Tag Archives: Subtle Bee

Logical Technicolor dreams

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Ffolkes,

“I’m going to happydance among the stars and wear my stripes anyway I want to.”

~~ Stripes the tiger ~~

I spy...

I spy a spider!….

Hajime…. It’s been, literally, months since I last experienced such an uncomfortable night’s sleep. Hip, leg, & back pain got me up 3 times during the endless night, soothed only by immersion in hot water. While making it tolerable, such treatment has no lasting effect on the condition, so I decided to finish the current Pearl in the works, & get it posted while I’m forced to remain non-ambulatory by the pain. SIGH…. Ah, well, I can tolerate one night’s lack of slumber; I just hope I can settle it down enough to get my exercise in today….

To create the impression I’m efficient, and actually know what I’m about, I’m going to forgo any further attempts to rationalize my inefficiency, or my recent absence here in cyberspace. Instead, we’ll just get on with it, & do whatever it takes to get this slow on the toad. Whatever THAT means…. I’ll even go so far as to not pretend I’m employing any of our infamous tricks to get us down the page, but, rather, merely say….

Shall we Pearl?….

“A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care
that balances are correct.”

~~ from “Manual of Maud’Dib” by the Princess Irulan ~~

~~ from “Dune” by Frank Herbert ~~

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About Hopi Indian Symbols

The image used for this section today is, as many of y’all may know, Kokopelli, the Hopi/Navaho trickster. It is NOT a picture of today’s guest artist, a magic dragon, because, apparently, images of magic dragons cause Windows to freak out. Don’t worry, you’ll get to see him, in action, in the embedded video of his performances as a runner-up finalist in America’s Got Talent in 2015. You can find him via Google, where there are links to his website. Frankly, he’s funny as hell, and a pretty good magician, too…. Enjoy!….

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Piff The Magic Dragon

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Comedy_Tragedy

Denial of Comfort

Baleful chairs become the enemy, heralded in red
seemingly welcome softness beckons with a smile,
waiting, content with slaughter, they are finally led
screaming in agony, deluged in venom all the while.

Desperate distraction becomes such a friendless fire
for all the patterns of autumn’s pale dismay,
leaving sincerely latent trails in spirals of twisted wire,
while memory insists, again, upon failure, palpably evil, and fey.

Fat, jaded tears would have fallen in good time,
if only the suitable suitor had scaled the garden’s wall.
Credence for discounted prices luckily in their prime
bring only fascinated eyes into such a hallowed hall.

Searching for answers is ever a clever portrayal
with studious accouterments to fulfill each common rule.
Arguably patient pictures of science and honest betrayal
shall evermore languish, in light of passion so elegantly cruel.

~~ gigoid ~~

9/19/2012

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Hmmm….

*******

“Still round the corner there may wait,
A new road or a secret gate.”

~~ J. R. R. Tolkien ~~

*******

“Why are we here?
Because we are here.
Roll the bones.”

~~ Rush, “Roll The Bones” ~~

*******

“If you want to know all about the sea,
you go and ask a sailor, or a marine biologist, or an oceanographer,
and they can tell you a lot about the sea.
But if you go and ask the sea itself, what does it say?
Grumble, grumble, swish swish.
It is too busy being itself
to know anything about itself.”

~~ Ursula K. LeGuin ~~

*******

“The light is reached not by turning back from the darkness,
but by going through it.”

~~ Leonard Roy Frank ~~

*******

“Cat advice: Take some time to eat the flowers.”

~~ Subtle Bee ~~

*******

“The secret of a good sex life is to have a good sex life….
In other  words, kid, don’t let yer meat loaf.”

~~ R. Crumb ~~

*******

“If I don’t meet you no more in this world
Then I’ll see you in the next one.
Don’t be late”

~~ Jimi Hendrix ~~

*******

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Hmm…. not bad for what it is, I’d say. But, then, I’d say that no matter how it turned out; professional responsibility, y’know? Besides, such a throw-away comment isn’t altogether out of place, since we’re here at the end, where it can’t cause any further harm. Or, for that matter, any further interest. I suppose they can’t all be brilliant. ‘Twould be nice to see, though, if only once. SIGH…. Never mind, no need to get all maudlin at this stage. Let’s just issue the usual caveats, & be done with it, shall we? Be well, mes amis, be happy as you may be, and non carborundum illegitimi (never let the bastards get you down….)! 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.

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Featured Image -- 15450

À bientôt, mon cherí….



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Searching for sufficiency….

			
						

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Ffolkes,


“You cannot conquer a free man, the most you can do is kill him.”


~~ Robert Heinlein ~~


fiery sunset


Sonoma County Sunset On Fire….


Hajime…. R.D. Laing, a Scottish psychiatrist who wrote extensively on the experience of psychosis,  once said, “Insanity — a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world.” Considering my own experiences in living in today’s world, I can but agree, wholeheartedly. In fact, my recent extensive forays into the world at large have been little else than a continuing series of solid evidence supporting this idea. It also has been verification of my own decision to embrace and enjoy my own reaction to most of what occurs in my presence… In short, I no longer suffer from my tendencies to retreat into unreality; instead, I have embraced it, and learned to appreciate the irony that punctuates every insane act I see around me, as well as those I commit myself….


Oh, fear not, gentle reader; I haven’t gone completely off the rails; it only LOOKS that way. Mostly, I am using the unique perspective I find to be so useful for mitigating the angst that would otherwise build up to the point of explosion, leaking it out, instead, in tiny bursts of laughter (which, admittedly, can startle the natives, confusing them unmercifully….) and random acts of kindness and generosity, which few understand, but make me impervious to the ill effects of self-denigration. If that’s unclear, well, so be it. I find myself less concerned with what others think of me than has long been the case, and the sense of liberation is exquisite….


I suppose this is all a long-winded attempt to explain some of my absence, but, in looking back over what I’ve written thus far, I see it falls short of clarity. Since we’re already three paragraphs into this intro, it might be prudent to cease attempting to explain, or, even worse, justify my recent lack of production, & get on with what we have for today’s mess, if only to save a bit of time. Of course, saving time is merely another of our illusions; time is what we use to keep track of all that stuff that isn’t happening NOW, & cannot really be ‘saved’, or ‘lost’; those are merely distinctions important only to our human egos…. In truth, time just is; we only have a view of the present, with the past as immutable, and the future unborn. No wonder we’re confused.


