I said if Youre thinkin of Being my brother It dont matter if you're black or white

Went to the FrontSteps art show for the ARCH program in Austin on my birthday. It is art produced by homeless people to raise money for training and vehicles. It was interesting. Outside of the facility, I met a man named D. Birch who had a special relationship with God and a tree.





























Further down the street I met a group of friends who were willing to let me photograph them so I could practice on my new F-1 old school Canon. They were patient.



It was a good day. I hope to attend their art show again next year. I did buy a piece of art, by an artist named Zebra. She has pieces that are really bright and energetic. Every person I encountered seemed to be full of ideas and stories and were all eager to connect. It was a little surreal, in the same moment that I was a part of something big, I was also just the observer. I felt lucky to be observing and energized to paint. I also wanted so badly to spend hours recording stories, taking portraits, and meeting more people. Still, by the end of the afternoon I was totally spent.

So bye-bye, miss american pie. Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye,

Singin’, "this’ll be the day that I die.
"this’ll be the day that I die."

Did you write the book of love,
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock ’n roll,
Can music save your mortal soul,
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?


TODAY I MUST VOTE.

–noun
1. a formal expression of opinion or choice, either positive or negative, made by an individual or body of individuals.
2. the means by which such expression is made, as a ballot, ticket, etc.
3. the right to such expression: to give women the vote.
4. the decision reached by voting, as by a majority of ballots cast: The vote was for the resolution.
5. a collective expression of will as inferred from a number of votes: the labor vote.
6. an expression, as of some judgment: a vote of confidence.
–verb (used without object)
7. to express or signify will or choice in a matter, as by casting a ballot: to vote for president.
–verb (used with object)
8. to enact, establish, or determine by vote: to vote a proposed bill into law.
9. to support by one's vote: to vote the Republican ticket.
10. to advocate by or as by one's vote: to vote that the report be accepted.
11. to declare or decide by general consent: They voted the trip a success.
12. to encourage or cause to vote, esp. in a particular way.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME (n.) < L vōtum a vow


VOW. I want my vote to matter.

Do I vote for the guy that will improve my job immediately, or do I vote for the guy that may improve my job eventually?

I am not sure I will even have my job by the time that change could begin. It feels stifling to consider working in the same place for 35 years, even with deployments and possible (but not highly likely) promotions.

In an age of disappointment, doubt, pain, loneliness, fear, shame, pride, arrogance, willful ignorance, and general confusion, how is it reasonable or even possible to make a leap of faith that requires contemplating a 35 year away hope?

A coworker and lawyer advised me to trust my instinct. I don't understand my instincts. What if they are biased? What if I vote for someone just because of their gender and not because they are publicly coherent? What if I vote for someone just because they are publicly coherent and ignore other publicly questionable behaviors and ideological commitments? What if my instincts say "Vote for Ralph, he recycles!"? Sure, I will be able to say that I voted, and that I do like Nader, but my vote will no longer count. Last night, my significant other suggested that unless you vote for one of the major candidates, the vote is pointless.

I know that Prop 8 is a defining issue for all sorts of people who are loud and proud on both sides of the issue. I have so many close, beloved friends who are both vehemently pro Prop 8 and just as many against it. I cannot make a vow, cast a vote on this issue. Abortion is a defining issue for others. Same problem- I cannot make a vow, or cast a vote on this issue. I guess at the end of the day, it boils down to economics- my quandary of improving now or potentially improving later...

One candidate ardently speaks of faith, that we can come together as a culture and make changes and solve problems and work together. I cannot even do this cleanly and with bright shining hope within my own thinking. I have no faith that as a nation we can do this any better. I have no faith that either of the men running for office are skilled enough or wise enough or good enough to lead us into peace and success. I think Jesus could, but then there is that whole issue of Separation of Church and State (the law that says that a religious leader cannot control the government and that the government cannot take away your choice for private practices, which also does not suggest that the government is not inherently based on religious values and needs).

All the public sycophancy cannot save us in the end. Instincts are inherently biased, in ways we cannot even detect. God is impartial and loves us all in the end. We can buy the confabulations, and strut around claiming profound alignment and association and representation. We are human, we love to be right. What happens when nothing IS right, accept what we invent. How do we proceed then? How do we proceed then? What promise can we make with our hearts and souls with clean, clear, unbiased conscience?

