Today, if I were posting, would mark the fourth day since last posting at all. I haven’t been around much, & actually spent one entire day without ever entering the online world. Though it’s been a good thing, overall, I do feel a bit of angst over not having gotten rid of a lot of mental dross that generally finds its way on screen, and, thankfully, out of my head. But, I still can’t seem to push out the poem that’s in there percolating, and don’t much feel like spouting off my usual blather. To let y’all know I am still alive & kicking, as well as to sublimate my need to write, here is a rather good Pearl from about a year and a half ago, with some good introspection, and a plethora of fine pearls. I hope you enjoy it, and, I hereby promise to make a strong effort to “go live” tomorrow. Until then, stay strange, and be well….
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”
~~ Anais Nin ~~
Beauty can be found even in ugliness…
Hajime…. I am empty of words. Those five you see in the previous sentence are the best beginning I could think to write, which goes to show just how empty I am at this moment. In spite of the unexpected sleep that I got, I’m tired, and grumpy, and just not in the mood. For anything.
Since there is nothing to say, I suppose I’ll go with the flow, and try to get a Pearl done without any sort of input from any sort of creative force. Talk about trusting the process…. Now we will see just how reliable the process has become, or, we’ll see an even greater mess than usual. The only fair way to judge it will be from the other end, so, we’ll go there…
Really, I did make an effort to finish the currently unfinished Pearl I’ve been composing, but, the BBR kept calling me back out of my chair. Then, when I tried again this morning, SB went all wonky on me… So, here is a rather fine really old-school Pearl from the early days here at ECR. It got some decent traffic, and a pile of good comments, so, it must be worth a read…. I’ll do my best to post fresh tomorrow; in the meantime, please enjoy today’s offering (well, re-offering, I suppose), and stay strange. It’s really your best hope….
Ffolkes,
SIGH….. I know…. one look at the big sigh, and you’re all, “So, what’s his problem?” Typical…. just kidding. No, the sigh was for real, actually. It was in reaction to a thought I often have at this moment, a thought that can determine the entire day’s direction. Of course, while I was typing, that thought went completely away, and now I’m stuck in the middle of this paragraph with no subject matter, which is about par for my course this early in the morning. How, you are asking, will he ever pull himself out of this one? Well, I’ll tell you, he has no frigging idea at this point. He’s trying hard not to panic, but I’m afraid his effort isn’t getting very far, because he’s about to FREAK OUT! Shit! Damn it! Now I’m pissed… hold on, be right back….
I still have a lot to accomplish out in the BBR today, so, here is a vintage Pearl for your perusal. It’s got some decent ranting, one of my better poems, and an interesting collection of comments. I’ll be back soon with a fresh offering, so, please keep checking back. I hope everyone in cyberspace is having a good holiday season, without too much of the capitalist frenzy taking its toll on your peace of mind. Be well, & happy as you may….
A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again.
~~ Alexander Pope — Essay on Criticism, Part ii, Line 15 ~~
Rural Serenity/Scenes from a Train
Good morning…. As the first greeting between people to mark the opening of conversation, I suppose ‘good morning’ is the most common for the same reason many of our human interactions have evolved over the centuries, to wit: it’s innocuous enough not to piss anybody off, first thing. In a culture created by a creature which has turned the act of killing into high art, such grease to the social wheel needs regular application. Say the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time (which fits just about any modern male in the morning, pre-coffee), one takes one’s life in one’s hands….
As is often the case lately, there’s no fresh Pearl ready, as I’ve been mucking about in Reality more than in Cyberspace. To sublimate the still-present urge to post, here is an oldish Pearl, from a bit over five years ago, when I was still ranting on a regular basis…. It got some good traffic for those days, & a bunch of fine pearls. In any case, it will do for now, while I get my seasonal shopping done for birthdays & society’s traditional capitalist frenzy for which the season exists…. Okay, I won’t be snarky any more…. today. Instead, I’ll just get on with posting this, & be back in a day or two with some fresh thoughts on our most common subject, i.e. Life @ Large…. Take care, ffolkes; be well, & happy as you may be…. I’m off again on walkabout….
