You don't have to run to know what resistance feels like
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Doughnut Tears




Yesterday, evening my body was finally able to release a lot of the stress and tension it has been holding inside for too long. I cried. I cried for many things, for joy and pain and change. Interestingly enough the tear were not brought on by another traumatic event, or by hurting. They instead were caused by the thought of doughnuts. Most people do not know the level of love I have for doughnuts in my life, there are many stories that can be told about doughnuts and pastries and how I've lived with them over time. Yet the delicious fatty dough has not passed my pallet in more time that I am happy to admit. This is because they are filled with things that make me very sick.

Yesterday, Micheal decided that my allergy should not be tied directly into my health food habits, therefore he is making me doughnuts and crab ragoons. The thought of doughnuts sparked the different types of fillings and glazes, consuming my mind with fried sugary goodness. I began talking about the types I like and the different combination I go for, becoming more and more emotional in the process until my eyes were full of tears and I was sobbing in Michael's arms.

Somehow Doughnuts healed me, and allowed me to experience emotions that I was hiding far under the surface. I was able to process a lot that has been going on around me and let go of the things that needed to go.

I can not wait to bite into one of these doughnuts over the weekend.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

2010 Grinnell Monologue: Presented in Bob's Underground Cafe

My Path to Enlightenment


I was not a promiscuous girl. As a child I did not show my private parts to any of my playmates, nor did I desire to see any of theirs. I did not explore my own genitalia until a much older age than most report, and even so I did not feel throbs of eroticism until my mid-high school years. I did not know the term orgasm until I was thirteen, and I didn't have my first until nineteen. I may have been a late erotic bloomer, but I have not wasted time in my life. It seems every time I come into the g-mons forum I am enlightened in a different way than the time before. Or I am struggling with the intersections of my own sexuality, sensuality and situations. I am in a constant battle to understand the nature of my sexual condition.


I have long prescribed to serial monogamy, and the rapid turn around from one relationship to the next seeking an outlet for my sexual tension and a net of emotional security in a single other person. This led to a roller-coaster of emotions as I struggled to understand myself in the havoc of post relationship and then in the honeymoon phase of the next.

After many earth shattering breakups I have decided I am done with investing my whole self and all my pieces into one basket. Instead, I am discovering my own promiscuity, intellectual desire and pleasure surrounding sexual relationships, or what I will refer to here as erotic play.


I have begun to construction a series of interpersonal relationships that circle around each other, but do not dissect or disturb each other. Each one is conscious of the next, and the continuation requires a great depth of communication and understanding. I have been doing this semi-unconsciously, before the recent past, with my ex-boyfriend. He constitutes the outward most ring of relationships in my life. The situations is such that, we remain in distant communication and if we find ourselves in the same spacial area we are likely to have coffee and an afternoon frolic. This hasn't happened since fall break of my first year (before he joined the Marines and became a very different person), yet he remains a distant lover and a source of erotic play in my life. This relationship required a much smaller amount of energy to maintain that other points of erotic play, yet is no less satisfying or meaningful than the ones it orbits.


In order to understand and construct the remaining sources of erotic play in my life, it is important to understand that conditioned monogamy leaves little room for this type of promiscuity. There seems to be conflict between fucking and the rest of human activity. I believe that fucking or other erotic play is equally part of the human experience and the transition between them should be as fluid as the moving from a activity such as eating, to and activity such as studying. I define erotic play far outside the bounds of fucking, sucking and touching, though, because I derive erotic play from flirting and nonsexual relationships. These traditionally nonsexual encounters are included in the construction of circles, because I am creating connections and play that satisfy me in very different yet distinct ways. Before I began my pursuit of promiscuous circles, I sharply divided my romantic relationship from my less than romantic relationships. The inner most ring, was held for supreme sexual pursuit, usually monogamous, and the outer rings were only being utilized when the middle circle was vacant. The sexual circles that surround the base circle consist of single night hook-ups and lasting sexual relationships and well as flirtatious physical relationships which don't lead to fucking. These basic aspects travel over to my current model of relationship building with a very important addition, my own personal emotional understanding of these relationships and how they fulfill me and change me.


