Tag Archives: You Tube

All the plastic flowers are melting….

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Ffolkes,

“It is not the one with many possessions who is rich, but the one who has no needs.”

~~ Philoxenos ~~

at-her-ease

At her ease….

Hajime…. Though I am pretty tired out, today is a good day. Yesterday, thanks to my new & improved general condition, and stamina, I spent 5.5 hours visiting with my son, grandson, and daughter. We had a great time, as we walked around the Plaza, chasing Pokemon Go figures, laughing, talking, and generally enjoying the day. It was the first time in a long time I have been able to tolerate spending the entire visit with them, which we all enjoyed. I got to read to my grandson from the book I gave him for his late birthday present (The Little Prince…), played baseball, threw the football, & do all the stuff I usually miss. ‘Twas a day filled with love, laughter, and hope; all in all, grand craic, as my Irish ancestors would say….

This morning, the Pearl came together fairly smoothly, given the fatigue & general mental fuzziness that goes with it. Though I didn’t have time to work on, or finish the new rant, or poem, still, things went well. When SB is in the right mood, it usually does; today, that’s a good thing, as it meant I was spared the frustration that comes in those times when it refuses to give me anything useful without massive contortions of effortful manipulation. We have the usual suspects lined up for your reading pleasure today (well, we are hopeful it will bring pleasure….); a poem, some music, and an old-school pearl, with some fine thoughts to feed your elephant’s child…. Maybe it ain’t Ibsen, or, for that matter, Twain, but, it’s art, and it’s mine, so there….

Before I lose what control I have, why don’t we go down the page a bit, and see what I’ve pulled together? It’s probably for the best, before anything untoward can occur, or, more relevant, before Murphy notices we’re up and about. Hmm….. Let’s use this one; it’s clean, and efficient….

Shall we Pearl?….

“Ignorance can be cured. Stupid is forever.”

~~ Smart Bee ~~

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As is usually the case on mornings such as this one, I’m using our default choice for entertainment while reading. Todays mix of classical selections was selected using my most favored method, to wit: the one with the most compelling picture was chosen, simply because it caught my eye…. It usually works just fine, so, I’ll just leave you with our general injunction, to wit: Enjoy!…..

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Classical Music

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Comedy_Tragedy

Retrospective, defined in folly….

Yesterday
I wrote a poem.

It bled out of my head,
like I’d been struck with
an axe,
right through the artery,
in the neck,
spraying blood around
everywhere,
like a pulsing garden hose….

It hurt, at first,
then came the feeling,

of quick relief,
of timeless beauty,

of pain avenged,
of lust aroused,

of outrage aflame,
of deep compassion,

of endless empathy,
of truest love….

Now it’s gone, cast away
like pearls before twine.

(Grin…)

You thought
I was going to call you
a pig,
didn’t you?

Hah!

Well, you’re not.
You’re a person.

I know, because
you’re reading this poem…
if that’s what it is.

I think it is,
so,
maybe it is.

Or, maybe,
it will be,
someday, when it
grows up,
and learns to rhyme.
Whew…
Just in time…..

That’s all.
Reality often sucks wind,
y’know?

S’okay, though….
It keeps us busy,
and out of some of the
mischief,
so much part
of our
nature.

We all can do
only what we
do.

Or, don’t.

Two sides, one coin.

~~ gigoid ~~

9/1/2014

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Life Lessons, Redux….

*******

“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations,
if you live near him.”

~~ J.R.R. Tolkein, Lord of the Rings ~~

*******

“If you don’t know where you’re going,
when you get there you’ll be lost.”

~~ Yogi Berra ~~

*******

“Expect everything, and anything seems nothing.
Expect nothing, and anything seems everything.”

~~ Samuel Hazo ~~

*******

“A belief is not true because it is useful.”

~~ Henri Frederic Amiel ~~

*******

“Love is not something you have; it is something you do.”

~~ Limon ~~

*******

“The improver of knowledge absolutely refuses to acknowledge authority, as such.
For him, skepticism is the highest of duties, blind faith the one unpardonable sin.”

~~ Thomas Huxley ~~

*******

“The man who carries a cat by the tail
learns something that can be learned in no other way.
He will never be dim, or doubtful.
Chances are, he’ll never carry the cat like that again,
but, I say, if he wants to, let him!”

~~ Mark Twain ~~

*******

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Hmm…. Reconciling what happened here today with what I expected should be a snap, since my expectations were dead low. Go figure, eh? Ah well, such is life in paradise. I’m going to leave y’all now, just as if I’d intended it to go like this; I am, if nothing else, in charge. So, rather than abrogate any of my duties, or, responsibilities, I’ll just go now, and try to figure out what those might be. I will, in case you’re wondering, be back tomorrow, to try this again… Most likely, anyway…. 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 -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Percipience is helpful in such cases….

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11

Ffolkes,

“After the first death, there is no other.”

~~ Dylan Thomas ~~

ferry-ride

Silver Path to the Golden Gate….

Hajime…. Ugh. It is now 0403 here in California. I’ve been up for a bit over an hour, having decided several weeks ago to cease the morning battle with my familiar, & just get up when she does, rather than starting the day already adrenalized. It seems to be working, as it allows me ample time to compose, and post the daily Pearl, and still furnish Leelu with enough attention to satisfy her need to play, or cuddle. I’ve related previously how much like being married it is to have a familiar; the evidence for that continues to mount….

The only problem with getting up so early is the time it takes from my ability to get things done out in the BBR, for, by the time the rest of the world is awake around here, I’ve been up close to six hours. At my age, that means I need a nap, right around 0900, if I’m to make it long enough to see sunset, much less the next sunrise. It also means I do get to see the latter every day, which is enjoyable, as well as uplifting, as any sunrise is to us humans. We do like beginnings, so full of promise…..

What happens after sunrise is anybody’s guess, and does not always match our hopes for it. Such, then, is life, for all of us. Since I’ve managed to wax philosophical so well, so early, I’ll take advantage of the relative comatose state that has, no doubt, engendered in your minds; it isn’t deliberate, but, since it’s handy, I’ll take advantage of it. I don’t think we’ll cause any lasting harm by doing so, unless, of course, someone begins to struggle. Then, the restraints we use as a matter of course, (and, insurance regulations) can cause some bruising, from the rough ride. But, most likely, y’all will just nod your heads, and wake up somewhere down the page. So be it.

Since I’ve set the stage so well, why don’t we jump right in….

Shall we Pearl?….

“The difference between the right word and the almost right word
is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.”

~~ Mark Twain ~~

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Images both public domain, via Google Images

Today’s music was originally intended to accompany a rant I’m working on; it isn’t done, but, the music will work fine for today. The piece is one of my favorite songs, as performed live, with some help from a friend. The sound quality is excellent, and, should you wish for more of the same, there are plenty of choices on the You Tube page where the link in the screen will take you…. Enjoy, ffolkes; this song may be more relevant than you may think….

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Crosby, Stills, & Nash
with Grace Slick
~ Wooden Ships ~

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Comedy_Tragedy

Intelligent Crimes

The value of wit is often said to cause harm,
for those who think, such is its greatest charm.
The new and the bold cannot be fulfilled
if innovation and change is left unwilled.

Society behaves at its base as a mob
conformity and submission its primary job.
Any sign of rebellion against the mob’s rule
is met with resentment, naming such rebel the fool.

Intellect and talent are looked at askance,
expressing artistry stands nary a chance.
To stand out from the rest of mankind
is fraught with danger, for body and mind.

Often I stand to watch in solemn dismay
as beauty and joy are left by the way,
ignored and reviled by the unwashed masses
who prefer darkness, and acting like asses.

With shouts of derision the normals make known
their fear of intelligence, greater than their own.
They hope to stop all semblance of progress;
for thoughts and ideas, they couldn’t care less.

The world struggles on in spite of all opposition,
managing to maintain its advanced position.
Pulling the foolish along in spite of reluctance,
helping each to learn the survival dance.

Hard though it may be to keep up with the future
genius manages its plans to develop and nurture.
In the final analysis, those who live by reason
enjoy life the most, season to season.

~~ gigoid ~~

10/7/2012

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

More thoughts on process and program…

*******

“The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless,
unremembered acts of kindness and love.”

~~ William Wordsworth ~~

*******

“Where the map differs from the terrain, believe the terrain.”

~~ Swedish Army Manual ~~

*******

“Do not speak of what men deserve.
For we each of us deserve everything,
every luxury that was ever piled in the tombs of the dead Kings,
and we each of us deserve nothing, not a mouthful of bread in hunger.
Have we not eaten while another starved?
Will you punish us for that?
Will you reward us for the virtue of starving while others ate?
No man earns punishment, no man earns reward.
Free your mind of the idea of *deserving*, of *earning*,
and you will begin to be able to think.”

~~ Odo, The Prison Letters ~~

~~ Ursula LeGuin, “The Dispossessed” ~~

*******

“If we could read the secret history of our enemies,
we would find in each man’s life a sorrow
and a suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”

~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~

*******

“Doubt is the key to knowledge.”

~~ Persian Proverb ~~

“As knowledge increases, wonder deepens.”

~~ Persian Bee ~~

*******

4. When you say, “I love you”, mean it.

~~ Instructions for life ~~

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“Life is not separate from death. It only looks that way.”

~~ Native American Proverb (Blackfoot) ~~

*******

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Blog posts are, in some ways, like a photograph. They show the version of reality experienced by the writer, at the moment of posting, with evidence within each line of the experience of each moment it took to write. Thus, to assume the picture, or the blog post, represents anything more than that instant of time, is to make a mistake in reasoning. Each person who writes a blog is more than what you see, no matter how well they have infused themselves into what they’ve written.

What does any of this have to do with a closing? Not much, other than to point out my day, from this early point onward, will be much different than what you may see here, and may well be a better story/poem/song/dance. Or, not. No matter how it turns out, this one is done, and that’s what matters just now. I hope y’all enjoyed it, and hope to see y’all again tomorrow, when, despite all methodology, and despite all opposition, from reality, and from my inner demons, I’ll do this again. On that, you may rely….

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 -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Irony, so fresh, it squeaks….

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5

Ffolkes,

“He who is inclined to lust is merciful and tender-hearted;
those who are inclined to purity are not so.”

~~ Saint John Climacus ~~

alcatraz

Alcatraz Island, Southern View

Hajime…. When I began to compose today’s mess, the only part done was the picture, and the two introductory quotes, both of which already graced my FB page yesterday. Sue me; I like ’em, I’ll use ’em twice, or more. Hell, I’ll use a good pearl ’til it’s damn near unforgettable. None of which really has anything to do with what you’ll see. I just needed something to fill in this space. Go figure, eh?

Now, at this point, y’all might be asking, “Why?”. Of course, if you’ve been around here much at all, you’ll know I just ignore such questions, as being unproductive to our purpose here. Today, I’ll answer it, just to be fair. The only answer I have, though, is “Why not?”, so, you may want to just forget it altogether. That’s often the best way to deal with my intransigence; get upset & it could well get completely out of hand. Actually, I’m thinking, the best idea is for me to just say nothing, and go on to the next paragraph; this one seems to have gotten away from me.

