Saturday, October 28, 2006

Mercury Retrograde

Mercury is presently in retrograde and will be until well after our next election. Oh no not again!. Now, I'm afraid to vote.

Our computer at work is out of wack, everyone seems to be running around like headless chickens, utter chaos, blaming one another.

I decided to get new tires on the truck and was notified that the brake cylinders are shot and it's going to cost me $1200 to fix them. Plus tires!

And now my blog won't let me add the new book I'm reading due to an error.

I'm going to assume the fetal position until this thing passses.

Friday, October 27, 2006

One Down



Christmas is just around the corner and I have completed one gift so far. The bonnet-scarf from Knit 2 Together

It was really simple to do and I've already started another one as a gift.

I had to don the sunglasses to go incognito into the garage, the place is a freakin dive and the paparazzi are everywhere these days. John is working on yet another project,like a mad scientist, that doesn't involve LAYING TILE!

Thursday, October 26, 2006

If You're Not Outraged, You're Not Paying Attention

Tag is being banned from school yards across our nation. And I thought the Taliban went berserk when they banned kite flying in Afghanistan, but hey, what do I know?

I can just envision millions of American children standing at a complete stand still on the school yards during recess with their little hands plunged deep into their pockets where their yo yo’s use to be, heads hung low while the rusty swing sets (that they are no longer allowed to swing on) creaks in the wind like a fucking Twilight Zone episode.

When I was a kid we were allowed to play tether ball, dodge ball, hop scotch, tag and Red Rover. We even got to bring our own clackers to school. Does anyone remember clackers? You could put your fucking eye out or break a bone if you didn’t do it correctly. You fucked up once you didn’t do it again. And that’s how we learned.

If we got hurt it was our fault. If somebody else hurt us we were told we probably deserved it and we shut about it. It was excellent preparation for a world that is, more often than not, unfair. If we saw a construction site unattended we’d jump off of roofs into piles of insulation, which, I might add, is not wise to do with your brand new winter coat. I had to wear that scratchy thing until I grew out of it.

My point is, kids are going to play and they are going to get hurt and that’s how they learn. You cannot bring life into the world without accepting the fact that it will leave this world and in between shit is going to happen. It's called life.

I want to see children live (scabs and all) and not merely exist and I WILL PLAY TAG.

Sunday, October 22, 2006

The Cracker Don't Fall Far From The Box







I think a lot of our problems are because people don't listen to our children. It's not always easy. They're not always so brilliant that you want to spend hours with them. Barbara Bush

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. Mark Twain

I had to put “State of Denial” by Bob Woodward down because it was far too depressing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very good book. I just found myself spending my nights worrying about which knucklehead in power is going to do something extremely stupid that will affect my world tomorrow.

So last night I pulled “Snow” by Orhan Pamuk off my library shelf and started in and by the time I got to page three I had a revelation.

As long as we have writers and poets and artists in the world who elevate mankind, who offer a balance to the madness we find in our political leaders, who expose the ugliness of the world not because they want to exact revenge, but because they want to encourage change, even at the risk of their own lives by sharing, I can sleep again.

And I feel safer just knowing they are out there.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

First Fire of The Season














Since I'm damn near freezing here in California (I believe it was a brisk 72 today) we had our first fire in the new fire place and the majority of the animals were in favor.

Louis and Eli debate over who will investigate.

Louis was brave and went first.

Eli, ever the ham, took advantage of a photo op.

Stops to smell roses.

And then takes a nap.

Old Blue came and warmed his bones.

While Louis takes refuge under the coffee table and stared into the fire while pondering the meaning of life. This cat is deep.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Why My House Is Never Clean



As you can see I have shit to do. To the left are socks for a special someone for The Winter Solstice. Yesterday I gathered rocks to engrave runic symbols into so I can have my own set of runes made by Moi. Today's catch in roses from my rose garden that John made for me in the front yard. Louis killed a bird today to impress me so we are not on speaking terms. Another pair of socks for the Winter Solstice and a purse for me by Mel from Wildfiber.


Oh, and in the background is a lace project that has now been put on hold. And I also have another shawl project that is MIA.

Maybe I could get a maid. But she'd have to be like Hazel.

And my life would not be complete without the ever present cup of caffeine, in some form or another.

Now it's time to shower and get ready for Linner with the Knit Wits.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

That's Life In The City


Well the city was out this morning bright and early and ground the crack on the sidewalk. Personally I can think of better things to do with crack, but I digress. So they wake up my neighbor (who is not a morning person, I might add)and now she wants me to write her a letter to the city because they woke her up.

She witnessed two city trucks, six city employees (and someone barking orders over a walkie talkie) to grind a crack.

Apparently this is the city's idea of fixing the sidewalk.

What a fucking joke.

But John came through on the ladscaping. But it looks like the city gave it a bit of a powerwash to show me whose boss. "That should shut her up", the city worker smirked.




Don't fuck with me motherfucker
Because I put the mother in MOTHERFUCKER**


You can kiss my left lip.

