One of the more difficult things about being vegetarian (and I don't know if most veggie people do this) is to find shoes and handbags that are cruelty free. That means no leather. Go to a purse department or a shoe department and try to find something that is not leather. If you do find it, 9 times out of 10, it is ugly. It's either some hippy looking hemp bag or some straw grandma bag or sandal.
I recently found out that www.zappos.com has a vegetarian listing! Try it out here: http://www.zappos.com/vegetarian.htm. The NY Times ran an article not too long ago as well about shopping within these guidelines. In that article, I found a blog/shop that is also quite helpful. Here's the info:
Alternative Outfitters - a shop that stocks only veggie friendly products:
http://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/
Just something to think about :-)
2.28.2007
2.26.2007
This house is warmed.
Friday night - Housewarming party. It was fantastic. So many friends there. Just wonderful. Here are some pics:
Luc, Stefan, Meredith, Jill and Carlos hiding in the back
Everyone crowded in the kitchen!
Christine, Lorrena, Efren, Marco and Winter
Brendan, Jill and Mike
Cookie, Stefan, Meredith and Lesa
The hosts
Luc, Stefan, Meredith, Jill and Carlos hiding in the back
Everyone crowded in the kitchen!
Christine, Lorrena, Efren, Marco and Winter
Brendan, Jill and Mike Cookie, Stefan, Meredith and LesaThank you to everyone who came out for the party. The house really does feel different now. It feels even better than it did before. It feels like it is full of friends. Thank you! Mike and I are very lucky to be surrounded by so many wonderful people.
2.21.2007
Inspiring
Here is what's on the agenda tonight:
Paul Rusesabagina - 2007 Crown Lecture in Ethics
Sanford Inst. of Public Policy
Wed., Feb. 21, 2007 // 7:30 p.m.
Page Auditorium
Paul Rusesabagina, known worldwide as the courageous hotel manager portrayed in the movie "Hotel Rwanda," speaks on "Lessons of Hope for a World in Need" and the duty of individuals to respond to moral crises. Rusesabagina is credited with saving more than 1,200 refugees during the Rwandan genocide, a period of 100 days during which 1 million people died in conflicts between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. Since leaving Rwanda, Rusesabagina has traveled the world with his message of hope, peace, and "never again." He founded the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation (HRRF) which provides support, care, and assistance to children orphaned by, and women abused during, the genocide. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award, and the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award. Rusesabagina's autobiography, "An Ordinary Man" was published in 2006.
Somehow, I snagged an invite to the reception and dinner at the Faculty Club beforehand, too. AND I got Lauren a ticket. I will tell you all about it tomorrow!
Paul Rusesabagina - 2007 Crown Lecture in Ethics
Sanford Inst. of Public Policy
Wed., Feb. 21, 2007 // 7:30 p.m.
Page Auditorium
Paul Rusesabagina, known worldwide as the courageous hotel manager portrayed in the movie "Hotel Rwanda," speaks on "Lessons of Hope for a World in Need" and the duty of individuals to respond to moral crises. Rusesabagina is credited with saving more than 1,200 refugees during the Rwandan genocide, a period of 100 days during which 1 million people died in conflicts between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. Since leaving Rwanda, Rusesabagina has traveled the world with his message of hope, peace, and "never again." He founded the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation (HRRF) which provides support, care, and assistance to children orphaned by, and women abused during, the genocide. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award, and the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award. Rusesabagina's autobiography, "An Ordinary Man" was published in 2006.
Somehow, I snagged an invite to the reception and dinner at the Faculty Club beforehand, too. AND I got Lauren a ticket. I will tell you all about it tomorrow!
2.20.2007
Happy Mardi Gras
I started watching "When the Levees Broke" today. The irony was not pointed out to me until I was about an hour into the First Act that today is actually Fat Tuesday. On a day where once upon a time, a special city was filled with activity and millions of people, but today, it is but a remnant of what it once was.
I' ve now only watched Act I of Spike Lee's documentary. I've cried three times, and I had to put the movie on pause once to try and digest the images I was seeing. It's a perfect time for me to be taking a class on "Trauma in Art/Literature and Film", for this film IS trauma. We have actually been asked to watch Act III for class next week, but I figured that with Ambassador Joseph's work in the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation and a possible outreach effort from our program based at Duke, I needed to be better versed on the situation. And it isn't just the school and professional obligations that were driving me to watch this film. I have wanted to see the whole thing for some time, but like many things, we put it off. We say "I can watch it later - I'll watch it when I have some free time. I'll watch it when I have time to really think about it and digest it."
