"Are these our lives?"

3rd Annual Thanks For Nothing pizza potluck

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:17:05 GMT

in detroit this year. my place. 1533 Merrick St. Detroit.
Nov 28, Saturday, 6pm

Join us for the 3rd Annual Thanks for Nothing Pizza Potluck hosted by Jay & Vanessa. (in Detroit this year)

We supply pizzas, lots of dough. You bring the toppings or an entire pie if you wish! And/or bring beverages of your choice.

Pizza creations have ranged from your traditional Thanksgiving foods all piled onto one pizza to cookie and crazy icecream pizzas. So get creative with your toppings and themed pizzas.

I'll be making my yearly Biscuits n Crazy and also Mac n Cheez pizzas, both vegan of course! Plus a couple of new additions.

Vegan foods are highly appreciated but not required. A Gluten free dough option will also be provided!

Come party!

A plan to let go.

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:32:33 GMT

I've always been a bit of a planner. well more than a bit. I get nervous when my slingshot planner isn't at my side. But now I'm going to plan to let go. And completely letting go will begin in approximately one year. See? See how much I plan. This is year from now, and I'm already planning. But this is something worthy of planning for- the biggest adventure yet.

An adventure where I'll feel every moment, and my legs will take me where I need to go. But first, first I need to let go, my belongs. and my furry companions, my dearest ones. Matthew will go on this adventure with me though. But unfortunately the ones that purr and bark must be in better homes because I will have no home.

Only a tent and a sleeping bag, and of course the bike that will take me to wherever we want to go. No deadlines. No return date. No return place.

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:25:07 GMT

literally scraped together every last dollar I had and borrowed $11 from Matt to replace my car window that was smashed out. I was that person that deposited $3 in my bank account so I could get out the $17 in there from an ATM.

break into my car, steal nothing because there was nothing to steal and now I'm out almost $200 that I didn't even have to spend in the first place. push those bills back further. worse than stealing from the poor- make the poor pay for things they can't afford.

Michigan Humane Society: Mega March!

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:50:49 GMT

Hey everyone- Fennel and I will be walking in the Mega March for Animals in just over a week. I'm raising funds to help animals in need. Please help to contribute whatever you can. Thanks in advance!

For more info/ to donate click here: Mega March for Animals

p.s. I'd take Taqi too but we all know how much she likes to yell at the other dogs.

39th NASBR

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:37:49 GMT

haven't updated, because where would I begin?

a whirlwind. but all in all, happiness to be home. my financial situation is the worst it's been and the only reason this upsets me is that I don't want it to effect the health of the animals I care for. guilty of being poor.

This summer made me realize how easy it is to tear apart ecosystems. Sign here, do whatever you want. Make lots of money. Get paid to destroy what keeps you alive. MAKE A KILLING. If you want to help anything it's crawling through a mess of forms, waiting for approvals, explaining yourself.

-----
That was a "restored draft" from sometime last week. I gave up on that update.

There is a lot to say but I no longer want to say it all. What I need to focus on is the fact that I still haven't finished my thesis. Seriously, what the fuck? Starting Monday, I'm going to start getting comfortable in the Detroit library. I WILL graduate in Dec '09. I think a lot of what is holding me back is not being happy with my project as a whole... well, honestly, there's a lot holding me back. But I just want to finish it and move on.

And on the topic of moving on-- with school and such. I wasn't going to be able to attend the 39th Annual North American Symposium on Bat Research. I missed the abstract submission deadline, too. There was no way I'd be able to afford to go out to the conference in Portland. These conferences are a BIG DEAL to me. Well, today, my boss asked why I wasn't going. I told him why (couldn't do it financially), and since it has to do with my job as well, OBC is sending me. I almost cried sitting there in his office.

So I've already registered and bought my plane ticket. Matt is going to try to come out there with me as well and do some music stuff. This would be extra rad. I'm full of excitement and and am so unbelievably thankful.

and on the topic of work... I need to sleep.

