Joke of the Day #2

A goldfish in a tank looks over at his buddy and says, "You drive... I'll man the guns!"


I had to think about this one for an hour and then Google it before I got the joke! Sad, huh? lol...

Amy's Top Twenty...

As the New Year approaches, it's not uncommon to hear lists rating the "Best" of the prior years... everything from movies to books to music to celebrity moments. Well here's my Top 20 list - my twenty favorite songs of all time. They may not make the critics' lists, but they're the ones that I could listen to over and over and over again... and here they are, in no particular order. Enjoy!

** Note: Most of them link to a YouTube video of the song... a few of them I couldn't find, so you'll have to track them down elsewhere if you want to hear them.





Indigo Girls - Ghost







AC/DC - (You Shook Me) All Night Long








Scott Weiland - But Not Tonight








King Harvest - Dancing in the Moonlight








Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell- Ain't Nothin' Like the Real Thing








Craig Armstrong & Elizabeth Fraser - This Love








Bob Marley - Mellow Mood








Counting Crows - Anna Begins








Soul Asylum - I Did My Best







Little Feat - Cajun Girl








Mary Chapin Carpenter - Passionate Kisses







Tyrone Wells - More







Bob Dylan - Tonight I'll Be Stayin' Here With You







Chaka Khan - Sweet Thing









Billy Joel - Only the Good Die Young







Wyclef - Perfect Gentleman







Bon Jovi - I'll Be There For You







Rockell - In a Dream







Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee







Buju Banton - It's All Over

Snow!!!

Wow! It almost feels like I'm living up in Welches again... This week, Portland has gotten more snow than it's had in the entire two and a half years I've lived here! Which means... early release (with pay) from work two days last week and work cancelled (with pay) ALL WEEK this week! I don't have to go back to work until January 5th, but I'll get my full paychecks the WHOLE TIME! Can you tell I'm excited about this? Here are some pics of the snow from the walk Abby and I took this morning... it's gorgeous!

The stairs leading up from my apartment this morning... and that's AFTER

I cleared them of snow last night before going to bed!

Powerline Park... our closest place to run and play. Last night, I dropped my cell phone somewhere in this winter wonderland. Two boys heard it ringing, answered it, and

followed Megan's directions to bring it to my apartment and return it!

Thank goodness for the generosity of strangers...

This is the view from my bedroom window...

The tree limbs are covered in ice... and some of them are having a hard time dealing with it.

Abby loves the snow! She runs around like a little kid. Unfortunately, she scraped her poor little paw on some ice shards... she's recovering nicely, though... lots of TLC! :)

New Tyrone Wells Album!

Yay! I've been waiting for the new Tyrone Wells album, "Remain," for months and it's finally available as a digital download at iTunes.

I had heard several songs from the album at concerts or on MySpace, but the entire album is so much better than I could ever have imagined. My new favorite song is called "All Broken Hearts." It's haunting and beautiful and inspiring...

I have loved Tyrone Wells for years now, and I remember when he was just an independent musician from California, touring locally and putting out his own self-produced albums through smaller, independent sites like CD Baby. Now he has a contract with Universal Republic, and his new album debuted on iTunes as one of the top 10 rock albums of the week!

I highly recommend you check it out. If you love Coldplay or U2 or Vertical Horizon... you'll love it! In my opinion, Tyrone has earned every ounce of success that's coming his way!

Joke of the Day #1

A guy sits down in a bar next to a good-looking lady and says, "Fat penguin."

She looks at him with a shocked expression and says, "What?"

So he replies, "Well, I just wanted to say something that would break the ice!"



Ba-da-boom... thanks, Laura!

Australia Pics...

In July 2007, I had the chance to visit Sydney, Australia. Through a twist of fate, I thought all the pics from the trip were lost. But I was just transferring a memory disk from my old digital camera and found most of them! So I thought I'd share... lots of good memories here!


I stayed in several youth hostels in the part of Sydney called King's Cross, a bohemian neighborhood known for its crazy nightlife. I did a lot of walking in the city, and I could always find my way home at night by heading towards this HUGE lit-up Coke billboard, which marks the entrance to King's Cross...

I also spent a few days at a hostel in Bondi Beach, the surf capital just south of Sydney. This is the pool at a member's club in Bondi - it was a saltwater pool, and the waves would literally crash right into the pool when the tide was high!

The highlight of my time in Bondi Beach was a cliffside trail leading from Bondi south to Coogee - several hours walking round trip. It was gorgeous! The coast is rocky and wild... a lot like Oregon's coast, but with fascinating vegetation that I'd never seen before.

There was a huge, eerie cemetary halfway between Bondi and Coogee. A sign said that lots of Irish immigrants had settled in the area in the 19th and 20th centuries and had been buried here. You could see many Irish and English names on the tombstones, which sat on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Here are some of the houses up on the cliff as you enter Coogee. The light was gorgeous that day... a series of storms had just come through the day before, and the sky was the most brilliant blue I've ever seen.

As I rounded the curve into this small cove, I saw the most beautiful rainbow... both sides touched the ground!

The seasons are reversed in Australia, so it was winter in July. It was about 40 degrees out, and the waves were still pretty fierce from the previous day's storm. I was amazed at how many die-hard surfers were still out on the water, though...

At Featherdale Wildlife Park, you can get up-close and personal with all kinds of Aussie animals.

I loved watching the dingoes... they remind me so much of Abby! :)

Beautiful trees on the way up to the Blue Mountains. This was at a rest area called Echo Point, where we had a gorgeous view of the famous Three Sisters rock formation.

The Blue Mountains...

This was taken in the rain forest that's down in the valleys of the Blue Mountains. It's amazing how much darker and colder it was down in those valleys, thanks to the heavy tree cover in the rain forest.

Overall, I had an amazing trip. I think the most incredible part of it, though, was the fact that I went in the first place. You see, I was in the middle of a six-month long Landmark Education leadership training course that was very challenging... and I decided to drop out of the course. After a few weeks, though, I thought more about my decision and wanted to rejoin the course. However, I had missed a critical training weekend. The course leaders told me that the only way I could rejoin the program and graduate with my friends is if I flew to Sydney, Australia to make up the training... that weekend!


I made the decision to go on a Tuesday morning... I drove to Seattle Wednesday to apply for an expedited passport... I got on the plane Friday morning... and I had a blast!


That was the first time I learned that I really can make ANYTHING happen if I put my mind to it... I am capable of being truly unstoppable! What a valuable life lesson... if only we all knew how powerful we really are!

