the hummingbird

Valentine's breakfast

2009-02-14T08:50:00.001-08:00

Valentine's breakfast, originally uploaded by sunpath.

My sweetie is the sweetest!

Ho ho ho!

2008-12-28T16:00:00.002-08:00

Ho ho ho!, originally uploaded by sunpath.

Dylan as the neighborhood Santa...

I Am Blessed

2008-12-15T06:27:00.002-08:00

I Missed The Point ~ Neko Case
The View ~ Modest Mouse
The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth ~ Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
You Don't Know Me ~ Ben Folds & Regina Spektor
Acid Tongue ~ Jenny Lewis
Mutha'uckas ~ Flight of the Conchords
White Winter Hymnal ~ Fleet Foxes
Furr ~ Blitzen Trapper
You Are The Best Thing ~ Ray LaMontagne
Can't Always Get What You Want ~ Rolling Stones
Life is Long ~ David Byrne & Brian Eno
Whole Wide World ~ Wreckless Eric
Ghost Town ~ The Specials
The Science of Selling Yourself Short ~ Less Than Jake
The Beach is Free ~ Billy Bragg
I Don't Want To Die (In The Hospital) ~ Conor Oberst
I Am Blessed (Wax Tailor Remix) ~ Nina Simone

Late fall in Arizona

2008-12-05T09:28:00.001-08:00

Late fall in Arizona, originally uploaded by sunpath.

Javalina's on parade

2008-11-26T11:29:00.001-08:00

Javalina's on parade, originally uploaded by sunpath.

We saw Rory in Sedona today...

A lot of updating...

2008-11-06T13:54:00.004-08:00

Holy hell! Was my last post really on September 30th? WOW. Well, my only excuse is that I've been madly cooking and blogging over at Scraping the Skillet. I do have a lot of things to update y'all on, though. Really, there should have been a bunch of posts between September and now...here's a brief recap of what's been going on:

NINI AND ADAM GOT MARRIED! Yes, my little sister is married! I have a bunch of photos posted on Flickr, but here's one to get you started...

I was back in Chicago for a glorious 10 days around her wedding. It was great to spend time with family and friends - we don't get to see them enough! Highlights? Bocce ball in Merrimack Park. Glorious fall leaves. TO DIE FOR Italian food (by an Irish chef, no less). Oh yeah, and the wedding. That was pretty awesome too ;)

2. I took a new job. Actually, I did this before the wedding by a few months. It just didn't seem top of the list. It's not an exciting or challenging job, but it is flexible and the people are nice. Now you know why I've been flakier than usual about returning e-mails, etc. Job + Food Blog = crazy busy.

3. Dylan and I have made a new resolution to go hiking more often. I mean, we live 5 minutes from a National Park but we haven't hit the trail in over a year? Crazy. The first hike was The Bellota trail up on Mt. Lemmon. Gorgeous scenery and a relatively easy hike. Amazing views after just a short hike to the ridge. Here we are:

This weekend we hiked up and around Sabino Canyon. It was also beautiful and we got to see lots of cool stuff, like a desert box turtle and a desert kitty cave. Check Flickr for pictures soon (D took the camera with him to Miami).

4. Speaking of Miami, the Canyon Ranch Miami project that D has been working on since we moved here is opening! He's there now for the soft soft opening. I was starting to wonder if this would ever happen!

5. Caleb has been battling some peeing issues. He's gotten all blocked up twice and had to spend the night at the Vet (he relapsed after the first drain). To help him manage better in the future we have officially put him on the Weekly World News Juice Diet. Mrow.

That's all the news that's fit to print.

I'll leave you with this thought:

Whoa.

2008-09-30T14:32:00.001-07:00

Couldn't get the video to embed...just follow this link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/30/couric-asks-palin-how-she_n_130642.html

You'll have to watch a commercial to see this, but it's short. Whoa is all I have to say.

Wait a second...

2008-09-26T17:46:00.003-07:00

You, dear readers: "Where did all of those food/recipe posts go to? I was looking for that one..."

Me: "Oh yeah, I moved those over to my new food/cooking/eating blog! You can find them at:
www.scrapingtheskillet.com
Enjoy!"

Voting

2008-09-23T10:23:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder:

If you're not yet registered to vote, here's a good link: https://www.voteforchange.com/

There's less than two weeks for you to get registered, especially if you have moved since the last time you voted. I think it's worth double checking your registration, just to be sure...

A. Homer Hilsen

2008-09-21T13:02:00.005-07:00

I know it's now been months since D finally got his baby, A. Homer Hilsen. I've been meaning to share pictures of this beautiful beast since the beginning but just haven't gotten to it until now. Here's one of D with the bike...you can view several more pictures of his bike here.

Politics 2008

2008-09-11T10:46:00.005-07:00

I have one burning desire when it comes to politics. I want everyone to have access to the same truthful information. Big wish, I know. Especially with all the media spin in present times. If I was an undecided voter, I'm not sure what I would make of all the TV ads and pundit analysis.

I would like to believe that I wouldn't be swayed by the half-truths and straight-out lies that are all over the TV screen and the internet. But, if I didn't have access to the truth, how would I know? How could I ever make an informed, not emotional, choice in the voting booth?

Rather than preaching my personal beliefs on this election process I'm going to share one website with you. One site that is useful to ALL Americans, whether they are decided or not, conservative or liberal, red, blue, purple or green.

The website is FactCheck.org.

Please, for the love of this country, visit this site weekly (or subscribe via RSS!). These folks are doing a valiant job of exposing truth in these political times. Thank goodness.

More cowbell?

2008-09-05T17:52:00.001-07:00

More cowbell?, originally uploaded by sunpath.

I'm not sure, exactly, why someone would have this vehicle.
Off roading? Prolly not.
Hauling? Only a 12" tall driver could access that bed.
Why?
Do these exist everywhere? In bigger cities? Tell me if you've seen one in your neck of the woods. I hope you haven't but won't be too terribly surprised if you have...

(don't miss the cowbell hanging from the hitch)

Sigh

2008-08-22T21:32:00.001-07:00

Sigh, originally uploaded by sunpath.

Just that, sigh.

Ever vacuumed yourself?

2008-08-20T13:08:00.003-07:00

Neither had I, until today.

fur.jpg, originally uploaded by sunpath.

Shoe for scale, W's size 9.
This is what the FURminator can do to 2 cats in an hour. This thing effing rocks!

Needless to say, Rory and I are not friends right now...and Caleb is my new best friend.

Do we have any idea what we are doing?

2008-08-18T12:49:00.003-07:00

How big this is? How much waste we produce? How much it impacts the world? How big the world is?

