We're back from the throes of vacation. Which most of you already know. It was an amazing trip. We moseyed about Las Vegas, Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Arches, Zion, Moab.
Many insights were gained, which at some point I'll expound upon. I think the most notable thing is that E is a badass. She was able to trek a dozen miles across the desert canyon floor. Scramble up steep rocks in search of petroglyphs. Tolerate my antics for two weeks straight, pretty impressive.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Excursification
E and I are off to the Grand Canyon. We shall be galavanting about the Canyon area for two weeks. Be well all you friends of Yoshistan.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
The Vietnam War Isn't Over
Perhaps the most well respected and known Hmong elder, Vang Pao, has been picked up on conspiracy charges that he was in the midst of attempting to overthrow the Laotian government. Of course this is a continuation of the conflict the U.S. created and funded during the 60's and 70's concurrent with the Vietnam war. We hired these people to fight for us, to attempt to establish "Democracy" in South Asia.
There are glaring parallels between Vietnam and Iraq. The fact that the U.S. moseyed on in, pitted one segment of the population against the other and now is apparently going to be moseying off...again.
I feel fairly conflicted about the U.S. leaving Iraq in its current state. On the one hand, it's jacked that we're there in the first place, on the other; it's jacked what's going to happen when we leave.
There are glaring parallels between Vietnam and Iraq. The fact that the U.S. moseyed on in, pitted one segment of the population against the other and now is apparently going to be moseying off...again.
I feel fairly conflicted about the U.S. leaving Iraq in its current state. On the one hand, it's jacked that we're there in the first place, on the other; it's jacked what's going to happen when we leave.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Drinking from the Valley
Whilst drinking from the Azrahji river, deep within the valley of Azrah (pictured to the right) I happened across a small caravan. The steep, and rocky slopes proved to treacherous for the camels laden with sweet smelling spices and smoked tea leaves, so they had been traveling through the shallows of the river.The caravan leader's face sunk into darkness when I told him that the river ended in a mighty waterfall not more than four hundred qasab from where we stood. I smiled wide as I told him to have faith in the blessed one as I was more than happy to show him a safe path through the valley. His relief was such that he gifted me a pound of smoked tea. As we spoke of events far to the East, from which he came, I heard of a state of consciousness known as no mind. He had this to say of it:
"When this No-Mind has been well developed, the mind does not stop with one thing nor does it lack any one thing. It appears appropriately when facing a time of need."
Takuan Soho
Drink deeply my friends.
"When this No-Mind has been well developed, the mind does not stop with one thing nor does it lack any one thing. It appears appropriately when facing a time of need."
Takuan Soho
Drink deeply my friends.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Ta-Ta-Ta-Today Junior
From the Hooskow
I am very proud of being a social worker...until I run into weak as hell social workers. These WAHSW's have no idea the damage they do to peoples lives. There has been one WAHSW that I've been working with lately, she's supposed to be in charge of making sure one of my clients daughters is being taken care of properly. She is totally disconnected. I knew that her daughter was relapsing, cutting, running away before the WAHSW did. Why? Because I answer the phone. Because I have developed a report with the treatment center the daughter is at. Her treatment councilor now informs me of everything and doesn't even bother communicating with the WAHSW. All this is leading up to the confrontation I had with the WAHSW. Yesterday I finally got a hold of her and very professionally put her in her place. I wasn't inappropriate, just straight forward, really; I'm kind of doing her job for her and that ain't right. So here's why I even bothered getting into all of this: she has a rather significant speech impediment that apparently surfaces when she's nervous. "I'm so sowwy, pwease tew hew how sowwy I am". It's moments like that when I know I have done my job. Hopefuwy she'll straighten hew business out so she doesn't get fiwed.
Life
Things have been going pretty well. E is all kinds of sick. She has a really nasty case of somethin'. Her throat is all jacked up, she's achy, she has really bad headaches. She hasn't gone to work this week yet; which is good. In many ways it's totally unfair that she has to be sick from pregnancy AND regular sick at the same time...and I just got done enjoying a bowl of cereal...see, not fair.
I am very proud of being a social worker...until I run into weak as hell social workers. These WAHSW's have no idea the damage they do to peoples lives. There has been one WAHSW that I've been working with lately, she's supposed to be in charge of making sure one of my clients daughters is being taken care of properly. She is totally disconnected. I knew that her daughter was relapsing, cutting, running away before the WAHSW did. Why? Because I answer the phone. Because I have developed a report with the treatment center the daughter is at. Her treatment councilor now informs me of everything and doesn't even bother communicating with the WAHSW. All this is leading up to the confrontation I had with the WAHSW. Yesterday I finally got a hold of her and very professionally put her in her place. I wasn't inappropriate, just straight forward, really; I'm kind of doing her job for her and that ain't right. So here's why I even bothered getting into all of this: she has a rather significant speech impediment that apparently surfaces when she's nervous. "I'm so sowwy, pwease tew hew how sowwy I am". It's moments like that when I know I have done my job. Hopefuwy she'll straighten hew business out so she doesn't get fiwed.
Life
Things have been going pretty well. E is all kinds of sick. She has a really nasty case of somethin'. Her throat is all jacked up, she's achy, she has really bad headaches. She hasn't gone to work this week yet; which is good. In many ways it's totally unfair that she has to be sick from pregnancy AND regular sick at the same time...and I just got done enjoying a bowl of cereal...see, not fair.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Long story short
The Clink
I think my boss best summed up the events during the morning meeting after the attack:
"Long story short, we've got problems"
Yup. At the core of all of these problems is community, not unlike the problems that our society faces. I've decided the best way to combat these events is to motivate the general population to do something in order to preserve facility safety and programs.
Up North
This weekend we went to my father-in-laws cabin. It's pretty amazing, not overly so in outward appearance, but in the fact that he's making it himself. He cleared the land, made the foundation, put up the walls, roof, did the electrical etc... It's really pretty incredible. The cabin borders one of the clearest lakes I've ever seen. Being urban in origins, seeing clear lake water is absolutely astounding to me.
We were kept company by E's younger brother and two of his 14 year old friends. It was fun to be around that mentality, to remember what it was like to be that age. Before school and debt, failing and succeeding. Just running around with zits laughing at things that nobody else seems to think is funny. Actually, come to think of it, I still get zits and there have been numerous times I have found myself the only one laughing whilst everyone else looks at me askew. I really just wanted to use the word askew; one should not eschew askew...it's time for bed.
I think my boss best summed up the events during the morning meeting after the attack:
"Long story short, we've got problems"
Yup. At the core of all of these problems is community, not unlike the problems that our society faces. I've decided the best way to combat these events is to motivate the general population to do something in order to preserve facility safety and programs.
Up North
This weekend we went to my father-in-laws cabin. It's pretty amazing, not overly so in outward appearance, but in the fact that he's making it himself. He cleared the land, made the foundation, put up the walls, roof, did the electrical etc... It's really pretty incredible. The cabin borders one of the clearest lakes I've ever seen. Being urban in origins, seeing clear lake water is absolutely astounding to me.
We were kept company by E's younger brother and two of his 14 year old friends. It was fun to be around that mentality, to remember what it was like to be that age. Before school and debt, failing and succeeding. Just running around with zits laughing at things that nobody else seems to think is funny. Actually, come to think of it, I still get zits and there have been numerous times I have found myself the only one laughing whilst everyone else looks at me askew. I really just wanted to use the word askew; one should not eschew askew...it's time for bed.
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