The Last Frontier

Alaskas license plates say The Last Frontier. In many ways, I think people here in the lower 48 see that as true. We go to alaska to see the wilderness, for the fresh air, the glaciers that are disappearing, the moose and bears that just roam around like the own the place (wait, they do... right?). 

If you've ever seen a beehive presentation on the True Cost of Coal, where we take a moment to explain one of our favorite little jokes, then this idea of the last frontier may be familiar in a different context. 

{punch line: once we've taken and destroyed all we've got here... then we'll just have to move on the the final frontier-- SPPPACCCEEE. Ya know... because of manifest destiny we have a god given right to do so. get it? a conestoga wagon on a rocket ship!}

Well- when we (the royal we- the beehive) were invited to talk about coal in alaska, we were into it. Obviously. What an adventure! It turns out, it's a whole lot more than that. As we started to get a grip on whats what in Alaska and extraction, we soon found out- they have more than oil and natural gas. They've got a lot of coal. Actually, Alaska has 18% of the worlds coal reserves. That is a ton of coal! 

I didn't know Alaska had coal... and it seems like a big reason for that, is until now, it mostly got to hang out in the ground. Just sitting there, cleaning the water and being millions of years old. But why is that? The coal in alaska is pretty low grade coal, which means that for the most part we can't actually burn in here in the United States 'cause it would pollute our air more than our government has deemed acceptable. SWEET! Let that stuff stay in the ground. 

Not so easy. Turns out, we live in a global economy. Other countries don't have the same standards as we do, and they can burn it. And as you maybe suspect, the demand for coal (and all other fossil fuels) is up across the globe. So that precious ancient coal that's in alaska: its now up for grabs and the coal companies are trying to move in fast to gobble it up. In the Mat-Su valley (which is an area thousands of people live, to be clear), there are 3 large strip mines proposed. We're talking 20,000 acres. 

                                        

{this image is of the Matanuska River, where mining is proposed. Taken from the website of our friends from the Castle Mountain Coalition. Check out their site for more information about whats up in the area when it comes to coal}

20,000 acres of the last frontier is headed down a finite and dangerous road of coal extraction. Folks in the area just simply ain't gonna take it. As a piece to the puzzel of organizing in their area- they brought us- to tell the cautionary tale of what coal mining looks like and how is destroys communities. Coal is running out, our mines here in the lower 48 are bigger and bigger, but there just ain't enough. Coal companies aren't going to just stop mining, they'll keep on going. All the way to the last frontier...

unless we stop 'em. 

---

But First! I had a little time with friends from Ohio... just hanging out... in Alaska.  

{First day in Alaska- i headed out with Sonia, Amy, and Tony to a cute little dry cabin on Lake Christiansen- not far from Denali National Park. Paddle boat was the only way to get there (or by foot, in the winter months... icy)}

{the cabin was a lovely and welcoming place to huddle in for a night.}

{11 pm-ish sunset from the porch}

{a wood-fired sauna made this lovely lake swimmable. for short stints at a time... the water was epically clear}

{dishes. they exist everywhere- even in a cabin hidden away in alaska}

{crossing a bridge on our little walk outside of Talkeetna... below us two rivers converged and you could see the difference in the water. One was gray with glacial silt, the other much clearer}

{whew}

{adventuring out during a lunch break on our hike}

{sonia exploring the land of dinosaurs, we assume this is where they live at any rate}

 And then- I ran off and left my Ohio (and california) friends to have their own adventures.  And adventures they had! You can check out their photos, and a few more from my time with them on facebok. i joined up with the other bees as we all got our feet in the same place. It was a day or two of rushing around- spending an awful lot of time in the strip malls of anchorage doing silly things like making copies and all the non-fun things about being a bee. yuck!