I don't know about you, but when I feel I'm in for some mind-boggling I sit down and start thinking about how many people there are in NYC...and then in other cities like Beijing or Munich or Paris...and then I start thinking about how impossibly many people there are on Earth. Yes, I know the figures. I could just think about the number...but it's not really the same humbling feeling.

Chris Jordan is a photographic artist who has created a number of masterful pieces of artwork that help us visualize numbers that are really beyond the comprehension level of "whoa that's a lot." He is brilliant and if you haven't spent some time exploring his website, you should do it today.
www.chrisjordan.com

p.s. More foodie pictures coming soon...my computer had to be wiped and reinstalled, so I'm just now getting that stuff back together.

Helpfulness...

2008-07-31T11:09:00.004-07:00

Helpfulness..., originally uploaded by sunpath.

The conversation went something like this:

Me: Caleb! Please, how about you lay on this chair - or the kitchen counter - instead.

Caleb: (jumps off counter where I have placed him as , apparently, the paper I set up for him there (bills!) is not adequate for his needs)

Me: sigh. As long as you leave the piece I am working on alone.

Caleb: (makes a nice nest before determining that his chosen paper is missing a key component. A sort of je ne sais quoi... Oh yes, my undivided attention, that's it)

Me: No - Caleb! Why do you have to lay on the one piece of paper I need to work with?!?

And so on ...

I e-mailed this picture to Dylan...for a midday laugh. His response?

"Of course! That is what he lives for :)"

And, of course, he is right. Paper? All over the table? Caleb must have died and gone to heaven.

Cooking Counters

2008-07-25T11:55:00.004-07:00

Yesterday, the NYT reported in What's Lurking in Your Countertop that some of the zillions of granite countertops trendily being installed in kitchens and bathrooms around the US may actually emit radiation at a level that could be a health risk...! It seems, the more esoteric your granite counter top, the more likely that it is emitting bad vibes at a level higher than what we experience as "background" radiation from the earth's crust and outer space.

My first reaction was to laugh. I mean, I get to gloat since I can't afford to install granite counter tops, right? Isn't it the folks without cash who usually get screwed by these things? Isn't it funny that it's the Yuppies this time?

Bad Micha.

It's not nice to laugh at other people. Remember, if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Tucson in July

2008-07-24T16:22:00.002-07:00

Dear, dear friends,

I want to share with you some insider information. Call it a pitch, or take it at face value. Up to you.

Most people think that the best time to visit our corner of the US is in winter and spring. Mostly, they come for warmth - to escape their bleary winter days and experience some sun in the middle. Here, in my opinion, is where they go wrong.

NOW is the best time of year to be here. Why? You ask. Let me pontificate.

Once the monsoons begin the weather here is paradise. It's not 105 anymore (that's usually just May and June). In fact, it's a high of 90 or 95 with glorious breaks in the day when there is a lovely thunderstorm and it is 70 degrees! Now, before you wince at the 90 -95 degree declaration, remember what the humidity is like in the desert. You know, it's a DRY heat ;) What that means is that it's probably about 13-15% humidity. Midwesterners: BEAT THAT!

When it rains all the plants in the desert do a happy dance. That dance (called photosynthesis and growth) makes everything around us green and beautiful. Seriously, it looks Hawaii in them thar hills! The roadsides are flanked with green grass. For anyone who has already come to visit, I'm sure you can attest that your first reaction to Tucson was "it's so brown." Not at this time of year, friends. Not at this time of year. I've attached a picture (poor though it is, taken with my camera phone while driving) as proof. Look at the hills! Green! Be still my beating heart.

Finally, because most people choose to visit in the winter and spring (and are not privy to this insider info) the plane tickets to Tucson are the cheapest during the summer. Talk about a deal for a get away or a vacation!

Ok, I'm getting off my soapbox. I just wanted to share this with everyone. This season should last thru August and then it's on to "second summer." If you have a free weekend and you're looking for a get away, call :)

A Whole Lifetime

2008-07-09T21:29:00.004-07:00

"Man is free at the moment he chooses to be." - Voltaire

As many of you know, In the past 9 months I've had to basically quit cycling because of sciatic nerve pain. I finally had an MRI and learned that I actually have some bulging discs in my L4 and L5 vertebrae. Of course, this is only part of the picture. The why of these bulging discs is a much longer tale, but that is for another time.

In addition to cutting out my cycling, I've had to significantly cut back my yoga practice. Let me rephrase: I've had to refocus my practice on asana that specifically help heal my back and away from those poses that aggravate my condition. I still practice between 1 and 2 hours a day, but I focus more on standing poses and often repeat basic standing poses 2 or 3 times throughout my practice. Typically, I listen to my heart and allow it to lead me through my practice, letting my body tell me which asana will provide the ideal balance between challenge and therapeutic benefit.

Today during my practice, after a round of hip openers, strong arm balances and deep back bends, my mind instinctively lead me to headstand as my next pose. I had to stop myself. At this point in time the deep forward fold necessary to come into Sirsasana would be too much for my back. Instead, I took a moment and sat back in child's pose waiting for new direction. As I let my mind wander I began to feel frustrated that I couldn't practice a pose I was regularly holding for 5-10 minutes a few months ago. I began to worry about losing all the strength I had build up in this pose.

Then I had an epiphany: There is no date by which I must be proficient at this or any pose. I have a whole lifetime to practice Sirsasana.

And with that thought, I was free.

Stir-Fried Chicken with Crispy Basil in Sweet Chili Sauce

2008-07-06T19:19:00.002-07:00

Crispy Basil Chicken Stir Fry, originally uploaded by sunpath.

I am lucky enough to be helping Jaden (of Jaden's Steamy Kitchen fame) test recipes for her forthcoming cookbook. Of course, I'm not the only one testing, there are a number of people from all around the world. It's pretty neat to read the comments from folks overseas about what they can and can't find in their local Tesco.

Above is one of the dishes I've tested for her. I won't post a recipe, but I will tell you that those basil leaves are deep fried and crispy...a very interesting twist.

Want to see more? Well, one of the others I tested was the Thai Red Beef Curry. If you follow that link you can start flipping through to see other yummies too...

Long Johns

2008-07-03T12:32:00.005-07:00

A bike for those who are worried that they wouldn't be able to do without a car for hauling reasons...

You know, if you need to deliver some cheese, or whatever :)

Most of these are found in Europe (Denmark, Germany, Sweeden), as that is where they are made. However, there is one in Alaska. Now, if someone living in Alaska can use one of these to get around, you will have to come up with a better excuse than whatever you were just thinking...

There are many more pictures of different Long Johns in different countries at longjohn.org.

Meme Mosaic

2008-07-02T13:26:00.003-07:00

Meme Mosaic, originally uploaded by sunpath.

