Off to the East!

First stop, Pittsburgh, to see my brother and sis-in-law!

Then NYC for a wedding!

And finally, Boston,  to see my dear friends, Nicole and Kathryn...and to take a ghost tour of the city, and a literary tour of Concord...and lots more!

I think my blogging will be sporadic, but more likely non-existent until October 9th!

Note: I don't leave SLC until this coming Sunday morning. So if any of you want to play, I'm still around for a couple more days!

Please Pass It On

Starting October 1, 2008 an army brigade will be used for "homeland security" here in the states. This has been something illegal...until now. I think I'm now sick beyond measure. Read this article here that I got from Chris. I hope you don't just brush this off as over-reacting or a "conspiracy theory" (which I get a lot). Do some reading/research for yourself. I think it should be mandatory that everyone study history. It is so so true that history repeats itself. I think most historians have some sort of complex because they feel ignored and unheard. Please listen to historians! This sort of stuff is what leads to all sorts of crazy things. Anyway, I'll stop my ranting and raving. For now.

Small Town Lovelies

Engh Gardens:Blossoms & Foliage

This morning my mom and I took a little trip to her favorite nursery. It was such a treat to get out of the house to see such beautiful plants and flowers. I wish we were all gardeners. I think it would bring so much more peace into our lives. 

Engh Gardens:Fall Fest

Engh Gardens has a super fun area dedicated to Halloween fun for kids (and I guess for adults too--since my mom and I enjoyed it ourselves!). They have a pirate ship, a hay-maze, and plenty of props for good photos! If I had kids I bring them here every day!

Lunch Break!

Yesterday I went to lunch with my mom, my sister, and my sister's husband. We went to a classic Draper burger/shake joint. Mmmm. I haven't done that in a while. After we ate that food (notice that sweet salad!) my stomach reminded me why that food is not good for you! Anyway, I had a lot of fun with my family!

Frank Gehry In Utah?

The man, himself.

Guggenheim, Bilbao, Spain

Dancing House, Prague

Disney Concert Hall

The Point, Lehi, Utah

Plans have been revealed for Gehry's architectural plans for a development at the Point of the Mountain in Lehi. We've been hearing about this for years. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I know I love Frank Gehry. Part of me is definitely honored and excited to have such a fantastic architect/artist take interest in little ol' Utah. However, I never do like development. But I guess that land would have been developed despite my protests...so I must say that I'd rather Frank Gehry be in charge than Ivory Homes. Read about the plans here. 

The Bee Catastrophe

Started reading A Spring Without Bees last night. If you haven't heard about the insane number of bees dying off...where have you been? This book explains possible reasons for their disappearance, and what this means to us as humans. 

And so it's no real surprise that the simplistic and crude ways we've taken to using chemicals are now helping to do them [the bees] in. Think about the humming, unfolding, minutely timed operation of a bee colony, and then compare it with the blunt stupidity of some new agrochemical industry compound designed, well, to kill everything with six legs. Are you really surprised that they end up killing more than we want them to?

The reason for all those pesticides, of course, is that we've replaced human labor on the farm with fossil fuel and chemicals--allowed our agriculture to become huge, industrial, monocultural. It's given us cheap food--and also impoverished rural communities, poisoned water, lots of extra carbon in the atmosphere and lots of extra inches around our middles. And  maybe no more bees.
Then a strange blight crept over the area and everything changed. ...It was a spring without voices. On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens, and scores of other bird voices, there was now no sound; only silence lay yover the fields and woods and marsh...The apple trees bloomed but no bees droned among the blossoms, so there was no pollination and there would be no fruit...No witchcraft, no enemy action had silenced the rebirth of new life in this stricken world. The people had done it themselves...

Concerning Bees in Ancient Egypt...

