Scarlet Clarity

Daskaea.Net

2011-11-17T08:58:00.001-07:00

Wanted to remind you all that I moved all the fun to Daskaea.Net. I'm currently not sure what to do with this page, I'm thinking I will utilize it for personal posts. Not sure yet. Suggestions welcome. Anyways, please be sure to click follow over at Daskaea.Net, so that I feel special and all that. I'm lonely without you guyz!
Love,
Daskaea

Bye, bye Autumn

2011-11-06T22:22:00.000-07:00

In North Dakota....

Fall is over now, winter has officially come. Goodbye colorful leaves. Until next year.

As for winter, she brought her icy fangs and is prepared to stay. Everyone drive safe! The first few days adjusting to the driving is the worst. I've already heard about a bunch of rollovers.

Winter - Bring it on you cold, heartless bitch.

Matthew Shepard

2011-10-12T18:19:00.001-07:00

Today, 13 years ago, a young college student from my hometown, Lararmie, Wyoming, died after being brutally beaten and tied to a fence. His name was Matthew Shepard and he was killed for being gay. This forever changed the world's outlook on my town and my state. Matthew Shepard has been one of the most visible deaths in gay history. I hope we have learned from the horrific attrocity. Things are better in some ways and some things are worse for wear. On a global political scale, I am optimistic are better today as opposed to 13 years ago. The GLBTQ community is more accepted and huge recognized part of pop culture. Still the large laundry list of gay teen suicides are staggering. I pray that as time passes there will be more loving parents and peers, classmates, and friends who shelter and love our GLBTQ friends and allow them to be free.

I was 11 when Matthew was attacked and died. My mother was horrified by the affair. At the time we were attending the Unitarian Universalist Church, which held a vigil for Matt. It's a clear memory in my mind, holding a candle and trying to understand why such a thing would happen in our town.

I never knew Matt, I was too young to probably meet him despite being in the same town. Nonetheless, my life has changed in countless ways since Matt died. And though it might sound strange, I owe him so much for those changes. Yes, I was growing up but I know personally, "Matt" as an issue, helped steer me towards the University of Wyoming Rainbow Resource Center and Laramie's GLBTQ Community, where I met some of my very best and most cherished friends. Matt's horrific death personally affected who I chose as friends as I grew up. I remember being disgusted by some classmates at the time discussing it with the tact that only a group of preteens could. How they stood on this issue changed who I viewed as decent.

Because of Matt, I knew that I never wanted to judge and view others as anything but people first. I don’t want look at someone and see them as gay, straight, disabled, Republican, hispanic, or Muslim. I see them as a person first and foremost; the rest is just insignificant differences, since we have much more in common than anything that separates or divides us. I like learning about people, and valuing their experiences. To give everyone the dignity and respect they deserve as a human being.

Matt’s murder taught me how important it is to stand up for those who can’t. To speak out for those who have been silenced through fear or through violence. For the changes he’s brought about in my life, in Wyoming, and in the hearts and minds of people across the country and around the globe. Please think of Matt today.

Rawlins Man Publishes a Wyoming Mental Illness Memoir

2011-05-28T14:57:00.001-07:00

An amazing story at this Casper Star-Trib link: http://trib.com/article_6d01c998-a490-11df-84c7-001cc4c03286.html

Daniel Meyers, 56, finished his autobiography, "The Spirit of the Lion," after 21 years of work. An earlier version was lost, so he had to begin again. Not many writers have such dedication and stamina.
Daniel has schizoaffective disorder. He lived a wayward childhood and was once in an orphanage. He's been in and out of mental health centers and has taken a variety of medications for his disorder.
He started the writing his book around 1989 as part of a non-fiction writing class taught by Helon Raines at University of Wyoming/Casper College.
Rodger McDaniel, head of the Wyoming Mental Health Division, liked the book so much that he bought one for every state legislator. And the Carbon County Library in Rawlins includes it in one of its book discussion groups.

Read the entire CST story. It's inspirational. And then go buy the book at http://www.authorhouse.com/

Housewifery

2011-05-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

I found this image during the three months of "housewifery"

But the job's going pretty good, so it's unlikely I'll return that profession for a while.

I do miss sleeping in on Wednesdays though. *^_~*

Trip to South Korea

2011-05-14T22:38:00.000-07:00

As I said, I know I haven’t blogged in one million and twenty-five years. You have every right to be mad at me, dear Internet. Roll your eyes, toss your hair, turn your nose up at me!!! It’s fine. Just know that I am looking at you with my My Little Pony sad eyes. Anyway, let’s kiss and makeup already because during those million years (see last month) I ran off to South Korea!

April 13th through the 26th, I finally made a triumphant return. For those of you who don't know, I lived there for 9 months as part of a high school exchange with Rotary International. The exchange was a tremendous affecting force in my life. This return trip was bittersweet. I reunited with my host family and my dearest Korean friends, but part of the big reasons for the trip was to see my "Eomma" (Korean for Mommy) who was dying from mestatisized Kidney Cancer. I say was because she actually died in the middle of my trip. I can't help but think she waited for me to say goodbye. Here's a picture of us from 2004.

She, of course, did not look youthful and glorious like this. She was rail-thin and in so much pain. I'm grateful for everything she did for me and I feel a bit hollowed out without her. I found it ironic that I seem to be losing really important people in my life. Last year, my paternal grandmother died. I was really sad she couldn't see me get married. She did get to know we were engaged and she really adored Patrick.
Anyways, back to the trip. I spent some revisiting my old haunts in Seocheon and Biin (the places I spent the majority of my 9 months) but most important, I spent some good, quality time with my dear host sister, Ri.

I spent 4 days in Chungnam province and my family gratiously took me to Sudeoksa Temple despite the extinuating circumstances of Eomma on her deathbed.

However, I spent the majority of my two weeks in Seoul. I never really got much time in Seoul in 2004-2005, we were heavily supervised two of the three times I visited and the third, the sole purpose was that we went to get my host sister a visa which she was initially denied because she got super nervous.
This visit I stayed in the Jongno area, right by Gwangjang Market.

I got to visit Insadong, Myeongdong, Dongdaemun, and Anguk and really got to see a non-tourist view of Seoul. I quite enjoyed myself. A couple of my friends live up there and they showed me around.

This is my friend Ye-il. Isn't he a cutie?

His identical twin brother, Yemin is my Korean boyfriend who we later visited in Busan.

We had fun at the Sejongdewang Plaza and Museum taking photos.

I also got to see my friend, Gina (Yejin) who was my inspiration for coming to Korea. I met her in my high school in 10th grade.

I gorged on delicious Korean food. I had missed it sooo much. It was joyous to retaste the glorious stuff.

My friend Yea-Lim (sister of Ye-il and Yemin) came up from Daegu to see me in Seoul. She and Ye-il later took me on a trip to Busan to see Yemin.

Finally, I was reunited with Yemin in Busan. Yes, it's not actually a joke when I say Korean boyfriend. We were hot and heavy into hand holding back in 2004. Not only that, he is a dear friend, I confided many things in Yemin and spent a great deal of time with him in 2004. Here's a 2004 photo of us.

Aw, he turned into such a handsome, young man! Ah me.

He is actually serving in the army right now. I got a photo of him in military uniform:

Sexy. Anyways, it was sad to say goodbye.

All in all, I would say I had an excellent trip in spite of Eomma's death. My friends really made such an amazing effort to show me a good time, I couldn't help but enjoy myself.

I can't wait to go again.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Personal Aside: Various Thoughts on North Dakota

2011-03-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

WORK

It's been 6 weeks since I started working up here. And for the most part, I like my job and the people I interact with. I like my "bosses" and most of the electricians (especially the hot ones). But I've been continually disappointed because I was hoping that I could turn some of my coworkers into actual friends...You know, one that might hang out with me in nonwork related situations? I keep being friendly and then randomly get some cue or reality check from those people that, no, we're coworkers. No friend time. It really makes me a bit despairaged because it just makes me homesick. Today, I was glad because I found out that I might have actually made a friend over there. That's what I'm hoping. Otherwise today was awful. I don't want to go into the details but I was hellishly stressed out and came home and crash napped until 8:30. We're glad for the extra money (yay nest egg) but days like this really wish it was only part time or not at all. We'll see. I'm going back to bed soon.

SOCIAL LIFE

I'm lucky to have the Oil Wives group as friends but most of them have kids and that means no free time in the evenings, the only time I have. They've been having a bimonthly Kidless Girls Night Out and those have been pretty fun. Of course, two of the girls I've been closest with and connected most with in that group are moving. That blows. It will be better for them but I'm still sitting here feeling sorry for myself. There's a girl who is also sort of part of the Oil Wives group that also works (one of the only girls that do) and she's really awesome. I've hung out with her most weekends. But she works a crazy schedule. There are a few of the Halliburton engineers that my husband works with who have befriended me, but like my husband, they have a hellish schedule. So I spend a lot of time by myself when my husband isn't home for his off weeks (he works a two-week straight work schedule, punctuated by one week off).

WEATHER

Finally, spring is sort of occurring. It's joyous having weather above zero degrees. On Sunday, my husband and I walked the dog at the walking path by our hosue and I finally found my camera charger, so I took a few photos. Enjoy.

Happy Anniversary Smandersons!

2011-02-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary to my Beloved Smandersons: Teh Doktor & Bunny

Two of the best friends in existence.

I am still humbled and honored that I got to serve as Teh's Best Woman, February 13th, 2009.

I was so relieved that the weather let these two amazing individuals to make it over from Cheyenne just in time for my wedding. Brian served as a chuppah bearer and Erin was immensely helpful womanning the guestbook and other various duties.

Daskaea's Jewish Wedding of Awesomeness

2011-01-24T02:00:00.000-07:00

Alright, I promised wedding photos. Here are some of my favorites.

I am purposely only putting photos of my husband and immediate family, since I don't know whether my friends would feel comfortable having their photos on my blog.

Signing the Ketubah

Under the chuppah

Cake

Chair Dance - Hava Nagila

Dancing with my dad

Oh North Dakota

2011-01-09T13:24:00.001-07:00

Gratuitous Photo of Daskaea's Boobs

2011-01-07T19:16:00.000-07:00

Gratuitous Photo of Daskaea's Boobs

The necklace really makes it. Ne?

