Autumn Visit

So I want to keep the dialogue going about my last post because I think it's important, and I want to chat more with the new englander about his perspective on it.

However, I have been sneezing for the past 12 hours for some reason... and I want to take time to write a good, solid posts for such a serious topic. In the meantime, here are some photos from last weekend when PaulG came to visit.

These are from Bent Creek and the top of Black Balsam. I am such a fan of the self-portrait technique. Who needs help getting pictures taken if you have you have the one arm photo shot? You can't even tell in that photo on the left... you'd think that it was taken off guard, but it's just great acting and great photography skills. Really.

The Race and Race

Some Western Carolina University students "found" a dead bear cub and "as a prank" decided to wrap it up in Obama campaign signs and leave it in the middle of campus.

The incident was publicized in international newspapers. The news that it was "just a prank... they were just trying to not get blood in the truck bed" came out yesterday.

So what of it? To begin, both the dead bear and the symbolic violence that we all immediately associated with the crime are disgusting. What might have been a prank has heavy undertones in a climate in which people are yelling, "Kill Barack" at McCain rallies and in which racism has churned around to the surface of political discourse.

This postsecret postcard reads "It's only a matter of time."

Someone responded, "This is a fear that I have. I hope that you were also expressing a fear and not a threat." I feel the same way, and it makes me angry that I should worry about Barack Obama's safety from hatred and harm.

Roomie and I were talking about the WCU "prank" this morning, and I said, "Why do people have to kill all the good ones? I mean, Martin Luther King Jr, Jesus, John F. Kennedy..."

I can only speculate that fear and ignorance drive this hatred... and it's hard not to react to racist comments, violence, and ignorance with fear and anger. How ironic. So what to do? How to educate? The Unity Project all over the place? Hmm.

I heard this rebroadcast of an interview of J.L. Chestnut on Fresh Air last week. He was the first African American attorney in Selma, Alabama and represented many Civil Rights protesters in the 1960s. He made several points that I have been thinking about a lot lately. (This interview, which took place on October 3, 2008 is only 19 minutes long and excellent. I encourage you to listen as he speaks so well about this time in history.)

Here are the points that have been buzzing in my mind:

After watching police beat men, women, and children during a march from Selma to Montgomery (on what was named Bloody Sunday on March 7th, 1965), he described how horrible it was and said it was one of the lowest days of his life. On that day, he lost faith in America and in white people.

He then said, "Two days later I had to make a new assessment because white people and black people from all over this nation saw this on television and were upset with what they saw. It's easy to send a check down from New York City and say, 'I'm with you.' It's something all together different to come down and lock hands with a black person and say, 'I'm ready to go to jail. I'm ready to die if necessary.' He said that as he looked around at the hundreds of people, "My faith in this nation and my faith in the human race was restored."

Mr. Chestnut owned a handgun which Martin Luther King Jr asked him to give up. When King told him that people were going to come and try to kill all of them, Chestnut said he knew, but, "If they come and kill me, I'm taking a few down with me."

On the night that MLK Jr was assassinated, Chestnut gave up his gun. He said, "My carrying a weapon certainly didn't save Martin. It didn't save Jimmy Lee Jackson. I watched John Louis stare down whole regiment of State Troopers and he didn't have a weapon... the changes that had occurred didn't come at the end of any gun. So giving it up was a tribute to my friend who had given his life in Memphis."

He then spoke about how when the Voting Rights Act passed in Selma, within six weeks they went from having 200 registered voters to 9,000. It changed everything-- people who never had a voice in their government now became important players, white politicians had to appeal to a new group of voters and some black people considered running for office themselves, juries were racially balanced. "Where there was hopelessness now there was hope... where I had thought we could only make minor adjustments, I saw now that we could do much more.... America began to develop some meaning for me."


"Where there was hopelessness now there was hope."

Vote.
Be an ally.

Do not fear.

Have courage.

Spying on the Neighbors.

When I was in New Jersey last time I was embarrassed by a Dictaphone tape that had my 12 year old voice on it; I was singing "Livin' on a Prayer" and some songs that I made up.

Other tapes (perhaps from earlier than that date, since those songs were from when I had a broken leg) had my high pitched voice whispering about what the neighbors. I'd crawl through the rhododendrons and report what they were doing as if I worked for the CIA and they were KGB agents. You could hear crinkled leaves and branches as I slithered through the underbrush; occasionally, I'd say, "Oh, I think they see me. Over and out." Okay. So not my coolest moment.

