Tuesday, June 29, 2004
"It would fly more accruately with rocks in it, but the cost would likely be too high to make the route profitable."
- posted by -g @ 5:14 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
The Newspaper Story
I am helping a friend deliver papers this week. We begin at 3:30 am and end at 6 am. 300 papers hand delivered provides great exercise and more humbling stories for the future prevention of swollen head syndrome. The story goes like this: I was perfecting my paper throwing skills. It is fun to watch those blue plastic bags filled with daily news twirl around and land in bushes or on rooftops. One time I actually landed one on a patio table as if it had been placed just so for the patron's morning coffee/quiet time. Feeling confident, I started tossing the blue cylinders from a little further away; carefully feeling out my range. On one occasion my efforts were so sincere that I was certain to land it in one of those green paper boxes from 25 feet away. Unfortunately the blue plastic bag caught on my pinky and twirled around once before it went straight up and came down on my head. This would not have been so bad except that there were witnesses. I thought I would confess it first before the news got out *smile*
- posted by -g @ 4:48 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Sam caught a big one. Any Fish Stories to tell?
- posted by -g @ 9:07 AM | | 0 rocks in pond
Friday, June 25, 2004
Self Control
As I drove from the Central Library to my humble abode not more than 12 minutes away, I was completely amazed to find that the plentiful container of scrumptious hand-made egg rolls were gone! The only thing that prevented me from eating all of then in that short 12 minute span was the desire to post an image of those amazing creations. I was determined to leave two at least. You see my success. Da, Julia...this could be an avenue for world domination. You could conquer any power who should fall prey to one taste of those addictive agents. *bows to asian phenoms*
p.s. It was a delightful visit, thank you.
- posted by -g @ 2:06 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
and then there was one
- posted by -g @ 2:05 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Simplicity
Simplicity is freedom. Duplicity is bondage. Simplicity brings joy and balance. Duplicity brings anxiety and fear. Simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward life-style. One cannot truthfully exist without the other. It is a puity of heart, and this is to will only one thing. What is it that you will? Richard E. Byrd, after months alone in the barren Arctic, recorded in his journal, "I am leaning that a man can live profoundly without masses of things."
God made us simple, our complex problems are of our own devising (Eccles. 7:30).
When we are truly in this interior simplicity our whole appearance is franker, more natural. This true simplicity makes us conscious of a certain openness, gentleness, innocence, gaiety, and serenity, which is charming when we see it near to and continually, with pure eyes. O, how amiable this simplicity is! who will gie it to me? I leave all for this. It is the Pearl of the Gospel. --François Fénelon
It is a psychosis to define people by how much they can produce or what they earn. This psychosis permeates even our mythology. The modern hero is the poor boy who purposefully becomes rich rather than the rich boy who voluntarily becomes poor. Covetousness we call ambition. Hoarding we call prudence. Greed we call industry. Lusting for affluence is psycotic because it is not reality. We crave for that which we need not nor enjoy. We buy things to impress people we do not like.
So, what do you have that you can do without? Are you willing to part with it? How would you part with it?
- posted by -g @ 10:24 AM | | 0 rocks in pond
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Words and Acceptance
Over and over again, names, mottoes, watchwords have been turned inside out, and upside down, and hindside before, and sideways, by occurences out of the control of those who used the expression in their proper sense; and still, those who have sturdily held their ground, and insisted upon being heard, have in the end found that the period of misunderstanding and prejudice has been but the prelude to a wider inquiry and understanding. -Voltairine de Cleyre
We are drawn to ever deeper regions of solitude, from which we are unlikely to bring back news that will be greeted with applause.
- posted by -g @ 8:05 AM | | 0 rocks in pond
Saturday, June 19, 2004
Tis the season.
- posted by -g @ 8:06 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
A Story for Allie
Allie has asked for more stories. Here is a recent one that I am sure will become more refined with repeated tellings. A young lass who recently joined our American community from India approached me on the last day of school and told me she hated me. Then she hit me in the shoulder and told me again that she hated me. She is a wisp of a child so there was no damage done, but it was confusing and I am sassy at times, so I told her that it was ok and that I forgave her and that I still thought very highly of her. She let out an exasperated sigh or grunt and said: "OK. Here it is. You tell me why you believe in God, and I will tell you why I do not." I laughed and told her to sit down. I set a carving tool up on the table and said: "Look." Then I knocked the tool over and proclaimed: "That is why I believe in God." She was confused, as any sane individual would be. She did not hide her frustration and demanded more. I told her that the cause of the tool falling was me pushing. Every effect has a cause. I invited her to look around and imagine the world she sees as an accident. Any thinking person would have trouble doing so. The further back you look for origins, the more likely you are to run into a creator. Every effect has a cause, but not every cause has a cause. The cause is what I name God. Several other students had gathered to hear this discussion, and she had no answer, only exasperation. Because the universe is fair and unbiased, I should also tell you that a student handed me a piece of pizza around this time. I proceeded to drop it on my lap. A lovely and supportive on-looker was quick to point out that this was a grand example of cause and effect. It is nice to be ones own illustration at such times, and though I have many reasons to be proud (you being one) I have just as many reasons to not be proud (me being the main one). Peace my dears, in the truest sense.
- posted by -g @ 7:55 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
Friday, June 11, 2004
There is a story behind this one.
- posted by -g @ 8:08 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
Looking down may also be looking up.
