lookout for visible trees

I woke up this morning raring to go!
See that waterfall! Visit that railway! Climb that cavern!
I sent out feelers for company on my treks... nothing doin'.
Then I found this message.

"Don't be afraid. You needn't slay the beast or scale the entire mountain. That's not how it's done. You only need to move through today, Faustina.

Think of the distance you've already covered. Focus on your strengths. Let each new step remind you of your freedom. Let your every breath remind you of your power. Seek out friends and guides; they're anxious to help.

You're not alone. You're understood. This road has been walked before. Dance life's dance, just a few steps at a time, and in the wink of an eye you will wonder to yourself, "What beast, what mountain? Was I having a dream?"

Love you,
The Universe"


Time for a deep breath, my girl.
Slow down and let these outlaws show you the way.
Every little thing is gonna be alright.

good news about Ronnie!

What a relief! We no longer have to worry about where he is.
I want to shout the news from the top of Lookout Mountain, but right here on my beach will do just fine.
Ronnie's in jail.
Seriously, what a relief!
Sue Crowe told me, after doing the calling around to find where he was.
Memorial Hospital? No.
St. Joseph's Hospital? No.
Candler Hospital? No.
Chatham County Sheriffs' Complex? Yep!
Ronnie will be there until at least August 11th. That's his court date for being drunk and disorderly and for loitering.
Not that any of that activity is new.
What is new is that someone actually called the police about him.

I've told my oldest brother.
I've told Ronnie's daughter.
I've told Ronnie's son.
We are all of the same opinion: Thank God!
He'll be in an air-conditioned cell, instead of a bug-infested, torn-door, ripped tent in the woods. (No, he has not yet set up the new tent I bought for him.)
He'll be getting food and water, at least two times a day.
He won't be existing on alcohol and someone else's cigarette butts.
He won't be hanging out with alcoholics and homeless folk at the Chevron.
He won't be panhandling around the Target or the Home Depot.
He won't be "falling asleep in a fire ant bed" anymore. (He did that last Thursday. Truth be told, he "passed out in a drunken stupor" in a fire ant bed and they ate up one of his arms. Memorial Hospital took care of it and sent him off, probably that same day.)
He'll have access to his blood pressure medication again. As far as I know, he has not arranged with anyone to take him to the clinic so he can have his prescription refilled. (That would be from his trip to the hospital with chest pains in the middle of June.)
He'll be able to shower and shave and wash his hair.

What a relief to know he is safe!
i thank You, God!

fright songs and spider veins

Okay, some of these may be repeats, but that's okay.
I like them that much!

***** ***** *****

His ability to brew such amazing Earl Grey, chamomile, and chai was a result of his "expert-teas".

Hundreds of millions of cars have crossed the Golden Gate bridge, thanks to its long life span.

After seeing how angry the male cow was, she decided to steer clear.

The Cyclops couldn't help but notice the new arrival after she caught his eye.

If Ichabod Crane was going to outrun Sleepy Hollow's horseman, he'd need to keep ahead.

An arsonist is one with a burning passion.

The arachnid had her legs examined by a doctor after becoming worried about her spider veins.

When Michael Collins piloted the Apollo 11 command module on 7-21-69, he was over the moon.

When the Viking leader needed a new means of communication, he invented "Norse" code.

When challenged to deliver such a huge bouquet for the special occasion, the florist rose to it.

The owners of the new plant nursery had no plans to ever move and wanted to put down roots.

Locking up her valuables in the wall behind the painting didn't work because it wasn't fail-safe.

The affectionate pigeons were lovey-dovey.

Everyone watching the 4th of July fireworks display was having a blast.

The Wikipedia page about the history of the limbo featured the low-down.

Going through the gift shop at the museum was a package tour.

To the teenagers, seeing Roman ruins all day was enough "For-um".

To pay for the new roof support system, he used his "truss" fund.

She had to give up tennis for a while, but she was now back in the swing of things.

During the ghosts' football game, the band played their "fright" song.

After throwing the touchdown pass to win the game, his teammates rushed him.

When the customer at the Italian eatery got angry, he gave the owner a "pizza" of his mind.

They asked the reporter where to buy the best gelato, so they could get the scoop.

