It Never Rains in Northern California

One of the things people love about California is the fact that it is sunny and beautiful 95% of the year. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but sometimes I crave a good thunderstorm! The kind where you curl up with a good book and listen to the weather rage outside of your window. The kind where you work on scrapbooks or bake cookies and don't feel guilty for not going outside. The kind that makes you jump every time the thunder claps. I miss the smell of rain, the feel of a damp afternoon, the crash of lightning . . . Sometimes I need a good thunderstorm just to remind me how much I love the sunshine!

The other thing nobody ever tells you about California until you live here is that California is on warp speed. What would take you thirty minutes to accomplish anywhere else somehow eats up two hours here. Not that we work slower out here - the time clock just seems to move faster! The days (12 hours of sunshine) never seem long enough. Weeks fly by like days here. I think it is our punishment for living in perpetual sunshine near the ocean and several national landmarks!

I'm positive that this is purely a California phenomenon because I have traveled to New York, Rapid City, SD, Memphis, and Milwaukee since moving to California, and the days seemed to pass normally there. In fact, I felt I had so much extra time when visiting other locales that I was not quite sure what to do with the surplus. I should have saved the extra hours for my return trip to California - I certainly wish I had them now.

Take, for example, the fact that we have already lived in California for six months. Six months!?! And our five year wedding anniversary was already two months ago!!! And I am already three months pregnant!!! What in the world is going on? At this pace, I may wake up tomorrow to find that it is January and time for me to give birth. AAGGHHH!

If you don't believe California is on warp speed, I invite you to bring a project that you are working on when you come to visit. Plan to stay for at least two weeks. Do not go outside to enjoy the incessantly sunny weather. Work as you have never worked before. And I am positive that at the end of two weeks, you will be no closer to finishing your project than you would have been if you had spent one additional eight hour day working at home. Try it if you dare!

Giant Sequoias

At the base of a Giant Sequoia in Yosemite National Park. The oldest tree there is 2,700 years old! Sometimes it's good to be reminded of how small and fleeting we really are, and also that things that seem easily destructible (like trees) can thrive for thousands of years. We were especially amazed at how soft the trees were, how supple the bark and how ancient the wood!

The Promised Breath of Spring - A Memorial

On Passover, April 02, 2007, we lost our first child. She was conceived during a full moon at Point Reyes National Seashore while we were alone at Wildcat Campground, a mile of beach, a thundering waterfall, and an infinite expanse of ocean all to ourselves. We first discovered we were pregnant on the vernal equinox, and Spring, with its promise of new life, seemed to take on a deeper meaning.

I was captivated by the changes occurring in my body - what an incredible feeling to know someone else was growing inside of me, her soul and mind different from my own, yet still linked. Could she hear my thoughts or feel my heart? What thoughts and memories were conveyed through my placenta - our link to one another? As her brain cells differentiated, was she capable of thinking? And what did she think of the confines and possibilities of my womb? Could she hear me talking to her and soothing myself to sleep with dreams of what our lives would be together? Could she feel Ted kiss my stomach or hear him serenading her with guitar songs designed only for her? Could she sense how much we wanted her to be a part of our lives - already adjusting to make way for a third person in our family?

Would she be an adventurer? A lover of the world? A philosopher? Quiet? Outgoing? What traits would she take from me - my blue eyes, my love of causes, my stubbornness, my passion for books? And what would she take from Ted - his natural athletic abilities, his love of nature, his strong jaw and nose? And how would our traits merge together with her own traits to create this new person? What moments would shape her life? What would be her loves? Her challenges? Her life events that would keep her awake at night? When she complained to friends about her parents, what would she say about us? When she wrote us letters, what would she write?

All of these questions and more lingered in my mind as I went to doctor's visit after doctor's visit, riding a roller coaster of false hopes and dashed dreams. I visualized myself six months pregnant at a BBQ, nine months pregnant at Thanksgiving, giving birth to the baby in a water tub at our house, trying to remain positive and entice her to stay. Despite our love and desire, we were helpless to keep her with us. I was completely unprepared for the depth of the sadness that followed her passing. She embodied our dreams for the future and the possibility of ourselves in a new form. To lose the baby was to lose much more than a clump of tissue and blood - it felt like losing a piece of our souls.

