Sorry for being MIA. It's been a rough few days here: the conference is overwhelming (in reminding me of my ignorance), I keep getting rained on, and I re-injured my ankle. Arg! And, in response to the stress I went out an ate a big non-vegan, non-sugar free breakfast/lunch and yesterday which didn't make me feel any better - in fact it made me feel worse! Anyways, I'm back on the sugar-free bandwagon, my ankle is wrapped, and I'm determined to make today a better day. At least I've been able to make lots of visits to Stumptown and Portland is (even in the rain) as beautiful as ever . . . updates to come.

Image: source.

Helen's Kitchen, what's going on?? When I had your Thai Yellow Curry last week, I fell in love (as usual, I moved to quickly). I talked about you to all my friends, I was ready to buy stock in you! But the two other meals since - the mac & cheese and the red curry - have been failures. Watery with flavorless chunks of tofu, ugh, no thanks...

Y&Y reader Karla, author of the awesome blog Vegan Shizzle, loaded me up with great suggestions for vegan stuff to try while in Portland. I can't wait! Reviews to come...Thanks, Karla!

Some great images: WPA-Federal Art Project photographs of Pennsylvania coal miners and coal mining communities. via miss moss.

Always a favorite: My Heart by Frank O'Hara.

Image: source.

"So much of my writing and teaching focuses on issues of sexuality and self-esteem, around pop culture and body image, eating disorders and perfectionism. Often, the more radically (or globally) inclined suggest that these are middle-class concerns. As one young man asked me recently, “How come you spend so much time talking about body image when we’ve got women suffering and dying in the Congo? Are eating disorders as bad as the rape epidemic going on there?” Justice, I reminded him, is not a zero-sum game. Critiquing “princess culture” among middle-class American girls doesn’t mean that one has no interest in the plight of less fortunate women in the Congo, Afghanistan, or in undocumented migrant communities right here in Los Angeles. Furthermore . . . our personal liberation is a prerequisite for being a truly effective agent for change in the lives of others. As I learned in Twelve Step eons ago, 'you can’t give away what you haven’t got.'" from hugoschwyzer.net. I don't remember how I stumbled on this blog, but I'm glad I did, he's always got some interesting stuff to say about gender, feminism, education, etc.

The women at Slates XX blog and Jezebel call out the NYTimes on some atrocious victim-blaming language in a heart-breaking article about the gang rape of an 11 year old girl: "As long as we're asking questions, I have one: How can the New York Times fail to frame these quotes properly, to point out the stunning cultural misogyny that allows a brutal gang rape to be reinterpreted as vigilante moral policing? To report these details bare, without context, puts the misogyny squarely in the voice of the Times."

Awesome! It may seem inconsequential, but for many low-income people (not just immigrants) drivers' licenses are the only formal identification they have, and can make a huge difference in their day to day lives: A bill restricting access to driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants was voted down Monday in Washington's state senate.

Image: source.

This incredible photo of the sun (taken by an amateur!) blows my mind and makes me feel slightly queasy. It's like when I took Astronomy one summer in college and found out that many of the stars we see are already dead, the light we are seeing has just traveled so far that we are now seeing it (I know, I'm very eloquent). Basically that one piece of poetic knowledge about the universe was enough to lay me flat on my back, staring up at the sky, speechless, and I couldn't absorb any more information all summer.

I haven't talked about it here because, well, I still have a few boundaries (ha), but I'm in the midst of a 6 month commitment to celibacy. There's lots to say about that, and maybe I will talk about it in more depth at some point, but for now I mention it because I appreciated this article about a sex writer taking a year off from sex and dating. She highlights some of the benefits of taking a conscious break from sex and dating, and it is great to see someone else talking about this choice/practice. A friend (an ex actually, which is sort of cool that we can discuss this stuff) told me that Dharma Punx also has a chapter about the benefits of a period of celibacy, which I really want to check out.

Find something new today
to love and enjoy
like the rest of those familiar loves
that have topped your list for years.

It doesn’t have to come close
and likely it won’t
but it might
and if it did
boy, that’d sure make this a day to remember-
the day you set about
turning over rocks
and shaking the neighborhood trees
only to discover
exactly what it was
you didn’t even know you were looking for.

- the awesome artist Dallas Clayton

Image: love this Moon Diamond Print!

