Vermont is a state, and seems to be a state of cultural mind which has earned and prides itself on establishing societal standards by which others might (not must) live. Over past decades, we've attracted hundreds if not more kindred folks from afar to join us in the effort to keep our small state and it's people vibrant and active in the world's politics and processes. One example of this effort exists in the widely read and enjoyed weekly "free" paper, "Seven Days" (www.sevendaysvt.com) which hits the stands each Thursday. Contributions to the weekly are eclectic and vary from the whats and where of entertainment events and general interest stuff are happening as well as comments about the state, the nation and the world as those socio-political "parts" interact and effect all of us.
In the issue distributed the week on June, 16, 2008 on page 20, is an article describing the meaning and consequences of "patriotism" and how the concept plays itself out around the world, including in the U.S. I happen to believe the article to be a "must read" for any U.S. citizen expressing her or his patriotism. Simply, it should be read because it expands on the concept in a way we all might want to consider with regard to our personal patriotic beliefs. The title of the article is "Against Patriotism" and addresses "...public uses and abuses of emotion" framed in the name and behavior(s) of patriotic beliefs and actions by individuals, cultures and nations.
The author, Judith Levine, can be emailed at Levine@sevendaysvt.com.
I should refer also to another article which addresses the contemporary use of "Yellow Ribbons" as expressions of caring and support the troops patriotism. The article supports my occasional reference to the patriotic display of tattered, torn, filthy pennants and flags on motor vehicles such I've seen behind the radiator grill of local septic and sewage pumping trucks where they become bug-crushed, mud-spattered and road-greased symbols of the trashing of our nation's self-image.
Surely, there are far better, more honorabele and respectful uses for the flag most Americans swear allegiance to a many public events and privately in their homes.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Tonight, I visited a relevant person's blog. Leaving his thoughts and his words, I felt like writing this. I am not feeling maudlin and, though I'm fast approaching the first "anniversary" of my wife's death, I don't intend to get that way and write a whole lot of only serious stuff about relationships and growth in the month ahead. Promise {;?)
Some of you know a bit about my attitude regarding religion. So, it might come as a surprise that I am a friends with a local church pastor. His blog is titled "From Out of the Wilderness." His name is Ryon Price. I commend his blog to you to read and think about.
For the record, and I guess this is one of those "buts" my friend Ryon Price refers to when writing and discussing race issues, Ryon is my brother's pastor. Ryon, on his own offered to speak at my wife's Memorial service last August. I had neve met him.
Never having met anyone in my family but my brother and his family, Ryon offered and I accepted with grace. He did that knowing that I entered churches rarely and usually only for family gatherings around Thanksgiving (our homes don't hold the 75 or so Conants and their families who join and commune around the lives for which we are grateful)as well as for funerals and weddings.
Almost the moment he entered my home to become acquainted with my wife's life and our families, I new I had met a stranger who had become a friend - one of those rare occasions when one just plimb blank* knows. Through the year we've gotten together for lunch and spoken on the phone a few times. Late in the evening last Christmas Eve, on a whim, I drove over to his church, walked in and sat with my brother whose wife sings in the choir. Together, as children and as middle-aged adults, Ed and I sang songs with tears and smiles. Years ago, he and I entertained grandparents and other family members singing together. We hadn't been together in song for more than 15 years. It felt good. As Ryon Price began to speak, he looked out over his small congregation and spied me. There was a halt in his voice before he picked up his pace again. A few choir members who I've known as friends in town for several years winked and smiled at my brother and me a few times on Christmas Eve. I've not returned to that church since and may not again. Communion to me is the joining of people, and I've never really enjoyed the religious strictures and requirements which "church" sort of demands if one is to be in communion within the physical and spiritual structure of that 2000 year old social institution.
Ryon and I spoke this week. He had agreed to join my family when we commit Lynn's ashes to the hallowed grounds of the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery. We will ride together, and I'm looking forward to him and my family who have circled and supported me when needed this past year. This will be one of those bittersweet endings which, for me, marks one more step in this beginning as I "grow up" one more time {;?)
One more thought, and then I'll end this. For many years when someone close to me has died, I've yearned for the sounds and symbols of beginnings and have never been disappointed when I've heard an infant's cry, laugh or some other sound at those moments of yearning. On the first or second day following Lynn's death, I was in my sun room listening to folks and interacting. At a point, I recall saying, "I need to hear a baby, I need a beginning..." Not five minutes later, my nephew, Trevor, walked in and his newborn infant was making small crying noises ... I had my beginning. The night of Lynn's Memorial service at a point when I felt particularly over-whelmed by the kindness and numbers of people (a few hundred, literally), I told someone "I need to hear a baby, a beginning..." A very few minutes after that feeling and statement, I looked up and there were Ari and very young Abigail Price in her mother's arms - my symbolic beginning once again.
