Pot Luck

hahaha nooo Chuck Grassley isn't a fan (4.00 / 3)

of Kathleen Merrigan. Too bad, Senator Grassley. Cuz your party ain't in charge no more. Elections have consequences.

I went to San Diego's sustainable food conference today. It was amazing!! And totally inspiring. They had a fantastic band play during lunch, and children's entertainment (this cute group that dressed up like fruits and veggies and sang about gardening), and chickens, a group making solar ovens, and all kinds of things. It was really amazing to see what a small group of dedicated San Diegoans could pull together. I'll definitely have diaries in the near future on it - one on the beekeeping workshop I attended, one on the chicken workshop I attended (which makes me want to move into the mountains and GET SOME CHICKENS!), and probably a third diary on the conference in general.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 02:21:22 AM UTC

Lol! (4.00 / 2)

this cute group that dressed up like fruits and veggies and sang about gardening

:)

Looking forward to the conference diaries!

And as for this -

one on the chicken workshop I attended (which makes me want to move into the mountains and GET SOME CHICKENS!)

I thought we talked about this already?  We're all moving into the Rockies (Wyoming!) and setting up La Vida Locavore International Headquarters there; amongst our chickens, veggies and fruits...

:)

(okay, have to run out for a few hours...)

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 03:01:15 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

you can move to Dick Cheney's state (4.00 / 3)

I was thinking more like Descanso, CA (a mere few miles from San Diego).

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 03:32:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lol... (4.00 / 1)

Dick Cheney's state is Texas, fwiw...

California can work too, of course.

:)

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 07:42:44 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

No, he was in Congress for WY (4.00 / 2)

Bush is from... pretends to be from Texas. Currently lives in Texas.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 09:06:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh, I know... (0.00 / 0)

But Dick hasn't lived there for many, many years.

Wyoming was convenient to claim as a home state since both candidates on a presidential ticket can't be from the same state...

It's funny, though - Bush could probably lay just as much claim to Connecticut or Maine as Cheney could to Wyoming...

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 16:40:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lookin' foreward to those diaries (4.00 / 4)

I'm hoping to score some bees this year. A friend of mine who keeps bees said he'd see if he could locate a spare hive for me, and the Mulino CSA Network that I formed has a farm that's listed in the beekeepers group that they occasionally need to place an extra hive here and there. So I got my fingers crossed. I don't even care so much about the honey, I just want to be assured of pollinators now that I have customers for produce. One year we saw almost no honey bees and had almost no beans, squash, etc....  

Regarding locavores as elitists - explain to me how supporting local business is elitist....

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by: Joanne Rigutto @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 03:14:36 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I just saw a pretty neat hive setup (4.00 / 3)

and it's one you can make yourself. Its a Kenyan Top Bar Hive. http://www.outdoorplace.org/be...

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 03:32:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

more about "whats her name" (4.00 / 3)

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/...

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 02:42:44 AM UTC

Tom Laskawy says (4.00 / 3)

no Friday night cat blogging.

Molly and I reject that:

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 03:37:20 AM UTC

I was going to post a sourdough diary (4.00 / 7)

with pictures, of today's experiment, which wasn't exactly a win, but it wasn't really fail either. The bread tastes good but was a bit doughy in the center -- the result of my having made the loaf too tall, I think. Next time I cut it in half and flatten it.

But that was before I got the news. One of my best friends was recovering from injuries sustained in an SUV vs. motorcycle accident and was just getting ready to do some physical therapy when all of the sudden he said he was dizzy, laid down, and died. He was doing well and we all exepected to see him at our next musical get-together, even if he was in a wheelchair, so it was quite a shock.

I have succumbed to the Twitter craze. @Omir55

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by: Omir the Storyteller @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 05:11:38 AM UTC

oh my god I am so sorry (4.00 / 5)

do they know what happened? I am so sorry. I went through something similar earlier this year when my brother (and best friend) also died suddenly. No known cause of death in his case. I hope you get more closure about your friend but I know that won't make it better.  

