Melody Jones

life changes

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:46:33 +0000

.
.
.
.
life changes in the blink of an eye
and that is why
i live life every day
.
.
you never know one day to the next
how many you’ll have
how many are left
.
.
when you close your eyes to blink
you’d never think
you could see it all pass by
.
.
but you could watch it all go away
every time you think
waves of darkness crash nearby
.
.
.
.

lemon-aid

admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:16:37 +0000

mmm, this lemon-aid i’ve been been whipping up for the past couple weeks is finally starting to taste like something edible. the bitterness of falling is wearing off and the sweet taste of recovery is coming to the forefront of my palate… and i’ve gotta say, it’s delicious!
taking full breaths, walking around, sitting, standing,… these are all new and exciting again. it may be another month before i can fully bend or twist or arch my back, and i may not be able to ride my bike for a while… but i am grateful for so many other things… the air that fills my lungs, my healthy heart that pumps blood thru my veins, and most importantly, i am grateful for the mind that allows me to be grateful for all i have.
it’s not that i believe that there is nothing without the mind… but certainly perception is responsible for most of our existence. without the mind there is something, but it is not the something that exists with it.
and with that said, let’s get down to this feast of lemons! the meyer lemons that grow around the bay area really are sweeter than the lemons back in florida. this is not a perception thing, or is it…

slicks suds and such

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:10:40 +0000

this old sea ain’t what she used to be

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:07:28 +0000

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:29:52 +0000

donde esta el tequila

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:45:01 +0000

some day i will either sweeten your tea or get you drunk

hands across the sand

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:49:40 +0000

it’s a really nice gesture america!

but how many of these hands were on steering wheels just prior to being across the sand?

how many gallons of oil were purchased from bp or their affiliates to get all of those lovely and caring hands from their homes to the beach?
i am guessing a lot…

there are many similar gestures going on right now, but how many people do you actually know who have decided to do something that could help? i’m not talking about sending money or holding hands or praying. i am talking about doing something that if done years ago could have prevented this terrible assault on our ocean all together.

i think it’s never to late. how about you?

what i am proposing is a little radical, a little extreme… but so simple! anyone can do it. anywhere. even in places where systems are not already in place, it can all be created relatively easily. you could be the very first on your block, and start your own mini revolution. how cool is that?

so what is this super plan that is going to stop the oil from gushing?

for starters, stop milking the earth of it’s precious insides. it’s not a cow. and for that matter, cows don’t deserve this type of abuse either. to be milked and milked until they bleed and bleed and bleed.

our mother earth deserves better. and there is only one thing to do.

i am talking about giving up your cars.

GASP!

yes, i said it.

and hey, while you are at it. give the rest of the animals a break. now that seafood is out, try to eat more grains and vegetables and fruit. please don’t replace your once a week fish dinner with another animal! that’s only going to upset the methane balance in our ecosystem. and do you really want to fuck with methane? petroleum is like the poppy to methane’s meth lab. toxic wasteland.

one thing at a time…
let’s start today by giving up the car!!
turn the roads into bike ways and pedestrian paths.
plant trees.
and enjoy every second.
! !! !!!

a few words from our friend, a fish

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:11:18 +0000

hi, my name is sumi-e! i am originally from the bay area and love clean water, sunsets and food in the form of flakes. i get a little sad when i think about all my friends and love ones who will be affected by the eco-disaster in the gulf of mexico, but try to think positive thoughts for this planet i call home.
and just for the record… it is my opinion that kurt cobain was being a little ironic, not literal, with his “something in the way” lyrics.

fast food? hell to the no! chewing is for champions.

