Saturday, September 29, 2012

Fall Tunes.

Fall Play List
Breath. Brew. Listen. Repeat.

Brandi Carlile–That Wasn't Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVqw1kHPLRc

Mumford & Sons–Babel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc4NvjzdHZ8

Tegan & Sara–Closer
http://www.youtube.com/user/teganandsaramusic?feature=results_main

Dave Matthews Band–Mercy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT_d2yjkUaY

Heather Nova–Higher Ground
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjETUluDoNc

The Avett Brothers– Live and Die
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ascpwqLnyE

Kate Earl– One Woman Army
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T11W85KndVE

The Head & The Heart–Lost in my Mind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fcPfaMpSeE

Tift Merritt–To Myself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J94NTHF-tv8

Neko Case–I wish I was the Moon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCV-YMD6oXA

Adele–Set fire to the Rain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBcMKwbMEcQ

This cup is for September
And for Fall--you finally arrived–I felt it today.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Women! Lead the way!



It is sometimes hard to define this space. What is the structure? What are the limits? What are the guidelines? What is the goal? What is the dream? I want this space to be real. I want this space to be authentic. I want this space to simmer. I want this space to crackle. I want this space to pull at heartstrings– to fill the soul. I want this space to grow new thoughts– to generate ideas–old and new. I want this space to inspire. I want this space to create. I want this space to laugh. I want this space to share. I want this space for a late night. I want this space for an early morning. I want this space for a sunny corner–or a rainy day. I want this space for me. I want this space for you. I want this space to fill cups, and cups of cosmos.

My latest Cup of Cosmos is overflowing with reality. The reality of what is happening around the world from an international perspective. For some, this seems too daunting, too far away, and/or too hard to understand. For people who feel this way–I understand. But for me, it is right at the centerfold of my everyday. It is the hook that I cast out into the ocean of New York City–an ocean of knowledge, expertise, and experience. In return, I hope to catch the answers to questions, connecting one side of the world with another, and learn something new every single day about the problems and solutions (that are at the forefront of discussion) in the international arena. That is one full cup.

Rarely do I ever spill heavy thoughts and ideas out onto this page–but recently it has seemed necessary. I was inspired this week by a trip I took uptown, to a very tall high rise building, where I found myself in a room in the clouds, sitting around a large table surrounded by members of the UN, women from parliament and ambassadors to countries from all over the world. I heard from women first hand describe their daily struggles to obtain an education, fight for social and political freedoms and a find their voice in countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan. These women face resistance everyday from their government, from their community and from their country based solely on their gender. As the world looks to strengthen both peace and security, women are at the forefront of the discussion as a means to the solution.

This movement is slowly taking shape– just look at the incredible women like Vandana Shiva, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee, Tawakkol Karman and Wangari Maathai. These women are my role models. They are paving the way for women all over the world to have opportunity, equality, education, voice, respect, and a greater role and responsibility in their communities and worldwide. Our very own United Nations Secretary General, Ben Ki–moon recently said, “We must put women at the front and center of the peace process–in negotiation and mediation, post conflict governance and reconstruction. The President of Pakistan also said, “The world would be a better place if more women were in positions of power and women of the region were brought closer together. Bringing together women of the region will make this region more tolerant, more peaceful, and more secure.” As world leaders begin to shine a light on the role and asset women are to our world, we can’t help but start to see some changes taking place.

And so I left the office in the clouds feeling not only hopeful, but also inspired. There are amazing changes taking place all over the world, and incredible people (particularly women) behind those changes. We have a long way to go, but we also can’t forget how far we have come. As Ms. Shinkai Karokhail pointed out to me yesterday, “ You can’t compare a woman of today with a woman from 10 years ago—they are two totally different people.” And so this might not be the Cup of Cosmos that you expected for today. This might not be the Cup of Cosmos that you want to gulp down. All I ask is that you try it, take a sip, let it seep into your veins and just think about some of the global issues that are taking place (all) around you. You don’t have to be an expert. Just be aware. And always have a cup at the ready. Cheers.

This cup is for Ms. Shinkai Karokhail and Dr. Donya Aziz–truly inspiring women who are changing the world 

And I will leave you with a few inspiring clips:

I watch this all the time and feel inspired:

Great people doing great things:

Who better to sing it than Beyonce?


