2025-08-15
It has been a while since my last update here. Notwithstanding the political chaos and madness of these past eight months, I am trying to enjoy this summer as much as I can. Money is tight of late, so I'm mainly staying close to home, but I still avoid being too sedentary. Gardening is keeping my sanity. I've also gone back to making art.
This spring I took part in a number of protests as many others have done. Lately I am questioning how these demonstrations connect to more coordinated, strategic, and effective political actions. Protests for the protests' sake aren't really helpful, even though they can generate some publicity initially, people and the media would soon get desensitized by prolonged or repetitive protests and stop paying attentions.
I took down my political newsletter/blog recently. This isn't any kind of "self-censorship" or "capitulation," but I decided that I'd like to re-do and re-launch the whole thing in the near future with a whole new approach, considering that I started the previous one under a very different political environment and with different objectives. I think the new one would be more solutions-oriented, starting with things most people can agree on.
This summer I took and completed the "Recycling 101" class (the online version of the acclaimed Master Recycler class from the Association of Oregon Recyclers) at Oregon State University, just as Oregon's new Recycling Modernization Act took effect. I learned a lot more than just recycling, and I highly recommend it.
- (2025-03-12) The chaos of the last two months hit me a lot harder than I thought. I've been mostly lethargic and demoralized since Jan. 20, and It's a challenge to get myself motivated to do anything.
- On my quest for how far I can go on public transit in a day, I have gone as far as Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon. (My farthest reaches in other directions are Downtown Astoria to the northwest and the Timberline Lodge to the east.)
- Since 2021, I have been in a ministry school and working toward a three-year diploma in divinity. A lot of other things have gone to the backburners. As of Dec. 2, 2024, I have earned 79 credits (GPA 3.882) and have earned a Diploma of Ministry and a Commissioned Pastoral Certificate.
- I have survived the homiletics class and got an A. It has proved to be one of the toughest classes I have taken. There are so many things that go into preaching, I have come to develop a deep appreciation for pastors who do this week in and week out! (I will be posting my second sermon assignment online soon. The first one was pathetic.)
- I have "soft-launched" (I really dislike that term, "launch," but for want of a better word) Infinitus Ministries.
- I'm relearning art, now in digital form. I bought a Wacom Intuous tablet some time ago. Also: I am trying to reestablish a habit of creating art on a regular basis!
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