Today's "surprisingly beautiful photos" : Photographing Every Rest Stop In America

A true hero: Young abortion provider talks about her job

Image: source. I want to live here!

In addition to some very cool shirts and posters, Revel & Riot has a cool write up on "A Brief History of Gay Art and Symbolism": "[respect] those who came before us, graphics and otherwise. The triangle and the rainbow flag may be over-used, but they are iconic! We look back on the work and graphics that have served our cause, in order to give our own work more depth and context."

Steps in the right direction: States Prosecute Fewer Teenagers in Adult Courts: "A generation after record levels of youth crime spurred a nationwide movement to prosecute more teenagers as adults, a consensus is emerging that many young delinquents have been mishandled by the adult court system."

"either peace or happiness, / let it enfold you / when I was a young man / I felt these things were / dumb, unsophisticated . . ." - C. Bukowski, "Let It Enfold You"

A new opinion piece from the always awesome Mark Bittman (did you know he's also a runner?): Sustainable Farming Can Feed the World?

Awesome portraits of Olympic athletes. Inspiring variety and dedication.

Last night at the gym I did another mini triathlon (30 min sprint intervals, 20 min biking, 15 min swim). I know it's probably not the workout I should be doing but I get bored so easily. Ugh. Trying to stay dedicated and adhere to my training plan but it's not always easy. I have mad respect for anyone who does this with a partner or kids or other challenges - I'm single and child-free and still find it hard to fit in all the meal planning and workouts etc. Anyways, this morning I went to bootcamp, which was hard having just been in the gym 10 hours earlier. But I wanted to get another workout in before I get in the car and drive to Portland this afternoon. I always get a little nervous about keeping up my workouts when I'm out of my routine but hopefully I'll get some good runs in while I'm in Portland.

Image: source.

I'm new to Guernica, but they've quickly become a favorite for their great interviews and articles, including this one: A Carefully Crafted F**k You (Nathan Schneider interviews Judith Butler): "The gender-theorist-turned-philosopher-of-nonviolence discusses the choices that make people expendable, the violent foundation of nonviolent activism, and the role grief can play in setting a new course."

A great Texas Observer article (by a friend of a friend!): Freedom's Just A Word: Texas is finally helping former prisoners. But can the smart-on-crime revolution survive budget cuts and a suspicious public?

Very cool: "Last October, the Oakland Museum of California was gifted the 'All Of Us Or None' poster collection of 23,500 political posters collected by Michael Rossman, a free speech activist from Berkeley. The posters document almost every political movement in the U.S. between the 1960s and the 1990s, particularly the time between 1965 and 1985 in the Bay Area."

Image: source. (With special love to my girl C)

In their most recent issue, the NY Review of Books reviews a number of books on prison rape and the government. I'm always glad to see this issue getting attention.

Gorgeous, awesome, mind-boggling images from Google Street View.

Great essay about the complicated dynamics of sex, about learning to set boundaries, etc. Glad to see this kind of honesty, bravery, and compassion in writing about sex.

Really gorgeous and unique ceramic jewelry.

Oooh, I wanna try this: DIY body scrub with coffee grounds.

I did a mini triathlon at the Y this morning and it felt great: 30 min of sprint intervals on the treadmill, 30 min on the bike, then 20 min in the pool. Great start to the week.

Image: source.

Love love love it: Design*Sponge Best of Maps.

Surprisingly beautiful: "Melting Point, Stéphane Couturier’s series of 20 large-scale time-exposure photographs depicting a Toyota assembly plant in Valenciennes, France"

Interesting company, great bread. Dave's Killer Bread spelt bread is my current favorite for morning pb and banana toast. "An Oregon bakery has seen explosive growth since building a marketing strategy around the story of a former violent felon turned bread maker."

Gorgeous lined notebook paper drawings and adorable kid street art.

"Gradually we will get the hang of going beyond our fear of feeling pain..." - Pema Chodron

Loved the recent FreshAir interview with Grant Achatz, a chef who lost his sense of taste as a result of tongue cancer. I remember reading about him in the New Yorker a few years ago.

For the meat eaters out there, a site that helps you find local and grass-fed meat sources.

