Once again, I didn’t plan to post, but, found myself with a few minutes to play before heading out into the BBR for a morning walk. Here is a Pearl from 2013, written & posted shortly before my first ever trip to Europe…. It’s pretty decent, all in all, & will do nicely for a nostalgia break. I’ll be back in a day or two with a fresh Pearl, hopefully with a new poem to go with whatever else my fractured mind can come up with…. I can’t care too much, for I’m having too much fun in the real world to worry about it. I hope y’all are good, and continue to be so….
Ffolkes,
Mmmmm…. coffee, good….mmph, grglk, blast, hmph, okay…. Sorry, took a moment for the coffee to kick in…. Let me just say this, and we’re good to go…. Draco! Braz! Mento! Ah, yes, all fine now…. Having uttered the proper incantation, to prepare the air for such brilliance, and to put up the wards against theft and interruption, we may now proceed to Pearl, if we are able…. We are always willing, but, often, the flesh is weak, so it’s best to “prepare the palette”, as a painter would say…. Not that I paint, no, far from it…. My drawing of a crowd looks like a convention of stick figures, kind of like watching someone count on an abacus; if you look at it for long, it will make you dizzy….
Drawing is one of those skills lacking from my toolbox; for some reason, probably having to do with spatial…
I wasn’t going to post today, as nothing got done at the computer. But, I saw this one in the suggested posts yesterday, which, upon checking, I found to be a most excellent Pearl of an older format, from nearly five years ago, early in my second year here on WP. Excellent pearls, & rather good accompanying discussion made it an enjoyable Pearl, as the number of visitors would indicate. I hope anyone who stops by enjoys what they’ll find today. I’ll be back, in a day or three… Sure is nice outside; y’all should check it out….
Ffolkes,
Okay, so now I’m officially old. I can start using all those little tricks I’ve been practicing to take advantage of youngsters. Oh, wait, I don’t do that…. well, okay, so now I get to be grouchy, right? No? Why not? I’ve been looking forward a long time to getting old enough to be cranky, whattya mean people don’t do that anymore? 60 is the new 40? What the hell are you talking about? I’m no 40, and if I felt only 40 I’d be doing handsprings, believe me…. Damn it, I’ve waited a long time to be old, why don’t I get some of the perks?…. I don’t get it…..
There are supposed to be perks to this getting old business, you know. Senior discounts, early boarding, special menus, we old ffolkes have done our duty on the front lines of life, and deserve a break or two…
Hajime…. While searching for pearls to use today, the gem adorning the top of today’s post, from Mr. Matherne, came first. After choosing my selfie as the opening picture, (for reasons which shall come clear….), & having decided to forgo a complete Pearl for the day, I began to search for a closing pearl. This is the first one SB showed me today, to wit:
“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence,
and I learn, whatever state I may be in,
therein to be content.”
~~ Helen Keller ~~
It seemed to be apt, as it describes, in more than one sense, my recent path, which has been, seemingly, seeded with traps, deep holes which open up at my feet during my headlong rush to find. as the aphorism states, contentment. I know, full well, the path is an illusion, a metaphor for the journey within we all pursue, to find what we already know; in truth, the traps are of my own making, as they are for us all. Yet, like the silly human I am, I continue to search, rushing along a path I seem not to know, though ’tis my of my own design, leading only to places I already know…. Is it any wonder I am confused?….
Having written the above, my mind proceeded to go blank, in a relative sense. In point of fact, I fear am losing my urge to blog at all; I’ve been spending more time in the Big Blue Room outside the place the computer lives than I have at the computer, enjoying that time more than what is spent surfing, or even writing. My sanity seems intact, for all that, which makes me think creating Pearls is no longer so critical to staying in touch with consensual reality. Now, if that’s so, it could be a good thing, or, not, depending on whether I think too hard about it. Keeping track of sanity is, as might be surmised, a tricky proposition, at best; it seems rather like a Heisenberg issue, y’know? When one focuses on it, it slides away, becoming something else entirely, right when we think we’ve put our fingers on it.
If it hasn’t become obvious by now, I am suffering from a lack of creative energy. More accurately, the energy which, for so long, has been channeled into this process is getting used in other ways/places in my life, and the need to write is becoming diffused. At this point, I’m unsure of what will ensue; moreover, I’m not inclined to try too hard to keep things the way they were, as I am feeling more pull toward the outer world than I have in a long time. I suppose, in a very real sense, actions are speaking louder than words, & I can’t find any reason not to continue on that path….