June & July part 2 of 3

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:29:36 GMT

You've been tracking bats all day, walking through meadows of poison ivy. You've never seen this much before. The high points are clear of the ivy, but they are clear of everything and the sun beats down hard. 90+ degrees. Your energy is up though, because you managed to find at least one of the bat's trees. Your out of time for tracking that day. We have to meet the others at the boat dock. They've been taking gear across the once river turned lake thanks to the handful of dams. We call it an island, but it's not. It's just that the best way to get there is by boat. You arrive exhausted but excited for our adventures. Throw your pack in the boat, the others respond to your greeting with a faint look at you, and not a word. Their faces red, their boots covered in mud, their morning has worn them down. Cross the water, the breeze is refreshing, for a moment it erases the morning and you almost feel as if you are starting fresh, but the next thing you know you are lifting your pack with your camping gear and hoisting two 10' aluminum polls over your shoulder.

Why are you wearing shorts? You never wear shorts, but you assumed the trail would be relatively clear and not covered in some sort of nettle. Plus you were told the trail was incredibly muddy. The mud is higher than your boots. It suctions your foot as it sinks in, as you try to pull your one foot out, the other is sinking in further. You balance the polls as you weave through the trail, over fallen trees, freeing yourself from mud you get stuck in berry brambles. After a mile or so, and a couple of creek crossings, dropping the netting gear down at the junction, you set up your tent further down one fork of the trail and across a creek. Tie your food up away from the bears. There is no one else around. Just the 5 of you. Incredible. But your legs start to burn. Try to cool them by jumping in the creek. It feels good for only a moment. It's too late, the next morning after netting, you'll awake to your legs covered in a rash. A mixture of poison ivy, other plant rashes, mosquito bites, chigger bites....and other unknowns. But for now, the sun is getting lower and we have nets to set up. 7 of them. You volunteer to do the creek nets, the water feels soothing. The nets are up, with only a bit of delay. An aggressive bear. It crosses Dylan's path, so close he can smell the bear. The bear huffs and growls. Dylan yells and smacks things together to scare the bear off. The bear is hesitant at first, only after some time does he stomp away. We catch our Indiana bat. This means tracking in the morning after carrying everything off of the "island." Next month, you'll be back to do it all over again. Just three of you, plus hiking a few miles out to do a plot.

Do a plot? The second half of summer we add more things to do. Keep netting, tracking, but now go to all of those trees you found and measure, identify, record key characteristics and count the trees within a 17.8m radius. Plus each tree your crew has found, you must do a random plot for. You have your UTM coordinates for the location and you must hike to those coordinates. Sort of like a treasure hunt, except instead of gold you get a dead tree and some other surprises along the way. It's like you are in Goonies, all sorts of obstacles. So replace gold with minimum wage and people trying to kill you with hornets trying to kill you. Oh and replace Baby Ruths with protein bars. Ok, so maybe it's not really like the Goonies at all, but it's an adventure.

...to be continued

June & July.

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:01:03 GMT

From pines to palms, mountains to beaches, waterfalls to waves. My scabs fade to scars. The past two months I found myself in a place where there are more trees than people. Now I find myself in a place where cement homes are painted in pastels. Hello Englewood, Florida. Only minutes away from the ocean, after 2 days I have gained back my energy to explore. Ocean adventures soon to follow. Everglades are on my Sunday agenda. I'm visiting my dad here, and on Wednesday Matthew and I will start our adventures back to Michigan in my smooth 98 Volvo S70 GLT.

Jump back.

It's not easy finding a 7 gram bat in a National Forest. First you have to catch the bat. Jamming 4-12 meter net across a creek, a trail or a dirt road is a good start. Up your odds by setting up a few of these and checking them every 8 minutes from 20:45 to 0:30 or later. Sometimes the bears delay you. or thunderstorms. or rocky terrain. Some nights, 0 bats. Other nights 20+ bats. Some nights 0 endangered Indiana Bats. Other nights when you are short on help, you'll catch 17 of them.

