Can Life Cheat Us?

Do you ever feel that life has cheated you? Are the naysayers right, that remaining positive makes it all worthwhile, in the end? Is attitude everything?

You know the question: why do bad things happen to good people? I look at the flip side: why do good things happen to bad people?

Is there fate? Are there muses? Do you hear a voice that leads the way? Have you at your current age, decided on a belief that gives you comfort and understanding of this world?

I'm older and more grounded. I'm content when stress is absent. When it hangs around I stand my ground even though I'm human and prone to weakness.

A moment of doubt does not define me, although I sense I'm a part of something greater than I cannot define. I seek wisdom - the only thing that gives meaning. Having it grounds me, and allows me contentment in the face of adversity.

I'm older but the journey continues. In the big scheme of things I'm young, and therefore continue seeking.

Has life cheated me? Sometimes I have thought so. Then somewhere down the road I received a reason for the "disappointing " moment. I'd like to share a song. I'm not pushing beliefs; just listen to the words and apply it to your own idea of life, and the idea that we can be cheated. Can we?

http://vimeo.com/17239912

No time

With all of today's technology and ways to communicate, we have become a very distant world. At the touch of the fingertips - a message can be sped off into the wireless night. Heaven help you if you're expecting an answer within 72 hours. (Some say I have more time than they do.) Really? Aren't there 24 hours in a single day for everyone, equally? (Oh, but you  know what "we" mean? You have more free time.) No I don't. Please explain. Long ago I figured out that time is not free. You can waste it all you want, and you'll never get it back. You might as well enjoy whatever you do... whether in work or in pleasure.

Here's my point. I take four seconds to text a "Hello, how are you?" message. Why? Because you don't have time for face to face or telephone conversations. Now! it's not even worth a minute of  your time to answer? You could say, "Fine, hope you are." You could say, "Busy, but okay." See how few seconds that took?!! Yet today I run into this attitude from everywhere. It's pandemic. No time.

But let my phone ring or receive a text message? Heaven help me to rush back an answer to you. Let me memorize all the latest abbreviations. BTW, LOL, OTW, OVA.... etc., to infinity and beyond!

Maybe I should let you know that most of the time... my phone stays in the desk drawer. Yes it's on. And the land line has voice mail too.  But I was busy, and you were right... 72 hours isn't that long of a wait after all.    :)

Music to live by

Music - a great part of my life - documenting all sort of events - good and bad. Of course you can relate, if and when you hear a song on the radio, ipod, TV, Internet, or other, and it takes you to another place and time. Even writing that sentence prompts a memory of Yanni's " beautiful and haunting instrumental, "Nostalgia". And that's how it works for me. I just love a good instrumental.

Music for my friend Bazza at "To Discover Ice" - is to paint by, (among other activities I'm sure). And it is his recent sharing, of the joy of painting along to music, that prompted this post.

http://todiscoverice.blogspot.com/



I've done a lot of writing with music in the background, but never painting. Odd I know, considering I've been painting longer than writing. This week I've a project to get me back into the swing of painting. Hmm, maybe I could find some "swing" music from the 40's? Until then here is one of my favorites.

The Piano Guys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz4MzJTeL0c&feature=share&list=SP2FCE4EAED0A3000B

Do you like music? Do you have a favorite "swing" or other song you can drop my way?

Thanks  - catch you on the flipside!

Sisters of Mercy

Sometimes you hear a song but you don't quite get it. Time passes and you do. That's how it is with me. Sometimes I don't get me, but sometimes I do. I figure as long as I stay true to what and who I am, I'll be okay. Lessons come and if I get them right I'm happy. If I get them wrong I ask for mercy to figure it all out. Never had a sister but I sure wouldn't turn one away.

What about you?

Have a listen to Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris sing Leonard Cohen's "Sisters of Mercy".
http://youtu.be/uNlfvO_1V5w


As always - thanks for stopping by.

