Author Archives: Lenora Good

To Baseball or No Baseball

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Weather in the Tries:
Stock up on ice, my friends. While Monday is a nice, low 85F for our high, we begin a low and steady burn to 87, 90, 92, 101, 106, finish the week off with Sunday being 103F. The good news is the pool is open and the sun is shining with no clouds in the sky.

To Baseball or Not Baseball: 
When I was a kidlet, living in Northwest Portland, Oregon, I loved baseball. I could sit on the front porch in the summer and have the radio on and listen to Bob Blackburn and Rollie Truitt call the games live from the Vaughn Street Park. It was many years later I learned they called the games from ticker tape that came into the radio station downtown. But I could hear the crowds roar from the stadium as well as from the radio.

I listened to the Countdown Podcast by Keith Olbermann for 20 Jun 24, in which gave an interesting tidbit about Willie Mays, and talked about why the World Series has lost so many fans through the years. That got me to thinking about why I no longer care for baseball all that much. I do admit, I’m not a huge sports enthusiast. I used to like American Football, until the dangers of being hit in the head came to light, and somehow, watching these overgrown kids playing a game lost its appeal. And now, they are discovering the same problems with Soccer (the rest of the world’s Football), and women are coming down with it now as much as men. 

But back to my real topic, about how I lost my love of baseball. One of Mother’s friends took us to a Beaver’s game at the Vaughn St. Stadium. I was so excited to go. It was hot. We sat in the bleachers in the full sun for a double header. And it was duller than watching paint dry, or grass grow, or a rock at the ocean be ground into sand. There were these guys on the field, wearing their pajamas, and standing around and running and batting now and then. BUT BOB BLACKBURN AND ROLLIE TRUITT WERE NOT CALLING IT. Oh. Emm. Gee. Booooredom. Bob and Rollie called it for the radio, brought it to life, a life I expected, not the life that was before me.

Eventually, I think the Portland Beavers disappeared. I know they moved to a different stadium, I think it was Multnomah Stadium, but by then, I really didn’t care. The next time I heard from Bob Blackburn, he was the radio voice of the Sonics, and though I wasn’t a great fan of basketball, I was a great fan of Bob Blackburn, and I became a fan of the Sonics. I actually did see a professional basketball game back in 1970 when I believe the Sonics played a California team in Portland as an exposition game to help bring professional basketball to Portland. A young hotshot player was in the game, Kareem Abdul Jabar? Wilt Chamberlain? Kobe Bryant? I don’t remember, but he seemed to stand around center court and not do much. We were pretty disappointed in him until the next morning the headline said he made something like 53 baskets! A record at the time. And we realized he was so gosh darn tall, he’d shoot from farther back than most. 

Since I no longer have Blackburn or Truitt to make sports come alive for me, I don’t listen or watch much anymore. And yet, if Keith Olbermann talks about sports, I’m spell bound. Those three men could, I’m sure, talk about the paint, grass, and or sand mentioned above, and make it the most interesting story on the radio/television/internet of the day. Oh, is Formula One racing a sport? I love F1 races as long as there is one really good, spectacular crash and THE DRIVER WALKS AWAY FROM IT! I also still watch the Thunder Boats when I catch them on streaming. And golf. I actually enjoy golf. Talk about going from the ridiculous to the sublime;-)

Oh, and I did listen to one World Series in 1969 when the Mets won their first World Series. As I recall I won a dollar off my grandfather on that one.

A note from/about one of my favorite authors, M. K. Tod:
She writes historical fiction, and I’ve yet to read one of her books I didn’t enjoy to the max! She sent a note advertising her newest book, which I have but have not yet read, and asked the recipients to take a reader’s survey. Which I did, and was asked both in her email, and at the end of the survey, to share the survey link. She would really like to get men to take the survey, as well as women, so please consider it. The survey takes about 10 minutes, or less. It’s not often you are asked for input, to help writers write what you’d like to read, so here is your chance. Just click the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LSYVTG7

Photos of the Week:
This is a wee quilt I am making a friend. It will be about 16×20 when finished. She picked out and bought the fabric, and wanted it to be Mount Shasta and three of her sister mountains. I call it Purple Skies Over Mt. Shasta and Three of her Sisters. The title is almost larger than the quilt. I hope to have it finished this week. Well, the piecing. Then I have to figure out how to quilt it.

from the desk of the big chihuahua;
all week it will be sunny and really warm. I hope my human spends time on the patio, so I can go outside and keep her safe. I take my duty to guard her very seriously. she’s so funny. every time she leaves, she gives me a job to do. then she leaves and locks me in. how am I supposed to keep the hippopotamesses out of the parking slots? or the jiraffs and allegators out of our pond when I can’t open the door to go outside. and what are those things, anyway.