{during my time in alaska- i had to keep up on other work- including the communications work I've recently started doing with the Alliance for Appalachia.  Agent brought me some rasberries from the path outside...}

{talking a short walk along the bike path outside of anchorage. First time I got to see the pacific ocean!}

{Talking to passer-bys at Anchorage First Friday}

{Folk singer and community organizer, Si Kahn, wrapped up our workshop at Salmonstock with a good ol' union song from appalachia}

{heading up the epic bluff to get to our new friends house}

{the bluff was pretty dang steep... ropes were pretty much all the way up to help folks climb. They were mega helpful on the way down}

{view from the top. This photo, like many on here, is from our facebook album that many of us on the trip contributed to. You can see more photos of our trip here!}

{the house was just amazing! Using all sorts of natural building techniques, the house was built over about 10 years. The basement? The most mega home brewing operation I've ever seen}

{smelling out the wort- a goldenseal, fireweed, and yarrow brew}

{checking out the addition the the house- a modified straw bale- soon to be a bedroom}

{morning air. mountains, ocean, trees galore. Just outside Homer a few miles.}

{kirby was such a lovely and amazing host to us while in alaska. he really helped us gain our grounding on whats happening in the area. This is his house that he built}

{watermelon berries! they grow all over the place up there. while in alaska i got to eat strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, current, and these new little guys... berries! all time favorite food.}

{getting ready to go see a protected salmon run that would surely be impacted by the coal mines in the area}

{kirby showing us a salmon run that would be impacted by the coal mining}

{overlooking the valley- brandon showing us some of the places coal strip mining is proposed}

{we went up to hatchers pass to look at an old gold mine- independence mine- it was so neat and surreal. Some of the buildings were like this one, while other had been restored and were in use for the park. All nestled in the beautiful tundra of a mountainside. Striking.}

{a fun presentation in Palmer, where we got to meet a lot of important and powerful people. In this shot are some pretty rad folks including Lisa- a woman who shared lots of stories with us about what its like to be an indigenous person in the midst of coal, but also of active colonization. Carly- who brought us to Alaska. And that little fella who said that reading the story from the drawings is 'just easy.' duh.}

{we did a backyard presentation at yet another amazing homestead- this time in Chickaloon- a community that has been really active in the fight against mining.. they're on the frontline for sure. So inspiring}

Ok, so that's quite a lot. Alaska is a lot (as it turns out). In a lot of ways, I feel like I was given another opportunity to do things I like to do in the world: to make change, to grow on a personal level (thanks to my tour mates who, as always, help push me to better and stronger places), expand my political knowledge, see amazing things, meet people who should probably run the world (or at least have a say in it, geez!). I left feeling a little overwhelemed about the what we're up against (thats always pretty present for me) but more so feeling inspired, hopeful, and incredibly lucky.

{Brandon, Agent, Recent, and me. Hanging out with a glacier.}

{just touching 20,000 year old ice}

{we even went under it. retrospect: that was a little dangerous. but SO so worth it}

  

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.

----


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!)

Year of the Meniscus

In mid-December I was in Faber, VA. I had taken an pre-meeting walk to get ready for the day, and found myself laying by a river watching the water pour down and over some rocks. Not that this was a particularly new sight, but I really noticed something... the way the water sticks together. It's surface tension holds itself together, creating a sense of cohesiveness, to spite it's liquid state that makes me think it shouldn't be able to do that. It should fall apart, separate, spill... it should be chaos.

What am I talking about? well, do ya'll remember being in science class (cira 3rd grade, maybe) and learning about the meniscus?

{thanks for the image, wikki}

It's the specific curve created when you over fill a glass of water, but it doesn't spill out. This act is a fine line, just a drop too much and--- chaos!! there is water dripping over the edge and you've gotten the counter all wet (the horror). So, now that we're on the same page of the science behind my statement (err, are we?)- I'll elaborate.

This year, was the year of the Meniscus.

This year, was more packed than I ever imagined it could be. My glass was filled- past the top. But just barely, because I'm pretty sure it didn't turn into chaos (at least not the bad kind). I'm also pretty sure, that if anything more happened in 2011, chaos would be had. Or, at least I would have spent (more) time huddled in the fetal position thinking there was NO WAY i'd be able to do this. Whatever 'this' is...