I got the idea for this meme mosaic via Flickr from the Boastful Baker...It seemed like a fun break from what I've been working on so I went for it. Here's how it works:

Rules:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Big Huge Lab's mosaic maker.

Questions:
1. What is your first name? (Micha)
2. What is your favorite food? (Sushi - though this was really hard for me)
3. What high school did you go to? (OPRF)
4. What is your favorite color? (blue)
5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Johnny Depp)
6. Favorite drink? (green tea)
7. Dream vacation? (India)
8. Favorite dessert? (brownie)
9. What you want to be when you grow up? (free)
10. What do you love most in life? (Dylan)
11. One Word to describe you. (creative)
12. Your flickr name. (sunpath)

(incidentally, it's amazing how little of what comes up on the first page of a search is actually a picture of your search term...)

1. Poldi, Micha, Schweini: " Viel zu hoch ! ", 2. "What? Sushi? What is it?", 3. Dandelions at dusk, 4. Just hanging around, 5. JOHNNY DEPP, 6. green tea & sunshine, 7. Taj Mahal, 8. Cho Cho Cho, 9. Mulher Maravilha, 10. *waves*, 11. air, 12. sunpath.

Ridin' Around in the Breeze...

2008-06-20T14:40:00.001-07:00

A-Punk ~ Vampire Weekend
Boracay ~ The Little Ones
The Fatalist ~ Robbers on High Street
You Me and the Bourgeoisie ~ The Submarines
Everyone Gets A Star ~ Albert Hammond, Jr.
Miniature Birds ~ Grand Archives
Click, Click, Click, Click ~ Bishop Allen
Summertime Thing ~ Chuck Prophet
Long-Legged Guitar Pickin' Man ~ Johnny Cash and June Carter
I Got Mine ~ The Black Keys
Ruby Blue ~ Roisin Murphy
Two Shoes ~ The Cat Empire
Hello Bonjour ~ Michael Franti & Spearhead
Love is Free ~ Sheryl Crow
End of the Line ~ Traveling Wilburys

Cali-forn-i-a

2008-06-19T16:39:00.020-07:00

At the beginning of the month I/we took a little vacation and toured around a good chunk of California. I started out driving west and camping overnight in Joshua Tree, which was beautiful. I had not been there before and am really glad I stopped. I basically rolled in just before the sun started going down and took pictures until it was gone and the stars were out. Then I set up my tent and attempted to get some sleep. I say attempted because it was actually quite windy. In fact, I had originally planned to have a glorious morning yoga practice amidst the Joshua Trees...well, that plan had to be scrapped due to wind, but I did get to discover a funky little coffee shop in town and have a bagel and coffee there before setting out.

My next stop was Santa Cruz where my dear friend Katie is finishing up her grad program (Paleoclimatology, in case you are interested). She has already blogged about our visit here. To get to her I drove up Hwy 101, through zillions of lettuce patches. At the end of the day I passed numerous farmworker buses carting workers back to their living quarters. Once in Santa Cruz, our three days were filled primarily with eating, talking, some walking, more eating and a lot of baking. Much fun was had with heavenly strawberries. I think we must have done more than that, but really, it was a classic Katie-Micha few days.

Dylan flew into town from Miami (where he had been sweatin' it out for work) and we traveled together up to the Santa Rosa area to visit his uncle John. We got into town just in time to go hear John's jazz trio play at a local winery, enjoy the sun setting over the grapevines and reflect on how lucky we are in so, so many ways...

The next day we went with John into Forestville to see the annual parade and hang out for the first day of the 2-day music and bbq extravaganza in the park. I'm not sure you can get more of a vacation feel than that!

We finished up our trip with a whirlwind visit to Liz and Woody in Pasadena. I've got no picture love to show from this visit, as we were literally there for less than 12 hours (and we slept during that time...). Hopefully, though, there is another trip in the near future, one where I can spend a little more time catching up with Liz :)

a quick thought

2008-06-17T15:26:00.001-07:00

I'm still finishing up stuff for this week's food bank meeting but wanted to take a moment to share this thought that I had today:

Even the cactus seem to be wilting in this heat.

Nap time

2008-06-13T17:36:00.002-07:00

Nap time, originally uploaded by sunpath.

Yes, that is Caleb curled up asleep in the shower! Silly!

More posting soon...I have pictures and tales from our recent California road trip to share...just gotta finish those to do items for the food bank first...

Longevity Noodles

2008-05-21T09:27:00.001-07:00

Longevity Noodles, originally uploaded by sunpath.

The recipie for Jaden's Long Life Fertility Noodles with Happy Shrimp can be found here.
This photo is a good example of why I don't usually photograph dinners...the sun is down and the lighting is less than ideal. Oh well. It sure tasted good :)

Two excellent articles

2008-05-19T11:21:00.003-07:00

Well, well...here we are again...me posting a pile of articles that I've sent to Facebook recently. I'll reatrain myself and only post two here today. But really, these are worth reading.

The first is about our good friend, the global food economy. If you are simplifying the cause of your rising food prices down to biofuel production and rising gas prices, you may want to check this out.
This article talks specifically about how policy has affected developing countries, but we get more and more of our food from "out there somewhere," at a seemingly great cost to us and a much greater cost to the pesant farmers who produce it. Next time you buy a can of black beans, check out where they came from...China? Can you even tell?

Long but worth it.

The second article is about the history of consumerism. Yes, we are all consumers. How did we come to live in this, well, consumptive manner? Hmmm...
The article is extremely interesting and backs up some of the general feelings and tendencies I have with actual historical info. Specifally, the Kellogg corp., at one time, had all employees only working 6 hours. When new management came in and tried to change things, no one wanted to give that up...not even for more money.

Also long and also worth it.

Happy reading!

Me and my Honig

2008-05-13T11:25:00.001-07:00

Me and my Honig, originally uploaded by sunpath.

...in all our garrish-clothed glory!

We rode with the Canyon Ranch group as part of Tucson's first ever Livestrong ride. Hilariously, when giving a proclamation that May 13th will henceforth be Livestrong day in Tucson, Mayor Walkup pronounced it Lyvestrong (you know, like cats have 9 lives). Clearly he didn't get briefed on what was going on before he showed up...

Click on the pic if you want to see a couple other shots from the morning.

