Aloha

Christmas in Hawaii.
December 19 through January 3.
Not much time for blogging.

And now for something inspirational

This video made me cry also.... but because it is so beautiful... watch for yourself then you'll know what I mean.

Is it Change?

Watching this video literally brought tears to my eyes. First off, its Oprah. Even if you don't like her politics, her show, her hair do, or whatever, you have got to respect her as a business woman. Seriously. She produces and distributes her own show, rather than just being on-air talent-- which means she maintains full artistic control. There's also her magazine... and her angel network and her reading club. OK so now you know, even though I never watch her show, and I don't even tape it, I am a fan. She's awe-some and inspiring. And I am a sap.

Then you have Barak Obama. He's pretty inspiring too. Watch for yourself.


But all this made me think. Did you know that only 56% of Americans who are eligible vote? That is an embarassing statistic. I realize it is a right, not an obligation, but how disrespectful is it to let our troops fight for us, to encourage our government to preach democracy, and then not even exercise or own rights?

We have free and fair elections (usually, unless you're in Chicago, in the old neighborhood, where your landlord's son is the block captain....) Polls are usually conveniently located in your own neighborhood, open from 7 am until 7 pm or so. Plenty of time before or after work to drop in and cast a vote. And there's even mail in voting. Yes, I realize it takes some time to study up on the issues. And believe you me, here in California there are plenty of issues! But in my opinion, that is part of the deal. If you don't like it... well there plenty of countries out there where the government makes all the decisions for you. I won't suggest you move, rather I would suggest you take a minute to think about that, and get thee to a voter registration booth!

Happy Chrismukkah Every One

My friend Tamar posted a great primer on Hanukkah, the festival of lights, over on her blog. I met Tamar in New York this past March when I went to the BlogHer conference.

You ever meet someone with whom you find a connection even though you live entirely different lives? Tamar was one of those people. One of the most fascinating things, for me, is the fact that she lives half the year in Israel... one thing that impresses me in reading her blog is how important her faith is to her, how it is interwoven into her life and not in an in-your-face kind of way. She is not a torah-thumper, but rather she just shares bits of her life and her faith happens to be a part of it. (most of my friends are heathens like me)

Anyway, if you've ever wondered about Hanukkah, read her post. Let's join her in eating "...oil-rich foods featuring potato pancakes and Hanukkah donuts called sufganiyot ....commemorating the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days."

And most importantly, let's all join her in "remembering all those children everywhere who desperately need light to shine on them" this holiday season.

If Only I Had Known

WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush will unveil a plan on Thursday aimed at slowing a wave of home loan foreclosures that has threatened to knock the U.S. economy into recession and rattled investors worldwide. ...MORE...

OK, now I am not so naive as to think that our president is out to save poor people from losing their homes, but rather INVESTORS and BANKS from losing their shirts, HOWEVER, had I known there would be a government bailout, perhaps I would have purchased a home I knew I could not afford.

Like many, especially here in Southern California, I've been watching the housing market absolutely skyrocket out of control. I've been wanting to buy my own place. I've been diligently saving money, only to watch the prices move even further out of reach. But wait! I could have qualified for a zero down, hundred percent financed interest only loan. But no, silly me opted to go the old fashioned route, and look for property and/or a mortgage I could afford. And I blew it. I'm still a renter.

How about you?

I'm just so honored to be nominated....

It's bullshit. I want to win. I'm tired of being nominated. Yeah, I said I didn't really care, that I was so honored to get invited in for an interview.... that I totally would understand if they had the single, non-soccer mom, non-property-owner, no tax deductions, north county coastal liberal perspective covered.

But I lied.

I lied to myself. I care. It sucks that I was rejected. Again.

I really wanted to be a part of the Citizen Voices project.

So sure, it was an honor to make it to Round 2, to be asked to submit additional writing samples. It was an honor to be asked to come in for an interview... to drive an hour out of my bubble to get stuck in traffic on the way home... to meet a bunch of really cool people and have a great conversation that we called an interview. But dammit, I'm disappointed.

