Update

If you would like to read the ongoing story, please visit my original site on blogger. I will no longer be updating this site as a mirror.

For a synopsis and a who’s who in The Story, go here: Who’s Who

Fighting Disease with Our Computers: Please Consider Joining Us

As many of you know, I’ve been using my computer to crunch molecules with Oxford for the last two years on The Grid. The project there has concluded. The good news is there are many more projects we can put our computer resources to work on and several of them can be found at the World Community Grid such as:

  Help Cure Muscular Dystrophy Project
Genome Comparison Project
Help Defeat Cancer Project
Human Proteome Folding – Phase 2 Project
FightAIDS@Home Project
How Grid Computing Works

If you believe in putting your spare cpu cycles to good use, please consider joining team Bravo on the WCG. We started Bravo today. Autumn was the first to join. Any and all are welcome to work with us and many, many more around the world in doing what we can to support research. The project works with either PCs or Macs, so all my Apple friends, you’ve got no reason not to join us now.

To get started requires just two steps and less than five minutes of your time. Download the agent and then join team Bravo. That’s it. Your computer will do everything else just like a screensaver, which is to say, it only processes data when you are not. I’ve been crunching molecules with more than 10 computers with a total cpu time that exceeds 20 years and I’ve had zero problems running the program on my desktops and laptops. Please consider joining us in a cause that will cost you no time and no money but with the promise of making a difference in the lives of your children (and maybe even us) with the research we support today.

Download the Agent HERE

Then join team Bravo HERE

Getting in the Spirit

Wishing all my friends a happy and safe holiday season.

Housekeeping

I’ve finally complied The Story into a single file, which is why you may have seen my blog change from black to white and back again (had to change it in order to capture black text for cutting and pasting as I quickly realized white text on a white page was a little hard to read).

No worries, the soul of DT is black background–the images and ambiance simply fit the story and the images best. My question, however, is this: If there are those that find reading the story with black text on a white background much easier on the eye, I’m willing to perhaps change for a day or two each week (beta blogger makes changing colors about as easy as it can be so really no extra work to do so). Give me your feedback in comments please. Of course, if everyone is fine with the traditional white text on black background there is no reason to alternate.

A few stats on The Story to date:

Chapters (postings): 190
Images: 221
Word Count: 68, 866
Pages (single spaced–sans images–size 12 font) 203

Bean

Bean

Congratulations to Bean for winning the contest for a sketch by guessing correctly the model used for Caitlin. Bean, you earned it. Enjoy. For those that have not been to Bean’s site, Notbean, please stop by for a fantabulous blogging experience.

Free Hugs

Thanks Helen for opening my eyes to this incredible video. Peace and Love.

Notbean Joins Andrax as Mate #142!

Please help me give a very warm welcome to Bean, or is it Notbean, I’m never quite sure. She hails from Australia with her two dogs Whacky Tail and Wiggle Bottom and her special little boy, Rotnik the cat. If you haven’t visited her blog, you are in for a treat. Bean’s talent with the pen must be experienced to be understood.

When asked if she had done anything fun, she responds with this dreamy answer: Fed stray cats in the ruins of Delphi, Greece. Camped out in the Western desert, Egypt. Swam with sting-rays and turtles in Peurto Angel, Mexico. Sipped mai tais on the Chao Praya, Bangkok, Thailand. Relaxed naked in a hot spring overlooking the forest in Central Japan. Watched deer drinking from a stream in the Rockies, BC Canada. Fished off basalt cliffs in Taranaki, New Zealand. Slept on the beach in San Diego, US. And so much more in my home country, the wide-brown land.

Bean, welcome to the team. You will find this group one of the more caring and compassion collection of individuals in the entire frailing universe. I can’t tell you how excited I am to have you onboard this fantabulous international team of cancer fighting comrades.

Growing Pains

As I tried to leave a comment on Terry’s blog a few minutes ago, I was confronted with this message from Blogger:

Account Moved to a Google Account

The account you’ve just logged in with, tgeorge123, has been merged with the Google Account decadenttranquility-AT-gmail.com.

You will need to log in to the new version of Blogger in beta with your Google Account.

Log in to the Blogger beta

Unfortunately, you cannot post a comment on a non-beta blog or claim a mobile blog using your Google Account. These features are coming soon.

Seems there are a few growing pains with the transition to beta.blogger. If you don’t see me commenting on your blog, please know it is not from lack of trying. Jenni, I had this problem with your site a few days ago although I was able to leave a comment on Autumn’s site this morning. Soon, I hope, Blogger will sort out commenting issues as they transition to the new Blogger.

Update:

Apparently, Anon comments will still work, both ways, if Blogger refuses to cooperate, which seems to be hit and miss.

Prayers for Kayla

If you have a minute to spare, the young lady above, Kayla, could use a few thoughts and prayers. Tomorrow morning, Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) will claim her right leg via a surgeon’s knife. She is sixteen.

From my friend Karen’s blog:

A member of our family, Susan’s niece, Kayla has been battling Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) since April. Kayla has an incredible spirit and has the bravery of an army despite only being 16. She has kept fighting despite chemotherapy wiping away her energy, it has not squashed her spirit. Tomorrow at 7am EST, Kayla will have her right leg amputated. I cannot imagine how scared she is or what she’s going through but she’s still fighting – fighting for her life.

Kayla and her family, as well as Susan’s family, need our thoughts and prayers. If you could, tomorrow morning, say a prayer for them, or send some good thoughts their way. It may not seem like much to do, but I have felt everyone’s thoughts and prayers last year when I was fighting for my life and I know it works and it means more than words can express.

Kayla’s response to the initial outpouring of support:

Kayla said…Hello fellow bloggers online This is Kayla, the niece you have been keeping in your prayers and rooting hard for. I just dropped by to say how much I appreciate all of your kind wishes and thoughts and how I was absolutely over whelmed when I recieved papers and papers of messages from all over the world, never mind, the country!!! ^_^ It made me so happy to see the response from people and it totally gave me the boost I needed. ^^ Thank you, every one!! I am most grateful!! Cancer has touched every individual in one way or the other. No matter how hard you struggle to avoid it, it manages to infect even the purest soul. =( But you know what? That’s the thing with hope and faith. It never lets the darkness corrupt. It fights it until the very end. And even when fighting seems like the very last thing you’d want to endure any longer, even when the pain seems so undurable, innerly and physically…..You fight it. Why bother? It’s the only way to survive. Life has much meaning and I plan to decipher it through this battle. I promise you I plan on coming out of this as a gleaming champion because there is no way in hell I am letting a stupid, insignifigant tumor take me!! *kills it with sword* MUHAHAHA! DIE tumor!! ^__^ I may not look the same as I did before, but then again, I don’t think the same either. o__O Funny how that works, yes?

Update (from her Aunt): 9/1

Kayla is doing very well.

Thankyou everybody for your support. Our prayers were heard. She got safely through surgery and recovery. She is now back in her room on the oncology ward.

On top of that, Keith called us this evening, with more good news!

When Kayla went in for surgery, She wasnt sure how much of her leg the surgeons would be able to save. She is glad that they were able to use the prefered tecnique called Van Nes Rotationplasty, which leaves a good basis for a prosthesis. That means she will have the greatest mobility possible. She still has alot of rough days ahead, but with her determination and alot of hard work she will be able to do so many things. She is tired and in some pain, but seems pleased with how things went. Tommorrow they plan on getting her up out of bed to try standing. I forget to ask if she will be useing crutches or a walker. She has to learn to balance herself properly. She has apparently already looked at her leg, some people take much longer to psych them selves up to view the results of the surgery. When family went in, she asked them if they wanted to see too! That says alot to me about how well she is going to cope.

Venus Hum

Initial impressions from last night’s performance at the Mercy Lounge—in incomplete sentences:

A voice sublime, control masterful, depth apparently unlimited, neither strained nor subdued, modulated with artisan flair and delivered with effortless elegant ease. Her smile, contagious, infectious, beautiful and seductive. Her eyes, brilliant, dancing, alive, communicating a present moment here and now joy with every glance. Movement fluid, dynamic, melding uniquely with each individual rhythm, at times like silk in a spring breeze and at other times spontaneously released with playful abandon. A spirit youthful and sophisticated; optimistic and circumspect; joyful and introspectively soulful.

Her voice simply must be heard live to understand and appreciate the gift she embodies and delivers to her audience. Thanks Annette, Tony and Kip for a performance that exceeded all of my lofty expectations. All the best with The Colors In the Wheel.

Click here for the best set of photos from the night, so far. Enjoy!

Pamarita Weekend

A toast to all my wonderful friends. Have a safe and joyful weekend. And Terry, try not to be part of the food chain.

Sweetest Sunshine, you and your dad remain in my thoughts and prayers. May you find some level of peace this weekend and don’t forget your promise. Poppet is watching.

Trace, congrats on the new job. I’m sure you’ll be a magnificent Ms Tubey.

Leigh, get some miles in for me this weekend. I think of you on every hill I climb. I don’t have the stuff for Sangrias so Pamaritas it is.

Oliviah, come watch Venus with me. We can smile and laugh together. Whenever I see her sing I think of your fabulous smile you shared with us a few weeks ago. I see so much joy in that smile.

Jenni and DJB, keep rawking on those Apo pieces. You have both surpassed my abilities ten fold. I’m enjoying the show.

Chicky, I think I’m ready for the beach and a little somthin somthin warm and enticing. Age only matters to those who believe that it does. Of course, after a few Pama’s, it won’t matter at all.

Aggie, I’ve missed you posting more than you know this week. Hope and trust all is well. Thanks so much for introducing me to Venus Hum. I’ve got a special Pamarita mix prepared just for 10pm. See you there.

Keshi, my dear southern angel, drinks on the bridge tonight. Glad you called the hunt off. I didn’t like feeling guilty.

Sweetk, a toast to all things new and a toast to keeping our eyes looking forward. I miss you bbb.

OB, your post on clutter hit close to home. Could be why its a time for a toast or two.

Deb, Pamaritas are great for a dry heat. And after a few, storms don’t much matter anymore.

Y, did you notice Pama is red? You bring the black. We won’t need much more.

Helen, peace to you my friend. Join me in a toast to those who have touched our lives in ways we can never repay.

Alex, welcome back to blogland. That alone calls for a toast.

Linny, I’ve got beer too if you prefer a brew. Or we can just hit the Blue Bell.

Liz, my dear friend, a toast to sons and a toast to friendship. I think of you often and wish I had more time for tea and cookies.

Kel, my dear philosophical babe with a heart of pure gold, join me on the deck for a toast as we watch the birds come in for evening.

Christa, a toast to bug spray. Haven’t seen you since your bug report. Hope to see you around again soon and that all is well.

Jack, a toast to aliens and to Italians or was that redundant? Just kidding. All the best with your studies.

Melly, a toast to all those in harm’s way. Your posting from the war has touched me in ways I don’t know how to put into words. My heart is with you and Kate. I think of you both everyday and pray for peace.

Saffy, a toast to blog links. You know I was your first.

Karen, Jack and I would like to invite you for a special, hands on toast, to all things wise and wonderful.

Meg, any woman who takes no shiott in the pastry shop is worth a toast or two to me. Thanks for all your wonderfully kind words.

Lisa, a toast to long comments. I do miss having you around.

David, a toast to introspection, to music, to gardens and to love. I’m still working on how to articulate the sound of silence.

Jar, a toast to old friends. I can’t listen to Sarah without thinking of you my friend.

Sherri, put on that cottontail and bring your toothbrush. Backstage pass awaits and plenty of carrots. Or at least one. Do you really need more?

Super J, a toast to margarita machines! What would a Pamarita be without one. Stay safe, my friend, as the Hurricane season approaches.

Olaf, hell of a pic you put up today. That alone deserves a toast. An another for the lass.

And a toast to all those who lurk here. Comments are always welcomed but I say, to each their own. I’m just flattered that you guys stop by on a regular basis.

And last but not least, a toast to the poor souls that should be on my list that I’ve left off. No harm intended. Promise. Mean it.

The Story

For those that may be interested, the entire image history of the story of Kyra and Zeke has been uploaded to my Web Album here. On each image, which can be seen individually or as a slideshow, I’ve placed an excerpt from the chapter in the first comment.

Likewise, I’ve organized links to each and every chapter on del.icio.us here.

I want to thank all those who have followed the story faithfully and given me so much positive encouragement and feedback. The story’s not over so stay tuned for future chapters.

You and I

You and I, my friend, are we really all that different? Do we not share the same fears, worries, concerns? Do we not have the same needs–water, food, shelter, love? Do we not ponder the same mysteries, ask the same questions? Come walk with me for awhile. Tell me what you see so that I might better understand the shared existence between you and I. Lean on me while I feel strong, for the day will come when I am the one that will need you, your strength, your hope, your insight and wisdom, and most of all, your love.

Hold my hand, my sweet, such that I might feel the beat of your heart and likewise you mine. Let our hearts beat in harmony to a wisdom beyond words, a wisdom seen in the sparkle of an eye in the moonlight, standing on that bridge that overlooks the ocean. Smell the fresh ocean air. Listen to the crashing of the waves and feel the cool air through your hair. As I said last November, Fear not the fall, what my arms might miss, my heart will catch.

Ownership

C is with me for the summer. He has a bit of weight to lose and so we have started the process of a program and education concerning exercise and diet. In the course of our conversation I mentioned that he needed to take ownership in this effort, to discipline himself in the choices before him.

Ownership is a word I’ve used for the last twenty years in business and I use it like second nature–perhaps even over use it. As soon as I said it, however, I could see the look on his face implied he had no idea what the heck the term meant, which made me think, what does it really mean. I explained to him the “surface” meaning, but deeper down the question brought up my philosophical side, surprise, surprise.

Here is what spilled out in my comments to Kel yesterday, which, by the way, is a blog worth the time to explore.

Do we really own anything? Can we really call anything ours? Do we really create anything? Or, perhaps just maybe, we manifest and/or allow to flow through our temporal self a greater force? I have thoughts, but do I originate them? Think about it. Do you originate a single thought? Or do they flow and we only guide them after they manifest?

This line of thought humbles me and keeps me grounded. Oh, and if I don’t own anything, why do I horde so much? Why do I covet what was never mine and never will be mine? Do I miss the flow because I stand outside of it? Do I miss life because my ego is too busy taking credit for what was never mine to begin with?

I want to swim in that flow, I want to swim in Love, with the greater current. In the mood for a dip?

I Really Want You

Sunshine, you had me at CNN. The red in the image is my heart. Since that post from long ago I’ve felt you have had a hold on my heart, gently pulling me in, like no other. You are going to have the time of your life in about 48 hours or so. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am for you! This is the song I want you to be prepared to hear ( I pray he actually plays it–lol). I think it will be his hit on album two.

I Really Want You

I really want you, I really want you

Many prophets preach on bended knee.
Many clerics wasted wine.
Do the bloodied sheets on those cobbled streets mean
I have wasted time?
Are there silver shores of paradise?
Can I come in from the cold?
I killed a man in a faraway land,
My enemy I’m told.

