where all the dreams all hide...

I can't hardly stand the way a song lyric can rip ancient history out of the depths of your guts, splaying you wide open... tears burning in the corners of your eyes, sharp breath caught in the depths of a chest laden with memory... and yet, I can't imagine if I didn't have this undeniably beautiful ability. Perhaps that's what art is all about... as history writes new words on new pages each day of any particular life, someone out there happens across fragments of meaning finding a way to paint them into the skyline or meld them into the clay... here I find memory in the brand new, modern day lyrics, but my heart feels pangs from too many yesterdays ago... it'll always be a beautiful mystery, one I'll never be sure I want to stumble across, while simultaneously pining for another to come around... reminding me that I'm alive. Something here did it for me today... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j41mY4HQotk&feature=fvsr

Frustration with the First Amendment (momentarily)

Sitting in my car at a stoplight today, I was infuriated by the Mercedes SUV in front of me, and it's bumper stickers. "NOBAMA 2012" & "OneBigAssMistakeAmerica". I honestly had a moment where I felt a sort of inner-rage take over the area in & around my solar plexus, and in fact, I wanted to rev my engine & drive into & over; (crushing) this lone, impeccably white, Mercedes SUV & Obama 'naysayer'.

A long day at work & the hustle across town had me multi-tasking--listening to the regularly-scheduled afternoon program on our local NPR station (http://ipr.interlochen.org/), my mind was abuzz with the after work to do list (gardening, house-tidying & packing; grocery shopping, potluck-prepping, etc). In addition, I was on my way to the local hospital, where my young nephew Jack, was about to leave the recovery room after his first surgical procedure (a tonsil & adenoid-ectomy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonsillectomy), so I imagine that a part of my psyche was worried for him--I endured the same procedure when I was his age, some 31 years ago, and it hurt like hell.

So there I sat, at my red light in Traverse City, MI. Angry. Frustrated. Feeling almost violent. And then the light turned green & I shook my head (at myself). I would never hurt a flea (well, if it were chomping on my puppy Ruby I might!) But seriously... I am pro-peace, not pro-violence. My frustration is probably equally felt (albeit from the opposite vantage point) by said impeccably white Mercedes SUV driver... especially when they see things like these, on cars like mine...

The First Amendment Rules!

(spring is coming but...)

In the deep sleep of winter, where I come from, skylight is clear, stars twinklier, and the iridescent sheen of thousands of water-droplets-turned-glimmery-snowflakes grace us with sheer delight for months & months on end. Here in the northland, the wind howls and the icicles tingle and the trees creak--taught & sturdy. I love to hike in boots or snowshoes amidst nature's beauty, in the cold-cold-nose-hair-freezing bitterness--particularly after a fresh snow fall; and see what I can see...

test 2

so if I want to direct you to the company I work for Britten Banners then perhaps I did it correctly?

what about our FB page? Britten on FB

hmmm my blog says my tag is broken... I wonder...

test

This is a test .
To see if any of the html code work I'm trying to learn is sinking in.

Perhaps, after this paragraph break I will try a
line break
and then another bold and then maybe an underline sometimes I find that italics works although maybe it's only for me.

As much as I used to want to

center my title pages, aligning to the left works too

ok. enough....

"This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine"

“For fast-acting relief, try slowing down” - Lily Tomlin

SaveOurSairy

Although I have known Sairy for forever, and we've never been particularly close, I have always felt connected to her because of our dad's (who used to work together once upon a time) and because we are both a part of a three-sister clan (she also has a sweetheart brother Russell) (& we happen to be of similar ages & all grew up in Benzie County).

The thing about Sairy is that no matter what's going on, she shows up. I can look back at the past four years of living back in northern Michigan and although I don't make it to all the great events I'd like to, I can recall running into Sairy at so very many of the ones that really mattered to me (deeply--soulful ventures)--whether it was a poetry reading or art exhibit or live music in Bellaire, or a benefit for someone in need, or the support of an amazing cause like Eco Seeds or Higher Grounds Trading Co. (or so many others).

Sometimes, it was just running into her at Oryana Natural Foods Market, seeing her on one of the sidewalks in Traverse City, or a favorite time; just listening to her talk, lovingly, about her work, on a summer's afternoon on her sister Rachael's porch.

Sairy has been & continues to be a lovely source of inspiration & I wish more than anything for her 100% health! Much LOVE Sairy!!

Please stop by the web site built in her honor if you cannot make the fundraiser tonight at Higher Grounds in Traverse City, MI.

http://www.SaveOurSairy.org