swimming-just-swimming-in the rain

It's competition time! World championships taking place all over, um, the world.  Yes, the Olympics are upon us, yet the world championships must go on. (I have no clue, why.)

Journalists, reporters, and genuine sport fans bombarded the recent swim meet. (Hype time.) Before them lay a most beautiful, Olympic size pool. Filming, photo-ops, and interviews were quickly arranged, but then the strangest discovery was noted by the pool-pa-razzi: the pool was empty!! Swim participants were busy running around the perimeter. Egad! There wasn't any water in the pool!

Suddenly from overhead a large thunderclap was heard. Rain began falling and participants quickly adopted an attitude of fun. The newly arrived Jamaican team seemed especially inspired. Ironically the major film they'd watched on the airplane trip featured, dancer/actor Gene Kelly, in movie classic "Singing in the Rain."

Or was I dreaming?

painting my chest

please excuse my lack of capitalization; i'm doing an a la e.e. cummings' writing style.  my right shoulder is healing nicely, but the left hand typing is a work in progress!  i spend a lot of time going back to rehit the space bar... oh well... here we go.

when it's free time off of the ice pack, and i can actually come to my desk, i'm always thinking of fun stuff.  this little chest is painted with black board paint.  it's not a new thing, but i see potential for it's use in my home.

i wanted to do a post, but the thought of moaning and groaning about my living limitations didn't excite me.   unless you're into pain, believe me, it would not satisfy.

i'm one of those people who like organization.  no, not obessive but looking for ideas to enhance production of all my hobbies.  this type of paint could really solve some problems.

now here's the question and feel free to share your thoughts... please... i'm bored!  do i go ahead and paint the chest i have, left handed, or wait 5 more weeks and paint it right handed?   okay, i'm done.

Olympic goal runs flat

Japaneese Olympic hopeful, Awgi, has failed to meet the required qualifications.

Distressed and dejected, Awgi went for a walk in the rain. Seems he was unaware that he was constructed from cardboard. When his legs began to melt, he stepped into the road to return to the stadium, whereupon he was smashed flat by a passing truck.

The driver was questioned and released, it determined that after all, he only hit a box.

Awgi was mailed to his hometown with a large red stamp across his head stating: "2016 - better cardboard, better ingredients, Papa Yan's."

The last azalea

I lay on the ground wondering how long I would lay on the ground? But let's start at the beginning...

Monday 7 a.m., I looked out of my office window and noticed a beautiful pink bloom. Just beyond the tree line, but within my small forest, color so rich it beckoned me to come visit. Out the door, bedroom shoes and all, my adventure began.

The last azalea was blooming. Honeysuckle vines threatened to cover the beauty. So off towards the house I went to retrieve my clippers. An uphill climb on grass still wet with dew proved to be my down fall. I tripped over a small stump, losing my right shoe, throwing me off-balance; the ground came up hard and fast. The crunching.cracking sound in my right ear 'told' me I was hurt. My right arm and shoulder took the full brunt the fall. Life had just changed.

From down below, in my garden, a voice asked, "Are you alright?"

I answered, "No, I can't get up." I was laying on an incline, my head lower than my legs. My right arm stretched straight out from my side. I had broken the arm ball that fits into the shoulder joint. I had broken a smaller piece of bone that held the shoulder tendon in place. Yep, life changed.

Ironically, the neighbor who came to my aid had changed up his morning routine. He decided to have his morning coffee on  his front porch, which looked onto my backyard. I had lying there 5-10 minutes. It took longer than that for the ambulance to arrive.

Surgery is schedule for this Wednesday, with an overnight hospital stay of 1-2 days. I'm writing this post left-handed; quite the accomplishment for me. If you don't "see" me for a few days don't worry. I'll be back as soon as I can... with even greater adventures. I'm talking serious pain medications... the sky's the limit.
And now for a first time, left-handed post to 'blog-land'. Keep the faith. This too shall pass. Thanks for reading.

Magic kisses

Children laugh and children play,
yet I was all alone one day.
You were cute and kinda scary
in that coat that was so hairy.
I kissed your nose so you might change.
You stayed the same, I thought that strange.
I am the princess that rules the bog,
but it turns out you're not a frog!
You're not a frog?

post number 500

I wondered what post number 500 would be about. Let's talk about the coming Olympics!

London is hosting the Olympics July 27- August 12, 2012. I'm so excited! Not only that but it's in the year of Queen Elizabeth's 60th jubilee. How much more excitement do I need?

Aw, yes, I love the synchronized swim teams.... every country's participants!

