Students

A politician is on the television, talking about his student politics days.

As a mature student, and mature can mean so many things, I feel a little dislike to,
and arrogance from, people who went straight from school to university, mostly in
my eyes anyway, to pursue high-flying careers.   Good luck to them of course, and
their right, but I am doing it the hard way, at least as I see it, namely night
school and full time employment.   One hears such people, and admittedly, not this
chap, talk of the tough times as a student; no money, part-time work.  It must have
been tough.  It is now to see them driving around in their fancy cars, travelling in
business class at company expense and generally reaping the reward of those few
years suffering at university.  Years of, drinking, partying and maybe some study,
then the rest of their lives spent in suits, residing in fancy big houses, telling the
likes of I how important they are.  You perhaps have to work in customer service
to understand that last one..

I have lived an interesting, active and full life.  I have worked hard, seen a lot,
and I am fairly satisfied.  But I study to take myself to the same level as such
people. Not to be looked down upon.  To give myself the added confidence
I need to be in any company.   And it works.  That is the value of education. 
Not a means to make lots of money, buy a flash car, and multiple houses. I may
not have much money,  but I am equal to such people.

An old saying applies here, I suppose.  Money does not get you everything.

Perhaps just a little bitterness in there somewhere.   Good thing I believe in that
adage of every cloud having a silver lining. 

Woman in a bakery

I saw a woman, some time ago, working in a bakery. I like the smell of bakeries. The fresh bread, the cakes. She was middle aged, confident, fairly attractive and possibly Vietnamese. But the thing I noticed was a metal, coloured butterfly in her hair. Maybe a cheap thing, perhaps not, but it looked nice. Just something about it seemed to look right.

I simple moment, but I enjoyed it.

Poet

I discovered a new poet tonight.  Jack Gilbert.  An American. I find contemporary American poets the most appealing for some reason.  He has just released a book of his collected poems.  That does seem to be good timing.  In hardback though.   I will wait until the paperback edition comes out.  A little cheaper..

Evening walk

I take an evening walk, whenever possible.   I listen to the radio, text a friend.  It is good.  Relaxing and just enjoyable.   Tonight was particularly good.   Saturday night is best.  Not particular reason.  It just is.  Perhaps a throw-back to my day-work period where I valued Saturday as being the day farthest from Monday.   It is good though.  Walking through the suburban streets, a little music, seeing the old houses. The lights on inside.  The coziness somehow that emanates from those sights.      

Books

My bedroom is full of books.   There is hardly enough room for the wife and I.  They stand in piles.  Occasionally the piles fall over, but of course I stack them up again. It has its advantages, as then the opportunity arises to put different books at the top.  For easier access to different works.

I am waiting for one of the children to finally leave home.  I will turn that bedroom into a library.
I have been told not to buy any more books. That may be difficult.

I like the New York Public Library.  The main one.  I even have the t-shirt.  It is not so much the books themselves, but the whole atmosphere of the place.  It really is something.   Starting with those two stone lions out the front.