Freedom

We decided to celebrate Independence Day with a road trip to see how folks were dealing with “these trying times” as we so frequently hear on television. The answer is that in our part of rural America most people just want to get on with life. Yes, there were masks, there were stores with signs saying, “Closed indefinitely due to COVID-19” and there were people who politely put on their masks when entering a business. The vast majority, however, seemed to be defiant of the “masking” orders. 

Our trip took us on about a 450 mile jaunt that covered parts of three states. We saw red, white and blue colors and we also saw signs of cancelled celebrations. I think there are pockets of the Spirit of 1776 that still live, but the vast majority have surrendered to the Nanny State. Even here in the heart of what the coast-dwellers would call flyover country, it would be a 50-50 proposition if it came to resistance to the powers that be. 

Where have the freedom-loving patriots gone?

The ones who rant on social media

Yet, cower within their caves?

Those who would defy are blue-collar,

Tattooed and struggling,

Yet they yearn most deeply for freedom. 

The Spirit of 1776 lived in those who had most to lose;

Ship owners and Planters and those who held power. 

Today’s analogs are first to bend the knee. 

The next uprising will swell from those who do the work,

Not those who produce nothing yet breathe the air of privilege. 

It’s no wonder dissatisfaction runs rampant among the poor. 

The conditions are ripe.

The seeds are planted, fertilized and watered.

Who will provide direction to the masses?

If patriots would step forward to solve the issues that stir

Deep within the masses, there might yet come salvation for our country;

If not, we will fall to the forces of evil which seek only destruction and enslavement. 

Rise up Patriots. 

Lift up your fellow man. 

Remove his grievances 

Or, fall. 

Pandemics, Power and People

As a few of you might have noticed, I took a break from posting.  I suppose you could say I have been socially distant in this particular medium.

Social distancing is really nothing new for me; I am perfectly happy where there are few people and far horizons.  I've even been told that I am sometimes socially distant in a crowded room.  Oh, well.

This SARS-CoV-19 global pandemic is something new, but also something old.  Viruses periodically mutate and sometimes move between species (zoonosis).  That is the most likely explanation for what has happened.  It is something we will see more frequently as this old planet fills up with people.  Densely packed populations facilitate the spread of disease.  The answer is social distancing -- spreading apart.

Dense populations -- whether they be temporary or, somewhat permanent -- are also sources of panic behavior.  It's that old "crowd" mentality that causes people to bolt for the door when someone yells "fire!"  In this case, it caused a run on the grocery stores which has temporarily created holes in our amazing system of supply chains which rarely miss a beat.  The massive nature of the shift of consumer demand from "restaurant dining" to eat at home caught the entire system somewhat by surprise.  There is plenty of food -- at least in the developed countries -- it is just in the wrong place, but that is rapidly being corrected.

I'm thankful to live in a small town rather than a city.  Even in our rural setting there are signs of disruption.  We have also had our first case of the disease confirmed.  It will eventually pass through the population of the planet.  It won't infect everyone, but it will touch most of the people in some form or fashion -- from a disease perspective, not just as a disruption to life as we know it.

The biggest fear that I have out of this entire episode of disruption is the amount of power that is being displayed by governmental entities all over the world.  That is a genie that will not be put back in the bottle.

"Group Think" for the Machine

"I'm sure there's a good reason we are all standing here looking at the gate, but I can't for the life of me figure out what it might be!"

That's what I thought when I saw this picture from a few years ago -- that's what's going through at least one of those cow's heads -- or, it would if they could reason.  It brought to mind "group think."

We all know about "group think."  It happens when a bunch get together and someone makes a suggestion.  The next thing you know, everyone is "piling on" to the idea and it gains a life of its own.  Politicians exploit that tendency.  They, or some political operative, plant suggestions and "suddenly" everyone agrees!  Some examples are "meatless Monday," "taco Tuesday," "Epstein killed himself" -- which, by-the-way, I doubt very seriously (did you catch how I inverted that last one?).

It is easier to follow a suggestion than it is to think independently.  We are lazy.  We are trained to "group think" -- it's called public education.  We are indoctrinated from our earliest years to think and behave as part of a group.  We stand at the gate and wait for the government to "give" us benefits which came out of what they extracted from us already in the form of taxes.  In spite of the rhetoric -- especially from one political party which is quickly morphing into socialism -- the wealthy will never pay "their fair share" of taxes.  It is the poor and middle class which carry the tax burden and it is the wealthy who gain the largest benefit -- especially the subset of the wealthy who claim to be the salvation of the poor and downtrodden. 

The whole impeachment debacle almost exposed what is really a "cash cow" for politicians -- foreign aid.  Much of it is funneled through NGO's (non-government organizations) that are supposedly established for charitable purposes.  More of it is sent directly to foreign governments that are filled with corrupt politicians (yes, even more corrupt than our own) who find creative ways to funnel it into their personal bank accounts -- such as state-owned businesses.  Both methods frequently have plenty of siphons stuck in that lead right back to family members, "non-profit" foundations or, corporations owned or, controlled by the very politicians that authorized the aid in the first place. 

Most folks that lead normal lives which include a job and a paycheck don't realize how much money is actually flowing around this planet.  The amounts are astounding.  There is so much money lying around Europe right now that the banks charge customers to hold their deposits.  Yes, that is correct.  It's not just an issue of low interest rates on savings over there, it's a case of the banks charging customers to keep their money.  Oh, yeah, it's in the hands of that top 1% than controls the bulk of the wealth.  The politicians around the globe are quite familiar with that crowd and work closely with them to make sure they get a piece of that wealth for "protecting" it from unfriendly laws while fleecing the citizen taxpayers of their countries in the process.

