I. Josh on one of our last night’s in San Francisco last July. We were delirious with exhaustion and nerding out with our cameras. II. Madi in the pool at our vacation house in the Outer Banks, last August. III. Miss Lauren, frolicking in the grass in Portland, OR. IV. Josh on the same night, just when we got back to the hotel. My favorite part of this photo? His left foot. V. An ancient but awesome photo, circa 2005. Me and Tessa rocking out in my mom’s family room. She and her brother Michael spent the night on their way to Ohio.

Yesterday, my brother Josh and several of my friends traveled with PUSH Buffalo to the annual conference of the National People’s Action and to participate in NPA’s Showdown on K Street. The Showdown and the conference are focusing financial reform and the struggle to take back our government from the big bank, corporate interests that currently holds power. Fox News’ Glenn Beck, by the way, has labeled this group “dangerous” and full of “Maoist madness.”

I’ve been doing a lot of reading and listening about the Wall Street takeover, and it’s depressing. While I continue to believe in the work and potential of local governments, I feel totally disillusioned with our state and federal governments. Corporate interests and self-interest are steering the wheel. Democracy and courageousness are so marginalized that even when leaders reference them it’s some sort of doublespeak f*ckery.

It helps (tremendously) to know that my friends and family are bearing witness and standing up to this injustice. I am inspired by them and wish I could join them tomorrow at the Showdown. Keep them in your thoughts.

Here’s my reading/listening list from the past week:

• My brilliant and humble friend Kevin Connor wrote a report about the insidious connections between bank lobbyists and our government. In short, most of those lobbyists used to be employed by our government as congressional staffers, Treasury department officials, and even elected representatives themselves. You can download the report and/or read a synopsis at the Campaign for America’s Future website. Fun fact: Josh is rooming with Kevin at the conference so I know that my little bro is in good and capable hands.
• While driving to and from Rochester, I listened to the last three podcasts from the now-off-air Bill Moyers Journal (at 76, he decided to end the Journal broadcast so he could focus on other projects–I can’t wait to see what he does). These three programs focused almost-exclusively on financial reform and corruption and are a great introduction if you are not sure what the hell is going on. This subject is obviously a passion of Mr. Moyers; he believes our move towards a plutocracy is the the most serious issue facing society. His last show and podcast are found here and you can download many of his recent podcasts on iTunes.
• Somewhat related: when PUSH Buffalo tried to meet with National Fuel executives on Friday in Buffalo, they were greeted with locked doors and a whole bunch of Amherst police officers. A PUSH organizer told me that an officer shook a can of pepper spray at  reporter Mark Sommer in effort to get him to leave.

I. Twinkle lights at the mall. We stopped in to take a break from the unrelenting rain. II. Josh putting his new record back into its sleeve on Sunday morning at a coffee shop on Bloor & Albany Streets. III. Movie making in Chinatown. IV. Downtown, wet and slick around 3:00pm on Saturday. V. Bailey’s & Coffee at the bar of some touristy place near our hotel. Josh is now 19 and he had the same.

I. Josh preparing to take photos in Marin County, just North of San Francisco. We were driving through these lovely, winding roads on our way to the Point Reyes hostel. It was ridiculous. Fog rolled in over the hills, the light was just right (the golden hour). I look at these photos and sigh. II. Dripping icicle outside my house on a god-sent sunny day. III. Josh and the giants. In the Redwoods, off the Avenue of the Giants. We walked through these trees the same day we drove through the scene in the first photo. What an amazing 12 hours. IV. I went snowshoeing a couple weekends back with some friends. Here Shannon and Sara frolick on a frozen creek. V. Winter branches at Tifft Nature Preserve, gorgeous and frozen.

This is a very people-powered Five Photo Friday, I like it. I. The beautiful, birthday girl Sara Gordon on Columbus Day weekend at the cottage in Canandaigua. The lake was insane that day. II. Madi & me in the car on our Outer Banks vacation this August. We were passing the time by making silly faces; this is the angry face. Check out Sean in the background, cracks me up. III. Josh taking in a ridiculously beautiful scene. This place was called “Hidden Beach” and we found it off a trail in the Redwoods National Forest. IV. Way back in June my dad gave Josh his old guitar for Josh’s high school graduation. They both cried. Here’s my dad playing a little bit while Terrie watches. V. Kevin at the board game table in Canandaigua, also taken over Columbus Day weekend.

To top it all off, I’m leaving this afternoon for my long-awaited West Coast trip with my little brother. We’re heading to Portland first and will stay with my generous and lovely friend Lauren. I will be sure to detail my travels on this blog when I return but for now, while we’re gone and my neglect continues, here’s some great reading/browsing material:

• First, we aren’t totally going off the radar. Follow Josh and I on our special West Coast Twitter! We’ll be posting updates and photos on a daily basis so check it out.
• Then, go enter Courtney’s “What would Rita Hayworth Do?” contest. But by July 12th.
• Check out Mike Calanan’s beautiful drive-by photo series, something I’ve been enjoying lately.
• Awkward Family Photos blog. ‘Nuff said.
• Finally, enjoy this photo of the alligator Natalie, Anna, and I held on our New Orleans bayou cruise:

As our itinerary shapes up, it looks like we’ll fly into Portland and spend 3-4 days in the City of Roses. The plan is to stay with various friends of mine but to be honest, I have to firm up these “reservations” before I can say for sure where we’re staying. I’m hoping we can borrow or rent a couple bikes and explore the City on wheels. I plan on drinking lots of coffee from some of the country’s best roasters and eating more food than is advisable. Josh and I read about Voodoo Doughnuts in a Portland guidebook and feel we must make a stop. I’ve been reading the Little Red Bike Cafe blog for a year or so, and want to have at least two meals at the cafe. Plus ice cream.

