Poems by John Clare

Written in Northampton County Aslyum
John Clare

I am! yet what I am who cares, or knows? My friends forsake me like a memory lost. I am the self-consumer of my woes; They rise and vanish, an oblivious host, Shadows of life, whose very soul is lost. And yet I am—I live—though I am toss’d Into the nothingness of scorn and noise, Into the living sea of waking dream, Where there is neither sense of life, nor joys, But the huge shipwreck of my own esteem And all that’s dear. Even those I loved the best Are strange—nay, they are stranger than the rest. I long for scenes where man has never trod— For scenes where woman never smiled or wept— There to abide with my Creator, God, And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept, Full of high thoughts, unborn. So let me lie,— The grass below; above, the vaulted sky.

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I found this poem several years ago and have always felt the pain of this poet. I don't know who he is, and I've never stumbled across any of his works. I finally just went on line to find out about him. But he seems to be like me, having more questions than answers, having that sense of feeling lonely, but yet maybe he was surrounded by people who loved him. I don't know. But my interest is peeked, and I shall have to read about him to feel satisfied.

What is Life ~ John Clare

And what is Life? An hour-glass on the run, A mist retreating from the morning sun, A busy, bustling, still-repeated dream. Its length? A minute's pause, a moment's thought. And Happiness? A bubble on the stream, That in the act of seizing shrinks to nought. And what is Hope? The puffing gale of morn, That of its charms divests the dewy lawn, And robs each flow'ret of its gem -and dies; A cobweb, hiding disappointment's thorn, Which stings more keenly through the thin disguise. And what is Death? Is still the cause unfound? That dark mysterious name of horrid sound? A long and lingering sleep the weary crave. And Peace? Where can its happiness abound? Nowhere at all, save heaven and the grave. Then what is Life? When stripped of its disguise, A thing to be desired it cannot be; Since everything that meets our foolish eyes Gives proof sufficient of its vanity. 'Tis but a trial all must undergo, To teach unthankful mortals how to prize That happiness vain man's denied to know, Until he's called to claim it in the skies.

Book a Minute Classics

This is so funny; I can hardly choose which is my favorite! For the quickest book report ever ... go here




(I want to put this on my sidebar if that's possible)

The Picture of Dorian Gray

It's the 1945 movie ~ The Picture of Dorian Gray.

But first it was a book by Oscar Wilde. A novel about a man who never aged on the outside because his portrait did instead.

Dorian Gray has a name that aptly fits him. There is no color to his personality, no zing; the beauty of Dorian is on the outside only. He is essentially the flat canvas and lives his life devoid of feelings and develops no dimensions to his character. He becomes a true hedonist. He becomes seduced by the dark side! He is Darth Gray-der!

Everything rolls off him as if he is covered with a coat of shellac, as if he is the painting. Nothing penetrates him. His soul is trapped in the painting, and it is this work of art that begins to show the inner part of him that is ugly and tainted.

At first he finds this fact of his beauty never fading just fascinating. He enjoys the attentions this brings.

But with no feelings in the heart, he becomes like an empty space, and Dorian becomes addicted to more and more sinful ways, perhaps in a effort to feel something leaving one to think perhaps falling in love with ones own beauty is ones doom. Doeth one not see the possibility of this?

Perhaps, through the attention Dorian receives for his looks, he thinks he will restore to himself the feelings of abandonment from the loss of his parents early in his life.

What needed to come from within, Dorian was looking for without.

Wide Awake

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book ~
an Irish Proverb

Yesterday I slept until noon. And last night I laughed so hard at a blooper's show my chest was hurting. So maybe that is why this morning I was awake at 3:30 AM and up at 4:30 AM and feel fine (so far, I'll probably crash around noonday).

And I will remember to see the sun rise this time. It's supposed to do that around 7:30 AM. Gosh, even a reasonable sleep could have made that!

I have no idea what is affecting my sleep patterns.

My #1 son is in India on a business trip, so it's about 4 PM where he is right now. This is his first time to India. He flew through Paris, but I think he wasn't allowed to leave the airport. I'll find out for sure. He did connect with us by email already to say in a sentence he was there in New Delhi and meeting his boss today. You know, you homeschool a child and you never think ~ one day he will go to India. It was Australia he always talked about! Oh well. I imagine he'll go there one day, too.

The World is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page ~
....St. Augustine

An open letter to Socrates

I stumbled across this letter below, and it made me laugh. Sometimes things just hit me funny.

But it reminded me of the quote, "Life is a tragedy to those who feel, and a comedy to those who think." I had to look up the author of the quote - some fellow named Jean de la Bruyere - which I think rhymes with the cheese.

I am a thinker. I overthink. I rethink. I dethink. I love to think about things. I would stay on the mountain top and think if I could. But life will not allow me that pleasure.

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"Dear Socrates,

I hate you. I know why they killed you. You believe you are a gadfly for the good of society, whose sting serves a greater good, but in fact you introduced a way of thinking into the world that has made life unlivable. 'What did I do?' you might innocently inquire; 'all I do is ask questions.' Oh yes, but those questions are intended to expose the assumptions upon which all human knowledge is built, and you know full well that once that happens, there can be revolutionary consequences. 'That too is for the better,' you might reply; 'if the foundation is rotted out, replace it with a sounder one to secure the future.' But the problem is that there is no such thing as a sound foundation. According to you there must always be assumptions; hence the questioning never stops. The only thing that has been 'secured', therefore, is your profession!"

Philosophy Now Magazine (November 2005).

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Do you think sometimes we think too much?

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Time alone isn't such a bad thing

"The more powerful and original a mind, the more it will incline towards the
religion of solitude." -Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963)

On being Alone
  by Miss Roxie

It was something I never really minded.
I did like to find my way around a new place
with a slower gait then others.
Although it was nice to have a friend
now and then,
being alone, unparalleled spatial auras
that tumbled themselves into
just a dimension passing
quietly ...
in reading, in listening to the sounds of music,
photographs real and otherwise,
daydreams,
relaxing in the grass, watching clouds dance,
star gazing in the night air,
To remain a secret.  Or not.
Alone was never bad to me.
Now,
on being lonely,
well, that's another thing altogether, isn't it?

Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.....May Sarton

A Poem from Miss Roxie

My heart speaks

by Miss Roxie

If my heart could rule the world
There would be no pain or sorrow
There would be only understanding
And helpfulness and mercy
And counting correct change
And traffic that merges correctly and
Cuts no man off to start a firebrand of anger

There would be hugs before they were needed
So no great depths of loneliness would ever be reached
There would be pats on the heads for young children
Whose kind deeds would be matter of factly done
And lollipops that wouldn’t rot your teeth
If my heart could rule the world.

All would feel what another feels
The famous slings and arrows, the insults,
The differences, the sameness
If my heart could rule the world

The heartbeat would be universal
And would daily cry out for
No misery today!
No sorrow today!