Therefore, let us make an honest attempt to reduce our confusion, if only for a short time, by, moving on to the rest of today’s little mess, where you’ll find, if naught else, something different than this display of ill-conceived verbiage. Hell, you might even find something you enjoy; hope always springs eternal, even for those of us who have lost all hope. Well, lost all faith in hope, anyway, as happens with any failure of imagination. On that esoteric, if depressing, note, let us find our way down the page….


Shall we Pearl?….


“You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.”


~~ Subtle Bee ~~


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dubliners


The Lads from Dublin, 40 years later….


At some point in your life, you’ve heard these lads play their music, which they’ve been making together since the middle of the last century. Whether one is a fan of Irish/Celtic music, or not, watching one of their shows is an education in both Irish culture, and musicianship. I’ve been listening to them for almost my entire life, and still find their music to be a source of joy…. I hope you do as well…. Drink Life, and, slainté!….


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The Dubliners

 40th Year Reunion Concert


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Comedy_Tragedy


The new poem upon which I’ve been laboring is still not done; it’s dribbling more than actually leaking. To sublimate, here is a poem I wrote about 5.5 years ago, one of the first I wrote after a 40 year hiatus. I like it, and I hope you do, as well….


A Failure to Germinate


Marking the days in elements of sad disarray

only holds me thrall, as I laugh while I may.

With cold, hard hands so impatient and cruel

pulling me to this vale of tears, a pathetic old fool.


Feelings sit silent, cast in shadows and light

breaking forth to implicate such vengeful might.

Just below the surface they patiently hide

to sally forth bravely, colors bright as they ride.


Tears and pain transform valued assets in hand

while comfort and serenity retreat to a far land.

Bold, bright patterns of hope garnish my ruinous state

until reality enters, full of disdainful portions of hate.


I sort out the illustrious measures of vision gone mild

only to find them transformed, now vicious and wild.

In my deepest desires I find myself calloused and cold

with faithless advocates whose souls have been sold.


My search finds little to support any hope of relief

far too much time has passed to bolster such belief.

The sad becomes real, and real becomes unfounded

until flights of such fancy are all dead, and grounded.


Nature has informed me of the newly hatched crime

of which reality boasted proudly, time after time.

The last answer we think of is always the best

as we come to terms with fate, our hope at rest.


~~ gigoid ~~


9/27/2012


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pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Did you know….?


*******


“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”


~~ Aristotle ~~


*******


“A man should be greater than some of his parts.”


~~ Subtle Bee ~~


*******


“When mind soars in pursuit of the things conceived in space,

it pursues emptiness.

But when the man dives deep within himself,

he experiences the fullness of existence.”


~~ Meher Baba ~~


*******


“Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain.”


~~ Mark Twain~~


*******


“How would you know you are alive, unless you had once been dead?”


~~ Subtle Bee, (with thanks to Carl Jung…) ~~


*******


“Who is more foolish:

the child afraid of the dark or

the man afraid of the light?”


~~ Maurice Treehill ~~


*******


“Great is the art of beginning, but greater the art of ending…”


~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~


*******


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I hope y’all will take note of the final pearl in the last section, which was placed there simply because of the appropriate nature of its message, in re: today’s offering. I find it both ironic, and satisfyingly smarmy. Y’all, of course, may make your own decisions; we are nothing if not tolerant in the face of absurdity. Since we have now used the one word most applicable to this entire process (from at least two perspectives….), I shall bid thee adieu, until I can manage to cobble together another fresh Pearl for your pleasure. Be well, be happy as you may, and, be just as strange as you can stand…. I guarantee, I will….


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


dozer3


À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Frivolous avocados wearing spats….

			
						

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Ffolkes,


“It is never too late to give up your prejudices.”


~~ Henry David Thoreau, Walden ~~


deigning to pose


Condescending to pose….


Hajime…. As a general rule, I would say the vast majority of humankind does not spend a lot of time in introspection; for the most part, when they do, they find it so uncomfortable, they find excuses to avoid such self-examination. This reaction to the need to understand ‘self’ is, in my opinion, part of the root cause of all the issues we find in today’s society that cause human suffering, for, ignorance, whether of self, or of the rest of creation, always leads us into difficulty with reality; the universe cares not a whit whether we make the attempt to grow, or choose to follow a shorter, less serene path to the inevitable death which awaits us all.


In recent days, as I walk about in the world, I find myself also walking the inner path to self-examination, for, when you walk in the world, not only does the world get bigger, but, our entry to the inner world expands, beckoning us to follow to a better understanding of ourselves; even time slows down, along with the speed of our steps, the more we learn to be ‘in the moment’, wherever we are.


One of the ideas which passed into my awareness was this: our Ego forms preferences in life according to our emotional reaction to what occurs. Those experiences which make us feel ‘good’, in my opinion, seem to be those which bring us closer to the connection we always have to the Source, to the knowledge of reality which is our heritage, and our legacy as a form of Life. ‘Bad’ experiences are those which cause us to lose the connection, and, along with it, the feeling of being in the place we belong, of being safe. The events of the real world, of having to deal with others whose ‘preferences’ are different than our own, distracts us from any time for self-examination, so, we react according to our own preferences, without any understanding of why our positions are different, or how we even came to have them. This ignorance puts us at a disadvantage, for we are reacting to the world, rather than interacting with it.


Hmm…. I see I’ve gotten rather deep into a discussion which ultimately leads us into areas of thought which can be, not just uncomfortable, but, actively disturbing. In my experience, such discussions often lead to strong reactions, for everyone has their own ideas about what is real, and what is important; seldom do humans come to an agreement over reality without first encountering conflict, all the result of our Ego-driven emotional response to Life, and our own lack of understanding of our own nature. Since we are still in the intro section, I am hesitant to take this any further; it is a subject which lends itself to long dissertation, to be sure. As well, since I really didn’t plan to begin with such an esoteric subject, I am not sure where I need to go with it. So, we’ll do the most human thing, and just quit.


