Spring, glorious Spring
Mar. 21st, 2013 05:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
soniaSpring in Portland involves cherry blossoms, daffodils - and intermittent hail. Fortunately most of my biking has coincided with the sunny bits.
Interesting to notice my attunement to the weather. Working at a co-worker's house, I said, "It's hailing!" He peered out uncertainly, and I said, "I can hear the ice against the windows!" He said he hadn't noticed the different sound.
I'm procrastinating on my taxes. I did renew my driver's license. My photo from 8 years ago looks like I was 20. The temporary printout of today's photo looks like I'm 50. Oh well, at least it will look like me until the next renewal.
Trip to DC went well. I didn't get any terrible headaches, which was a big surprise considering the plane flight, hotel stay, and the occasional co-worker walking by my desk exuding a plume of perfume chemicals. The singing workshop was fantastic, it was good to see friends, and staying with my sister for a couple of days went as well as could be expected.
We went to the Museum of the American Indian with the kids. It was built circa 2005. I asked about the name, and was told the donor of the majority of the collection wanted it called that, even though he knew it was problematic. "That's privilege for you," I said to the tall older distinguished-looking white man at the information desk. He nodded in pained agreement, and we shared an unexpected moment of alliance. The inside of the museum bore that faint stink of objectification, although there was also evidence that "We are still here!" in part by having a lot of Native American employees.
The Holocaust museum was amazing. Completely respectful in an understated way that didn't call attention to the amount of effort and thought that must have gone into it. Shifting topics and media helped keep it from being overwhelming (as much) without minimizing the truth. I went with my friend who is blind, and only choked up occasionally while reading information panels out loud.
A fact that was new to me: Americans mostly knew what was going on. The story I grew up on was that no one knew, and that's why no one did anything. Ordinary Germans must have known what was going on too, because there were concentration camps and labor camps everywhere. The map is covered with them.
Also there was a display about disabled children and adults being murdered that my friend was very interested in. I had known about that in a vague way, but the horror of it is much clearer to me now.
Fun bit of memory verification: I have a vague memory of the East Wing of the National Gallery being built and then completed. It's my favorite museum, with its majestic Calder mobile. We read about its history, and indeed it was completed in 1973, when I was 4 years old. 40 years later, they're repairing the stonework.
Okay, back to those pesky taxes. It will be good to have them done, since I have plenty of other things to focus on!
Interesting to notice my attunement to the weather. Working at a co-worker's house, I said, "It's hailing!" He peered out uncertainly, and I said, "I can hear the ice against the windows!" He said he hadn't noticed the different sound.
I'm procrastinating on my taxes. I did renew my driver's license. My photo from 8 years ago looks like I was 20. The temporary printout of today's photo looks like I'm 50. Oh well, at least it will look like me until the next renewal.
Trip to DC went well. I didn't get any terrible headaches, which was a big surprise considering the plane flight, hotel stay, and the occasional co-worker walking by my desk exuding a plume of perfume chemicals. The singing workshop was fantastic, it was good to see friends, and staying with my sister for a couple of days went as well as could be expected.
We went to the Museum of the American Indian with the kids. It was built circa 2005. I asked about the name, and was told the donor of the majority of the collection wanted it called that, even though he knew it was problematic. "That's privilege for you," I said to the tall older distinguished-looking white man at the information desk. He nodded in pained agreement, and we shared an unexpected moment of alliance. The inside of the museum bore that faint stink of objectification, although there was also evidence that "We are still here!" in part by having a lot of Native American employees.
The Holocaust museum was amazing. Completely respectful in an understated way that didn't call attention to the amount of effort and thought that must have gone into it. Shifting topics and media helped keep it from being overwhelming (as much) without minimizing the truth. I went with my friend who is blind, and only choked up occasionally while reading information panels out loud.
A fact that was new to me: Americans mostly knew what was going on. The story I grew up on was that no one knew, and that's why no one did anything. Ordinary Germans must have known what was going on too, because there were concentration camps and labor camps everywhere. The map is covered with them.
Also there was a display about disabled children and adults being murdered that my friend was very interested in. I had known about that in a vague way, but the horror of it is much clearer to me now.
Fun bit of memory verification: I have a vague memory of the East Wing of the National Gallery being built and then completed. It's my favorite museum, with its majestic Calder mobile. We read about its history, and indeed it was completed in 1973, when I was 4 years old. 40 years later, they're repairing the stonework.
Okay, back to those pesky taxes. It will be good to have them done, since I have plenty of other things to focus on!
no subject
Date: 2013-03-22 07:16 pm (UTC)State taxes! Oh lord, I hadn't even thought about that yet. Well, they're usually easier and faster than the federal ones. I did some slogging last night, but I'm definitely not done yet.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-23 12:04 am (UTC)Now, I could have had her do it for me--and paid about $200, basically negating any gains I made in credits and exemptions. Or I could just do it my $&#*@ self, and eat the loss, but not pay anybody. You can figure which one I chose, but I can't help but feel annoyed. :-P
no subject
Date: 2013-03-23 09:03 pm (UTC)Wouldn't it be nice if the IRS just took the data they already have, and sent us a (progressive, mostly taxing the rich) bill, and that was the end of it?!