SoulCollage... Patience

This was the first SoulCollage* card I ever created, at a workshop I took for my birthday in 2007. At that point in my life, I had such a strong desire to be a mother that I couldn't imagine waiting another second. When I saw these images come together on the page and began "listening" to the voice of the infant, I cried.

I realized that the journey to motherhood is happening right now... every day. I will give birth someday in the future... but I am BECOMING a mother as we speak. And everything is unfolding perfectly. And most days, I wait patiently.

Here's the SoulCollage card and the corresponding reading. As your read the words below, listen to them as if the card is speaking to you. In this instance, it is the voice of the infant that we are hearing.

I am the one who waits patiently, knowing that all things will unfold in due time. I honor the process and trust in the Universe to provide for me. I cherish the moment, recognizing everything as perfect... whole and complete, just the way it is right now.

I flow with my circumstances, shifting as needed to be ready for whatever comes next. I represent the balance between being Present in the current moment and looking forward to the future that lies ahead.

I am here to remind you that life is happening right now. THIS is what it's all about... THIS moment... right now. You cannot reach that which you strive for without moving through that which exists right now.

You will remember me when you need it most - when you feel the knot in your stomach that tells you, "Something is wrong here." In that moment, remember the lesson of the pearl - even the most challenging things become beautiful treasures when we accept them for what they are.

We are unfolding together. We are birthing the next moment... and the next... and the next. We are creating beautiful treasures together, right now.

* SoulCollage is the process, developed by Seena B. Frost, of creating and "reading" a deck of collaged cards from found images - cards that are arranged in suits for the primary purpose of self-exploration and self-acceptance. SoulCollage cards are made from original purchased art (e.g., art published in magazines, calendars, books, cards, etc.) and personal materials (e.g., photos). SoulCollage cards are not to be sold, traded, or bartered and are to be reproduced only for the personal use of the maker of the card. For more information about this amazing process, check out http://www.soulcollage.com/ or http://www.kaleidosoul.com/.

An Unexpected Visitor...

Last night around midnight, I found my dog Abby standing at the sliding door that leads onto my back porch. Her ears were perked up, her head was cocked to the side, and she was whining quietly. I glanced out the window, but it was pretty dark out there. However, I could make out the shadow of a six-foot-tall shelving unit that's on the porch... and it was rocking back and forth. I ran to the window and flipped on the porch light to see the biggest raccoon I've ever seen in my life!

He was totally caught in the act... I have an airtight dog food storage container on the back porch, and the smart little bugger had figured out how to unscrew the lid. He had his rear end sticking straight up in the air as he balanced himself on the shelving unit and crawled into the storage container to chow down on Abby's food. When I turned on the light, he just stuck his head out for a moment and went right back to the feast!

I scared him off before going out and screwing the lid back on REALLY tight. Then I turned the light off and waited, with all the inside lights off so I could watch through the window. Sure enough... three or four minutes later he was back, and he tried to get that lid off for several minutes before giving up!

But before he left the porch, he sauntered over to the sliding door where Abby was watching. He put both front paws up on the door and stood to his full height, sniffing at the glass. Abby leaned in and began licking the glass... they were inches apart - just separated by the sliding door. Abby never barked once! I think deep-down inside, she just wanted to make a new friend. :)

What I miss most about living in the woods by Mt. Hood is all the wildlife I used to see every day. It's nice to know that there are some wild animals making it, even in the heart of Beaverton!

Perhaps I'll leave a treat out for our new friend every now and then...



UPDATE!! (12/6/08) - He came back again last night, and I was ready for him. I had the porch light on and a camera ready. He spent a loooong time trying to get the dog food container open, and he explored everything else on the porch just in case there was more food stashed somewhere out there. He also came right up to the sliding glass door to check me out. Here are the rest of the pics from this visit... enjoy!

The Christmas Spirit...

A friend recently posted this video on her Facebook page and it inspired me to try something different this year. I'm going to make most of my holiday gifts for friends and family, or I'm going to recycle things that I already have and would love to share with others around me. In addition, I'm going to match the money I spend on gifts, supplies for making gifts, wrapping, and shipping by donating to charities that make a difference in the world.

Of course, this adventure has required me to get started early, and here's what I've already noticed:

1. I love being artistic, but it's something I often fail to make time for in my day-to-day life. Making gifts for other people has given me an amazing reason to be artistic, rather than coming home and plopping down in front of a computer game or book. So it has been a real gift to myself, too.

2. Making a promise to match my holiday spending with charitable giving is forcing me to be creative and think about every dollar I spend. I'm doing things like making my wrapping paper out of materials I already have in order to save money. And that's a good thing... because rampant consumerism is definitely NOT a good thing. (If you're not sure why I say that, check out www.storyofstuff.org)

3. For the first time in years, holiday gifts mean something to me. You see, I've already logged hours of time making gifts, and I've spent each of those hours thinking about the people I love... reminiscing about our times together... trying to envision what they would enjoy the most. That's what Christmas is really about. It's a lot more work than clicking the "buy" button at some Internet shopping site, but it's been so worth it to me.

4. I haven't had to survive the obnoxious crowds, super-sappy holiday music, long lines, and "buy, buy, buy" messages that bombard people in malls and stores these days. Which means I get to decide what Christmas is about for me, rather than letting pop culture decide for me. And I've got more time for making those gifts... do you see the cycle?

5. I get to honor my friends and family AND make a difference in the world through charitable giving. That gives me warm fuzzy feelings inside.

So if you're reading this, here's my request: take a few minutes to watch the video and decide how YOU'RE going to make a difference this year. Maybe it will be something small... that's okay. It all starts with small acts of kindness.

And please know that you'll be getting something relatively small or hand-made from me... and that I don't expect anything expensive or extravagant from you, either. Your love and friendship is enough... everything else is just a bonus!

Fancy Mac and Cheese

Here's a recipe for Rosemary-Brie Mac and Cheese that I absolutely adore! I borrowed it from a fantastic blog called Pie in the Sky and adapted it a bit to suit my own tastes and cooking skills. It's a big hit at potluck dinners, and it's great when you want good-old comfort food (but fancied up a bit, so you feel better about eating it :)



Rosemary-Brie Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

2 cups small elbow macaroni
1/2 cup panko flakes or breadcrumbs
6 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2/3 cup whole milk (may add more as needed)
7 oz. Brie, rind removed
5 oz. gruyere, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
5 oz. fresh shitake mushrooms, sliced
1 cup diced green apple (Granny Smith is best)
salt and pepper to taste


Directions:

Cook macaroni in medium saucepan of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Rinse, drain, and set aside for now.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in small saucepan; saute mushrooms a few minutes until tender and set them aside.

