Murray the Mole

Murray the Mole!

The unusual adventures of one strange mole!

 

Murray the mole steals a baby

Murray the mole had stolen Mr. Nosey’s baby. Danny Dodo saw him do it, but didn’t want to get involved. Furry, birdie balls without any feet couldn’t be much help. Clammy clam didn’t have any eyes, so he didn’t see anything! Will Mr. Nosey ever get back his baby?

Murray heads on home

Many didn’t understand why Murray had stolen a baby. Kidnapping, after all, is a very serious crime! If only everyone had known that Murray’s wife, Kay, had asked Murray to bring home some jelly beans after work, then they might have understood. Murray was a blind mole, who belonged underground more than he did above, and thinking he’d found a nice big jelly bean, he’d snatched it up to take home to his loving wife, Kay.  Kay had waited for quite awhile for the next installment in Murray’s life. She had been told by her good friend, Pam, that there "Wouldn’t be a next episode." But, Kay, knowing Murray as she did, knew that Murray always had something going on. Little did she know, as the village police force drove up to her home, that Murray had made, yet, another mistake in the "above ground world."

The Popo are waiting for him

Being thoroughly ashamed is never a good defense. The Law is the Law no matter how unkind. The law is the law no matter how blind. “Sort of like me!” thought Murray. “If only I had recognized that tiny squeaking noise as a plea for help!” “Though I’d never seen a jelly bean that made noises, I figured one that size had to be unusual.” The sentence wasn’t too harsh due to Murray’s simple mistake. Many of his friends came to testify that he was a decent person, though somewhat often confused. Murray was sentenced to 120 hours of community service which amounted to working in the Mayor’s garden. Murray didn’t mind the punishment, as he had dug through and under the Mayor’s backyard garden for many wonderful years. The mole hole was filled in and Kay Mole had to live with her sister while Murray served out his sentence working in the garden of the Mayor’s backyard. Kay missed the view of the mountains and of the crashed space ship, but she soon learned to adapt to their new life. With the new, unknown holes Murray had dug under the Mayor’s garden, they were able to build a considerably larger home with the additional added feature of fresh vegetables readily available by just pulling them down from the ceilings of the many tunnels Murray had dug.  Baby Nose complained of headaches for many years from being carried upside down. Therapy and aspirins proved to help. It wasn’t until Baby Nose was grown up that he finally understood why his father didn’t come and save him while he was screaming at the start of the abduction. Baby Nose finally figured out that short legs make for short steps. Kids are like that! Yeah, they are!

Murray the mole - part 4

At home, doing his usual thing. Mrs. Mole is happy, finally. Ah! Settling into the daily routine of life at a new home. And, it has become such a pleasant place! Still a little work to do in some of the chambers, but so far, it has all of the necessities a mole family could possibly want. Though Murray doesn't know that soon they "might need that little, extra, special room!" You know, the one with a special, tiny bed in it!

Murray is starting to wonder

Murray didn’t get it at first! Kay was humming all of the time and baking a lot. He thought that might be because she was happy having a new home, and he did enjoy all of the good cooking. He noticed that Kay was gaining weight but attributed the gain to all of the delicious desserts she was making. Then, one day while feeling around in a spare room, he felt a crib!

Art of the Mind - in pencil

Art of the Mind in pencil

Speaking without thinking...

There is a time when you hear something so absurd that you quickly jerk your head around as you wish you hadn't heard what you just did!  And if you already have a sore neck, it now hurts even worse!

Directions!

Directions for a new year!  Here we are!  The start of a new year!  I'm contemplating my many avenues on which to travel this year.  A new beginning.  Truly, there is only one way that I will go.  I have given up traveling like Dr. R. W. Bernard said in his book, The Hollow Earth, "To go where Admiral Byrd went and saw , not ice and snow, but land and mountains, and an animal resembling a mammoth!"  So, I will quit seeking the hollow earth or as my friends would say, "That's crazy talk!", and seek instead another path, another way.  Perhaps I've been thinking of Marco Polo too much lately! 

Having no clue!
Don't you just hate it when someone asks you a question on a subject you know nothing about!  And it becomes much worse when there are a lot of people milling around, and they all stop and look at you expecting some wise answer.  Everything becomes so quiet that you can hear the crickets chirping.  You try to figure out something to say that will make sense, but nothing comes to mind as time stands still.  Don't you just hate that feeling!

The Maestro!
The Maestro tried to teach us music theory and how to play instruments.  But as he said after he threw his baton, "You just aren't directable!"  We were eager to learn music, but I guess we just didn't have the necessary qualifications to play music.  So, the Maestro came up with another plan - "Directing us in the way we needed to go!" or so he said.  He told us about a man named Timothy Leary who had stated, "It is time to go up into outer space as we have gone as far as we can on this planet!"  He then twirled his baton, and off we went in the directions he indicated.  I wondered if he was really trying to get rid of us, but I guess he would know better than us about our abilities and where we should be!

Cuddling!
Not everyone likes to cuddle though many people find it very rewarding.  Kittens and puppies will cuddle up to each other and take a nap!  It's a way to show affection for one another.  But not everyone likes a close embrace due to personal differences.  If you huddle and don't become befuddled or fall in a puddle you may find that you like to cuddle!  If you like to nestle and snuggle you may find you like to cuddle!  Perhaps the world just needs more cuddling to get us through our hard times!  I know I do!

Arguing over nothing!
We humans certainly like to argue!  I wish that it wasn't so, but we have so many different beliefs, ideas, and attitudes on this planet which keep us from seeing eye-to-eye.  There are people who try to teach us to love one another, but just like the Hatfields and McCoys, we all too often can't stop the cycles of hate, mistrust, and violence that overtake us.  If we could only stop these cycles and get along with each other, the world would definitely breathe a much needed sign of relief!  But, that is easier said than done, and sometimes we have to start with baby steps.  So if you read this, try to speak to everyone you meet and just say "Hello" to them in a friendly voice.  Though we may get slapped or kicked a few times, I think eventually the thought will spread!

Balancing in Life!
Balancing in life can be very difficult if you don't make the correct decisions.  Sometimes we balance between the good and the bad, between the horror and where we want to be, and that can be very stressful.  It is also very difficult due to the precarious nature of existence.  "I'm up on a tightrope" sang Leon Russell, "One side's hate and one is hope!"  Still, as Leon sang we are putting on a show for all to see!  So, balance the best you can and stay up on that tightrope until you are able to land safely on the good side!

Meatball Paradise!

There was a rumor going around that Meatballs would soon be made into square shapes, and a large group decided it was time to hide out.  They already had a fear of being eaten, but thinking about being made into squares so they couldn't roll off of a table just was too much for them!  They had long ago learned that when someone sneezed they could roll off a table and onto the floor and thus escape out a door.  They have now found a paradise!  They are safe and free to move about in this new location.  All it took was to shape some legs and they were on their own!

Election Madness!

I became so weary from the constant, daily phone calls from pollsters wanting me to listen to their candidate's platform that I wanted to disconnect my phone.  I was sick of my mailbox being full of political mail.  I was tired of the hourly campaign ads on TV that were so hateful.  I am now in the aftermath of the election madness, and I don't think anything will be improved!  After all, "How can you fix insanity!"

Singing loudly for all to hear!

Our singing group heard that "The best way of spreading Christmas cheer is singing loudly for all to hear!"  So, we decided to try out our singing abilities on the TV show "America's got talent!"  If we had only known that singing in key would have greatly helped our chances, we would have taken that musical path.  But we all agreed that singing very loudly was the best way to win.  At least we had a small spot in the blooper segment!

Oology!

A person that likes to collect eggs may be called an "Oologist!"  However, not everyone wants their eggs collected, especially the ones that lose their eggs when the Cowbird throws their eggs out of their nest and deposits her own!  But wouldn't it be nice if the Oologists could stand by a nest and catch the eggs before they hit the ground as the Cowbird kicks them out! 

2014 Annual Birdy Meeting!

It was time once again for the Annual Birdy Meeting!  This time, the organizers thought that sending out a questionnaire on a subject everyone could agree about might help, as previous years had been fraught with difficulties due to the subject matter.  An addendum was added stating that "The Cuban Tody group refused to attend this year's meeting as they were insulted when no one took there nest building suggestion seriously during last year's meeting!" and attendees were asked to "Please do not bring up any controversial subject matter at this year's meeting!"  And so a list of topics was sent out with a write-in space in case someone wanted to suggest a category that wasn't listed.  Subjects included:  "The dangers of human overcrowding, The hidden menace of BB guns, Do pesticides affect the taste of our foods?, Should songbirds be required to teach the non-singing birds how to carry a tune?,  Is it necessary to share nest-sitting duties equally between mates?, Should predator birds be taught to refrain from eating other avian species?, Should the Bird government be accountable for the mismanagement of social assistance funds, and their own inflated pay scale?, Why should birds with little beaks be required to pay more in taxes than the birds with larger beaks?"  The leaders thought they had everything under control until the meeting was called to order.  However, a tumultuous cacophony erupted into an overpowering roar as no one could agree on anything!  The Crow representatives immediately started screaming, "Why are we called a 'Murder of Crows' when the Seagulls are just called 'A Flock of Seagulls?'"  The Gull representatives were yelling back at the Crows that "We are a more peaceful group than the Crows, and that is why!!"  There was so much complaining going on that no could understand any of the conversations.  The organizers quickly folded up their agenda programs and left!  The leader tried to announce that a more simple subject would be chosen for next year's meeting IF AND WHEN it did occur, but no one could hear him!

A Case of Mistaken Identity!

I was just minding my own business when suddenly a fist hit me in the eye!  I saw sparks and for some reason had a vision of the future, which I quickly forgot due to the pain!  I heard my tormentor say, "If one black eye isn't enough!  You can go for the other eye!"  And, before I could react, POW!, there went my other eye!  I couldn't see at all then except for the lightning bolts everywhere!  Then, I heard him say, "Oops!  I thought you were someone else!"  Why couldn't it have been a case of mistaken identity where Publisher's Clearing House came to my front door and presented me with a large check which I deposited before anyone knew???  From now on, I think I'll hang out with the guys that don't have fists!

Making Choices!

I was engaged in a very interesting philosophical conversation with a neighbor when a turn of events made me reconsider our relationship.  Now I must decide whether to continue our conversation or quit and eat lunch.  Everything was going well until our differences on political issues charged the air and became quite heated!  Things took a bad turn when he said that I was "larger" because I was "full of hot wind!"  That seemed kind of insulting!  I tried to turn things around by joking that "If I was full of hot air wouldn't I float up into the sky?"  I briefly daydreamed and imagined how great the view would be up in the sky, until he interrupted my reverie by adding, "Even a balloon will sail up into the sky as the hot air leaves it!"  I believe our lengthy conversation is over, and it is now time for my friend to become lunch!

"Just Reflexes!"

My subject at school was to write an essay on "Life, Death, and the In-Between!"  So, I went to my paw for advice because he knows just about everything, or so I thought.  "Paw, I know that we must eat to stay alive, but do we have to end a life to keep our lives going on?"  "My son!"  he said, "Do you remember when we watched 'The Lion King' together and Mufasa said to Simba, When we die, our bodies become grass and the antelope eat the grass!  It is the big circle of life!  Do you also remember what Mowgli was taught in 'The Jungle Book' that you only kill to eat or to keep from being killed?  My son, I think this explains your question very well!' "  "But Paw," I replied, "Doesn't it hurt the insects when we kill and eat them?  I know you told me that the worms wiggle when I stick them with my beak only because that is a reflex?  Do they not feel pain, as I know I would wiggle if I was hurt?"  "Nonsense!" my Paw replied, "They don't have a large enough brain to feel pain!"  "But Paw!" I said, "Don't you remember in the first 'Men in Black' movie when it was discussed that only earthlings believe a larger brain is a sign of intelligence, while everyone else in the movie knows that size doesn't matter!"  That was the end of Paw's explanations.....  Having carefully reviewed my paper, I added one final line to my essay, "After considering how 'Life, Death, and the In-Between' seem to involve so many varied types of life forms that walk, talk, and breath,  I would like to say in conclusion that from now on I am just going to eat seeds and berries as I don't think they feel anything or have reflexes!"

Stoic Cynicism!

I believe that I should be a stoic cynic, as I feel so unemotional about the little people.  I can easily scorn them because they are so small and really don't count in my world!  All they are good for is piling up worms and other foods which I quickly count as mine!  I do need to eat a lot more than they do, being so tiny and needing hardly anything to survive.  So what if they go without and suffer want,  when I'm the one who counts and that's what matters!

Smugness!

This week I paid part of my yearly taxes.  Poof, there went all of my Christmas money.  I asked the tax man, "Why are the taxes so high?"  He replied, "Because you voted for it!"  I responded, "NO!  I didn't!"  The rich have raised my taxes so high that I now have to borrow money just to pay part of them.  This will be a "never-ending cycle" until they, the rich, own my home.  And although they think that they're safe and secure on dry land, that will one day end.  Then, the smugness will quickly be erased from their faces as they realize that they're eating shoe leather for supper.  Remember!  If you don't have wings -- you won't be able to fly away!

Facebook!

It's not the number of friends that you have on Facebook, but the honesty, integrity, and other remarkable qualities of the ones you have that matter!  So if you're building your nest close to the ground, you'd better make sure that only good people can have access to your wall otherwise you might just come home one day and find that your egg is missing!

The Answer Machines!

I sought truth!  I was told to find the "Answer Machines" as they had all of the answers!  I finally did find the Answer Machines, however they kept giving me entirely different answers every time they said something.  Every side to them had a different answer to all of my questions.  How could these answers be right when they changed constantly?  "Oh!" said a fellow, "Did you want the correct answers?  Then, you'll have to travel on a little further to find the Single-Answer Machine!" said the honest man.  I had asked him if he knew the answers but being honest he said that he didn't.  "Answers are easy to come by," he said, "but if you want the truth - then that takes a little longer!"  The honest man also added, "Truth can not be found in falsehood!"  I guess that explains everything very well!

Sometimes we really need a hug!

The world really needs a great, big hug!  How many people did I see today that I didn't say "Hi" to or, "Hello, how are you doing?"  A lot of folks I reckon!  The world needs to see a lot more compassion between all of us that dwell on this planet!   So, "Hi there friends!"  Tomorrow, November 13th is "World Kindness Day!" so be kind to everyone!!!!

Going downstream and picking up speed!

I thought that I was doing well!  I seemed to really be picking up speed in my life, and accomplishing a great deal in my work!  But then, I discovered that I had actually been going downhill and rolling way too fast!  I have never been able to fight my way upstream of life like a salmon does, but have always floated like a leaf down the spillways of life.  And now I am tangled up in some kind of obstacle.  Apparently lots of other folks are also in the same sad situation!  If only we had learned to slow down and really enjoy life before it was too late...

Middle-of-the-road nest building!

I have been chastised for building my nest in the middle of the road.  At first I thought that I'd picked a logical spot to build my nest!  "It would be very easy to see my brood", I thought, "if I built the nest right in the middle of the road!"  And, indeed a large audience soon gathered!  However, things did not go the way I had anticipated.  Comments soon followed that really hurt my feelings:  "Trying to make an omelet are you?  Well, you do have to break a few eggs to make an omelet!"  "Why did the chicken build a nest in the middle of the road?  Because he was too chicken to build it anywhere else!" and, "Isn't that the type of nest they usually use to make bird nest soup?"  Apparently my policy of "Not being too liberal or too conservative" was not working....  I guess it's time to jump out of the middle of the road!

Life needs to make sense!

Sometimes in life, things just don't make any sense!  Life will be especially difficult when nothing seems to be going right!  During these times, people won't talk to each other, or if they do - their opinions are so one-sided that they can't understand the other's perspectives.  Groups form and march defiantly off into directions that take them further and further away.  Nothing will work out when life is like this.  Even my trumpet mouth piece has morphed into some kind of unusual plant life and refuses to act appropriately.  It is during times like these, that I become a hermit.  And there in my solitude will I wait until the world has turned and come back to normalcy even if it takes a long time for this to happen.   Perhaps I have also "marched off" in a way from everyone else.   Where is common sense?  As the wise man said, "Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are and doing things as they ought to be done!" 

Moving Forward! 

Most of us want to move forward in life with smiles on our faces!  However....something keeps holding us down, wiping the smiles from our faces.  Some people think that going backwards is actually going forward.  Whatever they have placed before us is kind of scary and has made us wonder if we really can continue moving on in the direction we wish to go!  What keeps holding us back?  Is it a new Ice Age?  Road Blockers?  A government shut-down?  Tacks in the road? 

Republicans?  Or does someone have their map turned upside down?  Whatever it is, either go in the correct direction or get out of the way and quit holding up progress!!!

Forsooth and verily I say!

You can say, "Forsooth and verily!" all you want, but if you don't know what side of the stage is "stage left or stage right" then your emoting is useless!  It's like politics when congress does things that don't really add up.  Why raise their wages 33 1/3% but refuse to raise the minimum wage 3%!   As an old friend once said, "Truth cannot be found in falsehood!"  So when one plus one does not equal two, maybe you need to go back to school!  Oh wait!  You've ruined that also....  Why should the government tell us that we can't have ice cream in schools anymore?  Why should they tell us that we can't have dessert in our schools anymore?  I like ice cream and who screams for ice cream?   "I scream for ice cream!"  "You scream!  I scream!  We all scream for ice cream!"  Well, there must be someone who doesn't scream for it, as that person stopped us from having it.  How can the few outweigh the desires of the many?  Oh yes!  They believe that one plus one does not equal two!   But, there are some of us that do believe in God and with God there are absolutes!