At anytime these relationships have the possibility to shift placement in the circles. A once close lover may slip into the further bounds of my circle, where I would only seek them out monthly or less than that, while someone who was less frequently a member of my life may come into a more consistent relationship with me. I am also open to the shift of a non-sexual flirtatious person into a physically driven source of erotic play, or visa-versa. I am in a place where I can accept this fluctuation openly and without hesitation, because I understand I am also shifting places in the life of those around me. I can now see the existence and fluidity of my primary partner and the rings which surround him/her/zer from my other sources of erotic play. I am also still able to find some sense of emotional security with a primary partner, without completely investing myself in that one person.


Emotional and physical security is a major tenant which leads erotic play into monogamous coupling, I am not trying to devalue the security we feel with one individual, instead I am urging for a different level of security with two, three or more individuals. There is a strong connection that two erotically sexual lovers have for each other. Two lovers create a level of comfort reached through erotic play that can be healthy and satisfying, yet when we start to define ourselves through these relationship it can leading to coupling. Coupling is something I am now more hesitant to indulge in. This is because of the eventual fading and shifting of relationship in our lives. When I've placed too much value on one situation, I have been left hopeless when the erotic or emotional aspect of this person has left our life.


I still have individuals that I hold closer than others both physically and emotionally, but I am Choosint to define each relationship separately. I'd also like to make clear that I am not simply fucking around, in fact I am in drastically fewer sexual situations than is normal for me when outside of a monogamous relationship.


Finally, I do not subscribe to indiscriminate and evasive coupling, that promiscuity normally get's a bad name for. Instead, I am excited by the idea of progressing and exploring new bodies both physically and intellectually. I hope to have found yet another plane of sexual enlightenment which I hope will lead to working interpersonal relationships. This existence is teaching me a lot about myself, my sensuality and my sexuality. I've learned about attachment and jealously towards others. I've also worked on healthy communication and relationships. In my new system, I do not have a claim on any of the individuals in my life, and they do not have a claim on me so I am free to explore what feels good in the moment. Without the huge emotional lose of self if something goes wrong or changed in these relationships.


Next time I enter this forum I may be monogamous, celibate, or further liberated from those bounds, never-the-less I have no choice but to understand these changes as the nature of my sexual condition. This is my current path – my path to enlightened promiscuity.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

The Long Dark Winter is Over

This is a picture of where I have been doing my writing, when I am not in the coffee shop. I really like this space, and the way I work with the table, it's really zen. I can keep my books open for as long as I want and no one minds. Plus I have a constant supply of tea, coffee and of course water. The table has only been in my life since January, but I don't think life would be the same without it.

Alas! Spring is in the air and I have beat the winter blues. I am happy to say that I've kept up on my Spring cleaning through being a minimalist this year. I took it upon myself not to buy more things until having through each purchase through. This means I have not accumulated much over the school year, and I am very happy about that. I do need to spring clean my reseach tabs in zotero and my bookmarks, but this isn't a process I will be doing all at once.

Goals for April
1. Finish 5 short stories
2. submit to GoGo and The Grinnell review
3. buy a glass tea pot
4. Take and post 20 good pictures
5. get rid of everything I haven't used in over a year

p.s. next month is May!
only 2 months until I move into an apartment!

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Following each other's footsteps


This is a blog I've been meaning to write since January, and it was sparked because I realized just how much I learn from the people around me.

I was walking and needed to cross the street, however there was a huge pile of plowed snow between myself and the street. I was contemplating in my head how hard the pile was, wondering if I'd make it over when I noticed foot prints in the snow. They were headed just over the pile toward the street, right where I would have also decided to cross. In that moment I litterally followed in someone else's footsteps as I made my way safely over the snow.

Since that day I've been grateful for all the moments I can learn from others.
I soak up those around me, even my cat.


Someday I will probably follow in your footsteps, and you will follow in mine. We will go there together.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

First Mile

I am absolutely out of my mind, and yes it is contagious.

Recent Harvard Medical studies have shown that happiness is a virus that spreads through closs social networks, and friend groups. At the same time, habits spread the same way. Smoking, drinking, depression, and obesity are also found to spread through friend groups (luckily not as quickly and efficiently though.)

