One a Day

A few days ago I decided to start posting an entry here every day for the next month.
It's all about quantity from here on out!

Today was full on sunny, after weeks of rain and gloomy skies. The girls begged me to take them hiking! So we drove down to Crane Creek Park and did the big loop, watching huge clouds roaming the sky. The creeks were all full and rushing noisily along. The air was scented with Bay Laurel, just coming into flower. The moss on the huge old oaks was lush and nearly fluorescent. What a beautiful day to be out.

Back home we finally took down the Christmas tree. Eden was very unhappy. I think she wanted to keep it up until Easter, but I was getting nervous about the fire hazard! It was very dry indeed. Karen and Bruce dropped by so that Zoe could spend the night with Eden and Bruce tuned up our old mandolin and began playing the sweetest songs on it! What an awesome treat. He also played Krista's resonator guitar while we tranced out. I like having musicians around!

Friday and Sugar

This year for Christmas the girls got rats. We'd got hold of a nice rat cage and had it outside on the back deck. Since we were all up way before dawn (not my idea) it wasn't until the very last present was being opened that India spied the cage through the glass door.
She and Eden were ecstatic and squealed and danced about. In the cage we'd placed photos of cute rats peering out. We rightly figured the girls would prefer to choose their own critters.
So the very next morning we drove off in search of young female rats. It took us three stores to track them down and there were only two to choose from! Must have been on everyone's list?
The rats we found were rather unusual. Both of them had curly whiskers and very soft fur. Friday's fur is a most unusual blue gray color. We've never seen that in a rat before. I think we really lucked out, as both of them are very good natured and sweet. The big surprise for me was how much I've enjoyed having them around. The girls are being very good about caring for them. I haven't had to change the cage once. Just feed them extra good treats (I feel like a proper grandparent).

Call Me Comrade

Well, I've joined the Green Smoothie Revolution. Pictured here is my first attempt on my own. Usually I just snag a glass full of whatever Krista comes up with (um....actually that might be the best idea....)
Anyhow, what you are seeing here is a blender full of kale, with some other greens tossed in, some stevia, a banana, a little maca powder and I don't remember what all else is in there.
It was a true "Shrek slurry", green and awful looking, but actually went down pretty good. The idea is to get your greens (well, a LOT of greens really) in a highly digestible format. Believe it or not there are a lot of folks doing this and reaping amazing health benefits.
To be honest, my revolutionary fervor isn't what it could be. I really don't mind drinking this stuff, but it's a chore to make it. No worries, I'll just lurk around the kitchen when Krista is making hers!

Total Eclipse of the Heart - Literal Version

Santana Shreds

I may have posted this before. Make sure and pee before watching this. You don't want to wet yourself laughing. Just in case you don't get it: someone has taken concert footage and dubbed their own music over it. Their own godawful music. I don't know why this is so funny. Maybe it's the self satisfied faces of the musicians? Hope you enjoy.

I'm Starting A Tapping Group!

My EFT practice has been going pretty well. I've got wonderful clients, I've been teaching free classes and spreading the "good news" about tapping. Now I'm starting up a weekly drop in group on Tuesday nights. I'm pretty excited by this--I love working with groups!
It may (or may not) take a while to really get going, but I'm committed to making it a reality. I've got a great conference room in my building to use--it used to be the parlor in this turn of the century house, and has a fireplace and bay windows--and ten thousand law books lining the walls.
Here's a link to the web page I made for the group. Wish me luck!

Cynical? Me?

Some months ago my friend Donna called me a cynic. I suppose I had been being excessively negative, ranting about something or other. I was inclined to feel hurt, until I realized I had absolutely no idea what the word actually means.

I took a poll then and there and no one else in the room seemed to know either. I decided to look it up when I got home and completely forgot all about it. Until a few minutes ago. Some mysterious inner timer went off in my brain and viola! I looked up a definition:

Cynic: a person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions and who disbelieves in or minimizes selfless acts or disinterested points of view.

Nope. That's not me. I absolutely believe in altruism and the human potential for disinterested philanthropy and kindness. Duh. A cynic wouldn't have volunteered for the crisis hot line graveyard shift. So there, Donna!

But that got me wondering: what is the opposite of being cynical? I guess it's being naive. Blindly trusting people to do the right thing. Counting on others to be moral, ethical, loving and kind. In other words, not having a whole lot of experience yet.

My folks were a bit naive politically. They just couldn't (or wouldn't) believe that Ronald Reagan would "do something like that". 'Something like that' being the latest verified atrocity burning a hole in my ability to be proud of my country. I don't think I'm all that naive either. Especially not after working in group homes all those years.

Well, there's certainly a lot of room to be cynical about politics these days. Obama gave us some breathing space there, with his lovely promises and inspirational oratory. Was it all a lie? Today he asked for 33 billion dollars more for the war effort in Afghanistan. And, of course, we can't afford a public option.

The problem, as I see it, is that we've created monsters. Real monsters. They are devouring the very earth we live on, and they devour the souls of the people who serve them. And a lot of people serve them. When it comes to corporations, I am very cynical indeed.

You may disagree, but I believe that even the most twisted, cruel and criminally insane human being has some spark of the divine buried inside. But corporations are inhuman. They exist for one purpose and one purpose only: profits. And unless we can find a way to pull the plug, I reckon we're pretty much doomed.

But before Donna calls me fatalistic (though I like that rather better than being called cynical) I'll tell you this: I believe there is hope. People can awaken and have a change of heart. Even people who stoke the corporate furnaces. Even people who make their homes the corporate ladder of success.

Okay, call me naive, I can handle it.

