Where do I even begin...

O.K. seriously, WTF is up with California? Why are we so dysfunctional? Can the California I know and love please secede from the California that is apparently running the show?
Our GDP is larger than most other countries in the world, let alone other states in the US yet we are 49th out of 51 in teaching staff expenditure per pupil in education, and that trend of lagging behind is pretty much consistent across the board in our school systems because of it.
We are currently cutting funding for most community based prevention and advocacy programs apparently unaware (or unwilling to acknowledge) the unintended (but completely obvious) consequences that lie farther down the road as a result of these cuts. Is cutting a state funded children’s health care for the poor really going to save us money or is it just going to send even more people to the already overburdened emergency room where the diagnosis and medication for a simple childhood cough can cost upwards of $1000 instead of $150 health clinic visit?.
The unfair irony of the budget prioritizations is the worst part. As we cut funding for after-school programs and family support services we increase the frequency of youth being tried as adults for committing crimes, thereby just shifting the money from prevention to a reactionary ‘solution’ to the problem.
It’s all so depressing and overwhelming, but there will be a gubernatorial election coming up in the near future, and it is not too early to start supporting a smart, progressive candidate (right now, I am supporting Gavin Newsome.) We cannot assume that another power hungry, idiotic republican won’t slip right in to the post just because of the failure of our current governor. Political complacency is a real threat around here—just look at prop 8.

Flea Market Extravagaza!

This last Sunday I reluctantly went to the Flea Market for some bargain hunting. I always protest when we try to go to the flea too late in the day; I assume that all the good stuff will be gone if we are not getting there at dawn (I don't think we have ever actually gotten there at dawn, but I still use it as the rubric for which I determine a successful Flea Market trip.) Well we got there at 11ish. I was positive ALL the good stuff would be gone, but I was game for a little walk in the sun.

Boy was I wrong...The first score was this vintage mouth blown lamp. Originally a table lamp, we took it apart when we got home and are going to turn it into a hanging lamp for over the dining table. It is really awesome, and this picture does not do it justice. Its the perfect shade of pale green and once I cleaned it up it became very sparkly and catches the light beautifully. A bargain at $10 (especially since I have been eyeing a very similar lamp at Anthropolgie that is more in the $375 range.)

Next was this awesome Gothic style solid wood vintage alter that we got for Zed's room. He is going to use it for his incense which he very into right now and he primarily burns the powdered kind that you light on top of a charcoal disk, so the little shelf at the top of the alter is perfect for holding the little cast iron cauldron her burns the powder in. A very cool find, and for $10 you can't go wrong.

The Orchid at the top of the post is a Flea Market special, you can never go wrong with the $6 Orchid's at the Flea. The are huge, healthy and full of buds, I can't believe they are so cheap.

The Flea Market is awesome; even when you go at 11.

Let's see if I can figure this thing out...

So I have been wanting to start a blog for a while--a long while. I read so many wonderful blogs on a daily basis and I am so excited to get in on the fun. The technical part of making my blog look cute is going to be a challenge, as well as the fact the only camera I currently have is on my phone. Oh yeah, I also don't see spell check on here anywhere. That's gonna be a problem... Oh nevermind, I just found the spell check!