partyz
Friday, December 3, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
wizards with boobs to a guy in jail to make his day
Coloring wizards with multicolored markers and making unknown people happy when they are sitting and looking at metal bars
and adding to the background of my 5th grade doodles.
I'm about to go out & meet Swampman's brother with his 6-foot Columbian friend Alejandro at the Blind Pig;
they are passing through town on their motorcycles, heading far far away even to Chile, I offered to post them up.
Swampman is off catching turtles and spearing fish on the isle of Catalina.
and adding to the background of my 5th grade doodles.
I'm about to go out & meet Swampman's brother with his 6-foot Columbian friend Alejandro at the Blind Pig;
they are passing through town on their motorcycles, heading far far away even to Chile, I offered to post them up.
Swampman is off catching turtles and spearing fish on the isle of Catalina.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Phil & Friends- All Along the Watchtower
There must be some kinda way outta here
Said the joker to the thief
There’s too much confusion
I can’t get no relief
Businessmen they drink my wine
Plowmen dig my earth
and the level on the wind
none will level on the line, nobody offered his word, hey
“no reason to get excited”
the thief, he kindly spoke
“there are many here among us
who feel that life is but a joke
but you and I, we’re been through that
and this is not our fate
so let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late
There must be some kinda way outta here
Said the joker to the thief
There’s too much confusion
I can’t get no relief
Businessmen they drink my wine
Plowmen dig my earth
and the level on the wind
none will level on the line, nobody offered his word, hey
“no reason to get excited”the thief, he kindly spoke
“there are many here among us
who feel that life is but a joke
but you and I, we’re been through that
and this is not our fate
so let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late
I jest
"Went to where the people were on a saturday night
seems like it always seems
where i go i want to leave
i thought we were doing fine with our lives
there are people who will tell you
there is always something better
"if you don't know or care you'll be alright
i heard it's modern to be stupid
you don't need to talk to look good
"i surprised myself as my mouth started speaking
there is nothing left of my nerves
as i lean over to ask her
"pardon the intrusion
could we leave before it gets bad
i might smash up all these windows
and set fire to the curtains
until it goes on and eats it with its blue and red orange
until the fire burns and eats it with its blue and red orange" -Matt Pond PA: HALLOWEEN
In so much trouble, you can't hide in the covers
look back to the trees and the wild
did you hear the music?
I feel like...I feel like...we all did
did you git those positive vibes?
because that's all I want, and I don't wanna be the odd man out
I jest I jest I kid I kid
but if you were there maybe you'd understand how I did
tripped up in the club on acid you know
yeah, yeah that's how I roll
mad deep in friends and then smoke weed and see how the night goes
Yesterday, though, I was having mad images and had to keep on movin' and spinnin'
and I saw the wooden ceiling panels move with the movements of my eyes
in and out and in color and in vibes
without music, without much light except from embering bounces secondhand
it should have been used toward the power of the trees and wild
in full blown color and a full blown experience
I seek
that poetry in motion
seems like it always seems
where i go i want to leave
i thought we were doing fine with our lives
there are people who will tell you
there is always something better
"if you don't know or care you'll be alright
i heard it's modern to be stupid
you don't need to talk to look good
"i surprised myself as my mouth started speaking
there is nothing left of my nerves
as i lean over to ask her
"pardon the intrusion
could we leave before it gets bad
i might smash up all these windows
and set fire to the curtains
until it goes on and eats it with its blue and red orange
until the fire burns and eats it with its blue and red orange" -Matt Pond PA: HALLOWEEN
In so much trouble, you can't hide in the covers
look back to the trees and the wild
did you hear the music?
I feel like...I feel like...we all did
did you git those positive vibes?
because that's all I want, and I don't wanna be the odd man out
I jest I jest I kid I kid
but if you were there maybe you'd understand how I did
tripped up in the club on acid you know
yeah, yeah that's how I roll
mad deep in friends and then smoke weed and see how the night goes
Yesterday, though, I was having mad images and had to keep on movin' and spinnin'
and I saw the wooden ceiling panels move with the movements of my eyes
in and out and in color and in vibes
without music, without much light except from embering bounces secondhand
it should have been used toward the power of the trees and wild
in full blown color and a full blown experience
I seek
that poetry in motion
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Spring-field, and Fall
going to Springfield tomorrow for possibly the biggest presentation of our careers, yet
godspeed on a safe journey
sister got her assignment to Peace Corps, to Nicaragua
(guess she'll be breaking out that Spanish after all)
I gota free cupcake, a free hug, free cold stone, free lights for my bike, and bought a duvet cover and book about weed from Urban Outfitters
after a presentation to kids making a 1-minute video for us FO FREE
GODSPEED
godspeed on a safe journey
sister got her assignment to Peace Corps, to Nicaragua
(guess she'll be breaking out that Spanish after all)
I gota free cupcake, a free hug, free cold stone, free lights for my bike, and bought a duvet cover and book about weed from Urban Outfitters
after a presentation to kids making a 1-minute video for us FO FREE
GODSPEED
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
home is Champaign-Urbana
http://www.myspace.com/edwardsharpe Press PLAY on Home by Edwarde Sharpe, just saw them at Lollapalooza. Beautiful song.
Weekend is going swimmingly, and LIFE is so good! My parents just left to go back to Chicago, they wore Orange and Blue all weekend. Both Illini and the Bears win!
I had a garage sale and sold away some objects for around $100. hey, it's something, and now everything's organized into (8) boxes for easier decision-making and donating, etc.
I must go do errands on this sunny day in September!
Weekend is going swimmingly, and LIFE is so good! My parents just left to go back to Chicago, they wore Orange and Blue all weekend. Both Illini and the Bears win!
I had a garage sale and sold away some objects for around $100. hey, it's something, and now everything's organized into (8) boxes for easier decision-making and donating, etc.
I must go do errands on this sunny day in September!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Can't Stop Listening
Hey
I can't stop listening to North Coast Music Festival videos
siiick
I can't stop listening to North Coast Music Festival videos
siiick
I want to go back it went so fast, it was so intense
Chemical Brothers I NEED YOUTO BELIEEEVE
Flying Lotus
Benassi
Boys Noize
Moby, freakin' MOBY
Chemical Brothers I NEED YOUTO BELIEEEVE
Flying Lotus
Benassi
Boys Noize
Moby, freakin' MOBY
Daylight
"Daylight" by Matt & Kim has got to be some sort of song of a generation
I was talking yesterday at the Canopy Club in Urbana,
to some friends who said that Summer Camp was like the Woodstock of our generation! And it was. It totally was!
Stories of how social groups formed...
Many people I have met on my own, randomly
and then I bring them together sometimes and it works and it's cool
many times I just have kept their friendships for years and years and it's special. Some sort of treasured friendship, treasured relation we found but know we won't lose
Once you pick a dollar up off the street you change it's life and value.
Yesterday was awesome. It was The Hood Internet at the Canopy Club and I came early to check out local Dj White Rabbit ramp up the scene with his bouncin, epic energy. Speaking of DeeJays and Deja but not talking about Vous, last week I felt the need to talk to this guy with a french artist hat on and a notebook at this bar in Urbana out with some friends, I had just seen a disaster and was emotionally charged, I was exhausted, his loneliness intrigued me and upon talking with him I found out it was his 30th birthday. Afterwards he told me I helped him have a good birthday that night. I didn't think there was anything special about our discussion except for random deepness with a stranger... Random kindness and friendliness can make a stranger's day.
Here's to: Deja, Drew, Cassie, Jennifer, that little Jacob, the wompster crew, Peter, Chris, new friend Katie from North Coast, nice Canopy employees, and the new people I met, and thanks to Bailey for finding Jennifer one evening in the dorms and saving her because she is exponentially happier now. Hippie love and marijuana one unassuming evening saved her.
And I.
It has changed my life
every four years I discover something epic
like pot (and guy friends to hang out with every night til 4AM)
then music festivals, after college, and freedom of expression and *truer* happiness.
...just DANCE
I was talking yesterday at the Canopy Club in Urbana,
to some friends who said that Summer Camp was like the Woodstock of our generation! And it was. It totally was!
Stories of how social groups formed...
Many people I have met on my own, randomly
and then I bring them together sometimes and it works and it's cool
many times I just have kept their friendships for years and years and it's special. Some sort of treasured friendship, treasured relation we found but know we won't lose
Once you pick a dollar up off the street you change it's life and value.
