GEANIUS ESQUIRE OF YORKSHIRE III

Just recently I changed this journal to mostly public; about 10 percent is still friends only and I'm not changing past posts. I love getting new friends, but I don't frequently comment.

Story on the AZ Daily Sun website.
By GEAN SHANKS
Sun Staff Reporter
Monday, July 13, 2009

Under the shade of well-loved trees, botanist Dr. Gwendolyn Waring is surrounded by the varied but harmonious native plant species and eager visitors for her wildflower walk.

The Arboretum has been featuring these walks for about five years. The next sessions are July 25, Aug. 8 and Aug. 29. Each starts at 9:30 a.m. Waring takes the amateur nature explorers through trails in the 200 acres of the Arboretum and provides detailed descriptions and highlights of the inhabitants of the garden.

Near the beginning of the trail, Waring pulls us off the path into a grove of aspens and Columbines. A nearby bird offers a song as Waring explains the plants surrounding us. Aspens, she says, are well known to be struggling due to elks, fires and possibly global warming. But they are still very numerous and one of the most widespread living things on Earth.

"I guess they can stand to lose a little, but still be okay," she says.

Columbines, Waring tells us, are known well throughout the northern hemisphere and are full of nectar for wandering bees. These particular flowers are a striking yellow with long spurs, and they cover much of the land we travel during our walk.

Next, we move past the herb garden planted by Frances McAllister, a local philanthropist with an eclectic love of organizations who passed away last year.

"It's kind of a wonderful herb garden," Waring says. "Can you imagine coming out here in the morning?"

A chorus of agreement replies. This is a lively group. At almost every stop, a visitor has a question.

"Now, can you eat the berries?" one woman asks, gathering leaves of the plant in her hand.

Waring says she doesn't know and a man in the gathering says, "You can be our test case."

Many of the participants bring along a nature book, looking up their favorite flowers and stopping Waring to provide her own description of the plants they don't recognize.

More common than the books are cameras. Wendy Kemp snaps a photo of a purple flower.

"I love it; I just love being in nature -- I love the setting in the woods," Kemp says.

This is Kemp's first time here, though she is a member of the Phoenix Botanical Gardens. She was excited when she saw information about the walk in Heritage Square, she says.

All the flowers are too beautiful to pick a favorite, she says, but she found the milk flower -- which Waring had everyone stop to smell -- and the blanket flower -- a vibrant ray of blood red, burnt orange and sunshine -- very alluring.

Dana Nellen, who is from California, is also a first-timer.

"I am not a plant person, but I love this walk," she says.

Visit thearb.org for more information about the wildflower walks.

