On Friday, I found one morel by the creek within walking distance of our house.  It was so exciting.  I had looked for them a couple of times before but hadn’t had any luck.  I tried again at a different spot on Saturday, but didn’t find any that day.  It was such a nice day that I laid out a blanket and took a nap under the sun.  It was perfect.

On Sunday, I participated in Art at the Park, a local event where local artist show off and sold their art.  I didn’t have any art at the park, but I helped out at the information booth for a couple of hours.  I was so inspired by all of the amazing work.  I create art in a couple of different medias, but nothing that I would consider good art.  I started throwing ceramics over the winter.  It was the coolest experience.  I plan to go back to it this summer.  

One project that I want to try is painting used wine bottles.  Some of the bottles I saw were really cool.  They used the bottles for different things, but I think it could make a really cool vase. 

It does seem that our tomato plants may have been put out too early.  Some of them are dying.  I know last night it got really cold.  We didn’t want to put them out so early, but they weren’t doing too well inside the house either.  Next time I know not to buy them too early.  Our sweet peas are coming up and the carrots I think are coming up as well.  How long does it take between the time the carrot seed is planted to the time we see some of the green surface?  I hope everyone else had a great weekend as well.

I’ll be the first one jumping for joy if the above is not true, but the evidence is all around us that it is time for change.  Change is hard, and often times when it is out of our control, it is human nature to try to grasp onto what we know with all of our might, even if what we are holding on to may not be good for us. 

How do we stop the machine when it’s on a self disruptive path and try to get it on a better, healthier path?  A path that uses sun and wind to power our lights and the mail is delivered in electronic cars.  In this new world, it will be taught in schools how to garden and compost.  This new innovative world will teach us that we don’t need this and that to be happy.  Change is hard… but bring it on!

I’m not suggesting that we have undertrained doctors and professionals, but aren’t there jobs that could train anybody who is willing and ready to give a good eight hour day.  Very few of my friends are in a job where their college education is needed.  Most of them learned their work on the job.  My dear friend, a teacher, actually had to follow a strict method that was designed for anyone at any level to step in and start teaching using the same model. Of course we want to make sure our teachers are educated, I am using this example to illustrate that we, as a society, should invest in young professionals through training and not an abstract education. 

I don’t want to undervalue education, but to say that college is the only way one can become educated in this day is simply not true.  There should be a valid library full of resources in just about every town, no matter the size and the internet offers many resources on any subject matter. Some intitutions post online resources in a specific field of study.  It does not compare to a formal and structured education but, we must recognize that information is everywhere and available.

I don’t know if college is right for everyone, I would just like my ideal world to offer more opportunities to those who decide for whatever reason that college is not right for them.  Also, why should something that is so good for us cost so much money?

Alternatives to Higher Education

Service through AmeriCorps - they will give you money for school or student loans upon completion of your program

A Compromise - This is a certificat institution that focuses on the whole person that discourages big loans that would fall on the student.  There are other institutions with similar values.

It was a fun exercise, and although, we aren’t ready to commit to the idea, it did lead into a conversation about going through the house and cutting down on some stuff.  I guess it’s always good to rip off the band aid slowly and not just yank it off. 

Part of the problem is that I have a tendency to leave my stuff in random places throughout the house.  My partner would like to sign me up for Misplacer’s Anonymous, but can’t find where the meetings are.  I hope that your Holiday weekend was good, full of traditions and time for being intentional.

I am really happy to have some time to relax and get things done.  I hope everyone has a great weekend full of love and spirit.  Happy Easter and Passover for those that plan to celebrate.

I am tired of our political systems being sold to corporations.  I am tired of watching so many people suffer.  I am tired of using the excuse, “it’s just the way it is” and letting that sit.  I am tired of corporations using this planet as their personal waste basket; wasting excessive amounts of clean water, using third world countries as a dump site, treating resources as if they are unlimited, and funding the propaganda that global warming doesn’t exist.  I am especially sick and tired of the two-party system keeping people with so much in common apart on stupid political debates that have nothing to do with what is actually being passed in politics under our noses. 

Are you tired too?

It’s apparent that something has to change.  Whether you shrink government, cut into military, or get really creative, something will have to be done, and fast. 

Did you know that about only 2% of Americans make over $250,000?  Did you know that it is that top 2% receives 98% of the income distribution?  In other words, 2% of this country is most likely in charge 98% of the population in one way or another.  Whether they employ us, influence us through a variety of media outlets on what to do with our time and where we should spend what little we have left of our paychecks.  They also use their resources lobby for laws that benefit them, not that some don’t lobby for laws that benefit the larger population.  Don’t confuse this rant as me being bitter about being a part of the greater 98%.  I mean, I could always go for 50 cent raise and I also believe that I would to amazing things with a couple million dollars.  My point is; why should that special 2% only pay roughly 35% of the countries taxes when they control about 98% of the income?

