Isle Dance

Big Changes...Stay Tuned

2010-09-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers:

There are some big changes going on, and therefore, this blog will also be changing. So if you arrive at this site lost and confused, once all is redirected, I will come find you.

Love You,

Summer Swirling By

2010-09-04T16:04:00.000-07:00

I can't begin to express how unbelievable it seems that our summer is swirling by...us! In fact, our island visitors barely had enough time to get their fishing poles wet, it seems.

But they've been coming and going, I know. I saw their boats.

And I walked down and heard them talking. And eating. And quietly listing to their radio and looking for bait. They didn't notice that I was there on the dock - right in front of them - because they saw me as one of a million in a crowd of three, as if they were back on the mainland. When they do that, it's because they don't yet realize we are only one of a few, in a crowd of three. They don't yet realize that we're going to see each other at the market, you know. And the restaurant. And walking down the road.

But that's okay because I busy myself while waking down the road, taking photos of little things like this.

And this. Can you see the kayakers? And the family on the dock? They were happy.

This kept me happy, too, swirling and swirling around, trying not to stand still for a photo. But it did, after all.

And then they were gone. The visitors, that is. Wait. Not really. They're still here. It's Labor Day weekend, after all! But gah, can you see what I saw? A moment of pollution? Ack!!! Someday soon, these will be burning bio fuel. Phew!

But this...almost makes up for the loss of summer...and one a little excited for fall. :o)

Derek Sivers: Keep Your Goals to Yourself

2010-09-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

Watch this quick video of Derek Sivers to see what you can do to make a difference. In your own life. Just like you've always wanted to. Smooches.

(P.S. And if you know of any techie TED.com tips which would make this video align properly, do feel free to share. Me lovey you for that. And just because, you know. :o)

The Finest

2010-08-30T22:08:00.000-07:00

Just when I think I can't find anything to photograph...

...I remind myself to find something I love...

...and photo it...one little snippet at a time.

I love old items from history.

Especially when they remind me of simpler times...and how ecological we've since (tried to) become.

Are you walking or riding a cycle to the market, my friends? Or are you taking other measures to cut down on non-renewable transportation? Do spill the details. I'm listening.

Unlocking

2010-08-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

Unlocking.

And setting free.

Knowing quietly.

Letting be.

New emotions.

What to do?

Nothing.

Is necessary.

To connect

with you.

:o)

Wandering the Island

2010-08-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

I tend to wander around the island when visitors are here. I love seeing the sweet (little old) ladies who visit us. They're filled with happiness and intention. They remind me of my Grandma, my Grandma and my favorite neighbors down the road, while I was growing up. Someday, I'm going to be a little old lady, and I think it's going to be just divine.

While wandering around, one can see wildflowers along the island roads. Some would actually classify these specimens as weeds. But we don't talk about that. We talk about wildflowers. Wildflowers this and wildflowers that. Yes sirree. Wildflowers. Wildflowers. Wildflowers. And that's that. Ahem.

We have haying, too. I just love it so. Even if only a handful of farms are still involved. I catch it while I can, because then it's gone, you know. Poof. Just like that.

There is a long walk I take around a sharp bend with a narrow path, right next to a cramped road. I get to see beauty like this. And then, every now and then, I have to quickly tuck my bum in to let an auto pass.

I love our barns and sheds, too. One of these days, I'll drive around the island and take photos of them all. I keep saying. But I will. Honest. Truly, I will.

I also wander past this home on a ledge, which looks out to another little island. (I don't wander through their gate. That would be wrong. Right? Right. Yeah.)

I wander down the trails. Well, this is my favorite trail, so I wander down it the most. You've gone on this hike with me before!

And I stop to smell the flowers, of course. I mean, that's pretty much all I do, you know. :o)

Oh...and drink water! I pretty much just wander around the island, smell the flowers and drink water. That is my life. :o)

Well, except for when I visit the "jail", where I see more visitors, take their photo and listen to their excitement about being away from the mainland.

