Great qoutes for every wandering heart.....
If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel
- Will Kommen
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness
- Mark Twain
Life is a daring adventure, or nothing
- Helen Keller
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
memory lane
Today I saw something that took me back to my early childhood. I was stopped behind a school bus on a back service road behind the Super 8 Hotel. A young student, who looked to be around the age of 12, got off and headed towards the hotel alone. I felt like I could relate to this kid.
I remember being the kid who lived in a run down pink motel off the side of the highway. I remember being the kid who lived at the camping grounds. I also remember being the new kid year after year. I can’t really tell you if I was always aware of my family’s living situation. Life didn’t necessarily seem out of place or lacking, but at the same time there were instances where I could sense that I wasn’t getting something. I knew at the time that there was something just beyond my comprehension and I would try so hard to grasp what I was missing.
This sudden revisiting of memories drove my thoughts into several directions at once. I began to think about how far a person can go, despite how humble their roots may have been. I thought about how the past flavors our present and future selves, but do not necessarily dictate every decision we make. I thought about how life can be so surprising, if we allow ourselves to be surprised. And I thought how every moment, no matter how that moment is described, provides us with valuable insight.
As I stated above, I feel that I can relate to this young man. I don’t feel sorry for him, for pity has never helped anyone. I do feel that in some ways he is luckier then his peers. If he allows it, his experiences will bring him strength through perspective that others his age won’t know until later in life.
I remember being the kid who lived in a run down pink motel off the side of the highway. I remember being the kid who lived at the camping grounds. I also remember being the new kid year after year. I can’t really tell you if I was always aware of my family’s living situation. Life didn’t necessarily seem out of place or lacking, but at the same time there were instances where I could sense that I wasn’t getting something. I knew at the time that there was something just beyond my comprehension and I would try so hard to grasp what I was missing.
This sudden revisiting of memories drove my thoughts into several directions at once. I began to think about how far a person can go, despite how humble their roots may have been. I thought about how the past flavors our present and future selves, but do not necessarily dictate every decision we make. I thought about how life can be so surprising, if we allow ourselves to be surprised. And I thought how every moment, no matter how that moment is described, provides us with valuable insight.
As I stated above, I feel that I can relate to this young man. I don’t feel sorry for him, for pity has never helped anyone. I do feel that in some ways he is luckier then his peers. If he allows it, his experiences will bring him strength through perspective that others his age won’t know until later in life.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
On the road again...
After waiting a long and dull week in snowy Fargo for the service roads to be clear enough to drive on with the windtower bases, we finally left to deliver the base to Charles City, Iowa.
The drive through North Dakota was nothing less then a divine experience. The muted hills became a vast snowy desert with small clusters of trees and tall winter grass reflecting the golden hues of the setting sunlight.. Sadly no photo was taken as it was impossible to safely take such a stunning picture. Though I doubt that I could have captured the intensity of the landscape onto a small 4x6 photograph.
We stopped in Sioux Falls, SD for the weekend (permit issues with Iowa). Tomorrow I plan to go out and photograph the surrounding area covered in fresh snow... :P
The drive through North Dakota was nothing less then a divine experience. The muted hills became a vast snowy desert with small clusters of trees and tall winter grass reflecting the golden hues of the setting sunlight.. Sadly no photo was taken as it was impossible to safely take such a stunning picture. Though I doubt that I could have captured the intensity of the landscape onto a small 4x6 photograph.
We stopped in Sioux Falls, SD for the weekend (permit issues with Iowa). Tomorrow I plan to go out and photograph the surrounding area covered in fresh snow... :P
Monday, November 26, 2007
Fargo is Vegan??
So far I have found Fargo, ND to be one of the most vegan friendly towns that I have had the pleasure of visiting since I began my wandering adventures this past summer. Thai Orchid, Saffron, Nine Dragons, Pita Pit and Qdoba are just a handful of vegan friendly restaurants that I have frequent since my travels have brought here. Perhaps it has to do with the three universities in the area or just a natural curiousity and leaning towards healthier eating, either way this town promotes its vegan fare more than Mercer county, NJ.
Which is probably a very good thing for me since I will be "living" here for the next 6 months for work related purposes.
Which is probably a very good thing for me since I will be "living" here for the next 6 months for work related purposes.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Happy Tofurky Day!!!
Tomorrow is our annual Day of Thanks and I am feeling very thankful this season..
I'm thankful for having the opportunity to travel as much as I have had and will be in the upcomming year; for the amazing friends that have brought so much color into my life over the years; for my very supportive and crazy family; and finally for people who are not afriad to make a difference in the world.
below is an article by Bill Maher from the following website: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-maher/george-bush-pardon-all-t_b_73574.html
I thought it was an appropriate article for the holiday of Thanks. :P
Enjoy!
Bill Maher:
New Rule: The president can't pardon just one or two turkeys this Thanksgiving. He's got to let them all go.
It's probably too much to expect from the man who wanted "no child left behind," then vetoed health care for kids. But think of the upside. Freeing the turkeys might help the president's credibility when he says things like, "We don't torture."
Take a look at this video, shot just last month at a typical American turkey slaughterhouse, and this one, shot undercover last year at a Butterball slaughterhouse by investigators from PETA, and you'll see that my use of the word is no exaggeration. Butterball employees, taking a page out of the Abu Ghraib handbook, laughed while they kicked, punched, stomped, and even sexually assaulted turkeys.
These people should be arrested. They would be if the turkeys were dogs or cats. Too bad our animal protection laws make about as much sense as fighting a war against a country that doesn't have an army. Even though 98 percent of the land animals Americans eat are turkeys and chickens, the federal Humane Methods of Slaughter Act specifically excludes birds from protection. I'm not kidding.
