Monday, April 27, 2009

The Boys in the Band


The Boys in the Band, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Saturday we got to hang out with our Tumbleweed gang again at Peg & Dave's house. It was an incredibly lovely afternoon. I've got loads of photos over on Flickr.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Pool Party Aftermath


Pool Party Aftermath, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Brrrrrrrrr. It's amazing the kids could swim in an outdoor pool in April. It's solar heated, but still.
We had a lovely evening with the Tumbleweeds last week. A double birthday swim party and potluck. What a nice group of folks.

Newly Discovered Flower Species

At least, new to me. I believe that we often (or continuously) slip sideways into alternate parallel realities. If you scroll down there's a great little video that explains the ten dimensions as understood by physicists.
Anyway, one of the markers I use to know when this is happened is unfamiliar plants or trees. Just this spring Krista and I have found at least four or five of them here in our own neighborhood.
You might think, well big deal, you just never noticed them before. It's not like you know every plant species do you?
No I don't. But that's not the point, exactly. It's a subtle thing, this shift. Usually the shifts are small, incremental. And I suppose, from a relative personal perspective, they could be good or bad.
Seeing new pretty flowers strikes me as a good sign!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Jim Carrey on Vaccines


It's so refreshing to hear a voice of reason on this issue, even if the speaker once played The Grinch. Here's a link to his article on Huffington Post, if you have an interest in the issue. Happy Earth Day.

"With vaccines being the fastest growing division of the pharmaceutical industry, isn't it possible that profits may play a part in the decision-making? That the vaccine program is becoming more of a profit engine than a means of prevention? In a world left reeling from the catastrophic effects of greed, mismanagement and corporate insensitivity, is it so absurd for us to wonder why American children are being given twice as many vaccines on average, compared to the top 30 first world countries?"

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Water Bottle Skylights

I just stumbled upon this video from Brasil, where folks are using water filled plastic bottles to make very effective solar lighting fixtures.

Moving Day


Moving Day, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Yesterday was payback time. We helped our friend Danny move (he's helped us twice--and we have way more than twice as much stuff as he does). That's his nephew Austin on the couch.
After about 12 years in his old apartment, Danny bought a house in a co-housing 'village' just down the way. Pretty cool.
Danny had a great crew show up to help him move and we got it done in jig time. But my god I'm sore today!

Andrea Asebedo


Andrea Asebedo, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

My wonderful sister came to visit again. She's been coming down from Redding to teach a course at the local Spiritual Enrichment Center. It's been lovely catching up and hanging out.

Spring Lake


Spring Lake, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Eden and Aja dragged me away from my computer Friday and we went around beautiful Spring Lake. They skated while I slowly walked.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Wolf Loves Pork

Amazing Special Offer! Act Now!!!


My Office, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Well, I'm at it again. Last time I raised money for my trip to Thailand. In fact I made enough to cover my airfare! Thanks to all the folks who got massages.
This time I'm hoping to raise about $550 to buy Eden a laptop for her birthday May 14th. It's a rather expensive present, but I think she'd actually make good use of it.
So if anyone wants a great massage, my special offer is $45 for 75 glorious minutes. Come and get it! Just drop me a line at robbibaba@sbcglobal.net

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

matching shirt and bunny


matching shirt and bunny, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

I noticed that Zephyr's chocolate bunny matched his tie dye shirt! Just look at its eyes. Does that bunny look a little bit scared? It had good reason to be concerned.

Bunny Man


Bunny Man, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Easter Brunch


Easter Brunch, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

I married into a great family.

Easter Morning


Easter Morning, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

The girls are still young enough to enjoy their Easter baskets, but this year I think they actually got more pleasure making a basket for Krista and I. And truth be told, their basket for us was the best one.

Sky Fish


Sky Fish, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Santa Rosa has built one of the nation's most beautiful homeless encampments. Well, actually it's a park along the Santa Rosa Creek, the Prince Memorial Greenway, featuring beautiful murals, mosaic walls, walkways with stone work and lots of plantings.
It's a gorgeous place to walk, although the freeway overpass makes it a bit noisy. There are also enough gnarly dudes about to make it a bad place for women on their own. A friend of ours got chased a few years back, riding through on her bike.
But on a sunny Saturday afternoon, it felt pretty safe and was inspiring. The city has made this a wonderful place to walk.
The fish is a big mosaic sculpture at the start of the walkway. I guess it's about 15 feet tall or so, emerging from the concrete and surrounded by a mosaic map of all the local watersheds.

Kinetic Wave Sculptures

A fascinating look at kinetic sculpture and the genius artist who makes it. You can click on the Vimeo name to get it larger screen. Enjoy.

Maker Profile - Kinetic Wave Sculptures on MAKE: television from make magazine on Vimeo.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Sound of Music Train Station Dance

Well, if I offended you with Whiskey Jesus, maybe this will make up for it.

"The dancers are presenting the purest form of art imaginable: art simply and truly for the sake of art...They managed to punch right through my cynicism and show me that good things are still out there and there are good people in the world...In a small way, I have a deeper understanding of what it is to be human because of the actions of 200 fellow humans in a train station in Belgium."

Whiskey Jesus

I hope I don't offend anyone with this extremely sacrilegious video. It's just too funny not to post! Click the Vimeo label to see it in a bigger size. Enjoy.

Whiskey Business - Whiskey Jesus from Eric Power on Vimeo.

Monday, April 06, 2009

Sexy Fool


Sexy Fool, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Saturday was the Occidental Fools Parade. I think it was the fourth annual? Krista painted this old umbrella and sewed pom poms on it. We all put a bit more into our costumes this year.
It was FUN!! I'm sure it must be the world's shortest parade. Once we get going it seems to take about 20 minutes to reach the end. But the end is a live blues band and dancing and milling about with some pretty awesome folks.
I've got lot's more photos up on Flickr.
enjoy.

Robbibaba and the Coyote


Robbibaba and the Coyote, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Firebird


Firebird , originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Dragonfly Girl


Dragonfly Girl, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Art Nose


Art Nose, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Our pal Art Moura--wild artist and father of Aja.

Cousins


Cousins, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Peeing Goat on Parade


Peeing Goat on Parade, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Discovery


Discovery, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

We had a delightful visit from my niece Kaytea and her daughter Nalina last weekend. Nalina is about 4.5 months old and such a happy little baby--she was a delight to hold and carry about.
I'd just about forgotten what that feels like. I'd also forgotten how exhausting it is caring for a very young person. Good god. I don't see how anyone can manage it. But somehow we do.
My sister Andy came to visit around 5pm and then Kaytea showed up with her husband Sean, his two teenage boys Jeremy and Tyler. We had a very full house that night! Ten of us!!
There are more photos of Nalina and family on my Flickr site.

Off to Idaho


Off to Idaho, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Sean with Jeremy and Tyler.

Eden and Nalina


Eden and Nalina, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Preoccupied


Preoccupied , originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.