**I'm not really sure, technically, what that means, but I sure like saying it and I feel much better now. Really, I'm doing much better now.

The folks at the home are going to let me weave a basket today.

Sunday, October 08, 2006

At War With The City

I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. Does anyone have anything to add?

October 7th, 2006

D. J. Sotelo, Code Enforcement Officer
Code Enforcement Division
Department of Community Development
601 Carmen Drive
Camarillo, CA 93011-0248

Re:

Dear Mr. Sotelo:

Your letter of October 2nd, has me somewhat confused. You state in your letter that, “a subsequent field inspection revealed that you have failed to comply with the municipal code AND you refrained from contacting us to discuss the matter or request additional time to correct the stated violations.” What are you, new? That is an untrue statement.

As you are obviously unaware, upon receiving your original letter of September 7th, I went to the City of Camarillo on September 15th, and discussed the situation. I requested that the sidewalk in front of my residence be fixed before landscaping the parkway as the sidewalk has been lifted by roots and needs to be fixed. I was given a copy of the Camarillo Request for Service that was issued September 15th, it states, “Code enforcement case – needs to be taken car of ASAP. Homeowner waiting until sidewalk fixed.” Someone from the city came and cut the roots off of the tree, painted the sidewalk orange along the crack and we were told that someone would return and fix the sidewalk. So we have been waiting for the sidewalk to be fixed.

But now, not only do I have a sidewalk that is a hazard to pedestrians, but a tree that is now a hazard because it’s root system has been severed. We all know when roots are severed, trees often die, limbs fall off and the tree sometimes falls over, or if I’m lucky, multiple roots will grow where the other roots were severed. The most efficient thing to have done would have been for the city to place a barrier between the tree and the sidewalk so the sidewalk doesn’t get worse, or if I dare say, the sidewalk gets fixed like I asked in the first place. You see, this would preclude this from happening again. Call me crazy, but I really have a problem with my tax dollars being spent on the same mistake twice.

Furthermore I am incensed that because I dared to request that a hazardous sidewalk be fixed I have now incurred another hazard in the form of a tree that could topple due to incompetence.

So in closing, to preclude further hazards from incompetent city workers, the parkway has been irrigated and landscaped.

I would like to take this opportunity to report graffiti on my sidewalk, but I'm afraid what that might entail.


Rebecca K. Gojkovich
Living in fear in Camarillo

Saturday, October 07, 2006

For Heather, Who Asks Questions

Yes, we can write letters.

Peggy McHenry
Chief, Regulations Unit
California Department of Corrections
1515 S Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Ms. McHenry:


I have a friend who is in prison and has been for over 25 years. We have been friends since high school. For Christmas I sent him some gifts, a book of poetry by Rumi and an art book “A Star for Noon” by Gordon Parks.

He was allowed to keep the book of poetry but the art book, of female nudes with still lifes, 18 previously unpublished poems and a CD of chamber music, was returned to me because of nudity in the art book.

There is a vast difference between female nudity in the form of art, which is respectful and pornography, which is not.

When the gift I gave was returned to me, I was both frightened and frustrated. I had no idea that in our enlightened society a human being could be denied art.

I have enclosed a poem that I wrote out of that frustration as I find poetry cathartic. I am not so full of myself as to think that by my writing a simple letter, things will be changed. But I do feel that it is important to express my concerns in this matter.

Art lifts and heals the human spirit. Why those who are imprisoned are denied exposure to art -of any form- is beyond my realm of understanding.

Denied!
By Rebecca K. Gojkovich

Written upon the receipt of my gift, “A Star For Noon”
Denied by the Warden of a California Correctional Facility

Denied of our right to give freely from our collective heart
To give the gift of chamber music, poetry and art

To him who has been housed for so long
In your industrial concrete and steel

We tried to bring beauty
In images, song, and the written word.

It was “An Homage to Women”
In no way intended to cause a hostile environment toward women.

As if their witnessing, daily, human beings caged like animals
Were not hostile enough.

We envisioned him with eyes closed, his head tilted back
As the music takes him away.

To a place where flutes caress him like the wings of a dove.
Cellos mourn and weep for his losses.

While violins bring to him fond memories.
And the perseverance of the piano

And the angry beating of the drums
Reinforces his desire to never give up.

In the images of women and the words of Gordon Parks
We tried to bring to him a small piece of humanity

So that he will not forget
In that place where he lives

That there are those who still care
And always will.

The above is my response to the warden for denying my gift. She never wrote back.

Senator Majority Leader Richard G. Polanco
State Capital, Room 313
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Honorable Senator Polanco:

I am writing to you on behalf of my friend Elmo Chattman, who is incarcerated at CSP-Solano. Elmo recently (September 16, 2002) had a hearing before the Board of Prison Terms and was denied parole for another two years. It was brought to my attention, that the letter I wrote on behalf of Elmo Chattman, stating that he had a job waiting for him when he gets out of prison, and a place to stay with my husband, children and me, was never placed as part of the packet he took to the Board. This important information – that Elmo has a job and place to live upon release – was therefore not presented to the Board.