So, for at least the foreseeable future, posts here on ECR may not happen every day; in fact, they may not happen every week. I don’t believe I’ll stop entirely; the poetry needs to keep leaking out, if nothing else. Searching out good pearls of virtual wisdom will also continue to occupy some of my attention, as I need to read as much as I need to breathe. But, I don’t feel as much compulsion to post, as the process of doing so occupies more of my attention (read: my OCD tendencies) than I currently wish to give. So, posts will be rather hit & miss, at best. I’d say I am sorry, but, I wouldn’t mean it, so, I won’t….
For today, this outburst is all I’ve got; my poem is stalled & the blue sky is calling me to go walkabout…. I guess I can only say, I’ll see y’all when I see you. I love you all, and hope your life will proceed in a manner which pleases you; the answers we all seek are right there for us to find, within, so, we all have the same opportunity to find our own peace, if we can only learn to listen to those little voices in our heads. Oh, not the ones arising out of our fears; the ones which arise from that unconscious part of us which is ALWAYS connected to the universe, and knows all we need to know…. We’ve always known the answers, you know; we just get distracted & forget to listen….
Me, I’m gonna go listen to the trees, or the waters, or the wind…. where the answers are echoed, and sung as part of the music of the spheres…. Yes, I’m a little strange, but, that’s no worry; I have always been so. I can’t say when, but, I’ll be back, soon enough….
“Because I could not stop for Death —
He kindly stopped for me —
The carriage held but just ourselves
And immortality.”
~~ Emily Dickinson ~~
***********
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 have realized that the past and future are real illusions,
that they exist in the present,
which is what there is and all there is.”
~~ Alan Watts ~~
Hazy day on SF Bay….
Hajime…. My regular Gentle readers may have noted my complete absence yesterday; others may not. Nonetheless, it’s so; I blew the day off completely, to avoid any display of the insanity which characterized my day. I can’t really say why, or, even how, the day got that way. I only know I sat to begin composing in the early hours of the morn, & realized it wasn’t going to happen…. With a dispatch unusual for me, I got up, & left the computer behind for a couple hours, going for an early walk, & spending time with Leelu, who is feeling better, but, still a bit clingy. We had a quiet day, in which I visited a couple blogs I’d missed lately, but, otherwise spent only the minimum of time online, sufficient only to keep my inbox clear of dross.
I also managed to put together a decent enough Pearl for today, with some excellent music & a rather fine old-school pearl for the final section. The new poem did leak out a few more verses, but, isn’t ready for consumption, so, I went with one from a while back, during my stint in opioid hell. For what it is, and was during its creation, it’s pretty decent, too. All in all, it’s right & tight enough to post, so, that’s what I’m going to do, as soon as I quit fooling around with this intro…. In a quick survey of what has occurred thus far, I’m thinking it would be well to do that now. Quit fooling around, that is….
So, I will. In fact, I’ll be unusually kind, & do that right now, or, as soon as I figure out which one of these exit techniques will work the best. Oh, look, here’s one we haven’t used in quite some time; it’s always been a favorite, too, so, why not bring it back for an encore today? It’s a pretty cool method, & works very simply. Watch this….
Shall we Pearl?….
“At the bottom no one in life can help anyone else in life;
this one experiences over and over in every conflict and every perplexity:
that one is alone.
That isn’t as bad as it may first appear;
and again it is the best thing in life
that each should have everything in himself;
his fate, his future, his whole expanse and world.”
~~ Rainer Maria Rilke ~~
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Lettice Rowbotham
Image from the mirror.com via Google Images
I discovered this artist during a recent binge of watching old talent show auditions. She competed during the 2014 Britain’s Got Talent show, placing in the top 7 finalists. A brilliant violinist with a sparkling, roguish personality, she set the British entertainment scene on fire with her flamboyant attitude, and brilliant showmanship. I found her charming, and a better violinist than most will realize. I’ve included the links to her You Tube page, and her own website, where you can find a large number of videos of her playing live gigs and collaborations with other artists. She also is, as the videos show, a superb improvisational violinist…. I hope you enjoy her music; indeed, she is an artist like no one else in the world….
