I cry easily these days. I don't sleep much most days. I sleep too much other days.

A series of things in my life lately has made my heart a little softer and my reactions a lot gentler.

A beautiful story, a sad story, a friend in pain, confusion, the terrors of our society woven so intricately it seems impossible to ever untangle. I cry easily.

Today, I planted all the seedlings in the bed I am working on at the garden. I was so excited. It is going to be beautiful. Hell, it already is beautiful. There are two trellises, they are my favorite, for the snap peas. They will look better covered in peas. I am going to fill in all the holes with seeds on Thursday. I'm excited for the problem solving involved in protecting these plants from harm and helping them to grow the best they can. I'm excited for the kids to see it and harvest and eat!

Here is photo of the first day of the little seedlings in their new home.

And, there are some days when I like LA, like this one day when I took this photo.

scholia

Lately, I've been super excited about all that I'm learning.

Today, I sat in on a trial at the LA court house. The trial was about a gang murder. I was learning so much the whole time, I felt like I was in a classroom, except I was learning everything in a simplified, rational, question/answer argument. I wish I would have gone to a trial when I was younger...I probably would have had the dream of becoming an attorney. With my terrible knack for argument and need for logic, I would have had high dreams of defending the rights of others. Things are probably better off this way. Fun fact: Today was the Dr. Murray/ Michael Jackson trial at the courthouse too...lots of cameras and protesters and stuff...wooo LA.

And oh man, I am learning so much at the garden. I have learned about different techniques in amending soil and been able to practice them in my own project of a 3x30 foot bed! I've learned a bit about permaculture. I was introduced to the Three Sisters technique of gardening (which is genius...you should check it out). I am learning about harvesting, and bugs, and nitrogen, and native plants, and whole bunches of other garden stuff that you probably aren't super interested in. I'll try to remember to take pictures of the garden tomorrow, so I can share it with y'all. The melon patch, pumpkin patch, and strawberry patch are looking awful fine these days. (And it rained all day today, so it will look mighty fine tomorrow, I bet.)

I have just finished my first class for the semester, and I am onto the next, and it's going to be great. I just have the feeling. I will probably share more about it later. It's called Urban Religious Movements.