I love an apt comparison...

I'd like to thank Wade at voltageblog.com for the graphic. (original here) I'd also like to note that Wade's bailout total is about half of what Bloomberg reports the Fed and the Treasury are prepared to spend. God help my children. God help their children.

Days don't fly by so quickly anymore...

So these days I'm framing condos while I look for architectural work. Economy just froze. Well, the building economy, anyway. But It's good when the days are good and it's bad when it rains. I've been mostly lucky so far. I hope my luck changes sooner than later on its way to eventually. But I get by. I'm getting in great shape and I feel all manly now coming home on the bus next to well-preened business boys coming home from downtown while I have cement on my work boots and sawdust on my clothes. Makes me feel like I've done a real day's work. But seriously, people look at me like a homeless guy and the homeless guys look at me like I'm one of them. I've got a couple more days on this job and then the project developer is going to hire me on to do some work for him.

But this morning, Katy and I got up early and enjoyed our Saturday morning ritual where we walk through our beautiful neighborhood to our favorite local coffee shop and have coffee, share a breakfast sandwich, read the paper and talk. It's my favorite part of the week. We've had mostly sunny Saturdays... the weather has a way of giving us a break for the weekends. It's a nice time to walk and talk and I've come to enjoy reading the paper over coffee.

And so, after a nice sunny day that involved a short bus ride, a long walk, buying work pants, a longer walk, some harmonica playing in a tunnel, and a nice sunset from the parking garage, I sit here at home. And I desperately need to clean before Katy gets home.

By all.

And so I will toil...

Today I went to my new part time job. I'm helping some guys finish framing a four story condo in the West End. I showed up and the boss, a guy about my age, took me to the roof and told me to start cutting boards to size with a circular saw. I spent the day cutting mostly, but did a few odds-n-ends things occasionally. It was a beautiful day today. Not a cloud all day as the sun rose from behind an adjacent condo tower and arced across the turbulent bay below to fall, in the end, behind Victoria Island across the bay. I worked outside and listened to rock and roll on the radio all day it wasn't too bad. Hard. But not bad. It felt good to be doing a good hard day's work. I haven't put a day in like that since the military. I know it will get old fast, and it'll be a different story when it's raining again. But it was a good first day. He can use me part time for the next couple of weeks. It puts some money in the bank and gives me a cushion while I continue to look for the next job. Man, recessions suck. But, so it goes...

Joyous rejoicing amidst a desperate economy!

Well, I've been out of the blogging groove for awhile because nothing I have to write about has been able to overcome the depression of looking for a job. It's hard to write about happy things when you're miserable and unsure looking for work. Well, today I found a short-term gig helping a guy do some wood framing on a condo downtown. I show up tomorrow and learn on the job. I kinda know what has to be done and I'm good with tools, so I'm hoping I pick it up quick. He's going to work me for a day and see if I'm worth keeping on for the next two weeks. If I can pull this off, I'll have income for 2 more weeks while I keep looking for a full-time job. The good part of being unemployed is that it's given me time to paint and draw a bit more. Here is a painting I did for my sister and gave her in SD. It's 30"x30" and the figure is life-sized. It's my favorite painting I've done yet.