I have been infected by the workout bug. Although I am not completely happy right now in my life a lot has happened that continues to push me towards a grounded place. For example, today I left the warmth and comfort of the bunker to venture through treacherous winds and snow to work out at the gym. I have never been that person. The only reason I did so well at club sports, is because I was responsible for someone else. Doing something like exercise for myself, was never enough of a motivation

Recently though I was bitten by a very infectious bug, and I went crazy. Crazy enough to be doing a triathlon on May 1st 2010. (113 days from now). It is a Sprint Triathlon meaning 300yd swimming, 15 miles biking, ending in a 5K run. I have spent the last 4 days in the gym testing out all the parts of my body, to see where my strengths and weaknesses lie.

Today was my "chill" day and I went to the gym looking for only a light run and some push-ups. No lifting, or crazy feats of power and endurance. Once I got on the treadmill though I felt this overwhelming urge to disappear into my head and just move. I set the pace at 5.5 mph and went. After 1.7 miles I stoped for a couple sips of water then I just picked back up where I left off. I ended up running 3 miles in 32.47 minutes. I am very proud and impressed with myself, because it was a great pace and it still leaves a lot of room for me to improve. I was pushing it, but not struggling and the first 2 miles just happened without me thinking about them. I probably would have gotten through the 3rd better, had I not then set the goal to make it until 3 miles. Before that conscious decision, I was just running because it felt good and I was still able to.

I placed myself into a sort of meditation. It was amazing because even after the workout I was in a soft dream like state when walking back to my room. I was perfectly content with everything around me, and all that was and continues to be my life.
I was happy, and I haven't been that happy in a long time. I really hope that the gym and the roads continue to bring me great levels of happiness, because now that I've seen them again I am not keen on letting it go.
After the workout I came back to my room, showered, then did some body relaxation meditation.
Needless to say, I have never felt better in my life. My mind and body are so relaxed and ready to kick anyone's ass. Did I mention working out makes me really egotistic? It's sort of an awful trait to harbor, but I hope to work on it.

In Conclusion, my life was really shitty so I started working out and now I'm more excited than I have been in months for something.
Goal 1: May 1st 2010 Siouxperman Triathlon
Goal 2: Chicago Area Summer 5K (more information pending)
Goal 3: Oktoberfest 10K run, Marshalltown September 26 2010 (to qualify for the Boulder, Boulder I need another 10K race under my belt)
Goal 4: Hoffin'It 2010 5K with Kate Baumgartner, Grinnell Iowa
Goal 5: Boulder Boulder 10K, May 31 2011

These are the big things to look forward to in the coming months.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Family Matters

Last night we had a little break in the family dynamics which sent me and my broken little heart into a massive amount of tears. I've started to huge task of coming out to my family, instead of just being out to my mum. It has been a lot harder than you might think at first glance. My brother for example decided to make some strange comments that read transphobic and sexist. It was really hard for me to bear, because he's just a teenager who's grumpy already. I think they all just need some adjustment time. My grandfather was probably the worst though. He's a gay man, so I thought he would be the most supportive and helpful. Instead he told me that asking for the family to try and use gender neutral pronouns was me asking too much. He told me that! I tried to explain to him that gender neutral pronouns are the only thing I have. The only thing that allows me to express myself and the only thing that makes me feel comfortable. He still thought I was asking too much. I still cringe on the inside when I hear the she and her roll of of his tongue now.

It's been hard, and it's not about to get any easier. I have to sit down with my father and step mother. I have many younger siblings, and this is going to effect them sooner or later. I can't just come home fully passing as a boy and expect nothing to be different. It's hard for me, because there are so many people involved. Family is really important on both sides, my father's side for example can't believe I was home for over 24 hours before seeing my grandparents. I should have gone and seen them first thing out of bed on Saturday morning. No questions asked. How are things going to change when I come home as a boy. I think facial hair will be too much for many of them t handle, but will I shape myself for their comfort. I don't want to lose my family, I love hearing their stories and eating food and just being around all the general merriment. It is something I have had my entire life, and I know that it matters a lot.

I've decided that at least my future partner will not have to explain too much about me. I want to pass as a male, because being a genderqueer lawyer may not go over too well. I also love the idea of being a father someday. It makes that little pit in my stomach happy, and excited to grow up.

