My most drunken-haze-inducing cohort from my time in Amsterdam, darylmann has posted a couple of interesting things to his blog lately (RSS feed at the username previously mentioned.) He's a super cool guy, has good stuff to say most of the time.

The Corporate Fallout Detector

The Canadian Supreme Courts Same Sex Marriage Ruling

It feels now like I've been meaning to write for weeks. Months, almost. But no, really, it's been days. I've only now been home for a week- not even, we didn't get in until later then this last Monday. But it feels like forever. The last 12 days should have been weeks or months. My life is irreversibly changed.

Facts first, then feelings. Well, that's the plan anyway- we'll see how that goes.

If you'd rather not be included on my processing posts, for whatever reason, please let me know. I have no desire to be triggering people, and can easily filter.
( cut for those who would simply rather not. )

I hope everyone has a wonderful day today, doing whatever you do. I'm heading out to princeofwands parents house with him and karenbynight.

I made pie. Will make and eat green bean casserole too, as tribute.

( I voted... )

Not much to update, life is. :)

Want to wish by lil' brother, windexnostreaks the happiest of birthdays. 17 man.. you're getting old. ;)

Also, good luck to my seester, mollyhuffy as her soccer team goes to the state finals. Y'all rock.

and I said to it, "success, I didn't recognize you at first,"
and I said to it, "success, you don't look the way,
you don't look the way I have dreamed of you, dreamed of you."
"well, not strange," said Success, "to find me here tonight.
not strange," said Success, "to find me here tonight.
what say you to a bargain twixt you and I, Success and Life?"

-Erin McKeown, Fast As I Can

Yesterday was my birthday. A lot of you knew that and either have or will help me celebrate the fact. Yay! I've been around and surviving and even thriving for 24 years now.

Am I where I thought I'd be? Haha. I said to broyd yesterday that " I'm not sure I could have thought up my life now at age 12." He agreed that I'd have blown a gasket. Go figure. Life isn't what I thought it'd be, I'm not who I thought I'd be. Yay! for that.

Breszny said to me this week: "Each of us has a name given by God and given by our parents," writes the Israeli poet Zelda Mishkovsky. "Each of us has a name given by our sins and by our longing. Each of us has a name given by our enemies and by our love. Each of us has a name given by our celebrations and by our work. Each of us has a name given by the sea and by the stars." Your homework for the coming week, Libra, is to figure out all ten names that Mishkovsky says you have. Your identity is ripe for expansion; your sense of self is ready to bloom.


Seems like a good assignment to me. And I'm curious- what do you think my ten names are? Do you know what your ten names are? Names hold a lot of meaning to me, and those meanings change as who holds those names in my life changes.

My names.. I'll have to think about. I'm not sure I can share them since, as with most of my thoughts, they don't yet exist in words. They're only concepts.

My friend and former cohort at GP, Daryl, has posted a well written bit on oil, and why it's something we need to look at sooner rather then later.

Find it here.

I've said I'd tell actual travel stories one of these days, and while this won't get uploaded until I get home, it seems like it should be written in Spain. On with the stories!

( There is No N-V! or An Unexpected Tour of Madrid )

( Welcome to Lovely Nerva and Rio Tinto )

( Don't Kick the Roman Amphorae! )

( This Whole Plan Seems a Bit on the Insane Side )

( Ooh! Let's Add Another Country to the Trip! or This Looks a Lot Like Bavaria Without the Lederhosen. )

( They're All Pirates, We Should Be Too! )

( You Can't Get There From Here )

( That's What We Call Feature Creep )

( How *NOT* to Plan Travel for Others )

( Lovely Things and Other Impressions )

Ok, enough of that. It didn't get finished *in Spain*, but I have yet to hit the US. I'm going to nap now, so that maybe I can stay up till a reasonable hour upon getting home. Whee..

[

inner guide says

|

drained

]

Yesterday, while driving from Madrid to RioTinto we passed through a town with a monestary. Nothing unusual there, at least around here. But this monistary, it makes Jamon. Apparently really fanstatic jamon. I mean, this town has a whole celebration- the 15 days of Jamon. Or maybe it's the 15th day of Jamon. Still- I wonder what the nuns make?

