learnteach

 1. Got on top of teeth and health, and engaged with fighting the American Health system.  Losing, of course, but not as badly as I would otherwise. 

2. Moved a room mate in, theoretically making both of our lives easier.   Found out my sinuses like dog dander as much as they like cat dander, but dogs are more polite about where they go.  Still, difficult. 

3. Started a men's gaming group meeting Fridays, good fun.  Learned new tabletop games.  Talked with other men.   

4. Read two novels and several short stories (Ursula Vernon) out to a friend (over the phone).  Deepened freindship. 

5. Spun music for the Goods Goblin Ball.   Great time!

6. Took up drumming for the Crosston Dance practice. Lots to learn. 

7.  A number of silly adventures with Flideas, of which I will finish one next week.  

8.  Invited Wendy to the vampire ball.  Cancelled due to her breast cancer, but it would be a dream to waltz at a ball with her.   And a big dream of hers. 

9. Visited Mom on the average of 2x a week, and called at least 2x more.   Gonna up this to 3x/3x next year. 

10. Visited the troll in Portland.  Now want to go visit all the ones in Seattle.  Thanks Thomas Dambo!

11. Gave away most of my heavy kit.  Time to rejigger and refigure my SCA commit.  I don't think fencings going to work with the bad leg. 

Buncha stuff happened this last week (as it is always one damn thing after another, except when it's one damm time for everything.)   I decided to get the tooth maintenance done and figure out finances afterward, so I made the appointments and had one tooth reconsructed and one pulled.  These days they fill the wound with bone chips and sew a cover over it so an implant can be grafted in later, so there's a bit of "don't touch this" that you have to work with and avoid exploring the sensation with your tongue.    And the surgery site leaks blood, and you can't brush it, so your mouth is icky for a bit, but you just try to ignore it and focus on healing. 

And then, there's the other thing. 

I've been getting together with Kristin (Flidias) roughly weekly for "little adventures" for a couple of years now.   The adventures could range from trying a new coffee house to going shopping in the local Korean markets, to organizing a tea for Kdrama fans, going to help a friend, seeing the sea creatures at the tidal pools on the San Mateo coast, going to Pescadero to check out the Goat Yoga place, calling up Andrew (Ivar) and proposing shenanigans in SF...all sorts of things. 

Sometimes we didn't meet because someone didn't feel good.  Sometimes the adventure was cooking together, but sometimes it was yard work.   Last year we harvested grapes and made verjuice.   Last month we harvested grape leaves and made dolmades, with a confusion of recipes from four of her cookbooks and memories and discussions of how to prep the leaves and how much pepper and lemons and they  turned out great except the meat from Lucky's not so good and...

She had cancelled on some gardening because she wasn't feeling well, and said she had to go up and deal with inspection and contractors. at her mother's house, so she'd be in Fairfield.  The house is the last piece of her mother's estate to be handled.  A couple of times in the last few months, her phone had run out of charge. 

So, I checked in a week ago Friday, and she wasn't  feeling well.   I asked if she needed a care package, in part because I go to San Mateo on Fridays to score hockey from 8 to 12 and can hit the Safeway on the way out and pick things up.  She wanted tomato juice and watermelon juice, but didn't want to inconvienince me when she was 10 minutes from the store, so she'd do it herself.    Checked in Sunday, she hadn't made it out, so after the first dental work on Monday I rested, then drove up and bought V8 (low sodium), two bottles of watermelon juice, some bananas, and a microwave package of chicken noodle soup, and dropped them off at her house.  She met me at the door, but didn't want me to come inside.   I handed her the bag, talked a moment, and left, as she wanted to go back to bed. 

Texted/phoned with her Tuesday and Wednesday, she said she felt a bit imbroved (less constipated) but very tired.  Didn't hear from her Thursday, she didn't respnod to texts of calls on Friday, so after hockey I went over and drove by her house.  The car was there (in the backyard where she parks it) and the bathroom light was on, so she wasn't in Fairfield.   I had discussed with Crystal doing a wellness check, as Crystal has house keys, and so we went on Saturday.   

I couldn't enter the house.  The stuff from her mom's house on top of her stuff meant that there was a passage too narrow for me withough knocking things over.   Xtal went in the back door and found Kristen, cold to the touch, on the bathroom floor. 

