Here are some hilariously....

Mixed feelings about St. Patrick's Day....

Sure and the color green first brings to mind good things – it is the color of life, springtime, money, or a green light to go on and get there in time. The Green Movement is positive in favor o’ the planet. These green things and absinthe, we like a lot.


We have mixed feelings about Saint Patrick’s Day, just as not everything green is all that good – there being the green of nausea, or infection, or algae in the fish tank.

My wife’s of Irish blood, and lived there awhile as a young teacher. There an old tinker woman held her face, looked in her eyes and recognized her from a former life. There she saw Ogham symbols carved in trees and stones, or stones stacked in a special secret way at gravesites, a silence and a subtlety that spoke volumes about Catholic oppression in centuries past.

Come the Internet, there came a worthy worldwide revival known as Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism. We have no reverence for such “saints” as Patrick, and would not care to celebrate the cruel scourge he instigated to replace Celts and Druids with Christians.

Crediting old Pat with driving snakes from Eire is almost as wrong and silly as young-earth creationism. There never had been any snakes there – the Ice Age saw to that.

I always remember the 17th of March as the anniversary of my departure from Hendrick Medical Center. They drove me out proper, they did, in good Christian style.

SGTex
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It's my birthday....

.... and I've spent much of the day thanking my wonderful Facebook friends for the sweet greetings they've been leaving on my wall.

Is the rest of the world as involved as we are (I am) with social networking?  Frankly, it would be a different world if we hadn't the ability to chat across the miles.  I was telling someone today how often one of my friends on the other side of the planet is on their way to bed and I'm just getting up and wishing them a good day, lol. 

I thought this cartoon was cute.  Every time SGTex coughs or sneezes he gets a "Bless you!" from me...and vice versa, so I kinda related to these sheep, haha.

Well, I must say it's been quite a day.  A good part of it was getting the chance to talk to family folks.  That doesn't happen too often, with me being down here in Texas in the middle of the prairie and they're quite a ways elsewhere.  Months can go by between conversations and years will pass between actual face-to-face visits.  That is not a good thing.  I haven't seen one brother for 13 years, now.  Some family members I have yet to meet.  What's up with that?!  Anyway, never mind.  I guess I'm allowed to get personal on my birthday, on my blog, right?  ;~)

I hope that when you have birthdays they are happy and makers of great memories.  There's salmon about to go on the grill out in the back yard and a chocolate cake with pink striped candles is waiting in the other room. 

So, I'm just sitting here at my desk wishing all of you the best possible day or night, wherever you are, and whatever time it is there.  If you happen to stop by and read this, don't be shy.  Say hello.

Love!

Shawn
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I have feelings....

....too, and my feelings matter.

That's something you might hear someone say to you from time to time.  Or perhaps it's something you say to them, or maybe you just think about saying that.

Anyway, it's been on my mind more than usual, lately.  I guess stuff that's happening in my world is probably not much different than stuff happening in your world, if we're talking about the "close to my heart" kind of world.  What might be happening in the big, planetary scheme of things is probably vastly different and even more important, I suppose. 

Just the other day I was informed by a friend that it's scary at night where they live.  They might lock their doors and have dogs to sound the alarm when bad things are about to happen (and they do happen on a regular basis), but they never really know that it's safe to go to sleep and dream pleasant dreams.  How can they live that way?  They get up in the morning and manage to be relatively cheerful and brave and go about their day very effectively.  I'd be terrified.  It's an injustice, their having to live like that, and it seems that there's no recourse for them and no one to make it different at this point in time. 

What about Syria?  We've talked about that before.  Or what about people who have chronic illness, even to the point of terminal disease?  How do they manage their "story" and get by each and every day, feeling like it's worth it to get up in the morning and go about what business they might have yet to do in their life?  I admire people who have the courage to look on the bright side and seize their day and make a positive difference, but it has to be difficult. 

Oftentimes, the real, lasting difference that someone has made is merely a moment taken to have a hug or some conversation and reach out, giving some love to one who needs it. 