Yeah, I've been rather punchy for days. Just a little. Easier to laugh then scream.

I appear to have passed on my mantra to the rest of the group- "nobody's dead or in jail. It's all ok" - pretty entertaining.

Yesterday we got to seek a non-existant power supply, deliver and configure a router, take a scenic tour of Madrid unintentionally and drive 450km to RioTinto. Whee! Actually, the drive was lovely.

No idea what to say. Science stuff seems cool. I've been working in a folding chair in the hallway all day. No table. Not the best spot- if that doesn't improve (it should, tables are on the way), I may work from the hotel. I've got wireless setup for most of the museum (try that with 2ft thick stone walls!), though that's off when the museum is closed - d'oh.

Supposed to go to Morocco tomorrow. Half tempted to skip it and sleep, but that wouldn't be nice- there are reservations and stuff. And really- how many chances do I get to see a new place? (Well, ok, lots, but not if I don't take them!)

Madness. No, really. I'm in spain, but it's only noticable because I use my spanish more then I normally do in San Francisco. Well, and the food is different... assuming you avoid the very american fast food.

So, the shipment of equipment didn't turn up. Still hasn't turned up. For that matter, the secondary shipment of backup equipment hasn't turned up either- what a mess. We're managing. I'm managing quite well, being unused to having things like piles of cisco routers anyway. This is the sort of challange I thrive on, in general- the "this is what you have, this is what we need, make it so!" type. Mmm.

It's also been lovely for proving that my skills are reall and transferrable- at least in some contexts- to me. I'd been mildly concerned about that. Getting better at believing in myself, but still have issues sometimes. Silly, that.

The high point of the last few days has been going to the mall for lunch and wandering around a bit after eating. We didn't do that today, though, being crunched for time. Oh well. Maybe I'll get to see more of Nerva and Rio Tinto. We've discussed going into Madrid for tapas tonight, but with the amount of work I'm supposed to get done today and how tired I am, I may beg off. I would like to hit the mall on the way home and pick up some stockings though- very cute stuff there. The things that make me question my decision to not move to Europe. Oh well.

Tomorrow we leave for Rio Tinto, a few hundred miles south of here. I think we go through Sevilla, but I'm not sure. There are plans for a day trip to Morocco on Saturday or Sunday. Yay! Adding a new continent to my list, and a fun and interesting trip to boot.

Now, it's time for the call-in meeting, so we're all trying to finish stuff up and be ready for that.. I'd best post.

[	inner guide says	|	bouncy	]
[	soundtrack	|	sounds of sleeping, and elevator music in the hall.	]

12-Sept 0920

On the ground now. Find patgreene, make it through immigration, eventually get all of our bags and even get money changed. Wander through customs and we're met by brian1789 and dawnd. Coffee and a snack (allow me pause to happily sigh over tasty coffee and tortilla, found even in an airport cafe). Minor car fuss and we're on our way to the hotel!

Staying in the small suburb of Torrejón de Ardoz because it's near the Centro Astrobiologia, where brian1789 and I will be working this week. Nice hotel, hopefully they'll find room for me for the rest of the week.

After changing clothes, we wander into Madrid. Our (perhaps overly) fearless driver found parking after a whirlwind tour and we decided it was time for lunch. We'd spotted the Museo del Jamon on our tour, and dawnd and I thought it had to be visited. Indeed, it did- a worthwhile experience. Quote of the meal - "It is rather like being in a porcine cemetary" -brian1789.

We then wandered on to the Prado, which was lovely. Someday I hope to have most of a day to spend there- though that might not be enough time either. It was wonderful to see so many paintings I 'knew' in person. Giggling over dawnd's response to Durer's self portrait ("If that's accurate, I'd do him!"). And spending some length of time staring at all of the paintings by El Bosco. Freaky stuff that- made me wonder if I'd actually left Burning Man at all, at one point. I bought postcards to bring home. :)

At that point, however, we three new arrivals were crashing. A visit to the museum doctor confirmed that it was time to head back to the hotel. Upon arriving, I connected my laptop, read e-mail, and passed out around 1900. Bringing me to now, awake and trying to be quiet while dawnd sleeps. I think she got up for dinner. Kinda wish I had- I'm quite hungry. Time to grab a protein bar, I think. Only two and a half hours till my breakfast meeting.. :)

[

inner guide says

|

bouncy

]

Yay! I have an interview scheduled!

