inner space...

Gotta Dance Gotta Dance....

Melfry — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:46:50 GMT

This just made my day http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080722.html

Digital vs the real world and a profusion of social networking sites....

Melfry — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:55:49 GMT

My digital life has been sorrowfully neglected over these last several months as it has been pushed aside due to the demands of my real life. The more SNS's that are out there, the less interested in this mode of communication I become. What began as a means of staying in touch with friends back home has for the most part become a past time that eats away at my dwindling amount of free time and lacking in any real communication. Now that the semester is over and I have ..... oh about 10 more hours before a meeting that will kick off a summer working on research.... I thought I would take a moment to attempt once again to connect with my friends and family in the great unknown that we call the interweb. Due to the "profusion of social networking sites" I am forced to post this several times. Lame, yes, but I really don't care. Lets see. Real life begins with trying to find a job, I have hardly worked since last October, instead focusing on school and building up a skill set that will help me in a masters program. I have been helping out a local clinic in reproductive health outreach, and as important as the work is, I have come to realize that it is not for me. It seems more suited to someone passionate about teaching, which I am not. So, I am out there, putting on those yuppie clothes again and interviewing. Top secret for now but I have a lead on what may be a position that could be too good to refuse. More about that at another time. The research project has to do with depleted uranium weapons detonated by the military here on the Big Island. Right now it is a pilot study as to the potential health risks associated with this contamination. If our speculation is correct, we will go into the field in the fall and begin talking to families within in close proximity to the contamination, and crunching the numbers of, for example birth defect and cancer rates in those communities. The exciting part is that no one seems to be doing academic work around the topic, only activists or the military, so it could shed some light on an issue that has caused much controversy here. Life is changing so fast, I love it. The constant flux is my absolute favorite state of being with new challenges developing at every turn. My day to day life is still paced by getting enough exercise and down time to unwind. Though there is less free time to enjoy my friends here and "out there" these days, I none the less feel really pleased with life. It seems to me that I am alarmingly close to having my cake and eating it to. Besos, M~

RED PRESS!!!

Melfry — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:56:48 GMT

Lots of changes going on over here on the Big Island; from earthquakes, to hurricanes, to a brand new lava flow not far from here. What I really want to say is that I am changing things up as well...... A half hour ago I quit my job with "THE MAN" !!!!!!!! Can you believe it? Did you think it would never happen? About f'ing time I know, I know and I am now in school full time working towards a masters in public health. Whoooo hoooo! Daunting, but I am super excited. I will be working part time on an project doing outreach with teens and focused on reproductive heath. Steve and I are putting the house on the market and plan to move on to a larger piece of land and live in a simpler manner. Sorry if I have neglected returning emails lately I promise to be better once I find my groove. So with that said I feel really good about shakin-it like today is my very last day. All this change and all these new challenges has got me amped up like a kid all cracked out mountain dew. I am going to go for a run with the dogs and try to calm down Lots of love Mel/Melfry/Melissa/Lis but no longer..... Melissa C.- Senior Finance Manager

Roo Doo and Other Poo

Melfry — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 22:26:36 GMT

Back from a wonderful visit with the fam’ in Alice Springs preceded by exploring the coast and national parks south of Brisbane. Was told by friends to expect a real freak show in that area but those freaks don’t even hold a candle to what goes down right here in Puna. Got to squeeze some kangaroo-buddy faces (see above- this one stood as tall as I do) as well as stretch those dusty city wings and throw on some make up to feel urban while drinking a martini or two. Visited the new Brisbane museum of contemporary art and was absolutely blown away. It is by far the most impressive collection I have seen and I’m reminded that my own creative process is deeply enriched by experiencing cutting-edge and quality art. Stayed on a 9 mile long beach then hiked for a few days in Lamington National park fending off leaches, spidys, and all manner of semi-wild marsupial looking for a free meal. Alice was freezing- literally- a sharp contrast to my last visit when I hiked the Larapinta trail in blazing 100 plus temperatures. The chilly temps sends those nasty ol’ snakes into hibernation so I could feel confident scrambling all over rocks without fear of death. Finally met my Dad's woo-man who I adore. She is not at all what I expected and is the polar opposite of my Mum but she is fantastic and it makes me feel good to know he has such a fitting companion. She is very curious about becoming part of a Jewish family and has been reading this hilarious book titled “how to fit in in a Jewish family” which of course is helping her to find good bargains and fly under the radar with my Grandmonster. I sense wedding bells and maybe even a chuppa in their near future. As always seeing so many displaced aborigines living in the dry river bed and walking into town without shoes or proper clothing for the cold weather has me feeling sad-mad-confused. The lack of proper healthcare leaves many children with minor colds untreated often turning into serious respiratory illness such as pneumonia followed by brain damage and even death. The government intercedes only when symptoms become so severe that it is obvious (insert image of child lying on the ground drooling on itself unable to walk, talk, use the bathroom on its own) in other words too late at which time they remove the now totally dependent child for a lifetime of state or foster care. A whole unfortunate cycle which is completely preventable but that is Alice where for the most part the local whites stare right through the aborigines as if they were not even there, not even human and will tell you as much if you bother to ask. I’ll step off my soapbox and get back to the trip. Sydney was rainy and cold but there were plenty of fun things to do. It is such a civil place where you wait in line at the airport nice and orderly like to catch a taxi and people actually stand patiently at cross walks until the do not walk sign switches over to walk. The aquarium took up one full rainy afternoon. I swear I must have spent a solid hour standing in a glass tunnel that runs through the shark tank, looking around while they swam above, beside, and below me their sharp sharky teeth just inches away in some cases! Just brilliant. Drank some of the best wine and worst beer in cranky old pubs. Meat pie was definitely on the menu- oh yeah pie- no shame, I am remembering those pies fondly while I tuck in to a heaping pile of fresh kale with garlic for lunch. I often tell myself I want to travel all the time but it sure is nice to return home to the islands.

