small ponderings

Fri, 30 Sep 2005 11:32:40 GMT

PS...

On the low tech website, only the movies and words links are active...

Fri, 30 Sep 2005 11:30:28 GMT

A quick early a.m. update while I wait for enough light to walk the dog down the hill:

Much work on the Blogger site. In fairness, I have to point out one big limitation I've found: photo management. Clunky to the extreme. Radio wins there, hands down. But I'm still really happy with the Blogger way of doing things.

I think I got the Blogger RSS to work, so Podcasting is in the future. In preparation for that, I set up another little site that has humongous space for next to nothing. It's a no frills provider, very cheap. If it works, I'll be sure to let everyone know. For now, take a peek: Mark's Low Tech Website. I may even move the Boydpottery website to their hosting after I do this trial run.

So I'm out the door to walk, then to work. Events today, catering to the visiting admin folks. Not quite a board mtg, but definitely higher maintenance. I have an early morning with them tomorrow, and then it'll be woodstacking and studio work for the rest of the weekend.

Have a great day!

Thu, 22 Sep 2005 10:38:46 GMT

I've been ruminating more on my Blogger site and less on radio lately...it just so easy and clearly I must be so lazy. If you happen to have generous enough to link to me, maybe you would want to update it: www.smallponderings.blogspot.com. I must confess, I'm not ready to see Salon in my rearview, but would gladly run over the radio software and servers repeatedly. Or maybe I just like to have some to complain about.

These are the best of days in the mountains: it gets cool and clear at night, often with big blinding bright moons, then early am mists gather in the hollers, sun rises are blood orange onto a day that warms so its still minimal clothing temperature. The sun gets behind the ridge earlier and earlier, casting these long lovely evening shadows, perfect for a walk after supper in the dusk. I love fall, the slow and steady declining of the year into summer. Of course I like the color too, but it is the changing rhythm of the days that grabs me.

Much work happening as we're getting ready for the fall students arriving Saturday. And around the casa there is the woodpile to be worked on, mowing, end of summer neatening up. Creative work too often takes a back seat. I haven't done any clay lately but will start again soon for a show in early Dec. I did a couple of little paintings yesterday evening, starved to make something (pics on the other site). And I have about 4 projects in various stages of incompletion. This all due to a lack of decent blocks of time. By the time I get to my making, I'm usually tired so all my best energy (mental and physical) is used up. I will say if I can suck it up and get started on something, usually it perks me up, but then I get frustrated because I have to lay it down; the next work day is pressing. I think my priorities are askew. This a common problem of working artists everywhere, especially ones that work in jobs that support the arts.

So its up before dawn, and this entry that ran much longer than I expected. Hope everyone has a great day! Be kind to people and hug your animals close. Make something on your own, don't believe everything you hear, and always always always question power and authority.

Mon, 19 Sep 2005 00:56:10 GMT

Back on the mountain after a less than exciting week away. Leave it to us to end up at the edge of a hurricane on our first grown-up vacation in a couple of years. The good part of that is I read a lot of junk food books, and took many naps. Added to that was a stop at Mom and Dad's about 50 miles inland, and the gathering of tons of food from the garden and the pasture to bring back to the mountain for the long winter ahead. Mom and Dad grown and tended happy beef and glorious canned veggies, fuel for the machine. How lucky are we? It was worth the many miles of driving and the hurricane yuck to pick it up.

Other news on Blogger site. I'll be migrating to that site in short order. But in fairness, for all my complaints, I have found one advantage to Userland: the ability to write entries even in the absence of internet service. As long as one has their blogging laptop with them. Of course, there's always the challenge of posting when you do get to a good hookup...

Have a great week!

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 15:51:22 GMT

"Small and nearby..."