Ffolkes,
Serendipity is perhaps my favorite word in English, as it is only applicable when something good happens. If one stops to consider, it is exactly the opposite concept of Murphy’s Law, and balances the work done by that most unwelcome of visitors, showing us the nuggets of gold hidden in the pile of crap that Murphy often leaves us with. As a bonus, the appearance of Serendipity always comes as a surprise, by definition….
So, you may ask, what prompted that? A moment of fright, as it turns out…. When I sat down to begin this morning, the following is the first thing that showed up in my quote database….
“Hi there! This is just a note from me, to you, to tell you, the person reading this note, that I can’t think up any more famous quotes, jokes, nor bizarre stories, so you may as well go home.”…
“The highest reward for a man’s toil is not what he gets for it,
but what he becomes by it.”
~~ John Ruskin ~~
Foggy Golden Gate….
Hajime…. Well, here I am, as I promised yesterday, even though doing so has proved problematic. I spent the entire day off doing BBR stuff, & didn’t find or make the time to complete this completely. Awkward as my phraseology may or may not be (I kinda like it), getting this posted has proved to be rather an extended effort, made more complex by the apparently empty head with which I awoke. The poem which has been percolating has gone awry, & I had to abandon it altogether, to allow myself time to find the thread that broke, & try to mend it enough to allow the poem to blossom. I know, that’s probably as unclear to y’all as it often is for me, but, ultimately, it doesn’t matter, ’cause it ain’t done. SIGH….
Rather than complain further about my own failings at maintaining any consistency (not necessarily always a good thing, as you may know), I’ll just use some executive-style decision making expertise, otherwise known as ruthless trimming. Most of the trimming, as is proper, shall be right here in the intro section, where I’ll forgo the blather, nonsense, and/or idiocy which is the standard faire, in favor of merely saying, let’s get this done, shall we? I’m thinking that is probably the most efficient way to accomplish our primary purpose, which is to get a fresh Pearl up on line while I can. Since, if I spend any more time trying to explain, or excuse myself, it will not only fall apart, but, look terrible doing so. Rather than allow any of that, I choose to do this….
Shall we Pearl?….
“We have two ears and one mouth
so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”
~~ Epictetus ~~
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Grace Davies
Image fram Twitter.com via Google Images
This year, for the first, and, no doubt, last time ever, I watched the entire 2017 season of th X-factor talent competition (on You Tube uploads, not on TV itself), from auditions to the final show. The young woman you see pictured above, a 20 year-old singer/songwriter from northern England, became one of the two finalists, while performing primarily original songs. She blew the audience and judges away, time after time, with the material she wrote, a feat nearly matched by the other finalists, a group of young modern rapper/singers in a four-man group, who also used original songs to make their way into the final. Popular voting by the more populous southern England brought their band, Rak-Su, the victory, which I found to be a clear indication of the caliber of public taste, preferring show over substance.
Snarky opinions aside, Ms. Davies ended as the runner-up, but, by producing eight original hit songs, made a name for herself in the industry, where I am certain she’ll continue to shine for years to come, as she has been writing songs for about six years, and has many more to offer the world. I enjoy her writing skills, which she pairs with a unique singing style, and a crystal clear voice with excellent range. Below, I’ve included the compilation of all her X-Factor performances this year, giving a good look at one of the future stars of the musical world at large. I hope you enjoy it. As for me, I have, and will continue to do so, though, I can promise, I won’t be following a TV show again…. The saccharine & obvious manipulation got pretty tiresome, saved only by good original musical talent…. Abondanza!….
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Grace Davies X Factor UK 2017 Journey
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Dreaming of Calliope
La belle dame sans merci speaks aloud through endless night,
torturing dreams, with powerful words and stentorian phrases.
Manifest visions bathed in unbearable grace and light,
destroying all direction, standing lost, in unfathomable mazes.
Fate plays a part, one that will never face denial,
as fear and courage eternally vie for ascendancy.