Whew! Never thought, when I started, I’d ever get this far. But, just a bit of distraction, some minor sleight of fingers, and, look here! It’s damn near an intro! Fancy that. In order to fulfill our standard requirements, I’m required to inform you, all the above is pure drivel. Yep, and some of my finest drivel, at that. Who’d a thunk it? Well, one might say, I should have, but, they’d be wrong, for I never plan any of this ahead of time, or bother figuring out why it does what it does. If I did, it would only get worse. Since that’s the case, let’s do this, rather than pursue such folly any further….

Shall we Pearl?….

“I know a lot of people without brains who do an awful lot of talking.”

~~ The Scarecrow, Wizard of Oz ~~

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bach-organ-works-for-free

Johann Sebastian Bach

Image from openculture.com via Google Images

J. S. Bach is as close to a classical rock star as it was possible to be in his era. Not only did he write, perform, and produce many children, (a couple of whom weren’t too shabby as composers, either…), but, has had much of his work act as a strong influence on modern rock and roll, blues, and soul music. I give you today some of his finest works, the six Brandenburg Concertos…. Enjoy!….

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J.S. Bach
Brandenburg Concertos

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Comedy_Tragedy

Just because it is….

A Dubiously Soft Morning

Idiosyncratic images, clamoring for regard,
fill up the white, white screen on which I view
my life, never seeing, nor invited to sup
ambrosial remnants of anything new.

Still, yet almost in motion, allegory sails away
bobbing gently, quick and easy to find,
signs of one happy child, seriously at play,
blissfully immersed, focused joy in mind.

Formidable cries of outraged simple justice
echo plaintive relevance, in half the time.
Maladaptive infants, destined for hospice
salvage an only child, daring to sing in rhyme.

Creativity equals unquestioning farce,
often reaching for absurdity, brazenly afire.
Instead, a blow is felt no joy will ever soften,
accepting the price, added to the cost of desire.

~~ gigoid ~~

7/26/2013

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

To be there, one must go there….

*******

“Back to the insanity at hand.”

~~ gigoid, pearling mode ~~

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“Do not look for all the answers at once.
A path is formed by placing stones one in front of the other.”

~~ The Giant from Twin Peaks ~~

*******

“All of a sudden, I want to THROW OVER my promising ACTING CAREER,
grow a LONG BLACK BEARD and wear a BASEBALL HAT!!
… Although I don’t know WHY!!”

~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~

*******

“If I am Sophocles, I am not mad; and if I am mad, I am not Sophocles.”

~~ Sophocles — Vit, Anon, p. 64 (Plumptre’s Trans.) ~~

*******

“I don’t suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.”

~~ Bumper Sticker ~~

*******

He thought he saw an albatross
That fluttered ’round the lamp.
He looked again and saw it was
A penny postage stamp.
“You’d best be getting home,” he said,
“The nights are rather damp.”

~~ Linus Songs Poems #185 of 719 ~~

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“Say goodnight, Gracie.”

~~ George Burns ~~

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Okay, well…. that was different. Instead of commenting on any of the above, I think I’ll leave well enough alone. Which, if I’m not making another inaccurate assessment, will do it for today. Oh, right. No assessment needed, other than to note, it’s done, dammit! Now we’ve settled that, I’ll be on my way, to wend my way through the BBR to a toy store…. Don’t ask; it’s the season. For now, suffice it to know, I’ll be back, though I won’t be Bach. Ha!…. See ya, ffolkes…. Stay strange; I intend to….

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 -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Too early for desperate measures….

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3

Ffolkes,

“Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice.
Tolerance in the face of tyranny is no virtue.”

~~ Barry Goldwater ~~

violet-boys-2

Violet Moore & sons, circa 1917….

Image from the Moore Family archives….

Hajime…. The people you see in the above photo are my relatives, to wit: My grandmother, my father, and his younger brother, one of two he had. When the photo was taken, I believe my grandfather was still off fighting in WWI, somewhere in Europe. I love it, and not just because they’re my ‘people’, as they’d say in the South. It’s a great snapshot of the time, & given the personal connection, tells me a lot about the people who are in it. In particular, though I didn’t know her until much later in her life, the expression on my grandmother’s face tells me a story, and enhances what I know of her, with her kindness, humor, and patience obvious for anyone with wit to see….

As an old fart with broken emotions, just looking at this picture makes me a little weepy, but, in a good way. I guess the old saw among women, regarding tears, is true; some tears are happy tears, that come when one feels so much love, it has to come out, and the tears are how they can be shared. Maybe it’s not true, but, it feels true…. So be it. It’s family, and needs no excuse for love to be felt…

I guess such an emotional opening rather limits the direction we can take from here. Rather than try to find one that will efficiently segue into the material below, I’ll just use the “fade away” method to move us along to where we need to go. Such indulgence isn’t at all normal, but, when have we ever worried about being normal? To be honest, I wouldn’t know quite how to react if anyone ever accused me of being so… but, that’s another story, for another time. For now, we’ll just do this, and be done with it….

Shall we Pearl?….

“But first, are you experienced?”

~~ Jimi Hendrix ~~

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

I spent a lot of time this morning, pre-pearl, to write a friend to whom I owed a letter; unfortunately, this pushed me over into time I needed to spend to get this done. The end result of this is not having the time to… wait a minute! I’ve got a Tardis! What was I thinking? Okay, never mind. We’ve got classical music today, simply because I like it. Deal with it; I must, and so must y’all…. Try to enjoy it, anyway… It is, after all, some of the best music ever played, y’know?….

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Mozart Symphonies 1-20

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Comedy_Tragedy

Confidentially Paranoid

Only when the bright sunlight of dreams draws nigh
can the dark glass of reality factor true value..
Destiny’s horses run in fear as time goes dry,
for grappling with fate in such traitorous venue.