This is something Sam said to me in an email. It resonates. Humor, spirit and body are in need of repair. It's too easy to forget or take forgranted our individual good fortune. Plus in times like this it makes me feel a little selfish and trivial, when so much of the rest of the world is suffering. But how can we muster our energy to fight the big battles that lay ahead if we don't keep ourselves in good repair? In light of this question, Lucy and I set out in search of close truth and beauty. Here is our report:

Lucy eagerly awaits walk

it's cool and sunny this morning

the south ridge as we walk along the
trail up to the knob

does anyone know what this bush is? I think
its some part of the daisy family, they look like
little sunflowers...they cover the open spots of
the knob, and this morning HUNDREDS of
goldfinches were amongst them, it was like a
open parakeet aviary

"where ya been?" kiki meets us on the way back

home in the trees at the top of the hill

Izzydoodle chose to stay home wrapped in her blanket,
she'll go for the evening walk when its warmed up.

my favorite painting, hanging in our hallway. It's by
my friend Charlotte...I traded sculpture for it, I think
i got the better end of the deal, but she is very
gracious and encouraging...

other stuff that wouldn't sit still for pictures this morning: hummingbirds, swallowtail butterflies, a talkative Kootie cat, and a chipmunk stuffing its cheeks.

The rest of the day: a trip to the dump, washing doggies, sitting quietly in the sun. I wrote letters and emails this morning, and now need to unplug, for a while.

Be nice to people. Have faith in something. And look for the good stuff to feed your soul. We need it to balance all the bad swirling around us.

Wed, 07 Sep 2005 21:23:03 GMT

Current posts on my Blogger site. Not much need to repeat it here. Take a look and follow links for in depth info. I think my tank is empty.

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 11:03:41 GMT

Lots of current posts on my Blogger site. Of course its mostly thoughts and observations dealing with the hurricane and subsequent failure and fallout of the government. All of which has me in a cantankerous mood.

Added to that a surprise end of season (no doubt exhaustion fueled) crummy cold. So I've been feeling like I'm swimming thru molasses for the past couple of days.

Somewhere in there I thought I'd try to do something not complain-y, whin-y or so negative, so I finished a little wildlife piece and posted it on my website. It requires quicktime to view, and is about 4 megs so if you have dialup click and make coffee. I, like a lot of artists, am struggling with how to make work in the face of all that is happening. I know it's probably more important now than ever, and that it will be up to artists (and this means all artists of all media) to provide some balance to the horror of the past week and the unease of the future. Art for healing.

Have a great day, and be nice to everyone you meet. You never know what they might be going thru. Also, come together, build community, and be strong. It is our only defense against those that will try to divide and alienate us as a way to gain power or profit.

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 15:48:09 GMT

It wasn't enough that King George had to go overseas and destroy another country, fueled by greed and delusions of power. Now he is presiding over the destruction of lives of hundreds of thousands of people in his own country, who are victims of a tragedy maybe even greater than the hurricane itself: the absolute and complete incompetence of Presidential leadership and his unbelievable lack of urgency, compassion, and social conscience and sense of responsibility.

I think government at its best is there to serve and protect, especially in times of crises. By this measurement, ours has failed horribly. George Bush was not qualified to be elected the first time around, but the majority ruled. His first term demonstrated his wide-ranging inability. And yet he was returned to office, only to worsen every situation he (and our government) became involved in. And now this. And as I write I have to extend the criticism to the whole government, because when all was said and done, there was really little or no obstruction to his careening about on any issue. There is and was no accountability or personal reprecussion of his decisions/indecisions/actions/inactions.

As much as I dislike the man and all he stands for, I hoped a miracle would occur and he would rise to the occasion. This event was his chance for greatness. Of course he was and is incapable of rising to the challenge: for this alone he should be removed from office, along with all his cronies. How, HOW can any of us think that there is any hope of a logical, concentrated and effective effort for recovery waiting for the people and the Gulf area in the immediate and long distance future? And how much longer can our country flounder under the lack of leadership, direction, compassion and competence?

I believe this: as we, the nation, work our way through this and figure out a way to help all our neighbors in the Katrina area, it will be done IN SPITE OF our government and leaders. Yes, we will have to do it ourselves. And we can. We have no choice.

If you haven't made your donations yet, or you can make another one, here are links:

The American Red Cross
The Humane Society Disaster Rescue

To the people in the Gulf: we see the pictures. The regular people in the US and worldwide hear you. And we care. Help is on the way, in every way we can get it to you. Be strong. You won't be abandoned, not by us.