Wachiwi profile picture

Wachiwi

....don't you DARE call me SUGAR!.....

About Me

I have been and always will be a bona-fide geek! (and more than occasionally a freak - just depends on who you talk to......)I am currently a scientist and educator but am constantly looking for ways to fuel the creative side of my brain. Recently, many of my friends have suggested that I give in to my passion for the arts and quit my day job to devote my time to creative works about which I am quite fervent. Given the situation that our country has put itself in with respect to funding education and the sciences over the last 8 years, I am seriously considering this.Many folks have called me a big kid at heart and I think this is true! I work hard but play harder and simply love to laugh and can be somewhat rambunctious when I am so inspired. I also pride myself on being quite resourceful and adapting to any situation that life decides to throw my way - kind of makes me a professional survivor of sorts.I am a very open minded person that embraces my cultural background and the differences between my experiences and those of others wholeheartedly. I have had an incredible year of travel - Amsterdam, Hawaii, South Korea, Japan, and various parts of Canada and the United States. This has been largely driven by my work but I made the time to explore every last crevasse of each place and have made many life-long friends along the way.

My Interests

Far far too many to mention. To name a few: long distance running, writing, dance (many different forms), graphic design, taking long road trips, camping, group exercise (areobics, yoga, pilates) instruction, music (piano, percussion and flute/piccolo), designing/participating in programs that foster confidence and creativity in kids early in their lives.

I'd like to meet:

I am interested in meeting other artists, writers, performers, super geeks and even a few fellow freaks (these need not be mutually exclusive!) I am most drawn to honest, open-minded, intelligent, creative people that harbor sincere passion for things that are important in their life.People really fascinate me. I am quite comfortable striking up a conversation with the homeless guy on the corner to the Nobel laureate to the local folk artist without hesitation.Given this, I have many acquaintances and a select group of folks that I can call my tried and true friends (and only a few of them have heard of MySpace.....yet)...Go ahead - feed and click on my my new hedgehog friend Thor - he loves it (and it excites him) ..
adopt your own virtual pet! ..

Music:

My musical interests are widely varied and often depend upon my mood. I love classical music - listened to this a lot when I was very very young. These days, I find myself listening to a lot of jazz and blues. Other favorite styles are dance/club, eletronica, world beat. A few favorite bands/singers from the 80s Billy Idol, Depeche Mode, Smashing Pumpkins, a-Ha, Dead Kennedys, REM, Ozzy Osbourne and Megadeath (thanks to my brother I know almost all the lyrics of the songs of the last 2 bands). I also was/am addicted to marching bands and marching band music....yes, marching bands

Movies:

All the Monte Python movies (really who doesn't like those?), Blade Runner, Spiral, The Girl Next Door, Never Belongs to Me, Red, White, Blue, Amile, Run Lola Run, the Star Wars movies, Donnie Darko, Office Space, Waitress, The Secretary, The Shawshank Redemption, Life is Beautiful, Planet Terror (Director's Cut) Princess Bride, Little Miss Sunshine, An Affair to Remember, Pan's Labyrinth, Birdie, Girl who Leapt Through Time to name a few.

Television:

I don't have much time to watch TV these days but occasionally get a chance to see taped versions of The Office , How I Met Your Mother and King of the Hill (I like the Austin tie). Despite the fact that I hate stereotyping, I am ruthlessly addicted to Desperate Housewives and don't miss one silly little episode no matter how busy I am. Shows no longer on the air that I loved: Homicide, Malcolm in the Middle, Grace Under Fire

Books:

Favorite Authors: Chuck Palahniuk (favorite of his - Choke) and John Irving (fave -Son of the Circus)Fiction: Clown Girl, A Suitable Boy, Silent Dancing, Charms for the Easy Life, Happiness, The Stupidest Angel, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, The Corrections, NO, I love everybody (and other Atrocious Lies),Fahrenheit 451, Great Expectations, East of Eden, Doctor Zhivago, A Moveable Feast (and most of Hemmingway's stuff too), all of the Where's Waldo booksNon-Fiction: A Prayer for the City, The China Study, Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight

Heroes:

Solange for surviving the World Trade Center attack on 9/11 and having the guts to do something positive about it here and abroad.Desire B for staring CANCER in the face and making it lose that staring contest.....And well those everyday common folk that have the courage to get up and give a peak performance every day at whatever they have chosen to do in this life.

My Blog

Amanda Palmer "Strength Through Music" Music Video WKAP Pt 6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeCbuI257Wc Here is another...
Posted by Wachiwi on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:23:00 PST

Air - How does it make you feel Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0vl-7L-2Ow Check this out. Weird stuff but the kind I love....
Posted by Wachiwi on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:20:00 PST

I left Jesus at my old place today

with a cracker and some dust. I think he would be most happy there.
Posted by Wachiwi on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:54:00 PST

How Dark Can Ones Doorstep Get?

Mr. Chindi showed up on my doorstep today.My old friend Ibis - I knew he could not stay away.I sensed he was here as a shadow cast down my side.The sharp rap of Rahu sent thrilling short tremors under...
Posted by Wachiwi on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:22:00 PST

Thank you thank you thank you Mr. Bush!

I went out and cast a vote today. Then went back and checked out what it was like to caucus!I have expressed several times (OK well more than several times) my opinion on the pathetic status our coun...
Posted by Wachiwi on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:49:00 PST

A long, hard run in the driving, cold rain..does a body good..and spreads some sunshine!

Those of you that know me, know that I am part of a group that trains people to run their first marathon. Those of you that don't well the truth is out&..I have done this every fall for the last 3 ye...
Posted by Wachiwi on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:58:00 PST

Peacock in a Box Take II

On a long run today I found a peacock feather and it got me thinking - why would there be a peacock roaming around Austin? Was it lost? Then as the mileage added up, I realized that perhaps I had m...
Posted by Wachiwi on Wed, 14 Nov 2007 07:57:00 PST

Bushs Latest Pissing Contest with Congress -Not for the Faint of Heart..Maybe it is-read on

This week I had the honor of visiting one of our country's leading hospitals filled with the most brilliant individuals and leading edge technology dedicated to treating very sick children. I went to...
Posted by Wachiwi on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:09:00 PST

Le parfum de lhumanité

As I prepared to run one of the most challenging road races I have ever run on Sunday, I took a good look at my surroundings for a moment and realized that I was corralled in a very small area with se...
Posted by Wachiwi on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:13:00 PST

Published!

My first piece of writing (complete with graphics!) was published today! Granted it is part of a textbook but it feels great! I submitted 21 original figures to go with the text and I am DELIGHTED t...
Posted by Wachiwi on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 04:33:00 PST