zowk's Xanga

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Wed, 14 May 2008 02:31:37 GMT

And so I'm back...
For some time now my life has been in serious transition and I have all but divorced myself from most creative endeavors, and completely from writing any sort of blog post. Granted, I might not write any more after this any way, so for those who actually read and post on xanga, don't get your hopes up.
For now, I would like to focus on my 'new' interest in horticulture and madicinal herbs. I'm not sure that I will post exclusively about my new hobby, but at this point I see at least a focus on that topic.

My mom was always interested in herbs, with a specific interest on natural medicines and remedies. I've never had much of a green thumb myself, but I have always been at least mildly interested in herbal medicines that I picked up from my mom. The past 2 years of my life have been quite enlightening for me and has really helped me step back from my goal to do video editing and refocus to a more 'natural' approach to life. Not to say I've gone completely nomadic or green, but I've slowly been fitting into my hippie prone bent. Well, I did cut off the dreads, but at least I've got the beard still.

Well, enough of that, I'll get into more ideas and thoughts behind my new approach to life, but for now lets see what's happening in the garden.

I finally did it, I dug up that ugly citrus tree, which I wasn't able, or unwilling to keep bug free and I've finally started my herb garden.

Here are some photos of the intended plot for growing space.
It's not big, I know. But I do live in Suburbia... And I rent, so what do you expect? The pot on the far right has a near dead geranium that I'm trying to rescue.. Next over are the ment and Greek basil plants that are also strougling. Beside that is my make shift vermicomposter that should give me some nice hydroponic tea... I hope.... Still not sure what kind of ratio I should mix the tea with water, or how I should filter out the sludge before using it in my hydro with out also filtering out the good nutrients my plants will need. Any ideas?

The Tree in the photo is a Brugmansia and produces amazingly beautiful flowers with a rich, alluring, fragrance. Mine obviously doesn't have any flowers yet... I think the heat from the pot it was in was stunting it's growth. We'll see how it goes now that it's actually in the ground.

The space down beside the palm tree is just a form of desperation to plant something. Not much planning went into it... I just hastily ripped some grass out and threw down a bag of soil. Didn't have any wildflowers to plant so I just threw down some bird seed. They seem to be growing quite nicely. Boring I know... Oh, and I also threw down some poppy seeds. Illegal? I don't know. Probably, but I can't find any conclusive evidence that it's illegal to grow opium poppies in your garden. After all, I bought the seeds at the supermarket. Yes that's right. The seeds you eat on your bagel are also from the plant that produces the illicit substance of heroin. AMAZING! More on the drugs in another posting.

Finally, here is my makeshift germinator. Sounds like terminator! Soon I'll have Cilantro, Italian Basil, Thai Basil and Chinese Chives. Also, outside in a little pot I have some Greek oregano and mint. They seem to be doing well, but they're still recovering from when I picked them from the Echo Garden.

These are my earliest sprouts of Italian Basil! YAY! They shot up in only 2 days... Amazing! I freakin love basil... Can't wait to eat it! These guys are already a little bigger since I took these photos, and now all the other basil(even some of the Thai basill) are sprouting. Wonder how long the chives and celintro will take...
Ok, that's all for now. Needless to say I'm excited. Thanks for reading!
z

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 05:05:06 GMT

What happens in the medow at dusk? "Nothing" "Everything" "Nothing!" "EVER...""NOTHING..." "It's beautiful..."

-I 'heart' Huckabees

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 04:46:34 GMT

"Have you ever transcended space and time?" "Yes, no... Uh, time not space. No, I don't know what you're talking about."

"It's a fact, if you use petroleum you ARE a murderer!"

-I 'heart' Huckabees

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 06:02:23 GMT

Brand Quality personel is on board double checking every tiny detail; writing things up left and right. Cruise Director is more stressed...(not good.) Video techs coming on board to fix camera's tomorrow; I have training tomorrow; also boat drill is tomorrow . Facilities are not being helpful to build structure for reaching Camera. We're going through transition cruises the next few weeks, during which time programming must be changed out and altered drematicly. AANNNDD, on top of all that... My assistant is leaving tomorrow because his grandpa just died...

Time for me to get some rest.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Sat, 09 Sep 2006 05:20:35 GMT

My babe is famous!

