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Twitter

Filed under: life, unravelling — 4 Comments

April 14, 2009

I like to think twitter is a conversation between friends, even when it’s public. I had mine set to public rather than protected, otherwise my twitter widget on this blog and my facebook app which updates my status wouldn’t work.

I’m changing that now. (Er, shortly, after I post this and send a tweet out about it!)

I’d gotten used to restricting my tweets, I didn’t post anything I’d hate to have my mother or boss read, and felt that was enough. Sure I felt left out when my friends tweeted while we were at the… um the library on Saturday night. Yeah that’s it, there were a lot of GREAT books there. 😛 But that was my choice in editing what I put out forever into the internet for all to see.

Last night, I mindlessly tweeted about our new flat screen TV, and when a friend tweeted during a bodily function, I replied that I called that “twooping” – I’ve tweeted before about the immense amount of words in the “twictionary” which both amuse and horrify me, and my own creation fits right in there.

A while later I checked twitter again, and found two replies from people I don’t know.

The first was spam to sell me a wall mount for my TV.

The second was a user with the account name “Twooping” who retweeted my post for all their followers to see.

O.o

OK OK. I get that this is a new tool for marketing, and yeah that would involve targeting people who obviously can use your product, but it’s a little too “Minority Report” for me. And I think it was the combination of both within a short time, and the fact that well, twooping to me is best left for the bathroom and private jokes among friends, DEFINITELY not something I want someone to find when searching for me.

Yes I realize I post more here about twooping than ever, but it’s to explain my reason.

I’ve been walking the line between using twitter just personally for inside jokes and being a “public” persona on the internet, and it’s time to seperate the two.

So – feel free to send me a request. If we’ve met in person (and you aren’t my mother or boss) most likely I’ll approve it.

Facebook fans, I won’t be updating my status nearly as much, you may want to follow my blog/twitter more, and I’m much easier to reach via email than by messages on FB.

And now I’m totally expecting one of these for my birthday. *sigh*

——————————————————————————————–

On an entirely different note, I registered for the Unravelling e-course today! WHEE!!! I’ll post lots of blogs here for it, as we will have writing and photography exercises. Starts May 4.

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Easter Update

Filed under: life — Leave a comment

April 13, 2009

Happy Easter (belated), Passover, Ostara, day of chocolate and sugar, or whatever you celebrate! 😀

Just a quick note, been meaning to blog but time is flying by. I had off Friday, but got up at a reasonable hour and was on the go all day, yet didn’t get nearly enough done. But – easter baskets were made – really a first time doing this for family – my grandmother on my dad’s side passed since last easter, and I made baskets for my dad and cousins. I made one for Random as well, and instead of fresh flowers got the eggs with soils/seeds in them for Mom and grandma. Then I tried to make headway on the black hole of a bedroom, spending two hours cleaning and doing laundry, with not much to show for it. *shrug*

Friday night we went shopping at home depot, and Saturday (after a bridesmaid meetup for my cousin) we went to our friends’ house to work on my art project for Playa del Fuego. Got decent progress on it, but it’s not done (or even at painting stage. patience patience…) Had dinner with Mom’s side for easter and my step-dad’s birthday, and then went back to our friends for a night out at Pumps. Hey, drinks were cheap, and it kinda reminded me of PDF! 😛

Sunday was dinner with my dad’s side, cleaning out the attic there since my dad will be putting the house on the market this week. It is tough on us but at the same time, it’s no longer the same house as when Grandma Betty was here. I managed to get another of her crocheted afghans – in a fabulous tacky (as opposed to ugly tacky) blue and green pattern. I had really hoped to get another, since I only had one that she made me and it’s very pink/girly/flowery. She gave up crocheting a year or so before she passed because the chemo caused nerve damage in her hands, and she never got to make a “wedding” afghan for me like she did for my cousins. I was a little disappointed, and glad that I was able to grab another – the fact that it’s very funky and offbeat (in a way that works, in my world anyway) makes it better than one in ecru!

Soon I’ll be posting a blog on my new hobby – writing it properlike so it will take more time to assemble and use correct capitalization and all that fun grammar stuff 😛 but I wanted to drop a note while I could. Tonight, Random and I are looking for a new TV (as it’s getting old slapping this one to stop the image from flickering) so wish us the luck of the retail gods.

He is still looking for a car. (Small, good gas mileage, has character, $5k and under. Loves beetles and little hatchbacks.)

I have a friend in Millington NJ who is looking for a roommate. If you know anyone looking for a place to live, hit me up in email or something.

