An Awakening

An interesting way to begin the new year is to kind of reflect on yourself for a little (as if banging ones head on a door and almost giving yourself a concussion isnt a way to bang in the new year) . So it comes with a little bi of de-ja-vu that last sunday, on an unusually warm winter day, I took a bike ride.... What made it so unusual was I ended up at Haines Point, and The Awakening Statue.

Its been about a year & a half since I last saw it, and was just as impressed with it back then as now. So it is sad to find out that it was bought and bieng shipped to the National Harbor shortly. Kind of an eye opener. (pics here).

Which, as cheesy as sometimes as it sounds brings me to all these self help things you see around the bookshelves and so forth. In general these places & books charge alot for simple advice that in most cases dont "catch". Most of us, as adults, have a pretty ingrained personality & quirks. None of these things are going to transform you overnight unless it comes with a shocking life experience. It comes from within.

My sister many years ago, paid for me to go to "The Landmark Forum". Sure it was an eye opening experience (but then I also remember it for meeting this girl from greece that I was infatuated just as much). Sure it had a great message. But was it worth THREE days and a quarter grand spent?! No not really. And if I had done my homework on it.... I would have been somewhat disturbed at its origins. So in general I really do not trust those venues.

But yet the one book I have gone back to over the last four years - The Four Agreements - is just that type of book. Maybe though that I keep going back to it is a sign that it is different. I reread it in January each year - a simple book that puports to be "Toltec Wisdom". I pay no attention to that... ok maybe I do - because the 4 agreements are pretty basic (but hard to follow religiously):

1. Be Impeccable with your word - Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.


2. Don't take anything personally -Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.


3. Don't make assumptions - Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreements, you can completely transform your life.


4. Always do your best - Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

But the thing I always found most fascinating is the introduction of the Toltec mythology & the "Dream of Planet"

The Toltecs teach us that we are living in a dream and there is nothing really solid about that dream. We can say that the human body is made for perception, and the human mind is made to dream. We each dream our personal dream of "reality," and we all dream together to create the “dream of the planet." The function of the human dream is to prepare the new humans by "domesticating" them and making them part of the human organ, so that our evolution continues.

So our upbringing is is deteremined by others (like Duh!) and society. And in this upbringing we make all these agreements taking on the view of our parents & society. Well - basically the need to unlearn all these thiings (our old agreements) and simplify to four. Its more complicated so I guess thats why theres a small book on it.

Maybe whenI finish that I can attemot to finish all the other books on my shelf sitting there unread; The History of Africa, Le Morte De Arthur, Collected works of Robert Frost, The Count of Monte Cristo..........

Thankfully it's.............

Why do we need a holiday to be thankful for things? Why not do it all the time. Well I guess we forget to appreciate so we seperate this day aside. Thanksgiving is becoming one of my favorite holidays because it is the last sanctitude away from commercialization. Sure it started off rather differently, but over the decades, it has become something better.

Examples of victims are: Halloween, Easter, Mothers Day, July 4th, Presidents Day, and the ever infamous Christmas. Thanksgiving is one of the **BIG** truly American Holiday. By "American" I don’t mean citizens versus non-citizens, immigrants versus non-immigrants, blacks vs. whites, vegetarians versus meat-eaters, doves versus hawks, Republicans versus Democrats, Native-Americans versus Non-Native Americans, or rich versus poor. I’m not talking about any of the myriad things that divide us as a nation. I’m talking about all of us – the 300 odd million of us that make up America.

Admittedly there are a few holidays that are not fully invaded, like Veterans Day (unlike its cousin Memorial Day), yet it is the harbinger of that aformentioned Christmas shopping frenzy of black friday and the chaos that ensues. We are also often forced to the altar of the food gods for this holiday, but it isnt that bad giving our money for a Traditional Harvest feast to the farmers of america, if it wasnt for those twin evils of High fructose corn syrup and Hydrogenated vegetable oils. But yet I digress.......

