KateThoughts

So, Thanksgiving is over...

...what are you thankful for today?

(can't testify to the "vote", nor could I find the creator of this series of photos. I got it first as a PPS presentation thru email (thanks, Rene), and found it in many forms all over the web. I chose to save this one.)

Spiritual Moments

I found this video posted on Ronni Bennett's site this morning. It reminded me to look around me a little differently for the various small blessings that cross my path every day. I thought you might enjoy it, too.

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802 about banks:

“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

Guess who controls the issuance of our currency.

This thought is also embodied in the philosophy and economics of the Social Credit System that has been proposed many times over many decades.

I think it is time to rethink... again.

Hypatia: Greek Philosopher & Mathematician AND a Woman

Thanks, Cindy, for sharing these links and introducing me to Hypatia. I really hope we'll be able to see the movie.

The first video here is an overview of her life.

This one is a trailer for a new film starring Rachael Weisz as Hypatia. Makers are looking for a US sponsor for the film; I surely hope they find one!

Last Day on the Hillside

Another windy day. Brrrrr
Happy to be going home

I'll be sleeping at home tonight. ; D

"Funniest Staff Meeting"

"Funniest staff meeting."

Just a warning: You may want to read it in private. Enjoy!

"The boss of a Madison Avenue advertising agency called a spontaneous staff meeting in the middle of a particularly stressful week. When everyone gathered, the boss, who understood the benefits of having fun, told the burnt out staff the purpose of the meeting was to have a quick contest. The theme: Viagra advertising slogans.

The only rule was they had to use past ad slogans, originally written for other products that captured the essence of Viagra. Slight variations were acceptable. A few minutes later, they turned in their suggestions and created a Top 10 List. With all the laughter and camaraderie, the rest of the week went very well for everyone! The top 10 were:

10.  Viagra: Whaazzzz up!
  9.  Viagra: The quicker pecker picker upper.
  8.  Viagra: Like a rock!
  7.  Viagra: When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight.
  6.  Viagra: Be all that you can be.
  5.  Viagra: Reach out and touch someone.
  4.  Viagra: Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman.
  3.  Viagra: Home of the whopper!
  2.  Viagra, We bring good things to Life!

And the unanimous number one slogan:

  1:   This is your peepee.   This is your peepee on drugs."

I found this all over the Web, but I did not find anyone claiming to be the author. Here is the link I liked the best.

My Chibees

I borrowed that term Chibees from friend and fellow student Marc. He's center front; flanked on the left by sifu Jim, and yours truly.

Back row from left is Sidney, Connie, Gary, Vicki, Annette, Mary, and Tony. Missing that day were Barbara, Len, Clara, and Cleis. I'll catch them on film one of these days.

This particular photo was taken by Marc.

Current cuties

Here are the two little cuties that are brightening my days away from home.

The gray one is Phazie (Phaedra) and Bobby is the other one.  

And here is just one of many gorgeous skyscapes from this location.

This one is of our first (tiny) snowfall - Oct. 3rd. You'll have to click it (for the larger image to even see it!) This one was taken near HMHC.

Update on Joel and things ES

Today is Monday, September 21st. There are only 4 earthship days remaining. YEA!!!!

Joel is back home after a really tough couple of weeks. Since the last post (mentioning ER and recovery), she went to the ER a second time last Thursday and ended up spending a couple of nights in the hospital.

There was a period of time in the ER when we were being told she had pneumonia, but thankfully it was really only bronchitis. She did have the flu, too. So what knocked her down was a combination punch of UTI, flu (NOT H1N1), and bronchitis.

This time, she really IS much better. I brought her home yesterday afternoon. She was stronger, though still weak, and more interested in a little food than she has been for about 10 days. I'm still at the ES for a few days, so friends have offered to help out. She'll finish a course of antibiotics and take some breathing treatments for a couple of days. It's really nice to see her looking good again.

What she REALLY needs right now is an Animal Control officer. She called about 9:30 last night to tell me that a skunk had come in thru one of the pet doors and was hanging out in the mud room. Given her health, the lateness of the hour, and my absence from the scene, she decided to call the cats in (thru a regular door), secure pet doors so the skunk couldn't get into the house - and go to bed. We're hoping that all the drama is over this morning, but if not we'll let the Hall boys handle it. (We LOVE our Ruidoso Pest Control folks!)

But really! What else can happen right now? 

Thanks everyone, for your help, prayers, and Jess - the banana pudding is GREAT!