Yesterday was awesome. It was The Hood Internet at the Canopy Club and I came early to check out local Dj White Rabbit ramp up the scene with his bouncin, epic energy. Speaking of DeeJays and Deja but not talking about Vous, last week I felt the need to talk to this guy with a french artist hat on and a notebook at this bar in Urbana out with some friends, I had just seen a disaster and was emotionally charged, I was exhausted, his loneliness intrigued me and upon talking with him I found out it was his 30th birthday. Afterwards he told me I helped him have a good birthday that night. I didn't think there was anything special about our discussion except for random deepness with a stranger... Random kindness and friendliness can make a stranger's day.
Here's to: Deja, Drew, Cassie, Jennifer, that little Jacob, the wompster crew, Peter, Chris, new friend Katie from North Coast, nice Canopy employees, and the new people I met, and thanks to Bailey for finding Jennifer one evening in the dorms and saving her because she is exponentially happier now. Hippie love and marijuana one unassuming evening saved her.
And I.
It has changed my life
every four years I discover something epic
like pot (and guy friends to hang out with every night til 4AM)
then music festivals, after college, and freedom of expression and *truer* happiness.
...just DANCE
Thursday, September 2, 2010
check it out bro
going to North Coast Festival in Chicago in 14 hours
been home about 28 hours
packed my second 3-day backpack in a week to live out of a car again, stay in a new place every night
was just in Colorado hiking in the Rockies with the fam and experiencing/falling in love with Boulder
3 days can really change your life
been home about 28 hours
packed my second 3-day backpack in a week to live out of a car again, stay in a new place every night
was just in Colorado hiking in the Rockies with the fam and experiencing/falling in love with Boulder
3 days can really change your life
Saturday, August 28, 2010
soul asylum
I shouldn't be writing because I'm sad and I'm usually happy
Wait, that's wrong; i can write when I want
It's really officially over and it's not September, I didn't want to make it til then in the end but then again I'M SAD
I'm a free bird, a beautiful one, didn't ya know
My soul is still there, it still shines you just have to dust it sometimes, oh, Yeah, seasons change, reasons remain the same.
Should I go back and hang with the "family" we cheersed to just a week ago... the four of us in that shitty Urbana house
I have the choice
they go on stage in 15 minutes -- Soul Asylum, yea the 90's band, at the place where I was all day already (doing the green tabling thing and giving $10 to the red-faced blue-eyed homeless man telling the flies to bugger off in his restless nap.........)
I just want to show up for this song!
C U, Gal
Wait, that's wrong; i can write when I want
It's really officially over and it's not September, I didn't want to make it til then in the end but then again I'M SAD
I'm a free bird, a beautiful one, didn't ya know
My soul is still there, it still shines you just have to dust it sometimes, oh, Yeah, seasons change, reasons remain the same.
Should I go back and hang with the "family" we cheersed to just a week ago... the four of us in that shitty Urbana house
I have the choice
they go on stage in 15 minutes -- Soul Asylum, yea the 90's band, at the place where I was all day already (doing the green tabling thing and giving $10 to the red-faced blue-eyed homeless man telling the flies to bugger off in his restless nap.........)
I just want to show up for this song!
C U, Gal
Monday, August 9, 2010
Lollapalooza
the clouds aligned just finefinefine
missed some shit but can't see 'em all can't go back in timetimetimetime
**
I crowdsurfed in Chi city Sky High High High High, somehow they kept me up in my shirtless sweat so I could Fly Fly Fly Fly
I was grateful for Froth being there, and Cassie, we had a great time really. North Coast High
missed some shit but can't see 'em all can't go back in timetimetimetime
**
I crowdsurfed in Chi city Sky High High High High, somehow they kept me up in my shirtless sweat so I could Fly Fly Fly Fly
I was grateful for Froth being there, and Cassie, we had a great time really. North Coast High
Monday, August 2, 2010
Duck Fest
listening to Shpongle's Divine Moments of Truth which is pretty cool, after going to a small fest this weekend in Martinton, IL called Duck Fest. Only around ~200 people and you feel like you know everyone at the end. Dancin' and chillin' and groovin' and meetin'... it was a good time, but I wouldn't go so far to say Friday nite was. I was on somethin'... kind of a bad trip because my friends weren't there. They say don't trip alone. well I felt like I was, surrounded by strangers, and in my mind my friends never showed up.
Went on an 8-hour adventure Sunday to Arlington Heights Racetrack, 80 mi and 4 tolls northwest, to a skybox suite and won $4.20 on the last race. My sister and I bet on the same horse, same amount, to show, separately...weird. It was so worth going for, minus the tollways. I got an I-pass from my parents on the way back, though, and the $15 I didn't spend on betting horse races.
Then I went BACK TO THE FESTIVAL around 7 and rocked Indigo Sun with a new crew, hung out back at the best tent set-up, tapestries all around 2 "eating tents" with lots of chairs and I duo-djembed in the darkness with ten people listening and we sounded reallll good, just strangers playing off one another...
The moon was at half mast, low and red
maybe bouncing light from an indigo sun
I looked at stars with a new friend, Addison
then we saw to the dreddy DJ who plays at Kinetic for a bit
then the djembe session, and back to jam to Strange Arrangement to finish off the night...........
Blasted dubstep then another mix in the car, maybe some Umphrey's sampler CD from Summer Camp, to stay awake as I sped 90 like a bullet home to Champaign......
.....Kitty was waiting for me when I got home, he looked thinner, and like he missed me. Phone was dead. Goodnight.
Went on an 8-hour adventure Sunday to Arlington Heights Racetrack, 80 mi and 4 tolls northwest, to a skybox suite and won $4.20 on the last race. My sister and I bet on the same horse, same amount, to show, separately...weird. It was so worth going for, minus the tollways. I got an I-pass from my parents on the way back, though, and the $15 I didn't spend on betting horse races.
Then I went BACK TO THE FESTIVAL around 7 and rocked Indigo Sun with a new crew, hung out back at the best tent set-up, tapestries all around 2 "eating tents" with lots of chairs and I duo-djembed in the darkness with ten people listening and we sounded reallll good, just strangers playing off one another...
The moon was at half mast, low and red
maybe bouncing light from an indigo sun
I looked at stars with a new friend, Addison
then we saw to the dreddy DJ who plays at Kinetic for a bit
then the djembe session, and back to jam to Strange Arrangement to finish off the night...........
Blasted dubstep then another mix in the car, maybe some Umphrey's sampler CD from Summer Camp, to stay awake as I sped 90 like a bullet home to Champaign......
.....Kitty was waiting for me when I got home, he looked thinner, and like he missed me. Phone was dead. Goodnight.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
it's like gold dust
what I write here is gobbledygook
it's the actions I am taking in my work
that I hope will rewrite history
Can't get enough of myself
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Summer Dubstep Mix
at least give the first 12 min. a try, my fave's around 4:20
http://soundcloud.com/djbellymusic/summer-nights-a-dubstep-mix
welcome to Champaign-Urbana dubstep. It's a really great scene, almost twice weekly sometimes. See many of the same people over and over and it's growing into a community of people who like to womp and get down
http://soundcloud.com/djbellymusic/summer-nights-a-dubstep-mix
welcome to Champaign-Urbana dubstep. It's a really great scene, almost twice weekly sometimes. See many of the same people over and over and it's growing into a community of people who like to womp and get down
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
keep writing you silly thing
my life is a series of crazy shit!
mostly always good shit, no there ain't no complainin'
things just happen, and for a reason
I get hooked up !~
with warm handshakes with nice people
(in Central IL or anywhere)
and the only thing missing from me at the moment is the missing link... HA!
(I don't excuse that pun)
series of crazy shit
mostly always good shit, no there ain't no complainin'
things just happen, and for a reason
I get hooked up !~
with warm handshakes with nice people
(in Central IL or anywhere)
and the only thing missing from me at the moment is the missing link... HA!
(I don't excuse that pun)
series of crazy shit
Monday, July 5, 2010
July 4 weekend
here's to the Amish, the original eco-friendly Americans
when green was already their black.
(ok, I took that phrase somewhat from an Amish-furniture poster)
listening to Seals & Crofts best hits on a record
I went canoeing today
several hours, with my parents
and the T
and the strangest thing happened
(that doesn't surprise me still!)
but the fish
we almost thought they were tadpoles, so grey and tiny
swam up to my body that I rooted into the sand
that suctioned into my skin and kept me still
I was sitting back in 2 ft waters
and the school of fish swam around me unafraid
curious
they then came closer and closer and
started pecking me...tasting me
picking at the air bubbles --
I don't know.
My chin was submerged, I was smiling at my new school of friends
and I was calm as more came to me
thinking I was a ginormous piece of food, maybe
or just curious of friendly.
Or picking parasites off of me.
I wish I could have stayed longer, but I think I gave them their pickin' fix
from a new species they're not used to swimmin' with.