Char Siu Bao

2008-04-29T20:40:00.007-07:00

In Tucson there really isn't any amazing Chinese food. In fact, most Chinese restaurants also serve Japanese, Korean, and/or Vietnamese in some combination. You want a specific regional style of Chinese? HA!
OK, maybe it's not that bad...we have found a few asian restaurants we adore, but not a Chinese one. (If anyone reading knows of one in Tucson that we should try, please tell me!).
Tucson certainly is not Chicago, or San Francisco or Seattle. There's not a "Chinatown" where you can go and get your fix on delectable delights.
For me, even the "International District," as it is called, in Seattle is pitiful compared with my hometown. I remember as a kid going to Chicago's Chinatown every Saturday after dance class and always going to the same restaurant, with the same waitress, Sue. Heck, she was teaching us to order our favorite dishes in Mandarin. Many of my favorites are are beyone my spelling skills, but man, I know what I want.
Ah, Chinatown. We also went there for the Chinese New Year celebration every year. Usually it was me, my mom, sis and cousin. We always went to one of the bakeries and brought back Char Siu Bao for our uncle.
Alas, I have found no yummy Char Siu Bao in Tucson. Sometimes you just have to DIY. Here, dear friends, is my first attempt at Char Siu Bao. Not too bad, if I don't say so myself :)

Char Siu Bao, originally uploaded by sunpath.

Dylan at the finish line

2008-04-28T16:19:00.003-07:00

Dylan at the finish line, originally uploaded by sunpath.

On Sunday Dylan rode in the Tour of the Tucson Mountains. He finished well, at 3 hours and 12 minutes. That makes his average speed 21.8 mph for the 70 mile course (and there was a head wind almost the whole way!).

Wish the pic was a little more in focus...I guess I'm really not a sports photographer ;)

The Guest House

2008-04-10T17:46:00.004-07:00

I was reminded today of one of my favorite Rumi poems - possibly one of my favorite poems of all time. As usual with words like these, the poem came to me just in the moment I needed reminding, as I have been feeling mopey and sorry for myself for the past couple of days.

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

-- Jelal'udin Rumi

vaccinations

2008-04-02T06:25:00.003-08:00

Today I was forwarded a story from CNN.com about children who develop autism after receiving their MMR immunization shots.
Many of you know that my youngest cousin had a extreme developmental after being vaccinated (not autisim, but his development was severly impaired). Sadly, I have met other people in this world who have had similar reactions to vaccinations as babies.
I asked a nurse friend of mine what he thought of this and his reply was that children are given too many vaccinations at once, mostly for public health reasons. Since they know that you'll be brining them in a number of times as babies, they schedule all the vaccinations then. Perhaps if you pay the extra $$ to have your child receive vaccinations for each disease separately there is less risk. I've also heard that if you wait until after your kids have reaced 2 years of age, their bodies are better equipped to handle the vaccinations.
Personally, I don't expect that I'll be vaccinating my kids. I'll not so keen on the mingling of politics and medicine.

Mary's temptation...

2008-03-11T14:41:00.002-08:00

What to do with extra sourdough starter?, originally uploaded by sunpath.

To keep my sourdough starter going I regularly reduce the existing starter down to 10g and then feed it equal parts of flour and water. But what's a girl to do with all that extra starter that is essentially being tossed out each feeding?
English Muffins!

W is for...

2008-03-07T10:41:00.001-08:00

Picacho Peak Poppies, originally uploaded by sunpath.

Wednesday and Wildflowers!
I headed up to Picacho Peak this Wednesday to check out the spring blooms. Not as huge a display as in past years (so I'm told), but looking at this shot, the first thought to your mind would hardly be "desert."

*if you click on the photo you can visit my flickr page and see the rest of the set.

Freitag!

2008-02-29T17:23:00.001-08:00

Freitag!, originally uploaded by sunpath.

TGIF (Freitag, that is)!

Nader

2008-02-27T07:05:00.007-08:00

By now you've certainly read/heard that Ralph Nader is again running for President, right?

I'm disappointed that he has chosen to do this. In fact, this action seems to underscore that Ralph Nader is all about Ralph Nader, and not necessarily about the advancement of a 3 (or more) party system. It's sad, really, since he has such a strong legacy in the consumer advocacy arena.

First of all, he's running as an independent, not as a member of the Green Party. Why? Well, perhaps it is the Green Party already has a candidate that is running for president (of course, most people wouldn't be aware of this because of the lack of acknowledgment by major news outlets, but I digress...). No, Nader is running as an Independent.

Now, I certainly agree that our country would do well to move beyond a 2 party system but I also feel that there are a quite a few flawed arguments in the current approach that I can not support.

I believe and support US citizens' right to vote for whomever they choose. This is a major point that Nader-ites often make...that encouraging voters to overlook him on the basis of practicality is an effort to influence their voting decisions. Hmmm. I guess that technically they are right, however, the idea that we each have an equal vote is based on the idea that we all have access to the same accurate information about candidates. Unfortunately, this is not currently the case. In fact, We The People who actually make the effort to educate ourselves about political issues and candidates are largely in the minority. Education is not equally distributed in this country.

We all already know what happens in a hotly contested presidential race (where the Republican option is repulsive) when a minority votes with their hearts and their heads, and everyone else votes based on information provided by the media (or based on no real information at all). So, the question becomes, how do we move toward the change that Nader (and others) embody?

I would argue that dropping someone like Nader into the presidential race as either a Green or Independent candidate is not ever going to accomplish the job of moving our country more progressively forward. For one, said candidate will continue to get pummeled, though they likely will throw the balance off in favor of the less savory candidate.

Certainly, if our primary process was more democratic, lesser known candidates would have a chance of at least making it to the general election. This year's primary has underscored the lack of equity, what with candidates being excluded from debates, etc. So, there's something we can do to improve the 2 party situation: democratize the primary system.

Secondly, I think there is a much greater opportunity to influence national politics by starting small and working up. If there is a strong base of politicians around the country, holding a wide variety of seats, there is a much greater chance that, come some future Presidential election there will be 3 (or more) viable parties running. Already there are a number of very liberal democrats either taking or hotly contesting seats (both local and national) through out the middle of the country. We need to stick with these people and support them NOW so they have a constant awareness of who the people are and what they want from their government. We have to change the dynamic so that the question is not Can Mr. Smith Get To Washington Anymore, but rather, which Mr. Smith do we want? In other words, We The People need to start showing up for more than the presidential races. Heck, it probably wouldn't hurt if we knew what was going on politically in our home states. Incidentally, this requires a serious commitment on the part of the People.

Finally, and for me this is the real trump card, we have GOT to work on the education issue. I think a big first step is teaching kids how to pick apart advertising campaigns. Just having the knowledge that nothing in that TV/Print/Internet ad is an accident is very empowering for consumers. Ultimately, this ties to the skill of being able to ask questions and make up one's own mind. I mean, that's what we are really talking about here, right? We need to give people the tools they need to cut through the hype and spin of political campaigns and decide for themselves who they want to run the country.

overwhelm-ment

2008-02-15T14:12:00.003-08:00

I'm in the process of compiling a list of bands I want to see when we travel out to Austin for SXSW next month. Whoa is there a lot to sift through. I'm not sure the number of bands that are officially slated to play, but I haven't successfully gotten through the list yet. If you want to see just how long it is, click here.