(chorus)
I really want you to really want me,
But I really don’t know if you can do that.
I know you want to know what’s right,
But I know its so hard for you to do that.
And time’s running out, as often it does,
and often dictates that you can’t do that,
But fate can’t break this feeling inside,
That’s burning up through my veins.

I really want you, I really want you.
I really want you, now.
No matter what I say or do,
The message isn’t getting through,
And you’re listening to the sound,
Of my breaking heart.

I really want you, I really want you

Is a poor man rich in solitude,
Or does Mother Earth complain?
Did the beggar pray for a sunny day,
But lady luck for rain?
They say a million people bow and scrape,
To an effigy of gold.
I saw life begin and the ship we’re in and,
History unfold.

(chorus)

No matter what I say or do
The message isn’t getting through
And you’re listening to the sound
Of my breaking heart

I really want you (repeat to end)

James Blunt

Categories: music, James Blunt

Under Siege

When the whole world seems against you, what do you do?

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling

Dreams

Stop thinking and start dreaming

Oliviah

Reciprocal

You can never give anything away without initiating a reciprocal event.

Liebe Ist

you and I we’re like children
who love each other the way they are
who don’t lie and don’t ask
when there’s nothing to ask
we are two and we are one
and we see things clearly
and when one of us must go
we are still always there

Nena

Du und ich wir sind wie Kinder,
Die sich lieben wie sie sind.
Die nicht lügen und nicht fragen,
Wenn es nichts zu fragen gibt.
Wir sind zwei und wir sind eins,
Und wir sehn die Dinge klar.
Und wenn einer von uns gehen muss,
Sind wir trotzdem immer da.

Dedicated to my Sunshine
Missing You!

DJB Joins!

DJB, welcome to team Andrax as mate #137. Thanks for joining this fabulous team in the fight to find a cure for cancer. Our team is currently ranked in the top 200 teams worldwide out of more than 43,700 teams. Welcome aboard brother. We are glad to have you.

Our team stats

Humility

Can I stop resisting the very clear fact that I do not know everything? Can I accept that what I don’t know will always be the ocean to the drop of what I do know? Can I embrace the great unknown with openness and love?

The universe is a closed system. Run we may but there is no escape. Besides, wherever I go, there I am. Peace is right here, right now, or it is nowhere. The same could be said for Love.

So Into You

(Click on image for larger version)

Revelation

Drinks made at home are much stronger than elsewhere. Blue Jays are big arse birds. This is the kind of post you get after a few Pamaritas, homemade of course. Thanks to all for the bday wishes. As always, much appreciated my friends. Peace.

Diversity

Do we value difference or fear it?

In the image above, I see an alien creature with many limbs waving hello, wanting to approach me, to form a peaceful relationship. What do I do?

In my own relationships, do I embrace those that are different from me or do I judge them and look for ways to say they are inferior in order to protect the images I have of myself? And what exactly are these images, these stories I tell myself of who I am?

Guardian Angel

This morning I count my blessings and remind myself to be grateful for so many that have helped me down the path, many of which I will never know the good deed they did on my behalf. Peace my friends.

GML on Guitar

A few posts back I mentioned that James had sung GML on guitar in Atlanta. The song is recorded and normally played on piano. The guitar rendition gives a whole different emotional landscape, especially when played acoustic as it was in Atlanta and as it is in this video.

Well, I found an outstanding video of GML played on guitar, which was done in the Star 98.7 lounge and comes with a three part interview and YB. Enjoy.

Watch the video of his Star Lounge Performance, available for 1 week only starting Monday 6/5!

Margaritaville

So, it’s an early bday present from Ms Mario. Arrived yesterday, and well, since it was here, why wait till next week to enjoy–right?

So, we buy all the stuff and start to make our first margarita. I prepare for three drinks, ice loaded, all the stuff too, and then I turn it on. Duh, I forgot to select for three drinks as the default was for one. So I redo with two drinks selected to add more ice. Drinks come out thinner than I like–I do like my frozen margaritas to be ice cone thick. So we slam down these three in order to make more–the right way of course.

Second batch of three drinks is ready. Ice–check; the stuff–check; proper three drink setting–check. Blend drinks and still they are not as thick as I like. So, I pull out the manual and read what I need to do to make them thicker. So, we slam down those three drinks in order to make more–the right way of course.

Third batch of three–perfect! Or at least in the state I was in by that time they certainly seemed perfect—lol! I was a little skeptical that a machine for the home could really do a great job. It does. Will be testing again tonight just to make sure my endorsement still stands.

So tonight, I’ll be putting my new found expertise to use. Anyone care to join me? Bring your swimsuit and meet me out back by the pool. Drinks on me tonight.

Cry

Cry is without a doubt my favorite James Blunt song. The link takes you to a short interview on where the idea for Cry came from and then shows a live performance of Cry with James and Paul.

I suppose what attracts me to this song is the combination or intersection of sadness and tears with love and hope, the reaching out of one soul to another in a time of need.

Aggie, in answer to your question, it would be James.

Cry

I have seen peace. I have seen pain,

Resting on the shoulders of your name.

Do you see the truth through all their lies?

Do you see the world through troubled eyes?

And if you want to talk about it anymore,

Lie here on the floor and cry on my shoulder,

I’m a friend.

I have seen birth. I have seen death.

Lived to see a lover’s final breath.

Do you see my guilt? Should I feel fright?

Is the fire of hesitation burning bright?

And if you want to talk about it once again,

On you I depend. I’ll cry on your shoulder.

You’re a friend.

You and I have been through many things.

I’ll hold on to your heart.

I wouldn’t cry for anything,

But don’t go tearing your life apart.

I have seen fear. I have seen faith.

Seen the look of anger on your face.

And if you want to talk about what will be,

Come and sit with me, and cry on my shoulder,

I’m a friend.

And if you want to talk about it anymore,

Lie here on the floor and cry on my shoulder,

I’m a friend.

James Blunt

If you just can’t get enough: Exposing James Blunt

and Rolling Stone Audio Interview

and Camera Phone of Cry at the Tabernacle

Karma

I’m always amazed that often the smallest things make the greatest impact. I saw an old friend and they mentioned a kind word uttered twenty years ago and how much it has meant to them, a word I didn’t give a second thought to when said. I too wonder how many of my words lie on the other side of that fence and twenty years later, likewise, are still remembered. A single drop raises the sea. A single spark can destory an entire forest. Be that drop. Raise the sea. No contribution to Love is too small.

Peace Flags

Peace is every step.

_________________________

Quote of the Day

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start.

Mother Teresa

One

Just one thing: Love

“I’ll tell you the secret to life. This one thing. Just this one thing. You stick to that and everything else don’t mean sh**,” said Curly

“What’s the one thing?” asked Mitch.

“That’s what you’ve got to figure out.” replied Curly.

TAPS

I generally watch very little television. Several months ago, however, I stumbled upon an episode of Ghost Hunters and I’ve been hooked on the weekly show ever since. That all paranormal activity is not evil is perhaps the one interesting and unexpected bit of data I’ve learned.

The image above is dedicated to all those “good” spirits out there and to my Wednesday night addiction. Peace to everyone on this holiday weekend. Be safe and please visit Helen as to why that is so important.

Update: This Saturday I go on my first official investigation. I couldn’t be more excited.

Mercy

In the image above I see a bird’s nest and two baby birds, eyes not open, trusting, needing, their mother or father to fill their hungry bellies. Who among us does not hunger to be held, to know that when we ask it shall be given?

_____________________________

Quote of the Day

Teach me to feel another’s woe, To hide the fault I see: That mercy I to others show, That mercy show to me.

Alexander Pope

Livestrong: L’Alpe d’Huez

Lance Armstrong returned to one of the most revered climbs in the Tour de France, the Alpe d’Huez, to help celebrate the 50th birthday of his close friend, Joe Aragona.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be? Outside the obvious, “be where you are,” I could think of few places better than, as OB said the other day, letting my soul settle in the saddle of a long climb in the Alps while raising awareness in the fight against cancer.

Kudos to my good friend Lee McCroskey for surpassing 100,000 points on our fabulous cancer fighting team. Thanks Lee for your quiet dedication to this cause.

_____________________________

Quote of the Day

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

Emerson

FLG

Flying Lump of Garlic

Props to Autumn for giving this one the name.

_______________

Quote of the Day

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those that matter don’t mind.

Dr. Seuss

Purpose

What’s your purpose? No, not for your life, career, family nor this year, month, week, day or even the next hour. What is your purpose in this moment, right here, right now?

______________________________

Quote of the Day

“People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle when the sun is out, but when it gets dark they only shine if there is a light from within.”

Unknown

where is my mind?

Stripped (5 videos, interview and behind the scenes)

June 2nd. Atlanta, Tabernacle. Unplugged. James Blunt will perform six of his songs. I’m driving five hours one-way to hear six songs. I’ve thrown logic and reason out the window since they thought I was an idiot and I’ve embraced unbridled enthusiasm as my new best friend. I think we are going to have a good time.

The link below will take you to twenty one minutes of James Blunt and his band in concert. I take my hat off to RTÉ Television for posting the video. Next to the DVD chasing time: the bedlam sessions this is the best video of James singing several of his songs I can find. Enjoy.

The RTÉ performance.

Now, for the necessary eye candy

Mischa Barton (Goodbye My Lover video)

Windows

If I open the window to my soul would you look with eyes of compassion? Would you could you see without judgment or projection? Would you look to see what is authentically there, or would you have your own agenda? “Of course,” you say. “Show me what you got.”

Now, my dear, tell me what you saw. Did you see me? Or did you see your idea of me. Did you see to see or did you see to find an answer? Can you see me with your heart, see me with your soul, or does your mind take over and take control? I am here. I am open. Tell me what you see baby.

Default

A couple months ago I came upon a blog post that asked the question, “What is your default position?” Simple question and not anything new or earth shattering, yet somehow, phrased in this way it struck a chord with me and I’ve been unable to let it go.

The fractal above reminds me of the internal workings of a lock, an x-ray view so to speak. It’s not quite lined up and the lock, not in alignment, will not open. A correctly aligned default position opens the world to us. An incorrectly aligned default position invites frustration, anger and eventual bitterness. Do you know your default position? Is it aligned?

Passion

How many times in your life have you felt absolutely, positively alive? How many times have you felt an energy about yourself that you could neither explain nor wish away, an energy outside of time and place, an energy that reverberated in the depths of your soul, an energy beyond excitement, beyond infatuation, beyond words to describe?

How many times have you worn the cloak of passion, worn a look in your eye, a bounce in your step that was instantly recognized by all who came in contact with you? How many times have you touched, have you swam in this sacred harmony with the flow of life?

The image above brings back many fond memories of those moments. I see the red of passion covered in a bright flash of electricity and the two together taking flight in defiance of the laws of gravity, spreading wings and lifting me up to places and heights I never knew existed, places that once visited forever change the landscape of your mind.

Slideshow from Blunt’s performance at the Ryman. Photos taken at the Ryman Auditorium, Nashville thanks to Heather, aka babe!

___________________

On a side note, little Maria, had to have several teeth pulled this afternoon. Poor little baby is on pain meds and antibiotics for the next few days. She was shaking like a leaf when I dropped her off this morning. And you don’t even want to know how much having a handful of teeth pulled in a Yorkie costs. She wasn’t the only one saying ouch.

Autumn eclipes 100k

Congratulations to my dear friend Autumn Storm.

With 961 molecules completed she has exceeded 100,000 points on our fabulous cancer fighting team. Autumn joined team Andrax last August and has over 213 days of total CPU time devoted to the project. Running just a single computer, that total time should give you some idea of her dedication and commitment to this cause.

Autumn, thanks so much for your consistent and rock steady support of this research. You have been a fabulous teammate both in your online crunching and offline support of our mates who are fighting this terrible disease. I take my hat off to you dear. When you joined our team, you made everyone around you better by your example. I don’t have enough kudos to send your way.

Tonight at the Ryman

James Blunt plays tonight at the Ryman, a small (capacity 2362) and superbly built hall. Tickets were sold out before I had a chance to purchase. Over the weeks I checked back frequently to no avail. What I lack in talent I make up for in persistence. Less than 24 hours before the event a single ticket became available online. I purchased it. This will be my first concert and I couldn’t be more excited it will be at the famed Ryman.

Click link for my similar tribute to High

Update: Review

I touched passion tonight in a way rare enough to remind one how precious it is. From the moment Blunt came on stage, there was a look in his eye, a bounce in his step, simply a certain way he carried himself, his guitar and his lyrics that spoke a language seldom heard. Blunt doesn’t sing as much as he embodies, personifies, or manifests his music. One senses no separation between his music and himself and one also senses there is no other place he would rather be than on that stage singing those songs.

The band also introduced several new songs, which continue to touch and move one in their sincere integrity. Again, one loses sense of where the song ends or James begins. I have a strong feeling his fans will continue their bluntfest with the new material.

Unexpected highlight of the night, without a doubt since I had not heard it sung before, James’ rendition of I Really Want You. Oh how I wish this one was on the DVD. For those that are familiar with the song and familiar with James singing it, imagine being at his concert, never having heard him sing it, and then-BAM-there it is–a moment where my mind began to swim in timelessness. How does one put such an experience in words?

In fitting tribute, the evening was capped off with You’re Beautiful. I’ve listened to every recorded version and watched the DVD (Chasing Time: The Bedlam Sessions) more times than I care to admit–let’s just say my play count on this song is in three digits. Yet, tonight, to end the concert, I don’t believe I’ve heard it sung better. Then again, when the entire audience sings along, there is a certain power and energy that has a tendency to move one. I was moved.

Thanks James for adding Nashville to your Tour. So Long, Jimmy. And you will be missed. See you at the bar.

____________________

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 10, 2006) – Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium will vie for its third consecutive win in the Theatre of the Year category at this week’s Pollstar Concert Industry Awards. Several Ryman staff members will attend the awards ceremony held February 15 at The Theatre at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

“Just being nominated for this award is an honor for us,” emphasizes Ryman General Manager, Pam Matthews, “Only six venues in the entire country were nominated, and we are very pleased to again be recognized in this way and to be in such impressive company. If we win the award for a third consecutive year, we will of course be thrilled, but the nomination alone is high praise indeed.”

The nominations and awards are voted on by members of the Concert Industry Consortium (CIC), an organization comprised of concert touring professionals and executives from major booking agencies, concert promotion, facility management and record companies. The Pollstar awards are regarded as the most prestigious in the industry. The list of nominees in this category includes the famed Radio City Music Hall, the Gibson (formerly Universal) Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, and the all-new 6,350 seat NOKIA Theatre Grand Prairie. If the Ryman were to win its third consecutive Theatre of the Year award, Pollstar regulations dictate that the venue would have to remove itself from consideration for the following year.

