Just what's going on!

Dear Ones and Twos,

That Sarah Palin sure is pretty! I still want to support Obama for president, but I think I would rather see Sarah's performance than Barrack's! I'm not saying Barrack isn't pretty! It'll be interesting to see how this election plays out.

Last night, I dreamed I was working again at the Open Door Community. The community was on an outing, and as we walked down the street, I tried to get some feedback from Ed Loring on how I was doing. He told me he didn't want me to try to get him to talk to me about that kind of thing. He said he keeps records on what I do, and compares them to standards he has set which I don't need to know about. He said I just need to go to Jesus every day and search my soul to see if I'm living in line with his teachings, and that ought to be all the feedback I need!

I'm scheduled for only 21 hours this week, which I'm doing over the course of three days. Mike has hired a couple of new workers and I don't know if he's planning to let me go soon, or if he thinks he might keep me on as a part-timer. I got a new housemate named Elizabeth, who's staying in the back room, perhaps temporarily. My other two room mates are still a little more than three weeks behind on their rent, and I give them ultimatums which I retract, as long as I see progress towards getting current with their rent. My friend Linda is offering me $12.50 an hour to do maintenance projects on her house, but I haven't gotten geared up to do very much for her. It's good to have friends that I can also work for, but our companionship gets in the way of productivity sometimes. Also, the work itself is often a series of temporary fixes and little tasks; not projects into which I can sink my teeth. This week, the fall quarter is over, and I'll have a couple of weeks to scout around for another job.

I joined a co-op with Halima. I'm doubtful that it's really a good deal. Even so, maybe good things will come through being a part of it. Nice people. Nice neighborhood feel. I also dug up the garden and planted for the fall within the last week, and the young plants are already coming up! We had a bad bug problem with the broccoli and the brussel sprouts, but I left those plants standing in case they still might produce something. The pepper plants are still producing, so I left them up as well.

School feels like a big waste of time and energy, unfortunately. Nevertheless, I'm planning to go ahead and take more classes starting the first of October.

I continue to participate in at least one open mike every week, two sing-alongs per month, and a jam session once a month. Last night at the Open Mike I recited Father William, Maggie and Milly and Molly and May, by ee cummings, and The Kermiss (The Dance) by William Carlos Williams. My performance was good, but the scene seemed depressing to me. It seemed to lack something to bring it and us together. I'm sounding whiny and I don't want to be this way. I am grateful that Atlanta has these kinds of opportunities to offer and that I have the energy to participate however I can.

The last poem I shared from Hafiz went over well, so I think I will share another one; today's reading:

Don't Die Again

I am a man
Who knows the ten thousand positions of
Divine love.

I can tell by the light in your eyes
That you are still most familiar
With the few earthly ones,

But would not a good father
Instruct all his heirs
Toward that path that will someday
Deeply satisfy?

This world is a treacherous place
And will surely slay and drown the lazy.

The only life raft here is love
And the Name.

Say it brother,
O, say the divine Name, dear sister,
Silently as you walk.

Don't die again
With that holy ruby mine inside
Still unclaimed

When you could be swinging
A golden pick with
Each
Step.

Love,
Stephen.