In pallid costumes made of graven cast-off tales,
fallen angels and demons show the measure of faith.
No sad transactions should escape these well-marked trails,
no angry relatives cast insults to a sedentary wraith.

Meaning can always hide in literal cold intent,
yet show mere facets of honor to perishable youth.
Sincere contentions leave with sorrowful bent,
while bastardly arguments fill in poorly for the truth.

Gone are moments filled with florid blasts of rhyme
left to molder on the shoulders of unreasonable hope.
Only courage can save these measures of unspoken time
to gather new issues, powerfully broad, painful in scope.

~~ gigoid ~~

2/25/2015

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Fun with Karma….

*******

“…The Universe is thronged with fire and light,
And we but smaller suns, which, skinned, trapped and kept
Enshrined in blood and precious bones, hold back the night.”

~~ Ray Bradbury ~~

*******

“It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible,
but also for what we do not do.”

~~ Moliere ~~

*******

“Everyone who lives dies, but not everyone who dies has lived.”

~~ No Fear ~~

*******

“You can’t just feel happy; to feel anything you have to feel everything.”

~~ Callan Williams ~~

*******

“If you would know a man, observe how he treats a cat.”

~~ Subtle Bee ~~

*******

“We’re tossed by the winds of fate, Maggie Mae.
Once we end where they blow us, we make of ourselves what we will.”

~~ Niall Feeney, in Nora Roberts’ “Born In Fire” ~~

*******

“It’s so much more friendly with two.”

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

*******

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Well, there you go… or, rather, there ’tis. Done, and done in time, if not comfort. So far today, I’ve written a long letter, had two cuppas, and faked a routine. I’ve also completed a Pearl, for what it’s worth. To me, it’s worth what I paid for it, if nothing else. Y’all will have to make up your own minds as to whether the cost was worth it, or not. Me, I’m outta here. Of course, I’ll be back, but, I don’t want to scare anybody…. 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 -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Endless reserves of sincere affability….

Posted on by
10

Ffolkes,

“Forbid a man to think for himself or to act for himself
and you may add the joy of piracy and the zest of smuggling to his life.”

~~ Elbert Hubbard ~~

sf-port

Gateway to adventure….

Hajime…. I write to stay sane. That isn’t to say I am, necessarily, but, I can honestly say I make a consistent effort to be so, even when there doesn’t really seem to be much point, since the world’s getting pretty fucking insane, anyway. But, to please my mother, who would have hated to see me a cold-blooded killer, I try each day to maintain a modicum of sanity. It doesn’t always work, but, since the primary goal is to avoid acting in a homicidal manner, I guess it works well enough…. Can’t rightly say that makes me particularly happy, as it would feel a damn sight better to just ace a couple of mundanes, and be done with it. But, I also like living without bars on my windows, and doors to which I don’t have a key….

Now that I’ve again established the basic parameters, I’ll confess to some rather nasty recent periods, in which I have successfully defeated a number of vicious demons, all of whom come to me gratis, simply because they can. I’ve been dealing with them for some years now, ever since realizing they were mine; for a long time, they seemed a gift from the gods, (yes, that’s sarcasm…), one over which I had no control. But, they’re all a product of my own inner turmoil, generated, like the Greek gods, right out of my own head. I guess 11.5 years of working in a virtual combat zone took its toll, without giving any receipt to track….

Most of the time, they lie dormant, biding their time, until they can spring forth, fully armed, to attack in a frenzy, at a moment when I am least prepared for dealing with them; I’m pretty sure they get leaked intel from Murphy, who monitors my activities, waiting with honed patience for just the right moment, when I am least mindful, and poorly prepared to deal with such issues. Go figure, eh?

Yes, I know, I know. They’re MY demons, and they’re, ultimately, under my control. And, yes, I also know they only come out when I tell them to, even if the telling is unconscious. Me & my unconscious have a long history of such arguments, but, then, I suppose that just makes me human, doesn’t it? Yes, it does. Since any further self-examination will turn maudlin, having first opened the doors with too much honesty, I’ll stop here, while I can still lay claim to a portion of the humanity I possess, by showing the compassion to cease and desist from further introspection. Besides, this intro is rapidly growing to a point of bloating, which could lead to gas. Can’t have that in these closed quarters, can we? No….

Right. We’re done, simply because I’m now out of standard BS, and would be forced to break into our reserves. Naturally, we keep plenty of THAT around, but, why waste it, when it will do more harm at another time? Hmm… I see I’m starting to go a bit wonky, so, let’s try an old trick. It’s pretty cool, and, more than that, will get us where we need to go. It looks just like this….

Shall we Pearl?….

“May you live all the days of your life.”

~~ Jonathan Swift — Polite Conversation, Dialogue ii ~~

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alanis-m

Image from MTV.com via Google Images

I’ve enjoyed the music this woman writes ever since hearing her for the first time, though I’ve never taken the time to really explore her work. I have a feeling, after listening to this, I’ll want to hear more… Enjoy!….

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Alanis Morrisette Live

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Comedy_Tragedy

Premises, premises….

Tricked, I stumble, and I fall
dreaming, through an abandoned palace.
Frightened and wary, unheard my call
fading into memory, no cup, no argent chalice.

The people, crushed, cry out to be freed
asking only to take part, or travel.
Nascent oaths spotlight such bursting need
fed by treachery, deep from our well.

Only the wicked shall find their way blocked
justice seeks them, snug in their hole.
Faint praises never touched, but naked, stalked
singing no gospel, no soul, no rock and roll.

Only the promised will remember the way
from unforgiven trails of sorrow.
To live life, and give death no sway,
saving grace for our only tomorrow.