Who killed Cock Robin?

Mr. Henry said he shot an arrow into the air but it fell to earth he knew not where, and it could not have hit Cock Robin, even though someone's arrow did land in the Robin's heart, as he was not his friend.  Mr. Sparrow confessed, saying that he did it with his little bow and arrow, but our investigator discovered that he was covering for someone else.  Mr. Fly said he saw the victim die, but not from whence the arrow came.  Mr. Owl, the local undertaker, offered to dig the grave saying, "Friends may come and friends may go, but I'll be the last one to ever put him down."  Miss Dove offered to mourn for her lost love, but as she was a Mourning Dove her feelings weren't believed to be legitimate.  For the benefit, Mr. Kite offered to carry the casket if the ceremony was not held at night.  Mr. Thrush said he would sing a psalm.   A mystery, you say, as to who did the dirty deed!  After a thorough investigation, the wise old Ploomkin bird is pointing in the direction of the culprit!  Now, if you will kindly look to the left you will see the culprit......!  The wise old Ploomkin bird also informed me that the odd feather on the arrow shaft is called, "The Cock Feather"  and the two others are called, "The Hen Feathers." I hope that Cock Robin wasn't killed by an arrow that was made using one of his own feathers!  That just wouldn't be right!

Hey Neighbor! Can you spare a few eggs?
"Hey Neighbor!  Can you spare a few eggs for a cake that I'm making?  I see you have a lot!" 

The reply "Well, let me put it to you this way.... 'neighbor'.... these are my unhatched babies and if you touch them.... you'll quickly realize that while you are talking to my face there is a very poisonous part of my body that is hovering over your head!"  "I may not be a soccer mom, but I will protect my young!"

Dr. Seuss' Birthday is Coming up!

Dr. Seuss' birthday is coming and I wondered what I could get him.  So, I sat and thought.  I had a lot to think about anyway.  There was definitely a lot on my mind at this point in my life.  Time. Life.  The end of my life.  Existence afterwards.  Existence before. Things that some folks just don't worry about.  It is a bit hard to figure out.  I can remember existing before, then being born and losing my mind for a newer one.  Then, I had to learn the language all over again and it took a little while to do that.  Finally sounds started making sense as words became recognizable.  Then, I said words and worked my way up to sentences.  And here I sit!  Not quite right in the brain, but the world has run over me quite a few times and it has hurt!  This was all designed to improve my development and make me stronger,  although I am chewed up quite a bit.  Now, what can I get Dr. Seuss for his birthday?  Would he like a land where rocks stack themselves?  He probably would!  I know I would!  What I missed his birthday?  It was back in March?  Well better late than never!  Happy Belated Birthday Dr. Seuss!!!  You made a great impact on this world!

My Very First Retirement Check!

I just received my very first retirement check!  But... it was sent to a place I hadn't lived in over 30 years!  I had to drive to another county to get it.  I called the state office to ask what was going on, as I knew I had signed up for Direct Deposit.  "A changeover to a new system!" the lady said.  Hmm? I thought.  Maybe if I mentioned that I was a Veteran it would help!  NO!  That would probably slow them down even more...and the next check might end at my old military base...in Germany!  That would be a long, expensive trek!  But, don't let me forget to be thankful that I still got the check, as I want to realize that my glass is still 1/2 full!  Or, is that a leak I see developing?

I was astonished!

I was just astonished by what I saw!  So, I quickly put on the brakes, and took a long, hard look at the most unusual sight that I had ever seen!  Everyone was staring!!!  I just wished that I had brought my camera with me on this very extraordinary day.  Who would have ever thought that we would get to see aliens and a UFO in our lifetime!  I quickly tried to remember the words to say when you see an alien from the old movie, "The Day the Earth Stood Still,"   Um....?  What were they?  Oh yes!  "Klaatu barada nikto!"  Hmm?  No response.  Let me try, "Live long and prosper!"  Those aliens must not speak alien or English!  Wait!  There is a door opening!  Yuck!!!  Blech! I didn't know that they would look so different from us!  One of them is saying, "Dif-tor heh smusma!"  Now what does that mean?  Maybe they speak gibberish!  Let me try that!  "blah, blah, blah!" Hey!  That looks like ray guns they are holding up! Did they not come in peace?  Or did I say something wrong? BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!!!!

A Tall Tale

It was a tall tale told by a short person.  Now, I really enjoy hearing a lot of stories, and this guy really brought in a lot of folks to listen to our weekly story hour.  A Randy Newman song came to mind when I saw our lecturer, but I quickly put that on the backburner.  Sometimes "a tale told twice" is told one too many times!  I and the rest of the audience wished that he'd first said, "Stop me if you've heard this one before!" as we had heard this particular story too many times.  If the subject had been on the "elusive grass trout" then we wouldn't have minded hearing it over as we like to fish for the trout that hides in plain sight.  But, never, ever tell a story about the fish called the Grayling Gry!!!!  So who will volunteer to stop him?  I need a volunteer!!!

Having two mouths is better than only one!

With two mouths you can say a lot more in a much shorter period of time!!!  I always tell people that there is much that needs to be said, and I am the one that needs to say it!  But sometimes folks tell me, "If you had two noses you would certainly smell better!"  I wondered about that statement, as they may be hinting that I smell bad, but I do use deodorant.  Now, if I can just find a way to move I can say a lot in many more places!

The Society for the Preservation of Cherry Culture Consciousness! (SPCCC)

The meeting was called to order.  Three members of our group immediately declared that they liked all cherries, but one member said that he was very discriminating and would only have a cherry if he knew it had a white inside.  That member was instructed to research what colors are usually found underneath the cherry skin.  It was then pointed out that cherries had many benefits, tasted good, and normally left you euphoric after consumption.  This announcement was then seconded by many members and entered into the record.  One member declared that he really liked the TV commercial where two men are standing in a bog filled with cherries.  The very patient moderator quietly told this young man that the commercial was about cranberries and not cherries and to get with the program.....  Someone then tried to compare a cherry with a mango, and the group consensus was that while mangos are good for you, they do not have nearly as many euphoric benefits as cherries.  It was pointed out that a cherry on top of a Ice Cream Sundae sits much better than would a mango as a mango would probably squash the sundae.  No member complained when the subject of cherry cobblers came up, and all members confessed to suddenly feeling very hungry!!  Therefore the meeting was quickly adjourned!!!!

The Talking Klatsch!
We meet by the fence every day and have some very juicy conversations! Everyone seems to have an opinion about the current issues, but no one has listened to my point of view! Every time I try to add to the conversation, make a point or comment, they just carry on as if I haven't even said a thing! And, finally, when they get around to asking me what I wanted to say - I've forgotten the whole point of what it was! My sister told me to be quiet and listen to the others, but then I always forget what it is that I wanted to say. Sometimes I know there are some very important ideas that I would like to add to what the others are saying, but they certainly disappear from my mind if I don't get a chance to speak while they are still at the front of my mind..... What if I had a thought that was so important that it could change the world, but I didn't get a chance to say it, and forgot what it was by the time it came for me to talk?????? Oh well! I guess the world will just miss out then......

I hear too much!

Sometimes I think I hear just a little more than I should.  And, most of the things that I overhear - I really don't want to even know about!  There are a lot of people that say more than they should which also includes me sometimes!  The Bible does say to "not be a talebearer!"  So, I will try to not repeat what I hear, and there are a lot of overheard conversations that reach my ears!!!  Some of it just shocks me silly!  Some of those tales must be true, but I'm sure many are not! And, people seem to believe just about anything they hear.  Sometimes the things I do hear are directed right at me such as the time in 1970 when I got the popular "Beatle" haircut and was told to "Hey Hippy! Either get a haircut or get out of town!!" by a couple of perturbed gentlemen that were very opinionated in their beliefs....  My response was, "I'm going into the army next week and I'll get a hair cut then!"  They didn't have a comeback for that response.  And, I was able to slip away from them without further incident.....  That army haircut the next week certainly didn't keep me cool during that very hot 105 degree basic training summer!  And, when one guy fell down and died after a run I wished I hadn't overheard the mess sergeant say, "One less mouth to feed!"  Someday in the future I look forward to turning off my hearing aide as did that one man on the TV show, "Bewitched" when he didn't want to hear his complaining wife!  You know!  I started out telling you how I "hear too much" but I'm also thinking that I "talk to much!"  My sister told me I need to listen and not talk as much as I do and interrupt everyone so I'll be quiet now..................

A present for me? 

But, it's not even my birthday!  Are you sure that you don't have the wrong address?  What?  All of my friends got together and got me a special surprise gift because they love me!  And, it's something that I've always wanted!  There is this one thing that I have really needed!!!  Then, I'd better open it quickly!  Wait!  This isn't a gag gift is it?  It isn't!  Wow!  This really makes me happy!  Thanks guys!!!  "Sproing!"  Snake in a can!!!  Oh well, I do have a great sense of humor and appreciate a good gag!  I just wish it hadn't hit me in the eye....

Overhearing a conversation about me!

I was hoping that those guys weren't talking about me, but then I got a little closer.... You can really learn what people think about you when they don't know that you are listening! What they were saying was bad enough, but their laughter knocked the icing right off of my cake! My mother always said, "Don't wear your heart on your sleeve!" But, I don't have a sleeve! Still, we must not let idle talk cause us harm! Be strong and brave my little friend! And, always say nice things about others as you never know who might be listening!!!

The Stick People World!!!

Just doing their thing! They mainly live in a two-dimensional world, but sometimes they can go on vacation in a three-dimensional location! In their own world, if they turn sideways they find it is very hard to see each other as they only see a straight line where the other is located. In the 3-D world, they have a lot more flexibility with perceptions. Someday, some brave souls may try to venture out into a fourth dimension! Lewis Stick and Clark Stick (not the Superman Clark Stick) have been considering that very thing!

My Unique Family!

Hi!  My name is Snorp, and I want you to meet my very unique family!  Here we are posing for a family photo!  Some say that every family is unique, but I say that not everyone has as much uniqueness within their family as we do!!  See!  Just take a look at us!  Some of my family members have ears and some don't.  Some have beaks and some don't.  In my family, we all have very different features from each other, but that's what makes us unique!   That reminds me of a joke!  "How do you catch the Easter Bunny?"  ....... "Unique up on it!"  "Did you get it?"

PLC!!! or Peas Like Canoes! 

We've all been on this trip through life for some time now.  Just drifting along downstream

and taking this wild ride the best we can.  I just hope if we are headed for a giant waterfall, that someone up ahead will give us ample warning so that we can jump out before we go over!  Are we all just like peas in a pod going over a falls?  Peas like canoes.  Did you know that?  Most people don't.  Peas like to read and write about being in the same boat or canoe.  They really prefer canoes over boats.  Canoes remind them of their beginnings in pods.  I can remember when they first said, "Hey!  Let's all learn to read and write in a new way as the old way doesn't work!"  I wondered about that as I knew that I had learned to read and write when I was young and it seemed to work just fine for me.  But, if things must change, I guess peas should lead the way.  I just hope they aren't leading us off a very steep waterfall.....  You know, all peas aren't the same.  I like green peas and don't care for the other peas very much.  Oh, the other peas are ok, but I like the taste of the really green ones so much better.  I've been told that they are all the same and the only difference is the time they are picked which can make them taste different.  But, that sure seems to make a difference to me.  Maybe if they'd all just get in the same canoe I wouldn't be able to tell them apart!

I feel very flexible!

Do you know the story that "In a one-armed world a man with two arms is King?"  Well, I have arms in a world without arms so that makes me the King of this world!  I have been very flexible with my subjects!  So, what if I've dented a few heads around here.  I know they need a pat on the head every once in awhile as they certainly can't do that for themselves!  They really should be thanking me!  I know they have tried to offer suggestions as to what would make things better, but as I am the King, I just don't have to listen to them.  That makes me flexible as I don't pay any attention to what they say.  See!  If I was a rigid person I would not bend and could not do things in my own way!  I would think that everyone that gets a pat on the head and a "At-a-boy!" would appreciate that and nothing more.  I keep hearing that I need to read the book, "The Peter Principle" but as I'm so flexible, I'll just flex away from that suggestion.  After I give a good pat on the head, I keep hearing, "He needs a good smack on the top of his head!"  But, those guys are just making a funny joke as they aren't flexible enough to give me one.  Ha ha!  The jokes on them!  I have noticed that everyone seems to be a lot shorter since I started the "head-patting" procedure...  They just aren't flexible like I am!!!  What's a little dented head or beak as long as I am happy!!!!

Colors stand out in a black and white world!

Some say that it is easy to see colors in a black and white world as they stand out!  And colors really do stand out like that when everything else is black and white.  Black and white is so much easier to understand, and color seems so complex....  I'm just a worrier I guess, and I say that it is hard to understand things that stand out such as colors in a black and white world.  I do know that things that are different truly do stick out, but that doesn't mean that they are better than anything else or worse either.  There are a lot of us that are scared of things that are different.  I've learned that in life if you work with something different and unusual that you'll find that they are really the same as you inside but are different only on the outside.  Now, I'm not saying that you shouldn't just go around picking up brightly colored objects, tasting or eating them without knowing what they are.  Don't just pick an object off of the ground just because it is pretty, shiny or colorful.  Nature usually labels poisonous flora and fauna with bright warning colors as signs of danger!  Doesn't anyone remember The Twilight Zone episode where a boy was growing mushrooms in his basement which were really aliens and if you ate one they would take over your body and mind?  Or, do I just worry too much?

Someone isn't telling the truth!

But, who is it??  Jayden said he was telling the truth, and that he didn't do it!  Hayden and Kyle said Jayden wasn't telling the truth and that they had seen him do it! "No!  I didn't do it!" said Jayden.  "Yes you did!" said the others.  So, which group is telling the truth?  They can't both be right!  Someone is truthful, and someone isn't telling the truth.  But who is it?  Arguing about this isn't good - especially while standing in quicksand!  Quicksand is usually not the best place to stand when arguing about the truth or anything else for that matter as you may run out of time.  It's best to tell the truth and get out of the quicksand quickly, or else the last part of the argument you may hear will be, "Glug, glug, glug, gluck, yud, uck.....!"  And, they should always remember - that God always knows what is true and what is not!  One old friend told me in 1971, "Truth can never be found in falsehood!"  That is so true!!!!!!!

Stepping out into the world and looking where I'm going!

I'm stepping out into the world the best I can even despite the unbalanced weight I must carry as I travel on. I'm heading full blast out into my future though I'm not sure where I am going. I know that it helps to have some good tunes to listen to as I go walking on out into the latter part of my life. I'm listening to The Sins Country singing, "Romeo and Juliet Sparks" and that really makes me smile! Their singing makes me close my eyes and dance! After all - music hath charms to soothe the savage you know what! I do need to quieten down my worries about bills since I retired. So, I hope that I won't be oblivious to what is truly important in life and never, ever fall into a money pit as that might lead to my downfall. I'm going to listen to some great music and keep a close watch out for any very deep holes that might appear! So here I go - boogeying on!!!

I used to be a trumpet player!

I used to be a trumpet player. Used to be I say. I was actually in the musician's union and had played music in different states. For a time - I was on fire, and I played with musicians that had actually recorded on the songs we were playing!! But then the world moved on and I got drafted. That stopped my trumpet-playing days. I went for two interviews while in the army to try out for the army band, but each time no one but me showed up. "That's the fact Jack!" "Army training sir!" I guess they had enough trumpet players though I was pretty good at reading music and playing the trumpet at that time. I could almost make my trumpet talk back then! But now without any practice, my lip is way out of shape and can only make squawks on the trumpet. My mouth piece has run away from me! Escaping, I guess, from a cruel and unusual punishment and the sounds there in. Please come back little mouth piece!! I miss you!

Three-legged kicker

I feel some explanation is due to explain this drawing.  He could be called a three-legged Peace Maker for the little people, as two legs will get him there and one leg will kick anyone in the posterior that didn’t use the bail-out money to make our world better.  I think he would, especially, go after those poor, poor businessmen, etc that got bailed out while the rest of us only had a leaky bucket with a lot of holes in it with which to work.  “Stroke, stroke, stroke! Bail, bail, bail!” said Boris to Natasha.  This guy definitely has the ability to gobble up those that didn’t really need a bail-out.  Though he may be a dental nightmare with those teeth, he will find the ones that kept the money and didn’t think twice about it.  He will help those of us with the leaky bucket with which we try to bail just like the Chubb Chubbs would do if they were here!

The Mutated World! 

Just when I got over being scared that some weapons-grade, mutated, bird virus might escape from a university up north - strange things started walking around. "If only we'd decided to take 'THE STAND' earlier on against this!" said Stephen, but by now it was much too late. So, the sooner I mutate - the sooner I can blend in! Hey!!! Can you recognize me now? I didn't think so! Some say, "If you can't beat them! Then, join them!" But, I say, "I'll still be the same. I'll just look different!" If Max had only been just a little quicker with his hammer, then perhaps we could have stopped this before it began......... My little dog, Skippy, isn't very happy as now he doesn't know whether to walk, fly, inch slowly along, bark or chirp, or just sit down and put out some deep roots!

 

Sweet Peas and Pearl Onions

I used to be able to buy a frozen pack of "Green Peas and Pearl Onions" in my grocery store.

