Earthbound forever Without her hovering wings Clipped by a mower.
Earthbound Cherub
Category: Observation Essay or Poem
Wine and Waves
Drinking wine is like a trip to the beach
- Sometimes wine gently lifts you up and then sets you down on your feet like standing in waist-high water just before the surf breaks, where you bob safely up and down on the gentle swells.
- Other times wine takes you on an exhilarating journey where you emerge energized and feeling keenly alive from the wave rush to shore.
- Some wines take you past your depths before thrashing you to the ground, battered and hungover.
- Then there are the wines that are like rip currents, taking you to places and memories you do not want to visit, but without the ability to escape from the relentless pull.
What kind of wine trip do you like?
Let the Old Man Pass–Thoughts While Sitting at a Red Light
It was 92 on the sunny corner where the old man waited patiently for the light to change sweat running from his drenched t-shirt. After the light changed, cars turned left almost blocking the box, the old man thought he might safely cross when a self- important driver in a pick-up truck caused him to pause again. Let the old man pass. Maybe the pick-up truck did him a favor, with the cross walk blocked the next car would have been stuck at the intersection's middle. The old man safely crossed. In my imagination several years from now the old man is in hospice waiting for his family to give him permission to die. He is tired and in pain. Let the old man pass.
July 17 is World Justice Day
World Day for International Justice: History
17 July is celebrated as World Day for International Justice because this day is the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute in 1998. With the help of this treaty, the International Criminal Court (ICC) was established. In 1998 since that day, about 139 countries have signed the Court’s treaty and nearly 80 States, representative of every region of the world, have ratified it.
The scales of justice are supposed to be blind When it comes to having justice Mankind is even blinder Each side proclaims its version of rightness Many countries operate just outside of the law in the belief that right is one its side Many penalties do not create the just desserts that the instigators deserve. The winners decide who is guilty and who is not The losers decide that life is unjust because they lost. The selection in an election can result in forced rejection but not enforced rejection.
The Statues Have Left the Pedestals
This past weekend, after a process that began in 2016 and included the infamous Unite the Right Rally of August 2017, the statues of Robert E. Lee; Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson; George Rogers Clark confronting three Native Americans, and Lewis and Clark with a kneeling Sacajawea peering out from behind the two men’s legs, were all removed from their pedestals in Charlottesville.
Before the long legal battles were settled, the parks were renamed. Lee’s Stature was in Lee Park which became known as Emancipation Park (June 2017 to July 2018), when it became Market Street Park. Jackson’s Statue was in Jackson Park which became Justice Park (June 2017 to July 2018) when it became Court Square Park.
The Lewis and Clark and Sacajawea Statue was removed later on Saturday after an emergency meeting of the City Council. It was not in a park, but along a city street.
The George Rogers Clark was removed on Sunday from it’s location on the University of Virginia grounds.
All four statues were funded by local businessman, Paul Goodloe McIntire in the early 1900s.
The petition to remove the George Rogers Clark Statue began in 2009 by Anthony Guy Lopez, a U-Va. graduate and Crow Creek Sioux tribal member who began petitioning the city to take down the Lewis, Clark and Sacagawea statue. He called the twin takedowns “an exorcism of state violence” against Native Americans. The George Rogers Clark statue was removed from UVA grounds on July 11, making it the fourth statue to come down in just 24 hours in Charlottesville. The removal was recommended in UVA’s Racial Equity Task Force’s report and approved by the Board of Visitors in September of 2020.
The Lewis and Clark and Sacajawea statue has been temporarily relocated to a Darden-Towe Park where it is sits in the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center. Although some people think that Sacajawea is cowering behind the men’s legs, other people say that she is tracking. Tracking was one of the many invaluable roles that she performed during the Lewis and Clark expedition, 1804-1806.
The pedestals began being removed on July 13.
Don’t Write My Name on that Restroom Wall
In this case, it’s passing my name and contact information around to other charitable or philanthropic organizations. Email and snail mail spam!
With some political and charitable groups it has become multiple daily email requests for funding that is an emergency NOW! With at least one charity it has become snail mail weekly appeals to both my husband and me. (You are spending more on postage than you’ll recoup.) Even if I support your cause once or twice a year, it does not mean I will support you every time you come by with your bucket (since you are dipping in the well too often for it to be your hand).
At best you are wasting your time to send this to me and my time to delete or trash it as soon as I see who it’s from. At worst you are annoying me so much that I feel like never giving you another cent because you show no sense on how often to beseech money from the same source.
Your new name should be Spam I Am If you called me up, the phone I'd slam I don't like your constant asking for help with another emergency tasking I've reached the point of don't give a damn.
Shambling and Rambling
A bimble seems to be somewhat less arduous than a hike. Here we shamble around the back alleys with the Newfie. “Shamble” perfectly describes the way these big dogs walk. Nelly is pretty good company on a bimble too.