It was early recognized that the words for bee, Red Crown, and honey, all of which were read the same way, whether as n.t, bi.t orḫb.t,¹⁶ all had feminine endings, the crown itself being "personified as a goddess" and at the same time identical with the Bee.¹⁷ "The word bj.t," Kurt H. Sethe noted, "is to be read as a feminine, with the general meaning of 'the Bee,'"¹⁸ while "the male rulers of Lower Egypt in a later age of development as successors and descendants of this royal Bee were given the name of bi-ty, 'he who belongs to the Bee,' 'the descendantof the Bee.'"¹⁹ Likewise the bee symbol of Min = Horus does not tell us that Min is a bee, but that "Min is he who belongs to the Bee, who stands in relationship to the bee," which greatly puzzles Gauthier.²⁰ In the Leiden Book of Breathings, the succession to the crown is assured when Horus marries the queen bee and takes over the land.²¹ "It is noteworthy," wrote Sethe, "that the masculine god Geb wears in representations of his prehistoric form the Red Crown which properly belongs to his wife."²² In an important formula, Min "unites the power of Horus with that of Seth, who reposes in Thebes and Coptos, and belongs to the Bee."

No Need For Government Bail-out

Warren Buffet is investing $5 BILLION in Goldman Sachs. All of these troubled banks and lenders have offers from other people/companies. Why is the government/congress trying to unload this debt on the American tax payers? Ridiculous. If any of you feel like you're not being heard, like I do, then PLEASE vote for Nader/Gonzalez. I am just disgusted by Congress, Bush, and the two major party candidates: McCain and Obama. What's your breaking point people?

Interesting quote from Ralph Nader's father, Nathra Nader: "Capitalism will always survive in the United States as long as the government is willing to use socialism to bail it out."  He also said, "Congress is the best big business investment in the country...It's one big leveraged sell-out." Please email and call your congressman. These is beyond belief.

Finally, two more Nathra quote that I like, "Don't look down on anyone, and don't be in awe of anyone." and

"Almost everyone will claim they love their country. If that is true, why don't they spend more time improving it?"

A Favorite Poem & Lullabye

Because I could not stop for Death,

He kindly stopped for me;

The carriage held but just ourselves

And Immortality.

We slowly drove, he knew no haste,

And I had put away

My labour, and my leisure too,

For his civility.

We passed the school where children played,

Their lessons scarcely done;

We passed the fields of gazing grain,

We passed the setting sun.

We paused before a house that seemed

A swelling of the ground;

The roof was scarcely visible,

The cornice but a mound

Since then tis centuries; but each

Feels shorter than the day

I first surmised the horses' heads

Were toward eternity.

-Emily Dickinson

I've mentioned before how beautiful I think death is. For some reason this poem (and song sung by Natalie Merchant) is in my heart and mind tonight after a long day of study and research. Perhaps I am ready for rest and sleep...and for something beautiful among so much ugliness in the world. Goodnight, my lovelies.

I Agree With Meltzer

Watching the Jim Lehrer news hour (something rare as I do not own a TV). I agree with Allan Meltzer, of the Carnegie Mellon School of Business. His recommendations for our current economic crisis:

-Give the companies in trouble a loan-that they will have to pay back, with interest

-Do not rush in making a decision

I do not think it is a good idea that we taxpayers pay for this. I think congress is pressing to make a decision this week because they're due for a recess next week. Laziness. I think a whole lot more about this issue (like the CEO's should be held accountable...they are in the position they're in because they are supposed to manage and supervise their companies). AND, finally, where was Congress in the past few years? Why wasn't there more regulation? Why didn't anyone pay attention to Nader and others such as William Greider?

By the way, no mention of Nader on the Jim Lehrer New Hour. Boo.

The Debates: McCain, Obama, & Nader

Oil Shale Not the Answer!

I read this article today that, surprisingly, showed up in the Deseret News. Ceej and I are just two of the millions of people who love the Utah landscape, and do not support oil shale drilling or anything of the sort. Recently Congressman Matheson added to the shale bill--lifting the ban on developing oil shale on federal lands in Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado. Boo. Double Boo. 

Aren't we humans evolved enough to stop polluting and damaging beautiful and sacred places? Please stop driving your cars so much. Please stop buying useless plastic junk. Please move near farmer's markets, co-ops, local bookstores, and restaurants, etc. so you don't have to drive to get there.  Please use things until they are broken beyond repair. Adopt some sort of thrift values. PLEASE.

And one more thing, email Matheson to tell him you do not support him or this bill.

