
He in fact circled it every time I used it, the frustration expressed in his comments mounting... "use real words" he says.
Here is an example of the use of the word problematize, from the Oxford English Dictionary, the source I consulted before handing in the essay. Note authority (particularly in relation to English class) of example sentence source, and irony of example sentence subject.

What do I do with an instructor who likes to yell at the class: "LOOK IT UP!" and then fails to do so himself?
Well, besides make posts like this so that the interwebz may mocketh him.
What, I ask you?
If we map food by two axes, healthfulness and yumminess, I am surrounded by food in the two non-healthful quadrants... which means that at least some of it is yummy. Of course some are very close to the healthful side, but lose points for being conventionally grown rather than organic, etc.
Anyway, the roses I bought her are looking good... I also brought her present from last Christmas, this digital photo frame. It arrived at my place in January, and I have not brought it down until now. I'm sure
My birthday was great... thanks
I think I'm getting over some of my heterophobia. The tone I was setting for my day was one of celebration, and soon after we got seated I remembered my intention and began to flow love to the people around us. It became easier to feel connected to and accepting of them. Please don't misunderstand, this in no way excused things like the man wearing flip flops to the event, or the young woman in the teal dress getting way too drunk and annoying, but poor taste and public drunkenness aren't really better when gay people do them.

Str8 people Hot or Not of the now
Originally uploaded by EgoMagickian
Dancing to Steely Dan on MAI birthday. Plz rate 0 to 10.

Line of the now
Originally uploaded by EgoMagickian
Noooo! It are mai BIRTHDAY. I can haz VIP entreee?

New herbs of the now
Originally uploaded by EgoMagickian
For my birthday, I haz a cold coming on :( Liver herbs on hold until this blows over.
o.O


New boots of the now
Originally uploaded by EgoMagickian
Who takes Marc Jacobs shoes to the jungle?
Actually, I'm rather looking forward to unplugging from my culture, even as I'll be draped in its clothing.
This, despite the responses I've gotten from others. For example, a friend of mine said recently, "Your trip isn't too short, you'll be jonesing for an internet connection by the end of it." Even my travel companion is concerned about how I'll do without running water. But I'm hardier than one might think, when I've good reason to, and this all had me reflecting on the importance of what we're doing by traveling to Peru for this experience.
It's not obvious to everyone why one would want to travel so far when ayahuasca and other shamanic work can be had much closer to home. There are many reasons, but "unplugging" is one that I wasn't even aware of when making the decision to travel. The importance of "setting" in the "set & setting" mantra of responsible entheogen use always applies, but the particular importance of this setting, the Amazonian jungle, only came to the fore of my thinking after connecting these conversations about the "hardship of no modern conveniences" with the recent Mission St. healing work I helped with and our conversations about the systems of reality that we all plug into.
What helps us plug in, and stay plugged in, to stories of reality that disempower us? Certainly all forms of media, including advertisements and billboards. But I'm guessing that on a deeper level the very structures of our lives, the very things I'm supposed to miss such as electricity and toilets, keep us plugged in to a "modern American" reality that is simply our story, a story not shared by everyone on the planet.
When I told my acupuncturist that I am trying not to attach to the expectation that the ayahuasca experience will be life-transforming, she said, "I think the trip alone will be life transforming. This is the first time you've ever had to show a passport when going somewhere? I think getting off the plane will be life transforming."
In my work, the line between personal healing and career advancement is blurry, if it exists at all. The more of his own healing a helper does, the better able he is to help others. Part of what I do, a part of my practice which is growing, is help others empower themselves to live the kind of lives they want—as opposed to the kind of lives they were taught they could have, are told they should have, or that others want them to have. That this deep retreat, probably as far from our systems of oppression that one can possibly get (we won't escape completely, colonialism and all that), will help in that endeavor leads me to embrace whole heartedly this blessing of the jungle environment that could otherwise be interpreted as hardship.
Up until now, I have really only felt one thing about my upcoming trip: stress. Now, I finally have some excitement as well.
And I have kickass new boots to ruin in the mud and muck ;-)

IMG_0191.JPG
Originally uploaded by EgoMagickian

Nearly shamanic lunch of the now
Originally uploaded by EgoMagickian
Stir fry of: organic free range chicken, onion, broccoli, garlic, shitake, tomato, green onion, red chard, asparagus, and basil
Over: jasmine brown rice
Restricted item: a little white wine vinegar
I'm supposed to be "easing into" the diet, so I gave myself the leeway to use some vinegar, considering that vinegar is good for the Liver energy.
Oh I almost forgot the mung bean sprouts. Best Liver cleansing food ever. And so easy to do in the comfort of your very own home. I actually did them in my salad spinner!

Shamanic dinner of tonight
Originally uploaded by EgoMagickian
Whole wheat chiocciole with a fresh tomato sauce (tomato, onion, garlic sauteed in olive oil), baked potato, asparagus.
It's not bad... I was excited to see chiocciole in whole wheat (bionaturae has finally started making some whole wheat pastas), and the asparagus is very tender. But it's a culinary Deadly Sin to cook without salt. And I have really good, unrefined salt. Several kinds. This meal is tragically bland without it, which is exactly what the shamans are going for.
Plus I skipped eating a meal with
The night herbs in particular are becoming more involved than I want, but not only is there more preparation than the day herbs, like boiling water, warming the mug, etc so that the crystals dissolve completely, it's also part of an entire timing issue. I start them at 10 with the goal of being asleep by 11 (the start of Gallbladder/Liver time on the Chinese medicinal clock) Which is a little constraining, right?
I want that hour from 10 to 11 to be spent reading some of my Peru materials (I'm currently in the middle of the Ayahuasca Reader) and then listening to a Paul McKenna hypnosis track called Sleep Like a Log. Instead, I'll be spending it cleaning the kitchen. Ahh well. I know my roommate and bunnehbear would both be glad to trade schedules with me--they are even busier!
So to end on a positive note... good things today:
- I helped my friend Green pack up some of her apartment. It was just the two of us and it was good to visit and talk while getting her moved. I'm still not entirely pleased that she's leaving the city, but whatcha gonna do? Ladies, I have a new opening in my life for Local Massage Goddess.
- Recieved wonderful shiatsu from

Curbside of the now
Originally uploaded by EgoMagickian
Bunnehbear and I are at Curbside Cafe before energy work class

Brown apple moth of the now
Originally uploaded by EgoMagickian
Bunnehbear sez this ting iz wut they wantz to be sprayin foar. Fools.



