Just Sittin'

Back in my mid-teens a close friend wrote a tune we'd sing in two-part harmony ad-nauseum for months. The title n main lyric theme was "Just Sittin'." It was written while sittin on a sea wall by the rocky shore (a few miles from here) with guitars with the pounding waves n gulls in the backdrop. I can still picture that scene... I can still hear the music... and the wave rhythm...
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I've again thought of the theme "Just Sittin" as I seek a way to describe the week I've just had. Believe that I'm so exhausted I need to just sit! My feet are very sore from lotsa extra walkin n standin around, due to trouble-shooting a tough situation this week.
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Every person who's ever owned their own vehicle knows that gut-wrenching, sunken, belly-knot which forms the moment ya realize your car is "dead" and needs lotsa money ya can't afford in order to be to be resurrected, which ya can't even earn without the car in the first place! Just the knowledge of knowing you suddenly are out of hundreds of needed dollars for other essentials, n the knowledge ya are no longer free to spend, do errands, go where ya wanna when ya wanna- Just the knowledge sinks your soul!
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The good news is I am alive. I made it through my week.
I haven't yet resorted to dealing with my stress by turning back to the old Bad Habits (Wanna smoke? -Hell Yeah!). I didn't miss a day of work at a location 25 miles away. With some help (Whew!) I'll somehow, survive my main expenses to get through the next couple weeks n live to fight bill-paying again.
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Now- No gasping!
The bad news is the brakes died on my truck. No exciting crash or other damage to report. I'd just arrived in my work's parking lot n was able to stop in neutral before the pedal dropped to nothing. I'm very lucky, I know! I'll attribute my good fortune n timing of brake failure to the prayers I say every time I'm driving, n all the prayers said for me by you blog-buddies. Thanks all!
- The angels must've helped me out, doing the three stops needed just before I'd gotten there. They got me to the job, n no one got hurt...
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I've had to spend lotsa time making co-ordination calls, then waiting around for rides home, to work, at the drop-off location to be picked up by the next guy on the next journey-leg. Plans B, C, n D all come into play as the game of life progresses down the board.
Alotta cement was involved.
Really though, after moving on my feet over 9 hours a day at work, then not getting to sit down when I'm used to has aggrivated my poor achin' peds! Wanna off the shoes n put 'em up on the pillow, but walkin's not done for the day-off yet. Waiting around now for another shuttle to go get the truck back, after a week of this belly-knot.
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I would've preferred the bux from my tax-refund back before I wanted to pay for this, ya see... Now all the other fix n order things plans are never-mind again-
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Sorry to report I thought that I was sleep deprived before this week, but now I'm operating in "Zombie Land!" I've had to awaken early every day to make or answer needed calls while businesses n other people are up for it. Rides had to all go around other folkz schedules. I'm such an independent person, not used to relying on anyone else to get things done, n this depending is quite difficult for me. I can't wait to get back to the "I can do it, myself" planet I was on before my vehicle's malfunction-warp beamed me here.
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Today's post pic's are of a bronze-cast, life-sized statue of a Wampanoag Indian maiden, sitting up on the bluff enjoying the Sun.

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There was a heated arguement in the local paper for years (late '80's) as it was debated if she'd be allowed to be displayed there, due to the fact she's getting a full upper-body tan- (in case ya didn't notice). I don't think there's anything wrong with public, nude statuary. I fought for the placement. I was doing figure sculpture in college when she finally got to sit there in her present spot, (circa 1990).
I looked up the artist, met, n interviewed him in his studio, n discussed his many work pieces. I asked him to visit my sculpture class and give a lecture / slideshow. Then they came up with the "Visiting Artist Series" for the college.
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I'd gotten busy workin hard n lost touch with the man awhile back. At least he'll never be forgotten here.
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Just sittin'... Listenin' to the waves roll in,
Listenin' to the gulls, across the bay-
This is the beauty of the world...

Diff Shotz

Posting up a couple more snapz from my walk last week for ya... ...