So why not me?

My new friend Aaryn sent me a link to this:
http://elizabethgilbert.com/writing.htm

My sister said, "I know just how you feel, Jenn. When I was a dancer I was rejected all the time for lots of reasons which had nothing to do with my talent: not tall enough, not thin enough, not fat enough, not blonde... " reminding me that being in any creative endeavor, you need to have a tough skin.

Not sure I have a tough skin, but I do have a lot of awesome people cheering me on from the sidelines.
--

You're Invited

If you're in the San Diego area, you're a fan of spoken word art, you know me, you want to meet me, you want to meet great writers in San Diego, you already know me and haven't seen me in a while, or you have nothing else to do on the First Friday of December 2007..... then come to the San Diego Writers Ink First Friday Third Anniversary / CD Release Party!
DATE: Friday, December 7, 2007

The evening starts at 6 pm. Come early to get a good seat, mingle with fabulous writers and nosh on literary delicacies (that's good food with a fancy name).

Readings start at 7 pm.

If you'd like... bring three minutes of prose to share.

Giveaways --including a Sony Reader-- will be dispersed throughout the evening.

COST: Tickets only $5 at the door!

WHERE?

Swedenborgian Hall
4144 Campus Ave. San Diego

AND... to get you up to speed on the performances from the past year, order your BEST OF CD "First Friday: The CD of Year 3" supporting San Diego Writers, Ink.
--yeah, a little shameless plug there, I'm one of the best of....
-

Poetry or prose?

Notes of Rhapsody
in blue-green flow around me
lucid, fluid sharps and flats clarified by perfect Cs
round like pebbles
laying in the shadows
of leafy trees
along the waters edge.

KPBS Citizen Voices Project. Round 2

Yeah me! I made it through to Round 2, and the producer has asked for more writing samples.

Let me preface the next commentary with saying that 1. I love KPBS and 2. I welcome the opportunity to apply for the Citizen Voices project and 3. I have no idea how I would choose blogger/writers...

HOWEVER.

The email request has been weighing heavy on my brain for the last four days:

We've finished reviewing applicants and have narrowed it down to a very small group. You're in that group and we're requesting a bit more information to better understand everyone's political leanings. In no more than one sentence for each issue, let us know where you stand:


War in Iraq:

Immigration:

Health care:

Education:

Taxation:

Gun control:

Same-sex marriage:

Abortion:

Separation of Church/State:


In addition, we'd like to see more of your writing. Please respond (in 300 words or less) to this question:

If the presidential election were tomorrow, who would you vote for and why?

eeeeegads! The last assignment-- to sum up who you are, and your "unique perspective" in 500 words-- all of the sudden seems easy!

Issues like those listed above are far more complex than one sentence. I admit I stretched some of those answers as far as I could while still maintaining one, creatively long sentence. Hopefully that kind of creativity will count in my favor.

Anyway when I know more, I'll share.

On another note... through my blog, and my application for the Citizen Voices project I "met" Aaryn, writer of RubySoho blog. We compared notes via email, read each others submissions, commiserated over the fact that we were "going for it" even though it was scary, and wondered what other San Diego bloggers had applied... She didn't get into the narrowed down group. I'm bummed, as I'm sure she is as well. Do stop by her blog. Give her a read. She really is a good writer, and her posts and pics about her daughter are particularly fabulous.

I'm Better Out Loud!

My entry, Letters From Heaven, was selected for San Diego Writers, Ink Audio Anthology : Year 3.

Whew. After all the rejection I was feeling like maybe I am not a writer. But maybe, just maybe I am better out loud than on the page.

The coolest part is that we get to re-record our submission at the KPBS (public radio) station.

If you want a sneak peek, check out the September Stories over at the First Friday Prose website. If you want to hear me live and in person, come to the Third Anniversary Party for First Fridays on December 7th.