The Butterball plant in the video slaughters about 50,000 turkeys every day. Fifty million turkey corpses will go into American ovens this Thanksgiving. More than 9 billion turkeys and chickens are killed in the U.S. each year. But not one of them is guaranteed a painless death, as documented in this video that was narrated by my fellow animal-lover and HuffPo Blogger, Alec Baldwin. The Senate can find time to vote to condemn an advertisement, but not to add birds to humane slaughter laws.
So in the face of this surreal situation, in which, once again we can't put our faith in the president, I ask you to do what I'm going to do and pardon a turkey this Thanksgiving. It's not hard. Just eat something else (ideas here and here). Not someone else, because it doesn't seem fair to spare a turkey and roast a hunk of pig or cow instead. If we can bow our heads in gratitude for our families, our friends and our big screen TVs, and then carve into a creature who lived a miserable life and died a horrible death, then our ethics are about as sensible as Britney's parenting skills.
Former Vice President Al Gore should be the first to take the meat-free Thanksgiving pledge. Since raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined, is it too much ask Mr. Gore to stop gazing at his Oscar and his Nobel Prize long enough to read the United Nations report that calls the meat industry "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global"?
For those of you who believe that the war is just and that global warming is a figment of the elite liberal media's imagination, here's the straight poop:
* Turkeys and other animals raised for food produce 130 times as much excrement as the entire U.S. human population -- all without the benefit of waste treatment systems. Sewage spills, waste-filled waterways and underground aquifer contaminated with e coli are the meat industry's gift to Americans this holiday season.
* Turkey meat has just as much cholesterol as the pieces of cow and pig called "red meat." Eating meat is linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, some cancers, and diabetes.
So do the right thing. Instead of stuffing a turkey this year, stuff the tradition of turkey for Thanksgiving right where it belongs -- in history's trash can.
I'm thankful for having the opportunity to travel as much as I have had and will be in the upcomming year; for the amazing friends that have brought so much color into my life over the years; for my very supportive and crazy family; and finally for people who are not afriad to make a difference in the world.
below is an article by Bill Maher from the following website: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-maher/george-bush-pardon-all-t_b_73574.html
I thought it was an appropriate article for the holiday of Thanks. :P
Enjoy!
Bill Maher:
New Rule: The president can't pardon just one or two turkeys this Thanksgiving. He's got to let them all go.
It's probably too much to expect from the man who wanted "no child left behind," then vetoed health care for kids. But think of the upside. Freeing the turkeys might help the president's credibility when he says things like, "We don't torture."
Take a look at this video, shot just last month at a typical American turkey slaughterhouse, and this one, shot undercover last year at a Butterball slaughterhouse by investigators from PETA, and you'll see that my use of the word is no exaggeration. Butterball employees, taking a page out of the Abu Ghraib handbook, laughed while they kicked, punched, stomped, and even sexually assaulted turkeys.
These people should be arrested. They would be if the turkeys were dogs or cats. Too bad our animal protection laws make about as much sense as fighting a war against a country that doesn't have an army. Even though 98 percent of the land animals Americans eat are turkeys and chickens, the federal Humane Methods of Slaughter Act specifically excludes birds from protection. I'm not kidding.
The Butterball plant in the video slaughters about 50,000 turkeys every day. Fifty million turkey corpses will go into American ovens this Thanksgiving. More than 9 billion turkeys and chickens are killed in the U.S. each year. But not one of them is guaranteed a painless death, as documented in this video that was narrated by my fellow animal-lover and HuffPo Blogger, Alec Baldwin. The Senate can find time to vote to condemn an advertisement, but not to add birds to humane slaughter laws.
So in the face of this surreal situation, in which, once again we can't put our faith in the president, I ask you to do what I'm going to do and pardon a turkey this Thanksgiving. It's not hard. Just eat something else (ideas here and here). Not someone else, because it doesn't seem fair to spare a turkey and roast a hunk of pig or cow instead. If we can bow our heads in gratitude for our families, our friends and our big screen TVs, and then carve into a creature who lived a miserable life and died a horrible death, then our ethics are about as sensible as Britney's parenting skills.
Former Vice President Al Gore should be the first to take the meat-free Thanksgiving pledge. Since raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined, is it too much ask Mr. Gore to stop gazing at his Oscar and his Nobel Prize long enough to read the United Nations report that calls the meat industry "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global"?
For those of you who believe that the war is just and that global warming is a figment of the elite liberal media's imagination, here's the straight poop:
* Turkeys and other animals raised for food produce 130 times as much excrement as the entire U.S. human population -- all without the benefit of waste treatment systems. Sewage spills, waste-filled waterways and underground aquifer contaminated with e coli are the meat industry's gift to Americans this holiday season.
* Turkey meat has just as much cholesterol as the pieces of cow and pig called "red meat." Eating meat is linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, some cancers, and diabetes.
So do the right thing. Instead of stuffing a turkey this year, stuff the tradition of turkey for Thanksgiving right where it belongs -- in history's trash can.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Israel!
It is official!!
I will be traveling to Israel this Feb from the 5th to the 21st!!
I'm very excited and can't wait to blog about my adventures abroad!
more to come later
I will be traveling to Israel this Feb from the 5th to the 21st!!
I'm very excited and can't wait to blog about my adventures abroad!
more to come later
Sunday, November 18, 2007
The Chilly Vegan!!
I am sitting in a hotel located in Langdon, North Dakota listening to snow and ice hit against the window....
I'm not ready for winter....
I want to stay warm in the sunshine while playing in farmer's field or romping through the woods....
I don't like cold wind and ice cubes falling from the sky..
Though I do like the idea of making my first snow angel of the season......
hmmm
I'm not ready for winter....
I want to stay warm in the sunshine while playing in farmer's field or romping through the woods....
I don't like cold wind and ice cubes falling from the sky..
Though I do like the idea of making my first snow angel of the season......
hmmm
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
2008 Goals
I know I am a bit early in declaring my New Year resolutions, but I have such good goals this year and couldn't wait any longer to share them..