Less than 60 feet from the local fav pizza spot is the gazeebo on top of the bluff uptown with the pier n an island in the BG.
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I photograghed a wedding group here five years ago, tomorrow. Happy to report they're still together...
... Happy Anniversary Jess n Jim!
Someday I'll have time n bux to send ya a few more free prints,
if I ever get through the tax forms,
n get more photo-printer ink that is...
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Today I only got a couple hours sleep so I could get up to do all the around noon-deadline errands again, like mail pick-up n taking a kitty for the rabies shot clinic at Dr Harry's on the Boulevard to benefit
"A Helping Paw" Org.
The cats are too fat to both fit in the carrier anymore, so the other one has to wait two weeks for the next clinic. My cats don't like going for rides, so putting them in the back of the truck in the cap is a bonus cause I don't have to listen to the mew-whining the whole way!
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Here's Mischief, today's needle victim, out on my upstairs deck with the same maple tree, construction, n the R's in the BG. She only goes out supervised, n is pretty good about not taking off (for a cat).
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Well have a good week-end,
I'm reading tax-form instructions, myself.
Need the refund back ASAP if ya know what I mean-
back to work!

Erin go Bragh

Happy Saint Patrick's Day all you beautiful people of Irish geneology. (OK, n every one else too)!
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At work they passed out this survey on green paper, as a contest to win a prize. Like everyone's not gonna go home n google it to pieces...
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I only know two answers for sure... Perhaps some of my Irish pals (like ya'll from Northern Belfast) know these answers. It doesn't really matter if I get the answers, cause there's no way I'm going in 3 hours before my shift to make the deadline, anyhow.
N TGIF, need rest!
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Wish I had corned beef n cabbage too. It was my dad's fav meal, n the 16th was his mortal B-day when he would've had that meal, although he was of Scottish blood.
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Here ya go:
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1. Saint Patrick wasn't Irish. True or False?
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2. What's Ireland's nickname? _______
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3. W.B. Yeats is an Irish poet who loved to write about ______
a. leprechauns
b. fairies and ghosts
c. trolls
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4. What Irish dance became popular in America in the early century?
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5. A leprechaun is a ________
a. shoemaker
b. thief
c. magician
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6. A popular Irish dish that is shredded cabbage, minced onions, and mashed potatoes is known as ______
a. mulligatawny
b. shepard's pie
c. colcannon
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7. Kissing the Blarney Stone is supposed to do what? ______
a. give you good luck in love
b. remove shyness
c. heals you of warts
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8. The color of green for Ireland stands for _____
a. nature
b. hope
c. life
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9. What Irish plant represents the Trinity of the Catholic religion?
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10. Saint Patrick is said to have removed what from Ireland? _____
a. frogs
b. lizards
c. snakes
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11. The first Saint Patrick's Day parade was held during the American Revolution in what city?
a. Boston
b. New York
c. Washington DC
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12. The Irish are said to have brought what breakfast to America? _____
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13. What weed is known as the Irish daisy?
a. buttercup
b. dandelion
c. yellow daisy
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14. The 1800's term "Paddy Wagon" comes from this _____
a. police wagons had a soft leather padding
b. when the drunk Irish were arrested,
... they all said their name was Paddy
c. the police station was in Paddington
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15. What does "Erin go Bragh" mean?
a. Irish bragging rights
b. Ireland forever
c. Ireland the brave
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Bonus 2 points
Which two rivers in the United States are dyed green every year on Saint Patrick's Day?
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Remember the Green...
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Answer Update:
1. T
2. Emerald Isle, Old Sod, The Bower, Four Green Fields
3. b
4. Irish Jig
5. a
6. c
7. b
8. a+b
9. Shamrock
10. a or c
11. b
12. oatmeal
13. a
14. b
15. b
Bonus- Chicago River, San Antonio River

Better View

The two pretty pics below were taken on on sunny Saturday from up on the bluff (hill) in my home village. It's more of the typical Cape Cod view you might expect to see.
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Part of the front beach in the harbor, about 1500 feet up the road, was a much more pleasant sight than the back beach near my home. This area was deeded to public use always, and the richer folkz own the homes n Inns nearby. This is where they have the 4th of July fireworks every year. People pay big bux for vacationing here.

This isin't my fav beach, usually it's too crowded. Now off-season, there's just a couple of clammers digging out there.

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To the left of that beach section is the main harbor pier. There are several smaller, private, yahct-club piers. There's much more beach wrapping all the way around the village, which is almost an island. Usually this harbor area is chock full of moored and docked sea-craft, except in the swimming zone shown above.
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I always prefer the off-season view, even with the bare foliage.

