What wasn’t to love about “Miss Mouse”?  She was favored by all.  Witty. Smart. Charming.  Adorable.  Clever.

When she walked down the little mouse streets, other mouses would stop, and turn their heads.  Simply because she exuded brilliance in every way.  They had to catch a glimpse.

Her talents were endless.  She recited the mouse alphabet backwards, while standing on her head.  She quoted Edgar Allan Poe when she skydived.  She made elaborate butter sculptures… of dolphins diving on waves…. … from scratch.  She could land a triple-lutz… on any rink of ice.  Miss Mouse never knew a stranger.  Everyone smiled when they saw her.

She grew up on Fastleberry Lane. Of course, the two most popular boy mice were madly in mouse love with her.  They lived on Fastleberry Lane as well.

Every Saturday, Alfred brought her flowers and boxes of chocolates.
Melvin cooked her little tiny chicken eggs, with Rye toast and fried bologna …. on Wednesdays.  The other mice made fun of Melvin.  But he courageously continued with his gifts of fried chicken eggs.

Years later, after mouse college… they both asked her for her little mouse hand in marriage.  Alfred earned his Bachelor’s in Accounting.  Melvin became Research Biologist.  And Miss Mouse graduated with a degree in Quantum Physics.

Both mouse boys promised her Baby Cheeses for all her life, and a Villas in the Mediterranean.  They wooed her, and wowed her, and showered her with their gifts.

But in the end, it was Melvin who had won her heart from the start.
She told him in their 72nd year of marriage… “Honey, it was always the little chicken eggs.”

“Sometimes what you’re looking for comes when you’re not looking at all.”   — Unknown

The best things in life are unexpected – because there were no expectations.  —  Eli Khamarov

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.  —  Lao Tzu

We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.  —  Max de Pree

Tonight, simply some images of things I have seen lately.

But here is the thing about each one of them.  They are not extraordinary in most people’s mind.  In fact, they mostly go unnoticed… perhaps even stepped on or brushed aside.

Yet, each one is highly interesting and incredibly beautiful.  If you just spend a little time with it.

I think this is true about most things in life.  Including the peoples among us.

We may not notice them, or even think they have anything worthwhile to offer.

But I argue that every ONE has something incredible within.  It just might take a little work to figure it out.

Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.  — Camille Pissarro 

Love the moment and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries.  —  Corita Kent


The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.  — Lao Tzu

It is far better to be alone, than to be in bad company.
—  George Washington

Young and carefree.  I understand.  That is how I was…. when I was younger… and…… welll…. a little more carefree.  By that I mean,  I didn’t have many philosophical beliefs.  I really didn’t have spiritual beliefs either.  Oh sure, I went to church, but I was just saying the words.  I never really thought much about much…. except for being young and having fun.  I didn’t keep up with who was running our country, or who was trying to.  I had no big aspirations, or any strong convictions.

And then, we learn.  We gain years.  Life experiences.  Bumps in the road… and moments in the sun.  As a result…. there are a few things I have come to believe, in my life.

Peace Baby.  Striving to find peace within ourselves and to live in peace with others is the most important thing we can do in life. I really don’t think anything else even comes close.

Here is the thing.  Deep down inside each one of us…. is this ultimate wish to live in peace.  Whether we realize it or not.  Everybody wants to be happy, I think.  And… when we have peace inside our hearts and our souls…  this inner peace is where the happiness resides.

The popular phrase right now.. is “mindfulness”… but call it what you want.   Living. Being Awake.  Being Aware. Living in the Moment.  When we pay attention to life, we can begin.  Our beginning… that first step… is to strive diligently towards your own inner peace….  and to live with compassion.  To love others, and have an understanding of others.  When we work toward peace with others.. we begin to know it.

It just brings me calm to think about it.

This is not to say that we won’t encounter those “difficult” people in our lives.  Some call them Enemies.  I call them Crampy Creatures.

I do believe we can grow more from these testy people…. than we can from most other experiences. We are sometimes tested…that is for sure.  Our compassion, patience, and understanding are all held up to the light in these interactions.

So we use our good.  Our good judgement, and our good hearts.

When we welcome these Crusty Companions with compassion, love, and understanding…. our real greatness comes shining through.  In the end… we find peace. I believe this to be true.

I have known great peacekeepers.  Not many, but a couple.  One can just feel  it when they are near.  There is and essence of good… and it is apparent.  It brings calm.  And… …. well…. peace.

Walk in peace.  And then we find our way… to do what we do best in life.

Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.  —  Albert Einstein

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.  —  Buddha

Scenes from the road.  A barn… on a backroad…

A tree at Ye Old Tavern Inn…

Grandma K in her hot wheels! 

