To Hiking Viking (what I think of this right now)

When we were talking last night, I said that you must have really “needed this,” and I meant that in a good way. And what I failed to say, is that I also “needed this” – a wonderful person to whom to give my abundant love and affection and to be loved and appreciated back (“beloved”). (I trust you can accept my use of the word “love” in a broad and beautiful sense). The fact that I/we *needed* this does not discount my wonderful and genuine appreciation of you, desire to spend time with you, reveling in your attention and affection (and giving mine to you), and enjoying your very good soul at this moment in my life (and yours).

Fuming mad

But this completely infuriates me! Narcissistic, publicity hounds who crashed the State Dinner?!?!? WTF? While clearly, there was a security breach, the gall of these self-obsessed, classless idiots just horrifies me. They are currently "auditioning" for a reality TV show - Real Housewives of Washington - and apparently thought this would be a *good* idea to demonstrate their drama-worthiness. I'm so mad, I'm sad; I'm so sad, I'm mad. Seriously, what is this world coming to? It just takes advantage of *everybody.* I'm speechless.

Breathe

Wow...like a breath of fresh air!

State Dinner @ Obama White House

I'm somewhat obsessed with the Obama's first State Dinner this evening for the Prime Minister of India. Completely gaga about the menu - mostly vegetarian - with arugula (from the White House vegetable garden), eggplant and potato salad; red lentil soup; prawns with green curry; poached pears with (White House beehive) honey. The deep purple flowers, the apple green tablecloths - colors reminiscent of the India state bird, the peacock. And Michelle Obama's gorgeous dress designed by Indian-American designer Naeem Khan worn with glitterati bangles and amazing chandelier earrings. She's so f-in' classy (and with my use of crude language, I'm clearly not).

All this on the heels of my most recent trip to India (my 4th, I think) - a country I'm so fascinated by. And so many Indians/Indian-Americans for whom I have such high regard. A place on the move....

AND a guest list with people I think are super cool (or actually know!*), with many men accompanying their power women (just sayin')

Jhumpa Lahiri - kickass writer
Kavita Ramdas* - President of The Global Fund for Women
Jim and Paula Crown* - Global Fund for Children donors/supporters
Geeta Rao Gupta* - President, International Center for Research on Women
Marland Buckner* - husband to Melody Barnes, Domestic Policy Senior Advisor, and ex-husband of dear friend and neighbor, Aileen
Mona Suphen - Deputy Chief of Staff, MHC grad
Gov. Ed Rendel (PA- D)
Marian Robinson - Barack Obama MIL, Michelle Obama's mom, Sasha and Malia's g-ma
Sonal Shah*- Director of Office of Social Innovation, Maya's friend
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton - (D - DC)- yay for recognizing DC
Mayor Adrian Fenty and Ms Michelle Fenty (D) - DC mayor- yay, DC again!

I've been blogged!

The Hiking Viking has blogged about me. It seems I am referred to as the Globetrotter. Nice. :-)

India morning

I'm not much into travel journaling, it's all become rote to me, as I land in another place yet again. But if I'm blogging, it seems I should comment on where and how I am.

In general, when I travel, I find myself much more aware, more alert. My mind and senses are stimulated. I am turned on.

When landing in Delhi, my pick-up driver did not arrive, so I mobilized myself into a pre-paid "black and yellow" taxi. Immediately, I felt the surge that has become so familiar when I land in a new and different place. The more "foreign," the better. Chaos, beeping, mad traffic, insane driving...the loud humming motor of the puttering bumblebee taxi. Adrenaline.

But this morning, much more peaceful here at the Global Arts Village. There is 6am "dynamic meditation" which I missed, but heard the drumming and the whooping, later followed by sitar music. I showered in my lovely, tiled - saffron and cobalt - bathroom, the warm water washing away the dirt and fatigue of travel. So nice to let the warm water wash over my naked body - again a function of the sensuous nature of travel. I never feel the warm water wash over my naked body when I'm home. Fresh and dressed, I went out in the early 7am mist to sit in the thatched hut with my earthenware mug of (Starbucks Via) instant coffee (yes, I get the irony). For a few moments, I felt very, very present - maybe 15 minutes or so. I heard the birds and the plane overhead, saw - really saw - the magnolia tree, and watched the still, still water. The coffee tasted very, very good - rich and warm - and I felt it enter my bloodstream with a soft energizing buzz to my tired jet-lagged body. The earthenware cup was warm, I felt the heat transfer to my hands.

It was such a lovely, quiet, present moment. So rare, so cherished. To be sought - consciously - more often.

I [HEART] beards

Brad Pitt is sporting some scraggly facial hair, and I've noticed a few handsome men around with some scragg, so before it’s the next big thing and Cosmo does a cover story, I just want to put on record that I *really* like beards.

So soft, bristly and scratchy. Lovely texture on the face. A little decoration. Very tactile and sensual. A certain edge (and edging). And sexy is, as sexy does, a beard has a lovely framing function – like pubic hair – except around the mouth (…and lips…tongue) and going on up toward the earlobe. And oh….the scent!…cologne, sweat, or best of all - just plain, old, delicious scent de sex. Trapped in the beards fibers, ready to be ruffled lightly, to inhale and intake. A little extra tickle, in the kisses.

Mmmmmm…mmmm… beards!

City Hippie

As anyone who knows me knows -- I love my neighborhood. The urban village of Capitol Hill is quite remarkable. Many suburban friends can't believe the small town life I can lead in the big, bad city. Not to mention, it's green and liberal. I feel like a 21st century city hippie.

I can get to work, school, grocery shopping, doctor, restaurants, exercise by walking or public transport within 30 minutes (well, some of this 35 minutes). The point is that I can actually live my *whole* life by walking, biking or public transport. Even more so, I can get to an airport, train or bus station to escape DC in the same way. Of course, no saint, I have a car (a Prius :-) and I use it, but typically, I only use my car on weekends, and it sits idle weekdays.

There's also the community garden, the babysitting co-op (earn and pay with poker chips), the corporate car-share company :-), the playgrounds, the library, the public pool, and most wonderful of all, Eastern Market, a little town square. And I take great joy in testing the system when I walk into Fragers's, our local hardware store, with no money, no bank card, no ID, and charge it to my house account!

I've read an article on this, it's called something like "the good life" or "intentional urban life" or something of the like. I was not so intentional about it, but I have never lived any other way, and can't imagine so.

Indeed, it's a good life.

Robin Hood and Little John

One of the things that cracks me up about my current job...

As a VP for an international non-profit, raising money is always on the screen, and even more so for my boss, the President/CEO. My job usually means I get to make the case, demonstrate the model, and give program insights that make people inspired and ready to give. My boss, however, usually makes the ask - a role, admittedly, I'm not as comfortable with.

Yesterday, in Silicon Valley, amidst staggering wealth, M and I presented to a dinner of "venture philanthropists." Our gig? I distract by talking about the "metrics" of social returns, while she takes their pants off and steals their wallets. As much as M drives me crazy, it's a good team act, though I much prefer my role to hers. :-)

We ate and drank well though, so of course, I am happy.