If the government continues to for programs benefiting the greater population and takes resources from public education system, the rippling effect could eventually cripple the market as a whole.  If people continue to struggle they will eventually stop spending the money they don’t have, affecting the top 2%.  If no on one has any money to buy stuff with, than business owner will not gain any revenue.  History also tells us if the distribution gap between the haves and have-nots get too large, there will be a revolt and a struggle or power. 

In the end I am a humanist and believe in people, it is the systems at large that make me wary.

 There is a great interactive tool, thanks to the New York Times, where it allows you to cut the budget where you choose.  I really enjoyed this and cut $450 billion from by 2015… still not enough.

Should the Rich Pay More Taxes

My partner and I decided to try the buses for the first time.  We just moved here and hadn’t familiarized ourselves too much with the bus system.  It was great because I learned that there was a bus that took me almost straight to work; if I was willing to get up an extra 20 minutes and walk ½ a mile, I could take one bus to work.  So, this morning I did it!  I realize that the buses are not that exciting, but I’m totally thrilled.  I hope it’s not one of those momentary thrills that fades with time.  My self discipline is nothing to brag about.

In the spirit of Earth Day I have gathered some fun sites that will challenge us to think and participate in ways that we can each decrease our carbon footprint. 

Cutting Down on TV Time

Check Out Your Carbon Footprint

Quick Fact Sheet

My Gardening Experiences – just in case you missed it

What have you done to celebrate our Earth recently?

I have worked with all different kinds of people of all ages.  I have even been stabbed in the head with a fork at the dinner table and was able to gather myself enough to ask this individual if they would like to talk about their feeling (not word for word, but you get the gist).  I enjoy arts and crafts, such as sewing, by hand, juggling balls or knitting to pass the time.  On the other hand, I have a hard time accepting certain situations and find that I may lose my patience easier than other people. 

I think this might boil down to my issues with authority, which I am trying to work on.  I don’t like being told what to do and will often times find myself asking the whys (I have gotten better and internalizing all of the whys).  With time, I have learned that in most situations, the whys will be answered by life.  Still, at times, I feel like my emotional response is similar to a youngster who is asking why when a request is refused.  I would like to say that I am more complex than a child but when you think of human nature; are any of us more complex than children or do we tend to complicate our emotions to justify our responses to our stress?

I would like to think that I have matured sinse I was a youngster and am almost certain that I have. I have learned many coping skills and will continue to process ways to strengthen my weaknesses.  I guess sometimes we all need to be humbled in order to become motivated enough to accept that we are not perfect and work on ourselves to continue to grow.  For now, I will practice accepting my lack of knowledge and hope to have more patience now than when I started this post.

Statistics say (depending where you research), women are making 76 cents to the $1 of our male co-workers.  There are a lot of reasons given for this occurrence but, regardless, when there is a gap across the board, it is evidence that there is systematic discrimination happening.  One thing I have been encouraged to do to decrease this gap is simply negotiate for a higher starting pay.  Women are less likely to negotiate pay than men are.

So where does that leave us today?  Our tv screens are filled with slim, flawless women and our magazines are full of women airbrushed to perfection.  How women and young girls are affected by this is well documented and can be watched here, (Killing Us Softly 3).  Does Lady Gaga’s antics defy the norm or is she perpetuating the worst parts of our pop culture?  Her performances have been known to be very violent and her choice of clothing is revealing and dare I say provocative.  She has been celebrated for pushing necessary social issues and is recognized as one of the greatest supporters of LGBT issues.

As a lesbian, I find her music very inspiring and much needed, and yet, I grimace at some of the descriptions of her performances.  There are many role models for girls and women that I can recommend, those are the women I would like to see plastered on tv’s and magazines.  To be clear, this is not a criticism of how Lady Gaga or the “modern woman” acts.

When feminism started, it was for political equality.  Yet, only 60% of the population in the US comes out to the voting polls for presidential elections, and the local elections are an embarrassment (I couldn’t find any statistics on the number of women that come to the polls).  Between Congress and the U.S. senate, only 16% of those positions are held by women (click here for statistics).  Currently, feminism is described as a focus on achievement and closing the gaps discussed.

I want to see women of all races depicted in mainstream media as pillars of strength and recognized for their courage.  In addition, I want to see less focus on a woman’s sexual escapades and the clothes in which they dress.  Again, I agree that feminism is ultimately about choice and I want to continue to see women succeed in our modern world.  But more than anything, I would love to see that represented in our mainstream media.

Here is a very short list of modern women I would recommend reading a about:

Oprah Winfrey

Ruth Ginsburg

Nancy Pelosi

Condalisa Rice

Hilary Rodham Clinton

Ani Difranco

Maya Angelou

Dar Williams

Queen Rania of Jordan

Jean Kilbourne

Ellen DeGeneres

Michelle Obama

And if you take nothing else from this post, please read or watch the movie True Women.

Who inspires you to be a better woman?