The Priorities - Taking A Look At Where I Stand

Can I say what I have to say in five minutes? Fire clears away blockages. It helps you focus really quickly on what is important and what you need to do at any giving time you are involved with fire. The reality of living in Southern California means you have to be be flexible, adaptable and understand that what you knew to be true five minutes ago doesn't mean squat.

For my geographically challenged friends who haven't called yet, I'm fine. I am currently no where near an fire situation. It has been really warm temperature-wize and the Santa Ana's winds have been blowing but no gusting around my area as of yet.

Someone I knew has died, non-fire related. He kept working, ignoring his health and respect for the time he had left. He ran out of his fixed amount of life. It has been rattling my cage.

Life is about the choices that you make and how you step up to changing what you don't like. So the (mental) image of the day is "make that move," or "do the right thing" or "take time to see what is around you."

You might not get a second chance.

Books That Get Under Our Skin - Modern Primatives

This is the next video in the series I am doing for PCC Shatford Library. In this video Jane Pojawa talks about how this books lead her to rethink her perceptions about Journalism.

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If you would like to participate and add the book that got under your skin you can visit http://underourskin.blogspot.com You can add a text post and bring that book that rattled your bones to prominence.

I Don't Know Who She Is But She Sings Good

I'm running around Friday night, aim the camcorder at some folks, annoying others and recording what I could before I hop the last bus out of Dodge, er I mean Pasadena. I walk thought the courtyard past expensive stores and cobblestones and dresses my body will never fit into.

I see the flags in the sky but I hear her voice. I start recording. I don't know who she is. I'm not sure if she was part of the ArtNight festival or hired by a local business to sing for the customers.



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I didn't have my glasses on so I only know her name starts with V or Valencia or Valarina or something like that. There was a CD on the table but not cards or flyers. I couldn't read her name. She was singing around 8:30-9pm or so Friday night. She was good cuz I missed the dang blasted bus.

That was ok because there was a fire on Colorado and the was a bunch of fire engines. A story for another time. So if you know who she is let me know because I do want to spread the word on performers who can sing with their clothes on and can stand relatively still while doing so. I'll dig through my handouts but the pile is high.

October 16th Update: I found her name! It is Valencia Vas and I was listening to the Valencia Vas Trio. On her website you can check out more of her music or find out how to purchase her CD.

Books That Get Under Our Skin - Daniel Larios

I've been working on a project for the past couple of weeks, it is starting to roll out so I can share it with you. My school library has a blog called Books That Get Under You Skin. It is part of a city wide festival Skin: A Pasadena Arts and Ideas Festival.

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I have been interviewing folks about the book that got to them. This is the first entry and there will be a few more. This is new for me in that I have to plan and make sure I have all the stuff in places at the right time. I'm learning a lot about interviewing and time management and the need for naps. Much of it again my will.

For more information about Barbara Kingsolver visit http://www.kingsolver.com

Where To Munch In Pasadena

This is in response to Donna's comment about where to eat when she comes to Pasadena. My top five affordable yet tasty places for snacking and food consumption. Agggh I'm directionally impaired! I'm going to give you the name and the rough locations.

From the Pasadena Conference Center you will want to cross the street to get on Colorado Blvd. where the Post Office is located. The regular shuttle is $.50 cents. You can walk it as well. The next block heading toward the freeway is Arroyo Parkway.

King Taco on Arroyo and Union which is a block north.(I think) Under $8 you can get a close to authentic Mexican food and other goodies. It is a block or so before the Memorial Park Gold Line Station.

If you stand on Arroyo and Colorado Blvd. you will see motorcycles which means you have found Hooter's (NOT an endorsement) There is an new Italian Gelato ice cream store a few doors down. Moving toward the freeway you will find many other restaurants that will be jammed on Friday night.

Me? I like Saladang at 363 S. Fair Oaks (it will be busy) Tibet Napal House on Union slightly above Fair Oaks and Colorado I love this joint, it will mellow you out and dine you with excellent food. El Portal is near the Convention Center also an affordable din-din option.

As you move down Old Town on Colorado you will find a 2nd Italian Gelato place and on Colorado & Fair Oaks past the Cheesecake Factory (no way you will get in there in under an hour) there is a Pinkberry Yogurt Ice Cream store.

It is next to a bunch of restaurants, I think Mexican, Indian and there has been a change so I don't remember what the new place is about.

I haven't tried this place but I'm planning to Azeen's Afghani Restaurant 110 E Union St Pasadena, CA 91103

The Pasadena Visitors Bureau has a database of restaurants. You can select those that are near Paseo Colorado or Old Town that will keep you busy and well fed not to mentioned exercised trying to find these places.

Chow Baby!

ArtNight Pasadena - Your Friday Night Is Booked

This week you can't say that there is nothing going on, actually you can't say that about most weeks in the Los Angeles area.

Anyway, I'm giving you the head's up about ArtNight Pasadena where you can visit some of the artistic and cultural goodies for free. Not only that but you get the opportunity to fill your soul with some of the cultural richness that Pasadena has to offer.

Here is the deal, you find your way to Pasadena; ideally by MTA but I do understand the reality of traveling on buses at night. Ick So carpool if you can. Aim toward one of the following locations, visit it then then hop on one of the free art shuttle buses that will take you to various locations.

Or, you can hook up with fellow C.I.C.L.E bicycle folks and join the rolling tour. The meet-up for the C.I.C.L.E gang is in One Colorado Courtyard in Old Town behind the Patagonia store.

What locations?

• Art Center College of Design
• Pasadena Museum of History
• An installation and performances at One Colorado in Old Town
• The Armory locations at North Raymond and Fair Oaks
• Light Bringer Project on South Raymond
• Pasadena Symphony
• Pasadena Jazz
• Pasadena Public Library where there will be a bunch of dancing, graphic novels and music
• Pasadena Museum of California Art
• Pasadena Playhouse
• Pasadena Conservatory of Music - with a "Body Percussion" concert
• and Pasadena City College sharing The Soldier's Skin where you can take home a poster of a memorial tattoos from US Marines.
  

This is just a small part of what is happening in Pasadena this month. I got more to tell and show but this is the starting point. So bust out of L7 and do something different between the hours of 6 to 10pm on Friday October 12, 2007.

And it is free, no charge as in no cost to you. Be cool and frugal.

As an added insentive there are a couple of new Italian ice creme and yogurt places in Old Town that you need to introduce to your mouth. Serious flavor explosions.

The Connections Between Us and Burma

After work I took a walk. I was near Fuller Theological and I saw this stencil:

I saw it from a distance without my glasses and I thought that it was a group of women leading somewhere. As I got closer I could read the writing at the bottom, and one of the monks looks like she/he has been assaulted.

And the connection is that when the forces of power try to suppress peaceful action the world will know. And good people we stand and pray or affirm right action.

Take a moment to send positive thoughts, prayers or whatever your belief system will allow for the safety of the people of Burma.

October 7, 2007

I didn't know about Free Burma day on the Internet. I just wanted to express solidarity with spiritual people standing up to a hostile force.

Apparently so do a bunch of other people. It was International Bloggers' Day for Burma on October 4, 2007. I do know that with each step you move closer to the goal. It has been a long journey for Burma and they have miles to go before they can rest.

Amnesty International has information and action page to get you up to speed.

The Burma Digest blog has video of those citizens protesting in Rangoon. There are also photos of folks that have been beat, shot, maimed or killed trying to express their rights of free speech.

What are steps are you hesitating on taking to positively move your part of the world forward?

Change is coming.