Help me I am caught in the web.

Get Your Cyborg Name

Get Your Cyborg Name

Get Your Cyborg Name

Okay, I spelled out everyone elses names. Heres for Abigail... I must admit, i liked the yelling....

Get Your Cyborg Name

My Wish

My Wish, Rascal Flats

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

A Birthday

A Birthday

MY heart is like a singing bird
Whose nest is in a water'd shoot;
My heart is like an apple-tree
Whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit;
My heart is like a rainbow shell
That paddles in a halcyon sea;
My heart is gladder than all these
Because my love has come to me.

Raise me a dias of silk and down;
Hang it with vair and purple dyes;
Carve it in doves and pomegranates,
And peacocks with a hundred eyes;
Work it in gold and silver grapes,
In leaves and silver fleurs-de-lys;
Because the birthday of my life
Is come, my love is come to me.
Christina Rossetti

Remember

Remember

REMEMBER me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

Christina Rossetti

Crush

Crazy how it feels tonight ... Crazy how you make it all alright love ... You crush me with the things you do ... I do for you anything too... Sitting, smoking, feeling high ...In this moment it feels so right ... Lovely lady I am at your feet ... God I want you so badly ... I wonder this ... Could tomorrow be ... So wondrous as you there sleeping ... Let's go drive 'til morning comes ... Watch the sunrise ... To fill our souls up ... Drink some wine 'til we get drunk ... It's crazy I'm thinking ... Just knowing that the world is round ... Here I'm dancing on the ground ... Am I right side up or upside down ... Is this real or am I dreaming ... Lovely lady ... Let me drink you please ... I won't spill a drop, I promise you ... Lying under this spell you cast on me ... Each moment The more I love you ...
Crush me ... Come on It's crazy I'm thinking ... Just knowing that the world is round ... Here I'm dancing on the ground ... Am I right side up or upside down ... Is it real or am I dreaming ... Lovely lady I will treat you sweetly ... Adore you I mean ... You crush me ... It's times like these ... When my faith I feel ... And I know ... How I love you ... Come on Lady ... It's crazy I'm thinking ... Just as long as you're around ... And here I'll be dancing on the ground ... Am I right side up or upside down ... To each other we'll be facing ... By love we'll beat back the pain we've found ... You know I mean to tell you all the things ... I've been thinking deep inside ... My friend With each moment the more I love you ...
Crush me ... Come on Lady ... So much you have given love ... That I would give you back ... Again and again ... Meaning I'll hold you ... And please ... Let me always

DMB

Ed

Theatre WV, Summer 2008. The Hatfields and the McCoys.

Bronte Sisters

Makes me smile

The juxtaposition is priceless.

Moving on

What is this going away?


What is this crossing over?



What to do with the rest of today's afternoon?

"It's always easier to leave than be left ..."

From the road page: As we sat this afternoon contemplating the loss of our brother, we wondered how we could possibly do a show today. Dave put it into
perspective stating, "There's no place I'd rather be than here with you guys right now." We cherish special memories of our lost friend. Tonight, Dave told a story about LeRoi at a bar in Virginia where the cash register was near the stage and LeRoi leaned on the register because "standing had become a chore". Roi proceeded to play the most beautiful version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Dave said, "that was the day I fell in love with him. And I'm still in love with him." It's safe to say we all were in love with him. "It's always easier to leave, than to be left." -DM

http://www.weeklydavespeak.com/articles/LeRoi_Woodland_Master_103104.php

April day

O, how this spring of love resembleth
The uncertain glory of an April day!

William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616),
"The Two Gentlemen of Verona", Act 1 scene 3

Spring

Spring
by Edna St. Vincent Millay

To what purpose, April, do you return again?
Beauty is not enough.
You can no longer quiet me with the redness
Of little leaves opening stickily.
I know what I know.
The sun is hot on my neck as I observe
The spikes of the crocus.
The smell of the earth is good.
It is apparent that there is no death.
But what does that signify?
Not only under ground are the brains of men
Eaten by maggots.
Life in itself
Is nothing,
An empty cup, a flight of uncarpeted stairs.
It is not enough that yearly, down this hill,
April
Comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers.

An evening on Wheeling island

It is early evening, It is raining, not too hard now. I am sitting in a white rocking chair on the back porch of 108 S Penn St. I can see the top of the suspension bridge... the west end anyway.