I did a lot of moving around...

• I lived in Rock Creek, WV (Jan-July), Machias, Maine (July-Sept), in a truck- midwest style-(Sept-Nov), and in central Ohio (Dec)!

that- is a lot of places to live, a lot of beds to sleep in, a lot of kitchens to feed people in, and a lot of places to consider home- some for the long haul, and some of them with the understanding that a sense of home is short lived there.

In that time, I've (under failry strict meaning of the word) considered myself to have 22 housemates. WAY more if you consider folks who often stayed in a house i lived in, tented in a yard i lived in, or spent more than a week living together (say Blair Mountain).

• Spent time in 19 US states (Ohio, Maine, WV, VA, New York, PA, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, Washington DC, North Carolina, TN... at the least. I just can't fully recall...

• I went to Canada 3 times

Which, prior to 2011, I had been out of the country 0 times. I went once for an anti- fracking protest in New Brunswick, and crossed the border 2ce on fall tour.

I had the boarder patrol read my diary, and had the fear of god put into me (and probably for Nikki and Tyler, too) when a boarder patrol-er came from around the counter towards us, snapping on a rubber glove and asked 'which one of you had to go to the bathroom?'

Ah! none of us. not us, no sir, no way. I totally thought we were getting searched, like, really searched (we weren't)

I did a lot of work, or things I call work, or think of as work, most of the time, or at least some of the time...

• WV based work...
• programming co-coordinating for the March on Blair Mountain, with the amazing Becks, where we planned, scratched, replanned, canceled, planned again and mostly implemented the non-logistical schedule for the March on Blair Mountain (like evening speakers and musicians and the rally schedule and line up)
• I worked on the media team- mostly pre-march- and got practice in doing outreach in new and exciting ways, with a amazing and talented group of people (did you see the media that came outta the march!?! it was SO good!)
• I did door-to-door outreach in southern WV for the march. Both exciting and (at the time) scary.
• At CRMW I worked in small and large ways to revamp the Volunteer process- as the (what ended up being short term) volunteer coordinator
• I helped plan the programming for Mountain Justice Summer camp, and also did some work in with the group as a whole (like helping to facilitate)

• Beehive...
• Did over 60 beehive presentations- mostly the True Cost of Coal
• Work party- i helped host and run a month long marathon workparty for... so many people. i actually don't have a number, but not including the ball, i'd say over 100 came through for at least a while. a steady 60 people.
• facilitated the baking of hundreds of baked good for the bfb
• helped host, organize, and throw a 1000+ person dance party (blackfly ball)
• successful wrote and received my first grant- from NEST- for bringing a Klezmer band to the bfb
• Beehive Meetings- I did the most intensive, aggravating, and skill pushing agenda setting, planning, and facilitating thus far in my life during the january beehive meetings; played a similar (but more minor) role for our May meetings; and was in another intense (in a different way) set of 2 week meetings this Dec. We met a lot.
• i went on a mini research trip on fracking- in the Pittsburgh area. Where I learned a lot, and really began to question if i have the option of not living in ohio (i later decided, no. not really)

• other things...
• I was elected to the Ohio Alliance for People and the Environment (OAPE) board, and have begun doing work with them.
• sent 2 million and 3 emails (thats a joke. mostly)

I also had a personal life... (a what?) like things i don't consider 'work'...

• 2 new babies were born in my family! i'm the aunt of 5! holy shit!
• Started dating someone- who is really amazing.
• some ohio friends came ALL the way to maine to see me- holy smokes- that's so great!
• i got to dance over bad little falls and experience the magic of celebration (bfb)
• traded vehicles, and now have a car that- for now- runs smoothly.
• made new amazing friends from all over the county- and feel incredibly lucky and blessed to know so many folks who i love and care about.
• i screen printed something! me! i did that (and will continue to, i think)
• made a zine for my nephews- and shared it in a public way
• actually started to learn the banjo- then forgot and will re-learn in 2012
• i made 13 blog posts (many of which, have more details about the things listed on here...)
• my aunt and uncle moved to central ohio- win!
• my grandmother moved away from central ohio- not win.
• mama went to dc to stop the xl pipeline (ok, i didn't have anything to do with it, but it's just SO dang cool!)
• i read some great books:

