Friday, August 17, 2007

So much to ponder, so little on TV
































The dark city with lights
is El Paso from the 6th floor of the hotel window looking sort of South. Then on the other hand so is the other picture. One taken about 11pm and the other this morning about 7am. The picture is not really all that exciting. ( ya see you probably are saying to your self you don't need me to tell you that? Then again maybe your saying come on, of course this is exciting? Good for you if that is what you said) If you knew where to look you could ask yourself why the American Flag that lights up the entire side of the Wells Fargo building downtown at night can't be seen. If you had stayed in local hotels for 25 of the last 32 days or so give or take a long time then the more important part of the picture would be the fact that behind the camera was a room that was the best I have found in town so far. It was so nice to find a nicer room. So then what makes a hotel room nicer than the other: "Clean", that is the answer. Perhaps since nothing up to know but the best room, last nights room, turned out to have a big screen then maybe a big screen helps? Then again I see an apartment in my near future and I am not sure it located, since I have one that is already rented and waiting for someone from the company,. Then again it is in a part of town that I don't like all that much. Then again there are lots of differences between these pictures beside day and night. The dark picture was taken at the end of having just watched Spiderman on the (big) TV and wondering why it, Spiderman, was so poorly done. The late night one was going to bed on a dark week for the stock market and a sad real estate market, wondering what to do with two homes if that is what it comes to? The morning one had some light to it in that the Fed, as noted on the TV by the way, had overnight dropped interest rates a half a % and, of course, the real estate market may have some new hope. Add to all of this the fact that between Thursday and Thursday with no blog on Thursday, day one of this time frame, or even this Monday Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday does it shows that I had more folks look on the blog than many of the many weeks where I posted every day?????????? Then again life can be a mystery. I figure that it may be worth it to blog a couple of times a day when I can, maybe. Then again, lately and even during this "special rating week" I have been and will be able to have dinner with Mike a couple of times a week, so he may not be as in need of a blog with this valuable information on it. He indeed could have been 33% of my blog audience? I did learn that it is easier to keep a house clean if I am not in it. ( important fact just posted I suppose) On the other hand before I get concerned with this insight I need to ponder and ask if any house would be harder to keep clean if everyone left? Mysteries, Mysteries, so much to ponder so little on TV. .............. ya see if you pay 2 million bucks for your house and perhaps you finance 1 and half million then a 1/2 % drop in the fed today would have saved you $583 a month give or take some amount. For a 4 million dollar house with a million down that might be 2 times $583 give or take this having any bearing on anything.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Maybe what is behind us makes more clear what is ahead


Just thinking about where we may be going or where we may have been can be challenging. I remember the advice given a new member of a ward who reported having not liked the prior ward, where he had been, and had a list of reasons why that was the case. The advice was that given that perspective then he probably wouldn't like this new ward. That is interesting advice. Maybe "liking" something is more about what you have going on in your own head that what is going on outside your head. That said I suspect where ever we are going may be a really great place since right now it is clear that where we have been has been a really great experience. I just wondered about the phrase......"If you don't like where you were you won't like where your going", so I typed them into Google just to see what might pop up? Well I got three book titles and found that very interesting. Crime and Punishment - by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Chronicles of Narnia- by Clive Staples Lewis, Picture of Dorian Gray- by Oscar Wilde. I have read all of these over the years. The Picture of Dorian Gray may of all of them be the one that clearly shows the differences between looking back and looking forward and it's effect on us. The portrait of Dorian Gray was a look at what he had become but he was a picture of what he had once been. Then of course Dorian Gray's life was one of excess and he needed a way to avoid the consequences. For one who can see where he has been as having been exciting and valuable it means that no consequences need to be avoided. A pure heart hides nothing. Dorian Gray's life would have left him looking different from what he once was and from what the portrait revealed him to be had he moved forward, taking a step at a time, doing his best, valuing where he had been.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Now and then you think about "now and then".


















