"Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people.” ~ Oscar Wilde

Why was I compelled to post on this blog after such an extended absence, I can not answer that for sure.
But the absence has been indeed sweet. The separation of the political three ring circus of this quaint hamlet we call New Albany, and of myself has served a myriad of purposes. Chiefly of which that after months of non-participation, the wheels are still stuck in the same rut, on the same worn out road, with the same mechanics standing by, blocking the street, still arguing over whose tool is the best suited to get the wheel out of the rut. Meanwhile the haggardly old woman behind the wheel that is New Albany, is still spinning her wheels, slinging mud, and moving slower than a snail on the sticky side of duct tape.
The realization that so many countless hours foolishly thinking that a difference could be made by participation in such a drama riddled side show brings with it regrets. The time spend banging the ole' melon against the reinforced concrete wall that is NA politics could have been much better spend with loved ones, or in the garden, or on a path in the woods. Hell for that fact, the time could have been better spend collecting enough earwax to create a reproduction the white horse of Dover.
Interestingly enough, during the absence, the flowers in my yard still bloomed, the hummingbirds still came for their regular visits, the sun still rose, and the night still came with predictable regularity. But what did not happen was a constant barrage of insults, false allegations, high blood pressure, and headaches.
No arguments over TIF's, LOIT's, conspiracy theories of which council members where involved in this or that, and yet amazingly enough, I can still walk out my door and take a walk and enjoy the night air, and enjoy the walk with out looking for whose house is not quite up to par, who replaced a brass widget on a "historic" home with a knock off replica from Home depot and how offensive that is the preservationists senses.
In fact it has been quite wonderful to be honest. Maybe its a cup of tea best left for those to sip on who feel the need to be involved in something "bigger than themselves", and I say to them, drink up, and drink with zeal! Whilst you argue your positions, and rattle sabers in a little slice of electronic space, I will be enjoying the time I have with my wife, and my child, and my friends. I will be spending countless hours watching and photographing the butterflies that are morphing from the caterpillars that grew up on the flowers and planted, that were pollinated by previous generation.
The dirty politics and those always willing to point fingers at one another will always be there, and the topics will always be the same. So why waste such precious time on the process of nothing, when there is so much that can be accomplished in your personal life, to make the lives of your friends and family better by just being there....

Street Sweeper Oil Trail

Aside from the trail of what looks like transmission fluid, the new yellow street sweeper leaves a bigger mess than was there before it came through...

Now for a civics lesson: Instead of calling the FBI, NSA, CIA and various other secret governmental law enforcement agencies claiming the street sweeper driver is a criminal, I did somethign VERY novel, we took pictures, and sent an email to the director of the street department letting him know there is a problem. And we managed to do it with out threatening to kill any one and burn down their houses. Its an amazing modern world we live in where we can communicate with resorting to barbaric tactics!

Now, be sure to comment how I didnt have a photo of the actual street sweeper leaking the oil. you anonymous shithead!