Check is out! http://www.jonessoda.com/gallery/view.php?ID=491596&search=Rachel%20Gnewuch&offset=1

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Sat, 02 Sep 2006 17:28:48 GMT

BRRR.... It's cold today. Even inside the ship it's cold. So far it hasn't been so bad up here in Alaska, but today it's chillie down to my bones. It might just be because I'm really tired. Or it could be that because I haven't been wearing layerd clothes that the chill has finally seeped down to my bones and now it will be hard to get the cold out of my body. Ever notice that? It seems like the longer your in cold weather the colder you get over all. Like it soaks into your skin and just kind of stays there for several months. Ah well... I have my coat on now. It feels so good! Now I'm all warm and cozy. Makes me able to emagine cuddling beside a warm blazing fire. Mmmmm... I could sleep now.

Well, how's it going guys? I'm working as head broadcast tech now. This stupid company promoted me after only working here 4 months. I'd like to say its due to my amazing abilities, but more likely it's because Royal Caribbean has serious issues with planning and scheduling. After my experiences and also endless stories about the way this company treats it's employies, I am just baffled at how they can keep people in this company. I mean, I'm still here, so maybe that says something about why people are still working here. And hey, PLEASE don't hear me saying that I don't appreciate my promotion! Far from it. I'm actually thrilled that I have this opportunity, and I am actually considering coming back for another contract even. This is great experience, not to mention how much more money I'm making

So, right now we are sailing up to Juneau Alaska. We'll be there tomorrow morning. After that it's Skagway, then Icy Straight(which has no ice), another sea day, after that we're in Victoria Canada and finally back to Seattle. In a week we'll be going down to Mexico.

And at the end of October I'll be leaving the ships on my way to Columbia SC to spend time with my Rachel!!!! YAY!!!

Gotta go eat lunch.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 02:47:53 GMT

Greetings from the ship.

HOLY CRAP I FEEL LIKE AN INSANE PERSONE! Any way, long story short, aside from all the personal family stuff going on in life which I won't get into any detail at this point due to their personal nature, I'M GETTING PROMOTED!!! Now I'll be a Head Broadcast Tech. For the first time in my life I will have the ability and the privelage to FIRE SOME ONE!!! MWAHAHAHA!!! Ok, just kidding, I'm not quite sure about all that and I think I'm a pretty nice guy, but at least I'll be getting a pay raise. But yeah, this is turning out to be a lot better than I had expected. It all happend so fast too, I'm scheduled to leave the ship on Friday and join the Vision out on the West coast. But I onlly found out yesterday that I'll be getting a promotion as well... Wow, crazy!

Ok that's life, I'm lazy to type any more. If you want more detials I do have email and you can write me. If you don't have it you gotta ask.

See ya round guys

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 21:45:41 GMT

Who’s God do you serve?

"I would say to America that if your God has made you so great do not use that against us" -Arab Woman speaks on CNN

There seems to be a great divide in opinions on the state of the current crisis. Some think it's religious, some think its oil, and some think it's political. I don't know the answer. I tend to believe though that it's different for different people involved in the war. One thing I do know... "There is NON righteous, no not one!"

If the Arabs can blame us for using God's power against them and at the same time terrorist murder thousands of people for a 'holy cause'... Some one is going to have to answer for all this shit, and it's not just the terrorist or the self righteous freedom-boasting-cliché-spewers. It's all of us. It's us who think that our petty spats and brother/sister loathing attitudes are some how more acceptable, some how less despicable. I think it's time to take a look in the mirror and remind ourselves exactly who’s God we serve

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 19:31:22 GMT

I'm depressed... Oh boy that was fun.

How much you wanna bet I get more than 5 comments this time. hahaha! I love it!

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 02:47:55 GMT

Let's all pretend that each and every one of us were born in a different family. A different place. A different time(completely). A different race. A different colour. A different economic status. A different social status. A different religious background. A different political view. Even a different planet.

Now think of different situations in your life that you have experienced and try to emagine how you would have reacted with each one of these changes. Try different veriations as well.

Scary huh? Next time hopefully you'll rethink your decisions and judgments.

note: if you have a hard time with this practice try traveling to a foreign country where you can't speak the language and live there for years with out talking to anyone from your own society.

Have a nice day!