Lurking…

Hey. The weekend, it was messy, wasn’t it? Whether it was extreme weather or extreme authoritarian government actions, it was difficult for a lot of people. I called my Senate and House representatives (unfortunately, Padilla doesn’t have voicemail…so I guess I try to call while I’m teaching? Not particularly convenient for your constituents sir). I’m hoping the ICE funding doesn’t pass the Senate, hoping no more Democrats slip over to the dark side. They aren’t MY reps, so IDK what their logic was, although I’m sure it’s somewhere on the internet. At some point, all that news gets to be too much for all of us. That said, thank the brave folks of Minnesota who are still recording the bullshit, even as we hear it out of the government’s mouth, but it doesn’t match the videos. It’s wrong.

I saw someone that I know post that if the sanctuary cities would just hand over the illegals, none of this would happen. So ignorance of how the immigration system works (I’ve been through it with my ex) and why people might immigrate to another country…and the fact that all us white folks are immigrants here. We overran the place, destroyed so many existing communities and families…why? We wanted freedom! And land and resources and power and money. And forgetting that part of the story is boggling.

This country was built (correctly or not) on immigrants. And so many of the people being rounded up are going through the process legally, showing up to appointments, following the rules, NOT breaking the law, NOT gang members. Especially now, in Minnesota, how many of the people being harassed, thrown to the ground, dragged out of their houses…how many of those have already been outed as whoops, we didn’t get the right person? It’s insane that this hasn’t been shut down, that the funding is still there, instead of protecting people, feeding people, making sure they have the medication and healthcare they need. This is what you want your tax dollars spent on? When food and electricity costs are going through the roof? Insane that some of these people can’t even look at the weekly grocery bill and see the effect all this is having on them personally. And lying about it.

We saw all the videos, y’all. Where are the gun people? Why aren’t they screaming about their 2nd Amendment rights? Why aren’t they on the news for that? He didn’t pull a gun…he recorded bad behavior. And they killed him. He was innocent and they killed him. And he’s not the first and won’t be the last. Sick.

The climate stuff is supremely worrying. We’re making it so much worse. It will take years to get back to where we were a year ago. The scientific ignorance this government propagates is mind-boggling. And to prioritize machines over people’s lives? This is mind-boggling.

Shut it down. We need regulation so humans can live.

So did I make art this weekend? I did. I also had three art meetings and the Man’s band played at the Music Box on Friday night…so I went to that too.

Sometimes the guitar player stands in front of the Man the entire show…

Photos are hard. I did come home and manage to cut stuff out for about an hour before I fell exhausted into bed…

I cut again on Saturday…

And I was really hoping I’d be done last night…

But I needed about another 30 or 40 minutes and I had to go to bed to get up today and teach.

So you can see in the top bin that not much is left. I’ll finish those tonight and sort them all, and start ironing this together tomorrow night. The next part is not quick and it’s a tight deadline.

One of the art meetings Saturday was at the Mingei…they have this cool mini-exhibit of aardvarks in the front.

I’d never really thought of the artistic possibilities of an aardvark, but now I am.

My quilt was sighted in one of the pictures from MOCA Connecticut…

Very cool.

I finished one book and started another.

Today after school is a school social event that I need to be part of, but…

I always wonder this. Pointlessly. I’m hoping to go to ceramics after that. We’ll see. Mondays are delightfully quiet at the studio. But I have book club tonight too, so time is an issue. I did finally finish my grades (there were so many issues with grades this time; crazy stuff). I’m pretty convinced I forgot to do something I was supposed to do this weekend…there were things I hoped to do that I didn’t get to, because everything always takes twice as much time as you think it will. And I didn’t factor in having to yell at the government again (although maybe that should be a weekly allowance of time, based on what we’re seeing). Sigh.

Here’s the most recent quilt, in case you haven’t seen it…

We Hold These Truths…that’s a body bag in the left bathtub. Way too real right now.

OK. Today. I teach. Something. Um. Digital vs analog. This week is a mess. Lots of talking today I think, unfortunately, and tomorrow. Then testing Wednesday, except for the kids on the walking trip; their test will be Thursday. Which means adjusting shit for that. And I’m talking Wednesday morning off for an art thing, so I need sub plans. My co-teacher is out (sick)…I thought I was coming down with something yesterday, but today, it seems to be gone? Knock on wood. So either I kicked it or it’s lurking. Fun stuff. Then an hour meeting about bullying and another hour or so of socializing (not my favorite), then hopefully clay and book club and cutting things out. And sleep, glorious sleep. I’m still so tired after this weekend. Did not recover from last week. Ah well…we soldier on. Hopeful.