j-boo

j-boo's New Home

2009-04-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

j-boo has found a new, permanent home at:

www.JinxiBoo.com

Full of pop culture, individuality, and inspiration.

Quotes of the Day.

Words of the Day.

Who Am I Wednesdays.

Color and fun!

Please visit me there (pretty please) and subscribe if you would be so kind. I'll owe you cupcakes with extra sprinkles!

Winx, Jinxi

Characters Welcome

2009-03-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

Today I get to play "the proud mom" role. Last Fall, our family was invited by photographer Marla Rutherford to attend her photo shoot for a project that she was working on in conjunction with the USA television network for their "Characters Welcome" campaign. She shot the family all together and then each of us separately. A few months later we got notice that two of the photos (one of Shea and one of Brynn) from our shoot were chosen for the book portion of the project entitled "American Character: A Photographic Journey." With the forward written by Tom Brokaw, the book celebrates "the extraordinary people from all walks of life who make this country what it is."

We just received our copy of this beautiful hardback book this afternoon and I quickly snapped up some photos to show off my kiddos. Brokaw has been on numerous television programs promoting the book and a few weeks ago there was a gallery show in New York City featuring Marla's photos. In May, that portrait presentation will move to a Los Angeles gallery, which we will be attending and are quite excited about.

The book is available on Amazon or at any major bookstore. It features eleven outstanding photographers and is a delightful peek inside the diverse lives of "the characters" all around us.

Without further adieu, here are a few glimpses inside the book, beginning with the page featuring my kiddos.

Winx, Jinxi

BFFs

2009-03-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

Animals are amazing.

So are friendships.

As the narrator says at the end of the piece: "Pay attention, world! If they can do it, what's our excuse?"

Enjoy!

Winx, Jinxi

Hoping for Justice

2009-03-06T16:57:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday night, Steve, Aidan and I drove to Riverside to attend one of 28 candlelight vigils in California to unite in solidarity and send a unified message, on the eve before the California Supreme Court Justices were to hear the oral arguments on the validity of Prop 8.

Inland Empire equality seekers turned out in great numbers and we participated in a passionate march around the streets of Downtown Riverside. I saw many old friends and met many new ones. It was wonderful to be in the company of people that believe in justice for everyone; regardless of the gender they happen to love.

At the end of the vigil, we all sang "This Little Light of Mine." (awwww...how cute are we, right?)

The hearings were quite interesting. I came away hopeful, yet a bit apprehensive at being too confident. If you didn't hear the oral arguments and would like to, you can hear it here just click on "MP3 Broadcast of March 5th Hearings."

In a Time.com article, it was pointed out the reservations of two of the justices who helped to create the gay marriage historic decision. Justice Joyce L. Kennard said, "You would have us choose between these two rights: the inalienable right to marry and the right of the people to change their constitution. You ask us to willy-nilly disregard the right of the people to change the constitution of the state of California. But all political power is inherent in the people of California."

However, I believe that the majority is not always equipped to make decisions for society as a whole. That would be a tyranny of the majority and place the majority's interests above all else. It is still essential that decisions must remain Constitutional and judgment must distinguish those which are reasonable and fair from those which are tyrannical, unfair, and intolerable to the minority. It is essential that tyrannical laws are prevented from being passed and this is what I hope the California Supreme Court remembers.

The Federalist Papers contain many references to the "tyranny of the majority." In Federalist Paper 51, James Madison wrote: "It is of great importance in a republic not only to guard the society against the oppression of its rulers but to guard one part of the society against the injustice of the other part. If a majority be united by a common interest, the rights of the minority will be insecure." Think of the damage that could be done if the majority always "ruled." The Founding Fathers were mindful of the principal that the majority cannot simply do away with the rights of the minority. I hope that the justices of the California SC remember this basic fundamental. We shall know in 90 days; hopefully sooner. Until then, keep those "little lights" shining.

Over & Out, j-boo

Impromptu

2009-02-26T19:32:00.000-08:00

This video just makes me happy and I'm pretty confident that if you watch it all, you will be smiling by the end too (if not 20 seconds in). So much talent; and their positive vibe is infectious. I thought the response from the other passengers was so interesting to watch as the video progressed. And WHAT'S UP with Black Jacket Man with his back turned? Come on now buddy, loosen up. (LOL)

Enjoy!
Winx, Jinxi

Concert sauvage dans le métro !
Uploaded by lapapsprod

Something Sweet

2009-02-24T21:06:00.000-08:00

I LOVE to bake and friends always ask me for recipes, so I thought I would share one that anyone who loves cookies is sure to dig!

I make these ALL the time and I swear, you will NEVER know that they contain ABSOLUTELY NO animal products!!

Courtesy of Dreena Burton, an amazing vegan baker and chef.

When I first became a vegan, this recipe was introduced to me by my incredible friend, Danette, who helped me in so many ways to transition happily and peacefully with my decision to eat and live compassionately. I love her and she is such an inspiration in my life. The first time I baked these, the cookies simply amazed me and assured me that living vegan was merely a matter of being a little more mindful of the ingredients I bought and ate. Scrumptious, I'm telling you!!

**I always quadruple the recipe; but here is the one batch version**

Homestyle Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (see note)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
1⁄4 cup unrefined sugar
1⁄4 teaspoon sea salt
1⁄3 cup pure maple syrup
1⁄4 teaspoon blackstrap molasses
1 – 1 1⁄2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1⁄4 cup canola oil
1⁄3 cup non-dairy chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). In a bowl, sift in the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Add the sugar and salt, and stir until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine the maple syrup with the molasses and vanilla, then stir in the oil until well combined. Add the wet mixture to the dry, along with the chocolate chips, and stir through until just well combined (do not over-mix). Place large spoonfuls of the batter on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and flatten a little. Bake for 11 minutes, until just golden (if you bake for much longer, they will dry out). Let cool on the sheet for no more than 1 minute (again, to prevent drying), then transfer to a cooling rack.

Note: Unbleached all-purpose flour or spelt flour produces a more classic cookie taste and texture, but you can use whole-wheat pastry flour and still get a delicious cookie. For a wheat-free version, use spelt flour, but add an extra 2-4 tablespoons of the spelt flour to the dry mix (the amount needed varies with brand of spelt flour and whether you are using a refined spelt flour versus a less processed spelt flour).

Note: If, as you are mixing together your batter it appears quite floury and thick, simply mix together a couple of teaspoons more canola and maple syrup and incorporate it into the batter. Sometimes humidity, type of flour used, and other factors can affect the density of the batter and so a touch more liquid may be needed.

Makes 9-12 large to average sized cookies

ENJOY!!

Love Will Prevail

2009-02-05T11:02:00.000-08:00

If you care about equality for everyone, please watch this video and then sign the letter to the state Supreme Court here so that "gaycists" don't prevail.

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Winx, Jinxi

Gladys

2009-02-02T19:35:00.000-08:00

Oh, this is just priceless.

SO funny and fantastic!

New Taxi Driver

2009-01-29T14:58:00.001-08:00

The startled passenger said "I didn't mean to frighten you, I just wanted to ask you something."

The taxi driver says "It's not your fault sir. It's my first day as a cab driver...I've been driving a hearse for the past 25 years."

Photo by CoffinCartel

Come On Now, In the Middle of the Road

2009-01-28T12:53:00.001-08:00

Much catching up to do. So I believe I will accomplish that in a swoop of photos.

First up, new tattoo of an adorable, little, vibrant owl who many think looks like the Tootsie Pop owl, but was actually from the gorgeous artwork archives of Becky, a New Zealand based artist, whose work I just love! You can find oodles of her incredible pieces at owlfactory.

I adore her work and when I first saw this piece, knew that I wanted it on me. Nate McManus, my good friend and longtime tattoo artist, inked it for me.

In hair news: I decided to call a truce between my longing for the ease of "shaved headedness" and my desire to grow hair again ... and so, half of it came off and half remains; as did the pink.