Now you have the bat and need a way to track it. First though- identify. sex. reproductive state. age. weigh. measure. tissue sample. hair sample. wing condition. white nose syndrome??? ID band. key species: Indiana and Northern Long-eared Bats. Apply transmitter! It gets glued to the back. Usually they keep it on for a few days before they wiggle it off.

Sometime after midnight, take the nets down, pack things up. Drive back to base. Or on a perfect night, climb in your tent. Unperfect night, drive the Tail of the Dragon at 1am. Nothing says motion sickness like 318 curves in 11 miles in an F-250. Keys please!

wash off poison ivy oils. check for ticks. you probably have at least one lurking. yup.
fall asleep to the songs of the frogs, the creek, the whip-poor-wills, a thunderstorm. pure relaxation.

Wake up to new chigger bites. new things to scratch. Breakfast-- oatmeal or granola with fruit. pack lunch- pbj, food bars, apple, nuts. lots of water.
receiver, antenna, topo maps, compass, gps. camera, rain jacket, dry bag. and more. Listen to the sounds of static in the back of the Tacoma. Listen for that beep, our bat. Keep holding that arm up high, back and forth on either side of the forest with the antenna. beep. beep. Was that it? Hit the side of the truck. She halts to a stop. Listen carefully, again. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. Out of the truck. Which way is stronger? North v. South. East v. West. inbetween. Find the degrees. Find our location. Find that on a map. draw a line. Wish that you could just follow that line and find her. But you see a drain, and lots of ridges bouncing our signal. We need more points. Drive or hike to high points. Narrow forest roads. Trees have fallen across the way. Try to triangulate. Climb to the top of a ridge. Great. Sounds like she's on the other ridge. Climb down and then up the other one. BEEP. BEEP. the signal is stronger. The thunder is also closer. Was that lightening? No worries, it's not like you have a huge metal rod in your hand. oh, wait. How far away is the trail? Let's just keep going, it's gotta be just up this ridge. Looks like we are at the top, no wait, it goes further up. Still no bat, no tree. Keep hiking.

We hike and hike and hike. Sometimes we find the bat in the tree and can find a couple of trees for her. Sometimes we find ourselves on our knees, rummanging through leaf litter, finding the equivalent of a $100 bill. Sometimes we find nothing except everywhere that she's not.

Off of the trails, over an hour deep into the forest, climbing up ridges, through drains, slope after slope. Crossing creeks, trying to not slip on the rocks. The view from the top. The sights along the way. The fungi, the insects, the trees. the decaying matter. the way the sun filters through the canopy. The stoned vireo proclaiming where he is, asking where you are over and over again. The Pileated Woodpecker laughing at you. Tbe copperhead lurking, equally afraid. you see bear tracks. and bear scat, but they have alredy smelled your scent and are nowhere to be seen. Unless they have been ruined by humans and await your arrival in hopes of your peanut butter and jelly. "Do Not Feed the Bears" it's not a joke. Your sandwhich is their death.

...to be continued

Thu, 21 May 2009 16:47:24 GMT

all moved in and settled here in Detroit. Feels good. I love walking the dogs around here. Everyone is so nice and the houses are beautiful. The culture is better here. All the animals are getting along. 3 dogs, 4 cats. They are all so cute!! Andrea is awesome and made things really easy for me to move in so quickly.

Found a vet down here, I can actually walk the dogs to their new vet! They got all the vaccines and had a physical. I suggested they use a muzzle on Fennel, brought it up twice, they didn't. She bit the vet tech. Didn't break the skin, but probably will be bruised. :/

----

I've been biking tons lately. It feels so good. The other night Matt and I were biking on Woodward, we were in Ferndale and someone actually called the cops on us to complain that we were biking on the street. I REFUSE to bike on sidewalks. It's dangerous. We were riding two-abreast because we legally can, and riding in the right lane, with lights. Breaking no laws. The cop pulled up to us, but we told him we weren't breaking any laws and he didn't really care what we were doing, just said he got a call. HAHAH people are fucking ignorant when it comes to seeing people on bicycles... ohh the joys of living in a state dominated by the car industry.