What do you need old man?
Old woman?
Young boy?
Young girl?
Working man?
Mother with babe in arms?

What do you need?
Here, let me help you.
Here, let me carry that load for you,
Here, trade me your burdens for a while,

Rest here, my heart would say,

If my heart ruled the world.

What you can find cleaning out the attic

Dad and Madam B finally got to the attic late this afternoon. And now, everything is in my family room. Everything.

They sorted out a sort of pile of things to go and things to keep, and the things to go pile is _a lot_ bigger, thank goodness.

Madam B brought me a box of books to ask what I wanted to keep from there, and as I went through the box, I realized that some of Sean's notes were in there. Found myself walking down memory lane...So this is what I am currently reading.

These are from Sean when he was ten going on 11 ~~

About Ludwig Beethoven:

Ludwig V. Beethoven became a famous composer in Germany in the late 1700's. He became successful because he overcame painful treatments in his past and deafess at the age of 30.

Jan V. Beethoven, Ludwig's father, thought he was ugly, and Jan was an abusive father. But his mom and his grandfather thought he was beautiful and loved him very much.

Respect:

If you don't respect your parents or everybody, you won't get respect back. Please, if you do not respect your parents, you lose a lot of privileges. If you say shutup to something else while someone is talking then they will think you are saying shutup to them.

George Washington Carver:

George Washington Carver was born near Diamond Grove, Missouri. It is not clear when he was born, but one book said that he was born in 1861 and died in 1943. If that book is right, he lived 82 years.

He was a scientist and a botanist. He invented powered milk, wood stains, fertilizer, and other things.

His dad was killed. His mom, along with George and another child were kidnapped. George was saved because a man took George for a $300.00 horse, that was expensive.

George found out that sweet potatoes and peanuts could grow in the Alabama soil. He taught the farmers how to plant those things so they could raise money for the community. That took a while.

I think that George misses his mom and dad.

When Nathan comes:

When Nathan comes the house goes uh-oh. When Nathan is here, the person that goes "aaaaaaaa", he is the little terrorizor. When Nathan comes the house is ready to get messey like a tornado came through. He bites, he yells, he eats your toes for fun, and he disrupts everything. Me and my mom are glad when he is laying down.

But he is the cutest baby on earth. We love him very much.

Ways not to be bitten by sharks:

1. Don't swim in waters where sharks are.

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"When Nathan Comes" is my favorite. Nathan is my great nephew, and he used to come here about three days a week or more, from morning till night, because his mom worked. He is about 10 years younger than Sean. We had the most fun when Nathan was here. It really was hard to get school done during those years that we took care of Nathan, but I wouldn't change that experience for the world.

Sean is 19 now. He is away at school.

He played football with Nathan, who is 9 now, the last weekend of October. My family met in the middle of the state for a reunion weekend. And Nathan just thinks my boys are "all that".

It is such a fine feeling to watch your family grow up and grow stronger in love and connection. It's such a fine feeling.

"The family is the school of duties - founded on love" .....Felix Adler

Early musings

Words to the wise:

Dorian Gray (The Picture of Dorian Gray)~ "An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you ef you don't watch out!"*

Reverend Dimmesdale (The Scarlet Letter) ~ "Be sure your sins will find you out!"**
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I was up at 5 AM. What? Am I crazy now?

Sleep declared itself done, so I arose before the sun. I enjoyed my cup of hot coffee in the quiet, and began my bookwork, which I completed! hooray! but I forgot about the sunrise that I had wanted to see!

I am happy to say, though, that I accomplished a lot of work. All my posting of bookwork is complete and up to date! This is marvelous. I cleaned out three drawers of my desk. Threw away a bag of things. Helped my husband with something he had to complete, and am now taking a short break before I get ready to head out for errands and visit my homebound friend, Drusy.

Madam B did all her today's school last night, so she has made Blueberry muffins for me to take to Miss Drusy, cleaned out some cabinets, and cleaned the kitchen and is helping her dad with emptying of the attic. This is a job that has been lying in wait. Since we are moving (soonish?), we must not put this off any longer.

Dad's best and easiest way to clean and organize? Throw it out!

I usually have to leave, so I don't have to deal with emotional attachment to "stuff." It's terrible, isn't it? I still have the first flowers my oldest son gave me (he's 29 now) in the original little plastic box I put them in after they turned brown. I go in my closet every so often to look at them. Silly, I know, but it always makes me smile. I can still remember the day, the little head of hair running over with his eyes focused on the little flowers, "Here, mommy, for you." Ahhhh, life is just so short!

Well, you know what they say, enjoy your achievements as well as your plans!

Later,

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* Little Orphant Annie (one of my favorites to read aloud)
**Numbers 32,23

I really do love Big Books!

"The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery."....Francis Bacon

I have been searching for some big art books. I just like big books. Maybe it is because I am getting older and can't see as well? I don't know ~ but I did find three that I purchased!

This one is online for a mighty hefty price! I mean $110.00? But I found it for $9.99. The other one, I can't find online, is called The Impressionist A Retrospective. It was $9.99, also. I'm sure a search could find them for $00.10 with a hefty shipping and handling cost because they are so huge! But I love them. The photos are nice and there is a lot of information about the artists and the time periods. I am satisfied with my purchase. I picked them up at Walden's Book Store.

The third book I bought, I probably didn't really need, but I liked it. It is here. It has a lovely large photo on each page with some information about the artist and the painting on the other. This one I picked up for $4.00.

I did notice that the books featuring the modern art were several dollars more. I didn't care for any of the modern art, but my daughter did like a lot of it. But I didn't buy those books, maybe later (who knows). I'm stuck here for now.

I enjoy looking at a painting and knowing what they are, and then letting myself feel something from them. I like, then, to read the explanations, praises and criticisms of the painting, and measure it against what I felt.

I had an experience with Degas in looking at two particular paintings and felt such gloom and darkness and even a feel of being threatened by them, and when I read about those paintings, I was surprised that was exactly what he had painted! Silly, I know, but I thought I should not be so hasty now not to like him, as I don’t really know why he wanted to show those feelings, only that he did it successfully.

"A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art."....Paul Cezanne

What I'm reading -

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne

and various other things that come in my path....

Love and Marriage - The Kids View

Love and Marriage from the kids point of view....