Free time - Freizeit; Qué hacer en este momento
I should nap/shower/paint
learn German/do work (start a program, plan an event, research, endless possibilities for that)
Productive weekend: I fixed my whole room up and planted a garden. Thanks mom & dad for all the 3-inch tomatoes.
I saw lots of horse-drawn buggies in Amish-towns
ate dinner with my freshman roommate in Sullivan, IL
at the nicest restaurant in town, and Doug Wilson from TLC picked up my fallen cardigan
Ate at the Amish restaurant Yoder's
brought back plenty of cheese, fudge, and the best sweet PB&J
Saw great fireworks shows, twice
(many illegal & of private stash!)
swam in the biggest lake in central IL -- Lake Shelbyville
and went down 8 miles of river in one my favorite day-trips
for a very memorable 4th of July weekend in Central Illinois.
Oh, and they met Lincoln, my white adventurfür.
when green was already their black.
(ok, I took that phrase somewhat from an Amish-furniture poster)
listening to Seals & Crofts best hits on a record
I went canoeing today
several hours, with my parents
and the T
and the strangest thing happened
(that doesn't surprise me still!)
but the fish
we almost thought they were tadpoles, so grey and tiny
swam up to my body that I rooted into the sand
that suctioned into my skin and kept me still
I was sitting back in 2 ft waters
and the school of fish swam around me unafraid
curious
they then came closer and closer and
started pecking me...tasting me
picking at the air bubbles --
I don't know.
My chin was submerged, I was smiling at my new school of friends
and I was calm as more came to me
thinking I was a ginormous piece of food, maybe
or just curious of friendly.
Or picking parasites off of me.
I wish I could have stayed longer, but I think I gave them their pickin' fix
from a new species they're not used to swimmin' with.
Free time - Freizeit; Qué hacer en este momento
I should nap/shower/paint
learn German/do work (start a program, plan an event, research, endless possibilities for that)
Productive weekend: I fixed my whole room up and planted a garden. Thanks mom & dad for all the 3-inch tomatoes.
I saw lots of horse-drawn buggies in Amish-towns
ate dinner with my freshman roommate in Sullivan, IL
at the nicest restaurant in town, and Doug Wilson from TLC picked up my fallen cardigan
Ate at the Amish restaurant Yoder's
brought back plenty of cheese, fudge, and the best sweet PB&J
Saw great fireworks shows, twice
(many illegal & of private stash!)
swam in the biggest lake in central IL -- Lake Shelbyville
and went down 8 miles of river in one my favorite day-trips
for a very memorable 4th of July weekend in Central Illinois.
Oh, and they met Lincoln, my white adventurfür.
Monday, June 28, 2010
goodnight link
too many stories to compose myself
but i have 14 bruises from either waterskiing or climbing over 2 fences and into a 4th story window in chicago saturday
lost cell phone (1st time ever) so need to probably get a new one at some point
managing interns is like, super fun
I should like, totally write a blog!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
madcrazy
muuuu-ah ha ha ha.
see you in a plain [sight]
with [sugar] cane if you are able
[speak] up from that adam's apple
make your [sphere of] influence known.
If you can appear a pear...
then I will round your cycle,
and we will plant the earth.
if that at all is fair
see you in a plain [sight]
with [sugar] cane if you are able
[speak] up from that adam's apple
make your [sphere of] influence known.
If you can appear a pear...
then I will round your cycle,
and we will plant the earth.
if that at all is fair
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Mee+Me!
Can I shine a little of my light on you?
I'm trying to channel it your way.
Can you feel my vibe? I don't want for you to misinterpret.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
shine a light
I should stop looking at what other people are doing
shine a light from the inside.
If you only knew the day I had!
one with nature, part of it all, the universal flow and the patternwork, part of the quilt that forms such a colorful interwoven masterpiece of synchrony and harmony
we are all the same world
we are all
we
i
us
all
.BE.
shine a light from the inside.
If you only knew the day I had!
one with nature, part of it all, the universal flow and the patternwork, part of the quilt that forms such a colorful interwoven masterpiece of synchrony and harmony
we are all the same world
we are all
we
i
us
all
.BE.
Friday, June 4, 2010
tomando riesgos
y Qué estoy pensando? leí LEaves of Grass de Walt Whitman y esas palabras se quedan en mis pensamientos
Tambien pienso que mi sola estrés en el mundo, hoy en día, es que hay gente que no adhiera o acepte ideas nuevas... que no se trate aprender o escuchar algo nuevo. Ser abierto, tener la mente k acepta aún no es el pensamiento original; para explorar conceptos nuevos y probar tomando riesgos.
"el solo estrés que pudiera tener es cuando la mente de otros sean cerrados; fuera de nuestro control; es que decir, Ábrela!! Toma un riesgo, aprende algo y trabajaremos juntos en este partido social que nombramos sostenebilidad mundial ;) para mis compañeros de trabajo no es tan difícil, por qué para muchos lo es??"
Tambien pienso que mi sola estrés en el mundo, hoy en día, es que hay gente que no adhiera o acepte ideas nuevas... que no se trate aprender o escuchar algo nuevo. Ser abierto, tener la mente k acepta aún no es el pensamiento original; para explorar conceptos nuevos y probar tomando riesgos.
"el solo estrés que pudiera tener es cuando la mente de otros sean cerrados; fuera de nuestro control; es que decir, Ábrela!! Toma un riesgo, aprende algo y trabajaremos juntos en este partido social que nombramos sostenebilidad mundial ;) para mis compañeros de trabajo no es tan difícil, por qué para muchos lo es??"
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
haa-aayze!
**
Summer Camp Festival - why can't I stop thinking of you
Life is so much more IDEAL
why would you ever want to leave UTOPIA?
People are beautiful here, too, in their own way
it depends on how it plays in my mind
but at Summa-Camp you see it's so much more refined. . .
red red wine you make me feel so fine . . .
red red wine . . . .
red red wine .. .
your kind of love is like a present from above . . .
I am alone in my apartment between going back to Esquire's bar in downtown with beer and peanuts watching the Hawks Game (eh, I don't care about that, but I needed to spend time with a friend), and had to come home and eat dinner and drop off my indian grocery food I was carrying around. Found a new place and got a whole lotta shit for $11 like 4 dinners, about 10 tomatoes, naan, and incense.
I have been spreading good vibes all the way
all the day
good vibes
good vibes
good vibes
good vibes.
(Zmick ragelife!!!)
outside with hundreds of cool potential friends
grooving to some amazing beats we may forget
I do not recall the set
and presences with folks and music we dub the best ever yet
that we cannot extend the moment of time is our only regret
Summer Camp Festival - why can't I stop thinking of you
Life is so much more IDEAL
why would you ever want to leave UTOPIA?
People are beautiful here, too, in their own way
it depends on how it plays in my mind
but at Summa-Camp you see it's so much more refined. . .
red red wine you make me feel so fine . . .
red red wine . . . .
red red wine .. .
your kind of love is like a present from above . . .
I am alone in my apartment between going back to Esquire's bar in downtown with beer and peanuts watching the Hawks Game (eh, I don't care about that, but I needed to spend time with a friend), and had to come home and eat dinner and drop off my indian grocery food I was carrying around. Found a new place and got a whole lotta shit for $11 like 4 dinners, about 10 tomatoes, naan, and incense.
I have been spreading good vibes all the way
all the day
good vibes
good vibes
good vibes
good vibes.
(Zmick ragelife!!!)
outside with hundreds of cool potential friends
grooving to some amazing beats we may forget
I do not recall the set
and presences with folks and music we dub the best ever yet
that we cannot extend the moment of time is our only regret
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
hi.on.life
Me? living on Happy Ave, just take Groovey Road down past little Urbana, and don't mind the "if you read this you are lost" sign but mind the sandalmarkers and glowsticks for they will guide you to me my new soulmate
Sunday, May 16, 2010
dubstep.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdubstep.fm%2Flisten.pls&h=f18f7
dubstep/.... obsessed
out all night, slept all day, twice
raging and dancing until a 6:30 AM game of beer pong in sarah's backyard with still 10 people standing around
downstairs dub cave, blacklight and serious bass until 5:30
aaliyah remix, marley, mmmmmmmmmmmm this is too good. I got at least 4 others listening right now, i sent them the link on facebook chat and two are either) Dancing, or getting held up from going out because he doesn't want to leave the music
this is was it does to people; it's addicting, and it gets you dancing
I'm on about 4 hours of it
music crack.
dubstep/.... obsessed
out all night, slept all day, twice
raging and dancing until a 6:30 AM game of beer pong in sarah's backyard with still 10 people standing around
downstairs dub cave, blacklight and serious bass until 5:30
aaliyah remix, marley, mmmmmmmmmmmm this is too good. I got at least 4 others listening right now, i sent them the link on facebook chat and two are either) Dancing, or getting held up from going out because he doesn't want to leave the music
this is was it does to people; it's addicting, and it gets you dancing
I'm on about 4 hours of it
music crack.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
V3 2 C-U
caught up in the life thing
what a nice day! I am deciding to go to bed or not but I like this Afro Celt music that is playing, and Linksy is laying on me, what a cute toddlerkitten.
the interns accepted our offers; we now have 8 + 3 = 11 summer interns
I am mostly in charge of managing them
I'm excited, not scared
I can't wait until Summer Camp festival 2010000 (in 2 weeeeeksss)
I love life in Champaign_Urbana... I wouldn't change much, or anything! Really
life here is so fulfilling & exciting... there are so many cool people to meet
just.. how! is usually the problem. I don't mind.