But my store hasn't carried them for many years. For over 30 years, I have gone to the service
desk to ask a question about some product as to "Why aren't you carrying a certain product
any more?" and every time whichever manager they had would say, "I'll call you and let you know." But, they never called. The last time a manager said that he'd call me I told him that no one has ever called me for over twenty years. He said, "I will call you." I had asked about a certain ice cream brand. He did call and said, "We aren't carrying that brand anymore." And yet when I went back into the store, there it was on the shelf and is still on the shelf. So, I just won't ask questions anymore as it must be much too hard for them to answer about products in their store. Above their pay grade I guess... I used to wonder why they could see that some products sell more quickly and the spaces empty faster than others, and why wouldn't they buy more of that product to fill the shelves than another that doesn't sell. I once asked about a certain type of frozen grape juice that disappeared as I would buy every can they put on the shelf.  "Discontinued!" I was told.  But, then I didn't take business courses in college so I guess I just don't understand how business works.... But, I sure miss the brands that I always had when I was young! And, getting a straight answer would also be nice!




                            

We are all level!
Well, that is what I was told, and since I am low on the thinking totem pole, it must be true. Although I do know that we are all different in many ways, we also have a few common ingredients - we have to be here together in some way. Dobie Gillis would probably say, "Good stuff Maynard!" But, then he'd have to go sit by himself next to a statue and think. He was much better at thinking and working out his problems than I am. I was hoping that we could all just be individuals with our own unique abilities, but I guess in the new world we all must become unthinking automatons or something similar to that. I know that works in some ways; especially if we all react in the same way for certain situations. But! That also won't work at other times. Not everyone reacts the same in a foxhole with the enemy coming. Sometimes, the only way that you really get to know a person is when your back is up against the wall as some will stay with you and others will run. Not everyone is a hero after all. Very few are. So, we are only level in some ways, and so different in others. I'd really prefer to think on my own if that is possible. I remember one time while I was in the army during some war game and I was told to guard a tank upon a hill. I was told to stay in the tank. I reported through my walkie-talkie seeing some vehicle stop and let some guy out about a 1/2 mile away. No one came, so I climbed out of the tank and hid in the woods. When the guy got close, I popped up and said, "Bang! Bang!" (we weren't allowed to have blanks) The observer wrote down that I had stopped the intruder, but my Sargeant asked why I had left the tank when I was told to stay in it. I replied, "I wanted to stop the guy and protect the tank!" I wondered if I was supposed to have been captured?? Another time in the army I went to the morning formation wearing a winter coat as the temperature was very low. I was told that "I couldn't wear a coat as I hadn't been told I could yet." If I am doing wrong, I'll have to learn how not to think as I am not Dobie Gillis. "You rang?" said Maynard.

Josh's Jungle

He's the Jungle King!

There just isn't a Yellow Brick Road to follow here. No Ruby Slippers. No house to fall on the wicked witch. No shortcut to Grandma's house. No escape from the Three Bear's House. There's just Josh, and he decides your fate.

"Allison D's World"

In Allison's world, Kaycie keeps skipping klass konstantly to chase katydids in kimonos along the kieselguhr (n. a loess or porous diatomite, siliceous particles composed of skeletons of diatoms). The keyword here is kinetic as she won't stay still. Kaycie should be knitting knickers or kirtles in a kiosk before she gets a knuckle sandwich. I'd pay her a krona or krone if she would be recorded on a kymograph. But, she's always missing! Kaycie asked for a bow for her head. She probably should have asked for some water in which to swim. Sometimes, she and I just don't see eye to eye. I think she'll get hooked this time. I wonder if Allison even knows she's trying to swim around in her world?

Automatic Feeder

What is that in the hole? A bird? A fish? I just can't say as I don't live close to them.

The Bahbee bird

Listen for its call "Ow, ow, owww, oww, oww, oww, owtt owtt tu tut u tu tu tut!" and that will make it easy to identify. Sometimes viewed hanging over nets, etc. A boy should always scout ahead and be "T L H F C K O C T B C and R". I always wanted to be in the "Order of the Arrow" but didn't get the chance. Now, I'm in a club that is best! My son - someday your wings will grow and you'll be able to fly away. And, after you fly away - I do pray that you will remember your old Pa and what I taught you about life. We have had that father and son talk, though I never had one myself. Like father like son. Always make us proud of you!



         

Perchy

He won't perch for very long. He has to scale that impossible mountain. But, then, don't we all!

Berchy

Perchy's cousin. He saw the dream. He followed the dream. But he got lost! That's why he looks so down. I guess it was an "Impossible dream"! But, oh, to dream that impossible dream....To fight for that quest....To follow that star....Maybe he'll make it there someday. Because, if you can bear that unbearable sorrow - you'll come out on the other side with your heart peaceful and calm. And you know, that will make the world a better place!

"Bird is the word"

"Brack-k-k-k-k". When looking for the early worm or a delicious grass trout, a long neck helps. Also, a sharp eye, a sensitivity to vibrations from the ground, or just old plain dumb luck can aide in the quest for food. Or course, then again, the more you stand out, the greater the chance you have of being eaten yourself! Anyone for chicken? It's the other white meat. Why is it always the smaller-brained creatures that get eaten?

Birdy Meeting

The annual meeting was well underway when a group of bugs took a wrong turn...

Birdy Word!  Well what can you say anyway!  The egg is here and I must

do my best to protect it!

Birth

Giving birth the hard way. As if any way was easy!

Biting someones head off

If you say one little thing too much, you might find that you've offended someone!

Blimey - the Hedgehog

Blimey, the hedgehog, is taking a walk
But, he quickly realizes that he's not in the park
Still, he's just so glad that it's not after dark
For, that's when the Spiny Snarfaloo beings to bark!

Burty Durd

Some birds feed on worms and bugs. Some birds eat fish. Some eat their young. Some eat at garbage dumps. Some birds eat only dead animals. Some eat seeds in cages. Oh, why do they sing? Some birds lay eggs in other bird's nests. Some birds, lacking chewing teeth, must throw up digestive juices on their future meals and use a vacuuming motion to suck up the nutrients. Nightjars and Goatsuckers may fly around at night with their beaks wide up to scoop up minute insects. The Thanksgiving bird. Humm? Just glad Chaz hasn't eaten his egg yet. Some birds are just plain lazy. We do all have a lot for which to be thankful. No more hugging! Is it nesting season already? I thought we just got rid of that brood.

"Calan's Contradiction"

"Do we go forward, or do we go backwards?" "Or do we even know the difference?"

Chantel's Cake

Chantel cuts her cakes consistently in the style of the Southern tradition. It's a Southern thang. Ya'll wouldn't understand. She's fixin to say something like, "Jeet Yet?" This cake moves slowly. Is this the end? It certainly seems like it. I don't know how I can take this stress! Chantel needs to wake up and smell the okra frying or the poke sallet (Phytolacca americana) cooking. Doesn't even the simplest story have a lot of meaning? Can a tale that is told twice be the same? I just know that she acts better when she's asleep. So, go back to sleep Chantel!

Avian Scream

Someone is always screaming about something. Undoubtedly this one is screaming because of a seriously painful nasal condition. I would say, "A river runs through it!" But, a river runs through most everything. A river of joy. A river of sorrow. Sometimes a river of mediocrity or melancholy. Whichever river flows by us will reflect in our eyes.

Giving a piece of my mind to one who deserves it!

He went a little too far and though I'm small - I had to tell him like it is!

Chirp!*

I Chirp; therefore I am!

*means “I love my little puff balls!”

Coty's Cotillion

Courtney's Zoo

Good thing there's a fence! The birds in this zoo lay a tall, oval egg in a small nest. you can see an empty nest in the background that has toppled over after the egg hatched.

Don't step on my dress tail dear!

It might get stretched out way too far! And, that would make me mad!  Thank
you dear, sweet Marilyn for your suggestion!

 

Common Core! Apple core! Baltimore! Who's your friend? Me? Bam!  

Most of us can point fingers! We all have a common core! After all we are humans or other being and do exist on this same beautiful planet! But, did you know that Elves loathe alcohol but will drink a little bit of wine? I didn't think that you did. So, not everything is common. I just can't take it anymore... Our lives are controlled by people that just can't make their point or have no clue as to what makes everything common and easily understood. Some do have better pointing fingers than others. Especially the ones that don't have any fingers.... Still there really isn't much we can do about it unless someone very smart can put the bit in the horse's mouth and lead them in a different direction. There is a childhood game called "Apple Core" in which after eating a apple you say, "Apple Core! Baltimore! Who's your friend?" and whomever the person picks - you hit them with your leftover apple core. Not terribly violent and I've never understood how a person hit with the apple core could be your friend, but then it is all supposed to be in fun anyway. That is unless the person is hit in the eye and has to go to the hospital. So, don't point your finger at me and say you are my friend if you intend for me to be hit with an apple core....

               

2013 Annual Birdy Meeting!
It was time once again for the Annual Birdy Meeting. This year's subject was to be: "The Usage of Dried Grasses in Nest Building and Construction." There was a lot of chirping going on and a lot of pros and cons about the use of dried grass in nest construction. The larger birds were against the use of dried grass and in favor of only using large sticks and branches as that would best protect their young. The smaller birds were vehemently against large sticks and branches and said, "Only dried grasses can make for a firm, light-weight, sound construction high up in trees in nest building!" The Cowbirds tried to have a say in the nest construction and said that the materials didn't really matter to them as long as the nests were strong and well built. There was some mumbling that the Cowbirds really shouldn't have been invited to the meeting as they weren't considered "nest builders" per se. One group complained that they had been told that they would have ample time to speak on the use of rocks as suitable for nest building along high rocky shores, and that they hadn't received their opportunity to speak. The representatives for those that preferred to excavate holes into trees to raise their young, questioned if they should have even attended this year's meeting. The representative of the Cuban Tody faction stated that if everyone would just dig tunnels into clay banks like they did then there really wouldn't be any need for dried grasses, rock, twigs, or branches. Though everyone complimented the Todys on how pretty they were, they quickly went back to the debate and ignored that suggestion. After quite a bit of arguing over nest construction materials and types of nests, it was decided by concensus that next year's meeting, if about any type of nest building, would result in all bird groups to meet separately and on their own!! The Cowbirds chirped in that "It didn't matter to them as they really didn't have to come to a meeting on nest building anyway!"

Resting Where I Am!
I'm just going to sit down and rest where I am as I am just s-o-o-o-o-o-o tired that I can't take another step! And, I'll do this even if I am blocking traffic! I'm just too tired to go on! I'm sorry if I seem inconsider...ate, but I've reached my limit and I must take a quick rest. Well! I hope it will be quick for your sakes if I am blocking the progression for you and your friends! If you lose your patience, then just throw a bucket of cold water on me, and I'll try to keep on going! Though you might want to give me a few moments to recover as everything is Kaput!!!

The Quiet Time on the Pond!

Time had paused for a moment. Everything seemed so peaceful! Quiet ripples played a delicate tune that softened and caressed our tired minds. We floated slowly along. Even Gummy, the toothless shark, came to swim today! We were glad to have him and not his friends on this wonderful day! It was a special time. Even the mutated swan was not afraid of the ugly duckling and glided on! You can't always have everything, but you can always make the best of what you have! Anyway! Valentine's Day is coming up and we all needed to show our love!

Dragon just draggin' his tail around the best he can

1970 VW Dance

Amber's Adversity

Elevator going up?

Men's wear, travel accessories, please watch your step!

Breakdown......

Elo loves Jaco! Which is good; as he was very rowdy last year. She has calmed him down, took away his frown, and she won't put him down. He made a ring, went ting ting. But, children, they do grow up, don't they!  Though I'll never forget that poke with the broom stick...

Ethridge Flats

My grandfather was born here. My Great Grandfather is buried here. So, why shouldn't I be here? My life has changed again. Until I can let the Lord be the master of my life, I will be in the belly of the fish. I want to go to the river where I'll never thirst again. "I was so thirsty" sang Chris Rice. I walk along the path. It's sad and lonely. Get a good seat. Enjoy the view. No one keeps me company. Watch me cry. Watch me dance. Or, even look the other way.  But, don't laugh. I'm old and you may not like my style. It's just a life's experience. Of which, you will also have. Would Sponge Bob live here? There's no bikini present. Stubby, little roots can't grow without nourishment. And a puddy tat has to have some sustenance!

Everything comes from here

But, where is here? I think I know and then it moves away. Should reality just be about where you are at the time?

Suicide isn't painless but it does bring on many changes.  So!  Just don't jump!

     Well, you see, Mayra saw the world somewhat in the way that Chicken Licken did. You remember Chicken Licken who thought the sky was falling. Mayra (not her real name) thought that everyone should live underground in holes and proceeded to tell everyone that came by this very same theme. We could elaborate over Mayra's view point but the time is much to short to tell it today. However, one day, Ralph the reptile happened to be the lucky or unlucky (depending upon how you view it) one to walk by Mayra's hole. Ralph took a seat and listened intently to Mayra's ramblings for some 20 minute about the practicality of holes as compared to the "above ground dwellings." After the 20 minutes was up, Ralph ate Mayra for lunch and went on his way.
      So, you see children, it's not what you believe but how you present it to the world that makes all of the difference! And remember this as this is very important! Never, never, get eaten for your beliefs!

Heather's Hesitation

She just couldn't make up her mind.....!

Helene's frogs (mainly Texas ones)

The moon came up just at the wrong time.  I would have preferred to have not

seen what was around me...

"Size 9 would be just about right!"  As long as there's not too much mud!

"There's something over there!"

I hope I don't have to look to the left. That would hurt my neck!

The Egg and I

"If I have to play one more game of chess!"

"But, isn't it your move?"

Birdies getting together

Watery Wiggles

Bursting forth to breathe. Why do some go up while others go down?

"There's always room for one more!"

There’s always room for one more until the bubble bursts!

Mating ball

Somewhat remniscent of the garter snake mating balls, except in this case when the males let go, they fall to their deaths

Yacking!

Saying so much that others come to see what the commotion was all about!

Looking for a higher view so that I can see further!

"Will's Willful Way"

"Dare you follow? He's a Brewer of things to come! He is seeking God's path. To know that this is the reality of all things. Did he think before he acted? Which way will he go? Does he care? He may be willful, but I think he's right.

The Sentence is Over

John Prine sang "There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes." The Christian Band "Plumb" sings a song that goes, "There's a God-shaped hole in all of us and it's a void only He can fill." Summertown is gone. Prison time goes so slowly. Why did I have to pay such a debt? But once paid, the sentence is over. Finally, Mermaid Man will start to evolve, grow legs, and come out of the soup. This pain sure lasted longer than any I've known.

The Peaceful Valley

Do I have to be in a prison to have the time to draw? Is this a prison in my mind? Sometimes, life just has to keep going on. With one pencil, what can you do? I kept saying, "The woods were lovely, dark, and deep", but no one believed me. Maybe the woods are too deep!

Chaz's egg

Birds of a feather flock together. Chaz contemplates continually counting his one egg. He says, "I get a krick in my neck from constantly having to keep a lookout in many directions for egg stealers!" "For my foes are many! And, who wouldn't want a succulent, tasty, tempting egg!"

"A visit to the buryin' ground of the Wuffercumbles"

Most of the buryin' is underground. However, after it gets full down below, the graves often push up onto the outer surface of the planet.

"Taylor's Dilemma"

Taylor has a dilemma. How will he Cope?  He shouldn't kick over the trash can, throw his backpack, or act like a big baby! What should he do? He could join the Navy and sail the Seven Seas! The Marines are looking for a few good men! He could be all he could be! But, first, he has to jump down from the cliff. And there in is the dilemma! He could get hurt if he jumps! Those legs look too spindly to carry him far enough away from danger! It had better be a stupendous leap! Absolutely!! Good Luck! Taylor!!

Thin Necks

Thin-necked people break very easily.

So, if you have a long, thin neck; then

don’t stick it out too far!

Yum!  Yum! Eat 'em up!!!

Oh Pickles!

The pond is too small and there’s just not enough room! Well, sometimes - there’s just not enough room in the pond for two. And, a large bully will usually win out. Are there never any small bullies?

Stating the obvious

Of course, if it was obvious! – Then, it wouldn’t have to be mentioned! But, as I think everyone needs to be reminded over and over to learn something, I'll just blather on and on! Ok! One time with feeling! Blah! Blah! Blah!

That Mickey! What can you do with him? 

M-i-c-k-e-y - Y? because I love you that's Y!!!!

 Better to just smother that boy in chocolate syrup and boogie till the cows come home!

Some fall asleep and just can't go on

Introductions

Introductions are often hard for me. One reason is that my short-term

memory goes out, and I can’t remember names! So, I usually just say, “Howdy!”

“The Jabberwocky hides so well

within the dark recesses of the dell.

No one can see him playing here

without a light that is shining clear!"

I heard too much!

If I had a lot to say, I certainly wouldn’t want to act superior about it!

A superior attitude and a smart aleck response often cause self-destruction!

I got dressed up but didn't have any place to go...

Inservice Drawing #3 - there is a story but it is sad...

Lying or not....

The little boy said a bad word someone said.

“No, I didn’t!” he said. “I did not say a bad word!”

A great flood came from his eyes. The water got so deep

that people had to get into rowboats just to stay dry. His only

friend tried to cheer him up. If his friend hadn’t been

successful; I’m afraid we all would have drowned!

X marks the spot where it all began… 

Cut along the Dotted Line and you may find - the spot where the asteroid hit!

I started four drawings during a recent In-service workshop which, in this particular case, was one of the worst I’ve ever attended. People were laughing at the video we were shown. And, I mean laughing out loud. So, to make the best of it, I started four drawings. This is one of them.

Three-legged Thingma Gooch

Slobbery and Blobbery

Slobbery and Blobbery went to the market. Slobbery thought everything looked delicious! Blobbery knew he needed food items that came in much smaller portion sizes than did Slobbery. As they were only selling large items, Blobbery had to settle for what fell from Blobbery’s mouth.