• "If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don't want to do it. It takes too long." -- Glenn, age 7
• 
  
• "Love is like an avalanche where you have to run for your life." -- John, age 9
• 
  
• "I think you're supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn't supposed to be so painful." -- Manuel, age 8
• 
  
• "No one is sure why it happens, but I heard it has something to do with how you smell. That's why perfume and deodorant are so popular." -- Mae, age 9
• 
  
• "Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." -- Greg, age 8
• 
  
• "Once I'm done with kindergarten, I'm going to find me a wife." -- Tom, age 5
• 
  
• "On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested
  
• enough to go for a second date." -- Mike, 10
• 
  
• "I'm in favor of love as long as it doesn't happen when Dinosaurs is on television." -- Jill, age 6
• 
  
• "One of the people has freckles, and so he finds somebody else who has freckles too." -- Andrew, age 6
• 
  
• "My mother says to look for a man who is kind. That's what I'll do. I'll find somebody who's kinda tall and handsome." -- Carolyn, age 8
• 
  
• "It gives me a headache to think about that stuff. I'm just a kid. I don't need that kind of trouble." -- Kenny, age 7
• 
  
• "One of you should know how to write a check. Because, even if you have tons of love, there is still going to be a lot of bills." -- Ava, age 8
• 
  
• "When somebody's been dating for a while, the boy might propose to the girl. He says to her, 'I'll take you for a whole life, or at least until we have kids and get divorced.'" -- Anita, 9
• 
  
• "I'm not rushing into being in love. I'm finding fourth grade hard enough." -- Regina, age 10
• 
  
• "Most men are brainless, so you might have to try more than once to find a live one." -- Angie, age 10
• 
  
• "A man and a woman promise to go through sickness and illness and diseases together." -- Marlon, age 10
• 
  
• Being] single is better . . . for the simple reason that I wouldn't want to change no diapers. Of course, if I did get married, I'd figure something out. I'd just phone my mother and have her come over for some coffee and diaper-changing." -- Kirsten, age 10
• 
  
• "Love is foolish...but I still might try it sometime." -- Floyd, age 9
• 
  
• "Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me." -- Dave, age 8

• 
  

On being Dsylexic

I misplace things on a daily basis. It's just me. I have a disease. The one hand doesn't know what the other hand is doing. It's dyslexia. Was anyone aware that there are scientist currently working on trying to find a gene that proves dyslexia is heriditary? It was discussed on NPR this past week, and has been before. Here is a message board that was speaking of it.

Some people from Yale are studying it, and I think two other places, as well. They have found a total of three different genes that it might be, but are sure of none.

I really don't know what this all means. I mean, it's good to study things, but I'm wondering how knowing it's a gene can help dyslexia? I wouldn't give my children a drug (I have two dyslexics and then myself). I have just explained to them they are the way they are (and my brother cautioned me greatly about that because he didn't want me to stifle any genius they may have by telling them they can't do something. I mean, Shakespeare did, after all, make up words, and dyslexics, some, see words differently, maybe even to use them as a new word...)

But Dyslexia can annoy one in other ways than reading ~~ it can affect your time management and that's called Time Management Dyslexia, which people do not believe is heriditary, even though if you check out the link from the word genius, you will see it mentions Time Management as a Problem. (I can only say I'm working on it as I realize it is a problem for me, and my daughter is working on it because it just seems to make the most sense in handling your life.)
anyway,

Here are the listed criteria for Time Management Dsylexia:

Do you often show up late for appointments?
(I used to, but not anymore, I am righteously on time)

Do you often stay up late to get things done?
(I do. But I don't always get the things done that I planned to get done. But something gets done.)

Do you ever rush to make up for another task that took longer than you thought it would?
(frequently if not more often than not)

Do you regularly try to squeeze too much / too many things into an alloted amount of time?
(That's what I do best.)

Feel rushed and harried often throughout the day?
(Well, there was a time I was _so_ like that, now, I let it flow.)

If you're Time Dyslexic, I'm imagining that you'll find that you consistently underestimate the amount of time it takes to complete things.
(Yes, I do that. I always underestimate the time and now I always add plenty of time.)

So, I'm a time dyslexic and a regular misplacer dyslexic. But I'm working on it! I may never
change. But, I've been this way so long, I doubt I would recognize myself if I were to become some what perfect.
But the children! I would hope they could find a way to accept they way they are as being
for some reason that is good. Mostly, I don't want them to worry about how they are, justfunction to the higest of their abilities. If some sense is underdeveloped, usually, if you are a person who has not gone dormant, another sense will perk up in it's place, and they will learned to develop a whole new sense to assist the way they learn and look at things, and then maybe, they will be original thinkers! How cool is that? Oh .... who knows. Just always hope for the best...that's a good thing.

(I still can't figure out why this great big space is here on this post ~ I've tried to fix it and just can't seem to do it......oh well)

Tell you what ~ just mediate quietly while you scroll down...........
ooohhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Is it just another day?

The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another, and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it.

--J.M. Barrie, novelist and playwright (1860-1937)

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Good morning all,

Have a most blessed and happy day, as you take the time to think about what part of the story of your life you will write today.

I have a busy day ahead and plan on using my timer to assist me. I fear if I don't, I will not be able to stay on task! Such a difficult time I have with that! Staying on task! I am a dreamer, I posess a mind that floats in the sky of sweet thoughts, I need to learn not to continue to try to escape this world in my mind, but instead find a way to function in it that will leave me satisfied, and God pleased, at the end of the day....

but I digress. I feel more like writing than like doing what physically needs to be done! But I know by doing the tasks at hand, I have the opportunity to create beauty and calm around me. So I need to get to it!


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"Work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that right thoughts and right efforts will inevitably bring about right results"....James Allen.

'Cause I like Big Books

Tim's Mom
has this posted on her blog, and I thought it was so funny, I brought it over here ~~~

http://www.unc.edu/~shoyle/BigBibles.wmv

What Sense to you favor?

Here’s a self test – What’s your favorite Sense?

And is there an advantage of knowing this about yourself? I found a little advantage in this test when I took it with my spouse. He’s Auditory. I was Kinesthetic. We see things from different angles, and knowing these simple little differences we began to phrase words of explanation differently to each other. It’s like finding a short cut way to make oneself understood!

I have no idea if this little test would help or interest you folks at all. It’s from a book that I’m sending to my sister called, “How to make people like you in 90 seconds or less” (she’s in business and finds these things helpful)

So maybe take the test, and, then, we’ll discuss ~~ we’ll talk about each other, and how weird we know we each are…..

Where would you place yourself among the Visuals, Auditories, or Kinesthetics? Like many people, you’ll probably say, “Oh, I’m a Visual, for sure.” But you might be in for a big surprise. Take the following test to see how you tune in to the world. Choose only one answer from each question, and circle the letter next to your answer.

If only three rooms are left at the beach resort, I would choose the room that offers

a. An ocean view but lots of noise.

b. Sounds of the ocean but no view.

3. Comfort but lots of noise and no view.

When I have a problem,

1. I look for alternatives.

b. I talk about the problem.

