There are four jobs posted on the HP website that have the same title and the same description, but different requisition numbers. I applied for all of them. The HP employment site is better than most, but it is almost impossible to find which jobs I am qualified for or what the job really is through all the HR jargon. The titles are long, and complicated, like "ITO Srv Delivery Rep IV." Which is higher, a I or a IV? Am I supposed to know what ITO stands for? It is easy to apply, once you have all of the information entered, and I am sure HP is just inundated with applications all of the time. Then they probably have some scanning program by keyword that kicks you out before a human being ever looks at your application. I wish I could talk to someone at HP, show them my experience, and have them tell me what jobs apply, if any. They would have to take the time to talk to me, but would have one application instead of four. HR really deteriorated with the extensive use of the Internet.
Otherwise, I played phone tag with the SCORE rep, did some drawings for more paintings, and attempted to clean all of the cat hair out of my studio. In my 6 months that I lived with no TV, I appear to have lost my TV restraint. I did not watch TV much at Dad's. I felt bad leaving my cats by themselves all the time in the studio and there was no TV in there. Now I turn on the TV when I brush the cats in the evening and then often I don't turn it off until I go to bed. That I now have Turner Classic movies doesn't help. I hope my TV issues are just a phase.
Applying for jobs isn't very interesting to write about and as much as I hate to move on from the enlightenment topic Nonconformity, the next one is even better. The next topic is Reverence for Nature, with an initial quote from Chief Seattle,
There is no quiet place in the white man's cities. No place to hear the unfurling of leaves in spring, or the rustle of an insect's wings. (But perhaps it is because I am a savage and do not understand. The clatter only seems to insult the ears.) The Indian prefers the soft sound of the wind darting over the face of a pond and the smell of the wind itself, cleaned by a midday rain, or scented with pinon pine. The air is precious to the red man for all things share the same breath, the beast, the tree, the man. (The white man does not seem to notice the air he breathes.) Like a man dying for many days he is numb to the stench.
I added parenthesis around the lines that appear on-line, but were left out in the book. The only problem is, according to Snopes, these words were not written by Chief Seattle, but by screenwriter Ted Perry for the 1972 film, Ecology. There is only one legitimate quote attributed to Chief Seattle, which is pretty much, thanks for buying our land.
There are several more Native American Indian quotes in the book. I could not find the quote as printed in the book by Oren Lyons, known as the Onondaga Faithkeeper, regarding how his people think seven generations ahead when making decisions. Oren Lyons did make a speech to the UN in 1992 that includes bits of the quote. There is a quote from Wolf Song of the Abenaki tribe about the sacred hoop of life. I could find nothing about Wolf Song on-line, except for a bunch of people using him and parts of this quote for their own purposes, including art and sappy personal spiritual journals. Then there are two quotes by Walking Buffalo about nature's university and living in cities being an artificial existence. According to the site I could find, Walking Buffalo is a childhood name for a Sioux War Chief known as Red Wing, and his history on-line did not match the background given for him in the book. There is a quote by Luther Standing Bear about all life containing the essence of God, but now I am so disappointed in the illegitimacy of all of these quotes that I'm not going to look him up.
Wow, that was enlightening. The supposed spiritual quotes from Native American Indians are mostly created or abused for someone's own modern purpose, except for the misquoted Oren Lyons, who appears to have abused his own Native American status for environmentalism.
Oh well, the topic is a good one. Serenity can be found in nature. Observing the beauty and the power of nature can help me remain humble. Walking with my feet on the ground helps me feel a connection to life that I do not feel in a crowded city where sometimes my feet touch nothing but cement. I guess I don't need any quotes or poetry to know this, I just need to go on a walk or a hike. I now live somewhere where in 5 minutes I can be out of the city and my feet touch the ground in my backyard every day.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Driver's License
Over the weekend I moved the Virgin into the sun and planted her some pansy. How do you spell multiple pansy? Fred Meyer guarantees the pansy will come back next spring. In the corner of the yard that she used to live in the Virgin did not get any sun and there are these 4 stepping stones in the middle of the yard in a square for some unknown reason. So now Virgin and pansy are occupying two of the stones.
I think this is a raspberry plant trying to grow right next to where I need to open the side gate. My neighbor has a raspberry plant on the other side of the fence, and I think this grew from hers. If it is still there in the spring, I think I will move it over and away from the gate. I like raspberries.
I now have an Idaho driver's license. I spent the morning reading the Idaho drivers manual. The driver's manual is long. I downloaded it earlier and spent most of the day reading it, since I had to take a test as a new resident of Idaho. Who knows what is different from driving in So Cal, I can't remember the last time I read a manual to take a test. There was more stuff about winter driving and about yielding to livestock. Livestock has the right of way, but the manual pretty much says go ahead and hit everything else, if you have to, rather than causing an accident or killing yourself. Bet that's not in California's driver's manual.
I waited about 5 seconds in line at the Idaho DMV. I paid $3 to take the test. There are 40 questions on the test, which is on the computer. I got 4 wrong and you are allowed 7 wrong, so when I finished question 37 the test stopped and I passed. The license cost me $30 for 4 years. The license picture is kind of yucky, but mostly because I just don't look like I think I look anymore. Where did my lips go? I could have paid a few dollars for a license for 8 years, but I'm glad I didn't, 4 years of that picture will be enough.
This afternoon I finished another landscape. I tried a bigger size from one of my studies, 10.5" x 14.5", which I found to be a good size for me and I don't think I want to do a landscape any larger. Overall, it took me about the same amount of time as the study did, but I don't know if that is because I did the study first or not.
Now I am calling my brother, Dave. He broke both of his wrists less than a year ago when he flew over the handlebars on his bicycle. This week, he had almost the same accident in the same place and broke his arm. Good thing it's only one this time, but apparently he would have broken his wrist again except there is a titanium plate in his wrist from last time. Pretty soon Dave's arms are going to be all titanium and he will have to find something else to break. Or start driving a car.
I think this is a raspberry plant trying to grow right next to where I need to open the side gate. My neighbor has a raspberry plant on the other side of the fence, and I think this grew from hers. If it is still there in the spring, I think I will move it over and away from the gate. I like raspberries.
I now have an Idaho driver's license. I spent the morning reading the Idaho drivers manual. The driver's manual is long. I downloaded it earlier and spent most of the day reading it, since I had to take a test as a new resident of Idaho. Who knows what is different from driving in So Cal, I can't remember the last time I read a manual to take a test. There was more stuff about winter driving and about yielding to livestock. Livestock has the right of way, but the manual pretty much says go ahead and hit everything else, if you have to, rather than causing an accident or killing yourself. Bet that's not in California's driver's manual.
I waited about 5 seconds in line at the Idaho DMV. I paid $3 to take the test. There are 40 questions on the test, which is on the computer. I got 4 wrong and you are allowed 7 wrong, so when I finished question 37 the test stopped and I passed. The license cost me $30 for 4 years. The license picture is kind of yucky, but mostly because I just don't look like I think I look anymore. Where did my lips go? I could have paid a few dollars for a license for 8 years, but I'm glad I didn't, 4 years of that picture will be enough.
This afternoon I finished another landscape. I tried a bigger size from one of my studies, 10.5" x 14.5", which I found to be a good size for me and I don't think I want to do a landscape any larger. Overall, it took me about the same amount of time as the study did, but I don't know if that is because I did the study first or not.
Now I am calling my brother, Dave. He broke both of his wrists less than a year ago when he flew over the handlebars on his bicycle. This week, he had almost the same accident in the same place and broke his arm. Good thing it's only one this time, but apparently he would have broken his wrist again except there is a titanium plate in his wrist from last time. Pretty soon Dave's arms are going to be all titanium and he will have to find something else to break. Or start driving a car.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday is Mow the Lawn Day
In case I had trouble getting the cats in from their evening stroll in the backyard, I bought some tapioca pudding. You know, the kind in those little lunch box cups. Cruiser goes nuts for tapioca pudding. All I have to do is pop open the lid and he comes running. Once Cruiser comes in, Spit follows, if she isn't already in. I fight Cruiser for the first big spoonfuls and then he furiously licks the inside of the cup. Spit comes over to see what the fuss is about, but she's not interested in tapioca. Spit more likely starts prancing and talking for her evening brushing. I don't know where Cruiser's tapioca thing came from and sometimes I wonder if he would like vanilla, but I like tapioca.
I looked all over for 1/2 an hour for the Health and Welfare manager's phone number so I could call her today and it wasn't until I finally found the 1st manager's number that I realized I never got a card from the 2nd one. So, I sent an email and received a prompt response that they are still in the process of filling the position, will keep me posted, and thanking me for my patience.
I looked up Art Galleries in Idaho and found one that looks decent in Boise and a nice one in Sun Valley. When I was unpacking, I found some old promo pieces from someone I went to Art Center with and so I looked him up on-line to see if he was doing anything. He was much older than me and now that I think about it, I don't know what he ever did for money. Turns out, he went to school in Idaho ten years after Art Center and earned a Master's degree in Art. That was weird. He now exhibits in San Francisco and a gallery in Sun Valley, which is the nice one I found. They are not taking artist submissions, but I think I will call them and ask if they will look at my work, maybe throw around my Art Center buddy's name. I don't think he is still in Idaho and I could not find an email for him.
The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho also has an ARTmart that starts in November. This is for work that sells for under $200. I can submit 3 pieces at a time and they sell them in their Studio Gallery during the holidays. I just have to be a Museum Artist, so I need to call them and find out what that means. The only problem is that they are 4 hours away.
I researched jobs at Hewlett Packard and updated all my resume and contact information on their website, but I have not submitted anything yet. I also found one job at the VA, but applying for Federal jobs is so complicated that I'm not sure it is worth it.
Monday is mow the lawn day, so I went out this afternoon and mowed the lawn and got a workout and some sun. It appears that once I brought up the cold summer, So Cal started a furious heat wave. Yahoo Weather says the high today in Simi Valley was 101 and 106 in LA, but I read elsewhere that it was a record 113 in LA today. It was 90 in Boise and just perfect, although a bit hot for lawn mowing. In the middle of mowing the lawn, my other neighbor introduced himself. His name is Kurt and he recently quit his truck driving job. He was gone all the time and said he could not see himself sleeping in his truck in Montana in the dead of winter. When I talked about trying to pay the rent while doing what you really want, he laughed like he could relate.
I like mowing the lawn, especially here where I know lawn mowing season is short, but I keep forgetting how much work houses are. The automatic garage door reverses itself on a regular basis and on Sunday it would not close at all. I had to look up what the sensor lights are supposed to look like to refresh my memory and worked on it for half an hour. There was nothing wrong with the sensor lights and I finally concluded that at certain times of the day, the sun shines directly into the main sensor and it either won't work, or falsely thinks there is an obstruction. The sun stays pretty low on the horizon here, because we are so far north, and the garage door faces south, sunrise directly into one sensor, sunset into the other. The post man said he rang the doorbell last week, but I didn't here it, so I tried the doorbell and that doesn't work, either. I don't like doorbells, so I'm not fixing it, but if you come over, be sure to knock.
Kurt asked me if anyone had given me a hard time about my California plates and encouraged me to get some Idaho ones. He said there are some Idaho natives that hate Californians more than anyone else. And where is Kurt from? Los Angeles via Eureka, California, although he has been here since the 70s. Some biker guy I met last Saturday was also from California somewhere around Newport Beach. He's been here since the 80s, although he said it took him 10 years to get here once he decided he wanted to move to Idaho. I told him it took me 4 months. (Because he was kind of a jerk.)
I looked all over for 1/2 an hour for the Health and Welfare manager's phone number so I could call her today and it wasn't until I finally found the 1st manager's number that I realized I never got a card from the 2nd one. So, I sent an email and received a prompt response that they are still in the process of filling the position, will keep me posted, and thanking me for my patience.
I looked up Art Galleries in Idaho and found one that looks decent in Boise and a nice one in Sun Valley. When I was unpacking, I found some old promo pieces from someone I went to Art Center with and so I looked him up on-line to see if he was doing anything. He was much older than me and now that I think about it, I don't know what he ever did for money. Turns out, he went to school in Idaho ten years after Art Center and earned a Master's degree in Art. That was weird. He now exhibits in San Francisco and a gallery in Sun Valley, which is the nice one I found. They are not taking artist submissions, but I think I will call them and ask if they will look at my work, maybe throw around my Art Center buddy's name. I don't think he is still in Idaho and I could not find an email for him.
The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho also has an ARTmart that starts in November. This is for work that sells for under $200. I can submit 3 pieces at a time and they sell them in their Studio Gallery during the holidays. I just have to be a Museum Artist, so I need to call them and find out what that means. The only problem is that they are 4 hours away.
I researched jobs at Hewlett Packard and updated all my resume and contact information on their website, but I have not submitted anything yet. I also found one job at the VA, but applying for Federal jobs is so complicated that I'm not sure it is worth it.
