miller's crossing

School's been keeping me busy. The autumn colors are amazing this week. I've posted a few photos on Flickr. I intend to post something new here soon, but I've also got two mid-terms to write this weekend.

This is a story idea that I have about mix tapes.

It really has to do with the fact that my car, that I don't drive very often, has a cassette tape player. I really love that it has a cassette player and not a CD player. So, when I'm driving all over town running errands, I've been listening to old (and one new) mix tapes. These tapes haven't really been in circulation, but over the past year and a half as I've moved out of and sold a house, I unearthed several old mix tapes that friends had made for me and a couple I had made for myself.

School's started and I’ve got lots of reading to do for classes. Fortunately, I spent my summer reading (mostly) pleasurable novels. Intentionally or not, two related themes surfaced in my choices: marriage problems and women’s coming of age.

So as I write this, the stock market is diving and the House just rejected the $700 billion bailout plan. Still pretty early to see who's saying what in political blogland, but this is what I've got to say: step back and practice some detachment. These are very interesting times with the potential to be quite scary. Uncertainty is difficult for most people ... as is change. We are witnessing a lot of change -- condensed, fast and unpredictable upheaval, revaluation and reset.

Paying attention? Detachment doesn't mean ignorant or uninterested. So, pay attention.

It's been a year since I hit the reset button, moving 2000 miles away from my old home to the Pacific Northwest. I'm finding it's a process with lots of starts and stops, plateaus and backwards steps, and vortex-like forward motion punctuated by periods of evaluation and re-evaluation of perceived progress.

The tide is turning. I can feel it. There is another change getting ready to manifest. I'll float a little longer, though. Timing is its own thing.

In the meantime, I had a great vacation last week in one of my favorite places. Photos here.

lair

A few more photos.

It's been a little more than nine months since I decided to relocate. At the time, I realized I wouldn't be doing myself any favors by considering the ramifications of moving 2000 miles from home. (I might scare myself out of it.) I just knew it was something I felt strongly about doing. I had the momentum. I took the chance. And I did it.

Tibetan flag

Just a thought for peaceful co-existence and the end of suffering for all beings.

Check out new pictures from my weekend trip.

...

"I've visited this place in a dream," I remarked to my companion as we explored old military bunkers at Fort Worden on the Olympic Peninsula. It should've felt more profound. But really, I think I was just overstating things.