Oh, Blogger, difficult blogger...

why do you refuse to post a photo?

On Memorial Day

A thank you to all those men and women who serve our country and those who support them.

Sunday Quote

Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

~ Lao Tzu

More of NY's capital city

The Albany photos have gotten away from me - and I have yet to post the ones of the remarkable interior staircase that the guard called the million dollar staircase (really breathtaking in a Harry Potter kind of way which I think means - this is a remarkably busy Spring for various reasons, some difficult, some quite good, and I feel I am playing catch-up and not doing very well at it. Ah, well. Summer just around the corner, those late nights make the days feel longer and time feel like it's on your side.

Sunday Quote

Se non ora, quando?

- Hillel the Elder

The Last Day so they say...

Watching scenes from people picketing and proselytizing and the ancient minister who claims that only he knows that the end of the world will be today at 6 pm (well, at least I will be home from work by then, nice to end it all with a glass of wine in hand) and I had two thoughts - one, that it is such a drag to be a person who believes in God and have to have this whole fringe element making your own faith sound foolish which is annoying beyond words.
The second thought was how I wish some documentary filmmaker was following these people around and not just filming their yelling and freaking out but seriously asking - so if you really do believe that you have one day left - what are you doing with it? Hanging with friends? Converting strangers to your brand of lunacy? Eating tunafish sandwiches because it is your fave and on the off chance they won't have tunafish in heaven, you better get some now. Seriously, we always hear people say you should live like today is the only day you have left - and we never do because real days are full of such mundane but necessary things like mending buttons and working and grocery shopping and teacher/parent conferences and bill paying. So it would be interesting to see what true believers really do on this last day of their lives (and what a cool documentary this would make). My daughter tells me there are people trying to form looting after the apocalypse groups - I am astonished that anyone would advertise their criminal activities or even plans thereof (Jerry Springer, your people are waiting for you out there somewhere) but also - that implies they believe this too - and believe they will not rise up in the Rapture. So - do you really need to loot that flatscreen for Hell? Just wondering.
Personally, if it is your last day, those of you who believe - may you hug your children, eat strawberries, make love to your beloved, and try to be kind all day, lay yourself down on the green grass and look up at the clouds and thank God for making this day, this beautiful beautiful day.

Happy Birthday, kittencat :)

How is it possible that this sweet child is now a young beautiful woman of 25? Where does the time go? Happy Birthday to my wonderful, warm, wise, witty daughter who has become a dear friend as well as my beloved child.

White Squirrels

In Hendersonville, NC. Two of them - white squirrels. Not albino but white with a streak of gray. We were amazed - turns out not entirely a miracle - but we saw them on a difficult day and it was miracle enough for us.

Sunday Quote

Regret is a natural part of living a fully engaged life. The more you take risks and relate to others, the more often you'll be called on to make complex choices that will lead you to regret - but also to intimacy, joy, and satisfaction. You'll never know what would have happened if you'd chosen differently over the years. Seen in that light, regret becomes its own badge of honor - evidence of a life well lived.

- Sharon Linnea

Admit it, he's a cutie

Cute dog pix for a too busy week. At least someone looks relaxed.

Sunday Quote

Our task is to say a holy yes to the real things of our life.

- Natalie Goldberg

Good song for the night...

Love this song by the Avett Brothers...

Showing off

Driving to work and all I can think is that the trees are so beautiful, the yards are so amazing, that it almost looks fake. These pictured, from a neighborhood walk, aren't even the most lavish ones - the plushest big pink hussy trees look like drunken fairies glued on hundreds of big fat pink tissue paper flowers everywhere and smacked them with fairy dust. The riots of yellow flowers dotting bright green lawns, or the tulips and daffodils and all the Easter bonnet topping types of finery sort of flowers, just everywhere. One expects elves and dancing rabbits. Just a world in bloom and a sky full of promise. And the sneezing. Don't forget the sneezing. Beauty comes at a price.

Sunday Quote

At any moment, you have a choice, that either leads you closer to your spirit or further away from it.

- Thich Nhat Hanh

Round-up, Spring cleaning

More from the files, this time Library and Reference sites: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database - from my Library school days, too interesting to not save somewhere. Dealing with difficult patrons training video - or why your public librarian looks tired when you ask her a question late afternoon...be gentle with us! Slideshow of some amazing libraries in the world.
Like languages? This is for you - languages (writing systems) of the world. A history of photography.
The National Archives.
Some clever silliness. I like the skootch day especially. Very cool extreme Science.
The Cotsen Children's Library in Princeton, NJ which I seriously need to make a trek to one of these days.
Ah, the dinner bell...which is, more accurately, the timer saying the rice is done.

more images from Tennessee and North Carolina

In my mind I've gone to Carolina

It was not a fun road trip, gone to see an ailing relative, but a road trip is an adventure nontheless...loved the guitar sticker in the back window of the Airstream trailer (would it not be fun to have one of those?), just Yankee enough to find the whole Sheriff thing way cool. Should have gone in that pawnshop (only because I have never) but we were rushing, very NC to me are those rather alarming runaway truck ramps all over, long stretches off the road where the out of control truck apparently does not slam into you but runs out of steam on the gravel runway... and of course, cow on a roof. Did not get bbq either. Who goes to North Carolina and does not eat bbq? People with partial root canal work who have to eat soft food on one side only. I mean, really. Just not right.

Tell me that you love me, Junie Spoon...

and some round ups since my faves have once again maxxed out...not all fairies live in the countryside - here's where urban fairies do their magic (and no jokes, y'all).
Feeling inclined to catalog? If you like things put in their proper place, this might be of interest - I haven't joined as of yet, but it's bookmarked.
A teacup herb garden appeals for the lovely use of teacups (I who have a number of mismatched) and the Alice in Wonderland feel of the idea of herbs in teacups...
It's on the telly - should I buy it? I have a soft spot for these things because I love the idea of someone coming up with inventions, that Eureika! moment they must have when they realize it works (on some level, one hopes...)
too late, too tired, too zonked from the second half of root canal work to continue...tomorrow another (working) day. Thank goodness for Advil.

puffs

A field in either Tennesee or North Carolina, bit of a blur from last week's road trip.

In Memory

In memory of my mother-in-law, Kay, who passed away this week. This is a song that meant a lot to her.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord, "My Refuge,
My Rock in Whom I trust."

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
And famine will bring you no fear;
Under His Wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield.

You need not fear the terror of the night,
Nor the arrow that flies by day,
Though thousands fall about you,
Near you it shall not come.

For to His angels He's given a command,
To guard you in all of your ways,
Upon their hands they will bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

- Michael Joncas, On Eagle's Wings