Monday is mow the lawn day, so I went out this afternoon and mowed the lawn and got a workout and some sun. It appears that once I brought up the cold summer, So Cal started a furious heat wave. Yahoo Weather says the high today in Simi Valley was 101 and 106 in LA, but I read elsewhere that it was a record 113 in LA today. It was 90 in Boise and just perfect, although a bit hot for lawn mowing. In the middle of mowing the lawn, my other neighbor introduced himself. His name is Kurt and he recently quit his truck driving job. He was gone all the time and said he could not see himself sleeping in his truck in Montana in the dead of winter. When I talked about trying to pay the rent while doing what you really want, he laughed like he could relate.
I like mowing the lawn, especially here where I know lawn mowing season is short, but I keep forgetting how much work houses are. The automatic garage door reverses itself on a regular basis and on Sunday it would not close at all. I had to look up what the sensor lights are supposed to look like to refresh my memory and worked on it for half an hour. There was nothing wrong with the sensor lights and I finally concluded that at certain times of the day, the sun shines directly into the main sensor and it either won't work, or falsely thinks there is an obstruction. The sun stays pretty low on the horizon here, because we are so far north, and the garage door faces south, sunrise directly into one sensor, sunset into the other. The post man said he rang the doorbell last week, but I didn't here it, so I tried the doorbell and that doesn't work, either. I don't like doorbells, so I'm not fixing it, but if you come over, be sure to knock.
Kurt asked me if anyone had given me a hard time about my California plates and encouraged me to get some Idaho ones. He said there are some Idaho natives that hate Californians more than anyone else. And where is Kurt from? Los Angeles via Eureka, California, although he has been here since the 70s. Some biker guy I met last Saturday was also from California somewhere around Newport Beach. He's been here since the 80s, although he said it took him 10 years to get here once he decided he wanted to move to Idaho. I told him it took me 4 months. (Because he was kind of a jerk.)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The Big Game
On Saturday, Boise hosted one of the largest women's 5K events in the nation, ESPN, and the Boise State versus Oregon State football game. The set up and the crowds started on Friday night and downtown was nowhere you wanted to be on Saturday, unless you were running in the 5K, playing in the football game, or already parked in the Boise State University parking lot. A woman at the workshop was late because she was busy painting her husband's upper torso with BSU colors. I went to my workshop and then went home and stayed home. I think I was the only person in the neighborhood at home and it was quiet, quiet, quiet.
BSU beat Oregon State 37-24. I only watched parts of the game and I actually missed the end because I was watching John Stossel. I did watch part of the interview with coach Chris Petersen, he seems like a regular guy, and he looked relieved that the hype was over and they could just get back to playing football.
According to the Sunday paper, now is time for the best selection and prices on buffalo. Right there in the everyday grocery store, Fred Meyer. I must be in Idaho. I guess you can use it in place of beef and it cooks faster. Nope, no buffalo for me, thanks anyway.
It is hot here, in the upper 80s all week, and I am enjoying it, especially since I know it isn't going to last. It still cools off in the evenings and the poor cats are confused. Do I shed or not? I'm taking a brush-full off of them every night.
Since I rejected the last enlightenment topic, I better move on to something I can meditate on for a while. The next topic is Nonconformity with a passage from Walden by Henry David Thoreau,
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
The author talks about those two voices, the one that tells you to follow your dreams and the one that tells you to be practical and like everyone else and that you are being foolish and selfish. Hey, I hear those voices all the time! I am not crazy, I just march to a different drummer. Right now I feel a bit like that music is far away, though, I just can't quite catch the beat and I am feeling a bit unfocused. I often try to keep one foot on each side of the fence, the conformist and the nonconformist side, without doing either one very well. Maybe it's time to listen more closely to the music I hear.
BSU beat Oregon State 37-24. I only watched parts of the game and I actually missed the end because I was watching John Stossel. I did watch part of the interview with coach Chris Petersen, he seems like a regular guy, and he looked relieved that the hype was over and they could just get back to playing football.
According to the Sunday paper, now is time for the best selection and prices on buffalo. Right there in the everyday grocery store, Fred Meyer. I must be in Idaho. I guess you can use it in place of beef and it cooks faster. Nope, no buffalo for me, thanks anyway.
It is hot here, in the upper 80s all week, and I am enjoying it, especially since I know it isn't going to last. It still cools off in the evenings and the poor cats are confused. Do I shed or not? I'm taking a brush-full off of them every night.
Since I rejected the last enlightenment topic, I better move on to something I can meditate on for a while. The next topic is Nonconformity with a passage from Walden by Henry David Thoreau,
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
The author talks about those two voices, the one that tells you to follow your dreams and the one that tells you to be practical and like everyone else and that you are being foolish and selfish. Hey, I hear those voices all the time! I am not crazy, I just march to a different drummer. Right now I feel a bit like that music is far away, though, I just can't quite catch the beat and I am feeling a bit unfocused. I often try to keep one foot on each side of the fence, the conformist and the nonconformist side, without doing either one very well. Maybe it's time to listen more closely to the music I hear.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The Illusion of Romantic Love
The art presentation supplies I bought arrived and I spent yesterday morning seeing how they would work. I already bought mats for the 5"x7" studies, so I bought some backing and some poly sleeves. I attached the painting to the backing to fit the mat, attached the mat, and then inserted them into a poly bag that reseals. The matted painting is a nice tight fit into the poly bag and the backing keeps it good and flat. I am not the greatest craftsman, too inpatient, and I had issues with persistent cat hair that kept getting inside the poly bag, but the paintings show nicely (minus cat hair) and I was really happy with the result. This means I can display the studies without frames, at least for now.
I started a larger landscape and really disliked how it was coming out on Thursday night. Friday morning it looked better and I spent a few hours painting. I went out for a while and met Mary Kay for coffee and then came home and changed out all of the florescent light bulbs.
Idaho Health and Welfare did not call about the job and Mary Kay said to call them on Monday. Accountability is tough, now I'm going to hear Mary Kay telling me to call all day on Monday until I make the call. I checked out other jobs in Boise and there are more I can apply for with the State and several at Hewlett Packard, so I will go back to applying for jobs again, but not until tomorrow. Now that we have job applications via Internet, it can be so time consuming.
The best next person for me to see with SCORE is not available until October, so they will call me to set up the next appointment on Friday. Friday is the 1st of October already, wow.
The next enlightenment topic is Romantic Love with part of a sonnet by Elizabeth Barrett Browning from Sonnets from the Portuguese,
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
This is a lovely poem written about Elizabeth Browning's love for her husband. With this topic, maybe the author is trying to distinguish between love of a partner versus love of family and friends, but I heartily disagree that mastering romantic love is necessary for enlightenment. To me, holding on to the ideas of romantic love is destructive to relationships. When the excitement and the flowers and the candy wear off, you better be looking at a good best friend, or you will not have a relationship, or love. I would rather have someone who really knows me and still loves me. Besides, has anyone ever given or received a satisfactory answer to, why do you love me? It's like trying to explain faith or spirituality. I think letting go of the illusion of romantic love is more likely what is necessary for enlightenment.
This morning I am off to a workshop. Thank goodness the topic is service, not romantic love.
I started a larger landscape and really disliked how it was coming out on Thursday night. Friday morning it looked better and I spent a few hours painting. I went out for a while and met Mary Kay for coffee and then came home and changed out all of the florescent light bulbs.
Idaho Health and Welfare did not call about the job and Mary Kay said to call them on Monday. Accountability is tough, now I'm going to hear Mary Kay telling me to call all day on Monday until I make the call. I checked out other jobs in Boise and there are more I can apply for with the State and several at Hewlett Packard, so I will go back to applying for jobs again, but not until tomorrow. Now that we have job applications via Internet, it can be so time consuming.
The best next person for me to see with SCORE is not available until October, so they will call me to set up the next appointment on Friday. Friday is the 1st of October already, wow.
The next enlightenment topic is Romantic Love with part of a sonnet by Elizabeth Barrett Browning from Sonnets from the Portuguese,
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
This is a lovely poem written about Elizabeth Browning's love for her husband. With this topic, maybe the author is trying to distinguish between love of a partner versus love of family and friends, but I heartily disagree that mastering romantic love is necessary for enlightenment. To me, holding on to the ideas of romantic love is destructive to relationships. When the excitement and the flowers and the candy wear off, you better be looking at a good best friend, or you will not have a relationship, or love. I would rather have someone who really knows me and still loves me. Besides, has anyone ever given or received a satisfactory answer to, why do you love me? It's like trying to explain faith or spirituality. I think letting go of the illusion of romantic love is more likely what is necessary for enlightenment.
This morning I am off to a workshop. Thank goodness the topic is service, not romantic love.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Light Bulbs
Yesterday was the first day of Fall and a full moon. There are a few early turning trees here that are changing color. Yesterday morning it was cold, but it warmed up by the afternoon. Wearing layers is a good idea here and I am not in the habit, since I am used to a climate with two seasons. In the morning I was wearing just a sweatshirt, by noon I was in a long sleeved t-shirt, by late afternoon I was in a short sleeved t-shirt. I need to master the layering thing or I am going to be doing a lot of laundry.
I read that So Cal had the coldest Summer it's had since the 1940s. It was pleasant, but cooler than usual at Dad's, but it's funny to me that the only days I spent this Summer where it stayed warm in the evening were in Boise, Idaho.
The gas bill and the electric bill arrived. Intermountain Gas charged a $14 initiation fee, minus that the bill is $8.40 for 27 days. The $8.40 includes a $2.50 "customer charge" that goes up to $6.50 December through March. I only have gas water heater and furnace and I did not use the furnace in the last 27 days, but the cost of gas seems the same as So Cal and I still do not understand why most people have electric stoves and clothes dryers. The Idaho Power bill was $37.04 including a $20 start-up fee. The bill is for 25 days and I used the air conditioning and did lots of laundry in those 25 days. I don't like air conditioning, but when the movers were here working on the hottest day of the year I thought they deserved it. The clothes dryer doesn't work that great, so I am drying loads twice sometimes. With that, I think electric seems a bit cheaper here.
As long as I am talking about electricity, I want to share some things I learned about florescent light bulbs. The real point is why is government telling me what light bulb to buy? This is not the role of government! But besides that, the energy savings of florescent is a scam and this policy is destructive to the US economy and sent manufacturing overseas. There is no florescent bulb manufacturing in the US, we buy all of ours from China, and the policy initiated the close of all iridescent manufacturing in the US with the last plant in Virginia closing this week. From American Thinker (CFL stands for compact florescent lamp):
* Warm-up time: it takes up to 5 minutes for a CFL to reach full strength, which may be related to why CFLs seem less bright. My friend has installed them in a hallway where illumination is needed only for the thirty seconds it takes to navigate the staircase. Not ideal when Grandma visits and can't see the skateboard on the stairs.
* Few CFLs last for their advertised lifetimes of five years or more. Many people report replacing them after one year, making those return on investment numbers a bit less rosy. Using them in ceiling fixtures, on dimmers or timers, and for less than fifteen minutes per use reduce their life.
* CFLs contain mercury and should be returned to a hazardous waste center for disposal. Studies assume a 25% recycling rate, with the rest going into landfills. (The Westinghouse website recommends recycling only when disposing of "a large quantity" of fluorescent tubes and doesn't mention how to dispose of their CFLs.) According to a 2008 Yale study, burning coal to supply electricity to incandescent bulbs emits more mercury per bulb than a CFL contains, but regions that rely on cleaner fuels like natural gas experience greater mercury contamination with the introduction of CFLs. Why would environmentalists advocate to bring a toxic product into every home?
* Cleaning up a broken CFL doesn't require a haz-mat team, but you have to take significant precautions to avoid mercury contamination of living areas.
* Manufacturing CFLs is labor-intensive. No CFLs are made with expensive U.S. labor; most are made in China, where hundreds of factory workers in CFL plants have been hospitalized for mercury poisoning. The last major light bulb factory in the U.S., a GE plant in Winchester, VA, closed earlier this month.
* CFLs require six times as much energy to manufacture as incandescent bulbs, not to mention -- if you're concerned about such things -- the carbon footprint of shipping them from China.
* CFLs appear to cause migraines and epileptic seizures in a small number of people. Other health risks are being studied.
* CFLs work poorly in cold temperatures -- as a wintertime front porch light, for example. In cold climates, the heat of incandescent bulbs is a useful -- if inefficient -- byproduct.
* CFLs degrade the quality of the electric current (so-called "dirty electricity" with uneven sine waves) on a circuit into which they are plugged, causing problems for other electronic devices and possible health hazards to humans.
The cold weather issue appears to also be related to the warm-up time. In a cold climate (like my current one is about to be) the florescent bulb uses an excessive amount of electricity to try to warm up and dies well before it's promised life. Florescent bulbs are also only energy efficient when left on, so if you are in the habit of turning lights on when you enter a room and then off again when you leave, as you should be, you are not getting any energy efficiency from the florescent and shortening the life of the bulb. So, I'm stocking up on old fashioned light bulbs and replacing all of the florescent that are all over my house. I will, very, very carefully, pack and store the florescent bulbs to put back when I leave.
