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Pre-Cleanse

Nicole is my cleansing companion. We have decided to cleanse for 14 days concurrently beginning tomorrow, and talk about how we’ll do it and make it easy on ourselves. Really, the cleanse starts tonight with a dinner of a piece of fruit early in the evening to give the digestive system a slight preparation of what’s to come. Over the next 14 days, Nicole and I will eat nothing but raw organic fruits and vegetables, with added supplements and bentonite clay shakes that are part of a cleansing kit. There’s only one place in Seattle we’ll be able to eat out: the Gravity Bar, a vegetarian restaurant that actually has a menu that fits the restrictions of the next couple of weeks. I’ve prepared for this two weeks in a big way: no coffee since December 31st, and limiting my alcohol intake to 2 drinks when I go out (usually, 3 nights a week).

I have to do this. After food poisoning and a sluggish body and mind, it’s time to wake up.

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Zed and cabaret

I’ve discovered my new favorite show. It’s on CBC, and it’s called ‘Zed’. It showcases short independent films, and musicians, from mostly Canada, but including the US, UK and Australia. My Tivo taped it while I was gone, and I’m hooked. It’s on five nights a week, and positively the best television I’ve seen in awhile. I don’t know if PBS has an equivalent – I doubt it.

Tonight I had my last real dinner, and alcohol, for awhile, as I begin my cleanse tomorrow night. Thankfully, my Italian cabaret-chantreuse friend Julie is cooking at her place. She’s a true artist, and really believes in what she does – the pursuit of her craft is at the forefront of her existence. I’m fortunate to know her.

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Wicked googly

Lunch today was kind of awkward to me. It’s kind of weird to know all these people yet not live in the same city. I wish I could hang out with some of them more often.On the flight home, I (aisle) talked with my neighbor (window), an Indian. We discussed Kashmir, Dubya and the midterm elections. Then we talked about cricket and the World Cup. I still can’t figure cricket out, but someday I’ll know what a “wicked googly” is.

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Organic sustainable feast, rally

Class today. A bit uncomfortable for some reason. Listened mostly, not sure if there was anything I could offer today. Didn’t read Malcolm X biography. Read about W.E.B. DuBois in high school, I think. Starting from scratch in this class. That’s a good thing. I’m here to learn, after all.Rally! Organizers say 350,000 – news says tens of thousands, police say 200,000. Barbara Lee, Bonnie Raitt, Martin Sheen. Market St was apparently full from Embarcadero to Civic Center. Can’t wait for the next march. I’ll be in Seattle – hopefully they’ll have something put together.

I almost feel hogtied a bit because I have a foot in the mainstream capitalist world, and one in a behind-the-scenes activist sort of way. It’s difficult because I don’t feel I connect with the protest movement today, yet I’m a part of it, even if in a small way. But I’m not a socialist, an anarchist, a communist. I do believe in the system of government we have. It’s just it needs a bit of fixing, but I don’t believe a complete overhaul, but then my opinion is based on my experience.

I went to an organic dinner in a “painted lady” house. It was probably the first night I’ve ever felt really welcome in San Francisco. I met a lot of wonderful people, and all of the food was organic and locally grown – nothing traveled further than 150 miles to be at the table. We had a bit of booze, all of us, and played Cranium in the living room. My social self can flourish here under the proper circumstances. Maybe these weekend trips to SF are the best way to establish a foothold in the city eventually. Build a community from another city? Why not?

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Excurscaladerer

On the Santa Monica freeway today heading out to SF, I witnessed an accident in the lane right to the left of me as I was passing them – a large sedan rear-ended a Ford Excursion, which in turn ran into one of those Ford Explorer or Cadillac Escalade combo pickup/SUVs. No one was hurt, but the vehicles each crunched a bit like tinfoil. A side of me was compelled to watch, and reminded me of the fragile and fleeting feeling of security, and the perpetuating SUV safety myth.

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The beady-eyed conspiracy theorist

Santa Monica is touristy. Then I see Arianna Huffington at Midnight Special bookstore. She indicates that we can use the lazyness and spinelessness of our leaders to our advantage. Public protest gets things done. During her speaking engagement, there’s a beady-eyed conspiracy theorist who keeps interrupting other people trying to ask questions, especially when talking about the 2000 election. He hates Nader, apparently. Diana and I leave at this point. I came to see her speak, but know her work well enough not to have to sit through a Q&A period. There’s a lot of angry faces in the room, but it seems to me the anger shouldn’t be directed here.

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To L.A.

The drive to LA – beautiful, actually. I never realized the road to Southern California was so flat, although I passed a cattle ranch that had thousands of cattle and no grass. Maybe it was one of those cattle processing farms that I read about in “Fast Food Nation” or saw on Frontline. I saw two Hummer H2s. I’m most definitely not in San Francisco anymore. I meet my cousin Diana and her husband Peter at their place in Santa Monica. We go to a restaurant, and then Diana and I head over to a bar called “The Brig”. It’s a dive bar redone in LA fashion. The women are really skinny, and evidence of cosmetic surgery seems abundant.

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Alternatives to Social Discomfort

I’m never staying in a hotel again. Why should I, when a beautiful bed and breakfast near Alamo Square is slightly cheaper. There’s barely anyone there, so I get the tudor part of the mansion to myself. There’s a fireplace and clawfoot tub. Yes!

Tonight my friend Leda and I went to the ‘Alternatives to Economic Globalization’ conference at the Palace of Fine Arts. I recognize a couple of people from New College, lending further evidence to my theory that communities in SF are formed through groups of interest moreso than knowing your neighbor. What made this conference so inspiring was that it wasn’t a bitch-and-moan session, it was a report on alternatives on the way the world can do business, and tread lightly on the environment while embracing human rights. We went to the Orbit Room afterwards and talked over a mojito. Leda just had an article about time management published in the latest Utne magazine. She informed me that United for Peace is adding ‘and Justice’ to their title to be more representative of the social justice mission of the organization.

I chat it up with a few people at the bar – maybe I’m more comfortable here than I realize.

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San Francis’doh

I’m not sure what to think about San Francisco today, or maybe I’m just having a bad day, or maybe it’s the contrived experience of a hotel room. I remember why I left here last summer – I just didn’t connect with anyone, and didn’t want to start from scratch. Still, it’s a good day to catch up on homework, but I wonder if I should have just flown back today. It would be cheaper than staying the whole week.

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Kahlo Me Impressed

I’ve registered at New College for my final baccalaureate semester – and it took only 13 years to accomplish. I can’t wait.I’m staying tonight and tomorrow night at the Villa Florence downtown. After checking in, I pass out on the bed, asleep. They’ve given me a tiny room next to the heating unit, which makes a loud humming noise. I need a break from this – I call my friend Trina, and we meet at Uncle Vito’s for pizza, and then go catch a late show of ‘Frida’. Frida – an amazing story, and relevant since I had just seen her and Diego Rivera’s artwork a week earlier. I was inspired by their passion for their work, and it reminds me why I shouldn’t attempt things in half-assed matter. Genuinely pouring yourself into something can be painful and/or satisfying, but it’s a real experience.