Things We Can Do

So much has happened since we last spoke. It's a little crazy. Big, real things like a hurricane in Burma/Malaysia and the "military government" not allowing in foreign aid. Or an earthquake in China that has devastated an entire region. And everyday things like my youngest daughter learning to walk. And historic things like the Democratic primary showdown of a lifetime between two of the most historically significant candidates, in US history, practically ever... Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The one thing that jumps out at me at right now is the struggle for balance. Every day..everywhere my friends, family and co-workers are all looking for that elusive balance between work and play, self and community, art and commerce, motion and stillness. Most days if I am honest I can accept that there isn't any such thing but then again...the only ray of light that I see is in the search. Oh and there are beautiful and worthwhile subtractions, pieces if you will...Design...

I haven't written in this blog for quite awhile. There simply is not enough time. My digital life while deeply amusing is definitely getting a little out of control. I Stumble, which informs my delicious which I have yet to connect to my Facebook, so I took down my My Space Page, which was only getting spammed by people who wanted to be "friends" with Mom's anyway and don't get me started on Twitter...which is all in addition to checking the Ad sites and the politco sites and the news sites and of course one of my favorite sites Digg, why I barely have time to watch my favorite sci-fi videos on Afterworld and I do want to know why Robert is the last man on earth. Even as I write I am trying to type this while Lila my 1 year old is trying to figure out how it works, she just hit F11, which on a Mac is, i forget what it's called but I call it, Clear Your Desk Now! all the open windows hide. The thing is...and the thing we can do is to stop...just a little bit. I...

I am writing today to get a hit on the We feel fine site. http://www.wefeelfine.org/mission.html But honestly I feel like macaroni trying to come to a boil in luke warm water for like 5 hours. And the things you can do with that! I don't know. have a great day! -elena

On starting a new job yesterday.... "Always we hope someone else has the answer. Some other place will be better, some other time it will all turn out. This is it. No one else has the answer. No other place will be better, and it has already turned out. At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want. There is no need to run outside for better seeing. Nor to peer from a window. Rather abide at the center of your being; for the more you leave it the less you learn. Search your heart and see the way to do is to be." -Lao Tzu i hope i can remember this 3 weeks from now, 6 months from now... -elena

This is so true. Excerpted from Jane Smiley's Blog: Some years ago, I was talking to a man about guns. At the time, I didn't really know anyone with guns (still don't), but he did. He had had guns himself. He said, "I gave my gun away, because when I had it, every time something happened that made me mad, my mind would start circling around that gun, and I would be thinking about using it. So I got rid of it and I'm glad I did. " Right up front I will say that I am opposed to casual gun ownership, but I also realize that Americans will always have guns. Period. It's a national fetish. But the mental state my interlocutor was describing years ago is the price we have to pay, along with, of course, the accidental deaths of children and other unprepared and careless people who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and in proximity to the wrong gun. What I would like is for the gun-toting right wing to admit that there is a price we pay, that sense...

Hello, It's been about a billion years since I last updated the site and a lot has happened but a lot has stayed the same too. We, our little tribe of 7, me, Lee, Michale, Stephen, Nina, Miles and Lila, all hopped in the mini-van for a mini Spring Break Tour to St, Louis MO, it was much better than it sounds. For one thing it was warm, and being here in the snow flurries of Chicago on April 9 is just not where it is at. Anyway, like the rest of us I still work too much, run around too much and conseqentially drink way too much coffee. I like to get my caffeine levels up to the point of just before a headache but often misjudge and blow right past waking up into full bore need two aspirin. But the real reason I am writing today is to tell you all about my new favorite site of the day: http://stopglobalwarming.msn.com/ It has a little bit of a Sheryl Crow promo vibe - but please look past that to the content...it's like 4 simple things you can do TODAY to fight Global Warming..mo...

It's almost midnight I been up since 5:30am my eyes hurt and yet I am fired up. I just read this thing that is really important, it's about the future and how we can make it sustainable by making it profitable and how there are already young entrepreneurial companies that get this and are already doing it, which is fabulous because it gives me hope. In my market laden world it is absolutely inspiring to read about companies who are bringing together heart felt interest and desire to change together with the all American drive to make money at all costs and ending up someplace fabulous. So hooray! I will be more specific tomorrow. much love and hope elena