Dealt with the police and coroner, who were able to contact her brother Mark.  Called as many people who we knew knew her well, and let them know.   Once Mark confirmed that it could go out on social media, did that.   Now,


Now, I sit here and keep my tounge away from the hole where the tooth was.   Now, I keep my mind away from the hole where she was, until I know more, until things settle out a little.   My chest is heavy, and I'm weary, but I'm ok.   The grape leaves are too tough now to make good dolmas, and the korean market isn't as much fun without a shopping buddy.  At some point I will analyze what happened a little more openly, admitting it more fully into my thoughts, because if another rider goes down, learn from their mistake and avoid it (motorcycle philosophy)  

Two final thoughts:  Do the paperwork.   I know that things are not going to turn out as she had desired them, but although Kristin talked about a will, she never completed one and let people have a copy, even though she asked xtal to be her executor.  I am happy to assist, and hold your will as an outside source.    Secondly, avoid the avoidence.   We're not the youth we were and bad things can happen to anyone.   There's a wilfull ignorance that the media in this culture promotes, As for me, I'll keep working on my AFIB/Diabetes/Hypertension/lameness, with medicine and eating changes and exercise and caution.   I can no longer ffight heavy in the ScA with a good conscience, because a strong blow to the chest could trigger a disaster. 

Like waves coming into the pockets of rock and pool where the seaslugs hide and frolic, like the wind in the redwood trees, ruffling some but not all branches, like the pulse of traffic on 101 at 92, I know the disturbance of  finding the missing tooth that is my friend who was a big part of the texture of my life is coming. 








 

 According to the Guardian, there are more redwoods (coastal and sequoia) in England than in California (500,000 to 80,000)   That doesn't seem right to me,  but I can't find accurate numbers for either place.

The driving factor was a Victorian garden trend (or set of trends).   

The article:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Save_the_Redwoods_League   (Note the prevalence of Woman's clubs (and Garden clubs) in the preservation of habitat.)

Giant Sequoia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoiadendron_giganteum

The Guardian article:   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/23/giant-redwoods-britain-uk-sequoia-specieswatch

 You are the Public.  You should feel at home in public spaces:   From Tumblr:

John,

We will NOT give up. The Wisconsin results are too close.

Despite the ridiculous public polling used as a voter suppression tactic, Wisconsin has been a razor-thin race as we always knew it would be.

There have been irregularities in several Wisconsin counties which raise serious doubts about the validity of the results. We are requesting a RECOUNT.

We cannot let the Left go unchecked any longer. There are too many irregularities and room for potential DECEPTION to give up now. We need to FIGHT BACK, but we can’t do it without your help.

President Trump just activated the EMERGENCY Wisconsin Recount Fund, and it’s going to take every Patriot’s help to get the resources we need to expose their lies and declare a TRUMP-PENCE VICTORY.

Your support is so critical that President Trump is giving YOU the opportunity to increase your impact by 1000%.

It amazes me how the Devil can blind so many of God's children to truth and decieve them with lies.
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Stephen Saindon
Stephen Saindon I am talking about the Trump haters!
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John R. Schmidt
John R. Schmidt Stephen Saindon Then you wish (or think it is God's will) that there be children in cages at the southern border of the USA? You think it is God's Will to abandon our allies in the Middle East (the Kurds) and let ISIS rise again? You think that a man who is a proven adulterer who lies all the time should lead us?
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Gabriella Samonella
Gabriella Samonella John you better check your facts with snopes.
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Stephen Saindon
Stephen Saindon John R. Schmidt You either believe what you wish were true or you have been duped by the deceivers who want to manipulate you. Try discerning reality and truth and question your perceptions and desires. You may be surprised.
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John R. Schmidt
John R. Schmidt I believe in God, the Father, the Almighty. For Trump I go by his words and his deeds as reported. For the cages, I go by the words of my co-believers who visited. There are none so blind as those who will not see.
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Stephen Saindon
Stephen Saindon John R. Schmidt And therein lies your problem: "...as reported..." You are listening to false reporting.
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So much is happening, so much is not happening; I'm out of the habit of journalling here, which I'm sure I'll regret at some point.

JORB: Had an interview, at the place where the VP kept blowing me off. He asked for a lot, gave nothing, so I sent him a presentation with a request (with a SOCK award) in it. IF he contacts me before the end of the month, I'll owe him socks. IF not, no loss.

It leads me to think, what do I really want in a job?

TRAVELS: West/An Tir was low key, but fun. Chuck and Petra were camp close due to hayfever, so I didn't get out as much as I normally do. Did sing Woad a lot, visited a bit, listened to people. Played Stick, got MagPye to sing (beautiful soprano) and a little from Aasa. Heard the Calontiri WestWarsong, which is good but not perfect, and I will learn and teach it.

....more later

In taking little steps,
In following or going on your own,
so does the dance progress,
So is the relationship grown.

