slooow down

I've been busy, really busy with the multiple things that make up a mom, teacher, artist, environmentalist, life. Yes, I admit being busy is my addiction. The rush of saying "yes" to another important task, the thrill of moving at light speed from one event to the next, the exhilaration of forward momentum. Sometimes slowing down feels like a hangover. I get edgy even snappish. So it was a delight to find myself lying in the sun on the deck with my five year old today. We had an outing planned but my son unexpectedly fell asleep at noon (he also has a predilection for pushing himself until he drops) and so we made an impromptu picnic with basil from the garden, alas, colorful but not that tasty tomatoes from Mexico, olive oil, and good bread. The warm deck, my daughter's silly chatter, sweet basil ahhh the slow life of now.

pheasant

Yesterday, while biking home, I saw one of these on the trail near Lake Temescal. I've never seen one in Oakland before. S/he was looking through a chain link fence towards the lake and perhaps trying to understand what it was and how to get back over to the water. I imagined lifting it in my arms, scratchy feathers, warmth, wiggle, dusty smell, but instead, just pedaled on home.

art for sale

I just dropped off a bunch of art for the sfmoma 15th annual warehouse sale.

Here are the details:

The event begins with a grand opening reception that features complimentary wine and live music, and it closes with an afternoon of live jazz. Throughout the sale, the gallery offers special extended hours. The gallery restocks sale works daily, but visitors are encouraged to attend early for the best selection. The event is free and open to the public. On opening night, a limited number of reserved parking spaces will be offered in the Fort Mason parking lot. Free parking is available outside the gates in the Marina Green.

15th Annual Artists Warehouse Sale Opening Night
Wednesday, May 07, 2008, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Special Sale Hours
Thursday, May 08 and Friday, May 09, 2008, noon - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 10, 2008, noon - 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 11, 2008, noon - 4:00 p.m

Earth Day

Tomorrow I will wear my solar hat to the school where I teach and I'll bike to work too but the articles getting my attention are less the thoughtful and encouraging like Michael Pollan's and more the bitter and satirical like Gail Collin's "fat Bush" piece in the New York times or this one in Salon about dumping Earth Day. In truth I feel torn between the desire to be "virtuous" as Pollan calls it and do my part and a cynical despair that it is far too late to do anything but "slow the growth"and cope with the resulting catastrophe.

spring wash

It's in the 80's in Oakland and I'm hanging out the wash. Yesterday 5 yo daughter asked " does God think it's summer?".

new work

This is what I made during my spring break. Materials include cups from a baby shower, tea tin, thread spool, wire, play dough top, Peets iced coffee cup, motor, solar panel, epoxy.

best green blogs

Hey folks, I'm listed on best green blogs on today!

earth hour

Tonight is earth hour. We're asked to turn off our electricity for an hour tonight from 8-9pm local time. My son's first reaction "no way. I want to watch a movie tonight" and to be honest I'm not sure I'll pull it off. It's kind of ironic because I spent years growing up without electricity. I remember when I first started spending lots of time in electrically illuminated homes it seemed like people were addicted to electricity, to the ability to be very active at night, when it should be dark and calm. Now I take my addiction to illumination for granted and only feel the hold it has on me when I'm asked to give it up...for an hour.

edit- can't get the link to work...try this www.earthhourus.org.

solar hot tub

Hurray, our solar water heater is heating up a lot these days and making hot water for the hot tub. The way it works is that there is a panel on the roof and water is pumped up there. When it reaches 104 degrees the water flows into the tub and new water goes up. By late afternoon the water is quite hot and we only have to use the heater for a short time in the evening to heat it more. I love hearing it gurgle through the pipes. This summer I want to make a solar fountain to listen to and look at while in the tub.

a few things

A few things I've been up to instead of blogging (but want to blog about sometime):

Had a great weekend with my sisters in Lakehead....near the world-famous Basshole!

Learned how to design a circuit at the amazing art place the Crucible.

ummmmm and this weekend my son is playing in the Norcal ice hockey playoffs. go Bears!

snow

Last night I dreamed of mountains and snow. In the dream it had snowed and I saw high mountains outside my window covered in white but when I looked on the ground instead of snow there was a pile of styrofoam pieces with small pellets drifting in a gentle breeze.

ps I just found the image above...the artist is named Tara Donovan and those are cups.