The last few days I've run across a couple of blogs that truly get to the heart.
One, I was already familiar with and check in on often (though less often lately as I've been overwhelmed with daily stuff) ... but is written by someone I only know through blogging. The other is fairly new to me, but is written by a friend I've known for a very long time. They are different. Both well written, one with sporadic entries ... the other daily. Yet somehow they both reach out and grab me.
Meet David.
Meet Seren.
listening to Smile by Chris Botti & Steven Tyler
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
who gives a $%#@!
I had a discussion with a friend recently, about grammar. Which was more heated than it needed to be, but I digress. At some point, the discussion briefly morphed into another topic ... profanity, and how it doesn't mean anything. Well, anymore. It used to mean something. Didn't it?
I remember when I was a kid and someone would say shit or damn and I'd be like, "Ummmm, I'm gonna tell". On rare occasion, I would hear my brother use the f-word. Which would send a direct signal to my brain telling my hands to cover my face, less the neighbor kids would see me blushing. Matter of fact, I was over 25 before I could use that word without blushing. And now, well, now it flips off the end of my tongue more often than I care to admit.
My point is that once we adjust to hearing it, my friend is right ... it means nothing to us. I ran across this article on the topic at cnn dot com. In it a woman is quoted as saying, "Everybody is pretending they aren't shocked ... and gradually people WON'T be shocked. And then those who want to be offensive will find another way." It's obvious to me, some of us really aren't shocked anymore. Does this say something about our society? I'm not sure anymore. I'm currently of the opinion that any effort to control anything is futile.
But really I think that quote can also be a metaphor for what's happening in our world. We pretend things don't bother us, or that nothing can happen or be said that would surprise us in this day and age. Then suddenly, without warning ... it's true. At least with the day to day things in our lives. Will this eventually cross over to natural and man-made disasters, murders, war? Will there be a time when we can't be shocked by anything? I personally know people who are already traveling this road. Do you?
I remember when I was a kid and someone would say shit or damn and I'd be like, "Ummmm, I'm gonna tell". On rare occasion, I would hear my brother use the f-word. Which would send a direct signal to my brain telling my hands to cover my face, less the neighbor kids would see me blushing. Matter of fact, I was over 25 before I could use that word without blushing. And now, well, now it flips off the end of my tongue more often than I care to admit.
My point is that once we adjust to hearing it, my friend is right ... it means nothing to us. I ran across this article on the topic at cnn dot com. In it a woman is quoted as saying, "Everybody is pretending they aren't shocked ... and gradually people WON'T be shocked. And then those who want to be offensive will find another way." It's obvious to me, some of us really aren't shocked anymore. Does this say something about our society? I'm not sure anymore. I'm currently of the opinion that any effort to control anything is futile.
But really I think that quote can also be a metaphor for what's happening in our world. We pretend things don't bother us, or that nothing can happen or be said that would surprise us in this day and age. Then suddenly, without warning ... it's true. At least with the day to day things in our lives. Will this eventually cross over to natural and man-made disasters, murders, war? Will there be a time when we can't be shocked by anything? I personally know people who are already traveling this road. Do you?
Friday, March 24, 2006
wait ten minutes ...
Typical cloudy day, some blue sky peeking through over the Sound ~ 03.24.06
Typical cloudy day, rain coming in ... blue skies moving on. ~ 03.24.06
Typical cloudy day, blue sky gone (temporarily)... rain over the Sound ~ 03.24.06This morning, the view from the window changed rapidly. While I didn't shoot every moment, these are an example of the old adage -- wait ten minutes and the weather will change. Made for a little bit of photo fun too! Have a great weekend!
turn that finger around
"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them." -- George Bernard Shaw
Heh, I love this quote because it gets to the heart of the matter. We have only ourselves to blame. But I can't help laughing out loud toward the end of the quote ... when my mind automatically turns to my profession (in the field of journalism). At which point I think, ethically, the "making circumstances" option isn't available. But I digress, Mr. Shaw was hopefully referring to other matters.
"Hoping means seeing that the outcome you want is possible and then working for it." -- Bernie S. Siegel, M.D.
Heh, I love this quote because it gets to the heart of the matter. We have only ourselves to blame. But I can't help laughing out loud toward the end of the quote ... when my mind automatically turns to my profession (in the field of journalism). At which point I think, ethically, the "making circumstances" option isn't available. But I digress, Mr. Shaw was hopefully referring to other matters.
