Tuesday, May 15, 2012
New Blog - retiring this one
My sister has generously and expertly given me my own domain name and set up my blog there, enhanced security for the African continent and all. http://www.greatzane.org/ Give it a whirl!
Monday, April 30, 2012
The Value of a Thing....
This story revolves around the card game Yugioh and my son's love of the overall artistry behind the game. He attended an all-day "sneak peak" tournament yesterday, which is really the marketing genius of the Konami folks to continue the obsession with the release of new cards all the time. In this scenario, the retailers set up an all-day format where the new series of cards are released and the players, for an enhanced $20 entry fee, get a random set of cards from the new series and duel one another with whichever cards they are lucky enough to randomly get.
Guled decides that since this may be the last time he will get to enjoy one of these "sneak peeks", he's going all day. Some of these cards are quite collectible, however, and I asked him if he did his research online to find out what cards are the potentially most valuable. He had not, and so we came up with a texting system whereby I would drop everything and research any cards he asked me to so that he would not trade away a particularly valuable card without knowing.
Fast forward many hours to 8:30 pm pick up time - as he is placing his backpack and other items in the car, he tells me it was one of the most enjoyable and valuable times he's ever had at a sneak peek, and that FINALLY he pulled the important card of the new series... the valuable "Neo Galaxy-eyes Photon Dragon." Yup, the big kahuna. 
And do you know what he did with this $40 card? He did what anyone who is Guled would do.... he gave it to someone. I sucked wind when he told me this, and he responded that he knew what I was thinking..... but something changed because as I am both sucking wind and realizing his hard-earned money can go to whatever he wants it to, he is telling me that he made a new friend. I'm having to stop the internal mental wheels and absorb what he was saying... he made a new friend, and that is more valuable to him than the $40 card that would alone have recouped his expenses for the tournament. Wow. I was ashamed that I was thinking he had done a stupid thing, but more ashamed that I didn't realize just how important people are to this boy.
He is all beaming and happy and I "get" it and enjoy the moment with him and tell him how proud I am of him. THEN do you know what that boy tells me? He tells me that he is pretty sure that because he gave that card to that guy, he pulled the second copy of that same valuable card during phase II, only it was what they call the 'rare' version that was going for more $$ and yes he gave THAT one to the guy, got back the original one.... and then he won the famed series duel mat, a very coveted item amongst the group.
He says he is pretty sure he got all that because he did the right thing and shared. Karma and all. I'm thinking he's probably right!
And do you know what he did with this $40 card? He did what anyone who is Guled would do.... he gave it to someone. I sucked wind when he told me this, and he responded that he knew what I was thinking..... but something changed because as I am both sucking wind and realizing his hard-earned money can go to whatever he wants it to, he is telling me that he made a new friend. I'm having to stop the internal mental wheels and absorb what he was saying... he made a new friend, and that is more valuable to him than the $40 card that would alone have recouped his expenses for the tournament. Wow. I was ashamed that I was thinking he had done a stupid thing, but more ashamed that I didn't realize just how important people are to this boy.
He is all beaming and happy and I "get" it and enjoy the moment with him and tell him how proud I am of him. THEN do you know what that boy tells me? He tells me that he is pretty sure that because he gave that card to that guy, he pulled the second copy of that same valuable card during phase II, only it was what they call the 'rare' version that was going for more $$ and yes he gave THAT one to the guy, got back the original one.... and then he won the famed series duel mat, a very coveted item amongst the group.
He says he is pretty sure he got all that because he did the right thing and shared. Karma and all. I'm thinking he's probably right!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Sark
I think this woman 'gets' it. Need I say more....
“Why Dream?Make Your Creative Dreams Real: A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, and People Who Would Really Rather Sleep All Day
Life is a difficult assignment. We are fragile creatures, expected to function at high rates of speed, and asked to accomplish great and small things each day. These daily activities take enormous amounts of energy. Most things are out of our control. We are surrounded by danger, frustration, grief, and insanity as well as love, hope, ecstasy, and wonder. Being fully human is an exercise in humility, suffering, grace, and great humor. Things and people all around us die, get broken, or are lost. There is no safety or guarantees.