It's still early, for the Oylmpics, but I still needed a number 500 post, so why not?
Thanks for reading ~

Mind space

What occupies your mind occupies your time. Everything else is half-done. In a stupor or in a fog, makes no difference, when a problem enslaves your waking moments. How often I must trade the warring mind for a life of great blessings. Yes, as long as I hold on to the war inside my head, the longer I wait for peace. As this happens every year I must note that every year I have a choice to make. What, if not whom, am I living for?
It's not a unique question. Certainly it's not unique to me. People everywhere make the same inquiries that I do. Can they help me? Can I help them?
I was watching a program recently. The topic was: strongholds in the mind. A stronghold, whether it be depression, an eating disorder, cognitive issues, and many others. We don't have to let them win. The point was, when a negative thought enters your mind, it had to come from somewhere. So where did it come from? And if you don't have an answer to that you might allow yourself to become stuck. But the program lecturer was saying you need to acknowledge the thought and immediately tell it you believe differently. So it sounds like what you believe helps or directs your response to negative input.
That said, what occupies my mind today is the beauty of outdoors. It's everything I need to feel loved. The trees, the grass, the flowers, animals, and peaceful neighbors, add to my being a warmth that touches me deep within. None of this can money buy. None of this can man rule.
I continue loving what I believe. I continue loving a Creator that brings me joy. And when I tell a negative thought my Creator says differently, I am healed of the situation the thought might have led to. Just for today... I refuse to rent space in my mind for negatives.
Thanks for reading ~

What?

Father's ship

My father's ship set out to sea ~ 
It was the year that I turned three.
The winds arose, and rains did pour ~
While on the land, I turned to four.
The sails aright, their strength alive ~
When candles on the cake, said I was five.
The boom did crash, there was no fix ~
The year that I would turn to six.
A drowning mass and sinking leaven ~
The tale would end and I was seven.
So as my Mum put out the light ~
I asked if father was alright?
She answered, "Yes, but he'll be in late."
I closed my eyes and dreamed of eight.


painting: Fred Beckett

Bring us your tires

I'm from southern USA... yep the deep south where a favorite lawn decoration, for years, was the white tire! Homes, businesses, parks and jiffy johns, all displayed their tires with pride. 

Why even the 'Statue of Liberty' proclaimed the song of the south: Bring us your tires, your poor, your hungry... course now that you-all have arrived, we don't know what to do with ya!

Just in time... yes sir, we made a change! No longer is the white tire the coveted item to own. The south has one of the finest mixes of peoples you'd ever want to meet. And you know... they all brought their own yard art. Yep, yard art!! Tires.

Calling

Love sirens calling~
come and enjoy the day.

The sea is waiting~
come and enjoy the day.

As the sand warms your heart~
I'll be waiting.

still tripping on carpets made by others

There was a man who made carpets. Somewhere along the weaving he'd sneek in a broken thread or two. That way no one would be able to walk across his carpets without tripping. So the unsuspecting customer would get their expensive carpet home and have terrible experiences. Walk, trip, fall; get up... over and over, so they had to call him to come immediately. Once he got there he would secretly mend the broken threads. No more tripping! But what was the point in him doing this? He simply enjoyed tripping people up. He enjoyed knowing his attention was in demand. He loved the urgent phone calls to beg his presence to investigate the problem. It was all fun and games, and he really enjoyed the results.


I like to understand people and why they exhibit the behavior that they do... but this is not worth it. It's like a kid I knew in elementary school. He enjoyed pulling the wings off of insects and watching them suffer. He'd hold his finger over a tiny ant and say: "I am god; you are dead!" Then he'd smash the ant. It made no sense. And I guess my final answer is just that... if it makes no sense... move away from it or them... very far away.


Jotting it all down, giving it some air... releases the stress, and that's nice. So now I think I'll have some chocolate ice cream and put the "I-don't-understand-abuse" thing to rest.

A reach ~

Oh would you carry me
when I am old and gray?


Then will you bury me
should I no longer play?


Let out a laugh of cheer
to keep me in your heart
before you dump me in the ground
and sing the song of blessed lark ~


Maybe not?

Stop that racket!

It was bound to happen sooner or later. I was sitting at my special office window in my humble home minding my own business. Cling clang, bing, bang; I hit the outside lights and... THERE HE WAS...

I live in a peaceful community not far from a park and lots of geese and a pond, and, and... squirrels that ignore my every word.

Flash went the camera and he was forever captured in a kodiak moment I'll treasure a long time. He he he.  I turned the lights back out thinking how proud of my quick action I was, yessir... but then it hit me... hey, he was going after all the food!!

Once again the lights came and he was gone... and so was that feeder.

Purple is for passion?

It appears he's new to the Island of Palawan, Philippines. Of course it could be a she too. In fact the news says they change colors (colours for the Brit gallery) to social network. It's quite possible that the color/colour purple is to invite another crab for sex.


At this point during my blog I really wish a couple of brave souls might finish this up with a bit of humor (humour, I know.) Only don't get into size, as they're only between a half inch and one inch. One large step on the beach and you'd probably wipe out sixteen orgies!! Just saying...


