Thursday, November 26, 2009

Things I like...

While once again calling Qantas to see my flight options, I once again read out my booking reference number to the operator. I also once again accompanied the letters by my usual unusual words; Y for Yack, E for Eskimo. I said something to the poor operator about how the letters were slightly random and the operator responded "No worries, I've heard it all. Q for Cucumber, Yeah, thats ones of the better ones I heard".


The theory of getting out of anything from a friend:
Admit nothing
Deny Everything
Make counter accusations


Shadows of Natural fibers: 

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

So...living in SF might be a bit expensive...



And PS. Unemployment in SF is higher then in the rest of the country

Google Doodle

My favourite 'Doodle 4 Google' Finalists

K-3: (don't they do an amazing job?)



Grades 4-6:


Grades 10-12:

There's heaps more, chek them out:
http://www.google.com/doodle4google/winners_region.html

CSing Seattle

It all started with a bike ride...


...and then an invite to play in the park...


...and of course, a troll or two....

...followed by Mexican food in an Elvis room (makes perfect sense really)...

...with a side of hammocked bliss (the hammock later broke by the way)....

....a jaunt up to Kendall's Catwalk...


...oh lovely lovely...


....and then a pool party....
Isn't it grand? =)

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Everyone likes...odd graphs =)

10 Ways to Be Happier - Simple Moments of Joy -Your Life

Lifestyle 

10 Ways to Be Happier 

How happy are you―really? If there’s room for improvement, try one of these suggestions. 

By Gretchen Rubin 

A few years ago, on a morning like any other, I had a sudden realization: I was in danger of wasting my life. As I stared out the rain-spattered window of a New York City bus, I saw tha 

the years were slipping by. 

"What do I want from life?" I asked myself. "Well...I want to be happy." I had many reasons to be happy: My husband was the tall, dark, handsome love of my life; we had two delightfu 

girls; I was a writer, living in my favorite city. I had friends; I had my health; I didn't have to color my hair. But too often I sniped at my husband or the drugstore clerk. I felt dejected 

after even a minor professional setback. I lost my temper easily. Is that how a happy person would act? 

I decided on the spot to begin a systematic study of happiness. (A little intense, I know. But that's the kind of thing that appeals to me.) In the end, I spent a year test-driving the 

wisdom of the ages, current scientific studies, and tips from popular culture. If I followed all the advice, I wanted to know, would it work? 

Well, the year is over, and I can say: It did. I made myself happier. And along the way I learned a lot about how to be happier. Here are those lessons. 

1. Don't start with profundities. When I began my Happiness Project, I realized pretty quickly that, rather than jumping in with lengthy daily meditation or answering deep questions 

of self-identity, I should start with the basics, like going to sleep at a decent hour and not letting myself get too hungry. Science backs this up; these two factors have a big impact on 

happiness. 

2. Do let the sun go down on anger. I had always scrupulously aired every irritation as soon as possible, to make sure I vented all bad feelings before bedtime. Studies show, 

however, that the notion of anger catharsis is poppycock. Expressing anger related to minor, fleeting annoyances just amplifies bad feelings, while not expressing anger often allowsit to 

dissipate. 

3. Fake it till you feel it. Feelings follow actions. If I'm feeling low, I deliberately act cheery, and I find myselfactually feeling happier. If I'm feeling angry at someone, I do something 

thoughtful for her and my feelings toward her soften. This strategy is uncannily effective. 

4. Realize that anything worth doing is worth doing badly. Challenge and novelty are key elements of happiness. The brainis stimulated by surprise, and successfully dealing with 

an unexpected situation gives a powerful sense of satisfaction. People who do new things―learn a game, travel to unfamiliar places―are happier than people who stick to familiar 

activities that they already do well. I often remind myself to "Enjoy the fun of failure" and tackle some daunting goal. 

5. Don't treat the blues with a "treat." Often the things I choose as "treats" aren't good for me. The pleasure lasts a minute, but then feelings of guilt and loss of control and other 

negative consequences deepen the lousiness of the day. While it's easy to think, I'll feel good after I have a few glasses of wine...a pint of ice cream...a cigarette...a new pair of jeans, 

it's worth pausing to ask whether this will truly make things better. 

6. Buy some happiness. Our basic psychological needs include feeling loved, secure, and good at what we do. You also want to have a sense of control. Money doesn't automatically 

fill these requirements, but it sure can help. I've learned to look for ways to spend money to stay in closer contact with my family and friends; to promote my health; to work more 

efficiently; to eliminate sources of irritation and marital conflict; to support important causes; and to haveenlarging experiences. For example, when my sister got married, I splurged on 

a better digital camera. It was expensive, but it gave me a lot of happiness. 

7. Don't insist on the best. There are two types of decision makers. Satisficers (yes, satisficers) make a decision once their criteria are met. When they find the hotel or the pasta 

sauce that has the qualities they want, they're satisfied. Maximizers want to make the best possible decision. Even if they see a bicycle or a backpack that meets theirrequirements, they 

can't make a decision until they've examined every option. Satisficers tend to be happier than maximizers. Maximizers expend more time and energy reaching decisions, and they're often 

anxious about their choices. Sometimes good enough is good enough. 

8. Exercise to boost energy. I knew, intellectually, that this worked, but how often have I told myself, "I'm just too tired to go to the gym"? Exercise is one of the most dependable 

mood-boosters. Even a 10-minute walk can brighten my outlook. 

9. Stop nagging. I knew my nagging wasn't working particularly well, but I figured that if I stopped, my husband would never do a thing around the house. Wrong. If anything, more 

work got done. Plus, I got a surprisingly big happiness boost from quitting nagging. I hadn't realized how shrewish and angry I had felt as a result of speaking like that. I replaced 

nagging with the following persuasive tools: wordless hints (for example, leaving a new lightbulb on the counter); using just one word (saying "Milk!" instead of talking on and on); not 

insisting that something be done on my schedule; and, most effective of all, doing a task myself. Why did I get to set the assignments? 

10. Take action. Some people assume happiness is mostly a matter of inborn temperament: You're born an Eeyore or a Tigger, and that's that. Although it's true that genetics play a 

big role, about 40 percent of your happiness level is within your control. Taking time to reflect, and making conscious steps to make your life happier, really does work. So use these tips 

to start your own Happiness Project. I promise it won't take you a whole year. 

Oh the nice things that machines say:

41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

Friday, November 06, 2009

Artist: KATE RAUDENBUSH

At Burning Man (my sentences often start off this way now), in a dust storm, I sat in an amazing sculpture called the 'Braindrop' (pictured below on my BM blog post). In the onion (as I nicknamed the Braindrop) a motley crew quickly formed and I met a great girl named Bronwyn. Bronwyn, I learned she was driving a piece of Kate's artwork across the country. We watched the man burn together that night and ran around the dark desert together. I left a note, actually a cardboard sign at her camp with my details but I never knew what happened with her adventure...now, months later I know. 

So here is the story...  
Once upon a time Altered Space enjoyed a time on the playa surrounded by burners,

After Burning Man it was time to find a final resting place to be enjoyed by more people. Altered Space made its way across the country on a road trip in the care of Bronwyn and her friend Peaches. They went like this... 

and at the journey came to an end at the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM) in NY. Here a foundation was poured, Altered Space was reassembled and blessed by a blessing circle. 



Look inside! Wonderful!
http://www.kateraudenbush.com/
http://cosm.org/

More info: