Though I am unsure as to causation, my body seems to be in revolt today. A number of rather intrusive pains surfaced as I arose, all of which have convinced me of the futility of attempting to compose a Pearl for today, as I can barely sit, at all, & trying to type this is turning into an all-too-familiar ordeal. I’m gonna deal with this, as best I can in the sweltering heat here, probably with a lot of water therapy (immersing in it seems to help the most).
All that said, to little point, if not purpose, I’ll leave you with two things: one, this fine Pearl from 2015, and my wishes for you to have a decent day, which, as most of y’all have noted, is about the best we can hope for these days…. On that snarky note, go now, and be as radical as you can; believe me, it will help….
Rock Spire on Mars ~~ Rover Curiosityâs next target for research
NASA photo from Space.com
Good morningâŠ.. Letâs keep this on the up and up, okay? Step lively, ffolkes, Luigiâs in a hurry todayâŠ.
Shall we Pearl?
âWe are as different from one another on the inside of our heads as we appear to be different from one another on the outside of our heads. The world âout thereâ is as much a projection from inside our heads as it is a perception. It is almost unbelievable that we are all dealing with the same reality. We operate on a kind of loose consensus about existence.â â Robert Fulghum âIt Was on Fire When I Lay Down on Itâ
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Image from freepiks.com via Google Images
No matter how anyone feels, or thinks of the music these four lads madeâŠ
“Love withers under constraint:
its very essence is liberty:
it is compatible neither with obedience, jealousy, nor fear.
~~ Percy Bysshe Shelley ~~
Bursting with summer color….
Hajime…. The area of the world in which I reside, northern California, is currently experiencing an intense wave of heat. Yesterday, it reached 97ÂșF (36ÂșC) in the little seaside town where I hang, which put both Leelu and I into a state much akin to comatose. At 9 PM it was still 90Âș, so, sleeping was somewhat problematic. We survived, though, if uncomfortably. Since the coming week is predicted to be even hotter (Wow! But, climate change is a myth, right?), I’m considering spending it sitting in a tub of cool water….
If I were less empathetic, I’d turn on the fan for Leelu, & go find an air-conditioned place to hang for a while. But, that would be rather rude, making my familiar go through that alone. She’d live; her species evolved in the desert, & she’s well adapted, instinctively knowing how to deal with such temperatures, by, mostly, not moving. But, I’d feel guilty the whole time, knowing I was being selfish….If she liked to swim, I’d have her join me in the tub, but, though water fascinates her, it isn’t enough to make her want to immerse herself in it; she shares the usual cat philosophy, which prompts them to mostly refrain from having much to do with it, unless thirsty, or watching it run….
There, I think that should be enough chatty conversation for one day. I’m glad I got it all out at once; it’ll save time later, not having to meet the quota. Since I reached this plateau rather quickly, showing an unprecedented degree of efficiency for 5 AM, I’ll use the empathy I possess, what little of it there may be, to issue an order to cease & desist, with the additional hope my fingers get the message, before haring off into another tangential paragraph. To ensure compliance, I’ll resort to trickery. Look! Over there! Isn’t that Elvis?….. Okay, so, it’s just Leelu. It got us here, didn’t it? Sheesh… So much for trying something new….
Shall we Pearl?….
If six turned out to be nine, I don’t mind.
~~ Jimi Hendrix ~~
***************************************
Though not, technically, late, yet, I’m feeling the pressure of deadline; probably it’s just my own, (well, not probably; ’tis undoubtedly mine…). In such cases, when I’m feeling a bit washed out, or, just lazy, this is our default choice. As is the usual case, as well, the one chosen had the picture that caught my eye…. Enjoy, if you will….
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Classical Music
***************************************
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***************************************
Sublimation
In the deepest, darkest hours of the night,
horror drapes the shadow of fear on a tortured mind.
Endless, hopeless, wave after wave of fright
weave a tapestry shroud, stifling, brutally unkind.
Fear, then pain, trade off in durance vile,
offering only blackness as a temporal guide.
No moments of clarity, no comfort, no guile
with no respite, nor any safe place to hide.