Suzie asked to go back in, but I can tell she regrets it because she is sitting just inside the door . Opps, now she is gone ... the cat ran her off. The cat likes to sneak up on Suzie and Turner and bat the heck out of their ears. Fortunately no claws are involved. I guess the dogs wouldn't put up with it if there were..

The temperature is less that 70. Lovely. I am surrounded by Cindy's summer porch plants, fern, petunia, a couple of potted tomato plants. I need my camera. The wall of the house next door is peeling, the porch down the alley leans. The motor of a car on the next street revs.

Heaven

Heaven is here. There is nowhere else. Heaven is now. There is no other time.

i carry your heart

EE Cummings

i carry your heart

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)

                            i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;
which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping
the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Should I use this for a profile picture? It is kinda scary, but I think it is just the aging thing.

For my children

Lyrics for: The Only Promise That Remains
From the album: Reba Duets
Songwriters: Morris, Matt, Timberlake, Justin
Label: MCA Nashville
Featuring: Justin Timberlake

When the ground beneath you starts shaking, shaking
And you forget the place we came from, came from
When you’re lost and looking for a way home
Your way home to me, I'll come out and find you

When the world around you starts moving, moving
And you should wonder if I still love you, love you
If you feel a darkness coming, rising inside
I'll make a light to guide you back home

And after all the sky has fallen down
And after all the water is washed away
My love’s the only promise that remains

When your doubts have got you thinking, thinking
And nothing’s every really sacred, sacred
And you’re afraid you might believe it
Believe in me and I'll give you a reason

‘Cause the world around us keeps on moving, moving
And there’s no doubt that I still love you, love you
So when you feel the darkness coming, rising inside
I'll make a light to guide you back home

And after all the sky has fallen down
And after all the water is washed away
My love’s the only promise that remains
My love’s the only promise that remains
My love’s the only promise that remains

And after all the sky has fallen down
(After all the sky has fallen down)
And after all the water is washed away
(After all the water is washed away)
My love’s the only promise that remains, remains

©

Meditation

Another Monday

Column and wall at work.

Does anybody know what day it is?

Whew, I think it is Tuesday. We fly out of SLC, UT shortly after noon today, back to Pittsburgh nd then to Wheeling. It has been a nice wedding party.

April 28, 2008 Roll Call

Abbey is in Japan visiting Sam.
Walter is in Lexington, KY, interviewing for new work.
Sam is in Misawa, Japan, teaching English.
Ed is in finals week at WV Wesleyan.
Maggie is a sophomore at TCHS.
Phill is at work in Bretz.
Suzie is asleep in a chair.

The four Browns are getting ready to go to Utah for Scott's wedding.

Sweet

Melissa Lyrics
ArtistThe Allman Brothers Band

Crossroads, seem to come and go, yeah.
The gypsy flies from coast to coast

Knowing many, loving none,
Bearing sorrow havin' fun,
But back home he'll always run
To sweet Melissa... mmm...

Freight train, each car looks the same, all the same.
And no one knows the Gypsy's name

No one hears his lonely sighs,
There are no blankets where he lies.
In all his deepest dreams the Gypsy flies
with sweet Melissa... mmm...

Again the morning's come,
Again he's on the run,
Sunbeams shining through his hair,
Appearing not to have a care.
Well, pick up your gear and Gypsy roll on, roll on.

Crossroads, will you ever let him go? (Lord, Lord)
Will you hide the dead man's ghost,
Or will he lie, beneath the clay,
or will his spirit float away?

But I know that he won't stay without Melissa.

Yes I know that he won't stay without Melissa.