In both pictures the same question could be asked. Is the picture of the picture made more interesting if you can find the reflection of the camera. ( what is of most interest, Now or Then?)
A camera can be clearly seen in the refection on the house, and in less so in the other picture. My hands hold the camera. It captures the reflection but not all that I remember. The second picture captures nothing that I remember. I find it interesting to find that the reflections are more interesting than the pictures. Since memory seems to be lost in the first picture it leaves me wondering if it is really lost or was it really in place then. I view who we are as not having began at birthday 1 or even birth. How could we explain how different people are and how much good and not so good exists in people if it all came with birth or a creation. Something must have always existed and the process seems to make some better and some not so. Choice is what we have and it shapes a lot. I have lived in a lot of houses over the years. The houses and the places are full of memories. Then too their must have been memories somewhere on that first birthday. Now sits on top of then in the house picture. Both exist at once.

Mexico, New Mexico and Texas all from the back yard






Saturday, today............................might indeed be a day to note some......................"Random Specific Thoughts about some odd items. On a counter top are samples of soon to be new counter tops. . An orange peel, and left over from this weeks long car trip and then some items from the garden, and a book just sitting on the counter. It was a long week buying a house in El Paso. From the back yard of the house you can see Mexico. New Mexico and Texas. On a more random note this week I only looked at the TV twice. One night Johnny Cash from 1969 was a re run. He sang Man in Black. Then last night a movie called "Tender Mercies" caught my attention. A song about a White Dove made me think some. Black for Johnny C. was about "standing out" with concern. The song about the White Dove was about Goodness coming upon us. To lighter moments for the week did indeed have fuel for thought........................ Johnny C. When you think about it you find it is mostly just black and white.

Man in Black Song words

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,Why you never see bright colors on my back,

And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on

.I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,

I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,But is there because he's a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those who never read,Or listened to the words that Jesus said,

About the road to happiness through love and charity,Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Friday, August 10, 2007

"Like" the wings of a Dove is Goodness


Goodness, or the best course, may indeed come upon us............ seemingly without expectation or prior plans. Then again goodness may seem to be descending> How can we seek it and find it and keep it, is a worthy question? Seems clear that goodness isn't "a" Dove, but may be "like a Dove" "Snow White" being goodness. Light seeking light.
On the wings of a snow-white dove
He sends His pure sweet love
A sign from above
On the wings of a dove
When troubles surround us,
When evils come
The body grows weak,
The spirit grows numb
When these things beset us,
He doesn't forget us
He sends down
His love
On the wings of a dove
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On the wings of a snow-white dove
He sends His pure sweet love
A sign from above
On the wings of a dove

Jalapenos don't quite do it.




A chili Pepper or a Jalapeno can be a choice that defines where you are. Texas or New Mexico. This week for us it has been Texas. Then again we still claim New Mexico. Hate to have to chose because New Mexico would win. Anyway it will take some time for Jalapeno even becomes interesting. The good news is that El Paso Texas is not far from Hatch New Mexico. More blog postings today for sure.

Sunday, August 05, 2007

"Vinegaroon" in ABQ and new lands to the South






Today we left for El Paso via Las Cruces. Late last night about 10:30 ( I call that late) Zach found this bug on our front sidewalk. Vinegaroon is the name of the bug. It has a vinegar like mist that it uses to attack with. Seems odd that this was found in the late evening in our front yard. Now of course the bug is a item to save and look over. vineagar
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Maybe this is an omen. Maybe it means it is time to move South. That probably will work. With a house for sale now it is time to look for one.

Saturday, August 04, 2007

Well you do now....................








Zach is learning to ride a bike. Figures he will need too. His is a multiple speed. I recall a lot of time on a bike growing up. Roadmaster with a belly tank, fenders and a basket was the first bike I had. Rode it up the hill we lived on the first day I had it and then back down. Crashed into something and bent thr fork back to where the front wheels would not move becuase it was pressed into the main frame. Even so I spent a lot of time on a bike then. I remember a lot of bikers going by as I ran along the roads over the years. One guy, a neighber came up to us in a a canyon where we lived in his black leather and helmet. I didn't know him from Adam but as I came up to him I said "unmask your self, stranger". He did and it turned out to be a neighbor. Then again I heard a story of a truck driver who was delivering one of our good customers product that they didn't want. The customer said I don't use that brand. He apparently laughed and said "well you do now". Now I laughed when I heard the story. What else can you do when you have your hands full of similiar type issues. Hate to laugh at bad behavior.

No clear picture yet.