I read Vegan With A Vengeance this weekend. While I'm not vegan I'm definitely interested in incorporating more vegan meals into my routine. The book didn't blow me away, but I'm gonna try some of the recipes and I think it would be a good intro cook book for someone new to veganism.

Image: from my long morning run yesterday.

Interesting: Puerto Rico Is Losing Its Young and Affluent to the Mainland: "Puerto Rico lost more residents to the United States than it took in during the last decade those who left during the recession were likely to be younger, better educated, and more affluent. From 2005 to 2009, Puerto Rico saw more than 300,000 residents leave for the mainland."

So intense: Giving Life After Death Row: "Eight years ago I was sentenced to death for the murders of my wife and three children. I am guilty . . . I spend 22 hours a day locked in a 6 foot by 8 foot box on Oregon’s death row. There is no way to atone for my crimes, but I believe that a profound benefit to society can come from my circumstances. I have asked to end my remaining appeals, and then donate my organs after my execution to those who need them. But my request has been rejected by the prison authorities."

A powerful, well-written, heartbreaking essay about a mothers loss of her son to drug addiction.

Image: source.

I ran 10 miles yesterday and it put me on cloud nine. So glad to be back (almost entirely, knock on wood) from my injury, and on the path towards the marathon. And it was great to be running outside again!

Interesting article in the NYTimes today about all the young farmers in Oregon. Love that it's happening, love that I live in this state, and curious to see how many of these people are still farming in 5 or 10 years.

As an easily intimidated cook, I like this blogs idea of recipes with only 5 ingredients. Gonna try them out soon (especially those pizzas, mmm)

Ha! A twist on my love for inspirational posters and whatnot: "Can one learn as much from bad advice as they can from good?
Woods of Wisdom is a ongoing collaborative poster series featuring tips on how to live a terrible life."

“Loneliness is the human condition. Cultivate it. The way it tunnels into you allows your soul room to grow. Never expect to outgrow loneliness. Never hope to find people who will understand you, someone to fill that space. And intelligent, sensitive person is the exception, the very great exception. If you expect to find people who will understand you, you will grow murderous with disappointment. The best you’ll ever do is to understand yourself, know what it is that you want, and not let the cattle stand in your way.” - Janet Fitch

Since I started my no sugar, no processed foods lifestyle, I have barely eaten any frozen foods (frozen berries, only) - a huge change from my life before. However, today I was racing to get to work and grabbed a frozen meal I bought a few weeks ago. Move over Amy's! I had the Thai Yellow Curry from Helen's Kitchen and it kicked the butts of all the other frozen meals I've tried (and there have been....a lot). AND it's organic, vegan, GMO/Gluten/Trans-fat free. Wow, well done! (Edit: sigh, just realized the meal includes sugar. Still figuring out this no-sugar thing I guess. Booo...)

Still loving triangle designs, like this simple necklace.

Image: source.

Beautiful (in concept and in execution): Mapping The Quietest Places in London: "Using information the government has collected on noise levels within London, a map has been plotted of the capitals most silent spaces. The map intends to reveal a hidden landscape of quiet spaces and shows an alternate side of the city that would normally go unnoticed."

This could not ring more true to me. True with most physical pursuits, I think, but especially with running. Falling in love with running later in life (haha ok, I know it's not really later in life, but post 20s) has been such a great discovery. ‎"Running in the morning has me appreciate all the choices that come later in the day. The choices I make after running seem healthier, wiser and kinder." - Deena Kastor

Not a fan of the headline, but glad to see the Bill getting some coverage: Oregon Senate hearing draws crowd over bill to lower university tuition for students here illegally.

My friends are awesome - go, Lauren! Using art to raise awareness: "For more than a century the world has been haunted with harsh reoccurring events of genocide. After viewing memorials of these horrible atrocities that occurred in Rwanda in 1994, art professor Lauren Sleat has taken it upon herself to raise awareness through artwork. The awarewness is not only for the genocide that took place in Rwanda, but also for genocide and crimes against humanity all over the world."

Wonderful piece in the NYTimes about the women involved in the Charlie Sheen chaos, and the publics willingness to ignore their abuse.

Also from the NYTimes, a heartbreaking article on the intersection of immigration and health care: Immigrant’s Health Crisis Leaves Her Family on Sideline

Image: source.

