A Bit Torn

Coming home today I passed Poughkeepsie’s Hulme Park. It was with a sinking feeling I noted the Occupy tents and tenants had vanished over night. Of Occupy Poughkeepsie left were only a few the signs with Occupy and one that asked, ‘Who are you protecting?’

Once home I decided to watch videos on the Occupy Poughkeepsie (and Oakland, CA) Movement at http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20111207/NEWS01/312070057/What-will-become-Occupy-Poughkeepsie- From them I learned that last night the tenants of the park had been evicted and any belongings left, including some tents, were confiscated. Also I learned that once evicted, Occupy had marched to the Sheriff’s Office to protest the sale of foreclosed homes in the area.

As for the videos, they featured a number of regular-talking people of a variety of ages and backgrounds from the Occupy Movement whom I rather liked. Each spoke to his or her main concern: Some were concerned about repaying student loans and finding jobs after college. A mother advocated for more support for the education of children. Some advocated for a jobs bill, blaming both sides of the isle and not the President because we had none.

A returning warrior sought to end war.

There were also those who asked for a tax on the rich.

As for Alva the Indie, she was no where to be seen. At last news, she had left Plattsburgh, NY, to join those gathered on Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. It was they who had picketed the US Chamber of Commerce asking if there was also an office to work for the 99%? Something Alva would definitely want to do.

As for me, I’ve been feeling rather at sea–on the one hand wanting Alva back and working in the office as we spearhead our publicity campaign for Jolt: a rural noir.

(As you well may know, Jolt: a rural noir is a 2011 Living Now Awards Medalist in Inspirational Fiction. You can find Jolt available at http://alvapressinc.com in traditional and Mobi (Kindle) and ePub (Nook) eBook formats.)

On the other hand, I’m with those at Freedom Plaza in many ways–especially in my concern for the environment which includes the outlier possibilities for nuclear meltdowns, nuclear accidents, and dirty bombs. That’s why I think it is so important that everyone reads Jolt: a rural noir: not only is it a great story wonderful characters, it’s an easy way to become informed on the emergency nuclear response and therefore–in a worse case scenario–simply stated–safer.

I suppose it’s raining in D.C. tonight. I can only hope that Alva has shelter. And as for Jolt: a rural noir, if you haven’t read it yet, you should do it real soon. Those that have have appreciated the depth of the research that went into it and the usefulness of the information provided by this passionate novel of post-apocalyptic survival.

Roberta in Po-Town, Feelin’ torn

Alva in Port Henry and Roberta, Henderson, and Waldman

Heard from Alva. Told me she’d decided to leave Albany to check out the real world. Seems she’d heard the bridge at Crown Point was completed and was a sight for sore eyes–I guess hers. So she and a friend who had joined her in Albany to rattle political cages about extending the Millionaire’s Tax had taken a run up to see the new bridge and walk across it.

According to Alva, the view from the bridge over Lake Champlain is simply stunning in both North and South directions so they have decided to bunk down in Port Henry for a few days.

Oh, and just a bit ago, Alva called me again to say the Bridge at Crown Point at night from Port Henry is just magical to behold; not only the walkways over the bridge, but also the road leading up to it are beautifully lit.

Also, according to Alva, she and an acquaintance named Zeta have already decided to walk the span again in the morning, but this time, as the sun comes up–because the Green Mountains with the sun rising over them and the thought of arriving mid-Bridge as it does so is just too exciting for her to resist.

In view of Alva’s anticipation, it just didn’t seem to be the time to talk of mundane things like Alva Press and our PR campaign. So I never got to mention the fact that Kristen Henderson’s book of poetry, Drum Machine, will be released in January.

Also I did not mention that last night I met Carl Waldman, well-know author of some ten or more other books on explorers, Elvis, and American Indians–including the Encyclopedia of Native Americans! Or that he’s asked me to read his yet to be published newest novel–a mystery.

Can’t help it. Life is so lop-sided: Alva’s all in a tizzy about Crown Point Bridge being done and right now all I can think about is reading Waldman’s mystery.

Still, next week I think I’ll take a run to Port Henry just to take a look at the Bridge myself. I love Port Henry–used to live there–and was pretty devastated a couple of years ago when they imploded the old Crown Point Bridge due to its weakened state.

And believe me, I was not the only one.

Roberta in Po-Town, Ready to run four hours north

Alva Not Coming Home; Not Yet

Last night Alva called. She’s still in Albany. Went on about how if all the millionaires have not left the state now while they still have a tax on them, they are certainly not going to leave the state if the Legislature and Andrew Cuomo decide to extend it. Says the State needs it. The people need it. The millionaires’ don’t. Tried to at least get her to come back home. Told her she could use my cell to call the governor. No good. She wasn’t coming.

Next I tried to explain that we really need her here at ALVA Press, Inc. I told her how we were trying to navigate the social media and get the word out about Jolt: a rural noir–now an eBook, and Kristen Henderson’s soon-to-be-released book of poems, Drum Machine. All to no avail. She would have nothing of it.

All I could do at best was to get her to agree to follow my posts here and at http://alvapressinc.com and to return home if the snow flies–although this latter promise I can’t say is to be relied upon as it was offered so grudgingly. Mumbled something like, saving her energy for the spring.

Meantime, here at Alva Press, she’s left everything to Chelsea and me. If you recall, it had been Alva who was in charge of newsletter distribution. And newspaper contacts. Now how are we to improve Jolt: a rural noir sales without Alva here? So we just keep our fingers crossed that Alva’ll be back in time to help with the PR for the Henderson book. But who knows?

Also hoping my friends will give us a boost in the interim. Maybe they’ll just post lots of comments about Jolt on GoodReads.com–and give it five stars.

In other, if you haven’t picked up a copy yet of Jolt: a rural noir, do order it though http://alvapressinc.com. where with sending costs included, for $11.95 you can order copy of Jolt: a rural noir as an eBook. (Traditional formats are a bit more expensive and do include shipping.)

Roberta in Po-Town, Still Missing Alva

Thanksgiving: Alva Under the Tents

Yup! Alva took her sleeping bag and went out to join the Occupy Movement and I’m all a dither.

Ever see ALVA when she is on a roll? Hair stands out straight all around her head. Her eyes get so big  they look like headlights. And she moves so fast at times she’s a blur.

I tried, but I was able to keep her here in the office until yesterday. Then the Super Committee did it’s thing. She heard the news that was it!  I watched as Alva threw cheese, oranges, and loaf of bread into a bag. Then she just stormed out. Yelled over her shoulder not to try to call her as she wasn’t taking her cell with her. Said she didn’t think they had chargers in the tents. Haven’t heard from her since.

Now tell me what I’m supposed to do. How am I suppose to feel grateful with ALVA out there who knows where ready to fight the world just because she thinks that the top 1% should talk to those she calls those meal-headed people in Congress. Alva believes the rich should explain that as they own a third of the country’s wealth they agree with the Occupy Movement: The tax structure simply is not fair! And she wants them to tell the tea-baggers–that’s what ALVA calls them–to just stop second-guessing them–the rich–the top 1%–and think about the poor!

That’s ALVA. And I just don’t what else to do except to make sure my voter registration is in order.

Roberta in Po-Town, Hoping for a saner Thanksgiving 2012