Needle Ninny

Been meaning to post this for a while.... my sister, like me, is not especially fond of needles. Unfortunately, since she has breast cancer, she's been forced to deal with a lot of needles. And she has gone one step further even, doing acupuncture, voluntarily even. I'll let her tell you in her own words:

http://video.nbcsandiego.com/player/?id=162500

sorry I couldn't find a way to embed the video here, but go ahead and click if you are 1. curious about my sister 2. interested in acupuncture and how it could help breast cancer survivors.

More random thoughts about The Fire

Tamar asked me in an email how I felt about Arnold's and W's response. I didn't really know how to answer. The governor has been here. A lot. The president is coming tomorrow. I guess its nice to not be the orphan stepchild of Los Angeles for a change, and I think it may be kind of exciting to see these folks close up and personal if you're in an evacuation center. Maybe it even makes you feel special, like The Government cares. I don't know. I see a lot of back slapping and everyone feeling proud of themselves for how coordinated we all are this time around. Not a lot of quality information coming out of these press conferences.

The reverse 911 calling worked. I got a call that said I should be prepared. I was. Thankfully I never got a follow up Mandatory Evacuation call. Our last big fire, Firestorm 2003 I think it was, caused the death of 15, and I don't know how many injured. Residents did not get out fast enough. Lots of people were caught unawares. This time they were being cautious. I'm ok with that. Better safe than sorry. Next time lets use the cell phone system. Lots of folks don't have land lines anymore. (those young whippersnappers)

It doesn't appear to be too chaotic here. I think we learned a lot from the Katrina as well as the Firestorm 2003. I suspect it won't be long before we forget. We'll rebuild on land that needs to burn to live. We'll rebuild where there is not enough water. SDGE will get their new powerline. And so it goes. Until the next fire.


MISCELLANEOUS NEWS VIA KPBS TWITTER:

Resource: people suffering with stress following the wildfires can contact the Orange Co Emergency Op Center hotline

Therapy first. Housing, clothing second. --Only in So Cal.

Walmart donated 1 million to the Red Cross today with $400,000 in supplies, Wells Fargo gave $500,000 and SAIC gave $100,000

Maybe Walmart isn't the evil empire.

Community members are looking for volunteers to help knit blankets for anyone that lost home

Aren't there some knitting bloggers out there?? email sandiegowildfireblankets@gmail.com to hook up (that's crochet talk for connect) with the folks looking for knitters

Relief Push at Qualcomm Includes Acupuncture, Massage, Comedy

hmmm. not sure about the acupuncture thing. Sort of like getting kicked when you're down? of course I'm a needle phobic so what do I know.

Items needed at Qualcomm: Diet soda, store bought socks and under garments, feminine products

Diet soda! Please, I neeeeeeeed a diet soda! and I need it now!

Fire Watch Continues

Even though I am at work, its all we're talking about. And now the fire fighters have set a back fire in Camp Pendleton to protect the nuclear plant and transmission lines.

A few random thoughts:

We are advised to conserve energy because a major transmission line is down. Funny. SDGE wants to build a new transmission line that is very controversial. Not that I think the fire is some sort of conspiracy to showcase the importance of the new Sun Rise Power Link but I do wonder about the urgency, especially in light (no pun intended) of our recent Enron-created power shortage.

I finally see a use for Twitter. KPBS is using twitter to create a sort of publicly accessible newswire. Much more useful than knowing that someone just picked his nose or tied her shoe.

Fire is scary.

Fire is beautiful.

Neighbors help neighbors. Local radio station 94.9 FM let KPBS use their signal to broadcast news when the KPBS tower was lost due to the fires. Thank you. I will make an effort now to listen more to FM 94.9 when I am in the mood for music. It doesn't hurt that they are already on my car presets and their music rocks.

Some advice if you DO evacuate your home. Leave your gate open. Apparently some folks may have lost their homes because fire fighters could not get past their security gates.

I'm glad I don't smoke anymore... not only would I still be a social outcast, and smell bad, I would have to be standing outside in this nasty air. yuck.

I have too much stuff. And most of it is not very important. How sad is that.

