Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Summer Glory

The sugary sweet aroma of honeysuckle heavy in the air; late afternoon sunlight flickering through shifting leaves and branches; shimmering walls of heat rising from asphalt roadways; house cats sprawled lazily beneath blooming shrubs; these are the things that announce summer more surely than any calendar.

Couples strolling lazily hand in hand; chains of bicyclists pedaling along the shoulders of highways; sturdy shoes replaced by sandals and flip-flops; children licking streams of melting ice cream from tapering cones; these are sights that announce summer more surely than any weather report.

Welcome to the glorious days of summer.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Memorial Thanks

Memorial Day weekend - the unofficial start of summer when thousands of Americans hit the highways and bi-ways on their way to barbecues, beaches, mountains, and campgrounds.

If you are one of those on the go and find yourself swinging into a retail establishment be sure to thank the person who rings up your sale, serves your food, or otherwise keeps your holiday happy. They're missing out on the three day weekend you're enjoying, but an expression of gratitude will brighten their day.


And once you give your thanks there, take the time of offer up thanks to those who gave up far more than a three day weekend so that you can enjoy not only your weekend but your freedom.

Barbecues and family gatherings are an important part of of our lives, but let's not lose sight of the true reason for this holiday - remembering those who keep us safe. If you know or meet someone in the armed forces be sure to take the time to thank them. And if you know someone who has lost a part of their family to peace keeping, include them in your plans.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Lyrical Sky

There weren't any tangerine trees and while the sky wasn't marmalade it certainly had a kaleidoscope appearance.

Come to think of it, this morning's sky looked like a cotton candy candy machine had exploded and all the fluff had been stained by Easter egg dye.

Couple the colorful dawn with my sitting on a patio next to the fountain and it's no surprise I was looking for cellophane flowers.

Wishing everyone many mornings of skies filled with diamonds.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Tracking the Miles

Distance measures have been on my mind today.

It started when I reset the odometer in my car to track the mileage to the new job and happened to notice that from my driveway to the first traffic light was exactly one-and-a-half miles. In a car it had taken virtually no time to cover the distance.

But then I thought back to being a kid when I and my friends would set off on summertime explorations. Back then the thought of covering a mile meant serious planning: getting Mom to pack a lunch, filling a canteen with water, and stuffing a half dozen pieces of Bazooka bubblegum into the pockets of my jeans. But then that mile usually included skipping stones over the wide part of the creek and catching water spiders and tadpoles.

After dinner this evening Motivated Mom and I resurrected our tradition of an evening walk.  By my estimation we covered nearly three miles and made the round trip without so much as a bottle of water let alone a backpack and a tent. Of course we were freshly fed.

Monday, May 23, 2011

The Strategy of Development

I started a new job today and some folks found it odd that I didn't immediately identify a sweeping plan of action.

In earlier days I would have felt it important to make a statement right from the beginning - which I guess is what folks were expecting from me today. But I've come to realize that starting a new job is like starting a new game of chess - strategy is everything.

Workplace strategy goes far beyond randomly setting goals. Personalities, resources, and objectives need to be analyzed and weighed. Departmental success comes from nurturing a unified front rather than dragging along a ragtag unit.

My responsibility lies in matching the right team members to the critical tasks and providing the right tools. If I do my job well, everyone in our department will be well on their way to a common outcome long before I make any pronouncements.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Contemplating Movement

Sitting with front paws resting on the piece of aluminum trim where carpet meets linoleum, the cat was as immobile as the Sphinx - except for its eyes which were following the progress of a small insect creeping across the carpet.

Watching the cat's eyeballs shift from one side of almond slits to the other, I wondered if the cat really thought the tiny bug would notice if the cat turned its head.

From the bug's standpoint, it would be like you or I walking through the Museum of Natural History, passing the skeletal feet of Tyrannosaurus Rex and noticing the skull move high overhead. Unless we happened to be looking up at exactly the right moment, we'd never know.

Just when I thought the insect would reach the safety of a narrow space under the baseboard, the cat pounced and the bug disappeared. The next thing I knew the cat was licking its chops.

I think I'll keep my gaze elevated the next time I visit a museum.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Oh, THAT Elopement

My job responsibilities sometimes take me into hospitals.  I was in just such a facility the other day and while waiting for a meeting to start was reviewing the postings on the bulletin board.

Like bulletin boards everywhere, this one had it's share of memos that were outdated by several years, pages with curled corners, and an evacuation plan obscured by an announcement of an upcoming luncheon.  What drew my attention was a color coded placard explaining "codes" that might be transmitted over the intercom system. I was familiar with Code Blue from television shows and movies I've seen; but Code Orange was a new one for me.