Me? Hating Mondays as usual, but work is not stressful today. Other than stressing over making a choice buying a TV tonight, I am doing absolutely awesome!! So of course when I have nothing to bitch about you see less of me 😛

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A Nonconformist Life

Filed under: life, photos, questions, quotes, random stuff — 4 Comments

April 2, 2009

Stormy Sky, just before hail, Clark Park, Philadelphia

“Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to
experience the world in the way they have been told to.”
-Alan Keightley

Read:

A Brief Guide to World Domination at the Art of Nonconformity. (There’s a PDF document that you can view or download on that page.)

Answer:

#1: What do you really want to get out of life?

#2: What can you offer the world that no one else can?

Feel free to share here.

I am still refining my answers. I read other people’s answers at the link above not to cheat but to help put it into words. (I seem to “know” things and have difficulty finding the words to express it, clearly and simply sometimes.)

#1:

Above all else, I want to be happy. This doesn’t mean I’ll never be mad or sad, but I want the general emotion/feeling of my life to be happiness.

I think that getting/maintaining this happiness (I think this past year has definitely been one of my happiest!) involves a balance of simple times at home (and quality time with friends/family) and adventurous travels.

I think that my ideal life would be similar to this person’s comment –

My dream is to enjoy useful, engaging, and lucrative work with the flexibility to live comfortably, give generously, travel regularly, sleep in, hang out, get fit, and cook (and eat) luxuriously until the end of my days.

Being any more concrete than this is difficult – I have many dreams, some of which are the kind that you always have as dreams, and some I do hope to actually do. I don’t have any career goals except one that I find fulfilling and supports me/my family and the things that bring us the most joy.

#2:

This is the hard one. Yeah I can wimp out and just say no one else has the same views/thoughts/whatever that I have, because yeah we are all special flowers. Whoop-de-do.

I don’t know what I am good at or what makes me unique. Because I’ve only ever been me, and can’t really judge without bias.

Some people think I’m brave/adventurous, for traveling abroad alone, for going to Burning Man, for spinning fire, things like that. But I know so many people that are way more adventurous than I am.

I know I have some talents/skills, but I feel like I’m more a jack-of-all-trades rather than excelling in any area.

The things that truly feel the most “me” – the most unique and self identifying traits… I don’t see those as things that I can offer the world, they are just my characteristics – not much different than the color of my hair or eyes.

I don’t know of anything I can offer that no one else can.

I know I care too much, do too little, can be way too selfish, battle with myself, usually am inspired more than inspiring others. I know I (sometimes) don’t let fear get in the way of new adventures, but the fear and the voices of the “shoulds” (parents/society/whatever) haunt me and sometimes win, and I’m not proud of that.

I know I don’t know all the answers, and can be gullible at times, but tend to stay neutral in arguments between friends because I can see valid points on each side. I try to be a peacemaker and avoid drama, but often at the cost of my own peace.

Maybe I’m hung up on the “uniqueness” of what I think this answer should be.

It may also be tied into some personal changes in thought that have morphed over the past year, and specifically around the election, on how I feel we can impact the world the most. And I’m not sure I’m ready to put that out in a public blog yet because it’s just too raw still and different from anything I really envisioned for my life. But you never know what the future holds, and whether that path will be mine or not….

Anyway. I invite you to think of your own answers, whether or not you share them here.

And – this is kind of a scary request (but let’s be adventurous)… What do YOU feel I have to offer the world that no one else can?

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Happiness, the “real world”, and X steps to your perfect life

Filed under: cool shit, life, random stuff, unravelling — 3 Comments

April 1, 2009

Here’s an interesting mash up of things on my mind today…

First- a concept I saw on Zen Habits, inspired by Gretchen at the Happiness Project…
Gretchen has 12, and Leo at Zen Habits has a zenly simple 4. How many do you have?

I have a lot, I’ll try to narrow it down to a few and get back to you on it.

I have to say, as much as I like Zen Habits, I find it frustrating that every post is “7 steps to a greener life”, “12 steps to organization”, “4 steps to less stress” (paraphrasing). Seriously, almost every post is a countdown in bullets of how you can improve your life. They are great ideas, and sure people can absorb a numbered/bullet list easier than skimming a blog entry – but because EACH entry is like this, skim is all I do… hmm…

Through the Happiness Project (which I love the concept behind and will be following this blog), I found the Art of Nonconformity. I’m linking to the recent blog post about the “Real world” – and not the MTV version – I think a lot of people who are like me will appreciate it.

