10/29/09

Morning Inspiration.

Jo liked being rained on when she was bathing in the sea, and she liked apples in autumn, with cinammon.
Jo didn't like detergent ads in TV and and people who paused for laughter after a funny remark.
Jo enjoyed staying at home on the first day of sales, and drying her hair with a plush towel.
Jo didn't approve of little old ladies sneaking through queues, neither did she approve of people who didn't tip her when she served coffee with a big smile.

She just had this feeling. It was more than a feeling, it was a sense of certainety. She knew today was going to be one of the best days of her life. She could smell the spring, the sun felt insistent from the other side of the window. She looked around her once more, before stepping outside. Swelling with happiness, she played Rodrigo and Gabriela louder on the iPod. She was almost bouncing down the street. Whatever was about to happen, she didn't know. But she knew it was good. She loved the world, and the world loved her.

"Jo" and "Stella" digital prints from Nosideup (found via Darling Dexter).

10/26/09

For those who don't know:

I quit.

It just turned into not at all what I thought it would be ... Seriously it's been 3 weeks of me sitting in a back office alone. I've been yelled at when I hang out with the kids at the tutoring center, since my job "is NOT direct service." I have nothing to do - since I am the third year VISTA, they basically told me - "your job is to make sure the place doesn't burn down." No new projects, nothing. And it's a government office, not a nonprofit, so it's super frustrating with no funding (CA is screwed) and very limited resources. It honestly felt wrong from Day 1. Sometime you just know, I guess.

Hopefully I will be able to go back once a week to volunteer - I already miss the kiddos.

10/20/09

On farmers Markets and poor people.

A certain someone I am Facebook-acquainted with has a habit of always posting very, VERY pro-vegetarian things as her status updates. Cool. Most of my friends are veggies. I didn't eat red meat for 6 years and was a full-blown vegetarian for a year or two, on and off. I shop with canvas bags at the grocery (sometimes). I managed a freaking farmers market for a year. I get it.

This morning, this 'certain someone' (CS) posted the following:

just a thought: "We eliminate food stamps and promote farmers' market stamps, allowing access to fresh, healthy foods to those who need it most, and pushing more customers towards local farmers" - Michael Pollan

Ok. CS lives a very hipster, bourgeois, vegetarian life in Silverlake. CS eats at trendy vegan restaurants.

CS hasn't stood in line for food stamps at the LA County Department of Social Services in the rain, in the heart of South Central. CS didn't see the teen moms waiting in line IN THE RAIN, holding babies wrapped in fleece Winnie-the-Pooh blankets, staring blankly ahead. These moms would, I'm sure, love to gets their babies the organic, expensive soy-protein-powder made from the bark of a rare tree in the Amazon, selling for too much money in Whole Foods, or even just stop at the local farmers market to get some fresh produce. But guess what. There aren't farmers markets in the ghetto. Guess what, CS? No one picks up recycling in the ghetto either. GASP! They have better things to do, like making sure their kids don't join a gang, or even less likely, actually graduate from high school.

While I would LOVE if all farmers market started accepting EBT payments - which many have - how are you going to get the residents of this community out to the beach towns of Santa Monica, where farmers markets have streets shut down 3 days each week? Most of the kids here have never been to the beach, 10 miles away, or have gone only a few times. I'd love a bus of my kids to pull up to the Saturday SM farmers market, to mix along bouquets of dried lavender and seriously overpriced omelettes.

In the short time I've been here, we've tried planting a community garden. 1. There's no appropriate drainage or watering systems in the projects. 2. Let's talk environmental justice - the planes that fly low over Inglewood, South Central and Watts are dumping harmful emissions into this community. "Inglewood Mayor Roosevelt Dorn has lobbied hard for a sweeping review of the health of residents, many of whom suspect that emissions from aircraft and motorists en route to the airport are responsible for a variety of medical problems in the city." The soil's messed up from these emissions. Not much of anything will be growing here soon.

Ok. There's my rant, directly mainly at CS. I love the bourgy farmers markets and I'll probably go to one this weekend. (Enter sweeping generalization here:) I'm just tired of rich people trying to cure the world with their green propaganda.

10/19/09

The Ear Piercing Saga

Step #1 on all websites that explain how to pierce your ears at home:

Piercing your ear should be used as a last resort. Home piercing is difficult to do properly and you would be better off seeking the aid of a professional. Please think about your choice carefully before you proceed.

Fuck that shit.

"Like ... what if this goes bad?"


"Is it in?"


Paging Dr. Laura

10/14/09

Hello America.

Featuring Malia & Arneisha.

10/7/09

Falling In Love With God

Nothing is more practical than finding God,
that is, than falling in love
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.
It will decide what will get you
out of bed in the morning,
what you will do with your evenings,
how you will spend your weekends
what you read, who you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you
with joy and gratitude.
Fall in love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.

- Pedro Arrupe, SJ

10/6/09

Progress?

The kids think I'm weird because I listen to the Velvet Underground all day. But I have tattoos so that kicks my cool quotient up a notch.

I was invited to play a game of "Ninja" today. We chopped at each other and make really offensive Asian noises.

I guess that's making progress.

10/5/09

First Day...


of heat in my car on the way to work

of sleeping in a sweatshirt and wearing fuzzy boots around the house to keep warm

of making coffee after work to be productive for a few more hours.

(Image via ffffound)

Quoteable.


"We need your service, right now, at this moment in history. I'm not going to tell you what your role should be; that's for you to discover. But I'm asking you to stand up and play your part. I'm asking you to help change history's course."


President Barack Obama, April 21, 2009
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act signing ceremony