Melt another tablespoon butter in same small saucepan (no need to wash in between) and saute green apples until they start to get tender, then set them aside (I put them into the same bowl as the sauteed mushrooms - again, less dishes to wash).

Melt another tablespoon butter in same small saucepan (again, no need to wash). Add the panko or breadcrumbs and stir over medium heat for about a minute. Then remove from heat and set them aside, too.

Melt remaining 3 tablespoons of butter in a LARGE saucepan. Add flour and whisk over medium-low heat for two minutes. Gradually whisk in milk. Add rosemary and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Once boiling, whisk for two minutes longer, then reduce heat to low. Add the cheese and stir until melted.

Remove from heat and add sauteed mushrooms and apples. Add more milk as needed for thick, creamy consistency.

Preheat broiler.

Mix macaroni into sauce and season to taste with salt and pepper (I left these out completely, and it still had plenty of flavor - it's your call). Spoon into Pyrex pan and sprinkle the breadcrumbs over top.

Broil until breadcrumbs are brown, about 2 minutes. Serve hot and enjoy!


*** Note: The original recipe called for fresh figs, rather than green apples. I don't like figs, though, so I swapped them out for the apples and I loved the result. The apples add a nice, tangy touch. Try it both ways and let me know what you think!

Things I'm Thankful For...

• My parents, who have always loved me and supported me despite all the crap I've put them through.
• My first love, Adam... I'll never forget what it felt like to be loved for who I am. I know I'll find that again someday.
• The children in my class - they are so small and vulnerable, yet they radiate joy and trust. They remind me of the things that really matter in life.
• The parents of the children in my class, for trusting me with their most important treasures every day.
• Megan O, my best friend and the sister I never had, for loving me through the ups and the downs. Here's to a bright future together, raising our kids and playing in the sunshine and making art and... well, you know.
• Nike, for respecting teachers and paying us accordingly.
• All my amazing friends, near and far... and the technology that helps us keep in touch, even in the midst of our busy lives.
• My dog Abby Lou... she's the best hiking buddy a girl could ever ask for and she's worth all the shoes she's chewed up over the years.
• My co-teachers and suitemates, who make it a joy to wake up and go to work every day.
• Portland, Oregon... finally a place that feels like home.
• Music... my lifeblood... when I can't find the words, I can always find a song to express how I feel.
• Barack Obama, who helped me rediscover the part of myself that cares about where our nation is headed.
• Landmark Education. I really wouldn't be who I am today without a three-day course called the Landmark Forum.
• Art... which comes in many forms, and hides inside all of us.
• The people who take the time to smile as they pass me on the sidewalk each day.
• Freedom and love and joy and celebrations and diversity and friends and family and heartache and trust and all the other things that make us human.
• I'm grateful for every day in this beautiful Universe!

What I Listen to on the Tough Days....

I don't adhere to any particular religion and I'm still bitter and frustrated with all the dogma in the world... but when it comes down to it, I know there's something more. I know we're not alone. I know it's not really about all the little things that seem to matter SOOOO much from day to day but are meaningless in the big picture. This song reminds me of that... it says it all for me. You can see Tyrone singing it here and it'll be on his new album that comes out in January.

"More" - Tyrone Wells

Sometimes I get so tired just trying to find a place to lay my head
I look up to the sky
I feel the warmest light comfort me.

I've seen the great heights reminding me I'm alive.
I don't want to die.
I don't want to waste another day or night.
I know there's something more than what we're living for.
I see it in the stars, I feel it on the shore...
I know there's something.

I think we're all afraid that we might be alone down here.
We all want to have some faith.
At least that's true in my case... to just believe.

I've seen the great heights reminding me I'm alive.
I don't want to die.
I don't want to waste another day or night.
I know there's something more than what we're living for.
I see it in the stars, I feel it on the shore...
I know there's something.

This world could crumble into the ocean.
This could all end tonight.
I undermine You, then try to find You - my only Source of light.

I'm breathing out...
and breathing...

I am alive!
I don't want to die.
I don't want to waste another day or night.
I know there's something more than what we're living for.
I see it in the stars, I feel it on the shore.

I know that I'm alive.
I don't want to die.
I don't waste another day or night.
I know there's something more than what we're living for.
I see it in the stars, I feel it on the shore.
I know there's something more.

Scrapbooking...

Tomorrow's my birthday, and to help me celebrate I'm taking a class this evening at a local scrapbook store (Scrapbook Attack in Beaverton). I'm going to be making a perpetual calendar that looks something like this:

I'm excited and intrigued and I'm looking forward to meeting new people. It's interesting to me how the "art" world and the "craft" world intersect in my life. I've always been prey to the notion that scrapbooking and crafting don't really count as art, or that they're somehow less legitimate. I sometimes find myself apologizing for my crafty side or reminding people that I'm not a real artist.

But tonight's my night to let that go, so here's my declaration: I am a person who loves to make beautiful things! Sometimes they are unique and self-invented. Sometimes they follow patterns or are taught by others. Sometimes they use the tools of the artistic trade, sometimes they use the tools of the crafting trade, and sometimes they combine the two styles into one. But they are all beautiful and I'm proud of them all!

So if you ever want a handmade perpetual calendar, now you know who to ask... look forward to lots of new variations on the theme! :)

Hair....

You know, it takes mere minutes to cut off inches and inches of hair. And it's fun... for a while. Here's the problem: when you finally decide you miss all that hair and you want it all back, it takes MONTHS to grow it out again. Why do I keep forgetting this? Why?

Oh well, at least I have a fantastic stylist friend... hopefully she can help me avoid the oh-so-awkward phases that are often inevitable while it's growing out again...

SoulCollage Party...

Last year for my birthday my best friend Megan and I took a class called SoulCollage* where we learned an amazing art technique that helps you get in touch with your own inner wisdom. This year - for my 31st birthday, which is coming up Tuesday - I'm hosting my own SoulCollage class, led by collage artist and SoulCollage facilitator Susan Marra. It will be amazing... and you're invited! Here are the details:

SoulCollage is a process that uses imagery to access your inner knowing. Through this simple process of SoulCollage, you will create one or more cards depicting an inner aspect of yourself and then using a unique questioning process to receive guidance from the images. You'll be creating beautiful art at the same time! Everyone has access to their creative inner knowing and anyone can do this fun and simple SoulCollage process.