1. Travel outside the USA at least three times (Israel in Feb , Brazil in May and I'm not sure what the third destination will be)
2. Save 20,000 and pay off ALL credit cards
3. Enter art into at least 4 competitions
4. Wear a bikini this summer ( I needed one shallow goal :P)
I love New Year resolutions.. I love New Years!!
Is there a better holiday???
1. Travel outside the USA at least three times (Israel in Feb , Brazil in May and I'm not sure what the third destination will be)
2. Save 20,000 and pay off ALL credit cards
3. Enter art into at least 4 competitions
4. Wear a bikini this summer ( I needed one shallow goal :P)
I love New Year resolutions.. I love New Years!!
Is there a better holiday???
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
The Wise Vegan
I have put plenty of thought recently into why people stay in unhealthy unions for as long as they do. This is what I came up with:
- Because we see what we want to see
- Because we want to believe that we are loved
- Because we want to believe that the one we want to love us is the one we want to love.
- Because we believe we know what love is.
- Because we are scared not to love the one we think we want to love.
- Because we build walls around ourselves to prevent us from wanting to love or be loved by others.
- Because we are taught to make sacrifices for the one we think we want to love, but do not expect sacrifices from said loved
one.
- Because we think we are lucky to love and be loved by the ones we think we want to love and be loved by.
- Because we are taught that love is unique and rare.
- Because the one we think we want to love will sometimes smile and say the right thing at the right time thus confusing our
sensibilities to think that we are with the right one
- Because we mistake "knowing" someone well and being "known" well by someone as love instead of expired comfort.
- Because we tie ourselves so tightly to the one we want to want that we can't free ourselves to want the one we ought to
want.. or free ourselves when we know that we don't want the one we wish to always want.
- Because we fear ourselves and what we can accomplish alone
- Because we misunderstand safeness as love. ( is love safe?)
- Because we become so use to pushing ourselves and our needs and our dreams towards the back that we often don't notice
our own unhappiness and boredom of the overknown.
My advice is to not feel sorry, angry or bitter for yourself or your situation. Chances are you have already wasted too much of your precious time with the one person (or in some cases the many persons). Pick one dream that you have neglected over the years and follow through with it now. You'll be a much happier person in the end with great stories to share with those who do love and respect you.
- Because we see what we want to see
- Because we want to believe that we are loved
- Because we want to believe that the one we want to love us is the one we want to love.
- Because we believe we know what love is.
- Because we are scared not to love the one we think we want to love.
- Because we build walls around ourselves to prevent us from wanting to love or be loved by others.
- Because we are taught to make sacrifices for the one we think we want to love, but do not expect sacrifices from said loved
one.
- Because we think we are lucky to love and be loved by the ones we think we want to love and be loved by.
- Because we are taught that love is unique and rare.
- Because the one we think we want to love will sometimes smile and say the right thing at the right time thus confusing our
sensibilities to think that we are with the right one
- Because we mistake "knowing" someone well and being "known" well by someone as love instead of expired comfort.
- Because we tie ourselves so tightly to the one we want to want that we can't free ourselves to want the one we ought to
want.. or free ourselves when we know that we don't want the one we wish to always want.
- Because we fear ourselves and what we can accomplish alone
- Because we misunderstand safeness as love. ( is love safe?)
- Because we become so use to pushing ourselves and our needs and our dreams towards the back that we often don't notice
our own unhappiness and boredom of the overknown.
My advice is to not feel sorry, angry or bitter for yourself or your situation. Chances are you have already wasted too much of your precious time with the one person (or in some cases the many persons). Pick one dream that you have neglected over the years and follow through with it now. You'll be a much happier person in the end with great stories to share with those who do love and respect you.
The Baffled Vegan
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/31/christian.scientology/index.html
Christains won't look to wiccan ideas for help or support but will look to a religion contrived by a science fiction writer in the 1950's that does even believe in god for assistance??????
I'm a bit baffled..
Christains won't look to wiccan ideas for help or support but will look to a religion contrived by a science fiction writer in the 1950's that does even believe in god for assistance??????
I'm a bit baffled..
Monday, October 29, 2007
The frustrated Vegan
I despise sensationalistic news media hosts!!
At this very moment I am watching some nameless asshole give an O'Reilly/ Jerry Springer spin about issues in our country. this particular news focus was "Liberity in Peril"
The nameless asshole rants on about how taking god out of our goverment is pulling Americans apart. He suggests that because our founding fathers believed our rights came from god that we should repsect and accept god's presence in the goverment.
My arguement is that our founding fathers also had slaves, does that mean we should reinstate slavery?? They were also still using bleeding as a medical cure for diseases. According to a history channel special I watched it is thought that George Washington was accidentally bleed to death when he became ill. But hey if it was good for our founding fathers it must be good for us.. We don't need to evolve as a country (please note a sarcastic tone).
People want the goverment to stay out of religion, why can't religion stay out of the goverment? We are suppose to have seperation of Church and State!! Having god involved with politics is not a seperation!! its a dangerous fucking relationship! For several reasons we cannot have laws, amendments, and policies based on religion! This is a religiously diverse nation and to show respect to the diversity of the population laws need to be secular based. Religion is also a personal choice. I don't care if you believe in one god(dess), mulitple deities, no god(dess) or a purple talking chicken. It is no one's business what you believe in and your religious beliefs do not belong in Washington DC making laws that affect my life!
The nameless asshole continues his arguments that our nation was found in the name of god, that it is stated "we are one nation under god" and that because it is printed on a fucking penny "in god we trust" we should not remove god from the government. Once again Religion is a private matter for each individual. Yes the pilgrims, including my ancestor, came over to escape religious persecution. If they lived in a secular country at the time do you think they would have needed to flee across the ocean? How does having a Christian nation affect the existance of millions of Jews, Muslims, aethiests, Buddhist, Hindis and Wiccans residing in our country? Many of these faiths are having problems practicing their faith as it is. What would Christian fundelmentalists think if we started creating laws based on Wiccan values?? DO you think we would be at war if there were more secular countries? More people fight, kill and die for god than for any other reason. But yes lets keep god in the whitehouse, in congress and in our courts and keep sensible logic out.