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Yes, I'm sure there is...

A friend of mine called me. His compassion for his fellow man never fails to impress me. Others walk around dazed and confused over the state of "small" daily living; often I resemble that myself. He was sure he'd written about this disease called Ebola many years ago, on one of his blogs. However his computer had crashed and the information was simply out of reach. He asked if I would please post something about this disease. What would I write? I wasn't sure, but my research took me down a strange path. Ladies and gentlemen: fasten your seat belts - we're going for a ride!

So I did the usual type of research. What are the current facts of 2014?  What are the symptoms? Does it seem the United States citizens are being moved toward an "oh-my-gosh" attitude? (We do not panic nicely.) People overseas were dying like crazy; should we be panicking? I got this crazy thought. In my browser I typed: "Who invented the Ebola virus?" Ladies and gentlemen: time to secure your crash helmets! Departure in 5, 4, 3..... Uh-oh, Ebola.

The following information was provided courtesy of "Natural News". Don't worry there are a bunch of links to support their stuff. Did I ask them if I could use their stuff? No, but the credit is all theirs. Believe me, it's their research, and you're more than welcome to look at every single site they cite. The following information is from "Natural News," and it is contained within brackets [[...]].

[[Why does the CDC own a patent on Ebola 'invention?'

Sunday, August 03, 2014

by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control owns a patent on a particular strain of Ebola known as "EboBun." It's patent No. CA2741523A1 and it was awarded in 2010. You can view it here. (Thanks to Natural News readers who found this and brought it to our attention.)

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/046290_ebola_patent_vaccines_profit_motive.html##ixzz3F2KLTx2S

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/046290_ebola_patent_vaccines_profit_motive.html##ixzz3F2KCOAbZ

The patent summary says, "The invention provides the isolated human Ebola (hEbola) viruses denoted as Bundibugyo (EboBun) deposited with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC"; Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America) on November 26, 2007 and accorded an accession number 200706291."

It goes on to state, "The present invention is based upon the isolation and identification of a new human Ebola virus species, EboBun. EboBun was isolated from the patients suffering from hemorrhagic fever in a recent outbreak in Uganda."

It's worth noting, by the way, that EboBun is not the same variant currently believed to be circulating in West Africa. Clearly, the CDC needs to expand its patent portfolio to include more strains, and that may very well be why American Ebola victims have been brought to the United States in the first place.

Harvesting Ebola from victims to file patents:

From the patent description on the EboBun virus, we know that the U.S. government:
1) Extracts Ebola viruses from patients.
2) Claims to have "invented" that virus.
3) Files for monopoly patent protection on the virus.

The "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION" section of the patent document also clearly claims that the U.S. government is claiming "ownership" over all Ebola viruses that share as little as 70% similarity with the Ebola it "invented":

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/046290_ebola_patent_vaccines_profit_motive.html##ixzz3F2Lzq6xO

It brings up the obvious question here: Why would the U.S. government claim to have "invented" Ebola and then claim an exclusively monopoly over its ownership?

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/046290_ebola_patent_vaccines_profit_motive.html##ixzz3F2Lfe5I5

The formula is always the same: create alarm, bring a vaccine to market, then scare governments into buying billions of dollars worth of vaccines they don't need.

More links:

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/046290_ebola_patent_vaccines_profit_motive.html##ixzz3F2KyxFl4

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/046290_ebola_patent_vaccines_profit_motive.html##ixzz3F2KlyMDq

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/046290_ebola_patent_vaccines_profit_motive.html##ixzz3F2JzoEIz  ]]

Interesting indeed! Scary too - dcrelief

And here is what Judge Jeanine had to say. She asks the tough questions.

http://youtu.be/SHAK6oX-JN4

No one is immune to doubt

Know what you want.
Notice exactly what you’re doing.
Is what you’re doing getting you closer to what you want?
If not, try something else.

