Hear the Loiness Roar

I admit I find many things about this economy disappointing.  There are people who are totally clueless about the poor and there are those who are just plain mean to them.  The issue has never been properly addressed by the news media; they miss the mark every time.  Well, I have something for us all to think about and maybe it will put the crisis into perspective.  Those without income, if left to solve their problem on their own, will find their own means of income.  Sounds great, doesn’t it?  What that means is that when the economy picks up, there won’t be anyone to fill those new jobs.  Those that learn to do without know they didn’t need it in the first place.

Stuck in Limbo

The time has come.  I’m stuck in West Salem and it’s as good as being in Limbo.  I’ve tried several methods of avoiding this, but now with the news that gas prices are soaring even higher, my hopes of moving about as I please have vanished.  Even getting to the other side of the river is a big production.  It wouldn’t be so difficult, but I’ve developed a phobia of sorts.  On certain bridges I get the willies and it really isn’t safe for me to cross them; most notably the ones that span the Willamette River in Portland.  I also have an aversion to the walking bridge in Salem.  I see many people using it, and I envy them. Although I’ve made the crossing before, an attempt just the other day ended in stomach butterflies and failure.   I just don’t have the fortitude to walk across it again, at least for now.

No Complaints

There seems to be a warm spell in the valley.  The other evening, I was making my way home by bus and happened to look at the temperature.  It was 55 degrees Fahrenheit.  Not an unheard of occurrence in February, but one that makes me worry just a tad.  The last time I saw temperatures like that for this time of year, was a year with a drought.  Well, we’ll see.  For now I’ll just enjoy the relative warmth.  If March decides to gives us unruly weather, at least I can look back on this month as a brief reprieve.

Last Days

I was out walking as usual.  This time it was Chemawa Rd.  I had volunteered to help with a painting project at the Keizer Art Association but arrived a little early and decided to visit a nearby grocery store.  City Hall is next to the building that houses KAA and I glanced that way.  I could see the paintings from the 2011 Mayor’s Invitational show.  They are beautiful but soon they will be replaced.  The new show will be going up next month. 

A brave new year

This Monday was the start of the Chinese New Year, the year of the dragon.  It has special meaning for me; I was born in the year of the dragon.  All sorts of predictions have been made about 2012, most are not good.  According to Chinese astrology, this year has the potential for both good and bad.  Destruction may occur, but only because it’s clearing the way for something new.  It makes me wonder though; we’ve all wanted a change.  Perhaps this will be a year of action, even if it means enduring a disaster or two.  Something better may be waiting under the rubble of 2012.

High Water

The snow turned to rain and with it came the floods.  Yesterday I took a trip to one of the local parks situated near the river.  Most of the park was closed off due to the high water.  I was able to have a look at the river.  It was much different from the calm, green water I saw last summer.  That particular park has paths going down to the river but they are under water now.  This is the highest I’ve seen the river in quite some time and I hope it won’t go any higher.

Snow fall

I’ve been thinking about snow for many weeks.  I endured the fog and the freeze that went with it.  Last week I listened to prognostications of snow.  Finally I woke on Sunday morning to a light powder of it.  I wondered how long it would last and if there would be more.  I took a drive to the south end of town.  That’s where most of the snow fell.  I decided to take a walk in one of the parks.  It was late afternoon, but I met several people out doing the same.  I even saw a man with a snow board.  The snow came down while I walked around and it was very beautiful.