Wednesday morning, with CGNET. They look nifty, and very non-evil.

I got referred to them by the new boss of my former team at Greenpeace- the world, it's a crazy place.

Aside from that, I can't believe I've not yet been home for a week. It's been lovely, slackful, and cuddly. I needed that. I've greatly enjoyed all of the hugs I've been getting- yay! It's lovely to feel so welcomed home. Apologies for not being up for much story-telling or quite so much large-group time. That's always an issue when I get home, but it'll improve quickly.

Saw Shrek2 last night, and wow, *I* want mutant baby dragon-donkeys... *firebreathing* baby dragon-donkeys. SO cute.

And, yeah, I'll get back to squeeing about the interview. Anyone know anything about this place I should be aware of? Interview tips? Thoughts on what to wear? (I think all of my business casual stuff is not only in storage, but about 2-3 sizes too big at this point. Eep.)

I spent my wednesday evening watching the sun set over the hills of Long
Island (AK), as a Haida canoe came in to welcome us. A whole crew of Haida
from Hydaburg came over to greet us here (a sacred spot for them) before
we head there to do community meetings and an open boat. It was lovely.
Singing and drumming and one of the loveliest sunsets yet. Mmm. No port,
but the salmon's still tasty.

Today's been crazy- we're full, so keeping up with 28 people plus
whoever's around during meals, their dietary needs... ugh. It's pretty
fussy. But, 'sok. Works out in the end. I've spent most of my day in the
galley though, which kinda sucks.

Ooh, we did see a school of humpbacks though- oh my. Smooth ocean and 4-5
of them surfacing.. we think they were eating. Lovely.

It is, however, entertaining to be with all these GP folks- "Save the
Whales!" -and find that nobody's quite able to identify the whales. ;)

Anyway, sleep now. We almost hit the lunch or e-mail decision I thought
might come up today. Not quite, but y'know, I don't care so much. I can
live on PB&J; ;).

10-July-2004
In Transit, Alert Bay, BC to Ketchikan, AK

We've spent today doing an action with a group
of local tribes and organizations around fish farming- nasty stuff going
on here, on tribal land. A flotilla of fishing boats joined us for the
action- amazing local support (which we don't always have). It's been a
great feeling. And an incredibly busy day- my head cook ended up being one
of the swimmers, so I got to manage lunch for 60 on my own. I had help for
dinner though, and it was for less people. Thank goodness. The pictures
from the action are great though- probably can be found on the gp-canada
website.

12-June-2004
1423 Alaska Time
Arriving @ Ketchikan, AK

I skipped yesterday- it was mostly a day off. Everyone slacked and slept,
other then essential duties.

Today's also been fairly quiet, though we've been preparing to get into
Ketchikan. Not sure what to expect from locals or from Gov't agencies.
It'll be interesting.

Tomorrow we're doing an open boat, and having local supporters onboard.
Should all be fun.

The surroundings though, just lovely. It's warm and sunny, and we're in
passages between these lovely green wooded islands. Yum. This morning it
was very foggy, we couldn't see anything at all.

Gah. I find myself without much to say. Need to start taking notes
throughout the day or something. I miss y'all. What e-mail I'm getting is
lovely, and I am trying to respond to all of it fairly quickly. Hopefully
I'll get a chance to check out my comments while in Ketchikan. No promises
though.

9-July
Alert Bay, Inner Passage, BC, Canada
2145 PDT

Apparently my posts weren't getting through. I apologize for the huge
number of them all at once. (It will be all at once, too, cause of the
Sat-connect). Much sillyness, mostly on my part for not thinking of things
before I left the net connection.

So, ah, where did I last update. *wandering off to look*.

I see. I left off about 3 hours before things went wonky. So, we got into
Victoria harbour, and anchored. Then we were boarded by Canadian Customs,
Immigration and RCMP (Mounties). Normal stuff, right? Well, maybe not so
much. Beyond searching the ship with dogs (without any of us present- not
so cool), and photographing all of us, apparently it's gotten more
difficult to enter Canada. Enough so that 1/3 of our crew were deported.
Convictions, of all sorts of types- even 20 years old in some cases, will
cause you to not be allowed into the country.

