An Organized Life

I spent the majority of  the morning organizing my many stacks 'o stuff in my home-office.  I then drove to the Zine Archive Project in Seattle (Hugo House) and have continued this organizational trend here.  We've gone through and emptied the to-be-filed box, and are now working to organize our respective sections.  I have been assigned the political, science, and GLBT sections to organize.  I'm lucky.  I could have been assigned the comics section. Thankfully, someone else is busily organizing the world of comics.  Later, I'll meet a friend for coffee and conversation.  A very productive start, middle and end to a Saturday.

The rain has returned and brought the colder weather along with it.  I think that whenever it gets sunny around here, we QUICKLY grow attached to the light and warmth.  So-much-so, that when the sun departs again for it's eight-month reprieve, we miss it as though it was a daily part of Northwest life.  Winter is right-around-the corner and, thankfully, so is my favorite of all holidays--Christmas.  I've already loaded my Zune with Christmas music and have begun to slip Christmas Cd's into the CD holder in my car.  Does anyone else remember the Firestone Christmas Albums?

Maryhill Museum

Here is a great photo of the Maryhill Museum mentioned in the previous post (see link there for more information). This photo is provided by the museum on their website for general usage.

Maryhill Exploration

On Wednesday morning, I drove a van-load of Evergreen peepazoids to Goldendale and the Maryhill Museum http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/ We finished the trip with a visit to a Greek Orthodox Monastery http://www.stjohnmonastery.org/ where we feasted on amazing pastries and Greek coffee.  Greek coffee was a new and welcome experience.  Would it be wrong to suggest that the Greeks might actually beat the French in the global espresso taste-test?
 
The nuns of this particular monastery write (not paint) icons depicting Greek Orthodox Saints.  They also make soap, other religious accessories and are known for their baked goods.  They are also licensed as a goat dairy and raise chickens.  It was especially nice to visit with the nuns and their cats.  They had a proud mother with her brood of three (that I saw, though suspect more were around--someplace) and all were friendly.  I'm now convinced that cats, as well as people, can convene with God.  The property is amazing (in the middle of the woods) and peaceful.  I kept thinking:  this would be a great place for a writer's retreat.  I wonder if the Nuns would ever consider hosting such a retreat?  Writing your way to God, perhaps?

The drive two-and-from the Evergreen Campus was picturesque. The instructors had arranged it so we'd see some of the more inspirational sites during our journey; speed was sacrificed for beauty.  Prior to this trip, I hadn't heard of Goldendale, the monastery, or the Maryhill Museum.  They were all amazing places to visit and I look forward to seeing them again in the future.  

The Steppe

Our first field-trip is on the very near horizon.  We will be heading out to a Greek Orthodox Monastery and a Museum that houses a large collection of religious icons.  I'm really looking forward to it.  And, I get to drive the van.  I feel so grown up these days.  I will be posting some pictures and video when I get back, so stay tuned for that.

I'm working on the next podcast for Bluedogwriter I have completed a new opening and closing for the podcast, in addition to addressing that annoying echo that was coming from the microphone.  It's still not "studio-quality," but then podcasts rarely are--and it gives it that homemade feel.  I baked this podcast from scratch, not some mix.  I was bent over a red-hot microphone and boy are my vocals tired.  You get the idea.

I have also started to play with video on the web.  This is all part of my desire to work in mixed-media.  You can check out a webcam video that I took by clicking here.  I recently purchased a small hand-held video cam and will be playing with that over the field-trip.  Bluedogwriter is going to be a multi-media web-experience for those who choose to visit.  

We're Off with the Cossacks

Fall quarter has taken off and we're already into the thick-of it at Evergreen.  Russia and Eurasia promises to be one of the most challenging courses I've taken thus far.  The teachers and many of the students are well versed in the Russian language and have travelled to the land of Rus on multiple excursions.  I've been to Tijuana.  Does that count for something? 

Fun fact:  Russia has thirteen distinct time zones.  Even Mussolini would have had a difficult time getting the trains to run on time in a country this expansive. 

I'm about to purchase a video camera and will post some videos of Evergreen.  Many of you have asked me about Evergreen and what goes on there.  Lots of drumming and occupying of buildings.  A magically expensive place.  See you soon.