A song on a dark night....

Thank you, Sir. I am loving you, right down the line....

Shawn
***

Feelin' pretty lucky....

I'm sitting here at the desk doing some work, but mostly my mind is busy contemplating comings and goings...looking back at where we've been, how far we've come, the days ahead and all that sort of stuff. Maybe it's leftover Thanksgiving thoughts, or maybe it's looking forward to Christmas, the next holiday for us.

I hope your Thanksgiving was nice. Our *just-the-two-of-us* holiday was super, thanks to SGTex, The Man who cooked The Meal. In past days we've had a period of lovely moon time, some snow in the sky and on the ground, late autumn color kissed by early winter.

Life is good. And it's going to get even better, but right now, I'm very thankful and counting my blessings. I won't go into details, but I'm feeling like one very lucky girl, here... ;+)

Shawn
***

photo: A window at our planned wedding site

They have turkeys in Texas....

....and it's quite The Big Deal to hunt them, much like in olden times, so I thought I'd share a picture of some Native Texan Turkeys who look like they're about to high-tail it. I hope they got away and lived to run another day...

Come to think of it, my mother used to say, "My hair looks like the back end of a turkey" when she'd wake up with 'bed-head.' Maybe some of you had mothers who said the same thing (and it kinda did look like that).

May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, whatever the back of your hair looks like, whether your bird is fresh or frozen (as it should be)!

Shawn
***

And if you'll pardon me....

....I'd like to say we'd do okay....



....Nothing around but the sound of....

Shawn, for SGTex
***

Easy Saturday Evening...

~A Blade of Grass~

Said a blade of grass to an autumn leaf, "You make such a noise falling! You scatter all my winter dreams."

Said the leaf indignant, "Low-born and low-dwelling! Songless, peevish thing! You live not in the upper air and you cannot tell the sound of singing."

Then the autumn leaf lay down upon the earth and slept. And when spring came she waked again -- and she was a blade of grass.

And when it was autumn and her winter sleep was upon her, and above her through all the air the leaves were falling, she muttered to herself, "O these autumn leaves! They make such a noise! They scatter all my winter dreams."

K.Gibran, The Madman Chapter 30

Just stopping by after a lovely day with SGTex. After a heavenly, lazy morning, he gathered some mesquite from around the neighborhood and barbecued burgers. Since then, it's been wonderful being able to relax and enjoy an easy Saturday.

Now it's time for me to get a little work done here at the desk, and he's off to visit a friend for a bit. Hoping you all have had a nice day, too.

Hey, it's that time to fall back into Standard Time, so don't forget to set those clocks!

Shawn
***

BOO!!!!

Top 10 Signs You Are Too Old to Be Trick or Treating

10. You get winded from knocking on the door.

9. You have to have another kid chew the candy for you.

8. You ask for high fiber candy only.

7. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you lose your balance and fall over.

6. People say, "Great Keith Richards mask!" and you're not wearing a mask.

5. When the door opens you yell, "Trick or..." and can't remember the rest.

4. By the end of the night, you have a bag full of restraining orders.

3. You have to carefully choose a costume that won't dislodge your hairpiece.

2. You're the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker.

1. You avoid going to houses where your ex-wives live.

Compliments of Sir Spook, aka...

SGTex
***

Breithla Shona Dhuit!

It's SGTex's Birthday!!!

Blessed be the day you were born, Sir. My wish for you is happiness, Always & Forever!!!
Loving you...

Shawn
***

Can't wait to celebrate....

...but pardon me, I just had to post some fireworks! Please feel free to apply this bit of pop and sizzle to whatever occasion you feel is appropriate. Believe me, there's hope and happy aplenty, more than enough to go around....

Enjoy your week!

Shawn
***

Good morning, Monarch...

I came across this lovely photo on the Daily Texan Online website this morning. The October 12, 2006 caption reads "Media Credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife
Monarch butterflies, which have begun their migration to Mexico through Texas, compete with other local insects for flower nectar and are one of the few wildlife groups in Texas that are not suffering from the drought." I just thought it was pretty, so chose it as today's picture.

I'm just sitting here thinking about getting on with my day, but will probably go back to bed for awhile. Coffee is on, the cat is awake and fed, and I'm grateful that I don't feel much like I did yesterday when I was a bit 'under the weather.' (Do people still say that these days? Sometimes I think I talk like my grandparents!) I think it's going to be a very nice Friday for us. I wish you all the same!

Shawn
***

Sheba's Birthday....

...was 'way back on October 4, 1966. She was the most wonderful dog. I first met her when she was about 7-1/2 weeks old, sitting on my mother's lap with a big red bow tied around her neck. I stood there, totally speechless and of course, I cried. She was the cutest thing I'd ever seen, a fuzzy white teddy bear, all wiggles and cuddles.