3. I rearrange the details.

When riding in a car, I want the inside to

1. Look Good.
2. Sound quiet or powerful.
3. Feel comfortable or secure.

When I explain a concert or event I’ve just attended I first,

1. Describe how it looked.
2. Tell people how it sounded.
3. Convey the feeling.

In my spare time, I most enjoy

a. Watching TV or going to the movies.

b. Reading or listening to music.

c. Doing something physical (crafts/gardening or playing a sport

The one thing I personally believe everyone should experience in his or her lifetime is

1. Sight
2. Sound
3. Feeling

Of the following activities, I spend the most time indulging in

1. Daydreaming
2. Listening to my thought
3. Picking up on my feelings

When someone is trying to convince me of something,

a. I want to see evidence or proof

b. I talk myself through it

4. I trust my intuition.

I usually speak and think

1. Quickly
2. Moderately
3. Slowly

I normally breathe from

1. High in my chest
2. Low in my chest
3. My belly

When finding my way around an unfamiliar city,

1. I use a map
2. I ask for directions
3. I trust my intuitions

When I choose clothes it is most important to me that

1. I look immaculate
2. I make a personal statement about my personality
3. I feel comfortable.

I make decisions

1. Quickly
2. Moderately
3. Slowly

So after you look over your answers, you make your tally – How many each of a, b, c’s—

a) is visual b) is Auditory and C) is Kinesthetic. The higher the number in each category, the stronger the tendency.

By taking this test, not only will you now have a strong indication of how your three main senses stack up, but you’ll also begin to understand how people can have differing priorities. I’m still working on understanding that one, as my priorities seem to make a lot of sense to me, and I guess I need to make sure of what my mate’s priorities are, reflect on the test results, and then explain to him why he is wrong?

Bursting with flavor

The morning's Green Smoothie-
One banana
One Pear
Two Cups of Kale (YES, Kale!)
and about 1/4 cup of Pineapple.

I had mentioned before that I want to get my in-laws into the Green Smoothie, and everyone is dragging their heels. But I did too, I remember.

Tim's Mom told me about them, in a very casual way, and I thought--"Ummmm, lettuce in a smoothie?" Not to appetizing sounding....

Then one day I was talking to her on the phone and asked, "what's that noise?" (LOL, this should tell you how boring I am on the phone), and she said, "That's the blender. I'm making the boys a green smoothie. They love them."

And that was the opening of the floodgates! If the boys loved them, why couldn't I love them! I have children, I _know_ how picky kids are!

So again ~ we can always learn by observing children....

Today is a gift

The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it. -- Anonymous


My daughter and I are cleaning out drawers and boxes and cabinets. It's really amazing how much you can get rid of and still look like you've gotten rid of nothing!

I think tonight is the New Moon. We are going walking soon. I feel relaxed. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the moon, but in Madam B's astronomy today, she learned about the moon and how it affects the ocean. And she said, 'I never really thought about the fact that the waves in the ocean move even if there is not a breeze, and the book says that the moon and gravity pull, make the waves.' So she wondered, 'why isn't the water in my glass moving in waves? I mean there is gravity and there is the moon....ummmm." (anybody know without my looking it up?)

We made another big pot of vegetable soup. Madam B wants to try one week with eating only vegetables, so soup seemed like good thing. And it's lovely here now, the weather is perfect for a cup of soup now and then. And it turned out so well!

For Dad we made the cutest little pizzas! And we top them with mozzarella cheese and tomatoes, which we season with oregano, basil, seasoning salt, and garlic powder. Yum.

I am trying to convince my mother in law to try the Green Smoothies! She is tired all the time. She sounds wicked tired on the phone, so she will be a perfect candidate for knowing if this will be a help.

I am currently reading The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Scarlet Letter.
There are some very interesting and thought provoking concepts in both these books. I am enjoying them both.

Since I have began to use the Ambleside Online curriculum, I am regaining interest in the classics and have decided to chip away at reading them all. It's helps when someone is reading them with you (Like Tim's Mom). That encourages me to stay focused, and even though I don't get to discuss the books as much as I would like, the opportunity is there should I take it.

I love the AO curriculum. It's like the education I wished I had had!

"There is no Challenge more challenging than the challenge to improve yourself."
-- Michael F. Staley


PS ~~ Just a little shout out to Miss M!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

My chance meeting with an Author

I had the pleasure of having lunch with John Crawford, the author of 'The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell.' The link below tells you about his book, if you haven't heard of it, yet.

http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,157322314X,00.html

The meeting happened like this ~

I was on my way to Tennessee, to visit Tim's Mom and her family; and I was on the connection leg in Charlotte. I had an hour before my flight, and felt I should eat then, so I wouldn't arrive hungry, and my darling friend wouldn't have to feed me right away.

I mosied on down to the first place I saw with food available. I really wasn't interested in what they offered, and neither was the young man in line in front of me.

He chose something and then went over to sit down. I got my something, and began looking for a place. I couldn't find a seat. And you know, it's not like I recognized him (his photo is in the book), but there was something that seemed *okay* about him, so I went over and asked him if it would be alright to join him.

He said, "Oh yes, mam" (*mam* I am still getting used to that... ) ....he cleared the table and made room for me.

I felt obligated to speak, so I did. I thanked him for sharing the table and asked him where he was headed. "Tallahassee," he said. Now wow. "Tallahassee! No kidding? I just left there."

We then had the most interesting conversation that two strangers could have! Education, the school system, people not thinking for themselves any more...just lots on things...and in the midst of it all I heard him mumble something about having written a book....

"Wait, Wait, back up," I said, "You said you wrote a book?"

"Yes," he said.

"Well, tell me about this book you wrote." (Still not knowing who he was but truly interested in his book)

And then he says, "I'll show you." And he pulls from his briefcase, the book I was familiar with.

"That's your book? You're John Crawford!"

He nodded, smiling.

I told him I had just finished his book, and thanked him for writing it. We chatted a bit more, we both had planes to catch, but I did want to tell him something in particular.

"When I finished this book," I said, "I couldn't stop thinking about you and I wanted to know if you were okay." So I asked him, "Are you okay?" The moment was personal and emotional. He nodded his head, and said softly, "Yes. Yes, I'm okay now."

I let him know I was proud and honored to have this opportunity to meet him and talk with him. He told me that a WWII vet he met had shook his hand so long that he didn't think the man was going to let go! I said, "I can understand that! I feel that same way towards you, and I want to give you a hug before you go." I gave him a hug and thanked him for sharing his story.

He was a truly a gentlemen. And a hero in my opinion.

The stories must be told. And we must listen. Everyone must listen.

Listen now. Not later.

We always let the stories be told, but often so much later after the fact. Oh, I so hope we don't do that this time.

Anyway, it just most delightful for me to meet John Crawford!

Beginning of My List

"But, as for me, I lost my balance; my feet all but slipped"
....Psalm 73

I'm not losing faith in God, just faith in myself. When things get piled on, I begin to think "Whoa, I cannot do this", and I just go around in circles for awhile before I lite any where safely.
But I want to begin to do this -- take a calm control of my life and leave the stress to be only good stress...