Planet Alex

Father and Son–a View

The power of view. The image above inspires–reminds me of a father or mother giving flight to their child, lifting them up into to the world to fly on their own.

The image below, simply rotated, has a completely different feel. I would call this one Pursuit, as it looks like the smaller object is fleeing from it’s larger pursuer.

The power of view, from where we stand and how a simple angle can completely change how we see. Do you, my friend, know? Know from where you stand? Know how that angle of view colors everything you see?

Tator Tango

M81

Credit & Copyright: Johannes Schedler

Blue Corona

Intermission

Dear Tech Support:

Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed that the new program began making unexpected changes to the accounting modules, limiting access to flower and jewelry applications that had operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0.

In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.9 but installed undesirable programs such as NFL 5.0 and NBA 3.0.

Conversation 8.0 no longer runs and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system. I’ve tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail.

Desperate

Dear Desperate:

Keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an entertainment package, while Husband 1.0 is an operating system. Try to enter the command: C:/ I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME and install Tears 6.2.

Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications: Guilty 3.0 and Flowers 7.0. But remember, overuse can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy hour 7.0 or Beer 6.1. Beer 6.1 is a very bad program.

DO NOT install Mother-In-Law 1.0 or reinstall another Boyfriend program. These are not supported applications and will crash Husband 1.0.

In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. Consider buying additional software to improve performance. I personally recommend HotFood 3.0 and Lingerie 5.3.

Also, running Nagging 5.3 too often can sometimes cause Husband 1.0 to secretly install Mistress 1.0, which would then require you to run Private Investigator 7.5 utility and possibly even Attorney 9.0, which could lead to a system wide failure and the need to reboot Husband 1.0!

Everybody clear on this now?

Tech Support

Oh my and it’s all true.

Your sin has been measured. You have committed many sins, but Lust is the mortal sin that has done you in. Just below, discover your full sinful breakdown and learn what it is about you that condemns you to hell.

Greed:	Medium
Gluttony:	High
Wrath:	Medium
Sloth:	High
Envy:	High
Lust:	High
Pride:	High

Discover Your Sins – Click Here

Question

Next chapter is written but I have no image to go with it. Should I post the chapter sans image or wait till I have something somewhat suitable?

Father and Son

C and I headed to Chattanooga earlier in the week for a little father and son time together. This picture was taken inside the Aquarium. My camera shy son refused to look into the camera or allow me to take any more photos of him. So, I took about a bazillion more like this of just me.

He seems to enjoy and appreciate time with just dad. I think we will do this again before the river of time flows beyond my reach.

Live the Dream

Please welcome the newest member of my team (my real life job). Karen is a 17 year cancer survivor and the president and founder of the Ivan and Sam Foundation, an organization devoted to helping children with cancer and their families fight this terrible disease.

From her website:

Life was good again until her early twenties when Karen was diagnosed with cancer. For a brief moment her world once again, stopped. Karen went through radical treatments and surgeries until she was cancer free.

But true to herself and to those around her, she showed that she would not be deterred from doing what she loved. In May 1998, Karen attended the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. This event spawned a life-changing move that would forever change Karen’s career, her life, her faith and all those involved – she for the first time walked the survivors lap.

With A New Light

Two years later, Karen returned to the studio. After meeting with Independent Record Label, Rogue Records President and Producer Lee Davis of Atlanta, Georgia, Karen teamed up with writers and began a new album – This time, it was the secular world of music calling Karen. One of her penned songs was based on the Relay for Life event she experienced two years earlier. The song was called “Live The Dream” and its message reached out to all cancer survivors and families of cancer victims. “The song not a typical country song, but one that crossed over into the Christian sector of music. It was a song about hope. With that song, I found a way to help millions who suffer from cancer and to help their families find comfort and hope,” stated Karen. The song became a national theme to thousands of survivors at the nearly 4000 Relay’s for Life across America.

Live the Dream

Everyday a life is touched
By darkness and despair
Tears of pain we cannot understand
Yet through unity we bring
The strength of all our dreams
Our hands, our hearts, our hopes, our
Prayers of peace
(Chorus)
For now the time has come to believe in the light
A light that shines so far beyond the dark
If we all reach out and sing
To create the harmony
The we all can join as one
And Live the Dream
Small flames become a glow
That the wind of life can’t blow
This beacon holds the spirit of our hope
As we celebrate the lives
With courage and with pride
Hearts touch hearts as we walk the walk for life
(Chorus)
Let’s light the candles and hold each others’ hands
Walking toward our dreams
Singing all the way
“We Can”
(Chorus)
Then we all can join as one and live the dream

Blunt on DVD

Thanks Sunshine for the heads-up. The DVD arrived today and the video is just superb!

The Family

Chloe

Frankie

Angel

Maria

Maria’s Daddy

Mario

Good Morning

Wishing all a day filled with wonder and joy. And a special congrats to my friend Linny for sharing her incredible gift of observation and wit with all of us. You are a jewel my friend. All the best.

PS: James Blunt on Oprah today.

Dana Reeve Dies at Age 44

This is why we fight. Sad news indeed.

Story here

From my August 9th post:

Dana Reeve, 44, just ten months after her husband Christopher Reeve passed away, has learned she has lung cancer. She displayed great courage and devotion to Christopher throughout his illness and death and now must summon the strength just a few months later to wage a battle for her very own life.

Dana is a non-smoker and at such a young age, we see once again this terrible disease attacking those we would least expect. One can only imagine the pain and anguish between mother and son tonight. Dana’s son, Will, is 13. What that young man is experiencing is beyond my comprehension. To lose his dad, and now, today, to learn his mother has cancer. Thoughts and prayers to two courageous and caring individuals as they face another agonizing battle.

In her own words: “I hope before too long to be sharing news of my good health and recovery.”

“Now, more than ever, I feel Chris with me as I face this challenge,” said the 44-year-old actress. “As always, I look to him as the ultimate example of defying the odds with strength, courage, and hope.”

ABC News
Official Press Release–CNN
San Diego Union Tribune

Quick Survey

Two ways to go with the next chapter: (1) Back to our normal “real time” prose; or (2) The Interview Part II. I’m leaning toward the latter but don’t want to overuse the technique. Give me your feedback in the comments.

Btw, next chapter sees Kyra at Kieran’s bedside. Does she or doesn’t she tell him how she feels. You can share your opinion on that one too. I’m torn.

Thanks George

Challenges

I grow through practice and meeting challenge, rather than floating in a lotus position and humming a be here now mantra.

Living in the present is only the beginning. It is a base of operation. This is where the adventure exists.

We are not plants or vegetables. We are active co-creators of this universe, of this world.

If now is not the time for open response to the world, no time ever is.

George Breed

Kieran

The Kieran chapter, four posts down, is now complete for those faithful followers of the story. In a exclusive interview Kyra gave on earth, we learn the details of those fateful few days. Quite extraordinary. Enjoy.

I’ll be back

Pink

The passionate red of sky,
a trip down memory lane.
Green pastures beneath my feet
you by my side,
I trace the contours of your face
with the fingertips from my mind.
I recall,
sweet passion,
lingering moments,
The delicate fragrance of you.

Leigh

Update from Oxford

Posted on the University of Oxford Department of Chemistry website.

New Update (Dec 2005) – Pancreatic Cancer project results presented at AACR-NCI-EORTC Molecular Targets Meeting Nov 2005

“quote – Using Screensaver Lifesaver / LigandFit technology, we have identified three promising leads Mol597, Mol238 and Mol628 for urokinase inhibition. Based on the docking studies these molecules show high potential as uPA inhibitors. These molecules can be used as lead molecules for the design of better uPA inhibitors as potential anti-cancer therapeutic agents. We are synthesizing these molecules and testing them for biological activity. “

To all my fabulous friends on this incredible international team, keep those mosheens crunching. Together, one molecule at at time, we are making a difference in the fight against this terrible disease. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I could not be more proud than to say I work with such a caring and compassionate group of cancer fighters. Have a great Friday my friends.

The Bridge

If you like Rudy Stories

CBS ran an incredibly powerful story tonight that brings you to your feet and just keeps on giving each and every minute into it. Jason McElway, an autistic high school basketball team member in Rochester NY, served as the team manager and spirit coach for several years. On the final game of the season the coach let him finally put on a uniform with the rest of the team. Watch what happens then…

Autistic basketball player causes mayhem at game

Silent Night

Wabi Sabi for Ms Mario

Midnight Clear

For my Tubey

I have seen peace. I have seen pain,
Resting on the shoulders of your name.
Do you see the truth through all their lies?
Do you see the world through troubled eyes?
And if you want to talk about it anymore,
Lie here on the floor and cry on my shoulder,
I’m a friend.

(Cry–James Blunt)

Asteroids

Walk with Me

FNF: Margarita Time

Mythical Flight

High

If you have seen James Blunt’s music video High this scene will look somewhat familar. Thanks to Trace for the inspiration to do this image. May the Bluntfest continue.

Beautiful dawn -
You’re just blowing my mind again.
Thought I was born to endless night, until you shine.

Happy Valentine’s Day

10 Things You Should Never Say to a Guy

1. WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN? You’ll see him when you see him. If he wants to see you again, he’ll call. If not, next. You don’t have time for anyone that doesn’t have time for you.

2. WHY DIDN’T YOU CALL? There’s only one answer to this question: Because he didn’t want to!!! What you’re really asking is, “Why didn’t you want to call me?” Who knows!! There could be a lot of reasons, but you shouldn’t be sitting around wondering why. You should be out dating lots of different guys and not worrying about ONE guy. Don’t be so quick to put all your eggs into one basket, because if they break, it’s a big mess!

3. WHERE WERE YOU? If he wanted you to know where he was, he’d tell you. What you’re really asking is, “Where you with another female that you like better than me?” Your insecurity is showing, my dear. If anything, he should be wondering where you were.

4. I LOVE YOU (FIRST) – You’re saying it in the hopes that he’ll say it back, but what if he doesn’t? You’ll be devastated and probably feel foolish. Saying “I love you” is not going to speed things up if he’s not ready to say it back. So just cool it, and let him be the first to say it when he’s ready.

5. DID YOU SLEEP WITH HER? As long as he’s not sleeping with her now, who cares? The past is gone. Don’t torture yourself (and him) with these thoughts. In this case, ignorance really is bliss.

6. I’M PREGNANT. In 2005, with all the birth control choices available, there is no excuse for becoming pregnant, unless you want to be. You should be using something and he should use a condom, every time.

7. WHERE IS THIS GOING? Nowhere fast if that’s your attitude. Guys want someone fun and easy to be with, not someone that’s constantly worrying about the future. His actions or non-actions will tell you where it’s going. If it’s going somewhere, you’ll know it. If it’s not, you’ll know it too.

8. WE NEED TO TALK. This is the equivalent of, “Go to the principal’s office”. Guys know it’s not going to be a fun conversation, so they’re already on the defense. If you need to discuss something, just casually bring it up when the both of you are relaxed. Don’t try to talk to him when he’s tired, stressed or trying to watch tv!

9. I HATE YOU! Even if you do, it’s totally uncalled for and un-lady like. If there’s an issue, be mature enough to discuss it when you’re calm. If he’s breaking up with you, reacting with anger may make you feel better temporarily, but it’s best to remain calm and act unfazed. He’ll wonder why you’re so cool about it and that may make him re-think his decision. Always be pleasant during a break up. Do you want to be known as the girl that goes psycho if someone breaks up with her?? I didn’t think so.

10. I DON’T TRUST YOU. What you’re actually saying is, “You need to step up your game, because I can see you’re up to something.” If he is up to something, he’ll just become even sneakier. Better to think smart and act dumb-it’ll be easier to get the evidence you need to confirm your suspicions.

Lucia is a dating and relationship expert, author, lecturer and host of the TV Show “The Art of Love”.With over 20 years experience on the relationship market, Lucia has dated men of all nationalities in six cities, four countries and two continents. Her practical know-how makes her the perfect candidate to dispense relationship advice – after all, in almost every dating dilemma she has been there, done that and lived to tell about it.

For more articles or to ask Lucia a question, go to: http://www.theartoflove.net/

Highlands

Late to the Party

Well, better late than never. Discovered James Blunt and his album back to bedlam. In particular I’m haunted by his voice and lyrics on

You’re Beautiful

My life is brilliant.
My love is pure.
I saw an angel.
Of that I’m sure.
She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
But I won’t lose no sleep on that, ‘Cause I’ve got a plan.

You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful.
You’re beautiful, it’s true.
I saw you face in a crowded place,
And I don’t know what to do,
‘Cause I’ll never be with you.

Goodbye My Lover

And I still hold your hand in mine.
In mine when I’m asleep.
And I will bear my soul in time,
When I’m kneeling at your feet.
Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.

Cry

I have seen peace. I have seen pain,
Resting on the shoulders of your name.
Do you see the truth through all their lies?
Do you see the world through troubled eyes?
And if you want to talk about it anymore,
Lie here on the floor and cry on my shoulder,
I’m a friend.

Recommended. Buy this album.

Catching some Rays

Intrepid

Mission and Vision. Not the same. Of the two, I’ll take Vision every time. Vision is the gravational force that pulls us over, around and through the obstacles on our path. Vision takes us to the edge of our fears and then beyond them. Vision pulls us to explore the love in our heart that experience wants to protect from harm’s way.

Do I have the intrepid spirit to set sail to parts unknown? When I see the moon, I ask that question. Am I willing to go to the edge of my dreams, to edge of my fears. The clock is ticking. Am I sitting on the dock watching others pursue life with abandon or am I in one of the ships pulled toward greater love by my relentless, unstoppable vision to give more than I take.

Westerly Winds

Trace, sweetie, these are for you. Get well soon.

For Leigh: The First and the Last

Seven Things To Do Before I Die

1) Read 10% of the books I own
2) Ride a century on my Sachs
3) See C graduate from college
4) Take a yoga class
5) Attend a week long silent meditation retreat
6) Buy a house in the country with internet access
7) Brew the perfect cup of coffee

Seven Things I Cannot Do

1) Sing
2) Dance
3) Heights
4) Talk in the morning
5) Debt
6) Hit a baseball
7) Eat haggis

Seven Things That Attract Me to Europe

1) Cathedrals and Castles
2) Real beer
3) Scottish female accents
4) A decent curry
5) Museums
6) Le Tour
7) Leigh

Seven Things I Say

1) F*** me
2) It is what it is
3) One day at a time
4) This too shall pass
5) Sweet
6) Chop Wood, Carry Water
7) No sh**?

Seven Good Books

1) Wherever you go there you are
2) The miracle of mindfulness
3) Peace is every step
4) Full catastrophe living
5) It’s not about the bike
6) The power of now
7) Notes to myself

Seven Good Movies

1) Rashomon
2) Henry V
3) Kelly’s Heroes
4) Babettes Feast
5) Shoah
6) The Lion King
7) Patton

Dawn

Serenity Point

Have you got the balls?