As time went by, she became Daddy's dog, but she loved the rest of us, too. Greg used to play catch with her out in the front yard, throwing a somewhat-deflated football and she'd leap into the air and catch it like a pro. One day a little girl came by and exclaimed, "Mommy, look at the big white bunny rabbit!" Sheba hadn't quite caught up to her ears at that point.

One of our silly family stories is about when Greg was back east at a friend's house and was calling home. I don't remember if he talked to the dog, or just about the dog, but commented to his friend's family that she looked "like a little white polar bear." The father of Greg's friend said, "Have you ever SEEN a polar bear?" (Eye roll, sigh...) Well, she DID look like a polar bear. I know, because I've seen one. That very serious-minded man would have been sorry, had he known how many times we laughed about him through the years.

As brave as she was, she became very fearful on New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July. We'd left her at home in the garage one Fourth and some local kids teased her by tossing firecrackers at the garage door. She was totally traumatized, tearing up the garage and never got over that fear. We felt so very bad about that. On New Year's, a neighbor up at the lake always set off big dynamite, and that terrified her. She'd dig her paws into the carpet and wouldn't budge, so we got so we'd just sit there with her until it was over.

We only had Sheba a short 10 years, but from day one until her last, she was loyal and true, never failing to watch over us. She brought us such joy, loving us completely and unconditionally. It was a very sad time when we had to say a last goodbye and send her to the Rainbow Bridge. Since then, other beloved pets have gone to join her there. I can't help but think that she was there to meet the folks as they passed over into What Comes Next.

Happy Birthday, Dear Sheba. I still miss you.

Shawn
***

photo courtesy of sheprescue.org, "Lobo," looking very much like our Sheba

Blest be the Harvest Moon....

Under the harvest moon,
When the soft silver
Drips shimmering
Over the garden nights,
Death, the gray mocker,
Comes and whispers to you
As a beautiful friend
Who remembers.

Under the summer roses
When the flagrant crimson
Lurks in the dusk
Of the wild red leaves,
Love, with little hands,
Comes and touches you
With a thousand memories,
And asks you
Beautiful, unanswerable questions.

Carl Sandberg

We're blessed with an early Harvest Moon this year, so we hope you all will enjoy it tonight.

May you also enjoy the charming old song, compliments of SGTex.

Shawn & SGTex
***

And a fine Sunday evening it is, thanks...

I'm sitting here with SGTex and we're trying to decide just exactly what is that flowering plant growing in the neighbor's hanging basket. The question has put me on to Spring-thinking, and I really don't much care whether or not we happen upon the botanical name or identify the pretty plant, because I'm just enjoying the time together. I am glad he's got the know-how and is quite a gardener (admittedly, I am too). We'll be deciding what to plant on our patio, and as soon as the garden centers start loading up on the latest and loveliest, I'm going to be hard put to leave it alone and not come home with a trunkload of flowers.

Good thing we don't have to park far from the front door!


Shawn & SGTex
***

Photo: Wave Blue petunia

As I was saying earlier....

"...Treated me kind
Sweet destiny
Carried me through desperation
To the one that was waiting for me
It took so long
Still I believed
Somehow the one that I needed
Would find me eventually

I had a vision of love
And it was all that you’ve given to me

Prayed through the nights
Felt so alone
Suffered from alienation
Carried the weight on my own
Had to be strong

So I believed
And now I know I’ve succeeded
In finding the place I conceived

I had a vision of love
And it was all that you’ve given to me
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you’ve given me

I’ve realized a dream
And I visualized
The love that came to be
Feel so alive
I’m so thankful that I’ve received
The answer that heaven has sent down to me

You treated me kind
Sweet destiny
And I’ll be eternally grateful
Holding you so close to me
Prayed through the nights
So faithfully
Knowing the one that I needed
Would find me eventually

I had a vision of love
And it was all that you’ve given to me
I had a vision of love
And it was all that you turned out to be"




And that's the way it is.

Shawn
***

This world of ours...

Our friend Michele shared these words with us today, on this 9/11 morning. In part, this is what she will be reading at the Interfaith Memorial Service in her California town.

"The contrary people think
This world is in a great fire
The end of the kalpa of destruction is coming.
In reality this world of mine is peaceful.
It is filled with gods and men.
The gardens, forests, and stately buildings
Are adorned with various treasures;
The jewelled trees have many flowers and fruits;
The living beings are enjoying themselves;
And the gods are beating heavenly drums,
Making various kinds of music,
And raining mandarava-flowers on the great multitude
and me."