From Audrey Driscoll of Audreydriscoll.wordpress.com
Shamble : (of a person) move with a slow, shuffling, awkward gait.-verb
Shamble : a slow, shuffling, awkward gait – noun
Shambles: 1 archaic : a meat market. 2 : slaughterhouse. 3a : a place of mass slaughter or bloodshed the battlefield became a shambles. b : a scene or a state of great destruction : wreckage the city was a shambles after the bombing. c(1) : a scene or a state of great disorder or confusion an economy in shambles.
Did my life turn into shambles as I aged and my gait slowed and stiffened so that now I shamble rather than stride?
My thoughts now ramble on a lot longer than my morning walks.
As my overall tolerance stiffen with age, so does my tolerance of speakers who ramble on rather than getting to the point.
When was the last time I scrambled after any thing but ordering eggs at breakfast?
They tell you not to play with your food, but it is so much fun to play with your words.
Beside the Stream
I paused beside the tumbling creek as it splashed and jumped from pool to pool leaping high over rocks in competition to tag the leaves and me on my trail-rest. The creek was fed from a spring. The peace and energy of that pulsating water echoed and stirred my languid limbs and heart. Eventually I could tarry no longer as the creek continued on its travels so must I refreshed and restored by the vitality of the tumbling creek.
Time to Remove the Weeds of COVID
A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, “a plant in the wrong place”.
Hopefully the time of COVID is passing. As more people get vaccinated, business is resuming, and people are traveling again–it is time to plow the fallow fields of our COVID mindset and root out the weeds that we have allowed to flourish in that abandoned ground.
- Have you stopped thinking for yourself and turned control of your beliefs and values over to someone or some group that is not worthy of that privilege?
- Have you allowed habits to form that you could not imagine having before COVID?
- Has your sense of entitlement grown because the past year has been rough, despite your best efforts?
- Has your government, belief system, employer, friends and/or family failed you when needed them most?
- Do you want somebody to blame other than yourself?
- Do you want a time capsule back to the good old days, whenever that was?
- Do you have to feel better than another group in order to convince yourself that you are not at the bottom of the pecking order?
What are the weeds in your COVID mindset? What needs to be yanked out by the roots before it spreads further? What values have you jettisoned because your burden was getting too heavy?
Does it include common sense, courtesy, the truth, belief in progress, faith in a higher power, a sense of community and belonging?
When I looked in the mirror a stranger stared back Who was that person I didn't know? Could I find myself again? Did I even want to? Stress either strengthens or breaks an organism.
Are We the Sum or Some of Our Existence?
I was reading Brother Campfire Personalities Shamelessly Exposed Online where he shares his “hypothesis is this. Folks do not like to have their perception be wrong and are comfortable seeing one or few aspects of a person. It makes some uncomfortable to read a blog that expresses very real and personal thoughts. “
Then he asked:
“Do you have readers from far reaches or an even balance of those you know personally? What is your ratio of readers?
What do you think is the cause? I am very curious to know in the comments.”
Having a punny sense of humor, I wondered if we are the sum (entirety) of our existence or are we the some (part) of our existence? Are we always the same or do we share different facets of our personalities depending upon the situation and the audience?
I have two followers who I know personally. I have a few that I feel like I might almost know through their blogs, there are many I do not know and a few I may not want to know better than as occasional blog followers and commenters.
Peonies
You remind me of a still lovely woman maybe a bit past her prime ample charms openly on display I think they called it blowsy.
Why Do We Always Blame the Girl?
I was listening to a CD of 60s hits and heard a pair of Lesley Gore Songs.
From Its My Party and I Can Cry If I Want To:
Judy and Johnny just walked through the door (walked through the door) Like a queen with her king Oh, what a birthday surprise Judy's wearing his ring
From It’s Judy’s Turn to Cry
Aww when Judy left with Johnny at my party (my party) And came back wearing his ring I sat down and cried my eyes out Now that was a foolish thing 'Cause now it's Judy's turn to cry Judy's turn to cry Judy's turn to cry 'Cause Johnny's come back To me
Why does Johnny get a pass for two-timing her and Judy gets blamed?
Do we expect more from our girlfriends than we do from our boyfriends/husbands/lovers? There is an unwritten rule that the man in your life is supposed to be off limits to your girlfriends/sisters/any female close to you. However, why shouldn’t the two-timing jilter also get part of the blame?
Eve has been blamed since she and Adam got kicked out of the garden of Eden. Since then, the evil seductress has been accused of tempting some poor male beyond his feeble attempts to remain faithful. Remember it takes two to tango-no matter what the tangle ensues.
So quit living life like it is a pop ballad where Johnny gets a free pass rather than the kick in the ass he deserves.
Different Take on Auto-Immune. Death by Car
This is a true story told by a friend of mind.
