Nonogirl Radio

The Bible

Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but I think that this link may be my "bible."

I hope to one day work somewhere like this (but with better navigation).

Reward

  Reward 
  Originally uploaded by nonogirl.

My computer died when I had writing homework and two radio assignments due. My substitute computer for audio crashed ever couple of seconds in playback.

But when I finally finished, I treated myself to lunch in the sun at Absinthe. Eggplant sandwich on focaccia, a beat salad, and a glass of proseco.

Violence in Guatemala

I'm beginning my research on Guatemala in preparation for a trip there at the end of my sabbatical. A number of people I know have gone, including my adventurous uncle.

He encouraged me to go and told me his crazy travel stories from the 1980s in the middle of their civil war. He said that he met one of the revolutionary leaders and could have been shot for just standing near him. He supported my travels to Guatemala 100%...until he found out that I'd be travelling alone. Being a foreigner and a woman, he felt that I'd be vulnerable. I paused.

I paused again when I heard this story produced by Maria Marti for Latino USA.

It's been almost ten years since a bloody civil war ended in the Central American nation of Guatemala. Despite the absence of war, there seems to be no end to the violence. Guatemala is a small country, yet it has a murder rate seven times greater than that of the United States. Increasingly these attacks seem to target social and human rights activists, who are there to monitor the Peace Accords signed in 1996.

Last Days of 25

For the past five and a half years, I've woken up every weekday morning to bike down to 25 Van Ness.

Last week, that all changed!

I'm now on a six and a half month break from my day job. Personal leave to focus on radio production, my social life, and home improvements. Time to tend to all that I've neglected while working a forty hour a week day job coupled with the additional radio work that I love.

  Mahru, Stephanie, me, and Stan 
  Originally uploaded by nonogirl.

Friends met me for drinks at the Orbit Room on Wednesday night. (I love the  street signage in the background representing the multiple options I have for my life right now!) The following day, I had a Differently-Employed Brunch.

And to add to the merriment, our house had our first house party since our new roommate moved in--a mellow Sunday brunch.

So I've got the socializing down. Now I gotta start working on my radio pitches!

Go For It

My dad is rad. He sent me a birthday card that brought me to tears:

Daughter,

You are the author of your own life.
It's up to you to dream it,
imagine it, sketch it, shape it,
build it, go after it,
and make it happen.
And then color it in
with bright, shining
shades of joy
and deep, lasting
shades of meaning
that are yours
and yours alone.

No one else can know
the dreams you dream
or the strengths
you have within you
that will help you make
your dreams come true.
No one else needs to.
Because they're yours
And so is today.

Happy Birthday

And although he usually just adds a "Robynn" and a "Love Dad," this time he wrote, "Go for it!"

Back to Radio

I'm finally done with movies with just one more party to embibe in...So now it's back to radio.

Just before my roommate left for his roadtrip across the Southwest, a series on Phoenix, Arizona aired. This series is rich with diverse perspectives including immigrants, other re-locators, folks who want a central downtown, and folks who like the city de-centralized.

Now the real question is: how can I receive funding to do something like this for Maui, Hawaii?!

Project S

I've been telling more and more people about my plans for next year and found some inspiring words this weekend.

1. From Mike: Is your day job getting in the way of achieving your dreams?
2. From Jim: We're not getting any younger. If you want to pursue something, you've got to just go for it!
3. Even dad said: Don't be half assed about it. Give it your best shot.

So to make sure that I don't "smoke my year away," as Mike warns (from his own experience), I'm starting to build my regiment.

Starting after the film festival, I'm going to try to do the following:

1. Read the paper everyday (Chronicle)
2. Find other outlets to read daily as well (probably through google.reader)
3. Read a book a month, starting with The New New Journalism
4. Watch a documentary a month, starting with my Ironweed DVD

Count down: six months...