Quote of the Week:

Add life to day not days to life
                        ~ Samuel Sangwa.

Great Stories v. Great Literature

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Weather in the Tries:
Why yes, thank you, we are having some this coming week.

On a Personal Note:
“Hawkeye” Pierce died this past week at the age of 88. Rest in Peace Donald Sutherland, thank you for so many wonderful characters I would have loved to meet and get to know.

Great Stories v. Great Literature: 
I subscribe to the Substack of Sherman Alexie. Because I pay, I get to see more of his writings than if I subscribed to the free version. I also get to leave comments on his writings, which range from poetry to short stories to memoir. I am in awe of the man’s talent. The other day he wrote something about wanting to write great literature. Of course, I couldn’t let that go without a comment. I told him to continue to write great stories, and if they happen to be great literature, fine. But if not, to my way of thinking great stories are more important than great literature.

Great stories are accessible to anyone who can read. Great Literature is often dry, dull, and boring, the characters are not interesting or fun, just ink on a dead processed tree. Margaret Atwood writes great stories, and great literature, but her literature is first and foremost a damn good story. 

My book group read a debut novel by a young author. I gave it the requisite 60 pages (I read once that a book editor will read the first 60 pages and if they like it, continue. If not, the great Letter of Rejection is mailed. Actually, I doubt if they read much past 10 pages today). I didn’t like any of the characters, I didn’t care what happened to them, I just didn’t care. I seldom read past page 60, if it’s not my cuppa tea. Sometimes I put the book down, wait a few months and try again, and then I get all the way through and can’t figure out why I disliked it the first time.

I did, once, read a book almost to the middle, and put it down. Not one likable person in the book. Worse than the Godfather. That book I could hardly put down and the only likeable person were the two women Michael Corleone married. Anyhow, back to the one I closed slightly before the halfway mark, I picked it up a week or two later, and I committed a venal sin. A misdemeanor if you will. I read the last chapter. Although I didn’t like anyone, I kept worrying it, and decided I had to know the end. 

Literature is character driven. Fiction is plot driven. Perhaps I never had the right literature books, or the right teacher to teach the class, but I feel about most literature I’ve tried as Oprah does about books with happy endings! She will never recommend a book with a happy ending, I heard her say one day during a tv interview. If it’s fiction, and you want me to read it, it had better have a happy ending, with few exceptions. I get too many sad endings in the news. And in my life. 

I have a book by George Steiner, Errata: an examined life. It is a collection of essays. I bought it for the first paragraph, which begins thusly: “Rain, particularly to a child, carries distinct smells and colors. Summer rains in the Tyrol are relentless. They have a morose, flogging insistence and come in deepening shades of dark green. At night, the drumming is one of…”

I love essays. I have several books of essays. They are (except for the John McPhee ones) usually short. And interesting. So, I buy a book based on one paragraph, the hook as it’s called in genre writing, and was enthralled all the way through. I also subscribe to magazines based on similar things. I just subscribed to The Paris Review, based on an article they pulled from a past issue and sent out, about Chinua Achebe. I don’t believe I’ve read anything by him, but after reading the article, I will give him a try. (The article was open to one and all, to read the interview, one must subscribe.)

Just what I need. More processed dead trees coming into our house. I am so jealous of my housemate at times. ALL of his books go to his Kindle. Only fiction and the now and then craft book, come to mine. I want the white space of poetry as it’s shown on the page. And if it’s non-fiction, I want to write marginalia in it, well, sometimes. I want to go back to earlier pages and check something. Yes, I can do that on my kindle, but it’s difficult, and I’m special (okay, I’m probably a bit spacey, too) and I can see the page if it’s paper, but not if its electrons. What can I say? I also like the feel and perfume of paper and ink. 

Back to Sherman Alexie, if he does write the great literary novel, it will probably be very well written, and interesting. But I hate the idea that he goes into his office one day, sits down at his computer and purposely writes literature. I want him to write stories. I’ve yet to read one of his stories that wasn’t well worth the time and money. Maybe I’m just lazy, and don’t want to have to figure out what the writer is writing about. Maybe I’m tired after a long day, and I want to escape my reality for a few minutes when I go to bed at night. Maybe I want a poem about a father and son at the ice cream store to be just that, and not have 37 metaphors that need to be decoded. Yeah, he writes kick-ass poetry as well as fiction. 

Photos of the Week:
Mallard Hen out for an afternoon swim, enjoying the pond to herself

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Silver Linden tree at the Library. Several trees, all in bloom. Shedding pollen and perfume like crazy.

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from the desk of the big chihuahua;
my human says to buckle up savvy pup, because it’s gonna be hot and not so hot this week. she forgets this dog is a desert dog. my forebears came out of the chihuahua desert down south of the border, down Mexico way. will you look at that. the computer put a capped letter in for me.

