Sunday, June 26, 2005

G and P on the road


Well, we've been gone for about 10 days now...travelled through a LOT of desert to Vegas and then into Utah and Colorado...very very hot all the way except for a couple of times as we climbed into the Rockies...G took everything quite well and we stopped at Super 8 Motels with pools to cool off in the evenings and mornings before we hit the road again...
At Shambhala Mountain Center for a week now...weather is up and down with a lot of wind but mostly hot during the day and at times very cold at night...tents are comfortable but full of pollen that blows from the trees costantly with the wind...so there's a layer of yellow dust on everything...
G's Shotoku camp is going very well...they are making masks, they've put on a play, he is doing cave drawings for a portion of the classroom wall, and last night we had a fire and marshmallow roast for the children in the camp...the food is another matter...his habits are taking quite a while to die off and he sometimes goes with very little food...especially since so much of it here is meat based...and I must say that I find that a little hard to take as well...
The Center is wonderful...a valley in the mountains...but there is too much traffic at the Center itself...more traffic in front of our tent than in front of our house in SD...not just staff, which is necessary to cover distances, but also residents and visitors (all of whom could very well do without driving...and most are one per car)...that could be one of their goals for the future here...reduce traffic...
in any case...things are going well and I'll post more later...
haven't posted any photos or voice logs because there is no cell reception here...we lost it way back as we headed into the valley last sunday morning...but as soon as we get out you'll see our faces again...
For our way back we might go down to Santa Fe and then across...see some Native American sights on the way home...

greetings to all
soon

PV

Saturday, June 11, 2005

Wo guts


Wo guts
Originally uploaded by pverdicchio.
The interesting interplay of signs and symbols, icons and objects, constantly expanding the possibility of meaning and interpretation.

Monday, June 06, 2005

Dangerous Animals


DangerousAnimals
Originally uploaded by pverdicchio.
PYRAMIDS

To the top of pyramids
I will not go
with a broken rewind crank
and a necropolis to explore.
Deep into the opposite shape
cut into the earth
are of no interest
to the dogs who follow us.
The sun is a stretch for them
the surface more of interest.
Barking is reserved
for matters of suspicion;
growling as a definition
of proximity.
Tall shapes are not for dogs
low shade is ideal, a place
to nod with them
in the projection of negative shape
as sand flattens to sleep.

Saturday, June 04, 2005

Cactus flower


cactusflower
Originally uploaded by pverdicchio.
Garden
Beautiful thing
Flowers blooming in spring
I sit relaxing and dreaming
Nature

Poem by Giuliano (10)

Friday, June 03, 2005

Chai

Blend together the spices listed below, by either grinding them yourself in a small grinder or with a mortar and pestle, or by purchasing them already ground. Begin with small amounts of each, favouring your preferred taste in the blend. You will have to experiment with various blends until you find the one you find most palatable and appealing:

Cardamom
Cloves
Cinnamon sticks
Pepper corns

grind, blend and mix into hot black tea and milk...common teas such as darjeeling and orange pekoe are fine blends.

Enjoy!