Hour after hour, time stops dead in its tracks,
the path back to sanity ends, no big surprise.
Every passing second becomes new hope, dashed,
while our remaining strength fades and dies.
God shall never be forgiven, nor ever praised.
No such pale, sad illusion can explain such reality.
Any reasonable chance for joy to be raised,
requires more than mere ghostly personality.
Hope isn’t needed if one finds the center of the soul;
all the answers we ever need are there.
Killing fear, creating joy in life, for these there’s no toll.
Love, friendship, laughter, are ever the healthiest fare.
~~ gigoid ~~
12/1/2015
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Naked Pearls
Notes on Life at Large….
*******
“Read nature; nature is a friend to truth.”
~~ Edward Young ~~
*******
‘
The real questions are the ones that obtrude upon your consciousness
whether you like it or not,
the ones that make your mind start vibrating
like a jackhammer,
the ones that you “come to terms with”
only to discover that they are still there.
The real questions refuse to be placated.
They barge into your life at the times
when it seems most important for them to stay away.
They are the questions asked most frequently
and answered most inadequately,
the ones that reveal their true natures
slowly, reluctantly,
most often against your will.”
~~ Ingrid Bengis ~~
*******
“In order to be, never try to seem.”
~~ Subtle Bee ~~
*******
“The world is so constructed,
that if you wish to enjoy its pleasures,
you must also endure its pains.
Whether you like it or not,
you cannot have one without the other.”
~~ Swami Brahmananda ~~
*******
“When the situation is desperate,
it is too late to be serious.
Be playful.”
~~ Edward Abbey ~~
*******
“The truth knocks on the door and you say,
Go away, I’m looking for the truth,
and so it goes away.
Puzzling.”
~~ Robert Pirsig (quoted in “Zen To Go”, Jon Winokur) ~~
*******
“You are on a well traveled path.”
~~ Subtle Bee ~~
*******
***************************************
A quick perusal of what happened above shows a relatively iconic Pearl; all the correct elements have been included, & the quality level is acceptable. Since it has the added attractive feature of being done, I suppose the best idea is to end it here. The closing section, after all, exists solely for that purpose; who am I to challenge destiny? Well, I guess, like any human, that’s not really relevant, since that particular habit seems ingrained in our species. Rather than explore such a deep well now, I’ll merely say, see y’all tomorrow, ffolkes, should that destiny come to be. And, that’s a wrap….
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 secret of Happiness is Freedom, and the secret of Freedom, Courage.”
~~ Thucydides ~~
Super Pom, on a mission from god….
Hajime…. If the science of meteorology has advanced to a point of reliability, today’s heat, again up into the mid-nineties (Fahrenheit, thankfully; if it were 90Âș C, we’d all be in serious trouble), will fade tomorrow, retreating for the next week into the low-to-mid-80’s. Since weather is one of those things we all pay attention to, but, have trouble accepting, I’d like to be the first to acknowledge, there isn’t much that we can actually DO about it, but, learn to enjoy it, no matter how it may otherwise feel about it. Feelings, after all, will not alter anything but our own attitudes….
Now we’ve cleared that up, with just a smidgen of smarmy curmudgeonry at the end, let’s move on to items of interest which may prove to be more amenable. It can’t be any less so, can it? No, didn’t think so. I realize it’s poor technique to retreat into such triteness so early in the day, but, try as I might, I couldn’t think of anything better. Some days ya got it, some days ya don’t. Since which of those we’ve seen thus far today is patently clear, I think it best if we just move on, pretending we’ve never seen that, and it didn’t happen.
Gosh, look at this! Three paragraphs in, & we haven’t actually said ANYTHING. Neither have I, for that matter. To avoid the conundrums which would otherwise naturally occur in such instances, I shall employ a heavy degree of pontification, combined with some sly misdirection, to get us out of what is turning, rapidly, into an unrecognizable pile of rubbish. Well, unrecognizable by any relevant authority, anyway. For us, it’s just the way it is, and, we’re pretty good at letting reality enforce its own policy standards. We have to be; one doesn’t reach such tender years without learning THAT one….