Yep, I'm making lots of accusations here and not really offering any proof.  If I had the proof and could lay it out I'd probably end up like Epstein.  I'm not too excited about that prospect.  My point is simply this, don't follow the sheep (or, cows) through the gate.  It might just be the loading ramp to the truck on its way to the harvest.  The politicians own and operate the plant in a very efficient manner.  They are the only ones who will profit from the transaction -- oh, and their very wealthy buddies. 

There is a difference between the two political parties in spite of the fact that both have similar goals in mind; the elephants give you a chance to earn your way into the club, but the donkeys just want you to wear chains and pull the plow.  I'd rather have a chance -- no matter how small.

Billionaire Candidates and Agricultural Ignorance

This is from a few years ago and is among my favorite images.  I find it interesting how the curiosity is strong on both sides of the fence.

Agriculture is something that is little appreciated by most people these days.  Social media has been completely crazy with how one of the current Presidential candidates gave a speech a few years ago to a group of highly educated, full-of-themselves individuals, in which he implied that it didn't take much intelligence to be in agriculture.  In fact, that speech (follow the link to see the article which includes the video) was given at about the same time the above image was taken.

The speech has been taken out of context in such a way that everyone in agriculture has gotten angry rather than thought about what was said.  Essentially, he indicated that civilization has evolved through time from what was, for most of history, an agrarian culture to an industrialized economy and now we are in the middle of a technology-based information economy.  He was correct, but his comments leave one wondering if he truly understands the amount of information and technology that are utilized in agriculture today.

Take that bunch of cows in the image above; they were from a registered herd of Angus that have been carefully selected for over 60 years to produce efficient, fertile, highly versatile animals that provide us with some of the highest quality meat in history.  Each animal is carefully measured in many ways, the data collected, collated and compared against their genetic scores which are developed from genomic testing.  They are rigorously selected based on stringent criteria so that only the best animals are allowed to produce breeding stock for future generations.

They are fed protein and mineral supplements that are carefully formulated to meet the nutritional requirements that the animals cannot attain from forage alone.  They are vaccinated to prevent disease.  They are cared for using scientifically-based methods that reduce the amount of stress to which they are subjected.  The forage they eat is also managed based on best scientifically proven practices.

That's just a small part of agriculture -- raising cattle on a ranch.  I won't even address what happens when they head up the production chain to eventual harvest and presentation in the meat case at your local supermarket.  Technology is everywhere.

When you look at farming it gets even crazier.  The tractors are guided by computers to precisely apply the correct amounts of seed, fertilizer, etc. based on satellite images.  The seeds which are planted are frequently the result of advanced breeding techniques -- including genetic manipulation to enhance disease, chemical and pest resistance.  We have more and better quality food than ever before in history -- thanks to the application of technology to agriculture -- and it costs virtually the same as it did 50+ years ago!

The candidate in question mentions the brainpower required to farm vs. work in a factory vs. create the technology which is so pervasive in society today.  I should introduce him to the rocket scientist I know who ranches in Arizona.  He truly is a rocket scientist -- used to work at NASA.  Or, maybe he should meet some of the scientists unraveling the genetic code which determines disease resistance.  Oh, wait, those are scientists.  Yep, I have worked with them most of my career.  They may be able to manipulate a gene, but most of them have no clue how their work impacts the real world.  They are isolated in their cocoon of technology of which they know much, but they don't know what to do with it much of the time.

I think, ultimately, that is the issue.  I call it intellectual snobbery.  It happens in every field of endeavor.  I've seen it in many, many scientific and engineering fields -- and I've seen it in agriculture.  It goes something like this: "If you don't have a PhD in blah, blah, blah, there is no way you can understand it.  You obviously don't have the intelligence to be able to comprehend it, or you would have a PhD in blah, blah, blah."  Sometimes it isn't just a PhD -- with Engineers it is simply a degree in Engineering -- and they have ranks.  I think Aerospace is at the top and Civil is at the bottom.  Each believes if you "aren't one of us, you ain't nothing."

Back to agriculture -- "If you try to learn how to ranch after a career in something else, you had better be prepared to fail."  "If you didn't grow up in it you will never be able to master it."  Those are incorrect too.

Getting back to the article:  I don't like the candidate mentioned in the article.  Period.  I think he would be worse for our country than most of the others.  Just look at the problems in his state and you should agree.  We shouldn't blast him for what was said, though.  Instead, we should realize that what he said is a symptom of something deeper.  The average person, or the self-proclaimed intellectual elite has no idea about what is involved in production agriculture.  Most of them don't even know what is necessary to get the food to their table.  Billionaire Presidential candidates probably have large staffs that take care of it for them anyway -- they don't even know their food comes from the grocery store -- let alone what it took to get it to the store.

If you don't like the candidate, talk about why you don't like the candidate; don't just blast him by taking his words out of context and failing to address the real issue -- ignorance.  Yep, brilliant people can be ignorant.  If you don't know about something, you are ignorant of that subject.  It doesn't mean you lack the gray matter to understand it given time and effort.  I wish all of the candidates would apply a little more of their gray matter to learning about food production.  Those in agriculture just don't add up to enough votes for it to make a difference to them -- at least in their mind.  We need to explain why it does matter.  Even billionaires won't live long without food.

Each Day New

As I stand and look on high

To pathways etched against the sky

I know there is yet room to grow

And so much more that I could know.