From Song Facts: http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=830 April 27, 2008

Gregg Allman spoke at length about this song in an interview with the San Luis Obispo (CA) Tribune on November 30, 2006: "I wrote that song in 1967 in a place called the Evergreen Hotel in Pensacola, Florida. By that time I got so sick of playing other people's material that I just sat down and said, 'OK, here we go. One, two, three - we're going to try to write songs.' And about 200 songs later - much garbage to take out - I wrote this song called 'Melissa.' And I had everything but the title. I thought (referring to lyrics): 'But back home, we always run... to sweet Barbara' - no. Diane...? We always run... to sweet Bertha.' No, so I just kind of put it away for a while. So one night I was in the grocery store - it was my turn to go get the tea, the coffee, the sugar and all that other s--t... and there was this Spanish lady there and she had this little toddler with her - this little girl. And I'm sitting there, getting a few things and what have you. And this little girl takes off, running down the aisle. And the lady yells, Oh, Melissa! Melissa, come back, Melissa!' And I went, 'Oh - that's it.' I forgot about half the stuff I went for, I went back home and, man, it was finished, only I couldn't really tell if it was worth a damn or not because I'd written so many bad ones. So I didn't really show it to anybody for about a year. And then I was the last one to get to Jacksonville - I was the last one to join the band that became the Allman Brothers. And my brother sometimes late at night after dinner, he'd say, 'Man, go get your guitar and play me that song - that song about that girl.' And I'd play it for him every now and then. After my brother's accident, we had 3 vinyl sides done of Peach, so I thought well we'll do that, and then on the way down there I wrote "Ain't Wastin' Time No More." I wrote that for my brother. We were all in pretty bad shape. I had just gotten back from Jamaica and I was weighing at about 156, 6-foot-1-and-a-half - I was pretty skinny. So we went back down there, got in the studio and finished the record. And the damn thing shipped gold." (thanks, Peaceboy - Someplace, CA)

This was first recorded in 1968 by the 31st Of February, one of Gregg and Duane Allman's first bands. Duane's version of this with the 31st Of February is the first recording of him playing the bottleneck slide guitar, a technique he became famous for.
Gregg Allman got some help on this song from Sandy Alaimo, who was operating the studio they used.
The part of the song that begins: "Crossroads, will you ever let him go" is probably a reference to Robert Johnson, a Blues legend who supposedly went to a crossroads and sold his soul to the devil.
This was one of the first songs the band recorded without Duane Allman. He died in a motorcycle accident about 4 months before this was released. Eat A Peach was dedicated to Duane.
The Allman Brothers performed this on the last episode of the syndicated Dennis Miller Show on July 25, 1992.
The band performed this at Duane Allman's funeral in 1971.
This was never a big hit in the US, but it has endured as a regular on classic rock radio.

A Brown Family Favorite

Song lyrics | Angel From Montgomery lyrics

Song lyrics | Angel From Montgomery lyrics

4000 soldiers

Today marked 4000 dead in Iraq... the day after western Easter celebration...

Christmas Song, Dave Matthews

She was his girl; he was her boyfriend
She be his wife; take him as her husband
A surprise on the way, any day, any day
One healthy little giggling dribbling baby boy
The wise men came three made their way
To shower him with love
While he lay in the hay
Shower him with love love love
Love love love
Love love is all around
Not very much of his childhood was known
Kept his mother Mary worried
Always out on his own
He met another Mary for a reasonable fee, less than
Reputable as known to be

His heart was full of love love love
Love love love
Love love is all around
When Jesus Christ was nailed to the his tree
Said "oh, Daddy-o I can see how it all soon will be
I came to she'd a little light on this darkening scene
Instead I fear I spill the blood of my children all around"

The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around
So the story goes, so I'm told
The people he knew were
Less than golden hearted
Gamblers and robbers
Drinkers and jokers, all soul searchers
Like you and me

Rumors insisted he soon would be
For his deviations
Taken into custody by the authorities
Less informed than he.
Drinkers and jokers. all soul searchers
Searching for love love love
Love love love
Love love is all around

Preparations were made
For his celebration day
He said "eat this bread and think of it as me
Drink this wine and dream it will be
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around"
The blood of our children all around

Father up above, why in all this anger have you fill
Me up with love
Fill me love love love
Love love love
Love love
And the blood of our children all around

From LYRICSMODE.COM lyrics archive

Song lyrics | Christmas Song lyrics

Bless the Broken Road

More philosophy by popular music.

Bless The Broken Road

I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you


Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.