The workshop will be led by Susan Marra. She has been a collage artist for 22 years. Discovering SoulCollage in 2007, she embraced the process as a fun and profound tool for self-exploration. She became a facilitator in 2008 and teaches classes around the Pacific Northwest.

The cost for the workshop is $30, which includes the training and all of the materials needed to make several SoulCollage cards of your own.Please feel free to invite other people - just make sure to let me know in advance who will be attending!

Date: Saturday, November 22, 2008
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Somewhere in Beaverton - Check Back Soon!

I'm including one of my completed SoulCollage cards, as well as the journaling that goes with it, to give you an idea of how the process works. I draw a card whenever I find myself challenged or frustrated in life, or whenever I've got a big decision to make. Often times, the card I choose is a perfect reminder of some part of myself that I've lost touch with... either positive or negative. It's often just enough to get me back on track. As you read the words below the card, listen to them as if the card is speaking to you. In this instance, it is the voice of the little girl that we are hearing.

I am the one who carries Peace within myself. I am in this world, but I am not of this world.
I create my own reality in every moment.

I am the one who chooses my own focus. I do not bend to the tide of public opinion and I do not surrender myself to the fears of others. I am a force for hope and love in the world. I am a rock of safety and kindness, and the chaos washes over me without altering my view of the world or muddying my childlike innocence. I find beauty in every moment.

I am the one who looks the monsters in the eye and smiles, refusing to run or to cower in fear. I am always with you - you do not need to cower anymore, either.

I am here to remind you that life goes on. I am here to tell you that you are more powerful than you have ever imagined. Do not forget - you are the creator of your own Universe. You choose your own reactions to life's challenges... you choose whether to focus on the monsters or the flowers... you paint each moment of your reality, much like you choose the images on each of your SoulCollage cards.

Today, I am asking you to paint with colors of hope, love, beauty, and compassion.

* SoulCollage is the process, created by Seena B. Frost, of creating and “reading” a deck of collaged cards from found images – cards that are arranged in suits for the primary purpose of self-exploration and self-acceptance. SoulCollage cards are made from original purchased art (e.g., art published in magazines, calendars, books, cards, etc.) and personal materials (e.g., photos). SoulCollage cards are not to be sold, traded, or bartered and are to be reproduced only for the personal use of the maker of the card. For more information about this amazing process, check out www.soulcollage.com or www.kaleidosoul.com.

Nike Guest Passes...

As you may know, I work for Nike... which means I get to shop at the Nike Employee Store. That's right... incredible Nike gear at incredibly cheap prices.

And because you're reading this blog, you could shop there too!

I've gotten lots of extra guest passes to the employee store for the holiday season, and I'd hate to see them go to waste. They have to be used up before the end of the year.

If you or your friends are interested in checking out the store - it's located in Beaverton, and it contains all the best Nike, Converse, Cole Haan, and Hurley gear at 50% off the retail price - just let me know. I'll need to know the date you want to do your shopping and I'll put your name on the guest list. I'll give you my employee number and directions to the store and you'll be admitted with no problems!

Easy breezy... leave a comment or e-mail me if you're interested. First come, first served!

Why I'm Voting for Barack Obama, Part 3: The Economy

I am by no means a brilliant economist. In fact, I scraped my way through MicroEconomics with a "C" in college. But there are two economic issues that I have opinions about in this election: taxes and regulation.

Taxes

John McCain claims to be against increased taxes... there's even a link on the main page of his website called "Don't Tax Me Joe" (referring, of course, to the now infamous Joe the Plumber). McCain voted for the Bush tax cuts, and he's already said he wants to continue those cuts and expand them as much as possible. The economic theory behind this is that keeping money in the hands of the people encourages business growth and creates new opportunities, while also providing incentives for people to move up in the world.

From a purely economic standpoint, that sounds great. After all, it's easy to decry Obama's tax increases for the wealthy as socialist attempts to spread the wealth around, and what all-American citizen would want that?!?

Well, I would.

You see, I'm looking at the economy from the other side, as someone who's struggling to make ends meet. I have a great education (BA in Sociology and MA.Ed. in Elementary Education) and a job with a great company (teacher in Nike's Child Development Programs). I perform a service that is valuable for our society, a service that I am uniquely trained to do. I take care of people's most precious commodity - their children. Yet there are still months when I have a difficult time making ends meet.

For years before starting my current job, I had no health insurance because none of my employers offered it and I couldn't afford my own policy on my meager income. I've only recently started saving for retirement, and I know I'm not saving as much as I'll actually need (but it's a start). I live in an apartment, and - even in the current "buyer's market" - owning a home seems to be a long way away for me. And I would love to be a mom, but no matter how much I squeeze my budget, I can't afford to have a child anytime soon.

If I'm having a tough time on my salary, I can't imagine how people who make less than me are faring. I did the math... a married couple in which each person makes minimum wage takes home even less money than me - much less! And that's in Oregon, where the state-mandated minimum wage is much higher than in the rest of the country. Somebody's got to do those jobs. We all eat in the restaurants where the bussers and dishwashers make minimum wage. We all load our children onto school buses where the drivers make less than a living wage. We all eat produce that was harvested by people making dismal pay. We all rely on working class people every day. It doesn't make sense to me to create an economy in which a large portion of the population does honest work and still can't live a satisfying life.

The common rhetoric is "Well, if they'd gotten an education and made different choices, they could have worked their way to the top, too." But that makes no sense. In order for our economy to operate, somebody's always got to be at the bottom. We couldn't all "pull ourselves up by our boot straps." Who would wash the dishes, drive the school buses, harvest our vegetables, care for our children while we're at work?

So if a slight increase in taxes on the wealthiest people and corporations (for example, Obama is proposing a three-percent increase on any business's profit above $250,000 per year) will allow for the funding of social programs to help the vast majority of us who will never make that much money in our lifetimes, than I support it.

The gap between the poor and the wealthy in America is ridiculous. There is no reason for someone to make millions of dollars a year, not when there are entire families living in one-bedroom apartments and wondering whether they should pay their heating bill or their car payment that month. Here's an example: according to the SEC, the CEO of Exxon-Mobil made over $16 million in 2007. Of course, that's not much for a company whose net profits totaled over $40 billion that same year. If you do the math, I would have to work 444 years to equal the amount Rex Tillerson made in one year. And Exxon-Mobil brings in the same amount of profit each SECOND that I earn in gross income every two weeks. I don't mind people doing well for themselves, but that's kind of nuts.

Regulation

The idea behind de-regulation is that when we leave free markets alone, they regulate themselves. And they probably do... over time. But the most compelling argument for regulation that I can think of involves the things that happen in the short run while the markets are balancing themselves out.