I am thankful that this young man, this minister for others, of candor and honesty, Ryon Price, is a part of my life - not an everyday physical part, but a thoughtful, accepting spiritual part AND I am thankful that I know, albeit less, his daughter and his wife. It has been many years since I've had the joy of knowing groups of inter-racial people - families and friends, and I know I have missed that important aspect of life since moving back to Vermont in 1972.
Having these experiences at this point in my life, losses and beginnings, is one of the significant reasons I know truly how fortunate and blessed I am. Life is good. Accepting and giving life to others is also good - at least for this child.
Sam Conant
Colchester, Vermont
http://samcvt@blogspot.com
Some of you know a bit about my attitude regarding religion. So, it might come as a surprise that I am a friends with a local church pastor. His blog is titled "From Out of the Wilderness." His name is Ryon Price. I commend his blog to you to read and think about.
For the record, and I guess this is one of those "buts" my friend Ryon Price refers to when writing and discussing race issues, Ryon is my brother's pastor. Ryon, on his own offered to speak at my wife's Memorial service last August. I had neve met him.
Never having met anyone in my family but my brother and his family, Ryon offered and I accepted with grace. He did that knowing that I entered churches rarely and usually only for family gatherings around Thanksgiving (our homes don't hold the 75 or so Conants and their families who join and commune around the lives for which we are grateful)as well as for funerals and weddings.
Almost the moment he entered my home to become acquainted with my wife's life and our families, I new I had met a stranger who had become a friend - one of those rare occasions when one just plimb blank* knows. Through the year we've gotten together for lunch and spoken on the phone a few times. Late in the evening last Christmas Eve, on a whim, I drove over to his church, walked in and sat with my brother whose wife sings in the choir. Together, as children and as middle-aged adults, Ed and I sang songs with tears and smiles. Years ago, he and I entertained grandparents and other family members singing together. We hadn't been together in song for more than 15 years. It felt good. As Ryon Price began to speak, he looked out over his small congregation and spied me. There was a halt in his voice before he picked up his pace again. A few choir members who I've known as friends in town for several years winked and smiled at my brother and me a few times on Christmas Eve. I've not returned to that church since and may not again. Communion to me is the joining of people, and I've never really enjoyed the religious strictures and requirements which "church" sort of demands if one is to be in communion within the physical and spiritual structure of that 2000 year old social institution.
Ryon and I spoke this week. He had agreed to join my family when we commit Lynn's ashes to the hallowed grounds of the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery. We will ride together, and I'm looking forward to him and my family who have circled and supported me when needed this past year. This will be one of those bittersweet endings which, for me, marks one more step in this beginning as I "grow up" one more time {;?)
One more thought, and then I'll end this. For many years when someone close to me has died, I've yearned for the sounds and symbols of beginnings and have never been disappointed when I've heard an infant's cry, laugh or some other sound at those moments of yearning. On the first or second day following Lynn's death, I was in my sun room listening to folks and interacting. At a point, I recall saying, "I need to hear a baby, I need a beginning..." Not five minutes later, my nephew, Trevor, walked in and his newborn infant was making small crying noises ... I had my beginning. The night of Lynn's Memorial service at a point when I felt particularly over-whelmed by the kindness and numbers of people (a few hundred, literally), I told someone "I need to hear a baby, a beginning..." A very few minutes after that feeling and statement, I looked up and there were Ari and very young Abigail Price in her mother's arms - my symbolic beginning once again.
I am thankful that this young man, this minister for others, of candor and honesty, Ryon Price, is a part of my life - not an everyday physical part, but a thoughtful, accepting spiritual part AND I am thankful that I know, albeit less, his daughter and his wife. It has been many years since I've had the joy of knowing groups of inter-racial people - families and friends, and I know I have missed that important aspect of life since moving back to Vermont in 1972.
Having these experiences at this point in my life, losses and beginnings, is one of the significant reasons I know truly how fortunate and blessed I am. Life is good. Accepting and giving life to others is also good - at least for this child.
Sam Conant
Colchester, Vermont
http://samcvt@blogspot.com
The following is the first of my sailing sagas which began with the first time I had ever sailed ... It was back in mid-summer 1999, and I had just purchased the, Quetzal, the 25 foot Catalina which is still being kind to me... I wrote about the journey to a friend who is a far more seasoned sailor than I will ever be, and I put it into the Franco-English Quebecois patois which I've enjoyed for many years.
Le Storee....
Ma frens, Mes Amis.
H'ime heer tu tel u dat storee! Ya no? dat wun wot say "De win she blo on Lac Champlain, she blo lac ell she du?"*
Wel now, lette Sam de nouveau Baptiste h'xplayn bout dat firs sojourne h'aup dat lac.