----
I pick Amanda up from the train station tomorrow. I can't wait to hang out with her all week!!! This week is going to seriously fly by. I need to start my running list of stuff to take. Things to do before I leave, etc So I won't be overwhelmed when the time comes that I have to leave.

You should meet Amanda while she's here. She'll be living with Jay all of June & July. But will be with me the last week of May. My last night is May 29. This is critical mass as well. So it'd be rad to have you ride bikes with us. and/or afterwards go to Xochimilco's in Mexican Town. If you want more details, get at me.

----
back to getting things done.

HUGE update

Tue, 05 May 2009 19:01:49 GMT

May began with what was probably the best show of the year-- Burning Fight. I finally fulfilled my dream of seeing Trial play. I'm not even going to try to explain how fucking incredible and intense that was. nor can I explain how well the fest went.
Things like this remind me of why I love hardcore. The community is incredible-- there may be some flaws, but all in all people work together and the emotions that come out at a hardcore show leave me breathless.

It made me really happy to go to the show with Jay-- who got me into a lot of the bands and we have spent most of our friendship listening to hardcore and going to shows together, driving to out of state fests together. We've always talked about seeing Trial, and I was happy to have him there experiencing the moment with me.

--------
Now I am home. I've been without my van for about 3 weeks now.. maybe more. She's done for. The engine died on me on the highway, of course that same morning my phone was shut off for overdue balance. and it was the same night/morning that we got a fucking blizzard. So a bad start with a bad ending. Now it's official, the engine is a done for.

Biking everywhere has been fun/ and frustrating dealing with assholes who tell me to get on the sidewalk. But I'll admit, Michigan wasn't made for biking-- thanks auto industry! The roads, the rain and the angry drivers make me pretty nervous when I bike to work.

Matt's been really helpful with letting me borrow his car when I can't do things on my bike-- pick up fruit for work, etc. I don't know what I'd do with out him.

I'd like to say that I'll never get a car again, but I don't see that happening. However, I'm not going to get another one until I come back from North Carolina in August.

-------
In other news, I'm marking another tally for moving. I'm getting the fuck out of suburbia hell and back into the city, where I feel comfortable. I'll be moving in with Andrea Cardinal next week in Detroit. Further from work, but Royal Oak just isn't for me. PLUS it'll be cheaper and I'm looking forward to living with Andrea.

I'll only be there for a couple of weeks and then I'm hiding from civilization for 2 months. I'll be maybe only peeking out for dude fest if I can make that happen.

I leave May 30th. May 29th is the next Critical Mass. Amanda will be arriving from Montreal on the 22nd. I'm thinking about having a picnic in a park or something before I head out. Either way, the last day to see me is at Critical Mass, so you should stop making up excuses and be there!

-------
and now I pack! If you want my new address, email me: kittylitter13[at]gmail[dot]com

first camping adventure of 2009

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:51:24 GMT

Philly didn't happen so we made other things happen instead. Matt, Christopher, Josh and I drove out to Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania and camped all weekend. We hiked around lots, off the path and along the river and waterfalls. We got in the freezing fucking cold water, but it felt good. I want to camp every weekend.

I uploaded pictures:

From April 2009

click that for the rest.

I leave at the end of May for North Carolina & Tennessee. I'll be there for two months working with bats in the field-- back early August. Before that happens, I get to see Amanda for a few days because she'll be staying in Flint this summer apprenticing tattoos with Jay. Before that happens I'll be moving to Detroit.

Big changes coming soon.

Fuck Bloomfield Hills.

