~Living a life of sophisticated domestication deep in the heart of Texas~

Monday, January 31, 2011

Run your fingers through my soul....

For just once, feel exactly what I feel, believe what I believe, perceive as I perceive, look, experience, examine, and for once, just once, understand. (unknown)
I wonder what this world would be like if we had a better understanding of what was going on in the hearts and minds of our fellow sentient beings?

Last night SGTex and I were watching "Space Cowboys" on television and we got to talking about satellites, how it was a show about satellites and the fact that we could watch it because we have satellite tv. I went to sleep thinking about how different life is now than it was years ago, how the world is smaller, thanks to today's technology.
Thanks to yesterday's technology, he and I met (via the Internet, wow).
Thanks to Facebook, lol, I'm much more aware of what's going on in the lives of people who matter to me that live on the other side of the planet. (Hey, the planet doesn't have sides, lol!!)
But they do matter, these people who share what's on their hearts and minds and I can click "like" or comment in an instant, with them responding, or not. I swear, there are some friends who must have a bell ring or a buzzer go off at their desk when I post something....haha. I'm not one of those friends collectors who have thousands of so-called Facebook friends, but do have more than a few with whom I share interests, memories, family ties, or the need to agree to disagree about religion or politics.
It is fun, and I do think it's important to have that sort of connection with people around the world. Should I actually have something to say, it's nice to know someone might just read it and might just respond.
Yeah, but how about those with whom we spend our days and nights? If you're anything like me, every once in awhile I just have to stop, look over at my Man and marvel at what must be going on in that mind of his....Hmmmm.
Yeah, I do, and that's when he says, "Hey, why are you looking at me that way??!!"
I just can't help myself, Honey. Hahahaha ;+)
Shawn
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photo courtesy of: Jerrysjuicebar.com/blog09/2009

Saturday, January 22, 2011

How beautiful it is....

.... to do nothing, and then to rest afterward. ~Spanish Proverb

I love this picture that SGTex chose. He doesn't know I'm borrowing it for the blog, but here it is... :+) It matches, and I love it! (Thankyou kindly, Mister)

Well....If I were giving out 'the worst week just about EVER' awards, this last one would win, hands down. No kidding.

The worst thing that happened: SGTex lost a dear friend, who will be sorely missed by many. Here's to A, someone I'd really, really have liked to meet.

The best thing that happened: Lily the Black Bear had 2 little cublets yesterday. She and little Hope (who celebrates her 1st birthday today) are tucked away in their winter den getting acquainted. Talk about sweet!

So far, the weekend has been just fine. A beautiful, somewhat chilly but sunny Saturday in our part of Texas is fading into a lovely evening. My Man is out in the back yard harvesting some pecans. The puppies are running around in circles waiting for the back door to open, so they can give their own particular version of 'glad tidings' and be overjoyed at him, lol. Sasha the kitty is asleep in the office window, and after I rinse this shampoo out of my hair, I'm going to go see about scrambling some eggs. With ground beef, red bell peppers, onions and mushrooms.

Oh! Wine...we must have wine....

Shawn

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photo courtesy of: SGTex, a fantasy album cover, depicting 'the age of ice.'

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Time is....

....too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity." ~Henry Van Dyke

Which brings to mind the quip, "Good things come to those who wait." Umm, which also brings to mind, "All good things must come to an end."

Apparently, this could go on and on, lol.

Who said that, anyway?

Just sitting here sipping absinthe with SGTex and thinking about time....

I'd like to be able to say that I'm posting because I had great, profound thoughts on the matter of *time* and just had to blog, but that's not the case at all. Actually, it was an accident. As usual, I was looking at something else, and just happened across this poem by Mr. Van Dyke, so here we are. :+)

Anyway, have you noticed how it seems like nice things happen when there's plenty of time?

