Are We There, Yet...?

For three months I've been commuting 55 miles each way for work. In LA traffic.... But! I'm happy to say that I've found a flat! Soon (ohhhhhh, so soon!) I'm going to cut my commute in to a fraction of its former glory.

So I won't auto-place in the medal round for one-ups contests anymore, but I'm about to reunited with my sanity. A fair trade, methinks.

Other good news?! I'm about to be a Bruin! That's right, kids. UCLA is my future alma-mater. As per usual, seeing the end in the beginning.

But, yeah. I'm back - I hope. I've really missed this space...

K.Sizzle...

My dear friend Kelsey Bulkin has announced her upcoming album. Color a million and two kinds of excited.

Mid-Summer Night's Dream...

Bahji, Israel

Courtesy Paul Aziz Netherwood

via Nineteen Months

Once a home, always home... now it's just closer than my life's vein.

Wise Guy...

Just Einstein - No Biggie

Pretty sure that Albert Einstein is one of my all-time favorite people. Sense of humor, deeply spiritual, didn't take himself too seriously...? So awesome.

Take Your Marks...

Courtesy Boston Review

So I don't know about you guys, but I think that NBC did a terrible job in covering the Olympics. I know... strong language - but I'll stand by it. Anytime you concern yourself with maintaining a monopoly, you have to expect that folks will be unhappy. Should anyone at NBC (or its affiliates) be interested in my reasoning - holler. I'm also still on a quest to get (give?) some Neilson input. By which I mean "stop cancelling quality tv in favor of reality tv".

Next time I'm watching the Irish version.

Warning: This is really funny... unless you like competitive sailing. Then you might take offense.

...Be Happy!

Just a casual head's up... I also have a Tumblr. You know, for those of you who like pictures as much as I do.

A Year in the Life....

A year ago, dear friends, I left the Holy Land.... seeking parts unknown in places I navigate with my eyes closed. And so began a year of transition. In many ways I feel like I had unrealistic expectations [6 months. Definitely only 6 months and then I'm good to go!] - but I've been learning how to be more gentle and understanding with myself.

 East.

West.

Some funny and some true stories (anecdotes? tales?) from my year of transition:

It may be helpful to know that, while I moved nearly every year as a kid, I did most of my "growing up" in Orange County... and yet people still ask me where I'm from. I know that the Baha'i World Centre has its own accent going on [the result of the in-gathering of hundreds of people from hundreds of countries communicating and making themselves understood in a single language]. It's somewhat a mash-up of the Commonwealth accents, with incredibly heavy American overtones - and all sentences end up sounding like a question, as though you're making doubly sure that everyone understands you. So yeah. We sound (to my ears) Canadian. Many people have confused me for a well-educated mainland European ex-pat who either went to an American school or watched a grip of American TV.

When I slide into my BWC accent (never apurpose, I assure you) lately, however - local folks ask me if I'm French. French. Well, merci beaucoup to you and you and you! [But it's still weird. Trust.]

I really (really) love the service opportunities I have here. You should know that I miss Haifa, like, e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y - but! I had a really interesting dream yesterday (the actual and factual one year anniversary of my last day in Israel). I dreamed that I was back in Haifa, and I really felt like a fish in water - so natural to be there, and 2 weeks into my visit... I was offered a chance to stay. Permanently. And my first thought to the people I serve with here. To the children and youth I mentor (but who really mentor me), to the friends who help me - everyday - to be the best person I can possibly be... and without hesitation, I felt that I should decline the offer. An offer that at alternating points in the last year I'd have jumped at. I'm not saying that missing the Holy Land is easy... but I realize that (particularly as a result of prayer and service) it is closer to me than my life's vein. Confirmations abound.

This has been a year of learning for me. Learning how to be a gentler person, learning how to detach from those things you thought would make you whole... would make me better, learning how to learn. Road rage is an irksome beast... but there's always the hope that my next community will have public transportation and be pedestrian friendly! Until then, if you happen to be in south Orange County, don't cut off the girl in the '90 Ford Bronco. The Bruiser doesn't slow as quickly as some would like!

When I Grow Up...

Word of the Day for Friday, July 27, 2012

intrapreneur \in-truh-pruh-NUR\, noun:

An employee of a large corporation who is given freedom and financial support to create new products, services, systems, etc., and does not have to follow the corporation's usual routines or protocols.

Intrapreneur was coined in the 1970s as a variation of the more common word entrepreneur. The prefix intra- means "within."

Dear Dictionary(dot)Com: thanks! How did you know?!

Courtesy Tralalere!

...Want Me Back

In the face of the gross amount of impotence and frustration I've been feeling lately, this song gets in my bones and cheers me up. Enjoy.

For Serious...

 Mid-hike photo-op...

 More nature exploration... this time: tide pools in Dana Point, CA

 Junior Youth and animators in the park...

Thinking 'outside of the box' about the creation of a moral structure...

So I have been taking a small hiatus from 'sharing deep thoughts with the internets' as of late... but I have been roused from my figurative slumber.

You may wonder why I include pictures in which I am in full-swing field trip mode (errr... exploring nature!) and frolicking in the park. Well, that's because those are the pictures that tend to survive such things as children's classes and junior youth spiritual empowerment programs.... 

