simple .....?

MY mission.....to get a small gas can, some sta-bil, 2.5 gallons of gas .....drive to a friends house and winterize a car gas tank.

Step 1: go to Auto Parts store and get the ingredients. the gas can was no problem; bright red it caught my eye immediately - and i selected the smallest, cheapest one for this one-time chore. looking all over, i was unable to find the dry gas/sta-bil. after finally asking for 'directions', i had my 2nd ingredient and cashed out.

Step 2. put gas in the can. how much easier can this be? after (with some degree of difficulty) removing the plastic-childproof-locking-mechanism-engulfed-gas-cap, i removed the inverted nozzle and small round tab; filled the can and ......dilemma!!! i did not want to insert the nozzle inverted into the gas (thinking i would get 'gassy' when trying to pour the gas into the car shortly) i recalled the small round tab that i also removed ..... hmmmmm... this must be the temporary cover ! i placed it over the hole, and began screwing the plastic-childproof-locking-mechanism-engulfed-gas-cap back onto the can. slight problem ... the round tab was loose and sliding around, AND i had mis-threaded the plastic-childproof-locking-mechanism-engulfed-gas-cap while screwing it back on. not to be deterred, i thought 'perhaps the looseness is really the need for 'breathing' room for the gas. into my trunk went the can, the nozzle and my fervent hopes that the 10-mile drive would be uneventful.

before we get to step 3, i would like to point out that the fumes from the gas can permeated the car before i even left the gas station. windows were opened, and had it been a warm enough day, my convertible top would have sprung open. (sad to say those roofs have a temperature sensor that has annoyed me on more that one occasion of need!)

10 miles later and with a budding fume-headache i arrive at my destination.

Step 3. i have inhaled enough fumes to have already forgotten that i could not unscrew the gas cap at the gas station ... now i am enjoying my 'Groundhog Day' moment as i try to unscrew the top to apply the nozzle and pour the gas into the car. After 30 unsuccessful moments i am ready to cry. in the garage, unseen, i am plotting my redemption. one neighbor fixes cars - surely he can see my predicament ....well....most likely not as i am surrounded by garage walls and in this case... not going to give up and ask for help. i set the nozzle and sta-bil on the shelf, the can on the floor, and head out.

time for plan B.

i decide to bring a kitchen knife and saw off the plastic-childproof-locking-mechanism that engulfs the cap!!! Halloween at noon (by now i have worried all weekend that some random smoking trick-or-treater will serendipitously throw their butt in the direction of what i can only imagine is the fume filled garage in anger over the lack of treats at that house) i drive over with 2 small screwdrivers for leverage and a sharp kitchen knife.

the plastic-childproof-locking-mechanism-engulfed-gas-cap is STRONG! it takes me a good 15 minutes to saw off the plastic-childproof-locking-mechanism. success!!! i measure the correct amount of sta-bil, pour it into the gas can, attach the nozzle and screw on the top. i am almost there .....

alas...there is another child-proof-green 'lock' on the freakin' nozzle. i actually pause to try to read (and understand) the instructions. now i wear glasses and am getting old to boot! i practically need a different pair of glasses for ever few inches of distance. and i am pretty angry about another 'lock'...so my internal vision has become clouded. i try, and try and try...but cannot get the gas to come out ......

time for plan B+

i head back to work, say lots of prayers that the neighborhood has instituted a pretty strong no-smoking initiative ......and decide i need a funnel with a long spout to finally accomplish this task.

a week later i have now purchased the funnel and will be heading over to complete this tiny, simple task .......

voila!

the smell of gas still premeates my car because it did spill in the trunk - but i remain hopeful that by Spring, it will have worn itself out.

Thanks Giving (2011)

Thank you for getting up each day;
for doing the work you do;
for being the person you are.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts;
sharing your home;
sharing your sustenance;
sharing your life
with those you love…with those you care about.

Thank you for fighting the battles you fight each day;
for keeping the peace;
for navigating the dilemmas that face you often.

Thank you for being there to lend a hand;
to listen to a story;
to notice the good in each person
and to see the injustices in the world.

Thank you for your inner beauty;
your inner strength;
and your outer effort
to take life step-by-step,
moment-by-moment.

Thank you for being gentle with yourself;
for your tears of sorrow and of joy;
for your resolve to never give up;
and for your unconditional love
towards everyone.

Thank you …
the gift of your life
is a true blessing

2011 (la)

Yoonok

A friend of mine passed away in September this year. She was an eclectic person… she was someone born to live both a difficult and a blessed life.

As a child, her memory recorded the fascinations of the world growing up as every child does; she stored away the teachings of her mother and absorbed the wisdom of her grandmother. She grew in the love of her family, her siblings and of her surroundings in South Korea.