By their very nature, capitalist markets are driven solely by profit - corporations are designed to do whatever will make the most money. So ethical concerns become a factor only when they impact the bottom line. Here's an example to illustrate the point:

A toy company comes up with a bright new idea for a brilliant baby toy. They shop around for the least expensive means to produce and distribute the new toy in order to maximize its profit potential. Let's say that in this case, that means producing the toy in mass quantities in a large factory overseas. The factory is staffed and managed externally, so the original toy company has very little direct insight into the production process - but that's okay... after all, this particular factory was the cheapest bidder. They must be doing something right.

Only it turns out that the production was so cheap because it relied on poor quality materials, ones that hadn't been fully tested or approved for use in children's toys.

Eventually, the market will self-regulate. Children will begin to get sick and recalls will be necessary. The toy company will lose market share because parents will be afraid to buy their toys, so they'll switch to higher-cost factories or institute stronger internal oversight measures. They'll make sure their new toys don't contain the dangerous materials that caused the original problem, and they'll advertise like crazy to compensate for the decrease in sales. They won't do any of this because it's the morally correct thing to do - they'll do it to regain their market share and keep their profit rolling in.

But how many children got sick before this happened? And could stronger government regulation have prevented the problem in the first place by requiring oversight of all materials used in the manufacturing process? And what about the other problems that arise when cutting costs is the highest priority? Like dismal wages and working conditions in third-world factories... how will the market self-regulate those things if Americans never really find out about them?

Markets are designed around self-interest and profit maximization. I don't have a problem with that. But there are certain instances when the bigger picture needs to be considered... ethical issues, health issues, and other areas where the potential cost is just too high for any self-respecting society to pay. That's where regulators step in - to do what markets themselves are unwilling or unable to do.

Like Bush before him, McCain has always supported deregulation or worked to undermine the existing regulatory laws. They believe in giving corporations and the market free reign, something that I'm just not comfortable with.

While regulation may not be the biggest economic issue this country is dealing with right now, it does serve as a marker for the overall economic philosophies of the two candidates. And on this issue, like many others, Barack Obama has my vote.

Why I'm Voting for Barack Obama, Part 2: Education

I am a teacher. I was put on this planet to make a difference in the lives of children, and I'm very good at it. Therefore, I can't help but place a high emphasis on educational policies when I'm deciding who to vote for in any public election. Fortunately for me, there are big differences between the educational policies of Barack Obama and John McCain.

John McCain's Policies

John McCain's educational policy is centered around school choice, a topic that I wrote my undergraduate thesis about. He uses the evidence gathered under No Child Left Behind to argue that many schools are failing, and that we must give the children in those schools vouchers to allow them to choose better schools. It sounds reasonable, but here's the problem: this plan doesn't address the reasons why those schools are failing in the first place, and it doesn't do anything to improve the situation for those schools in the long run.

I've worked in some of those failing schools, and I can tell you why they're failing. My first year of teaching was spent in an urban environment outside Washington, DC. I had no teaching degree or experience, but they were so desperate for teachers that they'd hire anyone with a Bachelor's Degree. I was hired three days before school started and received almost no training. I was paid a daily wage that added up to about $19,000 per year with no benefits. I had twenty-nine fourth graders in my class, several of whom had violent histories and had already been in trouble with the law. We only had 25 desks, and there were only 15 copies of each textbook. At the beginning of the year, only six of my students were reading at a third grade level - the average reading level in my class was first grade. Is it a surprise that my students did not meet state or federal benchmarks on their standardized test that March? Should I, as a teacher, be penalized for that? Isn't there a minimum base line of quality that should be offered in education if we expect it to be successful? And shouldn't that base line of quality be available in every school, rather than giving students vouchers to seek out the schools that are offering it?

Aside from leaving behind the schools that are already failing, vouchers have one other problem: they only work if they are universally applied and if all families take advantage of them. The reality is that the voucher amounts proposed by McCain (and all the other republican school choice proposals I've ever looked at) aren't enough to cover the full costs of tuition at private schools, so they don't really offer poor families a valid choice. They also do not take into account challenging logistic factors like transportation. And they don't adequately inform or educate parents about their choices or the benefits of vouchers. So here's what we'll see: the families that are already involved in their children's education and have adequate resources will pull their children out of underperforming schools and take advantage of the voucher system, while the families who are already struggling the most will stay where they are... and the funding will follow the children who are leaving the underperforming schools... and the gap will grow bigger... and innocent children will continue to fall farther behind as their schools go even further downhill.

I'm not okay with that. I am a stand for ALL the schools in America having the resources they need to succeed and for ALL children receiving an excellent education FOR FREE and in their NEIGHBORHOOD'S PUBLIC SCHOOL. That was the original dream of public education in America... let's not give up on it yet.

John McCain does talk about resources for public schools, but he primarily reallocates money that is currently being spent. So every improvement he suggests in one area (like increased professional development for teachers) will necessarily remove funding from another area where it is currently being used. When bills to increase funding for education have come up in the past, John McCain has consistently voted against them. The only actual increase in funds proposed by the McCain campaign during this election is earmarked for increased access to virtual learning programs. These are basically online courses that have made a difference for some children, but should never be a replacement for quality public schools.

Barack Obama's Policies

There are several pieces to Obama's educational policies that I love. These don't represent his entire set of educational policies, just the parts that convinced me to vote for him this year.

1. Obama proposes increased funding for schools to help them address the gaps in performance that have been identified by testing under No Child Left Behind. I'm not always a fan of increased spending, but education is one area where we need to put our money where our mouth is. Remember: 29 students, 25 desks, 15 textbooks... that just doesn't add up.

2. Obama supports quality after-school programs that will help students in underperforming schools catch up, which gives them a chance to break the cycle that has trapped them for years. After all, how does a fourth grader who's reading at a first grade level have any hope of passing the standardized tests that face him for years to come. He's too far behind to catch up during regular school hours, and the strain placed on teachers takes their time and attention away from the students who are performing at or above grade level, causing them to eventually fall behind, as well.

3. Under his comprehensive "Zero to Five" plan, Obama supports early childhood initiatives that will support children and their families from the very beginning. As a preschool teacher, I know what a difference early childhood education makes for a child. There is a ton of research supporting the idea that critical brain development happens during the first two years of a child's life. So funding elementary schools is not enough if children are showing up at school without the neurological connections necessary to be successful learners. Reaching families earlier and providing them with the education and resources to be better parents from the beginning works... if you want proof, take a look at the Harlem Children's Zone project founded by Geoffrey Canada at http://www.hcz.org/.

