A Life's Pursuit

Of Wind and Mind; Sailing into your Future

2012-01-05T10:07:00.002-05:00

As I began my morning at the office, I always, without fail, add my earbuds and engage my ipod to listen to my daily batch of podcasts. One of my favorite is the 48 Days.net podcast with Dan Miller of Franklin Tn. I aways go away with something useful from the podcast. This year, I did not create a list of resolutions. Of course, I am immediately reminded of a quote, "fail to plan and plan to fail." I wondered as I listened to this podcast if I have programmed my year for less than its potential. Luckily as I continued to listen and he illustrates a story concerning sailing, he much like I, had assumed that sailing was relegated only by the direction of the wind; but NO, it is the knowledge of knowing the usage of the wind to go in ANY direction you require….powerful. So many good quotes that are worthless unless engaged. Hope you find some encouragement and spark in just a few of these quotes and incredible podcast. Quotes About indecision Find Your Favorite Quote on the Gaiam Blog

SketchBook®

2011-11-27T00:03:00.001-05:00

SketchBook®, un groupe sur Flickr.

Totally cool

Bittbox FTT: Fur and Feathers

2011-11-16T09:20:00.001-05:00

Bittbox FTT: Fur and Feathers, a set by calebkimbrough on Flickr.

You might be amazed if you really studied the things around you all the time in greater detail.

Falling Into Winter

2011-10-19T08:43:00.005-04:00

Photo By The Praying Life

One of my favorite poems still to this day and particularly with the change in the weather from Fall to Winter is this short poem. This poem says so much with so little that the crisp air fills in the blanks. My third grade teacher was a true dynamo — Mrs. Phillips who never stopped inspiring my love of so many things. The words almost paint the picture for you in some immortal portrait that temperature immediately conjours up. There is a smell and sound of this transition in seasons.

SOMETHING TOLD THE WILD GEESE

Something told the wild geese
It was time to go.
Though the field lay golden
Something whispered "Snow".

Leaves were green and stirring,
Berries, lustre-glossed,
But beneath warm feathers
Something cautioned "Frost".

All the sagging orchards
Steamed with amber spice,
But each wild breast stiffened
At remembered ice.

Something told the wild geese
It was time to fly -
Summer sun was on their wings,
Winter in their cry.

Author: Rachel Field

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_you_give_me_the_entire_poem_something_told_the_wild_geese_it_was_time_to_go#ixzz1bENT0rop

Black Stealth 3-Channel R/C Helicopter from ThinkGeek

2011-07-27T17:19:00.000-04:00

Man has always lusted for the power of flight. Yes, we have planes and helicopters; but like everything else; we want no help doing it. We want to be able to do it ourselves at our will. That's one of the many reasons Superman still lives in the hearts of old men just as he does in those of children. Meanwhile, this is cool enuf.

WOW art: Wacom Cintiq 12WX

2011-07-01T09:12:00.000-04:00

The digital age is not going away anytime soon. I would have been the first to argue in the great debate between tradition vs digital for the true esthetic and skill belonging to the traditional discipline of the the intimate connection between the artist and his art; but its hard to argue with progress. Just because its digital doesnt mean it doesnt require skill, talent, discipline and vision.

How to Make Baked Potatoes in the Slow Cooker

2011-05-20T16:16:00.000-04:00

Friday Fixin's

How to Make Baked Potatoes in the Slow Cooker

Judgement Day Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt Judgement Day Big Funky Chicken

2011-05-20T14:11:00.002-04:00

Judgement Day Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt Judgement Day Big Funky Chicken

World Without End: Maybe

2011-05-20T14:01:00.000-04:00

How To Survive an Alien Abduction on Howcast

Solitude - 2010/2011 - A work in progress on the Behance Network

2011-05-16T11:16:00.002-04:00

Solitude - 2010/2011 - A work in progress on the Behance Network

This is some extremely nice work that is beyond fantastic discipline and talent!!!

PRICE vs Cheap!!!

2011-04-08T15:12:00.005-04:00

Many things have been said about price vs cost. Sure everybody is touting having the cheapest prices these days and it would seem that cheap is on everyone's list of frugal behaviors. But I submit to you that an initial price may; and often does, cost one way more than that initial price. It takes no large sum of discipline to notice an average casual cheap enthusiast walking or driving by. Sure everybody wants to save money or at least be wise with what they have.

Frugality without wisdom is a dish with no bottom or handle. I am a believer in you get what you pay for. Yes, I too once preferred and took the cheapest deals. My college days are littered with days of quick fixes and frugal survival tactics. But I can count on one hand the number of times that cheap panned out. I have often wondered about our pursuit of cheap. Would you want the cheapest heart surgeon, lasik surgeon, financial planner or mortician? (yes, I see some of you shaking your heads up and down) Have at it. I've noticed over the years that I dont really care what the price is if its worth it.

Though cheap is often associated with dirty; which is not necessarily true or a bad thing — and thats another completely different blog) why even take the chance. Well I heard is said once that smart people are bored and stupid people have lots of stories. I can see the truth in that wisdom. Their stories all start with "you won't believe this or watch this." Meanwhile being cheap should not be confused with repurposing. Now thats extended life to a whole lot of junk. We are surrounded by things that can easily be "repurposed."

Meanwhile, the debate is best settled with real wisdom so true you have to laugh.

Friday Flickerings and Fridaku Fascinations

2011-03-18T14:00:00.006-04:00

What a great week of exploration emotionally and professionally. The weather has been fantastic and very agreeable to getting outside and trapesing around. The hint of Spring looms dauntingly just above our bulging to-do-lists and a long-courted love affair with Home Depot, Lowes and HGTV. The renewal of Spring brings many opportunities for collective enrichment and family gatherings. What a great time of the year.

Despite being slammed at work; I have managed to learn some new InDesign and Photoshop tricks! Its obvious to me that I am happiest exploring and learning new things. Luckily I have an environment that allows such freedoms and liberties. Despite self-inflicted prisons, the freedoms just beyond my reach or cadence are beautiful to marvel. Its ok if I dont get there today and far better that I remember to never completely yield to the idea that never is also possible. Armed with hot coffee, great chocolate snacks and wide-eyed defiance, I embrace the coming of the weekend.

As one ages, it is always noted of the things that were that arent now. St. Patty's Day marks the passing of a well-missed friend and fan, Alfred; my wife's father. Such times are awkward — do you point out the elephant in the room or just ignore him, hoping he walks quitely beyond? Nonetheless, I treasure memories. It lies there in the pages of memories of past moments where infinity is bookmarked if only for a finite moment as the generations trod onward into future chapters. We sat out back once in the setting sun as I remarked about the shadows cast by the dying day. He responded with a chuckle and noted that the reason we are all different is that there are too many things for one person to see or think about. In a society obsessed with youth; will we sacrifice the wisdom of age in the process? Will we discard the elderly for our vain ambitions? or discount them like some last year's Christmas toy left to hope for purchase at some Fred's or Dollar General or yardsale as someone else's problem?

A great weekend lies ahead. If we lift our eyes and our hearts, we will encounter someone needing our smiles and encouragements just centered in our paths. Hopefully we will neither be too busy or self absorbed to pass along such a glittering treasure. The cohort, Andy has been faithfully banging out his photoblogs and haikus much to my pleasure. It really is the people around us that hold us up from sinking in the mire of self/vanity. Sharing laughter and never taking ouselves too seriously might just be a saving grace.

©Andrew Stanfield

Wooden Guardsmen

Sentinal looming,
Tall, old and mighty—guarding;
Fallen soldiers' rest.

©hamedical

Orange Warm Hunger

Orange, warm glowing,
Making bronze damp skin glisten;
Hungry for more flesh.

Friday Free'rs: Liberty of the Bugs

2011-03-04T15:54:00.013-05:00

Spontaneous Quote: You cannot buy wisdom at the drugstore; only prevention....©maximusdoom 2011

The media is piping with things people are talking about. Needless-to-say, the watercooler is empty. As a kid I always wondered if I would listen to someone who knew more than I did or if I would listen to me if I came back from the future to give me some insight. Obviously I cannot truthfully answer that; only speculate. Our morning was a fluster of conversations. In all of them existed some content that would lend itself to several blogs from each topic. BYU is the easy one; but not as easy as Charlie Sheen — which is too easy; so I'll pass.

The other end of the box. Every now and then you see a roach big enough to rid you of any transportation expenses should you strap youself to them like a cowboy or rope them to the back, front or bottom of your vehicle. Today was one of those such days. I saw a cohort get up suddenly out of the corner of my eye. I see his mouth moving as he rolls up a magazine. With my iPOD deep in Prince classics; I dismiss as an extended bathroom embarkment and keep working on my layout. Then he comes back to his desk still looking somewhere ahead. Removing one earplug, I hear instructions to look ahead. As some of you know, I HATE bugs; particularly ones that might crawl or land on my face or chase me. There it was. A bionic roach half the size of our convertible VW Beetle. He appeared to have the power of flight as well. After some scrambling and mobilization, an office of 4 men; really 3 cause I was only going to be taking pictures, came up with the plans of removal.

The pensive recycler Andy decided to use a long box. To my horror, his great plan was to capture and release! Whatever happened to all the great lessons in history — kill them all! In his most statuesque Statue of Liberty pose, he does not use the closed end of the box to crush the guts out of the behemoth but the open end to capture. Of course it was on the ceiling. Of course it made a run for it. Of course it never occurred to him to smash it with the closed end. YES, Im a smasher! I not only kill them for this life but any possible ones after this one. In fact, you can work up quite a sweat stomping a good bug. I know some spiders, snakes and bugs are good for us; but I dont waste time interviewing them to find out. He who hesitates is lost.

Apparently I will refresh some memories about survivors and what to do with them.

Real Life
The Alamo, The Battle of Thermopylae, and several other Last Stands where the defenders were so effective (and/or annoying) that the victorious attackers finished off whatever survivors, wounded, or captured noncombatants they got their hands on afterward.

The Massacre of Glencoe was ordered by King William of Orange with the line:
"You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebels, the McDonalds (sic) of Glenco (sic), and put all to the sword under seventy".
The part about leaving those over 70 was not mercy; in those days it was rare to find anyone much over 50 and the understanding was that anyone 70 or over would probably die on their own without someone to provide care for them.
This is frequently applied by a force that manages to defeat one much larger than them - they can't maintain so many prisoners, so the logical thing to do is to kill them all.

Famously happened during the Albigensian Crusade against Catharism in southern France. Asked by a soldier how to tell the difference between Cathar heretics and good Catholics, the Papal legate Arnaud Amalric replied:
"Kill them all. The Lord will recognize his own."
Though it's debatable if he said any such a thing, as there doesn't seem to be any record of him saying those words until about 50 years afterwards.

Arguably the result of any protracted siege in history. The soldiers, after watching their mates getting killed in various horrific fashions over a period of weeks or months, work out their frustrations on the defenders and civilians inside.
The Jolly Roger. In real life, the Jolly Roger was a good thing (assuming you were being attacked by pirates), as it meant that the pirates would accept prisoners. However, a blood red flag meant "death to all".
Both flags and their respective meaning are used in the flashback segment of the Tintin book The Secret Of The Unicorn.
In Roman Conflicts, once the battering ram was deployed, it was the signal that no prisoners would be taken, even as slaves. The Rome episode The Ram Has Touched The Wall explains this.

To extend the explanation: when a (Roman) army approached a hostile city and the city surrendered before arrival, the city's inhabitants and possessions were sacrosanct, and there would be no (official) looting or pillaging. If the city held out, but surrendered before the siege engines were in place, the citizens who fought (those of fighting age) were taken as slaves and the city looted, but no (official) rape or other destruction would take place. If the siege continued to the full, and the city overrun, the invaders could do as they pleased, and the commanders either looked the other way or actively encouraged their troops. This even applied to Roman cities, such as those on Sicily, after they rebelled. There are accounts of Legionaries who expressed the hope that the city would not surrender, so they could get some good looting and rape in.
The city of Carthage was completely destroyed by the Romans at the climax of the Third Carthaginian War. The Carthaginian citizens were either slaughtered or captured as slaves; none were spared.

Roman deserters were always killed if captured by Rome. There were accounts of ex-Roman soldiers at Carthage building a great bonfire in the Basilica before it fell, and leaping into the flames to avoid mandatory crucifixion for their desertion.
Shown in Spartacus: Blood and Sand: The Thracians who deserted the Roman forces were killed or taken into slavery, along with those of their villages.
The Battle of Little Bighorn.

Well that's a lot said in very little. Yes, opinions are like ...; everybody's got one. Like the release of said gasses; weighing before the release is paramount.

..and what is Friday without a couple of good haikus as a send off. Perhaps good is being presumptuous of me. Today's subject is one I hold near and dear; bubble baths! It is invaluable for creatives to revive themselves by escaping and harmonizing the internal energies. Failure to do so always results in the most conflicting of emotional and collateral of damages.

Photo from adnamaotupac

Fridakus — haikus on Friday

Below the Chaos
Deep breath in, breath out;
Hot bubble bath, smooth jazz, rain;
Stressless incense burns.

Bubble Talk
Popping bubbles shhhh,
Burying me in warm pleasure,
Unity and peace.

Self Therapy
Rain, jazz and bubbles
Alone, candles, insence, bath
One person, one soul.

Folly, Frolic and Fridaku

2011-02-18T16:41:00.009-05:00

courtesy of Mother Nature Network

I must confess upfront of my embarrassment over not regularly blogging this year. I plan to change that shortly. Its not from an abundance of stimuli. In my location, it is the nexus of everything possible and did you see that. It keeps the weeks pretty interesting. We like that. No two days are ever alike and a great conversation is always just around the corner with our group. Thats another thing to be thankful. It is rare that you can enjoy what you do surrounded by who you like. There are very few ways to make it better sans a crystal blue ocean, a distant sea gull, efficient waiters and a great wi-fi.

What a wonderful time to be alive. I cannot imagine being able to see Alexander G. Bell or Tessler beholding what they discovered having become so much more. It must appear like magic or witchcraft. Imagine trying to explain that a cellphone needs no wires; that people oceans apart could see images of each other in real time talking as if there was no distance or the harnessing of electricity in so many avenues, including solar energy. That would be worth a million conversations. In my short lifetime; I think back to the first black and white tv we owned, the first cellphone in a huge bag that was more like weight-training than technology or the first fax machine (and lets be honest-they were horrible) transmitting images from one place to another or the old polaroid camera that could snap a picture and develop before your eyes. Those were the days. Days of a pleasant memory that would allow you to appreciate the present technology and its advancements.