From LYRICSMODE.COM lyrics archive

Song lyrics | Bless The Broken Road lyrics

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a Child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Marianne Williamson

The Space Between

The Space Between Dave Matthews

You cannot quit me so quickly
Is no hope in you for me
No corner you could squeeze me
But I got all the time for you, love
The Space Between
The tears we cry
Is the laughter keeps us coming back for more
The Space Between
The wicked lies we tell
And hope to keep us safe from the pain

But will I hold you again?
These fickle, fuddled words confuse me
Like 'Will it rain today?'
Waste the hours with talking, talking
These twisted game we play

We're strange allies
With warring hearts
What wild-eyed beast you be
The Space Between
The wicked lies we tell
And hope to keep us safe from the pain

Will I hold you again?
Will I hold...

Look at us spinning out in
The madness of a roller coaster
You know you went off like a devil
In a church in the middle of a crowded room
All we can do, my love
Is hope we don't take this ship down

The Space Between
Where you're smiling high
Is where you'll find me if I get tickled
The Space Between
The bullets in our firefight
Is where I'll be hiding, waiting for you
The rain that falls
Splash in your heart
Ran like sadness down the window into...
The Space Between
Our wicked lies
Is where we hope to keep safe from pain

Take my hand
'Cause we're walking out of here
Oh, right out of here
Love is all we need here
The Space Between
What's wrong and right
Is where you'll find me hiding, waiting for you
The Space Between
Your heart and mine
Is the space we'll fill with time
The Space Between...

Quote for the day

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.

- Sir Winston Churchill

January

Tuesday had temperatures in the 60s. Today, Thursday, is back to normal January dreary. Ahhhh, changable, seasonal weather. Time to go to the library for a new book.

Can someone explain?

During our open house - open house means no admission fee (that seemed to confuses some people) - a couple with two young girls visited early and stayed long. They took advantage of all the amenities: craft, story telling, refreshment. A volunteer reported the mom was using the library table to change her little darling's diaper. Shortly there after, a guest report an overflowing toilet. Within minutes, all toliets were stopped up. So nice to have to close the toilets on a busy day. (Meanwhile the volunteers checked the trashcans to make sure the diaper went out of the builidng. No diaper to be found) By the next day the high water had subsided and the maintenance man thought he had it clear. However, the next weeknd, the toilets started running slowly, so on Monday the plumber came. Yes, indeed, he fished remains of that diaper out of the main sewer line. Seems mom told dad to throw away the diaper and he put it down the toilet. WHAT WAS HE THINKING????? Evidently he wasn't or he is ignorant.

Someone suggested I put up a sign. Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. I don't think signs combat ignorance, because in law enforcement class we learned that when some folks see a "Do Not Litter" sign, they are compelled to pile litter under it. So a "only toilet paper in the toilet" sign would encourage student to put more paper towels in the toilet like they did this week.

Can anyone explain this to me?

Christmas letters

I got them done. Most are addressed and stamped. Now I need to get return address labels on them. And off they will go this weekend. isn't that nice.

last night when Suzie and I went out for a walk it was foggy and damp. The Christmas lights in the yards up the street looked magical. The two dogs across the street threw themselves into the bay window to bark and Suzie and I. They thought that was magical.

Irritated

I am trying to email myself from my little apple. It is the Christmas letter which I must admit is not a sterling piece of writing, but none the less I do not want to re type it. All I get is the little color wheel. Argh. I am cranky.

Abbey and Munchy

Munchy is Betsy's cat. We think she has no bones. She will let you carry her anywhere. Abbey likes cats.

full blessing

From Thanksgiving weekend

Walt, Abbey, Me & Suzie, Maggie, Ed & Izzie, Phill & niece Ellen.

Monday, monday

Suzie is my boon companion. Companion. What a nice word. A lovely concept. A life enrichment.

Wisdom

Wednesday in October

This is Samuel, my number 2 son, number 3 child. He is currently in Japan with the JET program. He is teaching English in Misawa, Aomori, Japan. You can see his blog and weekly updates at jetsetarnett.blogspot

October 1, 2007

Wow, what a beautiful day. It is the kind of day one likes to use as reference when thinking of a beautiful day in fall.

The leaves are starting to change slowly this year, at least in the mountains. Usually peak is considered the last of September, but it has only just begun.

office

A shot of what is on top of my computer. Not very original. Just a small slice of life.

Now I need to figure out how to get this on my profile.

jetsetarnett

If you happen upon my blog, you must go read jetsetarnett blog. It is great.

