Thursday, December 31, 2009

"We'll take a cup of kindness yet...."

2009, you were kind of a bitch.

I know I'm not the only one who felt this way.

I also know that, in your own harsh way, you were just trying to make us all a little bit better and stronger - in the way we perceive, live, and love.

And with that, here's a last look at 2009 via Facebook Status.


Though I will not miss you, thank you, 2009.

Here's to 2010 and all the hope it brings!


Sunday, December 27, 2009

Travels: West Coast Christmas 2009

Just thought I would log the travels thus far for this bloggie.

December 23rd Departure
Though we were slightly delayed in our travels, we were very happy to leave this:

Stop-over in Denver...completely re-routed!

We had a lot of open space on the flight, however.  The boyfriend and I got an isle all to ourselves for the entire flight, and slept most of the way.  But I got some really neat views of clouds and icy terrain.

Cloud landscape


Icy landscape

Overall, we were very impressed by the way Southwest handled the weather problems.  The staff were fabulous, even if they weren't scheduled to be there!  Our bags made it to LA safe and sound.  Yay, Southwest!

Loves!

Doggies!
The majority of my vacation pictures will be of doggies.  I miss being around them so much, and I will just have to keep waiting since they aren't allowed in our apartment.

But at least there's these cuties in L.A.

My Tita Agnes' Menagerie


Sitka - Tita Ame's Big Baby


Garrison and Charlie - My parents' really hairy child and my sister's new love

Christmas Eve
We celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve.  Food is abundant.  Family is present.  Presents are distributed at midnight.

Family and Filipino Food - what more could I ask for?

Up Next on the Itinerary:  Coastal Driving and Wining



Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas! War is Over (if you want it)!

As I'm spending my first Christmas with my boyfriend in Los Angeles, surrounded by my loud and obnoxious yet wonderful Filipino family, I wanted to share some sentiments from John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Tagalog



I love giving gifts.  Even when my mom would ask, "Why are you giving gifts to those people when they're not giving you anything?"  I gave anyway.

Though I try to be very conscious of the variety of holidays and I'm not at all religious, I credit my family's celebration of Christmas for this need to give to people.  Somehow, this feeling of giving expanded to my becoming a social worker.  I love the whole notion of empowerment and showing people how they can have some control over their own situations.

So, interwebs, this post is a gift to you.  A wish that you have a happy holiday and a reminder that even the most unattainable things are within reach (if you want it).

Happy Holidays!

p.s. Yoko is looking for more languages!  So click on the link at the beginning of the post to see if a language you're familiar with is missing!



Wednesday, December 23, 2009

City Sights - Exactly what are you selling me?

As my boyfriend and I are flying to Los Angeles for the holidays, here's an L.A. edition of City Sights.


In a city focused on and run by the media, marketing executives really have to get very creative about getting their information to the masses.  But, sometimes, you just aren't very sure about what's really being advertised.

Here are 2 strange advertisements in the City of Angels.


Giant Baby Heads and Helmets?
Near Wilton and Wilshire
July 2009
I learned after that they were public service announcements about keeping your kids safe.
But when you're just casually driving down through Koreatown, this can be quite a frightening sight coming at you.
You just can't be too sure about what's happening in K-town.



 
Chickens Selling...Chickens?
Near 8th and Vermont
December 2008
Now, I really have no idea what's happening here.
Is this a plug for a restaurant?  A market?  A joke shop?
Or is this a threat of what's to come when the apocalypse arrives?


Oh, Los Angeles.  You crack me up.

I can't wait to land in the warm weather (flip flops already prepped as they make security lines that much easier).  I can't wait to see my friends and family, and meet new little ones that just joined our world not too long ago.  I can't wait for all the delicious (Filipino) food that I plan to stuff my face with.

Oh, Los Angeles.  Hello again.



Monday, December 21, 2009

Toesies of the Month - December 2009

The December blizzard has finally arrived.  Seems like it hits pretty hard around this time every year.

My theory is that the City of Boston knows that it's losing the majority of its population to the holidays.  So many of the students leave for winter break, I'm sure the City feels lonely.  But Boston is somewhat passive-aggressive.

Sometimes it will snow, as it did on the 20th, and the City is successful in holding on to its inhabitants for just a little longer.  But, us pesky humans manage to get away.  While Boston is happy that it's not completely desolate, it's still angry at all of us who leave.

