7/24/06:
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Whisp of Air Personified |
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7/23/06
It is still hot here, hotter than we are used to, hotter than we like. The heat makes one tired.
Remember how I had broken the camera I carried with me in my purse? I finally got a new one to carry with me at all times, this one a Fuji. I got a good deal on it on Ebay, all the better since it is at high risk for breakage, given its life in my purse.
I used my new camera to take the picture of "Hot Jay", at left. It links to some more photos of me harvesting garlic and the garlic's resting place in our house. We are quite the farmers...
Patience is needed with everyone, but first of all with ourselves.- Saint Francis De Sales
7/22/06:
Whew! It is hot here. It has been a weird summer this year, with more rain than usual up until now. Our usual summer, despite the northwest's reputation, is very dry. Yesterday was sunny, and got up to 88 degrees, with humidity about 66%. Hot and muggy for us, even though it is nothing like the oppressive humidity and heat in Michigan.
There is a field between our house and the main road, which was mowed and baled toward the end of last week. Just after they finished we thought we heard the screech of a hawk now and then. To our surprise the screeching became more frequent until we realized that a mating pair of red-tailed hawks were out in and over the field attempting to train a juvenile to fly and hunt on its own. Like many teenagers he was balking (screeching) at having to work and at not being catered to. 
We thought he did not want to catch the mice, but wanted dinner brought to him, preferring the mice be ripped apart and ready to eat. Like many parents, these we observed pushed their teenager on, trying to ignore the pleadings and focus on the very serious task of preparing their offspring for life. Watching and listening, and having such thoughts that project human feelings and experiences onto animals (otherwise known as anthropomorphizing) reminded me of "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" movie I wrote about seeing back in June last year. In that movie Mark talked about how he rejects the concept behind the word "anthropomorphize", feeling that it allowed man to ignore commonalities with other life on earth, keeping us separate and different, and allowed us to deny the experiences of animals so that we could excuse all name of things we do to them. I think we also use language and ideas in the same way with other groups of humans in order to distance ourselves from them. By making the "enemy" different from us, less than human, we make it easier to pretend "they are like animals", and make it easier to excuse our actions, any actions. I think we forget that God made all of this world, that the kingdom indeed is all around us, that we are all children of God and what we do to each other, we do to ourselves. At least that is what I think. I also think that, in the end, God will let us know just what's what.
The red-tailed hawk screeching was quite frequent throughout the days and evenings last weekend, continuing on into the week. I tried to record the sounds but, as Jay pointed out, they usually record bird sounds with a directional microphone, which I do not have. My recordings did not adequately capture the sounds we had been focusing on. Nonetheless, once again I report natural happenings of interest to us, and lapse into my preaching mode.
Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not.- Thomas H. Huxley (1825 - 1895)
7/21/06:
Jay and I have been enjoying the singing voice of Englishman Jamie Cullum since sometime this last winter. As you can see from the album cover to the left, the man is practically a child- he turns 27 in August. Jamie Cullum sings jazz and pop, making it hard for some people to decide if they like him or not. He also croons classics like "I Only Have Eyes for You"- a singer for all ages. He writes the majority of the songs he sings, and plays a nice piano to boot.
Here's part of the lyrics from a favorite of mine on the "Catching Tales" album, written by Jamie Cullum New Year's Day 2005:
"PHOTOGRAPH"
Her name was written on the photograph,
right next to her red, sunburnt face,
it all had happened in that long tall grass,
about a mile from her old place,
I can't remember how it started and if it lasted that day in the sun.
And it's just another story caught up in another photograph I found.
When I look back on my ordinary, ordinary life,
I see so much magic, though I missed it at the time.
When I look back on my ordinary, ordinary life,
I see so much magic, though I missed it at the time.
The rare and beautiful experiences of divine revelation are moments of special gifts. Each of us, however, lives each day with special gifts which are a part of our very being, and life is a process of discovering and developing these God-given gifts within each one of us.- Jeane Dixon
7/16/06:
Today is the birthday of my old friend, Will Clegg. He was born July 16, 1953. This is a special year for us, because we were born in '53 and turn 53 this year.
Will was very supportive of me during some difficult times a few years back, and he blessed Jay and I in performing our wedding ceremony at my parents' home.
Thank you Will, for all of your kindnesses. I hope you have a wonderful year. HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL!
What's the point? My face, shall we say, looks lived in.- Ava Gardner (1922 - 1990)
7/15/06:
Back in August 2004, I reported on the imminent demise of Mount Vernon's historic 2nd Street bridge. Since then the bridge was demolished and a brand, spanking new one has risen up in its place.
Following my/our predilection for recording the history and history-in-the-making of this area, pictures of the new bridge are only a click away...
Click upon the picture to the left, if you dare, or care.