I could seriously rant forever about this.
What really pisses me off is how some fucking company that goes by the name "Travelers Insurance" is sponsoring the fucking news. Since when does a news story need a sponsor? has the news become the new sport? Can't the nameless asshole just give an objective, well researched news story? I guess people being killed all over the world, Gap illegally hiring children in India, Wars brewing, global warming, failing economy and our presidential election are all just forms of reality tv entertainment. I don't get it!
The nameless asshole was just named Glenn Beck and now another asshole arrives to share her sensationalist view points. Damn Nancy Grace!! She is all funny faces, rude attitude and annoying voice.
I need another news source.
At this very moment I am watching some nameless asshole give an O'Reilly/ Jerry Springer spin about issues in our country. this particular news focus was "Liberity in Peril"
The nameless asshole rants on about how taking god out of our goverment is pulling Americans apart. He suggests that because our founding fathers believed our rights came from god that we should repsect and accept god's presence in the goverment.
My arguement is that our founding fathers also had slaves, does that mean we should reinstate slavery?? They were also still using bleeding as a medical cure for diseases. According to a history channel special I watched it is thought that George Washington was accidentally bleed to death when he became ill. But hey if it was good for our founding fathers it must be good for us.. We don't need to evolve as a country (please note a sarcastic tone).
People want the goverment to stay out of religion, why can't religion stay out of the goverment? We are suppose to have seperation of Church and State!! Having god involved with politics is not a seperation!! its a dangerous fucking relationship! For several reasons we cannot have laws, amendments, and policies based on religion! This is a religiously diverse nation and to show respect to the diversity of the population laws need to be secular based. Religion is also a personal choice. I don't care if you believe in one god(dess), mulitple deities, no god(dess) or a purple talking chicken. It is no one's business what you believe in and your religious beliefs do not belong in Washington DC making laws that affect my life!
The nameless asshole continues his arguments that our nation was found in the name of god, that it is stated "we are one nation under god" and that because it is printed on a fucking penny "in god we trust" we should not remove god from the government. Once again Religion is a private matter for each individual. Yes the pilgrims, including my ancestor, came over to escape religious persecution. If they lived in a secular country at the time do you think they would have needed to flee across the ocean? How does having a Christian nation affect the existance of millions of Jews, Muslims, aethiests, Buddhist, Hindis and Wiccans residing in our country? Many of these faiths are having problems practicing their faith as it is. What would Christian fundelmentalists think if we started creating laws based on Wiccan values?? DO you think we would be at war if there were more secular countries? More people fight, kill and die for god than for any other reason. But yes lets keep god in the whitehouse, in congress and in our courts and keep sensible logic out.
I could seriously rant forever about this.
What really pisses me off is how some fucking company that goes by the name "Travelers Insurance" is sponsoring the fucking news. Since when does a news story need a sponsor? has the news become the new sport? Can't the nameless asshole just give an objective, well researched news story? I guess people being killed all over the world, Gap illegally hiring children in India, Wars brewing, global warming, failing economy and our presidential election are all just forms of reality tv entertainment. I don't get it!
The nameless asshole was just named Glenn Beck and now another asshole arrives to share her sensationalist view points. Damn Nancy Grace!! She is all funny faces, rude attitude and annoying voice.
I need another news source.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
homesick vegan
I'm feeling a little homesick.
It has been over three months since I have seen home.......
I miss my friends.....
I also miss MY bed.
It has been over three months since I have seen home.......
I miss my friends.....
I also miss MY bed.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Field Frolicking Vegan!
I have had a fantastic day!!
For the first time since the age of ten I boldly ran through a farmer's field. I usually feel timid about trespassing someone elses property. You never know how the owner may react to you presence. Guns, angry dogs, charging SUV etc etc. There is also the issue of my over active imagination. In this case my thoughts were of myself being swallowed by the dark earth for being so bold to step where I wasn't invited to do so ( I told you my imagination is overactive :P).
I decided that I needed to regain my youthful boldness and risk the chance of being chased by a gun-toting Dakota farmer, or being swallowed whole by the earth (lets hope not ;). Running as fast as my legs would let me, I headed towards the center of the field where a couple of grainaries stood beckoning to be be photographed.
It was exhilarating to feel so free. No one was in sight, the air was crisp, the sky was a brillant blue and my inner child was smiling. I haven't felt this happy since Memphis.
For the first time since the age of ten I boldly ran through a farmer's field. I usually feel timid about trespassing someone elses property. You never know how the owner may react to you presence. Guns, angry dogs, charging SUV etc etc. There is also the issue of my over active imagination. In this case my thoughts were of myself being swallowed by the dark earth for being so bold to step where I wasn't invited to do so ( I told you my imagination is overactive :P).
I decided that I needed to regain my youthful boldness and risk the chance of being chased by a gun-toting Dakota farmer, or being swallowed whole by the earth (lets hope not ;). Running as fast as my legs would let me, I headed towards the center of the field where a couple of grainaries stood beckoning to be be photographed.
It was exhilarating to feel so free. No one was in sight, the air was crisp, the sky was a brillant blue and my inner child was smiling. I haven't felt this happy since Memphis.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Fargo, ND
Fargo is a beautiful small metropolitan located snuggly in the northern plains of North Dakota. The large dowtown area was thriving and full of energy. Businesses ranged from several coffee houses, fashionable boutiques, yummy cafes, train tracks, community parks and a fantastic art museum.
