Random Thoughts

The thoughts that come often unsought, and, as it were, drop into the mind, are commonly the most valuable of any we have. ~John Locke




The end of August is near.  That makes me happy as it means the end of my rotation on the middle of the day at the pay check place.   The next rotation takes me into the land of  normal people who see the sun shine all day long.  If only I were normal...  Haha!  
Ahh well, gotta have a job to keep the lights on.  

The eldest Hunny Bunny posted this on her wall a week or so ago and if you think about it, it's pretty accurate!  

...and she wonders why I tell her to enjoy her childhood!  Kids, always in a hurry to grow up to be an adult.  It ain't all that it's cracked up to be, for sure.   


We're having a heat wave here along the banks of the mighty Ohio.  Today's expected high will be in the mid 90's with humidity that becomes oppressive when you work inside a building that includes two giant ovens.   I understand now what my Grandpa Bond meant when he would relate to us that he lost 5 pounds a day in sweat during his shifts at Newport Steel Mill.   At the end of my shift, it ain't pretty...smelly, oh, but yes. 


I look at this picture from last winter whenever I think I can't bear the heat one moment longer.  It's my reminder that I prefer the warmer temps of summer to the cold and snowy temps of winter!  

I do love looking at Mother Natures handiwork though.  Trouble is, I gotta drive from here to there.  Not everyone should be allowed on the road in inclement weather.  There be i dots don't ya know?  


It seems yesterday was National Dog Day.  I can't imagine people being paid to think of things to have a "National Day" celebration.  But apparently they do.  Trillions of dollars in debt as a Nation, but hey, let's honor our dogs!   You ever get a feeling that we're being fleeced?  Yeah, me too.   Just to prove I'm a good citizen, I'll even post a picture of my dog; Maggie Mae.  

She was a local rescue a few years ago. I took one look at that face and couldn't stop myself when I said I'd bring her home to live with me.  This was after I said I never wanted another pet that would leave me heart broken as they left me to cross the Rainbow bridge.   I should learn to never say never, right?  

She's brought lots of smiles and many times, lots of frustration into my life.  Still, I don't think I'd give her up for love nor money.  Love I've got... money, eh, not so much. 


These two pictures don't show her true nature.  She's a bundle of energy when she wants to be.  Especially when my piglets show up.  She'll pester them for the first few hours after their arrival before she'll stop.  If I let her, she'll even go wake them up.  If she's awake, she thinks they need to be awake!   











There you have it, friends.  My totally random thoughts for a beautiful Saturday in August.  Daylights a'wasting.   Gotta prepare for the sweating that is in my immediate future.  




...and so it goes. 

Ahem. AHEM!

Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. ~Pema Chödrön



Why Hello there!

For some unknown reason, I opened the reader the other day and was surprised as all hecky dern when this old blog popped up as having new posts.  Gave me quite the surprise and a bit of sadness that I've let it languish for so long.   As I read those old posts, I almost felt that it was written by someone else, not myself.  Strange how that happens.  Perhaps I've grown or changed a bit over the last few years.  Years.. it's been since I've last written here. 

Oh, there's been life changes here in my hills of KY.   Family members who've left us too soon and new additions to those who call me 'Nana'.   The heart always has room for the love of a child.  Well, mine does.
The last few years has seen a few doors close, and as predicted, new ones open.  Life sure can throw some curves at ya, can't it?

Who knows, I might just take the time to drop by more often.  The other format for connecting to friends far away (facebook) has quickly become almost too much to bear.  Voice an unpopular thought and the claws come out almost immediately.  Some have been quite deadly with the blocking and unfriending over a opinion.  I just keep scrolling...scrolling...scrolling.   I dislike not being able to comment without fear of ridicule from friends of friends.  Oh well...it was a good time while it lasted.  Everything runs it's course it seems. 

....and so it goes. 

Mourning...

Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.

~Author Unknown

It is with heavy heart that we send a friend and fellow sojourner along his way.   Neputunus Lex made his final flight into the wild blue yonder yesterday morning at the controls of his Kfir. 

He was so much more than fellow blogger to many faceless voices in the void.  Yet, his words filled us with wonder of his journey, and deeper understanding on breadth of subjects. He became a friend to untold numbers.

There are many whose words convey depth of sorrow and loss.  Mine are few. 

Lex, Captain Carroll LeFon...You will be missed beyond measure.


Godspeed, Sir...Godspeed.

He kept at true good humour's mark
The social flow of pleasure's tide:
He never made a brow look dark,
Nor caused a tear, but when he died.
~Thomas Love Peacock

Musical Interlude...

Music is what feelings sound like.

~~~~~Author Unknown

Who could not love listening to Norah?






And so it goes......

Spring Fever...

It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!

~~~~~Mark Twain

 The Tulips returned and have brightened the landscape with their colors.

 

 Even the dandelions are a giant splash of sunshine amongst the greening grass.  It's futile to resist...

 

The 'almost' Weeping Cherry Tree has budded out and has delicate pink blossoms the length of the limbs.

Spying the dandelion greens amongst the tulips reminds me that this bum knee is going to cause me pain.

Spring Bouquet by Raymond A. Foss

An earthen vase
held a bouquet
simple crocuses
at the street corner
in the downtown
of the city, around
the corner, down the block
on the way to school
a bit of color
shining through
the urban tableau
reminding us of beauty
amidst the clutter
of daily life

Our temps hovered in the mid 80's today.  Windows opened to air the house of winters smokey haze and shake loose the cobwebs from the corners of the rooms and perhaps even the mind.  The old familiar mantra from last summer was uttered as well..."Dang! It's hot."  'Twas music to my ears, indeed.

It does seem that hope springs eternal.  Time for the earth to awaken, to be turned, smoothed over and seeds sown in neat little rows.  Spring has arrived at last.  That's what I call...Winning!


And so it goes......

Wise Words From A Great Leader...

The old adage "You never know what you had until it's gone" has certainly been hitting home the last few years.  We've been under rule of some of the most clueless, out of touch, 'I'm better than thou' elitist politicians in quite some time.  

There are some of us who still remember when we elected a man to lead our Country, they were men of integrity and honor.  Men that had strength of character. Men that knew the truth and certainly weren't afraid to speak such truth.  Men who didn't bow or grovel to other leaders of the rest of the world.  Men who knew the mantel of leadership was a heavy yoke to bear, yet did so willingly with humility and a backbone of pure steel.  Those men who knew that being appointed President of the United States was to take care of America, with no apologies for our actions or without fear of reprisal to continue standing as the beacon of freedom. 
 


Today, February 6, 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of celebrating the life of  one such man: Ronald Wilson Reagan.   A true American President...and as a reminder...his wise words.

Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.


There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.

If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.
 

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.

We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions. 

No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!

Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.

When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat.

How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin.

Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.

Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us in our time, that in our time we did everything that could be done. We finished the race; we kept them free; we kept the faith.

We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we will always be free.
Ronald Reagan ...


Happy 100th Birthday, Sir.  We miss you so...

Christmas Wishes...

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.

~~~~~Peg Bracken

I've been wrapping the last few presents while awaiting my children and grand-children to arrive before we start our Christmas celebrations.  In the meantime, the song that the great Frank Sinatra sings in the video below express it best my wishes for all of you! 





It has been said that only two of Man have ever died for us...Jesus for our sins, and Soldiers' for our freedoms.  Today, hopefully we remember the reason for the season...our Savior's birth.   And to all the men and women near and far standing watch, we give our Thanks and ask for God's protection for those on the front lines. I'm so very thankful all of mine are home.

 

And so it goes......