Conflict becomes valid, gifting strength in open trial,
but honest emotion wears no costume so fancy.
Blood, sweat, and tears stroll on avenues of gold,
unlikely heroines heralding as in ancient lore;
Sharp, competent knives cut through tales untold,
eternally shifting reality past the naked shore.
Drifting toward origin, bereft of mandate or cause,
finished, nay, abandoned, tied with a figurative bow.
No simple gift from muses to give comfort or pause,
save that all we need to know, we already know…..
~~ gigoid ~~
12/13/2012
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Naked Pearls
Points to ponder: being human….
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“I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.”
~~ Theodore Roethke ~~
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It is not the one with many possessions who is rich,
but the one who has no needs.”
~~ Philoxenos ~~
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“The true worth of a man
is not to be found in man himself,
but in the colours and textures
that come alive in others.”
~~ Albert Schweitzer ~~
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“The bright senses, sight & hearing,
make a world patent and ordered,
a world of reason, fragile but lucid.
The dark senses, smell & taste & touch,
create a world of felt wisdom,
without a plot, unarticulated, but certain.”
~~ Crowley ~~
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“There are those among us
who live in rooms of experience
that you and I can never enter.”
~~ John Steinbeck ~~
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“A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds.
A good deed is never lost;
he who sows courtesy reaps friendship,
and he who plants kindness gathers love.”
~~ Saint Basil ~~
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“This is the true joy in life –
being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one;
being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap;
being a force of nature
instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances,
complaining that the world will not devote itself
to making you consistent.”
~~ George Bernard Shaw ~~
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Well, finally, it’s done. I won’t promise to have another one soon, as the events currently on tap in the BBR portend the necessity to spend more time there than on my ass, typing. But, I can no more stop writing than I can stop breathing, so, I WILL return, not so very long from now. In the meantime, y’all continue practicing mindful weirdness and deliberate kindness. Do that, and, all will be well. See y’all soon enough, & thanks for stopping by….
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.
In truth, I do have 9/10 of a Pearl ready to post. However, events in the BBR have issued a compelling call to go walkabout, which I cannot ignore. The direct result, of course, is this re-blog from 2015, to let y’all know there will be a fresh Pearl tomorrow morning, early PST, if Reality maintains the current consistency long enough to permit it. That said, I really must go forth, and battle with those elements in society we all hate, but, must acknowledge. SIGH…. I guess it’s like Zippy said, & I related recently, to wit: “Civilization is fun! Anyway, it keeps me busy.”
Y’all be well, be safe, & be as happy as you may be…. I’m goin’ walkabout. See y’all tomorrow, rain, shine, or whatever….
Hajime…. Today, our opening line from Lazarus Long has more meaning than usual, as well as more than is immediately obvious upon first reading it. To understand Lazarus’ point, one must put in some heavy, yet subtle thought on the matter, before the light dawns….. Some see it right away, but, for those who do not, & may mistrust me on this, let me assure you, it isn’t talking just about garlic….
For us, today, it has more meaning because it fits in with the day I had yesterday… at least, up until writing this, of course. Who can say what may happen after? Not me, nor will I even attempt such foolishness. I AM old enough to know better; moreover, I’m old enough to listen when I tell myself that.
Honest, I AM working on a new Pearl. That is to say, I am, on rare occasions between adventures in the BBR, slowly putting together a freshly made Pearl for your perusal. For today, as a sop to my overdeveloped sense of misguided need to post enough to keep at least a few Gentle Readers on the roll, I am re-posting this fine old-school Pearl from mid-2013, prior to my long-dreamed-of trip to Europe. It’s a good example of the breadth & depths into which my mind delved during those dark days of opioid addiction, now past, thankfully. I hope you enjoy it, enough to come back again when I get a fresh Pearl up for viewing. Until then, it will have to do, to sublimate my urges, and, to soothe any warranted, or unwarranted, need on your part to read this nonsense…. I guess it’s better than a sharp stick to the eye, yes? Say yes, then I’ll leave you be….