I began my day this morning exploring the three levesl of the Plains Art Museum. The museum housed an extensive collection of mostly regional artists along with a few pieces from more recognized artists, such as Andy Warhol. I tried to acquire a collection book from the store, but to my dismay there was none. :( Too bad, there were a few pieces that i would love to look back to as a source of artistic inspiration. The museum also had a fantastic exhibit of a local photographer who specialized with black and white photography. Wayne Gudmundson was the artist. Beautiful work! Check out the art at the website below.
http://www.plainsart.org/
After visiting the museum I spent the afternoon walking around main street taking photos and visiting some of the boutiques. Two hours were spent socializing with a kindred spirit I met at one of the Boutiques. I felt as though I was talking to my future self. She was a sassy, independent, wise and enjoyable person. We instantly clicked and I look forward to having more discussions in the future with her during my stay in the Fargo area.
Before returning to the hotel I decided to walk along the Red river and then across the bridge to Moorhead, MN. The Red River is not as impressive as the Mississippi, Missouri or Columbian rivers, but it was cozy and friendly. It reminded me of a river that ran along Plattsburgh's Universoty campus. I have fond memories of eating peanut butter sandwhiches near the river while studying with friends.
This wandering Vegan is also having planty of luck finding decent meals in Fargo. Perhaps this is due to the three universities located in the area. My favorite is the grilled veggie burrito from Qdoba!
I began my day this morning exploring the three levesl of the Plains Art Museum. The museum housed an extensive collection of mostly regional artists along with a few pieces from more recognized artists, such as Andy Warhol. I tried to acquire a collection book from the store, but to my dismay there was none. :( Too bad, there were a few pieces that i would love to look back to as a source of artistic inspiration. The museum also had a fantastic exhibit of a local photographer who specialized with black and white photography. Wayne Gudmundson was the artist. Beautiful work! Check out the art at the website below.
http://www.plainsart.org/
After visiting the museum I spent the afternoon walking around main street taking photos and visiting some of the boutiques. Two hours were spent socializing with a kindred spirit I met at one of the Boutiques. I felt as though I was talking to my future self. She was a sassy, independent, wise and enjoyable person. We instantly clicked and I look forward to having more discussions in the future with her during my stay in the Fargo area.
Before returning to the hotel I decided to walk along the Red river and then across the bridge to Moorhead, MN. The Red River is not as impressive as the Mississippi, Missouri or Columbian rivers, but it was cozy and friendly. It reminded me of a river that ran along Plattsburgh's Universoty campus. I have fond memories of eating peanut butter sandwhiches near the river while studying with friends.
This wandering Vegan is also having planty of luck finding decent meals in Fargo. Perhaps this is due to the three universities located in the area. My favorite is the grilled veggie burrito from Qdoba!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Brazil!!
I have officially sent in my enrollement fee to Cross Culturals Solutions (CCS) and I will be travelling to Salvador, Brazil for 6 weeks starting May 10th, 2008!!
Excited, giddy, happy, ecstatic are all valid discriptions of my mood tonight :)
I hope to volunteer as a teacher or teacher assisant, but I may also end up working in a local health clinic or business. The work I will do will depend on what is needed at the time.
For information about CCS please visit: http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org
The trip will cost $3,774, not including airfare. I will need to focus much of my time fundraising and I will need some help from my fellow friends.
One of my ideas to raise the needed funds is to auction some of my photography that I have been taking during my travels across the country these past few months. If anyone knows of a space that I can use to hold an art show/auction please let me know.
I am also looking for sponsors who will recieve a piece of photography, taken during my trip to Brazil, or one of my signature mix media drawings, also based on my trip to Brazil, for their contribution begining at $150. I know it sounds like a lot but the sponsor will get his or her choice of a framed photograph. And much recognition for his or her generous gift.
Also I am accepting any donations in any sum. If you are interested please contact me for an address to send a check or money order made out to Cross Cultural Solutions. The donation id 100% tax deductible. You can also go the website to make a donation with a credit card.. I'm not sure how the credit card donation works just yet.
If anyone has any other ideas or knows of someone who may want to be a sponsor Please let me know via Myspace, email or phone.
Again for more information about the program please visit:
http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org
Excited, giddy, happy, ecstatic are all valid discriptions of my mood tonight :)
I hope to volunteer as a teacher or teacher assisant, but I may also end up working in a local health clinic or business. The work I will do will depend on what is needed at the time.
For information about CCS please visit: http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org
The trip will cost $3,774, not including airfare. I will need to focus much of my time fundraising and I will need some help from my fellow friends.
One of my ideas to raise the needed funds is to auction some of my photography that I have been taking during my travels across the country these past few months. If anyone knows of a space that I can use to hold an art show/auction please let me know.
I am also looking for sponsors who will recieve a piece of photography, taken during my trip to Brazil, or one of my signature mix media drawings, also based on my trip to Brazil, for their contribution begining at $150. I know it sounds like a lot but the sponsor will get his or her choice of a framed photograph. And much recognition for his or her generous gift.
Also I am accepting any donations in any sum. If you are interested please contact me for an address to send a check or money order made out to Cross Cultural Solutions. The donation id 100% tax deductible. You can also go the website to make a donation with a credit card.. I'm not sure how the credit card donation works just yet.
If anyone has any other ideas or knows of someone who may want to be a sponsor Please let me know via Myspace, email or phone.
Again for more information about the program please visit:
http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org
Thursday, October 11, 2007
I love Art!
After a week of bumming around the hotel grounds in Abilene, Tx I finally got off my lazy ass to do something productive.
I decided to go back to the downtown area and visit the art museums. I have unsuccessfully tried twice before to see the museums and today I am proud to say that I finally made it in through the door :)
The first place I visited was the 'Contemporary Center' This friendly musty smelling center had several gallery rooms and many studios for local artists. the main gallery had exhibited traditional western Texas art genre that I wasn't too crazy about. The work was well painted, but the genre does not appeal to my individual aesthetics. plus many of the images were giclee prints, meaning they were just digital prints of original artwork printed on a canvas or paper. Many artists will sell these prints of their paintings because most people can't afford the real piece of art work and the artists can sell copies of his or her more sucessful pieces to make a profit. I personally see them as expensive postcards.
