tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62419932011-11-22T18:54:08.992-08:00do not ignore itDelphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.comBlogger651100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1143773280211610762006-03-30T18:14:00.000-08:002006-03-30T18:48:00.266-08:00

Immigration legislation is in the throes of hot debate right now. Immigration, a multi-faceted issue with passionate people on all sides.Protests, demonstrations and school walk-outs have dominated headlines the past week. David and I attended the mass demonstration in Los Angeles on Saturday. It was inspiring and impressive. I blogged nearly two years ago about being fed up with the anti war

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1125980123975031482005-09-05T20:35:00.000-07:002005-09-05T21:15:24.003-07:00

We just returned from four days in Dorrington CA which lies 7 hours north and east of L.A. somewhere in the mountains (I think...i've always been directionally challenged.) It felt reminiscent of Maine with its big pine trees and clean air. (Of course, wrapping ones lips around the tailpipe of a diesel bus in central america and inhaling deeply is cleaner than breathing L.A. air). At 7000 feet we

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1124832178327484102005-08-23T14:09:00.000-07:002005-08-23T14:22:58.333-07:00

My day started at 5:50 am. I threw on some clothes and David and I hopped in the car to bike in the mountains. When we get in the car we hear Pat Robertson announcing, in his typical eloquent style that we should go assinate Hugo Chavez because 'it's cheaper than war.' I wonder if Robertson would share the 4 spiritual laws before hand.Annoying thing number one of my day: Pat Robertson okaying

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1124206207621447532005-08-16T08:28:00.000-07:002005-08-16T08:30:07.626-07:00

"I don't think God knows if I'm wearing underwear today or not."

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1124053440290119972005-08-14T13:50:00.000-07:002005-08-14T14:04:06.003-07:00

it's true. they all predicted it would happen. in one week diesel went from an average 2.50/gallon to it's current 3.50. What a sham. it's a conspiracy. more bombs over baghdad.

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1122400037151636162005-07-26T10:44:00.000-07:002005-07-26T10:47:17.156-07:00

K is learning how to use email right now. This is what he wrote to his dad today. (He dictated, I wrote)I miss you dad. but, I miss you because I wish I could be at work just like you when I grow up. I could be a computer worker or dirtbiker or a singer. And if you want me to be a singer tell me what band you want it to be when I grow up. Any band. just tell me. So, I love you. I love

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1121969826403967132005-07-21T10:51:00.000-07:002005-07-22T08:16:25.886-07:00

Another week gone by. Time is going quickly. K sleeps again on the couch as I write. I am taking a break from studying herbs that 'cool the blood and drain heat.' We finished off last week by going to the movies and watching Herbie which I enjoyed almost as much as K. Now he is asking David and I to buy a VW Bug and paint a number 53 on it.One of K's training wheels was removed over the weekend

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1121366125461516752005-07-14T11:05:00.000-07:002005-07-14T11:35:25.520-07:00

I spent the first part of my morning camped out at the DMV trying to renew my car registration that is due...today. This is what happens when one procrastinates in changing the address on their License after moving and inadvertantly never receives their renewal notice...Stopped by target on the way home, picked up K, ate some breakfast and now the little one is currently passed out on the couch

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1121319330325249572005-07-13T22:34:00.000-07:002005-07-13T22:35:30.330-07:00

i am so proud of my big sister.

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1121052626191598812005-07-10T20:15:00.000-07:002005-07-11T12:40:43.446-07:00

P.S. this blog is still ugly. David says he has offered to change it many times but i've always insisted on doing it myself (ME refuse help??? I don't remember him ever offering....)...anyway.This week was full and i found myself fairly exhausted by 7:30. but it was a good exhausted with very exciting days to thank for that welcomed tiredness at the end of the day.On Tuesday K and I ventured out

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1120772047144393672005-07-07T14:33:00.000-07:002005-07-07T14:34:19.823-07:00

But i'd rather do anything else in the world than change it because it takes me forever.