LOS ANGELES  
This is how I — in the company of friends Troy, Kyle and Meghan — spent my previous week:
SUNDAY
We left Flagstaff in the afternoon, via I-40. After several stops in shitty, stranded desert towns, we made it to LA. There, we helped clog the veins of Hollywood and Sunset boulevards. The businesses along these famous streets are much like the stars who flocked there before stardom: Most try to shine brightly and many often break down and get sold in pieces.
In an attempt to find a place to park the van and sleep, we drove out of the city and ended up settling in a beautiful mixture of a crackden and meth lab after several other failed locations. We were tired.
MONDAY
We returned to Hollywood, this time on foot. We wanted a closer look; we wanted to poke at surgery scars and wipe off layers of make up that covers deep crevices of wrinkles and decay. We did and it was more beautiful than we could have imagined.
Everybody there is selling an image, and every image is an effigy to glamour and success. Unfortunately, every role requires a costume, and it was easy to see past the curtains and into the individuals and corporations that just want to "be somebody" and make enough money to pave a street gold with stars.
People paying homage to themselves.
We continued down the streets, determined to see everything but not really sure what to look at. The night before, we had seen the store front of the "Museum of Death," so we decided to make that our destination. In the heat, we were easily sidetracked. Soon we became hungry and ate at the first place we saw that was reasonably priced and not stand-offish: Sharkey's. From what I recall, it was an oasis and we all fell in love. That may have been more as a result of the air-conditioning rather than the food — except, no one could deny the pico de gallo was heavenly. We decided while eating that we would stay out of the sun the rest of the hottest hours. A local theater was playing Moon, which Troy and I had wanted to see for a while but would never play in Flagstaff. We made our way, hurrying the few blocks to get there, but when we arrived, Moon was not playing; 500 Days of Summer was. If you expect a review, here's a link.
After the movie, we went to Amoeba Music, a two-story collection of media and annoying fucking hipsters. Everyone except for me bought a few things. We met up with a fellow NAU student with whom Kyle and Troy are kind-of friends. His girlfriend was in Europe, so I think the spontaneous road trip was his way of taking his mind of missing her. I don't know him really well, though, and am probably wrong. I want to believe that's what was going on because that would be cute.
Once we left the store, we renewed our mission of [the Museum of] Death. On the way, we said goodbye to lonely NAU heart and continued staring at the sidewalk stars, which were starting to get repetitive.
The Museum of Death, we found out on arrival, was $15 or so, which we weren't willing to pay. Though it boasted of the "world's largest collection of serial murderer artwork," a guillotine-severed head, collections of instruments used to deal death and handle the aftermath, etc., it looked like an amateur Hot Topic from the outside, even less convincing (as a museum) than the Creation and Earth History Museum we went to in San Diego later in the week.
This was the anti-climatic end to Hollywood. Like the night before, we drove around looking for a spot to sleep. In the end — in a yogurt shop in Little Tokyo — we decided that we wouldn't stay in the van unless we could get to a travel station or truck stop; neither were within 30 minutes of driving. It made more sense to drive instead to San Diego, to Brian's house. He was, after all, the reason we were on this trip. We needed to see him.

[Continued...]

• call source
• interview kid and his gramps
• fall in love [again, dear]
• technology story
• get paycheck
• make business cards
• make website
• meet photog at AZDS building at 8:30 a.m.

Especially lately, I read a lot and am often untouched by stories during daily scans of the AP Wire. At the Arizona Daily Sun, I not only am writing and looking for stories for myself, but I am constantly trying to find briefs and slot-fillers for the wire pages. Most of the time I use an arbitrary list of  requirements -- an editor has mentioned it, it's on the mass daily budget, it's been through several write-thrus, etc. -- but sometimes it’s merely on a whim.

 

The following are recent stories from AP and other news media that may or may not have made it, but definitely made my otherwise cold, calculating thaw (and be less calculat...ingly):

 

Tourists and Native American artisans of northern Arizona may soon be conducting more business together with the launch of the Northern Arizona Native American Culture Trail Web site -- nanact.org.

"What we're trying to do is build a bridge between visitors to this region and Native American culture, Native American art," said Scott Neuman, the economic development program coordinator for the Coconino County Community Services Department. The Web site, which has been a year in the making and is being launched today, will feature 18 trips tourists can take. The trips will send them along roadway paths filled with native treasures. Neuman said the trails will also direct visitors to many destinations in northern Arizona, including the Grand Canyon and many sites on the reservation.

Also on the Web site will be information about the 100 artisans and background about the region and the kinds of art featured.

Funding was provided by the Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor and the Employment & Training Administration.

"The potential for economic development amoung Native American women artisans is why we have provided initial funding for NANACT and its Web site," said Jenny Erwin, the regional administrator for the Women's Bureau, which provided $30,000.

Many organizations collaborated on the project, including the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Arizona Office of Tourism, Native Americans for Community Action, Navajo Nation Tourism, the Hopi Tribe, Rio Nuevo Publishers and Northern Arizona University.

"Tribal lands interest not only Arizonans, but also are a significant draw for domestic and international visitors," said Dawn Melvin, the Native American tourism development manager for the Arizona Office of Tourism.

Neuman said that annually, tourists spend about $687 million in the state.