Daskaea's 2010 Photobook

2011-01-03T12:39:00.007-07:00

January

One Year Anniversary Ring

February

March

April

May

June

When Wyoming says "Fuck You"

July

August

September

October

November

December

And photos from Our Jewish Wedding forthcoming!

In case you're hankering for a hunky prince...

2010-11-24T13:46:00.003-07:00

Listness - 15 Authors

2010-10-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

Listness - 15 Authors
This one's going around on facebook. Just wanted to pipe in.

"Fifteen authors (poets included) who've influenced you and who will always stick with you."

In no particular order.

James Clemens

Francesca Lia Block

Brian Jacques

Hilda Lewis

Edward Gorey

J.R.R. Tolkien

Ogden Nash

Tad Williams

Lewis Carroll

Tom Stoppard

Terry Pratchett

David Eddings

Shakespeare

The Brothers Grimm

T.S. Eliot

"Uncle Earl" and the Ansel Adams Prints

2010-08-26T09:08:00.002-07:00

Your dear Daskaea is having her family in the news.

10 Years ago a Fresno man named Rick Norsigian bought a box of photo negatives at a garage sale 10 years ago. Rick and his wife are now claiming the negatives are photos of the one and only Ansel Adams and want to sell the negatives and prints for big bucks. The problem is that now the Ansel Adams Trust is suing the Norsigians. The part where my family comes in is that Marian Walton, has also complicated the authentication effort by introducing the world to her uncle, Earl Brooks (d. 1978), whose photos of Yosemite very closely resemble the Norsigian negatives.

Earl Brooks was my grandmother's stepfather. Pap, as my grandma refers to him, was a successful photographer in his own right, but unknown to collectors.

Until now.

My great aunt Marge Bloomer shed some light on Brooks’ life in this article to the Toronto Star telling about how he ran a studio in Delaware, where he took portraits for wealthy clients, including the famed du Pont family.

Pap made several unsuccessful attempts to sell nature photos he took in the North American wilderness — places like Jasper, Banff and Yosemite national parks.

Pap's work, with the help of Marian and my Great Aunt Marge, has attracted considerable attention in recent weeks.

Back to Rick Norsigian who says experts he hired had substantiated dozens of negatives he bought at a garage sale as Adams’ work. The experts said they could be worth $200 million.

But in the days after Norsigian’s news conference, Marian (who is Pap's niece, I'm not sure what that makes her to me), produced evidence that appears to link the negatives to Pap, not Adams. She came forward with a print of a Jeffrey pine tree that is nearly identical to an image on one of Norsigian’s slides. It had been hanging on her wall.

Regardless of who shot the negatives, professionals are now recognizing Brooks’ talent.

The Scott Nichols Gallery in San Francisco has already borrowed four prints from Marian to display at an upcoming exhibit where the Gallery plans to mount the photos alongside Adams’ images under the theme Yosemite National Park. Nichols, who has worked with Adams’ photos for 30 years, is convinced the negatives are not the work of Ansel Adams.

What do you all think? I'm rooting for Pap.

Here are some links to the stories buzzing around the net:

http://www.baycitizen.org/visual-art/story/ansel-adams-trust-files-suit/

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/851831--uncle-earl-versus-ansel-adams-debate-rages-over-who-snapped-photos

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1299227/Has-Ansel-Adams-mystery-garage-sale-negatives-solved.html
http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_15787059?source=rss&nclick_check=1

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/press/debunked-uncle-earl-theory,1423567.html
http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2010/07/29/128854843/adamsscam
http://www.newsbyme.info/tag/earl-brooks/

Mental Health: The Road to Happiness is More Complex Than You Think

2010-08-24T13:37:00.002-07:00

Mental Health: The Road to Happiness is More Complex Than You Think

I was really enjoying NPR's Talk of the Nation yesterday which exposed author Sissela Bok in a segment called Happiness is More Complex Than You Might Think.

When I cleaned up Scarlet Clarity and transformed it to be more topic and essay oriented as opposed to personal reflections, I deleted many personal entries, including my struggle with depression. I've recently been wanting to reinsert more of my personal experiences back into the blog, which you can see in my previous entry today on my journey into becoming a sex-positive feminist and how my mother's Second-Wave Feminism affected my perspective on this.

Anyways, back to Sissela Bok, do go and listen to the discussion. It's absolutely tremendous.

I am someone that has struggled with this subject. In 2007, I was diagnosed with early-onset schizoaffective disorder. They then changed to simply a varient of bipolar disorder. There are a frightening number of people who casually use the description of bipolar as an application to themselves or someone who is mildly moody. It doesn't weird them out when I reveal that diagnosis because so many people "claim" to have it and loosely throw the term around. This irks me. Not because I want to be special, but more that people don't understand the magnitude of actually having it. To function like a normal human being I have to be on medication the rest of my life. In manias, you feel trapped inside yourself, watching but not in control. Luckily when treated with routine therapy and medication, I became a healthy and happy person. I don't even think about the medication anymore, it's just part of life.

However, after intensive therapy and a stint in the hospital, made me look hard at myself, and attack the issues that medication couldn't touch. I ferociously took on the negative outlook I had on life, my inability to handle stress and cope with life adversity, and really take on the idea, that often, I was in the wrong and being self-centered in my interactions with others. Perhaps the most startling realization I had though, was that I did have control over many aspects of my life. I decided to not settle into the rut of blaming parents, society, or fate for the course one’s life has taken; I took on responsibility. Within 4 months of this drastic self change, I realized that, for the first time since I was young, I would honestly count myself as happy.

The problem started when I felt that I had THE answer. I befriended two very negative, unhappy people, who, to me, reflected the person I had been. I listened to all their problems, was there at any and every "crisis" and tried to encourage them to take my route. However, I began to realize that I wasn't doing anything for them. Despite all the energy and love I was trying to pour into them changing, I realized they weren't interested in changing. And they were bringing me down with them. When I confronted them, they both rejected me so extremely that I was placed in shock. They denounced all the aspects of "good friend points" I felt I had acquired and totally disavowed me as friend.

I was so hurt by this. I truly loved both these friends, but I couldn't stand their static negativity especially how much it subsisted on me. I only recently realized that for them, maybe I didn't have the answer. I felt that all they could do was be buffeted by forces and random events far beyond their control, but I knew this is no reason to stop generating efforts of our own, to alter the situation in which we find ourselves. To quote Ms. Bok: "We become who we are in part by how we respond to the shifting circumstances against which our lives delineate themselves."
I realized that these former friends remained wary of all who claim to know the one and only path to happiness. And for good reason, because it was not my job to tell them how to find it. I had to look back at old me to understand that even with someone laying out the steps, I couldn't and wouldn't have taken it. Something I view as one of the biggest steps in becoming a transitioned teenager to adult was understanding that my life is not an isolated incident. I am not a unique snowflake. In fact, many people had experienced situations quite like mine or even exactly. But I remembered that indignant alone-ness, the isolation, I was so absorbed in thinking that truly only I had ever felt that way.

I think this is why hospitalizations and group therapy are often effective at snapping people out of their depression. You suddenly are confronted with many who have experienced similar or much worse situations. But being told about these other people isn't enough. You have to physically witness them with your own eyes and hear their words of negativity grate against your isolated self-perception. Anyone embarking on a quest to find happiness, should not prescribe steps for others to take to achieve it. I learned that I cannot chide others for faults I used to have. The only person who can truly pull themselves out of problems beyond the reach of medical help is obviously that person, because I realized it takes a certain step in personal growth to realize the validity of the wisdom and experience of others. And oddly enough, no one can actually grant you that.

I'm looking forward to...

2010-08-23T08:29:00.001-07:00

Good lord, the summer is nearly gone. And I didn't do much to be frank. I've just been working...and dogsitting for my neighbor and my mom. I did go to the Renaissance Faire and buy my wedding dress, but I didn't even go camping or go on vacation anywhere. Today, my college friends start a new semester at the University of Wyoming. I'm not in school anymore so I don't quite have the same feeling about summer closure, but fall is definitely on its way. I must make my way into the Snowy Range for some last hurrah me thinks.

Here are a few events, movies, books, and games I'm looking forward to in the coming months.

SEPT 8-10, 2010 - Rosh Hashanah
SEPT 17, 2010 - Yom Kippur
SEPT 21, 2010 - Civilization V is released
SEPT 22-29, 2010 - Sukkot
OCT 19, 2010 - Fallout: New Vegas is released (technically I don't play but I love watching pTg play!)
OCT 31, 2010 - Halloween
NOV 12, 2010 - Tangled (movie) is released
NOV 12, 2010 - Unstoppable (movie) is released
NOV 25, 2010 - Thanksgiving
NOV 30, 2010 - Shadowheart by Tad Williams is released
DEC 1-9, 2010 - Chanukah
DEC 1, 2010 - Black Swan (movie) is released
DEC 3, 2010 - Miral (movie) is released
DEC 30, 2010 - Daskaea gets married!
DEC 31, 2010 - New Year's Eve
JAN 1, 2011 - New Year
JAN 2, 2011 - Daskaea & pTg celebrate 2 years of official dating.

What are you all looking forward to? How did you spend your summer?

Wonderful Wyoming

2010-08-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

Because I adore where I live, I'm presenting a lovely little featurette for photos of beautiful Wyoming. I may not agree with a lot of the politics here, but Wyoming is my home. Today I'm featuring photography taken my cousin-in-law, Heidi from the road trip she took across Wyoming last month with my cousin/her husband, Roman. She took absolutely stunning portraits of the beauty around here and I thought I'd share.

Hells Half Acre, Wyoming

Hell's Half Acre, Wyoming

Rawlins, Wyoming

Atlantic City, Wyoming

Douglas, Wyoming

Near Red Buttes, Wyoming

Red Buttes, Wyoming

Antelope near my father's cabin.

Located 17 miles north of Medicine Bow, Wyoming

End of the World Taco Party

2010-08-09T12:31:00.002-07:00

In case you're on facebook, you should join the hilarious event of Day After the End of the World Taco Party.

The world is slated to end on 12/21/2012 according to quite a few people. When it doesn't, what does one do? Have a taco party of course! So on 12/22/2012, when you're still breathing, THERE WILL BE TACOS!

Personal Aside

2010-04-21T09:56:00.001-07:00

4 months after the anniversary came engagement. So now I have two lovely rings.