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1120539743615680742005-07-04T21:47:00.000-07:002005-07-05T11:00:03.570-07:00

I have never really hid the fact that I don't do well with large numbers of children. They begin to weird me out and I feel like should be wearing a space suit or at the very least, yellow, rubber dish gloves. I still feel like there's hope for me. I went through a pretty long phase of hating dogs and their tongues which usually found a way to my skin. Then I got Sam the dog and anyone who knows

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1120259800095439452005-07-01T15:41:00.000-07:002005-07-01T16:16:40.100-07:00

Today, July 1, is my first day of intentional, gainful, unemployment. I left my office yesterday feeling weird. I'd had months to adjust to the fact that I'd be leaving but nothing really prepared me for what I ended up feeling at the end of the day. I was ready to be done. I won't technically miss what I did, I was unchallenged, and quite frankly very lazy by the end of my time there, but I

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1115938723157988652005-05-12T15:13:00.000-07:002005-05-12T15:58:43.190-07:00

This Monday the California senate appropriations committee may decide my fate as a future oriental medical practitioner--oh wait, I forgot, according to the American Medical Association (AMA) I'm not allowed to write "medical" anywhere in conjunction with "oriental." (Someone may get me confused with a "real" doctor...because the four years I spend in school learning Chinese Medicine doesn't

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1114464483554851712005-04-25T14:12:00.000-07:002005-04-25T14:28:54.303-07:00

For the past couple months I've been following the story of Mr. Tim Dunden, aka Zeke the Sheik, aka Talker. Mr. Dunden began a compost pile in the early 1970's not too far down the road from where I live. Thirty plus years later the pile got to be 40 feet high and 200 feet long. The community got involved donating yard waste and produce remains. The property where the compost pile is located is

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1114213556028958752005-04-22T16:41:00.000-07:002005-04-25T12:34:22.703-07:00

The sun is finally shining again in southern california (although today hinted at rain). It is Friday and that is good. I'm feeling rather inefficient at work lately (which is better than feeling that way towards life which had been the case these past several months). I've decided to quit, still unbeknownst to supervisor in order to spend more time with my step son. I'm probably more excited

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1113598107389708582005-04-15T13:46:00.000-07:002005-04-15T13:48:27.390-07:00

because once again, for the fourth year, I owe them money. no matter how i try to make sure this won't happen it always does. off i go to sign a check that will inevitably go to support a war i don't agree with. blasted april 15th.

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1113004230802011202005-04-08T16:23:00.000-07:002005-04-08T16:50:30.806-07:00

I tend to skip over them in books or other written media, but I read this and felt moved... I have read about Monsenor Oscar Romero of El Salvador and to say I deeply admire him doesn't begin to convey the affection I have for the assassinated archbishop of El Salvador gone before I was even conceived. During my stay in San Salvador I would occasionally visit his humble tomb in the basement of

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1112309720693694312005-03-31T14:39:00.000-08:002005-03-31T14:55:20.693-08:00

I received a phone call from Bernardo's social worker. He is going to be placed with a different family for the third time since he left us. The social worker revealed that as he sat in her office last week he poured out his heart to her admitting that he realized D and I were never 'in it' for the money but that we really cared about him and wanted to help him out. He realizes this after living

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1111792796789491072005-03-25T14:42:00.000-08:002005-03-25T16:16:25.016-08:00

And right now, in the closet size chapel downstairs, a group of Vietnamese meet where they have been singing since I came into the office nearly 2 hours ago. It is good Friday. Whenever Christmas or Easter rolls around I always internally hope for it to somehow be different than the year before. I want to be impacted slightly more, I want the lightbulb in my head to go off suddenly and have a

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1110583166950183202005-03-11T15:08:00.000-08:002005-03-11T15:21:03.030-08:00

This week i aspire to be Peter Gibbons. I don't work in a cubical or hate my boss nonetheless I am...This all stems as one more stop off point in my thought process post reading of Affluenza and Ecclesiastes over and over and over again. My new challenge is to determine how little I can work and still survive. Sure beats the cultural goal of 'how much to I need to work in order to support my

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1109882079041940612005-03-03T12:33:00.000-08:002005-03-03T12:34:39.043-08:00

Autumn is a famously beautiful time of year in Maine. One fall Saturday when I was still in high school my best friend and I raked leaves from the early morning till late into the evening as a way to earn money to go on a "mission" trip. During those long hours as our hands blistered from holding the rakes we mapped out the plan for our lives. What were going to do?We were going to finish high

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1109376937511264832005-02-25T15:54:00.000-08:002005-02-25T17:22:41.346-08:00

Jim Wallace, editor of Sojourners Magazine, spoke in Pasadena on Monday night as one of many stops for his current book tour. His talk was engaging and for a moment I felt as though I was living my short stint in Los Angeles again where I was studying social justice issues and movements on a daily basis. I miss those days. The problem with this is that there is no reason those 'days' should be