For a brief moment, I thought how liberating it would be to have everything burn. I said to my sister, "Just think, we wouldn't have to worry about what to do with all that stuff from Dad's condo." At first she said, "Jenn. Don't even THINK that." Then she admitted she had the same thought.

Thanks to everyone who has inquired about my health and safety either via email or via the blog. I"m fine. Debby is fine. Our homes are fine. All our stuff is fine. Kitties are fine. All in all Life is Good.

where there's hope

The voluntary evacuation order for my neighborhood has been lifted. Solana Beach is safe. For now. I didn't really think I would have to evacuate, or that Solana Beach would be in any real danger, but I was ready.

Sunday started out like any other Sunday. Or rather any one that I spend with my sister. We went out to the new Nordstroms Rack. She was looking for shoes. I think. And I just went to keep her company. We ended up at The Rack, and Lohmans too, and a quick stop in Ulta Beauty... and lunch, and the next thing I knew it was 5pm and I was exhausted. And a hundred dollars poorer! oh well. We had fun.

After dropping Debb off at her house, I continued on South from Encinitas to Solana Beach, driving south on El Camino Real, to where it turns into Manchester Ave to the I-5. As I turned the corner from El Camino, I turned right into a massive grey orange cloud bank. Visibility was lacking. I called my sister and said, "Do you have the news on? what is going on? it's like I'm driving into Armageddon."
"She didn't have the news on, I told her I would call her when I got home."

The drive home was eerie. Quiet and orange and hot. As I got closer to my house the visibility worsened. I was sure my house was on fire. But there were no fire trucks so that didn't really make any sense.

My roommate Susann was home when I returned and I said "WTF? is going on?" and she told me the fire was in Ramona. She had thanfully closed all the windows so the cinders were not in the house. much. Ramona is like 25 miles away. Inland. Waaaay inland. I know this because my friend Jill lived there until very very recently, and going to her house took hours. Ok, maybe only 45 minutes. But Ramona is OUT there. I used to have clients out there (when I did QuickBooks consulting) and I would make them pay a 3 hour minimum instead of the standard 2, because Ramona is OUT there!

ANYWAY. Watched some news. Had some dinner. Went to bed. Woke up at 6 am-- Thank you kitties-- and turned on the news... everything was burning. EVERYTHING. EVERYWHERE. The sky, the air was orange. Ashes were falling like snow.

Several calls with my sister later, I decided to start packing the car up just in case. It's amazing when you look at your stuff, and look at your VW Beetle, and realize that even with the back seat folded down flat, the car just really doesn't fit that much stuff. And what's important?

Me. Sister. Roommate. Kitties. Puppies. In that order. Fortunately I didn't need room for my sister or my roommate, or Chico (the chihuahua). But still, there's not much room in the trunk of a VW Beetle.

I opened my closets (yes I have several) and stared at the stacks of things on those top shelves, those shelves that when you first move into a place you wonder what you will need them for. I stared at the stacks, the cute pseudo milk crates from the container store that hold my hats, my purses, my ... um... can't really say what's in the other two. I scanned the suitcases, the arms from my office chair, the books that I have deemed not worthy to be showcased in my offical bookcase and wondered what the heck I need all this stuff for!

Then I moved onto the garage and stared at all the boxes of things, the china, the doll collection that was my mothers, the Christmas ornaments from my childhood, things I inherited from my grandparents... what it came down to was: family photos, the slides I have not yet digitized, the papers from my Dad's as yet unsettled estate, the green and yellow afghan my mother crocheted for me before she died, the jewelry-- even though much of it is costume it is of sentimental value, my journals so that when I become a famous writer and am dead there will be an archive of my work, some clothes, my dopkit, my favorite pillow, a blanket and a beach chair. Of course my laptop computer, with aforementioned great as of yet unpublished book on its hard drive. Because if I lost it all in a fire, I would need hope.

What would you take in an evacuation? what would you need to keep you going?