But therein lies the problem. The people in New Orleans, and the gulf coast in general, don't have time to think about it and digest it. They are just trying to get back to some sense of normalcy, while dealing with a personal and mass trauma. Yet, here I am, here WE are, not acting on anything about Louisiana. When Katrina happened in 2005, many of us opened our pocketbooks and gave money. We watched appalled as millions of people fought for survival. Some brave souls ventured out to Louisiana and Mississippi to do whatever they could to help.
I didn't. I sent $50 to a church in Baton Rouge and watched everything on TV. I said to myself "Wow - that is terrible for those people. I can't even imagine it, but I can't go help. I have a job, I have bills to pay. Who will watch my cats?" This whole internal monologue occured in about 30 seconds. It was never an option (or, I never allowed the option) of heading out to Louisiana to help. I think this is what probably happened with most of us.
But sadly enough, it is now approaching two years after Katrina. It isn't cool to go help in Louisiana anymore. People aren't giving money the way they were in August and September 2005. Citizens, at least those who have stayed around, are struggling to rebuild their city, and they aren't getting much help. The Times ran a story on how more and more people are finally giving up and leaving the city because rents are soaring, crime is increasing, public services are lacking, and life is nowhere near "normal."
These are just my early ramblings, my off the cuff reactions to just watching the first part of this film. I'm thinking about how this whole situation isn't just about race (although, that is definitely a large part of it), it's about class (poverty doesn't discriminate), it's about money, it's about the priorities of our government. While we fight a war to spread democracy in Iraq, and probably soon enough, Iran, we haven't yet learned how to make democracy work on our own soil.
I' ve now only watched Act I of Spike Lee's documentary. I've cried three times, and I had to put the movie on pause once to try and digest the images I was seeing. It's a perfect time for me to be taking a class on "Trauma in Art/Literature and Film", for this film IS trauma. We have actually been asked to watch Act III for class next week, but I figured that with Ambassador Joseph's work in the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation and a possible outreach effort from our program based at Duke, I needed to be better versed on the situation. And it isn't just the school and professional obligations that were driving me to watch this film. I have wanted to see the whole thing for some time, but like many things, we put it off. We say "I can watch it later - I'll watch it when I have some free time. I'll watch it when I have time to really think about it and digest it."
But therein lies the problem. The people in New Orleans, and the gulf coast in general, don't have time to think about it and digest it. They are just trying to get back to some sense of normalcy, while dealing with a personal and mass trauma. Yet, here I am, here WE are, not acting on anything about Louisiana. When Katrina happened in 2005, many of us opened our pocketbooks and gave money. We watched appalled as millions of people fought for survival. Some brave souls ventured out to Louisiana and Mississippi to do whatever they could to help.
I didn't. I sent $50 to a church in Baton Rouge and watched everything on TV. I said to myself "Wow - that is terrible for those people. I can't even imagine it, but I can't go help. I have a job, I have bills to pay. Who will watch my cats?" This whole internal monologue occured in about 30 seconds. It was never an option (or, I never allowed the option) of heading out to Louisiana to help. I think this is what probably happened with most of us.
But sadly enough, it is now approaching two years after Katrina. It isn't cool to go help in Louisiana anymore. People aren't giving money the way they were in August and September 2005. Citizens, at least those who have stayed around, are struggling to rebuild their city, and they aren't getting much help. The Times ran a story on how more and more people are finally giving up and leaving the city because rents are soaring, crime is increasing, public services are lacking, and life is nowhere near "normal."
These are just my early ramblings, my off the cuff reactions to just watching the first part of this film. I'm thinking about how this whole situation isn't just about race (although, that is definitely a large part of it), it's about class (poverty doesn't discriminate), it's about money, it's about the priorities of our government. While we fight a war to spread democracy in Iraq, and probably soon enough, Iran, we haven't yet learned how to make democracy work on our own soil.
As much as we would like preach it to the world, all of our citizens don't have voices. We ignore millions of them every day. And the voices we ignore are those too quiet to hear.
How do we spread democracy throughout the world when we haven't even managed to spread it past the Mason-Dixon line?
2.16.2007
The next year to year and a half
Yesterday, I had a sit down with the director of my Masters program, Donna Zapf, and she and I had a nice long discussion about wrapping up my degree. Time flies so fast that I am now down to only one more class after the one I am in now - then I write my final project. I started in Fall 2004 - which in some ways seems like eons ago, but when it comes to school, it doesn't seem like it has been that long at all.
For the past 6-9 months, I had planned on doing my final project on South African protest art. Last semester, I started the ground work on this by doing primary research on anti-apartheid posters compared to Dutch emblem books from the 17th century. Sounds like a far stretch, but you would be surprised on the similarities! Then, this semester I am taking a class called "Trauma in Art/Literature/Film." This was meant to back up my final project idea in art.