Opuntia dancing in the pale moonlight

Finding steps to delight

Knowing full well that when comes the sun

they'll have to freeze as that ends the fun!

Zen and the art of listening to boring lectures about boring subjects.

Quiet contemplation amidst all the noise.

But, I stayed a little too long and now I’m stuck.

The blather of pointless discussion

Has hardened about my roots,

And fettered their ambulation;

I should have been more astute!

Retirement!

I spent all of these many years working hard, and the only thing that I have to show for it is this hole I dug! Maybe I should have retired sooner before the hole got so deep!

How to make your gal happy!

That’s easy! Just defend her honor!

“…..and then he said, ‘Who could like a girl with skinny legs?’’

And, I said, “You just walk on back to Texas, Joe!” “I’ll take

the girl with the skinny legs and all!”

"And! If you ever peck my son in the head again, I’ll show you what these teeth can do!" "You head-pecker you!" A word to the wise! Don't just peck at any little thing you see before you!

How Tires Are Made

I’ve been told by my cousin in Ohio that tires are actually made in some other way. But, this way makes more sense to me. Some creature blows out rubber balloons into the air. They must then be caught by some kind of long, plant-like creatures before they fall to the ground and break. The plants hold them up and allow them to harden. I’ve also been told that Lawrence Co, Tennessee is the birth place of Aviation becuase of J. J. Pennington and his patented invention of a flying machine. I also believe that!

It's hard being young and told what to do all of the time. What to believe. How to act even when

you know the advice is good and true. "I didn't cry when Granny died. She made me so depressed.

And, then I found I missed her more than I'd ever have guessed!" as Carly Simon sang in her song

"The Carter Family!"

Half a Brain

Strange love sometimes has resistance to PLC and some other words that I don’t understand. I was once told that “It is better to have half of a brain rather than  no brain at all!” It took me awhile to understand that, but now I do realize that  it is true. But, what about a skull that is vacant? I think that’s what my problem  was in the first place. I just didn't understand that the guy was talking about me!

Tee's High Hopes!

I had such high hopes for love, life, and my future. But then reality set in and I lost my smile. Thankfully, Hope does spring eternally! And though I failed at my  first attempt - I am now much wiser and resolved to continue to try until I prevail!!!

 BC and JR

It's not the weight of the object but the weight of the words that matter!

Birds of a feather flocking together!

 

Gormy Lumpur

He came out of the Lusi Mud Volcano in Java to say hello. He must want some more chickens. (Look up what Lumpur means in Indonesian)

"Munchies"

Yum! Yum! Eat 'em up!

The Meanest Bird in the World!

Some think that Cowbirds are mean when they lay their eggs in nests that are not their own. But, this guy would just stomp on Cowbirds and any others that got in his way!

The Pecking Order of the world or in other words, the biggest

becomes the baddest that is if that's what they want to do that...  I'll just have

to agree with what ever they say as I'm not the biggest...

Perching and waiting for the little guy to ease out of his

hole just a little bit more....  Just enough so that there

isn't a chance he can make it back in!  And then we'll eat!

Zapping the Negativity

Zap the Negativity! I used to think that my 1/2 empty glass was quickly emptying. But now I say that my ½ full glass is quickly being refilled! I’ve zapped my negativity!

Watching the man balance the budget.

I don't think he knew what he was doing.

If only he'd have listened to Harry S. Truman,

then maybe he could have done it.

One Ugly Fish

This one would be "Catch and Release" only!

The Long Journey through the Loverlee Forest

It had been a long and dangerous journey. Now, if they could just make it through the forest of past mistakes without losing a wing or claw.

Jelly's Head

He didn't have much but he did have a large brain

and we all admired him for it!

Tee's Cap!Tee is finally giving up his cap! He has worn it proudly for a long, long time. He's offering it to you even though he probably needs it to cover up his bald head. So, take it and feel honored! This will be the very last time that he will ever need to wear it. It would be his "Swan Song" if he was a swan. Still, he does deserve some applause for all of the hard work that he has done over the years. He felt like the time had finally come for him to stay home and rest. The world had turned, and he didn't want to go with it. He's retiring, and someone else will have to take up his mantle. I hope he lives long and enjoys his retirement! After all he is a twin son of different tree trunks and still has some growing to go! (or so he thought anyway!)

Tee Has Lost His Cap!

Tee thought that his working days were over and willingly gave away his cap. But, the world did a reverse turn and came back and got him caught up again in its madness. He thought that his time was over, but it just seems to keep going on. Now he has to go and find his cap, but he just can't remember whom he gave it to a few, short days ago. If only he'd planned ahead in case some unforeseen type of occurrence happened....such as finding out his working days had not ended, then he certainly wouldn't have given away his cap.... Will he ever find it again? And, who has it?

Looking for Tee's cap!

The word had gone out that Tee needed his cap back as he just couldn't quit working yet due to some unforeseen circumstances. His close friends did try for a little while to find his missing cap as they knew he really liked to wear it to work. However, most were just indifferent about this issue. His best friend told Tee that he had seen him give his cap to a small bird that lived in the area. One fellow came and told Tee that he had indeed given his cap to a small bird, but the bird had flown up into the air, and the cap had apparently not been able to stay on the bird's head when he flew up into the sky, but where it was now - he had no idea. There were some that even though they saw the cap lying on the ground just didn't want to get involved. There are some that even when they know something - they just haven't been given a voice to speak. If Tee doesn't find it soon, he'll have to try living his life in a totally new way that doesn't involve wearing a cap. Tee feels like he won't be himself without his cap to wear to work. Have you ever felt that way?

The Mad, Mad Dash to Help Tee Find His Cap!

All of Tee's close friends, well some said they were just acquaintances, including Makenzy ran like crazy to try and find Tee's lost cap. But, almost everyone was looking in the wrong place. Perhaps if it had been a worm they might have found it. Most had remembered that the bird Tee had given the cap to had flown up into the air and the cap blew off and was lost. So, most of them looked up into the air expecting to see the cap floating high in the sky. Only those close to the ground had any chance of finding it, but being small they just didn't have voices loud enough to communicate to the others that that had indeed found the cap and so it remained lost for Tee.

Missing his cap!

There are many strange desires and longings in this world! Some of them are worthwhile and some aren't. Some beings have a deep love for very unusual belongings. Still, whatever these people want; they must care for these things very much! Such is the case of Tee and his love for his cap. Though he gave it away thinking that he'd never need it again, he quickly realized that his life was missing a large portion of joy and happiness that his cap brought to him. Being a stoic person, he sat at home sad as could be but tried to endure his suffering and make the best of it as he could... All of a sudden he heard a very quiet "scritch-scritch-scritch!" noise as if something was scurrying across his floor!! You know! Sometimes there are happy endings!!! Sometimes true friends do come through!!!

Shh!!!

Tee sent his friend to tell us to be quiet and to give Tee a chance to learn how to live in his new life! He had been very sad for quite awhile due to the many things that had been done to him. His room was taken away from him, and also his tables which were replaced with rough tables that just weren't suitable upon which to draw or make art. "They took away my good tables and replaced them with inferior ones!" he said. "And then they took away my cabinets and I had to place all of my supplies on the floor!" "I tried to make the best of that situation as I could, and if it hadn't been for all of my helpful friends - I would have quit!" But, Tee doesn't like to complain very much and has sent his good friend to ask everyone to be very quiet while he tries forget all of his past problems and to forgive his enemies and live his retired life in peace. So, we'll just let Tee be alone for awhile to gather his thoughts.

We found someone wearing Tee's Cap! 

(a prequel/sequel)

Sidney and Zack and others were just walking along looking for the cap that had belonged to their friend, Tee.  Jacob was off in the background as he usually was looking around for the cap.  When all of a sudden they spied a guy wearing the very cap for which they had been valiantly searching!!!  "Hey good sir!" they all yelled, "Where did find that cap?"  "We've been looking for it as it belongs to a good friend of ours!"  "This cap?" the guy said,  "I just found it laying on the ground."  He then opined and said, "Well, actually I saw it floating down from the sky before I found it laying on the ground."  "I didn't know that it belonged to anyone."  "I thought maybe the sky was just throwing away caps that day."  "If it will make your friend happy, then please return it to him!"  So, that's the story about how Tee's friends got his cap back to him.  I thought you might also want to know that the peas in the canoe survived going over the falls, and have now reached land!  Though their canoe does seem to be beached on some rocks and probably won't float again.  I'm wondering if the peas might have reached some kind of secret pea burial grounds???  Or are we supposed to know that?

Hopefully the last Tee episode that we'll ever see~~~

Wound So Tightly That I Might Snap!

I keep thinking and wondering "Why do Art? And, I don't know if I should continue. What is my purpose in this? I may quit if there is no real reason to create this stuff. I have so much stress on me anyway. There in comes the rub. Got to put my life in the hands of the One that can heal it. As that's the only way to make it.

Two Times Through the Door

The opening - the closing - nothing past the end except time - threading the needle while the sight is still good.

Ah!  The good old days when punishment fit the crime!  Or, did it?

The misses and me exploring nature!

The egg production line, but sometimes they jam up...

The master sees all little one!

No one ever ask me to play games with them....

Pookie

Perchy and Berchy's 2nd cousin, twice removed. Let's listen to what he says. "I may be young, and can not fly. But, don't you laugh! Or, I'll beak you in the eye!" 

Ploddy

Marching along the best he can. Determined.... Not deviating from his course...

But, still going in the wrong direction!

Unpeaceable Kingdom

Certainly not in the "Peaceable Kingdom"

Retired and still working!

I thought I could get very lazy when I retired, but it turned out that there were all kinds of things that I had to do! "Go guard the eggs and take care of them!" the missus said. So, here I sit guarding and turning the eggs over every 15 minutes. It's not a hard or difficult job as I just have to keep turning them so that they keep a uniform temperature all around until they hatch. But, this can be a boring job, and I'm not even allowed to read a book while I sit here. And, when these little critters hatch out and start running all over the place, guess who'll have to chase them and bring them back to the nest? I'm not worried. I can do it. I just wanted to rest a little bit after I retired. The thin necks that worry too much don't help my state of mind either... They keep offering suggestions that aren't helping my mental state one bit! But, then they do worrying an awful lot about everything. I'll just keep doing what I can until my final moment of complete laziness comes!!! Then, I'll just rest, and rest, and rest!!!

Little house not on the prairie

If you lived here, then you’d be home, but where would you be? But, at least you would be home. There are after all many different kinds of homes.  I’m glad I lived in a home that my mother made. I’m glad for what she did for me!

Learning hard things in our woods!

The master had called us all together to learn how to count.  He said, "It is hard for you to learn how to count as your brains aren't really meant for this!"  The master explained his statement by  telling us about a book he had read which had a character in it named "Ayla" who could count easily to ten,

while others around her couldn't go past one or two.  He then placed one round counter in his hand and said, "Everyone say one!" "One!" said most of us.  "Pencil Sharpener!" said another.  "Okay" he said, "Now this is two counters.  Say two!"  "Two!" most of us said.  "Pencil Sharpener!" said the other guy.  The master started to become perturbed when we couldn't go past the number two and that one guy kept saying "Pencil Sharpener!"  The smartest one in our group who is somewhat of a philosopher asked, "Master!  Isn't it hard to learn to count when there are so many trees in the forest?  We would never be able to count all of them!"  The master put his hand over his eyes, looked down, and said, "Ok!  Just go and count one tree and we'll call it a day!"  "Pencil Sharpener!" said that one guy.

Talking to the Referees after the game... (a true story!)

 No sir!  I didn't like the way you called the basketball game!  I believe it is against the rules for you to ride to our school on our opponent's bus!  I thought that was odd, and when on the opening jump, you called a foul on our jumper, then I knew right then that something wasn't right!  I also believe you set a state record with the 51 fouls you called tonight which allowed our opponents to score 33 points on free throws alone!  I kept the score for our team, and the other team only won because of the extra points they got from the free throws........... So, do you think I have a Bulldog/Soccer Mom look in my eyes?  Well do you?? 

Saying Too Much At The Wrong Time!  Sometimes, people may open their mouths in public and say something that just perturbs and rubs the rest of us in a very irritating way!  This time, a guy badmouthed our little floating Birdie balls which we all adore.  He really insulted them!  Just because he doesn't understand levitation, is no reason to make fun of them!  Why is it that the ones who understand the least, usually say the most?  Unfortunately for Mr. Loudmouth, Larry Longbeak happened to be a little too close, and when Larry turned quickly to see who had insulted the little Birdie balls, he accidently whapped Mr. Loudmouth hard with his beak!  I'm sure Mr. Loudmouth will apologize as soon as the swelling goes down!

Time for a nap!

I have put my little darlings to bed!  Ah!  Those sweet little peepers!  I love hearing those final little chirps as they drift off to sleep and try to fight it until they are too tuckered out to remain awake.  Such a blessing to have the comfort from knowing they are safe, well fed, and at rest.  Now, it is also time for me to get a little nappy time as I am also worn out!

My latest brood!

You try to raise up your kids in the way that you learned!  So far, every one of my broods has been the same until these latest arrivals.  In the past, my babies always flew away as soon as they could.  But this group of hatchlings seems to be destined to join the circus.  They are doing things in totally unexpected ways.  But perhaps my mother saw me in a similar light when I was young,  listening to the Beatles, and letting my hair grow long!  And there is really nothing wrong with joining the circus!

My friend sometimes gives me a headache!

I care a great deal about my friend, but sometimes his shenanigans just give me a headache!

If it wasn't for the good things he usually does, I would have to say, "So long Charlie!"  But for the most part, he is a very worthwhile, dependable friend to me.  I have tried to talk to him about this one particular aspect of our relationship that needs adjustment, but when I do he just laughs that laugh of his, jumps up, lands on the top of my head, and the pain begins again.  If he could just fix that one thing he does that gives me such a pain in my neck, then everything would be hunky dory!    For you see, I really don't like my hair to be messed up!  And, he really likes to do that to me!  And, it will take hours of preening to get my hair back to the way I like it!   But, I'll never allow a little messed up hair to ruin a life-long friendship!

My Birdy Nightmare!

Most people have nightmares far different from mine.   Other people have nightmares about crazy clowns who leap out of closets squeezing rubber chickens and squirting water on them!   My nightmare is having a chicken sit on my stomach and telling a version of the old joke, "Why does the chicken cross the road?"  But in my nightmare the chicken always stops at the punch line and lays an egg.  I know!  I know!  A male chicken laying an egg!  It is indeed horrible, but I do enjoy the egg for breakfast!

The road ahead is becoming more difficult...

I believe I have come to a place where the path ahead is becoming more filled with obstacles than on my journey thus far.  As time goes by in only one direction and covers us with mortal complications, I know I must go on this way and keep moving as I have seen many others that were stopped and became frozen in time or morphed into unrecognizable shapes.   I realize that I must step forward as the future intertwines with my present existence.   There will be an end of my steps when I reach a place where the path ceases for me.  But, for now I will continue on as long as I can!   If I could only become "Unstuck in time" like Billy Pilgrim in Vonnegut's book, "Schlachthof Fünf" or "Slaughterhouse-Five" if you prefer the translation.  I am particular in favor of the German word for butterfly which is schmetterling!  Guten tag!

The Jigsaw Puzzle of Life!

Sometimes some of the pieces to the "Jigsaw of Life" you have just won't fit together.  Or, you may be missing a piece or two.  Perhaps it's like the TV schedules that the network bigwigs foist on us.  TV didn't used to be like this.  We used to have a long series that would stop during the summer and then continue in the fall.   But lately I watched a series where the fourth episode was the season finale....  Don't they know this isn't how it should work, because we, the viewers, will lose interest?  Maybe these guys have lost part of their puzzle and just don't know where to find it.  They may not really understand TV audiences.   There are many such puzzles in life.  Pieces may seem to be missing.  I just want you to know that one fine day all the pieces will fall in place, and it will all make sense!   So, please save all the pieces that you have, as they may come in handy!

Off on a quest to search for spring!

I am off on a quest to find this illusive season called "spring!"  It does seem to be missing this year for some reason.  If I find it, I will bring it back with me so that we can all enjoy some warmer temperatures!  So off I go with the cold wind in my hair!  I hope to see you soon on a warmer day!

The Conflicts of Time!

We have to work on getting along together and occasionally this means stopping what we're doing to help others!  Quite often when I'm working or doing things which I deem necessary and important to me, I will be interrupted by people who insist that I do something for them right then and there!  This can cause me to become perturbed and even mad occasionally, but then I realize that I should put other's needs ahead of my own and stop what I am doing to help them.  Perhaps one day they'll understand that my time is important to me and that they shouldn't interrupt me.   But if they truly believe they have something that needs doing promptly, then I should just smile happily and say, "Sure!  I'll help you!"  After all, won't time continue on so that I can eventually get back to work on my own projects?

Changing the problems of the world..

Sometimes muscles alone just aren't enough to change the world.  Force just doesn't seem to create a permanent change for the better.  So how can we lift the problems that weigh upon us and our planet and change things for the better?  What will it take for the world to become one in getting along together?  We are all so different around the earth.  We all have some qualities that are good.  Our cultures are so vastly different and yet so interesting!  Atlas may have shrugged, but after all he did have to carry a heavy burden.  He once asked me to hold up the earth for him while he took a break.  "I'll be right back!" he said, but after a considerable time I started to wonder if he had gone on vacation.  And not being very strong, I had to let the earth fall as I could no longer hold it up.  That certainly made a big mess for everyone!  I was glad when he finally returned and went back to the job for which he was created.  Well, what I am really trying to say is that loving each other and caring about one another is the only way to change the world, and muscles and force just can't get the job done!