Old Man Take A Look At My Life - Neil Young 1971

Happy New Year!

Avatar

Just got back from seeing the film Avatar. For the second time! I love this movie--just about everything about it, from the anti-imperialist/anti-corporate message to the gorgeous world portrayed with all the alien but totally believable flora and fauna. And of course the people themselves, with their tails that let them connect with the nature around them, and their beautiful skin and ornaments and wild cat looks.
I've been asked over and over about the level of violence, especially if it's okay for kids. There certainly are some intense scenes of combat and destruction and desecration of nature, but I wouldn't call it gratuitous. And there really isn't any blood flying or gore.
But most importantly, to me, you see the appropriate expression of grief. Something entirely lacking from so many films. And the overall message of Avatar is so great, including the total transformation of the main character, that everyone I've seen it with so far has found it uplifting and inspirational.
And of course the 3D aspect makes it even more visually stunning. I'm so glad I was able to see it in the theater. It almost feels like an event, more than just another movie.

The Painted Tongue Flowers

At long last, Krista's book collaboration with poet Amy Trussell is published and available for sale. It's been a long time coming, but last week a pallet full of 25 boxes of books showed up at our door. 2000 copies! Yikes.
On Friday, Amy and Krista had a little book launch reading here in Santa Rosa. Then the next day they were on display at Krista's open studio event. We've sold quite a few already--the beautiful art and incredible poetry are quite a combination, and some people were buying four or five copies to give as Christmas presents. Also, the book ended up being only $15. Originally I thought we'd set the price higher.
If you want to know more about the collaboration, or take a sneak peak at one of the poems, here's a link to Krista's Deva Luna website page. I've taken the liberty of putting a "buy now" button here on my blog. At this point all the copies we're selling are signed by both ladies, which is pretty cool. Check it out.
So far my contribution to the project has been finding the printer and carrying all 25 boxes into our living room (that would be 1125 pounds of books, by the way).
If you order the book by Saturday, December 19th, it should get to you by the 24th (can't guarantee that though) if you live in the continental US.

Cat Nip Trip

And here's another one, for your viewing pleasure.

Another Year to Be Grateful For

Another Year to Be Grateful For, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

I'm very thankful to be living in Sonoma County, California. Surely one of the most beautiful places to live on Earth. Here it is late November and we have roses blooming alongside the gorgeous fall leaves.
I'm also grateful for my family! We had such a nice friendly Thanksgiving dinner, with so much love and care put into the meal and so little drama to endure. We're all quietly doing our thing in the world and it's working out pretty well.

Making Ravioli with Jerry

Making Ravioli with Jerry, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

On Tuesday, Eden and Aja walked over to make pumpkin raviolis with Jerry. After a brief struggle over who got to wear the pretty pink apron, they got down to business, making the vegetarian centerpiece of our Thanksgiving dinner. Young inductees into the slow food movement.

Uncle Mike

Uncle Mike on Florence Avenue, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

My Uncle Mike came to visit from Florida. He was staying up in Windsor and we had a number of great days together. This was our first day. We had breakfast at Howard Station in Occidental, then drove over Coleman Valley Road up at the top of the world, down to the ocean.
I'd planned on Schoolhouse Beach, but there were enormous waves crashing in, making it totally unsafe.
So we joined a small crowd at Salmon Creek Beach. There were no surfers at all--the waves were pure chaotic foam.
On the way home we stopped to see Florence Avenue in Sebastopol and all of Patrick Amiot's great sculptures.

The long lost tale of hope

The long lost tale of hope, originally uploaded by lichtmaedel.

One of my favorite Flickr contacts is lichtmaedel. If you'd like a wonderful dose of serene eye candy, click here for a long slideshow of her photography.

Golen Age of Video

I feel it's my job to keep YOU amused. Enjoy.

The Artist Krista Brown

The Artist Krista Brown, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Last weekend, which just happened to be Halloween and Dio de los Muertos, Krista had her first open studio of the year.
I wasn't much involved with setting up for the show, and to be honest here, I was a bit grumpy about the whole thing. Krista seemed to be working non-stop for weeks getting ready. She'd come home alternately tearing her hair out with frustration, or all smiles. Crazy making. But when I finally went over and saw the place I was moved.
Her open studios have always been really cool. It's not just paintings on the wall, she has the place packed with little altars and displays of curios.
Well, this time it all reached some sort of critical mass threshold. There was so much intensely interesting grooviness packed into that little space it felt like it was glowing somehow. A beacon of beauty and wonderment.
And I'm happy to report that it was far and away her most successful open studio to date.
For one thing, there were people visiting the entire time and the studio was actually crowded for much of Sunday. Our wonderful Tumbleweed play group showed up en masse and that was a rush! But even after they left, we had a full house all day.
Even though we'd done the lamest job ever at advertising, we were just about "at capacity" most of the time.
Krista sold at least six or seven paintings, which is a new record. In fact she sold some of just about everything on offer, including her groovy "energy elixirs", a Bali sarong, stickers, cards, prints and even a magnet or two (my contribution). It was a wild success.
But best of all, the fantastic energy and 'never a dull moment' feel of the event was tremendously affirming.
I know that I'm terribly biased, but I honestly feel that Krista is one of the great living painters--and her career is still very young! To see her get such a walloping dose of well deserved appreciation made my heart glad.

Seeds & Shadows Open Studio 2009

Seeds & Shadows Open Studio 2009, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.

Krista's altar to her artistic ancestors.

Seeds & Shadows Open Studio 2009

Seeds & Shadows Open Studio 2009, originally uploaded by Robbi Baba.