It is at times like these I am reminded of what it means to be human - to be helpless in the face of events that are outside of our control, to feel sadness and loss, but also to join together with family and friends in prayer, to merge closer together as a couple, to feel love so deeply that it breaks our hearts, and to be awakened to possibilities. When I was pregnant, we talked a lot about what we were most excited to teach the baby when she arrived, and I began to reflect on all the wonders of the world through a child's eyes again. How amazing to be able to taste an apple for the first time, to sit in the shade of a willow tree, to hear a bird's call, to play in dirt, to walk through a neighborhood alive to all the smells and wonders of the path! Being pregnant, even for a short time, was a blessing, and the baby, even though she was never born, changed my life.

Dinner and a Movie

When we moved in with Alison in January, she suggested we have Bollywood night since neither Ted nor myself were familiar with Bollywood (the Indian version of Hollywood). She cooked an amazing chicken curry, and we settled in to watch Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, a four hour long Bollywood musical classic. That first night was so successful that we have continued the tradition with a themed dinner and movie every other Friday since, trading off cooking and movie choosing responsibilities each time.

Southern night featured Dukes of Hazard paired with a smorgasboard of Southern casseroles, including chicken casserole, broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole, and peach cobbler. Amelie, the incredible movie of choice for French night, was paired with chicken in a dried cherry and wine reduction, salad, and chocolate mousse. While Dad was in town visiting, he showed off his culinary skills by cooking brats and sauerkraut that were so good even people who professed to hate sauerkraut were going for seconds, along with fried potatoes, a German salad, and a black forest cherry sundae - prepared during an intermission of Das Boot. Drunken Master, one of Jackie Chan's first films, was paired with a delicious drunken noodle soup.

One of the best features of movie night is the constantly revolving group of friends and family who come to enjoy the festivities. Though we often start movie night around 6:30, we rarely get around to watching the movie before 8:30 because people enjoy talking to one another so much. Movie night gives us a chance to be creative, to show off our culinary skills, to share recipes, and to gather together as friends at the end of the week. It's definitely a tradition we plan to keep!

What You Don't Hear May Hurt You

When people ask me what I do, I encounter a range of reactions from, "Oh, Amnesty. They helped me when I was going through a political struggle in the Philippines," to "That crazy human rights organization? Aren't you the ones that chained yourselves to that boat?" (That, for the record, was Greenpeace). But the most common reaction is, "If this stuff you're talking about is so important, why haven't I heard about it?" I ask myself that question all the time - why aren't more people hearing about human rights, the environment, and other pressing issues of our day? People like to talk about the liberal or conservative biases of news stations such as CNN and FOX, but the truth is that five for-profit companies control all the media and entertainment channels in the nation, compared to 50 companies in 1985 (See the Columbia Journalism Review for a complete list of who owns what), severely limiting our access to free and unbiased news from any media station.

So why does it matter if a small number of profit-driven corporations own all the media channels? Because media then becomes a ratings game designed to draw viewers, through whatever means necessary, in order to maximize returns for investors. Do media channels have the freedom to report on meaningful topics? Or does privatized media result in sanitized media? We can all argue about who watches FOX versus who watches CNN, but we would be missing the point. We should be asking, "What are we missing by watching mainstream media and how can we take back control of the press?" Attendees of the National Conference for Media Reform asked the same question and many more in Memphis last month. People are beginning to realize that the stories we hear repeated in the media shape the way we live our lives. What we hear becomes what we believe, as the stories we tell ourselves and others become our cultural mythology. What we believe becomes what we do, or what we don't do.

