from one to seven (thats more than six months ya'll!)

Its been about 6 months since I last posted. That's alot different than what last year looked like, when i was posting about once a month. I guess that's 'cause my life is a lot different.

One thing that makes it a lot different, is that I'm more connected to the folks I originally intended my blog to reach (family, close friends- folks in Ohio more or less). I live here (there, depending on where you are, i guess). But as it turns out, maybe those tables have turned and now its my friends from all over the place that i'm trying to stay connected to.

I've been prioritizing things in my life, sometimes doing so well and sometimes misplacing it a bit I think- but basically my life breaks into a few categories: People and Fun, Job(s), and Change Making. When I think about ways I want my life to work, those things in some ways blend together pretty fluidly (while also maintaing some clear dividing lines). Right now, they pretty much stand on their own.

Relationships

A big undeniable part of why I'm back in Ohio is 'cause the people that are here. I've been spending a lotta time with my family recently- between working with some of 'em, living at my mothers house (which, i see her a surprisingly small amount all things considered), and the not-infrequent family shin dig- i see alot of those people.

{I took photos of the boys for mothers day. They are pretty darn cure kids}

{Finn and Nels- being exactly how they always are.}

{Cohen- diving into his very first birthday cake. Kayla may or may not be a bit jealous...}

{when we get the whole family together- we find ourselves with a surplus of babies. you can take one home if ya want... jokes. you can't but you could come play with them sometime...}

Spending time with Mattie and continuing to explore life together in pretty sweet ways. And its been pretty fun to hang around the midden (the household hes a part of) and learn some house repair type stuff while I'm at it (not to mention see yet another model of collective living in action).

{taking that wall out- their house got abour 5x bigger immediately. so fun.}

I've been slowly but surly catching up with friends from back in my day- seeing Emma, Papabear, and David (plus a few other fine folks) from time to time. It's nice to be around, and have them around. And to every now and again catch some other friends, though I am realizing those occurrences are too few and far between. I think I gotta step up my friend dates...  

Feels like you just don't have enough time to have fun when you're working full time (even tho I like my job these days- I still can't help but wonder who's BAD idea was it for people to work so much?- answer: the man. duh.) But I have been really enjoying getting back to martial arts (jiujitsu and karate) and am feeling pretty pumped about all the catch up i've done (after not training for 6? years. yikes). Besides that most my fun stuff is just hanging out with people I care about (which is how I like it anyway). Oh and reading. I just finished reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett-- and i finished it before it was due at the library (without even one renewal) that's pretty dang unheard of for me-- it was SO good i literally lost sleep so i could read more of it. (aka: read it! its just great)

{making homemade pasta- ravioli- for the first time ever with my friend Meredith}

i had made a winter wish list- which included things like screen print something (etc)- which i failed miserably at fulfilling. I guess its good its a wish list, but it also made it pretty clear to me that i was not really prioritizing that kind of thing for myself. poop!

{i may have failed to screen print something- but i did make a portable light table- learning some new things about electrical work with my friend bryan who came to visit me in the good ol' OH. he just loves ohio...}

{while much of my winter wish list failed to manifest... bread making happened- one to eat, one to share- the golden rule of baking bread}

i also recently read this article- about people who say they are 'busy' all the time. good to check myself sometimes... i really found it a useful article to put my privilege in a box of reality. i choose to be busy, which also basically means i choose to not have time for fun things. wham. ouch. real.  

Change Makin'

Change is a funny thing- its always happening. Always. And it is always moving wicked fast- unless of course you want it to. Then it seems to move with the snails. I guess thats the kind of change that I want... but dang. It feels slow.

I've been doing lotsa this'n'that with working to kick fracking outta here. I've been continuing to connect with the Ohio Alliance for People and the Environment- as we re build a vision for a group that can support communities across Ohio as they step out of regulatory frameworks and just simply say 'no.' Played a small role in the Don't Frack Ohio event- which all culminated with a big ol' showing of folks at the statehouse. I've also been spending some time reflecting on that experience and offering feedback to folks running the show during that time. Feel like I'm learning alot- and found myself feeling mega greatful for all i learned and experienced during The March On Blair Mountain. Mega. nd I've helped start a new and growing organization in Columbus; Non-Toxic Ohio. We're still working on the who, what, and whys of our group... but we'll get there (back to that snail pace, eh? Walk with the slowest...). But mostly when it comes to fracking, I'm still just feeling confused and a little lost. Trying to understand my role here, and play it in a way that can empower others to play their role, too. I'm finding my theory is having a hard time when it hits the ground...

{my mama and i doing some registration at the Don't Frack Ohio event. Super team for sure}

{video 350 put out from the event}

Have also been continuing to touch lightly in small supportive ways with folks fighting MTR. Feels nice to continue to contribute, even if its small. Going to Mountain Justice Summer Break a while back- inlcuding having a great moment swinging where i thought to myself 'why would anyone do anything else with their life?' i don't have an answer to that question... i really don't.  And right now- just watching things unfold with the Mountain Mobilization that's coming up at the end of the month. Steady as she goes.

{full house in Gettysburg- doing a Mesoamerica resiste presentation- probably the best show of our little tour}

And doing some Beehive things, too. Was on the road for a quick moment with miss recent doing presentations. Doing a few things around Ohio and prepping for a 2 weeks beehive adventure in Alaska and then a month on the road come this fall. All of which, i think will prove to continue to be work that fills me.

{a not so full but really fun show at Kenyon College}

Jobs

Since being back here I've been in sorta extremes of the land of jobs. I started out with no job, nothing, at all. Nada. Then went from 0 to uhh 45+ hours per week- in a job working with special needs adults. Woah. That was an intense- and insightful- few months- before I just couldn't handle it anymore. and quit.

Then onto adventures in family landscaping. When i say family- i mean it. I work with my brother in law, brother, father, and my brother in laws brother and uncle(s). Doing everything from taking down big trees, planting annuals, mowing hella grass, leaf blowing grass clippings ALL day, building patios... you name it. we do it. and what a summer to decide working outside is kinda my thing (a summer of intense heat, that is). Its good news tho- all things considered.

And all the while- saving a pretty penny so i can get a new car when mine goes ka-putt (which, after a minor accident last week- seems it could be any moment now... but i've been thinking that for the past 6 months- so I'm still hoping for at least the 300,000 mile mark. wish me luck?) AND all this is leading up to an uncertain future for the jobby jobs of the world and me. In the fall do i- Get something full time and just pay off those damned student loans as quick as I can? Get something part time and just get by, while doing lotsa work that I want to do with my life (the kind that ain't likely to be paid)- and do my best to ignore that damned student loans? Or some version in between? Ooof.

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About 2 months ago, I realized my six month commitment to living in Ohio- was about up. And I took the easy road and extended that commitment til January 2013 (a year after moving back here). Hopefully by then- I'll have a few things in my life more together and can tell if this is what I want. Or if I should make a turn somewhere...


Most days I feel really glad to be here, and am happy i've made this choice.


i've think i've gotten pretty dang good at enjoying the moment, and am looking forward to getting better and better at it (still room to grow- that is for sure). 'cause shoot- this world is too amazing to not enjoy it, right?


ps: i just have no idea why some things are highlighted in white, or how to turn that off. seems possible google is getting more extroverted and has decided those things are the most important (damn you google!)