I enjoyed 24 hours on the train. Great views, time to relax, listen to music... and nap. Added bonus.... SUN!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
The sanctuary of music
2-27-10 traveling brain
I enjoyed 24 hours on the train. Great views, time to relax, listen to music... and nap. Added bonus.... SUN!
I enjoyed 24 hours on the train. Great views, time to relax, listen to music... and nap. Added bonus.... SUN!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Seeking a shift in brain waves
2-25-10 frozen brain
I am still struggling to find my inner peace today…. My personal weather is still gloomy. I came to KC on Saturday, arriving to the most beautiful brown grass, sunny skies and temperatures around 36 degrees…. This seemed like Heaven to me! But within an hour of my arrival, the snow began to fall here.
Oh yes, it was a gorgeous snow, huge wet flakes, falling from the sky… spring-like snow which melts on ground contact… but into the evening the snow starting piling up and covered my beautiful brown grass. Temperatures which should average 45 degrees in KC this time of year, were as cold as Iowa.
My gloom continues as I think about how Bin Laden really pulled one over on us. The air planes were painful *bee stings. But our reaction, instead of swatting at the insect (Afghanistan in 2002)…. Was instead to spend our whole pay check on calling Orkin to spray over at an "evil" house across town (Iraq, if you can‘t follow my analogy)…. Because someone convinced us that was where the beehive was located.
Now, all our money is spent, along with the tax cut money early in GW’s first term. The theory of that move, I’ll never understand. Give more money to the rich, so they can be more generous to the poor?…Oh are they trying that “trickle down thing again!?”…. Oh ya,.... and so they can create more jobs for the poor…. Well I wonder where all those jobs were in 2000 to 2009? Hows that working for you Sarah? Funny I never heard how successful THAT was!
I apologize for my mood….. Which I hope and pray will be put to rest when I board a train this evening, heading for the SW. I hope my dandelion-weeds will soon turn to golden flowers! I won’t allow myself to blog again until my brain shifts!....
Until then.....
*footnote: I realize if you lost a loved-one on 9-11, my analogy seems heartless, to equate 9-11 with a bee sting. Lost of life is always painful, no matter the cause. I read 36,000 people in the US die of seasonal flu per year.... So I'm referring more to the numbers lost in my analogy. Sorry...I'm really NOT trying to be like Ann Coulter here.
I am still struggling to find my inner peace today…. My personal weather is still gloomy. I came to KC on Saturday, arriving to the most beautiful brown grass, sunny skies and temperatures around 36 degrees…. This seemed like Heaven to me! But within an hour of my arrival, the snow began to fall here.
Oh yes, it was a gorgeous snow, huge wet flakes, falling from the sky… spring-like snow which melts on ground contact… but into the evening the snow starting piling up and covered my beautiful brown grass. Temperatures which should average 45 degrees in KC this time of year, were as cold as Iowa.
My gloom continues as I think about how Bin Laden really pulled one over on us. The air planes were painful *bee stings. But our reaction, instead of swatting at the insect (Afghanistan in 2002)…. Was instead to spend our whole pay check on calling Orkin to spray over at an "evil" house across town (Iraq, if you can‘t follow my analogy)…. Because someone convinced us that was where the beehive was located.
Now, all our money is spent, along with the tax cut money early in GW’s first term. The theory of that move, I’ll never understand. Give more money to the rich, so they can be more generous to the poor?…Oh are they trying that “trickle down thing again!?”…. Oh ya,.... and so they can create more jobs for the poor…. Well I wonder where all those jobs were in 2000 to 2009? Hows that working for you Sarah? Funny I never heard how successful THAT was!
I apologize for my mood….. Which I hope and pray will be put to rest when I board a train this evening, heading for the SW. I hope my dandelion-weeds will soon turn to golden flowers! I won’t allow myself to blog again until my brain shifts!....
Until then.....
*footnote: I realize if you lost a loved-one on 9-11, my analogy seems heartless, to equate 9-11 with a bee sting. Lost of life is always painful, no matter the cause. I read 36,000 people in the US die of seasonal flu per year.... So I'm referring more to the numbers lost in my analogy. Sorry...I'm really NOT trying to be like Ann Coulter here.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The power of observation
2-24-10 a clear brain
The artist in me likes this post at Synch-ro-ni-zing so much I wanted to share it.