I think I do quite well.
I have who I need, and know a lot of really cool people.
My time is busy, I go out all the time, and the commute is always less than 15 minutes even should I choose to bike, which is common and easy and accepted and cool. Thus this place is cool.
It's easy to network and you can make your dreams happen. What could be better?
Oh, and there's a dubstep and local music scene.
what a nice day! I am deciding to go to bed or not but I like this Afro Celt music that is playing, and Linksy is laying on me, what a cute toddlerkitten.
the interns accepted our offers; we now have 8 + 3 = 11 summer interns
I am mostly in charge of managing them
I'm excited, not scared
I can't wait until Summer Camp festival 2010000 (in 2 weeeeeksss)
I love life in Champaign_Urbana... I wouldn't change much, or anything! Really
life here is so fulfilling & exciting... there are so many cool people to meet
just.. how! is usually the problem. I don't mind.
I think I do quite well.
I have who I need, and know a lot of really cool people.
My time is busy, I go out all the time, and the commute is always less than 15 minutes even should I choose to bike, which is common and easy and accepted and cool. Thus this place is cool.
It's easy to network and you can make your dreams happen. What could be better?
Oh, and there's a dubstep and local music scene.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
wompage
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=105232279506084
was a good time
went barefoot home and back at 11, to get canvasses
not for me
he didn't need them after all.
oh well
but I was just myself
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
goodbye dear april
listening to Bone Dance by Zingala, on Soles on Earth.
Pandora.com: Afro Celt Sound System. Love the Thievery Corp., Loreena McKennitt, Electromana, Cornelius, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Need to check out the last three more.
Now I should go to sleep - I have been getting to work late because no morning meetings and I function better in the afternoon
Hiring interns! Unpaid, some smarter than me probably. 7-10. Will manage all summer. Do team activities. It will be cool.
Doing cool stuff in town, making myself a cooler person
Diversify, diversity
don't count your eggs before they've hatched
Life Begin Again by Robert Plant & Afro Celt = bellydance. it's hot
Pandora.com: Afro Celt Sound System. Love the Thievery Corp., Loreena McKennitt, Electromana, Cornelius, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Need to check out the last three more.
Now I should go to sleep - I have been getting to work late because no morning meetings and I function better in the afternoon
Hiring interns! Unpaid, some smarter than me probably. 7-10. Will manage all summer. Do team activities. It will be cool.
Doing cool stuff in town, making myself a cooler person
Diversify, diversity
don't count your eggs before they've hatched
Life Begin Again by Robert Plant & Afro Celt = bellydance. it's hot
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Blind Man and an Elephant
CRAP! How is it already the 27th? I thought it was still the 22nd, Earth Day. It could be, if every day is Earth Day. Fuck Dates, fuck those numbers, every day is its own and no number defines it, other than to
I am writing an editorial to try to save a departmental/administrative OFFICE at the University of Illinois because students and other folks in the community are not stepping up, and we are like the fabled blind men and an elephant. Who is saying what? What did you say, and when? Because it changes! And where are you coming from, because your description does not make sense to me in my language.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Bonanza at the Boneyard
I could write a who blog about all my adventures in Champaign-Urbana.
Yesterday was my ideal evening and night. Hard to explain - no better way to explain - full of arts, culture, good people, good friends, free food, wine, entertainment, location-hopping from business to business and places you wouldn't normally go because it was the Boneyard Arts Fest. Art installations throughout our downtown, free appetizers and wine in an abandoned building, bellydancers and a fire spinner, Spring dresses with the nice mid-April weather (unheard of!) and more appetizers outside, art gallery with beautiful watercolor dandelions by Shoshanna Bauer..... then finishing the night at Luna with DJs indoors and outdoors, with with interactive graffiti in the middle beer garden. Never been there before but now it will always be how I remember it. Then I danced dubstep til 2:30 AM, with mah hips
It was real; it was ideal
look at this pretty art!
does it make you think, you human? isn't life awesome?
Shake what ya mama gave ya!
Now I'm listening to a voicemail from the deputy mayor who wished me a happy Friday morning and offered me a free whistle concert.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
continued
-rode in the wind on the back of a motorcycle, fun with red goggles, a beer 4 3 in the backyard before bouncin' to Istanbul for Kim's birthday, brainstormin' 7 digits and clearing our plates
-then, Bonfire in the Backyard. April 15th.
-then, Bonfire in the Backyard. April 15th.
should do this every day
-Listening online to my new bff, the deputy mayor of my city, and city council member, also renowned pipe restorer and expert at the county's best pipe shop, jazz and New Orleans enthusiast, historian (French intellectual history/European history), philosopher, and poet. He is so well-spoken and I find his voice soothing. I find myself having to pay very close attention to his words, though, so I do not miss anything. Sometimes hard to follow. Radio Archive
Pic: The reason I bonded with the deputy mayor of Champaign . Also, whistling.
Why the new bff? Another typical Mara random encounter story, as I call it. It happens from time to time, and vibrates my life, gives me fresh breath. I can name some notable stories of this type, like Hippie Joe with the long gray hair and B.Franklin spectacles who bestowed a silver Om3 necklace upon me, homeless people like 30-minute memory Steve, toothless Rose with a baby she can't care for, my airport soulmate Matt in Germany, London Sky News guy who took me to coffee, Muhamed and Sherif who helped me with my first flat tire (and ended up hanging out constantly that summer week & now are regular friends a year later), Andrew from a cafe I spoke Spanish with (who ended up becoming too demanding of a friend in the end), more plane and train friends, friends off the street, not even counting people I've met at bars, etc.! And Now Last Night's Story.
Pic: The reason I bonded with the deputy mayor of Champaign . Also, whistling.
-Treated to lunch by my favorite Man in town, outside. Oh, it is not like that, he is our organization's guardian angel and we love him for all that he has done for us: he hath paved the golden brick road to the Emerald City. He is truly the Wizard!!
-Saw a ticket upside down under an A/C unit on my walk back to the office this afternoon. Almost let it be (trash), then decided to see if maybe it was something cool, a show that hadn't happened yet... Well, what do you think happened? A ticket to Pink Floyd's The Wall in a few weeks, $10 value, at a cute local theater several blocks away. Score! Trippy, I'm sure. I'll be sure to come prepared.
What did I do yesterday... some serious rollerblading, tested my first incline!! Fell 3 times in that hour, not even a scratch on my hand though. Lucky
-met Andrew & Kim at the park all sweaty, ran into an old acquaintance named Emory there who joined our circle by the gazebo, started an Autoshop business after college, and Andrew & Emory were wearing the exact same blue shirt blue jeans outfit. Had to blade back after 15 minutes, though, as I was late to my Indian girl date dinner. Hugging Rekha goodbye on campustown is where the adventures started.
After the deputy mayor escorted me back to my car at after finishing currant cider at the local pipe shop (smoky after-hours), bonding with the distant blonde cigar enthusiast he keeps around (over some mutual friends from the Wookie house), I drove home.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Crosby Stills Nash & Young
Ohio, for the record.
pics from mah friend B.i.g.s. in NZ at a hippie fest called confest, thought I'd share the oh-so-interesting lineup of events...
pics from mah friend B.i.g.s. in NZ at a hippie fest called confest, thought I'd share the oh-so-interesting lineup of events...
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Earthy week pre- Earth week
going to Starved Rock State Park for an energy conference the next 2 days (leavin' in a few)
hope I have time to hike!!
BASSNECTAR last night was a shower
siiiickness, and a shower
sop sop sopping wet, head to toe everybody
love love love to dance, BASSNECTAR is sexy
Sunday, April 4, 2010
italians visit
...why i love italians
i am hosting 3 italians
they are speaking in the other room
they skyped home to their families
checking in
what a fun night, siam terrace thai food for dinner, then pool and shots, then two more bars on campustown and dancing the last hour straight, at Joe's. Met up with Remo's other old friends, Rafa and, like, Jiyaua, who rocked out. After, Antonio's Pizza was closed so we got One World instead, the only thing I paid for, and hung out in my apartment which they loved.