The high price of their past dinner in Florence cost them a pretty "penne".

Lot's wife took a turn for the worse.

A slat occupies a blind spot.

When it came to Thomas Edison's innovations, the museum had an impressive "invent-ory".

Getting a cash advance on his credit card wasn't in his best interest.

After a business trip, the owner of the Hawaiian sugar plantation was finally home sweet home.

When it came to learning how to swim, she was ready to dive right in.

They wanted more information about the mountain they'd just climbed, so they read up on it.

In the 1950's, 45 RPM records became so popular because people thought they were groovy.

Orators are figures of speech.

Ushers put you in your place.

Their kite flew so well because it was top-of-the-line.

He wanted to change the channel, but with his wife there he didn't have a remote chance.

King Kong wanted to play for the Yankees, but he was too large for the Big leagues.

After sinking the winning basket, he and his teammates had a ball.

After he stole second, the baseball players touched base.

James Bond complained about his drink because it was too "mar-teeny".

yoohoo, tony!

Yoohoo!

Anybody home?

Yes, I should have decided my travel plans a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't.

I should have written to you in time to let you know that I might be coming...
but there's that word "might".

I should have at least sent this off yesterday to give it one more travel day to you with the news.

That's an awful lot of "shoulds".

Anyway, here's where I stop use of that word.

I'm going to Stephanie and Daniel's wedding on August 1st. They live in Monteagle, TN, up in the mountains.

I finally looked up the distance and it's about two hours from you.

So, my plan is to get up early on Sunday, August 2nd, and come to see you.

Depending on the construction on I-24, I may not get there as early as I hope, but I will be there, even if it's just for the afternoon.

with my love!

pass the popcorn!

Time for another round of movie trivia!
This time, I've named the post in honor of the game played by yours truly and my BFF's daughter when we were up in the mountains of North Carolina last month. In the game, you have to collect cards from four film groups: character(s), cast, plot, and quote. Trust me, it was pretty hard, but we had fun trying to help each other guess!

Here, as before, I am offering quotes to be matched up with their respective movies.
The point, as always, is to have fun!

The Quotes:

A) "Leave the monster under the bed?"

B) "Be the person she already thinks you are."

C) "Make yourself useful - and don't shoot Pops."

D) "Old, not obsolete."

E) "You see only birth. I see only death."

F) "I couldn't remember if death or love is the solution for defeating the empire."

G) "I'm just some kind of box you had to check off, aren't I?"

H) "You take care of more people than the Red Cross."

I) "Less Talk. You're too good-looking to be insecure."

J) "It's been a while since I got you to second base."

K) "Do not, my friends, allow yourself to become addicted to water."

L) "It's a slippery slope."

M) "Well, I was born yesterday.'

N) "It isn't personal, it's programming."

O) "I danced with the devil - and I liked it!"

P) "How can I help it if I feel ticklish while wrestling?"

Q) "Fear excuses surrender."


The Characters and Movies:

1) The guru to the traveling shrink in "Hector and the Pursuit of Happiness".

2) Pawan, aka Bajrangi, to a lost girl and others, on a bus to his home in Delhi, in the Bollywoood film, "Bajrangi Bhaijaan".

3) The blonde chick (Lt. Ng) to former bigshot Brian Gilcrest in "Aloha".

4) Rich twit Travis to pretty boy Vince in "Entourage".

5) Danny, the nouveau riche client, to Kyle, the trainer, in Kyle's office, misreading the motivational poster, in "Results".

6) Future mom Linda to her future baby daddy in "Terminator Genisys".

7) Colossus, the evil warlord, to the people below, after teasing them with the release of liquid from the pipes in the cliff face in "Mad Max: Fury Road".

8) Ava the droid to the naive nerd Caleb in "Ex Machina".

9) Former girlfriend Agnes to ex-boyfriend, the shrink, in "Hector and the Pursuit of Happiness".

10) Judy Greer, as Mom, in "Jurassic World", to son, Gray, as he and his brother are leaving for the airport on their way to the theme park.

11) Judy Greer, as Mom and ex-wife, in "Ant-Man", to her ex, current conman, soon to be future Avenger.