My daughter Brynn has a keen eye when it comes to photography and she shot these photos of me on a street near our house. For some reason, memories of The Pretenders where conjured up when I first saw them. =)

Steve and I ventured off to Claremont on Sunday and grabbed lunch at Le Pain Quotidien, a divine little cafe with vegan options (including dessert). Incredibly yummy and suffice to say that we will be going back SOON!

Our entrees:

One of our favorite aspects about Claremont Village is the unique art displayed throughout the complex. How amazing is this multi-pieced sculpture, complete with evolution references and all, by Tom Otterness?

And this gorgeous tile mosaic mural is just a ZAP of sunshine and positivity.

And now I am off to catch up on work, before the kids get home from school. Brynn's band is playing at talent show tryouts at her high school tonight and I'll be there with video camera in hand, and a proud mom expression on my face.

Over and Out,

j-boo

Today

2009-01-19T11:26:00.000-08:00

Hooray for Monday! Here's to a positive and productive week ahead.

Winx, Jinxi

"Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things will be yours."

An Explosion of Inspiration

2009-01-17T15:43:00.000-08:00

My daughter introduced me this amazing artist today and I was so mesmerized by his gorgeous work and unique style that I just had to share.

Behold the brilliant work of Leonid Afremov; a Belarus born, Israeli modern painter who opts for a palette knife as his tool of the trade, instead of a paint brush. His oil paintings truly captivated me and after nearly an hour of ogling his online gallery, I left so inspired. That's the test of an incredible artist, don't you think? When you can view their creations and feel not only moved, but as though you understand the stories they are telling, without reading or hearing one word?

Amazing!

I hope you enjoy his fanciful world as much as I did.

Over and Out, j-boo

Mindful

2009-01-06T13:11:00.000-08:00

"Never forget that which you overcame, for it helped to shape you into becoming who you are." - j-boo

Paint The Year Positive

2009-01-05T14:09:00.000-08:00

I love it when I feel inspired, and challenged, and ready to take on the world.

2008 was a year of changes for our family. Changes in our patterns, routines, job responsibilities and jobs in-general. They were ultimately good changes, but definitely took some adjustment periods. Since Mr. Steve worked his booty off making his new career a success, a lot of the online business chores fell on my shoulders; and even with the slow economy, this holiday season was extremely busy for me and the biz. I stayed focused, sold up a storm and ultimately had a successful season.

As hectic as the last month was for me work-wise, I felt most accomplished by the amount of reflection I was able to sneak in. Many hopes and ideas that have long been stewing in the back of my head really made their way to the surface recently and instead of scooting them back to the corner like I have for a long time, I decided that it was really time to act upon it all. After all, we faced the all-intimidating concept of "change" about this time last year and lo & behold, everything actually turned out ok. Not only ok, but good ... great. Taking these steps in the right direction and learning from the modifications made, proved to be an excellent lesson for me.

And so I decided, this principle could also work for my own personal goals. Lists are made, preparations in place, work to do. I am excited and happy. For the first time in awhile, the world looks different to me and not so routine. I have stayed content in my comfort-zone for a long time and I'm ready to step outside of that to make new changes. It also didn't hurt that I was approached by an incredibly talented person who is onboard to make some of these dreams come true (thanks, J).

Positive transformations are on the horizon. Watch out 2009! There's a determined cupcake lover in the house.

Stay tuned, j-boo

"The road leading to a goal does not separate you from the destination; it is essentially a part of it." ~Charles DeLint

17

2008-12-30T15:07:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, December 28th, Steve and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. Back in good ol' 1991, we headed off to Cork County, Ireland to say our "I-Dos" and 6,205 days later, there we were, sitting at The Native in Costa Mesa, CA, enjoying a scrumptious vegan dinner and even topping it off with a vegan cupcake for dessert.

I really don't have the words to express how much he means to me or how grateful I am to have a partner by my side who always puts my happiness first, always believes in me, and actually enjoys the funky quirks & idiosyncrasies that make me "me." I will just say that there is no other person who could ever fill his shoes and absolutely no other person I would want to. I feel like our journey has only begun and I can't wait to blog about #34, seventeen years from now.

On Monday (day number 6,206), I went up to get ready for bed and found these little notes scattered at each stop along my "getting-ready-for-bed" routine path: pajama drawer, toothbrush holder, facial wash bottle, pillow, etc.

Awww ...what a lucky girl I am.

~ j-boo

Octopus Love

2008-12-22T20:28:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I did a photo shoot with the incredibly talented, Michelle X. Star (www.MichelleXStar.com) for a duel creative project with the painter, CallowLily (www.callowlily.deviantart.com), who is going to paint a version of this photo. It was extremely fun to shoot and the editing work that Michelle did on the photo really blew me away. She made my octopus TRULY come to life!

**Makeup by the lovely Shandra Jade**

Winx, Jinxi

The Rainy Day

2008-12-16T14:39:00.000-08:00

Circumstances

2008-12-13T23:19:00.001-08:00

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them." - George Bernard Shaw

"Religion is far more of a choice than homosexuality..."

2008-12-12T14:33:00.000-08:00

Every time I see this, it just makes me smile.

Thank you, Jon Stewart. Thank you.

Tranquil Perceptions

2008-12-11T16:40:00.000-08:00

Dreamlike state...
Thoughts saunter off
to visit the mysterious inscriptions of her heart.

The clandestine expressions
are merely moments of imagination;
involuntary visions in slumber.

Awake to a resemblance of reality,
to the mode of existence
that unceasingly remains.

- j-boo

I Love Text Tattoos

2008-12-07T19:34:00.000-08:00

Rex Manning (aka tattoo) Days are always among my most favorite of times and are especially fun when we get to hang out with our longtime friend and longtime tattoo artist, Nate. He and Marie headed over to our neck of the woods with tattoo gear in tow and after endulging in some yummy vegan pizza, I was lucky enough to add some new ink to my skin.

1) Vegan Jinxi: we squeezed this one right above Miss Octopus that resides on my throat/chest

2) I dig this next text tattoo that we added to my shoulder, because not only is it the title and lyrics to my favorite of all of The Cure's songs, but I love the positive message behind it as well. There is no if, baby!

3) Knuckle tattoos are always fun and this one is, well, ME. (he he)
I had Nate tattoo my signature to this blog and other writings that I do: j boo

YAY for Rex Manning Days!!

The rest of the weekend was groovy as well. We scurried around the mall in Riverside for a bit, as the kids picked out a few new pieces to their wardrobes and enjoyed the time out and about (even it was at the lame-ass mall - ha ha).

Work has been keeping me hopping lately. Even with the economy the way it is, customers still manage to squeak in some shopping from my store here and there; and I definitely appreciate each and every order.

www.Mermaidink.com

It's full of collectibles, charms, pins, stickers, figurines, patches, keychains, shoelaces, buttons and all sorts of gift-type goodies (in case you know anyone looking for such sorts). ;)

Over and Out,
j-boo

Tofurkey Day '08

2008-12-03T17:33:00.000-08:00

I know it's quite belated, but I have been meaning to write about Thanksgiving and somehow, the week has run away from me. But I figured that it's better late than never, eh?

We had such a great T-Day out in Temecula at Brooke and Ryan's (my sister and bro-in-law) house. It seems so seldom that we all get to be in one place, at one time, for a WHOLE day; and it was really nice to just relax, hang out with the kids and family, eat, and not have to worry about work and other tedious tasks for once.

Though I have been a vegetarian for many years, this was my FIRST year preparing a vegan Thanksgiving meal to bring with us to the feast. Steve and I ate strictly vegan goodies all day, while our kiddos are vegetarians and shared Tofurkey with us and then were able to eat most of the other dishes along with the extended family. Our vegan-ized mashed potatoes, stuffing, bread and pies were quite a hit. I think even the omnivores among us would agree. ;)

Below are lots of photos from the day. Those in attendance included:

- me & my fabulous gang
- my sister Brooke, her husband Ryan, and their three kiddos: Devon, Mekenzie & Jordan
- my mom
- my brother, Brad
- my sister, Nicole & two of her four kids (Blake and Damian)

Good times, good times!

