What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from. ~~ TS Eliot
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Careful, caring . . . .
117 comments:
Shirlee in NC
said...
Oh, what lovely candles!!! These must be Listener's. The vivid colors are most wonderful. This photo is a feast for the eyes. Surely enough to chase the cold weather blues away. Thank you both Listener and Puddle!
They are beautiful; as they say, good enough to eat. A delight to see them here.
More snow, temperature at 6 degrees F.,cold,cold,cold, am wearing my knitted nose warmer. It makes me look like Minnie Mouse.
We must have a foot and a half of snow.
Am editing a manuscript I wrote after keeping a journal on a retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh and the monastics. Its called Retreat and After. It's interesting to put a book together, an experience in trying to make something appealing, a whole, and hoping that it will be worthy of reading.
And so, I'm at the computer, seeing the white world of snow and the dark silhouettes of trees, the sky almost indistinguisable from the ground.
One of my most treasured things that I cart with me, move after move, is a pair of hand dipped candles that my eldest child made for me in fourth grade. Mine are cranberry, and neither so tall or thick as listener's. I've always thought that some time I would light them, but somehow never can. . . . I see him eying them from time to time but he's never said a word. Maybe he's forgotten making them. (I think his teacher was a genius, lol!)
Pat, how long a retreat was it? A month? Will your book include any photos or sketches from retreat? I've been to a teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh here in Vermont, but haven't ventured to a Buddhist retreat. My impression has been that the strict discipline might for me be a challenge to opening within. And without the opening, what's the point of being on retreat? I'd be interested to hear some of your impressions, having been there.
The approaching storm makes me yearn for COLOUR! I see it's time for Bill and me to have a lunch date with inside the local Gardener's Supply store, where sandwiches are served in the Greenhouse!
11 degrees below zero, wind chill predicted to be 30 below. Agh! Growing up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula made me hate winter. It was cold, cold, and seemed to last forever.
Listener, every Christmas Eve my sister and I would read from a story book about two girls making candles. I can picture it, both of us sitting in a burgundy colored overstuffed chair, looking at the Christmas tree, looking at the drawing of the girls as they held the dripping candles. One of my favorite memories
The retreat lasted 6 days at the YMCA in Rocky Mountain National Park. I've attended six of them. The book is written from the perspective of a novice, skeptical and needy. There are about 20 photos, hoping to put a would be retreatant there. There are also 10 blank pages for the reader to journal. I have been editing it for two days, and something in me says, the poetry isn't good enough, why bother. Something says, maybe someone might be glad to read it.
Here's a sample poem at the beginning of the retreat.
Mantra
We walk in dark before the dawn solemn, silent, moving slowly. The soft voice of the Buddhist nun echoing like ripples on a lake.
Each of us calling to mind the breath of being, breathing in and out joining the land, the rocks, the trees recognizing we are the same and unique. Thoughts are slow, sluggish from sleep they don't dance and interfere, not yet. We repeat, should they arise, the phrase we've learned to quiet them:
“Breathing in and breathing out”. But for me today, my mind repeats The signs on the cottage doors: “Keep doors shut because of bears.”
“Keep doors shut because of bears.” “Keep doors shut because of bears.”
Bunch of creative people on this blog! Thanks for the extra photos Listener an the poetry Pat. I love the line 'Keep doors shut because of bears.' Good to remember in many circumstances. I had found it hard to part with kid's creations WAY past the time when they thought they should be gone. Still have some early art work framed and on my bedroom wall. Love you all
Dear Pat, I especially appreciate in your poem the way it moves from novice's concerns to an expression of anxiety which becomes a mantra, such a pure form of prayer.
I would be glad to read it. I'll take at least two copies, when it's published.
If you might appreciate an advance reader, I've done that before... for Jerry May's book *The Wisdom of Wilderness* ~ have you ever encountered it? I would bring the perspective of a spiritual guide.
But you may already have readers and be too far into the process for that anyway. May your pen be blessed and your focus well tuned.
Our local forecaster's snow map was WRONG. Up here where he predicted 3-5", we got more like 8" and have 11" on the ground. The local schools did not take a snow day, so my 4-6pm watercolour class was not cancelled. The town plows concentrated on the main roads, leaving the back roads largely unplowed, so it was a white knuckle sleigh ride to class and later to home. But I made it there and back again. And when I got home I got to shovel! I love to shovel!
Pat, the poem is lovely! I failed for so many years at meditation because I tried to shut up the monkey mind. When I finally learned to just include it in, like making a braid, meditation began to work for me. Open the door, and let the bears in. . . .
It's now 49 degrees inside. When we got up at 4 this morning, it was 45 degrees. I'm wearing my nose warmer and my Howard Dean Perfect Storm orange hat. David is wearing a scarf and our National Forest Bugle Team orange hat, and he's covered in a fleece. Our power went out yesterday about 9 when we left for doctor's appointments in Estes Park.
When we returned at about 3, it was still off. It came on again at 4, then went off. It came on at 9 PM and then went off. Most of the night it was off. Yet, we had down comforters, and we went to bed with hats and scarves and our day clothes. Wouldn't you know, we never lost power during the flooding, but come the coldest day of the year so far, 30 degrees below zero wind chill, 6 degrees below zero temperature, and we lose power.
The only sources of heat that don't use some form of electricity are wood stoves, and we have propane stoves and space heaters. But, we were at least indoors. I can't imagine the hardship and pain for homeless people, and all those electrical power workers who worked all day and through the night to restore power, wow, heroes in my mind. But we have power, and I just and a cup of coffee.
And thank you so much for your kindness, generosity, and acute perceptions. You enhance the poetry with your insights. I like to think of any art work: the value and meaning lies in the human responses and interactions with the work.
Listener, thank you for your offer. Yes, I'd be so grateful if you would read it, and I would want to compensate your for your time.
Green Fuse Press said they would publish it. I'll be contacting Katherine West, the editor and publisher, in a couple of days or so. I believe I have until Feb. 15th. They publish poetry, memoirs, and other nonfiction. They have a category they call Grandmother Editions. If interested, I can give you more information.
Puddle and Listener, thank you for your comments. You give me courage and confidence.. You make the poem better.
Wow, am blown away with the poetry of Pat and the prose in the comments of all. Such a lovely group of ladies. I am humbled to be in such company.
Busy working extra hours at work because we lost two sets of managers a month apart so makes TONS of extra work on my part with paperwork and filling in to cover the facilities.
Ah, warm again. The Poudre Valley REA were up all day as well, cutting branches near the wires. Our propane stove has been running all day as well, and I am warm.
I loved your remark, Puddle. In the manuscript I have 9 interactive journal entries. For the first, I've said, Seeking peace, but I'd like to put it this way instead, with your permission, and if that's not satisfactory, that's okay.
Here is what I'd like to say: Journal
Searching for peace – My friend said, Open the doors, let the bears in.
I eat a LOT of very good yogurt-- including Brenda's home made and love it. So-- yep this was a big surprise to me. Broken immune system from RA and the Humira-- I need to take to keep it somewhat under control!
But, hey-- the sun is shining, should be in high 40's today, it is Friday and Brenda brings in dinner to celebrate!
We had power yesterday, were warm, cozy, watching the news at 6 PM when THUNK, power outage. I went to bed in my clothes, hat, scarf and nose warmer, but the power did come on at about 10 PM. Yea.
Thank you, Puddle, Barb, Listener, Shirlee for your comments. I sent the manuscript to Katherine West via email attachment. I'll get back to you in a couple of days. I will be seeing her on Saturday at our Daz Bog writers' session, and I'll have some idea of where to go from here. Again, thank you so much.
I'm making four more pair of candles right now: one green and three red, because someone asked me if they could buy two pair and I didn't make enough red anyway. :-)
Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall in a Tea Party household as they watch the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Sochi? Will their heads explode when they realise that they have anti-gay sentiment in common with "Commies"? ;-)
I am also tired, tired of this cold/rain/ice/snow season! Up to a certain point I can enjoy being house bound, catching up on reading, drinking tea, etc. But, I really miss the ability to get out and walk, check out the neighborhood etc.
Ah, well-Puddle and I do have something to look forward to! The first week-end in May Brenda and I are packing up the old Toyota and heading to Harrisonburg, VA where we are meeting up to have a leisurely lunch!
More than a month ago Elizabeth Warren finally separated herself clearly from Hillary Clinton, regarding the issue of climate change and global warming. Here is the story: TransCanada Corporation wants to build the Keystone XL Pipeline to carry oil from Alberta Canada's tar sands to two refineries owned by Koch Industries near the Texas Gulf Coast, for export to Europe; and Hillary Clinton has helped to make that happen, but Elizabeth Warren has now taken the opposite side. Clinton had worked behind the scenes to ease the way for commercial exploitation of this, the world's highest-carbon-emitting oil, 53% of which oil is owned by America's Koch Brothers. Secretary Clinton's State Department allowed the environmental impact statement on the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline to be performed by a petroleum industry contractor that was chosen by the company that was proposing to build and own the pipeline, TransCanada. That contractor had no climatologist, and their resulting report failed even at its basic job of estimating the number of degrees by which the Earth's climate would be additionally heated if this pipeline is built and operated. Their report ignored that question, and instead evaluated the impact that climate change would have on the pipeline, which was estimated to be none. President Obama himself is now trying to force the European Union to relax their anti-global-warming regulations so as to permit them to import the Kochs' dirty oil. His agent in this effort is his new U.S. Trade Representative, Michael Froman, from Wall Street.
But on December 20th, Senator Warren signed onto a letter criticizing the Obama Administration's apparent effort to force the European Union to agree to purchase this oil. Six senators and 16 House members, all Democrats, wrote a letter to Froman on Friday asking him to elaborate on his position on the matter. "If these reports are accurate, the U.S. Trade Representative's actions could undercut the EU's commendable goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its transportation sectors," these 22 Democratic lawmakers wrote. This is, essentially, a rebellion by 22 progressive congressional Democrats against the Clinton-Obama effort to provide a market for the Kochs' dirty oil. This letter was actually written by Representative Henry Waxman and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
snip and end of Warren article. Very interesting for those who want to see Clinton president.
quote: This could be a turning-point in Warren's political career. She's no longer at war against only the financial industry corruption that dominates the conservative (Clinton and Obama) establishment within the Democratic Party (and all of the Republican Party), but she is also at war against their environmental corruption. Clinton's extensive Wall Street network is already busy behind the scenes, to discredit if not smear Elizabeth Warren. If Big Oil will now be donating to Wall Street's pro-Hillary campaign against Warren, then Warren will be lucky even to keep her Senate seat.
My admiration for Elizabeth Warren has gone up another notch. She is willing to dare and risk so much for the sake of giving the American people a better chance. Character assassination does lasting political harm, and it works best against candidates whose policy-prescriptions are the hardest to attack; and every major politician knows that this is so. Hillary Clinton has a huge following that wants to see her as president. How many would still number themselves among her supporters, if they had known of the above? I, myself, would still prefer her to an out-and-out Republican, like Romney. But it is a choice of the lesser of two evils. I would like it much better to have a decent, left-of-center Democratic candidate, who would be working for all the American people, not just for the corporations.
We are in desperate need for a change, and time is not on our side. Who knows? The coming 3 years may be our last chance. Plutocracy is already more than half way replacing democracy. unquote
yes sea, I follow Elizabeth so get her updates very quickly and if you recall from the bloggie days I am no fan of Hillary's. this is something that we agree on, but my recollection is that you were cheering her loudly back then - probably more for your dislike of Obama than any real liking of her since she's such a hawk. jmo.
Hi friends, more snow here, thought somewhat warmer.
Here's from an old high school friend. It made me laugh.
-----Dear Diary: > > Aug. 12 - Moved into our new home in Michigan . It is so beautiful here. The > hills and river valleys are so picturesque. I have a beautiful old oak tree > in my front yard. Can hardly wait to see the change in the seasons. This is > truly God's Country. > > Oct. 14 - > Michigan is such a gorgeous place to live, one of the real special places on > Earth. The leaves are turning a multitude of different colors. I love all > of the shades of reds, oranges and yellows, they are so bright. I want to > walk through all of the beautiful hills and spot some white tail deer. They > are so graceful, certainly they must be the most peaceful creatures on > Earth. This must be paradise. > > Nov. 11 - Deer season opens this week. I can't imagine why anyone would > want to shoot these elegant animals. They are the very symbol of peace and > tranquility here in Michigan . I hope it snows soon. I love it here! > > Dec. 2 - It snowed last night. I woke to the usual wonderful sight: > everything covered in a beautiful blanket of white. The oak tree is > magnificent. It looks like a postcard. We went out and swept the snow from > the steps and driveway. The air is so crisp, clean and refreshing. We had a > snowball fight. I won, and the snowplow came down the street. He must have > gotten too close to the driveway because we had to go out and shovel the > end of the driveway again. What a beautiful place. Nature in harmony. I > love it here! > > Dec. 12 - More snow last night. I love it! The plow did his cute little > trick again. What a rascal. A winter wonderland. I love it here! > > Dec. 19 - More snow - couldn't get out of the driveway to get to work in > time. I'm exhausted from all of the shoveling. And that snowplow! > > Dec. 21 - More of that white shit coming down. I've got blisters on my > hands and a kink in my back. I think that the snowplow driver waits around > the corner until I'm done shoveling the driveway. Asshole. > > Dec. 25 - White Christmas? More freakin' snow. If I ever get my hands on > the sonofabitch who drives that snowplow, I swear I'll castrate him. And > why don't they use more salt on these roads to melt this crap?? >
cont. > > Dec. 25 - White Christmas? More freakin' snow. If I ever get my hands on > the sonofabitch who drives that snowplow, I swear I'll castrate him. And > why don't they use more salt on these roads to melt this crap?? > > Dec. 28 - It hasn't stopped snowing since Christmas. I have been inside > since then, except of course when that SOB "Snowplow Harry" comes by. Can't > go anywhere, cars are buried up to the windows. Weather man says to expect > another 10 inches. Do you have any idea how many shovelfuls 10 inches is?? > > Jan. 1 - Happy New Year? The way it's coming down it won't melt until the > 4th of July! The snowplow got stuck down the road and the shithead > actually had the balls to come and ask to borrow a shovel! I told him I'd > broken 6 already this season. > > Jan. 4 - Finally got out of the house. We went to the store to get some > food and a goddamn deer ran out in front of my car and I hit the bastard. > It did $3,000 in damage to the car. Those beasts ought to be killed. The > hunters should have a longer season if you ask me. > > Jan. 27 - Warmed up a little and rained today. The rain turned the snow > into ice and the weight of it broke the main limb of the oak tree in the > front yard and it went through the roof. I should have cut that old piece > of shit into fireplace wood when I had the chance. > > May 23 - Took my car to the local garage. Would you believe the whole > underside of the car is rusted away from all of that damn salt they dump on > the road? Car looks like a bashed up, heap of rusted cow shit. > > May 10 - Sold the car, the house, and moved to Florida . I can't imagine > why anyone in their freakin' mind would ever want to live in the God > forsaken State of Michigan
I spoke with my eye doc today (yes, Sunday). Suddenly I had a plethora of dark brown dots and swirls trough the field of vision of my left eye! It's 3-D and swirls at will. Creepy and has kind of freaked me out a bit! I've never even heard of that before. I'm to go in tomorrow for an eye dilation exam to find out if it's a detached retina or "just" a posterior vitreous detachment. I suspect this is the fallout from my fall on January 5th. =Sigh = My advice is: Never get old!
Pat…I suspect that the original of that diary your friend sent you ended with MARCH 10th and 23rd.
That poor soul made the mistake of leaving before Spring could burst forth. Once you've experienced Spring in the north country, you're ready for another Winter of snow!
Oh well. If I were ever to leave here, it certainly wouldn't be for Florida!! I can just imagine the following year's diary ending with intense frustration about the politics there! Ha! Then they'd have to move somewhere sane…like Vermont. ;-)
Thank-you, Pat. I could use a few prayers for calm, as this has unsettled me very much. It happened while VT*Grand was here and it was a challenge to tell Bill what was happening without scaring her…especially as I felt scared myself.
Pat, your friends diary is hilarious ! I was born in Michigan and lived there for 62 years . Retired at 62 applied for SS and other retirement benefits and headed for Texas
I can relate totally to your friend's feelings. Spring and fall are glorious, but summer is barely recognizable. It was not too long ago a fairly reliably liberal state. Is now in the hands of bunch of RWRepubs The Speaker of the House has owned. a small business for which my second daughter works. She has watched in frustration and I in wonder as this fairly young man who was formerly quite kind has changed into a powerful person in the state and plays his political role with what seems to us cruelty. He still has his business, but is rarely there. Kris is the longest term employee and trains the newbies. I think when she has her house paid for she is out of there! Nope, Michigan is not the state it formerly was and I was NEVER warm enough-even as a kid.
When I moved to Texas we had Ann Richards, governor and Molly Ivins and Jim Hightower self appointed liberal rabble rousers and reporters. Most Dem Texans of that time are convinced GWB stole that election also. RWers are like a cancer.
Listener--hoping the best for you. Floaters can be dealt with or just go away. Surgery for cataracts has made that procedure fairly routine and safe. Keeping fingers, toes, etc crossed for no detached retina. Take Good Care!
so sorry to hear of your vision problems, ladies. I hope you have good docs!1
I have corneal dystrophy which has affected me for about 20 years now, unusual because it doesn't usually do so until in 50s or 60s. my Mom had it as well, I inherited it from her but mine has been worse than hers got for a long time now. they can't do much about it until at the point of going blind, then they'll do a corneal transplant. it's a pain but hasn't been progressing very quickly, I hope I never need the surgery. I'll plug along with the side effects of it for as long as I can! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuchs%27_dystrophy
Oooh, Listener, I was hoping it was an anomaly, but I do know the technology and knowledge is excellent. An aneurysm can be fixed if dealt with in time. From what I've read it's a weakened blood vessel that can rupture.
We will! Meanwhile it is snowing here in Greensboro and to continue at least through Wednesday/Thursday. We have two plows for population of 275,000. So they have the brine trucks out now trying to keep ahead of ice, etc. If we get any accumulation at all-- town just closes down. Most unusual to have days of the white stuff!
I do have what is known as Posterior Vitreous Detachment, but there is no aneurysm involved. =Whew!=
What happened was the substance in the eye which is gel-like (called the Vitreous Humor) begins to turn more liquid as we age. When this happens, it shrinks a little and pulls away from the Retina lining. In my case, this action caused a little bleeding into the Vitreous Humor cavity, and I could see the shadow of the blood cells as "floaters" in my eye...like hundreds iof dots and swirls. It's kind of creepy looking. This will last a couple of weeks, during which time I am at increased risk for retina tears. So I have a recheck on March 5th, and meanwhile can't use a trampoline or pogo stick or play basketball (no jostling).
Never get old! Love & Gratitude, A Much Relieved listener & and her Sweetie Cheering Squad
Yes, I am relieved, thought of you all day, prayed as I took Molly for a walk. I'm so glad that it wasn't an aneurysm. I agree, this getting old stuff is a distractor from life.
So glad for you Listener.
Shirlee, I enjoyed your description of 62 years in Michigan, and I'm in agreement. I was always cold except for about two weeks in July.
So good to know you will be Ok Listener if you just stay off that PoGo stick! Can you just hunker down inside away from the slippery stuff? This unusual dreadful cold and snow/ice etc are NASTY! Love to all--spring WILL come-- I think!
Thanks, Shirlee. I'm trying to behave and stay off the trampoline too. ;-)
Y'know what's really weird? My eyes are still dilated from the exam! They were first dilated around noon today. Then again around 2:00pm as we left the eye doc's office because he hoped I could therefore be seen immediately at the specialist's. But we had to wait long enough there that they needed to dilate them again and they used a double dose. So the pupils of my eyes have been huge for about ten hours! (I'll have to pole vault in the dark now. LOL!)
Glad it's not really serious, Listener. You be careful.'
Yay Puddle on you're computer behaving itself for the most part.
Nothing new and exciting here except our two sweet kitties. Shadow is such a regal quiet kitty and Sandy is just a whirlwind of activity and kisses and hugs. We are happy that we rescued these two and they seem to be most happy that we did.
Glad you are enjoying your kitties, Barb. I was always glad I rescued my Queen Caroline Elizabeth even though she was never exactly lovable:). If I wanted to hold her it was always on her terms-time, place etc.
Whew! Winter storm watch changed to storm warning beginning this evening. Excellent reason to re-schedule Doctor appointment . Done. Had been dreading going out in cold, snow, freezing rain, ice, etc. I feel like a free woman!
Gorgeous, cold and sunny; we're still under a watch as opposed to warning. Lord willing, this one'll stay mostly east of us. Richmond newscasters were fibrillating this morning.
Shirlee I just saw your post about antibiotic - sometimes a good probiotic blend works better than yogurt. that must hurt, hope it feels better soon!
I just headed for a walk to the store - it is sunny and the wind didn't seem bad but I only made it about 100 yards and came back - sure enough, with the wind from the NE it feels like well below zero! brrr.
clip... MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Solar Foundation says Vermont is ranked first for solar jobs per capita.
There are approximately 1,300 solar jobs total in installation, manufacturing and project development.
Gov. Peter Shumlin says in a news release that the ranking is "a testament to the success" of Vermont's renewable energy business, utilities and state policies.
According to the Solar Foundation's website, Vermont added about 990 solar jobs from 2012 to 2013. Vermont previously ranked at 11th in solar jobs per capita.
The foundation says that New England represents nearly 20 percent of total U.S. solar workforce.
The foundation is a nonprofit focused on energy topics based in D.C.
also, this will be on the ballot in March and should pass easily. if so Burlington will be powered by 100% clean, renewable energy!!!!!
clip... BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Winooski One hydro project could soon be under new ownership and that would be a milestone for the Burlington Electric Department. The deal isn't sealed just yet, but if approved by voters in March, BED will purchase the dam. It's a transaction that could benefit BED as well as customers.
Burlington Electric has had plans to purchase the Winooski One Dam since the 1980s. After current ownership and BED settled on a purchase price of $16 million, the deal is finally moving forward and will allow Burlington Electric to provide a 100 percent renewable power supply.
"We've entered a number of wind contracts over the last 10 years that serve another 30 percent of the load. We have a contract with Hydro-Quebec, and now the Winooski One plant would actually be the last piece to reach that goal," said Ken Nolan, the manager of power resources.
Power generated by the plant will be directly connected to the city's distribution system and sent straight to customers, meaning less reliance on the regional power grid.
"I think it's a great opportunity for the city to take ownership of a good working power plant and have local management of our river resources," said Paul Hines, the assistant professor of engineering.
With the purchase of the Winooski One dam, Burlington Electric will be creating energy locally and keeping costs low.
Once the bonds that will be used to purchase the dam are paid off, kilowatts per hour will go down from about 8 cents to approximately 4 cents.
"Once the bonds are paid off, which is what's on the ballot in March, it essentially becomes cost-free. Just the operating costs to maintain the plant," Nolan said.
The dam puts out 30 million kilowatt hours per a year and will provide about 8 percent of Burlington's power. Although changes in the river flows could affect how much power is produced and the costs, Burlington Electric says the benefits outweigh any concerns.
"We've looked at a whole range of possibilities of what could happen and under most scenarios, we think this is a really good deal for Burlington ratepayers," Nolan said.
When looking at other utility company rates-- in 2012, Green Mountain Power customers paid about $15 a month for 25 kilowatt hours. Vermont Electric Co-op customers paid a little under $19. Burlington Electric customers had some of the lowest rates at just over $11 a month.
How encouraging, hopeful, laudatory! Vermont is first!
I'm reading Thom Hartmann's The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight, and David is reading Al Gore's The Future, both books predict collapse of civilization if we don't get off fossil fuels, get off a consumer mentality, and recognize the complexity, intricacy, and fragility of nature. They talk of the mindset that said nature was for human use and we could do anything we wanted to creatures, plants, water, people to fulfill our own needs.
That's one reason I think people in modern societies are lonely, choose to cling to ideologies and religion to fill that terrible gap caused by declaring nature a thing for our use. It's a living world that we are related to, and we must find a way to help it and all of us survive.
I was also thinking how healthy it was to go to the Dean meetups. We met a diverse group of people in the community, discussed issues, got to know each other, and came away with feeling we were real participants in our communities and the world.
well said Pat! Howard's run brought me in contact with some of the nicest, smartest people that I know - and gave me the first hope since 9/11 that we could turn around the madness that was Bush and Co. you and many others were like a beacon in the darkness to me and still are to this day. xoxoxo
Thanks, Barb and Shirlee and all! I am okay, though really finding this muck in my field of vision frustrating.
Jo, I too and utterly tickled that Burlington is going all clean energy, and that Vermont once again leads the nation in what matters!!
Pat, I agree about the need to see the world not as ours to use. In the Judeo-Christian faith(s) the story of Creation has been used to suggest that humans have dominion over the Earth and this somehow means we can use it up! A more intelligent comprehension of Genesis 1:27-28, however, intends that humans be stewards of the earth, not users. Here's why:
"God does indeed call men and women to exercise radah, or dominion, over creation. But the real question is: What sort of dominion? According to verse 27, the answer is clear: a dominion that is in the image, or likeness, of God. Humans, in other words, are to rule over creation in a way that is consistent with the way God rules...
"Consider Psalm 72:8, the only time, significantly enough, that radah is used in the Old Testament to describe God or God’s activity: “May God have dominion”—or, radah—“from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.” The psalmist then proceeds to describe the nature of God’s rule: “For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight” (72:12-14). When used in connection with God, the potentially violent connotations of radah suggest instead a more generous sort of kingship. God, the psalmist writes, does not exploit or dominate or consume recklessly. God does not use His power to hurt, but rather to heal. God values what cannot be replaced. God works to preserve life, not to destroy it."
You all have been busy thinking and communicating today --here in GSO we are preparing for a six to ten inch snowfall! I know that is not much elsewhere, but we just don!t/didn't have that type of climate. Everyone laying in supplies an hunkering down ready to see what the morning brings.
Thanks for the probiotic info, Jo. I do take a good one along with consuming lots of yogurt which I love and it is so versatile. I have yet to have a need for it as a topical cure, but I will keep it in mind :) :) :)
stay safe Shirlee! that is why I am so worried about so many in the south being hit with snow and cold and freezing rain, I know how dangerous it is even here where we are well prepared for it for long months each year. I hope people just stay off the roads until they can clear it all away. do you have a place to go to if your power goes out?
Absolutely NOT going to town for a goodsum while. Nancy did a bit of grocery shopping for me today, along with hers, bless her heart, so I'm heading into the storm with a couple of avocados and a lot of roast beef.
Shirlee, I'm glad you are hunkered down and ready to endure a real New England style blizzard! I hope you get to watch the snow fall and can enjoy the beauty, and don't end up with an ice storm because that is so much more dangerous. If you have an easy way to stick your hand outside, see if you can catch some snowflakes on a balk cloth and look at them under a magnifying glass! It's true that no two are exactly alike. If you lose power, will you still have a heat source? We usually keep matches and emergency candles handy, along with a flashlight. We also always buy ice cream incase the power goes out. Be sure to keep a spoon handy. ;-)
I'm pretty sure they have the map upside-down again because we're only suppose to get 3-6" of snow up here. My family near Boston may get two feet of snow. I think the worst we've ever had is 5 ft of snow on the ground at once, and about 3 ft of it came in one storm.
I am so grateful to Nancy for supplying you, puddle! What a lovely neighbour she is (again…still) !!!
Yes, thank you to Nancy the Good Neighbor for keeping you in mind, Puddle.
Jo, thanks--the power does go out in some of these old buildings. But according to our manager this one has never lost power--even before we had our own transformer. These two large building which were a retail/wholesale hardware business for close to a century were converted to apartments 25 years go. More likely that Brenda in her sturdy 1920's house would lose power and end up over here.
Snowflakes are beautiful. We did that all the time in Michigan as kids. Take good care of that eye, Listener!
Shirlee my concern is heavy snow taking out tree limbs which in turn take out power lines. unless your power lines are all buried this is a real possibility in a storm like this. could you or Brenda just call your city offices to confirm where there may be shelter with a power back up just in case that happens?
clip... ATLANTA – Snow, sleet and freezing rain were creeping across parts of the South on Tuesday, the beginning of a three-day storm system potentially more devastating than the blast that paralyzed much of the region two weeks ago.
National Weather Service meteorologist Michael Musher said ice accumulation forecasts "remain mind-boggling if not historical" in cities such as Atlanta, Athens and Augusta in Georgia, Columbia, S.C., and Raleigh, N.C.
"High ice accumulations will make travel impossible," the National Weather Service reported in an advisory Tuesday. "This has the potential to be a catastrophic event. Widespread power outages are possible as ice accumulates on trees and power lines and brings them down."
President Obama declared an emergency for the state of Georgia. The storm ultimately will target more than 100 million people, scores of major roads and many major airline hubs from Texas to Georgia, New York and Massachusetts this week, AccuWeather reported.
We are west of the ice line that is projected. All lines in downtown area are buried. Doctor appt changed. Plenty of food and water. Brenda works just a few blocks away. Happy to stay inside and watch from my second storey balcony window. Even our parking lots have a coat of brine. Stay warm everyone, this baby is moving from south to north. Take care, Puddle.
Shirlee, Jo is right. North Carolina is going to be hit hard by this. It would be a difficult storm HERE even with all our experience and resources. I don't mean to scare you, only to second that you find out where the shelters are and know whom to call for assistance as needed. Keep the list with your flashlight. Does your building have a generator?
Here are some helpful Li is to help us all keep track. The first comes via a meteorological student friend named Zachary Labe (blog name= Blizzard92) at Cornell. The second is his blog, and the third is another blogger's weather blog. They tend to concentrate on Pennsylvania, but they're all armchair weather buffs who love snow and storms and will be discussing the storm real-time. Feel free to post!! They are very nice people and you will usially get swift responses.
Not to worry, lines buried, building has it's own transformer. More danger for me going out and being in close contact with groups of people with who knows what bugs. Immune system is horrible. Thanks for your concern--yep we know this is unprecedented. City bus service which normally runs till midnight is stopping service at 6:30. Lots of bus riders in this town.
I must have set the page to post at 4:20pm one days but forgot to tell it what time to post, so it just borrowed the time it was. I hate it when that happens!!
No, wait, it's worse than that! I didn't actually have anything ready to post for today! Yikes! I tell you, I've been so sidetracked by this eye issue this week!
All safe here in Greensboro. We got 4-6 inches of the bloody white stuff yesterday. Most places, offices, in town are closed or having limited hours. Coffee shops of which there are several seem open for at least limited hours. More fine white flakes blowing in from the west.???
thanks for the update Shirlee! our snow will start to move in later today and they say it will really hit us overnight. I hear that DC is virtually closed down. what a mess.
Stay safe and warm, Puddle. Brenda and her long time friend and work partner closed the office for today. Any planning for Fun Fourth will need to be done by phone, text, etc. So, she is home making soup and banana bread--some of which will end up over here I am sure!
117 comments:
Oh, what lovely candles!!! These must be Listener's.
The vivid colors are most wonderful. This photo is a feast
for the eyes. Surely enough to chase the cold weather
blues away. Thank you both Listener and Puddle!
They are beautiful; as they say, good enough to eat. A delight to see them here.
More snow, temperature at 6 degrees F.,cold,cold,cold, am wearing my knitted nose warmer. It makes me look like Minnie Mouse.
We must have a foot and a half of snow.
Am editing a manuscript I wrote after keeping a journal on a retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh and the monastics. Its called Retreat and After. It's interesting to put a book together, an experience in trying to make something appealing, a whole, and hoping that it will be worthy of reading.
And so, I'm at the computer, seeing the white world of snow and the dark silhouettes of trees, the sky almost indistinguisable from the ground.
One of my most treasured things that I cart with me, move after move, is a pair of hand dipped candles that my eldest child made for me in fourth grade. Mine are cranberry, and neither so tall or thick as listener's. I've always thought that some time I would light them, but somehow never can. . . . I see him eying them from time to time but he's never said a word. Maybe he's forgotten making them. (I think his teacher was a genius, lol!)
Ohhh, thank-you. puddle!!! ♥
How lovely to find this thread!
Pat, how long a retreat was it? A month? Will your book include any photos or sketches from retreat? I've been to a teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh here in Vermont, but haven't ventured to a Buddhist retreat. My impression has been that the strict discipline might for me be a challenge to opening within. And without the opening, what's the point of being on retreat? I'd be interested to hear some of your impressions, having been there.
The approaching storm makes me yearn for COLOUR! I see it's time for Bill and me to have a lunch date with inside the local Gardener's Supply store, where sandwiches are served in the Greenhouse!
If any of you would like to see a bit more of candle making day, here's my album:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152304761751754.1073741908.637766753&type=1&l=3e679fa5f2
Good Morning,
11 degrees below zero, wind chill predicted to be 30 below. Agh! Growing up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula made me hate winter. It was cold, cold, and seemed to last forever.
Listener, every Christmas Eve my sister and I would read from a story book about two girls making candles. I can picture it, both of us sitting in a burgundy colored overstuffed chair, looking at the Christmas tree, looking at the drawing of the girls as they held the dripping candles. One of my favorite memories
The retreat lasted 6 days at the YMCA in Rocky Mountain National Park. I've attended six of them. The book is written from the perspective of a novice, skeptical and needy. There are about 20 photos, hoping to put a would be retreatant there. There are also 10 blank pages for the reader to journal. I have been editing it for two days, and something in me says, the poetry isn't good enough, why bother. Something says, maybe someone might be glad to read it.
Here's a sample poem at the beginning of the retreat.
Mantra
We walk in dark before the dawn
solemn, silent, moving slowly.
The soft voice of the Buddhist nun
echoing like ripples on a lake.
Each of us calling to mind the breath
of being, breathing in and out
joining the land, the rocks, the trees
recognizing we are the same and unique.
Thoughts are slow, sluggish from sleep
they don't dance and interfere, not yet.
We repeat, should they arise, the phrase
we've learned to quiet them:
“Breathing in and breathing out”.
But for me today, my mind repeats
The signs on the cottage doors:
“Keep doors shut because of bears.”
“Keep doors shut because of bears.”
“Keep doors shut because of bears.”
Bunch of creative people on this blog! Thanks for the extra photos Listener an the poetry Pat. I love the line
'Keep doors shut because of bears.' Good to remember in many circumstances. I had found it hard to part with
kid's creations WAY past the time when they thought they
should be gone. Still have some early art work framed and on my bedroom wall. Love you all
Dear Pat, I especially appreciate in your poem the way it moves from novice's concerns to an expression of anxiety which becomes a mantra, such a pure form of prayer.
I would be glad to read it. I'll take at least two copies, when it's published.
If you might appreciate an advance reader, I've done that before... for Jerry May's book *The Wisdom of Wilderness* ~ have you ever encountered it? I would bring the perspective of a spiritual guide.
But you may already have readers and be too far into the process for that anyway. May your pen be blessed and your focus well tuned.
puddle… how utterly sweet that you still have Eldest's 4th grader candles!! ♥
I always tell people to light the candles I make because the light is more important than the candles. However, yours is a true exception!
Our local forecaster's snow map was WRONG. Up here where he predicted 3-5", we got more like 8" and have 11" on the ground. The local schools did not take a snow day, so my 4-6pm watercolour class was not cancelled. The town plows concentrated on the main roads, leaving the back roads largely unplowed, so it was a white knuckle sleigh ride to class and later to home. But I made it there and back again. And when I got home I got to shovel! I love to shovel!
Pat, the poem is lovely! I failed for so many years at meditation because I tried to shut up the monkey mind. When I finally learned to just include it in, like making a braid, meditation began to work for me. Open the door, and let the bears in. . . .
Hello dear friends,
It's now 49 degrees inside. When we got up at 4 this morning, it was 45 degrees. I'm wearing my nose warmer and my Howard Dean Perfect Storm orange hat. David is wearing a scarf and our National Forest Bugle Team orange hat, and he's covered in a fleece.
Our power went out yesterday about 9 when we left for doctor's appointments in Estes Park.
When we returned at about 3, it was still off. It came on again at 4, then went off. It came on at 9 PM and then went off. Most of the night it was off. Yet, we had down comforters, and we went to bed with hats and scarves and our day clothes. Wouldn't you know, we never lost power during the flooding, but come the coldest day of the year so far, 30 degrees below zero wind chill, 6 degrees below zero temperature, and we lose power.
The only sources of heat that don't use some form of electricity are wood stoves, and we have propane stoves and space heaters. But, we were at least indoors. I can't imagine the hardship and pain for homeless people, and all those electrical power workers who worked all day and through the night to restore power, wow, heroes in my mind. But we have power, and I just and a cup of coffee.
And thank you so much for your kindness, generosity, and acute perceptions. You enhance the poetry with your insights. I like to think of any art work: the value and meaning lies in the human responses and interactions with the work.
Listener, thank you for your offer. Yes, I'd be so grateful if you would read it, and I would want to compensate your for your time.
Green Fuse Press said they would publish it. I'll be contacting Katherine West, the editor and publisher, in a couple of days or so. I believe I have until Feb. 15th. They publish poetry, memoirs, and other nonfiction. They have a category they call Grandmother Editions. If interested, I can give you more information.
Puddle and Listener, thank you for your comments. You give me courage and confidence.. You make the poem better.
Wow, am blown away with the poetry of Pat and the prose in the comments of all. Such a lovely group of ladies. I am humbled to be in such company.
Busy working extra hours at work because we lost two sets of managers a month apart so makes TONS of extra work on my part with paperwork and filling in to cover the facilities.
much love and hugs to my bloggie buds.
Ah, warm again. The Poudre Valley REA were up all day as well, cutting branches near the wires. Our propane stove has been running all day as well, and I am warm.
I loved your remark, Puddle. In the manuscript I have 9 interactive journal entries. For the first, I've said, Seeking peace, but I'd like to put it this way instead, with your permission, and if that's not satisfactory, that's okay.
Here is what I'd like to say:
Journal
Searching for peace – My friend said, Open the doors, let the bears in.
Ah, Pat, of course it's fine. I'm honored. Thank you. ♥
Pat, being permitted to read it and offer some comments would be compensation enough!!
This is bound to be a wonderful book, Pat! Put me down as a paying customer when it is published.
Medical merry go round here. I have been on an antibiotic for the infected toe--NOW I have a yeast
infection on my TONGUE! Ah, aging!!!
Jeepers, Shirlee! Eat lots of yoghurt! Antibiotics are necessary at times, but they sure mess up *my* system. . . .
I eat a LOT of very good yogurt-- including Brenda's
home made and love it. So-- yep this was a big surprise
to me. Broken immune system from RA and the Humira--
I need to take to keep it somewhat under control!
But, hey-- the sun is shining, should be in high 40's today,
it is Friday and Brenda brings in dinner to celebrate!
Thanks for the tip:). Love to all.
Good Morning,
We had power yesterday, were warm, cozy, watching the news at 6 PM when THUNK, power outage. I went to bed in my clothes, hat, scarf and nose warmer, but the power did come on at about 10 PM. Yea.
Thank you, Puddle, Barb, Listener, Shirlee for your comments. I sent the manuscript to Katherine West via email attachment. I'll get back to you in a couple of days. I will be seeing her on Saturday at our Daz Bog writers' session, and I'll have some idea of where to go from here. Again, thank you so much.
You are welcome, Pat. Stay, stay warm!
Cold. Four of the next ten days have snow predicted. I am beyond tired of snow/ice/cold.
I'm making four more pair of candles right now: one green and three red, because someone asked me if they could buy two pair and I didn't make enough red anyway. :-)
Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall in a Tea Party household as they watch the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Sochi? Will their heads explode when they realise that they have anti-gay sentiment in common with "Commies"? ;-)
puddle, play some really delightful music. Chase the cold out with some lovely scents and a little spice in your tea or dinner. Feed the birds.
I am also tired, tired of this cold/rain/ice/snow season!
Up to a certain point I can enjoy being house bound,
catching up on reading, drinking tea, etc. But, I really miss the ability to get out and walk, check out the neighborhood etc.
Ah, well-Puddle and I do have something to look
forward to! The first week-end in May Brenda and I
are packing up the old Toyota and heading to Harrisonburg, VA where we are meeting up to have a
leisurely lunch!
Oh, yes, spring lunches with Deaniacs! *That* IS something to look forward to. yes!
Oooohhh, how lovely to think of you getting together in May!! Be sure to take photos and give hugs! :-)
Well, Brenda has a fancy phone that works as a camera.
Could be done, if all parties agree!
Pics are fine with me, *hugs* essential!!!
We are good to go! Bet with another click or two
they can be in Puddle's e-mail before she gets
back to Sugar Grove.
Elizabeth Warren Fights against Global Warming, Separates Herself from Hillary Clinton
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-zuesse/elizabeth-warren-comes-do_b_4483753.htm
More than a month ago Elizabeth Warren finally separated herself clearly from Hillary Clinton, regarding the issue of climate change and global warming. Here is the story: TransCanada Corporation wants to build the Keystone XL Pipeline to carry oil from Alberta Canada's tar sands to two refineries owned by Koch Industries near the Texas Gulf Coast, for export to Europe; and Hillary Clinton has helped to make that happen, but Elizabeth Warren has now taken the opposite side. Clinton had worked behind the scenes to ease the way for commercial exploitation of this, the world's highest-carbon-emitting oil, 53% of which oil is owned by America's Koch Brothers. Secretary Clinton's State Department allowed the environmental impact statement on the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline to be performed by a petroleum industry contractor that was chosen by the company that was proposing to build and own the pipeline, TransCanada. That contractor had no climatologist, and their resulting report failed even at its basic job of estimating the number of degrees by which the Earth's climate would be additionally heated if this pipeline is built and operated. Their report ignored that question, and instead evaluated the impact that climate change would have on the pipeline, which was estimated to be none. President Obama himself is now trying to force the European Union to relax their anti-global-warming regulations so as to permit them to import the Kochs' dirty oil. His agent in this effort is his new U.S. Trade Representative, Michael Froman, from Wall Street.
But on December 20th, Senator Warren signed onto a letter criticizing the Obama Administration's apparent effort to force the European Union to agree to purchase this oil. Six senators and 16 House members, all Democrats, wrote a letter to Froman on Friday asking him to elaborate on his position on the matter. "If these reports are accurate, the U.S. Trade Representative's
actions could undercut the EU's commendable goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its transportation sectors," these
22 Democratic lawmakers wrote. This is, essentially, a rebellion by 22 progressive congressional Democrats against the Clinton-Obama effort to provide a market for the Kochs' dirty oil. This letter was actually written by Representative Henry Waxman and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
Oops, that was me, sea
lots more to the article
snip and end of Warren article. Very interesting for those who want to see Clinton president.
quote: This could be a turning-point in Warren's political career. She's no longer at war against only the financial industry corruption that dominates the conservative (Clinton and Obama) establishment within the Democratic Party (and all of the Republican Party), but she is also at war against their environmental corruption. Clinton's extensive Wall Street network is already busy behind the scenes, to discredit if not smear Elizabeth Warren. If Big Oil will now be donating to Wall Street's pro-Hillary campaign against Warren, then Warren will be lucky even to keep her Senate seat.
My admiration for Elizabeth Warren has gone up another notch. She is willing to dare and risk so much for the sake of giving the
American people a better chance. Character assassination does lasting political harm, and it works best against candidates whose policy-prescriptions are the hardest to attack; and every major politician knows that this is so. Hillary Clinton has a huge following that wants to see her as president. How many would still number themselves among her supporters, if they had known of the above? I, myself, would still prefer her to an out-and-out Republican, like Romney. But it is a choice of the lesser of two evils. I would like it much better to have a decent, left-of-center Democratic candidate, who would be working for all the American people, not just for the corporations.
We are in desperate need for a change, and time is not on our side. Who knows? The coming 3 years may be our last
chance. Plutocracy is already more than half way replacing democracy. unquote
yes sea, I follow Elizabeth so get her updates very quickly and if you recall from the bloggie days I am no fan of Hillary's. this is something that we agree on, but my recollection is that you were cheering her loudly back then - probably more for your dislike of Obama than any real liking of her since she's such a hawk. jmo.
Hi friends, more snow here, thought somewhat warmer.
Here's from an old high school friend. It made me laugh.
-----Dear Diary:
>
> Aug. 12 - Moved into our new home in Michigan . It is so beautiful here. The
> hills and river valleys are so picturesque. I have a beautiful old oak tree
> in my front yard. Can hardly wait to see the change in the seasons. This is
> truly God's Country.
>
> Oct. 14 -
> Michigan is such a gorgeous place to live, one of the real special places on
> Earth. The leaves are turning a multitude of different colors. I love all
> of the shades of reds, oranges and yellows, they are so bright. I want to
> walk through all of the beautiful hills and spot some white tail deer. They
> are so graceful, certainly they must be the most peaceful creatures on
> Earth. This must be paradise.
>
> Nov. 11 - Deer season opens this week. I can't imagine why anyone would
> want to shoot these elegant animals. They are the very symbol of peace and
> tranquility here in Michigan . I hope it snows soon. I love it here!
>
> Dec. 2 - It snowed last night. I woke to the usual wonderful sight:
> everything covered in a beautiful blanket of white. The oak tree is
> magnificent. It looks like a postcard. We went out and swept the snow from
> the steps and driveway. The air is so crisp, clean and refreshing. We had a
> snowball fight. I won, and the snowplow came down the street. He must have
> gotten too close to the driveway because we had to go out and shovel the
> end of the driveway again. What a beautiful place. Nature in harmony. I
> love it here!
>
> Dec. 12 - More snow last night. I love it! The plow did his cute little
> trick again. What a rascal. A winter wonderland. I love it here!
>
> Dec. 19 - More snow - couldn't get out of the driveway to get to work in
> time. I'm exhausted from all of the shoveling. And that snowplow!
>
> Dec. 21 - More of that white shit coming down. I've got blisters on my
> hands and a kink in my back. I think that the snowplow driver waits around
> the corner until I'm done shoveling the driveway. Asshole.
>
> Dec. 25 - White Christmas? More freakin' snow. If I ever get my hands on
> the sonofabitch who drives that snowplow, I swear I'll castrate him. And
> why don't they use more salt on these roads to melt this crap??
>
cont.
>
> Dec. 25 - White Christmas? More freakin' snow. If I ever get my hands on
> the sonofabitch who drives that snowplow, I swear I'll castrate him. And
> why don't they use more salt on these roads to melt this crap??
>
> Dec. 28 - It hasn't stopped snowing since Christmas. I have been inside
> since then, except of course when that SOB "Snowplow Harry" comes by. Can't
> go anywhere, cars are buried up to the windows. Weather man says to expect
> another 10 inches. Do you have any idea how many shovelfuls 10 inches is??
>
> Jan. 1 - Happy New Year? The way it's coming down it won't melt until the
> 4th of July! The snowplow got stuck down the road and the shithead
> actually had the balls to come and ask to borrow a shovel! I told him I'd
> broken 6 already this season.
>
> Jan. 4 - Finally got out of the house. We went to the store to get some
> food and a goddamn deer ran out in front of my car and I hit the bastard.
> It did $3,000 in damage to the car. Those beasts ought to be killed. The
> hunters should have a longer season if you ask me.
>
> Jan. 27 - Warmed up a little and rained today. The rain turned the snow
> into ice and the weight of it broke the main limb of the oak tree in the
> front yard and it went through the roof. I should have cut that old piece
> of shit into fireplace wood when I had the chance.
>
> May 23 - Took my car to the local garage. Would you believe the whole
> underside of the car is rusted away from all of that damn salt they dump on
> the road? Car looks like a bashed up, heap of rusted cow shit.
>
> May 10 - Sold the car, the house, and moved to Florida . I can't imagine
> why anyone in their freakin' mind would ever want to live in the God
> forsaken State of Michigan
I spoke with my eye doc today (yes, Sunday). Suddenly I had a plethora of dark brown dots and swirls trough the field of vision of my left eye! It's 3-D and swirls at will. Creepy and has kind of freaked me out a bit! I've never even heard of that before. I'm to go in tomorrow for an eye dilation exam to find out if it's a detached retina or "just" a posterior vitreous detachment. I suspect this is the fallout from my fall on January 5th. =Sigh = My advice is: Never get old!
Pat…I suspect that the original of that diary your friend sent you ended with MARCH 10th and 23rd.
That poor soul made the mistake of leaving before Spring could burst forth. Once you've experienced Spring in the north country, you're ready for another Winter of snow!
Oh well. If I were ever to leave here, it certainly wouldn't be for Florida!! I can just imagine the following year's diary ending with intense frustration about the politics there! Ha! Then they'd have to move somewhere sane…like Vermont. ;-)
Hi Listener, yes, I know. I'll probably be having cataract surgery in March. Still, we've come this far and how much we've learned,
I hope that it's not a detached retina, though I've known people who had that and it was corrected.
Take care and keep us apprised. Our thoughts are with you.
Oops! In my first post today "trough" = "through"!
Thank-you, Pat. I could use a few prayers for calm, as this has unsettled me very much. It happened while VT*Grand was here and it was a challenge to tell Bill what was happening without scaring her…especially as I felt scared myself.
Also, I would not have been shocked to hear I need cataract surgery as my maternal Grandmother and Mother both had them.
I'd never even heard of this scenario!!
All the best to you for the surgery. ♥
Warming trend appears to be in our future. Hope they're right.
This is the site that really sounds like EXACTLY what I'm dealing with:
http://www.justanswer.com/eye-health/5vurd-suddenly-started-seeing-dark-swirls-black-pinhead-dots.html
A bit more info here:
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/cole-eye/diseases-conditions/hic-posterior-vitreous-detachment.aspx
That was my delete…I'd left out the h from href so nothing was clickable).
No, Jo, I never cheered for Hillary. I was an Edwards fan and ended up voting Green. I frankly couldn't see much difference between Hillary and Obama.
I will never vote for anyone who talks war talk, never.
I like Elizabeth (so far) , Bernie, Alan and Jill Stein had an incredible platform. Hopefully we'll have choices.
sea
Pat, your friends diary is hilarious ! I was born in Michigan and lived there for 62 years . Retired at 62 applied for SS and other retirement benefits and
headed for Texas
I can relate totally to your friend's feelings. Spring and fall are glorious, but summer is barely recognizable. It was not too long ago a fairly reliably liberal state. Is now in the hands of bunch of RWRepubs The Speaker of the House has owned. a small business for which my second daughter works. She has watched in frustration and I in wonder as this fairly young man who was formerly quite kind
has changed into a powerful person in the state and plays his political role with what seems to us cruelty.
He still has his business, but is rarely there. Kris is the
longest term employee and trains the newbies. I think when she has her house paid for she is out of there!
Nope, Michigan is not the state it formerly was and I was NEVER warm enough-even as a kid.
When I moved to Texas we had Ann Richards, governor and Molly Ivins and Jim Hightower self appointed liberal rabble rousers and reporters.
Most Dem Texans of that time are convinced GWB
stole that election also. RWers are like a cancer.
Whew! Well, that was a rant. Sorry. The cold and the
R.s are a cruel mix!
Good Eye Vibes to both Pat and Listener. Sight is so
precious.
Prayers, listener. Keep us apprised.
Listener--hoping the best for you. Floaters can be dealt with or just go away. Surgery for cataracts has made that procedure fairly routine and safe. Keeping fingers, toes, etc crossed for no detached retina. Take Good Care!
so sorry to hear of your vision problems, ladies. I hope you have good docs!1
I have corneal dystrophy which has affected me for about 20 years now, unusual because it doesn't usually do so until in 50s or 60s. my Mom had it as well, I inherited it from her but mine has been worse than hers got for a long time now. they can't do much about it until at the point of going blind, then they'll do a corneal transplant. it's a pain but hasn't been progressing very quickly, I hope I never need the surgery. I'll plug along with the side effects of it for as long as I can! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuchs%27_dystrophy
Thank you!!
Sitting in Shelburne upstairs from Howard's old office (still Judy's) waiting for my left eye to dilate. Stay tuned!
Whoa!
"Complicated vitreous detachment with aneurysm at the disc."
Need to go to the retinal specialist.
Oooh, Listener, I was hoping it was an anomaly, but I do know the technology and knowledge is excellent. An aneurysm can be fixed if dealt with in time. From what I've read it's a weakened blood vessel that can rupture.
Thoughts and prayers your way.
We will! Meanwhile it is snowing here in Greensboro and to continue at least through Wednesday/Thursday. We have two plows for population of 275,000. So they have the brine trucks out now trying to keep ahead of ice, etc.
If we get any accumulation at all-- town just closes down.
Most unusual to have days of the white stuff!
Whew, after nearly a year of MAJOR DIFFICULTIES with my CC site, it let me pay both cards with nearly no problems!! Spring is here!!
--and BTW, in both China and Japan, spring IS officially here.
listener, holding you in the light. ♥
Congratulations, Puddle, for besting your CC site!
Crisis Averted!!
Okay, here's the scoop:
I do have what is known as Posterior Vitreous Detachment, but there is no aneurysm involved. =Whew!=
What happened was the substance in the eye which is gel-like (called the Vitreous Humor) begins to turn more liquid as we age. When this happens, it shrinks a little and pulls away from the Retina lining. In my case, this action caused a little bleeding into the Vitreous Humor cavity, and I could see the shadow of the blood cells as "floaters" in my eye...like hundreds iof dots and swirls. It's kind of creepy looking. This will last a couple of weeks, during which time I am at increased risk for retina tears. So I have a recheck on March 5th, and meanwhile can't use a trampoline or pogo stick or play basketball (no jostling).
Never get old!
Love & Gratitude,
A Much Relieved listener & and her Sweetie Cheering Squad
I'm relieved, too, listener!! ♥
so glad to hear that listener! that was scary, be careful while this is healing! xo
Shirlee stay safe and warm. this is so crazy, this cold weather visiting the south so much this winter. praying for all in the path of the storms.
Yes, I am relieved, thought of you all day, prayed as I took Molly for a walk. I'm so glad that it wasn't an aneurysm. I agree, this getting old stuff is a distractor from life.
So glad for you Listener.
Shirlee, I enjoyed your description of 62 years in Michigan, and I'm in agreement. I was always cold except for about two weeks in July.
Night folks.
So good to know you will be Ok Listener if you just stay off that PoGo stick! Can you just hunker down inside away
from the slippery stuff? This unusual dreadful cold and
snow/ice etc are NASTY! Love to all--spring WILL come--
I think!
Thanks, Shirlee. I'm trying to behave and stay off the trampoline too. ;-)
Y'know what's really weird? My eyes are still dilated from the exam! They were first dilated around noon today. Then again around 2:00pm as we left the eye doc's office because he hoped I could therefore be seen immediately at the specialist's. But we had to wait long enough there that they needed to dilate them again and they used a double dose. So the pupils of my eyes have been huge for about ten hours! (I'll have to pole vault in the dark now. LOL!)
Glad it's not really serious, Listener. You be careful.'
Yay Puddle on you're computer behaving itself for the most part.
Nothing new and exciting here except our two sweet kitties. Shadow is such a regal quiet kitty and Sandy is just a whirlwind of activity and kisses and hugs. We are happy that we rescued these two and they seem to be most happy that we did.
Love and hugs to all.
Glad you are enjoying your kitties, Barb. I was always glad I rescued my Queen Caroline Elizabeth even though she was never exactly lovable:). If I wanted to hold her it was always on her terms-time, place etc.
Listener--with your eyes still so dilated do you need to
Protect them with dark glasses?
Whew! Winter storm watch changed to storm warning beginning this evening. Excellent reason to re-schedule
Doctor appointment . Done. Had been dreading going out in cold, snow, freezing rain, ice, etc. I feel like a free woman!
Gorgeous, cold and sunny; we're still under a watch as opposed to warning. Lord willing, this one'll stay mostly east of us. Richmond newscasters were fibrillating this morning.
What a good word to describe weather forecasters, Puddle!
hope you are feeling better today listener!
Shirlee I just saw your post about antibiotic - sometimes a good probiotic blend works better than yogurt. that must hurt, hope it feels better soon!
I just headed for a walk to the store - it is sunny and the wind didn't seem bad but I only made it about 100 yards and came back - sure enough, with the wind from the NE it feels like well below zero! brrr.
I always used yogurt as a topical medicine, grin. Worked 100% of the time.
yes, grin puddle! ;-)
more good news for VT!~!
clip... MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Solar Foundation says Vermont is ranked first for solar jobs per capita.
There are approximately 1,300 solar jobs total in installation, manufacturing and project development.
Gov. Peter Shumlin says in a news release that the ranking is "a testament to the success" of Vermont's renewable energy business, utilities and state policies.
According to the Solar Foundation's website, Vermont added about 990 solar jobs from 2012 to 2013. Vermont previously ranked at 11th in solar jobs per capita.
The foundation says that New England represents nearly 20 percent of total U.S. solar workforce.
The foundation is a nonprofit focused on energy topics based in D.C.
also, this will be on the ballot in March and should pass easily. if so Burlington will be powered by 100% clean, renewable energy!!!!!
clip... BURLINGTON, Vt. -
The Winooski One hydro project could soon be under new ownership and that would be a milestone for the Burlington Electric Department. The deal isn't sealed just yet, but if approved by voters in March, BED will purchase the dam. It's a transaction that could benefit BED as well as customers.
Burlington Electric has had plans to purchase the Winooski One Dam since the 1980s. After current ownership and BED settled on a purchase price of $16 million, the deal is finally moving forward and will allow Burlington Electric to provide a 100 percent renewable power supply.
"We've entered a number of wind contracts over the last 10 years that serve another 30 percent of the load. We have a contract with Hydro-Quebec, and now the Winooski One plant would actually be the last piece to reach that goal," said Ken Nolan, the manager of power resources.
Power generated by the plant will be directly connected to the city's distribution system and sent straight to customers, meaning less reliance on the regional power grid.
"I think it's a great opportunity for the city to take ownership of a good working power plant and have local management of our river resources," said Paul Hines, the assistant professor of engineering.
With the purchase of the Winooski One dam, Burlington Electric will be creating energy locally and keeping costs low.
Once the bonds that will be used to purchase the dam are paid off, kilowatts per hour will go down from about 8 cents to approximately 4 cents.
"Once the bonds are paid off, which is what's on the ballot in March, it essentially becomes cost-free. Just the operating costs to maintain the plant," Nolan said.
The dam puts out 30 million kilowatt hours per a year and will provide about 8 percent of Burlington's power. Although changes in the river flows could affect how much power is produced and the costs, Burlington Electric says the benefits outweigh any concerns.
"We've looked at a whole range of possibilities of what could happen and under most scenarios, we think this is a really good deal for Burlington ratepayers," Nolan said.
When looking at other utility company rates-- in 2012, Green Mountain Power customers paid about $15 a month for 25 kilowatt hours. Vermont Electric Co-op customers paid a little under $19. Burlington Electric customers had some of the lowest rates at just over $11 a month.
Hi Jo,
How encouraging, hopeful, laudatory! Vermont is first!
I'm reading Thom Hartmann's The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight, and David is reading Al Gore's The Future, both books predict collapse of civilization if we don't get off fossil fuels, get off a consumer mentality, and recognize the complexity, intricacy, and fragility of nature. They talk of the mindset that said nature was for human use and we could do anything we wanted to creatures, plants, water, people to fulfill our own needs.
That's one reason I think people in modern societies are lonely, choose to cling to ideologies and religion to fill that terrible gap caused by declaring nature a thing for our use. It's a living world that we are related to, and we must find a way to help it and all of us survive.
I was also thinking how healthy it was to go to the Dean meetups. We met a diverse group of people in the community, discussed issues, got to know each other, and came away with feeling we were real participants in our communities and the world.
Thanks, Jo. Well worth reading and emulating.
well said Pat! Howard's run brought me in contact with some of the nicest, smartest people that I know - and gave me the first hope since 9/11 that we could turn around the madness that was Bush and Co. you and many others were like a beacon in the darkness to me and still are to this day. xoxoxo
Supporting Howard Dean was certainly one of the healthiest, most sane things I've ever done. And one of the most rewarding, too. . . .
Hallo all!
Thanks, Barb and Shirlee and all! I am okay, though really finding this muck in my field of vision frustrating.
Jo, I too and utterly tickled that Burlington is going all clean energy, and that Vermont once again leads the nation in what matters!!
Pat, I agree about the need to see the world not as ours to use. In the Judeo-Christian faith(s) the story of Creation has been used to suggest that humans have dominion over the Earth and this somehow means we can use it up! A more intelligent comprehension of Genesis 1:27-28, however, intends that humans be stewards of the earth, not users. Here's why:
"God does indeed call men and women to exercise radah, or dominion, over creation. But the real question is: What sort of dominion? According to verse 27, the answer is clear: a dominion that is in the image, or likeness, of God. Humans, in other words, are to rule over creation in a way that is consistent with the way God rules...
"Consider Psalm 72:8, the only time, significantly enough, that radah is used in the Old Testament to describe God or God’s activity: “May God have dominion”—or, radah—“from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.” The psalmist then proceeds to describe the nature of God’s rule: “For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight” (72:12-14). When used in connection with God, the potentially violent connotations of radah suggest instead a more generous sort of kingship. God, the psalmist writes, does not exploit or dominate or consume recklessly. God does not use His power to hurt, but rather to heal. God values what cannot be replaced. God works to preserve life, not to destroy it."
http://www.christianethicstoday.com/cetart/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.main&ArtID=1172
You all have been busy thinking and communicating today --here in GSO we are preparing for a six to ten inch snowfall! I know that is not much elsewhere, but we just
don!t/didn't have that type of climate. Everyone laying in
supplies an hunkering down ready to see what the morning brings.
Thanks for the probiotic info, Jo. I do take a good one along with consuming lots of yogurt which I love and
it is so versatile. I have yet to have a need for
it as a topical cure, but I will keep it in mind :) :) :)
Puddle --you must be in the path of this storm also.
Stay safe and don't go to town:)
stay safe Shirlee! that is why I am so worried about so many in the south being hit with snow and cold and freezing rain, I know how dangerous it is even here where we are well prepared for it for long months each year. I hope people just stay off the roads until they can clear it all away. do you have a place to go to if your power goes out?
Thanks, Listener. This is enlightening, hopeful, sane. I'll read this again tomorrow and click on the link.
Been a long day, so will say good night. It's good to be here with you.
Absolutely NOT going to town for a goodsum while. Nancy did a bit of grocery shopping for me today, along with hers, bless her heart, so I'm heading into the storm with a couple of avocados and a lot of roast beef.
Shirlee, I'm glad you are hunkered down and ready to endure a real New England style blizzard! I hope you get to watch the snow fall and can enjoy the beauty, and don't end up with an ice storm because that is so much more dangerous. If you have an easy way to stick your hand outside, see if you can catch some snowflakes on a balk cloth and look at them under a magnifying glass! It's true that no two are exactly alike. If you lose power, will you still have a heat source? We usually keep matches and emergency candles handy, along with a flashlight. We also always buy ice cream incase the power goes out. Be sure to keep a spoon handy. ;-)
balk cloth should read BLACK cloth! LOL!
I'm pretty sure they have the map upside-down again because we're only suppose to get 3-6" of snow up here. My family near Boston may get two feet of snow. I think the worst we've ever had is 5 ft of snow on the ground at once, and about 3 ft of it came in one storm.
I am so grateful to Nancy for supplying you, puddle! What a lovely neighbour she is (again…still) !!!
*supposed
(can't seem to type tonight!)
Yes, thank you to Nancy the Good Neighbor for keeping you in mind, Puddle.
Jo, thanks--the power does go out in some of these old buildings. But according to our manager this one has never lost power--even before we had our own transformer. These two large building which were a retail/wholesale hardware business for close to a century were converted to apartments 25 years go. More likely that Brenda in her sturdy 1920's house
would lose power and end up over here.
Snowflakes are beautiful. We did that all the time in Michigan as kids. Take good care of that eye, Listener!
Shirlee my concern is heavy snow taking out tree limbs which in turn take out power lines. unless your power lines are all buried this is a real possibility in a storm like this. could you or Brenda just call your city offices to confirm where there may be shelter with a power back up just in case that happens?
this is really, really bad.
clip... ATLANTA – Snow, sleet and freezing rain were creeping across parts of the South on Tuesday, the beginning of a three-day storm system potentially more devastating than the blast that paralyzed much of the region two weeks ago.
National Weather Service meteorologist Michael Musher said ice accumulation forecasts "remain mind-boggling if not historical" in cities such as Atlanta, Athens and Augusta in Georgia, Columbia, S.C., and Raleigh, N.C.
"High ice accumulations will make travel impossible," the National Weather Service reported in an advisory Tuesday. "This has the potential to be a catastrophic event. Widespread power outages are possible as ice accumulates on trees and power lines and brings them down."
President Obama declared an emergency for the state of Georgia. The storm ultimately will target more than 100 million people, scores of major roads and many major airline hubs from Texas to Georgia, New York and Massachusetts this week, AccuWeather reported.
We are west of the ice line that is projected. All lines in downtown area are buried. Doctor appt changed.
Plenty of food and water. Brenda works just a few blocks
away. Happy to stay inside and watch from my second storey balcony window. Even our parking lots have a coat
of brine. Stay warm everyone, this baby is moving from south to north. Take care, Puddle.
Shirlee, Jo is right. North Carolina is going to be hit hard by this. It would be a difficult storm HERE even with all our experience and resources. I don't mean to scare you, only to second that you find out where the shelters are and know whom to call for assistance as needed. Keep the list with your flashlight. Does your building have a generator?
Here are some helpful Li is to help us all keep track. The first comes via a meteorological student friend named Zachary Labe (blog name= Blizzard92) at Cornell. The second is his blog, and the third is another blogger's weather blog. They tend to concentrate on Pennsylvania, but they're all armchair weather buffs who love snow and storms and will be discussing the storm real-time. Feel free to post!! They are very nice people and you will usially get swift responses.
http://www.meteo.psu.edu/~fxg1/ewallhires.html
Scroll down to find the blog part:
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/Blizzard92/comment.html?entrynum=276#commenttop
Pcroton's blog, where I see that Sullivanweather has posted! Sully used to run his own weather blog and it was the best anywhere. But now he works three jobs. You can trust his take on things.
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/Pcroton/comment.html?entrynum=18#commenttop
If you feel skittish about posting but have questions, post them here and I'll post them there for you.
They are calling this a superstorm of historic proportions, and unfortunately this time it is NOT HYPE!!
Li is = Links
unusially = unusually
(I typed all that on my iPhone, so forgive typos.)
so glad to hear that Shirlee!
Not to worry, lines buried, building has it's own transformer. More danger for me going out and
being in close contact with groups of people
with who knows what bugs. Immune system
is horrible. Thanks for your concern--yep we
know this is unprecedented. City bus service
which normally runs till midnight is stopping
service at 6:30. Lots of bus riders in this town.
listener, HEP needs a front page. I tried several times, but keep getting a "whoops" notification (so maybe you are, too?).
Puddle, so glad to see you here. Thought maybe your
phone line was out.
Nope. No sign of any weather at all (save that it's cold).
Whoo hop! Sully's back!! Best weather blog ever!!
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/sullivanweather/show.html
puddle, there IS a front page over at HEP. It's about President Lincoln's birthday. Strange that you can't see it.
Prolly didn't see it because it was posted several hours after my comment, lol!
Bit of snow here; just a skiff so far. Still cold. Listened for several hours to Richmond radio: they really are having a helluva time.
Ohhhh, now I see what you mean, puddle!!
I must have set the page to post at 4:20pm one days but forgot to tell it what time to post, so it just borrowed the time it was. I hate it when that happens!!
No, wait, it's worse than that! I didn't actually have anything ready to post for today! Yikes! I tell you, I've been so sidetracked by this eye issue this week!
I've remedied the problem at least!
Our weather guys just went from 4-6" to 10-15"--which hadn't been mentioned before an hour ago. Yikes.
yes I guess this one has been hard to plot - they took us from 3 - 6" to 8 - 12" yesterday. stay safe m'dear!
thanks for the link to Sully's blog, listener! bookmarked and will check often - his current entry is quite intriguing!
Stay safe all of you on the East Coast. I will worry until this has all passed. Down right balmy here in Seattle.
Hugs all around.
All safe here in Greensboro. We got 4-6 inches
of the bloody white stuff yesterday. Most places,
offices, in town are closed or having limited hours.
Coffee shops of which there are several seem open
for at least limited hours. More fine white flakes
blowing in from the west.???
thanks for the update Shirlee! our snow will start to move in later today and they say it will really hit us overnight. I hear that DC is virtually closed down. what a mess.
We have a whole bunch: looks like at least a foot. And the weather peeps have upped it to a total of 18-24". . . .
Tis very pretty, and the Goobey is in *heaven*!!
Stay safe and warm, Puddle. Brenda and her long time friend and work partner closed the office for today. Any planning for Fun Fourth will need to be done by phone, text, etc. So, she is home making soup and
banana bread--some of which will end up over here I am sure!
P.S. Supposed to be in the forties tomorrow :):)
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