Badlands National Park

You don't know how much sky you're missing until someone takes a photo like this. Way off in the distance the photo reveals city light.

In the days of my youth I would lay out in the backyard, without a blanket - straight on the ground. Shooting stars were better than TV on a Saturday morning.

Excuse me, I have the urge to go shoot out the green city lamp across from my home. Shhh.

A Halting Tale

Fred and his little brother Roger were eager for the joys of Halloween. Today would be their third and final trip into the woods to secure shrooms, nuts, and special leaves. Then off to trade them at the gift shop for the oh-so-coveted Halloween costumes. Indeed a glorious day awaited. (uh-huh)

Roger's scream echoed through the woods, "Fred, oh my, Fred, come see this shroom!!" Fred rolled his eyes as he often did, at his little brother's exaggerated excitement.

Fred jumped back horrified, staring at a THREE foot shroom. Goodness! Roger had a good reason to scream this time. "That's the ugliest shroom I've ever seen, " said Fred.

"Who's an ugly shroom?" replied the shroom. This time Fred screamed. Roger who turned to run tripped on a large tree root, halting his departure. He lay upon the ground arms flailing wildly unable to speak.

"Well, you are! " yelled Fred. Sure he was a bit frightened, but what the heck it was after all just a member of the mushroom family.

Zip-bang-zowie! and the shroom became a lovely little girl. Fred fell back and felt a tinge of overwhelming love for this 'beautimous' creature. Roger who still lay on the ground thought, uh-oh, this is going to be complicated.

"There are so many more treasures to be found in these woods, my woods," said the lovely little shroom, er, girl. "Follow me through that yonder golden light, and I'll show you." Her eyes did that 'batting' thing and Fred was fast upon her heels.

Roger lay on the pile of leaves watching as the girl shroom and brother Fred disappeared into the golden light, "I ain't going; you can't make me!" But the older boy and lovely shroom had already gone beyond Roger's hearing.

The morning of Halloween came, and still Fred was missing. Many searched the woods daily, to no avail. It was then that Roger realized he had a lot of coins from their "trade-ins," and could upgrade(!) his choice of costume. For the first time he hoped they'd find Fred AFTER Halloween. (uh-huh)

The shop was jammed-packed. Many had waited for the last shipment of new stuff before making a final choice. Roger walked up to a wall that displayed a sign: "Magic Manipulating Potions"... "limit three items for all the stuff you collected in the woods... or equivalent coinage, Roger." (Did the wall know his name? No, the manager is also named 'Roger'. Nice try.)

But Roger, our Roger, thought: This might actually be better than a costume. Just think, a magic potion to make the candy store clerk give you all the candy?!! A magic potion to make the bank teller give you all her one dollar bills! And third, a magic potion to make Roger a hero, finding his brother and bringing him home! A huge parade would of course be given in his honor! All the town's kids would give him their Halloween treats... Roger's imagination was endless. "YES SIR, I want to buy the three magic potions!!!"

"Are you sure?" asked the store manager, Roger. He saw the devilish little smile on the small boy's face. Oh yes, he was sure, alright.

Roger was so happy and went home to make a plan. How was it that he heard Fred calling his name? The voice got louder and louder! What in the world, wasn't Fred lost? Had he been found already? No parade for Roger - what?? It was then that Roger awoke from a very sound dream... a halting dream. No magic potions were on his small desk. He'd merely been asleep. Now it was morning and Fred stood over him, calling him awake.

"Come on little brother. Today I need your help on my science project. I can't let that silly Nelly win the prize. She has won for the last two years. So get up. Help me decide what to do for my science project this year."

Roger's deflation of excitement had taxed him so quickly upon awakening. Here was Fred alive, and he Roger hating it. What? Science project? Oh yes... yes... science project. "I know just the thing Fred! Let's go to the woods and collect shrooms. You can analyze them and tell all about their life cycles and such stuff, right?!" Across Roger's face came a devilish smile. Yes... the science project... so there might still be a chance to make a large Halloween haul after all. And still be the brother-finding hero... YES! he ROGER would see it all come true!!! "Muhu-ha-ha-ha!"

