Deep within lies a slimy, pathetic Monster writhing in pain. We all know him. His own worst enemy, is he, only conscious of misery. He cannot see beyond himself. Pain lingers about him, like so many tangled wires jumbled in static giving off fumes.
Pain is his cousin who never goes away only to be dealt with in twisted anger, self victimized, ostracized. Unreachable, untouchable, unworthy of redemption, he refuses to break through his self-imposed barriers; believes he is helpless
against the invisible foe.
Pain is unacceptable, not a legitimate entity. Pain has planted thorny swords of barbed wire, preventing easy access. Pain wrapped in self loathing cannot move or grow. Tears of self pity, cover him like unshakable slime, his fears convincing him the pain will not desist. Self-flagellation wounds ooze thickly. He tells himself "it's all I am meant to be, just pain"
A most despicable Beast, unworthy and shamed,
is but one who needs tender love and healing nonetheless. Dear Beastie, I come to you, my hand outreached to comfort,
yet, you stab me with your lightning bolts, unwilling as a cowering porcupine. You can only unleash your pain yourself, I see. Did you know I was once like you?
By soothing voice, I sing to you. By soft-coated whispers, I encourage you to breathe, and unwind the chains you have wrapped about yourself. Hiding in the poppies to cover the pain, locked you further away from the truth of you, brought increased harm and alarm and no remembrance of who you are.
And so, I calm my mind, my aching heart, my stress-filled body to accommodate your need for undivided attention, your need for redemption from your false beliefs to embrace what I once thought was the enemy. Without your spiky armor, you appear quite harmless.
With your oozing wounds placated, your tears dried away, you are quite a cuddly creature and purr readily when petted.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Dedicated to the dark within us all.
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.
.
Welcome
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Make yourself at home. Put your feet up. Grab your favorite beverage and prepare to enjoy the reads.
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Make yourself at home. Put your feet up. Grab your favorite beverage and prepare to enjoy the reads.
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Tuesday
Monday
How to Save Your Drowned Cell Phone
The other day my cell phone fell into a cup of Earl Grey tea. Today it is working just fine. What's my secret? you may ask. I'm glad to tell you what I did to save my phone.
Rather than cleaning myself up, or the table or floor where the tea splashed, I grabbed my celly and held it to the nearest piece of fabric, my t-shirt, and immediately began wiping dry. Then I quickly turned the phone upside down and pressed the fabric firmly against the keys, which leaked out a little more fluid. The hard part was next. I tried to open the little door that has the battery in it. I had to really work at it. I couldn't remember the trick to opening it. So, I highly recommend you practice once in a while. Time is of the essence. When I got the battery out, it had very little moisture. Quite minimal, in fact. Still I put the cloth to it. Forgot to mention that during all this I had frantically pulled my t-shirt off to provide this drying service to my celly as I ran to the kitchen.
The next part is the absolute most important. If you don 't have any rice on hand, you will be out of luck, so go out to the store and stock up. Will ya?
With the battery removed and the door to it left off, I put my cell phone into a bowl and covered it completely with dry rice. Now this is not the time to fuss that it is not whole grain. You definitely will have more effective results if you use white rice. Why does this work? Because rice will absorb the rest of the moisture that may be hidden in the crannies of your phone. Just like when you cook rice on the stove, it absorbs the water in order to become soft and fluffy food.
Reminder!!! Rice must be uncooked... dry!
Now this is the hard part! You have GOT to leave that phone in the bowl of rice undisturbed for at least 24 hours. Can you do that? If not, then it's time to admit you might have an attachment problem with your phone. If you run out to the phone store and pay a ridiculous price to have a new one immediately then we are talking addiction. It may be time for intervention! Reconsider your priorities!
So, after the allotted time, and then some, I rescued my phone from it's ricey rest, popped the battery back in and smoothly replaced the little door to the battery as if I did this sort of thing every day. VoilĂ ! I can now use my cell. Text me!
Now, I just gotta figure out how to get that dried tea stain out of the carpet!