I was much more disciplined and productive yesterday, but I did go to the antique store around the corner and buy these,
They are old military ammo crates and the seller helped me throw away the canisters that were inside. They were $4 apiece and I thought they would make good planters. I thought they would also make good storage in a root cellar, if I had one. The antique store was huge, it does not look huge from the outside, and full of questionable antiques, but it did have some great old farm stuff, like baked enamel camp coffee pots and cast iron dutch ovens. I stuck to my $8 purchase, went home and got back to work.
I read that So Cal had the coldest Summer it's had since the 1940s. It was pleasant, but cooler than usual at Dad's, but it's funny to me that the only days I spent this Summer where it stayed warm in the evening were in Boise, Idaho.
The gas bill and the electric bill arrived. Intermountain Gas charged a $14 initiation fee, minus that the bill is $8.40 for 27 days. The $8.40 includes a $2.50 "customer charge" that goes up to $6.50 December through March. I only have gas water heater and furnace and I did not use the furnace in the last 27 days, but the cost of gas seems the same as So Cal and I still do not understand why most people have electric stoves and clothes dryers. The Idaho Power bill was $37.04 including a $20 start-up fee. The bill is for 25 days and I used the air conditioning and did lots of laundry in those 25 days. I don't like air conditioning, but when the movers were here working on the hottest day of the year I thought they deserved it. The clothes dryer doesn't work that great, so I am drying loads twice sometimes. With that, I think electric seems a bit cheaper here.
As long as I am talking about electricity, I want to share some things I learned about florescent light bulbs. The real point is why is government telling me what light bulb to buy? This is not the role of government! But besides that, the energy savings of florescent is a scam and this policy is destructive to the US economy and sent manufacturing overseas. There is no florescent bulb manufacturing in the US, we buy all of ours from China, and the policy initiated the close of all iridescent manufacturing in the US with the last plant in Virginia closing this week. From American Thinker (CFL stands for compact florescent lamp):
* Warm-up time: it takes up to 5 minutes for a CFL to reach full strength, which may be related to why CFLs seem less bright. My friend has installed them in a hallway where illumination is needed only for the thirty seconds it takes to navigate the staircase. Not ideal when Grandma visits and can't see the skateboard on the stairs.
* Few CFLs last for their advertised lifetimes of five years or more. Many people report replacing them after one year, making those return on investment numbers a bit less rosy. Using them in ceiling fixtures, on dimmers or timers, and for less than fifteen minutes per use reduce their life.
* CFLs contain mercury and should be returned to a hazardous waste center for disposal. Studies assume a 25% recycling rate, with the rest going into landfills. (The Westinghouse website recommends recycling only when disposing of "a large quantity" of fluorescent tubes and doesn't mention how to dispose of their CFLs.) According to a 2008 Yale study, burning coal to supply electricity to incandescent bulbs emits more mercury per bulb than a CFL contains, but regions that rely on cleaner fuels like natural gas experience greater mercury contamination with the introduction of CFLs. Why would environmentalists advocate to bring a toxic product into every home?
* Cleaning up a broken CFL doesn't require a haz-mat team, but you have to take significant precautions to avoid mercury contamination of living areas.
* Manufacturing CFLs is labor-intensive. No CFLs are made with expensive U.S. labor; most are made in China, where hundreds of factory workers in CFL plants have been hospitalized for mercury poisoning. The last major light bulb factory in the U.S., a GE plant in Winchester, VA, closed earlier this month.
* CFLs require six times as much energy to manufacture as incandescent bulbs, not to mention -- if you're concerned about such things -- the carbon footprint of shipping them from China.
* CFLs appear to cause migraines and epileptic seizures in a small number of people. Other health risks are being studied.
* CFLs work poorly in cold temperatures -- as a wintertime front porch light, for example. In cold climates, the heat of incandescent bulbs is a useful -- if inefficient -- byproduct.
* CFLs degrade the quality of the electric current (so-called "dirty electricity" with uneven sine waves) on a circuit into which they are plugged, causing problems for other electronic devices and possible health hazards to humans.
The cold weather issue appears to also be related to the warm-up time. In a cold climate (like my current one is about to be) the florescent bulb uses an excessive amount of electricity to try to warm up and dies well before it's promised life. Florescent bulbs are also only energy efficient when left on, so if you are in the habit of turning lights on when you enter a room and then off again when you leave, as you should be, you are not getting any energy efficiency from the florescent and shortening the life of the bulb. So, I'm stocking up on old fashioned light bulbs and replacing all of the florescent that are all over my house. I will, very, very carefully, pack and store the florescent bulbs to put back when I leave.
I was much more disciplined and productive yesterday, but I did go to the antique store around the corner and buy these,
They are old military ammo crates and the seller helped me throw away the canisters that were inside. They were $4 apiece and I thought they would make good planters. I thought they would also make good storage in a root cellar, if I had one. The antique store was huge, it does not look huge from the outside, and full of questionable antiques, but it did have some great old farm stuff, like baked enamel camp coffee pots and cast iron dutch ovens. I stuck to my $8 purchase, went home and got back to work.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
One Month Anniversary
As of last Tuesday night, I have been here for one month. I feel like I am drifting and unfocused lately, but maybe a review will help. Only a month ago I was recovering from two days of driving with two crying cats. I was sleeping on the floor in an almost empty house and wondering when and if my stuff would arrive. I was eating peanut butter sandwiches or eating out because I did not have a pot or pan or dish or silverware. I was in Starbucks every day because I did not have Internet at home.
In a month, I went on three interviews and completed three tests for two jobs, even though they were for the same organization. (I have not heard about the second one, by the way, waiting to hear is probably some of the reason for my lack of focus.) I met a SCORE councilor and learned what I need to do, at least legally, to start a business in Idaho.
My stuff arrived and is mostly put away and hung up on the walls. The landlord did a poor job of getting the place ready for me and I did some house fixing, like touch up paint, re-programming the automatic sprinklers, adjusting the sprinkler that was watering the back door and creating a puddle on the floor every morning, putting in a sink drain stopper, and straightening out the dryer vent, which was crunched closed against the wall. The first time I used the dryer the inside smelled like gas. This usually means the dryer is not venting to the outside, so I pulled it out and the ducting was crunched flat and full of lint. Fortunately, I was able to crunch it round again rather than buying new ducting, but clogged ducting can cause a fire. I bought things like a broiler pan and a furnace filter. I learned that my landlord is lazy, but willing to reimburse me rather than doing it himself, and that I am a better handyman than the one that he employs.
I learned to leave some things unfinished or less than perfect. I learned to ignore the nail in the wall above the stairwell that I cannot reach to pull out or hang something on without an extension ladder that I have, but not in Idaho. I already knew that I use home improvement projects to avoid things that I am afraid of or uncomfortable with, but now I get to practice having a house and not using that avoidance tactic.
I built up the pantry again and started my emergency food supply. I could now eat for three months without going to the grocery store. I learned where the stores I need are and about getting around in Boise. I am still learning about one way streets and I still feel a moment of panic every time I drive down a two way street with cars parked the wrong direction on the wrong side of the street. Am I going the wrong way on a one way street?!
As far as painting, I only finished two studies in a month. I did stock up on art supplies and research display options, framing versus matting and covering in a poly bag, and found a decent framer. I printed some business cards and some promo cards and memorized my address, although I still cannot remember my new phone number.
I met some people and already have a new best friend in Boise and places I go where people know my name and some of my story. I went out to dinner twice with people I just met. I met three of my neighbors. I learned how to meet people and that some of my trouble with new people has to do with my ego, they do not already know how important I am, and with having an agenda, like my disappointment when the painter at the art fair was so unfriendly.
Every day I am grateful for my living environment. For that reason alone I am glad I moved and feel like I made a good choice. I can't believe my good fortune and how much I enjoy having no common walls, a yard, and a garage. It is mostly so peaceful here. I love my studio set up, the clean air, and the long morning and evening light.
Wow, I guess that sounds like pretty much. I feel better. I am worried about money and having an income and that worry can be disabling. Oh yea, I remember, fear is an evil and corroding thread. The goal for the next month is to be more disciplined, to paint more and take more forward steps and to worry less.
I have a feeling everything is just going to work out.
In a month, I went on three interviews and completed three tests for two jobs, even though they were for the same organization. (I have not heard about the second one, by the way, waiting to hear is probably some of the reason for my lack of focus.) I met a SCORE councilor and learned what I need to do, at least legally, to start a business in Idaho.
My stuff arrived and is mostly put away and hung up on the walls. The landlord did a poor job of getting the place ready for me and I did some house fixing, like touch up paint, re-programming the automatic sprinklers, adjusting the sprinkler that was watering the back door and creating a puddle on the floor every morning, putting in a sink drain stopper, and straightening out the dryer vent, which was crunched closed against the wall. The first time I used the dryer the inside smelled like gas. This usually means the dryer is not venting to the outside, so I pulled it out and the ducting was crunched flat and full of lint. Fortunately, I was able to crunch it round again rather than buying new ducting, but clogged ducting can cause a fire. I bought things like a broiler pan and a furnace filter. I learned that my landlord is lazy, but willing to reimburse me rather than doing it himself, and that I am a better handyman than the one that he employs.
I learned to leave some things unfinished or less than perfect. I learned to ignore the nail in the wall above the stairwell that I cannot reach to pull out or hang something on without an extension ladder that I have, but not in Idaho. I already knew that I use home improvement projects to avoid things that I am afraid of or uncomfortable with, but now I get to practice having a house and not using that avoidance tactic.
I built up the pantry again and started my emergency food supply. I could now eat for three months without going to the grocery store. I learned where the stores I need are and about getting around in Boise. I am still learning about one way streets and I still feel a moment of panic every time I drive down a two way street with cars parked the wrong direction on the wrong side of the street. Am I going the wrong way on a one way street?!
As far as painting, I only finished two studies in a month. I did stock up on art supplies and research display options, framing versus matting and covering in a poly bag, and found a decent framer. I printed some business cards and some promo cards and memorized my address, although I still cannot remember my new phone number.
I met some people and already have a new best friend in Boise and places I go where people know my name and some of my story. I went out to dinner twice with people I just met. I met three of my neighbors. I learned how to meet people and that some of my trouble with new people has to do with my ego, they do not already know how important I am, and with having an agenda, like my disappointment when the painter at the art fair was so unfriendly.
Every day I am grateful for my living environment. For that reason alone I am glad I moved and feel like I made a good choice. I can't believe my good fortune and how much I enjoy having no common walls, a yard, and a garage. It is mostly so peaceful here. I love my studio set up, the clean air, and the long morning and evening light.
Wow, I guess that sounds like pretty much. I feel better. I am worried about money and having an income and that worry can be disabling. Oh yea, I remember, fear is an evil and corroding thread. The goal for the next month is to be more disciplined, to paint more and take more forward steps and to worry less.
I have a feeling everything is just going to work out.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Craters of the Moon
To get to Craters of the Moon from Boise, I am supposed to take the 84 southeast to the 20 east through Fairfield and Carey. I have trouble passing places I go to in Boise, because everything is closer together than I think it looks on a map, and I guess I have that problem with the entire state. (But, hey, the speed limit on the Interstate is 75 MPH.) I went flying by Mountain Home and stopped in Glenn's Ferry. I stopped in Glenn's Ferry to go in the Oregon Trail History Center and get a hiking map of the Oregon Trail, which should have given me a clue that I passed my turnoff, since the Oregon Trail is south of Craters of the Moon around Twin Falls. The Oregon Trail History Center was closed, but I took a few pictures at the Three Island State Park.
You must be able to stay in the little cabins during the season and that is the Snake River. Most of the drive there looked like this, several rivers and green, green farms in the middle of golden hills.
It wasn't until I passed Bliss that I realized I went the wrong way, so I turned around and took the 23/96 to Craters of the Moon. This took me through Gooding, Shoshone, and Richfield. I liked Bliss and Gooding and want to go back and take some pictures. The train must have been stopping in Shoshone, because there was a big crowd waiting at the train station.
Boise restored their train depot, which is pretty much around the corner from me and I drive by it all the time, but I haven't been in yet. A restored Union Pacific Railroad steam locomotive, No. 844, a.k.a. "The Living Legend," stopped in Boise on Sunday night as part of a 15-day, three-state tour of the Pacific Northwest. Sunday night I heard it come in blowing it's steam whistle, which sounds very different from the modern train whistling through Simi Valley, and I could even hear the old-time chuga chuga in-between the whistles. This train must have also stopped in Shoshone.
It took about 4 hours to get to Craters of the Moon. One minute I'm looking at sagebrush and gold and the next minute I'm looking at sagebrush and black sharp rock.
Half of the hiking trails were closed because they were resurfacing the road, so I did not do much hiking. That is alright, since I am reminded that I am in terrible shape. The landscape was too bleak for me and kind of creepy, I kept thinking of The Road.
There were several caves. I don't like caves, either, but I went in one just to take a picture. The lava cools and hardens on the outside, but stays hot and keeps moving for miles on the inside, and forms a cave.
Inactive volcanoes created all of the black rock, although they were pretty recently active, only 2,000 years ago. Idaho is also home to the world's largest caldera, an underground supervolcano, although most seem to lump this in with the one in Yellowstone.
The best part of the trip was the two plein air painters I met on my way out.
