K Squared Gumbo

Not the Only One

  I just dropped my son off to summer camp, his fourth year now.  I've been going to this place for one reason or another on a regular basis for most of my life, and know these old roads well.  What always strikes me when I drive up is how lonesome and desolate it seems.  I'm almost always the only car as far as I can see in either direction. Knowing I'm not the only one heading this way, because camp holds a couple hundred kids plus staff, and it starts at the same time for all of us, I wonder why It is that, as usual, I see no other cars as I drive closer and closer to our destination. Not until we turn off the state highway and on to the mile long way that leads to my son's long-awaited week of bliss do I see other cars.

How does this happen?  Is there some kind of magical barrier that keeps each car at just the right gap behind the next so that we "get" the country road feeling as we ride in?  Most of us who've stayed here see it as a magical place... "holy ground", so the thought that we are led quietly to the turn off is not that out-of-place, for this place.

It is peaceful and inviting, especially in summer. Waving overgrowth in a thousand shades of green tickle in the wind as I drive by.  Lone horses, still from summer's heat, stand stoic, poised. Each acre taunts a new landscape fit for framing. I resist the urge to stop and take pictures.  The kid is getting in his last hit of digital addiction before a week of nature by watching "Annoying Orange" YouTube videos on my smart phone.  So, while the scene is lovely, the sound is not. Still, I feel a strong gratitude for this time alone in the country.  I forget how much it means to me to be out here. It is probably the only time I feel safe and alone at the same time. Even though I see no others, I know they are there, sharing this lonesome road - not far ahead and not far behind: a quiet parade of souls in solitude. Even with the annoying orange, I love this.

 

I get to experience a lovely drive alone in the country, and I'm not the only one.

Oceanic Treasure: Free for the Taking

[caption id="attachment_426" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="by artists Cristins and Gustavo"][/caption]

Think of it as artistic gold.  Mile after fish choking mile, debris from God knows where travels across the ocean to land forever in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, or one of the other recently discovered oceanic trash-fills growing like The Blob in our beautiful Earth’s waters.  But, what if we could do something extraordinary with it? 

According to Miriam Goldstein, of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography 

cleaning up the plastic trash in the ocean is virtually impossible, given the vast scale. The Pacific Garbage Patch, for example, stretches for hundreds of miles and is located 1,000 miles north of Hawaii.

"Most people who work on this issue agree that prevention is the critical step," she said. "Once a piece of plastic is in the ocean, it is really hard and expensive to get it out again."

But what if someone were willing to pay for it?  Say, an art lover who happens to also have a passion for our planet?  Does such a person exist?  I dare say yes.   

What if we could, with our social media collective consciousness, make this “trash” a viable commodity?  What if it were bought and sold on the big markets?  Then it could be “harvested” by would be gold-miner types, and sold to the highest bidder, who could create stuff with it and sell it for what it is:  a savior of fish:  Hope for the planet:  Love of the ocean;  Sea bird saved. 

It would take a lot, for sure. Somebody would have to come up with a way to authenticate it.  We won’t use just any trash… it has to be ocean trash.  Salt content, perhaps?  The 14k stamp equivalent of “yep it’s real, folks!”

Oh it’s not a new idea. See what Oregon-based artist Angela Haseltine Pozzi is already doing!

Washed Ashore: Plastics, Sea Life & Art

is a nationally acclaimed, environmental art exhibit featuring massive sculptures and other art pieces made entirely of marine debris collected from beaches, such as plastic ropes, nets, toys, cigarette lighters, flip-flops, Frisbees and more. 

[caption id="attachment_428" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption=""Henry" - part of "Washed Ashore: Plastics, Sea Life & Art""][/caption]

 

What if we could take it even further?  Make every household in the world want a piece of ocean-saving art?  People are already making dresses out of recycled plastic.  Just think of the possibilities!  This would have to be way more than an ocean awareness campaign.  We need to bring in the big boys - The folks with serious cash:  Investors who expect a serious return on their dollar.  Somebody to fund the clean up and be excited to reap the rewards. 