I know it wont be long before kids will have no idea of what a phone booth, fax machine, light bulb, gasoline, walking in public parks, skipping rocks or personal conversations in public. The smaller the world has become through technology; the farther apart we have become. I barely know my neighbors, let alone anyone on the street. I can hardly be completely where I am for answering or sending a text message or taking a call. I can hardly enjoy a good movie for being disappointed in the special effects or some other seduction of technology. We live in great times; great good and great sad. To preserve our humanity, we may well have to retreat to the past someday when noone remembers what it once was.

Well its Friday again. That means that the cohort and I have a long honored tradition of haikus on Friday. Its a fun thing and somewhat an enjoyable activity. So without more rambling; on to the feat!

View Into Spring
Hot coffee now warm;
Cool sunshine soothing warm;
Watching people live.

Have a great weekend.

And Two Shall Become One

2011-02-14T14:13:00.004-05:00

Another lovely day passes with its special reasons for existing. February 14th is Valentine's Day. Aside from all the commercially steeped sentiments, I enjoy this holiday more than most. It reminds me of a kinder, gentler time when little boy and girls played together in the school yard watching bugs and eating dirt. As we are ushered into adulthood, we are forced to believe dirt is a bad dietary habit and playing is useless without motives; as for bugs, eat them or kill 'em if you even have time to notice one near that hasnt been splattered on my just washed car.

The wifey and I did a great painting class Friday night. We each had a canvas but the instructor suggested we each painted half to create a cool whole. Sounded interesting enough; so we did. Aside from the subject matter, there was more than enough room for the creative/artistic to exist even squeezed into two hours and a bottle of smooth wine. I ofter wonder about God's artistic nature; how He takes things that might seem completely unrelated, very dissimilar and from completely different worlds and creates something singular from that diversity. Two can be much stronger than one. Two allow one to rest at intervals while the other regenerates. There's nothing like a couple of peas in a pod — how cozy.

And just for those who thought I had forgotten; a belated Fridaku just for love's sake.
Melting Together
A single burning kiss,
Two become one in spirit;
a melting vapor.

The Smoldering Kiss

Antagonizing pleasure
Placed upon my lips
Where dreams come true
In just one kiss!

Sharing an afternoon of ecstasy
Closing the door on reality
Not even the thickest iceberg
Could melt the lust I feel inside!

I shed my fears faster than my clothes
The anticipation begins to unfold
My heart begins to pound faster
As you come closer

Just one look from your eyes
And I become hypnotized
A river of sins, to which I concede
Just one kiss, caused the undoing of me!

Your lips gently pressed against mine
A silent submission of tongues intertwined
My mouth tenderly pressed against yours
My voice trembles as you start to explore

Electric shocks as your tongue touches mine
An erotic dance of passing time
My heart's racing as fast as yours
My body's craving for something more!

Starving and Craving
For an evening
Of erotic bliss
Where dreams come true
In Just One Kiss.

Unknown

New Year; Same Gear?

2011-01-28T15:44:00.003-05:00

It seems that 2011 is finally here. As a kid, I remember thinking of times that were so far in the future that I couldnt imagine how things would be. Well, actually they are very close to the same. No cars are flying as a daily commute. No robots inhabit every household; aside from smart phones. Food still has to be prepared after its is obtained from another location. Meanwhile, every year we aim to improve our lives by taking stock at the turn of the new year.

There's no question that its the first of the year. Business at fitness clubs and diet/weightloss clinics are at their peak.

There are many ways to combat the mood swings that accompany testy weather and challenging traffic conditions. YOGA Photo courtesy of fitnessgoop.

Cross Dressing
Snow, sunshine, heat, cold;
Seasons change places daily,
Dress warm, now undress.

Snowy Fridaku for the New Year

2011-01-08T08:34:00.003-05:00

Its Friday and its the new year. Both of those are great circumstances to be enjoyed. The new year always sparks an assessment of the previous year, one's life direction, hopes, goals, and priorities. There is no crime in changing directions; only running in circles hoping to see something new. But before I ramble too far; I'll simply begin with a Friday haiku — a Friadaku about snow for which I affectionately call The Kroger Stimulus Package.

Frigid Romance

Romantic dandruff,
Thickly falling from chilled skies;
Painting white beauty.

The Intimacy of Silence: Fridaku Whispers to Summer Farewell

2010-11-05T21:28:00.011-04:00

Photo by Gregory Colbert from www.AshesandSnow.org

Silence is a treasured noise. If we can become comfortable in its presence,we can gain great knowledge about ourselves and the world around us and how it relates to us. The cohorts and I got into a conversation about how nice it was to sip wine with friends that didnt have to fill every moment with words. Then one of them said something magical. He described it in a term I hadnt thought of it as but had always known it as such. INTIMACY There are very few people who can be comfortable enough with themselves and others enough to NOT talk or be distracted from the moment. Most folks get nervous when nobody's talking. It makes them uneasy. In fact, most people are afraid of being left alone or having to face someone's silence. Yes, it tends to speak volumes; but the point is in the volume. How much more can be said by saying nothing or how much greater is the content of the volume when words dont get in the way?

Obviously people need to talk and conversation is a good thing to build the bridges between strangers and friends. The quality of that bridge between the roads of togetherness tends to become the binding cord. In short, I found the idea of intimacy more about a soul to soul connection. Obviously romantic partners are intimate. But what of the intimacy among friends that goes beyond the physical proximity to an understanding of soul location that links the essences of a person to another person. It is not relegated by knowing every detail of a person's day or history; but the bigger picture of the smallnesses inside the person's spirit. Yes, conversation allows for the discovery of such revelations. But it is the silence that portrays the understanding of the unspoken and typically undefined bond between spirits, hopes and dreams that our lives become better or have a purpose or find their meaning for existence.

There will always be folks we know. There will always be those we talk to on a frequent basis. But rare are the days that we encounter folks who are intimately bonded on a metaphysical level beyond commonplace. An apple tree produces apples. Its seeds grow more apples. Peach preserves arent made from apples. In our differences we become the same. That very sameness drives us to convince everyone else that we are different. As we tear ourselves away from broken ideology of specialness and better-than-ment; we discover how linked we can be to other people who begin to understand the same ideas. The magic of intimacy allows a couple or group of people to just enjoy the presence of each other in the presence of themselves without having to prove individuality through words; but the union in the human breath of existence surrounded by the now right then.

...and the thing about Fridays is the smalll morsal, the tiny treat — the Friday Haiku known affectionately as FRIDAKU. Our tradition continues despite an occassional miss. My pensive cohort and I take another week to its end and begin with more inspiration. Another Fitness Friday has passed and 50 pushups squashed into a busy week's end leave us inspired at the end of the day with Starbucks wishes warm and filling just before the weekend.

Print from GEORGE RAAB of the Millbrookgallery.
"My original intaglio prints are personal and patriotic statements celebrating one of our greatest assets -- our natural heritage.
They portray the subtle and inspiring wilderness in less well known areas of Canada and the United States. My work touches a common chord of familiarity amongst viewers -- primal longings, seasonal changes, and the natural issues of life and death."

Sleeping Season
Fading sunlight gone,
Winter kisses burning cold.
Summer goes to sleep.

One last note to ponder.
One of my favorite poems to thing of after Halloween is Something Told the Wild Geese. The chill of the air always reminds me of this poem. The majesty of the birds in flight shows the unity in nature to abide by its own laws.

SOMETHING TOLD THE WILD GEESE
By Rachel Field

Something told the wild geese
It was time to go,
Though the fields lay golden
Something whispered, "snow."

Leaves were green and stirring,
Berries, luster-glossed,
But beneath warm feathers
Something cautioned, "frost."

All the sagging orchards
Steamed with amber spice,
But each wild breast stiffened
At remembered ice.

Something told the wild geese
It was time to fly,
Summer sun was on their wings,
Winter in their cry.

Fridaku, Zucchini and Cheap Eating!

2010-10-22T15:56:00.011-04:00

Slow Down Weekend

The week's end arrives
The joys of quality time
Pause infinity.

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies
By Melissa Breyer, Senior Editor, Care2 Healthy and Green Living

Yes that’s right, zucchini and chocolate. In some kind of stupendous feat of baking alchemy, the taste and texture of the squash completely disappears, while adding moisture and a nice nutritional pop. Although those of you with over-enthusiastic zucchini vines know all too well that you can, and are generally required to, sneak zucchini into just about anything (including unlocked cars and neighbor’s mailboxes)–chocolate chip cookies came as a surprise to me.

However I had made a dark chocolate and zucchini cake which was a big hit here at Care2 last summer, and really delicious. Not long after I tried that recipe someone asked me what would be my dream book to write, and I answered that it had actually already been written and I had just read it: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s just the best book, and I wish I had written it! (Not only for the year of farming and cooking that she got to experience, but for her wonderful writing.) Anyway, it’s the book that yielded this lovely recipe.

I usually adapt recipes with a strong tweak and swap out refined ingredients for more wholesome ones, but Barbara’s recipe is pretty much spot on to my eye and I only made a few alternative suggestions. I am going to play around with a vegan version using maple syrup for honey, flaxseed meal for the egg and coconut oil for the butter. I’ll let you know how it turns out next week. Until then, happy zucchini hiding.

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies 

INGREDIENTS:
1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup brown sugar (or Sucanat) 1/3 cup honey 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Combine in large bowl: 
1 cup white flour 
1 cup whole wheat flour 
1/2 tsp baking soda 
1/4 tsp salt 
1/4 tsp cinnamon
 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Combine in a separate, small bowl and blend into liquid mixture: 1 cup finely shredded zucchini 12 oz chocolate chips
Stir these into other ingredients, mix well. Drop by spoonful onto greased baking sheet, and flatten with the back of a spoon. Bake at 350F degrees, 10 to 15 minutes.

Makes 2 dozen cookies.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/green-dish-zucchini-chocolate-chip-cookies.html#ixzz1361w8jps

Good, Quick, Cheap & Filling!

Grilled cheese and tomato soup (shared by Colleen) is something that we often make around here for lunches, particularly when someone isn’t feeling good. Our oldest son particularly likes this meal and sometimes requests it out of the blue.

Spaghetti with homemade marinara (shared by Fran, who describes the marinara: “canned tomoates, chopped onion and garlic sauteed together”) is absolutely delicious and can make enough to fill a family of four for about $2, especially if the garden is producing.

Cool Tiger Artwork

2010-10-21T15:48:00.002-04:00

The Revenge on the Behance Network

Fridaku: Circulating Self: Converstations of Silence

2010-10-08T15:04:00.025-04:00

Image courtesy of druworldwide.com; advanced meditation

Alone Crowded

Sweet, warm redemption,
Sunshine, fresh air, and nature,
Communion silence.

Today I am thinking of the noise in the silence. There is something attractive to me about silence and how unsilent it typically remains or becomes. In silence, one hears the white noise of the soul; if not the universe. No, I'm no new-ager or Oprah-lite; but I like asking questions and listening for the answers or at least the dialogue. The relief of just being out in the great outdoors is very hard to compete with.

When I was growing up, the only video game was outside running around with the neighbors in the community and actually talking to people in person with texting, email or virtual touch. Up front, live and in person seems like an old once-upon-a-time these days. Besides, if you touched someone nowdays, they might be carrying killer germs or get sued for sexual harassment. Have we forgotten the beauty of being human and unwired? When was the last time you just sat outside in silence and listened to the nature, felt the air move and listened to your body function? Everyday is filled with some deadline, bill to be paid or event to be attended. We are constantly running to some end goal that never actually arrives. Through our technology, we seek freedoms long since dead after the industrial and digital ages.

No I am not saying burn all the tech and more out into the woods and use leaves for toilet paper; by no means. But I would suggest that without that occasional retreat to nature, we lose a bit more of our immortal identities traded for more mortality. The world of the constantly birth, living and dying that surround us everyday become mundane and unappreciated or even noticed. Its like recharging a battery internally to the human spirit. Its not something you can get from some seminar or pill in a bottle or rock on a mirror. The solution is so simple that noone will hear it and few will sell it.

Image from Suzanne's Blog: Crafting etc.

Its going to be a gorgeous weekend in the Music City. Spend it with someone you love or at least someone breathing and enjoy a chuckle and an outdoor activity. And somewhere in there, realize the importance of self and just be quiet and listen, feel and commune with the silent beauty only real nature can ensure.

Fridaku: Haiku for Friday

2010-10-01T16:15:00.002-04:00

Compassionate heart;
Infinite capacity,
Love is timeless.

Fridakus over Chili Days!

2010-09-24T16:09:00.008-04:00

Hopefully you are in the habit of associating Fridays with haikus by now. The cohort and I have had an ambitious week of
deadlines and madness; but our insanity has prevailed. Nashville is over-run with road construction and walking people.
Some of which have destinations and others of which have none but the passing of time til the next.

Summer Closes Its Eyes
Autumn days, burnt orange
The sun squints tomorrow dim
Warmth drains away soon.

Seasons Sleep
Pitch forks, orange leaves, fall
The sown harvest now reaped
Sleep earth, rest til Spring.

The Future Hunts the Present
Through the season comes
The math of time ending days
Of mortal products.

...and on to the other things Friday holds for us; delicious recipes of suptuous delights.
You know how much I love to do two things at once. There's nothing like coming home on a cool afternoon
to a delicious smelling home. Crockpots are the best!

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Today's Crockpot Recipe
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Chile and Corn Chip Meat Loaf

1 cup corn chips
1 small green chile, seeded and finely chopped
2 Tbs finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg, slightly beaten
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 lb. lean ground beef

Crush corn chips until they are coarse crumbs. In a large
bowl, combine corn chips, green chile, cilantro, chili
powder, cumin, and salt. Stir in egg, half of the tomato
sauce, and the ground beef. Form mixture into an 8 inch
loaf. Place loaf on a trivet in your crockpot. Spoon
remaining tomato sauce over loaf. Cover and cook on Low
about 4 hrs or until done.

click for another version

Thats all I got in the bowl. Have a spectacular weekend.

Fridakus and Fixiins!

2010-09-17T14:49:00.014-04:00

Its a beautiful Friday in Nashville and the sun is California warm! Approaching eighty-six degrees, Nashville begins to bustle for the weekend's activities. Its already shaping up to be a great weekend for dining and for loads of fun. This Friday Fixins is special. I found this great site with some very ambitious recipes and fantastic photos. Through the power of the internet, I share it with you in its raw form for your own selections in dining experimentation.

..and what would a Friday be without a good haiku or two. SInce my cohort has returned from Mexico, I will contribute with two this week. We apparently enjoy doing this little tradition. definition—haiku: short Japanese poem that describes scene or generates feelings. Nonetheless, my humble attempt at a beautiful art form.

Beautiful Smile

Stretched corners wide
Gleaming white soldiers ajar
Oh beautiful smile.

Bareful in the Grass

Fresh toes curling grass
Passionate, laughing figures
Two people happy.