At which point, for some odd reason, I begin to dream of having my palm read...

Hey Ayatollah, Leave Those Kids Alone

2010-08-13T00:12:00.000-07:00

I love how this song supports those trapped behind the wall of a brutal foreign regime. I share this video and article for all of them...

Iranian Rockers Tear Down 'The Wall'

By Diane Macedo

Published August 11, 2010

A Toronto-based rock band is garnering worldwide attention after remaking Pink Floyd's "The Wall," into a new anthem -- "Hey, Ayatollah, leave those kids alone!" -- as a sign of solidarity with Iranians fighting against Tehran's regime.

Blurred Vision, formed in 2007 by brothers Sepp, 28, and Sohl, 35, who fled Iran with their family in 1986, was inspired to cover the classic tune after watching protests in Iran unfold over the controversial reelection of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"We did a show in Toronto in September and while we were performing we decided let's play 'Another Brick in the Wall' just for the hell of it and as the chorus line came up I just decided to sing 'hey Ayatollah' instead of 'hey teacher' and when I sang that line the crowd went insane," Sepp told FoxNews.com.

The brothers, who do not make their last name public out of concern for family members who remain in Iran, recorded the song with their bandmates in October, followed by a music video in February, both of which have attracted major attention in Canada and abroad.

"It's remarkable to hear kids from South America, from Europe, from the UK, from North America just getting behind us because they see that this really is a humanitarian issue," Sepp said.

The music video, which includes images of violent clashes during last year's protests in Iran, has garnered more than 250,000 views on YouTube. The song has also begun getting radio play in Canada. But Sepp says it's the attention it's receiving in Iran that moves the band the most.

"We get a lot of e-mails, especially from the younger guys, and I remember we were in London for a film festival where we were there to receive an award for best video and Sohl was translating an e-mail into English. And as he was translating he started crying. The e-mail said, 'It is you guys out there that can keep this going for us, that can keep our voice alive. We're here sort of isolated from the rest of the world, we've been shut down and shut off from the rest of the world and all we can say is just keep our voice alive, keep going to allow us to reach this point of freedom,'" Sepp said.

Karim Sadjadpour, an associate at the Carnegie Endowment's Middle East program, says it's understandable that Blurred Vision's song would be well-received in Iran based on how much the people there love Pink Floyd.

"Pink Floyd is hugely popular in Iran, they have a large following among Iran's younger generations," Sadjadpour told FoxNews.com. "Their often subversive lyrics can be more deeply appreciated by people living under autocratic systems, like Iran's."

Blurred Vision says it doesn't know how many Iranians have been able to hear its music, but hopes they are able to get around Internet censorship in their country and find ways to hear and circulate its message.

"Essentially in Iran we hope what they're doing is basically ripping it off the computer and spreading it around to themselves and spreading it through YouTube," Sepp said. "We have no sort of goal to have them download the track. For them we hope it's free."

But not all the feedback on Blurred Vision is positive.

Negative comments posted about the band range from allegations that its work is purely political propaganda to accusations that the band is backed by the CIA and the Pentagon and making a fortune off the U.S. government.

"The Ayatollah also recently said that we need to cut music altogether and the youth need to stay away from music, which perhaps had something to do with the attention and buzz that this song has created," Sepp said. "It's ridiculous."

The band denies any affiliation with the U.S. government and Amnesty International confirmed to FoxNews.com that the band donates most of its download proceeds to the human rights organization. But the band says negative comments don't seem to be phasing Blurred Vision fans either way.

"It's wonderful to see that people all over the world respond to them and dislike these comments and one of the great things about YouTube and all these comment boards and forums is that if you get a certain amount of negative feedback on your comment, the comment is removed. So one of the things we see on YouTube is so many of these comments that are negative get removed because of low ratings. So really we don't need to say or do anything."

