Here are some pictures of Tanvi, Tatiana's baby girl. Kelly took these! You can see more, including pictures of the rest of the gorgeous folks at our ladies' tea, by clicking here (then click on the picture).

When I am no longer a grad student, I shall:

1. Subscribe to Orion, The Sun and Oprah magazines
2. Get an ipod
3. Buy running shoes, and use them frequently
4. Write songs and songs and more songs
5. Pick up the fiddle again
6. Make Andy Goldsworthy-type art (spirals of leaves and petals)
7. Bike all over the place
8. Read The Omnivore's Dilemma and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
9. Hang out at the beach
10. Plan some overseas trips (including Berlin!)

My next blogging plan is to post a series of lists, all sorts. Please do comment (for instance, if you think I've missed something important on the one below) and/or pass along some of your own lists. This first one was actually written about a month or two ago.

Note: This list is in no particular order, and subject to revision. ;o)

1. not a picky eater
2. not in love with tv or drugs or alcohol or doing crazy risky things like rock climbing up huge scary cliffs without gear
3. will do music with me
4. kind to old people, kids and strange people
5. recycles
6. will compost, even if he's never done it before, because it makes sense
7. likes to play outside
8. really really good at something (like playing the guitar, or green building techniques)
9. happy when he wakes up in the morning
10. smart
11. will read out loud to me
12. supportive of my music and career
13. not impressed by name brands or ivy league but loves good quality
14. gets people together to do fun things
15. likes dogs
16. puts people at ease
17. can cook, put up a tent and start a campfire (in a group or by himself)
18. not competitive but knows how to do well
19. knows how to love without reservation
20. would live in a yurt for a summer

I'm always on the lookout for stores that allow me to buy wisely (you know-- vote with my dollar, take care of the land and people who produce things, eat healthy and all that). This 'conscious consumer marketplace' from New American Dream looks pretty handy.

Studying at the law library...

1982

2005

Put Your Hyde in Park
London mayor triples fee for most-polluting cars entering city center

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has tripled the fee that drivers of the most-polluting vehicles will have to pay to enter the city center beginning in October, from about $16 to $49. The so-called congestion charge was introduced in 2003 in an effort to decrease traffic and greenhouse-gas emissions, encouraging Londoners and visitors to use public transportation instead of cars. Last week's changes to the congestion-fee program include exempting drivers of the most-efficient vehicles, including the Toyota Prius, from the charge. Another change would erase the exemption that had been in place for residents who live within the congestion zone, subjecting drivers of the most-inefficient SUVs and luxury cars to the $49 a day charge for driving in downtown London even if they live there. "I believe that this groundbreaking initiative will have an impact throughout the world with other cities following suit as they step up their efforts to halt the slide toward catastrophic climate change," Livingstone said.

(Read more news like this at Grist.)

Just back from a really lovely weekend retreat in the Bershires (that's a little mountain range in Western MA) at Woolman Hill Quaker Center. It was so nice!! I love love love the photo, below, of me, Anna and Vanessa clicking our heels :), and the one of us four girls laying in the snow, moonwatching (beside a yurt!). There was a fair bit of studying that went on, some great music and conversation, snowshoeing (and sliding around on the icy snow) and much eating. (For those who are able, you can check out more photos on my facebook pics.)

Here's wishing you some kind of good love.

(Photo by Ethan Hubbard. Click to magnify.)

Here's my dear friend Tatiana and her sweet new baby girl, Tanvi!

What a weekend!

1. Chinese New Years party here on Summer St., with 24 people in our cozy apartment, S's incredible cooking and my amazing punch (see recipe, below).
2. People (V, A and A) stayed over, stayed up til the wee hours discussing deep lovely ideas and playing music...
3. Woke up to more food, impromptu theater and music in the living room.
4. Tour of the Taza chocolate factory (less than a 10 minute walk from my house!).
5. Ice skating on the law school rink.
6. Comedy review at 'the Kong,' in Harvard Square.
7. Today: work at the museum, reading for school and laundry.