Course Kathy doesn't know where EP is and she has no real picture of what to expect. Then again we are heading there tomorrow so that will clear up some. Listed the house today. Packing up the top of the book shelves. Wouldn't want to look cluttered ya know. We will spend a night night with Mike and the Grand cat. Then off to EP. Tonight I am going to go to the Philosophy Club meeting and discuss Aristotle. Ya see Aristotle is different than Plato, the guy we talked about a few months back at this gathering. He vs's Plato is more into what we have around us rather than the "form" or the big concepts which might in fact be up there or out there. Rather than just contemplation he looked at an empirical investigation of stuff. (Book reviews on these guys can be found on the Amazon link) When we "listed" the house the agent told us that all the agents get a chance for an extra $10,000. They toss in $250 per listing that they try to get the sellers to pay for when listing so that these houses turn into chances received if they sell them for the big drawing. So all I can say is that this fee was not paid by us. Ya see all these agent folks need incentives. Selling on straight commission is plenty good as an incentive when it works. Maybe a hard close look at incentives is more up Aristotle's ally. On the other hand when you look at these pictures which, unlike the ones below from the window of a room in the middle of the night are about nothing but the imagination one is left only to imagine what the reality may be. Aristotle and a trip to EP you see are both empirical investigations. (This day is good for a couple of posts I would imagine)

Friday, August 03, 2007

Out the window by the "dock of the bay", ouh

















On the Road Again, last week that is. This particular evening was just another hotel but from the window you couldn't see El Paso but then on the other hand there it is. Take a hard right at the sign and your heading south to the border. Even early in the morning the sky seemed a little unique. Hard to figure how the sky winds up looking different than the last sky you say somewhere else. I watched TV this night and that in itself means I must have just as well stared out this window but on the other hand it was Otis Redding on the TV and it was the Stax records story. Otis was worth watching. Then again the morning sun had come, over the holiday inn sign, evening had come and gone and then too time seemed to be a wasting. Then again when you stand back from the window it isn't much different than the TV. Don't know if this is what the person who told me to record my visits with my camera had in mind. Maybe I should have shot some pictures of the Simpson Movie I saw last night with Mike. I might have thought of it if the folks behind me had not be laughing so hard the entire movie. This blog may be a bit of a ramble today. By the way.
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Sittin ...............in the morning sun,
I`ll be sittin'................... when the evening come,
Watching the ships roll in,
And I'll watch 'em roll away again,
yeah,
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay,
Watching the tide roll away,
ouh,
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay,
Wasting time........................
I left my home in Georgia,
Headed for the Frisco bay

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Hmong


Giving of TIME may be a gift of what matters most. Time spent with those from another part of the world and another culture. A call to serve the Hmong. The terms Hmong and Mong both refer to an Asian ethnic group whose homeland is in the mountainous regions of southern China. There, they remain one of the largest sub-groups in the Miao (Chinese:苗族) minzu (nationality) along with other related ethnic minorities. Beginning in the 18th-century, Hmong people migrated to Southeast Asia and today live in northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar. Following the communist takeover of Laos in 1975, a large number of Hmong/Mong people sought refuge in several Western countries, including the United States, Australia, France, French Guiana, and Canada.

Stuff Matters sometimes, or at least it make you feel at home


Trucks, books, running, all matter in different ways.

A run that matters more than others mentioned.



Running is a good time to ponder, "What Matters Most", then again it is a good time to not ponder anything. Over the years I have run alone and at times with a friend to talk to. The best runs are walks with my best friend. Those runs "matter most". Then again some runs matter because they help you escape the pressure of stuff that doesn't matter as much.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Got Books











Home Sweet Home...........
Things change. I may have to pack up the top shelf so the place looks neat. My dad's hat, a basketball signed by Karl, John and the boys, a bell from a schoolhouse in the 1920 time frame, a couple of law books from the Pocatello Library distress sales a cowboy bought in a yard sale, perhaps 13 medals for finishing the St George Marathon, a grandfathers typewriter and a model of a 32 ford hot rod, globe of the world, and o yes, Books. The ship I brought back from Korea a few months ago. One of the chairs says University of New Mexico on the back sort of like a brand on the wood. Then there is a Idaho State University cup and a picture of the top of a calendar that says 1888 to 1988 Pocatello First ward and it has a picture of a painting titled "not alone 1847" of pioneers coming across the plains. Great picture. It was on the entire front wall of the chapel I attended as a youth. It is shown as a side picture on the blog. Just below the Amazon reviews link of some of the books on these shelves.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Pride, and a need for a better life.






























