Complex Universe - the SpungusBlog

Who Doesn't Love Love?

2012-02-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

I am a cynic. I think Valentine's Day is a joke - a made up holiday. Eric and I do not exchange cards or flowers or chocolates or go out to dinner on this day. Eric knows that I would kill him if he bought me a dozen (exorbitantly over-priced) roses for this occasion. I mean, I am the one balancing the check book every month, after all. For us, Valentine's Day is just like any other day.

But we did go out last night. It was a double date with our best friends to see Lenny Kravitz at the Fox Theater here in Oakland.

Oh. My. God. It was awesome.

Now, we had seen Lenny last year when he opened for U2 at the Coliseum. But that venue was jus too big and his show was just too short. The Fox Theater was a perfect place to really see what Lenny Kravitz can do. And what he does is Rock It.

The show was amazing: fabulous musicians, intense light and video show, almost sensory-overload but in a good way. I danced the entire two hours.

And the Love. Okay, cynicism aside, Love Rules. And even if I didn't already believe that Lenny Kravitz could convert me.

The energy was positive and the evening ended on a high note (an extended version of Let Love Rule that had Lenny running and singing throughout the entire theater, upstairs and downstairs). Damn, that man has stamina.

The opener, Raphael Saadiq, was fabulous, also. A great evening of music. And of love.

Awwww.

New Music Recommendations of the Day:

Lenny Kravitz: Black and White America

Raphael Saadiq: Stone Rollin'

As Jim and Greg would say, it's a Buy It record all the way.

Boring. Not!

2012-02-14T09:04:00.000-08:00

The truth about me is that I get easily bored and distracted. I intensely start things and then after a while just stop. I always say it's part of my Gemini-nature - never staying fully focused on one thing before flying off to the next.

I've never thought of this as bad. In fact, I think it makes things more interesting. There is so much in the world to try and experience before I die so why not do as much as I can, right?

And yet, there are the bottle caps. It really astounds me that I still play with them. It's been over Two Years (a long time for me to stick with something) since I first developed the wire and hole-punching technique that I use to make my bottle cap sculptures. And I just can't stop.

Yes, I am done with flowers. Really and truly. But I'm starting to bang out new shapes using the Exact Same process. It's the same repetition. The same order of operation. The same way of making a three-dimensional form. This should be boring to me by now. But it's not; I love it.

I'm back to the grid, by the way. I am making little bottle cap boxes. Where it goes from here, I'm not sure. But at least I'm not bored. Not yet, anyway.

Song That Gets Stuck in My Head When I'm Working of the Day:

Little Boxes on the hillside
Little Boxes made of ticky tacky
Little Boxes on the hillside
And they all look just the same

Getting Back On The Horse

2012-02-04T10:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my first real work day in the studio in a month. It felt good, once I got there - I had a slow start yesterday morning. My intention was to begin working on a new idea that had popped into my brain while I was looking at art last Monday.

Unfortunately, I didn't seem to have the right material on hand to execute my vision. Rather then break my flow and head over to the Home Depot in search of materials that would work, I moved on to something else. I started by opening a small box of bottle caps that had been sent to me back in April of last year. It was from a guy in Redondo Beach.

I can't remember his story but I think he might work at a deli or something and he saves the caps from the beers they sell there. Seems like these caps came from a place of business, at any rate, because there were lots of the same kinds of fairly common and popular beers. Also the caps were in good shape: very little were bent, a sure sign of someone who uses a bottle opener often, and twist-off caps were actually twisted off and not mangled with the opener.

After sorting all the caps in that box I started to play with them, assembling them onto a discarded metal something or other that I picked up at Urban Ore about two years ago. It was all just for fun, to get me back into the swing of things. I was making it up as I went along.

Later, when a friend stopped by to say hi he asked me after a bit, "What are you making?"

"I don't know", I answered. "Just fooling around."

Eric asked me the same thing when he came over after work. Again I answered: just playing.

Here's the thing, it is a mistake for any artist to create with the idea that Every Single work of art has to be fully thought out and expertly executed. That is, that all of our output has to be a Masterpiece.

It is my experience that small experiments and playing often lead to more interesting end results. Allowing myself to "fool around" gets me places I probably wouldn't get to if I thought it through or carefully planned it in my sketchbook ahead of time.

What's the point of exploring our creative sides if we don't let them wander and meander and go where they naturally want to go? I have no idea what I am doing with my art right now but I am absolutely certain that whatever I do, it's gonna be a lot of fun.

More Fooling Around of the Day:

My First Poofer!

Eric and I took a workshop a couple of weeks ago that the Flux Foundation put on to learn how to create a fire effect affectionately called a Poofer. Oh, we had so much fun. Check out this picture of me and Eric testing out our new toy.

I love my life!

Ladies And Gentlemen, Rational Has Left The Building

2012-02-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

Admittedly I am writing this quickly and it is based on emotional response. But there is something I just Do Not Understand.

How does it makes sense to spend so much money on advertising when our country is so far in debt?

For instance:

The political action committee Restore Our Future spent $8.5 million on pro-Romney ads. Winning Our Future, the pro-Gingrich PAC, spent $2 million. And this was just for Florida.

And let's talk about the Super Bowl. The cost for a 30 second spot during Sunday's game is $3.5 million.

So, organizations are spending millions, if not billions, to tell us which button is the right button to push in November. And showing us what car we should drive, what chip we should cram into our pie hole and what beer we should drink to wash it all down.

Is it just me or is this totally and completely and utterly crazy? All this money spent just to tell us what to do. Meanwhile, already cash-strapped city's are being striped of their Redevelopment Funds. Money that, unfortunately, was being used to cover shortfalls in city budgets including things like police and public works. Many city departments are losing their funding and people are being laid off.

This all is so wrong.

And Then There is This Bullshit of the Day:

Komen For The Cure Halts Grants To Planned Parenthood

Sign this petition if you are opposed.

Where To Find Inspiration

2012-01-31T10:26:00.000-08:00

As I rode the BART train from West Oakland to Montgomery Street yesterday afternoon, I started to ask myself: Is SFMOMA the best place for me to try and find inspiration? I mean, it's not like this venerable art institution ever really inspired me before. Sure, there have been a few exhibitions over the years that have "wowed" me (Olafur Eliasson's Take Your Time comes to mind). But, generally, there's not much to see that I haven't seen before. And most of the art at the museum just reminds me of art history class - studying art and admiring art are often not the same thing.