Boston has one more chance to mess with us:  Our return flight.  If somehow Boston manages not to thwart the departure, you can bet that the City will call the Snow Gods over for an extended stay right around the time when the vacationers return.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Unemployment Files: Not the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

As if things weren't any more difficult, another thing gets piled on to the list of things that just aren't going well.  I'm starting to wonder if maybe it's because I'm the bad luck that's walking around.  I don't want to be all negative about this, so I'm going to get that part out of the way.  I promise to end on a more positive note.

Let's review the facts, shall we?

Thursday, December 17, 2009

BEST got milk? commercial EVER

As I sit here, enjoying some Candy Cane Joe-Joe's with a glass of milk, I think of my most favoritest "got milk?" commercial EVER.

I think it's worth reintroducing it into this world.  So here it is.  You're welcome.


Got Milk? from Jason Wilson on Vimeo.



Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Community in Los Angeles

I love L.A.  For me, it means home, family, warmth.  For a long time, I've chosen not to live in L.A. because I'm sure that I might not want to leave again.

But, when I start my own little family, I know I want to be in the City of Angels.  Not only will I have lots of free babysitting options (between my bazillion relatives and my amazing friends), but I want my children to be surrounded by the Filipino and Los Angeles culture.

"What Los Angeles culture?" you might be saying.  "Isn't Los Angeles just full of non-Los Angelenos working their way into show business?  Or it's full of movie stars and rich people and undocumented immigrants?"

Mermaid Collages: Algea Lingerie

For some reason, I have a magazine subscription to Elle that I have no recollection anymore of purchasing.

It's possible that years and years ago, I signed up for one of those random subscriptions that included Elle....but it has never expired.  I feel like they somehow keep renewing the subscription without me knowing.  And how they managed to follow me when I moved from apartment to apartment...no clue...

But, I used it as an opportunity to collect little clippings and fun ads.  Of course when anything was said or insinuated about mermaids, I would clip that little bit out.  I have tons of little clippings about mermaids, the ocean, or the color green sitting in my journal...waiting for the right time to connect with the glue stick.



"The vocabulary word for this back-to-school month is algeabra- the single biggest lingerie problem facing mermaids."

That little bit makes me giggle to this day.  It's so cheesy!  Even for Elle!

Now, I don't claim to be any artist.  These are just extensions of my mermaid doodles.  But I had fun with them.


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

City Sights - "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas"

I love the holidays. The songs, the gift-giving, and the awesome holiday-themed movies. With Channukah in full force and Christmas merely a week away, here's some fun pictures I've snapped around the city.



First Snowfall in December
Allston Parking Lot
December 6, 2009



Santa Speedo Run Hits the Floor on Boylston St.
December 12, 2009
 

 
Live Carolers Amidst Live Wires
Tremont St., South End
December 6, 2009


Saturday, December 12, 2009

Princesses and White Knights In our Midst...In Reality

What happens when princesses and white knights enter the current dating world?  And what if they're in a time and age of flux, like their 20's?

I've talked a lot about Saturn's Return in this blog, as I've been exploring how it's affected my life and the lives of others.  Many of my friends who belong to the same age bracket are going through major life changes - babies, weddings, moving to different cities or parts of the country, and losing or getting a new job.

Even more so, I've had friends who've gone through major shifts in their dating relationships.  Perhaps since we are all maturing, settling, and/or "growing up," things NEED to shift to make way for whatever new collective experiences there will be.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Princesses and White Knights In our Midst...At the Strip Club

This past summer, I happened to be in a Spearmint Rhino club (which is a strip club for all of you who might not know) in the Los Angeles area for a bachelorette party, and the social work part of me got to thinking.

Well, firstly, I needed to really put my morals and ethics in check.

I for one am of the point of view that if you can use the system to benefit you, then more power to you.  If it's the best way for you to make money, because of school, family, whatever, then so be it.  But there is definitely a part of me that recognizes that it is unfortunate that stripping is the best and fastest way for these women to make money, that it could be their only option, and that the system that created it was based on the male need to get off.

