11-17-17


so... it's been a few weeks of not sleeping... the flare is real, folks.
but on the other hand, the house is (relatively) picked up... and I've read a bunch of books.
For today's post, I thought I would share with you some of the books I've finished up recently:

O Pioneers - by Willa Cather: No one writes descriptions like Willa Cather. Hard at times to get through though.
Being Mortal - by Atul Gawande: should be essential reading for everyone
From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty: very interesting, and I really like her writing style
Forensic Nurse - by Serita Stevens: Not bad, not good.. and it had such great potential.
Stiff - by Mary Roach: funny and awesome. I read it years ago... and skimmed it again.

currently reading: 
*Coroner's Journal - by Louis Cataldie: this one looks really good.
*Unnatural Death: Confessions of a Medical Examiner - by Michael Baden: celebrities? Oh my...
*In Cold Blood - by Truman Capote: have always wanted to read it, but thought it would be too creepy. We'll see...

...and then I have some more "happy" books on my bedside table... but I will talk about those in another post sometime after I have finished them. I think it was the upcoming holidays of Halloween and Dia de los Muertos that got me started on a death themed bunch of books.... but that said; I think that in general, we don't talk enough about death, it's impact on us and our families... and how we choose to exit this world. I think as a society, we are getting better about it... but (sadly) lots of folks never have those conversations... and that needs changed.
See you all tomorrow.

11-16-17


sleep has been elusive... and the flare is in full force.
Thankfully, I have wonderful family... and a fabulous snuggle-buddy.
If you don't hear from me... I am in hibernation mode.
See you all tomorrow.

11-15-17


Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will... 
 And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!   
 Plot out a short story.
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem. 
 (you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

~~~

This is Woodrow Wilson Webber (known as "Woodie" to his friends).
He was named after the president, in hopes that it would give him strength of character and leadership skills. Woodie was strong alright... and folks considered him a character, but probably not in the same context his parents had hoped. He was smart, and had a sharp whit... but most folks, thought Woodie was a little "touched."
It had started innocently enough. Woodie was a simple guy, and he loved hunting, fishing, and being in the woods. It was on such a hunting expedition (he was looking for ducks)... that he came upon what he thought was a plane crash deep in the swamps outside of town. Upon closer inspection though, he realized that this was not a typical plane. Fact is, he'd never seen anything like it before... as he circled around its' humming lights and concave shape. Then he saw a rustling in the grasses.
What he saw, he could only describe to townsfolk as "alien"... not that they believed him anyway.
Big eyes, long limbs, waxy "skin" that defied color attribution.
He helped the being up... took him to the ship... and moments later... it was all over.
It was gone... in a flash. No trails in the sky... no marks left in the dirt.
Had he dreamed it? No.. it seemed too real.
And then, there were the burn marks on his hands from helping the being... what was that about?
Oh... they healed alright... but the effect they had on Woodie wouldn't go away.
He was determined to learn about these beings. He read every book in the library.
He talked to everyone he could. But most folks would just shake their heads and walk away.
He started a chapter of like-minded individuals. They went to conferences... they studied other "supposed" landing sites.
Eventually, he moved to the southwest USA, to further his insatiable desire to learn more...
Truth be told, no one really knows what happened to Woodie.
Some folks assume he died, some folks think he moved on to somewhere else... Machu Picchu maybe?
Other believed he simply "went home" with his waxy skinned friends.
That he was somewhere "out there" protecting them with his trusty 22 gauge and his cowboy whit...
 a sort of Cowboy for the stars...

11-14-17



Because I am not feeling very well today... I am just posting some photos.
These were taken many years ago, when we lived in Albuquerque, NM... and were colored lights that were featured 
(along with artwork) in an underpass near the train station downtown. I always really liked them.
See you all tomorrow.

11-13-17


I try not to complain... but today is rough. 
That said... I am so grateful. Bills are paid for the month, the house is warm and dry... 
we have food... a wonderful puppy... music on the computer, and books to read.
Hope you are all doing well on this November Monday afternoon.
See you all tomorrow.


(photo is one I took in Tuscon several years ago, but never edited until today)

for the weekend


I don't have a haiku for this weekend... 
But. I've been posting black and white photographs on my facebook page; and will be all month.
It is one of those "let's flood facebook with pretty pictures" kind of thing... but that's alright.
 I think at this point, I would much rather see photographs by people I know, than anything political, religious, or news-like. ... 
Hope you all have a great remainder of your weekend!

(so this is one of the photographs I posted. It is from the VLA - Very Large Array in NM. 
A friend of ours used to work there, and was willing to show us around before he retired a couple years later.)

11-10-17


...and this morning... there is snow. Not tons... but it's coming down in big, white, fluffy flakes.

Mom's been coming up most every night for dinner, and it seems harder this week for her emotionally. 
She seems to be dreading the oncoming winter, and has become a bit forlorn about it. 
A few deer have taken to sleeping in our yard at night... and it is wonderful to see them in the wee hours scurrying about. 
And I've an interesting stack of books at my bedside, all on a theme of death and dying...
which also, seems appropriate for this oncoming winter season. 

These past few days, I have found myself "nesting" a bit... making soup... cleaning when I have some energy...
sorting through some more stuff in the studio.... making envelopes... and I started a new collage for the first time in... well... a very long time.
So we'll see how it goes. In the meantime, enjoy your Friday, and I will see you all tomorrow.



11-19-17


The hoar frost is on the ground... and the hills this morning are luxuriously
 frosted in glistening white crystals. The sun is hiding, and we've a blanket of misty grey
 tones out there...

I've written and re-written this post half a dozen times already, 
and none of it is making adequate sense. 
So... I will wish you all a great day; with hopes of rest, joy, 
and maybe a wink or two of laughter. See you all tomorrow.

Music for today:
Zero 7
Bonobo
Thievery Corporation

11-8-17


Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will... 
 And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!   
 Plot out a short story.
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem. 
 (you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