From there we’ll head to the Oregon coast in a rental car and stay a few nights at yet-to-be-determined Oregon State Parks. Unforunately for us, every yurt in every State Park is booked on the nights we’ll be there. It appears that we’ll be tenting it after all but I’m not going to get too bummed, there are plenty of tent sites within view of the Pacific ocean. I’m hoping we’ll get in a nice hike, eat some yummy seafood, and take endless amounts of photographs at the tidepools. A reader of this blog pointed me towards the Treehouse Institute in Cave Junction and if we can get past their two-night minimum rule, we’ll sleep high up in the branches for a night.

Next we’ll head down into Northern California and the Redwoods National Park. I booked us a night at the Redwood National Park hostel which, according to its website, is one of the Top 5 hostels in the country. Judging by photographs and descriptions, I think we’re in for a treat. The hostel is steps away from the beach and a hiking trail–it will be hard to choose. The next day is our biggest driving day but since we’re going through the Redwoods, I doubt it will be anything but boring. We land that night at another hostel: the Point Reyes National Seashore hostel which, according to its website, is a certified green business. Both hostels have well-furnished kitchens and I think Josh and I will end up making use of them.

Point Reyes puts us about an hour and a half outside San Francisco. The plan right now is a to wake up early in Point Reyes, explore the National Seashore a bit, and head into the City (and drop off the rental car). We’ll have three days to explore San Francisco before heading back to Buffalo on a (thank you Lord) direct flight from SFO. Josh and I have both agreed that we want to walk, walk, walk all over San Francisco until we can’t walk no more. Golden Gate Park, the Mission, and those crooked streets are all on the agenda. Our mother says we’ve gotta check out Alcatraz so we’ll likely do that as well. And I decided to splurge on a hotel for the last three nights (thank you Hotwire for your cheap, cheap rates).

Oh man, I’m excited for every single day of this trip. There isn’t one that I imagine being less fun than any other, even our driving day.

If you have any thoughts or suggestions on things we should do, places to eat, or where to stay, please leave them in the comments.

My mother claims that when we brought him home from the hospital our dog thought he was a squirrel and I wanted to put a For Sale sign up in the front yard. In all likelihood, the dog probably did think Josh was squirrel because he would not stop barking at the poor babe, and my dear mom is confusing a Shel Silverstein poem called “Sister for Sale” with my wanting to put up my brother for sale. It happens when you get old, shhhh.

I know that I never wanted to put up a For Sale sign because I wanted a baby brother more than anything. I wished for it in the “Make a Wish” section of my second grade workbook. On my 7th birthday my mom puked her guts out and shortly thereafter I found out–accidentally, by eavesdropping–that my mom was pregnant.

Because we’re almost eight years apart, we’ve never been in a fight. There have been some annoyances here and there but the lack of toy and moment-sharing has really made for a smooth relationship. I love this kid, I think he’s the sweetest, most hilarious man I know. As he winds up his last year of high school and tries to narrow down his choices for college, I eagerly anticipate the next few years. I can’t wait to see and hear about his new adventures, what he’s learning in and outside of school, and his plans for the near and distant future. I sound hokey, I know, but it’s my baby brother!

Last night we saw M. Ward together and tonight we’re eating dinner with friends and family. I plan on giving him 18 hugs, 18 hi-fives, and a voter registration card because that’s what big sisters are for.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH!

Been sort of aching to get back in here. I’ll go for weeks without really using my home office and then boom! a mini-renaissance with late weeknights.

. . .

Sean and I are in the midst of a massive apartment rearrange and there are piles of books in every room. For the first time ever I’m considering the practicality of a book downsizing plan. So far the extent of my plan involves donating the books from my college class on the Beats (sorry Kerouac fans, I’m Just Not That Into Him).

I’m incredibly self-conscious about my excitement for rearranging and redecorating our apartment. Too many conversations with women who can only talk about their drapes and counter tops but shit, I’m really excited. Over the past year I’ve added a handful of design blogs to my Google reader and I think I’ve finally absorbed enough photos of impossibly beautiful Swedish apartments to incorporate some of the elements into my own living space.

(By the way, my design-blog pet peeve? The use of the word “shelter,” as in “Domino was my fave shelter magazine.” Apologies to any bloggers who love the term but it makes me feel like a douche. When I hear “shelter” I think homeless shelter or people-are-in-need-and-must-find-shelter shelter. Not where can I find the perfect cappuccino slipcover for my EKTORP IKEA sofa shelter? Ok, I’m done.)

. . .

My brother is set to graduate from high school in June and we’ve been planning to take a trip together this summer to celebrate. Originally, he wanted to go abroad but with money being tight, we’re now thinking a trip to the Pacific Northwest.

Like most twentysomethings, I’ve got a handful of friends out in Portland, Oregon and if we go, we plan on crashing with them for a night or two. I’ve also done some research into Oregon’s state parks and holy shit, they look and sound amazing. A yurt that sleeps five for $27/night? Right on the ocean? I’ve already told Sean that the more I look into this West coast thing, the more I’m convinced that I will not want to come home. Check out some yurt porn and let me know if you’ve any suggestions for our trip out West.