Stardust Motel
Pluto will hit Capricorn again, been there, done that, coming up again in another month or so. I was thinking about this, not from a
Capricorn perspective, but from a coffee shop owner point-of-view.
Around 1959, Saturn entered the tropical zodiac sign of Capricorn. In 1960, both Jupiter and Saturn were playing tag in Capricorn.
Now consider, folks a certain generation, how they all have their natal Pluto in Virgo. That natal placement of Pluto was slammed by Saturn, in this last year or so. A shake up, maybe a wake up. Maybe not. In more than one example, I’ve seen clients with Transiting Saturn conjunct Natal Pluto while Transiting Pluto was conjunct Natal Saturn.
I was told a story about how more and more people are dropping out to follow some dream, a lawyer who opens up a coffee shop, an executive who dreams of opening a book shop. These transits of first Saturn and then Pluto could trigger such idealism. I don’t want to belittle anyone’s dream, either, but, I knew a guy who ran an ideal coffee shop. Perfect. Perfect ambience, perfect place, and most important, really good coffee. Gen-X Sagittarius, if there must be labels. He made the coffee on the cover of my book, Pink Cake.
His closing comments are telling, “Man, I’ve never worked so long and so hard for so little. I guess this town isn’t ready for quality.”
I admired his tenacity and work ethic, and I liked the way he ran the place on a tight budget. He tried a few things, but once again, it was more work than it was worth. Places like that, the coffee shop? Or the book store idea? The economics of a small, mom-and-pop store just isn’t good in the face of modern, streamlined commerce. With the supply line tightly wrapped to the fickle consumer’s palette.
But this isn’t about the end of the small stores, it’s about following one’s dream. The executive who retired to run a small, specialty bookshop? Inventory was basically his own library, and the buy and selling was just sort of like a little bonus. Then there’s the point where the specialty shop, after struggling for many years? They hit a vein of gold in the backyard. That was a place in Austin, a true labor of love that had Austin grow up around it.
While these are examples, I’m unsure that older grouping - Satrun/Jupiter in Capricorn, is willing to go back to washing dishes and mopping floors as that’s all part of what is required in a small business. I’m unsure that the retired professional really wants clean the toilets in the store - perforce toilets that are open to the public and subject to abuse.
It’s a tricky balance point.
Then, too, what prompted this astrological meander, is that there’s a whole grouping of people who fit this, and not too many of them are in position to “drop out,” much less have the operating capital to open a small business.
And just how that effecting them? The question is, if you love doing something, what are you willing to do in order to support that love, in order to (figuratively) put bread on the table?
Just a picture of parking prices, but it tickled me for some reason, the language, the cost. Park here for a lot less, huh?
Summer Vacation:
The image was a simple one: riding the tube into central London from the airport. I was jet lagged and so forth, a situation that leaves me. Bordering on silly season wherein everything seems absurd.
The blue line, I think. Where I was. I got one quick picture - trying to wrap a lot of data in one image.
That image? It was a guy, east European heritage wearing a squeeze box - working it. Panhandling. Busking.
Jeans, conservative t-shirt and white shoes.
He played for a few stops then passed through the car with styrofoam cup for donations.
Laeti edimus qui nos subigant!
Two Meat Tuesday (the book)
(cure for the common horoscope)
Pink Cake A commonplace book.
Bexar County Line
Customer Service:
Had lunch the pother afternoon, at a nice place, a German place, for a bit of a change. Good food, provided high carb content isn’t a problem, all baked goods and sweet butter.
Tucked into the bill, the standard folded over bill-holder, there was a customer service survey form.
Service 1 2 3 4 5
Cleanliness 1 2 3 4 5
Food 1 2 3 4 5
Store 1 2 3 4 5
Satisfaction 1 2 3 4 5
Server’s Name
How did you hear about us?
Suggestions
Grief, part one:
Per an arrangement with my sister who is sometimes against my mother’s behest, and I’m thoroughly unsure of how the family dynamics play on this one, but I brought home a couple of pocketknives, a few books, a telescope, a fishing pole, and some of Dad’s Mont Blanc pens. He was proud of those pens, and, in fact, I’ve carried my own for years and years. Goes back to college/university.
Still have it, in my carry-on travel gear, that pen. I set Pop’s pens on my desk, and I figured, judging from its appearance, the fountain pen was dry. I went to make out a bill, and I tested it. There was ink in it. Ink in the pen, not in the bill.
Dad was beginning to show signs of an undiagnosed illness - Parkinson’s be my untutored guess - but I had my own explanation, too. I attributed his palsy to “exhaustion,” as in, he pushed himself too hard for too long and the nerve endings were just frayed. Towards that end, Dad had, at one time, admitted one doctor explained that most post-polio patients died of “fatigue.”
One of the pocketknives I fetched up from my dad’s wardrobe was a small, watered-steel lock-back. Quince-burl handle, a real beauty. I always wondered if he carried it, or used it much. Attached to the tail-end, a small cable key-ring had been fastened. Then, too, there was a large ink stain on the butt of the knife. I was trying to figure out how green ink got there, but as I toyed with the Mont Blanc fountain pen, I realized it was that ink, washed out over time.
It’s not the big things that make up memories, it’s the little things.
Fine Print (redux):
Heinous EULAs are starting to be overturned?
Grief part two:
(I can’t say that I plan to make this a recurring feature, but it helps me.)
There were a couple of books that I grabbed, without thinking, and brought home. As I was sticking most of them on the shelves, I found two inscriptions. The first was a childhood book and the date? The book was a - apparently - gift from my aunt, my dad’s sister. To me, when I was one year old.
The second was a book about herbs, given to my aunt, inscribed as an Xmas gift from the whole family, dated when my sister was barely one year old.
Labor Day Weekend? Still, “Did you ever see Dallas from DC 9 at night?”
Estate issues, paperwork issues, and tissues.
“My vice used to be sex, but he’s dead now.”
I can’t make this stuff up.
“Don’t tell Kramer, he won’t like it, but I put beer in my home made soups.”
No, I really can’t make this stuff up.
Rode Notes:
At the Starbucks, in Temple (TX), right-hand side of the road, headed to Dallas, they had, I can’t make this up, I’m sure I got a phone picture, Pumpkin Spice Latté. In August. When it’s close to hundred degrees and humid.
Best Fine Print:
Maybe beause the message isn’t unclear. Ok!
Eggs on the sideboard:
“What are you going to do with those?” I asked.
“Oh, we’ll hatch them.”
No, I mean for sure, I can’t make this stuff up.
The weekly audio forecast is available here, and the video is part of the subscriber service.
Laeti edimus qui nos subigant!
Two Meat Tuesday (the book)
(cure for the common horoscope)
Pink Cake A commonplace book.
Bexar County Line
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Laeti edimus qui nos subigant!
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Copyright 2008 by Kramer Wetzel for astrofish.net. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without prior written consent from the author.