The second gallery had snapshots from local highschool students. This I thought was amazing! The photos were fun, but the statements were fantastic. The honesty and individualism expressed by the students was inspiring.
After my visit to the Contemporary Art Center I explored the Grace Museum.
The Grace Museum was once a fancy historic hotel that fell into despair until 1992 when renovations were apporved by the city to transform the building into a museum. The museum had dispayed a lovely exhibit of experiemental color photography from end of the great depression era. I was listening to other museum patrons during my visit. many thought that these were black and white photos digitally colored. They were brillant photos that perfectly captured the nostolgic American spirit.
I decided to go back to the downtown area and visit the art museums. I have unsuccessfully tried twice before to see the museums and today I am proud to say that I finally made it in through the door :)
The first place I visited was the 'Contemporary Center' This friendly musty smelling center had several gallery rooms and many studios for local artists. the main gallery had exhibited traditional western Texas art genre that I wasn't too crazy about. The work was well painted, but the genre does not appeal to my individual aesthetics. plus many of the images were giclee prints, meaning they were just digital prints of original artwork printed on a canvas or paper. Many artists will sell these prints of their paintings because most people can't afford the real piece of art work and the artists can sell copies of his or her more sucessful pieces to make a profit. I personally see them as expensive postcards.
The second gallery had snapshots from local highschool students. This I thought was amazing! The photos were fun, but the statements were fantastic. The honesty and individualism expressed by the students was inspiring.
After my visit to the Contemporary Art Center I explored the Grace Museum.
The Grace Museum was once a fancy historic hotel that fell into despair until 1992 when renovations were apporved by the city to transform the building into a museum. The museum had dispayed a lovely exhibit of experiemental color photography from end of the great depression era. I was listening to other museum patrons during my visit. many thought that these were black and white photos digitally colored. They were brillant photos that perfectly captured the nostolgic American spirit.
Monday, October 8, 2007
The wandering Puppy!
Back in Texas ya'll!!
While driving back to the Abilene area for the holiday weekend my father and I found a 6 week old black lab puppy. The poor little guy was crying for his mom near the side of the road in a small town of 1,200 outside of Abilene. Since my dad didn't need me to escort him through Texas, I decided to stay behind and figure out who the puppy belonged too.
I walked around the area for about twenty minutes with the little pup snuggled into my neck. He really was the sweetest little guy and it was very tempting to give up and take him myself. Which would have happened if I was unable to find the proper owners. I was also beginning to think that perhaps someone left the puppy there on purpose, thinking that someone would take him in. My mothers third cat was abandoned on the side of the road and my sister's third cat was discovered with its brother in a trash can when they were only two weeks old!! its a sad truth.
Fortunately I did find the owner and was able to quickly rejoin my father on the road. Though now I must admit that I am missing the little guy already! :)
We would have been heading back to North Dakota this weekend, but there is some kind of engine problem with my father's truck. hopefully it will be fixed by Wed. Until then we are just chillin in Abilene. I haven't been in a very adventurous mood this weekend. Though I would like to take some more pictures of the downtown area today and maybe explore the area surrounding Abilene, but for now I am just happy not to be sitting in a car for eight hours straight!! haha
Peace and Love
A
While driving back to the Abilene area for the holiday weekend my father and I found a 6 week old black lab puppy. The poor little guy was crying for his mom near the side of the road in a small town of 1,200 outside of Abilene. Since my dad didn't need me to escort him through Texas, I decided to stay behind and figure out who the puppy belonged too.
I walked around the area for about twenty minutes with the little pup snuggled into my neck. He really was the sweetest little guy and it was very tempting to give up and take him myself. Which would have happened if I was unable to find the proper owners. I was also beginning to think that perhaps someone left the puppy there on purpose, thinking that someone would take him in. My mothers third cat was abandoned on the side of the road and my sister's third cat was discovered with its brother in a trash can when they were only two weeks old!! its a sad truth.
Fortunately I did find the owner and was able to quickly rejoin my father on the road. Though now I must admit that I am missing the little guy already! :)
We would have been heading back to North Dakota this weekend, but there is some kind of engine problem with my father's truck. hopefully it will be fixed by Wed. Until then we are just chillin in Abilene. I haven't been in a very adventurous mood this weekend. Though I would like to take some more pictures of the downtown area today and maybe explore the area surrounding Abilene, but for now I am just happy not to be sitting in a car for eight hours straight!! haha
Peace and Love
A
Sunday, September 30, 2007
North Dakota
Today I have entered the state of North Dakota for the first time ever!!
Its a golden state filled with duck ponds, cat tail grass and dead sunflowers. I spent two hours driving around taking photographs and exploring the countryside. I even picked a dead sunflower to bring seeds back to jersey to plant next summer.
The people are nice and there was a very swank restaurant in the town we stayed in. They kind enough to create a meal specially for me since EVERYTHING on the menu had some type of meat and cheese. Later I spent the evening talking to truckers and hunters outside the hotel.
Tomorrow will head back to Texas. My father and I will run two more of these trips before heading back to Jersey.
Its a golden state filled with duck ponds, cat tail grass and dead sunflowers. I spent two hours driving around taking photographs and exploring the countryside. I even picked a dead sunflower to bring seeds back to jersey to plant next summer.
The people are nice and there was a very swank restaurant in the town we stayed in. They kind enough to create a meal specially for me since EVERYTHING on the menu had some type of meat and cheese. Later I spent the evening talking to truckers and hunters outside the hotel.
