Blogging Against Stupidity

My Blogger buddy Zencomix always comes up with the best political cartoons...


Stop over and say "high" - and while you're at it check out the Blogswarm Against Theocracy website...

PEACE
ॐ Jimi The Hippie ॐ

The Thousandth Man

One man in a thousand, Solomon says,
Will stick more close than a brother.
And it's worth while seeking him half your days
If you find him before the other.
Nine nundred and ninety-nine depend
On what the world sees in you,
But the Thousandth man will stand your friend
With the whole round world agin' you.

'Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show
Will settle the finding for 'ee.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em go
By your looks, or your acts, or your glory.
But if he finds you and you find him.
The rest of the world don't matter;
For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim
With you in any water.

You can use his purse with no more talk
Than he uses yours for his spendings,
And laugh and meet in your daily walk
As though there had been no lendings.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em call
For silver and gold in their dealings;
But the Thousandth Man he's worth 'em all,
Because you can show him your feelings.

His wrong's your wrong, and his right's your right,
In season or out of season.
Stand up and back it in all men's sight --
With that for your only reason!
Nine hundred and ninety-nine can't bide
The shame or mocking or laughter,
But the Thousandth Man will stand by your side
To the gallows-foot -- and after!

-Rudyard Kipling

Morning Ecstasy

Why can't things ever be simple?

Falling in love can be classed among these "things" that never are simple. A simple thing is the first brushstroke to the canvas - then it becomes complex...

After that initial brushstroke - that's when the form & color explode.

...and as compared to life, the intricacies erupt - in vivid flowing connected timelines - beating a path towards the ultimate finale.

Leonardo da Vinci once said, "Art is never finished, only abandoned." Now it seems I know what he means - and so it is with Life & Love.

Please, clue me in...

I saw Fucker for Thanksgiving. He invited me to his house for the feast with his family. It was a great time, and I thank him from the bottom of my heart. We've remained close friends through all this. He knows my story - without the latest twisting developments.

Last night was the topper...

Now it's time to follow my Heart.

Happy New Year - Atonement

Being of Celtic origin, this is the spiritual time of year for me - that time when I take a few moments to reflect and "regroup" my way of doing things or even how I think about things. It's usually an uplifting experience for me.



I hope everyone had a great Hallowe'en - I had a visit from a Benevolent Spirit yesterday, at a time when I was feeling lost and helpless... It was a moment of self-realization for me - and I thank the Spirits that watch out for me.



PEACE & LOVE

Blerb

I was asked to write a bit about myself for the restaurant.
Here's what I came up with...

Having been involved in the restaurant industry for over 35 years, I've seen many changes come down the pike. Cooking has always been an essential part of my life since I can remember.

Appreciating the diversity of lifestyles and respecting the life experiences of individuals has also long been a determining factor in the creative process involved in my personal style of cooking.

Free-spirited and open-minded, my personal philosophy could probably best be defined as someone once observed, as being something like 'Beethovan mixed with a dose of Biker' - on a search for that perfect union of tastes with the freedom to experiment along the way - amalgamating something new and unique in a world that is fast becoming immutable.

Bon Appetit.

Out Damn Spot...

I'm so glad that's out of my system... Now I can start CLEAN.

There's nothing like a clean slate - chalk is cheap...

Right Einstein?

(click the title of this post to make your own message)

Festive Litha

LITHA (Summer Solstice, June 20-23, dependent on actual astronomical event)

Held on the longest day of the year, the Solstice is the celebration of lights triumph over darkness and that of the bountiful beauty that light brings into life. Flowers are common in the circle, roses and bright cheerful wildflowers are upon the altar and usually worn by all. It is the changing point of the year, and the celebration of the spiral dance of the year is common among Wiccans. It a celebration with much joy, and much feasting. Many Wiccans will attire themselves in bright colours and equally bright adornments of flowers. Usual food fare may include honeycakes or cornbread. Litha is not celebrated by all sects nor in the same way.

We celebrated Midsummer Day (St John's Eve) yesterday at Columcille.

It was a grand occasion with all the stops pulled out. I wish I had brought my camera along - there were so many colorful people there.

