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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Fever


Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Next Week
For the Week of Sep 1st, 2008 -- Lay low on Friday night to save your energy for the fun to come. The Moon enters your sign on Saturday to bring you up to a fever pitch of feeling that can make for a memorable weekend. You may go too far in what you say and do, but that's much more your style than shutting up and playing it safe




Hoo boy! You'd think I'd tone it down by now, but what's a gal to do when she's up to a fever pitch of feeling. In fact, Fever, sung by Peggy Lee, is a great song. There seems to be a certain fever in the air. Strange phone calls abound. As I stumbled toward the coffee pot yesterday morning, my phone rang. Now, I am notoriously incoherent in the AM. My friends usually take that into consideration.


"Hello....are you all right?"


"Oh, I knew you'd be up, you get up early. My bathroom is full of bees!"


"Bees?" I warned you I was sharp in the early hours.


"They're in the wall. They made a hole. They're coming out!!!!"


"Well, you closed the door, right"


"Yes, you ninny, the door is closed. What's that noise? What are you doing?"


"Oh, that's my coffee brewing, it sputters."


"I'm waiting for the exterminator to return my call."


"Uh, OK, call me and let me know how it goes."


"I will, omg, I can hear them buzzing. I'm going downstairs."


As I poured the coffee down my throat I'm thinking that's a good plan, but I can't say much.


"Um, good. I'll talk to you soon. Good luck." Click.


The bee problem was successfully resolved. Mr. Exterminator reported a hive of seven thousand bees. Is that possible? He said he had quite a few bee 'situations' Saturday.


Could it be the new moon?


Next phone call was from my aunt.


"Your mother was supposed to meet me for lunch and she's not here. Ruthie said she dropped her off at the house an hour ago. Find her!"


Uh, no. My GPS does not cover that yet. Sorry.


Mom showed up right after the phone call with a pizza. Surprise!


Next five phone calls from frantic daughter having her own version of the Amityville Horror up in Cape Cod. She will survive, having learned a valuable life lesson and maybe write a screenplay.


I'm heading for the movies with the bee-lady. We're checking out Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Woody Allen's new flick. With that title I had to go. Besides, I like Woody Allen's movies.


I remember seeing Bananas and Take the Money and Run as a double feature. My side ached and my mascara ran down my cheeks. It's so good to laugh like that. I just heard this is Astroland's last season. Coney Island will be unrecognizable to me, but, then a lot of things are.


It must be the fever, maybe it's bee fever.




I know I have had this before, but really....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyV2cPLuFuA&feature=related



Addendum:
Bees, seven hundred, not thousand, whew!
Bee-lady bought Greek cowbells from elderly woman. "They sound so pretty." Yeah! I couldn't make this stuff up, really.
Text message during movie, daughter having coyote problem (could be worse, good material)
Movie, I am ready to fly to Barcelona manana. So close to home, loved it, still smiling. Ah, dysfuctional relationships; are there any other kind?
Fever in the morning, fever all through the night....thank you Peggy!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYxoAJ3Boyc


Helix nebula ~ spaceweather.com verrrry cool!

Saturday, August 30, 2008

The Disappeared


Today is International Day of the Disappeared Day

Men, women and children were taken from their homes, many tortured and murdered, never to be seen again.
We should, of course, remember them every day as their grieving families do.
They have been 'disappeared', intentionally taken away and never returned. No official record of their fate available to their loved ones, they have just disappeared from the face of the earth.
I cannot imagine the agony of the families still waiting. My heart goes out to them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_of_the_Disappeared

http://www.desaparecidos.org/arg/eng.html

Please be aware and remember them. Terrorism continues throughout the world. This still happens today.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Something In The Wind


Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Next Week
For the Week of Aug 25th, 2008 -- You're a traveler, Sagittarius, and the Moon in your 9th House of Voyages this weekend can fly your heart to a happier place. In spite of the doubters nearby, a little trip or cultural activity that takes you outside your neighborhood not only makes you feel much happier, but can lead to a loving connection.



Oh, I have been aching to travel lately. Maybe a day-trip this coming weekend, but my travel will have to be in the imaginary realm until Dia de los Muertos. Change is in the air. Restless dreams and serendipitous events are occurring with greater frequency. Well, it is good for the muse. I have some exciting projects in the works and a deadline to meet. Deadlines are good.