Probably the best way to do that, is to create a demand.  Pre-orders anyone?

Posted via email from "Do" Dreaming

Into the Blu

 

Source: thesealliance.org via Karen on Pinterest 

 

  It's a social network!  It's an app!  It's a screen saver! It's a game!  No - well yes!  It's all of the above and more - it's the freshly launched theblu.com , now in open beta.  The purpose is to raise awareness (and funds) for carefully selected non-profit groups dedicated to protecting and preserving our oceans and the delicate ecosystems within.  There is fun for all types... techies, artistics, socially concious, and those who just like to play.  Since it is fresh and still in Beta, it's got some quirks, but it shows promise of really taking off and bringing a fresh platform for those of us who like to explore new things in the ever evolving arena of social networking.  I personally am really excited, because saving the ocean is my big passion.  I have adopted three fish already with my 100 credits I got free for signing up.  I named them Speedy, Goldie, and Rosie.  I can choose to follow just them in my own habitat, or move to the common area habitat where everybody gets to play in the beginning.  Once things are more evolved, I think the idea is to spend moolah for more fishies and the priveledge of playing in other habitats.  The site donates 25% of every dollar to one of their non-profit collaboraters, who currently consist of

• Mission Blu
• WildAid
• Oceanic Preservation Society
• Ocean Elders
• Smithsonian Institution
• Scripps Institution of Oceanography

   For those who love to create beautiful graphic images (I wish I had the patience), you can sign up to help create the environment.  That seems like it would be pretty rewarding!  You get credit forever for each species you develop.  How's that for getting in on the ground (er... ocean) floor? The social networking part is a little different than what one might expect.  For now, from what I can tell, you "follow" the other members by clicking on their fish, and going to the info about that fish which tells you who the owner is.  You can then choose to follow them if you wish.  I think the trick is to use the screen saver function, which keeps it going while you're away from your computer, so that others can "find" your fishies. I'm still a novice, so I may not be 100% correct about how it all works. Will let y'all know when I figure out more!  For now, come join me!  My nickname is "kkay".  See you in the Blu!

Posted via email from "Do" Dreaming

Peace is Flowing from the Conestoga River!

Wow!  What a treat to have my friend Kate Loving Shenk join us today on stop #18 of her virtual book tour!  Kate's message today is simple, yet profound.  "We are all recovering from something" says Kate.  I agree, and for one am healing, and getting stronger every day.  Kate has the anecdote for us all in the form of her Prayer Prescriptions Book!  She's been working on this one for a while and it has been a real joy to follow her as she has grown into this  beautiful spiritual artist & writer.  Please help me help her get the word out, and take advantage of her strong will, positive vibe, and great advice from a true "Loving"  person!

 Thank you Karen Kay for hosting the  Prayer Prescriptions Virtual Book Tour today, May 1, 2012. Today is day 18 of the Virtual Book Tour. Prayer prescriptions are a personal thing. In reality, all the beautiful things in the world are a prayer prescription. Even in the face of trials and tribulations, we can find that one thing that frees us, which would also be a prayer prescription. Finding the prayer prescriptions in your life are like uncovering hidden treasures that have been yours all along. You must give yourself permission to seek them out. Prayer prescriptions are miracles. If you look at everything as if it is a miracle, you can also look at everything as if it is a prayer prescription. Prayers are a way of life. They create solitude and a contemplative existence to your everyday world. Each step along the way is a prayer. Each in breath and out breath is a prayer. The time I have spent with every dog in my whole entire life is a prayer. Everything is a prayer. -=-=-=-===-= I'd like you to stop by my author blog. There's a lot going on there and we'll have an opportunity to connect there. Please be sure to introduce yourself! http://katelovingshenk.com Kate has been a practicing RN/CRNP for 28 years, and currently acts as a Labor And Delivery Nurse, which is very special, indeed. Additionally, Kate is planning further “Prayer Prescriptions” books surrounding aging gracefully and Prayer Prescriptions For The Love Of Our Companion Animals.