They just backed the car in and set up their easels.
The trip back was boring, more gold, less green, and one town for almost three hours. I was glad I took the other route there.
You must be able to stay in the little cabins during the season and that is the Snake River. Most of the drive there looked like this, several rivers and green, green farms in the middle of golden hills.
It wasn't until I passed Bliss that I realized I went the wrong way, so I turned around and took the 23/96 to Craters of the Moon. This took me through Gooding, Shoshone, and Richfield. I liked Bliss and Gooding and want to go back and take some pictures. The train must have been stopping in Shoshone, because there was a big crowd waiting at the train station.
Boise restored their train depot, which is pretty much around the corner from me and I drive by it all the time, but I haven't been in yet. A restored Union Pacific Railroad steam locomotive, No. 844, a.k.a. "The Living Legend," stopped in Boise on Sunday night as part of a 15-day, three-state tour of the Pacific Northwest. Sunday night I heard it come in blowing it's steam whistle, which sounds very different from the modern train whistling through Simi Valley, and I could even hear the old-time chuga chuga in-between the whistles. This train must have also stopped in Shoshone.
It took about 4 hours to get to Craters of the Moon. One minute I'm looking at sagebrush and gold and the next minute I'm looking at sagebrush and black sharp rock.
Half of the hiking trails were closed because they were resurfacing the road, so I did not do much hiking. That is alright, since I am reminded that I am in terrible shape. The landscape was too bleak for me and kind of creepy, I kept thinking of The Road.
There were several caves. I don't like caves, either, but I went in one just to take a picture. The lava cools and hardens on the outside, but stays hot and keeps moving for miles on the inside, and forms a cave.
Inactive volcanoes created all of the black rock, although they were pretty recently active, only 2,000 years ago. Idaho is also home to the world's largest caldera, an underground supervolcano, although most seem to lump this in with the one in Yellowstone.
The best part of the trip was the two plein air painters I met on my way out.
They just backed the car in and set up their easels.
The trip back was boring, more gold, less green, and one town for almost three hours. I was glad I took the other route there.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Time for a Trip
I sent off my test and spent most of the rest of the day drifting. I suppose that has something to do with finishing something I was focused on for a few days and then letting it go. It is time to move on to something else, but what? I have plenty of choices, but yesterday I could not pick one. I did some chores, went out and got some things for a trip to Craters of the Moon, mowed the lawn. I started to balance the checkbook and got freaked out about how much it cost me to get here, including how much money I spent on my car, and could not finish.
So, with that it sounds like a good day to get out. According to Google Maps, Craters of the Moon is 45 minutes past Carey, Idaho, which is 2 hours and 40 minutes from here. It has been long enough since I have been in the car for several hours, that I can face doing it again. I barely used one tank of gas since I've been here.
More with pictures tomorrow....
So, with that it sounds like a good day to get out. According to Google Maps, Craters of the Moon is 45 minutes past Carey, Idaho, which is 2 hours and 40 minutes from here. It has been long enough since I have been in the car for several hours, that I can face doing it again. I barely used one tank of gas since I've been here.
More with pictures tomorrow....
Monday, September 20, 2010
Testing
I spent the day working on my test to send off today. I worked on it, did something else, and then worked on it some more. Since I don't know how the interview went, I figure the paper needs to be really great. I don't know which is better, having to be Johnny on the spot, write the paper, and get it over with, or having the time to research and rewrite and be preoccupied with the darn thing all day. I re-read it this morning and it looks good, so I am sending it off this morning so I don't have to think about it anymore. I am grateful that I have kept up my writing skills by blogging every day.
I did go out and buy the Sunday paper yesterday morning. I used to love Sunday mornings with the newspaper, but the paper isn't what it used to be. It does help me learn about what is happening in Boise and had some information I used for my test. Boise State creamed Wyoming and secured an ESPN Game Day spot. ESPN will be here Saturday for the opening home game against #25 Oregon State and the game will be on national TV. Season tickets are still available for $200. This is apparently way less than what single tickets for this weekend's game are going for on EBay.
Yesterday afternoon I set a Mum I bought to brighten up the front porch, which is still looking pretty empty, and talked to my next door neighbor for a while. She showed me her tomatoes and gave me one. I had no idea that there were so many kinds. The one I chose was huge with a red and purple skin. Several of her plants just sprouted up again this spring after dying off last winter. I will not grow tomatoes, I had a bad experience with them as a kid. One day I had beautiful tall plants covered with almost ripe tomatoes and the next day all that remained was a few stalks and a hundred big, fat tomato worms. Where did they come from? I did not see one tomato worm on my neighbor's plants.
It is feeling like fall is on it's way here and my neighbor said my front tree will drop massive leaves. I have a coupon for leaf bags and it sounds like I am going to need them. Boise does not do yard waste recycling, they do plastic and paper, and they don't do glass recycling either. There must not be enough money in it. In the Fall they will pick up leaves if you leave them out in these special giant paper leaf bags that you have to buy and in the winter they will pick up your Christmas tree. I saw on Fox News something about Boise being the recycling police and having computer chips in recycling bins to make sure you are recycling enough, but I cannot find anything about that here. Trash collection is contracted out and I don't know why a contractor would invest in computer chips to monitor recycling since there is no advantage for them. The contract says that whether or not the contractor makes money on recycling is their problem.
With that, the next enlightenment topic is Nature, with a poem by William Wordsworth,
O Nightingale! thou surely art
A creature of a "fiery heart":--
These notes of thine--they pierce and pierce;
Tumultuous harmony and fierce!
Thou sing'st as if the God of wine
Had helped thee to a Valentine;
A song in mockery and despite
Of shades, and dews, and silent night;
And steady bliss, and all the loves
Now sleeping in these peaceful groves.
I heard a Stock-dove sing or say
His homely tale, this very day;
His voice was buried among trees,
Yet to be come at by the breeze:
He did not cease; but cooed--and cooed;
And somewhat pensively he wooed:
He sang of love, with quiet blending,
Slow to begin, and never ending;
Of serious faith, and inward glee;
That was the song -- the song for me!
The author only includes the second half of the poem in his book, probably because the first half did not suit his topic, but I don't think anyone should cut people's poetry in half to suit their own purpose. The birds I hear in Boise are mostly the honking geese overhead, but I do find the sound calming. Hiking through the Narrows in Zion, far enough in to be past the crowd, is probably the most spiritual place I've ever been. I do believe there is nothing more spiritual or therapeutic for me than a wilderness hike and it is probably a good time to go on one.
I did go out and buy the Sunday paper yesterday morning. I used to love Sunday mornings with the newspaper, but the paper isn't what it used to be. It does help me learn about what is happening in Boise and had some information I used for my test. Boise State creamed Wyoming and secured an ESPN Game Day spot. ESPN will be here Saturday for the opening home game against #25 Oregon State and the game will be on national TV. Season tickets are still available for $200. This is apparently way less than what single tickets for this weekend's game are going for on EBay.
Yesterday afternoon I set a Mum I bought to brighten up the front porch, which is still looking pretty empty, and talked to my next door neighbor for a while. She showed me her tomatoes and gave me one. I had no idea that there were so many kinds. The one I chose was huge with a red and purple skin. Several of her plants just sprouted up again this spring after dying off last winter. I will not grow tomatoes, I had a bad experience with them as a kid. One day I had beautiful tall plants covered with almost ripe tomatoes and the next day all that remained was a few stalks and a hundred big, fat tomato worms. Where did they come from? I did not see one tomato worm on my neighbor's plants.
It is feeling like fall is on it's way here and my neighbor said my front tree will drop massive leaves. I have a coupon for leaf bags and it sounds like I am going to need them. Boise does not do yard waste recycling, they do plastic and paper, and they don't do glass recycling either. There must not be enough money in it. In the Fall they will pick up leaves if you leave them out in these special giant paper leaf bags that you have to buy and in the winter they will pick up your Christmas tree. I saw on Fox News something about Boise being the recycling police and having computer chips in recycling bins to make sure you are recycling enough, but I cannot find anything about that here. Trash collection is contracted out and I don't know why a contractor would invest in computer chips to monitor recycling since there is no advantage for them. The contract says that whether or not the contractor makes money on recycling is their problem.
With that, the next enlightenment topic is Nature, with a poem by William Wordsworth,
O Nightingale! thou surely art
A creature of a "fiery heart":--
These notes of thine--they pierce and pierce;
Tumultuous harmony and fierce!
Thou sing'st as if the God of wine
Had helped thee to a Valentine;
A song in mockery and despite
Of shades, and dews, and silent night;
And steady bliss, and all the loves
Now sleeping in these peaceful groves.
I heard a Stock-dove sing or say
His homely tale, this very day;
His voice was buried among trees,
Yet to be come at by the breeze:
He did not cease; but cooed--and cooed;
And somewhat pensively he wooed:
He sang of love, with quiet blending,
Slow to begin, and never ending;
Of serious faith, and inward glee;
That was the song -- the song for me!
The author only includes the second half of the poem in his book, probably because the first half did not suit his topic, but I don't think anyone should cut people's poetry in half to suit their own purpose. The birds I hear in Boise are mostly the honking geese overhead, but I do find the sound calming. Hiking through the Narrows in Zion, far enough in to be past the crowd, is probably the most spiritual place I've ever been. I do believe there is nothing more spiritual or therapeutic for me than a wilderness hike and it is probably a good time to go on one.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
My Bright, Sunny Room
This is my bright, sunny room,
Now that the mattress is no longer on the floor, the cats are now sleeping on top of the quilt instead of under it,
Maybe they are afraid of bugs and mice, too. Hey, cats are not supposed to be afraid of mice.
Dad sent me a link to a video of a woman painter named Kaziah Hancock who paints portraits of fallen soldiers free of charge for their families as part of Project Compassion. She lives isolated on a ranch in Utah with 100 goats and paints her portraits. I thought what she was doing was great, but she seemed like a nut, which hit too close to home for me. I could easily paint all the time in isolation and get loopy. Dad says I don't have to worry until I start eating my paint.
http://www.militarytimes.com/hancock
I spent the day yesterday doing an outline for my job test and painting. This is my bright, not too sunny studio,
I am missing Dad's tripod so I can photograph my work, so today I think I will walk over to Idaho Camera around the corner and see what they have.
I did get a bit loopy yesterday without going out all day, but I would like to finish that test today so I can not worry about it tomorrow. I am also going to start that painting of Mark and Hazel that I have been putting off. I am planning a trip over to Craters of the Moon National Monument for maybe Tuesday. I figure in a few more weeks a trip North will be full of Fall color, but Craters of the Moon probably doesn't look much different year round.
If I get loopy again today I can always walk over and see what in the world is inside "We Bit 'O Scotland" or this other store I can't figure out with a sign in front that says, "Got Spice?" and no one under 18 is allowed. What kind of spice exactly? Loopiness is relative.
Now that the mattress is no longer on the floor, the cats are now sleeping on top of the quilt instead of under it,
Maybe they are afraid of bugs and mice, too. Hey, cats are not supposed to be afraid of mice.
Dad sent me a link to a video of a woman painter named Kaziah Hancock who paints portraits of fallen soldiers free of charge for their families as part of Project Compassion. She lives isolated on a ranch in Utah with 100 goats and paints her portraits. I thought what she was doing was great, but she seemed like a nut, which hit too close to home for me. I could easily paint all the time in isolation and get loopy. Dad says I don't have to worry until I start eating my paint.
http://www.militarytimes.com/hancock
I spent the day yesterday doing an outline for my job test and painting. This is my bright, not too sunny studio,
I am missing Dad's tripod so I can photograph my work, so today I think I will walk over to Idaho Camera around the corner and see what they have.
I did get a bit loopy yesterday without going out all day, but I would like to finish that test today so I can not worry about it tomorrow. I am also going to start that painting of Mark and Hazel that I have been putting off. I am planning a trip over to Craters of the Moon National Monument for maybe Tuesday. I figure in a few more weeks a trip North will be full of Fall color, but Craters of the Moon probably doesn't look much different year round.
If I get loopy again today I can always walk over and see what in the world is inside "We Bit 'O Scotland" or this other store I can't figure out with a sign in front that says, "Got Spice?" and no one under 18 is allowed. What kind of spice exactly? Loopiness is relative.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Another Interview
I have no idea how my interview yesterday went. It was supposed to be at 1:30, but was at 2 pm, which was their mistake. So I was 45 minutes early. There was a 1/2 hour interview and a 1/2 hour test.
The interview was with 3 people, a manager and 2 underlings, including the person (I think) that got the other job. The manager talked most of the time about the job. She asked how I felt about presenting to the legislature. I said I would love it. I threw in something about liking a challenge. There was stuff about why I was interested in the job, how I felt about working with many different people and changing hats all the time, am I organized? There were no set questions with people writing the answers like last time. The manager seemed like a disorganized, scattered person, so I could see that she needed someone more focused. I did not get to talk much, so I did not get to sell myself much, which is why I don't know how it went.
The test was writing a summary and recommendation from a 3 page policy letter. This wasn't hard, but 1/2 hour was a bit short and I was getting hungry.