Fitness Friday

2010-08-27T14:29:00.002-04:00

Its no secret that I dont typically do heavy weights, if ever. I prefer to keep all my parts attached and functioning just like they are. Thats not to say that fitness doesnt take a bit of work; it does. Pills will never get what can only be earned. I have taken off from gym time for almost a month; now its time to pay the piper. I like taking a break — it fools the body. But dont be fooled; ease back into activity and make sure the machine warms up slowly before you gun it. Go hard or go home. Dont give advice about something you've never achieved. It it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks; its probably a duck.
Top 8 Exercises to build the body of a Greek God

Friday Floodaku

2010-08-20T19:47:00.007-04:00

It's been raining all week here in the music city. In fact, its been raining very hard. The beating drops drum up memories barely dimmed by the few days of sunshine and months of recovery that still continue to this day. Finally the sun came out today; but it is evident that the rain has already wrecked havoc on a city still reeling from earlier devastation. This Friday is dedicated to a flood haiku.

Flood Memories
Flood-fresh wounds,
Bleed rich, the careless rain's disregard
of our delicatenesses.

Beans About Friday Fixins — Haiku Heat

2010-08-06T16:02:00.012-04:00

As you know, I love doing things that can do themselves while I do something else. This is another delicious crock pot recipe that will free up your time and allow you to make dinner all at the same time; or at least a worthy snack. Everybody loves meatballs. Often one of two always prefers less meat than the other so this recipe will give you the flavor of meat with the benefits of vegetables! On to the Friday Fixins!

Mexican Beans and Rice with Spicy Meatballs

Ingredients:
1 pound extra-lean ground beef
2 packages taco seasoning mix -- (1 1/4-ounce)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1/3 cup finely chopped carrots
3 1/2 cups water
1 can sliced ripe olives -- (2 1/4 ounce)drained
1 can diced green chiles -- (7-ounce)
6 garlic cloves -- minced
1 red bell pepper -- diced
2 cups converted white rice
1 can kidney beans -- (15-ounce) rinsed and drained

To make the meatballs, in a medium bowl, combine the
ground beef, 1/2 package taco seasoning mix, cilantro,
bread crumbs, carrots, and 1/2 cup of the water. Mix to
blend well. Roll into 24 balls about 1 1/2 inches in
diameter. Set aside.

For the beans and rice, in a 4- or 5-quart electric slow
cooker, mix together the remaining 3 cups water with the
remaining taco seasoning mix, olives, green chiles,
garlic, bell pepper, and rice. Gently push the meatballs
down into the rice mixture.

Cover and cook on the low heat setting 4 hours, or until
the rice is just tender and the meatballs are cooked
through.

Stir in the beans gently so they dont get mushed. Cover and cook 30 minutes
longer. mmmmmm...tasty!

Well its off to a great weekend again! But what would a weekend be without haikus. Not to mention, this weekend is all about heat in Nashville. Its been a week of 100 degree days and 90 degree nights.

Summer Heat
Melting summer days,
Heat wafting from everything.
Every breath thick.

Capa Maria Santa Novo Modelo

2010-08-02T10:25:00.001-04:00

Capa Maria Santa Novo Modelo
Originally uploaded by Mano Neto

I love cool design that not only captures your eyes but your mind. This is a very nice piece. I hope to study it and use its formulas somehow.

17 Syllables of Fridaiku: Tomato Infatuation

2010-07-30T15:45:00.013-04:00

Image courtesy of Thayer Allyson Gowdy/Getty Images

It’s Friday again and you know what that means....Friday Haikus; or as some have become comfortable, Fridakus! The cohort and I continue in the tomato fest at least just one more time. We’ve had fun with it. Every morning, I water our huge tomato plant standing 6 feet just off the steps of my back deck. I try to only water it at the base leaving the leaves as dry as possible. The leaves are trimmed often so the sun can get to each tomato and hopefully cut down on the possibility of tomato worms. So far, so good. I actually hated tomatoes since I was a kid. Something about eating them always caused a gag reflex until as of late. Sure, I could stomach them on a sandwich or sparaticly in a salad. I had grown up watching them being eaten like apples, just adding salt and biting with running red juices chasing gravity everywhere. With age, I have become wiser. The benefits outweigh my grammar-school dislike. But enough about all that...Les Fridaku de la Tomato Eroutique!

Image courtesy of lovingchaos.com

Smack the red, tight skin,
blushing and plump
with anticipation of more.

Ruby smooth bulges
basking in July sun,
tanning a deeper red.

Firm and round,
wrapped in a delicious aroma,
defying green worm’s neglect.

Stout and green, swing tomatoes,
dangling their allure
for frying later.

Thick sweet odor,
crawl through my nostils,
parting my lips for my first bite.

Friday Fixins on Thursday

2010-07-29T13:26:00.003-04:00

This day slips by with many thing to accomplish — not unlike three days prior. Nonetheless, I do this ahead of time due to other ideas concerning tomorrow. It's sweltering outside and that can be taxing. I am very glad I watered my landscape flowers heavily this morning. It seems like the warm weather is making the marigolds and roses go wild.

Here is an extremely easy crockpot recipe that you can just put on and go do something else only to return to a mouth-watering aroma upon return. Actually I like the name too, Sunshine Drum Sticks; that’s just cool for so many reasons.

Sunshine Drum Sticks

INGREDIENTS:
12 drumsticks
6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
3 Tbs honey
2 Tbs quick tapioca
1 small can of green chilies chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup finely chopped onion

DIRECTIONS:
Wash and place chicken in crockpot. Combine
remaining ingredients and pour over chicken.
Cook low 5 hours.

Tomato Sauce Fridakus

2010-07-23T21:36:00.002-04:00

It's a sweltering Friday and Automatic Andy has fired out another haiku masterpiece. What mad genius he doest pursue. He has consented to join our revolution of tomato erotica. What could be healthier than a little fruit and vegetables at meal time. Somehow its all so wrong and yet that's part of the reason you cant stop reading. Tomato Erotica; I think its an all new genre of haiku. I wish I had thought of that.

Twack, twack, twack, twack, twack
Four body shots, one forehead;
Flinging tomatoes!

Fat, red tomato.
Tight, shiny skin, thick green stem.
Mouth-watering snack.

Rubenessque green slug,
Run your horn deep into red.
Tomato tunnels.

Horny, green wiggly
tomato plant destroyer
pop and squish, one less.

Fridays, Fixins and Facts: The Tomato Monologue

2010-07-16T15:39:00.004-04:00

This Friday is all about tomatos thanks to some of my favorite FB friends. There are few greater pleasures than a just-picked ripe, red tomato still warm from the summer sun. We have a nice thick vine of them growing just off the deck that we water daily. Tomatoes are amazing; not only for eating but for living. Tomatoes combat a number of health issues and even posess super secret cosmetic benefits. There has been quite a bit of debate over the tomato status as a "fruit" or "vegetable." You can pick your team; but by definition, them seem like a fruit to this casual diner. In the last couple of days, I have had some eyebrow-raising enlightenments concerning tomatoes; some of which I share with you.

Tomato Lore and Legend

Up until the end of the eighteenth century, physicians warned against eating tomatoes, fearing they caused not only appendicitis but also stomach cancer from tomato skins adhering to the lining of the stomach. Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson of Salem, New Jersey had brought the tomato home from abroad in 1808. He had been offering a prize yearly for the largest fruit grown, but the general public considered the tomato an ornamental plant rather than one for food.

As the story is told, it was Colonel Johnson who on September 26, 1820 once and for all proved tomatoes non-poisonous and safe for consumption. He stood on the steps of the Salem courthouse and bravely consumed an entire basket of tomatoes without keeling over or suffering any ill effects whatsoever. His grandstanding attracted a crowd over over 2,000 people who were certain he was committing public suicide. The local firemen's band even played a mournful dirge to add to the perceived morbid display of courage.

Johnson's public stunt garnered a lot of attention, and North America's love affair with the tomato was off and running. By 1842, farm journals of the time were touting the tomato as the latest craze and those who eschewed it as "objects of pity."

Tomato, the fruit, Health Facts:

Nutrition of Tomatoes

Tomatoes will give you the following nutritional benefits:

* Vitamin C (40% of recommended daily value in one tomato)
* Vitamin A (20% RDA)
* Vitamin K (over 15% RDA)
* Decent source (7% RDA) of fiber
* Potassium, niacin, vitamin B6, folate
* Lycopene (antioxidant)

All those nutrients can improve your health:

* Lots of cancer protection
* Protects against heart disease, stroke
* Colon and prostate health
* Improves LDL cholesterol
* Natural anti-inflammatory (helps with above diseases plus Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis)
* Bone health
* Reduces stress
* Can reduce frequency of migraines
* Helps regulate blood sugar in diabetics

Lycopene is the Tomato’s Secret Weapon

Lycopene is an antioxidant, which means it helps cells protect themselves from oxygen damage. You’ve heard the phrase “free radicals” thrown around, I’m guessing. They’re bad for you, inside and out, and lycopene is a great weapon against them. It has been shown in studies to protect against colorectal, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers, quite significantly in many cases. It also protects against heart disease.

In one study, 10 healthy women ate a diet containing two ounces of tomato puree each day for three weeks, either preceded by or followed by a tomato-free diet for three weeks. The researchers measured blood levels of lycopene and evaluated oxidative damage to cells before and after each phase. They found that cell damage dropped by 33% to 42% after consuming the tomato diet.

Wow! Is that all the tomato you can handle in one meal? Ok...one last thing. On to the Friday Fixings!
Tomato, Feta and Basil Soup
Here’s is what you will need

Olive oil
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 x 400g/14 oz. tins whole peeled tomatoes
1 Tbsp sugar to taste
2 litres /4 pints vegetable stock
100ml /4 oz. cream
4 Tbsp feta, crumbled
Handful Basil
Salt and pepper

1. Add some olive oil to a pan and add the garlic
2. When the garlic is toasted add the tomatoes and crush them up a bit, then add the sugar
3. Take the pot off the heat and liquidize until smooth
4. At this point you can reserve it for a sauce or carry on with the rest of the recipe for the soup
5. Add the vegetable stock
6. Add the cream
7. Then add the feta and basil. It’s easy just to tear up the basil in the soup just like the Italians! You can also chop it fine and then throw it in if you prefer. Sometimes I make a little pesto with pestle and mortar and drizzle that over, which is quite nice.
8. Don’t forget to add the salt and pepper.

Tomatoes Stuffed with Blue Cheese or Pesto:
Cherry tomatoes are best for this.
Wash the tomato, trim off the top and scoop out the seeds.
Stuff with a pinch of blue cheese or a dollop of fresh pesto. Serve.

Caprese Salad with Balsamic Vinegar
The classic caprese salad will never be boring to me.
Layer thin slices of fresh tomato with fresh mozzarella, a few chopped basil leaves and a drizzle of good quality balsamic vinegar. Want more flavor? Add slivers of red onion. CLICK HERE for more recipes.

Its Friday and that means haiku! Here's a few zingers just for tomato lovers!

Tomato Prisioner
Ruby skin, moist fruit,
Thick odor, salivation;
Feed me, prisioner.

Broken Treasure
Subtle, ruby flesh
Drenched treasures, salty good
Tomato pleasures.

Full Tomato Juice Mouth
Streaming red nectar
Lick my tongue gently slow,
Defenseless desire.

Tomato Devoured
Taught skin
Rupturing salty rivers
Suspended limbs.

4th Fries, Friday Fixins and Sippins with a Strawberry Haiku

2010-07-02T15:53:00.006-04:00

Happy 4th of July -- powered by flowgo.com

What you believe about the 4th of July isn't true! You might think that independence was declared on the fourth of July. You might even believe that the 4th is the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. I am sure you might have always heard that the Liberty Bell was used to usher in such noble independence. Furthermore, you probably believe Betsy Ross sewed the first flag. Lastly, you may already know that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the fourth of July. Most people may be fuzzy on the exact details but most of this general stuff we can typically agree on. Do you always follow the herd? Does it wound your confidence to go against the grain? Well all those preceeding statements are wrong!

#1 Independence Was Declared on the Fourth of July. America's independence was actually declared by the Continental Congress on July 2, 1776. The night of the second the Pennsylvania Evening Post published the statement: "This day the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States." The real deal... So what happened on the Glorious Fourth? The document justifying the act of Congress-you know it as Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence-was adopted on the fourth, as is indicated on the document itself, which is, one supposes, the cause for all the confusion. As one scholar has observed, what has happened is that the document announcing the event has overshadowed the event itself.

#2 The Declaration of Independence was signed July 4. Hanging in the grand Rotunda of the Capitol of the United States is a huge canvas painting by John Trumbull depicting the signing of the Declaration. Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams wrote, years afterward, that the signing ceremony took place on July 4. When someone challenged Jefferson's memory in the early 1800's Jefferson insisted he was right. The truth? As David McCullough remarks in his new biography of Adams, "No such scene, with all the delegates present, ever occurred at Philadelphia." The real deal...The truth about the signing was not resolved until 1884 when historian Mellon Chamberlain, researching the manuscript minutes of the journal of Congress, came upon the entry for August 2 noting a signing ceremony. As for Benjamin Franklin's statement, which has inspired patriots for generations, "We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall hang separately" … well, there's no proof he ever made it. Meanwhile there was more than enough hanging going on.

#3 The Liberty Bell Rang in American Independence. As you now know now, this event did not happen on the fourth. So did it happen at all? It's a famous scene. A young boy with bond hair and blue eyes was supposed to have been posted in the street next to Independence Hall to give a signal to an old man in the bell tower when independence was declared. It never happened. The story was made up out of whole cloth in the middle of the nineteenth century by writer George Lippard in a book intended for children. The book was aptly titled, Legends of the American Revolution. There was no pretense that the story was genuine. But things are often construed as truth when they were far from or never intended to be so literal.

#4 Betsy Ross Sewed the First Flag. A few blocks away from the Liberty Bell is the Betsy Ross House. The real deal...There is no proof Betsy lived here, as the Joint State Government Commission of Pennsylvania concluded in a study in 1949. Poor Betsy. In her day she was just a simple unheralded seamstress. Now the celebrators won't leave her alone. A few years ago they even dug up her bones where they had lain in a colonial graveyard for 150 years, so she could be buried again beneath a huge sarcophagus located on the grounds of the house she was never fortunate enough to have lived in.

So who sewed the first flag? No one knows. But we do know who designed it. It was Frances Hopkinson. Records show that in May 1780 he sent a bill to the Board of Admiralty for designing the "flag of the United States."