Secondly, for some strange reason, I got to thinking about their costumes, and was curious about whether they bought it elsewhere or made it themselves.  I mean, what a craft!  That's some sewing skills that they could really put to good use somewhere.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Talking Tunes - "I Wanna Know Your Name" by The Intruders

My morning ritual goes something like this:
-Hit snooze for a half hour
-Hit the bathroom
-Drink some water, and take my allergy medicine and vitamins
-Watch local news from 6:30-7:00am
-Grab some coffee and check emails

-Switch over to Music Choice's Classic R&B channel (mainly because the boyfriend can't stand the Today show)

 
Now, the Classic R&B channel is great.  Lots of great music, and I discover all this awesome music that I probably wouldn't have ever sought out before.  The music ranges from R&B, soul, and funk - many of which gets sampled in so many songs I heard on the radio growing up. 

Once in a while, a song comes along and grabs my attention.  Not necessarily because I'm grooving to it or feeling it...but because someone starts talking!  Possibly to me, the listener!  

Sunday, December 6, 2009

City Sights - Modes of Transportation

Just wanting to share random sights around Boston.

Here's two that I've been excited about sharing:


Going down Commonwealth Ave. towards Boston University.  April 25, 2009.
Goodness knows where they were going, but the poor guy was pedaling so hard, 
probably because her shoes were so freakin' heavy!
At one point, they reached a stop light.  She proceeded to get off the bike and cross the street, while the bike waited for the light.  The light turned green, he caught up to her, and she hopped right back on.  



Why, yes...that is a minivan with spinners.
Parked in the Allston Stop & Shop lot.  November 25, 2009.
I really don't have anything to say about this one...



Tuesday, December 1, 2009

My Mythological Dating Type

Today, this blessed first day of December, I finally received Wood Nymph Seeks Centaur:  A Mythological Dating Guide by Francesca Lia Block in the mail.

I have been waiting patiently for my Amazon.com package.  I would eagerly check the mail when I got home from work, checking all over the foyer for packages and even examining packages that don't have my name on it.

When I realized the package had finally arrived, I basically tore it open as I waited for the elevator.

So, after a bit of reading, re-reading, tallying, and re-tallying, I realized that I don't fit neatly into one category (when have I ever?).  I don't fit neatly into a simple combination either.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Missing Yet Thankful


When the holidays arrive, I get extremely homesick.

Even after the holidays, when the snow settles in blocks of sludge on street corners and my breath proceeds my every step, bicoastal living doesn't seem as attractive.

Things are just..very different.  When I look at pictures of my family, I can't help but feel this slight ache at not being part of the pictures.  Family here in Boston is just...very different. 

Friday, November 27, 2009

Toesies of the Month - November 2009

I had been eyeing this salon for a while.  It's right down the street from where I work, and it's slightly closer to my house than Dana's Salon (exactly 0.6 miles closer, to be exact).  But reviews on Yelp.com were not very favorable.

In the name of research, I decided to go for it anyways.

Not bad.  I decided to go for a full session of spa pedicure, eyebrow wax, and Brazilian wax.  Personally, and I believe I've mentioned this before, I think the Vietnamese have the whole nail designs down.  But, I've usually gotten a Brazilian wax from someone who's Brazilian.  Weird, I know.  I guess it's a horrible over-generalization on my part....but, that's just how I've done it.

Let's start with first impressions:  definitely a multi-service business packed into a relatively small space.  There was a manicure section tucked behind the front counter, and the nail dryers were to the side of the front counter.  The spa pedicure chairs were behind another wall, giving a somewhat "spa" feeling that you're separated from the rest of the salon.  The spa chairs...well...there were 3 of them...but they were somewhat dirty.  I mean, there were some stains around the foot basin.  Well, I went for it anyway.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

What's In a Name?

Names have power.

Naming things has power - for better or for worse.

Names can be changed in order to remove or increase power.

Names are identity.

I personally love my name, in all its Filipino-ness, 274th in popularity, Simon & Garfunkel ode-inspired, and significance.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Mermaid Collages: Silent Textile

When I was first exploring the mythology of mermaids, I was well into journaling.

While it was also a personal diary, I experimented with the pages.  I had a steady collection of magazine clippings that thickened up the journal, and they were begging to be cut up into bits.  Now, I don't claim to be an artist or anything.  But, I just wanted to share.

Not Cool, Driver...Not Cool...

As I'm biking home today from a non-profit seminar, I almost get side-swiped by a crazy driver.

The signal was of a green arrow going straight and going to the right.  But, as I keep biking straight on, this driver proceeds to right hook me.  I felt his side view mirror graze my arm, and I was literally pushed to the side as he made his slow right turn.

I wasn't hurt.  My bike wasn't hurt.

