I guess I blog to procrastinate. I need to be writing more. Bad text is better than no text, says Robin Moore. I think he's right. This stuff needs to happen. It needs to FLY. I need a rigorous schedule during which nothing but WRITING happens.
Good news: I set up a phone interview with Ruth Karina, the first major cumbia star from Iquitos!
Hooray! Of Euforia fame, she drove Amazonian cumbia to the top of the charts (and actually, there are no charts, but it's the best analogy I can think of) and she is SUPER important in the short history of tecno-cumbia, toadas, and chicha. And I get to interview her this weekend! Hooray for me!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The Pope
OK, I'll admit it. I was raised Catholic. And I play the Catholic card when in South America...it often helps. I still believe in God, although I have serious issues with the Catholic Church and only go to mass...well, when I'm playing a wedding. Or attending a wedding. And occasionally for the music, if it's gonna be good.
But I never held stock in the Pope, and this one far less than the last. And here he is, in all his hypocritical glory, trying to make it look like he sympathizes with these victims of sexual abuse, when a lot of those priests never even got fired in the first place - they were just moved to other dioceses far away! Can you believe that? And he makes it look like he's all supportive and whatnot. Are you kidding me? Why is it that most child molesters end up in prison and have to live a good 2 miles from a grade school and these guys just get to start over, albeit in Nebraska or something. My proposal for the Catholic Church? (One among many, but my beef today will be brief.) Let priests get married or cohabitate with their partners. And let women be priests. No small task, I know, but jeez louise!
But I never held stock in the Pope, and this one far less than the last. And here he is, in all his hypocritical glory, trying to make it look like he sympathizes with these victims of sexual abuse, when a lot of those priests never even got fired in the first place - they were just moved to other dioceses far away! Can you believe that? And he makes it look like he's all supportive and whatnot. Are you kidding me? Why is it that most child molesters end up in prison and have to live a good 2 miles from a grade school and these guys just get to start over, albeit in Nebraska or something. My proposal for the Catholic Church? (One among many, but my beef today will be brief.) Let priests get married or cohabitate with their partners. And let women be priests. No small task, I know, but jeez louise!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
No no drama!!!
Honestly, Peru was nothing but drama. Some good, some bad. But here, in ATX, there is no drama. Except last night when Sonia and I went to see Carmen by Bizet. Now, THAT'S drama! For real! Why doesn't Don Jose get a clue? Geez. Get over it. And don't kill someone just because she doesn't like you back. Not that I'd date a matador; I'd worry my lover would be at death's door every time I ate a hamburger. Really.
But it got me thinking about the drama that exists in Peru (or maybe it's just the jungle). A lot of people thrive on it. Maybe it's because it's a small city. Or maybe it's related to the concept of survival. Or maybe it's leftover defense mechanism from the violent colonial days. Or maybe it's a result of the colonial days; maybe it was the Spaniards that dug the drama. Regardless, there's so much of it, it'll make your head spin.
And it's funny, because the drama that I have in my life here in Austin is hardly drama. I fractured my foot and couldn't run for six weeks. Pretty dramatic for me. And then there's always the stupid dissertation drama, but that couldn't be more boring. The anxiety is what makes it halfway exciting, on the other hand. My herbs are growing and flourishing. Really, I have no drama. Except for the occasional opera. Stupid Don Jose. And sexy Carmencita. Could Bizet have exoticized the Other any more? Probably not. Maybe if he made them walk around with little coins hanging off their skirts. That's a costume design thing, though.
Drama? Academics definitely have drama, but they bring it on them own damn selves. Dude, we're not Doctors Without Borders. Get over it! Seriously, all the Don Joses of the Ivory Tower. If I ever become a petty, obsessive professor, will someone slap me please?
But it got me thinking about the drama that exists in Peru (or maybe it's just the jungle). A lot of people thrive on it. Maybe it's because it's a small city. Or maybe it's related to the concept of survival. Or maybe it's leftover defense mechanism from the violent colonial days. Or maybe it's a result of the colonial days; maybe it was the Spaniards that dug the drama. Regardless, there's so much of it, it'll make your head spin.