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Falling in love with Fall



Falling in love with Fall

Cups of Chai
Chunky sweaters in oatmeal knits
Messy braids
Big buttons
Lentil soup
Horn rim glasses
Sleeping in
Chilly mornings
Crispy leaves
Coffee in bed
Gold, red and amber edges
Stacks of magazines
Long talks with friends
Letters
New sharpies
Walking slowly behind old couples holding hands
Candy corn
Hugs–bear hugs
Clean white paper
Cozy chairs
Asking questions
Crackles from a fire
Dreaming
Cinnamon
Scarves
Vanilla candles
Warm socks
Hard cider
Full moons
Throwing a football in the park
Museum corners
Chasing crows
Layers
Watching football games
Bowls of apples
Cashmere
Pumpkins
Flannel sheets
Watercolors
Carmel
Cellists playing in the subway
Heavy hearts
Laughing
Waiting
This cup is for Lottie.


Thursday, September 20, 2012

Alice in Wonderland

My own version...

Recently I have been asked a lot of questions from friends about New York City, such as: How is it? What is the best part about it? What is the worst part about it? What is a typical day like? And lately, the only thing I seem to think about in response to all these questions is the subway. The subway is how I get from point A to point B. The subways is the only way to get across the entire island of Manhattan without paying an arm and a leg, and it is the most efficient way to get where you need to be in a timely manner. This week I will have been here for a month and I can already tell you my favorite lines–the 4, 5, and 6–or in a color–the green line. Why do I favor the green line? For one, the cars are newer than on some of the other lines. You can tell when you step onto a newer car because the seats are light blue, the air conditioning is blasting so cold it is an icebox inside, and the lights are brighter.  The announcer is audible and the routes are clearly labeled on a digital monitor to tell you where you are and where you are going. 

When you enter into a subway, it is basically like a scene out of Alice in Wonderland–complete with a whole host of characters. I imagine that Charles Lutwidge Dodgson got the idea of falling into a rabbit hole by entering into the subway on the corner of crazy and insane. Signs point in all different directions and you follow random arrows, letters and colors to (hopefully) get you to where you need to be. Once you are underground, navigating your way through the tunnel to get to your platform, a Cheshire cat is probably not that far from reality. A Mad Hatter–certainly–I see them almost every day. Tweedledee and Tweedledum–pretty sure I am stuck behind them when I am in a rush to make the train or get up out of the subway. And Dodo Birds–let’s be honest–they are everywhere.

I am sure that Chapter 2, Pool of Tears, got its name from how one feels when you are wandering around the tunnels of a subway trying to figure out where you want to go and need to be. Or how you feel when you come up out of a subway to realize you are totally turned around and on the wrong corner. Or how you feel when you get home after a long day and an even longer commute. Or Lutwidge named this chapter after riding the 2, the JMZ or the BDF. These trains are older, and when the doors woosh open, a filmy, dull yellow light fills the stuffy car. An old paper map hangs on a wall, the announcer is next to impossible to hear, and sometimes, the lights randomly turn off and the train comes to a total stop. We have many debates about this, but in my personal opinion, these are my least favorite lines.

And the White Rabbit who is always late–that is just every New Yorker every day. We all are in a white rabbit hurry to get where we need to be. However, I consider myself lucky, because I have what Alice never had–an iPhone 4. Granted, it doesn’t always work underground, but it sure helps get me to and fro without having to be falling into dark holes that I can’t find my way out of. Think how short Alice and Wonderland would have been if she had just had an iPhone? Think of how much more fun she would have had if she had brought a friend with her. Think of how much happier she would have been if she had just enjoyed the moment and gone with the flow? She didn’t really have anywhere she needed to be. She wasn’t in a masters program. She didn’t have an internship she needed to get to. She didn’t have to wait in a long line at Whole Foods to only buy 3 things. She should consider herself lucky. She should have just taken the 4, 5, 6, express train.

In the short time I have been here I would have to say that the best thing that I have seen so far, while waiting for the train, was a pale pink balloon, attached to a white ribbon, that was floating down the dark tunnel along the tracks of the 4, 5, 6. Somehow, in the midst of all the chaos, there was calm and quiet. It was perfect. Beautiful. 

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to."
"I don't much care where –"
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go.”