The above is excerpted from The Life Span Chapter of the Lotus Sutra

***
"In my lifetime I want to see evidence of things turning around, of my home planet starting to be less of a hell and more like heaven or a Buddha land. Hurry Kosen-Rufu of Sandai Hiho, hurry jiyu." SGTex, June 2005

Shawn
***

Nearly a new Monday morning...

"To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition, to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--this is to have succeeded."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just sharing a bit of wisdom as we move into another week. The moon is about to turn from 'going to coming' and there's much to be done. Here's hoping we all enjoy the blessing of the morrow...

Shawn
***

"Ssssshhhh....shush, now..."

Something I hear from time to time is my Man telling me, "Now, lookie here..." Other times, it's "Shush, now. It's all right..." Words like that, which more often than not have to be repeated several times over, until the racing thoughts (and words pouring out of my mouth) cease, and I desist, you know, from being not-so-very cooperative.

That's one of my most favorite things about him. That Calming Effect. Letting me know that all will be well, real soon-like. I can tell you, he's had to draw on that quality in himself more times than we can probably count during the last couple of years.

Today he found this song from a favorite film, The Color Purple, and shared it with me. I am so grateful, as it really hit the spot. Just what I needed, that beautiful reminder that it really pays to listen up and pay attention, because there's a message with my name on it, written across the sky, just beyond those gray clouds. You know, the ones with just a hint of silver lining....

Shawn, getting her spiritual groove on, and ever so grateful for SGTex
***

Trouble in Sweetwater....

This is for all you gardeners. Never bring your plants into the house.

Garden Grass Snakes (also known as Garter Snakes.... Thamnophis sirtalis) can be dangerous... Yes, grass snakes, not rattlesnakes.

Here's why...

A couple in Sweetwater, Texas, had a lot of potted plants. During a recent cold spell, the wife was bringing a lot of them indoors to protect them from a possible freeze. It turned out that a little green garden grass snake was hidden in one of the plants and when it had warmed up, it slithered out and the wife saw it go under the sofa. She let out a very loud scream. The husband (who was taking a shower) ran out into the living room naked to see what the problem was. She told him there was a snake under the sofa. He got down on the floor on his hands and knees to look for it. About that time the family dog came and cold-nosed him on the behind. He thought the snake had bitten him, so he screamed and fell over on the floor. His wife thought he had a heart attack, so she covered him up, told him to lie still and called an ambulance.

The attendants rushed in, wouldn't listen to his protests and loaded him on the stretcher and started carrying him out. About that time the snake came out from under the sofa and the Emergency Medical Technician saw it and dropped his end of the stretcher. That's when the man broke his leg and why he is still in the hospital.

The wife still had the problem of the snake in the house, so she called on a neighbor man. He volunteered to capture the snake. He armed himself with a rolled-up newspaper and began poking under the couch. Soon he decided it was gone and told the woman, who sat down on the sofa in relief.

But while relaxing, her hand dangled in between the cushions, where she felt the snake wriggling around. She screamed and fainted, the snake rushed back under the sofa. The neighbor man, seeing her lying there passed out, tried to use CPR to revive her.

The neighbor's wife, who had just returned from shopping at the grocery store, saw her husband's mouth on the woman's mouth and slammed her husband in the back of the head with a bag of canned goods, knocking him out and cutting his scalp to a point where it needed stitches. The noise woke the woman from her dead faint and she saw her neighbor lying on the floor with his wife bending over him, so she assumed that he had been bitten by the snake. She went to the kitchen and got a small bottle of whiskey, and began pouring it down the man's throat.

By now the police had arrived. They saw the unconscious man, smelled the whiskey, and assumed that a drunken fight had occurred. They were about to arrest them all, when the women tried to explain how it all happened over a little green snake. The police called an ambulance, which took away the neighbor and his sobbing wife. The little snake again crawled out from under the sofa. One of the policemen drew his gun and fired at it. He missed the snake and hit the leg of the end table. The table fell over and the lamp on it shattered and as the bulb broke it started a fire in the drapes. The other policeman tried to beat out the flames, and fell through the window into the yard on top of the family dog who, startled, jumped out and raced into the street, where an oncoming car swerved to avoid it and smashed into the parked police car.

Meanwhile, the burning drapes were seen by the neighbors who called the fire department. The firemen had started raising the fire truck ladder when they were halfway down the street. The rising ladder tore out the overhead wires and put out the electricity and disconnected the telephones in a ten-square city block area (but they did get the house fire out).

Time passed... Both men were discharged from the hospital, the house was repaired, the dog came home, the police acquired a new car, and all was right with their world. A while later they were watching TV and the weatherman announced a cold snap for that night. The husband asked his wife if she thought they should bring in their plants for the night, and that's when she shot him.