A Statement of Pride rising high above the sidewalk, downtown Albuquerque


El Paso on the other hand is different. It has no North side that I can identify. It has a lower valley. That is from the Rio Grande and probably the part below I-10. The above that is the Valley. Fort Bliss in in the middle of the upper Valley and to the East is the biggest housing spread you can imagine. It is new and goes on for ever. The base is getting ready for a lot of folks and figures it will last a long time. To the west you find UTEP and a mountain range. The mountains here shown are part of these. They are the highest points in Texas. A road goes around them by UTEP to the West Side and then another road goes through them to the West Side. I have been staying a lot on the West Side. Las Cruces is up the road from there about 35 miles. A very large pole with a very very large Mexican Flag is just over the border across the river in Juarez. This flag can be seen for miles and sort of just hits you in the face as you drive toward the border on the Freeway. Pride is what this flag is about. Proud of a heritage. Even so the place where the flag sits is the worst part of Juarez. The city of 3 1/2 million or so is layered I am told. Some of the worst is by the border. A lot of poverty. People live in cardboard boxes and have zero income. The some of the city is more upscale. Some from one side help those on the other. Help can mean food. It leaves the question of how much help can it take to make a difference. It is interesting to find many quietly working to help. Often one person at a time. Pride and need exist together. A proud people. So much need.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Texas, the proud home of BJ 4 or 6 days a week it seems.




















Mike's new apartment. A flower on a bush near the apartment. Then moving South moving into Texas. Texas sort of seems different. Maybe stuff really is bigger there. Maybe the roads aren't as good cause as Mike says they don't spend any money on their roads. The sign says "proud to be the State of George W" or something like that and of course a lot of folks are not proud and don't like that on their sign. The Texas adventure is a little demanding right now.
I need to post more than I have here I suppose.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Fire, Ice, Beauty and Vice


















A Korean flower, a mountain range by Las Cruses. A interesting Sunday. I bought a camera and perhaps it is just as well that the pictures today were such that I was unable to post them. Just still trying to master the way to hook up to the camera. The day started with a trip to pick up cars left at the warehouse. Unloaded furniture last night for Mike's new apartment. Then we went downtown and walked across the bridge to Juarez. It was a short visit, at probably the worst part of the town, even though the entire place has a lot of challenges. I was embarrassed to be in a place like that on Sunday. The stay was short. I missed attending church today and again wished that I had been there. This was one of the few times missed but the more important fact was that it was necessary to help Mike.
Robert Frost poem first presented in 1964 at the time was considered something special. Desire and hate both seem so destructive. Speaking of contrasts
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Shoulda took more pictures or stayed I suppose





Maybe Mr. B. Bunny was coming on highway 25 from California or maybe he was coming from the East. Big difference in the outcome of a left turn. The bigger issue rather than El Paso or Salt Lake which indeed could be the difference is Albuquerque itself. What a really nice place. Why would anyone want to turn. Guess that is not a good direction to go today so I might mention that the road sign here seems to offer some insight. Perhaps it is a political statement. Maybe it is a message as to what one ought to do when one turns right. Then again it might be more to do with clear thinking one way or another. May have to find something else later to add to all l of this right left focus

Friday, July 20, 2007

Half a building and the cornor where two states and a country touch






Off on the top of the mountain is a statue that marks the place where New Mexico, Texas and Mexico touch. It is a shot out of the right car window as I drive to work from spending the night in Sunland Park which is around another mountain to the West of El Paso. Looking out the left side window before too long from this spot is UTEP. Then below that picture is the new whse facility. What looks like the far end is actually the middle of this building. New Camera to shot some daily shots.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Barb Wire, Tango, Jimmy, James and Hunters




As far as fences are concerned if they are in the country I like barbed wire. I don't really know why?
As far as the Tango or Waltz, see yesterday.
This all started on a favorite blog a few days ago and I am still sort of with it.

Tango or Waltz? Tango

James Brown or Marvin Gaye? James of course.

Wildflowers or arrangements? Wildflowers, not arranged please.

Cello or Trumpet. Cello of course.

Watch wearing or not? The time is right on the lower left hand of the screen, who needs a watch. Or else I can ask.

i-Tunes or something else? i-Tunes since I don't know what something else might be. Works great on a run. Don't know how I got along with out it.