Thanks to fellow blogger Ruth..
My art teacher always says that she is not teaching me to paint, but rather she is teaching me to SEE.
Life is amazing and beautiful if you look with childlike eyes.
The child sees a pretty flower for Mother.... what do you see?
The artist in me likes this post at Synch-ro-ni-zing so much I wanted to share it.
Thanks to fellow blogger Ruth..
My art teacher always says that she is not teaching me to paint, but rather she is teaching me to SEE.
Life is amazing and beautiful if you look with childlike eyes.
The child sees a pretty flower for Mother.... what do you see?
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
About Lent
2-23-10 rambling brain
Traditional Lent has been thought as a time to repent and prepare for Easter. Often something is “given up” for Lent, like meat or chocolate. My church seems to not focus on giving up, but rather “adding to” during this time of preparation. Adding more prayer, being more focused on God in our lives…. Doing for others.
I’ve decide my Lenten preparation will revolve around Being in the world, but not of the world.
This is a tall order spoken of in the Bible, and encouraged and practiced by many of the world religions.
I believe this basically means not to worry about present day conditions of the world and to not worry about who is in power. After all Jesus, came at a time of Roman rule, and he did not say.... take up arms and fight the government. Instead, he teaches us to look for our security and happiness in the "Kingdom of God".
So I believe I will need to find some moderation when reading the news daily and listening to every doom and gloom commentary out there…. I don’t want to be ignorant of world events…. Yet, I don’t want to get caught up in the worry of it all. There has to be a balance, and my focus needs to be relying on God’s love, grace and peace.
I don’t understand when the Tea Party people want fewer taxes and less government intrusion on our lives, yet they are the ones who want to control personal choices such as marriage and child bearing.
Often they speak of “going back to the beliefs of the Founding Fathers” (and than can't even name who they are)…. Assuming that these beliefs were all Christian based…. Well how about the practice of slavery, women were voiceless and powerless, and native American’s were killed or discarded all in the name of progress and profits. That doesn’t sound like the Christianity I know.
I’ve been reading a book by Jim Wallis called “Rediscovering Values, on Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street” . I can recommend this book.
Wallis warns us that we can’t go back to normal, since normal is what got us into the economic crisis in the first place. People worship the free market and this has become our nation’s False Idol.
He writes about how caring for the poor is not just a moral duty, but critical for the common good… it makes economic sense. I wonder why “common good” scares people into thinking “socialism”…. Like it’s evil?... Jesus talks about helping all people, and teaches about the principle of abundance, of having enough if we all share.
It’s so easy to be confused and broken when I separate myself from kindness, love, and forgiveness: the basic elements in the "Kingdom of God". Lent is a time to focus my attention back to these.
Traditional Lent has been thought as a time to repent and prepare for Easter. Often something is “given up” for Lent, like meat or chocolate. My church seems to not focus on giving up, but rather “adding to” during this time of preparation. Adding more prayer, being more focused on God in our lives…. Doing for others.
I’ve decide my Lenten preparation will revolve around Being in the world, but not of the world.
This is a tall order spoken of in the Bible, and encouraged and practiced by many of the world religions.
I believe this basically means not to worry about present day conditions of the world and to not worry about who is in power. After all Jesus, came at a time of Roman rule, and he did not say.... take up arms and fight the government. Instead, he teaches us to look for our security and happiness in the "Kingdom of God".
So I believe I will need to find some moderation when reading the news daily and listening to every doom and gloom commentary out there…. I don’t want to be ignorant of world events…. Yet, I don’t want to get caught up in the worry of it all. There has to be a balance, and my focus needs to be relying on God’s love, grace and peace.
I don’t understand when the Tea Party people want fewer taxes and less government intrusion on our lives, yet they are the ones who want to control personal choices such as marriage and child bearing.
Often they speak of “going back to the beliefs of the Founding Fathers” (and than can't even name who they are)…. Assuming that these beliefs were all Christian based…. Well how about the practice of slavery, women were voiceless and powerless, and native American’s were killed or discarded all in the name of progress and profits. That doesn’t sound like the Christianity I know.