Dat win? she blow ezee as firs. But, b'ambie? She get strawger den I remembre she du sum tam back der wen I wuz leetle chile, on de bay dey call de Malletes. layter? Bon ouis! Ow she blow dat day. Lac der wuz be no mor win on de h'Ontario h'oute de wes across de montaines de Adirondac an on de Riviere St. Lauren nere Montreal. Cuz dat win wot sit over dere beefor she cum h'ere? dis tam she h'all cum here for tu blo on dat Sams Cataleena as she clere de Nord Hero Gut tu de brawd lac oui call Champlain. Beecauz dat Nouveau Sam ad nevere sale de bateau beefor? ee ad hire da h'xpeerienz saler wot sale de Newport tu Bermuda raze ever yere... by nam uv Camille... she wuz a plezen woman, but Sam shud av been worn erlee h'in dat jurnee wen dat Camille? She cudnt start de 'engin tu get dat Catalina h'owt de ting dey call de slippe? Dat wuz a nue meening for de slippe dat Sam h'on dat day de memoree tinks 'abowt an on hiz fase dere wuz awhil wid grin. But dat Sam? ee wuz probly lukeen h'at wot wuz show roun de batheeng suit? H'an tinkin sumtin elz, maybee? Ah Non! ee wuz stik tu biznezz lac de gud saler ee wuz tu bee, bon ouise! Certement!
So dat Sam, ee iz lukin tue de nord wun tam ... an she see de cloud? She wuz gettin darcque an low tu de wahter? an de wave bak dere? She wuz lukin lac she growin...So wot u tink? Dat Sam ... ee say to Camille... did u see dat beeg black cloud? da wun tue de nord? wot makin dat wave zo beeg, she gonbe tawl'er den de Catalina? Wot u tink dat Camille de skiper tel tue Sam? "Get h'awp dere quik h'an drawp dat ting she cawl de jib!" She screem so loud, I bet u wun ting; dey heer dat screem h'al de way h'awp de lac tue Montreal on de Riviere San Laurenz...
Wen Sam luk stoopid won minut, dat Camille shaout "de sale h'awp dere!"
a leetl layter? az Sam ee ang frum de fron of dat bote wid de sale she rap ha'rown him lac a blancket? an ee eez slap de water tri tue kepe dat bote frum sinkin? az de wave she cum up de fron an splash dat Sam .... an az dat sale, she tri tue tro dat Sam h'into de wat er? Dat win? She blo lac more den dat fan wot stik h'in de whindo h'at dat ome Sam wish ee wuz h'at dis tam, bon ouise! wot seme lac mor den h'ower agoe wen hee tink lac dat?
but, dat Sam ee get head uv himself heer won tam wid storee. Wen dat Catalina finlee leff dat slippe an hed aowte h'awn de leetel baye? Ee eeze luk h'aup hi in de sky an wot u tink hee see? jus sittin h'awp der so beeg wuz dat dam brigge de Nord Hero ... wot Sam forgot wuz dere! Sheez wan beeg ting, Sam tue himself tell. she luk so beeg h'an prowd? tu bee shur....but wot u tink! Dat ting standin h'awp dere? wot de man sole u dat yawt tu u she say? Dat brigge Sheez gawt tue opin h'awn de alf houre lac wen de clawk she chime...or sumtin lac dat... an iff u tri tue sale dat bote tru h'under dat brigge dat ting wot stick h'awp in de aere wot dey cawl da mass (Hmmm... lern anudder salin wurd dat tam wot dis tam soun lac sumtin tue du wid de catreedul, I tink dat de salin wuz gon teech Sam de ard whay). Anee ouwe? dat man wot sell de bote, sed dat h'iff dat brigge don h'opin an I trie tue sale h'und-er neet aneewhay? Tu bee shure, dat mass will go bange an snappe an crash down tue my edd wid beeg urt an u wone fele so gud h'bout byin dat bote den. ouise, ee say. Dat brigge she gon stawp u lac 'ammer tue de hed. So wot u tink ole Camille an Sam du? Bon Ouise! Ouise flote dat bote roun an roun wid dat win? sheez blo an blo an dat Camille? she wurk ard jus kepe-in dat bote h'out de wede bi de side uv de lac chanal. An Sam? ee beegin tu tink wid de brane der, wot ee gawt, an Mon Dieux! Camille an Sam ee sed to 'imself ... dat ouise bin heer more den wan houre an dat ting? she aynt moov wan h'inch sidewaize or h'awp in de aire! So de puzzelle she cum to de brane and Sam tri to figger jus ow ee gogne get dat brigge tu op-en orr wot it wuz spose tu due... so dat bote, she cudd sale h'oute tu de gut wot paz u tru tu de brawd lac. So dat Sam ... he kip dat puzz'el in frun uv is brane der an tink won tam den ee tink sum moure, and he gawt wan an-ser to dat puzz-el. HA! she say. I cud uze dat radeeo! Dat ting on da wall wot da man sole dat bote say wuz a bulkhed (damme' anudder new wurd). De radeeo, she ad say "mareen h'oppurate...but dat damme ting? she onlee hiss an buzz...so wot u tink ole Sam d'Nouveau saler she du? Dis shy an bashful fell-o wot u no so gud?
