Did Charles Schultz ever really get a rock for Halloween? Or is that just something he made up?
I imagine he's out perusing the streets of his local hood in some self-concocted costume. He walks up to the door behind his buddies, they get their dose of candy and he gets his dose of igneous - repeatedly.
Whether he got a rock or not at that time in his trick or treating life, one has to wonder whether he had any idea that the experiences he muscled through would become reflected upon millions of kids who became parents of kids who still to this day watch about some block-head with holes throughout his sheet - wandering the streets of metropolis with his merry band of hobnobs.
Though Charlie was probably disappointed by his rock collection - his group hung in there with him. Surely the stale popcorn balls, the pencils and toothbrushes they received were golden compared to his bag full of paper-weight specimens.
And together they went and partied afterward. The after-party complete with apple bobbing and pumpkin carving.
I am not a big fan of television - but I like when the old cartoons are on - the Peanuts holiday series, or the Christmas cartoons (Frosty, Rudolph). Though some of them are a bit much and its hard to keep track of the number of commercials for kid's toys and movies throughout.
From my younger days, I recall decorating the house whilst (yes I used that word) these specials were aired on tv and "living" the experience. Not only my family decorating the house for these seasonal occurrences - but others were probably doing the same! All at the same time. To think that other families were/are sitting in front of their tv watching this story and hopefully feeling the same eagerness and expectation as me/us.
The same goes with radio (for which I don't listen to as often lately), but when there is a song on that I am really into and perhaps haven't heard in a long time - I think, "wow, is someone else out there digging this as well?" Perhaps, perhaps not, surely some folks just clicked it off when they heard the first drumbeat of R.E.M.'s "It's The End Of The World"....
That's all for now, I gotta rock. And I feel fine.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Three Little Pumpkins
Three Little Pumpkins
ripen in the sun
to be picked, then poked around the mid of autumn
Round little pumpkins
growing orange in the patch
vine supplies the lifeline from which the pumpkins latch
Mouse and hare
cat and crow
endure and survive as three pumpkins grow
and mature towards date
where they transform
as chalk to slate, or earth from storm
To determine fate
or to wither and pass
either is choice, to choose - then convince en masse
the pumpkins grow
and with world's change in sight
Three Little Pumpkins
sit. quietly. with Linus.
as damp chill encompass' night.
Check it:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/
notes:
Three Little Pumpkins
to be picked, then poked around the mid of autumn
Round little pumpkins
growing orange in the patch
vine supplies the lifeline from which the pumpkins latch
Mouse and hare
 |
| exhibit specimens |
endure and survive as three pumpkins grow
and mature towards date
where they transform
as chalk to slate, or earth from storm
To determine fate
or to wither and pass
either is choice, to choose - then convince en masse
the pumpkins grow
and with world's change in sight
Three Little Pumpkins
sit. quietly. with Linus.
as damp chill encompass' night.
Check it:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/
notes:
Three Little Pumpkins
Simply lie lay lain
One pie, one puree and another baked plain
One pie, one puree and another baked plain
quietly the pumpkins grow grew grown
the sun arise arose arisen
another day to make their way and listen to the lesson
though separate - they are together - facing nature's wrath.
the sun arise arose arisen
another day to make their way and listen to the lesson
though separate - they are together - facing nature's wrath.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Windshield and the Wiper
I am not sure what I am to my partner, my Gemini twin, my wife. I know what she is to me and I hold on to that tightly. I have observed many times how other people interact with her. She is the nectar to many people's ills. A shoulder they can lean on.
I am not jealous, I am understanding. But there is only one 24 hour period each day, there is only one physical being (no clones), there is only one energy. And of greater interest than even these other folks - there are three little cubs in the pack - three additional and sometimes competing voices in the car. Again... I am concerned that I do not know, entirely, what I am to her these days.
In my chosen partner's case it seems that others often use her for her listening skills, her confidence, her optimism. Her broad shoulders are able to carry large burdens and in doing so, they get inundated with much ado about nothing. It becomes a big load - a circus big top.
All this stuff is weight, of some sort and collecting and hauling the grudges, chips and sins of others takes its toll.
It all becomes burden. Carry the weight, carry the burden.
I don't want to be part of the burden. I'm not am I?
Ya know... windshields carry large burdens as well.
My partner is the windshield - I am... the windshield wiper, complimentary items:
For a chuckle - click this. It'll help clear things up (and it's better than the movie).
Be the wiper and help the windshield, right? Clean it off, unload the mess...
Perhaps that is where I fit in.
But if I am her compliment, what is her supplement? And I fear I cannot enable, disable, control it...