But, such frankness, in this situation, is indulgent, and could conceivably be actionable, under the proper conditions. Rather than test the truth of that, le’s do this, instead….
Shall we Pearl?….
“The old patterns of the hero’s quest still hold true.
The latest incarnation of Oedipus
is standing at the corner of 5th Avenue and 42nd Street
waiting for the lights to change.”
~~ Joseph Campbell ~~
***************************************
Since discovering this artist some months ago, I’ve become rather attached to her music. I find myself listening to this concert a couple times a week, just for the joy of hearing her ensemble, and her voice, both of which attained near-perfection on this occasion. I hope it provides y’all with some of what I find in it, for it is a grand feeling, I can attest…..
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Loreena McKennitt Nights from the Alhambra
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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
***************************************
Naked Pearls
Pathways are not always clearly marked….
*******
“Remember what the dormouse said…
FEED YOUR HEAD…”
~~ Grace Slick ~~
*******
“One’s action ought to come out of an achieved stillness;
not to be a mere rushing on.”
~~ D. H. Lawrence ~~
*******
“An it harms none, do what thou will.”
~~ Wiccan Credo ~~
*******
“A little Madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King.”
~~ Emily Dickinson ~~
*******
“Virtues are acquired through endeavor,
Which rests wholly upon yourself.
So, to praise others for their virtues
Can but encourage one’s own efforts.”
~~ Nagarjuna (c. 100-200 AD) ~~
*******
“He bids fair to grow wise who has discovered that he is not so.”
~~ Publius Syrus — Maxim 598 ~~
*******
“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.”
~~ Philip K. Dick ~~
*******
***************************************
Hmm…. All things considered, that went pretty well. It’s done, anyway, so, I’ll refrain from getting into the same sort of amorphous wandering we found in the intro, & end this before it can get away again. I will, if my efficiency at dealing with the heat allows, be back tomorrow, to try, once more to get this just right…. I don’t know what I’d do if it ever does, but, I’m willing to find out…. See ya, ffolkes; stay strange. If naught else, it FEELS really 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.
“The most significant task facing the individual
is the achievement of harmony
between the conscious and the unconscious mind.”
~~ Carl Jung ~~
By any other name….
Hajime…. Yesterday, in my lead-in to the post for the day (a re-post, if you will….), I stated the elements of a freshly-made Pearl were mostly done, and would be posted today. So be it. I do not, however, have enough equanimity, or balance, to write anything particularly compelling; neither do I feel any guilt over not doing so. In fact, I am in such a state, sans any obvious justification, but, too much evidence to ignore, it is probably best I hibernate for the remainder of the day, & just deal with the heat wave we are currently experiencing, for the first time this year….
That being said, let’s just get on with it. The alternative is too scary to contemplate…..
Shall we Pearl?
“Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero!”
[Seize the day, put no trust in the morrow!]
~~ Quintus Horatius Flaccus (Horace) ~~
***************************************
I’ve gone to our default musical selection today, to save time, and angst left over from the decision-making process. I even went so far as to use the You Tube playlist, which represents, as much as possible, a cross-section of the genre that is worth hearing…. Enjoy!….
***************************************
Classical Music
***************************************
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As noted, I found this poem yesterday, which I wrote just over a year ago, apparently during a pretty hairy day…. I hope you enjoy it; I did & I didn’t, clearly….
What the fuck is this?
Insanity waits patiently for me, sitting
in the corner, quietly knitting a psyche knot,
for my throat.
Depression is sitting on the couch, close
by the window, sulking over a broken pot;
he broke it.
Loneliness dogs my solitude, madly barking
into my left ear, while I trot,
half-heartedly, at best.
All my old friends have come to visit today;
a party, at which I was not
wanted, nor invited, .
What if I just ignore them all, I think;
even if it never worked before.
Oh, well.
The darkness fills the day, then carries into night,
until time has passed, until it feels just right.
No peace, no common dreams of light,
no escape, nor safety in flight.
Even poetry hurts.
~~ gigoid ~~
6/1/2016
***************************************
Naked Pearls
Deeper and deeper….
