Hear Me

I am musing about being heard this morning after I received a written record of who did what to Social Security over the years and the e-mail sounded pretty one sided as the writer took time to place the blame on the Democrats alone, not a word about how the Republican representatives in the House and Senate went right along with the vote and the changes which were far from fair to the American workers. I am not, nor ever have been a Republican and have changed my mind about being a Democrat, at the rate both parties have 'screwed and tattooed the American public', I think we need a strong Independent to come out and fight a battle against the greed and corruption that runs rampant in our highest offices in our land. I could write reams about my personal battle with Social Security and have you crying for me in one hand and laughing out loud in the other. I did my stint over the years trying to rectify an error 'they' made and even going to the top leaders of the agency, I could not get an answer to the problem that existed . . . but, my favorite word, they found a way to stop the error without an explanation and I would not dare to ask how or why they came to the conclusion they did. I'd be afraid that my income would disappear and me along with it.

So today I am going to be short and sweet and calm down from the feeling of being used and abused by my own government. Taking 2/3 r'ds of my income because I worked for the Federal Government, as did my husband, the Government Pension Offset bill started in 1983 is still coming out each and every year with hundreds of sponsors but no action because it would be costly to 'fix' a huge mistake they made in gouging the Federal worker one more time.

Take it upon yourself to pay attention to what is going on because it does have a very profound and special effect on your income. The taxes are placed in the fine print of a bill thrown in the hopper that you are not even aware of until it comes out loud and clear in your pay check. Okay, I'm off, I'm off . . . some things are just 'unfair'.

Ignore my ranting and ravings and go outside in the fresh air today and take a walk around the block . . . I am. Thanks for listening, whew . . . it felt pretty good to get all that off my chest . . . I gave YOU a headache . . . I'm sorry. I'll try not to ever do that again. Know I love you.

Smooze a Friend.

I wonder how, in the animal kingdom, there is no thought to looks, dress, warts or differences between the species when there is trouble . . . aha . . . I just answered my own supposition ----big troubles makes the world a different place as we have seen recently during the horrific earth quakes and violent storms. In this particular case the baby hippopotamus was orphaned and during a huge storm, he or she, was blown and thrown into the area where the tortoise was and landed on it. The tortoise old and wise took the hippopotamus under it's care and they are best friends. If anyone tries to bother the tortoise the little hippo rises in its defense. So many times we have seen pictures from the animal world that shows what true friendship really means. Why can't we humans open our hearts and minds and accept the differences in each other? Not one of is perfect, if we were, we wouldn't be here, that is for sure. We all seem to think we are 'perfect' and everyone else is not, but we soon find out that our flaws are just as big and as glaring as any other person on the planet. In this particular case age didn't matter one iota. The tortoise is as old as time and the baby hippopotamus has yet to find out what the world around him is really like, yet they accept each other without question. It is a born wisdom that the young have knowing it is wise to acknowledge their elders and learn what life lessons to overcome. Now, if we could only get them to listen, think of how much happier their lives would be. But . . . we humans are a strange and funny lot, we seem to know we have to walk our own path and make our own mistakes to grow up. Some of us make it, some of us do not, but we do learn even if it is the 'hard' way. Each day I learn more about growing up, and each day I learn more about friendship, which actually means love, and I continue to grow and glow.

So, today is a new day, a day to celebrate your friends, and your family are your very best friends, try to overlook the big and the little idiosyncrasies each of us have. Look into the smiling eyes and know that the love you see is just for you. If there is a scowl about, run for cover or find the little hippo and see if it will come to your rescue . . . make amends quickly . . . a hug usually works wonders. Just continue to grow in acceptance and love for those in your circle and then open it up and find a new someone to add, warts and all.

Candles and Stuff!!

