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Astrology 101?

What the weather is doing in the Tries: From a high of 106 down to 70 in just a couple of days. And the 70 was o’cast with a cool wind blowing. This week’s weather looks a tad more stable—high 70s with Sunday being low 90s. And too many clouds. I moved to the desert for sunshine and warmth. If I’d wanted clouds and rain, I’d have stayed in Seattle!

Astrology 101?:

I had forgotten how utterly hilarious Facebook content can be. The other night I clicked on something to give me a free astrological (slight on the logical) reading. I’ve never had one before, and I thought, what the heck?

Now, I used to love to read the newspaper astrological blurbs, (you do remember newspapers, don’t you?) and their pithy little blurbs for the 12 signs of the zodiac. It was especially great fun when two reputable papers in town would print conflicting advice for the day.

So, I got my free reading, and it was great fun to read. Nothing scary, but there is a time of Transition coming, and it will affect me. The Transitions are coming whether I’m ready or not! Ooooh, ominous, eh?

Love the way they set it up. [My snark is in brackets and italicized.]

“URGENT:  Personal information for your eyes only!

“Hi Lenora,

“According to your Astrology Chart, somewhere along the line, you may (by no fault of your own) have strayed away from a life enriched with deep, healthy relationships, a fulfilling career, and financial abundance.” [I may have? No, I don’t think so. Odd, how well they don’t know me just from my birthdate. Incidentally, most of this stuff is “self-fulfilling prophecy.” The situations are broad enough to fit most people, and they’ll fill in the gaps.]

“Since then, you’ve gone through life denying your TRUE SELF and feeling out of sync with life, as if the world was an orchestra, and you were always out of tune, playing half a step behind.”  [I dare say many people feel this way at one time or another. But, no, I don’t think I’ve denied my true self in many years. Not since that one year when I gave Religion up for Lent, anyhow.]

“I know that can sound scary but there’s no need to lose hope, Lenora!” [Scary? Oh, Darlin’ I find it hysterically funny. Take more than that to scare me! I survived Basic Training, motherhood, marriage, the Boss from Hell…]

“In truth, what knocked you off course with your destiny was a challenging Transit Period you were unaware of, much like the one that is responsible for the situation you find yourself in today.”  [A challenging transit period—like Basic Training? like motherhood? like a boss from hell? I thought those were my choices, but it was really a bunch of non-thinking planets pulling me this way or that? Wow!]

“At the same time, you have some very POSITIVE planetary transits approaching too that with your awareness, can allow you to effortlessly re-align with your TRUE SELF as you begin living the life you’re meant to live.” [By now, I’m really curious how much they want to charge me. Maybe I’ll take advantage of more “free” stuff?]

“And that’s just a tiny peek of what’s in store. It’s my job to make sure you know what to expect and what to do during these powerful times, so you won’t find a single stone left unturned in your reading.”  [No, it’s her job to fleece me of as much of my retirement money as possible. But, first, she has to build my trust, build our “friendship,” then and only then… My gawd, I just survived four years of the Great Con, this gal needs to enroll in Trump University to hope to snag me!! ;-)]

“There’s so much life changing information inside, waiting for you to explore. Just click the button below to read your personalized report: …” [I did, and it’s more of the same stuff. Only in Astrological terms. Every day we wake, we have decisions to make. Now, some will use this drivel to make those decisions, others will weigh the pros and cons of life first—starting with getting out of bed. I can stay in bed all day and deal with the consequence of a dog who needed a walk, and me who needed a shorter and inside walk… We come to several forks in our daily path, and once we start down one path, the other is no longer relevant, and no longer there. Life isn’t Solitaire, there is no “back” button to play.]

I know there are people who believe this sort of stuff. And Astrology is old. It goes back several thousand years. But the stars have shifted during that time. An Astronomer friend told me once that our astrological signs are now two signs away from where they were when the shamans drew this stuff up. But I don’t remember which way it went. So I’m either a Sagittarius or an Aries and not an Aquarian.

Schools that teach students to think and not follow blindly are marvelous places. Teachers who aren’t afraid of the hard questions are treasures beyond compare. Learning/teaching the difference between mythologies and facts is one of the best gifts we can give our children.

In the meantime, read your astrological report, know the only logic in it is to fleece the unsuspecting person, and count it a daily chuckle.

Wikipedia has a great History of astrology. Give it a look-see here.

Photo of the Week:

Pelican taking off. He was too close to a nesting Red Winged Blackbird and was getting harrassed.

Entertainment:

Netflix: At some point they finally put the final episodes of Lucifer up, and I finally noticed. So I’m watching them, one a night at the most! I’m parsing them. Best series ever!

Books: Remember, when I finish a book, I review it at Rainy Day Reads.

Where the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson. I quit about 55-60% through it, read the last couple of chapters and called it good. It’s hard to read a book when it’s so freaking depressing and at best I felt I was kept from the characters by the author. Thumbs down.

Education:

Not feeling overly intelligent this week.

Writing:

Have a couple more poems accepted. Quill and Parchment accepted my poem, Leda and the Swan for next month. Thank you, Q&P! I will be attending a book launch in Wenatchee in a couple weeks.