Companion

Yesterday I took Dog Suzie to get her stitches removed from her dog procedure-spay. There was a poster on the wall with pictures and groupings of purebred dogs. I learned that Suzie being evidently part pug and part chihuahua is catagorized a "toy." Pugs were bred in China and chihuahua in Mexico. The toy dogs are considered companions. My companion spent time last evening chewing on my hands and ridding me of fleas.

Magz has dubbed Miss Suzie a pughuahua, pronounced 'pugwawa.'

Ona Merl

My mom changed the spelling of her name a couple of times. I am never sure how to spell it now. "E" on the end of Merl or not? Sh is not here to tell me her preference. Anyhow, yesterday would have been her 81st birthday. My younger brother sent out his favorite picture of her. Although it is slightly out of focus, she is young, healthy, smiling and reading her Bible. Her hands and her Bible are in focus.

She liked my brother best. That was Mom.

I will post that picture when I get to my PC.

Bitty Boon Buddy

Friday week, I visited a foster home for Preston County Animal Shelter. Here is a picture of the "part pug" I brought home. She had four pups who have also been placed. So there is a "Happy Tail" for petfinder.com

Her pound name is SuzieQ, but she answers not. For that matter she answers to not at all, except to kissy sounds or high pitched baby/doggy talk. I guess we will keep the name because it matches the other pet names: Izzy collie, Zinger cat, and the fish (who don't answer to anything but the plink of food on the water.)

Suzie is a good companion. She sleeps at work. She sleeps in the car. She sleeps in the Wheeling apartment and the Davis house. She barks rarely. She does her necessary functions outside. Good dog, Suzie.

July arrived

So I got through Girl Scout Day Camp and handed over the glue and glitter while promising to be assistant director next year. Sounds much more doable.

I need to post a picture my oldest emailed me today. It is from probably 20 years ago. As a matter of fact it was 1987. How time flies. My, my, my.

The picture is from a spring trip to Holly River State Park. These children are grown now and taller than I. The fellow on my right is about 6'5". My heart wants the time back, but to no avail. Like the Willie Nelson song says, "I should have loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind. You know that was the last thing on my mind."

Not my dog

The future reading I did about the dog in Betsy's car turned out to be false. Jim has fallen in love with "little Bit." Looks like she is staying on with the Martins and menagerie. So no dog for me right now which is for the best. Like today I have a doctor's appoiintment and who would keep the dog.

Monday on Wednesday

It happens

the future

I looked into Betsy's Moutaineer and I am pretty sure I saw the future.

My friend Betsy rescues...dogs, cats, people.... Yesterday she saw a pup along side a back road. On her way back, it was still there. She and hubby, Jim, went back to see if anyone had lost a pup. "Nope," said the folks at the first house. "We saw someone drop the dog off. We wondered what would happen to it."

So this morning 'Litle Bit' was in the vehcile with Buddy(corgie mix), Lucky(fat beagle), Maggie & Daisey( yellow labs.) The new pup looks much like the yellow labs, but Betsy thinks she will have perky ears.

Phill will not be happy. None the less, I think I saw my future this morning.

Pitiful dog

The bad thing happened. After we got the dog her summer cut, the temperatures dropped. It does not seem like middle of May. We have to put a shirt on the dog to let her out.

So many books...

A blessing of my life here is the Ohio County Library -- http://ocplprogramming.blogspot.com/

I am especilly appreciative of the books on CD. I get in at least 6 hours of listening per weekend commute.

What happened to the dog?

Well, this is funny. As you may or may not know, a collie has LOTS of doghair. It gets so thick, Izzy will not let us put a brush through it. At least not for long. She is not a snippy dog, but she gets snippy about that.

So we get her a summer cut. Sadie, the dog groomer, even cuts off the dogs "eyebrows"- the black markings on her head.

Izzy goes from looking like a fat dog to looking like a dog with an eating problem. Don't you like the fox tail effect?

Wowee, zowee

Ed is home from his first year of college. That went fast. Knock me over with a feather.

Soon Magz first year of high school will be history.

It is more to contemplate than I dare today. To chores.

The day was very coquetish.

Thinking about posting, does not a posting make.

May Day has come and gone. My one year anniversary with the museum past. I forgot to sing to my coworkers. See how easy it is to lose traditions.

Today I have been studying about the "inauguration" of the new state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863 as reported in the Daily Intelligencer of Monday, June 22, same year.

"As we anticipated, Saturday was a great gala day in the city. There were thousands of people here from abroad and the city turned out its entire population. The day was very coquetish. Now all the beauties of the sun were shown and then a cloud chased all away. It threatened to rain several times but nothing but a little shower came; not enough to drive people into their houses or to deter them from coming out Flags, of all sizes, were as thick in the city as the locust in the suburbs. The display of bunting was most attractive and reflected much credit upon the good taste and patriotism of the people..."

The speeches, quoted in entirety were long. References to laughter and cries from the crowd were noted. One gets a sense of the day which we will recreate in abbreviation on June 20, 2007, the 144th anniversary.

What month is this?

It is snowing again.

Where is spring?

Next week is the annual Blue and Gray Reconciliation Dinner at WV Independence Hall. Our program will have a copy of the picture shown. It is ‘Peace at the End of the Civil War" by Allyn Cox- From the frieze of the Rotunda of the United States Capitol which contains a painted panorama depicting significant events in American history. - A Confederate soldier and a Union soldier shake hands, marking the reunion of the country after the devastation of the Civil War. A cotton plant and a northern pine tree symbolize the South and the North, respectively.

Over Easter the east coast had a heck of a snow storm. Although the weather man promised we had seen our last cold morning until October, he blew it. We are expecting snow yet again this weekend.

The forsythia which had been blooming wildly yellow last week are nipped and looking peaked. That is a shame, because there is nothing quite as pretty as a hill side of yellow bells.

One of my complaints with prolonged cold weather in the spring is we slam right into summer with so few of those gorgeous spring days. Ah, well.

It was nice to walk to the post office today, wearing a jacket and catching only a few raindrops. The tulips in the yard of the Episcopal Church were promising to bloom soon.

Wow, it is so easy to get lost for a month ...

It is easy to not post for weeks at a time. Busy, busy, busy and coming up on a busier time now that spring is here.

All my children are smart cookies. This one went to the state science fair as a freshman. Isn't she lovely.

She said to me recently, "I love my cat with my whole heart. I love the dog with my whole heart. How can that be?"
"Ah," I said, jumping on the 'teaching moment.' "That is how moms feel about their children."

She gave me words for the mom's dilemna. Thank you

Happy Easter.

A March Snow Storm

We were in the SW bottow corner of a big eastern snow storm. Went all the way from us to Maine.

Snowy Luau at Timberline.

Here is a pict - not fom this year, but coulda been.

"What will become of me..."

"What will become of me..."
2/23/1999 alternate lyrics DMB

i'm spilling out
i'm...
i'm melting out
i'm out.
ask me again, my friend...
what will become of me when i'm all poured out?

i'm spilling down
i'm emptied out
i'm asking you again, my friend...
what will become of us
what will become of us when we're all poured out?

come and relax now...
leave your trouble down
no need to bear the weight of your worries,
here let them all fall away...


Once again, My philosophy by song lyric...

The Ohio River is almost at flood stage and it is raining still. Of course, raining here is not always the problem, but cumulative raining in the water shed. The creek that runs between the cemetary and the road I drive was churning this morning. It could have swept away a grown person.

We found out that the community college next door dosen't get water in their elevator shaft until 44' and the river is now at about 38', so there is a ways to go to get to our building. But we will have to keep our eyes on it. There are several hours of work and moving things to the second floor that would have to be done.

I am bringing back my camera after the weekend. I want to illustrate my blog with current images. Like the flood out our window.

Beware the Ides of March.

This is a picture by Ed.

Ogden Nash

Read any Ogden Nash lately? I started looking for his poem about the panther, but ended up reading several.

A panther's a leopard that hasn't been peppered.
If you behold a panther crouch, prepare to say ouch.
Better yet, if hailed by a panther, don't anther.

I've been reading Nash and listening to Dave Matthews Band. An interesting combination.

Picture from June 2006 at West Virginia Independence Hall.

Day light savings

Funny name that - day light savings - after all, the daylight is what it is.

I am waiting for my computer to upgrade its time. Our computers did not get the message that the federal government has changed the time. I went on line to find a download to slap the program around, but for whatever reason, my computer is taking an inordinately long time to get its act together.

