Ruby AEB Vanderzee

"Ruby's Studio:The Feelings Show" with Mel Brooks!

2010-08-09T20:28:00.001-07:00

I am very proud to announce the release of a 45 minute live-action show that I wrote and developed! It is for kids 3-6 and teaches how to name and identify feelings- something we could all remember to pay more attention to! Order one from the website through the link below!

http://www.themotherco.com/

"Ruby's Studio" Show Opening from The Mother Company on Vimeo.

Authors Ann and Jack Bradt complete debut novel

2010-06-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

After nearly three years, Lil' and Bill, Dad and my debut novel is...readable! Any takers? We are looking for a copy editor before navigating the publishing process.

Shack Update

2009-02-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

The Shack exterior and interior was completed November 24, 2009 just in time for arrival of Thanksgiving week visitors Abbie Longero and Julie and Charlie Malinsky-Adams. 3 cords of wood were unloaded onto the porch and under the deck. I've settled in and enjoy making my morning coffee on the stove, writing in the loft and sunsets thru the westward facing windows. More pictures to come.

Shack Chic

2008-10-23T19:41:00.000-07:00

My dream get-away would look a little something like this. It would be surrounded by trees, have electricity, but no plumbing, lots of light and a wood burning stove.

At Home Everywhere

2008-09-25T15:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel most at home in motion...trains, planes, bikes, on horseback or clicking my heels down the streets of NYC. Life is good. The rolling stone...yada yada...

Counting my Blessings

2008-09-25T15:32:00.001-07:00

My dear sweet NYC friends are taking such good care of me as I move back and forth in my gypsy year between Madison and NY.

Eating my way around the USA

2008-09-25T15:06:00.001-07:00

Former LeapFrog Colleague Lunch, SF

Mirsada's Too Much Parsley Goodness, The Tenderloin, San Francisco

Liney's First Papusa, The Mission, San Francisco

Erich's Blueberry Birthday, Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin

The Best Enchilladas Ever, Green Chilis and Spicy Ground Pork, Thank you, David and Jordan, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Grandma's Picnic Table, Sunset Grover Beach, Homemade soup, jello salad and pork tenderloin, Central Coast of California

Tartine, Patisserie Extra Ordinaire, $60 Breakfast, San Francisco

Kosher Chinese, Chinatown, SF

Enough Said

Grand Central Market, in the old hood, Downtown Los Angeles

Best Cappuccino EVER, Cafe Henri, Long Island City, Brooklyn, NY

Kyle and Don's Wedding

2008-09-25T14:57:00.000-07:00

These brave and beautiful men were happily married on July 25 in San Francisco, CA. Many tears and toasts to the great State of California for honoring love between any two people.

Marin with the Fayzinator

2008-09-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

To Grandmothers house I go...

2008-09-25T14:08:00.001-07:00

An Amtrack down the coast from San Francisco to Grover Beach to see my good old totally Americana grandparents. A mile from the beach and my favorite grove of eucalyptus trees....So sweet it is to have

Los Angeles, Baby, Baby, Baby

2008-09-25T14:01:00.000-07:00

My loveliest friends are reproducing...and the world is a better place for it! Welcome Elijah and Dylan! Gorgeous and Gorgeous, a combination of their divine parents!

Thursdays with Daphne

2008-09-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

Look at this sweet little being of light! Proud to say my sister made her. This might be as close as I get to my own...From April to August I've had the great joy of following this tiny person around the town of Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin. Walks to discover dogs and birds and flowers, mostly, a few of her favorite monosyllabic repetoire. She is a peaceful, watchful wonder bug.

A Surprise Saturday in Salt Lake City

2008-09-25T13:28:00.001-07:00

Lindsay, Lindsay, Lindsay....sing to me!

The Ghosts of Leadville, Colorado

2008-09-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

Drove the back roads, the 17, the 24, up from 7500 ft. elevation to 10,200 to the historic and haunted Leadville. The center of the Silver Boom of 1880 and a setting for my father and my book 'Passing', this was a long awaited trip for me. My former Marin County roommate Julie drove up from Denver to meet me for a weekend of research and discovery. We stayed at the Delaware Hotel on Harrison Ave, built 1886. We went to the Baby Doe Reading Room at the Library, clad in red velvet. We found a book with description of 'Stillborn Alley', the appalling tell-all of where the prostitutes ubiquitous with the times through their miscarriages and unwanted babes. The cribs still line the back side of what was 3rd Street. The dirt still mingled with blood, semen and tears. Julie and I were spooked, 1000%. We had the good fortune of being able to take in a silent movie at the Tabor Opera house on Sunday after a horseback ride through the mountains. The pieces of my grandmothers stories are not any clearer, but the setting is.