I'm trying to focus on things to be completed during the week
(This is boring but it helps me remember)

This is the short term list:

Bank deposits, Grocery, Pay Bills due by Nov 8, Get Madam B's passport done (across town and sure to take 2 hours out of our day so we can listen to a tape or work on something while we ride),
Doctor's office, Barnes and Nobles (treat and pick up some school books we need), order Nate "Amos Fortune Free Man"
meet my niece to give her some dishes, see Drusy, mail a book to my sister, Daily chores of course...
and I have so much laundry! I must finish unpacking from the Tennessee trip!
Get to the gym or exercise some how,
Post up to date on Quicken for business,
Go over school schedule with Madam B to advise of things added--
oh well maybe this isn't so bad really....It looks easier compiled on a page. However, I know I'm missing some things, so I will check back later.

We are having a family meeting tonight to talk about the things we need to do to get ready to sell our house. And then I'll get The House To Do list ready. Our date for the For Sale sign was Novemeber lst---and we are a tad behind that, now aren't we?

Right now, I am going to the gym (I know I'll feel better even though I don't feel like going) and compile my grocery list on the car ride, make the bank deposit after the gym, and read The Picture of Dorian Gray while I do cardio. (How relaxing is that!?)

Then that will help me clear my head which is mud vision right now. Thanks you world for listening....

"Terrible is the fight put up by the senses. Fight bravely! Conquer them you must"....Sivananda

Craving for things you think you need get in the way of the calmness you can have everyday. If you think you need a "taste" of something, your body is indeed trying to tell you something, but it may be also acting out to distract you from staying on task. It may be reponding to that part of you that says, "you can't do what you are trying to do." I mustn't let my mind use my body to betray me. I will respect it, and tell it to trust me.....

Balance, grasshopper, balance.

Empty Pages Turning

I am a blank page tonight.

I just returned from the middle of the state last night, and I am exhausted from the traveling. We met our two boys there, at my nieces house, where the littiest nephews live, (and they LOVE seeing their big cousins) and my mom came along, too.

We brought back our smaller car that my middle son was using (as he was able to finally buy himself a car), so that we would have a car here that was good on gas mileage ~ anyway, Mr. B and I had to each drive a vechicle in the dark! It was awful. I am blind at night. Such Stress!! I drove 65 mph 'with' my brights on... and people were passing me like lighting streaks!

Mr. B wanted me to follow right behind him at the same speed he was traveling and mathematically, that should have worked, but you can't count on something like that working when I am involved!

It worked out well, just myself was really stressed, but my friend came over today she worked on my back, that gets all tied up from this type of stress ~
but anyway,
I have many things to accomplish this week ~ did get my quarteries out today-deadline!! yah--
And I will HAVE to be making a running list, and write that up tomorrow, or I won't make it through the week.

If anyone who pops into my blog checks out my list, let me know -am I crazy? Or do other people have lists like this as well? Mystery to me.....

Time to retire - more explaining later.

Deberá esperar mejor a menos que la mañana para terminar.


Good night.

Biscuit Muffin Cups! These are fun!!

Chili Biscuit Muffins

Vegetable oil cooking spray
2 cups biscuit baking mix (recommended: Bisquick. We used Jiffy Mix.)
2/3 cup whole milk – (We used Lactaid)
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Flour, for dusting the work surface

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Invert a muffin tin and spray the underside with vegetable oil cooking spray.

Stir together the baking mix, milk, and cayenne. Shape into a ball. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead 3 or 4 times. Divide the ball into 6 pieces. Roll each piece into a 6-inch circle. Place a dough circle over the back of each muffin cup. Press around the cup to form a bowl shape. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Let cool slightly. Remove the biscuit bowls and reserve.


When ready to serve, spoon the hot chili or soup into the biscuit bowls. Garnish with shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions, and corn chips (if desired).

~~note: The cayenne pepper gives it a kick that we like, it could easily be omitted from the recipe.

(~~all photos and cooking courtesy of Madam B)

Ah! It's soup!

I was so in the mood for soup! I rummaged through the kitchen and with the help of Madam B, we made a most, lovely, warm comforting soup!

Here's our recipe --

Our Veggie Soup

1 1/2 TB of olive oil
1 tsp of chopped or minced garlic
handful of scallions (or any onion chopped in most amounts will work)
some carrots
some broccoli
some peas
some whole wheat pasta (or rice or potato)
added seasoning of oregano, basil, sage, and nature seasoning salt -

Saute all those things together for a couple of minutes (adding any other veggies that you wish)
then add
5 cups of water
4 tsp of a broth flavoring (we used chicken stock)
1 tsp of soy sauce

Brought all to a boil, and let high simmer for 15 minutes...and hooray

Soup's on!

I think this is a very forgiving recipe. We checked our broth for taste and actually made no adjustments. Just don't over season and remember that seasonings must spend a few minutes together to blend.

We served our soup up in the Biscuit Muffins we had made for our chili last night! I said *we* , but I mean *she* i.e. Madam B!

Our chili was very basic -

One can of Chili Starter Beans
One can of Diced Tomatoes
Simmer -- and then in ten minutes it's
Chili!!

Mr. B prefers the con carne, so we made his separately and added ground beef. We were all happy! (Except that we could have easily doubled our soup recipe and been happier!)


The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thiry years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found....Calvin Trillin

Exploding Star

"God's promises are like the stars; the darker the night the brighter they shine."....David Nicholas

I spent some time with my best friend last week at her home in Tennessee. It was great fun. Small and simple pleasures. Great company, what the lonely world yearns for, the company of those of like minds, yet different....so there is always balance, not boredom.

The first evening of my visit we went for a walk. A long walk in the dark Tennessee night with a foggy feel in the beginning that was so much different than home. Maybe a short walk to the standards of the young people, but having just arrived from a few states away, I felt it was just the perfect length of time spent walking. It was good to unwind outside under the stars, there with my friends.....

On the return, we all just happened to look at the same place in the huge sky at the same time and saw a Shooting Star! A Nova! All of us ~ Now, I ask you, how cool is that?

That, my friends, is Cool Beans....
with a side of fries.

You just can't beat that ~

The Rule for Living in Florida

"The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings"
....Kakuzo Okakaura

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I live in Florida. I'm sure everyone knows Florida by now. Remember the Election of 2000? That was the beginning of our fame. Then came .... The Hurricanes. Not the football team ~ the wind and water of swirling destruction type. So there are some rules for living in Florida ....

Rule Number One ~ Never, ever forget

FLORIDA IS A HURRICANE STATE......

Shop like you live in a HURRICANE STATE. Take it seriously.......


Still no power in South Florida for about 2 million people, is the reported news. But that's people ~ not homes. And that's a good thing that it's people not homes. And they seem to have very little at home in the way of supplies.

The gas, however, is not their fault.

In Pembroke Pines - the gas wait was 4 hours (A friend told me.)

In Hobe Sound today it was getting better and some waited only 45 minutes. (my sister in law told me.)