While I'm not proud of it, this trait has followed me throughout my life. I had a close friend who also enjoyed people watching and eavesdropping. We'd sit on park benches and make up stories about people. We'd go out to dinner and find ourselves distracted from each other by some drama going on at another table. Endless fun.


......
Now, as I'm looking at a substantial grant application, I'm distracting myself once again by looking around the room and "spying" on the coffee shop patrons. Not quite crawling around the room and listening to conversations, but still observing.

Here's a snapshot:

Perhaps filling out a job application, a woman who is sitting in the sun flips through an old fashioned Roladex full of little cards that have addresses from handwritten notes or business cards.

Others eat lunch-- two handed sandwich holding and one handed sweet potato fry tasting. Others sit huddled in front of computers or leaning back ankle-to-knee-leg-crossed while talking on cell phones.

One man in front of me is copying a handwritten document onto a fresh sheet. He has a sticker on a tennis racket bag that says, "No Fear. No War. Know Love. Know Peace." I've seen similar Jesus stickers... A woman next to me is holding a baby which is the size of a large watermelon.

The sun is streaming and passing shadows of plants and joggers into the room.

I've had too much caffeine and am listening to the Turing Machine on my headphones. Calendar open in front of me. Electronic files open on my screen. Back to executive summaries, goals and objectives. Over and out.

Views from the weekend

Windy then clear. Chilly toes. Hot Chocolate.

Leave at 10:40 Friday?

So I wasn't as productive today as I had hoped, which is why, on leave early Friday, I am looking at Strategy Grants and Excel spreadsheets at 10:43pm.

Our Better Bike efforts are going well. Here are a couple of photos of some of the bikes we've received:

Also check out these YouTube Videos (all are under a minute long):

How's that tire?

Quick check-in

Walking Overview (see if you can hear little B say, "It's a Mongoose. A Mongoose!")

Ode to Leave Early Friday

Oh, it's Friday and the email popped in
"Plan your day around leaving at 3:30pm! It's LEAVE EARLY FRIDAY."
My heart flitters even though I am working from home and
leave "early" almost every day.

What a life to be on salary, I imagine.
The arm pumping!
The high fives!
The leaping and clicking of heels!
Every hour is like gold.
The weekend taking a big step forward to say,
"oh hai."

Speed

It is Speed's birthday today. He is someone who doesn't stay up late, but rather listens to his friends and works arduously on creating beautiful things. What fabulous taste he has in books, music, and friends! Here is a birthday haiku:

Speedo Speed OH Speed
Love to your tall limbs and thoughts
Bright maples afoot.

Early Voting

Starts tomorrow in NC and goes until November 1st.
Here is some information:
* If you are registered, go to early vote location. First time voters bring photo id, utility bill, bank statement with name and address

*If not registered, bring NC driver's license, utility bill, bank or credit card statement, government document, paycheck or W2, Student ID and document with name and address.



Here are locations in Asheville:

