Open Eyes

Look, art is anywhere

Nieces and Pieces

That's my niece, little Marissa. I'm thinking of her rather than focusing on the Sociology of Deviance. Oh well, I'm sure I'll be fine in this class regardless.  

Out in the world there are little pieces of ourselves leading lives of their own. I bet she's growing like a weed out in the desert. I hope to be a good aunt to this little one. It seems to be an interesting mix of waiting and watching time fly. She'll be big before I know it, in the same sense that I left for college as my parents scratched their heads in confusion. Yet, it's hard for me to imagine something so small growing and facing the world.

Scribbled on the Concrete

Sometimes the things we find can mirror our lives. I hope that as we grow, we never grow up. 

Variations in the independent Variable

I find myself recalling the rules of experiments: In control experiments, if I do recall correctly, variations in the independent variable bring forth the dependent variable which reveals the observed results. I find that life, in itself, can be a constant toying with such experiments and a brilliant array of independent variables and simultaneous results.  I see the work place as a very transparent example. There are people who we love to work with, people who we hate to work with, people who we dislike but still can work well with, and people who we like very much but greatly dislike their work ethic. Furthermore, there are combinations of employees that better foster success and combinations that hinder progress. There can be great combinations that are fantastic individually but together succeed less. I see much of this easily at Starbucks, taking a mental step out of the situation and watching the finely tuned, high speed process at work. However, the actual work of work is not what brought me to this thought, but a more internal aspect of Starbucks that bred thought: my consumption of coffee. You can drink coffee and then move quickly, you can drink coffee and then shake, you can drink coffee and then not really move any faster, and unfortunately you can drink coffee and then feel quite sick. I am tickled by this variation, not necessarily the variation of others but definitely my own personal manipulations and results. There are many levels of caffeine, sugar, sugar substitutes, milk, soy, and water to be played with and also of equal importance, manipulating these in addition to variable food consumption. The results can be great, lack luster or simply a stomach ache to remember.  Today I found myself at a great balance and I chuckled to myself. Today my manipulation of variables worked well, but tomorrow the same plan could be less effective in its results. Ah processes, in application to our everyday lives, bear integration into the way we live -- exemplary of just how curious this life is.

Change

Moving forward, we will find the beauty that is already here, not build up to tear others down. I have patience, understanding and hope. Today is a defining day in history, and this is my quiet celebration. Yesterday I listened to my parents' complaints that were empty, linking to historic facts that had no present relevance, and basic racism. 1/20/09 - I believe. We will see what the future brings if we move forward, not looking back.

The Oddity of Schooling

Something about my last semester is so grand, and yet, I can't really find the part of me that is going to make it through. I feel a strange sense of auto-drive as I explore the possible avenues of the future. I must find my grounding, the present moment. I cannot make it through by floating in my consciousness, though it's nice to float from time to time. 

Montezuma's Revenge

+ Zoom, how clever.

Time has been flying, which in itself is just so bizarre for me. My trip to California came and went. School has begun. School will end, life will continue. So much to do, so much to plan, and it will be therefore there's no need to stress. 
As I stood there at Knott's Berry Farm amusement park, marveling at the inner works of this giant Christmas tree, I couldn't help but find comfort in the company of my brother. We are very much alike, so different, and such compliments of each other. It reminds me of the mythological sense of halves, venturing out into the world, gods of their own turf.
With everyday, I feel we leave parts of  ourselves in many places and carry a construct of our experiences to erect into a sense of Being.  

Once again and so soon it's time to focus on classes and as it always does, this semester feels different. I feel a need to grasp every topic with relevance and pretty desperate not to fall behind.  Hmmm...let's see how this works out for me.

Can I?

I can post this way! Oh the iPhone, what a quest. I have failed at finding a way to easily post pics. Oh life.

For Me

Introducing -- baby Zen. Tomorrow I am headed to California for the week. A well earned getaway. I am excited and prepared to enjoy every bit of my time to the fullest.