4. Obama wants to make college more affordable, and he's created an innovative plan to do that while also benefitting the rest of the nation. He wants to create an Opportunity Tax Credit worth $4000 in exchange for community service. It's brilliant... similar to Clinton's Americorps program, which led to over 62 million hours of service in 2005 (the year for which statistics are available at Americorps's website).

Please take a minute to think about these eduational policies and the impact they will have on children across America... all children, not just your child.

Why I'm Voting for Barack Obama, Part 1: Introduction

News stories over the past few days have (understandably) been dominated by coverage of the two main candidates for the presidency: Barack Obama and John McCain. I've heard pundits and analysts giving out assessments of the candidates' strategies, I've heard the candidates themselves repeating their chosen mantras over and over again, and I've heard interviews with ordinary people talking about how they'll decide who gets their vote.

Sadly, through all of this, I haven't heard much focus on the things that really matter: the issues. People keep talking about whether or not John McCain is a hero because of his time as a POW during Vietnam, or whether or not Barack Obama's charisma will make him a better leader, or whether or not Americans are ready to elect a black man to the presidency... and so on and so forth.

But not many people are talking about the issues... the bare bones choices that the next president will make, choices that will dramatically impact all of our daily lives as national policies are shaped over the next four years. The personal characteristics of the people behind those policies matter very little to me - I want to know what they're going to DO if they're elected.

So I'm going to post several blogs discussing the policies that matter to me in this campaign. In each case, I agree with Barack Obama's policies and I disagree with John McCain's policies. I'll be sharing why, but (hopefully) in a respectful manner. I understand that not everyone will agree with me, and I honor the fact that everyone has to grapple with these issues for themselves. But I do hope people are doing just that - grappling with the issues. I hope they're not voting because of a gut feeling, or a candidate's public persona (which was probably designed by publicists and handlers for public consumption, anyway), or age or race or any of the other personal details that won't have much of an impact on the real issues that are facing our nation.

I realize these blogs might have made more of an impact earlier in the campaign, since many people have already cast their votes or made their decisions. But I also know that the issues I'm discussing here aren't going anywhere... and it's important for all of us to consider where we stand on each of them. So I believe these posts will remain relevant long after the presidential election - regardless of who wins - as we all consider the direction this country should head in the years to come.

*** Note: I'm only going to use information about the candidates' policies that I get from their own websites and promotional material. I won't be listening to their assessments of each other's policies or the opinions of third parties, since those can be easily skewed. I'm getting the descriptions of their opinions and policies "straight from the horse's mouth."

50 Things You Might Not Know About Me...

1. I once spent the night on a working bison ranch in Wyoming. Did you know modern-day wranglers use all-terrain vehicles instead of horses?
2. I was so disturbed by the movie “Clockwork Orange” that I threw up afterwards.
3. During my first two years of college I frequented frat parties… but I only pretended to like the taste of beer. Now I actually enjoy drinking beer, but I rarely attend big parties or go to bars.
4. I’m a Scorpio and I was born in the Year of the Snake.
5. One of my favorite childhood memories is eating ripe, juicy cherry tomatoes straight from the bushes in our backyard with my best friend, Anna.
6. I always thought I was a cat person. I’ve owned (at least) twelve of them in my lifetime…
7. … but now I’ve got a German Shepherd-Blue Heeler mix named Abby and she’s the light of my life. She’s the best hiking companion a girl could ask for.
8. I was a girl scout off-and-on until eighth grade. I loved selling the cookies, but I was always jealous of Boy Scouts who learned to do cool things like building campfires and whittling.
9. Landmark Education has changed my life… for the better.
10. I declared myself a vegetarian at age twelve and I’ve stuck to it. The only things I miss are Gorton’s fish sticks and my mom’s chicken nuggets.
11. I could listen to Bob Marley or Bob Dylan for the rest of my life.
12. The greatest concert I ever attended was The Violent Femmes at The Boathouse in Norfolk, Virginia in 1996. But these days, any show by Tyrone Wells is a close runner-up.
13. The blast at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 was loud enough to awaken me in my apartment in Alexandria, VA, several miles away. It took me until 4:00 that afternoon to find out that my mother was alright, and I’ll never take her for granted again.
14. I’m the only person in my immediate family with blue eyes. Of course, it’s a pretty small family…
15. In separate incidents, I have accidentally cut off the tips of BOTH of my thumbs. No worries, though… they’ve both grown back in due time.
16. I have almost nine thousand songs saved on my computer. I make a pretty mean mix-CD.
17. My favorite comfort food is lasagna… extra gooey… lots of cheese, lots of sauce. But homemade macaroni and cheese comes in at a close second.
18. I use a tiny little television set for watching DVDs, but I haven’t watched actual TV in over ten years. I’ve heard about reality TV, but I don’t really get it… it sounds like a bunch of people making fools of themselves while the rest of America laughs at their expense, and that’s not my style.
19. I own at least five journals that I’ve started and abandoned over the years. Most of them only have two or three entries.
20. My partner and I won first place in the JV Division of the American Debate Association’s National Championship in 1996… that’s right – I’m a national champion, so don’t ever pick a verbal fight with me.
21. Some words that I love: Patagonia, proposition, fan-tabulous, and Catalina (that one’s for my old friend, Jen).
22. My parents tape-recorded me at age three and called the tape “Amy the Wunnerful.” At the end of the tape, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I loudly declared my dream of becoming “a mommy.”
23. The bottoms of my feet are very calloused.
24. Intentionally misspelled words – like Kwik Mart – really annoy me.
25. My favorite book is Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus. In fact, I like to give away copies of the book to friends and leave copies in random places for strangers to stumble upon. So keep your eyes open…
26. I once went over a month without speaking to anyone… intentionally. It was one of the most powerful experiences I’ve had in my lifetime.
27. I’ve seen every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer… multiple times. Joss Whedon is a genius.
28. I dance in the car, especially when strangers are watching.
29. I tried my own mini-Super Size Me experiment last month. I hadn’t eaten fast food in eight years, but I tried eating it once a day for two weeks. Let’s just say it didn’t turn out well… and I won’t be eating fast food again anytime soon.
30. As you may have noticed, I really like ellipses…
31. As a child, I spent three years on an island that was 18 miles long and 11 miles wide. Cows outnumbered people two to one, and I remember sticking my hands through wooden fences with fistfuls of sugar cubes for the cows and horses.
32. I say a silent prayer every time I see road kill.
33. I’ve developed a recent obsession with getting back in touch with people from waaaaay back in the day, like middle school. It’s amazing how much we still have in common. I guess the things that make a good friend at age 12 aren’t that different from the things that make a good friend at age 30.
34. I’m a teacher… right down to my bones. I was put on this planet to make a difference in the lives of children, and I’m really good at it.
35. I often find myself drawn to artists, musicians, and other creative people.
36. I spent almost two years living at a yoga center as part of their Spiritual Lifestyle Program. Every now and then, I wish I’d never left…
37. I love action movies and science fiction books.
38. My father was in the Air Force, so we moved quite a bit while I was growing up. I still find myself getting the itch to move on every few years, so I try to pacify it by traveling as often as I can.
39. I went to high school with Allen Iverson. I’m afraid it ruined basketball for me, since nothing else can ever compare to watching him run circles around the other high school players.
40. I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I like to be in control… but both of these tendencies seem to be mellowing with age.
41. I feel safest when I’m surrounded by mountains.
42. I am definitely not a morning person, though I no longer stay up until all hours of the night… at least, not on a regular basis.
43. I’m an only child. I’m sometimes jealous of my friends who had big families and who lived in the same hometown for most of their lives.
44. I read a lot, and I read quickly. I love anything written by Neil Gaiman, Guy Gavriel Kay, David Sedaris, Jacqueline Carey, Daniel Quinn, Orson Scott Card, Philip Pullman, Ian McEwan, Annie Lamott… the list goes on and on.
45. I’m a member of a local CSA farm, and I love it! Veggies taste so much better when you know the farmer who picked them.
46. My politics would best be described as very liberal. I’m an idealist to my core, I believe a society that doesn’t work for everyone isn’t worth much, and I’ve taught children who were born with the deck stacked against them. It’s not something I can turn away from… and neither should you.
47. I want to learn to ski or snowboard.
48. I love making art, especially collage and photo art.
49. It’s a constant struggle to keep my house and my car neat. I’m an organized person, but the sense of order is often hidden beneath a surface layer of “stuff.”
50. Last summer I took myself on a last-minute, ten-day trip to Sydney, Australia. I booked the trip less than a week before the flight left, and I didn’t even have a passport. Now I know that I can make anything happen when I put my mind to it…