Yoonok came to the USA to pursue her dream of getting a PhD. She not only mastered the language here, she excelled at her studies and was awarded her PhD after many, many years of hard work and dedication.

Shortly after, a medical crisis prevented her from living out this particular dream. Not one to be inactive, Yoonok took up gardening and used her childhood memories, her mothers love and her grandmother’s wisdom to develop a new philosophy of life. She spent her remaining days teaching others the blessings of simple, natural foods…peaceful thoughts…and of evaluating life with a calm perspective.

She taught everyone she knew the healing art of self forgiveness. She elicited followers in her quest to educate all people about the inherent global need for unconditional love; as well as the need to lavish kindness and forgiveness on every person - everywhere.

Yoonok’s dream blossomed in her garden; it expanded with her multi-cultural research; and she poured it all into her healing recipes, her writings and her ‘happy’ garden.

Not everyone is a gardener … we must all find our own path in life. What ever we ‘plant’…we need to nurture…we need to feed…we need to love. Whatever we do we need to put forth our best selves…gather like minds…encourage like souls…grow the piece of the world we are responsible for. Make our corner strong, peaceful, welcoming, loving, accepting and most of all forgiving.

If your niche is music – make it, write it, share it, sing it…listen to it…openly welcome others…learn from each other. Are you a healer? Do you work with wood? Do you draw, bake, drive, dance, jump, take pictures??? Are you present…can you tell the stories of others…? Can you hold a friend’s hand silently?

Everyone “IS” …everyone “DOES”…everyone “CAN” be the piece that has been missing in someone’s life. Forgive…always forgive. Love …unconditionally love. Most of all, just Do it! It needs to get done…

link to a friend ...

http://www.badcartridge.com/alt-tabbed-wow-for-noobs/

check out Heath's (aka Zhane's) WOW cartoon - and his other posts ....

How little it takes ....

There is the saying about the camel .. you know, the one straw that finally broke the camel's back..that whole concept works in reverse also. How little it takes to make a person smile, or feel heard, or feel loved.
Miniscule things we do every day can make or break a person. You never know what is going on in another person's life at the moment you tell them how dumb they are or how nice their haircut looks.
Sometimes just the act of "noticing" can mean a great deal; or not noticing ...

random strangers, co-workers, friends, family

how little it takes ... and how much power we each wield to do more than a little
harm ... or ... good ... or ... indifference
in our world --- in the lives of those we pass
in the hearts of those we love

Dad

When I was little, I looked ”up” to you for the simple reason that you were so much taller than I was. Over time, as I began to interact in the world more, I looked to you to learn the Golden Rule. I saw neighborhood kids who respected you for your strength in knowing what was wrong and what was right. We all knew that if something was happening, you would be the one to set it right.

I remember our 4H club; all the things you taught us; the places we went; the experiences we had. I loved the fairs where we could show off our animals, crafts, art-work, vegetables, flowers ….you taught us to take pride in hard work brought to fruition.

There were the Doodle-bug pulls…the mini-bikes….snowmobiles. Time at Lake Bomoseen swimming, learning to row, drive a motor boat, playing for hours in the water with a swamped wooden boat. Drives at dusk looking for deer….

Days of weeding, pulling dandelions (getting paid by the bushel), picking vegetables, flowers and fruit to sell. Sunday drives to nowhere with a hidden snack in the glove compartment stopping for cider and apples. Learning archery, how to shoot a gun, how to make a birdfeeder, woodworking, how to repair broken things we valued. Having our own cider press so we could make the freshest and best cider ever. Learning to drive a car in the field our back, driving tractors and lawnmowers. Having a tire swing…a Fort in our backyard to play in…

You taught us, by example, to be strong and self-sufficient. We learned to be critical thinkers and to keep up with what is going on in the world. We learned economics by selling farm goods in front of the house. We learned ….many, many lessons to get us through everyday life. Too many to remember and write on this paper.

The Christmas tree farm was a lesson in long-term planning. It takes many seasons to grow a tree. Knowing that the payout was not immediate, but the work still must be done daily, weekly, yearly was a great lesson in life. Raising children is a bit like growing Christmas trees; a lot of work, a bit of pruning, good soil, some water… and eventually they go on to serve their purpose in life.

As an adult I still look up to you – you are still taller than I, but that is not the reason. I look up to you and the life you lived because you have lived an honorable life. You worked hard at your job, raised wonderful organic gardens and a family that I am proud to belong to. You went on to raise Christmas trees, build toys for children in the hospital, and stand tall for the things you believe in. You have mentored many children, not just your own. You are both a father and a friend to cousin Jack.

Best of all you are my dad.

Thank you!
Love always …

the screen was solid blue

- the video clip had ended minutes before
and only two words remained

"no signal"

the pall bearers gently lifted the child's casket ......