I've been through a little bit of a drought with my posting lately, and I apologize to my loyal readers for that. I've been busy and I've been a little tired, so I haven't had much energy to write at night. I've been having a post in mind, but I just haven't been able to put the right words to it. I'm still not sure if I have the right words right now, but I'm going to try anyway. It might turn into a stream of consciousness, but at least I'm writing something.
A few weeks ago, on a beautiful Sunday morning, I had brunch with some former co-workers and wonderful friends. This past Friday I went to a house warming party for one of my former bosses and at the party were several other former co-workers. There were also many other people from the local publishing community. I didn't have the opportunity to work with many of these people, but I've heard about them through stories. I call this group of people and friends the Old Guard of the local publishing world. The publishing world in Colorado is relatively small, but it is slowly growing as new editors enter the industry. But it is the original group of editors, the Old Guard, to whom I'm always the most drawn and attracted.
It goes without saying that with the Old Guard comes a wealth of experience. They are true professionals who know the job and know the industry and most of them have years of experience. When I came fresh out of graduate school with hardly any experience, these were the editors who trained me and I am incredibly grateful for that. Now that I've been in the position of training people who are really fresh and green and who have no experience, I know how difficult this can be. I was lucky to be trained by people who are incredibly talented and patient and thoughtful. I was lucky to have the opportunity to soak up everyone's knowledge like a sponge, and I took advantage of every moment of that. The Old Guard also just understands how things are in this business. We're all overworked, underappreciated, and underpaid, and although we might complain and be frustrated with it, we accept it, deal with it, and move on. We're editors. We're not heart surgeons, so we're never going make a lot of money. So we live with it. For the Old Guard it is all a joke and we laugh it off. But for the New Guard it is cause for outrage and temper tantrums. This probably explains the incessant whining and constant complaining that you hear so much these days.
But what I love most about the Old Guard is the sense of community. I came into the local publishing world at the tail end of the "good old days" and I am fortunate to be a late comer to the Old Guard before many things changed in the local community. When I started my first job, the company was slipping into turmoil, and there were several moments in those first months when I wondered what I had gotten myself into and I was wishing I had stayed in school to get my PhD. But what saved me and what kept me going were the people I worked with. The big thing that separates the New Guard from the Old Guard is selfishness and the lack thereof. The New Guard seems to be very career driven, and that can sometimes lead to selfishness and self-centeredness. They tend to do what is good for them and them alone and they tend to care about themselves and themselves alone. The Old Guard is quite the opposite. We look out for one another and we support one another. Whenever I was looking for a new job, everyone was helping me and everyone was willing to recommend me or willing to be my reference. If another editor is out of a job, everyone else does what she can to send that person freelance work to help that person through rough times. When things get difficult, the Old Guard stands together and bonds tighter. It is about "us," and not about "me." From my perspective, it seems as if the new generation of editors doesn't have that same attitude. Or maybe I'm just too critical. Or maybe my standards and expectations are too high after working with so many wonderful people.
I suppose it is hard to explain, let alone understand, what I'm feeling right now and what I'm trying to say. I suppose it is something that you have to see or experience or feel for yourself. But all I know is that my feelings for the Old Guard are entirely different from what I feel for the New Guard. The Old Guard is a community and, for me personally, it is like a second family. It is made up of people that I not only respect and appreciate but that I also love.
Current mood: pensive
Current music: iTunes on shuffle—Loreena McKennitt "Penelope's Song"
Current drink: coffee
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Promises for a Real Update...Soon...
I apologize to my readers for the lack of updates over the past week or so. I haven't had much to say. There hasn't been a lot going on lately. Yet somehow I still feel really busy and really, really tired. So I promise a real update some time soon. The best I can do right now is report on the weather. It's cold!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
This and That, Weekend Edition
Work: Things at work are the same as to be expected. The end of August was extremely busy, but I had a brief moment of quiet early this month. It was very brief, however. Over the past week I got three new projects and all of them are on short schedules. So, needless to say, I've been busy over the past few days. In other news, our furlough period will be coming to an end. Beginning in October we will return to our normal paychecks. Granted, our pay checks were never huge to begin with, but it will be nice to have more money going into the bank. Hopefully this will improve the morale in the office. But, then again, I'm sure there will be something else for people to get upset over.
