merchimerch

I don't actually hate my job, but today's A Softer World still resonates:

http://www.asofterworld.com/index.php?id=517

One of my yoga instructors (Kelly Blaser) just sent this Hafiz poem in her news letter. I love some of the imagery in it, like old depressive habits still sending out invitations and squeezing drops of sun from prayers and music. Anyhow, here it is for my preservation and your enjoyment:


Cast All Your Votes For Dancing

I know the voice of depression
Still calls to you.

I know those habits that can ruin your life
Still send their invitations.

But you are with the Friend now
And look so much stronger.

You can stay that way
And even bloom!

Keep squeezing drops of the Sun
From your prayers and work and music
And from your companions' beautiful laughter.

Keep squeezing drops of the Sun
From the sacred hands and glance of your Beloved
And, my dear,
From the most insignificant movements
Of your own holy body.

Learn to recognize the counterfeit coins
That may buy you just a moment of pleasure,
But then drag you for days
Like a broken man
Behind a farting camel.

You are with the Friend now.
Learn what actions of yours delight Him,
What actions of yours bring freedom
And Love.

Whenever you say God's name, dear pilgrim,
My ears wish my head was missing
So they could finally kiss each other
And applaud all your nourishing wisdom!

O keep squeezing drops of the Sun
From your prayers and work and music
And from your companions' beautiful laughter

And from the most insignificant movements
Of your own holy body.

Now, sweet one,
Be wise.
Cast all your votes for Dancing!

~ Hafiz ~

I accompanied my Bosnian to his former coworker and friend's birthday party that was just amazing last night. It was held Morrocan place in SF called Aziza (on Geary) where the food was just impeccable -- all very Middle Eastern/Morrocan, but much more upscale than I've ever tasted. They had tables of 5 and brought out 5 appetizers and 5 main courses for everyone to share. So much food that I'm still full, but I LOVED the way this worked out -- much better than either separate entrees or a buffet. My favorites were a pastry wrapped spiced chicken pie that was very complex and had such a wonderful combination of textures and their lamb was the most succulent that I've ever tasted. The best appetizer was a fava bean bake with feta cheese and oregano oil. The whole meal was just over-the-top good. Also, near the restaurant we found a Russian/Georgian bakery where I found the Georgian khatachpuri that I fell in love with in Tashkent. So, if we ever get hungry today (which seems doubtful right now), I get to introduce my Bosnian to Georgian doughy-eggy-cheesy goodness.

I just made 2 large pans of zeljanica (Bosnian for spanikopita) and a bonus tiny pan of apple plum chai spice filo pie.

The Bosnian mommy makes it way better than I do.

She spends hours pouring over each leaf of spinach to assure that it is washed and trimmed to her standards.

My zeljanica will never rival hers, but I mixed it up, baked it, and had it out of the oven in a total of 45 minutes.

I really love fast food that isn't fast food.

(of which I can now claim to be one -- my Bosnian and I rode down the Los Gatos Creek Trail for the first time last night -- he now has a bike - hurray!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LydEn_cJ-dM

Yay, new Miss Platnum video on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6lGgPkM7uY&feature=player_embedded

And, there's a free download of "Drink Sister Drink" on www.missplatnum.com

I slept past 5 a.m. for the first time since I've arrived home :)

I got up for church at 9, then picked up my Bosnian for the Campbell farmers market and we had a lovely time walking and buying delicious tomatoes and stone fruit among other things. Then he surprised me by taking me to Aqui's for organic Cal-Mexican brunch. We're now home and collapsed on the couch with 2 laptops and 2 kitties and life is good.

Hopefully I'll manage to make babaghanoosh and carrot-fennel-sweet potato soup before heading out for a contra dance with a Quebecois band, Crowfoot, tonight.

It's good to be home :)

I'm home :)

Those of you who know me in person are aware that I'm rather buxom. This makes some yoga poses rather...interesting.

My Bosnian has been a yoga enthusiast for at least six months now, but until today he stuck with all-level or beginner classes, so he missed out on some of the more advanced poses like head stand, suptavirasana (lying down kneeling pose), and plow pose (where you balance on your shoulders with your torso as vertical in the air as possible and your legs behind you over your head -- here's a visual aid: http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/479).

Today was A's first intermediate level class and he was a total trooper when it came to trying the new poses.

Toward the end of class he came out of shoulder stand before I made the transition to plow (it was optional). So at this point I drop my legs to plow, allowing my boobs to flop down pretty much into my mouth as I fold from my hips. A chooses this moment to ask "Oh what pose is that?!?" I reply "mmmmpppph mmppppph," since I have a mouth full of sports bra and he starts chuckling and says "well honey, maybe this is a good time for us to have our little chats."

I busted up laughing. Not a mellow and respectful titter, but full on cackling and guffawing. It was raucous and disruptive. Luckily our yoga teacher likes rowdy students and laughing, so it was up her alley, but it was just such a perfect T&A yoga moment (though perhaps you had to be there).

The outrage over the CA Supreme Court's decision is being much better voiced by others, but I want to add a little of my perspective.

This seems like a very awkward compromise, letting 18K marriages stand yet outlawing any in the future. It is reminiscent of racist debates about how much hereditary blood line makes you of a certain race even if you "pass." This seems like an incredibly pointless line to draw in the sand. How are the marriages performed a year ago any more valid that those that would be performed now? I wonder what would happen if we had rogue counties and rogue courthouses starting to issue marriage licenses regardless of the sex of those applying.

This decision only underscores the very broken nature of California's proposition system. We should not have a popular vote to decide about human rights. Also, we shouldn't have a popular vote to decide whether or not to raise taxes. Our proposition system does not foster democratic ideals; unfortunately it only fosters fear mongering.

Last Tuesday we Californians lost our chance to raise taxes enough to keep our public education system on life support (barely) and to save other public services that are direly needed. Today Californians lost the basic human right to marry whomever we choose. What's on the docket for next Tuesday?

Also, how can we really do this at a time when so many other states are acknowledging that marriage is a basic human right? I shudder to think that I live in a state that falls down on the right-wing, religiously extreme side of this conflict.

I wonder if the court decided to uphold the existing marriages so as to avoid the legal argument to transform ALL legal marriage in the state into civil union. That's a change I would get behind. I'm happy to allow marriage to be a religious term and to clearly delineate and separate it from the legal and civil concept.

We've always struggled to keep church and state separate in this country, but right now? Epic failure.