Thought about the ES experience.

I'll be really glad when Thursday rolls around and the ship commitment is over, but it has not been all bad. In fact, the stuff I have not enjoyed has taught me more, AND allowed me to appreciate the stuff I do enjoy; like today's sunshine, the gorgeous skies (in all kinds of weather), and the quiet. And I learned that quiet is relative and often generated internally...

amazing, huh?

A Thought on Aging

The thought of the day from my homepage: "Refdesk" is

"It is always self-defeating to pretend to the style of a generation younger than your own; it simply erases your own experience in history." - Renata Adler

Joel crashed & burned!

...Though evidence of recovery is showing up. Yea. I mean, really, she's going to be fine.

I know a few of you see this or Facebook even when we're not keeping up well by email; hence this post. 

Joel saw the doc about a week ago for a minor UTI, and had just started treatment for that, when a nasty flu bug bit her in the butt and took her out. Big Time!

She has been flat on her back since Saturday (including several hours in the ER on Sunday). That was triggered by pain from the UTI, but the dehydration they found and the weakness prompted the flu test. So really, that was all for the good.

She saw her own doc on Monday who put her on more meds, and now she has turned a corner. Even she is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  Poor baby.
All things considered, she is MUCH better this morning, though still weak and recovering. I don't think anyone local needs to show up at the door yet, but she's ready to check email now & then.

Shaula, thanks TONS for helping while I handled things at the ES in Capitan!!!  :)

   

Testing post-by-email

I'm at windstream emailing a post to see how this feature of Typepad works Also attaching a photo.

Wow!
That was almost instantaneous!!! The photo was handled automatically, too.
I call this one 'shadow shot'; from left to right: folding camp chair, me, Schatz.

getting it wrong/right?!

Oh, my gravy!

Did you know that if you get enough people doing/saying something wrong, it will ultimately become right?

Check this out: read the "usage note"

short-lived

 (shôrtlvd, -lvd)

adj.

Living or lasting only a short time; ephemeral.

---

[short + (long)-lived.]

Usage Note: The pronunciation (-lvd) is etymologically correct since the compound is derived from the noun life, rather than from the verb live. But the pronunciation (-lvd) is by now so common that it cannot be considered an error. In the most recent survey 43 percent of the Usage Panel preferred (-lvd), 39 percent preferred (-lvd), and 18 percent found both pronunciations equally acceptable.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

This - now so common that it cannot be considered an error - is the phrase that chaps my butt.

What? Something wrong becomes common, through laziness or ignorance or carelessness, and then - because it is commonly wrong - the wrong thing is suddenly made right. Wow.

So, why aren't all of us over-eaters suddenly made thin?

Perhaps the reverse is true, also. The old 'use it or lose it' thing...? Could that be what is happening to ethics in politics and punditry? Maybe there are so few examples of ethical behavior in these arenas, that ethics are no longer something for which to strive. Hmmm...

Now, as I was growing up, EVERYBODY told me to be a good girl: Mom, church, teachers, relatives...everyone. I've spent quite a bit of energy through the years examining the guidelines of each; keeping some ideals; making new ones; eliminating others, until I've come to understand what being a good girl means to me.

The very bottom line is that I must add to the love and not to the fear in this world.
That effects how & whether I talk, what I watch on TV, how I relate to family & friends, & who I hang with.

It's beginning to effect what I eat and how I fashion the hours in my day. (thankfully; but no dramatic results to report)

It seems to me that there should be a way to make this all work for the betterment of the planet.

Labor Day: not laboring, just thinking

After doing a few online chores and being VERY grateful that the rain is saving me (once again) from the pig-pen chore, I went bouncing around a few of the blogs I read.

Looks like I may need a new list.

Yes, many Americans are having a tough time. Some stories can be quite disheartening, and some of them are not so far from home.

But, tell me, please, what does all this complaining accomplish?

At this blog - KateThoughts - we hold a more positive point of view, and a much broader one. It's all about perspective. Everything is always about perspective.
Perspective and attraction. And no, I'm not fond of The Secret. But I do thoroughly believe that my thoughts, words, and actions have energy & power. Where I place my focus gets BIGGER. If I consistently focus on pain, it hurts MORE, not less. And if I spend my energy complaining of the economy, it will continue to cause struggle for me.

So, 'woe is me/us' posts don't stay on my screen very long. The one thing they accomplish for me is to switch me over into grateful thoughts, almost instantly. 

