At Liberty

Just to get it out of the way: I hate the word "blog." It sounds like somebody's struggling for a last breath before drowning. Victims of waterboarding probably make the sound. "Blog." AArrgghh. Yuck. Ugly.

Since I started this (excuse me) blogging thing I find that I've basically given myself a new job--but for the first time in my whole life it's a job that I love, no qualification. It answers every criterion I have for an occupation: I can do what I want, when I want, and decide to do not much if I feel like it. True, I'm not getting paid for this, but the satisfaction I get from simply putting some words and music out there, and knowing you even seem to like them, is proof that money ain't everything when it comes to work. You always hear artists who've made a big financial splash say, "I can't believe I'm being paid for this." I may not be an artist but I can say I know what they mean. The love for what they do is enough--the money is icing on the cake.

I'm taking a little a break from the vacation series. I'm working on Australia and New Zealand photos. (The photo above of Mt. Cook in New Zealand is a teaser.) As you can imagine, there are thousands of them. Once, they were all organized, even in web albums, at a now-defunct place called Photosite. When Photosite was pulled down, my albums went with it. I am loading the original discs into Picasa, and in the process discovering the quirks in this mostly great Google product. Hard to combine photos from different discs into one album, for starters. I got to a hurdle this morning and decided I didn't feel like jumping it. So cool....I can do that!

Sounds coming from my open window at the moment are very pleasant. This February morning we are blessed with temperatures in the 60s and are headed for record-breaking 70s. I'd say "global warming," but in these parts we often do get the odd February heat wave. (But oh, yes, there is global warming.) Winter will blow back in with thunderstorms this afternoon. It's overcast now and will remain so, but the birds are showing their thanks for the warmth with wonderful song, and it's very nice, a harbinger of the real thing just a couple of months away.

I have plenty of computer sitting to do today. I'll need to tackle those pictures. I'm also completing the process of loading CDs into my itunes software. I did most of that a long time ago, but there are about 20 CDs--a collection I made of all the number-one hits from the 1920s to the 1960s--yet to be done. It's a big job because itunes doesn't recognize the songs on self-made CDs--you have to put the titles in yourself.

I am very glad I didn't have to vote yesterday. (Hundreds of people in DC and the Virginia and Maryland suburbs called their local election boards complaining that their polling stations were closed--all that Super Tuesday hype had some people thinking every state was taking part. Hell, some of them probably think it's the presidential election...) Anyway, the "Potomac Primary," as it's being called, takes place next Tuesday, the 12th. It's nice to have another week to decide who I think can carry a race all the way to the White House. I'll be doing lots of watching and listening.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.