Not to say we’re quitters, or that I make a habit of such cowardly mien; I just don’t think I’m awake enough to take it where it should go. Moreover, at this juncture, I don’t even KNOW where it should go, so, we’ll just go with getting today’s mess posted, and try not to think about the loss of potential understanding. I mean, it’s not like history is full of grand examples of mankind’s rationality; history is more a list of mankind’s failings of virtue than a list of ethical victories. But, in any case, I do have a Pearl, which I promised to get posted this morning, & if I don’t get started on that, it could get put off again, which would give me guilty fits for days. Wouldn’t want that, so, let’s go on, & continue this train of thought another time. In short….


Shall we Pearl?….


“I think too much or not at all.”


~~ Isaac Asimov ~~


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muddy-waters


Muddy Waters


For anyone who likes the blues, no introduction is necessary for this man. For anyone else, I will merely say, listen, and enjoy….


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Muddy Waters

 Live in Dortmund, Germany

 10/29/1976






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Comedy_Tragedy


A dream, weeping….


“Never a dull moment to spare”, he said

with a crooked grin, and a broad wink.

“Can’t keep Reality hanging by a thread….

what would Chaos, or Entropy think?”


So, we plucked up our dreams of old,

to carry us on, in dutiful, strong arms,

stuffed a candle in the remaining fold,

for luck, and perfect proof against charms.


Storms follow the sun,  but, never stay;

lessons round every corner, all free.

Past fleeting doubts, in a sad disarray,

the journey becomes the reason to be.


Simple kindness manifests untold riches,

in defiance of common cause’s demise.

Bold courage, hanging in stitches,

mends wounds that come as no surprise.


Still, waters run deep, ’tis said by many.

Too much pain cannot apprehend

the salient, sharp points of epiphany,

nor, plainly, to wisdom aspire to pretend.


Folly dogs even the simplest truth,

fumes of toxic ignorance and bile,

alienated as a loose rotten tooth;

it often hides itself, for a long while.


Sought after eons ago, we cried out,

to believe, to suffer no more doubt.

But found instead good reason,

for love, and truth, from season, to season.


~~ gigoid ~~


— 8/30/2014 —


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pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Randomly Subtle….


*******


“There are those among us

who live in rooms of experience

that you and I can never enter.”


~~ John Steinbeck


*******


“If there is a sin against life,

it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life

as in hoping for another life and in

eluding the implacable grandeur of this life.”


~~ Albert Camus ~~


*******


“And the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.”


~~ Erica Jong ~~


*******


“Counting time is not so important as making time count.”


~~ Subtle Bee ~~


*******


“Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow but a vision.

But Today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,

and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore to this Day.”


~~ Sanskrit proverb ~~


*******


“Things ain’t what they used to be and never were.”


~~ Will Rogers ~~


*******


“Is that funny?   Is that a joke?”


~~ Data ~~


*******


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In the eternally appropriate words of Hassan the Moor, from the movie “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”, I have fulfilled my vow. In some ways, it’s an iconic Pearl, with something for everyone, I would say. But, then, I’ve been known to say some pretty outrageous stuff over the years, and this could be merely another example of that. Who am I to say? For the nonce, it will suffice. I’ll be back in a day or two; not long, for reality is keeping me home more for a few days, under compulsion not worth explanation. Simply stated, I’ll be back, probably sooner than later. Y’all be well, remember to be happy as you may be, and, for goodness’ sake, be strange…. 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.


gigoid, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch


Featured Image -- 15397


À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Watching the parade with eyes closed….

			
						

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Ffolkes,


“They who dream by day are cognizant of many things

which escape those who dream only by night.


~~ Edgar Allan Poe, “Eleonora” ~~


penguin attitude


Penguin with an attitude….


Hajime…. Sometimes, it’s strange, these days, to sit down to write, & fall prey to the same blankness and trepidation that were commonly the case when I was working hard to post every day. But, there it is; my mind is as blank as the screen upon which I am trying to fill up. I’m sure there are any number of explanations which might clarify the conundrum, but, it would be both indulgent, and wasteful of time, to try to get into that at this point. Instead, I’ll pretend no such conundrum exists, which allows me to ignore the entire issue without angst, or even guilt. Go figure, eh? Who’d a thunk mere denial would be so bloody useful?


However, having now thunk it, I guess I should take advantage of the space it creates to get back into this intro, which, as is clear, is already suffering from a lack of direction, if not completely lacking in proper intent. As we know, good intentions often fail the test of reality. Well, I know; if you don’t, by now, I don’t think my telling you again will make much difference; that’s one of those lessons Life only allows us to answer by ourselves, once we have encountered the evidence enough times for it to sink into our rather thick brain-pans. Whether we subsequently use the knowledge to our advantage is yet another of those sticky questions, the answer to which is often even stickier…. SIGH…. Life can be so hard….


Having thus set the tone for today, let us forgo further blather, & go on to see what I’ve managed to cobble together for your perusal. I can’t say it’s the best Pearl ever, but, it’s done, and, as is very often the case, that’s all I need to overcome any reluctance to post it. Don’t ask why, or we’ll never get out of here. Just accept it, as one must often do in Life, regardless of how we may feel about it, or, what we may have to do to get past the conflicts such mental gymnastics may offer as a result. In short, that’s the way it is, so, deal with it. I have to, so, the rest of y’all will just have to play along….


I’ll make that a bit easier, like this. Watch close, and hang on; it can get a bit bumpy….


Shall we Pearl?….


“It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants.

The question is:  what are we busy about?”


~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~


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jim croce


Jim Croce


Image from YouTube via Google Images


This artist is one who died young, but, not before making a name for himself by releasing a series of hit records during the late sixties and seventies, almost all of which you will hear today, should you choose to listen. I often forget him, for a long period of time, only to rediscover his work time and again, each time with more bemusement, for, each time, I wonder why I forget. His music is fun, light-hearted (for the most part), and perfectly pertinent to everyone’s life and experience, for he sings of times, feelings, and events which are common to all. I hope you enjoy it as much as I always do, when I find him again…. Abondanza!….