Hell is never far away; it slips in, then out,
like a ninja, bent on stealth and death.
Living metamorphoses, in the space of a breath,
sordid entropy fills us, within, and without.
Tide turns again; back and forth it tumbles,
like those little wind up toys, yet never stays.
All our efforts, all our silly little ways,
disappear like seaweed, as sanity crumbles.
The duality of reality in which we are firmly caught,
seems to inhabit every part of our natural selves.
Nothing is ever still, nor can it be placed on shelves;
we are dark, and light; balance must be taught.
Life is lived only one moment at a time,
past and future have no power to alter this at all.
We can choose to fly, or choose to fall;
finding truth, and beauty, can never be a crime.
~~ gigoid ~~
12/14/2015
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Naked Pearls
Beginning to end….
*******
“I exist as I am, that is enough.”
~~ Walt Whitman ~~
*******
“Curiouser and curiouser!”
~~ Lewis Carroll, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” ~~
*******
“The thinking that we are has brought us
to where we have already been.
In order to go somewhere else,
we must think in a different way.”
~~ Albert Einstein ~~
*******
“There is an educative and purifying power in danger
that is to be found in no other school.”
~~ A. F. Mummery ~~
*******
“Appearances to the mind are of four kinds.
Things either are what they appear to be;
or they neither are, nor appear to be;
or they are, and do not appear to be;
or they are not, and yet appear to be.
Rightly to aim in all these cases is the wise man’s task.”
~~ Epictetus — Discourses, Book i, Chap. xxvii ~~
*******
“All nature is but art, unknown to thee;
All chance, direction, which thou canst not see;
All discord, harmony not understood;
All partial evil, universal good;
And spite of pride, in erring reason’s spite,
One truth is clear, Whatever is, is right.”
~~ Alexander Pope — Essay on Man, Epistle i, Line 289 ~~
*******
“Come…
Dry your eyes, for you are life,
rarer than a quark and unpredictable beyond the dreams of Heisenberg;
the clay in which the forces that shape all things
leave their fingerprints most clearly.
Dry your eyes…
And let’s go home.”
~~ Watchmen ~~
*******
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As I’ve managed well over 1000 times, it’s done. The Pearl, I mean. I’m also pretty well done; been up only a bit over an hour, & already whooped. (Don’t bother looking it up; it’s just an Americanism, & hopefully isn’t IN any dictionaries…. Expressive, though, eh?) My sense of duty will drive me to get it posted, then, I think, I’m done for this part of the day. Most likely, I’ll take a morning walk in the cool, & indulge myself in a bit of a nap. Some time in there, I might even work on the poem, & a fresh Pearl for tomorrow. Or, maybe not; I’m feeling rather unpredictable these days…. plus, I never know when I will be called on to act as a hammock for a cat…. such as I am being summoned for now…. See ya, gotta go; the empress doesn’t like to wait….
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.
“Hateful to me as are the gates of hell, is he who,
hiding one thing in his heart,
Utters another.”
~~ Homer (c. 700 B.C.) ~~
Brothers Island Light Station B & B, Point Richmond…
Hajime…. All the elements of a fresh Pearl are in place, with standard adjustments to the lineup necessitated by the new poem NOT getting done. We also went with default music, but, there’s a fresh old-school pearl, which, though a trifle obscure, has its own charm. No rant, either, but, that’s nothing new for these days; ranting just doesn’t seem to cut the mustard for me of late. I guess I’d rather confine myself to less antagonistic matters, which has the advantage of producing less angst, which I can only applaud.
In truth, my mind is elsewhere; if I knew exactly where that ‘else’ might be, this would be simpler. But, having depended heavily upon the process for too long now, it’s all I can do to keep doing so; whether it will continue to function as intended remains to be seen. I think, in today’s case, I’m not going to even look; that way I won’t see if it doesn’t do what it should. And, yes, I’m now thoroughly confused; if you are not, well, good for you. That means you’ve learned to take whatever you read here with a healthy dose of doubt, sufficient to keep from investing any belief, which is always a good thing. We do love our doubts ’round here….
