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The Waking
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I cannot go.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.
Light takes the Tree, but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.
--Theodore Roethke
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Joy's Updates - Straight from the Horse's Mouth.
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Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Katrina
Let's hope for the best with whatever Katrina is doing next. Right now we have strong winds and heavy rain and are on a tropical storm watch, which is bizarre for this far inland. Schools are closed just in case the predicted floods arrive. All those people who have been injured and lost their homes have my deepest sympathies. For some, it's been loss of life and for others loss of property and injury and inconvenience. These scary weather conditions make me nervous.
1:33:00 AM
Monday, August 29, 2005
Alfred E. Neuman & Pomingos
Melissa called Saturday evening to see if I could keep Brendan on short notice. They were at some friends' house they see every week, and Brendan screamed and cried every time he saw one of them. She said they took him outside and walked around where he was fine, but as soon as he saw or heard the guy's name, he started up again. The only way she said she could describe it was an Afred E. Neuman pomingo kind of thing. I told her I totally understood and that I'd meet her at their house in an hour. Brendan and I had a good time playing, reading, singing, and being silly. He was fine.
Now to explain the references ...
When Brian was around Brendan's age, friends came to visit from Memphis. We drove around Nashville and then went to lunch at Ireland's. The waitress led us to be seated in an area that had a picture of Alfred E. Neuman on the wall. Brian took one look at it and started this screamy crying and ran to the door where he huddled beside a potted plant still hysterical. I tried to get him to tell me what scared him so much, and he pointed toward the picture. I said that he'd seen him on MAD Magazine, which didn't help. I explained to the waitress that we had to sit somewhere else since he wouldn't go in that room. Once we were seated where he couldn't see the picture, he was fine.
Another time when I visited that same friend, we went to the Memphis Zoo. Brian made it fine looking at lions, tigers, elephants, and all kinds of animals. He was a little shaky about the fish since the room was dark except for the fish tanks, but he was OK. Then when we started to go see the birds, he did his hysteria routine again and ran out of the building. I asked him what was wrong, and he said, "Pomingos! The pomingos scare me!" He had seen flamingos in books, but somehow another odd thing freaked him out. Like father, like son in some weirdo ways, or perhaps it was that friend. Hmmmm?
6:32:00 PM
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Say What?
Which part of pro-life is this lunacy from Pat Robertson?
9:18:00 AM
Monday, August 22, 2005
Wimp
The physical therapist added several exercises and extended the time I was on the treadmill and stationary bicycle. It's going to take quite a while before I can do a fraction of what I used to do when I worked out. She's giving me exercises I can do at the gym when I finish PT. Today when I got home, I dozed off on the couch for a while. I feel more energetic now and can get something done.
2:52:00 PM
Even Books .... sigh
Chris posted something that hit home with me about keeping/purging books. Friends and the library will benefit when I get rid of many of mine.
2:49:00 PM
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Quiz
Answers are posted in the Squawkbox comment place.
from the Pop Culture Edition of Trivial Pursuit ...
1. MOVIE - What is Oscar, the Academy Award statue, standing on?
2. TV - Instead of money, what did Dennis Moore distribute to the poor on Monty Python's Flying Circus? [now edited from the unbelievable Demi]
3. MUSIC - Who are Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan better known as?
4. SPORTS & GAMES - What tennis player was the inspiration for Elton John's song "Philadelphia Freedom"?
5. BUZZ - What name did publishing heiress Patty Hearst take while among the Symbionese Liberation Army?
6. FAD - What stickers were spoofs of the Cabbage Patch Kids?
from the "Know-It-All" Edition ...
7. PEOPLE & PLACES - What performer was the master of ceremonies of the Texaco Star Theater?
8. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT - What is Captain Pierce's nickname in M*A*S*H?
9. HISTORY - What industry was the subject of Upton Sinclair's book, The Jungle?
10. SCIENCE & NATURE - How many pints of blood are in the adult human body?
11. SPORTS & LEISURE - What team won a record seven consecutive N.C.A.A. basketball titles between 1967 and 1973?
12. WILD CARD - What is the only breed of dog with a black tongue?
7:14:00 PM
The Show
Jackie's show was wonderful last night. She is so talented and has poise, stage presence, and entertaining stories. Earl said he's heard a bunch of storytellers and that Jackie is the best he's heard. She really is good. Jackie said that was the most responsive audience she's had and that the venue there at the Renaissance Center is also the best. The drummers said they loved it here, too, and want to come back. Jackie has a couple of other shows she's created, so maybe she can. This show sold out.