This is what I wrote to him:

Dear Mr. Matheson,
I know you won't read this, which is sad, because you are supposed to be a servant of the people. I know one of your staffers will send me a standard response that says, "I'll do what I want. I don't care to listen to you as a citizen of the community." But I will write nevertheless. I think your oil shale bill is ridiculous. I believe you have no respect for beautiful or sacred spaces. I wish you would protect our land, and put more effort into alternate energy sources. Or better yet, ask more of us citizens. Ask us to drive less, to buy less stuff we don't need. We speak of the Greatest Generation. Why? They knew how to sacrifice. We don't. Please stop trying to drill and develop our beautiful open spaces. I will never vote for you because you do not represent me. You represent developers and drillers. 
Sincerely,
Ann Marie

Safe in Makati!

Ceej is safe in Makati! It is such a relief to have emails from him that all went smoothly, and he got to his hotel safely. Read more about it here. 

Autumnal Equinox Fest

The Band: Mo, Beaux, Phil, Matt, & Mikey

Dancers: everyone!

"The Peacock" dance.

More of the band

I tried to upload one of my favorite songs of all time, written and performed by our good friend, Mo, at the party. But the computer I am using cannot handle the intensity, and is failing to upload it. I'll upload it as soon as I can because it is oh so wonderful! 

Thank you to all who came and participated. I think this was one of my favorite parties we've ever had. We had such good music, good dancing, good poems, good burning man ceremonies, and yummy food. I really feel so grateful for such wonderful friends. Love you all!

Autumnal Equinox Today!

O hushed October morning mild,

Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;

Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,

Should waste them all.

The crows above the forest call;

Tomorrow they may form and go.

O hushed October morning mild,

Begin the hours of this day slow.

Make the day seem to us less brief.

Hearts not averse to being beguiled,

Beguile us in the way you know.

Release one leaf at break of day,

At noon release another leaf;

One from our trees, one far away.

Retard the sun with gentle mist;

Enchant the land with amethyst.

Slow, slow!

For the grapes' sake, if they were all,

Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,

Whose clustered fruit must else be lost--

For the grapes' sake along the wall.

Robert Frost

Happy Birthday Bilbo & Frodo!

September the 22nd. Happy birthday to two wonderful little hobbits who changed the world for the better!

Trust "Certified" Taxis ONLY!

Dropped Ceej off at the airport tonight. Tomorrow morning he'll be making his journey to the Philippines. Neither of us have been. We both have some anxieties. For instance, Ceej was warned to take only "certified" taxis. How do you know they're certified? Look for the cops, and the word "certified" on the taxi. Sheesh. 

Once Ceej arrives at his home for the next two and a half weeks he'll be on a beautiful beach. I'm definitely already missing him.

Autumnal Equinox Prep

Leaving tomorrow morning to the location of our first annual Autumanl Equinox Fest. I hope you are all creating magnificent costumes, and rummaging through recipes to bring your best fall dish (with ginger and/or squash as ingredients). I also hope you've done your homework...I expect to learn more about the Autumnal Equinox than I ever dreamed possible. Can hardly wait.

Photo: Rodney Smith

Free Bread!

Just around the corner is The Bread Store. Last night I ran to get a loaf of ciabatta bread, and was pleasently surprised when they told me that after 5:00 PM it's buy one loaf and get a second one FREE! Yes, please! I got a second loaf for free (it was sourdough FYI).

We're Official Californians!

After a long 3-month epic battle with the California DMV Ceej and I finally got our car registerd and recieved our new license plates! We are no longer out-of-towners. So, though we are officially Californians, I have to admit we'll never quite reach that status in our hearts. I don't think we'd last here more than 3 years...but we'll see.

Too Early?

The weather here is finally cooling down a bit...to the 80's. Sweaters are actually needed in the morning now.

Yesterday I retrieved a few boxes from our storage unit...their contents are my favorite things I own: coats, sweaters, and boots! I can hardly contain my joy over wool, tweed, argyle, herringbone, and boots (wellies, riding, and comfy)! I am ready to bundle up now. So glad I get to go to cooler places in the country within the next few weeks. I plan to overpack my bags with my favorite green wellies, a couple wool coats, my argyle tights, a burnt orange tweed skirt, and a scarf, just in case the east coast wind begins to bite. Oh, fall! You are SOOO close. I'm dying with anticipation. My mind begins racing with excitement...my favorite time of year!!! Fall leaves, cool weather, Autumnal Equinox Fest, Halloween, first snows, fire place in use, Thanksgiving gatherings, then the festivities of Christmas! I love this season of anticipation for such wonderful warm things during the beauty of change and cold.