For 364 days each year we may focus on other priorities in our lives. We are simply asked to reflect on the things that we’re grateful for. We don’t have to drink green beer, send gifts, carve pumpkins, buy cars, or shoot off fireworks.

We are asked, simply, to be thankful. And to this I wish to just say to all my friends, family, loved ones for bieng you - through arguements and disagreements, Good Times and rough, sour patches or overenthusiam, complaints and compliments; I am glad for those in my life. And if I don't say it enough, or sometimes forget to stay in touch - then know it is in my heart; Thank You ... all of you, for everything.

I hope your Thanksgiving is one of just that.

A Nation of Purple

Ive been catching up on some of my politics as distasteful as it may be - but necessary to not be one of the sheeple. And distasteful it is when you hear some questions these candidates pander to and agree with. The one that prompted this latest posting was from one participant in a town hall who spoke of the "anger the average European Christian, native-born American feels when they see their country turning into a multicultural chaos Tower of Babel."
WOW! People believe that this is their nation? A European Christian nation? What about the Native Americans who were here before us? All the African Americans that were FORCIBLY brought here by all those "European Christians"? The Asians (and Irish) upon whose this nations railroads were built by? All the Hispanics we annexed (& bought) from Spain via Texas, California, New Mexico & Arizona? All the Creole people who make Louisiana such a unique State? The Inuit? etc. et. al......

We are lucky that sometimes the candidates sometimes have common sense and this particular questioner was quickly silenced by Mr. McCain with as sound "(he was) grateful to live in a nation that has been enriched by people coming to our nation from around the world." Can we get a great big Howard Dean "YEEEEHAAAAAH!" for standing up to that idiot and not pander! We are a not a nation made up of red states, blue states - but a combination of much more - both together and so much more - A nation of purple with a hue of every color in there!

So thus I continue to go about the ardours duty of going through each of the candidates stances on the issues, or lack thereof - as many just have blurbs with no real policy or details behind them. And yes, this is for both parties as unfortunately no one else has signed onto the WHIG party.
My ranking of the candidates on the issues is below - with one candidate on each side getting a slight boost due to some aspect that makes him stand out (personality and other intangibles)

Reps: 1- Huckabee; 2- McCain; 3- Guliani; 4- Hunter; 5- Romney; 6- Paul; 7- Thompson; 8- Tancredo
Dems- 1- Richardson; 2- Obama; 3- Gravel; 4- Biden; 5- Kucinich; 6- Edwards; 7- Clinton

My rankings on both sides actually came as a surprise, mind you I don't agree with all the issues of my top picks, and it was semi unscientific using this: http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm and of course the candidates sites themselves.

OK now onto the scary part: In one of the latest Defense bills passed I discovered this passage in the Defense Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2007 ; H.R. 5122 [109th Congress]:

Subtitle E - Defense Against Terrorism and Related Security Matters Section 1042 -
"Revises federal provisions allowing the President to utilize the Armed Forces in connection with interference with federal and state law to allow the President to employ the Armed Forces and National Guard in federal service to restore public order in cases of natural disaster, epidemic or other public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident, or domestic violence. "

WAIT!!!!!!!! This - if I understand it correctly (and I do) effectively makes the Posse Comitatus Act invalid!!! I'm fed up at this point at the growing powers of the Executive Branch - where is the backbone of Congress? Our voice - our freedoms don't mean a thing if we elect people who are just going to go with the flow and be walked all over. OK I'm not trying to sound all Conspiracy theory and all, but still its too much of a trend, the politics of fear are some of the worst ever..... (minor update: This is even better explained under the Insurrection Act of 1807 entry)


All I can think of is a quote by one of our founding fathers :


They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. — Benjamin Franklin

The Massing of the Sheeples... or not.

New Term for the following year: Sheeples.

Origin: mash up of Sheep and people

Definition: The masses of people who just follow because they are too engrossed in thier own lives and have no time to care (about our liberties, our country, etc.)

Ok so were all tired of listening about the presidential canidates, and we all have our favorites .... or not at all.