Although I've traveled many miles

Through years of troubles, tears and trials

There is so much left to do,

As if I've started over new,

Each day, beginning, once again,

No different now than it was when

My years were young and I was strong,

To climb the heights for which I long.

Habits

It seems no matter how you try

To cultivate the fields

There will be things that do take root

And take away from yields.

They come from out of nowhere,

To pop up now and then,

You must be ever vigilant

And clear them out again.

I'm speaking of bad habits

That into your life do creep;

They sink their roots unnoticed

And rob you like a thief.

Fox Squirrel

Way up in the greening trees,

Caressed by a light spring breeze,

The fox squirrel sits upon a branch

As if he was in a deep trance.

My searching lens locks onto him

There upon his lofty limb

With acorn locked between his teeth

And me there on the ground beneath.

He thinks I don't see him there

So still, way up in the air

Behind that tiny little twig

Where, to me, he looks mighty big

Covered with his winter fat;

Just another tree rat.

Valentines Day

The azaleas aren't blooming yet, but they will be in a few short weeks.  I figured flowers were appropriate for the day though, so I dug out this image from a few years back of some of the azaleas at our home.  We have them along the front and along a section of the back of our house.  They bloom in groups and are quite a sight if you enjoy such.

So, with that I will say, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Roses are red,

These azaleas are pink,

I prefer poems

That make you think.

I never was good

At the mushy stuff,

To me it just seems

Like so much fluff.

It's a corporate scam

That grows by the year,

Selling roses and cards

And sparkly gear.

If you really do care

Then show them each day

In the things that you do

And the words that you say.

Consumed by Flames

If you look closely at the image of the fire you might see the Flame Monster looking off to the right.  That was random, I'll admit, but it just popped out at me when I posted the picture.  Do you see it?

What is it about fire that mesmerizes us?  I can sit and look at a fire for long periods and it is relaxing.  How can something so destructive be relaxing?  I suspect it is a remnant programmed into our DNA from times long past when fire meant safety, food and warmth.

I love a campfire and I enjoy campfire cooking.  There is an art to building a fire that will start quickly, burn brightly and build a bed of coals that will cast warmth for hours long after the flames have died to memory.

As I write I keep thinking there must be some deeper meaning that I can extract from this, but it just isn't happening.  All that comes to mind is the sound of insects and frogs along with the roar and crackle of the fire as I sit and contemplate -- yep, I almost said stare at the fire.  Contemplate conveys purpose and depth whereas "stare" is empty and meaningless.  Maybe that's part of the attraction -- to let the cares be consumed by the flames, allowing the mind to rest and the peacefulness of a spring evening to cleanse us as we become one with the blaze.  Yep, I'm thinking spring again....

A Loose Grouping?

Sometimes what we think we see is not exactly the reality of the situation.  Take the above image for example; it looks like some loosely grouped arrows in the end of a hay bale.  The reality is that there were 3 ribbons attached by a nail at the top and fluttering in the wind.  Five arrows were shot -- the first 3 at the point where the ribbons were attached and the next two at the loose ends fluttering in the wind.  When you look at it that way, it was some pretty dang good shooting.  Nope, it wasn't me, it was my son about 3 1/2 years ago one day when we were out messing around in the pasture.

I think lots of times when we see things, what we think is clouded by our expectations and we totally miss what is really happening.  I think it especially applies to politics....

That's my thought for the day.  I intentionally left if vague enough for the reader to try and figure out my target.  Posting will be hit-and-miss this week.  Sometimes there just aren't enough days in the hour to get it all done.

Space to Think

When something's eating on my mind

And just won't go away,

I can't seem to let go of it,

It's there throughout the day.

It affects my mood, makes me a grouch

But, it's nothing that you said,

It's whatever this crazy thing is

That dwells there in my head.

Don't take it personally, just give me space,

I'll work it to the bone

But, the best advice I can give to you

Is just leave me alone!

There are times when we just need to be able to think through the things on our mind.  Those times affect our mood and our attitude.  Some would tell you it is best to talk them out with others; that is probably good advice, but at the end of the day, if it is my decision to make, after getting input and talking through my reasons, I still have to be the one to think it through and make certain it is the right thing to do.

Nope, nothing going on that causes me to be in that kind of mood today, I just ran across the image of the Scissor-tail Flycatcher in a Honey Locust tree and it made me think of those times.

In the Moment

Be present in the moment,

Set all else aside,

All the weight upon your shoulders

Will soon slide

Into the waters.

Be present in the moment,

Leave cares for another day,

Focus on the task at hand;

You will see the way

Across the waters.

Be present in the moment,

Focus on the now,

Let time fade all around you

When you don't know how

To face the waters.

Be present in the moment,

Let your heart be filled with praise,

Know that God still loves you

And that you He will raise

Above the waters.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." -- Isaiah 43:2

Bull Haulers

Sometimes I just hunt through the images stored on my computer until I come across one that catches my attention.  This is from when we bought a load of heifers and had them shipped in, but it made me think of shipping time and sending calves to wheat pasture, or the feed yard.

Shipping time;

Bawling calves;

Dust cloud;

Diesel roar;

Headed west;

Time for rest.