Quote of the Week:

“I don’t differentiate much, except in degree, between people who believe in religion from those who believe in astrology, magic or the supernatural.”
~ Andy Rooney, Sincerely, Andy Rooney

And so Auntie Lenora and Hurry Up! Sammy Brave Dog wish you a warm and sunny week, and we’ll see you next week. With luck, a tad earlier 😉

Another Banned Book

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What the weather is doing in the Tries: Wowser Dowswer!!! A week of warm-hot weather—81 to106, with most days in the 90s. I think that will be warm enough for Auntie Lenora. What do you think?

Another Banned Book:

Being back on Facebook, I’m privy to all sorts of news and blues and memes and things. A friend posted something the other day about To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee being banned by some school district because it allegedly made some students/parents uncomfortable. Well, no adult male bovine excrement, Sherlock! Isn’t that the purpose of the book? On first read of her post, I was plain old flabbergasted. And then my wee brain went into great and wonderful joy!

What books of your parents did you sneak and read as a child? I’m willing to bet a biscotti or three that you read the very ones you were told NOT to read. I know those were the ones I read. And I’m pretty sure I was told not to read them, precisely for the reason that they wanted me to read them. Oddly there were two books I was asked not to read. My uncle who spent WWII in the US Navy asked that I not read Onionhead: A Novel of the Coast Guard by Weldon Hill because he and mother’s whole family were trying to turn me into a “young lady” and the book had the F-bomb liberally throughout. Like I’d never heard it or read it. Sigh. And Daddy asked me not to read Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov until I was older. Because I was asked, not ordered, and because there were so many other books to read (with and without certain “adult” words), I lost any interest in them I might have had.

Yes, To Kill a Mockingbird should make you uncomfortable. And it should be discussed in the classroom and the dining room. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexi should make you uncomfortable, too. And it, too, should be discussed in the classroom and the dining room.

Now, when I was in high school, I had to read a book six freaking times. I hated it. It didn’t make me uncomfortable, it made me angry. I never did read it all the way through, but I got an A on each of the six book reports I wrote, and the book was never discussed in the classroom that I remember. Portions were read, but the meanings, the metaphors, were not discussed. Turned out, it was my mother’s favorite book, but I didn’t know that until the last day of high school when I came home and threw the book in the fireplace. (Being June, there was no fire.) Mother was in the living room and was not just shocked, but horrified that I, her book-loving daughter would commit such a sacrilege. She asked the title, and when I told her it was The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne she all but did a Hollywood dive into the fireplace to rescue the book. She thought it wonderful and was shocked I didn’t like it.

In looking back, I realize she had drunk the male dominant caste’s Kool-Aid. Men being the superior/dominant caste, she being female accepted her place as the inferior/subordinate caste. And in thinking back, I realized that’s what made me so angry, though at the time, I didn’t have the words or knowledge to verbalize it. I must have been a huge disappointment to the women in my mother’s family. I never completely bought into that role; I only sipped the Kool-Aid. I joined the church. I tried to submit to God and Male superior. But it wasn’t worth the psychic and physical agony.

So, yeah, ban the good books. The books that make kids think, because after all, school shouldn’t teach them to think and form opinions of their own, should it? School shouldn’t teach them how to weigh facts against fairy tales, should it? School should only give them pablum, make them feel good, train them not to question, only to obey, shouldn’t it?

In the meantime, to fill the void created by banning To Kill a Mockingbird, I strongly recommend the class read and discuss at length, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. Does the book make you too uncomfortable to read? You’ll find my deepest sympathies in the dictionary between shit and syphilis. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents should be mandatory for any student who wants to graduate from high school.

In the meantime, would Boston, or some town/state/school district, ban Jibutu: Daughter of the Desert. Please. It’s about a strong-minded woman who shakes up her world and makes it a better place. It’s about a culture where males and females are (shudder) equal. Surely that’s against enough rules to be worthy of a banning. Yes?? It will surely upset male supremacists. Ban it, please! I need the sales. Oh, yeah, and became a slave and ruined that culture, too.

Photo of the Week:

Sunrise over the Columbia River, 0511 the other morning.

Entertainment:

Still watching the brain candy, though not as much. But, I have to admit, happy endings are more fun than today’s news.

Books: Remember, when I finish a book, I review it at Rainy Day Reads.

I finished I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong. It may be a day or so before I can get the review up, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Talk about an education! Loved it. Easy to read

Still reading frank: sonnets by Diane Seuss. Love it. She is a real inspiration to write my own sonnets. Not, mind, that I’m competition. But…

Education: I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong. Yeah, a real education! I hope to get some more online courses this next week, too. On using my iPhone camera and on photo editing software.

Writing: Have written 5 or 6 sonnets this last week.

Quote of the Week: Three quotes for the price of one. I couldn’t decide. 😉

“Yes, books are dangerous. They should be dangerous – they contain ideas.” ― Pete Hautman

“Banning books is just another form of bullying. It’s all about fear and an assumption of power. The key is to address the fear and deny the power.” ― James Howe

“What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.” ― Salman Rushdie

The Brave Dog and Auntie Lenora hope you have a great week, remember to laugh out loud often, dance like your four years old, and enjoy life!

Deep End of the Pool (aka: Rant)

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What’s going on outside in the Tries: It appears we’re going to be warming up, with most days in mid-to-high 70s with a few days in the 80s. Summer comes, ready or not! Yaaaaahooooo!!!!!!

Deep End of the Pool (Trigger Warnings: Abortion, Religion):

I’m going to step into the deep end of the pool today—and hope my water wings keep me afloat!

