Sesquicentennial

Up. Up, and out. On the road as you read this, so imagine the keyboard and the steering wheel fused, like some outlandish modern appliance. Off to a weddding, three dddays with my family. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

If I don't come back, avenge my death.

One Thing, Then Another

We're all victims of causality, ain't we now. Feeling the pressure, lots of faces, very few names. I'm lyrical, but not poetical. Puns and poor aim, grey skies and secrets and strong work. If you listen, you might hear me sigh.

Check

Just for you, Verthandi.

I am an Incandescent Pillar of Golden Fire

On Olbermann tonight...the first story was about McCain's support from right-wing pastors who have made outlandish, inflammatory statements...

Then god sent a hunter. A hunter is someone with a gun and he forces you. Hitler was a hunter. And the Bible says — Jeremiah writing — 'They shall hunt them from every mountain and from every hill and from the holes of the rocks,' meaning there's no place to hide. And that might be offensive to some people but don't let your heart be offended. I didn't write it, Jeremiah wrote it. It was the truth and it is the truth. How did it happen? Because God allowed it to happen. Why did it happen? Because God said my top priority for the Jewish people is to get them to come back to the land of Israel.

and...

I cannot tell you how important it is that we understand the true nature of Islam, that we see it for what it really is. In fact, I will tell you this: I do not believe our country can truly fulfill its divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam. I know that this statement sounds extreme, but I do not shrink from its implications. The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed, and I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we can no longer ignore.

Now, this by itself isn't necessarily a surprise, nothing worth writing home about. What got me was the pun (I do like puns) that was the caption to the story...

"Preacharound"

On a major cable news network's prime time news show. "Preacharound". We may make it yet.

75,000

Where can Barack Obama draw a crowd of 75,000 people? Portland, OR, of course. I love this state so damn much.

Primary

Now, I realize that I haven't been keeping current on this lately-in my defense, my life's been all caught up and twisted by the threshold of the Spring. The absent Spring, liminal nonetheless. So yes, I have a lot going on, which I will, I imagine, at some point elaborate on.

But in the meantime, I'm OK, well, enjoying the heat and the sun and the lush greenery of Summertime. Walking along the river today, I was struck by the incongruity of the heat and the high river-it's a little thing, but odd in how it was noticeable even though it was so trivial. Living here so long, becoming so intimately involved in the neighborhood...it's a wonderful, adult feeling. All that experience and comfort accumulating...once again(and I know, I know, I'm predictable) I like getting old. I highly recommend it.

Otherwise, it's the hot, long-dayed time of year. I hope I'll see more of most of you as you venture out into the comfortable evenings, and if you find yourselves out in the heat, remember...I have AC.

Bravo for life's little ironies.

I know, I know, I'm lazy. On the plus side, I do hate Glen Beck.

"I'm putting this on my blog!"

Goodness Gracious

Floral Surprise

If you left a yellow dahlia on my porch, sing out. Gifts are lovely, but when they're anonymous, it's a little creepy.

Omens

All sorts in the street, out in the world. Motorcyclists circling my block, a loud and angry murder. Ants rising out of the earth. A perpetual ambulance. Bird shit like a swath across my street, failure of imagination. I saw a truck with a picture of a truck on it. The smell of grain from the looming temple of Ishtar down the block, capped and bound by the flag on its roof.

I ascribe to these things no un- or super- or preter- natural significance, but I respect things they evoke from the habitat of human community. I made an offering today, tried to appease the narrative of my neighborhood. I'm taking myself out of it temporarily, 'till I feel up to going toe-to-toe.

I hope you're OK, Mr. Chartreuse.

Walpurgisnacht

AWFUL day...just terrible. I really had high hopes for this month. At this rate, I'm going all Discordian Calendar. Watch out for the Discoflux.