"Bull Haulers" get a lot of abuse because they are often short on sleep and look like they've been living in their Peterbilt or, Kenworth for weeks on end -- which they probably have.  They ought to get our respect though, because they are the ones who drive endless miles getting the livestock to the next point in the production chain.  Cattle aren't like a cardboard box full of some unknown consumer good that can sit in a warehouse, or in the back of a truck while the trucker sleeps; they need to get where they are going as quickly as possible to reduce the stress and get them to feed and water.  The driver is the pilot, flight attendant and sometimes gate attendant all rolled into one.  They get the animals to their next home safely and efficiently no matter the weather or, the conditions.  Just like the rest of us, they sometimes need a pat on the back.  Their job is just as critical as anyone else's when it comes to putting high quality beef on the table.

Spring is Coming

A splash of color caught my eye

As it was drawn on high

To a place among the branches

O'er my head

Where sat a Cardinal,

In all his regal glory,

On a crisp, cold day.

Although it was the depth of winter,

Thoughts of spring

Flooded my mind

And my spirit was lifted

Knowing that the buds would soon appear

And the chill grays

Would soon be memory.

Keep Your Focus

When you're balanced on a wire

And it's a long way to the ground

You look and see that there

Is not a net to be found.

What can you do but keep on going

Straight ahead just as you've been?

What put you up there on the wire

You don't want to do again.

Don't think about the problems

Or, what will happen if you fall,

Just focus on the road ahead

And you'll defeat them all.

Controversy and Politics

Yesterday's post apparently got more people's attention than normal.  It seems that controversial subjects draw folks like flies are drawn to a rotting carcass.  I probably have images of a rotting carcass somewhere on this computer, but I figured it best to put something more symbolic at the top, such as this post.  It's a crooked post -- at least from this angle -- but, I suspect if you look at it in line with the fence it appears to be fairly straight.

Our points of view certainly impact our interpretation of things.  Age apparently, based on some of the comments yesterday, is a big factor in that point of view.  The amount of travel we have done and exposure to other cultures also affects our view of things.  Our religious beliefs or, maybe I should better state that as "moral beliefs," also influence how we look at events, people and things.

Apparently something I said in yesterday's post triggered the idea that my commentary was racist in some respect.  It certainly wasn't intended that way; race never entered my mind.  I think race is a misconstrued concept anyway since there is an endless gradation in skin color, eye color, facial features, etc.  Human genetics has become so blended that the concept of race is mostly fallacy anyway except, perhaps, in the case of a few isolated people groups.

Switching gears:  I watched the Presidential State of the Union speech last night.  There really shouldn't have been anything controversial there except that the three figures most prominent throughout were old and white (there's that perception of race again) however, controversy had been injected into the speech before it was ever given since the Impeachment debacle is still ongoing.  I suppose it was simply symptomatic of that ongoing power struggle between the House Speaker and the President that prompted the apparent rancor between them exhibited in a snubbed handshake, a non-traditional introduction and a torn up speech.  The Speaker reminded me of a viper in a cage that really wanted to strike, but knew the glass would just chip a tooth.  I refused to watch the rebuttal -- which the concept of a rebuttal to a State of the Union speech just simply makes no sense to me.  Everything is viewed as political in Washington when instead, it should be about what is being done to help "we the people" experience a better life.

One thing is certain; if I want to increase the readership of my blog I need to stick to controversial topics.  My typical blog traffic usually goes up with a politically related post, but it literally soared yesterday with the commentary regarding the Super Bowl halftime show.  I'm not in it for the readership.  Other than the occasional post that stirs things up I'll probably stick with the ordinary, everyday, hopefully positive message that is my norm.

Halftime Confusion

For some reason this photo of our Redbone Coonhound made me think of the half-time show of the Super Bowl.  I'll leave it to you to speculate why.

It was not a show that appealed to my taste; it was reminiscent of what one might expect at Carnivale in Rio de Janeiro -- which fits when you think about it.  You had a couple of Latina performers in a carnival atmosphere doing what they do -- performing.

Was it appropriate for television?  Hmmm....they put about anything and everything on television these days.  It used to be there were much tighter controls on language and content.  Those controls seem to have slipped until, unless you are watching an old show, you never know what might come across.

It was symptomatic of the confusion regarding sexuality in this country -- especially adding to the confusion for young people.  It's not alone in doing so.  It seems typical that costumes barely cover the ladies and are skin tight whereas the men (not many actors that can be put into that category any more) often wear loose-fitting clothes that adequately cover them.  That applies to swimwear also.  It seems the female gender is encouraged to wear as little as possible and the males are fully covered with lots of material.  It all sends the message to the youngsters, whose view of the opposite gender is in a formative stage, that the female has one purpose.

Add to that the number of single-parent and mixed parentage families and the confusion grows.  Moral boundaries have been crossed to the point that anything is fair game.  It's no wonder there is a global crisis in human trafficking.  Our kids are being raised to see other humans as objects to be used for their pleasure and therefore, their worth as humans is merely what they can do for you -- how they can be used.

I haven't stated any of this very clearly but, hopefully, my intended thoughts are coming through.  Simply put, you can't have it both ways; if you are to have value then you must value others on the same basis.  I suspect the intent of the halftime show was to convey "having fun" but, instead, to many it came across as the type of "fun" to be found in seedy joints in the less reputable part of town.  I don't know that it was meant to "shock" the sensibilities of those who adhere to the values that were once prevalent; it likely never occurred to the performers that it would do so. 

That halftime show was simply symptomatic of the deep cultural war in this country.  That cultural war is merely the latest iteration of the age-old war that began prior to Creation -- it is the war between good and evil -- right and wrong -- God and Satan.  It entered humanity in the Garden of Eden when man chose "self" over God.  Again, you can't have it both ways.  Our value is in the eyes of our creator and we should treat each other as a creation of God -- not an object to be used for our self gratification.