Today, we decided to go on an outing.  A Sunday Afternoon Excursion.  The destination we set upon was Yellow Springs, and our plan was to have a movie at The Little Art Theatre…. you know the kind of movie… with subtitles and all.  After the movie we were going to have dinner out.

The best laid plans.

We left the house right on time, and embarked on I-70 West.  I like to drive when the speed limit is 70 m.p.h. or more.  I like to go fast.  Anyway… we were zipping right along until we hit Brookville.  The Interstate Mavens had posted lots of signs saying there was a wreck ahead, and long waits were possible.

Brilliant us.  Let’s shoot off at Brookville and head up to Route 40… that good Old National Road.  Brilliant US.  Brilliant every one else too.  So now we were in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Rt. 40.  But I assure you… I-70 looked worse.

Then… me in my unending wisdom say… I bet we can keep going east on country roads… and make our way to Yellow Springs.  As it turned out… we had a nice Sunday drive in the country.  As it also turned out… it took us two hours to get to Yellow Springs and we missed the movie.

That was okay with me.  I am a slow reader…. and subtitles put me at a severe disadvantage.

As it went… we did a lot of walking around the Springs.. and shopping around the Springs.  By nature, I am not a shopper.  I like to know what I am after… go into a store… get it and get out.  But today was different.   They had good stores in Yellow Springs.  The kind that sells rocks, and things.

We were hungry early and ate a very wonderful lunch at Ye Old Trail Tavern.  (Built in 1827…. the first home in Yellow Springs.  And if you didn’t know, YS was called Forest Village in those very early days.   It is a great old log structure… occupied by Francis Martin Hafner.. and built from trees cut where the Tavern stands.)  I digress.

My cheeseburger and fries were OFF the CHARTS good.

Of course on our way out of town… we had to make sure Young’s Dairy was still in business.   It is.  They still serve ice cream too.

And on home.

I-70 was STILL backed up… 7 hours later.

Yet.  The most curious part of the day… was driving past a car on Wayne Trace Road… very near our home.  I am sure my Grandma Kronenberger was behind the wheel.  I don’t believe she drove a car when she was alive… but these days… she is tooling around Preble County in a Chevrolet Impala.

What does it all mean?  It means that time is like a bunch of feathers in a wind tunnel.  It all just swirls around at will… sometimes very fast… and sometimes in a soft drift.  And you never know where any one feather will land… or not.  That is the anomaly of time.

I feel it in my bones.  Now there is a saying for you.

Where did it come from?  We have a lot of bones.  206 roughly.   We start out with a lot more than that… but somewhere along the line… we lose about 64.  I think it is a result of being mindless.

But… back to the deal.

That phrase:  I can feel it in my bones.  A hunch.  A premonition.  I belief that something will happen….

Perhaps.  I guess I get “feelings” about things fairly often.  Sometimes they pan out, and other times… not so much.  I will blame my poor “hunch” record on those missing bones.

But let’s get down to the bare bones.

I’ve been chilled to the bone.  Frequently.
I’ve been bad to the bone.  Again, frequently.
I’ve boned up for exams.  Not so frequently.
There are times when I have been like a dog with a bone.
That typically results when I have had a bone to pick with someone.  At those times, typically … I’ve had a bone of contention.

There were times in life when I worked my fingers to the bone.
And I still do.
Perhaps that is why I feel like skin and bones sometimes.

What the heck… Knick Knack Paddy Whack.  Give the dog a bone.

But seriously…..  Let’s make no bones about this last one.

Sticks and stones may break my bones.  This phrase then goes on to say that “words will never hurt me.”  Whoever came up with this saying… is whacky.  Whacky like a funny bone.

Unfortunately,   I have been hurt by words.  I get hurt by words all the time.  On occasion, I even get my feelings hurt when nary a word was said.  I am pretty sensitive about things…. probably as a result of lack of confidence.  Nonetheless.  It happens.
Perhaps…I am just too thin skinned.
Or I wear my heart on my sleeve.
Or that I get butterflies in my stomach.
Or…I just can’t keep my eye on the ball.

Oh.  It sounds like it could be any number of things happening… when those words hurt me and my bones.
Maybe I just need more calcium.

You know…  it just hit me.

These Chickens of ours.  We are really fond of them.  We are.  Just this evening, we sat out in the coop with the Orpington’s.   They are friendly chickens, indeed.  And they seem to be developing little personalities of their own.

We think they are beautiful creatures.  But truth be told… they are going through a slightly ugly phase.  Those awkward growing years.  I suppose… for for chickens…. those awkward months.

