Thanksgiving Thoughts

While I am tempted to write about my thoughts on the amount of BPA being ingested today, and the environmental impact of the average Thanksgiving dinner, I will abstain for today.
Instead I will tell you what I am thankful for.

1. Food. With estimates of 7 billion people going hungry in the world and 50 million hungry in the United States, I am so thankful that I am able to put food on my table. Not just plain staples, if I want to make an all organic sumptuous meal, I could, and for that I am eternally grateful. I think about all of the food that will be in front of me in a few hours, and my heart hurts for those who go without.  Pictures of the famine in Somalia haunt my mind and my soul.
While my gut reaction is to DO something, giving money with a couple of clicks just doesn't feel like I am doing something. Also I am aware that the majority of aid is not getting into the refugee camps, so where would my money go? So I sit with this feeling and have great appreciation for the food that will nourish me. And I plan on volunteering at my local soup kitchen more often.


2. My apartment. The wild girl with wanderlust in me loves the idea of having not attachments and no place but the world to call home. But my inner being loves and is so thankful for my home, a safe haven that I can go to when it is cold or hot, and feel respite from the world. With an estimated 1.6 million people in the United States experiencing homelessness, I am so thankful for what I have. 



3. I know people may disagree with me, but I am thankful for activists. Those that camped for Occupy Wall Street, and participated in civil disobedience this past summer to protest the Keystone Oil Pipeline, these people are getting up off their couches and standing up for what they believe in. While I regularly call my senators and the president, I did not camp out, nor was I arrested this year. I had mixed feelings about OWS as there was not single platform in my mind, but the global concept is one I can stand behind and one that I followed. We are so lucky to live in a country where we can stand up for what we believe in and aren't left in jails for years for speaking up.
 Yes, there was tear gassing, and beatings reminiscent of protests in the 60's and this was so saddening. Yet people still take to the streets to fight the good fight. Thank you.


4. Love. I am so thankful for the love that I am surrounded by. From the loving kisses I get from my puppies in the morning, to the amazing people in my life, my cup of love overfloweth. Life is so much better when you have someone special to share it with, and I have found someone pretty special. In addition to that, the love freely given by strangers is one that always amazes me. If we all treated our everyday interactions coming from a place of love, imagine where we would be. No I am not talking about super schmaltz, just seeing the humanity in the other person, and sharing your love with them. Through holding the door for someone, not honking at LA drivers, or giving a dollar to a person on the side of the road, all of these come from a place of love.
Thus I am thankful for all of the love that has come my way, today and every day.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,
I know I haven't written in a while. Like maybe ever. But when I saw that Macy's is donating $1 to the Make A Wish Foundation for every letter received, I knew now was the time.

So why all the years of silence you may be wondering? Well to be honest, I am not so sure you are real. I know, low blow before I even ask for anything, but hey a lie sends you straight to the naughty list.

Speaking of lists, I think I have been pretty good this year. Organizing a volunteer event for my birthday, volunteering in Ecuador, doing beach clean ups, refusing straws, and turning lights off. All good things. Therefore I realize my list may be a bit out of your reach, but Natalie Wood received a house in the 50's, so maybe with inflation, my list is doable?

Jessica's Christmas List

1. Could please help the UN to recognize Palestine as an independent state, convince the US to restore UNESCO funding, and stop funding Israel 5+ million dollars per year? I know it is a 3-part wish, but hey, you are Santa.

2. Could you please put all of the extremist groups that are blocking aid to those starving in Somalia on the naughty list? You may have already done this, not trying to do your job or anything. Can you also please deliver food and supplies to Somalia? 2 million people starving is not okay, and I would way rather you give them food than me something shiny, sparkly, and temporary.

3. Let's talk about gay marriage. I know you don't have a seat on the senate or anything, but what if we created bumper stickers like "Santa supports everyone's right to marry." Then you just include it with all your deliveries? I think that would be a good way to spread the message.