I am doing okay, and I didn't even have to cry today to get there!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

College

College
By N. Jameson


Hold on you're half where there
I've been living on this prayer
and stale bites of bagel

too many packets of tea
floating by like leafs
we don't want to consume
but we are required
by the rules of college life
we are governed through the academics
pessimistically writing and revising
sometimes we can't even edit ourselves
casual conversations become political,
correctness is lost to the spurs
and slurs of the drunken masses

using coffee cups as cameras
cleaning our glasses on tissues
we are poor and making it
working from the bottom
and making it
they didn't believe in the riot
but we brought it to them
over caffeinated yet apathetic
what are my fingers being used for
not sliding but gliding
over soft computer buttons
lost the taste of human skin

my apples are bruised
and so is my ego
tomorrow I will wake up
and fight another theoretical war

My thoughts on tears

Sometimes the only thing you can do is cry, and know everything will eventually be okay again. Pain is something that everyone feels and we all have to work it out.
I use tears to deal with a lot of situations. Stress and fear and sadness are the prime examples in my own life. I wish it were more acceptable to let tears flow, because for me they are very comforting. I like to feel my emotions, instead of pretending they are not there.


I will be okay, I just might cry a little before I am.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Reason #46 Why Nikki isn't ready for the real world

My white clothing is now light purple:

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Update on the state of my existance (1 of 1)

It is the end of my second year of college, and I have been through many ups and downs this year. I must say, I am happy to be leaving Grinnell for a while. I am getting a little itchy for an adventure. Also i have been exsiting on oatmeal and spouts and coffee for about a week and a half now. My stomach just doesn't really want much else. (except the Perkins we ate last night was delicious!)

I always like coming back to Grinnell, and inorder to come back you have to leave. This will be by far the easiest semester to leave behind. I've been emotionally and intellectually challenged, but I leave this year with no baggage. All my papers are done and turned in, and I am not in love or even like with someone to the extent that I will miss them everyday that I am gone. This is a nice shift for someone like me who live through emotions so heavily.

The past couple of days I have really enjoyed the rain on my window. I feel as though so much of the semester was washed away with the rain. It was clensing for me (although it was cold during block party!)

I get to spend the next week here without real tough responsibilities. Just a few hours in the mail room. It will be nice to decompress in a place that I love so much. Even if I was frustrated with being here all semester (and maybe all year). It will be good to spend my gap week here instead of in Kewanee (at least I know that!)

The only thing keeping me so optimistic about this choice is the chance that Haylie will be in Iowa city next Saturday. Of course, the rest of the family will be there too. Yet it is Haylie who I miss the most! (and Midnight, but she won't be coming to Iowa City!)

aahhhhhh, big sigh of relief
I've made it this far, I am only 2 years away from the BA gold!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

ruined for all others

There is a line in the movie P.S. I love you where on of the characters says something alone the lines of - I want to find a women and love her and use her up until she is ruined for all other men.

I never though a person could be ruined for all others unless something like death or tragedy struck them personally. Yesterday one of my friends was telling me about another one of my friends.
The story goes - boy meets boy and they fall for each other almost instantly. Both boys are gorgeous, it is almost hard to look at them together because they are so beautiful. His whole first year my friend dated this beautiful boy, until the summer between first and second year. The other boy was going abroad and they broke up. Since then it has been said my friend has been ruined for all other boys. This is because he has been unable to hold down a monogamous relationship since this breakup. (it has been almost 2 years for the boy)

Now this story sounds all to familiar to my own. I've had two actual relationships since ending things last summer with Erica. The first one I freaked out in and didn't really comprehend the entire time. I think the whole last part of my summer and first part of my semester was just lived in a blur of emotions and confusion. So I spent my first semester mostly indoors on weekends - when I did go out it was kind of a free for all and my friends couldn't control me sometimes. For example the cold day that I walked back to Loose 2nd in only my sports bra and jeans! Or the night of 80's where I ended up going home completely naked then spent hours talking with the kids on my floor (I was only in my bathrobe)

Needless to say when I started this semester with a girlfriend I though being monogamous would not be a problem. I'm not doomed by my past relationships! Yet, 80% of weekends I would get drunk then go and make out with 4-12 people before finding my girl. It was ridiculous, but I couldn't stop myself from doing it. It's no wonder that she broke up with me - I am surprised she put up with it for so long. The only problem I was faced with, was that she didn't ever tell me it upset her, or that I shouldn't do it. I would have only needed one scolding or upset look and I would have been done, it wouldn't have been worth it.

Now instead I think back to Anna and to Erica my only really significant relationships and I wonder if they did ruin me for others. Not permanently I hope, but for the present.

this goes on though, beyond the people I am hooking up with
I feel as though I have become bad at relationship and relating to people. This has been the case for about 2 years now. It is not normal for me to spend long periods of time in the same place, or continue back to that place. I almost never feel a draw from a particular space or time because of this it is easy for me to change my surroundings. I fear though that this is causing me to not form and harbor my relationships anymore. This is because I am often sure that I can look to the next space and the next time to make new friends and acquaintances. I don't want this to be my problem, or my life.

I've spent a lot of time at Grinnell and I keep coming back to this place. I am not sure anyone knows how hard it is for me to come back each time, I almost fear it. I fear getting stuck.
I am trying to keep in contact with my friends who are far away, but sometimes I don't think it is worth the effort anymore. I hate to think this way because I love all my really good friends from Grinnell, and I can't handle thinking about losing them.
My nomadic ways also make it hard for me to think abut going back to camp this summer. It will be one of the first times I've gone back to a place that I lived to do the same things again (other than Grinnell) and I am not sure how I am going to handle it.

To the reader, this may all seem strange and not like me at all. But this is the truth and I am working on understanding it still myself. I apologize for any choppy thoughts, or incomplete ideas. I will work on this in the next few days and weeks, and see if I can find more answers to my own questions.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

My thoughts

Currently my thoughts are certainly not worth you time as I have been in an emotional roller coaster. I've learned many a thing lately though.

1. Just because you like someone doesn't mean you are compatible
2. You can't blame just one, nor can you blame none
3. don't date virgins (okay this one's mean but It's true for me I'm sorry if I offend anyone)
4. I should be conceited some of the time - because I should always think that I am beautiful
5. crying is allowed
6. Death does make someone stronger
7. strep throat is super horrible
8. I need to run more
9. rats can be beautiful
10. relationships are for queers

[baumgar2][murphyge] I hope you read #10 and laugh
knowing the people you know - and know who would say that the most

11. Friends are good, I want to just be friends with all the people I know
(most of the people I know)
12. I make things hard for people
13. sometimes I am too honest
14. I don't see Mark Mercier enough
15. I'm not a bad academic writer
16. David Campbell has a heart, and cares about me with it (fatherly - maybe even grandfatherly)
17. I can play things Bach has written
18. I miss my long(ish) hair

Friday, February 20, 2009

Take it back NYU

They are finally getting press for all that they have been doing. The student group 'take back NYU' has been working for 2 years to get their demands heard. You can read all about it here:
http://takebacknyu.com/demands/

They want more disclosure and representation, especially on the Trustee Board.
They also want the college to send surplus supplies to the Islamic University of Gaza
and offer scholarships to 13 individuals annually from the Gaza Strip.
You take it back NYU! take it back!

Or you can read the Times article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/nyregion/19nyu.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=NYU&st=cse

Friday, February 6, 2009

Tribute to the Jamesons

Life is something to not take for granted it is like sunshine, completely transitional it is there and it is gone.
My grandfather is HIV positive and is quickly shifting into the AIDS stage if he has not already. My grandfather is a strong courageous beautiful person. I've always been inspired by him and have attempted to gather as many of his stories as possible. Most of what I want to do with the rest of my life is because of what I have learned from my grandfather. He always talks about how our generation will change the world, and will make all of his generation's dreams possible. Mostly he talks about queer issues, which he knows I do a lot of work on. He can't get enough of my stories and I can't get enough of his.

My grandfather's favorite drink is a Whiskey on the rocks or with Club Soda. He is a very very gay man, and whiskey is a "mans" drink. Today after doing some research I've decided to have a small whiskey drinking. I don't want to get drunk from it, but I want to honor this "manly" drink to it's full potential. I've been meaning to buy Jameson's Irish Whiskey for a long time now, and today just might be that day.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

All that we don't know

I do not know what today will mean for the rest of my life. This day will happen and change me and help me become who I am but in 60 years when I look back I will not remember this date specifically and will not know what it means to me.