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Jim Croce

 Greatest Hits






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Comedy_Tragedy


Savory


Blown across steppes of imagination, a spore

finds a niche, takes root,

tries to live longer than now, before

chaos/peace descends, and desire is moot.


Feathered into fecundity, another possibility

builds a nest, hatches kin,

aims at immortality, sans responsibility,

chance manifests, as it does, again.


Leading toward peril, entropy saves creativity,

making tools, and lazy time;

solid signs imply such simple nativity,

as another snitch drops his dime.


Subtle compassion billows, passion to unfold,

covering hearts bloodied by time,

burning flesh made valid, unwaveringly bold,

turning love to brilliant rhyme.


Years weigh lightly, supported by youth,

gaining weight with each year,

only the old men know the actual truth,

peace comes only when we lose our fear.


~~ gigoid ~~


4/9/2013


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pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Properly bozoid behavior….


*******


“Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life.”


~~ Burton Hills ~~


*******


“Everybody’s gotta be someplace.”


~~ Subtle Bee ~~


*******


“When you drink the water, remember the spring.”


~~ Chinese Proverb ~~


*******


“Not loving is but a long dying.”


~~ Wu Ti ~~


*******


“If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.”


~~ Jimmy Buffet ~~


*******


“Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of man,

–yesterday in embryo,to-morrow a mummy or ashes.

So for the hair’s-breadth of time assigned to thee

live rationally, and part with life cheerfully,

as drops the ripe olive,

extolling the season that bore it

and the tree that matured it.”


~~ Marcus Aurelius Antoninus — Meditations, iv, 48 ~~


*******


“As God is my witness – I am that fool!”


~~ Gomez Addams ~~


*******


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For what it’s worth, it’s not bad. I’d say it’s standard, if not iconic, and, given my current mental status, that is more than acceptable. Moreover, it has the added charm of being done, our most critical requirement. Since further blather can’t enhance its flavor, I’ll take the bull by the horns, & finish it off with a bang. BANG!…. See ya, ffolkes, possibly sooner than later…..


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


Featured Image -- 15383


À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
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Ffolkes,


“The great tragedy of life is not that men perish,

but that they cease to love.”


~~ W. Somerset Maugham ~~


Alaska Grand Adventure 081


Whale watch in Glacier Bay, near Hoonah….


Hajime…. On walkabout, even when attempting to remain in the moment, mindful of all that one is walking through, one naturally becomes somewhat introspective. Since I’ve been walkabout a LOT recently, this means I’ve spent a lot of time in my own head. This isn’t necessarily a good or bad thing, nor would I wish to label it as either. I regard such episodic occurrences as part of my persona, having spent more time in my head, or, in my own company, than is so for many people for all my days here on this old ball o’mud. It’s just what I do as a default, which makes me a bit odd, but, it’s okay; I’m quite comfortable with oddness.


Having spent so much time inside lately has led to some rather deep thoughts, not all of which I’m ready to discuss here. Not that it wouldn’t make for a fine discussion; I’m just not certain, as yet, I have brought it all to a ‘discussable’ state…. (I know, that’s not a word; spellchecker went nuts over it… but, it fits, so, get over it, okay?….) When I do, I will share it, as it seems to all be pretty well universal in its application for us humans. A rather sweeping claim, I realize, but, let’s just accept it as a given, & look forward to that discussion with some anticipatory glee, if only for the opportunity to make fun of my thoughts…. Of course, that will be the case only if I’ve managed to muddle it up; if it comes out right, I think y’all will be quite happy with it. I know I will…


With that ringing endorsement (well, perhaps not a loud ringing….), let us get on with the rest of the mess I’ve managed to cobble together for today. There’s good music, a decent recent poem (from last year), and a collection of fine, if odd, pearls for your perusal…. Rather than belabor any of today’s points, let’s just get on with it, lickety-split…. which looks like this….


Shall we Pearl?….


“What kind of conflict do you like?

Where will you jump in and fight the good fight —

body, heart, mind or spirit?


If you say you don’t like conflict at all,

then you have stopped growing,

because it is only through engaging differences

to find common ground or to triumph

that we become new and invigorated.


Pick your battles,

but always have some place you embrace conflict.”


~~ Callan Williams ~~


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young_dubliners


Young Dubliners


It’s been so long since I played, or listened to, this band, I found an entire album I hadn’t heard yet, so, this will be a treat for me as well as y’all. I hope it’s as good as their previous work; if so, it’s grand craic…. Enjoy!….


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Young Dubliners

 With All Due Respect






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Comedy_Tragedy


Obscure Empathy


Twisting the tail of reality, again, unrepentant,

as a pale moon rises in the west, unnoticed.

Sensing imminence, evicting the remaining tenant;

dispensing false empathy, well-practiced.


Metaphor becomes allegory, critically sane,

as humanity wells up, conflicted, bedeviling time;

experience assumes an old cut, with virgin pain,

a solitary ambient poet dies, in shame, sans rhyme.


Patterns form inside an intricate space, forlorn,

abiding, with reluctant patience, only to learn

of dispassion’s inelegant cost, basely shopworn;

forgotten verses, delicately done to a turn.


Previously spoken standards shall not apply;

forsworn, soaked in cruel imagination,

questing egos neglect to ask, why?

Purely natural law demands speculation.


Twice-told tales assume mythical profundity

casting shadows into night’s bower.

Artful, enticing, a lure for serendipity

passing time in a lonely tower.


~~ gigoid ~~


4/4/2017


***************************************


pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Random Notes on Life @ Large….


*******


“I travel with the wind & listen to it’s voices.”


~~ Dan Sakers, “A Voice in Every Wind” ~~


*******


“Childhood ends, the moment you know you’re going to die.”


~~ The Crow ~~


*******


“Anyone who has begun to think places some portion of the world in jeopardy.”


~~ John Dewey ~~


*******


“In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.”


~~ Subtle Bee ~~


*******


“What use is magic if it can’t save a unicorn?”


~~ Peter S. Beagle, “The Last Unicorn” ~~


*******


“Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing,

of just going along,

listening to all the things you can’t hear,

and not bothering.”


~~ Pooh’s Little Instruction Book, inspired by A. A. Milne ~~


*******


“It’s so clean.