See ya in a day or two….
gigoid, the dubious, still busy in the real world….
Ffolkes,
Weird…. the thoughts going through my head are quite simply, weird. Of course, this is not new, nor is it surprising; I’ll bet even you didn’t react much when I said it…. because, I’m sure, it has been previously established that weirdness, and this blog, are one and the same thing….. What this means, in terms of today’s intro, is that I’m once more stuck in my head, and can’t come up with anything to write about, other than the trouble I’m having thinking of something to write about…. It’s almost an endless loop, which, if I fall into it, will keep me stranded in literary limbo forevermore….. The question I have to ask myself at this point is, do I want to allow myself to fall into that loop, or keep on writing…. it’s a tough decision these days…..
“True dignity is never gained by place,
and never lost when honors are withdrawn.”
~~ Phillip Massinger ~~
Glory Street….
Hajime…. One might think, given my recent spate of absence here on WP, any Pearls I manage to post with fresh material would be, at the base, well-constructed, even witty, with some obvious thought put into the material included; so much for expectations, eh? Not only do I not feel that kind of confidence in what you’ll find today, I’m not sure I can come up with anything much more erudite that what you’ve already seen, which is, admittedly, not up to my usual standards, low as they are. But, I shall persist nonetheless, if only to rid myself of the nagging, dragging feeling of having not completed a chosen duty. Yes, I’m odd, or strange, or weird, take your pick…. but, so be it…..
With the caveat now out of the way, which does not excuse my lack of excellence, but, rather, seeks to mitigate its harshness, I can get on with the rest of the mess I’ve thrown together. It is, to say the least, not the finest collection of material I’ve posted, but, it falls far short of being the worst. In fact, for what it is, it’s not too shabby. Good music to listen to while reading, one of my older, better poems, and a fine collection of old-school pearls in the final section turned what might have been a train wreck into merely a bumpy ride. And, once again, I can, and will say, so be it. For now, it’s the best I can do without making myself any crazier than usual, and, as we are wont to say around here, all you can do is all you can do.
Now I’ve whined & dinned sufficiently for one day, I shall proceed to go post this mess, before I lose the nerve, and the will necessary to get it done. Both of those particular qualities have been sublimated of late, dealing with real human interaction issues out in the Big Blue Room. In fact, today, I’ll be testing my resolve, by going on an actual date, with a real person of the fairer sex. Terrified, I am, as it’s been at least a dozen years since I tried this with anyone but my son or daughter…. I can only hope I remember the proper protocols and interactive skills to keep from either looking or feeling like a fool…. Of course, as a Bozo of long standing, that may be a forlorn hope, but, we do what we can…. In any case, it promises to be an interesting day, hopefully not in the old sense implied by the Chinese curse….
So, with that outpouring of angst, and the hope to survive not only the day, but, the night, I’ll get on with what’s needed to get this done, & begin getting ready for another day of walkabout, followed by what I hope to be a pleasant evening in the company of a charming woman…. I can’t wait….
Shall we Pearl?….
“There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man.
The true nobility is in being superior to you previous self.”
~~ Samuel Johnson ~~
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Though I’ve had several days to decide, I still couldn’t find it in me to choose anything for today; hence this typical retreat into music I know will fit whatever agenda one may have. Some of the finest music ever written, played on acoustic guitar by the acknowledged master of the instrument, should fill the bill nicely. If you can’t find any of this you enjoy, your sense of music needs some refinement… I’m just sayin’…. In any case, I do hope you enjoy it…..
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Classical Guitar Music Andres Segovia
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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
Notes on Process & Program….
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“In a word, neither death, nor exile, nor pain, nor anything of this kind
is the real cause of our doing or not doing any action,
but our inward opinions and principles.”
~~ Epictetus — Discourses, Book i, Chap xi ~~
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“Fear is the lock and laughter the key to your heart.”
~~ Steven Stills ~~
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“An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine,
but because people refuse to see it.”
~~ James Michener, “Space” ~~
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“We turn not older with years, but newer every day.”
