Circumstances

Sometimes we have to make adjustments that require us to deviate from our normal scheme of things due to unforeseen circumstances. How we handle those situations define, to a point the character that make up our being. 

Defining moments have a tendency to strengthen our character...or they can make us weak. Who we are at this moment in time, could derive from the lessons taught by others and the lessons learned from life. 

Attempts to get through it all by way of deception is of no benefit to the deceiver as much as they may think it is. They learn no true values of life and reap the hand they play. For the recipient of the deceptions, much is learned and they in turn grow wiser.

Good sound wisdom passed on, generates a fire that burns deep into the minds that seek knowledge for the betterment in life.

Circumstances are a necessity that is required for growth, and growth is necessary in life. 

  

I Have Experimented

I've noticed that some of my old post have been read lately and that has given me a curious look myself. I've opened a couple of them to see what I've written and noticed that I've done some experimenting along the way since I started this blog.

I recently deleted my second most read post because I wasn't really thinking when I wrote it and I thought it may have been offensive to women. Thinking back, I was angry not at women, but with TheWife and just happen to blurt out loud my frustration and the post really had nothing to do with why I was upset with her.

In general I am happy to say that my blog hasn't really changed although I have done some experimenting. 

This post...World Class gets a lot of reads and reflects the core of my blog. I believe that life in general is our place of learning. Not taking away from text books, but they can't give what life itself does. If we can't learn from life, all the books in the world are useless....that's just me.

Life Has...is another post that has been read most recently by a few people. After reading this again brought to mind a post I had written about Steps. 

Reading these reminded me of the style of poetry I like to write most although I have written a little on the dark side. 

A stroll down memory lane has brought back the experiences I have in writing this blog and what I've learned along the way. It's not a very popular blog but I do appreciate my followers and those who happen to drop in unexpected. I keep moving along and I'll see what this journey has in store.

A LOT Of Thinking

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about many different things. Some of it making me very angry, some making me think even more, some giving me feelings of despair, and some giving me answers. 

Early in my life, I had been taught to take responsibility for what I do and I have done that for the most part. I am far from being anywhere near perfect and I acknowledge that. I have made many mistakes that I take the blame for. I hurt when I hurt others.

When others make mistakes that affect me, I try to remember that they too are human and mistakes happen. But when the same types of mistakes happen on a consistent basis I have a problem with that. I know we are suppose to forgive, but the Lord knows I have trouble with consistent mistakes. When and where is the line drawn? I know too we are to forgive at all times.

In this skin that is humanity, it is very difficult...all too easy to hate those that do these things to us. But in the end, it is I who will suffer because of not forgiving. I will be the one whose bones will ache and drawn into a state of depression and despair. It is my mind that will be filled with bitterness that is best used for the betterment of my life and for those around me while they that choose to live a life of doing what they do continue to do what they do, whether knowingly or not. 

The importance of forgiving is just that...very important. The effects of harboring unforgiving thoughts is far more damaging than one can imagine. It has no benefits that will be good for me. 

I am really struggling at the moment and I know I need to turn this around. I need to stop looking at what has happened over the past few years and move on. I have a lot of positive things going on and I am thankful for that.

Humility is hard to swallow. Perfection was given only to the one true God and He said that we are to forgive because He knows that if we don't...it is we who will suffer...and we are to leave the rest to Him. 

Still At It

I'm still at it as far as my clocks are concerned and my latest is a custom design for a co-worker, Ken who bought it for his uncle who is a Minnesota Vikings fan. 

Ken wanted to know if I could do an official NFL design and I told him that was not possible because of copyrights and licensing. I told him I could come up with something I think he would like.

After the initial design was complete I sent it to him to see what he thought and what he would like to change. All he wanted changed was moving a few things around. He was totally happy with the design itself.

I wanted to get some feedback on the finished product so I took it to work and everyone that saw it was really pleased with it. Nothing definite but I may have two more orders coming because they liked what they saw.

I know everyone won't like it but I am happy with the response I got so far.  

The clock face on this one is 8.5 x 11 landscape.

I always print a draft copy of the original so I can have something to work with
while the frame is being finished as you can see in the background

A Bloggers Pic In Poetry 5

Welcome to

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry

This is number 5 and again Daniel Plumer is the featured photographer.

I just have one question...do u see what eye see?

Daisies Of Yellow

Slowly approach, does the Cloud Of White

Sneaky he is, disguised in upper top right

Under cover of thick and dark it seems 

Hiding behind glasses, his eyes are not seen

Laying in wait is the Rock Of Stone Mount

Face in center below, lips parched under its snout

Hand of left ready to batter what the cloud will bestow

His chest still and steady beneath the face, coming slow

'Tis a battle to commence betwixt these two fellows

See them flee the scene, all these Daisies Of Yellow

Photo by Daniel Plumer 

Poem by me  

   

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry 4

Hello everyone and thank you for your interest in the series

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry 

This is number 4 in the series and another photograph by Daniel Plumer

What stands out for me in this photo?...the fire and ice look, each giving the other their due respect in opposites, creating a union of beauty.  

Two Beautiful


A fire travels above the cool quench below in sight

Consuming not to destroy, but to give wondrous light

The coolness below touched not by its red hot glare

Seems they two admonish, their beauty declared

Photograph by Daniel Plumer 

Poem by me

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry 3

This is the third in the series

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry

Reading has taken on a technological turn and more people are reading on electronic devices and when I saw this it brought to my mind the art of reading a paper book. 

