Today, I am dealing with Life plus Pain, with a Cat thrown in, just for interest. Since it’s also a day which requires most of my focus & attention, I’m reblogging a Pearl from two years ago, which, though it had a rather good rant, and some good pix, didn’t get much traffic. So, here’s its chance to be seen by a few more than 2 Gentle Readers, and spread some fun and frolic again… I’ll be back tomorrow, hopefully with a new poem. But, back I’ll be, poem or no, so, see y’all then….
Be alert, it’s getting more than a little chancy out there….
It was a saying of Demetrius Phalereus, that “Men having often abandoned what was visible for the sake of what was uncertain, have not got what they expected, and have lost what they had,–being unfortunate by an enigmatical sort of calamity.”
— Athenaeus (c. 200 AD) — The Deipnosophists, vi, 23
I have to I agree with the camel and the little girl; that’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard. I’m certain the original phrase, which, going by the evidence in the name of the author, and the listed group of like minded oafs, had to be first written in ancient Greek…. It was also, unquestionably, just as boringly pedantic, or pedantically boring, as the English translation you see here. As shown above, in English, the mere act of reading it damn near put me to sleep by the time I reached the word “sake” in…
“Certainty is only a symptom of lack of imagination.”
~~ Subtle Bee ~~
The President
Composite Image by National Geographic via Facebook link….
Hajime…. As I sat to begin writing today’s Pearl, Leelu decided it was time for her morning “hammock” configuration; I had to spend the next half-hour making sure she felt loved, by assuming the position in which she prefers to lounge. This, naturally, screwed the pooch, as far as routine goes, so, what you see has been cobbled together in the time remaining before my panic sets in, when it becomes clear only ruthless trimming, and using every shortcut I can think of, will bring us to the point of completion so vital to my own sense of comfort. Hey, it’s MY obsession, and I like it!
At this juncture, I have to decide whether to throw in a small pile of nonsense, head off into a rant, or just wing it. Since ‘winging it’ is what I’ve been doing now for a paragraph and a half (nice rhyme there…), I suspect we’ll continue in that vein, just because it will save time to forgo switching over to something more rational. Besides, rational isn’t in the picture right now, anyway, so what would be the point? None. Not that we don’t enjoy the occasional foray into such rationality, but, it’s not the most comfortable place to exist; ask any American voter. Hah! Though we were done with the recent unpleasantness, didn’t you?
Well, we are; I’m not going there. It was merely a fake, intended to draw your eyes away while I located the proper tool to get us out of here. As I have done so, we’ll get right to it, before I lose my nerve, or my sense of direction, always a joy. In fact, with the technique I’ve chosen, all I have to do is put this right here, and….
Shall we Pearl?….
“As you grow older, you’ll find the only things you regret are the things you didn’t do.”
~~ Zachary Scott ~~
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Yes, I know; we’ve had a lot of classical of late. I’m not going to apologize; whether you know it or not, when you listen to classical music, you are doing your brain a favor. Far be it from me to keep anyone from doing themselves a favor…. Enjoy, or not; up to you, as it always is….
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Classical Music
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A new poem continues to leak out, slowly. Here’s one I wrote shortly after returning from Europe for the first time. I hope you enjoy it….
After the odyssey….
Portraits of iconic symbols, crashing, singing, forgotten;
evolving into mature innovation, as yet pale, and rotten.
Still water justly breeds, impenetrable primal verses resound;
unholy moments tarry, emotion swirls in passion unbound
Spiritual ovulation precedes each pregnant pause;
gravid, time moves on, following destiny’s cause.
Cast adrift on waves of confusion, to a final, damp landing;
salvation beckons sweetly, fed well on understanding.
Dreams directly fall, in night’s grey bower, unbidden;
lingering flavors in simple taste, lovingly, cleverly hidden.
Childish laughter sounds, joyful, bright, and clear;
no need ever to hide, no more monsters to fear.
Temper most foul arrives under unregistered mail;
forgotten taunts live on, lashed by an ancient flail.
Plain dealing delivers such lasting specks of honest hate;
savage in retrospect, never hasty, always running late.
Forever, cries an ambient lover of the pending night;
his pale, weak issue forms its own failing light.
Still, fortune favors such as those who apprehend;
Sweet love of Gaia, let it never end.