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." -- John 3:16

Conforming or Non-conforming?

When we are young it seems we try our best to fit in.  We want to do what everyone else is doing.  We want to wear the same clothes, have the same shoes and go to the same places.  It isn't so much a matter of conformity as it is a matter of "fitting in" with your contemporaries.

As we age those same urges apply but, the instinct driving them may be slightly different.  Often, it seems that jealousy drives us to want the same things like the cool car, the clothes, the activities.  

At some point, though, we begin to differentiate.  We go our different ways to college or, into the workplace and the conformity begins again.  Most people begin to take on at least some characteristics of the groups they associate with.  I think the college setting is where the real grouping begins.

I suppose there is a comfort in being part of the group.  It goes back to the survival instincts programmed into our genetic template that is the basis for much of our behavior.  For prey animals, especially, it isn't a good thing to stand out from the crowd.  It is the isolated who are picked off to become food for the predator.

Predators learn to like conformity, though.  Think about man, the ultimate predator.  We raise herds of animals that are as much alike as possible for the purpose of providing a known quality of readily available food.

Interestingly enough, although man is designed to be a predator, he is such a wily critter that he sometimes preys on his own kind.  I think the small percentage that have the highest level of predator instinct like to see the conformity of the majority and they cultivate that attitude among others.  Those who have brought that view to the highest level of perfection seem to frequently seek a career in politics where they have powerful tools at hand by which to manipulate the conformists to serve their personal needs and desires.

I will quit there.

What Would You Do?

If you had a billion dollars,

Tell me, what would you do?

Would you head off down a rabbit hole

And buy everything new?

Some folks I know would buy more cows

Or, maybe another farm;

Some would buy a fancy car

And head to some place warm.

Me, I'd buy a brand new jeep

And a cabin in the woods

Near a stream with trout and bugling elk

And stock it with lots of foods

Then I'd get lots of books

And go sit and read on the deck overlooking a lake

lost, far away from the maddening crowd,

So many always on the make.

And no one would know quite where I had gone

But, family and just a few friends

And there with my wife would quietly grow old

Far from the modern day trends.

Dropping Your Burdens

The tiredness in my bones

Slowly drained into the dark waters

And the turmoil in my heart

Left nothing but a tinge upon the sky

As the fading light

Held me

Captive.

Release

There,

At the end of the land,

I came upon the surging waves

Incessantly striving

To crawl upon the dunes

And continue their journey

But alas,

Their energy was spent.

Turmoil

Turned to peace within

As I listened to the dim roar

Of their anguish

Which seemed to release

The tension that had built

Inside me

And I, as well, rested.

Dreaming in Other Universes

Have you ever considered that maybe parallel universes are real and when we enter into our dreams we are actually travelling to one of those universes?

I've mentioned before that dreams intrigue me.  I wonder what triggers particular dreams.  I frequently wake from my dreams and remember them -- at least for a short period -- though that remembrance almost always fades quickly.  Occasionally there is one that is particularly vivid that remains for extended periods, even years.

I wonder if dreams are expressions of different aspects of our personality.  What if, for instance, a dream about running from something is an expression of a particular fear.  Okay, that's sounds like psycho-babble and doesn't really convey what I'm attempting to describe, let's try again.  Assume you dream of being stranded on an island and you are able to find food and water and build a fire and shelter; is it a projection of your "survival" instinct in dream form and the dream is your mind sharpening those skills in another parallel universe?

What if you are actually existing within some other dimension where the island is real and your mind is linked between this universe and that one?  The dream occurs when sleep allows us to touch that other dimension.  We, for the moment of the dream, exist within that other place.

The reason I am thinking of this today is that I've noticed that in my dreams, people and things sometimes don't have the same name they do in reality.  They may look the same and it may seem natural to call them "same", but they might have different names and possibly even altered personalities.  In the dream one name seems correct but, when I awake I know them/it to be something else.

I know the simplest explanation is just the jumbled swirl of chemicals and wiring that are in our brain, but it's interesting to speculate.  This morning I awoke dreaming of a C-47 Tilt Rotor craft delivering supplies that morphed into a V-22 Osprey upon awakening.  Was I in an alternate universe, or did my brain cross-reference "supplies", C-47 (WWII era) and V-22?  Maybe those three things are just filed in a similar region and the wiring and chemicals were just struggling to get it all sorted out.  I prefer to think I was somewhere else for a moment....

The Other Side

Even when the obstacles seem insurmountable

And the path ahead just fades and disappears

Keep moving, searching, seeking,

Have faith He will provide

A way to overcome your growing fears.

Though the way becomes quite narrow and you fear a mighty fall

Step forward with your eyes upon the prize;

Let one foot lead the other,

Don't look down but, trust in Him

And one day you will find to your surprise

You have reached the other side.

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." -- Philippians 4:13

Taking Out The Trash

It's not as clear in the photo as I had hoped, but last night, right after sunset, there was a beautiful crescent moon and a single star (one of the planets) in the southwestern sky.  I thought it would make a great photo, but alas, photography isn't my strong suit.  Thankfully, the iPhone does a credible job.  Hopefully, someone more knowledgeable than me will comment with the name of the planet.

This morning we woke to a cold rain.  It is "trash day" so, I was out in the cold rain taking the trash down to the curb to be picked up.  I didn't really mind until I came back in the house and was hit by how warm it was inside.  You don't realize it until you feel the contrast.