Over & Out,
j-boo

The Sounds, Nico Vega & Tofurkeys

2008-11-26T20:37:00.000-08:00

The family and I were lucky enough to head back to the newly-renovated Hollywood Palladium on the 20th for one fantastic night of music! I even dyed my hair for the special occasion. ;)

This time, The Sounds, a band from Sweden that all five of us love, was in LA recording some of their new album and booked this gig at the HP. Lucky for us, because it was one incredible set!!

Maja, the singer, is such a firecracker! She is FULL of energy, spunk, and passion!! What an electrifying performance they presented.

Check out this video (near the end) when she kicks off her shoes, backs up and runs off the stage, leaping into the audience and crowd surfing. RADNESS, I tell ya!!

The kids really had a good time too.

Since the kiddos were old enough to tag along, live music has been an integral part of our family outings,and I'm glad it's become a common activity for this little familial gang.

I took quite a few videos that night. Here's a link to my youtube channel if you are fan of The Sounds and want to see more:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Jinxxxi

But I think this was my favorite of the bunch. It includes the songs, "Queen of Apologies" and "24."

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the opening band, whom I was totally taken with that night and plan on following the calendar of, in the future: the three-piece dynamo, Nico Vega. This band from Los Angeles was on fire that night as well and quite unique and fascinating (and I mean "unique" in the good sense ... not the "unique" where you mean "weird" but don't want to be mean - ha)

I am now baking apples and yams, in preparation for tomorrow (Thanksgiving) and trying to get the other dishes (all vegan-ized) that I am contributing to the feast, measured out and ready to pop in the oven in the morning (this includes two Tofurkeys - yum!)

So much to be thankful for ... that's for sure!

Over & out,

j-boo

38

2008-11-19T15:44:00.000-08:00

It's funny how the concept of birthdays have changed in my mind as the years go by. You would think that as I age, the apprehension would grown stronger as the day approached, but funny enough, I have found that just the opposite seems to occur now.

On Saturday, I turned the big 3-8.
I remember when I first hit 30, I thought my youth had totally disappeared and could not believe that I was entering this decade of life (ha - so funny now). I played the "I'm so old game" and "let me latch onto age 29 forever" dealio. But something happened as the "mid-thirties" crept up on me and I sort of shifted that mindset and stepped back a bit to view the "bigger picture."

I know it sounds cliche, but I realized that every year I am around, I learn so much more, become so much more, and experience so much more. All of this growth sort of accumulates and the repertoire of who I am and "What Makes Me Jinxi" seems to culminate together, just as a new 365-day-span starts again.

I would like to think that I'm just playing the optimistic card, but strangely enough, it's kind of more than that. I really DO feel that way. Kind of like I "earned" each tally-up on the age clock and am glad I got each experience necessary to reach it.

It also didn't hurt that my family made the day extremely special for me.
All three kiddos made me sweet, heartfelt cards/letters (my favorite) that are the ultimate treasure.We had a nice dinner out - despite having made plans to trek down to The Native, a vegan restaurant in Costa Mesa, when our plans were cut short due to every freeway from Corona to CM being closed due to the horrible fires - we still ended up finding nice vegan-friendly fare locally.And I got to embark on a little "splurgy" birthday shopping, which is always fun to buy things that you really don't need, simply because you are extra special that day. =)

All-in-all, tiptoeing into the "official late-30s" was pretty sweet. And I'm stoked to hit 39, because there is a Cure song about just that, entitled "39." (wink wink)

Over & Out,
j-boo

**me on my 38th birthday**

**With Steve at dinner**

**my three little monkeys playing "Hear No Evil. See No Evil. Speak No Evil."

The First Of Many Steps

2008-11-06T13:40:00.000-08:00

HEAR, HEAR!!!

"No one wins, unless everyone wins." - Bruce Springsteen

Bittersweet

2008-11-05T15:07:00.000-08:00

I am so disheartened today. On the wake of such a monumental milestone of Obama becoming president-elect, it is so bittersweet to know that the majority of Californians just YANKED away civil rights from so many!! In an election with resounding liberal triumphs, the principle of equality suffered such a discouraging defeat as California voters actually approved a ban on same-sex marriages.

To me, the euphoria of the Obama win is a bit marred today by the cruel bigotry directed at the gay population. It was not long ago that interracial couples were fighting for the right to marry one another. It took years of reasoning, protesting and battling to educate the ignorant as to the ridiculousness of such a limitation. Today, we look back in horror and disgust that our laws ever included such bigotry and racism. Yet this simple principle; that equality, freedom and justice is for ALL and applies to EVERYONE, still remains so difficult for the "sheeple" to understand.

To those who voted "Yes" on Prop 8, am I to assume that the United States Constitution doesn't mean much to you?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"

sounds so much better than,

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal UNLESS YOU'RE GAY".

or that

"nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws"

sounds so much better than,

"nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws UNLESS YOU'RE GAY".

The irony is incredible and disheartening. I was so overcome with emotion this morning that I literally had to cry to get out some of the frustration from knowing that so many amongst us have declared that it is alright to treat another person as though they matter less.

I could write it a million different ways and still not be able to express the intense emotion and vexation I feel over this. I just cannot believe that people's fear, divisiveness, hatred, ignorance and self-righteousness gets SO CONVOLUTED and ends up resulting in actually TAKING RIGHTS AWAY and deeming anyone unworthy of such basic equality.
Shame on the bigots (and shame on the Mormons, in particular) for bearing false witness, distorting the truth and abridging the rights of other citizens.

It is such a bitter pill to swallow, but we just can't allow falsities or shallow tactics to deter us from fighting harder for the equality for ALL. The fight must continue. We WILL make a difference. We have to. One step forward - two steps back is what we were handed ... but we've got to get three steps in and educate and bring awareness to the severity of this injustice until "they" GET IT, CHANGE and once-and-for-all allow everyone in this nation the right to move forward, to be equal, and to be free!!!

j-boo

Music & Equality

2008-11-03T18:03:00.000-08:00

Last week was sprinkled with all sorts of my favorite things.
Among them, was a healthy dose of music, that was prevalent throughout.

On Tuesday, October 28th, The Cure's long-awaited album, "4:13 Dream" came out. Brynn and I hopped over to Best Buy when she got out of school that day and EACH got a copy of the fantastic-ness, so we didn't have to "share." ;)

I also got my paws on a superb AFI rarities which I find myself playing QUITE often. My kids especially love track #12 "I Wanna Get a Mohawk (But Mom Won't Let Me Get One)." Though that would NEVER be an issue in our house (ha ha).

On Saturday night, we took the kiddos down to the Hollywood Palladium, a venue that has significant importance in our lives, as it was the location of Steve and my VERY FIRST DATE, back in February of 1989, when we saw The Sugarcubes and The Primitives play. Bjork was the lead singer of The Sugarcubes at that time and screamed/sang so passionately, that she literally lost her voice half-way through the set. She was incredible; as was that night - and without the Palladium as a part of our memories, who knows HOW or IF we ever would have become the little family unit that we are today.

The incredibly inspiring and compelling band, Rise Against, was the headliner on Saturday and WOW, what a show it was! Especially given the significance of this week being election week and their passion for making a difference in political circles (as you can see from the video I shot below). It was a moving performance and we thoroughly enjoyed the night and getting to experience it all together.
**I somehow didn't catch a shot of Brynn while we were there - but she was, of course, rockin' out too**

Sunday, we took the boys with us to a rally for NO on PROP 8, where we stood for EQUALITY for ALL and tried to spread the message so that enough people take a stand tomorrow on Election Day and make sure that we protect basic human rights for EVERYONE! It was an interesting afternoon. While we did get many "honks" of support throughout the day, it was incredible to see vehement opposition and the anger and hatred from the "yes" side as they drove by yelling obscenities, flashing a particular finger more times than I can count, and assuring us all that we were headed straight for Hell.