Teachers...

I've been thinking about this poem I love by Taylor Mali, an amazing school teacher and poet... it perfectly describes the magic of teaching, in an eff-you-for-ever-undervaluing-teachers-in-the-first-place kind of way. And yes... it contains a few naughty words.

Taylor Mali is an incredible spoken-word poet who has left his mark on poetry slams across the nation. Truly, this poem is best when it's heard aloud... so as you read, try to imagine it being recited aloud with a note of bitterness and a heavy dose of inspiration. Better yet, check out Taylor reciting the poem here.

What Teachers Make

He says the problem with teachers is,
"What's a kid going to learn from someone
who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.

I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.

Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.

"I mean, you’re a teacher, Taylor," he says. "Be honest. What do you make?"

And I wish he hadn't done that (asked me to be honest) because, you see,
I have a policy about honesty and ass-kicking:
if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
"How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best!"

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence.
"No, you may not work in groups."
"No, you may not ask a question."
"Why won't I let you get a drink of water? Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's why."

I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
"I hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today."
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

I make parents see their children for who they are and what they can be.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder, I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And hide it on their final drafts in English.

I make them understand that if you got this (brains) then you follow this (heart)
and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you give them this (the finger).

Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a goddamn difference! What about you?

Feed the Animals

I am now officially a fan of Girl Talk, aka Gregg Gillis. He's a guy who samples hundreds of tiny bits and pieces from other songs to make magic! His mixes are fantastic... they flow together so smoothly, and I love trying to pick out the pieces of other songs that I recognize.

In just one track from his new album, he samples Roy Orbison, Ludacris, Rage Against the Machine, Aaliyah, Sinead O'Connor, and twenty other pop artists... it's unbelievable.

His new album is called "Feed the Animals" and it's available as a pay-what-you'd-like download at http://www.illegalart.net/... just click on the album cover and follow the directions. I'd recommend paying at least $5.00 to get the seamless mp3 file - I think that's the best way to enjoy the music, since it allows each song to flow directly into the next.

Check it out... at the very least, it's different from most of the stuff being played on the radio these days.

And if you want a little more information, go to the website for NPR's Day to Day and listen to Friday's show... he was interviewed for the program, and that's how I first heard about him.

Hello... Love... Are You Out There???

What happened to the days when people married their high school sweethearts?

What happened to the days when people stayed together for decades without wondering if they were missing out on something better or playing the field to size up the competition?

What happened to the days when people couldn't wait to get married because of all the things they weren't allowing themselves to do until AFTER that sacred ceremony (ahem... I think you know what I'm talking about here...)?

Don't get me wrong... I know those days haven't disappeared completely. And I also know that I've phrased these questions to present a highly romanticized version of old-fashioned love.

But I'm starting to feel like there's an epidemic of independence among my generation. We were so eager to do things differently than our parents that we walked away from some traditions that weren't so bad to start with.

So now I find myself in a bit of a predicament at age 30. I'm single... and at times I'm lonely.

I'm not lonely in a day-to-day, sitting-alone-in-my-room-being-depressed kind of way. I have lots of amazing friends and a fairly active social life. I attend events that interest me and I've got plenty of people to call when I need to chat.

But I'm lonely in a deep, abiding, who-will-I-share-the-rest-of-my-life-with kind of way.

I want someone that loves me just the way I am... someone that I can love completely, too. I want the security of knowing I don't have to be playing mind games and staying one step ahead of my partner. I want someone to share my secrets with. And I want to be a mother, with an amazing father by my side.

I'm not the only thirty-something person I know in this situation... in fact more of my friends are single than married. And while the single life has plenty of benefits, many of us are beginning to feel an urge to settle down.

But where do you go when you're ready to settle down? Where do you find true love?

I never realized how easy it was to date in high school and college until I started to seriously consider the idea of dating as an adult a few years back.

Back then, we were surrounded by people in our age group who shared lots of things in common... if nothing else, we were in the same classes so we always had something to talk about. And our "world" was small enough back then that it wasn't too difficult to figure out who was single and who was already in a relationship.

Now we have.... Internet dating... and speed dating... and bars... and Craigslist... yeeecccchh.

Don't worry, I haven't given up on love. But I am asking for help:

1. Do you know any fantastic (and single) guys who are equally frustrated with the challenges of meeting great women who are looking for committed relationships? Send 'em to this blog or give 'em my phone number...