There were people in my life who did that very thing.  On two occasions, I had two separate conversations in two separate towns with two separate women had to do with one particular issue.  I needed to be reminded of something about myself, and it was obvious to them, and they let me know that my feelings mattered.  ;~)  That was a very long time ago, and both of these women have left this lifetime and are somewhere out there beyond my reach, but whenever they come to mind, I think how they took a little time to put their arms around me and say a few gentle words.  For that I am truly grateful.

I just hope that I can do that for someone, and that when they think of me, they'll be smiling.

Or laughing.  ;~D

Shawn
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Happy Valentine's Day.....

~Love One Another~

....Shawn & SGTex....

Bear Hill Babies.....

Ben Kilham, the only bear rehabilitator in New Hampshire, is this winter caring for a record 27 orphaned bear cubs. He usually has on average three to five orphaned cubs hibernating in an enclosure near his home in the woods. Food bills are... usually minimal, because the cubs slept through the winter.

But this year, because so many female bears were shot in chicken coops and bee hives across the state, he has a problem. They are waking each other up, playing in the trees, burning up the calories and running up a huge bill on Kibbles 'n Bits. Despite receiving grants and donations from the public, the bill for keeping the cubs fed until Spring will average at $1,000 per cub.


If you would be like to help Ben pay for food for the bears please send checks to:

Bear Hill Conservancy Trust in care of Ben Kilham
P.O. Box 37
Lyme, NH 03768

~Thank you!  Pass the word along.  Let's do a better job taking care of our friends in the wild.

Shawn & SGTex
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It's just about....

....a week until Valentine's Day.




There's just time enough to heal the brokenhearted, or at least make the attempt.



Time enough to let the one you love know that you don't take him or her for granted, and that you appreciate and see the effort he or she makes to let you know that you are truly special.



Let them know that they do actually matter and make a difference in your life.



It's important to not assume that what they need to believe in order to get through the days and nights just goes without saying. And while you're saying it, if you can't say it with gold or diamonds or chocolate, then say it by word or deed, with hearts and flowers of some sort and above all-- mean every word.



~ Anonymous  

xoxo Shawn xoxo

Happy Birthday......

.... Bob Marley....

Carpe dentum.....

....seize the teeth! 

Well, didn't Mrs. Doubtfire just take liberties all over the place. 

Last night we watched (apparently for the third or fourth time) one of my favorite movies, and after what's happened today in my little world, I got to thinking.

Uh oh, you say?  Does it seem to you that Daniel, being who he was all that time, didn't really know what others were thinking about him and was pretty oblivious to the effect his (mis)behaviors were having on his life and loved ones?  Then, when it all got turned upside down he transformed himself on the outside in order to preserve his relationship with his children and become a new and improved version of himself on the inside.  What others thought of him wasn't really entirely true, but he turned the pain of being told off, having his marriage end and his life go to pieces into something positive.  He gained some insight by basically eavesdropping on his own life when he/she had a cuppa with his ex-wife.  That must have been devastating, but he took it and processed it in his way.  

I'm kinda thinking that what he heard about himself may or may not have been true--that's not the important part.  It's that he was able to hang on to some self respect and be thankful he was who he was, inside.  He held himself together and created a new (though temporary) persona in order to fight for who he wanted to be, and that was who he had been in the first place:  the father of his children.  The new and improved version.

I don't know why I'm saying this, but it just occurred to me that sometimes we think we're giving one impression and it just so happens that it's not the one we intended to give.  I can mean for someone to believe one thing about me and think I'm totally on point and then find out that they haven't gotten that impression at all.  For whatever reason, they're thinking something totally different about me....perhaps due to their own prejudices or expectations or doubts and fears.

Sometimes you just can't win for losing, but if you can find something in yourself for which to be thankful at least you'll have a fighting chance at turning out to be who you meant to be tomorrow.

Go ahead and *Carpe Diem... seize the day*

if tomorrow ever comes, that is....

Shawn
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O Happy Day....

President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama

January 20, 2012

To the world you might be just one person….

…..but to one person you might be the world.  ~Bill Wilson

Quite the conversation starter, hmm?  We all want to be the world to someone and have someone be our world…In the nicest possible way. 