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:55:20 +0000

macrobiotics has taught me a lot about what to eat for optimum health, and yet i believe the most important thing i have learned is HOW to eat

“chew your drinks and drink your food”

words to live (forever) by

words not meant to be spoken

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:30:30 +0000

this is how the shit goes down
me with pen and paper in hand

parts of me wish i would just give up
but to fight my determination is too tough

similar to my intense desires
my imagination, he says, truly inspires

not every single person i meet
but enough to say these occurrences repeat

sparking waves of motivation
across this convenient-obsessed nation

one of my role models says to be the change you want to see
its all i can do, hoping to spread his message like a disease

just in case this is my only time here
i will live this life without regrets and without fear.

letters squished together

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 07:11:02 +0000

words
sometimes cut like a sword
into my heart
stabbing at my thoughts

words
written in black on white
are permanent links
to thoughts inside my brain

words
with malicious intent
can be more hurtful
than a slap across my face

words
have a special way
of getting me in trouble
when i have too much to drink.

words
play with my heart
when you speak them
i melt

words
sometimes remind me of loss
or remind me of love
there was once love lost and now i am all alone

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:36:08 +0000

hello oo ooo wordpress! !! !!!

it is about to get hairy (up in this piece)

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 08:12:04 +0000

just breathe... the calm is contagious.

’round and ’round we go… where we’ll stop, no one knows

admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:18:17 +0000

ferris wheel inspiration, perhaps

admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 06:11:00 +0000

happy earth month

admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:38:04 +0000

green by design

let’s talk about nature, baby…

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:26:28 +0000

pin cushion and co...

fractacular!

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 22:07:18 +0000

local flower shop provides endless entertainment

hello oo ooo

admin — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:07:52 +0000

you can teach an old fish new tricks

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:14:50 +0000

is it just me, or do dinosaurs seem to be making a comeback…
either way, the palentology museum at uc berkeley was channeling jurassic park, something fierce… check it

roar

hanging out at the pier

admin — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 04:16:52 +0000

looking down the barrel of a gun son of a gun son of a bitch...

admin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:59:42 +0000

trapped

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:47:42 +0000

the fate of your fish dinner

yes please, may i have another

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:26:08 +0000

this crane's in love with you

eternity (question mark)

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:19:21 +0000

forever is a real long time

show and tell

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:54:32 +0000

a scene i created in a shadow box. complete with a forest of glass and metal trees with a lone stone elephant and a ceramic bird.

some times i feel like an elephant who just wants to be a bird

green

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:10:17 +0000

grass

the peli can

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:43:48 +0000

sittin' on the dock of the bay... but i would hardly call this wasting time

preparing for the “rainy” season

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:29:16 +0000

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:27:09 +0000

eye of the tiger

silly kuma-chan, that’s not a ride!!

admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:34:32 +0000

after bear disappeared in tokyo, kuma-chan became our new travel companion... here, (s)he gets ready for the roller coaster

try as i might, my ducks won’t get in a row without a fight

admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:39:48 +0000

my ducks don't go in a row

yes

admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:29:24 +0000

whether i like it or not, the year is ending…
yes.
whether i admit it or not, i am one year older tomorrow…
yes.
whether i care to share this or not, i am happy…
yes.
and whether that means everything is as it should be…
most certainly yes.

no

admin — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 03:10:05 +0000

hiroshima, japan

man’s best friend

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:10:42 +0000

riverside in kyoto, kuma-chan

even a bear can get by with a little help from his friends

a new brand of optimism

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:31:57 +0000

obama up in smoke

my lobes feel light in comparison

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:27:35 +0000

the silence of buddha's laugh is deafening

no, i do not want to buy any viagra on-line, thank you very much!

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:54:57 +0000

why are there so many messages in my inbox from spammers trying to sell me viagra(question mark)
seriously, are there that many people buying it that this is a legitimate way to make a living(question mark)

also, it really sucks that some liquid mysteriously invaded my laptop… cuz now i am having to make due without some very important punctuation keys. serious suckage!

it’s not all wine and roses

admin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:25:48 +0000

sometimes things you photograph are so beautiful it's disgusting, and sometimes you take pictures of things that seem so gross, they're actually quite beautiful

urban bird

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:27:10 +0000

as urban birds go, this one was particularly tough…

one of life’s more documentable moments

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:59:20 +0000

i am still smitten with photography… can’t believe i am able to capture these seemingly insignificant moments and then they just seem to take on meaning of their own. birds are a subject matter i am drawn to. i think it’s because they always seem so stoic (and they’re pretty cute too.)