It's like that dark matter out in space.... what is it?
Undefinable. Confound it Spock, where's the logic in that?
I am not jealous, I am understanding. But there is only one 24 hour period each day, there is only one physical being (no clones), there is only one energy. And of greater interest than even these other folks - there are three little cubs in the pack - three additional and sometimes competing voices in the car. Again... I am concerned that I do not know, entirely, what I am to her these days.
In my chosen partner's case it seems that others often use her for her listening skills, her confidence, her optimism. Her broad shoulders are able to carry large burdens and in doing so, they get inundated with much ado about nothing. It becomes a big load - a circus big top.
All this stuff is weight, of some sort and collecting and hauling the grudges, chips and sins of others takes its toll.
It all becomes burden. Carry the weight, carry the burden.
I don't want to be part of the burden. I'm not am I?
Ya know... windshields carry large burdens as well.
My partner is the windshield - I am... the windshield wiper, complimentary items:
For a chuckle - click this. It'll help clear things up (and it's better than the movie).
Be the wiper and help the windshield, right? Clean it off, unload the mess...
Perhaps that is where I fit in.
But if I am her compliment, what is her supplement? And I fear I cannot enable, disable, control it...
It's like that dark matter out in space.... what is it?
Undefinable. Confound it Spock, where's the logic in that?
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
unvarying, consistent, undifferentiated
Uniform
Recently one day, as I drove in to work, I passed a fellow who works for G&K Services. His truck was parked in the street and he was walking in to the building with a large rug or mat over his shoulder. I noticed he had on his uniform, matching shirt and shorts and he even had a matching ballcap on. Working for G&K, I would expect that he would have a uniform and that it would be... clean. And it was. I wonder if he wears it with pride?
As I ate lunch - the mailman came by and commented that he eats the same Costco grapefruit cup as me. So, we have something in common - except that he wears a uniform. He came in with his blue shirt and greyblue shorts. He was cheery, I was appreciative of his visit and for the mail he brought. Life is good.
Besides t-shirts, I have never had to wear uniforms for work. I have had some really bad sport/team uniforms. The love of my life has various gear with a lot of her employer's emblems and sometimes she wears it to work, but it isn't mandatory. My kids don't have to wear uniforms to school. As we pondered which school for our oldest, we almost picked a school that happened to require uniforms. In the end the uniform wasn't the deciding factor, we could have lived with closets full of navy blue.
Uniforms are everywhere, almost to the point that we don't even notice - until we need assistance - from a cop, a Target employee, a Ghostbuster....
Other times we have to change the dress of our children to avoid looking like stereotypical employees of fine purveyors of mass consumption.
In your every day life, whether you abide in public or private (or both) what do you wear with pride? Are you able to wear your colors boldly? How do you cloak yourself for that daily grind? Do you blend in (there's safety in numbers) or do you find ways to stand out?
Recently one day, as I drove in to work, I passed a fellow who works for G&K Services. His truck was parked in the street and he was walking in to the building with a large rug or mat over his shoulder. I noticed he had on his uniform, matching shirt and shorts and he even had a matching ballcap on. Working for G&K, I would expect that he would have a uniform and that it would be... clean. And it was. I wonder if he wears it with pride?
As I ate lunch - the mailman came by and commented that he eats the same Costco grapefruit cup as me. So, we have something in common - except that he wears a uniform. He came in with his blue shirt and greyblue shorts. He was cheery, I was appreciative of his visit and for the mail he brought. Life is good.
Besides t-shirts, I have never had to wear uniforms for work. I have had some really bad sport/team uniforms. The love of my life has various gear with a lot of her employer's emblems and sometimes she wears it to work, but it isn't mandatory. My kids don't have to wear uniforms to school. As we pondered which school for our oldest, we almost picked a school that happened to require uniforms. In the end the uniform wasn't the deciding factor, we could have lived with closets full of navy blue.
Uniforms are everywhere, almost to the point that we don't even notice - until we need assistance - from a cop, a Target employee, a Ghostbuster....
 |
| the original ghostbusters |
In your every day life, whether you abide in public or private (or both) what do you wear with pride? Are you able to wear your colors boldly? How do you cloak yourself for that daily grind? Do you blend in (there's safety in numbers) or do you find ways to stand out?
Friday, October 14, 2011
Walking
I recently read that one can lose 13 pounds after one year by walking - at a good pace - anywhere you go within a one mile perimeter.
This sounds pretty sweet because those 13 pounds are what is hanging from my neck and my middle. Could I even experiment with walking everywhere within a mile of where I live? Or of where I work? I don't know.
