Ffolkes,

“The moment in which you confront your own death
is the moment in which you are most totally alive.”

~~ Solomon Short ~~

Northern California Idyll….

Hajime…. Today, as I sit to begin, I feel a sadness, having naught to do with today’s mess, as such, but, rather at the passage of time, and the changes we experience, not always comfortably. The sadness is rooted in my decision to acknowledge the demands of the body, and the real world, as opposed to using the mind as primary source for purpose, searching for sanity and balance in the cybersphere. For more than six years, since August, 2011, I have used this blog as the cornerstone of my existence, spending hours a day on my ass in front of Arthur (my computer’s name….), while I explored the consensual reality we call cyberspace, using the time spent as distraction from the physical issues with which I was plagued for so long….

Now, having taken important steps to correct the lifestyle issues making, and keeping me sick and in pain, and, having made significant progress toward regaining much of my former physical status as a warrior/scholar, I must acknowledge two things…. First, I can no longer afford to spend the time on my ass; doing so exacerbates too many of the physical conditions I am trying to overcome, and it makes little sense to keep doing the main thing I do that keeps me from getting healthier…. Second, my recent absence, and lack of consistency in posting, has lost me most of my readership. I can say that with sad confidence, as my last fresh post, on the 10th of April, received fewer than 10 Likes…. and the last post, a reblog of an early Pearl, has not had a single Like in the five days since I posted it…. Even the six or eight most faithful of those who stopped by regularly have been absent; I haven’t actually gone to look at the stats, but, that tells me traffic to my site has gone seriously delinquent….

SIGH…. A natural result, I would guess, to also having stopped visiting other sites to read…. a decision forced on me by my inability to sit, and my increasingly failing vision…. Typing this is hard enough, considering I must do so in spurts of a few minutes at a time, while even trying to read over what has been typed is problematic…. All in all, I am unsurprised at my lack of readership; I’ve managed to stop doing all the stuff that would bring ffolkes back, merely by being absent both here, and out there….

All that being said, with at least some relevant purpose, I come now to the main purpose behind this long-winded explanation, which is this: I am taking a hiatus from blogging. The guilt/angst I felt for so long when I didn’t post is gone; I feel fine about it, and, frankly, am enjoying my time on walkabout, out in the BBR, actually engaging with humanity…. though the latter does tend to wear on my patience. After all, I AM still a curmudgeon, & prefer the company of dogs, cats, & even squirrels to that of most humans. But, even my impatience is a valuable lesson, so, I’m content with my current life….

I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but, will offer this to anyone who feels any sense of loss; my email is still listed in my profile. which can be found on the right side of my home page here on WP. Please feel free to contact me at that address, as email will be my primary focus any time I sit to do banking, or business, using the computer. Most of my time will be spent trying to get back to full conditioned status, so I don’t have to follow so many of the paradigms that go along with getting older; I much prefer to be able to do what I want to do, without having to take steps to prevent injury or fatigue….

That’s it. I’m outta here, after finishing the following Pearl, & I won’t be back for what promises to be quite some time, if ever…. Who knows, maybe y’all will hear from me in a different venue, playing music, or pursuing some form of entertainment in the Big Blue Room?…. In short, I’m off to find my bliss….

Or, if you wish to stay in touch, email me, & I will answer, just as I still answer the phone when it rings…. For now, let’s see what I managed to cobble together for your final Pearl of Virtual Wisdom…. That, by the way, looks like this….

Shall we Pearl?….

“It is impossible for a man to be cheated by anyone but himself.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

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Billy Joel

Image from wcmf.com via Google Images

I don’t think this artist needs much introduction; he’s been around long enough most everyone knows how good he is. My only comment is to enjoy; it really doesn’t get much better than this….

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Billy Joel Live

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Samurai

Bushido is this:
Haiku and a katana.
Arcane art, indeed.

~~ gigoid ~~

4/15/2018

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

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Naked Pearls

Further notes on Life @ Large….

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“Self-reflection is the school of wisdom.”

~~ Balthasar Gracian ~~

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“Joy is not in things; it is in us.”

~~ Richard Wagner ~~

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“The best and most beautiful things in the world
cannot be seen or even touched.
They must be felt within the heart.”

~~ Helen Keller ~~

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“A bird does not sing because it has an answer.
It sings because it has a song.”

~~ Chinese proverb ~~

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“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.”

~~ Lao Tzu ~~

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“Remember this,–that very little is needed to make a happy life.”

~~ Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, “Meditations”, vii, 67 ~~

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“You can’t always get what you want,
but if you try sometimes
you get what you need.”

~~ The Rolling Stones ~~

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There you have it. In truth, it came out well, & I’m happy enough to offer it up as the final Pearl…. for now. I can’t say how long until I might return, but, it’s going to be a good while…. When I do, I’ll try to let y’all know, but, don’t hold your breath. Just follow the same caveats I’ve been presenting for a long time, for I know them to be worthwhile…. Be well, be happy, and, most important, stay strange…. I love you all, and go now, to show that love out in the real world….

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….