This feeling of being overwhelmed reminds me of the feeling I often get when I try to take in excessive amounts of information about world events and politics. My brain just can't hold it all.

Maybe my brain extra small? OR maybe this explains all the apathy in our country...we can't focus on anything else because too much of our attention is absorbed in marketing and spin.

Also (and randomly): It was snowing in Tucson today. I ate flourless chocolate cake, that Dylan made me for V day, as a snack. Today is the last day of my 30 day yoga challenge.

A belated photo...

2008-02-07T11:16:00.001-08:00

Nini & Micha at Christmas, originally uploaded by sunpath.

Can't wait to see this lady again in a day and a half!

a fond memory...

2008-02-01T16:03:00.001-08:00

Mary, Micha, originally uploaded by sunpath.

Just came up in my mind today. This was taken at my elementary school. My friend Zander had the same cool coat with zip off sleeves, only his was blue. I always coveted that blue coat...

Look how happy my mom looks!

Inhale

2008-01-31T13:21:00.001-08:00

Inhale, originally uploaded by sunpath.

Well, I've obviously been spending more time baking than perusing political blogs lately. I attribute that to the never ending banter about the primary candidates. Really, it's like the tabloids of the politics world. For me, as someone who already knows who they plan to vote for, it's just a waste of time and energy to read through all that stuff. Kind of like reading about Britney Spears.

Of course, I do still glance to see if there is anything else going on in the world...like this gem: Political appointees at FEMA and CDC tried to block the inclusion of scientific evidence about the toxicity of formaldehyde from a report on FEMA trailers. (see here).

Awesome.

I think I'll go have another slice of bread to calm my stomach.

Cardamom Lime Sweet Rolls

2008-01-27T14:32:00.001-08:00

Cardamom-Lime Sweet Rolls, originally uploaded by sunpath.

This is an easy recipe at the very end of ths month's Cooking Light. I HIGHLY reccomend that you give it a go. It is really lite and delicious..not heavy and nauseating like some sweet roll recipes can be. If you are interested in the recipe and aren't a CL subscriber, shoot me an e-mail.

Craving Satisfied

2008-01-24T10:46:00.001-08:00

Craving Satisfied, originally uploaded by sunpath.

whoa...needed that!
OK, the brew is mass produced...but the orange is from our next-door neighbors tree :)

Mmm, Mmm, Mmm

2008-01-22T08:44:00.002-08:00

Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, originally uploaded by sunpath.

The fruits of everyone's (the ranchers, the people who grew our lettuce, wheat growers and the flour makers...and don't forget the cheese makers!) labor: a delicious organic, grass-fed Double Check Ranch burger on a homemade roll.

Dinner is so good to us sometimes!

Pennsylvania decides Consumer Education is OK afterall :)

2008-01-18T06:17:00.000-08:00

As a follow-up to my previous freak-out that PA had passed legislation banning the use of the rBGH label on dairy products: for once, logic, consumer safety and education win out over Monsanto's ever growing profits. As Tom Philpott (of Grist) pointed out, these guys are a monopoly if the US has ever seen one...now, if only we could get our courts to uphold those darned anti-trust laws...

From an article out of yesterday's Philadelphia Inquirer:

Pennsylvania agriculture officials backed down today from a controversial ban on milk labels that identify the milk as coming from cows not treated with synthetic growth hormone.

The ban was to take effect Feb. 1, to the dismay of consumer activists and many smaller dairies who choose not to inject their cows with hormones. But the move was superseded by new standards issued today, after a review by the office of Gov. Rendell.

Rendell ordered the agency to review the policy after consumer outcry, his spokesman said

"The governor's position was relatively simple: he wanted the labels to be accurate and informative," said Rendell's press secretary Chuck Ardo.

Though labels are once again permitted to mention that hormones were not used, the standards require a disclaimer stating there is no difference in milk from cows injected with hormones and milk from cows that are not injected. Such disclaimers already are printed on many milk cartons.

"It's basically a complete back-down," said Michael Hansen, a senior scientist at the nonprofit group Consumers Union, which had opposed the ban.

The agriculture department had issued the ban in October, arguing that a misleading impression might be conveyed by identifying milk as coming from cows not treated with synthetic hormones. Pennsylvania would have been the first state to implement such a ban.

The synthetic hormones are said to boost milk production by about 10 percent, and were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1994, though they are not allowed to be injected in Canada or Europe.

The product, which is marketed as Posilac, is used on about one-third of U.S. dairy herds, according to the manufacturer, St. Louis-based Monsanto.

The link to this story, by Tom Avril and Amy Worden, is here.

ya learn something new every day

2008-01-10T10:21:00.000-08:00

In reading Roz Cummings retrospective food column today had an elated epiphany about thyme. And I quote from Roz:

Most transcendent moment in an organic garden
When I visited Sooke Harbour House, on Vancouver Island last spring, I took a tour of the organic garden with Nichka Phillips. While showing me the herbs, she mentioned that the French use thyme in a tincture to treat respiratory ailments. I suddenly remembered the expression that I heard my father use all my life whenever the topic of healing came up -- "Nothing heals as well as a tincture of time." Might he really have been saying "a tincture of thyme"? It made me feel connected to him, even though he died a few years ago. The sense of feeling connected to someone I loved while standing in an aromatic garden in a beautiful place was completely lovely.

HA! A tincture of thyme! I'm familiar with the expression, having heard it before, probably from my grandparents. I had no idea - and apparently neither did she!

(if you are interested, her full article is here.)

g.o.l.

2008-01-08T19:34:00.000-08:00

For a long time I've avoided usung the lol acronym...mostly out of stubborness. Sometimes it seems appropriate in a given situation, but not quite right...maybe I'm not all out laughing...maybe just giggling. SO, I'm instituting a new (or new to me) acronym: gol, Giggle Out Loud.

Attack of the Christmas Pears

2008-01-07T19:54:00.000-08:00

I think we are finally nearing the end of our Christmas Pears - whew! The other night Dylan made roasted pears with a caramel sauce. Yum!

The Crosswalks

2007-12-30T16:07:00.000-08:00

A new Crosswalks video! yay! (Okay, actually this came out in September, but I haven't exactly been checking myspace much lately, okay?)
For those that are wondering...yes, Dave and Brenden were two of the muscians that provided accompaniment and entertainment at our wedding. Fun, fun.

