A short poem

little feet
little sighs
little smiles

tiny moment
tiny look
tiny hands

small sound
small eyes
small world.

Thank you!! That's maybe all for tonight, although my mind is pleasantly open to many other ideas. Sometimes it's good to just be content and say "good night ya'll!"

good line for low- brow moments

Just heard from my husband who heard it on a show:

"Don't be a turd in the sandbox."

For example: when someone opens a great gift and is enjoying the moment of surprise and examination, someone else has to stand there and explain the gift, boring everyone with details, knowledge and unintentionally stealing the moment away from the gift reciever. Or, great for someone who is a Debbie Downer- for example, people who make plans to go out on the town, then goes out and complains the whole time, while trying to get others to commiserate with them.

That's enough bad grammar and run-on sentences for this morning.

Emily Dickinson was a very happy lighthearted girl

Since it's raining toads outside in freaky little hot squall, I'm trapped inside (sometimes this time of night we sit in the dark on our back patio swatting skeeters, sipping drinks and enjoying the sound of silence). So, i found some Emily Dickinson poetry to make you laugh or cry depending on your mood.

"The Mystery of Pain."

Pain has an element of blank;
It cannot recollect
When it began, or if there were
A day when it was not.

It has no future but itself
Its infinite realms contain
Its past, enlightened to perceive
New periods of pain.

(Someone should have taken this woman out more often...way too much time spent at her parent's estate staring out that window at the apple orchards..loving the local preacher man from afar the story goes...)

"In Vain." - portion of it.

I cannot live with you,
It would be life,
And life is over there
Behind the shelf


OK- that is way too depressing. Speaking of that, there's a doc on Fuse or something right now about Nirvana, and how the title "Smells Like Teen Spirit" came about. One of the original girls from Bikini Kill (old school WA band...circa grunge era) were hanging out with Dave Grohl and Kurt in their Olympia WA apt, and wrote that on his wall poking fun at his sexual/romantic attempts with one of her pals...referring to a body odor spray. AHEM>??
He didn't get that meaning, but rather thought it was a great "anthem" lyric,,,, and history was made.
There you go, your history lesson for the day.

multi tasking

www.thriftyfun.com - good ideas for Christmas craft gifts, coupons, etc.

If only I could write more right now, but I'm rocking the baby with one foot as he sits in his carseat on the floor- seems to be his fave place lately to fall asleep, drinking a Yuengling Light Lager with the other, typing at the same time - way too many dangerous things to be doing at once. Have a great night-i'll try to log once more tonight. Like you were all eagerly waiting for it, right? ha ha!

Review of "God: The Short Version"

This compact book by Peter Lundstrom was a bright little gem I saw in the new arrival section of the library, and I read it in one sitting. It's a bestseller, and for good reason. It's short (for those with busy lives) and straight forward. Basically, Lundstrom spends about a chapter each on Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judiasm and early religions such as pantheism and more ancient pagan roots that of course, still eventually led to some of our more modern religious roots (even in Christianity). The reason why I enjoyed this book is that it's been a while since I took the time to re-educate myself on all the major religions of the world, without the biased sermons of a minister, or some other religious leader. Lundstrom was previously an ad man for Apple, and it shows in his brief, simple and refreshing rundown of each religion, and how each one's "God" is found by different means (faith, servitude, etc). Also, how each one's meaning to an end (i.e. getting to "heaven" or other versions of it) leads to direct conflict with each other's...leading to a feeling of disrespect and insult from one religious follower to another.

I am totally distracted today and am not doing this book justice. It would be a great gift for the holidays, whatever religion you follow. It's not written from a Christian point of view, which I really like. It's also not an old- fashioned textbook type of formal explanation. I enjoyed how he touched on ancient cultural roots of paganism and how civilization grew to create and accept monotheistic beliefs, for whatever reasons (some believe simply in order to keep our human desires in line). If you are like myself and wonder about human behavior and the "how and whys" of the growth of human faith, this is an excellent read. If you are just wanting some new non-fiction to read, I highly recommend "God: The Short Version."

It's not deep, it's not heavy, but it's full of facts that enlighten.

The Palin Problem & other Reasons I Am Frustrated with Conservatism right now.