As I talk to people who report watching the news on a regular basis, I find that many of them believe that they are powerless to change the escalating crises faced by our world today. They report feeling depressed, as they believe that the world is on a fast track to destruction and that there is nothing that we can do to stop it. These are feelings fed by sensationalist news media and result from a vacuum of stories about positive steps that people are taking all over the world to change their situations. When the masses believe that they are powerless, they are, and that powerlessness only allows the powerful few to retain an unchecked control over world affairs. What would people's feelings be if they heard stories of hope? If they knew not just what to say no to, but what to say yes to? If they knew how to turn the brewing feeling of hopelessness and despair into positive action? If the stories we tell ourselves became stories of the people taking power?

Organizations such as Journalists for Human Rights, Freepress, and Yes! magazine are beginning to tell these stories. They face powerful opposition, however. For example, when I was in New York, a woman told me about her idea to develop a television show centered around the positive actions of youth, such as youth building homes for Habitat for Humanity, twenty-somethings traveling to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild, or young adults starting their own non-profits and community initiatives. When she pitched the idea to MTV, they turned down the idea before she was finished presenting because "that's not what teenagers want to watch." Another woman I met who works for a national television network said that her boss asked her during a meeting to "develop ideas for showing more tits and ass" because "that's what people want to see." What other stories are we missing because companies believe that the way to retain viewers is by more sensationalist or "reality" television?

A few stories you may not have heard about this year:
1. 350 families who farm one of the largest urban gardens in the United States, a 14-acre plot of land in the middle of a manufacturing district in South Central LA, were forcibly evicted from their "survival plots" to make way for a new manufacturing plant, despite the fact that supporters of the farm offered to pay the $16 million asking price to purchase the land for the community. The owner, Ralph Horowitz, who ordered all the heirloom plants to be uprooted and crushed, claims that the manufacturing plant will provide jobs for this underemployed area. The residents claim that they will not have enough to eat, and that their only community meeting place has been destroyed. The farmers, however, are not giving up, and have continued to garner support for a new community garden space as well as to fight for their rights. The farmers said that a stronger community formed because of the struggle, and that they are now living the democratic process (South Central Farmers). The America we believe in stands up for equal rights for all its citizens - including the right to an adequate standard of living. We deserve community spaces, the right to deny that industrial growth is the best thing for our communities, and to affirm the community's right to choose what is best for that community.

2. Many people agree that the educational system is in disarray. Even mainstream media is happy to report on the failures of our nation's schools. We constantly hear about failing test scores, unqualified teachers, lack of textboooks, crumbling buildings, dwindling parental involvement, school shootings, metal detectors, and more. But have you heard about the communities who are joining together to change the situation? ICOPE, The Independent Commission On Public Education, is a coalition of parents, teachers, and students working together to redesign New York City Public School system so that it respects and educates about human rights (ICOPE). Schools in Olympia, WA, Berkeley, CA, and many other areas are designing curriculum around the production and distribution of food as well as creating spaces for school gardens (Rethinking Schools and The Edible Schoolyard). Despite the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, teachers in the Gulf Coast region are bringing the community together by dedicating themselves to reopening schools and providing education, no matter the obstacles (Teach NOLA). Many more stories like this never reach the public discussion about the state of education in the USA. The America we believe in respects the right to free, public, quality education that honors human rights.

About a year ago, I considered creating a magazine dedicated to these stories of hope. I see people's need for these stories - stories of people claiming their power as citizens and human beings to create change. To go back to the original question - what do I do? I am an activist for change and I am a proponent of hopeful action. And what do I believe? I believe in the power of the people to do amazing things. This world is not lost until hope is lost. Seek out positive news stories so that together we can refashion the stories that we tell one another and change our communities! When you hear of positive news stories in your area, or stories you think others should hear, please e-mail me or post a comment on this blog. I promise that I will make sure others hear the stories, too. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Magic Moments

"Have you ever had one of those moments when you remember you are alive? You know, one of those moments when you are completely present in the moment and totally aware of your surroundings? A moment of absolute clarity?"
"I think so," my roommate replied. "Did you just have one of those moments?"