Earworm of the Week courtesy of YouTube:
South of the Border (Down Mexico Way by Patsy Cline

Quote of the Week courtesy of azquotes:

“Carnegie Hall was real fabulous, but you know,
it ain’t as big as the Grand Ole Opry.” ~ Patsy Cline

Willed Body Programs

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Weather in the Tries:
Yikes! I started writing that this week would be cooler, and checked my phone to be sure I wouldn’t tell a lie. Well, part of the week will be cooler. Monday will be 71, Saturday will be 97. Hmmm, maybe I should consider switching to Celsius? It won’t affect the temps, but the number will be lower. A little psychological magic.

Monday will be 22, Saturday will be 37.Whatcha think? Shall I switch to Celsius until Fall?

Willed Body Programs:
We have two Willed Body programs here in Washington State—the University of Washington in Seattle and Washington State University in Spokane. I want to donate my body to a Body Farm, there are six of them, but none of them in the Pacific Northwest. They are all in the South and East. The original one is in Tennessee, started by forensic anthropologist Will Bass. I wish we had one in the PNW. Alas, we don’t. 

We do have Medical Schools, in Washington State, we have two of which I’m aware. The University of Washington(UW) in Seattle and Washington State University (WSU) in Spokane. Both accept willed bodies provided all the paperwork (oh, yeah, pages and pages) is complete and no next of kin objects. 

The UW accepts bodies from anywhere in the state and will cover transportation, and eventual cremation, with the ashes being placed in an unmarked grave (columbarium?) in their plot at Evergreen-Washelli in Seattle when finished with the body. WSU will transport, free of charge for bodies in a more localized area and charge the estate for transportation from farther away. I don’t know how much they charge.

Links to both schools’ Willed Body Programs are above. For me it boils down to: Do I want my ashes to be turned into mud, or to enjoy the seasons mostly in the sun. And can my estate afford the transportation costs?

Both sites have easily read and understood directions. Some things will disqualify—certain contagious diseases (at time of death) as well as horrendous trauma. If you will your body, there is no guarantee at the time of your death that either school will have need of you. Both strongly urge all donors to have a Plan B. 

If helping future doctors become good future doctors, this may be something for you to consider. This should be discussed with your family, as it will mean if you want a funeral, it will have to be without a body (I suppose you could use an empty casket. Hmm, would it have to be empty? Surely you can think of things to place in the casket to your weight? Those ugly sweaters Auntie Lenora did not give you (use them for wrapping so things don’t rattle), those computers you need to get rid of (especially the hard drives with incriminating letters?), those slick tires you need to dispose of? Well, you’ll think of something, I’m sure). UW will not return the ashes, WSU will, if requested. 

What will your family do with them, anyhow? Why would they want them, unless they’re going to use them for something other than put them in a vase to grace your living room or to use as a door stop? Yes, I know, cremains may be used for several things, but will they really go to go to such lengths?

Anyhow, I will post the links to both in my doula site, in the Resources page.  

Photos of the Week:
Be careful for what you ask! This guy was lonely. He sent out a call.

And this happened in minutes. He was ignored by everyone.

from the desk of Sammy snuggle pup;
my human sits on the bed to put on her socks and shoes. I lie in wait, and as she sits I sneak from behind her and crawl into her lap for pets and snuggles. for some reason, she enjoys it. I’ll have to do this more often, because I enjoy it, too. I also enjoy the warmer weather and sunshine we’re getting. happy dance time in my town.

Ear worm of the week:
Wolf Totem by the HU

Quote of the week:

“In such diffused changes of culture
two factors are necessary:
contact and understanding.” ~Hu Shih

Saying Goodbye to Thomas

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Weather in the Tries:
Oh my goodness gracious sakes alive! A week of sunshine is ahead of us. A tad cooler than yesterday, the temps will mostly be in the 80s until the weekend, when it will drop to the 70s. And the humidity, though higher in the morning and night, will be low enough that the heat will be heavenly.

Saying Goodbye to Thomas:
In case you missed the wee bit in last week’s post about my chapbook being accepted, Finishing Line Press has accepted my chapbook, Saying Goodbye to Thomas. These are the poems I wrote, mostly in the final months of his life, about his dying. No, they are not all doom and gloom, you know me better than that. At any rate I think I’ve calmed down a wee bit from the excitement. It will spike again, when I get the contract. Then it will be really real;-) 

Here is their acceptance. Well, a small portion thereof, I’m sure you don’t want to read the whole thing. This is the important part:

“Thank you for submitting to us. Your manuscript has been accepted for publication. We would love to publish your book.” Every time I read those three sentences I just get giddy all over again 😉

Please check Finishing Line Press out and consider buying a book. Small Press publishers are a mainstay for poets. Not sure which one to buy, get Finding Her by Kristie L. Williams. It’s a great book.

I’m a writer, I’m used to rejection. But sometimes, when enough come with no breaks, it’s hard to remember that editors aren’t rejecting me, they are rejecting my work. And they can reject it for a myriad of reasons. Maybe I used a word they don’t like, or I wrote about peace instead of war, or I wrote it in this form and they really love another form. Or, as so many rejection/pass letters state, my work just didn’t grab them. Any and all of those reasons are valid, plus the plethora I didn’t list.

It’s really nice when acceptance letters come in like rejections usually do. Within a month, I had something like 8 poems accepted/published. Huzzah! for editors 😉

Depending on your frame of mind, you may or may not want to download the WeCroak app. They will send you 5 messages a day to remind you, you are not a permanent fixture as a live person. It’s inspired by a Bhutanese folk saying: to be a happy person, one must contemplate death five times daily. I just went to the computer one, and they have “the final word on advice columns” you can ask Death for advice on current events, relationships, etc. and so forth. I’m enjoying it very much, but then, I’m weird. However, should you get it for your phone or ipad or watch or whatever, let me know what you think of it. They have both ios and android.

I keep hearing Johnny Mathis singing Chances Are. Yeah, I’m wearing that silly grin, but it’s not because I’m in love with some guy, it’s because my book about my Elder Brother of Choice is being published. Oh, happy dance, happy dance. Oh, wait. Yeah, I am in love with some guy. He’s a spoiled rescue dog!

Speaking of being a spoiled dog, he’s finally taking treats from my hand! That’s huge. I used to have to set them down and walk away, or gently toss them near him. Even the one that looks like a stick to him. Especially the stick one. Now he takes it from my hand. Sometimes it takes a bit. I’d sure like to know how badly he was abused. I think it’s worse than I imagine, which makes me want to hold him and cry and then go find the abuser and abuse him the same way he abused this poor puppy.

Photos of the Week:

Thomas loved watching the bunnies in the yard.

And he loved tossing peanuts out for the crows. One was fairly tame, Thomas called him Podjo, Old Friend.

This Rosemary plant is huge, and was right next to the outside door to Thomas’s area, and when the sun shone, and it was warm, we’d open the door and enjoy the perfume.

from the desk of the big chihuahua;
my human seems tremendously happy i am now taking treats from her hand. i wish i could tell her why it took so long, but she has been patient. sometimes, i still can’t do it, but she doesn’t seem upset when i want it tossed to me. 

Earworm of the week:
Need you wonder? One of my girl-hood heart throbs, Johnny Mathis sings Chances Are. 


Quote of the week, compliments of Good Housekeeping:

“Live out of your imagination, not your history.” ~ Stephen Covey

New Title: Happy Dance! Happy Dance!

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Weather in the Tries:
Days in the coming week will ge as high as 95F, or higher. In fact, we have 2 days scheduled in the 70s, 1 in the high 80s, with the last four in the 90s. I believe the swimming pools will be crowded 😉 We have two pools. This complex used to be large, and then the owners divorced and one got Clearwater Bay, the other got Herron Lake (sic) but about the time we moved in, they went back to one complex, but maintained the two names and two addresses. And each complex has their own pool. Isn’t that just a fascinating bit of trivia? Not.

Holidays and… New Title: Happy Dance! Happy Dance!
Yessiree Bobcat, last Monday was a holiday and I took it. For those of us who used to work for The Boeing Company, it was our first 3-day weekend of the year. The company and our union negotiated trading the week ends until Memorial Day for the days off between Christmas and New Year. Having those days off in the winter were marvelous. If the days fell ‘right’ we could take a couple days of vacation and get two weeks off. It was worth the price! It gave us workers a great break, and the company a chance to do annual maintenance without us underfoot!

Last Thursday (30 May) was the first Deathversary for Thomas. I went back to the Dark Side and spent some time with my Bonus Sister. On Friday, we took some of Thomas’s ashes down to Golden Gardens Park. Bonus Sister Sheryl found a nice tunnel of greenery we walked through to the beach. It was quite windy on the water, but my Bonus Sister found a large, flat piece of seaweed and put the ashes in it, rolled it, and tossed it into the water. Sadness accompanied us, for a short time, but once he was back in the water, his beloved Puget Sound, we wore far more smiles than tears.

On the way back home, she stopped by the Nordic Museum, where we took photos of Frankie Feetsplinters, the resident troll, then went inside to the snack bar and had a very good Ginger Beer (Reed’s Extra—look for it) and a cookie. Then back home for happy hour with the two across-the-street neighbors who were so good to Thomas and Sheryl and me. It was so pleasant, we sat on the patio! There are trolls all over the western part of the state. Or at least Puget Sound area. All made from reclaimed wood. All made by Thomas Dambo.

