Monday, September 22, 2014
Last Bloom
Blog 90 ...
Surrounded by stately trees, it rests among holly
evergreens and fading lilies now all getting choked by ivy and wild grass. Proudly, one surviving rose bloom stands in the small garden and shows off its bright pink shade. It minds not the wherewithal of the stem or
roots that hold it; it stretches itself as far upwards and only minds that it holds up its dashing
late summer bloom until its petals dry up, fall, and fold.
Acreage
Blog 89 ...
There it is … a wide stretch of flowing land mass taking space. There’s nothing special about it, except it
is majestically dressed in verdant green which requires a trim every so often,
especially in summer time. On its many passing days, it simply gets clobbered
by growths above it. Children’s little feet which used to trudge them in active
play, have now left; they found new grounds to explore and trample. The used-to-be gardener’s haven likewise no
longer yields bright blossoms, fresh herbs or vegetables waiting to be picked,
consumed and enjoyed. Useless, prickly
green grass on its flat body fades slowly, and waits for autumn and winter to
come and pass. Somehow, it hopes to again
rise and multiply on the sitting empty land it claims home.
Flirty
Blog 88 ...
Whether or not Americans admit it, they love their cars. Cars transport everyone, anything, and
everything, but beyond their utilitarian function, they define the status and
class of people who drive them. Whether it’s
a classic Chevy, sporty Lincoln, luxurious Cadillac, or bulky and boxy ’56 Ford
F-500 flatbed pick-up truck, each is loved and cared for by its owner. Don’t be surprised though when a few car
owners treat their cars as if they were living things. Watch especially, when cars get human-like makeovers
or get dressed up complete with dazzling eyelashes!
Standstill
Blog 87 ...
Road travel drudges the soul when it comes to a halt or that it gets
stuck. Occasional traffic due to a road
hindrance and unavoidable mishap are tolerable, but when roads come to a full
stop for an hour or so and it gets dragged for senseless two more hours, you are
ready to blow up your cool. For a while,
miles and miles of stagnated cars call your attention; they get you somewhat occupied
with their models, colors, shapes and designs.
Shortly, boredom really takes over. Not even an ant on the windshield, from
nowhere you can imagine it might have come, could amuse you. Your shih-tzu travel companion sulks and then
she likewise gives up and decides to forget the laboring stand still by
shutting her eyes, then dozing. You wish
you could do the same, but you are left without a choice, but sit still some
more, and pray that your patience doesn’t relent.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Colors
Blog 86 ...
Half-way into the month of September, you fill a little
chill. Falling temperature foretells the
arrival of most intense autumn warmth and its pleasant weather, yet outdoors, summer's
vibrant colors strongly hold on. The leaves
still don their most energetic, and lively green hues, while purplish and
reddish vines parade their brightest of bright, and most vibrant, fiery accents. Nature fails not in surprising you with her
festive landscape, so look around. Take
time to notice it!
Half-way into the month of September, you fill a little
chill. Falling temperature foretells the
arrival of most intense autumn warmth and its pleasant weather, yet outdoors, summer's
vibrant colors strongly hold on. The leaves
still don their most energetic, and lively green hues, while purplish and
reddish vines parade their brightest of bright, and most vibrant, fiery accents. Nature fails not in surprising you with her
festive landscape, so look around. Take
time to notice it!DeadEnd
Blog 85 ...
You head out of your lonely country road, reach secondary suburban
roads and speed up on main thoroughfares.
Traffic is kind on this fair weathered-day; no idiotic drivers attempt
switching lanes from fast to slow ... slow to fast. Neither is there anyone intimidating
co-travelers and pushing you aside or pressuring someone else to even go faster
on the already fast moving path.
Everyone appears armored with cool heads and demeanor, so you do your
part and keep up with everyone's speed while you mind the road signs guiding
your travel. At last, you spot mileposts
that signal distances. One finally says
you are getting close. You are definitely
on the last critical road leg toward your destination. You relax and chill out a bit. Suddenly you are jolted. Your GPS instructs for one last time in monotone voice that you have arrived at your plugged address, but find no
standing structure on site! You couldn’t
help the situation, but you manage to scream at the top of your lungs, “What’s
wrong here?”
You head out of your lonely country road, reach secondary suburban
roads and speed up on main thoroughfares.
Traffic is kind on this fair weathered-day; no idiotic drivers attempt
switching lanes from fast to slow ... slow to fast. Neither is there anyone intimidating
co-travelers and pushing you aside or pressuring someone else to even go faster
on the already fast moving path.
Everyone appears armored with cool heads and demeanor, so you do your
part and keep up with everyone's speed while you mind the road signs guiding
your travel. At last, you spot mileposts
that signal distances. One finally says
you are getting close. You are definitely
on the last critical road leg toward your destination. You relax and chill out a bit. Suddenly you are jolted. Your GPS instructs for one last time in monotone voice that you have arrived at your plugged address, but find no
standing structure on site! You couldn’t
help the situation, but you manage to scream at the top of your lungs, “What’s
wrong here?”Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Despicable
Blog 84 ...