Recently we had dinner with a friend who told us a frightening story. She was on her way to Starbucks at 6:15am, when a man came across the street toward her van. She tried to speed up to avoid him, but he hit her on the driver’s side. By the time the shock wore off and she made a u-turn to get back to the spot, the man was gone. She was shaking badly, but was able to get to her phone and call 911. The police responded that they knew the man, his name, and his address. His partner said that he was depressed and was trying to kill himself AND that he had already tried running in front of a car earlier that morning. The man hit the passenger door of the van behind the driver and caused so much damage, that the door could not be opened. The repair to the door cost $4000.
Man-2
Autos-0
Cause for Jubilee?
Jubilee: a special anniversary of an event, especially one celebrating twenty-five or fifty years of a reign or activity.
Mary Chapin Carpenter singing Jubilee
Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States celebrating the emancipation of African Americans who had been enslaved. Originating in Galveston, Texas, in 1866, it has been celebrated annually on June 19 throughout the United States.
Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and his troops arrived at Galveston on June 19, 1865, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. … The term Juneteenth is a blend of the words June and nineteenth. The holiday has also been called Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day It is also known as Jubilee Day
I don’t have answers, just several questions.
- Does getting this new holiday make up for the failure to protect voting rights?
- Does a day off feel better than expecting the justice system to treat all of us the same?
- Does this example of Congressional bipartisanship mean more than Congressional bipartisanship on infrastructure or healthcare?
- Is this placation or a step in the right direction?
Marginalized
When did you move from center page to annotation? Were you crossed out, partially erased, nothing left but a smudge or smoldering ashes? Is there even a footnote or footprint in the dust to prove that you lived? You weren't created to be doodle in some heedless person's map, diary, or tweet .
National Smile Power Day–June 15
You’ve probably heard that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile. But, somehow, over the years, most people tend to forget this. Babies smile about 400 times a day, while the average adult only smiles 20 times. Today is a day to fix this and to smile at everyone you come across.
Benefits from Smiling
- Improved Mood. Smiling releases endorphins, which helps a person feel happier and more positive. …
- Pain Relief. …
- Lower Blood Pressure. …
- Stronger Immune System. …
- Stress Reliever. …
- Better Relationships. …
- Younger Appearance.
Smile, make them wonder what you are up to.
Although, it may take a while eventually you may coax a smile on even the gloomiest guss who will look better with a smile on his puss
Frills Don’t Improve the View
Doughy muffin top Overflows it's container Frills can't camouflage
I Voted Today
Voting Opened To Everyone
Virginia had its Democratic primary today. We elect our governor in an off year–the year after the presidential election. Our governor may not run for two consecutive terms, but he can run again after being out of office for at least one term. Unlike the governor, our lieutenant governor can run for consecutive terms, but this year he (Justin Fairfax) has decided to run for governor instead. He is one of five candidates running for the office. The Democratic front runner is former governor, Terry McAullife.
Voting was easy. We went about 0630 and were the only ones voting. The poll workers out numbered us about 3 to 1. It was quick, easy, and painless. No lines, no hassle, and no waiting. We did have to wear a mask, but that wasn’t burdensome under the circumstances.
One of the benefits of voting in an off-year election is that it gives the pundits something to discuss and a possible clue of what the bigger election picture of 2022 might be like. In Virginia, it also gives a good clue as to how many of those people that at least had the option of voting today, may retain that option next year.
So far, Virginia is one of the few states that have not proposed voting restrictions. I hope that whoever wins the governor’s mansion will not decide that s/he must fall into the same trap. The state has bucked tradition by enacting the Virginia Voting Rights Act of 2021.
More restrictions on the vote are likely to become law, as roughly one-third of legislatures are still in session. Indeed, at least 61 bills with restrictive provisions are moving through 18 state legislatures. More specifically, 31 have passed at least one chamber, while another 30 have had some sort of committee action (e.g., a hearing, an amendment, or a committee vote). Overall, lawmakers have introduced at least 389 restrictive bills in 48 states in the 2021 legislative sessions. Brennan Center for Justice
Why are we scared of allowing all qualified citizens to vote?
Is this your idea of the only credible voting scenario (but including a white man as well as a white woman)?
June 8 is National Best Friends Day
We've been together since Day 1 My constant companion Dawn to dusk Birth to Death Can not live without each other If I don't love you how can I love another? You are literally my BFF. But, I need more than you to make my life complete I need to listen to what you are telling me but you really don't answer my questions that is why I have deserve other besties but only you are forever.
When the Light Turned Green
When the light turned green she didn't budge I gave my horn a little hudge Her head came up her car turned right both cars able to make the light At the next light she was third so the horn need not be heard Two cars moved while she did not should I give the horn a second shot? As the light was turning she no longer lingered I'm proud that I didn't give her the finger What makes people time the light so they slip through while you sit tight?
