Making Ripples: post-corporate adventures in Floyd County Virginia

Life in Palmyra

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A few years ago, while trying to effect changes at Sun Microsystems, I thought to myslf that there had to be more to life than endless meetings and glacial progress on programs of doubtful longevity.

Where have all the scholars gone?

I was savoring my daily dose of inspired invective from Emperor Misha I when I saw this picture and almost snorted coffee all over my keyboard. My immediate thought was, "Where is competence on their list?"

Family

Dictionary.com defines "family" as:
1. A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children.
2. Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place.

While there may be continuing erosion of the family according to the first definition, there seems to be a corresponding growth in the concept of family as described in a larger sense. That is probably because being part of a family promotes the survival of all members of the family. Even if the extended or nuclear family is dispersed by economic circumstance, individuals need the protection and support of a group that functions as a family.

Shanty Town revisited

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During the Depression years of 1939-1941, I remember seeing an unusual group of shacks on the bank of the Connecticut River north of Springfield, Mass. I was as curious then as I am now and I wanted to know what this was. Dad told me it was Shanty Town, while Mother called it Hooverville.

It was built by desperate and resourceful people who had lost their homes and jobs and had no place to live.

Doing what you love

It seems to be acceptable again to consider doing what you love.
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In the early fifties, when I was seriously preparing for a career, only the most outrageously bohemian types would propose a career of doing what they loved. That was the heyday of the Organization Man, with all of the lockstep mindset of that era. As I recall, even the music was quite unreal and non-confrontational. (Slow Boat to China, Paper Doll)

Then, of course, came the age of Aquarius where doing whatever you fancied was more in vogue. For a brief time it seemed that all of the old strictures loosened up a little, aided in part by various chemical substances.

Fire in the Mountains

Even 3000 miles away with rain pouring down outside, I get a chill reading about fires threatening folks along the coast of California. I lived in California for 20 years and saw too many terrible fires. I am very glad we only have hurricanes here in Virginia. So, a tree falls on my house. At least there is a house left to fix.

Da Goddess captures the mood in her recent post, Closing In.

End to a perfect Sunday

We returned from Charlottesville just as threatening skies gave way to rain and early darkness. Our 1998 extended Dodge Van, the Box-Cart, was loaded with lumber, groceries and much appreciated presents from a friend.
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We had taken the Box-Cart on this excursion because it is the perfect vehicle for serious shopping. With twelve feet of clear space behind the seats, we can shop until our credit cards redline. I can load several hundred board feet of lumber on board plus corn for the deer and still have room for everything Gretchen buys on our weekly run into town. When this van moves through the Harris Teeter parking lot, it looks like Moby Dick searching for Volkswagens to munch on.

Hang in there

There are times when all seems lost. We've all been there. The job of a lifetime turns sour, that one true love turns out to be a mirage, or you have really screwed up and there is no hope. You are so crushed and scared that you can't even see where went wrong.

You probably feel like this lizard. There are at least two ways you can go. Since there is no other reasonable alternative, you can bow to the inevitable and take your lumps. After all, no one can expect you to do the impossible. Or, you can defy all reason and insist on surviving long after hope is lost.

Swordfish dinner for Sherman

I have had some interesting responses since I posted What's wrong with this picture?, but none more gratifying than Beth creating a special meal in honor of my cat, Sherman.

Thanks, Beth, from all of us. Gretchen and I will have to do that recipe ourselves and we'll just have to keep Sherman from getting a swelled head.

Pedal to the metal

I was thinking of the many escapades I have survived when I fell across a picture of Bill Gates in a choice collection of mugshots

Bill went on to become an outstanding example of what a smart kid can accomplish, even with a police record and without a college education. Shows us that we really shouldn't get stuck in our early losses. Maybe we should just get over them and get on with it. We all have a lot to contribute to society.