somewhere.

So these three scenes, somehow combined in my mind, pushed me to stop eating meat. The interconnectedness of cultures... perhaps I felt that if I ate those chickens when they grew up I would be ruining traditions like the Kecak Dance and forcing most of south east Asia to work in cigarette factories. No. OK, I wasn't really sure why. I just felt like it was the right time.

I've just recently started reading Michael Pollan's books. I'm reading The Omnivore's Dilemma first, even though I believe it was written second. He has been able to identify and explain all these difficult, confusing food concerns so simply and thoroughly. The blurb on one of the books said something like 'Eat food. Not too much. Mostly vegetables.' So simple. So now, after over three years of changing my eating habits, I will finally find out why.

Chirp

3 things:

There's a cricket in my home. It actually took me almost 2 1/2 hours to realize it. At first I thought the chirping was part of the music. And then, after awhile I wondered why so many of Brahms' sonatas had crickets in them. Who, incidentally, I have never really listened to. I really enjoy Beethoven; and actually some of Bach's sonatas with piano/cello are on my list of favorite songs. But, until today I haven't listened to Brahms. All that comes to mind is Brahms' Lullaby; did he actually write the lyrics to it?
Wiki has all my answers.
Some facts: Brahms was a perfectionist; a brilliant pianist himself and originally performed his own works; worked with contemporaries such as Schumann; composed for chamber ensembles, piano, orchestras, and voice; and was a master of counterpoint - the style in which Bach also played. No wonder I like him. I should take a class on classical music history.

Which leads me to thing #2 (ha.)

I'm currently watching all ten episodes of Ken Burn's Jazz. It's a wonderful series, each episode about 2 hours long, that tells the entire history of jazz music; beginning in the 1800s. I will always love early jazz music - based on rhythm, blues, and rag time piano playing. And, something this series has reminded me of, or made me appreciate even more, I am so enamored of the way jazz had (has?) the ability to bring together people of completely different races, colors, backgrounds, beliefs. In the early 1900s, the famous big bands were able to unite the entire country in excitement. I'm not sure that characteristic has persevered.

I won't lie though, I have never been very fond of where jazz went during the late 70s and 80s. It sort of lost me. Maybe this film will help me to appreciate it by helping me to understand it better. Tonight I'm watching episode 3 and 4; in the early to mid 1900s.

And, last, but certainly NOT least - thing #3.
I now have a portable "Add to Wish List" button. Do you know what this means? Divine happiness! That's what this means!

In case anyone didn't know, I definitely love shopping. In fact, it could be said that I tend to spend my money irresponsibly. At least some people are of that opinion. And, actually it's not even the shopping as much as the excitement of new things. New books, new clothes, new furniture, new vehicles, new bike accessories, new CDs, new instruments... I could go on. And, I don't even need or want a LOT of stuff; in fact my favorite part of getting new things is getting rid of the old. So I am addicted to Craigslist - buying new toys and selling things that I don't use anymore (or things I can convince myself that I don't use so that I can spend the money to buy new things.) Especially awesome is the 'Barter' section of Craigslist.

However, I have recently found the cure for my spending habits, as a result of which I am now, also, addicted to Amazon.com. I now have a private account with wish lists and private wish lists and shopping lists and and and... now I have a button that I can use on any web site, get that ANY SITE(!), to add a product to my Amazon wish list. This is AMAZING. Or maybe it's AMAZONING! Shopping without spending money! WOW!

Senator Edward Kennedy

An HRC article on Senator Kennedy: A Record of Leadership on LGBT and HIV Issues

A late addition - my Mom reminded me this morning of this. 'When you get together with your rowing girls you should all have a moment of silence for Sen. Kennedy' she says. Why? 'He was a big supporter of Title IX.'

long walks cont.

(That was the title of the previous post... the one that's now in Hindi I believe. I guess I at least learned something about a new language through this endeavor.)

The best part of the adventure happened on the way back. I'd already discovered this morning, on my ride from work, that Zilker is back open. Hooray!! I had seen a group of kids, a high school sports team I think, jogging barefoot in the perfectly cut grass. It's amazing that that huge, beautiful expanse of green was fenced in until yesterday. Thank goodness it's open; I really missed the park this summer.

So, to celebrate, I took a zigzag path through the field. Who needs pavement or straight lines, anyway? I even braved a cloud of zipping dragonflies. You know, the kind that always forms over freshly cut grass? Why do they do that? Of course, this was also the puppy's favorite part of the walk. When you walk through soft grass, she darts back and forth in front of you, leaping every few steps to try and catch her leash in her mouth. When she was really little, we couldn't even get her to stay on her feet next to grass. She would see it, or smell it maybe, and throw her body, kamikaze style, against the pull of her leash until she made it face first into the grass. If we tried to pull her to her feet and keep walking then she would let her body be dragged through it on her stomach, arms and legs splayed out like superman.