I was in absolute disbelief.  Even as he proceeded to look back at me as he drove away.  Absolute disbelief.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Local Boston Holiday Shopping Guide

Shopping is such fabulous therapy.

It's even better when you can support local and/or small artisans.

Here's my guide to finding one-of-a-kind items for your gift-giving purposes:


Sunday, November 8, 2009

Inked: Loves and Ideas

Those with tattoos know that one thing is true:  It's very hard to stop at one.

At 18, I got my first one.  It was my birthday present.  I drew and designed it myself.  And I cried like a baby (seriously...my first one at the top of my spine?? It hurt like hell...). But I love it!

Cake and Tattoo

My Mermaid

For about two weeks, I was able to hide it from my parents.  Unfortunately, I traveled home two weeks after getting it to become a naturalized American citizen.  The interviewer asked me, with each parent on either side of me, "Do you have any birthmarks or tattoos that would help to identify you?"  Shit.

I started with my birthmark - a reddish blurb on the bottom of my left foot.  I hesitated, but I got nervous about being in a government building.  So, I confessed to the interviewer...and to my parents.  The interviewer was clearly apologetic about exposing me to my parents.  And my parents had never been so angry.  My mom did most of the yelling, and I was saddened that my dad seemed to not know what to say to me.

But it was hilarious, retrospectively of course.

On my 19th birthday, I wanted some more.  I wanted something more to represent who I was.  My ex-boyfriend drew an awesome version of the Aries and Taurus symbols combined - as I am born on the cusp of both.

Cuspy

Again, it hurt as it was on my spine.  And again, I hid this one from my parents as well.  But, my dad visited me one day while I was in college, and he caught a glimpse of it.  All he could say was that my mom would be so angry about it.

I was very conscious about the location of my tattoos.  Both of them were meant to be concealed, so that I would be able to find a "respectable job."  But I was finding that I wanted to see my tattoos.  Now, I'm not as ballsy as getting a sleeve.  But I wanted something that I could display proudly when appropriate.

At around the time I was getting a third itch, I was getting to know my culture again.  I had enrolled in several Asian American Studies courses, one focusing on the Filipino-American culture.  I had known several people who got tattoos of Chinese and Japanese characters, and I knew that I could never do that as it did not represent my own culture.  After some research, I decided that I would get a tattoo of my name in Baybayin.
Baybayin, a pre-Filipino script, is a syllabary script. 

I considered the implications of getting my name, which has a Latin root, in a non-Western script.  In actuality, since Baybayin is a syllabary, the script shows how my name sounds:  "se-si-li-a."  Often, people would get a tattoo of a word or a phrase that they strongly feel for.  But at 21, I felt like all I could really stand for was who I was and am.  I'm still very proud of this tattoo.

As the years passed, I gathered a lot of interesting questions about my tattoos.  Most of the time, only a little section of my mermaid was visible, and people would come up with a variety of things that it could be.  People also asked if it was "finished," since most tattoos are full pictures or completely shaded in.  It's finished - though, more recently, I've thought of making her bigger.

People also like to believe that I'm crazy enough to get a tattoo representing a significant other and myself - as in the Aries-Taurus symbols represent a relationship of mine.  I'm personally one to believe that you are just asking for Murphy's Law to slap you in the face if you get a tattoo representing someone other than yourself, your parents, your children/pets, or someone who's passed.

My personal favorite comment is when people ask if the tattoo on my wrist says, "Bub-t.v."  I mean...what?  I guess I see where they're coming from...but, for seriously?  Interestingly, the tattoo artist who put this on me asked if I wanted it facing other people, as it was customary for arm tattoos to be easy for others to read.  I thought this was an interesting suggestion.  I wasn't getting the tattoo for anyone other than myself, so why should other people have an easier time reading it?

Regardless of the comments, this unfortunately hasn't been the end of my body art.

At 26, as my 4 year anniversary of living in Boston, I accepted that I am bicoastal.  At this point, I have grown to love living in Boston, though I know that I will eventually move back to the West Coast.  I thought long and hard about this tattoo, and it had gone through a variety of iterations before it happened.  I thought about east and west, sunrise and sunset.

I loved the way tattoos look on ankles and feet, but was told that it was not a recommended location as the skin sloughs off faster.  Valuing longevity, I opted for the ankles.  I couldn't convince anyone to draw it up for me, but I knew what I was going for:  Tattoos representing where I've been, helping me root myself.
Bicoastal with Philippine Sun Rising and Setting.

