But, we each have to deal with our own inner demons, regardless of how many of them are now outside of us, in our face, being rude. Often, they take the form of humans, working their demonic evil on those of us who refuse to participate in the madness, making Life much more difficult than it needs to be. Ah well, it’s all going to come out in the wash, and there doesn’t seem to be a lot any of us can do about it. The insane assholes who have created the scenario have lost control, and the shit is going to fly, soon.

Thus, it behooves those of us with the wit to see the shitstorm coming to do what we can to mitigate the worst of the misery to come, by making our time left here a little more fun…. Well, that’s the way I see it; it makes no sense to me to allow the assholes to determine HOW I die, even though it seems I can’t stop them from killing us all. We may as well have some fun while we’re on the road to hell….

So, let’s see what I can come up with today to bring a smile or two to all those morbid faces out there, eh? I may even try to write a new poem; who knows? There is a lot of crap, stuff, and maladaptive nonsense all running around my head, so, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a few that will bring a chuckle to a friend. If not, at least it won’t be the usual somber bill of faire…. I hope….  I can do more than try, as it is said…. Really, somebody said it; I heard them, at least once, back in ’63…. Ah, well, screw it…. Let’s go find some smiles….

Shall we Pearl?

“Nothing personal, baby…” — Uncle Frank.

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Here you go, ffolkes. If this guy doesn’t bring a smile to your face now and again, it’s too late for you…. Enjoy!….

INFIDEL, n.  In New York, one who does not believe in the Christian religion; in Constantinople, one who does.  (See GIAOUR.)  A kind of scoundrel imperfectly reverent of, and niggardly contributory to, divines, ecclesiastics, popes, parsons, canons, monks, mollahs, voodoos, presbyters, hierophants, prelates, obeah-men, abbes, nuns, missionaries, exhorters, deacons, friars, hadjis, high-priests, muezzins, brahmins, medicine-men, confessors, eminences, elders, primates, prebendaries, pilgrims, prophets, imaums, beneficiaries, clerks, vicars-choral, archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, preachers, padres, abbotesses, caloyers, palmers, curates, patriarchs, bonezs, santons, beadsmen, canonesses, residentiaries, diocesans, deans, subdeans, rural deans, abdals, charm-sellers, archdeacons, hierarchs, class-leaders, incumbents, capitulars, sheiks, talapoins, postulants, scribes, gooroos, precentors, beadles, fakeers, sextons, reverences, revivalists, cenobites, perpetual curates, chaplains, mudjoes, readers, novices, vicars, pastors, rabbis, ulemas, lamas, sacristans, vergers, dervises, lectors, church wardens, cardinals, prioresses, suffragans, acolytes, rectors, cures, sophis, mutifs and pumpums. — Ambrose Bierce, “The Devil’s Dictionary”

I actually did leave this space blank, but, that was because I sort of intended to write a fresh rant this morning; I’ve got plenty of angst built up, trust me, what with crossing blades with large soulless corporate entities, butting heads with power-hungry local yokels, and dealing with my own personal inner demons as a result, well… trust me., I have more than enough about which to rant. But I’m tired of it all, and want something a bit more light hearted…. Let’s see what happens if I do this…..

Soft, intimate notes of romantic violins fills the air, while cooling breezes lift curtains to swirl and wave against the cerulean sky, peeking brightly through the tall windows. Mellow voices murmur quietly, spilling through the balcony doors, standing open to allow the elegantly dressed crowd pass in and out, enjoying the night air. As a young couple strolled hand in hand through the open passageway, a sudden scream rang out, stilling the crowd, piercing through the music as a hot knife through butter. Silence fell over the room, until a loud voice rings out, “Don’t worry, folks. She saw one of the clowns….”

Hmm… No, I don’t think that’s going to do it…. How about we go for an old-school pearl? I think, maybe, it’s the only chance we have left…. Since this is the ranting section, let’s see if SB can find us some nice, funny pokes to take at some of our favorite targets, shall we? (That is SUCH a rhetorical question! Obviously, it’s now our ONLY chance…)…. Come on, we’d best get to it…. Oooh, here’s a good one to start….

“I have no problem with God.  It’s his fan clubs I hate.” — Smart Bee

“Yow!  And then we could sit on the hoods of cars at stop lights!” — Zippy the Pinhead

“Now playing: “Man of La Muncha”” — Hannibal Lecter Dinner Theater

“It is only the superficial qualities that last. Man’s deeper nature is soon found out.” — Oscar Wilde

(Oops. Sorry, Oscar slipped that one by me…. It’s not too far out there, so, it stays…)

“Rush Limbaugh: The Pillsbury Doughboy on acid.” — Smart Bee

“Ooops.” — Captain of Titanic

“If God is so great, how come everything he makes dies?” — George Carlin

Well. That was…. something. Not exactly your average mind numbing, brain-blowing experience, was it? Oh well. I guess we should go do something else now…. Oh. I see the problem now. How could I have forgotten THIS?

“When a person cannot deceive himself the chances are against his being able to deceive other people.” — Mark Twain

Duh….

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Good news, ffolkes…. Milady Maggie Mae, over at her site, maggiemaeijustsaythis, has posted a new poem… Yay! It’s always a treat for me when that happens… I don’t know ’bout y’all, but, this one makes me shiver, on several levels of perception (believe me, that’s a good thing….). Enjoy; if not. well…. Loosen up, then, try again….. Look at it this way; it isn’t one of mine, again….

Personally, every time have I re-read this poem (so far, thrice….) I sit for longer, just shaking my head in amazement at the new depths I’ve plumbed with each repetition…. Remember, ffolkes, metaphor, and math, and pain, and pain, and metaphor, are everywhere, sometimes; other times, not so much.

Hmm… Smart Bee threw this group out for me to pick from, whereupon I noted no picking or choosing was necessary. I merely added one last correct pearl to the group, to bring it to the intended point, where we speak of Life, lived Large, with just a touch of symmetrical intentions….

“To defend one’s self against fear is simply to insure that one will, one day, be conquered by it; fears must be faced.” — James Baldwin

“As I look at your image, I see only the light which was not absorbed.” — Mark Middleton

“Crossing a bare common, in snow puddles, at twilight, under a clouded sky, without having in my thoughts any occurrence of special good fortune, I have enjoyed a perfect exhilaration. I am glad to the brink of fear.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Nature”

“Therefore, be ye lamps unto yourselves, be a refuge to yourselves. Hold fast to Truth as a lamp; hold fast to the truth as a refuge. Look not for a refuge in anyone beside yourselves. And those, who shall be a lamp unto themselves, shall betake themselves to no external refuge, but holding fast to the Truth as their lamp, and holding fast to the Truth as their refuge, they shall reach the topmost height.” — Buddha

“Your reasoning is excellent – it’s only your basic assumptions that are wrong.” — Smart Bee

As I sat down to start today, if anyone had offered me even odds I would NOT get done with this, I wouldn’t have taken the bet. The fact I AM done is, to be sure, a complete surprise to me. Since I have nothing else left in my head worth sharing, I guess I’ll go away now. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes…. If you can take it, so can I…..