The poster explained that Code Orange signified Elopement. Well, okay, it was a long term care facility so I figured it was conceivable that a couple of patients could develop a special interest in each other and run off to get married - but did that happen often enough that a special Code was required?

Catching the eye of the receptionist I asked about the whole marriage scenario. Giving me a look that parents and teachers reserve for kids who just don't get the obvious, the receptionist explained.  Sir, we are a mental health facility.  Patients sometimes wander off - usually without realizing they have. We refer to those unexpected disappearances as elopements.

Oh.  No wonder foreigners have so much trouble learning the English language.  After fifty-two years I'm still trying to figure it out.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Packing and Tossing

So here I am packing again.  Packing up my office in preparation for moving to another State agency and packing up the "bungalow" that has served as my retreat two nights a week.

And while the packing has involved a trip or two more to my car than I'd like, I'm pleased to see that I've managed to accumulate relatively little in the past fourteen months.  It seems I have finally listened to my own cry for sanity in a world focused on acquisition.

Now I must set my new attitude loose on my primary residence. I think the new rule is going to be the empty space in a room must be at least twice that amount of space occupied by furniture and "things".  Where those ratios are out of whack, stuff is going to have to go - pickup truck loads at a time if need be.

The challenge is going to be Motivated Mom and I agreeing on what goes and what stays.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Encounters of the Eight Year Kind

I went to a country club party.... they all knew my name... no one recognized me.... I didn't look the same...

Perhaps because I'm about as much at home at a country club as Tweety Bird is at home in the clutches of Sylvester the cat. All that "money" walking around makes me self conscious about the coins jingling in my pocket.

Actually it was me who wasn't recognizing the other people... or rather I recognized them but couldn't believe that after only eight years they suddenly looked... not quite old, but definitely gray at the temples and heavy in the waist.

And now I find myself torn. Do I ramp up my exercise routine to ensure my waistline goes in the opposite direction of those I encountered the other night - or do I follow the example set and toss back a few extra margaritas?

I hate having to make these types of milestone decisions.  I need an adult beverage to help me make a decision about adult beverages.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Deposit With a Cherry On It

You've probably seen them, those gleaming silver structures that resemble a railroad passenger car sitting in the middle of a parking lot.  Invariable they bear a sign saying simply DINER, and within is probably some of the best short order food to be found within twelve city blocks.

My travels hither and yon the past few days took me past such a gleaming establishment. I was caught totally of guard by a sign indicating the steel and glass frame housed a bank branch. I found myself wondering how I would feel about doing my banking where I could see my reflection as I walked across the parking lot.

I suppose it could work out well for the lunch time errand crowd.

Can I help you, sir?

Yes, hi, I'd like to make a deposit.

Would you like apple or cherry pie while I process your request?

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Bird Play

I wasn't sure if the sparrows and chickadees were playing hopscotch, checkers, or chess - but it was obvious they were enjoying a game of some sort.

The tiny birds, practically invisible in the tall grass, would leap upward, furiously beat their wings while hovering over a dandelion puffball, then dart diagonally before slipping back down into the blades of grass.

Occasionally another bird would be disturbed by the one coming in for landing. When that happened I would think knight takes queen's pond.

At other times the sparrow would leap rabbit-like over dandelions and other birds and I could imagine the sparrow tweeting out king me on safely reaching the far end of the lawn.

And when one brightly colored chickadee seemed loath to return to the ground, choosing instead to alternately swoop and hover, I couldn't help but wonder if there was an avian equivalent to step on a crack and break your mother's back that kept him from settling to earth.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Morning Cycle

The tree had a halo.

At least that's the way it appeared as the yellow globe rose from behind the ancient oak tree early this morning.
Though in full green leaf, the tree looked black against the brilliant glow.

It was the beginning of another cycle. I could almost hear the deep resonant chanting of a hundred Zulu voices, could almost see hundreds of animals converging on the towering tree, could almost see a baboon climbing amidst the branches while a certain Red-Billed Hornbill flew in from above.

I would not have been surprised in the least to have heard Circle of Life start playing on the radio.

Monday, May 9, 2011

King of Many Colors

I had been looking straight at him and in the blink of an eye he disappeared.

Only to raise his his head from a position five feet to the right.  Thing is, his head had changed color.