But I think the fact that they are not very remarkable at all, other than as mementos to those actually in the pictures, is what makes what I'm about to tell you all the more profound.

7 youth and young adults were arrested in Iran (at least one is being held in Evin Prison in Tehran) on Monday for doing the exact same thing you see my friends and I doing in the pictures above.

Again? Okay... 7 youth were arrested on Monday for such crimes against humanity as teaching children's classes and for empowering junior youth. They might also have had the crazy notion that they should go to university.

Service to one's community and seeking higher education are not the hallmarks of criminal activity... but those arrested happen to be Baha'i. Like me. If you, like me, recognize the injustice in this treatment of Iran's largest religious minority, I encourage you to speak out - city officials, congress persons and representatives, news sources, your FB wall (or twitter, tumblr, blogspot, wordpress site). Tell your friends and family!

The internet is a useful medium, and your voice is a powerful tool. To Justice!

New Music I Love Monday...

So the heatwave that's sweeping the USofA is finally making its way west... and while I have spotty success with heat of any kind (wave or no), I am tired enough of 'June Gloom' to welcome the break.

This jam just magically appeared on my Beirut station on Pan.Dora and I instantly swooned. And I started to email it around... so here we are. Enjoy! Such perfect summertime music! 

May I Present....

So remember all of that exciting news I mentioned? This is a small part of it: the tip of the excitement iceberg? Okay. Weird analogies aside - I was in a play last weekend.

Set in 1912, the play chronicles the events surrounding Abdu'l-Baha's epic visit to the West and the profound impact that visit had on the early American Baha'i community. I had the opportunity to play Juliet Thompson - and had so much fun working with my new friends! [ps. we are none of us professional actors - but we had a GREAT time!]

 Backstage: finishing touches complete!

 This is one of my favorite photos!

Lua! (she seemed to say)

 Meeting the press...

 Candid shots (amidst the melee) are the best!

 With our director!

 Catching some pre-show vitamin D

 Last minute running of lines

"...I have a confession to make"

 The ladies

 Nancy, chilling in the green room

Painter's bag: check!

In case there was any confusion... my favorite part might be the dressing up part. Just saying.

Holy Snaps, Batman...!

Okay. So in 24 hours (give or take), I will be sharing with you all some really exciting news... but in the meantime! Can we talk about this video and the completed unexpected (to me) talent in these girls, er... youth?! Well, you'll probably have to discuss amongst yourselves, or exclaim in your head with multiple and enthusiastic pseudo-expletives and exclamation points (@#$Q!!!!!!) thusly.

That's all. As you were.

Oh. ps. They have a Twitter... you know what to do!

Here Comes the Sun...

So the sun is making a serious 'college try'... and this song is so happy and catchy - and this version is just the most fun thing I've seen all week - so! Enjoy!

In other "trying so hard I can't hardly stand it" news... I'm going to be in a play this month! On the 29th, specifically. And I'm pretty nervous about memorizing my lines. To help, I recorded myself on my phone so I could listen and learn (thanks for that, 2012).

Um... have you ever listened to yourself? Like outside of your own head? Turns out that I sound like an NPR reporter. Lakshmi Singh - call me (maybe...)!

But yeah, if you're in OC circa 29 June 2012, holler at your girl. It won't be profesh, I'll probably blush AND sound like I'm presenting on This American Life - but I'll keep it real!

On Marine Layers...

On this day... in this girl's life, beating back June Gloom one song at a time.

Lend Me Your Ears...!

Ashley Judd is my new hero.

Seriously. The mind trip that our culture puts us through - that we have been trained to put ourselves through (!!) - is crippling. Crippling in every way, shape and form.

That she would passionately and eloquently challenge cultural norms is, to me, so completely inspirational. You can read more about it here.

...because sharing is caring.

Introducing...

I fancy myself a stylish woman... I tend to have strong opinions and correspondingly a strong personal voice that is manifested in the myriad ways I express myself.

But if there is one woman whose style I consistently admire, it is my friend Mojan Sami. 

Spring 2012 Trend Report

courtesy Mojan Sami

The rad thing about Mojan (okay... one of the rad things) is that she really does her homework. And this is why she is my ad hoc stylist - not only does she have her ish put together, but she legitimately knows what she's talking about. 

Like light blue for spring, which will supplement my deep love of all things orange very nicely!

Now only for some past due warm weather for spring.....!

Happy Friday...

                                                                                  Source: Uploaded by user via Aimee on Pinterest

All Aboard...!

All images courtesy The Sartorialist

I apologize for the gross neglect and inattention this little slice of my life has received, of late. Ironically, as I am not really (by which I mean at all) a "label" girl... it is Louis Vuitton's fine Fall/Winter 2012 collection that has propelled me out of my blogging hibernation.  

I feel like they have examined and redefined the steam-punk movement ...no longer riding the pop culture underground!

Masterpiece...

Victorian wedding party styled by BHLDN

Via Snippet & Ink

I know. As per usual, the cart is very much before the horse... (my kingdom for a horse! ...too much?) That's never stopped a girl from day dreaming pretty things, right?

Because I think that a party - wedding or otherwise - populated with Downton Abbey-esque styles would be amazing! And super fun. By which I mean happy Friday!