One of those folks was the temp-head-cook. The good news is that we were
getting another cook the next day anyway. Who was allowed into Canada. So,
I'm still in the kitchens, for now. Should be done there and into the
radio room sometime in the next week. If not, well, that's how life goes.

So, right, after that we were all *very* tired. But, also ready to set
sail, having picked up some new crew and campaigners along the way. And,
off we went- up here to Alert Bay, where we've been anchored since midday.
Every time I step out on deck I'm floored- this is all *so* pretty.
Unbelievable. Right now it's raining a bit, foggy, cloudy.. and in these
forested islands, that's just about right.

We were met by a group of the local First Nations tribe in their warrior
canoe, who took the Captain off to do some ceremony. The rest of us headed
ashore around 1600, with veggie friendly food for the potluck in tow. We
met up at the Big House and ate tons (no, really) of fresh seafood of
various types. I enjoyed myself (and ate far too much)! Then there were
speeches from the local Chief's and dancing. Lots of fun.

Tomorrow will be interesting. More to be said about that when it's over,
and really, I will. For now, time for me to wander off any spend time with
these nifty people, or maybe sleep. Haha, the quad-espresso I just drank
laughs at that. Bless the stovetop espresso maker, in all it's glory.

7-July
Columbia River, 2040
Enroute Portland, OR to Victoria, BC

After more hefting boxes, washing dishes and cooking (already endless, it
seems) meals, we've cast off! Dinner was cooked and served while sailing
down the Willamette and Columbia rivers. We're currently still on the
Columbia, ETA Astoria 2130.

It's a strange feeling, this whole motion on water thing. Enhanced, I'm
sure, by the level of excitement. Reduced, however, by the Drammamine.
Nasty stuff that, I've been feeling like I've been awake for 72 hours for
most of the day now. I think I'll chance seasickness for a bit after this
wears off.

Missing home, a bit. Not much time for that. More wishing that I could be
sharing this adventure with some of y'all. (All y'all wouldn't fit on the
boat!)

Enough for now- I'm tired and want to go chill for a while.

Pacific Ocean, 2228

Wow. So, *that's* what waves feel like. Crazy, that. And I'm told these
aren't the 'major swells'- those are coming soon. Right now, it's like
being rocked to sleep. I'm sipping at ginger tea (made a huge huge pot of
it earlier- seemed a good plan), and should probably stop typing for a
bit- I'm told that if anything causes seasickness, it's focusing on fonts
while moving. That whole reading in the car thing. Sadly, I want to read.
Hmm. Perhaps. Or sleep. Sleep would be good- it's been a very long today.
Tomorrow will be long too.

Going to send this now, and hope that the necessary changes have been
made.

[

inner guide says

|

tired

]

So, thanks to some creative networking and the ever-up-for-geekery shifter, I've been on board the ship for 10 hours and we now have high-speed wireless internet. I *rule*.

So, yeah, here I am. This is insane. After a crushingly full flight and similarly full MAX ride, I got to the ship. Nobody was around, so wandered on board. Found the 1st Mate, P. He showed me to my cabin, introduced me to my roomie, H, and lead me to the galley where I met my temp-head-cook, K. We got right to work, figuring out what stores we have, and getting them into some sense of order. Somewhere in there, I found the Radio Operator, T. who had some questions for me. One of those lead to a call to shifter and all of this nifty internet stuff.

Then, around 3, I got an hour off. Went and unpacked, changed to shorts and docs, and boom, my hour was over. Back to the galley! K. and I were both overwhelmed, but managed to get out a good dinner- fish, tofu, greek potatoes, steamed veggies and a big salad. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. Yay! Then, dishes and getting stuff ready for breakfast. Done! Yay!

And off to visit with the RO and the local geeks who have offered us this assistance. Spent some time hanging with a great 6 year-old and touring the ship. Got the first of the RO lessons it's been decided that I should get- note me not complaining.

This is crazy. And totally new. This little (well, not so little) hunk of steel is my home for the next 6 weeks. These people will be my temporary family. How strange. How lovely.

