mid-spring garden

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any
you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you’ll head straight out of town.
It’s opener there
in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.
OH!
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!
You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don’t
Because, sometimes, you won’t.
I’m sorry to say so
but, sadly, it’s true
and hang-ups
can happen to you.
You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a Lurch.
You’ll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you’ll be in a Slump.
And when you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked.
A place you could sprain both you elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And IF you go in, should you turn left or right…
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so confused
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…
…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a sting of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.
NO!
That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.
With banner flip-flapping,
once more you’ll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!
Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.
Except when they don’t.
Because, sometimes, they won’t.
I’m afraid that some times
you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win
’cause you’ll play against you.
All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you’ll be quite a lot.
And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance
you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.
But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike
and I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.
You’ll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So…
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

A poem by Dr. Seuss

find the good

I have been walking everyday to try to lose this weight I put on over the last two years. My muscles are sore, the bottom of my feet hurt, and I have not lost really any weight, maybe a pound or two on the good days. I realize that this is most likely one of my easier challenges, however, it seems pretty difficult at the moment.

I have been reading more about living conditions in other parts of the word. I really get rather disgusted with my own life style, in the sense that, I have it so good here while others suffer. I could have been them and they could of been me. It's not guilt, but learning more has inspired an inner desire to figure out how I can help. So I ponder this, while I make donations here and there. There are so many organizations with so many causes. I have a handful that I support but still I desire to do something more.

I am also attempting to eliminate negativity in my life. Lucky for me, currently, I am more often then not, surrounded by kind, fun, upbeat people. These people seem to be on pretty much the same page.

That's all I have right now. Wait, I still have some painter's block. I have three paintings started, but I have not touched them for a while. The weather has turned nice and I have been pulled into my garden, where I just completely get into the dirt and earth zone. I could be out there all day long, without speaking to another human being and be totally unaware of time, and be 100% pleased with my day.

That's all for now...peace..find the good.

Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die. ~Malachy McCourt

if only the system made sense

Here's a great article about how if the primary process wasn't so messed up, the results would be very different.

read article here

hard yard work

Well, the sun was out today, and I worked from after my first cup of coffee until five-thirty. I took one break for food, and two breaks to talk with different neighbor friends. I would be out there still if it was about ten degrees warmer.

One neighbor shared a story about the sidewalk down the street. My friend Sue grew up in the house down the street. After her divorce she returned to her childhood home and she raised her two boys, from toddlers to adults. The boys footprints were in the cement sidewalk in front of their house. Well, a couple years ago and Sue's son enlisted, and he lost his life in the Iraq war. Sue eventually sold her home. New owners moved in last fall and ripped out the old sidewalk and tossed the crumbled footprints into the dumpster, never even blinking an eye or asking anyone about the prints. One piece concrete held her boys small footprints for so many years. Now they are gone.

count the vote

In our democracy people are entitled to one vote per election, but currently in two states citizens' votes are not being counted. The democratic party, one of two in a two party system, is refusing to count the votes cast in Florida and Michigan. This is unacceptable. Let your voice be heard before we will lose our voting rights. Please add your name to the petition in the link below.

count the votes petition
count the votes petition at Hillary's site

such beauty in strength

"You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise." -Dr. Maya Angelou

entire text

damn damn it's monday again

Week one of the diet was pretty much a complete failure. I tried really hard for about four days and then I don't know what happened. I exercised on Saturday and Sunday, and now it is Monday again, and I have to do better. I used to be able to loose weight quickly, now it is most difficult. Everyone says this happens, but you never know when it is going to happen. So it is most frustrating. I know I can do it, but then why don't I? It's like painting, when you are experiencing a "block" it is very uncomfortable. I think in my case the two are connected, so my goal this week will be to exercise and paint everyday, even if only for a short period of time.

Once again good luck to me!

right michelle, wright

It occurred to me the other day, that among the many things I do not like about Obama and his answer to the Rev. Wright issue, is the that fact that Obama wants to be our nation's leader, yet he has never addressed the plight of the thousands of Rev. Wright followers. These followers go each Sunday to Trinity Church where they display their over zealous enthusiasm to words of bigotry, hatred and falsehoods. The faithful make sure to get their weekly Wright "dose"; black power, blame the rich white man, riding dirty, and "God damn America", now please make your tiding and we'll see you next week.

What does this say about Obama? Obama continues to acts as if there is very little wrong with this church or its preachings. He acts ignorant to Wright's incendiary sermons. Hard to believe Obama's lack of knowledge after knowing the man for twenty years and going to church for eighteen years. I find it easy to think that Michelle Obama believes deeply in the teachings of Rev. Wright. I can hear it in her choice of words every time she speaks. Perhaps, this is once again a case of "the woman behind the man," maybe Michelle Obama rules the roost and perhaps Barack is terrified of crossing his wife.