My Opinion - The system is broke - we have to major power brokers putting up 2 sets of opinions and nothing else. The sheep see two paths, and fail to see the other option - blazing a new path. I mean even when herding sheep there are certain some that decide to go astray.

So the powers that control the two ideologies - much like the sheperds or cowboys, go off and round up these unique thinkers and pen them up, thus ensuring we dont develop new ideas. And this happens in both parties.

I'm sick of it - sick of it all. Really I do believe the Brits are on to something - elections are called and you have 60 days to campaign... simple. We need to stop sending our canidates out looking for money - or just have every canidate run for Both parties primaries, like ... Stephen Colbert!

Yes as many of you know he announced his (mock) Canidacy. Thats awesome - now if he were really electable that would be even better! but how brilliant is the idea of no parties and just general primaries. Even better is the idea of no fundraising, canidates all get the same amount of money. Running a campaign is no longer a business (as it is now), everyone has an even platform to present thier views. Yeah it will never work out...

But who knows. As Ray says - we need to reform the Whig Party. So far there are 2 of us, who else is in??

Is Feng Shui for Rich People?

Well I finally got a decent portion of the new place somewhat organized and REALLY cleaned, and for those of you who know - that is one heck of a feat with my roomie. I mean it looks as good as it has in years. Beyond this point it will take putting half his stuff in a POD and organizing the multitude of CD's he has. Well all I can say is one step at a time - take a weekend here or there when he heads off to NYC, and I can adjust and throw out a little more junk each time!

Which brings me to the Feng Shui part. For the last year and a half - maybe two - I have owned the above book "Feng Shui for Everyday Living". And after looking at it various times thinking that it cant hurt(though never quite buying into it all) - I figure - who, in everyday life, has the money, time or space to do all this. I want a more clutter free home - but who has the space to hide all the stuff one hangs on to. Who has the ability to paint their apartment at whim whatever color they choose - or plop down money to get furniture like they show in the books and all those web sites. We all work for a living and have a dozen other more pressing demands for our money. Who can really afford Feng Shui??

Me I'll take my small victory in a clean house and a little more free walking space where I can get it (My small victory is pictured below).

Addendum: Two days later.... the place is a disaster again: Bags of produce, bottles of Bacardi & Tanqueray, clothes and the kitchen **Sigh**. I have a strong feeling that this is a Felix & Oscar situation.

What I Did This Summer

A.K.A. DO I Know What I Did This Summer......


Much like in grade school when your teacher would make you do a show & tell of your summertime antics, its time to reflect back on the season. Admittedly I didnt go anywhere MEGA interesting like Africa or as remote as Minneapolis, become a hardcore mountain-biking athlete, or have a major life event this summer, but events over the last few months have definately had (I think) profound effects on me that I am still not so sure about myself.

Yes I know many of you are thinking that summer was over a while ago, but remember my perspective growing up in South Florida where it doesnt get cool until maybe November. So in the ever muddling of my life B.D.C. and A.D.C. (before and after moving to D.C.), I attempt to find a middle ground. And thus it has been this summer - where is MY middle ground?

A month ago I started thinking of this with an unfinished post that went like this:

"A Tough Pill To Swallow

Its been a hard week the one after my birthday. I guess I wrangle with a few things on this page everytime I open it. Mainly how much of my personal life is too much for this very (potentially) public blog. I mean its not like I have drunken nights full of debauchery and I am not writing about college style exploits here."

Why I never finished that - well I am not sure if I am ready to share that, but I was feeling in a very low place, and feeling very confused about many things (even possibly a little betrayed), plus I am positive I made some bad choices also. But it did get me on the track to thinking - even if the thoughts have barely left the train station yet.

But I have been trying to think what defines the middle ground - my standards - someone else's?

Examples:


- Most people my age are generally married - and getting on with that stage of thier lives. Am I ready for that? Who knows (I thought I was 2 yrs ago). So its either single, coupled or married

- How does your job define your middle ground? satifaction vs compensation...