I'm still struggling with my itchy feet, so I feel that if I can acknowledge where I've been, it will feel less difficult to travel to new places.  Originally, I wanted the sunrise and sunsets to be over the ocean - naturally.  But, I was having a hard time finding major differences between the two phenomenons.  In Google searches, there was very little difference - except for their location.  I realized that foliage was a major part of the location, as it also related to the "rooting" of my feet.  And though I wanted to stay as natural as possible, when I saw the drawings of the cities, I couldn't say no.

This tattoo involved some travel.  At this point, I warned my parents ahead of time, and they couldn't do anything about it.  My west coast tattoo, featuring the palm tree and City of Angels in the background, was designed and done in Los Angeles.  My east coast tattoo, featuring the elm tree and City of Boston in the background, was designed and done in Allston.  I love them both.

With this one, I've also gotten comments about the geography and how other people view them.  "They're on the wrong legs," someone once said.  I got them based on if I were facing North, or if I was looking at a map.  My favorite comment was complimentary, stating, "It's like you're straddling the country."

I fear that this is not the end of my itch for tattoos, however.

I've been trying to convince my best friend to design a tattoo for me for years.  Preferably, I would like something representing my musical nature.  Though I'm out of practice, I still love the upright bass.  When I have more money and time, I'd love to take it up again.  I love the idea of getting the f-holes, but I feel like it's a standard thing musicians do.

I want my f-holes to be mermaids.  It would be somewhat artsy, but the foundation of it would be those f-holes.  I would also want them to be smaller and on my forearms instead of on my back or waist as many others do.  This obviously calls into question the whole idea of being inconspicuous.  I don't want to banish myself to long-sleeved shirts forever.  Nonetheless, it's something that's on my list of ideas.

Most recently, I've reignited my thoughts about getting lyrics with music notes.  My love for The Beatles has helped guide me in this idea.  Though I find it difficult to use others words or words in general, I feel like I've stumbled onto my next tattoo.

While there are some classic lyrics such as "All You Need is Love," I feel like that's not what represents me.  My favorite lyrics come from the last Beatles lyrics:
"The End"

I feel like this is the most true for me.  So, I did some research.  Again, I would like to see this tattoo - as a constant reminder of my personal truth.  I think it would be awesome to incorporate the music notes somehow, perhaps with the actual bars of phrasing as well.  I always thought it would be neat to have bars of music on my wrists, with the notes reflecting the treble and bass clefs on the right and left, respectively.

Then I remembered a specific mudra in yoga, the one I felt very connected with.  After some Googling, I found that it was actually two mudras often combined in many Buddha and Quan Yin statues.  The right hand faces forward with fingers upward in the abhaya mudra, which is meant to signify fearlessness.  The left hand also faces forward with fingers downward in the varada mudra, which is meant to signify fully giving of oneself.

It just seems appropriate to have "and in the end, the love you take" on the right and "is equal to the love you make" on the left.  Doesn't it?

Now, these are just ideas.  And I'm in no position to be spending money on tattoos right now.  But, I'm quite excited about this idea.  Maybe it's something I'll get for my 30th birthday - hopefully the end of my Return of Saturn phase.  Maybe it's something I'll get when a major change occurs.

But, as with all my current and future tattoos, I believe these things take time, thinking, and planning.  The beginning has come and gone...and now I'm just waiting for the end.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Gripping the Grass Roots - The Aftermath of a 3-Week Push

We did it!!!  The event came and went....and now it's over as though it were a fleeting dream.

In true social work fashion, I will now list the Challenges, Strengths, and Suggestions for the Dark Reverie:  A Masquerade Ball.

Challenges:
  • Having only 3 weeks to fully plan the event.
  • Difficulty communicating with representatives of the space, which lead to postponing the event at  first.
  • Not being able to get a liquor license which would have allowed us to sell the alcohol.
  • Competing with multiple events, as I heard from multiple people.
  • Arriving to the venue late.
  • General late start = later end.
  • Lacking sleep for all those 3 weeks of planning.
  • Space was small, but manageable.  When it was full of people, it felt very crowded.
  • Difficult to keep track of the exact numbers, and couldn't get people to write down their information.
  • Some confusion over the amount of raffle items.
  • B forgot a lot of his equipment, and he was grumpy about it the whole night (but it was fine since there was very little time for him to actually "DJ" anything).
  • Street parking was tough.
  • Only 2 accounts of people not being generous in their donations.
  • Dance space was somewhat small.  Dancers were concerned about the cords and musical equipment.
  • Crowded room prevented people in the back from seeing performances.

