Day of Inspiration

Yesterday was a full, inspiring day. It was busy and full of inspiration. I had a nice slow morning; made Huevos Rancheros al José for breakfast. I toasted (and for a bit too long) two quesadillas with refried beans and scrambled 3 eggs. The eggs went on top of the open-faced quesadillas and salsa atop them.
Mom, Dad and I then spent most of the day in the Hillcrest area of San Diego. Dad had a meeting with his boss, Steve. Mom and I went to St. Peter's Episcapalian Cathedral for two lectures. The first was given by Fraces Moore Lappé, a fabulous, long-time advocate, author and revolutionary (works include, Diet for a Small Planet and Hope's Edge). Her talk garnered a standing ovation from me and most of the audience. She speaks of reversing the downward cycle of a perception of lack leading to the concentration of power and a dependence on expert advice and money running politics. Instead, she advocates the active practice of Living Democracy.
We had an hour's break so Mom and I walked the (at this point dry) block and a half to Extraordinary Desserts. There, in a cramped yet cozy nook we shared with two healthcare representatives, we enjoyed a Chocolate Coffee Cake and an Americano apiece. The coffee cake was, well, extraordinary and the coffee the perfect accomplice.
We watched carefully the clock and the weather and to our dismay (which soon became exhiliration) it had begun to pour. We made the block and a half back a bit faster, and quite a bit heavier from having taken on water and dessert.
Matthew Fox, the next speaker, was equally inspiring, tghough for different reasons. His thesis spoke to the re-emergence of the Dark Madonna as a symbol for the balancing chaos, darkness and creativity (right-brain energy) she represents. He also spoke of educational reform and shared two short films from a project with which he's involved in Oakland. One followed a group of "Turf Dancers," the kind of extrapolated, stylized, robot-esque dance I've seen the Amar brothers perform.
The second film was about two graffiti artists and a redirection of their creative energy from criminal to contributive.
Both films were made by the students and reflected a good deal of talent, passion and even background research. For instance, the Graffiti film told us that the word graffiti comes from the Italian graffiato meaning "scratched."
Driving out of Hillcrest was pretty crazy with loads of water on the street. I was glad to have he combined experience of Mom behind the wheel and Dad's navigational support.
On our way north we stopped in Rancho Bernardo at Souplantation where we enjoyed a stunning skyscape outside (tinted lemon merengue yellow) and an incredible bowl of soup (New England Clam Chowder for me) on the inside.
Dad and I left from where we'd dropped his car earlier in Escondido to the Stone World Bistro for a Slow Food meting/interview and Mom headed north to Brook-town for her board (bored?) meeting.
In the course of our being at Stone we: refilled the growler with Smoked Porter ($8, such a good value for two litres!) and had a great informal meeting. I: got to see Rochelle (spl?) Peréz from school, chat with her for a brief few and then got my first official birthday drink offer, from Mr. Greg Koch himself! I was/am tickled. He goes, "So how long?" To which I replied, "Less than 5 months," knowing instantly that he meant how long until I'd be enjoying one of his beers in public. He entered the date of my birthday into his phone (we found out it's a Wednesday) and, after presuming correctly that we'd be there (at Stone) for the event, offered to buy me one of, if not my first beer. I'm so stoked.
So that's been my day; this glorious, wet and wild-ly inspirational day that it was. I've begun a new journal, a new year, today a new semester and I'm feeling renewed. My purpose, my vocation and passion(s) reveal themselves little by little with each passing day. Oh, what a ride.
Life is potential; life is good, potential.