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1109196667352750902005-02-23T14:06:00.000-08:002005-02-23T16:29:11.823-08:00

The older I get the younger I feel. I can remember in grade school, maybe even kindergarten, when the birthday girl/boy got to wear a crown for the day made by the teacher. I wish I had a crown to wear today. Guess I'm just a whore for attention. Wonder if that stems from being the last child in the family. Internally I feel like the entire world should cater to me for the day in celebration of

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1109029558178513002005-02-21T15:33:00.000-08:002005-02-21T15:46:03.230-08:00

I started my worm compost last week. It's something I've been talking about for a while but never got around to. It was really easy and I can't wait to use the compost on my plants. I never thought I could get so excited over watching worm poop accumlate and my trash decompose into quality earth. This is very small scale but the wheels of my imagination are turning as a I envision more and more

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1108963255395780172005-02-20T20:48:00.000-08:002005-02-20T21:25:14.136-08:00

...to catch up on three months.december passed. obviously. christmas was hurried and lacked a lot of meaning.we moved. we scraped acoustic ceiling off at least 500 square feet. we painted.january came. i dropped into a deep funk even considered prozac. well, not really, but the thought crossed my mind that maybe these "feelings" are what drive people to take prozac. maybe i'm just a drama queen.I

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1102396338814433932004-12-06T20:59:00.000-08:002004-12-06T21:12:18.813-08:00

Bernardo has been gone a little over a week. For better or worse I've had a 1001 things to distract me from thinking about 'the why' behind his having to leave. Yesterday we went to buy a Christmas tree. Bernardo was randomly with us last year when we went to purchase one. He'd spent the day working with David and went with us later that evening. That was the first time he ever came to our

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1101520357385491732004-11-26T17:47:00.000-08:002004-11-26T17:52:37.386-08:00

Today is moving day. Today Bernardo leaves us. It's hard to believe he has been with us for seven months. My stomach is queasy and my body shakey. Questions of my own failure with Bernardo pervade in my mind. Is it the right thing that he is leaving? What could I have done differently to prevent this. It is so painful to see him go. My heart aches for this person nearly my own age who

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1096928579627988612004-10-04T14:34:00.000-07:002004-10-04T15:22:59.626-07:00

I watched Motorcycle Diaries over the weekend with some friends. I've been a fan of Che since I first began reading about him a few years ago. While I don't agree with all that he did or all his practices I admire his commitment to justice and the oppressed. Motorcycle diaries catalogues a brief period in the young Ernesto's life. A med student from the upper class in Argentina he embarks on a

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1096652126596494232004-10-01T10:12:00.000-07:002004-10-01T10:35:26.596-07:00

There have been two times in my life when I have felt so completely overwhelmed by another person's indescribable generosity. Henri Nouwen often wrote about giving and receiving, being the guest and being the host. One cannot survive without the other. Last night some dear friends identified a desire in our lives and then met that desire beyond any anticipated measure. As David and I were

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1096586703194204262004-09-30T14:21:00.000-07:002004-09-30T16:25:03.193-07:00

I've had some responses to my last post. I don't think I was that eloquent in articulating my present state of mind. After spending my morning talking with a dear friend I think was able to pinpoint some of my frustration. I have the ideals of what I'd like to be. I have ideas of practices I'd like to integrate into my life. I am neither disciplined nor dedicated--a trait that has plagued me my

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1096066517252815822004-09-28T09:14:00.000-07:002004-09-28T09:44:09.016-07:00

I don't know when the dissatisfaction first set in. Even now I still struggle with the fact that I feel this way. I'm trying to get to the bottom of the angst. I'm finding more and more frequently that as I try and process these thoughts out loud with people I trust I'm finding more people in a similar state. I'm tired of church. There. Now I await the lightening bolt to strike me dead. Nice view

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1095282589079949172004-09-15T13:30:00.000-07:002004-09-15T14:09:49.080-07:00

I spent the early part of this morning talking to an old man who came to repair our dishwasher. He had a thick accent so I was intrigued. I learned that Yakov (who did indeed smell overwhelmingly like horseradish) came to the U.S. as a refugee a little more than a year ago. He didn't explain why his life had been in danger and I didn't want to pry too much but I'm curious about this little old