- posted by -g @ 8:07 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
This Year's Crew
- posted by -g @ 8:04 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
an open letter to(the idea of)gaylund stone
dear mr. stone,
some months ago (was it in april?) you came to rufus king as an official examiner for the IBO. you may remember our interview, in which i blithered and wrung my hands and tried really, really hard to condense all i had learned (imagine, reader's digest condensed art. you wouldn't like it, i imagine.) and say things that reflected that, at least generally. you may recall the generally awful job i did of answering your questions, i certainly do.
since then, i've ruminated and marinated over the things you asked me, and have come up with a lot of deep, insightful answers that i would have liked to given. that's ok. i'll save these answers and pop them like hard candy in the future, enjoying their overwrought completenes.
but there was one thing you said to me, not a question exactly, but a topic of discussion that almost made my eyebrows break from their orbit on my face. you said to me, "i don't see a lot of your personality showing through in your work." i was so shocked by this pronouncement that i said something rather stunted and silly about everything having come from and blah blah blah. what i really wanted to ask you, what i really want to ask you is, what were you looking for? the question just tumbles like an ice cube into my gut whenever i begin to dwell on that abysmal interview. where did you expect to find my personality that you weren't?
i don't mean to be rude. it's just hard to be respectful of the idea of a person. so, you know, whenever you get a chance, write me back with the idea of an answer, ok?
disrespectfully, but not on purpose,
emily joy
- posted by emily oi! @ 11:06 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
Monday, June 07, 2004
Hello Sam
I have posted Sam's comment because it is a thoughtful one. I am glad to have the interchange, and it is nice to be in communication with Sam again after so many years. I hope Greg will respond to your comment Sam - I think he might. I can tell you all a little bit about Greg, and he can correct me if he chooses.
Greg is my cobbler. He is an extremely intelligent and funny man. I would describe him as "authentic" or "sincere". I am pleased to call him friend. He is an artist and artisan, a prolific reader, a master drummer, a non sleeper, and a cheerful drink for weary souls. He is the father of three brilliant children and the husband of a woman who might just be a tiny bit smarter than my wife, (it is a toss up, but I will always side with my linguistic master gardener *waves to wife*)....actually, Greg's wife might just be the only one I know who has read ALL the books at the Wauwatosa Library (and she remembers thier content too). By the way, I am looking for a summer job, can you use an extra shoe-maker Greg?
- posted by -g @ 9:45 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
We are all living double lives, myself included (although not to the same extent as C). See my response to your post in my journal.
Greg (and I'm not sure who Greg is, but hi Greg, I'm Sam) also brings up the case of E, and he states that E sees himself as g/God. There are many different perspectives that an athiest can have, and proclaiming yourself to be g/God in lieu of a higher power is only one of them. To E, and probably to many people, the Self is the higher power. Your platonic image of youself becomes your idol. I subscribe to this point of view and I am not addicted to anything. E worships an image of himself that is unattainable and therefore succumbs to addiction and self-abuse. I pay homage to an ideal yet realistic self-image. While a religious person emulates a g/God that they know they can never truly be like, a person like E tries (and ultimately fails) to become a perfect image of himself. -Sam
- posted by -g @ 9:44 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
Sunday, June 06, 2004
S C & E
Greg's post about his friends makes me wonder many things...one of which is this: How many of us are living double lives? What would happen if our lives came together into one life? What distinctions are there/must there be between public and private lives? Certainly it is ideal to not have them contradict. Who does not lie with words or actions? Do we not need saving from self? Can self save self?
- posted by -g @ 7:01 AM | | 0 rocks in pond
Saturday, June 05, 2004
Noodles
I whisked my lovely away for a quick yet relaxing meal at noodles & co. I ordered a glass of wine with my meal and she freaked out. In response, she ordered a large rice krispy bar dessert thingy. The man who poured my wine chuckled at our banter. He added to our conversation by telling us that he rose from the dead recently. I didn't really hear him or what he said didn't really register. SHE picked up on it though and asked him what he meant. He told us that he had lime disease and collapsed. He was DOA but they revived him. I noticed that he shook with jerky movements when poured the glass of wine. SHE asked him if he saw a tunnel and light or anyone familiar. He shook his head and smiled. After our meal, I asked a busboy for the name of the manager who rose from the dead. The boy didn't really understand what I was asking, so I described him. As we left, I asked to see Dan. I shook his hand and told him that I was happy he was alive. He smiled and thanked me. We walked for a time and I attempted to show HER a beautiful street that I happened upon the day before, but it was gone. Not beig able to see everything, I find life rather mysterious.
This reminds me of the boy who, while flying a kite, was asked by a man what he thought he was doing. "I'm flying a kite" he told the man. The kite had dissapeared behind a cloud and couldn't be seen, so the man asked him how he knew he was flying a kite. The boy replied "The kite tugs on my string now and then to remind me that it's there." This seems an appropriate metaphor to hint at how we know that God is there. He tugs on our heart or spirit string every now and then.
- posted by -g @ 4:00 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Lovely Day
The weather was wonderful and the docent was full of stories. Bradley Sculpture Gardens is always a fun place to wander about and except for the soggy turf and wet feet, all was delightful. Thank you Becky for joining us and good luck on obtaining that summer art position.
Eva, Sam, if I had known you were to be at graduation, I would have made an effort to find you. It was rather fun, and I did enjoy the "love" theme.
- posted by -g @ 8:32 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
The Docent Said: "Don't Touch!"
- posted by -g @ 8:29 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
Special Guest Visitor
- posted by -g @ 8:27 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
Sculpture Garden View
- posted by -g @ 8:26 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Look at all those cords!
- posted by -g @ 10:40 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
Happy Graduates!
- posted by -g @ 10:38 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
critical lawnmower
humble dan
potting soil
diarrhea of the brain
bad haiku daily
thegreatlockbox
dirty laundry
emily joy joy
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