I am going to talk about wo/men and abortion. Again.

Roe v Wade is under serious threat from SCOTUS. And it’s complicated. But it’s not.

What it boils down to is male dominance, power over females. Period. Full stop. Roll credits. The End.

It has nothing to do with religion, other than religion as a means of control, which is to be kept separate from government at any rate, but everything about power and dominance. Men have fought giving women rights for years, and the most basic right, that of her body, belongs to her. Unless, of course, she is a slave, then it belongs to her owner. Think on that.

If you are against abortion for whatever reason, then please, do not have one. Abortion is a medical procedure. It is, or should be, legal and safe for any who need it. It should be discussed by the woman and her doctor and no one else!

Why hasn’t the Equal Rights Amendment been ratified? Because the men in power, the male dominant caste, do not want to give up any of that power, especially to the perceived lower caste females of the species. It was alright to give women the vote, if it would make the little ladies happy, keep them quiet, content, and as long as they voted however their men told them. Alas, we have our own minds about who we want representing us, and we want more—we want equality and they don’t deem us as equal.

The claim of the male evangelicals is pure hogwash. They do not want to save the lives of the innocent babes. They want control over women. If they truly wanted to save lives, they would not support all the death they do — from insuring everyone who wants an arsenal can have one, that the death penalty remains in place, that war is fun, that people of color are here only for their enjoyment and target practice.

The perfect Facebook meme on abortion:

If they truly wanted to save the lives of the fetuses, they would see to it that all women have access to good pre- and postnatal health care, that all infants and children have access to good dental and medical health care until their majority or through college, that all families—whether one or more parents— have good, nutritious food, adequate clothing, etc. But they are against all that. the so-called pro-life people are in fact, pro-birth. Once the baby is born, they want nothing to do with it. It becomes the problem of the mother to clothe, feed, medicate, etc. They did their part in forcing it into the world with no back-up plans in place.

No, it’s Power. They have it and plan on keeping it. Think about that long and hard before the next election. Think about the God they worship (sure hope those water wings are still inflated!). A Male God. One who keeps women subordinate, who doesn’t like women, who thinks women are here for one purpose only — to take care of the men. Think about what’s going on in Palestine and Israel at the moment. Here are two cultures who both worship a War God. Not only that, but they worship the SAME War God, just different faces of him. Think about the dominant caste in our country. They, too, worship this same God, just a different, third, face. And before you come back at me that YOUR god is a God of Unconditional Love, may I remind you that He killed his (allegedly) only begotten son and that He will save you on condition that you love his sacrifice. That that same (alleged) son said He had not come to change the Word but to fulfill it. Oh, and a special reminder for any white supremacists that might be reading this, Jesus was a Palestine Jew, not white Aryan. He’s just a third Face of that same God. If you think the Crusades, the Inquisitions, the Witch Hunts, etc. are really a way to show love, well, I pity you. Never forget, if you worship a War God, you have no right to whine when you become a target.

For those of you who worship the One True God, by whatever Face you gaze upon, think on the fact that you follow that Face of God because that is the one your parents and grandparents followed and taught you to do likewise. Also consider this: Religion serves one, and only one, primary purpose—Control. Control over the lives of people not in the “Priest Caste.” It controls the priest caste, too, but not as much as they make the rules.

You can’t have it both ways. If it is Love, abortion remains legal and safe. If it’s Hate….

Note: This post was written before the world finally convinced Netanyahu to use two or three of his functioning brain cells and call for a cease fire. By the time it is published, a new excuse may have been found to start killing each other again. Talk about family rivalry!

Found this meme on Facebook. It pretty much explains it, yes?

Entertainment: Oh, I have rediscovered the marvelous Cozy Mysteries of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Much more entertaining than the news which is filled with murder and mayhem for real. Yes, it’s true, this channel offers only brain candy, but it’s nice to have brain candy now and then, and not worry about unwanted calories. And, since I haven’t watched for a couple years, many of the movies are new to me, and the series, well, kinda like a vacation to see old friends and catch up on the gossip.

Books: Remember, when I finish a book I review it at Rainy Day Reads.

Am still reading I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong. It’s a fascinating read, hope to finish it in the next week. Have also started frank: sonnets —by Diane Seuss. Wow! Her poetry blows me away! If my math is correct (always suspect), there are 127 sonnets in this book, and they be not in Shakespeare’s English!

Education: See books, above and writing, below 😉

Writing: Check out this site. This is something all of you can do, and maybe have some fun. Poems From Page 143. Be sure to read About This Project, it’s a fun page about one of our favorite characters, Mr. Rogers. Yes, that Mr. Rogers! Anyhow open a book to page 143, read that page, find words that go together, black out the others, and voila! You have a poem. If you like what you’ve accomplished, submit. Here’s mine.

Quote of the Week:

“To solve the human equation, we need to add love, subtract hate, multiply good, and divide between truth and error.” —Janet Coleman

Auntie Lenora and Sammy Brave Dog wish you a warm, sunny week is making your life bright and happy. Unless you’re in a draught, in which case they both wish you rain. Lots of rain! Take whichever wish you need and want, apply it liberally, and enjoy.

