Rally to Perpetuate Anger

It was not my intention to make this a political blog. My intention was to document my own spiritual journey and communicate with my family and friends during a time when I would often be out of touch. At some point I thought I might start a separate blog of research papers about what is really going on in America today, including the abuses I saw while working in public service in California, but I just do not have time for that now. But I spent yesterday being angry and depressed and I am going to get some of that off my chest, so I can move on.

Yesterday I had an exchange of words on Facebook about the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear hosted by comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. This was following a post of a Youtube cartoon that was supposed to be making fun of the uninformed voter, but the supposed uninformed voter was a Tea Party Patriot, portrayed as a repetitive moron, trying to explain how our freedoms are in jeopardy.

Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnUfPQVOqpw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I have not been paying much attention to the rally. I thought it was a response to Glen Beck's rally, but my brother explained that it was an inside joke and I have to watch The Colbert Report to get it. Oh OK, so it is a rally that is an inside joke making fun of another group's beliefs and accusing them of being angry, fearful, and insane.

Here's the summary about the rally from www.keepfearalive.com,

"America, the Greatest Country God ever gave Man, was built on three bedrock principles: Freedom. Liberty. And Fear — that someone might take our Freedom and Liberty. But now, there are dark, optimistic forces trying to take away our Fear — forces with salt and pepper hair and way more Emmys than they need. They want to replace our Fear with reason. But never forget — “Reason” is just one letter away from “Treason.” Coincidence? Reasonable people would say it is, but America can’t afford to take that chance.

So join The Rev. Sir Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A. on October 30th for the “March to Keep Fear Alive“™ in Washington DC. Pack an overnight bag with five extra sets of underwear — you’re going to need them. Because, to Restore Truthiness we must always… Shh!!! What’s that sound?! I think there’s someone behind you! Run!"

There also seemed to be an element of the rally that participants were against all of the nasty politics shown in this election and just getting together to be happy and laugh and have a good time.

I don't watch Jon Stewart. Maybe he's funny if he's not making fun of what you believe in and maybe if he's not making fun of what you believe in you can perceive him as politically neutral. I did watch some of his show with President Obama, which mostly made me feel like the decay of American society had finally reached its bottom. The President of the United States has now appeared on Jay Leno, The View, and Jon Stewart. He left an expensive fund-raising dinner to scoop dog poop. This shows such a disrespect for the responsibility and significance of being President of the United States that it is shocking to me.

How did soldiers in Afganistan, who might even have the time to watch Obama on Jon Stewart, feel about the Commander in Chief voluntarily appearing as the butt of jokes as they risk their lives? What did terrorists in Yemen think as they watched the leader of the free world, the Nobel-prize-winning champion of peace, so desperate for votes that he allowed himself to look weaker on television than the host of a comedy show?

Stephen Colbert spoke to Congress last September, which I thought was more of the bottom. Is Congress now the place for political farce? Are taxpayers paying Congressional leaders to sit around and listen to someone mock them? Isn't anyone who thought this was a good idea considering the condition of the economy insane or at the very least, out of touch?

The world is in the Next Great Depression. Without unemployment benefits, Food Stamps, and Social Security, this depression would look just like the last one. Real unemployment is 20%. Record numbers of people are taking early Social Security retirement. One out of 7 people receives Food Stamps, so without the existence of Food Stamps, we would see bread lines like we did in the 1930s. These are programs put in place since the last Great Depression, so one could say these are successful programs that are preventing another Great Depression, but how is America paying for these? What happens when America can't pay anymore? Is this somehow funny, a joke?

I changed careers and took another job for 1/3 of my previous salary. I lost my house and gave away or sold half of what I owned. I quit a job partly because it was robbing me of my soul and partly because I could not afford to live where the job was. I have student loan debt I don't know how I will ever pay back. If I do not find some kind of income in the next few months, I can say good-bye to one more dream. I took responsibility for my part, I am self-supporting by my own contributions today, and my experience was really painful. Is this somehow funny, a joke?