Santa Fe Vaccay... Sept. 1-14, 2008 Zozobra and 'Dance Camp' National Dance Institute

2008-09-25T12:32:00.001-07:00

The National Dance Institute Teaching Excellence Teacher training workshop was a wonderful, albeit challenging and exhausting two week experience. I'd wanted to go last year but a wedding and my father's recent cancer diagnosis held me back. Good to train with these fine folks and dance with the beautiful children of Santa Fe. NDI-NM provides performing arts training to the children of New Mexico. They have a sister organization here in NY, the origianl NDI. It is a rote pedagogy used to inspire excellence and a sense of acomplishment in public school children grades 3-5. Keep on doing your magic, NDI. Perhaps one day I will join your ranks.

While I was there I was introduced to a local holiday called Zozobra. It is the annual burning of a 5 story effigy of a boogie man type character. It originated with the historic repossession of Santa Fe by the Spanish from the Native Americans. Today, the Zozobra represents the evil spirit the city dwellers want to annihilate to keep the city of Santa Fe safe and evil at bay. Children and adults chant 'Burn him! Burn him!" in primordial rounds before the growling puppet is tourched by fire dancers and little goblins. Very much like Burning Man, but local and public, the Zozobra is stuffed with little pieces of paper with items the community wants to rid from itself. They are collected prior to the burn at banks and grocery stores and go up in a firework filled explosion. The two items I tried to give up were written on a piece of paper that I'd folded my gum into earlier that day and akwardly would not burn when I tried to take a bic lighter to them standing there in the field as Zozobra burned to the ground. I met a lot of beautiful Santa Fe sisters that night wandering to some house parties on Artist Road. "Que Viva Las Fiestas!"

"Y Que Viva NDI-NM!"

Road trip for The Amazing Race

2008-09-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

So my film maker friend, Andrew Bloomenthal wants to get on The Amazing Race. So we're putting his demo reel together during our cross-country ride to his potential race partner in St. Louis. I have a cameo and get my belongings hauled to Madison for my winter retreat. Good luck, Andrew!!

Inescapable Art

2008-09-25T12:14:00.000-07:00

Art, art everywhere....

First time up...

2008-09-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

It really does give one an entirely different vantage point of Gotham city being on the 86th floor Observation Deck of the Empire State. New York...wow. Always good to be a part of it.

And then there's the Riley Tavern...

2008-07-21T17:15:00.001-07:00

You never know what's going to happen or who you're going to meet just going down the road...Did someone say Jager bombs and a ride in a Bucky Badger dune buggy? Ah, summer in Wisconsin!

Devil's Lake Camping....

2008-07-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Complete with friends and family, beer cozies, the Fox Trot, wading through low lying water, a gas stove and a ride on a Harley, twas a weekend to remember.

Independence Again

2008-07-10T19:51:00.001-07:00

Back in NYC. Re-energized from visits with my East Coast possee. PS1, Saun Kuti at Summer Stage on Sunday, dinner in Long Island City, roof top fireworks,(why do I always cry on the 4th of July?), closing down Satsko at 4am, Wall-E, new restaurants, old friends, chance encounters, subways, video making and iphoto workshop. Back to the third coast and fields of fireflies. See you all again in August.

Dear Old Dad

2008-06-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

Dad and I are chipping away at this book. 140 pages, no plot and no character development, but a fantastic outline and many days enjoying 'research tangents'.

Pool opening in Wisconsin weather

2008-06-11T08:52:00.001-07:00

Wisconsin weather is nothing to brag about. 100 inches of snow last winter left the pool cover at my folks' place heavy with water. Our family got together to have a communal work day. Severe thunderstorms and tornado watches aside, we got that cover off. The best part was this cake designed by my nephew's wife.

Goofy Doofy, Duph-a-la, La La..

2008-05-01T16:08:00.000-07:00

Getting cuter everyday, this magic little being of light seems to have learned bird calls before English. "Owl, whoo" was one of her first words and she chortles with the birds in the morning and at sunset. Her latest natural sound is thunder, or as Daphne says 'der' and points to the sky.

Tree People, Spring in NYC

2008-04-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

I wish I were there, but I'm here, in Wisconsin, watching a green spring through SNOW!

Sula Winery and the road to Nashik

2008-02-27T05:27:00.001-08:00

Beneath the Jubjub trees

2008-02-21T01:34:00.000-08:00

The Banyan is the signature tree of India, with it's mangled multiples of Madusa tendrils.