~~ Emily Dickinson ~~
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“But where shall I start?
The world is so fast, I shall start
with the country I know best, my own.
But my country is so very large,
I had better start with my town.
But my town, too, is large.
I had best start with my street.
No, my home.
No, my family.
Never mind, I shall start with myself.”
~~ Elie Wiesel ~~
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“It was when I found out I could make mistakes
that I knew I was on to something.”
~~ Ornette Coleman ~~
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“Yield to Temptation … it may not pass your way again.”
~~ Lazarus Long, from Robert A. Heinlein’s “Time Enough For Love” ~~
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Having completed all the required elements, I can, thankfully, declare this a finished product, such as it is. I’ll be back, possibly in the near future, to try this again. As we have seen, things don’t always work out just the way we plan them, but, I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t think I could do it. So, keep a weather eye out for that in the next few days. I can promise I will do my best to make it worth reading, as is, I hope, always the case. In any case, that’s all I’ve got for today, so, I will bid thee adieu, with the hope you remain well, and happy as you may be. Me, I’m gonna stay strange, as it’s what I do best…. 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.
This morning, I actually got up a bit late, having indulged in excess of eight hours sleep. Such events are a rarity for me these days; even with my improved ability to get to sleep, staying there isn’t usually in the picture. So, thinking I’d do a bit of writing, I sat to begin, whereupon I found nothing but a blank mind, filled with little worth noting other than its very blankness…. SIGH…. Go figure, eh? Murphy is subtle, and experienced, is he not?…. Since I’m here, I’m reblogging a pretty good Pearl from a couple years ago, during my days of opioid withdrawal. I liked it, but, it didn’t get much traffic, so, I’m giving it another chance.
Honest, I am working on a fresh Pearl, which I’ll post as soon as I’ve finished the book review I promised a friend….In the meantime, y’all be well, and happy as you may…. I’m doing all I can do to be the same, & as we know, all you can do is all you can do…. See ya soon, ffolkes….
“Every man is guilty of all the good he didn’t do.”
~~ Voltaire ~~
Super Black Hole eating stars….
Hubble Deep Space Telescope Image
Good morning…. I’m beginning to enjoy the intro section, now I have the option to make it as short or long as I choose…. Today, we’re going with short…. I suppose you could call this minimalist, something you don’t often see around these parts….
Shall we Pearl?
“To a reasonable creature, that alone is insupportable which is unreasonable; but everything reasonable may be supported.” — Epictetus (c. 60 AD) — Discourses, Book i, Chap. ii
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Image from heyreverb.com via Google Images
Continuing our theme of bands from the early days of rock and roll, here is an American band, whose music is familiar to probably about a third of the world’s population, having heard it played ubiquitously, in numerous incarnations, (live, radio, TV, Muzak…
The urge to blog is strong in this one… Sort of. It’s still there, anyway. To sublimate that urge, here is a rather good early example of the ramblings of my mind during a period of my life filled with physical pain, before the healing properties of cannabis had been revealed to me. All in all, that guy seems now to have been laboring mightily, but, without much hope of change on a personal level. I suppose that goes to prove what I’ve always said, i.e., the value of the journey lies in the journey itself, not necessarily, or even likely, the destination…. I hope you enjoy it, & I’ll be back with some fresh nonsense in a day or two…. Be well, & happy as you may be….
Ffolkes,
I surrender….. My email wins, or rather the WP email ‘bots win. I got busy yesterday running errands for real life, and couldn’t get to all the email that came in. So, I figured I’d get up early and knock it down this morning, from the 150 that I left in there last night when I crashed. This morning there are 268 in my Inbox….. and by the time I finish this Pearl, that will no doubt grow to an even 300…..
I can’t keep up. There are at least two bloggers that are publishing about 30 times a day each, one with pictures I have no interest in seeing (in addition, he will often post the same article or pictures four or five times in a row, within minutes of each other), and one with re-blogs of just about every blog they visit. Then at least one a…
Beauty can be found even in ugliness…
Leelu, platting her next move….
gigoid 