Breakfast smoothies with my little sister, Alexis.
Life doesn’t get much better, does it?
My Baby Sis Comes To Visit!
Month: December 2008
B-sprouts!
‘Nuff said.
Bustin’ Out The Bean Soup
Time to brew another giant pot of tea and study for the GRE’s before heading to work. And all the while, I’ll be cooking up a delicious pot of spicy, garlicky bean soup. One of my favorites.
What’s that you say?
It’s foolish to try to study and cook at the same time?
Well, high-level multitasker though I am, I fully agree with you. My kitchen skills aren’t sharp enough yet to fix a meal while accomplishing some other significant job. (Unless the job is seduction; more on that later.) Continue reading
Laroy’s Tea
Lately I’ve come down with a bit of a winter bug. One of the pleasurable parts about being sick is that you get to guzzle tons of delicious liquids: orange juice, tea, water. (Yes, I count water as a delicious drink. Hydration: key to life. You heard it here first.)
My friend Laroy, from California, was generous enough to give me a recipe for a wellbetter tea, so I hopped across the street to the local grocery co-op, where I knew they’d stock oddities like rosehips and echinacea. In bulk. (Thank you, Cambridge MA.)
A crucial detail about this kind of tea, though, as Laroy explained to me, is that it’s not intended to make you well only when you’re ill. You’re supposed to drink it consistently. The philosophy behind preventive medicine and holistic health emphasizes strengthening our bodies in addition to killing disease. A rather alien concept to our typical aspirin-popping approach, especially since it means long-term, gradual results, not necessarily immediate relief.
If and when we finally socialize health care in the U.S., I hope we’ll be in for a major shift toward preventive medicine and wellness promotion. From the state’s perspective, it’s far easier to treat a population with a high wellness baseline. In the nutrition realm, I think we’re already beginning to see signs of a sea change with legislative efforts and the enormous popularity of writers like Michael Pollan. (Not that I fully agree with the dude. I’ll write specifically on Food[racism/feminism/economics/health/environmentalism] later on, maybe.)
But for many of us, myself included, learning to think of healthiness as an ongoing personal practice — not just the result of genetic luck or sporadic medical intervention — requires some major cognitive rewiring. It means focusing on protection and correction.
One thing’s certain: it helps when the tea tastes good. Thanks, Laroy!
Friends, Meet Allie Peck.
Part of my self-designed blogging rehab involves reworking the aspects of it that used to wear on me, and turning them into avenues for action I can get down with. F’rinstance: namedropping.
Like lots of other political bloggers, I used to drop names all over the place. It helped increase legitimacy and it gave me more sources to cite (and links to embed). Kind of like writing an academic paper.
These days, I don’t think that namedropping really does anybody much good. At least not anybody who spends most of their time off the Internet, and doesn’t need or want to keep track of a mess of data from the New York Times and its media derivatives. So instead, I’m trying something new: introductions.
A new environmental installation-based exhibit at L’KEG Gallery. Featuring fine art paintings and prints showcased vignette style within an encroaching forest installation, incorporating natural materials. Displaying work from up and coming Bay Area and Los Angeles artists:
Shannon Ingraham
Christine Monohan
Allie Peck
Jane G Pryor
ZOSOThe opening reception has a $5 donation fee, with wine, food, & music provided. Musical performances by Pastillas, Blue Jungle, PROTECT ME
In my mind, introductions serve three marvelous functions.
- Celebrating the lives and work of people I love
- Connecting friends with similar interests among different places
- Letting me make lists to explain the functions of introductions
And so, my very first introduction to y’all is my best friend growing up, Allie Peck. Allie is a tremendous artist living and working in L.A. The postcards above publicize an upcoming event that’ll be featuring her work, which tends to revolve around political themes (the Iraq War, feminism, environmentalism) in addition to being technically extraordinary. For those who’ve seen my various college bedrooms, the one art piece I have is a one-of-a-kind print of Allie’s:
So, friends, if you find yourself in L.A. and want to get linked up with a fabulous person in the movement-art world, think of this lady. I’d be happy to put y’all in touch. If you’re in La-la-land now, go see her stuff! And check out her beautiful blog, newly added to the ‘roll.
Happy Birthday, my love!
Nesting: 61 Bishop Allen Drive, 02139
We love our home.
Student, Teacher, Conference
Reconnected today with a friend from college. (Thanks, Facebook chat! Or “Face-chat?” Anyway.) Obi and I met when I was a senior, doing an orientation program for Harvard, and he was one of the wee li’l wide-eyed first-years in the program. Fourteen months later, he’s picked up a few things. Paraphrased:
Me: yeah, i needed to take some time to heal after graduation, lol
Obi: absolutely
it’s unfair
to get an education in an environment that doesn’t teach you what’s valuable to learn
Mm. Now who’s dispensing wisdom?
Hello, Again
Let the kloncking recommence.
Here’s to writing and sharing online, in moderation. Continue reading
Kloncke 