So, I've been on strike....

I had a really cool, somewhat frilly, somewhat un-like me theme posted here for awhile. A theme I actually paid for, so that's really saying something.

BUT, with the most recent Wordpress update, it broke the pictures scrolling thing at the top that worked for "featured posts". I had patience for a little while, but, alas, my patience waned, my mood turned as black as this pretty new theme, and here I am, posting again =)

As we approach Jazz Festival (I think this is number 12 for me, without missing any) week, life is going pretty damn good for me. I can't believe that next year, the Jazz Festival will be 50!! Let's hope nothing budget-related and totally messed-up happens to compromise that. Nothing surprises me anymore....but for now, I am keeping the faith! Blessings abound. There's so much to write and think about!

This crazy (that's crazy in a good way, not crazy in a stalker-bad-creepy way) dude that I've admired on Facebook for awhile, his name is Chad Sorg, and I approached him in early December about being the artist to create the "Compression" poster this year. He said yes, to my great satisfaction, and I got the finished product in the not-too-distant past. Here it is:

I REALLY like the design! It's much lighter than I thought it would be, and it just feels good, to me. That photo was taken by Dana Nollsch, a good friend who shot the event last year, and Chad worked magic with it. So, that's the look we have for this year! This is WAY exciting for me! Then, I got to take a turn myself at doing a small bit of graphic design, creating a poster for Unmata's Amy Sigil, who's performing at Compression this year, and also doing workshops on Sunday, which is something my good friends at Asha are sponsoring. Here's that poster:

 

 Both of these things make me very happy. I just saw Amy and crew last weekend. For Papa Ben's birthday, we all took off and drove to Sacramento last weekend on Saturday, to make this happen. The performances were amazing. Many of the Hot Pot groups did a new piece that was breathtaking, and Amy, Shelly and crew did "Fashion", which made me cry when I saw the video, and again when I saw it in person. Here's the video from Tribal Fest this year: Absolutely breathtaking!

There's also exciting stuff coming up for Controlled Burn, as they also suffer some growing pains, but that really should be it's own post. I am very proud of the stuff that I do for them...

Next Friday, we get to spin again at UNR's Night of All Nations! It's been a few years and we are very excited to be welcomed back. I will write more when I can, but for right now, I wanted to break the dry spell, install darkness again upon my words, and now....

I must go and work and do other stuff.

Peace!

le sigh

found at http://www.xkcd.com/137/

life is busy.
life is hard.
it's been too long since i updated.
i have lots to say, but for now, this'll do pig, this'll do.

So Proud...

So, now that I've broken my posting strike/dry spell, whatever, now I thought of all the life-changing things that have happened over the last few months that I'd like to have recorded in my little online home here...

My son was in Afghanistan. He joined the Army a couple of years ago. God, I can't believe it's been a couple of years, now. It broke my heart when he joined. He loves it. I respect that, and respect that he is my contrary child. Mom a hippy? Join the Army. Mom a Pagan? Become a fundamentalist Christian. Yeah, that's how we've been. I've always told him his way is his to find, and I would support him, but I never have and cannot support the war. I respect he's trying to make his way. My largest fear for him was that he would come back damaged in a way that I could not help him with. While the likelihood of that happening, still, is good, I think he has a good enough foundation that he is okay. We are very different people, but I am very proud of the person he is.

He's attached to the 101st Airborne. I had never experienced an Army welcome home ceremony. I am glad I had the chance. Here's the first pic, after some tears and many hugs were given:

For a variety of reasons, a few days after he returned from Afghanistan, my son got married. This presented me with a unique opportunity. I have known the lady he loves for a few years now. They've had a rough go of it. They've broken up and had various other drama in their lives. But in the end, my son said he couldn't imagine a life without her, and I rejoiced.

This gave ME the opportunity to travel cross-country with her and spend some time, just her and I. We were to fly to Ohio for her to meet Chris' dad (which is another story I need to put down, another time), then the two of us would pick up Chris' truck, drive down to Tennessee, then Tom (dad) and his family would follow down so everyone could be there for the civil ceremony. There is a formal wedding in July.

I cannot express how precious a gift I was given in getting to spend time with this funny, beautiful young woman who is now a part of my family. We got along great, and I think I saw a small part of why my son loves her. She is easy-going but gets things done, intelligent, and fun to be around. We had to arrange everything before he got home, as he returned on a Friday, so one of the first things I got to say to him when we were all together was "Hey, you're getting married on Monday at 2pm okay?". It was Presidents Day. The Courthouse SHOULD NOT have been opened. A determined mother can move mountains apparently =) Who knew that Christian County, in Tennessee does not recognize President's Day as a holiday?!? So, I got to see my baby married.

 

She is a match for him! My son has a wife now. I have a daughter-in-law. He has now started his own family, of which he will be the center. I am happy for them. I wish them nothing but happiness. The entire experience for me, was beautiful.

Great memories.

 Peace.

Vision, 2011

Photo by Elaine Noble

Last Sunday, I got to do one of my most favoritist things ever! For the past three years, on a Sunday early in the year, my friend Lauren gets together a group of women and we sit down and create Vision Boards

We meet, we bring a brunchy-type dish to share, we eat, we all bring magazines, and after the food, we converge on the stack of magazines and begin to cut out images, words, and concepts from the magazines assembled. The goal is to create a collage that's representative of what you wish to manifest in the next year. It's pretty amazing, and each year is different as there is always a slightly different group of ladies that participates... This years group was amazing, and I felt this year like there was a special energy between us all. A couple of years ago, I met this lady named Kim. Her manifestation goal, as an advocate of young adults, was to create a book that would help kids learn with practical knowledge things that they aren't often told before expecting to somehow intuit this information. This last year, her book was published and she was nice enough to gift me a copy. Here is her book:

Her website is here, and I haven't read the book yet, but I very much believe in the cause. We have all come to the conclusion that putting energy and revisiting and thinking constantly about what our goals are throughout the year is magickal and something that is worthwhile. This is absolutely true for me. Here are some more pics from this awesome and inspiring day:

Photo by Elaine Noble

Photo by Elaine Noble

Photo by Elaine Noble

I am so thankful for the quality of people I have in my life. On days like this, it is great to be me =)

Peace.

Nearly a year....

has passed since i've updated this blog. i like writing here, but find that i am too scattered, and really enjoy having my own space. i pay for that space, but i know it's mine...

so, without further ado, i don't think too many people read this anyway, but things about my life and hobbies and stuff i do can now be found here:

dgali-nv.com

Happy New Year everyone, come see me there!

reflecting pool...

such weird times

hurt, dying, transition

life altered, forever

in the blink of an eye

the flash of a moment

what does it all mean?

the grant is submitted, the final paperwork done, now i am just waiting for the judgment. how worthy am i and my cause?

why do i feel invisible?

kinds words and what-if's

working for the man

end of holidays, yay.

peace!

In Mourning...

some days are just like this, aren't they:

 the above photo is from the new AMC series "the walking dead". i'm here to tell you, this show is the best thing to hit TV in, like, forever. who can resist the zombie love?!? their first season just ended, and i have to say, it seems to me that seasons should be MUCH longer than six episodes. that's a season of what? a month and a half at one weekly? MORE! must have MORE zombies!!

this is my new favorite tv...and i heart it because of dvr, which largely also makes it commercial free. 

today, that is all.

peace.