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Tanka challenge 11/13/09
Nov. 13th, 2009 07:58 pmThe night is darker
And chill is the wind blowing
Off the endless sea.
Still they live beneath bridges
Waiting with their empty bowls.
How did I just end up $50 poorer?
Because I am a perverse old bitch. Frankly, I feel one is allowed to say "I wish I could afford to be more active in the SCA" precisely once: more than that is whining. Judging from the time stamps on someone's posts, she is not so destitute she cannot afford her electric bill and 'net connection, because the public library isn't open at 9:51 PM.
I was on my way home this evening when I got off I-880 to put some gas in my tank. I was panhandled for change at the pump by a guy on a bicycle - and I had to say no. As I exited the gas station and waited for the light to change, I happened to see a dome tent pitched beneath the freeway and the silhouetted figure of the owner carefully sweeping it out in preparation for what is going to be a cold night.
That and several recent feast announcements were also percolating in my brain when I logged on again - to more posts by Mary Poormouth. And yeah, the booze fairies have better PR and beer, but $1 in donations = $7 in food, which is something the medical charities just can't do. So I came home and pledged another $50 to Bayareahunger.org
which means I can't spend it on feasts. Or garb. Or books. Well, maybe books, especially after Juana posted about the closing of a used book store in San Francisco that may be worth checking out.... In short, I am not hurting anywhere near as badly as a lot of people, which is why I made that second donation.
The news is not all empty bowls and living under the freeway though. I processed more hires than layoffs this week, and one layoff was cancelled because they were able to send the guy to another job at the last minute. I sent 20 new-hire packs to our Sacramento office yesterdat and one of the project managers just picked up another 10 to take to Vacaville. There are some construction projects out there and they are starting to ramp up - and at this time of year.
And chill is the wind blowing
Off the endless sea.
Still they live beneath bridges
Waiting with their empty bowls.
How did I just end up $50 poorer?
Because I am a perverse old bitch. Frankly, I feel one is allowed to say "I wish I could afford to be more active in the SCA" precisely once: more than that is whining. Judging from the time stamps on someone's posts, she is not so destitute she cannot afford her electric bill and 'net connection, because the public library isn't open at 9:51 PM.
I was on my way home this evening when I got off I-880 to put some gas in my tank. I was panhandled for change at the pump by a guy on a bicycle - and I had to say no. As I exited the gas station and waited for the light to change, I happened to see a dome tent pitched beneath the freeway and the silhouetted figure of the owner carefully sweeping it out in preparation for what is going to be a cold night.
That and several recent feast announcements were also percolating in my brain when I logged on again - to more posts by Mary Poormouth. And yeah, the booze fairies have better PR and beer, but $1 in donations = $7 in food, which is something the medical charities just can't do. So I came home and pledged another $50 to Bayareahunger.org
which means I can't spend it on feasts. Or garb. Or books. Well, maybe books, especially after Juana posted about the closing of a used book store in San Francisco that may be worth checking out.... In short, I am not hurting anywhere near as badly as a lot of people, which is why I made that second donation.
The news is not all empty bowls and living under the freeway though. I processed more hires than layoffs this week, and one layoff was cancelled because they were able to send the guy to another job at the last minute. I sent 20 new-hire packs to our Sacramento office yesterdat and one of the project managers just picked up another 10 to take to Vacaville. There are some construction projects out there and they are starting to ramp up - and at this time of year.