It was lunch break and I was out on the green watching King Herman, the resident ground hog, forage for tasty bits in the lawn.  The field King Herman occupies is thick with grass of varying hues of green.  In the mere seconds it had taken the heavyweight King to waddle from light to dark green turn, his coat had changed to matching colors. 

And I got to wondering, had his coat changed all at once - or had it been gradual as he crossed into new territory.  If I were to be able to entice the King to walk along a piece of wood painted in two inch wide stripes of different colors, would the groundhog's fur change as quickly as he walked?  Would he look like a psychedelic slinky?

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Weekend Americana

If was a weekend of traditions. The kind of annual events likely to be captured in a Norman Rockwell montage.

Motivated Mom was vigorously scrubbing both plastic and metal patio furniture in anticipation of entire weekends spent outdoors.  At the opposite end of the yard I was transferring vegetable plants from plastic green containers to freshly turned soil.

Dinners were plated directly from the barbecue grill and the hours after sunset were spent in front of the glowing coals of a fire in the outdoor fireplace. Fire-side discussion was of toasted marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers.

Late night treats under starry skies rolled into breakfast on the patio followed by still more barbecued treats.


Some of the best memories are those created outdoors.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Welcome to the one day of the year when every American speaks fluent Spanish.  Well, they speak fluent calendar in Spanish anyway.

Everywhere I went today people were discussing their Cinco de Mayo plans:  office lunches with a Mexican theme, margaritas at the local watering hole after work, tortillas, tacos, and fajitas for dinner with margaritas to wash it all down followed by, well... more margaritas.

So now I'm wondering...  If we Americans are so anxious to embrace a Mexican day of celebration, why are we building a wall between the two countries?

I say let's reallocate the money for the wall.  Let's just pay the money to Mexican farmers to grow more Agave plants!  To support all the extra farming, Mexico will have to call their migrant workers back home.  Everybody stays on their own side of the border, everybody's happy, and Tequila flows like water!

Speaking of which.. my, ah, water glass is almost empty. Time for a refill.

Wishing you all a spectacular fifth... of May that is.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Why Is That Doggie in the Window?

It isn't all that unusual to see a dog hanging its head out of a car window. But when I saw a canine face hanging out of the driver's window I got a little concerned.

The furry head was poking out of the window of a slow moving car two vehicles ahead in the adjacent lane.  I wasn't sure whether the slow speed of the car was due to the driver's vision being blocked, or if the operator was waiting for the dog to bark when it was time to turn left.

I sincerely hoped the car wasn't losing speed because the dog was trying to keep one paw on the wheel and one on the gas while peering out of the window.

Then I wondered... what if the canine head was actually attached to a human body?  The name Abernathy came to mind and I sped up to see if there might just be a vest and tie below those floppy ears.

Alas the traffic light changed before I could catch up. The car with the dog head in the window continued lazily through the intersection and I was left to wonder if there was more reality in fantasy than I had believed.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Was It Real or Was It.....

....Ninety-six, ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred.  Osama or not here we come.

And of course there's plenty of folks out there who say it wasn't.

I have to admit I can understand their skepticism.  When the U.S. nailed Sadam the news media was spitting out images of Hussein like a printing press had gone wild.  This time there's nothing. The closest we've come to seeing proof is media footage of a ship from which Bin-Laden's body was supposedly dropped into the ocean after a lightning fast DNA check.

Can you say Jimmy Hoffa? Howard Hughes? JFK?

The lack of substantiating evidence has given rise to a plethora of conspiracy theories. I'm putting my money on the been frozen for five years theory. In this scenario President Obama had Bin-Laden's body dragged out of the deep freeze Sunday night just so that the Pres could disrupt the television ratings for Trump's Celebrity Apprentice and drive Donald out of the presidential race.

Hit the road Trump and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more. Hit the road Trump and don't ya' come back no more

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Commencement & Transition

Throughout life there are moments when "normal" is redefined.

I experienced one of those transition moments this weekend. The transition was marked by College Dude's commencement. One day a college senior and the next an electrical engineer, our son moves into the work-a-day world of business folks everywhere.

Motivated Mom and I spent the weekend as guests in the western Pennsylvania apartment of College Dude and Language Lass. We've spent time there before, but this weekend was different. We were visiting not students, but a couple in the birth moments of a new life.

It seems not that long ago that College Dude was the new birth in the lives of Motivated Mom and I.

On our ride back home, Motivated Mom and I will be leaving a couple whose lives will now run parallel, rather than is series, to our own. (Like how I worked an engineering related phrase in there?)

 Though College Dude will always be our son, we have entered a new era. I'm still trying to get a read on just what this new road entails.