It’s certainly uncontaminated by cheese.”


~~ Monty Python, The Cheese Shop Sketch ~~


*******


***************************************


Well, it’s done, and, thank goodness. It’s a bit late going up, but, it’s here, and complete, so, I’m letting it fly. I’m already working on another fresh entry for a day or two down the line, so, I hope y’all will come back & join me in my “reeling, writhing, & fainting in coils”…. I also hope you enjoyed today’s rather esoteric mess; sometimes, it’s best not to question much, but, take it all in without worrying about the final result. With my stuff, that’s probably the best bet to get through it with sanity intact. Well, intact as it ever gets around here. I’ll be back in a short while; in the meantime, y’all be well, and happy as you may be…. 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.


gigoid, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch


dozer3


À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Syncopation is oddly soothing….

			
						

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Ffolkes,


“To love someone deeply gives you strength.

Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.”


~~ Lao Tzu ~~


electric eye leelu


Focused meditation….


Hajime…. Since retiring from work, I have discovered the part of living in contact with much of the world I miss the least, & that is, quite simply, drama. The emotional turmoil in which much of the world seems to spend the majority of its time seems to me a complete waste of what little time we have here in this plane of existence, and I cannot understand why most people keep on walking on a path strewn with pain, and suffering caused by emotions, which are, after all, transient, by their nature. Because we are invested so heavily in EGO, we seem to find our own inner world, with its chaotic feelings, to be the way of the world, and our disappointment is intense when it proves not to be so.


All that, by the way, is the result of drama intruding upon my life, caused, as is generally the case, by others who are merely peripherally connected to me, by their connection to those I love. Without going into detail, I have to say, it’s more intense than I enjoy, and has no purpose beyond the fear felt by a narcissist, who then, according to their neurotic nature, pass their own fear and anger to everyone around them. These others are those to whom I am connected, so, some of the emotional chaos ends up at my door. Thankfully, I don’t have to engage in it, nor do I; it’s just hard to see those I love having no choice but to deal with it in all its intense, ‘in the moment’ importance, thus making their own journey through life more uncomfortable….


All has receded enough for me to finish this post, though not with the light-hearted humor with which I intended to start off. So, I’ll forgo trying to inject anything of that nature, as it would, no doubt, fall flatter on its face than a flounder, which is pretty flat. Instead, I’ll just mention how well I’ve coped with it, all in all, and get on with the process of posting. I didn’t manage to leak out the new poem yet; it’s blocked, somehow, by the presence of drama, at least until it’s all assimilated and processed into metaphor. But, I’ve included some most excellent music, a damn good older poem, and, a set of old-school pearls with which I am quite pleased. Good shit, as they say….


So, let’s go see what there is to see, eh? It can’t be any less thrilling than this has been, right? Right. We’re off now, so, hang on….


Shall we Pearl?….


“Everything in life is unusual until you get accustomed to it.”


~~ L. Frank Baum, “The Marvelous Land of Oz” ~~


***************************************


NinaSimone


Nina Simone, 1933 ~ 2003


Image from kcur.org via Google Images


There is a lot I could say about this artist, but, it would all be superfluous to the experience of just listening to her sing. To show respect for that, I’ll let y’all do just that, without any further words from me, except to say, enjoy….


***************************************


Nina Simone


***************************************




***************************************


***************************************


Comedy_Tragedy


Blue chameleon


It’s hot today, with chances of pain & rain.

So it says on the news.

Guess there’s nothing to do again

unless it’s sing the blues.


The blues are gettin’ old, though.

So I say, & I should know.

I been singin’ the bloody songs, y’know?

For what seems a long row to hoe.


S’pose it could get better someday.

I’ve heard that tune before.

Always seemed out of tune anyway;

I ain’t waitin’ any more.


Bang those drums & kick the cans.

May as well raise some hell.

Clang together some old pots & pans;

It hides the little voices so well.


Never worry, don’t you fear at all.

We’ve got certificates of note.

Bureaucratic protections, officially small.

Non carborundum illegitimi, he wrote.


Time, and circumstance, wrote me today.

It came in the daily mail from home.

It said I shouldn’t write unless I say

you’ll be charged for the distance you roam.


~~ gigoid ~~


5/28/2016


***************************************


pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Notes on Life @ Large….


*******


“Do you want to be a power in the world?

Then be yourself.”


~~ Ralph Waldo Trine ~~


*******


“If life seems jolly rotten,

there’s something you’ve forgotten,

and that’s  to laugh and dance and jump and sing.”


~~ Monty Python ~~


*******


“Live dangerously and you live right.”


~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Faust” ~~


*******


“If you haven’t found something strange during the day,

it hasn’t been much of a day.”


~~ John Wheeler ~~


*******


“Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge

and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you,

you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.”


~~- Pooh’s Little Instruction Book, inspired by A. A. Milne ~~


*******


“If you’re going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance.”


~~ Subtle Bee ~~


*******


“Great is the art of beginning, but greater the art of ending…”


~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~


*******


***************************************


Though I can’t lay claim to any recent displays of brilliance, I am pleased with the last few ending pearls, for their completely apropos nature to what has gone before. In this case, Henry has it right, so, we’ll take his advice, and pursue our art as a properly brief ending. I’ll see y’all, or y’all will see me, soon enough, though how long it may be I cannot say at this time. Until I return, please be well, be happy as you may, and remember to utilize the one greatest characteristic nature allows us, to wit, be as strange as you can be. You may be sure, I shall. 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.


gigoid, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch


Featured Image -- 15300


À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
From most to least, & back again….

			
						

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Ffolkes,


“Human beings are perhaps never more frightening

than when they are convinced beyond doubt that they are right.”


~~ Laurens Van der Post, The Lost World of the Kalahari (1958) ~~


cali fall colors


California’s moderate response to Autumn…


Hajime…. More than a mere modicum of recent data indicates I’ve lost the will to blog; in fact, the pile of evidence is mounting quite high. I spend more time away from cyberspace than has been the case for several years, yet suffer very little from the usual angst & sense of failure of duty I’ve been accustomed to experience since mid-2011, when I first retired from the maintenance of gainful employment. But, I did say I’d post today, so, in spite of having no fresh poem yet, (it’s stalled a bit…), I’ve cobbled together all the basic elements, & will now undertake to format & post it, before I am once again called to go walkabout for the day….