I have felt a lack of inspiration lately.

OMG Shoezzz

2010-01-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

QUICK! Somebody talk me out of buying these shoes. They're on sale for $107.00

And I've already spent $150 on shoes this month. Oh agony of shoe addiction...

Personal Aside: Anniversary

2010-01-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

It's not an engagement ring...it's an "I Love You" ring. <3

3rd Annual Halloween Party Report

2009-11-04T10:52:00.007-07:00

Friday the 30th was my 3rd consecutive Halloween party. The theme was Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, we had characters from both books. Oddly, we ended up with no Alice (It was supposed to be our hot Russian former roommate but she never showed up!) and the King and Queen of Hearts were stuck in Cheyenne due to terrible weather (I-80 was pretty much consistently closed for count 'em 3 days!). Still there was a good turn out, I had 18 lovely guests, most of whom dressed in the appropriate garb!

Squid and Anna

My sexy pTg was the Red King

Frances was a Live Flower and Anna was the White Queen
The elusive Squid appears

Shea and Jessica as the Doormouse and Mad Hatter

Sisters, Rebekah and Anna, the Cheshire Cat and the White Queen I was the Red Queen and Melissa was the Duchess

Stone was the Caterpillar

Denise and Teri were Kitty and Snowdrop (Alice's kittens in Through the Looking Glass)

Clint and Denise (Clint was a fine Mad Hatter)We had a Venture Bros. appearance...

The White Queen and the White Rabbit

Sexy Duchess

Tea Cups!My coworker Amber was Dinah

And meeee!!

October

2009-10-01T17:20:00.005-07:00

Hooray! It's October!
Reasons to Celebrate:
Sukkot
pTg's birthday
My grandma turns 84
My 3rd annual Halloween party!

Yom Kippur Silent Confession

2009-09-27T20:14:00.004-07:00

Each person's abilited are limited by nature and by the circumstances we have had to face. Whether I have done better or worse with my capacities than others with theirs, I cannot judge.

But I do know that I have failed in many way to live up to my potentialities.

I will not lay the blame on others, though they may have wronged me, nor the circumstances, though they may have been difficult. The fault lies mainly in myself.

I have been weak. Too often I have fialed to make the required effort to do my work conscientiously, to give my full attention to those who needed me, to speak the kindly word, to do the generous deed, to express my concern for my friends. I have not loved enough, not even those closest to me.

There is much that I have failed to do. There is also much that I wish I had not done. By many words and deeds I have caused harm. It is not easy now to remember the details; out of guilt I tend to shut them out of my conciousness. But clearly or dimly, the regretted memories now come back to me. I have, in many ways, hurt my family, friends, and community. Sometimes, indeed, I have done harm from what seemed at the time good motives. Sometimes my supposed love for others was in reality only a desire to dominate them. And sometimes what I took to be righteous indignation was only uncontrolled anger or unforgiving vindictiveness.

How I wish I had learned to master myself; to control my impulses; to display consistently those qualities which are most admirable in toehrs. Have I made any progress at all in this, the greatest of all arts, the art of living? Perhaps a little; certainly not enough.

Why? Because I have not been true to myslef. Because I have not nurtured sufficiently the good in me. For there is good in me. That soul that Adonoi has given me pure. There is that in me which condemns me when I do wrong and urges me to do right, which holds up before me the ideal and challenges me to reach toward it.

Help me, O Adonoi, help me always but especially now, on this sacred Yom Kippur; help me to banish from myself whatever is mean, ugly, callous, cruel, or stubborn. Purify me, revive me, uplift me. Forgive my past and lead me into the future.

Autumn in Blair

2009-09-27T09:22:00.002-07:00

Fall...

How the heck is it the end of September already?

My Journey to Eretz Yisrael

2009-07-15T21:12:00.003-07:00

Alright, it's high-time I got this done!

Although I had intended to blog all the way through Israel, internet access turned out to be few and far between. Israel is very wired, however, we stayed in hostels mainly and a feature of hostels is that they come with little amenities, hence the word inexpensive comes to mind. So here I am, 1 month since I got back and I still have the lengthy task of summarizing my trip before my memories fade. I want to pour it out while it's all here.

Overall--The excursion was intense, physically and emotionally. Once touring got into full sway, our outings would be from 7:30 am until 10 pm and we would crawl into bed exhausted. It was impossible to garner alone time seeing as rooms were always shared with at least two people. The trip schedule itself had a great deal more flexibility and blurriness to the plans than expected so often most of us would load up on the bus and have no idea where we were going, how long we could stay there, or what the next location on the map would be. Only our illustrious tour guide Herzl and Seth, to a large degree, had knowledge of what was going on, but even that was hazy. This is partially due to the nature of Seth, our professor, whom has been a mentor for me and has welcomed me into 6 of his courses, who has a somewhat disorganized and opportunistic approach to life. This being said, this course which became immensely complex when the class size doubled 3 weeks past the dead line and Seth was still scrambling to get everything set up while we were in Israel. Although it all folded out beautifully, the chaotic frenzy, made our trip extremely malleable in some spaces and iron clad in others. We were fortunate that Seth's view about university classes is that we are all adults and capable ones at that. Most university study abroad classes prescribe rigidity as well as watching the students as if we were in junior high. Seth, however, does not. There was a lot of going with the flow.

In essence, my mother would have hated it. I, however, loved it. Mostly.

No vacation can be completely perfect and with a trip as long and intense as this was, towards the end I was screaming for a vacation from the vacation. There were a incidents of bitchiness between travelmates--9/13 of us were female, all of us menstrated at some point and this led to some catterwalling and general cattyness (I include myself in there, I felt like an H-B-I-C)--there were multiple meltdowns and personality conflicts. By the end of it, going home was a relief, all the emotional drama was exhausting.

However, these downsides did not overshadow the wonder and awe that overtook me in Israel. Israel is an amazing, mysterious place. There's an Eddie Izzard joke that "Europe is where the history comes from" but in reality it comes from here. 500 year old buildings are passe. It's all about the 2,000+ year old Byzantine temples or the 2,500 year old tunnels. Everywhere holds this ancient calm, you can really feel an odd connection with the falls of civilization, the impermanance of things....

Day by Day

I made sure to write a short journal everyday to make sure I jotted down everywhere we went. Here they are. Insertions are in red.

Monday, May 25: (2:15 am New York/9:15 am Israel) Ah, airplane sleep--the shittiest, worst for your neck sleep that exists! I am on my way for a three week excursion to Israel! I've been looking forward to this for the entire year and it's finally happening! Yay! Joy!

Right now there's a lot of turbulence--I have a massive headache--kind of feel sick, I imagine it's from not enough hydration. Blech. We're 8 hours into the flight--almost over France according to the Delta moving map. There are roughly 5 hours of flight time left.

I'm uber ecstatic but yes the aforementioned blech is getting me down.

They offer so little airplane service compared to what we used to have. They used to offer drinks every hour and I wouldn't be so thirsty. We're only gotten drink service once and we weren't allowed to take any water from the airport, even after security! Such bullshit!

Anyways...I had pneumonia during finals and I haven't entirely gotten over it...I mean, I feel fine but there's a lingering cough. Meh. I should have bought Vitamin C though...oh well.

Leaving, Patrick was so sweet. He brought me to the airport and spent most of "yesterday" with me--I have no clue the reality of time since I'm in International Timeless Zone, trying to work that with medication...oh my period started today, Joy x2!--anywho....I left Laramie in job limbo. I have no idea what will happen with the WYCF job, I really hope I get it!

Transmission out from 37,000 ft in the air....

Tuesday, May 26: (12 am Israel) We arrived in Israel all in one piece, my massive headache has been on and off thru the past two days now...or one day...or I don't know time exactly...it's all running together. Anyways, we arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and while waiting for Mara and Katy to arrive from Atlanta, we went to an "artificial nature preserve" (as our guide Sarai called it)--Neot Kedumim. Our guide, Sarai, was animater and a beautiful storyteller, her charming accent made her passion about the preserve magical. After Neot Kedumim, we went back to the airport and then we drove 2.5 hours to where we are staying, Gadot which is a "kibbutz." Tomorrow sounds busy.

Neot Kedumim

Neot Kedumim

Tuesday, May 26: (11:30 pm) Today was horrifically busy--a mad blur of whizzing tour bus racing all over the Galilee! We woke up at 7:30 am and had breakfast at the kibbutz--an interesting affair involving a lot of dairy as well as fresh cucumbers and tomatos. At any rate then we went to visit Kfar Kana, the site of Jesus' first miracle of turning water into wine. We visited a Catholic "Wedding" church which was very beautiful and then a Greek Orthodox "Wedding" Church, which we weren't allowed inside but the plaza was gorgeous. I wanted to buy things in Cana as there were many lovely trinkets but Seth had us going, CHOP-CHOP, time to go.

Kfar Kana

The Cana Catholic Wedding Chruch (Kfar Kana)

Our next stop was Tzippori National Park, an excavated archeological site that revealed the ancient Byzantine town, including beautiful mosaics in fantastic condition considering their age--never 1,500 years old!

Tzippori

The Mona Lisa of Tzippori

We spent maybe an hour there and then it was off to Nazareth. In Nazareth, we visited a Greek Orthodox site for the "Well of Mary" and then we went to the Church of the Annunciation (Roman Catholic), which was the home of the Virgin Mary and ancient site of a Byzantine church. Apparently it was quite reknowned as Pope Benedict was here recently and the church was filled with gifts of art depicting the Virgin Mary from all the countries with a Catholic population. And of course my camera battery died just as I was trying to take photos of the art! We were then allowed 10 minutes to shop and then we had lunch--fantastic falafel--and then piled back on the bus.

Miriam's Well, Seth Lecturing

Nazareth, Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation

Next we drove up to Mt. Tabor and visited the Franciscan monestary (the Church of the Transfiguration) that was there. Then we stopped at Nabi Shanyb, a Druze pilgrimage site where we visited the grave of Jethro, their holy prophet. We were asked to completely cover our arms and hair. Luckily I bought a beautiful headscarf from Mt. Tabor. Then we went to Tiberias, in which, we went to Kevar Rambam (tomb of Maimondes) and then saw the grave of Rabbi Meir Ba'al Hanes. Last we went to the old army bunker called Har Bental, on the Syrian-Israeli borders. The sun was setting in a glorious hue and the bunker was on top of a mountain. The view was breath-taking! Finally we headed home and stopped at a mini stripmall and got fast food (yuck) but we got our first wireless, so I emailed my family that I was alive.
Tomorrow will be a mad rush of cramming the vast amount of the Galilee down our throats, so much to see! Friday sounds as if it might be saner, but I have tomorrow to get through.