The God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy), Bossypants (tina fey), Prodigal Summer (barbara Kingsolver), Girl with the dragon tattoo (0% recommended), The Dispossesed (ursula k le guin), Percepolis: the story of a childhood (again; marjane satrapi) Parable of the Sower (octavia butler), Flood! (Erik Drooker), sister outsider (audre lorde), Blankets (Craig Thompson), Kindred (Octavia Butler), Off the Map (crimethInc), The Red Tent (Anita Diamant), the Gnome Lexicon (illustrated by my friend, nate!), and read lots of zines.

• i finally filled the journal i've been writting in since early hs- the first date being '4/23/06 3:02 am' the last being '9/9/2011' Actually, there are about 20 blank pages, but I wanted to start a new one so i could bring a smaller book to journal in on tour-- which i did- and successfully made a entry EVERYDAY of tour. wham!

Looking back through my old journal, i found a page, where i am struggling with the 'why bother?'-ness of the world. I actually wrote, that i wanted 'a cause to believe in, a reason to be here...' (3/9/07) During that time in my life, I wouldn't say I was happy. These days, I continue to struggle, much of which is a similar internal debate about life and what I will do with it. But the tone is different, and at the beginning of this year, i made another entry (1/19/2011, NYC), where I spoke to the struggles in my life, but how i was happy. Actually happy.

Today, that remains true.

• I went to my first church serivce (that is not a UU- which, I enjoy and doesn't quiet seem to fit into the category of church, in some ways) It was the United Church of Christ in Machias... I went to hear my inspiring friend Cole speak at the service that day.
• I found out my mother is planning to sell the house I grew up in. Smart, and sad.
• I have lots of new music to enjoy and listen to. According to my Itunes, the most listened to music that I added in 2011 is: Thao and Mirah (self titled), Jessica Lea Mayfield (tell me); Big Tree (self titled). Itunes says I listened to 2,614 songs in 2011, and my most listened to song? Wild Young Hearts by the Noisettes. (Though, I'm pretty sure that is an inaccurate read of what I actually listen to...)
• 117 horizontal drilling permits granted in ohio (ok- that isn't really my list of things that i did... but... fuck.)

Looking back through my journal entries from the past year, and generally thinking about 2011, I think I learned one really important thing for myself. I have- on a fundamental level- accepted that my life is a choice. I am the only one who gets to choose what I do, how I do it, when I do it. (of course, there are exceptions to this, and in my opinion, saying there are not is a major act of privilege. for most things in my life, i have that privilege). While I have personally debated this for myself, for much of the year (and probably more), I really had it driven home by a conflict mediator who worked with us this Dec.

This is my life, and I get to choose what to do with it. Everyday, every moment.

It's like having access to a compass rose. I can see where I am, and see whats around me. I get to make the choice where I move, and accept the consequences of that choice, both the foreseen and the unforeseen.

As for what 2012 will bring, I just don't know, but I know I get to decide. I intend to be in Ohio- to live here. Work here, take care of myself and those i love here. At least 6 months. I am having a hard time making a plan for myself, but am picking up a habit i used to be in- creating a wish list for the winter. A list of things I would like to hold myself to, a way to commit to myself (and others) to being more interested, interesting, and having more fun. Here's what I've got- for Jan, Feb, and March.

- ohio rocks presentation

- one book a month

- martial arts once/week

- bread 2x a month (and give one loaf to someone else!)

- love letter to non-here friend 1x month

- stretch 5x a week

- go to one 'new' event a month

- screen print something!

- uphold my commitment made to myself in a PSU workshop

- don't accidentally watch tv

- research organizations in central ohio i can do support work with, that actively fight racism (directly or indirectly)

So, here goes!

full speed ahead

All being said and done, tour was 74 days long, and we presented at least 55 times (i actually can't quite tell. but for sure that many)- plus general tabling (sort of like all day presenting) at several places. It was an epic tour. Here are some additional highlights from where I last left off...

first... a quick jump backwards to the first part of tour with a couple photos tyler took...

