O, La Luna

Poor misshapen moon

Cradled by the clouds

Is she not lovely, la luna

Within These Walls

This is probably one of the worst times for me to write something. Because I can’t write on the subject I would like very much to. Not kittens. I have photos of kittens, which I have been thinking of a lot lately, for a number of reasons. Two plus four reasons, actually. 2 + 4 = 2, to be exact.

I have been thinking of kittens to help sooth a monumental headache which took residence within my skull, as of Thursday last and stayed, an unwanted visitor, until Saturday night, after the concert. That would be the Thursday and Friday we had late dress rehearsals for the concert.

It’s the concert I want to write about. The first concert of the season, some wonderful music. Choral music. Words set to music, what could be better? This is my second season singing with this organisation, and each time we begin work on the next material I find myself quite pleased with our director. He is very knowledgeable about the music—not just as a good conductor, but he tells us a lot of background for each piece, and the nuances of the particular period of music from which the piece hails. I learn something new each set of concert music we explore. As if adding to my vocabulary, as music is the language I speak.

But I can’t talk about it right now. I am having a hard time making sense, so hang in there as you read this. I feel as though I am still recovering from this headache thang, whatever it is. I know folks are sincerely trying to be helpful, but why is it everyone is trying to give me allergies? It goes, how are you, or are you okay, depending on the degree of grimace in my expression, I imagine. Describe a headache that won’t go away, and they give you an allergy. It’s allergies. No, it can’t be allergies; we don’t have any of those. (We are very fortunate.) And it doesn’t match up, anyway. Last Wednesday T3 was home, sleeping all day with… a headache. Well, he had a fever, too. Then it was I with the headache, then T2 was home Monday with… a headache. Well, he had a scratchy throat and felt weak, too. It was almost a relief when I made a connection between what ails me and the boys being ill. I may not let well-meaning friends give me allergies, but it’s surprising what I was willing to give myself. It’s all in my head—so close to the brain, you know?

The boys only suffered a day, each. I am still feeling the effect of whatever the headache is. I wonder if it has anything to do with my decision to stop taking caffeine. Ha! No, it is not the cause of the original ailment, but I didn’t think I could feel any worse, so why not detox as long as I was so miserable. Nothing would touch this headache. Admittedly, I only tried ibuprofen with a little coffee; the adrenaline from the concert performance gave it the final little kick, and by the time I returned home, I was feeling better overall. Yet, there’s a lingering something, but after having 2 cups of full strength coffee every day for months, I suppose it could be expected. What a relief it will be, once I’m clear of the caffeine. I do not like being dependent like that—at some point, you have to have it, or you suffer.

And now, as my suffering is easing, so shall I ease yours and end this. I’m going to go think of kitties, maybe find three or four to pet, so soothing don’t you think? And then, a strong cup of decaf tea. Mmm, it doesn’t sound quite right, does it?

Yes, I'm in Tune--with the Universe

Do you know what it’s like to have a moment when it seems the universe is really clicking for you? Everything falls into place at the right time, just when you need it to. For me, it usually follows a period of at least mild panic brought about by worry due to conflicting information or schedules, seasoned with some confusion.

Well, my friends, everything fell into place yesterday, at least for this week. Thank goodness. I was almost having a moment of regret for feeling smug, comparing my meager agenda with some friends of mine, who you know had overcommitted themselves and their children. All it took was a couple comments that we seemed busy. A little ray of doubt streaked across the calendar, as I realised we had three big things on for Saturday. A major concert (me, with audience member husband), two futból games back-to-back added this week (T2), and an event we were relying upon for a rare family outing. All it took was reading the information page regarding the outing to see that it was for Sunday, and it felt like all was right with the world. Amazing how well things can go when you pay attention to details. Deep breath, and let it out! Now, all we have to do is determine how to get from the games back to the concert venue and have the squids attended to for the evening. Big brother (T1) to the rescue? Ah-ha!

