11.25.08
Posted in General at 2:18 pm by Deb
Obama is prez. I hope he can actually do something to clean up the mess we're in, but I tend to wonder how much power the prez actually has over such things. Who knows. I voted for Nader.
What I do know, is that I'm now working at a job making less money than I did 15 years ago–a lousy 34k entry-level salary. And I'm damn glad to have it. It just sort of fell in my lap, a referral from a friend, and I dared not turn it down for lack of funds. My fear was that my unemployment would run out, and then we'd truly be screwed. At least the truck is paid for.
That leaves a whole lot of stuff that isn't, that is now being paid in minimum installments instead of the nice big chunks from before. The new house is once again just a dream that may or may not happen before the old one just falls down by itself. We just can't seem to get ahead for long. I knew the $45/hour bank job wasn't going to last forever–good fortune like that never does. Not only that, but the bank made me miserable, doing a job I hated, in a tiny cubicle I hated, riding the bus which I hated, basically, it sucked in all ways except the paycheck. I can't say they were bad to me there, it's just corporate america is not my thing.
But 34k…jeez, even the Museum hired me for more than that back in 2001.
So here I am back in the dysfunctional world of the non-profits. At least here I'm doing something I like to do, in a really nice office, 15 minutes from home, no psychos or nut-job co-workers so far.They seem to like what I'm doing. It's unfortunate that I haven't figured out a way to make decent money in a situation like this. So, I'm looking at it as an opportunity to learn the stuff I need to know to be a more marketable web designer. Hopefully then I won't have to go back to the bore-ass world of corporate print design should the bottom fall out of this current situation. And I have learned too well that if it can it will, so all you can do is try to be ready for it.
Hard to believe it's Thanksgiving this week already. Hard to believe that hot dog rolls cost $3 a package, and dog food is $20 a bag for the cheap stuff. Gas is a frighteningly low $1.70 a gallon this week, frightening because I fear it's only a sign that it will soar back up over the $5 mark soon as predicted several months ago. Again, such good fortune is usually short-lived, as I have learned so many times over. The economy truly is in the crapper.
Haven't sold any more dolls since Mistress Ruby. I updated the site with paypal buy it buttons, so people could just click and buy them, but no takers. Haven't gotten any new ones done since The White Lady. I did start re-working the Howard Pyle Mermaid diorama, but probably won't have it ready for the Holiday House Tour on the 13th unless I get off my ass and bust on it. Guess I've gotten a little discouraged. The trailer is a complete disaster–I could spend a week just trying to clean it up. I put the plastic on the windows already–the weather's been damn cold early this year.
I think we're in for a really shitty winter. I hope the wheezy old furnace in the house makes it for just one more year…but then we've been saying that for the past several years.
I'm feeling the winter funk catch up with me early this year. But I'm thankful to have this job, in spite of the tiny paycheck. Gotta get back in gear. Got two whole weeks off in December to try and get back in the groove, and get ready for the coming shows.
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11.05.08
Posted in Work in Progress, The Peacock Robe at 10:57 am by Deb
Finally, got her done. She's now at the Delaware Art Museum's annual Masterpieces in Miniature exhibition. I wasn't figuring on being back to work so soon, so I ended up scrambling to get her done. In my haste to get her there, I forgot to put my little ceramic peacocks on the mantlepiece! I snuck them in yesterday on my lunchbreak. Carson is supposed to be shooting professional shots sometime next week, so I'll have better images then.
The Peacock Robe
The original painting by George Watson Barratt:
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11.04.08
Posted in General at 11:40 am by Deb
Someone told me yesterday that I should not even bother if I was just going to "waste" my vote.
In spite of that sentiment, I got up this morning and dragged my ass to the Singerly Firehouse at 7:30. There was already a line out the door, and their huge parking lot was almost full. I don't remember it being that busy when it was Bush vs. Kerry. I stood in line for 45 minutes, and when I finally got up there, felt kind of a let-down when my little card popped out of the computer thingie. That's all there is to it? No fanfare? Just a computer screen saying "your vote has been cast, please hand your card to the polling assistant…?" Sort of like the day after Christmas when you're a kid–all that hype for something that's over with so quickly. I spent another 10 minutes fighting my way out of the parking lot, and headed to work.
I've never been one to vote along party lines. Personally, I hate the fact that it's a pretty sure thing that the new president is going to be one or the other of the big two. I study the candidates, and vote for the one I like, whether they be Republicrat or Demoblican, (monikers I steal from Rollye James) or what have you. Parties be damned. Best man/woman for the job, I say.
I would have voted for Hillary. Yeah, she's bitchy, but I think she has what it takes. She had solid, realistic plans to back up her ideas, and she's been in the white house before. Unfortunately, she got eclipsed by Mr. "I'm the New Messiah."
Obama creeps me out. He brings to mind the character of Nicolae, from the novel "Left Behind." (Nicolae has everyone thinking he's the savior, but he turns out to be the anti-christ once he gets the masses to follow him.) A little too charismatic, and people are just too willing to drop to their knees and worship him. It scares me when I hear people saying in regard to the economy: "don't worry, everything will be better when Obama takes office."
"We're going to change America!" he says. That's great, Barack. How are we gonna do it?
"We're going to work together!" he says. Awesome. What are we gonna do?
"We're going to try harder!" he says. Cool. Yeah. Let's do it. What are we gonna do?
"We're going to change America first, and then change the world!" he says. Ok….umm…yeah. Sorry, but you haven't told me a thing, dude.
"Ok, I know, we'll take money from the rich and give it to the poor!" he says. Right on, Robin Hood. But hey, Obama has a really cool logo, and we're all going to live happily ever after when he takes office!
*cringe* The masses are asses.
McCain almost had my vote until he brought the dizzy chick on board. Besides being a painfully obvious ploy to pick up the Hillary voters who don't like Obama, that poor woman comes across like a complete idiot. Couple that with the fact that McCain is likely just another stuffy Bush clone, and I could not bring myself to vote for him either.
This country does need change. Things are bad. People are freaking out, and Obama will likely win because he's taking advantage of the american people's desire for a savior, a bringer of change. That's how crazy people and racists come to power. Just like Hitler. I just really hope he doesn't fuck things up worse when he gets elected. I hope he can do something to help.
I got really emotional this morning standing in line. Looking around at the people in line with me, black, white, hispanic, asian, rednecks, fancies, rich and poor. How many of us were thinking of those who fought for our right to vote? How many just take it for granted? Freed male slaves were given the right in 1866, but WOMEN still had to fight for it for another FIFTY FOUR frigging years–til 1920. Some of them suffered grievous injury and even death doing it.
As I wandered out the door a volunteer handed me an "I Voted" sticker. I thanked her, and then I thanked the ghosts of the suffragettes standing behind her for fighting the good fight, and giving me the right to stand in that line and vote for Ralph Nader.
A wasted vote? I don't think those ladies would think so.
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