Love the Art

I really enjoy seeing your art on this site, Steve. I followed the link to the work ethic series, which I don't think I'd seen, and The Fish, which I love, and the others. I hope to travel to New York and see these things for real, to appreciate better the subtle effects of materials interrelating. The cable car photographer is also very cool - such an interesting perspective. Yes, I remember your practical reasons for painting grid style, but it's interesting to read your thoughts on the style.
   With Christmas approaching your retail business must be getting very busy. I saw a disgusting sight on TV news, of people waiting in line for a new playstation, trammeling each other to be the first to buy. There may even have been a murder. It was too disgusting to continue watching. That behaviour seems to come from a country that doesn't care, that isn't aware, but the mid-term election news has been heartening for people outside the country, and heartening too, I assume, for people like you and many others who haven't liked recent directions in the US. I hope this means real change.
   Two more weeks of classes. Actually one more day after the two weeks, too, but last days are generally easy. By this time in the term I know my students better and have come to like most of them. The other day I saw some real evidence that students in my ficction class had learned something, and that makes a teacher feel good. Soon my life will be more devoted to writing and less to teaching. That may happen before I even leave the college as I've just accepted a sort of commission to write a play about a "school" for special (meaning severely disabled) people, mostly children, that used to operate in the College's neighbourhood. It's an arts project for the city and I'm fascinated, yet also leery of the dark subject matter I'm going to have to work through my imagination. The inmates of the facily were often abused and no one ever listened to complaints - a familiar story. I don't want to take a documentary approach, but imagistic and ... not sure yet. It will be a challenge; I have no idea yet what the thread will be. My ambitious plan for non-teaching time is to work on the play while continuing the historical novel I had to put down when school began. It could be a good idea to have something lighter to turn to.
   Heavy rains, even for Vancouver, caused landsides that affected the water supply so that the entire metro area was under a boil water order. Funny to be in Vancouver, which is coffee crazy, and watch people try to get through the day without a cup in their hand. At least yesterday, the coffee makers in most commercial outlets were shut down. A bit of an overreaction, maybe.
   David played me that Drifters song, Sweets for my Sweet?, which you passed on to him. Great song. Also the Coltrane. D is good, a lazy correspondant, though. He says Hi. Lastly, the Canucks finally won last night. A weird team, maybe with potential, because they've frequently doubled the shot total of their opponents yet haven't been able to win games.