Winter Solstice Full Moon Lunar Eclipse

As if the New Mexico moon wasn't enough
As if the stars waxing and waning with the lunar seasons wasn't enough
As if the enduring love for my waxing and waning housemates wasn't enough
As if home sweet home and loving thy neighbors wasn't enough
God gives me more

Today was an amazing day.  The timing was immaculate.  I got to see rainbow clouds.  New to the neighborhood, Andre, came and told me there were winter clothes my size waiting for me at his house.  I love high-class hand-me-downs.  I felt like I got promoted because I got to go through the company credit card statements.  The smiles were big.  The visitors were plentiful.  The floor was cleaned in a timely fashion singing along to good music on good speakers.  I got to hear snippets of the Haiti Earthship Ecovillage designs.

I visited the gravel pit for the first time.  It's nice to visit neighbors.  I got some warm clothes, in a warm Earthship, with warm-hearted company.  We chatted about serendipity, personal growth, and the 12-months of Taos initiation.  I'm at 9 months now and I've been reborn.

Then I came home to an organic, whole foods, Indian-inspired, vegetarian meal.  I gave a gift of greens to the chef and retreated to my room by 9 pm.  Romantic boundaries were maintained via text message and off to bed I went.  By midnight, I was kindly awoken (per my request) to witness the beautiful celestial events of the evening and the centuries.

Uncle Salty was there with his fancy telescope and I gave him a Christmas present that he thought was a dehydrated orange in the dark.  The moon was half-hidden by the Earth's shadow when I first witnessed the event.  As the shadow grew, so did the multitude of stars.  The shadow was red.  Harvest moon.  We witnessed it from different angles.  From the balcony outside the moon room.  Through the glass of the moon room.  From the balcony outside the pyramid.  There were SO MANY shooting stars.  I love the ubiquitous oohs and aahs that emerge from full grown adults in the dark.

The beauty was inevitably converted to conversations about cocks & balls.  I believe it is a unique skill to turn every topic to anatomical parts. Tonight was unique in that the anatomical parts appropriately turned to the yin.  The eclipse became God's vagina.  The moon, a yellow pulsating pussy.  We are in awe of vaginas.  Rightfully so.

As the earth came to shield the moon from the sun, I gave everyone a hug.  We listened to Bob Marley's Kaya on my portable record player and laid around together until we couldn't stay awake any longer.  I laid out in the moon room until the sun lit the full moon again.  The days will be getting longer from now on. 

Soon, we will not have to run the generator to have our ever-abundant supply of AC power.  Tomorrow I am taking the mail in and making more displays for the self-guided tour.  I hope my Christmas package arrives early in the mail.  That'll give me a good excuse to use Skype.  Smile.  You're on candid camera. And Santa Clause is coming to town.  He sees you when you're sleeping.  He sees you when you wake.  He knows when you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake.

Be good for goodness sake.

Love, Joy, Peace, & Abundance...

ariel hugs

Today, so many self-conscious feelings were dispelled.  The Christmas party at the Phoenix was quite a holiday experience.  Dysfunctional family indeed--a gathering with food and fires and friends and family.  Phone calls to standby awkward buddies.  Lots of love.  Am I being too cryptic?  I prefer poetic.  These are the feelings without the details.  My day.  My inner world.

My outer world: "Ariel hugs?  Ariel hugs?  I love Ariel hugs!  They're the best.  I love how you go around and hug everyone.  You're good peoples."  "We appreciate your salads, Ariel."  "It's an Ariel salad."  "Will you sing?  Will you sing?" "You need to just burn your CD, write a letter, and send it to all the record labels.  Someone will love it." "Do you have a website?  You need a website." "I will do anything to buy your album.  Just tell me what I need to do." "When it's pressed, tell me and I'll send $10 and my address." "Do it, Ariel.  I heard the guys talking about how they want to buy your album. I would buy your album."  "I'm so proud of you." "I'm not done being good to you.  I've barely gotten started." "I hope you fall in love and he treats you right." "For the new year, I wish you unfettered good."

Shower of goodness.  Necessary voodoo. --Bjork

Things that are my focus right now:  Health & Healing, Love & Intimacy, Work & Earthship Biotecture, Rest & Relaxation, Music, Finances, and hopefully, Roller Derby.

dispatches from the High Springs RV Park and Family Campground

Yesterday, my dad and sisters and almost step-nephew came to visit me. We fed compost to the chickens, watched the bees come and go, ate pizza, and saw a Christmas parade. Christmas parades, like nothing else except pollworkers, fills me with what Jane Kenyon called "love for the Republic."

I've gone into several elementary and middle schools in the past few days, as a recently certified substitute teacher (you have to give them your card and show yourself to get called; I think so they know you're not a sociopath with face tattoos?) and am struck by the warmth radiating off people here. I was trying to explain it to Noah last night. He had just got done explaining what "tepid" means to his son, and it was the perfect word. In some places, people don't use extra energy being kind to strangers. Warmth takes energy, which means wood or fuel. You only have one pig to last through the winter.