Wednesday, May 27: Bok'er Tov! (Good Morning) First stop of the day--Tel Hai Yard, visited with Rafi's cousin Bar and showed around Tel Hai--a community college of sorts.
--Lebanese border, atop of a mountain overlooking Metula and the remains of the Good Fence which separated the two. It's crazy how close together and fluid the borders of Lebanon, Israel and Syria seem. It's mind boggling to think of all these places, one can just stand on a mountain and look into different countries, it screws with senses of land ownership...makes you realize how constructed the concept of political borders are.

Lebanese Border

--Next stop, Banias National Park. An amazing place! Ruins of an ancient Greek temple for Pan.

Banias Temple of Pan
Beautiful Banias

--We went to the Sea of Galilee where we had a party cruise! It was so much fun and the weather was perfect!

Our Party Boat on the Sea of Galilee

John and Melissa dancing on the Party Boat

--Afterward we went to Korazim where we visited Domos Galilaeae, a Neocatuchemenical Church (try saying that five times fast), a new incarnation from Vatican II, which interestingly enough uses Jewish traditions matched with Catholic faith. They even had a torah!

Domos Galilaeae

Next we went to Safed where we visited the Synangogue of Rabbi Yosef Caro, the Ari Synagogue and the Abuhav Synagogue.

Synagogue of Josef Caro
Graffiti: Na Nach Nachma Nachman Meuman

The Abuhav Synagogue

--Meron, site of Kabbalist writer of the Zohar, Shimon Varyochai
--Ein Gev fish restaurant
--Back to the kibbutz to collapse.

Thursday, May 28

Last night in the kibbutz, we packed up everything. Tonight we will stay in Jerusalem's Old City.
First stop of the day was the Church of the Beatitudes, then Taghba, the place where Jesus appointed St. Peter the leader of the Christian faith. Then to Capernaum, (Capharnaum), ruins of the White Synagogue and a Byzantine church built over another old synagogue.

Church of the Beatitudes
Taghba

Then we went to Yardenit, the Baptismal site at the Jordan river. Then the Naharyaim Peace Island (a power station and border checkpoint between Israel and Jordan.

Then it was off to Jerusalem!

Mount of Olives Overlook

Anyways, the Sephardic Center is in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City right along the ramparts and very close to Hakotel (the Western Wall), Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock. We arrived right before the beginning of Shavuot and so Seth took those of us that wanted up to Hakotel. We had to split up men and women due to the me'chitza, which we've had to adhere to at most of the rabbinic tombs. As we separated at Hakotel, the Muslim prayer call from the Dome of the Rock started. Inside the crowds at the me'chitza there was lots of intense prayer but also joyous singing and dancing. The combination of Jewish and Muslim song and prayer was harmonious and eerie as well as beautiful. Only in Jersualem could something this amazing happen! I am in love!

Anyways we were at Hakotel for 45 minutes so I made my way to the wall, which I touched. It was a semi-surreal experience. Being at the wall is incredibly sacred and important for Jews, and I felt somewhat empty and drained by the magnitude and signifigance.

After the wall, all 13 of the group had a sabbeth meal and prayers, then we were dead tired and stumbled to our rooms to catch some sleep before getting up at 3 am.

Friday, May 29: For Shavuot, we woke up at 3 am to go to King David's tomb. At the tomb all variety of Jew was there, from secular to orthodox to reform to Haredi. Again the me'chitza created frustrations for me. Out back behind the tomb we met Jewish hippies (Kibbutz Am Yisrael) who come every year for Shavuot and make tents. It was crazy cool.

Haredi Jews wearing a Shtreimel

After King David's tomb, we went to the Kotel again, which now had a mob--inevitable crowding and pushing, and well...I have enochlophobia, so I flipped and had a minor panic attack, happily the group was understanding and put me in a quiet isolated corner and they took me out. We got back by 5 am, and most of us passed out until noon. We woke up, had lunch and then took a tour of the Christian Quarter with a marvelous guide, Chana and St. James' Cathedral (Armenian).

In the Christian Quarter we wen to a Greek Catholic Church, then the Greek Orthodox Patricate which was connected to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which we saved for the last 90 minutes of the tour. The Holy Sepulchre is absolutely stunning and an interesting intersection for the large majority of Christians. We learned that the Sepulchre's custodial rites and religious rites belong primarily to the Eastern Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, and Roman Catholic Churches, with the Greek Orthodox Church having the lion's share. The Coptic Orthodox, the Ethiopian Orthodox and the Syriac Orthodox have lesser rites and responsibilities, which include shrines and other structures within and around the building. Times and places of worship for each community are strictly regulated in common areas. While there we witnessed a Franciscan mass at the Golgotha and the Christians in the group got opportunities to touch the Golgotha. I wanted to but I figured there might some inherent sacrilege in my touching it, so I left it be.

The altar covering the Golgotha in the Holy Sepulchre

The Sepulchre's Ceiling
In front of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

After our tour we went home for some rest. At this point, my feet were killing me.
It being Shabbat and Shavuot, Seth and Rafi went to synagogue and we were welcomed along. They chose the Shira Hadesa Synagogue, where I was pleased to discover I knew almost every song and prayer. I suddenly felt that I might know more about Judaism than I thought (being here has put me in serious doubt of my abilities. Wyoming sure doesn't teach us some of the proper methods of kosher conduct).

Saturday, May 30: Finally! A semi leisurely day. I went out to the market with Mara and Claren, there was so much to see! And buy! I've bought so much beautiful stuff here. I think I'll have lots of gifts for everyone. It made me so happy. Today we plan to go to the Israel museum in a little while -- not forward to the walk. My legs and ankles are killing--full of lactic acid.

My fears about the walk turned out to be semi-prophetic. We had 40 minutes to get to the Israel museum and it probably would have taken me an hour. We were pushed to get a move on so we were there on time and my legs were get so stiff and painful, I didn't notice when my ankle gave out. After the pain in my legs subsided upon arrival, I discovered that my ankle was in remarkable amounts of pain and so I only spent a small amount of time at the museum before I asked to go home and rest and ice up my ankle.

That ankle I managed to hobble out to dinner with Melissa, John, Claren, and Mara to an Armenian restaurant in (where else but) the Armenian Quarter called Bulghouji. It was really enjoyable delicious food with a fun atmosphere and they had internet! Oh saving grace and joy.

I'm hoping I heal up quick and get back to normal so I can enjoy the trip. Tomorrow is our last full day in Jerusalem--Monday, we leave bright and early.

Sunday, May 31

Today's adventures in Jerusalem

-Several hours at Yad Vashem

-Then a visit to the City of David and walking through Hezekiah's tunnels singing songs loudly with Rafi, Mara and Claren.

-A visit to Shoshanah Bendur to talk about the Ethiopian-Israeli Jews

-Visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to talk about rebranding Israel.
-Dinner with Melissa, John, Mara, Kobi, David and Claren at the fantastic Bulghouji. Had internet. OMG! Yay!

Bulghouji, the favorite restaurant

-Starting to miss Patrick

-Packing for Haifa.

-Have concluded I want a hamsa tattoo.

Monday, June 1
-Packed up and left Jerusalem at 8 am or so...drove to Haifa.

-Visited Haifa University. Really loved it.

-Visited Rosh Hanikra, Israeli-Lebanese border and grotto (very beautiful)

-Visit to Akko, saw the Masjid al Ali Jezaar Pashra (Mosque)

-Walked on the Akko beach for a very short time.

-Visit to Druze village of Isfiyyah for a presentation and dinner about the Druze people.

Tuesday, June 2

I got the job at WYCF! I am so incredibly stoked. Life is working out perfectly. I'm in Israel for another two weeks, I have an amazing boyfriend back home, I live in a great apartment with my best friend, I've made new fantastic friends on this trip and I graduate in August. I will treasure these blessings. Ah, life is good.

Now for today's itinerary:

Packed up and left the hotel about 9 am, found a giant roach on John and Melissa's door....EW! I'm not a girly girl...but I kind of freaked out a bit. Anyways....

-First stop was the Baha'i gardens and shrine in Haifa. Actually the shrine wasn't open but the gardens were pretty enough.

Baha'i Gardens

-Next stop: Stella Maris, site of Elijah's cave where he hid out for 40 days and 40 night from King Ahad.

-Muhraqa, site where Elijah stood against the prophets of Ba'al.
-Visit to Al-Qasemi College

al-Qasemi

Visit to Casa Shalom, the institute for Marrano-Anusim Studies.
-Traveled to Be'er Sheva...
-Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Seth's Conference, Association for Israeli Studies

Wednesday, June 3

Current location: Be'er Sheva, Ben Gurion University of the Negev

First we listened to Seth's paper presentation.

Next talked to BGU representative
I want to come here for my master's!

-Airforce Museum (Blech, but took photos for Pat)

-Makhtesh Ramon-Negev Desert Bedouin Tent

-Traditional Bedouin Food

-Had a campfire and sang Israeli and American songs

Thursday, June 4
Esham b'Negev
Woke up early-ish and had breakfast then we rode camels! Yay!

(We named our camel: Taco Bob Bilbo Baggins Leonard Nimoy Esquire, III)

Then we went to Ein Avedat where we hiked.

Ben Gurion's tomb.
A solar plant.

Then we went to a mall in Be'er Sheva.

Friday, June 5

Massada....and glorious Ein Gedi Spa. Then to Tel Aviv where we collapsed.

Saturday, June 6

A day to ourselves! We got to sleep in!
Mara and I got up around 9 and had breakfast with Claren. Then the three of us meandered our way to the Tel Aviv beach. There was wireless (godsend) and it was a beautiful warm day. We didn't stay long though, as we had to get back to the hostel for lunch for shabbas kiddush.