Rather than cleaning myself up, or the table or floor where the tea splashed, I grabbed my celly and held it to the nearest piece of fabric, my t-shirt, and immediately began wiping dry. Then I quickly turned the phone upside down and pressed the fabric firmly against the keys, which leaked out a little more fluid. The hard part was next. I tried to open the little door that has the battery in it. I had to really work at it. I couldn't remember the trick to opening it. So, I highly recommend you practice once in a while. Time is of the essence. When I got the battery out, it had very little moisture. Quite minimal, in fact. Still I put the cloth to it. Forgot to mention that during all this I had frantically pulled my t-shirt off to provide this drying service to my celly as I ran to the kitchen.
The next part is the absolute most important. If you don 't have any rice on hand, you will be out of luck, so go out to the store and stock up. Will ya?
With the battery removed and the door to it left off, I put my cell phone into a bowl and covered it completely with dry rice. Now this is not the time to fuss that it is not whole grain. You definitely will have more effective results if you use white rice. Why does this work? Because rice will absorb the rest of the moisture that may be hidden in the crannies of your phone. Just like when you cook rice on the stove, it absorbs the water in order to become soft and fluffy food.
Reminder!!! Rice must be uncooked... dry!
Now this is the hard part! You have GOT to leave that phone in the bowl of rice undisturbed for at least 24 hours. Can you do that? If not, then it's time to admit you might have an attachment problem with your phone. If you run out to the phone store and pay a ridiculous price to have a new one immediately then we are talking addiction. It may be time for intervention! Reconsider your priorities!
So, after the allotted time, and then some, I rescued my phone from it's ricey rest, popped the battery back in and smoothly replaced the little door to the battery as if I did this sort of thing every day. VoilĂ ! I can now use my cell. Text me!
Now, I just gotta figure out how to get that dried tea stain out of the carpet!
Sunday
Never Forgotten
were you but a memory to me
you would fade away to dust
but diamonds never fade
~~~~~~~~
In memory of those I love who succumbed to Chondrosarcoma
Saturday
Zen Empty
When life feels bereft
I ask myself,
is this the zen
of nothingness?
Is this the empty nothing
that all seek?
empty so lonely
empty so dark
empty so cold
This is not the peaceful void.
This is sadness enveloped in pain.
Where is the lightness of being?
Where is the void without suffering?
Written Sat Nov 20, 2004
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note:
Not feeling this way anymore. The art is my own creation.
Thursday
Books in the Spare Bedroom
Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman
Author: Elizabeth Buchan
Bel Canto
Author: Ann Patchett
Long Quiet Highway : Waking Up in America
Author: Natalie Goldberg
Children's Writer Guide to 2007
Author: Susan M. Tierney
Leap of Faith : Memoirs of an Unexpected Life
Author: Queen Noor
The Mind-Body Problem
Author: Rebecca Goldstein
Starting Out in the Evening
Author: Brian Morton
A Cat Is Watching: A Look at the Way Cats See Us
Author: Roger A. Caras
Contented Cat
Author: Nobuo Honda
The Perfect Kitten: How to Raise a Problem Free Cat
Author: Neville
Costumes for Your Cat
Author: Lynn Chang
Education of Oversoul 7
Author: Jane roberts
The Further Education of Oversoul Seven
Author: Jane Roberts
Ninja Secrets of Invisibility
Author: Ashida Kim
Ninja Mind Control
Author: Ashida Kim
The Pilgrim's Progress
Author: John Bunyan
Not Wanted on the Voyage
Author: Timothy Findley
Dynasty of Death
Author: Taylor Caldwell
Captains and the Kings
Author: Taylor Caldwell
Dynasty of Death
Author: Taylor Caldwell
Arab Historians of the Crusades
Author: Francesco Gabrieli
Girl With a Pearl Earring
Author: Tracy Chevalier
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Author: Khaled Hosseini
A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Author: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen
A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Author: Mark Victor Hansen, Jack Canfield
Chicken Soup for the Soul
