Travel

So I'm planning to head south this September. I'll fly in to Panamá and stay there for awhile, then I'll somehow make it to Colombia. Apparently there are no buses from Panamá to Colombia, even though the two border each other. This is all thanks to the Darién Gap, which begins south of the Panamá Canal, where the Interamerica ends. This stretch of land is an incredibly dangerous jungle full of malarial mosquitoes, poisonous snakes, other crazy jungle animals, and Colombian drug smugglers and guerrillas. I thought it sounded pretty romantic and all, but I think I'm going to end up taking a boat. Flying is to expensive. This http://magliery.com/Thompson/misctext/darien.txt
is the info I found regarding boating from Panamá to Colombia. Apparently there aren't any ferry systems. I'll probably follow his advice for taking a small boat.

Things.

Work went just swimmingly yesterday. First, all the credit card machines in the Public Market decided to go on strike and stop functioning. Then the cash register informed me it was out of ink by beeping incessantly. Then it told me to change its batteries, but changed its mind and started running again. Then it decided to beep at me any time I pressed a button. Then it completely shut down. All the while I'm recording everything in a notebook, using my cell phone calculator to add things up. Oh, and the battery on my phone eventually died, so I brushed up on my math and went with the old pencil and paper.

Everything, including me, is PMS-ing.


On a lighter note, I went river rafting today with the International Friendship Club at Whatcom (or the Asians and Friends Club...). We went over to the Nooksack with Hobo River Guides and took on some class 3-4 rapids with names like Shiva's Girdle, Death Drop and Spiderman. The rapids were actually pretty mild, since the river was so low. They were nothing compared to the Fraser up in B.C. It was awesome though, and I learned some words in Korean.

Bellingham is:

• Full of foodies. I love how every culinarian appreciates the art of flavour and is eager to share creations, ideas and insights. It's not a big enough town to be snobby, and there's enough diversity in the culinary community that competition isn't much of an issue.
• Teeming with bombshells. And not just the prototype California babes, no. We've got cute nerds, dark, mysterious vamps, rockabilly chicks, butchy heartthrobs, coffeehouse leeches, smart girls, sophisticati, hippies, dancers and all around good lookin' ladies. Kudos to us. (Some of the men are okay too.)
• Electric. This city is so manic in its ecstatic undercurrents, all of which criss-cross and tangle until ideas grow like bacteria.
• A lot more than meets the eye...

Vetring specter.

I've strayed from the navigable waters of my mind. Eyes wandering listlessly; fingers searching for tangible evidence of a past. The concrete is cold and smooth on my bare feet, and I want to flatten myself to it. The lines on my hand, like a flock of birds in flight, seek to renew my vivacity. They guide me through physical creation, but the motor overtakes the mind.

hrm. well enough stream of consciousness bullshit.

I just finished Pico Iyer's Video Night in Kathmandu, a survey of various Asian cultures and how they have turned American culture on its head. In each country, he focuses on a specific manifestation of the cultural hybridization between east and west. The chapter on the Philippines just blew me away. Iyer is a journalist for Time magazine, and a fabulous travel writer. Though the book was written in the late Eighties, it shows incredible insight into the so-called Pax Americana and the coming age.

The other night I gashed my hand on a cluster of amethyst crystals. Ironically, amethyst is supposed to have healing power. Whoops, karma slip. It should leave a wicked scar though.

I like the way cars skitter about town like ferrel rodents, anxious to escape a cat. Rumour has it that the Washington state government plans to decrease the speed limit and raise the gas tax. Meh, doesn't affect me much.

Ruby might be setting up a troupe tour to Turkey next Fall. That would be absolutely luscious. I get all hot and bothered just thinking about it.

Tonight I absentmindedly walked into the Downtown Sounds concert in the alley between the Wild Buffalo and Mindport. Round Mountain, who I had never heard before, was playing some delicious folk fusion. I had a great time dancing with a crazy Irish step dancer. The band (and all of its two members!) used a lot of really exotic instruments, which they routinely switched out during the show. Good stuff. Reminded me of nights in Antigua.

The times they are a-changin'...