#5 John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Died on the Fourth of July. Ok, this is true. On July 4, 1826, Adams and Jefferson both died, exactly fifty years after the adoption of Jefferson's Declaration of Independence, which the country took as a sign of American divinity. But there is no proof that Adams, dying, uttered, "Jefferson survives," which was said to be especially poignant, as Jefferson had died just hours before. Mark that up as just another hoary story we wished so hard were true we convinced ourselves it is.

Adapted from the History News Network

Friday Fixins and Sippins! Ok let's start with the sippin's, since that will make all the rest better.

Fire Crackers

1 1/2 oz Tequila
Cracked ice
Tonic water
Lime wedge

Pour tequila over the ice in a highball glass. Fill with tonic. Stir and garnish with lime wedge.

Star Spangled Jello Shooters

4 c Package Jello*
2 c Boiling water
2 c Liquor** *Any flavor. * *86 or 100 proof--don't use 151, any type.

Dissolve the Jello in the boiling water and let it cool. Add the liquor. Pour about 1/8 to 1/4 cup into little paper cups and chill. Squeeze the whole cupful into your mouth--no spoons or partial servings! Vodka is the usual first choice, but rum is really good too.

4th of July Lemonade

1 part Jack Daniel's bourbon
1 part triple sec
1 part sweet-and-sour mix
4 parts lemon-lime soda.

Combine all ingredients and serve this refreshing drink over ice.

Independence Day Punch

26 oz Rye 2
Bottles sherry
3 Bottles ginger ale
2 Whole oranges -- sliced

Pour 2 bottles of the ginger ale into a bundt pan and add some of the orange slices. Freeze and use as ice ring as it doesn't dilute the punch when it melts. Punch does become smoother as the ring melts. Put orange slices in the punch bowl and add other ingredients. (You may wish to have one more bottle of ginger ale to make the ice ring.)

Hair Raiser

1/3 part Anisette
1/3 part Brandy
1/3 part Triple Sec

Shake well. Serve drink in a shot glass

For a most incredible treat: Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Cake Recipe for Fourth of July at Epicurious.com http://bit.ly/b7fnu5

Strawberry Smiles
Plump red ripe berries
Atop the sweetest of dishes
Smiles melting frowns up.

Life is Beautiful

2010-07-01T14:15:00.001-04:00

Feasting Fridaku Fascinations

2010-06-25T16:29:00.005-04:00

Blue Globes
Oh solid orb blue
What moist fruit concealed between
Alabaster limbs.

Cool Hot Worthwhiles
A Guiness, ice-cold,
Awaits friends free from day’s toil;
Lunch memorable.

Strong Currents
Deep, strong and vibrant
Lay fierce treasures to unwrap
And passions to slay.

Cranium Midnight
Haiku, come now;
Paint what minds illuminate,
That eyesight conceals.

Nuts About Friday Haikus!

2010-06-18T19:28:00.003-04:00

By the graces of the Lord God and the pensiveness of Andrew Lewis Stanfield, another Friday greets us and bows away. Saturating us with the promise of the joys to come and distractions of pleasure, the most important moments for some approach on the giggling feet of anticipation. Yet before we embark upon a most ambitious weekend, what would the close of Friday be without a haiku; and how far much better with several....

...but first things first...Friday Fixins for all you nuts out there.

Boiled Peanuts
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 quarts green uncooked peanuts
1/2 cup salt
2 1/2 quarts water

Wash Peanuts until water runs clear. Put clean peanuts in
crockery pot, add salt and water; stir. Cook, covered, on
high for 5 to 7 hours. Add additional water during
cooking, if necessary, to keep peanuts covered.

mmmmmm....tasty and even kinda healthy unless you have a nut allergy. But hey, just because I am sooo wonderful; here's something extra for my beloved Louisiana and all my cajun friends. ayhieeee!!!!

And now on to the haikus of Friday: Fridakus. Thanks Andylicious for keeping the torch alive!

Smoldering Visions
Sticky summer duel
Melting inhibition's rule
Less being more cool.

Happy Cohorts
United laughter
All for one and one for all
Breeds joys multiplied.

Friday Haiku
Friday haiku;
Uniting thoughts from two minds
One chord harmony.

Fridaku
Arrive at week's end
Write haikus on friday
5, 7, 5 read.

The Seeing Unseen
One layer away
Desperately close, we watch
Oh voyeur delight.

Friday Fridakus and Friday Fixin's for CMA

2010-06-11T16:23:00.005-04:00

It’s another great Friday in the Music City, packed with out of towners for the festivities. CMA is alive and well in the recently water-logged Nashville. Music oozes from every open door and from around every corner. There are tourists at every street, brimming with anticipation for that incredible brush with raw star power and country music royalty. It's a "twang thang" for those so inclined and its everywhere. What a great city!

Fridays are full of haikus and recipes. As for the fitness side of our Friday, we are up to 85 pushups for our weekly challenge. One cohort short, perhaps we will wait one workday so he won’t feel left out (wink). Anyway, on the jewels before the queen, Fridakus and Fixin’s.

CMA Summer
CMA alive!
Stars, fans, summer days to share;
Music City sings.

Strum the Flood Away
No more, nevermore;
Great flood come and gone away,
Music, friends and more.

Stars on the Pavement
Stars crowded on earth,
Gazers blinded by their gleem,
Celebrating life.

This is another delicious recipe that allows for maximum multi-tasking. That’s right, another crock pot special. Since my Saturdays are packed with activities, I try to make the most of spare time or at least multi-task. This tasty one will leave you 6-8 hrs of double time to do several things at the same time. It’s easy and delicious!

Grape Jelly Meatballs

1 1/2 cups chili sauce
1 cup grape jelly (can use currant jelly)
1 to 3 tsp Dijon mustard
1 pound lean ground beef
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 Tbs fine dry bread crumbs
1/2 tsp salt

Combine chili sauce, jelly, and mustard in crock pot and
stir well. Cook, covered, on high while preparing
meatballs.

Combine remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Shape
into 30 meatballs. Bake meatballs in a preheated 400
degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes; drain well. Add
meatballs to sauce, stir to coat, cover and cook on low
for 6 to 10 hours.

Apple Fixins and Thunder Fridakus!

2010-05-28T15:50:00.006-04:00

------------------------------------------------------
The Day After Thursday Quote
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I used to believe that anything was better than nothing.
Now I know that sometimes nothing is better.
-- Glenda Jackson

It’s that wonderful day of the week again…Friday! Friday is great for all sorts of things; including planning the weekend. For us, it’s Fitness Friday in the office (up to 70 pushups as a group) and Fridaku Fixin’s for you most generous readers of the Life’s Pursuit blog. As you know, I am a big fan of things that aren’t complicated and don’t require a whole lot of time. Life is just too short to not be enjoying. Celebrating my 8 yr wedding anniversary Thursday just might drag right on into the weekend. Meanwhile, here’s a simple recipe that just might be good for your timeline and your waistline too.

All Day Applesauce with Frozen Yogurt

------------------------------------------------------
Today's Crockpot Recipe
------------------------------------------------------

All Day Applesauce with Frozen Yogurt

2 pounds Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
1/4 cup sugar (optional)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Grated nutmeg
6 1/4-cup scoops fat-free, no-sugar-added vanilla frozen yogurt

Lay apple slices in a 3-quart or larger crock pot.
Combine sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over apples and
drizzle with lemon juice.

Cover and cook on low for 6 1/2 to 8 hours. To serve,
spoon hot apples into 6 dessert dishes. Top each with a
scoop of frozen yogurt. Lightly sprinkle with nutmeg and serve.

Thunder Flirts
Low rumbling thunder
Thick drops pelting shaded windows
Streaks of Lightning wink.

Double Barrel Justice: The Buckshot Edition

2010-05-20T21:02:00.000-04:00

Long held as a country standard and the brunt of many odd family histories, the double barrel has seen its day. Dare I say in spite of that, they still survive til this day. Sure more sophisticated and modern arms have been developed; but this personal motivator remains a behind-the-scenes negotiator.

So if the double barrel is so effective; what’s the problem? Well it is true that it would be difficult to miss your target. That’s part of the issue. You don’t miss. In fact, you may not miss anything for a five-ten foot target area. So yes, you got the wolf; but you also got the rabbit, chicken and bulldog. The bacon was heading for the skillet anyhow. Obviously the power of the weapon is mass destruction. I submit to you that the power of the tongue is far greater. We hold the power of life and death in the words we speak from our high caliber mouths.

James 3:7-9 (New International Version)
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.

Romans 3:13 (New International Version)
  13"Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit."[a]   "The poison of vipers is on their lips."[b]

Proverbs 18:21 (New International Version)
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Friday Fixins, Spicy Chicken Wings and Fridakus!

2010-05-14T13:46:00.008-04:00

It's Friday again and as typical, it started out with a bang. I typically meet with a men's group on Friday mornings. It is often a moment of divine fellowship, good Cracker Barrel food and learning laughter. I had bacon and coffee. By the time I got to the office, I was already in a good mood. The day started off with plenty of laughter with the cohorts and boss. My iPOD is piping in What Great Bosses Know by Jill Geisler from the Poynter Institute while I am working on a magazine layout. Yes, its a beautiful day in the Music City and it would appear to be heading into a great weekend of friends, a wedding, working out, eating and quality time with the Mrs.

Somehow we have managed to adopt a "Fitness Friday" routine in the graphics department. We four guys do pushups every Friday. Its been great. Since we were all at different levels, we began at 5 and are now up to 60. That's pretty impressive that we are all now at 60-70 pushups. Despite not being able to talk the boss into having pancakes and bacon delivered to the office; he has been great. A laughing environment that gets its job done is a more than comforting situation. We are learning, burning and growing. All in a day's work.

Well on to the Friday Fixin's: my attempt to create some level of consistency in my weekly blog. Today's recipe comes to me from a newsletter I receive called Day Zines that Chet Day presents. You can sign up for the free newsletter too. Since everybody seems to be talking about sports, this dish is an easy, no lose recipe that requires no work on the maker's part.

Spicy Chicken Wings

image courtesy of Nibbledish.com

INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED:
3 Tbs vinegar
24 chicken wing drummettes
1/4 cup hot pepper sauce -- or less
1/2 cup melted butter
1 package Hidden Valley Ranch dry salad dressing mix

Mix all ingredients together except chicken wings and salad dressing mix. Place chicken wings in your crockpot,
pour mixture over wings and sprinkle with dry dressing mix and paprika as you layer them. Cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours.

Mmmmm, mmmmm, good wings! Are there really that many chickens in the world? Anywho… The other good thing about Friday are the haikus. Haikus have a line repletion of 5, 7, 5 in syllables and are typically about nature; but we are pretty flexible on that area. My cohort, Andy of the blog It Depends also participates in Fridaku!

image courtesy of Rob Wilcox

Waning Nashville Flood Waters

Morning sunrise, warm
Receeding waters, moist air
Hope, faith, thankfulness.

image courtesy of Carl Schulz

Dynamite Downtown; Shaking Down Under

The earth rumbles deep
Buildings shake, attention drawn tight
Dynamite the ground.

image courtesy of USM.Maine.edu

The Persistence of Time

Melting the time piece
Stretching now like old gum
A day stalls hours long.

The Rain Overfloweth!

2010-05-10T15:32:00.001-04:00

100_2459
Originally uploaded by energyfeeder

It was like something out of the story of Noah! It rained, rained and rained some more. Kids tend to love anything grownups consider dangerous or have to pay for later. As you may not know, TN was hit by major flooding and is still on the mend from the unruly waters.

Friday Fixins with Brisket and Fridakus

2010-04-23T16:42:00.010-04:00

The weather is fantastic today. Anybody who can is outside or at a pool.

Today’s Friday Fixin is all about no fuss. There’s nothing better than coming home to some delicious smell that reminds you that you are horse-hungry! Now a lot of you are trying Veganism and more power to you. To the rest of us who are still taking our chances for mad cow; this one’s extra sweet to the pot. Drop it in the crockpot and go away … get two things done at once or at least ready when you return.

Open-Faced Italian Brisket Sandwiches

1 (3 lb) boneless beef brisket, partially frozen
1 medium onion, quartered, sliced
1 (19 oz) can Progresso Tomato Basil Soup
2 Tbs cornstarch
2 Tbs brown sugar
1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1/8 tsp ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
10 (1/2-inch-thick) slices Italian bread
10 (1 oz) slices provolone cheese
2 Tbs chopped fresh parsley
Marbled cheese

Cut beef diagonally across grain into thin slices. Place
beef in 3- 1/2 or 4-qt slow cooker. Add onion. In medium
bowl, combine soup, cornstarch, brown sugar, Italian
seasoning, ground red pepper and Worcestershire sauce;
mix until smooth. Pour over beef and onion. Cover; cook
on low setting for 10-12 hours. To serve, place 1 slice
of bread on each individual plate. Top each with slice of
cheese and spoon about 3/4 cut beef mixture over each.
Sprinkle with shredded marble cheese.

Grave Embrace
Looking Up, Cool, Dark;
Up from the box in the earth
Sweet grave, cold embrace.

Tatoos in the Sun
Swirling inks, sleeveless;
Browned by the sun’s kisses
Tatoos and tanlines.

[note: REMEMBER, tats are forever.]

Booming Monday Realities and Teasers

2010-04-19T16:20:00.001-04:00

It’s Monday after a great weekend. The temperature was perfect, my yard’s already cut and got a little change to live on. Saw Sherlock Holmes movie (almost hated it—but fell asleep) and Did You Hear About the Morgans (another napper for the crapper but better than the previous). The popcorn was great, warm and buttery. Of course, tonite is 24 time; nobody does it like Jack Bauer! Meanwhile, I have to survive through Monday to get there. I have the ability to be too focused sometimes. It’s a blessing and it’s a curse. Its an old side effect from hours of drawing in the zone where all other distractions disappear. Throw in a fully-laced iPOD and everything is gone.

Ever have those projects that linger and creep? It should have been simple or at least requiring a limited amount of time if clear direction was given and complete info provided. Well this one has none of those and it keeps growing with an imaginary deadline. Everybody knows that imaginary deadlines are dangerous cause they are due all of a sudden. LOL. Unfortunately, I have two of those.

Nonetheless, its all good. Rolling along on a Monday trying to pace the rest of the week with pleasure and work. We all have top 3 tasks and the rest just get done when they do. It’s been entertaining working downtown watching the city blow up the concrete for the new convention center going in outside the window. There is something exciting about dynamite exploding and the building shaking beneath us. Is that wrong? Nevermind…rhetorical. Shaking is better than crumbling; otherwise I might be in California.

Well back to it. This is my mental release for the beginning of the week. Its good to mix business and pleasure to keep the balance in the force. The weekend goes so fast….especially when its good. Soon it will be time for fun and sun on some sandy shore. That makes all the rest worth the trek to the carrot.

