I Felt Like Things Would Be Alright

Apathy is Dead in Iran

Green: colour of solidarity

Do we even remeber our 2000 elections??

Iran elections: Mousavi joins hundreds of thousands of supporters at rally in Tehran
"God willing, we will take back our rights," Mousavi shouted from the roof of a car amid a vast sea of Iranians, young and old, who packed into central Tehran to protest Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election.

CLICK HERE:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2009/jun/16/twitter-middleeast

Video feed on Twitter.

Twitter delays maintenance to support Iranian protests
Micro-blogging service Twitter has delayed downtime because of the role it is playing in post-election protests in Iran

My 100th post!!

Remembrance

Father
Grandfather
Doctor
Confidant
Husband
Humble warrior of woman's rights.

What shall we remember of this day?
All the ones who laughed at the thought?
Our ideology of life does not include murder.
Yet
Four since 1993
Terrorized by a jihad
That promises death and destruction
Of their enemies.

One man
Who upheld a legal procedure
helping women
giving privacy
Choice
Afraid for his patients
If anything happened to him.

One man
Who loved his wife
Made his children laugh
Watched his grandchildren with awe
Wonder
Life

A Poem For A Student Lost

Written by my friend and co-worker LaVonne Chue
A former student at the school I work at passed away(16). I did not know her, but know her younger siblings(1st grade). However, this has affected many wonderful people I work with at the school. It is incredibly sad, but through support, I am hoping for some calm and understanding. Please keep them in your thoughts. Peace.

I wish you knew
Tomorrow would be better.
That life is full of disappointment
and victories.
I wish you knew how your smile
was so contagious
and your bright eyes put people at ease.


I wish you had a chanceto experience more.
Love, independence, responsibility
and your own power.
I wish we knew
you were hurting inside.
You put on such a
Strong front.


I wish I knew
How I could have helped.
How can we see
what is in your thoughts behind the brown eyes and perfect smile.


How can we create a spark of light
When the world is dark and desperate.


I wish you knew
How losing you
Will make me try harder
Make me think smarter
about the world and how words
will change a mind
and how a little compliment
might warm a saddened heart.


I wish you new,
I wish we knew,
I wish you weren’t gone.

What happens when you forget how to communicate?

I know this. I have done this. Why can't I remember? This mini-article refocused me. Actually, NVC is harder than you would think. I took a class. Had index cards to help me. Soon, it faded into the background. It's tough to keep up NVC when those around you do not understand, or just don't respond to your patience. Or, they just don't respond in kind. However, it's about stating what you observe, feel, need and request. So, ultimately, you have stayed peaceful and got it off your chest. Plus, the other person feels empathy and resolve with you.

Unfortunately, I let another have a bit of power over me. Thus, the non-violent communication went out the window. I was hurt, and I responded. Almost like the fight or flight went off in my brain.

Today, I can remember and stay focused on understanding, love and compassion.


Peace to you!!




The Non-Violent Communication Process

The+Non-Violent+Communication+Process

To arrive at a mutual desire to give from the heart, we focus the light of consciousness on four areas–referred to as the four components of the NVC (non-violent communication) model.


First, we observe what is actually happening in a situation: what are we observing others saying or doing that is either enriching or not enriching our life? The trick is to be able to articulate this observation without introducing any judgment or evaluation–to simply say what people are doing that we either like or don’t like.
Four components of NVC:


1. observation

2. feeling

3. needs

4. request


Next, we state how we feel when we observe this action: are we hurt, scared, joyful, amused, irritated, etc.? And thirdly, we say what needs of ours are connected to the feelings we have identified. An awareness of these three components is present when we use NVC to clearly and honestly express how we are.


For example, a mother might express these three pieces to her teenage son by saying, “Felix, when I see two balls of soiled socks under the coffee table and another three next to the TV, I feel irritated because I am needing more order in the rooms which we share in common.”