This cup is for Mandy (twin)–NYC Metro still doesn’t compare to navigating the subways in Japan…that is something I will never forget. 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Under my umbrella...ella...ella...ella..a.a.a



It’s raining. Not like a Portland rain. It is hurricane rain. And for those of you that have grown up in Portland all your lives, you know that we don’t carry or use umbrellas. And for those of you that have never been to Portland, you now know that we don’t carry or use umbrellas. EVER. Why you might ask? Let’s list the reasons:

1. They are a huge hassle
2. Once they are opened and get wet they never dry
3. There is no place to put a wet and dripping umbrella
4. They blow out–heavy winds yank and pull in all directions until the umbrella is totally mangled and inside out
5. While holding your wet, broken, inside out umbrella, the wind manages to blow the rain at you from all sides–the umbrella does nothing to keep you dry
6. If you have a good jacket with a hood, why would you need to use an umbrella?
7. When carrying an open umbrella, you are liable to loose an eye or poke someone’s eye out–this is both unfortunate, and preventable
8. There is not enough room for both umbrellas and people on the street–it is one or the other
9. The majority of Americans out there leave the house and grab the “soccer game” umbrella by mistake (which for those of you that never spent countless weekends on the sidelines as a child in the pouring rain, a soccer umbrella is about the size of a small tent you can buy at REI and can keep an entire team of fifth graders dry)
10. If you are in a hurry, chances are your umbrella will get stuck right when you need to close it and you will be left in the pouring rain trying to close it and all the metal rods will bend and point in the wrong direction–your umbrella will never close–and everyone will pity you as they walk by

With this in mind I now live in NYC and am surrounded by umbrellas. Why is this? Well, at first I thought (surely) the fur. You don’t want to be wearing a wet bear when you strut up and down Fifth Ave. But it is late September and it is still too warm to leave your Upper East Side apartment wearing a bear–so that is not the reason. Second, I thought (surely) it is the cashmere. Wet cashmere is the worst. But it is (still) late September and too warm (and humid) for cashmere. All I could come up with is that it is (still) late September and still too warm for a coat, and so an umbrella is the only thing that New Yorkers seem to think will keep them dry and cool at the same time. But this is false.

I tried it out myself. I decided to (Portland peeps–don’t judge) buy an umbrella and see what this umbrella business is all about. And I will tell you, not only did it not keep me dry, it blew inside out, and broke. It didn’t match my outfit–therefore carrying an umbrella is not part of a fashion statement. It was too small to share–therefore it is not a way to make quick friends on a street corner. There was no place to put it after it got wet–instead it dripped all over everyone on the subway. And in the end I just threw it away. Worst $5.00 I ever spent. The forecast for the rest of the week calls for rain–and so I urge all of you to save your $5.00 for a pumpkin spice latte and leave your umbrellas at home.

This cup is for Katie–who left her umbrella at home on the rainiest day so far…

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Finally Fall




It’s finally fall, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from where I am. In Portland, September hits, and while it is still warm the evenings and mornings get cool and foggy, the sun changes position, the leaves hang on to the branches with crispy edges and their sound crackles in the breeze. In my new home, NYC, the humidity cakes your skin, the only leaves you see are the ones that have some how traveled a million miles in the wind and are broken apart in bits and pieces and scattered about gutters in the streets and it is still too hot for pumpkin spice lattes. But fall is here. We ended the summer with a peach pie in Central Park. We started September with a football game and some hard cider. Friends have filled the space between reading assignments and papers and I am left with very little time to fill my head with extra thoughts and ideas. There is no room for any extra. Not right now.

In the midst of tornados (like the one that touched down in Queens yesterday) I have made it a goal to find a different coffee shop everyday. The problem with this is that when I come across a new favorite I find myself returning to the same places over and over. And then there is my own little coffee press that I got in the mail last week—where I can enjoy cups of Portland from my favorite spot on the East Side whenever I want. And this weekend, in a city that never sleeps, I have found myself blending the cups together…a cup of Portland (brewed by me) in the morning and a cup of NYC (brewed by a New Yorker) in the afternoon. Dehydrated? Probably– but worth it. How else am I supposed to stay alert while reading Hobbes? How else am I supposed to remember the words of Rousseau? The Answer–brew up a cup to feed your addiction, fill your soul and stimulate your mind. Because no one wants to fall asleep in NYC–there is too much one would miss out on without a cup.

Apple Pie: It’s that time again!

-Preheat your oven to 450 degrees
-6 Apples (from the farmers market) peeled and sliced (use a sharp knife and don’t cut your finger)
–Make the dough by hand or go buy pre-made dough at the store (Trader Joe’s pie crust is my favorite)
–Place half the dough/pie crust in a un-greased glass pie plate
      Mix ¾ cup of flour, ¾ cup of brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon (as much as you like for taste) together in a large bowl.
      Pour the apples into the flour/sugar mixture to coat the apples
–Place the apple/sugar mixture into your pie plate with the pie crust
–Use remaining dough/pie crust to cover the top (with a design of your choice)
–Bake at 450 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown
–Enjoy with friends (in a park, on a subway, or in a small apartment)

This cup is for Hobbes–if you were here I would offer you a cup in exchange for all the answers to all my questions.