I guess when you have that much bigotry and fear inside, you only see things one way and unfortunately, it is such a pathetic and ignorant way indeed. I truly do not understand how a civilized person in the year 2008 could not want everyone to be treated the same. It was not long ago that interracial couples were not allowed to be married and today, we look back in disgust and horror that a group of citizens could be treated with such disregard and inequality; yet the principle seems so hard to grasp for so many today.

Over these last few months, Steve and I have become increasingly aware that we live in an ultra-conservative area of California and that bigotry abounds around us. We are just hopeful that tomorrow, the REST of the state counterbalances the overwhelming side that we are exposed to in our neighborhood. Here's a photo of our yard (**we had to be overzealous to balance this suburb out a bit - ha)

I can't believe that tomorrow is finally Election Day!
Here's to hoping that a little change is in the making.

Over & Out,
j-boo

The Empty Office

2008-10-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

My husband is a dedicated and intelligent man. He graduated from law school at the top of his class, nearly twelve years ago. During his law school years he worked full-time during the day and went to school at night. This intense educational time frame also corresponded with the years that all three of our kids were born; making it even more of a challenge and even more of an accomplishment, for sure.

Shortly after he graduated, we started an online business together that made it possible for us to work together 24-7 and be at home with the little ones. We were busy in every aspect of the word and put in so much time and exertion, as we watched the business grow and tried to make our little venture succeed. And it has. For almost 12 years now, we rely on the shopping habits of internet-land customers to keep us busy, while their collectibles-focused shopping sprees pay our bills. Somewhere along the line, he also obtained his real estate license. The income from this extra job, we had decided, would be our "play money." But as so often happens, this eventually became "necessary money," as we slowly became more habituated to higher expectations of living.

So when the real estate market crumbled, we were faced with the strange ultimatum of not be allowed the luxury of working side-by-side, as we had been so accustomed to over the last decade. And so the roles we had played in the business shifted, as I acquired the responsibilities of some of the tasks that he used to carry out every day, while he found a great new job out in the **gasp** "real" (as in not-online) world.

We are quite grateful for the stability of - and the income from - his new career; so I am, by no means, complaining here. But it is suffice to say that the adjustment of settling into these new roles and playing the solitaire game of business was pretty hard for me to get used to. It's not so much the extra work that I mind, because I have this annoying, compulsive habit of over-working myself anyway; but rather the lack of my constant companion and business partner that took some getting used to (and still does).

I go through phases where it all seems apropos and cool. And then, on days like today, I feel a little more lonely and nostalgically reminiscent of the "way things were" for so many years.

It's funny how life truly does take you on one big roller coaster ride. The twists and turns, the ups and downs; the mazes of situations to ride your way through and to find your peace with. They are all an incredible part of the journey. I hesitate to feel melancholy at a time when so many struggle just to find a job, since we are so lucky to both have good ones; but certain days, I just really miss my best friend being across the desk from me and the comfort of his smile.

**Appropriately, this CD (The Martinis: Smitten) is persistently playing in my office. I especially adore track # 3: "You Are The One" and love that Joey Santiago is the guitarist in the band (ahhhh... the good old days of front row spots @ The Pixies shows).

Fridays, Infinite Jest & Politics

2008-10-17T16:44:00.001-07:00

It's Friday. There is always something a bit special about Friday. Even when I don't have anything particular planned and even when I still have work to do all weekend. Fridays just have a different kind of air; like there is more potential for something fantastic to happen.

My haiku to "the Friday"
Smitten by the vibe
Spirits fly high on Friday.
Hopeful and sanguine.

My new (and entirely enjoyable) hobby has been reading this 3 pound literary wonder. I have wanted to tackle it for quite some time and sadly, the nudge it took to begin it was the untimely death of its author, David Foster Wallace, in September. Described as not only a "genius," but a "once-in-a-century talent," Wallace provided the literary world with wildly inventive stories. Among them, is this 1,079-page novel. While I am only 1/5th of the way into it, I find myself totally enthralled with the characters and can't wait to tackle each new part of the dense and ominous plot. The book manages to be hilarious in the midst of some of the despair-ridden themes. I definitely look forward to my "reading time" each day.

I find that I am so disenchanted with the "race" to the White House.
Honestly, at this point, it feels like more of a "leisurely jog" to the WH. I just wish that November 4th would hurry up and get here, already. I also REALLY, REALLY hope that Californians step up and vote for fairness and humaneness in regards to these measures:

Come on California! Everyone deserves equal rights! And farm animals deserve humane treatment (they really deserve more; like to be treated just like the family dog or cat, but that's another blog and at least Prop 2 is a START in the right direction!)

I find it incredible that in this day and age that either of these propositions are even issues in our society; but given the regressive era we find ourselves in, alas, they are. Let's step up and advance a bit, eh? VOTE NO ON 8 and YES ON 2!!!

On a random note, look at this funny photo that Steve and I took on the way to Fresh & Easy the other day. Maybe proponents of the "Yes on 8" campaign need to pull over at this little stop and LIGHTEN UP a bit! Ah ha ha ha ...

After Bass Practice Haiku

2008-10-13T19:18:00.001-07:00

Brain says, "Play hands, play."

The music should sound like this.

Hands say, "I'm trying!" -- J-Boo

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." - Aldous Huxley, 1931

Someday

2008-10-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

Someday they will realize.

Someday they will regret.

The antagonism; the cynicism; the disdain.

Regret not stopping to smell the roses,

while they were in their last scents of innocence;

before the world moves on and the days disappear.

They make her want to run away.

They make her want to start anew.

They break off little pieces of her heart.

There will come a day when reflections are all there are.

When those minutes and moments are gone.

Can't recapture them; can't rewind.

She knows, because she faces her own ghosts and understands what regret means.

Someday they will wish that instead of asserting the struggle,

instead of fighting the wavelengths of understanding;

instead of believing that two entities are so different and diverse;

that it is merely because the two minds are so similar, that the struggle exists at all.

Someday they will realize.

Someday they will regret.

But she still hopes that they will change.

- J-Boo

The Ol' Swap-A-Roo

2008-10-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday afternoon, our "Wife Swap" episode reran on the Lifetime Channel. Every time it airs, it's a bit strange and funny to us. Strange, because it's odd to see yourself on television and it's also so atypical to have people peering into your home life and routines. Truth be told, I did not watch it myself on Wednesday; as I had lugged the TV out of my office, when I made my vow to "turn off," but I know that it ran, as it was scheduled on Lifetime's website and hundreds of friends (and new acquaintances who are now friends after watching the show) emailed and commented me on myspace that evening, letting me know that they had caught the dramatic ride of wackiness.

Whenever we remember back to the twelve days that we lived in a whirlwind-of-a-filming-frenzy, it is a bit surreal to think that we even participated in such a bizarre social experiment. It all started when talent scouts from "Wife Swap" as well as the show "Trading Spouses" (on Fox) found me through myspazzz and inquired about our interest with doing their shows. At first, I said, "No way - I could never handle such an adventure." But they have their ways of reassuring you that it is so much easier and less invasive that you could imagine. They guaranteed that our work schedule could remain near-normal; a promise that did NOT end up being kept and caused extreme distress to our business and to Steve, who was trying to film from 6 am to 11 pm; and THEN catch up on work in the wee hours of the night. But that's a whole different story and I'm not here to complain about the excessive list of issues we had with the show; as I could write volumes-upon-volumes that would become quite dull, I am sure.

A better way to reflect on it, I suppose, is to remember what we gained from the show. Approximately two weeks after the filming wrapped, a producer called from the network to discuss lessons that they hoped were learned from the show, so that when they came back to film the "follow-up" segment that they could focus on these newfound epiphanies. I must admit, some of the questions she asked were INCREDIBLY ridiculous; like, "So now that you were exposed to life with a Christian family, do you go to church? And do you believe in God now?" WOAH ... really? "Ummm, no, we don't," I told her. "Are you living by the "Man Law" now? Have you changed the roles and chores at all in your home?," she asked. "Nope, not a chance." After five or six of these absurd inquiries, she frustratedly asked, "Well, what did you learn then?" I didn't even hesitate. I said, "We learned that we REALLY, REALLY, REALLY appreciate each other and our lives, just the way they are."

