Little did I know that a couple of my friends went off and started a bhangra-style pop band. They named it after one of them (man, he grew his hair out since the baby!) and the other grew out a beard and found Sikhism apparently... Well, here they are singing something that sounds like "I am Awesome" and eating food while sitting on the table:
I am finding a rhythm that I haven't found in quite a while... or maybe I just feel that way at the moment. Time will tell, but right now is good.
I traded my parking contract for a bus pass and it makes me feel so liberated. Granted I am bound to a bus schedule, but we all need a little discipline to feel free, right? And I can definitely appreciate not pumping gas into my car for so, so many reasons.
I am getting a chance to read again as you will read about in an upcoming blathering blog about Phillip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series. I just finished that, but am now back to the other eight or so books of which I am currently finished in varying degrees.
I still have thoughts in my head of writing (at least a novella) for kicks, so I am once again attacking Campbell's "Hero of a Thousand Faces." ***Aside: I give permission to make as many "Hero of a thousand Feces" jokes as you like.*** Not that I am going to use Campbell's work as a template per se (like George Lucas admittedly did in the Star Wars series), but as he argues in the book and elsewhere, there are reasons why these themes are reinforced through many cultures and eras.
But I also have rediscovered "The Tipping Point," am back to visiting "Hawaii," and keep trying to read about Mysticism from Evelyn Underhill... but I don't think I am quite ready yet.
There is a part of me who holds to the notion (reinforced by some of the topics of the Pullman books) that as long as I hold up my end of the bargain and focus my energies properly, life will point me out in the right direction where necessary. I take heart from strange coincidence. So if I am feeling aimless and something aims me in a direction, I will go that way.
At this point the way is straight ahead, but slowly. I went to the Minnesota Green Expo to mingle with people in my chosen field. Though I found a number of job openings and submit a number of resumes, I am a little apprehensive of the fluctuating economy, so I will tread carefully upon this foggy path.
I am rediscovering music... which might be presumed to be a given being that I have a radio show and was always blogging about it in the past... but I had a bit of a dry spell where I was hearing a lot, but not really listening to it - in fact I was listening to political talk radio more than music stations. This seasons releases were pretty weak and aside from Iron and Wine's new disc (A note: How come it was voted one of the best albums of the year on the current, but I only know of maybe two people who actually listen to it?) anyway, aside from that album, I haven't found much to crow about. But I saw a really good show a few weeks ago (Roma di Luna and the Pines) and I am using Pandora a lot again - finding plenty that makes my ears perk. If you want to listen a long, just click the "Feels Like Home" station on the right over there. --->
And I picked up my guitar again last week, remembering how important calluses really are and how hard fought they are in achieving. I also realized how greatly I need new strings. Sounds like I am playing shoelaces draped across a cardboard box.
I haven't painted since class though... I think a part of it is not having an instructor giving me any assignments. So I invite anyone who has any suggestions whatsoever, to throw them out there. You will be doing me a favor. I want to get back into it and thanks to a receptive and supportive group of people around me, I have an easel to work from.
Well,
I have to catch the 21 at 8:20 tomorrow, so I will have to catch up with all of you later on.
I woke up this morning to watch Joe Scarborough talking about politics from Java Joe's - the coffee shop I spent most of my time at in my Iowa high school days. This is the place where we drank coffee pretty much every day and wrote shitty poetry. Where I went to one of my first "raves" and had my first "smart drink." And the place I first performed on stage. In fact, right before I moved up to Twin Town, a friend and I landed a gig there to play Monday nights for tips. Well, that fractured, but my memories of that place are still strong.
It also draws me that much more into the results of today's caucus. Here are my predictions:
Democrat: Obama
I ranted a number of months ago about how I had little hope for American politics and that I was upset about Barack Obama not showing the strength of character or conviction that I expected from him. I am glad that he has proven that to be unfounded. For the last few months I have been pretty excited to see him doing well. I still hold a similar opinion of the other candidates on the Democrat side - Edwards not being horrible, but still seeming to just say what will get him elected regardless of if he can actually make it happen. He said something about curing cancer by 2011 or something. That's just absurd, but I wouldn't mind too much to have him as vice pres. Clinton is just a crap choice and will represent all of America about as well as Bush has. With Democrats in control of basically two of the three branches of government, they will spend like I do on payday and we will just whiplash back into the conservative movement, if we don't have a leader that captures the inspiration and imagination of the greater country.
But being that I lived in Iowa for a major part of my life, I am amazed to see that how well Obama is doing there. I may have over estimated America's latent racism and mistrust of a man with an African name. A part of me still thinks that Edwards will take it because visually and audibly he remains a mirror of the people who live there. And given the nature of the caucus, he may capture the runoff vote and therefore move above the original front-runner. But I have hope that Obama will pull it off.
Here is a video that is sort of inspiring to me.
.
. On the Republican side:
I think Romney is pretty much a given. Iowans have are showing themselves to be very centrist on social issues. Plus he looks a little like Reagan so they may just say, "Why the hell not?"
Well, that and every other leading Republican candidate comes across as a bigger douche bag than he does.
A September post that somehow never published: My Part
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Yesterday I was outside and saw a couple of the neighborhood cats (literally cats) squaring off. I know it is a part of their culture but I would rather they didn't fight here. I like them both and would like to see neither of them controlling my turf - sort of a demilitarized zone. Regardless, I stepped up and one of them bolted. The other stayed crouched low and I noticed something in its mouth. I waved my arms and yelled and he jumped backwards, but crouched low to the ground again, ears cocked back, giving me a full face of spite. I looked to the place he left and saw a young rabbit huddled in a tight ball, trying not to draw any attention. I stepped toward it and as it bolted for the cover of some shrubs, the cat ran up and grabbed it. As the big tom cat ran for the cover of a hedge, its little victim wailed in fear. I chased the cat into the hedge and poked at it with a stick until finally it gave up the bunny and ran off down the alley.
My hood, punk ass cat!
The little thing huddled silent and still once again, but it was so visible and vulnerable, my conscience wouldn't let me leave it alone. I kept startling it until it ran along the hedge finding a hollow. I covered most of the shallow hole with sticks, but considering the way of things in nature decided I did more than maybe I should and left it there. It didn't look like it was hurt too badly - steady breathing, no blood, running normally, etc. Hopefully it is still doing o.k.
The reason I am telling this story is because it made me think about my relationship to the greater scheme of things. All sorts of things that I will not tolerate "in my yard" are happening all over the world. And though I am willing to help, there is only so much I can do. But I can still do something, no matter how small when it presents itself. All over the world cats kill rabbits and maybe it's because otherwise they would overpopulate to the point where the habitat would not tolerate them. I can't and shouldn't control that.
But what I survey is sanctuary. What I do will be compensated for.