The giant prickly fruits of the Jackfruit tree is edible if you dare!

Auyyappa Temple Festival

2008-02-21T00:16:00.000-08:00

You never know what you'll see driving down the street in India.
We happened upon Temple Day- not sure what Temple Day is, exactly, but they sure know how to dress up an elephant.

Felt like Carnival!

A King without a child found one in the forest. They sent the King into the forest to find a tiger for milk for the child, thinking the tiger would surely kill him. The King rode on the tiger out of the jungle, much to the surprise of the people. This is the story of one of the many temple festivals celebrated in India.

A true story about Auyyappa Temple festival is that of a magic eagle which comes and circles the temple five times every year on the same day before disappearing again into the forest.

Many Happy Returns

2008-02-20T23:32:00.000-08:00

Indian birthdays are so sweet I might just come back next year to do it again.
I celebrated my 31st b-day on the 13th (any good omens there for the year to day palendrome?)
Many well wishes from friends near and far and many little surprises in the office.
My staff gave me an Aquarius coffee mug and some ornate bindhis. My partner surprised me with a peradot and sterling ring- the ring of commitment to Mooptroop I presume.
They bought me a lovely cake and in the Indian tradition, only once you cut the cake do they sing (while clapping). The first piece was smeared on my cheeks, like tribal ceremonial paint, with the expression and handshakes wishing for 'Many Happy Returns."

My colleagues Leah, Prakash and Martin and I stayed in due to political rioting that evening and had a lovely evening of storytelling and order in paneer tikka masala, my new favorite, served of course, in a heartshaped dish!

Gods and Goddesses

2008-02-20T23:13:00.001-08:00

Temples, temples, everywhere.
Shoes off then go ahead.
Step inside.
Ring the bell.
Ram, Sita, Genesha, Shiva.
Say a prayer.
Mark your head.
Firetemple, fare thee well.

More Memories from the Taj

2008-02-18T20:10:00.000-08:00

Dosas in a daze, Lady Fingers, Pomme Fritte and bones

2008-02-18T19:59:00.000-08:00

The India Trio Travel Team Extraordinaire

2008-02-13T21:36:00.000-08:00

Carey Fayne- Doctors Without Borders, Nurse and PhD candidate at UW-Seattle
JoRo- NPR audio Engineer
Ruby- Mooptroop.com, CEO of an idea

We traveled South to North and then back to Mumbai. (Central/West Coast) We went by plane, car, autorick, ferry, boat and train.

Our itinerary was as follows:

Mumbai-Goa (on GoAir) Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday

We stayed for 3 days near Condolim right on the beach of the Arabian Sea in a nice airy room. We ate all our meals with our feet in the sand. A colleague from Animation Dimensions has a mate there from architecture school. The man, Kunal, generously and graciously took us out to a fine meal of King fish tandori , garlic prawns and the local dessert called bebinka, a dense layered cake. Feni is the local firewater made from either cashews or coconut. Josh and Carey loved the stuff, but it was a too strong for me and put me right to sleep!

Goa-Cochin (on Jet Airways) Monday, Tuesday

This got us to the South Western state of Kerala- claimed to be Gods Own Country.
The fleet of taxis down there are distinctive old white Ambassadors. We stayed in another Guest house of a lovely Catholic family whose 10 year old volunteered to be our first Mooptroop participant. We filmed her doing her Social Studies homework. We rose at 6 to be taken to a small brick building in an athletic field to take in the morning practice of a sport only found in Kerala called Kalaraipayto, an ancient martial art. We got footage of kids practicing for our first Moop webisode which will be focused on sports.

Allepi (bus) Tuesday, Wed, Thursday
Then we traveled down to Allepi by ferry and local bus. We passed thru Temple Festival where elephants are dressed in gold armor and ridden by gold clad folks carrying tall umbrellas. Allepi is also called the backwaters, or the Venice of India. We went straight to the Lake to hire a house boat, including a staff of three who drive and provide gorgeous meals. We spent two nights on two seperate boats, the second significantly nicer than the first. The food was spectacular. Fresh fish, spicey dishes, freshwater king prawns. The boats are somewhat futuristic in their curvature, but the scenes on the shore are from the old world- dugout canoes and women smacking laundry on rocks, wadding into the water.

Ama’s Ashram (bus) Thursday
From Allepi we took another series of buses (very cheap- maybe $2.20 for a two hour ride) to a remote village where the Ashram of Ama-gi, the Divine Mother is. We arrived just intime for her procession out to her long white Mercedes limo, decorated in marigolds. Ama was off to travel. Over 2000 devotees live there. There is a beautiful temple and an aura of love around the place. Everyone wears all white punjabs which Josh promptly purchased and hasn't taken off since, I don't think.