Short Road Trip Plus…

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What it’s doing outside in the Tries: Wow, from 88 on Monday to 66 on Thursday, and everything in between. Lows between 41 and 57. Most days are sunny, partly sunny, or filtered sunny. It’s still Spring, but I think Summer is fast approaching 😉

Plus…:

I know I’ve mentioned before that I’m claustrophobic. Highly so. To the degree I’ve never been allowed to tour a submarine! Note that word: allowed. I’ve tried, twice, but they won’t let me. In tripping down memory lane, the first time I remember exhibiting a touch of claustrophobia, I was probably five, maybe six, years old. Mom and Daddy had separated, and Daddy came to get me for the day. A new ‘drive through’ car wash had opened up, and he thought it would be fun to go through it. I was fine until the brushes came at the car. Immediately I was curled in the footwell of the passenger seat. Terrified. I was eight the first time I tried going through a submarine, and I was very excited to go through one. One of my most favorite tv shows was about submariners in WWII.

I’ve never even tried going through the car wash again. I know better, after several other situations. Until… Last Wednesday, I decided my dirty car needed a shampoo and wax job, as I was leaving out on Friday morning for a short road trip. I went to the place I usually go because the guys will set up my car and let me watch from a window in the shop. Wednesday, I put my big girl knickers on, called on the Rev. Mother Odrade,* and decided it was time to face that fear and stop it from riding on my back. I WENT THROUGH THE CAR WASH! Well, obviously, I survived. I knew I would. It was NOT fun. I was tempted to close my eyes to do it. My breathing went kinda wompy, my heart told me it was there, and working, and I had gone very pale, but I made it. Maybe in another 70 years or so, I’ll try it again.

*”Face your fears or they will climb over your back.” —Rev. Mother Odrade, BG (Frank Herbert, Dune series). It’s a condensed version of the Litany Against Fear.

Short Road Trip:

Big Red now all clean and shiny, I got the few things into her that needed to go on the trip, and by 0600 Friday morning, Sammy Brave Dog and I were on the road heading to the Snoqualmie Pass. Oh, my, Big Red was so happy to be out and running. And then we discovered Love’s Truck Center was now in Prosser. Love’s is my favorite place to stop for pit stops, gas, food, etc. while travelling. They are always clean, the food is always fresh, the coffee good, and the people nice. And I needed coffee for the trip 😉

Loved driving north through the Yakima Valley, and up over the Manashtash toward Ellensburg. Next stop was the rest area at Indian John Hill. Sammy was not thrilled to be in the car, but he didn’t have much choice.

Came over the pass, and my ‘check tire’ idiot light came on. I figured it was due to the pressure changes of the pass elevation, nothing felt ‘off’ and on the straight areas, the tires didn’t wobble. I went on to Snoqualmie and stopped in North Bend. The folks in the gas station sent me to Les Schwab, so when I filled Big Red’s gullet, away we went. Yep, the tires were a tad low, and yes, the tech said, probably the pass. I’ll take her in to the dealer tomorrow (Monday—I’m writing this Sunday) and have them checked again and the light turned off.

It took me 5 hours to get to Arlington and find my friend. We had a picnic lunch in a park by her place and got caught up on gossip, etc., then I was off to my (adopted) Little Bro and his husband’s home. Sammy decided Alan, my Little Bro In-law, was just about the neatest guy going. He liked Little Bro Jon, but Jon is in a motorized wheelchair, so wasn’t too sure about that.

The Brothers live in Stanwood, off the road, back in the trees, with a view of a private lake (they only see it, can’t get to it) and Glacier Peak. Also, while sitting on the back patio sharing a bottle of home brew ale, I saw flames in the forest. Check out my photo below!

They fed me a fantastic meal and gave Sammy and me the most comfy bed on which to sleep. The next morning came too early, but a tad after 10, Sammy and I were on the road to Kirkland where I was to meet up with my friend Thomas, and some others, for coffee and gab.

What a treat, the others dropped him off and it was just the two of us for almost two hours.

I couldn’t find free parking, so parked in a pay lot. Then I couldn’t figure out how to pay. Finally asked someone, and she was nice enough to explain I needed to download an app, etc. I got it all taken care of at 11.45, paid for two hours, and went to meet Thomas. When I left, I had a ticket! Fortunately, the ticket was time stamped 11.54, and when I got home I had a receipt from the app that was stamped 11.46. So I sent a copy of the receipt and a nice letter to Kirkland and requested they update my record. We shall see.

There was nothing in the lot that I could see that told drivers how to pay. They apparently figured everyone knew. Well, I didn’t. And I knew if I went away, I’d get zapped, so I didn’t go away until I got help and registered. But it was frustrating.

Anyhow by about 2.00, Thomas was back home, and Sammy and I were back on the road. We were home by 5.15. The weather was perfect—warm, sunny, and except for the 405 and 405/I90 interchange, the traffic was fine.

We won’t discuss the price of gas. It was under $4.00/gal but not a lot. Fortunately, Big Red has a small appetite 😉

When we got home and I let Sammy out of the car, I figured he’d want to do the rounds and leave messages all over to tell the other dogs he was back. Nope. He made a beeline for the door. When I let him in, took off his leash and harness, he made a beeline for the bed. He was very happy to be home. He was some stressed, but not like before. I think he’s figuring out that I’m not going to leave him someplace, that the word ‘visit’ means we come home together afterward.

Photo of the Week:

Flames in the Forest.

Entertainment:

Road Trip!!!!

Visits with friends!!!

Books: Remember, when I finish a book I review it at Rainy Day Reads.