The way to accomplish the assignment of truly living is to engage fully, richly, and deeply in the living of your dreams. We are made to dream and to live those dreams.”
― SARK,
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The 360 on Kony2012
Ugandans React With Anger To Kony Video - Al Jazeera
Because I am an eternal skeptic by nature and design, I immediately felt the internal brakes hit when the Kony2012 campaign hit Facebook and proceeded to "go viral". Well, honestly, ANYTHING that hits Facebook procures that kind of reaction out of me. In furtherance of the education of one 12 year old, 1/2 African child, we read the CNN news article, he watched the entire video, and we endured the expected and intensely emotional response and need to "do something, Mom."
Ah, now the moment of true education: "Son, find even one story on the internet that you feel like balances out your strong emotional response to what you just saw. Oh, and while you are at it, perhaps research a few facts where possible and contact your dad. You can use my cell phone to text him if you like." And so, reluctantly, he did so on both fronts.
We gathered information, added what appeared to be some facts to the mix, and an amazing thing happened - the strong emotions began to give way and a couple of important things happened. He learned from his well-read and politically savvy dad that Kony has been long gone and that the atrocities discussed were ignored largely by the entire world back when they happened. He learned that Kony began with a somewhat familiar religious/conservative agenda... one he sees in this country quite often in fact. He learned that Kony had gone into other countries and there were few followers left. He learned that the northern Ugandans had no flippin' idea what was going on with this campaign that was about THEM.
Even more amazingly, as the facts tempered the strong emotion in the boy, a new emotion arose, one of anger at having his Kony anger tempered. He liked believing the story of a bad guy and that the world's people could come together and DO SOMETHING to save and protect and make better.
True to form, Al Jazeera (probably facing the same skeptical response I had), dug a little more deeply and has produced a video and story to give a more full and timely Kony picture. The Ugandans are offended at the exposure and media attention Kony and his visage are getting. In the video, Leo Odongo, a Ugandan who attended the screening of the film, explained how he felt by suggesting that if people were selling Osama Bin Laden t-shirts and other memorabilia with his photo on it to "raise awareness, Americans would find that highly offensive. He goes on:
And consistent with my bend to make certain my son has a well-rounded intellectual and analytical base, I learned another very valuable lesson. Our kids need something to believe in and feel passionate about (prepositions intentionally dangling), and they need to be able to DO SOMETHING about what they feel.
This news article talking to real live Ugandans isn't going “viral” on Facebook. In fact, I do not even see it posted. Things that make ya’ go “hum….” A few of the comments at the bottom of the story pretty much tell it all... and not one appears to be from a genuine Ugandan at the time of this posting. Go figure.
Because I am an eternal skeptic by nature and design, I immediately felt the internal brakes hit when the Kony2012 campaign hit Facebook and proceeded to "go viral". Well, honestly, ANYTHING that hits Facebook procures that kind of reaction out of me. In furtherance of the education of one 12 year old, 1/2 African child, we read the CNN news article, he watched the entire video, and we endured the expected and intensely emotional response and need to "do something, Mom."
Ah, now the moment of true education: "Son, find even one story on the internet that you feel like balances out your strong emotional response to what you just saw. Oh, and while you are at it, perhaps research a few facts where possible and contact your dad. You can use my cell phone to text him if you like." And so, reluctantly, he did so on both fronts.
We gathered information, added what appeared to be some facts to the mix, and an amazing thing happened - the strong emotions began to give way and a couple of important things happened. He learned from his well-read and politically savvy dad that Kony has been long gone and that the atrocities discussed were ignored largely by the entire world back when they happened. He learned that Kony began with a somewhat familiar religious/conservative agenda... one he sees in this country quite often in fact. He learned that Kony had gone into other countries and there were few followers left. He learned that the northern Ugandans had no flippin' idea what was going on with this campaign that was about THEM.