~~ gigoid ~~
3/10/2013
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Naked Pearls
Stuff worth remembering….
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“You can get help from teachers,
but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself,
sitting alone in a room.”
~~ Theodore Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) ~~
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“Innocence is its own Defence.”
~~ Benjamin Franklin ~~
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“”The superior man is the providence of the inferior.
He is eyes for the blind, strength for the weak,
and a shield for the defenseless.
He stands erect by bending above the fallen.
He rises by lifting others.”
~~ Robert Green Ingersoll ~~
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“If you love the sacred and despise the ordinary,
you are still bobbing in the ocean of delusion.”
~~ Lin-Chi ~~
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“At times the wolves howl and the moon is silent.”
~~ George Carlin ~~
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“In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments
– there are consequences.”
~~ Robert Ingersoll (Lectures and Essays, 3d Series, Some Reasons Why, iii) ~~
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“Isn’t this my STOP?!”
~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~
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I did it, in spite of all obstacles, some of which, devised by a cat, were difficult to avoid. To further such efficiency, and, in the name of all that is wholly, I declare this Pearl complete, and shall now take my leave, stage virtual, to begin the preparations for doing this again tomorrow. Oh, by the way, I’ll see y’all then; you may place your bets, knowing the odds are pretty good….
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
Hajime…. Good morrow, Gentle Reader. Our title today, if one didn’t know it was not, seems to be rather compellingly real, in intent, if naught else. Rest assured, it has nothing at all to do with what you’ll find below. Not that it ever does, but, it’s so close to what passes for real in this society, I felt the necessity to make it clear; it’s not. Real, that is. But, then, around here, Reality often assumes the general appearance of a slippery slope, so, I wouldn’t let it throw you….
Now that’s out of the way, I can tell you today’s Pearl is sort of a throw-together, if not a throw-away. As I sat to begin, I was faced with nothing more than a picture and two pearls; this means the rest got put together on the fly, as fast as possible, with little chance to apply any methodology for quality control, or even originality. Go figure, eh? Nonetheless, it managed to pull itself together, in spite of the handicaps, and my own relative mental acuity, which, sad to say, isn’t at peak. Since it pretty much did that all by itself, I’ll cease and desist trying to explain, and just let if fly, as it is…. It will probably work out best that way. Besides, I’m all out of fresh ideas for how to make this any more relevant, or exciting, so, let’s just do this. Hold on….
Shall we Pearl?….
“There is no rainbow without a cloud or storm.”
~~ J. H. Vincent ~~
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Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes
Image from the UK Daily Mail
Today, I’ve selected one of my favorites; episodes of this version of the Sherlock stories are one of my primary forms of watching videos for entertainment. Here’s a feature length episode of perhaps the most well-known Sherlock stories…. Enjoy!….
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Sherlock Holmes The Hound of the Baskervilles
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A new poem is reluctantly leaking out onto the page, but, seems to be taking its own sweet time about it. Here’s yet another older poem to fill in for today…. I hope you enjoy it…
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Penance, Made Simple
After all the dross is sent away
a celebration can begin,
time will face up to space, to stay
willing, to shine from within.
Anger and confusion come in to share
brushing reason aside,
eager to welcome all that is fair,
alert to danger, eyes wide.
Re-gift the wicked with their own pain
stand with the just;
fail to partake of the ill-gotten gain,
living in honor, the only must.
Standing fast in the face of wrong
is its own prize and reward.
Holding on to truth makes us strong,
well worth working toward.
Little is left to chance by fate
our lessons are never free of cost.
Seldom does reality make us wait
only when alone, are we lost.
~~ gigoid ~~
10/23/2012
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Naked Pearls
And your point would be?….
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“The only problem with seeing too much is that it makes you insane.”
~~ Phaedrus ~~
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“Fear is the lock and laughter the key to your heart.”
~~ Steven Stills ~~
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“…happiness is the highest good,
being a realization and perfect practice of virtue,
which some can attain,
while others have little or none of it…”
~~ Aristotle ~~
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“All change is not growth; all movement is not forward.”
~~ Ellen Glasgow ~~
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“Your own need to be shines out of any dream or creation you imagine.”
~~ James Earl Jones ~~
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“If you don’t laugh at all, you’ve missed the point.
