CHANGING COURSE
I found these images on the net when I goggled images of changing the course of a river. I thought they were interesting in their contrast & similarities. The first image is painting by Francisco de Zurbaran (1598-1664) Known mostly for his religious paintings of monks & martyrs, the second image I found on a cheesy website promoting chakras(?), gurus & other faux spiritual nonsense.
I've always considered myself an activist in that I hate injustice when I find it & I've always perceived myself as being on the side of the oppressed. I love the concepts of democracy & the idea of advocating for the advancement of those concepts. It was mainly those ideals that initially got me involved in politics at the local level.
I have been planning on running again for city council in 2010 & have even considered running for Mayor. Last night while having dinner with my boss/editor & discussing these things, she informed me that I could not work for the newspaper & also run for Mayor. Apparently there would be too much conflict of interest. That floored me as I had not even taken into consideration that my interest in politics could interfere with my job. I told her I would have to completely rework my goals & change the course I'd set myself upon. I suggested perhaps I should consider newspaper editor as an alternate goal. My boss agreed it was a capitol idea. As we were well into the dregs of our bottle of wine at that point, it seemed like a completely practical & doable option....stay tuned.
***********************************************************************
It's been a long time since I posted about anything besides whatever current project I've been involved in. I didn't realize how small the circle I've drawn around myself has been until I was reading my friend regulus's blog & realized I've not been been keeping myself informed as to what was happening in the broader picture, I mean out in the world, beyond the small town I live in. I don't know whether this is good or bad. I do know that what happens directly around me seems more real, in a tactile sense anyway. Since it is my job to know what's going on locally, it's easier to draw that circle even a little smaller. Physical "hands on" things are always coming along to distract me. Right now, I'm in the process of moving...about a block away but still it requires some effort & planning on my part. I'm also extremely involved in the nuances & challenges of my job mostly because I have to make a living & support myself.
Unfortunately, I'm finding it difficult to keep up what I consider my blogging obligations.
It seems I can read my friends blog posts but typing a comment that is more then a couple of sentences for some reason is a brain drain....But please don't think any of you have drifted into the Don't care realm, you are all within the boundaries of the concern/influence section of the sphere. I'm still reading your blogs!
posted by Rita @ 6:01 PM
19 Comments
19 Comments:
I can see you as a newspaper editor. I really can. I know you like to be active, but you always seem to push for keeping people informed. Ok, I really do have an idea of what I'm trying to say, but I got a really crappy shock today, so I'm not completely put together. Perhaps I'll return when my brain works again.
Thank you dear. Sorry about your shock. Go hug your sweet little kitty.
Guess what!? I'm getting a bird! I'm so excited!
Okay, but if you start ranting about needing to get pictures of Spiderman, I'll know you have gone completely 'round the bend. :-)
Ever notice how certain professions are consistently portrayed as two-dimensional in movies and TV? I call it the Darren Stevens School of Acting, after that wonderfully cardboard advertising executive. The reference is getting a bit dated however, I might have to use "Professor Klump" or something to avoid the blank stares from the youngsters.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, I know some editorial decisions balance on the edge of a knife, as do some political decisions. The two jobs are a lot alike, with the same kind of general mission and pressure from special interests. I hope you do well whatever you decide.
Someone should tell that woman that one should really wear steel-toed boots for a job like that - not that it would do much good with a rock that size. Better traction than sandals though.
Actually, if she can shift a rock that size, she must be Superwoman on the day when her costume is at the laundry.....unless the rock is a styrofoam prop from the Sawdusters' prop room, that is.
breakerslion I'm still a bit unsettled about the whole thing. Politics has been my goal for two years. I guess it does make sense that it would be a conflict of interest to report on city matters while being a part of the decision making process concerning those same matters.
It sounds to me that you've been around long enough(Darren Stevens reference)to have seen how critically everyone watches politicians,& rightly so. In the political arena enemies are a given & when it comes to public figures the gloves always come off. Actually, your real enemies don't show themselves, they send their flunkies out to do their dirty work. In the newspaper business, there are also decisions to be made that are controversial or step on peoples toes. It is a lot like being in politics. How well you do just translates into money instead of votes.
As you can see I've not let go of the dream as I'm still arguing w/myself about it.