If I feel any guilt at all, it is for not visiting the blogs I’ve followed for so long, to enjoy the dialogue that goes with such visits. But, even that small guilt isn’t enough to drown out the call of the wild, a call I seem to hear more clearly each day. It seems the longer I spend ‘off grid’, so to speak, the better I seem to feel, and, in turn, the more clearly I seem to be able to think. I can’t say if it will last, or, if so, how long, but, I also can’t seem to work up any reason to alter the current path I am on. So be it.


For today, this means some moderately ruthless trimming, in the area it will most help, to wit: my standard course of blather, with which I tend to fill up the empty space here at the top of the page, in the hope nobody will notice any particular vacuity in what follows. Without even knowing whether such an assumption is verified by the reality of the process, I choose to go on, regardless, just as if I knew exactly what consequences may follow. In fact, if I can increase the degree of ambiguity one encounters herein, I will know, if nothing else, I am emulating the real world, as far as I understand it to be…..


On that obscure note, I shall proceed to fire up the old neurons sufficiently to go post this mess, & be done with it for the morning, at least. Hopefully, y’all will find a nugget or two you can take away, & use to enhance your daily bout with the vagaries of life. If not, well, I will have done all I can do, and as we know, that’s all I can do…. Enjoy, ffolkes….


Shall we Pearl?….


“Human beings, who are almost unique

in having the ability to learn from the  experience of others,

are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to  do so.”


~~ Douglas Adams, “Last Chance to See” ~~


***************************************


royalty-free-clip-art-vector-logos-of-black-and-orange-floral-acoustic-guitars-by-seamartini-graphics-6573


Having left myself short of time, again, you’ll just have to settle for some of the best music humanity has ever produced, an assertion made with confidence, as the pieces included have stood the test of time, time, and time again…. Enjoy! Or, not, as you wish…. Your choice, as always….  *grin*


***************************************






Classical Music






***************************************












***************************************


***************************************


Comedy_Tragedy


Lamenting Empathy, No Grace


Strange, strong, passions burn from within

Selling nothing short, nor out

Consumed, loudly, failing to mark the spin

Sad, resigned, in singular redoubt.


Fallow grounds for twisted seed

Become fated, grow, and die.

Experience never fills critical need

Save perhaps once, in ages gone by.


Shouting in severe, dulcet tone

Brittle, flaking, destiny floats away

Making noise, rattling the bone

Simply ageless fears held at bay.


We mask our illusions in faux belief

Tied to reality by matter of rote,

Send them postcards, without relief

Consecrated time, forever remote.


~~ gigoid ~~


12/19/2014


***************************************


pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Random Notes on Life at Large….


*******


“Always cut the cards.”


~~ Lazarus Long ~~


*******


“A man begins cutting his wisdom teeth

the first time he bites off more than he can chew.”


~~ Herb Caen ~~


*******


“Become a student of change.

It is the only thing that will remain constant.”


~~ Anthony J. D’Angelo, The College Blue Book ~~


*******


“What you don’t know will always hurt you.”


~~ First Law of Blissful Ignorance ~~


*******


“There is much pleasure to be gained in useless knowledge.”


~~ Bertrand Russell ~~


*******


“The more you know, the less you think you know.”


~~ Subtle Bee ~~


*******


“I like life. It’s something to do.”


~~ Ronnie Shakes ~~


*******


***************************************


As is generally the case when I post with such haste, I find myself here at the end without anything particularly clever to say. Ah, well, such is life at large, I say, and, so be it. I’ll be back, perhaps even tomorrow. Until I am, stay well, be as happy as you may, and, damn it, be strange….. 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.


gigoid, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch


Featured Image -- 15125


À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Howling to the moon….

			
						

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Ffolkes,


“To arrive at the simple is difficult.”


~~ Rashid Elisha ~~


sf skyline


San Francisco Skyline….


Hajime…. I blew off another day, as y’all probably noticed; this time, it was to recover from the task completed while gone, to wit: babysitting my granddaughter for a day. In truth, taking a day to recover is mandatory for me after that, so, I feel no guilt or angst over having done so. How you feel about it is both another issue, and, your own problem. Not to say I am unsympathetic; I simply don’t care. Hah!


Well, maybe I do, a little. But, not enough to try to go back to fix anything, or try to change the way you feel about it; I have enough trouble with my own feelings…. and if that isn’t pretty typical for us humans, I can’t say what is. Nor, in my aged wisdom, will I bother to try, either to explain, nor to justify. I’ll just do as we humans are pretty adept at, which is to ignore the whole issue, & try to act as if it never happened. It never works, but, we like to think it does, & generally act accordingly, to our everlasting regret….


All that being said, to what purpose we’ll probably never know, why don’t I just forgo any further BS & get this posted, before I lose my nerve, or reality intrudes with some message from Murphy’s minions? I don’t know about y’all, but, that certainly seems like our best bet to get posted in a timely fashion, always soothing to my OCD need to get it done by a certain time, which my subconscious has decided is the most efficacious method. I’ve never bothered to figure out why that time is so damn early, but, that’s okay. Knowing wouldn’t help anything in particular, so, rather than beat a moribund soft-hoofed ungulate, we’ll get on with it, just as if that were our intention from the beginning. That, by the way, looks like this….


Shall we Pearl?….


“Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul.”


~~ Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) (1835-1910) ~~


~ Inscription beneath his bust in the Hall of Fame ~


***************************************


Yield_Logo


Though I have had, and still have, sufficient time to choose music for today, I’ve decided to go with one of our standard selections, primarily because I like it; if y’all don’t, well, that’s on you, & there’s little I can do about it. What I CAN do is to remind you this organization does really good work, and is a strong positive force for peace in a world gone mad for war. The embedded video will lead you to hundreds of examples of the work they do, so, spend some time to listen, then, loosen up those purse strings, & lend a hand…. Enjoy!….