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1093821645935226792004-08-29T15:56:00.000-07:002004-08-29T19:29:11.526-07:00

8 days spent in any country is by no means long enough to drink in your surroundings, process the sights, smells, and sounds experienced, nor is it a long enough to begin to process the questions that begin to arise when put in a new environment. El Salvador was as beautiful as it has ever been. The mosquitoes were at a minimum, the heat while still annoyingly humid was not completely oppressive

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1092442211486484212004-08-13T16:23:00.000-07:002004-08-13T17:13:45.983-07:00

Not too long ago I felt the need to be more involved with the Pasadena Community because I live there. I work at an organization where we depend on our 50+ volunteers to make our program work so I understand the importance of having committed people day after day. I came across volunteermatch.org about a year ago when I started posting positions for volunteers with our organization. Last month I

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1092085136841030502004-08-09T13:36:00.000-07:002004-08-09T16:25:38.146-07:00

Childlike Gratitude How do you teach a kid in such a way that they come to their own conclusions without feeling indoctrinated? I want to teach Ke'ano my values but I don't want it to backfire when he's 16 once he realizes their not his values, but his families. So how do you teach something so that they can own it? I think that is the big parenting question I'll be working through my whole

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1091857410702204632004-08-06T22:18:00.000-07:002004-08-06T22:43:30.703-07:00

The joys of impulsive traveling.... I booked a ticket to San Salvador today. Then I read the confirmation and realized I booked the wrong return date for September instead of august...I'm a winner. Then I realize I haven't traveled internationally since I got married last year so I still have a passport under my maiden name. Again...I'm a winner. Looks like I'll have my work cut out for me this

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1091839420845837052004-08-06T17:39:00.000-07:002004-08-06T17:43:40.846-07:00

This week has been far better than last. No hospital visits. No children out for days at a time. This week was great. And now it is friday. David and I got free tickets to see Eric Clapton on monday thanks to David's co-worker and his unfortunate break up with his girlfriend. I'm starting to hammer out the details of beginning grad school in october which is exciting to think about and

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1091221116929477402004-07-30T13:57:00.000-07:002004-07-30T13:59:29.340-07:00

Bono recently wrote this article which ran in the Boston Globe. Read it here

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1090944664448160832004-07-27T08:56:00.000-07:002004-07-27T09:11:04.450-07:00

Bernardo has a single rule living with us.  All we have asked is that he call us and let us know if he is not going to come home.  He is usually very good about this.  When we hadn't seen him or heard from him in two days we began to worry.  So, Sunday night, I had the pleasure of calling around to the LAPD, the jails, and the hospitals in an attempt to find him.  There is an odd mix of feelings

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1090859840474572092004-07-26T09:29:00.000-07:002004-07-26T09:37:20.473-07:00

John Stott on Jesus: I could never myself believe in a God, if it were not for the cross.  The only God I believe in is the One Nietzsche ridiculed as "God on the cross."  In a real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it?  I have entered many Buddhist temples in different Asian countries and stood respectfully before the statue of Buddha, his legs crossed, arms folded,

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1090533660626161472004-07-22T14:37:00.000-07:002004-07-22T15:13:36.766-07:00

One month later.............laziness has found me this month.  Summer is upon us in full force in L.A. and my second story airconditionless apartment is proof.  From my office I can see the smoky haze in the distance where fires are burning in the Riverside area. The month has been full.  The whole family took off to Maine for a few days to visit my parents.  Even Bernardo was able to join us.

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1087925212012030592004-06-22T10:05:00.000-07:002004-06-22T10:27:04.903-07:00

David and I went to a poetry slam Saturday night in Lemeirt Park. It reminded me of my high school days when I used to attend poetry slams in the rural town where I grew up--only Lemeirt Park is a cultural hub of South Central and Railroad Square in Waterville, Maine is the tiny 50 person theater where independent films are shown--an arduous attempt to bring diversity to a very monocultural

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1087837288867024672004-06-21T09:54:00.000-07:002004-06-21T10:01:28.866-07:00

I used to sing and write myself into a vision of changing social structures-- you know, the kind where the poor have at least beans and rice and the street kid from Bolivia with the flu can get a shot instead of death. at the young age of 23 my idealism has been smashed--I didn't anticipate this apathetic onset until at least my 38th birthday. instead I find myself waffling along in a