Vilcara (rickshaw) Thursday / Friday
Then a night in Vilcara, aka the Cliffs of Dover (our nickname, not theres)
A happy find, and an unplanned stop. We decided we didn’t want to stay at the Ashram so an hour south in an autorick to a beach town on the cliffs. A boardwalk lines the cliff overlooking the water and a night in a beach shack with a hammock outside. A nice dinner overlooking the sea and a restful night under the mosquito net.

Trivendrum (Ambassador taxi) Friday
The drive to the airport midday was along the sandy coast. Fishing nets and sculptures line the drive into the very mellow, small airport of Trivendrum.

Delhi (Kingfisher air) Friday, Sat, Sunday

We flew to Delhi and were surprised how beautiful it was. We went direct from the airport to an Ayurvedic clinic called Ashtang to receive the arcane hot oil to the third eye treatment. Deeply relaxing. We had a very nice hotel in New Deli by the trainstation. Out to dinner for dosas. The next day we rounded up train tickets, did some shopping and took the slow, old blue train 3 and ½ hours to Agra. To the Taj Mahal and back again. Sunday, we stopped into the Ganhi Smitri to see his moving last steps and wonderful museum.

Back to Mumbai for all to return to work in our three various locations. Josh and Carey both flew off that night. Josh direct on Continental to NYC. Carey on Ethiopian Airlines back to Kegali for a boat and Jeep ride back into the heart of Africa, her post in the Congo.

See pictures below.

Gandhi-ji and the Smitri

2008-02-13T21:01:00.001-08:00

Delhi

2008-02-13T20:17:00.000-08:00

Delhi is the most beautiful and cosmopolitan city we visited. It was surprisingly clean and sophisticated as compared to the rumors and picture I had in my mind's eye.
It is very much like Washington, D.C., and beautiful Capital city. We had ayurvedic treatment on day one. Day two we trained to the Taj in Agra. Day three we went to the Gandhi Smitri, where Gandhi spent his last 144 days and the site of his assassination. A very moving stop with a wonderful museum.

2008-02-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

2008-02-13T20:06:00.000-08:00

Minurets

2008-02-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

First Glimpse of the Taj Mahal

2008-02-13T19:54:00.000-08:00

It's so beautiful it inspires tears, so powerful, like the sun, it's hard to look straight at it for too long. It's best taken in in little sips, step by step, rounding through from the red brick fortress surrounding her, down the long path and reflecting pools to the greatest monument of love. She must have been an amazing woman. What a great trip to make just before Valentine's Day.

Temple Day in Kerala, traveling South to Ama-gi and Vilcara

2008-02-13T19:45:00.001-08:00

House boats in Allepi- The Venice of India

2008-02-13T03:40:00.000-08:00

Breakfast in Fort Cochin, Kerala

2008-02-13T03:34:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Carey Fayne joined up for a week of touring India from her post in the heart of Africa. She works for MSF- Doctors Without Borders. This is the 5th country we've traveled together. Our friendship started at the UW Madison after being casual acquaintances from different High Schools in Madison. We worked together in 1996 in an orphanage in Santa Cruz, Bolivia spending languid Saturday's picking lice from each other's hair. If that's not bonding, I don't know what is. Friends for life!

Haggle hard!

2008-02-13T03:27:00.000-08:00

We got good deals on her wears after a tough bargain.
Her daughter overcharged for henna-ing my hand an hour later when I was too tired to haggle any more.
It all equals out in the end.

Go Goa!

2008-02-13T03:23:00.000-08:00

Sacred sun, sacred cows.

Moop Development Team, Good-bye to the Chennai Guys!

2008-02-13T03:11:00.000-08:00

After one month of initial development our programmer and graphic designer said Chalo and went back to Chennai.
Thanks, Guys!

Just MOOP it!

2008-01-23T03:28:00.000-08:00

www.mooptroop.com

Link to Mooptroop

2008-01-21T21:43:00.001-08:00

Please visit our developing website at....

http://www.mooptroop.com

Driving in Mumbai

2008-01-17T03:27:00.000-08:00

The chaos is the order. Right of way is a constant game of chicken and the bigger guy always wins.
It's like a video game, with equal potential to die.

Privthi Theater

2008-01-17T03:23:00.000-08:00

We spent our holiday Tuesday doing a three year budget in the outdoor bamboo cafe attached to the Privthi Theater in Juhu beach. Thank you, Dave Donihue!