I couldn't have asked for much a better night, showing a good time to 3 visiting Italians on a business internship.
They even brought me flowers.
i am hosting 3 italians
they are speaking in the other room
they skyped home to their families
checking in
what a fun night, siam terrace thai food for dinner, then pool and shots, then two more bars on campustown and dancing the last hour straight, at Joe's. Met up with Remo's other old friends, Rafa and, like, Jiyaua, who rocked out. After, Antonio's Pizza was closed so we got One World instead, the only thing I paid for, and hung out in my apartment which they loved.
I couldn't have asked for much a better night, showing a good time to 3 visiting Italians on a business internship.
They even brought me flowers.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
recording
Crosby Stills Nash and Young - So Far
(Teach Your Children Well and Ohio)
I don't think this blog represents me very well
it's all so very picky, these words and select clippets
I am such a harsh editor, it may not come out here (this is all creative writing) but I love to do lots and lots of editing... I am usually not happy with old words and compositions...
We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. -T.S. Eliot
Link is positioned between well for his snooze.
(Teach Your Children Well and Ohio)
I don't think this blog represents me very well
it's all so very picky, these words and select clippets
I am such a harsh editor, it may not come out here (this is all creative writing) but I love to do lots and lots of editing... I am usually not happy with old words and compositions...
We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. -T.S. Eliot
Link is positioned between well for his snooze.How It Is
This record is blowing my mind as I suspected it would, from a completely random artist "Jean-Luc Ponty"s from 1982. Holy Fuck . . . It's Getting Better
Damn.
Going to Bloomington-Normal again for the 3rd time in about 2 weeks. Well don't it sound so important we travel for work. Well, we're just expanding to state soon you see, and need some personal connections to get off the ground in cities 2 and 3.
Damn.Going to Bloomington-Normal again for the 3rd time in about 2 weeks. Well don't it sound so important we travel for work. Well, we're just expanding to state soon you see, and need some personal connections to get off the ground in cities 2 and 3.
Monday, March 29, 2010
to whom it might concern
-To the rootsy mushroom boy: hop on a plane, and meet me in the fifth Dimension. Ain't it fun, movin' and groovin' in a swirly galaxy with no need for seat belts? The plane never lands!
-I updated a life philosophy of mine today. it is not updated on facebook. Facebook only lets me change my book and movie prefs, etc. I haven't read a book in months, watched a movie since ALICE 3D some weeks ago, and don't watch TV. Facebook: the latest and greatest version of me!
-To my kitty, Link: I don't know if you knew what you were getting into when you were born (do any of us?)... and when you Somehow made it into my pad and now are a part of Mara's life journey. My fellow adventurer! I think you are a prince. I am glad to have your furry little butt on adventures in Hyrule...
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Title:
dubsteppin, 5 person high sleepovers in the pillow room, sleeping in til noon and grocery shopping to make pancakes, nutella and banana pancakes with tea while watching James Bond at another one of their houses, longboarding down the street, later did some rollerbladin', then call from Kim who dropped by braided my hair then to a Cafe for tea
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Mama Africaa, and my 3 days
I bet you have enough details to keep track of. Yet, I must indeed keep track of my own details, somehow, and I am going to graffiti the passive friend of mine named Blogger with my crazy jumbled words. Whateva, PUBLISH POST
TODAY:
- Cassie does radio interview for the respected station WILL
- LINC class check-in (they r doing project 4 us so we don't have 2 do bitch-work)
- program development intense session #3 w/Dave (thorough editing of program checklists)
- HAPPY HOUR @ Boltini with a visiting office exec (to chat green and future partnership?)
- 7:30 Burkina Faso dinner @ Cosmo House in campustown (w/4 good friends... should be YUMMY)
YESTERDAY, I slept late for work but it's OK... I make my own hours, within reason, so long as I make them up. 2 meetings and attended a lecture, meeting 1 with the Eat Fresh Eat Local campaign rep starting a chapter here in C-U, and meeting 2 with a girl Erika who wants to restart our old student group we founded 3 years ago. Ahh! So exciting! We gave her lots of good advice for the Greek competition she is currently undertaking... 27+ houses! WELL DONE ERIKA! I think this green thing is really taking on.
- Then, Mara adventure time: I drove out to Fithian, IL, a farm town only 15 min. east of here, for a cookout of brats, dogs, rice and beans, beer and white wine, and then I did the zipline from the top 120 year old barn. My butt is sore from the rope I sat on, but it was worth it. The other guys did some offroad motoring including with a sweet bike and a 4-wheeler. Ben is going to grow a huge garden there soon! and I think his younger sister is supercool and pretty.
- After a few hours there, I stopped at Murphy's Pub (it was St. Patty's day!) to have a drink with a friend, and as soon as I walk in my friend "Buk" was walking out, but we stood by the entrance and chatted for like half hour before I moved any deeper into the bar. He's a UI engineer-turned-townie who I occasionally meet up with for a drink, or to check out something environmental (how we met), and is gearing up for a 2 week work trip to Vegas. And I ran a 5K with his roommate Nick (33) this past weekend.
Then I ran into two other people I knew before finding the person I was supposed to meet up with: cool blonde Theresa, a bit older than me from my major (Natural Resources) with a 7 year old daughter, still in town either pursuing a PhD in wildlife or looking to venture out to study flying foxes. I guess the bird watching by airports didn't work out. Then, I saw Darwin, a big sarcastic hipster who I met longboarding this summer, god knows what we talked about but I met a cool friend of his, Jessica (I guessed that she was a Bio major and hit it) who supposedly showed up to the bar stag, which I told her I have respect for. Darwin is going outta town next week for Spring Break but said I can borrow his longboard, and I will do, because of nice weather.
Said HEY and chit-chatted to the climbing group huddled at the bar, who are climbing all of next week because they are climbing freaks, and they are cool people probably some of the coolest in the bar in my opinion, but in my head it was a bit awkward since they all know me as someone's girl, but really, I'm a lot cooler than just that. But a bunch of high-five goodbyes and genuine smiles later, I felt more assured that they do like me for me. Might even go to climbing call-out April 9 at Jackson Falls. THE END
Tomorrow, we go to Bloomington-Normal to meet with the sustainability coordinator and faculty members about creating a summer University course around our program, and about spreading the word and program to B-N in general. We must have our program documents, checklists and instructions, and best silver tongues forward for tomorrow. Life is very exciting.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
home or not to home
deciding to pack up things and kitty and drive to Chicago for Sat. night and Sunday
parents are out of town, and I haven't seen some friends in a while
although Cory is out of town... that is key.
Currently Conspiring with my sister
YES! There is a bus from her place to Old Orchard (outdoor shopping mall that I think is the best for 20 minutes around... oh Chicago)
YES! That's it, I'm going home!! With kitty! Bon Voyage!!
parents are out of town, and I haven't seen some friends in a while
although Cory is out of town... that is key.
Currently Conspiring with my sister
YES! There is a bus from her place to Old Orchard (outdoor shopping mall that I think is the best for 20 minutes around... oh Chicago)
YES! That's it, I'm going home!! With kitty! Bon Voyage!!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Fireside Friday
All right! I made the last page of the ECE (Electrical and Computer Engineering) magazine Resonance!
Also, I am/have been listening to FDR's Fireside Chat audio files. I feel like I'm back in time.
FDR Quick Quote from D-Day Prayer (6/6/41): "We shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with [our cistern] nation into a world unity that will expel a sure peace, a peace invulnerable for the schemings of unworthy men, and a peace that will let all men live in freedom reaping all rewards of their honest toil. Their will be done, Almighty God. Amen."
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Anomaly
Sometimes I think, there's too many people in the world.
But then I think, what a decision to cut down the population!! Who are YOU to say?
YOU may be one of the ones who wasn't supposed to be here.
In which case, YOU are an anomaly.
Make the most of it, you filthy animal!!
Project Lights
WeLL do ya want a Project to work on, 'cuz those are easy to find! anyone can make a business card!
i can invent grand ideas, too, that [will] make waves...
i can invent grand ideas, too, that [will] make waves...
propelling myself forward into projecting more green light unto the planet!
Back to work, SundayLink's at the office
Saturday, March 6, 2010
so many stories to tell
so punny, I have so many outrageous and ridiculous stories to tell on here that amuse
life is so good and exciting
but do I want to spend the time writing this all down? IS IT PART OF THE GREATER PLAN?
