storms and inspirations

There was a time when I hated storms. The morning walk from car to workplace, in heels, made no sense at all. Couldn't we simply cancel work or have a personal taxi pick us up? My poor water-dirt spattered legs. Rubber booties weren't available unless you were nine years old. Cutting out the toe area of the boot would have 'defeated' the purpose. No, not for the purpose of staying dry, but to make that long, stupid walk to work! Alas I was much too young to feel inspired; too old to appreciate a 'class A' mud puddle. But then I became disabled and could no longer work. You don't know how many times I watched the morning lineup of cars heading to work in the rain... and wished I could join them. I'd take that walk, smiling, thankful, for the joy of working.

Fast forward to today, some eleven years later. Life is so different because I've grown in understanding of God, self, others... and storms. There are things I call 'my work' that give me peace and happiness. I'm inspired by those who face this dilemma and find their treasure. Without their inspiration I might have kept watching storms in vain. (I used to hear a song in the back of my mind: “Rainy days and Mondays, always get me down.”)

Recently my home state experienced a horrible storm. I listened to 30mph winds race around and over my house. Thunder rumbled, and it was hard to tell that from the limbs falling onto the roof. My first reaction was to grab the safety candles in case the power went out. This went on for hours and I hoped, hoped for others. I thought about those people without homes and their long walk to find shelter. How would they stand up against the wind? I felt inspired to hold positive thoughts... although I wavered a bit in the beginning. Ironically I was reading, “Never Ever Give Up!,” when the storm arrived. In my own fear I found strength for other people. No... I think God took my fear and made it a positive. I cannot explain this conclusion; most might say it's a matter of personal choice. I believe that “God within me” gives the ability to make that choice. (No... there's a scripture that comes to mind: “I can do all things, through Christ, which strengthens me.”) So when, out of fear, I asked for the safety of others, I received strength to hold them in positive thoughts. This doesn't mean no lives will be lost, no houses damaged, or no limbs piled high in the yard. This is what I see that helps me. Just a thought, but how often are we inspired by the storm in someone else life? Answers are not required, but welcomed, here.

The storm passed over and I 'returned' to my work. Chapter one of “Never Ever Give Up,” seems to be moving right along. Thank you :)

Fashion for the rainy season

I hope you won't allow the gray skies and rain to always ruin your day. Once in a while it's okay to feel blah and duck into a corner of your couch. Keeping in mind that ducks love water; so probably adore rain. Just pretend your a duck.

For those souls who have no choice but to brave the outdoors... I offer you 'fashion for the rainy season'. Just the thing to uplift your mood and others around you. Think of the intriguing remarks from co-workers:

Tom: Hi Sara... love your heeled boots!
Sara: Thanks Tom... I borrowed them from my husband.
Tom: Ewww.

Okay, if you feel inclined to add something, then leave it in the little box. It's rainy out and I'm bored.

Pain in Japan: Shedding

(Japanese tulip tree near my home ~ dc)

Pain in Japan

"RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan (Reuters) – In a devastated landscape of splintered homes, rotting bodies and twisted cars, an elderly man walks with stooped shoulders searching for any object that can bring back memories of his daughter.
"Her home used to be there but that is gone," the man who asked to be called by his family name Kikuchi said, pointing at a spot in the town of Rikuzentakata, leveled by the tsunami of nearly two weeks ago.
"My daughter is missing. She is gone. I was up in the hills above town and couldn't get to her in time," Kikuchi said in a steady voice.
"I am looking for something that can remind me of her. There must be something here," Kikuchi said and then resumed wandering through the mud-strewn debris in the town of broken buildings erased by a giant wall of water."

[This story touched me and I felt compelled to write a poem with a different ending. The father will find a tree he gave her years ago. Fictional, yes, however it seems likely to happen... somwehere. What terrible pain and a long time of shedding tears.]

Shedding

A tulip tree is shedding flowers ~
like shedding tears.
'Cause nature came in awesome power ~
igniting fears.

A tulip tree yielding to the wind ~
without any pain.
A father's heartache will never mend ~
his search in vain.

A tulip tree is firmly grounded ~
with roots that ache.
Her home is gone from being pounded ~
from wave and quake.