Contrast applies to a lot of things.  It's amazing how our views and attitudes change over time.  We don't realize it until we have been apart from someone for an extended period.  It really hits home when you hear what some of the folks you grew up with have to say about politics.  Most of those I grew up with have similar views to mine, but occasionally I run across someone that is way out there.

Life experiences change us.  Struggles change us.  The people with whom we associate change us.  We are shaped by our surroundings.  It is important to keep that in mind as we go through life; that's why we should be certain we fill our minds and lives with good and positive and not allow the negative and evil to shape us.  I don't even want to read, or watch shows that include things that I don't want in my mind because the taint of them never goes away.

The "shape-ability" of our minds and attitudes is why propaganda is so effective.  It has been used as a tool of the political types since the first caveman decided to run for office.  The messages are shaped in ways that maximize their influence over our thinking.  Often what is said is clearly a lie, yet it lingers in the mind of the hearer.  It's taint connects it with other things and affects how we think about them as well.

Yes, even good people lie, but lying is a highly developed art form among those who would do harm.  To them it is merely a tool to get their way with you.  It seems to be especially effective in the realm of politics because it is so commonly used that it becomes difficult to discern what is truth and what is lie.  The sad thing is that it is so pervasive, there are many who believe the lie to be the truth and the truth to be the lie.

I suppose the image of the moon and star sent me down this path.  It reminded me of Islam and how it is a twisted religion that is a tool of political power.  Even though it was founded long after Christianity, it claims to pre-date it through the lineage of Ishmael.  It further subverts Christianity by weaving Jesus into the narrative as a prophet.

It is easy to see why many politicians who so readily embrace the art of lying also embrace Islam.   I'm not referring to those who support religious freedom, but to those who accept an oppressive religion such as Islam and then condemn Christianity. 

Please don't misunderstand me, there are many Christians who are focused on the wrong things and act just like the zealots of Islam; they focus on the law and the ritual and are quick to condemn others who don't believe as they do rather than living a humble life helping others.  Everyone is tainted by the lies in some form or, fashion.

Now that I have rambled from a beautiful crescent moon and planet to trash to lies, politics and the differences in a couple of religious beliefs, it is time to tie back in the one piece that seems to not fit the others -- the trash.  Maybe it's time to take out the trash politically. 

Persistence

Sometimes we feel that what we do

Is just a waste of time;

It's out of bed and off to work

To make another dime

And in the bigger scheme of things

We wonder what it's worth,

It seems to suck the life from us

And takes away our mirth.

Just think about the ocean

And tides that never fail,

The crashing waves upon the rocks

That seems to no avail,

Then pick up a grain of sand

And hold it in your hand,

A tiny thing that once was part

Of rocks upon the land.

Each day the waves came crashing down

Until it broke apart

Into a pile of tiny grains

There where the land does start.

Face those boulders on the shore

That seem to ever stand

Keep pounding at them every day

Until they're merely sand.

Blindly Naive

The lowly Armadillo

That doesn't see so well

Has big ears and pointed nose

And hide that's like a shell.

He roots around in rotting leaves

To find a grub, or worm;

Blithely going on his way

About this Terra Firm.

If you stand quite still and wait

He'll walk up to your feet

But, if you move then you can bet

He'll beat a fast retreat.

He came up from the southern lands

Now, Texas is his home;

Adopted by the Lone Star State

O'er most of it to roam.

He decorates our highways

Throughout much of the year

Where he wanders in his blinded state

Not knowing any fear.

It's there he is defeated

By the giant metal beasts

That make him highway pizza

For Vultures in their feasts.

He reminds me of so many folks

Who go about their way

Doing all the things they do

Each and every day

Ignoring efforts by a few

Who wish to gain more power

From seats way up in Washington

Within their Ivory Tower.

Beware my friends and give them heed,

Whatever else you do,

Don't let them take away your rights

'Cause they'll run over you.

The Bigger Picture

Today's post goes along with the one from yesterday.  Goal setting and visualization are just part of the puzzle; you have to have a reason for moving forward.  Ultimately, we need to find a dream -- a passion -- that thing for which we each were uniquely and wonderfully made.

Do you have an Eldorado,

A shining city of gold

That dances on the horizon,

That draws you on so bold?

Why do you rise in the morning?

What makes you take a chance?

What pulls you over the obstacles

Without a second glance?

Is there a dream that fills your mind

And keeps you on your feet

When you look around at others

Slumped in their defeat?

If not, then you must find one

And shape it all your own

Until it fills your waking thoughts

And soaks into your bone.

We're made to strive for better,

To overcome our fears;

We're made to pour into it

Our blood and sweat and tears.

Find your Eldorado,

A passion for your soul,

It will provide the reason

To reach your every goal.

Emotions, Visualization and Sales

A long time ago I figured out that deadlines are great motivators to accomplishing a task.  When we have a specific time by which to have something complete, we are likely to be finished by that time.

I also figured out a long time ago that I have difficulty setting specific goals and then sticking to them.

Think about those two things for a minute; if someone else establishes a goal for me -- a task to complete within a specific time -- I almost always am able to get it done, but I have a hard time if I am the one setting the task and time of completion.  What does that say about me?  It's not a lack of self-discipline, it's either a lack of self-motivation or, it is a lack of inability to determine what needs to be done and how long it should take for completion.

Even though I have difficulty setting goals and sticking to them, I have learned to do it.  That doesn't necessarily mean that I like to do it, but I do like the results.  It's all about the results and a willingness to pay the price to achieve those results.