Wal, h'eym scrach dat ed, an h'eym pawn-der wan tam ... une quatorze minut der (mois spellin? shee ain tu gud) nawt tu longe an nawt tu shorte...an wot u tink? She see dat leetle 'ed peekin out de windo der, bye de side de brigge...an she iz waiv an pointin wid and in de aere...I'm tink wan mor tam ... den count de fing-er on dat han she waivin an pointin wid...dat finger? she say tirteen. So, Im tink sum mor nawt tu long an nawt to short an i luk wan mor tam. An dat faize? she hold-in dat telephone' in de win-doe. Lac wot she tink? Dat Sam an Camille gon jump off de bote an swim to plaze, an clime dat stele brigge der? An anzer dat cawl? She muz bee crazee, dat Sam tink.
Wal, aftir wan tam...bynbie Sam, she luk h'up dat briddg an smyle dat smyle an chuk-ul dat way, u nowat ee 'ave an wat u tink ole Sam, she doo? Ell, ee waiv an laff an say lowd so dat crazee wom-an can ere..."Baptiste is heer! u bet-ter h'opin dat ting h'on de tawp uv dat brigge middul. Baptiste, she iz cummin tru wedder or nawt u caire! Den? wat u tink! By gar...dat brigge? sheez go h'up in de sky...so fas she make u blinque tu see dat wun-der.
An Sam? 'e juss smyle dat grin wat saye "h'ime no dat. All u gawt tu doo is smyle an say ur peez h'an dat briddge she 'opin awp eezee!"
Da ress uv dat storee? Sheeze wate an she is mour dramateek den dis firz part.
So, aime close dis storee for now .... but say juss enuf to let u no dat dis wuz wan beeg day. Dat tres, quatorze houre sale wat wuz spoze to bee? she taik more den de daylite leff dat day. Mon deaux, dat wuz sum dey. she envolve' dat us coste gard? Bon Ouise! an dat estat poleez .... an dat Colches-ter mareen pa-trol man hoo wuz my naybour, Mike Hammond frum de Col-chester poleez ware is de 'ome port por de bateau wid de sale...dat Cataleena
Now? aime home an de rume sheeze stil rock-in ... so aime tink Im gowan tu quit por le day an rite more la-ter.
Bon nuit, Mes Amis
Sam d'Baptiste...who danse wid Champ dis dey...an liv tu say h'bout dat Vive le Salin h'on Lac Champlain ware de win she blo lac el she doo.
Dat day wuz beegan reel nize wid de win? She blo nize h'an gentl an stedee...an now? Sam, she stawp por le nuit an start o-ver anudder day wid sum more. Dat nex chap-ter she begin wid...
Long h'bowt du quatere hour? Dat Sam luk nord and say
Le Storee....
Ma frens, Mes Amis.
H'ime heer tu tel u dat storee! Ya no? dat wun wot say "De win she blo on Lac Champlain, she blo lac ell she du?"*
Wel now, lette Sam de nouveau Baptiste h'xplayn bout dat firs sojourne h'aup dat lac.
Dat win? she blow ezee as firs. But, b'ambie? She get strawger den I remembre she du sum tam back der wen I wuz leetle chile, on de bay dey call de Malletes. layter? Bon ouis! Ow she blow dat day. Lac der wuz be no mor win on de h'Ontario h'oute de wes across de montaines de Adirondac an on de Riviere St. Lauren nere Montreal. Cuz dat win wot sit over dere beefor she cum h'ere? dis tam she h'all cum here for tu blo on dat Sams Cataleena as she clere de Nord Hero Gut tu de brawd lac oui call Champlain. Beecauz dat Nouveau Sam ad nevere sale de bateau beefor? ee ad hire da h'xpeerienz saler wot sale de Newport tu Bermuda raze ever yere... by nam uv Camille... she wuz a plezen woman, but Sam shud av been worn erlee h'in dat jurnee wen dat Camille? She cudnt start de 'engin tu get dat Catalina h'owt de ting dey call de slippe? Dat wuz a nue meening for de slippe dat Sam h'on dat day de memoree tinks 'abowt an on hiz fase dere wuz awhil wid grin. But dat Sam? ee wuz probly lukeen h'at wot wuz show roun de batheeng suit? H'an tinkin sumtin elz, maybee? Ah Non! ee wuz stik tu biznezz lac de gud saler ee wuz tu bee, bon ouise! Certement!
So dat Sam, ee iz lukin tue de nord wun tam ... an she see de cloud? She wuz gettin darcque an low tu de wahter? an de wave bak dere? She wuz lukin lac she growin...So wot u tink? Dat Sam ... ee say to Camille... did u see dat beeg black cloud? da wun tue de nord? wot makin dat wave zo beeg, she gonbe tawl'er den de Catalina? Wot u tink dat Camille de skiper tel tue Sam? "Get h'awp dere quik h'an drawp dat ting she cawl de jib!" She screem so loud, I bet u wun ting; dey heer dat screem h'al de way h'awp de lac tue Montreal on de Riviere San Laurenz...