~~ gigoid ~~

12/19/2014

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Metaphoric Idyll….

*******

“For wheresoe’er I turn my ravish’d eyes,
Gay gilded scenes and shining prospects rise,
Poetic fields encompass me around,
And still I seem to tread on classic ground.”

~~ Joseph Addison — A Letter from Italy ~~

*******

“I see my life go drifting like a river
From change to change; I have been many things –
A green drop in the surge, a gleam of light
Upon a sword, a fir tree on a hill,
An old slave grinding at a heavy quern,
A king sitting upon a chair of gold –
And all these things were wonderful and great;
But now I have grown nothing, knowing all.
Ah! Druid, Druid, how great webs of sorrow
Lay hidden in that small slate-coloured thing!”

~~ William Butler Yeats, “Fergus and the Druid” ~~

*******

“And, pray tell, whose imagination are you a figment of?”

~~ Solipsist Bee ~~

*******

“It is the little rift within the lute
That by and by will make the music mute,
And ever widening slowly silence all.”

~~ Alfred Tennyson — Idylls of the King, Merlin and Vivien ~~

*******

There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.

~~ Sir Francis Bacon, Of Beauty ~~

*******

Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats
Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels
And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:
Streets that follow like a tedious argument
Of insidious intent
To lead you to an overwhelming question…
Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”

~~ T. S. Eliot, “Love song of J. Alfred Prufrock” ~~

*******

“Draw the curtain, the fraud is over.”

~~ François  Rabelais, last words ~~

*******

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

I can’t say why, but, I like it. To save myself, and y’all, any further embarrassment, which can build up angst as quickly as anger, we’ll take the money and run. Not that we made anything like a profit, but, I’d say we broke even. Can’t ask for better; not in this universe. I will take this moment to warn y’all…. I’ll be back. Take heed…. 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

Featured Image -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Dabbling in obscurity….

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7

Ffolkes,

“It is fear that first brought gods into the world.”

~~ Petronius ~~

winery-drive

Oenophile Road #1 ~~ Sonoma Valley

Hajime…. In the semblance of Time described below, Circumstance plays its part. Though Fate had its say, only the most elemental of emotional responses could conceivably hold sway, before the throne of Reason. As the light of Illumination grew stronger, Fear retreated into the shadowed halls behind the stairs, while Serenity filled hearts and minds. Gladly, the people slept, unaware they would never wake….

Hmm… A bit strange, but, not bad for off the proverbial cuff, especially at 0434 on a Monday morning. I’m up, with nearly two full cups of coffee on board. The Pearl for today, begun from scratch at 0330, is complete, as much as it will be, or may. I’m in an odd mood, with elements of both rage and peace battling amiably for precedence. I suppose, depending on who wins, we’ll have an interesting day ahead of us, since we’re about, oh, 3 hours ahead of everyone else in this time zone. Now, if only I can subvert these homicidal urges until they’re awake, maybe things can turn into a different dark alley. Or, not.

See, odd. But, that’s nothing new, right? Given the hour, it would be possible, not to mention attractive, to use the extra time to rant. But, I’ve found my ranting stash to be rather limited of late; if I rant here, I don’t have much to say when I go comment on other blogs. So, rather than subject my own Gentle Readers to such diatribes, I’ve been leaving them in the comment section of other blogs. Works for me, and it keeps these Pearls cleaner, if no more compelling. So be it, as he says often. I’ve got no excuses, or justifications; it’s just the way it is.

I can see I’m becoming fatalistic, which will never do. We’d get stuck somewhere if I keep that up, so, rather than take any chances, I’m going to employ my most ruthless technique to get us down the page. It’s a bit sudden, so watch your step….

Shall we Pearl?….

“But since life is cruel, to you and to me, here I am.”

~~ Umberto Eco ~~

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

celtic design

Today’s choice of music was chosen to supply the Gentle Reader with some quiet, soothing ambiance, in which today’s Pearl might be consumed at leisure. The genre selections included this one, which had a beautiful picture of the Irish highlands adorning the first screen. The picture made the choice easy…. Enjoy!….

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

Celtic Music

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

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

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

Comedy_Tragedy

Dreaming, I wait….

In the most patient moments of rationality
kindness flows smoothly in a special milieu,
fallow thoughts speed first from equality
to give no anxious fever, anger to eschew.

Indignant mothers and step-sons in-law
shall fade simply from brilliant to grey,
intoning ritual dogma, fresh, avid, and raw,
falling, falling, in massive pastoral disarray.

Safety lives not, save brightly in ignorant bliss,
it follows us all, silent and infinitely frail,
foremost too often, soft as a virgin kiss,
alive, always eager, willing, and pale.

Intimate knowledge finds only the bold few
with courage and virtue to gift, unbidden.
No solemn royal version may pass in review,
true love for man, never to remain unhidden.

Sweet feathers of Emily’s hope uplift,
calm, drowsy episodes bursting with light,
With final glad cries we set ourselves adrift,
swimming in the oceans of natural delight.

When sorrow is banished, in ages yet to come,
roots solidly anchored, cold and remote,
Ample supplies of kindness sit silent and dumb,
and the old stranger shrugs on his faded coat.

Dreaming, then, I wait with shadows in the night
aspiring to inspire, a message from the muse’s heart
Never forgotten images, framed in color bright,
tempt me only, grieving, steeped in serenity’s arcane art….

~~ gigoid ~~

8/18/2013

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Listen, children….

*******

“I shall explain this by waving my hands about in an appropriate manner.”

~~ gigoid, the dubious ~~

*******

“Nothing in the entire universe ever perishes, believe me,
but things vary, and adopt a new form.
The phrase “being born” is used
for beginning to be something different from what one was before,
while “dying” means
ceasing to be the same.
Though this thing may pass into that,
and that into this
yet the sums of things remains unchanged.”