But when it really comes down to it, is that where my passion is? South Africa has played an important role in my life - it has changed so much about me. But, I must admit, that chapter is coming to a close. This may be my last trip to South Africa for work in a few weeks, and I probably won't be back until I am old and wealthy after that.
But animal issues are always current to me, and they are a passion. I am going on two years now as a vegetarian. Issues of factory farming, environmental impact, moral responsibility to living beings, etc are subjects that are of interest, and concern, to me. There is a lot of academic work that can be done in this realm of issues.
In the summer of 2005, I did a presentation on hog factory farming for a class in Dr. Kathy Rudy's "Animal Ethics" class. That presentation was given again, to a public audience, in the summer of 2006 to a group of Duke undergraduates and faculty. Kathy believes that a further analysis of the effects of factory farming is much needed in the academic literature. So, I have made the decision to drop the art project and go for an animal one - most probably the issue of factory farming (check out www.themeatrix.com).
What this means logistically is that I will take Kathy Rudy's class this summer, and in the fall I will register for my final project. Since I just want to graduate by May 2008, I can work on the paper through the spring of 08 and still graduate on time.
It is exciting to know that I am this close to the end, and to know what I will be writing about - but it's also sad. I have enjoyed earning this degree, and it will be sad to end the experience. Good thing is, MALS lets old-timers audit classes and even sign up for the study abroad sessions, so the door will never be fully closed. But still, it's the end of an era.........
For the past 6-9 months, I had planned on doing my final project on South African protest art. Last semester, I started the ground work on this by doing primary research on anti-apartheid posters compared to Dutch emblem books from the 17th century. Sounds like a far stretch, but you would be surprised on the similarities! Then, this semester I am taking a class called "Trauma in Art/Literature/Film." This was meant to back up my final project idea in art.
But when it really comes down to it, is that where my passion is? South Africa has played an important role in my life - it has changed so much about me. But, I must admit, that chapter is coming to a close. This may be my last trip to South Africa for work in a few weeks, and I probably won't be back until I am old and wealthy after that.
But animal issues are always current to me, and they are a passion. I am going on two years now as a vegetarian. Issues of factory farming, environmental impact, moral responsibility to living beings, etc are subjects that are of interest, and concern, to me. There is a lot of academic work that can be done in this realm of issues.
In the summer of 2005, I did a presentation on hog factory farming for a class in Dr. Kathy Rudy's "Animal Ethics" class. That presentation was given again, to a public audience, in the summer of 2006 to a group of Duke undergraduates and faculty. Kathy believes that a further analysis of the effects of factory farming is much needed in the academic literature. So, I have made the decision to drop the art project and go for an animal one - most probably the issue of factory farming (check out www.themeatrix.com).
What this means logistically is that I will take Kathy Rudy's class this summer, and in the fall I will register for my final project. Since I just want to graduate by May 2008, I can work on the paper through the spring of 08 and still graduate on time.
It is exciting to know that I am this close to the end, and to know what I will be writing about - but it's also sad. I have enjoyed earning this degree, and it will be sad to end the experience. Good thing is, MALS lets old-timers audit classes and even sign up for the study abroad sessions, so the door will never be fully closed. But still, it's the end of an era.........
2.14.2007
Settling into the new digs
Yay! We are all moved in, thanks to the so many wonderful people who helped us. Those wonderful folks are: Lauren, Jeremy, Rod, Brendan, Matt, Dan, Ben, Alissa, Taylor, Tammy and Efren. Without the help of all these people, the move would have been a huge pain in the ass. Instead, I think we actually had fun on Saturday!
Mike and I have unpacked nearly everything in the house by this point, but we still need to do a fair amount of reorganizing. I will post pics here eventuall, but I really want to wait to do that until we are fully settled in. i know, i know. But I promise - it will be soon!!!
Mike and I have unpacked nearly everything in the house by this point, but we still need to do a fair amount of reorganizing. I will post pics here eventuall, but I really want to wait to do that until we are fully settled in. i know, i know. But I promise - it will be soon!!!
2.08.2007
IT'S THAT TIME
So, this weekend will complete the whole move! Last weekend, we got a ton of boxes moved over. This weekend, we move all the furniture. And that completes the transition, folks! Hopefully I will have some pictures for you on Monday of Mike and I settled into the new place. Yay!!!!!
And please keep your fingers crossed that Allie doesn't eat Buddy and Scout....
And please keep your fingers crossed that Allie doesn't eat Buddy and Scout....