Feeling Orange

Boolean Operations

Vue allows one to create an infinite number of objects using Boolean functions of difference, union, and intersection. In this image, I took a sphere and placed it inside a slightly larger square. The Boolean difference function removed the square from the circle. Of course, if I had centered the square within the circle that might have helped the composition. I’d like to think when this pod crashed into the sea, it cracked and twisted. That’s my story.

10pm

Secret Rendezvous

Vue 5 Easel

Got a new 3D program yesterday. I’ll be posting most of these images over at Trebuchet but with a little luck we’ll see some of these moving our story forward. Thanks to so many of you for reading the story and encouraging me to keep it going. I’ve got several ideas on what happens next with Kyra and Kieran. Now I just need to decided on which way to go.

Trebuchet

While my creative juices start to flow again, those wanting some back channel info on where the story may be going and images waiting in the wings, please visit Trebuchet. Images 42 through 50 all have additional info in the comments pertaining to the story. Enjoy. Next chapter coming soon.

I appreciate everyone’s patience. Last week was both very good and very exhausting. Another good nights sleep and I should be back to normal.

Imagine (Updated)

The world famous Time movie–Imagine –has been updated with new slides. Even if you’ve watched it 100 times like me, it’s like watching for the first time with the new images. Part of my presentation today will use this short slide show. Enjoy.

Access by Accident

I arrived at the resort. Asked about internet access. $12.50 a day. Not good because I’m tight and that is outrageous. Bellman took me to my room. A Ms Rachel George was in the room, no relation and not bad looking either. However, she wasn’t too excited to see me. So back to the front desk. I said if they would give me free internet for the week I would forget their little faux pas. And thus the first of three IFs were overcome.

A few days ago, at the request of some friends that wanted to see some of the images that I was creating but not posting with the story, I created Trebuchet as a place to post those images. No titles, no prose, just misc images. Many of the images are alt versions of ones from the story and a few may still appear in the story. A few of them hint at possible things to come.

Since I’m only posting images to that site, I should be able to update it each day for those that need a fractal fix. Time and energy permitting, this site might see an update, but these meetings tend to be all consuming so no promises.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to wish me well. Your thoughts and comments are very much appreciated.

If

Variation on my standard I’m leaving for Arizona image.

On my way to Tucson at dawn. If I have internet access and If I have time and If I have any energy left, then I will do my best to post next week. Otherwise, hang tight and I’ll see you guys next weekend. Wish me luck–it’s a big meeting.

Amanda Joins Andrax

Amanda, thanks so much for joining us in this fight against such a horrific disease. Every foot soldier in the battle helps. I think your Cancer Talk is fabulous and I look forward to visiting often. We have many wonderful mates on this team, many currently fighting the disease. Check my sidebar for the post on Starfish for just one example. Again, welcome to the team Amanda!

For the rest of our mates, more good news. New cancer data from Oxford has been loaded. We are making progress in this project and moving the ball forward. The new software will be loaded onto the new hardware soon. Exciting times for The Grid. Thanks again to all you dedicated crunchers. Kyra and Zeke and Ji would be very proud of your dedication to life, to compassion, to love.

For Deborah by request

Deborah, aka stargazer, requested to see some of the other versions of the image below. The image has been flipped and zoomed. Image two and three has had a couple different painterly effects applied. I call these my “Forest in the Night” pics.

Tumbling into the New Year

Today was a bit too chaotic to move the story forward but this does give me a chance to post another pretty pic that was probably never going to make it otherwise. Enjoy the eye candy. Story returns tomorrow–he says with fingers crossed.

Happy New Year

Greetings from Kyra, Zeke, Ji and all the rest. Wishing all much Peace and Joy in the year to come.

AudioBlogger

Muse has suggested I post audio readings of the postings to go with the text and images. If you have an opinion, now is the time to share.

Here’s another thought. Should I read the post, simply add commentary on the image and prose, or both? Neither is also an option–lol.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

Much pleasure doth thou bring me!

Donuts

How do you see? With your eyes. Perhaps your mind does the seeing or at times maybe your heart. Do you know who processes your data before you call it your own.

I sit down to breakfast and open my box of donuts. Before me in a single carton are four white powdered donuts, four chocolate covered and four plain cake-like ones. The morning is still, quiet with suspense as the opening prologue of cardinal chatter dancing within my ears reminds me I’m not alone.

I look at my donuts. No arguments, no fights, no yelling about who is the better donut or why this group is in front of that group. No posturing of the powdered group to be picked ahead of the plain group. Just donuts. Even breakfast greets me with wisdom for the day. I marvel at the blessed teachers in my life. Today, I shall live like my donuts. In peace and harmony with all around me and a love that remembers the bond between us all.

Gargoyles

Paris, 1989. Memories of Notre Dame

Sailing over the Sea

Twirling high above the atmosphere, of the world but not in the world, we dance free from the gravity of cares.

Red Carpet

Limitless (Part 2)

Sending all my love to you. Did you get it?

Limitless

My arms fold into you with a care and strength unknown to any other. I glance into your eyes and marvel at the curve of your cheeks illuminated by a million stars on this moonless night with the soft reddish cast from our gently ringing red bells. The river appears on fire with thousands of multi-colored flower candles drifting down the river with nary a bob, such is the quiet of the night, the smoothness of the glass-like river surface.

From the banks, a thousand eyes watch for the first kiss, a kiss between lovers from a distant land and another time. The warmth and softness of the embrace meld the beat of my heart into yours, and for a moment, there is just this, there is just now, there is just us.

My love knows no bounds, no limits. Try as I might what is mine is yours and what is yours is mine, where before there were two, now stands one. Through the tremble of my lips, my love overflows beyond any power I have to contain it and I feel a lightness to the night that defies description. I’m in love and my heart overfloweth into the soul of my lover. As the candles flow down the river, we flow together in timeless enchantment fueled by hearts that know no bounds.

Bells Rouges

On either side of our foot bridge the most luminescent red bells light our way and gently sing to the beat of our hearts as the cascade of color parades below us on the mirror like river flowing below. Your eyes glisten with a kaleidoscope of colors that accent the warm glow of your cheeks. There is nowhere else I would rather be than in your arms, two as one.

Come with Me

Come with me back in time to a place far away. Just the two of us, walking along the banks of a slow moving river in feudal Japan. Across the river is a small arch-shaped foot bridge reserved just for us. From up-stream, the local villagers are releasing the most colorful and beautiful flower candles, by the hundreds, as an honor to our visit. Set aside your worries and come walk with me. May the dance of light before our eyes delight us with the magic of young hearts in love.

Pennies from Heaven; Pennies in Chocolate

Pennies from heaven or pennies in chocolate. Either way, I’m not complaining. As you can see, my mind has already turned to food on Thanksgiving eve.

Special thanks tonight to so many of you who have lifted my spirits day after day with the wonderful comments you all have left for me here. I can’t find the words to say how deeply they are appreciated. Each day I am reminded of the power of a kind word. And I am eternally grateful to all of you, my friends.

Dandelion Wishes

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.

The Enemy Within

I have seen the enemy. Just needed to look in the mirror of my mind. I think we’re going to be friends.

Arizona

Memories of Sedona

Zippers

A thousand zippers closed as tight as a croc’s jaws. Protecting who against what I cannot answer. Unzip your mind, unzip your heart, and come make yourself at home. Love abides.

News Bulletin for Andraxians

UD – Robby Brewer
UD Employee

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 5:13 pm
Post subject: Grid.org scheduled outage
Dear Members,

This is a reminder that Grid.org will be physically moving to a new facility this weekend. This will provide better reliability and is part of the Grid.org migration. Grid.org must be completely powered down in order to move. This will include the forum, member web, and the grid itself.

Since this is not a trivial outage, we cannot give an exact time that Grid.org will be down. The outage will take as long as it takes and it may be a day or two before everything is back online.
_________________
Robby Brewer
Senior Support Engineer
United Devices

Temple of Doom

Nothing quite like a few ghost stories between father and son on a dark and cold windy night.

Father and Son

Christopher is with me this weekend.

Mountains

Do the trees on the side of this mountain look at each other and say, “We are on a mountain and as such our fate is much greater than our brethren in the valley. We face the wind and the cold in ways they will never know. Woe be us.” Or do they simply rejoice in being a bit closer to the sun, a bit closer to the heavens. I’d like to think they do neither, but rather express themselves fully as trees without the layers of this or that.

Star of Earl

As the sun set on the day, a star rose in the darkness of night and I felt a warmth on the back of my neck. Message received, job done. Permission to move on granted.

Check-Six

17 November 2004

One year ago today, at 4:04am my dad lost his fight with cancer. The fractal above is my tribute to and remembrance of my father. My dad was a marine, which explains why I choose a military theme. In the fighter pilot lexicon to “check-six” is to look behind for approaching bogeys. In this image the pilot has no chance against the two enemy fighters on his tail. I yelled check-six to my father many times. He never heard until it was too late. Dad, if you are reading this, I love you.

Don’t Know

This image touches something very deep inside of me tonight. I cannot put my finger on exactly how to describe the emotion. I see the laughing faces as knowing something about life and death I don’t. Their laugh is both knowing and mocking at the same time. Absurdity is the only word that comes to mind but even it falls short of describing the depth and breath of the feeling.

Small Towns (update)

We got the vet bill today for Mario’s last three weeks. His twice a day visits amounted to $2097. Our vet discounted $1200 off that price, so we owe $897. I have to believe this was his cost. Where else does this happen. Small towns.

Love and Innocence

Red petals crying in the rain.

No Guarantees

No promises there will be a tomorrow. Tell someone you love them–today.

Delicious Delight

Hope you are having a delicious day of delight and wonder at the colors and textures dancing before your mind’s eye in a kaleidoscope of orgasmic revelation.

Peace. Love. Joy. Compassion.

Relief

Sat still and released the hounds. Thoughts left and right sprang in every direction in an endless parade of “look at me.” I watched as they begged for my attention, each jockeying for front and center position. Then I thought, WWGD. And I knew the answer, “Just keep lovin’.”

King Kitty

Official portrait of the cat from across the street that tortures my four yorkies every day. Telephoto close-up has been requested for identification purposes (below).

Cherry

Ice Cube

I’d like to think when I touch the sky I touch the heavens and the heavens touches me back. They say we are made of the same material as the stars. Carbon, hydrogen, water and such. In my ice cube is the cosmos and in the cosmos is my ice.

This I believe. Touch me, touch the world, touch the universe, touch the beginning of time, for when can you divide me from the beginning. When. At what point. Touch me, touch time, touch all eternity. Love, hugs and kisses my friends.

Tears

Dry your tears, you are beautiful in my eyes.

Darts

Standing at the line, dart in hand, eyes firmly focused ahead, my mind melds one into the other and there is no room for anything other than the precious present of now. My bag of rocks, one labeled past and the other labeled future have been left outside the door. I’ll pick them back up when the game is over, but for now, it’s just me, the darts and the board. Where one ends and the other begins I couldn’t tell you and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Let’s play.

Right View

For those on the space roller coaster, look right. I’ve once again enter the land of “no words.” As your guide on this ride, I’ll just keep my mouth shut and let you enjoy the view, as is.

Going Up

If going up and going down are just the same two impostors parading as reality, a facade of concepts, images, memories, constructs, paradigms standing between us and “is” then why not choose going up. Anyone up for a ride on a space roller coaster? Morning Peeps {waves from “Here”}

Marriage

I’m painting today so I want an image with lots of color, perhaps even something outdoors. Since we often have hot air balloons pass over our house and they are very colorful, I thought I would do one for today.

I’ve got the image about right and I call my lovely bride in to get her opinion. I ask, “Hon, what does this look like to you?” Of course, I fully expect her to say hot air balloon. She looks for a sec, and without doubt says, “It’s Ringo Starr!” I’ve just told you everything you need to know about my marriage–lol.

Resistance is Futile

While our heels dig deeper into the past, the future plays tug-o-war tearing the present apart. Just be.

Yellow

If there’s light at the end of the tunnel it must be Friday.

Aggie

And we danced all night to a soul fairy band
And she kissed me just right like only a lonely angel can
She felt so nice, just as soft as a spirit in the night

Manfred Mann

Campfire

There’s going to be a chill in the air tonight so I’ve started a campfire. Come join me, relax, and get warm. The day is over and this night has never been here before. You don’t want to miss it since it’s a one-time only engagement.

Électrique

The spark of chemistry between a man and a woman, that first sense, beyond all logic and reason, that lights every impulse on fire with passion and desire for another. How can words describe such a thing.

Just You

Thanks for being you. No one else does it quite the same way.

Diamonds and Lakes

Give me a handful of loving and compassionate friends and you can have all the diamonds in the world. As I think back on my life and I reflect on the times I was neither loving nor compassionate, there is not a single episode I wouldn’t reverse if I could. Not one.

May my heart be like a lake that remains pure when even handfuls of salt are tossed in it and not like a glass of water that becomes poisoned with the slightest of impurities.

Serenity

Swimming with the fishes and sea turtles deep below the surface I find a joy and peace undisturbed by the constantly changing weather above the choppy sea. Come swim with me in the sea of equanimity.

Javajazz

Portrait of Lisa, aka Javajazz.

The image incorporates both warm and cool colors to reflect the diversity and breath of her radiant personality. The central image captures her wonderful talent and love for music, more specifically a wind instrument as it might be improvising in a jazz club, moving in many directions but always with a central core of harmony and grace and wit. The image glows with a love of life, much as Lisa’s comments show a vitality that never takes itself too seriously, yet has deep passion for issues that matter. Parts of the image show intricate organized detail while other parts show a carefree, we don’t need no stinkin’ rules element. All in all, when I see this image, I see that wonderfully bright soul who goes by the name of Lisa.

This and That

Where does this end and that begin. There are moments and there is flow. Where is now and where is past and where is future. I don’t know. I see, I label, I put in neat little boxes. This here, that there. I’m happy. There is order, in my mind. Yet, the nagging feeling persists. Where exactly does the Mississippi river become the Gulf of Mexico. Can you show me. Exactly where.

Each step of the staircase is a moment, yet each moment only exist in relation to the one before. When does that moment become this moment. Can you show me. Exactly. Yet, there is this, and there is that. I take one step, but yet one step implies one before it and one before that and so on. Where does the on begin or where does my “on” begin. For that matter where does it stop. Can you show me.

I don’t know so don’t ask me. I’m here but just a minute ago I was there. There is change and there is flow and everything else is standing in the river against the current. I’m getting weak resisting the flow. I think I’ll just dissolve into now.

Trace Joins Andrax as mate #118

Trace, aka mergrl, has joined our fight against cancer as our latest mate. Welcome aboard my dear friend, we are so happy to have you onboard in the search for a cure against such a terrible disease(s).

Trace, after serving for 10 years as an RN is back in grad school studying to teach high school science. From Team Andrax, (I know, you already have one of these), please accept this apple as a small token of our appreciation in joining our team. May it bring you good luck and many happy moments educating the future scientists of our great country. You’re going to make a great teacher.