Perhaps it has to do with the attitude with which one anticipates what's about to happen, or with the approach one takes, taking plenty of time and being all laid back and relaxed when engaging in a pleasant activity...Either way, there's something nice about taking one's time.

Like on the weekend. Especially Sundays.

Not to say, one can't squeeze in something wonderful in a big. last minute hurry, just before it's time to start work or leave the house in a mad rush to get somewhere and do something very important.....

And those times are pretty especially nice too, aren't they? Mmmhmm ;+)

Shawn
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photo courtesy of vincanity, photobucket

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Provoking thought....











A few days ago I had the privilege, mercifully short-lived, of driving behind "the flag-waving gun-toting God-fearing voting conservative that the liberals warned you about." Besides that identifier, there were several others including "Impeach Obama" and this, er, food for thought: A caricature of our president urinating upon "first the constitution, then We the People." This kind of protected speech stirs me (1) to be sure I get out and vote and (2) to consider "toting," too, lest such intellectuals as that be the only armed citizens driving around.



It is increasingly apparent that the nation lost its one and only intelligent conservative on February 28, 2008, when William F. Buckley died. Indeed, isn't a given society's right wing opposed, heart of hearts, to thought?



Let us analyze. Let's take a legal-size sheet of paper and list stuff in a right and left column.



We want to consider indicators of brain power, smarts, sophistication. Okay, which side do we put "college education" on? Well, that would go opposite such items as "strict Bible creationism" and "overalls."



On this side, tree huggers who would save the whales, etc., hippies and gays and Jews and writer types. On the other, you got your "19 kids and counting," your truck for a car, your Sarah Palin's Alaska, where they exult in tossing the bloody beating hearts of hapless critters before their wincing little daughters.



If the lyrical sentiment of "Kumbaya," "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" must be jotted in our lefthand column, across from it (Willie Nelson or the Dixie Chicks notwithstanding), there is Merle. There is that spirit of, to quote Ray Wiley Hubbard, "kickin' hippies' asses and raisin' hell." Sure, the folk thing got kind of wussy there, but came through it all with good grades and graduated in the top quarter. Conservative country can take a lot of pride in what it is, but is it intelligent? Way hey ale, not eggs act Lee.



Opera and the arts versus Nascar. The Zen garden with koi pond versus bass fishing, and absinthe versus Coors.



Skipping down for the news & commentary line, I suppose NPR slash PBS goes goes flush left, then MSNBC next, which leaves room for Anderson Cooper. Now, just across the dividing line there appears Bill O'Reilly before it gets as bad as that bonehead, Glenn Beck -- but then, all the way over, lessee, who's an absolute bombastwit? Oh, yeah -- Rush Limbaugh. I know, we haven't the figures on IQ levels along that continuum, but just subjectively, whom are we kidding? You could sled down it.



To summarize, then, the liberal (or "progressive," as preferred by some) side is associated with intelligence and education. To be a conservative is to align proudly with the not-all-that-bright and just pretty much thump a drum of willful ignorance.



There, I said it. Ignite a cross in my yard.



SGTex


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photo courtesy of: www.enemyoftheleft.com

Monday, January 3, 2011

Romance is the glamour...


....which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze. ~Elinor Glyn
Well, here's 2011, and I'm already starting to think about that particular holiday in February, which is a favorite of people in love. Quelle surprise!
We finished a home décor project together this weekend that has an aspect of "romance enhancement." I'm quite pleased with the results ;+).
This morning SGTex and I had some conversation which touched on the topic of romance and how nice it is to keep it on hand, even during the work day. Not a problem here, and I must say, it does tend to brighten things up a bit when we get bogged down in the ordinary.
I'm certainly glad I don't have to wait until Valentine's Day to indulge in the romantic, or to be indulged ;+). I'm extremely fortunate in that department. And what makes it even nicer is knowing that it's a from-the-heart manifestation of what's real in my world. I'm very grateful for that.
Just what's on my mind at this moment....
Shawn
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