I mean... it is a lazy Saturday and I'm not doing anything but preparing for my party/get-together tonite... work can wait til tomorrow but maybe I'll help a friend run his business today (he needs SO much of my help).
I locked myself out of my apt. to start the night and learned that in the future I should try not to do that, because next time I might not be so lucky with turns of events. I wasn't upset, I'm just an idiot, kind of like 2 weeks ago when someone stole my purse at a bar but returned it 2 hours later. I also probably shouldn't lend out my winter coat to randos visiting from UNLV because dude taxied off with it from the party I SHOWED THEM TO. (Update: I got it back this morning from my new 6'8, 300 lb. friend).
life is so good and exciting
but do I want to spend the time writing this all down? IS IT PART OF THE GREATER PLAN?
I mean... it is a lazy Saturday and I'm not doing anything but preparing for my party/get-together tonite... work can wait til tomorrow but maybe I'll help a friend run his business today (he needs SO much of my help).
I locked myself out of my apt. to start the night and learned that in the future I should try not to do that, because next time I might not be so lucky with turns of events. I wasn't upset, I'm just an idiot, kind of like 2 weeks ago when someone stole my purse at a bar but returned it 2 hours later. I also probably shouldn't lend out my winter coat to randos visiting from UNLV because dude taxied off with it from the party I SHOWED THEM TO. (Update: I got it back this morning from my new 6'8, 300 lb. friend).
Thursday, March 4, 2010
unofficial
tomorrow is green day, not earth day but green day, because it's Unofficial St. Patrick's Day - only the biggest holiday in Champaign-Urbana and what used to be my favorite day of the year.... this was a good week so far,full of fun, and I know tomorrow has good things in store... and I will wear green
Monday, March 1, 2010
Inch By Inch, Row By Row
Sure you've got a good idea, honey. We've all got lots of good ideas. Actually, yours is really not that groundbreaking itself. Wanna know what would be really groundbreaking? If it actually made it off the ground. There's your market and community transformation.
Sow your little seeds, my dear, it takes time.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
ELS ISLAND
pretending I'm not here
**
6.5 hours later: I MADE THE MOST ADDICTING JAMBALAYA, and played the didgeridoo my first time. Three types all handmade in Fithian, IL by my new multi-talented musical friend.. he was impressed by my quick-learning didg skills, and all I wanna do is eat more jambalaya
**
6.5 hours later: I MADE THE MOST ADDICTING JAMBALAYA, and played the didgeridoo my first time. Three types all handmade in Fithian, IL by my new multi-talented musical friend.. he was impressed by my quick-learning didg skills, and all I wanna do is eat more jambalaya
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saturday 2/27/10
Chile and Hawaii got hit today, Chile a lot worse with that quake (8.8 on the Richter) so I am sorry, rebuild that infrastructure ASAP first. they are NOT lucky today.
eating ethnic
strawberry milkshake, nah-nahhh nana, I am eating so well this weekend. I made korean seafood soup + egg drops & sprouts and two types of mushroom mixture with scrambled eggs, such a good mixture. I love Yellow Fin asian grocery store... in one hour I go to Urbana for another prepared Saudi dinner with probably 10 Saudi and Egyptian students who go here and invited me to bring myself over. I am so lucky
***
Post-activity update:
After 20-30 minutes of getting lost in Urbana because there are TWO 604 Stoughtons several BLOCKS from one another (yeah, seriously?!), I entered the warm apartment haven of Saudi feasting. I took pictures and would like to upload some - the 5 main dishes in huge industrial-sized containers, chicken rice, orange vegetable stews with foreign spice, a noodle cream kugel thing, dark dark colored and salty-type flavored eggplant, I don't know the names of it, but it was all very nice. Then the beehive (!! my fave) and heaven bars for dessert, to sweeten the guests' palettes, along with homemade vanilla ice cream topped in chocolate. You guessed it - everything was delicious.
I try on a brown, handmade traditional male Saudi winter coat, I cannot recall the name but it starts with a B, and took a picture of myself in it :) It was heavy and soft! and huge on me. I felt a bit honored to be able to have worn it...
I thank Azziz and his roommate who spent all day and last night cooking for all these people (~20) to come over their Saturday nights, and my buddy Muhamed (one of many I've met this year by now) for giving Azziz my phone # when I was lost to come find me. Ha. I saw a few familiar faces upon entering, and my new friend Emeka who I am helping make flyers for his activist-training, but didn't hang out with anyone past 10 because I wanted to go out. I was sent home with a plate of my favorite desserts wrapped in tinfoil, and with that, I went home in bliss :)
...Well, I dropped by miss Cassie's place and we exchanged weekend activities etc., plans to be productive this weekend, even in a relaxing, catch-up way. Ah! My "fitness club" as they call it is actually open until 6, which gives me an extra hour of productivity today since I thought it closed at 5. The one-hour difference, Lord!!! and I CANNOT find any of the foods I ate via google description attempts! Dangit!! *Must go back and learn Arabic.
*German language learning is on hold for several months, I guess.
Peace -- Fully, Salaam, and Shalom,
Mara
***
Post-activity update:
After 20-30 minutes of getting lost in Urbana because there are TWO 604 Stoughtons several BLOCKS from one another (yeah, seriously?!), I entered the warm apartment haven of Saudi feasting. I took pictures and would like to upload some - the 5 main dishes in huge industrial-sized containers, chicken rice, orange vegetable stews with foreign spice, a noodle cream kugel thing, dark dark colored and salty-type flavored eggplant, I don't know the names of it, but it was all very nice. Then the beehive (!! my fave) and heaven bars for dessert, to sweeten the guests' palettes, along with homemade vanilla ice cream topped in chocolate. You guessed it - everything was delicious.
I try on a brown, handmade traditional male Saudi winter coat, I cannot recall the name but it starts with a B, and took a picture of myself in it :) It was heavy and soft! and huge on me. I felt a bit honored to be able to have worn it...
I thank Azziz and his roommate who spent all day and last night cooking for all these people (~20) to come over their Saturday nights, and my buddy Muhamed (one of many I've met this year by now) for giving Azziz my phone # when I was lost to come find me. Ha. I saw a few familiar faces upon entering, and my new friend Emeka who I am helping make flyers for his activist-training, but didn't hang out with anyone past 10 because I wanted to go out. I was sent home with a plate of my favorite desserts wrapped in tinfoil, and with that, I went home in bliss :)
...Well, I dropped by miss Cassie's place and we exchanged weekend activities etc., plans to be productive this weekend, even in a relaxing, catch-up way. Ah! My "fitness club" as they call it is actually open until 6, which gives me an extra hour of productivity today since I thought it closed at 5. The one-hour difference, Lord!!! and I CANNOT find any of the foods I ate via google description attempts! Dangit!! *Must go back and learn Arabic.
*German language learning is on hold for several months, I guess.
Peace -- Fully, Salaam, and Shalom,
Mara
Friday, February 26, 2010
I love what I do
I do what I love.
To be continued.... to be continued... to be continued
No no! you don't understand! I really do! I run a non-profit that I helped create, co-found, and run. It is now a beautiful beast that is seemingly taking over the planet, haha. Huge opportunities and prospects. Most importantly is the solid foundation, though. I am constantly re-inventing my role and try to add meaning and credibility to the organization to move it forward because I believe in it.
I believe in greening our communities and the business community in IL. I believe in creative collaboration with students to empower them to take action and be proactive on issues they care about. I believe in creating opportunities and increasing connectivity in our complex societal and capitalist systems. I believe in energy efficiency. I believe in pioneering new ideas to pilot change. I believe in working with people across many sectors to find common ground. I believe in networking appropriately, and I believe that work can be fun. We are the movers and shakers, because we believe, and because we decided to do something about it. We speak up, but more emphasis is on the fact that we ACT up. We do. And it's gotten us so far, always ontheverge ontheverge ontheverge teetering on something monumental -- reevaluating how business works in IL, creating consumer preference for greener businesses and products, and redefining public-private partnerships, educational institutions' interactions with local communities, and new opportunities for community engagement. Oh, and we might evaluate the success of green business programs.
And it's fun to plot how to disseminate this into every interested county in Illinois by working with larger corporations (private business-driven) and public institutions (such as UI Extension and other networks in the state).
Know how Obama talks about creating green jobs? Well we created 3 of them! And I think we inspired a few others to go the entrepreneurial route. Plus, 4 of our board members have gained more respect in their jobs by working with us closely and spreading this vision. We also have a student intern, and work with MANY students (I just met with one very inspired girl this morning) who are working on meaningful projects, which will pave the way for god-knows-what. Really. Take it from me.
