Mimi-O

Mrs Obama strikes me as intelligent and unafraid.  Maybe not so much unlike another first lady; keeping crossed fingers however for distinctions on dimensions related to psychodrama and marital conflict.

W. Whitman, Leaves of Grass, p.17

I've been thinking much of late on my disposition; am I of optimistic or melancholy mind?  What makes something good? What in the world is evil?  And what are all these assessments I am so prone to make, both of things inside and outside myself?  I turn to one who knew.  You can click the image to enlarge it enough to read.  And please do.

Obama-Biden

I like it; I like Joe Biden.  I don't see Barack's choice of Biden as a concession to McCain's experience argument, but rather, an underscore to Obama's - a more pluralistic government that operates with temperance and strength.  Biden is not the democrat's McCain; and unfortunately for the republicans, they have no Obama.

The Cloister

Thoughts from today: 

See. Understand. Respond. Notice. Unconditional Presence. Inviting, Allowing. Permission. More Comfortable With The Gaps. Relate To. Awareness.

Later:

"I." Identity. Self. Construct. Self-Representation. Illusory. Internalized Images of Self From Childhood. Attempt At Sameness From Day To Day. "I Don't Know Who I Am." Story; Self-Fulfilling Prophecy. Objects Of Consciousness - D. Hume. Endless Stream of Thoughts - W. James. How Will This Change Life As I've Known It?

From readings of A Psychology Of Awakening by John Welwood; The Selected Writings of William James.

Virtual Monk

From Bartlett, New Hampshire: de-escalating myself with my uncle. Rob is nearly finished his first book, on the nature of everything in the universe. It's a pretty big undertaking.

Photo by Rob Richardson

About BHO and GOD

Andrew Sullivan live-blogging Barack and Rick Warren.

I've always respected and enjoyed Andrew's perspective and efforts at even-handedness.  As we get closer to E-Day, I don't see how people of religion and faith and sense would not consider BHO for POTUS. Somehow John McCain, by simply being the GOP nominee (and that by process of elimination, I'd say), has been bequeathed the mantle of the religious vote.  But maybe that's changing - that particular bloc, if you will, isn't as monolithic or block-like as I suppose.  Still, for me, as a non-religious person, McCain consistently strikes me as, well, scary. Like Nebuchannezzar.

Update: Bloc still block-like.

The Last Day of the Beginning of My Life

I love leaving jobs.  Today I left my job because in two weeks, I start school in Philadelphia.  I'm going to school to learn how to read people's minds, or clinical psychology.  But before that, I'm going to New Hampshire to empty out my brain.