A Thousand Li: The First Step, Book One —by Tao Wong. This book is great fun, if you like Martial Arts books. I love them. There’s a whole series, and I think I’m going to be reading several, if not all. This is not a true Wuxia, I guess, but is a Cultivator. I wasn’t sure what was a cultivator book, but think I am now. Fun read!

Education:

I’m taking a 6-week class on writing poetry using the Archetypes. So far, we’ve done Lover, Warrior, Trickster, and Seeker. Great class and I’m learning a lot. Got a couple good poems and a couple OK ones out of it so far. Having a hard time with this one, though. However, I’ll get there. Honest. Trust me.

Quote of the Week:

“Road trips aren’t measured by Mile Markers, but by moments.” —Unknown

And if you’re lucky enough to travel with the Brave Dog, there are marvelous moments the whole trip!

Until next time, Sammy the Bravely Traveling Dog and Auntie Lenora wish you a fantabulous and mahvelous week.

Facebook

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What it’s doing outside in the Tries: We’re headed into a week of Sunny to Mostly Sunny to Partly Sunny, with highs in the high 70s to low 80s and lows in the mid to low 40s. Sammy is happy. Auntie Lenora is Happy, and the chairs on the front are getting used 😉

Facebook:

After a long hiatus from Facebook, I have returned to the roiling waters thereof.

I learned a friend had died, and another is dying. I learned another friend had a baby. Now, all these friends had my email, and at one time we corresponded, but life happens, and it’s so much easier to just put it up on Facebook and not worry about people getting the news. Unless, of course, they aren’t on Facebook.

My conservative friend is still posting without fact checking, but not as much. And our ex-president is still banned from joining in the fun.

What I really like about Facebook is it’s a way to keep in touch during natural disasters. Couldn’t make calls or get emails through to my cousin after a tornado ripped through his town, but he could get onto Facebook and let all know he and his were OK in OK, that the tornado missed them.

The other things I like about Facebook are the mini-wisdoms that pop up in memes. The humor is always appreciated, and sometimes the wisdoms are spot-on. Like one that I posted five years ago, before I logged off, it came up, and I’ve shared it again, because it makes so much sense.

Facebook is a tool, not a life. Use accordingly. It’s also huge time-sink if you want it to be. I do get some irritated at the ads.

The other day I was looking for some information on a disease and immediately, I started getting ads on how to cure that disease, live with that disease, join various support groups for that disease. That makes me a little uneasy. My search engine is Duck Duck Go, but I’ve noticed I have to go in every so often and re-set it. Somehow, Google finds a way to get back in my computer. Not being all that computer savvy, I think it’s possibly tied into Facebook. But, Who only knows and he’s not telling.

So, for a while, I’m back on Facebook. I do admit, I don’t miss the lack of political stuff, the lies, the misinformation. If it gets bad again, I’ll sign off again. Life is too short to spend it hating and lying, let alone reading it every day.

Photos of the Week:

Sunset over Rattlesnake Mountain and Columbia River

Visited a friend’s place the other day, and his holly tree is in bloom. I’ve never seen the flowers on a holly tree. They are tiny, maybe ¼” across. And little green berries that will, I am sure, turn red at some point.

Entertainment:

Facebook. What else can I say?

Books: For reviews of finished books go to Rainy Day Reads

Finished Blood Brother – Sister Death by Bill Ransom. Very entertaining, well written, and not your standard, cliché, vampire book. Highly recommend it.

Also finished Intention Tremor: A Hybrid Collection by Tamara Kaye Sellman. This is a marvelous read, not a ‘woe is me’ kind of book. And a fantastic insight into what it’s like having and living with MS. Read it!

Education:

Does Facebook count??

Quote of the Week comes from Facebook (see above): “Make a list of things that make you happy. Make a list of things you do every day. Compare the lists. Adjust Accordingly.”

And now, Auntie Lenora and Sammy Brave Dog are off to make those lists, and adjust accordingly!

Wildfire

Immigrants

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Weather in the Tri-Cities for the next few days: Mostly sunny to Partly cloudy, highs will be climbing up into 70s and 80s, and lows from 37-51. In other words, our April showers are on the way out the gate, Nate, and warmer weather is about to arrive. Now, if the winds will abate a tad…

April is National Poetry Month until it isn’t April! No time like the present to support a local, or favorite, poet. And how lucky for him, for her, how lucky for you, if they are both the same 😉

Immigrants

So, immigration seems to be a big topic these days. I’ve given a little thought to the subject, what’s good about it, what’s bad about it, and here are some of my thoughts.

What I dislike about those foreign immigrants moving next door:

Exotic aromas from their cooking waft past my nose—and they don’t offer to let me taste, let alone share! I dunno, maybe I could take an empty bowl and knock on their door and beg? If they’re Asian, they might understand a begging bowl, but somehow, I doubt it. Or, I could take a plate of cookies and offer to trade? Actually, I’ve tried that and get nothing in return but smiles. Smiles are worth a lot, but food is better.

They often speak better English (American) than I do. That’s so embarrassing.

They usually speak more than one language. And whose fault is that, Lenora?

They’ve seen more of the world than I have. Can you tell Auntie Lenora has a wee small jealous streak?

What I like about them:

They often start off working menial jobs, and soon buy and take over the business.

They frequently open restaurants so I can eventually try their food, and match it, if lucky, to the aromas that wafted from their kitchens next door.