If you only laugh, you’ve missed your chance from illumination.”
~~ Robert Anton Wilson ~~
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“In walking, just walk. In sitting, just sit. Above all, don’t wobble.”
~~ Yun-Men ~~
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I am told, by those who would know, I am done. As I look back over today’s mess, I can’t say I am either thrilled, or disappointed. This, of course, means it passes the standard test, so, I’ll let it be, & try not to worry about it. I guess, if one stops to think about it, I’ve done worse, and, probably will do so again. For now, this will do. I’ll try again tomorrow, should Reality cooperate; if not, well, I’ll be here, anyway. See y’all then, ffolkes, and try not to get depressed over it; it will be fine. Trust me….
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.”
~~ Louisa May Alcott ~~
Leelu’s cousin Mimi….
Hajime…. I will not say ‘Good morning’, for, thus far, it has not been so. I feel like crap, which wouldn’t be such a bad thing, if it were not preventing me from seeing my grandson today. I hurt, thanks to the weather, while other age-related issues have complicated the process of dealing with it. If I weren’t scheduled to go have fun, I’d just stay home and deal; as it is, I still have to stay home & deal, but, with the added fillip of being bummed over it. Ah, well…. piss on it.
I know; not very composed, or, nice, for that matter. But, I’m a little short of the milk of human kindness just now, so, we’ll all have to deal. It’s bad enough to feel so cruddy, without adding in the bonus of curmudgeonry gone sour. I suppose the only thing to do is to go force Smart Bee to cooperate, and put out a Pearl. If nothing else, the act of going through the process should help to distract me from the issues long enough to get a handle on the day. We can hope, right?
Right. So be it. I don’t have enough in me today to even attempt any further literary accomplishments. Hell, I don’t have enough in there to even care. To avoid setting any inconvenient patterns, I’ll end this intro post haste, and try to get this done before it all goes wonky on me. Of course, we started the day wonky, so, that may be a bit optimistic. But, it’s the best I can do; as we are so fond of reiterating, all you can do is all you can do. In that spirit, let’s go on….
Shall we Pearl?….
“Every child is born a genius.”
~~ R. Buckminster Fuller ~~
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All my regular Gentle Readers know what’s coming now. Those who may be here for the first time may now note, and file, this information, to wit: in such situations, we resort to our default musical choice, known far and wide as “classical” music…. I’ve picked out a collection of the best classical guitar for your listening pleasure today….. Humanity has already established the value of all of this music, by enjoying it for the past several hundred years…. Y’all may as well enjoy it, too….
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Classical Music
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Momentary Terror
Absently casual, memories pester endlessly
leaving only bleeding remnants, amiable and loving.
Coming awake, I cry to still the pain, shamelessly.
Elsewhen, time gives surcease, if only to live,
shoring broken pilings, worn and gray.
Passing on, I laugh at the pain, accept all it will give.
Time will build a shelter, warm and ever safe
save for Fate’s busy hands.
Enduring, I follow the pain, knowing it will chafe.
Fixed against a darkened sky of starry black
such beauty brings us to our knees.
Entranced, I welcome the pain, ’tis all I lack…..
~~ gigoid ~~
2/4/2013
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Naked Pearls
Random Thoughts….
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“Are all your stars shining?”
~~ JD Salinger ~~
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“I’m going to happydance among the stars and wear my stripes anyway I want to.”
~~ Stripes the tiger ~~
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“Dilige et quos vis fac.”
[Love and do what you will]
~~ St. Augustine ~~
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“The higher you climb, the more you show your ass.”
~~ Alexander Pope, “The Dunciad” ~~
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Plato says, “‘T is to no purpose for a sober man to knock at the door of the Muses;”
and Aristotle says “that no excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of folly.”
~~ Michael de Montaigne — Essays, Book ii, Chap. ii, Of Drunkenness ~~
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“On the other hand,
life can be an endless parade
of TRANSSEXUAL QUILTING BEES aboard a cruise ship to DISNEYWORLD
if only we let it!!”
~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~
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“Well, don’t look at ME. Ask the troll.”
