A Tuesday Afternoon In New York, With The Sky Being The Limit*

I only began this blog New Year's Eve two years ago. One of my earliest post's included a song my son was able to install for me, in one of those earliest enteries-- "I Have A Dream", by ABBA. When I was appromaxtely 9 years old I had a small neighborhood Puppet Show at our house. All my friends attended, I can't say I really recall what the script might have been which I wrote out, but I do know the acting included singing & dancing of the puppets for the performance. It was my one gal show. I only charged probably a dime or so for the ticket admission [& yes I hand made the tickets] which I sold to the neighborhood kids. My first ever event for the public grossed probably a dollar. I was so very, very proud, as this was an event I was sponcering for the UN. All of us kids were most familiar with the work of the United Nations due to the many years we participated in "Trick or Treat for UNICEF", we would all say-- "Pennies for UNICEF", when people would open their door. It was the best Trick or Treating that we could have ever done, & that was the way Halloween was celebrated for many years. One of the most thrilling moments of my life was when I received a "Thank you Letter", from the UN, a most memorable moment for this 9 year old & my dream had begun, to some day work for the UN when I was all grown up.

Decades upon decades later, my husband & I have been fortunate enough to be able to pass on such a simple dream of so very long ago, as two of our three sons, participated in "Model UN", in both high school & then college. So in this way the dream lives on.....

Yesterday my husband & I were all set to see an important exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, the MOMA in NYC. We checked everything of what we considered to be of importance before leaving: car- check, money-check, train schedule/which station to leave from- check, now we are what I would consider to be experienced museum goers, so we deliberately planned this trip for a Tuesday, as museums are known to be closed on Mondays, well not the MOMA! The MOMA is closed to the general public at large on Tuesdays, & specifically open on Tuesdays for guided tours for people with handicaps & disabilities. So there we were, in the lobby of one of our favorite museums, in a gigantically hugh city, feeling like the line-- "All dressed up, & nowhere to go."

Until we met Ruth, from Western Canada sitting next to me in the lobby........

{*To be continued, as the story that is to follow, is way too intricate & the words are still formulating--

{Also-- I guess today was a hard day at the blog, regarding spelling & the like. Thank goodness my husband brings this to my attention so I can make the corrections. Please excuse my occasional cryptic spellings, & what it does to the English language, oye*, now that's some kind of word.}

Don't You Just Love A Train Station--

The gal you see in front of the ticket window had really great hair. I left mine to be down & rather out there. I asked my husband earlier before leaving if I should go ahead & pin it up. "Na", he said, "keep it down, that, with the sunglasses, you look very urban, I like it." So there I was as, el natural as I could be, for a hair do that is.
Open ended, round trip tickets for two, we took the 11:05 Am, out of New Haven, a very sweet, & just all that you need kind of station.

My most favorite train station, [though the one in L.A. is quite nice], it is the one, the only, "Grand Central Station"!

Monday's A Good Day To Plan A Mini Jaunt--

Monday, Monday, thus a new week. I worked over the weekend as it was my rotation, we take turns working every third weekend in our office. For the most part it was a fine weekend to be on, I had just one out of town student that need care, as she was suffering from an upper respiratory infection, not quite the flu, but only time will tell on that. All the other students had meetings, or sporting events schedule. On Saturday the weather was a bit messy, but everything went on as scheduled, including an out of town, cross country event.

Last week I began one of Cesar Millan's books-- "Be The Pack Leader". I want to give this process with Dolly my very best as she is a very strong pup, both in will & physical strength. She pulls a great deal on the collar when we go for walks & tends to need a lot of correction, but she has a sweet nature & I can tell when she gets it right & I approve, she is most pleased with herself, which is a good sign, but as Cesar says-- it is mostly instinct, & the dog will revert to her instinct always, so establishing control, pack leader-dom, is of the up most [pup most], importance. This certainly keeps me on my [dogie] toes, several walks a day, up & down the driveway, & out by my garden [no matter the weather], I just plain enjoy the challenge & the discipline. No report cards yet for her or me, it's a bit too early in the process.

Having a new puppy, with all that they require is almost like being on a new born's schedule, but of course quite a bit easier. Between all that I'm already involved with, our family & home, job, conservation work, interfaith & faith based group work, & upcoming book publishing project. Due to all of this, my original Peace Garden had become less than pleasing, so today, after puppy care I went down there to sort out, & remove some of the less than desirable objects, which have become way too shabby & weather worn. I am now pleased to report that just by doing some very minor things, symmetry has been restored.

Tomorrow my husband & I plan on leaving this tree house early, as the MOMA [the Museum of Modern Art] in NYC, is our destination, for the Bauhaus exhibit. The great outdoors of our natural world & the museums of the world are our most favorite places to go, & theatre too, but tomorrow it will have to be theatre in the raw, limited to-- "people watching". Gotta go, as trains leave early.

{The above photos are of original locomotions taken at the Henry Ford Museum, outside of Detroit, Michigan-- Labor Day 2009, with admission to the museum free, in honor of the American Worker, each & every Labor Day.}

Puppy Chomping Good

Well we did it, Dolly went with me to work this morning, [what an overly protective Mom I am]. She & I did a mini walk in the yard at 7:35am before leaving & in 5 minutes or less, we were heading down the drive. Luckily I wasn't behind a stream of yellow buses, which tends to happen when I run a bit late, but even when that occurs, I still manage to be in our office by 7:55 or 7:00AM , right on the nose.