I’ve been reading a book by Jim Wallis called “Rediscovering Values, on Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street” . I can recommend this book.
Wallis warns us that we can’t go back to normal, since normal is what got us into the economic crisis in the first place. People worship the free market and this has become our nation’s False Idol.
He writes about how caring for the poor is not just a moral duty, but critical for the common good… it makes economic sense. I wonder why “common good” scares people into thinking “socialism”…. Like it’s evil?... Jesus talks about helping all people, and teaches about the principle of abundance, of having enough if we all share.
It’s so easy to be confused and broken when I separate myself from kindness, love, and forgiveness: the basic elements in the "Kingdom of God". Lent is a time to focus my attention back to these.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Thawing in the USA?
2-22-10 hopeful brain
Sure things aren't perfect for everyone, and there is suffering, but I do believe actions taken have helped keep our country from a major depression crisis for now.
Some people wanted to do nothing.... just let the whole system fail.... the less government the better. But why would our country commit suicide like that?
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We are not out of the woods yet.... but we can not address the huge deficit until we are stable.
Some say we can't afford to pay for Health Care.... I believe we cannot afford NOT to act on Health Care. Health Care is part of the drain on US companies, and a reason to move jobs overseas where this cost is not directly paid for my an employer.
For example, As people loose jobs, the number of people with employee health care declines, then the pool of people and money declines, the insurance companies have to raise rates since the risk pool is smaller.
Another example, As insurance prices increase, people like my husband who have a choice in which insurance company to be carried by, seek out more inexpensive coverage.... again shrinking the pool of people and money for MY insurance company... thus my rates keep going up more and more.
AND when people get sick who don't have any coverage, someone ends up paying for it in the long run.... you and I do, by higher insurance rates. We all pay for everyone else already now, wouldn't it be better to have a more uniform and transparent system in place?
I just don't understand the concept of "free markets" when it comes to people's health.... but then there is a lot of things I don't understand about the world we live in......
.... sorry just rambling today.....
Sure things aren't perfect for everyone, and there is suffering, but I do believe actions taken have helped keep our country from a major depression crisis for now.
Some people wanted to do nothing.... just let the whole system fail.... the less government the better. But why would our country commit suicide like that?
">
We are not out of the woods yet.... but we can not address the huge deficit until we are stable.
Some say we can't afford to pay for Health Care.... I believe we cannot afford NOT to act on Health Care. Health Care is part of the drain on US companies, and a reason to move jobs overseas where this cost is not directly paid for my an employer.
For example, As people loose jobs, the number of people with employee health care declines, then the pool of people and money declines, the insurance companies have to raise rates since the risk pool is smaller.
Another example, As insurance prices increase, people like my husband who have a choice in which insurance company to be carried by, seek out more inexpensive coverage.... again shrinking the pool of people and money for MY insurance company... thus my rates keep going up more and more.
AND when people get sick who don't have any coverage, someone ends up paying for it in the long run.... you and I do, by higher insurance rates. We all pay for everyone else already now, wouldn't it be better to have a more uniform and transparent system in place?
I just don't understand the concept of "free markets" when it comes to people's health.... but then there is a lot of things I don't understand about the world we live in......
.... sorry just rambling today.....
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Too much snow
2-20-10 abundance brain
We are blessed with so much snow, we just don't know what to do with it all! We have now hit the record here in Des Moines of 5th the most snow in a season. I think we might even take over the #4 spot soon.
Pictures for my Oregon cousins.... enjoy!
Note these pictures don't include the snow we had on Friday. More is predicted for Sunday.....I'm not sure where to put it all! The good news it that I'm planning my escape....you see, there was a reason I shaved my legs this week!
We are blessed with so much snow, we just don't know what to do with it all! We have now hit the record here in Des Moines of 5th the most snow in a season. I think we might even take over the #4 spot soon.
Pictures for my Oregon cousins.... enjoy!
Note these pictures don't include the snow we had on Friday. More is predicted for Sunday.....I'm not sure where to put it all! The good news it that I'm planning my escape....you see, there was a reason I shaved my legs this week!
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