Film: In This Wood

So I've just met a most wonderful woman via email/blog (must meet her in person someday!). She makes films. This one looks oh so beautiful. The music on the site is great too. Check it out here. It just looks like something I need in life. More beauty.

On the Shire

Most of you already know, or have already guessed, that I am a Lord of the Rings fanatic. I also LOVE medieval history and literature. I just finished listening to a conference where Dr. Janet Blumberg of SPU spoke about the literary background of The Lord of the Rings. I can't get over how well she put it all in perspective. She talked about the Anglo Saxon, Beowulf, the Battle of Maldon, etc. Tolkien's anti-modernism and anti-machine was also discussed--a theme I never tire of hearing. If you have not read the book (please say you haven't just seen the movies!) read it ASAP...read it to your friends and family. It's all about the Shire. It's about faces and names. It's about the beauty of variety, rootedness, and sense of place.

The opening question of one of our Discussion Nights was "what character flaw or personality trait that you have will be the death of you?"...my answer, "disenchantment and disillusionment." I live in my own Middle Earth and get oh so sad when our consumeristic and impersonal lives swallow us whole. Could go on and on, but will stop here.

To Be or Not To Be: Watch it

I doubt you'd see this kind of stuff from Obama or McCain...they take themselves way too seriously, yes? I've been very frustrated today that Nader is getting no coverage AT ALL on any major network. I'll never get over the fact that Nader can't debate with the other candidates. Democracy? Ya right.

Do We Have Any Idea?!

Joan of Arc

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Henry David Thoreau

Rosa Parks

William Wilberforce

Susan B. Anthony

Lately I've been taking quite seriously The Power of One...I think we so often doubt ourselves and the power we have to make things better. All of the people I listed above drastically changed the world we live in for the better. All of them had their vices as well. Isn't this proof enough that we don't have to be the smartest, richest, most popular person to make change? All we have to do is stay at it. I talk to so many people who feel they can't make a difference so they do nothing. This is funny logic to me. Of course nothing will get done if we all sit around doubting ourselves. So I am challenging all of you to take action for all of your causes and beliefs. Do you have any idea how much good you can bring to this earth? I do. So do it.

Tree-herders

It's true. Ents exist. They are tree-herders, making sure that malicious trees behave, keeping you and I as safe as possible when in the forest. They also may allow those harmful trees to lash out at any who hurt the trees in any way. Hoping one day that an Ent will choose to talk to me, and tell me stories about the beginnings of the earth.

Kirtan

Last Friday night Ceej and I went to a kirtan just a couple blocks away led by one of my favorite women, Gangotri. A kirtan is a gathering of people to chant and sing sacred sanskrit mantras. Most of the mantras we sang were in honor of different Hindu gods and divine within ourselves. I loved this kirtan because it was oh so simple and real. There were no gimmicks, and there was indeed a feeling of sacredness. Love it. Hope we get to go to more.

Dreams of Teachers

My favorite things about high school: 1) Art History teacher, Ms. Hughes and 2) English teacher, JudyMac.



Last night Ms. Hughes popped up briefly in my dreams. So glad she did. I think everyone who was in her Art History class decided to major in it their first year of college, but soon dropped out because the professors weren't nearly as good as she was. She, like JudyMac, are the teachers that finally taught me to learn to love learning!

I can still hear and see JudyMac saying "then all smiles stopped together." from Robert Browning's poem, My Last Duchess.

Thank heaven for good teachers. Too bad it took my senior-year-teachers to teach my how to love learning...could have used that a bit earlier! But, alas, I love it now and forever grateful!

Wal-Mart Loses!

We got word last night that the Wal-Mart going in a Salt Lake City neighborhood (Parley's Way) did NOT get approval for a re-zone to put in a SUPER Wal-Mart. All thanks to letters written and protests voiced! The little guys win! So there you have it folks...we CAN make a difference. Thanks to Holly Jo and Hasenpfeffer for going to the meeting to represent all of us!