~~ Snarky Bee ~~
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I think, all things considered, the last pearl is our best bet at understanding what happened here today. Since we don’t have any trolls handy to ask, I suppose we’ll just call it a wash, and get on with the day. In retrospect, I don’t believe we have any other choice. We do, however, retain the option to do this again tomorrow; we’ll exercise that option tomorrow morning, regardless of how anyone else feels about it. Can’t say any fairer than that…. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes; this is your final warning….
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
Hajime…. While gazing once again at the massive field of blank white screen before me this morning, several fantasies, mostly science-fiction based, passed through my head as potential material for exploration. None of it was particularly original, so, I decided to let it all go the way of most ideas, passing it into disposable memory without any significant delay. Since that left me with nothing to write about, you see before you all the remaining thoughts currently inhabiting my frontal lobes. Not much there, is there?…. Or, rather, not much here, I should say….
I am certain there are a couple directions to which I could hare off, where I could comfort myself with sheer nonsense, or batter y’all with prevarication, or even throw out a bit of ranting; none of it strikes my fancy, though. I suppose, in the best interests of all concerned parties, the most relevant, compassionate decision is to cease and desist all efforts to make this excellent, or, for that matter, average. Best all around, I think, to employ some rather ruthless, but, effective techniques developed for our use by some fly-by-night literary chop-house for a bargain price. It’s actually not too unattractive, if somewhat outdated. How does it work? Oh, easy…. like this….
Shall we Pearl?….
“A reverence for life does not require one to respect nature’s obvious mistakes.”
~~ Robert A. Heinlein ~~
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Last night, I went cruising on You Tube, to find some music to which to listen while reading a book. I found this video, just short of an hour long, with Eric at his absolute best, playing the blues as only he can. The third and fourth cuts, particularly, are outstanding examples of the improvisational genius he has displayed his entire career. This one is for blues, and guitar aficionados, who enjoy listening to the best…. Enjoy!
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Eric Clapton Blues Favorites 1994,1995
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Off the proverbial cuff….
I never meant to kill that period of time,
it didn’t give me any choice.
It tried to hem me in without reason, or rhyme,
refused me any vote, or any voice.
You have to admit, I buried it deep and fast,
just as if I cared.
I knew, though, it would never last,
or ever be fully repaired.
No news, no pictures can bring it back,
once is all we get.
No pleas of public good, or even public lack;
in stone the past is set.
Futuristic visions now occupy my dreams,
I’m ready to go on.
Look! It fills up the screen, and it gleams!
Where’s the moment I’m sitting on?
Now, I remembered, at long, long last,
is all we really can hold.
Every moment goes by so bloody fast,
we’d best fill them all with beauty, warm and bold.
~~ gigoid ~~
4/30/2013
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Naked Pearls
More notes on process and program….
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“I have everything, yet have nothing;
and although I possess nothing, still of nothing am I in want.”
~~ Terence — Act ii, Sc. 2, 12, (243.) ~~
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“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight,
and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.”
~~ Oscar Wilde ~~
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“There are some things that are so serious that you have to laugh at them.”
~~ Niels Bohr ~~
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“Resist much, obey little.”
~~ Walt Whitman ~~
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“All life is an experiment.”
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
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“For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress.
And as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
It is never too late to start doing what is right.
Never.”
~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~
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“Fuck ’em if they can’t take a joke.”
~~ J. R. “Bob” Dobbs ~~
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Once again, I have completed my chosen duty, though, not without some rather severe contortions, which y’all never see, thank the stars. Rather than allow this to turn either dilatory, or maudlin, we’ll acknowledge its completion, without any unwarranted fanfare. Instead, I’ll note our penultimate position, and, supply the final words needed to make it all good. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes; believe me, it’s for the best if I do….
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
“The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.”
~~ Frank Herbert ~~
Side street, Ketchikan, Alaska….
Hajime…. As the chosen companion of a Siamese-Calico magicat, the Law of Bastet requires from me a certain amount of time each day, to be spent in the guise of a cat hammock, prepared to hold and stroke my companion into a bliss of contentment. Moreover, it must be supplied at the times she chooses, no matter what important, or even critical event may be transpiring in my life. As might be expected, this can create some interesting moments, to say the least…..
