#Resist – and how: Run for Office

No kidding! You want to change the world? Run for a political office.

Most people start local—though there are some notable exceptions. Sure, sure, politicians have a bad reputation. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Indivisible.us, a group committed to informing Americans about the value and potential of government, is actively trying to change our political culture and to train young leaders along the way through their #ImagineGov initiative and #IndivisibleInstitute.

Emily’s list (emilyslist.org) supports women in politics and provides a soup to nuts ‘how-to’ run for office initiative with full training and support (www.emilyslist.org/pages/entry/run-for-office).

All you have to do is sign up. Go ahead! I dare you.

@emilylist @usindivisible https://www.indivisible.us/ www.facebook.com/USIndivisible/ #indivisible #emilyslist

#WednesdayWomen -- Dog Walker, UWS, New York City

#RevolutionaryHeroes Indivisible

Last summer, even before the presidential election, the group Indivisible was formed. In their own words:

Indivisible is a nonpolitical initiative energizing and informing Americans about the value and potential of government.

What put this group on the map was an online publication released in December: Indivisible: A Practical Guide for Resisting the Trump Agenda. indivisibleguide.com The guide, created by a group of former congressional staffers, provides specific tactics for fighting against the conservative agenda by taking a page from the tea party’s playbook. So far, more than 6,000 local groups have registered with Indivisible.

Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg are two of the most visible founders.

The group also has seven programs explaining and exploring different roles and facets of government. This includes everything from training the next generation of local and national leaders to the role of government in developing our favorite new toys (e.g., GPS and self-driving cars) to making real-life connections with government through creative, engaging local events.

These folks are grassroots in the extreme—but with a focus on creative, effective methods to bring about a culture change in government.

Check them out! Then do something about it!!

https://www.indivisible.us/ www.facebook.com/USIndivisible/ @usindivisible #indivisible

#RevolutionCookbook Roasted Red Peppers

This tasty, smoky confection cannot be contained by any mere jar. In the past, I have purchased smoky, roasted red pepper in a jar for various recipes. The unused portion invariably goes blue with mold. There had to be a better way. I am now a convert of do it yourself to get a better product. With no further ado, I give you…

Roasted Red Peppers

Ingredients
2 fresh red peppers (green won’t work) or as many or few as you want—this is not a jar!
That’s it!
Maybe some olive oil, a squirt of lemon and a dash of salt for garnish.

Directions
1. Place peppers on cooking tray with parchment paper.
2. Turn oven up to 500 degrees F / 260 C (hot!). (I use a toaster oven.)
3. When top of peppers turn black, flip them to reveal another red side. Continue blackening and flipping until all sides are black. 10? 15? 20 min? This is actually one where you have to pay attention.

4. Once completely blackened let cool until you can touch them. Place carefully into plastic bag. (I tried paper once, didn’t work as well.)

5. Let them cool completely. Remove blacked skin. Carefully slice one side, open and remove stem and as many seeds as you can.
6. Slice and serve plain or garnished. They go fast! On the off chance you have some leftover, simply place in storage container and splash a bit of olive oil on them. They’re good for a couple of days.

#QuirkyNYC Coney Island USA

Words simply cannot describe how much I love Coney Island. I’ve been going there since I was a kid. Man, has it changed. But there will always be Nathan’s. I cannot pass this iconic 101 year old institution without getting a chili dog. Yeah, I like hot dogs. Wanna make something of it?

February is the off season in this part of town—even when it is almost 60 degrees out! That makes me very happy. Not in a general way, because I appreciate the underlying cause of a 60 degree February day in NYC (ok many days), but in an ‘I’m sure glad I can play at the beach today’ kind of way. There’s a difference.

One of the good things about having the boardwalk pretty much to yourself is that you can hear the waves without having to be right next to the water. It was that quiet.

The only regret I had was that I was not allowed to visit my beloved Zoltar. Zoltar sits directly beneath the WonderWheel, (which you wouldn’t catch me dead on--95 years old, and it looks it). One of the many things I love about Zoltar is that he senses you and starts talking, even before you put your dollar in to get your fortune. Alas, he’s a three-season kind of guy. We’ll get together next time, after the park opens in April.

#ConeyIsland #LunaPark #Wonderwheel #Brooklyn #Nathans

#Resist -- and how: Be good to yourself

You know that feeling when you’ve just finished a huge (yuge?) project that is really, really important? You’re elated, exhausted and almost too tired to celebrate. But you do. Success is success after all. As you’re dragging yourself out the door to head home after a night of as much revelry as you can muster, your friend turns to you and says ‘Don’t forget, the next one is due next week.’

All jubilation sags out like a tire with a slow leak as you remember that there are two huge projects due next week, another one the week after that, and there’s talk of other major projects that also have to be done now! now! now! It’s enough to make you crawl under a rock.

As someone who habitually gives 150% to everything I do, I know that rock. We’re good friends. We’ve spent some quality time together since the election. Recently, however, my rock has encouraged me to not get to the point where I need to crawl under it. I have to say that I’m listening—and it makes a difference.

When I feel like my Herculean efforts are doing absolutely nothing to help keep the social justice that we’ve achieved so far (forget forging ahead for new areas of health and equality!), I take a break. A serious one. Science says this is essential! The list is endless, here are some basics:

Sleep (enough, not too much), trees (even just pictures of them!), a quick walk or run around the neighborhood, and things that make you happy in general. I like cooking—but not all the time and pretty easy things, which I’m sharing with you! I love NYC and know it like the back of my hand, but there is still so much quirky. Go in search of your own quirky! Spend time with your friends and family—and agree that at certain times talk of politics is forbidden. Volunteer—deliver meals, read to people, build houses, be a role model buddy—the options are limitless!

You’ll be back…

#WednesdayWomen at the Underwear Run, New York City