| Sierra Dreams Press Auburn, CA |
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| About Stuart Rawlings Background Education Work Travel Publications |
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Dear friends,
My wife Elsa and I have decided that for our 2011 New Year’s resolution, we will
try, as much as possible, to relax and do almost nothing at all. Our vision is watching
cooking shows or football on television, eating Brownies or polenta, listening to our
favorite music, reading our favorite books, and resting or sleeping for endless hours
during the day and night. We might occasionally go for a stroll along the ridge where
we live, or not.
Relaxing is not easy with an 11-year-old son who wants to spend every free second
of his time skateboarding, snowboarding, or wrestling. And my full-time job with
Placer County Mental Health may get in the way, as may our two doggies (who wag
their tails excitedly until we take them for a hike). And then there’s that meditation
sanctuary which my wife wants to build, and that novel about Jesus and Jefferson
which I want to finish. And other activities (like singing with the Auburnaires) and
obligations (like fixing the water heater) which come up here and there.
Americans, I have read, are now the busiest people on Earth -even more busy than
the Chinese and Japanese. We work more jobs, with longer hours, and fewer vacation
days, than any other people on the planet... Most of us, particularly as we get older,
need to slow down, and perhaps follow the old maxim, “do half as much in twice the
time.”
On the other hand, America has close to 20% real unemployment. A number of my
friends have been laid off of their jobs, and have lost their homes, their families, and
their peace of mind. These friends have forced time on their hands, and would do
almost anything to get back to a real paying job. My heart goes out to them!
So, in the middle of this and other paradoxes, here we are with Sierra Dreams
press... as I see it, a little ray of sunshine in a big world --offering works of art to any
who are interested in viewing or listening to them, or in creating other works themselves.
Love to you all!
-Stuart
(February 2011)
My wife Elsa and I have decided that for our 2011 New Year’s resolution, we will
try, as much as possible, to relax and do almost nothing at all. Our vision is watching
cooking shows or football on television, eating Brownies or polenta, listening to our
favorite music, reading our favorite books, and resting or sleeping for endless hours
during the day and night. We might occasionally go for a stroll along the ridge where
we live, or not.
Relaxing is not easy with an 11-year-old son who wants to spend every free second
of his time skateboarding, snowboarding, or wrestling. And my full-time job with
Placer County Mental Health may get in the way, as may our two doggies (who wag
their tails excitedly until we take them for a hike). And then there’s that meditation
sanctuary which my wife wants to build, and that novel about Jesus and Jefferson
which I want to finish. And other activities (like singing with the Auburnaires) and
obligations (like fixing the water heater) which come up here and there.
Americans, I have read, are now the busiest people on Earth -even more busy than
the Chinese and Japanese. We work more jobs, with longer hours, and fewer vacation
days, than any other people on the planet... Most of us, particularly as we get older,
need to slow down, and perhaps follow the old maxim, “do half as much in twice the
time.”
On the other hand, America has close to 20% real unemployment. A number of my
friends have been laid off of their jobs, and have lost their homes, their families, and
their peace of mind. These friends have forced time on their hands, and would do
almost anything to get back to a real paying job. My heart goes out to them!
So, in the middle of this and other paradoxes, here we are with Sierra Dreams
press... as I see it, a little ray of sunshine in a big world --offering works of art to any
who are interested in viewing or listening to them, or in creating other works themselves.
Love to you all!
-Stuart
(February 2011)
