Idaho History

Arthur Hart writes an Idaho history column that is the Idaho Statesman newspaper every Sunday. They are on-line, here's the link,

http://www.idahostatesman.com/history/

The columns are great and if you check it out, don't miss the historical photo galleries and the handlebar mustached Idaho Militia in the late 1880s.

I received an appointment for an unemployment insurance interview yesterday and I received the claim form today for the past two weeks. My interview is not until a week from next Monday and I am not sure why I have the claim form already. The claim form says a continued claim. That's weird. At least California is efficient about making EDD appointments and sending claim forms.

Everyone I meet is complaining about the weather. It seems warmer to me, in the 40s during the day and usually the sun comes out. I don't know if it is the slightly warmer temperature, or no snow on the ground, or more nature going on in the backyard, but the cats want to go out all the time and they are lingering. Both case the perimeter of the yard, pounce on what seems to be something imaginary, and then stand near the leaf pile and stare. I figure there must be more bug and worm activity going on to amuse them.

I broke down and bought two already made frames from Fast Frame this afternoon that work with two paintings. These were easier to put together myself than the other ones I keep trying to make work and I got those done this afternoon. (Getting these done means cleaning the glass, putting the mat, painting, backing in, and adding the picture wire.) I have two paintings that look OK in the frames I keep trying to make work, but I'm still not happy with them. Remind me never to try to be a framer. Me and the woman at Fast Frame are practically best friends.

You know the story about God sending a boat and a helicopter? The kid tells it at the end of the Pursuit of Happyness. There is a flood and a guy is trapped on the roof of his house and he asks God to save him. A guy comes by on a boat and the trapped guy waives him off saying God will save him. A guy comes by in a helicopter and the trapped guy waives him off saying God will save him. Then the trapped guy drowns. When he gets to heaven, he asks God why he didn't save him and God says, I sent you a boat and helicopter, dummy. When I think about my last kriya experience, I think there are some parts missing to the story. There is really some help offered that you should turn down, like the guy in the leaking boat or the lecherous helicopter pilot who looks like he's not going to take you anywhere you want to go.

Week 4 of the Artist's Way includes no reading. No reading?! How can you go through a day without reading? It makes me think about how much I read, mail, recipes, street signs. I'm going to try it for a day and at least refrain from reading Internet news, but I have to read job listings. I'm sure the point is an awareness of how much I distract myself with reading, and boy, cruising the Internet can be a real time-waster, but I do not think it is really an issue for me. I bet one of the coming weeks includes no TV. TV is a bigger time waster than reading, and much easier to give up.