a look at my week...
It didn't start very well as I had left-over
resentment that Greenwaste didn't pick up
our garbage last Friday.
Well, the can is very full right now
and has some bees buzzing around it.
When we called Greenwaste to find out why
it wasn't picked up, they said that we hadn't
put it out by the road in time.
I guess we didn't follow the rules of garbage.
Personally, I think that Greenwaste plays
the garbage game a bit like my son plays
"Sorry" with my daughter, changing the
rules as he goes so he can win.
We asked, but no, they won't come back and get the garbage.
Joe was upset.  He said, "We're paying for them to empty the can.  They'd better not charge us
for this week."  This was a funny thought, as the price breakdown is just a few dollars a week,
not enough to make a fuss.  He said that it's not about the money, it's about being stuck with
our garbage when we had the expectation that it would be safely in the landfill by now.  

For the next six weeks, I am enrolled in a professional growth class.
I find that when I am required to write seriously and inhibit myself, it can be a little difficult to
switch gears.  Switch gears...now there's a thought that conjures up a mental image of
a brain with controls and levers connected to the inner workings of the mind.
You know, some people view their whole body as a kind of machine.
Have you ever seen someone choke on a bite of food and then explain what just
happened by saying, "Something went down the wrong pipe!"

I wonder if a human anatomy class might be in order.
It scares me just a little that there are those walking among us who believe they
have a water pipe for water and a coffee pipe for...you get the picture.
When they choke, they summarize the intricate process of swallowing food as
going "down the wrong pipe."
Joe never lets a comment like this pass.  His curiosity gets piqued
and he asks, "Which pipe did it go down?  Was it the corn pipe?
I hate it when that happens!"

Corn pipe?  Anyway, back to the professional growth class, in which the phrase "corn pipe" will
not be uttered.  Among other things, this course will touch on the diversity of cultures and how
certain mannerisms and customs are acceptable within each but when carried into a new
culture may be misunderstood or thought of as rude.
In pondering this, I came to the conclusion that Red Bluff has its own culture as well.
There are certain ideas and beliefs we hold that other communities might scorn.
For instance, Red Bluff residents emphasize the importance of buildings,
such as the clocktower structure, that other cultures may not share.
These outsiders, and let's be non-judgemental of them, might actually believe that
a homeless shelter should top the list of priorities.  

In many professional growth and development classes, we are encouraged to listen to other
people talk.  This is difficult for me to do.  I get bored easily and my mind wanders.
Also, I think of things to say that would not be acceptable or professional.
Most of the time, it looks like I am listening politely to what other people are saying
but really I'm not.  I'm just waiting for an opportunity to butt in.
I just wanted to share that with you.

I do, however, want your input on the following and I'll publish my favorite submissions.

Finish this sentence:
Future generations might wonder why we built a clocktower, why we wanted the whole town to
know what time it was, ________________________________.

Send me your sentence.
Did you like my picture for this week?
Fisher Price Little People are another of my 70's toys.
As you can see, I have a fun photo program
and have found a new way to play with them.
So much for the professional growth.

I'll see you at the fair...
We're going on Saturday.  I hope to meet some
interesting Red Bluff people and immerse myself in our culture.
This might mean taking pictures of people who believe they have a beer pipe.
I'll let you know how it goes.