But Monday is my most flexible day of the week and SFMOMA is one of very few art museums or galleries open on that day. So there I was, after paying the $18 admission (yikes!) and later discovering that one whole floor was closed for installation (shouldn't admission have been discounted because of that?), free to walk around, look at art and let my mind wander. Not the worst place to be.

Honestly, I didn't see much that I liked. The 2010 SECA (Society for the Encouragement of Conemporary Art) Award and its related Fifty Years of Bay Area Art failed, as usual, to inspire me. And while the latest configuration of the permanent collection on the second floor is nicely laid out it's still the same old same old.

Sans II, 1968 - fiberglass and polyester resin

Although, I was transfixed by Eva Hesse's Sans II (1968), a piece I have seen many times before but seemed even more meaningful to me roomed with other notable 20th Century art that explores the idea of the grid. It reminded me of how drawn I am to that form and made me realize that I am not quite done exploring that avenue.

Polka Dots, 1976 - gelatin silver print

I also found myself surprisingly impressed with the Francesca Woodman retrospective, on view through February 20th. Thirty years after her untimely death at age 22 (she committed suicide), this exhibit of mainly black and white self-portraits covers the very brief but exceptionally creative period of time in the life of an artist who clearly possessed extraordinary natural talent. I am fairly ambivalent when it comes to photography but this woman's work is striking.

Exploded Views (Improv) (installation detail), 2011
LED lights, custom electronics

Jim Campbell's Exploded Views also continued to catch my eye throughout the afternoon. Hanging in the first floor atrium, it's best viewed from the second floor landing but, really, anywhere you look at this installation of hundreds of flickering LED lights offers an amazing sight. What I appreciated most, even more than the obvious aesthetic beauty, was the non-linear look and feel; so random, yet it seemed very ordered.

View of Yerba Buena Gardens from 5th Floor of SFMOMA

Finally, I spent more then a few minutes looking out the window at the end of the Turret Bridge on the 5th floor. The view and the light were interesting enough for me to briefly use my camera phone, something I am not generally inclined to do.

All in all, it was a good day and worthwhile time spent. I was able to remember what I like and don't like about art; let myself be drawn towards new as well as the familiar; and assure myself that it is OKAY to make the art that I want to make. There are no rules, no requirements - this is my exploration and anyone who wants to join me on this journey is more than welcome at any time.

Yup, it's safe to say that I have ideas now to take with me as I venture back into the studio this week. I can't wait to see what happens next!

What Else I Did of the Day:

After I had my fill at the museum I had a bit of time to kill as I waited for Eric to get off work so that we could commute home together. At first it seemed like a fine idea to just hang out in the Yerba Buena Gardens reading but the afternoon turned bitterly cold rather quickly. The nearest refuge was the Westfield Mall (aka the San Francisco Shopping Center) which is anchored by Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom.

I am not a fan of shopping malls but it was warm and large - I could wander and watch to my heart's content (and use the bathroom). I felt so out of place, though, in this mecca of consumerism. Have I fallen so far from being that type of person? I mean, I like to shop and buy stuff, but I felt distinctly uncomfortable in this place. Finally, after overwhelming my senses and needing a spot to sit, I was able to score a comfy seat in a section of couches and chairs nicely arranged outside the mall entrance to Bloomingdale's on the second floor. It was a fine place to wait out the rest of my day.

As I waited, I was distracted and intrigued by a completely crazy and most likely drug-adled man who was sitting across the way from me. Nothin' says San Francisco like a crazy man making odd noises and flailing around in his chair while the rest of us just ignore him and go about tapping on our gadgets or reading our papers.

The Artist at Rest

2012-01-25T10:09:00.000-08:00

Just as I was starting to worry that my month of relaxation and taking it easy was pushing me into a state of torpor, I saw this blog post on skinnyartist.com.

5 Ways to Rediscover your Art and Reclaim your Passion

Timely because I was concerned with how I was going to motivate myself to start working more in the studio. It's so easy to stay home, so easy to fritter away my time on pretty much nothing.

I was already thinking I need to take a trip to the de Young. I need to visit some galleries, go to some art openings. I need to get my creative juices flowing.

Next week I will start going to the studio every day, even if it's only for an hour. I want to start something new but I don't know what. Perhaps if I make time to be in my creative space I will begin to feel more creative.

The ups and downs that come with the creative process aren't always fun. But it's nice to know I am not alone.

This Looks Worth Checking Out of the Day:

Matter + Spirit: The Sculpture of Stephen de Staebler

Heathly Eating

2012-01-23T19:49:00.000-08:00

Earlier this month I said I'd be posting recipes for healthy eating after all the holiday indulgences. Well, since that post on the 4th, I haven't given you one since. My blog posts have been slightly erratic during my Relaxing January but my healthy eating has not. Here are a few recipes that have been helping me get back on track.

Polenta with Kale

I LOVE making this. It's super healthy and easy to modify. I've posted this recipe once before. Here it is again.

Ingredients:
1/2 pound Tuscan Kale* (also called lacinato kale or dino kale), central ribs removed
1 cup polenta
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt to taste

Instructions:
Bring 8 cups of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the kale, pushing it down into the boiling water, and cook until it is tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain, reserving the cooking water. Chop the kale coarsely.

Measure 5 cups of the cooking water** into a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the polenta gradually, whisking constantly. When the mixture begins to thicken, reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.

While the polenta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over moderate heat. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir the garlic and the chopped kale into the polenta after the polenta has cooked for 30 minutes, then continue cooking until the polenta is thick and creamy, about 15 minutes longer. If necessary, thin with some of the reserved cooking water. Season with salt.

Divide the polenta among warm bowls***. Top each portion with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Variations: Instead of kale, use chard or some other green. Try adding beans. Throw in some sauted sliced vegetarian sausages (Italian Field Roast Sausages are my favorite) and you have a perfect dish to serve alongside meat to please your vegetarian friends.

*Kale is related to broccoli. I hate broccoli but I love kale and I get the same nutritional benefits.

**Using the cooking water to make the polenta means you don't lose any of the nutrients that leached out of the greens into the water.

***You can do this to impress your friends, but I never do.

Red Lentil Soup with Turnip and Parsley

I found this recipe in Whole Living magazine, a magazine that comes to our house every month despite the fact that I never subscribed to it. This soup is delicious and easy. It's also very filling and nutritious. My body appreciated it.

Ingredients:
2 Tbl olive oil
1 diced yellow onion
4 minced garlic gloves
3 finely diced celery stalks
1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
1 1/2 cups dried red lentils
1 peeled and diced turnip
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tsp red wine vinegar (optional)
course salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:
In a pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and celery; cook, stirring, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Increase heat to high and add tomatoes; cook for 1 minute. Add lentils, turnip and 6 cups water. Bring to a boil; then reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in parsley and vinegar. Season with coarse salt and pepper.

