I was restocking the silverware at work. We go through hundreds of plastic forks and spoons a day. At work, we also go through thousands of plastic straws that come in little plastic wrappers. Grab a yogurt in a plastic cup. Grab a plastic spoon. Grab a Vitamin Water in a plastic bottle, or maybe an iced coffee in a plastic up. When you are done, maybe you recycle. In my county, they accept plastics numbered 1, 2, 4 & 5. There are seven in total. Most places take less. In Alabama they only took 1 and 2. They also didn't do curbside pickup, so most people didn't even try to recycle. Don't just assume by putting it in recycling that it wont end up in a landfill somewhere. Make sure you check what your county is able to recycle and stop buying plastics as much as possible. Plastic is made with such a strong chemical composition that it doesn't break down, and therefore, is non biodegradable. It doesn't go away. It might break down into smaller and smaller fragments, but it's still there. There is a good documentary about plastic that is on Netflix, called Plastic Paradise. I encourage you to look up information on your own. But if you are the kind of person who likes to eat out a lot then there are lots of ways to stop using needless plastic. Bring your own beverage and food containers. There are bamboo utensil sets out there that you can buy. There are also glass straws. I'm getting wooden case for mine, because I don't necessarily trust that it's "unbreakable". So there are ways to avoid it. It just takes a bit of conscientiousness. Seeing that I am broke, my first step towards a plastic free existence was purchasing one of those glass straws. We will see how that goes. If it actually lasts over time. Until then I'm just trying to use as little plastic as possible. I didn't buy shampoo the other day because I'm going to order a bar shampoo instead of buying the plastic bottles full.
trying something new,
Mav
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Catch Up, Butter Cup
I made some cockamamie personal goal to try and blog at least once a week, and I figured since I already missed some months that I might as well get started, but actually after this post, I'm going to be focusing on PLASTIC. More specifically, I am trying to cut out plastics. I, of course, will continue to try and get the most use out of all the plastic items I already own, but I am not going to be buying any more. So enjoy this little chat (it's probably a bit all over the place and maybe even a touch confusing) and hopefully you'll stick around for my new self challenge!
I found a job, but the hours are pretty crappy and it's on the other side of town, so I'm still looking. In the meantime...
I sent in some poems to a couple of magazines here, but they both turned me down. One encouraged me to send in more poetry in the future. So that's not so terrible, I suppose.
I've been watching a lot of Doomsday Preppers. I have always had a personal goal of being as self sustaining as possible. And this show is basically about how to live without. I enjoy gathering ideas of how to cut costs and energy usage and it can be really quite ingenious actually.
I've been thinking a lot about being free and what it actually means to be free. Free of mind. Free of need. Free to do what I want with my time. ALL of my time. Not my free time. Not my off time. The whole of my time. There's this whole notion that buzzes around that we are free, but we are born into a expected way to be and live. I was born in America, but I don't claim to be an American. Personally, I don't claim any of the citizenships. Why can't I be sans citizenship? A child of Earth.
(Turns out you can renounce your citizenship, but it can cost upwards of $2500 to do it.)
But I kept that job and it's not so terrible. Our car broke down so I've been riding the bus a lot more. Which is cool because it's good for environments. I want to get a bicycle to ride soon and we are looking for a more reliable vehicle. I have access to free soda and coffee and good soup and salad, homegrown and local at work so I'm pretty cool with it, even if I work with some characters.
I was having my pre-work bowl of soup when one of the students comes over and just sits down with me. I was confused but let it go. He begins to speak with me and he finds out, eventually, that I have an English degree. He then proceeds to tell me that I should teach English in another country. I tell him I have no desire to teach English.
"But you're young," he says.
"I know."
"You should travel while you are young and see the world. Wouldn't you want to travel?"
"Actually, I've traveled a number of places and have no intention of ever stopping. I even moved myself out here because I wanted to. No one made me."
"Oh wow, I did not expect that."
(Why?)
"Well you want a job."
"I have a job."
"Here?" Motions to the coffee bar.
"Yes."
"Is this really what you went to school for?"
"I went to school to learn about myself and the world, to grow and expand as an individual. Maybe I didn't know it at the time, but it's clear to me now. I did not go to school for a job, just like i didn't go to school to get married."