The problem with Sarah Palin is that she will not go away. And I don't mean that to be insulting to her or her seriously sincere intentions and platform. If I was her manager, I would tell her to lay low, do select interviews, do some charity work, build a stronger network of reliable business friends and future campaign supporters. I am not going to vote for her in 2012, nor will I be voting for Romney or Huckabee. They represent a part of the Conservative movement, along with Palin, that have hijacked the Republican party, split it into tiny fractions, and have veered again into the murky depths of issues that I believe are for private decisions, not public discussions - such as abortion and evolution (for that matter Intelligent Design).

I still agree with Guiliani who said last year that the conservative movement, not necessarily the Republican party, will have to take back their platforms of small government, free market, and self responsibility back in order to unify their cause. I love him and though he has strong Mafia ties- would love for him to run again, and win. But that won't happen...too bad.

Those other candidates, although well -meaning and idealistic just like their Democrat counterparts, have created a media image of the conservative movement of a bunch of angry, radical nut-jobs who hate black people, are ignorant of social causes, and who read the Bible backwards by candlelight every night while purging out demon snakes from their children's public school textbooks by day. And, let's face it- though we know the media is a bunch of circus clowns fighting for air time, image is everything today.
So- no I won't be voting for Palin- I respect her, and find her story to be an interesting story of American politics, but as a Presidential candidate, I cannot throw a chad her way.

Find me someone new! Fresh blood! Someone who won't spend their money and ads attacking Obama, but rather spend their energy representing some new solutions to problems that people like myself want fixed. And, if you don't know what those are- just ask us!! Some candidates lately assume they knew what the "American people" want- but they don't ask- they just look at some dumb CNN poll and go from there.
I am putting a call out to all 20 people who read this- find me a candidate who can unify the nation, not further divide it like has happened during the last three administrations. Give me someone who won't fill our news with nasty affairs, dark secrets, or bitter hearts. Give me someone who "gets" that we are all different shades of gray, and realizes that arrogant promises and sly winks to the media only get you elected, not respected in the end.

Now...getting the cooler packed for a late afternoon of sun and fishing with the family.

Saturday Irish poetry

Because I've been up since about 5 am and it's football day- none of which has anything to do with W.B. Yeats....here's a fave of mine I just rediscovered in one of my old books that my sister gave me Christmas 1990.

He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven
W. B. Yeats

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet:
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

Over the years since getting caught up in very hectic career life, marriage and kids, I have forced myself to reopen my old textbooks, poetry and history books, because I missed the way we learn so much during our formal education - and that fades over time. We end up grabbing info from the internet or on crazy news shows, and it's just not the same as examining a painting in which a revolutionary is being shot for standing up to a Fascist government, or looking for the hidden symbolism in some Titian painting. Obviously, my journalism and editing skills are failing me now as I write this, too lazy to correct my grammar or to tone down these run- on sentences...but you get the point. I need coffee.

ta ta for now kids.

Giving Thanks

I've done this in past posts, but here's another list of random things I am thankful for:

Heath Ledger in "A Knight's Tale".

Talented artists like Jack White and Dave Grohl.

Poets.

Evolution - if it never happened, we wouldn't be here.

That I don't believe everything church leaders tell us (of course!)!

Good days in the sun.

old friends who know us well.

dogs that do not dig holes in my yard.

citrus trees that grow produce in October.

Men who were raised right.

Boys who say thank you.

Pinot Noir.

The movie "Sideways".

Clint Eastwood.

"Gran Torino".

Good kissers.

Hypocrites who know they are and embrace their double lives.

Smiles and hugs.

Nicole Kidman in "Moulin Rouge"...and Ewan McGregor.

Cult Interventionists.

that I am capable of buying random strangers groceries and items they get stuck with at cash registers because they can't afford them.

football.

great grandparents.

Lately, I have been wondering if it isn't time for me to take my husband's last name, in the traditional manner of matrimony. The only reason this issue comes up is when more distant relatives or friends send us checks for special occasions, and I have to explain to my bank why the checks are written to "me" with another last name. Even after 7 years of marriage, a marriage announcement with clearly printed separate last names, and years of return addresses with both of our last names on them, I think some older relatives may have simply chosen to ignore our less traditional method of name taking. What other explanation could there be ?? Even so, I made sure to include my last name as our first son's middle name, so that my father's name is passed on into our ever expanding family tree. Our second son has the same middle name as his grandfather's on the other side of the family, and so it goes.

Names....they really don't matter in the end, now do they.

deep thoughts, or just babble.