Wen Sam luk stoopid won minut, dat Camille shaout "de sale h'awp dere!"
a leetl layter? az Sam ee ang frum de fron of dat bote wid de sale she rap ha'rown him lac a blancket? an ee eez slap de water tri tue kepe dat bote frum sinkin? az de wave she cum up de fron an splash dat Sam .... an az dat sale, she tri tue tro dat Sam h'into de wat er? Dat win? She blo lac more den dat fan wot stik h'in de whindo h'at dat ome Sam wish ee wuz h'at dis tam, bon ouise! wot seme lac mor den h'ower agoe wen hee tink lac dat?
but, dat Sam ee get head uv himself heer won tam wid storee. Wen dat Catalina finlee leff dat slippe an hed aowte h'awn de leetel baye? Ee eeze luk h'aup hi in de sky an wot u tink hee see? jus sittin h'awp der so beeg wuz dat dam brigge de Nord Hero ... wot Sam forgot wuz dere! Sheez wan beeg ting, Sam tue himself tell. she luk so beeg h'an prowd? tu bee shur....but wot u tink! Dat ting standin h'awp dere? wot de man sole u dat yawt tu u she say? Dat brigge Sheez gawt tue opin h'awn de alf houre lac wen de clawk she chime...or sumtin lac dat... an iff u tri tue sale dat bote tru h'under dat brigge dat ting wot stick h'awp in de aere wot dey cawl da mass (Hmmm... lern anudder salin wurd dat tam wot dis tam soun lac sumtin tue du wid de catreedul, I tink dat de salin wuz gon teech Sam de ard whay). Anee ouwe? dat man wot sell de bote, sed dat h'iff dat brigge don h'opin an I trie tue sale h'und-er neet aneewhay? Tu bee shure, dat mass will go bange an snappe an crash down tue my edd wid beeg urt an u wone fele so gud h'bout byin dat bote den. ouise, ee say. Dat brigge she gon stawp u lac 'ammer tue de hed. So wot u tink ole Camille an Sam du? Bon Ouise! Ouise flote dat bote roun an roun wid dat win? sheez blo an blo an dat Camille? she wurk ard jus kepe-in dat bote h'out de wede bi de side uv de lac chanal. An Sam? ee beegin tu tink wid de brane der, wot ee gawt, an Mon Dieux! Camille an Sam ee sed to 'imself ... dat ouise bin heer more den wan houre an dat ting? she aynt moov wan h'inch sidewaize or h'awp in de aire! So de puzzelle she cum to de brane and Sam tri to figger jus ow ee gogne get dat brigge tu op-en orr wot it wuz spose tu due... so dat bote, she cudd sale h'oute tu de gut wot paz u tru tu de brawd lac. So dat Sam ... he kip dat puzz'el in frun uv is brane der an tink won tam den ee tink sum moure, and he gawt wan an-ser to dat puzz-el. HA! she say. I cud uze dat radeeo! Dat ting on da wall wot da man sole dat bote say wuz a bulkhed (damme' anudder new wurd). De radeeo, she ad say "mareen h'oppurate...but dat damme ting? she onlee hiss an buzz...so wot u tink ole Sam d'Nouveau saler she du? Dis shy an bashful fell-o wot u no so gud?
Wal, h'eym scrach dat ed, an h'eym pawn-der wan tam ... une quatorze minut der (mois spellin? shee ain tu gud) nawt tu longe an nawt tu shorte...an wot u tink? She see dat leetle 'ed peekin out de windo der, bye de side de brigge...an she iz waiv an pointin wid and in de aere...I'm tink wan mor tam ... den count de fing-er on dat han she waivin an pointin wid...dat finger? she say tirteen. So, Im tink sum mor nawt tu long an nawt to short an i luk wan mor tam. An dat faize? she hold-in dat telephone' in de win-doe. Lac wot she tink? Dat Sam an Camille gon jump off de bote an swim to plaze, an clime dat stele brigge der? An anzer dat cawl? She muz bee crazee, dat Sam tink.
Wal, aftir wan tam...bynbie Sam, she luk h'up dat briddg an smyle dat smyle an chuk-ul dat way, u nowat ee 'ave an wat u tink ole Sam, she doo? Ell, ee waiv an laff an say lowd so dat crazee wom-an can ere..."Baptiste is heer! u bet-ter h'opin dat ting h'on de tawp uv dat brigge middul. Baptiste, she iz cummin tru wedder or nawt u caire! Den? wat u tink! By gar...dat brigge? sheez go h'up in de sky...so fas she make u blinque tu see dat wun-der.
An Sam? 'e juss smyle dat grin wat saye "h'ime no dat. All u gawt tu doo is smyle an say ur peez h'an dat briddge she 'opin awp eezee!"