A tulip tree is what he bought her ~
a simple pleasure.
The only thing left of his daughter ~
his greatest treasure.

The tulip tree was moved to his yard ~
shedding flowers ~
like shedding tears.
He continues smiling but it's hard ~
lonely hours ~
memories dear.

Almost

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Another chance to rise

“When the odds are stacked against us, we often rise to the occasion and surprise people... including ourselves!” ~B.J. Gallagher

In the last few months challenges have appeared for me to solve. Often times I cannot do it alone. I turn to friends to hear about their experiences. I've also found solace in reading blogs. It is a real treasure to have sources of experience and love so close by. Isolation has never been the answer for me.

Lately I'm studying formal portrait painting. I've done portraits but relied on a self taught process. Having listened to the best, and observed their talent, I shall attempt to give it another go.

My Dad's estate is taking some time to be resolved. You might recall, he passed last October. But more than the issue of the estate is the issue of feelings I do not have. Unfortunately we had a turbulent relationship; never did resolve our differences. As a result I am resolving them as best I can. Oddly I find I don't care what happens to any property. I'm not a coveting sort of person. It's surprising to me that I must have let go a while back. I thought I might feel guilty for not missing him, as much as I miss my Mom, but that hasn't happened.

My husband is still unemployed. Since April of 2010 we've taken life one day at a time. On the upside he's become quite the chef! After seventeen years of him tolerating my cooking, he finally agrees that I'm best at cleaning up after meals ~ hahahaha! Oh, I had trouble relinquishing control of 'my' kitchen, but not for long. When he returns to work I'm going to miss the 'happy meals'. I'm so addicted to his fresh vegetable blends.

My spine is not attached at the hip bones, or lower lumbar region. A fall many years ago broke my back and the result means my spine can move out of place. For three months I've been in therapy, hopefully to reverse the issue of late; my lumbar area has moved 5 millimeters forward.; another 5mm and I'll be paralyzed. Not to complain but I'm trying to surprise myself. As each issue presents itself I look to rise and claim success.

Thank you for reading what appears to be a self-absorbed blog post. Then again, as I said, isolation has never been the answer for me. And maybe, just maybe, as 'they' say... I'll feel more resolved by letting some of the craziness out in the light.

Shared

A small world ~ this drop of water upon a flower.

I marvel at the color and the balance ~ the joy of the petal.

A fleeting embrace ~ a capture of nature's beauty.

Life touching life ~ a moment is shared.



Image credit: T.J. Marlin (Thank you, T.)

Borrowed humor

http://xkcd.com/

Fringe

I watch a television show called, "Fringe"; basically it's about a parallel reality. Indeed, over there I might be a real writer!! I might paint the best acrylic canvasses in the world. I might tell funny jokes and short stories that rival Robin Williams. Or I might actually be sane!

A friend sent me this photo and I have no details to share about it. To me that's sad because I'd love to see this metallic art piece. I would find it unique to be standing beside it in the city, while seeing the same city in it.

Well, I like it and had to share it. Whether or not you watch the show, it's an amazing piece of work in the photo. It makes me feel as if I'm standing on the 'fringe' of something bigger than myself.

whether or not to be vain ~ a question

Are we vain when we brag about good weather? Whether vain or not, we need to be grateful when the weather is nice.


"Just let your smile be your umbrella on a rainy, rainy day?" Might as well as these umbrellas aren't performing.



Good weather is a gift. Enjoy it because you never know when it will be gone with the wind.



Image credit:
Graphics Fairy
My pictures 2005
Movie still, 'Gone with the wind'

a child's world

A new generation of nieces and nephews have invaded my world. They descend upon my heart like gentle doves, soft and cooing. They conquer my mind with their laughter and smiling faces. And now I prepare to enter a child's world and produce another 'masterpiece' that teaches family names and positions.

My last book was about a rocking horse for my niece, Kaitlyn. Each family member did some task to help build the horse. By the time the book was finished, Kaitlyn knew the names and positions, (aunts, uncles, cousins), of her family unit. I understand that Kaitlyn keeps her book in a special box so no one can touch it without her permission. That's quite the compliment to me. I'm so glad she likes it.