"But very little of that money actually touches native hands," Neuman said.

Eunice Bennett, a native artisan said she expects the site to boost her business, which she conducts out of her home. Her work includes silver jewelry, stringing necklaces, dream catchers and handpainted picture frames. She said it is important for people to know the work is original and that NANACT helps to promote that.

"I like to sell my own work only, because that's what art should be about," Bennett said. "A lot of the tourists want to know who made it, and they should be told the right thing."

NANACT was inspired by Handmade in America, a western North Carolina service connecting craft-makers since 1993. Thirteen other states have replicated the model.

A press conference launching the site to the public is today at 3 p.m. in Heritage Square.

By GEAN SHANKS
Sun Staff Reporter
Friday, July 10, 2009
Found here.

At the end of each year, NAU places giant dumpsters all over campus and students throw away the most amazing things in them. Kyle, Troy and I are in search of mass discarded treasure for the second year. This is what we've found on the first outing of the season:


INVENTORY:
- Fake Blue Flowegrs, bouquet
- $1 bill
- Two pink sand paperweights
- Pink notepad bound with single ring
- Snowman Pink Post-It Notes
- Heart Pez dispenser with three packs of Pez candy, unopened.
- Target mint tin
- Pyramid glass vase, small
- 2 C-Cell batteries
- Blue leg-warmers
- Batman mask
- Scotch clear packing tape
- Happy Birthday card
- 5 Photos
- 2 rolls of film negatives
- Christmas lights, white
- iPod speakers with FM radio.
- Car first aid kit, including gloves, fuses, ratchet set
- Windshield wipers
- Coaxial Cable, 6'
- Cat5 Cable, 6'
- Black desk lamp with tape dispenser
- Silver desk lamp, non-standard bulb, with built-in clock and 5x7 picture frame
- 7-in-1 black photo frame
- Large poster frame
- Periodic table of sex, partially checked off.
- 2 small ceramic tea pots
- Bottom-half of a 5-wheel office chair
- Navy blue sport coat

Last night, Troy found out one of his best friends shot and killed himself.

I'm thinking of all the people I love that I've not talked to for a long time. Friends I thought I'd be close to forever, friends that don't know how much I love them even if we have nothing to talk about anymore.

I'm thinking about how these things happen in threes, how just last week Jamie's ex and good friend was killed in a car accident. I'm thinking how it seems to be getting closer to me. Nobody in my life is expendable. I called my brother; Vincent was Holly's brother. I don't know Holly well at all, but he was her brother. For years, I was afraid my brother was too lonely and hurt by the people who loved him; I was always afraid he would...
I called my mom; later, my dad. I just want everyone to know I love them.

I'm thinking about how selfish it is of me, taking the death of someone I didn't know and turning it into my burden.

I'm thinking about how fragile I think Troy is, how much comfort he needs, how he's never had someone he loves die. He's trying so hard to remember Vincent, reads old journal entries to get back memories. He's going through old conversations, he's blaming himself for not talking to him in such a long time. I tell Troy there's nothing he could have done, no way to predict the patterns of when to draw him out of his pain; you're a loving man who would have done everything if you had known.

I'm thinking how it wasn't long ago that death didn't affect me; the only reason I cried over my grandfather was because I saw of photo of him and my brother, when my brother was young, innocent, unbroken. The idea of a family member dying didn't have any affect on me. Now even the deaths of people who never existed can make me morose for days.

I'm thinking of you.

Today, everything seemed all right. It's beautiful outside


and
.


So, let's keeping working on this thing we've got.

Because, baby, you're...weird as fuck and I need that.
.

Sometimes, I have this curious obsession to go through entire catalogs of webcomics [or print comics uploaded online] from beginning to end. Last year, I went through the following: XKCD, Married to the Sea, Toothpaste for Dinner, Natalie Dee, A Softer World, SinFest and a handful of tiny, sporadic webcomics.