Brian, Melissa, and Brendan also came down to go. Unfortunately, Melissa didn't get to see the whole performance because Brendan wanted to be on stage, too. He kept talking, so she took him out. Im so sorry she missed a lot of it but am glad she was there. He knew the words about being quiet but hasn't applied them yet. He'll learn.
2:15:00 PM
Friday, August 19, 2005
Time Isn't On My Side
I checked out some books on tape to listen to while I organize things. Now I just have to clear time to get it done. I find that what people say about retirement is true about being busy. Of course, I watch movies and TV, go out with friends, and play with Brendan instead of staying home because it's more fun. I also plan to see Kathy and the older grandchildren soon. At this point, I'm thinking that not being embarrassed by my house is what I need to work on if I'm not going to make it presentable. A social Mary Northern?
12:02:00 AM
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Woooooo
I wonder why so many scary movies are out now. Seems as if there are several of them, and it's not even close to Halloween - unless people are getting ready for holidays earlier and earlier. Since Christmas decorations go up around Halloween now, maybe we have to be scared earlier in the year. This leads me to examine the use of the word "holiday" to describe Halloween, Valentine's Day, and those other celebratory days that we don't get off from work. What are they called?
1:51:00 PM
Friday, August 12, 2005
Beamish Boy
I'm going to Nashville tonight to keep Brendan while Brian and Melissa have a much-needed night out with each other. I'm looking forward to having fun with Brendan since he's very entertaining. Last week when I had him, I told him Jackie tells stories and that we must listen carefully and be very quiet. Then I told him, "We can do it!" Which he shouts enthusiastically now when I mention Jackie and the storytelling. He's going to be there, too, when we go to her performance. Brian can only answer, "I hope so," when I suggest that Brendan will be enthralled by it. So we all hope so, but since he loves music and stories so much, I do believe he will listen and enjoy it. It's a wonderful performance! There are still tickets! August 20 at 6:30 - be there!
11:37:00 AM
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Ch-ch-ch-Changes
Due to lack of answers, I'll post the quiz every couple of weeks. It takes a bit of time to do it, and when almost no one seems interested in it, not worth the effort. I realize you have lives which don't revolve around reading my blog, so I'll make some changes here. Perhaps being more clever would be one of them and would help.
I've also found that I'm busier than I thought I'd be. The physical therapy is helping my shoulder and back, and I plan to join a gym when I finish there, so I can keep improving. I've also finally given up Aspartame! I knew it was horrible for us but recently found there could be a link to non-Hodgkins lymphoma which was enough for me. Fortunately I don't use NutraSweet (Equal) in coffee or tea (or sugar either but drink them plain). The problem is with Diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper which I swilled down daily. No more!! All artificial sweeteners are harmful and should be avoided actually. Aspartame is the only one I've really used the most. When I miss the biting fizz too much, I'll drink a real Coke but am going to eventually quit drinking carbonated drinks. That feeling and taste of carbonated, caffienated battery acid with Aspartame sparkling down my throat was such a wonderful jolt to my system and will now have to become a distant memory.
If I keep getting rid of my vices, before long I'll be like that sinking ship with no cargo to throw overboard when I'm dying, as Mark Twain said of someone.
11:10:00 AM
Monday, August 08, 2005
Underwhere?
Sure, these people look good bouncing around NYC in their underwear, but what about those of us who aren't models? We're doing a public service keeping our clothes on during National Underwear Day - August 10.
1:37:00 PM
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Night with Seinfeld and Friends
Saturday night four former students and I went to TPAC to see Jerry Seinfeld. I met Ben Buttrey and Julia Godwin in White Bluff and rode with them. By the way, Ben is an excellent driver as well as lots of fun. He and Julia and I laughed all the way to the Calypso Cafe where we met Daniel Jones, state-winning track star, and Jesse Hotchkins. Fortunately, they all liked the food at Calypso which I suggested. Then we went to Starbucks and on to TPAC. Most of our time involved trying to find a parking place. Jerry was hilarious just as we knew he'd be, so we all had a great time.
Ben and Daniel were two of my three student workers I had last year. The other one was Josh Burns. I'd taught Daniel and Josh in Challenge Class when they were younger, so I feel sort of like their aunt. On top of all this, I also taught Ben's and Daniel's fathers and Julia's mother, which makes them grandstudents. Yes, I'm really old. I thought it was really sweet that they wanted me to go with them. Daniel and some others had wanted to have a retirement party for me, so this was partly a retirement celebration. I appreciated that and the company. It was a wonderful evening!
11:16:00 AM
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