There is a moment of silence and he says, "Well, you want money, and a job where you can make lots of money."
"No. Money is bullshit. It's just a made up concept that keeps the greedy in power."
Silence.
"Well, I have to go to work," I say, "see you."
It's ridiculous how we talk about tigers hunting and killing people in the wild. The going theory is that they developed a taste for human flesh when eating tsunami victims. How about humans just became the most abundant food source for them and they are adapting for survival. We are not an apex predator and we underestimate the rest of the world. We are pushing the rest of our planet into survival situations. Are we surprised to see a change in behavior? The same goes for humans themselves. All the alien intervention theories about how it couldn't have possibly be us. Why not? Do we not think ourselves capable of such feats. Also, just because there isn't a lot of record of what happened doesn't mean that what you find is all there is. Keep an open mind in all aspects and notions of what and who these people were. And now we are doing really amazing things, and we say, "It sounds like it's science fiction." Are we still so surprised that amazing things are possible? People are afraid of amazing things because they can be unpredictable.
If you listen to a lot of music, you can tell we come from a complicated and fucked up world. Most of the fucked up stuff comes from humanity's own journey to figure itself out and find peace. It's that universal constant of growth, change and discovery. And that shows in our music. Just as it shows everywhere. But we are also going through a global change in consciousness. It's difficult and fraught with peril and... we are struggling. Songs like Uprising by Muse, speak clearly to some of these challenges.
I found a job, but the hours are pretty crappy and it's on the other side of town, so I'm still looking. In the meantime...
I sent in some poems to a couple of magazines here, but they both turned me down. One encouraged me to send in more poetry in the future. So that's not so terrible, I suppose.
I've been watching a lot of Doomsday Preppers. I have always had a personal goal of being as self sustaining as possible. And this show is basically about how to live without. I enjoy gathering ideas of how to cut costs and energy usage and it can be really quite ingenious actually.
I've been thinking a lot about being free and what it actually means to be free. Free of mind. Free of need. Free to do what I want with my time. ALL of my time. Not my free time. Not my off time. The whole of my time. There's this whole notion that buzzes around that we are free, but we are born into a expected way to be and live. I was born in America, but I don't claim to be an American. Personally, I don't claim any of the citizenships. Why can't I be sans citizenship? A child of Earth.
(Turns out you can renounce your citizenship, but it can cost upwards of $2500 to do it.)
But I kept that job and it's not so terrible. Our car broke down so I've been riding the bus a lot more. Which is cool because it's good for environments. I want to get a bicycle to ride soon and we are looking for a more reliable vehicle. I have access to free soda and coffee and good soup and salad, homegrown and local at work so I'm pretty cool with it, even if I work with some characters.
I was having my pre-work bowl of soup when one of the students comes over and just sits down with me. I was confused but let it go. He begins to speak with me and he finds out, eventually, that I have an English degree. He then proceeds to tell me that I should teach English in another country. I tell him I have no desire to teach English.
"But you're young," he says.
"I know."
"You should travel while you are young and see the world. Wouldn't you want to travel?"
"Actually, I've traveled a number of places and have no intention of ever stopping. I even moved myself out here because I wanted to. No one made me."
"Oh wow, I did not expect that."
(Why?)
"Well you want a job."
"I have a job."
"Here?" Motions to the coffee bar.
"Yes."
"Is this really what you went to school for?"
"I went to school to learn about myself and the world, to grow and expand as an individual. Maybe I didn't know it at the time, but it's clear to me now. I did not go to school for a job, just like i didn't go to school to get married."
There is a moment of silence and he says, "Well, you want money, and a job where you can make lots of money."
"No. Money is bullshit. It's just a made up concept that keeps the greedy in power."
Silence.
"Well, I have to go to work," I say, "see you."
It's ridiculous how we talk about tigers hunting and killing people in the wild. The going theory is that they developed a taste for human flesh when eating tsunami victims. How about humans just became the most abundant food source for them and they are adapting for survival. We are not an apex predator and we underestimate the rest of the world. We are pushing the rest of our planet into survival situations. Are we surprised to see a change in behavior? The same goes for humans themselves. All the alien intervention theories about how it couldn't have possibly be us. Why not? Do we not think ourselves capable of such feats. Also, just because there isn't a lot of record of what happened doesn't mean that what you find is all there is. Keep an open mind in all aspects and notions of what and who these people were. And now we are doing really amazing things, and we say, "It sounds like it's science fiction." Are we still so surprised that amazing things are possible? People are afraid of amazing things because they can be unpredictable.