The morning glory and peppermint are competing for control of the house. I'm rooting for the mint, but the morning glory has already climbed inside the house, through the floor and up the walls. It's too bad I'm leaving this place. It's peaceful here.

I'm only going a few blocks away though, over to Toledo with Jordan. In the interval between now and August, I'll be a little bit of everywhere. Probably at the studio, on Lummi Island, at Gretchen's by the college, and wherever else I happen to end up.

Strawberries, plain yoghurt, ginger syrup and rosemary go extremely well together.

Sunburnt and worn-out.

Just got back from a trip to Seattle with a couple of hot bellydancers. The festival was awesome...I spent a whole lot of money...

We met some folks from Portland who were floating around in Seattle with no money. Best pick-up line ever: "Hey! Do you like raw seafood?"
I hope they make it up to Bellingham at some point. I have a feeling they'd feel quite at home here. They rather showered us with presents. Alice gave Tara a velvet jacket, and she gave me something striped and velvet. They also gave both of us necklaces and Alice drew us sitting there. I think her name was actually April.

Procrastination.

The cat is being adorable, she's such a lush. She keeps staring at me pleadingly with those big green alien eyes of hers and curling her paws up like only a feline can.

I should be doing my Humanities essay right now, but I'll probably save it until late Sunday night. Ben's pretty lax about it anyway, considering he changed the entire theme of the course the first day of class because he was bored with it. Way to rock the boat man, you really startled all those international students. This Fall I'll be taking his honors seminar on "The Epic in Literature and Theatre." It should be pretty rad, considering Beowulf and parts of the Qu'ran are required reading. I might, might might review The Baron in the Trees for my presentation, but that could get twisty. hah. twisty. What a great word.

I hope it gets nice today, 'cause I'm planning on getting Sushi with Molly and Gen and heading to the library lawn for Felix Sonnyboy.

The Stringband Jamboree is coming up pretty soon as well, advanced tickets are at the Co-op and Avalon.

click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click--high heels on pavement.

Allure.

Apparently she has it.

Supposedly, it will get her into trouble.

Damn, those were some good brownies.

So Gretchen fed me a bunch of brownies from her freezer yesterday. She's moving, so she's trying to get rid of food, clothes, furniture, etc. They tasted great, but I had no idea they were as potent as they were.... Let's just say rollerblading home was lots of fun.

I just got Labcabincalifornia, by Pharcyde. They are definitely one of my favorite hip hop groups. Anyway, the album is from the late nineties, and it's absolutely delicious, in the trend of much 80's-90's hip hop. The piano work in the background is excellent, but it wasn't the album I was looking for. Bizarre Ride is Pharcyde's best album, in my opinion, with classics like Passing Me By and Otha Fish. I requested a copy at Avalon.

Speaking of various artistic productions, I saw Sergei Bodrov's Mongol on Tuesday at the Pickford. http://www.mongolmovie.com/
It was full of great information about pastoral and tribal life in Mongol in the time of the Khans (of course, facts were relatively embellished) and it was one of the most badass movies I've seen in awhile. Go see it.

This whole sleeping in thing is really nice. For some reason, my alarm just doesn't wake me up anymore. I regret not being able to make chocolate more during the week, that will definitely come crashing down on me during the Christmas rush. I shudder at the thought.

My life is going to be changing considerably in the next few weeks. I'm house sitting until the end of July, and then possibly moving back in with my brother Jordan. But that might fall through, since his girlfriend may also be moving in soon. If I don't stay with Jordan, I'm not really sure where I'll go once I get back from Panama. I'm tempted to go back to my dance studio in N. Bellingham, but that would mean moving back in with my folks...not quite sure if I want to do that.

The final lineup for Bumbershoot was announced a couple days ago. There are tons of great artists, films and other sensory morsels; I'm all flustered just thinking about it. Czech it out.