Author: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen
Suleiman the Magnificent
Author: Andre Clot
Death Be Not Proud
Author: John J. Gunther
Rivals for the Crown
Author: Kathleen Givens
The Blue Sword
Author: Robin McKinley
Jacob's Ladder: The History of the Human Genome
Author: Henry Gee
Rules for Writers
Author: Diana Hacker
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Author: Mohsin Hamid
City of Dreams: A Novel of Nieuw Amsterdam and Early Manhattan
Author: Beverly Swerling
The Beloved Invader
Author: Eugenia Price
Raleigh's Lost Colony
Author: David N. Durant
Legends, Lies Cherished Myths of World History
Author: Richard Shenkman
City of Glory: A Novel of War and Desire in Old Manhattan
Author: Beverly Swerling
Small Miracles: Extraordinary Coincidences from Everyday Life
Author: Yitta Halberstam, Bernie S. Siegel
Defending Andy: One Mother's Fight to Save Her Son from Cancer and the Insurance Industry
Author: Marilyn Azevedo
Frommer's Britain's Best-Loved Driving Tours
Author: Roy Woodcock, John McLlwain
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Bk 4)
Author: J.K. Rowling
The Pillars of the Earth
Author: Ken Follett
SHE
Author: H.Rider Haggard
The Name of the Rose: including Postscript to the Name of the Rose
Author: Umberto Eco
The White
Author: Deborah Larsen
Small Miracles: Extraordinary Coincidences from Everyday Life
Author: Yitta Halberstam, Bernie S. Siegel
The Devil's Horsemen : The Mongol Invasion of Europe
Author: Chambers
The Beloved Invader
Author: Eugenia Price
Pleasant Dreams: Nighttime Meditations for Peace of Mind/155
Author: Amy Dean, Amy E. Dean
Secrets of the Widow's Son: The Mysteries Surrounding the Sequel to the Da Vinci Code
Author: Daniel Burstein, David A. Shugarts
MycoMedicinals: An Informational Treatise on Mushrooms
Author: Paul Stamets
Fitness Over Fifty: An Exercise Guide from the National Institute on Aging (With DVD)
Author: The National Institute on Aging, The National Institute on Aging
Acupressure for Lovers : Secrets of Touch for Increasing Intimacy
Author: Michael Reed Phd Gach
Mastering Leptin: The Leptin Diet, Solving Obesity and Preventing Disease, Second Edition
Author: Byron Richards
When Crickets Cry
Author: Charles Martin
Yoga Over 50
Author: Mary Stewart
The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo: A Novel
Author: Peter Orner
Pleasant Dreams: Nighttime Meditations for Peace of Mind/155
Author: Amy Dean
The Anti-Aging Fitness Prescription
Author: Z. Altug, Tracy Olgeaty Gensler
The Last Templar: The First Knights Templar Mystery
Author: Michael Jecks
Questions and Answers on Death and Dying
Author: Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
My Sister's Keeper
Author: Jodi Picoult
Galileo's Daughter : A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love
Author: Dava Sobel
Autobiography of a Face
Author: Lucy Grealy
The Essential Handbook of Women's Spirituality
Author: Barbara G. Walker
History of the Arab Peoples
Author: Albert Hourani
The Tartar Khan's Englishman
Author: Gabriel Ronay
Prehistory and the First Civilizations (The Illustrated History of the World, Volume 1)
Author: J. M. Roberts
The Templar's Penance
Author: Michael Jecks
Witchcraft a Secret History
Author: Michael Streeter
Magical Spells for Your Home: How to Bring Magic into Every Area of Your Life
Author: Anne-Marie Gallagher
The Illustrated Discovery Journal : Creating a Visual Autobiography of Your Authentic Self
Author: Sarah Ban Breathnach
Is It in Your Genes?: The Influence of Genes on Common Disorders and Diseases That Affect You and Your Family
Author: Philip R., M.D. Reilly
The Double Helix : A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA
Author: James D. Watson
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Physiology
Author: Peter Abrahams
Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying
Author: Ram Dass, Mark Matousek, Marlene Roeder
Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom Volume 2
Author: Rachel Pollack
Our Family Tree Record Book
Author: Mason Linklater
The Woman with the Alabaster Jar : Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail
Author: Margaret Starbird
Essentials of Genetics
Author: William S. Klug, Michael R. Cummings
Creative Digital Photography
Author: Peter Cope
The Expected One
Author: Kathleen McGowan
Author: Elizabeth Buchan