Then there is another writing test due Monday at 5 pm. This is a policy recommendation on proposed changes due to budget cuts. It is a tough question and I am glad I have more than a 1/2 hour. Right now I am a bit annoyed at having to do another test, since the last one did not get me a job, so today I am going to work on changing my attitude.
After the interview I went and lost my argument with the dry cleaner. Read the fine print, there are extra costs for lining, fabric type, bla, bla, bla. Why would I buy something where the price is determined arbitrarily after the work is done? She didn't get it and I said I won't be back. She sends everything out, that's the problem, next time I'm looking for "plant on premises." I am continually amazed at how service has gone way down as unemployment has gone way up.
I did not eat much lunch before my interview and then it was later than it was supposed to be, so by the time I finished the interview and the test and dry cleaner argument I had a big headache and was really irritated. Then I took a look at the 2nd test, read it enough to be able to ponder the topic for a while, had enough and went out.
I had coffee and dinner in Hyde Park with my new best friend, Mary Kay. She appears to have decided to be my friend and is an easy person to like. She has a great purple cruiser bike, model name is Karma, with a cool leather stamped seat and she is a nurse. Dinner was on an outside patio and good and cheap. Hyde Park is having a street fair this weekend that started last night, so there were people everywhere. A band started playing in the street next to the restaurant and it got loud, but the street was full of dancing 4 and 5 year old kids as we left which was pretty cute.
I'm not sure I will go back for the street fair, since I got enough of crowds last weekend and I am still having issues with parking and one way streets, but maybe tomorrow. Today is painting day.
The interview was with 3 people, a manager and 2 underlings, including the person (I think) that got the other job. The manager talked most of the time about the job. She asked how I felt about presenting to the legislature. I said I would love it. I threw in something about liking a challenge. There was stuff about why I was interested in the job, how I felt about working with many different people and changing hats all the time, am I organized? There were no set questions with people writing the answers like last time. The manager seemed like a disorganized, scattered person, so I could see that she needed someone more focused. I did not get to talk much, so I did not get to sell myself much, which is why I don't know how it went.
The test was writing a summary and recommendation from a 3 page policy letter. This wasn't hard, but 1/2 hour was a bit short and I was getting hungry.
Then there is another writing test due Monday at 5 pm. This is a policy recommendation on proposed changes due to budget cuts. It is a tough question and I am glad I have more than a 1/2 hour. Right now I am a bit annoyed at having to do another test, since the last one did not get me a job, so today I am going to work on changing my attitude.
After the interview I went and lost my argument with the dry cleaner. Read the fine print, there are extra costs for lining, fabric type, bla, bla, bla. Why would I buy something where the price is determined arbitrarily after the work is done? She didn't get it and I said I won't be back. She sends everything out, that's the problem, next time I'm looking for "plant on premises." I am continually amazed at how service has gone way down as unemployment has gone way up.
I did not eat much lunch before my interview and then it was later than it was supposed to be, so by the time I finished the interview and the test and dry cleaner argument I had a big headache and was really irritated. Then I took a look at the 2nd test, read it enough to be able to ponder the topic for a while, had enough and went out.
I had coffee and dinner in Hyde Park with my new best friend, Mary Kay. She appears to have decided to be my friend and is an easy person to like. She has a great purple cruiser bike, model name is Karma, with a cool leather stamped seat and she is a nurse. Dinner was on an outside patio and good and cheap. Hyde Park is having a street fair this weekend that started last night, so there were people everywhere. A band started playing in the street next to the restaurant and it got loud, but the street was full of dancing 4 and 5 year old kids as we left which was pretty cute.
I'm not sure I will go back for the street fair, since I got enough of crowds last weekend and I am still having issues with parking and one way streets, but maybe tomorrow. Today is painting day.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Imagination
So I went to pick up the dry cleaning yesterday and I was so preoccupied with how much it was going to cost that I did not notice how much it did cost. They overcharged me, based on their price list, by more than $6, so now I get to go back and argue for a refund.
I went through the studio closet and consolidated some book boxes so I would have more room and pulled out my children's books so I can refer to them when I do my own. I still have too many books. I finally hung some of the old family photos to get them off the floor, although I put half back in the box and away. I have too many old photos, too. I went through the box with my old work stuff and found a sample I can add to my portfolio and take on my interview. If I get a job with Idaho Health and Welfare, I can throw most of this box away.
I took some time and did some cooking yesterday. I tend not to eat if it requires too much preparation, so I like to make a bunch of something that I can reheat. Starting my food supply over from scratch has been hard, I did not realize how much I took for granted that I had on hand, and I keep thinking I will make something and then I am missing an ingredient.
I reviewed a bit for my interview, including reviewing my answers to their questions on the application, and tried to remember some examples of my successes. The last interview included more "who are you as a person" questions, but this is another manager, so I want to be ready for program questions if they ask them. To the interviews I always take my portfolio, which in this case is a nice 3 ring binder with my reviews, achievement certificates, trainings I wrote and other examples of my work. Even if they do not want to see the examples, I have them with me to remember stuff to talk about.
The mattress box spring came. The same guy came and delivered it and immediately pinched his finger when setting up the bed frame. I doctored his finger and got him a band-aid, but the rest of the set up he worked mostly one-handed so he would not bleed on my new mattress. That's why I hate those bed frames, they can be dangerous suckers. Both cats were still under the quilt on the bed when we set up the frame. Boy were they surprised when I uncovered them so we could stand up the mattress. Now that they can get under the bed, we'll see if they still prefer under the quilt. I like having the mattress off the floor, it makes me feel normal, and I think I woke up less stuffy this morning.
Some enlightenment is probably a good idea before my interview. The next topic is Imagination, with a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge,
What if you slept?
And what if,
In your sleep
You dreamed?
And what if,
In your dream,
You went to heaven
And there plucked a strange and beautiful flower?
And what if,
When you awoke,
You had that flower in your hand
Ah, what then?
The book's author leaves off "Ah, what then?" I wonder why. It is included in every other copy of the poem that I could find on-line. Is this poem about imagination? Or is it about being in reality the beautiful flower you are in your dreams? Or about heaven (or God) being real even if you cannot hold it in your hand and see it? I find my best ideas come right before I fall asleep at night, although last night I was thinking about why people sleep up off the ground, like to stay above snakes and bugs and mice. Sometimes it is not a good idea to bring your imagination into reality. What if I awoke and had that mouse in my hand? I have enough trouble with my vivid imagination, so I think I will stay with my spiritual interpretation, the beauty that I dream of can be real.
I went through the studio closet and consolidated some book boxes so I would have more room and pulled out my children's books so I can refer to them when I do my own. I still have too many books. I finally hung some of the old family photos to get them off the floor, although I put half back in the box and away. I have too many old photos, too. I went through the box with my old work stuff and found a sample I can add to my portfolio and take on my interview. If I get a job with Idaho Health and Welfare, I can throw most of this box away.
I took some time and did some cooking yesterday. I tend not to eat if it requires too much preparation, so I like to make a bunch of something that I can reheat. Starting my food supply over from scratch has been hard, I did not realize how much I took for granted that I had on hand, and I keep thinking I will make something and then I am missing an ingredient.
I reviewed a bit for my interview, including reviewing my answers to their questions on the application, and tried to remember some examples of my successes. The last interview included more "who are you as a person" questions, but this is another manager, so I want to be ready for program questions if they ask them. To the interviews I always take my portfolio, which in this case is a nice 3 ring binder with my reviews, achievement certificates, trainings I wrote and other examples of my work. Even if they do not want to see the examples, I have them with me to remember stuff to talk about.
The mattress box spring came. The same guy came and delivered it and immediately pinched his finger when setting up the bed frame. I doctored his finger and got him a band-aid, but the rest of the set up he worked mostly one-handed so he would not bleed on my new mattress. That's why I hate those bed frames, they can be dangerous suckers. Both cats were still under the quilt on the bed when we set up the frame. Boy were they surprised when I uncovered them so we could stand up the mattress. Now that they can get under the bed, we'll see if they still prefer under the quilt. I like having the mattress off the floor, it makes me feel normal, and I think I woke up less stuffy this morning.
Some enlightenment is probably a good idea before my interview. The next topic is Imagination, with a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge,
What if you slept?
And what if,
In your sleep
You dreamed?
And what if,
In your dream,
You went to heaven
And there plucked a strange and beautiful flower?
And what if,
When you awoke,
You had that flower in your hand
Ah, what then?
The book's author leaves off "Ah, what then?" I wonder why. It is included in every other copy of the poem that I could find on-line. Is this poem about imagination? Or is it about being in reality the beautiful flower you are in your dreams? Or about heaven (or God) being real even if you cannot hold it in your hand and see it? I find my best ideas come right before I fall asleep at night, although last night I was thinking about why people sleep up off the ground, like to stay above snakes and bugs and mice. Sometimes it is not a good idea to bring your imagination into reality. What if I awoke and had that mouse in my hand? I have enough trouble with my vivid imagination, so I think I will stay with my spiritual interpretation, the beauty that I dream of can be real.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Purring
Yesterday morning I sat down to let my hair dry after my shower and Cruiser laid on the back of the chair behind my head, put his arm around my neck, his head next to my ear, and purred. I love when Cruiser does that. He used to do that when we lived in our house, but he just started doing it again. It was impossible to move, and I struggled between sitting there and enjoying that moment, it was a stop and smell the roses moment, and getting up and starting those errands I planned. Then Spit got up in my lap and started purring, too, so I ended up sitting there for at least an hour and for that hour, everything was right with the world.
I have not gone to the DMV to get a driver's license yet. I realized I will have to take a test, so I am reading the Idaho drivers manual and it is not exactly riveting reading. I did try to go to the post office yesterday afternoon. The line was really long, so I tried the self help machine, but there were so many questions for a package that it took a long time and a line grew behind me and I could feel people's eyes boring a hole in the back of my head, so I only half finished. Then they had no Priority Mail stickers that the machine told me to use, but did not provide, and I gave up. I will try again this morning at a less typically busy part of the day. The post office is not better in Idaho.
I picked up my mats, which were right! I brought some of my studies with me just to be sure. I spent most of the afternoon matting some of my studies and I also bought a sale frame at the framer and framed the Hazel study. Last night I ordered some backing and some plastic sleeves so I can show my studies without having to frame them. I looked at on-line cheap frames, but framing myself looked a bit complicated, then I need glass and hangers, so I am holding off on that process for now. Then I ordered some prints on-line for painting reference, including some of my cats for the children's book.
I am feeling a bit unfocused, but am trying to finish the 2nd study today. I also have to pick up the expensive dry cleaning and so some homework for my interview tomorrow.
The mattress box spring and bed frame should be delivered this afternoon. I bought a low profile box spring and if I waited for the box spring when I bought the mattress, I would have had to wait a week. I just could not deal with sleeping on the floor for a week. I thought about doing without the box spring altogether, but I do not like sleeping on a mattress on the floor. I may be a nomad, but I am not a bohemian. No experiments with living in a tepee for me, not for more than a night. I am also getting too old, it's honestly hard lifting myself off the floor first thing in the morning. So I went back to the mattress store and convinced the guy to sell me the box spring for what I would have paid for it if I bought it when I bought the mattress and to throw in a free bed frame. I did agree to pay delivery again, but it was worth $20 to have that mattress right away.
I found a grocery store with cheap bulk ingredients for my granola. I was missing Valley Produce in Simi Valley where I used to buy these. I am still missing Trader Joe's, especially their fish and pork chop cooking spices and those sesame bagel chips, oh, and that Pasadena salad. The closest counterpart I've found so far is the Boise Co-Op, which had similar stuff but not cheap, the same annoying, pretentious clientele, and a membership fee, making them even more pretentious. There is a big farmer's market on Saturdays that includes emerging artists. I may check that out this weekend.
I have not gone to the DMV to get a driver's license yet. I realized I will have to take a test, so I am reading the Idaho drivers manual and it is not exactly riveting reading. I did try to go to the post office yesterday afternoon. The line was really long, so I tried the self help machine, but there were so many questions for a package that it took a long time and a line grew behind me and I could feel people's eyes boring a hole in the back of my head, so I only half finished. Then they had no Priority Mail stickers that the machine told me to use, but did not provide, and I gave up. I will try again this morning at a less typically busy part of the day. The post office is not better in Idaho.
I picked up my mats, which were right! I brought some of my studies with me just to be sure. I spent most of the afternoon matting some of my studies and I also bought a sale frame at the framer and framed the Hazel study. Last night I ordered some backing and some plastic sleeves so I can show my studies without having to frame them. I looked at on-line cheap frames, but framing myself looked a bit complicated, then I need glass and hangers, so I am holding off on that process for now. Then I ordered some prints on-line for painting reference, including some of my cats for the children's book.
I am feeling a bit unfocused, but am trying to finish the 2nd study today. I also have to pick up the expensive dry cleaning and so some homework for my interview tomorrow.