"What did you say Roger?" asked Fred.

Some days are like a dream

You may ask, "what do I mean?" Go ahead, ask.

In a world where there are so many places to go... I am at home most all the time. Health, wealth, and a community that's loads of fun, keep me busy. Busy with what? Busy with trying to communicate to people... just want to reach out and be reached back to. That seems normal. Oh dear, there's the 'n' word. Really, can we know what normal is?

Some people normally dream - every night - in full color! Me? I dream occasionally, and in color, but remembering is not always a given. Oh the scary ones usually hang out and dwell within the recesses of my mind. My personal cure for the baddies is a couple of peanut butter crackers and back to bed. Pronto. Well, unless I simply have to take a look at Facebook, to see if any news is important. Wait, wait, yes!! Someone has posted something really interesting. Might I add a comment? Oh sure, then off to bed.

Normally two hours will pass and that all important news gets filed away in my large cranium. Well, medium-sized will do, right? How could I possibly pass up a few joke postings? After all, the scary dream might still be waiting in the bed for my return.

I suspect Facebook is not really normal; probably not meant for normal people. And ~ probably pure insanity on so many levels. I don't recall there ever being anything like this sight. Wait! Maybe a huge block party where everyone wears their favorite slogan-displaying t-shirt... but that would be the closest. I remember the good old block parties.

I am now staring out my studio window. The green trees of summer have not changed. They stand tall against a pale blue sky. Golden rays of our sun break through allover. One lone tree with a patch of orange leaves captures my attention. Maybe I'll just sit here and dream. Dream of someone gently calling me: "Hey, what the heck is wrong with you? Wake up!"

Like I said, some days are LIKE dreams, but maybe not.

Thanks for reading. DC

Really?

What might next year bring?

The last little dragonfly... maybe it will return next year or maybe it won't. Delicate creatures - you just never know what they encounter. This little guy was small when he arrived in early spring. I just didn't have enough blooms then to keep him hanging around.

About mid-summer I noticed this black and white dragonfly. I'd never seen one like this. Indeed I almost missed seeing it at all because of the wing transparency. It practically faded into the background of my concrete wall. Braver than the blue colored one, I could approach and watch him for a long time. I wonder if I'll get a last glimpse of a black and white one before Autumn really kicks in?

There's another "fly" I once observed. Maybe I should call it a "flyby". It was the briefest, but scariest moment, ("what the heck is that?").  I don't know any details but it happened within a few days of the 2001 September World Trade Center event. Years later I came across it on the Internet; it was called a drone. Haven't seen one since and that's okay with me. 

Are you a nature watcher? Do you like to keep your eyes on the sky? 

A New Season?

There must something I can do. When too many days appear the same, I wonder what talent I might still have. I hate the word "disabled". It has a tendency to impress others with the idea that I'm a cast off. That's not the feeling I have; yet things I used to do are challenging, at times impossible. Sadness is the enemy I combat when thinking on the past. Still I'm encouraged that there is something, and I seek it.

People say, "don't look back," and yet the very thing that gave me past happiness might simply need adjustment. I take care not to limit myself in thought. Physically I can push along some days without injuring myself. It's been a matter of knowing when to stop, rest, return to a project. I was diagnosed "disabled" in 1998. Since then I've come to know the things that have to be avoided. Where would I be without common sense?

So I'm exploring every venue that comes to mind. I welcome any thoughts or ideas from others. Hey just throw something out there; you never know.

Here's hoping your day is filled with direction!

This Autumn

The days of heat wind down, and even though I enjoyed the summer's events ~  this jacket I wear this morning, reminds me that Autumn has begun.

Yesterday's sunset of blue and peach, a clear revealing of the coming beauty ~  is welcomed as the changes arrive in all splendor.