Peking Punch (amounts are approximate) * 2 cups ginger syrup: Blend together 1 c. coarsely chopped ginger, 1 c. water. When smooth, cook on low heat w/ 2nd c. water and two c. brown sugar, stirring frequently. Keep in fridge in airtight container. Good for at least 2 weeks. * 1 bottle club soda * 1 bottle cranberry pomegranate juice * 1 container orange juice * 1 bottle vodka * 2 oranges, cut in pretty slices * crushed ice * Mix all. Enjoy! *

To link to these and other free patterns from Amy Butler Designs, click the pictures and then click "free patterns," at the bottom right. I'd love to make the tunic this summer, and am planning on doing something like the Nigella Silhouettes for my friend Tatiana's new baby's wall. (The baby's name is Tanvi. She's a beautiful little creature!)

Look what I found at the library! Mom read this to us when we were little girls. I had forgotten what the story was actually about, but I did have a clear memory of Jonathan-- of how earnest and real and true-hearted he was. It's been my bedtime reading for the past two nights, and I'm amazed at how the reading is bringing back memories of being 6, or 8, however old I was at first reading. I think I might have a 'tactile' memory of the pictures themselves (some are on velum pages). If you haven't met Jonathan Seagull, yet, or haven't visited with him in a while, I recommend that you do-- especially if you're thinking about what it means to 'fly' in your own life. Happy reading!

Have been researching job stuff for after graduation... There are so many great organizations doing useful and inspiring things in the environmental and green education sectors! Clif GreenNotes, for instance, helps bands make their tours more environmentally sane. The bands (like Gomez, Guster, Martin Sexton and Brett Dennen) drive biodiesel buses, buy carbon dioxide offsets and sell organic cotton Ts. Click the link, above, to learn more and to download free music!

Look at all this gorgeousness! (saipua)
I am missing flowers...

It's been truly lovely to get to just inhabit Somerville, and Cambridge and Boston, these last few weeks. My room's finally looking lived in, I've written a few songs, met new (non-Harvard) people, had two fun weekends (dancing, the Superbowl, a fun poetry shindig, etc.). So many good people! I'm excited that the social stuff looks like it's going to keep going-- I guess because people finally know each other and are a bit settled in. (There are Chinese New Year parties this week, and two weekend escapes to the woods later this month!)

Classes started today, though, and the pace of life is already changing. Here's what I'm taking: my Arts in Education course (Today we had a great conversation about imagination!), an Adult Development class (Such a nice idea, don't you think? The reading list is amazing, and today during class I was laughing so hard that I cried. Yay!), a class called Informal Learning for Children (We get to design a major media project- the subject is climate change education!!!!!- and to work with media folks like the Sesame Street producers... I'm SO excited.) and either Nonprofit Financial Management (supposedly it's fun...) or Interdisciplinary Learning (which is also going to focus on educating for the 21st century, including environmental stuff!).

Tomorrow's a full day of class and an Idealist career fair at Boston University. Wish me luck!

p.s. Today I ran on a treadmill for the first time. (I felt like a tourist.)

I spent this past Friday at a sustainable development forum at MIT. I got introduced to Zumix and "e" inc., two inspiring community youth organizations that do amazing things, and got to hear lovely and sensible Peter Forbes speak about the importance of community and story-telling. I went to the conference because I just love learning about this stuff and because I'm realizing that I'd love for my career to include making quality 'green education' possible for kids!

At the forum, there was one great break out session on green education. Beyond that, in other public discussions about sustainability and environment that I've experienced (even including yesterday's Focus the Nation Teach-In), there is barely mention of the realities of education as a means to address environmental issues; I hear a whole lot more about policy and legislation than the daunting task of trying to change people's mindsets. (I get this. I'm constantly aware as a vegetarian that people are stubborn about certain basic lifestyle things, and that they're tired of being deluged with information about a situation that seems hopeless.)

When we do get to the point of realizing that green education is vitally important (like media literacy, and debt/consumer education) in the 21st century, figuring out how to do it and who bears the responsibility for it is going to be an interesting undertaking!

Claire and I met Liz (a green consultant for schools) and Gena (who does marketing for an architecture firm that's planning some cool wind energy stuff) at the conference, and we took a lunchtime stroll along the Charles River. Liz sent these pictures and I love them- especially the one with the 'floelings' of ice. (About this time last year I posted a picture of floelings in Anchorage!)