Today wasn’t a podium day.
It was a connective day.
Last night, before the Board of Supervisors meeting, the new Interim County Administrator introduced himself to me and mentioned he’d “heard things” about me.
I told him I hoped they were bad.
He smiled and said he’d heard I was smart.
It was brief, cordial, and professional — the kind of exchange that acknowledges presence without turning into anything more.
This morning, while waiting for the Finance Director, I ran into him again. The conversation was lighter this time. He joked about whether they’d hire me.
I told him they probably couldn’t afford me.
And that was that.
Then the Finance Director arrived, and the day properly began.
We discussed some of the research I’ve been working on—clarifying how certain systems operate, walking through quirks I’ve noticed in reports, and exploring how backend processes actually function. We ended up deep in a complex spreadsheet that turned into homework when our time ran out.
I also offered to withdraw a few FOIA requests that were slowing staff while they focus on the audit and annual budget cycle. Transparency matters. So does timing.
Before leaving, I shared something lighter: my song “Data Wrangled Me First” under The Bard of Bizarre, from my tragicomedy album re: Cubicle 13. Apparently, staff enjoyed it at their potluck. There’s something fitting about a spreadsheet-themed nerdcore track making its way through a finance office.
From there, I stopped by the Chamber of Commerce to check in on the director after she’d been under the weather. Civic infrastructure isn’t just policy — it’s people.
Lunch was at On Cue, still clearing Mardi Gras decorations from the night before. No King Cake left — just a King Cake drink — so I passed on that and went with gumbo alongside a cheesesteak. Practical compromise.
Next was Dusty’s Country Store, where I picked up a small laser-cut music box that plays “You Are My Sunshine.” What caught my attention wasn’t the melody but the craftsmanship. The engraved areas exposed natural wood, while everything else had a deep black finish—not charred, but intentional. I’m still curious about the technique. Stain first? Masking? Reverse engraving? Subtle details like that make maker culture fascinating.
At Main Street Geek, I combed through the bulk LEGO bins. This time, there were older pieces mixed in. I tend to look for unique elements, printed tiles, and architectural parts. I didn’t have much time, but I came away with a few larger components — ladders and a large palm leaf — that will be useful additions to future builds.
Then it was off to the Lodge for training on how meetings are organized and structured. Governance isn’t just public comment; it’s understanding the architecture behind agendas and procedures.
I barely made it to the Warren Heritage Society Archives Committee meeting on time. Their door has small windows set too high to see through, so before entering, I removed my fedora, raised it to a pane, and bounced it up and down a few times to distract anyone inside.
It worked.
There was momentary confusion — then laughter.
I presented my 1881 four-by-four-inch block prints and floated the idea of using them to help raise funds for the nonprofit, especially with the upcoming wine and craft festival. There was interest, though another committee will need to consider it. One recommendation was to use self-made paper.
After that, I headed to the library’s development meeting. With the Supervisors approving $100,000 in library appropriations last night, I was eager to understand how that would affect the emergency donor fund. I arrived late, but learned the library is currently at 89% of its goal, assuming the approved funds are received. There’s still work to do before the next fiscal year begins in July.
While at the development meeting, I realized I hadn’t yet made a contribution for Library Lovers Month, so I took care of that.
The Friends group reported that they were about 25 members shy of the next milestone, at which point I reminded the president of her agreement to let me dress as a clown and pie her in the face.
Community incentives come in many forms.
Finally, home.
Time to relax.
Well — almost.
Before calling it a night, I noticed an article in the paper that referenced my comments from the night before, but my name was spelled incorrectly. I sent a quick note with the correction, and they followed up promptly. While checking, I found two older articles with the same misspelling. Those haven’t been updated yet — likely buried deeper in the archives — but I flagged them as well. Accuracy, even in small things, matters.
Last night, I began extracting topic-specific clips from my January 20 public comments at the Supervisors meeting. The older videos had grown long and covered too many issues in a single post. Separating them by topic makes them clearer, easier to follow, and more useful as a public record.
This evening, I finished three more — all clips from that night at the podium:
- Beyond The AS400: ERP
- Transparency In STR Decisions
- Data Centers And Truck Traffic
- Balancing Backyard Agriculture And Residential Peace
That’s the throughline of the day:
Clarifying systems.
Supporting staff.
Modernizing processes.
Preserving archives.
Strengthening nonprofits.
Building community.
Improving accessibility.
Not spectacle.
Structure.
That’s enough orbit for one day.
