Belles Artes Tea Party -- What Fun!

Just came back from a tea grazing experience at Belle Artes. Really nice. Stations were set up with teas from around the world, and we tasted, described, and rated them in a booklet as we moved through the space sampling.

Cynthia LeRouge, from my neighborhood, put it on with Ciléia Miranda-Yuen, the owner/president. Cynthia's husband, Dave -- a fabulous cook -- did a nice assortment of finger foods and scones, he of the forethought and wisdom to provide lemon curd with the latter. Go Dave.

I hadn't realized what a commitments to diversity and unity Ciléia brings to that place. I've been there for a couple of events, but hadn't spent much time around Ciléia.

I also met a wonderful and lovely biochemist who works on looking at protiens under MRA, and we had a great talk about my brain imaging/therapy idea!

If I get time (ha, that's laugh) I'll do a blog about it on smithfamilyrecipes. But if I don't, here's the link anyway. Check out the art: http://www.belas-artes.net/1.html.

consider the probable reality that all time is simultaneous

Melancholy season. The first year my Papaw is gone; the first year of Christmas with the family home sold. The first Christmas in many years I've gone to sleep alone, uncuddled. Boo-hoo, I know. But it is hard. And this morning I find I'd rather stay under the covers than begin any of the trillions of tasks I need done to complete the move and the preparation for grad school and... you know. Many questions arise, about the fragility of connections, the holding at arms length, Gangji's story of Papaji's open arms when they met the first time at the River Ganges; his saying to her, simply, "What took you so long!" and the caution we're conditioned into and how we step so lightly we miss a thousand opportunites for love; and "Thetan," the Single Gun Theory song with the spoken word semi-chorus under the trip-hop lushness that says to us, simply: "All limitations are self-imposed."

Dogs Gone Wild

This is an odd rant for Christmas day. But my God. After watching someone's dog walk around on the kitchen table and that person weakly "ask" the dog to get down then do nothing when the dog ignored her, well, when that's what was part of the Christmas meal I really have to come away slightly annoyed.

So I suggested to her that she get a trainer to come over and work with the dog.

She says, "We've worked with a trainer! Bitzy can roll over and shake and sit and everything!"

Ohmygod. There are only two dots here to connect: misbehavior + training. Wow.

A couple of weeks ago I was having dinner with friends, when one (very cool and intelligent, by the way) woman displayed the bite marks and bruises on her arms. Ya. Really. Bite marks and bruises from her husband's Cocker spaniel. It likes to randomly attack her. She covers her head in with her arms and screams; the dog goes to work on her arms. They claim there is nothing they can do about it. And again, suggestions of training? Nothing, no one home at all. And I have to admit that in that instance my training suggestion came after they looked weakly down at the table when I suggested flipping the dog over on its back, putting a hand on its throat and saying "No!" the next time it freaking attacked. And to continue doing this consistently. No go.

Apparently this assertion of authority in the face of a dog's physical attack is "cruel?"

I don't understand what's happening here. Do people want to be dominated by their tiny domestic animals? What emotional gain comes from this? Is this feeling of powerlessness, well, what is the need for this feeling/creation of powerlessness?

Dogs are pretty easy to train. They are generally good natured beasts, intelligent, and live to please their alphas. When they are given the alpha spot in a house of humans they tend to become insecure and weird and play all sorts of behavior games -- rather like a human child would in that situation.

I don't know. I'm just saying. What the hell is this about?

Briefing the President Elect on Slavery/Shop for Freedom (for real this time)

If you're new to trying to understand human trafficking, the link below is really helpful. It's a great teaching tool. In case you don't know, according to the UN and the US Justice Dept there are more slaves in the world today than at any other time in recorded human history. But we can, and are taking action to end it! So read up, then get up. It's time to work.

From Sarah Symons's (The Emancipation Network) newsletter:

"Action Group To End Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery, which we are an ally of, has put together a great briefing for President Elect Obama. This is also a wonderful tool for anyone who is interested in learning more about what the US can and should be doing to fight slavery."

http://www.madebysurvivors.com/nl/ActionGroupTransitionMemo2008.pdf

AND DON'T FORGET! Your holiday shopping can support, rather than hinder, freedom:
http://store.madebysurvivors.com/category-s/24.htm

But Look, Don't Get Carried Away!

'Cause really, my ode to change and all that [last post] was written in a moment when I was feeling particularly cool with whatever, all Zenned out and had probably just had a nice dinner or someone had given me focused attention or something. The other side of the coin is sort of like, ok, jeez, can things just sometimes not run me around like an unstable quark? Said another way:

Dear Universe Or Whatever,

Please take mercy on me here, alright! I like stability! I've learned plenty about how to weather change.

Thank You,

M