Da ress uv dat storee? Sheeze wate an she is mour dramateek den dis firz part.
So, aime close dis storee for now .... but say juss enuf to let u no dat dis wuz wan beeg day. Dat tres, quatorze houre sale wat wuz spoze to bee? she taik more den de daylite leff dat day. Mon deaux, dat wuz sum dey. she envolve' dat us coste gard? Bon Ouise! an dat estat poleez .... an dat Colches-ter mareen pa-trol man hoo wuz my naybour, Mike Hammond frum de Col-chester poleez ware is de 'ome port por de bateau wid de sale...dat Cataleena
Now? aime home an de rume sheeze stil rock-in ... so aime tink Im gowan tu quit por le day an rite more la-ter.
Bon nuit, Mes Amis
Sam d'Baptiste...who danse wid Champ dis dey...an liv tu say h'bout dat Vive le Salin h'on Lac Champlain ware de win she blo lac el she doo.
Dat day wuz beegan reel nize wid de win? She blo nize h'an gentl an stedee...an now? Sam, she stawp por le nuit an start o-ver anudder day wid sum more. Dat nex chap-ter she begin wid...
Long h'bowt du quatere hour? Dat Sam luk nord and say
A Series of Nonsense-Mine, at least
I just got invited to think about having a column on an in-progress web site, and am thinking about it. More on that if it happens ... But, the invite reminded me that I started a blog a couple of months ago, and have not really paid much attention to it unless something reminded me to go into it...
So far, I'm the contributor ... including one pasted set of comments from a friend ... identifying his blog which I comment and encourage others to visit it along with mine.
I think that, periodically, I'll paste onto my blog a few thoughts shared with and by others hoping to attract an audience from the "world of blogs."
I've added the blog URL to my email signature line, and invite readers to write and begin leaving comments about what you read there. I promise to expand the topics.
For example, I'm a scuba diver and sailor, and a manager of a company that recruits seniors 55+ in age who are interested in being trained (upgrade or learn new skills) as preparation for returning to the work force and an unsubsidized job. I'd like to read comments by seniors and others which reflect experiences (negative and positive) in the job-finding and searching as well as getting hired end of the employment process. Our company is in the process of setting up a web site (www.vermontassociates.org) but I'm not sure if our techno-guy has it up and running yet. He's been more than busy establishing our MIS and policies into our 12 office organization as soon as possible after our policy group finalizes them, and 7:30 am - 4:30 pm just isn't a lot of time right now for ancillary tasks. But, things are coming together.
Personally, life is trucking along. While the past 2-3 years have presented several difficulties, I no longer have bad days; just a bad moment once in awhile, and the changes are positive for me and, I hope for others who are close to me.
Sailing this summer has been limited, in part by, once again, failing competently at retirement and Vermont's capricious weather. Today, for example, it is sunny and 82 degrees out ... and, I haven't seen the leaves on my trees moving much. I life very near the shores of Lake Champlain so this lack of sailing signs has more or less dictated the day for me.
A couple of neat "firsts" have come along in the past week.
The last professional haircut (heck; the last haircut, period) I had was on August 26, 2007 in my kitchen. My wife died on the 25th, and my cousin pulled me aside to order me to be ready the next day for a haircut. He arrived on his designated day and trimmed me up. A year ago this month, I was diagnosed with cancer. To date, I've had two nine (9) week rounds of chemo split by a major surgical procedure, and lost all of my hair as expected. Yesterday I had my hair trimmed by another professional for the first time in 11 months!
The second "first" (and I know this is a public forum, but HEY! I've got a right to be open about "firsts" on my own blog; right?
I had a date! A month or so ago, I met an acquaintance from 20 years ago and we caught up with personal news in the hallway of a local medical facility. The conversation ended with her sort of saying "lets get together on the 4th of July on your boat...I'll bring the wine and cheese," and me standing there probably looking dumb and mumbling something which may have been "OK." Because of injuries caused by an auto accident, she couldn't go sailing. But, she called to thank me for sending a brief note hoping she would get well, and I wondered sort of aloud if she might like to join me and attend a local stage play. We went to the worst play I've ever sat through in my life and I usually enjoy stage plays. She hated the play too. But, apparently she and I were not discouraged by my slackness in not having read the play's reviews because we agreed to see one another again....So, another first has occurred. Growing up again ... who would have thunkit?
Back to the blog. In an earlier lengthy comment (are there ever brief ones from me?) I promised to resurrect le storee uv dat tam h'I sail dat bote h'up Lac Champlain for de firs tam h'in my life..." I found the story in the Franco-English patois which is so enjoyable to my ears and eyes ... and will get it onto the blog...
Until then ... Life is good, give some of it back...
So far, I'm the contributor ... including one pasted set of comments from a friend ... identifying his blog which I comment and encourage others to visit it along with mine.
I think that, periodically, I'll paste onto my blog a few thoughts shared with and by others hoping to attract an audience from the "world of blogs."