Serves 6.

Quinoa and Black Beans with Chard and Raisins

I made this up just today. We had it for lunch and it was super yummy.

Ingredients:
1 cup dried black beans
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
6 tsp olive oil, divided
2 bunches swiss chard (rainbow chard makes this a very colorful dish)
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup raisins
salt and pepper

Instructions:
Put beans and 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large pot with enough water to cover by 1 to 2 inches. Bring to a boil then simmer, covered with a lid slightly askew. Periodically check the water level and add more if beans start to get dry. After 2 hours, add 1 teaspoon of salt and simmer for another 15 to 20 minutes until beans are tender but not falling apart. Drain and rinse beans.

While the beans cook, bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil in a small pot. Add quinoa and lower temperature to simmer and cook, covered, for twenty minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.

Meanwhile, remove the chard leaves from stems. Chop stems into 1/2 inch pieces. Bring 4 cups of salted water to boil in a large stock pot. Add chard stems and reduce heat to medium. Cook, covered, for 5 minutes. Add chard leaves and cook for another 10 minutes. Drain chard and squeeze out excess water. Roughly chop cooked chard.

Add 4 tsp olive oil (or bacon fat!) to a large skillet and bring to medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add chard and saute for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add salt and pepper to taste.

Soak raisins in hot water for 15 minutes.

Combine beans, quinoa, sauted chard and raisins into a large bowl. Add more salt and pepper as needed.

As you can tell, I am fond of grains and legumes with vegetables. They are filling and good for you not to mention that they taste great. Here's to healthy and delicious eating in 2012!

Bonus Healthy Eating Tip of the Day:

Brown bagging lunch is one of the easiest ways to eat healthy. It also saves money. And that's money you can use to spend on other things, like a bottle of fine wine to go with the above recipes. Never underestimate the health benefits of red wine.

Relaxing January

2012-01-20T16:54:00.000-08:00

Allowing myself to take it easy this month was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I haven't felt so relaxed in a really long time. Yes, there are moments when I question the way I am spending my time, thinking I should be working harder or doing more. But I get over it.

I've been working at my new part-time job, working out, taking care of household business - all things I do normally. But instead of filling the rest of my time with whatever else I consider "work", I have been reading, sleeping, spending time with friends and *gasp* watching t.v. It's been blissful.

I can't sustain this; I will get restless. Come February I'll definitely be feeling the need to put my nose to the grindstone a bit more, get serious about creating new art. I am also going to start putting more time and effort into my voice over training.

I am having so much fun going to voice over workshops. I've taken three so far and am taking another one next weekend. This is not an easy business in which to find success. But I am really committed to trying to make it work - as supplemental income, that is. This is definitely not something I want to pin all my hopes and dreams to. I do not want to make it my full-time job; I have too many other interests.

I don't know why it's taken my four decades to finally understand the importance of taking breaks, having down time. Running ourselves into the ground, working hard, is no way to enjoy life. As the old saying goes, no one lies on their death bed wishing they had worked more. Right?

Relaxation Tip of the Day:

Embrace your lazy side.

Process and Progression Recap

2012-01-16T10:08:00.000-08:00

The best part about "Process and Progression", the collaboration that I did with my friend Laura (www.laurasudweeks.com) currently on display at Sports Basement until January 28th, was the fact that we could do pretty much anything we wanted. The space is raw (the walls are in terrible condition and NOT repainted between shows). Except during the opening reception held each first Friday of the month, the space often contains boxes of merchandise on pallets. There are many couches, tables and chairs in various configurations. And it is the home of many classes and meetings throughout the month. Not exactly the best place to showcase art.

But it is a fantastic space in which to experiment and see your work up on walls in a large open area. That is really the only way you can understand how the work looks and feels. The studio alone doesn't give enough information. Laura and I worked separately for about two months with only a vague idea of what the show would look like. We knew I was making bottle cap flowers and she was casting aluminum objects to go along with them. We would be making four or five wall installations that showcased our process and its end results as well as the natural progression that our work takes as we create.

Honestly, we didn't really know what to expect until the night before the opening reception when we put our pieces together in my studio, "staging" how we would install the work the next day. We surprised ourselves; it came together better than we thought.

Installing the work went very well despite having to spend a good chunk of the morning rearranging couches and finding someone who could help us move inventory out of the space. Hanging the work gave me lots of ideas about how we could do things differently in our next go-around. It was a great time to just "throw things on the wall and see what sticks". There was no chance of failure; this was our opportunity to try out new ideas without fear.

It's amazing how important this is in the creative process. So often artists feel the need to have their work be on display in only "high profile" gallery spaces. And the work has to be a "masterpiece". There is no room for error, no chance to learn.

I like giving myself goals and deadlines. Committing to have work ready by a certain date motivates me to get in my studio and WORK. And making new art is the only way to keep moving forward, to keep learning, to allow new ideas to form, to see what works and what doesn't, to exhaust an idea taking it to its complete end, to go just a little too far, even. For instance, I now know without a shadow of a doubt that I can move on from making bottle cap flowers. It's time for something new. I'm still going to continue working with bottle caps but in a different way.

I don't believe in getting good at one technique or idea and then never moving beyond that. What's the point? Art, to me, is about venturing into the unknown. It is full of exploration, experimentation, and self-discovery. There will be successes and failures but the thrill of the "a-ha!" moments always outweighs any frustrations or walls you hit along the way.

For the rest of this month, I'm taking it easy (December wore me out). But come February it's back to work. I'll be fresh and ready with new ideas. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Photos of the Day:

The state of the space when we arrived in the morning.

Three of four wall installations complete.

Bottle cap flowers with aluminum branches.

Aluminum hummingbird and bottle cap flower.

Bottle cap flowers and aluminum bees.

Info table.

Adventures In Digital Reading

2012-01-11T09:54:00.000-08:00

It all started because the San Francisco Chronicle delivery person in my area could not seem to deliver my paper before nine in the morning, if at all. So, I cancelled my subscription which was good for the lack of paper accumulation. But I missed my morning newspaper and the on-line version wasn't cutting it.

I decided to buy a Kindle Fire when it was released back in November and get a subscription to the Kindle version of the Chron. At first I didn't like the experience and was sure I'd give both up before my trial subscription ran out. But I've gotten quite used to it all and now I love my latest gadget. Next step: Reading an e-book.