Jimmy Carter or Gerald Ford? Come on who says either of them ought to be on this list. Jimmy at least stands for something even if he has read too many of his own books its seems. Both seem like nice folks.

Willow Tree or Pine? Come on again who says either of them ought to be in competition with the other. They are both fine things. Willow fits one mood. Pines are good.

Sophia Loren or Liz Taylor? come on, really, did you ever see Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Well it was Paul that caught my eye.

Matt Damon or Ben aAfleck? come on, really, I wouldn't recognize either one of them if they knocked on the door selling Jimmy Carter's a wonderful man books.

Socks or Barefoot? Ok, KJ in socks me barefoot is fine. She likes wool ones in the winter, ya know.

Gathers, Hunters, or Accountants? Come on. Who are we kidding here. Don't own a gun. Never did. Never will. Put me down as a hunter even so. Gathers are ok.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Tango or Waltz, down "which" Road







I was reading my favorite blog the other day and the questions asked were sort of revealing, I suppose. The question that caught my attention was
"Tango or Waltz" ?
Seems obvious that I am off on shaky ground here. I couldn't dance my self out of a paper bag and never could. Then again it may depend on where the dance is taking place. I would love to be able to dance. If I close my eyes and can almost see myself dancing. Course maybe the answer is I can feel myself dancing cause I just don't see me in this picture. Then too like reading our thoughts allow us to "see with different eyes". Ok now I see it. Yes, Tango. That is what I want to do. Tango down the path. Tango with my favorite person. Tango. Move gracefully. Like the pciture, "just us". The two paths I have pictures of here lead to very different places. The graceful one, the one that really sort of dances and is far less traveled takes one to the Temple Door in Seoul Korea. The other, far from graceful, still interesting but more of a trip than a dance is a street nearby. It leads everywhere if you are so inclined.
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The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost
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Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with as sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.

Friday, July 13, 2007

The Cats not in the hat and probably has some good insight into the real meaning of it all


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The "Grand Cat" is visiting with us.
This is one smart cat. I remember the quote from the first lines of the second act of Cats, the play. In fact I have quoted those lines a lot over the years....................
In the Play Cats the second act starts out saying that one "had the experience but missed the meaning". Take a hard look at this Cat above. Do you think for one minute that this cat does not know exactly what is really going on. The real meaning. Of course the cat might be thinking hard about what your saying. Things change. Obviously things change. We move places we never thought of and we finally like cats. Life is indeed amazing. Short message today. Tomorrow is another day.

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Pressure makes Diamonds


Diamonds are only lumps of coal
that stuck to their jobs.
Coal, isn't something I think much about. I recall several friends growing up who had coal stoves in their houses and they had to shovel coal into a bin often. I remember those homes in the winter and they were warmer than the ones that had oil furnaces. I remember reading about folks in Wales who came back each night from the coal fields singing. I have several stories of past relatives who were coal miners. My great grandmother had two brothers who were coal miners. I really like the song coal miners daughter by the way. I also quite like this quote above. I think the best advice anyone could give a young person starting a career who wanted to succeed is to "show up". Sticking to the job is good too.
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I was thinking a little about the words to Coal Miners daughter and oddly enough I had just looked through my Grandfathers journal.
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My mothers dad also worked in the mines. He wrote in his journal of being buried alive in a tunnel cave in. Looking closer at this journal I noticed how he stuck to it. He said he worked hard. He talked of hard times. Layoffs. Temporary work. In one paragraph he says they "put in the crops, hauled wood for the winter and took care of the hay" He added that they were happy. The family was together. They worked hard.