*******
“The truth is always the strongest argument.”
~~ Sophocles (496-406 BC) — Phaedra, Frag. 737 ~~
*******
“Don’t teach your children what to think;
just teach them to think.”
~~ Tannenbaum ~~
*******
“As the moon retaineth her nature,
though darkness spread itself before her face as a curtain,
so the Soul remaineth perfect even in the bosom of the fool.”
~~ Akhenaton? (c. B.C. 1375) ~~
*******
“Opposition brings concord.
Out of discord comes the fairest harmony.”
~~ Heraclitus ~~
*******
“All the secrets we may be able to keep
from any and every god and human being
do not in the least absolve us
from the obligation to refrain from whatever actions
are greedy, unjust,
sensual, or otherwise immoderate.”
~~ Cicero, On Duties ~~
*******
“Don’t be confused by surfaces; in the depths everything becomes law.
What is necessary, after all, is only this:
solitude, vast inner solitude.
Walk inside yourself and meet no one for hours
–that is what you must be able to attain.”
~~ Rainer Maria Rilke ~~
*******
“The wailing of the newborn infant is mingled with the dirge for the dead.”
~~ Lucretius ~~
*******
***************************************
Such as it is, there ’tis. As noted above, so be it. I’ll be back when I’ve found some balance; hopefully, that will be soon enough to post tomorrow. Time, that mouthy bastard, will tell… See ya, ffolkes. Stay loose; it hurts more when you tense up….
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 dream we call Reality has captured me for the day; events have reached a juncture at which my intervention is required. Sadly, for our purpose, this precludes a fresh Pearl for today, though one is near completion. The good news is, while searching for today’s re-blog, I found a poem I’d completely forgotten I had written. I also have one percolating, almost to the point of leakage. Today, I’ll be dealing with all of that, out in the BBR, where the importance of Pearls fades before the face of the real world….
I will, however, be back; you may consider that a warning, or a promise, Either way, I am outta here for now. Y’all be well, be happy, be odd, (or, even, your choice), and, most of all, be alert…. The world can use a few more ‘lerts….
âYou can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them.â
~~ Malcolm Forbes ~~
From the London Daily Telegraph, Animal Pictures of the Year, 2014
Reality, having assumed a configuration untenable to my sanity, has retreated from my perception, leaving me stranded, forlornly seeking a fantasy world in which to spend my time. Of course, there are many from which to choose, making the process of making a choice that much more intimidating. The feeling of doom, with its concomitant companion, depression, lies in wait behind a number of them, always ready to kick me to the curb with its melancholy insistence on dwelling upon that which cannot be changedâŠ. Others are more friendly, yet, contain their own demons, certain to devour even more of my soul than even Reality can consumeâŠ. All of them, from theâŠ
“Experience is one thing you can’t get for nothing.”
~~ Oscar Wilde ~~
Why did we stop?….
Hajime…. Isn’t that the greatest little grin you ever saw? I met this little lad yesterday on a walk down by the harbor; he was with his humans, leading the way with that huge grin on his face, just having the time of his little life. So, the picture was mandatory; I actually got two good ones, the second of which I’ll put up in a few days. It’s a nice way for me to encourage walking, as most of my best pictures come while I am out and about with my camera, slowly making the world bigger… & now I can walk as far as I wish, it’s working for me quite well….
Good morrow, ffolkes. I am, still, rather lost in my head, trying to make some sense out of all I’ve come to realize about the world, and my own place in it. But, it could be worse; I could be lost in somebody else’s head, eh? I’m also steadily improving my overall health, with the consistent application of sensible eating, drinking, and exercising this tired old body. The cannabis oil I take daily is doing exactly as I expected when I began, to wit: everything wrong in my system is steadily being repaired. Though I have no illusions of returning to my youthful levels of energy & strength, I am rapidly approaching the proper levels for someone of my age, which, given all I’ve learned about how to conserve energy, & use it more efficiently, will be sufficient unto the day.
