Over the years, I’ve been slowly learning more and more about nutrition and swapping out the items in our cupboard and fridge for organic and whole foods. But then, as I read more in this book, the debate came up about whether it was better to eat organic if it got shipped in from around the world or was it better to eat non-organic from a local farm? How much gas and energy and water did it take to get me an organic peach? How organic is that overall? If an item is local and not organic, is it because it’s not certified organic but is still grown without pesticides and driven in that day to the farmers market?

The last time I hit Trader Joes, I started to read the labels on the top that says where the food came from. Product of Chile. Product of New Zealand. I didn’t pick up the peaches. Nothing against Chile or New Zealand, but it was hard to buy something that expended that many natural resources and feel good about feeding it to my family.

So I started to investigate other options. This book tipped me off to a website about CSA farms. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Basically, I as a consumer can opt to help pitch in financially to a local farm or a local farm collective, and in exchange, I’ll get a basket of produce every week or every month - whatever I opt for. That sounded like a great idea.

With a baby on the way and life full of career and family demands, I don’t always have the time to spend at the local farmer’s market and shop at leisure - as much as I love the community and meeting the farmers. So this is an idea I’m seriously considering - joining a CSA farm and having my produce brought to me locally. What I get in my basket will dictate what we eat for the week, but that sounds like fun and a bit of a culinary adventure.

Nesting has me thinking not only about my home but my baby’s world. In all that I do everyday to try to make this a better place for her to live, can’t help but to think that this will only enhance her life too. Simplify life. Bring things back to local community. Be aware of the impact we have in every way possible.

Also wanted to tip you off to the idea if you haven’t considered it yet. Partly it’s selfish. The more people I can get to join in on this adventure, the better it is for all of us, including me and my family - cleaner air, cleaner water, cleaner food. Thanks for indulging my little bit of activism for the day!

On Saturday, April 28, I had the privilege of playing Raga Kafi with Meena Makhijani on tabla at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. A few photos from the event. We made a bootleg recording….I’ll test it out and share some of it with all of you. This is officially my baby’s first performance - in utero!

Friday, August 28, 2009
9:30pm
Cinespace, Main Stage
6356 Hollywood Blvd., Second Level,
Hollywood, CA 90028
Ages: 21+
$10.00 cover

See you soon and don’t forget to tell them you’re there to see “Shaheen”!

Word association games leave me with new words: fear, danger, strength, courage, compassion. Are these not some of the most complex human emotions? And what I have is 8 lines. I will massage the words and hopefully find poetry.

Arabian…thank you for your patience.

When I arrived, I was early or everyone else was late - so I quickly stuck out my hand to the closest guy standing next to me and introduced myself. He said his name was Arabian. Well, I got Sheik for a last name so figured we might have something to talk about. Mostly, I did the talking. For 30 minutes, I went off about water rights and its cut-throat, dirty politics throughout history and the plight of the Palestinian people. And since Arabian has an understanding of just how dirty this world can be, he listened - though he quickly admitted to me that he’s an avid golf player and probably couldn’t say much about water rights. I forgave him, partly because I figured I could slowly convince him to be more water mindful if we ended up becoming friends and I had more opportunities to harangue him on the topic.

Typically, I forgot I was at a music event until Arabian asked the right question in such a setting, “So what kind of music do you do?” After replying “World Dance Music”, he said, “Well, I’m the guy you should know if you’re into dance music.” I’ve been in this business long enough to know that they ALL say that. Not one to be too quick to judge…(clearing of throat here)…I handed him my CD and asked him about his musical journey.

Turns out, Arabian could in fact school me on music and after 3 days in a studio with him, I’ve had the privilege of getting some music history lessons - particularly on electro-funk. See, Arabian produced a little track called Supersonic for J. J. Fad back in the day and was a founding member of a little group some folks like to call NWA. So who knew? Sweet, folk songwriter who got her start in a gay bar in San Francisco would one day be working on dance tracks with her new friend, Arabian Prince. But then, didn’t we always figure it would turn out this way? Arabian and the Sheik.