UNC Asheville
1 University Heights Zeis Building, Asheville NC 28804 ·

North Asheville Library
1030 Merrimon Ave., Asheville NC 28804

West Asheville Library (show details)
Phone: 828-250-4200
Hours: Oct 16 to Nov 1, Mon-Sat 10am-6pmSat, Nov 1, 8:30am-1pm
·
Weaverville Town Hall (show details)
Phone: 828-250-4200
Hours: Oct 16 to Nov 1, Mon-Sat 10am-6pmSat, Nov 1, 8:30am-1pm
·
Oak Forest Presbyterian Church (show details)
Phone: 828-250-4200
Hours: Oct 16 to Nov 1, Mon-Sat 10am-6pmSat, Nov 1, 8:30am-1pm
·
South Buncombe Library (show details)
Phone: 828-250-4200
Hours: Oct 16 to Nov 1, Mon-Sat 10am-6pmSat, Nov 1, 8:30am-1pm
·
Innsbruck Mall (show details)
Phone: 828-250-4200
Hours: Oct 16 to Nov 1, Mon-Sat 10am-6pmSat, Oct 18, 10am-9pmSat, Nov 1, 8:30am-1pm
·
Leicester Library (show details)
Phone: 828-250-4200
Hours: Oct 16 to Nov 1, Mon-Sat 10am-6pmSat, Nov 1, 8:30am-1pm
·
Fairview Library (show details)
Phone: 828-250-4200
Hours: Oct 16 to Nov 1, Mon-Sat 10am-6pmSat, Nov 1, 8:30am-1pm
·
Cheshire Village (show details)
Phone: 828-250-4200
Hours: Oct 16 to Nov 1, Mon-Sat 10am-6pmSat, Nov 1, 8:30am-1pm
·
Bee Tree Substation Fire Department (show details)
Phone: 828-250-4200
Hours: Oct 16 to Nov 1, Mon-Sat 10am-6pmSat, Nov 1, 8:30am-1pm
·
Biltmore Square Mall (show details)
Phone: 828-250-4200
Hours: Oct 16 to Nov 1, Mon-Sat 10am-6pmSat, Oct 18, 10am-9pmSat, Nov 1, 8:30am-1pm
· Buncombe County Training Center (show details
Phone: 828-250-4200
Hours: Oct 16 to Nov 1, Mon-Sat 8:30am-6pmSat, Nov 1, 8:30am-1pm
·
Averys Creek Community Center (show details)
Phone: 828-250-4200
Hours: Oct 16 to Nov 1, Mon-Sat 10am-6pmSat, Nov 1, 8:30am-1pm
Asheville Senior Opportunity Center (show details)

Spitting

Here's an image from Sunday night:

Coxe Avenue... leaving Jack of the Wood

Firetruck in the middle of the street across from my car

Spitting sparks from a downed electrical line

Firefighters: "Miss, you'll have to wait here until we check this out."
Firefighters spitting tobacco
Street dappled with spit

Car on fire? No.
Small talk with firefighters about other firefighters I know, "You know Patrick?"
"Yeah, he's on our shift. Just had a youngin, too."
"Yes. He looks cute."
"Oh, is it a boy?"
"Yep..."

"You know Rae?"
"Yeah, but she moved."
"Yeah to England."
"Is that where she is..."

"You know Weesie?"
"Yeah. She's good people."
"Yeah."

"How long did the energy people say they'd be?"
"10 minutes. Should be here any minute."

As we were speaking, an older drunk man was lying next to the post office. His friend (who was wearing a hat that read, "Git 'er done") came over to talk with one of the firefighters. The drunk man threw a bottle over his head and then limped over. White hair, fly down, vomit on the sleeve of his jacket.

Firefighter, "So your friend said you need help."
Man, "Yes." He spits and the wire becomes a long sparkler over my car again.
"Where do you want to go?"
"The hospital."
"You wanna ambulance?"
"Yes."
Firefighter radios for an ambulance. Man says thanks and he and friend continue to watch the car drama. They spit, too.

Two women try to walk on the sidewalk near my car. Firefighters yell, "No, no, no!"
Women jump to a halt.
Firefighters point to the wire and then decide to position themselves on the sidewalk near sparks.

The smiley, young firefighter says to me, "You can stand by our truck if you want."

I wonder why, and then realize that the drunk vomit guys and I are the only ones standing on that side of the street. I chuckle. They all spit.

I walk into the middle of the street as the Progress Energy guy has one of the firefighters move my car and picks up the sparking wire. I look at my car. Speckles of silver are all over the back window. Scratches on the roof.

Young firefighter and I see if the speckles flake off (most do) and if the scratches come out (most do). I get into my car.

Young firefighter leans in and says, "If there's damage to your car, call Progress Energy... they should fix it."

Smiles, but instead of spitting says, "And you have a great night."

Tuckaseegee

This is after I was trying to surf a wave with a student.

This is after I jumped off that same rock. The water was chilly. One mom called me a "wuss." I didn't see her jumping...

Ah, October in North Carolina!

Safety first and fun will follow. Shawn role models the right way to wear a PFD and paddle in the stern. Some boys just got un-stuck from rocks just before the girls would have to dodge them.

Water, of course...

One of our TAASC was teary with homesickness on Saturday evening. I had spoken with her, but then wanted the other students to help her out. One new student, a little guy with glasses and strong opinions said, "I don't think she's been happy all day. Even when we were paddling the best rapids. She wasn't talking or smiling or anything."

