Die, SPAM, die!! (poetically)
March 30th, 2008
Via JRG. Not that a gal has to wait long before receiving enough attention from Spammers, but after 400 of these daily, this chick decided there was no other choice but to take a lyrical fight. Taking a swing at these e-polluters and inspired by her website, Spam Poetry.com, here’s my piece:
Simplicity is so complicated to achieve.
We want, we want, we want:
we want the story on the abusive teen from Argyle, TX
we want to see the nasty girls in Carolina fishing
We want bigger and better and longer lasting luxury cars
and pictures of Francine Prieto nude.
Its gotta, its gotta, its gotta..
It’s gotta be free, fast cheap and easy!!
barely legal, down loadable, and spinning
gotta be the latest and greatest celebrity’s porn video
with a Celexa facial to protect
the 15 million and counting US patients with GAD
that can’t go out, can’t feel good, can’t breath easy,
wanting to see the big a** heaven…?
Does this seem ridiculously complicated to anyone else?
It’s like screaming, “bring our troops home!” and
driving an empty SUV home on your own,
It’s like wanting world peace,
and scratching the serial number off the gun in the closet,
When all thoughts don’t coordinate with actions,
whatever option chosen, is always a lie.
So I wonder, whatever happened to simplicity?
walking around the world loving a good vegetarian dinner
whatever happened to a boy and a girl?
and a quest for happiness, honesty and respect?
holding hands and kissing on couples lane,
or just the smile of happy playing children.
This simple girl of bright orange purses,
banana glowing shoes, burnt red rosary beads
and black rice ice cream palate
in jeans with green white flowers
knows how words get sticky with thought and need
a card to say I care is vulnerable to at least 3 rewrites
and it takes time figure out reality and desire
but I still don’t understand,
whatever happened to simplicity?
“There has never yet been a man in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth remembering.” –Theodore Roosevelt
Inspirations…
March 24th, 2008
Easter is an inspiring time because of the beautiful blooming flowers, the end of a cold winter, the celebration of Christ’s resurrection for Christians worldwide, and the overall feeling of renewal that the season brings. This weeks photo collection is
Pictures of me:
I’ve never thought of giving people pictures of me until I started traveling. Yes, it’s petal picking forget me nots in your memory prairie of toucan yellow chrysanthemums and red dripping Indian brushes, but… I’m looking at the repoused silver intricate work upon layers of beads on black felt jacket, Hmong neon pink head dress feathers, taken in the land of the elephants. Following a tradition my friend started when she came back from Iraq. This is me at 30, almost 31. Four continents touched, 7 countries explored, unabashedly sailing solo but open to addendum. So much more to do and see, but… forget me not.
Sucking fish:
My friends know when my twisted smile comes on. I struggle to detach my eyes from the little fish sucking off the weary traveler’s calloused feet that dare invade their territory. People swear by its nourishing power to bring healthier skin, but curiosity bites harder. “Arashi…” I have everyone’s curiosity as my eyebrows peak. Fine, I’ll address the proverbial pink elephant/literal feet sucking fish in the room. “Hey Arashi…what happens when the fish get too big? Do you eat them? Do they taste like feet?” Meanwhile, I’m making sure nothing is lost in translation pointing at the fat fish in the bottom left corner sinking by gluttony, motioning a fork and knife. He throws his hands at me, with an international crazy foreigner mumble. I guess answers are secondary to laughter.
Western females:
The little black number with a new hairdo and shoes, gold lip gloss and charcoal eye shadow drinking coffee by the sidewalk, is like a weed growing between concrete barrier divides in the German Autobahn: Claudia’s field research. While men peripherally look and walk faster so as not to make eye contact, females whisper to their bffs holding on to hand to hand. I smile, wanting to say, “Hey, thirty something year old lady: nice school plaid mini! I’m so honored to be topic of your conversation and give you something to bond over. Oh, dude with bright green scarf, check it: we have the same lip gloss,” but language absconds vocal sounds and it becomes a silent flick. With eyes only, I have to say, “Hey, you know there are so many things we have in common culturally, you would laugh! Do you realize group identity becomes easier with immigrant presence, so you’re welcome. I see you….do you see me?” Amid my two hour notes, I quickly put my coffee down and stop my self from whistling like a construction worker at the only guy who has seriously caught my attention quickly walking by me. Chuckling, “Oh, c’on, now!” I wonder, “Latinas can’t possibly be that scary, right?”
add to del.icio.us Dirty Feet Goodbyes
March 15th, 2008
I’m in my friend’s apartment cleaning. Every part of my body has some layer of grime. It’s the third day of packing and dust thickens the air. The back and forth motion of mopping reminds me of my grandmother’s linoleum floor, years of lower belt status wondering why I had to mop when there was enough money to hire a maid and now here, in Korea on Friday night Salsa. Looking at my blackened feet from cleaning, I wondered how it crossed Jesus’ head that he had to wash dirty stinky feet like mine for Holy week with the reason, “Such as my love has been for you, so must your love be for each other.” Yet, sometimes interpretations come from life events, like leaving good friends or having them leave you. Like my friends did for me, I helped her because I was given it when I needed it, because I knew she would do the same for me, because I wanted to see her happy and I knew this would help. And somehow, because it made both her and me feel safe; in the sense that someone is watching out for us from head to toe.
In the taxi, I rushed goodbyes to hold back tears but I always look back for three seconds to get a picture of the people I leave, why I find them so inspiring, so strong and remember that life is momentary. Happiness are moments stacked like cubes magnetically attracted by faith. Knowing that small actions are meaningful and every road has a definition, is a smile after any departure.
So ahead of many entries, I give you St. Theresa’s Prayer and my photographic journal observing all the beauty in people: “Life Story Stills/claudiapena/flicker.com”
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
Happy Easter! For Mona, Jaz, and Jentz…nothing like chosen sisters! add to del.icio.us
News, Tests and Text
March 10th, 2008
Congratulate me on making the dean’s list last semester: 97, 97, 96, and 93! Glad I waited and studied something that really excites me and helps my career.
Flickr/claudiapena: All in a day’s, week’s, month’s work! (*uff!*) So with 1500 edited images, how do I introduce it in a way that inspires and doesn’t overwhelm the viewer? That answers all question of where was this taken, how, andwhat was she thinking? For the next few weeks, I will introduce my 10 collections/36 sets with poetry, maps and titles. Although I am still mourning the loss (STOLEN) of my Canon PS640, I am extremely happy to introduce the stitched panoramic shots of Chiang Mai, my favorite place in Thailand.
Personal: The neat thing about goals, is that if I write them, say them, talk to others about it, and publicly announce it, they’ll have power and weight as I did on my 8-26-2007 post. As a result, I have to refine my lists:
By Summer
1. Black belt in Hapkido, one of Korea’s martial arts - a solid black belt is gotten in front of the national association association in Seoul which is a very difficult challenge
2. 135#s, size 7, and 12″ lost all around (runners legs!)
3. Proposal submitted to 5 grants
4. Scholarships
By the end of the year in correlation to my list:
1. Travel 2 more countries
2. Finish 2 out of 3 semesters with same grades as the 1st
3. Publish a book
4. Visit grandparents
5. Eliminate all credit cards forever (exchanged with sky diving)
add to del.icio.us