Saturday, July 07, 2007


An idealistically fine 4th of July 2007, this last week
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For us it 4th was a neighborhood event. The view from the back of our house within a few days of the 4th was as you can see, spectacular. Then again the 4th's events, for me, connect to the picture from 1509 below. Both in a way reflect part of this years "4th of July" time. No risk here in sounding boring and making folks figure this is not 4th of July stuff. However, telling you more anyway, we went to another neighbors house in a different direction. We had some good food, sat in the back yard and enjoyed ...................
each others company. Listened to some good music some of which was from the 1940's and 50's and all of which was patriotic. We listened to a recording of President Roosevelt in prayer. What do folks talk about as they sit around the back yard? Well three of us spent some time on Aristotle and Plato. We had all be re reading and updating ourselves on Aristotle. You see even these folks gathered in Raphael’s "The School of Athens" are kind of relaxed. Could have been the 4th of July the day this picture was captured. Many seem to just be enjoying stuff. The two in the center were Plato on the left and Aristotle on the right. By the way, the School of Athens was painted in 1509 or 1510 and it was part of Raphael's commission to decorate the Stanze di Raffaello, in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. (At the same time, Michelangelo was next door painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.) The School of Athens was Raphael’s vision of the community of intellects from the classical world; the greatest philosophers, scientists and mathematicians of antiquity. I often figure our time in Northeast Albuquerque has been one where we found the scientists and mathematicians. Lot of smart people around everywhere but the science labs in our area attract an interesting group. In some ways it gets down to whether your finger is pointing up as is the case with Plato center stage above or out as with Aristotle also center stage. I figure Plato is what I like about life and Albuquerque and Aristotle is like what I have found here in the neighborhood.
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This could take way too much space to really say much about this thought I will just offer one idea to support this. Scientists and mathematicians remind me of Aristotle's conclusion here, and Plato reminds me of why I enjoyed the back yard discussion that took less than an hour of our several hours fun time.
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Idealism vs. Realism is the difference shown but up or out. With his right hand Plato points upwards, indicating that the ideals of Truth, Beauty and Good are not of this world, but lie beyond, in the realm of pure Ideas. Aristotle takes exception to his teacher’s position. He holds his right hand straight out, his palm facing downward toward the earth, - the solid world of material reality. So for him the ideals were not really eternal or seperate but just here with us, around us, perhaps part of us. Back then it was said that everyone was born either a Platonist or an Aristotelian
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I find myself an idealist. (today at least)

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Sun in Flight, Fierce tears, good night




4th of July,
This holiday is one where we had a neighborhood event to start and a neighbor and friend event to finish. I have wanted to go on a run all day but I don't think I will get go. My road extends north on one road and back south on the other. (The road above is one I really like. Guess I will like the next road too.) As noted yesterday I really like the bronze horse's. This is one that I didn't show yesterday. Looking back over a couple of weeks I of course have had a lot happen. Interesting changes . Aside from the changes I had the occasion to respond to an email from an individual who had made some bold statements. I had taken occasion to send him a Dylan Thomas poem. I mentioned his bold statement and complimented him on the fact that his words did indeed "fork lightning". Then he wrote back and mentioned that he had cancer and wondered if my poem was an omen. I wondered why I had sent it but then I don't see this poem as one that is about a problem but about having a good attitude. I mentioned that he may just figure that he might fight with some rage and of course that we seek the light in all we do.
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We were wondering today about a move. We really like our "ward" and our friends. Our daughter told us recently about a comment perhaps offered or at least considered when folks move into a new ward or place for that matter. The question could be, "how did you like your last place"? The answer then would follow that if you didn't like it then you won't like this one. And of course if you loved it you'll love this one. Why not. Why not rage against anything but light.
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Today someone told he had recovered from some problems. That he was "back". He told me he was able to be his good old obstinate, in your face, stubborn guy and he was looking forward to it. I of course encouraged him. I of course told him to "rage, rage against the dying of the light and do not, do not go gently into the night". I passed the poem on again. I of course really hope he is doing better. Hate to have my words fork lightning instead of offer light.
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Along that line, 'isn't that horse great". Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, might indeed right a bronze horse.
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Do not go gentle into that good night
By Dylan Thomas
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Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieve it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears,
I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night.
rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Sunday, July 01, 2007

some guy making a choice, apparently





Yesterday Zach and I went for a 4-mile walk/run. It was my regular path. The path follows a long street to the North and then crosses over to a long street back to the South. Along the way I can see bronze horses and a bronze buffalo in the front yards of homes that are set in a very open desert setting. The horses are real eye-catchers. Love to see what seems to be the spirit of adventure caught in bronze.
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Running is about seeing new things, perhaps with renewed eyes, and finding old things and thinking and talking. Music can be the companion as much as the sights or the person next to you.
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Crossroads can be considered. Left or Right. North or South. Options and Choices. Yesterday's run offered a lot to ponder, I think.