If you listen to a lot of music, you can tell we come from a complicated and fucked up world. Most of the fucked up stuff comes from humanity's own journey to figure itself out and find peace. It's that universal constant of growth, change and discovery. And that shows in our music. Just as it shows everywhere. But we are also going through a global change in consciousness. It's difficult and fraught with peril and... we are struggling. Songs like Uprising by Muse, speak clearly to some of these challenges.
Monday, December 15, 2014
will work for simulation access
So, I'm still on the job hunt. I had a job and lost it by technicality. Then I "had" a job and lost it by counterfeit. I wish I could not work. No one really wants to work. So few people actually have that job that is their passion. Why do we work? It's pointless. If nobody had money then no one would need money. If no one had a job, then nobody would need a job. And maybe some people think it would be boring. That they need to work, and impress and whatever the hell people want to work for. If you are a scientist, there is no reason you can't be a scientist. There is no reason you can't still pursue things. (Honestly, if you dream of a desk job, how much are you missing?) It's not a halt to society. Not having a job doesn't mean you wouldn't work. You would read or work on your house or tend a garden or practice dancing or go to movies and plays or travel or blow glass or whatever. Our creative and intelligent minds must pursue! It's just the blinding, driving green snow of money boxes us into this idea of what life should be. We have placed these binds on ourselves! We spend so much time trying to survive this crazy, oppressive life we have built, that we don't even know what freedom means anymore. We think spending 40+ hours a week at a job doing work for someone else to make a little bit of money that big brother and his deadbeat family whittle away from you so you can afford to spend two weeks a year rushing around until your too tired to think on "vacation" being "yourself" is FREE? So if you spent 40 hours a week for 40 years at your job that means you spent about 9 1/2 years of your life doing work that benefited you in almost no way at all. And let's be honest, most people probably work closer to 50+ years.
Let's see, when was the term 'mid-life crisis' coined...it was put into the The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis in 1965. So people have been working proper jobs for a while now and these days the life span of humans has lengthened and midlife is now increasingly reaching a median of 50 years. Whereas, before this time, it might have been around 30 years. Think about who you are at 30 and who you are at 50. You have two extra decades of time, work, sweat. You have that much more time to think about yourself and who you are and what you would do with your life if you just had the time. People started looking at their lives differently. Wondering about the point of it all. Sure we progress and we advance but we still sit and drone st jobs while looking out windows at pretty days wishing we were out in them. Why? before we started getting older we worked until we were dead. Then we were like, "fuck that shit! I'm not working until I'm 80." So then this thing called retirement plucks up because people realize how completely unfulfilling having a job is, how much they are missing and in their elder years hope to see some of it before they die after wasting so much time. So we have a crisis where we realize that we have done nothing for our own self in our own life, and we splurge and go a little crazy and blow a bunch of money that we now realize is meaningless to happiness, but the problem is we are still stuck in a culture that prevents us from living our lives to the fullest. Everyone should be able to travel and see the world their whole lives. We have so little time as it is, we should put all our effort into exploring and learning that life. Learning ourselves and others and this world and other worlds and galaxies and universes. We are far too complacent in this life. Believing that our species is somehow a pinnacle of existence is just depressingly close-minded. Who would want to live in a reality so small? One so finite, with little to no room for improvisation...it's scary. And it's not even real. It's just our own minds, too afraid of endless possibility to allow it to happen. So we create these ideas of money and work and taxes and debt that keep us separated and weak as a species. No one should have to work. And it's not that I think the government should take care of everyone because I think those are stupid too. The entire system is flawed. The way we perceive it is flawed.