I can feel this getting away from me; much of that last paragraph will require some metaphoric translation to process; unfortunately, the translator is unplugged, as it consumes far too much power to justify its use in such non-critical instances. But, I digress, not an uncommon practice, but, inconvenient. Rather than beat this moribund soft-hoofed ungulate any more, why don’t we just get on with it. Maybe, if we do, we might even make it to the end by breakfast time. Even if we don’t, it will look better on the official record…. Hang on, I’m going in hot….
Shall we Pearl?….
“One of the most perverse things about the universe
is that it doesn’t care what you believe.”
~~ Subtle Bee ~~
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Playing For Change Ambassador Logo
I had too much music to choose from, so, we’ll go with one of our default choices today. Here’s one of my favorite cuts from the Songs Around The World collection; to listen to more, just put the Autoplay function in You Tube to run, & you’ll be treated to as much music as you like, all of the finest kind…. Enjoy!….
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One Love Songs Around The World
***************************************
***************************************
***************************************
Bulletin
Patterns exist to bring sanity, if illusory, at best;
follicular, reality seems to slip and slide.
Still, formal insanity consistently fails the ultimate test,
why place faith in answers. from which truth can hide?
Following the music brings us back in good time;
forever seemingly retreats from relevance.
Crazy, time stands still with yet another innovative rhyme,
no burgeoning intentions for sale, to shimmy. or dance.
Folly sits easily upon this brow;
fateful and afraid, entropy bows in shame.
Into the river of time, slowly, forgetful of how
courage gives strength, no matter the game.
Capricious, the muse demands obedient attention
at risk of exhibiting true durance vile.
Bereft, single copies sit unused, despite all intention;
while singular examples of fate pass at the stile.
Seminal events bring their own weight;
no scale necessary, no guessing by eye, or hand.
Only one lesson to learn, just pay the freight;
the music is playing, and you’re part of the band.
~~ gigoid ~~
8/6/2016
***************************************
Naked Pearls
Watch that last step….
*******
“Welcome back to (or from) reality!”
~~ Subtle Bee, the comedian ~~
*******
“A man should be upright, not be kept upright.”
~~ Marcus Aurelius Antoninus — Meditations, iii, 5 ~~
*******
“The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions.”
~~ Susan Sontag ~~
*******
Everything that irritates us about others
can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”
~~ Carl Gustav Jung ~~
*******
“Happiness is the harvest of a quiet eye.”
~~ Austin O’Malley ~~
*******
“One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: that word is love.”
~~ Sophocles ~~
*******
“YOW!! I’m in a very clever and adorable INSANE ASYLUM!!”
~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~
*******
***************************************
Well, I made it here to the end; just lucky, I guess. To avoid picking up any penalty points, I’m gonna go post this, & be done with it for another day. I’m planning a few changes to the basic routines around here, in preparation for going into full training. More on that another time; for now, I’ll just say, see y’all soon, (tomorrow, if all goes well), & let the rest of the day take care of itself…. Be well, & happy as you may….
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 wind has no home, and its only clothes are tree branches.”
~~ Matthew Barry ~~
The Shadow Man….
Hajime…. Perhaps I’m making an unwarranted assumption, but, good morning…. For those living in the southeastern part of this country, (Florida, etc.) I hope Irma isn’t hitting y’all too hard, and that y’all can come together to shelter each other through the resulting aftermath. Since the government, despite any claims it may make, will NOT do anything particularly helpful or advantageous to the people, such hopes are probably the best for which you may hope to receive. ‘Twould be nice if ’twere otherwise, but, as we are fond of saying on the streets, oh, well…. Deal with it….
There is no fresh Pearl for today, beyond what you will see here in what is normally the intro section. I have no excuse for not having one ready, other than my own laziness, combined with fatigue unrealized, from the stress of the previous three days. Between worry over my cat, (who is doing well now….), and having to deal with other people’s drama, I lost more sleep than I’d realized, & found myself, for most of the day, alternately napping, and, spacing out on mindless entertainment (when I say, mindless, I mean listening to soft, soothing classical music, or Celtic Woman concerts, or reading for pleasure…. plus some rather basic ‘spacing out’, staring off into space, following my imagination wherever it chose to fly….). I’m hoping to get one going today, but, I find myself still tired, so, we’ll see how it goes.
A new poem is in the works, but, leaking slowly. probably due to the ‘recent unpleasantness’ in my locus. In my current state, I might even come up with a rant, but, if naught else, I’ll find some good music to share, & hope for the best on the rest. For now, this is the extent of what I can do, so, I’ll bring it to a crashing halt, & hope the two pearls included today provide some food for thought.