There was one anticipated critic the band did reach out to however: Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters.

"We were nervous because we're thinking we're coming out with our first release as a Pink Floyd cover and along the lines of musicians and music fans the Floyd can't be touched," Sepp said. "… so we laid the track down and right away we knew that we had to get it over to Roger because he was such a hero to us."

A couple of weeks later, Sepp says, Waters gave the band the "green light."

"We got the e-mail back from the Roger Waters camp and it said you have Roger Water's blessing and not only that but this track is now in your hands it's now yours as its title "Hey Ayatollah, leave those kids alone," Sepp says. "For me and Sohl it was one of the most unbelievable moments in our musical lives."

Waters says it was a special moment for him, as well.

"I think it's great that these guys are using the song to protest against the repressive and brutal regime in Iran," Waters said on his Facebook page. "I am proud to be a small part of this resistance."

"I think The Blurred Vision video is very accomplished and makes its point powerfully," he added.

Now, the band says it plans to make an equally powerful point with its upcoming original song "Democracy."

The point of the song is "very self explanatory," Sepp said. "Our first song has connected with people, hopefully they're going to react the same way too when we come out with our original."

And while Blurred Vision is unlikely to reap any major financial benefits from its songs or music videos, the band says it hopes its music can encourage people to work together to bring about change.

"We truly believe that one emboldened mind with knowledge is worth more than a million hands empowered by wealth," Sepp said. "It's an ethos of the band that awareness can change the world and music is our tool and platform to do that; and in my opinion it's truly working because the dialogue has begun."

Little Bird Flew Into Window

2010-08-12T15:21:00.000-07:00

First you hear the thud. Hopefully, it's just a slight thud, but a distinct bird-hit-the-window thud, nonetheless. You search for the little one, likely sprawled out with feathers askew. Tip: Look directly below the few little feathers stuck to the window. Even if you left the windows dirty, so this would not happen, those feathers are there. And too traumatic to photograph - like little parts of a body, left behind. Sniff.

Then you see this - those tightly clenching eyes. The poor little head rolls around and around and the body often falls over and over again, trying to recover from the brain trauma. Please, please, please recover from the brain trauma. It's imperative to keep things absolutely quiet and still during this time. Let them recover safely on their own, first, if they can. Without additional fear. Hence the low photo quality. Did. Not. Want. To. Get. Closer. So I used the telephoto during low light and watched quietly from inside.

Then you notice the little poop sack. It happens, you know. And you'll notice how far back on its bum it's resting - with its feet often sprawled out front. Yet look how alert this little one is now. After a much longer rest, sweet baby flew off into the branches, appearing fully recovered, my friends.

Are You at BlogHer '10?

2010-08-05T16:49:00.000-07:00

Are you at BlogHer '10?

Or are you at home, like I am?

Because if you're at BlogHer '10, you're enjoying splendid New York adventures, which probably include classy floral arrangements like these. Sans the island they're currently attached to. :o)

Whereas home on the island, things are feeling more...wistful...about New York.

I mean, I could have found some simple, cute outfits to wear. I could have hopped a plane, a boat and more planes. I could have headed off into the middle of somewhere!

Somewhere...where lots and lots of humans exist.

I could have met lovely people. And attended helpful conference sessions.

Which is why I'm eyeing BlogHer '11. Especially since...by then...I'm guessing we should likely grow BlogHer's green (and green advertising) presence!

Poo-Pourri's Nature's Call

2010-07-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

Oh my, have I waited for "just the right time" to post this topic. It didn't seem right to post it between food images. I know. And I kept thinking it would mess up the pretty flower photos, too. :o) But since I freaked myself out by spelling out one particular life-affirming word in the last post, I figure it's okay to keep discussing natural bodily functions. In public. Yes, it's about poo.