I recently joined a book club and when it was my turn to pick a book (A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan) I decided to buy the Kindle edition. It was more expensive than a used paperback from Amazon so right off the bat that was strike one. But I really wanted to give this a chance.

It was not an unpleasant experience, reading this way, but definitely different. Most disconcerting is the fact that while I am reading I have no idea how far along I am to finishing. Something that I could tell easily just by holding the book in my hand. Sure, the digital version tells me my progress as a percentage but, really, that means nothing to me. I like feeling how many pages I have left.

Also, flipping back to reference or re-read a passage is not very easy. Unless I bookmarked the spot, and that is highly unlikely, then I have to flick my finger to flip back and forth page by page. Tiresome.

But I cannot deny the convenience of storage. It's also easy for me to read my book at the gym on a cardio machine without worrying about the pages not staying open. And when I'm done there's no extra space I have to make for the book on my bookshelf waiting until I take it to the used book store.

I also found out about Lendle. I've still yet to figure out exactly how it works. I own one book that is "not lendable" (not sure why) and have two "borrow credits" (that I have yet to use). We'll see about this.

Another point against the e-book's favor is that it is on my Kindle which does contain other publications and apps that could distract me and interrupt my reading experience. Still, on the whole, I like reading this way.

Bottom line: I will never forgo print books. I love browsing used bookstores way too much. What a cool thing to see that one book you've been dying to read and heard so much good things about sitting on the shelf waiting for you to find it and take home. (And then add it to the stack of all the other books found that way that you haven't yet taken the time to read. Sigh. It's still fun, though.)

I can't help but remember one of the first times I let a book capture me in a bookstore. I was about 15 or 16 and saw a paperback by the name of Less Than Zero on the shelf. It was right before the movie version came out so there was a picture of Andrew McCarthy on the cover. That caught my attention first. I started reading the first page and was immediately hooked. I sat on the floor in the aisle and finished the first chapter before I took the book home with me.

I really wish that experience was with a book of more literary stature but it's the "a-ha" moment that matters to me. That is not the first or last time I've discovered a book because of its shelf placement. And I often spend time reading books in the bookstore (bonus if the store provides comfy chairs).

Eric and I popped into a used bookstore on College Avenue in the Rockridge district of Oakland right before New Year's and I picked up, among other things, the latest by Bret Easton Ellis, author of Less Than Zero. It's called Imperial Bedrooms and it's a sequel to Less Than Zero. Now, over the years I have discovered what a vapid author Ellis is - his books just kept getting harder and harder for me to read without wanting to vomit (or maybe it's because I am getting older). If I had to describe his writing style I'd call it Over-Inflated Ego.

But the teenage girl who fell in love with his first novel couldn't help herself but pick up the sequel. I'm reading it right now and it's - horrible. But I can't stop reading it. No way would I put up with this book if it was on my Kindle. So, I guess there is some romance to holding a paperback, even if it's full of drivel.

Petition of the Day:

I just found out the venerable Gold Dust Lounge in San Francisco is losing its lease to make room for a Limited store (I didn't even know that store still existed). This is crazy. That bar is an institution. Yeah, kind of a tourist trap but so much fun and you can't beat the ambiance. Sign the petition. We can't let them go without a fight!

Kitty's Top Eleven Albums

2012-01-09T14:13:00.000-08:00

Every year I do a list of my favorite music releases. I've finally gotten around to compiling my 2011 list which I have modified to be the Top Eleven Albums That Are New To Me In 2011.

Last year brought Spotify to the U.S. and completely changed the way Eric and I discover and listen to music. We've cut back on our CD purchases and now supplement our collection with a Spotify subscription. As we transition from CD to digital Spotify is the perfect complement.

A lot on this list came out in 2011 but some of it is older releases I only heard for the first time through Spotify this year. As always, my favorite source for discovering music remains Sound Opinions as well as subscriptions to Rolling Stone and Spin magazines. And don't forget radio - I'll always be a Foghead.

The List (in alphabetical order)

Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two

I am a tried and true Beasties fan. This album did not disappoint me. Even more awesome was the Fight For Your Right Revisited video that came out at the same time. At almost a half hour in length the video is a time commitment but totally worth it for fans to watch. Or just stream the album here. I cannot wait for the Beastie Boys to go on the road again!

The Black Keys - El Camino

I remember when I first heard about The Black Keys. It was about a year before the release of Brothers. Eric brought home a few of their CDs from the library. I was, like, who are these guys and why haven't I heard of them before? I loved them and I am really happy they are starting to see mainstream success.

Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi -Rome

Danger Mouse does some amazing collaborations (his work with Sparklehorse on Dark Night of the Soul is also worth a listen). I discovered this album through Sound Opinions. This is the soundtrack to a film that doesn't exist. Well, it kind of exists. There is an interactive feature on the website that I will let you discover for yourself.

Death Cab For Cutie - Codes and Keys

I will admit, I got into this band after they were mentioned on The O.C. We saw Death Cab For Cutie at KFOG's Concert For Kids last month and that was when I was able to see just how talented a musician Ben Gifford really is. And he's a real weird-o, too. But then, most geniuses are.

Fitz and the Tantrums - Pickin' Up the Pieces

This band seemed to come out of nowhere, their catchy singles "MoneyGrabber" and "Don't Gotta Work It Out" embedded into my brain via heavy radio play on KFOG until I was forced to listen to the whole album via Spotify. I loved it so much I went out and bought the CD so I could upload it into my permanent collection. We are seeing these guys later this month at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco. I hear they put on a bad-ass live show.

Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials

This is the follow up to the hugely successful and critically acclaimed debut release Lungs. Why no one is talking about this sophomore effort, I have no idea. It's amazing and even better than the first. Florence Welch is no flash in the pan.

Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

Do I really have to talk about this one? In case you don't already know, I am in love with Dave Grohl (see my end note theory about why guys aren't threatened when their girls have a thing for him). Eric and I saw them perform in October. Awesome! I think that was my fourth time seeing the Foos live. They never disappoint. And the videos they make are hilarious. Even when they take it a little too far (search "foo fighters hot buns uncensored" on You Tube) they still slay me.

Mayer Hawthorne - How Do You Do

It's easy to think that this guy is just trying to cash in on the currently popular "retro" sound but I don't think so. The music feels authentic and he's been in the business for a long time so I think Mayer Hawthorne (real name Andrew Meyer Cohen) is just playing from the heart. He's opening for Foster the People (this group's summer smash album almost made my list due to the completely infectious song "Pumped Up Kicks") at the Greek Theater in Berkeley later this year. Talk about a night of ear candy. Yummy!