There, that should qualify us for take-off; a bit of happy chatter, some relevant discussion of present-time issues, and a bit of snarky silliness always cuts the ice quite nicely. Of course, the snarkiness is an assumed disguise, but, y’all should be used to such stuff by now, so I won’t even mention how little it costs. Even better, I won’t prolong your agony any longer today, but, will, instead, get us out of here with unprecedented efficacy. No big change, actually, just thought I’d try something new…. It works much like the other methods; in fact, it works like this….
Shall we Pearl?
“Seek the headwaters of the river of pain.”
~~ Buddhist Saying ~~
***************************************
Since this lady’s music has been among my favorites for close to 50 years, I don’t feel any need to introduce it to anyone. All I can say is, music should make us feel good, and that’s what her voice does for me…. I hope you enjoy it as much as I will….
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Linda Ronstadt Greatest Hits
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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
***************************************
Naked Pearls
Little known notes on being human….
*******
“Some folks just aren’t cut out to be normal…”
~~ Smart Bee ~~
*******
“To an artist, a metaphor is as real as a dollar.”
~~ Tom Robbins ~~
*******
“Frivolity is important.
Frivolity is the species refusal to suffer.”
~~ John Lahr ~~
*******
“There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.”
~~ Ansel Adams ~~
*******
“If you put a chain
around the neck of a slave,
the other end
fastens itself around your own.”
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
*******
“Today is the ideal moment between yesterday and tomorrow.”
~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~
*******
“We’ll have to make our own luck from now on.”
~~ Louis Wu “Ringworld” ~~
*******
***************************************
I cannot, with any sense of dignity or honesty, say this is one of the best. It does have one similar characteristic with those which merit such praise, to wit: it’s done. Since I can’t decide whether to spit, or go blind, I’ll just pretend I know what I’m doing, & say, see y’all tomorrow…. Well, if all goes as intended, anyway. If not, oh, well, such is life, & we’ll see y’all when we see ya. For now, be well, be strange, and stay alert. Can’t do much more than that these days….
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.
“And the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.”
~~ Erica Jong ~~
Winter vines, Sonoma Valley, California
Hajime…. As the old man sat, pondering how to begin, his resident familiar appeared, claiming his lap for a hammock. After ten minutes of mutually satisfying contentment, complete with purrs & hedonistic delight, she jumped down with a chirp of thanks, to nom some food. Deciding to forgo the planned fictional opening, the words of opening began to flow….
Truly, a fictional beginning might have been more attractive, in at least an artistic sense; thank goodness our purposes here have little or nothing in common with attractiveness. Otherwise, we might have spent the past few moments trying to find our way out of one my particularly obscure fantasies, with no clear reason why we were there in the first place. Fortunately for us all, I managed to avoid any such entrapment, by the simple expedient of heading off into edited reality. I suppose it isn’t the most efficacious literary outcome we might hope to experience this time of day, but, it is two paragraphs of fairly coherent conversation, for all that is worth….
Yes, I’m stuck again. Half way through an introductory section, with, still, no clear idea of how we got to where we are, nor any better idea of how to get out of it. In the interests of fair play, as well as common sense, I’ll just use one of our unexpectedly effective techniques to close it off, & not worry overmuch about how it looks, or pretends to look. Instead, we’ll just do this….
Shall we Pearl?
“Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.”
~~ African Proverb ~~
***************************************
I feel like some feel-good music, on a beach, so, here is an artist who does those two things, very, very well…. Have a good time, ffolkes; it’s easy to do with this one….
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Jimmy Buffett Live in Anguilla
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Is It Alive?
Fighting into the light, words push hard to exist
each step closer to real brings another unique twist.
Shedding meaning for meaning, until bright, alone, and right
sculpting useless shapes, yet undefined, in pale morning’s light.
Never knowing the face is part of the lasting charm
bringing elegant focus, before sounding the alarm.
Advantageous time sends out messages, fears finding voice,
mulling options for flexibility, virtually without choice.
Fortunate man, who embraces the power of change;
’tis magical knowledge, bonding common to strange.
Weaving words of wonder, made strong by love and duty,
into a tapestry of life, and everlasting beauty.