I've been thinking alot lately about how inconsequential our lives are. Life is brief. Our lives are marked by very little. We are mostly only important to ourselves. We spend most of our times trying to figure out how to live well. What's it all about, Alfie?

"What's it all about, Alfie
Is it just for the moment we live
What's it all about
When you sort it out, Alfie
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind
And if only fools are kind, Alfie
Then I guess It is wise to be cruel
And if life belongs Only to the strong, Alfie
What will you lend on An old golden rule
As sure as I believe
There's a heaven above, Alfie
I know there's something much more
Something even non-believers
Can believe in
I believe in love, Alfie
Without true love you just exist, Alfie
Until you find the love you’ve missed
You're nothing, Alfie....
When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you'll find love any day
Alfie... Alfie... Alfie... "

Ah, yes, philosophy by pop music.
That's the american way, is it not?

Good bye, friend

This is our old dog Rocky. We had her from about 1998 til winter 2007. Here she is sporting a Rudolph nose that she would not let be put on her nose. Can you blame her?

Good dog, Rocky.

One monitor is dying

From 2005 at Christmas time, Canaan Valley tubing...

Uh-oh, this monitor is losing its color. It is fading away. Now that I can't go without a computer and internet access, it is an expensive habit to feed.

Another expensive habit is a cell phone.

But the most expensive habit has been having children. They are some of the most interesting people on earth to me, but costly. And I wouldn't have as much to think about if it weren't for them. I do a roll call mentally everyday to reassure myself where they are, if I have heard from them, if I have something to tell them. I give thanks and praise everyday that my children are such nice people and have caused themselves very little trouble.

On that cheery note, I think I will stop and savor the thought.

Wow, neglect.

I have neglected my little blip on the internet.

In May of 06, I left state parks and began work for a state museum. Still into the stewardship thing. Must of really wanted to leave the parks system, as I now commute on weekends about 150 miles one way through the mountains. Yes, that says much about the state of parks right now. It is an archaic boys network. At my age, I have given up trying to change the world.

But enough for today. Have a picture of my new workplace. Way cool.

Blackwater Falls, WV 

Migraine headache

That is how I spent my day. From beginning to now, migraine headache.

They are the bane of my existence. I have lost so much time from these headaches.

Now mind you, I have had headaches as long as I can remember. The first GP my mom took me to about cramps and headaches, kinda patted me on the head and told her it was all in my head. Just loved those old timey doctors who lumped everything as women's problems.

Now I know my mom had migraines too. She would have to lay down with a "sick headache." She suffered and now I suffer. I tried all day (after I awoke from a drug induced coma sleep) to think what I had done wrong yesterday that set off the headache. Nothing new, nothing different.

Maybe it was blog reading. You know the little box at the top of the page that says next blog?

the picture is a white moth on a toilet seat. I couldn't see it, can you? Pretty good camouflage, huh?

Busy Sunday

First work, then a funeral, then a covered dish dinner/ceremony with girl scouts.

At work, a family found me and took a picture of me with their six year old grandson. I had been on a rescue team six years ago when he, grandma and grandpa, mom and dad, and another couple got lost off one of the park trails. Seeing them all again was kinda cool and there is more to the story.

At the funeral, 4 young women sang Amazing Grace with only an acoustical guitar as back up. They sang harmony. It was quiet and low. If they weren't sisters, they had to be cousins. They were all tall and thin and had a family resemblance. They made beautiful music. It was moving.

The service was more evangelism that remembrance. Never have liked that. The preacher figures he has you in a church, he should try to save you in case you are a heathen. Catch ya while you are thinking about death and dying, I guess.

The girl we had the ceremony for to 'bridge" her from Brownies to Juniors, didn't show up. Kinda anticlimactic. But we did our flag ceremony and candles and then had a feast. The picture is of Rhonda reciting the Girl Scout Law.

Chilly Saturday

Wild raisen is the picture

Yes, today feels like October. Chilly, windy, warm in the sun.

Many of the trees are still green, they are just dropping their leaves. My guess is the drought we have has affected the color this fall. It has been the dryest, least colorful fall since I have lived here.

However, a tree, here and there, is just beautiful.

And it is half way through the month, just a little more than a month til the holidays start.

Prayers for all the folks across our land who are still homeless for these holdiays.