As a matter of fact, the past few days have been filled with those moments! Let me set the scene for you:
I have just walked in from work. I am wearing a silk printed skirt I bought from a funky clothing store in downtown Flagstaff, a black turtleneck, dangly silver earrings, and black boots. Ted, who has almost finished regrowing his beard, is playing me what he calls "my song"("Sugar Magnolia") on guitar, and the smell of stuffed bell peppers is wafting from the oven. All of a sudden it dawns on me, "I live in California. I have an amazing husband who taught himself guitar, and he is serenading me with a Grateful Dead song ("my song"). I have a wonderful home. I work for Amnesty International. The house smells like incense and peppers, and I am living the dream I have had of my life since I was young. Amazing!"

And in that moment all of the striving, the worrying, the desire that stays with us because we are human stopped, and a sense of clarity and satisfaction permeated my soul. "I am who I have always wanted to be. I have all that I have always wanted to have," I thought to myself. The world was distilled down to the scene in my living room, and all became clear for a moment. All seemed right with the world. These moments are what we live for - those moments when we feel awake and alive. And it seems to me that I might be living those moments all the time if I would discipline myself to be more aware, to be more awake.

For the past few years I have challenged myself to write down five things I have to be thankful for each day. A glimpse of my list over the past three days:
1. Ted and Alison playing "Going to California" on guitar until midnight, a candle burning in the corner of the room illuminating their hands as they pluck and strum the strings.
2. A simple dinner with friends - the scent of fresh parsley as I shred it into the rice, juicy grape tomatoes, flaky tilapia, fresh succulent strawberries, homemade whipped cream with a hint of organic sugar, easy conversation, a little violin and guitar, and laughter.
3. Planting the garden - rich black dirt in my hands, the faith of planting seeds - trusting that they will yield food to sustain us, the thrill of choosing containers, the joy of knowing we can have a garden even if we are surrounded by concrete, knowing that life will find a way everywhere.
4. Seeing the lightbulb moment for my students when I tutor
5. Sunshine after a week of rain

What five things are you thankful for today?

How To Regain Our Humanity: The Story of Ishmael Beah

When I was in New York, I had the opportunity to attend a closed session at the UN regarding future policy on children and armed conflict. The session was arranged by Jimmie Briggs, UN goodwill ambassador concerning issues of child soldiers and author of Innocents Lost . Zlata Filipovic, author of Stolen Voices, and Ishmael Beah, author of A Long Way Gone, the invited panelists, both 26 years old and born within 10 days of one another, spoke with wisdom and clarity about their experiences as children in the midst of two simultaneous conflicts in the early 1990s: Bosnia and Sierra Leone. As someone of the same age born during peace time in an affluent country, it was compelling to consider the different paths our lives had taken simply because of where we were born. Yet despite the varying roads that led us there, we were all gathered in the same room together at the UN because we feel compelled to raise awareness, to offer hope, to be a light in the darkness. Throughout the course of my journeys, I have met many young people alive with hope for the world, passionate about the fact that we will move through these turbulent times to a time of great peace. Listening to Zlata and Ishmael speak about surviving conflict with dignity and hope intact reinforced my own belief that the world is not beyond repair.

As a former child soldier forced to commit horrible acts of violence in Sierra Leone, Ishmael understands what it means to lose his humanity. After being rehabilitated by one of the organizations dedicated to rescuing child soldiers, he began his journey of recovery and found a new home in the United States with a host family. When he was in college, one of his professors assigned the class to write about how they played as children. For Ishmael, a favorite childhood game was guessing what type of gun was firing in the distance, a scenario his fellow classmates found understandably hard to comprehend. Because his fellow students expressed such an interest in his experiences as a child soldier, Ishmael realized that he could raise awareness through telling his story. Writing his memoir did not, however, come without a cost, as he had to relive the past he had fought hard to forget in order to write with detailed honesty. The result of his soul searching is a genuinely beautiful and unforgettable book whose central message is not about the depraved nature of man, but about man's ability to retain hope and regain humanity, even in the midst of unimaginable devastation and conflict.