{In the twin cities- we had done a presentation at Boneshaker Books... which... my aunt and uncle came to! Here, Gordon is adding to the shareback from his breakout group about the poster. SO COOL!}

{more from boneshaker.}

Ok... now... after Columbia (where the last blog photo set left off), we headed to St Louis...

{A small presentation at the GIA gallery in St Louis}

{We also did a quick presentation at Occupy St Louis and got a chance to see one of their General Assemblies--- it was a cool learning experience to be around and something that provided a good point of reference as we saw more occupy spaces and talked with lots of people about their experiences working with occupy things in their town.}

{We headed to Urbana to do a presentation in the EPIC community center- the IMC (independent media center). the post office rents space FROM them (what!?), they've got a great costume closet, computer labs with lots of media making ability, a bike co-op... so rad.}

{Governors award for Books to Prisoners? Woah.}

{Presenting at the IMC}

{From there, we headed to the Heartwood Reunion, outside of Bloomington Indiana. It's an annual gathering of folks working with Heartwood- a forest protection organization. It was hosted at The Lazy Black Bear. It is such a beautiful, funky place.}

{Meals, together.}

{We did a workshop about storytelling and intergenerationality. It was pretty cool, and it was nice to spend a weekend with (mostly) our elders.}

{Once heartwood was over, we stayed with some friends from there at their amazing old opera house, turned lovely apt in the back and wild and mostly unfinished project space in the rest.}

{Exploring the opera house... we could empathize with the project (ehem- the grange). it's a very cool building...}

The evening after heartwood we tabled at a showing of Low Coal and Coal County- a fundraiser. I've seen both films before, but I found myself being moved and inspired by my friends and allies I was seeing on this big screen. It provided a space for me to reflect back on my time in WV- and I found myself writing a love letter to a friend, about how amazing he is... and that i feel so damn lucky to know some of the best people on earth. i really do.

{Our presentation in Bloomington, was maybe our most magical presentation of the tour. Outside, backlight banner, plus a really engaged crowd sure does give us the energy to do it right.}

{Nikki!}

{After our magical presentation- our friends from Heartwood invited us to a community screen printing and art studio they run in Bloomington- called Paper Crane. It was the first time nikki and i did the full process of screen printing. clearly- the totally amazing levels of the space stressed nikki out (?)}

{Putting screens together to get ready to...}

{print!
Super cool- and now I feel totally inspired to make myself a little screen printing set up and print lots of cool things. be on the look out for it...}

{After two classroom visits at GRVU, we did an evening presentation. Bret, our super cool host, introduced us for an evening presentation by standing up and saying
"I'm going to start talking now"
Hahah- it was perfect.}

{Super packed presentation that night. Standing room only.}

After that- we went to Cincinnati, Hiram, Oberlin, Columbus, and Delaware for presentations. Plus- I got to be home for a few days and be at Kaylas birthday party. Of course, to spite this being MY FAVORITE part of tour--- i didn't take any photos.
dum dum.

{We were hosted by a lovely friend- who set up three presentations for us in her studio- Red Hydrant Press. It was a magical and lovely place- and all the events were really fun.}

{After, there was a dance party with a live band. Because... we have to celebrate, right?}

{For the second night at Red Hyrdrant, we did a collaborative image making workshop- where we did some serious mind mapping and metaphor pushups with a packed room- to figure what should go on the banner we decided to make for Occupy Grand Rapids... using a stencil.}

{what do you get when you mix group input, collaborative drawing, mosquito net and masking tape?

a great stencil! (duh)}

{fun.}

{we also made small stencils on the side while we waited}

{For our third show at Red Hydrant, we did a kids focused afternoon. I spent most the time coloring on a poster... which somehow became a scene of zombie Apocalypse- and the zombie disease spread quickly... before i knew it the whole poster was green and there wasn't an animal left that had not been zombie-fied.}