American Lunch

2008-01-17T03:17:00.000-08:00

After two weeks of chapati, rice and super spice, we three North American's delighted in a spread of Western luxury items. Turkey Sandwiches, pickles and Pringles made up our lunch today.
Ganesh and Shamim wide-eyed, shrugged and smiled, recollecting later in the day, "American lunch!", as if it was a sight they will not soon forget.

Where the crazy bird sings..

2008-01-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

There's a little garden here where a crazy bird sings. I like to walk, pace really and watch the sun set over the little smelly bog and listen to a loud 'Om' sound around 630 that sweeps over the area, calling people to evening prayer.
I wonder if what people say about India is true. What is becoming clear to me about my life...I like what I'm doing. I believe in it. If I step back and look at it it sounds and seems crazy and too big to actually ever happen, so I guess I'll just keep my head down.

I'm home alone right now. Rowan and Leah went to Hypercity, the giant Western supermarket. We're all sick of the food. I can't take the spice and ate thin white bread with butter, a banana and an orange with super spicey dhal and wierd macaroni noodles with green peppers that were so potent when Ganesh cooked them that everyone in the house was coughing. I went outside, where it wasnt' much better. They spray this horrendous mosquito smoke spray every night at 730.

Yesterday Josh sent me an NPR blog on the No pants day in the subway in 9 cities. I showed it to Shamim and Ganesh, the house help. Talk about lost in translation. I was laughing so hard. We're talking about people who avert their eyes if I have a tank top on.

I'm mentally exhausted from just the constant work we've been doing. Tired of thinking, strategizing, holding the vision, pushing it forward bit by bit, day by day. Trying to unwind, I listened to music for a while. I have a good book by Rohinton Mistry which I read for awhile. But, I don't want to do anything text based after these long days. After a good amount of ceiling staring, watching the clock tick and the ceiling fan spin, I decided, I wish I knew how to knit. Knitting would be good. Something more bodybased. Leah has a yoga DVD. Maybe we'll do that one of these nights or mornings.

I go in and out of hitting a wall of terror about what I am getting myself into here with the whole budget and 2 year plan. I miss my family and want to rent that little house I love for the summer and have sleep overs with all my nephews and neices. My eyes keep tearing up when I think of my family, of those gorgeous little souls, sparkling Daphne and Mindi, so magic and pure, discovering everything. My precious gentle Dada sitting watching birds at the feeder through white fields of Wisconsin winter.

Indian names, new friends

2008-01-16T02:56:00.000-08:00

11 days in...
11 new colleagues...

The Indian names are so beautiful.

Ashutosh
Prakash
Arun
Vivek
Mohan
Aseem
Ashwini
Aditi
Bhuvanesh
Kishore
Shamim

Mumbai Domestic and Professional Peeks

2008-01-13T21:10:00.001-08:00

So, we're here, heading into week two of MOOPTROOP development. It's a lot of work, as expected, but feels totally different than normal work, since it's our baby and we're being treated royally. We're based out of the colorful conference room in the seventh floor Animation Dimensions Studio. Some of the lovely people check in on us regularly bringing water and chai. Not too shabby. The guest house is a typical and very clean apartment with a cook named Ganesh from Nepal who pays special attention to detail, like tissue coasters under our teacups and laying out the twice daily cucumber, carrot, beet, cabbage salads in mandala like patterns. My only complaints are being cooped up (no walking or exercise on the dirt roads alone for me...they won't allow it!) and the mosquito factor. Our U.S. repelant's got nothing on these guys. I got a new cast for my broken radius (snowboarding with the nephews two weeks ago) and can type a little better, so all is well.

MOOPing in Mumbai

2008-01-10T19:13:00.000-08:00

Well, after 3 years of pitching MOOPTROOP, Rowan and I have been green-lit and are in production in India! We are putting the MOOPTROOP series in the form of a webisode as part of a website for Tweens also incorporating Web 2.0 and other features of global cultural exchange and media literacy. Thanks to all of you who helped us get launched, both on this project and from the U.S. Here is a peek into the Animation Dimensions studio. More soon...

Fuerza Bruta New York 2007- Slip and slide in the sky

2007-10-20T06:52:00.001-07:00

Whoa! This show, in previews until the 24th at the Daryl Roth Theater, 101 E. 15th St. NYC, is a MUST SEE EXTRAVAGANZA! Part wind, part water, part fantasy, these dancers break through barriers and overcome the forces of living, both elemental and constructed. Some cast, many former Cirque du Soliel performers, join this crew of fantastical, high energy part spectical, part dance party experience. As an audience member you are emersed in the experience in a fresh style that surpasses Blue Man Group by leaps and bounds, literally. Arial dancers run circles around you on shimmering foil backdrops. You move with the sets, sometimes underwater as the ceiling of splashing sirens slide over head. A dj brings it up and hot, high energy dance interludes rile up the crowd, creating the ultimate surreal danceparty. SCILF's included. (That's Stage Crew, by the way. HOTTIES.)