Okay, now to write something cute and meaningful for her younger brother, Adam. He's the little fella pictured in my previous blog. His Mom says he's into wheels and the color green. Here's the challenge then: finding something that the family can build for him. The object must have enough parts for everyone to have a task. If you think of an object, feel free to let me know.



Above Image: 'The Graphics Fairy' - see my reading list

Pinch me?

There are those who say they will pinch me if I don't wear green clothes on March 17th. Yep, they call the day, St. Patrick's Day. I don't know about your saints but I hope my saints don't go around pinching people. But just in case I had my Mom buy a bunch of little green shirts.

Now if only the wind would stop blowing so my hair will lie down. It looks like a lion's mane. Oh, maybe that's okay, doesn't March come in like a lion and go out like a lamb?! And if so does it mean I need a white shirt for the lamb look? Pink is out as I'd rather be pinched than wear pink.

I'm hungry, so I'll write more later :))

The Reflection

In the coolness of a morning
My sweet cubs come to drink
And ~
They see themselves as I was
Recognizing the reflection

I am rare and some would seek me
For trophy’s gain and outer beauty ~

In jungle brush and flowered tree
They make-believe it is my duty ~

To stand and roar but never flee
For the shot that rings incessantly ~

And takes me down
Where my cubs mourn
Until ~
In the coolness of a morning
My sweet cubs come to drink
And ~
They see themselves as I was
Recognizing the reflection

Morning Forest (reposted)

On mountain morn I watched the light
The sun arose with awesome flight
Across the snow, rays fell in lines
Creating trees that looked divine.

The sky was red, then turned to pinks
The fog did flirt with several winks
A line of green did peek and leave
A sight so rare, I now believe.

The bitter cold against my face
I longed return to warmer place
I sketched the sky and then the sun
Included trees and I was done.

Arriving home I warmed my hands
To paint the scene of lovely land
When I was done the painting showed
An early sun with beauty glowed.



(Painting and poem by dcrelief.)

Pictures for children

Here are some pictures your children can color.

au naturalle

This year I refuse to stand in a store line to buy a card or anything else for Valentine's Day. Sure, I love my little Koko Koala, but she wants me to come up with something "green," rather than spending green. So between my refusal and her request, this Valentine's will be the best.

I glued red berries to a piece of bark and carved "I love you". Now I'm off to collect some really lovely eucalyptus leaves; won't she be pleased?!

Then on the happy day I'll pick insects and dirt from her fur. Then she'll slap me upside the head and bite my arm. We'll finally snuggle in the tropical rain. This is going to be a great Valentine's.

anti valentine

Anti valentine

This is a brief message to readers from “Alistair Cookie.” He is one tiny journalistic bundle who adores the work of Alistair Cooke. Mr. Cooke, a noted British/American journalist impressed the little one on the quality of life. Now the small protégé will speak his mind on ‘anti valentine’.

“Hello! It’s been a long time since I’ve written. I forgot how to turn the computer on, hahaha. Not to worry as I have found the little red button on the power strip (electrical carousel); shhh, mums the word.

I am inundated with correspondence regarding the obnoxious commercialism of all holidays. This has led to a tired exclamation that ‘every day is a holiday.’ Call me small but I don’t think that’s a solution. I don’t want to be mailing out cards for every day of the week! Besides licking the stamps makes my tummy hurt; eyuck!

In conclusion if you’re anti valentine, it’s no problem for me. As long as anti valentine doesn’t mean you’re anti love… then all is well.

Take care, and keep that correspondence coming. You might include some choco-chip cookies for faster reply, hahahaa!”

~Al

a piece of nature

Down the road are the remnants of a tree. There’s a carving of a heart in the bark. It’s been around a long time and only the wind knows who made it. When I first saw it I stopped dead in my tracks. Amazing! Too bad I didn’t bring the background into focus. Then again it has provided me with this post, so the shot was not in vain.

How I miss this area. We had a huge forest where trees could slowly die with dignity. No chainsaws were ever heard in there. Wild flowers on vines meandered along the limbs. I once sat on a fallen tree surrounded by hundreds of blue morning glories. It was so beautiful, I cried.

I hope you have a piece of nature, close by, to love.

Mostly ~

Gary writes klahanie"> a great emotive blog. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry, and sometimes, I want to slap this guy! (I’m just joking, Gary.) Gary and his side-kick Penny, (the Jack Russell dog), are quite famous over the internet. They also write!