My opinions, or ideas, today about how my government can get out of interfering with every tiny piece of my life and making me pay for it are based not only on being informed and educated, but on painful experience. A rally to make fun of those opinions is not funny, although it does appear to have successfully kept me angry for a day.

Today I am going to get out my Best of Johnny Carson DVDs (thanks John and Jen!) and remember when comedy was really funny and not mean. By tomorrow I hope to be back to spirituality or at least get my sense of humor back.

Haircut

Yesterday afternoon I went out to buy Winter gloves and the sun was out and it was 64 degrees, which felt really warm. Funny how much difference a few degrees can make after you start getting used to cold.

This morning I went to the grocery store early. I finished my shopping and was coming around the aisle towards the check stands and there was a checker standing there looking for the next customer. We were both singing along to the piped in music, City of New Orleans sung by Arlo Guthrie had just started. What is it about that song that makes you want to sing along?

My haircut is a success, which is a great relief, I feel 5 pounds lighter and I can see again.

It was nice to get out yesterday, but I am behind in job applying, which is super boring, so I will go on to the next enlightenment topic, Soul Center with a passage from Moby Dick by Herman Melville,

"For as this appalling ocean surrounds the verdant land, so in the soul of man there lies one insular Tahiti, full of peace and joy, but encompassed by all of the horrors of the half-lived life."

It is somewhat reassuring that "the half-lived life" or a life held back by fear and practical needs was as much of a concern to Melville in the 19th century as it is to me. I always imagine the 19th century as more free with less of the limitations of society and more unexplored territory, but maybe this is idealistic. The author encourages me to "start living your life with the courage to step ashore and experience your insular Tahiti." I think I am here in Idaho to get closer to being able to experience my soul center and live a life, but it is pretty hard. No matter how full of peace and joy I am, singing to Arlo Guthrie in the grocery store, that financial fear is always hanging around.

Applying for Jobs

Yesterday was apply-for-jobs day and today will be mostly the same. In between applying for jobs today I finally get to have my haircut, I can't see through my bangs anymore. I hope this is not too traumatic. Tonight I am meeting Leslie in Hyde Park for dinner at the 3rd Street Bar and Grill. They have a great outdoor patio, but unless they have super heaters, I doubt we will be sitting on it. Leslie is newer to Boise than me, but things did not work out for her and she is going back to Washington next week.

My allergies are really bothering me and if the theme for month 2 was adjusting to a new home, I think the theme for month 3 is going to be adjusting to pollens and climate.

Two guys came late yesterday, it was almost dark, and blew out the sprinklers for Winter. The landlord sent them, so I guess I don't have to deal with this myself. They take some kind of blower attached to their truck and blow the water out of the sprinkler system so the pipes do not explode when they freeze. One of the guys told me to leave the sprinkler timer off and they will be back, probably in May, to start them up again. May?! That made the Winter seem really long, but he said there is usually enough Spring rain to not need the sprinklers until May.

Yesterday I signed up for an Arts Idaho workshop next week, November 3 and 4, on the business side of being an artist. First Friday at the gallery is November 5, so this keeps me focused on art, out of trouble, and meeting people for 3 whole days.

Today's enlightenment topic is Perfection, with a poem by Robert Browning,

The year's at the spring,
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hill-side's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in his Heaven—
All's right with the world!

Wow, Spring seems really far away. I planted some Crocus bulbs, but they will not come up until February and the Mum that I have in a pot on the front porch is on it's last week. I'm wondering what to replace the Mum with, maybe a pumpkin. Anyway, the morning is still beautiful here. This morning we had a sunrise with red reflected on gray clouds and the wind rustling through fall leaves, which are starting to cover the streets and my backyard. The evenings are perfect, too. In the last two weeks I've seen two shooting stars. The moon is bright, even as only a half moon, and I can see Orion, which looks bigger here, every night from my backyard. One benefit of the cold is that it is super quiet, all the noisemakers are indoors. I like quiet.