Basketball Jones!

I really wanted to play basketball when I was young!  But, I was just a little too short!  I had the "Basketball Jones" very bad, but it was so frustrating for me!  There are sports where height doesn't matter, but basketball favors you if you are taller than everyone else around you.  I can't dunk or palm the ball, and I have strength problems just getting the ball to the goal on a free throw!  I was in the army with a guy who played basketball for the army.  He was my roommate for awhile.  He could "palm" me by picking me up right off the ground with his huge hand on my head!  I always wished that I had been taller, but my genetics kept saying, "No way Jose!"  Maybe I should just take up Tiddlywinks since it doesn't favor tallness!  Plus, there aren't many Tiddlywink players, so maybe I'd have a chance to win!!!

 Walking my pets!

I love all of my pets!  They are like a part of my family to me!  But, I just can't walk them all at once as each has special needs and considerations.  So, they must all patiently wait their turns to go on walks with me.  "Just a walkin' the dog!" is one song I like to sing as I go.  And, if you don't know how to do it, "I'll show you how to walk the dog!"  Learning how to walk the rest might take a little while longer!

Tee's Farewell!

Tee was asked to come back and show everyone his cap for one last performance!   He politely and regretfully declined, saying, "Gas was too expensive to drive the seventy miles and his retirement funds were horribly small!"  He would have loved to have come back to see all his former students and friends, had the circumstances been different.  He remembered that the previous year, just when he thought his days of donning the cap were over, he had been hauled back in for an extra three days of demonstrations which wore him out.  Hopefully this will be the very last time he will ever have to be seen in public with his cap.  So, let's all bid farewell to Tee and his cap as he takes his final bow!

Tee's Cap 2015

Tee really didn't want to return, but events that just weren't right caused him to make an appearance.  Now, he doesn't want to say anything detrimental about how things are going and wants to appear to speak with wisdom and concern over the way the world is going, but it is all he can do to not start ranting about the idiots in charge.  But as Tee has a calm demeanor which helps to control his emotions and not scream and yell, he will try to state his opinions without erupting.  "I loved teaching kids, but I didn't like someone telling me that the only way to teach was to write numbers on a board or to teach out of your field, as that made for better scores! That's just not teaching or helping anyone!  Helping students to learn, care about others, to live right, and to improve their lives is the best part of education!  When the idiots in charge said we had to change all that and not teach the children as education had always been, then I just couldn't take it any longer!"

"Prices"

I am not at all happy about the prices of food, living expenses, or even the cost of going to the movies.   Happy doesn't come close to how I truly feel about fat cats who raise their salaries but refuse to increase the "little people's" pay.  So, my friends and I are trying to look far into the future to see how long this trend will last.  For one day, the time we call the distant future will exist as the present, and then the fat cats who play with us like balls of yarn, will find that it's far too late for them to extract themselves from the hateful webs they wove.

Vacation Time!

Me and my friends were taking a well-deserved vacation!  Except we realized that we had taken a wrong turn due to an incorrect map.  Now, we are lost in a strange land.  This is even worse than the time I went to Florida and it rained the entire week I was there!  So, here we are.  But, where are we?  We took one wrong turn and are now entirely lost!  We are so far off track that we had to post a look-out at a high point to scout for a way out of this mess.  I don't think we will ever find a beach in this desert.   And sand without water lapping over it, just doesn't work!

What if we were the people our parents warned us about?

Sometimes it does seem like we once were the people our parents warned us about.  I understand this now because as a parent I am really starting to worry about my children.  When they start dating and their dates looks like I did back when I was young, and I remember what I was like, then I start to fret!  But, eventually they should come around and straighten out like I did!  I just know that they will come to their senses.  Or will they?  I'll never forget the first day of one college class when the professor, who should never have been a teacher, looked right at me and said, "It may be nice to be a barefoot boy with tanned cheeks, but you just don't belong here at THIS UNIVERSITY!"  And, I was wearing shoes!

Caterwauling!  (verb. to make a shrill howling or wailing noise )

Today I went to sing for my former students as I had been invited to do!  This is the ninth year that I have sung for the eighth grade classes.  I always sing Bob Dylan's song "Forever Young" just before the eighth graders graduate because I believe the words are inspiring!  But this year I had retired.  I was glad to be invited back to sing to them!  They had been my very first class of kindergarteners to also have been my art students.  I asked them if they knew the definition of "Caterwauling" as sometimes I sing that way.  Though I may not have caterwauled this time, I did love being there!  I was once told that the demise of the Dodo bird was caused by their caterwauling although I don't know if it's true.

Our Story Teller!

Some people judge others by how tall or short they are, or other aspects of their outward physical condition, and never see inside them!  What is inside a person matters the most!  Sometimes the smallest of creatures can have a very large impact on others.  Perhaps it is because they have had to try harder that they can succeed where others fail.  I know that we all love to hear our little friend tell his tall tales of wonder!  He keeps us entertained for hours with his stories.  He is a valuable friend that we will all take good care of as we don't want to lose him!

 The World Today!

The world, our planet, our human existence have always essentially been the same.  As Solomon, the world's wisest man once said, "There is nothing new under the sun!"  But we do experience new things and humans create devices never used before.  So some things do change.  But, some things about this world will always be the same.  Time, existence and the cosmos only go in one direction.  Time only moves forward and cannot be altered, although we can adjust various parts of it.  Everyone is moving off in so many different directions that I think I'll just sit here for awhile and contemplate my options.  Those I know have all suggested entirely different paths through life, but I think after carefully considering the end results, that I will take the path less traveled.  Although it's narrow, I know it will lead to what is truly important for my eternity, which is just now starting!  This reminds me of a verse from the poem from "Desiderata" as I will "Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence!"

 Can't Blame the Cowbird This Time!

Recently I noticed two babies in this nest that I took for siblings.  But now I don't think that they're closely related.  And I don't think the mean old Cowbird is the culprit this time.  Apparently someone will need to point out this discrepancy to the mom because once again she seems oblivious to the situation!

 A Special Prize!

We have just found a "special prize"!  A lost or forgotten egg from the Easter Bunny!   Should we turn it in or eat it?  Perhaps we should just go ahead and share in the new found wealth.  After all we are very hungry!  If we decide to eat it, I do hope that it has been boiled, as we once put an Easter Egg in our basket and it turned out to be raw.  What a mess!  The Easter Bunny surely has forgotten about this particular egg and should have enough left that he won't miss this one.  One friend pointed out that months have passed since Easter, and asked if the egg would still be ok to eat?  I guess we'll soon find out as my hungry friends don't look like they can wait!   

Old Friends!

Old friends from times past still dwell within my memories!  And although it is becoming kind of crowded in here, there is still room for many more!  Although it is becoming "Jammed up and jelly tight in here"!

"The Will-O'-the-Wisp!"

We all came out one night to watch the very unusual phenomenon of the Will-O'-the Wisp as it rose out of the swamp!  I must say that watching the Will-O'-the-Wisp was exciting for me!  Quite a phenomenon!  I just wish Buster hadn't lit a match to it!  We all went to visit Buster in the hospital as he recovered!  My grandmother once told me about watching a round ball of lightning come into her house right through the closed screen door and then disappear!  That is also a strange phenomenon that I'd love to see!   But another phenomenon I would never want to observe would be myself spontaneously combusting!

 "Meanie Pants"

This bird is a pest!  We call him "Meanie Pants"!  I really don't want to leave my swamp and give him a ride.  I was enjoying the peace and contentment of lying in the mud!  My friends had just come over, and we were enjoying soaking our tired bodies in the healing mud!  I had lit up the grill and was about to cook when he showed up.  He has wings!  Couldn't he just fly where he wants to go?  What a pest to ask for something that he could do himself!  That's why I think he is a "Meanie Pants"!

 The Lion Fish is here!

It's not the Lion Fish's fault that he now lives along our Florida coasts!  He's very sorry that he's causing so many problems and wants you to know that you shouldn't touch him or step on him.  "Though I am now called an 'Invasive species', it is not my fault!" he said.  "Someone brought me here and let me go!"  That is all well and good until you step on him!  The Snakehead fish, Zebra mussels, Asian carps, and other alien species are very grateful to have some of the heat taken off of them!

 Trying to be alone!

I'm trying to be alone by living and hiding from the world in my hidey hole.  The world is a scary place out there, and I'm trying to find a safe place to get away from it all!  People are always yelling at me, or telling me their beliefs which I don't care to hear about.  I had to tell Daisy, "I'm a loner and a loner has to be alone!" even when she kept asking, "Jesse what do you mean by that?"  So, I am hiding away!  Oops!  I think they have found me.....

Sniffing!

"Mary, Mary quite contrary how does your garden grow?"  I, myself don't want to be contrary, but there are sniffers who sniff just a little too much and take up all of the aromas coming from our very rare flower garden!  These sniffers just sniff too much!  We don't have a lot of blossoms, and the sniffers with their huge noses have sucked up all of the fragrances!  I know our blossoms have a wonderful aroma, but anything with a nose has come to enjoy these wonderful smells!  Oh well!  What can I do?  Perhaps I should charge admission, but then it is probably best to share what we have with the world for free!  

My New Egg!

Everyone came to admire my new egg!  I was very elated and proud of my beautiful egg until one visitor said, "Hello!  I represent a new TV show, 'Cake Boss', and we are looking for a special egg for a new recipe!  Would you be interested in donating your egg for the show?"  That statement perturbed me quite a bit on many levels! 

Slipping the surly bonds of Earth!

I am learning to slip the surly bonds of Earth!  I have loved the poem, "High Flight" by Mr. Magee from my early youth!  So here I go up into the sky to dance the "Skies on laughter-silvered wings!"
"Kaboomp!" Oops!  Not everything that goes up comes down easily....  I'll just need a little more practice!  But, first I'll have to let the swellings go down.  Still, one fine day I will soar into the Heavens, put out my hand, and touch the face of God, if He will let me!

Pay for View

My friends were invited over to watch our favorite college football team's opening game!  Imagine our surprise when, after I had laid out the munchies, served drinks, and turned on my large flat screen TV, we discovered that the game was "Pay for View" only!  Our falling spirits were not lifted up by the promise of watching a different team for free.  The party started to break up as various friends said their goodbyes and quietly left my home.  The rest of us felt so sad that we could barely finish off the refreshments....

 Meditating isn't easy!

While trying to work on my inner peace through meditation and prayer, I was interrupted by the loudest cacophony of sounds that I had ever heard!  Why did this extremely large group have to come together in my quiet, peaceful woods?  Was it the annual meeting of "The World's Worst Singers?"  They certainly could have qualified for that group!  They have given a new definition to the term "Caterwauling!"  My inner serenity has been totally shattered!  And, my very painful headache has returned!  My meditation problem today was to try and understand the Zen Coffee Shop that has one large coffee urn with two spigots.   One spigot is priced at fifty cents a cup while the other spigot is priced at $50 a cup.  It is up to the purchaser to decide which cup to buy.  Perhaps you can see my meditation dilemma!

Marguerite de La Rocque (A Tale of Survival)

Marguerite de La Rocque's place and date of birth in France are unknown, but records show that she made a declaration of fealty and homage in 1536 for her lands in Périgord and Languedoc, which are beautiful regions and provinces in France.   She was co-Seigneuress of Pontpoint, with her relative Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval, a nobleman privateer favored by Francis I of France.  In 1541 Roberval was made Lieutenant General of New France , which is now part of modern-day Canada.   The following year Roberval set out for the New World, taking Marguerite, who was still young and unmarried, with him.  Roberval ended up abandoning Marguerite on the "Isle of Demons" near the Saint Paul River in the Gulf of St. Lawrence Seaway, possibly to take over her inheritance because his debts were high.   Marguerite survived by hunting wild animals, and was rescued by Basque fishermen many years later.  She became a celebrity in France after returning when her story was recorded by the Queen of Navarre in her work Heptaméron.

The Mixed-up Crew!
Some were happy.  Some were sleepy.  A few were grumpy!  Some were just plain dopey!  But, since we all exist together on this planet, we must find a way to get along with each other!  It certainly is hard at times to disagree and stop before we get to the point of getting mad at each other.  We must learn how to overcome our differences and work out the problems we encounter!  If only we weren't so bashful at times to speak to each other!  I'll go talk to Doc about understanding the possibilities of overcoming our differences as soon as I quit sneezing!  And may I also mention the rest of the crew - Pokey, Slobbery, Meathead, Frazzled, and Blobbery as I whistle while I work!

Amalgamation!
The amalgamation of inadequate motions may cause many difficulties!  I found that out when I quit moving one day and became stuck!  I thought "The answer my friend is running with the wind! The Answer is running with the wind!".... that is, until someone threw an old, wet newspaper and hit me right in the face!  It probably wouldn't have hurt as much if I had been looking a different direction, but this one caught me square in the mug!  So now I am faced with the amalgamation of inadequate motions, as I am bent over in pain and can't see anything!  I'm afraid to take a step in any direction, because I don't know what I might step on or in!  I have to find a way to move, knowing that "A body in motion tends to stay in motion!"

Fall Birdy Summit Meeting!
The Bird hierarchy decided to hold an early fall meeting to discuss the next year's annual meeting, as the past few years' meetings had not gone well and the leaders wanted to avoid problems that might arise during next year's meeting.  The penguin faction was asked to sponsor the fall meeting due to the fact that they rarely showed up for the annual meetings.  The penguins asked everyone to meet, however, at the worst possible venue, as they chose a place already scheduled for "The Gathering of Obnoxious People!"  Right off the bat, the penguin leader expressed concerns over the Polar bear massacre of the gentile Gentoo penguins and asked that Polar Bears be exterminated before proceeding.  The Bird president realizing that he had made a mistake in asking the penguins to chair this meeting, sighed, hung his head and explained, "Penguins do not live in the same hemispheres as Polar bears and therefore would never come in contact with this carnivore."  A lot of loud screeching suddenly ensued as the penguin delegation emphatically voiced their beliefs that Polar bears and penguins do exist together, because they had all enjoyed the "Far Side" cartoon by Gary Larson which showed a penguin group sitting on an iceberg along with a large Polar bear wearing a penguin mask, with a caption stating, "And now Edgar's gone..... Something's going on around here!"  The entire Penguin delegation then stomped off in a huff, and the fall meeting broke up...

The Place Where Very Little Makes Sense...
I am in a place where very little makes any sense at all!   It is like when you think that things couldn't possible get any worse and then they do.  "The Peter Principle" is certainly in effect around here!  So many people arguing about so many things in so many different ways!   It's like they don't have ears to hear or hearts to understand what is most important in this world. This old world keeps on turning — always in the same way and yet some of us feel the need to go in a different direction!  It is hard to fight against the goads (or, as Paul put it in the King James Bible, to "kick against the pricks"), and so much easier to go wherever one is pushed, prodded or pulled.   I feel like I'm mired down from all of the negativity that threatens us.  But, being weighted down still won't hold me back from going where I need to go!

Pointing the finger at others!
Today's desk calendar thought is, "When you sneer and point your finger in scorn, three fingers are pointing back at you!"  I can't tell you how many times I've done this myself, or tried to put the blame on someone else only to realize later that I had done the very same thing.  And, usually I realize that it is me that lost an object or misplaced it and not someone else.  In this particular case, the fish tank had been washed out, but the tank had been refilled with water that had not been left to sit until all of the chlorine had dissipated.  I think therefore that it is my fault that the fish died, as I did not give clear instructions on how to take care of the fish water.  So these days when I see the top left off the strawberry jam jar I stop and think, "It might have been done by me instead of someone else!"

They feel the need for speed!
The race is on!  But where are they running to?  Not all of us feel like we have to run so we will just be spectators.  They seem to be going in circles anyway.  Perhaps it doesn't matter who wins but rather their reward comes from the joy and exhilaration of running with the wind!  Ah! We were young once and ran just because it felt good!  Nowadays, just standing around and watching feels pretty good to me!

Overcrowding!
The overcrowding problem has increased.  There just isn't very much room left, and the supply of Soylent Green is being exhausted!  I already see the tempers starting to flare up!  I'll try to do with less, and if possible, hope to overcome my claustrophobia!  At least we won't have to worry about heat this winter as all of these bodies will keep the temps up!  That's being proactive and thinking positively despite the situation!

Something Old, Something New, Sometimes Makes Me Blue!
It seems that every time I think there is nothing new under the sun, something comes along to change my opinion!  Oh, we have our disbelievers who say, "Everything that is, has already been created!"  Recently, a group came together to discuss the implications that nothing is new as I sat back and saw quite a variety of folks and ideas.  Perhaps they should just take a look at themselves.  But then I think how things have changed over the years.  I certainly didn't know there would be such a thing as the Internet back when I was young!  Or that we would all walk around like Dick Tracy using wrist contraptions to talk to each other.  I know kids born today can't understand how different life was decades ago.  How can the girl who takes my money at the movie theatre possibly understand that when I was young, I could go to a movie for twenty five cents, which got me a seat, a soft drink, and a box of popcorn.  I guess spending a fortune, now, to go to a movie is something new to me, although definitely not in a good way....  Still, I can't wait until we all have flying cars!!!!

The New Baby!
Is there anything cuter than a new baby!  Usually not, unless it's the baby from that one Seinfield episode!   Nowadays my baby has grown up and I hear a lot of complaining about everything.  I guess it's just a stage of life she has to go through.   I would have thought that she would have left this behavior behind in her terrible twos.   I wonder if I was like that when I was young?  Still, I will keep on singing to her the song that goes along with the book, "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch, because no matter what my baby becomes in her life, "I'll love her forever, and I'll like her for always! As long as I'm living, my baby she'll be!"