This is a good and helpful article! The gym can be totally intimidating. I still get nervous about using weights and weigh machines, and I've been going for years. How To Hit The Gym Without Fear.

Something I definitely didn't know: Loretta Ross on the Origin of “Women of Color.” (via the always awesome Racialicious)

This isn't ususally the sort of thing I listen to but I've had Feed Me's Dubstep Robyn Remix, "Call Your Girlfriend" on repeat all morning.

Amazing images of children and where they sleep.

Image: source.

Interesting project: Underheard in New York: "Underheard in New York is an initiative to help homeless residents in New York City speak for themselves. We’ve provided Danny, Derrick, Albert and Carlos each with their own mobile phone, a month of unlimited text messaging and a Twitter account. They’ve found their voices by texting their thoughts, feelings and actions to Twitter. Our mission is to use their social media presence to create real interaction and make them a part of our global community. In other words, get to know them as individuals." via Anthropology in Practice. I'm not sure how effective this project is, and I wish they had chosen at least one woman, but I appreciate their efforts at getting people to listen to individuals without a home, and the creativeness of their approach.

“Assuming that people are either 'part of the problem or part of the solution' dis-includes a lot of people, who, at this moment, do not feel (and therefore ARE NOT) safe enough, emotionally, physically, and/or financially to resist in the same ways you might be. By judging people according to your standards of resistance or whatever… it makes it harder for people to recognize what they’re doing as being important and political etc… it makes it harder for them to get into safe enough situations where they can resist in more outward, community oriented ways if they want to.” - Kathleen Hanna, Jigsaw Youth

Rant of the Day

I....just....wow. Texas wants undocumented workers, but only for household chores. Yes, let's create a formal system where a certain group of people have limited rights and work in menial service positions for the middle and upper class. Basically, "Oh, I hate immigrants and don't think they should have rights...but please don't stop me from employing them to watch my kids, make my food, and care for my house!"

"They want to keep their 'hired help' undocumented so they can avoid paying payroll taxes as well as ignore labor rights laws about working conditions and minimum wage requirements. Just consider for a moment the power an employer has when they can threaten to report an undocumented worker to ICE, especially if the employer would face no penalty for having hired them. It’s clear what kind of work the supporters of this bill think Latinos in the US are meant for: the cheap, unregulated and domestic kind."

If you're an Oregonian in support of Tuition Equality for undocumented students, please call your state reps today and tell them to support SB742!

Image: source.

An interesting take on one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver. While wildly popular, she is also commonly derided by "serious" poets and critics. Mary Oliver and the Nature-esque: rambles with America’s most popular poet. There is some part of me that knows I'm not supposed to like her, that she's not a "great" poet, but her words have accompanied me through the last 15 years of my life, often providing comfort, insight, a nudge towards bravery, and a beauty that I wouldn't want to live without. So why do I question her value?

A great list of the best nonfiction essays of the last 50 years.

Love Mark Bittman's "customizable" take on vegetable soups.

Interesting article: For every slacker, a perfectionist: some thoughts on class, sex, and the community college. A few years ago I heard this piece on community colleges (episode 63), which I found fascinating (American RadioWorks is one of my all time favs). Since then I have, for the first time in my life, become involved with my local community college (I've spoken there to some groups, met with staff to learn more about their programs, and serve as a volunteer tutor each week). I've been absolutely floored by the amazing work the college does, the myriad of people it serves, and the incredible efforts undertaken by the students. Community colleges also serve a population especially close to my heart, namely undocumented students - while many state or private colleges and universities require social security numbers in order to enroll, most community colleges do not, meaning that those seeing to better their English skills, get GEDs, or pursue degrees are free to do so, regardless of their status. I'd encourage you to check out, and support, your local community college!

I'm headed to Portland next week for a conference, and I'm pretty excited. I'm going to be staying with a friend I lived with 7 years ago (!) and seeing a friend from middle + high school! I'm also just excited to get some time in the city, even if I'll be broke and in training most of the days. Last time I was in Portland I had some amazing food cart meals, and I'm excited to check out more this time, especially with an eye to the vegan options the city has to offer. Stumptown Vegans has been a great resource for learning about vegan Portland and I'm especially excited to try out the Just Thai food card and Blossoming Lotus. Suggestions welcome!

Image: source.

Some feel-good adorableness from Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros.