It's raining, but I'm warm.

sophomore

Ariel Bui's second album, Sophomore, is in the works.  The tracks are all written, with spare for the third.  The art has been created and found and is being tweaked for practical use.  Artwork by Nhac Bui.  Presently, practice is the most prominent part of the process.  Recording methods and budget are being pondered.  Supplemental instrumentation is being meditated upon.  Tracks are listed below to keep track of what to practice.  Wikipedia definition of album title below.

Track listing:

1. Follow the Fog

2. Neptune Void Aquarius

3. Midnight Waltz in C

4. The Ocean

5. If I Dredged Up My Heart

6. Venus Return

7. Seed

8. Faith

9. Untitled

10. Compass

Sophomore

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study (generally referring to high school or university study).  The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a professional athlete.

Etymology

The term comes from Greek "σόφισμα" (sophisma), "acquired skill, clever device, method", in turn from "σοφίζω" (sophizo), "to become wise, to instruct", and the original English spelling was "Sophumer".   Sophumer is similar to the present participle "sophuming", which was formed upon "sophum". Sophum is an obsolete variant of "sophism", which eventually traces to the Greek "σοφός" (sophos), meaning "wise, skilled, clever" (see Σοφία). "Sophomore", as an English word, was established in the seventeenth century.  It was not until 1726 that the spelling was established in United States as "sophomore".  Another theory argues that the term "sophomore" is probably a compound of the Greek "σοφός" (sophos), "wise" + "μωρός" (moros), "foolish, dull".

Education in the US

High school

The 10th grade is usually the second year of a student's high school period and is referred to as sophomore year. High school sophomores are expected to begin preparing for the college application process, including increasing and focusing their extracurricular activities.  Students at this level are also considered to be developing greater ability for abstract thinking.

College

In the U.S., colleges generally require students to declare an academic major by the end of their sophomore year.  College sophomores are advised to begin thinking about career options and to get involved in volunteering or social organizations on or near campus.

Usage in other countries

In some other countries, such as the Philippines, sophomore is also widely used specifically in high schools.

sorry for the lapse

woah. i live in florida again. yesterday i got sexually harassed by the security guard at the social security administration. i fell of a trailer spreading manure. i have a job interview tomorrow. i'm a substitute teacher. jasmine is far away for three more weeks. just one day at a time. farm, dog, write, job applications, proximity, cold but the sun is shining.

as the world wipes my ass

we pay very little for rent and are well-fed.  we live off the grid with enough back-up propane and water shipments for our needs.  the home improvements and winterizing are included.  i come home from a job i love to a house full of like-minded friends and activists preparing delicious dinners to share by candlelight and conversations.  my fingers and toes are cold, but the hugs are free.  massages are exchanged in time dollars.  messages arrive and depart via analog acoustics, digital media, and postal service.  friends are plentiful, near and far.  a new neighbor has declared he shall build me the guitar of my dreams in exchange for the sharing of my songs.  one day i'll pay off my student loans and save up for my little piece of freedom.  my cosmic dreams have come true in unpredictable serendipities.  i've found myself a pisces who doesn't smoke or drink or eat meat, understands homeopathy and meridians, expresses astrology and spirituality eloquently, loves travel and higher education, and wants babies.  the world loves me and provides all i need.

all is full of love

and the toilet paper's plentiful

impending pet names

so i woke up in the middle of the night anxious about life.  i called and you answered.  we are the two of cups, two trees.  you ma boo and i'm shorty.  and this evening i will get to hear one of the two impending pet names you've been reserving until we're ready.  one day at a time.  today's monday.  off to the post office and back to the grind.  breakfast to start my day.  which plants will you tend to today?  pines?  dirt?  sunshine?  clouds? 

sun rise. 

i'm alive.

the perfect me

where does one draw the line between self-improvement and self-acceptance?  aren't i perfect just the way i am?  i strive towards better.  when will my chakras be perfectly aligned and my energy become a solid beam of light?  i suppose it's the journey not the destination.  i'm no boddhisatva, but i'm here for a reason.  procrastinating.  money matters make me squeamish.  is it silly that i want someone to swoop in and rescue me?  from what?  i stand on my own two feet yet i want a dancing partner to swing with.  sweep me off my feet.  shheeessh.  have faith.

Cracked Egg

So my family has been here in Taos, NM visiting me for Thanksgiving.  We're all staying at the Phoenix Earthship, the cream of the crop Earthship with tons of food growing space.  So Didu was making breakfast and suggested Sumo and I go out to the chicken coop to check for eggs.  Woohoo!  Sumo loves checking in on the chickens. 

One egg laid.  Sumo harvested.  And then dropped the egg.  As soon as the egg cracked, the chickens rushed toward it and began pecking like mad.  Apparently they wanted breakfast too.

the American Dream

vertigo, vertigo.