On occasion, not too often, I often wish that we could go back in time and erase parts of our past. However, as soon as I have this thought, I always find comfort in the fact that what our history is makes us what we are today, and I have been very peaceful with who I have become. Some may call this maturity, others just life. I do see, with total clarity, that pain is not without some very good lessons for a person to hold onto for further use.
Without pain, there is no pleasure to be seen or felt by the human soul.

nite nite kids.

cool websites for saving money

chegg.com- rent textbooks instead of buying them... I always thought textbooks were the biggest RIPOFF in product history. Now there's a way for parents to stay on top of their children's education costs...at least a foothold.

CellFire.com- send coupons you scan at checkout directly to your cellphone.

RedPlum.com- enter your zip code for retail deals near you. Weekly grocery type coupons that most grocery stores take.

FreeShipping.org- free delivery codes for almost every retail online site.

Half.com- buy used books for school.

eyebuydirect.com or goggles4u.com- for eyeglass wearers

BetterWorldBooks.com- buy used books donated by libraries or sell yours..proceeds promote global literacy.

BookCrossing.com- recycle uswed books by leaving them arond your town for others to enjoy- then register their locations on the website...

Saving money is such a stress reliever, and being the Capricorn that I am- I sleep better at night with money in the bank than in junk all over my home that is worthless in no time.
Happy Bargain hunting!

she was a smart cookie

When choosing between two evils, I like to try the one I 've never tried before. - Mae West.

Salt & Lime

Salt- The produce stand I frequent has the best prices on fresh fruit and vegetables, about half the price of the groceries stores here. That is why I go there.
Lime - The old Greek man who owns the place often tells me I'm "bella" even while I was pregnant, even though "bella" is Italian... Is that the other reason why I go there- for the cheap compliment? hmmm.......

Are we subconsciously drawn to the people who quietly feed our egos? I.E.- friends who are like-minded and thus support our own opinions? And even though publicly most women would roll their eyes at some construction worker eye-balling their skirted legs as they passed by, are not some of these women secretly pleased that someone noticed? Sometime the past few decades, it became uncool for a man to comment on a woman's body....but what a shame. Because, I would suggest that most of us, man or woman, like to be noticed and admired. This validates a small part of our being that likes to feel adored and cherished. Isn't life too short to dismiss a man's sincere compliment, as this impulse to look at each other's bodies is very natural urge? There's a fine line between a long leering glance and a quiet acknowledgement of an attractive person. I'm smart enough to know the difference. Maybe next time I'll say "thank you" instead of shyly ignoring the Greek. What the hey- life is way too short. And his prices are excellent.

Run very fast and far from "Wolverine"

We get movies from Netflix. So- we put "Wolverine" in our list among others just from the fact it was a summer hit- supposedly. Hugh Jackman and Liev Shrieber are among the better actors in the flick. I don't usually do comic strip movies, but since the"Spider Man" and the "Batman" series have been so good, thought to give the whole X-Men thing a try. IT SUCKED SO BAD.
I swear I was in a good mood. The special effects were fine. Spinning "Matrix" - like action (everyone will be copying those movies for a long time to come) and that's about it. I can't even describe the plot- bad guys trying to use the Wolverine for their own evil plans. He has claws that come out of his hands, and a bi-polar brother who you never know if he's got his brother's back or not. The plot was dead on arrival. Innocent civilians get killed. Weird mutants help Wolverine out in the end after they are released from Weird mutant boot camp. The dialogue is so badly written, I could have done it after three bottles of Strawberry Hill. They pay people lots of money to write this?? That was what I thought. And writing does matter, kids. Why spend millions on CG effects, sets and costumes if the story seems like something written for 5 year olds. A thirteen year old boy may have been the true movie demographic target, but today's teens are way too savvy for this production. Hugh Jackman's lambchops kept bugging me, I wanted to get out a buzz kit and shave him.
Do not ever watch this movie unless you really do have about 1.5 hours to wasted in your precious, God given life.
For real.

They wear short shorts.