~~ gigoid ~~
1/10/2013
***************************************
Naked Pearls
More notes on Life at Large…
*******
“Every man is a divinity in disguise, a god playing the fool.”
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
*******
“One of the greatest joys known to man
is to take a flight into ignorance
in search of knowledge.”
~~ Robert Lynd ~~
*******
“Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.”
~~ Things We Can Learn From Dogs ~~
*******
“The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.”
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
*******
“You cannot learn to fly by flying.
First you must learn to walk, to run, to climb, to dance.”
~~ Friedrich Nietzsche ~~
*******
“It is in the shelter of each other that people live.”
~~ Irish proverb ~~
*******
“And in the end
the love you take
is equal to the love you make.”
~~ The Beatles, The last lyric of their last song ~~
*******
***************************************
Somehow, we’re late; I guess the hammock time added up faster than realized. But, we did make it to the end, so, let’s not look too long into the mouth of this horse, & just get it done. In fact, let’s do that now, for I am, without doubt, done for today. I will, however, be back soon to try again…. Maybe, one of these days, I’ll get it right…. 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.
I got distracted yesterday, dealing with events in the BBR, so, no fresh Pearl today. To sublimate, here is a rather fine Pearl from early in 2015, with some good philosophizing, good poetry (not mine; I went for the best on this day…), some grand pearls, and a video tribute…. It got some good traffic, but, is good enough to deserve another shot…. I hope you enjoy it, & I’ll be back fresh in the very near future….
Niagra Falls, February, 2015 ~~ Photo from Weather.com
Todayâs intro section will be just that, and nothing more. Iâm tired of trying to figure it out, so Iâm taking a hiatus from doing soâŠ. Our only purpose here today is to get this done, so we can get on with it. Too much going on to even explain, so, in the interests of maintaining honesty, weâll go immediately into emergency exit #4, which, as yâall know, works like thisâŠ.
Shall we Pearl?
âPardon him, Theodotus, he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.â â George Bernard Shaw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Spock passed from this world yesterdayâŠ. Leonard Nimoy, who became Spock in the eyes and minds of the world, died atâŠ
“Each of us visits this Earth involuntarily, and without an invitation.
For me, it is enough to wonder at the secrets.”
~~ Albert Einstein ~~
Identifiably California….
Hajime…. I can’t remember off-hand, & am too lazy to go find the answer this early, but, I believe it was Plato who once related, “If everyone were to bring their troubles to a common pile, upon seeing them all, most would be happy to take their own, and go away.” On this blog, that particular phrase has found its, perhaps, most genuine believer…. Each of us, in our own way, thinks the pain and difficulty we encounter is the worst; subjectivity lends, apparently, a focusing eye to such matters, much in the way a magnifying glass focuses the small into the large for the ease of our eye…. Yet, when viewed in light of the problems we find others to have, they automatically shrink, in importance, and impact.
My trouble yesterday, which prompted me to blow off the entire day, was merely physical, & self-inflicted, to boot; to be honest, I over-indulged the night before, with a short, but, intense conversation with my old friend Jack Daniels, & spent the day recovering my equilibrium, with 3 naps…. felt good, too….. The only thing I managed to get done was to feed the cat, & find a few pearls for this Pearl, so that, whenever it gets posted, it will go smoothly…. Of course, as we all know, that’s tempting Murphy to take a hand, but, since he usually does, anyway, what the hell…. we’ll take the risk, & the consequences, just like a big boy…..
I am, after all, quite familiar with Murphy’s antics, & know not to offer him much with which to work his ‘magic’. When he does manage to poke us, it’s a good idea to just smile, shake one’s head, & take the lumps; nothing else seems to help any more than that, & is essentially fruitless, anyway, so, why not go with the flow? Today, the flow is down…. down the page, & on into cyberspace, where you’ll find all the elements of an average Pearl, with above average music, average poetry, & some fine thoughts on Life at Large. All for the cost of an internet connection, & a few moments of your time & mental energy. What a bargain, eh?….
Shall we Pearl?
“In a mad world, only the mad are sane.”