For our family of five it is probably easier said than done. There would have to be some big time shifts in schedules and in the way that we as a family hunt and gather. The biggest issue I have with this walking thing is the time it takes, because the daily pace for which we set ourselves up is somewhat frantic. Surely folks from around the world would call us crazy.
I did wonder though - "what is within a mile of my home that I or my family could frequent more often via walking or biking?"
My initial thought regarding this was about mouths to feed - and in our familia, as mentioned earlier, there are five mouths. There is no local market (besides convenience stores) within walking distance from our home. There is a dollar store, but what true nourishment might that offer? A pack of Mickey's doughnuts? How about a Bruegger's bagel or a cup of Caribou every morning for breakfast? (Can you imagine the cost after one week to feed five?) I have no idea what it would be like to walk with a smaller bag of groceries to our home as a daily regimen.... with fresh produce or meat - to arrive home and then climb five flights of stairs to a residence after a hard day's work. Part of me longs for it though... exercise and real food.
There used to be smaller grocery stores at many of the nodes in our Minneapolis town, however many of them went away as prices got cheaper at the big box grocery stores. We recently attended a neighborhood store in another part of town before a soccer game to grab bananas and some sport drinks. The kids walked inside and were amazed - primarily because everything they could want was right in front of them, in one smaller room. Videos, snack cakes, little trinkets, stuff every kid could want within a small visible space.
So, what else is within a mile of my home?
Actually there are a couple of saloons and restaurants, a theater, a book store, an ice cream shop, a couple gas stations, a fencing place where you practice - fencing? The only really necessary place, the hardware store, closed recently. My dental office moved but the new location is still within a mile. Imagine walking back from there after a dose of gas, although I'm sure its been done before. There is a church or two, though I am not certain they are still being used as churches, people have seemingly found them to be unnecessary.
I'll admit, I have been trained (though not currently employed) as a city planner. A person who plans cities, much to the chagrin of developers, engineers, anti-government types and property rights advocates. My biggest issue with city planning was/is the lack of pedestrian friendly developments - or developing for the sake of developing, taking great farming land out of commission for finely watered exurban lawns. But then of course the urban land that our home resides upon was once an apple orchard... surrounded by low lying marshland, all dredged and packed into neat homely rows.
One walking opportunity I miss is our church's Crop Walk. We used to walk every year, but lately we have chosen to contribute cash to sponsor a person who is walking. We will walk again once the kids can handle the trek. In my American mind, it is extraordinary to think that people walk anywhere from 1 to 5, 10? miles to get - water - daily.
My wife knows and is often annoyed by the fact that I already often park in the furthest space that is convenient. Notice the italicized disclaimer. I won't park in the closest of spots, I appreciate a few extra steps... as I have driven nine miles to pick up groceries at Costco to feed my five mouths.
If interested, here is a recent article about city planning and development: click
This sounds pretty sweet because those 13 pounds are what is hanging from my neck and my middle. Could I even experiment with walking everywhere within a mile of where I live? Or of where I work? I don't know.
For our family of five it is probably easier said than done. There would have to be some big time shifts in schedules and in the way that we as a family hunt and gather. The biggest issue I have with this walking thing is the time it takes, because the daily pace for which we set ourselves up is somewhat frantic. Surely folks from around the world would call us crazy.
I did wonder though - "what is within a mile of my home that I or my family could frequent more often via walking or biking?"
My initial thought regarding this was about mouths to feed - and in our familia, as mentioned earlier, there are five mouths. There is no local market (besides convenience stores) within walking distance from our home. There is a dollar store, but what true nourishment might that offer? A pack of Mickey's doughnuts? How about a Bruegger's bagel or a cup of Caribou every morning for breakfast? (Can you imagine the cost after one week to feed five?) I have no idea what it would be like to walk with a smaller bag of groceries to our home as a daily regimen.... with fresh produce or meat - to arrive home and then climb five flights of stairs to a residence after a hard day's work. Part of me longs for it though... exercise and real food.
 |
| local grocery store in St. Paul |
So, what else is within a mile of my home?
Actually there are a couple of saloons and restaurants, a theater, a book store, an ice cream shop, a couple gas stations, a fencing place where you practice - fencing? The only really necessary place, the hardware store, closed recently. My dental office moved but the new location is still within a mile. Imagine walking back from there after a dose of gas, although I'm sure its been done before. There is a church or two, though I am not certain they are still being used as churches, people have seemingly found them to be unnecessary.