I've been in Florida a whole week now. Computrice killed my last post, which was full of references to gratitude. Now that Thanksgiving is over I'll make references to animals instead. I woke up an hour ago, early, at my mom's house, fed the dogs and wrote for awhile. It's hard to write when Jasmine and I are together all the time. It's hard to write about family when you're used to writing about it far, far away.

My grandmother spent Thanksgiving making people cry, scaring the baby, and claiming under her breath that the food might be poisoned.

Toad and I move to the Little House on the Hill Wednesday. I'm nervous but excited. I've never been a rent-paying person before, and am still looking for a full-time job. But when Jasmine and I went over to visit the other day we met some very nice goats. Also, bees! In a top-bar hive. Noah has no worries and lifted the bars out to show us honey and larvae. They were mellow bees. There were mellow chickens too. I wish I knew more about everything. I'm humbled by folks like him. Can't wait to work with all these super nice farmers.

My mom took us to an estate sale yesterday to look for a cast iron skillet. It was full of gadgets and pyramid schemes-- piles of FAT BURNING VITAMINS ($5 each- "really works" the sign read) and lots of nautical knicknacks. The people who lived there were smokers and lovers of animal print towels. Lora the Liquidator presided over the festivities. Is this our suburban metaphor for the rotting of the carcass and the breakdown into component parts, decomposing bacteria? The house picked clean by similarly hungry strangers.

Anyway, that's what's been on my mind.
<3

Soul Landscape

I am a black kitty with a coat of sunshine.  Sometimes my claws come out and other times I simply don't have any.  I'm a big girl and a baby.  And I was there by the tree...

Will you dance with me while white petals swirl around us?  Bright white lights where we touch become explosions of color. 

When I overanalyze, you remind me of what's inside.

Imagine peace.

Occult Feelings

What is this feeling?  Then that feeling?  Is it me?  Someone else?  It just is.  Energy.

Mystery's the glue that keeps science alive.  Questions.  Hypotheses.  Theories.  Answers? 

Direct action from feelings.  They must mean something.  Subjective/objective/existence.

All-American Dinner

Today, when I came home earlier than usual from work, my HIVE housemates were hanging out in the sun room.  Seth was there too.  It smelled wonderful.  Couldn't pinpoint what it was. 

"Seth was there?...What was he doing at the HIVE???" asks Dan.

I was wondering the same thing.  It was nice to chat about winterizing my home with someone who's been working on Earthships and wintering in Taos for so long.  He left after a little while to go home and order construction materials for the Santa Fe job in December.

After hanging out for some time, the housemates decided to have dinner-in-front-of-the-T.V.  What a treat!  Chefs Zarzo and Cowgirl T whipped up some Paella, Kris got the rolling papers, and set up Half-Baked on his MAC.  It gets cold in that room at night, so we shared blankets on the couches.  lots o' laughs!

Profundity

Today was a lovely and busy day at the Earthship Education Facility.  Lots of curious, patient people waiting for answers and assistance with their merchandise.  There was a theme of people wanting to get involved in building today.  I love it when people want to build self-sustainable homes with solar compost toilets or otherwise.

Profound question for the day:

What is the most important thing you've learned working here?

Hmmm....

What it means to do something for the greater good.  There will always be interpersonal dynamics and things I could complain about like living out of a cooler for half a year.  But they're all so trivial compared to doing amazing things together for the planet, for each other, and for ourselves.  You learn to set your ego aside and just love doing really amazing things together.

I am paraphrasing myself, but I hope you get the general jist.

A perfect day for ramblefish

Dude. I'm driving to Florida tomorrow. After spending most of this year feeling at odds with...not my environment per se, but with the untenability of my long-term existence here, as much as I wish I were from the Midwest, and could claim and love all the geeky stereotypes and post-industrial possibilities [LONG ASIDE] I'm going back home. ish. And scared, mostly about finding a job but also about the other things that go along with living somewhere, like making friends, having "hobbies"-- unless you are some JD Salinger character, who eschews hobbies for meditation and passions and a singleminded focus on using all one's cleverness to understand suffering-- I always read Franny and Zooey and Nine Stories during times of transition. They're the books that somehow never get packed until the last moment.

Please, if you are reading this post, participate in the following survey: Is is pronounced zoo-ey, as in the place with the animals, or zo-ey, like the somewhat common name (zoe, sometimes with an umlaut (sp?))

well, notes on the journey, after the journey. Practicing a healthy dose of worry magic.

framing questions

what does it mean to be broken?//what does it mean to deconstruct?

fantasies and phantoms

Foresee a future filled with hopes and dreams. 
The forecast calls for action; 
Days of sunshine, rain, and snow. 
Everything we need to grow
on Earth.  Stand your ground,
spread your wings and sing. 

Tales of goats and greens
Shall keep us going on the cloudier days
Of Love
and role playing roller coasters.

Breathe.

Simply being is enough.

welcome

an integrity must come back to a body, and from thence, into a world, a world where a body can adore another one, or the sun, or a part of a thought under it, or the night.

-ariana reines, the cow, p 56