Had a massage today with a new massage therapist but at the old office.  My new MT's name is Shodie (unfortunately pronounced "shoddy"), which means "happiness" in Persian; "yes, my parents were total hippies," she said.  She was excellent; I could feel her literally pulling my muscles apart from each other, but it didn't hurt (much).  My upper ( Read more... )

by Claire Hope Cummings; review

One of the most important books anyone could read.  A readable explanation of the science and anti-science behind genetic engineering, the scientific and legal history, gene patenting, agri-chemicals, globalization, seed-saving, farm debt, colonialism and its impact on indigenous agricultural practices, storytelling ( Read more... )

by Ellie Schoenfeld

My country is this dirt
that gathers under my fingernails
when I am in the garden.
The quiet bacteria and fungi,
all the little insects and bugs
are my compatriots. They are
idealistic, always working together
for the common good.
I kneel on the earth
and pledge my allegiance
to all the dirt of the world,
to all of that soil which grows
( Read more... )

Come out of the dark earth
Here where the minerals
Glow in their stone cells
Deeper than seed or birth.

Come under the strong wave
Here where the tug goes
As the tide turns and flows
Below that architrave.

Come into the pure air
Above all heaviness
Of storm and cloud to this
Light-possessed atmosphere.

Come into, out of, under
The earth, the wave, the air.
Love ( Read more... )

by Martin Espada

Never pretend
to be a unicorn
by sticking a plunger on your head

Do not be silent, God of my right hand.

For officious bureaucrats are ranged against me,

speaking against me with lying tongues.

They beset me with their petty rules,

and attack me without cause.

In return for my vigilance they scorn me,

even while I try to appease them.

So they reward me evil for good,

and ( Read more... )

Happy birthday,
( Read more... )

I've been reading about human-caused extinctions, and mourning.  This poem came to mind:

Watching a Documentary about Polar Bears Trying to Survive on the Melting Ice Floes

That God had a plan, I do not doubt.
But what if His plan was, that we would do better.

I transplanted red cabbages yesterday, and planted some cabbage seeds.  Also, since Soph destroyed all the leeks I'd grown indoors from seeds, I planted the rest of the packet straight outdoors ( Read more... )

My driver's test is tomorrow morning at 8.45. I'm psyched - looking forward to being "normal," glad I finally know how to parallel-park (it was so easy, I couldn't believe I'd feared doing it for so long.  And Tua's a great teacher!).

I've listened to "Recessional" on Vienna Teng's Dreaming Through the Noise album about 14 times.  It's haunting.  ( Read more... )