12) Vision to Ultron, the evil guy, in "Avengers: Age of Ultron".

13) The Rock to his ex, as they've just coasted onto the baseball field in "San Andreas".

14) Pops to the future baby daddy in "Terminator Genisys".

15) Old neighbor woman to new father Andy Goldsworthy in "Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working With Time".

16) Emily, the hot girl, to pretty boy Vince in "Entourage".

17) Dom, the drug dealer, to the club bouncer in "Dope" and Austen Jacoby, the drug kingpin, to Malcolm the geek in "Dope".

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The Answers:

1) Surprisingly, it's F ! There isn't even a superhero in the entire film!

2) P! (Something that being tickled may lead you to do!)

3) O! (Something you might expect from a blonde chick, as I once was!)

4) H, and said with a sneer, as a putdown. Odd how it comes off as a compliment!

5) Q - quite right! Totally different meaning when the three negative factors are read as a single sentence!

6) C - as I'm sure you did!

7) 'K, you evil brute. Though everyone knows we all need water to survive!

8) N-tirely true for robots and machines!

9) G - she really sussed him out, didn't she? And he was the shrink!

10) A, kids, be careful out in the real world!

11) B true to yourself, always!

12) 'M is one smart cookie, isn't he?

13) J..ust kidding, dear!

14) D, as in dead as a doorknob, buddy, if you don't watch out!

15) E gads, what a thing to say to a new daddy!

16) I see what she was after! Heck, everybody saw what she was after!

17) 'L is where that slippery slope will lead, so be careful!

Odd, isn't it?
I did not deliberately set up the matching to allow some puns and jokes along the way, but it certainly worked out nicely, didn't it?

Hope you had fun! While I was watching the movies in the various cinemas, I tried to find quotes that might serve as mini-synopses of the plots.
How did I do?

perspective and creative poetry

First, let me state for the record that this is not my poem.
I found it on facebook and tracked down its author.
I like that it is a reversible poem - how creative!

I'm recording it here so I can refer back to it as often as I want without going through the hassle of searching for it again.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Worst Day Ever?

Today was the absolute worst day ever
And don’t try to convince me that
There’s something good in every day
Because, when you take a closer look,
This world is a pretty evil place.
Even if
Some goodness does shine through once in a while
Satisfaction and happiness don’t last.
And it’s not true that
It’s all in the mind and heart
Because
True happiness can be attained
Only if one’s surroundings are good
It’s not true that good exists
I’m sure you can agree that
The reality
Creates
My attitude
It’s all beyond my control
And you’ll never in a million years hear me say
Today was a very good day.

(Now read it from bottom to top, the other way,
And see what I really feel about my day.)

Chanie Gorkin

never forget that i remember you

As the night draws into the wee hours,
and my eyes seek the colors of dreams,
I have sought to share with others,
via snail mail, my random thoughts of them.

Here is the letter I wrote to my ex, but it could certainly have been copied to my BFF, the bfe, the Eagle Scout, and others who will be in receipt of cards and letters, with enclosures, from me this week.

Dear Jeff,
Well, here I am, trying to clear off my dining room table again. That means I've unearthed articles, or comics, or more, that I once meant to send to you, to the BFF, to my great-niece Ally. Incredible how old some of it is! perhaps I would be better off if I allowed the newspaper subscription to lapse? Perhaps... but I would miss these stray thoughts of those dear to me as I read the articles or solve the Jumbles or laugh over the comic strips.
Perhaps I just need to be better organized! Lord knows I've always been handicapped in that area. However, every few months I'll go through closets, dive into drawers, and dig around on the dining room table.
I hope you'll enjoy these that were earmarked for you!
Best wishes in the job market!
with my love

Which items were sent to him?
Well, there's this article on Bob Dylan's visit to Savannah. Primarily, I chose it because it was written by his friend Jim Reed, erstwhile member of the Million Dollar Man Band.
Then there's the underwater concert in the Florida Keys, courtesy of a local radio station there. Pretty cool stuff!
I also included the "Rhymes With Orange" comic that featured didgeridoos and the "Close To Home" that had a gallbladder fairy making a night-time visit to a slumbering man.