conclusively,
Mav
Let's see, when was the term 'mid-life crisis' coined...it was put into the The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis in 1965. So people have been working proper jobs for a while now and these days the life span of humans has lengthened and midlife is now increasingly reaching a median of 50 years. Whereas, before this time, it might have been around 30 years. Think about who you are at 30 and who you are at 50. You have two extra decades of time, work, sweat. You have that much more time to think about yourself and who you are and what you would do with your life if you just had the time. People started looking at their lives differently. Wondering about the point of it all. Sure we progress and we advance but we still sit and drone st jobs while looking out windows at pretty days wishing we were out in them. Why? before we started getting older we worked until we were dead. Then we were like, "fuck that shit! I'm not working until I'm 80." So then this thing called retirement plucks up because people realize how completely unfulfilling having a job is, how much they are missing and in their elder years hope to see some of it before they die after wasting so much time. So we have a crisis where we realize that we have done nothing for our own self in our own life, and we splurge and go a little crazy and blow a bunch of money that we now realize is meaningless to happiness, but the problem is we are still stuck in a culture that prevents us from living our lives to the fullest. Everyone should be able to travel and see the world their whole lives. We have so little time as it is, we should put all our effort into exploring and learning that life. Learning ourselves and others and this world and other worlds and galaxies and universes. We are far too complacent in this life. Believing that our species is somehow a pinnacle of existence is just depressingly close-minded. Who would want to live in a reality so small? One so finite, with little to no room for improvisation...it's scary. And it's not even real. It's just our own minds, too afraid of endless possibility to allow it to happen. So we create these ideas of money and work and taxes and debt that keep us separated and weak as a species. No one should have to work. And it's not that I think the government should take care of everyone because I think those are stupid too. The entire system is flawed. The way we perceive it is flawed.
conclusively,
Mav
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Scatter Brain Betsy
I've been in Portland for about a week now. I am loving it. Granted, I haven't seen very much of it yet, still settling in, but I love the new apartment, the animals are settling in wonderfully. I also love the hills and trees and raindrop bedazzled leaves and the magical fog and mist. It makes me feel creative, it makes me feel wild.
Everyone is all, oh people only began to see UFOs because they became popular in sci-fi. Nobody thinks, maybe people just are a lot more open about their encounters or what they see because it has become popular. People feel more comfortable talking about it. Whereas, beforehand it probably would have been seen as ridiculous and a lot of people were probably thought mad and put away or given drugs or what have you. Point is, absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. I know that also works the other way around, but its the idea of leaving your mind open to the possibility.
Membrane Food
I'm visiting home for the first time since I moved away. I am looking forward to it and also don't feel really ready yet. My mom wouldn't have me not coming home for some sort of holiday celebration with the family. I wish Astro, my boyfriend, could come. It'll be good to go home solo, I think. And better that it be now... I'm going to really enjoy it. There is a first and a last for everything. All moments are so bittersweet. Here and fleeting. You have to make the most of it and remember every laugh and smell and look across the table. Things that we see now and take for granted might suddenly become important to you later on, and you'll wish you could remember and hope you never forget.
"Vehicle" by The Ides of March
I wish the quality was a little bit better on this. But I like that it's actually them performing.
how about another:
"I Wont Let You Down" by OK Go
So many umbrellas. Seriously impressive.
Ponderously,
Mav
PS: my cell phone has been dropped several tiimes and the screen is so smashed, I can't see the darn thing. I plan to be getting a new phone in the coming couple of weeks. From whence I will start updating my instagram again.
Everyone is all, oh people only began to see UFOs because they became popular in sci-fi. Nobody thinks, maybe people just are a lot more open about their encounters or what they see because it has become popular. People feel more comfortable talking about it. Whereas, beforehand it probably would have been seen as ridiculous and a lot of people were probably thought mad and put away or given drugs or what have you. Point is, absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. I know that also works the other way around, but its the idea of leaving your mind open to the possibility.
Membrane Food
I'm visiting home for the first time since I moved away. I am looking forward to it and also don't feel really ready yet. My mom wouldn't have me not coming home for some sort of holiday celebration with the family. I wish Astro, my boyfriend, could come. It'll be good to go home solo, I think. And better that it be now... I'm going to really enjoy it. There is a first and a last for everything. All moments are so bittersweet. Here and fleeting. You have to make the most of it and remember every laugh and smell and look across the table. Things that we see now and take for granted might suddenly become important to you later on, and you'll wish you could remember and hope you never forget.