4. How about wrapping your presents in recyclables this year? I am sure you are seeing the effects of climate change in the North Pole and may have already considered this. If you need a green expert to complete an energy audit, just let me know and I could zip on up there. Or you could send a reindeer. Your choice.

So that is my list. I know it is a bit big, but I know if anyone can do you can.

Or maybe we all can.

Best Wishes for a happy 2012

Jessica

PS Hi Mrs. Claus, just wanted you to know I didn't forget about you. I know you do more than just bake cookies and sit by the fire like all the books say. (:

Homeless=We Ignore Them

I have a confession to make. I used to ignore, if not look down a bit on homeless people. This is not something I am proud of, and not something I know I am alone in doing.

After spending 7 years living in Portland, I grew quite accustomed to seeing homeless people on the street all the time. According to HUD’s 2008 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress Oregon led the nation with the highest homeless population so it is no wonder that I was seeing them everywhere. In Oregon I primarily saw young people, and there was one that I will never forget. Every 9 months or so she would be pregnant with a sign reading "Homeless and Pregnant" standing on a busy street getting money from people who felt bad for her. I judged them and her, and grew to be a bit hardened.

When my grandmother came to visit me, I hated that the homeless youth were asking her for money. And when one of my best friends, who could be one of the nicest people ever would give the homeless money, I would give her a hard time.

Now don't go thinking I was a super callous chica, I bought meal tickets and tried to give them out, but was refused multiple times.

I had a mind shift this spring when I read this article in UU World magazine. It is written by a minister, Victoria Weinstein who states that she never passes up an opportunity to interact with another human being. Going so far as to carry a stack of ones in her car for people standing on the side of the road. Now I don't know about you, but in the past I would roll up my windows and try to look real busy while hoping the light would change stat. 

Ms. Weinstein chooses to interact specifically with the homeless and states "I find, perhaps not surprisingly, that people on the street are far more honest, open, and attentive than their ostensibly more together and successful counterparts, whose attention you might sustain for a few minutes between phone calls and texts and important obligations. My practice of responding to everyone with equal attention is about trying to live more fully into religious commitments around justice, equity, and compassion. But I also do it because I’m lonely and I want to see what can happen, how I can be brought into human relationship by making myself available to it wherever that might occur."

After reading this article it resonated with me, and who I want to be. I want to be the person who respects the inherent worth and dignity of every person, homeless or not. And I echoed her feelings of loneliness in this busy chaotic world.  So I began purposely trying to carry one dollar bills, and while I will not be taking any homeless to lunch any time soon, I try to give them out whenever I see a homeless person.

I have to let those of you that were like me in the past in on a little secret.

It feels damn good.

There is something about connecting with and acknowledging a person that most of society doesn't acknowledge. Try it, you just might like it.

Some of you out there may be saying "But they are all drug addicts/losers/so different than me." But are they that different? They are mothers, and brothers, and sons, and daughters, and really who the hell are we to judge them.

They all have a past, from veterans, to being laid off, their stories may surprise you. According to this article in the LA Times, women veterans are among the rapidly rising homeless population. Homelessness among female veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars has increased every year for the last six years from 150 in 2006 to 1,700 this year  according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Point being, they all have a story, and it is up to us to judge or not to judge, but I feel we all have a responsibility towards each other. We should take care of each other, because we are all we have.

As congresswoman Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) states "There is a lot that happens around the world we cannot control. We cannot stop earthquakes, we cannot prevent droughts, and we cannot prevent all conflict, but when we know where the hungry, the homeless and the sick exist, then we can help."

My challenge to you, whomever has happened upon this blog, this holiday season is thus:

Reach out and make a connection with a homeless person, if only for a moment. If only for dropping 25 cents in their cup, but still looking them in the eyes and acknowledging their humanity. 

And who cares if all they really want is a beer. Haven't you had days like that?

Come on out!

In honor of National Coming Out Day tomorrow I have a couple of thoughts to share.

I am a bisexual.