In brief, Elmo was with his brother when his brother spontaneously shot and killed a man. His brother even stated at his own hearing, in 2001, that Elmo tried to stop him from shooting the man. So you can imagine my surprise when Kenny (Elmo’s brother) GOT a date from the board and Elmo didn’t. How can the man that pulled the trigger get a release date and the one who tried to stop him be denied?

Elmo got his BA degree (from Antioch College) when he was at San Quentin. More recently he has taken a course through UC’s Graduate School of Journalism. He was editor of the San Quentin News in the 1980’s. Elmo is also a poet who has studied with Judith Tannenbaum when she taught at San Quentin. Elmo is a primary character in Judith’s book, Disguised as a Poem, My years Teaching Poetry at San Quentin (Northeastern University Press, 2000) and he helped Judith with the editing of that book.

Throughout the years I have kept in touch with our Deputy District Attorney Donald Grant who attended Elmo’s previous hearings in favor of Elmo’s release to our County of Ventura and who promised me that he would not retire until he saw Elmo released. He has since retired. So, I really don’t know where to turn at this point, and am asking for your assistance in this matter.

Putting all emotions aside for my dear friend Elmo, I wish to express my disappointment as a concerned citizen. I feel it is unfair to continue burdening taxpayers, for the continued incarceration of inmates who are no longer a threat to society and are suitable for release back into society. This is particularly troublesome when the perpetrator of the crime was given a parole date, and the man who tried to prevent the crime continues to be denied a date.

Sincerely,


Rebecca K. Gojkovich

(Kenny's parole date was denied by the governor)

Board of Prison Terms
1515 K Street, 16th floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
ATTN: Pam-- Correspondence

Subject: Elmo Chattman; C-05575
Post Recision #7
CSP-Solano


Dear Honorable Board Members:

I am writing on behalf of my friend Elmo Chattman. I have written to the board in the past so you are already aware that I have known Elmo since I was a Freshman in High School. I have corresponded with Elmo throughout the years and my husband and I have visited with Elmo, as well. My husband John has known Elmo since Junior High School.

With this letter I would like to take the opportunity to let the Board know that upon Elmo’s release he has a place to stay at our home in Camarillo, Ventura County. My husband and I our both gainfully employed. My husband is a mechanic for a Tree Care Company and I am a Quality Control Manger for a company that manufactures forgings for the aerospace industry.

We own our own home. We have two children still living at home ages 22 (Joseph, a bricklayer/tender) and 17 (Jacob, a senior in high school). My husband John and I have discussed with both of our children their thoughts on having Elmo coming to live with us upon his release and they both can’t wait for Elmo to join us. My children have spoken with Elmo over the years on the telephone and Elmo has sent to them books, etc., so he is not a stranger to my family. He is family. My family would all like very much to share with Elmo this new phase in his life.

So please let us.




And through it all he still has this to say.

Finding Peace

Listen . . .
In the quiet stillness
of this dingy cell,
something is afoot.
Time is marching on, dutifully,
despite my plaintive protests.
The years have become my foe
taking my youth, yet delivering me
no closer to freedom.
The mirror and these gray hairs conspire
to taunt me, to paint a portrait,
an image of me I fail to recognize.
The immortality I once knew
has been made a myth, displaced
by the burgeoning reality
of middle-age,
the new captain of my fate
with whom I must grudgingly
make my peace.


-- Elmo Chattman

Vacaville, CA 95696-4000

Friday, October 06, 2006

Shine on, Shine on Harvest Moon


Tonight is the Harvest moon. The first full moon nearest the autumnal equinox.

So, put your Tarot cards on the window sill so they can absorb the moon rays.




And, tonight's full moon is almost 12 percent bigger because it is near perigee, the point on it's oblong orbit that is closest to the earth. Or maybe it's just bloated.

The Harvest Moon in October only happens every 3 years.

Did you know that moonlight steals color?

Luna, the wife of Zeus, was the mother of 50 children. Well, hell yeah, she was a freaking lunatic. I have four and look at me. Sitting on the computer, ranting about the moon on a Friday night.

Oooo and next Friday is the 13th. I can't wait.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Nobel Prize Week Madness

While I often rant about women, I do recognize the great works of men. Like Alfred Nobel, who felt it fitting to leave his fortune to people whose works would most benefit humanity without distinction of nationality.

The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way: the capital, invested in safe securities by my executors, shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind. The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention within the field of Physics; one part to the person who shall have made the most important Chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or Medicine ; one part to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work of an idealistic tendency; and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses. The prizes for physics and chemistry shall be awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences; that for physiological or medical work by the Caroline Institute in Stockholm; that for literature by the Academy in Stockholm, and that for champions of peace by a committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Storting. It is my express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration whatever shall be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he be a Scandinavian or not.

So, inspire a child, and turn them on to some educational games at the Noble Prize Website. Or better yet, reawaken the child in you.

For example,my boss thinks I'm working overtime, but I have just freed the world from nuclear weapons.

Educational Games