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1087188987367882582004-06-13T21:28:00.000-07:002004-06-13T21:56:27.366-07:00

Sunday evening. I've been listening to good music that reminds me of old friends and just began reading Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling. We returned from a trip to Mexico a few hours ago. We arrived to Ensenada late on Thursday night and took off for San Felipe mid Friday morning. We happened upon San Felipe for the first time last August. It was like discovering a bit of the Caribbean

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1086738436274241532004-06-08T16:39:00.000-07:002004-06-09T15:13:34.246-07:00

Stupid Blog. I suddenly feel like I'm back in high school and have just managed to erase an entire term paper. Life. The Smashing Pumpkins have seen a reemergence in my car CD player recently. Ke'ano got a kick out of their name as we were driving to school this morning. Bernardo has to go to the Doctor tomorrow per the request of the county. I'm a little leary about taking him to the

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1086201069362968412004-06-02T11:16:00.000-07:002004-06-02T11:31:09.363-07:00

Yesterday marked our first wedding anniversary. I highly recommend marriage. My neighbors are blasting obnoxiously loud Banda at 11 am. Bernardo stood up to his teacher yesterday when she made a comment that all Latino men are severely machista and only want to control their girlfriends and wives. He said he knew a couple where that was not the case and that is entire idea of family was in

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1085378372962740462004-05-23T22:31:00.000-07:002004-05-24T15:18:05.406-07:00

I saw A Day Without a Mexican over the weekend. The mockumentary follows what happens when one day all of California wakes up to find a third of its population missing in a rapture-esqu disappearance. Of those missing--anyone of Hispanic descent except for one latina news reporter Lila. The movie, while delivering a serious message of the contribution latinos make to Californian society, is

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1085376686522685932004-05-23T22:21:00.000-07:002004-05-24T08:53:56.210-07:00

I spoke too soon about DCFS. Signing the papers was easy...Spending Tuesday morning in children's court and Saturday night waiting to get fingerprinted was not cool. It was not the fact of having to be present that sucked, it was observing the highly inefficient matter under which this government agency operates that was annoying. In the end it will be worth it, but for the time being I'll

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1084895087005105712004-05-18T08:39:00.000-07:002004-05-18T08:44:47.006-07:00

Well, the L.A. County DCFS has impressed me for the first time in my experience with them. Ms. Gomez, a social worker, visited our house last night, spoke with Bernardo, and then with me. In the course of 35 minutes we became foster parents......I guess the secret to getting through the system so quickly is first to acquire the kid, then to call the state instead of going through all the

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1084812223050744632004-05-17T09:11:00.000-07:002004-05-17T09:43:43.050-07:00

Bernardo has been with us a little over a week now. Our family is enjoying our time with him and he proves to be a unique guy. We've spent nights outside around the hookah, or indoors with coffee and pan dulce. Our relationship that is developing with this 17 year old is very much symbiotic. He needs that which is tangible and immediate--a place to stay and food. But what we are receiving

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1084158888771946452004-05-09T20:01:00.000-07:002004-05-09T20:17:58.840-07:00

I walked away from a very disfunctional human rights organization about six weeks ago. Looking back, it has been the right thing to do and I have greater perspective on just how disfunctional it truly was. I really thought that leaving six weeks ago was it. I'd never go back.....But a person whom I respect called on Friday night and asked if I could hang out with some of the kids from the

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1083976279323689012004-05-07T17:12:00.000-07:002004-05-07T17:37:12.983-07:00

I just met with the woman who is in the midst of the domestic violence battle with her former husband. I wrote a little about her a few weeks ago. I've been spending more and more time with her and have developed a deep appreciation and love for her. I am just returning from her office now where she gave me the necklace off her neck because I admired it. It was such a beautiful gesture and I

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1083022562996831832004-04-26T15:56:00.000-07:002004-05-18T08:47:36.073-07:00

Has the church neglected the arts in the last century? Franky Shaeffer argues that it has. We've gone from the magnificent works of Raphael, Durer, and Carravagio and reduced ourselves to bumper sticker slogans and kitschy trinkets promising to build our faith and remind us of our wonderful loving god. I don't know about anyone else, but somehow I don't know how purchasing an eraser saying, "

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1083007424974219202004-04-26T12:16:00.000-07:002004-04-26T12:28:20.966-07:00