Love Endures

1000 years from now archeologists in search of ancient fossils captured in amber will make a startling discovery they can’t explain. In their hands, a rather large hunk of amber, warm to the touch and rare beyond rare. My love, still intact, encased in the beauty of amber, never seen before, never to be discovered again. Nitey Nite my sweet ones.

Reflections in my Mind

As I glance into the memories of my mind, I see reflections rippling out in all directions. Some positive and good, some I’d rather hide from even my confessors. Yet, all have an elusive nature, no matter how hard I try, each memory evades my grasp as water does my clinched fist.

As I turn my mind left and then right, like the ripples in a reflecting pool, the view changes, the memory morphs, changes, unveils a new, recreated interpretation. I look closer and all I see is movement. Constant movement, nothing standing still.

Then, I hear a car blow it’s horn. The light has turned green and I’m blocking traffic. How long have I been lost in thought? Don’t know. Been driving at least 30 minutes, yet I have no conscious memory of the drive. Nothing. I remember getting in my car, leaving my house, but the rest of time has existed only in my head.

I wonder–how much of my life did I miss lost in my head chasing ephemeral charges of electricty and chemical reactions, believing they were real, that this was the matter of life. I had an appointment with life at the crossroads of here and now and I failed to show. Life happened and I was staring off into lala land watching the ripples in my mind fade into stillness.

Old Man Winter

After the recent warm front, I paid a little visit to this guy. He assures me Winter is on the way. Hang tight everyone, the man has spoken.

Flower Insights

There is a story about a flower which is well known in the Zen circles. One day the Buddha held up a flower in front of an audience of 1250 monks and nuns. He did not say anything for quite a long time. The audience was perfectly silent. Everyone seemed to be thinking hard, trying to see the meaning behind the Buddha’s gesture. Then, suddenly, the Buddha smiled. He smiled because someone in the audience smiled at him and at the flower. The name of the at monk was Mahakashyapa. He was the only person who smiled, and the Buddha smiled back and said, ” I have a treasure of insight, and I have transmitted it to Mahakashyapa.” The story has been discussed by many generations of Zen students, and people continue to look for its meaning. To me the meaning is quite simple. When someone holds up a flower and shows it to you. He want you to see it. If you keep thinking, you miss the follower. The person who was not thinking, who was just himself, was able to encounter the flower in depth, and he smiled.

That is the problem of life. If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything. When a child presents himself to you with his smile, if you are not really there thinking about the future or the past, or preoccupied with other problems then the child is not really there for you. The technique of being alive is to go back to yourself in order for the child to appear like a marvelous reality. Then you can see him smile and you can embrace him in your arms.

I would like to share a poem with you, written by a friend of mine who died at the age of twenty-eight in Saigon, about thirty years ago. After he died, people found many beautiful poems he had written, and I was startled when I read this poem. It has just a few short lines, but it is very beautiful:

Standing quietly by the fence,
You smile your wondrous smile.
I am speechless, and my senses are filled
By the sounds of your beautiful song,
Beginingless and endless.
I bow deeply to you

“You” refers to a flower, a dahlia. That morning as he passed by a fence, he saw that little flower very deeply and, struck by the sight of it, he stopped and wrote that poem.

I enjoy this poem very much. You might think that the poet was a mystic, because his way of looking and seeing things is very deep. But he was just an ordinary person like any one of us. I don’t know how or why he was able to look and see like that, but it is exactly the way we practice mindfulness. We try to be in touch with life and look deeply as we drink our tea, walk, sit down, or arrange flowers. The secret of the success is that you are really yourself, and when you are really yourself, you can encounter life in the present moment.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Dance with Me

Dance with Me was inspired by Liz and her post today on her first dancing shoes. If you are not reading her daily postings, you’re missing out on some of the best writing in the blogosphere. The more I tried to take just a quote, the more I realized the essense of the story was lost without the whole. So without further ado, here is Liz.

My First Dancing Shoes

Every Saturday since I was three, I spent at dance class. Our dance instructor was from Russia. Her name was music—Rosalind. She loved the dance, Miss Rosalind. Because of her, I love it too.

Each class was held in formal fashion. Miss Rosalind taught a silent group—black leotards and white ballet shoes. Miss Wright, her pianist would play, but never said a word. Parents could come in and sit, provided they were well behaved.

Every plié was made and held until Miss Rosalind had checked it. Every arm was adjusted until its placement was perfect.

“Lead with the wrist. Point your toes. Concentrate.” These were words she often said. She said them even more when the year came that our class was ready to go on pointe. That year we’d earn our toe shoes—real ballerina shoes.

“You will not buy them,” Miss Rosalind mandated, “until you have permission.” That year our class of girls learned what it meant to earn something. Week after week we’d do our workout at the barré, then on the floor. Then at the end of class, one maybe two would be told “Tell your mother she may buy your shoes, but to bring them here.” No purchase was final until Miss Rosalind checked the fit.

The process made the rest of us work even harder every week. There seemed to be no logic to which girl she would choose next. We watched. We wondered and we saw. It wasn’t necessarily the best, the brightest, or the one who worked the hardest. She may have chosen randomly to totally confuse us.

When my day came. “Tell your mother,” is all she said.

That was my first experience with bliss. I wondered why people on the street couldn’t see this change in me. I would now be the owner of real ballerina shoes.

My mother took me to the store where they sold the precious shoes. The salesman, as he fitted me, asked what color we thought we wanted. I told him pink.

“Oh you’re one of Rosalind’s students,” he quickly said “She’s the best. You worked hard for these I’d bet.”

“Yes, sir, I did.” was all I said. That night I asked if I could sleep with them.

Before the next class, Miss Rosalind made sure the shoes fit properly. Then I got to dance at last in my own ballerina shoes. It wasn’t as easy as it looked. No one had warned me that they would hurt or that they take some practice.

I’d worked so hard to earn my first pair of real dancing shoes.

I’d have to work even harder just to use them.

—me strauss Letting me be

Blue Man: aka Karol Wojtyla posing as Jack Bennett

An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for an excuse is a lie guarded.

John Paul II

Nicht eine Welle

“I heard a nice little story the other day,” Morrie says. He closes his eyes for a moment and I wait.

“Okay. The story is about a little wave, bobbing along in the ocean, having a grand old time. He’s enjoying the wind and the fresh air—until he notices the other waves in front of him, crashing against the shore.

“’My God, this is terrible,’ the wave says ‘Look what’s going to happen to me!”

“Then along comes another wave. It sees the first wave, looking grim, and it says to him, ‘Why do you look so sad?’

“The first wave says, ‘You don’t understand! We’re all going to crash! All of us waves are going to be nothing! Isn’t it terrible?’

“The second wave says, ‘No, you don’t understand. You’re not a wave, you’re part of the ocean.’”

I smile. Morrie closes his eyes again.

“Part of the ocean,” he says. “part of the ocean.” I watch him breathe, in and out, in and out.

Excerpt from tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom (pp. 179-180)

Chalice di pietà: Bevanda In profondità

I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it.

Thomas Aquinas

Merlin

You’re not listening… well, your heart is not.

Merlin in Excalibur

Felino

Women and cats do as they dammed well please, and men and dogs had best learn to live with it.

Anon

Η σπηλιά

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

Plato

Девушка Общества

Desires achieved increase thirst like salt water.

Milarepa

Voyage de Découverte

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes but in having new eyes.

Marcell Proust

Fallin’ To Pieces

On your lonely, lonely nights
Pray you sleep tonight
Pray just a little
When every little thing
Starts fallin’ to pieces

Rob Thomas

For Leigh: Coeur Cassé

The only man worth your tears won’t make you cry.

Anon

Lost in Love

Two souls and one thought, two hearts and one pulse.

Halen

The Gift

Remember, you can listen a person’s soul into existence.

Sign over a campus crisis hotline

Several years ago I created a Listening Workshop. Although the workshop is a full-day event, I always start with two questions that take around thirty minutes to facilitate. After those first thirty minutes I always feel like I could stop at that point and the workshop has been a success.

Question one: Describe how you feel whenever someone really does not listen to you.

Question two: Describe how you feel whenever someone really does listen to you.

I give everyone as much time as they need to write down as many adjectives as they can to answer the two questions. I then go around the room and write all the “not listen” adjectives on a flip chart in red ink. I do the same for the “do listen” adjectives in green ink.

Both list usually contain between 30 and 50 adjectives. Then I hold up both list before the group and I tell them that in every listening situation, we are either giving the red list or the green list–to one degree or another–every time, everyday.

Then, I slowly read the words from the green list. I take my time. When I finish I ask the group, “If I told you, you could make someone feel this way, to give them this gift, touch them in this way, and that it would not cost you a single penny, would you do it?”

Listening, not hearing, but deep, true, sincere, non-judgmental, heartfelt listening is a gift of untold treasure.

Now that I have their attention, the real work of the workshop can begin.

Begeisterung: Fire in the Belly

Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn.

John Wesley
__________

Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

Samuel Ullman

The Four Headless Falconers

After heavy voting and nail biting suspense we have our Halloween winner: Headless, and a few of his friends.

Hollyween Eve Cornucopia

Holly requested a Halloween fractal but instead of creating just one, we’ve got eight new ones and one golden oldie. Please take time to vote for the one you would like to see as tomorrow’s Halloween winner. (Click the image to see a larger version)

Moving from left to right and top to bottom:

(1) Cateye (1)
(2) E.T. (2)
(3) Headless (8)
(4) Faces (1)
(5) Spiders
(6) Mask
(7) Feeding Frenzy (4)
(8) Eyes (2)
(9) Cobwebs (3)
(10) Write in vote by Lisa for Hairdressers (1)

Reflections in Honey

“”Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best — ” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called”

Winnie the Pooh

Yoda: The Early Years

Do or do not… there is no try.

Yoda

Momentum: La Nouvelle Vie

I don’t remember ever feeling the way I have the last couple of days. . . . I feel more alive than I have in years, perhaps ever. In fact, I’m sure, ever. Everything is going to be okay.

Autumn Storm

Apophysis: Cento Cuori

A hundred hearts would be too few
To carry all my love for you.

Author Unknown

Apophysis: For Aggie (Yin-Yang)

Transformation contains both change and stability, plurality and unity, movement and constancy. It has the nature of life, namely, to connect organically the polar opposites, the stumbling blocks of logic, and to unite them in an all embracing rhythm.

Lama Govinda

Apophysis: Ring of Fire

Love is a burning thing
and it makes a firery ring
bound by wild desire
I fell in to a ring of fire…

Johnny Cash

FNF: Plaid

Specialization is for Insects

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

Robert A. Heinlein

Apophysis: Just the Facts Ma’am

In the spider-web of facts, many a truth is strangled.

Paul Eldridge

Apophysis: The Road Not Taken

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Aggie, Welcome to the Team

Agnes joins Team Andrax as mate #117. Welcome aboard my dear friend. I have always felt you were as much a part of our team as anyone else before, for you have given as much support to others as anyone else. My heart is very heavy for you at this time and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your father. Welcome to the team and welcome to the fight against this horrible disease.

Apophysis: Intimité

May she be granted beauty and yet not
Beauty to make a stranger’s eye distraught,
Or hers before a looking-glass, for such,
Being made beautiful overmuch,
Consider beauty a sufficient end,
Lose natural kindness and maybe
The heart-revealing intimacy
That chooses right, and never find a friend.

William Butler Yeats

Apophysis: Mario Returns

Well, this work was commissioned by me for me. The angel of Mario, wings and all, has returned to protect our house from squirrels and wayward UPS men alike. Whenever Mario wanted to protect something in front of him, his legs would bow out just as you see them above. Nice to have the little guy back, if only in his angelic spirit. Peace.

Apophysis: The Song

Liz (ME Strauss) suggested I could use some of her poetry to inspire a fractal or two; a joint effort if you will. I can’t claim to have lived up to my end of the bargain, but the poem alone is magnificent. Liz, thanks for giving me this opportunity to work with you. Peace.

The Song

From the silence came the indigo melody
deep vibrations of abounding love
running like the water of life
standing in stillness
like the ocean of a soul.

Lilting almost imperceptibly
the blue and turquoise harmony
echoes of a kiss blown on the wind
flickering like hope unfounded
like the dreams dancing on a heart.

A hint, a promise of gold in a chord
and kiss of yellow barely heard.

From the dreams came emerald answering indigo
love and romance in pas de deux
soaring like feelings on wings
blending, being their melodies
like notes that hang and hide in the air.

After a time indigo was winding under emerald
a stronger driving beat, demanding
turquoise snapping up and down with the blue.
emerald jamming in a new direction,
making all the colors move .
All following a new colorful thing calling,
calling, answering, giving, taking
solo, duo, jamming, meshing,
moving, dancing, always true to the color
and to the beat of the drummer.

Notes hung in the air again.
Feelings roared instead of soared
Love and romance became games of chance
Indigo answered emerald back
The pas de deux became the dying swan
and then dream and the drummer were gone.

The ocean of the soul stood frozen still
like winter in the river of life.
Deep sounds of abounding love lost
shot through the melody, absent of all harmony,
indigo tears that washed the song into silence.

There were no oranges and reds.
This song was rhythm and blues.

08/09/05

M. Elizabeth Strauss

Apophysis: Vision D’Âme

Those things that nature denied to human sight, she revealed to the eyes of the soul.

Ovid

Apophysis: Mystère de l’esprit

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.

Albert Einstein

Apophysis: Joyeux Noël, Chéri

Blame Holly for this premature xmas posting. Expect a return engagement in a couple months.

Greeting cards have all been sent
The Christmas rush is through
But I still have one wish to make
A special one for you

Merry Christmas darling
We’re apart that’s true
But I can dream and in my dreams
I’m Christmas-ing with you

Holidays are joyful
There’s always something new
But every day’s a holiday
When I’m near to you
The lights on my tree
I wish you could see
I wish it every day
Logs on the fire
Fill me with desire
To see you and to say

That I wish you Merry Christmas
Happy New Year, too
I’ve just one wish
On this Christmas Eve
I wish I were with you

Logs on the fire
Fill me with desire
To see you and to say
That I wish you Merry Christmas
Happy New Year, too
I’ve just one wish
On this Christmas Eve
I wish I were with you
I wish I were with you

(Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas – Darling)

Carpenters

Apophysis: Martini Dreams

“Let me fix you a Martini that’s pure magic. It may not make life’s problems disappear, but it’ll certainly reduce their size.”

Some Came Running, 1959
Frank Sinatra/Dean Martin

__________

“Happiness is a dry martini and a good woman… Or a bad woman.”

George Burns

__________

“I love to drink Martinis
Two at the very most
Three I’m under the table
Four I’m under the host”

Dorothy Parker

__________

“Sir, if you were my husband, I would poison your drink.”

Lady Astor to Winston Churchill

“Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it.”