The mattress box spring and bed frame should be delivered this afternoon. I bought a low profile box spring and if I waited for the box spring when I bought the mattress, I would have had to wait a week. I just could not deal with sleeping on the floor for a week. I thought about doing without the box spring altogether, but I do not like sleeping on a mattress on the floor. I may be a nomad, but I am not a bohemian. No experiments with living in a tepee for me, not for more than a night. I am also getting too old, it's honestly hard lifting myself off the floor first thing in the morning. So I went back to the mattress store and convinced the guy to sell me the box spring for what I would have paid for it if I bought it when I bought the mattress and to throw in a free bed frame. I did agree to pay delivery again, but it was worth $20 to have that mattress right away.
I found a grocery store with cheap bulk ingredients for my granola. I was missing Valley Produce in Simi Valley where I used to buy these. I am still missing Trader Joe's, especially their fish and pork chop cooking spices and those sesame bagel chips, oh, and that Pasadena salad. The closest counterpart I've found so far is the Boise Co-Op, which had similar stuff but not cheap, the same annoying, pretentious clientele, and a membership fee, making them even more pretentious. There is a big farmer's market on Saturdays that includes emerging artists. I may check that out this weekend.
Green Tomatoes
These are my next door neighbor's tomatoes.
Things did not ripen here due to Summer's late start. Now that it is almost Fall, I think my neighbor is going to have to find a recipe for fried green tomatoes. Not even a touch of red going on here.
Another one of my neighbors caught me outside and introduced herself. Her name is Sam, which has nothing to do with her real name, and she is the one who waved at me while mowing the lawn where I was here to look at the place the first time.
My cats appear to miss dirt. The house they grew up in had a backyard of dirt. The previous owner had an above ground pool, which I had moved out as soon as I moved in, but I never got around to replacing the sandy dirt that was left. There was grass in the front, but I always felt bad that I never got to grass in back. Dad's had lots of dirt. Cruiser would roll in it until he was covered in dust and Spit would search for a spot without too much gravel and do this tumbling thing she does until she was covered, too.
So, there were two cement stepping stones on the patio covering a vent to the crawl space for some reason and I used them at the base of the side gate to keep the cats from crawling under. When I moved them, there was a dirt spot left on the patio. When I let the cats out, they both head for that spot of dirt and roll all over it. A whole yard of lovely soft green grass and they like the dirt. I guess we all have our familiar things we miss.
I started another study yesterday and then went out to buy some mats for the studies I finished. I ordered some, which came and were also the wrong opening size. I went to Aaron Brothers and had an argument with the salesperson. If I custom order mats, she could not guarantee that the opening would be 5" x 7" that I requested because I would need some room around the outside edge to attach my photo. I am a professional! I am not matting a photo! Are you telling me that if I custom order something that you are not going to complete the order as I specify? I left before steam started to blow out of my ears.
Then I went to Fast Frame. They were much better and not only half the price, but she gave me a volume discount. I explained my issue and she said the same thing, my 5" x 7" picture will fall out of the 5" x 7" mat. I explained it is a 5" x 7" painting on a page that is bigger than 5" x 7". The salesperson repeated before I left, 5" x 7" means 5" x 7". Good girl.
The rest of the day I did not feel well and I worked on my study and some chores, but otherwise did not get much done. Either the dry air or my allergies are getting to me and I am trying to remember how long it took me to adjust to Vegas.
Things did not ripen here due to Summer's late start. Now that it is almost Fall, I think my neighbor is going to have to find a recipe for fried green tomatoes. Not even a touch of red going on here.
Another one of my neighbors caught me outside and introduced herself. Her name is Sam, which has nothing to do with her real name, and she is the one who waved at me while mowing the lawn where I was here to look at the place the first time.
My cats appear to miss dirt. The house they grew up in had a backyard of dirt. The previous owner had an above ground pool, which I had moved out as soon as I moved in, but I never got around to replacing the sandy dirt that was left. There was grass in the front, but I always felt bad that I never got to grass in back. Dad's had lots of dirt. Cruiser would roll in it until he was covered in dust and Spit would search for a spot without too much gravel and do this tumbling thing she does until she was covered, too.
So, there were two cement stepping stones on the patio covering a vent to the crawl space for some reason and I used them at the base of the side gate to keep the cats from crawling under. When I moved them, there was a dirt spot left on the patio. When I let the cats out, they both head for that spot of dirt and roll all over it. A whole yard of lovely soft green grass and they like the dirt. I guess we all have our familiar things we miss.
I started another study yesterday and then went out to buy some mats for the studies I finished. I ordered some, which came and were also the wrong opening size. I went to Aaron Brothers and had an argument with the salesperson. If I custom order mats, she could not guarantee that the opening would be 5" x 7" that I requested because I would need some room around the outside edge to attach my photo. I am a professional! I am not matting a photo! Are you telling me that if I custom order something that you are not going to complete the order as I specify? I left before steam started to blow out of my ears.
Then I went to Fast Frame. They were much better and not only half the price, but she gave me a volume discount. I explained my issue and she said the same thing, my 5" x 7" picture will fall out of the 5" x 7" mat. I explained it is a 5" x 7" painting on a page that is bigger than 5" x 7". The salesperson repeated before I left, 5" x 7" means 5" x 7". Good girl.
The rest of the day I did not feel well and I worked on my study and some chores, but otherwise did not get much done. Either the dry air or my allergies are getting to me and I am trying to remember how long it took me to adjust to Vegas.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Another Interview
As promised, Idaho Health and Welfare called Monday morning to schedule an interview for the other Program Specialist position. The interview is Friday afternoon. I made it as early in the day as possible, so I would have less time to get nervous like last time. Since I have another interview, I took two suits to the dry cleaners.
Either dry cleaning is more expensive here, or I picked the expensive dry cleaners, $18 for one suit! The dry cleaner appeared to be staffed entirely with middle aged white women, so I don't think the high prices are due to regulation, I think it is due to not being owned and run by an Asian couple. Every dry cleaner I ever used in California was run by an Asian couple that appeared to be the entire staff. I need to find the cheap dry cleaner or buy things that don't need dry cleaning.
The price of cable/internet/phone is the same as California, what I got is cheaper, but it comes with less, less channels for TV and no long distance on the local phone. I have been unable to set up my email that comes with internet and have not received a response to my email about the problem, so they are not getting any points for service. This morning the internet is super slow.
Boise unveiled a memorial on September 11, 2010 for the 51 Idahoans who have died serving their country since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 at the old Ada County Courthouse. There also was a ceremony at the Idaho Fallen Firefighter Memorial at Riverside Park honoring the 343 firefighters that died at the World Trade Center.
I did not go to either, the pictures are from the Idaho Statesman newspaper and I read the article in the paper on Sunday. Again, I feel proud of my new state.
People from Idaho are called Idahoans, not Idahodehodehoians, like some would have it.
Either dry cleaning is more expensive here, or I picked the expensive dry cleaners, $18 for one suit! The dry cleaner appeared to be staffed entirely with middle aged white women, so I don't think the high prices are due to regulation, I think it is due to not being owned and run by an Asian couple. Every dry cleaner I ever used in California was run by an Asian couple that appeared to be the entire staff. I need to find the cheap dry cleaner or buy things that don't need dry cleaning.
The price of cable/internet/phone is the same as California, what I got is cheaper, but it comes with less, less channels for TV and no long distance on the local phone. I have been unable to set up my email that comes with internet and have not received a response to my email about the problem, so they are not getting any points for service. This morning the internet is super slow.
Boise unveiled a memorial on September 11, 2010 for the 51 Idahoans who have died serving their country since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 at the old Ada County Courthouse. There also was a ceremony at the Idaho Fallen Firefighter Memorial at Riverside Park honoring the 343 firefighters that died at the World Trade Center.
I did not go to either, the pictures are from the Idaho Statesman newspaper and I read the article in the paper on Sunday. Again, I feel proud of my new state.
People from Idaho are called Idahoans, not Idahodehodehoians, like some would have it.
Boise Art Fair
Cutting the very tall, wet grass came out as a bit of a hack job, but the cats don't seem to mind.
The Boise Art fair was super crowded and half of the people there brought their dogs. One guy had 2 giant sheepdogs. If I was a vendor I would have been annoyed, how can anyone else be in your booth when a guy and his 2 sheepdogs are there? I don't usually do these art fair things, so I do not have much to compare it to, but it really was huge. Some of the artist's proceeds go to the Boise Art Museum and the artists I asked said they sell really well there. I did not see much original art and I saw a lot of mediocre crafty stuff, but I bet that is typical.
When I was there they had two kid bands playing, the 2nd was even younger than the 1st. They played typical rock music and were hilarious. I didn't notice until I looked at my photos, but the Indian looking guitarist gets more and more pissed off at the lead singer as they play.
I took some shots of booths so I could remember how people set theirs up if I wanted to do my own. I also took a shot of the bad watercolorist and the decent landscape painter. The decent landscape painter was really unfriendly. I asked her for a card, told her I was a watercolor painter and new to Boise, asked her if I could call her for some information, and she blew me off as not a buyer and told me to send her an email. Her landscapes were nice, but she is branching off into adding figures, which really sucked. http://www.sherricarterart.com/
She missed out on a friend who could have taught her how to paint figures. Her loss, but after that and a few hours of heavy crowds, I got depressed and left soon after.
I did buy some cards by Ward Hooper, http://wardhooper.com/.
Beware, his site is the worst to navigate that I have ever seen, the site seems to have a mind of its own. The guy is really prolific and I think everything in the booth was his, from cards to posters. I bet the guy is cranking these out in Illustrator. The booth was big and really busy. I liked the old Sunset magazine graphic look.
I did go back on Sunday morning and buy some small crystalline porcelain vases. I liked the technique and the small vases were reasonably priced. The picture is of the technique, the ones I bought were royal blue on ocher and white on white. They guy was really harassed on Sunday morning and I had trouble finding his booth because he was not set up. He said some sales guys set up right in front of his booth all Saturday afternoon and no one could get to him and he had a series of mishaps Sunday morning, but he was still interested that I was a painter and took my card. He must not be doing very well, since he appears to have had a website that is now shut down.
I finished a study and am on to another one today.
The Boise Art fair was super crowded and half of the people there brought their dogs. One guy had 2 giant sheepdogs. If I was a vendor I would have been annoyed, how can anyone else be in your booth when a guy and his 2 sheepdogs are there? I don't usually do these art fair things, so I do not have much to compare it to, but it really was huge. Some of the artist's proceeds go to the Boise Art Museum and the artists I asked said they sell really well there. I did not see much original art and I saw a lot of mediocre crafty stuff, but I bet that is typical.
When I was there they had two kid bands playing, the 2nd was even younger than the 1st. They played typical rock music and were hilarious. I didn't notice until I looked at my photos, but the Indian looking guitarist gets more and more pissed off at the lead singer as they play.
I took some shots of booths so I could remember how people set theirs up if I wanted to do my own. I also took a shot of the bad watercolorist and the decent landscape painter. The decent landscape painter was really unfriendly. I asked her for a card, told her I was a watercolor painter and new to Boise, asked her if I could call her for some information, and she blew me off as not a buyer and told me to send her an email. Her landscapes were nice, but she is branching off into adding figures, which really sucked. http://www.sherricarterart.com/
She missed out on a friend who could have taught her how to paint figures. Her loss, but after that and a few hours of heavy crowds, I got depressed and left soon after.
I did buy some cards by Ward Hooper, http://wardhooper.com/.
Beware, his site is the worst to navigate that I have ever seen, the site seems to have a mind of its own. The guy is really prolific and I think everything in the booth was his, from cards to posters. I bet the guy is cranking these out in Illustrator. The booth was big and really busy. I liked the old Sunset magazine graphic look.
I did go back on Sunday morning and buy some small crystalline porcelain vases. I liked the technique and the small vases were reasonably priced. The picture is of the technique, the ones I bought were royal blue on ocher and white on white. They guy was really harassed on Sunday morning and I had trouble finding his booth because he was not set up. He said some sales guys set up right in front of his booth all Saturday afternoon and no one could get to him and he had a series of mishaps Sunday morning, but he was still interested that I was a painter and took my card. He must not be doing very well, since he appears to have had a website that is now shut down.
I finished a study and am on to another one today.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Patriot Day
Today is the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001. From the Patriot Post,
"In keeping with the presidential proclamation designating Sept. 11, 2010, as Patriot Day, all flags should be flown at half-staff in memory of those who lost their lives that day. We invite you to join us as we offer our prayers for the families of those lost and for our Armed Forces now serving on the front lines of the Long War against Jihadistan that could no longer be ignored after that day. As we move forward and continue to engage our jihadi foes on battlefronts around the globe, let us never forget why we fight."
I did not get the Human Services job. The manager called and left a message, including apologizing for leaving a message and not speaking to me in person, that she picked another candidate, thanking me for going through 2 interviews and a test, and letting me know that I should hear soon about interviewing for the other open Program Specialist position. I called her back and left a message asking for some feedback, since I may be going through another round of interviews with them. I appreciated her letting me know so quickly and I can't say I was disappointed. To get a call for an interview as soon as I got here and then get called for a 2nd interview for the first job I interviewed for in Idaho is really pretty encouraging.