Lastly, I am soooo excited to (hopefully) sign up as part of the Unravelling e-course. (British spelling :P) I got my tax refund and while I’ve spent more than I should (on iphone, jeans that won’t fall off my hips, and a few other fun things) I promised myself I would do this, not knowing it was going to be offered again so soon. It’s ok, there’s just enough money for it, and I just have a little less in my Burning Man fund – but it’s enough for airfare and expenses and I already have my ticket. I think this is just what I need to explore my photography and myself on a new level, and really explore what I want my photography to be in my life.

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What matters most

Filed under: life, photos, random stuff — 1 Comment

March 31, 2009

Photo by flickr user nitelynx, used under Creative Commons license. Click photo for link.

Lessons for and from my dear friends

Hold on to what matters most, what gives you strength to keep going.

Forget the petty differences and arguments.

The ones that weren’t so petty? Well, you don’t need to forget, but remember that they are human too and none of us are perfect. Listen to what matters in what they say and do next, not just their past actions.

Don’t judge others if you haven’t been in their situation. Even if you have, and they chose a different path, there’s no one right answer for everyone.

Don’t regret your past or your mistakes, it’s made you who you are today.

Right now, you are exactly where you are supposed to be. It won’t do any good to compare yourself to others, or schedules you had for your life.

Try to keep a sense of humor and adventure. It beats the alternative.

True friends/family will be there with you when times are roughest. If someone has let you down, either they are struggling as well, or maybe you are better off not relying on them.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or a hug.

Money is just that. None of us will starve or be homeless, as long as we have each other.

No matter who you are or what you do, you have changed someone’s life for the better just by being here.

Together we can make it through anything.

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We’ll all float on okay

Filed under: life, random stuff — Leave a comment

I’ve still been feeling a little bit of that blue funk that hit me before I got sick. I can’t put my finger on it. I’m fairly sure that if I didn’t have Random around, I would be in bed for a whole week with no sign of moving. (The realization yesterday, as I had a sick day, that my iphone really does everything and I didn’t even need to get to my computer does not help in this situation.)

I don’t have any huge stresses, but lots of little ones. Worries about the economy and friends who have lost jobs. Thinking I’m relatively secure from worrying about that for myself, and trying to stay positive, but knowing the unexpected could happen. Friends who have health problems/family health problems. While I am so concerned for them and how they are doing, the thought of someone losing their loved one does something to me deep down, which makes part of me want to push anyone that close to me away. (Doing my best to resist that.) And, enter guilt about not spending enough time with my family. Le sigh.

I think another thing bothering me is just the great unknown of the future. I have no idea in 1-2 years where we will be living, working, etc. (Yeah, at least the “we” is not an unknown, which is an awesome thing.) While the freedom and options of that excite me, I feel like I’ve been constantly waiting waiting waiting for change, out of indecision or based on external variables. And now, it’s not necessarily the time to be adventurous is it? I think regret that I didn’t do more to work towards where I want to be when I had more freedom (in terms of financial/job security) is bugging me. It’s one thing to blame myself, but now I feel trapped by the economy. Am I really, or would I be just as indecisive just without a scapegoat if the situation were different? I think the only difference is that I can point fingers at something other than myself.

What to do? I love the quote about how the cure for anything is saltwater: Tears, sweat, or the ocean. Well I’ve been teary enough in what feels like PMS overload some days. Hate exercise but trying to get back into hooping more. Weekends have been packed with car shopping and roadtrips for other commitments, so I don’t see any ocean time happening.

Usually I throw myself into a project. Already have one, Playa del Fuego and my art project for it. Easter weekend I need to make major progress on that.

Sunday we made it to our first conclave rehearsal. Random has a part in it, and so far I’m doing safety. I don’t feel like I’ve picked up my poi enough in the past 6 months to perform in it, and I’m not that skilled with a fire hoop yet. Safety meant having to attend less practices, but Random being chosen to do parts of the piece means more practices, so now I’m feeling a little jealous 😛 But it’s all good, I feel like I’m back in my stage crew roots – I like being behind the scenes.

The weather was wonderful and we enjoyed being in the park, but the rehearsal was cut short. I had been taking some photos of the first run at a formation so that those in it could see what it looks like, and we started watching the orange-ish sky and thunder rolling in. I took some pics just before it started hailing and everyone ran for their cars. I love moments like that, when the weather changes dramatically and it’s very exciting without being too life threatening.

Lest anyone thinks I’m miserable… I am happy. I know how blessed I am, and I am grateful for everything that I have. I feel bad for wanting something more/else on top of that. It’s just a bit of a funk and I do know it will pass (usually writing blogs like this is cathartic and helps it along). I think there are opposites within me battling it out – one wants a concrete plan on where life goes next, the other wants to just hang on the reins and ride. One wants to do more (do everything!), and one wants to do less and live more simply. Whenever I’m in this state I just crave balance of some sort….