On Saturday, we were invited to a good friend’s houseboat on Lake Union, where we were feted with salmon grilled on a cedar plank. OMG! It was marvelous. cooked to perfection! We ate on the deck, watched the water traffic and had a marvelous visit. Thomas used to love going to the houseboat to visit and eat. We sat outside and after the other guests left, we watched the sunset, and dropped some more ashes into the lake, followed by a tequila toast to Thomas. Hope the fish appreciated that very good tequila! Sheryl found one of his poems, Water Remembers, one of the last ones he wrote, read it aloud, and then we left.

On Tuesday morning, I tried to post this blog, but as I discovered this morning, Word Press has gone in and changed things that weren’t broke and… Yes, Auntie Lenora got very frustrated, so she went to lunch with a good friend who used to live in the Tries, was forced to move to the Dark Side for personal reasons, and is looking at apartments to rent here, so she can move back. She thinks she found one, I hope so. It will be great to have another friend close by.

Got home from a great gab fest and then had some pooch time and a nap. Woke from the nap to an email that Finishing Line Press has accepted my chapbook, Saying Goodbye to Thomas. What a fantastical addition to the blog, eh? So, prepare yourself for updates. I do know one of the things they require are pre-sells, and when I find out more about it, I will be asking you all to buy a book. Or two or more. When I do ask, there are two things you should consider: 1. No, is an appropriate answer. (You won’t have to see me cry.) and 2. Remember, I am making no money off this book. All royalties will be divided in half, with half going to the ALS Association and the other half to End of Life Washington. Both of which brought a lot of help and succor to Thomas.

Pictures of the Week:
Sheryl walking through the tunnel to the Sound

A sloop, as seen through the tunnel. Thomas had a sloop. The mountains in the back are the Olympics. They used to be white all year. Amazing what a hoax can do, isn’t it?

Frankie Feetsplinters, Troll

Crossing Lake Washington on one of the floating bridges with Mt. Rainier in the background

Sunset on Lake Union, Seattle

from the desk of the not lonesome anymore dog:
my human came home. my human came home. she was gone like forever. i didn’t think she would ever come home, but she did. housemate dan said she would, but i wasn’t sure. it was so lonely, especially at night. it wasn’t warm, she wasn’t there. but she’s home now. see me do my happy dance.

Quote of the Week compliments of Good Housekeeping:

“Life is a song – sing it. 
Life is a game – play it.
Life is a challenge – meet it.
Life is a dream – realize it.
Life is a sacrifice – offer it.
Life is love – enjoy.”  ~ Sai Baba

Spring Cleaning of Poetry

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Weather in the Tries:
Well, it’s gonna be a bit cooler this week, hi 60w to low-mid 70s, with a chance 35% of us will get wet. Or is that a 35% chance it will rain? Or will we only get 35% of the raindrop? Sammy doesn’t know any better than I do. Oh well, it’s all gonna change anyhow.

Spring Cleaning of Poetry:
I decided to finally tackle the small mountain of papers stacked haphazardly on my desks. Yes, I have two. The one on which my computers sit and the one behind me that collects the overflow. I decided to deal with all those papers (really, it was an organized mess, I pretty much knew what was in each pile) yesterday. And then I became concerned when developers started calling me to inquire about the view property. So I now have no view property and a couple of well-organized piles of paper, most of which will be filed later today. 

All of which is to try to explain why I’m late.

I found a stack of poetry I need to go through and sort. A lot of it seems to deal with Thomas, I may have enough for a real book. Found a snarky one I totally forgot I’d written. Read it to my Sunday Group, and they loved it. 

This morning, I hit the deck running, as they say somewhere, got to my computer and first thing up, was I was asked by an editor to submit a poem! Well, that, obviously had priority. It went out before I’d had more than a couple sips of coffee, and then there was Word Jammin’ I had to connect with to get my tickets to tonight’s show.  Love this zoom program! It’s not an open mic, but four poets and the hostess, reading. High energy. Not the kind of poetry I write, but oh, do I love to watch. I’d say it’s like a Slam on Zoom, but I’ve never been to a poetry slam, so I can’t do that. And it may be way off base.

Another nice thing about Word Jammin’ is they’re on NYC time. Three hours ahead of us! I can watch them, then go to my writing meeting.

And then, just as I finished my first cuppa, my four-legged friend came in and asked for breakfast and a walk. So, we are back, and my second cuppa has been steadily emptying. 

