It's Just Silly Nonsense

I've about decided to end this silly nonsense that is blogging. It started out as a way to keep family up to date. But, to be honest, my mom never checks, dad's dead, and I don't really want the step mom to know what's up. Other than that, I don't really have a lot of time and when I do have the time, I don't have much to say. Oh, I've probably got a lot to say, but as is my way, I won't say it. Nevertheless, it is fun, so I will continue.


"To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else." ---Emily Dickinson.

Good for me...

So, I finally got to ride my horse yesterday. YAY!!!! It's about freakin' time, too. I was planning on doing it Wednesday, while I had the entire day off. But, found myself cleaning the kitchen instead. How screwed up is that?! Oh well, had to be done, and it gave me enormous piece of mind to have it taken care of (the clean kitchen, I mean. The horse is a more soulful matter). So, yesterday, I got Neil to daycare and took a bit of time for myself. Funny how I'll tell myself that I can just ride for a few minutes...15 is better than nothing, right? But, when I check the clock when I get back in the car, it's always right at about an hour. Seems like I enjoy myself so much, I lose track of time. At least I tell myself to keep it short, so I'm not there all afternoon. I was thinking about taking a week long trip with Audrey and a friend to Nebraska in September. But, I don't think that's going to happen. Neil starts 1st grade the week before that, and I'd like to keep myself at least geographically available. Maybe next year????

Neil has a violin recital tomorrow. And, my friend Kim, sweetheart that she is, is letting us borrow a camcorder to record the event. Now, who's smarter? Me or a video recorder? Could be scary.

I found a couple more really great poems. e.e. cummings this time. He's not Frost, but he's still REALLY good.

since feeling is first
e.e. cummings

since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you.
wholly to be a fool
while Spring is in the world

my blood approves,
and kisses are a better fate
than wisdom.
lady i swear by all flowers. Don't cry
-the best gesture of my brain is less than
you eyelids' flutter which says

we are for each other: then
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life's not a paragraph

And death i think is no parenthesis


Good Stuff. I think, anyway. Gary's not much for poetry. But, isn't that just a great thought?wholly to be a fool
while Spring is in the world

the Power of Words

So, there's this poem that I remember from my childhood. I can't find it anywhere, but I do (fortunately) remember the poet's name. Eugenia Paul. I found it in a book of collected high school works that were published entrants to a creative writing contest. I can't remember what year, sometime early last century (maybe 1925) I am thinking, but not sure. I think she was from New York, but again, not sure. I can't even remember the title, just the words, and I'm pretty sure they are in the right order, with exception of missing punctuation. If anybody knows where I can find a copy, let me know.

Age speaks wisdom Age speaks truth
And the seasoned tongues are keen
But give me the honeyed-lies of youth
And keep my wisdom green

The flame may burn and the burning teach
The moth what candles are
But let me clutch what is out of reach
And die en route to a star.
--eugenia paul.

Here's another favorite from childhood. See if you can guess who wrote it.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

If you guessed Robert Frost, you're on it! If you guessed you heard it or read it in "the Outsiders" you're at the top of the class. Written by Robert Frost in 1923 maybe it helped him win the Pulitzer, but no matter, it was one of his best and most famous. Eight powerful little lines written in Iambic Trimeter, that so sweetly say that no mortal person can maintain their innocence. Do you agree?

It's a funny Facebook world

Wow! How much smaller facebook can make the world. I got an itch to look for an old friend AND I FOUND HER!!!!!! 17 years later! That's us if you can believe it.
Me, Leslynn, and Doogie. October of 1991 at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. It's a small small world. Thank goodness.














Now I just hope she doesn't mind if I copied the picture.

Tooth Fairy and Dinosaurs...what a natural combination.

So, it's been a while.