~~ Ovid — Metamorphoses ~~

*******

“A fish never thinks about water until he’s out of it.”

~~ Robert Penn Warren ~~

*******

“You cannot teach a crab to walk straight.”

~~ Aristophanes~~

*******

“It takes a long time to understand nothing.”

~~ Edward Dahlberg~~

*******

“Do you imagine that the universe is agitated?
Go out into the desert at night and look up at the sky.
this practice should answer the question.”

~~ Lao Tzu ~~

*******

“There are things that are known, and things unknown,
and in between are the doors of perception.”

~~ Aldous Huxley, “The Doors of Perception” ~~

*******

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

I find myself unavailable for comment. However, since we’ve made it this far, there’s no giving up. Here’s a thought: Why don’t I try this again tomorrow? Hey, what a great idea! We’ll do that. In the meantime, stay alert, ffolkes; you’re on your own until I return, tomorrow morning, same Bat-time, same Bat-station….

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 -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Sublime bones, and piquant roses….

Posted on by
10

Ffolkes,

“He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness
by changing anything but his own disposition
will waste his life in fruitless efforts.”

~~ Samuel Johnson ~~

ggb-boat

Iconic Golden Gate Bridge, with boat….

Hajime…. Since there is time (Always… Tardis, remember?), we’ll take a break, first. Hang on; I’ll be back….

It’s been some time since I went for a walk before dawn. In retrospect, it was much the same as all the other times I’ve done so in my life, in that I always find the rest of the world quiet, and, for as much as it can be, at peace, if only on the surface. Such instances of solitude out in the BBR are rare, and it is wise to absorb as much of the calmness into one’s spirit while one may. If naught else, it provides us, or, me, anyway, some inner strength to face the other times when peace is not as readily found. That would be pretty much all the time one spends dealing with society, so, a good stash of inner peace is always welcome.

Now, then…. If I’ve managed to keep any of those who began this mess thus far, I’ll note today’s Pearl is pretty standard. The old-school pearl is pretty special, in some ways; the message it contains is fairly standard, but, the path it takes to get there is rather less so. You’ll see. The poem speaks to the same issue as the previous paragraph, in its way, and the music is Mozart. Not the most engaging of menus, I would guess, but, up to our usual standards, and, thus, acceptable, if only in our dreams. Dreams are, after all, as big a part of our reality as is the flesh and blood world in which we spend the greater portion of our time. I often wonder if the Australian aborigines don’t have it right, when they profess to believe dreamtime is when we are most real, and our standard reality is the true dream. Sounds fairly coherent to my way of perceiving; it’s at least as much so as any of the common religious philosophies people tend to cling to, don’t you think?

Well, I think so. Before we get any further into what conceivably could turn into a controversy, let’s get on with what we have for y’all today. I can’t say it is the best we’ve ever done, but, it ain’t crap. On that elegant note, let’s see what’s down there to find….

Shall we Pearl?….

“We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves.”

~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~~

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

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

You had to know, given what you’ve seen already, this was coming. Try to enjoy it, anyway, okay? I know I will….

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

Classical Music

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

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

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

Comedy_Tragedy

Today’s poem is, again, one of mine; it’s been a while since I last posted it, and the message it delivers is our point for the day, hence, no shame. Enjoy!….

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 ~~

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Clearly obscure….

*******

Just Say “Know!”

~~ Realist Bee ~~

*******

“For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, after a second or so, nothing continued to happen.”

~~ Douglas Adams, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” ~~

*******

“The fact that an opinion has been widely held
is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd;
indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind,
a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.”

~~ Bertrand Russell, Marriage and Morals ~~

*******

“There is what there is and what we wish there was.”

~~ Subtle Bee ~~

*******

“Tiger gotta hunt. Bird gotta fly.
Man gotta sit and wonder why, why, why.
Tiger gotta sleep. Bird gotta land.
Man gotta tell himself he understand.”

~~ Kurt Vonnegut Jr. ~~

*******

“There is no birth without pain.”

~~ Carl Jung ~~

*******

“There are worse things than dying.”

~~ Kalas ~~

*******

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

Though we don’t like to keep stats, I’m sure this one fits right into some category; I wouldn’t presume to even guess which it might be. In fact, the degree of how much I don’t care should be expressed in Celsius, to keep the figures smaller; otherwise, y’all might think I don’t even like myself. I do, though, so, rather than get any further into such irrelevant material, I’ll just say, see y’all tomorrow, when we’ll make yet another effort to break completely free of the chains of sanity. Go figure, eh? Be real, ffolkes; there’s really not much choice if you don’t….

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 -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Wind-etched patterns on glass….

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11

Ffolkes,

“As one gets older,
one discovers everything is going to be exactly the same
with different hats on.”

~~ Noel Coward ~~

wine-country

Wild Fennel in the Wine Country….

Hajime…. The picture you see today is one I took a month or two ago, while pausing on a visit to my kids in Sonoma Valley. I liked the way the fennel, which grows wild along all the roads here in Northern California, framed the picture behind, forming a bucolic country scene reminiscent of an old painting. Well, not so old, as there are phone wires & poles, but, you get the idea, I’m sure. I also like to think of how much money I’ve saved over the years, picking that wild fennel, to use in my catering jobs, and as an ingredient in several recipes I use. It also serves very well as a simple, yet elegant decoration for some table settings, and mirrors displaying foods. Valuable plant, indeed….