For my great-niece Ally, I had articles about sea turtles and Tybee Island, two things that are dear to both me and her. I still have a bag, packed with gifts for her 7th birthday, in my living room. That birthday was a month ago, but she is no longer in town, so I will have to make a delivery trip soon.

For my BFF, I had enclosed an "Ann Landers" advice column. Someone had written concerning dental care for nursing home patients. That might be quite interesting for her!

The Eagle Scout, over in Alabama, was sent some baseball-related articles. Sure, he may have already read about toasters that can imprint your team's logo on the bread. Maybe he's even been to a Biscuits game and seen them rise to the occasion. (Get it? LOL!) But did he know that when I read these articles I thought of him?
Not likely.
But now he does.
And that is the beauty of using the USPS.
You can send a visual hug that can be held in one's hands and enjoyed repeatedly.
(smile)

burn that bridge

Dearest BFF,

(- printed card inscription -)
Thinking of you
during your time of sorrow.

Too bad your ex is such an ass.

Wishing you strength to deal with yet
another manifestation of his
boorish, rude behavior.

Thank God your daughter will soon be in college,
and he will lose his last excuse
to be in Hiram.

wmla

no coincidences, 2

I'm so glad I was home when my first niece came by in search of a hug.
A lot of things had to come into play for that to happen.

Last Thursday is when it all began for me.
I had gone down Skidaway Road yet again, trying to see if I could spot my middle brother around the Chevron gas station.
I did, wonder of wonders!
It was the first time I've seen Ronnie since June 2nd.
As Thursday was my oldest brother's birthday, I called him so he and Ronnie could exchange pleasantries.
Then, I sang "happy birthday" to Smitty and we made a "date" to take care of his business' quarterly and sales taxes.

Today, I first went to the credit union to deposit the check for the "loan" I've written to myself.
As I walked back to my car, there in the parking lot was...oh, my!... a penny!
Most excellent!
On the way to Smitty's store, I dropped off a huge bag of pillows and a big bag of shirts to Goodwill. (More such trips are definitely forthcoming.)
I was actually early for our "date" and managed to get the sales taxes done for last month on my own. Woohoo!
Then we finished off the quarterly set, getting him paid and the SIMPLE-IRA funded, too.
Only two hours to get all of that done - good!

I asked him about Christy and Daytona. She had contacted me while I was at the Polynesian Isles, asking about some vacation time. Miraculously, a place had opened up at the DBR! She told me she had to ask her hubby about the efficiency suite available, but I booked it right then. After all, I always LOVE going there!
Sure enough, she and John were not taking me up on that offer. He had family coming in that particular weekend.
Fine! Looks like I'm going there!

But first, to head home. Rains were on the way and the front yard still needed cutting.
I reached my destination just moments before the big heavy drops arrived.
Drats.
I ate lunch and stayed home.

Then came a knock on the door!
Christina and Chelsea were on my stoop.
Why? Christina needed a hug.
You know, one of those hugs that goes on and on, one of those hugs that reassures you that every little thing will eventually be alright again in the world.
She had just been told that she is losing her foster son.
The word was not official, as it came from one of the other foster moms, but the word said the four kids were going back to their birth mom after more than three years in state custody.
Heartbreaking.

My two nieces stayed with me until the first niece's husband got off work.
Then, all went home home, to await official word.
But I am invited to join Jason and the man with the voice for "Ant-Man" on Friday! Woohoo!
And I invited my niece and her husband to take the suite in Daytona, the place of their honeymoon, the place they love as much as I do.

Amazingly, the grass was not so wet from the slight rain.
I was able to mow the entire front yard before the battery gave out.
Mission accomplished!
And so much more.

no coincidences

Fortunately, I was in town on Monday when the church sent the word of this ceremony.

"Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church isn't giving up hope that gun violence will someday be greatly diminished. In an effort to call attention to the unmet need for tighter regulations and to honor the nineteen people who have been shot and killed this year in Chatham County, Asbury Memorial will affix orange ribbons to the church's courtyard fence on Henry Street - one for each victim. Children who have died will be represented with a lighter shade of orange ribbon. This demonstration of faith and respect is slated for 2.00pm on Wednesday, July 1, with a ceremonial ribbon tying, a few comments and prayer. The congregation also will incorporate the ribbons' placement into its July 5 worship services."

