itchy itchy feet that refuse to get scratched

So, I spent two months on the road. Itinerant. Wandering. Movemovemovemoe

Then, I came home. My Mom came to visit. When she left, I went back on the road for a weekend. And then the following weekend. And the weekend after that, too. I'm not sure my wanderlust has been sated, but I'm determined to stay home this weekend.

I'm sure there's plenty I could write about those adventures. But, here's what actually finally inspired me to post:

Megs and I held a duel between Private Selection Premium Fruit Bars (Strawberry) and Dreyer's brand strawberry Fruit Bars. While Dreyers had a more consistently creamy texture, the PS brand had more strawberries and a sweeter flavor. The cheapo knockoff brand wins! Please purchase accordingly.

this message brought to you by the strangest lunch, ever: Potato Salad, scrambled eggs spiced with various indian flavors & cinnamon, and fruit bars. This lunch was consumed while creating a Thank You card for the Conrad Beach Co-op folk who kindly hosted us on last last latestlast minute notice, in San Francisco. We cut out the card to look like the Wasatch Range. Timpanogos, the Y on Ymountain, and June Suckers merrily swimming through Utah Lake were all included. You miss Provo. You know it. Don't deny

Hello.

Preach It, Sister!

I listened to this interview while I was at work on my Ipod. Then, I came home and watched the same interview. Amazing. I first learned of A People's History when I was in High School, reading an op-ed piece in the local paper. Later, I tried to ask my teachers about the book but no one knew what I was talking about. I couldn't remember the title and so the book was lost to me until now.

The dramatizations, I think, were more moving when I was listening to them. Without the image of the actress, I was free to imagine Susan B Anthony, Cesar Chavez, Sojourner Truth, speaking the words. So, perhaps when the actors step up, just close your eyes and listen. However, what I earned with watching the video was an appreciation for the age of Howard Zinn. Watching a grandfatherly and great-grand fatherly man discuss these great orators out of history, helped me to remember that the causes of social justice are timeless. I've been told that I will "grow out" of my concerns. But, here are two men who are quite old enough to have "grown out of their concerns." And, they haven't.

Bill Moyers Journal interview with Howard Zinn

The video is nearly 30 minutes long, but worth the watch. If it's not your cup of tea, I suggest fast fowarding to the 23rd minute to listen to the final dramatization--Kerry Washington as Sojourner Truth, a fiery abolitionist who was born in to slavery.

New Year Song

"What a Wonderful World" with spoken intro by Louis Armstrong off the Louis and Friends album.

I would have preferred to share just an audio clip, but couldn't find one. This you tube video is what I found instead. No need to watch, I'm not too keen on the video. But, listen, if you like. I like.

Testing

I subscribed to my blog's rss feed to see if it was working the way I thought (with a title and the first paragraph.) It wasn't. But, now it doesn't seem to be posting anything.

Test...1...2...3

Life Transitions

Several of us are approaching life transitions of some sort or another:
Completing a university education ~~~~~congratulations, Austin!
Finishing graduate school ~~~~~congratulations, Rachel!
Embarking on globe trotting expeditions ~~~~~congratulations, Megan!
Flirting with the possibility of new love ~~~~~or so I hear, DareISayWho?
Mourning the loss of once-known love ~~~~~so sorry, TooMany.
Celebrating new life ~~~~~congratulations, Menards!
I'm sure there are many more ~~~~~celebration & sorrow as are fit

As I move through my own transitions, everything seems very abstract. I can't just sit down and sort out everything that is swirling around and inside me right now. Often, I find myself simply stepping back and allowing all of the emotions and events to simply move on their own. It seems like just loosening up and moving with whatever comes is best as long as the ground is still moving beneath me.

Still, there are a few things that hint to a more sure-footed future. Good conversations hold me in the moment. Spending time out of doors, in natural surroundings, consistently lends me a sense of peace.

As you are currently approaching life's transitions, or as you have in the past, what helps most to encourage hope?

Autumn

Autumn here in Provo has been unusually kind to us for the past week or so. Tomorrow, a wicked cold front is supposed to sweep through and freeze us all. So, I thought that I'd share a few Autumn-happy-warmths with you:



Beans are beautiful and tasty. I turned these beans into taco soup that was oh-so-filling. I was more than happy to eat the leftovers all the following week. I like Autumn because it means I start cooking soups again.



As soon as I got my car, I headed off to drive the Nebo Loop. Even in the desert, we can get a taste of Fall colors,



and Fall cattle,



and Fall deer,



and Fall views.



Also, this once-a-leaf-pile is now-a-compost-heap that I am very excited about. Bring me your food scraps and I shall return them to the Earth. Autumn helped make this possible, too. ::nod::



I am off and away on my new adventure to appreciate cooler weather. Don't you think?