Despicable
Newsfeeds around
the world, the nation and our local cities have lately been flooded with deplorable,
appalling, unforgiveable acts against human lives: beheadings of journalists by
terror striking ISIL ‘soldiers’, civilian shootings and assaults by trigger-happy
guised city police and neighborhood watchmen, domestic acts of violence on women and children by
people we intimately know. Killings and
threats to lives of ordinary and extraordinary people have inundated our home
circles, neighborhoods and wider world arenas.
What thought and action must we take to get to the bottom of senseless
attacks on neighbors by neighbors? How
must we ‘turn the other cheek’ to perpetrators of despicable crimes? Why couldn't we co-exist in peace?
Newsfeeds around
the world, the nation and our local cities have lately been flooded with deplorable,
appalling, unforgiveable acts against human lives: beheadings of journalists by
terror striking ISIL ‘soldiers’, civilian shootings and assaults by trigger-happy
guised city police and neighborhood watchmen, domestic acts of violence on women and children by
people we intimately know. Killings and
threats to lives of ordinary and extraordinary people have inundated our home
circles, neighborhoods and wider world arenas.
What thought and action must we take to get to the bottom of senseless
attacks on neighbors by neighbors? How
must we ‘turn the other cheek’ to perpetrators of despicable crimes? Why couldn't we co-exist in peace? Bill
Blog 83 ...
Surprise, good and bad, comes
my way when I am not asking for it. Take
for instance, a water bill! I have not given
thought about water bills for a long time having lived down countryside for years, and having
been supplied water from my own well.
Paying for city water resource to fulfill my present home's basic use is a necessity,
but paying for its safe delivery is quite something else to figure. Has anyone else besides me, actually looked at a city water bill lately, and scrutinized what it
charges? My awakening surprise: a base
fee of $6.95, a sewer processing for $18.49, storm water charge for $5.20, and
an environmental fee for $9.35. Add my
$14.95 month’s consumption, and behold … a whopping final charge of $54.41! Conserving ‘liquid gold’ is indeed a must,
but getting it to flow from the city’s reservoir is a much larger cause for
serious pause and thought . Ponder that!
Surprise, good and bad, comes
my way when I am not asking for it. Take
for instance, a water bill! I have not given
thought about water bills for a long time having lived down countryside for years, and having
been supplied water from my own well.
Paying for city water resource to fulfill my present home's basic use is a necessity,
but paying for its safe delivery is quite something else to figure. Has anyone else besides me, actually looked at a city water bill lately, and scrutinized what it
charges? My awakening surprise: a base
fee of $6.95, a sewer processing for $18.49, storm water charge for $5.20, and
an environmental fee for $9.35. Add my
$14.95 month’s consumption, and behold … a whopping final charge of $54.41! Conserving ‘liquid gold’ is indeed a must,
but getting it to flow from the city’s reservoir is a much larger cause for
serious pause and thought . Ponder that! Art-LifeMix
Blog 82 ...
From displays of
conflicted human relationships, indifference, injustice, and taboos or the graceful
movement of bodies through music, artistic drama copies our day-to-day life. Juxtaposed realistic and fantastic
experiences delivered through artistic performances mesmerize us, lift up our
spirits, and allow us to witness the hurts and joys of life we encounter. We are touched by the emotion and resilience
of the human spirit rendered flawlessly by actors. We are either made aware or forced to face
difficult issues in life through heartwarming and believable acting. Art and life mix onstage is a phenomenon we
truly could celebrate again and again!
From displays of
conflicted human relationships, indifference, injustice, and taboos or the graceful
movement of bodies through music, artistic drama copies our day-to-day life. Juxtaposed realistic and fantastic
experiences delivered through artistic performances mesmerize us, lift up our
spirits, and allow us to witness the hurts and joys of life we encounter. We are touched by the emotion and resilience
of the human spirit rendered flawlessly by actors. We are either made aware or forced to face
difficult issues in life through heartwarming and believable acting. Art and life mix onstage is a phenomenon we
truly could celebrate again and again!Balance
Blog 81 ...
At a corner garden by the roadside, my eyes spot three interlayered rocks standing majestically and peacefully. Someone, either moved by the rocks’ smoothness, unique shapes or natural beauty must have decided to make a sculptural statement emphasizing some kind of a relationship. What could the eye make of it? Beyond pure aesthetics and natural inspiration, the artist might have experienced an ‘Ikebana' floral arrangement. It is possible that the artist could be an enthusiast of Eastern 'Ikebana' thought representing and reflecting an understanding of connections between and among heaven, earth and humankind: humankind depends on resources provided by the earth, which in turn depends on the graces of heaven, and God … the one Great Force. A perfect balance of interdependence strikes a pose, and it drew me to it. It invites over and again passersby like me and you to notice and be awed!
At a corner garden by the roadside, my eyes spot three interlayered rocks standing majestically and peacefully. Someone, either moved by the rocks’ smoothness, unique shapes or natural beauty must have decided to make a sculptural statement emphasizing some kind of a relationship. What could the eye make of it? Beyond pure aesthetics and natural inspiration, the artist might have experienced an ‘Ikebana' floral arrangement. It is possible that the artist could be an enthusiast of Eastern 'Ikebana' thought representing and reflecting an understanding of connections between and among heaven, earth and humankind: humankind depends on resources provided by the earth, which in turn depends on the graces of heaven, and God … the one Great Force. A perfect balance of interdependence strikes a pose, and it drew me to it. It invites over and again passersby like me and you to notice and be awed!
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