inspired again

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:16:30 +0000

another notable anniversary

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:42:30 +0000

this week represents a time, just six years ago when the temperature dropped, the inhibitions disappeared and two people who had been pushing the friendship/flirtation boundary… pushed it to the point of no return.
two friends, a rock show, red wine, a man in lingerie, a girl smoking in the boys room, words of a smitten kitten, enamored of this musician who is drawn to her by name but stuck on her because of the way she made him feel. like an electric storm, attraction seemed to touch down randomly. but this was no random union. these two supernovas had finally found their super counter parts and the world was about to get a lot more exciting for both of them.
happy anniversary mj.
infinite love

catch me now i’m fallin’

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:56:35 +0000

fallin' in love

click on the pic for a musical trip…

park bark

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:38:55 +0000

an offering

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:00:02 +0000

sometimes art just happens

replenishing

admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:05:40 +0000

whew! the pendulum finally swang in my technological direction and i figured out how to re-enter the photos that were recently deleted from my site. computer savvy? hardly! but upload pictures, yes i can…
it’s been fun trying to remember which photos go with which comments and then tracking them down. it may take a while, but mj.net will be restored to it’s original badass status soon. thank you for your patience and support.
and since i’ve been flashing back to the past, here’s a classic mj photo that never made it to the site… the caption says it all!

once you look past all the shit, life can be really beautiful!

relaxation nation

admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 06:19:45 +0000

violation-nation?

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:49:23 +0000

while i like the gesture, it is worrisome what justifies imprisonment these days

believing in something that is bigger than me

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:36:30 +0000

contemplating the golden ratio

longing for longer days

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:23:11 +0000

the days are getting shorter and the leaves are turning colors and coming down. soon it will rain and rain and rain. looking forward to all of it, but also looking back to spring.

a tribute to spring... just a half a year away.

happy two years mj.net!

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:12:13 +0000

to celebrate, and keep up with the current photo kick…
let’s party with our cell phones like it’s 2007!
with these lo-fi pics of the flowers in golden gate park.

lo-fi flora

lo-fi flowers vs lo-fi trees

lo-fi trees vs melodyjones.net

search and destroy

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:49:20 +0000

an abandoned warehouse in berkeley

industry has a tendency to destroy and then abandon. first the factories, eventually the planet.

keep your hands off my redwoods

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:43:09 +0000

earlier this year, our mr. governor threatened to close 220 of california’s 279 state parks. evil, right?
anyway, armstrong woods was on the list. how could anyone even threaten to take this away from the people? shame shame mr. treemonator, shame shame.

armstrong woods, get 'em while you can

never bored by nature

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:21:32 +0000

things are looking up

a photo a day

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:15:12 +0000

still saddened by my loss of photos on here, i have decided to try something new. a picture a day keeps the sadness away? it’s worth shot;)

good morning san francisco

a slight change in perspective goes a long way

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 04:51:49 +0000

a sunset in the sunset

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:34:06 +0000

there is a reason this section of san francisco is nicknamed the sunset district… it is THE place to see one!

free as a bird

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:35:17 +0000

the best things in life are free

just another day in the park… with george?

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:52:06 +0000

let there be photos

admin — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:44:38 +0000

worst nightmare

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:53:41 +0000

technologically challenged
from childhood
so this isn’t something
you haven’t been through before
but it hurts like hell
every single time
you lose data
your blood sweat and tears
music, thoughts, drawings
the stuff from between your ears
it’s all still there
in your mind
but to write, photograph, play
it all again
that would be hard
because everyday offers up
a new opportunity
a new experience worth documenting
every day keeps you moving forward
not looking to the past…

long story short. the old pics from this site are gone forever.
hope you saw ‘em while you could.
back to square one.
time to start a revolution part 2.
a revolutionary’s tale in the second act…
viva la mj.net

technical difficulties

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:23:07 +0000

mj.net is experiencing some major tds.
please check back soon…

restrictions on nature

admin — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:00:03 +0000

limitations

admin — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:06:39 +0000

i forget

admin — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:54:26 +0000

that people read this. i sometimes treat it like a journal or diary… spouting off personal info liberally. then oops… delete.
while it might make for a good read, i still consider myself a private person.
this is my struggle.
private vs public.
i am the writer of books, afraid to publish.