So a little more rambly and self introspective than I usually get (on this public blog at least). And wordy – some days I wish I could be as succinct yet powerful as some people are in their blogs (like Jen Gray). Well it’s cheaper than therapy and you can click away at any time. 😛

And we’ll all float on okay.

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Sleepy Thursday

Filed under: hooping, random stuff — 2 Comments

March 26, 2009

I haven’t posted much lately about much other than schedules and cool stuff I come across… So get ready for stream of consciousness blogging today.
I’m more than a bit sleepy after a grey morning, and a late night hooping and playing rock band. As soon as our friends left, we both bought Spore for the iphone and played it a bit until we relaxed from rocking out enough to crash. (Thanks Elaina!)
Oh yeah. The iphone. I haz one. I thought I knew how cool it was, I’ve texted and looked up websites on my boyfriend’s. I thought I would never leave Verizon. But when I realized it was time for a new phone AND a new ipod, and my contract was up with Verizon, and I got a tax refund, it all fell into place. I’m thrilled to be able to listen to my music collection again. And the phone is not just cool. It’s so. freaking. amazing. I got more apps in one day than my love got in one year. (Highly recommend: the game Sway, and of course Spore – we got the paid version but there’s a lite free version too. We both have played Spore on the computer, and I even had it on my verizon phone, but it was NOTHING like the iphone one.)

It’s also redefining how I use twitter and such – I can now keep up with all the updates I subscribe to rather than only the most recent dozen or so. And it’s easier to tweet myself. I need to learn all these new tweet-isms, like the whole #followfriday and keyword stuff – it’s complicated and not all in one easy place. I just learned what RT is recently.

So what else? Oh yeah – it’s officially spring and I NOW realize I have indoor hooping space. In my laundry room for my complex. That pile of laundry I have? Now looks like hooping time. Of course it’s about to be nice outdoor hooping weather soon, but until then and on rainy days, it’s my rec room.

dryer isolations

(If anyone wants to come over just holler. There’s a low ceiling so limited over the head stuff, and not as good for poi, but nothing breakable really. easily fits 4 hoopers, possibly 6 if no one else is really doing laundry at the time :P)

What else?

I love my love. (I LOVE sharing every day of my life with him, and having new adventures! We had a great time hiking on Sunday and want to start geocaching. I know that our lives will never get boring! :D) I love our friends. I love rock band and my iphone. I’m tired but really happy today.

Weekend plans – Wine bottling (we took part in a make-your-own-barrel adventure, which we’ve missed every single step of except for this last one!) Friday night. Car shopping in south jersey Saturday. Fire conclave practice in Philly Sunday night. Hanging with friends in between the two. Monday is going to come wayyyyy too soon. Deep breath.

Oh – I blogged about Hollis? She’s back in the states, and showing AMAZING signs of progress. YAY! Check out the news here.

Link of the day – Le Love. The most recent post is a stray from the usual postings, but still a powerful site.

Have a fabulous day!!!

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Bring it!

Filed under: Burning Man, quotes, volunteer/charity, world injustices — 1 Comment

March 20, 2009

It’s hard sometimes to explain why Burning Man and regionals are a community, and not just festivals or scenes. I think this pledge challenge by Burners Without Borders goes a long way in explaining it.

I will assert myself and apply my myriad talents toward the achievement of radical self-reliance, uncompromising self-expression, immediate participation, and unlimited inclusion. Whether I do this through building community, advancing the arts, aiding disaster relief, gifting alternative energy, greening the planet, or some other means, I will be a badass from now on.

Will you bring it?

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Summer is a-coming!

Filed under: Burning Man, fun events, PDF, PEX — 2 Comments

March 19, 2009

Because Playa Del Fuego tickets are on sale this Saturday!

You all hear me talk about this all the time. Tickets are sold in two batches – the first will surely sell out fast, second, who knows… so be on time! If you have ANY questions, holler!

Playa del Fuego
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Burn
Odessa, Delaware
Memorial Day Weekend
May 21 – 25

playadelfuego.org/

The first tier of tickets will go on sale on March 21st at 12:00 noon. Please go to playadelfuego.org/ to verify your login before they go on sale! The second tier will go on sale on April 21st at 9:00 PM. Tier 2 will only stay open for 1 week to allow time for mailing and lost ticket procedure. There will be 1000 tickets available at $35 each. If any tickets are not sold before the second tier closes, the remaining tickets will be sold at the gate for $40, CASH ONLY. A reminder: minors must be accompanied by their legal guardians.