My life seems to flow as this new Autumn does ~
a time of longing for warm embraces, yet a time of cooling calm.

The land I walk has furnished me with pears and purple grapes ~
a summer treasure that gives way to the soon harvesting of walnuts.

I am blessed, in spite of the trials and tribulations encountered ~
summer slowly morphs into another season,
one I've always loved best ~ Autumn.

The Old Farmer's Almanac:   In 2014, the autumnal equinox brings the fall season to the Northern Hemisphere on: September 22 at 10:29 P.M. EDT. I think I felt it arrive!!

Freedom Through Simplicity

Oh dear, I stare at a blank computer screen, and feel the same anxiety creeping up: what to write? Let's get on with it and try to have some fun in a lesson-learning world. After all when I'm not learning, I repeat the same damn mistakes; like sitting here waiting for the computer to 'give me words'.

My favorite read right now comes from E. Stanley Jones. He writes: "The successes of life are often the simplicities of life." Then he shares a situation of a British Ambassador's wife. She sent a request to reserve a front row seat at one of Mr. Jones' meetings. It was explained that an ambassador's wife should never sit with anyone in front of her. Mr. Jones says, "What a complication to live by!  I could sit anywhere; I was free! Bondage to prestige is bondage." Thank you Mr. Jones!

Writing has been far from my thoughts. The whole Internet world has taken a back seat, being replaced by the love of being in the fresh air. I simply cancelled my reservation for a front row seat by my laptop. I would visit all of my favorite blogs, but even commenting meant my fingers had to touch the keys. I'm not sure if I can adequately explain what I mean... so I'll fore go it. I'm here at this moment and there's something to write.

You might think it was a time for me to 'soul search' and that's workable. A time to invest in the subtle nourishment I get from digging in the garden, certainly helped. Either way or any way, love of something bigger than myself was so 'knocking at my door'. How often I can get caught up in self reliance. In fact my own inadequacy has served a better cup. My path runneth over!

Yesterday a friend and I gathered grapes from an old vine that has returned to life! The grapes are dark purple and are so sweet. Nothing my hands did revived that vine. I munched on a pear from a nearby tree while she plucked grapes from the higher branches. I failed to mention the crazy grape vine was climbing up a tree for more sunlight. There are still lots of clusters to ripen. The pears need another week - hopefully the squirrels will hold off on their attack. They only want the seeds but will destroy a whole pear to get there.

E. Stanley Jones writes about an Indian businessman waiting on a train. (In India there are four classes on trains; first, second, intermediate, and third.) The businessman must wait for trains with first class carriages. Third class means wooden benches and crowds. Mr. Jones is taking one of those. The man replies, "Yes, you can go on it, for you are a religious man. If you go first class it doesn't exalt you; and if you go third class, it doesn't degrade you. You are lifted above distinctions, but I have to keep them up." ("Bondage to prestige is bondage.")

Okay, I don't have the fanciful gardens. I barely write anything more than a simple story of what I live daily. The fact that it's been eight months since my last post tells me I'm living differently. Maybe more simply. Enjoying freedom through simplicity. And for the reader that stops by for a visit... something that frees me - might free you? Or something that frees you -  I can add to my list!!


E. Stanley Jones, The Way, published in 1956

Right now, I am small

Right now, I am small.
Things are simple with a single tiny focus.
Earthly eyes are not yet in my possession.
I am simply loved, by all who see me.

Right now, I am small.
There is no clue about my future.
My crib is a home that I love to be in.
Warm kisses great me all day long.

Dad comes and goes.
Mom always knows ~ my every need.
Grandma with sweet songs.
Grandpa plays ping-pong ~ with my toes.
For right now, I am small.

Sleep

Golds and browns, accept your fate ~
a chill arrives, it's getting late.

Your branches gray, with dying moss ~
prepare again for season's loss.

