THOUGHT OF THE DAY It may be true that the cream rises to the top but apparently turds can float up there too. Heard a version of that this week and it fits so many situations.
POMPITOUS. Was reminded of Steve Miller's much better use of the word pompatus which in the Joker song he spells with an i as in "pompitous of love". Which essentially means anything you want it to mean. Like I am so pompitous about my promotion. Or did you see that pompitous new show? Doesn't that remind you of a pompitous of division? Or even, art is in the eye of the pompitous critic.
One of the advantages of being the "safety skate" is you get access to areas that most never see. Some of them are pretty bad and some of them can be marvelous. Only caveats are employees have access to it and you have to accept the invitation without squeamishness. (Shed the high heels for work boots and gloves are always your friend). Places like the top of the power plant at sunrise; a lead-filled shooting range poisoning a basement; the intricate architecture of an 1800's well house; (so many old, unused rooms) a battery of 50 bus sections on a floor where any one of them could "blow" at any time under load; a conveyor belt access path smaller than a man's foot. But one of the best was the basement of the water pump station.
PICTURE THIS A lone night operator, Charlie, created the most sumptuous folk art rarely seen by any but a select few who dared to venture into the labyrinth of piping encircling the massive snow pump. I still don't know if snow pump was the manufacturer or just what they called the gleaming white beast that only the most skilled could keep purring. Comic book characters, cartoons, graffiti and graphic portraits abound. As the plant was decommissioned some of the walls were destroyed in the name of progress and efficiency leaving this trove of artistry even more mysterious and whose existence today is known only to a few. My theory is we lacked the skill of these 40-year maintenance mechanics and boiler operators who could fix anything with a little bit of wire and a vast knowledge of how the old machines work. Ironically the "public" area of the plant sports portraits by Charles Pollack (older brother of Jackson) and Frank Cassara showing both the bounty and the destruction of water. But most never know of the treasure that lies below...
JOEISMS It's a boy! My Girl Scout cookie treasure trove was delivered by the young lady I purchased them from. All Grandpa had to say was there's a girl scout on the porch and Joe popped up from his latest video battle to check her out. He asked me if I thought she was his age. Hmmm.
With the mask mandate on hold (again) I asked JP how he felt about not having to wear a mask. His very heartfelt answer "Good. Now I don't have to keep hearing people say, "pull up your mask"! Honest.
SUNFLOWERS Try as I might I don't think we can ignore the elephant in the room, or in this case, the insidious evil bear. With all that we are seeing, feeling and thinking about Ukraine right now one image is stuck in my brain among so many that are painful, sad and shocking. An 80-year-old Ukrainian man showed up to enlist for the army with a bag packed with 2 shirts, a pair of pants, a toothbrush and a few sandwiches ready to fight for his grandkids. With our sometimes-cavalier attitude toward our own democracy, we need to look hard and remember how fragile our own liberty is if too many continue to be dazzled with autocracy. The separatists may have invited them in, but the real Ukrainians are fighting for their country. Bless them. Peace is for those who fight for it....
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