Sunset, Tuesday, 3 November 2009

William Theodore Van Doren. Southwest Mountains, from U.S. 29 North, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on paper, 16 x 20.

This is very much a southern view of the sunset, a perspective not very far to the right of the sunrise painting in the previous post. The west was blocked by a rise of big cedars and pines next to the polling place, and election officers are not allowed to go wandering off in search of a better view.

Sunset, Thursday, 22 October 2009

William Theodore Van Doren. Fifth Street Extended/Old Lynchburg Road, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on paper, 16 x 20.

Tonight I was in training for election officers who will be working Tuesday, November 3rd. Some readers may remember my report of June 9th, after our previous election – perhaps the most widely read post in the history of this site so far, and certainly the post most visited from within the Commonwealth of Virginia. My story may have had some effect: Will Harvey, secretary of the board of elections, issued a pointed caution against political conversation by election officers in the polling place, even when voters are not present, noting that “debates could erupt” and disrupt or prejudice the electoral process.

On the way down to the training, I was thinking about how our government works, and watching the sky the whole time, vaguely wondering how its government works – the sky and the universe it tends to symbolize. Is it anarchy, some sort of democracy of the elements, or, as so many believe, an absolute monarchy?

Personally, I’m leaning toward a league of devas. I don’t think I’d mind if they took over here as well.