Friday Fixins:' Spinach Quiche‬ — Fridaku Friday

2010-04-16T16:46:00.006-04:00

Pastry Base
Flour 250g
Unsalted Butter 150g
Salt 1tsp
Milk 1tbsp
Egg 1

1. In a bowl, mix the flour and salt together.
2. Cut the butter into cubes and rub the flour into the butter cubes until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together.
4. Pour the egg mixture into the flour/butter mixture, and mix well until you form a dough.
5. Roll the dough into a ball or disc shape and refrigerate for about 45 minutes.
6. Roll onto your pie tin. Using a fork, make a couple of holes at the base of the crust and bake at 180 degrees C for about 20 minutes.

Filling
Onion 1
Olive oil 1tsp
Spinach 280g
Tomato 1
Eggs 3
Heavy cream 1cup
Milk 1/2cup
Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese of your choice

1. Dice the onions and sauteed it.
2. In a bowl, mix the eggs, cream, milk, salt and pepper and whisk lightly.
3. Dice the tomato, then add it together with the spinach (squeezed dry of water) and sauteed onions into the egg mixture.

Assembly
1. After baking the pie crust, allow it to cool.
2. Place cheese of your choice at the base of the crust.
3. Pour your filling in, and bake at 180 degrees C for about 30-35 minutes.

Spring’s Beard
Warm golden sunlight
Bathing the Earth’s new green beard
Spring comes gingerly.

KFC Double Down Review!!!!!!!

2010-04-14T15:50:00.000-04:00

Bread just gets in the way. This looks like a must-try for me.

KFC Double Down Review!!!!!!!

Insane Human Strength

2010-04-07T09:14:00.001-04:00

Ok...wish I could say I could do this too; but I cant even pretend. This is more than impressive.

Egg Planet. Fantastic globe photo manipulation. in Adobe Photoshop

2010-04-06T16:54:00.001-04:00

Egg Planet. Fantastic globe photo manipulation. in Adobe Photoshop

Posted using ShareThis

Easter Tornado Memories

2010-03-31T12:11:00.003-04:00

It seems hard to believe that it wasn't that long ago when a massive tornado tore through Murfreesboro, TN. After being fortunate so many times with so many other storms, this one had our name on it, along with many others. We were still fortunate; we walked away alive. Some memories are permanent but time eases some of their discomfort.

We spend our lives trying to get things set. That is to say, we try to get things like we "think" they should be and that the universe owes us to keep it as we expect our illusions to remain. We assume that if we work hard, be good people, attend our local churches and be good neighbors, fathers, mothers, siblings and friends that the universe "owes" us that perceived illusion of comfort and stability. For most of us it is inconceiveable to be comfortably set and wake up the next morning with absolutely nothing except life. Even with nothing but life, one gets a chance to change or increase.

I was listening to a podcast Friday which I heard a phrase that was memorable. Quoted from the podcast, this person was "recession proof." Til this date, I have yet to be recession proof. I dont know anyone personally that is recession proof; oops just thought of one, but only one. I dare say that such "proofness" is time sensitive. Sooner or later, we are all connected. This was a quote from a rockstar mogul. When his fans have no disposable income, then we shall see....

Anywho, Friday a huge tornado(s) roared through Murfreesboro, TN again! Seems like it was only two weeks ago that one touched down. The events that happen unexpectedly tend to refocus us on what is important vs what is desired. I stood in the ocean of rubble thankful for life and the daunting task of cleanup. I fared better than some; maybe most. On the way to our home, three blocks away looked like a false alarm. By two blocks away, part of a roof was sticking out the top of another house. Then it got much worse long before the shock had set in and spiders in the stomach. Turning onto my street, I saw just a hint of apocolypse. The air burned with sirens, crys and thick sadnesses.

One's perspective can get switched really quick when times are this drastic. I am a street over from the mother and child who lost their lives. I talked to the last folks to see them alive who didnt realize the reality soon to come. Many wonder why babies die or bad things happen to children. I dont know either; but everything has its reasons. Tornadoes definitely arent choosy; but they do seem precise. There would seem no rhyme or reason how it jumps one house and takes the next two, skips a tree and takes the home behind it, etc. Somehow the aftermath encourages us to forget our differences and ourselves for a moment before returning to the all consuming rat-race of futility.

Fridakus and Friday Fixin's of Bacon Wrapped Meatballs!

2010-03-26T16:28:00.012-04:00

Fridaku: Green Face
Young, soft, straight, sparce, green
Like a beard across the earth
Grass sprouts in the Spring.

Finally it's that time of the year again that we can all roll up our sleeves and soak up the rays. Spring time is an array of incredible colors and the birth of new hopes and dreams. The grass has that new green look and the trees are littered with buds and bees. This has been a great Friday and the end of it wont be any different. Let's kick off this Friday with an old favorite, Friday Fixins! Can't you smell it already?

Bacon Wrapped Sweet & Sour Meatballs
From the Farmer John California Natural Extra Lean Ground Pork package
Serves 6

INGREDIENTS:
Meatballs
1 lb. ground pork
3 slices crustless white bread
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
10 slices bacon, cut in half
1 tablespoon vegetable oil for frying
Wooden toothpicks for securing bacon

Sweet & Sour Sauce
1 teaspoon vegetable oil for frying
1 – 8 1/4 oz. can pineapple chunks in heavy syrup, juice reserved
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup brown sugar
Pinch salt
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon fresh ginger
6 tablespoons ketchup
6 tablespoons reserved pineapple juice

DIRECTIONS:
For meatballs: Tear apart the bread into small pieces, soak in milk and mash well in small bowl. In medium bowl, mix the ground pork with salt, garlic powder and pepper, stirring with fork. Drain off the excess milk from the mashed bread and mix with the meat. Make meatballs 1″ in diameter. Wrap 1/2 slice of bacon around each meatball. Use half a toothpick for each meatball to secure the bacon to the meatballs. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook meatballs 20-22 minutes until bacon is slightly crisp, turning frequently. Drain on paper towels. Remove toothpicks.

For sauce: Heat oil in medium saucepan. Add the pineapple and cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Add all the remaining sauce ingredients to the pan and bring slowly to a boil stirring continuously until thickened. Allow to simmer 1 minute or until completely clear.

Arrange meatballs on serving platter. Pour sauce over the meatballs. Serve while warm.

10 Ultimate Party Tricks

2010-03-23T12:16:00.001-04:00

Everybody loves a good trick; how about 10!

2010-03-19T11:48:00.001-04:00

Friday Haiku

2010-03-12T22:19:00.004-05:00

Photo from the The Kingsley Art Gallery

The Honey's Bee
Anticipation
For the words of Maximus.
Doom is like honey.

5 Crazy Reasons We Ain’t Crazy Yet

2010-03-11T15:38:00.004-05:00

I was on Facebook and one of my friends had this quote that stopped me in my tracks. It was so profound I had to read it twice. That’s when I knew what my blog topic was going to be today. Thanks!

“I've heard that it's possible to grow up - I've just never met anyone who's actually done it. Without parents to defy, we break the rules we make for ourselves. We throw tantrums when things don't go our way, we whisper secrets with our best friends in the dark, we look for comfort where we can find it, and we hope - against all logic, against all experience. Like children, we never give up hope...”
Meredith Grey

We break the rules we make for ourselves: I don’t know about you; but I have a few rules over the years that I made for all time that if broken, I believe I deserve whatever I get. Luckily I don’t typically have to learn the same lesson more than twice…but I guess there are always that one or two that seem to haunt or repeat. Why do we live to break the rules? Maybe we inherited it from our parents, Adam and Eve.

We throw tantrums when things don’t go our way: Honestly, I confess to being a bit upset if I don’t get my way. Depending on what the situation, my reaction is minor or major. I’ve gotten better at keeping the demons at bay when its major. I know what hides in the closet and it ain’t pink or pastel or cuddly. I try to focus on how funny the story will be later. In addition, I ask myself, “what can I learn about this or from this event?”

We whisper secrets with our best friends in the dark: I think every sane person has a BFF. These people know so much that your life might surely end if there lips parted. Even more amazing is that they remain your friend. We tend to have to tell someone in spite of or addition to God. Im not sure why, but some level of confession or empting has to happen to feel better at least for a little while.

We look for comfort where we can find it: That might answer a lot of “why” questions that we all seem to get stuck on. Even in the worst of situations that we wish we didn’t care about, we still hate admitting that the why matters. We still seek to understand how or why something we didn’t see or couldn’t imagine happening occurs, especially if we are all human and created equal.

We never give up hope: Hope is either a dessert or an addiction; I’m not sure which. We have all seen or heard stories of someone who had survived some horrific situations only through the strength of hope. Mothers and grandmas have gone to the grave hoping for the safety of their children. In such times as these, we all hope it will get better or that trouble don’t last always. When we are away from our loved ones, we hope someone is looking out for them. The world is suffocating under pressure.

FRIDAKUs and Reading Moments…

2010-02-26T16:33:00.008-05:00

Fridaku: Winter Days

Cool breeze, gentle air
Cuddling winter's presence
Delaying warm days.

Spare Time What doest that really mean?
Do you need a spare watch to tell spare time? Does that mean you have 2 sets of time and do they co-exist? Is it the one you use in case of flats? Does it hang out on an overweight watch/clock?

In searching for some great pics for another blog, I found these fascinating sites. My best resources are happy accidents. I am sure there’s a great blog in there somewhere. If you beat me to it, let me in on the funnies too and link back. Everybody loves a good laugh.

Some really great sites to spend more time reading….

Prints Old and Rare

Mississippigarden

Tip Hero

Create and Smile

Clown-Politicians

Past Is Present

TIME, FRIENDS, LOVE, SEX and Groovy Old Couples

2010-02-25T16:23:00.003-05:00

They say love covers a multitude of sins. Though I have often wondered who they are and how everybody else knows who they are but cant identify any of them is a continuing question crawling along the lines between light and shadow in my skull. Nonetheless…for all that love does and is; it is common ground. With a commitment to this common ground, other decisions and issues pale to its statue. In our deepest love, we find ourselves lain naked before someone whom we trust not to destroy us and love not to hate us. I have watched issues divide people every since I was the youngest of children; even when people no longer remembered why they were at odds. Hence, the oldest of friends is worth my personal ego sacrifice to continue a prolonged story of endurance.

Old friends are some of the very best. Old friends have more credibility because you know that they know the good and the bad and they remain. That is something I value. The same is true for great marriages and I suppose most other unions / relationships. Old friends also understand their own lack of blamelessness, increasing the commitment from both ends to endure beyond the safety of comfort and venture into the forest without weapons drawn. They always say, “dance with the one you brung,” and that’s just good policy, if not law. I always look forward to meeting some groovy old couple on every trip we take. It’s easy to tell when two people like each other, as well as love each other. The twinkle in her eyes when she looks at him; the grin in his smile when he winks at her are marks of this enduring story that typically is or has been a never-ending adventure. I love to hear the stories of how old couples got together. One always has the facts and the other the dates and details — and the devil is always in the details.

Groovy old couples are fantastic people. Some say nobody else would put up with either of them so they stay together. I don’t discredit that statement; but I would be inclined to add that perhaps they are so intuned to each other, anything else would be out of order. The other common factor of groovy old couples seems to be great sex. I have heard it come up more than once. One is typically grinning and nodding and the other is all-too-happy to use comical euphamisum to tell some funny story. We were at an IMAX in Chattanooga by the aquarium when this couple who must have been in there late 70’s sat behind us. Their snickering gained our attention; their age earned our shock. We immediately began conversating about happiness and marriage and how long and how they met. Of course, he comes out with be careful, she’s a screamer. After a sock in the arm from her and our laughters, we watched a great show on Creatures of the Deep…no pun intended. Happiness is a contagious thing. It’s also hard to hide.

Becoming a groovy old couple has its costs. Love, patience, trust, respect, gentleness, understanding, endurance, kisses, holding hands, sacrifice, selflessness, selfishness, forgiveness, smiles, tears and embraces are all part of the recipe. A coin is incomplete without a heads or a tails. Without bread on both sides, is it really a sandwich? I am looking forward to becoming a groovy old couple. I don’t mind and am certainly not offended by the marks of age. That’s reality. I don’t care about looking good in the coffin. I prefer a restored classic to a hot new corvette. Other cars are only for glancing, my classic is just for me. To infinity and beyond!

The Black & Shawn White of a Champion: Goldfish Out of the Bowl

2010-02-19T16:54:00.001-05:00

I must admit, I like being completely mystified; even better when something can ONLY be described as jaw-dropping! If you watched Shawn White’s performance during the snowboarding portion of the Olympics; then you know exactly how inept these adjectives perform. I watched his first run, I was already shocked by the superb execution of various jumps, the height of those jumps and the execution of pure grace and style. I really enjoy watching these kinds of sports but certainly am not some die-hard follower; but I’ve heard of Tony Hawk and Shawn White. In fact, I even met him around three years ago here in Nashville. I thought he was a cool kid that made me think of a young good-looking, fun-loving Carrot Top (before the steroids). I was struck by his openness and accessibility to the cohorts and fans around him.

Considering that he had already won the gold for the Americans, most people would just take the bow and accept the award with a smirk. Not this guy! The next performance I witnessed made me consider having a DVR so I could replay it over and over. Long after he had defied gravity with all the grace of any supreme skydancer; his tricks ripped the fabric of reality! That crazy double corkscrew whatever left me gasping for air from my living room couch. Honestly, I like watching a good crash; but the thought never even had time to form. The lack of oxygen had me glued to the screen watching what had to have been impossible. He ROCKED IT! Not only had he won, but done it with unquestionable defiance of resting on any laurel. He pulled out all the stops all the way. The best part — he didn’t even have to take the risk. There in lies the mark of a champion who LOVES what he does and LOVES who he is. Other than the agony of defeat opening (for those of us old enough to remember that played every Olympics), that moment will be burned into the powder of my memory for many years. It was one those moments that marks time for a long time after. Well done, Shawn. That my friend was completely GNARLY RADD!

Laughing Like I Was The Child I Was

2010-02-17T16:39:00.004-05:00

Somehow the week has climbed up to Wednesday. In spite of being extremely busy, I promised to squeeze in a blog or two; afterall, what is life if you never get to do anything you want. I am a “work to live” not a “live to work” person. Life is such a great thing that it should at least be lived to its fullest. I have absolutely nothing against hard work or staying focused; but it shouldn’t have to ALWAYS be that way. Besides, creatives need that break from the PC structure of the world.