Both Zlata and Ishmael spoke of the resiliency of the human spirit, the intense desire to live and to find happiness wherever one can. Zlata kept a diary in order to survive the devastating bombing in her hometown of Sarajevo in 1993. The urge to document, she said, arises from hope. One writes in order to stay sane, to try to make sense of one's surroundings. Though Ishmael could not keep a diary, he echoed Zlata's sentiments when he talked about his continued belief that the war would end soon. Each day he and his friends would say that the war would end, and each day when they went to sleep, they believed that the war would end the next day. That belief, that hope, helped him carry on.

During his speech at the UN, Ishmael recalled witnessing people he had known his whole life turn into killers seemingly overnight. Though the civil war stemmed from a desire to overthrow a corrupt government, the citizens of Sierra Leone soon became caught in a web of dueling propaganda. During his interview with Jon Stewart, Ishmael said that both the government and the rebel forces recruited soldiers, including children, using the exact same propaganda. Both advocated violence and revenge, and insisted that the other side was the cause of all the misery in the country. The people caught in the middle wanted the violence to end, but they did not know whom to fight or whom to trust and were easily manipulated by recruiters. People committed acts of violence of which they never would have thought themselves capable before the war, including Ishmael and many people he knew.

Despite being both a victim and a perpetrator of violence, Ishmael believes that human beings are capable of regaining their humanity. Training someone to become a killer is easy, he said, but the journey to regain your spirit and humanity is infinitely harder. Ishmael is just one example of someone who has been successful in that journey - his love for life, warm smile, and soulful eyes invite shared belief in the resiliency of the human spirit. The fact that he retains his smile and laughter despite all that he has been through is a testament to what we are all capable of doing: renewing ourselves and believing that the world can be saved, as Ishmael was, through the dedication and hope of collective action.

According to the UN, there are over 300,000 child soldiers (soldiers under the age of 18) fighting for both government and rebel forces throughout the world. If you are interested in learning more about what is being done both to prevent the recruitment of child soldiers and to rehabilitate former child soldiers, review the links listed at the end of this post. This post, however, is not just a call to action on the issue of children and armed conflict, but a call to believe in the power of renewal and our collective ability to regain our humanity as a nation and as a planet. When we have hope, we have the possibility of a better tomorrow. Without hope, we have nothing. So here's to the courage and bravery of Ishmael - another reason for hope.

Ishmael's book was recently released, and he is currently on a promotional speaking tour to publicize the book and raise awareness about the use of child soldiers in modern conflicts. Click on the link to the left under "Rebecca's Recommended Articles and Videos" to watch Jon Stewart's moving interview of Ishmael on the Daily Show.

Organizations Rescuing Child Soldiers:
Save The Children
The International Rescue Committee
Childsoldier.org
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
UNICEF

To See is To Love: A Valentine's Day Reflection

The other day I was listening to a song by the Indigo Girls entitled "Love's Recovery" about a couple who stayed together through difficult times while other couples they knew separated "in search of fairer weather." When the couple moved past the idea of love's perfection and made the decision to stay together, they began the path of learning to see each other and celebrated "love's discovery." The song illustrated that no matter how often one seeks a "better relationship," a point will always arise when the initial superficial love fades and learning to love more deeply begins.

Love requires learning to see the other person for who they are, not who we would like them to be. When we love someone, we expect him or her to fill a certain role, and are often surprised and shaken when the person steps outside that role. We have, for example, probably all come to a point in our lives when we realized that our mothers are also women. Moving past the idea of loving them just because they are our mothers and allowing them to be women with their own interests, hopes, and desires opens a point of entry for a more fulfilling relationship and enables them to more actively pursue their own dreams.