Eric Hutchinson - Sounds Like This

Despite constant eye-rolling from Eric, I like popular male singer-songwriters (think Jason Mraz or John Mayer). This album by Eric Hutchinson came out in 2009 but I didn't learn about it until this year when I heard "Rock & Roll" on KFOG. It's fun and poppy. I like to listen to it while I cook dinner.

Washed Out - Within and Without

I heard about Washed Out while listening to a Buried Treasures episode of Sound Opinions. Great background music. Put it on, relax and chill out.

Wilco - The Whole Love

I arrived pretty late to the Wilco party but I have recently discovered that I love their music. Thanks to Spotify I was able to absorb this album (which I eventually went out and bought) as well as Wilco (the Album) and the classic Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Too bad Wilco has such a rabid fanbase or else I would have been able to get a ticket (sold out in minutes) to see them when they play the Bay Area later this month.

* * * * * *

Well, that was fun. All part of my lovely Monday off. By the way, Laura and I put together a great show over at Sports Basement. I am very proud of our efforts and and look forward to working more on this unique collaboration. I'll write more about the show, our opening reception and what I learned during the making of it later this week.

The show will be up through the end of the month.

Process and Progression: a collaboration
January 6 - January 31, 2012
Gallery del Grotto (inside Sports Basement)
1590 Bryant Street
San Francisco, CA

My Theory of the Day:

Why Dudes Aren't Threatened When Their Girls Dig Dave Grohl

The logic (what goes through a guy's mind):

My girl has a thing for Dave Grohl.
My girl also has a thing for me.
Dave Grohl is totally bad-ass.
Which means, I must be totally bad-ass, too.
Awesome.

I don't believe they'd think this if their girl was into, say, John Mayer. Am I right?

Not All Movies Need To Be 3D

2012-01-04T10:41:00.000-08:00

The other day I saw a poster for Disney's Beauty and the Beast 3D, coming to theaters January 13th. I loved this movie when it came out in 1991, years before the invention of our current 3D technology (and before only big-time movie stars were hired to voice the major characters in animated movies, I might add).

I saw it again in the movie theater when the IMAX version was released in 2002 even though I knew it was just Disney milking a cash cow. But this latest release I cannot abide by. This is such the trend: take a successful, older movie, give it the new tech treatment and get the public to pay for it all over again. I hate this. How many times have people paid for a home version of Star Wars - now on Blu-ray! This happens with music, too. Although, digitally remastered CDs do sound better. But still. It's highway robbery!

And here's the thing, the new technology is not necessary best for everything. 3D is totally over-used in motion pictures these days. It's practically just a gimmick, something to get more bodies into the theater seats.

Beauty and the Beast is a lovely work of animation, one of the first to use CGI. The scene where Belle and the Beast are dancing in the ballroom is still impressive, even twenty years later. So, come on, can't we let a classic stay a classic? Why drag it into the new century like that? You know, classic black and white movies always look like crap when they are colorized. It's okay to let things look like they did when they were first made. Why not try to make something new?

Healthy New Year Recipe of the Day:

So, it's the first week of January and like most people my body is aching for me to eat more healthfully after all the indulging I did in December. Fortunately, I like to cook and I especially like to cook meals that feature whole grains, legumes and vegetables. These foods are good system cleaners.

For the next few weeks I am going to feature some of my favorite go-to healthy recipes in case you are feeling like I am and need to get back on track.

This is a hummus recipe I developed years ago mostly because I am not a fan of tahini which most hummus is made with. This is low-fat and flavorful due to the inclusion of herbs and peppers.

Kitty's Urban Spice Hummus*

1 can garbanzo beans, drained with liquid reserved (my favorite brand is Eden Organic no salt added)
1/3 cup minced herbs (any you have on hand - mint, parsley, chives, whatever)
1-2 dried peppers (thai or serrano are best - leave out if you don't want spicy)
2-3 gloves garlic
juice from half a lemon (1 Tbl)
1/2 tsp salt (use less if garbanzo beans have added salt)
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbl olive oil

Place garbanzo beans, herbs, peppers, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper and olive oil in a food processor. As it's running add a bit of the reserved garbanzo bean liquid. Put in as much as you want for desired consistency. It like my hummus to be about like creamy peanut butter. Let the food processor run for a while, you want to get this nice and smooth. Stop periodically to scrap the sides. Really, I mean it, let that sucker run. Do a few dishes, then come back. The smoother the better. Enjoy in a sandwich, on crackers or as a dip for veggies. I just made some this morning for my lunch today. I can't wait!

*Get it? It's a play on words: urban = herb and.

Easy Does It

2012-01-02T13:46:00.000-08:00

Second day into 2012 and I'm still feeling pretty relaxed. And that's about how I'd like the whole year to go. Last year was intensely busy and I never seemed to stop moving. In the process, a lot of things that I enjoy doing which require me to slow down and do less (reading a good book, for example) got pushed aside. I want to change that.

Yesterday was a nice, quiet day. Not dealing with a hang-over is a great way to start the new year (my secret: low-alcohol sangria). I slept in, then made a New Year's Day-worthy breakfast of toast and scrambled eggs fried in bacon fat. Then we spent most of the afternoon watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2 with a walk for some fresh air and to stretch our legs in between.

Today is just as quiet. I've done a little work here and there, had a killer spin work-out at the gym, but mostly I've been reading yesterday's paper and researching peer-to-peer lending. (Do you know much about this as an investment opportunity? Let me know your thoughts.)

Funny thing is, I have an art show opening This Friday. I should be panicking, right? Spending every last second in the studio working furiously on my art up until the last second. But, nah, I'm okay with the amount of work I've done so I'm just taking this week slow. We'll get it all installed in time, I'm not worried. I'm going over to the gallery space tonight to start work on the lighting so it's not like I'm doing NOTHING. But I just don't feel like being frantic.

My goal is to take this year at a consistently easy pace. I don't feel the need to Do It All. I'd like to spend more time on the weekends going camping or staying in watching movies. I'd like to catch up on the stack of paperbacks that I've purchased from the used book store but have never gotten around to reading. I'd like to sleep in more (though I really am a morning person so maybe I should say I'd like to go to bed early and just get more sleep in general).

I feel inspiration from my dog Jasmine who is sleeping blissfully on her bed as I type this. She leads a pretty content life and most of the time it's spent sleeping or laying in the middle of our compound's common area just watching the world go by. Not a bad way to spend the day.