"Vehicle" by The Ides of March
I wish the quality was a little bit better on this. But I like that it's actually them performing.
how about another:
"I Wont Let You Down" by OK Go
So many umbrellas. Seriously impressive.
Ponderously,
Mav
PS: my cell phone has been dropped several tiimes and the screen is so smashed, I can't see the darn thing. I plan to be getting a new phone in the coming couple of weeks. From whence I will start updating my instagram again.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
May 10, 2014
I never really got the meek shall inherit the earth shit from the bible. I didn't get the moral. Why should they get the earth? But I don't think I understood meek properly. To be meek is to look at the greater good. Mother Teresa was meek. Not because she was weak or didn't have strong beliefs and ideals but that, no matter what they were, they were geared towards the greater good. Gandhi too even. To be meek is to have a selflessness that is so rare in our world that the word we use for it is misconstrued and what we actually use the word selfless for has nothing at all to do with being truly giving. And it's not even a literal inherit but all the world is ours. Give up yourself and gain everything. I mean it's what god preaches all the time but he was off in that he only wants you to give yourself to him but really it's when you give yourself to the people, the world, our society, humanity, species, existence.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
every step a struggle and every struggle an opportunity
Hi there. Mav here.
2014 will contain the least posts yet. Though, to be fair, I haven't had a computer for months now. I am moving to Portland, Oregon on Nov. 1st. I am so excited. I'm moving in with my boyfriend. Words cannot express how wonderful he is. Portland will be a whole new adventure.
10 things I've learned moving cross-country solo:
1) save at least $5,000 before moving. [this won't be nearly enough] if you rent a u-haul, expect to pay $1k up front for that and another $500 on gas (for the smallest truck capable of towing an SUV). At least. That's just to get you there. If you want to move, even if you think it's two years in the future, go ahead and start saving now.
2) it's ok to only get a studio apartment for your first. [you will still think you don't need all that "space" every month when rent is due.] especially if you are trying to live downtown or near the local scene. You don't need a breakfast nook and a big bedroom. You're going to be working and coming home to pass out for at least several months. Work your way up to a bigger apartment. Don't waste your money on furniture...mine was donated to me. Starting with nothing can be more fun. It really will give you that sense of accomplishment when you have money to buy a couch. You can sink into its cushions and know you made it happen.
3) balconies are a wonderful wonderful thing. If you can find a studio (or any apartment) with a balcony or patio then you should consider yourself lucky. It makes all the difference, especially if you have animals. My cats love to sit on the balcony and watch the birds and squirrels and catch bugs. It's extra square footage to put a chair and some plants. Because keeping nature close is important.
4) your apartment, in general, is super important. If you don't have a place you can come to relax then everything will be a lot more difficult.
5) walking saves gas, which is expensive. You will learn all the places right by your dwelling and walk the mile radius around it often to avoid spending your precious gas [which is used to drive to work].
6) places you can walk to get food with your dog are awesome in every way [kill two birds with one stone]
7) finding a job is a difficult and tedious process. constant applications will make you want to pull your hair out. [and with two jobs you still won't make enough to pay all your bills on time.] (you'll consider getting a third job, maybe you even will.)
8) hand washing your clothes is therapeutic. hand washing your dishes is gross. both are necessary.
9) it will be difficult. You will second guess every decision you've made that led you to move far away from everyone you know by yourself. You will wish you hadn't. You will wonder how you're going to make it. You will doubt your ability to survive. You'll want to go back home and also feel embarrassed to show your face there.
10) you will survive. You will be so glad you took this risk. You will learn about yourself and become a stronger individual. You'll gain appreciation for your parents and how hard they worked to raise three kids: then you'll convince yourself it wasn't as hard for them. You'll visit home the first time and feel older, wiser.
I'm ready for this next step in my life. I'm excited to explore more, learn more, grow more. In the end, that's all you have: the experiences.
Milky Chance - Down By The River
This band is awesome. I'm sure you've heard "Stolen Dance" by them on the radio (if not, now's your milky chance :P) this whole album is great, so just go ahead and take the afternoon exploring them.
Simply,
Mav
PS: the music page is updated! Whoop!