To be continued.... to be continued... to be continued
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
100th post
Nice job M.E- you've reached the # posts to numerate annually throughout a century.
What do I do for a living? I live to hit home runs, throw the ball outta the ballpark, and be a slugger who hits over 1000 average
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Lack a Lad or Lackless? LEGOLAS
My neighbor made me delicious matzoh ball/chicken soup and there's enough left for tomorrow. I had already eaten an awesome mushroom, onion and cheese omelette after a step class and then running 3 miles on the tredmill while watching the Illini beat Michigan. And now I have blood red scratches up my right arm from playing rough with the sharp-nailed Link. Now I'm going to change and clean up nice to go hang out with some of my cool friends I don't see much, my concert crowd, because Zmick's guitarist my buddy is randomly in town on a Tuesday night. Alas, my life...
Sunday, February 21, 2010
wknd in feb 2010
killer weekend
FRIDAY Mhondoro!!!!! happy hour dancin' right after work, free drinks from the handsome Director of the center who thinks what I do is cool, then out to 4 bars Friday... random Soma experience, ended up trashy in the townie bar playin' darts with 3 jews (incl. my friend Kim) who I later brought home to chill with and play super nintendo
Kim slept on my couch and I made us breakfast around 11 AM
got some work done on SaturDay.
SATURDAY NIGHT danced to RJD2 concert - who was pretty sick, lost megan and friends but danced with kim and chris, my new bff concert buddy who kinda looks like he'd work at a tattoo shop, we met raging to dubstep a couple weeks ago, we hung out all night it's cool company and we all made it a good time
we went to the afterparty at my friends' partyhouse with some local DJs spinning, left before the "pros" came on tho (the ones who get paid gigs at nicer bars)
then the 5 of us came back to my place to play until 3 am
but I couldn't stay up past like 2 so I went to bed and let them do whatever
I had to get up at 8:30 AM Sunday for an Expo.
9-5: professionalism (at the coolest booth at the place...)
then Kim did me a favor as a best friend to save my butt, ninja ninja stealth moves
Mom came and she is the best, she was passing thru here en route to Indy tomorrow
she brought me pretty pillows and we ate sushi for dinner
and now mom is sleeping over!!
FRIDAY Mhondoro!!!!! happy hour dancin' right after work, free drinks from the handsome Director of the center who thinks what I do is cool, then out to 4 bars Friday... random Soma experience, ended up trashy in the townie bar playin' darts with 3 jews (incl. my friend Kim) who I later brought home to chill with and play super nintendo
Kim slept on my couch and I made us breakfast around 11 AM
got some work done on SaturDay.
SATURDAY NIGHT danced to RJD2 concert - who was pretty sick, lost megan and friends but danced with kim and chris, my new bff concert buddy who kinda looks like he'd work at a tattoo shop, we met raging to dubstep a couple weeks ago, we hung out all night it's cool company and we all made it a good time
we went to the afterparty at my friends' partyhouse with some local DJs spinning, left before the "pros" came on tho (the ones who get paid gigs at nicer bars)
then the 5 of us came back to my place to play until 3 am
but I couldn't stay up past like 2 so I went to bed and let them do whatever
I had to get up at 8:30 AM Sunday for an Expo.
9-5: professionalism (at the coolest booth at the place...)
then Kim did me a favor as a best friend to save my butt, ninja ninja stealth moves
Mom came and she is the best, she was passing thru here en route to Indy tomorrow
she brought me pretty pillows and we ate sushi for dinner
and now mom is sleeping over!!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
we iz local resource?
now errrrybody wana piece of our green services and expertise
hit us up, we can help
1...2...3
who else wants to knock on our door?
I mean now that we're open for business.
I'll help you, if you have a good look and passionate heart
I'll help you get that luck and light that fire
in the spirit of positive cross-community collaboration
Monday, February 15, 2010
memnoch the devil
holy cow and sacred elephant
earth-destroyer?
or self-aware monkey, destroyer of ways of thinking and bending and breaking mindframes
bewitched to exist by my moving magic hands, magician
weaving crazy tales into braids of 3, out of thin air
of cowry shells from beaches from afar
made from strands of the finest red hair
earth-destroyer?
or self-aware monkey, destroyer of ways of thinking and bending and breaking mindframes
bewitched to exist by my moving magic hands, magician
weaving crazy tales into braids of 3, out of thin air
of cowry shells from beaches from afar
made from strands of the finest red hair
Sunday, February 14, 2010
hello!
Hello!
My sister is in the shower while I am watching Millionaire Matchmaker, a great show. Some real cocky motherfuckers, though. Some genuine dumbasses. Entertainment!!!!!
She is visiting me for the weekend then later tonight we are going to Bela Fleck: The Africa Project!
My sister is in the shower while I am watching Millionaire Matchmaker, a great show. Some real cocky motherfuckers, though. Some genuine dumbasses. Entertainment!!!!!
She is visiting me for the weekend then later tonight we are going to Bela Fleck: The Africa Project!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
DUB
dub dub dub dub DUBSTEP
sick show last night @Canopy, really threw down, raged with my buddies til 2:30 AM, and even then they didn't kick people out...
hung w/more buds til 5 AM -- it was an occasion! -- left when the group doubled suddenly
I had work in the morning. 9999999999999999999999i---------37===========*-[ikk=iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll=]\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\that was my cat he's on the keyboard
sick show last night @Canopy, really threw down, raged with my buddies til 2:30 AM, and even then they didn't kick people out...
hung w/more buds til 5 AM -- it was an occasion! -- left when the group doubled suddenly
I had work in the morning. 9999999999999999999999i---------37===========*-[ikk=iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll=]\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\that was my cat he's on the keyboard
Monday, February 8, 2010
desiderata
so I guess it goes in cycles, this poem. It reemerges and resurfaces much like grass itself, but to me this poem takes the form of a purple flower.
without internet searching, after returning from discussing this poem over vino tinto i recite:
DESIDERATA
*** GO PLACIDLY AMIDST THE NOISE AND HASTE
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
as much as possible without surrender, be at peace with all persons...
speak your truth quietly and clearly...
YOU are a child of the universe, no less than the stars and the trees, YOU have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
...with all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. ***
Not everyone has seen or heard or read this poem. I consider myself blessed to have come across it years ago while browsing the internet. It struck a chord with me, and I hope it does with you. I share it with you because you have come across my page so maybe you are meant to find this.
Now, go-be, fish, swim back to your pond and teach your school with your otherworldly wisdom; how EVER did you find this stream??
without internet searching, after returning from discussing this poem over vino tinto i recite:
DESIDERATA
*** GO PLACIDLY AMIDST THE NOISE AND HASTE
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
as much as possible without surrender, be at peace with all persons...
speak your truth quietly and clearly...
YOU are a child of the universe, no less than the stars and the trees, YOU have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
...with all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. ***
Not everyone has seen or heard or read this poem. I consider myself blessed to have come across it years ago while browsing the internet. It struck a chord with me, and I hope it does with you. I share it with you because you have come across my page so maybe you are meant to find this.
Now, go-be, fish, swim back to your pond and teach your school with your otherworldly wisdom; how EVER did you find this stream??
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Return of the Zmick
ZMICK.rage.life.
"smoke whisky!"
and, "hella ya fuck ya!!"
Good return concert,
Always super high energy, crazy jam-outs that get progressively fasterrrrr
They are skilled musicians and carry a mean groove when they get funky
And it shows that you don't need words to feel progressions and messages.
Kinda weird ending tho for me. like, "knowing" lots of people but still feeling so alone
And where did my partner-in-crime go?? well, I go now, to not impress awkwardness on myself, or unintentionally on anyone else.
I guess I just showed up to dance. Did you?
Link is curled up in a ball on my lap
It's time to sleep.
"smoke whisky!"
and, "hella ya fuck ya!!"
Good return concert,
Always super high energy, crazy jam-outs that get progressively fasterrrrr
They are skilled musicians and carry a mean groove when they get funky
And it shows that you don't need words to feel progressions and messages.
Kinda weird ending tho for me. like, "knowing" lots of people but still feeling so alone
And where did my partner-in-crime go?? well, I go now, to not impress awkwardness on myself, or unintentionally on anyone else.
I guess I just showed up to dance. Did you?
Link is curled up in a ball on my lap
It's time to sleep.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
on takeoffs and taking it in
bye bye, baby! fly high and far away, into the future where maybe I'll see you, maybe in another realm of insanity and anonymity. maybe we'll just be blades of grass blowing in the wind by then, or maybe we'll land fairly squarely back on our flat field when I can see you again. grow wings, anonangel, and if you come back, tell me a tale that will be the envy of all men's ears.
