Strange Tree

I saw this on Linda and her Twaddle. It reminded me of The Wizard of Oz movie and the walk through the scary forest. If you remember Dorthy and the scarecrow got the trees to throw apples at them so she could have something to eat.

This is my version. I am sure there are extra branches. I was getting dizzy at one point. I did the best I could. If you look closely, the tree is looking at her!

Complaint Department

My visits and views are way up, for me anyway. I have been doing this for about two years and my posts are now scattered across the internet cloud in cyber space. I am on my way to 600 posts, should be there soon. Big numbers used to amaze me, not anymore.

I started a poem blog a year ago or so, right now at about 70 post. Visits there are very sporadic, sometimes you can hear crickets. So quiet. But I am most proud of them. When I started, my mind was chock full of thoughts. Now my emotions are my guide to putting words to paper, so to speak.

I have been on a drawing path lately, trying to see if I have any hidden talent. It is a year long journey to see if I can get good at it. So far the comments on my art have been kind, but I am sure that will change over time.

But let me get to my point. On my poem site, some comments have been of the lecturing kind, how I am doing it all wrong, blah blah blah. But they liked the poem! I looked up poetry on Wikipedia and there were two or three pages on the different styles of poetry, so it made me wonder what style I should use to make them happy. I came up with a two or three words per line to express the thoughts I am trying to share. It is comfortable for me. If I tried to use rhyme and meter and all the stuff of classical writing, as they tried to get us to do in high school, I wouldn't write a thing.

One comment on my music videos that I posted said they loved my taste in music. Later on the same person told me they were boring old stuff. I have about 50 years of music to pull from my memory banks and it makes me happy.

I do get a few complaints on my sentence structure, syntax, tense and so on. I am from Chicago where people often end sentences in prepositions. It is a lifestyle in talking and writing. I am amused when I am shown how to write. I would not ever do that in return. Words and meanings vary around the world, English is not the same from state to state, let alone from country to country. Who am I to judge? But it appears I am judged.

It is tough to show with the printed word a moment of levity, amusement, eye rolling, all in good fun. If you have known me for awhile you know that I am always looking for a laugh, life is tough enough as it is. I love bad puns, ( is there any other kind? ), funny pictures, something to bring tears to my eyes from laughing so hard. I will make fun of myself, laugh with me then at me, but some people don't get it.

To those whom I have offended, I apologize.

To those who wonder why I put a comma here, not here, why this word, not this word, sorry, I am doing my best. Thank goodness for spellcheck. Things would be very bad without it.

To those who don't like how I write my poetry, and I stress the my, I guess you won't be stopping by any time soon.

As for my music, I have varied tastes, I am open to much, from classical to opera to rock and roll. If it touches me, makes me reach for the volume not the off button, it will be put in the like column or the love column. It would be funny to show what is on my I Pod right now.

I treat people with respect they deserve until they show the don't deserve it. I don't prejudge people. Their words and actions will tell much about them, rather quickly I might add.

You might not know that I can be very charming. It must be because many women have told me so. No, sadly, that does not lead to other things!

I love meeting people from around the world. My workplace gives me that opportunity. They are happy to share some insights of home, because I ask and they tell me. And they are pleased that someone wants to know about them.

To all that stop by and say something, thank you. To those that critique, be my guest. I will read and listen. Just don't judge me too harshly. I hope to make you laugh or think or tap your feet. I reveal much about myself with every word.
I am not the village idiot, but we are related!

Much like when I write a poem, the words must come to end.

It must be coffee time.

Ray

Yep, I am a lot like that......

Change Of Art

I felt stuck lately on doing faces, not happy with the results'

Here is a quick landscape drawing.

Grass, rocks, water flowing, trees.

A change of pace.

Literally,
back to the drawing board.

Ray

It's Almost Time For The Twaddle Adventure

Oxfam Trailwalker Melbourne click here to donate.

April 1st the race begins.

Keep in mind that Australia is a day and 3 hours ahead of us, on the east coast anyway.

You can still donate to the Oxfam Trail Walker Race in Melbourne, Australia.
Linda and her mates ( a team of four) will be walking 100 k ( 60 miles ) for charity, that will someday have a race here in the States. I suggest you start training now if you are interested.

Her team name is Stepping For Lives.
You can check her progress here.
Oxfam Trailwalker
Melbourne

Estimated time will be 28 hours of walking. The race takes them along trails and underbrush, steep inclines and involves walking at night. This is not the marathon races we have here, on nicely paved streets.