It is with humble and partially insane, egotistical delusion, that I accept the “Life is Good Award” from Gary. It gets better because I get to pass it on to other bloggers!! Thank you very much, Gary.

There are certain requirements in accepting this award:

1. Thank and put a link back to the person who kindly gave this award.
2. Share a few things about yourself.
3. Pass the award on to other bloggers. (No limit given.)
4. Inform the bloggers that they have received the award.


Ironically, when I feel that life is good, I also get a vision of a piano falling on my head. Not a literal piano but a crashing-sort of burden would seem to appear. I fear looking at the horizon; hey, is that a tornado headed this way?? Time to strap down the piano!

Life as I feared had greater things in store for me. I learned that I could play that piano, releasing emotions that were harmful and yet good for me to resolve. Long wondrous melodies were circling in my head; I felt reborn as I shared them with the walls. The harmonious blend of sound took and shook my walls, and I felt free. I wasn’t going to tote that piano anywhere anymore, because the keys to “Life is good” left their composition in my soul. (I’ll move on from the dramatics, as I wanted to be an actor at one time.)

The only life I know (or remember?) is this one. I feel blessed by a Creator I cherish, knowing that more will be revealed for my life. I used to see physical limitations as a curse. Today I realize that if I were totally healthy, I wouldn’t make time to do the things I do. Just like some friends and family, I’d live life in the fast lane. In my mind it’s akin to running away from my self. Lying all ego aside I claim that life is good… mostly. I hope yours is mostly good too.

I pass the “Life is Good Award” to the following bloggers/writers. If you’d rather not participate, that’s fine. No questions asked. Just know that I greatly enjoy your web site, and the “good life” I read about when I’m visiting.

David @ A Day in the Life">

Julie @ A Jewel Shining Through">

Heather@ Soundoff">">

Maria@ Calm Energy">

Mattie@ A Moment with Mattie">

Roger @ The Buddhist Conservative">

"Support can be beautiful"*

It’s the day of the great “Super Bowl” and I wanted to show my support. Yes sir, if I had to go another week I’d scream. Yes ma’am, and when the last second ticks away I hope I’m having a nice catnap. I’ll have to keep the snoring in check. After all I’m married to man who eats this stuff up.

Speaking of eating; there’s a huge bag of chicken wings to be smothered and covered in sauce, and then baked. There’s more and he’s busy prepping as I type. He even vacuumed the living room; he really wants to watch the big TV. I hide around the corner and laugh, but silently.

Speaking of hiding; there’s no way to miss finding your way to the restroom. This bowl sends out prism-like signals. You’d have to be blind to miss it. It kind of reminds me of the football network’s attitude: No one should ever miss a “Super Bowl.”

Green Bay Packers are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. If I can survive whoever murders the National Anthem I’ll stay for the kick-off. If not, my next stop is waking up in time to see the teams walk off the field.


“Support can be beautiful”*
* A trademark logo for ‘Playtex’ for women.
Image: Alibaba

Passing on the Jolly Good Tag

David a fellow writer & blogger sent me this survey. Why? Because it says to 'pass it on' when you're done. Thank you, David, for the tag. It was fun and interesting. I always enjoy his posts, and hope you will too.

A Day in the Life:Dave's Progress">

You can read my own answers here. A Jolly Good Tag">">
It's my turn to spread the fun and joy to four bloggers. Please do not feel any pressure or obligation to do this. It's entirely up to you.


The Buddhist Conservative

A Moment with Mattie

A Jewel Shining Through

Calm Energy


1. If you have pets, do you see them as merely animals, or are they members of your family?

2. If you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?

3. What is the one thing most hated by you?

4. What would you do with a billion dollars?

5. What helps to pull you out of a bad mood?

6. Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?

7. What is your bedtime routine?

8. If you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your partner?

9. If you could watch a creative person in the act of the creative process, who would it be?

10. What kinds of books do you read?

11. How would you see yourself in ten years time?

12. What’s your fear?

13. Would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to visit outer space?

14. Would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?

15. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

16. If you could change one thing about your spouse/partner what would it be?


17. If you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?

18. Would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?

19. If you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?