*we* scare me

I am having a good day. Met Olia, my former co-worker, for a short hike in Griffith Park. We continue to joke about training for a marathon to combat our unemployment depression (have I talked about this already??) It is more than apparent to me that I need to walk before I can run :) So, I am walking and hiking and I am developing the farmer's tan to prove it.

It is the time of year when I wish I had a yard to plant a garden. For the first time I am trying tomato starts in pots. Wish me luck. The basil from seed is getting its booty kicked by the basil start from the farmers' market. My neighbor's mom was here from Holland for a few weeks, and so now there are a dozen new starts that need tending. I don't mind, it feels like the least I can do. Sofia would be proud of me. I still have her garden up to remind me what is possible.

Speaking of the least I can do... I am terrified watching today's Oprah. It is about families that cut out stuff like tv, video games, computers, iPods, cell phones, Starbucks, bottled water, eating out, paper napkins, etc. for a week. ONE WEEK. That was all, it is was crazy hard for people. I saw the ad during the debate last night and I was interested to see what it was about. When I was working at the shop, I didn't even have to watch because someone was sure to provide the play-by-play details from the interesting shows. Now I have to make a point of watching if I want to know what's happening. Anyway, back to my concerns; how do you use more than a roll of paper towels a day?! Are *we* really so wasteful?? I am shocked. Really shocked. People are throwing away soooo much food. I always feel like I am consuming more than I need to, but sheesh! I am scared of the thought that there are kids who freak out without tv and computers for a couple of days. Is it really "normal" to cook multiple meals so each kids gets to eat what they like? I don't think we all need to be freegans, but come on.

I don't think I have ever thanked my parents for making me do stuff. We played board games and read and cooked for fun. Thank you, mom and dad! I know there are lots of great parents out there who are making the effort to fight the trends. I read Henry's blog and love seeing his mom create these fantastic activities. A while back they made edible people out of half a canned peach, celery, raisins, etc. I did that as a kid and there was some comfort in knowing that those things still happen at kitchen tables in this country.

Yes, I know that all I have to do is spend an hour checking out mom-blogs, to be convinced that women everywhere are crafty, creative, eloquent, and using their mad camera skillz daily. Maybe my real concern is that the bar seems really high and on the rise due to the abundance of rockstar women who bake and sew and have amazing jobs and still read and look beautiful while they work in their gardens in between writing letters to friends and re-upholstering the furniture. How does one reconcile this kind of life with what is evidently taken to be a collective *we in this country* who burn through everything disposable (whether or not it actually is) and drive around in the temperature controlled isolation of SUVs?

Ok, now just let me put away my soap box. After all, "clean apartment" is on my list right after, "stay outside until I feel better about life." I am afraid I have just become the worst version of my blog-self: preachy, self-indulgent, typing to the choir. sorry. I take comfort in knowing that the common denominator, no matter how polarized we may become, is knitting. And that taking bags to the store does count, even if it is the least I can do.

Heads up Boston!

Rumor has it that in honor of Tax Day, Dunkin' Donuts is giving a free doughnut with purchase of any size coffee. Go! Go! Go! If only I lived in Boston....
Number of Dunkin' Donuts in Los Angeles = 0
sad, sad, sad.

China Plans to Halt Rain for Olympics

o.k....huh?
I am too tired to do anything besides watch tv, read news online, and evidently blog.
The Olympic torch was in SF today, and at one time I had thought about trying to be there. Tibet is on my mind a lot these days. It used to be on my mind all the time. There are the Olympics and the protests that are targeting this massive event, the uprisings of late in Tibet, and then last night Orion brought home a copy of the film, Free Tibet, that I haven't seen since Milarepa made it. It seems like a million years ago. At times I thought the film had disappeared into the ether. The film is not really what I want to write about. I am thinking about when I stopped feeling like an "activist" and when I lost the drive to protest for the things I believe in. I'm telling you, between the evening's news and that Idol fundraiser (keep reading), I am thinking I should use my new *open calendar* and return to activism. It is just such a tough road. And I think I must have had more energy in my twenties.
Tibet. Darfur. Burma. New Orleans. Los Angeles. You name it, I could start anywhere.
To be continued...

frost or ice?

The other day I was talking to emily while she made a cake. Being that she is now deep in Canada, she asked me whether I frost or ice. We ventured into the semantics of cake decorating and ended without a clear conclusion as to the distinction and/or which is fancier. What do you think -- frosting or icing? How do you differentiate?

These are cupcakes I made for my brother's birthday months ago, but I did promise to play catch-up here on the blog. He's a Christmas baby, but I think we were celebrating in January. Thanks for the cupcake recipe Sprinkles; such a cute site...kind of like the Knit Cafe's. It has been a week of packing and moving. At some point I became too tired to be sad. I do have to say it is nice to be able to lift things without worrying about if I could or should. I still remember a time when I couldn't life a cauliflower (too heavy).
Look there's Lexi. Cute bow tie, huh?


Yup, January. Wait, that's my birthday. Well here's that cake.



And while I am playing baked goods flashback, these are the awesome Venus of Willendorf cookies that Pat and Susan sent for my birthday. They included lots of things to decorate with; just check out Orion's Venus. I think she looks great.


Speaking of heavy things like cauliflower... Things are not much better, but I do appreciate the encouraging emails. If I figure out what I need, I'll let you know. While I didn't take a picture of the last cake I made, I did eat the last of it for dinner. It is just that kind of a week.

As I am writing this I am watching Idol Gives Back and feeling like I have no business complaining about my bad week. Sheesh! Go ahead and find something to support (besides me). I mean, if I can give $20 on mosquito nets, can't we all? At the very least, allow yourself some cake!

Can it get any worse??

I have been working through the Knit Cafe moving sale for the past couple weeks. It is hard to say goodbye so many times a day. The shop has really been a special space for a lot of people, and it is sad to know that there won't be an oasis of peace amid the crazy-making of Tinseltown anymore. It also sucks that I am now officially out of a job. The morning of my last day of work I got word that the fellowship I applied for and I are not meant to be.
So now what?
Good question. One I don't have an answer for unfortunately.
I am open to suggestions.
In the meantime, I am mulling over whether to stay with academics.