2.07.2007
TONIGHT
....tonight, Duke plays UNC at Cameron. Last year, I had a ticket for the game. I did it once, I will never do it again. Ok, so if I happened across a ticket, I probably would do it again - I would just whine a lot. Line checks, standing in lines, standing in the stands, not being able to move - oy. Mike gets to endure it this year. He was up at 6am to get his place in line (the upper 200s), and he has to start line checks about 5:30pm. Game time isn't until 9, so my sweetie is going to have one hell of an evening. But, when we win, I am sure he will think it is well worth the experience.
For my exciting evening, I plan on watching the game at 9, but before then, I will be knee deep in the Holocaust. I am taking a class this semester called "Trauma in Art, Literature and Film." It is as depressing as it sounds. The professor is amazing, but the material is pretty tough to deal with. I am reading Into That Darkness for next week's class, and I writing my first paper on a scene from Claude Lanzmann's Shoah. It's a short paper - only 8 pages, but I still get stressed out each time a paper is due. Between the paper, the 300 pages of reading, and the move this weekend, I am not sure how I will get it all done.
I guess I COULD be working on the paper rather than writing here. Yeah, good plan.
GO TO HELL, CAROLINA, GO TO HELL!
(it's a Duke thing...)
For my exciting evening, I plan on watching the game at 9, but before then, I will be knee deep in the Holocaust. I am taking a class this semester called "Trauma in Art, Literature and Film." It is as depressing as it sounds. The professor is amazing, but the material is pretty tough to deal with. I am reading Into That Darkness for next week's class, and I writing my first paper on a scene from Claude Lanzmann's Shoah. It's a short paper - only 8 pages, but I still get stressed out each time a paper is due. Between the paper, the 300 pages of reading, and the move this weekend, I am not sure how I will get it all done.
I guess I COULD be working on the paper rather than writing here. Yeah, good plan.
GO TO HELL, CAROLINA, GO TO HELL!
(it's a Duke thing...)
2.06.2007
Please help my fat cat
I have two wonderful kitty cats - Buddy (an orange tabby, a shelter rescue) and Scout (an all white barn kitty). Buddy has some bit of a weight issue, but not overly terrible. He runs around a lot and keeps a slender build to him, he just has a swinging belly under him. But Scout, Scout has some issues. The boy is BIG. He weighs between 13-14 pounds, and he should weigh about 10. That means he is more than 25% over his ideal weight.
Here is a pic I took of them two days ago while they were snuggling. It is a bit difficult to see the extreme size of Scout (okay, so maybe not very difficult to see at all), but you can tell he is a big boy.
As for diet, they eat the dry Iams Indoor/Weight Formula food. They each have a bowl, and I put 1/2-3/4 a cup in each morning. Thy are fed only that one time per day. Scout is not a very active cat. He plays occasionally, but he mainly just sleeps. I am hoping that in the new place, with an addition of several hundred square feet of living space, a stairway and a little girl kitty for him to chase around, it may help his activity level. But, I am still a bit concerned. Anyone have any ideas to make my fat cat a lean machine?????
Here is a pic I took of them two days ago while they were snuggling. It is a bit difficult to see the extreme size of Scout (okay, so maybe not very difficult to see at all), but you can tell he is a big boy.
As for diet, they eat the dry Iams Indoor/Weight Formula food. They each have a bowl, and I put 1/2-3/4 a cup in each morning. Thy are fed only that one time per day. Scout is not a very active cat. He plays occasionally, but he mainly just sleeps. I am hoping that in the new place, with an addition of several hundred square feet of living space, a stairway and a little girl kitty for him to chase around, it may help his activity level. But, I am still a bit concerned. Anyone have any ideas to make my fat cat a lean machine?????
2.05.2007
Readership is branching out
I'm getting a lot more hits to this blog. A lot more than I ever thought I would. Crazy, huh? And there are all sorts of people out there who are now checking in on this. People from the way back past and people from the not so far back past.
So, whoever you are, welcome. My ramblings are self-indulgent. They are a selfish time waster. A free form of therapy. A chance to say hello to friends and foes near and far. I rarely post anything that interesting. Just fun stuff or mentions on life.
And speaking of mentions on life, I have a small withdrawal to make on a previous post. Some time ago, I posted about running across my ex's blog and how angry it made me. My feelings on it have changed substantialy since that day. He is a good guy, I was right. So, just disregard that. We all need to vent sometimes. Thanks, readers, for passing on my frustrations.
So, whoever you are, welcome. My ramblings are self-indulgent. They are a selfish time waster. A free form of therapy. A chance to say hello to friends and foes near and far. I rarely post anything that interesting. Just fun stuff or mentions on life.
And speaking of mentions on life, I have a small withdrawal to make on a previous post. Some time ago, I posted about running across my ex's blog and how angry it made me. My feelings on it have changed substantialy since that day. He is a good guy, I was right. So, just disregard that. We all need to vent sometimes. Thanks, readers, for passing on my frustrations.
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