Happy Birthday, Colleen!

Happy Birthday Colleen wherever you are

Art by Colleen

 

XX

Case XX Mother of Pearl Stainless circa 1977

I feel the chill of winter in my bones and I’m wheedling Carolyn to put the flannel sheets on the bed. She is trying to hold out for new ones but I expect she will give in and use the old ones.

Looks like lower elevation leaves are about to peak in color. Still not a great season for them, though.

Have a wonderful weekend, y’all!

Cantata

This video is for Sandy. I think I like this orchestra version better, though.

After two very warm days it has turned cool and rainy again. We could have snow showers Saturday.

Sammy says he wants to leave and go to Florida and take Granny and Papaw with him. Mason is talking in full sentences now and singing up a storm. Jaden is taking a few steps alone. It is hard to believe that Sammy will be old enough for pre-school next year. Gods help his teacher if he goes.

Decisions

The only wasted vote is the one that isn’t cast. Once again, I support the Green Party and I hope you will consider what they stand for before you visit the polls next month.

I’m having a mid-week crisis. I don’t know if I should continue on or turn around and go back.

I got around to watching the second installment of The Hunger Games and it was hardly worth the time.

Ode to All of Us

When I become saddened and down — as I was much of this past weekend — this music video presents me with an immediate lift of spirits. No, I should say it brings me a swift high as it sets soaring the essence of “I” which is deep within me. The children! Oh my, the children are so joyful at seeing and hearing such inspiring music being created in front of them that they unknowingly become a part of it. Ode to Joy was originally a poem, yet when I listen, words become meaningless as the music speaks directly to my soul. Yes, I know I have placed this video on my blog before more than once but I trust that you can bear with me as I repeat doing so from time to time. I hope it shall bring a bit of joy to you, too

Cream

Mark posted on Facebook that Cream bassist Jack Bruce died. Man, what a blow to the world of real rock music. He has long been acknowledged as the best bass player in rock ‘n’ roll history and the three-man band wasn’t named “Cream” for no reason; they were the cream of the crop musicians in their time. Along with Bruce were insanely great drummer Ginger Baker and “Slow Hand” guitarist Eric Clapton. Jack Bruce was 71 years old when he died.

I went back to new RA doctor yesterday to see what they had in store for my treatment. I should have stayed home. There are medications which should help me immensely but they are not for me; I am cursed with not having the money to pay for them. Sometimes I feel like throwing in the towel and saying to hell with doctors in particular and the world in general. I left the place pissed to the gills and Carolyn was crying. I wish life were kinder to her.

The boys tomorrow.

Shoe-bee-doobee-doo

Wild Azalea # 1 Pen and Ink by Sandy Nuss

I’ve given up on my old walking sneakers. I bought them about twelve years ago and wore them until the soles began breaking off in chunks. I hate to change because the old ones had contoured themselves to fit my bunions. It is like saying goodbye to old friends. The new sneakers are okay but will take some stretching here and there to where I am comfortable wearing them. Tomorrow and Saturday should give them a nice workout.

The latest Hunger Games flick — Catching Fire — is now streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Most people say it is better than the first one of the movie trio. I thought the original was good but not great.

Thanks to Sandy Nuss for allowing me to use her artwork in the blog. This caught my eye as I browsed her photo stream on Flickr.

Ratty movies

If it were not for documentary films on Netflix and PBS, I doubt I would watch much TV. Man, they sure make some bad movies in Hollywood. I don't understand why big-time stars belittle themselves by taking on roles in such poor flicks. Greed for the big payday, I suppose.

I am already sick of cold weather and we haven't had any hard winter as yet. I eagerly await the Easter Bunny and apple blossoms.

Over on Megashot, Maggie is rolling along with her Play Time community. At present, it is dedicated to the harvest season and all which it entails. Lots of very nice photos from some darn good photographers. I am still posting photos from the past, many of which I've never shown before. None are great but it helps keep me grounded in the art and science of photography.