Y’all have the best day you can, given the unfortunate connotations today possesses, as a ‘day of infamy’ foisted upon us by a number of human groups who hold beliefs which cause them to commit irrational, violently destructive acts upon their fellow humans. No matter how one breaks it down, they are the victims of their own irrational fears, and choose to make others victims as well, to assuage their lack of humanity, and the lack of courage to face their fears…. Fie upon them all, I say, and I choose to ignore them, and their foolish beliefs, giving it the attention it deserves, to wit: NONE.
I think I’ll go on a picture safari today; the heat is finally breaking, & the weather promises to be pretty nice. Hopefully, I can get some good shots, & will include one of them tomorrow, if I can. I’m going to close this now, & get started on what promises to be a busy, if relaxed, day here in what passes for Paradise…. I guess, if you stop to think about it, Paradise is up to each of us to create for ourselves. I, for one, intend to try to make it a good one…. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes….
Shall we Pearl?…. Sorry…. not today, but, tomorrow’s soon enough….
“General observations drawn from particulars
are the jewels of knowledge,
comprehending great store in a little room.”
~~ John Locke ~~
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I hope you’re not looking for anything here; this is the closing section, & what you see is all you get today. However, I WILL see y’all tomorrow, given a fair wind, and a rising tide….
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.
“Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.”
~~ Isaac Asimov ~~
Spring in the Valley of the Moon….
Hajime…. We are all living in time, unconsecrated; most of us never know we live, at all, much less with any understanding of what any of it all means. Hence, unconsecrated. But, we go on, regardless, because, hey…. no choice. As long as our lungs pump air in and out, as long as we continue to exist on a planet filled with wonder and pain, we will continue to walk in beauty with eyes closed, oblivious to our own godhood….
I have no idea what prompted that. Nor do I care, for it broke the ice which had formed around my heart & mind. I still don’t know if the drama from next door is resolved, but, it’s been quiet for 24 hours, so, I’ll take it. The vet was here, & found Leelu to have picked up a flea, or three, from somewhere, along with a tapeworm infestation, both exacerbated by the recent heat wave & her apparent allergy to the flea. She’s been treated for both, & prophylactics have been applied to prevent further problems; she’s feeling better, though not yet her fully active self. She’s resumed her habit of wanting attention just as I begin this process, turning me into a cat hammock for a half-hour before she’ll allow me to finish, which is why this is a bit late this morning.
Things calmed down enough to allow me to finish this Pearl, so, I’m going to forgo any further discussion of the possible ramifications of recent events, & just get on with re-establishing the routines so rudely interrupted by real-time issues; first stop is to get this posted before any more interruptions can fuss with me. To enhance the possibility of success, I’ll go do that now, dumping y’all (and myself) back into consensual reality with a bit of a thump, which can happen when I apply such extreme measures. In fact, I’d suggest you hold on to your hat (if you’re wearing one) because the next step is rather steep, and there’s a high wind….
Shall we Pearl?….
“In handling a stinging insect, move very slowly.”
~~ Lazarus Long ~~
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Image from Album Cover via Google Images
I discovered this group in 2014, during the year’s Dead Covers Project, which takes place each year. Amateur, and some professional, artists make videos of their own version of iconic Grateful Dead songs, posting them on You Tube for the millions of Deadhead’s out there to enjoy. This group is comprised of four young men who play bluegrass music; they were obviously raised by Deadheads, as they play, & obviously love playing, old Dead songs in bluegrass style, with great four-part harmony, and excellent musical competence. Guitar, fiddle, bass, & mandolin, along with exuberant & beautifully blended voices make their versions irresistible. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do; I’ve included a link to their own band website, where you can also listen to the albums they’ve made streamed on various online platforms….
Absolute stillness follows violent movement,
it can happen during a downhill race,
as an immovable piece of asphalt pavement
meets the once handsome racer’s face.
Yuk, yuk, yuk said that asshole Moe,
after poking both of Larry’s eyes,
bashing face, head, & crotch of Curly Joe
and only ever got hit with pies.
Lonely moments never really come along
when Murphy’s got us in his sights.
Not for money, love, or siren’s song
will he abrogate his natural rights.