And that's the TRUTH!! If you are ever looking for a jolt of awareness - followed by gratefulness - for the people surrounding you, the knowledge you are privy to and the autonomy in your life, try living for two weeks with people that get their direction in life from a literal interpretation of an archaic book; in a house where men are kings and women are slaves; Halloween is considered evil and the kids get to celebrate "God Bless You Day" INSIDE the house instead; children think that they can pray for school grades and that demons will float out of their TV screens if they accidentally turn it to MTV; and where decorating your skin with tattoos or having friends that are gay means that you should, by default, not be allowed to procreate. I know that sounds dramatic and extreme; but it's true and it's just a small sample of the beliefs and ideas that our swap family exposed us to. So given this ... YES, I came home with a renewed appreciation for my husband, children, friends, job, mind, viewpoints, free thoughts ... and so much more! And when the "follow-up" film crew showed up for their supplementary story, we reiterated this gratitude and appreciation as clearly as we knew how to.

Looking back on the whole experience, I am glad that we participated. It brought me in contact with SO MANY incredible people that located me online after watching the episode. As crazy as some people still think we are, there were also many that initially saw our exterior appearance and judged a book by its cover; yet, by the end of the show, realized that just because you look different that you can still have a great family, a great marriage and a successful life. It brought some fun opportunities our way and exposed us to great people all over the world (the show has aired in all corners of the world and I continue to get emails from the most obscure places on a weekly basis). It was challenging and at times, emotionally draining; but when all was said and done, it was an interesting and unique learning experience. Even if what we learned from it was just to APPRECIATE LIFE. Really, what better lesson is there, eh?

Favorite Lines From The Show:

- "Big Momma is F**ing Nuts." - Steve

- "If you don't put on the Devil costume, then we will T.P. the church." - Shea

- "Ooooh, getting a little attitude, huh?" - Brynn

- "Freethinking is good... freethinking is great ...think for yourself ... this ain't no debate." - Brynn, Aidan, Shea together

- "My kids are atheists and they don't pray; and they get great grades." - me

- "The pole was not made for Big Momma." - Big Momma

- "You can't make someone believe in your God. You just can't." - Steve

- "dem da rulz" - Big Momma

**This is one of the commercials that promo'd the show. Please note that it encapsulates such a small portion of what happened on the show ... and more importantly, what REALLY happened during the filming; but even given that advisory ... it's still funny =)

What October 7th Means To Me

2008-10-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

October 7th is a special day to our family. Today is Shea and Aidan's 12th birthday. At the risk of sounding a little old, I really feel the need to reminisce a bit about this day and what it means to me. I remember this day, one dozen years back, so well. After being warned that I would most likely have a complicated pregnancy (as most twin pregnancies are), I breezed through with a seemingly smooth one. That is not to say that many of those nine months were not extremely uncomfortable and sprinkled with a few bumps (in more ways than one - ha) along the way; like an increased amount of Vitamin K - so much so that my levels were off the charts from anything the doctor's office had ever seen - that caused SEVERE itching; as well as suffering through the hottest summer for Southern California in over 20 years - whew! But all-in-all, I was quite healthy and quite excited to "grow" our family significantly with this grand event.

While excitement was in the air, there was also a lot of anxiety about just how we would handle this significant growth spurt; the constant care and attention that not just one new baby required - but two; how our then two-year old daughter would handle the "additions;" not to mention, how we would cope financially. Steve was in his last year of law school at the time and I had stopped working at my bookkeeping job when I hit the last trimester of my pregnancy, so life was definitely already hectic. It's funny though how your brain and your body compensate for fear and anxiety when it comes to making sure that the world is safe and happy for your children. I say that, because looking back, that must have been what got me through those long nights, long days and short hours of sleep. Having the opportunity to raise two more incredible people really puts all of the fears and worries aside, when you just reflect on how lucky you are to be in that position in the first place.

My C-Section was scheduled for 6:00 pm that day. It was discovered that Aidan was breech in the seventh month of pregnancy and given the risk that is associated with trying to turn/move twins and risking their cords being twisted, we had known for some time that a Cesarean birth was the plan. I remember triple-checking my bags and excitedly calling my sister, who was caring for Brynn while we were in the hospital that first night. I remember looking around our house and knowing it would be the last time that only three people lived in it. I remember sitting in the waiting room: anxious, nervous and excited. I remember the anesthesiologist coming in to administer the epidural and then I remember Dr. Lyons talking to Steve. Funny enough, I don't remember much in between until I heard Aidan crying ... and then one minute later, heard Shea do the same. And THEN... I remember that my whole world transformed into a completely new role from what it had been even moments before; adding extra doses of both responsibility and joy to my life. It's a pretty incredible moment to go from being a mom of one to a mom of three in just two minutes; and one that I would not trade or change for one second.

Sometimes days are hectic, stressful and hard. Sometimes, the accountability I feel for keeping up with my many roles can feel overwhelming. But it really is incredible that when the dust settles and the momentary "catastrophes" get resolved, that what it all boils down to is that who I am as a person and all that I contribute to this world throughout my lifetime are SO closely tied to the role of being three people's mom. That doesn't mean that this role is WHAT defines me, but that what I do with the position has EVERYTHING to do with how I measure my success with my life presently, as well as throughout the rest of my years. I think I sometimes forget, in the midst of busy days and endless to-do lists, just how lucky I was twelve years ago, to walk from the maternity ward exit doors out to our silver Honda Accord with two new car seats in Steve's grip and Brynn's hand in mine, and drive home to start living a new life that would never be as challenging, nor as rewarding, as it had been the day before.

Yes, October 7th is a very important day indeed! I just wouldn't be "ME" without it.

**The boys holding their Rise Against tickets, which I believe were their favorites of the presents received**

My FAVORITE Rex Manning Day

2008-10-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

This past Monday was a Rex Manning Day. For years now, I have referred to "tattoo days" as Rex Manning Days (for those who have seen the classic movie, "Empire Records" that will make perfect sense... and for those who haven't, I highly recommend watching it and "saving the Empire" = damn the man!).

This was no ordinary Rex Manning Day though, this was a very special and meaningful RMD. I have hundreds of tattoos, in all sorts of places. Some of them are just fantastic pieces of artwork that I wanted to preserve on my skin, some are silly, and some are sentimental. To date, the three portraits of my kids truly mean the most to me in the "significance category" and this new masterpiece I added on Monday falls right into that genre as well.

For eight hours, I sat and watched Mike DeVries layer abundant amounts of gorgeous, vibrant ink into my calf, shinbone and lower knee; as Ash, an artist from England, here for a seminar with Mike, conversed and learned by our sides. It was a positive, fun, enjoyable day ... but the part that made it the MOST marvelous was what I walked away with; and that would be THIS:

While I am always genuinely astounded at the degree of talent that Mike's work produces, I don't think I am ever quite as impressed as when the reference subject is someone that I know and love. And if there is ANYONE in this world whom I know or love better and more deeply... it is THIS particular person. For nineteen years, I have shared nearly every day with him. For nineteen years, I have made goals, created dreams, raised three children, been through incredible highs and struggled through difficult tribulations, eaten, sleeped, talked, laughed, cried, perservered, loved and lived life with him. Many thought we were too young when we committed to marry each other back in 1991; but we didn't agree. We realized that we had something very rare and unique, and we didn't want to waste one day not sharing it and trusting each other with our journeys and progressions through life. There was no reason to wait and we never looked back ... not for one day.

So this Rex Manning Day had special significance to me. It was a long-awaited moment to add this piece of artwork to my collection. This session wasn't any normal ink episode ... these hours etched a timeless tattoo onto my skin, one that is beautiful and excellent; but more importantly, commemorates the one thing that has been my most everlasting constant throughout my life - my partner, best friend, companion, soulmate. He is "officially" now on my skin - but he has always "officially" been my heart.

