Viewed in Wonderland: Tin Man

I had a crappy day at work today.  Thankfully I got off at 2:30 though.  I spent the rest of my day cuddled up with my puppy watching Tin Man.  I love Azkadelia's outfits and her hair is fricken awesome.  I spent most of the movie hoping she'd turn out to be good.  :)  She's such a hottie!!!

Survival in Wonderland: Living vs. Surviving

I had an epiphany last night.  I am motivated to survive.  My boyfriend is motivated to live.  There are certain things I realize I need to survive.  I need to be able to pay my bills and eat.  I've also become mommy to a beautiful kitty and puppy.  I need to be able to feed them, too.  I work a full time job in order to do all of that.  But it's hard on me because that's pretty much all I'm able to do with what I make.

One of the reasons I love Allan is also a reason I loathe him.  He is motivated to live.  He wants to be able to party, skate, create and play music.  He is funny and charismatic.  In some ways he is the anti-me.  In some ways we balance each other.  But sometimes we just drive each other insane.  Sometimes I want to live, but realize survival is more important and sometimes I don't think he understands that.

It's been a while since I've had the chance to watch one of these. Tomorrow I will definitely be attending. I'm excited.

update: 3/27/09 I won't be able to go. I have a dinner to attend with Al's family. Hope fully I'll catch some clips online or on the news.

Art in Wonderland: Women in Motion

On March 6th I had the oppurtunity to enjoy the opening night of the "Women Artists in Motion" art show. I know it took me long enough to blog about it. But really, the show was wonderful. I didn't realize how many female artists call Guam home. Different artists with different mediums and subjects all representing the women of Guam, it was wonderful.

My friend Tes was in the show. She is an awesome photographer. I think the thing I like the most about Tes is that she's fearless. Her work is her work. If you like it, that's great. If you don't, oh well.

The piece below was done by Fanai Castro. It was my favorite piece in the show. The woman with the sign reminds me so much of my grandmother. It's a really sad piece, but it's a reality.

Oishi in Wonderland: Meatloaf dinner!

Last night I made an awesome meatloaf that was covered in cheese and had onions in it.  I also made some quick biscuits from a tube.  But my favorite part was the string beans with onions and garlic.  It was so awesome. 

Tomorrow I want to make breaded eggplant and tofu in alfredo sauce with more local string beans.  I'd hate for the string beans to spoil.  They are sooo yummy!

Crafting in Wonderland: Agh! It's functional and adorable!

The bobbin winder on my sewing machine doesn't work. So I've been manually winding my bobbins. Sometimes Allan or Nel will help, but this is one of the most annoying tasks. I've been looking for a bobbin winder, but have not been able to find one for less than $30. That is, until now! This baby is $20 at Fabric Depot. And portions of the proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Isn't that awesome.

We're living on a budget so I'm not sure if I'll actually get it, but it's nice to know that there are less expensive options for when I'm ready to get one. :)

Life in Wonderland: The real question and the tragic answer.

I recently joined Common Dreams and found a post on the military build up on Guam. A lot of the comments regarding the article where asking why Japan would pay billions to move the marines to Guam.

This was my answer to that question.

Japan wants to decrease the presence of the U.S. military in Okinawa. There have been protest against the U.S. military by the locals. Why else would they pay to move another nation's military?

The real question is why, knowing this, is the government and people of Guam allowing it to happen? Truth is we have no choice. We live by their constitution, but can't even vote for president. Our congresswoman can't vote. We are pretty much at their mercy. And all of this is happening in today's world on supposedly U.S. soil. Our economy has become almost completely dependent on the military. Tourism will surely drop when all these marines and their dependents arrive and shortly we will be completely dependent on the military. And the families who've lived here for generations upon generations will become the minority and will be unable to compete for housing and jobs. We will be homeless in our own homeland. We will basically serve the military to survive. Our sons and daughters will join the military to provide for their families. This is what the people of Guam have to look forward to.

It's scary. I can admit that I am scared. I want to do something, anything. Emotionally I don't think I could handle it though. I'm amazed all the time at the activists. How do they remain so composed? I don't think I could do it.

Life in Wonderland: Spidey Scents

Yes that is a spider on my Secret Wish bottle.  Luckily I don't use my perfumes everyday.  This house guest has been with us for a few days now.  He or she seems to have made a home in my perfume corner of the bathroom sink.  strange.  A couple weeks ago there was a larger one that died in our fridge.  even stranger.

Art in Wonderland: The future's so bright . . .

Yeah! I completed a painting today. I started this a couple day's ago and finally finished. It has a lot going on. To understand it better I think you'd have to know a bit about Guam and what's going on here. Also, the title is borrowed from an '80s song by Timbuk 3. It ties in with the imagery of my painting. Hope you enjoy it!

