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So, so tired. I had an experience with the Tyra show today and it was super annoying. Her staff is super annoying. Just more proof that very incompetent people get high-paying jobs. I know Tyra's staff isn't ruling the world, they are just producing a TV show, and a not-so-good one at that. But I can't help feeling that Tyra's staff is a reminder that the world is in trouble; we are all in trouble.

"eat the rich."

How's that for a buyout plan?

the new economy

A. picked 5 bushels of apples (that's approx. 150 pounds of apples). They are sitting in our living room. A. has been using them to barter in the neighborhood. So far he's gotten 6 cassette tapes from the eighties, a piece of homemade apple pancake (made with said apples), and a lot of smiles and thank yous because the apples are quite good. There is an apple cobbler cooling on the stove as I write this.

painting and soul rebellion

I'm taking a painting class. Painting is good because words and numbers fall away. Normally, my day is full of specifics, amounts, statistics, particulars, it's nice to just be intuitive for a few hours. Painting allows me to quiet my obsession with accuracy and outcomes and all that humdrum office-type stuff.

It turns out there's a part of me that's been quiet for a long time. Normally, it is told to shut up while I'm busy doing administrative money-making work. When presented with paper and some paint it takes over. I was surprised that it has a lot to say, and is very upset about having been quiet for so long.

It's happened before, whenever I make myself do boring, meaningless work for too long. My soul has a mini-riot, it totally rebels, and I have to change my life to appease it. This is what led me to painting.

the island queen

Some things in life don't change. One of those things for me is the Island Queen.

One of my earliest memories is of riding the Island Queen ferry to Martha's Vineyard. I can easily recall its bright orange seats, the roar of the motor, the water spraying from the stern, I can even recall the particular boat smell that's like sea water mixed with, i dunno, some special Island Queen boat-scent.

When I take a ride on the Island Queen as an adult, it is exactly the same as I remember it. This ferry ride delights me, I get all goofy happy, not like me at all, it's like being transported to my childhood. It's a special thing, to find something that hasn't changed. That lives up to your memory.

And, the Island Queen has a song! This totally blew me away.
Island Queen Song

the cape

We just got back from Cape Cod. We caught the tail end of summer, when it's warm enough to go to the beach, but there's a faint fall chill in the air. It's the perfect time to go, the tourists have gone home, it's quiet and peaceful. I love Cape Cod. It's where I spent my childhood and it's one of my favorite places ever. I breathe a little easier when I'm there, and I can't believe how beautiful it is.

how long will i have to wait

until Tina Fey does her impression of Sarah Palin?

the difference is lipstick

I watched Huckabee, Guiliani, and Palin give their speeches last night on TV. I am truly awed by the scariness of many people in this country. I know there are lots of good folks, but honestly, we must look to the rest of the world like uneducated, uninformed crazy people. The scariest part was the entire convention chanting "drill baby drill." And Palin's mention about not reading people their rights?! Guantanamo Bay is and will be an embarrassing and shameful part of U.S. history and here is a woman saying that it is okay? Palin is scary.

I realize she was going for that "every woman, everyday person" vibe, but what happened to common sense and reason? She doesn't believe in birth control? yet she has a pregnant teenage daughter. (from the AP: "Palin has opposed funding sex-education programs in Alaska.") She is against national health care, yet she has a special needs infant? I'm frightened by how a woman like her in power could turn back the tide for basic human rights in this country, not to mention what her extreme right crazy views would do for our "national security." Especially considering that the odds of McCain surviving a full term in office are not so good.