Everybody goes poo. And little cabin spaces are sacred. Which is why I wanted just the right personal product, to keep pretty air living free, inside said sacred space. So I tried Poo-Pourri's Nature's Call. One just pumps a few sprays of this organic essential oil mix...over the water...in the toilet bowl. A film forms on top of the water, which traps any (beautiful organic, raw, vegan) odors from "down there."

And it works! It really, really works!

USA Legacy: Most Circumcized Males Equals Least Female Orgasms?

2010-07-27T12:36:00.000-07:00

The USA has had the highest rates of male circumcision. And low rates of female orgasms.

The book, Sex as Nature Intended It, tackles this issue in detail. You can read book excerpts for free and watch video online, too (it's graphic, so view cautiously in private).

This makes one realize the significance of saying no to the lopping off of sexual parts. Not just for the boy, but for the girl, too.

Dr. Dean Edell on Circumcision

Jewish Circumcision

Doctors Opposing Circumcision

I am grateful that we are learning... Each human body has the right to be protected by the parent. Not sexually altered by them.

Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

2010-07-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

I love glass bottles.

And stories.

And eco messages. Mixed with history.

Is that a lot of potassium?

All I know for sure: Shake it first, baby.

Or The Mother might scare you. :o)

The View from Around Here...

2010-07-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

Hi, my lovelies. This is the view from around here.

Welcome to summer.

In the islands.

Where the only thing better...is love. :o)

Birthday Girl

2010-07-08T23:24:00.001-07:00

Somebody had a birthday. She woke. She showered. She glanced at the clock at the exact time she was born, and she sang a little birthday song. Then she heard herself proclaim that she was happy. Especially after seeing her favorite summer pants fit snugger again, which is every scrawny girls dream. This sure made for one special start to her day. A handful of raw organic Brazil nuts and a banana were had for breakfast, along with live vitamins, supplements and water. While heading out the door, Baby was seen bedded down near the corner of the cabin, sharing a very big yawn, a nodding head and adorably heavy, sleepy eyes. Nature is a sweet gift.

The birthday girl then feasted her eyes upon her other most favorite sights, plus climbed a mountain, enjoyed the tourists, took loads of photos, danced in a meadow full of dragonflies, and descended guiltily to a large batch of french fries. She then tried to wash away the sin (the allergy-inducing preservatives, the definite energy drain) and replenish herself with a pack of organic blueberries and 32+ ounces of organic green love (1 giant bunch of parsley, ditto on the spinach, 1 grapefruit, 2 apples, 2 carrots and a hint of ginger, juiced). It was magically delicious.

After much more sightseeing, eye-feasting, and photo taking, said birthday girl also had to have this large delicate salad with dinner (those are giant leafy greens and giant flower petals, seen from afar). Of course, she first removed those beautiful (wheat/gluten) croutons sprinkled on top.

Most divine, was this stunning summer beet soup. And since this birthday girl needs to avoid dairy, she dodged that white dollop in the middle, which was likely sour cream. (Had she known ahead of time that it was included, she would have asked to not include it.)

There were more veggies ordered, which (it turned out...oops again!) the restaurant served slightly roasted. But there were delicate little skinny baby carrots with their greens attached, a long luscious onion bulb with greens and an assortment of unknown veggies - including parsnips. (She's never had parsnips before.) Yes, today was a special record-setting hot day of meaningful delight, with a few surprises, while happily and quietly connecting - which included her many thoughts of you. (Smooches! :o)

Crispy Kale Chips

2010-07-07T18:19:00.000-07:00

I bought.

I opened.

I ~~inhaled~~ ate.

And while I'll rarely buy these (due to packaging), if in a pinch, what a healthy and tasty emergency snack. Of course, better yet, a dehydrator will make them in bulk! Go eat. And play. And yum, my friends. :o)

Celtic Sea Salt

2010-07-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

Do you use Celtic Sea Salt? Or pink Himalayan salt? Which do you prefer?