After lunch, Mara, John, Melissa, Katy, Kayla and I went on a trek to find a laundry mat. In all honesty, this should have taken us 15 minutes to get to, but it took us nearly an hour to find. My back and arms hurt after lugging around my laundry that long. Anyways we found out that they are celebrating Pride in Tel Aviv which made me boundlessly happy.

Post-laundrymat, John, Melissa, Mara, Rafi and I went to the beach and swam, swam, swam! We returned to shower and get pretty, the headed to a Japanese restaurant to celebrate and do our (Mara, Katy, David and I) own mini farewell for John and Melissa (who were leaving sadly). We had delicious sushi and sake and plumb wine---mmm, delicious (oishi!) Katy went home and the rest of us went to the beach and got some vodka (oh lord). We on the beach for awhile chatting but after one vodka and orange juice I felt fairly drunk and so I headed back home.

Got back to the hostel and it turned out Katy was lost and Rafi was upset. We managed to find Katy and I tried to talk to Rafi but had little luck. Oh angst.

Anyways, got to call Pat as well and talked to him for a bit. It made me really happy.

Sunday, June 7

On the bus at 9:30 am -- the first stop was Mayor Disingoff's house, which was where the declaration of independence was stated by Ben Gurion. Eventually was converted into an art museum. The presentation was pushing some hardcore Zionist propaganda.

Second stop -- Yitzhak Rabin's memorial and grave
Lunch by old train station

Ayalon Institute/Kibbutzim Hill

Then we left Tel Aviv and went to nearby Jaffa (Yafo) and visited St. Peter's Church, the wishing bridge, and wandered by several mosques.

St. Peter's Church - Jaffa

Wishing Bridge - Gemini Mosque in Jaffa Then our farewell dinner was in Jaffa.

The 2 weeks are up. We dropped off John and Melissa at the train station and it was so weird for them to leave and us to stay. I know I have made two new fantastic friends out of them and I can't wait to build it since they are (hopefully) moving to Laramie.

Monday, June 8

Left Tel Aviv at 9:30 am, hopped on a bus to Eilat at the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station.

On the bus: the fountain of youth of yore is near a McDonald's. Seriously, we passed it on the road near Sapir.

The Eilat trip took quite a long time. We arrived at the hostel (which is above a stripclub, I shit you not) and rested, took the night easy.

Most of us hit the beach (a block away), the water was so clear, but towards the deep part I saw a dark shape coming towards me and I freaked and started frantically swimming--and then I realized it was my shadow...I'm an idiot. Anyways...went to sleep early, I was exhausting after fighting the internet (which sucks here).

Tuesday, June 9
Today is the day of our adventure in Jordan! Eilat and our hostel are very close to the border and it was a hop, skip, and a jump to get over. The border crossing process took some time as we were waiting for clearance for everyone in our UW group plus there were another 20 people from different tour companies converging. Once across the border we hopped on our tour bus, guided by Hussein (who likes to call himself Sunshine)--a very amusing chap who learned English in Manchester, England. We toured Aqaba from the bus and then I fell asleep on the long road to Petra.

We arrived at Petra and we walked down the canyon. I got to the main ruins of the Treasury and I fell and royally fucked up my ankle (turned out to be a sprain when I got back to Laramie). So I had to wait while the group toured the rest of the grounds and then I took a carriage back up. The Bedouin police guard seemed to feel guilty and was very upset. He was very kind, got me a pineapple juice while I waited.

We made it back and I was quite disgruntled but Rafi was my saving grace as he, very sweetly, helped act as my crutch and proved human kindness...and the fact that Rafi is awesome.

Wednesday, June 10

Another day to ourselves. After returning from Petra, I seriously contemplated going home early but I really couldn't justify changing my ticket to two days earlier. I decided I need to start being positive and get through the next few days with optimism. Anyways we woke up late and then Katy, Kayla and I went to the Eilat Aquarium.

We had a lot of fun and spent a long time there, oogling the sharks and sea creatures. Went on a glass-bottom boat ride and saw lots of the coral reef located on Eilat.
Whilst there we perchanced the shops and I saw a beautiful ring made of Eilat stone so I decided to buy it as a graduation/birthday present to myself. I'm quite pleased with it.

Anyways we went home and then Katy, Mara and I went to go to Rif Raf Beach with the intent to go snorkeling. We were a bit disappointed in finding out that all the snorkel shops were closed (and it turned out we went to the wrong beach, we were off by a quarter mile) and it was a rocky beach. We made the most of it and had a good time swimming but then these two kind (and babelicious) Israelis lent us their gear! It was the first time I ever snorkeled and it was so amazing! There was so much below the water we didn't even see! Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, so many bright and colorful fish--it was really special. I count it as one of the top things we did on the tirp.

Tonight we head to Mt. Sinai in Egypt.

Thursday, June 11
After twisting (sprained) my ankle at Petra I knew there was no way that I would be climbing Mt. Sinai. I tried to get out of the trip but Seth for some reason paid for me to go anyways. We left for Egypt at 10 pm. The border crossing was particularly interesting and hellish, they are extremely concerned about swine flu coming over from Israel and they harassed us and then forced us to take a "courtesy" policeman along for our protection whom we had to tip. Anyways, we go to Mt. Sinai at 2 am and the rest started to climb, I slep in the van. In the morning we visited the monastry at the foot of Sinai, St. Katherine's. After I had breakfast everyone showed up and were dead tired. I'm not particularly disappointed that I didn't climb it. Anyways we saw the burning bush 3,000 years later. The monastry itself is from the 6th century AD. So much ancient history just casually lays among us in the middle east. It fascinates me.

The burning bush and St. Katherine's Monastry

Anyways, we left finally with the intent to go back to Eilat. However, it took much longer than expected. We took a pit stop at Nuweiba.

In Nuweiba, I purchased an ankh for Patrick and a beautiful ring/bracelet for myself. However, our guide knew the shopkeeper. I wanted to use my card and he told me he didn't want to get stiffed the 2% Visa takes, so could we go to an ATM? I didn't know what I was getting into when I agreed. Our guide then proceeded to take us on an hour fucking detour for an ATM. We stopped at 3 resorts/banks and no one had one. I was livid. It was embarassing and when I tried to give my not-yet-purchased item back because we needed to go home to make a bus, he said "Oh no, it won't take long."

Anyways the silver lining was that it gave a fascinating glimpse at the defunct Egyptian tourist industry. We visited 3 massive resorts that were top of the line--with nobody in them! Literally empty. It was hella eerie. Seth told me that it was remnant from the 80s heyday when Egyptian resorts were shooting up but not enough market to support them. Anyways, we finally made it to the border and then we spent well over an hour in lines getting across.

We got to Eilat with 1.5 hours to spare between our bus trip to Jerusalem at 5 pm. We rushed to the station and said farewell to Katy and Kayla who went to Tel Aviv and hopped aboard.

Saturday, June 13
Today was Mara's birthday. We got up early and found the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem and sat listening to the cantor Naftali Hershtik, who had possibly the world's most beautiful voice. Oh it was amazing.

We left at 9 am to go to Yedidyah Synagogue, a congregation of mainly American-Israeli immigrants. Seth arranged a home hospitality meal for us with a couple named Yitzhak and Sharon who, along with their two daughters, son-in-law, and friend made us a marvelous and delicious shabbat meal. It was really tasty and the conversation was excellent. We stayed for nearly 2 hours. They were so nice.

Sunday, June 14
Our flight wasn't until 8 pm, and so even though we paid the Sephardic center for Saturday night and a morning checkout they kindly let us keep our stuff in the rooms. To pass the time, Mara and I went walking around the Old City, saying our goodbyes to the Jewish and Christian quarters. We revisited Hakotel and the Holy Sepulchre, but got utterly lost and wandered around the Old City having a hell of time

My Last Day Jerusalem and Israel

wyoming sky

2009-07-06T20:43:00.002-07:00

My Journey to Eretz Yisrael

2009-06-18T07:57:00.050-07:00

Alright, it's high-time I got this done!

Although I had intended to blog all the way through Israel, internet access turned out to be few and far between. Israel is very wired, however, we stayed in hostels mainly and a feature of hostels is that they come with little amenities, hence the word inexpensive comes to mind. So here I am, 2 weeks since I got back and I still have the lengthy task of summarizing my trip before my memories fade. I want to pour it out while it's all here.

Day by Day

I'm uber ecstatic but yes the aforementioned blech is getting me down.

Anyways...I had pneumonia during finals and I haven't entirely gotten over it...I mean, I feel fine but there's a lingering cough. Meh. I should have bought Vitamin C though...oh well.

Neot Kedumim

Neot Kedumim

Kfar Kana

The Cana Catholic Wedding Chruch (Kfar Kana)

Tzippori

The Mona Lisa of Tzippori

Miriam's Well, Seth Lecturing

Nazareth, Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation

Lebanese Border

--Next stop, Banias National Park. An amazing place! Ruins of an ancient Greek temple for Pan.

Banias Temple of Pan
Beautiful Banias

--We went to the Sea of Galilee where we had a party cruise! It was so much fun and the weather was perfect!

Our Party Boat on the Sea of Galilee

John and Melissa dancing on the Party Boat

Domos Galilaeae

Next we went to Safed where we visited the Synangogue of Rabbi Yosef Caro, the Ari Synagogue and the Abuhav Synagogue.

Synagogue of Josef Caro
Graffiti: Na Nach Nachma Nachman Meuman

The Abuhav Synagogue

--Meron, site of Kabbalist writer of the Zohar, Shimon Varyochai
--Ein Gev fish restaurant
--Back to the kibbutz to collapse.

Thursday, May 28

Church of the Beatitudes
Taghba

Then we went to Yardenit, the Baptismal site at the Jordan river. Then the Naharyaim Peace Island (a power station and border checkpoint between Israel and Jordan.

Then it was off to Jerusalem!

Mount of Olives Overlook

Haredi Jews wearing a Shtreimel

The altar covering the Golgotha in the Holy Sepulchre

The Sepulchre's Ceiling
In front of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

I'm hoping I heal up quick and get back to normal so I can enjoy the trip. Tomorrow is our last full day in Jerusalem--Monday, we leave bright and early.

Sunday, May 31

Today's adventures in Jerusalem

-Several hours at Yad Vashem

-Then a visit to the City of David and walking through Hezekiah's tunnels singing songs loudly with Rafi, Mara and Claren.