While I am definitely a sun child, I love snow too. That is provided there is enough to make a monumental snowman and work/driving for a week is out of the question. I miss the snows of old. Maybe Al Gore’s on to something. When I was a kid, snows would be thick, moist and high; now, we’re lucky just to get a good thunderstorm. Watching the children sled and have snowball fights de-ages all of us. That was the stuff of magic. Don’t you remember how much fun and how little the chill of the air actually mattered. The joy immeasureable from the act of being in the moment and company with whom vs what I was getting out of something or who would owe me later. We seem to lose such abandon as adults. Kids understand that they don’t have to understand; maybe that is the secret we rob ourselves as we age.

Nonetheless, as the memories of laughing children fade, I resign to have an excellent year of unforetold blessings, laughs, joys, service to others and maybe even a few tears. I think I will remember that everything doesn’t have to be understood; the whys are not so important as the you-wont-believe-what-happened-next moments. The beauty of magic is that it entertains even the skeptic. A doubter loves to doubt even if it forces him to never take another step in comfort.

Fridaku Birthday Weekend and Antics

2010-02-05T16:09:00.008-05:00

It’s Friday again and it has been a very busy but fast week. Sometimes you have those weeks you wouldn’t mind doing again but only if you had to pick one—this was one of those. Friday we have implemented a new tradition — Fitness Friday! Yep. We will start out slow with 10 pushups for a month and then progress from there. So far all the guys jumped in and it felt great. I am planning on having a killer workout this afternoon as soon as I can get out of here.

Of course, the weekend will go quickly. Luckily its also Birthday Weekend for my nephew Christopher and my brother-in-law Mark. Birthdays are fun; especially since they are not funerals. It adds a sunny outlook to a weekend rumored to be nasty weather wise. At least with birthdays we are reminded of our strength and that sometimes we do win; otherwise we wouldnt be here. If you feel like you have a lousy life or that things are always bad; it serves as another small amount of evidence that perhaps you should be looking for somebody to help. There’s always somebody doing worse than you are. Sometimes you see people with incredible spirits who really could easily pick a reason to not be happy. On those days, you know you dont have any legitimate excuses. All your parts are there and functioning...surely they could be put to better use than complaining. This week I have talked to several people who have been evaluating their lives. I think that’s healthy to take assessments often. In doing so, it always means change—which we rarely are willing to make; especially drastic change immediately. One of my favorite podcasts Dan Miller is loaded with common sense solutions that we have to constantly be reminded of by some stranger.

Friday! Oh, that means its time for Fridaku too! I met the Pensive One at our favorite coffehouse for a chat with the chattables. Since he’s from Louisiana, he reminded me that its Mardi Grais weekend. I suppose I will be rooting for the Saints only because that region has had a long rough time and could use as much sunshine as possible. Meanwhile, I still like Payton; so its ok either way for me.

Cold Rain on Bald Head

Cold spikes on my head
falling tiny and sharp,
Plop the raindrops fall.

Cars on Wet Streets

Thwack four times make one
Cars passing on the wet street
Tires kissing the road.

Waning Friday Workday
Fingers tapping keys
Hours slipping politely by
Friday slips away.

Frigid FRIDAKU!

2010-01-08T15:27:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's Friday again and you know what that means.

Quadra Fall
Bright snow and black ice
The ditches catch the thrown cars
Afraid and dented.

Sky Dandruff Transformations
Beautiful snowflakes
Tip-toeing on frozen grounds
Melting into ice.

Friday is for haikus!

2009-12-11T17:29:00.003-05:00

Friday Haikus The Pensive One is way ahead of me lately on blogging; but I will be making my return soon. This is the pebble that starts the avalanche. Enjoy the weekend.

Through frosted windows
The sun frowns cold, winter roars
The earth lies frigid.

The green grass now white,
Lying still, frozen, brittle.
Like ice spaghetti.

Working by the pane,
Held inside slumbering time.
Long minutes crawl by.

Asphalt dictator-
Silent, strong, and merciless;
Sheds no tears for less.

2009-12-08T10:13:00.001-05:00

How to Lose Your Love Handles

Colin Powell's Leadership Presentation

2009-11-30T12:24:00.001-05:00

To be a champion; you've gotta train like a champion. Find a good mentor who has already achieved what you want to and follow the lead.

Colin Powell's Leadership Presentation

View more presentations from guesta3e206.

Alas....Fridaku; but on Wednesday....

2009-11-25T12:11:00.007-05:00

Give thanks for all things
Love enemies like new friends
It's Thanksgiving.

Calf Mania!!!

2009-11-03T10:15:00.003-05:00

In striving to be better, I am always watching to see examples of where I want to be. Those are the folks I want to talk to and pick their minds for really secret tips to their successes. Physical maintenance is no different. Obviously, this ole boy knows what he's doing. I cant wait to incorporate!

Friday Haikus!!!

2009-10-30T16:15:00.000-04:00

There is an old familiar breeze in the air. Its the same one I look for every year about this time. There is a certain chill in the air that proclaims the end of all warm days for months to come. Yes, winter is almost here.

Title: First Sight of Halloween
Dead leaves blown along,
Black, cold, hard, and wet asphalt
Signal Halloween.

Title: The Face of Storms
Angry, round, black clouds
Severe winds without conscience
Bend trees, cities, men.

Title: Gothic Halloween
Dark souls rise aloft
Without censor, lust abounds
Clinching clean eyes shut

Titan Weekend III: Death of Fall

2009-10-02T16:02:00.002-04:00

The weekend is finally here. The morning was cool and rainy until the sun finally relieved the sky of its dullness. The day slides by like fresh pancakes on a butter-coated plate in the hand of a limp-armed waitress not paying attention. My lunch was soon over after a SuperSonic Cheeseburger and a Milky Way for dessert. I'm not sure which was better. the burger or the bar. The sun was gently warm as I rolled along with the window down and the wind chasing through the open windows of my vehicle. I sipped hot green tea that I had gotten at my favortie coffee shop prior to eating. It was a great combination; besides it was green tea, so it's good for you too. Most folks at the office are out of place today. That only adds to the ease of a day shuffling away until I get back to my dearest Pickle.

It's another TN Titans weekend. That anticipation, if any, can be positive or negative given the lack of success thus far. Not that I care much about such things; cause I don't. Sure if its on or down to the end of the season, I am more inclined. So is the way of the geek. I would rather be drawing, reading or cooking. (yeah, I know, but its not really as lilly as it sounds. I would just rather be in the game than the sidelines or spectating) I anticipate that the Jaguars will be victorious by a field goal; but we shall see. Good luck, Titans! The best part for me of watching a game (if I must) is stroking my woman's hair as we sip wine or eat popcorn and chocolate. Popcorn and chocolate or ice cream and Ruffles Potato Chips are hard to resist...but that's another story like melted Chocolate and Chopsticks.

That's all the rambling I've got till the next moment of more. With hopes of a great workout and quality time with the queen; perhaps we meet some strange new folks to laugh with.

Fridaku!
Sumer's Last Breeze

the warm yellow sun,
the cool casual breeze mild
grass, trees, leaves browning.

Friday is special for a lot of reasons. Get more for your Friday with even more Fridaku. Want more haiku?

HDR Image Creation: Photoshop

2009-09-28T09:25:00.000-04:00

Jason Mraz: Smooth Happy Music for the world

2009-09-26T23:09:00.000-04:00

Flooded Fridays and Lazy Haikus

2009-09-25T11:11:00.008-04:00

It's really been a long week with its end as its own reward. Sometimes you can keep your nose to the stone too long and miss the world passing by. It's certainly no secret that the world is full of hard times and tightening belts. Everywhere you look, there's something new or old closed. With such despair and lowness on so many hearts, you might easily forget all the wonderful things that STILL go on everyday right under your nose. This is NOT the end. The beginning of something far more begins at the end of this but is being birthed in the midst of what some would deem chaos and ruin, a hopeless plummet. I say NO; it's not that, not yet.

Yes, it has rained far more than most are comfortable with receiving; but the guy with the ark hasn't floated by yet. So we are a long way from too much. However; some have been unfortunate and it's up to the rest of us to help out where we can. In such times, it is easy to shy away from additional commitments or even acts of kindness; but I say it is the very time to strike. When we can't; that is the moment we absolutely must! It is not only for those we are helping but also ourselves and the things inside us that get activated and released to multiply into the ever-changing world...like glowing points of light in a dim day. Spread smiles and dim the despair. I am reminded of my father being upset when my bed-ridden grandmother doesn't remember him; to which I respond, Pop, she has good days and bad days — its not personal. Yes, bad things happen to good people and sometimes bad people win — that doesn't change our responsibility to respond or empower.

No matter what washes your home, hope, smiles, illusions or peace away; joy ALWAYS comes in the morning. Don't sell yourself short. You are strong. You are great. You are marvelously made and fashioned individually unique. The rain passes. Trouble doesn't last always. Hang on and fight. When you can't fight, cry and scream for more strength; then knock that sucker into next week. You can, you will and you are a survivor. Doom and gloom are for those who lay down and surrender with eyes closed to hope.

Alas, however you spend your weekend, here's a couple of short, sweet lines to chuckle at along the way.

Rain and Paperboats
Falling rain, so much
Flooding things but not my hope
Paper boats love it.

Seeking Flight
Birds, clouds, breeze, aloft
Gliding above tall green trees
As leaves flee to flight

3 Heads Are Better THAN One!

2009-09-23T11:51:00.002-04:00

Change, Hope, Death and Taxes!

2009-09-23T09:31:00.001-04:00

Arrested by Morning

2009-09-17T09:20:00.002-04:00

The silence of the early morning is arresting. It is the presence of the beginning anew, fresh and calm, awaiting contamination by all the things we think are critically important by some irrelevant deadline. It is the best part of the day, early morning. Whether your thoughts are muddled or clear, the silence holds you down, forcing you to listen to all the things that are ever present but ignored or taken for granted. Listen to the breath flowing in and out of your nostrils. Put you hands over your ears, close your eyes and feel your pulse through your palms dancing with the rhythm of your heartbeat. Open your eyes and watch the orange of day rise from the bottom of the horizon. Perhaps you hear the distant chirping of birds, hum of vehicles or someone awaking in a different part of the house. We seem to be always deleting information or ignoring the enormous amounts of information our minds are constantly recording without our imput. We glance at the sky and forget to appreciate the work of the great sky artist. By what logic does He use such vibrant organge hues against sleepy purple mornings? I don't know; but I like it!

What amount of your worry could change one single thing? My mother always used to say that it was part of her job and the I would always be her child surrounded by some kind of danger to be worried about. Men are just different than women. We tend not to worry at least until its time; some great collamidy is upon us or unavoidable, not so concerned with what could or might but what is happening. The universe obeys its own system to which we are also held accountable by its written and unknown laws. But I chose not to think about that now. I would rather enjoy this incredible sunrise against the horizon as the cows amble along the fence row watching me watching them as the sunrise watches us....

When Kanye West Went South

2009-09-16T13:31:00.000-04:00

We all have problems and disappointments. We even have moments that we are disappointed in ourselves because of how we handled or performed something. At times, our thoughts and opinions are offbase and dead wrong. Even when we are only willing to be slightly honest with ourselves, we know deep down how wrong we are and to what depths we are completely fractured.

I watched West on the Jay Leno premiere show on Monday night. Knowing West would be a guest, I wasn't sure I was even going to tune in; but who wants to look away from a train wreck. I don't pretend to know what was going through the young successfully troubled musicians mind, but his face didnt disappoint. His face and body language demonstrated what any reasonable person would have been ashamed of having paraded through the media. I was struck by his humility. Leno was engaging and appeared personally concerned for the events West found himself drowing in. Then came the longest deadair time I have seen other than the mom in the commercial glaring at her son concerning thrown away minutes. Apparently Leno had known West's mother and had gained a good sense of who she was. When Leno asked West the question regarding how his mother would feel about what he had done, I was as breathless as the night I watched the Michael Jackson video where he beats up a poor defenseless car at the end. Had there been crickets, their voices would have rang out like Hurricane Katrina. Long moments passed before West responded, his face a mirror of the internal conflicts at war inside. To Leno's credit, it didn't appear some cleverly designed media arrow to wound someone already down; but a genuine hope to make a positive impact in a bad situation. Of course, after West locked himself behind the dark shades he applied to his face for the upcoming performance only minutes later, I wondered if the depth of such a question was as easily put away.

For someone who's mouth has often landed them at the front of public backhand, concerned folks hope that West is surrounded by some good people and that the ear of West actually listens to good council. I can only imagine what would have been said or done had someone ran upon stage while he was accepting an award, spewed out some trash and disrespectfully shoved the microphone back into his speechless hands. Lastly, why would you pick on a very talented, polite, defenseless girl in front of a national audience? It felt like I was watching Carrie all over again. Bad, bad behavior. Things sure are a long way from Jesus Walks....

Whether it's the President of the United States of America or a homeless person on the street; we all should expect some level of descent respect from each other. It's like driving down the highway. Down the middle of the road is a thin line of trust, hope and respect for the oncoming traffic; give it's due. They say time heals all wounds. I am not sure history reflects that to be true.

Congrats Taylor!!!

Fridaku! Morning Spiders

2009-09-11T16:19:00.000-04:00

Morning Spiders
Warm sun, cool grass still,
Tiny spiders dancing high
Green blades wave goodbye.

Something in the Grass

2009-09-02T15:50:00.006-04:00

Wind In The Grass: A Haiku

The grass bows stately
As the soft wind shuffles through,
Restanding to watch.

There is something alluring about watching the tall grass wave in the wind. You can see the path it carves as it snakes across the fields. They say there are snakes in the grass. They're not there. Time and death have chased them all down and slaughtered them. Some curled up and shrieked til death and others smiled gleely for a moment long awaited. The bowing grass is an envoy of what is to come; bowed, lain or cut. Perhaps we exhaust our efforts to outrun a spector of unimagined endurance. If the grass did not bow, would the invisble still come, would it still pass this way? YES.

The Eyes Have It

2009-09-01T13:39:00.001-04:00

Eyes are magic. They mystify us and are often responsible for a major part of our communications. From trust to hate, the eyes have it all. The eyes might be as critical as the firm handshake.

Uplifting Gravity

2009-08-31T14:48:00.001-04:00

I was watching my Sunday night show Defying Gravity and I heard a line that was memorable. The show is set in the year 2052 (with flashbacks to five years earlier in the story's continuity), the series follows eight astronauts—four women and four men—from five countries on a six-year space mission through the Solar System, where everything they do is monitored. In this episode (105), the doctor of the ship had saved over 3500 patients' lives while serving in a war. He was asked who he remembered. To the shocked listener, he replied no one. He explained that he only remembered the lives he didn't save. Why? He only remembered the situations he learned from -- which were his mistakes, i.e. the patients who died.

Somehow that made sense. I prefer to think of my mistakes as my scars — the undeniable badges of some hopeful wisdom gained by some hopefully educational mistakes. It would seem that our humanity is a never-ending struggle against our very DNA for darkness. In the end, our scars determine the altitude possible.