Dance Parade

2007-10-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

I am working to help throw a parade on 5th Avenue in May.

4000 dancers with over 150 dance groups will dance down from 34th St. to Washington Square Park on May 19, 2008. If you have a dance group, let me know! Inviting every dancer and dance group in New York City is my new job and goal!

Check out the YouTube promo add from last year's 1st annual parade!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG5yiS4tbbg

Isadora Duncan Dancers New York 2007

2007-10-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

Video coming soon.

The Four Directions Aztec Sunrise Dancers NM 2007

2007-10-16T16:11:00.000-07:00

Video coming soon.

Tibetan Wind Dancers New York 2007

2007-10-16T16:10:00.000-07:00

Video coming soon.

Balloon Fiesta 007, Albuquerque, NM

2007-10-14T08:32:00.001-07:00

The Dali LLAMA

2007-09-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

Howl Festival, Tompkins Square Park. What a nice LLAMA.

2007-09-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

Half way between Madison and the Big Apple, there is a must stop for amusement park. Cedar Point, a finger of land pointing out into Lake Erie from Sandisky, Ohio, is home of 22 roller coaster. Josh and I recommend the Milenium Force. It's smoothe, scary and so beautiful.

Mirsada's 'Too Much Parsely' Recipies

2007-08-31T07:06:00.000-07:00

POTATO LEEK MUSAKA

Two bunches parsley, chopped (not processed)

set aside

4 to 5 leeks washed and cut into crescents

Sautee in olive oil

salt sperately

grinded red pepper (optional)

add in parsely

Preheat oven 450

6 fist sized potatoes (any kind)

slice into chips

rinse in colander

add fresh ground pepper and sea salt

olive oil

Layer in dish starting and ending with potatoes

Add shredded cheese or mochi

Cover

Bake for 30-40 minutes

Leeks have folic acid! Perfect to take over to your friend who had just had a baby! Great for women to repair cells.

2007-08-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

2007-08-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

NYC summer has been pretty fab. Movies in the parks. Carosel here and there. Rickshaw ride through Time Square after the Les Paul show, weekend getaways with friends to Long Island, the Catskills, the Berkshires, and now, I'm headed to Madison to be with my family until my best friend's wedding day Labor Day. And summer slowly draws to a close.

Moving on

2007-08-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

So, it's official...I have completed my tenure at the Jeanne D'Arc Residence (Aka The Nun Shack) in Chelsea and can now be found in the East Village. From darkness into light.

When not out at a circus party or enjoying a happy hour with Bridget, my new neighborhood gal pal, I'm holed up watching Netflix. Cinema Paradiso tonite!

Vermont

2007-08-08T14:34:00.000-07:00

Life's a beach....

2007-07-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

In the glow on Fire Island

2007-07-26T09:17:00.001-07:00

Mckenzie Darling Dazzling in NYC

2007-07-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles, I miss you!

2007-07-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

Beachin' for the 4th! Sun, glorious sun!

Berkshears, Berksures, Berkshires

2007-07-02T06:58:00.001-07:00

Totally yuppied out here in 'Up State'. Tanglewood, Garrison Keilor, Kripalu, Great Barrington, grapenut ice cream, Stockdale, Norman Rockwell, Prarie Home Companion Americana. I'm 30. It's July.

iwait, iwant, iphone

2007-07-02T06:55:00.001-07:00

Six hours in line on Friday... We got one... eventually... Let's just say, alls well that ends well.

Pomme Frites

2007-06-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

If you've ever been there, you know why this fries shack gets its very own entry. If you haven't been there, you'll be delighted to know, Pomme Frites only serves French fries and a multiplicity of mostly mayonaise- based sauces. Yum.

The Swim Cap of the Stars...brought to you by Playtex

2007-06-28T13:22:00.001-07:00

The Catskills

2007-06-28T13:14:00.001-07:00

Abs, Josh and Rubes kick off summer camping!

Sing for my soul NYC

2007-06-28T12:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel like a break-dancing Punky Brewster stuck inside a yuppy's body. Most of the time lately. Perform or die.

Acro Yo

2007-06-19T15:08:00.001-07:00

Emily and I like to play in the park.

Maybe the circus is next...

Buddha and Me

2007-06-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

"Do you think it's too bright?" I asked her.