When we go through life expecting other people to stay the same, or do not allow them to grow into different roles, then we basically render them invisible. Not only does that limit their growth, but it also limits your growth. Who knows how another person may change and grow, and, in turn, how you may change and grow? The fear of this growth, however, stems from the questions, "What if we grow apart? What if he/she changes and realizes he/she doesn't need me anymore? What if I don't like who he/she becomes? What if love fades?" Fear poisons relationships. Sometimes change is slow, sometimes change is painful, but part of loving someone is allowing them to be human, allowing them to try things and fail, allowing them to be different than the people we once knew, allowing them to explore themselves. Consider this: growth begets growth. Trapping someone in a certain role will cut the oxygen from the relationship. The fires of passion need oxygen (and thereby space) to continue to burn.

A week or so ago, my friend asked me what my goals are. I thought for a moment, and then went through the list (river rafting, learning to fiddle, hiking the American Discovery trail, learning to let go of worry, and so on). She nodded as I listed each goal, but looked up with surprise when I said, "Staying married to Ted for the rest of my life." "Does that count as a goal?" she asked. I think what she meant was, "Isn't it a given that if you get married you will want to stay together for the rest of your life? Does it really need to be a separate goal?" In my mind, it does.

My goal is to love Ted, "see" Ted, and express my love to him in varying ways so that he knows he has a strong foundation of love from which to grow. Because it is my goal, I have to consciously think through the steps I should take to achieve the goal. When I review my goals each week to make sure that my actions for the week reflect my goal, I also think about our relationship. This constant reflection and examination helps me keep Ted and the health of our relationship at the forefront of my mind, ensuring that I give it the attention it deserves. I ask myself, "How can I "see" him better? How can I foster his goals and help him to succeed? How can I be more open to change? How can I be a better listener? In what ways can I express my love this week?"

The same friend who was asking about my goals also asked what Ted and I were like five years ago, before we were married. Her question made me think of all the adventures we've had together, all the ways in which we've changed because of one another, and all the varying interests we have pursued. Though we are both quite different people than we were when we met, we are both happier, more self-confident, and more alive than we ever have been! And life seems to get better by the day! Ted is learning to play guitar, I am learning to play fiddle, and we are both planning and designing the garden. Ted is starting his own photography business, and I am publishing my writing. We both read constantly and share what we've learned with each other. And we constantly encourage each other to venture outside, spend time with friends, and enjoy life. We often tell each other that we are one another's balance. Because of our mutual support, encouraging words, and foundation of love, we have been able to grow into individuals of which we can be proud!

But learning to "see" other people doesn't stop with learning to see my partner. Over the last few months, I have tried to let go of my idea of what certain roles should entail, or the ways that certain people should act. I am constantly surprised that people I have known for years are in fact very different than the people I thought they were, because I blinded myself to other aspects of their personalities by refusing to see past the roles they had always played in my life. My relationships are becoming richer as I learn to appreciate all that others have to offer! So Happy Valentine's Day, and here's to learning to "see" one another!

Finding Community

After a long absence, I am back to posting! I was so busy writing for my internship with Amnesty that I had no time left over to post . . . And then we moved back across the country to San Francisco! But now we are settled and are actually planning to be in one place for more than three months, meaning we have a more regular schedule. It's hard to believe we've already been here for over a month, and that if we were still traveling, we'd be halfway through our assignment! While we were traveling, our goal was to experience as much of the location as possible before moving on the the next assignment. While we still want to experience all that the Bay Area has to offer, we also want to experience the feeling of belonging to a community. We want to become involved in the area and be able to put down at least a few roots, start a garden, bike to work, join local groups, go to the community center, get to know our neighbors . . . So, here are the things we have done to get to know our community so far. Through these links you can get to know our community too!

[We often talk about walking through the door of opportunity. Ted took the above photo in Greenwich Village this fall]

The first things I wanted to know:
1) Where/how do we recycle? To find out, I went to www.earth911.org, which allowed me to look up recycling services by zip code, including what types of glass, plastics, and other wastes are recycled in our area. I also went to www.freecycle.org to join the local freecycle group whose mission is to "build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community." The only rule is that everything posted on the site must be entirely free. So far, I have picked up homemade cards and a set of wine glasses. More about my Freecycle experiences coming in a later blog! (I promise that there will be a later blog!)