~~ Akiro Kurosawa ~~
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One of my blogger friends enjoys classical guitar music, & mentioned a while back he was listening to this artist. Since I hadn’t heard any flamenco in quite some time, I figured he would be a good choice for today. Here is a play list with 200 videos to choose from, featuring the brilliant guitar work of Carlos Montoya…. Abondanza!….
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Carlos Montoya
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Augmentation: Inner Aye
Distant, peals of thunder, vividly.
Closer, a patter of rain, falling gravidly.
Between the light and the darkness of fear
find merely the remnants of one lonely tear.
Do not hate us, though we have not sinned;
eager for courage, upon whom all hope is pinned.
Tales of insolence, hatred, or fallen virtue
fill us up, not down, in such pristine foreign venue.
Capable hands severed, able hands tied;
the future is angry, all but now denied.
Multiple times, warnings sounded across the pale
nobody heard, nobody came to tell the tale.
Gifted by time, salience fails in epic rhyme;
watchmakers watching, each a separate crime.
Logical solutions refuse to emulsify
forever pretending to cruelly crucify.
Blood will fly alongside pertinent composure,
never seeking, never finding tea, or closure.
Falsely laid trails on mountains of gold
imply no happy endings, no fortunes told.
Ages past have no time for repetition;
further chances only lead to perdition.
Destiny feels a shameful portion of guilt,
for a thousand sand castles, never built.
~~ gigoid ~~
3/2/2016
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Naked Pearls
Yep, all true….
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“Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.”
~~ Seneca ~~
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“True dignity is never gained by place,
and never lost when honors are withdrawn.”
~~ Phillip Massinger ~~
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“A good example is the best sermon.”
~~ H. Jackson Brown
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“When the fight begins within himself,
A man ‘s worth something.”
~~ Robert Browning — Men and Women, “Bishop Blougram’s Apology” ~~
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“Anybody remotely interesting is mad,
in some way or another.”
~~ Dr. Who ~~
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“Intellect annuls fate.
So far as a man thinks, he is free.”
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
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“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
~~ Oscar Wilde, “Lady Windermere’s Fan” ~~
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I hope y’all enjoyed today’s journey through the backwash of my mind; I did, if only because now I don’t have to feel guilty for not meeting my self-imposed task. In today’s world, that’s pretty much more than one may expect, so, I’m gonna take it, and run for the border…. which seems to be right here…. Y’all stay strange, ffolkes. It may not always be comfortable, but, it certainly makes things more interesting…. See ya tomorrow, if all goes according to plan….
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.
“A talent is formed in stillness, a character in the world’s torrent.”
~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~~
Ebb tide on the Strand, Galway Bay, Ireland….
Hajime…. I write because I found, early on in life, it helps me to organize my thoughts; in doing so, it aids in maintaining a relative degree of what is often termed ‘sanity’. At this point in my life, a fair piece down the road, I might add, I am ambiguously happy to report, it hasn’t worked too well at all. Now, I will agree, that’s a pretty ambiguous statement, as well, but, it’s accurate, for all it may be ironic, or more pointedly, sardonic. I’m happy to be insane, but, ambiguously, because it’s not a sane world, which rather makes the whole exercise somewhat of a conundrum. I suppose, if I stop to think for long about it, that’s not only a fair assessment, but, shows clearly, my sanity bears little resemblance to what others might accept as such….
I have related the above, not because I am particularly proud of it, or even concerned by it. No, I only do so to demonstrate for y’all, in graphic clarity, a set of thoughts that, if considered with gravity and compassion, can provide some understanding of why it often gets a bit strange around here. It doesn’t necessarily excuse it, or even attempt to justify any of it; it only offers an opportunity to process the strangeness, so it can be assimilated into your own understanding of consensual reality, at least well enough not to laugh outright at any of this. Well, I guess laughing is okay; I do try to be humorous. But, it also will, hopefully, help y’all to see why I’m so fucking weird, which can only help. Right? Right…..