And it's funny, because the drama that I have in my life here in Austin is hardly drama. I fractured my foot and couldn't run for six weeks. Pretty dramatic for me. And then there's always the stupid dissertation drama, but that couldn't be more boring. The anxiety is what makes it halfway exciting, on the other hand. My herbs are growing and flourishing. Really, I have no drama. Except for the occasional opera. Stupid Don Jose. And sexy Carmencita. Could Bizet have exoticized the Other any more? Probably not. Maybe if he made them walk around with little coins hanging off their skirts. That's a costume design thing, though.
Drama? Academics definitely have drama, but they bring it on them own damn selves. Dude, we're not Doctors Without Borders. Get over it! Seriously, all the Don Joses of the Ivory Tower. If I ever become a petty, obsessive professor, will someone slap me please?
Friday, April 11, 2008
Water and Sunshine
Warning: long, rambling mediation about water to follow. Read at your own risk!
Ok, so I'm a Scorpio, which is apparently a water sign. And that's no surprise for me. My mom and Nana were also Scorpios and HUGE water babies. My mom was a water ballerina and swam in some pretty fantastic competitions, and she grew up on beaches (as did my Nana). I had always lived near water until we moved to central Ohio and I think that was my big beef about living there. I need water. I work in the Amazon for crying out loud! Water EVERYWHERE! And it's funny, because I don't drink nearly as much water as I should, but I like being around it, in it, looking at it, dipping my toes in it, running by it, swimming in it, tubing in it, whatever. And with that whole schtick comes SUNSHINE. I love sunshine. I'm not going to tan outside for hours on end, but just to be in the sunshine on my bike or better yet, while in water, is thrilling for me. I really believe that my mom became a teacher not only because she loved kids and was good at it, but also because she got those three precious months of water and sun in the summer time. And now that Austin is all springy and neon green, it makes me want to be outside or outside and in water or near water that much more.
So yesterday I went to swim at the outdoor lap pool at Gregory Gym at 12:30 in the afternoon. It was sunny and breezy and beautiful. The best part was looking at the reflection of the sunlight on the floor of the pool as I was swimming. When my hands broke the water, they looked like water bugs, skating on the bottom instead of on the surface. I need / want / cannot live without WATER. Which is why I'll never take a job in Nebraska. At least Cleveland has Lake Erie. Austin has Town Lake. Peru has the Amazon.
Here's my ranking, from favorite to least favorite bodies of water:
1. The Ocean.
It always changes, is never the same, smells wonderful, gives new creatures, sand, shells, tides every day. The same beach never looks the same from day to day. The changes are sometimes subtle and sometimes extreme, but Lord knows I love the ocean. Especially the Atlantic, but that's probably because I have spent the most time in it. My family is from an island in Rhode Island, and I know those beaches like the back of my hand.
Third Beach, Middletown, Rhode Island
2. The River.
Rivers are extraordinary. Smaller oceans, really, because they change regularly too and they also have currents. Of course the changes are slower, but they're there. The nice thing about a river is that the water is never stagnant, like what will often happen with a pool, pond, or small lake. I like knowing that new water is there all the time. And in the Amazon, every river is completely different from every other river. Some have black water, some have brown or green or clear water, some are fast moving, some are slow, some have shores some go right to the trees. It's pretty neat.
Nanay River, Santa Clara, Iquitos, Peru
3. Big Lake. Big lakes (like Lake Michigan or Erie or Titicaca) are cold and BIG. I like the size; nothing can stagnate, and you can't see to the other side. Really nice for sailing safely.
4. Big Lagoons or Big Pools or Big Quarries. For me to feel comfortable in a lagoon, it has to be pretty sizeable. I'm anti-leeches and I don't like too much icky mud between my toes. Icky mud to a minimum, please. But the big lagoons of Iquitos are great because they are really deep and cold and predictable. Barton Springs is right here, although I would put it at the top of my list in terms of actual sites to go; it's extraordinary. I do love it.