-A visit to Shoshanah Bendur to talk about the Ethiopian-Israeli Jews

-Visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to talk about rebranding Israel.
-Dinner with Melissa, John, Mara, Kobi, David and Claren at the fantastic Bulghouji. Had internet. OMG! Yay!

Bulghouji, the favorite restaurant

-Starting to miss Patrick

-Packing for Haifa.

-Have concluded I want a hamsa tattoo.

Monday, June 1
-Packed up and left Jerusalem at 8 am or so...drove to Haifa.

-Visited Haifa University. Really loved it.

-Visited Rosh Hanikra, Israeli-Lebanese border and grotto (very beautiful)

-Visit to Akko, saw the Masjid al Ali Jezaar Pashra (Mosque)

-Walked on the Akko beach for a very short time.

-Visit to Druze village of Isfiyyah for a presentation and dinner about the Druze people.

Tuesday, June 2

Now for today's itinerary:

Packed up and left the hotel about 9 am, found a giant roach on John and Melissa's door....EW! I'm not a girly girl...but I kind of freaked out a bit. Anyways....

-First stop was the Baha'i gardens and shrine in Haifa. Actually the shrine wasn't open but the gardens were pretty enough.

Baha'i Gardens

-Next stop: Stella Maris, site of Elijah's cave where he hid out for 40 days and 40 night from King Ahad.

-Muhraqa, site where Elijah stood against the prophets of Ba'al.
-Visit to Al-Qasemi College

al-Qasemi

Visit to Casa Shalom, the institute for Marrano-Anusim Studies.
-Traveled to Be'er Sheva...
-Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Seth's Conference, Association for Israeli Studies

Wednesday, June 3

Current location: Be'er Sheva, Ben Gurion University of the Negev

First we listened to Seth's paper presentation.

Next talked to BGU representative
I want to come here for my master's!

-Airforce Museum (Blech, but took photos for Pat)

-Makhtesh Ramon-Negev Desert Bedouin Tent

-Traditional Bedouin Food

-Had a campfire and sang Israeli and American songs

Thursday, June 4
Esham b'Negev
Woke up early-ish and had breakfast then we rode camels! Yay!

(We named our camel: Taco Bob Bilbo Baggins Leonard Nimoy Esquire, III)

Then we went to Ein Avedat where we hiked.

Ben Gurion's tomb.
A solar plant.

Then we went to a mall in Be'er Sheva.

Friday, June 5

Massada....and glorious Ein Gedi Spa. Then to Tel Aviv where we collapsed.

Saturday, June 6

Got back to the hostel and it turned out Katy was lost and Rafi was upset. We managed to find Katy and I tried to talk to Rafi but had little luck. Oh angst.

Anyways, got to call Pat as well and talked to him for a bit. It made me really happy.

Sunday, June 7

Second stop -- Yitzhak Rabin's memorial and grave
Lunch by old train station

Ayalon Institute/Kibbutzim Hill

Then we left Tel Aviv and went to nearby Jaffa (Yafo) and visited St. Peter's Church, the wishing bridge, and wandered by several mosques.

St. Peter's Church - Jaffa

Wishing Bridge - Gemini Mosque in Jaffa Then our farewell dinner was in Jaffa.

Monday, June 8

Left Tel Aviv at 9:30 am, hopped on a bus to Eilat at the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station.

On the bus: the fountain of youth of yore is near a McDonald's. Seriously, we passed it on the road near Sapir.

The Eilat trip took quite a long time. We arrived at the hostel (which is above a stripclub, I shit you not) and rested, took the night easy.

Tonight we head to Mt. Sinai in Egypt.

The burning bush and St. Katherine's Monastry

We got to Eilat with 1.5 hours to spare between our bus trip to Jerusalem at 5 pm. We rushed to the station and said farewell to Katy and Kayla who went to Tel Aviv and hopped aboard.

My Last Day Jerusalem and Israel

A Birthday Tribute!

2009-05-22T09:39:00.001-07:00

With love,
La Scorchita

things that should be said

2009-02-09T23:55:00.005-07:00

these are directed at multiple people, in random order. some people have more than one comment. some comments apply to multiple people. it might even apply to you. or it might not. take a guess. most of these people don't even know this thing exists.

01) Dear ____, I don't want to cry over you anymore.
02) Dear ____, you are my best friend in every sense and way. I am so glad you are back in my life.
03) Dear ____, I don't need a bipolar friendship. You're sweet as pie one minute, then talking behind my back the next. When I have a friend, disagreements don't demote them. I refuse to be dragged into your drama cycle anymore. Grow up and stop dragging people down with you. Start assessing the fact that you are causing 95% of your own problems. Blaming others will only continue this stupid dramafest. Count me out.
04) Dear ____, sometimes I wish I didn't have to see you anymore.
05) Dear ____, I feel like you don't have any faith in my abilities.
06) Dear ____, Why wasn't I good enough?
07) Dear ____, I don't know even where to start with you. Grow up. Stop being a possessive, heinous bitch. I'm so glad you don't live here anymore.
08) Dear ____, your judgmental arrogance just makes me sad.
09) Dear ____, you DO have control over your life. When you realize this, your life will change.
10) Dear ____, I am infinitely prettier, smarter, and more interesting than her.
11) Dear ____, you are a wonderful person. Thank you for always being so kind even though I am not dating him anymore. I'm glad that I was willing to open myself up to be your friend in spite of past mistakes. I wish I could hang out with you more.
12) Dear ____, I miss you terribly. I don't understand why you consider me and ___ such dear friends yet you make very little to no effort to see us. I try to understand and I do most of the time, I think someday you will make more room for us in your life. But sometimes it can be upsetting, you can make the rainiest day burst into brilliant sun shine.
13) Dear ____, Don't give up on her. She'll come around.
14) Dear ____, I honestly believe that I will marry you and have children with you. I have never been so sure of such an uncertain prospect.
15) Dear ____, I am simultaneously terrified that the above statement makes me look like an idiot and I will get badly burned.
16) Dear ____, happiness is not an entirely individual matter. If one of you is not happy, it will be impossible for the other person to be happy in the relationship. Please be open to making yourself well in order for a beautiful relationship to bloom.
17) Dear ____, I wish I had been the one to leave you. You continually make me feel an fool. I wanted your love so badly. I feel like I failed as a woman.
18) Dear ____, I didn't deserve the cruelty you threw at me.
19) Dear ____, do you ever think of me?
20) Dear ____, I think you're kind of hot.
21) Dear ____, why did you leave me?
22) Dear ____, Stop placing all your expectations on top of me. It's stifling me.
23) Dear ____, do you ever think about anyone but yourself?
24) Dear ____, I do realize that you have been making eyes at me. I feel you look through my clothes and see me naked. You chew me up and spit me up with one glance. It really makes me feel like a whore.
25) Dear ____, it's really annoying when someone as hot, model thin, and stunning as you are has self-image issues. If I ever hear you bitching about it within earshot, I will shake you silly. Your bashing of your own beauty is an insult to those of us who really don't come close. If I can find myself pretty (which I AM!) then you ought to be 30x more capable.
26) Dear ____, someday, I'll see you again.
27) Dear ____, I wish I could talk to you in your language. I miss your openness and kindness.
28) Dear ____, I'm really, really, really terrified that I'm going to fuck this up.
29) Dear ____, your passive-aggressive insults do hurt. Congrats.
30) Dear ____, don't marry her.
31) Dear ____, I wish I could stay with you always.
32) Dear ____, I miss my hair. I wish I hadn't let you chop it off. It's going to take ages to grow back again.
33) Dear ____, you are the sanity in my life.

meme momentos

2009-02-01T10:51:00.011-07:00

The twenty men I admire most:

Burton H. Muller - Grandfather, physicist, patriot, rebel rouser
Mohandas K. "Mahatma" Gandhi - For being the change he wanted to see in the world and inspiring the hearts of millions.
Thich Nhat Han - the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist whose wise words make me want to get up in the morning. Author, poet, and peace activist.
Charles Darwin - His scientific discovery remains the foundation of biology, as it provides a unifying logical explanation for the diversity of life.
J.R.R. Tolkien- whose books captured the imagination of the world and brought the world of fantasy to new realms. Intellectual scholar and extraordinary linguist.
Lewis Carroll - Mathematician and reverend, possibly one of the most eccentric people to walk this planet, but such creativity and spark for a world and mindset unlike any other.
T.S. Elliot - poet, dramatist, and literary critic. "In my beginning is my end. In my end is my beginning."
Rodney Garnet - Flutist, Anthropologist, World Musician, Inspiring Man
Tom Lehrer - Satirist, Pianist, Mathematician, and Political Rebel
Haruki Murakami - An postmodern author who is "easily accessible, yet profoundly complex". His works of fiction and non-fiction have garnered him critical acclaim, to me and many he is one of the world's greatest living novelists.
Kahlil Gibran, whose words of wisdom touched my heart and inspired me for all time.
Henry David Thoreau - naturalist, transcendentalist, tax resister, abolitionist, development critic, surveyor, sage writer and philosopher.
Micah Wyatt - an imperfect but amazing man, mentor and friend.
Patrick Gardner - for being the kindest person I have ever met.
Rabbi Michael Lerner - political activist, editor of Tikkun, American rabbi calling for Jewish Renewal and positivity, and advocate for mental illness.
Eddie Izzard - comedian and great actor
Bill Watterson - the philosophical comic artist of Calvin and Hobbes
Jean Paul Satre - existentialism turned my brain on fire.
The Dahli Lama - the man who has constantly vied for human rights and written beautiful works of wisdom.
Tom Stoppard - writer of the greatest play ever written.