The weekend ended too quickly. Friday involved a trip to a restaurant to see a tribute band play Beatles music. On Saturday, a family friend from the past came to visit which proved to be too short. We had a wonderful time catching up. It's monday. It is approaching 90 degrees outside. I am not ready for the unbearable hot weather in this un-airconditioned apartment. It is almost time for

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1082435575788054922004-04-19T21:13:00.000-07:002004-04-19T21:41:23.966-07:00

Henri Nouwen lived as a Trappist monk for seven months in the mid-seventies. He took a break from an ivy-league teaching career, speaking engagements, writings, and all the other things he was up to, so that, in his own words, he might figure out what it was that Made me think and talk about the 'reality of the Unseen, with the seriousness of one who had seen all that is real. Nouwen suffered

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1082218801758383912004-04-17T09:16:00.000-07:002004-04-19T21:09:43.996-07:00

In an effort to find a decent writing sample for an interested party, I began looking through some of my work I'd done while still in school. I came across this journal entry written in March 2002 which I used as a postscript to my senior thesis. This is not what I submitted as a writing sample, but I was convicted as I read the words on the page because I feel so far from that point in life

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1082156620221740602004-04-16T15:49:00.000-07:002004-04-16T16:10:01.046-07:00

whew. 10 days since I last wrote. So much for being diligent about writing often...I am too caught up in thinking I lead a mundane life, too dull to write about. I suppose it's all in the presentation. I had a difficult meeting with a mother this week who wasn't fulfilling all of her commitments with our organization. I don't believe the woman is flakey, I just think she's extremely busy. A

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1081286071019068922004-04-06T14:14:00.000-07:002004-04-06T14:18:16.890-07:00

I am exhausted by politics. My faith and hope no longer lie in the potential of politics to affect change in this world. Even examples such as the radical party change in South Africa which occurred in the early 1990’s ending the evil system of apartheid has succumbed to corruption. Yes the reason is sin, but it is still disgusting, it is still disheartening, and it is still frightening to see

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1080600010006657042004-03-29T14:18:00.000-08:002004-03-29T14:49:28.420-08:00

My mind has been running all weekend. My Friday ended in a meeting with a single mom who is currently living in a shelter. She has three girls and left her abusive husband nearly a year ago. The court proceedings are just now on their way and the custody hearing was a week ago. Thanks to the wonderful judicial system of California (a no-fault state) this father who has both physically and

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1080265606146749712004-03-25T17:36:00.000-08:002004-03-25T17:51:14.390-08:00

I had my second Spanish session today. I am taking lessons from an older Guatemalan Gentleman who I'll call Josue. We had a wonderful time walking around outdoors through various trails. Green space is a rarity in Los Angeles and I always appreciate when I take advantage of what few parks we have. (Perhaps it is the fresh air at the higher elevations and the vistas that overlook the smog

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1080171691383737892004-03-24T15:39:00.000-08:002004-03-24T15:44:59.140-08:00

In the midst of the sea of commentaries following the release of Mel Gibson’s Passion of Christ movie, I have my bit to add. This comes after processing the movie over the past month since I saw it. Perhaps the most striking aspect of Jesus’ actions portrayed in the movie was how he responded to the individuals who were physically torturing him and verbally accusing him. Jesus did not respond

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1080091853420902082004-03-23T17:19:00.000-08:002004-03-24T15:31:47.560-08:00

Once there was a people that surveyed the resources of the world, and they said to each other, "How can we be sure that we will have enough in hard times? We want to survive whatever happens. Let us start collecting food, materials, and knowledge so that we are safe and secure when a crisis occurs." So they started hoarding and hoarding, so much that other people protested and said, "Hey, you

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1080091113311730772004-03-23T17:14:00.000-08:002004-03-24T15:40:10.890-08:00

A blog set up—the gift from my big brother and sister in law for Christmas. It has taken me 3 months to get rolling. There is much going through my head currently. I suppose I shall begin mid-thought. I attended a massive peace march this past Saturday to commemorate the one year anniversary of the U.S. invading Iraq. I always have mixed emotions when I attend events such as this one. On

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6241993.post-1072217263419368732003-12-23T14:05:00.000-08:002003-12-23T14:07:59.313-08:00

Merry Christmas and happy blogging. We look forward to hearing all your thoughts and philosophy on current affairs, religion, morality and anything else. Love, Your brother and sister in Christ

Delphihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923352432736660514noreply@blogger.com0