She would follow immediately with the fourth component–a very specific request: “Would you be willing to put your socks in your room or in the washing machine?” This fourth component addresses what we are wanting from the other person that would enrich our lives or make life more wonderful for us.


Thus, part of NVC is to express these four pieces of information very clearly, whether verbally or by other means. The other aspect of this communication consists of receiving the same four pieces of information from others. We connect with them by first sensing what they are observing, feeling, and needing, and then discover what would enrich their lives by receiving the fourth piece, their request. As we keep our attention focused on the areas mentioned, and help others do likewise, we establish a flow of communication, back and forth, until compassion manifests naturally: what I am observing, feeling, and needing; what I am requesting to enrich my life; what you are observing, feeling, and needing; what you are requesting to enrich your life.

kids get it sometimes

Today my son has a fever. He is on the couch. Not following me up the stairs. Not laughing. We are waiting out this nasty virus on a sunny spring day.

So, we are watching some television. This ad comes on about the Vulcan automatic rifle. Wait. It's Nerf. WTF? So I comment, "why would anyone make that?" My son, not missing a beat, in his fever voice replies, "maybe the army made them so kids will want to be in the army. They are trying to brainwash them."

when giggling happens

It simply cannot cease. The silly feeling I get in the realm of me belly. The light head, the tingling. Even before I heard your voice, I was hooked, like a deep sea being living in darkness for millions of years. Slowly I am being lifted to this time. This millennium. Trembling in anticipation of that first breath of sea air.

(impulsive. Written under a minute).

World Autism Awareness Day April 2, 2009

Click here->Walk for Autism!

Click here
Come and look at this site

Winter Ice Wonderland

02-20-2009 17:00

Cold Harbin Becomes Hot Holiday Destination

The ice sculptures are seen during the Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, the capital city of China's northernmost province Heilongjiang.

Korea Times

By Sunny LeeKorea times CorrespondentHARBIN ―

``It seems that I am the only Korean around here who hasn't visited Harbin this winter," said Lee Young-sup, a South Korean journalist in Beijing who works for Hankook Ilbo.When Harbin, a northern Chinese city just south of the border with Russia, freezes during its cold winter, it transforms into the hottest holiday destination in China.

The winter temperature here commonly plummets to minus-30 degrees Celsius. "Even your eyeballs feel pinched because the tears in your eye sockets almost freeze," said Kim Seok-han, a businessman in China's eastern port city of Qingdao. "But I've ended up coming here again because my kids love the ice festival. Where else would you see such a magnificent sight?" he asked.

The Harbin Ice Festival is probably what makes its loyal string of holiday travelers, including Kim's family, return here like faithful pilgrims. Located near the Songhua River, the festival is held in a massive open field on which a new town is actually built entirely of ice. Once you enter the gate, which is also made of ice, you find yourself in a whole new wonderland. It's sheer exotic fun. There's a clock tower, a palace, the Great Wall, a bridge, a statue of Buddha and even a giant Harbin Beer. The lanterns inside the "ice bricks" make this "city of ice" glow colorfully in the darkness. But don't worry, the restrooms aren't made of ice.

The fun doesn't end with just looking. People actually get to bobsleigh, snowboard, snow tube, go snow motorcycling and engage in other activities, all included in the cost of a 150 yuan ($22) ticket. Walking out of the icy wonderland and taking a stroll in downtown Harbin, which is also full of an array of icy sculptures, is also fun, as long as you don't mind your buttocks hitting the ground once-in-a-while on the slippery street.

When dusk sets in, you may want to head for pedestrian-only Zhongyang Avenue, which is comparable to Myeongdong, in Seoul. It offers shops and department stores back-to-back and if you miss Korean food, there's Sorabol Korean Restaurant. If you're of a more adventurous spirit and want some local flavor, go to the 100-year-old historic Russian restaurant "Hua Mei Shi Canting." You may have to wait in line for half an hour, but it's worth it.