Weather: For the past few weeks the weather has been absolutely beautiful. It has been warm and sunny and clear. Temperatures have been in the 80s or upper 70s. A cold front must have blown in. When I woke up this morning it was cloudy and grey outside. Even though it was already 9:30, I also realized that it was really cold—it was only about 55 degrees. It has been raining for most of the morning, but where there was a break in the weather, I made a quick run to the grocery store. By the time I got out of the store there was a lot of wicked lightning and loud crashes of thunder. Standing in an open parking lot while holding onto a metal shopping cart probably wasn't the safest thing to be doing at the time. As I was driving home, I could see how bad the weather was getting. Really dark grey, low-lying clouds had rolled in. You couldn't even see the mountains. These clouds were really scary and ominous looking, and add to that the lightning and thunder and you'd think the world was coming to an end. Right now it is still raining and it is still quite cold. I guess this is a reminder that winter is right around the corner. It won't be long before this rain turns into snow.
Current mood: chilly
Current music: iTunes on shuffle—Sarah McLachlan "I Will Remember You"
Current drink: water for now; wine will come later
Weather: For the past few weeks the weather has been absolutely beautiful. It has been warm and sunny and clear. Temperatures have been in the 80s or upper 70s. A cold front must have blown in. When I woke up this morning it was cloudy and grey outside. Even though it was already 9:30, I also realized that it was really cold—it was only about 55 degrees. It has been raining for most of the morning, but where there was a break in the weather, I made a quick run to the grocery store. By the time I got out of the store there was a lot of wicked lightning and loud crashes of thunder. Standing in an open parking lot while holding onto a metal shopping cart probably wasn't the safest thing to be doing at the time. As I was driving home, I could see how bad the weather was getting. Really dark grey, low-lying clouds had rolled in. You couldn't even see the mountains. These clouds were really scary and ominous looking, and add to that the lightning and thunder and you'd think the world was coming to an end. Right now it is still raining and it is still quite cold. I guess this is a reminder that winter is right around the corner. It won't be long before this rain turns into snow.
Current mood: chilly
Current music: iTunes on shuffle—Sarah McLachlan "I Will Remember You"
Current drink: water for now; wine will come later
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Oh My God, Hide Your Children!
Today it was announced that on Tuesday, September 8, President Obama will deliver a welcome back to school speech directed toward students from kindergarten to the twelfth grade. This speech is supposed to encourage children to set goals, to work hard, and to stay in school. This is a great thing, right? Here we are, encouraging children, building them up, filling them with confidence, and telling them to take advantage of all of their educational opportunities. Education is important and we need a bright, intelligent workforce for the future, right?
Well, not everyone is so happy with the president's planned speech. Naturally, several members and sects of the right wing party are going absolutely crazy! There is mass panic among the right wing, and you'd think that Armageddon was upon us. Some school districts in six states (Texas, Illinois, Virginia, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Minnesota) are already refusing to air the president's speech. Parents are threatening to pull their children out of school that day if their school has the audacity to air the speech. Why? Some are saying that the president shouldn't use government time and money to take away time and money from state schools by giving a "politically motivated" speech. After all we have wars, an economic crisis, and health care reform to think about! Others are afraid that this will be an indoctrination and that the president will use this as a platform to impose his "socialist" ideas upon the poor, unsuspecting children of the country.
Naturally, this is all completely nuts. And the right wingers should be reminded that Obama is not the first president to give a speech directed toward children. In 1991, George H. W. Bush gave a speech that encouraged children to study hard and to get a great education, especially in science and math. In 2001, George W. Bush gave a speech and encouraged children in the United States to each donate $1 for a charity to help needy children in Afghanistan. And let us not forget that almost every president, especially saint Reagan, warned children about the dangers of drugs.
Throughout the years, decades, and probably centuries, almost every president or world leader has spoken to children about the importance of education. But for whatever reason when President Obama is set to give this kind of speech, people are up in arms and think it is part of some grand conspiracy to take over the minds of the children. It's just silly. You would think that any parent—or any sound minded, clear thinking individual for that matter—would put a high price and value on education. And, let me remind you, part of a good education is learning critical thinking skills. And the most important part of critical thinking is learning to listen to both sides of an argument or story before forming an opinion. People might not like the president, but what is the harm in first listening to what he has to say. If he tells children to do their homework, who is harmed? If children learn from him that they can grow up to be anything they want, including president, what is the harm in that?
