That's Gneiss! #135 ~ The pendulum swings from good to bad this week
Also: creative noisemaking and lightning!
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Hello friends,
It’s been quite a week, hasn’t it? There’s been some good, some not-so-good, and some downright horrible things going on.
On the good end of things, my friend had her baby and we celebrated two retirements at work. One of those was my current supervisor, which means I’ll be on to my 5th supervisor in 18 months - and another to come, as the new arrangement is temporary until the COVID hiring freeze ends. I was also assigned to a new team at work and that will keep me even busier! I am incredibly fortunate that my job can be done from home and I will be able to continue working here for quite a while. I’ve learned that I really don’t need all those pieces of paper that I printed out and left behind when the building closed nearly three months ago…
A really good thing that happened was a no-contact spotting of Nolan and Mia as they swung by to pick up a bag of stuff off the front porch on Friday. They’re heading to Idaho for the summer. It was great to see them dancing around in the yard for a couple of minutes! We waved from the window and off they went.
Yesterday morning we had a thunderstorm, and it was wonderful! They’re such a rarity here, especially one that lasts for a while as it passes over. I had a front-row seat on our porch for part of it, and even managed to catch a few pictures of lightning!
Oooooooooh!
Ahhhhhhhhhhh!
It then rained incessantly all day, and into the night. Nearly an inch and a half by the time it was through! Rowland and I got caught in a downpour on our afternoon walk, and it was quite invigorating. His feet are better, but he still can’t be trusted not to lick them raw when we’re not looking so he has to wear his cone much of the time.
Ooooh! I just discovered that Google made a gif from my storm pics.
As you are keenly aware, there’s a lot of horrible things going on across the country right now. Protests over the murder of George Floyd earlier this week in Minneapolis have erupted in cities across the country. If you find yourself feeling upset at the destruction and looting of businesses, I encourage you to watch this video of Trevor Noah.
Us white folks don’t get to tell others how to protest. We haven’t experienced the same things that black people experience day after day. It’s time to be quiet and listen to them, and take what we learn to help dismantle the oppressive system that exists today, and has existed since this country was born.
Listening to Black Voices Amid Murder, Violence, Protest, and Pandemic
Oh right. There’s a pandemic going on. Just because restrictions are easing doesn’t mean it’s over.
Stay home, stay safe, and be kind to yourself and others.
Until next week…
~Anne
Tidbits
Meanwhile in Ottawa, a moose just wants to cool off! (a small dose of levity)
My ranty place
Making: I’ve been carving stamps and learning how to use my new carving tools better (they are SHARP). I’ve decided to do the ICAD challenge again this year (I made it about halfway a couple of years ago - you may remember my funny animal collages). I think having a small art project every day will help me pull myself away from the news, at least for a while.
Recently eaten: cold home-made pizza (the dusting of blue cheese on top really made it great).
Reading: I finished a couple of books, so have moved on to new ones. Yay! I felt the need for some escapist fiction so I started the sci-fi thriller Recursion by Blake Crouch. I also picked up One Square Mile: An Artist's Journal of America's Heartland by Cathy Johnson for a bit of artistic and natural inspiration.
Videos of the Week
What happens when you take a pallet, guitar strings, guitar pickups, a paint can, drill, and two LED keychains?
While we’re on the subject of beautiful noise, here’s a recently unearthed video of Michael’s band DUSTdevils playing at CBGBs in the early 90’s. He had a VHS tape and was able to get it digitized - now we can all enjoy the show! The sound and video quality are excellent. That’s Michael on the left, wearing a lovely paisley shirt that he still owns.
Question of the Week
If you feel like answering the question, hit reply to this email. Answers will be shared in next week’s newsletter - anonymously. Don’t be shy! General public commenting is available too at the end of this post.
What was your first job?
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Last week I asked what your favorite body of water is, and why.
I do have a favorite body of water. It’s Alsea Bay in Waldport, Oregon. It’s not dredge, so it’s navigable only by little boats: wide and shallow and full of shifting sandbars where the seals sleep, and upriver it’s boggy and smelly and everything a saltwater estuary should be. I love it passionately.
Regarding the body of water question, three forks for me, rated in order of preference, the Gallatin then Madison then Jefferson- but the Missouri is awesome too. Also from my childhood, Sourdough creek is tough to beat.
I’m quite fond of the Pacific Ocean, along the western coast of North America. There’s just something about the relentless pounding of the waves on sandy beaches and rocky headlands that I find beautiful and soothing.
Current Temperature: 56.7 F (13.7 C)
Current Humidity: 78%
Wind (max gust): 5.8 mph
Precipitation: 0.07 in