Sleep is due with curling leaves ~
that gather 'neath the forest trees.

Creatures come to build their nests ~
for Autumn's time gives way to rest.

Sleep oh forest without a sound ~
in beauty deep of golds and browns,

Of golds and browns ~ sleep ~

It's just a story - right?

"Over yon hill boy, is the Thanksgiving Day Parade of 2013. Things are so different from our own year of 2050. But come, let us have a look at what they do. I just know it must be exciting; otherwise it might not have been given the sentimental name, "Turkey Day."

A portal opens and two birds from the future come to view the tradition of Thanksgiving. What will they find? Will they realize it is scary and unsafe for them to be in this year? Indeed I'm beginning to wonder if  people are safe being in this year. Especially here in the US of A.; seems we have a lot of 'turkeys' at the top, with fewer and fewer eagles of yesteryear remaining.

"Giant balloons, marching bands, baton-twirling dancers, Broadway skits - surely boy, I say, surely boy, it doesn't get any better than this! And oh look, a huge balloon of our distinguished ancestor, "Tom Turkey"... hi Tom!!!"

The two birds watch as the hours pass. Eventually, they stand next to a row of houses; peeking into window after window they are shocked to find that people are baking turkeys. What in the world is going on?

"They're eating our ancestors?!! I can't handle watching anymore. Let's return to our own time. I'm sure your Mom has finished stewing that swill of man. You know boy, this might explain why in 2050 we eat man every Thanksgiving."

Poof! The birds pop back through their portal. Safe in 2050 they petition the local counsel to start having a Thanksgiving Day parade. And maybe a large balloon of "Charlie Brown." Why not? Some traditions are worth keeping.

Okay ~ the end.

In my yard

Today I sat and watched the leaves. Just like this picture with it's movement.
It was so nice. It was so quiet. I love days like this.

Trick or treat?

Take care what you wish for - it's Halloween

Such an amazing tree house! Three children stood on the ground looking up. Three separate tiers, so maybe  three rounds of candy? Curiosity pulled them in. Climbing only a few steps, one child raised her hand and knocked on the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

A voice from above spoke softly, "I'm up here; climb up here."

So three young children out to seek their weight in candy climbed to the next tier. "Go on," one said, "give her a knock."

Knock, knock, knock.

The same soft voice floated on the air, "I'm up here; climb up here."

The three children, weary from all the steps, hoped they would find the treasure they sought at the last and final tier. The child who hadn't knocked before now raised her hand to do so. "What are you waiting for?" asked the eldest.

Knock, knock, knock.

A face appeared before them. It was as if it were part of the wood, and oh how lovely that face was, or the wood... The soft voice spoke hastily, "My, my, what ever do you wish for; hurry up, I don't have all day."

The three little children found their voice and cries of  "trick or treat," filled the air.

The face in the door looked slowly at each little child and asked, "So which is it, that you wish for... a trick or a treat?"

Answering her question they began to jump, up & down, up & down, up, & down, screaming, "We want candy treats; lots of candy treats; all of the candy treats in the world!"

Suddenly from the sky thousands of candy treats fell, piling up until the top tree house tier collapsed onto the second tier. The quaking continued as more treats fell, collapsing the second tier onto the bottom tier. The children were falling fast now caught in the massive amount of treats, but still screaming for more! A final thud as the bottom tier collapsed, and thousands of chocolate chip cookies covered up their last breath. Bburbburburrrrr.

The lovely face in the door laughed and laughed, while three tiny ghosts flew off into the woods to live forevermore.

The end.

Loki's give away - amazing artistry

This is for my fellow blogger, Andrew. His blog,  "Loki's Great Hall", is having a special give away. He's celebrating his 200th follower. That in itself is an amazing feat! But you must see his artwork, the piece he is giving away!!

Though my own personal choice is acrylic painting on canvas, I can certainly appreciate his wonderful talent. This is a real treasure for gamers who love to battle.