We had our first ever visit from the tooth fairy about a week ago. I've been wanting to take a picture of the now vacant spot in Neil's mouth, but that hasn't happened. He was so excited when he showed me the hole in his mouth. Apparently the tooth just fell out when he was sleeping;) I don't think it was quite ready to, but thanks to something about chewing on his pant leg and losing his balance, the tooth became loose and about 3 weeks later fell out. Wow. Not sure if I was ready for that bit of childhood yet. Oh well, can't stop progress. And you don't want to let them know that you're not just completely thrilled that the little one that you brought home from the hospital and couldn't take you eyes off of, because you knew if you did they'd be 20 and you'd be asking yourself where it all went, is growing into that 20 year old WAYYY to quickly for your comfort. Nope, can't do that. It's happening way too fast, but I'm glad it's happening. Life with him is better than the best of days without him. I adore him, and wouldn't change a minute of it. Thank you Neil for letting me have the best seat in the house for watching you become a boy who will become a man.

Neil entered a contest for the Walking with Dinosaurs that we went to. It was a create-a-dino art contest. The contestants drew their own dino then sent it to the newspaper for the judging. Well, I never heard back or saw anything about it on the newspaper web site when I checked. I knew when we weren't contacted that Neil did not win, but I wanted to know what the winning pictures did look like. So, I went searching, and found nothing. I sent an email to the contact person on the entry form. When she emailed me back, she sent pictures of the winning entries (which I would love to be able to show you, but can't) and said that the nice folks at Walking with Dinosaurs were sending Neil a gift pack to thank him for entering the contest. As if he didn't make enough of a haul the night of the show! They sent him another T-shirt and a very special hat that he can wear when we go on our dinosaur adventures. And we know there will be many. We still have most of the stops on the Dinosaur Diamond to visit.

Let the Spoiling Begin.

Sometimes you just need to spoil your child more than they expect. Last night was the time for that. My mom's sweetheart got us tickets for Walking with Dinosaurs the arena spectacular. Unfortunately, my mom called in the afternoon to say that she was sick, did Neil have a friend he wanted to invite. So, Neil and I started thinking of who to invite, all of the parents that we know well enough to take their child out for the night. One of the friends had already been earlier in the week, another is afraid of dinosaurs, and the other wasn't home. So there was one wasted ticket. The family sitting next to us didn't seem to mind, apparently coats deserve their own seats. Anyway, we went out to my mom's to get the tickets, went to dinner at JB's downtown, and then headed over to Energy Solutions Arena. Neil was so excited we had to keep a very tight rein on him, he tried leaving the restaurant on his own, and we were nervous he wasn't going to have patience for the traffic lights to change before crossing the street, but we arrived safely. There were lots of "are we close to Walking with Dinosaurs" "I wish we could go nows" and "Is it time yets". The excitement was well rewarded. We got there before the crowds, and Neil and I decided to check out the souvenirs. He said he wanted a toy, but when I looked at all of the cool stuff, just begging to go home with my son, I couldn't stop there. He ended up with a T-shirt, a toy, a stuffed raptor, and a plastic Tyrannosaurus. Quite the load for a little man. Gary was a good enough sport to hold the majority of the booty in his lap throughout the program. During intermission it was time for cotton candy and soda. My poor hungry son who hardly ate any of his shrimp and fries devoured almost an entire bag of the spun sugary goodness.
The show was very cool. We were guided through each period by an actor playing a paleontologist. Starting out on Pangaea with Liliensternus and Plateosaurs during the Triassic. Then, Jurassic with Bracheosaurs, Stegosaurus, UtahRaptor, and Allosaurus. Ornithocherius. And then Torosuarus, Ankylosuarus, and T-Rex in the Cretaceous period. The ending conflict was between a Torosaur, Ankylosaur, and a mother T-Rex protecting her baby. The T-Rex roared loud enough to make roar loving little boys cover their ears. It was awesome. Neil asked if we could go back, and maybe we could have, if I wouldn't have spent so much on the extras. But, I truly had intended for it to be a once in a lifetime experience.
Thank you Mom and Chyrl.

Change

Gary likes to say "No one can keep doing the same thing over and over again and get a different result even if there was lots of faith and hope put into it." Webster says, among other things, change is to undergo transformation, transition, or substitution. And it's synonyms are: alter, vary, and modify. To make or become different.

I need to put forth the actions for change, not just the thoughts. No more looking at things and wishing they were different and being surprised by how they stay the same, because that's not working. It won't work for anybody. Change is necessary, but do I have the courage?