Many people were unprepared though. One lady was complaining because she only had one candle left. It's only been 4 days. Why didn't she have some candles on hand? She lives in the hurricane state.

There was a 3 day warning. At least 3 days. I know things can fly off the shelves in three days ~~but, let's look at my town. I'm in Northern Florida. And right on one of the busiest intersections that I pass every day of running errands is a very huge sign that gives you the countdowns of the days of the Hurricane Season.

I mean, really, if you live in the state of Florida, you gotta know ...... There's a Hurricane born about every minute! LOL. And having the basic supplies on hand, well, seems like a given. But it sure is not.

How can you find out what you need to have on hand? The newspaper prints a list of all the items you would need. A quick search on line, at home or at the library will tell you.
If you don't subscribe to the paper, you can call just about ANY place that is a State Office, and they will direct you to someone who can assist you with the correct information. It's foolish to live here and not act like you live in HURRICANE State!

Rule Number 2 ~ Never, ever forget to remember

Florida is the HURRICANE STATE.

My basic list is committed to memory ~ in the years added to my life, I make sure I have a good book, some chocolates, some kind of special treat for everyone else, and, of course, the basic essentials....

It's one of though things, that really and truly, you don't want to go through it before you learn how to be prepared for it. Just do it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Suit the action to the world, the world to the action, with this special observance, that you overstep not the modesty of nature".....William Shakespeare

My boys in the Hurricane

"Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body".....Elizabeth Stone

My two sons are in Jupiter, Florida and are experiencing day four without power. There is no way to get a hot meal in the area. There is no way to pump gas, if the station should have gas....Some people have waited for seven hours.

However, the mall has power. But the Community College doesn't have power. Can't quite figure that one out....

The boys are dining on PB & J's for now.

A tree fell on one son's car, so they are car-pooling. But that leaves the youngest one stranded at home on the days he doesn't work. He could walk up to the store to look at the canned goods he could eat cold. And he is close enough to walk over to the beach.
So walking and sleeping and board games and cards is what they are doing. (I know! They should be reading!)

We get so comfortable in our lives, do we forget about the conveniences we have? Warm showers, tea, coffee, and fresh towels? I'm feeling guilty for having too many lights on!

Dad offered to drive down there and bring them whatever they need ~ that is love. They said they were fine for now. But it could be two weeks before they have power.

They will be fine, I know. And next time, they will be better prepared. We were planning on seeing them this weekend anyway, so we can help them in some way, I'm sure.

The South Florida radio reports that FEMA has come in to remove debris from some of the neighborhoods. The neighborhoods where they are reported to have been seen working, happens to be very affluent. It seems that the very needy areas of town have seen no one from FEMA yet. I don't know, I'm not there, just reporting what I've been told.

Oh well, the truth will come out. Don't know when, just know that it always does.


Truth is generally the best vindication against slander......Abraham Lincoln


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have much catching up to do on my blog!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Game running around the Blogs

"Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans; it's lovely to be silly at the right moment"

Horace

Cut and pasted below is a game that is running around the blogs ~ I got the game from Tim's Mom

And Tim's Mom got the game from Mama Squirrel

So to play the game you will
Google "Your name needs" and see what comes up...

Here are my results! ( Psychological Evalution Pending....)

Roxie Needs a Home

Roxie needs your help!

Roxie needs a home with a dog door or where someone isn't gone for too long and can leave her inside the house.

Roxie needs the support of her best friends and God

Roxie needs a home where she will be indoor/outdoor and a part of the family.

Roxie needs to be a bit more edgy.

Roxie needs to be an only pet.

Roxie needs to get information based on the Board’s timeline

Roxie needs to outperform in her bid to be acquitted,

Roxie needs a volunteer

Roxie needs a miracle, she needs the best defense attorney money can buy.

Roxie needs a family who has a lot of patience

Roxie needs to go out

Roxie needs help in a clear open and shut case so she hires flamboyant and unbeatable lawyer

Roxie needs to do a really good job patrolling.

Roxie needs a brand new bag

Roxie needs to make enough dough to buy johnny (her BF) a new drum set

Roxie needs to live with her sister

Roxie needs a home with a fenced yard so she can get her exercise.

Roxie needs to get used to other dogs!

Roxie needs to talk to you.

Roxie needs some work

Roxie needs a bed!

Perhaps Roxie needs to go back and re-read

Here’s what Roxie needs to do next

Roxie needs the extra calories.

getting her name in the paper is all Roxie needs.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Part II
Variation - Google "Your name hates" and see what comes up...

Roxie hates to type

Roxie hates the frilly dress that Billy wants her to wear.

Roxie hates being a homebody.

Roxie Hates Her Laptop!!!

Roxie hates Candy

Oh, Roxie hates everybody at first.

Roxie hates her crate

Roxie hates other dogs.

Roxie hates birds.

Roxie hates cats

Roxie hates it when I'm depressed

Roxie hates the facial hair.

Roxie hates pictures. Roxie hates pictures.

Roxie hates snakes. In fact, She hates all slithery things like lizards and such.

Roxie hates when I leave.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LOL! Have a blessed day!

"We are all crazy, but those that analyze their craziness are called philosophers" (unknown)

~~Actually, I thought these were really funny --
This was my favorite:

Roxie needs the support of her best friends and God...

Because it is so true...

Living books

Living books! I like to live my books! I like to talk like them ~ think like them ~ experience them in the now! Speak the parts aloud like them. Living books! I become alive in my books. My books alive in me.

Times a fly in bye

"For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person's life at a given moment." Victor Frankl (Austrian psychiatrist and psychotherapist. 1905-1997)

I seem to be in a mood that is appearing to waste time. Maybe this is my way of relaxing.

I can't believe it's Monday and almost the last of October 2005! So much to do --
Pack for my trip on Thursday and get things in order before I leave. I always feel this compulsion to leave things neater than is my norm, upon my departure from home. I like to leave all the laundry done and my desk tidy. Which is a real chore for me! My desk is that perpetual work in constant progress - I can never remember if that is an end to a means or a means to an end. I just know, the work never ends, and I always mean to clean it up. (Just never get a round-to-it quite.)

Upon my return, I will have the end of month billing to get out, quarterlies to prepare, and a trip to Eutis on the 29th. We are driving there. It's Kenny's fourth birthday, and then I'm visiting my niece on Sunday.

So, I had best get started!

I want to finish Uncle Tom's Cabin before I leave. Even though this is a very emotional book, it's been Topsy who has stirred my emotions the most.

I treated myself to The Picture of Dorian Gray for my birthday. So this is on my list to read, but I won't dare start it until, perhaps when I get on the plane to Tennessee.

Oh well, I best get going. I have a long list of things in the ready.

Yesterday, we went out together to look at things like flooring and kitchen cabinets and counter top selections for the new house. I'm just not gifted in this...I'll be happy when it's settled.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?" said Alice.