Channeling Freddie

It's a little ironic.  I started having an unexplainable and lasting surge of emotion for Freddie Mercury of Queen yesterday.   Bohemian Rhapsody was the first music video I ever saw.  I remember watching it during The Midnight Special.  As soon as stores were open, I ran out and got the first Queen album I could get my hands on.  That turned out to be Queen II.  From then on I was hooked on Freddie.   His intensity and incredible talent, not just  in his vocal range but in creating - both lyrics and tunes... not to mention the whole group Queen,  was enough to keep a teenager amused and out of trouble (most of the time).  I don't understand why I was suddenly re-drawn to him after all these years.  Maybe I didn't really get to mourn his death, as I was in the throes of an ugly and abusive relationship at the time.  Maybe he somehow represents my father, who also died too young, and I needed to mourn him.  Maybe I'm going middle-aged crazy.  Maybe I'm just weird (my husband's suggestion).   Then I wake up this morning and realize that today is Good Friday. Well now.  What might that have to do with my strange feelings for Freddie yesterday?  I don't want to get religious, or make anyone who is religious angry with a comparison of Freddie to Jesus, but here's an idea.  Jesus was a bit of a rock star in his day.  The folks who would balk at the idea of me saying that Freddie was in some ways a modern-day Jesus would represent those who persecuted Jesus back in the day.  What can Freddie, his incredible life (and untimely death) teach us today?  And if god is willing we will meet again someday ……Freddie Mercury, Barcelona, 1987

Peaceful Waters

[caption id="attachment_389" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="For love of the ocean and the lives she sustains"][/caption]

 

Grouped next to each other in their little corner of my newest addiction (Pinterest), is a collection of pins depicting my passion for the ocean.  Back in the fall I took on a challenge at Squidoo to make 30 lenses on one niche.  I chose "deep water exploration" and ended up with such a diverse group of 30 lenses that I am still narrowing that niche down even now.  For me, the love has to be the cause.  By that, I mean I love that which is vulnerable.  So "cause" is the niche.  I hope I am making sense. The point is that I have been searching for the right playground to write in for several years now.  I have twisted and turned here and there, and now, finally, I feel at home in the watery underworld of ocean life and with it my passion for saving the oceans. Maybe it's a phase, or maybe I'm finding my calling, at nearly 50 years old.  Perhaps that's a blessing?

 

Color Intervention

The area between San Diego and Tijuana hosts a biannual "Interzone Festival" or "Festival Tijuana Interzona".  This year's festival included an Urban Renewal project, where artists from all over were invited to spruce up outside walls of buildings scattered all over the poorest parts of the area.

 

The resulting art is fascinating, healing and humourous, yet it has a sense of realness to it.  The placement of the art is art in itself.  The randomness of bright colors and brush strokes of living a grande life juxtaposed against dilapidated trailers sliding down a filthy hillside is like a cry from within the souls of those who live and have lived her. See me!  I am here! I feel and thrive in this environment every day all day.

 

The art serves a dual purpose. To bring awareness of the plight of poverty, and to bring light to an otherwise dank and unforgiving place.

 

I cannot deny any human's right to rise from poverty.

 

My family has it pretty tough right now. But I live like a king compared to these folks.  Rise on up, Y'all. In Love.

 

see full interview with curator Carmen Zella

Posted via email from "Do" Dreaming

#NoMoreRecession ~ A Hashtag for Good

 It's a simple idea, really.  Think of one thing people can do to help someone hurting because of the Recession, and tweet it with the hashtag #NoMoreRecession .

 

You know how sometimes you get that "lightbulb" in your head?  Maybe it was a great idea that could help us dig ourselves out of this Recession mess!  But instead of acting on it, we moved on to something else, and it was forgotten by the end of the day...

 

Take a second and tweet it next time, with the #NoMoreRecession hashtag.  Let's see what we can do about it together!

 

I don't know the answers.  But I do know that if a lot of us do a bunch of little things, it will add up.  A tweet for good is a little thing.  An idea can be a big or a little thing, depending on the action we take.  Start with the easy stuff.   I've tweeted a few to help you get started.