living

admin — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 06:43:15 +0000

gotta love it!

happy fourth of july

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:58:58 +0000

fireworks… who needs them?
these blossoms are explosive!!!

for now info

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:57:54 +0000

“For Now An Interval Of Objects, Sounds And Puppets
Saturday, June 13 9:00p
at Mama Calizo’s Voice Factory, San Francisco, CA
Lyrical and inventive. A gentle spectacle made of the most mundane of materials.
On a few small, carefully crafted stages, puppeteers Sarolta Cump, Audrey Delgado, Harvey Rabbit and Asaf Zulah investigate the private, the interior and its recesses and explore the public, the exterior and the unsaid while a soundscape by Matt:Matt and Melody Jones, emanating from a variety of handmade instruments,
evolves, collapses and recovers itself.”

for tickets follow the links:

http://events.sfgate.com/san-francisco-ca/events/show/87123654-for-now-an-interval-of-objects-sounds-and-puppets

coming out of rock and roll retirement

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:22:38 +0000

i suppose it was bound to happen, and it finally did.
after a 5 year hiatus, i’m putting my name to use and picking up music again.
june 11-13
san francisco
“for now”

they were the best of times…

admin — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:58:56 +0000

they ARE the best of times!
if i had written this post a few days ago, i may have had another story. we’ve been yelled at forcefully twice, scowled at on the train many times, and treated like lepers at the onsen… but we’ll just call these moments of “being lost in translation” … cultural differences, yeah, that’s it!
for every negative creep, we meet a kind spirit willing to help us along our way. for every scowl, we return a smile… and for that, we are able to stay sane in this very traditional and foreign country.
let’s face it, we are anything but traditional people. we do not even follow the social norms of our own country, let alone those of japan. and though we believe that treating people the way we want to be treated should apply anywhere in the world, not everyone treats themselves as kindly as we do.
there are many things here causing the pollution of these otherwise kind spirits (here or anywhere else on the planet.) i blame the food people eat, the stimulants they allow themselves to be subjected to as well as the general belief that what is different is bad; and since a lot of these things are difficult to escape, the blame goes nowhere, to no one. if there is any thing to point a scowling finger at… i blame the corporations. from those producing cigarettes to pachinko machines, cars and nuclear power plants, addicting foods and convenience.
i could go on and on but i won’t. this post is about the best of times. like i wrote before, for every negative, there is a positive.
the warmth and kindness we feel when entering an ancient shrine is like nothing else we have ever experienced. the gentleness and care put into every stone and piece of wood is almost too beautiful to describe. the ritual of sweeping, and cleansing the earth with water every morning is a breath of fresh air. these are the traditions that we have grown to love and plan to take back with us to the states.
the simplicity of things here is more than inspiring! our small room with nothing but tatami mats, futon, blanket and pillow have allowed for the most restful sleep we have ever had. the long walks through immaculate gardens contrast the chaos of a natural forest, yet complement it perfectly. there is order in chaos and chaos in order and somewhere within, we will find our own balance.
certainly evolving quicker here due to the short nature of our trip and the huge impact everyday has on us. we have found the most wonderful vegetarian restaurants that fill us with love every time we visit them. there is an obvious difference in the “vegan options” of a steak house and the exquisite flavors of foods cooked with love in an organic veggie kitchen.
today we are off to see more sights. visit more temples, observe more shrines and certainly encounter millions more sakura (cherry blossoms). we have even been promised a specially made batch of vegan sakura ice cream as well from one of our favorite kyoto restaurants!! these are the little things that make life so very enjoyable.
everyday is a good day.

i think i’m turning japanese

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:21:10 +0000

i think i’m turning japanese… i really think so!!!
either way, i am going to travel the islands of japan for the first three weeks in spring. if i’m not japanese now, ask again in three weeks.
syonara!
mj
(happily creating my own reality for thirty three years!!!)