Pastures of Plenty

2007-12-27T10:05:00.000-08:00

A Federal Judge toured a migrant housing encampment outside of LA. The Judge is holding a hearing in January to determine if all of these workers will get the boot from the unsafe conditions.
I wonder if he realizes the double-edged sword he's dealing with? Specifically, if these workers were provided with adequate (and, by the nature of it, more expensive) housing opportunities, their wages would need to rise to accomodate the increase in their housing costs (or at least the would in a fair world). Our friend the Judge might just find himself paying a bit more for his pestcide soaked strawberries...

Read an article here.

Sad news from Pakistan...

2007-12-27T07:25:00.000-08:00

This article covers the murder via bullets and suicide bomb of Bhutto, one of the top contenders in the upcoming election. Apparently, they had requested increased security for her but the government (Musharraf ignored the request).

I'm sure everyone will hear about this on the news. It is especially sad because the US Government is condemming the violent attack, etc. - even though they took their time commenting/taking action when Musharraf first declared a state of emergency in Pakistan. Even now, the US government's only "reason" to be concerned is that our al-Qaida friends might be hiding in northern Pakistan. At least, it's a good opportunity for the Bush administration to remind us that they are still out there and we are still in danger.

sigh.

Winter 2007

2007-12-21T15:16:00.000-08:00

Heretics ~ Andrew Bird
El Microphono ~ Mexican Institute of Sound
Hallelujah ~ Ryan Adams
On the Radio ~ Regina Spektor
Across The Wire ~ Calexico
If I Had Known ~ Greg Brown
Business Time ~ Flight of the Conchords
Sea Lion Woman ~ Feist
Brazil ~ The Arcade Fire
Rainin In Paradize ~ Manu Chao
What Light ~ Wilco
Let's Get Out of This Country ~ Camera Obscura
Pastures Of Plenty ~ Terri Hendrix
Saint Simon ~ the shins
Handle With Care ~ Traveling Wilburys
Politic Amagni (La Politique, C'est Pas Bon) ~ Amadou & Mariam

No effing way!

2007-12-20T12:44:00.000-08:00

Man, I love the EPA. I especially love the way they make decisions, especially if the decision doesn't actually take into account the recommendations of their own legal and technical teams.

At least we know California won't take this lying down.

Read about it here.

2007-12-19T08:01:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure that, as the site claims, our reps *have* to listen if 10,000 or more signatures are gathered, but it is still very important that we all take a moment and take action on this one. Consider how much of a difference all the contact from constituants made on Monday with regard to FISA. This is important folks.

It will only take a moment, do it while your cookie dough is chilling :)

Here's the link:
http://action.freepress.net/campaign/sbmopenletter/

Some Roman history for this time of year

2007-12-18T08:11:00.000-08:00

On the festival Saturnalia.

getting out of the way

2007-12-17T14:02:00.000-08:00

Though the comment by the Paupa New Guinea rep at the Bali conference was quoted as lead or get out of the way (on providing technological help to poorer countries), I think what we are doing is a little more along the lines of following.

On Saturday, World Leaders finally agreed on a broad plan for developing a new global climate treaty by 2009. Of course, we, the US, have only committed to deep cuts in our emissions...not anything specific.

And, as we would expect, the White House has already expressed "serious concerns" about the final deal. HA!

more fishes.

2007-12-14T13:59:00.000-08:00

Ok, you know that Alaskan Salmon commercial where Ben Stein encourages you to "grab a fork and eat all you want, there's lots more out there"? I hate that commercial. It's always made my skin crawl - it's just slimy marketing by the Alaskan Commercial Fisheries. Of course there's not an infinite number of fish in the sea.

Well, recent research shows that we may have to stop proclaiming about how there is so much more out there before too long...shock.

Ya-hoo!!

2007-12-13T14:11:00.000-08:00

California has the right to regulate emissions!
Now we just need to get the EPA on board...ugh...

Read the full story here.

Bio-hazard

2007-12-12T13:26:00.000-08:00

A good article with lots of info on why you might want to start phasing out the constant use of your Nalgene bottle, amoungst other things.

Wanna see your shows again?

2007-12-11T10:56:00.000-08:00

Do the right thing...
Send some noise to the bad guys and demand they up strike a fair deal with the WGA. No, you don't have to cut out random letters and glue them to a blank page. Just go here.

You're gonna love this...

2007-12-11T10:52:00.000-08:00

I mean, I love it. How could you not love this?

A woman is gang-raped by her employer while working overseas in (you guessed it) Iraq. She is then tossed in a container and guarded so she can not leave - in an effort to discourage her from reporting the rape? Disgusting.

Full story here.

One of my favorite things...er companies...

2007-12-10T14:07:00.001-08:00

"Monsanto, aka agriculture’s Voldemort, has joined the Chicago Climate Exchange and plans to reduce its direct carbon emissions by 6% below its 2000 levels by 2010 or buy offsets. Gee, a whole 6%? Exactly how many sulfurous-smelling greenhouse gases does the company generate from its nefarious life-patenting activities?"

Oh, Ethicurian, how I love your sad-news-delivering ways!

Read more about Voldemort's moves here.

Real journalism knocked down one more time.

2007-12-10T13:15:00.000-08:00

John Conroy, the journalist who uncovered and followed the Chicago Police torture story, is laid off from the Chicago Reader. This change comes just after the announcement that The City of Chicago is preparing to pay nearly $20 million to four men who were once sent to death row after interrogations that they say amounted to torture by the Chicago Police.

Rread more here.

peeing my pants...

2007-12-07T21:43:00.000-08:00

Fishes in the sea

2007-12-07T12:55:00.000-08:00

Just an interesting commentary. Of course, there are lots of other examples of tragedy of the commons, but I like the comparison Tierney uses at the end :)

http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/a-win-win-for-fish-and-fishermen/index.html

another belated...

2007-12-07T09:09:00.000-08:00

I know it's just an excuse, but I'm going to fall back on that push button functionality thing again. Here are posts from the last month on Facebook...