Stomach that, Liver; die -- I jest!! try it in-testing; but keep an empty paper bag for that tan body -- we all got plane rides to catch.
Stomach that, Liver; die -- I jest!! try it in-testing; but keep an empty paper bag for that tan body -- we all got plane rides to catch.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
I Watched TV Today
Today, I watched Anderson Cooper reporting from Haiti due to the tragic earthquake last night. It was a terrible image, and terrible motions that transmit through the screen, that tell of fear and losing control over your own survival, overwhelmingness of the situation and of hundreds of bodies lying in the rubble. Hope for the situation to change but hopelessness that you have any power to change anything, except find alive souls and shout for others to help you get them out. And this will only last days, else the stuck undead will starve and thirst to death.
I hated this guy with his own dumb show, Olly, (it's "Saving History with Olly Steeds") who basically used a single religious question into a travel-around-the-world investigative journey that offends people with his ignorance along the way. Where is the holy ark, the ten commandments that God gave us, now residing?!? Who took it in the war 2500 years ago when some Jews escaped Jerusalem holding this priceless artifact? Did it even make it out? We'll never know! But in case it made it out, let's investigate how it would be possible (Of course it's possible!)
I hated this guy with his own dumb show, Olly, (it's "Saving History with Olly Steeds") who basically used a single religious question into a travel-around-the-world investigative journey that offends people with his ignorance along the way. Where is the holy ark, the ten commandments that God gave us, now residing?!? Who took it in the war 2500 years ago when some Jews escaped Jerusalem holding this priceless artifact? Did it even make it out? We'll never know! But in case it made it out, let's investigate how it would be possible (Of course it's possible!)
Is it possible to lug the 60 pound object through the tunnel to get past the old city's walls, and then to cross the desert with the Bedouins?? Then go down the Nile? Can you float on the river with the commandments? Can one do it? Can you then hike to this Ethiopian temple and find a dude to dedicate his life to guarding it? Well I'll try this all out and see! And yes, $100,000 later we discover that yes, indeed this is possible. Indeed a Jew or two could have smuggled the ten commandments themselves into Ethiopia, where it is now guarded by a single man in a fenced-in sanctuary who calls himself The Guardian. No modern-day security, sure. Sure it's there. "They didn't let me in with my camera? Then didn't let me in?!? What shit is this? I'm so disappointed I didn't get to see the holy grail of God's relationship with man, the ten commandments tablets. This trip is complete bollocks. We can't even see it through." -Pretty much what he said.
What a bunch of shit and a disrespecful man, this Englishman Olly. He brought his laptop out into the desert and went on it to look up some facts for us watching TV. So we watched him scroll some facts on his laptop. Meanwhile, the small children were gaping at his device, never having seen it before, not knowing what it does and not speaking his language. And I bet he spent more time on it off-camera instead of socializing and respecting the locals who were showing him around and helping him make this show... Who sacrificed a goat in the desert to feed the crew, and offered him the testicles. They were welcoming him, making him feel warm and at home and comfortable, helping him survive in the foreign desert he would inevitably die in, while he browses the internet! On his glorious 2008 silver Mac. Then he expresses his disappointment in not fulfilling all his questions and finding the answer. Find the answer, ha! And he didn't even have all his facts right! He kept referring to Jewish holy men as priests. What a BONER.
Ha! I just looked him up on google and found out this was the PREMIERE, January 13, thank God, I just hope it's his last show. It was terrible and a waste of my time, and all the travel money, emissions, andwasted breath of the interviewees. Sorry you thought your interview would be special on American TV. Not your fault this one was a flop. Olly, you seem like a stuck-up, selfish brat who can smooth-talk his way out of things but ran out of a vocabulary after more than a few sentences. Sorry man, get another job and this show needs to not make it.
What a bunch of shit and a disrespecful man, this Englishman Olly. He brought his laptop out into the desert and went on it to look up some facts for us watching TV. So we watched him scroll some facts on his laptop. Meanwhile, the small children were gaping at his device, never having seen it before, not knowing what it does and not speaking his language. And I bet he spent more time on it off-camera instead of socializing and respecting the locals who were showing him around and helping him make this show... Who sacrificed a goat in the desert to feed the crew, and offered him the testicles. They were welcoming him, making him feel warm and at home and comfortable, helping him survive in the foreign desert he would inevitably die in, while he browses the internet! On his glorious 2008 silver Mac. Then he expresses his disappointment in not fulfilling all his questions and finding the answer. Find the answer, ha! And he didn't even have all his facts right! He kept referring to Jewish holy men as priests. What a BONER.
Ha! I just looked him up on google and found out this was the PREMIERE, January 13, thank God, I just hope it's his last show. It was terrible and a waste of my time, and all the travel money, emissions, andwasted breath of the interviewees. Sorry you thought your interview would be special on American TV. Not your fault this one was a flop. Olly, you seem like a stuck-up, selfish brat who can smooth-talk his way out of things but ran out of a vocabulary after more than a few sentences. Sorry man, get another job and this show needs to not make it.
Zen and the Art of iPod Shuffling
Chit-chat with Tonyman this morn' --
Sometimes, your iPod or iTunes just know what to play, right? Doesn't this happen to you?? Or do you think it's all random chance?
Usually, you stock your music library with stuff you don't hate. Stuff you might want to give a chance if you had all the time in the world, but may not have time to get to. So, when random shuffle brings you a new song, maybe you should give it a more thorough listen... Have you really listened to and appreciated this song before? Now's the time! Your appley program chose it for you at this very time, so this is the very time. No better time than now. Listen.
Or, if you flat out don't like it, change it -- God! Don't let yourself listen to $hlt. I mean have some control!! Choose what you want to hear!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
jello!
At the office mid-afternoon and sooooooooo chilled out in this white sweater
things is groovin' and life is jello
you just don't want to let yourself slide too comfortably into the middle, you might not want to come out
(though it is padded and comfortable, and offers nourishment)
danced with devil a couple of times today
nothing too scary just bought McDs for lunch which is a poor health splurge impulse decision, and supported other larger corporations because of product convenience as well. FAIL
...and smoked a little herb, ON DUTY (gasp!)
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Today Was Supposed To Be
It's just another Thursday, concluding 2010's first week. Slow e-mail week, only document trading/sharing with my co-directors as always, editing and overseeing away! But what good good things I list here today on this list day:
- New table for office!!!!!!! Made sustainably with salvaged woodboards, 4 adjustable old and heavy iron rods, tea-stain finish... It's awesome! We have basically no furniture in this joint (just old desks and chairs, bookshelf and file cabinet). I will look back upon this fondly. We started with nothing but our vision and dedication. Our office space and furniture has all been donated to us as starter capital, an easy donated investment, but they are tools with which we will build a great program in IL. We will build it here, and people around the state are already knocking at our door.
- Got two checks today and another belated birthday present in the mail, along with a farting musical card from my parents. I also drove in the 6-inch snow to meet my friend Rekha for lunch, and she brought a friend from Mumbai who had some crazy India train stories!! One had to do with cockroach-lined walls.
- Upon return, initiated a very necessary internal meeting on process organization and streamlining, the need to be detail-oriented for our expansion. I am still editing the verification checklist for us that will be a work in progress for some time...
- Exec Team Member forwarded a lead e-mail from someone majorly interested in our program, someone who could possibly disseminate it to multiple cities in the state easily............... ahhhhhhh!
- Finally spending a few extra hours properly and pretty efficiently editing and caring for the soon-to-be final product to give to one business in our program. As I should; I haven't spent enough time doing quality assurance. Be proud of your product and your baby, they take work.
- From text msgs this afternoon, a snippet: "...there's some nice fluffy snow here, don'tcha know dear. We're gonna be bombin hills and havin thrills tryin to protect our kosha dills..." Oh boy, playing outside... This entire pickle situation is so unkosher, you know?!
- AH! Funny. "Opposite Day" by Andrew Bird came on www.Pandora.com (Wow! first time in a while on there), which goes: "And Today Was Supposed To Be, Just Another Day..." It wasn't. Well, it was, in the sense of constant discovery and wonder, excitement of life and what I do in my job made of passion, and of the dynamics of the interface between happening events seemingly outside my control with my ever-changing self and interactions with my peers. Gahhh, am I writing a research paper?!?!
- The answer to that question is Yes. This is all research for those times that are gonna happen in the future when we hit big. Swing big and don't miss, player of the year. You've had more than 6 years of prep for this.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
OOH I HAVE NEW ROLLERBLADES THAT DIDGERIDOO BEN GAVE ME (another story) and it's sunny out. Git my @$$ movin'! It's so hard when I have a cute kitten cuddling on me though!