Fridakus!

2009-08-28T16:42:00.000-04:00

Once again the end of the week is here and that means only one thing left on the list to do; create Fridaku!

Longing Stems
Expectations full
The flower leaking its joy
The bee lights thrilled.

Waving
Friday past, time spent
Dasies, roses, standing tall
waving in Autumn's breeze

Arousing Life
Jutting, thrusting, proud
Rising beneath thin layers taunt
Tender leaves stretch up.

Why Strangers May Be Your Best Friends

2009-08-25T14:03:00.011-04:00

Growing up, I recall being constantly told not to talk to strangers. I’m sure I would have heard it even more had I been female. Anywho, we are taught from a very young age to be wary of strangers, people we don’t know or don’t look like us. Growing up in the South, I was very accustomed to being told where not to go and what not to do because of my color; but not from folks who didnt look like me, from those who did. I am certain it was out of safety and concern. Afterall things are much different now ... right?

Anywho, I rented this movie called the Visitor. Of course I was thinking SciFi; but this was none of the sort. The plot is as follows:

The Visitor is a contemplative drama filled with subtle humor and a lot of humanity/passion for its characters. Walter (Richard Jenkins, "Six Feet Under") is a widowed college professor that meets two illegal immigrants - a Senegalese woman (Danai Gurira) and a Syrian man, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) -, living in his apartment in NYC. After the initial discomfort of the situation, Walter decides to help the young couple and an unlikely friendship is born.

"The Visitor" deals with human relationships and discusses post-9/11 America socio-political issues (the plight of immigrants, xenophobia, etc.) with no hidden agendas. Director McCarthy has proved himself as a sensitive director/writer, and he extracts an astounding performance from Richard Jenkins, a character actor who gets his first leading role at the age of 60. Jenkins is rivoting to watch as an ordinary man trying to find himself while being confronted with his own conceptions about the world around him.

This is a terrific movie that really transforms your ideas of the things that really make the human race the better animal. Tiny moments of greatness will hurl you through a string of emotions that will leave you wanting more by the end. I don’t know that this movie or its participants ever got their just due; but they should have. It is a very tender story about some very prickly issues that we would just rather glass over and tip toe out of the room on before being asked to comment. In the end it is still a love story. In the end, love conquers all. In the end, what are we without it?

See the trailer...

There are at least ten incredible points made in this movie. I will only pick three.
1) In our hearts, we are all the same. No matter what race, religion, orientation or etc.; we all crave to live out loud and be accepted. Each of us wants to be of some value to someone — to have a purpose that we were created for performing. In this our hope is that our lives arent meaningless meanderings from one reaction to the next.

2) There really is no “them;” just “us” next time. This movie does a wonderful job of showing diversity and singularity. Sure some of us a great at music, painting or calculus; but that doesn’t mean that we all have to be good at the same things. Sure we may go through life pretending that we are so much better than “those” people; but we all cry, we all bleed and we all die. Thus, are we really what we think of ourselves? I don’t know that you understand what it feels like to be profiled until you’ve experienced it. I don’t know that one understands someone else’s tradgedy until we have experienced our own. I do know that at the point of death, there is the most deafening silence I have ever heard. I don’t know that I could explain it to anyone who hasn’t heard or been there at the very last moment between life and death.

3) Love conquers all. It is that moment that we actually leave ourselves or open ourselves to be vulnerable to another living soul that we begin to go beyond feeling love to experiencing love. There is a point in this movie that you see the moment of switch and the subtle shift of emotion that goes from empathising to experiencing. You see some very different looking people who unite in their experience of love/suffering and become one race — human. I dont know why it takes tradgedy to distract us from our irrelevant differences. I dont know why chaos unites us when peace never could. I dont know why one man dies and another does not. I do know that all humans die and that makes us all equal.

Once love even conquered the grave so that others might live. Perhaps that alone shows the value of the human race; not the races of humans...but that was another Visitor.

"They're Here" Aliens, Abductees or Government Victims?

2009-08-19T00:00:00.002-04:00

Get the story....

Tomato Fridaku

2009-08-07T16:44:00.000-04:00

Its finally friday and true to course my little Fridaku for you.

Ripe, tight red for skin
with an odor to savor
sweet frim tomato.

2009-08-06T22:16:00.001-04:00

DJ NOISE P'S TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON -R.I.P The King F...

N PHAT FLAVOR by DJ NOISE P

Evacuation to fun!

2009-08-06T16:35:00.003-04:00

To say it has been a strange day is probably putting it mildly. Despite being Thursday in Music City USA. Despite being unseasonally warm in Nashville, TN. Despite a dense morning fog on the commute into town; the day seemed to be oddly normal. Obviously, I was going to be late, so I opted to be comfortable too. I stopped at Hardees and got my two favorite sandwiches for the slow ride into to town I saw over the horizon.

Three hours into work, something was wrong. The next thing I knew we were being told to evacuate the building! There was some sort of gas leak that smelled pretty serious. I grabbed a bottled water from my desk and headed downstairs to the exit. The smell was really strong downstairs! Deciding that this could take a while, I immediately proceeded to my vehicle parked across the street. I asked a coworker if he minded passing a little football. Of course he said of course not. Among other things, I typically pack a nerf football for just such a moment. Within minutes, we were joined by at least four other coworkers. Despite the warm temperature and odd circumstance, the football took center stage. We are fortunate to all like each other and our coworkers. The football allowed us to laugh together as we coordinated who to pass to next. We shared our strengths and weakness concerning this funny-shaped projectile being tossed from one to the other. It was very relaxing. We learned things about each other as we played. Even those watching us had fun taking note of our connected discourse. We had a blast without there actually being a blast. Almost thirty-five minutes later, our situation had been downgraded and we were free to reenter the building.

We didn't know why we hadn't done this sort of thing sooner; but we agreed not only to the fun of the moment, but also the relief it provided mentally and emotionally. One of us was closing on a house, another working two jobs, one rebuilding from a tornado and others who just needed a rescue from the mundane. Folks under estimate the need to blow off a little steam. For creatives, its essential to have some outlet to life's snares and bogs. We were certainly much happier after tossing the ole football around. I don't know if it was so manly or just the exercise together or the outbursts of laughter; but the evacuation was a success in more ways than one. It would serve others well to get out of the office on occassion and do something completely unrelated together.

Chocolate Fridakus!

2009-07-31T16:46:00.012-04:00

In case you are new or missed a couple of blogs, Friday is dedicated to the art of the haiku.
A haiku is a three-line poem in any language, with five syllables in the first and last lines and seven syllables in the second,
usually with an emphasis on the season or a naturalistic theme. So Friday is Fridaku at Life's Pursuit and It Depends.
My cohort and I have agreed on a subject this week and with many chuckles, here goes.

Chocolate and Chopsticks

Dip it, drang and smear

In chocolate with chopsticks

Lift, lick, eat and smile

Chocolate chopsticks

Edible fun for hunger

Dip, sip, bit and melt

The smile begins first

At perfection's sweetest kiss

Chopsticks, suck, smear, smile.

Chocolate and Tan Lines

Smooth divisions soft

tracing tanlines with chopsticks

Dipped in chocolate

Dark, light, same surface

Tracing passions while melting

Chopsticks on tanlines.

Abrupt change, smooth skin

Chocolate, ticklish sticks

Tracing pleasures's lines.

Humming Through Monday

2009-07-27T14:43:00.000-04:00

Sunny Monday in July here in the Music City. The morning was coated in thick fog like nostril mucus crawling down the back of a sleeping throat. I popped on my flood lights watching the curves of the road materialize much slower than the speed I was traveling. It was all good. I was on schedule which meant I was ahead of time so I could stop at Hardees and really kick off the front of this week proper. A smoked sausage and frisco ham and egg accompanied on the weave between taillights and highway lines. No, it probably wasnt healthy; but it sho' was good. Breakfast really is the best meal of the day or the most important — so they say.

by the artist Caravaggio

My mind is full of lists of things to do by the deadlines that are already inked in. Meanwhile 8 hrs per day are already aloted...I think I need a longer day. It's OK, I've got a blessed life and any day I forget that, memories slap my face back to reality. But why must we always want more? is that part of the human DNA that we can never override? I think back to Paul the Apostle who was capable of happiness in any situation; but that doesnt mean he didnt want more either; just that he was happy. But thats a completely different subject for another blog not for you.

It was a great weekend despite being filled with tasks. I think I have cronic plantitus. Somehow I keep finding one more inch to plant something new within. In fact, Lowes has become an addiction. They have this plant hospital section, sometimes more like plant cemetary and I wont name myself but they come back from the dead (oh put your pitch forks down already, just a figure of speech). At pennies on the dollar, these plants just require a little extra tlc and whammo, strong like bull. The humming birds have gotten very comfortable with me. They are funny smart little birds. When I am watering flowers, they zoom around close and freeze in midair and watch me for six seconds then give their best Speedy Gonzolas screech and zoom away. Ironicly I first thought it was just because I was close to their feeders, but they started coming around to the front yard where there are no feeders. They are so amazingly tiny and fast. I have had to train my self not to flinch when they buzz by or when the bees swarm around me while Im watering their flowering pedistals. They are not there to attack so long as I dont move quickly or aggressively. I guess the same is true for me. I don't sting first, just hardest.

I cant wait to see the new blossoms the sunshine and heat of the day will produce. Despite my daily watering, the plants still prefer the rain. With the sweet aroma of colorful flowers, two Topsy Turvy tomato plants induce a hint of tasty vegetables to the evening breeze. (Personally I hate tomatoes, but they say they are good for you; so I force myself to eat them despite knowing its really just the enjoyment from watching metamorphasize from seed to vegetable.) There is just something magical about the aromas of life....

Stronger than being positive; HOPE!

2009-07-23T10:54:00.001-04:00

It can be the smallest of things that ignites the monsterously huge power within in. Its such a small delicate thing that we ofter forget to protect despite often forgetting how responsible it is for all the things we hold so dear. Hope, much like Faith can be sprinkled into any situation and entire continents can be moved or shattered. In an instant we become as mighty as an ant.

Oh, do you doubt such bold statements? Oh, you think this is some kind of religious/Christian rant? Consider this:
• Holocaust survivors
• Mothers of missing children
• Grandmothers praying for wayward children
• Cancer survivors
• Rags to riches stories

I saw a great movie this week. Had I known that it was another Clint Eastwood produced movie, my expectations would have been much higher — so the suprise was very welcomed. Oh, what's the movie, you ask.

the PLOT
Inspired by actual events that occurred in 1920s-era Los Angeles, Clint Eastwood's "Changeling" tells the story of a woman driven to confront a corrupted LAPD after her abducted son is retrieved and she begins to suspect that the boy returned to her is not the same boy she gave birth to. The year was 1928, and the setting a working-class suburb of Los Angeles. As Christine (Angelina Jolie) said goodbye to her son, Walter, and departed for work, she never anticipated that this was the day her life would be forever changed. Upon returning home, Christine was distressed to discover that Walter was nowhere to be found. Over the course of the following months, the desperate mother would launch a search that would ultimately prove fruitless.

That's all I'm giving ...see the movie.

This was a powerfully moving movie, as practically all Clint Eastwood directed/produced movies. He's far better behind the lens and one of the few who seems to be able to be in a movie and direct it too and still seem authentic to the character. Of course, I would also be fans of Jolie and Malkovich. This movie was riddled with stunning performances.

Never under estimate the power of hope. Never miss an opportunity to give hope. As the rain waters the earth, hope magnifies the eternal springs of our own potientals we so often forget. Hopes are often paved with smiles and even sometimes blood, sweat and tears; but joy comes in the morning.

Hope so...

Poe Seduction

2009-07-21T16:19:00.001-04:00

I suppose most of us are predesposed to certain things determined by our time in the womb and the circumstances beyond our consciencenesses that occurred during thus time. Such is my connection to the dark genius of the Poe. I would think I would tire of such rhyme and riddle but Nay, it never dwindles. Nevermore does it flutter in less intensity.

The Raven
(published in 1845)
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.' ...more...

I have encountered another great podcast Classic Poetry Aloud. There along with innumberably other timeless poets listed along with the icons of their immortality to be read into your ears and into your mind's mazes of imagination, you can download for your listening pleasure. We as people always seemed confused by what we identify as ourselves; but I reject such feelings. The light nor the darkness make me quiver in fear of what lies within. I see it all as necessary to create the whole.

I think the Raven is one of my all time favorites. The raven is such a dark bird. You've never seen a smiling raven. I typically am always smiling until Im not. The raven has a very tough body. I recall as a young one, shooting my bb gun at them and hearing it bounce off. A glare from the dark bird and a shrug and off he would fly with a mocking screech.

What is it about the lines of such a writing that become entrenched in one's soul....perhaps it is like the bitter cold of winter in a homeland that has seen no sun or perhaps it is the truth burrowed deep into the fiber of each of us that we spend our lives fighting/denying. But if we are who we were made; why would the Recaller condemn the product? Some answers...are just nevermore....fly away bird to safer winds....

Friday Truths

2009-07-10T16:56:00.000-04:00

This was so good I just had to share. Just perhaps we can survive the remainder of this month without anymore stars falling or heroes bowing.

Remembering the King of POP!

2009-07-08T11:49:00.000-04:00

Its a beautiful Wednesday in the Music City. The King of Pop is still gone and the ball of mud just keeps spinning. We have lost an icon. Regardless of the moments we trivialize most; the sum of a man's life can be weighted in the pros and cons of his effect on those around him. It is clear that this GLOBAL superstar was somewhere beyond a mere logo or icon unto himself. Something within him was/is transmitted to us, to incubate not only reflection but improvement wrapped in the smiles of a mother's hug.

I cannot say that I quite understand why I would miss someone I have never met but grew up with almost daily. I dont understand why the memories of waiting in deep anticipation of his next video with my best friend would bring back warm funny smiles. I do know that the child in all of us resonates with something lost in a searching soul still trying to recapture private things taken.The good news is that we are not alone, none of us are perfect and we all answer to ONE greater than we who capacity to love and forgive far rivals its copies. So long my distant friend Ben. I wanna be startin something. I dont care whats Bad; life itself is DANGEROUS. In HISTORY, we would all only dare dream to have touched so many in such positive ways to have grasped that WE ARE THE WORLD and it really doenst matter if we are BLACK OR WHITE. When we REMEMBER THE TIMES so richly given to us, all the slander falls OFF THE WALL and we feel the sense of VICTORY coming over us. That revelation is truely a THRILLER......

Afterhours Musings!

2009-06-10T19:47:00.004-04:00

Lofty Observations
the cars come and go
beneath my gaze from above
without permission.

Thoughts to Myself
the silence my kin
alone is my fortitude
solace my own peace.