Noah's Ark

Star of the Sea - alter

After a visit to The Star of the Sea church yesterday to light candles for the world in general, and mostly for each and everyone of you, I ask not for the cure of wants but the cure of needs for each of us. We live in stressful times and it plays havoc with our beings. So a trip to a quiet spot, a short time of meditation and the world seems to be a better place . . . and then I got home and took one more look at the unfinished Noah Ark puzzle and pondered. Should I take the time to finish a puzzle that has seven missing pieces? Daughter Pat and I have worked diligently to finish this puzzle and it has not been an easy one. It has been a challenge and for me that is half the battle, but the fact that there were about one hundred more practically same shape and color pieces left was more than daunting, a strain on the back, and not worth the frustration . . . so I boxed it and threw it in the garbage. I will not buy another 'used' puzzle and will not accept another puzzle unless I am guaranteed all the pieces are there. When I walked by the table this morning and the puzzle was not there I felt a tiny bit sorry that I gave it up. I could have finished it. I could have worked around the missing pieces but I had reached my saturation point and now, thanks to Bob and Andrea, I have a three-d puzzle which I have never tried. A globe of sorts and I am wondering what it is going to be like . . . frustrating I'm sure. The challenge is there, the hard work of putting the pieces together . . . much like our lives on a daily basis in which we struggle to make things whole.

So when you look at the candles shining so brightly, know there is one for you. Take the time to stop for a few seconds, meditate, feel the love and the hope that they bring as they brightens up a small dark alcove in an empty church without a living soul saying a prayer inside.

There is something about candles that bring a warm glow. What is that saying about 'it is better to light one candle ", don't remember the rest of it but it has to do with lighting your way in the dark; just think what it would be like if everyone lit just one candle . . . wow, a blast of light to show us the way, it doesn't get any better than that. Don't give up, get up and light a candle today . . . and if you cannot get to a church candle there is nothing that I know of that says you cannot light a candle in your home as you as you give thanks for all of your blessings today. That snowman candle you got for Christmas, or the ones in the fancy holders waiting for someone to bring them to the glory of love and warmth. Get busy . . . light a candle.

Marching Forward

It is the fourth day of March already and time marches on, a bit too quickly for my liking. The weather stays iffy with more cold than usual and the wind and rain keep the ocean waves strong and beautiful to see. Daughter Pat took me for a ride to Sporthaven beach yesterday and the aquamarine blue green of the sea was a sight to see, almost belying the high waves that were crashing on the rocks like they do when the sky is filled with dark storm clouds. It would have been a great day for the young men to be out riding the waves on their 'boards'. The sky was filled with huge white and gray billowing clouds that look much like summer thunderheads, another storm coming in, but right then and there, the rays of the sun heated my skin and made me feel alive. We could do with more sunshine and that vitamin D that makes our 'get up and go' do just that. The kite flying field was filled with all kinds of gulls and pigeons milling around hoping someone would come and feed them people food. They get very lazy once they are fed by humans. The Chetco river runs into the sea here and usually it is where the Pelicans perch on the big rocks but they are gone now. Hopefully they will return again this year as they delight the eye with their huge bodies that 'plop' when they land in the river. We didn't stay long as the wind was up and it was cold. Today is Thursday and a good day to light a few candles for friends who are having illness and a few of those headaches that make the day long. The thrift store will be open so daughter Pat and I will browse through it and see if anyone left a treasure or two . . . maybe even a good book to read. I really don't need another book as I have bookcases filled with books to be read, but, one more good read is always welcome. I've been engrossed with author, Clive Cussler and his co-writer Craig Durgo, reading their "The Sea Hunters !!" which are true adventures of famous shipwrecks. Reading leads to the realization that we have so much more to learn.

So, today my friends, make it a great one, browse through the local book shops and find a tome or two that will fill your mind and your heart with a zest for living and loving . . . then get busy and do it.

Verbal Jokes

I really wish I could tell a good joke to make everyone laugh out loud. I remember most of the joke until the punch line then 'screw' it up every time. About the only one I can think of is an old Irish joke which has passed around forever and I think I have told it a dozen times, so for posterity sake I'll tell it one more time. "There were two Irish men who worked at the torpedo station in Newport, R.I. back in the forties. They were best buddies and spent every free moment at the Briar & Brew bar for a pint before going home for the day. It was a habit they refused to break. One morning 'Paddy' didn't show up to catch the ferryboat to the island so 'Mick' went on but was uncomfortable for the day. He thought of nothing but his friend all day. When work was over he went to Paddy's house and Paddy's wife was happy to see him, saying, "Mick, I'm so glad you are here. Paddy had a heart attack in the middle of the night and we had the priest in for the last rites. He will be so glad to see you, go on up and cheer him up." Mick went up and spent an hour cheering his friend up. As he stood up to leave, he bumped his head on the slanted ceiling and said, " How the hell are they going to get a coffin out of here." I think I've heard this joke told in as many dialects.