Photos of the Week:
These are the honeysuckles outside my office window. I was going to put them up last week but am glad I didn’t. The lower blossoms, closer to the window I look through, have finished blooming. But, I have photos to look at whenever I want 😉

from the desk of the happy-dancing dog;
my human takes me walking in the sunshine, oh can you see my happy dance/ that’s supposed to be a question mark, but my paws can’t hold the shift key. my human says you can handle that. thank you. and dance your happy dance every day. after all, if you’re looking down at the grass, it’s a good day. besides, as my human says, it will make people wonder what you’ve been smoking, drinking, or eating.

Earworm of the Week:
Would you believe I’ve got Tevya worming his song, If I Were A Richman through my ears. Actually, it’s Topol singing. This clip is from the movie.

Quote of the Week comes from https://www.quotes.net/mquote/31597 and of course, it’s from Fiddler on the Roof:

Perchik:
In this world it is the wealthy who are criminals. 
Someday their wealth will be ours.

Tevye:
That would be nice. 
If they would agree, I would agree.

A Fantabulously Wunnerful Week!

1 Reply

Weather in the Tries:

Would you settle for Sunny and warm to hot? I will. Mostly in the 80s, some 70s. Aaaah, Paradise. The Brave Dog is delighted, and so is his human!

A Fantabulously Wunnerful Week!:

A day late, but Happy Mother’s Day whether you’re a Mom or an Auntie of a Really Good Friend. All women, at sometime and for some time, become Moms. 

I am now a volunteer in training for End-of-Life Washington. As well as an 11th hour volunteer for Heartlinks Hospice. On Friday I “worked” at a Senior Health and Wellness Fair. The lady who set it up asked me to come. She thinks Death Doulas are great people and who am I to argue? Several people came by my table, asked questions, and left with a couple fliers and business cards I put out. Two of the women were retired hospice nurses, so we had slightly longer conversations.

And, of course, there were the people who came by, and decided they didn’t need or want anything to do with the subject. As if discussing Death would hasten his arrival. If they ignore it, it will go away? Alas, Death is not someone/something that will go away when ignored. The motto of End of Life Washington is: “Your Life. Your Death. Your Choice.” Wish I’d thought of it.

By the time I got home, it was ready for the poetry prompt group I belong to. We get two prompts, and time to start writing two poems. Sometimes only one gets written, and sometimes people read an older one. We also have an opportunity to read what we’ve written. It’s a great group, and one of my favorites. Then it was time to see if there was anything new going on in the world. There wasn’t.

I turned on YouTube and in scrolling through some of the music offerings, found an old black and white tape of Van Cliburn – Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1, B-flat minor. It was taken in Moscow when he won the award. Oh. Em. Gee!!! I was in 9th grade (maybe 10th) and I fell hopelessly in love with him. Van Cliburn, not Tchaikovsky. Anyhow, I think that record album was the first album I ever bought myself. 

 After my discharge from the WAC (Women’s Army Corps) in l969, before the birth of Favorite Daughter, he came to Portland and a friend and I sat in the nosebleed seats and were enthralled by his virtuosity. He started with the National Anthem. Having just come out of the WAC, it took maybe three notes and I was standing and feeling some embarrassed as no one else in the audience was. As I started to re-sit, remembering I was once again a civilian, and a few more notes were played, it dawned on them, and I had company standing. 😉

 (An aside: I tell people one of the main reasons I enlisted was to see a live Bob Hope show. I did. AFTER I came home from the WAC, and before Favorite Daughter made her debut.)

Anyhow, I watched the video Friday night, and again Saturday morning. Never did I think I’d see him play the winning piece in Moscow. His fingers moved so fast they blurred. I read somewhere online (so it must be true, yes?) that from his wrist to his fingertips measured twelve inches. There was something about Van Cliburn that in watching him this weekend, he reminded me of Jerry Lee Lewis. The hair? I don’t know, but I looked it up and nearly fell off the chair when I saw Jerry Lee Lewis is related to Jimmy (Lee) Swaggart! Why, bless my little heart. 

I think I was in fifth grade, possibly fourth, when Mom started taking me to the Portland Symphony. On school nights! We would meet downtown when she got off work, go to Kress five and dime, and eat a hotdog sandwich, then walk several blocks to the symphony hall. I have been so fortunate. I’ve seen Yehudi Menuhin play the violin and got his autograph, Victor Borge (I think I met him, but not sure), and a host of other marvelous musicians whose names I can’t remember at the moment. 

I don’t know if Mom took me because she wanted me to hear “real” music or if it was cheaper to buy me a hotdog and a cheap seat in Symphony Hall than pay a babysitter. I don’t care. I treasure those times. And after rock n roll came out, I’m sure she was very happy I’d been exposed to the classical sound and dumfounded I loved rock n roll. I still love the classics and the HU and everything in between.