It takes much inner resolve, a competitive nature, endurance, and of course being in shape to start and finish such an endeavor.

A tip of the hat goes to Linda and her crew! May your race be a safe and successful journey!

Ray

Florida's Driest Winter In 80 Years

Close view across the water

a large drop off from the high point of the water

The feeder pipe for our lawn sprinkler system

normally not seen

longer view showing the large drop off of water

I don't remember the last time it rained. 

We had a very cold winter. (for Florida)

A very dry spring so far. 

This will not be good for farmers and

your food bill.

Global warming is a myth.

Really?

Someone will notice

Is It Just Me?

Does it seem strange to you that countries that have oil all seem to be having revolutions, one after another?

And that when one country whose ruler didn't want to leave, the U.N. evoked a no fly zone and the allies are bombing the palace of the leader?

And where did the rebels get all those weapons? And where is the money coming from?

I think someone is playing hardball out there.

If I could write like this......

It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and to recognize the presence of those great elemental forces which shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilization, like untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the chimney.

From the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 

The Five Orange Pips, 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 

My thoughts
One can hear the roar of the wind, the shaking of the house, rains pelting the windows and doors, causing some discomfort in ones mind, hoping the home can withstand the fury of nature.

I have always admired his writing, just wanted to share.


Ray

Don't Sweat It

Remember

Right now

is just

a moment

between

ice ages

Don't Say We Were Not Warned

Tiger Shot

With the Master's golf tournament fast approaching, I thought I would play one of the classic shots of all time. It took skill and a touch of luck to make this shot and years of playing to make this happen.



a long time ago.

Overwhelmed?

Due to the spread of information, which not that long ago used to take days, weeks, months, and sometimes years, we are inundated with bad news. The saying bad news travels fast can affect us all and wear us down.

Oil prices up

gas prices up

war going on (always)

natural disasters

tsunami

earthquake

nuclear radiation

fires

floods

starvation

no water

sickness

people live

people die

Don't feel guilty

Do what you can

One can't do it all

Don't feel bad

if it isn't happening

to you

Someday it will

Someone else

will

feel

sad

about

you

That's the way it is

Don't They Tell Us, All The Time, It's Safe?

3 Mile Island

1979

Chernobyl

1986

Japan Reactors

2011

Ongoing

It is safe.

 so they tell us. 

The wave of the future.

so they tell us.

Disasters are impossible.

So they tell us.

The radioactive waste 

lasts thousands of years.

More is made everyday.

We have everything

handled safely.

So they tell us.

Trust us, we know

what we are doing.

So they tell us.

The radioactive waste

spewing into the air

hitting the jet stream

will circle the entire

planet in 7-10 days.

So they tell us.

The most destructive

force on the planet,

is not mother nature,

it is mankind.

So they tell us.

My Thoughts, Once Again

When The Earth Moved
repeat from
January 28, 2010

When the time heals all 

a day like

any other

preparing evening

meal for all

change quickly

happened

first rattle

sense uneasiness

feeling spread

quickly

sense of doom

unable to stand

walls shaking

flying through air

goods from walls

run they screamed

outside now

knocked to ground

crawling to door

who made it out

not me

walls collapsed

ceiling soon followed

cascade

tumbling

falling

weight of the world

no feeling in legs

unable to breathe

crushed below

gasping last breath

how quickly it ends

no goodbyes

no hug

no kiss

no last words

no time to say

love you

walking down hallway

fancy place in town

best place to stay

columns in place

sandy soil

short cuts taken

building heaves

earth shakes

snap crackle

foundation buckle

like a pancake

floor on top

of floor

collapse as one

no time to scream

gone

stagger into street

people crying

babies wander

blood washes roads

running running

after shock

again again

no end

why why

help me

all cry as one

policeman

fireman

doctor

no more

water gone

food gone

bodies waste

help us

no one cares

world unites

rally to help

docks gone

airport gone

roads gone

help on way

looking searching

pull back rubble

dog sniffs

cry is heard

baby brought out

cheer goes up

one is saved

pits are dug

deep and wide

bodies stacked

thousands now

pushed in covered

buried unknown

recovery begins

once again

slow and painful

how do you

take away

everything

from people

who have

nothing

wounds
nature like crouching
tiger in ambush 
waiting waiting
once more


Wall Of Water
repeat from

December 26th, 2009

ideal setting
coastal town
postcard perfect
sunny day
blue skies
crowded beaches
busy time
paradise for some