Family Networking

We cannot destroy kindred: our chains stretch a little sometimes, but they never break. ~Marquise de Sévigné
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Newsflash ~
The Announcement of the plans. Date Set. All the Plans made, promised, reservations committments, confirmed dates.
Yikes!
Presentation of ammended plans. Problem predicted.
Radar up....signals....
confirm ---
Conflict in original plans. Feelings alert. Feelings could be hurt.
Signal ~ Head of the network -- Grandma...
Grandma runs message through to closest in command at that unit station,
Advise of 'drift of situation' --- relayed, received, confirmed,
passed down to her command area.
Impulse felt, received, registered,
Situation shifted. Rescheduled. Original plans reset. No harm, no foul.
All is well.
And most are none the wiser.
(deep breath)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.~Confucious

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Families have to work in code sometimes. Go outside the circle, around the edges, behind the backstop, use the walkie-talkies, don't directly hit the offender ...to be successful.

Some people like to tell it out straight; Tell it *like it is* -- and that works for some, but my heart won't let me. My heart says, if I'm going to err, I'm going to err on the side of gentleness. That will be my way. I can see no point in the otherwise.

Today is my birthday

"Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise." William Shakespeare


I am waiting.

Falling up to Wednesday

“Are you closer right now to where you want to be than you were a half-hour ago?”

---Robert Cooper

I’m falling into Wednesday now, and am not sure what has happened to the earlier part of the week.

Let’s see ~ This past weekend Sean was here visiting. We had a great time. We rented a couple of movies…Coach Carter and The Interpreter….I thought both were good. We broke bread together, and I've missed that……we made snacks and dinners, and blueberry muffins and a gallant breakfast, attended church together, he played football with his friends, and when he left he took very little of the stuff he had left here, but did enjoy the idea of the case of toilet paper I bought him. I never thought I would live to see the day that one of my children would rejoice about a gift of toilet paper. He left on Monday.

Madam B attended school, as per usual, on Monday, I must say I am proud of her for that. She’s been brilliant about attending to her schoolwork, as this last few days; I have been totally off track and not checked a single thing!

The next two weeks we will be busy choosing the fixtures and flooring for the house we are moving into next year. It’s been assigned for the choices to be made by November first! I am not very good at this sort of thing, and have given over the most of the task to Madam B and my wonderful husband. Their preferences are stronger than mine. I am not that choosy. And, I’m more a person who knows what I don’t like rather than what I do. My senses in the area of choosing such things as these are not developed. So I must rely on others. And so I will.

I am reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and it has taken over the whole of my interest in any reading material. I am half way through the book. I have found a piece in there, that in my estimation, is much the same as the idea of the discourse that Shylock gave in the Merchant of Venice. I’ll share that in an individual post.

The day has passed by quickly. I’ve been busy. There is much going on right now with preparations of a trip next week, and preparations of the new house, and keeping up with everyday life! I’m blinded by my busyness, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing!

Sean phoned from a job interview that looks hopeful! That is really great news!

“...Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”

~~Victor Frankl

Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha

”What we remember from childhood we remember forever - permanent ghosts, stamped, inked, imprinted, eternally seen.” ~Cynthia Ozick

Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha --
by Roddy Doyle

A different kind of title, isn't it?

I checked out the audio version of this book from the library. I love to listen to stories while I fold clothes and take care of chores as the likes of the kitchen and the bedroom. Just mindless chores to me, as I'm not much on housework. I'm not saying housework is a bad thing, it's a necessary thing and an important task; I just don't care for it is all....
so I love to pass the time with audio books.

An actor using a thick Irish accent read Paddy Clark’s story. I love the accent. The Irish dialogue is just a hoot in this story! A bonus for listening to the audio track…

Paddy Clark is 10 years old. The story is written clearly through the eyes of the child and how he views his world.

He is a mischievous little boy, getting daily into little boy mischief, like it's the chief thing to do in the world. Finding dark places to hide in and crawl down, and barely escape from, throwing rocks at things they shouldn't throw rocks at, giving a Viking funeral for a rat, and taunting his little brother Sinbad (His name is Francis, but Paddy calls him Sinbad) for no good apparent reason than he's his little brother, and he can do it. But even though he does these things, you can tell he's a good boy, the kind with a good heart. And you can tell by how the teachers treat him that they can see that as well.

He rumbles along in all his boyhood until one day he notices the adult world. He notices one morning that the dishes from dinner are still on the table; the kitchen has not been cleared since last night and the house not prepared to meet the new day. Clearly, he is aware that 'this is not right.' He begins the task himself but remains terribly confused about it, as his Da comes in the room ~ his Ma is upstairs, and Paddy thinks, oh, for sure she must be sick for this to be the state of things.

So begins the noticing that things aren't right with his parent’s relationship, and his world begins to change.
He realizes that his Da hits his Ma. Then he 'figures out' that this never happens when he's around. He convinces himself if he never slept, then all would be well, because surely his being awake is the thing that protects her. He begins the vigil to save her, but he fails; after days of triumph he falls asleep in class. But you love him for trying. You love everything about him. You can relate to him. He’s 10 years old. You were 10 years old once. You thought you could save the world or at least things in your world.

He begins to see the grown ups and their world of secrets and visit a very different kind of pain; the kind that causes the child to disappear, and the man to come forward and make choices, and he chooses not to be like his Da, whom at one time he worshipped.

He realizes, too, that he loves his little brother, and he can't for the life of him figure out why he teased him so mercilessly, and he tries to make that right.

To explain the unique title is to give away the story. But it was a turning point for him, and he turned the right corner to make the right point with his life. And that's okay to know.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Childhood is the fiery furnace in which we are melted down to essentials and that essential shaped for good.” ~Katherine Anne Porter

Age in Eyes

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot."
~~ Michael Althsuler

Today we went to Sunday morning church. Since Sean left for college, we had been taking in the evening service, and I was liking that just fine. I liked the amount of material we covered on Sunday nights. And I liked not having the morning rush. And I really enjoy the pace of Sunday evening church. It seemed more low-key, kind of suited my personality in a comfortable fashion.

But Sean is here this weekend and prefers the morning service, so that's the one we chose to attend.

And I noticed something this morning. We have been going to the same church for 23 years. The kids have grown up in this church. And we have always shared a hymnal. Two each when there were 5 of us, and two each when there were four of us after my oldest went away to college. (And anyone who has taken little kids to church remembers the posture of the task of pointing to the words while singing along with the congregation. Oh those days of first instruction!)
Anyway,
This morning I realized, we all had our own hymnals! And I thought, 'why is this!?' Then it dawned on me. It's a matter of eyesight! Des and Madam B and I, each wear some form of eye assistance, and all in different strengths. And Sean has perfect vision. When any of us share a hymnal with the other, regardless of the combination, you can see the one trying to adjust the hymnal for best viewing, and the other turning and moving their heads, trying to adjust the view of the hymnal page for themselves! This morning it just struck me what a testimony to time this is! And how quickly it has flown past...