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 06:10:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

It was the weirdest thing (4.00 / 2)

He got hit by a drunk driver who ran a red light while he was on his motorcycle. He was a conscientious rider and always wore his helmet and leathers, so while he had some injuries including a crushed foot, his arms, hands, and head were apparently OK, which I figured was really good, because this guy was a fantastic guitar player. I figured he'd still be able to play the guitar, even if it was from crutches or a wheelchair for a while.

He was doing well, joking with the nurses and visitors and callers. Yesterday afternoon he had just started some physical therapy when he said he was feeling dizzy and needed to lie down. He passed out and died shortly after that. A friend who was with him at the time guesses that something -- a blood clot, or maybe some loose marrow -- had gotten dislodged and come to rest in a sensitive spot.

No, nothing is going to make it better, and I'll never be able to go to a filk* event without remembering John and wishing he was there. But I'll work my way through it. Thanks for your kind words. I remember reading your diary about your brother over on Big Orange; I was sorry to hear he died. It must have been a big blow.

* Filk == music of science fiction fandom --  I'll explain it in more detail sometime

I have succumbed to the Twitter craze. @Omir55

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by: Omir the Storyteller @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 14:01:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I am so sorry to hear that (4.00 / 6)

I am so sorry for all the pain you have to go through about this.

So sorry.

Miep

"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 06:14:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you (4.00 / 3)

I have succumbed to the Twitter craze. @Omir55

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by: Omir the Storyteller @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 14:14:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm very sorry for your loss (4.00 / 4)

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by: Eddie C @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 06:25:35 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you (4.00 / 3)

I have succumbed to the Twitter craze. @Omir55

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by: Omir the Storyteller @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 14:14:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm so sorry (4.00 / 4)

for your loss.  I'm wishing you a heart full of happy memories.  

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by: chicklet @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 06:52:55 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Nothing but happy memories, really (4.00 / 3)

John was a fantastic guitar player, one of the best amateurs I know. He'd tackle intricate pieces like Blind Blake's "Police Dog Blues" with aplomb. He and his primary musical partner are scheduled to have a CD come out later this year.

He always played with a grin, and he was willing to teach the things he knew. He taught me a few songs, and was always up for backing me up when I played and sang. Damn but right now I had a recording of the two of us doing a song I wrote. It's a pretty good song, and I muddle through it as best I can on the banjo, but it's about the old legend of selling one's soul for the ability to play guitar "like no one's ever heard it played" and it really needs a guitar behind it. John could nail that song.

I could go on for hours. He was just that kind of guy.

I have succumbed to the Twitter craze. @Omir55

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by: Omir the Storyteller @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 14:13:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sorry, man... (4.00 / 3)

I wish there was something more I can say, but I know there isn't.

Sending my thoughts out to you and your friend's family and friends...

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 07:46:19 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks (4.00 / 2)

Yeah, sometimes words just aren't adequate. But thank you.

I have succumbed to the Twitter craze. @Omir55

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by: Omir the Storyteller @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 14:16:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

grief. weeping. (4.00 / 4)

I'm so sorry, Omir.  

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by: zic @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 11:35:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you (4.00 / 3)

I have succumbed to the Twitter craze. @Omir55

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by: Omir the Storyteller @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 14:16:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

kisshugs for you (4.00 / 3)

& happy memories....
....& sometime, when you're playing music...
you'll hear him
♥~

come firefly-dreaming with me....

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by: RiaD @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 12:28:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks (4.00 / 2)

Yeah, it's going to be hard not to hear him. He was a big part of the local "filk music" scene, which is . . . well it's hard to describe, but it's what happens when you take musically inclined science fiction fans and turn them loose. It's a fairly close community, almost like family really, and John was one of the most popular filkers in the area. It'll be hard to go to a filk get-together and not see him there.

I have succumbed to the Twitter craze. @Omir55

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by: Omir the Storyteller @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 14:25:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

ah but omir (4.00 / 2)

when y'all get to filkin' again & you hear him....
he'll BE there. his spirit will....
& you'll ALL hear him there, playin his guitar
& you'll have a filk like never before
& the music will play the band
if you let it
kisshugs
♥~

come firefly-dreaming with me....

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by: RiaD @ Sun May 03, 2009 at 19:26:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]