The photo above is of our "Shop Outside the Box Parade" we put on in downtown SLC last fall. Good times indeed. We need more parades.

Estonia Anyone?

There's something about this country that is pulling me in lately. It is mysterious to me--a quality I am always drawn to. Estonia seems alive to me, more so than other places. And there's something about the entire Baltic sea area. I began to pay attention to Baltic traditions when I first heard Moira Smiley sing an ancient voice at a song-school two years ago. Anyone want to join me in visiting Estonia?

Fur Alina: Arvo Part

This tintinnabuli method of composition is taking over my heart and soul. I hope this clip gives you a better feel for Part. He is so simple yet grand at the same time.

Almost Vegan Manifesto

I am excited about my first guest-blogger post. See and read it here. And get the menu & recipes here. Leave comments, please!

Whitman & Proverbs

I've got a morning reading routine. Part of my routine has always been Whitman.

O to realize space!
The plenteousness of all, that there are no bounds,
To emerge and be of the sky, of the sun and moon and flying
clouds, as one with them

This morning I've added Proverbs to my routine. I've made it a goal to memorize more...to memorize more poetry and more proverbs. I hope to refine the words that flow from my mouth.

Hip, Hip, HOORAY!!!!

Nader is officially on the ballots of 45 states!! He was on 43 ballots in 2000 and only 34 in 2004. People will now have more choices!!

Most Beautiful Post of All Time

A dear friend has posted the most honest and beautiful post I have ever read. Take five mintues to read it. Oh heart, heart, heart! I wish for more run-ins with elves and for more heart, God, and wild word experiences. This is what is real, yes?

24 Preludes For A Fugue

So I can't get enough of Arvo Part. I found him ten years ago when I was still in high school. Last night Ceej and I watched the first half of the documentary "24 Preludes For A Fugue". Part is a truly bigger-than-life yet humble man. He tells these great little stories about his youth, and just great folk stories.

His music is like none other. He loves every sound and he loves every lingering silence between each sound. That's the magic of his music. Even the silences are moving. When the note has stopped, it continues as you breath and as your heart beats. I think that if I ever get to attend a concert where his music is played I will hope that the audience is silent when it is all over rather than applauding. There is something so very wonderful in that silence that follows the music.

Right now listening to his Lamentate album. Very mysterious and eye-opening.

Quarterly House Anxiety

About every three months I get anxious with our apartment-living. I get in a slump wishing I had dream house right now. You know the feeling? So I start looking through all my favorites...many of them I found through your pretty blogs. Below are some of my favorite houses and their interiors. When it comes time to decorating my own house I'll need some serious help from a designer in order to combine my english cottage style with some of my modern likes. Enjoy the images.

My first choice would be to live in lovely English country style home. Love bricks with vines growing to the roof!

This white little cottage would be great in Boulder, Utah, yes?

And I'd need a nice town-home in Boston somewhere...Beacon Hill perhaps?

Orangerie for brunches and afternoon naps.

Dreamy New England Vacation!

One of these Falls I would love to do the Bike From Inn to Inn in New Hampshire. I think it would be a lovely way to see the White Mountains in their autumn glory. Driving would make everything too much of a blur. I'm crossing my fingers that October 2009 I'll be riding my bike through leaf-changing mountains and resting at night in historic inns.

Reading

Ceej and I are reading this lovely and inspiring book together. Nader talks about how his parents and community did such a wonderful job of raising him and his siblings, but mostly it's about his parents. They taught him to love education and argument, to take care of his health, to respect elders, to learn how to think, to be an active citizen, etc. It is so so good. One thing I really like knowing about Nader's parents is that they came from a tradition than honored proverbs. When Nader and his siblings would misbehave, rather than shout "shut up!" or "stop it!", they would rattle off a proverb. These proverbs really stuck with the kids and made them think. Love it.

You can go to The Seventeen Traditions website and add your own traditions to the list. What a great idea!

First Snow!

This past weekend Ceej and I changed our plans last minute when our camping companions bailed-out on us. But it was all good because we decided to take a trip to our favorite place on earth. Glad we did. There were some mighty great rain storms and snow in the mountains. I love love love the first snow! We also got to see all of our favorite people! It was indeed a lovely holiday.