PICTURES Y'ALL

Okay,
I'm gonna update this soon with some of my photos when I figure out linking from flickr so they don't look bad...

But I want to take your pictures.

Planning now to do weekends in the spring in flower fields. Sunflowers are late summer so then too but that's in a long time.

Please join me.

Thanks y'all

What is Solidarity?

Disclaimer:

It doesn't bother me that other people post political things, etc., in fact I'm glad that some of my friends frequently share.  Hashtag activism also doesn't bother me at its basics. I'm pretty certain that I wrote more than one article defending it for the college newspaper. People want to know that others care, people want to feel they've done something, they've shown support...people want to be like other people.  I think that if I weren't so opposed to creating conflict and my life didn't already focus on politics I might have been more inclined to be a poster myself.
If it weren't for my paranoia in not sharing on every important issue and so deciding I don't need to be another one to just share for the sake of sharing, I avoid posting on every issue. 

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So, I didn't think to post #jesuischarlie. I didn't think much of it at first when it filled my feeds. But it made me uncomfortable for some reason.  On the one hand, I was glad to see that everyone felt some sort of solidarity with,well, people. But there's something wrong with how it was being represented. Not, "I stand with the victims and their loved ones," but, "I stand with this publication with which I probably don't actually relate or understand, or even know, because it is a symbol of western society," a western society being attacked, by others, who don't share our ideals.  I agree with the notion of protecting the rights of those I disagree with most to say and write what they wish, so I understood why some people saw the act of posting the hashtag as not political, and even those who would never say anything on a potentially inflammatory subject went along with this one, and I didn't feel badly towards anyone who expressed solidarity in this way. 

But why is it that this is the only case in which everyone can see supporting the victims, in the name of liberty, as a non-political act?

Not only does characterizing this as an attack on Western ideals and an issue of incompatibility misrepresent it, by making it one of clashing values, and therefore creating further division, and misplaced fear and hate, but it casts importance off of other devastations which command our attention just as well.  Yes, we (our leaders) should address the issue of extremism, and how and why it draws people in (but we can't forget that politics and power struggles always play a part). No, we shouldn't compare tragedies. However, we should be aware of what's most likely to genuinely infringe on our western, democratic ideals.  We should reflect on why we believe that human rights are universal, but ascribe the ability to believe in those rights only to westerners.  We should reflect on whether our leaders truly adhere to those rights in the politics they push, and hold them accountable.  We should reflect on why we can't bring ourselves to identify with Every Man who calls for action in the name of those ideals.

Ultimate Quick Vegetarian/Vegan Chick pea Salad

Okay, chick peas are my favorite. As is cilantro. As are pomegranates. And cucumbers. And salads. Basically, this checked all the boxes, and it has all the good stuff. AND it's beautiful. So, it was the perfect accompaniment to cauliflower and mashed potatoes the other night (seriously, best night for a vegetarian surrounded by omnivores).

So, I wanted chickpeas and decided to throw this together.

Two cans chick peas, rinsed

Half an english cucumber, diced small (peel if necessary but I never do)

One roma tomato, diced small, seeds removed if you wish (I did but honestly could have used a bit more liquid, I just find it changes the texture of the whole salad, and wanted this salsa-like)

One small red onion, diced small

Generous handful cilantro, chopped

Drizzle olive oil

Approx. 1 tbsp vinegar (whatever kind you like)

Red pepper flakes (optional, couple tsps)

Dill/mint (generous, to your liking)

Garlic powder (again, to your liking)

Generous grinding of black pepper

Toss it all together

And then I got excited and added pomegranate seeds but all were not fans, I like the crunch and I'm obsessed with pomegranates so I'd keep 'em

Optional-feta crumbled on

*could really use (but didn't have on hand)--green/red bell pepper

Even better when it sits around

And then eat all of it.

VMFA

Yesterday I visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for the first time.  I honestly hadn't heard of it even until two years ago, probably because I live so much closer to DC than to Richmond and the DC museums really can't be compared to many others.  

The VMFA does have one thing in common, though--it's free.

It's pretty large although strange to navigate, and has lovely gardens to walk through (although it was way too cold for that business in VA this week).  It's kind of a mesh of different wings and architecture, as is any art museum. It has a good collection, though not very different from many I've seen. I like that the contemporary/modern sections have some really unique pieces.  Honestly my favorites were there, beautiful photographs from just 2013.  I loved the photography section as well, and the Indian courtyard.

There's one illustration on the cover of the guide that I wanted to see and asked about, and apparently I was the thousandth person to ask and disappointedly told it's not currently on display.  

All in all, good way to kill a few hours.

I love museums.

Especially free ones. (Special exhibits may involve ticket costs, so check their calendar)

New year...I'm me

Joining the hoards and reviving my writing with the new year. Granted, this year the new year happens to coincide with actual changes in my life. As I click submit on applications, get ready for the new opportunities beginning soon, and finally have the chance to get back to hobbies. I've been told even my instagraming, which is the one thing I e tried to keep up with a bit, has lost its touch. 

So, I'll update here. I know I have time for it even when I'm busy, simply because I know that even when I work over 12 hour days, I waste time. Even when you don't have a paper due, you're not in school, you can procrastinate on life. I'm fine with relaxing but working intense schedules shows you how much you can do with a day. Currently, the days feel short and that's probably what's making it harder in some ways. Getting back into the groove now!