Sunny SD

Hello from San Diego!

We are just beginning to recover from the MASSIVE FLOODS following approximately FOUR DAYS of LIGHT RAIN!!!
"SAN DIEGO (AP) — The National Weather Service says more than an inch of rain has fallen in San Diego as Christmas shoppers battled flooding in the parking lot of a major mall.
Meteorologist Tina Stall says parts of the Fashion Valley Mall parking lot flooded Tuesday.
The weather service says 2 inches of rain have fallen in San Diego since Friday, more than half of that on Tuesday. The five-day total exceeds the county's December average."
TWO INCHES. Why is everything flooding? Because San Diego manholes are water-tight and we DON'T HAVE GUTTERS. We're really just asking for it. Also, palm trees loooove to take down electric cables. This is why I moved.

In other news, yesterday I watched a cool documentary about the North Korean Mass Games, with some sweet footage of gymnastic choreography.

Super cool and kind of scary. There really is no media access in that country. I would love the dear leader too. And damn those six-year-olds can do some backflipzzz....

I also stole some books from Romain to read, I like them all - I'm reading them all at once like one chapter of each at a time, which is less confusing and more schizophrenic, in that I keep thinking that all of these book are TOTALLY TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING MAN, it's like....CITIES and EMPIRE and IDEOLOGY and SURVIVAL mannnn....but not really:
1) Law in a Lawless Land: Diary of a Limpieza in Colombia - Michael Taussig
2) The Secret Life of Saeed: the pessoptimist - Emile Habiby
3) Invisible Cities - Italo Calvino

I remember trying to read a book by Italo Calvino at the beginning of freshman year but then giving up because he kept using the 2nd person and that pissed me THE FUCK off:
Italo: You are reading this book. Perhaps you are sitting in an easy chair, next to a fire....
Rose: OMG I hate you so much.
Italo: You take a sip of cognac....A woman walks through a snowstorm in the novel you read. Perhaps it is a hailstorm...
Rose: FUCK YOU. *returns book to frost* *drinks alcohol*

Also, when I return to Boston, I will be choreographing UMass Lowell's production of Rent with my old high school friend and now-director Mary Plant-Thomas. I'm getting paid a tiny amount which I'm pretty sure makes me a professional choreographer. Sweet! I'm also taking a piece I choreographed in the fall to ACDF (American College Dance Festival) at Keene State College in New Hapshire in March, so that'll be cool. It is the one with lots of screaming and LIVE LIVE LIVE bananas. So that's what I'm doing this spring. Also grad school. Haha. Gonna be a busy semester...

Merry Christmukkah.

Blue Eyed Babies

Quick post (because I agree with Carmella that a revival is necessary!) Here are a few cute pics of my niece and nephew, including Hannah's first school picture! And a picture of me and my new (well newish) manboy. Happy Holidays everyone!






Now i'm off to make cinnamon roll cheesecake and kahlua cake cookies :)

friends! we need to revive this baby!

Hello loooves! I am sad that we have fallen off the wagon in terms of this blog. Luckily, I still talk to most of you all regularly so I know you're alive and well, but some of you I haven't heard from in ages! Let's get back to it, ladies and gent!

I am writing to you from the deep south, lovely Nashville, TN. Maybe going to stop by Cookeville and visit Rachey's brother this weekend, and then onward to stay with a friend in central Kentucky for a few days.

I'm going to be back in western Mass dec 9th (for Jess' bday!). Hopefully many of you can make it to the Valley for wine and cheese which is that Friday night...

Otherwise, not much else is going on. I've been bouncing around a lot since leaving the Vineyard in late October. NYC, a train halfway across the country to Minneapolis, a lovely stay with the amazing and wonderful Sammy Jo Ellingson! She was a great host, by the way, (duh) and you should all go visit her! seriously! Sioux Falls is cool too. Has an... interesting reggae scene... heheh. She even took me to the Little House on the Prairie, which was awesome but it was too cold to get out of the car and explore. Oh well, maybe next time I travel to the Artic, I'll go in the summertime!