Bel Canto
Author: Ann Patchett
Long Quiet Highway : Waking Up in America
Author: Natalie Goldberg
Children's Writer Guide to 2007
Author: Susan M. Tierney
Leap of Faith : Memoirs of an Unexpected Life
Author: Queen Noor
The Mind-Body Problem
Author: Rebecca Goldstein
Starting Out in the Evening
Author: Brian Morton
A Cat Is Watching: A Look at the Way Cats See Us
Author: Roger A. Caras
Contented Cat
Author: Nobuo Honda
The Perfect Kitten: How to Raise a Problem Free Cat
Author: Neville
Costumes for Your Cat
Author: Lynn Chang
Education of Oversoul 7
Author: Jane roberts
The Further Education of Oversoul Seven
Author: Jane Roberts
Ninja Secrets of Invisibility
Author: Ashida Kim
Ninja Mind Control
Author: Ashida Kim
The Pilgrim's Progress
Author: John Bunyan
Not Wanted on the Voyage
Author: Timothy Findley
Dynasty of Death
Author: Taylor Caldwell
Captains and the Kings
Author: Taylor Caldwell
Dynasty of Death
Author: Taylor Caldwell
Arab Historians of the Crusades
Author: Francesco Gabrieli
Girl With a Pearl Earring
Author: Tracy Chevalier
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Author: Khaled Hosseini
A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Author: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen
A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Author: Mark Victor Hansen, Jack Canfield
Chicken Soup for the Soul
Author: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen
Suleiman the Magnificent
Author: Andre Clot
Death Be Not Proud
Author: John J. Gunther
Rivals for the Crown
Author: Kathleen Givens
The Blue Sword
Author: Robin McKinley
Jacob's Ladder: The History of the Human Genome
Author: Henry Gee
Rules for Writers
Author: Diana Hacker
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Author: Mohsin Hamid
City of Dreams: A Novel of Nieuw Amsterdam and Early Manhattan
Author: Beverly Swerling
The Beloved Invader
Author: Eugenia Price
Raleigh's Lost Colony
Author: David N. Durant
Legends, Lies Cherished Myths of World History
Author: Richard Shenkman
City of Glory: A Novel of War and Desire in Old Manhattan
Author: Beverly Swerling
Small Miracles: Extraordinary Coincidences from Everyday Life
Author: Yitta Halberstam, Bernie S. Siegel
Defending Andy: One Mother's Fight to Save Her Son from Cancer and the Insurance Industry
Author: Marilyn Azevedo
Frommer's Britain's Best-Loved Driving Tours
Author: Roy Woodcock, John McLlwain
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Bk 4)
Author: J.K. Rowling
The Pillars of the Earth
Author: Ken Follett
SHE
Author: H.Rider Haggard
The Name of the Rose: including Postscript to the Name of the Rose
Author: Umberto Eco
The White
Author: Deborah Larsen
Small Miracles: Extraordinary Coincidences from Everyday Life
Author: Yitta Halberstam, Bernie S. Siegel
The Devil's Horsemen : The Mongol Invasion of Europe
Author: Chambers
The Beloved Invader
Author: Eugenia Price
Pleasant Dreams: Nighttime Meditations for Peace of Mind/155
Author: Amy Dean, Amy E. Dean
Secrets of the Widow's Son: The Mysteries Surrounding the Sequel to the Da Vinci Code
Author: Daniel Burstein, David A. Shugarts
MycoMedicinals: An Informational Treatise on Mushrooms
Author: Paul Stamets
Fitness Over Fifty: An Exercise Guide from the National Institute on Aging (With DVD)
Author: The National Institute on Aging, The National Institute on Aging
Acupressure for Lovers : Secrets of Touch for Increasing Intimacy
Author: Michael Reed Phd Gach
Mastering Leptin: The Leptin Diet, Solving Obesity and Preventing Disease, Second Edition
Author: Byron Richards
When Crickets Cry
Author: Charles Martin
Yoga Over 50
Author: Mary Stewart
The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo: A Novel
Author: Peter Orner
Pleasant Dreams: Nighttime Meditations for Peace of Mind/155
Author: Amy Dean
The Anti-Aging Fitness Prescription
Author: Z. Altug, Tracy Olgeaty Gensler
The Last Templar: The First Knights Templar Mystery
Author: Michael Jecks
Questions and Answers on Death and Dying
Author: Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
My Sister's Keeper
Author: Jodi Picoult
Galileo's Daughter : A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love
Author: Dava Sobel
Autobiography of a Face
Author: Lucy Grealy
The Essential Handbook of Women's Spirituality
Author: Barbara G. Walker
History of the Arab Peoples