If you need a little levity in your day, or are just a sucker for adorable kids like I am, check out this tiny ballerina trying to master first position. I laughed so hard I cried. Who can't relate to this??

Interesting article on the proliferation of "financial infidelity."

Can't quite explain why but I absolutely love this: "Little did we know that a chaotic city can be taken apart and reassembled into neatly organized formations according to shape and size. French artist, Armelle Caron, has done just this."

This ones making the rounds, and for good reason: How Good Are You To Yourself?: "That simple question is the basis for a burgeoning new area of psychological research called self-compassion — how kindly people view themselves. People who find it easy to be supportive and understanding to others, it turns out, often score surprisingly low on self-compassion tests, berating themselves for perceived failures . . . The research suggests that giving ourselves a break and accepting our imperfections may be the first step toward better health."

Image: source.

I got back in the pool today, after months (cringe) away. Bootcamp got me good and warmed up (er, exhausted) and then I hopped in for some laps. I could only do 10 because my ankle started hurting, but it felt good to be back in the water, even if it reminded me how much work I have ahead of me. 59 days till the Marathon, 165 days till the Triathlon....tick tock tick tock...

Loving this blog, Cooking Everything Vegetarian, where one ambitious lady is determined to cook "every vegan or easily-made-vegan recipe in Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything Vegetarian" and document the attempt. Awesome! Added to my GoogleReader for sure (which is now clocking in at 1930 blogs. Ugh. I need to thin it out, starting with the fashion blogs because...let's be honest. High fashion has no relevance to my life. I like clothes, but I can't afford most of what I see online, and it just doesn't fit into my life so....bye bye fashion blogs.)

Where I Spend My Online Time

I've decided to do my first "links I love" day, spreading the word on some of my favorite blogs as well as some recent finds. Hope there's at least one that's new to you and that you enjoy!

* A Y&Y reader sent me the link to this blog, and I'm so glad she did - great vegan recipes, and out of my beloved Portland, OR: check out Get Sconed!

* The always-fantasy-inducing Tiny House Blog.

* From the very crushworthy Dean Spade, Enough: "Enough is a space for conversations about how a commitment to wealth redistribution plays out in our lives: how we decide what to have, what to keep, what to give away; how we work together to build sustainable grassroots movements; how we challenge capitalism in daily, revolutionary ways." (I know I'm not the only one who gets excited by anti-capitalist talk)

Image: source.

* The Mary Sue, a new "guide to girl geek culture"

* The "always manages to say just the right thing" You Are Remarkable (even just typing the title makes me feel a little better!)

* The street and "ephemeral" art site, Wooster Collective.

* The Hairpin, which has quickly become one of my favorites: " The Hairpin is a ladies website' run by Edith Zimmerman, a grave young woman who spends all her time online."

* Another recent favorite, reccomended by a friend, is The Rumpus, "an online magazine focused on culture, as opposed to "pop culture." Pop culture can be hard to define and the term means different things to different people. Basically, we're not opposed to things that are popular, but we have no interest in "art" created by marketing executives. And we have no interest in derivative art, like images of famous people made from shoelaces or Star Wars characters in funny wigs."

Enjoy! More to come....

Love these paintings of ships and tankers (trust me, they are more beautiful than they sound).

Image: source. A long-time favorite from the awesome Seth Tobocman.

Artist Candy Chang's "brilliant new project in New Orleans: Before I Die I Want To — an abandoned house turned into a giant chalkboard, on which people share their deepest existential aspirations."

Great interview with Dean Spade (founder of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, law professor, and generally awesome seeming person) in Guernica mag. h/t Feministing.

On learning to look at food as fuel...and eating your veggies! I really related to this post.

I'm in the market for some decent headphones for working out. Not super nice (I'm broke, plus I don't want to live in fear of breaking them), but better than the iPod ones that fall out of my ears sometimes (I think I have small ears. Ok, I know I do). I saw a variety of good looking ones here, any suggestions?

Some recipes I'm looking forward to trying: Sweet Potato Tofu Burger, Quinoa and Lentil Soup, Rustic Winter Stew With Polenta, & Kale, White Bean, and Sweet Potato Soup. Gotta make lots of soups and "rustic" cold-weather foods before spring arrives! (Fingers crossed that it comes soon)

Image: source.