And you know what else??? This year, PEX is expanding their events to host a summer festival!! There is no way I’m missing this.
The Philadelphia Experiment Presents:
PEX Summer Festival 2009 – An Experiment in Joyful Self-Expression through Music and the Arts

July 3-5 2009

The PEX Summer Festival is a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional music and arts celebration! This will be a place for harmony amongst joyful adventurers in self-exploration. On July 4th weekend, we are looking forward to our largest collaborative effort to date in the gathering of like minds and compassionate spirits. We will be uniting for three days and nights of amazing music, art, education, dance, participatory shared experience and conscious connection on 200 acres of private land, just one hour south of Philadelphia.

Featuring:

200 Scenic Acres including a Spring-Fed Pond
Over 40 DJ’s, Live Bands & Performers
Olympic-Sized Swimming Pool w/ Daily Pool Parties
Dormitory Style Cabins w/ Showers & Toilets
4th of July Barbecue Before the Effigy Burn on Saturday
½ Mile of River Frontage
3 Sound Stages
Fire & Drum Circle
Labyrinth
Live Performance Art & Art Installations.
Outdoor Amphitheater
4,000 Square Foot Outdoor Pavilion
Basketball, Tennis & Volleyball Courts
Ropes Course
Canteen & Hot/Cold Beverage Bar
Lectures & Workshops Including Yoga, Aerial Silk, Fire Staff, Poi, & Capoeira
Meal Hall w/ Optional Standard, Vegetarian & Vegan Meal Plans Available
Therapy Sexploratorium
Tent & Car Camping
Free Drinking Water
Free & Secure Parking

Conveniently located one hour south of Philly.
(Only 45 minutes from Baltimore, 90 minutes from DC and 3 hours from NYC)

Tickets & Additional Information Available April 1st, 2009!

WWW.PEXSUMMERFESTIVAL.COM

All this planning going on – let me run down my calendar of events (for public events only) to share with you. Contact me for more info on any of them!

March:
21- PDF tickets on sale

April:
4 – Fundraiser in Philly for a women’s fire troupe – I wasn’t able to join because I already signed up to participate in the Burning Man conclave (fire performance), but will be trying to help out as much as I can. This fundraiser will have yoga and massages and lots of fun stuff going on!
20 – Second round of PDF tickets on sale
25 – Ag Field Day – Rutgers College spring festival, burners usually attend and hang out here for the day

May:
21-25 – PDF!!!! (and the 1 year anniversary for me and my love!)

June:
12-14 – Figment – Free arts festival at Governor’s Island, NYC
19-22 – Wildfire – Fire arts retreat in CT. Usually sold out in advance, but you may snag tickets closer to the event. I’m not going this time.

July:
3-5 – PEX summer festival!

August:
31-Sept 7 – Burning Man

October:
8-12 – Fall PDF

Yeah, I’m kinda overwhelmed already, and there’s things like weddings and such not even listed that are on our schedule. But I’m also REALLY excited about all this! Our theme camp for PDF is looking hawt, I’m hoping to help out more with PEX and maybe Figment this year, would love a chance to work on some large scale artwork but not sure if that will happen (I swear I’m gonna learn to weld! :P), and Random and I are safeties/possible minor parts in the conclave fire performance for Burning Man. Once it all starts, it’s a lot of fun, I just have to not freak out about how we’ll fit in everything we want to do. What’s meant to happen will happen. 😀

Tags: Burning Man, fun events, PDF, PEX, summer craziness

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Inspiration

Filed under: cool shit, life — 2 Comments

March 12, 2009

Sun is shining, not sure how much it’s helping but it’s definitely not hurting. I want to share some recent inspirational finds…

Ink on my fingers – a blog about combination of decorating, art, life, creativity… heartfelt and peaceful are the words that come to mind first. (I can’t wait to try to join her e-course in May!)

She pointed readers to this blog just now, and with once glance I’m hooked and ready to book a flight. Little Brown Pen moved her family to Paris.

Photo by Little Brown Pen

There’s so much in her photography that you just CAN’T find in the states. I want to sit at one of those tables and have french bread/pastries. I miss England, Paris, Belgium. I miss traveling and seeing things so much older than our oldest cities. There’s so much more of Europe to see. Le sigh.

And someone I’m honored to have as a friend, the inimitable Victoria Skydancer has released her CD!!! 😀 I may have been the first to place an order…

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