- Friends and Family time....

- Bieng a giver and bieng a taker: This is a tough one - really. I have always been a giver, constantly putting other peoples needs over my own. But I look back and I consider how much is too much (and I am not just talking about monetary/physical things). In many ways I have given of myself, let others take credit, and (yes as strangely as it seems) stood in the background, just about always refusing help from others.

But something has changed - I'm not sure I like the difference it has manifested - I feel dirty when I take (I mean I have never asked for help in moving, yet always help everyone else). I "think" I try to balance it now, but then guilt sets in, especially with my friends and family.

So how much is too much? I dont know - it's just one of the cars on that train thats just leaving the station. One thing that I know... one area that I still give, give, give - is the romance department - but thats a total failure. Seems that I overinvest in those I am interested in, then of course Viola- my heart hurts to no avail. Gosh am I stupid for letting these things happen.

Someone please give me a freaking clue cause I have none.....

Which brings me to all these pictures - and something touched upon before on an earlier post. Once again hounding me is the same general thoughts - its just this time it has catchy initials: WDYDWYD and is a two edged sword into my soul. Why Do You Do What You Do? is a pretty simple concept, in describing yourself in simple terms. Then I see this second picture.... same initials, and cuts into the deep of it.

Coupled with the pictures here as just a sample, it is a powerful question in its simplicity. I have been looking at them and pondering since I saw them from my variuos friends who went to Burning Man. It's impact strengthens that questioning I have been doing lately. But for now - its a different post .....


To be Continued.........

Do YOUR Thing!

That is a loaded statement or proclamation, or however you take it. It can get lost in the median of a very interesting documentary, despite it being part of its central focus. In 10MPH; Seattle to Boston in 100 Days you dont expect it as a theme, yet it subtly throws it in your face. Overtly the film is simple Segway cross country trip... but in thier conception of what to do other than just show the segway - they stop to get a nice slice of Americana that hasnt been seen since Charles Kuralt. Ok not as well done as Charley, well okay - but still, much better than what most have done for a while in documenting this stuff.

So out go the filmmakers Hunter Weeks and Josh Caldwell (both great guys who I got to meet and coincidentally friends of Jon's from College), on an uncertain journey and without bieng fully funded. They went out and did what they wanted to do (even if it was hair brained to us "normal" folk). But as they meet people throughout the country - thier take on it is: why are you doing what you are doing? They get a bunch of catch phrases from each person as "x''s thing, etc.

But what the film really gets in motion (in my mind) is are; you, me, anyone one of us doing our thing anymore? do we really have the realistic capacity to do that in todays modern world? And if we all did, who would do all the other things that the rest of everyone needs?

Of course it ultimately makes one question - are we happy doing what we are doing? How empowered are we to change that? Well give me a few months - my friend Dave just gave me a book called the Pathfinder... lets see where that path goes....

Random Musings... again

SO I got a little older . My birthday shares dates with William Jefferson Clinton (boo or cheer appropriately as you wish), along with National Aviation Day, and what apparently I thought was Penguin Awareness Day, but alas, I cant find the culprit website that told me that. Well nevertheless I had a penguin birthday cake.

Thanks to all the well wishers, to Megan & Stefanie (with me in the pic) for not one but TWO delicious cakes and to Carmel for taking some great photos !

So You Want to Start a Revolution

So, last night (Friday) I was invited at the very last minute to the SilverDocs Festival in Silver Spring. I had never heard of the movie Chicago 10. But I was not in the mood for a large crowd, and was informed of Dave Connelly’s Happy hour at RFD a bit to late.

The evening started off a little disappointed; great company with Jon, Darren & Ann at one of my favorite restaurant Cubano’s. Unfortunately I ordered the Masitas de Puerco, and this was the first time I have EVER been disappointed in the food there (luckily everyone else’s was very good, as usual). Surprisingly, we met up with Brandon, Candice & Kelly who had dragged the siblings to the Cubano’s on my recommendation from when I told her over the Memorial Day Weekend.