The twenty women I admire most:

Shelley Miller - artist and art educator, a mentor to many, including myself and all-around a wise woman.
Simone de Beauvoir - founder of contemporary feminism.
Barbara Kingsolver - the most passionate and intellectual woman writing today.
Björk Guðmundsdóttir - vocalist, mother, unafraid of pushing the status quo and reinvigorating sound.
Angelina Jolie - a stunning beauty, but known also for her intellectual prowess and world activism.
Amelia Arsenic - an alt model, whose beauty is transcendent. Not only that, she is also immensely talented in design and art. I hope this woman becomes better known in the public sphere.
Frieda Kahlo - the unusual woman who let her soul free in her art, speaks to me across borders and miles.
Marilyn Monroe - it seems cliche but I admire this tormented woman for poignantly seeing the sad sham of glitzy Hollywood and having perhaps the most interesting life imaginable. She was buxom and gorgeous but also very smart. "In Hollywood they'll pay you a million dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul."
Rosario Dawson - a fierce femme and talented actress, pioneer for feminism and GLBTQ rights.
Judy Shepard - the tireless mother of Matthew Shepard, who was brutally killed in a brutal anti-gay hate crime, right here in Laramie. Judy, created the Matthew Shepard Foundation which has fought hard for gay rights and creaking compassion and understanding in a world of violence.
Karen Salmansohn - the feisty author of How To Be Happy, Dammit, which is one of the only literary works that has spoken to me and given me pratical advice I can apply to my life. Her goal: wake up sleepy minds, hearts and spirits... spread positive propaganda throughout the land.
"Auntie" Jane Wohl - for loving each and every person for their uniqueness, she has served as a mentor and surrogate mother to over 200 kids. Her writing and careful hand has hand a profound impact on my life, in spite of only spending a grand total of 3 weeks with her on an in-person basis. Nonetheless she helped coax me out of my shell and make me a better person and a better writer.
Rosalind (As You Like It) - Rosalind is not alone among Shakespeare's cross-dressing heroines but I find something marvelously charming about her. Rosalind creates humour in the multiplicity of disguise found in a female character who for a while pretended at masculinity. Her cross dressing enables her to fulfill a male roles and uses her disguise to enable her to intervene directly in the plot (unlike Viola in Twelfth Night who uses time to fulfill her wishes). Rosalind is distinguished among Shakespeare's female characters for her quick wit and skilled repartee.
Eve Ensler (Author of The Vagina Monologues) - inspiring uppity women wherever she goes.
Mineko Iwasaki - the woman whose life inspired the book and eventually film, Memoirs of a Geisha
Queen Elizabeth I - The ultimate queen in European history, she had the will of steel and an unbreakable spirit. Her life was full of danger and conspiracies and yet she survived magnificently. Her reign saw a flourishing of English culture and the rise of England as a world power. She stood up for her right to remain single, she was clever, and she allowed herself to be flirtatious, even though it made people gossip.
Lina Inverse - For being the most amazing, kickass anime woman in existence.
Éowyn of the House of Eorl (Lord of the Rings) - The stern, serious shieldmaiden of the greatest epic every written. Tolkien, one of my favorite writers, did not favor the presence of women in his tales, but when he portrayed woman he graced them as admirable, capable individuals. Of the three major and notable women of the series, Éowyn was the one I wanted to most emulate. Ever since I was little I have always been in awe of Éowyn and her bravery and strength as well as capable beauty. I was not as enamored by Miranda Otto's portrayal of her in the Peter Jackson movies but I loved anyways.
Amélie Poulain (Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain) - the character who has most spoken to me and my favorite movie, this quirky woman finds love in her own way. Amélie is simple; having spurned romantic relationships following a few failed efforts, she has devoted herself to simple pleasures, such as dipping her hand into sacks of grain, cracking crème brûlée with a teaspoon, skipping stones across St. Martin's Canal, trying to guess how many couples in Paris are having an orgasm at one moment ("Fifteen!", she informs the camera correctly!), and letting her imagination roam free. She is a woman after my own heart.
Anna Francis Huff - last but not least, I admire the wisdom and wonder of the woman who is my platonic soulmate. I admire her courage, independence, and maturity which we gained together on this road. She is my "other" sister.

secrets

2009-01-31T11:35:00.003-07:00

I found an amazing little community online called Post Secret. The concept is simple. Send your secret anonymously to this fellow Frank, and he scans and posts them on a blog. The results are simply beautiful and inspiring. Some are very sad, others very funny. Anyways, it inspired me to do a few of my own. These are not scanned collaged images of course but I think when I clean up my house a little I'll start doing collage again, one of my favorite activities. Anyways...

Tom Lehrer, The Original Satirist Singer

2009-01-25T08:37:00.003-07:00

If you've never heard of Tom Lehrer--satirist, pianist, and mathematician--you will have now. Lehrer is one of my favorites and precedes some of my other favorite comedic songwriters/singers like Weird Al and David Lynch. Lehrer came out at a time when his art was, underappreciated, some of the reviews of his act are hysterical as at the time, people just didn't "get" it.
* "Mr. Lehrer's muse is not fettered by such inhibiting factors as taste." — New York Times (9 February 1959)
* "More desperate than amusing" — New York Herald Tribune
* "He seldom has any point to make except obvious ones" — Christian Science Monitor
* "Plays the piano acceptably" — Oakland Tribune
Most of Lehrer's songs were overtly critical of the ridiculous atmosphere of politics in the 50s and 60s. Some of his songs are scathingly cutting to the core of the issue and I find a lot of them hold weight even today. Lehrer has commented that he doubts his songs had any real effect on those not already critical of the establishment: "I don't think this kind of thing has an impact on the unconverted, frankly. It's not even preaching to the converted; it's titillating the converted... I'm fond of quoting Peter Cook, who talked about the satirical Berlin cabarets of the '30s, which did so much to stop the rise of Hitler and prevent the Second World War." In 2003 he commented that his particular brand of political satire is more difficult in the modern world: "The real issues I don't think most people touch. The Clinton jokes are all about Monica Lewinsky and all that stuff and not about the important things, like the fact that he wouldn't ban landmines... I'm not tempted to write a song about George W. Bush. I couldn't figure out what sort of song I would write. That's the problem: I don't want to satirise George Bush and his puppeteers, I want to vaporise them."

found this far funnier than it probably is...

2009-01-03T16:55:00.003-07:00

reflection on 4 Tevet 5769 -- 12.31.08

2008-12-31T08:44:00.005-07:00

This is the last day of 2008 and I, like many other people, like to take the time to reflect. Of course for me this is my second "new year" as September 29th marked the first day of the new Jewish calendar, 1 Tishrei 5769--Rosh Hashanah. It is important in Judaism to upon the start of a new year find the strength to ask for forgiveness and also to forgive the past wrongs of the year. My understanding is that, of course, many Jews don't take this to heart, but I really try my hardest to do it. It is not a matter of faith, it is more a matter of attempting sanity. So many of the little hurts add up especially after a break-up. But I don't want to be a bitter person. So today, as the last day of the Gregorian calendar, I want to forgive Brandon. It's not a particularly easy thing to do and forgiveness does not mean I can erase hurt and frustration, but I just want to take a deep breath and breathe out all the negativity. Without doing this, I cannot allow myself to move on and open myself up to new possibilities. I'm allowing in a quiet confidence in myself and letting newness in as well as embracing my wonderful family and friends. Life is pretty good. The franticness of moving still is a cumbersome burden to me--I am still not completely out although I am close. The last stretch is hard to push myself to do and frankly I don't have room for all of it, some will have to go to my mum's. I love my new apartment but I've been plagued with nightmares that someone else is in the apartment. Several times I've woken up screaming bloody murder out loud with the sense that someone had been standing over me watching me. I feel it is because a certain feeling of security has been lost by living on my own and I sorely wish I could have a dog. At any rate, things are how they ought to be and I'm just letting in the ripples of change flow over me. I haven't any idea where I'll be in a year but I'm fine where I am.

it touched my heart

2008-12-12T11:56:00.003-07:00

"indian woman: reflected, constructed, real" by Jaspal K. Singh
I am woman born of centuries of culture and tradition
As if my lap is filled with artifacts and jewels
I am woman steeped in customs and conventions
As if my face is hidden by masks of time
I am woman ancient and timeless
As if lines of fate are etched on my body
I am woman who roamed the earth
As if it belonged to me
I am woman heavy and burdened
As if I carry octopus of duty on pregnant back
I am woman nurturing and caring
As if rivers of milk splash and overflow from my veins
I am woman long-suffering and patient
As if my viel is full of tears
I am woman shy and timid
As if a snail retreats into its shell
I am woman plowing diligently
As if I am rice bowl for my people
I am woman riding water buffalo
As if I alone regulate water heights in paddy-fields
I am woman teaching and telling
As if secrets of water wheat-gringer are mine alone
I am woman who became new
As if from seas change came
I am woman crushed between patriarchies
As if survival depended on transformation
I am woman crossing the threshold
As if promise of new winds portend new flights
I am woman tossed about
As if new winds were hurricane of destruction
I am woman promised freedom
As if I had ever been chained
I am woman told to speak
As if silence denotes ignorance
I am woman torn by conflict and ambivalence
As if my tongue has been sliced
I am woman affectively silenced
As if to speak is to betray
I am woman courted and petted
As if my knowledge is to be bartered
I am woman who is paid no heed
As if my new voice is irrelevant
I am woman caught between two cultures
As if I cannot belond if I do not retreat into some unknown darkness
I am woman who has become a painted doll
As if my lips have another's words
I am woman wounded yet strong
As if my stumbling steps are my destination
I am woman in deep meditation
As if nectar of cosmic energy dwells within me
I am woman drenched in rivers of wisdom
As if Devi Chakra's energy flows from my womb to you to me to you
I am woman creating my own powers
As if I am bamboo no longer swaying
I am woman reaching the sky
As if I am Pipul with roots dangling from branches manifesting life
I am Dharmic woman of new Vedas
As if I were Shakti reborn
I am ancient woman
I am new woman
I am woman
I am
I--reimagined, re-emerged, renewed, real.

Dear Life: Quit tea-bagging me!

2008-11-22T00:40:00.001-07:00

Dear Life: Quit tea-bagging me!

being involved

2008-10-12T08:32:00.005-07:00

This year, I've really stepped up my involvement in things. Hillel has been first and foremost, seeing as I was named president, but I've also been doing some things with WAN (Womens Action Network) and my favorite, Spectrum. I hope next semester I won't work on Tuesday or Wednesday nights, but this semester I do work on Tuesdays which cuts me out from attending Spectrum meetings. Still, I'm trying to be involved in events and yesterday, I decided to march with Spectrum in the Homecoming Parade. I felt really proud to be marching with my good friends and supporting a cause I've been most passionate about. I griped a bit about having to get up early on my only day off but I'm really glad I went. I was sad that more Spectrumites didn't show up actually. Parade spectators gave us a lukewarm review overall, but it really helped when Brittany started chanting "Let's Go Pokes."