View Larger Map

kitties are more fun than Armageddon

I should be blogging about the fires. I could pick any one of the seven fires burning in San Diego County. Even the one that is marching towards my house. (We're on standby for evacuation right now here in Solana Beach) INSTEAD. I will share with you photos of my new kitties.
** note ** I tried to upload a video, but for some reason it does not work. I'll try later.

instead, here's a photo of Calliope. Muse of Epic Poetry.



and Clio. Muse of History.

Kitties Kitties and More Kitties

This is Cider. For now. She is 4 months old. She is mine. She is crazy. She is sweet. She wants to lick my nose at night. She is crazy.

This is Apple. For now. She is 4 months old. She has a moustache. She is mine. She is quiet. She is Cider's sister.

I wanted one. But when I found out they were sisters I couldn't break up a family.

They both need new names. I'm toying with Calliope and Clio (muses and sisters). If anyone has any famous sister names give me a holler.

More pictures coming soon. If they stay still long enough.

PS they are from Helen Woodward Animal Shelter. They are spayed already.

Did I forget to mention...

I just applied for a blogging gig. For KPBS radio/tv.

KPBS is recruiting bloggers for an election-based project called Citizen Voices. Six people will be selected to blog as "citizen journalists" for KPBS.org from January 2008 through November 2008. Selected applicants will be trained (beginning Nov. 2007) in journalistic ethics to maintain fair and accurate writing. Those selected will represent diverse perspectives (culture,life experience, gender, and geographic) and write about how election issues affect their lives and their communities. In addition to being published on KPBS.org, bloggers will periodically be featured on-air on KPBS Radio and TV..... continue reading about the Citizen Voices Project ->

As part of the application, they requested a cover letter (300-500 words) outlining your (my) experience, along with a professional resume and clips of any published work.

How in the world do you sum up who you are, and your "unique perspective" in 500 words. I didn't even get to MENTION the fact that I am writing a book. And that I have a cat that just died. And my sister has cancer.

It's so hard to know what to put in, and what to leave out.

I barely touched upon my political views. Or the fact that although I say I am left leaning I am so disgusted with the politicos on BOTH sides of the aisle, and that I am tired of the divisivness, and the personalization, and demonization within our own nation, and that I can say that in rhyme. Should I have mentioned my idea for mandatory political service by lottery? sort of a draft for congress? Or my uncle's idea to curtail lobbyist spending by moving the capitol to Boise... think about it.

At one point I had revealed that I'm an NPR-o-holic but I figured the convulsions said it better. Should I have written that I like long walks on sandy beaches at sunset, and I enjoy fine wine and foreign movies? nevermind. wrong ad.

The fact that I studied Spanish Linguistics is on my official resume, but it doesn't fess up that my Spanish gets really good after a couple shots of tequila. Or that I can say "Please pass the butter" in German.

And I didn't include the fact that I could PODCAST my blog posts, recording on my M-Audio digital recorder, and my fancy Beyer microphone (with XLR to 1/4" cable) and I can edit my own audio and lay in a music track, and ...

Oh well. It's done. I applied. A continuation of the year of Why Not Me.

So, dear readers-- all five of you-- I thought I would share my little essay. All about me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. And when you're done reading... we can talk about you. Just leave a comment and tell me what YOU think about me. Old joke, I know.

I am applying for the Citizen Voices project. My writing skills, experience as a blogger, passion for public radio and interest in politics would make me a great citizen journalist for KPBS. Of course I think my perspective is unique. I believe we all have more in common than not, politically, socially, and culturally. I do admit to leaning to the left but I strive to be fair, and to listen to all sides of an issue before I make a decision. Perhaps its my Libra rising. And perhaps that is my tongue in cheek salute to my California roots.

I scan the Union Tribune with my morning coffee and count on my commute to keep me up to date and ready to good-naturedly debate friends, family and co-workers. I drive to work listening to Morning Edition and on the way home I catch Marketplace. I nearly went into convulsions when I found out that I could subscribe to public radio podcasts with my new iPod. At work I'm known as Google Girl. I'm always the first to find information online. I know my way around the internet and even manage two blogs along with the company's MySpace presence.

