Yeah. I applied. For a job-job. You can blame furrydoc if I get it because she nudged me into this. It’s a job I’d actually love to have. I know the people. I’ve seen the work they do. It’s meaningful and varied and interesting. Though it’s part-time, it has benefits up the whazoo. Benefits. When’s the last time I had benefits? Oh, such a long, long time ago. While I was talking to the boss about what they’re looking for, another potential applicant came in. A woman I know. A woman they know, too. “I’m desperate for this job,” she…
Category: Rural and small-town living
Life far from freeways, Starbucks, malls, and other benefits/distractions
Sometimes it’s so nice just to be. We forget that. Well, I do, anyway. This weekend was perhaps the nicest of the summer. We’ve been having glorious weather for the most part, but often way too hot. A few weeks ago, the southern Oregon coast sweated through several days of 100+ temperatures, and it got to at least 97 here. When it’s that hot it saps you, even when you’re huddled in the shady house with a ceiling fan spinning. I know you folks in the midwest and south have it worse; so no complaints, really. But this weekend was…
This is a story about an act of serendipity that happened yesterday. To tell it, I have to begin with something that happened in 2000 or thereabouts.
Mid 60s with a gentle breeze. A few horsetails of high cloud in a blazing sky. Going to be ice tea weather in a few hours. This year’s wild blackberry crop is enormous and right on schedule. The dogs and I enjoy handfuls of sweet berries on our morning walks. I’ve so far done no serious gathering as I don’t have a stove to make jam or syrup (and a hotplate is too tippy). I’ll soon head out with a bucket and grab some berries for the freezer. The dogs wait patiently for their share. They could easily gather their…
Mohit Satyanand talks about how he gave up full-time work and why he highly recommends it. One might wish he addressed the economic realities more clearly. Or at all. But he waxes lyrical about the delights of doing nothing. (I can wax lyrical on the subject of creative idleness, too. And no doubt will do so after I’ve finished the ceiling, met my next deadline, caught up on my email, and spent some time contemplating how I’m ever going to get the house foundation repaired and the plumbing replaced.)
Sorry. But when it comes to security, I can’t agree that this makes the Tesla any more secure than a Jeep. Nor do these systems make homes more “smart.” (The last bit, with the dog and the hot tub, was pretty good, though.) “This vet is not a threat.” Oath Keepers, three percenters, and even local sheriffs and legislators rally to prevent the VA from confiscating guns. The resistance is building. Meanwhile, the NRA would like to see more abuse of gun owners/buyers in the dubious name of “mental health.” They don’t get it, do they, what the rising tide…
I really like this tiny house story (via Shel in comments). These folks aren’t trying to be trendy or green or holier-than-thou. They just know what it’s like to have been economically clobbered and don’t want to be vulnerable again. Cops kill an unarmed white kid and the world says ho hum. In Montana: another Oath Keepers operation to protect miners against fedgov intrusion. 😉 Kickstarter campaign raises billions to wall off the Bay Area during Burning Man. (Via A.G. in comments) Islamists hack to death a fourth non-theist blogger in Bangladesh. Boy, I’ll bet the fedgov wishes it could…
No surprise at all: economic freedom creates personal happiness. One documentarian’s fight against the absurd (and profitable) copyright on “Happy Birthday.” Looks as if she now has some powerful ammo. Love it. A rogue Dairy Queen has been going its own way since 1949 (though why it doesn’t just go independent and avoid the franchise fees is a question). (H/T Jim B. in comments) As jed noted when he sent this item: good news, but not fast enough. 🙂 Bovard on how disability law went nuts Lessons learned (although probably mostly not learned) from the stupid, lying, inept drug raid…
Sorry I don’t have much for you at the moment. Been a weird week. When not feeling inert (probably lack of sleep + gray weather) I’ve been busy beginning or resuming long-delayed spring projects. Picked up another 75 pounds or so of broken glass and rusted metal from the lot across the street. Scrubbed stale cigarette scuzz out of Old Blue. Am gradually de-nailing, cleaning, and sanding 150 pieces of beadboard for my ceiling project. It feels good coming to life again. If I do too much my ankle reminds me to slow back down. And unfortunately the ankle’s idea…
Yesterday morning I looked across the street and there, on the vacant lot directly in front of my house, a neighbor was on her knees next to a wheelbarrow, cleaning up the lot.
My lot.