 Up-close in my personal space!
Have you ever had someone get up so close to your face that you feel your personal space has been invaded?  Someone who steps forward when you step back?  Why do they intrude?  Do they want to smell my breathe?  Is there something up my nose they find interesting?  Do they want to count my nose hairs?  Do they want to see eye-to-eye on some subject?  Do they want to pluck random facial hair?  All I know is that it makes me feel uncomfortable.  Perhaps a squirt gun could avert this behavior.  There's nothing like a quick shot of water to an eye to make them mind their own business!  Can someone explain this phenomenon to me?

A Doggy's Love!
"Yes, he may not be much to look at and his ears are on backwards, but the way he greets me when I come home from a hard day's work just makes everything seem perfect!  Did I fail to mention that he does bite people on the rear end?  Mark knows all about that particular aspect of Doggy's behavior!  Still, he does make the problems of the world fade away every time I come in the front door!  And for that I am truly grateful!  I just hope Mark heals up quickly and doesn't carry a grudge."

Making a Wish!
Let's see?  What should I wish for?  Peace in the world?  Prosperity?  But I can't remember, "After breaking the Wishbone, is it the long or short part that brings the good luck?"  Oh well!  I just wish good luck for all of us anyway!  That way, maybe some of it will at least rub off on me!  I certainly need some good luck to come along!!!

Floating Peacefully on the River of Life!
I am floating so peacefully on the river of life that I have fallen asleep!  Ah!  If only everyday was this serene and stress free!

No Hugging Zone!
There was a lot of yelling and arguing going on around us, and then we realized that there wasn't anyone hugging anywhere nearby.  We had missed the signs that now were so obvious.  We were in a "No Hugging Zone!"  As we were being led off to the "No Hugging Jail," I said, "We'll have to pick a better location for our vacation next year....!"  I just don't understand the "No Hugging Zone" policy as they seem to allow just about everything else!

The Question and the Answer!
"The first question, the oldest question in the universe, hidden in plain sight".  The question is, "Doctor Who?"  The answer can be found just behind this hedge if you really want to know what it is!  But if you want to know an answer to another question, "What is the answer to The Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything", that answer is "42!"  Did you know that an angle of 42 degrees is required for light to make a rainbow?  However, if you truly want to know this answer you must get to Earth before the Volgons destroy it!  Oops!  Too late!  And after ten million years of calculations the Deep Thought computer didn't get finished due to the Volgons!  Now, how did I know the answer was "42" if the Earth was destroyed?  That's a good question isn't it!

The Things That come Out of My Mind!

Singing, but not in the rain!

I'm singing my heart out even though it isn't raining.  But I've noticed that everyone is ignoring me for some reason.  They're all looking away from me as I open my vocal chords and fill the air with sweet, lilting song!  Perhaps they're so overcome with emotion due to my singing that they just can't express themselves!  I do have a large repertoire and due to the varied types of people standing around when I began to sing, I include music from many different cultures.  I did receive one wonderful comment after singing which made me very happy when one guy said, "Did you know that whales can be heard from over long distances?"  That was very encouraging to me!  I'll probably look for another street corner to perform where there is actual precipitation!  Then, I can truly be "Singing in the rain!"

Those that make fun of others need to take a good look at themselves!
We are all just standing around and staring at nothing in particular!  Nothing is going on!  So, we are just whiling away the time until something exciting happens.  I'm sure that with any moment the world will have turned and the promise of another adventure will beckon us to a new form of excitement!  We have to do this every now and then when things come to a standstill.  But eventually some strange critters will walk by right in front of us, and that is something worth waiting for!!!  Look!  There they are!  If they only knew how funny they look to us!

Humming A Happy Song!
I am humming a happy song!  This is a nice form of sharing, as when I or someone else is happy and humming or singing, others will also be influenced by this behavior and spread the joy!  I have been humming along with the sounds the earth makes as it twirls though the universe!  This reminded me of a time when some friends and I were camping out at the Big Sur Campground in California, and we were dancing, singing, and beating on pots and pans around our campfire.  Others came to join us!  However, the campground manager came up, disrupted our joy and told us to "Stop that infernal noise!"  As our new friends walked away, off in the distance I could hear others beating on pots and pans with the same rhythm that we had started!  The joy had spread! So I am asking you to "Spread the Joy!"

A Pearl of Great Value!
We are happily dreaming about the giant pearl we found!  A pearl so valuable that we sold everything we owned to purchase it!  There are after all some things more important than anything else in this world!  And those are the things we should definitely seek! 

Meatball Logic!

The meatballs called for an immediate discussion over some recent vicious rumors.  Some of them had heard a great insult to the meatball group and felt the need to tell everyone about it!  The rumor as heard was, "Everything from the neck up is a meatball!"  There was a lot of yelling and screaming and vengeance was being planned over this  insult to them, and everyone but one guy was glad that the meeting was called.  Then the one guy stood up and said, "I am sorry but you have misquoted this saying!  It was actually from an old TV show and the correct words are 'You are a meathead!  Because everything from the neck up is dead!'"  A brief moment of silence followed as the members consider this revision of their thoughts and then they all leapt up with joy as one member shouted,  "Oops!  We were wrong!  Never mind!  Let's all go find a large pot of spaghetti sauce and immerse ourselves in happiness!"

  

The Last Apple!
We are waiting for the very last apple of the season to fall from this tree!  A beautiful, juicy, delectable apple!  There won't be enough for a pie, but if I am the fastest one, then there will be enough for one wonderful apple turnover!

 Our Teller of Tall Tales

We almost always enjoy his stories!  But, our teller of tall tales didn't quite live up to our usual expectations with his recent story.  Quite a few of us thought he had gone too far when he worked into this particular story references to things that we were embarrassed to hear!  Perhaps if he wants us to come back to the next story event, he should apologize for making most of us feel uncomfortable.  Perhaps this was "A tale best left unsaid!"  "Psst!"  "What?"  "Oh!  Now I understand!"  Sometimes it takes a reference story to convince us that without naming names, a person can become ashamed and  taught to do better, when he realizes that he has done the very same thing!

 

Are Refs Blind?

That is a good question.  I have often wondered if blindness is a special requirement they must list on their applications when they apply to be referees.  I recently watched a college football game between the University of Tennessee and the University of Georgia.  The Georgia kick returner waved for a "fair catch", caught the ball, and then started running!  The refs said that was ok despite Tennessee coach Butch Jones's angry tirades over this horrible call!  I was hoping later on that UT would also wave for a fair catch and then run with the ball to see if the refs would be as blind when they were the offenders.  And I wonder if there is a penalty for refs such as being fined or fired for making such terrible calls!  We, the fans of the Big Orange team, are very upset!

 

The Menagerie of Love

Why do so many different concepts of love divide us?  The world has many different views on this subject.  So what are the roadblocks that separate us from loving each other?  Some obstacles may include:  the way the world has always been, politics, personal differences, experiences, religion, and just plain craziness.  If we could only overcome whatever blocks us from loving and being kind to each other, wouldn't the world be so much better!  We are all so different, but one way we can come together is by being kind to each other!  My grandmother had a wise saying on her wall which said, "The best way to have a friend is to be one!"

Happy with the Blues!

I'm dancing a happy dance because the blues have made me glad!  Playing the blues and nothing but the blues has put a spring in my step!  You ask, "How can the blues make you happy?"  And I reply, "The blues gets right down to the real nitty gritty about what makes us sad, and from there we can be lifted up and every wrong righted!"  After all, you have to get to the bottom of what is bothering you before you can rise above it!

The Conference on Mediation

We came to what we thought was a Conference on Mediation, but something seemed wrong.  Finally one guy said, "Hey!  We were only supposed to be here one-at-a-time!  After all, how can one hand be clapping if there are so many hands?"  Thunderous applause greeted that statement!

Reflections on Life

Astonishing!  That's what it was!  We'd never seen anything like them!  Me and my friends quickly gathered to look at the strange critters that had somehow shown up in our area.   Then, we realized that we were all looking at our own reflections in a very large mirror...  As we slowly turned and walked away with our heads held down, I realized that we had all learned a valuable lesson about not making fun of others...

Making a Point!

Well, I tried to make a point, but with some people there just isn't anyway to get through to them.  I said what I thought would be constructive criticism about their political views, but instead was told, "You can't win with your views!  So, don't even try!"  I believe that I can clearly see what is right and what is wrong!  But, they also believe that their way is correct.  One of us has to be blind!  I guess we will soon learn which one of us is blind, as that one will fall into a ditch!  I just hope that they realize that they are in the ditch as I try to help them climb out!

The Race is on!

The race is on and here comes pride down the backstretch, but everyone knows that pride comes before a fall!  We're all in a race for one thing or the other.  In the contest for love, we can float down like a leaf in a stream, ending up wherever the current takes us, or fight our way against a raging current and overcome it if possible.  But look out to sea and think of all the true loves that have been washed away.  Can the human heart ever know the number?  So on we race!  Hopefully all will win!

Our Heads in a Hole!

"Hey Lover!" said Terah Beth, "We have natural gas warming us up!"

In honor of the band "Hey Lover" from Portland, Oregon!  Or, in other words, "Kommen sie hier bitte liebhaber!"








Singing loudly!
I'm opening up my lungs and singing as loudly as I can.  I am tightly wrapped and so are my vocal chords.  I do hope you like my singing, as that will make me feel much better!  What? You don't like my singing?  Well!  I can either become more tightly wound until I go berserk, or I could loosen up a little.  Right now I just don't know which way I'll go!  So, you might want to stand back a little while I try out this intense volume!





























Warning up ahead!
This fellow warned us that were going the wrong way and shouldn't go any further!  However, we thought we were right and he was wrong.   Now I know that we were just too stubborn in our beliefs to listen to his advice.  Besides, we thought, we had come this far, what could hurt us if we went just a little bit further?  When we regained consciousness after our fall off the cliff, we finally understood...   I guess the moral of this story is, "Better safe than sorry!"










Buddy's Birthday Present!
All Buddy wanted for his birthday was a top hat!   We didn't understand why he wanted that particular gift, but we all wanted to make him happy and chipped in on this special present for him.  As the hat was put on Buddy, the joy on his face made us understand how special this hat was to him, and that made it all worthwhile!

























































Why do humans gaze at each other?
Oculesics is the study of eye contact.  Eye contact is very important in human relationships and interactions!  People may follow the gaze of others unconsciously.  In large crowds, people will not look into the eyes of strangers for various psychological reasons.  But here I was with all my friends, when one looked at another, which caused me to look, which caused another to look, until we were all looking from eye to eye!  It finally dawned on me that we were stuck in a "Gazing loop," so I bopped Freddy on the head, which stopped the loop.  However, that made everyone look at me and Freddy, and the "Gazing loop" started up again...







































A Very Scary Movie!
My friends and I went to see a scary movie.  Normally we like this genre as it makes the hair on the back of our necks stand up!  But this time we were scared so badly that we, including the rest of the people in the theatre, jumped out of our seats as we were extremely frightened during one spine-chilling scene!  When a movie is so blood-curdling that you feel like you need extra mouths just to scream, then you know it is very nerve-racking experience!  From now on perhaps we should just go see movies that are less unnerving as I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight!





































The World Where Nothing Fits!
What is going on in this world?  Very little seems to work correctly!  Even round pegs can't be forced into even larger square holes!  We can't have conversations as even our words are in languages we don't understand.  Is this the way our congress works?   Or was Mark Twain correct when he said, "It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress."

A pat on the head!
Sometimes all we need is just a little pat on the head!  Just a little praise every now and then to show we are appreciated!  A little "That'll do pig!  That'll do!"  "Way to go!"  "Atta boy!"  If we could all just get in a big circle and start patting the head in front of us and keep it going, think how happy we could be!  So, say something nice to someone today!  It may keep on going!







































Bad Advice!
Have you ever had anyone give you bad advice when you really needed good advice?  I know I have in the past.  It is so easy to fool someone who is innocent.  "Like taking candy from a baby" a not-so-nice person might say.  For instance, there was the time we overheard one of our friends getting some very bad advice from a character we have always found to not be upright.  He was sending our little friend off in the wrong direction because we knew there was a large, deep, hidden hole just ahead!  We quickly ran forward and stopped our friend from being misled and hurt!  We then gave that guy a big piece of our mind!  Yesiree Bob!  He'd better think twice before doing anything like that around here again!

































Stubborn and Indignant about it!
Why is it so hard to take good advice when we are young, or for that matter, to advise some older people who are going in the wrong direction?  Usually, older, more mature people have lived long enough to know how the world can be and can make better choices.  However, some are very set in their ways and quite stubborn in their beliefs.  Why is it so hard to reach someone before they make a wrong decision?   Is there any kind way to reach them before they go off in a wrong direction that will lead them to perpetual misery?































Swimming into 2015!!
I'm treading water and keeping me head up this year!  I just know I will tread better than last year and will not sink as this year will be special!  I did practice floating a lot when I was young because as a kid, I was told that I would get the cramps in the water after eating.  And that scared me!  Good thing I learned to dog paddle back then! Treading water will come in handy this year as I keep my head up and paddle on into a successful year!

























The Convention of "Know-it-alls"!
Our town just hosted the convention for the "Know-it-alls".  It was the first time this group had met here, and as far as I'm concerned, it will be the last.  I had never heard such arguing among so many people at one time!  None of them could agree on anything!  As their meeting was breaking up, I handed out invitations to the next convention coming to town, "The convention for those who want to learn how to work out problems!"  I hope some of the "Know-it-alls" will come, as it will certainly help them to understand that they really don't know very much after all!











Talent Audition!
Wow!  A lot of folks came to try out for a spot on this national talent show!  A lot more are here than I expected!  I'm finding it hard to smile and concentrate while I practice singing because there is too much going on around me.  Perhaps if I sing a little louder I can drown out some of the other contestants!  "YAH! YAH! YAH! YAH!" Oops!  Now, they are singing more loudly







No Politics in this drawing!
Politics will not be mentioned with this drawing.  I have heard that word, politics, too many times over the past two years and will not say, "Politics!" in this writing.  It has become so bad, that I can't even play tennis without my friends stopping the match to say something political about the political candidates.  Please Observe & Listen In This Intense Conversational Situation that all mentions of P.O.L.I.T.I.C.S. will not be tolerated!  I was just told by a bystander that one of the things you must never do in public is discuss politics!!!  I just can't take it anymore and will not say politics to you! 





My mind unwinds...
Just when my mind started to unwind, I found myself within the bowels of the earth.





Where exactly are the Bowels of the Earth?
My friends and I came together to discuss the location of "The Bowels of the Earth." We each had our own opinions and couldn't agree where the bowels are, but did finally decide that they are somewhere underground.  We unanimously voted to not go there and see them!





Farther along in the bowels of the earth!
We didn't mean to find it, but after being lost for some time, we did locate the bowels of the earth.  There, we saw things which couldn't be explained.





Art Exhibit!
We went to see the new art exhibit in town.  Or, at least we thought we went to see the new art exhibit.  It seemed like a good example of Modern Art until it started moving.  So, we started moving.   We then realized that what we thought was the art exhibit was other people that came to see it, and who thought we were the exhibit.  Well, perhaps we are all art anyway!  Or, does art just imitate life?


The Mediocrity Principle!
This principle states that, "If an item is drawn at random from one of several sets or categories, it's likelier to come from the most numerous category than from any one of the less numerous categories."  That makes sense, but this principle is sometimes used as a philosophical argument that human beings are not special but normal and unexceptional. I really wanted to feel special...



"When the going got tough!" we gave up...

Where's the finish line?

We thought the race was over as everyone was all jammed up together.  But we couldn't

find the finish line or an official.  With bewildered looks on our faces, we wondered if a

prank had been played on us.  Or, did we take a wrong turn during the race?  As we all

turned to look at the one who had led the pack throughout the race, we noticed his

expression of shock to have caused this racing disaster.  As he ran off due to the looks of

some of the racers, he set a new land speed record which should stand for many years.

Friendship!

Getting along with friends isn't always easy!  I try to think of a little sign my grandmother hung on her wall that said, "If you want a friend, you must first be one!"  I try to be friends with people I meet.  There have been times that I can't agree with everyone on all subjects, but I still try to get along with them.  I once knew a married couple that loved to cause trouble and create problems between friends.  I had to end that relationship.  Here I am discussing matters with my friends.  I know we are all different and don't look or think alike, but if they truly care about being good and kind to everyone then I will count them as my friend!

Ambulating the levitating way! - Creatures that can hover or levitate may have an advantage over others.  But, we all move the best we can!  And, as long as we can get to where we want to go - isn't that all that matters!  I just wish that the ones that can levitate weren't so smug about it...

The Dividing Line -

We certainly disagree on many things on this planet!  Every side strongly believes in their ways!

But, all sides can't be right.  It is hard for me to understand when I correct a friend and prove what

he believes to be false, that he won't be happy to learn the truth.  I appreciate friends that do thank me

if I can show them they are wrong.  I, myself, would want to be corrected if I am wrong in my beliefs. One big problem is with friends that believe they are right and try to show me their side of the

discussion when I know they're wrong...  I guess I should just smile and nod so we can get along!

Cacoethes! 

Our New Word club got together to learn the word for the month, "Cacoethes!"   Which means,

"An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable."  Here we are all jammed up together to 

demonstrate our understanding of this word!  Can someone please untangle us!!!

The Awkward Pause...

The time when you run into someone that calls out your name, but you can't remember who they are...