Current mood: annoyed with the Wingnuts
Current music: iTunes on shuffle—Jewel "Again and Again"
Current drink: water...yes, water
Well, not everyone is so happy with the president's planned speech. Naturally, several members and sects of the right wing party are going absolutely crazy! There is mass panic among the right wing, and you'd think that Armageddon was upon us. Some school districts in six states (Texas, Illinois, Virginia, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Minnesota) are already refusing to air the president's speech. Parents are threatening to pull their children out of school that day if their school has the audacity to air the speech. Why? Some are saying that the president shouldn't use government time and money to take away time and money from state schools by giving a "politically motivated" speech. After all we have wars, an economic crisis, and health care reform to think about! Others are afraid that this will be an indoctrination and that the president will use this as a platform to impose his "socialist" ideas upon the poor, unsuspecting children of the country.
Naturally, this is all completely nuts. And the right wingers should be reminded that Obama is not the first president to give a speech directed toward children. In 1991, George H. W. Bush gave a speech that encouraged children to study hard and to get a great education, especially in science and math. In 2001, George W. Bush gave a speech and encouraged children in the United States to each donate $1 for a charity to help needy children in Afghanistan. And let us not forget that almost every president, especially saint Reagan, warned children about the dangers of drugs.
Throughout the years, decades, and probably centuries, almost every president or world leader has spoken to children about the importance of education. But for whatever reason when President Obama is set to give this kind of speech, people are up in arms and think it is part of some grand conspiracy to take over the minds of the children. It's just silly. You would think that any parent—or any sound minded, clear thinking individual for that matter—would put a high price and value on education. And, let me remind you, part of a good education is learning critical thinking skills. And the most important part of critical thinking is learning to listen to both sides of an argument or story before forming an opinion. People might not like the president, but what is the harm in first listening to what he has to say. If he tells children to do their homework, who is harmed? If children learn from him that they can grow up to be anything they want, including president, what is the harm in that?
Current mood: annoyed with the Wingnuts
Current music: iTunes on shuffle—Jewel "Again and Again"
Current drink: water...yes, water
Moderation Is a Good Thing
There is a family down in Arkansas that is famous for one thing and one thing only. Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar—and, yes, his name really is Jim Bob—are famous for having children, lots of them. At ages 42 and 44, Michelle and Jim Bob already have a total of 18 children. As I was getting ready for work on Tuesday, I was watching the Today Show and Meredith Viera dropped a teaser before the commercial break that the Duggar family had a "big" announcement. Well, when the Duggar family has any kind of announcement, it can be only one thing, that another baby is on the way. And, as expected, the Michelle Duggar announced that she is pregnant once again and their 19th child is on the way. This pregnancy comes only 8 months after she gave birth to her last child.
The general population greeted this news with shock and awe. Most people in the world think that this family is insane and crazy. People wonder how any family can afford to raise so many kids. I question how it's possible for any of these children to get any kind of individual attention and love. You wonder what kind of life the older children have, because they are probably responsible for taking care of their younger siblings. And we could also mention that this family is probably single-handedly depleting half of the world's resources. Or maybe I should say multi-handedly.
Anyway, this is a huge family, and most people, quite rightfully, think that they are crazy. However, the news of the big announcement was greeted with great excitement and many bright smiles from the media. Everyone is absolutely giddy about a new baby being added to the brood. One question, however, keeps popping into my mind whenever this family has another baby. Would they be treated the same way, would they have the same "celebrity" status, if they were anything but white and Christian? Somehow I doubt it. I have a hard time believing that the media and good Christians around the world would be as welcoming and excited if this family were African American or Latino. If they were African American they would probably be called ghetto trash or there would be hour-long documentaries about the irresponsibility of black men. If they were Latino they would probably be criticized for overpopulating the good old USA with illegal minorities. Yet, because they are Christian and white, this is a beautiful, wonderful thing meant to be celebrated. Yes, double standards do still exist.
The general population greeted this news with shock and awe. Most people in the world think that this family is insane and crazy. People wonder how any family can afford to raise so many kids. I question how it's possible for any of these children to get any kind of individual attention and love. You wonder what kind of life the older children have, because they are probably responsible for taking care of their younger siblings. And we could also mention that this family is probably single-handedly depleting half of the world's resources. Or maybe I should say multi-handedly.