I've Waited Hours For This

2008-09-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

Updates, updates!!

So... I made the fabulous vegan chocolate chip cookies again, with the yummy recipe that I got from Dreena Burton. The whole family loves them and there is not a stitch of a chance you would ever know that it is lacking dairy products! Divine, if I do say so myself =)

The election rollercoaster is reeking havoc on what LITTLE patience I have left with the "intelligence level" of this country. HOW is Sarah Palin considered a viable candidate for one split second, for what, some might say, is the 2nd most powerful position in the world? Are you kidding me? Absolutely INCREDIBLE!! If the McCain-Palin joke-of-a-ticket actually succeeds in blindsiding America into a win this November, it will truly be evident that this country is officially void of any capacity for reasoning; and in a nutshell, absolutely has NO SHAME!! The land of instant gratification will have fallen victim to the pretty, shiny, oh-my-god-she-looks-like-a-"normal"-person-and-she's-a-hockey-mom-AND-I-am-totally-going-to-block-out-the-last-eight-years-of-degeneration-because-she-told-a-funny-joke-and-she-wears-cute-glasses. Yep...that country!

Well, I hope this horror does not become reality... and I also hope that THIS ridiculous Proposition (8, that is) does not pass and take away the long-awaited equality of gay couples; which would make that recently-granted freedom way too short-lived, should it pass. This sign is in the yard of one of our idiotic neighbors who thinks he would actually even KNOW if a gay or lesbian couple was married. The truth is, it wouldn't effect him any more than if I bought a new pair of purple socks. He wouldn't know and it wouldn't be of any consequence to his life one way or the other. I really don't understand why people that think they are protecting the "sanctity of marriage" (as if it's SO sacred in America nowadays) spend SO MUCH time pushing their judgmental noses into other people's business; and more specifically, bedrooms. Geesh!!

My hair is growing-along nicely. It's pretty funky to have it up on top again; but I like it and I'm anxious for it to grow just a bit longer so I can dye it a vibrant shade of pink.

In musical news:

I learned to play this on my bass today and I am quite stoked about it!

The "Head on the Door" has always been my favorite of The Cure's albums and given that, well, how could one not just totally dig "Close to Me."

Over & Out, J-Boo

I Don't Want To Be Another I-Don't-Care-ican

2008-09-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

These really need no explanation because they are pretty much the coolest, most concise form of entertainment that I have seen in a LONG time ... and I couldn't agree more!

Turning it OFF

2008-09-09T16:27:00.001-07:00

"You watch television to turn your brain off and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on."
-- Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computer and Pixar, in Macworld Magazine, February 2004

I used to never believe people when they said that they didn't watch TV. I guess, because I just couldn't fathom not partaking of its endless array of "entertaining" commotion. Since I work at home, I had just become accustomed to hitting the ON switch in the morning and the OFF switch at night. Even when I wasn't paying attention to what it was broadcasting, I had it on as "background noise" and I even felt lost when that "static-ness" wasn't resounding in the room.

NOW I truly look back in near-horror at the WASTED hours of my life that I sacrificed so willingly to television. WHAT was I doing? And HOW did I think or get ANYTHING done? I am SO annoyed by the brouhaha associated with that chatterbox now that I seriously cannot handle it being on in my office for more than 20 minutes before I just have to get up and flip the switch. Nowadays, while I am working, I SO PREFER: a) playing music and singing along, b) tuning into a great radio program that makes me think and engages me in the topics, or c) just having it quiet. And if I am taking snippets of time away from work, I LOVE reading: either a book or something online.

I almost feel a sense of shame for all the time I wasted and for the submissive nature of my previous relationship with TV. I think that it was such a habit that I didn't realize how destructive it really was. Not only do I now view it as pretty much, a waste of my time, but I also abhor the messages coming through the screen. The "news" media is controlled by such a small group of corporate conglomerates, all deciding exactly what they will ALLOW you to be privy to that day. The "entertainment" channels are completely obsessed with the strangest topics, scandals and relationships. The "reality" shows are so UNREALISTIC and "scripted without being scripted." The game shows are completely ridiculous and unattainable. MTV is currently kissing the asses of the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus (WHAT???!!!!). It is just INCREDIBLE!!

According to the Oxford University Press, the average American will watch 45,000 x 30 second commercials each year. What an astounding number! 45,000 more times to be told that you need to buy the "cool" clothes, the biggest TV, the shiniest SUV, a new medication to help you cope, another credit card, another diet pill (while at the same time, more decadent desserts, saltier snacks and extra-calorically-rich food); and on & on & on with the mindless consumerism.

I am becoming so loathsome towards it all that I can barely make it through my 80 minutes of workout time in the mornings without just riding the stationary bicycle and doing my crunches in silence (I have recently decided that I might need to lug a radio upstairs to keep me company during my exercise hour). This morning, I was TRYING to watch The Today Show, when I nearly threw up at the opportunistic intimacy of Meredith Viera, while interviewing Meghan McCain about her new children's book about her father (gag!).

I think that television is like SO MANY things in America. We are SO CONDITIONED to believe that it's necessary and normal ... and, well, American... that we grow up thinking that way and living that way, and before we know it, we are HOOKED! I kind of liken my "weaning-off" of the big box full of static to the reconditioning it took when I let go of religion; as well as when I stopped eating meat. At first, I didn't think it was possible to live without these constants; but as I realized what TRUTH and CLARITY waited behind the doors without them, it was like a whole new world opened up that I had never let in and NOW didn't want to regress from.

Though I wish I had come to this realization years ago, I know, as with everything in life, that it's NEVER too late to start anew. I am just glad I SWITCHED OFF before another day went by, because the possibilities to explore, the endless array of information to learn, the music to play & to listen to, and the beauty in life, SO DOESN'T come from TV.

If I lived to be 85 years old and cut out JUST 4 hours of TV a day (4 hours, btw, is below the average amount of time the average American watches per day and much less than the number of hours it previously was turned ON in my office in a given day) ... that would give me 87,600 "extra" hours of learning, thinking ... LIVING!

I might be 37, but I'm NOT going to spend any more years, months, days, or minutes of my life ... WASTING life!

~ J-Boo

"American children and adolescents spend 32 to 38 hours per week viewing television, more than any other activity except sleeping. By the age of 70 they will have spent 7 to 10 years of their lives watching TV." -- The Kaiser Family Foundation

Television

By Bad Religion

television, television, television, television

oh yeah! I want to bask in your golden light,
submerge in electric waves,
I need my connection to the world outside

the world outside is buzzing like an angry wasp in summer,
the candidates are running, and soon the son of God is coming,
crackle mental convolutions tune in to the revolution,
whereby everyone's included so we'll never have to be alone

every atom of my body, blood and sinew, bone and fibre,
I can't distil you from my blood,
you're a hungry germ inside of me,
you're my lover, you're my heroine,
my conscience and my voice,
and I know that I have learned to let you in I
will never have to be alone

I'd take after my mother but she's from a different generation,
I prefer my big brother he's so gentle and understanding,
and I learn what I can from him by the television light,
so that when I'm all alone I know everything's gonna be alright

FOO FIGHTERS - TIMES LIKE THESE
Uploaded by huntylch

A New Outlook

2008-09-09T13:44:00.000-07:00

It's funny how dedicating yourself to something new can change your whole outlook and perspective on life-in-general. That sounds like a dramatic statement, but I feel that way lately. I find that I am much more in touch with ME ... with my mind, my outlooks, viewpoints, capacity for learning, my health, my time, and my goals. I really feel like making the switch to veganism could not have come at a better time in my life. It has opened up my consciousness and put me back on a track where I feel very focused and much more grateful for everything around me. Not only do I feel healthier because of the foods I am putting into my body, but I see a correlation in the way I approach so many other aspects of my day; and that makes me feel mentally and emotionally healthier too.

This is really an awakening for me and one that I look forward to continuing as I grow, learn and become something more bold, more focused, more aware than I ever have been before.

