This blogger definitely has a backbone and I admire her for it. She has years of wisdom behind her but I imagine even as a young woman she spoke her mind. What I like most is that she is able to get her point across without being angry, shouting, or degrading anyone. Instead of being attached to the outcome she merely observes then makes fun of them. At this point in her life I imagine that she has seen so many trends come and go; many of those trends could be repeats and all the while perhaps things haven't changed so much for her. She knows who she is and her values in spite of what's going on in politics. That's the key to really having a backbone: remembering who you are and not letting anyone or anything change it.
Month: November 2010 (Page 2 of 2)
My intentions were good to begin a daily writing practice again but I'm not so sure that writing on the computer is a great idea. I work all day in front of a computer and I really really do not want to turn on my computer at home in the evening. Perhaps a handwritten daily writing practice is in order.
One thing I've noticed is that in the beginning of this practice I mentioned having a goal. Well, I don't really have a goal for this practice yet. Except maybe to be a better practioner. I like my day job and don't see myself becoming a professional writer. At least not at this point in my life. Not sure where I'm going with this except that I have a need to express myself in writing. And sometimes I don't need much prompting.
Speaking of prompting, yesterday a prompt came across an email list I'm on: write about two rivers coming together. I immediately thought of a woman I knew a very long time ago who told me that marriage was like two rivers coming together. Each river is the individual with its own characteristics and the marriage is the junction. The first year or so is rough and bumpy with lots of rapids and turbulence. Then eventually downstream the river deepens and flows smoothly.
I've always been comforted by that image although I can't say that I've always applied it very well. However, I think that analogy is appropriate for any relationship whether it's with a new boss, a new co-worker or employee, a new friend, or sometimes after something big has changed, like if a major trauma or tragedy happened in your family. Things begin anew after that it might be rough and bumpy and turbulent for a while. However you can probably count on everything smoothing out downstream.
Last night we were relaxing in front of the tv and watching a show called "Wild Russia". The show featured Lake Baikal, which is the biggest fresh water body in the world and it has several species that are unique to the lake. One of those is a fresh water seal. The wilderness of Russia is three times the size of the entire state of Alaska. I am drawn to that kind of wildness.
Most of you probably don't know that when I was in college I took several years of Russian language and was enamored with Russian literature. Of course I've forgotten most of the Russian I learned since then. I've always wanted to go to Russia and still do. When I retire in 15.5 years at the earliest my intention is to live in a small, low-maintenance condo in Seattle and take advantage of the discounted/free courses offered by University of Washington. My retired friend Pam gives me great inspiration since this is exactly what she's doing. This is part of the Plan. The first part of course is to maintain steady work until then, which is likely. The hard part will be to manage my money wisely enough, i.e. not buy a new pair of skis and a bike every year, so that I get into retirement with not much debt and a reasonable nest egg.
The fantasy part of the plan is to spend as much time traveling and exploring as I can afford. Ideally I wouldn't have any time limits to return home because my list of adventures keeps getting longer. And I have to keep myself healthy, which means not burning through my knees and other joints any time soon.
So that's the dream. Supposedly if you throw your dreams out there, say them outloud they come true. Perhaps not always in the form that you imagined but they do. I know it, I recognize where I'm at now from dreams I've thrown out in years past. And they would not be recognizable in the form that I originally imagined but I recognize the parts.
Like all the enthusiastic voters, I am waiting for the election results. The polls close in another 36 minutes. I did put Randy's ballot in the mail today so his vote won't get counted until tomorrow at the earliest. Surprisingly I haven't seen any preliminary predictions about the tight senate race between Democratic incumbant Patty Murry (18 years in office) and Republican candiate Dino Rossi, who seems to change position every time he loses an election.
I've only been back in this state for 5 years but I can tell Rossi has been on the election trail more than once. The last time I saw him was in 2008 when he ran against our Democratic governor, Christine Gregoire. To be fair, the election was close but the incumbant won. This indicates a divided, unsatisfied state. Again, to be fair, eastern and western Washington are as different as northern and southern California so naturally there's division. Up here, it's the Cascade Mountains.