Author: Albert Hourani
The Tartar Khan's Englishman
Author: Gabriel Ronay
Prehistory and the First Civilizations (The Illustrated History of the World, Volume 1)
Author: J. M. Roberts
The Templar's Penance
Author: Michael Jecks
Witchcraft a Secret History
Author: Michael Streeter
Magical Spells for Your Home: How to Bring Magic into Every Area of Your Life
Author: Anne-Marie Gallagher
The Illustrated Discovery Journal : Creating a Visual Autobiography of Your Authentic Self
Author: Sarah Ban Breathnach
Is It in Your Genes?: The Influence of Genes on Common Disorders and Diseases That Affect You and Your Family
Author: Philip R., M.D. Reilly
The Double Helix : A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA
Author: James D. Watson
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Physiology
Author: Peter Abrahams
Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying
Author: Ram Dass, Mark Matousek, Marlene Roeder
Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom Volume 2
Author: Rachel Pollack
Our Family Tree Record Book
Author: Mason Linklater
The Woman with the Alabaster Jar : Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail
Author: Margaret Starbird
Essentials of Genetics
Author: William S. Klug, Michael R. Cummings
Creative Digital Photography
Author: Peter Cope
The Expected One
Author: Kathleen McGowan
Monday
Watching Old Video
.
Dad's habit
patting his bald head
Mom rubbing her sore leg
How straight is his profile
from nose to chin...
that "stiff upper lip"
he always said to keep.
How tired she looks
saying goodbye
them walking... holding hands.
Saturday
Highlights from a Day in the Life...
Insomnia til 3 AM. Awake at 6. Wow! I got three straight hours. Kitty brings his mousie. I throw. He chases and returns with his prize, over and over again. He tires before I do, panting on the bed, mousie between his paws. I envy his droopy eyes. Too awake, I fix tea and toast, turn on the computer, check email. A good friend is diagnosed. Not the way to begin a day. I cry.
Phone rings, I miss the call, the important call I was waiting for. I can't call them back. Drats! I trip over kitty while getting the snail mail, there's the utility bill! Need I say more?
I crawl back into bed, a book in my hand. I awaken confused, a half hour before my appointment. Throw on yesterday's clothes, still wearing slippers, I run out of the house, my snarls wearing the hair brush.
Since I arrived late, I have to wait for the other patients to be seen first. On the way home, I stop at the fruit stand to enjoy a brief respite, drooling over strawberries, melon, banana, and fresh baked raisin bread. My rewards for a rough day.
Lugging my treasures through the parking lot, I realize my car has the keys locked inside, and trudge back into the store. I need to use their phone as my cell is with the keys! I call a taxi to take me home and wait while I break into my house to find spare keys and return me. I have to pay for the wait time as well as mileage. Forty seven bucks for strawberries, melon, banana, and raisin bread!
Finally, at home I can relax, take this morning's pills, settle down with a cup of tea, talk on the cell. While I grab the channel selector to watch the news, my cell falls into the tea!
Time to go to bed and hope for sleep.
Phone rings, I miss the call, the important call I was waiting for. I can't call them back. Drats! I trip over kitty while getting the snail mail, there's the utility bill! Need I say more?
I crawl back into bed, a book in my hand. I awaken confused, a half hour before my appointment. Throw on yesterday's clothes, still wearing slippers, I run out of the house, my snarls wearing the hair brush.
Since I arrived late, I have to wait for the other patients to be seen first. On the way home, I stop at the fruit stand to enjoy a brief respite, drooling over strawberries, melon, banana, and fresh baked raisin bread. My rewards for a rough day.
Lugging my treasures through the parking lot, I realize my car has the keys locked inside, and trudge back into the store. I need to use their phone as my cell is with the keys! I call a taxi to take me home and wait while I break into my house to find spare keys and return me. I have to pay for the wait time as well as mileage. Forty seven bucks for strawberries, melon, banana, and raisin bread!