I do love this fine ground Celtic Sea Salt, but I keep thinking I should go pink. Yet is there a noticeable difference in taste? What say you?

Bambu: Plastic-Free Spatula

2010-06-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

I needed a spatula.

I wanted a plastic-free spatula. Well, as plastic/rubber-free as I could find. And I wasn't sure one existed. Until I saw the Bambu spatula. Made from bamboo. Woo! :o)

It was funny, the first time I used it. It was hard, you know - not soft and pliable. I wondered if it would work as well, and if I would like it. The answer is yes! And then, of course, I wanted to meet all of its relatives. Who knew?!

And Then There Was Hope

2010-06-24T10:28:00.000-07:00

Because a really nice attorney showed up. For free. For free!

To check into the pee! (I never imagined such a resource would surface...and I'll never forget it, either. :o)

Happy Summer Solstice!

2010-06-21T00:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Summer!! Did you celebrate the Solstice? Did you dress funny, too? (I did, a little.) And I took more than 1,000 photos. But now...now I look and feel like this: Happy and giddy and peaceful. Even though I'm fighting a little battle (with those I don't know, whom are still trying to pee on me). Oh, the joys of life. No? Do tell. Do tell how you celebrated this weekend! Oh, please! It will take my mind off of the pee!!

I'm No Fire Hydrant (Anymore)

2010-06-17T00:36:00.000-07:00

Someone tried to pee on me. Actually, there were two of them.

They didn't smell pretty. Nor sound pretty. And I didn't even know their names.

But I sure wanted to hand them a copy of The Macho Paradox! Silly me.

Then I stood up for myself. Kindly, but direct. And it felt good.

And...really, truly...they can't pee on that.

White Picket Fence

2010-06-12T22:25:00.000-07:00

While growing up, I imagined someday I'd be lucky enough to have a white picket fence. Then I built a cabin. It would be inappropriate to install a white picket fence around a cabin. But if I had a cottage... Yes, if I had a cottage, I'd have a white picket fence, too. Just so rosemary could wrap itself around and poke through.

Lucky for me, one does not have to go far on an island to see picket fences. Beautiful, lovely, white and weathered picket fences.

Plus all of the surprises that crop up around them, too.

Wishing Well

2010-06-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

I made a wish.

It came true.

Did you know...it's you?

The Photoshoot: This Is Not My Dog

2010-06-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

This is not my sweet dog.

I don't have a dog. (I have deer. And bunnies. And birds. In the wild.)

But I just had to (try to) photoshoot this full-grown pup.

Even though he was busy doing other things. Like hiding. And napping. And making faces. He tried ever so hard to keep out of the photo. I'm lucky I captured this much.

But honestly...

Who could pass this up?!

Speaking About It: Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault

2010-06-03T15:13:00.000-07:00

If something happened to you, like say, domestic abuse or sexual assault...

And you've not yet taken advantage of the free counseling offered at your local domestic violence/sexual assault non-profit...

Just do it. It's free. You get to speak about it, out loud, to a trained professional. Even if you don't think you need to. Even if you've spoken about it, out loud, a millions time before...to someone else.

Because the freedom and safety a mind and body can begin to feel afterward...is surprising...and exhilarating...and long overdue. Like, seriously. So go take good care of you.

Pop! Goes the Weasel!

2010-05-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

These are everywhere right now.

And they're so beautiful and bright.

In fact, they're so bright, I had to tone down their brightness a little bit in Photoshop (saturation, decreased).

Kind of like life, sometimes. Oh, my. Like life, indeed.

Like when something nearby is...loud. Or bright. Or smelly. And you can't get away from it.

Whoa, Lordy.

And then you have to quietly/politely find a way to have it toned down.

Or something even more unpleasant might occur.

Whoa, Lordy, indeed!

Which makes me want to ask you...

What's the most impacting thing that has been done near you...that you could not get away from?

Oh, do tell. Do tell, indeed! :o)