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:22:53 GMT

Maybe I'm just making assumptions, but is it harsh that the only part of Woodward Ave. that the bus does not stop at from downtown Detroit to Pontiac is the portion of the road that cuts through Bloomfield Hills?

Here's a map of the bus route for that section.

From April 2009

Of course, my work is right in the middle of that "non-stop" section. Let me also note, that in that portion, there are no sidewalks. It's not like things don't exist on that portion of Woodward. There are apartments, churches, art & science institute and more.

I rode my bike to/from on Woodward yesterday. It's about 8 miles each way. But I was looking to take the bus today because it's supposed to rain all afternoon/evening and my bike and rain aren't exactly best friends. Granted I can just bike those 2-3 miles from the bus stop, it just made me think of all of this.

Here's more info on Bloomfield Hills, and maybe this will make more sense of things:
-"Bloomfield Hills consistently ranks as one of the top five wealthiest cities in the United States..."
-"The median income for a family is over $200,000. 49% of houses in Bloomfield Hills have a value of over $1,000,000."
-"The racial makeup of the city was 90.69% White, 1.65% Black, 0.10% Native American, 6.57% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population."
-"71.9% were married couples living together, 3.2% had a female householder with no husband present"

ok... I'm done raging now.

Critical Mass!

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:39:55 GMT

Just under 2 weeks away, hope to see you there!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMANDA!!!

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:55:06 GMT

I love you and miss you lots!!!! I can't wait until we can have tea together again! xoxoxoxo Enjoy your birthday and don't study too hard today ;) Fill yourself with treats instead!

From April 2009

volcanic uterus.

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:26:33 GMT

It's incredible how precise I am at calculating my cycle based on my seething rage and sadness. at least that's what I'm hoping. If not, I'll need another excuse.

what should I be doing?

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:57:45 GMT

total motivation with everything but writing my thesis. not out of avoidance, but passion. the need to take action. not just talk about doing things.

just over fifty people participated in detroit's critical mass. high considering not much has happened in a long time. double it next month? come ride.

planned parenthood potluck/movie night is today. join us. last entry has the info.

social justice conference is next weekend. UM ann arbor. bill ayers, derrick jensen. and more on saturday. food not bombs / potluck on friday. carpool?

money isn't coming in. work is beyond slow. 1-2 days a week, 3 days if I'm lucky. Half of April and I'm only working 3 days. in a tight spot.

with that I should make the writing happen.

March '09

bikes & potlucks

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 02:09:39 GMT

also add:: www.myspace.com/detroitcriticalmass

if you have access to making copies..... soon, get at me.... or help flyer for this! repost!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PLEASE RSVP HERE:
Movie Night & Potluck!

When:
Sunday, March 29, 2009
6:30 PM

Where:
Oakland County Planned Parenthood Young Leaders
513 E. Farnum
Royal Oak, MI, 48067 (map)
</p>

call.

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:10:58 GMT

Winter has caused my memory of bird calls to weaken. I need to get back on things. I mixed up a couple of birds but got better looks. I used to know these calls right away. I feel as if I'm letting myself down. Or maybe I just get out of practice when most of the birds here are gone for months.

facial and body hair and Amanda.

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:28:45 GMT

The sunlight hits my face just right...and bam...I am reminded of my monthly battle with my mustache. Is it already time to wax you again? Your determination impresses & frustrates me.

----
Amanda hangouts in Montreal. How many times did discussion of hair come up? From fringe to pubes to pits to legs. From head to toes and all of those itchy and awkward places in between. This is a true friendship, yes?

damp tissues and empty rolls of toilet paper. needles and threads. laughter and deep discussions. stretches and flexes. sunglasses and mittens. boys and roast beefs. beats and silence. early mornings and early nights. rambling and concentration. education and cooperation.

all revolving around vegan deliciousness and bottomless tea cups.

and all of this revolving around an honest, incredible, growing and true friendship.

a.m.a.n.d.a.

