Flinging Rotten Organic Tomatoes

Thanksgiving Means. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

"Bite More Than A Mud Cookie"

Designed for World Poverty Event October 17, 2009

The Lakota Tribe is just one group that incorporated into their heritage the Dream Catcher.  Their story is a little different on how the Dream Catcher came about.  Here is their version.  As written in the book titled:  American Indian Stories, Legends, and Other Writings (Penguin Classics) by Zitkala-Sa, Cathy N. Davidson, Ada Norris Published by: Penguin Books; (February 25, 2003) is as follows:

Long ago when the world was young, an old Lakota spiritual leader was on a high mountain and had a vision.  In his vision, Iktomi, the great trickster and teacher of wisdom, appeared in the form of a spider.  Iktomi spoke to him in a sacred language that only the spiritual leaders of the Lakota could understand.

As he spoke Iktomi, the spider, took the elder's willow hoop which had feathers, horse hair, beads and offerings on it and began to spin a web.  He spoke to the elder about the cycles of life...and how we begin our lives as infants and we move on to childhood, and then to adulthood. Finally, we go to old age where we must be taken care of as infants, completing the cycle.

"But," Iktomi said as he continued to spin his web, "in each time of life there are many forces -- some good and some bad. If you listen to the good forces, they will steer you in the right direction. But if you listen to the bad forces, they will hurt you and steer you in the wrong direction."

He continued, "There are many forces and different directions that can help or interfere with the harmony of nature, and also with the Great Spirit and all of his wonderful teachings."

All the while the spider spoke, he continued to weave his web starting from the outside and working towards the center.

When Iktomi finished speaking, he gave the Lakota elder the web and said...."See, the web is a perfect circle but there is a hole in the center of the circle."

He said, "Use the web to help yourself and your people to reach your goals and make good use of your people's ideas, dreams and visions.  If you believe in the Great Spirit, the web will catch your good ideas -- and the bad ones will go through the hole."

The Lakota elder passed on his vision to his people and now the Sioux Indians use the dream catcher as the web of their life.

It is hung above their beds or in their home to sift their dreams and visions.

The good in their dreams are captured in the web of life and carried with them...but the evil in their dreams escapes through the hole in the center of the web and are no longer a part of them.

They believe that the dream catcher holds the destiny of their future.

Sioux (pronounced /suː/) are a Native American and First Nations people. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation

Três ovos

Big Momma Robin, layed three eggs last night.

 

Big Momma Robin

 

RETURNS!

 

Feliz Primavera

We had two Robin nests, on opposite sides of our front porch, in the Spring of 2008. That was too close for comfort, and the birds fought for the right to nest at our home. One mother abandoned her nest, and the two eggs became food for a  racoon.  The other nest soon had 3 baby Robins.

In the Spring of 2009, a Robin built onto the same nest where the three birds flew away. We thought that was odd. Perhaps the bird was from the same family?  Two days ago the double nest was found on the porch floor. Now it is up again. Who intervened on behalf of the Robin family? Will a mother Robin use this nest again?

So the beat goes on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Star Wars action found in the new Star Trek movie

The orchestration is fantastic!  The music pulls the entire film together.  I just wanted to sit in the movie theatre until the music stopped. In fact, I wanted the music to continue after the credits stopped.

Note: The film also has abundant humor.

This film has more flavors from the Star Wars Series, than from the Star Trek Series. However the character names are from Star Trek.  Special effects have been mastered in the digital world, but J.J.Abrams changes pace from cut to cut and scene to scene, keeping the senses awake. There are extreme close ups, faded blurry, shots, and just plan abstract colors floating on the screen, that almost turn the stomach. Then he cuts back to clarity, before the viewer is forced over the edge, a position that Jim Kirk finds himself throughout the film.

J.J.Abrams, clearly a talented filmmaker, brings new life to a popular genre.

 

Virtual Inauguration Celebration 2009

 “’One Community’ Virtual Inauguration  Celebration 2009” Participants (Top Left to Bottom Right)

Artist:  Shirleyanne Ratajczak     Media: Photography     Style: Mannerism

Top  Row:  Rich Ratajczak-Leaman, Tomb Guard and Presidential Honor Guard, Arlington National Cemetery, Old Guard, Ft Myers, VA, Waterville High School Class, 2005; Francis Ratajczak, wife of Frederick E. Ratajczak, (deceased 1980 , Frederick E Ratajczak is a combination of two deceased soldiers on the Viet Nam War Memorial {Robert E. Ratajczak and Frederick L. Cristman}); Henry Beck, Maine State Representative for Waterville & Oakland, WHS, 2005; Mike Michaud, Maine Congressional Representative; Mark, CS (Customer Service Representative) wrote his last word of poetry in the Composition Book that he started in a New York Catholic High School; Bust of Roosevelt, Campobello, NB;  Korean War Monument, Mall, Washington DC; David, CS; David Oheir, Waterville Selectman, WHS, 2005; Mr. Ashton, Waterville High School, Baseball Coach and Government Teacher; WWII Navy Vet, Holding the picture of his ship, at the WWII Monument, Washington DC.

Row 2: Statue of Abraham Lincoln, Birthday Bicentennial, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC; Tammy, Receptionist for Outpatient Psychiatry, Maine General Medical Center, (Background Mural is on the wall at Behavior Health Service Center, at the Seton Unit.); Luiza Brown, Artist, Proposed the concept of a Virtual Inauguration, the inspiration for this Photo Print; John Baldacci, Governor of the State of Maine, in Orono, Maine.

Row 3: “Miss Shirleyanne” Ratajczak, Teen Teacher and Artist of this Photo Print; Richard Ratajczak-Leaman Sr., Artist, Writer, Husband of Shirleyanne; Hillary Clinton, Campaign Rally in Orono, Maine.

Row 4: Richard Ratajczak-Leaman II, age 17; Michael Ratajczak, age 3; Barack Obama, 44^th President of the United States, at his Campaign Rally, in Bangor, Maine.

Row 5:  (Center Photograph) Today’s Show - Foods Table Set-up Coordinator.

Row 6: Audience Member, Today’s Show, on the plaza; Judy, CS and hobbyist painter; Friend of Carmen, at Obama Rally; Carmen, CS, at Obama Rally; Nia little friend of Luiza Brown, shaking a Celebration Stick; Ruby Ratajczak, wife of Steve Ratajczak, Acting Patriarch of the Ratajczak Clan since 1949 (Death of Stephen Joseph Ratajczak, Father of five Ratajczak kids.)

Row 7: Kim Brown and son, Luiza Brown’s daughter and grandson who seems fascinated by the glitter of the Celebration Stick; Lorraine, CS and knitting hobbyist.

Friendly Folks Island: Row 7: Anonymous Hand with Mug from Dalhous University, Canada.

Row 8: Neena, CS; Kathy, CS; Claire, CS and knitting hobbyist; Row 9:  Jane, CS; and Beth, CS.

In the Water:Row 10: Ben Keene, CS and Visual Artist.

Row 11: Baby and Mommy Hands: Heidi and Boden Leaman, (Born:  January, 2009) Noah Leaman’s Family, WHS 1992: Justin, CS, WHS; “Yes We Can” Poster from the Bangor Rally.

Row 12: Bottom Row: Sabrina Passos, Journalist, Friend of Rich Ratajczak-Leaman, picture taken in Brazil; Mike Ratajczak, age 30, Restoration Carpenter, WHS; Philip, CS; JFK Statue, with peace sign by Marcy, CS;  NEA Button supporting Obama; Ms. Harris, Current owner of 1605 Rowan Street, the Birth House of the Stephen Joseph Ratajczak and Laura Ratajczak Clan. (Ms. Harris, bought the house from Laura in the 1970’s, She was so impressed by the Ship Mural painted by Jackie Ratajczak, (deceased 1980)  that she never painted over it;  Faye, CS.

Are you getting sucked in?

Celebrate the Hope

Maine received it first installment of the Stimulas Package Funds this week. More people are unemployed and underemployed in the State. We still celebrate the Hope!

Presidents Come and Precidents Go!

  In the United States of America it is community that makes the difference.

Obama makes miracles in Maine?

NOT!  

It’s simply Democracy!  

Snow and Collins actually listen to their constituents’. Wake up members of Congress; see the struggling people in your District, the ones without jobs. You may be among them within 2 years.

Love a Healthy Heart on Valentines Day