...speaking in public...

It is so nice to see everyone here tonight for our graduation.  I want to start with a big thank you to Ollie and everyone who helped make our month long CASA training possible, including the cateror.  When Ollie asked me to speak for 3-5 minutes tonight I immediatly thought the most appropriate topic for that time frame was how I believed we could change the world.

So now that I am on my soapbox and you are my relatively captive audience, here is how I believe we can change the world as CASA volunteers.

To begin I want to tell you what I see as broken in our world, which is an overwhelming sense of disconnection.  We all seek connection in the world, to eachother, to something larger than ourselve, to the earth.  In contrast a flesh eating bacteria in our communities is an inability to connect in any meaningful way.

In our work with casa we begin with the seed of simply helping a child, which we can then cultivate into our own increasing self awareness, and in time this will permiate the community around us naturally, as a change agent.

I see our work at its most basic level as fostering a small connection with a child.  We take that seed of helping a child, and we do it objectively, with no personal investment which I see as a relatively selfless act.  We all came here for a reason but I do believe it is a relatively selfless act.  However, from this selfless act we begin to help ourselves by learning about how we interact interpersonally, within our communities, and intrapersonally, when we learn to recognize our own internal reactions, judgements, and prejudices.  When we begin this process of self discovery we become more able to live a life where we can choose and make decisions rather than just react to situations.  Finally, this personal growth permiates our communities as we model our own growth and approach to life within our communy which can  in turn change the world.

To end I just want to say that I think it is so easy and at times it feels natural to ignore something ugly by simply turning away.  But we have all made a decision in volunteering for CASA to turn towards something ugly and try to change it.  The more that we make this decision to turn towards, the more those around us both cannot ignore what is happening (at least as easily) and may perhaps find their own courage or motivation to step up and make their own change in the world.

Thank you all for listening to how I think, as CASA volunteers, we will change the world.


 

Words by Lucy Delaney for Fulton County CASA Graduation November 17, 2010.

...oops...

Well I murdered my poor macbook.  So, while I get back onto my feet (buy another hard drive for it and get it installed and programmed) I may be a little tardy with my blogging, but rest assured that I am thinking up lots of fun things during this hiatus...but don't let your expectations get to high ;)  Any wizards out there know how to do date recovery???!

On the lighter side, it has been an amazing exercise in non-attachment, ugh non-attachment is hard.

See you all soon, and remember to give thanks today to whatever or whomever sets you afire...

...living with intention, ahimsa...

I wasn't raised with so much religious tradition or trappings, and for a long time I felt like I was missing something.  I think that religion gives folks something to hold on to, something to pass along and something to connect over; all of which is so important to us humans.  Over time I came to study and live a more spiritual lifestyle and it is truly my own belief that living in this wholesome loving way allows me to connect and grow in my own life.

I have recently begun reading a blog about living with intention and decided I would like to try to do at least one blog a month about this topic.  I thought I would start with the basic ethical framework of yoga, which is likely something that anyone with a spiritual or religious practice will recognize as a familiar concept with a different name.

The Yamas and Niyamas are the first two limbs of an eightfold path of Patanjali's yoga that outline a way of ethical living, and allow us to take hold of our life and make choices that lead us to greater fulfillment.  I am only going to touch on the first Yama today, Ahimsa, which is about nonviolence.  One way to look at this is by starting with how I can practice Ahimsa on the yoga mat, which for me is a small way for which to practice and observe things I want to take into the larger world with me.  On the mat I can practice non violence by not judging myself or my abilities, or perhaps not pushing myself to a point that is in fact not my growing edge but rather the edge of injury. In addition, if I notice this happening what is my own reaction to it?  Am I then going to judge myself harshly for judging myself harshly, or can I notice it, recognize the harmful nature of the thoughts, let it go and move on?

Off the mat this plays out in a similar way, I can try to notice my own judgment of myself, and others and step back from this place to a world of greater understanding.  Ahimsa certainly means more literally that I will not be involved in any bullying, or murderous rages, but it also means that I will try to watch what I say to people, and what implications my words as well as actions may carry.

Finally, as I think about this I am also brought back to the issue for me in my life of eating meat.  After 8 or so years of strict vegetarianism I have strayed to become what I once heard called and "opportunivore."  This is something I continue to struggle with in my  own mind, with guilt that I have trouble identifying as either neurotic or healthy (I am sure a good existentialist would say it is neither one or the other but both....hmmmm).

In short one way I will be attending to my goal of living this life with intention this month will be to practice Ahimsa, wanna join me?

The Samarya Center For Integrated Movement Therapy and Ashtanga Yoga

...Some New Mexico Eye-Candy...

Did I mention that I loved New Mexico?  I was just reminded of my trip when I talked to Mel last night.  She just graduated from her yoga teacher training program, which isn't an easy task!  Nice work Marsh-Melanie, or as Sean likes to say, "Dubin, Dubin, Turkey Reuben," thankfully Mel likes us enough to ignore our more annoying traits...  Here are some of my favorite shots of our travels...

Riding around Socorro with Mel, I am having some deja-vu though, if I already posted this it is just a double dose of fun for you...

How to best begin your day in Santa Fe??  Delicious chocolate cinnamon mocha with extra coffee... I am salivating as I type...

I almost brought one of these skulls home for Sean, but alas the chile's took up the last speck of space in my backpack!