the decision has been made

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:41:58 +0000

to all of those who are interested, i have made a decision to make a new salon my home. in an attempt to live up to my potential, to work in a place that reflects who i am, and to be inspired to create beauty on a daily basis, i have chosen to move my business to…

ELIXIR SALON AND SPA

elixir is located at 1599 hopkins st., berkeley, ca 94707
telephone number is 510-526-1700

i will continue to make my own appointments, so call my cell phone to do so.

thank you!

another day another decision

admin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:42:21 +0000

a decision must be made

choosing a path

admin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:06:00 +0000

to enlightenment? of last resistance?
or just a path made of stones?

choose a path

choosing graffiti

admin — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 08:29:54 +0000

i choose graffiti

choose a side

admin — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 08:20:40 +0000

choose a side and be green

walking the line

admin — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 08:15:54 +0000

walking the line

which side am i on?

admin — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:51:31 +0000

if you are not part of the solution, then you are the problem

which side are you on?

admin — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 06:14:42 +0000

first of a series:

choose a side

budding perspective

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 07:15:07 +0000

choosing to see: my versions of visions

admin — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:12:40 +0000

there are many ways to view the world…

the way in which you chose to see things is up to you.

a break in the rain

admin — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 04:41:20 +0000

“let us try to recognize the precious nature of each day.” -the 14th dalai lama

admin — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:37:50 +0000

an unexpected hike through tilden park yesterday led us through millions of these amazing plum blossoms. when the wind picked up the petals flew off the trees in such a way that it looked like it was snowing. simply breathtaking!

pollination nation

admin — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 22:14:41 +0000

breathe it all in

does this picture make you want to sneeze? if so, please ingest one teaspoon of locally harvested honey before viewing. it works like a charm for all of your seasonal allergy needs!

post-op

admin — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 08:22:18 +0000

the recovery process is moving right along. the glue is starting to wear off around the stitches. new skin is forming in the places it should. the lovely shades of purple and blue and green and yellow in the bruised skin is slowly fading… and in about another week and a half i will be returning to work, a brand new scissorbot. with a couple new parts and a new lease on life.
i am slowly starting to ease back into my skin. becoming one with my body again.
today i took a nice long walk for the first time since the surgery. it felt good to be out in the fresh air. enjoying the new blossoms on the trees (earliest spring ever? seriously, the cherry and plum trees are blossoming and it’s not even february!) but happy to see the spring time peeking out between all the naked oaks and barren maple trees. all those twiggy trees were starting to get me down.
it’s a great time to be coming out of hibernation. it’s a great time to be alive.

admin — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:59:36 +0000

it’s a new dawn it’s a new day

admin — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 04:52:32 +0000

it’s a new life for me
it’s a new dawn it’s a new day
it’s a new life for me and i’m feeling good!

positive thoughts

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:50:35 +0000

the healthcare system may not be perfect, but i am trusting my doctors and nurses enough today, to allow them to cut me open, take stuff out and sew me back together again, tomorrow. it was a big decision to make, but i made it, and now i can only imagine the great things that will come from it. the only outcome i can imagine is a positive one. the only future for me is a happy and healthy one.
thoroughly enjoying the fact that my surgery is happening at the same time that obama swears in. new world, new life. seems serendipitous.
must be meant to be

you call this healthcare?

admin — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:22:23 +0000

to even call it a system is a misrepresentation of the word.
it is a healthcare nightmare if you ask me.
a nightmare in which the person calling the shots (ba-dum *crash) is so afraid of liability that they don’t provide you with care.
a nightmare in which protocols and standards outweigh the fact that you can’t lump every single person into just one category or another.
let me just say that i am currently very annoyed by my “healthcare” provider.
again!!!
i was hoping things would be different in california.
i was wrong.
what is a girl to do?

this problem may be bigger than “us”

admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:56:06 +0000

i have heard of this legendary “great pacific plastic garbage barge” before. i have discussed it at great lengths when shooting the environmental shit. i had heard it was double the size of texas. but in this last article i found, it is said to actually occupy a space that is twice the size of the continental united states!!!