I've added the blog URL to my email signature line, and invite readers to write and begin leaving comments about what you read there. I promise to expand the topics.
For example, I'm a scuba diver and sailor, and a manager of a company that recruits seniors 55+ in age who are interested in being trained (upgrade or learn new skills) as preparation for returning to the work force and an unsubsidized job. I'd like to read comments by seniors and others which reflect experiences (negative and positive) in the job-finding and searching as well as getting hired end of the employment process. Our company is in the process of setting up a web site (www.vermontassociates.org) but I'm not sure if our techno-guy has it up and running yet. He's been more than busy establishing our MIS and policies into our 12 office organization as soon as possible after our policy group finalizes them, and 7:30 am - 4:30 pm just isn't a lot of time right now for ancillary tasks. But, things are coming together.
Personally, life is trucking along. While the past 2-3 years have presented several difficulties, I no longer have bad days; just a bad moment once in awhile, and the changes are positive for me and, I hope for others who are close to me.
Sailing this summer has been limited, in part by, once again, failing competently at retirement and Vermont's capricious weather. Today, for example, it is sunny and 82 degrees out ... and, I haven't seen the leaves on my trees moving much. I life very near the shores of Lake Champlain so this lack of sailing signs has more or less dictated the day for me.
A couple of neat "firsts" have come along in the past week.
The last professional haircut (heck; the last haircut, period) I had was on August 26, 2007 in my kitchen. My wife died on the 25th, and my cousin pulled me aside to order me to be ready the next day for a haircut. He arrived on his designated day and trimmed me up. A year ago this month, I was diagnosed with cancer. To date, I've had two nine (9) week rounds of chemo split by a major surgical procedure, and lost all of my hair as expected. Yesterday I had my hair trimmed by another professional for the first time in 11 months!
The second "first" (and I know this is a public forum, but HEY! I've got a right to be open about "firsts" on my own blog; right?
I had a date! A month or so ago, I met an acquaintance from 20 years ago and we caught up with personal news in the hallway of a local medical facility. The conversation ended with her sort of saying "lets get together on the 4th of July on your boat...I'll bring the wine and cheese," and me standing there probably looking dumb and mumbling something which may have been "OK." Because of injuries caused by an auto accident, she couldn't go sailing. But, she called to thank me for sending a brief note hoping she would get well, and I wondered sort of aloud if she might like to join me and attend a local stage play. We went to the worst play I've ever sat through in my life and I usually enjoy stage plays. She hated the play too. But, apparently she and I were not discouraged by my slackness in not having read the play's reviews because we agreed to see one another again....So, another first has occurred. Growing up again ... who would have thunkit?
Back to the blog. In an earlier lengthy comment (are there ever brief ones from me?) I promised to resurrect le storee uv dat tam h'I sail dat bote h'up Lac Champlain for de firs tam h'in my life..." I found the story in the Franco-English patois which is so enjoyable to my ears and eyes ... and will get it onto the blog...
Until then ... Life is good, give some of it back...
Friday, June 20, 2008
Americans and Our Ridiculous, Mis-Directed and Oily Finger-Pointing
The major petroleum companies have held drilling rights and privileges to off-shore and on the continent regions with proven oil resources. As I wrote last night, some of those resources will be costly to bring to the well head. But, what is most bothersome, and which most Americans know or admit nothing about is that the petroleum companies have absolutely no interest in opening up new and known oil fields on which they already have drilling and production rights.
Think about the dramatic rise in end product prices. Then, think about the profits the companies are already reaping from what they purchase and what they, themselves produce. Now, think about the vast billions of already known resources over which those companies already hold the rights to produce, and think about what it is worth to them to not drill and produce more end product. Now, think about why those self-same damned petroleum companies might be agitating for more and more drilling rights over known resources where drilling rights are restricted by laws which were enacted back in the 1970s when oil by the barrel cost what? $10-15.00 per bbl compared with today's per bbl cost of ________? Now, do you get it?
I believe we need to stop this damned jabber-walling and complaining merely about the obscene profits those companies are enjoying and stop allowing them to adhere to the ludicrous claims that they are pumping (pun intended) those windfall profits back into production etc ... for which they get significant tax deductions ... and just think about what they are sitting on and what more they want to sit on.
If people in would just figure that out, and accept the obvious, we would stop bowing to the petroleum gods, we would rise and insist that the windfall profit protections guaranteed by our government and laws be stopped, we would continue to insist that our legally protected regions continue to be off-limits, and we would demand that those companies begin producing the resources they already have legitimate access to.
More, if people in this country would just stop allowing the petroleum industry and the federal government to allow the finger-pointing at OPEC, the Saudis, Venezuala, and others and demand that our government stop protecting the corporations which really control our fuel availability and costs, we just might be able to work ourselves out of the mess the government has gotten us into.
Your thoughts?
Think about the dramatic rise in end product prices. Then, think about the profits the companies are already reaping from what they purchase and what they, themselves produce. Now, think about the vast billions of already known resources over which those companies already hold the rights to produce, and think about what it is worth to them to not drill and produce more end product. Now, think about why those self-same damned petroleum companies might be agitating for more and more drilling rights over known resources where drilling rights are restricted by laws which were enacted back in the 1970s when oil by the barrel cost what? $10-15.00 per bbl compared with today's per bbl cost of ________? Now, do you get it?
I believe we need to stop this damned jabber-walling and complaining merely about the obscene profits those companies are enjoying and stop allowing them to adhere to the ludicrous claims that they are pumping (pun intended) those windfall profits back into production etc ... for which they get significant tax deductions ... and just think about what they are sitting on and what more they want to sit on.
If people in would just figure that out, and accept the obvious, we would stop bowing to the petroleum gods, we would rise and insist that the windfall profit protections guaranteed by our government and laws be stopped, we would continue to insist that our legally protected regions continue to be off-limits, and we would demand that those companies begin producing the resources they already have legitimate access to.
More, if people in this country would just stop allowing the petroleum industry and the federal government to allow the finger-pointing at OPEC, the Saudis, Venezuala, and others and demand that our government stop protecting the corporations which really control our fuel availability and costs, we just might be able to work ourselves out of the mess the government has gotten us into.
Your thoughts?
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Reading a blog regarding "Jesus for President," I was reminded of several thoughts I've had over the years about "things and concepts religious."
During my graduate school years at the University of Missouri, I recall writing a paper entitled "Jesus Christ as a Community Organizer." Much more recently, I've been known to write that if Jesus Christ was alive in these times, acting and speaking as he allegedly did in his young adulthood, he would be labeled by many in the United States of America as a left wing zealot, a communist. He would have been condemned for those socialist beliefs by the very church and its various conservative denominations and sects which tout their christianity (small "c" intentional) in strident, intrusive and blatantly biased terms.
Having been raised as a Methodist, I am very much aware as to why I attended any event in that church during my adolescance: The MYF group was where most of the girls I liked attended, and our basketball team (YMCA league) was excellent.
I was a boy scout in two troops - one sponsored by a Baptist Church and the other by the Unitarian Church. My grandfather was a Unitarian and my grandmother (guardian) was a Methodist-neither was particularly active in churches, and religion was only one aspect of the scouting movement back in the 1950s.
I minored in history in undergraduate school, and took several courses in religion for the minor. My view of contemporary, conservative Christianity is that the religion denies its roots which did not originate with the Old Testament but predate those stories. More, today's conservative Christianity ignores the origin(s) of the fundamental beliefs which emerged from several different cultures and societies long before Christ was born and lived.
Finally, I am appalled about the warring by humans in the name of religions, which leads me to believe merely that God was a great idea, but we humans have so bastardized the beliefs as to render the idea unrealistic and hypicritical. As Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has stated, it is the fundamentalists in the world who pose the greatest threat to humankind. Today's expressions of fundamentalism both in the United States and in the Middle East are testament to Kennedy's comment, in my opinion.
I write this not knowing if anyone will read it, and whoever reads this is invited to visit my blog and share thoughts there.
Respectfully,Samcvt
During my graduate school years at the University of Missouri, I recall writing a paper entitled "Jesus Christ as a Community Organizer." Much more recently, I've been known to write that if Jesus Christ was alive in these times, acting and speaking as he allegedly did in his young adulthood, he would be labeled by many in the United States of America as a left wing zealot, a communist. He would have been condemned for those socialist beliefs by the very church and its various conservative denominations and sects which tout their christianity (small "c" intentional) in strident, intrusive and blatantly biased terms.
Having been raised as a Methodist, I am very much aware as to why I attended any event in that church during my adolescance: The MYF group was where most of the girls I liked attended, and our basketball team (YMCA league) was excellent.
I was a boy scout in two troops - one sponsored by a Baptist Church and the other by the Unitarian Church. My grandfather was a Unitarian and my grandmother (guardian) was a Methodist-neither was particularly active in churches, and religion was only one aspect of the scouting movement back in the 1950s.
I minored in history in undergraduate school, and took several courses in religion for the minor. My view of contemporary, conservative Christianity is that the religion denies its roots which did not originate with the Old Testament but predate those stories. More, today's conservative Christianity ignores the origin(s) of the fundamental beliefs which emerged from several different cultures and societies long before Christ was born and lived.
Finally, I am appalled about the warring by humans in the name of religions, which leads me to believe merely that God was a great idea, but we humans have so bastardized the beliefs as to render the idea unrealistic and hypicritical. As Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has stated, it is the fundamentalists in the world who pose the greatest threat to humankind. Today's expressions of fundamentalism both in the United States and in the Middle East are testament to Kennedy's comment, in my opinion.
I write this not knowing if anyone will read it, and whoever reads this is invited to visit my blog and share thoughts there.
Respectfully,Samcvt
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