The 2008 Bumbershoot music lineup includes Beck, Stone Temple Pilots, Death Cab For Cutie, T.I., The Offspring, Keyshia Cole, Lucinda Williams, Paramore, Neko Case, Band of Horses, The Black Keys, Superchunk, Nada Surf, Ingrid Michaelson, Del Tha Funky Homosapien, Jakob Dylan, !!!, Mike Doughty, Old 97's, Xavier Rudd, Anti-Flag, Minus the Bear, M. Ward, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Man Man, Joe Bonamassa, Saul Willliams, Brother Ali, Battles, Aiden, The Walkmen, Kid Sister, Estelle, Unearth, Tapes ‘n Tapes, The Weakerthans, Sons and Daughters, Asylum Street Spankers, Dan Deacon, Two Gallants, Blitzen Trapper, Sondre Lerche, Bedouin Soundclash, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Tim Finn, Cheb I Sabbah & 1002 Nights featuring Riffat Sultana, Dale Watson, The Whigs, John Vanderslice, Flobots, Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, Final Fantasy, Adele, The Fall of Troy, Orgone, Langhorne Slim & The War Eagles, Forro in the Dark, These Arms Are Snakes, The Blakes, Sweet Water, Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby, Pacifika, Arthur & Yu, Darondo & Nino Moschella, Vicci Martinez, Ian Moore, Mark Pickerel & His Praying Hands, Barcelona, Kinski, Throw Me The Statue, J-Boogie's Dubtronic Science, Tyrone Wells, Howlin Rain, Monotonix, Black Eye & Neckties, The Shackeltons, West Indian Girl and many more.

But Bumbershoot is much more than music… the Festival also features three stages of comedy such as Zach Galifianakis, Janeane Garofalo, Greg Behrendt, Doug Benson, PRI's "The Sound of Young America" Live with host Jesse Thorn, and MTV's "Human Giant" stars (Aziz Ansari, Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel) will bring the popular show to the stage with a little help from their friends, just to name a few.

Beyond music and comedy, the Festival offers up a world of arts to make every fan's schedule full (SO full, in fact, that you might wanna put to use Bumbershoot's handy interactive schedule to create and save your own personalized plans and share them with friends!)

The complete lineup includes everything from sci-fi legend William Gibson to Australia's Strange Fruit, The Seattle-Tehran Poster Show to The Post-It Note Reading Series, the 1 Reel Film Festival to Pacific Northwest Ballet, and much, much more.

I'm going all three days, and I'll probably end up in a Marriott again with Michael Raper, Ian Imhof, Taylor, Tom, Chris and whoever else ends up on the floor. Maybe we'll find some gorgeous people and have a hotel party. Whoo!

On Thursdays from 11-7 and Sundays from 1-6, I work at the gelato/chocolate shop in the Public Market. I suggest all you Bellinghamsters pay me a visit or two. I get bored hanging out in the corner all day...

Happy Thursday!

ah, Brazilian music.

I just got the newest DJ Dolores album, which features the lovely vocals and talents of Isaar and other artists. Perfect summertime music, with a little Samba, a little Dub, a little Bossa Nova, a little Bhangra, some Jazzy stuff and oh, so much more. Love it.

Speaking of music, the Showbox is putting on some rad shows this fall. So far I'm planning on seeing Gogol Bordello, Cut Chemist, DJ Shadow, The Heiroglyphics, and Ozomatli feat. Chali2na of Jurassic 5. whoo! Right after Bumbershoot, too; that lovely buffet of music from near and afar.

Also, Medfest next weekend will be awesome. The troupe is performing on Saturday evening with Ruby. I'll probably blow some serious cash on bling. There are worse addictions. The Friday show at Indian Flavors went pretty well, considering I had about 2 hours to dream up a performance. I draped myself in five yards of sari silk and found some random Egyptian song from probably the 1940's. There's a video of a slowish part here, courtesy of Gretchen: http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z72/amorenonlosa/Dance/
Indian%20Flavors%20July%202008/?action=view&current=Ruthie095.flv

Vaudevillingham this month was lovely. There are a few blurry and glitzy pics here: http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z72/amorenonlosa/Bellingham/
Vaudevillingham/
We went swimming in Lake Padden afterwards, and I caught up with an old friend and made a new one.