Anyway the whole point was to go see the Chicago 10, which as a minor aside should really be named the Chicago 8, and I still don’t get the number difference after looking up some of the history….

Basically in a nutshell, the movie depicts the events of the Democratic Convention of 1968, and the ensuing riots, and the trial that came after of 8 people who were charged with CONSPIRACY to incite riots across state lines, etc…. Now most people would think.. uughhh a documentary… and normally I am not one to shy away from them (former History Channel addict here). But this was definitely a new direction for this style of film.

The director Brett Morgen, uses no current interviews – instead he uses extensive archival footage to let the viewer experience the events as one might have during that time, albeit from the safety of your theatre seat and condensed (supposedly from over 700 hours of footage). He then interspaces that with the trial, depicted in rotoscope animation style, with actors reading/depicting from the transcripts. It is a VERY UNIQUE way of presenting a documentary for sure. Although the director says (he was present and supposedly said) that he leaves the viewers to make their own conclusions from the material, there is an obvious editing process. He was also trying to draw some parallels between the situation in Vietnam and Iraq with some eerie footage of LBJ saying almost the same as GWB, and thus sets a nice POV to make the actions somewhat contemporary.

It was also, it would so seem to me an obvious miscarriage of justice. How common is it to bind and gag a prisoner in the court for requesting the ability to represent himself? I was left stunned needless to say.

I think one of the thoughts that still definitely swirls in my head is our true ability to influence politics in this country as the protest in Chicago was meant to be. It seems that our influence as a people is minimal – contribute to this – contribute to that. Only rarely do I see what I figure is a politician who really listens to the people. Its all about political wrangling and money…… I feel saddened, and disheartened. I mean if you really try to start something, it might just destroy you. Even though I don’t particularly like her, look what the anti-war campaign did to Cindy Sheehan – and to what avail… the politicians in charge continue to “stay the course” (I’m not saying I have the right or wrong answer, just an observation here).

So do we do enough for our voices to be truly heard?

(For those of you wondering - the title was inspired by: 1- Obviously The Beatles Song - Revolution - lyrics here and coincidentally was released in November of the same year, recorded just before July also, and... ; 2 - Those idiots who try selling you the "Stop Bitching, Start A Revolution T-Shirt... What revolution are they starting? a commercial revolution?? pppppffffftttt!!!!!)

A Patchwork of Thoughts

As I make my way back home from Miami, I realize a few things:

• Despite having been home for so many years – Miami isn’t home anymore.

• 

• Yes I do speak my own language… well more like I constantly make up words that I think should exist…. So sue me…..

• Miami has changed so much – it feels crowded. It feels run down. Maybe its just the places I saw that were from my growing up, but much of the old Miami is gone – either overrun, replaced with something else, or dilapidating. I leave a bit saddened.

• I like Lighthouses...... (that's Bill Bags State Park & the Cape Florida Lighthouse, Miami's oldest structure in existence)
  

• I have never thought that much of South Florida has much character aside from certain areas (Coral Gables, my favorite; Coconut Grove, Miami Beach, Brickell, Little Havana, The Roads area, - snug in between the Grove /Brickell & Coral Gables).Its no different in Ft. Lauderdale or Boca Raton, but I will say that the resorts in Boca can be kick ass and yep- pretty romantic – even when you have some surly grackle (its like a lesser crow) interrupting you.

• Why haven’t I visited the Bahamas yet? They look soooo amazing from the sky. When you can see the underwater sand dunes from 25,000 feet up you know it has to be beautiful. Put that as an easy “must do” trip. I think I still have sailing the windward/leeward islands as a to do – but first I need to learn how to sail the big boats… putzing around in my old 14’ Laser sailboat isn’t the same thing.

• Left side of the plane – window seat… best seat in the house.

• Despite the above statement, Miami still looks gorgeous looking south as you take off. I remember the view from the Biltmore Hotel's 14^th floor many years ago when I was in the cigar lounge with my cousin. Yep the Best view.