But here is what hit me.  The analogy.

I remember those college days… when you would go out to a bar and throw back a few more cold ones that you really ought to. Things become much funnier, and way more interesting.  And you meet a really cute somebody… in my case…. a really cute chick.  And the next day… you wake up…. and the cute chick isn’t so cute any more.

Well…. there you have it.

I for one, am glad those days are gone.  I don’t drink any more.  And I am a lot smarter about certain things.

But these days… when I DO pick up a cute chick… it is a REAL Chicken.  There really ARE cute chickens…. or  perhaps….. Ugly Orpington’s.   I guess it all depends on the beholder.

There is a wise old saying ….by Confucius… which goes, “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”  —  Jawaharlal Nehru

So… I bring you some absolutely beautiful scenes from the coop…. and a flashback to week one.

THE CUTE CHICKS….

THE AWKWARD ORPINGTON’S

BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE…

“HEY THERE BUDDY BOY.  I SAY, I SAY…..  I CAN WHISTLE A TUNE HERE ON THIS BLADE OF GRASS HERE IN MY BEAK… I SAY, I SAY.

I’VE HAD ENOUGH OF THAT CAMERA.  TALK TO THE BUTT.

“Beauty is whatever gives joy.”  —  Edna St. Vincent Millay

Today, is a pretty good day for history.  Most days are actually.  You’d be downright surprised at the things that have happened in the past.  Today’s past…. the Chinese Government seriously hacked the U.S Government’s Computer System.  Easy-Peasy-Japanesey.  I’m telling you, this is not a good piece of history.  We’ll have to see how this one plays out.

But here are some more historical tidbits, from a little longer ago than just this afternoon.

In 781 BC the oldest recording of  a solar eclipse occurred, in China.   Yep.  They were ahead of the game, even back then.

On a lighter note… no pun intended….. the Montgolfier brothers launched the VERY first  hot-air balloon…. unmanned.   This happened in 1783.  Then, a year later…   in 1784…. Madame Elizabeth Thible becomes the first female balloonist.  I am pretty sure all of this happened in France.  I wonder if sending a woman up… meant it was still… unmanned.

Here is one of my favorites.  In 1892, the Sierra Club was formed in San Francisco, California.  Good Club.  All about the environment.

And then… the whole world changed.  In 1896….. a Mr. Henry Ford took his first Ford Automobile through streets of Detroit.  I think he was tooting his own horn.

And then… MY whole world changed.  You see… in 1907, the automatic washer & dryer were introduced.  This is very good news for me… Ms. “OCD Lover of Clean Clothes”

On this date in 1964, those good old Beatles started their World Tour in Copenhagen Denmark.   The titles of some of their songs create a synopsis of my life… I think.  You see I started out looking like a Walrus until I was about 2 years old.  Hence, “I am the Walrus.”  And they skip around from there… including “I’m So Tired”… “The Long and Winding Road”…   “Fixing A Hole”…. “The Fool on the Hill” and “Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey.”

Finally, and perhaps my favorite historical fact for today…  a long time ago… in the year 1070 … in a cave far, far away… a cave in Roquefort, France to be exact… my very favorite Roquefort cheese was created.   There is a lot to be said for being Bleu.

I am telling you.  The list for June 4th goes on, and on, for some very extraordinary occurrences.  Many are happy.  Many are sad.  And many are just super.  Like in 1967… The Monkees took home an Emmy for their Outstanding Comedy Series.  Now that is worth laughing about.

So it just goes to show you… on any given day… anywhere… something spectacular can happen.  Just grab any day in history, and you will find this to be true.

So… when WE wake up each day… maybe our first thought should be… “Something spectacular is going to happen today. “  And as the Beatles so aptly put… “Across the Universe”…. “Let It Be”…”Here, There, and Everywhere.”

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.  —  Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.  —  Lucius Annaeus Seneca

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.  —  Confucius

In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can.  —  Nikos Kazantzakis

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.  —  Thomas A. Edison

This day was askew.  Not necessarily bad, at all.  It just seemed like everything was on its side.

I am a creature of habit. It’s true.

In fact… I am about as much about the “routine” as they come.  I probably would have been great in the Armed Services…. in THAT way at least.  If there is a regulated course… I am the one to follow it.

I don’t mind eating the same thing over, and over, and over again.  In fact, I kind of like it that way.  Same with the the schedule.  And I like everything in its place, neat and tidy.

This is more commonly known as OCD.  But I am WAY off topic.

Back to the day being turvy… and topsy.