Art Event Information of the Day:

PROCESS AND PROGRESSION

In collaboration with metal-casting artist Laura Sudweeks Lester, I am pleased to present Process and Progression on display at Gallery del Grotto (located inside Sports Basement) in San Francisco from January 6 to January 31, 2012. This unique sculptural installation evolved out of a desire to explore the nature of sequential repetitive activities or behaviors that are a means to an end.

Please join us at the opening reception on Friday, January 6th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Come enjoy food, drink and music and be amazed by some really cool art. You will also receive a 10% discount on Sports Basement purchases made during the reception with an additional 10% benefiting Creativity Explored.

Process and Progression: a collaboration
January 6 - January 31, 2012
Gallery del Grotto (inside Sports Basement)
1590 Bryant Street
San Francisco, CA

Opening Reception Friday, January 6th, 6pm - 8pm
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/296371080400661/

Reflections

2011-12-31T16:04:00.000-08:00

Well, I must say that, for me, 2011 was a pretty great year. It began as a sunny, blue-skied day in Tahoe complete with pristine snow all around us (the last day of a week away with close friends) and ended with a sunny, blue-skied day in Oakland complete with temperatures in the low 60s (eat your heart out, uh, everywhere else).

January 1, 2011

I am spending the last day of the year doing one of my very favorite things: preparing a gourmet dinner to be enjoyed later this evening with some of my favorite people. It's Spanish-themed and, yes, you should be jealous - Eric is firing up the paella grill tonight. Yum!

December 31, 2011

So, as I take a break while I let a sauce simmer, I can't help but want to reflect on the past 364 days. 2011 was a year of change for me and Eric. We bought a new home and moved to a new town. We both made positive job changes. And we found ourselves happier and more content than we ever have been before.

This past year was tiring, busy and hard work but in a good way. All of our efforts brought us to this wonderful next phase in our lives. I am standing on the edge of 2012 and really looking forward to what the new year may bring.

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions. Often it seems that people only resolve to change things about themselves that they think are bad or wrong. I believe that these kinds of resolutions only set us up for defeat (if it's unrealistic) or unhappiness (if it's not pleasant).

But this year I am resolving to try new things, whatever strikes my fancy. One of those things is something I have always wanted to do but never really thought I could or should. I have always wanted to do voice-over work. I love reading aloud and I've heard that my pitch (alto) makes for a good female broadcast voice.

There's a place in San Francisco that teaches workshops in all areas of voice acting so I've decided to give it a shot. Next weekend I am attending an "intro" class where I'll learn about what it takes to make it and then have my voice evaluated. After that I'll decide if I want to pursue taking more classes. I've got money saved up and so, I figure, why not. I've only got one life to live (or so I believe) and I think it's important to make it a good one doing things that are interesting and fun.

So, what do you resolve to do next year? Anything cool?

I Can't Help It of the Day:

Here's tonight's menu - it's gonna be soooo good.

Marcona Almonds, Manchego Cheese, Olives
Egg Salad on Toast

Salmon-Stuffed Eggs
Shrimp in Spicy Red Sauce

Potatas Bravas
Spinach with Raisins and Pine Nuts

Vegetable Paella

Crema Catalana

Fruity Sangria
Opolo Tempranillo
Gloria Ferrer Brut (to toast at midnight)

Speaking of which, I should get back in the kitchen.

Happy New Year!

I Love My Life

2011-12-24T18:49:00.000-08:00

I am truly grateful for my amazing life. I have a lovely family, I have awesome friends, I am healthy, I am happy and I do not want for anything. Oh, and did I mention that it was sunny and warm in the Bay Area today?

I love Christmas in California.

Today reminded me of Christmas 1992. It was our first Christmas living together in San Luis Obispo. Eric and I didn't go home for the holidays that year. We bought a small tree that we decorated. The tree fell over the second night we had it. We learned the importance of having a strong and secure tree stand that year. We gave each other roller blades as gifts. Christmas day was mostly spent roller blading around our neighborhood in shorts and t-shirts. It was awesome. Take that, Great Plains!

I really love where I live and I really love my life. Tonight Eric and I are going out to dinner at Bay Wolf on Piedmont Ave. Having Christmas Eve dinner together at a nice restaurant is a tradition we've had for years. I am certain that I will spend a good part of it gushing about how much I love Eric and how much I appreciate our life together. Yes, a bit of that may be alcohol-emotion-induced. But it will be the truth.

By the way, we are riding our bikes there, one of the many things I love about living in Oakland. It'll be cold, though not cold enough to need a "nose warmer", thank God. Again, why I choose to live here and not, let's say, in Pennsylvania. (Yes, KD, that one's for you!)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. May 2012 be a wonderful year. I can't wait to see what the new year brings.

xoxo Kitty

Netflix Streaming Recommendation of the Day:

Jekyll

A BBC mini-series from 2007. Truly scary and awesome. Only six episodes so what have you got to lose? I loved it.

Email Inbox From Hell

2011-12-20T09:11:00.000-08:00

Ironically, I read this blog post just after having spent almost two hours cleaning up my email inbox. There are some good tips for creating a little sanity in our digital world.

The Zen of Inbox Infinity

Damn Straight of the Day: There is no such thing as an Emergency Email!

Nothing of real importance should be communicated through email.

Season of Sorrow

2011-12-19T08:34:00.000-08:00

There are so many things I've been wanting to write about this month and just haven't had much time to sit and type much less even process in my brain. But just yesterday I heard about two people who recently lost their parents, both to cancer, and I felt compelled to discuss this.

One is a very close friend. He father passed on Saturday. I was so very sad to hear of this as his father was a wonderful man whose company I truly enjoyed. While his death was not unexpected the timing is just awful. I am feeling great sadness for the family.

The other is someone with whom I was friends long ago growing up. We lost touch over the years but have mutual friends so we did not forget about each other completely. This woman's mother passed away the day after Thanksgiving. Hearing the news hit very close to home for me as my mom died on November 30th last year, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

I know first hand how very difficult it is to lose a parent. And during the holidays it is especially hard. Unfortunately, I think I will never not feel a certain sadness this time of year. Today I am feeling kind of blue. I am having an acute awareness of how precious and fleeting life really is.

But now, more than ever, I believe that there is simply no time to waste in life. Live it to the fullest every single day. For yourself and for your loved ones.

On Another Note, This is Really Cool of the Day:

Cool pictures of water drops.

Not A Pretty Picture

2011-12-07T07:51:00.000-08:00

I did not have a good relationship with my mom. Truthfully, though I felt deep sadness, I also felt great relief after she passed away. She was a source of tremendous stress in my life.