Speaking to oneself!

Words spoken while seemingly alone are seldom heard by others.  But, it is best to keep your eyes

open when blurting out unretractable, offensive mutterings!

Too much Yakking....

Is there anything that can't be known?  It certainly is harder to get to the truth of a matter when so many are yakking loudly away about their own particular opposing beliefs and view points.  And to quote, yet again, my old philosopher friend Charlie O, "Truth can not be found in falsehood!"

Macbeth Act 2 Scene 2

Our troupe of actors tried yet again to get through a play without a mistake.  But we just can't seem to

finish without a show stopping error.  We were in Macbeth Act 2 Scene 2 when our actress portraying Lady Macbeth said, "I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.  Did not you speak?"  Our actor only had one word to say, "When?" but he replied, "Huh?"  After the onslaught of vegetables, we packed it all up for another day.  At least we can make soup tomorrow!

2018 Birdy Meeting!

The Birdy leadership had discussed not sending out a questionnaire this year before the annual meeting, but some still felt they should try to reach out to birds of the world and get their input.  Return replies were, "We want Alfred Hitchcock's film 'The Birds' shown more often on the tube!" "How long before the Red, Red Robin comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' along?"  "Who would win a match-up between the Baltimore Orioles and the St. Louis Cardinals?"  "Why don't Ducks duck?"  "Why weren't there any birds in the movie - Bird on a Wire?"  "Why do some people want to kill two birds with one stone?"  "Why haven't we seen Larry Bird lately?"  "Why is a catbird seat an envious position as birds don't like cats let alone sitting with them?"  "Why is a person crazy as a loon when most loons are very wise?"  "Why are birdies not mentioned in major sports except for golf and badminton?"  The Birdy leadership decided they had been hacked again and needed their computers scanned for viruses after the crazy returns...

Ever Onward!

Onward we go to try and reach our destination!  However, time keeps throwing potholes, pitfalls, and stumbling blocks along our way.  We keep falling down but continue to get up and press on toward the goal!  We will make it!!!

Tee's Cap 2018

Tee has been retired now for almost five years!  He still thinks about his former job and his students!  He finds it hard to stop thinking about art lessons and trying to make them even better, although he does know his teaching days are over.  He still is very concerned about corruption which caused one of the sweetest, smartest teachers he knew to quit.  He wanted to turn the offenders into the state officials, but his friend said to let it go and she would retire.  So, another great teacher bit the dust and went into retirement.  Maybe she can start playing Pickleball!  After all, "Pickleball is cheaper than therapy!"

Philosophy 101

We all have our own ideas of what is important.  A study of the thinking processes and beliefs of our times

reveals that though our particular modern life has more conveniences than previous ancestors would ever

have dreamed of, we really haven't changed at all especially when we consider the discipline of our world still

remains lost in the cave over the many years of human existence!  Is this a fundamental truth about humans? 

Very few humans try to understand the nature, causes, principles of reality, knowledge, or what should be important human values.  Perhaps we need to go to class and learn!

Conversations

Sometimes it seems our conversations are hopeless.  Round and round we go and never seem to solve our differences.  There has to be a way to understand each other and the many view points that are opposite of what we believe!  Being kind to each other is a good way to start!  We should try to understand and learn from each other!  Please give it a try!

Happy but for the wrong reasons...

I once had two friends that thought it was so funny to cause trouble between people. They both loved

to see the strife they caused!  In this case, being happy and laughing at the problems they created was

not a good way to seek joy.  I eventually had to remove them from my list of folks I called "friends."

Not a stop for the train they call the City of New Orleans!

This is one station where the train they call the City of New Orleans refuses to stop.  The engineer always breathes a sigh of relief when he has gone 500 miles past this station when the day is done!

When a dream becomes real!
Everything seemed fine until I woke up and the dream was still going on!  Just have to hope for
a happy ending to make everything work out as my dreams can take many different paths!

                               Talking so loudly that you can't be heard!
Human languages often lose something in translations.  Sometimes, the one who talks the loudest
may not actually believe in what he says and only use emphasis to try and influence others that he
is right.  Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "What you do speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you're
saying!"

                                              Mr. Know-it-all!

When a person says, "I know it all!" how do you convince him that he's wrong?  Especially in a way

that won't hurt his feelings.  If he knew it all, then he'd know he's wrong!  Alessia Cara wrote in her

song "Seventeen" that she was just too young to understand and thought her father had lied about

time when he said we are like blades of grass that wither away.  However, she was young and now

knows that time cannot be frozen!  And although she thought she was a know-it-all, she now

understands that she just didn't know enough.

                                     Fear is a liar!

At first, we were scared of everything.  But, then some learned fear could be overcome and proceeded to teach us the solution to not being afraid!  One suggestion was for us to listen to two songs!  One song, "Be Still" is by the band The Fray and was also used as a theme song during Abby's recent departure from  the TV show NCIS.  This song lets you know that even if you think you are alone, there is One always with you!  The other song, "Fear is a Liar" is by Zach Williams and gave us the wisdom to not listen or give in to fear!!!

                             Alien Technology?
We came to look at some new objects that had appeared in our neighborhood.  There were many opinions voiced about what these things might be.  "Alien technology put here by beings in UFO's!" some exclaimed.  "Mutant plant formations caused by radiation!" was another suggestion.  All of a sudden we looked around and realized that we were also strange looking.  As we walked away someone muttered, "Maybe we are mutants from another planet!"  "Namaste!" said one of the objects as we walked away.

TV Show Concerns!

Our dislike of the way current TV shows are broadcast caused us to go to the source to protest!

We want to know why the shows we love last for 6 - 8 weeks, but then won't come back on for at least another year.  We tend to forget what the show was about by that time.  We want the TV executives to know we are upset!  We will refuse to buy advertised goods until they rectify this problem!  The main exec came out, laughed at us and said, " We don't care!"

Dark Matter/Gray Matter/Empty Matter/Doesn't Matter?

"Dark Matter" was a syfy tv show that I really loved!  The bigwigs or small-brain-wigs (as they could be called) made the decision to not continue the show for a fourth season.  Oh well...  There are so many shows that begin and then disappear after one season that I probably should just give up and listen to music!  My friends and I are trying to portray the show in this scene.  Do you think we got it right?

Looking toward the future?

Which way should we look?  Time goes by in one direction, and covers us with mortal dialections.

We have problems understanding this concept.  Being human isn't easy!  Dialectics can have different meanings and linguistic phenomena problems.  One refers to refers to a variety of language usage that is a characteristic of a particular group. Which can be a problem due to regions, nations, and world beliefs.  In this drawing, most of us were looking in one direction while one guy wanted to go the other way.  We looked in the direction in which we thought time would approach.  He was certain we were looking the wrong way!  "Follow the crowd!" I always say.  Surely they wouldn't lead us off a cliff...

On this world but not of it

So much confusion, chaos, and madness going on in this world.  I stand away because I just do not want to be a part of it.  I will observe and try to do what I can while I meander through existence without failing or falling.  There is still good being done, and that's where we should

concentrate our efforts!!!

Conversations that just shouldn't be overheard!

Sometimes being in the wrong place may cause you to hear something that you just didn't want to know about! I know it has happened to me!  One time I was in the right place, but someone said the wrong thing!  And now on TV, I'll see something that I just don't think should be out in public!  Am I in the wrong place while watching TV?  I can at least change the channel, but then I'll see it again on another channel!

The Parade!

Our town decided to have a parade which would feature two opposing factions of folks that live here! This was billed as the "Long Necks and the Short Necks Parade!"  The feeling was that if everyone got together on a nice march through town, that we could all learn to get along.  However, we got so tangled up that I think this created even more strife!  Despite our opposing views, we must learn to get along and work together!

Tangled up in gray

I and my friends have had many discussions about reality, existence, and beliefs.  Some say

certain subjects have gray areas with no absolutes.  Others insist that, outside imagination,

everything else should be proven true.  Because we exist, we really need to discover and understand

which areas of knowledge are completely factual and contain no gray areas.  When my friend, John, who listens to southern blues but thinks he is hearing country music, I wonder if we'll get anywhere

in our debates...

Talent Show Rejects!

Is that the "hook" coming in?  Well, they won't have enough hooks for all of us!!!!

Look up!  Look down!  Look all around!

Some saw the UFO and tried to show the others.  But, they were too involved in the world around

them to notice.  Perhaps there is enough strangeness here anyway to keep all of our attention!

Stubbornness...

Why do some people fail to learn, improve, or better their themselves?  Words like inflexible,

pigheaded, obstinate, and narrow-minded seem to describe this condition.  Proverbs 9:8

describes two ways we can react to correction.  The decision has a lot to do with improving

or not improving!

Time currents!

Floating along with the currents of time.  Perhaps we should be swimming against them.  It does appear that we have gone down into some sort of dark tunnel...

Existence...

You either exist, or you don't.  You are either reading these words, or you aren't.  If you are,

should you try to understand how important existence is or dismiss it as a fantasy? Accepting

that you are an integral part of a world in which you have a corporeal meaning should

encourage you to learn more about your world and yourself.  Or would you rather debate the corporality of the human soul? 

Winning the game!

I went for the easy lay-up and the win!  The crowd went wild as the ball fell through

the hoop as the final buzzer sounded!!!!

Feeling Lost?

We have all felt lost at some time in our lives!  We've looked in many directions for help! 

So who needs a big hug?

Children!

The time when your child goes off in a direction you weren't expecting and wish they

hadn't tried.  At least it reminded me of how I must have driven my mother crazy when I

was young!  So, I finally learned a lesson even if a hard one!

Our Dawn Singing Group!

We love to sing at the break of dawn to start a new day!  However this morning our chorus just

didn't sound right.  Perhaps everyone was trying a different song at the same time.  At least I know

we were all in different keys!!!

Is Up Down?

I thought I knew what was going on until I could see two sides arguing about

what was right and wrong.  I knew that only one side could be true.  Could the

side that is wrong change up to down?  Or left to right?  They seem to think

they can!

Radiation Levels

We came together to discuss the notion that radiation safety levels may be changed.  Really?  Raising radiation acceptance levels will be healthier for us?  Just like sunlight?  Congress, will this affect you?  It won't?  You won't be close to it?  How convenient for you!  As for myself, I feel somewhat mutated...

Just plain old upset!

Some of us are disgruntled.  Some are apathetic.  But some of us are just "plain old upset!"

However, there is that one person that keeps telling us, "Things will get better!"  Guess what!

I believe him!

Aliens and UFOs!

Some looked to the sky to see Aliens and UFOs.  Others looked around where they stood

and saw some very unusual beings!

Duck, Duck, Goose!

"Do you want to play Duck, Duck, Goose?"  "Why would I want to play Duck, Duck, Goose when I am one!"

Pangram sentences!

"Pack my lour box with five dozen IQ jugs!" Pangram sentences must contain every letter of the alphabet.  A common example is: "The quick brown fox jumps over a lazy dog!"  In our native language, our group couldn't come up with even one sentence because our alphabet only has two letters.  We even have problems talking to other sheep as we can only say, "Baa...."

Expressing thoughts in public...

Not all thoughts should be expressed openly in public!  Bad examples are:  Deer should never jump up and say, "Here I am!" when the hunter is in the woods.  A wounded grasshopper should never say, "I just can't jump!" when he falls into a chicken coop!  And never forget what happened to Chicken Little when he told everyone the sky was falling!  He told that story one too many times and was eaten for dinner!

Tooting my own horn!

I'm tooting my own horn because I can!  Those last three notes sounded a little flat!

Maybe I'm out of tune!

My friend part 2

My friend continually wants to help me believe his views on politics.  He says he is telling the truth!

I love truth!  I keep telling him that truth cannot be found in fiction.  But that doesn't stop him! 

Tag!  You're it!

This is when "Tag!  You're it!" goes horribly wrong...  Unless we are some mural design

put on a wall by some tagging artist... 

Mr. Grouchy!

Nothing pleases him.  What is he so mad about?  We all have problems.  His can't worse

than ours.  Just be careful that his attitude doesn't spread!

Choosing the hard way

We all told him not to go in that direction!  But he wouldn't listen.  Some people

are very stubborn and must learn the hard way.  Hopefully the rescue squad can

get to him before he sinks too far in the quick sand.

Bird Brains!

Sometimes birds actually have more brains than anyone else!

Mr. Grumpy!

What is he so upset about?  He just doesn't have the Christmas spirit!

Perhaps a few weeks in Whoville will cause his heart to grow!

Partridge in a Pear Tree tryouts!

After the laughter died down but only because the applicant had left the building, he pondered

being a "Partridge in a Pear Tree reject...."  Just not Christmas Partridge material, perhaps? But he chose to remain positive in the spirit of the season.  He could always help the ones who truly need a

blessing this season!  I'm glad that his friends were there to comfort him after his rejection.  Real

friends are those that help us think our best thoughts, accomplish our greatest deeds, and cause us to be better people!

Speaking without thinking...

Some speak without thinking.  Having a larger mouth and louder voice won't make your statements true.  I wish I knew how to explain to those who won't refrain from elaborating on their beliefs that they are wrong.  Could they be trained to only reply correctly, or is that impossible? 

Learning to stand and balance in a new world!

We may fall down a lot at first, but we will eventually learn how to stand up straight!

When Worms Get Lost

This is the time when worms get lost and can't remember which hole is theirs!

It is a very sad situation.

Lumped together

We do exist on this planet.  We are in a specific moment of time.  It is up to everyone of us

to figure out what is most important.  Money and wealth?  Controlling all aspects of other

human's lives?  Or, helping each other?

This is us!!!!

We are a strange group, but we belong together!

We are all seeking directions

So many directions in which we look for answers.  I have friends that think they know the way to go.  Some of them are following illusions.  Others do seek a way to find knowledge.  I know time is unusual, but not all avenues will lead to wisdom.  Shakespeare would put it better by having Macbeth say,  "Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, raze out the written troubles of the brain, and with some sweet oblivious antidote, cleanse the stuffed  bosom of that perilous stuff which weighs upon the heart?"

Distractions!

Normally when I take a walk, I try to ignore the various distractions going on around me.

But so many events in my neighbors' lives draw my attention.  Oh well!  How could a little

pause to chat cause any trouble?  Oh my!  Now I am involved in problems that are best

left to others!

Laughter can be good medicine!

Laughing may be a small thing in life, but it can make you feel better!  Just make sure you are

laughing for the right reasons!  "Laugh with people and not at them!" my friends said yesterday

at lunch.  The world needs joy!  And if you cause a person to laugh, you have helped to ease earthly burdens!

Advising the Young!

Some of our youth will not listen to advice from their elders.  I try to understand that position as they must see the perplexing problems in our current times that haven't been fixed.  Some kids will try to accept help while others think, "I know it all, so don't tell me anything!"  I just wanted to help them get past some of the roadblocks  in life that certainly overwhelmed me!  But, I guess some of them will  have to learn the hard way like I did!

Our Progress Director!

We certainly are all jammed up with the way time has put us into this new year.  We selected a

person to direct our way as we try to understand and take into account this new path that the

earth has taken as it rotates and spins.  Hopefully our director knows the right way to go and won't

lead us down a primrose path full of thorns!  Ouch!  What was that?

Subdermatoglyphic!

One friend who is always suggesting that we learn new words offered to help us understand

what subdermatoglyphic means by doing a demonstration.  He explained that it is, "The set of

patterns that are the fine whorls, arches, and other finger-ridges that have an underlying dermal

matrix which determines their distribution."  He placed us in a group that was supposed to resemble

a whirly, arched, and ridged group.  I really don't think we got the meaning he intended...

Passing time the best we can!

The world may throw us together with all our various beliefs!  But some fine day we will learn

to exist together on this planet without hating or causing others discomfort!  I can see this will

take awhile.  But until we finally respect each other, we must try to learn and do the best we can

as we mature as a species!

The Ever Continuing Conversation!

My neighbor and I have a lot of arguments!  I try to understand his view point, but

he seems so blind to my side of the conversations.  He seems so wrong, but could

it be me that isn't right?  Until we get to the truth of the matter, we can at least keep

talking and discussing various issues in a diplomatic and kind way!

Lying down on the job?

Some have quit trying to do any type of work.  We believe in working hard with the desire to reach an ultimate goal!  Can we inspire the slackers to get up and continue to strive toward a similar destination? Or have they given up?

A Difficult Passage

Some forests are difficult to traverse.  Early explorers faced somewhat similar problems.  I know a

map might help!  And, I get the feeling that I'm being watched!

The Weight of the World

The world can weigh heavily upon us.  Ayn Rand might have told us that "Atlas Shrugged", but Atlas might have told us, "Nah!  It doesn't weigh too much!  And, they did name some mountains in Africa after me!"  Still, we shouldn't put our burdens on others' shoulders unless they are too difficult to bear alone and someone offers to help us!

Early Levitation Experiments!

Some got the hang of it, but others crashed a lot!  I guess it just isn't for everyone.

Traveling in the wrong direction...

We had journeyed quite a long way when suddenly our leader told us we had wasted

weeks by going in the wrong direction!  I was so unhappy that I just sat down!  Someone

will have to carry me back to the beginning, because I don't feel like moving.

Being Blind to the world!

Being blind to the world can mean falling into a very deep ditch that no one can climb out. 

A new TV show "The Enemy Within" recently featured a song with the lyrics, "If you close your

eyes and you pick a side, will you follow blindly into the darkness?  If you close your eyes,

do you find yourself brokenhearted in a world on fire?"  My hope is that we all try to see what

truly matters and is most important!