His reply

Apophysis: Dawn

Only that day dawns to which we are awake.

Henry David Thoreau

SNF: Red Wine

Apophysis: You Turn Me Inside Out

Love is the best medicine, and there is more than enough to go around once you open your heart.

Julie Marie

Apophysis: Unrequited Love

He said “I’ll love you till I die”,
She told him “You’ll forget in time”
As the years went slowly by,
She still preyed upon his mind

He kept her picture on his wall,
Went half-crazy now and then
He still loved her through it all,
Hoping she’d come back again

Kept some letters by his bed
Dated nineteen sixty-two
He had underlined in red
Every single “I love you”

I went to see him just today,
Oh but I didn’t see no tears
All dressed up to go away,
First time I’d seen him smile in years

He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they’ll carry him away
He stopped loving her today

You know, she came to see him one last time.
Oh, and’ we all wondered if she would.
And it kept running’ through my mind-
“This time he’s over her for good.”

George Jones

Apophysis: Bohémien Dansant

O let us live in joy, although having nothing! In joy let us live like spirits of light!

Buddha

Apophysis: 自殺

If you keep thinking “That man has abused me,” holding it as a much-cherished grievance, your anger will never be allayed. If you can put down that fury-inducing thought, your anger will lessen. Fury will never end fury, it will just ricochet on and on. Only putting it down will end such an abysmal state.

Sunnata Vagga

_________________________

Liz, the photo below I took last fall to capture some of the local color here in Tennessee. I manipulated the image to look like a Japanese woodblock work. I actually have a 8.5 x 11″ framed image of this one in my office, which I keep right next to my calendar. I just love the effect.

Apophysis: Mal de tête

The world is apprehended by way of the mind
The world is acted upon by way of the mind
And all good things and bad
Exist in the world by way of the mind.

Samyutta Nikaya

Apophysis: Premature

Everything is as it is. It has no name other than the name we give it. It is we who call it something; we give it a value. We say this thing is good or it’s bad, but in itself, the thing is only as it is. It’s not absolute; it’s just as it is. People are just as they are.

Ajahn Sumedho

Apophysis: Intruder

If we divide into two camps–even into violent and the nonviolent–and stand in one camp while attacking the other, the world will never have peace. We will always blame and condemn those we feel are responsible for wars and social injustice, without recognizing the degree of violence within ourselves. We must work on ourselves and also with those we condemn if we want to have a real impact.

Ayya Khema

Chaoscope: Menagerie

Been One of Those Days :-)

Apophysis: Where the Wild Things Are

Apophysis: Shocked

Apophysis: Purple Iris

Apophysis: Angels

Small Towns

In the last three weeks of Mario’s life we took him in to the vet twice a day, morning and evening, everyday. As soon as we walked in, the endearing call of Mario’s name was lovingly uttered from behind the desk and the staff ushered us to the back for Mario’s fluids and shots. We joked that for Mario, walking into the vet’s office was like walking into Cheers–Where everyone knows your name.

For three weeks we were given first-class service and red carpet treatment for our terminal little friend. Dr. Gibbs gave us her home phone number and told us she was availible 24/7 if Mario needed her. In the end, she was true to her word as she crawled out of bed and met us in the early morning hours on 10 minutes notice.

The day after we had to say goodbye to Mario, we sent the office a beautiful bouquet of flowers as a very small token of appreciation for service and love beyond the call of duty.

Yesterday around five o’clock I received a call from Dr. Gibbs. She was delighted we were home and, without asking, said her and the wife of the other vet in the office were going to drop by in five minutes. Besides the most furious house cleaning one has ever seen in five minutes the purpose of the visit was a mystery. Perhaps they had discovered something more on why Mario became ill, maybe they wanted to break the news lightly on what three weeks of twice a day service was really going to cost. Didn’t know, but they were on the way.

Dr. Gibbs and Ms Woody showed up bearing gifts. They presented us with a wonderful card signed by everyone in the office and the comments were lengthily and heartfelt. They also presented us with a gift, a small yorkie figurine that was not inexpensive. We invited them in–for just a minute they said–and about forty minutes later conversation and stories were still being told in our living room.

The whole time this is happening my mind is in a blur. Even though I was witnessing a house call by my vet to offer consolation, not to mention bearing gifts, I just couldn’t believe such behavior could or would happen in this day and age. Yet, before me, I felt as if the clock had been turned back and we were living in an age long passed, an age where neighbor’s stood together and in times of grief or tragedy, came together as a family.

Franklin, although not the small town it was just ten years ago, still has that wonderful small town atmosphere and still has those wonderful souls that renew one’s faith in mankind.

Dr. Woody, Dr. Gibbs and Ms Woody, I cannot find the words to say how much that simple visit meant to our family. Never in a million years would I have ever expected such a magnificent show of compassion. Thank You.

Apophysis: Seduction

FNF: Half Out

Equal Time: By request for “J”

Apophysis: Epaulets

Apophysis: Amelioration

Chaoscope: Love in the Air

Mario: "Last Days"

25 July 1997 – 12 October 2005

Chaoscope: Sweet Release

Breakfast at Autumn’s

Name Change

Time for a new name for the blog. “Moonlight” is an interim name until such time as I can decide on a proper designation. I’m open to any and all recommendations. I’m setting myself up for this one.

Apophysis: Deus Ex Machina

Apophysis: Monk in Red Robes

Tracy Chapman: Change

If you knew that you would die today,
Saw the face of god and love,
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you knew that love can break your heart
When you’re down so low you cannot fall
Would you change?
Would you change?

How bad, how good does it need to get?
How many losses? How much regret?
What chain reaction would cause an effect?
Makes you turn around,
Makes you try to explain,
Makes you forgive and forget,
Makes you change?
Makes you change?

If you knew that you would be alone,
Knowing right, being wrong,
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you knew that you would find a truth
That brings up pain that can’t be soothed
Would you change?
Would you change?

How bad, how good does it need to get?
How many losses? How much regret?
What chain reaction would cause an effect?
Makes you turn around,
Makes you try to explain,
Makes you forgive and forget,
Makes you change?
Makes you change?

Are you so upright you can’t be bent?
If it comes to blows are you so sure you won’t be crawling?
If not for the good, why risk falling?
Why risk falling?

If everything you think you know,
Makes your life unbearable,
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you’d broken every rule and vow,
And hard times come to bring you down,
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you knew that you would die today,
If you saw the face of God and love,
Would you change?
Would you change?
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you saw the face of God and love
If you saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Would you change?

Autumn: Anyone up for a walk . . .

Only a mother . . .

. . . could love these dudes. Baby pandas left and baby porcupines below.

FNF: East and West

Just couldn’t make up my mind tonight. Sometimes when it rains it pours.

Morning Peeps

Holiday Gift Ideas for Linny

Hey Linny, thought you might appreciate a few gift ideas for some of your “friends” as we approach the holiday season. I think I can get you some of this cheap, since I’m ordering in bulk for myself. Place your order quick, cause I need mine soon.

Thoughts and Prayers

Keven Kraft’s father is having surgery tomorrow to removed part of his lung, which is showing cancer. Please keep Keven and his father in your thoughts and prayers. Kevin is one of our Andraxian teammates and hails from the Chicago area. Thinking about you Kevin. Godspeed.

Warning To All Men: Thanks Junny

Police are warning all men who frequent clubs, parties and local pubs to be alert and stay cautious when offered a drink from any woman.

Many females use a date rape drug on the market called “Beer”. The drug is found in liquid form and available anywhere. It comes in bottles, cans, from taps and in large “kegs”.

“Beer” is used by female sexual predators at parties and bars to persuade their male victims to go home and have sex with them.

A woman needs only to get a guy to consume a few units of “Beer” and then simply ask him home for no strings attached sex.

Men are rendered helpless against this approach. After several “Beers”, men will often succumb to the desires to perform sexual acts on women whom they would never normally be attracted.

After drinking “Beer”, men often awaken with only hazy memories of exactly what happened to them the night before, often with just a vague feeling that “something bad” occurred.

At other times, these unfortunate men are swindled out of their life’s savings, in a familiar scam known as “a relationship.” In extreme cases, the female may even be shrewd enough to entrap the unsuspecting male into a longer-term form of servitude and punishment referred to as “marriage”.

Men are much more susceptible to this scam after “Beer” is administered and sex is offered by the predatory females.

Please forward this warning to every male you know. If you fall victim to this “Beer” and the women administering it, there are male support groups where you can discuss the details of your shocking encounter with similarly affected like-minded guys. For the support group nearest you, just look up “Golf Courses” in the phone book.

Apophysis

Oliviah, challenged her readers to attempt some fractal work. Above, I present my first four attempts.

MNF: Maggie Cheung

Pounce Away

Cowboys and Indians

Agnes, does it look anything like this?

Well, I think I like your’s better. Make sure to wear those boots tonight. Oh, and I found my tattoo kit, so no backing out on me now missy. Only thing I want to hear from you is “left” or “right.”

Let’s go play

As soon as I saw this picture I immediately wanted to be those kids. Such simple innocence where “let’s go play” is your most often uttered phrase. The only time that matters is now and dinner might as well be next year. Death is something you see in movies and everybody loves to see you and has nothing but your best interest at heart. The sun feels warm, the breeze is crisp and there is pure joy in just running around the windmills on a gorgeous day. You don’t own anything of real material value, but who cares. The sun, wind, rain and sky are yours whenever you want. How much more rich could you be. Anyone want to play?

_________________________

Agnes, is this what you meant about jumping on our bikes and meeting at the creek? Don’t answer that, I’m on my way

A, I understand we can rent bikes in your part of the world so don’t worry if you don’t have one. I can give you some hands on training if you haven’t rode in awhile.

FNF: Shoes

This addition of the FNF is a bit different from normal in that the picture tonight is from and of one of the readers of this blog. I’ll leave it to the lady in question if she wants to reveal herself, no pun intended, in the comments below. Otherwise, all hail our first “Ladies of the Blogosphere” FNF.

116-337-42

PaPong joins Andrax as mate #116.

Out of 42,913 teams from around the world, Team Andrax now ranks #337 in total production with more than 9 million points. Not bad for a team less than ten months old.

Our team has turned in 30,129 results with more than 42 years of total cpu time volunteered in the fight against cancer.

Kudos all around to such dedicated crunchers. Anyone with a computer and internet connection is welcome to join us in the search for a cure. See my sidebar for additional information or email me if you have specific questions.

A few random kudos:

Karen 24,029
Catherine 23,309
Autumn 13,826
Christa 10,981
Melly 3,732

Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. Colin Po…

Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

Colin Powell

Mario

We got the call Sunday morning from our Vet. Mario has cancer of the stomach–terminal, as in hours or days. He is lying beside me as I work. Tears in his eyes and tears in mine. I’ll write more when I can.

Ain’t no angel gonna greet me
It’s just you and I my friend

_______________________________

Thanks to everyone for so many kind and thoughtful comments regarding Mario. The little bugger is hanging tough. His spirits are so much better since we brought him home on Sunday and although he only has a few days remaining, there is still a wonderful light in his eye and he still manages to show his belly and lift his leg, which is his sign that he wants you to rub his belly.

As many of you know, we have five yorkies. Mario was the first and the father to two of the others. He is only eight years old and by far has the most loving personality. He is getting the best care possible. Each morning we take him to the vet for fluids along with some choice drugs and then again in the afternoon he goes back for another visit and receives his nighttime dose. I hope if I ever find myself in his situation I can receive the care and attention he is getting.

I work from home and have a window that receives morning light next to my desk. Each morning Mario takes in the morning light and then spends the rest of the day at my feet on a special bed of pillows and towels. His daughter Maria will often come and lay down beside him and just stare at her daddy with her big brown eyes.

Today, for the first time since Sunday, he was able to drink some water and keep it down. He actually showed interest in food for the first time tonight and we fed him a very small amount, as in less than the tip of my pinky–that’s all he wanted.

So many thoughts at a time like this. I lost my father to stomach cancer ten months ago, and now my dog to the same disease. As I watch him lie peacefully on the floor beside me I dream of miracles, of a misdiagnosis, of a unexplainable recovery. I understand denial and I understand that is the ground I stand on at the moment, but quite frankly I don’t have it within me to give up hope–no matter how hopeless the situation–until he takes his last breath.

At night, he sleeps with us in bed, in his usual spot between Sherry and I at the head of the bed. I consider the last few days and hopefully the next few as a special blessing–extra days beyond what anyone could have expected.

A friend of mine, Charlie Jones, has brain cancer. Several months ago he was told by his doctor he had one year to live. Charlie went home and told his wife the news and then said he was touched beyond words for how much God loved him. His wife was at a loss to understand.

Charlie explained that God had loved him so much that he had given him an extra year to say goodbye to all his family and friends and that so many others never had that chance. If you knew Charlie, you would know there was simply no other way he would have processed the news except with gratitude and appreciation of the gifts of love and life.

Likewise, the last few days have been a gift from Mario to us. His love, as seen in his eyes, has been beyond priceless. He will be missed, but his example of love, the unconditional love he has shown all in my family will remain long after he is gone. We have been blessed.

Andrax welcomes Kelly Campbell as mate #115

Kelly, welcome aboard this great international team of caring and compassionate cancer fighters. Glad to have you join us and if you are a reader of this blog, please introduce yourself in the comment section. Still amazed as our team continues to grow.

________________

Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 9:48 am Post subject: Rosetta job complete

“We finished another Rosetta job over the weekend. A new job has already been uploaded and the workunits are currently being dispatched. Any outstanding workunits from the previous Rosetta job will be credited for a week. Thank you for your contribution.”
_________________
—————–
Robby Brewer
Senior Support Engineer
United Devices

SNF: Black Leather

Fall Arrives

FNF: The Eyes

Jasie joins Andrax as mate #114

I’m amazed as our team continues to grow. Jasie, welcome aboard to this wonderful international team of cancer fighting mates.

1,000,000

Our great teammate from the Netherlands, oVo, surpassed 1,000,000 points last night. Uncharted territory, for no Andraxian has ever attained such heights. oVo, my friend, I cannot imagine a more deserving teammate to lead Andrax into the next million points. Like the twin jet engines above, there ain’t no catching you now. Thanks for everything you’ve done and everything you do for this fine international team.

From the Decadent One

Mountains are climbed the same way as hills…
one step at a time.

Autumn

Thoughts and Prayers for Mensa Child

Our teammate Catherine Ryan posted this yesterday. Mensa Child is her oldest son.

Mensa Child has just been diagnosed with a malignant tumor. He is scheduled for surgery on Thursday morning at 11. We are waiting for a phone call tomorrow to go get blood work done. The doctor wants to compare the protein in his blood before and after removal of the tumor. After the surgery, he will need a CAT scan to see if it spread elsewhere. In the meantime, we will wait for biopsy results while he’s recovering from the surgery.