"Hoping means seeing that the outcome you want is possible and then working for it." -- Bernie S. Siegel, M.D.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
do the right thing
Around noon today: I was in a hurry, as usual, so I chose the drive-thru option for lunch. Yeah, burger, fries ... ugh! Let's not think about it. Anyway, the total was $5.24 ... I gave the guy my money, a twenty and twenty-four cents. He handed back the change. I felt rushed, and I didn't check it. Just saw that it was two bills, the top bill being a ten — so I figured it was probably right. I pulled away from the window before putting it away. A block away, at a stop light I took the time to put the money in my wallet. Which is when I noticed he had given me a ten and a twenty back. I thought, "wait, that's $15 too much". Having been a cashier at a drive-thru for a large portion of my college years I knew that a $15 shortage was not a fun thing. Plus, I wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't take it back, no matter whose mistake.
So, I went back. Parked, walked inside bypassing the line of people at the counter. When I caught the front counter employee's eye I said, "I just went through the drive-thru and he gave me back way too make change". To which I heard a man in the line call out, "Heh, I'll take it!". When I turned around to acknowledge him, I noticed the entire line was made up of middle-aged men, all looking at me like I was nuts. Or maybe they just haven't seen an honest person in a while so they needed a good look.
The manager came to the counter and thanked me for bringing the money back, offered me an ice cream, I declined. I just don't think that plain and simple honesty deserves a reward. Do we have to be rewarded to do the right thing nowadays? The guy working the drive-thru came over and took the money, then returned to the counter with my correct change and said, "I'm sorry". I guess he was apologizing for my inconvenience. But all I could think was, why did he apologize? He should have been saying thank you. Sigh.
Back to the line of middle-aged men (with the dumbfounded looks on their faces). I hope they mirror my actions. Maybe this will start a trend of doing the right thing, simply for the peace of mind of knowing it was the right thing.
The whole episode got me thinking about what's become acceptable in our society, and how we treat each other. More than once lately I've heard someone say they didn't do the right thing because, "it was the other person's fault" and why should they? That attitude frustrates me. I'm not suggesting we go back to the days of "Leave It To Beaver" or anything. Just common decency, maybe help someone out once in a while. Do the right thing.
So, I went back. Parked, walked inside bypassing the line of people at the counter. When I caught the front counter employee's eye I said, "I just went through the drive-thru and he gave me back way too make change". To which I heard a man in the line call out, "Heh, I'll take it!". When I turned around to acknowledge him, I noticed the entire line was made up of middle-aged men, all looking at me like I was nuts. Or maybe they just haven't seen an honest person in a while so they needed a good look.
The manager came to the counter and thanked me for bringing the money back, offered me an ice cream, I declined. I just don't think that plain and simple honesty deserves a reward. Do we have to be rewarded to do the right thing nowadays? The guy working the drive-thru came over and took the money, then returned to the counter with my correct change and said, "I'm sorry". I guess he was apologizing for my inconvenience. But all I could think was, why did he apologize? He should have been saying thank you. Sigh.
Back to the line of middle-aged men (with the dumbfounded looks on their faces). I hope they mirror my actions. Maybe this will start a trend of doing the right thing, simply for the peace of mind of knowing it was the right thing.
The whole episode got me thinking about what's become acceptable in our society, and how we treat each other. More than once lately I've heard someone say they didn't do the right thing because, "it was the other person's fault" and why should they? That attitude frustrates me. I'm not suggesting we go back to the days of "Leave It To Beaver" or anything. Just common decency, maybe help someone out once in a while. Do the right thing.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
take a minute, look up
Puffy clouds floating along the skyway -- Western WA -- 03.02.06
Rain clouds pass puffy white clouds -- Western WA -- 03.02.06Monday, March 06, 2006
release the shutter
A bright spot in the day -- Bellevue, WA -- 03.02.06
A bright spot in the day 2 -- Bellevue, WA -- 03.02.06
Cloudy swan? -- Bellevue, WA -- 03.02.06These three photos were shot within an hour of each other from the same spot. The sun trying desperately to find it's way through the clouds. With the clouds eventually relenting and allowing the blue sky to show through. The second one I changed to black & white ... it just fit the photo. Anyway, something about each of them seems amazing. My part in that only being that I pointed the camera toward the sky and pressed the button to release the shutter.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Thursday, March 02, 2006
ripple of hope
"Each time someone stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope." ~ Robert F. Kennedy