Myths about bisexuality that drive me crazy:

1. Bisexuals are just "experimenting or confused." - No. That is called "Questioning." It is offensive that people do not respect that people can be attracted to both sexes in a healthy way.

2. Bisexuals are really homosexual, they just can't admit it. - See my response to #1.

3. There is always a chance that a bisexual will leave their partner/cheat with a member of the opposite sex of their partner.-This is a myth propagated by MTV. There is just as good of a chance of a straight person cheating on their partner, so why does it have to be about gender. If a person is going to cheat, they will regardless of sexual orientation. There is no scientific evidence that bisexuals do it more.

Now I have some general comments to the straight people of the world.

When you meet me, please don't ask why I am single, and why I haven't found a husband yet? My co-worker is convinced that I need a husband and tells me so every day. I wonder what her reply will be tomorrow when I tell her, maybe what I need is a wife?

Do not assume that everyone is straight. Because you will be surprised.

If you find out one of your friends of the same gender is a bisexual, do not recoil and tell them "I could never do that." Duh that is why you are straight.

On the same vein, just because your bisexual friend is attracted to the same gender that you are, does not mean that they are attracted to you. Your friendship is still the same.

Feel free to ask questions, but think about them a little first, shoot, do that with everything.

What if we all took a few seconds to think before we spoke. And to put ourselves in others shoes. Maybe more people would feel okay to come out of the closet, because it is a dark place to be.

Will being an eco-warrior make a difference?

 I refuse straws at restaurants. I pick up trash on the road.

I strengthen my quads to save the trees and not use toilet seat covers.

I only buy recycled household paper products, and those that know me know that if come to my kitchen looking for a paper towel, you will be searching for quite a while. 

Most of my food is local and organic, and I try to ride my bike around town whenever possible despite my lazy side that would WAY rather take my car.

 So imagine my dismay when my Dad shared an article on my facebook wall from the New York Times titled "Going Green but Getting Nowhere." For the article click here.

Gernot Wagner postulates that try as we might, no matter how green one is,  "Our future will be largely determined by our ability to admit the need to end planetary socialism." Basically saying that without economic policy change such as cap and trade, individual action isn't doing a thing.

I beg to differ. If this is the case then why does Seventh Generation tell us that "If every US household replaced just one 12-pack of 300-sheet virgin fiber bathroom tissue with our 100% recycled product we could save 1,900,000 trees and 690 million gallons of water."

Why do we bring our bags to the grocery store? Why compost? Because I believe that every little thing helps. Am I single handedly reversing global warming? No. Am I making a difference? I have to believe the answer is yes, because if not, then the future would feel futile. Hope would be out the window replaced by negativity and dismay.  

How are we supposed to "make change happen" Gernot? Should I be calling Obama night and day to tell him I want to end planetary socialism? Because trust me, I have called him multiple times, in addition to my representatives and senators, but I really think they kind of don't give a damn. Maybe if I had a million or two to donate to somebody's campaign, or maybe if I was famous, I could influence a person or two.

But for now, I will keep doing my daily green things, keep having hope, and keep calling, although I have yet to receive a call back.

Ah the return

I have returned to the United States. What a strange feeling it is to return to ones home soil. I go through the motions of everyday life, and it is almost as if Ecuador never happened.

 Yet, I feel different in my core. It is almost as if I am two people, and one of them is still in Ecuador, caught up in the mystery of self growth and reflection. The other person is living in LA, going through the routine of life. Waking up, making tea, going to work, yoga after work, walking the dogs, every day is like the one before.

Yet I really am that changed person, and trying to adjust to life in the States is a trip. Everything is so readily available here, yet with everything at our fingertips it is so easy to not think about what each item's true value is.

My school that I am at this year happens to be in a ridiculously wealthy neighborhood. It is such a strange phenomena to go from extreme poverty to extreme wealth. My mind feels like a boomerang.