There; how’s that for a vague, personal retrospective? Not bad, eh? Well, I think so; I’ll remind you who’s driving this bus. Regardless of what sort of reaction it provokes in the minds of my Gentle readers, it’s done, so, it stays. I’m too much in “odd” mode today to care. What’s “odd” mode? Trust me, you don’t really want to know. We will merely say, it’s one of my more fractious, unreliable modes, (sometimes called ‘moods’….), liable to rather explosive emotional outbursts at minimal provocation, while we simultaneously attempt to mitigate the potential harm it can cause to the environment; it’s been known to cause some rather extensive damage.

Instead, we’ll avoid any and all such temptations, by drawing this intro to a rapid closure, post haste. In this mode, time can be of the essence, so, gather your belongings, send your adult beverage down the hatch, and hang on to your hats, because we’re going in hot. How hot? This hot….

Shall we Pearl?….

“…common human laws and interests and emotions
have no validity or significance in the vast cosmos-at-large…”

~~ H. P. Lovecraft ~~

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

sister-rosetta

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Image from guitarworld.com via Google Images

A friend on Facebook shared a link with one of this woman’s videos, and I had to share it today. Known by many as the Godmother of Rock and Roll, and The Original Sister Soul, I give you Sister Rosetta Tharpe. I’ve linked to a collection of many of her songs and videos, to give a good sample of some really hot music. Enjoy, ffolkes!….

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

Sister Rosetta Tharpe
The Godmother of Rock & Roll

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

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

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

Comedy_Tragedy

In early 2012, I was living in relative poverty, struggling to maintain any sort of non-depressed state for an entire day, when this poem forced its way into the light, and onto my computer. When it was originally penned, it was in prose form, where it sat for several months, until I opened it again, and saw it was actually a poem. I formatted it the way it logically called for, and haven’t touched it since. In some ways, it’s rather prophetic, of a time we are rapidly approaching out in the real world. I hope you enjoy it, dark as it is….

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

Things we learn on the journey….

*******

“I’d rather learn from one bird how to sing
than to teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.”

~~ ee cummings ~~

*******

“You must have been warned about letting the golden hours slip by;
but some of them are golden only because we let them slip by.”

~~ James M. Barrie ~~

*******

“Do not be too moral.
You may cheat yourself out of much of life.
So aim above morality.
Be not simply good;
be good for something.”

~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~

*******

“I am pleased to see that we have differences.
May we together become greater than the sum of both of us.”

~~ Surak of Vulcan, “The Savage Curtain,” stardate 5906.4. ~~

*******

“The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.”

~~ Mark Twain ~~

*******

“None but a fool is always right.”

~~ Hare ~~

*******

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.
We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence,
but we rather have those because we have acted rightly.
We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

~~ Aristotle ~~

*******

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

Once again, the process I’ve developed over the years of producing this mess has saved the day. Given the mode/mood I’m in today, I have to give myself a pat on the back. A small one, as it hurts to do so, but, for what it is, it’s not bad, so, good job, dude. Moreover, I can now take my leave, letting y’all off the hook for the day, and try to find a somewhat mellower mood to inhabit. You could wish me luck in that, since I’ll need it, but, if not, that’s okay, too. I’m too weird right now to notice. In fact, here’s an example. Bye….

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 -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

This title for sale….

Posted on by
4

Ffolkes,

“He who is bent on doing evil can never want occasion.”

~~ Publius Syrus — Maxim 459 ~~

the-city

The City ~ Ferry View…

Hajime…. Having learned some years ago how difficult it can be to be creative on a consistent basis, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to me when I find myself completely without any connection to the well from which it springs on any particular morning. But, it does, every time, generating the same feelings of panic and dismay, at the thought of having to, once again, cudgel my brain into producing something worth putting down on screen/paper, a process which is by no means consistent, or, comfortable. Apparently, though, the process IS one that works, if only in my dreams of adequacy.

With that being said, I will add, I’m not complaining. I am up early enough to have time to find the proper cudgeling tool, and, in retrospect, did so with some dispatch, if not elegance. You see, it’s done. Well, it’s as done as it’s going to get, anyway. I managed to persuade SB to cough up enough pearls to compose an old-school pearl, found an appropriate poem to accompany the fine poetry pearl I found, and picked out some rather good music, so, the elements are all in place. The only thing lacking is any sort of confidence in what I’ve done. But, confidence isn’t important; chutzpah is, and we’ve got plenty of that on hand.

Since my creative capabilities are somewhat limited today, obviously, I’ll forgo further blather, in favor of moving this along. Or, as we are fond of saying, let’s get this slow on the toad. No fooling around, either; we’re done, and, gone….

Shall we Pearl?….

“The most pathetic person in the world is a person who has sight but has no vision.”

~~ Helen Keller ~~

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

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

Today’s selection was chosen for the picture by which it was accompanied; the fact it turned out to be mostly classical guitar was a bonus. Enjoy!….

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

Classical Music

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

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

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

“Whatever we cannot easily understand we call God;
this saves much wear and tear on the brain tissues.”

~~ Edward Abbey ~~

Comedy_Tragedy

Rejection

“Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so…”
I’d be crying a river, I thought
if ever such crap I bought.

Sorry if it hurts your sense of style,
but, hypocrisy always gives me bile.
Being lied to accidentally is okay,
but, deliberate lies make me angry, and fey.

Oh, God, hear what I pray!
Keep me from your followers today.
Having to listen to so much that is wrong
makes me puke, before it makes me strong.

I don’t know why it isn’t clear to other folks,
which is alright, you know, different strokes.
But, why should that mean that they must
force me to believe, or fail in trust?

Spare me the lies, and the make-believe,
fairy tales are easier to hear, and to weave.
They give us a lesson which we can feel
but don’t pretend at all to be real.