This week has been a big week for Spectrum and the Laramie LGBTQ community, as it marked 10 years since Matthew Shepard was killed in a hate-crime, and Wyoming has been in a frenzy of newspaper articles, like this one from yesterday about Brittany, or this one, or this one. It's been emotional for a lot of us, and I've been very proud to wear the resurrected No Hate armbands, which I wore 10 years ago.
Let me be clear--I never knew Matthew Shepard. Yes, I lived in Laramie but I was 11 years old, on that fateful night of October 6, 1998. But I heard about it, it was on the news, it was everywhere. And of course, I lived in Laramie. It was unavoidable. At the time my family was part of the Unitarian Universalists, though we were slipping into interaction with the Laramie Jewish Community, which was only semi-established. Two days after they found Matt, a day or two before he died, the Unitarians held a candle-light vigil, which my mother took me too. Although I was eleven, I knew and understood that Matt was gay. Many eleven-year-olds found the concept too much to grasp. I didn't. I will always praise the Unitarians, they are one of the most accepting religious organizations around and when I was 7-11 we had a lesbian minister, Linda who was very special to my family and life. The vigil was important in my life. I remember holding candles and singing songs, and I remember I cried because I was afraid someone could do this to Linda. I think this may have been one of the first times I ever found something outside my family unit to care about. It gave me an awareness of something so big. I knew this was ultimate social injustice. I knew this was something I cared about deeply.

I often wish I could give my mother's love and acceptance of my sexuality to my friends who are not so lucky to have such openness. Like for my friend a pre-operation transsexual. Her family's farthest come member in acceptance, her father, simply refuses to refer to her by a name of any sort. Or for my dearest and best friend, whose charming stepfather made one of the more memorable quotes to the media during Matt's death, "The fag deserved it."

When I came to college, I was a really broken person. For my first semester, I hardly made almost any friends and my life was wrapped around my ex-boyfriend's fingers. I was isolating myself from everyone. Fate perchanced on me following a pseudo friend into the RRC once. Things were quiet and I soon found myself hanging out everyday. While there weren't a lot of people, I soon realized I had found one of the most open, caring, and accepting places on campus. It was there that I met some of my VERY best and kindest friends of my college experience. These friends and the whole community who didn't know me, supported me utterly and have cared about me fully. We might not see each other that much, but I know them to be some of the truest friends. And it seems I meet a new shining person there every month.
Though my part is small in the activism done, I care a lot about this community and the love they have shown me, and I hope to repay them someday. I am proud to be an Ally and I will remember Matthew Shepard.

In the celebrity gay world...

2008-09-25T20:21:00.001-07:00

List of famous people who came out today:

* Lindsay Lohan (duh)

* Clay Aiken (double duh)

I'm gonna get all tree hugger on you...

2008-09-22T12:46:00.004-07:00

But seriously folks...

Some facts about Earth Resources

The US has 1/6th of the world's population. We use 1/4th of the world's resources.

90% of the world's energy is produced by fossil fuels.

The US uses 22 MILLION barrels of fuel per day. The rate of consumption for oil is increasing at a rate of about 2% yearly.

The average American uses 2.8 gallons per day. That's 1022 gallons or 25 barrels per year, for only one person.

Scary, huh?

escape to the mountains

2008-08-24T08:06:00.005-07:00

Let's start out this entry with some photos of Snowy Range loveliness, turns out my cellphone takes pretty decent photos!

Yesterday, in celebration of my mum's 54th birthday, we headed off to Mirror Lake and hiked up the 1.7 miles up Lakes Trail to the foot of Medicine Bow Peak. Overall it was 3.2 mile hike but lots of up, up, up. I was out of breath, I'm pretty out of shape as far as those things are concerned, and my 54-year-old mother was barely winded. *sigh* Still, it was fun and I suddenly was really sorry that I haven't spent almost anytime this summer in the mountains. The plan is to start walking around the park and walking back and forth to campus, so maybe next year I can actually attempt the Peak. I've done it 4 or 5 times, last time was in 2006, I believe. It's a killer hike but so beautiful, especially at the top. Photograph panorama heaven! I would just have so much more motivation to walk if I had a dog. I was pretty hot on the idea for awhile, I still am, but it's probably true that we should settle into things a little more. Besides, maybe we will want to move in after next year, we don't have tons of room per say. It's more spacious then what I've ever had but we're adding domestic things and combining our stuff--we have a pretty intense book collection for our age (6/7ths of it, is mine) and DVDs, Ophelia in her 40 gallon cage, Jezebel in her 20 gallon and the turtles in their 45 gallon. Plus we have a combined dish collection, cooking collection, lots of dried foods and pastas. Oh and copious amounts of blankets. We don't have tons of room to add much else. But I do believe adding a dog to the mix would be super, plus did I mention we have an AMAZING backyard. Amazing!

Anyways, school starts tomorrow. I'm excited for my schedule to become more normalized as far as I'm concerned, or rather, get home at a decent hour every night. My only late nights will be Thursday, the one night I work. I also work the ten hour Sunday shift. Mondays and Wednesdays will be my busiest days with 3 classes and a lab, but it's all over by 4 pm. Wootwoot. I will have nights now! Huzzah!

'Le poinçonneur des Lilas'

2008-08-17T09:23:00.006-07:00

They say my grandmother might be released soon but I don't know how she could. Brandon and I visited her yesterday and she looked and felt very sickly. Apparently there is an infection in her heart. I don't know the exact state of things but she certainly appears very unhealthy. Other then that, yesterday was fairly entertaining. My friends Katheryn and Andy tied the knot after 2 years of dating and I was a bridesmaid. Katheryn looked beyond gorgeous and I think I looked pretty fabulous yesterday too. I went all out for the occasion. Ashlie and I got our nails done on Friday and then I spent an hour curling my hair all over (with some help from Pookie, heehee) and it was really pretty--I have some nice photos from it, I'm quite pleased. The reception was at the train depot and that was pretty fun, it was a costume party. I went in my hot Renaissance attire while Wolfie paraded around as a cowboy. Had a few drinks of White Zinfidel, yum. Saw some old friends. Got to watch Ghosts of Predator's Past play.

With things being shitty currently on my family and friend front I've been overwhelmed with depression randomly. My medication regulates it from being an all out free-for-all down in the dumps but it's still slipping past. While it's obviously with a reason, it hurts and knocks the wind out of me. I can't afford to do poorly this semester and I've been doing so well up until this week, I can't let this get to me. As my grandma says, I have to shape up and pull through.

But enough about me, I want to talk about the world.

If you haven't been watching the news, the big really scary action is currently with Russia's invasion of Georgia, which has been spurred by longtime bitter relations and the Kremlin (the Russian equivalent of the White House) claims Georgia provoked the conflict by sending its troops into the breakaway region of South Ossetia, and it has referred to the president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, as a war criminal. The US officially started sending aid a couple days ago and this is where things started looking really scary. Happily the Russian president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, has negotiated the cease-fire with President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, has and pledged that Russian forces would be pulled back on Monday who told Russia that their relations with the European Union would be seriously damaged if he did not.

I've looked at this intense situation with keen interest partially because I'm having random paranoia regarding the supposed Mayan Apocalypse in December 21, 2012. Not that I'm actually buying into it heavily, Y2K was a joke and I knew it. Don't expect me to stock up on toilet paper anytime soon. Soothsayers in certain Christian sects have been predicting the rapture for nearly 2000 years, my favorite has to be the prediction of William Miller who claimed the Second Advent of Jesus Christ would come in 1843. Miller actually got a huge following and when the 1843 date failed to show, he predicted another date October 22, 1844. This failed again but the Millerites persisted and evolved into today's Seventh Day Adventists. Apocrypha is fascinating to me and the Mayan Apocalypse is perhaps the most interesting because it's not from a messianic religious group.

The Mayans had an elaborate calendrical system, as they were skilled mathematicians, and this shows in their calendar; besides having a concept of zero, they also had a firm grasp of modular arithmetic; they also worked extensively in base 20. However, despite their great skill at observing the heavens, their calendar has no relationship to lunar or seasonal cycles, and is only synchronized with the solar cycle year approximately. The Mayans used three separate calendars. The Long Count was pricipally used for historical purposes, since it can define any date for millenia in the past and future. The Haab was a civil calendar based on a year of 360 days consisting of 18 periods of 20 days. Five days were added at the end of the Haab year to approximately synchronize it with the solar year. The Tzolkin calendar was used for ceremonial purposes, which had 20 periods of 13 days. The Tzolkin calendar went through a complete cycle every 260 days. The signficance of this cycle is unknown; it may be connected with the orbit of Venus, which has a period of 263 days. The Haab and Tzolkin dates did not have a year component; however, a combined Haab and Tzolkin date specify a unique day within a 52 year cycle. There is a great deal of nonsense that has been written about the Mayan long count. It has been claimed that it will 'come to an end' in the near future, and along with it will arrive a Mayan apocalypse, a pole shift, earth change, cosmic convergence, whatever. The Long Count does end on an interesting note. The Long Count was begun at the onset of this current cycle, known as the 5th Sun, in 3114 BC. It will clock the required number of years to complete a full cycle of five suns on December 21, 2012. Every Long Count time frame is cyclical and the Mayan Long Count is not described as an apocalypse however but rather the ‘Birth of Venus.’ Archeologists have not, however, ever been able to figure out what the heck they are referring to. It is however, interestingl that an event will happen in the sky that only happens once every 25,800 years: the winter solstice sun crosses the equator of the Milky Way and the ecliptic path of the sun. It will come to resolution at exactly 11:11 am GMT. This date corresponds also completes the Great Zodiac precession cycle of 26,000 years.

What does this have to do with Russia? I guess my brain finds the possible reasons for an Armageddon interesting and starting a war with Russia would certainly be a step. Hopefully things will appear to be calming down in Georgia. For myself I'm definitely not thrilled about dying from radioactive drift-off from a blast. Happily Wyoming is one of the last places on the list to nuke...probably.

So now let's leave with a more pleasant thought--Beaker and the Swedish Chef singing the famous Habanera aria from everyone's favorite french opera about a salacious gypsy...(That would be George Bizet's Carmen for those of you who don't dig classical music and opera like I do).