 

I'm tracking it on my lens on Tent Cities....  So you can check there or on tweetchat, or wherever you want.  Just share your ideas (don't forget the #NoMoreRecession hashtag) and retweet some others you see that look doable.

 

You in?

 

Let's do it!

 

Photo:  Gray's Papaya, New York City - by Aturkus

Posted via email from "Do" Dreaming

Same Sauce

Sometimes my poor hearing is beneficial.  I was listening to a speech by the Dalia Lama on my ear buds today, and he said “We are all made by God. We all come from the same source”.  I was trying to multitask, however and mis-heard it as “same sauce”.   So, I decided to ponder that a bit.  If we do come from the same source, then that would also be the same sauce, would it not?  How is it, then that we are all so unique?  If we all have the same exact ingredients, i.e., the “same sauce”, then we should be clones of each other, correct?  All men would look and act like Adam, all women would look and act like Eve, done deal. But no.  That is not the case.  Down in New Orleans (N’Awlins), the Cajuns have their own style of cooking, which  almost always starts with a roux.  (per Wikipedia, “Roux” is the thickening agent of three of the mother sauces of classical French cooking”)  So yeah, we may all come from the same “roux”, and start out with the same sauce, but there are gazillions of factors, both genetic and environmental that get thrown into the sauce and make us unique, not “same sauce” but individuals.  If you’ve ever had Cajun Gumbo, you know that it’s never the same twice, no matter how much you try to follow the recipe.  So even though we may all have the same ingredients,  we can celebrate the fact that our individual footprint on the universe is ours alone. My sauce would have quite a bit of salt, honey, brown sugar….. but with a little kick. Kind of like Sweet and Sour sauce, but not pink. More earth tones.  Yeah.   So, what about you?  What’s in your sauce?

Why it Doesn’t Have to be so Hard

So many times in my life and work, I come across people who seem to be shrouded in misery.  Everything they say is something about a horrible thing that happened to them, or to someone else, or is happening somewhere in the world. Everything they do revolves around something painful or miserable.  It’s almost like we seek out the biggest award for being the most miserable person still living.  The end game, being death, is the apparent goal here.

I get it.  Misery sells…  Misery loves company… and all that other (not so happy) crap.  Why though? Why do we humans so often want to focus on bad things?  Especially now, that we are in a more enlightened age, and we know that “money flows where attention goes”.  If we’re focusing on the toilet, or things that are equally disgusting, that’s where our life goes.  So why do we keep doing this?  How can we break the pattern of constant negative talk and negative thinking?

It’s kind of scary to some. In fact, it’s downright frightening.  But it doesn’t have to be.  According to Dr Hu Len, whom I’ve studied through Dr. Joe Vitale for the past few years, it all boils down to the relationship with our inner child.  I remember back several years (maybe decades?) ago when the inner child was all the rage… healing the inner child was seen then as a sort of ultimate traumatic drama – raw and painful, the trophy of the day for martyrs of pain.  If someone needed to “heal” their inner child, then they must have been through something horrifying at a tender young age.  People started “blaming” all their problems on early childhood trauma.  This became something of a badge of honor for negativity hounds…. The big excuse. The reason for every bad thing that ever happened in the history of the universe.

But that’s not what Dr. Len’s teaching is about.  Healing does not necessarily mean going back and dredging up some horrible nightmare of a memory and reliving it.  Healing the inner child is just that. A healing process.  A loving, healing, nurturing and simple exercise he calls “cleaning”. 

Dr Joe Vitale's Inner Child Meditation

Dr. Vitale has teamed up with awesome musician Mathew Dixon in a new meditation that guides you through healing your inner child relationship.  This is a beautiful “core” guided process that combines the healing power of music and inner love to bring you  in tune with most true self: the one untarnished by negative thinking;  the little girl or boy filled with wonder and trust and genuine hopeful expectations.  This is the relationship most important in your life, according to Dr. Len, and it deserves to be nurtured, loved, and free to express itself as you whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Click Here!