Their kids understand the necessity of a good education and spurred mine to do better when my kids were in school.

Daddy shared a poem with me several years ago. I don’t remember who wrote it, nor the title, but there was a great line in it about how the world will be a much happier place when we’re all the color of tea! If anyone remembers the poem and or author, please let me know.

This country as we know it today was built by immigrants, many of them Europeans who had no qualms about getting rid of earlier immigrants who looked different, ate different, talked different, lived different, worshipped differently than they did. Their motto seemed to be: Might makes right.

Those Europeans had no qualms about getting rid of whatever peoples, Native or Mexican, who were here first. They had no qualms inviting other people of color in to do the menial work, the dirty work, and either enslave them, or get rid of them when no longer needed or wanted.

Years ago I became friends with a gentleman who was born and raised in China. His parents were American, and his father was in the Quartermaster Corps, helping to build a dam on one of the rivers. When Patrick was 9 or 10 they moved back to the States, and he eventually ended up in LA, in an art school. His dream was to be an artist when he grew up. Anyhow, there was a young woman in class that Patrick took a shine too. She was Mexican, and one day invited Patrick to her home after school. It was a typical upper middleclass home in a typical upper middleclass barrio. And then she opened the front door, and Patrick stepped into old China. He almost dropped from vertigo. When she quit laughing, she explained that when the upper class Chinese came to America, they were treated like the coolies. They looked around and realized the Mexicans were treated better. And, talk about luck, they looked the same. So, the Chinese went from being Chinese to Mexican, and had more respect, better jobs, allowed more freedoms, etc. You just can’t tell about those immigrants, can you? /snicker/snort/. Oh, and yes, her family spoke Spanish, English, and Chinese. Patrick felt right at home.

Fortunate for us, many immigrants stayed, and we can eat Chinese food, Thai food, Vietnamese food, Korean food, Ethiopian food, Native food, Italian food, French food, Corned beef and cabbage, Persian food, Russian food, Kosher food, and I suppose if you want it, haggis. (Actually, I’ve had haggis and it was kinda good;-) And the freed enslaved stayed, and we can now enjoy soul food, African foods from several different countries, all kinds of yummy foods! (Auntie Lenora is getting hungry just writing this!)

A few years ago, some southern states decided to keep immigrants out of the state so the white men could have their jobs back. Guess how excited whitey was to pick tomatoes, cotton, cucumbers, &c? Yeah, right. The fruits and vegetables rotted in the fields. Who got hurt? The farmers. Immigrants are not taking jobs away from Americans, white or colored. Immigrants put money into the system, far more than they take out. They pay the taxes, but are not eligible for the benefits, if they are undocumented.

So don’t let people tell you immigrants aren’t a necessary part of our country. After all, it was built by immigrants. The Native Americans came first, then the Europeans, then the rest of the world! And that food. All that wonderful food!

Photo of the Week:

We have two. One wreaks agony on a great many people but looks so pretty. The cotton from cottonwood trees. The other is my jeans. Both shot with the 25x macro and my iPhone.

Entertainment:

Netflix: Next week, I promise, I’ll watch another episode or two of my show.

Books: For full reviews, please go to: http://lenoragood.blogspot.com

Finished reading The Death of Sitting Bear, New and Selected Poems —N. Scott Momaday. Once again Momaday has combined history and mythologies and personal pieces he calls passages. Reading his books becomes a lesson in beauty, in history, in amazement.

Have started I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong. It’s off to a great start 😉 Nonfiction about the microbes we carry with us, and why. Also reading Intention Tremor: A Hybrid Collection by Tamara Kaye Sellman, about her journey with MS.

And just for fun, in case I run out of anything to do, I downloaded 17 free books to read in my spare time.

Education:

What a week for getting educated! On Tuesday I took a class from one of my favorite poets, Lauren Camp, called Plate Tectonics. We learned how to shift our poems in very improbably ways that really work. It took a day or two for some of it to sink in, but when it did, holy moley guacamole, what an insight. On Wednesday, I took the first of six classes on writing poetry using Archetypes. The first one was Lover. Wayne Lee is leading this class, and it’s utterly fascinating. I can hardly wait for this coming Wednesday, when Warrior is the subject.

Then, on Friday I was re-educated as to why I don’t buy women’s jeans. I was in a local chain store, and they had quite a clearance rack, so I checked it out. They had Levi’s for women, and I bought a pair. They went back on Saturday. There are no usable pockets. I guess women aren’t supposed to use pockets, but always pack a purse? I quit buying women’s jeans years ago because they aren’t well made, in general, and also most of them had high waists, which I find uncomfortable. But they at least had pockets. The ones I bought Friday could, maybe, carry a credit card, but I wouldn’t be comfortable with it. So, I’ll head to the men’s section when I need new jeans. Not only are they better quality, they have real pockets!

Also on Saturday, I spent all but 20 minutes of 5 hours at my computer attending the NMSPS (New Mexico State Poetry Society) annual conference. That included one workshop, many talks and readings and one prompt. I got a poem out of both the workshop and the prompt. Those who read were wonderful, the youth poet laureate of Santa Fe read for about 20 minutes and blew my socks off. Artemesio Romero y Carver was a delight to listen to and to watch. He’s still in high school! It is such a pleasure to see young people, especially boys (not too many of them, I think) take such an interest I poetry. Indeed, between Mr. Romero y Carver and Ms. Gorman, I think we are in very capable hands, poetically speaking.