We all fight inner demons when it comes to accomplishing the things we want in life.  We find ourselves doing "busy work" that creates the appearance of working toward our goals when in reality, it is just something to make us "look" busy -- to give us a sense that we are doing something, even if it is likely it is the wrong things.  Overcoming those things which hold us back is a matter of growth and maturity.  There are some things we may never outgrow, but if we identify the things that hold us back, we can at least begin the process of changing those behaviors and mind-barriers that restrict us.

For me, visualizing the result is probably the most effective motivation.  Visualization is more than just a mental picture -- it includes the feelings of satisfaction and enjoyment that come along with completion.  As much as I would like to say that cold, hard logic is the answer, it is not; we are emotional creatures and depend on emotion for motivation -- even if that emotion isn't necessarily a proper one, such as greed, or envy.

If you struggle with goals, change the nature of how you set them.  Many years ago when I was training sales people I taught them that if they focus on making a sale to a new customer they will quickly become disappointed.  Instead, make it about the number of calls you make on that prospective customer.  If, on the average, it takes 9 calls on a new prospect in order to make the first sale to them, focus on accomplishing those 9 calls.  Make a list of reasons to go see them -- to have contact.  After that first contact in which no sale was made you still accomplished your goal and could feel good about it.  The attitude switched from "they weren't interested" to "that's one!"  Usually, long before that 9th contact, a sale was made.  Not only did their focus change, but their attitude changed in a way that was palpable to the prospect.  Their positive attitude at accomplishing their goals came through rather than the negative attitude which comes with an expected failure.

Those emotions are critical to our well-being.  If you find yourself struggling, think about what emotions are coursing through you and then find ways to overcome the negative ones.  Failure feeds failure and success feeds success -- not because of the completion of the task, but because of what it does for us emotionally.

Wishing for Spring

Yes, it's still winter here, but you can tell from the picture that my mind is on spring!  We had cold rains yesterday and it was a miserable day for anyone and anything that had to be out in it.  Those cold rains, though, are building soil moisture that will give the grass a nice boost when the weather finally warms.

I wasn't able to write a post yesterday due to an early meeting.  I prefer early meetings; it seems the mind is sharper early in the day.  That may just be an indicator that I'm a "morning person."  I'm not sure I buy into the whole "morning person/night person" concept, I think we can train ourselves to be either; it's just a matter of conditioning.

I think a short nap after lunch is ideal.  I learned that way back in about the 8th grade when I worked for a farmer that required a brief nap after lunch which I ate with the family.  We would adjourn to the living room where he would lay back in his recliner and I would stretch out on the floor for about a 30 minute nap before heading back out to the fields to work until dark.  It made a lot of sense on those long summer days when we started shortly after daylight and didn't finish up until almost dark.

I've known a number of successful people who take a nap after lunch almost every day.  One was a business partner who owned a number of profitable businesses.  If you needed to talk to him after lunch, you had to wait until after his nap was over because the "gatekeeper" wouldn't let him be disturbed during that time.  I think his approach must be a good one because there are few people I know any more productive.

I used to think I needed to work through lunch when I had too much to do to get done in a day.  I learned that I got more done taking a break.  I would sometimes take my lunch to the park and after eating would take a brief nap.  It always made the afternoon better.  I was more alert and more productive.  Our body needs that brief restorative period to remain sharp.

I guess it's the sight of those cows in the picture that has caused me to think about naps.  In my mind I can smell the green grass, hear the flies buzzing in the lazy summer heat and the sense of drowsiness that comes with it....

Another Year

As the years roll up behind me

All the things I think I know

Fade into the passing time

As on my way I go.

As the writer said long years before

There's nothing new to see,

What's happened on this spinning earth

Again will someday be.

You'd think we'd learn from what we've done,

Mistakes no more repeat,

But, often it's just wishes

That go down in defeat.

Wisdom comes along the way

To those who give it heed

It serves us well if we but hear

It's voice in time of need.

Passing time has made me gray

And wrinkled up my face

But, I'm still here and learning

Simply by God's grace.

A Special Birthday Bouquet

Today's a special day for one

Who has stuck with me through the years;

There has been some laughter

And there have been some tears.

In many ways we're opposites,

In others we're the same,

She even puts up with my jokes

Though the humor is kind of lame.

She's smart and good with people

Which she likes to be around

While I tend to keep to myself,

Hide and not be found.

She loves her kids and grandchildren

And prays for God to bless

Them in every way

And hopes for their success.

She likes to cook and bake and such

And does it very well;

She makes my favorites often

As by my waistline you can tell.

She's still young at heart and keeps herself

Attractive just for me;

I'm proud of her for being

All that she can be.

Today she's turning ______,

I'll be nice and leave that out,

But, if you have the chance,

Give her a birthday shout.

The Silent Distance

Scents of dust

And juniper

And dry grasses

Fill me with longing

For the far horizon --

Not as a destination

But, as a journey

Into the known

And unknown --

Beckoning

Ever onward

Into the silent distance.

Weather, Calving and Political Football

It's strange weather time here in northeast Texas.  It was 64 degrees at 6:00 a.m. with an expected high for the day of 54.  I think The Weather Channel is a bit off on their forecast.  By this evening we will be in the low 30's if they get that part correct.

Wide weather swings are hard on cattle and other animals who live out in it.  We have had rain the last few days that wasn't heavy, but was persistent.  Now, with a day of clearing, we get a 30 degree swing in temperature.