Good morning, ffolkes. The opening remarks, which came to me as I gazed in mild apprehension at the blank screen this morning, seem appropriate, if I can manage to leave them as they are, sans further remarks that could be construed as objections on my part; far from being resentful, I am thankful for having been chosen, even though dealing with her individuality often makes me crazy… ( I suppose ‘crazier’ would be more accurate….). There is no doubt whatsoever Leelu looks to me as her boon companion, for she makes it clear; she always wants to be close by, often following me from room to room, & settling nearby to watch whatever activity I am pursuing. As I type this, she is lying on the table, just to my right, by the computer, with her head resting on the mouse pad….
While I’m sure most of y’all appreciate the break from my usual nonsense, it’s probably best to get on with the rest of today’s show, while Leelu is resting between bouts of paper killing, and I have a chance to finish without interference. Let’s do that in the most efficient manner we have, which looks much like this….
Shall we Pearl?….
“All religions are founded on the fear of the many and the cleverness of the few.”
~~ Stendhal ~~
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Who doesn’t love Betty? I suppose there could be a few prudish fundies who can’t find it within themselves to appreciate her degree of innocence, or her boundless love of people. But, then, I guess that’s THEIR problem, isn’t it? Yep. For me, I’ll just enjoy this blast from the past….
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Betty Boop
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Beyond Agapé
Passion burns and shines like iridescent paint
yet solitude stands mocking such mundane complaint.
Schemes and dreams promise to tempt attraction
never ending effort spends wit in perverse reaction.
Hale and hearty reports of honor and love
draft recruits to collect manna from above,
while searching each soul for that which will serve
to bring pure sensation to each expectant nerve.
How simple to fall into complete helpless hope
of two hearts bound in tradition, with cultural rope,
living a simple life, shared, in joy and in grief
promises consummated, in consensual belief.
Reality dictates our degree of control over its state
insisting on changing whether or not we can wait.
Love will be present when we are completely at peace,
allowing ourselves, to give of ourselves, without cease.
~~ gigoid ~~
10/4/2012
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Naked Pearls
How to judge a book with no cover….
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“Reality is that part of imagination we all agree on.”
~~ Sagacious Bee ~~
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“The truth of a proposition has nothing to do with its credibility.
And vice-versa.”
~~ Lazarus Long ~~
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“Every one is bound to bear patiently the results of his own example.”
~~ Phaedrus (c. 8 A.D.) — Book i, Fable 26, 12 ~~
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“I had to face my fear. That was more important than just going on living.”
~~ Jon Pertwee’s Doctor, PLANET OF THE SPIDERS ~~
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“To be alive is to take risks; to be always safe and secure is death.”
~~ Edward Abbey ~~
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“Actions don’t always speak louder than words, but they tell fewer lies.”
~~ Wise Bee ~~
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“To me, boxing is like a ballet,
except there’s no music,
no choreography,
and the dancers hit each other.”
~~ Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handey ~~
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Today’s Pearl has been brought to you through the auspices of sheer will power, combined with a modicum of angst to give it some flavor. In addition, it’s done, which means I can put aside any further dreams of a Pulitzer, & go fix some oatmeal for breakfast. Needs must, Mr. Wyndigate, needs must. As for y’all, I hope you had a good time stuffing turkey, whether into your mouth, or the recycle bin. Next stop, Christmas. For now, though, we’ll just say, see ya tomorrow, ffolkes….. ready or not…..
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
~~ Philo ~~
Cork, Ireland
Hajime…. Each morning, I experience a brief moment of remembered terror, left over from the early days of this blog. Back then, I had no clue about how difficult it would be to come up with fresh material every day; the result of that ignorance was, naturally, fear, manifested as a fear of the blank, white screen, the filling of which being the task I feared so justly. Now, I am confident, for I know, if nothing else, I can always retreat into bozoid mode, where there is always enough nonsense to go around, any of which I am always happy to share.
I’ll spare y’all any of that today, though, simply because it’s, technically, a holiday. This holiday, Thanksgiving Day here in the states, is one I can accept, to a small degree, as being one with SOME connection to actual human culture, as opposed to manufactured holidays created to fill economically anemic months throughout the year. For my own part, giving thanks seems a little foolish, unless I apply said gratitude to a specific person, group, or acquaintance; it’s hard for me to offer up such advanced feeling to what I consider a delusional supernatural being. But, for the duration of the day, at least, everyone else is in a good mood, so, I try not to harp on my own thoughts while they’re doing so.