I am just trying to go through the motions, because I know at some point this will seem real. I had deep thoughts shopping at my co-op. Goodness I missed it. The joy I take from shopping at a place where the products are local and organic. But when I shopped there this week in addition to having a heart attack at the price tag, something was missing.

I think life is too comfortable here.

Ode to Ecuador

Ecuador
Land where I had never been before

I rode it's buses
Heard it's babies making fusses'

Dug my hands deep in it's earth
Even dipped my toes in it's surf

My eyes have been opened
To another way of life
Full of much strife

Through friendships forged over hauling rocks
I discovered some of life's building blocks

I envy the sense of pride that is apparent
For locals, I think it might be inherent

From soaring volcanoes to black sand beaches
To fruit stands overflowing with peaches

But all was not oh so rosy
Because the bugs liked to get oh so cozy
In my bed, on my skin
I killed so many, I think it might be a sin.

Why oh why do your people litter?
It made for me feeling a wee bit bitter

My heart was alight
When new friends picked up trash on the beach not out of spite
But because it brought them delight

To clean up the country that they love
Gave me a sense of hope in humanity
Almost as if sent from above

Goodbye to land where our roses originate
My hope for you is that potable water will be available to all
Not just those who can afford it or by fate

Please stop harvesting wood from the Amazon,
For the parrots soon will have nothing to stand upon.

Ciao for now
And may the sun be never too heavy on your brow.

Last week at the Zooanctuary

I bonded with a couple of the animals this week, first and foremost being Cheeky- the baby capibara.

The capibara is actually the world's biggest rodent, but this little guy is a lover. He is only 7 months old and was brought to the sanctuary after spending his first 6 months sleeping in a child's bed. Thus, he loves people and loves to be petted. I know I probably shouldn't be petting him, but he basically climbs into your lap and snuggles up. And who wouldn't love this face?

Leo the spider monkey loves climbing on people, he is so sweet.

Was not a huge fan of him hanging by his tail from my neck though. Man their tails are strong!

He is quite the fan of bananas and papaya. (:












I fell in love with Peanut, the squirrel that will eat out of your hand, he climbs all over you upon cage entry, and has a penchant for sunflower seeds.

Work that week varied, typically the mornings were spent feeding the animals and afternoons were all about manual labor.

I was able to shovel dirt/mud with other volunteers to level out the ground for a new enclosure.

We made the most of our time by sharing jokes. Lesson learned: my jokes do not translate well!


Two of the days I had to go to the local sawmill down the road to fill bags of sawdust for the pathways in the sanctuary and ground inside of animal enclosures. To be fair I was warned by a long term volunteer that it is a shock to the senses, but even though one is warned, reality presented itself as an assault to my senses and mind.

The images, smells, and sounds pounded on me from all directions, as I looked around and realized I am only spending hours here, that for some people, they will spend their whole lives there. From children ages 11 and up working the saws, with no protective gear, wood chips flying everywhere, my ears crying because it was so loud, to plumes of smoke billowing through from the burning discards pile. The second time I went I brought earplugs and those helped, but it didn't do anything to assuage my feelings of sadness for the employees who are probably making next to nothing, to the trees that are illegally harvested from the forests of the Amazon. The earplugs put me in my own bubble, one in which I could focus on the work at hand and try to ignore the reality of the situation. Life is like that, we often walk around with our own earplugs, or our own bubble of reality, yet when a wood chip flies into your face, your realize you really aren't so insulated after all.

The long term volunteer pointed out that the wood was harvested from the same place that a lot of the animals are from. Ironically now they walk on it in their enclosures. The tree that the macaw could have perched atop with the forest very distant below is now a part of the cage that will keep them flying only in circles.

I know that I could have refused to go, but I signed up for this gig, and I was not going to back out because I felt uncomfortable. Would me refusing to go have made any difference to the founders that received my money? No. It would have just made more work for the other volunteers. I seek to see as much as I can in life, and life is not pretty nor pleasant for a lot of people; this trip has shown me many sides of that. Does this mean that I want to see everything that is horrible and depressing? No, but if an opportunity presents itself I will see it, document it, and carry it with me, never to forget.