Only in California...the land of milk and honey (People's Grocery makes using food stamps easier)
More reasons to think twice about eating that beef...and using ethanol as an energy source (Cows fed ethanol byproduct have higher rates of E. coli)
Time magazine covering up bad, no, horrific journalism (Mr. Klein)
Poor Americans, blindly trusting the FDA (Under-funded and looking to really screw things up)
Fake Steve Jobs (A Book!)
Say it with me: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! (Take Back My TV!)
Water in the desert (Those Phoenixians sure are crazy...)
Just Say NO (To an overstressed holiday season)
Once upon a time...the Democrats actually did something (Congress Delays War Money)
Monkeys, monkeys everywhere! (Monkeys all over the darn place in New Delhi)
Concentrated Solar Power (read all about it)
Ethanol Plants (the farmers don't love them)
Craziness (PA Bans use of Hormone Free label on milk)
Green Building in Chicago (Expo)
Pollan's update on the Farm Bill (he votes for no subsidies, I vote for encouraging diversification of farms)
Lime wedges (and recycling of beer bottles)
No (Steven can't run in South Carolina)
Dr. Bronner (A true wacko - the movie)

I suppose that does it...I'll try to be better about posting this stuff here in the first place, though I'm honestly not sure anyone actually reads this blog anymore :)

It's not the money, it's the lifestyle...

2007-10-31T19:28:00.000-08:00

Here in Tucson, we have a ballot measure that is up for approval this election. It would increase the Mayor's pay by $12,000 per year. In researching the measure I learned that the Mayor of the City of Tucson, part of a metro area with over 1 million residents, makes only $42,000/year. If this ballot measure is passed, the Mayor will be paid a whopping $54,000/year.

Anyone want to run for Mayor?!?

Arrr....

2007-09-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

Avast! Today be International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Toast yer grog in honor of dis day!

Secondly, I realize that I've been naughty about keeping my blogging up to date. I must admit, the ease of sharing interesting/absurd/horrific news articles on Facebook has wooed me a bit. Push of a button is just too easy...

In any case, below are links to some articles I've recently posted on Facebook (for those who aren't involved in the whole social networking online thing).

The Bicycle Theif (seriously?)
Seamus Heaney: He's Seen It All (shared with me by my cousin(ish), Nik)
The Lowdown on Blockbuster Total Access Plan Changes (This is for all the Blockbuster Total Access users...See...Netflix really is the way to go!)
The Ford Edge with HySeries Drive (cool!)
'A Wrinkle In Time' Aughor L'Engle Dies ("Suddenly she knew. She knew! Love. That was what she had that IT did not have. She had Mrs. Whatsit's love, and her father's, and mother's, and the real Charles Wallace's love, and the twins', and Aunt Beast's. And she had her love for them. But how could she use it? What was she meant to do?")
Federal Court Cancels Patriot Act's Wiretap, Gag Orders (YES!)
Non-Doping Cyclists Finish the Tour De France (Love It!)

Okay, I feel a little more caught up now...

No runners...

2007-08-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

No one running for Mayor of Tucson, that is. Not even the current Mayor.

Which seems strange...where the heck do we live that no one wants to be Mayor. Not even for the wrong reasons. The analysis seems so simple that it is almost not worth putting into words. What kind of a city is this?

Of course, there is always the hope, that I am oversimplifying. Hopefully there is something I don't know or really don't understand about this scenario. Hopefully...

Vancouver birthday café

2007-08-08T16:37:00.000-07:00

What a smiley surprise...the barista didn't even know it was my b-day!

sweet sweet music...

2007-08-06T22:53:00.000-07:00

Who knew that Monday night out in Seattle could be so happenin'?

so innocent...

2007-07-30T12:48:00.001-07:00

He looks so young and innocent...he just can't be doping!
At this point, the worst thing that could happen for cycling would be if he was found to have been using drugs...dear Lord, please let him be clean!

STP!

2007-07-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

more pictures at web.mac.com/michaeleen

Critical Acclaim

2007-07-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

For the Critical Mass movement in the US, that is. Started by some hippies in San Francisco who wanted to mimic the method by which Chinese Cyclists cross streets en masse and add some congestion to the downtown area at the same time, there are now Critical Mass rides the last Friday of each month in cities worldwide. Since we were in the right place at the right time we checked out the Chicago Critical Mass ride for June...

Success!, part 2

2007-06-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

77 miles Saturday, 75 miles Sunday. Hot, hot, hot.

(seriously, folks. the highs were 104 and 103. today's high is 107).

I've now finished the last hard push through my STP training! All that's left is some easy riding the last weekend before the STP and then eating lots of Pad Thai or something...

yippie!!!

Happy Summer Solstice!

2007-06-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

The actual moment of the Solstice is at 6:06 pm Universal Time tonight.

Be sure to time all of your pagan sacrifices appropriately!

Success!

2007-06-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

60 miles on Saturday, 60 miles on Sunday. Brutal heat. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?

I am thrilled each time I think about how the temperature will be much more moderate during the STP. No uphill climbs on the way home into blast-furnace wind. Ahhhh....

120 miles or bust!

2007-06-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

120 miles
on the bike
this weekend
or bust!

(please note that the high on Saturday is 102 degrees and on Sunday is 101 degrees).

June in Tucson

2007-06-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's a ripe and delicious tomato you see. No, it did not come from California.
It came from Dragoon, AZ - very near to us. The grower told me that he did utilize a greenhouse, but really, who cares when you can have yummy caprese in June?!?

(Oh yeah, the basil is from our garden. The Mozz is from Trader Joes, so probably somewhere in California.)

Personal Best , Take 2

2007-05-30T08:12:00.001-07:00

Taken at the end of my drive into work today. I got in at 8:03 am. Notice that it is already 79 degrees outside...the high today is supposed to be 97 :)

Frog-King Father-In-Law

2007-05-28T06:23:00.001-07:00

HA HA HA! If you haven't gone to see Shrek the Third, you should. It's hilarious!

Caleb learning to read...

2007-05-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

Bikin' Dir-tay

2007-05-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

Clean or dirty? Will we ever know?

If the cars don't get you, the birds will...

2007-05-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

I must share this because it is both frightening and hilarious at the same time...

Dylan is participating in a friendly cycling competition that involves 3 Canyon Ranch employees and 3 employees from the developer (Related Midwest) in Chicago. The jist of the competition is to see who can ride the most miles between January and the El Tour in November. There are prizes (beer, yellow jersey, pride) and many more rules than are laid out here...you get the idea.

So far, all three of the CR team members have had bike accidents. Dylan was forced off the road and wiped out on a drainage culvert (no major injuries to D or bike), Larry was hit by a truck (no major injuries to Larry, bike was runover) and Ek, well, Ek had the best experience yet...

You see, Ek was riding along with his girlfriend AND talking on the phone. I'm pretty sure that talking while you ride is as dangerous and talking while you drive...but I digress...
Suddenly two Morning Doves flew out toward him. One passed right in front of him - very close. The second flew into the hand holding his cellphone! The bird hit him so hard that it died on impact. As he put it, "if I hadn't been on the phone it would have buried it's beak in my cheek!" Apparently his girlfriend, who was riding behind him, almost fell off her bike because she was laughing so hard.

I will now be on the lookout for birds while I ride ;)

Investment Advice

2007-05-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

If you had purchased $1,000.00 of Nortel stock three years go, it would now be worth $49.00.

With Enron, you would have had $16.50 left of the original $1,000.00.

With WorldCom, you would have had less than $5.00 left.

But, if you had purchased $1,000.00 worth of beer three years ago, drank all the beer, then turned in the cans for the aluminum recycling REFUND,
you would have had $614.00.

Based on the above, the best current investment advice is to drink heavily and recycle.

It is called the 401-Keg Plan. Advise your friends and clients accordingly.

A first step

2007-05-03T09:34:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs announced Apple's plans to go greener yesterday (A Greener Apple).
This is a good start, but I'm wary of what he says until we see it in action (especially since he stated that they are going to rely on the LED market to lead the way for them). Additionally, this doesn't address all of the concerns that Greenpeace (Green My Apple) and other environmental groups have cited.

Keep on writing to Apple, they need to know that this is a good first step, but that's all it is.

Battle Scars

2007-04-30T20:16:00.000-07:00

Dude, like, that's some serious wind...

2007-04-28T19:47:00.000-07:00

Today we went for yet another 60 mile ride as part of my training regime for the STP in July. The ride was great, except that the headwind (and sidewind, at times) on the way back was outrageous. There were actually a couple to times where I had to stop and wait for the wind to die down a bit - just so I didn't get blown over.

Somehow being forced to travel at a slower speed (even though I was outputting all of my umph) gave me more space than usual to think during the ride. I thought about how the air smelled of pending rain (awesome!), how everything seems to be blooming (and we've got pollen to prove it), and how I haven't really had a real, complex thought in about a month. Well, that may not be totally true, but here's my new theory:

Excessive amounts of certain types of exercise stunt your intellectual growth.

Of course, I don't mean that excercise kills brain cells - it probably helps by stimulating blood flow to the brain. What I realized is that when I ride my bike all weekend and am either riding or practicing yoga after work I don't have any time to expand my brain (reading being the most obvious way to do this). I suppose if I didn't have a full time job, I'd have extra time outside of training to read great books and interesting magazines.

Then I thought back to other times when I have excercised a lot, but avoided this feeling of braindeadedness. In Seattle, I rode the bus to and from work. So I had about an hour and 15 minutes of dedicated reading time each day. Add to that the time I spent reading NatGeo, Utne, Mother Jones, etc. on the elliptical machine at the gym and it seems like I really had time to expand my brain - even with all the exercise I got.

This is sort of a recurring theme for me. I really enjoy the feeling you get after a great run or a long bike ride, but, oh, the time it takes...there are so many other things that I like to do besides exercise. How do I fit them all in? I suppose this is a quandry everyone has. Darned time and it's limitations!

So, I've made a pact with myself to spend more time reading. Especially at the table on the weekends with daylight streaming in the windows. Today was a great start and I feel more alive already!

Look Ma! No Wall!

2007-04-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

Today, for the first time ever, I did a headstand in the middle of the room. No wall as a support. And I stayed up for a good 45 seconds to a minute too...

I suppose that if I was a true yogini I wouldn't feel the need to share this experience with everyone...but, gosh darnit, I'm proud of this accomplishment! Call me a westerner!

So, I guess this is proof that things that seem impossible really aren't. Now I just have to focus my thoughts toward adjusting other aspects of life in this same way.

Om
Namah Shivaya Gurave
Satchidananda Murtaye
Nishprapanchaya Shantaya
Niralambaya Tejase
Om

90 degrees and rising (the dashboard melted but we still have the radio...)

2007-04-10T21:32:00.000-07:00

Radio Free Europe - R.E.M.
Mas Que Nada - Sergio Mendes & Black Eyed Peas
Someday - The Strokes
These 3 Sins - Gomez
Bailaores - Ojos De Brujo
This Is Us - Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free - Nina Simone
You Part the Waters - Cake
Young Folks - Peter, Bjorn And John
Dashboard - Modest Mouse
Cracklin' Rosie - Neil Diamond
Chalkdust Torture - Phish
Elevator Music - Beck
Built To Last - Tom Petty
Don't Fence Me In - David Byrne

And a surprise from Tucson's own Al Perry!

zero gallons per mile

2007-04-04T09:50:00.000-07:00

Today was round 2 for biking into work. The first time I was motivated by it being Bike To Work day in Tucson...but today I just did it because I wanted to.

My new goal is to bike in at least 1 day a week. I figure I can reduce my carbon footprint and log some extra miles at the same time...

Anyone else want to join my biking to work club?

Blonde for the day

2007-03-27T06:50:00.000-08:00

Two blondes were walking down the road and the first blonde
says, "Look at that dog with one eye!"

The other blonde covers one of her eyes and says, "Where?"

new family member...

2007-03-25T16:54:00.002-08:00

meet my Dolce-est one...

Next goal? Ride the STP in July!

more Dolce-ness

2007-03-25T16:54:00.001-08:00

yeah...life is pretty sweet :)

2007-02-19T10:28:00.000-08:00

Phoebe and Ray came for their second annual President's Day visit this weekend...we had lots of fun and ate way too much (of course!)...but at least we hiked a lot of it off...

The most beautiful...

2007-01-31T09:49:00.000-08:00

I saw the most beautiful rainbow on my way home yesterday. It looked like it was burning a colorful hole in the sky...

If only my phone's camera could have done it justice...

Schnee!

2007-01-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

It's about as rare as...well...snow in the desert!

Pri-pri

2007-01-11T11:25:00.001-08:00

Pri-pri (our baby)

Let the mobile blogging begin!

NASA

2007-01-11T10:47:00.001-08:00

"There's a more important reason to keep NASA's programs
going strong ... to achieve that greatest of discoveries,
the thing we as human beings need most: space oil."

--Daily Show correspondent Stephen Colbert

little things

2007-01-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

I have to admit...while I miss Chicago & Seattle terribly, I really do like this place that is Tucson.

No, there are not tall, leafy trees and no, I can't garden in the same way I did in Seattle. Our old friends and families still don't live here. No, Tucson isn't the same as other places we have lived. It just isn't.

What I've realized, though, is that what Tucson is is not immediately noticeable. You can't just drive through town and get it. If you did that, all you would see would be strip malls and short stubby trees. You'd think, "Gosh, for a city of 1,000,000 people, what kind of a podunk place is this?"

Of course if you look at Tucson the same way one might look at the desert for beauty, you just might find it. The wide open expanses and endless skies are awesome and lonely. The tiny, tiny flowers that a plant creates to continue the life cycle of the species are beautiful. Tucson is the same way. You have to look a little closer to see what's there.