That being said, to less purpose than may have been prudent, it’s probably best to get on with today’s mess. It’s fairly un-messy, in truth, but, remains somewhat obscure, at least in direction. That’s fine with me; I never get lost doing this, because we start out never knowing where we begin, or, with any idea of where we’ll eventually end up. In fact, that’s how it works, mostly. To encourage such roguish behavior, we’ll use our standard #4 exit to move us along to the next section. I’m pretty sure, in today’s case, that is absolutely the best thing we can do. Moreover, best to get it done quickly; hang on….
Shall we Pearl?….
“If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence,
try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.”
~~ Bix Bender ~~
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For today’s musical selection, we retreat once again into my own preference, to wit, classical music by one of the greatest composers to pick up a quill…. Enjoy!….
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Mozart Piano Concertos
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A Seasonal Approach
Absolute stillness grips a frozen field,
anticipating dawn with such patient yield
morning burgeoning in dark winter’s hold
brings promise of tales yet to be told.
Lengthening days of pale sun unto night
slowly tell of time’s subversive flight
bringing such original songs of natural fire
with melodies complex in casual attire.
The months are certain they will always win
it is just the way it has always been.
None may argue, nor yet slow life down
Nor dim the eternal beauty of nature’s gown.
Winter evolves from fall into spring,
sending flocks and hearts ever awing.
Summer follows suit, t’other way ’round
Spring into fall, often without a sound.
Life is meant to be lived, beginning to end
choices abound, and change can be a friend.
Yielding with grace to reality’s compelling ploy
fills our plain existence with clean, honest joy.
~~ gigoid ~~
10/2/2012
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Naked Pearls
One path, many roads…..
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“The thought manifests as the word;
The word manifests as the deed;
The deed develops into habit;
And habit hardens into character.
So watch the thought and its ways with care,
And let it spring from love
Born out of concern for all beings.”
~~ The Buddha ~~
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“Ah, I have access.”
~~ Data ~~
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“Grasp the whole world of reason, life and sense
In one close system of benevolence.”
~~ Alexander Pope ~~
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“We are what we repeatedly do.”
~~ Aristotle ~~
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“All those moments will be lost in time like tears in the rain.”
~~ from “Blade Runner” ~~
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“I have a grip on reality, just not this particular one.”
~~ Subtle Bee ~~
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“Death the last sleep? No, it is the final awakening.”
~~ Sir Walter Scott ~~
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Having thus completed my chosen duty, I shall, without further display of either erudition, or panic, send y’all on your way, with my hopes you enjoy your massive dose of L-tryptophan, with all the trimmings, while happily ensconced in the bosom of your families. I hope it won’t spoil the thought to remind y’all, I’ll do this again tomorrow, with different, if not better, results, guaranteed…. See ya, ffolkes; enjoy the day….
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
“I still find each day too short
for all the thoughts I want to think,
all the walks I want to take,
all the books I want to read,
and all the friends I want to see.”
~~ John Burrough ~~
Celebrity Infinity’s Bar, Three Sheets to the Wind…
Hajime…. Some mornings, the irony of what I do here each day becomes too much to bear, unless I retreat into either curmudgeonly irritability, or complete and utter nonsense; while I prefer the latter, the former is more, shall we say, productive, in terms of returning me to relative stability. Naturally, I choose that one, to suit my own lifestyle preferences. Go figure, eh? That’s where the irony comes into the picture, coloring all with its sardonic, pitiless box of crayons, none of which are remotely pastel in nature. Such is life in the Big City, I guess.
Rather than spend a lot of time exploring this well of angst, (which can, conceivably, release demons I’d rather keep caged….), I’ll try to finish off this Pearl, and be done with it for today. Why? Well, why not? Besides, Smart Bee is being ridiculously recalcitrant, making me open and close the program repeatedly to find even one worthwhile pearl. Who needs that sort of aggravation before 8 AM? Not me, for sure. So, I’ll cut this intro short, again, in a valiant attempt to regain some sort of rationality. If you have any compassion at all, you’ll wish me luck…. As for me, well, I’m going to use my often disregarded skill at ruthless time management, in its most efficacious form, to wit: watch this….
Shall we Pearl?….
“To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.”