My boss arrived around 8:20 or so, she knew the pup was going to be in the car as she had called me before coming in to update me on a matter of importance, it was then that we both had a good laugh regarding my present situation of my recovering dog in the car, my first patient of the day. She knew that my plan was to go outside at about 10:00 or so for another "walk the pup session", but I was told, "You might want to go out there about now." she said. "Looks to me like Dolly's a bit excited, & looks like she got herself some foam which is shredded all over your car." "Oh that's probably her foam bed. I put it in there with her for comfort, I didn't think she'd chew on that.", I replied.

So I finished up temporally & went out to the parking lot to check on her. Well I do work at a school, & wouldn't mind saying, "The dog ate my homework.", as much as that's a great line. What I can say is-- well let me put it this way, do they make beige duck tape to match this seat?

*{The above photo of Dolly was taken today in the parking lot of the local Dunkin' Donuts, during our lunchtime. We shared a multigrain bagel, non toasted, with low fat cream cheese. I had vanilla coffee, extra light with one sugar, Dolly had water, extra clear, cold & fresh. It was all, "just right."}

You're Looking Swell Dolly

Dolly my pup has returned after a 24 hour stay with the Vet. She is 7 months old now, & in order to be a true responsible pet owner it was necessary for me to have her spayed. Definitely a big deal on any body, & she the sweet, strong gal of a pup that she is, did very well! Dolly makes fast friends where ever she goes, & the Veterinarian & her Assistant, couldn't stop raving about her excellent behavior. Mutts, there's something about a mutt, such mystery & puzzlement regarding the legend of their lineage. I have been told repeatedly by my wonderful Vet, that any of the minor bad habits she may exhibit can definitely be worked through & corrected. I was told she's a herding dog, & herding dogs she said want to nip to get the stock herded to where they want them. Interesting, because I wondered why she insists on wanting to gently nibble, yet she stops immediately when I correct her. So it's just a matter of discipline on my part, which is no surprise, how else do we get anything worthwhile done. I'll say his-- Dolly's been a great teacher, she & I are both pretty new students on all of this. The spirit & love of the nature of a sweet dog is a great motivating factor. "Dolly it's so nice to have you back where you belong."

{I think Dolly will be traveling with me to work in the morning, as her dog-pen area where she stays when we're not home, equipted with one of those cute insulated igloo dog houses, probably won't do. The area that's set up for her is really on a man made sand lot, nice for all other times, but won't do for the next week or so as we have this fresh abdominal incision to keep clean, so until she's healed up a bit more, she'll be under the watchful eye of moi'. Wishing you good healing Dolly, can't help it, you've got that cuteness thing going, she sure can look goofy, our newest comedian. Last call for our mini dog walk, as day is done.}

Veterans Day 2009*

The American Friends Service Committee, the Quakers, have produced a beautiful poster which reads--

"War Is Not The Answer", which is of course a quote from a Marvin Gay song titled, "What's Going On?" Another line from the song is, "Only love can conquer hate."

These thoughts & words remain in my heart & soul. I know if my father were alive today, a WWII Veteran, he would agree. We must take good care & honor our Service men & woman, for ultimately we want them safe. If we were to approach the situations in the world in a preventive medical mode, the savings would be in measurable, "so help me God".

Wishing all of our Veterans, their Families & Loved Ones, Good Health & Safety, in all times, with prayers of peace.

*Amen*

{This beautiful rock solid, moving monument is of course our Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.}

Thoughts Like A River, Flowing & Rocking, Rocking & Rolling--

Zooming back in time-- Last Saturday November 7th, was a mini Luncheon Reunion Day for three former high school gals, in Hartford, our old stomping grounds. Hartford has certainly changed, some buildings are now replaced with pedestrian walkways, & or one way directional streets, but to us it will always be a special place, a point of destination during our youth, for socializing, Saturday shopping trips, theatre, concerts, the museum & sporting events.

Time seems not to be going "by so slowly", as in that Righteous Brothers song, "but time can do so much", still remains true to heart. So we had a toast, wishing one another continued good health & from our friend's beautiful skyscraper apartment set off to the Wadsworth Antheneum for lunch.

We ended our mini reunion visit with a special tour of a historic building of the 1800's, the Elks Club, of which my friend & her husband are active members. We were introduced all around to their friends, & it was easy to tell just how valued & loved she & her husband are by these very hospitable people. The tour of this large unassuming building had aspects of a visionary delight, with it's original antique wooded columns, stained glass windows, & stained glass vaulted ceiling. It was a real pleasure to know that she & her husband have such a supportive community of friends that work together doing good works for the children of the city, along with having an interesting & extended social life of all it has to offer. The entire visit was quite the tapestry to take in.

During my high school years I lacked the confidence & courage to step outside a multi layered peer group & basically allowed many of my God given talents to be squandered, for I was of course from the 60's generation & having a war rage in the background, eventually proved impossible to ignore, no matter how irresponsible some of us chose to be, which many of us were. When my husband & I became parents in the early 70's we therefore chose to be "fully present", & to not allow our children to squander away their potential for future opportunities, their birthright. I have been most blessed, as my present life allows me to now pursue topics & fields of study that are of interest me, on my own terms, to continue to be a seeker--

Meanwhile, returning back to our neck of the woods, far from the buzz & hub of city life, a Stonewall Preservation Workshop that was in the works to take place, had been on my mind for such a long time & was soon approaching. My recent visit with my friends, all these different locals, different cultures, memories of the past, coming together, & standing apart, all, everyone, each with their own, unique, foundation of stone.

I just love the sense of rocks, seeing them, touching them, arranging them in my garden, growing up with them & growing older too, they never change. The experiences of a time wrought life certainly chisels us, chisels us down to the bare essential-- bones of the earth, our rocks.

Thank you-- Robert Thorson, for explaining, & bringing more fully to life, visually & with prose, why it is we love these things, that we love. Like a rock.