Tikkun Olam Friday - Repairing the World One Step at a Time

Another Friday, another post on tikkun olam – to repair the world. Remember, you don’t have to finish the job, but it is your responsibility to start.

The Flag of a Proud Democrat

After two weeks of political conventions, I must ask you to think about who best can repair our nation. Without change at home, I fear we won’t be able to repair the world.

In July my husband and I visited Vancouver and went wine tasting. At one winery we somehow got into a discussion of politics with the hostess. (Somehow? It’s all we talk about.) We assured her we hadn’t voted for Bush. The mess wasn’t our fault. Her compassionately spoken reply: I feel for you.

Just four words reminding me that Canada is a separate country, not America Adjacent, and that the US has problems to solve. Alone.

So this week, before I ask what you did to repair the world, let me ask if you watched the Republican National Convention. Did you like what you saw? Then stop reading now.

But if your heart soared last week as Barack Obama showed us who we can be once again only to break as you watched in horror at the world portrayed by McCain, let me suggest what you can do between now and November.

Donate to Obama's campaign and talk up the issues like energy, health care, the economy, the environment, education, the physical infrastructure and the food supply.

Then help get out the vote. And vote yourself as if your children’s and grandchildren’s lives depended on it. We cannot have another 4 years of the last 8 years.

APLS are growing in California

APLS are Affluent Persons Living Sustainably. Each of us care about the earth in our own way, define our path and blog about the journey. Check out the main APLS blog, get the full 411 and sample the individual bloggers. We come from all over the country, perhaps even the world.

We're all in the Bushel Basket together but we’ve coordinated ourselves into some regional baskets as well. So far we've got Colorado, the Great Lakes, the Lower Mid-West and me in California. If you want to organize your region, jump in. The plan is to learn, share and build eco-conscious communities. Some of us may even meet up if the distances aren't too far.

August was our first Carnival, a chance to write and share on a specific topic. Last month was sustainability. September is affluence. The deadline for submission is Sept 10th and on Sept 15th all the posts will go up and we can read some thoughtful, personal commentary. Visit the blog for details.

So check us out. The email for the main APLS blog is aplscarnival (at) gmail (dot) com. Golden State APLS can contact me at bobbiwords (at) aol (dot) com.

We’re crunchy and committed. Join the APLS Bushel Basket.

Friday Night Jazz at LACMA

Summer nights in the city, filled with music and art …

While I wish I lived closer to more cultural opportunities, sometimes driving is worth the effort. This past Friday was one of those times. My husband and I drove to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) for one of their Friday Night Jazz sessions.

We had to drop our daughter off at a friend’s house and didn’t want this relatively new driver to brave the LA freeways during rush hour traffic on a Labor Day weekend. So we did it instead. No complaints from me. Here was a chance to use our LACMA membership for some art viewing and the opportunity to hear free jazz.

I used to be a jazz fan but moving further out into the ‘burbs 15 years ago meant fewer concerts and losing some radio reception. KKJZ, 88.1 FM, (KJAZZ) from Cal State University, Long Beach, was one of those lost connections. Online listening didn't grab me, and I just drifted away. So I haven't stayed current with contemporary artists. Friday I found a new one to add to my faves.

Outside in front of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum, we were in for a real treat. Bill Cantos, singer/songwriter/pianist was playing. We listened for much of the 2 hour concert. Even my classical leaning husband enjoyed the show and remarked on the uniqueness of Bill's voice, lyrics and ability to connect with the audience. I've never been good at head counts, but I'd estimate at 750 jazz aficionados groovin' to the beat.

Here’s a link for Bill on MySpace. Enjoy yourselves…I bought a CD and I’m reliving this end-of-summer evening under the palm trees. Good bye summer, hello autumn.

Tikkun Olam Fridays – Repairing the world one step at a time

Another Friday, another post on tikkun olam – to repair the world. Remember, you don’t have to finish the job, but it is your responsibility to start.

What action did you take this week, big or little, to make a difference?

Today I made a donation to MANNA, the food bank in the Conejo Valley. To be honest, I’d already written a politically themed post. But driving back from kickboxing, the MANNA truck was in front of me. And last Friday when I took the dog to the groomers, the MANNA truck was in front of me.

Mind you, in 15 years of living in the Conejo Valley, I’ve never seen their trucks. Do you think someone was trying to tell me what today’s post should be about?

MANNA was started in 1971 when many families were affected by layoffs in the aerospace industry. The organization gets help from clubs, churches, temples and businesses along with both public and private schools. My kids’ elementary school ran a donation drive while they attended. With the economy the way it is, I’m sure they need help keeping their pantry filled.