Zungaro Cocha, Iquitos, Peru
Barton Springs, Austin, Texas
5. Pools. With Chlorine. I like pools. A lot. Even with chlorine and no nature. Mostly because I like the light on the bottom of the pool.
Lion's Club Pool, Iquitos, Peru
6. Creeks. Creeks are actually nice, but you can't often swim in them. But I like wading in them or skipping stones in them. There are some creeks in central Austin that you can swim in, and they are pretty magical and otherworldly.
7. Ponds. Actually, I don't like ponds.
I can't believe I just spent all this time on a meditation about water. I'm a dork. But that swim yesterday inspired me! I love love love love LOVE being in or around water!
Ok, so I'm a Scorpio, which is apparently a water sign. And that's no surprise for me. My mom and Nana were also Scorpios and HUGE water babies. My mom was a water ballerina and swam in some pretty fantastic competitions, and she grew up on beaches (as did my Nana). I had always lived near water until we moved to central Ohio and I think that was my big beef about living there. I need water. I work in the Amazon for crying out loud! Water EVERYWHERE! And it's funny, because I don't drink nearly as much water as I should, but I like being around it, in it, looking at it, dipping my toes in it, running by it, swimming in it, tubing in it, whatever. And with that whole schtick comes SUNSHINE. I love sunshine. I'm not going to tan outside for hours on end, but just to be in the sunshine on my bike or better yet, while in water, is thrilling for me. I really believe that my mom became a teacher not only because she loved kids and was good at it, but also because she got those three precious months of water and sun in the summer time. And now that Austin is all springy and neon green, it makes me want to be outside or outside and in water or near water that much more.
So yesterday I went to swim at the outdoor lap pool at Gregory Gym at 12:30 in the afternoon. It was sunny and breezy and beautiful. The best part was looking at the reflection of the sunlight on the floor of the pool as I was swimming. When my hands broke the water, they looked like water bugs, skating on the bottom instead of on the surface. I need / want / cannot live without WATER. Which is why I'll never take a job in Nebraska. At least Cleveland has Lake Erie. Austin has Town Lake. Peru has the Amazon.
Here's my ranking, from favorite to least favorite bodies of water:
1. The Ocean.
It always changes, is never the same, smells wonderful, gives new creatures, sand, shells, tides every day. The same beach never looks the same from day to day. The changes are sometimes subtle and sometimes extreme, but Lord knows I love the ocean. Especially the Atlantic, but that's probably because I have spent the most time in it. My family is from an island in Rhode Island, and I know those beaches like the back of my hand.
Third Beach, Middletown, Rhode Island
2. The River.
Rivers are extraordinary. Smaller oceans, really, because they change regularly too and they also have currents. Of course the changes are slower, but they're there. The nice thing about a river is that the water is never stagnant, like what will often happen with a pool, pond, or small lake. I like knowing that new water is there all the time. And in the Amazon, every river is completely different from every other river. Some have black water, some have brown or green or clear water, some are fast moving, some are slow, some have shores some go right to the trees. It's pretty neat.
Nanay River, Santa Clara, Iquitos, Peru
3. Big Lake. Big lakes (like Lake Michigan or Erie or Titicaca) are cold and BIG. I like the size; nothing can stagnate, and you can't see to the other side. Really nice for sailing safely.
4. Big Lagoons or Big Pools or Big Quarries. For me to feel comfortable in a lagoon, it has to be pretty sizeable. I'm anti-leeches and I don't like too much icky mud between my toes. Icky mud to a minimum, please. But the big lagoons of Iquitos are great because they are really deep and cold and predictable. Barton Springs is right here, although I would put it at the top of my list in terms of actual sites to go; it's extraordinary. I do love it.
Zungaro Cocha, Iquitos, Peru
Barton Springs, Austin, Texas
5. Pools. With Chlorine. I like pools. A lot. Even with chlorine and no nature. Mostly because I like the light on the bottom of the pool.