Puffy Clouds, Snow, and Fall Color

The heater vents are in the floor here. Cruiser still does not like the heater, but he is not crying about it so much and yesterday afternoon I caught him curled up next to the heater vent in the livingroom. I think that may get to be a favorite spot. Both cats are now fluffy with thick Winter fur and on top of still being chubby they both look like their heads are too small, little faces sticking out of a fluff ball. Cruiser's chin is now almost healed.

The rain stopped long enough yesterday afternoon for me to get to the Post Office and on the way I was treated to puffy clouds over snow dusted hills and Fall color,




I suppose a bit of cold and rain is a small price to pay for that view.

I suggested a restaurant to my friend for dinner Thursday, but I could not remember the name, so after the Post Office I went over to Hyde Park to find it. When I got there I don't think that was snow falling on me, but it was pretty darn close.

One way to combat the cold is to bake. Not only does using the oven warm up the kitchen, but the good smell takes over the inability to open the windows and air out the house. Last night I made oatmeal cookies, not only to warm up the house, but to satisfy the sweet tooth that now goes with my higher metabolism.

I had a bit of trouble with Ludo's eyes, working so small, but this seems worthy of a larger painting,


CostCo has an emergency food kit on sale here, 275 servings in a bucket for $75. Is this for sale just in Idaho, or all over? I can see the survivalist crowd in Idaho being interested in this kind of thing, but I think it is a weird thing to have on sale at CostCo.

Cruiser has now won the battle over the computer desk.

Immortality

Yesterday's high was 57, low was 45. Today's high is predicted to be 50, low 30. It is really cold here and it seemed colder yesterday, but maybe I'm just getting used to it. I am already developing a heater up and down and binds open and shut routine. I miss having a programmable thermostat. I turn the heat down at night and close the blinds to keep the heat in, then turn the heat up and open the blinds in the morning. Maybe I should keep the blinds closed all day, but I am too claustrophobic and the cats need a view.

I did not realize until I watched the John Adams miniseries that those drapes people used to have around their fourposter bed were to keep the heat in while they were sleeping. I would settle for drapes on the windows, those cheap mini blinds are not cutting it here.

I finished the study of Ludo, but can't photograph it until I have more daylight, so I will post that tomorrow. Then I started a larger painting of the Cowboys and a study of the Narrows in Zion.

This morning I wrote an email to Dan Loughrey, Republican candidate for Idaho State Representative. I wanted to complain about Idaho's property tax on personal property used for a business, which I think is excessive and anti-business. California doesn't even have that kind of tax. I sent him my resume, too, while I was at it. He sent a prompt personal response. The Idaho business property tax has been in the legislature's bullseye for several years now. Good. He did not send a job offer, but he hasn't been elected yet.

It's probably a good time for some enlightenment. The next topic is Immortality with a poem by Emily Dickinson that the author calls The Single Hound,

THIS quiet Dust was Gentlemen and Ladies,
And Lads and Girls;
Was laughter and ability and sighing,
And frocks and curls.
This passive place a Summer’s nimble mansion,
Where Bloom and Bees
Fulfilled their Oriental Circuit,
Then ceased like these.

This poem is actually one of a collection of poems published in sections, each with a theme, and is poem number 74 in Part Five: The Single Hound. The Single Hound is the name of the section, not the poem. Emily Dickinson wrote close to 2,000 poems in her lifetime while she lived, according to the author, a "reclusive life dominated by a stern Calvinist father." Few of her poems were published during her lifetime. I seem to be more interested in the story of the writer when I read these topics than the enlightenment message.

We are spiritual beings taking temporary human form, then we will be dust again. I wonder if Emily really thought this, or if she was ever grateful that her father supported her so she could shut herself in her room and write poems all day. Dust or not, Emily Dickinson now lives on in her poems, while the father that made it possible is described as dominating and stern and somehow responsible for Emily's seclusion. I suppose we have no control over how we are remembered, and it doesn't matter because we are going to be dust anyway, or are we immortal? Too confusing and too morbid for me today. Anyone want to support me while I sit around and paint all day?