There I'm done, well, almost; is purple for passion? What say ye? Come on, don't make me pinch ya for an answer! Really, orange you glad I'd never do that?

It's not about you ~

It's about the times we miss out and never fully recover the loss. We want to get past our pain and often do rise above the ashes of a burnt out compartment. However long ago and way back in time a memory need only surface for a moment... and we remember something good. Something so good we'd rather not forget. Revisiting old times can be hurtful yet offer experience to aid another point in our path. Limiting what I remember is no longer an option. I want the full picture so I can get the full reward of what I've learned 'this' time. A friend, lover, spouse, best buddy, doesn't matter; when you're far away... you're so far away ~

[[A song from Carol King: So far Away 


Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore? It would be so fine to see your face at my door Doesn't help to know that you're just time away Long ago I reached for you, and there you stood Holding you again could only do me good How I wish I could, but you're so far away.]]

To follow

The wind blows and I try to follow
a path that disappears.
I stand and wait
It will return soon.
I'll watch again,
and try to follow once more.

See the trees bend and sway
such a grey day
but I must declare
I like the feeling in the air.

No turmoil, no blustery challenge
just a simple wind that beckons me to follow.
A carefree movement
let me move carefree.
Let me enjoy the simple wind
and ask for no more than to follow.

Behind the scenes

The things we experience shape our reality. The people that we allow to join with us, in sharing, make a meaningful day. It has been fulfilling and helpful to have so many friends stop by for a visit. I am blessed by the community of friends who choose to stop by. Whether you're part of my computer community or other, I am grateful.


Over the last two weekends I've had to visit the emergency room. My god-daughter generously took me and stayed with me through the entire agonizing wait.  Should there be a third time, and Lord forbid, I think I'll have her drop me off and show up 8-10 hours later. It's almost guaranteed the ER staff will move slowly along. A big thank you to L.R. Your love and generosity touch my soul.


Today my head fills empty. I suppose too many side effects from medications has me teetering on the edge of blah-ville. My only goal is to keep the nausea I've experienced at bay. As long as I can keep fluids down I'll be better off and can avoid the ER. Yet during all of this I find answers to things I've pursued for months. Empty head or not, I feel peaceful and calm.


The on-call doctor didn't call in nausea meds before the pharmacy closed. That means I do without. I've resorted to old school to sip water or ginger ale, and eat dry toasts; so far, so good. The pain meds are strong so driving my van is out. So I'll be staying home from church today. A difficult decision because I really like attending this church.


I spoke to my mentor about all of the above. This woman is a powerhouse of strength. She prayed over the phone for me and it's quite humbling for someone to do that. Church, this church, has brought something new into my life. I feel surrounded by people that love me. And I feel the same way when it comes to my blogging friends. I don't want to miss church and I don't want to miss my blog! I want to read what others are writing and glean from their experiences. To me there's no better way to live than to enjoy each soul knowing God loves each one; no matter what we individually may choose.


So here it is... my thoughts as they come forward. Illness doesn't have to bring me down. It happens to many and I hope I return the blessing to any one of you when you need support. It's those 'behind the scenes' issues we may not see. Scant details that we'd rather not bother any one with.  Just this spontaneous post; I'm not bragging or complaining; wanted to thank everyone for being who you are and sharing your own, 'behind the scenes' with me.

Today's catch

The beach has always been a powerful influence. Just thinking about being there inspires me to create. I found these ceramic fish on the web site given within their photos. Instead of doing ceramic artwork, which is not one of my skills, I'll execute them in paper mache. 

Add caption

I'll be breathing in that salt air with every strip of paper I glue on. Layering paper strips like the ever moving sand seeking to fill the voids/ nooks and crannies! Dress the fish with rhinestones, bits of shell, and other stuff.

May the sun shine on my adventuresome little project! May the waves roar above the boom box with beach boogie music playing.

Against the wall

My life is a bit tangled.The old plate is full but you know that means nothing. Just like watching a baseball game; batter up, strikes out; another batter, another strike out, and on it goes. Some times you win and some times you get a lesson.


I chose the photo of the bright starfish against a rock wall. You might know the phrase I'm referring to: "I'm between a rock and a hard place" ? And like a criminal caught in a spot light, he/she throws the body up against the wall in surrender. Yep, surrender.


Have you ever felt you were up against a wall, and your only choice was to surrender? A minister friend of mine once told me: "If it's a decision you need to make, flip a coin; if it comes a up 'heads' but you'd rather it come up 'tails', then there's your answer. Go with 'tails'. Could it really be that simple?


I guess most of you know by now that I pray concerning decisions I have no answers to. Therein lies the continuance of my faith: knowing my God is always there with the answer, before I even finish asking. I stand by in faith knowing he will lift me up and above the issues I have on my plate. Still I just needed to post this, and am really uncertain why.  Maybe someone out there has experience and advice that would assist me. If not, it's okay; enjoy the photo from Cousin Kathy.