What I don't care for about Dino Rossi is that his platform appears to be "I'm not doing what she's doing." Like not keep Boeing jobs here? Like not extend unemployment for those unfortunates who have been out of work for a very long time through no fault of their own? Like not provide healthcare for those who don't have it? In the debates, I wish he would've answered a question about what he intended to do rather than point fingers at the incumbent, who has actually done a number of favorable things for this state. Maybe I tuned out too quickly because I turned away after the second or third accusation that she was doing it wrong and he would do it differently without the details.
Our ballot also has a number of initiatives, two of which seem very similar concerning liquor sales and distributions that are very complex. In those cases, my tendency is to attempt to read the language then vote based on who funded it. One thing I like about our liquor laws is that there's automatic enforcement by requiring liquor sales in state stores. The argument against this practice is that liquor sales is not an essential state service and that we need to beef up enforcement. True, it's not an essential state service but there is enforcement built in by having state liquor stores (versus being able to buy a 5th or 1/2 gallon of whiskey at the local 7-11, which is staffed by an 18-year old who gets paid minimum wage). And how much more would "enforcement" cost as envisioned by the propopents of passing the initiative(s) that would close state liquore stores? Law enforcement tends to have much higher wages than I would imagine the average liquor store employee does.
Also on the ballot is an initiative sponsored by Bill Gates' (that Bill Gates) father supporting an income tax for the "wealthy" to fund education and other essential services that were hacked when the endangered species act restricted logging in spotted owl habitat (much of those taxes supported schools). Washington does not have an income tax, although we do have a hefty sales tax. Introducing income tax even for the top 1-2% of the population that is wealthy enough to earn this tax is scary. I would not be surprised if this initiative does not pass. It is one of two that I voted for, mostly because I doubt I will ever earn enough to quality for this extra tax. The other initiative I supported was the one about (not) privatizing L&I insurance. Supporting this initiative seemed to play into the pocket books of large insurance companies. I don't see the benefit to the average consumer.
Well, I wondered what I was going to write about tonight. Turns out that a blank page and a compulsive topic can fill a page. I'm not writing tomorrow as after work I will go on a hike with one of my best girlfriends, get Thai take-out then go to the alpine club meeting to meet and greet our other friends and see a slideshow of climbing and skiing in the high mountains.
Like anything else, most of writing takes constant exercise, practice. And like most exercises and practice, it gets monotonous after a while. It takes special motivation to run on the treadmill, swim laps, sit in front of a blank page. Again. Practice and exercise works best if you have an end goal in mind. A marathon, getting in shape for ski season, a swim meet. Something that helps you focus your eye on the goal yet muddle through another practice session. Variety helps.
Yesterday I wrote about a Halloween memory I had. Today is the Day of the Dead, with which I do not have much experience. I think it's also called "All Saints Day" or "All Souls Day". In Mexico and other Latin American countries today traditionally visit the graves of their loved ones to honor them. I suppose it's like Memorial Day here in the U.S.
Less than 10 years ago I went to a church service on "All Souls Day". It was the first time I had visited this particular Episcopal Church in Pasadena, CA. I went because my friend's husband was singing in the choir and was promised an enjoyable performance. The performance was great and the church was wonderful too. All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena has some of my favorite architectural features: Roman arches and stained glass windows. I was so moved by being in the church, by the choir performance, and the words of the preacher that I went back many Sundays after that, most often by myself.
Attending services was fun while it lasted but eventually the drive to Pasadena from where I lived ended up just being one more long commute day after a long week of commuting to work then eventually graduate school. And the sermons became more political during a presidential election year. I didn't want to listen to that. Eventually I moved a couple states away so even if I wanted to attended services again, the commute was way too long. Maybe someday I'll find another church that moves me but for now I'm content without it, even on a day when spiritually some connect with our loved ones who have gone on.
And I've just demonstrated how to face a blank page and fill it up, even if the motivation wasn't there in the beginning.