Speaking of summer, I'm headed southbound this winter to the land where it is eternally summer: Ecuador! After the holidays, my mom and I will travel to the Andes and through the rainforest for 2 weeks, and then I'm staying on 3 weeks after she leaves to work for the same nonprofit I worked with before - replanting the rainforest! I am beyond excited... I have been wanting to go back ever since I spent time there 3 1/2 years ago! And when Delta gave me TWO $400 travel vouchers last week after messing up my return trip from South Dakota.... well, I just knew it was a sign!

I hope you are well and healthy and happy! and that everyone had a joyous Thanksgiving with your loved ones. I got to spend my Thanksgiving cooing over the newest addition to our family, the sweet tiny little Camila! tiny fingers! tiny toes! tiny everything! (although, I am cautious of the fact that last time I was home, I was super enthralled by this flock of tiny kittens we had running around the house. and this time, well they weren't so tiny anymore. and therefore, less appealing :/ its the sad truth, folks.)

lots of love!! Carmella

Gahh winter is here.

Carmella was here last week in South Dakota for many fun, strike that, FOOD-filled adventures. We saw some interactive reggae, ate some BEEF, and generally frolicked South Dakota style on the prairie (i.e. huddled inside the old pontiac between brief spurts of outdoor activity). But now she's gone and it's 20 degrees out (but feels like -4!) and it's back to the old drone of working/sleeping life. It's funny but in college I just wanted some stability and the comfort of a regular paycheck, and now that I have that- I want some of the flexibility back from that time. Carmella and I were talking about the pros and cons of wanting a career where there is a definite path of here's what you need to do to get from point a to point b versus avoiding a path to always be open and ready for new opportunities. I guess neither is ideal and we have to find someway to achieve a little of both to not go hungry or insane from the monotony.

I think I need to plan some trips or general activities, maybe take a Spanish class, or volunteer more. My boss said I can go to this Midwest Academy training, Organizing for Social Change this spring. It's run by an organization that Bill Ayers is somehow connected to so maybe it will be radical and awesome. Anyone heard of it? Good or bad things? I think I would go to the one in May in San Ramon, CA. I've never been to California so it sounds appealing, although I'm not sure realistically how far it is from San Francisco or anywhere else if I wanted to do some sightseeing after. Maybe I would need a car to do that? I've clearly researched this heavily :) But since Carmella left, I have been thinking about how rutted in the 9 to 5 I really am now, and for basically no reason! I think I should be using this time I have before law school to enjoy the flexibility I do have. So I'm going to let some of that Carmella/Chapman awesomeness rub off on me, and start doing stuff- suggestions welcome. Although first thing on the list is more gym time- the sedentary life is not for me or my lower back.

Speaking of not moving- Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

awesome halloween party

If you're anywhere near Boston on Oct 30, Romain, Becky, Steve, Rachel, Carmella and I are having a Halloween party in our house (230 South St. 02130). It's going to have silly decorations, Steve and friends on music, food, booze, and love.
So if you can make it let me know, and please bring whoever you like, and as always, all are welcome to crash.

Misses and kisses,
Rosie

figuring out my life?!

hi guys! i'm making plans, and i thought you should know about them!

sooo, I'm leaving martha's vineyard around halloween, probably spending the holiday in boston with boos, and then heading off to nyc for a week of fun. celebrating a birthday with some miami friends and hopefully seeing bill, etc. that's the weekend of NOV 6-7 if any of you want to join! (destry, megs, rose, rach, bex, everyone? hahah).

that sunday, I am taking an amtrak train from nyc central station to MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, where I'm going to hang out for a couple of days in hopes of meeting will allen, urban farmer extraordinaire. from milwaukee to minneapolis to see my cousin, and then sioux falls for some sam ellingson love! i'm flying from south dakota to florida the monday before thanksgiving for a whole week of family time! i'm really excited about going home because by then, i'll have a new baby cousin named camilla living in the house across the street from me! tiny toes and fingers -- what's not to love?!?