The Mids

Nearly mid-week already but worse, it is past mid-month and nearly time to set clocks back. It’ll seem like dark comes in mid-afternoon.

The more I listen to smooth jazz the more I like it. However laid back I’ve become, I still like Pink Floyd and Neil Young best. Somewhere I have an old Christmas CD that is all slow jazz; I’ll be wanting to find it soon.

Whispers

----

My heart whispers words which my tongue cannot translate …

Autumn; that time of year when each scent is a memory …

I love Friday!

Friday! Today is good even if a ghostly remnant of yesterday nags along behind me. On the horizon, Saturday looks to be inviting me to hurry on over and have some fun.
No rush from me though; I love Friday!

“… after all we’re only ordinary men”

Recently I read that Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon album — which was released in 1973 — finally fell off the popularity charts. I wager that music from it is still played by radio stations more than any other single album ever. I think the song Us and Them defines the band’s philosophy toward life more than any other.

Another gloomy and chilly day in the hills. It may not be winter as yet but it sure looks like it on the other side of my window.

Peace

A Greeting for My Longtime Friend ...

Happy Birthday, Alice!

Alice is my friend of 40 years. We have laughed together and we have shed tears together. I am so lucky to have her as part of my life. Happy Birthday, my Friend.

Autumn thoughts

Out back this morning

Heavy winds and rain last night. I don’t think the leaves will be as pretty this year as is usual. Poplar leaves are going yellow and then quickly turning brown. I hope to get to the Wilbur area in a week or two; if colors are vibrant anywhere it will be along the upper Watauga water shed.

Bank of America is finally leaving East Tennessee. First Tennessee bank bought their accounts, including our business account. The transition is not as easy as the banks want us to believe. They have had us preparing for several weeks now but actually we cannot do anything until the 17th when it will all have to be done at once.

- – – – – – – – – – – – -

Brilliant lightning in my head blinding my mind’s eye as thunder rumbles through my skull and dulls my senses, leaving me deaf, unseeing, and mute as to whom or why I am. Thus, winter has come.

Happy Birthday, Jeremy!

California Dream

Happy Birthday, Jeremy. I will get you an email as soon as possible.

I don't know what ear worm is worse; Thomas the Train song or The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round. I got a good mix of both yesterday. Actually, either one is better than The Brady Bunch song.

Finally a pretty day here after two weeks of rain. At least so far it is pretty.

Happy Monday, Worshday, and have a great week.

Someone Loves You ...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Tennessee Whiskey

Not much happening so enjoy a bit of George singing about Jack.

Starlight & Roses

Feeling much better today.

Sammy no longer allows himself to be called Sam or Sammy; he is now “Hammer”. All three of those boys are a caution.

Watched The Newton Boys movie t’other night. It was the most boring movie I’ve viewed in a long time. A bank robbing gang should be able to keep a person awake for part of the time but this one failed in a bad way.

Not a lot of really good flicks coming out of Hollywood these days. Not a lot of good actors, either. Most are so wooden in their roles that I wonder why they didn’t make an animated show to begin with. Shrek was a very good animation that seemed more real than do many regular movies.

Good Thursday …

Paper Moon

I’m having a bad day but I hope yours is perfection.

RA

Met with my new RA doctor today. A lot of questions and some blood work took nearly two hours. In two weeks I will find out what his plan of attack is for my lingering malady. After leaving there, it was to the Cottage for take out food and then back home as it began to rain again.

Megashot was off-line for a couple of days and I about went nuts yesterday wanting to get back to work. I don’t have much to do online and the site gives me much needed relief from boredom. I have very few friends on the net and I still don’t care much for Facebook or Google+ so commenting on photos is my thing. Yes, I could do the same on Flickr but that site is just another social network and I am not a very social person. I like a few close friends to interact with but other than that, I am still pretty much a loner.

Have a good day, my friends.