This is also the beginning of calving season for many cow herds in this area.  I'm sure that with the cold front pushing through there will be new babies born and their first wobbly steps will be cold ones.  Their mother will lick them dry and nudge them to get up and find the source of warm nourishment they vitally need.  Then they will lead them to a protected place and let them lie down and rest for a short while before making them get up again and nurse.  The process of leading them to a protected place is critical because it forces that newborn to gain control of those thin sticks underneath them so they will be better able to escape predators which might be lurking nearby.

If there is wind with the cold front that is also helpful because scavengers like the Black or, Mexican Vulture, have a more difficult time detecting the scent and are less likely to attack the cow and calf.  Coyotes rarely will go after a newborn unless it is injured, or the mother had difficulty in the birthing process and is unable to defend it.  They may watch from a short distance, but unless a "sure" opportunity is presented, they typically will move on in pursuit of a small rodent or, some other meal.

Black Vultures, on the other hand, if they spot a cow in the birthing process, will surround her in large numbers and try to kill the baby -- even before it is completely delivered.  They will drive the cow to distraction, sometimes causing her to step on the calf and injure it.  They may remain around the cow and newborn for hours after birth until hopefully, the cow is able to get the calf up and moving to safety in the brush where the birds are less able to get to it.  Often, she is totally exhausted by that time.  In this area, a large percentage of calves lost at birth fall to the vultures.

I suppose this isn't really a subject most people want to read about on their Saturday morning.  It's not enjoyable to think about, but it is the way the world works.  There are predators and vultures at every turn trying to take advantage of the helpless and defenseless.  One of the worst was recently removed from a high position in the Iranian military.  The event seems to have disturbed a bunch of other vultures -- many of which are in our nation's capital.  They are ones whose predatory ways could be stopped by the voters in their home districts.  It's too bad the people who keep them in power are deluded into believing they should remain in office.

On a related subject, the behavior I saw on videos of the signing of papers of impeachment really did remind me of vultures.  They surround and look for every opportunity to pounce on the one who ordered that one of their own be removed from this earth.  I guess when you think about it in those terms it makes more sense that they would behave in the manner they do.

Vultures have a place in nature.  The Black Vultures are an invasive species in this country.  The vultures in Washington are an invasive species in this land of freedom -- they want to take our freedom away.  Black Vultures are also prolific.  It seems there are more and more of them every year.  The same thing is happening with the DC vultures.  Maybe that's what they should re-name their football team since everyone has been up-in-arms about calling them the Redskins.  The "Washington Vultures" would be an appropriate name for the team which represents those in power...

I didn't intend to get political when I started out this morning....

House For Sale

For Sale,

One old farm house.

Needs paint

And minor repairs.

Back porch roof leaks.

Known locally

As that haunted house

But no bodies

Have been found

To date.

Will consider

Any reasonable offers.

Immediate possession.

Cash preferred.

Call Morticia for more information.

(The image credit goes to my Realtor spouse who saw this gem yesterday.  It's not really for sale, but she's had a few that looked about like it....)

Thundering Sales

This morning we woke to thunder rolling across the sky.  My selection of images of storms is virtually non-existent.  I love to watch them, but I never think to take photos.  This one isn't very representative because it is still dark outside and the heavy feeling in the air is nothing like the shower shown above.

Of our two dogs, one curls up at the back of her doghouse if there is any hint of thunder or, rain, while the other goes out and stands in the yard looking at the sky.  I don't know if he likes the rain or, is just curious as to what all the noise is about.  It's interesting to see the differences in their personality.

People are the same way; some like the storms and others want to hide until they pass.  I have a tendency to want to go watch them.  I'm sure I've written before about watching storm clouds while growing up.  I've seen lots of tornadoes and violent storms through the years.  That's part of growing up in the Texas Panhandle/South Plains area.

Back to personalities, though; I've always been intrigued by different personalities in people.  I like to observe and see how other people react to things or, how they react to other people.  I suspect it is part of what has helped me be effective in sales -- reading people.  Once you understand someone's personality, it is easier to determine what motivates them and how they make decisions.

Often, it is difficult to unravel what "makes people tick."  Personalities can be highly complex.  An example just happened to fly by as I was typing the previous paragraph -- a tiny gnat-sized flying critter passed in front of me.  I swatted it out of the air and it landed on the screen.  I then used my finger to remove it from the screen.  I was first annoyed by the bug, then was gratified at knocking it out of the air, irritated that it landed on the screen and then pleased that I was able to get it off without leaving a smudge.  Similar sequences of emotion pass through a prospective customer when you are presenting to them.  You have to learn to read those things in their body language, facial expressions and comments.  When you can do that effectively, you can zero in on the positives, avoid the negatives and improve your chances of completing a sale.

Now, how did I go from thunderstorms to sales?  Beats me.  I'll leave that to someone else to decipher....

A Worthy Mascot?

I've sometimes asked the question

Of myself, if no one else,

About the nature of the coyote.

Is he really a great predator

Or, just a scavenger?

Whichever doesn't mean that much to me

Except that I have noted

He is quite the survivor

And seems to thrive;

No matter where you look

He's always there.

I grew up watching cartoons

Of him and the roadrunner

And the ineptitude with which he was endowed

Is certainly misleading

Because it is probably

The opposite of his character.

He finds a way,

In spite of urban encroachment

And hunting pressure,

To prolifically occupy

A special niche in the environment.

Perhaps he could best be described

As an opportunist

With a knack for finding ways

To overcome adversity.

I think I will adopt him as my mascot

Because that is the type of character

One must have in this

Old crazy world

Which seems to think up is down

And left is right

And the roadrunner always wins.