Some photos from October, 2016… These are simple snapshots of Happy Hippie Acres during an interesting day, but if you’d like to purchase a print, wall hanging, canvas, or whatever, you can poke at this link (It’ll take you to the online store I have – feel free to poke around a bit if you want. The quality is top-notch, prices are reasonable…)
It’s a much more powerful show of strength to care for the weak than it is to pity them, ignore them, or worst, use them as tools.
History gets lost one name at a time. Label your photos – it will make all the difference in thirty years.
What’s the best way to store books, you ask? Strewn about the house where one’s always close at hand, each one open to whatever page was last read… Buy books to read, not to store neatly on a bookshelf. Crinkle the pages, write in the margins, roll over them in bed, use them.
(Note – most of my books have been stored in boxes in the closet for the past ten years. I’m in the process of unpacking them and putting them neatly in bookshelves. I rarely follow my own advice… But all of my books have been read, hard, and show it.)
There are few things in life more joyous than a Golden Retriever with a toy.
I heard part of a story on NPR today about how to slow down and enjoy life, but I was too busy to hear the end of it…
One of my biggest wishes the past few years is to have one single day where I don’t get interrupted, I can do what I want when I want, no one innocently adds things to my list (“Oh, if you’re going up to get the mail can you take the garbage out, feed the birds, comb the dogs, make sure the cats have water, and run this out to the burn pile?”)…
And when that day comes, I’ll be a lonely man.
The kits Mittens and Nitty have cooler condos up in the shed where they hang out – each condo is made of five squeaky coolers I taped together in little two-story “houses” and lined with old rags. But the other day they were both sitting out on the porch in the cold wind looking miserable, so I made them each a one-room “vacation home” on the deck so they could get out of the wind. They seem to like ’em…
Wifey’s medication comes in coolers, so it’s a bit of a challenge trying to find ways to re-use them. When I get time I cut ’em apart and nail them to the walls in the shed for insulation. It might not be a perfect solution, but it’s gotta help a bit…
’nuff said.
He only had a dollar to live on ’til next Monday
But he spent it on some comfort for his mind
He said he wanted Heaven but prayin’ was too slow
So he bought a one way ticket on an airline made of snow
Did you say you saw your good friend flyin’ low?
Flyin’ low
Dyin’ slow
– Steppenwolf, “Snowblind Friend”
(Partial Lyrics)
I dunno… It seems to me that popular music has lost a bit of social awareness lately.
Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of Kingdom and pope
Like good Christians,
some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves
to gather riches
But still from near and far
to seek America
They came by thousands,
to court the wild
But she just patiently smiled
and bore a child
To be their spirit
and guiding light
And once the ties
with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle
and wagon it went
And till the railroad
linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives
which had come to an end
While we bullied, stole
and bought a homeland
We began the slaughter
of the red man
But still from near and far
to seek America
They came by thousands,
to court the wild
But she just patiently smiled
and bore a child
To be their spirit
and guiding light
The Blue and Grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war was over
They stuffed it just like a hog
And though the past
has its share of injustice
Kind was the spirit
in many a way
But its protectors and friends
have been sleeping
Now it’s a monster
and will not obey
The spirit was freedom and justice
And its keepers seemed generous and kind
Its leaders were supposed
to serve the country
But now they won’t pay it no mind
Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
Now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it’s all just an echo
of what they’ve been told
Yeah, there’s a monster on the loose
It’s got our heads into the noose
And it just sits there watchin’
The cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin’ the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can’t understand
We don’t know
how to mind our own business
‘Cause the whole world’s
got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who’s the winner
we can’t pay the cost
‘Cause there’s a monster on the loose
It’s got our heads into the noose
And it just sits there watchin’
America, where are you now
Don’t you care about
your sons and daughters
Don’t you know we need you now
We can’t fight alone against the monster
America, where are you now
Don’t you care about
your sons and daughters
Don’t you know we need you now
We can’t fight alone against the monster
America… America… America… America…
– Steppenwolf
Tonight
I just want to take you higher
Throw your hands up in the sky
Let’s set this party off right
Players, put yo’ pinky rings up to the moon
Girls, what y’all trying to do?
24 karat magic in the air
Head to toe so player
Uh, look out!
Pop pop, it’s show time (Show time)
Show time (Show time)
Guess who’s back again?
Oh they don’t know? (Go on tell ’em)
Oh they don’t know? (Go on tell ’em)
I bet they know soon as we walk in (Showin’ up)
Wearing Cuban links (ya)
Designer minks (ya)
Inglewood’s finest shoes (Whoop, whoop)
Don’t look too hard
Might hurt ya’self
Known to give the color red the blues
Ooh shit, I’m a dangerous man with some money in my pocket
(Keep up)
So many pretty girls around me and they waking up the rocket
(Keep up)
Why you mad? Fix ya face
Ain’t my fault y’all be jocking
(Keep up)
Players only, come on
Put your pinky rings up to the moon
Girls, what y’all trying to do?
24 karat magic in the air
Head to toe so player
Uh, look out!
Second verse for the hustlas (hustlas)
Gangstas (gangstas)
Bad bitches and ya ugly ass friends (Haha)
Can I preach? (Uh oh) Can I preach? (Uh oh)
I gotta show ’em how a pimp get it in
First, take your sip (sip), do your dip (dip)
Spend your money like money ain’t shit (Whoop, whoop)
We too fresh
Got to blame it on Jesus
Hashtag blessed
They ain’t ready for me
I’m a dangerous man with some money in my pocket
(Keep up)
So many pretty girls around me and they waking up the rocket
(Keep up)
Why you mad? Fix ya face
Ain’t my fault y’all be jocking
(Keep up)
Players only, come on
Put your pinky rings up to the moon
Hey girls
What y’all trying to do?
24 karat magic in the air
Head to toe so player
Uh, look out!
(Wooh)
Everywhere I go they be like
Ooh, so player ooh
Everywhere I go they be like
Ooh, so player ooh
Everywhere I go they be like
Ooh, so player ooh
Now, now, now
Watch me break it down like (Uh)
24 karat, 24 karat magic
What’s that sound?
24 karat, 24 karat magic
Come on now
24 karat, 24 karat magic
Don’t fight the feeling
Invite the feeling
Just put your pinky rings up to the moon
Girls, what y’all trying to do?
24 karat magic in the air
Head to toe so player
Put your pinky rings up to the moon
Girls, what y’all trying to do? (Do)
24 karat magic in the air
Head to toe so player
(24 karat)
Uh, look out
– Bruno Mars
Time to change the way we think and possibly hold corporations responsible for their output?
…with glee, from a friend…
…I wish things were different.