Currently, I'm going through Dilbert and Daisy Owl. With Dilbert, there's the task of enjoying 20 years of Scott Adams--the task not being loving the series' wit but having to skip every Sunday on the calender lest you get sent back to the homepage with today's comic. No other comic, in my opinion, has been capable of staying relevant and interesting for such a long period of time. Many, tragically, fall prey to the fate of long-lasting Garfield: hanging on only by the threads of tradition and only getting respect recently through web-hit Garfield Minus Garfield.

There are many lasting qualities of Dilbert, especially in the insightful banter regarding any topic and with the pretense that Dilbert is a loveable loser who works for "the industry," like every average person. He gives everyone a chance to openly make fun of their bosses within actual voiced opinion: passive-aggressive use of spot-on comics goes a long way [to feel understood]. This is known.
However, where I'm at in Dilbert's tale is still in the foundation and his famous short, horned boss isn't even in the picture yet.



The other comic I'm going through [Daisy Owl] is much newer, the first post being July 3, 2008. In the series, an owl [Mr. Owl] raises his two adopted human children [Daisy and Cooper]. It it full of adorable and adventure. Like most clever and popular comics, the alt-text rounds each comic together into perfection. Not very far in this one either, I've found many gems:





Last Notes.
Art Spiegelman gave a talk at NAU. I'll go into how great, but often old and crotchity he was another time.
Check out NAU's best/only[?] webcomic: Cliptomania Comics.

Let me just say, I'm coming back.

However, I'd like to focus on blogging than on personal journaling. So, I'm going to go back through and make some more stuff private, almost starting anew with a few exceptions.

I want to create a series.

flickr.com/photos/geanshanks/

I am officially no longer in the overweight category.
For the first time in YEARS.

My boyfriend is the creepiest thing in the entire world:



And it makes me adore him all the more.

So, I was trying to play it cool, not writing on here about this boy.

There's been a lot of drama and insecurity leading up but now there's only so much sweet my teeth are falling out.
He's officially my "Maybe-Boyfriend" because he wants to wait until he gets back to actually ask me. He's waiting and planning for many things to do in person.

My boy is a crazy tortured artist anarchist Christian writer adventurer who is beautiful and wonderful.

My happiness is doubled by knowing how happy I make him. The things he sees in me.
After those years of feeling lonely and like I'd never be with someone [worthwhile], I am so thankful. It feels like I've waited for something really special.

Tell me I'm not actually considering getting on a plane to visit a boy I'll see in a month.

WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?

Remember when...

TALK ME OUT OF IT.
Tell me he wasn't serious when he sent me the link to plane tickets. Tell me it's not long to wait. Tell me I should be saving all my money for college. Tell me the visit would be filled with humidity and awkwardness. Tell me I am the silliest girl in the world. Tell me these things that are true, these things I need to hear.

I you have a flickr account, add me.

I haven't uploaded any photos there yet. Soon, however, there will be hundreds. I love my new camera.

How do you tell someone that they may or may not be a mistake you may or may not be willing to make?

I've been home the last two weeks. There's been a lot of friends and family.

THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED:
-My father graduated from college.
-I went to church with Troy and family.
-Jessica and I went to Tuscon to visit Jeremy and Megan. I love the UofA campus.
-I've taken so many photos. Love it.
-My car didn't pass emmissions the first time.
-It rained here and snowed in Flagstaff.
-Mindless Self-Indulgence concert was fun; I went with Troy [and his friend Lucus] and Jessica [and her friends John, Ian, Mike, Josh, Alan...maybe some others].
-Troy threw up all over Phoenix and I got pulled over by a cop for the first time; he didn't give me a citation.
-I spent a lot of time with my mom and brother.
-I worked at Cinnamonster, which I always love. Something is always going on there and the customers are always fun. One offered me sex. Unfortunately, Cinnamonster will be going out of business within two weeks.
-Today I went to a bunch of galleries and then went swimming.
-Cuddles and confusion, but we cleared some things up. A relief. Maybe?