{group photo- take one!}

{And take two- outside on the roof.}

We stopped in at a really great collective space and visiting some friends- at Root Force- in Muskegon, MI- and then headed over to Ravenna HS to do some presentation in art classes- with a super rad 1st year teacher. We don't have any photos (idthink... do we?) but the teacher had sent us some reflections from the students after the presentations... including these gems:

{image a photo kids doing cool things}

“I think those guys had a strong message that has a strong purpose. I think that it’s cool that they used drawings to show us how mountain top removal is bad. It was awesome when they told us that each of these drawings has a story to tell. The thing that I liked the most is that they talked to us about it and they are people just about our age. It encourages any of us to stand up and use our voice no matter how old we are.”

“I just really appreciate how they worked together and put their time in to make it here to Ravenna High School.”

“I learned to use issues in real life to be displayed through my own artwork.”

“The BeeHive Collective’s presentation changed the way I look at things. I’m not saying I’m a tree hugger, but every time I turn on a light or use the stove, I will think of the people’s stories.”

Dang. this shit is totally worth it. (thats not a quote from the students... to be clear)

{After Ravenaa we headed into Canada- where we did a presentation at University of Waterloo, McMaster University, then headed to Toronto to hang with our bee friends who were there. We did a presentation and day of tabling at a farmers market- at a place called Brick Works.}

{Sponsors (of the space, generally, not our presentation specifically)... walmart.

my life is so weird.}

{We also did a presentation about austerity measures and Free Trade- with some HS students- which- i think was my first time heading lara present. which, rocked.}

{and we got to see brea! (and nate- to spite not having photo proof of such things)}

After Canada- we took another whirlwind to some favorite places- again without any photos (which- i have to say- isn't a lack of wanting or thinking of taking photos but due to the fact that i left my camera in canada... oops!) Including going to Skidmore to visit Becks (and do a presentation...) which was SOOO GREEATT! and a stop in Berea, Ohio.

The last time I made a post- we were in Ann Harbor. Due to a mix of mid-tour tired and being sick- i have no photos from being there, even though it was a GREAT stop. We went there to go to the NASCO conference- which- was totally amazing!

I got a chance to participate in two workshops by two organizations i had crushes on. The workshops have turned those crushed into full blown love attacks.

One was a facilitation workshop (my first ever?) by AORTA collective (check out their points of unity, by scrolling over About Us. It's SO DREAMY). It was so good, and has proven very helpful to me as I continue to learn and grow how to be a better facilitator. (ok- truth time- i have day dreams about working with them. like- lots of day dreams)

and I went to a training lead by Philly Stand Up- a group from philly dedicated to

'practicing transformative justice to confront sexual assault through community accountability.' they are mind blowingly great, and i'm so stoked to continue to think about the work they do and figure out how to learn from them in the future.

Plus- while in Ann Harbor- I got to stay with Elias. Who is great. Just look at this guy...
{photo stolen- without permission- from his blog}

{We presented at a co-op bar in Milwaukee, Public-House. It's one of only two in the country- and in addition to serving excellent beer (and coffee)- they also have community events. at the bar. it's super cool. Plus, I met some really great teachers- who were all kinda of fired up about unions, and life generally. It was awesome.}

{And tylers brother lives in Milwaukee and came to the presentation- plus we got to hang out with him- which- was great.}


{One of our bigger presentation of tour was in Appleton, WI. Folks were SO into it... bam! amazing post show conversations.}

Additioanlly- other photo free places Kalamazoo, Chicago, Beloit, Ripon, and back to Chicago- for the Teachers for Social Justice conference. It was SO great to be there, and be surrounded by really rad folks working in the public school system. so cool. I definitely walked away feeling super inspired to figure out ways to work more with students.

From Chicago- I got on a bus and was back in Ohio for thanksgiving. Of course, lots of stuff has happened between now and then, but... one thing at a time.

sneak peak of my life in Ohio?
{baby mania}