2) Where can I take violin lessons? To find a violin teacher, I went to www.craigslist.org, which is an online classifieds site. We found our apartment in New York through this website as well. I found a quality violin teacher through the site, and just returned from my third lesson! Today I learned a basic Bluegrass tune, and my teacher promised that if I perfected the basic tune by next lesson, she would teach me how to make it sound more "bluegrassy" (for lack of a better term). While I'm sure my neighbors are about to pull their hair out with all the practicing, I am enjoying learning an instrument I've always wanted to play. I have grand visions of playing fiddle on the back porch while watching my garden grow :-)

3) Where is the closest community grocery store? One of you may know a quick way to find this information online, but I relied on the phonebook. I knew I didn't want to go to one of the larger supermarkets, so I made a list of other groceries close by, visited, and then found one that I liked. Of course, I am also lucky enough to live within three miles of a Trader Joe's, a Whole Foods, and a Fresh Market in case I need anything the local store doesn't carry. As I've said in previous posts, I enjoy getting to know my butcher, my grocer, and the people who shop when I do. Shopping for food should be a pleasure rather than a headache, and I almost always reward myself (and Ted) with a jar of Strauss milk whenever I visit the grocery. Ted loves to lick the cream from the top of the milk jar!

4) When/where is the local farmer's market? To find this, I typed in the name of my city + "farmer's market" in Google. Again, because I live in California, I have several markets from which to choose. Our farmer's market is every Sunday afternoon, and draws a good crowd. After reading an article about buying local in this month's copy of Yes! magazine (www.yesmagazine.org), I followed their advice and searched for a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) on www.localharvest.org. (Belonging to a CSA or farmer's cooperative ensures you a weekly or monthly delivery of fresh produce from a local farm). I found Live Earth Farm (www.liveearthfarm.com) located in Watsonville, CA, which provides a basket of food per week for $23. Recipes and a weekly newsletter come with the basket (See the website for past issues). I spent a whole afternoon looking over past recipes and farm talk!

5) Where is the closest/best local coffee shop? You know how much we like coffee! We've tried a few so far, but our favorite is still the Palo Alto Cafe, whose lattes, bagels, and warm convivial atmosphere are hard to beat! We did, however, branch out when we were in Half Moon Bay to try what the local papers call "The Best Chai West of Bombay." Though I've never been to Bombay, it was the best chai I've tried in the United States! MMMM. . . . Followed by a walk on Montara Beach . . . What could be better?

6) Where is the library? Easy enough to find both in the phone book and online. We've already checked out about 20 books on topics ranging from the environmental movement, to sustainable home design, to organic gardening, to Edward Abbey, to Sartre. Books of the month to recommend: Black Sun ( and Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey, The Things We Keep by Elizabeth Berg, The Art of Natural Building by Joseph Kennedy, and The Bountiful Container by McGee and Stuckey.

7) Where is the community center? Also easy to find and a great place to sign up for continuing education classes, community groups, and use of a heated swimming pool!

8) What is the best bike path to take to get to work? For this route and ideas about local mountain biking trails, I went to www.pedaling.com. I haven't taken the bike to work yet as it has been raining non-stop. (I know that isn't an excuse for you hard-core peddlers out there, but I'm just not there yet :-) The rain is supposed to stop after Wednesday though!

9) How can I get more involved in the community? I went to www.idealist.org
to find out more about local groups. Fortunately, I came to the area just in time to attend the inaugural meeting of the San Jose Idealist group! 50 or so non-profit leaders and community members attended to find out how they could all collaborate to ensure effective and efficient community service. How thrilling it was to be in a room full of like minded individuals who truly want to be part of a community, especially a face to face interactive community! While I will post more about this meeting in another blog, you can check out photos and videos of the first meeting at: http://siliconvalley.wikia.com/wiki/Idealist.org_Silicon_Valley_-_Start-up_Meeting_Feedback
Check out photos of me talking with other Arts and Education folks!

So, these are the people and places in my neighborhood that I know so far. Who are the people in your neighborhood?