• Clouds from above are cool, makes me think that it would be really cool to ride in a hurricane hunter airplane sometime…. Oh what a sight to see it in person from above – stick that on a to do list (now to figure out how to get on one!)

• Flying over the ocean…..I look down and see the light winds caress the surface, it looks like a patchwork, closely knit, thick yet delicately spaced… yet another of mother natures simple beauties….

I think that does it for now…..

My Own Personal Google Map

So off I go to my trip to Miami, and actually am writing (though posting it later) this as I fly at 40K feet over what I assume is Virginia (it could be the northern end of North Carolina) crossing into the Atlantic Ocean. But what really struck me was getting this perfect window seat for take off.

Now having flown so much in my life I love the feel of take off & landing. To top this off I realize I have the perfect take off view of D.C. as we head west. It ended up being this very cool overview of the city like scrolling along on Google maps or Google Earth. Oh! There’s the Capital & the Mall! Oh wait a great shot lining up with the Washington Memorial! Hey! It’s the Potomac River and look at the Woodley Park area there! Oh it’s the Beltway – Traffic seems light this afternoon. It’s the Mormon Temple and Silver Spring!! Yeah so that was cool!

Maybe I have always enjoyed flying because it’s the closest I figure I will ever get to being in outer space. It also ties in perfectly with my love of maps. Well it was just a thought… here are some pics I took.



L-R: Somewhere over NC ??
(update: after consulting Google Earth - that first is a view of
Cape Lookout, N.C. - see if you can spot the lighthouse)
- View of Miami Beach
- I-95 /SR 826 interchange in Miami



L-R: Miami isn't as green as many people might think
-The Miami River
-The Most insane Airport in the States
Below: The ORIGINAL One and Only Orange Bowl

Necessity will Make us all Forsworn

Last night I got to see Micheal Kahn's production of Love's Labour Lost - a little know play of the the Bard's. Having been a fan of the Bard for a long time, I used to think Much Ado About Nothing was amongst his wittiest plays put forth, but now I think Love's has surpassed that in my own personal standings. Now mind you I still think Hamlet is his masterpiece, closely followed by Othello and then Richard III for his dramatic works. But for the more light hearted were I had Much Ado ranking first.. with Twelfe Night and Mid-Summers in close 2nd & third, Love's is definitely now in first for that category!

It was a perfect evening for the annual Free for all production run that is put on by The Shakespeare Theater Company here in D.C. (Last year they did Pericles). Even better was the fact that before hand I joined a great group of friends for a picnic. Best way to spend a Friday evening - I could do this all my life - sunny afternoon - full moon at night for the play. By the time I went to sleep I could hear the sound of beautiful thunder lolling me to sleep... so nice.

But the play has some very neat themes - both visually and in its words. Kahn (you've gotta love a guy who has that last name!!! KHAAAAAAANN!!!!!!) sets the play in the 60's in an Indian kingdom of some type. So the set is vibrant as the colors just pop out at you, and even though they use the Bard's words - I love it that they need not be the same old Englishmen, Italians, etc that we normally see adapted. One reason I love Shakespeare is because of his universitality.

There are a few themes that were summed up nicely in the play, one being the title of the post. The other is somewhat related quote is : "Let us once lose our oaths to find ourselves,
Or else we lose ourselves to keep our oaths." It is an interesting concept and a question that can cut deep down, but that would take a dissertation of my thoughts here (versus a simple few paragraphs) and is in relation to a book I re-read occasionally called The Four Agreements. Of course there are themes aplenty about love, and how we hide and pursue it. How shallow and deep it can be etc...

I found this video clip which includes scenes from the original run of the production and also which talks about other themes in the play I find interesting - even if it is partially in a Hindi dialect - it was still good.

Even if its not Kahn's production of this play, I suggest seeing it of at all possible! This one though was especially fun, if anything - to see some of the Bard's sonnets - put to Rock n Roll and girls in Go-Go Boots!!!