Yeah, what a corny photo shopped picture that is!
infidel Ha Ha! That's pretty funny. I'm afraid it's only the magic of the internet.
Actually I loved both the painting and the other image of art. The top one reminded me of a fellow at the track switch for the railroad, "switching it's path" And the bottom image of the gal and rock made me think of the innovative thinking of the human animal... both making what they want into reality.
I can only imagine how difficult it can be trying to find down time to be very active on the net... your a busy gal Rita ...bottom line! For money... I work for myself... and make my own hour's... as far as any other real work... about all I do is the house chore's,... cleaning,vacuuming, raking, laundry, a lil cooking... but very little,mostly eating out, cause in this town it is actually cheaper to eat out.My kind of work is kind of like "sales" I reckon... whatever need's selling you can say.And requires quite a bit of road time... yesterday I had to drive about 120 miles from Dallas for instance(alot of which I can drive around 95mph once out of the urban area's... so I make pretty good time) but the pay-off is well worth it. A run for Mayor!! Hell why not... someone's got to do it! No... actually sound's cool, at least for someone who could handle dealing with those type of responsibilities that is. I can only imagine... local poilitical work can be tough, unlike sitting on your ass in a seat that probably cost as much as a used car in DC! ...with benefit's and paid "off day's" out the ass. Perhap's being in your "own" little world also has some benefit's psychologically my dear, as well. The problem's of the world have quite a way's to go to getting solved... and worrying over it is like pissing in the wind at time's.
Thank You Ms.Rita!
At least you did not reuse the infamous "changing horses in midstream" rhetoric.
I love birds, but ever since someone took that to mean "I love cleaning the bird cages" when I worked at a petshop, I've been a little reluctant to commit to one. I really like conures though... what are you getting?
I have no intelligeable advice to give on this course change of yours. You seem to be doing your thing and it's working for you, I haven't had much success in making things work for me yet, but then again I'm just beginning my real journey into some kind of occupational utopia or whatever. So long as I'm making <30,000 a year, for the time being, I should be able to do more than I have been doing lately. I've got big goals to achieve, it doesn't stop until I'm dead someday, hopefully not for another hundred years or so.
ranch chimp The bottom line is city councilors or the Mayor do not get paid in this town. So i've got to choose if I can't do both. I'm not in the position to quit my job at this point.
As for being in my own little world. When I decided I'd like to have some influence on the course of events in the world that concerned me, one thing I realized is the boundaries of my own sphere of influence. Politics does widen that sphere, but there are also other ways to skin a cat...
Rev I'm sometimes a lazy writer I'll always drag out some tired old saying to make a point when it's easier then coming up with one of my own. :)
Starry I'm getting a cockatiel. I've never owned a bird, but have always wanted one.
qf It is obvious that you possess sufficient amounts of energy, intelligence & imagination to aid you in achieving your goals. You do not seem to be lacking in confidence either.
If you have the patience to stick to the task, I don't see anything but success for you.
Hey i should be a fortune teller!
I appreciate that you still are blog-reading with concern and influence. I would find it a little odd, however, if you managed to start controlling Ceremonial Soup.
phil I would not know where to begin!
So ... You basically told your boss you were gunning for her job, and she said, "Oh, groovy." ;)
Actually, though, I'm pretty sure there are times when my editor would be tempted to pass the responsibilities of keeping a newspaper running off on the first person who expressed any interest in taking them.
Arthbard You work for a newspaper, too? How cool!
Tell me is it a daily or a weekly?
My boss is unique as far as bosses go. She is very encouraging, but most of all probably not worried I'm going to get her job. :)
'Tis a weekly. Our small town doesn't really generate enough news for a daily.
Neither does ours. Newspapers are fun, aren't they?
Oh, they're an honest to God barrel of monkeys.
No, really. We have a literal barrel of monkeys coming by the office every day. They don't look like monkeys, mind you ... They're some strange, new breed ... Oh, yes ... Customers. That's what they're called.
In all seriousness, though, this is probably the only job I've ever had that I actually like.
I like it, too.
It seems everyone in town shows up at the newspaper office for one thing or another & sooner or later ends up in the paper, too. The newspaper is still the hub of this little town.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home