Morning Dove T.A.P.S.
Morning dove watching
Peace surrounded by unrest
Mate dead on the ground.

3-D: the new dictator!

2009-05-14T16:59:00.000-04:00

If you've been watching tv lately, you might have noticed a lot of 3-D words showing up everywhere. I first noticed it on FRINGE. Now everyone is getting in on the act.

Summer's Better Stuff!

2009-05-12T13:00:00.000-04:00

The golden rays of the sun are smiling upon us. This day is almost perfect. It's only imperfections will end around 4 o'clock which will be too late to have enjoyed what will be gone by then. I have no doubt that we will be treated to a spectacular sunset at the end of all this. Outside I can hear the roar of Harley's going by on some mission of leisure to some place of more leisure.

People are funny. They like "stuff"! I like "stuff"! We never seem to get enough "stuff." I noticed Snapple's new commercial last night as I whinced a mimicking grin. They discovered "better stuff;" in spite of already having produced "good stuff;" this "new stuff" was actually "better stuff!" No that's great marketing. For all we know, they didnt change anything; but we have something new to think/talk about..."better stuff." I think everyone trying to find better stuff somehow. Kentucky Fried Chicken now has "baked chicken," which seems like an oximoron to me. I guess one could argue that McDonalds was selling "hamburgers" that had no "ham" in them; so we should be suprised now that they are made from real beef! (or at least, that's what we're told) I won't even get started on the chicken nuggets.

Better stuff! That's the stuff of genius! We as people never seem to be satisfied. I guess thats why none of us were born perfect. Would we all die of boredom or become who we are now? What if we were perfect before? Some say babies are perfect before being cast out of Eden into this Inferno of Dante of a world. The grass on the other side of the fence is made out of better stuff. My neighbor's house is better stuff than mine. If I had my brother's job, I could buy better stuff.... See how natural the quest for "better stuff" is and how easily it reflects our every motivation. Even "Heaven" is "better stuff" than this stuff on earth....

...my kung fu is strong...

Doing FISH!

2009-05-07T20:16:00.006-04:00

It has been an incredibly beautiful day, despite the absence of the Pensive for a couple of days. The sky has been littered with huge puffy clouds with warm sunshine looking around every edge. Its one of the surest signs that summer is back. That crystal blue, those pearly clouds and that unmistakeable smell in the air of energy. Its no secret that I love energy. I would probably O.D. on it if I could. The only thing better about summer than making new friends are the times you spend with the "old" friends. Some folks you can not see for eons of time and when you get together, its just like yesterday.

There's a million reasons that people lose touch and sometimes even part; any of which may seem or be very valid at that moment. Some are worth going back for if its possible; and sometimes its not. I'm a possibility thinker; so I tend to think yes, it can happen. In my 40+ years, there are only 4 that I have lost touch with and most of those I have reclaimed and vise versa (or at least I hope). Some where out there, beneath the pale blue .....

Our Thursday Habit, Dan McGuinness!

Anywhoo...one of my favorite discoveries during a very turbulent time in my working career is an irish pub. I didnt know everyone's name but we all knew each other's face. You could eat outside and listen to live music under the unfathomable cloak of a Music City sky. Today I had the privaledge of being there again. Thursday is their "fish day" all day for only $6.00!!! Boy is it batter-fried tasty! Better than the food was the company of an old friend M. B. Great food and good friends are a fantastic combination. Time was limited but it was worth a lifetime of laughs.

Old friends are great! They "get" you already. There's no explanations or being shy; sometimes words arent even required. Old friends have seen you at your best and worst and you've laughed about them all together. Thats one of the rare treasures in this life. Old friends are harder to fool because they really know who you are all too well. The good news is that it goes both ways and thats what makes great relationships; the ability to love beyond faults. Thank God, cause I'm never gonna be perfect and besides, the thought of that bores me. I was created for the unexpected and I like it just that way.

Here's a cheers to you all and you know who you are..."cheers" mates!

Dressed to Hire

2009-04-21T15:51:00.000-04:00

I stood in my quaint tower with my eyes peering down at the city streets below. I noticed one well dressed man, slightly over weight walking from building to building. He was definitely a "salesman." I saw no evidence of his vehicle. That was early this morning around 9:45. By lunchtime I saw the same guy still walking. It was then it occurred to me that perhaps he wasnt a salesman. He was clearly on a mission. The day is somewhat breezy; but not so nice that you wouldnt drive to the next appointment. He must be selling himself!

Our economic times have caused most of us to be more considerate of our disposable income. In fact it may no longer be classified as "disposable" but "necessary." Restaurants are a little bit emptier. Planes a bit lighter and etc. Even the blessed may feel the hint of stress. We love money; dont let anybody kid you. Its the only thing God points out as an "equivalent" in serving in my casual recall. Money is a strange taskmaster. The more you have, the more you get; if you're without it, you want it. Its like green air — necessary and/or critical. A man can live on shallow breaths but he thrives on full deep breathing.

Good luck, Mr. There are more folks hunting/searching and unemployed than ever. Some will have to invent their own jobs, some will find a suitable job, others will do whatever is left. Many are going back to school; great idea if you can afford not to go on living. These are challenging times, but they will end and the sunshine will return. We will prevail!

Fridaku Fitness

2009-04-18T00:37:00.004-04:00

Well its Friday and you know what that means. A few weeks ago, my pensive cohort mentioned Friday Haikus as a new idea. I wasn't really sure he was keen on the idea until he mentioned it today. SO I penned the term Fridaku to combine our Friday focus. Thus welcome to Fridaku!

Fitness Rush
Thick, rich, red, flowing;
Thumping heartbeats pound harder
Intense workout good.

Amplified Persepctive

2009-04-13T14:44:00.001-04:00

Amplified perspective: A dynamic and dramatic illusionistic effect created when an object is pointed «irectly at the viewer.

We spend our lives trying to get things set. That is to say, we try to get things like we "think" they should be and that the universe owes us to keep it as we expect our illusions to remain. We assume that if we work hard, be good people, attend our local churches and be good neighbors, fathers, mothers, siblings and friends that the universe "owes" us that perceived illusion of comfort and stability. For most of us it is inconceiveable to be comfortably set and wake up the next morning with absolutely nothing except life. Even with nothing but life, one gets a chance to change or increase.

I was listening to a podcast Friday which I heard a phrase that was memorable. Quoted from the podcast, this person was "recession proof." Til this date, I have yet to be recession proof. I dont know anyone personally that is recession proof; oops just thought of one, but only one. I dare say that such "proofness" is time sensitive. Sooner or later, we are all connected. This was a quote from a rockstar mogul. When his fans have no disposable income, then we shall see....

Fridaku

2009-03-27T16:44:00.005-04:00

[1]

No Ordinary Friday

It is Fridaku!
Today we write haikus
Pensive and plain stuff.

[2]

The Morning Shower

The shower is hot;
Steaming my awakening;
Yesterday away....

[3]

The Face Matches the Shirt

Face matches the shirt
Glow-in-the-dark and smiling;
Making more smiles appear.

[4]

The Course of Thoughts

Writing outside in,
words spill out through fingertips,
leaking inside thoughts.

[5]

Friday Crawling By

Friday crawls by slow;
I kick it to check for life,
No reaction though.

[6]

Spring Peaches

Warm, moist, throbbing heat,
Sweet, juicy, ripe, leaking smiles
I breath her inward.

Friday Fixins: Nutty About Peanut Butter!

2009-03-20T13:50:00.003-04:00

Absolutely Easy Magic Peanut Butter Cookies!
Now in all fairness, the Queen of White Southern Cookin' isn't the first person to use this recipe; but my she sure does it all so well. Funny what men like about cooking. Anywhooo....
Ingredients:
1 cup peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
1 cup sugar, or 1 1/3 cup sugar replacement (recommended: Splenda)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a large baking sheet. In a mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, 1 cup equivalent of the Splenda, the egg, and vanilla, and stir well with a spoon. Roll the dough into balls the size of walnuts. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet. With a fork, dipped in Splenda to prevent sticking, press a crisscross design on each cookie. Bake for 12 minutes, remove from the oven, and sprinkle the cookies with some of the remaining Splenda. Cool slightly before removing from pan.

Yield: 18 cookies
Prep time: 10-15 minutes
Inactive prep time: 3-5 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes
Ease of preparation: easy
Paula Dean

But it you really must...here's another recipe more like grandma used to make and you must have your flour fix:
Prep Time: 12 minutes

Old Style Peanut Butter Cookies
mmmm....something smells go good.....
Ingredients:
* 1 1/4 cups flour, sift or stir before measuring
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 cup shortening
* 1/2 cup peanut butter
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 egg

Preparation: Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder; set aside. Cream shortening, peanut butter, and sugars; beat in vanilla and egg. Stir in flour mixture, blending well. Shape mixture into 3/4-inch balls; place on greased baking sheets. Flatten each cookie with the tines of a fork; dip fork in flour periodically to keep it from sticking to the peanut butter cookie dough. Bake peanut butter cookies at 375° for about 10 to 12 minutes.

Ok...one more!

Peanut Butter Cookies!
These cookies are a favorite treat for young children. Have you guessed yet that I LOVE peanut butter cookies!
Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe Ingredients
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• granulated sugar

Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe Directions: In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and peanut butter on high speed for 30 seconds. Add the sugar, brown sugar, baking soda and baking powder. Mix until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in the remaining flour. Cover and chill dough until easy to handle, approximately 1 hour. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll balls in granulated sugar and place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten the dough balls by using a fork to make a criss cross pattern on the cookies. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 7 to 9 minutes or until bottoms are lightly brown. Cool cookies on a wire rack.

Ok I know I said one more several mores ago; but this picture really did it for me taken by Susan. Check this recipe out too!

My Fall Down

2009-03-17T22:09:00.004-04:00

Well today I am trying something new. It's a new form of poetry for me and I pass it along to you. In the event you have no idea, here's everything you need to know about the poetic form:

Haiku (HI-coo)
Haiku is a poetic form and a type of poetry from the Japanese culture. Haiku combines form, content, and language in a meaningful, yet compact form. Haiku poets, which you will soon be, write about everyday things. Many themes include nature, feelings, or experiences. Usually they use simple words and grammar. The most common form for Haiku is three short lines. The first line usually contains five (5) syllables, the second line seven (7) syllables, and the third line contains five (5) syllables. Haiku doesn't rhyme. A Haiku must "paint" a mental image in the reader's mind. This is the challenge of Haiku - to put the poem's meaning and imagery in the reader's mind in ONLY 17 syllables over just three (3) lines of poetry!

and now the poem...

My Fall Down
I sped down the hill
I fell tactlessly down hard
Sprawled out in pain.

Like Haikus....here's much more!

Racing Downhill To Face My Pride!

2009-03-16T16:41:00.003-04:00

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon when wifey and I decided to go
bicycling. We have a beautiful park rich in scenery, hills and turns
close to our home; well within a few minutes drive. We aired up our
tires, set our seats to the proper height and took off. The sky was so
blue and our matching mountain bikes whizzed along side each other. As
you may know, mountain bikes have the handbrakes so your feet can
pedal backwards without any braking taking place. We laughed and
pedaled along. She proclaimed that she wanted to at least make it 16
miles. I really hadnt anticipated she would be successful; but hey,
what did I know.

As she pedaled ahead I just enjoyed the view and began weaving left
and right, feeling the wheel grind against the asphalt trail. We were
at the eight mile mark and descending a long hill. I slowed down so
she could get way ahead. I had plans for this hill!

I dont know about you; but when I was a kid, we used to zip down hills
while we struck aerodynamic poses so we could really pick up some good
speed. Instantly transported back to my "used to do" days, my eyes
narrowed and my smile broadened as I stood into a pointed crouch and
lurched down the hill. The wind was whizzing by...not fast enuf. I
leaned over the front wheel so I could cut through the wind even more.
YES! I was REALLY moving now. I could see her trying to pedal up the
other side of the hill. At the bottom of the hill were two S curves;
no problem! I got this! Not only will I do these curves at full speed;
but pass her going up the hill!

I was going really fast and began squeezing the hand brakes. The curve
was coming up way too fast and I wasnt slowing down at all. The strong
wooden fence on the other side of the trail flirted with my eyesight.
No sweat! Why am I not slowing down; my grip was tight? As I glaced
down, it became apparent during my loss in yesteryears that I was only
gripping the handles and not the brakes! By the time I looked back up
speed and gravity were deep in carnal bliss and one of us was about
to be reproduced. I never gripped the brakes in time. My eyes were
glued open; but inside I couldnt panic. I refused to scream. There I
was making an L out of an S and fighting the inevitable. It was like a
movie scene. The movie screen only filled with the immediate scene.
First it was a rocking sky and top of trees; then it was rocking
trees and ground, then ground and grass and a dull thud, darkness
(brief but dark). Suddenly I wasnt moving now.

Despite wishfully thinking that I could silently crash and get up
unnoticed were completely thwarted. Suddenly everybody's watching and
horrified with overly concerned questions and dashes in my direction.
I think I got up really fast. I waved them all away and gave smiling
thumbs up as my brain raced over my body doing a status check for
breaks, scrapes and/or bleeding. From the corner of my eye, I noticed
my right knuckle dripping a little. The right side of my face felt
warm but I dared not touch it. I was actually amazed that I was moving
and obviously not visibly damaged. Standing up my bike which wasnt
easily rolling anymore, I noticed that the chain was off now. Not hard
to fix...but surely it was knocked off after the crash. The brakes
wouldnt let the wheels spin freely...but I wasnt going to acknowledge
that I might not be able to make the 16 mile goal. It wasnt until 2
miles later that I discovered that my front wheel was turned around
backwards pulling the cables tighter, making the brakes engage. Simple
fix had I noticed right away. The scrapes were beginning to burn and
my right pinky finger was throbbing; but I wasnt going to quit now. I
could hear the dull head thump playing over and over in my head. I
remember thinking how empty it sounded as I attempted to laugh at
myself. Of course I did go back to that hill .... because you know
why! It had to be done.

Still amazed at my lack of injury, I noticed a long bruise on my left
thigh distinctly purple from the soft brown tones. I smiled. It had
been so long since I had seen any damage on my body. It felt great!
No, I wasnt indestructable; but I wasnt afraid of the pain. My nights
are dotted with the scenes of the rocking movie I deemed my last
flashes before the crash I walked away from to tell. Even now, it
generates an old smile from the days of a scraped knee and a mother's
kiss; not long followed by a father's glare that declared enuf of that
and get back on the bike. It's funny what makes us remember the
smallest of things or what things really make us feel alive.
Inveribly, it is our memory from the past that makes the present just
a bit more bearable and our futures a bit more hopeful. Sometimes I
wonder if memories are our only hopes of forever.