Hard As Nails

I've been thinking about the dust bowl a lot and listening to a lot of Gillian Welch lately. I guess once you swill all that around in your head for a while, something like this comes out. Having said that, I've learned I'm still not any better at painting sad things without having them bum me out. I guess I'll have to paint someone falling down soon.

Treachery

"Our greatest warrior is a traitor. Can anyone be trusted?" George Washington
My high school history book describes Benedict Arnold's feelings that he was under-appreciated as "petulant." Like he was a little boy. Not to say that I'm a huge fan of Arnold, or that I'd high-five him on his infamous decision to sell out West Point...but, on the other hand, he's a really sad character. I saw a documentary recently that made the case that he outlived his glory. That if he had died at the battle of Saratoga, he would have been a great war hero. I'm inclined to agree. Instead, he lived, got more and more warped by internalizing everybody's bullshit, and his life turned out to be a huge bummer.

These Are The Times That Try Men's Souls

Happy Independence Day, folks! May your Wednesday be full of barbeque, beer, and things that go boom!!