Floods, Epic Hikes and a Mighty Crab Feast!

What a weekend! It rained and rained and rained, and then rained some more, until Friday night when my street literally became a raging flooded river for the second time in two years. While some neighbors fretted over potential damage, which I of course don't wish on anyone (well, almost anyone), I must say I was euphoric. I love, and have always loved, natural disasters, as long as no one dies. There's something about one's street becoming a river that is just so primal - it triggers my male survival what-in-here-would-make-a-good-raft gene, or something.

Needless to say, what water didn't end up in the streets ended up soaking the hills that surround Marin County, and the hikes this weekend were epic, the best they get! I did a two mile loop through the beautiful woods down the street from my house Saturday morning, then met some friends for a 5 mile hike through waterfalls, canyons and forest two miles from my house. So fun and beautiful! Today, I organized a posse of three guy friends to hike Cataract Falls, which I think might be the closest you'll get to Hawaii on the mainland. Picture towering trees, including redwoods, shrouded by a mist and light rain falling on about a mile and a half of cascading waterfalls gushing with torrents of water down 1,000 jungle-like vertical feet. Unreal.

Better yet, view the actual pictures by entering the website of the Fraternorority I preside over and checking out the Cataract Falls Hike 2008 pics. Epic. http://bdsanga.googlepages.com/home

It wasn't all nature this weekend. (Good segue, Krouzman!) I saw a great strange avant garde play put on by the Traveling Jewish Theater Saturday night (which actually included a scene of a guy with a huge fake penis fucking a stuffed deer, something we've all of course envisioned and joked about, but don't really expect to see), then met up with my friend Luke and his friends at El Rincon, a bar / club in San Francisco's Mission District featuring great afro-funk music and more stunningly beautiful women in one place than I think I saw in all of 2007. No offense to any Fairfaxians, there are many beauties among you! It was so "Luke" that when I called he happened to be 2 blocks away at such a cool place and welcomed me with open arms, though he did mess the address up cus he was drunk.

Just when the weekend couldn't get any better, my dear friend Liam rolled into town today for a 2-month stint! After our hike, I cooked up a delicious local crab, spinach salad, rice and brussel sprout feat for him and 4 other good guy friends. It was off the hook. We laughed our asses off and talked about sensitive things like the orphans Ellis has been helping out and Elan's latest charity drive. Also a few other things that aren't fit for my mom's ears. Hi mom! Don't worry, she's cool with the sheep thing cus she spent lots of time on a Kibbutz when she was young. Wow this is dangerous territory.

OK Roni, off to bed. Yay rain, forests, friends, feasts, Obama trouncing Hillary and NOT being sick anymore!

Hikes, Politics and Back to Work

This was my first week back to work after an awesome 3-week vacation. I direct Next Generation, a community organization I founded 5 years ago to help young people learn more about social issues, gain leadership skills and take action for peace and our environment. As much as I believe in what we do, it always feels challenging to come back after an extended break. I certainly feel a burden in my role as director, and boss of 6 people. Saving graces for me are our inspiring programs and the amazing people I work with. Check out www.gonextgeneration.org if you want to learn more.

I went on a beautiful hike with friends this past weekend. It had rained for days, and we hiked probably 6 miles round trip through the beautiful misty hills and valleys of Marin County, where I live, to Carson Falls. Here's what it looked like!

More pics of our little voyage are on-line at www.flickr.com/photos/22247862@N03/sets/72157603682961628/

Wow, that's a mouthful of a URL. You can also click on any of the thumbnails below.

www.flickr.com

Finally, politics. I was elated that Barack Obama won the Iowa Primary, and saddened that he lost New Hampshire. I still think he has a good shot. I know I'm anti-Clinton - she's far too corporate and conservative for my taste. I'm still confused about Obama - I think he's doing a masterful job communicating to some of our deepest hopes for this country and the world, but when I explore the meat of his issues, I find them quite centrist and unispiring. I'll share more of my thoughts in the days to come. In the meantime, I'll say that electoral politics is always a choice between 2, and Obama seems better to me than Clinton. This election will be so very important, and younger adults under 35 may well be the deciding factor, as they were in Iowa.

My First Time Surfing...in Maui!

OK, the much awaited video has arrived. Hookipa, Maui. Famous surf spot. Check me out!

New Year's 2007!!!

Happy New Year everyone! Friends and I celebrated by going out to dinner, then cruisin' between the jam packed rockin' local dive bar, a very mellow gathering around the fire at our friends' house, and a hippie dance party at the local ayurveda center, all very nearby (within 100 yards of each other), and so very far in terms of style! A fun, rich night.

Somehow, I spontaneously grabbed a friend's red slip and dressed like a (hairy) girl. It was fun, confusing, and very cold.

That's me strutting from one party to another in 30 degree weather. God it was cold.

You can thoroughly enjoy more photos on the wesbite for the Fraternorority I run at http://bdsanga.googlepages.com/main Check out BDS New Year's.