One of the things that was striking about her to me was that she was so terribly unhappy all of the time. Not depressed, though I do think she had bouts of that. I mean, she was always dissatisfied; nothing and no one seemed to live up to her (usually unrealistic) expectations. She always felt that she was right and everyone else was wrong. She complained a great deal.

My mom went through life with a perpetual scowl on her face. So ubiquitous was this look that it was engraved in the lines on her face. Even when she was happy she looked mad. My mom was frequently petty and, at times, vindictive. She liked to be "mean" (her words) for no good reason.

I have feared turning out like her. So often we unknowingly adopt the same behavior as our parents. It's conditioning, I think. But by being self-aware one can avoid this. I try to, anyway.

Lately, I have encountered other people who seem to fall into these kinds of patterns of behavior. They are friends who I realize now that I no longer want to be around much anymore. Their unpleasantness is too powerful. It is a shame that this is driving me away but it's how it is. I can't control the actions of others; just my own.

From my perspective, being righteous and petty and vindictive and spiteful is extremely unattractive. It projects an ugliness inside even the most beautiful of individuals. I believe that no matter how slighted or wronged we feel by the actions of others, we must take the higher ground. Rise above it. I am not saying to not stick up for yourself just don't stoop to the lowly actions of the people that hurt or upset you. Stay strong, stay happy, stay positive and move on.

----

On another note, expect the blog posts to be sporadic at best until after the first of the year. Happy December!

Another Art Event of the Day:

Diamonds in the Rough is a two-day, interactive exhibition of art, innovation and industry built right here in America, right here in West Oakland. Enjoy art exhibits, hands-on demonstrations, live music, performance and tours of the American Steel Studios facility. This is more than just an open studios event, this is a weekend dedicated to showcasing the creative talent and innovative work happening right here in Oakland.

This is a free event and all ages are encouraged to attend. Hope to see you there.

Diamonds in the Rough
December 10th, 7pm - 11pm
December 11th, noon - 5pm

American Steel Studios
1960 Mandela Parkway
Oakland, CA
(enter on 20th Street)

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/272297329482951/

Black Friday

2011-11-24T10:12:00.000-08:00

Buy More Stuff!

Hurry!!

Before it's all gone!!!

--

No. Not really.

--

Tomorrow is Black Friday and also Buy Nothing Day. I write about this every year because it's a really important subject to me.

Now, more than ever, is not the time to hit the Big Box stores at the crack of dawn (or earlier) just to get the Good Deals on more Stuff we don't need.

This year, however, I'd like to modify my stance regarding buying nothing on the day after Thanksgiving. If you really must go shopping please support local businesses. Or go out to dinner tomorrow night at your neighborhood bistro. These are the places that desperately need your money. Not the big corporations who don't give a crap about you.

Do your holiday shopping using your new credit union or small, local bank credit card. You did Move Your Money, right?

The time for a change in mindset is NOW. Be the change.

Something To Do Besides Go Shopping Tomorrow of the Day:

Buy More Stuff

And if you don't get that this is tongue-in-cheek then clearly you are not paying attention.

New Projects

2011-11-23T15:30:00.000-08:00

I've taken to calling all of the different things that I do in my life my "projects". Whether it's a job, my art practice, home improvements, it's all a project to me.

So, I've got some new projects going on and they are all taking up a lot of my time. My days are usually structured like this: first I go here and do this, then I go there and do that, then I go home, then I go.... You get the idea. I'm happy but just a little bit frazzled.

The biggest project I am currently working on is making work for my upcoming art installation collaboration at the Sports Basement in San Francisco which opens the first Friday in January. I've got, like, over 50 flowers to create. That may not sound like a lot but it is. Even though I already have them all designed and am now in the production phase, the whole process is still very time consuming.

I'm looking forward to a quiet January.

In the Meantime of the Day:

I've posted images of new flowers to my website. You can view them here.

Here's one of my Petite Flowers that I made for the upcoming Gems show at Arts Benicia. I am really happy with how these little cuties, five all together, came out.

What He Said

2011-11-17T13:16:00.000-08:00

When I work in my studio making bottle cap flowers I like to listen to podcasts on my iPod. One of my favorites is the Chicago Public Radio show Sound Opinions. If you read this blog regularly then you know that I am somewhat of a music junkie. This show is perfect for people like me.

Yesterday, I was listening to a show that featured Brian Eno. Eno has a long history as a music innovator. First, collaborating with Bryan Ferry as part of Roxy Music and later as a producer working with such artists as U2, David Byrne and the Talking Heads, David Bowie and, more recently, Coldplay.

Coming from an art school background, Eno looks at music as an abstract art form that he can manipulate and experiment with. He believes that much like film transformed theater into a new genre now called cinema (or the movies), the ability to multi-track and the use of digital technology has created a new form of music that is not like traditional music written and played before around the 1950s. To him, digital music in the 21st Century is a new art form.

He likes to go into his studio alone and work late into the night playing around, seeing what he can create. A whole session may result in nothing tangible but he still feels that the work is valuable because it gives him a chance to become more familiar with the tools he can use to create something new.

I heard him say this while I was creating a new bottle cap flower form and knew exactly what he meant. This is how I feel when I work with bottle caps. I continue to work and to play with this material, to see what new form I can create. Every day I become more familiar with the material, more comfortable with my tools.

I believe that only with continuous, long-term experimentation can one fully explore the possibilities of an art form. This could take a lifetime (see Pablo Picasso). It's a good thing I love playing with bottle caps.

Upcoming Art Exhibition of the Day:

I just finished a series of five new bottle cap flowers for inclusion in "Gems" at Arts Benicia. The theme of the show is small works that focus on the exquisite, intricate and intimate. With a size limit of 7" x 7" x 7", the works of "Gems" are intended to draw the visitor in close and create an intimate viewing experience.

Creating flowers within this size limiation has been a challenging yet very enjoyable experience. I hope you have a chance to come take a look.

Gems
December 1 - December 18, 2011

Arts Benicia
991 Tyler Street, Suite 114
Benicia, CA
12pm - 5pm Thursday thru Sunday

Opening Reception
Saturday, December 3, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Family Art Day
Sunday, December 4, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

11/11/11...And Beyond!

2011-11-14T13:48:00.000-08:00

True to my Gemini nature I am both a Believer and a Skeptic about pretty much most anything out there that I don't truly understand.

A lot of folks believe that Anything and Everything could happen this past Friday : 11/11/11. That's a pretty amazing date full of amazing possibilities. Or it's just another day. Honestly, I could go either way. And this is after having lived through that day.