I'll admit, I have been trained (though not currently employed) as a city planner. A person who plans cities, much to the chagrin of developers, engineers, anti-government types and property rights advocates. My biggest issue with city planning was/is the lack of pedestrian friendly developments - or developing for the sake of developing, taking great farming land out of commission for finely watered exurban lawns. But then of course the urban land that our home resides upon was once an apple orchard... surrounded by low lying marshland, all dredged and packed into neat homely rows.
One walking opportunity I miss is our church's Crop Walk. We used to walk every year, but lately we have chosen to contribute cash to sponsor a person who is walking. We will walk again once the kids can handle the trek. In my American mind, it is extraordinary to think that people walk anywhere from 1 to 5, 10? miles to get - water - daily.
My wife knows and is often annoyed by the fact that I already often park in the furthest space that is convenient. Notice the italicized disclaimer. I won't park in the closest of spots, I appreciate a few extra steps... as I have driven nine miles to pick up groceries at Costco to feed my five mouths.
If interested, here is a recent article about city planning and development: click
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
A Typical Morning Mash
Driving into work today, I recollected how amazed I was at all that I had accomplished this morning before hitting the official homestretch on the way in to work. Getting the kids dressed, fed and delivered to school, (even one via bicycle trip), conversating with my wife - it was a nonstop series of tasks.
Then I was free of them and driving in to work on the city street and made observations:
Looking right, there were more bicyclists on their way to work, or a meeting or a coffee shop, or all three at once. They were in the element. Feeling the chilled morning air on the tips of their ears. Hearing the sounds of the city - automobiles, birds, passing conversations.
Could I bike into work, even occasionally?
There was a cop who had pulled some guy over and I caught myself checking to see what the guy was driving - like his car dictates who he is... and his circumstance - sigh.
Could this have been me yesterday?
There were multiple moms with their kids standing on the corners waiting for the bus to arrive to take them to school. They had gotten themselves and their kids together and were shipping them off for lessons about calculations and reading and the art of writing.
Did I pack his afternoon snack?
I arrived into work - life is good one morning at a time.
Reminds me of this video:
Have I forgotten to take the meat out of the freezer?
Then I was free of them and driving in to work on the city street and made observations:
Looking right, there were more bicyclists on their way to work, or a meeting or a coffee shop, or all three at once. They were in the element. Feeling the chilled morning air on the tips of their ears. Hearing the sounds of the city - automobiles, birds, passing conversations.
Could I bike into work, even occasionally?
There was a cop who had pulled some guy over and I caught myself checking to see what the guy was driving - like his car dictates who he is... and his circumstance - sigh.
Could this have been me yesterday?
There were multiple moms with their kids standing on the corners waiting for the bus to arrive to take them to school. They had gotten themselves and their kids together and were shipping them off for lessons about calculations and reading and the art of writing.
Did I pack his afternoon snack?
I arrived into work - life is good one morning at a time.
Reminds me of this video:
Have I forgotten to take the meat out of the freezer?
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The Smack Down
There are all types of smacks, none of which I would recommend - and lately I've noticed them more than usual - I have decided to create names for them:
Flurry Attack
Our middle son gets a tad bit defensive as he defends his turf - protecting his space, be it his bed, a toy, or the book he is reading. His space gets imposed upon by both older and now younger siblings and he lays the smack down going in for a quick direct flurry attack, reminiscent of that kid from The Incredibles. His brothers are the bookends and sometimes he needs to open them up a bit and make some more room.
We extinguish these scuffles as soon as possible and like a hockey fight, often the second one to throw the smack is caught. Then we try not to throw that one exclusively into the penalty box but ask them what is going on. Three sides to the story.
Poke and Run
Another smack I've notice lately is the poke and run. I noticed this smack was used in the corporate world recently and consider it to be a rather cowardly act. In this case, some truly minor issue occurs, which creates repercussions (the poke) and it goes straight to a manager (the run).
This smack can be quite useful in that climb to the top of the nasty heap. Especially as the corporate world gets bigger and more wide open and spread apart. It often happens via e-mail, perhaps as a result of some type of miscommunication. It is so easy to mess e-mail up and get defensive with it. The main trouble is that this often turns into a cruel game of telephone so that any message gets lost in translation between parties and the details become awash. How much time was just wasted figuring out this ridiculous issue? Thus the poke and run is all about someone far off creating a stir and then leaving others in the dust... quite cowardly.
The Direct Jab
This smack may cause the most immediate pain, but really doesn't last too long... Imagine picking up your youngest child who is just lengthy enough that when you swing them a bit - they kick you right in the general local of the frank and beans. Or perhaps your child runs up to give a hug after a long day of work and they are just tall enough that their head slams square into your junk.