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:40:28 GMT

in less than 24 hours I will be in Amanda's presence.

fucking rad.

Montreal for a week.

adventure.

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:58:13 GMT

11 hour train ride to Montreal starts 23 of February. A week with Amanda------- we'll fill our insides with warm tea, deep discussions and vegan treats. Our stomachs will ache from laughter and our cheeks will be sore from smiling and endless conversation. All of this I call the best of friendships.

----------

This summer you will find me in North Carolina for two months. You will find me tracking bats. Tracking bats will allow me to discover what it feels like to live what I once thought was only a dream that I've spent countless years reaching for.

Today smells of spring and the robins shall feast!

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:06:39 GMT

The melting snow and thawing soil leads to worms of American Robins gathering at patches of what seems to be yellowed, lifeless grass. The robins have turned opportunistic, taking advantage of those wooden boxes filled with seeds for the birds to choke down. A sad replacement of what once grew. But they stay, they stay through the bitter winter although their friends have departed to find the mecca of worms. friends? or competitors? Do they stay to be the first back? To claim this patch as their own to feast once again on the worms who writhe about in the damp soil. To shout their song....their song that I can only remember by envisioning a pendulum swinging "back and forth back and forth back and forth".... I nod my head side to side to the rhythm of their call.

They have an early start to claim their land, their partners, to build the perfect nest. But the others have been feasting all winter on their plump worms. How does the robin decide? No matter, some have stayed, and today they gathered to feel the mud on their beaks and on their feet as they hopped about hoping that the worms were as joyous as they were about the sun melting away the snow to reveal the preserved, but now thawing life beneath it.

Hope in People, not Presidents.

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:49:54 GMT

Perhaps our marvelous capacity to adapt to even the most atrocious situations is the major reason revolutions fail. We're so good at getting along that we do so at the expense of actions that would in a meaningful sense bring a change in those original circumstances that cause our suffering. We shuffle and bow before the established order, knowing that it's better to be alive and humbled-even if we must sell our hours for another's profit-than it is to be dead. Then when some new despot comes along mouthing new slogans of egalitarianism, instead of opposing both the old and new tyrannies, we adapt yet again, perhaps even believing for a time the new slogans. And when the new slogans prove false? Amnesia, that most adaptable of all forms of adaptation. - Derrick Jensen

A Language Older Than Words

the decision.

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:02:00 GMT

As I sit here, 27 gets closer. And what have I done? I've settled too much. I need something big after this finish. My actions of looking for a permanent move have left me unsatisfied. Cities, professors, programs, universities....none are what I want right now. Nothing has jumped at me. Only sparks that have not led to flames.

Another option often flickers. and the more I let it flicker in my thoughts, the more it grows and I have that feeling...I can feel it swell in my throat....excitement. passion. adventure. It swells so large that it's hard to swallow. I need to get it out. I need more adventures. It's too early to settle.

The only place I want to be is everywhere.

sewing...

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:13:39 GMT

Been stoked to start sewing again. it feels good to make things.

here's the latest..... modeled by the babetastic matt.

made from reconstructed shirts and skirts. and lined with a soft fleece like materia

36 Years of Women's Choice

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:11:36 GMT

Hey everyone: Laura, Matt, a couple of others and I are planning an event with Planned Parenthood to celebrate the 36th year anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Without Roe v. Wade we wouldn't have the option of choice.

So please, come to the event, Flint people...work out a carpool! There will be free snacks that Laura and I will be making. Pam is speaking on the feminist movement along with some other awesome speakers as well. You can learn a lot and meet up with others. Hope to see you there!

Hosted By:
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Michigan

When:
Thursday, January 22, 2009

Where:
Affirmations Community Center
290 West 9 Mile Rd
Ferndale
48220

Description:
Come celebrate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade!

Click Here To View Event

Let me know if you think you can make it and/or RSVP on the myspace event. That way we can get a good idea of numbers.

Thanks!!