First off, let me tell you how hard it is to convince an ex-Priest that he would have a ton of fun at a Pagan Solstice Festival... LOL.

Finally, he went for it and we got there a bit late - just in time to see NNDT.

My favorite performance of the day would be hard to pick...

• Native Nations Dance Theater was pretty awesome.

Delwin played the flute at the top of the mountain. (pictured above left) Man, it sounded incredible. It brought the whole vibe together.

I wish my Son would have been able to come along so he could have seen some of his heritage in action. The Hoop Dance was very involved and totally inspiring and also Drew's Prairie Chicken Dance (pictured on the right). This performance lit the flame of the Solstice for me.

The Lady who narrated (I think her name was Vaughnda) was very keen to present a concise history of the dances and what they represented. It was marvelous.

• Vicki Doney — Her beautiful voice followed us through the park as we left the circle of stones to explore the wondrous nature of the park at the edge of the Appalachian Trail...

• Next up was Circle of Stones Ritual Theater - also truly awesome.

• Jack McGavin did his two-tone chanting with the shruti box while I meditated - Butch thought I was crazy, but I didn't care. ;o)

The day was magical - especially in the beautiful setting of Columcille. Butch and I wandered off a few times to visit the megalith formations. I thought of Sister Sorrow as I walked the Labyrinth.

I'll make my way back up there again soon and take some pictures...

Happy Jāņi Everyone.

शांति
इंद्रधनु राक्षस


Link: Pocono Record Article - Celebrating Summer
**note: If you read the comments in the newspaper article, it will remind you that some people are just never satisfied unless they can feel superior to others.

Open Your Mind

Can you see through the veil of perceived moralities?

What is the truth for you?
Believing things just because your society says they're right, is not always the truth. I know - I've had my eyes opened many times recently to what is and what should never be. Then there is always what should be and is not.

I've always believed that if you love someone - really love them - that is enough. This may not be the case for everyone. Is it possible to love more than one person at a time? I believe so. We may not necessarily be exclusively singularly attachable...

I may be the odd man out on this but, I know I have so much to give - and if the "one" I chose doesn't want it... well... I've been searching all my life. Guess it never really ends until it does.

Possibilities are open. Every person is not cut from the same mold. You may not have the right to judge another about how they want to live their lives... No harm done, but being truthful about it can bring consequences you were not willing to gamble on. Err on the side of caution, Human.

"Understanding is a virtue - hard to come by.
You can teach me how to Love if you only try.
So please - Don't give up so soon..."

For Ran... My Bumperstickers..

Click Pic to Enlarge

Bumper Sticker Heaven

Ran has an article on his site: "No religion Now" which is pretty thought provoking about "bumper stickers" and the intelligence of the people who drive the vehicles on which they appear...

I wonder what he would think of my "Bessie - The Green Finned Demon". My "wandering Billboard"..."The Green Dragon" which is my 'chariot'.

She's getting pretty expensive to keep now, since the price of her food has skyrocketed, but I just can't seem to give her up just yet...
Even though last week, while transporting a Player Piano, the wheel-gate wasn't hitched and swung open, hitting a lawyer's SUV and smashing the side view mirror off his vehicle... It would have to have been a lawyer, but he was way cool with it, and thanked me for coming into the office to tell him what happened.

[Thanks to the "Forces" that be that was all that occurred.]

Unseen stickers that are hidden in the photo:
Behind the wheel on the back:

"PRO-LOVE"

"God Bless The Grateful Dead"

"TAKE A HIKE - Long Trail Ale"

"HRC =Equality="

"Peace Through Music"

...and of course my personal favorite:

The Last Time We Mixed Politics With Religion... People Got Burned At The Stake.

And then, there is the front of "Bessie":

If you look closely, above the rearview mirror on the windshield you will see:
"NAMASTE"

... and on the front bumper:

"LOVE YOUR MOTHER [EARTH]"

and "BAN LANDMINES"

I'm just wondering what Ran [and what everyone who sees her] would think if he saw this beast driving towards him on the highway...

All I know is that it keeps people behind me occupied at red lights. LOL

Peace

p.s. "Inteligence Quotient" was not invoked at the time of the 'slapping-on' of Bumper stickers.

RELATED NY Times article

and Raw Story article