Sunday, May 27, 2007

Connecting the dots

"Firstlight" by Sue Monk Kidd is a vignette of contemplative memories with resounding spirituality. It brought tears to my eyes from the beginning as I read her truth's revealed, reminders of reasons and connecting the dots in humanity.

One of the meanings in the dictionary of the word 'Story' is a statement regarding the facts pertinent to a situation or question. It is through those we connect the dots with questions asked from our souls by seeing a part of self within the words shared by another; or share our words for others to see a part of themselves.

"When a suffering is shared, its weight is divided. And when a joy is shared, the delight is multiplied."

I leafed through a couple of pages in my journal book, and some of the entries of this blog. Snippets of profound entangled with the mundane with answers sometimes found along the way.

I still write on "The Vortex" (see October 06), a story inspired from the book titled "From the Dust Returned" by Ray Bradbury, but only write on it now and again. My mind has been consumed by another 'story' I'm writing. My 'myth'? It covers both the wishful thinking, and the realities of taking my 'cinder blocks' I have built around myself. The cinder blocks are made with tears, pain, anger and overall hurt; impenetrable to keep out the pain but also the blessings that accompany. The sweet with the bitter; the best chocolate; bittersweet. All in all it's still a story, like a legend, based losely on truths surrounded by make believe in order for the lessons to be received. Through the dots of connections I'm creating a 'safety net' for self to open more freely, but still keep my self intact.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Cha...Cha...Cha...Changes

The bridge of the old song rings through my mind as changes swirl all around; a mist of vapors echoing with words, dreams, visions, actions - real and imagined.

Why? This has been the most oft asked question to my announcement of going to the Grand Canyon; and "Why not?" is usually my answer. As much as I want to call them and try to get there early, I hold back. Saying goodbye to much loved items and the memories associated with them (I'm not saying good bye to my friends.), change boils the tea down to what really matters the most. How can I live without this or that? It's the memories associated with the items; like my grandmothers Hudson Bay blanket - which is going with me. That blanket kept me warm throughout my life; it was my cocoon when I was a teenager, it nursed me through fevers, dried my tears and was the presence of continuity when I moved with extreme little. So off we go on another adventure.

Looks like my sister will be going to the Grand Canyon too. It'll be nice to know someone there, and to have a room mate that can deal with my habits and wierdness. Not to mention I know MJ will have a backup person to report my goings ons. Especially if there should ever be a 'stable manager' -ha ha.

Preparations begin. I got the camera to start. The Rebel XTi with a 300 mm lens. Right now I'm getting to know it, we're becoming friends, despite my frustrations with the 'computer' brain in it; it's teaching me to think outside the proverbial box so that when we become inseparable the pictures will be AMAZING. In the meantime (isn't there always a 'meantime'?), I grunt, issue a few colorful words, then read the manual and find all I had to do was push a button. Hmmm. Learning process.

Which feeds into the contemplation of Terry's blog on obits. I'll write one, but after I've thought deep about it. It's a well thing.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

The Best Damned Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever

Through various experiments with a base recipe here is the results with optional ad ins at the end:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

3 Cups of all purpose flour
1 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of kosher salt
3 cups of granulated sugar

Stir together in a bowl with a fork until well blended then add:

3 whisked eggs
4 sticks of real butter melted
3 and 1/2 tsp of real vanilla extract

Stir together until it's well mixed then add:

1 12 ounce bag of chocolate chips

roll balls about 1-1 and 1/2 inches in your hand
put on parchment with plenty of space for spreading

cook for 15-16 and 1/2 minutes each tray. keep an eye on em to see if the edges are crisping.

Now for special variations:

Cinnamon - add 1 tsp to the dry ingredients
Red Chile pepper - add 1/8 tsp to dry ingredients

or

let your imagination roll;

macadamia nuts maybe?

I like to think this is worthy of Paula Dean.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Two sides to every coin

What do Napoleon, Isabella of Castile & Cat Stevens have in common? History.

In grade school we're taught the remarkable things Isabella of Castile did for the 'birth' of our country. Well if it wern't for her I'm sure a lot of things would be different. Like Napoleon she has two sides, a remarkable example of her faith, a mover and shaker, but with those there are also the 'yang' side. While she and her hubby King Ferdinand were carving their niche in history their faith brought in the Inquisition to Spain as a way to conquer the Muslims and Jews.

Yes right about now my mind is singing a bar from Mel Brook's History of the World Part I.

Then we come to Napoleon. What did he do to remain in the history books? Granted there are a lot of dictators since then that have done much worse then him that barely get skimmed over, however according to a recent PBS show on the Inquistion he participated in closing that chapter; after all it did begin in France.

Interesting how when were taught in history certain activities are ignored in the teachings.

Where does Cat Stevens come in?

Read about him, why is a simple musician given so much power with intimidation of persecution to enter the US?

Religious persecution.

History is philosophy teaching by example, and also warning; its two eyes are geography and chronology.
James A. Garfield20th president of US 1881 (1831 - 1881)

Friday, May 11, 2007

Time Passages

I had to laugh as I read MJ's blog about being lost in Yawnkars, after all that's phoenicly Southern. As she had found her new home, getting lost is sometimes getting found. Which I don't think Brian would've appreciated a call for bail money.
Time seems to slip by in the breeze (tainted with smoke for now), but where it seems like yesterday we were lost in Yawnkers, here it is almost half way through May!
Most already know I've accepted a position at a hotel in the Grand Canyon, I will be leaving here in the fall. In the meantime I am downsizing literally and figuratively as my writing continues. A story borne from the first inkling of this move is still evolving, with a bit more to go but something that I want to finish before I move. Susan is back living with me, it's been a good experience for her and me as I will be living with someone in a dorm room when I move. Not too bad, I think or hope, for someone who's been alone for 9 plus years?!
Despite the cruix of being anxious to go West, I'm needing to sort through all sorts of stuff - once again literally and figuratively, to go onto a new journey. In the meantime...the story continues