Tee's Cap 2019

It's April and Tee is wearing his cap.  He realizes that he could be upset by various difficulties that

happen on this planet, but he also knows that there is good to be found!  So he wants everyone

to "Live long and prosper!"

I'm a Choir Director!

I wanted to be a chiropractor but was told, "You just don't have it, and you should be a choir director instead!"  I listened to Danny Gokey's song, "Masterpiece" and loved the lyrics!  Now as a choir direction, I am teaching the members to learn this special song because God is making us into a masterpiece!

What makes a hero?

How would you define a hero?  It can't be because of their height, wealth, or position in life.

A hero should be known by how they help others!  You can never know the weight of a person's

burdens, but you can certainly try to help ease their load!

The Bigger Picture!

Can you see the bigger picture despite the many obstructions that clog up our lives?

Is beauty in the eye of the beholder?

There was an argument as to how many legs make someone more beautiful than others.  The verdict was, "It depends more upon the inward kindness, caring, and love for others than on what is outside of a person!"

Arguing over nothing!

Sometime ago a friend taught me a valuable lesson.  I had discussed with him whether I should

talk to another friend who I felt was missing some line calls.  I thought it wasn't on purpose when

the friend called a ball out when it was in.  I felt the person should be told he wasn't seeing correctly

as I could see the ball hitting the line on the court.  What my friend said next influenced me when he said, "Do you want a friend or not?"  That made me realize that winning wasn't the most important thing and having fun and keeping friends while playing was much more rewarding!

A Singing Fish

Even though things were already weird enough, our world became ever stranger when a fish

swam by singing lyrics from a song by Donovan,"Way down below the ocean where I wanna be

she may be!"

Mosquito Facts

Someone said, "Here's a new fun fact!  A Mosquito has 47 sharp "teeth" on its proboscis, and

six needles to drink up your blood!"  Now we are very worried and on the lookout for these

tiny vampires!

Finally fitting in!

It took quite awhile, but I finally found a place where I fit in!

Many look in the wrong direction!

A lot of folks were looking up in hopes of spotting something unusual or strange!

They should have looked down and around or even at each other!

The Puzzle Mess of Life!

We tried to figure out the puzzle of life by connecting with each other the best we could.  But our parts seem to have been mixed up from many different puzzles into one giant box and then dumped out all over the world!  We'd better learn how to all fit together and love each other as fast as we can!

The Laura Lane Music Show!

We are all on our way to hear Laura Lane sing tonight!

Hiraeth!

When I was young, my father took me to Wales to see a small town where our ancestors had lived. 

Hiraeth is a Welsh word that doesn't translate well into English, but it means "a deep longing for home!"  Many of the Welsh people would tell you that this word cannot be translated.  It has such a deep feeling which could even mean missing someone that is gone.  I would love to go back to Wales, but I doubt if I will ever get the chance.  While in that small town, I saw our family name on a mail box at a house and asked my father if we could stop and say hello.  He didn't want to visit and we drove on.  I've always wanted to go back and knock on the door to that house!

The OMUH Group!

The first meeting of the OMUH group was held recently.  We picked this name to represent our

beliefs that we are "the Order of Men with very Unusual Hair!"  Our first order of business was

to come up with even more ways to look different!  A person passing by overheard our

discussion and quietly said, "Did you know OMUH also means 'Offline Machine Unit Hours?"  We

decided to head for the nearest barber shop after that comment.

The Bad Instructor!

We are trying hard to not learn from our new instructor!  He is apparently not from our planet!

Because 2 plus 2 should never equal 7.  Talia said we should all bring him an "apple for the teacher!"

But we will only bring apples with worms in them!

Making a loud noise!

Sometimes it doesn't matter if a person is large or small to make their voice be heard.

But the loudest voice doesn't always mean they have the truth!

Friends help make life worthwhile!

I've often wondered why life is so difficult.  Enduring the many problems that we face

is so much easier because of nice and supportive friends!

Mr. Attitude!

I may have a small beak, but my attitude makes up for my tiny voice!

The D.A.G.B.T. group

We are the very happy members of "The Dialectic Art Group of Behavioral Therapists!"  We worked out all of our opposing views and are smiling because of the satisfaction we obtained when we all came together in our beliefs!  "Eh?" "Who wants to keep arguing?"  "Oh!  You think our acronym sounds like 'Dag nab it!'"?  Oh dag nab it!  It's always something isn't it!  We will discuss that at our next meeting....

A Juge Mistake!

If we follow the wrong path or person, we will get tangled up!  And getting untangled is not

an easy process!  Sometimes it can take centuries to correct JUGE mistakes!  What?  I misspelled

a Qord?

The Elite...

I see the upper crust as over-cooked and very crusty!  Usually the higher levels are supported only by the lower levels, which is like a cupcake in theory.   It seems some of them think the underlings

are worthless except for manual labor or to help them become richer.  Do they think members of their own levels are inadequate and have no value as well?  Isn't there a word for that?  Narcissism? Egocentric?  Maybe the cupcakes need to be coated with icing!

It's coming!

We all saw it coming but just couldn't do anything about it.

The Cure for Grumpiness!

I feel grumpy!  Maybe I'm not getting enough sleep.  Perhaps it's the world.  But no matter

how upset I am, I must be careful in my responses to others while in this condition as my

friends also seem perturbed.  One positive sentence with a smile could make a huge difference

in our despondency!  I know!!!  We'll all go hear Laura Lane sing as that will make us happy!!! 

Birdie Dinner Suggestions!

We were all very apprehensive at our friend's suggestion that we all go again and eat at the new Birdie Café but this time try the new "Braised Seed Sampler!"  His last suggestion had been "The Baked-worm Lasagna" which we couldn't digest.

Verbatim?

Did the words we heard spoken last week not really happen?  I can't understand how a person could say something one week, and the next week say he didn't say the words.  Doesn't verbatim mean to repeat exactly what was said before?  Or, was he trying to "Bait and switch them?"  Good thing there was a video made of what he said last week! VERBATIM should never stand for - Various Errors Result By Announcing Things Idiots Mention!

Friends don't lie!

"Friends don't lie!", said Eleven!  We then had a lengthy discussion about friendship, truth, our world and our times and decided to move to another galaxy.

Mr. Grumpy learns to laugh!

Mr. Grumpy wandered through our happy community but immediately upset us with his negative views.  One friend went over and tickled him until he fell down and laughed so much that he cried from joy!  He became known as Mr. Happy after that!

We like to swim and explore!

My friend and I seem to have wondered too far on our regular daily swimming excursion.

So, we will do what Dory said and, "Just keep swimming" until we are past these strange

creatures because they might be hungry.

Cement toothpaste!

You'll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with wet cement!

Somnambulists Meeting!

We are members of a special organization called "The Somnambulists" and have come together for our monthly meeting!  But first we must all fall asleep!  And then we'll all wake up somewhere else which is always a very interesting aspect of our group!

Ineffable!

Our group loves to learn new words.  Our new word of the week is "Ineffable" which means

"too great to be expressed in words!"  We love this new word and are showing how we feel

by our actions!

So fragile!  So precious!  So necessary! 

So taken for granted!  And yet we destroy it...  But there is hope!  Yes, algae farms are being

created for food!  "The food of the future!" experts are saying!  Google it if you don't believe

me!  And, if you don't like the thought of eating algae, insect farms are also being created!  Yum!!!

Truth and Answers!

Who do we listen to?  One who consistently lies?  Or to the one who answers the questions

we ask with honesty and truth?  We are all so different.  I do agree about that.  Mandisa sings

a song, "Bleed the Same" which says, "We all bleed the same!  We're more beautiful when we

come together!  We all bleed the same!  So tell me why, tell me why we're divided!"  What will

it take to bring us all together!!!!

The Naysayer is Among Us!

If you like someone who criticizes, is cynical about everything you do, objects

to everything good, invariably opposes and is always negative, then you'd love

to be where we are!  However, we don't like this guy and will quickly move on

to a better place!

2019 Birdie Fall Meeting

The meeting could have been productive but the Roadrunner representatives became very vocal with their demands on change!  Roadrunners are listed in the Cuckoo family of birds, Cuculidae, which is the sole taxon in the order of Cuculiformes!  Roadrunners are very upset and have requested that they be removed from the Cuckoo family!  They desire this change because they don't live in trees as do most of the Cuckoos.  And because they can run at 20 mph and some have

been clocked at 27 mph, while no other Cuckoo can run faster than one mph.  Roadrunners are also concerned that Sonny the Cuckoo should not represent them, because he is "Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!"  And they have asked everyone to understand that they never say, "Beep!  Beep!"  The Birdie leaders once again hung their heads down and sighed...  Maybe the spring meeting will be better.

The Dumped Bucket of Life!

Sometimes it seems we were all dumped from a large bucket onto this planet! 

We certainly  are a mishmashed jumble of beings!  We must learn how to get along

with each other no matter how different we are!  Each one of us has some good

we can share with others!  Please try!!!  Please try!!!

Happy Land!

I'd say I'm traveling with a friend, but we don't even like each other.  No one else wants to be around us because we are so negative.  Somehow we've wondered into "Happy Land!"  Maybe it will rub off on us....

My Big Friend!

I'm just a little bug, and no matter what you think or believe, I always have someone watching over

me!  This helps especially if someone is being a bully, and I need help!

Privacy these days!

It has become very difficult to have a private conversation these days on

a phone or even in public because so many are listening to what you say in

many different ways!

The Gelatin Mold of Life!

We are nonconformists so we stay on this side of the fence.  After all the gelatin is starting to harden!  If we can just stay away we won't be absorbed!  Or, is that a better place to be?  The grass certainly does look a lot greener!

What is really going on?

Sometimes it is very difficult to understand what truly is happening in our world!  My friend, John,

quite often tries to tell me what is right, and suggests that Bobby is to blame!  Of course, he is just

joking.  Usually the guy with a badge seems to have the answers!

The Broken Notes!

I guess the name should have been a clue!  But we just heard the worst music I think

this planet has ever had!!!  I don't know if my poor ears will ever recover!

Living in a hole!

Why does he live in a hole?  Does he have something to hide? 

Or is living like that just better?

Aduantas! (ah-dwon-tes)

Aduantas is a very unusual Irish word that describes a feeling of unease caused by being some

where new, or being with people you don't know.  This word comes from aduaine which is the

Irish word for "strangeness".  This group hasn't yet grasped the meaning of this word.  But until

they do, "Erin go Bragh!" says Lobbing Larry!

Forgiveness!

"I'm sorry!" said my friend.  I shouldn't be mad at him as we've been friends for many

years, and his apology is all that is necessary!  And as John Prine sang in his song,

"Fish and Whistle", "Father forgive  us for what we must do!  We'll forgive each other 'til

we both turn blue!  And we'll whistle and go fishing in the heavens!"  And forgiving is what we

should do for each other anyway!

Gossip changes!

Gossip will certainly change as it is passed along.  Apparently this tale was told

too many times as when it got to me and was about me, I did something that I

would never do! 

Voice lessons!

I had to give up my dream of becoming a Chiropractor and have gone back to being

a choir director.  But that is also a good profession if you don't mind a few bad notes!

Truth is not easy sometimes...

"Please explain why you think I am wrong!" said a friend.  "I would!" I replied, "But you

aren't ready to accept the truth!"  "Furthermore, your explanations and ideas aren't

easily understood until they are stated clearly!"

The Answer?

"I have the answer!" he said.  The rest of his audience wasn't too sure but decided to listen

to what he had to say.  We will let you know if he does have the answer because we all need it!

Our Zoo!

Welcome to our zoo!  There isn't an admission fee, and feeding time starts in ten minutes!

But watch your fingers when feeding us!

A Good Dancer!

He may have looked different from the rest of us, but he sure could dance the Foxtrot! One

smart aleck bird said, "He's only better because he has more legs!"  But, we knew that

wasn't the reason for his great dance steps!

Singing?

"I'm singing in the rain!  Just singing in the rain!  No wait!  It's not raining!  Singing in the sun!  Just

singing in the sun!  Nope!  It's cloudy.  Singing off key!  Just singing off key!  Hurting everyone's ears

by singing off key!  Yes!  That's it!  But, I sort of feel sorry for those with large ears."

The Backlash from Misery

All I asked was a simple question, "How are you today?"  His bombastic, histrionic backlash of unhappy rhetoric let me quickly know he was having a bad day!  I was at a loss for a moment then replied, "Is there any way I can help?"

Stop!

If you know someone is heading down a wrong path because you've been there

yourself, then yell out, "Stop!  Hey Dude!  Don't go that way!  It only leads to disaster!"

Speaking with five tongues!

I've heard of speaking with a forked tongue, but this guy obviously

will never tell the truth!!!

Higgity Piggity!

I learned something today that I wish I hadn't heard!  It was the kind of explanation

that would make crossed eyes uncross, and it made my mind go all higgity piggity!

Parenthood isn't easy!

Parenthood is difficult.  I've tried to teach the youngsters how to survive and navigate through

this difficult world, but it certainly isn't easy!  It is harder than anything I've ever done!  I think

I'd rather be back in the Army for basic training as that wasn't as stressful as being a parent!

Under the Sea!

Life below the surface of the oceans isn't easy and can be very frightening for the sea creatures!

But what happens down below, stays down below!

How to be a friend!

My friend was very sad.  My grandmother had a saying that hung on her wall.  It now hangs

on mine: "To have a friend, you must first be one!"  We should all try to comfort our friends

or anyone we meet who is in need of kindness!

Free food?

I'm hungry but not sure if we should go in.  Free food does sound nice, but

what if it's a trap?  Do mice ever consider that question before the trap closes

on them?

Fake!!!!

Do you believe everything you hear?  I have some friends that believe anything they are told

without checking to see if it is true or not.  And believe me!  Truth can never be found in lies!

When I correct some of my friends they get mad.  I do appreciate a friend that can learn and not

be angry when I show them they are wrong.  I do want them to prove to me I am wrong when I am!

How I Feel Inside

This is how my mind and psyche feel after someone I care about hurts my feelings.

Smile no matter what!

Smile even if your heart is breaking!  This is the time to keep on trying, for

life is worthwhile!  And to cry for joy when the pain and problems are gone

is the best kind of tears you can ever shed!

That final note!

When you hit the final note at the end of concert and the fans scream

as loud as they can, then you know you've done well!

Distractions in Life

Try hard to remember my son, as you soar through life, that this world will try to distract you, pull

you in, and take away your wings!  So don't be fooled and drawn in by what could easily be a trap!

Grumblers!

We have apparently been going the wrong way for quite a long time!  The constant grumbling

is getting on my nerves. 

Small doesn't mean what you think!

Some believe that small ears and small eyes mean a small brain.  But in the movie Men in Black

Frank the Pug said, "You humans! When will you learn size doesn't matter? Just because something's

important, doesn't mean it's not very small!"  Important events can occur from very small beginnings!  Just try to remember that!

Let's go that way!

Socrates said, "True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing!"  He also added, "Know

thyself!"  And in knowing that you know something can make you feel smart!  Just don't get the big

head and blow it!  Especially consider an appropriate answer if an oracle asks, "How wise are you?" 

Or, if Diogenes asks, "Where can I find an honest man?"

Inspiring teachers!

Some teach to help their students, instruct them about life, make them understand the right things to do, and show them how to survive being on this planet.  Some "teachers" don't.  But almost all teachers give everything they can to make students understand the truly important aspects of existence!  Students that become avid learners, will demonstrate in their lives which teachers truly inspired them to do well!

Wake up!

"Wake up Muad'Dib!  The sleeper must awake!"  Everyone has been picking one side or

the other since humans were created.  Think about the fictional film "The Matrix" in which

one must choose the red pill to wake up to what is real and true, but very difficult, or take

the blue pill and remain in blissful ignorance!  It is your decision!  You can be brave or wimp

out...  Just remember: "Nightmares usually come while you are asleep!"

                                              Something blew up!

Perhaps it was my mind.  It has been under an immense amount of stress

lately due to current events.  I will learn to be calm and strong despite all

that is going on!  I just need to start picking up all of the pieces and putting

them back together!  I'm glad I have such good friends that are helping me!

There is a very wise saying about friendship that says, "True friends are those

who, when you've made a fool of yourself, don't think you've done a permanent

job!"

                                       Sometimes the ball rolls!

Sometimes it sits still.  Sometimes the ball gets to a place where it can go

no further or serve a purpose...  That's when we realize that we should

have taken better care of it...

                                                    Taking a nap!

I was tired and weary on my journey and stopped to take a nap.  You never know what

goes on around you while you sleep.  If I was at home and a shoemaker, maybe some

elves could make me some shoes!  I just don't know what could happen out here in

the wilderness, but I guess I'll find out when I wake up!

                                                       "Freedom!"

"Freedom" is one of the many songs I love by the band Liv Noelle!  I was listening to Liv, sister Eva, and father Lee performing this song recently, and I was humming along!  And I was drawing while listening!  So this is dedicated to this wonderful musical family!

 

Flying too far!

I do wish I could have had the ability to fly just a little bit further! 

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Bubble bath life

If only life was like drifting slowly along on a bubble bath river

without a care in the world!

 

 

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One, Two, What????

One, Two, Buckle my shoe!  Wait!  I don't wear shoes!  At least that rhymes!

I just wish I had the time, and I don't want to be unkind, but it just depends upon

what I find.  As long as I have a good mind, I'll be just fine, unless I decline and

just repine!  If I do, just make a rhyme, and I'll make us a drink with a lime! 

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A long time to hang in the sky!

John Denver wrote in his song, "It's a long time to hang in the sky!"  But our

planet has "hung" in the sky for much longer than I can imagine!  And there's

a lot more out there!  So, what does it all mean!

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