Photos of the Week:

Remember a few weeks ago when I posted a picture of Buzz Lightyear? Well, his buddy Woody, finally found him. Woody is not used to rocket speeds, let alone truck speeds, so he’s hanging on for dear life, but at least they are together again.

from the desk of the big chihuahua:

my human says we must have a few new geese here this summer. they seem pretty tame, but if they are in our way when we walk, they hiss at us. they may be taller than me, but i just ignore them and their cute, fluffy babies. but i growls and barks if another dog on a leash comes anywhere near my human. it is my job to protect her, and i take my jobs very much to heart. and every time she leaves me home, she leaves me with a stack of chores to do while she’s gone. it’s hard, sometimes, but she gives me a treat when she gets home and tells me i’m the best dog in the whole world and gives me loves to go with the treats.

Earworm of the Week:

Whadda ya think? Yep, it’s Van Cliburn’s performance in Moscow.

Quote of the Week: From https://www.bookey.app/quote-author/van-cliburn

“Music is for people. The word ‘virtuoso’ literally means
‘ethical hero.’ It doesn’t mean ‘show off.’ ~ Van Cliburn

“Explanation 

“Van Cliburn’s quote, “Music is for people. The word ‘virtuoso’ literally means ‘ethical hero.’ It doesn’t mean ‘show off,'” beautifully captures the essence and purpose of music. Cliburn emphasizes that music is meant to be shared and enjoyed by everyone, rather than being a mere display of technical skill. He draws attention to the true meaning of the term ‘virtuoso,’ which is often misunderstood as someone who flaunts their abilities. Instead, Cliburn suggests that a virtuoso should be seen as an ethical hero, someone who not only possesses exceptional talent but also uses it to serve and inspire others. This quote serves as a gentle reminder that the true essence of music lies in its capacity to touch hearts, uplift souls, and create connections among people.”

 

Muscovy Rise! (I wanna see you fly)

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Weather in the Tries: 
Wahoo! it’s gonna go from 56 & wet on Monday to 82 and sunny on Sunday. The sun is going to play peekaboo on Tuesday, then shine all day the rest of the week. I’ve been told it even shines all night, too. Just not on our side of the blue marble of space.

Muscovy Rise! (I wanna see you fly)
It’s been a great week. Every morning when I’ve gotten up, I’ve looked down at the pond. Oh, our pond—it’s filled to where I think it is supposed to be, and it’s delightful. Last year they kept turning it off and it was only half filled.

We have more ducks and geese, and a Muscovy came by tonight (Sunday). I think she’s a hen, photo below. But no babies. We have several cross breeds between Muscovy and Mallard. I think the duck is a she/hen but not sure. I haven’t seen this one before, and except for her eyes, I think s/he is gorgeous. The eyes look like holes, kinda creepy. 

Did I mention last week that one of my poems won Honorable Mention in the Yakima Coffeehouse Poetry competition, and three of my poems have been selected for print in the Shrub-Steppe annual anthology? I will get them recorded and posted soon so you can listen to them if you’re so inclined.

Photos of the Week:
I think she’s about 24 inches long, but not sure. Check out this site for more photos and information. Most of the ducks and geese that summer here are pretty tame. The ganders will hiss at me if they have their babies near and I’m walking by. I always compliment them on their family. Sammy ignores them.

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I want to see her on land. I’m not sure her feet are webbed. At least the Muscovys down south nest in trees…webbed feet might not be all that handy to have?

from the desk of the brave dog;
the sun is coming out in a couple days. the sky is going to quit crying. it’s going to be warm. can you see me do my happy dance/ unfortunately my little paws can’t type the shift key and a letter so you get no caps. unless i put everything in total caps and my human says that’s like yelling and is impolite. happy, happy, happy dance.

Quote from Dune, Part 2:

“You cannot see the future without seeing the past.”
~ Lady Jessica, Reverend Mother

Spring Has Sprung!

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Weather in the Tries:
Today our high will be 60F with wind and maybe some sprinkles with Grandfather Sun on schedule to appear around 5pm. The temps will mostly be in the 60s during the days and in the 40s during the darkness time. Also, mostly cloudy with now and again chances of wetting. Sammy hates getting wet. At least his hair doesn’t curl and frizz!

Spring Has Sprung!  
Our winds come, primarily, from the south and west. They bring a delightful mixture of fertilizers from the farms, dust—also from the farms, and pollens and seeds from the world. And we do get our share of winds, and then some. The shrubs and trees are blooming, the geese have their first hatchlings they so proudly parade around the area. I admit, I love the flowers (ah-choo) and love the baby geeselings and ducklings. 

The good thing about our web-footed friends is they eat all the ‘yard bugs’ and larva for same. We have few bugs outside. The bad thing about them is what goes in, comes out, and the enthusiastic way of gossiping. No quiet whispers of ‘shhhh, don’t tell, but have you noticed Mabel…?’ Nope, they just belt it out, all caps and loud. Starting when the sun opens an eye to start shining on us.