2014 will contain the least posts yet. Though, to be fair, I haven't had a computer for months now. I am moving to Portland, Oregon on Nov. 1st. I am so excited. I'm moving in with my boyfriend. Words cannot express how wonderful he is. Portland will be a whole new adventure.
10 things I've learned moving cross-country solo:
1) save at least $5,000 before moving. [this won't be nearly enough] if you rent a u-haul, expect to pay $1k up front for that and another $500 on gas (for the smallest truck capable of towing an SUV). At least. That's just to get you there. If you want to move, even if you think it's two years in the future, go ahead and start saving now.
2) it's ok to only get a studio apartment for your first. [you will still think you don't need all that "space" every month when rent is due.] especially if you are trying to live downtown or near the local scene. You don't need a breakfast nook and a big bedroom. You're going to be working and coming home to pass out for at least several months. Work your way up to a bigger apartment. Don't waste your money on furniture...mine was donated to me. Starting with nothing can be more fun. It really will give you that sense of accomplishment when you have money to buy a couch. You can sink into its cushions and know you made it happen.
3) balconies are a wonderful wonderful thing. If you can find a studio (or any apartment) with a balcony or patio then you should consider yourself lucky. It makes all the difference, especially if you have animals. My cats love to sit on the balcony and watch the birds and squirrels and catch bugs. It's extra square footage to put a chair and some plants. Because keeping nature close is important.
4) your apartment, in general, is super important. If you don't have a place you can come to relax then everything will be a lot more difficult.
5) walking saves gas, which is expensive. You will learn all the places right by your dwelling and walk the mile radius around it often to avoid spending your precious gas [which is used to drive to work].
6) places you can walk to get food with your dog are awesome in every way [kill two birds with one stone]
7) finding a job is a difficult and tedious process. constant applications will make you want to pull your hair out. [and with two jobs you still won't make enough to pay all your bills on time.] (you'll consider getting a third job, maybe you even will.)
8) hand washing your clothes is therapeutic. hand washing your dishes is gross. both are necessary.
9) it will be difficult. You will second guess every decision you've made that led you to move far away from everyone you know by yourself. You will wish you hadn't. You will wonder how you're going to make it. You will doubt your ability to survive. You'll want to go back home and also feel embarrassed to show your face there.
10) you will survive. You will be so glad you took this risk. You will learn about yourself and become a stronger individual. You'll gain appreciation for your parents and how hard they worked to raise three kids: then you'll convince yourself it wasn't as hard for them. You'll visit home the first time and feel older, wiser.
I'm ready for this next step in my life. I'm excited to explore more, learn more, grow more. In the end, that's all you have: the experiences.
Milky Chance - Down By The River
This band is awesome. I'm sure you've heard "Stolen Dance" by them on the radio (if not, now's your milky chance :P) this whole album is great, so just go ahead and take the afternoon exploring them.
Simply,
Mav
PS: the music page is updated! Whoop!
Friday, August 8, 2014
some lessons are learned by teaching
The more people you allow into your life the more chances you have to get hurt. The more people you allow to get close to you, the more you take that risk. But is it easier to be alone? Is it easier to swear off any type of companionship? Maybe you're answer is yes. Maybe not. Maybe your circumstances make it seem like you could or couldn't live without people. Maybe you are hurting and wish you'd never allowed them close to you in the first place. Sometimes it's hard to allow yourself to love. It's harder to allow yourself to be loved. To let someone know your worries and fears. We enjoy sharing the good news but the bad news, the news of struggling and hardship and failure...it's embarrassing. No one wants to tell anyone about fucking up, not truly. It makes you hurt. Makes you feel like you're hurting them. Would that make them wish you had never gotten close to them? There was a Facebook meme that said (something along the lines of) "when you act like you're happy when you're actually hurting it shows how strong you are". But is it stronger to hide your feelings from the world or is it a more powerful gesture to admit that you aren't perfect? The latter shows a fearlessness that fake happiness will never understand. We all hurt, we all fail, we all wish we were better. So don't let your shame get the better of you. It's ok to fall into hard times and have to struggle.
Because why do we fall?
So we can learn to pick ourselves up.
Mav
Because why do we fall?
So we can learn to pick ourselves up.
Mav
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