As you know, I believe in the collective power of positive thinking. Some people call it prayer. Whatever you call it, I’d appreciate your positive thoughts for Mensa Child during the next week – but especially on Thursday – for a quick recovery and a diagnosis that does not include radiation or cancer.

Catherine, our thoughts and prayers are with you and Mensa Child. Please keep us updated.

Words Women Use

1. FINE
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2. FIVE MINUTES
If she is getting dressed, this is half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3. NOTHING
This is the calm before the storm. This means “something,” and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with ‘Nothing’ usually end in “Fine”

4. GO AHEAD
This is a dare, not permission. Don’t do it.

5. LOUD SIGH
This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A “Loud Sigh” means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over “Nothing”

6. THAT’S OKAY
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. “That’s Okay” means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7. THANKS
A woman is thanking you. Do not question it or faint. Just say you’re welcome

Five Surgeons

Five surgeons are discussing who makes the best patients to operate on.

The first surgeon says, “I like to see accountants on my operating table, because when you open them up, everything inside is numbered.”

The second responds, “Yeah, but you should try electricians! Everything inside them is colour coded.”

The third surgeon says, “No, I really think librarians are the best; everything inside them is in alphabetical order.”

The fourth surgeon chimes in: “You know, I like construction workers…those guys always understand when you have a few parts left over at the end, and when the job takes longer than you said it would.”

But the fifth surgeon shut them all up when he observed:

“You’re all wrong. Politicians are the easiest to operate on. There’s no guts, no heart, no balls, no brains and no spine, and the head and the ass are interchangeable.”

Andrax welcomes Tommi and Sylvia as mates #112 and #113

Tommi, aka kernoweb2, has joined Team Andrax as mate #112. Tommi hails from Cornwall, England and has been a part of the grid for quite some time with Team GB. Rumor has it, kernoweb1, Tommi’s wife Sylvia, will be joining us soon–and she has! Welcome Sylvia. Tommi loves the paranormal so be sure to visit his excellent site on the matter —>Spirits of Cornwall

Tommi and Sylvia, welcome aboard. I can already feel the positive energy both of you bring from across the pond. Team Andrax is very lucky to have you join us.

In Tommi’s own words: What about……YEAH BABY YEAH !!!!
__________

From Sylvia’s website: A part of us will always belong to the Internet. Why? Read the following account, written by our youngest son …..

“In January 2001 my dearest mother Sylvia sat down on her chair at her PC and went in an Internet chatroom. She used this next speech: ‘Does anybody want to talk sensible?’, and there was a response from Tommi. My mother started talking to him.

“After a while they got to know each other and got each other’s telephone numbers. Eventually they started talking to each other on the phone.

“My dearest mother and Tommi got together their thoughts and decided to move in together. Tommi lived in Northern Ireland and was going to move from Belfast to England. On the first of August 2001 Tommi arrived in Cornwall.

“After just a couple of days Tommi asked Sylvia to marry him, and so they came to be together for ever and ever, beyond the stars above for their great love.”

Waxing Gibbous Tonight

National Do Not Call List

JUST A REMINDER… 24 days from today, cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS…

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888/382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years.

Or you can go here —>National Do Not Call Registry

FNF: Masquerade

Surgery Tomorrow

Tomorrow, September 16th, Karen has her double mastectomy. Karen, our team is with you in spirit and our thoughts and prayers are heading your way. Your courage over the last several weeks has been inspiring and I feel fortunate that our paths have crossed. Won’t be long before that trip to the tattoo parlor

Unscientific poll for Linny

Blonde or Brunette?

Another Andrax Mate–w00t!

Team Andrax belatedly welcomes Melly!

S21melly, previously unknown to us, joined Andrax on August 31st has has quietly turned in several results. Melly’s blog All Kinds of Writing currently has the story of Terry Fox front and center.

Below is part of the Terry Fox post–please visit Melly’s site to read it all. Again, welcome aboard Melly! And thanks for introducing yourself–we are very glad to have you on board.

Terry Fox Foundation

Terry Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 18-years-old.

Terry’s leg was amputated 15 centimetres (six inches) above the knee in 1977, but despite going through his own ordeal, the suffering of other cancer patients touched him and he decided to start running across Canada, yes, with only one leg, to raise money for cancer research.

After practicing for 18 months, Terry started the Marathon of Hope in Newfoundland on April 1980.

He ran 42 kilometres (26 miles) a day and reached Thunder Bay, Ontario, but on September 1st Terry’s cancer appeared in his lungs and he was forced to stop after running for 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles).

Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at age 22. Canada grieved.

More than $360 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry’s name through the annual Terry Fox Run, held across Canada and around the world.

Terry’s quotes:

I’m not a dreamer, and I’m not saying this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to.

If you’ve given a dollar, you are part of the Marathon of Hope.

You can find all about Terry Fox here.

Breaking Andraxian News

Major recruiting kudos to J_Snow.

Welcome to our 2 newest Members:

tds4u and G_ (mates #110 and #111)

“Two very fine collegues who have graciously agreed to not only donate their own machines but also to add the machines at their respective properties!!!!!

So expect device counts to go up by about 40 machines in the next few weeks!

Hows that for some serious recruiting T!!!! “

J, brother, that is simply outstanding work. Major league kudos, since that is like recruiting 40 new mates in a single day.

Secret Garden–Greenwaves

There are waves of forgiveness and waves of regret. And the first waves of true love I’ll never forget.

SCHULTZ PHILOSOPHY

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip. You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just read the post straight through and you’ll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Wasn’t that easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

“Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.” (Charles Schultz)

Andraxian Stats–Free-DC Style

Click on the link above to view our team stats in a new and interesting way. Chart to the right is today’s top 10 producers.

Bottom line is I don’t really know much about Free-DC other than they started tracking our team stats yesterday and offer some interesting pie charts. I do like that each day they show the top 10 producers from the day before, which is kinda interesting.

A few kudos are in order:

Yesterday, Karen, aka Starfish, was the #3 producer with 1861 points; Catherine Ryan was #6 with 1059; and J_Snow was #8 with 731 points. And oVo took top spot with an incredible 8937 points. oVo, the baton is extended brother.

Agnes, I’m still keeping your spot warm

View from the saddle

Picturesque view from one of my rides. The road, as it leads to the left of the picture, is the scene of my worst accident on the bike and the place where I met one of the angels in my life.

This shot is from the top of the hill. Immediately to my left the road turns down sharply. I had new tires on my bike and had decided to try for a new personal speed record. My previous high was just over 50mph.

This particular spot is about 18 miles from my house and I don’t often ride in this direction. As I started down the hill I miss calculated one last turn in the road before it straighten out. I had reached about 45 mph when I realized my mistake. As I tried to make the curve, I quickly ran out of road to my left as the road curved right. At 38mph I hit the gravel on the side of the road and the bike slid out from under me. I missed a hidden culvert by 10 feet.

When I picked myself up, I had blood streaming down my arm with razor-like cuts on my back and side and my right hip looked like ground meat. The cut on my left elbow eventually required stitches inside of stitches.

With the adrenaline flowing, and thinking I could and would ride back home, on this deserted road in the middle of nowhere my angel appeared. She was looking for her son and when she saw the mess I was in, immediately stopped and demanded that I get in her car.

Even with her aid, the cut on the elbow became infected and six days after the accident I was in the hospital for surgery. I no longer attempt to set personal speed records. Instead, I enjoy the view and thank God that angels still pass this way.

This photo on top is actually two photos stitched together. Click on the image to see a larger view. The second photo is where the road starts it’s descent. The miscalculated turn is out of site around the bend.

D I S S O L V I N G I N T O N O W

D
I
S
S
O
L
V
I
N
G

I
N
T
O

N
O
W

FNF: Return of Autumn

FNF: Equal Time

Memories

____________________________________

Remembrance:
The Great Storm of 8 September 1900, Galveston, Texas

Together

I have not the words for the outpouring of support our nation and the world has shown. Yesterday I was driving up Franklin road, had my iPod playing Louisiana 1927. At the exact moment (I’m not making this up) as the chorus played Louisiana, Louisiana, they’re tryin to wash us away, I spied to my left a local church busting with activity. Signs everywhere for hurricane relief, parking lot filled with cars. Men, women and children earnestly carrying boxes of supplies inside. If I told you my eyes didn’t fill with tears, tears of togetherness, tears of love, tears of compassion, I would be lying.

The invisible force that holds the universe together, call it love, often is hidden, unseen, forgotten. Yesterday I saw, unexpectedly, on a back road, that love personified. To the nation, to the world, thanks.

___________________________________

500 Miles

If you miss the train I’m on, you will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles,
A hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles,
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles.

Lord I’m one, lord I’m two, lord I’m three, lord I’m four,
Lord I’m 500 miles from my home.
500 miles, 500 miles, 500 miles, 500 miles
Lord I’m five hundred miles from my home.

Not a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name
Lord I can’t go a-home this a-way
This a-away, this a-way, this a-way, this a-way,
Lord I can’t go a-home this a-way.

If you miss the train I’m on you will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles.

Peter, Paul & Mary

Armstrong return?

Lance Armstrong plans to train with his team this winter, increasing speculation he will end his retirement and attempt an eighth straight Tour de France win.

“It’s definitely an open possibility, I know he is on the bike,” Discovery Channel team director Johan Bruyneel told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday. (Click title bar for full article)

________________

Official statement from Lance regarding his career:

“While I’m absolutely enjoying my time as a retired athlete with Sheryl and the kids, the recent smear campaign out of France has awoken my competitive side. I’m not willing to put a percentage on the chances but I will no longer rule it out…” – Lance Armstrong

HOUSING Opportunities for KATRINA SURVIVORS

This is a housing services hub for Katrina victims. You can offer up housing space for victims, or hurricane survivors can search for available rooms/houses/apts/etc. This site is working in cooperation with other support organizations.

Beds Available
160,973

Survivors Placed
5924

Any assistance on distributing this web site would be greatly appreciated. We have tens of thousands of people posting, but we need hundreds of thousands more in order to make many housing options available to the Katrina survivors. Also, if you are involved in the rescue and recovery efforts, please print the housing lists and distribute to those in need of temporary housing.

Disclaimer

MyTechSupport takes no responsibility for liability to refugees or donors resulting from matching up donor homes with refugees in response to events relating to the Katrina disaster or any other interaction, transportation or other activities resulting from the services provided or listed on this website.

Katrina Housing.org

"DMort is telling us to expect up to 40,000 bodies"

A co-owner of Shelbyville-based Gowen-Smith Chapel has been deployed to Gulfport, Miss., to help with recovery since Hurricane Katrina, and his business partner here has described the grim task there.

“DMort is telling us to expect up to 40,000 bodies,” Dan Buckner said, quoting officials with the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team, a volunteer arm of Homeland Security.

His partner, Dan Hicks, of Paducah, Ky., was deployed Monday. Buckner, of Dickson, is on standby. Their funeral home is one of several collection sites for donations to be taken to the Red Cross in Fayetteville on Wednesday for transfer to places in need.

The 40,000 estimate does “not include the number of disinterred remains that have been displaced from … mausoleums,” Buckner told the Times-Gazette Monday. (full article in comments and also linked with title bar)

National Geographic/Scientific American

Gone with the Water (National Geographic–October 2004)

Drowning New Orleans (Scientific American–October 2001)

One week ago New Orleans was the 35th largest city in the country. Today it exist in name only.

______________

“We are the lucky ones.”

I spent an hour on the phone with my uncle in Baton Rouge today. Baton Rouge has grown from a city of 240,000 to around 500,000 in the last week. The infrastructure cannot support this level of growth. No hotel rooms available, no apartment space available for rent, all office property occupied. 8 of 10 gas stations have no fuel, grocery stores are not able to keep their shelves stocked, traffic–already bad–is virtual gridlock. Helicopters fill the air. Where my uncle lives one passes overhead every five minutes or so. And yet, as my uncle says, “We are the lucky ones.”

_____________

By the way, does anyone know where Dick Cheney is?

Where have all the flowers gone

Sept 5th, 2005

3:32 P.M. Ben Morris, Slidell mayor: We are still hampered by some of the most stupid, idiotic regulations by FEMA. They have turned away generators, we’ve heard that they’ve gone around seizing equipment from our contractors. If they do so, they’d better be armed because I’ll be damned if I’m going to let them deprive our citizens. I’m pissed off, and tired of this horse$#@@.”

2:24 P.M. – (AP) Some 400 to 500 police officers from New Orleans’ 1,600 member force were unaccounted for, Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said.

Reinforcements for police arrive from around the country, allowing a rest for emergency workers who have been working nearly nonstop since before the storm hit.

10:12: A.M. – Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard: I’m not surprised at what the feds say, they’re covering their butts. They’re keeping the body counts down because they don’t want to horrify the nation. It’s worse than Iraq, worse than 9-11. They just don’t want to know how many were murdered by bureaucracy.

10:10 A.M. – Broussard: I know what the body count is so far, but I won’t horrify the nation.

Mayor: Katrina death toll may hit 10,000

Armstrong donates to help cancer patients displaced by Katrina

The Associated Press
This report filed September 4, 2005

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will donate $500,000 to help cancer patients displaced by Hurricane Katrina get treatment.

Armstrong said Saturday he expects the money will be used to help transport cancer patients to hospitals and cancer centers for treatment. He said more money from his namesake cancer survivorship foundation could be donated in the future.

“If you’ve started treatment and you miss a week or two weeks, it’s potentially fatal,” Armstrong said. “For me and the foundation, we just looked at that and asked not just what can we do, but how does it fit into our mission?”

Armstrong survived a bout with testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain before he won the first of his record seven straight Tours titles. He retired from competitive racing in July after his final Tour victory.

FEMA knew storm’s potential, Mayfield says

Sunday, 4:44 p.m.

By Mark Schleifstein
Staff writer

Dr. Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, said Sunday that officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, including FEMA Director Mike Brown and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, listened in on electronic briefings given by his staff in advance of Hurricane Katrina slamming Louisiana and Mississippi and were advised of the storm’s potential deadly effects. (full article in comments)

Would someone please fire this man

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Defending the U.S. government’s response to Hurricane Katrina, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff argued Saturday that government planners did not predict such a disaster ever could occur.

But in fact, government officials, scientists and journalists have warned of such a scenario for years.

Forget everything else that has happened over the last six days. For Chertoff to make this statement is either the height of ignorance, incompetence or simply bold-face lying.

For my friends not from New Orleans, position papers and studies on what would happen if the leeves broke are as old as the leeves themselves. I knew as a child, because my parents and relatives all told me, what would happen if the “big one” ever hit NOLA directly. We are not talking rocket science here. New Orleans is below sea level and surrounded by water. Only the leeve system kept the city dry.

Full article here—>Chertoff: Katrina scenario did not exist

Folks, the final death toll will probably be in five figures. What we are seeing is the greatest CYA operation in recent memory. Chertoff knows someone is going to have to answer for this massive loss of life and he is trying to shield himself from blame. Comments like the ones he made yesterday are salt in an open wound.