Lion's Club Pool, Iquitos, Peru
6. Creeks. Creeks are actually nice, but you can't often swim in them. But I like wading in them or skipping stones in them. There are some creeks in central Austin that you can swim in, and they are pretty magical and otherworldly.
7. Ponds. Actually, I don't like ponds.
I can't believe I just spent all this time on a meditation about water. I'm a dork. But that swim yesterday inspired me! I love love love love LOVE being in or around water!
Sunday, April 06, 2008
I LOVE THIS CITY!
Today began with hot yoga. It continued with a trip to Old Navy. And then RunTex super sale (using my Christmas gift certificate). And then Town Lake. And bluebonnets. Listened to some music at Waterloo Records, rode some of the greenbelt. Nap, dinner with Tim and Erika. Schoolwork. Ice Cream. Bed.
Ahhhhhhh........
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Weather or not...
Well, I think Austin's dreary weather of late has been getting to me. I'm not sure if it's that or just the regular old down-droddenness that comes with slacking off on the ole diss. Regardless, it's been more of a challenge to remain upbeat, or at least for the past two days. I stress out at the littlest thing. Alas...
I sometimes get in these moods when I just need new music. I almost biked to Waterloo records yesterday in the middle of the day just to buy a new CD, even though I don't exactly have money to be burning on that kind of stuff right now. I've spent a good amount of change lately, on all kinds of crap, and I was really living quite frugally for some time. Monk-like, really. With this India trip coming up in June, I can't quite afford to be blowing cash all over the place. Boo.
I had a wonderful time last night with Meera, Mehdi, and Seetha. It was nutty because we all had different cravings for dinner and couldn't settle on a place. So we ended up at Whole Foods where Mehdi bought pizza, Meera bought a salad, I bought Indian food, and Seetha bought roasted chicken. We had been craving s'mores and lo and behold, Meera pops up with tealight candles, yummy dark chocolate, organic graham crackers and natural marshmallows (who knew such a thing existed?). We roasted our s'mores right there on the Whole Foods patio and shot the bull until 11:30pm. Wow! You can tell I'm not running these days; I can NEVER stay up that late on a school night!
Sunday night was fun, too, because we (Meera, Nik, April, Michael, and I) headed to Ryan and Patrick's for a wonderful cookout complete with stuffed crabs, tofu kebabs (thanks to the ever thoughtful Nik), goat cheese, basil, & portabella salad (go Meera!) and steak and watermelon. It was a feast and it was the perfect end to a weekend. So good to spend time with old friends.
And boardgamers among you, beware! I am obsessed with Settlers of Catan. It rocks.
I sometimes get in these moods when I just need new music. I almost biked to Waterloo records yesterday in the middle of the day just to buy a new CD, even though I don't exactly have money to be burning on that kind of stuff right now. I've spent a good amount of change lately, on all kinds of crap, and I was really living quite frugally for some time. Monk-like, really. With this India trip coming up in June, I can't quite afford to be blowing cash all over the place. Boo.
I had a wonderful time last night with Meera, Mehdi, and Seetha. It was nutty because we all had different cravings for dinner and couldn't settle on a place. So we ended up at Whole Foods where Mehdi bought pizza, Meera bought a salad, I bought Indian food, and Seetha bought roasted chicken. We had been craving s'mores and lo and behold, Meera pops up with tealight candles, yummy dark chocolate, organic graham crackers and natural marshmallows (who knew such a thing existed?). We roasted our s'mores right there on the Whole Foods patio and shot the bull until 11:30pm. Wow! You can tell I'm not running these days; I can NEVER stay up that late on a school night!
Sunday night was fun, too, because we (Meera, Nik, April, Michael, and I) headed to Ryan and Patrick's for a wonderful cookout complete with stuffed crabs, tofu kebabs (thanks to the ever thoughtful Nik), goat cheese, basil, & portabella salad (go Meera!) and steak and watermelon. It was a feast and it was the perfect end to a weekend. So good to spend time with old friends.
And boardgamers among you, beware! I am obsessed with Settlers of Catan. It rocks.
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