Yesterday, I attempted my first "homemade" beans and rice dish ... and lo & behold, everyone actually loved it! Woo hoo! Tonight, I am making baked potatoes with red beans and broccoli. YAY!

Fuzzy 'lil Update

2008-09-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

ahhhh, yes...it is time to update on the hair project. So, I am 11 days in, since "Bic-ing" it for the photo shoot. Going through the itchy, prickly, fuzzy stages again; but keeping a positive attitude. One baby step at a time, eh?

On a vegan note...I am enjoying this lifestyle more & more every day. Steve and I hit Trader Joe's on Monday (which he actually had off from work for Labor Day) and bought a bunch of yummy vegan-friendly products. I am stoked to report that he is joining me in the vegan dedication. He went from omnivore-to-vegetarian-to-vegan all within a matter of weeks. YAY, Steve!! It makes it so much easier to have a partner in this transitional time and I couldn't be happier about that!! It amazes me at the diverse vegan choices available if you just take the time to pay attention to labels and LOOK!! I am constantly trying to read and learn more; and want to dedicate much more time to cooking and baking than I have in the past. YAY for GOOD changes!!

Brynn started high school yesterday and it's awfully strange to have a child move on into this stage of life; yet, exciting and cool to be to this point of progression in the parenting realm as well. So, looking forward to an interesting and fun year in that arena...if only we can adjust to the 7:40 am start time - eek!

Over & Out...

Going Vegan

2008-08-30T15:44:00.000-07:00

About five days ago, after years of being a vegetarian, I decided to take the plunge that I had been putting off for so long and dedicated myself to living vegan. It is something I have considered many times, yet always felt a little intimidated by, with the level of commitment I envisioned was involved. I wondered how I would shop, what I would keep in my kitchen, how I would cut out *gasp* cheese and eggs. I always admired those in the vegan community, but just wasn't certain that I could climb aboard.

So something unexpected happened to me on Monday morning. Though the thought of going vegan was always in the back of my mind, I woke up earlier than usual that day with a really clear mindset and decided, pretty much on the spot, that I was going to the store to buy me some vegan-friendly groceries. And I did. I walked in not really knowing what I was looking for, but figured that if it was a fruit, vegetable or said "vegan" on it, that I was safe. Then I came home and emailed my husband to tell him about my new agenda.

That was the beginning of it all... and five days later, I must admit that I am quite surprised at how easy the transition has been. There was this moment of temptation when I was slicing mozarella cheese for my kids' pizza; but I resisted and stirred my tofu that was sizzling in the pan. I am now on a quest to learn all I can about not only EATING vegan, but truly living it, without hypocrisy. I want to truly make a difference: not only for the animals and the environment, but for myself.

I hesitate to allude to the idea that I am going through a "mid-life" (wait, I'm not at mid-life - so I don't know what the proper term would be) crisis, but I have been more reflective of the past, aware of the present, and most importantly, envisioning the future; than I can remember being for quite sometime. I feel like I am having a sort of awakening (there, that's better than having a "crisis," right?) with a lot of subjects, viewpoints, theories and understandings of how I see the world; of the person I am and want to become; of the things I do, the things that I don't do, and the things that I want to do. It's a good thing, as M. Stewart would say. It's long overdue and it's refreshing and energizing. I am a little intrigued and surprised at how just having a different mindset can change so much around me. This "new mindset" includes my little veganism transformation. It changes the way I view things and makes me more mindful of the earth and the cycle of life. It makes me more mindful of the corporate-brainwashing tactics of our society, which includes tricking us into thinking that we have to eat a certain way. It's liberating to take control of not only my diet, but my mind. Just as I went through a transformation and awakening when I let go of religion and reclaimed my rationality and thinking processes; I feel a similar metamorphosis taking place with my commitment to being a vegan. It opens my eyes to a lot that I wish I had discovered long ago. But just as with everything in life, it is never too late to become that which you wish to be. I guess there are just different steps, different progressions, different incriments in the journey of life, for each of these discoveries to take place. For me, I am happy to be on a new path right now. I am happy to make my own little difference in the world. I am happy to learn. I am happy to enjoy music again. I am happy to re-discover ME.

~ J-Boo

Lessons of a 2nd Degree Burn

2008-08-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

About one week ago, I burned the middle finger on my left hand quite badly. My potholder was wet and when I went to grab a pan from the oven with my right-hand (that which the potholder was on), the heat seeped right through, causing an instant reaction for my left hand to reach up and grab the pan to steady the shock. OOPS! Huge mistake and INSTANT, major burn to the area that hit the metal first. For hours, it stung and burned to an insane level. I ran it under cold water, held it tightly and hoped that when the pain subsided that I would a) still be able to play my bass; and b) be able to type. I didn't know what the end result would be... but luckily, as the night went on, I regained some mobility with the finger and the hand; and although it was extremely sensitive, I was able to continue with regular activities (most importantly those involving my guitar and my computer - ha) by the next morning. Over the next few days, a gigantic, bubbly, gnarly blister developed. It seemed to grow larger and larger for the next 48 hours or so, until I got used to seeing it and bumping it into damn near everything that I touched. It finally popped and a new healing process began.

It was during this curative time that I started realizing that this blister, and the entire incident, really; was almost a reflection of how I had been feeling recently and transformations I had been experiencing. My emotions, reflections, tribulations, experiences, hopes, and fears had, in a way, been through a rollercoaster of a ride; sort of like my middle finger had been.

I had felt the burn, the shock, the pain, the fear, the relief, and the increasing pressure.
Then, it/I sort of **POPPED** and released a lot of what had been pent up.
But the positive effect of it all was that a new healing began and a tough new barrier developed that mended the mistake and the twinges of pain as it/I progressed through each step.

I am left with a new epidermatic layer of both skin and understanding. Both are a bit thicker and stronger. Both are more mindful of not making the same mistakes, protecting that which is precious, understanding how powerful healing (in any sense) can be, and how ironic it was that the whole occurrence centered around my middle finger.

~ J-Boo

Fixture

2008-08-27T21:34:00.000-07:00

In my dreams I do not sit
in the big gray chair;
I journey ... create ... and live.

Back to Square One

2008-08-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

Ooooohh... I had come SO far! Ok, well probably not THAT far in most peoples' books ... but to ME, a girl who has been bald for years, it was significant!!

This morning, I had to dig out the clippers and buzzzzzzzzzzzz off the growth... and then **gasp** shave it smooth again with the razor. All in the name of the "Characters Welcome" ad campaign for USA Network TV. Yep, it's true... they only love me for my deviant, bald head.
Sheesh!!!

I kid, I kid ... but I was pretty bummed.

Here it is moments before the shave...

Tomorrow, it's back to SQUARE ONE!!

I Wish

2008-08-21T11:10:00.000-07:00

I wish ... I could walk away

I wish I had listened

I was wiser

I wish I was brave

I wish it mattered

I wish I hadn't conformed

I wish that the facade matched the reality

I wish I could rewind

I wish I could fast-forward

I wish I had less to lose

I wish I could face it

I wish I had no bottle opener

I wish I had the will

I wish I had read before I typed
I wish I had looked back

I wish I could remake decisions

I wish had become before I became

I wish I could speak

I wish I had a one-way ticket

I wish I had abandoned other's wishes

I wish I didn't have to play happy

I wish I had followed through

I wish that the shadows didn't block the sun

I wish I had painted instead of prayed

I wish I had chosen a different escape plan

I wish I had time

I wish someone would protect me

I wish I knew why

I wish it was worth it

I wish I had a verse; and a chorus

I wish I had somewhere to go

I wish ... I could.

Scintillant

2008-08-20T14:54:00.000-07:00

Aspirations:
Hovering quietly
amongst the bustling chaos of the day.

Fervor,
fascination,
and zeal...
glimmer inconspicuously.

Keep the diligent ambition ...
as it quietly lurks behind
the corners of monotonous agendas.

Vast potential;
the extent of which remains unseen,
as long as the motivating spark sneaks through
like whispers in the room.