***************************************






Playing For Change

 Get Up, Stand Up






***************************************












***************************************


***************************************


Comedy_Tragedy


Gently Came a Wounded Child


But you shall not escape my iambics.


Soft, sinuous patterns of unearthly beauty

blithely commune with sinking stars,

as pale shadows of former virtue hover

near, ever clean, ever tolerant.

These unbidden habits are worn with age and care,

ready now for dissolution,

welcoming gladly the kiss of Death’s handmaiden.


Unknown to all, the child stands aside,

weeping for the lost days of youth,

days that now shall never be,

nor yearned for ever after.

Only darkness shall lay upon the landscape,

cold, hard, eternal.


Such then are the signs and portents

as we enter into the unknown future,

they are grave indeed.


Uncertainty will be our sole companion,

as the search for hope yields no result.

The lamentations of the gods

shall sound the elegy for Man,

who never learned to see the gift that was made,

so many echoes ago, in the hopeful past;

thus will we pass this plane of existence

as we came, baffled and afraid….


~~ gigoid ~~


written 2/2/2012


**************************************


pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Signs on the road less traveled….


*******


“How are things?

Just as they are.”


~~ Subtle Bee ~~


*******


“Life is the sum of all your choices.”


~~ Albert Camus ~~


*******


“Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise.”


~~ Sigmund Freud ~~


*******


“Happiness is like a kiss —

in order to get any good out of it

you have to give it to somebody else.”


~~ Zig Ziglar ~~


*******


“The pessimist complains about the wind;

The optimist expects it to change;

The realist adjusts the sails.”


~~ William Arthur Ward ~~


*******


“Every evil to which we do not succumb is a benefactor.”


~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~


*******


“And all my days are trances,

And all my nightly dreams

Are where thy dark eye glances,

And where thy footstep gleams

In what ethereal dances

By what eternal streams”


Edgar Allan Poe, “To One in Paradise”


*******


***************************************


Gosh! Look at that! It’s done, & done rather well, I think. Well, that’s more of a guess than an actual opinion, but, ’twill do for the nonce. It will also do for a closing thought, even if it falls a bit short of our usual standards, of which we have spoken in the past. Not that it ever did us any particular good; it also hasn’t done us any particular harm, so, so be it. I’m done as I can be, so, let’s get the hell out of here, so we can either assimilate what we have learned, or, throw it all out with the bath water. Whichever method you choose, from this point, y’all are on your own, as always. Me, I’m outta here, to go walkabout…. See ya, ffolkes, soon enough….


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


Featured Image -- 15095


À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Take no umbrage out of vanity….

			
						

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Ffolkes,


“Freedom begins between the ears.”


~~ Edward Abbey ~~


urban farm


Urban farmer’s market….


Hajime…. Yesterday, in the intro to the re-blog, I mentioned I’d post a fresh Pearl today. Having said that gives such the status of a duty, in my world, anyway. So, to fulfill that duty, post I must, in spite of staying up late talking with new friends, sleeping late, & awakening in the throes of pain, thanks to Sunday’s kickball, and yesterday’s walking, which apparently aggravated the stress on my old bones from attempting to keep up with a pack of seven year old boys on the field. You see, another characteristic of the world in which I choose to exist is this: any duty makes such mere ‘feelings’ irrelevant to the need to complete a chosen task. No matter how tired, how miserable, or how weak I feel, duty comes first…. As might be surmised, this is both blessing and curse….


So, I decided I would fulfill the duty, but, adjust the time frame to suit my physical obstructions, by not worrying about what time this gets posted. Hence, as you see, we post, but, at a significantly later hour than the 6-7 AM framework I generally target. In fact, it’s after noon here in California, & I am just finished cobbling the pieces into a coherent picture. The operative word, fortunately, is ‘finished’….. Rather than carry on any further with the blather I’ve begun, which would probably devolve into a convoluted attempt to explain the whys & wherefores, always a tedious task, and, no doubt, an even more tedious read, I’ll cut this off with dispatch, & get on with the actual posting process over on WP…. Never thought I could be so efficient, did ya? Neither did I, but, watch this….


Shall we Pearl?….


“The wailing of the newborn infant is mingled with the dirge for the dead.”


~~ Lucretius ~~


***************************************


mikegordon__leo_kottke


Mike Gordon and Leo Kottke


I listened to this yesterday, & though I’ve posted it before, am doing so again, as the entire concert displays both most excellent musicianship by both artists, and a large helping of extremely witty, funny, and erudite repartee with the crowd, telling the stories about the song’s histories in their repertoire, and the people (some VERY odd) they met while learning the songs…. It’s all a good time, so, enjoy!….


***************************************






Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon

 Live






***************************************












***************************************


***************************************


Comedy_Tragedy


Accentuated Lessons


Bold statements of calculated intent

Become common rule of the malcontent.

Avarice assumes such attractive wear

Beguiling deception, illusory and fair.


Grasping and pulling with ghostly hands

Legally proper in all the signatory lands.

Seeking and finding each vulnerable soul

Anguish as payment for exacting the toll.


Wraiths of commerce’s invisible dead guards

Still haunt the dreams left in sad empty yards.

While absentee nobles sit in stiffly elegant splendor

Served by sad-faced detainees in abject surrender.


Escape from reality is illusory at best

Often we falter and fail its daily test.

Only when focused on inner strength

Does peace stay with us for any length.


Peace lies within, always…..


~~ gigoid ~~


9/27/2012


***************************************


pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Notes on life at large….


*******


“In every grain of wheat there lies hidden the soul of a star.”


~~ Arthur Machen ~~


*******


“There is more to reality than meets the eye.”


~~ Subtle Bee ~~


*******


“Although a cloth be washed a hundred times,

How can it be rendered clean and pure

If it be washed in water which is dirty?”


~~ Nagarjuna (c. 100-200 A.D.) ~~


*******


“You take your life in your own hands,

and what happens?

A terrible thing: no one to blame.”


~~ Erica Jong ~~


*******


“We are rich only through what we give, and poor only through what we refuse.”


~~ Anne Swetchine (1782-1857) ~~


*******


“If you realize what the real problem is —

losing yourself, giving yourself to some higher end, or to another —

you realize that this itself is the ultimate trial.