She certainly scares the hell out of me.

spring reminds me

As I get ready to hope for some sunshine and above 40 degree weather, I realize that my winter world has been holding me captive. I like politics, I know very little, but I know what I like and what I dislike. I have to say when the sun comes out, and the earth thaws, politics will all be a sideshow for me. That's okay. I love the summer, the garden, the drinks at sunset, the pure joy found in nothing more then a time when it's not too hot, not too cold, and absolutely beautiful.

There is more out there then just being "right."

garden time

Today I spent some time starting to clean up the winter mess, the mess from the dogs, and the mess from the fence people. Some tulips are starting to crest and daffodils, some tiger lilies too. I really do not like working, like office work. I mean it's okay in the winter time, but I just love hard work in the yard, and playing in the dirt. I don't know why, I just do.

I need to keep going. I am making a list so that I can cross off some items. Tonight - I hope to paint!

voter fatigue

I am afraid that voter fatigue has set in. That’s it. Don’t even want to know whether there were bullets or bumble bees. Don’t care what someone else thought when they listened to 20 years of hate, oh wait, and never heard the hate. Don’t care what they wear; don’t care where they vacation. Don’t care what he said she said, or when he said he didn’t say. I have placed my bet, I mean my vote, and now I’ll wait and see who the Super Delegates nominate.

On the flip side, I have to say that Craig Crawford Trail Mix Blog has been the silver lining to this primary debacle for me. I stumbled onto the blog after one of Craig’s appearances on MSNBC. An interesting cast of characters hang out there – nice to hear opinions from so many different people – you keep it real. : )

compassion

The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another. - Thomas Merton

the big "d" word

Day One:
Today is Monday. I always like to start things on Mondays. I have started this particular thing many many Mondays over the course of my life. It is a diet. The "this is it, I am not going to be fat anymore diet , diet." The sad thing is that when I thought I was fat in the past I wasn't, but now I am. I am between 25 to 30 pounds over weight.

I am going to treat this like an addiction. I am going to be conscience of my food intake first one hour at a time and increase to one day at a time. That's all I can do.

Good luck to me.

race reflection

I have no interaction with black people at all. It is just the way my life has worked out. I have lived all over this country, but never in, or even near, a black community. I speak to black people when I interact with them in stores and other public places, but just the common courtesy I would give to anyone, nothing deep.

Some race-related issues are difficult for me to understand. Why do so many blacks fail to graduate from high school, and why do some choose crime over real employment? I wonder how these people expect to make things better for themselves when they make such blatant bad choices.

I have to believe that everyone's experiences regarding race are different. This is a very sad situation and I do not think it has to be this way. So much energy, time, and talent interrupted by hatred and anger.

decided

If my choice in November is between Obama or McCain, I will write in Hillary Rodham Clinton. I had such high hopes for my candidate. I am painfully shocked at this nominating process.

1969 speech

"she is a typical white person"

Everyone is talking about this, but no one is mentioning that his Grandmother was a woman. I have tried to explain this to people but some seem to forget that we, as women, must be ready to fight for our lives in every parking garage, empty street, desolate park and sometimes even in our own homes. When we walk to our cars, we peek under the car, in the back seat, we carry our keys in a defensive manner. We carry mace, tasors, guns, and our cell phones are programmed to help locate us in case we are abducted.

Obama's Grandmother was not racist she was wise. Shame on you Barack Obama for using your Grandmother this way, a woman who loved you so.

support our men and women

I know one young lady, a dear friend of my daughter, who is in the Navy on a ship in Japan. Her brother is a Marine who just found out he will be on his way to Iraq. One friend who lost her brother in February, and another whose brother will be heading to Iraq soon.

One main problem for these young people is they do not feel the love and support from their homeland. Due to the unpopular opinions regarding this war, the soldiers are faced with completing a mission without strong homeland backing. This is difficult and needs correction. These brave people are risking their lives for us, you and me. While we sip our lattes, they can only wonder will they ever see home again. Whether the war is popular or not, we need to get behind those in the military and make it a priority to make sure they have the best of everything, before, during and after deployment and for their return to the states.

This is not a party issue, this is not a race issue, this is not a gender issue, this is an American issue. It's time to stop worrying about the ingrates who say "God Damn America", and rediscover supporting and protecting pride in America. We must start by honoring our troops, and realizing that we live in a country worthy of their protection, sacrifices and valor.

Start today, if only by one step, think about them and be grateful.

look over there

Obama delivered a speech he wrote, or helped write, regarding the country's concern over his life-time pastor, Reverend Wright. Instead of answering the questions out there, he chose to lecture America on basic history and facts surrounding the characteristics of some black churches and racism as a whole in the United States. That is a fine topic to discuss, but it did not answer the question of why? Why did Obama choose to join that church? Why did Obama say before that he never heard any of Wrights controversial comments only later to say he did? Why didn't Obama leave that church? Why does he choose to continue to participate in a church that spews hatred and lies about our country? Why does Obama support this church financially, if he does not agree with what it teaches? Why is Reverend Wright his spiritual leader? His mentor? Why can't Obama tell the truth about something so personal?

Obama did not need to write a speech to answer these questions. He just needed to answer them honestly and completely, which is exactly what he chose not to do.