after thanksgiving, i'm doing a little tour of the south: nashville, birmingham, new orleans, and austin to see various friends and lovers (aka selena)... my austin dates are some amount of time between dec 7-15th. who else is in??

after that, it's home for christmas!

now this is where it gets interesting. i've committed to "working" at an organic farm in south florida for a few months growing bananas and mangos and other delicious tropical delights! ("working" implies that i'm being paid... which is an overstatement. but let's be serious, i'll be happy with tropical fruit as payment any day.) this is a perfect plan because i'll be "home" but not living at home (cause i'll be living on the farm) so i won't go apeshit crazy - yes! this also means that YOU ALL SHOULD COME VISIT ME IN MIAMI ANYTIME BETWEEN JANUARY AND MID-MARCH!!!!! to note, my birthday is january 9th. just sayin. sunshine. beach. in the winter. just sayin.

AND THEN (this part gets really exciting too), I just found out that i got offered a JOB at an awesome FARM in BELCHERTOWN, MASS for the months of April to November 2011! which means, i'll be back in the pioneer valley for a legitimate amount of time! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

sorry for the excessive use of exclamation points in this post, but i'm pretty excited that i have the next 12 months of my life planned out right now, and that they involve loving on so many of you pretty boos AND lotsa hangout time with veggeies!! maybe after all of this, i'll head out west and hang out with our lovely san fran folks... !

hearts and hugs from the windy vineyard!!
carmellaaaaaa

This morning in Holyoke

Walking one block down the street to get myself a bagel. Three guys loading some equipment onto the sidewalk.

First guy: Hey, beautiful.
Second guy: You sure are beautiful.

This rubs me the wrong way. Always does. But on this walk in particular I had already been thinking about street harassment. I was going over this blog post in my head, which had resonated. It makes sense: of course I was thinking about my vulnerability when walking down the street as I was walking down the street. The threat of it is always there, so I'm always aware of it.

So I turn around and, levelly, politely, coolly say: You know, it's really annoying that every time I walk outside I have to worry about getting comments like that.

First guy's response: Well then don't be so beautiful.
Second guy: Yeah, don't be so beautiful.

Come onnnnnn. You have got to be kidding. (Which is what I say to them: Come on.)

I get my bagel and on the way out, guy number one is still there. Guess what he says as I walk past?

"Hey Ugly! Is that better?"

Me: Why do you have to say anything at all?
Him: I'm just trying to make conversation. It's not like I'm trying to hit on you or anything.
Hmm...Okay. So I say: Well then just say hello. Hi.
And he says hi. And I keep walking.

Now all of you are smart, attractive, young women (with the exception of Julian who, of course, is all of those things without the "women" part). I know you deal with these situations too. What do you do?

And, Becky, so you know: These guys were hot. They were young and attractive and under different circumstances I would have wanted to talk to them, even flirt with them. But no, I still wasn't flattered, impressed or pleased. Just irritated. Just wanted to get my bagel and go.

It's fall! And 80 degrees?!

Sooo, I haven't posted in a while, and I have some general life updates. I also have an adorable pic of my niece and nephew I should put up sometime.

1. It was great to see Carmella's pics from the chap reunion weekend in Mass! Looks like lots of relaxing fun was had by all. Very disappointing not being able to attend :( But I was at least in NYC instead of SD that weekend. I hung out with Chase, Sarah Yoon and Tovah from amherst! We ate so many things that I can't get in sd, like gelato! and thai, french, and italian food along with about half a dozen cookies that were each the size of my head. Delicious and awesome! Although I think chase was happy when I left so he could return to his diet and the gym. I also met the ceo of the ACLU (who was recently on Colbert!) and lots of ACLU people from around the country.

2. Took the LSAT this last weekend. I actually think I did ok, but that might have been the dayquil talking. I was sick and hadn't been studying as much as I would have liked, so I'm about positive I'm going to cancel it. I'm actually excited to take it again in December though. Now that work has settled down I feel like I can actually focus and try to get a score I'm happy with. But it means I probably won't be applying until next year. I have mixed feelings about this especially considering my constant ups and downs at work. But taking 3 years rather than 2 between college and law school isn't that big of deal especially because I am at least building my resume. Right?! right?! Ha, I am clearly 100% happy with my decision.