Finally, at home I can relax, take this morning's pills, settle down with a cup of tea, talk on the cell. While I grab the channel selector to watch the news, my cell falls into the tea!
Time to go to bed and hope for sleep.
Thursday
Wood and Water
.
My mother always said my sister Satsu was like wood; as rooted to the earth as a sakura tree.
But she told me I was like water. Water can carve its way even through stone...and when trapped, water makes a new path...
Now I understood the thing I´d overlooked; the point wasn´t to become a geisha but to be one. To become a geisha...well, that was hardly a purpose in life. But to be a geisha... I could see it now as a stepping-stone to something else. After all, these are not the memoirs of an empress, nor of a queen. These are memoirs of another kind.
From: Memoirs of a Geisha
My mother always said my sister Satsu was like wood; as rooted to the earth as a sakura tree.
But she told me I was like water. Water can carve its way even through stone...and when trapped, water makes a new path...
Now I understood the thing I´d overlooked; the point wasn´t to become a geisha but to be one. To become a geisha...well, that was hardly a purpose in life. But to be a geisha... I could see it now as a stepping-stone to something else. After all, these are not the memoirs of an empress, nor of a queen. These are memoirs of another kind.
From: Memoirs of a Geisha
Wednesday
Loss
From Memories of a Geisha~~~
At the temple, there is a poem called "Loss", carved into the stone.
It has three words...but the poet has scratched them out.
You cannot read "Loss"... Only feel it.
The heart dies a slow death, shedding each hope like leaves...
Until one day there are none.
No hopes.
Nothing remains.
At the temple, there is a poem called "Loss", carved into the stone.
It has three words...but the poet has scratched them out.
You cannot read "Loss"... Only feel it.
The heart dies a slow death, shedding each hope like leaves...
Until one day there are none.
No hopes.
Nothing remains.
Monday
Summer Swim Party
In college, my professor invited us all to his house for a barbecue, and swim. Our families were invited, too. We were thoroughly enjoying ourselves laughing about how Seymour's dog would eat fallen avocados from the tree. No wonder he was so fat and glossy!
Marissa, let out a scream and, stunned, I watched as she dove into the deep end of the pool where her toddler was quickly sinking to the bottom. We'd never heard a sound out of the child, no splashing, no crying out.
Call it Mother's Instinct that Marissa had looked up just at that moment. But call it Mother's Death Defying Heroism that she leaped into the pool and saved her drowning son.
As Marissa resurfaced wild eyed, with little Brian held high in her arms she choked "I can't swim!"
Fortunately, two others had jumped into the pool right behind her and were able to rescue them both.
I am reminded of this harrowing incident in my life by a drowning that occurred yesterday by the local news that seven people were rescued yesterday. Sadly one of them died.
Most of us probably think that when someone is drowning, they spend some time thrashing about in the water calling for help. But, as it was with little Brian, he quietly sunk. Simple as that. People don't always appear to be drowning when they are drowning.
As for Marissa and Brian? She had seen him just in time. The few seconds he was under the water was sufficient for him to have a bit of coughing and crying once out of the pool. No CPR was necessary. Just the same, we took them to the emergency room to make sure he was okay. Thankfully, he was.
Marissa, let out a scream and, stunned, I watched as she dove into the deep end of the pool where her toddler was quickly sinking to the bottom. We'd never heard a sound out of the child, no splashing, no crying out.
Call it Mother's Instinct that Marissa had looked up just at that moment. But call it Mother's Death Defying Heroism that she leaped into the pool and saved her drowning son.
As Marissa resurfaced wild eyed, with little Brian held high in her arms she choked "I can't swim!"
Fortunately, two others had jumped into the pool right behind her and were able to rescue them both.
I am reminded of this harrowing incident in my life by a drowning that occurred yesterday by the local news that seven people were rescued yesterday. Sadly one of them died.
Most of us probably think that when someone is drowning, they spend some time thrashing about in the water calling for help. But, as it was with little Brian, he quietly sunk. Simple as that. People don't always appear to be drowning when they are drowning.