Perhaps you're on the floor wrestling a bit and one hits you right on the nose and bends the tip into your face a bit, leaving you talking kind of stuffy and congested. Its an instantaneous, shallow, pain.
Overall, I've found that this smack doesn't happen too often in Minnesota, where everyone is so... nice.
Back Handed Compliment
Now this smack is practically the Minnesota State Smack. If there were such a thing.
Again work wise, it's like someone saying "you know we really appreciate your work, it's just that your department is so unnecessary" which seemingly means that they like the work you do, but don't evidently feel the need for the reason that you are part of their work environment and perhaps their success.
This kind of goes with that whole negative reinforcement thing. "Wow son, you had a great game today, now if only you hadn't let that weak goal through in the second half."
Thank you sir! May I have another!*?
Behind the Back Thrust
This is essentially a stab in the back, but instead of a sharp knife, a really blunt instrument is used. In my experience, words of some sort are usually the weapon. The behind the back thrust leaves you feeling open and vulnerable and becomes a test of your wit, your torque and your patience. This smack can be used and/or be followed up quite effectively with the poke and run or back handed compliment.
All in all, our kids are fantastic and sometimes it's actually fun to watch them bump into things and test their limits (we hope you can say that about yours as well). I am not particularly anxious for our kids to grow up and approach us that first time with their realization of the realities of human nature. I guess at that time we will tell them to take one day at a time, that they will win some and lose some, to go out there and give 110% and then or to roll with the punches.
We don't physically hit or spank our children. I guess we try to find other means of discipline for them to realize their wayward actions. We'll see how they turn out in the long run. That will be a whole other blog some day.
Until then, this is surely just the tip of the smack iceberg.
Flurry Attack
 |
| Dash or Dom? |
We extinguish these scuffles as soon as possible and like a hockey fight, often the second one to throw the smack is caught. Then we try not to throw that one exclusively into the penalty box but ask them what is going on. Three sides to the story.
Poke and Run
Another smack I've notice lately is the poke and run. I noticed this smack was used in the corporate world recently and consider it to be a rather cowardly act. In this case, some truly minor issue occurs, which creates repercussions (the poke) and it goes straight to a manager (the run).
This smack can be quite useful in that climb to the top of the nasty heap. Especially as the corporate world gets bigger and more wide open and spread apart. It often happens via e-mail, perhaps as a result of some type of miscommunication. It is so easy to mess e-mail up and get defensive with it. The main trouble is that this often turns into a cruel game of telephone so that any message gets lost in translation between parties and the details become awash. How much time was just wasted figuring out this ridiculous issue? Thus the poke and run is all about someone far off creating a stir and then leaving others in the dust... quite cowardly.
The Direct Jab
This smack may cause the most immediate pain, but really doesn't last too long... Imagine picking up your youngest child who is just lengthy enough that when you swing them a bit - they kick you right in the general local of the frank and beans. Or perhaps your child runs up to give a hug after a long day of work and they are just tall enough that their head slams square into your junk.
Perhaps you're on the floor wrestling a bit and one hits you right on the nose and bends the tip into your face a bit, leaving you talking kind of stuffy and congested. Its an instantaneous, shallow, pain.
Overall, I've found that this smack doesn't happen too often in Minnesota, where everyone is so... nice.
Back Handed Compliment
Now this smack is practically the Minnesota State Smack. If there were such a thing.
 |
| back handed compliment |
This kind of goes with that whole negative reinforcement thing. "Wow son, you had a great game today, now if only you hadn't let that weak goal through in the second half."
Thank you sir! May I have another!*?
Behind the Back Thrust
This is essentially a stab in the back, but instead of a sharp knife, a really blunt instrument is used. In my experience, words of some sort are usually the weapon. The behind the back thrust leaves you feeling open and vulnerable and becomes a test of your wit, your torque and your patience. This smack can be used and/or be followed up quite effectively with the poke and run or back handed compliment.
All in all, our kids are fantastic and sometimes it's actually fun to watch them bump into things and test their limits (we hope you can say that about yours as well). I am not particularly anxious for our kids to grow up and approach us that first time with their realization of the realities of human nature. I guess at that time we will tell them to take one day at a time, that they will win some and lose some, to go out there and give 110% and then or to roll with the punches.
We don't physically hit or spank our children. I guess we try to find other means of discipline for them to realize their wayward actions. We'll see how they turn out in the long run. That will be a whole other blog some day.
Until then, this is surely just the tip of the smack iceberg.
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