How often do we think about where the wood for our floors, tables, and furniture comes from? Whose hands cut it down from the forest? What was the age of the person who pushed it through the saws at the sawmill? Who owns the company that shipped it to the US and who is the CEO who is benefiting? What politicians family does this company feed? All questions worth pondering in order for us to be fully conscious consumers.

After the sawmill one of the days I helped to build a shelter for one of the animals, was able to practice my machete skills once again! Wonder if a machete could be brought back with me???

Thursday evening the group of us went to a place called the Casa de Arbols- well it was interesting. They have a gigantic tree on site that they built platforms around, you can climb up 13 floors and receive beautiful views all around.

While trying not to think about the fact that there are no building regulations here and that you can feel the floor shaking. The view was gorgeous.

On site there are walking trees, apparently they move 3 cm a year towards sunlight.

Try as I might, I didn't see them move.













In addition to the tree house there was a pool, with strange statues all around. I am guessing that in their summer season this place must be really popular, but to me it was just creepy.

Witness: where does one procure a statues such as this?

Upon leaving I saw that they had a pet monkey. Garh. The owner gave us a ride back to town (which he charged us for of course) whilst on the ride he ranted about the place we are volunteering. he stated that because they are a foundation they are allowed to keep animals in cages, yet they do not rehabilitate any of them. Why shouldn't he be allowed to keep monkeys out in the open then? At least they aren't in cages. I could see his point, and I did agree with the non-rehabilitation part, but keeping an animal with others of it's kind has to be better than keeping it at your house. It is the lesser of two evils I think, and evils of both of which I am not a fan. Yet here I am supporting them each in different ways.


Friday all of the volunteers but me left in the morning after breakfast, thus I thought I was in for a quiet day. Until I realized that my roommate left the door open and a monkey got in my room, stole my blush, and tore up 20+ tea bags all over my stuff. That evening as I was feeding the animals she (bad monkey)tried to steal food, I gently nudged her in the swamp/lagoon, and went in right after her. Not on purpose of course, but for the next 2 hours I had one really slushy boot.

As I was feeding the coaties, aka baby owl killers, one of them took a swipe at my hand, now I look like I have been in a fight with a wolverine.

After that I was stung by a wasp and had a biting ant attached to my scalp that I had to have a friend removed. Literally its pincers were in my scalp.


Next on the agenda was feeding the donkey, wherein which I was followed by the resident sheepdog. En route to feeding the donkey which is down the road a bit there are vicious dogs that live at the neighbors. Typically the neighbors are home and call them off. Of course not that night! As I was returning from the donkey one of the dogs charged me and I fought him off with the buckets in my hand, what did the sheepdog do? Tried to hump me right after. Was it a full moon?

After all of those adventures we fed coconuts to the monkeys, they loved them! It was a great way to end my time there.

Said goodbye to the zoostuarty on Friday evening, will miss Benji the most. He was a bright sunlight upon my days.

Next stop; the beach for the weekend. Picked up some water en route, because a baby drinking out of a plastic water bottle is totally natural right??? Right.

Banos-The bathroom of Ecuador

Saturday morning we said goodbye to four of the volunteers and the remaining 5 and I headed off to Banos for the weekend. It is known as a spa town, very popular for spa treatments, outdoor activities, and mineral baths.

It is very pretty, situated in a small valley with huge mountains on every side.

There is an active volcano, but no rumblings were felt other than our hunger. I admired the local fruit market, a lot of oranges to be sold. Makes me wonder why they ship them in from California?

I almost paid this man on the street to draw my picture, then thought better of it.

What did I do with my money in Banos? Had 80 minutes of heaven. That would be a massage. It was amazing. Although it was a strange feeling laying on this table naked while hearing the sounds of the street below. From people with loudspeakers shouting political messages in trucks, to bands, to sellers of every type of food. I tried to relax and enjoy it as best I could.