I’ve kinda had that on my mind a bit over the last few days, but I must warn you that I’ve been sick, so we really had better not put too much stock in my thoughts when I’m running a fever.  And yes, I know there are more than a few of you out there who are snickering right now, as in "what’s my excuse when I’m not feverish?"  Yeah.

Anyway, there’s that, and then you probably have seen that we here in the US of A are getting excited for the Inauguration.  Some people wonder why there is such an event for a 2nd term election.  I’m not sure who has done what in the past, but we have friends who are going to Washington, DC to be there and it will be fun to see their pictures and read what they have to say about all of it.

For our part, we sent greetings along to Bo, the First Dog from Sebastian and Seamus, the Havanese Hellboys.  LOL.  Sebastian, by the way, has been naughty.  He chased a cat up a tree and now goes around acting like he’s the neighborhood Tuff Guy.  (being clueless that he's about the size of a loaf of bakery bread!)  Seamus has been his usual angelic self.  At least to the best of our knowledge, which is somewhat limited.  This pair is always up to something.

Well, see?!  I didn’t have anything more substantial to say than I usually do, after all.  Haha.  Perhaps there will be something interesting to share later on down the road.  Meanwhile, we do hope you have wonderful days and nights.  Welcome to our new readers and we’re so glad that each of you stop by.

See you in the funnies!  (Do they say that where you come from?)

Love!

Shawn

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What's love got...

...to do with it?

Just about everything.

So, I just happened to notice that some time has gone by and I haven't blogged in awhile. 

I might have had more to say about life these days, but my mind has been quite preoccupied with things that are not conducive to blogging, really.  Sometimes things are just too personal or hard to explain or of absolutely no interest to anyone but me, and I'd just as soon find another interest, iykwim. 

I was having a conversation with a friend who mentioned how much people post mundane, trivial and even irritating things on Facebook.  I think I probably do some of that, and do some of it right here on the blog. 

Eyeroll.

(Hey, has it ever struck you as interesting that you might overhear a conversation and the word "Facebook" comes up, and you think to yourself, "I wouldn't have ever heard such a word used 15 years ago."  Or am I the only one who thinks up this stuff (speaking of mundane, trivial and even irritating things)?  LOL.

 Anyway, I was about to say that it's more than a week into 2013 and I've been thinking about things, wondering and speculating and figuring and yada yada yada.  Cryptic, I am.  Haha.  You'll be glad to know I do plan on continuing to keep those thoughts mostly to myself, but wanted to stop by and remind myself and others who might pass through that we need peace of mind, peace in our hearts and peace in our homes.  The neighborhoods in which we live need peace, as do our cities and countrysides.

Let's do it.....love the world into peace.

Shawn
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Happy New Year....

....to our friends around the world. 

We're so glad you stop by from time to time and hope that 2013 brings you all the best there is.

We wish you....

...a most wonderful holiday and the best of family and friends time together as 2012 draws to a close.

This past year has been filled with amazing, special times to remember, both with joy and with sorrow.

We are trusting that the new year brings healing and blessing to all of us, but most especially those who lost their loved ones in the recent tragedies here in America. 

Glad tidings!!

Shawn & SGTex, Seamus & Sebastian

Remembering...

...those ones we loved and lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School. 

Tis the season....

....in Malaysia!!!

~Shawn & SGTex~

Our blue marble....

This famous "Blue Marble" shot represents the first photograph in which Earth is in full view. The picture was taken on December 7, 1972, as the Apollo 17 crew left Earth’s orbit for the moon. With the sun at their backs, the crew had a perfectly lit view of the blue planet.



Nationalgraphic.com  Milestones In Space Photography   Photograph courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center



It's been 40 years since this picture was taken, and I have to think:  How nicely have we been playing with our blue marble? 
Since 1972, we've learned a lot about the environment and have a better idea of what we can do to preserve the planet and make our air and water and soil more pure.  We've got a better idea of what we can do politically.  We're able to know, as it happens, what happens.  If I were to stick a pin in this picture, I could pin the spot where people were caring and giving help and aid to preserve wildlife.

 I could pin the spot (Taiji cove in Japan, for example) where people are ignoring those who care and are herding, chasing, tormenting, trapping and slaughtering dolphins and whales....mostly for food and once in awhile for the sport and entertainment of others.  (Hey, Japan!  How'd you like that earthquake?  Everybody okay over there?  You've had 2 warnings from the planet to knock it off.....Pay attention!!)