“L.A.’s fine …”

LA from Griffith Observatory

Jeremy at Griffith Observatory

More pics from Jeremy and Courtney. I like this view of  Los Angeles. They still have a smog problem but not as bad as it once was. I have seen older views from the observatory where downtown could not be made out because of the smog. The photo of Jeremy is very good, showing off his dreads and, considering the apparent time of day, I used a warming filter before uploading it. Thank you Jeremy and Courtney. You are becoming very good photographers.

We had our first official frost Sunday morning. Temperature was just at freezing point but the wind was briskly blowing at our house therefore no frost showed. Jerry lives in a sheltered mountain cove and he said it was fairly heavy at his house.

The day here began sunny but it is now raining, one of those cold showers akin to what well-meaning friends drag you into when they want to sober you up or like you do when you are horny and your wife says “hell no!”.

Have a fine week, my friends.

L.A. livin’

Jeremy and Courtney in LA

True

May your flame burn long and bright
May your guiding breezes be fair
May the one you love most be true
May you heart be broken ne’er

♥

Me at med school

Watauga River near Wilbur, Tennessee

Jeremy sent us several photos from California. As soon as possible, I will try to make a slide show and post it on the blog. He and Courtney have been hobnobbing with movie stars. Thank you, Grandson.

Big game tomorrow, an improved Tennessee squad takes on arch rival Florida. Knoxville will be rocking.

Friday is always a special day to most working folk, I suppose. I know it was for me. When I was working construction and tramping the highways, it had grand implications for several reasons. One was it marked the end of another work week and the beginning of a weekend. Another was it was payday. Most important was that I was going home to be with my family for  about forty hours before having to hit the road back to where ever I was working. I am tempted to look back on those days with rose-colored glasses but the reality was that leaving Carolyn and the kids early on Sunday afternoon was sad at best and at times it was heart wrenching. We that traveled like that mostly pined for a day when we could come home to work and be something akin to a normal family. My big break came when I was able to leave a job near Parkersburg, West Virginia and take a job at East Tennessee State University, working for a local contractor. Our purpose was to remodel the old student center into the new medical school. The job lasted only three months but was the best construction job I ever had, being very close to my home plus the excitement of being a part of the new school on a nice university campus. Little did I know that in just three years I would be attending day classes on the same campus.

Enough reminiscing … have a wonderful weekend.

My two-cents worth

Welcoming Father Sun

“Techie” artists spend a lot of time and exert much creativity to do what they love doing and they also have periods of not being inspired. I am not an artist in any shape, fashion, or form but I do know some whom work on canvas and I do know some who work via computers. Notice the word “computers” is plural; they may have more than one working and they may be viewing multiple screens as they try to produce art that is fulfilling to them. Like any true visual artist, they must satisfy themselves before presenting finished work for public criticism. Sometimes all the paint in the world or all the computers in the world provide no inspiration. The ability to create must come from deep within one’s soul and sometimes that elusive genie of genius takes a holiday and the medium remains blank, yet the soul remains and will inspire on another day. Patience, my friend.

Have a fine day …

October's beauty

 

Impatiens heart

Story telling time in Jonesborough. The event is recognized around the world as one of the premiere story telling festivals. Yarn spinners from far and near come to tell their tales as do people travel here to listen to them. A more important festival as far as I am concerned is the Apple Festival in Erwin. It is held in conjunction with the story telling. I expect some delicious apple butter to to be stored in our pantry.

What is it about October that I like so well? As much as I detest the promise of winter and its harsh reality hiding just around the corner, there is something about the tenth month which I love. Maybe the waning day’s sunlight is brighter; it certainly seems so. Maybe the nip in the air is refreshing after the long hot days of summer. Could it be the colors of the leaves changing from soothing green into bright yellows, oranges, and reds? It is most likely all of these things along with a lot more subtle nuances which give me inspiration and hope. Whatever the reasons, October has slowly become my second favorite month of the year, closely following on the heels of June with its first days of full blown summer.

Alice, JJ said to tell you that Gertrude Street said “hello”. He does yard work for her. She made apple butter on her stove and sent us a jar which instantly made her one of my favorite people.

- – – – – -