Another girl, who is annoyed by this new kid, chimed in, "No, you don't even know her... she's ALWAYS quiet. She wasn't sad all day. Just now."

The new kid suggested this next, "Well, she just needs to drink more. Drinking makes everyone feel better."

I held my smile, but Greg turned to me and said, "See, we're teaching lifelong lessons here."

10.9.08 Column

I want to pass on this column entitled: Can This Be Pro-Life by Nicholas Kristof:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/opinion/09kristof.html?em

10:28pm

Ahoy.

Instead of all things productive, I find myself looking at others' photo albums on Facebook. It would be fine to look at relevant albums such as an old acquaintance getting married or photos of climbing trips or something; however, when those albums are finished, I stoop to looking at any "friend's" photo album.

Right now, for instance, I'm looking at Meredith's wedding. I have neither any idea who Mer (as I now like to call her) is, nor do I know anyone in the photos. And yet, I'm clicking through smiling bridesmaids and ring bearers. They are beautiful people.

A friend gave me great feedback that I should write about more topical subjects instead of dribble about my life (said much more smoothly, of course). I retorted that I'm too tired, too busy to write about other subjects.

This friend is currently training in Kung Fu, taking anatomy and physiology classes, planning the best music and social events in town, and probably reading some quantum physics book or something. And that's not even getting into his love life!

I felt lame for that excuse when I know that in addition to a productive set of things, this other set:

• Modern Love
• facebook
• blog reading
• sitting and staring at the blank wall

takes up a chunk of my time.

But who's to say that it's bad to spend time looking at photos of people you don't know? Or stare at the wall? Or write about these lazy activities on a blog post?

I'm not even convincing myself about that last one.
Ahoy, better blog.

Super cool.

When I was learning French, the teacher said that people said, "super cool" to mean "super cool." I don't know if that's really the truth, since she was pretty out of touch with telling us "c'est la barbe" meant "it's boring;" when I tried to use it in France, they laughed at me and explained that it was equivalent to using "groovy" to mean "cool."

Anyhow, my talented friend started a photography business and her website is supercool: www.debabramson.com. Her work is fantastic.

If you are in the area and have a family, you should hire her. She's freakin' rad. And funny.

Check it.

Obama.

Along with everyone else in Asheville (even the guy who had a "demo-crack" sign and the other one with the anti-abortion sign), I saw Barack Obama speak at Asheville High School today.

He spoke mostly about the economy and health care, but added a line about how it's so wonderful in Asheville. (He's staying a mile or so from my house.) Before the speech, there was a bunch of U2 music playing and I noticed that the sign language interpreter was signing to the crowd in front of her. I wonder if she had to sign all of the lyrics... When Obama said, "Hello Asheville!" this guy next to me yelled, "Hey Obama, what's up?!" A little girl said she wanted to see "Uncle Obama." Very cute.

During his speech, Obama joked that he wouldn't "okie dokie" or "you betcha" us. And that McCain wants to "turn the page on the economy" to spend the next 30 days attacking his opponent.

About that, he said something similar to what we told our munchkins a few weeks ago: that people must be pretty insecure about their own qualities if they work to only bash others. (He was talking about not having strong policies whilst we were talking about having confidence in things like soccer or spelling or having friends...). Debating qualities of proposals is different than calling names and stealing lunch money.

It was quite a scene-- we were going to go inside the stadium, but the line seemed to be a mile long so we found a spot in the shade where we had a great view of the stage and the secret service with big guns. Estaba quite a different day than paddling down the mighty Tuckaseegee River yesterday. Greg bought a pin that said, "Barack to the Future" with the Back to the Future design on it. I wish it had shown an illustration of Obama on one of those hoverboards.

About the cool poster at the top: http://www.obamaartreport.com/2008/08/change-thought-posters-free.html

October

"Things that matter most should never be at the mercy of things that matter least."

--Goethe

It was 38 degrees this morning outside and 34 degrees inside. Some leaves are starting to change and I am considering what clothes I've decided to bring on the river tomorrow.

It is my time of meditation. This month's focus is not as concise as previous months' themes. Instead, we are coming up with an exploration around this question: "What is most important?"

From there, a study about how to prioritize and make decisions. I am experimenting with food choices, how I spend my time, not drinking alcohol for a little while, and who is important to me. Morning sit spots and yoga are also on my mind.