It seems very important to me - especially in times like these - that we look for the things about which we can be grateful. And about the ways we can lift up those around us who might enjoy a little 'light'. Not everyone we know will want to step out of the complaining/whining stuff. Many don't even know there can be an option. 

So, on this Labor Day, I am grateful for:

• Retirement (thanks Mom & DM)
• Tremendous opportunities to be helpful financially & energetically
• Horizons - and the pet job that brings me to the countryside
• Summer rain showers
• Computers and telephones
• and Awareness:
  that there is so much to be grateful for
  that thoughts have energy
  that tough times can bring insight & inspiration
  that how I 'take' things is a choice I make - repeatedly

So have a nice day,
unless you have other plans, of course.

:)

It's been awhile...

Happy Sunday Afternoon...to be followed shortly by wishes for ...Happy Labor Day. (tho I hope you don't have to labor over anything tomorrow...)

I'm out at the Earthship Adventure. I was planning to add some photos to my FB page, but that application seems to be having trouble...for a couple of days. Here's a cool site that gives a little overview of Earthship construction and operation. THIS one is not exactly like those in the link, but is VERY similar. Not all 'systems' are operational yet.

All I really want to do is sleep and whine. It's too hot for the former, and just too horrible to contemplate the latter, so I'll post some of the photos I was going to put on FB.

Exterior -

                                   

and now I'm having problems with this..............Aaarrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhh!!! Check the link above; it shows great stuff about earthships and has some videos also.  I'm going outside to throw rocks.

Poertry (by K. Rhoades) from Erin

Erin, thanks for finding this. What sparked Erin to remember this was my story of a drumming experience at White Sands many years ago. I suspect that all of the women present for that spontaneous and inspired piece of creative heaven remember it clearly, as I do. This poem captures the emotions I felt then and thoughts I've had about it since.

I Walked into a Moment of Greatness

“I walked into a moment of greatness. There was a wave of pure emotion running through the air like a pulse recording the beat of souls. I stood against a wall, the house was in darkness, light on the stage.

The last act of Meistersinger had begun. I listened. All of me heard. If that straight line of terrific tensity which stretched continuously between myself and the music, growing more and more sensitive each moment, could have existed indefinitely until the line became inseparable with the state about it what would have happened?

Everything had merged there was no possibility of any retention of the separateness of a human self from the space of sound into which that sentient self had projected. An extension of feeling and a diffusion of music with it creating a condition of oneness. A passing of each into the other.

Sound, Giving, Will, Feeling, an insistent entity reached. Was there any part of me that did not respond? I was not a woman. I became merely a part of the attunement of the moment as did all the others. The strangers standing so near that I could have touched them and I think we were touching. We had dropped our little selves we were not but something greater than ourselves was breathing. What gave it the impetus to breathe? And if it could have endured, if a climax could have been reached and held for the fraction of a second - would not that instant have become infinite? Would it have been death? Or escape into a quickening of life?”

Katharine Rhoades April 1915.

Ms. Rhoades was an artist as well as a writer. I found this excerpt about her work interesting.

”The terms in which critics evaluated Rhoades' work at the 1915 exhibition place her paintings within a loosely defined expressionism, which prioritized emotion, intuition, and spirituality. Charles Caffin in the New York American insisted that Rhoades' reliance was on intuition, rather than observation: "Miss Rhoades seems to have a capacity of psychically sensing her subject" (19). Agnes Meyer, a journalist, photographer and fellow member of the Stieglitz circle reviewed Rhoades' work at the time of the 1915, commenting on the artist's individual vision:

“her whole impulse to paint seems to spring from a close communion with and a desire to impart the underlying significance of the world as she sees it . . . There seems at first to be a strange and foreign quality in her portraits but a sympathetic study reveals the fact that she has seen further or at least differently than we (Meyer 8).”

Meyer again points to Rhoades' ability to visually articulate a metaphysical consciousness and stresses her status as a seer, psychic, or medium through which highly developed states of consciousness are expressed.”

The article in which this excerpt appears was found online.

Perpetuum Jazzile

 - an acapella jazz choir... Wait until you get a load of this...!
This is how I first heard it.


Then someone sent this full version:



Now, here's the Toto original:



Which one do you like?

It'll do your heart good...

and here is where they tell us how it came about... Inspiring couple, great sense of humor:

Fabulous Catcerto! from YouTube, of course...

Wow, can you believe it?!