Vonnegut has flow the coop...

Melfry — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:50:48 GMT

It is 5 AM; I am listening to NPR, and have just heard that Kurt Vonnegut died. For the most part I don’t feel the need to wax poetic about lives or deaths of people who I am not tied to genetically or have loved, and I read far too many books to call one author my favorite however hearing that good old Kurt kicked the bucket has got me feeling nostalgic. Kurt introduced me to satire and at a point in my life -my 19th year- that was for me quite timely. It began with Cats Cradle after which I chewed through practically every word that man had put on paper to date. His books were the first in which I risked underlining passages that grabbed me so that I could find them later just to giggle and reflect. Around that time I learned that being a woman and petite were not obstacles to physically and intellectually attaining anything I set my mind to. One of his books was my companion on my first solo winter mountain climb and another was tucked in my bag the first time I set out to travel on my own. That same winter was when I ate my first great big painful piece of grown up sized humble pie, and with the experience found satire to be for me the key to getting through life’s challenges. For that I am truly grateful and for this man and his writing I will hold a special place in my heart.

Under Surveillance

Melfry — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 22:45:02 GMT

Dear Mr. Hel-ee-kop-tor Man, With all due respect, please desist from flying so low over my house. It is really starting to piss me off. Persistent violation of the airspace above my home leaves me no alternative but to sling shot doggy poo bombs at you through the open side doors of your evil machine. Best Regards, The Dog

Big Food and Big Gratitude

Melfry — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 00:46:55 GMT

As a child Thanksgiving was one holiday that I dreaded. My gianormous family would get together and eat the exact same meal every year at my grandmother’s house. The grownups at the big table and the kids sequestered away from adult conversation at their own smaller one. Dinner was followed by watching sports on TV. It was so boring I would rather have spent the day watching cement sit. This holiday has developed into one I adore as a non-grownup grownup. I love to celebrate it with friends- everyone bringing a dish to share. Kids running around and everyone eating togther. Every year the meal is different and often the dinner lasts long into the night. This year I am hostess for the first time and cooking my first turkey. Today I spent the day baking and getting ready for the big push tomorrow. The whole time I worked I kept thinking of how grateful I am for the people who share my meal with me on Thanksgiving this year and in years past and how grateful I am for this life.

Little Gifts

Melfry — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 17:12:11 GMT

Another rainy morning here in Hawaii. Today I am feeling sluggish and not looking forward to work. Waking as always before sunrise to slave away for the gods of money back on the east coast of the US and sip coffee while the sun slowly makes its way up into the sky for a new day. Sometimes being a grown up is a drag. Lately I have been feeling a little coo-koo working from home. The isolation making my normally balanced noggin tilt a little to one side warping and bending as it goes. These days I can be found talking to the pets as if they are people here in the house with me and craving more human interaction. This morning, soon after the sky turned from black to indigo I looked over my shoulder and got my mind blown by the sun emerging into this gray day then exploding through a perfect tailor made sun sized hole in the clouds. The effect created a shade of salmon blending into violet all around the intense sun and my red living room walls began to glow all around me as the sun’s rays came up over the horizon and into the house. I must find a career that pays to drink sunrise for a living and bathe in color with health insurance and retirement as standard benefits. I guess in a way I do- what do you think kitty?