Anyway, this is a huge family, and most people, quite rightfully, think that they are crazy. However, the news of the big announcement was greeted with great excitement and many bright smiles from the media. Everyone is absolutely giddy about a new baby being added to the brood. One question, however, keeps popping into my mind whenever this family has another baby. Would they be treated the same way, would they have the same "celebrity" status, if they were anything but white and Christian? Somehow I doubt it. I have a hard time believing that the media and good Christians around the world would be as welcoming and excited if this family were African American or Latino. If they were African American they would probably be called ghetto trash or there would be hour-long documentaries about the irresponsibility of black men. If they were Latino they would probably be criticized for overpopulating the good old USA with illegal minorities. Yet, because they are Christian and white, this is a beautiful, wonderful thing meant to be celebrated. Yes, double standards do still exist.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Sensitivity
I was born in Colorado, but I have lived in several states. A few years after I was born my family moved to Michigan, then Texas, and then California. Even though I had wonderful years in Michigan and Texas, California and Colorado have always had the greatest pulls on me. I spent my teenage and (many) college years in California, but something was always pulling me back to Colorado, so I came here for graduate school. I consider both home. Lately Colorado has become a refuge or a mecca for Californians. A lot of Californians have been moving here, and there is often a resentment from the Coloradoans toward the Californians. Quite frankly, a lot of people in Colorado hate Californians for the simple reason that they are from California.
Right now fires are raging in California and at the time of this posting about 127,000 acres have burned. The fires are so bad that the smoke has actually made it's way to Colorado, and our skies are so hazy and polluted that you can barely see the mountains. The land in California has burned, homes have been destroyed, and wildlife and people have been killed. What is happening is horrible, and you would think that people would feel sympathetic, but unfortunately that is not always the case. When reading the newspaper or watching TV, it's sad to see some reader or viewer comments saying things like "good, let it burn," or "we'd all be better off if California just fell into the ocean," or "they deserve it for building homes in the hills," or my personal favorite, "God is punishing California for their tolerance of gays." Well, if God punishes people for their tolerance of gays, then why does God always drop tornadoes on mobile home parks, because, let me tell you, gays don't live in mobile home parks! But I digress.
The point is, why do people feel the need to make these ludicrous comments when something this terrible is happening? Why bring your personal resentment or hatred or politics into the issue? This is an issue about humanity.
The ones making these types of comments are obviously worthless, pathetic trolls who have nothing better to do with their lives and who have absolutely nothing to offer the world. These are the people who are spineless and heartless and worth less that the foulest smelling thing in the sewers.
Fortunately I know that Colorado is a great state with a lot of great people, and the ones making these comments are just an isolated group and don't represent the state as a whole. This is a state that loves nature and the environment and we've had our own share of fire disasters. We're a lot more sensitive and sympathetic than the fools who spend their entire day posting comments to newsboards.
Right now fires are raging in California and at the time of this posting about 127,000 acres have burned. The fires are so bad that the smoke has actually made it's way to Colorado, and our skies are so hazy and polluted that you can barely see the mountains. The land in California has burned, homes have been destroyed, and wildlife and people have been killed. What is happening is horrible, and you would think that people would feel sympathetic, but unfortunately that is not always the case. When reading the newspaper or watching TV, it's sad to see some reader or viewer comments saying things like "good, let it burn," or "we'd all be better off if California just fell into the ocean," or "they deserve it for building homes in the hills," or my personal favorite, "God is punishing California for their tolerance of gays." Well, if God punishes people for their tolerance of gays, then why does God always drop tornadoes on mobile home parks, because, let me tell you, gays don't live in mobile home parks! But I digress.
The point is, why do people feel the need to make these ludicrous comments when something this terrible is happening? Why bring your personal resentment or hatred or politics into the issue? This is an issue about humanity.
The ones making these types of comments are obviously worthless, pathetic trolls who have nothing better to do with their lives and who have absolutely nothing to offer the world. These are the people who are spineless and heartless and worth less that the foulest smelling thing in the sewers.
Fortunately I know that Colorado is a great state with a lot of great people, and the ones making these comments are just an isolated group and don't represent the state as a whole. This is a state that loves nature and the environment and we've had our own share of fire disasters. We're a lot more sensitive and sympathetic than the fools who spend their entire day posting comments to newsboards.
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