A Trip

Hey guys. Just got back from my friend Dave's wedding in California. Willits to be exact. I think their motto should be "What you talkin' bout Willits?" Emblazoned in huge letters over the highway. Ah, most people wouldn't get the joke anyhow. It was a good trip, too much driving and not enough rest, but I got to spend time with Penny, not work, and see some of my high school buddies, not to mention be a groomsman, wear a tux, and hold a hoopa. All in all a good deal. Here's a slide show of some sights in southern Oregon and northern California.

It is a strange and beautiful world.

Home

This is such a strange neighbor hood. First off, there's a movie crew just down the street filming "Untraceable" starring Diane Lane. We live on the corner and starting the next block is a movie set. Big trucks, generators, mobile snack van, makeup artists, lights, etc. They had the street light up like no one's business the other night when filming went on till 4:00 am. It seems, they do a lot of set up, break down, and standing around, only briefly punctuated by actual filming. No wonder these movies cost so much money. The thing that really cracks me up is the fact that after scrubbing and pressure washing the side walk and path to the movie house, they decorated it with leaves and branches not unlike those they so meticulously removed. Also the idea of using a water truck to wet Portland city streets in the rainy season is very amusing.

Then, this morning while finishing some art and music projects, we were greeted with the sound of bagpipes. The Saint Patrick's Day parade! Irish wolfhounds a plenty, people dressed in green, and both the big fire trucks from our local Company 13.

Every time we get disgusted with the dope fiends, the shopping cart people, or the sad state of our aging building, somethings like these come along that make living here all worthwhile. All below our living room window .

Pigs!

So you know how people say you can tell a lot about them by their choice of pets? How people often look kind of like their dogs? I think the same can be said by the animals they like. So much of that is based on cultural bias. Take the lowly pig.
Pigs have a bad rap in western culture. I say why not be a little more piggish. So many other cultures have cosigned my take on pigs. I have put together a little oddesy of pigdom for all of you to ponder.

The following descriptions from Wikipedia:

The Chinese Zodiacal description of the pig

The Pig type is usually an honest, straightforward and patient person. They are a modest, shy character who prefers to work quietly behind the scenes. When others despair, they are often there to offer support. This type of person is reserved with those they do not know too well, but as time passes and they gain confidence, those around them may discover a lively and warm-hearted person behind that mask of aloofness. Despite those born in the year of pig having a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, they have few close friends who understand them and share their inner thoughts and feelings. It is easy to put trust in pig type; they won't let you down and will never even attempt to do so. Such people simply want to do everything right according to social norms.
It is important to remember that these people are not vengeful creatures. If someone tries to take advantage of them, the pig type tend to withdraw to reflect on the problem and protect themselves. All they need in such situations is a little time to find a constructive way to respond. The people of the pig type are conservative creatures of habit. They dislike being made to travel too far from familiar surroundings, unless it is a trip to the countryside. They love nature and are never happier than when they are out somewhere, far from the city.
There is a tolerant and peaceful side to their character. Such people are never afraid to allow others their freedom of expression; they do not want to cause arguments and if there is any way to avoid arguing, they will probably take this option. They are not weak, however, and if the situation forces them to fight these people will rise to the occasion, whether it is to defend themselves or those close to them.

Pigs in religion:

Painting of Saint Anthony with pig in background by Piero di Cosimo c. 1480
• In ancient Egypt pigs were associated with Set, the rival to the sun god Horus. When Set fell into disfavor with the Egyptians swineherds were forbidden to enter temples.
• In Hinduism the god Vishnu took the form of a boar in order to save the earth from a demon who had dragged it to the bottom of the sea.
• In ancient Greece, a sow was an appropriate sacrifice to Demeter and had been her favorite animal since she had been the Great Goddess of archaic times. Initiates at the Eleusinian Mysteries began by sacrificing a pig.
• The pig is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. Believers in Chinese astrology associate each animal with certain personality traits. See: Pig (Zodiac).
• The dietary laws of Judaism (Kashrut, adj. Kosher) and Islam (Halal) forbid the eating of flesh of swine or pork in any form, considering the pig to be an unclean animal (see taboo food and drink).
• In Christianity pigs are associated with Saint Anthony, the patron saint of swineherds.

So, with all this info shouldn't we all strive to be more piggish? At the very least give your inner pig a nice big hug.

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