Some are done in private;
Some are done alone--
Some are done in public,
And then to all you own--

The truths or lies you're feeling,
exposed to all the world
On social media you share them,
and you're on the dancefloor whirled.

***
A lady who bid me ask her dance,
likes dancing with me still.
We adventure and art and cook and sing.
Will I be with her on FB? I will.

***

I will stand with her asked or unasked;
I will support her best I can;
I will be her strength when asked for;
I want to be her man.


-------
wow. Impromptu poetry.

Moving over from LJ.

What's happening with me?

I have for the past 3 years been dating a woman who is polyamorous...now I a seeing a different woman who is poly, and it's making me better because I'm redefining my needs and wants, and sharing and experiencing sooo much. I'll be posting more about it here, perhaps...

Right now I'm amazed and in thought. It's hard work, processing all the emotions of both of us, and also figuring out what I want and what I can provide.

I'm shocked to find that what I consider basic consideration and affection (caring about someone as a verb, checking in, trying to react to fact not emotion, "Don't be a Dick", state your needs) is so ...valued, or perhaps unusual?

I need to figure out my finances--do my taxes, run my burn rate--and take better control of my health (mental, physical, spiritual) and my finances.

I'm trying to figure out how to rejoin some of my earlier pursuits, and how much time to invest. Fighting (SCA), martial arts, dance, theater...all are time sinks.

I'm really enjoying the new relationship. It is helping me grow in good ways.

1. Culture: Poetry Highbrow form:

RM wrote me this: Mon amour, tu m'aides à me sentir vivant de nouveau, tu me laisses agir comme moi et me cacher derrière ma mascarade. Pour danser pour sentir aimer être aimé, cela signifie plus pour moi que ma gratitude ne pourrait jamais exprimer. Mon amour je sens ne sera jamais assez mais je te donnerai mon coeur ..

I roll the words through my head, and pick at them, and they become more of a poem. They are so powerful...I feel an edge of Gomez coming one. Seriously...you want to reach my heart? Forget under the ribs and up (through the stomach), forget the cooking, and if you think a physical act will do it, dress up, go dancing with me, and at some point whisper words I don't understand completely at the moment into my ear.

or just send it to me...I don't google it until I roll it around in my brain...aaaaah. It seeds more poetry. She has truely observed a way to

2. Material Work Culture:

In front of me on my desk are two bubble up timers. Behind me on the wall up high are 8 office clocks, all labeled. ON the other side of the building, a yellow Minion doll sits on top of the cubes.

All three of these things (which are more than 3 things) are the physical embodiment of the surviving corporate culture. Each started from some idea, and grew, then diminished or changed.

After a big push in support on soft phone skills, I got everyone bubble up timers so that you would set the 3 minute timer at the beginning of the call to give you a clue that you needed to 1. Do the small talk 2. Verify the customer 3. Make sure you were on the correct issue 4. Give the strategy quickly and clearly (before the timer ran out). It was incredibly useful at the time, and it became a badge of support--everyone who worked in the group got a different colored timer (I got them from either Thinkgeek or Oriental Express--https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Liquid-Timers-Bubble-Up-Timers_11860706/showimage.html was what they were.

Last week, all the remaining support people but myself were laid off. Before they left, the two who got timers from me came and put them on my desk.

Both of the timers are broken; they never were meant to last as long as they did. The company's broken, too.... but the badges of honor remind me more.

The clocks were the brainchild of Ron Plunk...as the facilities shrank, he collected the wall clocks, labelled them, and set them to the lcoal times--US West/US East, England, India, Japan, Australia...it was a good reminder. The end of the row is Miller. He was laid off two weeks ago, with the rest of the group. Only I ever see the clocks. ...I should either fix them, or move.

The Minion came from an old joke; I called all the interns "Minions" at one point, which they found funny and copied, and their supervisor deplored (They are employees!) So when I found an inexpensive blow up Minion, I gave it to Victoria. She put it on top of her cube (on the bookshelf) because that's how you know someone still works there--they don't clean the cubes out, but when you leave you pull everything off the high part. I look over to that and remember the happier times.

I don't know how much longer this job will last--not more than 3 weeks...but we will see. Time to hunt.


3. Political Culture

SO MUCH VITRIOL which hides the real issues: Why is the TPP fastracked? Why was the tax rate not attacked back to Reagan era levels at least? Why are we still spending so damn much on the military? It's all a shell game...that's our political culture, shock and awe and reality TV. I'm with the pantsuit nation, but what about the other issues? Housing, schools, homeless, guns, drugs, healthcare, roads? Police services and police brutality? What has happened?

Work on it. VOTE!