Tomorrow will head back to Texas. My father and I will run two more of these trips before heading back to Jersey.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Ruins, a Texas surprise and Art
This morning I set out on an adventure to photograph the ruins of Fort Phantom Hill with my father. The fort was built by accident during the mid 1800's by a captian that had little knowledge of the area. It was actually meant to be built several miles south of its current location. All that is left of it now are three buildings still somewhat intact, two empty wells, several stone chimneys and a few piles of stones where buildings were once present. The emptiness of the place had a tranquil effect on those who explored its hidden nooks. for more information please visit www.fortphantom.org
After taking a hundred photos of hte place and its many bright yellow grasshoppers We decided to head back to Abilene to eat before heading out to the windfarm. It was midday and the sun was too bright to take the kind of photos I was hoping for. We picked up my fathers driver and headed to a huge steakhouse on the edge of town. As most would know I am usually weary about eating at steakhouses. To mu Surprise they had a real veggie burger option along with several veggie sides.. I ordered myself a salad with basil dressing, bake potato and an order of sauteed veggies (asparagus, broccoli, onion, tomatoes and zuchini). It has been at least ten hours since that meal and I am still full!! I have noticed that many of the American eateries in this town offer a a decent veggie friendly option. I did some researching on vegetarianism in this town and found an article that mentioned that an interest in vegetarianism is on the rise in the area.
After dropping off Dave, the driver, My dad then took off to visit the downtown area. The same downtown that took me over an housr to find. I wanted to see it during the day. To my pleasure we came across some very interesting and humorous scultpures along North 1st street. My favorite was of a HUGE chicken made from fabric. I am unsure to what technique was used to create the chicken using colorful fabric. I wish I did. there wal also a carrot made with tires and rims, an several painted bronze sculptures as well. Tomorrow we should be leaving this town to head back but not before I go back and explore the art some more. I can not express how pleased I am to see so much public artwork in these smaller towns. It shows that good art is not limited to New York City.
I never did get to the windfarm as planned. We left the hotel too late due to business issues and the sun was practically hidden behind a mountian when we were closer to the farm. :( Too bad. Perhaps if there is enough time I may go out there myself tomorrow and take pictures before driving back to Coleman, TX.
After taking a hundred photos of hte place and its many bright yellow grasshoppers We decided to head back to Abilene to eat before heading out to the windfarm. It was midday and the sun was too bright to take the kind of photos I was hoping for. We picked up my fathers driver and headed to a huge steakhouse on the edge of town. As most would know I am usually weary about eating at steakhouses. To mu Surprise they had a real veggie burger option along with several veggie sides.. I ordered myself a salad with basil dressing, bake potato and an order of sauteed veggies (asparagus, broccoli, onion, tomatoes and zuchini). It has been at least ten hours since that meal and I am still full!! I have noticed that many of the American eateries in this town offer a a decent veggie friendly option. I did some researching on vegetarianism in this town and found an article that mentioned that an interest in vegetarianism is on the rise in the area.
After dropping off Dave, the driver, My dad then took off to visit the downtown area. The same downtown that took me over an housr to find. I wanted to see it during the day. To my pleasure we came across some very interesting and humorous scultpures along North 1st street. My favorite was of a HUGE chicken made from fabric. I am unsure to what technique was used to create the chicken using colorful fabric. I wish I did. there wal also a carrot made with tires and rims, an several painted bronze sculptures as well. Tomorrow we should be leaving this town to head back but not before I go back and explore the art some more. I can not express how pleased I am to see so much public artwork in these smaller towns. It shows that good art is not limited to New York City.
I never did get to the windfarm as planned. We left the hotel too late due to business issues and the sun was practically hidden behind a mountian when we were closer to the farm. :( Too bad. Perhaps if there is enough time I may go out there myself tomorrow and take pictures before driving back to Coleman, TX.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Home Sweet Home
I was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Located about an hour south of Birmingham. For the first time since my parents left Alabama 27 years ago I had the chance to see the area where they lived, and their first home in Alabama after they hitchhiked their way from New Jersey.
It was a pretty area with los of green forrests and a mountian landscape, but I am VERY thankful they moved. I was meant to be a Jersey Girl :)
Their first home was a single room behind a truck diner surrounded by nothing. They had no running water and had to shower outside behind the diner. their next home was also with our running water and located on a mountian next to a lake that was of no use due to the high levels of some mineral. The house they had when I was born no longer exists and a trailor about the same size of the camper I use to live in with my family in Colorado was in its place..... NOT a big and roomy home..
Hopefully next time I am in this area I can visit some of hte local museums. I wanted to see both the Art and Civil rights museums. food was not so good, but not the worse.
It was a pretty area with los of green forrests and a mountian landscape, but I am VERY thankful they moved. I was meant to be a Jersey Girl :)
Their first home was a single room behind a truck diner surrounded by nothing. They had no running water and had to shower outside behind the diner. their next home was also with our running water and located on a mountian next to a lake that was of no use due to the high levels of some mineral. The house they had when I was born no longer exists and a trailor about the same size of the camper I use to live in with my family in Colorado was in its place..... NOT a big and roomy home..
Hopefully next time I am in this area I can visit some of hte local museums. I wanted to see both the Art and Civil rights museums. food was not so good, but not the worse.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Whats your footprint??
http://www.ecofoot.org/
Above is a link to a website that will calculate your ecological footprint on the planet. Learn how you comapre to the rest of the country and what you can do to decrease your impact on the earth..
Remember you can make a difference!
Above is a link to a website that will calculate your ecological footprint on the planet. Learn how you comapre to the rest of the country and what you can do to decrease your impact on the earth..
Remember you can make a difference!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Living Tree Heritage Museum
Yesterday I decided to walk the path created along Storm Lake and came across an outdoor tree museum. It was simply beautiful! Each tree planted was descended from a tree that was some how associated with a famous historical event and or person. There were two apple trees traced to "Johnny Appleseed", a few associated with the civil war and American Revolution and there was even one tree that was connected to Alex Healy. There were at least 30 trees in total and it appeared that the living museum was expanding to inlcude new trees.