I had breakfast this morning with my Bro at the Eaton Place. This was really very nice, and I enjoyed it thoroughly… it was just out of my normal morning schedule of a workout and breakfast at home.

Then, the two of us went to visit Mom at Greenbriar.  She wasn’t in her room.  She is ALWAYS in her room.  But not today.  She was in the Beauty Shop getting her hair curled up beyond belief.  So we sat in there, took long deep breaths of that permanent-solition-smell… and had a great visit.

The entire day went this way.

It wears me out when things are a little sideways.  I think I get tired from holding my head tilted at an angle.  Just a bit off-center.   Which may explain the reason I am so light-headed tonight and not making much sense.

Even the baby chicks had their heads all cocked on the slant, this evening.

Yet another indicator, reminder, and affirmation that this day was leaning sideways.  Hence, my head on a tilt.

Which… I suppose… can be quite problematic.  Because when you are seeing the world edgeways… you may not be capable of reading the writing on the wall.

Heavens.  And when you can’t read the writing on the wall….. perhaps you don’t know for sure when your ship is coming in.  And THEN…. IF you miss the fact that your ship is coming in…..
…. you, my friend…. have missed the boat.

And we know what happened when the dinosaurs and the unicorns missed that ONE boat….

I’m simply pointing out things can go terribly wrong.

I just hope tomorrow will be a little more on track.  Maybe…. if I can get my head on straight….

I like things that have a staying power.  Especially “things” I like.

Okay… what do I mean exactly?

Well, I am drawn to those parts of life which seem true, and long lasting.  The things you can count on.  Your dog.  Your watch.  Your watchdog.

That appliance which has worked for 38 years now, and still…. going strong.  A good old album by your favorite Rock Group.  Mount Rushmore.

Some things are fleeting.  Those things which fall into the “Flash in the Pan” Category.  For instance, how about that Gangnam Style Guy?  The one with the giddy-up dance, and slicky hair.  I for one am glad he’s not at the forefront of popular media attention any longer.

Furbies.  Poodle Skirts.  Fried Everything.  Milli Vanilli and Scritti Politti.  Those sorts of things.

Then there are times when something seems to last forever and you don’t want it to.  The Flu.  Poison Ivy.  Bad Hair.

So, yes.  Those things with staying power …. which I like.  The main thing that comes to mind are people.  Those certain individuals in our lives, who are there through thick and thin, high and low, fast and slow.  The True Blues.  The Tried and Trues.  Pallies.  Buds. A few select friends.  A few select family.

And if we are lucky enough to have them in our lives… we should be thankful.  Grateful for them, and for every moment we share with them. They will always be there in spirit…  but sometimes the moments have a way of slipping by.

Life is so full of this….  this series of times when our hearts are filled to the fullest… and other times when they are emptied beyond belief.   Those hearts of ours.

And… that Staying Power.  Is what I like.

Everybody who knows me… knows I love the Superhero. I have since I was a kid.  I am kind of picky about my Superheroes too.  I don’t like them all.  But there are quite a few that I think are…. just….  super.

Aquaman was one of my favorites.  Batman was up there…  and so was Spiderman.

Not a big fan of Superman though.  Go figure.  It might have been the hairdo.  Or the Kryptonite.

Yet, I think I use the term loosely. Superhero.  For instance, I loved Speed Racer and Racer X, Underdog, Dick Tracy, Mighty Mouse, Mr. Magoo, and Scooby Doo.

Yeah.  I guess Scooby Doo isn’t really a Superhero, but I used to think he did some pretty amazing things..

But here is the deal.  All of them, at some time or another, utilized some piece of very cool gadgetry to foil the bad guy.  They always had some kind of computer, or radar, or radio, to assist in saving that day.

There were contraptions, and utensils, and mechanisms in their homes, and vehicles.  They had instruments they would wear… like cool goggles, or some kind of gizmo-helmet.

And THEN….. there was the WATCH.  I am pretty sure it all started with  Dick Tracy.  But all of them.. at some point… had a very, very, high-tech, crazy-go-nuts, watch.

Sometimes, they would even say… “Let’s synchronize our watches.”  Ohhhh… that used to make me go ba-gamma-rays…. right out of my little head.

I can remember… when I was pretty young… that one day… I vowed… I VOWED ONE DAY…. I would have a Super Watch…..
…. ….. … ..

My Apple Watch came today.

I am awesome.

And now….   …… ….  I have to go save the world.

One App at a time.

“If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.”   ― Gordon A. Eadie

“If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.”   ― Marcus Aurelius

“Just do what must be done. This may not be happiness, but it is greatness.”  — George Bernard Shaw