He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven.- Thomas Fuller
7/11/06:
The picture at left is by Korean photographer Atta Kim, part of an exhibit he is currently showing in New York- click on the picture to go to a site to with more of his exhibit photos. This particular photo was taken of 57th Street in New York over an eight hour period.
As you can see, despite numerous people flowing through the scene during the eight hours the camera lens was open, our presence becomes ephemeral when the blink of an eye becomes so slow. It makes me wonder what fast-moving things I am not noticing... I'll have to practice blinking faster.
It gives me a deep comforting sense that ‘things seen are temporal and things unseen are eternal'.- Helen Keller, referring to 2 Corinthians 4:18
7/10/06:
An email I received today from my cousin Diane, that begs to be shared:
There are no whole truths; all truths are half- truths. It is trying to treat them as whole truths that plays the devil.- Alfred North Whitehead
7/9/06:
Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.- George Washington
7/9/06:
I haven't written much lately, been busy piddling...
I went to the ortho doctor Friday, he said I have bursitis and gave me a shot of cortisone in my shoulder. Hmmm, interesting. Neither my regular doctor, nor my chiropractor, massage therapist or physical therapist voiced consideration of this as a possible diagnosis, but a few months ago my mom did. My shoulder is better, but not 100%. The ortho doc said I may well additionally have a slap tear, as my physical therapist had thought. I am to return to him in one month if I am not 100% by then and he will proceed to work me up for surgery... sounds like fun! Meanwhile I continue my physical therapy exercises and wait to see.
I am returning to my regular doctor on Monday to see what she wants to do about my cholesterol. She does not yet know that I discontinued my third statin med four weeks ago, after experiencing significant hip pain, and started a regimen of fish oil, Co-Q10, and niacin. My blood test done last week shows some good improvement in cholesterol readings so I am thinking I will continue this and see where it gets me. More later.
Yesterday we went to see Pixar's Cars movie- it was a pleasant surprise. I wasn't sure as the movie started, but it became more interesting and thoughtful as it progressed. The movie has some interesting references to things past and encourages us to slow down, be present- always a good thing to be reminded of. I think my folks would like it and am going to suggest my sister take them to see it. If you haven't already seen it, think about it...
In Micronesian, there's a word, kukaro, which has no corresponding word in English. When people say they are going to kukaro, they mean they are going to relax, sit around, and hang out. They are being, not doing.- Eli and Beth Halpern
7/4/06:
HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE JULY 4TH!
In celebration of our independence and the two-edged sword of democracy:
"The secret of a truly free press is that it should consist of many newspapers decentralized in their ownership and management, and dependent for their support- upon the communities where they are written, where they are edited, and where they are read. There is safety in in numbers, and in diversity, and in being spread out, and in having deep roots in many places. Only in variety is there freedom."- Walter Lippman
...the safest course is to do nothing against one's conscience. With this secret, we can enjoy life and have no fear from death.- Voltaire, 1694-1778
7/3/06:
As you know, Jay and I have a small house and yard. We have remodeled the house and continually plant our yard, making this our home by adding our own energy to wood, paint, dirt and seeds. Our home reflects us, our individual selves brought together.
Our yard has quite a bit of flowers growing in it much of the spring and summer. Mrs. Becker, across the road, always comments on them when I see her. The flowers force one to pause, to look and see what has grown or come up, to see what surprising beauty there is new today.
My parents visited us this time last year, and my mom enjoyed our daisies immensely. Click on the picture of my folks visiting here last year to see pictures of some of our flowers.
The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.- Mark Twain
7/2/06:
Jay has three small fruit trees in the flower bed between our drive and the front walk, two are apple trees (one red and one yellow delicious) and one is a cherry tree. We get just a few cherries, although they are very, very good. Last year we did not get any red delicious apples, but this year there are a number of apples on that middle tree. However, last year we got quite a few very good yellow delicious apples- enough to eat a few and to make about six pies. Since the tree is next to our front entry, I would step outside, grab half a dozen apples and go inside to prepare the feast. This year there are twice as many apples on that tree...
I have never taken any exercise except sleeping and resting.- Mark Twain
7/1/06:
Jay and I drove down to Stanwood last Sunday and walked about town in the hot sun, looking at old cars, trucks and farm equipment. It is fun to see nicely kept or fixed-up vehicles from our past.
When we got near the end of the main drag, Jay and I stopped in at Jasmin, a Thai restaurant owned by Denny and Pen Sritong, who also own our local Mount Vernon Thai House restaurant and the Erawan in Oak Harbor- all excellent places to eat. We had Thai iced tea and coffee out on the shady back porch, along with a tofu snack, then headed back up the street, soaking up more sun than we actually needed.
It was an enjoyable, nice day. Click on the dog in the red wagon for a few pictures.
Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Jardot's World: July Edition, 2006
All pictures on my page link to somewhere... go ahead, click!
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