We’re not that busy, really. This week it’s two futból practices, 3 rehearsals, chess club, a concert, a family outing, additional time on tech preparations for a theatrical show, a get-together for a pregnant friend, one sick day (T3), and the regular weekly obligations of school and work and skateboarding (T1). Not every person is involved in every activity. Next week subtract 2 rehearsals and a get-together, increase time on the theatrical production, exchange the outing for a futból tourney, and as you can see, it’s much different.

Enough of that nonsense. I have to show you something. When I see this, I always smile. It’s as though they are smiling at me, and I can’t help but return the favour.

It’s a party! Look at all those smiling faces. Sunflowers!

These are wildflowers—prairie flowers?--they are smaller than the sunflowers which produce the large seed heads, the edible seeds. These sunflowers showed up this year on their own. A lovely large cluster in the garden, such a pleasure to see in the morning sun. I guess we can thank the birds in their willingness to help in seed distribution.

The sunflowers are beautiful and plentiful this year. They can be seen in untilled fields, between subdivisions and shopping developments. The road we take to the futból fields is lined with them. They welcome us every time we drive to practice sessions.

One last photo for the road (click it for greater detail):

Aren’t they cute? I think they are making plans for later.

A Little Aarrr! and Aarrr!

(click me fer a better look, ye scoundrels!)

Ahoy Matey! I be here to give ye a few words in anticipation of “Talk Like a Pirate Day”. T' lovely, fair lass whose writin ye be accustomed t' be readin, be busy wi' her singin this fine bstarboard e'enin, and I saw me chance t' take o’er.

Listen up now, International Talk Like a Pirate Day is comin up quick, and don’t forget it! It commences September 19, t’ same as every year. Except for them rascals in Australia, they somehow got it into their heads they had t’ be celebratin it the 22nd, what be up with that? The scurvy dogs, they get the weekend that way, Aaarrrrrr!

Me, I’ll be talkin like this th' whole week! It be entertainin for the young sprogs—and we have quite a few who be needin attention, I can tell you! When they don’t be wi' their sweet, dedicated mother, they be playin wi' me tail or bitin me ankles. Thar ain’t nothin t' be done t' stop ‘em. Aye, it be good fun! Aarrr!

I must be off now, an’ smartly. ‘Tis time t' be climbin as high up as possible just t' see if it be possible done wi’out some’at leapin off t’ “shelf” to its demise. T’fair, gentle-hearted lass in charge o’ the ship here don’t care for them types of accidents. Sorry, me beauty, but ‘tis great fun, an’ I don’t usually care what happens when I be havin fun. Aaarrrrr!

What follows be some information fer ye, me hearty. I be passin it along for t’ help wi’ yer piratical pursuits this week. On behalf o' this ship full o’ sprogs, I t’ank ye kindly fer stoppin by!

Farewell, ye buccaneers, I am
Official Bob
Piratical Cat

Official site: Talk Like A Pirate Day

Another “official” site, and how to be speakin pirate-like

T’ Newsletter

A bunch o’ pirate videos: piratical-satirical stuff, too

Man on the Street

What if you were walking along down the street and you encountered a really big man? I mean BIG. He's there, right in front of you, won’t move. He’s cold, doesn't care what you think of him. This man takes up a lot of space. What would you say? What would you do?


I'll bet you would stare. You would have to take a really close look at him, speechless at how large he truly was. Your children might try to climb on him, not understanding.

HE'S BIG.

Really big. (click the photos and he will appear even bigger)

He's art. That's not his name. According to the sculptor, David Phelps, he is the Pastoral Dreamer. I called the gallery to find out. The man is art, and on the street, where the peoples can see (and touch) him.

It is good.

Power Play

You know you're in the Urban Prairie when:

It looks as though the prairie hedge might cover it, if only these plants would grow just a little taller...

Mmmm, maybe not.

This is found right in the middle of the neighborhood, just a block or so from a catholic school and church, houses all around. Handsome!

(click on photos to make them bigger, if you really need to)

Angels

Angels and PVs for you.

(please click photo to see larger picture)

When, perchance, you feel in need of support, this is from me and mine to you and yours, my dear friends.