~~~

It's just another day, David thought to himself. But truly... it was a day like no other.
For he was to be one of a select group of scientists to travel into space.
History would be altered. Lives would be changed.
Certainly his at least, David pondered.

His whole life had led up to this moment.
The years of studying so he could get good grades in school.
Pursuing scholarships, as his family had no money to send him to college.
Working after hours in greasy spoons washing dishes. Staying up late to finish papers.
Sleeping on his books... eating week old popcorn... getting home when he could.

Burning the midnight oil then at work... doing the jobs no one else wanted;
getting promoted. It all had paid off. And now this...
Zipping up his suit, going through his checklist for the 12th time that morning.
Had he done everything right? Did he know enough?
Was he strong enough... brave enough... willing?
Of course... and he knew it... but still.

Countdown had started... 9... 8...7...
soon he would be there... and he looked up.

11-7-17




Well, I had a brief spurt of energy last evening...
so I dusted the house, vacuumed, swept the kitchen, did some laundry, washed the dishes, 
watered the plants, checked my email, photographed things and listed on Ebay... then collapsed. 
Today, I am toast.

There are fluffy white snowflakes coming down... stark against the backdrop of yellow fall leaves...
and it seems too early (although it's probably not) for winter. 
Tonight, I hope to have a fire in the fireplace... and will probably burn some sage
 I was gifted the other day from a friend (see the bundles I made below).

For now, I wish you peace... rest... calm.
See you all tomorrow.


Music inspirations today:
Melody Gardot
Noora Noor
Hindi Zahra

11-6-17


I've been in a Lupus flare for over a year now (it was a year at Halloween)... and it's been rough. The last bad flare I had, lasted 18 months... and whether I want to or not, I must anticipate that this will be the same. So for now, as much as it bothers me emotionally, I must rest. 
It is frustrating to say the least... to want to do things... to feel guilty for not doing "enough"... and yet being completely worn out. But it is what it is. 

So, when I was awake from 2am on, the puppy decided to snuggle with me on the couch... and we watched the stars twinkle.... 
the bear wander the yard.... and the moon shine on. It was amazing. 
This morning, there was a nice frost coating the yard... and it was if a fairyland scene had appeared out of nowhere. 

Today.... it's a tea and potato chips kind of day....
see you all tomorrow.

11-3-17


remembering, cherishing, celebrating... those we have loved whom have passed
for DDLM (Dia de los Muertos)



11-1-17


Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will... 
 And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!   
 Plot out a short story.
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem. 
 (you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

~~~

I purposely saved this photograph for as close to Halloween as I could get.
The back of the photo, states that this is Sophia and Ira (real names here).
I am not sure, to be honest, which one is Sophia and which one is Ira....
and am assuming this was a costume for some party.

So for today... I will not write a story... but let your imagination wander.

10-30-17


I'm not sure why today has been so challenging... but it has.

Nothing much was accomplished today... except for having my mom up to dinner, and trying to distract her from her sadness with an old movie. But I did manage to get a couple pieces done over the weekend (see below)... and will try to get more done tomorrow.



The photo at the top of today's post is one I took back in 2010, near Tome, New Mexico. 
The colors just spoke to me today... that, and the vastness of the desert sky...

10-27-17


Are you getting ready for Halloween/ Samhain?
It is my favorite holiday... and I feel nowhere near as festive as I usually do, so I am working on it.

Here is a photograph I took on a trip out to California, in Feb 2012, that I hadn't edited before.
Seems to fit the season here & now...

10-26-17


It's been a very rough week... .and things are still a mess.
Some times, you just need to step back and rest.

So for the next few days I am going to try to calm down, relax, regroup and refocus.
And fall (and the nesting instinct) are a perfect time to do this.
Take care of yourselves, and I will see you all tomorrow.