It helped that I heard an inspiring story yesterday. Someone who was diagnosed with terminal cancer 18 years ago. He's obviously still here. The day after he was diagnosed, 3 people called him about an experimental treatment program in California. His doctor said he wasn't a candidate. The doctor at the treatment program told him over the phone he wasn't either. So, he drove from Idaho to California and sat in front of the doctor at the treatment program and said if the doctor was going to take away his hope, he wanted him to do it in person, say it face to face. The doctor said if he can get his insurance to cover it, he was in. His insurance claim was initially denied and he called them every day for 3 weeks asking if they changed their mind. After 3 weeks, the newspaper published an article on the front page about a multi-million dollar lawsuit won against an insurance company that denied experimental treatment. He called his insurance company and said, read the paper.
God works in our lives, but still asks for some action on our part. All I can do is the very best with the actions that are put in front of me.
All day yesterday was consumed by chores and errands. Cruiser and Spit were both clingy and whining. Do you think they are bored? No wild animals, everything is peaceful and settled? I was tempted to take them for a car ride and teach them some gratitude.
Today is art day, no chores, no errands. Good luck to Dad with the big golf tournament!
"In keeping with the presidential proclamation designating Sept. 11, 2010, as Patriot Day, all flags should be flown at half-staff in memory of those who lost their lives that day. We invite you to join us as we offer our prayers for the families of those lost and for our Armed Forces now serving on the front lines of the Long War against Jihadistan that could no longer be ignored after that day. As we move forward and continue to engage our jihadi foes on battlefronts around the globe, let us never forget why we fight."
I did not get the Human Services job. The manager called and left a message, including apologizing for leaving a message and not speaking to me in person, that she picked another candidate, thanking me for going through 2 interviews and a test, and letting me know that I should hear soon about interviewing for the other open Program Specialist position. I called her back and left a message asking for some feedback, since I may be going through another round of interviews with them. I appreciated her letting me know so quickly and I can't say I was disappointed. To get a call for an interview as soon as I got here and then get called for a 2nd interview for the first job I interviewed for in Idaho is really pretty encouraging.
It helped that I heard an inspiring story yesterday. Someone who was diagnosed with terminal cancer 18 years ago. He's obviously still here. The day after he was diagnosed, 3 people called him about an experimental treatment program in California. His doctor said he wasn't a candidate. The doctor at the treatment program told him over the phone he wasn't either. So, he drove from Idaho to California and sat in front of the doctor at the treatment program and said if the doctor was going to take away his hope, he wanted him to do it in person, say it face to face. The doctor said if he can get his insurance to cover it, he was in. His insurance claim was initially denied and he called them every day for 3 weeks asking if they changed their mind. After 3 weeks, the newspaper published an article on the front page about a multi-million dollar lawsuit won against an insurance company that denied experimental treatment. He called his insurance company and said, read the paper.
God works in our lives, but still asks for some action on our part. All I can do is the very best with the actions that are put in front of me.
All day yesterday was consumed by chores and errands. Cruiser and Spit were both clingy and whining. Do you think they are bored? No wild animals, everything is peaceful and settled? I was tempted to take them for a car ride and teach them some gratitude.
Today is art day, no chores, no errands. Good luck to Dad with the big golf tournament!
Friday, September 10, 2010
2nd Interview
The SCORE councilor reminded me of meetup.com. Someone else told me about them when I was still in LA. The site includes local networking groups by theme or purpose. Boise has some really lame ones with 3 members and no artists groups, but they do have really big web design, Adobe Developers, Flash design, and graphic design groups. These would be good for finding some freelance.
I was nervous about my 2nd interview, which is unusual for me, and I felt a bit off. I went though this whole what to wear thing. I don't have very many choices because I have been poor and have not bought clothes and could get away with things that were old and casual at the last job. The good enough choices I have left need dry cleaning or shoes and the weather changed completely during the day yesterday. It was cold and raining in the morning, an hour before my interview it was clear and hot, by the interview it had cooled off again. Should I bother to dry clean the Summer suits I probably won't wear until next year? Should I wear a Summer suit and maybe be cold? Should I wear the Fall suit and be too warm? In the end I wore a skirt and a light sweater and a pair of the few decent shoes I have left and I was fine. I don't know if the nervousness caused the what to wear issue or the what to wear issue caused the nervousness. If I do get this job, I am buying some clothes, and I am really hoping there is not a 3rd interview.
The interview was with two people that work for the woman I interviewed last time, so they would be my peers. They were a bit more stiff and hard to read, but still pretty casual. The interview included more typical interview questions, rather than technical stuff about human services, which is good for me since I am new to the state. One question was, what would I do if they told me that the current interview is going badly? I've never experienced that question, but thought it was a good one. I said I would ask if there is anything that I can do to change that and that I would appreciate them giving me that feedback at the interview.
I presented my test, which was describing how I would re-engineer a process that I did not like. That went well and I used a work process I had already re-engineered with a sample. I think the interview went well in the end and they will make a decision next week. There is an issue with my references, they said that some of the numbers are disconnected. I think they are trying to call the video game companies I worked for that no longer exist. I have to include a phone number for every past employer on my application, so I used the numbers the companies had when they existed, even though they are all disconnected. I gave the manager a list of references at the first interview, but she appears to have delegated the calls to someone who is not using that list. I sent her an email about it today and we'll see what she says. Why they want to call 7 to 10 year old references, I don't know.
The lawnmower arrived and I cut the backyard grass yesterday afternoon. I started before my interview, to see if I could get rid of some of that nervousness, and finished afterward. It was really hard, the grass was still wet from the rain and was about 6 inches tall. I had to mow the whole yard 3 times and rake in between. I did not get a grass catcher, they are really unnecessary under normal circumstances, and only have a hand rake. I missed my real rake. It is not my best mowing job, but it's done. Today I am letting the grass dry out, it is sunny and clear today, and I will do the front and give the back another go over, although I am pretty sore from yesterday.
I am learning my way around Boise, but honestly I am not used to a small city, everything is closer together than I think that it should be and I keep passing places. I now have a list of addresses for places in my car, but I need to start pulling over when I see something and adding the address to my list. I don't know where things are that well, so I tend to go to place #1, across town to place #2, and all the way back across town to place #3, which is right next to place #1. For now, I see places I need when I am driving back and forth and learn the town, but it is a bit annoying.
Today I am going to the Boise Art Fair and starting a new list of chores and things I want to do.
I was nervous about my 2nd interview, which is unusual for me, and I felt a bit off. I went though this whole what to wear thing. I don't have very many choices because I have been poor and have not bought clothes and could get away with things that were old and casual at the last job. The good enough choices I have left need dry cleaning or shoes and the weather changed completely during the day yesterday. It was cold and raining in the morning, an hour before my interview it was clear and hot, by the interview it had cooled off again. Should I bother to dry clean the Summer suits I probably won't wear until next year? Should I wear a Summer suit and maybe be cold? Should I wear the Fall suit and be too warm? In the end I wore a skirt and a light sweater and a pair of the few decent shoes I have left and I was fine. I don't know if the nervousness caused the what to wear issue or the what to wear issue caused the nervousness. If I do get this job, I am buying some clothes, and I am really hoping there is not a 3rd interview.
The interview was with two people that work for the woman I interviewed last time, so they would be my peers. They were a bit more stiff and hard to read, but still pretty casual. The interview included more typical interview questions, rather than technical stuff about human services, which is good for me since I am new to the state. One question was, what would I do if they told me that the current interview is going badly? I've never experienced that question, but thought it was a good one. I said I would ask if there is anything that I can do to change that and that I would appreciate them giving me that feedback at the interview.
I presented my test, which was describing how I would re-engineer a process that I did not like. That went well and I used a work process I had already re-engineered with a sample. I think the interview went well in the end and they will make a decision next week. There is an issue with my references, they said that some of the numbers are disconnected. I think they are trying to call the video game companies I worked for that no longer exist. I have to include a phone number for every past employer on my application, so I used the numbers the companies had when they existed, even though they are all disconnected. I gave the manager a list of references at the first interview, but she appears to have delegated the calls to someone who is not using that list. I sent her an email about it today and we'll see what she says. Why they want to call 7 to 10 year old references, I don't know.
The lawnmower arrived and I cut the backyard grass yesterday afternoon. I started before my interview, to see if I could get rid of some of that nervousness, and finished afterward. It was really hard, the grass was still wet from the rain and was about 6 inches tall. I had to mow the whole yard 3 times and rake in between. I did not get a grass catcher, they are really unnecessary under normal circumstances, and only have a hand rake. I missed my real rake. It is not my best mowing job, but it's done. Today I am letting the grass dry out, it is sunny and clear today, and I will do the front and give the back another go over, although I am pretty sore from yesterday.
I am learning my way around Boise, but honestly I am not used to a small city, everything is closer together than I think that it should be and I keep passing places. I now have a list of addresses for places in my car, but I need to start pulling over when I see something and adding the address to my list. I don't know where things are that well, so I tend to go to place #1, across town to place #2, and all the way back across town to place #3, which is right next to place #1. For now, I see places I need when I am driving back and forth and learn the town, but it is a bit annoying.
Today I am going to the Boise Art Fair and starting a new list of chores and things I want to do.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
SCORE
On Tuesday I started to get worried. Probably because I was sleepy and because I was disappointed that I missed the deadline for the Boise Museum and Idaho wasn't calling me for a 2nd interview. The idea of being able to be a full time painter seemed far-fetched and crazy and I am going through money too fast.
First thing Wednesday morning, Idaho Health and Welfare called for a 2nd interview, that is this afternoon. Then I started worrying about being able to be a painter and continue what I want to do with that while working full time. It's always something with me.
At least I did not brood on it yesterday, probably because I wasn't sleepy. I also had my appointment with SCORE, which was a good practical start, but not the connection that I had hoped. I have work to do, licenses and such, and a business plan and a proposal to write, then I think I will go back and see someone else. The councilor gave me a great deal of practical information about starting a business in Idaho and I have a brochure and a website and it seems pretty easy and fees are low. I learned the tax advantages of having an LLC and that only costs me $75 more ($100) than an individual proprietorship and a fictitious business name is included. The sales tax and use permit is also free and maybe I can finally take advantage of not paying sales tax on my materials. There are no local permits that I need. The councilor gave me some advice about staying focused on a few directions, but not just one, and how long it might take to be profitable. I also need to set up some business records in Excel, including an inventory list. I am going to the Boise Art Fair this weekend, so I can ask people what they are doing and get some names and numbers, before I jump in to this stuff.
Idaho seems much more business friendly than California, but that's not hard to be.
The interview includes a test. I started it before I went to my appointment and came home and finished it last night. It wasn't hard, but I wanted it to be well thought out and I have to present something, so it took a few hours. I'm not sure if they are looking at my writing, or my thought processes, or my presentation abilities, so I covered all 3.
It rained yesterday and then cleared up in the afternoon for one of those spectacular sunsets and it looks like it is going to do that again today. If it does I am hoping to get a picture, since yesterday I was busy writing. I hope it is not raining for my interview, it is hard not to look rumpled in a suit with a raincoat after you walk through the rain, and I do not have the right shoes, but then I never have the right shoes.
Today's enlightenment topic is perfect for today, Boldness/Action with a passage called Lose This Day Loitering from Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,
Lose this day loitering - 'twill be the same story
To-morrow - and the next more dilatory;
Each indecision brings its own delays,
And days are lost lamenting o'er lost days,
Are you in earnest? seize this very minute -
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
Only engage, and then the mind grows heated -
Begin it, and then the work will be completed!
Seize the day, just do it, don't procrastinate. I like to start things, like a painting, first thing in the morning, before I have too much time to think about it. Too much thinking leads me to procrastination and doubt. I reviewed two websites to buy art supplies over the weekend and found what I wanted but worried about spending the money. Dick Blick was having a sale, so I finally ordered what I wanted on Monday and found out the sale ended Sunday. Waiting cost me $15. I seem to have lost some of the boldness that got me here.
Oh well, one day at a time, today is a new day.
First thing Wednesday morning, Idaho Health and Welfare called for a 2nd interview, that is this afternoon. Then I started worrying about being able to be a painter and continue what I want to do with that while working full time. It's always something with me.
At least I did not brood on it yesterday, probably because I wasn't sleepy. I also had my appointment with SCORE, which was a good practical start, but not the connection that I had hoped. I have work to do, licenses and such, and a business plan and a proposal to write, then I think I will go back and see someone else. The councilor gave me a great deal of practical information about starting a business in Idaho and I have a brochure and a website and it seems pretty easy and fees are low. I learned the tax advantages of having an LLC and that only costs me $75 more ($100) than an individual proprietorship and a fictitious business name is included. The sales tax and use permit is also free and maybe I can finally take advantage of not paying sales tax on my materials. There are no local permits that I need. The councilor gave me some advice about staying focused on a few directions, but not just one, and how long it might take to be profitable. I also need to set up some business records in Excel, including an inventory list. I am going to the Boise Art Fair this weekend, so I can ask people what they are doing and get some names and numbers, before I jump in to this stuff.
Idaho seems much more business friendly than California, but that's not hard to be.
