We Saw Your Boobs

I don't usually blog about this kind of thing, but this just bothered me.

I was in my local, small town grocery store a few hours ago. Waiting in the check out line I looked to the left and saw this.

Then I looked to the right and saw this.

These are big, glossy magazines. They stood out among all the other ones there. They were right there in my face and you know what? I was shocked. All I could think was, what do you do when you are in line with your young daughter or son who is staring at these things? There is no way you could keep them from seeing them. They are right there, right in your face. What goes through that little kid's head? Do they think, hey this is how my world is. I want to look like that and be like that and show my boobs. Because isn't this what this is teaching them? Its ok, in fact, its a dream, a goal, to show your boobs.

Am I getting old? Yes, but I really don't think that has anything to do with my reaction to this. I never really cared about the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. I don't care that they do it. But that cover doesn't seem right, especially for the grocery store. Why is she not in a bikini? Why is she in winter wear, open and showing her boobs all squeezed together? Yes I know boobs sell, but can we just go back to pretty girls in bikinis on a beach instead of this tip toe to porn town? I like Rolling Stone. I've not watched this new series Girls, but I think I will like it, and I get why its popular. Kudos to Lena Dunham too. From one big thigh girl to another - you go girl! I like that you aren't a plastic beauty. You look real and normal and your boobs do too. But you know, I don't really need to see this in the grocery store. 

Don't get me wrong. I am liberal and artsy and free spirited. I like nudity. I like boobs. The naked body is a beautiful thing and women are especially beautiful, but this? Is not really interesting or worthy of my attention at the grocery store. And again, thank God I don't have kids! I worry about the kids out there and this world they have to live in. I feel sorry for you the parents who have to guide your kids through this. Its crap. It really is.

And this comes today after the Oscars yesterday evening. As my husband and I were watching the red carpet junk we were commenting on how some dresses these days are just showing way too much cleavage. I will be the first to say that good boobs and cleavage are sexy, but there comes this point when showing that much just loses its appeal and becomes ridiculous. There was one reporter covering the event in this dress where I swear you could see her areola!

Then later of course came Seth McFarlane and his infamous "we saw your boobs" number. Its been 24 hours of boobs on My Scenic Byway....

Desert Light

The light was amazing this evening before sunset up at the Atomic Ranch.

Birthday party for the property owner. All of his friends and their dogs in from LA. Spirits, food, good people.

We watched a huge dust storm off in the distance across the whole valley. The biggest we've seen around here. We were relieved it wasn't smoke from a wild fire.

As the afternoon hours faded the winds picked up and it grew colder. But the light was amazing.

Boulder Gardens (Garth's place), Pipes Canyon, CA

Some of you may know Garth, or have heard of him. He is pretty famous in these parts. In many ways he is responsible for my husband being out here in the desert. Garth has been in the area for a long time, building and living in a very special world. His place is often referred to as Boulder Gardens. People seek it out. People find it. All are welcome. Some come for a visit and end up staying. You will always meet interesting folks there.

Garth has a lot of kindred spirits working alongside him to keep the place running and growing and sustaining the vision. It takes a lot of work to manage a large area of land...to care for it, to care for the animals and the gardens that are part of the dream. While many folks volunteer service, funds are still needed from time to time. So there is a fundraiser going on right now, to raise funds to fix a well and for some other equipment.

Some folks have put together a nice Boulder Gardens Fundraiser website  - to make it really easy to learn more and to give if you can. Any amount is appreciated. And if you donate, you get gifts! A postcard, a map, a calendar...or you can have a boulder named for you! I've copied some information below, but click on that link to go straight to the site. Watch the video. Make a donation if you can. Plan a visit to the place! It is worth the trip.

Here's a photo I took from up on part of Garth's land last weekend - looking out across Pipe's Canyon. What you see here across the canyon is beautiful Black Lava Butte (and our house is at the end of that dirt road just next to the Butte!).

Here is info from the website:

Please help preserve this desert sanctuary!

We are calling on support of the comunity that Garth has graciously accepted into his home, as well as a global community interested in supporting alternative systems of living.

Boulder Gardens is a thriving example of living harmoniously with the natural environment. It is also a sanctuary and retreat for all forms of spiritual seekers, healers, and travellers. It is an incredible inspiration to all who visit. Please help preserve this sactuary for future generations.

What We Need:

We are hoping to raise $6000 to help Garth continue his vision and create a platform that will ensure the future of Boulder Gardens.

These expenses will include fixing a broken well and solar pump that distributes water across the land, and expenses assosiated with the founding of a non-profit organization who's mission will be to promote Garth's vision of Boulder Gardens for future generations.

Fixing the well will cost $3000. Including repairing the existing pipe, adding to new solar panels and an inverter, and installation.

The remaining funds will be used for expenses assosiated with the founding of the non-profit, including application and preparation fees and professional help with the founding of the land trust.
We are also actively looking for advice from a lawyer dealing in the area of non-profit land trusts. Please feel free to share any contact you may have.

About Boulder Gardens:

Boulder Gardens is an invitation, not only to sponsor Nature, but to also enjoy, reflect, meditate, and take justifiable pride in the results. The efforts of many committed and invested individuals who have seen the ongoing efforts to create a wonderful, peaceful, and bountiful setting here in our high desert.
In the 1980's Garth Bowles acquired 640 acres with the intention of cultivating a desert sanctuary and retreat, embodying the harmonic co-existence between man and the natural world.

After 30 years of meticulous planning and permaculture techniques, Garth has worked tirelessly to see his vision through. If the idea of Permaculture is about maximizing useful connections and components to create a synergy between natural ecology and human systems, then Gods Way Love is a thriving example.
Fruit trees, grains, flowers, ponds, enjoyed by frogs, fish, birds and humans are being nurtured as this wonderful sacred garden amongst the boulders is being created with care and good hard work!

Garth's generous spirit and humble graciousness welcomes anyone passing through with opens arms and warm smiles, which has created a powerful web of people who have been influenced and inspired by Garth.
You may picnic, visit, enjoy drum circles at the full moons, and contribute in many ways to this little corner of paradise.

We are committed to create an aura of natural beauty within which we hope to build a "complete" populated village based in "sustainable agricultural practice": continue the creation of our meditation center, and continue the transformation of what would some would misidentify as wasteland or desert or just plain desolate place. Existing and ongoing cultivation efforts are an obvious indication of the wonderful potential of the high desert soils to be modified, enriched and bolstered into fertility, bounty and abundance by sustainable, agriculture, plantings, aquaculture and husbandry.

Sincere Thanks, and hope for a brighter future. 

Again, here is the website: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/296224