Fall Leaves

On every street in Boise there is at least one tree in amazing Fall color. On Friday and Saturday in the late afternoon I went to Katheryn Anderson Park and took pictures. I went with the short lens on Friday for long shots and the long lens on Saturday for close ups of leaves.




Every photographer in Boise appeared to be at the park taking pictures of families and kids. All are taking formal posed pictures of dressed up uncomfortable looking kids and I kept thinking about why a painting would be better. Do you just want to remember what your kids looked like, or do you want a memory, to remember what they were like? It was a beautiful setting for a photo, though, and I was glad to see there is a big market in Boise for family photography. One of those families has to want a painting.



I want to do a series of leaves paintings, like the one I did that I gave away, and there is plenty of material around here.



It has been mostly gloomy and cold and raining for the last 2 days, which is making me think that painting bright colored leaves through Winter might be a good idea.

Cruiser insisted on going out last night in the cold and rain and hopped around as if he was chasing something, except that there wasn't anything there. Maybe he was chasing his reflection in the puddles. Every morning he lays on my arm as I try to type on the computer and this morning I had the chance to see that he now has a lump on his chin, only his has a scab. This is not keeping him from purring like mad and shedding all over the desk. Cruiser on the desk gives Spit the opportunity to have the fuzzy blanket on the couch downstairs all to herself. Sometimes they share it, but sometimes they fight over it. Fall is not over and it already feels like it is going to be a long Winter. Fortunately I have plenty to paint, and to write.

The Sawtooth Mountains

Last Thursday I took a day trip to the Sawtooth Mountains. I went Southeast and then North from Boise to Idaho City. Right before Idaho City the stupid warning light went on in my car telling me it was below 37 degrees, but by the time I left Idaho City it had warmed up enough for the light to go off and it stayed off for the rest of the day. Idaho City looks pretty much like it did in the 1880s,



Mr. Dog watched me park and seemed to be really hoping I would let him outside.

Then I went North to Lowman and East to Stanley (elevation 6300 feet.) This is the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Route and that is what the drive was, pine tree after pine tree after pine tree. The Fall color is mostly in the underbrush and there were a few hills covered with dots of yellow, but not much color. There was a long stretch where there had been a fire and where tall blackened sticks stood up over desolate ground and this made me think of The Road again. I seem to be haunted by that movie.

One problem with day trips is that you end up at your destination mid-day and this is not the best time of day for picture taking. I read that Redfish Lake Lodge is one of the best places to view the Sawtooths, but I think the best view is in the morning. I was looking West at the mountains and into the sun and looking West in the morning, with the sun rising behind me would have been a better picture. This is the Sawtooths right before Stanley,


This is from Redfish Lake Lodge,


Redfish Lake Lodge closed for the season on October 9. It was not cold (after Idaho City) and a beautiful day on Thursday, but I hardly saw a soul all day and most of the lodging and restaurants were closed. I would love to go back and stay at Redfish Lake Lodge and get those morning pictures, they have several packages with hiking, biking, and riding. They re-open in May.

You can see where the Sawtooths got their name, they are really jagged and steep. I could even see this from the views of the Sawtooths from Craters of the Moon.

This is another side of Redfish Lake, look at that clear, clear water,



This is on my way back out of Stanley,



There was a big fire and by the time I got back to Boise, the smoke was hanging over the city. That wood fence went on for miles and miles and it looked like work to put up and maintain. I figured it had to be pretty old, but I did not see one rail out of place and I did not see any barbed wire on the entire drive.

On my way back, I went through Lowman, but then I kept going West to Banks and then South down to Boise. This takes the same amount of time and I thought I would see something different, and this part of the drive I saw more farm houses, less pine trees (what a relief), and more color. This is Crouch,


Even Crouch had done the same thing as everyone else and tried to build a planned community that was now mostly empty.

After Crouch my allergies started to kick in on top of my cold and I was glad to get home. I think my 3rd month review is going to be about adjusting to the climate and the pollens.

A storm came in this morning and is supposed to last through Tuesday. The weatherman does not predict snow for Boise, but I bet that drive I just took will be covered with snow soon.