778016.html”>http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/the-worlds-rubbish-dump-a-garbage-tip-that-stretches-from-hawaii-to-japan-778016.html

eeeeeekkkk!!!

it’s about time

admin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:33:29 +0000

a celebratory picture for our president elect.
we are all feeling incredibly hopeful and united around here.
let’s hold on to this as long as we can.

a symphony of horns and screams

admin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:23:45 +0000

a symphony of honking car horns and high-pitched screams alerted me of our new president.
berkeley and oakland were alive as i have never seen or heard before.
it felt as though the entire world was celebrating.
the tears rolled down my face out of absolute excitement.
the relief i felt was unimaginable.
i felt like i was sighing with the entire world.
and it wasn’t because i feel some kind of irrational patriotism,
but rather, because the entire world will be a safer place
with barack hussein obama as the united states president.
whew!
next on the agenda: kyoto treaty. sign it already.
love, the planet.

feeling hopeful

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:22:28 +0000

who i have become

admin — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:54:37 +0000

after a few days on oahu and a whole week on the big island, hawaii, i can barely recognize the person i was before i came here (note: my last post).
after having the experiences that i’ve had here, i may never be the same. i’ve slept on top of a live volcano, watched hot lava being spewed out of the earth just a half mile from where we laid our heads, hiked through rain forests, body surfed boogie boarded and swam in the pacific ocean, snorkeled with millions of fish and sea turtles along some of the best reefs in the world, seen waterfalls coming out of the side of cliffs and seen craters that could swallow a hundred homes, experienced japanese and botanical gardens like never before, lived off the grid on an organic farm for three days (no internet!), eaten fruit right off the trees… i feel like all of these experiences have shifted my priorities. have i mentioned that i didn’t even bring a hair brush on this trip? let alone a blow-dryer or flat iron! now… who am i again?

definitely hoping to keep the aloha spirit inside me as i return to the mainland.
many more pictures and inspired words to come…
mahalo!

seeing no evil

admin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:21:18 +0000

blocking it out

admin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:38:23 +0000

if we do not see it, does it exist?

an exercise in denial.

debate this

admin — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:17:02 +0000

almost everyone i know is glued to the tube right now. watching the presidential debates. i am sure blood pressures are rising across the country, perhaps the world, as it watches a highlight in one of the biggest soap operas of all… the us political system.

i respect that this country is a melting pot, and it is something i have always appreciated… people from different places coming together to make one united group… i get it. but right now our melting pot is one with edges burnt to a crisp and it’s center is cold and raw.
seriously crisp.
seriously raw.

the raw represents naivity and youth.
the burnt bits are bitter and jaded… old and rich.
the space between the two is miniscule.
which represents a shrinking middle class.

now who wants to come over for fondue?

how berkeley can’t you be?

admin — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:24:19 +0000

every year the city of berkeley celebrates it’s uniqueness with a parade and festival called “how berkeley can you be?” it’s a great day to witness all of the pecularities of the city and celebrate it’s originality and tolerance.
but recently, berkeley has not lived up to it’s own berkeleyness at all! for almost two years, the university had been battling a group of tree sitters who were trying to salvage a beautiful grouping of old growth trees from being cut down to build another sports related facility. my motto throughout the year has been “if you can’t save a tree in berkeley, where in hell can you?” seriously… this town is known for it’s political activism, forward thinking, green lifestyles, and intellegence! if you can’t save a tree from being cut down here, than the rest of the country is fucked!
well it finally happened last week. the last tree was cut down as helicopters circled above. private news company circled their helicopters above for days before the last tree hit the ground. it was tragic!
once again, money talked and the tree sitters, with their buckets of shit, walked.
the almighty dollar won over the mother earth. the university chose football (aka money) over nature.
the irony, of course is that the university spent well over the amount of money it would have taken to transplant the trees somewhere else, on litigation fees and lawyers. money down the drain. trees, dead on the ground. what a waste…
so i ask you… how berkeley CAN’T you be?

turn off your lights!

admin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:17:35 +0000

on a walk one night in berkeley, i came across this house. all the lights were on, but was anyone home?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml2LHVdRDNQ

ps. happy birthday to melodyjones.net. today is the one year anniversary of my very first blog. the times, they are a changin’.