Wheatberries

Amazing, isn't it, how a single conversation can open up so much untrodden ground? In Ecology of Eating, we were plastering a classroom with all the food we eat (not literally...just written on paper) and I got to talking about rice milk vs. cow milk, which lead to a short, but amazing conversation on eating locally in Bellingham. This is how I discovered my idiocy (well, discovered it again-- these sort of discoveries seem to come in cycles...really, really repetitive ones).

This thing, this concept of eating locally is supposedly quite a basic one. But I've discovered that I'm sustainable within the sphere of my own knowledge. There's so much more I could and should be doing. But this wonderful, wonderful conversation opened my eyes, lead me to new horizons, to speak in cliche. One thing I learned about? Wheatberries.

See, I have this obsession with this cereal, specifically Heritage O's, of which I occasionally rave about on my other blog. There're the...the...epitome of delicious. They're are made of spelt, quinoa and kamut, I think. An extremely tasty cereal that stays crunchy to the last bite (and makes chewing so loud you can be heard from across the room).

They've reached cereal-nirvana...or maybe this makes more sense: when I eat them, I reach cereal-nirvana. So...that sounds a bit odd, coming from me, even. But in other words, they're really good. And relatively regional (produced in Richmond, BC, though the ingredients are far flung across Canada and the US). I don't ever actually buy them myself, but make sure a few of the so-called 'eco-bags' (I'd beg to differ) make their way into the grocery basket whenever I'm at home, shopping with my mother.

But I think I have a new beau of cereal: wheatberries. Er...well, I haven't actually tried them yet, but I know I'm going to love them. I swear, I can feel it. Feel it in my bones and all that. Can already imagine them with nutbutter and my grandmother's homemade pear honey (which isn't actually honey, but extremely excellent jam)...they're going to be wonderful. They're local, in bulk, can be cooked, eaten instead of rice and all sort of wondrous things. I haven't eaten them yet, but they're the best.

(I'm going to go into some sort of hyper-depressive stupor if they don't turn out to be all I've imagined them to be...)

Its Sunny in Fairhaven :D

When it rains in Fairhaven it is such a blessing. Our beautiful college is surrounded by green trees, plants AND well… NATURE! The problem with rain in Fairhaven is, it rains a lot! That is why having a sunny day with the light blue sky is wonderful! Today I experienced my first FULL DAY OF SUN at Fairhaven. Not only did the day seem bright and happy, Fairhaven kids were out and about. Take a wild guess on what you think they were doing. DANCING!!! Many of the Fairhaven College students play an instrument (drums, guitars, banjos, violins, pianos) and love to go out on the green and soft grass outside of Fairhaven and start playing. Not only were they playing an instrument, many of the students and teachers… THAT’S RIGHT TEACHERS were singing. I was bedazzled and so honored that a small liberal college was so unified. Let’s` just say I fell back in love with my college. So the moral is, when it’s sunny in Western Washington University, don’t go to main campus. Take a little walk to Fairhaven and join not only the singing and dancing, but our family.

All the best,
Mario

I want to cry.

Want to cry.

Over: The American Landscape at the Tipping Point

(it's a link-- you should click on it)

Why?

Let's do something. Today, try to do one thing that intentionally expresses benevolence to the earth. Leave the car at home: walk, bike. If you're out grocery shopping, buy some local veggies (and avoid all packaged goods), take a military show (wet, turn off water, sud/scrub, rinse), pick up some trash, unplug those devices you aren't using (you'll save a bit of money, too). Or just sit and think about this beautiful planet we live on (because who knows how much longer it'll actually be beautiful for).

I'd love to hear what you do. Please and thanks and pass it on!

Inkspeak!

I'm going to quote Anneliese on this--

"Just a reminder that submissions for InkSpeak are due this MONDAY the 23rd. You can submit pieces in the picnic basket across from the office, or electronically at InkSpeakmag@gmail.com. Directions for submission are on the FH website, under News/Events. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me, Jenn, or Mary. Encourage anyone affiliated with the college-- students, staff, faculty, alumni, anyone-- to submit. Thanks!"