Art in Wonderland: Charity Art Auction

Every year I participate in a very special art auction. My mother is the executive director of Guma Mami inc. Guma Mami is a non profit that helps improve the quality of lives for individuals with disabilities. The art auction is their major fundraising activity each year. I think one of the bests parts of the auction is that the featured artists are persons with disabilities. Guma Mami has a night center where they can do all kinds of activities, participating in art classes are one of them. So throughout the year they are producing work for this show. I spoke to one of the artists, one year, and she explained that art has helped keep her sane. I can relate to that. When everything is out of control in my life I always know there is one thing that I can control. This is why I often paint when I'm at my most emotional.

Anyways the Auction will be held in May, but the deadline to submit donated pieces is the last day of April. If anyone is interested, please let me know. Any and all submissions would be greatly appreciated!

The pictured piece is "You take me there" I donated this and 3 others last year. I was also doing henna body art for donations.

Upcycling in Wonderland: Awesome find on Curbly

  Are these chairs not one of the coolest upcycled items you've seen?  I found them on Curbly.  The article says that they sell for $925, but someone had to have made them so they must be DIYable.  I don't have room in my apartment for one so I'm not even going to try right now.  I just had to share though!  If anyone attempts it as a DIY please let me know!

Viewed in Wonderland: Maga'haga

Guam is a matrilineal society. Even before I knew what the word maga'haga meant, I felt it. There are many women in my family. My mom is the eldest of 6 sisters. And honestly, extended family included, when I picture family the women stand out the most. They are the glue that holds everything together. They are both protectors and nurturers. Don't get me wrong though my brother is the closest person to me, in my family. There is something about the women of Guam, though. As a young child my great grandmother was the head of our family. She was the oldest, strongest woman I've ever met. My grandmother was strong also. You could see on her face that she carrried with her something that pained and saddened her, but she managed to raise 6 daughters and 2 sons and also their sons and daughters. Looking back, I wish I could remember all the stories she told us. And then there's my mother. Like the women before her she is amazing. She's full of passion and strength. She fights daily to provide a better life for her family and also the people she cares for. She does so much for the community of persons with dissabilities on Guam. It pains me to see her frustrated and sometimes I wonder why she doesn't just let go, but then maybe it's something in her blood. Maybe it's something that runs through the blood of the women of Guam. We were born to protect and nuture and fight the struggle to care for our community and family. Thinking about it now I'm so proud to be born a daughter of Guahan.

Just some thoughts from Wonderland: Who am I?

Lately I've been thinking a lot about the future of the island I call home. I've been thinking about what will become of Guam in the next few years. With the current recession, the impending military build up, and the constant decaying of the fibers of our government what hope is left? Well maybe this is the social-political-economic storm we've been needing. You see, on Guam, after the super typhoons people seem to come together. We work together to clean up the neighborhood and we get together to bbq all that food that would otherwise rot in our freezers. Maybe this is just like that.

As a people we have been victims to political and social injustices since our "discovery". We've been the battered wife that stays in the marraige because she can't imagine life any other way. But one day we will find the courage to say enough is enough. We will say, either you start truly considering our interests as a people or we will stop at nothing to break free. Because in all honesty we have let this happen. We have let ourselves become dependent on a nation that sees us as not much more than an aircraft carrier. How long till that is all we are?

There are many people who have been fighting for years upon years in our interest. There are people who've dedicated their lives to bringing our struggles to international light. But most of us have given in. It's easier to conform and forget. I'm just now starting to show an interest in this struggle. I can admit that I spent the last 24 years of my life ignorant of what was going on around me. And I'd like to thank those who kept the embers of our culture, hope, history, language, and people burning.

To be continued . . .

Crafting in Wonderland: Swap partner!

I got my swap partner for The Pin Cushion swap, on Craftster.  I'm very excited to get started and have already started brainstorming ideas.  Since I'm off today, hopefully I can gather my thoughts and get to work on it.

My partner seems to like lavender.  She doesn't like sparkly stuff or neon colors.  We both like tulips.  She wants to live in Provence.  She embroiders on the go, so I want to make her a pincushion she can actually use.  :)

If any one has any tips or ideas let me know!!!  Thanks!

Crafting in Wonderland: Vino!

Oooops!  I couldn't help it.  I signed up for another swap.  It's a wine themed swap though.  I couldn't say no.  :P

So many ideas.  I can't wait to get started.

Crafting in wonderland: New swap

I just signed up for a pin cushion swap on craftster!  Hope I get in.  It is a spring themed swap.  I actually have some supplies ready for this. lol.   The organizer posted a bunch of links to pincushion tutorials.  I'm getting excited already!  I think while I'm in pin cushion mode I'll make myself a funky voodoo doll pin cushion. lol.

Just to recap, these are the 2 pin cushions I made last year: