It’s really hot outside. I’m certainly not complaining (although I wish it were seventy or eighty degrees), but it’s given me sympathy for those who walk and bike and bus. I try not to go out in the middle of the day, but I had to meet my knitting group at six this evening, and sweat was dripping down my face. And my jacket needs a good washing and deodorizing on the interior if you know what I mean.
I did expect this heat, but I am happy to do my part to downsize.
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 6-8p.m.
Chandler City Council Chambers/Downtown Library 2nd Floor
Help shape Chandler’s transportation future. What direction should we take? What should our priorities be? Wider streets and intersection? Improved pedestrian walkways? More bicycle lanes? Urban trails? Light rail, trains, buses?
Why do so many “green” products come in plastic packaging?
Light bulbs have for years been in cardboard and yet the new cfl bulbs are in that hard-to-open plastic?!
Just sold my car. I’m pretty nervous about managing without one, but everything has been moving towards this moment: books, thoughts, inclinations, people, phone calls, gas prices…
Woot! This is really exciting news. Some friends of mine have cars that run on biodiesel, and I know that it is inconvienient to collect and process one’s own grease. Having a local source for already converted oil will be a huge step for those who have been considering the switch. It sounds as though it will be at a much lower cost than traditional diesel as well.
More and more alternatives to traditional fuel will be a better solution than one. In other words, we can’t all switch to one other type of fuel–we need diversity. A community that has a strong mass transit system combined with telecommuting, biking, electric and algae fueled cars, motorcycles, and transportation options that haven’t been invented yet are a better solution than simply processing mass quantities of corn and soy for fuel.
Growing food like we have been is not sustainable and is poisoning our water and land. We need to return to closed system farming that recycles the waste of animals into fertilizer for the crops. Farms like Polyface Farms in Vermont are an example of the types of farms we need to support as consumers. I know here in Arizona we have access to CSA‘s and local farms like Crooked Sky Farms and Tonopah Rob’s Farm from which we can buy our produce.
If you aren’t able to garden yourself, I recommend joining a local CSA or finding out how you can buy produce at a farmer’s market.
So the garden is looking pretty good. If anyone is dying for arugala–come and get it. There is aplenty. Even though it was pretty late in the season, we managed some broccoli and this one small cabbage head. The chickens get to eat most of the late winter crops because the aphids seem to target anything that liked the colder weather. Hopefully, the chickens will start to lay eggs soon. We are talking about buying a dairy cow. If you want in, let me or Wendi know. (preferably Wendi because her friend will keep it.) The purple beans are looking beautiful. I cannot wait to try them. I hope they produce a million beans.
Argh. I struggle everyday with disciplining myself. I want so badly to go into the studio every day and create amazing works of art of which I am so proud. But everytime I complete one, I am mostly dissatisfied with the result. It isn’t what I intended. I want to draw and paint like someone else, but whenever I start drawing I draw what I draw. It feels derivitive and illustrative.
Worse yet, I feel compelled to sell out and create what everyone else is creating right now–art inspired by fifties throwback ideals. Little drawings of birds, children, owls, and men with horn rimmed glasses. Stencils seem to be pretty hot right now too. What is out there right now, what is selling, is a mix of craft and high art and interior design.
The light is always best in my studio in the mornings, but I distract myself doing the chores around the house until the light goes bad, then tell myself I can’t possibly work in the dark or under that terrible yellow bulb. Then I go outside to run errands and water the yard and answer email. (I certainly haven’t spent much time blogging.)
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Here is a picture of Stephanie in Austin looking snarky.
So everyone on the internet around the country is posting pictures of sprintime blossoms jutting forth from the snowy ground. Pushing tiny green leaves towards the sky; bursting delicate flowers on a tree branch. Ha! Those sissy plants would burn under our scorching sun! I see your pansy petals and I raise you a prickly cactus. You haven’t seen beauty until these plants have shown your thirsty soul a vision in the desert.
I just pulled this off the internet; I thought it sounded really interesting. But I wonder what they will do with all the magnets when the exhibit is over. And I think the rule obeying the sign ordinance is against the spirit of graffiti:
“On Thursday, May 1st SMoCA’s May Magnet Month kicks off with artists and visitors of all ages invited to participate in this month-long event. We invite you to to bring magnets to SMoCA and place them on the Museum’s metal exterior.
Special guests from the Denver-based Magnet Mafia will be joining the magnet madness this year and will be leading a magnet making workshop in the spirit of graffiti art on May 1st along with Phoenix’s own Spraygraphic and the Alphamonsters.
Express your individuality and come be a part of the growing collection on our magnetic museum!
When creating your magnets please remember we have over 1500 ft2 of surface space so don’t limit yourself on size or quantity. Additionally, magnets larger than 5″ x 7″ can not have any text incorporated in the design due to city sign ordinances.
Otherwise, the sky’s the limit!
Create your own graffiti MAGNET launch party on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 5pm.
There will be blank magnets and light refreshments.
Magnets may be dropped off at the museum front desk anytime throughout the months of April and May.
The museum hours are as follows:
Closed Mondays
Tuesday, Wednesday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Free Thursday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm (free admission on Thursdays)
Friday, Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm
You may also ship your magnets to the address below.
Kenny Barrett
SMoCA Community Outreach
7380 east second street
scottsdale, arizona 85251
480.874.4685
480.874.4655 fax
www. smoca.org
Happy magnet making!”