Monday the 23rd, by the way, is today.

For more information on Inkspeak, as well as an online version, click here! and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Please submit!

Concentrations pt.II

My dreams have been commandeered by insane Nordic musicians galvanizing stages across Seattle. Bass riffs storming the marrow of my bones, vocalists just a hairsbreadth from my face and singing so close I can feel the heat and wetness of their sweat, grasping hands with them for just a split second of forever...all these things have happened to me in the past few months, but not recently, and that’s the painful bit. I miss my Finnish bands, the Norsk and Swiss…

I’ve also been thinking about my concentration quite a bit. Some sort of triumvirate of earth, rhythm and words. The stringing-together of words to imitate—and, essentially, create—life; drumming and rhythm as evokers of emotion and energy. Humans and the planet we inhabit inspire me. A muse birthed from the chiseling of earth and nature by human hands. Inspiration driven by decay, the seasons, a mouse, slow supernovas. Stories written about the current suicide mission of homo sapiens and improv on the drum set that emulates the clicking of beetles. These are the emotions and images and thoughts I want to bring to my concentration.

I remember my writing transition from last quarter: I was so adamant that I’d be studying storytelling through creative writing and percussion . And before that, in spring quarter of my freshman year, I was sure I would use Tolkien as the focus of my drumming and writing concentration. I certainly haven’t lost interest in any of these sparks (I’m avidly following the The Hobbit movie blog and recently memorized Tolkien’s Shadow Bride for Poetry and Sound), but what I’ve come to realize is that I should focus on an idea rather than a singular project (such as putting Tolkien’s wildly complex Silmarillion to percussive song…which would still be awesome). I shouldn’t limit myself. I should become widely versed in a focused area of study (such as words, earth and rhythm) and from there, go crazy (I can probably check that last bit off the to-do list). Of course, come spring quarter, I’ll probably have stumbled upon another epiphany. Doubtless it will still involve words, rhythm and earth.

Even so, my plan is to take the concentration seminar next quarter, to expand my self and my passion. Ultimately, in my collegiate afterlife (and perhaps before), I’ll be an internal, self-sustaining cycle, feeding myself with my passion. My food will be my drumming and my writing (literally, if I manage to support myself with them). And at some point, I won’t be waiting for those Nordic musicians to come to me. I will go to them.

Blogging

I ran into my adviser as I left Fairhaven today. I feel like we sometimes have awkward interactions, despite the fact that he's my favorite professor.

"So, you're a blogger now," he said.

"I guess," I answered.

It's good to know that someone is reading this thing.

But seriously, thanks Niall.

Concentrated studies

School has begun to take over. It's not so much that I'm ridiculously busy, because I'm not. It's more just that I look at the work I have for next day of school and it's just so intimidating. Eventually I psych myself up for it and get it done in a reasonable amount of time, but until I do that I'm stuck thinking about how I have to do it - and that is certainly the worst part.

In any case, lately I've been spending time thinking about what I want to concentrate in. Over the past few months I have come to a conclusion, and so this quarter I am taking the Writing Portfolio and Transition conference, which is basicially Fairhaven's equivalent of writing proficiency. It also signifies moving out of exploratory studies and into concentrated studies. My studies have always been pretty concentrated though, as I came into college with a pretty good general idea of what I was interested in.

It's crazy to think that after less than two years of school I already have nearly 100 credits, when you only need 180 to graduate. Over the past week I have declared my majors (Political Science, and a Fairhaven Concentration). Next quarter I plan to take the concentration seminar, and design my concentration and I hardly feel like I've been in college that long.

I guess that's the sign of a good college experience - you hardly realize it's going by. That's easy for me to say right now though, as I sit at home. Hit me up in the middle of a lecture class and I might be telling a different story.