Guy day

H is no football fan (only once in my life have I been with a woman who liked football and she was a gambling addict), so is off to spend the day with her daughter. I think they plan to see Dreamgirls, which you couldn't drag me to.

I got 900 words written this morning, not quite a quota day but good enough for Super Bowl Sunday. Now I've decided to do two major cooking projects: a deluxe version of my blackeyed peas, adding cajun sausage; and a Greek lemon potatoes casserole with feta melted on top. Tatters now marinading. Not sure these two go together but they're what I feel like cooking!

Only mid-morning. A long haul till kickoff, maybe I'll try to get in another writing session.

Last night we went to the a large art show sponsored by the Beaverton Arts Commission. I didn't even know such an organization existed. Apparently B. goes out of its way to show the world it's not a bedroom community for Pdx. At any rate, the show was in two conference rooms at the wonderful Beaverton library, about 100 artists represented, and five times that many admiring their work in a standing-room only environment. What a turnout! The catered goodies were first rate, too.

H plans to try and get into this juried affair next year. She's being more aggressive about getting her work out there. Reminds me of myself forty years ago, when everything seemed possible. I have a more cynical view of the world of the arts now. Having been a judge myself, I claim special knowledge unrelated to sour grapes, which is the usual reason for dismissing such a view. I know from the inside how art/literary competitions work. On the positive side, at least it's a process that gets a lot of work in front of an audience. I just think there must be a better way to do this, in an environment less commercial and competitive and more utilitarian, art as spiritually useful, even essential. Well, I've been on this particular soapbox too often lately.

Beaverton was fun. I was very impressed by the huge turnout. I even saw a few things I liked.