When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves

and our own self-preservation,

we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.”


~~ Joseph Campbell, “The Power of Myth”


*******


Once upon a time, I dreamed of becoming a great man.

Later, a good man.

Now, finally, I find it difficult enough and honor enough to be — a man.”


~~ Edward Abbey ~~


*******


***************************************


How was that for efficient? Not too shabby, I think, even if the Pearl itself is rather a standard model. Oh, well…. The best thing about all of it is, I can try again, which I will do in rather a shorter interval than has recently been extant. Until that fateful hour arrives, I bid the a fond adieu, with all the usual caveats, good wishes, and admonitions to stay alert, and stay strange…. It’s certainly your best chance to grab the ring, if it does make an appearance…. See ya soon, in other words….


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


dozer3


À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Soft landings not included….

			
						

				Posted on   by  			

			
						

				4			

					


				

			
Ffolkes,


“Love isn’t love until you give it away.”


~~ Subtle Bee ~~


curtola


Curtola Parkway in early fall….


Hajime…. For me, the process of blogging has, for the past six-plus years, served as a means of staying within shouting distance of normalcy. Oh, not that I ever wanted to BE normal; I just enjoy being around it, as the world is less unpredictable in that neighborhood. Actually being normal, myself, was never part of the issue, which, in the final analysis, is a good thing, for trying to join the ranks of those who practice such habits would be futile; you see, I am not normal, by any stretch of the imagination…. This is not just mouthing platitudes, it’s an aspect of reality of which I have always been aware; moreover, I’ve always accepted it as my lot in life, without resentment. In fact, I rather enjoy my differences. for variety is, indeed, the very spice of life, as many noted philosophers have noted….


In my own case, being NOT normal comes with a price tag, expressed in reality’s only currency, to wit, challenges to our balance and stability… in short, to maintain any semblance of sanity, one must learn to wrestle with demons… & not just any demons, but, the most vicious & dangerous sort, to wit: the demons we create ourselves. I’ve always enjoyed the relevance of the following meme, a picture with a poem that expresses much of the “look and feel” of what I am attempting to describe….


everywarrior-coelho


Yesterday, as some gentle readers noted, I blew off blogging altogether, for the simple reason the stress of recent days apparently bled out of my head into reality, & I spent the day fighting a series of personal demons. While not an unfamiliar process, it is time-consuming enough to keep me from any sort of creative activity, other than creating new ways to both torture myself, and to fight the urge to do so. In such times, there is almost nothing I can do to distract myself from the task at hand, to wit: keeping myself from falling into one of the deep holes with which I find myself surrounded. Sadly, since I am a rather over-educated warrior, my demons can draw upon my own depth of knowledge to formulate their attacks, making it a tricky process, indeed, to formulate a defensive strategy, much less implement it against a foe who knows my every weakness….


It all sounds rather complex and distressing, to be sure, and, I can attest, it is very much so. So much, the only thing which saved my ass long enough to get this far today was putting together today’s messy, yet critical post. If you need to ask why it is ‘critical’, well, perhaps you need to pay closer attention. But, that’s neither here, nor there, as it turns out, and would be impolite to discuss any further. In fact, I have the feeling, if I don’t get this done, starting now, it won’t ever get done. So, I am going to pull this plug, rather abruptly, I’m afraid. Y’all had best hang on; the ride could be a bit rough today, as I have been compelled to pilot this vehicle myself…. It’s been a while since I’ve practiced, so, I suggest exercising some caution….


Shall we Pearl?….


“Every moment is precious. And precarious.”


~~- Edward Abbey ~~


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camille-saint-saens-photo2
French composer Camille Saint-Saens


On a day in which all is defaulted to paradigm, we, of course, go with a default choice for our musical selection. This compilation is from one of my favorite composers, and, one to which I listen on an almost daily basis…. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do….


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Camille Saint-Saëns






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Comedy_Tragedy


Momentary Terror


Absently casual, memories pester endlessly

leaving only bleeding remnants, amiable and loving.

Coming awake, I cry to still the pain, shamelessly.


Elsewhen, time gives surcease, if only to live,

shoring broken pilings, worn and gray.

Passing on, I laugh at the pain, accept all it will give.


Time will build a shelter, warm and ever safe

save for Fate’s busy hands.

Enduring, I follow the pain, knowing it will chafe.


Fixed against a darkened sky of starry black

such beauty brings us to our knees.

Entranced, I welcome the pain, ’tis all I lack…..


~~ gigoid ~~


2/4/2013


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pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Esoterica….


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Though one must first learn skill and ethics thoroughly,

one must come to embody them so completely

that they become subconscious.

Reacting to a situation

by asking what is right and wrong

is already too slow.”


~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~


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“What is the first business of one who studies philosophy?

To part with self-conceit.

For it is impossible for any one to begin to learn

what he thinks that he already knows.”


~~ Epictetus — Discourses, Book ii, Chap. xvii ~~


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“The greatness of a man can nearly always be measured

by his willingness to be kind.”


~~ G. Young ~~


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“The strongest of all warriors are these two — Time and Patience.”


~~ Leo Tolstoy ~~


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“You give but little when you give of your possessions.

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”


~~ Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet ~~


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“Heaven embraces the horizon.

No matter how jagged the profile,

the sky faithfully conforms.”


~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~


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“I am going a long way

With these thou seest–if indeed I go

(For all my mind is clouded with a doubt)–

To the island-valley of Avilion,

Where falls not hail or rain or any snow,

Nor ever wind blows loudly; but it lies

Deep-meadow’d, happy, fair with orchard lawns

And bowery hollows crown’d with summer sea,

Where I will heal me of my grievous wound.”


~~ Alfred Tennyson, “The Passing of Arthur” ~~


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That’s all, ffolkes. I have nothing else, literally. I’ll do my best to find some balance, and hope to return soon. Y’all take care, & stay tuned to this channel for further announcements, as they become appropriate. Be alert, be strange, and, be happy as you may…. Sometimes, that’s the best you can hope for; expecting it doesn’t work, as reality resists all attempts to predict with any reliability…. 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, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch


dozer3


À bientôt, mon cherí….