Or how about Syria?  Would someone please explain to me the mentality behind making war on your own people, please.  Oh.  It just cannot be explained.  I thought not.

Yeah, there are a few things happening around this world which give me some grief, but that's NOTHING like the grief the perpetrators who make war on this planet and those who live upon it will be receiving when their time comes.

And it will.

Mark my words.

Shawn
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December Moon....

Before going to bed

After a fall of snow

I look out on the field

Shining there in the moonlight

So calm, untouched and white

Snow silence fills my head

After I leave the window.



Hours later near dawn

When I look down again

The whole landscape has changed

The perfect surface gone

Criss-crossed and written on

Where the wild creatures ranged

While the moon rose and shone.



Why did my dog not bark?

Why did I hear no sound

There on the snow-locked ground

In the tumultuous dark?



How much can come, how much can go

When the December moon is bright,

What worlds of play we'll never know

Sleeping away the cold white night

After a fall of snow.



~May Sarton

...and we're back.....

......after the election.

...delighted to report that the Obamas are still the First Family, and Bo is the First Dog ;~).

That is like the best news ever, for us! 
I can't wait for the Inauguration in January.

So, as I was saying, things at the White House are much the same as they were before.  Things at our house are only nearly the same as they were before....SGTex is about to embark on a renewed career as an RN.  I'm excited for him.  What will I be doing?  Oh, I'll be continuing to develop my role as an aspiring "domestic goddess" (stay-at-home wife with the Hellpups here at the house).  We're looking forward to that all taking shape. 

It will be really and truly happy holidays if all our wishes and dreams about this stuff comes true....

The United States of America is still "one nation," despite of what you may have heard.  There are some crazy people out there and they seem to feel that it's time to pout and rebel and wreak some domestic havoc if they can.  Secessionists really need to simmer down and rethink their strategy before somebody takes them seriously and starts taking names...if ya know what I mean.  (eyeroll)
I realize that there are all kinds of people in a nation that allows freedom of thought and expression of that thought, but there are those who would take it too far, and that seems to be the case with these folks.  So many of them aren't really the brightest bulbs in the box.  In other words, they just seem to get stirred up by this awful thing called "talk radio."  That's where people sit and listen while knot-heads do the talking, and the people who are doing the listening are obviously not much in the "smarts department," nor are the talkers.  LOL!  Poor dears, as my husband says.... Stay tuned.  Might as well.  What the hell.  (another eyeroll)

Anyway, I said all that to say this:  We'll be just fine.  The majority of the people voted in President Obama again.  I repeat:  Yay!!!!  Gas prices have gone down a bit.  The lights are still on.  This is still the land of opportunity and the creek ain't gonna rise that high.  The Atlantic seaboard that got gobsmacked by the Atlantic Ocean in Big Storm Sandy will recover and be all right.  People will get the help they need and go back to work.  New things will happen.  Old stuff will crumble and fall away and something better will come along, just like it always has.  Why?  Precisely because we are the United States of America, and there's still room for the sad, the bad, the good and the glad.  I like how that works.

Cheers!
Shawn
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By this time tomorrow....

.... we'll know a couple of more things than we do now, around here. 

The Mr and I have some big stuff going on these days, and just one of those things we'll know more about is the Big Presidential Election!

SGTex and I were among the early voters around here, which apparently was a good idea, since people are standing in lines for hours and hours and hours.  We've never seen anything like it.  There is a lot happening behind the scenes, both good and bad, which is very apt to make a close race a close, complicated race.  I just trust that there will not be delays and anything that seriously prevents us knowing who won as soon as Wednesday morning dawns.  Wow!

I suppose the whole world is watching America to see what is going to happen next.  Our hope is that the incumbent wins and that the wonderful family pictured here will stay put in the White House for 4 more years.  We love them and know that they will continue to do their best for us.

It's going to be exciting to watch, and hopefully not too long a wait for the Big News. 

.....Obama/Biden 2012.....

Cheers!

Shawn & SGTex
*****