~~ Abraham Lincoln (attributed) ~~
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“In the land of the dark, the Ship of the Sun is driven by the Grateful Dead.”
~~ Egyptian Book of the Dead ~~
50th Anniversary Fare Thee Well Tour
So, I was feeling nostalgic for the 60’s, and, guess what? Yep. Here’s a concert celebrating 50 years of alternative subculture, at its finest…. Enjoy!….
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Grateful Dead Fare Thee Well 7/5/2015
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Qualifications of Passion
Sweetly and soft, her vision comes insistently stealing,
waking gently welcome strength of safely intimate feeling.
No mundane distractions even feebly compare,
to celestial musics that fill such welcoming air.
Joyous celebration is each minute’s lot
whenever I’m near her, and when I am not.
Just knowing she is real and relatively near
provides a glad and final solution to fear.
Trust can heal, and live up to the test,
and even the worst of us become best;
Love, when given, is a type of realistic example
of how life can be simple, yet more than just a sample.
Memory is forgiving, in the face of the Now,
our lessons of necessity will always show how;
Our future is but illusion, until fully grown,
the only option for survival is to call it our own.
Feathered with hopeful dreams of acquisition,
live the passions that have defined my position.
Universal justice demands satisfaction
love is ever my choice, and my only reaction.
~~ gigoid ~~
9/30/3012
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Naked Pearls
Another roadside attraction….
*******
“I searched into myself.”
~~ Heraclitus ~~
*******
“The world is full of burled and gnarly knobs
on which you can hang a metaphysical system.
If you must.”
~~ Edward Abbey ~~
*******
“We should consider every day lost
on which we have not danced at least once.
And we should call every truth false
which was not accompanied by at least one laugh.”
~~ Friedrich Nietzsche ~~
*******
“If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly useless manner,
you have learned how to live.”
~~ Lin Yutang ~~
*******
“Every evil to which we do not succumb is a benefactor.”
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
*******
“You thought, as a boy, that a mage is one who can do anything.
So I thought, once. So did we all.
And the truth is that as a man’s real power grows and his knowledge widens,
ever the way he can follow grows narrower:
until at last he chooses nothing,
but does only and wholly what he _must_ do.”
~~ Ursula K. LeGuin, _A Wizard of Earthsea_ ~~
*******
“Do not go gentle into that good night
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light”
~~ Dylan Thomas ~~
*******
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There you have it. It’s late, and, it’s weird, so, all good to go. I’ll try again tomorrow, as long as everybody’s aim stays bad…. I mean, if they’re still shooting at me, that means I’m having some sort of effect, right? Right. ‘Course, I AM human, and subject to delusional behavior at the drop of a metaphor… but, what the hell….. See ya, ffolkes…. Just try to stop me….
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
” Do you know that disease and death must needs overtake us,
no matter what we are doing?
What do you wish to be doing when it overtakes you?
If you have anything better to be doing when you are so overtaken,
get to work on that.”
~~ Epictetus ~~
Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, British Columbia
Hajime…. While I’ve managed to put together a Pearl for today, I’m fairly certain it will fall short of our ‘normal’ offering, at least in terms of sustainability, (whatever that particular piece of neo-slang means…). This, of course, is par for this course, since we haven’t made any attempt at ‘normal’ in more decades than I care to remember. Moreover, any such foolish attempt would never get past the alarm system we have set up, to let us know when we are approaching the golden mean, where we aren’t welcome, anyway….
We don’t worry about it much, except on those long, slow, cold winter nights, when we also mourn the loss of our good manners, and other such noisome behaviors for which we have no tolerance, or use. In the final analysis, which is, no doubt, coming soon to a reality near you, we don’t give a tiny shit, especially when we can’t figure out how to stop using the royal ‘we’ as our default mode of expression. In spite of its advantages, it also carries a strong feeling of, well, let’s just call it ‘loser-ism’, difficult to shake off with any dispatch. Plus, you wouldn’t believe how grungy one gets….
Very well, I’ll stop. Or, perhaps, it would be better to say, I’ll start now. Making sense, that is. That makes the patently ridiculous assumption we are capable of making sense, which, as this little outburst makes clear, may not be so easy to accomplish. But, I’ll persist, if only long enough to wrap up yet another intro section filled with dross and drivel. If I don’t wrap it up, the mess tends to spread down the page. In the interests of doing just that, before it’s too late, I hereby declare this section closed. Move along, now, nothing more to see here….