As for Marissa and Brian? She had seen him just in time. The few seconds he was under the water was sufficient for him to have a bit of coughing and crying once out of the pool. No CPR was necessary. Just the same, we took them to the emergency room to make sure he was okay. Thankfully, he was.
Sunday
A Thought on Writing
"For a writer, life is always too short to write.
I will just try my best during what remains of my life."
I will just try my best during what remains of my life."
~~~ Cao Yu 1910 - 1996
Saturday
How to Make Mom's Potato Salad
She never measured so do what you like!
My Grandmother used to boil the potatoes whole and cut them after cooking. And I remember Mom doing it that way when I was very little, until one day she got frustrated with how long it took to get them to boil and how hot the kitchen got.
So... cut the potatoes into the size chunks you want to be eating.
Boil to well done, and drain.
Mom made them well done so that some of the potato would be mushy and mix in well with the mayo.
While potatoes are still hot and in the pan, pour pickle juice to soak into potatoes
(She used Dill pickle juice. She said this was the "secret" to her potato salad to have the pickle juice soaked into the potatoes. I know she meant more flavorful than other people's recipe, but she never would have said that.)
When potatoes have cooled down some but still a little warm, transfer to bowl and stir in celery seed and dill weed. It's called weed, but what is meant by that is, it's the green leafy part of the plant and not the dill seeds.
Let sit a little longer to let the spice flavors sink in, then add:
chopped celery
chopped pickles
chopped boiled egg
chopped cucumber, take out the seeds first.
Use sweet pickles or relish here to compliment the dill flavor. Use a LOT of celery so there will be a little crunch in the salad. Smoosh the yolks and sprinkle over the potatoes and stir in later with the mayonaise.
Add chopped or sliced black olives (if desired). Mom didn't always have them.
After having mixed in the above, add mayonaise, a little mustard to give it color, and black pepper.
(This is where I have changed the recipe. I use brown mustard that has the seeds in it, and I do it to add flavor and not just color.)
Smooth the now finished mixture to make flat across top of container.
Nice and neat, put a layer of sliced boiled egg and thinly sliced cucumber and decorate with some of the olives, to make it look pretty. Sprinkle liberally with paprika to finish the artistry.
Refrigerate AT LEAST an hour before chowing down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please note: Mom's name was Genevieve Borden Deane
My Grandmother used to boil the potatoes whole and cut them after cooking. And I remember Mom doing it that way when I was very little, until one day she got frustrated with how long it took to get them to boil and how hot the kitchen got.
So... cut the potatoes into the size chunks you want to be eating.
Boil to well done, and drain.
Mom made them well done so that some of the potato would be mushy and mix in well with the mayo.
While potatoes are still hot and in the pan, pour pickle juice to soak into potatoes
(She used Dill pickle juice. She said this was the "secret" to her potato salad to have the pickle juice soaked into the potatoes. I know she meant more flavorful than other people's recipe, but she never would have said that.)
When potatoes have cooled down some but still a little warm, transfer to bowl and stir in celery seed and dill weed. It's called weed, but what is meant by that is, it's the green leafy part of the plant and not the dill seeds.
Let sit a little longer to let the spice flavors sink in, then add:
chopped celery
chopped pickles
chopped boiled egg
chopped cucumber, take out the seeds first.
Use sweet pickles or relish here to compliment the dill flavor. Use a LOT of celery so there will be a little crunch in the salad. Smoosh the yolks and sprinkle over the potatoes and stir in later with the mayonaise.
Add chopped or sliced black olives (if desired). Mom didn't always have them.
After having mixed in the above, add mayonaise, a little mustard to give it color, and black pepper.
(This is where I have changed the recipe. I use brown mustard that has the seeds in it, and I do it to add flavor and not just color.)
Smooth the now finished mixture to make flat across top of container.
Nice and neat, put a layer of sliced boiled egg and thinly sliced cucumber and decorate with some of the olives, to make it look pretty. Sprinkle liberally with paprika to finish the artistry.
Refrigerate AT LEAST an hour before chowing down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please note: Mom's name was Genevieve Borden Deane
If You Could See Me Now
Perhaps there is nothing supernatural about death.
Perhaps there is.
Some believe that when it is over, it is over. The body dies, there is nobody home.