Quote of the Week:

“In a time of destruction, create something: a poem, a parade, a community, a school, a vow, a moral principle; one peaceful moment.” —Maxine Hong Kingston

Sammy Brave Dog wants you to know that he, too, is the son of immigrants. His ancestors came from the State of Chihuahua in Mexico, and he’s so happy they were allowed to stay! And Auntie Lenora’s ancestors came from Africa, Mongolia (Native American), Europe, and the Middle East. She finds it unfathomable to not like immigrants. But then, Auntie Lenora does like to eat! /snicker/snort/

Draft Women? Say What??

3 Replies

Weather in the Tri-Cities for the next few days: Monday, sunny but cool at 67, Tuesday warmer, Wednesday and Thursday around 77, clouds will start moving in Thursday, but temps will remain in the mid- to low-70s. Need warm? Need sun? Y’all come, heah?

It’s Still April, It’s Still National Poetry Month…and your local Poets still need support! Go into your favorite bookseller’s, ask them which poets are local (there’s probably a ‘local author’ section, if you know where to find it.) Of course, I want you to buy my books, I need support, but there are local poets to where you live and they need support, too 😉

Draft Women? Say What???

Read an interesting article in The Washington Post by Robert Barnes, headline: Biden administration asks Supreme Court not to hear challenge to all-male military draft. It seems someone is suing because they think the all-male draft is unconstitutional. Holy Moley, guacamole! why is this even a question? OF COURSE it’s unconstitutional! And if SCOTUS says it isn’t, then it’s time to change the constitution and bring it up-to-date.

To be honest, I didn’t realize the guys still had to register, since we have an all-volunteer military. But I agree, whole-heartedly, that if men have to register for the draft, then women should have to do likewise.

If women and men are to be treated equally, it’s a given. All register, or no one registers.

Combat military occupational specialties are now open to women, so there is no longer any valid reason to impose the draft on men and not women. Women have not only served in combat with valor, but they have led the troops with honor, intelligence, and valor.

Please, contact your congressperson/senator and ask them to address this issue and change this outdated, antiquated law.

Now, I know there are Conscientious Objectors. I served with some when I was in the WAC, they were medics, and all had been to Vietnam once, one had been twice, and wanted to go back for a third tour, but he’d have to re-enlist, and that would remove his CO status.

I firmly think there should be an alternative to the Military for those who want it—the US Public Health Service would be a great place to start. (It’s already one of the seven Uniformed Services). If women or men don’t want to enlist in the military, fine, they can enlist into the USPHS for the same amount of time and the same pay grades. They will go where needed—inner cities or rural. They will train as medics, wear a uniform, and serve their country. They won’t have to carry a weapon, and if war comes, they can be transferred to the military, as medics, and still not carry a weapon.

So, yes, women should be required to sign up for the draft. Women should be called forth when needed. And if you’re curious, I was told by some old time GIs when I was in, as a whole, women make better shots than the men. The main reason is they shut up and listen to directions instead of trying to figure out how the weapon works on their own 😉 I was invited to join the rifle team, and was all set to do so, until I discovered I’d have to buy my own practice ammo. You priced that stuff? And for practice, where I’d go through hundreds of rounds in a week? Uh, no, I don’t think so. Broke my heart, though. M16s are a lot of fun to fire.

So please, call your elected officials in the other Washington, and ask them to support women signing up for the draft.

Dawn on the Columbia River, 16 April 2021, 0604

Entertainment:

Netflix: I guess I’m still watching 100 Days My Prince. But except for the news now and then, not much TV.

Books: For full reviews, please go to: http://lenoragood.blogspot.com

Finished Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents —by Isabel Wilkerson. I think it should be a class taught in high school, and if students want to graduate, they need to take it. The class reads the book and discusses it, in depth and at length. One of the best books I’ve ever read. Maybe the best nonfiction book I’ve ever read.

Education: Haven’t been able to finish the iPhone Photo classes, but am on last module, and have been taking pix. I actually had some printed and bought frames and hung them in my bathroom.

I am taking workshops in poetry, signed up for a 6-week class that starts on Wednesday. Tuesday is a 2-hour workshop. I’m so excited about both of them! See, I do need your support. Workshops cost money 😉

Quote for the Week: Ahmet Altan is a Turkish journalist and author who found himself speaking truth as he saw it to power and spent four years in a Turkish prison. While there he wrote:

“You can imprison me but you cannot keep me here. Because like all writers, I have magic.” —Ahmet Altan.

Have a great week. Sammy Brave Dog and his human ;-)Draft Women?

Didja Know I’m Dyslexic?

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Weather for the next few days in the Tries:

Sunshine with Winds tomorrow! Sunshine! All week!!!

April is National Poetry Month. Support your local poets. Buy their books. (I have some (hint. hint.) available from your favorite bookseller or me.)

Also, I am the featured poet on Quill & Parchment this month with at least 4 poems posted, and they have a good review of REFLECTIONS: Life, the River, and Beyond. Available through Amazon only (though your favorite bookseller can order it for you). Marking the Hours is available wherever fine books are sold 😉 If you like shorter books, and longer history, check out Blood on the Ground. (See My Books above for descriptions).

Didja Know I’m Dyslexic?