A cool breeze is rustling the curtains, very refreshing for an August afternoon. I have the distinct feeling I am not walking this restless path alone. It's a winding path with stones and ruts in some places, smooth and even in other stretches. Of course it has it's hills and valleys, but how boring a journey would be with no challenge or effort. Some travelers I meet along the way share a cheerful tale or, perhaps, a sorrowful confession. Their energy gives me added strength to push up a hill or navigate a rocky stretch of road. Occasionally someone will block my way, crying out false pleas for aid or seductively championing the delights of rest and relaxation. My hand extends to help you back on your feet, but as the road forks you must walk your own path. As for rest and relaxation, I will have time for that at the journey's end. The joy of travel is the entire journey, not just arriving at your destination.

Summer is coming to an end. Today I can smell autumn in the gentle wind. Seasons change. People don't really change, but they can grow and become rich in ways that defy explanation. That is a blessed life. Right now I don't know where I goin' but I'm goin'. Yes!

your true heart's journey
meanders for your lifetime
fall down, stand up, live



i carry your heart Fat Book~xoxo mechanical cat, nicci & me (haiku, too :)

Friday, August 22, 2008

Pearls for Swine


St. Francis And The Sow


The bud

stands for all things,

even those things that don't flower,

for everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing;

though sometimes it is necessary

to reteach a thing its loveliness,

to put a hand on its brow

of the flower

and retell it in words and in touch

it is lovely

until it flowers again from within, of self-blessing;

as St. Francis

put his hand on the creased forehead

of the sow,and told her in words and in touch

blessings of earth on the sow, and the sow

began remembering all down her thick length,

from the earthen snout all the way

through the fodder and slops to the spiritual curl of the tail,

from the hard spininess spiked out from the spine

down through the great broken heart

to the blue milken dreaminess spurting and shuddering

from the fourteen teats into the fourteen mouths sucking

and blowing beneath them:

the long, perfect loveliness of sow.




—Galway Kinnell



The first time I read this poem it touched a tender place in my heart. I found it in a literally small book of poetry appropriately titled ten poems to open your heart by Roger Housden. It's a wonderful collection and certainly is true to it's name. I tucked it into my bag and carried it with me for weeks. To my delight, St. Francis and The Sow appeared on the Perceval Press site, reminding me what beauty really means.

Growing up, we always had a statue of St. Francis in our garden. Cardinals would sit and call from his extended arm. Squirrels scurried around the base, up to his smooth head and into the nearby apple tree. In my child's mind, I thought he must enjoy their company. Now, full circle, St. Francis stops by in a heartfelt poem to connect soul to nature. Cool.







St. Francis and the Sow ~ pen & ink, Sharpies (can't help myself :)

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Long Time Prayer


Prayers for the souls who perished in Spain today and for their grieving loved ones.

Totally grateful for living a long time alone, precious, fragile life.


Here's almost all of my sketch for the first verse (scanner bed is small, heh )
I'd be lost without my Sharpies.


What I love most about this poem is the reverence and irreverence for life it conveys.

It's especially poignant today.




May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Long Time Alone



Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Next Week
For the Week of Aug 18th, 2008 -- You may have to slow down to have a good time this weekend. Try to appreciate life's small pleasures instead of rockin' and rollin' at high volume. It's especially important not to rush someone or push too hard because all you're likely to get back is resistance and resentment that can kill your chances for fun






General Weekly Love Horoscope
Passionate Mars entering sociable Libra facilitates harmony in ongoing relationships and makes it easier to start new ones. There's a natural graciousness, willingness to share, and capacity to compromise that's an invitation to open hearts and minds. Being kind is a more direct path to meeting someone than being bold this week.






OK, I can be kind. A Libran influence is a very good omen indeed. Natural graciousness, willingness to share, but that capacity to compromise is somewhat tricky for Sagittarians.



Yes, I am very capable of compromise, it just takes me a minute or two. Yes, I am likely to push too hard and ruffle sweet Libra's feathers, but I'm a good egg at heart. My intent is not to hurt your feelings. I know I can be blunt, so I'll keep my rock 'n' rollin' to a lower decibel level and I will slow down just a little. Libras are so worth the compromise.




Wonderful poem by Galway Kinnell, When One Has Lived A Long Time Alone, inspired a cool project~create some art for each of the eleven verses. Never one to start at the beginning of anything, I did a quick sketch for the last verse. More than likely I will jump around, but I truly love this poem so it will be an ongoing creation. Who knows, maybe some of that natural graciousness will rub off on me? See, I'm appreciating life's smaller pleasures already. Nothing like beautiful poetry to open your heart and mind.




restless


west wind swirls through town

bringing restless thoughts to mind

let's dance until dawn







Thanks to Perceval Press for inspiration

Very rough sketch for verse 11 ~ vt

haiku, yeah, can you tell :)

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Pink Artists




This is a wonderful way to continue the fight against breast cancer. Check it out. Every artist makes a difference in this world.