[	inner guide says	|	busy	]
[	soundtrack	|	karenbynight trying to write a fussy script	]

Hey! Portland Folk! I'm going to be in town this weekend with the Arctic Sunrise, and we're having Open Boat Days on Sunday and Monday. Come visit!! We've got fantastic berth space, right downtown. Yay!

Aside from that, I'm busily packing and slacking and stuff. Will update here with an e-mail address and such. I won't be reading journals or commenting, so if there's something you want me to know, you'd best e-mail it to me. Emergency contact info will be with all of the expected folks, if you really need me for some reason. I'm scheduled to return home somewhere around 16-AUG, but that's not for sure. I'll update as I know more.

Summer camp, the GP way!!

Paper Mache, music and beer! Wh00t! There's something gleeful about being covered in glue and newsprint up to my elbows. Yay!!!!

Also.. the top 10 reasons I'm not hippie enough for this crew:

10. Meat is made of meat. I eat things made of meat.
9. Prefer clean clothes. Everyday.
8. Can only think of 10 ways to use tofu.
7. Can't name all of the things in the fridge. No, really. They're still good, as far as I can tell, I just don't know what they *are*.
6. I'm a fan of consentual violence.
5. Sometimes someone has to be in charge.
4. All forms of government aren't evil.
3. If I need something, I buy it.
2. Preference against dumpster diving. I understand the concept, but it scares me.
1. This internet thingy, and using it for anything other then e-mail and reading news.

I'm sure there are more reasons, that's just my current list.

[

inner guide says

|

sad

]

Tonight, I'm running training on a program I've been mostly running. This means being up all night. Ick. And I have to make it to the DMV tomorrow, sometime. This *will* all work out. I'm determined. I can do it. (I just have to keep telling myself that, right?)

Then, a really lovely weekend planned. Well, kinda planned. That's ok too- I'm not feeling interested enough in the small stuff to super-plan it. Baycon, kiva, lots of good things to look forward to. Yay! Then taking off for OR late next week, I think. Mmmm, trees.

I just wrote my farewell letter to work. I'm really going to miss this- where else can I be totally out at work, get paid for being political, get to work with this many cool and determined people... I can hope, right?

( my letter.. )
Ah, the memories. Arguments, Hans' Enormous Package, the magic blue crayon, the naughty nativity party, Daryl's suave and glasses, time on the Esperanza, and, and, and... well, most of it's in my lj, November 01-present. This really *was* something I'd have regretted not doing. I've changed through doing it, I'm more me. Yay!

Case Dismissed!

Ask me something, tell me something, sing a song... please?

[

inner guide says

|

cheerful

]

I've been slowly morphing my interests list to reflect me a bit better. Todays additions are "polyhomed" and "battle muppets".

( yes, battle muppets... )

[

inner guide says

|

exhausted

]

Lots to update on, not doing that today. This is purely informational-

I'm not available today. I have a cold, and am totally exausted. I'm calling in a 'take care of myself first' day, and doing just that. I've called in dead to work. I will be calling the person I have plans with tonight shortly to discuss that. If I offered to do anything for you today, I apologize. If you want to contact me, I don't have my phone. I may or may not respond to e-mail. If there is a true emergency, you'll have to know how to contact me outside of those methods. Sorry.

Tomorrow, I will return to the living. I will assist the Dreamlanders as I can, and entertain kineticphoenix. I will work. I will meet the cat I'm sitting this weekend. I will go to Sunset and Port. Tomorrow.

The Sarah, she is broken. She will be fixed soon. Just so's y'all know.

[

inner guide says

|

happy

]

I'm out of range this weekend, and a decent amount of the rest of the time anymore. If you need me, call. I don't promise to answer, but I will check voicemail.

Yay! for happy Valentines plans. I'm a bit sad to not be joining my family at Disneyland, but so it goes- this will be more fun for me :).

My focus right now- soak up the goodness.


It's not having what you want
It's wanting what you've got

I'm gonna soak up the sun
I'm gonna tell everyone
To lighten up (I'm gonna tell 'em that)
I've got no one to blame
For every time I feel lame
I'm looking up
I'm gonna soak up the sun
I'm gonna soak up the sun