Some believe that the soul or spirit of a person leaves the body and moves on to another place. Heaven, or the next life, or some ghostly realm or into the ether as molecules, or ???
Obviously, we don't have all the answers. For me, it comes down to personal choice of what I want to believe, regardless of what someone else tells me that I should believe based on their interpretations.
Found a website some time ago where a woman wrote a letter or poem to her sister. It is a Christian oriented site and it is beautifully done. The song accompanying it is, "If You Could See Me Now" by Kim Noblett, and the lyrics are the first part of the web page. The second part has a letter written to the caregiver of the woman who died (I think).
I like the part that says:
"Speak often to me, for I am just a whisper away and I will hear and answer you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dedicated to three beloved people who passed away last month, and their bereaved families.
Perhaps there is.
Some believe that when it is over, it is over. The body dies, there is nobody home.
Some believe that the soul or spirit of a person leaves the body and moves on to another place. Heaven, or the next life, or some ghostly realm or into the ether as molecules, or ???
Obviously, we don't have all the answers. For me, it comes down to personal choice of what I want to believe, regardless of what someone else tells me that I should believe based on their interpretations.
Found a website some time ago where a woman wrote a letter or poem to her sister. It is a Christian oriented site and it is beautifully done. The song accompanying it is, "If You Could See Me Now" by Kim Noblett, and the lyrics are the first part of the web page. The second part has a letter written to the caregiver of the woman who died (I think).
I like the part that says:
"Speak often to me, for I am just a whisper away and I will hear and answer you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dedicated to three beloved people who passed away last month, and their bereaved families.
Wednesday
One Step at a Time
One Step at a Time by Lenor Madruga Chappel
Lenor's story of living through extremely frightening circumstances is truly mouth dropping, amazing.
Not only did she face being diagnosed with a very rare bone cancer, chondrosarcoma, but the only effective treatment for her was a full amputation (hemipelvectomy) with surgical removal of her leg and a portion of her pelvis. During a time in my life when I was faced with the same diagnosis, and so discouraged, I was given this book by my mother. It gave me the hope to carry on to realize a mother with children could not only survive, but thrive.
Lenor's story of how she dealt with her diagnosis, her surgical experience and her positive recovery is more than inspiring.
Though the diagnosis and surgical aspects of her story sound frightening, this book is not gory. It is uplifting and positive. It teaches by example how to get inner strength through such an incredibly devastating life circumstance. Even without facing such medical possibilities, this is a book for anyone to benefit from reading.
Can be purchased at iUniverse
Lenor's story of living through extremely frightening circumstances is truly mouth dropping, amazing.
Not only did she face being diagnosed with a very rare bone cancer, chondrosarcoma, but the only effective treatment for her was a full amputation (hemipelvectomy) with surgical removal of her leg and a portion of her pelvis. During a time in my life when I was faced with the same diagnosis, and so discouraged, I was given this book by my mother. It gave me the hope to carry on to realize a mother with children could not only survive, but thrive.
Lenor's story of how she dealt with her diagnosis, her surgical experience and her positive recovery is more than inspiring.
Though the diagnosis and surgical aspects of her story sound frightening, this book is not gory. It is uplifting and positive. It teaches by example how to get inner strength through such an incredibly devastating life circumstance. Even without facing such medical possibilities, this is a book for anyone to benefit from reading.
Can be purchased at iUniverse
Tuesday
Birthing Life
Sixty five years ago
in the darkness
I became aware
of a soft tangerine light
mesmerizing,
an increasing warmth
seeping around me
becoming hot, oppressive,
squeezing like a vice grip
I wanted escape,
only to discover
I could not move.
Paralyzed.
and a constant hammering,
vibrating which seemed
somehow reassuring.
Suddenly I was free.
The world was filled
with bright light
I was born.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: Picture is my own digital artwork
in the darkness
I became aware
of a soft tangerine light
mesmerizing,
an increasing warmth
seeping around me
becoming hot, oppressive,
squeezing like a vice grip
I wanted escape,
only to discover
I could not move.
Paralyzed.
and a constant hammering,
vibrating which seemed
somehow reassuring.
Suddenly I was free.
The world was filled
with bright light
I was born.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: Picture is my own digital artwork
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