Borrowed from another MT Forum

Shawn
***

Let your light shine down.....

An awesome rendition of a favorite. I adore this version...
Shawn & SGTex
***

SGTex on a September Saturday...

This is what SGTex had to say in response to a creationist's post on MTDaily Religion Board, our "I'net home away from home." I am so impressed and proud, I just had to share it with you all here.
Shawn

Evolution & a rational spirituality:

"In the evolution thread below, avmar remarks: “If evolution is true, then...we are nothing, made for no reason at all. There would be no purpose in life since, after all, the only purpose we have after we die is to fertilize the dirt.”

I joyfully disagree with with this assessment of the implications of evolution theory and the scientific account.

It seems to be very important to creationists to assert that they have a monopoly on all meaning and value and purpose, and in advancing that arrogant claim they have to paint evolutionist thought as being starkly vain and nihilistic, ugly and wrong and hopeless. You can see this in their little comic books, where the one little Christian in the classroom stands up and makes a fool out of the mean old evolutionist professor in all his bombast and bluster.

Very important to villainize and misrepresent us evolutionists as *wanting* to believe there is no God, no meaning or purpose or moral value in existence. But this is a false and rather unfair “strawman” device of the creationists, to keep the flock believing the other side must be insane and bent on sin. I have never met an evolutionist, even an atheistic one, who believes we are nothing or that there is no purpose in life except to rot in the ground after we croak.

Rather, those who embrace science and reason and the beautiful evidence that permeates all of nature tend to be inspired, spiritually inclined intellectuals with lofty philosophy and a wish to do good in the world. This is because science and reason along with a vision of the display of the living universe can only lift us up to the glory and dignity we are heir to.
All things are wondrous, and the workings of the universe are unutterably splendid and good. It is not necessary that an outside entity endow us (or a star, or an atom) with purpose. We contain/are contained by the highest and only meaning, that which is its own cause and purpose, eternal and constant. That's a Buddhist tenet, but is eminently compatible with evolution theory and variations on the “Big Bang” theoretical physics.

In my sect we worship that sovereign absolute by chanting the perfect equation for it, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. But of course there are other ways of appreciating the wonderful law of the universe, foundation and basis of everything, pure meaning, pure goodness and all that is purposeful and real.

Universe is from the Latin universum, “entire, complete.” One = the All = All Things That Actually Exist. It's a matter of whether one respects that straightforward definition of “universe.” If strict creationists posit a creator God outside of the universe, I think ironically they are excluding Him from the set of things that exist!

What if the universe and God were not two? What if the profound reality turned out to be eternally self-caused or uncaused?"

SGTex
***

Photo: Das Weltall (The Universe) from the Scivias Codex

What Sullivan said to Sarah...

Today I've been thinking about the personal vows my Man and I shared last night, and those we will publicly exchange on our wedding day. This letter, written by Sullivan Ballou to his wife Sarah, came to mind. I remember when Ken Burns shared a version of it with us during his unforgettable and amazing TV series, The Civil War. Sullivan composed it a week before he and his men fought at Bull Run, after which the letter was later recovered and delivered to Sarah.

I never forgot these words, nor the music played during its reading and the depth of its beauty. I thought I'd not keep it to myself, but share it with you here.


July the 14th, 1861

Washington DC

My very dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days - perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

Our movement may be one of a few days duration and full of pleasure - and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. Not my will, but thine 0 God, be done. If it is necessary that I should fall on the battlefield for my country, I am ready. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing - perfectly willing - to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt.

But, my dear wife, when I know that with my own joys I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them in this life with cares and sorrows - when, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it as their only sustenance to my dear little children - is it weak or dishonorable, while the banner of my purpose floats calmly and proudly in the breeze, that my unbounded love for you, my darling wife and children, should struggle in fierce, though useless, contest with my love of country?

I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm summer night, when two thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying the last, perhaps, before that of death -- and I, suspicious that Death is creeping behind me with his fatal dart, am communing with God, my country, and thee.

I have sought most closely and diligently, and often in my breast, for a wrong motive in thus hazarding the happiness of those I loved and I could not find one. A pure love of my country and of the principles have often advocated before the people and "the name of honor that I love more than I fear death" have called upon me, and I have obeyed.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me to you with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when God willing, we might still have lived and loved together and seen our sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me - perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar -- that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have oftentimes been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the garish day and in the darkest night--amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours - always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again.

As for my little boys, they will grow as I have done, and never know a father's love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me long, and my blue eyed Edgar will keep my frolics with him among the dimmest memories of his childhood. Sarah, I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care and your development of their characters. Tell my two mothers his and hers I call God's blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.

Sullivan

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

---<-<-@
Shawn
***