Turn on the Energy Channel

Today is a great day for energy (I can say that at the beginning of the day, before I've had a chance to get distracted, interrupted, funkified). We're nearing my favorite month of the year, September, my birth month, the beginning of the academic year, my "psychic home" if you will.

Another energizing factor: I've started reading the Old (First) Testament, after having finished Revelation over the weekend. Genesis, the beginning. Revelation is very powerful and is another sort of beginning. Reading the books in that order is very interesting, and has provided me with some wonderful momentum. The Fall seems much less tragic in the grand scheme of things. I love how Adam blames Eve for the whole thing (and then Eve blames the serpent). "Not my fault!"

Support Your Local Fencer!

Here's the touchstone article: Slate offers up coverage of Olympic swordplay. I fondly remember my fencing lessons, taken pre-baby up in Seattle. It's a great sport--very rigorous and empowering.

Last week, The Sacramento Bee had an article (already archived and fee-based) on Dominga Nash-Carter, a 12-year old fencer/sabriste who is practicing in an underfunded black neighborhood and had to forgo nationals in North Carolina last year, her family unable to fund the trip. Last Friday, I had the pleasure of meeting David Williams, Dominga's coach and head of the Imani Fencing Foundation, and a bit later, Dominga, her mother Kathleen and her sister, all of whom take lessons from David. Next year nationals are going to be held in Sacramento, so travel won't be a problem. This is a great community activity, and David is really devoted to the community and the sport.

Dominga's practice site and the home of the Imani Fencing Foundation is here: Oak Park Community Center, 3425 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (916) 277-6151

Congratulations to Mariel Zagunis of Beaverton, OR, on her gold medal, and Sada Jacobson (of Georgia) on her bronze, both in Women's Sabre!

Work/Life Balance Supreme Test

Today is a supreme work/life balance challenge for me. Personnel evaluations, meetings, deadlines for assessment projects, oh yeah, and getting the rental car returned, picking up our newly repaired car (and paying up the wazz for that--ouch!), plus getting into MAS birthday mode (today being cupcakes and goody bags at daycare day).

Trying to be mindful, mindful, mindful, about so many things and defuse the stress triggers. Also navigating through the Thich Nhat Hanh book and coming up with several things he discusses regarding Buddhism (and his interpretation of Christianity) that I disagree with, that conflict with what the Bible says, etc. Not jumping to any conclusions quite yet, not fully understanding the details of Buddhism, but can say that there seems to be a different role for suffering, a different interpretation of how many "doors" there are, plus some questions about his thinking on Jesus' divinity/humanity (in the form of a biological role on the part of Joseph?).... What's interesting is that I feel sort of guided internally about what I end up thinking about what I read, even if it's far afield theologically. A discernment is developing that feels very very good indeed. Less shaky ground.

Not a cakewalk....

Yesterday I discovered a curious copyright tidbit. The nice lady at the bakery I called to place an order for my son's birthday cake informed me that they could not decorate the cake with Elmo because he was a licensed character and subject to copyright laws. They could, however, place a figurine of Elmo amidst a scene. With my knowledge of copyright laws, battles over Mickey Mouse and other unauthorized use of characters, this should be no surprise to me. On the other hand, we might be going a little far here--I mean, if it's a good cake, it'll be gone in a blink of an eye. Can't we cook up a Fair Use argument for cake and other edible ephemera?

I'm trying to find good web references for this topic (copyright news specifically related to cake decoration) but am not having much luck in a quick search. Any help from my small readership is appreciated.

Eeedgaaaaaaaarrrrrrr!!!!

Lots of sports news lately, Vlade going to the Lakers, "Peaches" (Peja) talking about leaving the Kings, and now this: Edgar Martinez retiring after this season. This is huge news, a most loved player on the Mariners. I will never forget my 30th birthday thanks to Edgar. If you know Edgar you know it's not that kind of story. He and his lovely wife Holly came in to Buca di Beppo while friends and I were celebrating my birthday at the Pope's table. We kept talking about whether we should send them a bottle of wine or dessert, when we saw them leaving. A friend of mine took a placemat to get his autograph. They were talking in the kitchen for a long time, and then the friend returned to give me the placemat. Edgar gave me birthday wishes! A very special ballplayer and a very special person.

Juggle Girl, or Juggle, Girl

I have too many things on my plate this week. Work will be very busy: appointments keep adding up, surprising me, impinging on things I had planned to do (and things that should get done this week). Thursday is Michael's birthday party at daycare, so I'll be baking cupcakes Wednesday night. Then, Saturday is a big party at our house to celebrate the wee one's turning 2. This will take an incredible amount of energy and stamina to balance work and home demands and actually enjoy myself when it comes time to relax. Taking Friday off will help in one aspect but will also compress my work week in painful ways.

Which Way? One or Many?

Instead of reading Vanity Fair (the 19th c. book, not the magazine), I have been diverted once again into non-fiction. Rather than Toddler Tips (although there is some of that too on the bedside table), I'm digging into Thich Nhat Hanh's Living Buddha, Living Christ. The concept and practice of "mindfulness" is useful in so many areas of my life, and this book seems to be a good springboard/inspiration for developing more of a focus there. What really piques my curiosity here, is his more universalist view of spirituality. There are many Christians who are also practicing Buddhists, as Buddhism (as I understand it) is more of a philosophy/practice than theologically based and so not necessarily incompatible with practicing Christianity. But, his quotation of the second precept of the Order of Interbeing does raise questions about the absolute truth of Christianity:

"Do not think the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice nonattachment from views in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints."

Now this is horribly out of context, and also framed by the Introduction by Elaine Pagels, where she (problematically) draws parallels with Hanh's views and [dang--went to publish and Blogger failed me--and it was so Deep too!].... the gnostic gospels where Jesus is allegedly pointing to multiple ways to the Man (vs. John 14:6 which says "the only way to the Father is through me"--and so One Way). Now the quote is addressing attitude and receptivity and perhaps is not incompatible with believing in a doctrine of Absolute Truth that is Christianity--perhaps it is possible to also be nonattached enough in order to be receptive to interfaith dialogue? Hanh's writing has many subtleties. He is insightful about many aspects of Christ-following and practicing mindfulness for right-living. I am finding this book useful and am slowly becoming re-energized for the continuing road of "preparing myself" on many different levels. [that's close to what I was trying to say--a lot of stuff to unpack here.]

Barely Awake

So, I typoed and it was "Barley Awake" which is kind of an interesting concept. I like barley.

I haven't posted in a while, not because I don't have anything to say, really, but more because we're just so exhausted from keeping up with the emotional rollercoaster that is a toddler about to turn 2.

With more sleep, I'd be talking about GK Chesterton, Thich Nhat Hanh, re-energizing for professional development and re-engagement after taking a "mommy break" as a librarian, and ... oh, ... the state of post-post-modern art or something like that.

Despite the sleep dep, I feel the brain wanting to kick in again, probably because it's almost time for a "back to school" vibe. I love September, was born in September, loved school and always got excited around this time of year. It's regenerative in a way that spring is not. It's the balance between physical expression (spring) and intellectual pursuits (fall). I was always more at home in the fall.