Reality can scare us, that’s a given fact,
still, met with care it will leave us mostly intact.
Met without fear, standing tall and alone
Life will allow us to make it our own.

Folly beckons, and so many follow
mass delusions seem to me most hollow.
I’ll have to stick to my own chosen way
while so many go so sadly astray.

It’s lonely at times, it may seem sad,
but really isn’t, and I’m quite glad,
that knowledge is always stronger than fear,
year after year, tear after tear…..

~~ gigoid ~~

3/18/2013

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Being human isn’t easy….

*******

“Humans hardly ever learn from the experience of others.
They learn – when they do, which isn’t often – on their own, the hard way.”

~~ Robert Heinlein, Time Enough for Love ~~

*******

“Once we truly know that life is difficult –
once we truly understand and accept it –
then life is no longer difficult.
Because once it is accepted, it no longer matters.”

~~ M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled ~~

*******

“A man can only do what he can do.
But if he does that each day he can sleep at night
and do it again the next day.”

~~ Albert Schweitzer ~~

*******

“In adversity remember to keep an even mind.”

~~ Horace ~~

*******

“When it’s dark enough you can see the stars.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

*******

“Reality can be useful.”

~~ Solomon Short ~~

*******

“I make my own reality…..”

~~ gigoid, the dubious ~~

*******

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

Such as it is, there it is. Done. Not only done, but, I’d say, finished, as well. But, then, what do I know? All I know at this point is, the sun is rising, and today’s Pearl is complete. I’ll take it. Not only will I take it, I’ll take it, and run. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes; I don’t seem to have any choice in the matter….

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 -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Behold the prodigal radicchio….

Posted on by
5

Ffolkes,

“Is there life before death?”

~~ Belfast Graffito ~~

bird-sighting

A crow in the tree!….

Hajime…. Since I have no bloody idea how this got done, I’m unwilling to spend a huge effort introducing it. Placing a portion of the usual dross here might serve our purpose, but, to what gain? Little enough, to be sure. However, since it IS done, and, since there IS a new poem to share, funky as it may be, I suppose I owe myself the courtesy of at least a few words of note, if only to get us moving in the right direction. Now, if we only knew which direction that was, we’d be good to go…..

As we don’t, I’ll go ahead & use the trimming shears, ruthlessly, to keep the vehicle from collapsing under its own weight; otherwise, we could be stuck here in the intro until further notice. Luckily, we’ve already received that notice, which states, unequivocally, we won’t be allowed to stay here. Probably just as well, the way it’s going, eh? I think, given the circumstances, or lack thereof, I’ll just perform a small trick of legerdemain, & be done with it all for today. It’s pretty cool, actually; watch this….

Shall we Pearl?….

“Down in their hearts,
wise men know this truth:
the only way to help yourself
is to help others.”

~~ Elbert Hubbard ~~

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

tom_waits_stencil_by_theMIVC-1262

Some days, it’s just gotta be real…. Can’t get any more real than Tom Waits…. Enjoy!….

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

Tom Waits Live

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

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

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Comedy_Tragedy

Cognitive Abstinence

Ever affable, serendipity calls on random days
bringing gifts, wrapped in flesh and bone.
Tempting fate, color springs from intricate stone;
singing, laughing, poised to amaze.

In metaphoric haste, clues gather to confer;
graceless, with absently casual frivolity;
fraught with severely limited civility,
lead yet into realms where hope may infer.

Allegory has faded, past all disrepute;
indelible, entropy holds the field today.
Honorable, the children stand, resolute,
justice is spent, the old-fashioned way.

Temporary measures no longer apply
to foster dreams; endless nightmares parade.
Forlorn, empty, the unwashed masses cry,
while time slips away, sleeping in the shade.

Wondrous moments continue to accumulate
odd gestures of indignant fortitude.
Destiny embraces no desire to illuminate;
with such a cavalier attitude.

Pale, afraid, the joker sits to compose
a final ode to reason.
Such grandiose dreams, a dying rose,
dragged along from season to season.

~~ gigoid ~~

12/1/2016

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

More stuff worth remembering….

*******

“Honour and shame from no condition rise;
Act well your part, there all the honour lies.”

~~ Alexander Pope — Essay on Man, Epistle iv, Line 193 ~~

*******

“A man can do something for peace without having to jump into politics.
Each man has inside him a basic decency and goodness.
If he listens to it and acts on it,
he is giving a great deal of what it is the world needs most.”

~~ Pablo Casals ~~

*******

“What you own is your own kingdom
What you do is your own glory
What you love is your own power
What you live is your own story…

You don’t get something for nothing
You can’t have freedom for free
You won’t get wise with the sleep still in your eyes
No matter what your dream might be.”

~~ N. Peart ~~

*******

“This time, like all times, is a very good one,
if we but know what to do with it.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

*******

“As far as we can discern,
the sole purpose of human existence
is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.”

~~ C. G. Jung ~~

*******

“The thought manifests as the word;
The word manifests as the deed;
The deed develops into habit;
And habit hardens into character.
So watch the thought and its ways with care,
And let it spring from love
Born out of concern for all beings.”

~~ The Buddha ~~

*******

“Are you sure you won’t change your mind?
Is there something wrong with the one I have?”

— Gillian & Spock, “The Voyage Home,” stardate 8390.~~

*******

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

As they’re fond of saying downtown, there you go. Another fine Pearl, freshly squeezed to bring out the best flavor. I know, it’s a bit late to start mixing my metaphors, but, we do like to push the envelope ’round here. I’ll go ahead & push it toward tomorrow now, by wishing y’all a day filled with grand craic, and, leave you with our standard caveat, to wit: I’ll be back tomorrow, to try this again. One of these days, I’ll get it right…. maybe… 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

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À bientôt, mon cherí….