And there's something on yer mind you wanna be saying

Submissions are due very soon!
SEND AWAY, PLEASE!

"And there's something on yer mind you wanna be saying
That somebody someplace oughta be hearin'
But it's trapped on yer tongue and sealed in yer head
And it bothers you badly when your layin' in bed
And no matter how you try you just can't say it
And yer scared to yer soul you just might forget it
And yer eyes get swimmy from the tears in yer head
And yer pillows of feathers turn to blankets of lead
And the lion's mouth opens and yer staring at his teeth
And his jaws start closin with you underneath" -Bob Dylan, Last Thoughts On Woody Guthrie

 I especially need to get my ass in gear and polish the barista interview and personal essay/homage to my nutrition professor. Bacon has a heart of gold (yes, her last name is Bacon!!!) and delivers Nutrition lectures with a generous amount of compassion and ethical/environmental concern without getting too preachy. There are not many living role models walking amongst us so when I find someone that consistently leaves me awestruck, I cling to their words and start a one-woman fan club. Isn't that what you would do? The occasion rare and my adoration usually devoted to books, writers, food and booze, it seems I can't shake this feeling of gratitude that I'd like to share with the zine.

I'm asking anyone who has any experience or common sense in the zine world to share some tips, ideas, short-cuts, and worthwhile, or not, advice for the zine.

What are some ways that I can make the zine the most environmentally friendly without turning it into an e-zine? (We're just not going that route because I feel like it's less meaningful and ineffective in what los de abajo will be trying to accomplish, in the way of expressing emotions through the relatedness of human beings, or all living things actually, in the form of a supportive magazine.

Also, technical know-how will most definitely be humbly accepted and appreciated!!!

Thanks so much. Now send me your things :)

los de abajo zine submission guidelines

• Deadline for first issue submissions is May 1, 2011.

• All submitted pieces must be original.

• Artists must be in support of all types of people.  

• Entries from all mediums/categories are welcome.(The goal is to share a creative piece of your mind and relate it to others in some way)
• Submissions should be appropriate for publication and los de abajo does reserve the right to edit any accidental grammatical errors. 
• Due to costs at this time, printing will be done in black and white, so choose and submit accordingly. 
• multiple submissions are fine.
• Include your name, email, title of piece, medium/category

Sparkles, a Feather and Books.

    I was trying to write a blog post in between class, something about submission guidelines; date, time, I NEED YOUR WRITING, ART, etc... but I found myself in a hazy conversation with a soft spoken, young Hispanic guy. He was gangly and brown skinned with a silver, sparkly bandana tied around his head in a Bret Michaels sort of fashion. Tucked into the back of his headdress was an ashy, eight inch feather sticking up proudly. 

    He concentrated on me and gently touched my shoulder, then daintily reached out and shook my hand with his collection of whimsical bracelets clinking and sparkling due to my much heftier shake. He seemed to be staring off in the distance even though we were making eye contact ...but his stare was so vague and innocent; he was constantly smiling. I was the only awkward outsider in this meeting; sort of like an interaction between Michael Jackson and a perplexed interviewer.  I felt as if we were carrying on a quiet conversation in a cozy spot, high up in a tree. I almost thought I was high. 

    His presence was strangely calm and I made no gesture that he was bothering me in any way. He showed a flash of energy, and whipped out a flyer as he recalled a free meditation class he attended on Tuesday. He declared it was beautiful and I believed him. He interrupted me again to tell me he had a facebook and then asked me to watch his things while he went to brush his teeth. I spied on him as he walked to the women's restroom with his travel size, pink toothbrush and toothpaste. He returned with bits of dried toothpaste around the corners of his mouth, the way kids look when they brush their teeth carelessly in the morning before school. 

    As I was refocusing and attempting to do some work, he tapped my shoulder for the last time and mentioned that he loved music, especially Metal. He held up his hand in the rock n' roll gesture and grinned. I almost didn't want to go because I was finally completely intrigued by him and the random thoughts he spoke aloud to me, a stranger in the library. I reluctantly told him I had to go and that it was nice meeting him. Walking down Bartlett St., I left the library feeling a little superstitious. The encounter with the young man with the headband and feather was my mind's version of what a modern day shaman would look like and I almost felt like his relaxing and warm presence was his healing power and medicine over the people he approached.

The Voices of Marrakesh

    Spent the day flipping through magazines, pretty much bored. I felt annoyed with the amount of ads that were crammed in there, and as always there was barely anything worthwhile to read. *Note to zine: rarely have ads and only if they're relevant and unique. I was lucky that in between reading lots of crap, I had brought along a book by Elias Canetti, a Bulgarian born, Nobel Prize winner in Literature, who after reading several meaningful accounts of his travels in Morocco, seems like someone I'd really like to hang out with. Seriously.

    Another way I passed time was by walking around all the nearby neighborhoods and occasionally stopping to take a break on someone's stoop. All the lively pastel painted homes and shady trees eventually lead me back home for a quick nap before work.