I don't remember how I found this one but it definitely caught my eye. The first click of the picture took me to Britta Nickel's Tumblr blog/page which is linked to Sweet Southern Nights also on Tumblr. On Sweet Southern Nights you will find an array of photos that range from A to Z.

Read

The art of reading in abnormal tradition

Feet in air bare monumental condition

Hard copy in hand, there's nothing like it

Twenty seven times straight, becomes habit

Photo taken by: Unknown 

Poem by me

  

                                                  

I Spoke Too Soon

I may have spoken too soon when I mentioned how bad it wasn't here, concerning Hurricane Sandy....not thinking about what may happen elsewhere. It began to unfold as I got bits and pieces of what was happening north of us while I was at work today.

As I sit here watching the news, the devastation is coming to light. I almost feel as if I was being selfish, but I posted that before the northern portion of our area had been hit. Still for me, it doesn't lessen the blow.

The loss of life and property is mounting and so does my feelings of being an idiot.

Lessons are learned in so many different ways. I wish I didn't have to learn this one.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families who have lost loved ones and to the survivors who will recover from this change that has taken hold of their lives.

What A Difference

Hurricane Sandy is making an impact but could be much worse due to its size and I for one feel very fortunate because this could very well be a Category 2 or higher hurricane which would have made this a much more destructive storm than what it is....not to say Sandy isn't doing any damage at the size it is.

The photos above were taken one week ago at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront at 9th street.

These were taken today, same area.

They were taken in the morning around the same time, about 8:30.

What a difference. 

This is a short video I shot while taking the pictures.

PS...read more

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry 1

I recently came across this photograph by way of my Google+ stream courtesy of Anissa Mayhew  who shares a lot of nice pictures on her stream from other members.

I don't know what it was about this photo but I was impelled to write a poem about it. 

To give you a heads up, this is the first of more to come in a series I'm calling: A Blogger's Pic In Poetry. 

I'm not sure where I will find them or how often I will see a poem in a photo, but when I do, it will be included in the series.

I will say that I have spent some time on Daniel Plumer's Google+ page and I have four poems from some of his photographs. This is the first and I will post the rest in the order that I viewed and wrote the poem for each one. 

Reflection

What is, reflects of itself

Doubling of single, non-stealth

Rocky hard, branches sticking

Softly seen, yellow green lifting

I am who I am, am I?

Seen as such is, to eye

Same as is, unchanged two one

Crazy it is, when seen how it's done

Photo by Daniel Plumer 

Poem by me

It Just Takes One

It's funny sometimes how things work out or just plain Divine intervention...a wake up so to speak. Any number of people can tell you the same thing over time but when one person speaks it, you finally hear it. You actually stop to breath, and it feels so fresh. It puts things into perspective again. That happened today. So that coupled with what I have and haven't been doing brings a welcomed collision. 

What I haven't been doing is finishing some projects I started, but that did give me time to take the time to review what I have been doing with my designs and some other things I could be doing. So that got me started.

I have been busy coming up with some new designs and was in the process of putting products on the site when the server crashed. I did get a few items up but not what I really wanted because I didn't have the images in my basket on the site yet. 

So I'm actually pecking this out instead doing that. But this is one of those things I haven't been doing and has bothered me more than I should have let it. One of those things that I have struggled with the past few weeks. I haven't felt like writing or doing much of anything on the social network (which I have trouble with anyway), discouragement settling in and getting a pretty good grip.

Then out of nowhere, the words come to light and they shook me. A much needed breath of fresh air. So thankful that it finally clicked. It just took one.

I Found Myself In Thought

I finally got around to making it comfortable to work outside. The shade and the breeze are soothing. TheWife was off Wednesday and 'reminded me' that it would be a good idea to put the umbrella up. We have a dining room table that's been around since we've been married....well after we got our first apartment.....anyway, I digress ; the only thing I had to do was to drill the hole and set the umbrella. We had chairs but the table is the only thing that  survived, but these will do for now. 


Now I'm outside and I realized my thoughts spanned several years of my life. A couple of days ago I was thinking of "the thought that kept driving me to do better than where I am" at any given moment in my life, that is what I want to do. Strive to do better, even when others see it as just someone else with a dream. The driving force in this particular thought stems from my tenure as an Autoglass Technician. When I first got into installing, it was a new adventure...learning, hands on, making decisions, getting things done under, at times almost impossible circumstances. Sure there were lots of times when a call was necessary but for the most part it was if I was my own company.


So over the years I made manager and this was a whole new ballgame. I felt as if I was fed to the wolves. I was a 'working manager' and many aspects of the job were never taught...yeah you know, on the managing end. Of course I was to 'pick up on this part' in between installs. It was almost a torturous number of years. So when that didn't work, I was offered a tech job....that's pretty much what they all do when you don't work out as a manager....unless you really screwed up bad. 


Besides my drive to want a better life for myself and my family, I scoped the ranks of the technician pool and I didn't want to be one of those who has toiled and labored for years on end and then retire as a tech. I saw the battered bodies and frustrated minds....but I kept listening to the promise of opportunity...even with another company....and there too, the years of labor taking its toll on the seniors of the tech pool....realizing, if I stayed the course, I would be one of them. 


I'm no better than any of them, but I finally chose to pull myself away from that table, and let the plate fall to its breaking....while I still have the drive and desire to fulfill accomplishments. 


Now I turn my attention to other tables to see what feasts or spoils await.     
    

New Neighbors

We spotted this cocoon in our Canna Lily yesterday.

This is on a branch hanging over into our back area.