Coincidence or not, that day was pretty damn awesome for me. Maybe it was just a time for me to have awareness about what is possible in my life. But I truly felt on top of the world that day. I finally came to understand and, most importantly, became comfortable with the person I know I am meant to be. I am capable of being the best Kitty I can be and I really like that person.

I've made some major changes in my life this year and I am very happy with all of them. I am very pleased with the direction my life is taking me. It's an amazing adventure and it just keeps getting better.

So Happy (Belated) 11/11/11. I hope you had a good one. I sure did. Every day, from here on out, I vow to live my life to the fullest no matter what.

Art Event Recommendation of Day:

The Artunmnal Gathering

The Black Rock Arts Foundation presents its fifth annual fundraiser gala event this Saturday, November 19th in San Francisco.

"Join us at the magnificent Bently Reserve and enjoy fine fare, tempting libations, special treats, surprises, the best of company in their finest attire, original artwork by our favorite artists, auctions featuring one of a kind experiences and items, and abundant creativity!

"Celebrate the creative spirit of our community! Enjoy captivating live performances and dance the night away in three elegant rooms of music and DJ's".

I have donated two of my bottle cap flowers to the art gallery. Those pieces, as well as many other amazing works of art will be available for purchase. BRAF has helped make possible many civic art projects including the Mangrove in Reno.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

The Bently Reserve
400 Sansome St.
San Francisco, CA 94111

Feast of Imagination Dinner 6:00 pm
Artumnal Celebration 9:00 pm

Pop-Up Gallery

2011-11-09T07:59:00.000-08:00

When I was in art school I remember learning about groups of artists who, frustrated by the traditional gallery system, would come up with creative ways to display their art. They would create temporary (sometimes illegal) installations in alternative spaces. To me this seemed really cool. And also really hard. I mean, you have to have some serious initiative to do something like that.

Well, my friend and fellow Franconia Sculpture Park artist intern, My-Linh, came up with an idea to host an art exhibit at her house on Erie Street in Oakland. Her roommates graciously allowed us (nine artists total) to turn their home into a gallery space for three hours last Saturday night.

It was brilliant. We moved the furniture, removed everything from the walls, hid the clutter and took over the space with some really awesome art. A friend agreed to be DJ and we had loads of food and drink to get people in the mood to buy art.

We had a terrific turn-out, despite the rain. Art was sold at reasonable prices and folks were clearly having a great time. Best part was: all art sales went 100% to the artist. So not what you would get at a traditional art gallery.

Who needs 49 Geary when we've got 908 Erie? I can't wait to do this again!

Blog Post Recommendation of the Day:

The Goal of Nothing and the Art of Letting Go

It takes far more courage to keep working not knowing where any of it will lead, than it does to set up endless yearly goals towards an imagined outcome.

More About Occupy

2011-11-07T08:11:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday, the Occupy Oakland group called for a General Strike to "liberate Oakland and shut down the 1%....All banks and corporations should close down for the day or we will march on them".

To which I have to ask: How is forcing businesses in Oakland to close a method of shutting down the 1%? None of the nation's largest banks are headquartered in Oakland. Marching on the bank branches only brings potential harm to the bank employees (almost all of whom are, I am sure, part of the 99%) and frustration to the bank customers who live and work in Oakland (people who are most definitely not in the 1%).

Seriously, this is not helping.

By most accounts, the day's rallies and evening march on the Port of Oakland were peaceful. And then things turned violent. "Masked vandals shattered windows, set fires and plastered downtown businesses with graffiti before police moved in, dispersing crowds with tear gas and flash-bang grenades and making dozens of arrests".

Many in the Occupy Oakland encampment blame this on a small group of anarchists who do not speak for the entire group. Well, too bad. These bad apples are sitting squarely in your bushel and they are making you all look really rotten.

I stayed away from downtown and the Port of Oakland last Wednesday. But, still, this event had a negative effect on me. Friday night, Eric and I went out for the Art Murmur held every first Friday in the Uptown district of Oakland (adjacent to downtown). We needed to get some cash and tried to at the Chase branch downtown. No dice. The ATM was boarded up because of vandalism from the after-math of the General Strike. Not Cool.

This is really getting out of hand. No one should be surprised that this kind of stuff is happening. The worst part is, I agree with what the Occupy movement is upset about. But I can't stand up and be counted because I do not agree with the way this group is doing it.

I can, however, switch banks, something that I am currently in the process of doing. A couple of weeks ago Eric and I opened an account at One Pacific Coast Bank, headquartered right here in Oakland.

For the first thirty days all deposited funds in our new account have a seven day hold so we are waiting out the thirty days before we close our Chase accounts and transition all of our funds to the new bank. This gives us time to remove any automatic transactions that are linked to the Chase account and allow all outstanding checks to clear.

This is something I've wanted to do for a while now. I used to be a Washington Mutual customer so banking with Chase was not by choice. I've never been happy with the service at Chase. But switching bank accounts is work and takes time. And I am lazy.

Well, the Move Your Money project's call for individuals and businesses to "divest from the nation's largest Wall Street banks and move to local financial institutions" motivated me to start looking for another bank. This is, in my opinion, one of the best ways that I can help bring about change. Breaking windows, lighting fires, spraying graffiti and starting a riot are most definitely not.

She'll Never Live This One Down of the Day:

Is Jean Quan the most pathetic mayor ever?

Jill Of All Trades

2011-11-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

I am starting to wonder if perhaps I have too many interests. There are many different ways that I like to occupy my time. So many that I am really not able to give any one thing my complete and utter devotion. To make it my specialty, if you will.

Is this bad? I'm not sure. While I do feel that I am intelligent and capable and talented and hard-working, I do not feel like an expert in anything. I don't really excel.

But I try to find balance; I try to give an equal amount of myself to all of the things in my life that matter to me. This means that for me work and family and friends and health and play and sleep and entertainment and stillness all have equal importance. And no one thing defines me.

Do we need to be Masters? Do we need to end our life knowing that we devoted the majority of it becoming the best at something?

I hope not. Because I really don't think that is where I am headed.

What To Do This Weekend in Oakland (Besides Occupy) of the Day:

Enjoy an evening supporting bay area artists, listening to guest DJ and eating light treats.

908 Erie Art Opening features unique work by Megan Ender, Kitty Gordon, Kenny Lewis, Fonda Murray, My-Linh Nguyen, Hannah Reineck, Sarah Thibault and Rebecca Young.

Saturday, November 5, 2011
5:00pm to 8:00pm

908 Erie Street
Oakland, CA

The holidays will be here before you know it. We'll have lots of great art for sale at reasonable prices. Hope you can make it!