I’m sure you’ve noticed that a. I don’t ‘do’ numbers and b., I often write a correctly spelled word, but it’s not the right word. And I claim to be a word person. Yeah. Write!

As an adult in a fun job with a stressful, very stressful, management, I discovered I’m dyslexic. I was also dyslexic as a kid, but hid it, didn’t know it, and nobody else caught it. Obviously, I’m not seriously dyslexic, but I am dyslexic.

Remember the old game we used to play as kids, where the class would form a circle and the teacher would whisper a word to the student on her left, that student would turn and whisper the word to the next, and on we’d go until back to the teacher. IT WAS NEVER the same word all around the room. Why? One answer may be a form of dyslexia. You say “policeman” I hear it, and then say, “cop” to the next person someone else may hear my word and say “copper” and so it goes. A form of dyslexia.

If I’m in a hurry, I’ll use the word that sounds right, but isn’t. I want six cups of flower in my cake mix. Of course I do. I here you sniggering. When I was a kid and pulled some of those stunts, the teachers told me I was in too much of a hurry. They were right, but also not.

If I’m really stressed, I also stutter. Another manifestation of dyslexia. Many people who stutter are dyslexic, and if they can get the dyslexia under control, the stuttering goes away or is greatly diminished. I imagine it’s because they learn to slow down. There are singers who stutter, but sing beautifully. They slow down, they breathe deeply, they are comfortable singing.

And, I’m numbers dyslexic. When I was in the stressful job years ago, I had to maintain a log of work as it came in. A simple, sequential log. So, I one day I wrote in the logbook, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 58, 57, 56, 55 and went on about my business. No one caught it for several weeks. I got fired for that. Fired from the job, not the company. It was that job that brought my dyslexia to the fore. The other day I had an appointment with the Tax Man for 1.00pm. I wrote it in my calendar. I wrote it on the folder with all my tax stuff and showed up promptly at 10.00am for my appointment. I don’t do numbers. Now you know why.

Do you remember the old Stephen J Cannell tv shows? He created or co-created something like 40 shows, and many (most? all?) of the intros showed him at the IBM Selectric typewriter typing madly and the pages flying out. In an interview I caught one time, he was asked what he was typing. He laughed and said just letters, he was too dyslexic to be turned lose on a typewriter for real. Wikipedia says this, “Cannell was dyslexic, and was a spokesman on the subject. According to an episode of Paul Harvey‘s The Rest of the Story, Cannell frequently had to dictate ideas or even complete scripts with the help of his personal secretary Grace Curcio, an employee of 20 years. Following Grace’s retirement in 2003, Kathy Ezso became his editor and executive assistant. He discussed his experiences as a dyslexic in the 2009 documentary Dislecksia: The Movie.

Cannell wrote on a typewriter, an IBM Selectric, when not dictating to an assistant, and only used a computer for research purposes.^[10]” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_J._Cannell

I have learned many writers, and other creative and intelligent people are dyslexic. I think Marlon Brando was. That’s why, I think, he never read a script and was such a fine method actor. Perhaps some of that creativity comes from the creative ways we’ve learned to deal with it through our lifetimes. I am fortunate, mine is mild, but the more stressed I become, the more noticeable it is.

So, the next time I write something that makes you smile because I obviously know better, but must have been in a hurry, well, now you know why. And I’m in good company, too.

Here are two shots of a feather from a Canada goose. I used the 25x macro lens on my phone.

Entertainment:

Netflix: Still watching 100 Days My Prince

Books: For full reviews, please go to: http://lenoragood.blogspot.com

I am a tad over half way through Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents —by Isabel Wilkerson. Two things are “wrong” with this book: 1. It’s an Oprah’s Book Club book, and I’ve never read one of those I liked and 2. It’s a hardback book and when I fall asleep it falls and hurts. As to 1., Oprah said in an interview I saw once that she would NEVER recommend a happy book (maybe she meant novels?). While this one isn’t happy, it’s fascinating, and well worth the read and isn’t a novel. As to 2., I read in bed. I’ve done that since I was a kidlet. My favorite place to read, but sometimes when I fall asleep reading, the book falls and conks me in the face. And hurts. Life’s rough, sometimes.

Education:

I’m on the fifth and last module of the iPhone Photography Academy classes. If you have an iPhone, any model, I strongly recommend you look into the class. If you have an Android, I urge you to check out your brand and see if they have something equivalent. I bet they do.

I also bought Luminar4, the photo editing software mentioned last week. That will take a bit of education to use, too. But I’m looking forward to learning it. I wanted PaintShop Pro, but it won’t work with Mac.

New Year’s Resolution:

Remember, I started writing a poem each day Anu Garg & Company published a new word? I kept it up for 3 months, and then something happened, and I went about two weeks without writing anything creative. Still, I went 3 months. That’s 2 months 28 days longer than I’ve ever gone before;-)

Remember, you’re not getting your shot/s to keep YOU safe from Covid-19, you’re getting it to keep your family, friends, and neighbors safe!

Have a fantastically wonderful week. See you next Monday 😉

Auntie Lenora and Sammy Brave Dog!

Coffee Break Escapes with Auntie Lenora

Short readings for short times

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Astrology 101?

Another Banned Book

Deep End of the Pool (aka: Rant)

Short Road Trip Plus…

Facebook

Wildfire

Immigrants

Draft Women? Say What??

Didja Know I’m Dyslexic?

Update to an Old Blog