Cabin Fever has left the Building

Have I been direct enough stating in previous posts that the best part of where I live is the out-doors?
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Today's the nicest Saturday we've had here in my area for quite some months. It's gorgeous out, sunny, n in the 60's. The heat's off for the day, the door's wide open. Doing errands was actually a good time because the good weather seems to give everyone such a pleasant mood.
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I finally broke down n got a throw-away cam (it was cheap) so I could show ya a few things I've written about recently. I almost never use up a roll n get it developed so quick, but decided to spice the posting up for ya.
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This first shot is of the new scenery at the end of my street since last week.

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Stop, in the name of stealing the back beach n free boat-ramp use from the natives!
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Here's my "Maple-Beard" tree (see the face?) n the view of the new mess from my front yard, very similar to the view from my window. That's the "R's" porch on the right. The waves came up to those steps during Hurricane Bob 15 years ago. (I saw the seaweed mark).
That's the tree which the "R's upper-deck furniture hit in the wind-storm. A family of owls nested in that hole last spring until the loud folkz downstairs forced them to move out... This is also where I feed the squirrels n birds by pouring seeds into the nooks n crannies of the bark (not visable).
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It was so nice n I had time to stop n get more of other stuff too, for spicing post ups later.
I should go through my old photo's to find ya the before to compare with.

This was a grassy park where people played n walked the doggies, the geese nested in the salt-grass section, n where the local fishermen were launching small sea-craft daily to sell their catch for a living.
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This big sandy mess is apparently all just for affording better drainage.

Now what are they gonna do if this work's all washed away during the next storm season... ?
I also believe the sea-level's are changing (rising) with the glacial melting taking place at both poles n with "global warming" as news reported n I posted about previously in the year just past. Just a few more inches can give wave damage a whole new power. Since the Tsunami of 12/26/05, n then the Katrina destruction, the ocean has earned a new dose of Earthly respect from us all.
They're not putting up a wall, though- just burying concrete forms, pipes, n tons of gravel. The early am loud noise n vibrations are also quite undesirable.
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So the outside WAS the best part until this mess moved in... Hope you're all getting more restful sleep than I am these days!
Now ya know...

Window

Today was bright, sunny n way up in the 20's with a nippy wind-chill factor. All the townee's were out walking around n basking in the relative warmth of mid-day while the gettin was good.
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I rinsed the nasty-lookin road-salt off the truck with bottles of warm water while BBM n baby J played in the snow a bit on their brief visit. That kid is so adorable, even when goin through a new whiney-stage. He tossed his first mini-snow-ball a couple inches... Won't be long before he'll be slammin folkz with 'em!
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All the errands are done, but the chores are still begging me for attention. I'm still so sore, think most will have to wait. My current job is repeditively physical and requires lots of standing, walking, lifting, moving, bending, and arm-work. In addition I needed to shovel about 10 inches n a heavy plow-row to get back in the driveway this week, n the drain of course. There's another half of driveway to go, but It'll wait for the fluff to melt down in size.
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I've missed alot of sleep this week.
Heavy-equiptment construction at the boat ramp outside the window has begun (n continued in the snow), and repeatedly awakened me with loud noises, n ground-shaking during the only hours I have to sleep. I'm not pleased with losing the usually beautiful and serene view that keeps me sane, either. Another previously grassy with shade trees area where the Canadian Geese visit and sometimes nest, has been ripped all to hell n replaced with straw-bales, ugly piles of dirt, a storm-drain pipe pile, a back-hoe, n a dump truck, all now in the way of seeing the little cove's rippling water.The view out the window, one of the best things about this place, is no longer desirable. I hope they hurry-up n finish.
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I'm betting the fishermen who can't launch there til it's done aren't pleased also. It's more cost effective to launch at a free ramp every day than pay for mooring fees in the harbor, so again the small guy loses...
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I'm always rootin for the little-biz guys, the wild-life, n natural beauty too.
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I wanna watch the geese again, now the squirrels n birds are all scared off...
n I'm grumpy missin my sights n well-deserved hibernation...

Mystery

If you're a reg reader, ya know what this is...

March Forward

Pictoral addition update


I liked this one from a recent e-mail best.









The last day of February is over, with no leap, n sub-freezing Temps. At least it made the 20's today, a step up from the past two days. The wind-chill here was reported at -7 F. Yesterday, the wind died down today also. A new month of new starts n a new spring season.

Of course the ground hog , which is also a woodchuck, said 6 more weeks of winter, if he's to be believed.

In like a lion, out like a lamb (we hope) ...
Here's to a Happy March!