I was drawn to attend. I found myself writing the event on a Post-It, but instead of affixing the memo to my kitchen cabinet, as I usually would have done, I left it by my computer.
There, it reminded me each time I checked email, popped onto facebook, blogged of my recent travels.
Then, July 1st arrived.
I found myself suddenly fighting the push to actually go to the ceremony.
I knew I was being pushed.
That meant this was very important, this was something I was meant to do... this was an event which may overpower my emotions.
Knowing all of that, still I was being pushed!
So, I went, arriving after the tying on of the ribbons, but in time to join in on the call and response.
That's me, bottom left in the above photo, in the white shirt, with my hair in a ponytail.

***** ***** *****

Rev. Hester had selected one of his previous litanies for the call and response portion of this ceremony. This one demonstrates his longstanding, and continuing, commitment to stop deaths due to gunshot.

A LITANY ON THE TRAGEDY OF GUN VIOLENCE
(Written for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2010)

One: We celebrate and give thanks for the life and witness of the Rev.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

All:
who proclaimed a vision of all people living together,
and who bore witness to the power of nonviolence.

One: We gather to remember his words, his commitment, his life, and
to rededicate ourselves to addressing the evil of gun violence

All:
which claimed his life and which continues to plague our
country and the world.

One: Some 30,000 Americans die by guns each year in the U.S.

All:
And we grieve.

One: An average of eighty people are killed by guns every day,
including eight children.

All:
And our hearts break.

One: An American child is twelve times more likely to die by a gun
than are the children who live in all twenty-five industrialized
nations combined.

All:
And we weep.

One: The annual economic cost of gun violence in America is estimated
to at least $100 billion. Medical costs, decimated families, the
court system, our jails and prisons, and security measures in
airports, schools, and public buildings all contribute to this sum.

All:
And sorrow sweeps over us.

One: Since JFK was assassinated in 1963, more Americans have died
by gunfire within our own country than American servicemen
and women who were killed in all our wars of the 20th century.

All:
And we pray.

One: Faced with gun violence,

All:
We grieve for those who are killed and those whose lives are
forever changed; We seek to comfort those who have lost
loved ones; We pray for a change of heart for those who
resort to violence.

One: Faced with gun violence, may we

All:
Educate; Organize; Advocate;
And in all the ways we can, work for that day when guns and
weapons of destruction are transformed into instruments of
healing.

One: May it be so.

All:
May we so do.

***** ***** *****

There followed some remarks by Rev. Hester. Then, Mayor Edna Jackson also spoke, asking the community to help end gun violence.
I had not known that there have been 19 deaths by gunshot, in Chatham County alone, so far this year.
Eighteen of the ribbons of remembrance had already been tied onto the courtyard fence, with lighter colors for killed children. As the 19th ribbon was tied in place in front of the tv cameras, Rev. Hester began reading the names of those commemorated in this ceremony. After each name, the church bell sounded.
When the second name was read, I knew why I had been pushed.
It was the name of my friend's youngest brother.
Ramon Anthony Mooney.
(You can even hear his name and the bell pealing afterward, in this video from WSAV. Go to marker 0:36 to hear it.)

Goosebumps made me shiver in the summer heat.
Time stood still while my mind worked to comprehend.
Mama must have been the one pushing me. She was always close to this friend, especially during our senior year of high school.
Apparently, I was here, at this ceremony, to make sure my friend knew her brother was being remembered.
Incredible.
I was so glad I listened when I was pushed.
I am so glad I was there to take photos for my friend.
I am touched that all who died by gunshot were included, with no discrimination concerning circumstances.
That was truly thanks to God's healing touch.
i thank You, God, that i was there to bear witness.

For the article in the Savannah Morning News about the "Ribbons for a Reason" ceremony, as well as the list of names of those commemorated, go to this weblink.

For the coverage and video from WTOC, please go here.

And, in case you're wondering: the ribbons are not on the fence in chronological order. I do not know what paradigm was used, but they seem to have been randomly applied.
All souls are sacred.
i thank God for that, too.