2. Do you know of other ways to meet people... ways that actually allow you to get to know one another and share common interests, rather than just getting drunk and trying to look cool? Share 'em in the comments section or give me a call and let me know...

3. Do you have any other words of inspiration or advice? Lemme know, please...

Until then, I'll leave you with this quote from Leo Buscaglia:

"Perfect love is rare indeed - for to be a lover will require that you continually have the subtlety of the very wise, the flexibility of the child, the sensitivity of the artist, the understanding of the philosopher, the acceptance of the saint, the tolerance of the scholar and the fortitude of the certain."

Deadlines and Sewing Machines and Cheapskates, Oh My...

Don't you hate when you have a last-minute project with an upcoming deadline and everything's rolling along fine until... your sewing machine breaks... the night before... at 9:00 pm...

So my co-teachers and I are going to have to get creative with the Dream Flags that the parents in our classroom are supposed to be decorating for their babies at tomorrow evening's Back-to-School Night celebration.

That'll teach me for buying an ultra-cheap-o sewing machine last year. I may not sew very much... but when I do sew, I need the darn thing to work!

And of course, there's absolutely NO chance this is operator error... wink, wink.

Brunch = Brilliant

I hope whoever thought up the idea of brunch got an award for it...

And I hope Casa Naranja - a relatively new restaurant on Mississippi Ave - becomes as brilliantly popular as it deserves to be.

I had brunch there today because a friend of mine is dating the sous-chef, and it was delightful. Excellent food, great art on the walls, good ambience, and fantastic service (knowing a chef doesn't hurt, of course...).

I remembered that I really love mimosas with Sunday brunch, and I discovered the concept of a "torta" - sort of like quiche, only way yummier. Mine had layers of egg, potatoes, sage, tomatoes, and onions, all drizzled with a spicy honey sauce. Mmmmmm....

As if that's not enough, my friend Kennedy brought some of her friends that I'd never met before and we had some great conversations. So it really IS easy to make new friends, after all. One thing leads to another... and another... and eventually it all comes full circle.

So check it out... http://www.casanaranjapdx.com/. I heard it just got chosen as a Willamette Weekly pick-of-the-week, so get in now before all those tables are full!

Art Party!

I'm having an Art Party this weekend!

I've been binding books and making homemade journals like crazy... everyone will get to pick one to decorate. We'll be making photo albums, journals, memorial books, sketchbooks... whatever people are inspired to create.

And I'm amazed by how many people are coming! Lots of friends, both new and old. It seems I'm not the only one who likes to get crafty...

I'm in the window of time when I usually get a bit panicky... people coming over tomorrow, big event to get ready for, need the house to be clean and the supplies to be organized, and it feels like there's too much to do. But this time I'm going to take it easy and enjoy it. After all, this is supposed to be fun! I'm not going to ruin it by stressing out. That's a big lesson I've learned over the past few years, and this Art Party is my chance to put it into practice.

Here's another lesson I've learned: it's not so hard to make new friends, after all. You just look for people you enjoy being around, strike up a conversation, and invite them to get together sometime. It really is that simple... :) I can't wait to get to know all the new friends that are coming over this weekend, and I can't wait to see all that creativity unleashed on the world. We're going to create beautiful things!

Life is good... life is very, very good.

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old...

This weekend I had dinner with two friends that I haven't seen in eighteen years!

My father was in the Air Force, so we moved quite a bit when I was young. Of all the moves, the toughest one for me was leaving Alexandria, Louisiana in 1990, the summer between 7th and 8th grades.

You see, for the first time in my life I had real friends. Not the kind of friends that liked the same My Little Pony toys as me or showed up to play dates arranged by my mom, but real friends. I had a group of friends that I loved hanging out with... friends I had chosen for myself... friends I could tell secrets to. And we were finally old enough to walk to each other's houses after school or stay up late at slumber parties.

And then I moved... boy did it suck leaving all that behind to be the "new girl" in eighth grade.

My Louisiana friends and I promised to keep in touch, but that's a tough promise for a twelve-year-old to keep, so it wasn't long before we lost contact altogether... until Facebook intervened and we reconnected a few months ago.

And it turns out one of them lives in Portland, and another is seriously considering moving to Portland sometime soon.

So Becky and Linda and I met up for dinner downtown this weekend and it was a blast!

Of course we were nervous that we wouldn't have anything in common. A lot changes between seventh grade and adulthood, and we had no way of knowing in what direction each of our lives had gone during the past eighteen years.

But after a few hours of laughing, reminiscing, and catching up on each other's lives, here's what we decided: some things never change, and the things that make you choose your friends when you're twelve are the SAME things you look for in a friend when you're thirty.

It just reaffirms my belief that we start out as wise as we'll ever get, and that children really do have all the answers.

I'm Baaa-aack...

I've been away from the blog for a while, thanks to my own slacker-ness, crappy service from Verizon, and a distinct lack of Internet connection at my new apartment.

But I'm back, and the Internet is once again up and working!

That's all I have to say for now...

StarStruck!

I'm a huge fan of an up-and-coming singer from California named Tyrone Wells.... he is amazing!

I discovered him a few years back through a website called Pandora, an online streaming radio station. The site finds new songs that are similar to songs or artists you already enjoy. If you haven't tried Pandora yet, check it out... it's a great way to find new music that you might not have heard before - lots of unsigned artists and independently-produced albums.

Back to the point... I love Tyrone Wells. His songwriting is beautiful and uplifting, his voice is incredible, and he's not bad to look at. He's also got the stage presence of a HUGE star just waiting to happen...

AND HE LEFT A COMMENT ON MY MYSPACE PAGE THIS WEEK!!! I'm very giddy about it... that's right, giddy... like a pre-teen girl... it's fantastic!

So now I love Tyrone Wells EVEN MORE because he actually responds to questions from his fans... and in a very timely manner (as in... less than an hour after I asked a question on his blog).

So here's my request: check out Tyrone's website or MySpace page, and if you love him as much as I do (or even if you're mildly intrigued or interested in his music) check out his tour dates and go see a show near you... you won't regret it. I saw him on the west coast leg of his tour a few months back and he's great... and his opening act, Jason Reeves, is also incredible. Well worth the $12 ticket cost, so I'll be seeing them again when they're in Portland next month.

http://www.tyronewells.com/ or www.myspace.com/tyronewells


PS - Yes, I realize he may not have actually left the MySpace comment himself... he was recently signed by Universal, so he's probably got managers and other people to answer questions and respond to fans... but it's still very cool and it still made my day.