The interview includes a test. I started it before I went to my appointment and came home and finished it last night. It wasn't hard, but I wanted it to be well thought out and I have to present something, so it took a few hours. I'm not sure if they are looking at my writing, or my thought processes, or my presentation abilities, so I covered all 3.
It rained yesterday and then cleared up in the afternoon for one of those spectacular sunsets and it looks like it is going to do that again today. If it does I am hoping to get a picture, since yesterday I was busy writing. I hope it is not raining for my interview, it is hard not to look rumpled in a suit with a raincoat after you walk through the rain, and I do not have the right shoes, but then I never have the right shoes.
Today's enlightenment topic is perfect for today, Boldness/Action with a passage called Lose This Day Loitering from Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,
Lose this day loitering - 'twill be the same story
To-morrow - and the next more dilatory;
Each indecision brings its own delays,
And days are lost lamenting o'er lost days,
Are you in earnest? seize this very minute -
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
Only engage, and then the mind grows heated -
Begin it, and then the work will be completed!
Seize the day, just do it, don't procrastinate. I like to start things, like a painting, first thing in the morning, before I have too much time to think about it. Too much thinking leads me to procrastination and doubt. I reviewed two websites to buy art supplies over the weekend and found what I wanted but worried about spending the money. Dick Blick was having a sale, so I finally ordered what I wanted on Monday and found out the sale ended Sunday. Waiting cost me $15. I seem to have lost some of the boldness that got me here.
Oh well, one day at a time, today is a new day.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Blueberries
Not getting enough sleep on Monday night messed up my whole day on Tuesday. I started another study and did enough to feel like I have not lost what I found at Dad's, went out and then felt really sleepy and came home and took a long nap, you know one of those naps where you sleep too long and still feel sleepy afterward. I went to bed early and feel better this morning. I am still up early every morning by 6:30 am at the latest, that's 5:30 for you in California, and it is still dark here.
The Boise museum called back, I missed the deadline for "Not Just a Pretty Face" by 2 weeks and am really disappointed. I sent them an email with my contact information for next year and some samples in case they are so impressed that they want to change their mind. My SCORE appointment is this afternoon, so I am working on my list of questions for them today. I started a list about doing business in Idaho, business licenses and taxes stuff, and a list about how to go about getting someone to sponsor my commission idea.
Around the corner are blueberries. Tom the mover told me a story about finding a guy on his property in Washington state picking blueberries in his underwear. The guy said he did it every year and Tom asked if he ever thought to ask if it was OK? So, I did not pick any of the blueberries, although it looks like someone got to these already. Hope it was the owner.
There are several junky properties around the neighborhood. Did the door need insulation or did it not close right? Oh, an old rug will do fine.
My friend posted pictures of my Tuesday night women's coffee friends and I am feeling like I am missing something, so I need some enlightenment. The next topic is Communication with a poem called A Poison Tree by William Blake,
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe;
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I water'd it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with my smiles
And with soft deceitful wiles.
William Blake is one more artist and poet that lived his life on the edge of poverty, was ignored by his peers, and died in neglect. His work is admired now, almost two hundred years later, but I find the repetitiveness of this scenario disturbing. I like the poem, how often we hold our resentment and foster it until it grows into something consuming, a poison tree. I'm sure there is some lesson for me in the poem about how to deal with noisy, karaoke playing neighbors, but I will have to work on it. I always have a problem with one of these kind of neighbors and if there is some life lesson that I need to learn that keeps causing this same issue to come up, I would like to learn it and get the lesson over. Maybe the lesson is communication.
The art fair starts Friday and I am looking forward to it. It looks like rain has moved to Thursday and it will be sunny Friday. The weather is funny here, not the same every day for weeks like California, some days it's hot and stays warm all evening, sometimes it really cools off by morning and takes all day to warm up, sometimes it changes 15 degrees from one day to the next. Lately it is super dry and I am not used to it, this is like Vegas most of the time, so I am thirsty all the time and not in the habit of taking water around with me. I hope I adjust by Winter, since if it is like Vegas it will get even drier.
The Boise museum called back, I missed the deadline for "Not Just a Pretty Face" by 2 weeks and am really disappointed. I sent them an email with my contact information for next year and some samples in case they are so impressed that they want to change their mind. My SCORE appointment is this afternoon, so I am working on my list of questions for them today. I started a list about doing business in Idaho, business licenses and taxes stuff, and a list about how to go about getting someone to sponsor my commission idea.
Around the corner are blueberries. Tom the mover told me a story about finding a guy on his property in Washington state picking blueberries in his underwear. The guy said he did it every year and Tom asked if he ever thought to ask if it was OK? So, I did not pick any of the blueberries, although it looks like someone got to these already. Hope it was the owner.
There are several junky properties around the neighborhood. Did the door need insulation or did it not close right? Oh, an old rug will do fine.
My friend posted pictures of my Tuesday night women's coffee friends and I am feeling like I am missing something, so I need some enlightenment. The next topic is Communication with a poem called A Poison Tree by William Blake,
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe;
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I water'd it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with my smiles
And with soft deceitful wiles.
William Blake is one more artist and poet that lived his life on the edge of poverty, was ignored by his peers, and died in neglect. His work is admired now, almost two hundred years later, but I find the repetitiveness of this scenario disturbing. I like the poem, how often we hold our resentment and foster it until it grows into something consuming, a poison tree. I'm sure there is some lesson for me in the poem about how to deal with noisy, karaoke playing neighbors, but I will have to work on it. I always have a problem with one of these kind of neighbors and if there is some life lesson that I need to learn that keeps causing this same issue to come up, I would like to learn it and get the lesson over. Maybe the lesson is communication.
The art fair starts Friday and I am looking forward to it. It looks like rain has moved to Thursday and it will be sunny Friday. The weather is funny here, not the same every day for weeks like California, some days it's hot and stays warm all evening, sometimes it really cools off by morning and takes all day to warm up, sometimes it changes 15 degrees from one day to the next. Lately it is super dry and I am not used to it, this is like Vegas most of the time, so I am thirsty all the time and not in the habit of taking water around with me. I hope I adjust by Winter, since if it is like Vegas it will get even drier.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Karaoke
Gee, I was going to take Labor Day off from blogging, but now I am awake against my will. I wish Mad Men was on, hey maybe it is.
It has been a funky Sunday and Monday, I think I feel in-between lives. I start something, get distracted, try to get something done and then have the wrong part, can't find the place, it went on and on. I checked the furnace filter, honestly because it was cold this morning, and there are two pieces of that stuff you cut to fit, except neither fits. So, I go to Home Depot, with a list of other stuff, too, buy a filter, it doesn't fit, so I check on line and the filter came with the furnace and you are supposed to clean it, not replace it. That filter appears to be long gone.
Then I decide to print some of my work to take to my SCORE appointment and I need printer ink and Target is completely out. I checked printer ink out the last time I was at CostCo and they had some that they said lasts twice as long for twice the price and I thought that was a con, so I didn't buy it.
I went to cook some of the fish that I bought at CostCo, Mahi Mahi, and the stove is missing the broiler pan. I already fixed that drawer thing at the base of the stove because it was not on it's track, it was just kind of laying on the floor, so I know it's not in there. So I look at Target for a broiler pan and they only have an expensive enameled one. I seasoned the fish and fried it in a pan on the stove and it wasn't too bad, but I need to be able to broil.
The neighbor behind me started playing music on his outdoor speakers at 9:30 am this morning, which was another reason for the errands, still going when I got back, so I went for a walk. If I walk from my house away from the main street and through the neighborhoods, it takes me to a walking path to the parks. I heard about it, but today I went to check it out. I got home and it was past time for the Boise State football game to start, and this is now what is going on the outdoor speakers, except now it is a party with screaming kids and hooting fans.
So, since it was practically already on in my house, I watched parts of the Boise State versus Virginia Tech game. Virginia Tech has the most gaudy, loud, busy, ugly uniforms I have ever seen, all the way down to red-orange shoes with black socks. Boise State was winning 17-0 by the end of the 1st quarter, lost their lead by the 4th quarter, and then came back with a touchdown in the last minutes of the game to win it. I don't care for football, but that was a good game.
I heard if you live in Idaho, you have to be a Boise State fan, and something about Boise State football is on the cover of every sports section in the Idaho Statesman newspaper. There is some controversy and I am still not sure what it is, but this is from Wikipedia,
The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in the Western Athletic Conference. In June 2010, it was announced that the Broncos will join the Mountain West Conference for the 2011 season. The program is best known for its 2006 season, in which it posted a 13–0 WAC Championship season capped by an overtime win in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma Sooners. The 2009 season, capped off with a win over the previously unbeaten TCU Horned Frogs in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, saw the Broncos become the second team in major-college history to finish a season at 14–0. It is also well known for the blue turf of Bronco Stadium, first installed in 1986, which some have nicknamed "The Smurf Turf". In 2010, Boise State achieved their highest preseason ranking in history as the Associated Press ranked the Broncos as the 3rd best team in the country.
So, games over, but the party is not. Just after 10, the speakers finally go off and I take my earplugs out and get a few minutes of peace. Then the karaoke starts. Very, very loud, very, very bad singing. My bedroom faces this horror, so from my window I tried yelling that they sucked. I tried howling. Not even a pause.
I moved to Boise for a quieter life, and this does not include karaoke behind my house at 11 pm, but I don't need to be calling the police and making a noise complaint after being here for only two weeks. By now it is after 11 pm. I look up the number and I call the non-emergency one. I get someone who says, you mean like karaoke?! She sounds mortified. Then she says someone has already complained and the officer should be there about now. I was so grateful that at least one of my neighbors complained first, I always seem to be the only one complaining about something that I am amazed anyone could tolerate.
It's quiet. Safe to go to sleep.
It has been a funky Sunday and Monday, I think I feel in-between lives. I start something, get distracted, try to get something done and then have the wrong part, can't find the place, it went on and on. I checked the furnace filter, honestly because it was cold this morning, and there are two pieces of that stuff you cut to fit, except neither fits. So, I go to Home Depot, with a list of other stuff, too, buy a filter, it doesn't fit, so I check on line and the filter came with the furnace and you are supposed to clean it, not replace it. That filter appears to be long gone.
Then I decide to print some of my work to take to my SCORE appointment and I need printer ink and Target is completely out. I checked printer ink out the last time I was at CostCo and they had some that they said lasts twice as long for twice the price and I thought that was a con, so I didn't buy it.
I went to cook some of the fish that I bought at CostCo, Mahi Mahi, and the stove is missing the broiler pan. I already fixed that drawer thing at the base of the stove because it was not on it's track, it was just kind of laying on the floor, so I know it's not in there. So I look at Target for a broiler pan and they only have an expensive enameled one. I seasoned the fish and fried it in a pan on the stove and it wasn't too bad, but I need to be able to broil.
The neighbor behind me started playing music on his outdoor speakers at 9:30 am this morning, which was another reason for the errands, still going when I got back, so I went for a walk. If I walk from my house away from the main street and through the neighborhoods, it takes me to a walking path to the parks. I heard about it, but today I went to check it out. I got home and it was past time for the Boise State football game to start, and this is now what is going on the outdoor speakers, except now it is a party with screaming kids and hooting fans.
So, since it was practically already on in my house, I watched parts of the Boise State versus Virginia Tech game. Virginia Tech has the most gaudy, loud, busy, ugly uniforms I have ever seen, all the way down to red-orange shoes with black socks. Boise State was winning 17-0 by the end of the 1st quarter, lost their lead by the 4th quarter, and then came back with a touchdown in the last minutes of the game to win it. I don't care for football, but that was a good game.
I heard if you live in Idaho, you have to be a Boise State fan, and something about Boise State football is on the cover of every sports section in the Idaho Statesman newspaper. There is some controversy and I am still not sure what it is, but this is from Wikipedia,
The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in the Western Athletic Conference. In June 2010, it was announced that the Broncos will join the Mountain West Conference for the 2011 season. The program is best known for its 2006 season, in which it posted a 13–0 WAC Championship season capped by an overtime win in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma Sooners. The 2009 season, capped off with a win over the previously unbeaten TCU Horned Frogs in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, saw the Broncos become the second team in major-college history to finish a season at 14–0. It is also well known for the blue turf of Bronco Stadium, first installed in 1986, which some have nicknamed "The Smurf Turf". In 2010, Boise State achieved their highest preseason ranking in history as the Associated Press ranked the Broncos as the 3rd best team in the country.
So, games over, but the party is not. Just after 10, the speakers finally go off and I take my earplugs out and get a few minutes of peace. Then the karaoke starts. Very, very loud, very, very bad singing. My bedroom faces this horror, so from my window I tried yelling that they sucked. I tried howling. Not even a pause.
I moved to Boise for a quieter life, and this does not include karaoke behind my house at 11 pm, but I don't need to be calling the police and making a noise complaint after being here for only two weeks. By now it is after 11 pm. I look up the number and I call the non-emergency one. I get someone who says, you mean like karaoke?! She sounds mortified. Then she says someone has already complained and the officer should be there about now. I was so grateful that at least one of my neighbors complained first, I always seem to be the only one complaining about something that I am amazed anyone could tolerate.
It's quiet. Safe to go to sleep.
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