~ J-Boo

Show Me How You Do That Trick

2008-08-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

I am seriously stoked!
I can't remember the last time I felt so invigorated and sanguine.

It may be an easy bass line, but I just played along with Simon (well, as much as I could, anyway)... and it felt really, really great!!

My fingers are all tingly and numb from practicing so much and I love it!!

I needed this spark.
I needed an objective again.
I needed to learn something new.
I needed a goal.

I feel like I have one (and, well, MANY ENDLESS goals, really) again.

Funny that something so simple could restore such long overdue vitality to my step.

Yay!

Scales & Arpeggios

2008-08-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

THIS is me, as of late; trying to get my fingers and my brain to synch up while playing my bass.
I do believe that Toulouse has some very good advice.

Scales & Arpeggios
do mi do mi do so mi do
Every truly cultured music student knows
You must learn your scales and your arpeggios
Bring the music ringing from your chest
And not your nose
While you sing your scales and your arpeggios

If your faithful to your daily practicing
You will find you progress is encouraging
Do mi so mi do me so mi fa la so it goes
When you do your scales and your arpeggios

Do mi so doi
(Fast piano music playing)

do mi so do do so mi do (Repeat)
Though it seems at first it doesn't show
Like a tree ability will bloom and grow
If you're smart you'll learn by heart what every artist knows
Your must sing your scales
And your arpeeee ee eeggioooooooooos!

On My Screen

2008-08-12T16:52:00.001-07:00

Awwww ... 'twas a nice surprise this morning when I came down to sit at my computer.

I think it deserves a haiku.

Steve
Dedicated love.

Throughout two decades. It stays
by my side; always.

<3
<3
<3

My Fender

2008-08-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

And so the journey begins.

YAY!!!!!!!

Bald WAS Beautiful

2008-08-10T13:59:00.001-07:00

"Be Your Own Cupcake!" Words I live by and try to spread to others through my art project, the Cupcake Continuum. It's all about celebrating individuality and being proud of who you are; no matter what! Everyone is different and I love that those little idiosyncratic characteristics make the world beautiful and diverse!

One physical characteristic about me that has been a constant for many years now is my bald head. I am comfortable without hair and my scalp has also served as an open canvas for beautiful ink work that two of my good friends started collaborating their tattoo skills upon. I hesitate to think that this ONE aspect of me is what makes me "me," but given an unfavorable reaction to my attempts at altering my baldness, I sometimes wonder if this is a major fixation towards the way that others envision me. As odd as it sounds, GROWING hair has elicited adverse reactions from friends and acquaintances in my online world, as well as my real-life world. Just as most women might receive negative responses if they chopped off their locks, I sort of received those same reactions when I tried to grow mine out. Crazy, I know... but true too.

So I started thinking how funny it was that no matter who you are, you are always conscious of people's attitudes and dispositions towards you. Both times I have decided that I was tired of the bald look and started growing hair again, I actually ended up shaving any amount of follicle growth I had accomplished because of others' disapproval. As backwards as the whole scenario seems, I recently realized that by doing so, I wasn't really "being my own cupcake" if I was letting others dictate who I was. Not that hair, or lack of hair, really has anything to do with WHO you are inside, or what you offer to others, or who you become... but apperances are sometimes so scrutinized that I believe that I was almost fulfilling the opposite of what my "message" was. If I wanted a little makeover and wanted hair again... then by all means, why didn't I grow it? It's not that difficult and it's even FREE.

So ... long-story-short, this blog is to remind myself that I should look how I want to look. Sure, my bald, tattooed, skull is commonplace to most of those that know me. But I'm still Jinxi whether is shiny and smooth; fuzzy and transitional; or long and lush. And with that said, today is the FIRST day of my conscious "growing my hair out" quest. Love it or not, I'm still the same me ... and just like everyone else, sometimes I need a "change" too. =) Should I decide to finish the tattoo up top at some point, maybe I'll take it all off again? Who knows? After all, it's ONLY hair, right?

Mixed Tape

2008-08-07T14:10:00.000-07:00

That mixed tape of dreams spun around and around so many times in my head that I thought the sepia brown ribbon would break and unravel before my eyes.

The music, my escape; played repetitively,
while aspirations to have these songs heard outside of the confined, stark walls grew stronger.

So I hit the "play" button and kept the tempo;
living like an allegro;
not pondering the dynamics of the sounds or harmony...
for such a long time.

Then ... rapid realization!
The "fast-forward" button was accidentally pushed...
and by the time I noticed ...
the tape was altered;
and unraveling quickly.

Perplexed,
Regretful,
Discouraged ...

I needed a new playlist.
I needed my cassette-full of melodies back.

Why is my boom box on "pause?"

I wanted this journey to be my own dance,
my own rhythm.
my own show.

Perhaps the stereo just needs to be plugged back in?

~ Jinxi Boo

Where To Begin?

2008-07-03T21:09:00.000-07:00

I feel I need to begin anew in many respects.

It is time to stop waiting for "someday" to come and start learning again;
striving again;
exploring the realms that I have put on hold.

I need to play the bass guitar,
I need to paint,
I need to write...
I need to find more consistency in expressing what makes me... me.

I have too much trapped inside that I do not compose on a regular basis.

So, here it goes... onto a new beginning, where creativity abounds and a sense of fulfillment creeps back into sight.

j-boo

j-boo's New Home

Characters Welcome

BFFs

Hoping for Justice

Impromptu

Something Sweet

Love Will Prevail

Gladys

New Taxi Driver

Come On Now, In the Middle of the Road

Today

An Explosion of Inspiration

Mindful

Paint The Year Positive

17

Octopus Love

The Rainy Day

Circumstances

"Religion is far more of a choice than homosexuality..."

Tranquil Perceptions

I Love Text Tattoos

Tofurkey Day '08

The Sounds, Nico Vega & Tofurkeys

38

The First Of Many Steps

Bittersweet

Music & Equality

The Empty Office

Fridays, Infinite Jest & Politics

After Bass Practice Haiku

Someday

The Ol' Swap-A-Roo

What October 7th Means To Me

My FAVORITE Rex Manning Day

I've Waited Hours For This

I Don't Want To Be Another I-Don't-Care-ican

Turning it OFF

By Bad Religion

television, television, television, television

oh yeah! I want to bask in your golden light,submerge in electric waves,I need my connection to the world outside

the world outside is buzzing like an angry wasp in summer,the candidates are running, and soon the son of God is coming,crackle mental convolutions tune in to the revolution,whereby everyone's included so we'll never have to be alone

every atom of my body, blood and sinew, bone and fibre,I can't distil you from my blood,you're a hungry germ inside of me,you're my lover, you're my heroine,my conscience and my voice,and I know that I have learned to let you in Iwill never have to be alone

I'd take after my mother but she's from a different generation,I prefer my big brother he's so gentle and understanding,and I learn what I can from him by the television light,so that when I'm all alone I know everything's gonna be alright

A New Outlook

Fuzzy 'lil Update

Going Vegan

Lessons of a 2nd Degree Burn

Fixture

Back to Square One

I Wish

Scintillant

Show Me How You Do That Trick

Scales & Arpeggios

On My Screen

My Fender

Bald WAS Beautiful

Mixed Tape

Where To Begin?

oh yeah! I want to bask in your golden light,
submerge in electric waves,
I need my connection to the world outside

the world outside is buzzing like an angry wasp in summer,
the candidates are running, and soon the son of God is coming,
crackle mental convolutions tune in to the revolution,
whereby everyone's included so we'll never have to be alone

every atom of my body, blood and sinew, bone and fibre,
I can't distil you from my blood,
you're a hungry germ inside of me,
you're my lover, you're my heroine,
my conscience and my voice,
and I know that I have learned to let you in I
will never have to be alone

I'd take after my mother but she's from a different generation,
I prefer my big brother he's so gentle and understanding,
and I learn what I can from him by the television light,
so that when I'm all alone I know everything's gonna be alright