All we can do is sigh, or laugh in pain,
as Life portions out our ration of shit.
Silver linings melt in the slightest rain,
so we may as well learn to live with it.
~~ gigoid ~~
4/7/2013
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Naked Pearls
Notes on Life at Large….
*******
“Every moment is precious. And precarious.”
~~ Edward Abbey ~~
*******
“Nothing is more useful to mankind than those arts which have no utility.
~~ Ovid ~~
*******
“A man of genius makes no mistakes.
His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.”
~~ James Joyce, “Ulysses” ~~
*******
“Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.”
~~ Edwin Hubbell Chapin ~~
*******
“If the only prayer you say in your whole life is ‘thank you,’
that would suffice.”
~~ Meister Eckhart ~~
*******
“Perhaps the most valuable result of all education
is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do
when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not;
it is the first lesson that ought to be learned;
and however early a man’s training begins,
it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly.”
~~ Thomas H. Huxley ~~
*******
“Many journeys end here,
But the secret’s told the same.
Life is just a candle
And a dream must give it flame.”
~~- Neil Peart, Rush ~~
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Since I’m already late getting this posted, thanks to hammock duty, we’ll skip the usual tricks or treats you find in this final section, & merely say, see y’all tomorrow, as long as reality keeps itself on an even keel. In case I’ve forgotten to say so lately, thanks for stopping by…. See ya, sooner than you think, expect, or, probably, wish for…. Hah!…..
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.
My life has suffered an explosion of drama, which kept me from either writing, or even getting started on a Pearl, beyond picking a picture to use. The hardest part to assimilate is the simple fact none of the drama is my own; it is spilling over from next door, where my neighbor’s difficulties are erupting in emotional outbursts and less than rational behavior, most of it loud… which activates my own emotions, thanks to my ‘gift’ of PTSD, which equates noise & strong emotion with danger, due to my past work dealing with such danger. Long story short, I am not able at this time to write, or post, so, you get this rather good re-blog from 2013, with some even older material included. I’ll try to post a fresh Pearl tomorrow, but, must wait to see if the drama gets resolved… In the meantime, be well, and happy as you may…. I’ll see y’all in a day or so….
Ffolkes,
In direct contrast to my state of apparent poverty, I consider myself to be a lucky man, all in all. My physical assets, in terms of liquidity of funding, are, shall we say, less than prolific, and my amount of acquired property isn’t what might be termed a fortune. In fact, more accurately, the two combined amounts may be described as a pittance, if you’re feeling generous. My clothes are getting old and somewhat worn, and I’m about to walk out of my shoes. I’m struggling each month to get enough food for the entire month, and have only enough left over to pay for a phone and internet service, which I consider essential in today’s culture.
However, I also have friends, and two children, all of whom taken together make me the richest man alive. I feel very fortunate indeed to have all of them in my life…
“‘Change’ is scientific, ‘progress’ is ethical;
change is indubitable, whereas progress is a matter of controversy.”
~~ Bertrand Russell ~~
Sonoma Creek, April 2016
Hajime…. I’ve only got a few minutes to get this posted, so I won’t be composing any long, involved intro, in spite of any need, or wish, to do so. Not that time is pressing, but, because I don’t know how long I can remain in a state of mind that allows me to concentrate even this much. Soon enough, I suppose, I’ll have some solid information on which to chew, once the vet is able to identify the problem with Leelu; until then, I’m still too antsy to maintain the illusion of competence necessary to compose anything worth reading.
Rather than carry on further in this vein, I’ll use some of the ruthlessness still extant in my spirit, one legacy of my humanity, to dump all of us out of the first section, & move on to the next. It’s actually a pretty simple technique, though it can be a disconcerting, if one isn’t quite ready for the rather tumultuous ride necessitated by the rapidity employed. Yes, I know that makes little, if any sense, but, don’t fret; that’s part of how it works. Just hang on to the nearest stanchion, & we’ll be on our way in a trice…. whatever that is….
Shall we Pearl?….
“Never appeal to a man’s “better nature.” He may not have one.
Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage.”