Packed with Halloween Do-gooders!
Strengths:
  • Successful event overall!
  • My guess is that 50 people attended.
  • Halloween worked in our favor, for the most part.
  • B was able to provide the perfect transition music between the sets, before the show started, and when we were cleaning up.
  • My team of people helping (especially J and G) were lifesavers! All the help they provided made sure I didn't go completely crazy - from the planning phase to the cleaning up afterwards!
  • J's flier!  It was a hit among a lot of people!
  • G getting there first with the beer, helping to organize the space.
  • J's luminary bags, home-made masks, love of costumage - which made the photobooth fun!
  • The Photobooth!  Though it got stuck at one point, it was so much fun and others seemed to enjoy it.
  • The location was great!  Close to 2 major T stops.
  • Though time went about an hour later than we anticipated, everyone was very cordial and conscious about it.
  • G and P as bartenders!  They were great!  I didn't hear of anything bad happening.
  • J handled the door superbly!  It didn't seem like there were a lot of people waiting outside the door or waiting for too long at the front table.
  • Having multiple "helpers" throughout the room - we made sure the space was being treated with respect and that people weren't being rude or rowdy.
  • There were at least 8-10 people who came in off the street.
  • Having multiple donations!  At least 12 different individuals and businesses donated to the raffle and silent auction.
  • Many raffle items collected by others who weren't the organizers - it helped to spark conversations between people.
  • All the entertainment was fabulous!  I heard great feedback from people in the crowd about all the performers.  
  • Belly dancers mesmerized, and musicians rocked it!  Very eclectic music.
  • Optional seats were good for people who wanted to sit.
  • Crowd in general was very eclectic, but very connected to either the cause or to the performers and organizers.
  • Raising over $950!!!!!

Testing Testing 1 2 3...
Suggestions:
  • Secure location and date first, then confirm with performers.
  • Regardless of availability of alcoholic beverages, confirm with venue about license issues - early!!
  • Have more time to plan!
  • Check out and measure the space before event.
  • Themes make events fun!
  • Do it again!  Bigger and better, maybe?  Or even multiple small events (thought that might kill me).
  • Think about getting hired to do this - maybe even start up something and hire the people who were part of my committee?
  • Sleep more, stress less.

 Ta da!

The amount of money raised, though not significant to saving the entire organization, is significant because every bit helps us right now.  For something that was only planned in 3 weeks to make about $1000 is significant in and of itself.  It makes me think, "Hmmm...so what if I had more time to plan something like this?  What would the result be?"

Really, though, I'm quite proud of all of it.  I and others worked very hard to make sure the event was a success.  And though I ended up almost losing my voice in the weekend after the event, it was a very satisfying way to end October and start November.

Now, I feel like I can sleep earlier, stress less, and take care of myself a hell of a lot more.

I deserve it.



Saturday, October 31, 2009

Toesies of the Month - October 2009

So...I'm  late....

and I didn't ask the ladies what their names were.....

but here they are...


 Nail Technician Unknown, Julie's Nail Salon, Brookline, MA
Color:  OPI - Let's Go for the Gold
Occasion:  Halloween
October 2009

I don't really have any good reason for forgetting to ask their names.  It's been a stressful month, and I haven't really had the time or money to get my nails did.  So, when I settled into the spa chair, I nearly forgot that I had to quickly do some more running around for the Dark Reverie Masquerade as soon as I was certain my nails were dry enough to survive being put in shoes again.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Gripping the Grass Roots - It's Best and Worst In One Event

I've never been one to give up easily.

So much so, that I get very stubborn.

Michael Jackson once said, "I'm a lover, not a fighter."

Well...it turns out that I'm both.  Especially when something or someone I care for is under attack.

Most people think that if an organization is lacking funds that they should just go and apply for grants.  It's really much more difficult than that.  Most grants don't apply to the current fiscal year, and they're all so highly competitive.

GRASSROOTS

Personally, I think that going grassroots is another way to raise money.  You get the community's support, and you get the organizations name out there.  Word of mouth can be a very powerful thing.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

CSA Adventures: "All We Are Saying Is Give Pizza a Chance"

So, since the first couple of times that we made our own pizza, we really enjoyed the process and the result.  In the past month, because it was so easy to grab fresh pizza dough from Clear Flour Bakery while getting our veggies from our farmshare pick up.