"YA' THINK?" Toni coughed.

I bought it anyway.

The women at the temple seemed to approve. "Where you buy? How much? Ahhh, store lose money. Store lose money. How I get there?"

http://www.peonyred.com/

Buddha's Story:

http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b3buddha.htm

360 of the Temple:

http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/wwp1204/html/JookLeung.html

To China:

http://terragalleria.com/pictures-subjects/mahayana-buddhist-temples/

B-Fri

2007-06-19T14:53:00.000-07:00

Princess Senorita Toni Pe-ah came to visit. What didn't we do? Saw Company on Broadway (OMG Raul Esparza!!!) Biked all over. Chinatown. Central Park. The Tony's. It was a grand old time.

Movie Recommendations

2007-06-13T08:19:00.001-07:00

Baraka

Craft ideas

2007-06-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

Fabric covered cards
cut funky fabs with jagged scissors and paste

Aluminum can furniture
hammer out soda and beer cans and nail over old furniture as covering

Repainted oldies
old bookshelves, old chairs, old grills- add your special flare

Recommened Books

2007-06-13T08:02:00.000-07:00

Women's Diaries in the WEstward Journey
by Lillian Schleissel

Women and Men on the Overland Trail
by John Faragher

Letters of a Woman Homesteader
by Ellen Stewart

Real Live Nude Girl
by Carol Queen

They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky
by Deng, Deng, Ajak

The Concessions of an Economic Hit Man

The World is Flat

The Big Book of Birth
by Erica Lyon

Herbs for the Childbearing Years
by Susun Weed

Horton Hears a Who
by Dr. Seuss

The Kin of Ata are Waiting for You
(Later renamed: The Comforter)
by Diane Bryant

The Children's TV Community
by J. Alison Bryant

Television Today and Tomorrow: It won't be what you think.
Janowski and Fuchs

Where I'm headed...Who I want to be....

2007-05-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

Gurtrude the Pigeon

2007-05-18T08:04:00.001-07:00

In the hood with my peeps

2007-05-18T07:55:00.001-07:00

Our crew from LA and DC came to town last weekend. We hiked to Brooklyn thru the LES, over the bridge and had an incredible adventure. A London style market, a French couch surfer, "Ou est Laurent?", a lechee martini at the Surfer bar with sand covered floors, Japanese tapas and a DUMBO loft party with lifesize flower and mushroom lights. Back in Manhattan, McSorley's, Burp Castle, and Pomme Frites. What a day! (and night)

Josh's DNA portrait arrives Tuesday.

2007-05-18T07:43:00.000-07:00

This is Josh's art purchase. Now the two spots on the wall in our 200sq. ft home are filled with the universe within and the universe without. Come visit our tiny gallery!

http://dna11.com/

We've got ART, people!

2007-05-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

I brought my William Fields home today. Happy 30th to me!

Bomb it!

2007-05-15T06:54:00.000-07:00

Co-Producer, Arnel San Pedro, former SF roomate brought this film to town for Tribeca and through an incredible after party on the LED. Just see it.

Dorks for Bjork

2007-05-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

A dear friend from SF journied to NYC to see Bjork at the Apollo. I feel so lucky that he invited me! We were in the second row and she sang right to us. What a channel of pure sound and energy. Bjork, you make total sense to me. The show realigned my chi- Rockin' woman on the crazy Chinese instrument. Back up gals with horns and side ponies, flags sticking out of their heads. Even the journey up to the theater was powerful. Thanks, Purple!

Weaving the Web of Peace

2007-05-14T14:55:00.000-07:00

Couch by couch, around the world and through the web, we're coming together. Who is responsible for this WONDERFUL website?

couchsurfing.com

Definitely worthy of the Nobel!

Josh in Rome!

2007-04-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

My sweet love has gone to Rome to celebrate the wedding of his childhood friend from LA. It's so hard not to discover that city with him but thank goodness for the internet and cell phones. He just rang to say, "I'm sitting on the Spanish steps, look it up..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Steps

Sitting in my office in NYC at 11:30am, he's going into evening there 5:30pm. His hosts, the fabulous couple who live in "The House of Colors"! Oh, to be two places at once!!!

I am going to start Graduate School at NYU!!!!

2007-04-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

So, I did move to NYC for NYU afterall!

The price is high.
The advisors have advised. (Thank you Suzanne, Michael, Dad, Aunt Joanne.)
BUT....

I'm going with Mom on this one. Mother knows best, right?

I wouldn't have applied if I didn't have a NEED, a thirst, an insatiable appetite for SKILLS to continue advancing in my field. And, there IS always a value to higher education.