______________________________________

“The first few days were a natural disaster, the last four days were a man-made disaster.”

Phillip Holt, 51
New Orleans evacuee

Door-to-Door

Officials feel as many as 10,000 or more still awaiting rescue.

8:10 A.M. – Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu – The images you’ve seen on TV was the lawless young men who did horrible things and have to be dealt with but what you didn’t see, because the cameras weren’t allowed in there, was that 99 percent were golden.

8:08 A.M. – Landrieu: This was the largest, most gargantuen storm in history. Ninety percent of the harm, tragedies and deaths were because of things beyond anyone’s control. About 10 percent will be because of what someone didn’t do.

8:05 A.M. – Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu – There’s a lot of blame to go around, and a lot of credit. Heroes and demons. This is an American tragedy.

8:00 A.M. – Landrieu: We have rescuers going door to door. There are people still in their houses in Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Lakeview and Uptown, waiting to be rescued.

7:55 A.M. – Landrieu: We’re going to need $150 billion to rebuild the area and that might be a low estimate.

5:25 A.M. – BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) –Emergency officials in Louisiana say they are still getting calls from people trapped and in need of rescue. Officials say they received a thousand such calls just yesterday, with some people saying they are still trapped in their attics.

Authorities are using color-coded maps to locate anyone in need of rescue. They plan to go door-to-door if they have to, in order to find all remaining survivors.

Helen Keller

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”

Qatar Offers $100 Million in Aid

First comment “in the comments” is the text on the current state of the city from the inside. People are still dying. Do not read if you do not want to read more tragic news.

Louisiana 1927

Last night I watched Aaron Neville, a New Orleans native, sing Newman’s Louisiana 1927. I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing when he got to the chorus Louisiana, Louisiana They’re tyrin’ to wash us away. I couldn’t get the image of Hastert’s terribly cruel comments of the day before out of my mind. How Aaron was able to maintain his composure is beyond me. I have a copy of his recording, but I can tell you the emotion he put into the song last night eclipses his earlier recording. If you get a chance to see a rebroadcast (MSNBC) do yourself a favor–this performance is one not to be missed.

What has happened down here is the wind have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

The river rose all day
The river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood
Some people got away alright
The river have busted through clear down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

CHORUS
Louisiana, Louisiana
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
They’re tryin’ to wash us away

President Coolidge came down in a railroad train
With little fat man with a note-pad in his hand
The President say, “Little fat man isn’t it a shame what the river has
done
To this poor farmers land.”

‘Louisiana 1927′
A song and a tragedy

_______________________________________________________

9/3/2005, 6:07 p.m. CT
By ALLEN G. BREED
The Associated Press

New Orleans left to the dead and dying

______________________________________________________
07:32 PM CT Saturday, September 3, 2005

Anne Rice

What do people really know about New Orleans?

Do You Know What It Means to Lose New Orleans?

Path of Destruction

Katrina Base Map

Click on the link above (not the map image) for the “live” map that will allow you to zoom in on detailed sat images of the entire path. Thanks to J_Snow for the heads up.

Katrina Information Map

This link provides specific information on damages. If you have first hand information, please go here. Likewise, if you are looking for damage info start here.

Love via Red Cross

1-800-Help Now

Online Donation Form

My Canadian friends can help here—>Canadian Red Cross
(thanks firefly for that heads up)

“When we are in our hour of need, our hour of darkness, will we remember the words of our enemies or the silence of our friends?” MLK Jr

Hurricane 2005 Relief:

Victims of Hurricane Katrina are attempting to recover from the massive storm. American Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to the hardest hit areas of Katrina’s destruction, supplying hundreds of thousands victims left homeless with critical necessities. By making a financial gift to Hurricane 2005 Relief, the Red Cross can provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.

Ending the night with Heroes

I’ve got to end the night on a positive note. The heroic work of the USCG has been nothing less than awe inspiring. Coast Guard pilots were in the air on the trailing edge of Katrina trying to get a damage assessment literally in the moments after the storm passed. The story of these brave pilots have not been told in the press but we have seen the helicopter pilots pluck more than 3000 from roof tops, working in extremely dangerous circumstances, day and night. USCG has been nothing but magnificent.

NEW ORLEANS (Aug. 30, 2005) – Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott D. Rady, 34, of Tampa, Fla., give the signal to hoist a pregnant woman from her apartment here today. In all, the Coast Guard rescued 11 survivors from the apartment building. Rady is a rescue swimmer sent from Clearwater, Fla., to help aid in search and rescue efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 2nd Class NyxoLyno Cangemi

FEMA Who?

3:54 P.M. – FEMA Spokesperson: I’m probably going to lie awake at night for a long time second guessing how we responded.

3:52 P.M. – FEMA spokesperson: The magnitude of this overwhelmed us.

3:14 P.M. – St. Bernard Parish officials say that FEMA has not called them yet…five days after the storm.

Robinette interview with Nagin was unforgettable radio
By Dave Walker TV columnist (full text in comments)

No FNF tonight

For my friends that have come to expect a “Friday Night Flirtation” post, I just don’t have it within me tonight in light of the tragic events still unfolding in my home state. The FNF will return in good time. For those that might need a FNF fix, I’ve linked past editions at the bottom of my sidebar. Thanks again for so many thoughts and prayers.

Houston

To the city of Houston I applaud your leadership in this time of darkness. To the leaders and people of Houston, your heartfelt generosity has been a light in the night. When I think of the best of our country, right now, I see Houston. Thank you.

Death toll in Louisiana could be above 10,000: US Senator

Four days ago I received news from within the medical community of New Orleans saying the city had ordered more than 20,000 body bags. Now we have the first Louisiana public official, saying what we all fear–a death toll in the five-figure range is likely.

“My guess is that it will start at 10,000, but that is only a guess,” Vitter said, adding that he was not basing his remarks on any official death toll or body count.

Friend of mine in Louisiana reports that temporary morgue has been set-up in St. Gabriel, Louisiana. Trucks seen and heard arriving with the deceased. CNN reporting U.S government is sending four mobile morgues to the area.

I cannot overemphasis the scope of this tragedy. Please pray and if you have the means, donate money.

Sarah Johnson yells for help outside the Convention Center for the woman she provides in-house care for.

–Melissa Phillip/Associated Press

The Interdictor

Inside the CBD coverage. CBD (Central Business District)

Check this site for reports by those still inside the city. This is the most “raw” coverage of events I’ve found. Not a pleasant read.
_________________________________________

For my Varsity Gold friends, our director of operations, Charise Parsons has sent this communication this morning. Since Lyle and Jim are going to match contributions dollar for dollar, if you were going to contribute through the Red Cross, please do so via VG.

Greetings:

In light of the recent devastation faced by those affected by Hurricane Katrina, we would like to set up a donation fund. Just as with the Tsunami Relief Funds, Varsity Gold will match dollar for dollar any amount submitted by employees and/or reps and see to it that 100% of the money goes directly to the victims whose lives are changed forever.

The name of the organization checks are to be made payable to is: Red Cross — with Hurricane Katrina Relief written in the bottom left corner of the check. Please mail your donations to the home office no later than Friday, September 16th marked to the attention of Sally Aki.

We were able to send over $20,000 to the Tsunami Relief Efforts, now we need to take care of those who are closer to home.

Thank you for your help,

Charise

90,000

90,000 square miles have been declared national disaster areas. To put this in perspective, think of an area that would exceed the land mass of Ohio and Michigan combined or an area roughly the size of Great Britian.

As many as 400,000 people have been forced to leave their homes.

New Orleans Mayor Issues ‘Desperate SOS’

House Speaker Dennis Hastert dropped a bombshell on flood-ravaged New Orleans on Thursday by suggesting that it isn’t sensible to rebuild the city. (see full article in the second comment)

Prayer

The last few days have been shocking and stunning. I have family and friends who were in harm’s way, some have lost their homes, a few I still have no communication.

The purple and gold colors of the flower remind me of my days at LSU. My memories of those 10 years on that campus are memories of a lifetime. When I think of my home state, I like to think of the good, the part that will always be a part of who I am. Each day, the news from New Orleans is more heartbreaking, the stories more tragic. As Brett Farve said yesterday, things will get worse before they get better.

This flower represents all that is good, from the Coast Guard pilots working night and day to save lives to the folks that visit here and leave notes of support. The flower is my way to say thanks to all who visit here. This is the hour of need for more in my home region and I can count. What can you do? Pray. Just pray. If you feel moved to give, give cash to the charity of your choice. Material gifts are not needed at this moment, but I’m sure will be needed in time. My heartfelt appreciation my friends.

Medical Update from our Starfish, aka Karen

Click on the link above to read the full report. I continue to be amazed at her incredible attitude in the face of a second surgery coming on September 16th.

Karen, you are one courageous lady. Our entire team will keep you close to our thoughts and deep in our hearts. Take care my dear friend and Godspeed.

One Way to Help

Donate Online

Or call to donate at 1 800 HELP NOW

Latest Red Cross News

Updates as they come in on Katrina

7:59 P.M. – Mayor Nagin: Pumps at 17th street canal has failed and water will continue pouring into the city. Nine feet of water is expected on St. Charles Avenue that will be nine feet high. Water is expected to spread throughout the east bank of Orleans and possibly Jefferson Parish.

6:41 P.M. – Efforts to stop the levee break at the 17th Street Canal have ended unsuccessfully and the water is expected to soon overwhelm the pumps in that area, allowing water to pour into the east bank of Metairie and Orleans to an expected height of 12-15 feet.

6:03 P.M. – N.O. Councilman Oliver Thomas: “What you see on TV, you have no idea what the level of devastation and frustration is on the street.”

5:57 P.M. – Jeff Parish schools chief Dianne Roussel says two months is probably “optimistic” to get schools back and functioning.

Andraxian Stats

Our stats are completely up-to-date on the grid. Deep heart-felt appreciation for everyone on this great team. As a whole, since 11 Jan 2005, we have a combined total exceeding 38 years of volunteered CPU time and have send back 27, 679 results to Oxford. Hats off folks. Outstanding job. Wunderbar!

Go Here for our team roster Stats

Devastation ‘overwhelming’

Jeff Parish President. Residents will probably be allowed back in town in a week, with identification only, but only to get essentials and clothing. You will then be asked to leave and not come back for one month.

80% of New Orleans Under Water

3:13 P.M. – Governor Blanco: A lot of people have lost their lives, but we have no numbers because the priority is saving those who are alive so we don’t have more casualties.

2:41 P.M. – Jefferson Parish officials say schools could reopen by Dec. 1.

Governor says entire city needs to be evacuated

Levee Breach!

Break in 17th Street Canal Levee is now 200 feet wide and slowly flooding the City of New Orleans. Huge sand bags are being airlifted to try to stem the rush of water in that area. The expectations are that the water will not stop until it reaches lake level.

Best local coverage from New Orleans with live feed —-> WWL-TV

11:53 A.M. – Two dead in Slidell in rising waters after attempting to get back to their homes. The victims had initially evacuated. (15′ of water in downtown Slidell)

Please stay put. Jefferson Parish is locked down. No one admitted until Monday and only with proper ID. There is no electricity, water or working facilities. Officials will and are turning away anyone trying to return.

11:58 A.M. – Homeland security chief optimistic that 3,000 pound sandbags can plug 200 foot levee break at 17th Street Canal.

Happy Birthday Granny!

Flowers for my Grandmother, who turned 81 yesterday. She lives in Baton Rouge. The flower shop called me this morning saying they still could not deliver and didn’t even know when they would be able to receive another shipment of flowers.

So granny, until later, enjoy the beautiful tulips to the right. We’ll get real flowers to you as soon as we can. Happy Birthday!

My mother and grandmother in a photo taken just a couple weeks ago on St George Island. Both my mother and grandmother were able to join us for vacation. We all had a wonderful time and so good to have everyone together for an entire week.

Katrina Photos from New Orleans

More than 100 photos from New Orleans. There is just something about still photos that brings the drama home in a way video does not.

Latest Katrina Photos from WWL

As of 11pm ET, Associated Press reporting 55 deaths. This number is expected to rise dramatically with daylight tomorrow. Very sad and tragic news indeed. Thoughts and prayers.

As many as 500 still trapped on roofs as darkness set in. May God be with them tonight. Emergency crews attempt rescue again at first light. Reports say the water rose so fast, many who stayed were literally trapped in their homes.

J_Snow: Thanks brother.

J (from Orlando, FL) left this in the comments on the post below. Sometimes a little humor in the face of tragedy is the only thing that keeps us sane. For a sober account of news to come, read further into the comments from J.

J, brother, thanks so much for sharing. Mission accomplished, your post has taken my mind off the tragedy for a few minutes and for that I thank you.

Some things we learned last year after our hurricane encounters:

* Coffee and frozen pizzas can be made on a BBQ grill.

* No matter how many times you flick the switch, lights don’t work
without electricity. But you still do it over and over again.

* Kids can survive 4 days or longer without a video game controller in
their hand.

* Cats are even more irritating without power.

* He who has the biggest generator wins.

* Women can actually survive without doing their hair–you just wish
they weren’t around you.

* A new method of non-lethal torture–showers without hot water.

* There are a lot more stars in the sky than most people thought.

* TV is an addiction and the withdrawal symptoms are painful. One day at a time, brother.

* A 7 lb bag of ice will chill 6-12 oz Budweiser’s to a drinkable
temperature in 11 minutes, and still keep a 14-pound turkey frozen for 8 more hours.

* There are a lot of trees around here.

* Flood plan drawings on some mortgage documents were seriously wrong.

* Contrary to most Florida natives’ beliefs, speed limit on roads
without traffic lights does not increase.

* Aluminum siding, while aesthetically pleasing, is definitely not
required.

* Just because you’re 35 doesn’t mean you can stay out as late as you
want. At least that’s what the cops told me during a curfew stop.

* Crickets can increase their volume to overcome the sound of 14
generators.

* People will get into a line that has already formed without having any idea what the line is for.

* When required, a Lincoln Continental will float–doesn’t steer well, but floats just the same.

* Some things do keep the mailman from his appointed rounds.

* Tele-marketers function no matter what the weather is doing.

* Cell phones work when land lines are down, but only as long as the
battery remains charged.

* Cell phones don’t work when the cell towers have no power but your battery is fully charged.

* 27 of your neighbors are fed from a different transformer than you,
and they are quick to point that out!

* Laundry hampers were not made to contain such a volume.

* If my store sold only ice, chainsaws, gas, and generators…I’d be rich.

* The price of a bag of ice rises 200% after a hurricane.

* Your water front property can quickly become someone else’s fishing hole.

* Tree service companies are under appreciated.

* I learned what happens when you make fun of another state’s blackout.

* MATH 101: 30 days in month, minus 6 days without power equals 30%
higher electric bill ?????

* Drywall is a compound word, take away the “dry” part and it’s
worthless.

* I can walk a lot farther than I thought.