Monday, December 27, 2021

Words to Live By

"Until we can forgive the person who harmed us, that person will hold the keys to our happiness; that person will be our jailor. When we forgive, we take back control of our own fate and our feelings. ... We forgive for ourselves." Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

Monday, December 13, 2021

Rhythm of Happiness

On occasion, I enjoy the facebook memories. 

i wish you a joyful day.

Ox, 
Mari 

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Reads and Rocks

I am singing tonight at The Sweetwater Music Hall. Please join us if you can. Music heals. 


-- M

Thursday, November 11, 2021

A Ted Talk About Inclusivity

I found this TED talk very informative, so am sharing. 

It demonstrates that more often than not, when when we work to help someone else, we help ourselves. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2115c0GL4a8

Have a wonderful day! 

ox,

Mari 

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Effort to Take Back Local Planning Control

You may have already seen this, but if not, and if you have an interest in retaining neighborhood "sense of place" visit this link: 
https://ourneighborhoodvoices.com

As for me, I enjoy the feel of a neighborhood. The way to increase diversity is by increasing educational and economic opportunity for everyone, not by jamming high density housing into suburban and semi rural neighborhoods. That housing often ends up market rate, not "affordable." 
Most people want to be able to afford a nice little house in a safe neighborhood. If not, they can move to a city. By all means, build along the transit corridor, but don't take away a citizen's right to a say in the planning process. 

Thank You, 
Mari

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

The Joy of Being

Greetings! 

If you haven't seen the film "Mully" yet, please take some time to do so. I found it hard to watch at times, but it left me feeling hopeful and inspired. 

Also, after many requests for The Plant Studios' Records t-shirts, we had more made and opened up an online store. At first, we had it in preview mode, but decided to just ditch the password and open it up to all.  The shirt is super soft. Here is the link - https://the-plant-studios-records.myshopify.com

That is all for now. May you have a wonderful day! 

Ox, 
Mari 

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” Lao Tzu


Saturday, October 16, 2021

Bicyclists, Pedestrians, and Music

Just got wind of this bill Governor Newsom vetoed, which has to do with bicyclists being able to yield at stop signs and allowing pedestrians to cross the street without a crosswalk. As is my usual habit, I search the topic and review all the various viewpoints. Headlines help me to discern the journalism from the opinion. 

I am still amazed at the lengths people will go to push an agenda. This whole fantasy that if we change laws and build sidewalks where we don't really need them is going to make more people trade in their cars for bikes is just that - a fantasy. What is going to reduce driving is more work from home options and better city planning - where schools and services are within walking distance. And say what you want about Amazon - there are may reasons they are successful. When their Prime delivery fleet goes to zero emissions, we will be getting somewhere. 

I thought I would share a couple of articles, 

this article 2014 BBC article, about jaywalking: 

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26073797

and a more recent one from the LA ist: 

https://laist.com/news/transportation/jaywalking-pedestrian-ab-1238-traffic-safety

Do yourself a favor and read more. 


About music: 

I have a private party gig coming up and Arne is almost done recording a great album by a new artist. 

I miss being in a recording studio. 

Hope you create a great day! 

ox, 

Mari 



Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Changes In Marin's Mask Mandate Take Effect October 15, 2021

Hello All! 
Hope this email finds you well. 

In case you missed the details of the mask mandate changes, here's a press release from the County: 

Indoor Mask Requirement Eased for Select Settings New Exemption for Gyms, Offices and certain settings with 100% full vaccination 

 San Rafael, CA – As local COVID-19 transmission and hospitalization rates continue to decrease, Marin County Public Health will be easing the local mask mandate in certain limited indoor settings starting October 15. 
Indoor settings that potentially qualify, if they can verify all present are fully vaccinated, include gyms, fitness centers, office settings, employee commuter vehicles, religious gatherings, and college classes. In these settings, individuals are exempt from the indoor face covering requirement if all of the following circumstances are satisfied: 

 - The host, employer, or organizer has verified that all individuals present are fully vaccinated (two weeks following a person’s second dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the first dose of a Johnson & Johnson vaccine); and 
 - There are no more than 100 individuals present; and 
 - The host, employer, or organizer can control access to the setting, and the setting is not open to the general public; and 
 - The host, employer, or organizer maintains a list of individuals present. 

“We’re not ready to lift the mandate across the board, but we’re in a good place to ease restrictions for the safest settings.” said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County’s Public Health Officer. “Science shows that when an entire group is vaccinated, the risk of infection is much lower. Some settings have already adopted mandatory vaccination policies for all staff and customers, and this gives more incentive for others to follow suit.” 
The revised order will be effective Friday, October 15, and the new exemption does not apply to public indoor settings like retail, bars and restaurants. 

The revised order comes on the heels of a new criteria for lifting the indoor mask requirement altogether. 

Currently, Marin County is satisfying two of the three criteria and hopes to make progress toward the final metric over the coming weeks. Until that criteria is met, masks are still required in all other indoor public environments not outlined in the revised order. 
To learn more about Marin County’s current health orders and mask guidelines, visit  Coronavirus.MarinHHS.org.

Take Care, 
Mari 

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Stand With Park

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Up Early, Might As Well Write Something...

Came home so exhausted from the current day gig last night, I passed out so early, that I woke up way too early today. Writing helps me clear my head, so I'm going to express a few thoughts, then try to go back to catch some more sleep. 

I feel hopeful, grateful that so many of us care enough about this democratic experiment that we voted. So many lessons learned, so much work to do, but it can be joyous work. Maybe the greatest lesson is this: to create joy wherever we can. 

Anyway, that's all the rambling I have for now. 
I'm boring myself back to sleep! 
Thanks for reading. 
I hope you enjoy your day. 

There will be better days ahead. We can make them so, by living in the now.

Ox,
Mari  

I Wish


Found on the internet. 
I already forgot where.
That said...

The pendulum swings. 

Ox, 
Mari

Monday, January 11, 2021

Thursday, January 7, 2021

A New Dawn

A new dawn is here. 

Can't go back. 

Let us move forward to new beginnings.

Ox, 

Mari