As a Navy brat I lived all across the country from Washington DC to Hawaii though I rightfully call myself a California native. And,because my grandparents retired in Del Mar in 1972 the San Diego area has always been home. I spent my college years here, and except for a six-year stint in Chicago in the 90s, I've spent most of my adult life here as well, from La Mesa to Leucadia. I currently live in Solana
Beach.

Through San Diego Writers, Ink, I participate in the First Friday Prose open mic event each month. Over the last year I've gotten fairly comfortable performing in front of a microphone. My only television experience was in Argentina in 1993 as part of a Group Study Exchange Program sponsored by Rotary International. Our team
was big news throughout Patagonia and as one of the strongest Spanish speakers, I was often called upon to speak for the group. In Spanish.

I'd like to think my community is the global community, but the truth is I've cobbled together a rag tag group of middle-aged, middle income, mostly local friends from all walks of life: writers, artists, construction workers, real estate agents, computer geeks, accountants and flight attendants representing most of the middle of the political spectrum. We care about local, national and global issues, and sometimes dryer lint.

We all want the same things out of life, good health, a decent job, a nice place to live and to find fulfillment creatively, and spiritually.

My resume is attached, which includes a list of published articles and links to my various blogs. I am eager to learn more about the citizen voices project-- I'd love the opportunity to participate.

Regards,
JeSais

PS. I vote.

Of course I have 200 pages of unpublished, incomplete memoir that perhaps says it better, or more deeply than I would say on a blog. Or in a cover letter or a resume.

Who are any of us anyway?

Another Summer Gone

The idea of Endless Summer is nothing more than a dream, a wish maybe, from folks who live in places where it will soon be Autumn or Winter. In California, Southern California, the beginning of Summer is marked by the water, not the leaves on the trees or the smells on the air-- those change subtly, gently, quietly. But the water, cold most of the year, in summer can warm up to 75 degrees, and the leopard sharks come and the jelly fish flourish and its time to swim. It sometimes feels like it happens overnight. The end of summer is also marked by the water. What was one day 75 degrees, became 65 degrees over night.

I have a somewhat inconsistent tradition to meet up with my friend Karin, more frequently in the summer, to go to Blacks Beach in La Jolla. Most people know Black's beach because it is a known nude beach... It's one of my favorite beaches in all of San Diego county, not because its nude (I keep my swim suit on, by the way). I like it because it is a rigorous hike in and out, which keeps most people away. It is serene, and never crowded, and a good workout to walk back up that hill.



Walking down this hill (pictured above) or stopping on the way back up, you can hear the sea, a song on the canyon breeze, and for a moment you can forget that just a mile away is a freeway, and over a million people.

I love the ocean, the tangy smell, the way the water feels on your skin, the salty taste on your lips after you've come out and even the way your hair feels stiff and spongy when it dries with salt water in it.

I usually hang out in the shallow section and body surf or boogie board, but this summer for the first time, I swam with Karin to the bouy and back. It's way past the breakers, maybe 1/4 mile out by my guesstimate.

I was scared to go out that far. But I did it. And the next week I did it again. And I was looking forward to more, but now the water is cold again, and the air has taken on a crispy tint that tickles the back of my throat so I know its Fall. I'll have to wait until next summer.

busy busy busy

and a little depressed, but I don't want to talk about that. I'll talk about the busy busy part.

I've been blogging at work, so I think by the time I come home I'm sorta blogged out.
check out my handiwork at
http://JoeWelder.com
and
http://CarmenElectrode.com

and we're launching a new webstore for Arc-Zone.com. The current site looks good (I think) but on the back end it is NOT database driven, which makes it really difficult to add new product, change product information, etc. SO, the new site is set to launch on October 1. If anyone wants to participate in some testing, let me know. I can set you up with a good deal or some store credit on welding supplies. Or a t-shirt.

AND... I got an iPod for my birthday. It's a cute little Nano, green, and even has my name etched in the back (Thanks Mary K and Bill!) So far I've got 122 songs loaded up and I even bought a couple from iTunes. How fun is that!