~~ Lazarus Long, from Robert A. Heinlein’s “Time Enough For Love” ~~
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Today’s musical selection brings us one of the most beloved iconic bands to ever play together. Brought together by chance, the six members all possess exemplary credentials as successful artists in their own right. They only released a small number of records, but each one is considered a classic. Jeff Lynne, (Electric Light Orchestra), Roy Orbison (needs no intro), Bob Dylan (also needs no intro), Tom Petty (of his band, the Heartbreakers), George Harrison (of Beatles fame, duh….), and Jim Keltner, a drummer who has played with nearly every good rock band for a LONG time (played with Clapton, in several of his bands, and MANY others….). The embedded video is one of five, a part of the collection on You Tube, a compendium of the videos the band made to go along with the songs. The link below their name is to their home site, where you may listen to all 3 of their albums, via various streaming services, or purchase them…. Enjoy!….
The veils that billow and fold
between dreams and reality
may sometimes part,
showing the visions of one to the other,
blending, bleeding as one,
only to bring us up short,
closely jammed against immovable fate.
Still, we keep our watch,
seeking to find the vision
that brings with it the mark of reality’s regard,
a humble mind, and a compassionate heart.
Events of broad impact draw us away again,
distracting with shiny glitter and tinny music,
leaving our feelings raw and bruised,
the victim of universal disregard.
Now, in the twilight of years, the music is fading,
and the glitter has all gone….
yet the memory of visions remains sharp and clear,
melancholy reminders of reality’s promises,
unkept…..
~~gigoid~~
4/12/2013
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Naked Pearls
A Harlequin Necklace….
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“He took his vorpal sword in hand
Long time the manxom foe he sought
Till rested he by the tumtum tree
And stood awhile in thought”
~~ “Jabberwocky”, by Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson) ~~
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“It is important that man dreams,
but it is perhaps equally important
that he can laugh at his own dreams.”
~~ Lin Yutang ~~
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“Every day passes whether you participate or not.”
~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~
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“Clay is moulded to make a vessel,
but the utility of the vessel
lies in the space where there is nothing….
Thus, taking advantage of what is,
we recognize the utility of what is not.”
~~ Lao Tzu ~~
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“There’s too much beauty upon this earth for lonely men to bear.”
~~ Richard Le Gallienne ~~
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“I had too much to dream last night.”
~~ Electric Prunes ~~
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“Clouds come floating into my life,
no longer to carry rain or usher storm but
to add color to my sunset sky.”
~~ Rabindranath Tagore ~~
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Well, it’s done, or, in today’s case, it’s a reasonable facsimile of done. It will have to do, ‘cuz that’s all I’ve got. I’ll get it posted, then continue my pacing & worrying until the vet arrives. I’ll try to get another done for tomorrow, but, no promises are likely until I know more. Let’s just say, see ya when I see ya, & leave it at that…. Be well, be strange, & stay alert, ffolkes…. I’ll be around eventually….
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 reblogging again today, because I am too distracted to either think, or even type very well (one of those invisible conundrums; you’d never know by looking at this it took five minutes to type…). Leelu is sick, & I am a wreck, from having to wait for a vet appointment to find out what’s wrong. She’s lethargic, off her feed, and not drinking, either, unless she’s doing it on the sly. Also, she’s not using her litter box, at all, so, needless to say, I’m worried…. which keeps me too distracted to think of anything less important, which includes the greater portion of reality. So, I’ll try to get one done for tomorrow, but, we’ll see how that goes. She’ll see the vet tomorrow at noon, so, at least there is a limit to how long I’ll stay off kilter….
No apologies, but, I do hope you enjoy today’s older Pearl. I did try to pick a good one, but, with my current state of mind, it’s hard to say if I succeeded. Y’all will have to let me know, if you think it’s important. Otherwise, I’ll see y’all tomorrow, or the day after, when I can relax enough to think about writing again…
Having failed, miserably, to wake up in a timely fashion, I sit now, pale and trembling, to make one last attempt to gain even a smidgen of rationality, or, if that isn’t possible, just a little portion of normalcy. If this attempt fails, we’re going to need to find some other way to make this happen; otherwise, it’s back to the choice between a re-blog, or hitting the archives, a recent habit of which I’m sure the Gentle Readers are getting tired….. Not me, though; it’s kind of fun to go through my older material; it’s been so long since I wrote some of it, it’s like reading something fresh and new….
Today’s instance of obstruction is brought to you by that iconic force of nature, Murphy, who asked me to also mention his myrmidons, who do most of the actual work involved in screwing with people…. In the…
gigoid 