Listening to Dream On by Aerosmith, great song. Tonight is my open mic. I say "my open mic" because I have committed myself to it on a Wednesday night. I will read some poetry and share one or two songs. Last night I went to my Bipolar support group, again I say "my" because I am committed to attending, though it is just once a month.

It's good to get together with others who have known mental illness on the inside. I don't agree with everything said there, but this is a support group, not an indoctrination session. Each person must make up their own mind.

The issue of whether I should confront the supervisors who dropped me from their sub list with no warning or feedback came up. I am really torn about this, since I am now focused on my writing, anyway and seeking publication opportunities. Also, I have experienced a lot of trauma working in the schools. Why "go there?"

But this is unfinished business for me. I don't know what to do. The facilitator thinks i should go back and talk to them (if they will talk to me). I added "if they will talk to me" because subs can be treated like subhuman in the school systems and not worth setting up an appointment with or talking to. I am telling it like it is.

In the USA, temps and part-timers can be terribly mistreated. In many respects, we have no rights and no recourse.

Anyway, otherwise, I am fine, exercising more at the Y, writing every day and performing music, as I said. Seeking publication opportunities is a part of the whole writing task for me. OS is different. I don't expect or want to be paid for this. This is a writer's and artist's social network and online support group, as I see it. it is for creative folks to share with one another their work and their thoughts and feeling and hopes and dreams. Not something to be paid for. That's how i see it.

Politics...I guess I am on a hiatus, maybe because the campaigns are not getting back to me lately. I have a political column sitting on the shelf with the Citizen-Times; it will be published but maybe not for a week or two. As a loyal Democrat, I know I will be involved till the November election, because this year is so important, to push back against the extreme right. Thankfully, the American people are not as stupid as some of the political operatives and pundits think.

Well, this post does not consist of a lot of pretty words, but that's where I'm at today. Our voices change depending on the circumstances and what is going on inside.