As for the joyous rejoicing, this past weekend while in San Diego I proposed to Katy and she said yes! Yep, you heard that right... I have a fiance!!! I wasn't sure about it until the moment I asked the question. We talk about the very far future as if it were a given. There are plans for when we're old, potential business plans, vacation plans, child-rearing talks, etc. There doesn't seem to be a doubt in either one of our minds that we're going to grow old together. It's a strange feeling, really. I decided it was time because it rains constantly in Vancouver and we were going somewhere sunny and beautiful. Katy has met my mom before but this was the first time she met Kim. I thought it was a perfect opportunity to propose at sunset at the ocean. It wasn't a big production. We were sitting on rock cliff overlooking the ocean and just as the sun hit the water I got down on one knee asked her to stay with me forever and asked her if she would be my wife. She was shocked. No one saw it coming. I gave her a ring my mother gave me a few years ago. It's nice to be able to have an heirloom. God knows I can't afford a ring on my own. You should've seen my mom. She was sitting in a gazebo up at the edge of the cliff and she didn't see a thing. She said she was watching the sunset and thinking about nothing in particular. I yelled for her and showed her Katy's hand from about 30 feet away. I told her, "She said yes!" and she was utterly confused... for about 5 seconds. Then she lost it. She started crying and laughing and jumping up and down turning circles. No one up on shore could see Katy and I... they thought Mom was crazy. She just kept yelling, "My son is getting married!!!" She really likes Katy. So yeah, it was the right time. We'll wait for awhile, and we're not sure how many ceremonies there are going to be... maybe as many as 3. Yep... 3. One for her Indian family. THat ought to be a fun lot of dancing. One for her British family and one for my family. We have yet to figure any of that out but it's not pressing for the moment. I'm really happy, though it freaks me out a little that I have a fiance. It's weird. But, proposal or no, life goes on. No plans in the near future but stay tuned and I'll keep you updated.

Ok, off to make lunch. Wish me luck on the new job tomorrow. I don't have it cinched up yet... still have to prove I can frame a house!

Off to Sandy Eggo

Between the job hunt and the election I haven't been able to talk or even think much about this weekend. I am hours away from getting on a plane with Katy to go ee Mom. We've had the trip planned for awhile now. Kim and Tyler will meet us there and we'll spend a 4-day weekend together for early Thanksgiving.We've really been looking forward to this trip. I think it will be a memorable one. Katy hasn't met Kim yet so they're both excited to finally meet. I'm glad for the break. We're getting a whole lot of rain today. San Diego is nice and sunnnnyyyyy! Ok, gotta catch a cab. Have a good weekend everyone!

WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!

I still can't believe this is happening. I can only imagine what it must be like to be in the States right now... even Vancouver is noticeably happier today. This morning's news lacked the tension and uncertainty it is generally burdened with. The guys at the coffee shop this morning were talking to me about the feeling of hope they had when they awoke. People on the streets are talking about the election as they read their papers and wait for their buses. Katy doesn't feel that the future is so grim now and is no longer afraid to accompany me to the States. God, the SUN even came out today! I feel PRIDE! I feel HOPE! I feel that the future is WIDE OPEN!!! No longer are we subject to the abject cynicism the current government brought with them. No longer will irony and absurdity underlie our everyday lives. All over America, the people said ENOUGH! The country I so badly wanted to believe in came together and change is at hand! I can't really write anything coherent right now because all I want to do is hoot and holler in joy!

Instead, I'm going back to my job hunt.

But man, I am one happy unemployed American!!!

Change is at hand!

This morning the world seems a more hopeful, more promising place to be. I am blown away that people all around the world are cheering us on as we move to the end of the Bush regime. They know how important this is, too. I am so proud to be a part of this election. I can't tell you how badly I wanted to be in the States last night... anywhere in the States. I wanted to be out in the streets celebrating with everyone else. I was almost moved to tears. I've been asking for years what it would take to get Americans in the streets. Turns out, it was a black president.

Now all I need is a job.

America the Beautiful!!!

We did it!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't describe the pride, joy, and, dare I say, hope I feel in my heart. This is what America needed. And did you hear his speech? Such a powerful speaker!

Thank you to everyone who knocked on a door, who distributed a flyer, or who talked to a friend. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and their efforts to this campaign.

I believe again and it feels wonderful.

We're doing it!!!

6:45pm
I can't believe this is happening! We've done it, everyone! We've taken our country back! I can't decide if I feel more like crying or dancing in the street. It's not final yet, and it's far from over, but Democrats have control of the Senate already and Obama is steamrolling McCain! I can't believe we're doing it! This feels amazing!

more later...

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Thought I'd post a Saturday morning song. It was written 45 years ago by Bob Dylan and I think the lyrics are perhaps more pertinent today than they have been in decades. It's not a great recording because I just learned it this morning, but I think the lyrics are more important anyway... maybe we can all go to the polls Tuesday with a song in our heads and on our hearts.

lyrics and music by Bob Dylan

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

Copyright ©1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music