VOW.

TODAY I MUST VOTE.

STOP! In the name of LOVE

Customer Service Request For Contact

Nature of Inquiry (drop down list): Why am I receiving this magazine?
Description of problem:
I am currently horrified about receiving Field and Stream magazine.

1. I am an alive/non wounded/not hunted animal lover.
2. I abhor violence.
3. I would never pay for a publication.
4. I did not request this, nor do I appreciate it.
5. MAKE IT STOP, for the love of ALL that is GREEN and allergic to violence.

/end rant.

Come in she said I'll give ya Shelter from the Storm

Hurricane DOLLY has managed to dump water in big piles all over. There are small breaks between the rain. I stepped outside between the first break to capture the moment. Today we had to keep the kids in the halls because of the tornadoes. They let school out early. I got my flat tire from last night fixed, the one that I got from a nail in the parking lot in the rain. Good times. Fortunately, I got a tire warranty, so they didn't charge me a thing.

With a little help from my friends...

Today when I came home from work, I was busy trying to decide what to do with my life and calling people about their opinion of a particular opportunity. I randomly glanced out the window to see water pouring out of my lawn and into my street. My water meter was actively leaking. It was only about 25 minutes of me watering the street before someone helped me turn it off, and only 1.5 hours before the plumber arrived. I know you are jealous.

When everything feels like the movies, Yeah, you bleed just to know your alive

Got my car back after 44 days. Had a cracked windshield and an expired registration, needed two rear tires and an oil change. Got that all in order and had a whole day of rest on Sunday. On Monday I was feeling bored with life and decided to develop a fever and grow myself an abscess. Today, I went for impromptu surgery to have it "fixed". To make life more entertaining, I am currently walking like a gimpy sumo.

So much fun, so little time.

Summertime and the livin's easy....

This was the package our "supplies" for class came in.
Good times.

Classes start today. 5 hours of English in the morning with 16 kids and 2.5 hours of Government in the afternoon with 18 kids.
It is ok to be jealous.

It's been a hard day's night and I've been workin like a dog...

I should be sleepin like a log...

Summer school starts at 7 am, ready or not- here it comes. I have to go in early to make copies.

Today, at half price books I met polygamists for the very first time (at least in public and when it was obvious that they were practicing). They were dressed exactly like the media has portrayed the FLDS people from that ranch in that remote part of Texas. They were wearing long underwear, even the girls, under their dresses in the 100 degree heat. They drove an old and obviously used and self painted grey sedan.



They were looking for a book (incidentally I went book shopping and then planner shopping). They happened to also show up at Barnes and Noble across the intersection from half price books. I snapped a shot, but didn't want to be obnoxious and take a closer one, so it is hard to see.

The mother is wearing a purple dress that was made out of courderoy. Both girls were wearing cotton and dad was dressed Amish-ish. I smiled and said hi and wished them luck after answering their question about a different possible bookstore (they overheard that I was a teacher while searching for my discount card behind me in line at the first book store).

It took a while to register to me that they were practicing polygamists. They were timid, seemingly fragile people. I wished I had a business card to give to the wife in case she ever needed anything. I couldn't think fast enough for it to not be rude or awkward for me to offer her info. They are in my thoughts and heart tonight.

I've followed the media reporting, via Cnn.com and MSNBC.com. I can't explain why I've wanted to pay so much attention to this case.

I do believe that the women have been historically and traditionally phyiscally, sexually, and mentally abused and forced into a lifestyle and system of thinking that is difficult, if not impossible, to recover from. I wish they had an opportunity to go out into the real world for a year to experience life before they were eligible for marriage. I am worried about that wife and her two daughters. I do not know their names or if they were just passing through San Antonio or anything. Please pray for those babies.

For the Beauty of the Earth...

Genesis claims that God created the earth and it was "good".
He made the sky and the sun and the water and the plants. They were all good.

We are stewards over our little sphere of influence.

Here is my first harvest- small, simple, but mine-and good!