I think it is important to remember that everyday is life changing, even if you are only changing an inch instead of a mile.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Queer as Fuck


I am sitting in my room with an open package of Hostess chocolate covered doughnuts(not vegan but I don't care right now!) to my left, and a jar of water to my right. The topic in my mind today, and everyday really is gender and my gendered self. With two looming conversations with my mother behind me (and an awkward conversation with my father), I think we have began to make some progress in understanding each other. I haven't mentioned things like pronouns or hormones with her because I know these things will only upset her, and I haven't made any decisions on this front yet.

At any rate, with so many more people questioning gender and identifying as queer I find myself back where I started years ago in my gender identity. Hell, not only are my gay and lesbian friends identifying as queers but I know straight girls and guys who take on this identity. It is not because they want to step down from their privileged seats in the straight world, but they fully believe they do not embody the identity they have had from childhood and have learned that even straight people can be queer. I fully agree with them and I honor there choice of identification, it just makes my own thoughts more complicated.

So, who am I!? I am someone who identifies as a genderqueer, or more frequently these days ambiguous. I find that if only for my own sake and for the further breaking down of gender I am in a position where some sort of identity clarification is necessary.

So what does ambiguous gender mean to me. Being ambiguous means 1) making a conscious decision on my presentation when in public and private, and making decisions on how to hold conversation, how to walk, what gaze I hold other individuals in, and so forth. 2) publicly announcing (not necessarily verbal) and being active in my gender expression. 3) understanding my gender expression is determined through traditional gender stereotypes such as skirts, or suspenders that I rarely merge or delude.

you can see that I almost always have gender in mind, even when I am not presenting myself to others. I constantly find myself studying individuals who fall more dominantly into the male or female sides of gender to learn cues and styles that are common or less common for each subtype. Although I am between genders, it is hard to live that in an overly gendered society therefore it is much easier to embody the stereotypical roles, sometimes even taking those roles to extremes in identities such as kings/queens.

You would think that will all of my thoughts on gender and with my identifying as an ambiguous person I would enter the movement with open arms. The truth of it is because I am rather femme I am not often take as an individual who completely has issues when it comes to public bathrooms, and who sometimes cringes at the pronouns people use when referring to [her]. My perceived gender is always female, and there is little I can do about that. It also doesn't help that I know I am not moving further into the tranny process because I am not looking to have a sex change. Although I am contemplating hormone usage I am staling that process because I don't want to include my mother and I still have small dreams of become a natural mother someday.

Also I am not 100% comfortable in my gender. Walking a mile in my own shoes is sometimes hard and I fall back into the femme lesbian identity more than I would like. Although I do not identify as a lesbian to anyone, I am perceived as one because I do partner exclusively with women. I understand that I am sending the world mixed messaged, but the world started it first! If you are as confused about genderqueer and gender ambiguity as you were when you first began reading, don't worry. You and I are not the only one's confused.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

The Laughing Zen

Feeling with all of your heart is part of the mindfulness of Buddhism. Laughing opens up a place in your heart that allows you to connect with yourself and others. My meditation and yoga have been brining me to laugh lately. And not only laugh but also sing at the top of my lungs. Truth is buried deep within oneself and I believe that laughing brings me closer to reality and the truth of reality, instead of being trapped within myself all of the time.

Although I do not follow the laughing Buddha as a Zen practitioner that form of the Buddha’s enlightenment is also very important. The laughing Buddha is a happy uplifting spirit that occurred almost directly before the enlightenment of the Buddha. Even in dying the Buddha was smiling, because he had full liberation from the world and the cycle.

Chanting during meditation and yoga is important to the opening of the spirit to enlightenment. I have been doing modern reading into different practices, and members of some communities are chanting song lyrics as part of normal practice. At first I thought this was strange, but then I thought that I don’t necessarily understand the chants that I use so what would be the difference if I was still opening myself up. Hence, I now chant love songs to myself as a regular practice my favorite chants include Stephen Speaks lyrics.