No matter how hard one tries, there is rarely a way to see this coming. It's just in a day, it's all changed. In the twinkling of an eye...be ready.

"There are many fine things which you mean to do some day, under what you think will be more favorable circumstances. But the only time that is yours is the present."
-~~~Grenville Kleiser

Just rambling ....

"Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to always and forever be explaining things to them."
~~The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

Sean is making his first trip home since moving away in July of this year. He's on the road right now, and I am in constant prayer. Oh my, your children on the road in the dark, driving in the dark on great big highways with other cars and even trucks...I will be so happy when he walks in that door.

We made cookies. But we ate most of them already. They are so good made from scratch. You just can't beat homemade. Unfortunately, they are just as fattening. Maybe less processed, but still, you are doomed to pay for it! So a run or two around the block or 30 minutes on the treadmill for one cookie! Such a penalty for a fine treat!

We cleaned the house, but I made a mess at my favorite sitting spot already because I think I'm just made that way. I am a messy. I get out my books that I'm reading and read each a little, and maybe a pile of bills I'm going to pay, and then maybe the newspaper, and then a notebook to list things I need to remember and, oh where is the magazine I saw with the great recipe, and, well then, next thing I know, things are scattered about and someone is saying, well why did we pick it all up in the first place, and I don't know, really, but it does look nice when it's tidy, now doesn't it?

I have a few things going besides school with my lovely daughter, doctor appointments, visiting a homebound friend, shopping for the weekend, among other things I can't think of right now. One thing is I'm planning a trip out of state. I can't believe I'll be leaving in 14 days! But things like this help me get motivated to get things done, so I can enjoy my vacation.

I'm visiting my best friend and her family. We met on line! Can you imagine that? I thought she was a teenager being homeschooled and it turned out she was a mom with three kids who writes homeschool curriculums! Except now she has 4 kids and she writes books!

Anyway, I never would have thought that I would strike up such a friendship with someone I met on line. Not in a million/trillion years. But we did meet 6 years ago, and I'll have to write that whole story, so I can make sure my kids have it in their memory book.

Madam B is in her room doing some of her school work. She works and reads a lot at night. And she watches the cooking channel. One of her favorites is called "Unwrapped." It explains the 'behind the scenes details' of all kinds of things - how the tiny marshmallows got in your breakfast cereal, how tons of things are actually made and how they were discovered ~ it's an addicting show, very interesting if you are one who likes the details of things.

It's getting late now, and I'm staying up until Sean arrives. Should be about 90 minutes from now.

I could go straighten my mess and maybe have a cup of tea. Yes, that sounds like a grand idea. Calming and relaxing. A nice way to wait.

an interesting tidbit of information ~~

The Lord's Prayer is 66 words, the Gettysburg Address is 286 words, there are 1,322 words in the Declaration of Independence, but government regulations on the sale of cabbage total 26,911 words.

From an article on the growth
of federal regulations in the
Oct. 24th issue of National Review

Just a testing thing

Sometimes I get confused about things ~ the other night I had a post here (I think I saved it somewhere) and when I tried to edit it, I got a message about the HTML not matching. So I'm just testing the waters as it were tonight ~~
many things going on:
Sean coming tomorrow
How much school can we accomplish with so much to do
We made cookies, but we ate them, so back to the store.
What will we have for dinner? And breakfast tomorrow?
Somehow, I thought I had another day in the week somewhere.
Having to go to two appointments really confused me. easily confused these days, no other excuse.

My soul seems to pick up on the confusion of my world, now, I need to help it learn to make beauty of it all.

I shall go, and try.

How many hats do you have?

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players;
they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays
many parts."
~~~William Shakespeare (As You Like It)

Did Shakespeare know everything? He sure knew a lot about people.

My list of roles: wife, mother, aunt, teacher, student, daughter, sister, cousin, friend, neighbor, in~law, shopper, driver, voter, cook, housekeeper, homemaker, bookkeeper, hairdresser, and an assorted relative to many, and who knows what I might have left out, and, of course, the order is always shifting itself, so my gears are sometimes grinding...(that's the irritating noise going on in the background.)

And in all this, to mine own self I must be true. Ohhhhkay. Sometimes I lose mine own self in all that. Sometimes I can't find mine own self in all that.

Probably the greatest challenge of my life is to maintain proper balance of the juggling act involved in playing these roles in the game called - Life. I wish I had a more clever word than 'life'....that word's been done to death..(hahaha, that was a joke, get it 'life' 'death'?...) anyway,

In the need to play the roles one has, one must learn how to act and how to be sincere at the same time. And you have to be able to switch hats in mid-stream, should you need to, if you want to be very good at what you do. So to be successful at all these jobs, let's see --
if you were filling out a job application, what would quality you for what you do. Experience! Experience that comes from On The Job Training! That's how you get good at it!

Wait. This is getting confusing...so
You have to be a 'thing', but you can't know how to be the 'thing', until you've been the 'thing?' Oh well, I wonder what Shakespeare has to say about that? (Surely, there will be something I will stumble across, especially now that I'm thinking about it.)

Which brings me to the point of always listening to your elders! They have 'been-there-and-done-that'...and even if you don't agree with them, you can learn something from them, even if it's to know how not to be. No experience goes by without learning something. Unless you are a boring person. Then you will end up an empty vessel with no stories to tell. Just a boring pot with nothing planted in it.

I don't want to be boring, yet, sometimes, I am bored -- and I think, can a person who is not boring be bored? I don't know.

There are a lot of things I don't know, but I'm working on it...And there might some things that aren't for me to know. What if I knew everything? Then I might 'really' be boring!

Well, back to the stage --
Now think, I say to myself -- what do I want to be? What part do I want to play?

The parts I’m trying out for:

I want to be inspiring. Inspirational! I want to be inspiring to my husband and my children and my friends and relatives, even my parents and strangers that I meet. I want to be encouraging. I want to be positive. I want to be reliable. I want to be kind. I want to leave no ill will in my path. I want a good review after the play is over! I'd love for God to say 'well done.' What a task I have before me...

as you know,
There are no dress rehearsals in Life! Everyday, You're On!
So, then, that means *I'm a star!* Hahahaha. Just kidding...

I have to look for things that will empower me. Then I can empower others with good words and good feelings. And back to Shakespeare, reminding me to mine own self be true, he also said,

"our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, which we ascribe to heaven."

Now, I'm taking that to mean, I have to rely on a source greater than myself to accomplish these goals of good nature I have set for myself. That source to me is God, with Whom a connection is very important to me.

But as for This Day (LOTR!)

and the hours in it! – I must discipline myself to accomplish some of the goals on my 7 day project list because if I don’t do that, I won’t be able to be who I want to be….I won’t be able to be True to Mine Own Self because I will have regret hanging over me, and that is Not a desirable goal!

"Difficulties increase the nearer we approach our goal."

~~~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe