farewell, and thanks

"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."

~ Robin Williams ~

oregon spring

The old saying goes:

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.

Going out like a lamb is not looking so good right now…

Let's just say I'm pretty sure nobody around here is in a big hurry to see the new film Noah.

a melancholy thursday afternoon

Fog

The fog comes

on little cat feet.

It sits looking 

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on.

- Carl Sandburg

saturday morning meanderings of an over-caffeinated mind...

(Secretary of State John Kerry, U.N. Envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. photo by Larry Downing, Associated Press)

I opened the Oregonian this morning, and saw this picture, which for some reason made me google the term "laurel wreath". 

Which led me to this entry in Wikipedia:

"In Greek mythology, Apollo is represented wearing a laurel wreath on his head. In ancient Greece wreaths were awarded to victors, both in athletic competitions, including the ancient Olympics made of wild olive-tree known as "kotinos" (κότινος), (sc. at Olympia) and in poetic meets; in Rome they were symbols of martial victory, crowning a successful commander during his triumph."

Then, of course I had to click the link for Apollo:

"In the Illiad, Apollo is the healer under the gods, but he is also the bringer of disease and death with his arrows, similar to the function of the terrible Vedic god of disease Rudra. He sends a terrible plague (λοιμός) to the Achaeans. The god who sends a disease can also prevent from it; therefore, when it stops, they make a purifying ceremony and offer him a hecatomb to ward off evil."

So, what is a hecatomb, you ask?  I won't go into the full description (you can click on the link above if you're that curious), but suffice to say it involves the sacrifice of a hundred cows, followed by a giant barbecue and feast (accompanied by lots of wine, of course), and much singing and praying. 

At this point, I'm starting to get a little unnerved by where all this is going: Syria > John Kerry > Greek mythology > plagues > barbecues. 

Maybe I should lay off the coffee until after I read the paper.

deja vu all over again

The Daily Show
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So, I always wondered about that...I guess history does repeat itself!

really?

Do you really think we'll willingly

 go back to the dark ages?

Sigh.

sleeping in haiku

cold autumn morning,
layered flannel, blanket, quilt:
perfect for dreaming.

w.w.l.d.?*

photo borrowed from this site

Did you know that Judgement Day is scheduled for May 21, 2011?   On that date, it is believed by many that those who are True Believers will be physically transported to Heaven in the Rapture to be judged by God for their Good Deeds. The rest of us have already been deemed incorrigible and will be left behind to experience The End Of The World As We Know It. 

photo borrowed from these folks

This all sounds fine to me. However, I do have a few questions, like:

• What time will the Rapture occur?   I'd really rather not be out on the road when all those True Believers are transported out of their cars to rise up to Heaven. 
• Will dead people really rise from their graves first?   This could make one heckuva mess. 
• When the Last Trumpet sounds to call all the faithful, what happens to the faithful who are deaf?   Maybe the Lord will have hand signals or flashing lights or something. 
• What will happen to all the pets?

The last question really is valid. What will happen to all the poor pets who have no souls? Is there a doggie heaven? Could the faithful really leave their pets to perish in all good conscience?

*What Would Lassie Do?

These questions have been nagging at me, so I've looked into this matter, and I've found that there is actually an organization devoted solely to the care of pets left behind in the Rapture. It seems a group of dedicated animal lovers, who also happen to be confirmed card-carrying atheists, are offering to adopt (for a small fee, of course) the pets of Christians expected to be transported to Heaven.

Eternal Earth Bound Pets are currently active in 26 states, now including even Illinois and Iowa. Unfortunately, they are not equipped to to accommodate all species and limit their services to dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and small caged mammals. (Sorry, no reptiles!) If you live in NH, VT, ID or MT, they can now also offer rescue services for horses, camels, llamas and donkeys.

They do have a few conditions, such as:

•  If  subscriber loses his/her faith and/or the Rapture occurs and subscriber is not Raptured (aka  is "left behind") EE-BP disclaims any liability; no refund will be tendered. 
• Should a relative residing within the rescue location not be Raptured and opts to retain the pet(s), EE-BP will not take possession of the pet(s).  No refund will be tendered. 

So, now our Christian friends can be swept up in the Rapture with a clear conscience, knowing their beloved pets will be cared for... 

And me? Well, all I can say is, it's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.


Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure Eternal Earthbound Pets has never heard of me, and this is not an endorsement of their services.

word week, day five

(photo by Dave Brown)

We must look funny to Someone,

Tumbling through the universe locked in a death grip with

   our tiny ball Earth and ripping her busily to pieces,

   trailing a stinking film of gas and pieces of satellites

   and mushroom and dust clouds.

Think of her new.

An unspoiled country lying open in the sun.

Think of oceans of beauty,

   instead of scattered puddles,

   muddy and drying up.

What can make the heart ache more than a billboard?

~Terry and Renny Russell

word week, day three

The power of words, continued...

Would you buy a used car from this man?

swept away by an emotional tsunami

Watching the events unfold around the world: revolution in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Bahrain; earthquakes and tsunami in Japan and New Zealand, all paralleling the footsteps of demonstrations in London, in Italy, and Wisconsin. I'm overwhelmed and saddened by the depth of the tragedies- the lives lost, the sacrifices made. Each day seems to bring more tragedy and upheaval, and I have to wonder how we humans will survive. I hope we can find the strength to carry on, to change and grow and learn from our massive mistakes and lapses in judgement. I know we have the tools. I pray we have the will to succeed.

the thrill is gone

Here's the living room at high noon today...it's dark.

Sighhhh...