Now we have that completely squared away, as far as it will ever be, I think I’ll get on with the rest of what I’ve cobbled together for today. I am aware enough this morning to be able to realize, if I don’t, it may never happen. Wouldn’t want that; I’d be mentally constipated all day. Instead, let’s go consume some fibrous material for the mind, such as it may be.
What? No, we’re all out of rationality, so, don’t ask. Instead, just hang on, & before you know it, you’ll be on your way to your next scheduled stop…. I would suggest, however, you fasten your restraining belts; it might get a little turbulent….
Shall we Pearl?
“He that respects himself if safe from others;
He wears a coat of mail that none can pierce.”
~~ Henry Wordsworth Longfellow ~~
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I am in need of soothing music, as is often the case in the midst of creation. Today’s selection was chosen, as is also often the case, because I like the picture it displayed on You Tube. I hope you enjoy this hour-long selection of classical pieces, put together by a random computer user…. Abondanza!….
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Classical Music
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Fine and Good, Good and Fine
A pig in a poke’s got nothing on me,
cuz I’m as confused as a man can be.
This ol’ world’s got me spinnin’ around
cussin’ and spittin’, a penny for a pound.
Forty ‘leven times since I was a kid, well,
I’ve fallen in love, ‘least too close to tell.
Every damn time, it all went to crap,
Forty ‘leven times I’ve felt like a sap.
‘Course, each time it happens, I forget the last;
why not? I’m havin’ such a blast….
Livin’ in each moment, filled with joie de vivre,
’til it’s all gone away again, nothin’ left up my sleeve.
Don’t want y’all to think I’m sad or blue,
life’s full of sorrow, lots for me, and/or you..
T’other side of that coin, we can be glad,
is joyful love, and that ain’t at all bad.
My road’s been littered with parts o’my heart,
each one colored with trust, which ain’t always smart.
Yet, long as I don’t lose my connection to joy,
I’ll find my own true love, and be a happy boy.
It’s been some kinda fun, even when I’d take a fall,
and doin’ it over makes no sense at all, at all
Day after day, I keep on keepin’ on, as it’s said;
Guess I’ll keep on doin’ that ’til I’m dead.
‘Nuff said….
~~ gigoid, tongue firmly in cheek ~~
3/23/2013
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Naked Pearls Notes on Life at Large….
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“All that glitters is not gold”
is from “Parabolae”, a book of poems written circa 1175
by Alanus de Insulis, a French monk:
“Non teneas aurum totum quod splendet ut aurum”
= “Do not hold everything gold that shines like gold”.
It was Englished by Chaucer in the “Canterbury Tales” (1389) as:
“But al thyng which that shyneth as the gold
Nis nat gold, as that I have herd it told.”
~~ Smart Bee ~~
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“A day dawns, quite like other days;
in it, a single hour comes, quite like other hours;
but in that day and in that hour the chance of a lifetime faces us.”
~~ Maltbie Babcock ~~
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“So seek the wolf in thyself
Shape shift – nose to the wind
Shape shift – feeling I’ve been
Move swift – all senses clean
Earth’s gift, back to the meaning of wolf and man.”
~~ Metallica “Of Wolf and Man” ~~
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“Not all those who wonder are lost.”
~~ J. R. R. Tolkien ~~
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“In the moment between stimulus and response lies freedom.”
~~ Steven Covey ~~
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“The world is full of cactus, but we don’t have to sit on it.”
~~ Will Foley ~~
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“I see my life go drifting like a river
From change to change; I have been many things –
A green drop in the surge, a gleam of light
Upon a sword, a fir tree on a hill,
An old slave grinding at a heavy quern,
A king sitting upon a chair of gold –
And all these things were wonderful and great;
But now I have grown nothing, knowing all.
Ah! Druid, Druid, how great webs of sorrow
Lay hidden in that small slate-coloured thing!”
~~ William Butler Yeats, “Fergus and the Druid” ~~
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Well, there you have it. While I wouldn’t call it classical literature, I would say, it’s done. I’ll add, thank goodness for that. This one should probably never have happened, but, who am I to argue with consensual reality? Rather than belabor such an obvious point, I’ll just say, see y’all next time, and let you be until then…. See ya….
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 