I presented some information at our Reflection Café (a discussion group with different topics each time we meet) on how/why I became a Death Doula. It is a very safe place to talk about just about anything, and the group seemed to like the presentations. At least they laughed at the humorous parts of my talk and asked a lot of questions. And yes indeed, there is often humor.

Photos of the Week:
My phone says these pink flowers are Twinberry honeysuckle, and the white ones are Yarrow. I question the yarrow, because it looks like yarrow grows on stalks, and this was from a shrub. Whatever it is, it’s pretty and makes me sneeze.

from the desk of the big chihuahua;

happiness is having warm sun outside, and just a slow breeze, not these rushing winds. 

Music of the Week:
Munir Bashir – Mesopotamia. He plays the oud, which I believe is related to the lute, anyhow, it’s a stringed instrument, and I find it quite enjoyable to listen to as I type, read, sew, etc. Check it out. He has his own channel. Another oud player I really enjoy is Naochika Sogabe. He is Japanese, and also plays the Lute. Another channel to listen too and enjoy. 

May April kiss you goodbye and May dance you amayzing days!

Once Again, I am the Late Auntie Lenora

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Weather in the Tries:
Yeah, it’s still out there with sun sometimes and either dark or cloudy the others. No more freezes, but still breezes.

Once again, I am the Late Auntie Lenora:
It was a week. Last Monday, I drove Favorite Daughter and Favorite Grandcat Bruce, to the WSU Veterinarian Hospital for tests and a sleep over. Because Favorite Daughter has other cats at home, we drove home Monday to sleep in our own beds and then back to Pullman and WSU on Tuesday to collect Favorite Grandcat Bruce. He said the food was awful, and the sleepover ok, but he doesn’t want to do a repeat.

Actually, I don’t think I want to do a do-over, either. My allergies went bonkers and I’ve been fighting a sinus infection. Housemate Dan even went shopping for me and brought back some Afrin and some Nasocort. I do feel like I am actually coming back to feeling like a human. At least the sinus headache is down to a susurration. 

Other than walking the Beast (aka Sammy) I haven’t been outside much. Did meet a friend for coffee yesterday and have a networking social this evening.

Did make my poetry critique group on Saturday, and finally have a long poem ready to be abandoned. (Poems are never finished, merely abandoned.)

I also woke at 3:00am and realized I hadn’t written, let alone posted, this week’s blog. I am dedicated, but not that dedicated. I rolled over and went back to sleep.

Listening to the music of Dune by Hans Zimmer. Dune are my ‘thumb sucking’ books, at least the original 6 by Frank Herbert. And try as I might, every time I’d get the litany against fear memorized, I’d mess it up somehow, and yet it was, and is, one of my favorite things. In one of the books, Reverend Mother Odrade said it took long to say, so she shortened it to: “Face your fear or it will climb over your back.” Yep, that one I can remember for more than two days running. The original, for those of you who may not remember it, is: “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” ― Frank Herbert, Dune

But, back to the music, there are several parts of it on he www, not something I would want to listen to all the time, but great background for reading, writing, or sewing.

Photos of the Week:
Not sure what this is, but it’s in the Vet School complex on the second or third floor. Break room? Lunch room? Reading room? Just thought it was an interesting picture.

This is the first of two bas relief (?) curved glass panels that greet one when entering the small animal clinic. The represent the wetlands, and the floor, which I did not shoot, was set with the foot prints of 17 animals who would be found in the wetlands and wave lines. There was a coffee pot and hot water pot with teas and hot coco available. Very nice set up. (There are three entrances—wildlife rescue, small animal, and large animal. Mostly in the small animal, we saw dogs and cats, but also bunny and ferret. The bunny people came from Seattle. The school has a very high reputation.)

from the desk of the spoiled beast;
my humans spoil me. if housemate dan gets up early, my pestering him will get me breakfast and a walk earlier than if I pester mom. she thinks my tummy is on a schedule. well, I guess it is. the schedule is when it’s hollow and empty it needs food. or when I’m up and see my empty bowl. she’s always saying she ordered a cat and got me, so I don’t understand why she doesn’t love me more when I act like a cat. humans are really strange.

Quotes from Bill Nye:
“Television isn’t inherently good or bad. You go to a bookstore, there are how many thousands of books, but how many of those do you want? Five? Television’s the same way. If you’re going to show people stuff, television is the way to go. Words and pictures show things.” – Bill Nye

“If the Earth gets hit by an asteroid, it’s game over. It’s control-alt-delete for civilization.” – Bill Nye

Dune: Part Two | Soundtrack Cut | Hans Zimmer