Even more amazingly, as the facts tempered the strong emotion in the boy, a new emotion arose, one of anger at having his Kony anger tempered. He liked believing the story of a bad guy and that the world's people could come together and DO SOMETHING to save and protect and make better.
True to form, Al Jazeera (probably facing the same skeptical response I had), dug a little more deeply and has produced a video and story to give a more full and timely Kony picture. The Ugandans are offended at the exposure and media attention Kony and his visage are getting. In the video, Leo Odongo, a Ugandan who attended the screening of the film, explained how he felt by suggesting that if people were selling Osama Bin Laden t-shirts and other memorabilia with his photo on it to "raise awareness, Americans would find that highly offensive. He goes on:
"If people in those countries care about us, they will not wear t-shirts with pictures of Joseph Kony for any reason. That would celebrate our suffering." Leo Odongo supports that campaign for Kony's arrest, but finds the methods highly offensive. Turns out all the Ugandans who attended a screening of the film reacted in like manner.
And consistent with my bend to make certain my son has a well-rounded intellectual and analytical base, I learned another very valuable lesson. Our kids need something to believe in and feel passionate about (prepositions intentionally dangling), and they need to be able to DO SOMETHING about what they feel.
This news article talking to real live Ugandans isn't going “viral” on Facebook. In fact, I do not even see it posted. Things that make ya’ go “hum….” A few of the comments at the bottom of the story pretty much tell it all... and not one appears to be from a genuine Ugandan at the time of this posting. Go figure.
Monday, March 5, 2012
L'odeur de l'eau de lac.... the Scent of the Lake
I spent what turned out to be an impulsive weekend with my long-time friend Lydia, thanks to the raging winds in the Rockies and my previous visit to Kenya. I had been fortunate to check off a flurry of "bucket list" items right before I left for Kenya, leaving a new number one!
Nederland, Colorado hosts something called "Frozen Dead Guy Days" each year to raise money in the interest of one cryogenically preserved dude named "Bredo." For the moderately intrigued, you can check out the website quickly at Frozen Dead Guy Daze. The fickle Colorado weather sent raging and destructive winds down the eastern slopes on Saturday's event day, so the Dead Guy festival folks had to reschedule a number of events involving the outdoors.
The various outdoor festival activities include a hearse parade, ice turkey bowling, coffin races replete with thematic costumes, and of course the Polar Plunge. It was the Polar Plunge that interested us. Yes, that frozen lake and ocean jumping that brings crazy folks out in bathing suits to the water's edge in the dead of winter.
Lydia has wanted to freeze her proverbial "arse" off for some time but being a single mother and businesswoman, kept missing any local events for one reason or another. So, in a coversation a few days ago, she mentioned this in relation to Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland and to our surprise, the moment presented itself. Carpe Diem and we did. My friend Marla, a now seasoned plunger, and I played "arse freezing" support and videographers. I captured a few photos from the video footage before the battery died, and posted them on Facebook. It is in response to these photos, and one in particular that just felt "right" for a Facebook profile picture, that Lydia writes:
Those words, "I was sad to smell the lake go..." brought about a visceral response, not because I chose NOT to jump, and not because we all froze in those icy winds anyway, though not as fully as Lyd did. It occurred to me that our "bucket list" items linger in the senses beyond the moments of fulfillment. Those sensory moments are... well, simply everything.
The video will be released at some point. In the meantime, you will have to imagine the crisp, clean scent of the alpine lake, the frozen mineral smell of the mud, momentarily thawed for a plunge in honor of a dead guy whose remains are preserved by the same freeze. The sensorial memory is stamped in my brain and will travel with me wherever I go, including warm Africa.
And Lydia, for the written record, two things also occurred to me as I read your note this morning: First, there is great fulfillment in helping people achieve their "moments"; and second, I wonder if you realize that I too got to check off my number one bucket list item?!