Yesterday our cartoon Maxine said, "It's not a leap year, but feel free to take a flying one anyway." And the piece of resistance was the one that came in on an e-mail with the title
"Creation or Evolution?" A little girl asked her mother "How did the human race appear?" Mother answered: "God made Adam and Eve and they had children and all of mankind was made. The little girl asked her father the same question and he said, "Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved." The little girl was confused so she went back to her mother and said, "you told me God made us and Dad said we came from monkeys." Her mother smiled and said, "Well dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his."

So today, when you are out and about and sit down with a friend or two, start a joke fest and laugh out loud. You will be amazed at how good you will feel. All you need is a good memory to remember the punch line. Make today a fun one after all it is hump day and the weekend looms ahead.

Pictures from Alaska

These are a few of the pictures son John put up on his blog. I was delighted to see them as they put meaning to the words I have been listening to these past weeks. John is in Anchorage and finding it beautiful, even the snow. He is due to go up to the 'slope' soon and is out hunting for an Arctic jacket, and from what I understand high priced. Hopefully he will find one within his budget and keep warm as it is fifty degrees below zero up there. They go through training before they go up there, some two hour air flight from the city. I can't imagine being in that kind of cold. Having an adventurous son has the advantage of seeing new and different places and hearing about exciting events but it is also one of the reasons why mother's get white hair . . . you know sharks teeth in letters from the Navy days when he was diving in the depths of the ocean; or, promises of news from the top of our world. There is still space to conquer and he most likely is keeping his eye open to find out when the first colony will be settled on the moon or a planet even further away. Hopefully he will take more pictures and have stories to tell, but . . . there's that word again . . . he usually leaves his camera in his car or at home with good intentions to use it then it takes a little prodding from his family for him to turn out the wonderful and beautiful pictures for us to enjoy. He is really a very 'nice guy', what can I tell you . . . well . . . oodles and boodles but then you would sign off as I would brag on and on and on.

So today make a pact with yourself and go find your camera and take some pictures you can send me to enjoy about where you are and what you are doing. It is so simple today to use a digital camera and put the pictures on the computer and 'send'. . . I'd like that. Dress warm as winter is still hanging on and on; more rain for us today and it is colder than usual here. I'm off to have my first hot cup of coffee . . . the pot is on, the door is open . . . come on in.

Tied Up

Here is Emma with her first day on a leash and she doesn't think it is a good idea. The first thing she did was to try to sever connections but with little luck as she and daughter Pat struggle to find out who is 'the boss'. Emma is beginning to understand that the leash means walk and that she really loves. So like most of us, she is getting used to 'ties that bind' and loves to be out there parading around. How we all like to run free, but . . . and there always is a 'but' to tie us up or slow us down as we face each day. We learn quickly how responsible we are for our actions and the end results. Emma is learning and is very smart, and at this moment is the cutest and best puppy in the world . . . well, you know what kind of a grandmother I am and how I use and abuse my bragging rights. At this age I am enjoying her short visits but find she is so playful and energetic she makes me aware of how much 'time' changes us without our even being aware. She wears me out just watching her. I just don't have the energy to take care of anything or anyone that is so full of life. I'm more the jig saw puzzle type now and a walker helps . . . but . . . I don't like it, and I, like those of my ilk, do not like being 'tied down'. Time changes all, Emma will learn quickly and be a wonderful full grown dog with a big heart, gorgeous eyes, faithful and true and Pat will be happier for having her to love. As for me and my generation, we are slowly moving into a time when we have to accept the fact that we are 'tied down' and it is up to each of us to make our one day at a time the best we can.

So while you have all of the energy and love, make time to share it with those you love, be it a puppy, a kitten, parents or grandparents, even a cousin or two . . . make their day and I guarantee it will make yours. Friends are included, you can 'comment', call or write and I will be happy to hear from you.