Ffolkes,

“Everything has been figured out, except how to live.”

~~ Jean-Paul Sartre ~~

Poised for flight….

Hajime…. As is my habit, to begin this Pearl, I arise, stumble through my routine morning activities until some clarity settles, then turn to this introduction, as the first creative moments of the day. Generally, I don’t begin until I know the rest of the mess is ready to go; I’ve found this to be the most efficient method for the posting process, as well as providing the impetus, and opportunity, for some kind of imaginative opening. As a rule, though, I sit to begin, whereupon I encounter a huge blank space occupying most of my mind, as it casts about, almost in desperation, seeking inspiration, or, a note from the Muse, at minimum… Most days, I end up tricking myself, and y’all, in the search for quality and clarity….

Today, I have no dearth of material from which to choose; spending two days putting this together, in moments of pertinent capability (i.e, when I could sit long enough), afforded a number of instances pointed sufficiently to provide me with things I can use to open with. Naturally, reality intruded, as soon as I booted up, & drove all that saved material into oblivion. Instead, I’ve been dealing with a failed communication, with concomitant emotional overtones, as well as an uncommonly intrusive cat, to go along with the usual angst that formulates around this process, and the vicissitudes of life at large.

As can be seen by now, I’ve managed to get it all in order, in my head, if not in reality, enough to begin blathering, examining the morning in minute detail, to give me, if nothing else, a bit of space to decide what direction is best to lead into what I’ve prepared for today. I’ll get right to that, as it is patently clear, if I don’t, we’ll never get anywhere, In fact, lets abandon all attempts to disguise what is taking place as either willful, or, rationally intact, & just go for it. Hang on, it requires a sharp turn, here….

Shall we Pearl?….

“As men, we are all equal in the presence of death.”

~~ Publius Syrus (42 BC) — Maxim 1 ~~

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Duane “Skydog” Allman

Image from Metrolyrics.com via Google Images

Today’s music is a bit different than usual. The piece embedded here is the one I want y’all to hear first. I’ll only say, I wept, in joy, as I listened to it. For more music from Duane, use the button on the YT player which allows you to watch it on You Tube, where you will find as much of Duane’s work as you could wish for, much of which is just as fine as this….

When I mentioned to a friend I had wept in joy when listening to this, I was accused of sentimentality, as well as seeking solace in the past… Without knowing the answer, I would guess my friend does NOT play an instrument, for, my weeping was not a sentimental reaction to the song (Amazing Grace), but, rather, sheer unadulterated joy, generated by hearing the ‘music of the spheres’, knowing full well the artist playing the song was deeply immersed in that sphere, allowing the universe to flow through him, thus, essentially, playing in an unconscious state….. while playing, he WAS the music. Having felt that, though never with such force as his talent makes available to him, while jamming along with friends on the guitar, I can attest, nothing in Life brings us closer to the truth of our own existence as connecting to that universal sphere of joy, which hurts as much as it uplifts…..

All that being said, please, let if flow, and, enjoy!….

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Duane Allman
Amazing Grace

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I have related how I spent a year, or more, in the Hell of withdrawal and cleansing of opioids from my body; this poem came pouring out in the period nearing the end, as I had begun to emerge from the haze of chemical oblivion into reality’s often as harsh, but, cleaner light. I’m rather fond of it, just for that…. Watch the metaphors; they’ll cut ya…

Increments

Meaning fades to distant reality
while gazing at such triviality.
An insane world, where utter finality
is reward for disability.

Metaphorically, as a matter of course.

Moment to moment, passion blooms,
swells, and fades, swept by new brooms.
Bitter dreams catch fire in empty rooms,
waiting for broken time, which never resumes.

Superficially, with great force.

Dire wolves stand snarling at the door
called to existence from a distant moor;
discordant strains sound a mad, sad roar,
a dirge for those who went before.

Morbidly, without vital recourse.

Honest effort fades from human ken
until entropy finds home in every when.
Illusory fear inundates imagination, then
buries hope, in its own ashes, hidden.

Cruelly, absolutely no remorse.

Silence falls until it shatters the night.
The universe has refused the fight.
Illusion is now reality, such a fey sight.
Who has courage to live in the light?

Really? It could be worse.

~~ gigoid ~~

2/15/2016

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Naked Pearls

Pearls both weird and subtle, all gems…

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“This is the strangest life I have ever known.”

~~ Jim Morrison ~~

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“Here is the world, sound as a nut,
perfect, not the smallest piece of chaos left,
never a stitch nor an end, not a mark of haste,
or botching, or second thought;
but the theory of the world
is a thing of shreds and patches.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson (1845) ~~

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“The word good has many meanings.
For example, if a man were to shoot
his grandmother at a range of five hundred yards,
I should call him a good shot,
but not necessarily a good man.”

~~ G. K. Chesterton ~~

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“A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.”

~~ Mark Twain ~~

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“Fill your bowl to the brim
and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people’s approval
and you will be their prisoner.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.”

~~ Tao Te Ching ~~

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“All say, ‘How hard it is to die’
– a strange complaint  to come
from the mouths of people who have had to live.”

~~ Mark Twain ~~

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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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The universe, in all its majestic indifference, still, will, occasionally, provide us with exactly what we need to accept, and embrace reality’s demands… In today’s instance, I was given some moments of peace and serenity, by being required to provide cuddle time for Leelu, who chose the moment I finished the intro to activate the “Cuddle Clause” in our contract, which we signed the day she arrived…. That clause gives her the right to come to me at any random moment, whereupon I am to modify my structure to that of a ‘cat hammock’, & hold her, pet her, & strengthen the bond we share for enough time for both of us to arrive at a peaceful inner state…. Today, that took about 25 minutes, making me late, and unconcerned to be so….

For today’s Pearl, it just means it gets posted a bit late. So be it. It’s done, & so am I, for the day. While it is still cool out in the BBR, I’m going for a long walk, maybe even a ferry ride… who knows? It’s a wide world, & I am still part of it…. Tell you what…. Let’s all go out in the BBR today, & see what there is to see…. See ya, as soon as the mud settles, & all becomes clear… Maybe that will be tomorrow; then, again, maybe not…. Be sure, I shall return, if only to dump more angst into the well of humanity’s regard, where it can join all the other stuff nobody really cares much about, but for those who place it there…. Hmm… a bit esoteric for a closer, but, ’twill have to do…. Ta, then….

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.

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

À bientôt, mon cherí….