When T2 was between two and three years of age, we would be driving through the neighbourhood to take older brother to school. Whenever he saw the sunlight touching the early morning dew, he would tell me, "Look, Mommie, angels!" It is one of the sweetest things I have ever heard.

And so I give you...angels.

(click also HERE)

Something's Bugging Me

I don’t know exactly how to say this—and that has been part of the problem for about ten days—but something has been bugging me. Maybe not just one thing.

Have you ever had a notion in the back of your mind, there is something you know, but can’t name it, or you had it a moment ago, but then something else happened, you were distracted, and now it’s no longer on the tip of your mind. Something is missing, or something isn’t quite right.

Well, that is what I have had, all summer. Something was not right. But what? I mean, yeah, it was too hot, we all know that. Too hot is just not right! Then, I started seeing it all over the internet, and I realised I had a clue all along. Birds! I was seeing birds in backyards, gardens, fields all over the world, but not here. Where were they? No birds, no birdsong, no birds in sight. I did see signs of them here and there, as you might expect, showing that they dropped by every so often. They would leave souvenirs to remind us.

I thought I had a clue, anyway. The dear Mister said he saw some of them hiding out underneath cars in a parking lot once, on a hot day. We don’t have proof of it, though—he didn’t have a camera handy. It sounded possible at the time. So, did the heat drive them into hiding? Or was it something more…sinister?

(click to enlarge each photo...if you dare!)

This was on our back door screen: praying mantis, wee hours of the morning.


What about this? How would you like to see this in your car, hanging by a thread? You see it out of the corner of your eye: Surely not, there is surely NOT a spider coming down from the sun visor this close to me, while I’m driving!! I don’t wish that on anyone, it’s very unsafe.


Eh—no, I didn’t take this while I was driving. But I did find another setting on the camera, apparently it—what, makes a slower “shutter” speed? It’s a digital camera, and yes, we do have the instruction booklet, what’s the fun of that, anyway? As you can see, this was a moving experience.

Oh alright, this little thing wasn’t as big and scary as you might think. It did make for some interesting moments of contemplation on my part as I drive home, wondering what I would do if it started moving. Toward me.

Here is proof that the bugs are not all scary creatures. This one is surprisingly colourful, and dare I say it, cute.

Guess which plant this is? I know you can.

Ha! This was taken when the others were holding the large, fairly newly opened seed pods. I’m still waiting for this to throw out some late season flowers. It’s possible, isn’t it?


Now, what is it with the bugs and automobiles? This was taken about a month ago. And guess what?

We found another one in the same place this morning! Same tire and everything.

Okay, another break for a cute bug. In my fog, I thought this was taken a week or so later, but the dates on the photos say only a couple days. And you have to totally ignore the photo numbers, I don’t know what’s up with that. This one was taken later than the others, after there was actually some rain. I’m going to stop trying to sort that one out.

So let’s go with my recollection of what I actually did, supposedly. I thought it was a week between shots, thereby leading me to wonder how this little bug would still be hanging around. I guess my impression of bugs is that they are here and there, everywhere. Although I have to admit I’m on the lookout for that praying mantis at the back door.

Is anybody home? What’s that—a glint in its eye?

I have definitely answered the question of where they get the ideas for creatures and creepy doings in horror/scary movies. Insects! Hallo, nature is creepier than anyone’s imagination, people!

I have proof. Soccer season has started. First time in two years for us. Err, that would be football for some of you, and actually, we are going to call it futból, as our coach and trainer are Spanish speakers. “Football” makes more sense to me. Dunno how they got started calling the so-called American football as such, because they rarely touch the ball with the foot. It really should just be called “kill the guy with the ball” ‘cos that’s all I see. That would free up “football” for “soccer”.

But I digress.

What’s bugging me about soccer/football/futból, you ask? Here you go, this is what we saw last Thursday:

When will it END??

And now, I think I shall have to go somewhere quiet, and possibly dark, and just think sweet thoughts, change the energy waves moving through my jumbled mind… just think of…

(photos also found HERE)

Yes, but WHERE?