Nederland, Colorado hosts something called "Frozen Dead Guy Days" each year to raise money in the interest of one cryogenically preserved dude named "Bredo." For the moderately intrigued, you can check out the website quickly at Frozen Dead Guy Daze. The fickle Colorado weather sent raging and destructive winds down the eastern slopes on Saturday's event day, so the Dead Guy festival folks had to reschedule a number of events involving the outdoors.
The various outdoor festival activities include a hearse parade, ice turkey bowling, coffin races replete with thematic costumes, and of course the Polar Plunge. It was the Polar Plunge that interested us. Yes, that frozen lake and ocean jumping that brings crazy folks out in bathing suits to the water's edge in the dead of winter.
Lydia has wanted to freeze her proverbial "arse" off for some time but being a single mother and businesswoman, kept missing any local events for one reason or another. So, in a coversation a few days ago, she mentioned this in relation to Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland and to our surprise, the moment presented itself. Carpe Diem and we did. My friend Marla, a now seasoned plunger, and I played "arse freezing" support and videographers. I captured a few photos from the video footage before the battery died, and posted them on Facebook. It is in response to these photos, and one in particular that just felt "right" for a Facebook profile picture, that Lydia writes:
"I love it that you knew that... interesting! . . . When I showered last night, two things occurred to me...There was a lot more dirt on me than I expected and I was sad to smell the lake go..."
Those words, "I was sad to smell the lake go..." brought about a visceral response, not because I chose NOT to jump, and not because we all froze in those icy winds anyway, though not as fully as Lyd did. It occurred to me that our "bucket list" items linger in the senses beyond the moments of fulfillment. Those sensory moments are... well, simply everything.
The video will be released at some point. In the meantime, you will have to imagine the crisp, clean scent of the alpine lake, the frozen mineral smell of the mud, momentarily thawed for a plunge in honor of a dead guy whose remains are preserved by the same freeze. The sensorial memory is stamped in my brain and will travel with me wherever I go, including warm Africa.
And Lydia, for the written record, two things also occurred to me as I read your note this morning: First, there is great fulfillment in helping people achieve their "moments"; and second, I wonder if you realize that I too got to check off my number one bucket list item?!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Frozen Dead Guy Daze
The event remains to be fully realized this Sunday. My friend Lydia has it in her head and thus on her bucket list that she wants to polar plunge before her time on this earth expires. I'm not predisposed but I'll be happy to photograph the event, if only the event happens. Winds upwards of 70 mph yesterday caused the warming tent's demise, as did it the beer tent, music tent and a few other tents. The paramedics apparently put the kabash on the polar plunge yesterday.
The celebration of Bredo's frozen head and/or thoracic region etc. remains a long-standing tradition with the more temperature-resistant crowd, and we shall hope all goes well today with Lydia. I will have the video camera and shouldn't have much of a problem! Check out the craziness...
Frozen Dead Guy Days
The celebration of Bredo's frozen head and/or thoracic region etc. remains a long-standing tradition with the more temperature-resistant crowd, and we shall hope all goes well today with Lydia. I will have the video camera and shouldn't have much of a problem! Check out the craziness...
Frozen Dead Guy Days
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
When you Reach the End of your Rope.....
“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on!” ~ Thomas Jefferson
One of Guled's teachers sent a weekly newsletter with this great quote. Validity undetermined by me, I find it timely and invaluable anyway as some of us moms who have taken on the education role of our children find frustrations abounding.
So, in honor of my friend TB and her younglings, we share some good ol' Founding Father wisdom and take a break outdoors on this fine leap day to suck up the Colorado sunshine!
One of Guled's teachers sent a weekly newsletter with this great quote. Validity undetermined by me, I find it timely and invaluable anyway as some of us moms who have taken on the education role of our children find frustrations abounding.
So, in honor of my friend TB and her younglings, we share some good ol' Founding Father wisdom and take a break outdoors on this fine leap day to suck up the Colorado sunshine!
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