I had planned on doing some dog training in the next couple weeks. Specifically, I'd like her to actually come to me when I call her instead of just glancing slyly and taking off to great someone else. Now we can use Zilker for the training.

लॉन्ग वाल्क्स

my blog is changing my titles into some asian character language. i say that so ignorantly because i am, well, ignorant of all asian languages and what they look like. i wonder if this whole post will be in a different language?

Well Haley is officially on vacay. I received a text this morning at 2:16 AM that says "I'm in Athens!!" Guess her plane didn't crash (her constantly voiced fear); and I guess she figured out how to use my iPhone (the one I let her have for the trip while I'm stuck with this ten dollar brick from the 90s. O.K., a little exaggerated.) Anyway, I'm filled to the brim with excitement for her, and only a little less full of jealousy.

So, while she's strolling the streets of Athena, Ellas, Roswell (the pup) and I went on our own adventure. We hiked all the way through Zilker on the Green Belt (over a mile I believe) and to Austin Java (where I am currently surfing the net.) Here I enjoyed a blueberry smoothie and treated my sweet lil' pup to a side of baked ham. Fancy. Honestly, my sole reason for coming this morning was to update all my podcasts. I'm way obsessed. But that's for another post.

I really love walking the Green Belt in the morning. It's cool and damp and so empty on weekdays especially. I have my Keens and my new North Face light weight back pack. And Roswell is getting to be quite the rock climber. Supposedly, adult Boston Terrier's need an hour long walk a day. If Ros only gets one hour a day, she spends the rest of the evening "bulleting" (we coined the term because of the shape of her head when she pulls her ears straight back; to be more aerodynamic of course) around our 750 sq. ft. apartment. So, I decided rather then use more gas and ruin more earth, I would combine exercise, puppy-cise, and the need to update my podcasts. Plus, it's too quiet at home without H. I already have plans for many more adventures like these for the two weeks she's gone.

O.K. Time for the walk back before the weather changes back to Texas in August.

glasses

New nerd glasses

my podcasts won't download

Because my podcasts are too large to download without WiFi, I am now exploring different options for information and entertainment at this hour. Including more blog posting.

Here's something that makes me mad. Among other issues with the 'health care debate' -
Pregnancy is a "pre-existing condition"

A good (I thought) opinion article on Caster Semenya and 'gender testing'

And now, a story.

I work with foster kids at a treatment center in Austin. Specifically, I work the 3rd shift (that's overnight - 10pm till 7am) with the younger boys group. This morning was the first day of AISD school (perhaps the first day of public school all through the state actually) and my boys all very excitedly agreed to wear the nice shorts and polo shirts that I chose for their first day of school outfits. It made my heart happy to see them all so handsome. While combing hair and applying deodorant (we start young with the healthy habits) two boys started comparing their 'cool guy' pose. The morning staff and I looked on and laughed as the two boys took turns popping their collars, leaning back and spouting phrases like 'Duuude' and 'Down with the diggity dig.'

CATCH! drive....

I rowed today. For the first time in over six months, at least, I was back in an eight. And even before then it wasn't hard rowing. As a volunteer coach I tend to sub in whenever is necessary, but never to get a true workout on the water. Anyway, for the past month now I've been working out about twice a week. The exact amount to never improve or get used to it. What it means is that I'm slow and grumbly during the workout, then sort by the end of that day, unable to move the following day, and by the time I recover two days late I decided I really should go get a run in, or bike around town that day, play a soccer game, or, I guess, row.

I cannot understand how I possibly competed in that sport. My back was pinched, my butt was sore, and my calves felt as if they were ripping off as I attempted to hold back my slide. Plus, we were nowhere close to hard pressure. Even taking into consideration that I was in a boat with four brand new rowers, I felt horrible.

My rowing body may be long gone, but the spirit remains. The feeling I had today was a determination to insure that working with the novice team this year be my continual reminder and motivator. I'd really like to take advantage of coaching practices by joining in on as many workouts as possible.

My statement of affirmation -
I will be fit!

Semenya

My initial feeling on this issue is sadness. I feel sad that she has to deal with this, instead of celebrating her amazing win.

My initial thought is of Bolt. No one is questioning his 'maleness' when he breaks his own world records. Or Lance Armstrong. No one says, 'Test his gender. Test his hormone levels, or chemical make-up, or genetics.' What does this mean exactly? What level are women held to? Or, not held to?

I feel proud to identify with her as a woman.