 Playing with Dough!


With the farmshare ending on October 11th, we've celebrated our last couple of weeks of fresh veggies and breads by combining them into pizza form.  Now, eating pizza every week has the potential to be very bad for your health.  Perhaps if we were to have tons of meats on the pizza every week, we'd be in serious cardio attack alley.  But, we used mainly fresh ingredients, and treated ourselves to some delicious meals.

Without further ado, I introduce to you our Nice and Naughty Pizzas.

Butternut Squash, Caramelized Onions, and Goat Cheese Pizza (Click here for the recipe!)



Sweet and Delicious!

I was SUPER excited about getting butternut squash in the farmshare!  I haven't ever really eaten it until I moved to Boston, but I fell in love with it when I did.  I'd have to credit Giacomo's Restaurant in the North End for my love for the butternut squash.  There's always a line in front of that restaurant, though they have a sister restaurant in the South End.  But the butternut squash ravioli makes waiting so worth it.  To quote my friend Jenny, they're "pillows of heaven."  No joke.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Brain Wrinkles - Meese and Beavers

I love geeking out on science stuff.  Though I know it's not necessarily true, for a while I believed that you gain a new wrinkle whenever you learned something knew.  So, every once in a while when there's nothing on TV, I like to see what's on the Science Channel or Discovery Channel or National Geographic.

On weekends, there's usually stuff about the universe - stars, planets, dark matter.  I love all of it!

It's neat to learn about things that I don't deal with every day.  I think it helps ground me, if that makes any sense.  It's humbling.  Thought I don't claim to be anything other than what I am, it's nice to be reminded of who I am and what my place is in this world.

 
<-----My Brain Wrinklies


On one recent weekday evening, there was nothing on once again.  Luckily, the Discovery Channel Networks are On Demand.  My mind gets blown by all the wonderous facts about nature and the universe, and I feel this need to share this new found information with others.  Unfortunately, my boyfriend is often watching the same thing as I am, so it would be ridiculous to share my new found brain wrinklies with him.

So, I figured this is the best place for me to share my little brain wrinklies.

As a city girl, I don't claim to be anything more than that.  I don't really come into contact with meese or beavers.  What I know of them, I've seen in movies.  Even then, the only ones I can think of are from Disney cartoons.



Thursday, October 8, 2009

Hanging On As A Fool

Hang On Little Tomato
by Pink Martini


The sun has left and forgotten me
It’s dark, I cannot see
Why does this rain pour down
I’m gonna drown
In a sea
Of deep confusion


Somebody told me, I don’t know who
Whenever you are sad and blue
And you’re feelin’ all alone and left behind
Just take a look inside and you will find


You gotta hold on, hold on through the night
Hang on, things will be all right
Even when it’s dark
And not a bit of sparkling
Sing-song sunshine from above
Spreading rays of sunny love


Just hang on, hang on to the vine
Stay on, soon you’ll be divine
If you start to cry, look up to the sky
Something’s coming up ahead
To turn your tears to dew instead


And so I hold on to his advice
When change is hard and not so nice
If you listen to your heart the whole night through
Your sunny someday will come one day soon to you

********************


Like I mentioned before, I've been trying to stay extremely positive about all the funding cut from th organization I work for.  Everyone's been telling me to be rational...start looking for a job NOW...apply for unemployment benefits...fundraise...volunteer...

So.  My resume is updated.  I've signed up for unemployment benefits.  I still feel like I can't exactly sit around in my apartment spending time staring at the same job search results.  So.  I'm "volunteering" at my organization.  In the best of situations, something substantial comes up and I can finish my year with them.  In the worst of situations, I will continue to volunteer until the end of the month...I will keep supervising my intern...and I'll just keep searching til something happens.

I don't think people have understood, though I know they come with the best intentions.  Not that I don't appreciate the help and support and the emails with job postings attached.  But here's how it is:


If I'm a fool for sticking around because of my passion...then let me be that fool.  I can't just work at some place without truly believing in it.  I can't just suck it up and plug in at some heartless soulless job.  I can't NOT interact with the people I'm helping .  And you know what....I won't.  I would be miserable and would thus suck at that job.


The Hanged Man and The Fool


Support me...help me when I ask for it (and maybe sometimes when I'm too stubborn to ask for it)...but allow me my foolishness.

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