This weekend I went to my first rugby game, when my husband played with the Tampa Krewe against the St. Pete Penguins. It was a long hot day- we got to the field at 11 am and after two hours of practice, and several of two games (for Teams A & B), left around 5 pm. It was crazy. I have picturesw to be posted on Facebook. I felt like I had left the soupy hot Florida weather and landed somewhere in Wales or New Zealand, based in the mammoth arms, legs, and torsos of the men running around, and on their various crew cuts and random pony tails that only Europeans seem to be able to carry off well. It was fun, I hung out with other women watching the games with their kids, and though passed up on the pints of beer being offered, enjoyed the testorerone filled afternoon like any good American girl. Nick ran around saying "rugby! rugby!" which he always says while we watch football (not the same, son). Phillip played on Team B, being a new person to this team (he played on Panama CIty's Hurricane team) and when it was all over we were both needing Ibuprofen. These guys don't wear helmets, pads or any gear except mouth guards. We were both worn out from a very fun late U2 concert the night before, and pretty much sweated out ten pounds both days being outside in record breaking heat...
Anyway, they DO wear short shorts in rugby, and very tight shirts, and they huddle and grab each other like wrestlers while trying to tear the ball away from each other. It's very primitive without all the protective gear we see in American football, and so much fun to watch.
For now....must go. Have lots to catch up on if I can today. I miss writing so much! Saw a VERY SUCKY MOVIE I must warn everyone about, read a VERY GOOD BOOK, and have lost half my mind since getting about 3 hours sleep each night for the past 4 weeks (no exaggeration).
Tata for now people!

BLOGGETY BLOG BLOG PEOPLE

I really suck as a blogger lately. Unfortunately my body is stuck on a couch lately or some other comfortable chair feeding our gassy baby from about 7pm- 11pm off and on and by then I'm either too wired to sit and write, and too tired to put together anything meaningful. Such is life. At least I'm still happy and enjoying the early mornings and life in general. There's so much one could write about newborns, babies and kids but usually I find that stuff pretty mundane and repetitive, so I try not to put too much of it into this column. There are several observations in general I can put my finger on just to have some "thinking" points:



1. Whoever beat up Michael Moore in the playground in his youth should be lightly spanked with a big bag of wet rice. After college, I watched "Bowling for Columbine" (not his first doc) and although appreciated his right to tackle the gun safety issue (and realizing he was trying to find reasons for the rise in youth violence in our culture), I didn't like how he seemed to put most of his blame on gun shop owners, and individual spokespeople like Charleton Heston (NRA leader at the time). Parents were not pressured for answers as to why THEY were'nt paying attention to what their children were doing (planning bombs in their bedrooms) and why their leniency and almost a FEAR of alienated their teenagers were keeping them from being strong willed, disciplining parents. Anyway, he's out with another one, and always seems like he just needs that attention. Much like the youth portrayed in his docs, he needs someone to pay attention. SDo, if you like him, go watch his movies- maybe if he makes enough, he'll retire and leave the rest of us alone. ;)

2. I think Gov. Crist jumped the shark a bit when he recently was quoted as saying Pres. Obama will lose his next election in a landslide "much like Jimmy Carter". I don't why Crist would be dumb enough to say something like this, especially when he is also looking to a future in a higher political position. It's one thing to THINK something, but a smart politician knows to keep extreme thoughts to themselves, especially in this day of media bone-picking. I get that you're supposed to be honest, but that's not really how the game is played, from any side. Besides, to make an early prediction like that is a tad goofy. The guy has only been in office less than one year. And Crist, well, he's gonna have his own demons to chase down when his time comes, so he better keep the friends he has now.

3. Jimmy Carter, is a really nice guy- from what my parents say (they met him once and have pictures). They really really liked him when he was president, and from what I've seen in historical context, alot of people really really liked him. But he wasn't a good president. (That is what seems to be the general consensus of folks from that generation). He has done many many good things, like the Habitat for Humanity program and seeming to be a peace- loving man who writes poetry, and probably has good Southern manners. Someone needs to tell him that saying that people who didn't vote for Obama are racists isn't really in the "unifying" and "change" message that Obama was promoting during his campaign. Carter is out of touch, and needs to retire to his peanut farm. If he doesn't have one, he should grow one. His statement is EXACTLY what I predicted during earlier blogs and emails would happen during this election, given all the hype about Obama being the first black president nominee by the media. But it wasn't about race, right?? Thanks for calling me a racist, Carter. Gee... I'll make sure to let our "diverse" friends know that I am so that they can stay far far away from me.

tata for now folks! It's beautiful outside and the morning has been great. Politics is like a drunk late night game of Scrabble, the more they play, the later it gets, the more the politicians start to make up stuff and try to pull it off as the real deal. Get your dictionaries out, and study hard.