We visited an amazing second hand store called Double Take where we tried on about a million pairs of cowboy boots each, Mel found some keepers, lucky gal.

I swear I will dress like this every single remaining day of my life if I can move to Santa Fe tomorrow...

Ghost Ranch, one of the places that inspired Georgia O'Keeffe.

The next few shots are from a walk we took at Ghost Ranch

I have to say though, as much as I loved New Mexico I really missed this...

And it was goood to come home.

...bring on the green chiles....

 Come on my green chile magic carpet ride...



Rosales Produce: Mel and I stopped here on our way to the airport and for ten dollars I bought two grocery bags filled with roasted green chiles.  Our eyes started to water on the way to the airport, it was as if we were sitting in the car with low-grade green chile pepperspray air fresheners.  They will still piping hot when I got to the airport when I packed them into my backpack.  My clothing still smells like fresh roasted green chiles.  At this point you may be wondering how many times I can possible type 'green chiles' in one blog post.  Well my friends you will just have to read on to find out...

Warehouse FULL of all kinds of peppers...

Like a rays of amazingness from the heavens...

Let the roasting begin!

I got one bag of Big Jim peppers and one bag of Sandia peppers.  I split the chiles with my friend Cindy (see below) when I got home and I froze my bounty.  I broke out four this evening and made a tasty Green Chile, Chicken Stew.  I followed that recipe with a few key changes due to ingredient malfunction.

Sandia Chiles!

 

YUM!!!

My Adaptation:

• 1 pound boneless chicken cut into 1/4-inch pieces
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups medium sized red potatoes cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 4 spicy sandia green chiles roasted, peeled, and diced.
• 2 Tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 1/4 cup whole kernel corn (fresh or frozen)
• 3 Tablespoon all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup garlic red pasta sauce (didn't have tomatoes!)
• Salt to taste

I pretty much followed the instructions, I just added everything and cooked it up, adding the corn at the tail end...

Green Chile Chicken Stew Steal This Recipe® step-by-step Instructions: 1. Heat vegetable oil in a pot.
2. Add flour and make into a roux for the stew base.
3. Wisk in chicken stock so no lumps form.
4. Add chicken, potatoes, garlic and green chile sauce.
5. Bring to a boil.
6. Simmer for 40-45 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and the chicken is cooked.
7. Add corn and bring back to a boil.
8. Season to taste and serve with warm flour tortillas.

More tasty green chile tips, check out Hatch Chile Heaven.

Wanna order them online??  Check out New Mexican Connection.

Oh, what is this picture doing here?  Hi Viva Cindy!

...abobalicious...

While in Santa Fe I actually saw an "adobe photo shop," that is right my friends a photo shop located in an classic adobe building... it made me laugh.  I also fell in love with all the adobe homes and I am ready to move, right now, to New Mexico.  Although if pushed I could find it in my heart to settle for Colorado... what a difficult life I lead.

Here is a short tour from my trip to the land of sun...

Mel and Gunter's sweet little home...

Love them, miss them, can't wait to live near them!

Local Adobe church

Church Plaza

Art Gallery in Santa Fe

Courtyard behind another gallery

I can't wait until this is my porch

I really enjoyed the turquoise window frames all over New Mexico... And now to some photos that I didn't take, to highlight some beautiful Adobe style...

A brief venture into my trip to Socorro NM... more to come, obviously I am having green chile and sopapilla dreams!

...Predator...

I went hunting yesterday....

I was ruthless, anything that batted their long lustrous lashes at me was slayed, bagged, and conquered.

Then I slung my conquests over my shoulder and dragged them home, exhaltant...

It was primal, satisfying, and exhilarating...  I am proud to say that I attained a good amount of work type cloths, as well as one of those ultra illusive amazing sequined racer back tank tops-ha!  Obviously (if you know me) I really was hunting... for the best value.  I was raised to be a good bargain hunter, and then after shopping with an ultra low budget for the Women's Education Project (my graduate assistantship at Antioch University Seattle working with homeless and formerly homeless women in metro Seattle) for two years these skills were honed into a fine art...

So I was thinking, while there are certainly things I am not good at, shopping for myself and others is not one of those things.  With the Christmas season approaching, here are some fun ideas for gifts:

UNDER $25

Preserve toothbrush subscription:  This may be more of a stocking stuffer... with an array of colors and bristle firmness (never though I would type that) each subscription order contains one Preserve Toothbrush which is delivered to your door every three months for one year (four toothbrushes total)... who actually remembers to replace their toothbrush??  I love this, and each toothbrush comes with a mail back pouch for your old toothbrush so they can recycle it!  $13 each.

Gear Candle holder:  Reclaimed iron gears, $6.95 each.

Austrian windproof lighter: $15

The Berry Good Scarf:  $14.99

Stanley flask:  $25

Ring Holder:  A few neat things happening here, but I am highlighting the branch jewelry holder, $7.95

Alphacritter Mousepad:  $12

Voluspa Candle:  These smell diiiivine.... $18

Recycled windshield glasses:  did you know anything like this existed??  $22.

Insulated animal mug:  $18

Iittala krouvi beer mug:  $23.95 for a set of four!  I bought these for Sean so maybe I am partial but these are great.


Anywhoooo... here are some ideas... I will be on the prowl and will share anything fantastic that I find... Happy hunting!