A quote from Feministing.com

Alice Dreger, a professor of medical humanities and bioethics at Northwestern University, appropriately, has the last word in the NYT article, and I'll give it to her here as well: "At the end of the day, they are going to have to make a social decision on what counts as male and female, and they will wrap it up as if it is simply a scientific decision. And the science actually tells us sex is messy. Or as I like to say, 'Humans like categories neat, but nature is a slob.' "

On another note about my pride for my gender -

Thanks for taking us seriously! (see also 'dripping with satire')

Left, Right & Center - KCRW

Left, Right & Center - KCRW

Shared via AddThis

Did anyone hear 'This American Life' last Sunday?

I love this program!

Harlem Children's Zone

The organization has been around since the 70s, and the current was program started in Harlem by a man named Geoffrey Canada who was social worker in the area for decades. He got tired of the cycle. This constant influx of children coming into his program - he worked with teens, helping increase high school graduation rates - and the whole time he could help one at a time, start with one kid and go from there. We all know what that feels like. You form this amazing relationship; you bond with these kids; you teach them, help them, learn from them; and then they move on. And another child comes in... someone is so eerily similar to so many you've seen before. So the way the NPR interview took it, Canada was sick of this and thought

'What is the tipping point?'

How many children in this neighborhood, how many people, will we have to affect and change before reading, school, healthy activities, a healthy family becomes the norm. And so he went big. Forget one at a time. Let's help thousands. No. Let's help tens of thousands.

The program that I love so much is all about schooling. There is a 'Baby college' that parents can enter with their newborns to learn the basics of parenting. Things like bathing them regularly, feeding them the right things, that time outs are better than corporal punishment, kids need to hear language from day one, that even babies should be read to daily. These are things that middle class families know. They know them either because their parents did these things, or they see a show about doing these things, they read books or magazines about these things. But this culture is lost to families who are surrounded by poverty. Then from there, HCZ has opened charter schools that run all the way through high school. The statistics are amazing. Over 95% of the first group, of 3rd graders, tested at or above grade level, and a huge majority tested above average on state tests.

Apparently it is relatively well-known, although the first time I heard of it was the other day on the podcast. I guess I should have listened more to Obama's campaign promises.

That's right, for everyone who just took time to read the web site and fall in love with it as much as I did, Obama noted this program in early campaign speeches and promised to expand and fund it in 20 major cities around the country. I haven't been able to find exact info on when, how, where but apparently there is a bill heading to Congress this fall.
Here's some info to start - Obameter at Politifact.com


I think I just may work for one of these programs one day.

i have a blog?

I really have no answer for the above question. As in - WHY do I have a blog? HOW will I maintain this blog? WHAT is this blog for?

But, I thought about it and thought about it and then I did it. That process is sort of the norm for me. Doing things after just a couple of thoughts about it.

The title comes from my (perhaps) biggest pet peeve. If dishwashers are loaded incorrectly then they absolutely can't clean the dishes and their entire purpose is obsolete. Anyway, in order to not mislead you, my first post will be about just that. After extensive and thorough research, I will attempt to give concise and easy instructions on

... how to load the dishwasher:

Step 1: The pre-rinse
This step may vary depending on the type of food, the way it was cooked, and the type of dishwasher. Baked on foods may require soaking for a few hours in some dishwashers, while others will remove all types of food residue (those with the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval".) The least amount of work this should require is scraping off all hard, solid foods with a fork into the trash or disposal. The less water used in this step the better!

Step 2: Where does it all go?
Plates - in the horizontal slots on the bottom rack; always face the dirty side inwards. If they do slant, plates should lean in and down.
Bowls - stacked horizontally on the top rack at an incline - to insure the inside surface is accessible to water jets and they can all drain.
Cups - behind the vertical slots, not over them. This ensures they too sit at a slant, this time leaning backwards, for better cleaning.
Utensils - place handle down, so the dirty part is better accessible, except for sharp knives (for safety sake.) Never place good knives, and none with wooden handles, in the dishwasher as it can dull them. Try to have them equally spread out and a random mix of each type placed together so they do not nest and prevent cleaning.
Large utensils - lay across the rows in the top rack, large spoons always facing down.
Tuperware - on the top rack, because most heating elements are on the bottoms of dishwashers. This prevents possible melting
Pots/Pans - place these face down on the bottom rack.
Cutting boards - along the back and bottom, behind the plates if they do not fit in the same slots.

Step 3: what did I forget?
A few notes - these may differ depending on dishwashers -
- you may not always need to fill both soap containers; save the soap if just one works well
- if your dishwasher provides a jet dry or vinegar holder, fill and check this about once a month to prevent spotting
- run your disposal and some hot water before starting the dishwasher - they often drain into the same place, and the dishwasher works best with water about 120 degrees F
- use the lowest setting possible - the heavy duty or pot scrubber settings use more water and more energy
- always run a full, but not over full, load


On a final note, I promise to never again have an entire post about cleaning dishes. Scouts honor.