Shall we Pearl?….
“The flesh surrenders itself.
Eternity takes back its own.
Our bodies stirred these waters briefly,
danced with a certain intoxication before the love of life and self,
dealt with a few strange ideas,
then submitted to the instruments of Time.
What can we say of this?
I occurred.
I am not… yet I occurred.”
When I thought about music for today, I tried to think of music that gave me a happy feeling. These guys were the first group that came to mind, with a specific song playing in my head, to wit, “Listen to the Music”…. I didn’t check this concert out ahead of time, but, like most musicians of the era, I imagine they just keep getting better over time…. Enjoy!….
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The Doobie Brothers
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Funny Bones
Dreaming the way home, lost, unseen,
from the dance, where
he felt so free, and clean.
Sorrow couldn’t find him there.
Waiting, filling up the hours, hoping,
some connection can be found
keeping busy as bees, coping.
Love creeps in, without a sound.
Fat days, skinny nights, passionate
visions of semi-conscious entities,
cannot seem to fully illuminate
or hide our innermost frailties.
Resolute, find the perfect sense, codify
simple rules with every breath
never waiting, anxious to modify.
fear nothing in life, not even Death.
~~ gigoid ~~
5/3/2013
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Naked Pearls
Notes on Process and Program….
*******
“If you understand, or if you don’t.
If you believe, or if you doubt.
There is a universal justice
and the eyes of truth are always watching.”
~~ Enigma ~~
*******
“A heart is not judged
by how much you love
but by how much you are loved by others.”
~~ The Wizard of Oz ~~
*******
“Everything flows and nothing abides;
everything gives way and nothing stays fixed.”
~~ Heraclitus ~~
*******
“One must be partially insane to remain sane.”
~~ J. Bothwell Avison ~~
*******
“A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears:”
~~ Montaigne ~~
*******
“We’re not talking about the same thing,” he said.
“For you the world is weird
because if you’re not bored with it you’re at odds with it.
For me the world is weird
because it is stupendous, awesome, mysterious, unfathomable;
my interest has been to convince you
that you must accept responsibility for being here,
in this marvelous world, in this marvelous desert, in this marvelous time.
I wanted to convince you
that you must learn to make every act count,
since you are going to be here for only a short while,
in fact, too short for witnessing all the marvels of it.”
~~ Don Juan ~~
*******
“My skin,
my bones,
my heretic heart
are my authority.”
~~ Catherine Madsen ~~
*******
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Well, there you go. It’s a Pearl. I can’t tell just now whether it’s worth the name, but, it’s done, and that’s what counts right now. I suppose, if it doesn’t make the grade, y’all will be happy to let me know….. In the meantime, I’ll make another attempt, & be back tomorrow to subject y’all to it…. Perhaps I should say, I’ll be back to share it with y’all…. Either way, I’ll be here…. Take that as you will…. See ya, ffolkes….
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
Good morrow. Today should be the last re-blog for a while; I’m almost done with the tasks set for me by my inadvertently intimate recent relations with the Big Blue Room, and will be glad to have some time at home, to myself. For today, here’s a pretty decent archived Pearl from a couple years ago… You even get treated to poetry that isn’t mine, so, bonus!…. I’ll be back tomorrow with a relatively complete, fresh Pearl for your perusal. Until then, y’all take care, and be happy as you may….
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” ~~ Buddha ~~
Or, if we are lucky, we can be what we imagine in our thoughts, no matter how fantastic they are….. Just sayin’…. Ultimately, though, it’s both egotistical and impertinent to believe that I could add anything particularly useful to something the Buddha said as part of sharing his wisdom…. Oh well, it’s true, so, it can’t hurt, and I’m sure the Buddha wouldn’t mind, as long as I am not being untruthful, or mean-spirited…. Mostly, I’m just being fanciful, to get the old grey cells moving along in a reasonably straight line, even if the line doesn’t get us much of anywhere important…
‘Important’ is just another personal judgment anyway, right? Right…. the universe treats us all alike, with complete, massive indifference to our wishes or our sensibilities…. It’s just the way it…
gigoid 