When I am not meditating and I hear a song that I have made into a chant, my spirits are uplifted and I am able to smile and even laugh at myself. My heart opens up and warmth spills out of me. I think taking myself back into reality has been the most influential step in my practice this far. I feel more complete and able to confront to world where I work and live. I am happy and laughing, like the Buddha.

Inspiration: http://www.youtube.com/user/sadienardini
Bon Jovi Chant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p54h6d_LYSo
OM: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUl-guIG0uU

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

3 Days of Christmas

My old German-Irish family does Christmas right with 3 days of festivities. That is enough to make even the happiest of holiday goers a bit drab. I am not sure how the Irish celebrate the holidays, but the Germans start off Christmas Eve by blocking off the living room so that the 'Christkind' can come in a spread his holiday magic. I remember that I sung songs and read stories to the living room door, because it was tradition.

My family doesn't do holidays that way, but Christmas Eve has always been for food and presents. Christmas day and the day after Christmas have always been for food and family and many stories. As the years have gone by, and my parents have gotten divorced we've shifted the holidays a little and now Christmas Eve is spent with one family, while Christmas day is spent with the other. And now the day after Christmas has become a dark day that is no longer talked about much.

This year is a little bit different. Christmas eve will be spent at my mum's house with food and gift exchanging and many a Christmas movie (I am sure). Then Christmas day will be spent with family and friends in Chicago, of course with lots of food. The day after Christmas will be spent at my dad's with my sisters and brothers and, of course, food.

The holidays have shifted a lot over the years, and I've never been one to like Christmas but I think this year gets a close to how Christmas was when I was little as any since my parents divorce. I hate to be all nostalgic about it, but I loved the good old traditional Christmas of my childhood. Even though I believe Christmas has become an excuse for consumerism and price raises, it is still a time for individuals to get together.

As I get older, I can't help but think when I have a family someday I am going to do this Christmas thing entirely different. But who knows, maybe I will have a tree and the three days of Christmas complete with the ham and beef. Or maybe I will have a great vegan holiday with meditation, incents and Buddha's birthday in mind. Or maybe after spending time in Africa I will decide that Kwanza is really the holiday for me.

Until then I wish everybody a happy and safe holiday, with much food and merriment.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Wicked little Town

I have been feeling really down and upset about my small town lately. It serves as a constant reminder that I have to keep my shit together and make it out of this place. Hedwig And The Angry Inch also helps me remember that I will make it out of this place, the lyrics are as follows.



Forgive me for I did not know
'cause I was just a boy
you were so much more

Than any god could ever plan
More than a woman or a man
now I understand
How much I took from you
That when everything starts breaking down
You take the pieces off the ground
And show this wicked town
Something beautiful and new

You think that luck has left you there
But maybe there's nothing
Up in the sky but air

And there's no mystical design
No cosmic lover preassigned
There's nothing you can find
That cannot be found
'cause, with all the changes you've been through
It seems the stranger's always you
Alone again in some new
Wicked little town

So when you've got no other choice
You know you can follow my voice
Through the dark turns and noise
Of this wicked little town
Oh, it's a wicked little town
Goodbye wicked little town

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

two worlds collide

I am torn between two identities. I realize, yes, it is too early to be making large life decision both my identities are very different and I don't think it is exactly possible to live one life with both being completely fufilled.

Identity one: see previous post. Is the idea that I want to do organic farming with the rest of my life. I would work towards sustained living and green practices. Possibly even living off the grid and having a huge rain catchment system.

Although this all sounds wonderful I have Identity two: my inner artist longs to create and live in an environment conducive to art. This typically means a city that has many networks, and possibilities to create. I am considering graduate school for Performance Studies, meaning it would be easy to start my career into the this world and identity - but I don't know if I am willing to live in a city, or suburbia for the rest of my life.

I know that I still have a lot of time to think about this - but really the issue is what should i do with my summers. Should I create and work on amazing theatre/performance art, or should I wwoof and learn organics.

So many options and possibilities - Maybe I will find a way to do both. I've heard of major urban gardening - mostly as service to communities so maybe that is where I am headed in life. something like growing power.

oh - today it is snowing... a lot!