Bellingham seems to get smaller and smaller by the day as I start talking to people and realizing that I know them through association or otherwise or have acquainted myself with them at some point. I saw at least five people I know today, just walking down Cornwall. I guess this is what happens when I stay home for the Summer.

I decided to dig up some of my old angsty/wierd writings and type them up, just for kicks. So the old me will be making an appearance in the near future. Watch out.

My gosh, I haven't really been climbing this Summer. I don't think I'll be able to compete much this Fall. Seattle's too expensive anyway. I miss it, but I think I'll have to shove it under the rug for awhile, since I don't have much time to go to B.C.

I'm in the process of planning a trip to Panama to visit my friend Rachel, who offered to show me around. I didn't think I was going to travel at all this summer, but I'm stoked to revisit Central America.

Not asleep.

My mind is restless. I can't wait to get out of the country again, it just wipes everything clean.

Swimming at night is lovely. So is sweet, sweet slumber.

Scrambled.

This week has been a little off.

The other day I closed the shop an hour early, thinking it was an hour later than it was. Yesterday, I woke up two hours late because I forgot to turn on the sound of my radio alarm. Today, I woke up an hour late, missed three buses and accidentally showed up an hour early to class. Also, I'm having trouble with common sense and with thinking and communicating. This is not good.


In other news,
I have a raging headache. Even though I drink about six or seven Nalgene bottles of water every day, I still get dehydrated all the time.

I was informed today that I'm performing a solo this Friday at Indian Flavors. I should probably find some music.

I decided to stay a little longer at community college and get a start on my language requirements for later.

I'm not feeling witty, just tired and whiny.


I saw a couple of excellent movies this week at the Pickford. Gorgeous Audrey Tautou from the movie Amelie starred in Priceless, a French film about a sexy gold digger, a hotel worker and a few twists of fate. I know, it sounds like a chick flick. But it's great.

I also saw OSS117, a French parody of 007. Absolutely blossoming with innuendo and a humor that only the French can offer. Oh, and an original Pink Panther style soundtrack.

I love the way French women say cigarette.

Things I do and don't.

I've been coming to terms with a few things lately. First: no matter how hard I try, I just can't go down hills on rollerblades. Second: I like having my significant other gone for long periods of time and hoping they won't come back but wishing that they would. Maybe that's why I like long-distance relationships. Third, I'm a workaholic. Yes, I'm addicted to workahol.

But seriously. It's summertime! In Bellingham! And I'm hanging out in a warehouse with no windows, getting chocolate all over my clothes. I can sympathize with Willy Wonka.

I've also been hanging out with Gretchen a lot. We're in a bellydance troupe together, so we routinely get drunk and put off practicing or costuming by cooking weird food or watching American Psycho and the like. Then Shelby and Michael come over and we get more drunk and watch Lost (I don't understand why they like it so much...) I guess that's what summer's all about.

Cheers.

Crawling back into cyberspace

Oh wow. It's been awhile.

Since September of last year, I worked my ass off at work, spent awhile in Guatemala and Chile, worked some more, met someone, met someone else, dragged my feet, started dancing Tango, started school again....

So far, my summer has been great. I'm taking one seven credit Humanities class over the summer, and, in the words of my instructor, "It's like the U.N. in here!" Indeed. We have thirty people in our class. About ten of them are from different parts of Japan, three are from Hong Kong, one from Shanghai, one from Taiwan, one from Italy, one Portuguese, one Russian, one Ukrainian, one Filipina, a woman from Indiana, a recently converted divorcee from the South, Shelby, Chris, a couple of nondescript Caucasians and myself. Ben Kohn, the professor, is German, and slightly crazy in a slightly different way than the rest of us. The class is great. Three and a half hours every Monday and Wednesday, but we keep it interesting.

I spent my Independence Day at my dance teacher Ruby's house. Robert Blake, Jordan from Yogoman Burning Band and Yanne played some great folk music and Chuck Barry covers. Tofu dogs and Bratwurst were in abundance, as were neighbors, musicians, wine and beer. It was a nice, relaxing way to spend the evening, and listening to American folk music made me feel rebelliously patriotic.