ominous signs
suddenly
water recedes
like never before
beach quickly grows
out further and further
sea shells
fish flopping
children playing
men and women
gaze and wonder
all is quiet

somewhere deep
in the bowels
of ocean
earthquake strikes
land shifts
water gathers
hurtling forward
tremendous speed
hundreds of miles
an hour
unsuspecting
people
unaware disaster
lurking
on horizon

a cry
from lips
water rising
ever higher
ocean wall
monster heights
angry god
lashing out
inland racing
gathering all
before it
smothering life
objects ravenous
all succumb
draws out to sea

nothingness
left behind
bewildered
survivors cry
stunned once more
ocean releases
flotsam and jetsam
only signs
of happening before
tsunami by name
destructive force
time heals all
wounds
nature like crouching
tiger in ambush
waiting waiting
once more

The Most Interesting Man In The World!

Click on the title for the article!

You have seen the ad on TV. It seems there is some truth to the man behind the myth. He is 72 years old, and he does seem to have things figured out.

I should look so good at his age!

He is still " The Greatest"

Ali-Liston

1964

Like Father, Like Son

Recently at the Frank Sinatra Jr. concert we commented often how he looked like his dad. Here is proof!

The Thoughts of Pixar

Seriously, What kind of drugs are they on at Pixar? And most important will they share?

Plastic State Of Mind!

Jump on the bandwagon!

Web Site Story

Because I really needed a laugh! I present the soon to be classic "Web Site Story"!

borrowed from 

http://coyoteprime-runningcauseicantfly.blogspot.com/2011/03/if-west-side-story-were-on-internet.html

Am I Green With Envy?

I am actually. In the physical sense.  I am referring to the joy of competition. With others, with ones self. Push it to your max, devil may care attitude. Yes I miss it.

When did did it go away? When I got older, family obligations, bills and so on.  I realized that an injury that lead to a loss of time at what ever job I was currently at would cause me great financial loss. Something I could not afford.

Some of the sports I played and enjoyed were ice hockey ( played goalie ), baseball, football, basketball, tennis, squash, racquetball, volleyball ( not the picnic type ), softball, bowling, golf, and could run forever. We had equipment for everything. When we finally had cars, the trunk would look like a sports store.

We tried everything and anything and did well. I was not a star player, just average, but loved to do what we saw on TV. Be like our heros.

Slowly over time, chinks in my sports armor developed, chipping away at something that brought me great joy. Getting older can be cruel in a physical way. Injuries pop up suddenly, take forever to heal or not at all.

I get little joy in watching others, unless it is someone or something I care deeply about. The burning desire smolders now, but it is not out. I still golf, a little. I still want to win. For my self, my own self worth.

I still want that feeling once more, staggering across the finish line, exhausted, hands on knees, gasping for breath, body aching from the effort. a smile on my face, knowing that I did my best, I finished!

I guess it is better to be a has-been instead of a never was. Some how though, that seems hollow.  I still want it. I still want to compete.

Can I go out and play?

Frank Sinatra Jr. Is Like His Dad!

Another concert, another good time. I was hoping and was not disappointed to see as we walked in a full big band getting ready to play! A 20 piece band got my juices flowing as we waited for the show to start.

We had great seats on the floor courtesy of my daughter, once again. Frank hit the stage and away we went, along for the ride. It was very enjoyable. It was spooky at times how much he looked and sounded like his dad.

He never got the credit that he was due when he was younger, very much overshadowed by a living legend.
He shined tonight. Part of the show featured his music, much of it was his dad's. At times we agreed, he sounded better then his dad.
The best song was Summer Wind I thought. He ended up with New York, New York.  The crowd roared it's approval.

Then there was a rush for the door. It was an older crowd, much older. We felt very much like the young-ins in the audience. My thought was they must of announced there was an early bird special!

If you get the chance pay a visit, you won't be disappointed.

a small step

Madman Across The Water

Still his best album and the best song Bernie Taupin ever wrote!

Sleeping Beauty

Started at lunch time on the 27th

left to do the next day was the right arm

and the squirrel.

I had forgotten my books and paper at home. 

I grabbed a book with Disney pictures, 

some regular copy paper

and went to work.

time for a big gulp of coffee
later
ray