People here would also recommend a visit to Harbin Tiger Park (Harbin Dongbeihu Linyuan), which has about 700 wild tigers, including rare Mt. Paektu tigers, and skiing. The winter is long here, with ice and snow not melting until mid-March. So if you think you haven't done enough skiing and winter sports this winter, Harbin's the place for you. In fact, the 24th World Winter University Games opened just this Wednesday in Harbin, with a lavish ceremony. China wants to use the Universiade as a testing ground to eventually bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, making it a competitor of Korea's PyeongChang.

To Koreans, the Chinese city is also historically well-known for being where prominent Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun, in 1909, assassinated Ito Hirobumi, the first prime minister of Japan, who played a leading role in colonizing Korea.

Currently, there is little trace of Ahn in the city, except for a triangle mark on the assassination site, which is located at the number 1 platform of the Harbin Train Station.

Ahn was executed in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian in 1910. South Korea last year asked China to halt construction on a site where Ahn's remains are believed to be buried.

Getting to Harbin is easy, with flights directly linking it with Incheon.boston.sunny@yahoo.com

Rain Rain Rain. Getting ready for Ostara.

The rain is here again. It has been dry and sunny.
Spring is just emerging. The rain will bring needed
help for our mother to shower us with her color and radiance.
I am already making strategies in my head.
Serrano peppers here, green beans over there
hmmm, cucumbers and lettuce.
Tomatoes and onions. I dig making salsa!!! Yum!

Then, the joy of picking wild berries! Making jam!
Chasing the starlings from the bush and getting the good ones.
The wild flowers that will cover the meadows.
The green has begun. The deer are roaming the yard.
The red-breasted robins are coming back in full force.
The ravens and crows forced to share the nourishment of the ground.

The rain does fall, causing my mind to
wonder and delight in the earth's
magnificent rhythm.

Native American history put right! For our Children!

http://www.oyate.org/
Click on the girl's picture to enter site.

This site is a great resource. My son is in 3rd grade and has a unit on the native peoples of our land. I used many books and guides on this web-site. It might be an eye-opener for some who may enjoy some books they advise to avoid. I have bought items from them and encourage you to do the same. I also found many books at my local library. I feel so passionately about telling the truth of the first nations. They/we have survived and our part of our world today. Not just bows and arrows, civilizations filled with diverse human beings. Thank you.
Peace
This is from the site:

My name is Raven. When I was in the third grade, our class read The Courage of Sarah Noble. In this book they said Indian people were savages and murderers, they chop your head off and eat you alive and that we were not really people. When the class put on the play for the whole school, the kids started taunting me, calling me "stinky" and asking me how many people I've eaten. Nobody would play with me or even sit next to me in class...I felt so ashamed. Finally, I told my mother I didn't want to go back to school.
—Raven Hoaglen (Maidu/Konkow/Wailaki/Mono)


Oyate is a Native organization working to see that our lives and histories are portrayed honestly, and so that all people will know our stories belong to us. For Indian children, it is as important as it has ever been for them to know who they are and what they come from. For all children, it is time to know and acknowledge the truths of history. Only then will they come to have the understanding and respect for each other that now, more than ever, will be necessary for life to continue.

anxiety and fear

It seems that anxiety, separation to be exact, has encompassed our night love. When bedtime approaches, usually filled with laughter, reading and games, we are uplifted to a new level of connection.

Lately, after winter break to be exact, nighttime is filled with tears, fear and frustration. When bedtime approaches, filled with laughter, reading and games, a slow slithering dark curtain falls over the room. Tears begin to fall and a frightened voice pleads, "don't go mom. I'll be so scared."

A plan! Yes. I will lay with you, get up, check on you so you know I am there. Then, you will sleep. Consistency is a bitch, I know. However, tonight we had some tears, but fell asleep alone in the bed. Less frustration, more sleep.

Tomorrow may be another night of sitting with my child, rubbing his back, talking about fears and dreaded night anxiety. Compassion, understanding and love. Yes. Love that binds us into a blur of one.

Or, it could be laughter, reading, game playing and secure sleep with both of us caught up in the electricity of love that flows between us.