According to the website:
MANNA provides food on a short-term basis to families and individuals who are having difficulty in getting enough food to survive and are unable to get immediate help from other sources.

MANNA asks everyone to fill out a short application form and, based on the information provided, MANNA will refer them to the appropriate agency. Generally, each applicant will receive a week’s supply of food immediately.

MANNA expects each applicant to follow up on the referral. If the agency cannot provide immediate assistance, the applicant will be sent back to MANNA by the social worker and MANNA will help them again.

To receive help, learn how to volunteer or organize a drive for your school, organization or business, you can contact them at (805) 497-4959.

Or visit them at:
MANNA of Conejo Valley
3020 Crescent Way
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

And the political post? Did you think I’d waste it? Look for that over the weekend!

Yes We Can!

Get out the vote. Talk to everyone you know. This race will be close, very close. Do you want 4 more years of McBush? Our country, our world can't afford it. Let's have something to celebrate come November. Get out the vote!

Tikkun Olam Fridays - repairing the world one small step at a time

Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada

©2008 Bobbi Rubinstein

Every Friday I’m going to post on the concept of tikkun olam. It means ‘to repair the world’. The nice thing about tikkun olam is what Rabbi Tarfon, a sage of the first century AD says: you don’t have to finish the job, but it is your responsibility to start.

What did you do this week to repair the world? What one little thing, or big thing, did you do to make a difference?

This is what I’d like to share …

I like to pick up freebies. I LOVE handouts. Free newspapers in cities I’m visiting, local magazines – green or otherwise, articles at conferences. Sure it’s a lot of paper – and I’m really drowning in paper at the moment – but I just love to read short pieces. (As a kid, I read the World Book Encyclopedia for fun – what an info geek!)

So when I found that someone had started a green magazine for the Conejo Valley/Ventura County area, I was really excited. Green Home and Family Magazine. This was one freebie I grabbed and saved.

After a few issues, I realized that while I could pick it up at the libraries around town, it was an organization I wanted to get behind. The writing was solid, and it was getting the word out to the region and covering events.

So this week I signed up for a subscription. Small thing, for sure, but no one but me would have known I was reading it every month, free of charge, and not giving anything back. Like listening to your local NPR station and never subscribing. (Mea culpa there.)

The sands of summer are falling away – savor them this weekend with family and friends.

California as Still Life

Eucalyptus - 18" x 24" oil on canvas
© 2008 Karen Winters

If anything defines California, it’s our beautiful and varied landscape, from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Pacific Ocean to the desert around Palm Springs, just begging for a dab of paint to capture it. If you’d like to experience the state through an artist’s eyes and tour one of our premier garden museums, visit Descanso Gardens , starting this weekend, to catch the opening of the latest show at the Carriage House Art Gallery.

This month the gallery features the work of five local artists, with an emphasis on artwork that reflects the natural beauty of California. Oil painters include Alyce Cox, Karen Winters, Laura Wambsgans and Jeanne Tannhauser. Ceramicists are Dave Gilbaugh and Don Siminski.

Subject matter ranges from the Central Coast wine country, Southern California seascapes, Santa Monica Mountain scenes, desert wildflowers, still life paintings and floral portraits.

Full disclosure: Karen Winters was my roomie in college. (Go Bruins!) It’s her painting at the top. She’s a Descanso regular and is a California plein air painter in the tradition of the early 20th century impressionists who sought to visually preserve the fragile beauty of the state. Visit her website for more paintings and check out her blog where she posts a daily painting and blogs about paint and horticulture.

The show will run August 23 through September 18 with an artists’ reception on Sunday, August 31, 1-4pm. Exhibit hours are 10am -3:30pm.

According to their website, “Descanso Gardens is an urban retreat of year-round natural beauty, internationally renowned botanical collections and spectacular seasonal horticultural displays. Descanso founder E. Manchester Boddy, preserved these 150 acres of gardens, woodlands and chaparral for future generations to experience the natural heritage and beauty of Southern California. Today Descanso Gardens is a museum of living collections, accredited by the American Association of Museums.”

Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso Drive in La Canada Flintridge, near the interchange of the 2 and 210 freeways. The Gardens are open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Parking is free. Admission fees are $8 for adults; $6 for seniors and students; $3 for children 5 to 12, and free for members and children 5 and younger. The Carriage House Art Gallery is next to the Boddy House. Visiting the Carriage House Art Gallery is free with Gardens’ admission. For more information, call (818) 949-4200.