The Graduate Program is NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Studies. My field?
Children's Educational Media.

I will start with one class in the fall. (At the low, low price of $4000/class!!!!) Donations accepted, by the way. Funding for Grad School is like zilch, unless you're a PhD. I am considering that route eventually, but my bind is that I'm multi-disciplinary, needing to draw from courses in media production, business, education and dance/anthro. I will continue working at BrainPop.com full time as a Producer. I can afford to do it one class at a time. On the pay-as-I-go program.

The pie in the sky goal was/is to create a kids' show and get my Master's for it. Bill Cosby did it (Fat Albert!) and so can I! I have an incredible advisor, Lynne McVeigh, who is the mecca of all things Kids TV, NYC.

This one's for me. And, I'm thrilled!!

realbirth and reddy's

2007-04-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

Taking childbirth education at realbirth here in Chelsea. What a wonderful resource!
http://www.realbirth.com/

Also, wanting to push the pads that make mooning beautiful. Yeah, Ashley!
http://www.reddyspads.com/

So, Carnival.....

2007-04-06T12:45:00.000-07:00

It's a must see, full participation required kind of event.

Go, Go, Go!!!

Ruby's last camio

2007-04-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

Writer/Director Dave Donihue does it again. After Parzania controversially hit India, it comes to NY Moma this month. His next piece, the weathered underground, is the first choose your own adventure hipster love story for the ipod and playstation. It debuted last month at SxSw in Austin. It will be available in the fall. Play Eric's side to find Diana. That's me!

When do I get to go to space?

2007-04-06T07:13:00.001-07:00

http://charlesinspace.com/

I'm so jealous...

And the YouTube winner is....

2007-04-05T13:13:00.002-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI

Most creative, for sure.

Breastfeeding and Daft Punk!!

2007-04-05T12:29:00.001-07:00

After work yesterday I ran some happy(pay day) errands on the Lower East Side. A misty spit of rain spritzed the April evening, the flower stands fragrant with tulips and daffodils.

First stop at Bluestockings, my new favorite Feminist bookstore. http://www.bluestockings.com/
I picked up an amazing book on Breastfeeding (required reading for Doula certification, not an announcement of any sort) and within the first 10 pages already know volumes more about the miracles of the mammaries.

Then, just around the corner, up Orchard to Houston, I stopped in at Mercury Lounge Box Office for perhaps my happiest ticket purchase EVER.... That's right... Daft Punk, live, on Coney Island, August 9, 2007. I encourage you to refresh yourselves with their brilliance with this slice of choreographic perfection....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMpsnDxNbqQ

William Fields

2007-04-04T12:38:00.001-07:00

Click here to view original artwork by William Fields

Louise Ross Gallery in New York says:
"Informed by hermetic science and a lifelong study of world religion, Fields’ virtuosic, brilliantly colored drawings transport the viewer to a fantastic universe – a cosmology where gods and demigods exist under moons and constellations of the artist’s own conjuring. Figures dissolve and reconstitute themselves repetitiously in accelerating rivulets of electrified color and delineation; monumental apparitions emerge out of dense, multi-faceted metamorphoses of form. Jewel-like faces materialize and dematerialize in tandem, since the entranced artist doesn’t know what he is bringing to life as the drawing nears completion. The work reveals an artist who is in the service of a magical force."

Biography from Winstom/Salem Gallery:
"Meditative journeys and out-of-body experiences are the inspiration for the unique artwork of William Fields. In conveying the power of his own spiritual visions, Fields has developed a complex iconography of forms and symbols, many borrowed from a wide range of world religions. Born in 1940, Fields has no formal art training and is considered a self-taught, visionary artist such as Minnie Evans or the Reverand Howard Finster. Since his earliest visions Fields has made an exhaustive study of non-Western religions, including Saivism, Tibetan Buddhism, Gnostic Christianity and Theosophy and these studies form the background for his current series of work, The Illuminations Suite.
"Fields' pastel and pencil drawings are almost figural depictions of spirit beings to whom he relates in visions,"writes David Need for the Independent Weekly. "The drawing itself is elegant and restrained; the works stand on their own in terms of craft. At first glance, the images have a psychedelic vocabulary, but their power goes far beyond the ornamental design effects of 1960s art. The figures are complex, with multiple faces and bodies...the effect is to suggest a dynamic, relational presence."

William Fields has exhibited his large scale drawings at the Weatherspoon Art Museum in Greensboro, the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) in Winston-Salem, the Columbia Museum, Wake Forest University and Duke University. His artwork has been reviewed in Art in America, Raw Vision and the New York Times.