While perusing the streets of Ecuador I have noticed the large amount of trash in them. There is no shortage of trash cans though, but people seem a bit hesitant to use them. Maybe because they look like this?

The local candy in Banos is a taffy like substance that people pull and stretch in doorways. As unhygienic as it was, you know I had to buy some!

My review? It is okay. A good jaw workout whilst on the bus.










The local cathedral in Banos is gorgeous and has been re-built many times due to volcanic damage.

The walls of the interior are lined with huge depictions of their Santa Maria (which is a unique looking doll on the altar) saving the townspeople from multiple disasters over time. It was beautiful, although the doll was not my style.

Outside of the cathedral shops lined the square selling tchotchkes of every religious type.

Further down the street I saw my first (and hopefully last) cuy. Or guinea pig. So sad.

So I took a picture.









This town had a huge amount of people in it and navigating the streets was a bit frustrating. From cars everywhere, to tourists, to street vendors, it was a cacophony of Ecuadorean proportions.

That evening I checked into my hostel, basic but fine.

Boy did I appreciate the hot shower! And bathroom without sewage on the floor! It is the little things in life.

The group tried to go to the mineral baths that evening, but holey schamoley they were packed. Literally people in the pool standing shoulder to shoulder. We passed on that $2 excursion.

Dinner was at a restaurant that my guidebook recommended. It was advertised to tourists, had an extensive vegetarian menu, and it came in English. During dinner we had local musicians come play for us, they were excellent!

Dinner was not excellent. Received my meal with chicken, sent it back and received the same plate 2x with them just taking the chicken out of the noodles. I know some of you readers out there are thinking "This is Ecuador, get over it." But this restaurant was owned by an ex-pat, advertised to tourists, and knew better. I would expect this from eating at a locals only place, but not a place like this. Oh well. The french fries were good!

During our walk back to the hostel we contemplated taking a ride in the dinosaur mobile, but passed on it.

Sunday morning I took my life into my hands, or put it into the hands of some locals with really stretchy rope. The group of us went canyoning. This basically consists of rappelling down waterfalls.

Prior to this excursion, I thought I was the type of person to try anything. One waterfall in and I was so scared I almost cried.

I think adventure sports may not be for me. The whole time I kept envisioning being home safe with my dogs to give me something to focus on. I know pathetic. But hey, at least I tried it. Now I know I am not a canyoning gal. Hiking is so much more enjoyable to me, and will be my go-to activity in the future.







Post being scared out of my mind (but hey the views were gorgeous!) I did some grocery shopping and spotted a dog like Tuki!

Alas, it was time to return to the santuary/zoo. Let's call it zootuary for now.

At the bus station there are vendors selling the same thing at every stand. Sugar cane, candy, drinks, juice, and oranges. When you approach them they all yell and bang on their stands to get you to come over. I tend to purchase from the quieter ones. Who likes to be yelled at?

On the bus I had the joyous opportunity to watch a Jean Claude Van Damme movie.

Plot synopsis as follows:

Jean & family go to nightclub owned by a mobster. Mobsters son does a lot of cocaine and tried to rape Jeans wife. Jean intervenes, son pulls out knife, Jean deflects, son kills himself by falling on knife. Mobster finds out, vows vengeance. Rest of the evening is spent running and fighting with various criminals. In between he pulls out the bullets with his bare hands and puts on a lot of leather. Mobster kidnaps Jean's daughter. Jean goes to strip club to enlist old friend with large muscles. Retrieves daughter, hides her in a dumpster, fights a lot. Ends up killing mobster.

It was deep. All in Spanish dubbing, not sure why but so far every movie on the buses here has violence?

After the movie they turned on the lights. Blue lights with flashing rainbow colors.

I felt like I was in a bad dream.

Speaking of dreams last night I dreamt I was home. Then I woke up to monkeys crashing on the roof.

Today I was bitten by a monkey when I was feeding them.

So far this week is looking to be stupendous. (: