Flinging Rotten Organic Tomatoes

Spud Shape Obsession

SHIRLEYANNE OF ME (Maine)

Oh what a beautiful thing this natural shape is.

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

Love a Healthy Heart on Valentines Day

Black Pain and/or White Ignorance

Can you imagine Obama in a George Washington Wig on Halloween?

Shocked! Well I, for one, would like to see him in a curly white wig. But, Halloween? Too close to Election Day, you say. He is just playing the race card. But, this is not about the color of the skin. The United States is a great melting pot, anyway. So what more to represent that tradition then a dark skinned man in a curly, long, white-hair wig, dressed as the first United States President.

Black Pain is not about wanting to be white, but about pain deep in the roots of the American Soul. Soil bloodied by all races, sexes, abilities and orientations. Black Pain, runs deep in the darkness. Real Black Woman just happen to be the super-model for this kind of suffering. Woman who show great strength and stature on the outside, but are crumbling on the inside. Black Woman are misunderstood, but so are all woman. Women don’t even understand women. Women become the image of a man’s imagination, and when successful, they destroy other women.

So who is willing to stand up for the rights of the oppressed and/or suffering?

It is the sensitive soul, without gender and/or a color façade. The spirit within, that rushes to the surface and makes changes in our world. God knows, we need change in America!

Flinging American Tradition #1

Almost Always Alone on Father's Day

When I was 18 months old my Father died. I didn't even consider Father's Day, a day of Celebration. I did not have a grandfather that was in my life to guide me, and I became the mother and father to my oldest son, who also longs for a father.

Today, I celebrated Father's Day with my husband, who's father died in World War II, when he was only 3 months old. He did have a grandfather that helped raise him. He often refers to his grandfather and cites the guidance that his grandparents gave him, he was loved just like Barack Obama.

My husband has 3 son's of his own, but Father's Day was not important to him, and none of his sons called him today. He is not happy, but he realizes that he pushed them out of the nest, when they were about 12 years old. He was a strong support to his children, when they were growing up. He feels that all values are placed in a human by age 5, and a good foundation needs to be set by that age.

At about age 5, the rest of the world begins to guide a child. "It takes the whole village to raise a child."
The United States of America is a large village. Be happy that you are not alone today on Father's Day. Congratulation to the Father's who are Celebrating this day with their children.

Your IQ is 145! HA, HA GOTSHA!

IQnet declares, after 20 quetions, "Your IQ is 145". REALLY?

It's a GOTSHA!

At 1 AM, can't sleep, so I answer 20 questions for fun. To find out the score, I gotta go through, promotion after promotion. Be sure to answer NO or the SPAM will come. There is also a catch to answering NO, you have to answer YES to at least one offer, or you will get stuck. You will not advance until you 'check it out'. Internet Advertising can drive you INSANE!

IQ 145 does not make me a Genius, but I got to the end of the Promotions without buying, signing up, or linking to anything else.

Now, that's what makes me SMART!

Human Chameleon Trusts Political Senses

We all blend into our immediate environment, from time to time. This revelation came to me when I was quite young, so I just called myself a “Human Chameleon“. My senses tell me what to do. When I try to think, I think too much, and multiple options, make it difficult for me to make a choice. So I have learned to trust my immediate senses.

Listen to your gut when you step into the voting booth, June 10. Maine Democrats have too many choices, especially in Congressional District 1.

After the trials of becoming a Delegate, at the Maine Democratic Convention, I stayed to listen to speeches. How crazy is that? But the speeches were good, and I felt strong about the future of the Maine Democratic Party.

My top three in order:
Chelli Pingree: Worked with Common Cause and has the most experience in Washington, D.C. She could easily work with the current Congressional members for change. WINNER
Adam Cote: He has the support of the Maine Veterans, and his speech was Heart Felt.
Eathan Strimling: Strong speaker, strong handshake. “Bring your values to Washington!”

Sorry, just can’t trust Tom Allen. WINNER

Tom Ledue made a gallant effort, with little recognition.

Henry Beck - State Representative District #76 - Waterville Native. WINNER

Trust your own Gut when voting!

comment:

tom allen is a really good guy
he has a great voting record
He's a smart guy......
He might actually win.

we're in the second district
but chellie pingree is great.....
she had a great record in the maine legislature

and i was also really impressed with brennan at the convention

ethan strimling seems like a demagogue to all i spoke with
but he has a good anti war message

cote is just and ex republican cashing in on the obvious trends

blah blah blah
blabby abby

Stained Glass Up Front

The old Philadelphia Victorian Row House, showed the sun inside, in multicolored rays. The color and window fragmentation, shaped my personality and aesthetic.

Truth Be - This is my angle of fear

The current owner of my Birth House, let me inside to take some pictures. My memory of this place became real.

As a small child, somebody dangled me from the top of the stairs. I don’t know who. But each time I look at this picture, I remember the fear of falling, thus my fear of heights.

It is this angle, that is in burned into my brain.

Now that I know this angle of anxiety, will my fear go away?

Truth Be - Today I have a mystery anxiety

Suddenly, my heart is racing. My stomach is turning, and I do not know why. The current Indiana Jones' film, had several scenes that made my stomach roll. Certain camera angles on high cliffs, drew me into the scene. I am afraid of heights, therefore, I had a temporary sensation of falling. The red ants, just made my stomach turn.

This morning I had an appointment with my Family Practice Doctor, who I have known for almost 30 years. The only anxious moment was when the nurse took my blood pressure. 144/88, boarder line. I was afraid of taking more medication. The doctor does want to see a pattern of blood pressure readings overtime. Of course, he recommended that I exercise more. Even when digging up soil to place a garden.

It is true, that I have not done as much exercise in May, as I did in prior months. It is also true that the mail I received today was not very encouraging. But, I am not angry, just anxious. I have a medication called, Lorazepam to calm me down. Only .05 will calm me without making me sleep. If I take two, I will definitely go to sleep.

My stomach is still turning. It can’t be what I ate? Could it? How long will this anxiety last? I will just go to sleep, because I am stuck in an unknown place. Perhaps my dreams will give me an answer? Perhaps I found the key that opens the door to the other side of my mind?