3. Speaking of resume building :) So I was having lots of issues at work the past few months. It's only me and my boss at the ACLU of SD (until the end of the month when our new staff attorney starts!!!) and for some reason (severe emotional breakdown?)around June my boss stopped showing up for work and just completely checked out mentally from the office. He was also submitting reimbursements that seemed fishy to me, but there's basically no oversight from National on real issues here so I wasn't sure what to do or who to talk to about it. So I just picked up the slack and became the de facto Exec Director for most of the summer doing lots of awesome stuff that I wasn't getting paid for because I am a typical non-assertive female.

But no more! Being taken advantage of can really motivate a person to demand more. So in about as many words I told my boss to suck it up or leave- which seems to have worked somewhat for now. I also told him I needed at least a title change to reflect the responsibilities I've assumed otherwise I was going to take this open position at another non-profit. So now I am the Programs and Office Coordinator and I can submit overtime for my extra hours. And sometime this winter we are about 80% sure we will be approved to add a Programming Director (what I do now) which I will have to apply for but will almost certainly get. That position will come with a substantial jump in pay, and would look very impressive I think on my law school apps as long as I don't STRANGLE my boss in the process. It would also be a good thing for this office if I didn't apply until next fall to law school so I have some time to build a good foundation for the programs I'm starting. I hate to think of them collapsing instantly after I leave, although I CAN NOT stay here past that. But for now I have the attitude of I will do what I want and they can fire me if they don't like it because I'm not going to waste anymore of my time playing dumb games. Gahh, non-profits are soooooooo problematic and infuriating!

4. Carmella is visiting soon! So excited for that, and to start returning phone calls again. I need to catch up with many of you and hear about your lives! Also, I'm going to Minneapolis at the end of the month for a few work meetings and for a wedding with the guy I've been seeing for the past few months. I can't remember if I've mentioned him on here before, but his name is Sam and he's a lawyer here in Sioux Falls. It's been going really well, surprisingly so in fact. The break-up with austin felt like a slowwww death, but with sam it's just been one positive, happy moment after another, and I'm excited to see where we will go in the future. It's just really good with him.

Sorry a lot was condensed in this post, but it felt really cathartic to get it all out so I'm glad I did.
love!

no words; just veggies and cute calves

it's fall!

apollo the calf hangs out at the living local festival

some cute animals get eaten for dinner :/

bus ride to worky

joe bottle feeding the new babies!
(thanksgiving turkeys in the background -more cute animals as food)
greenhouses + silos at the farm (also, i heart greenhouses)

customer lovin on our tomatoes!

hannah and i wo-manning the farm stand at market

zeus and apollo in the backseat of the truck

oh hay! (my friend alexa + apollo)

hi friends, i suppose i can say a few words about life at the moment. life is good! farm work is satisfying, if hard at times. i love my garden girls so much! the love life is surprisingly good and mellow. what? i'm confused by my good fortune with this boy right now (although he's not a boy? he's actually 29? eek?). he's not a skeezeball, he's smart and funny and well-traveled (he's been to all 7 continents!) and honest and open and thoughtful. we've been hanging out a lot, and last night i went to an art show where he was exhibiting some of his photos. i was impressed. anyyyway, i'll stop gushing now :)

that's the dealio in my life right now. I'm thinking bout buying a car. any thoughts about the toyota prius, subaru outback, or anything else that is roomy and fuel efficient? heading out to western mass next weekend; i'll be there from october 9th to the 16th (sorry destry, no can do for the D.C. trip, but I wish I could join in on the fun! send my bday love to sara!) so jess cait destry and anyone else- i wanna hang! boston peeps, i'll try to stop over in your hood for a night or two. otherwise, you all are still welcome to the vineyard anytime! i'll be here until halloween!

other thoughts: october is here. fall is lovely. the end.

hearts, carmella

PS I'm going to try to post a Facebook album today of photos from our weekend cabin retreat, so be on the lookout!