I thought this was a great and fresh idea. I don't understsnd why more parks across the country have not done something similar.. I think I am going to suggest the idea to the park comissioners when I return home next month.
I thought this was a great and fresh idea. I don't understsnd why more parks across the country have not done something similar.. I think I am going to suggest the idea to the park comissioners when I return home next month.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Iowa Fun!
After a month of hanging with a gang of truckers over the age of 50 I finally had to time to hang out with someone in my own age bracket. So of course that meant long islands at the most happening place we could find on a tuesday night in Storm lake, Iowa. We had a pretty good time. I was a little tipsy by the end of the night and thoroughly enjoyed all of the attention from the local men. Though some of them were just turning 21 and WAY to young for me it was still nice to have a chance to flirt.
As for this wandering vegan finding food in this lovely little Iowa town I discovered a Mexican food chain in this area known as Taco Johns and was very pleased to learn that their beans and rice are vegan friendly and better than the crap from Taco Bell. Plus where as taco bell refused to make a bean taco for me Taco Johns had no problem with my order.
Of course one success food story isn't complete without a food horror story. I had the worst salad experience ever on this trip. I asked for a salad with only veggies and stressed no meat, cheese, and or eggs. I recieved a salad with not so fresh veggies and canned mushrooms along with some random bits of yellow cheese and mystery pink fatty meat. The people were very nice and remade the salad but the image of the meat in my food kinda put me off a bit plus the dressing was oily and tasteless..
I'm not sure when we will be leaving this area. I had hope to have time and see Sioux City, IA. Perhaps I will during the next trip to this area.
As for this wandering vegan finding food in this lovely little Iowa town I discovered a Mexican food chain in this area known as Taco Johns and was very pleased to learn that their beans and rice are vegan friendly and better than the crap from Taco Bell. Plus where as taco bell refused to make a bean taco for me Taco Johns had no problem with my order.
Of course one success food story isn't complete without a food horror story. I had the worst salad experience ever on this trip. I asked for a salad with only veggies and stressed no meat, cheese, and or eggs. I recieved a salad with not so fresh veggies and canned mushrooms along with some random bits of yellow cheese and mystery pink fatty meat. The people were very nice and remade the salad but the image of the meat in my food kinda put me off a bit plus the dressing was oily and tasteless..
I'm not sure when we will be leaving this area. I had hope to have time and see Sioux City, IA. Perhaps I will during the next trip to this area.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Doves and the Itsy Bitsy Spiders
Today I am in Coleman, TX. A town with a population just over 5,000 and apparently well known as the hunting capitol of Texas by the surrounding community.
Apparently Dove hunting is a huge sport in this part of the country. I find this weird and somewhat confusing because this part of the country is so heavily populated with the christian faithful, and, if my memory is correct, I believe the dove is a symbol of christ and peace. So I don't really understand why hunting the doves would be considered ok. To me its seems somewhat of a sacrilege to be killing these beautiful peaceful birds. According to the Hunters Newspaper in the hotel lobby there are less morning doves this year then in previous years.
I decided to go off on my own and explore the area while my father was at the work site loading another windtower onto his trailor. I began with a walk of Coleman's downtown. It was practically empty, but there were some really cute little stores selling al sorts of stuff. the people were really friendly and I wish I had the funds to help support thier businesses with a purchase. I did get the pleasure of seeing a picture of the same downtown from the year 1911. Not much has changed expect clothing styles and cars.
After my adventure in the town I decided to drive north on 84 to look for Catus and wildflowers to photograph. I found several growing on the side of the highway and while eagerly taking my pictures I came across a HUGE black and yellow spider in the middle of a perfect web. She was gorgeous! And she wasn't alone. I saw another in the process of building it's web and another on her perfect web hidden under a few branches. When I was photographing the third spider I was unaware that I waas intruding on a forth spider and her space. She was the only on I saw moving and she was moving towards ME!!
After leaving the spiders to thier webs I continued my adventure to a remote dirt road that lead to a hill top cemetary. On the road i came across my second turtle this year, a wild turkey, two lizards, a HUGE toad, and several butterflies. I also could hear the herd of wild turkeys and a few rattle snakes in the bushes.
I would have to say that this was a good adventure. :)
Apparently Dove hunting is a huge sport in this part of the country. I find this weird and somewhat confusing because this part of the country is so heavily populated with the christian faithful, and, if my memory is correct, I believe the dove is a symbol of christ and peace. So I don't really understand why hunting the doves would be considered ok. To me its seems somewhat of a sacrilege to be killing these beautiful peaceful birds. According to the Hunters Newspaper in the hotel lobby there are less morning doves this year then in previous years.
I decided to go off on my own and explore the area while my father was at the work site loading another windtower onto his trailor. I began with a walk of Coleman's downtown. It was practically empty, but there were some really cute little stores selling al sorts of stuff. the people were really friendly and I wish I had the funds to help support thier businesses with a purchase. I did get the pleasure of seeing a picture of the same downtown from the year 1911. Not much has changed expect clothing styles and cars.
After my adventure in the town I decided to drive north on 84 to look for Catus and wildflowers to photograph. I found several growing on the side of the highway and while eagerly taking my pictures I came across a HUGE black and yellow spider in the middle of a perfect web. She was gorgeous! And she wasn't alone. I saw another in the process of building it's web and another on her perfect web hidden under a few branches. When I was photographing the third spider I was unaware that I waas intruding on a forth spider and her space. She was the only on I saw moving and she was moving towards ME!!
After leaving the spiders to thier webs I continued my adventure to a remote dirt road that lead to a hill top cemetary. On the road i came across my second turtle this year, a wild turkey, two lizards, a HUGE toad, and several butterflies. I also could hear the herd of wild turkeys and a few rattle snakes in the bushes.
I would have to say that this was a good adventure. :)
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