3/4/12

Hina-Matsuri

March 3rd (yesterday) was Hina-Matsuri-- the doll's festival for girls in Japan. I don't know much about the customs associated with this festival, but our Japanese exchange student, Sayaka, was kind enough to gift me with these bunny-version hina dolls. In a note to me, she wrote: "People display a set of dolls and pray for the sound growth of girls in the family. Hina dolls wear ancient court costumes."


3/3/12

The Most Astounding Fact

I love Neil deGrasse Tyson almost as much as my son's namesake, Carl Sagan. Of course, Neil is still alive and kicking and putting out little gems of wonder like this one.


2/7/12

My Baby Turns 1!

Maybe this is a "who cares?" kinda thing, but I am stupid for my son, Sagan. I love his cute little face, always smiling. I love how brilliant he is. I love his toothless, drooly, glorious self and I am so happy to have been his mom for an entire year already. His sister and his Dad have really supported me with this new adventure into mommydom.

Sagan went to Greece with me.
Sagan went to China with me.
We breastfed the entire time.

He inspires me and helps me see myself as the sweet person I sometimes forget that I am.

My little boy turns 1 today!

1/31/12

On My Radar

I have a horrible habit of keeping five million tabs and windows open because I'm so worried I'll forget something. I am too haphazard to use Bookmarks for everything. When my mind is zipping along, I accumulate tabs like there's no tomorrow.

I want a fresh start tomorrow, so I'm going to post the links that are open in separate tabs.

Web Design related:

http://www.lenellemoise.com/
http://sharonbridgforth.com/s/
http://girlsguidetowebdesign.com/
http://www.godaddy.com
http://diythemes.com/ 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Storme+Webber&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
Google Search for "Storme Webber"


Anne Ortelee's Weekly Weather
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/anne-ortelee/2012/01/30/anne-ortelees-2011-weekly-weather

Seattle Arts
http://randomrediculus.blogspot.com/2011/09/fancy-mud.html
http://www.lefrenchword.com/Network_Solutions/Le_Frenchword.html

Second Sundays

BEFORE
It's technically Tuesday now that it's after midnight, but I wanted to take a note to spread the gospel of Second Sunday.

This weekend, with a sick baby, and not feeling so hot myself, I hit the rock bottom of my own personal exhaustion. Long story shorter, I decided that what my body and mind needed more than anything on Monday was a do-over. So in the midst of my depletion on Sunday, I decided that Monday was to be my Second Sunday.

Well, chile, t worked!!! After lazing about long enough for the hunger pangs to find me and move me from my prone posture, I fed myself and lept into a very content and productive day.

Here's what my day looked like:

AFTER
1. Take a shower while the baby naps.
2. Be inspired enough to cook dinner.
3. Have a after school chat and snack with my daughter.
4. Complete the burden of the laundry.
5. Reorganize my husband's chest of drawers.
6. Eat, cook, and keep the kitchen clean and sweep the floor.
7. Give baby a bath & read my daughter a bedtime story.
8. Vacuum the living room while doing lunges and listening to 80s music.
9. Avoid Facebook, email, even television.
10. Have a cup of tea outside and daydreaming about the Mumbai Tea.

On top of that I was present and engaged when both a friend and a family member needed my energy. I even entertained a surprise guest! All in all an excellent fresh start in time for February!

1/23/12

Gung Hei Fat Choy!

Ah, the year begins again! And right on time. I have been mired in self-doubt and needed another fresh start.

2012, Water Dragon Year
I asked my mother to help me and she did. In response to my question, she reminded me that I am ADVENTUROUS.

I needed to hear that!

Mumbai, India
She went on to explain that I don't have to see a payoff to take risks, although they are not taken without calculation. She described this tendency as a "spiritual deliberation," which I also thought was right on the money.

1/20/12

Something for Me

Haiku for Snow

More white today
the melting gave you a sound.
Open mouth, panting.


Haiku for Charcoal

Imagine me:
covered black with ashen hands
bending to the flames.


Haiku for Blood

This red is implied:
Like a man becoming fruit.
Stains held to the sky.

1/19/12

Profile: Chris Shaw

Christopher Shaw is a Seattle ceramic artist whose work includes sculpture and functional items. His functional work employs a combination of minimalist design principles and natural aesthetics. 

The sculptural work Chris produces serves as a laboratory for exploring abstract concepts. As a vehicle for intellectual exploration, Chris’s work addresses aesthetics, consciousness and environment.
Find out more at http://www.contemporaryclay.org/.



Update (2/7/12): It is so rare that we have 3 sunny days in a row in Seattle. Today, inspired by the translucent finery of Chris' ceramics, I took some photos outside. They don't do the work justice, but perhaps capture a hint of how beautiful his ceramic work is.






Profile: Angela Martinelli

Photo by Zac B.
Angela has been a dancer for 27 years, excelling in the art of ballet, modern, Afro-Haitian, West African, Bharatanatyam, contemporary, street funk and butoh. She is a certified yoga instructor through an Ashtanga/Iyengar blend. She has studied somatics with Sondra Fraliegh through ISMETA, and has traveled through Hawaii and New Zealand studying this work. Angela has participated in extensive dance, choreography and performance with such organizations as Plymouth State University's contemporary dance ensemble, Built on Stilits, Harvard University, University of Hawaii at Manoa's theatre and dance department, Luminz Performing Arts Center, Upside Down Dance, and Danse Perdue.

Her background in study is global communications and american studies, focusing on race/class/gender issues and preservation of culture through the arts. Her main focus has been on the Harlem Renaissance, West African tribal customs and Native American hopi tradition. She has traveled extensively with her own anthropological study through Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the States, as well as the Caribbean. Butoh has allowed her to autonomize her skill in dance with somatics, as well as infuse the movement with African and modern technique.

Angela's more recent study and performance art has been with noise/experimental musicians such as Tom Swafford, Noise Poet Nobody, Rosalyn DeRoos and Hugh Keelan. She travels bicoastally, teaching workshops and performing in New England, NYC and the Northwest. Angela has researched dance therapeutics and psychodrama, with which she is still highly interested in. She is available for teaching, collaborating, performing and curating.

Bio text from www.angelamartinelli.net

1/18/12

Writer's Residencies

Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA)
Worth checking out! www.vcca.com


I'm not sure what it's like in the winter, but it's lovely in the summertime!