Bangkok 8 & behind the beautiful forevers

The first paragraph was recommended for study of its "hook". It works well. I won't tell you what it is, just that I stayed to the last page.

I will tell you "Bangkok 8" is a marriage of Scorpio and Aquarius. Written by John Burdett, I learned more about the culture of Thailand than I needed. If you know Scorpio, you know it's the battle ground of the soul: High minded or deep in sex.  Aquarius gathers information to pour out later. Burdett does both signs proud.  If you want to be entertained and shocked, check it out.

I am currently working my way through Katherine Boo's Pulitzer Prize winning "behind the beautiful forevers" life, death, and hope in a Mumbai undercity. There is a lot of poverty in Mississippi, but I don't think there's any place in this country with the poverty of Mumbai. It's a huge stretch to comprehend the way they live.

I told our local librarian I need two more months of winter just to read. Yard work takes. Mother Nature is doing her best to make the days dark and gloomy, rainy here and snowy up north, perfect for inside reading.

2013 Red Convertible Travel Stories

Willa Cather's Selected Letters

April 16th "Willa Cather's Selected Letters" hit the stands. I look forward to her thoughts and feelings.
I found the book listed in Amazon. I'm sure B&N will have it, too.

She is from an earlier period of Nebraska history. See my post 10/03/09 for more on her life and work..

An artist and an author see life through their unique perspective. It's a bold artist and or author who shares it with the rest of us. I love the study of differences.

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Easter 2013

There's more to it than Easter eggs and candy.

Ever since the stone was rolled away, Christians have celebrated Christ's resurrection. He is a man for all seasons, races, ages, beliefs. He showed us how to live and how to die and is still with us. I know including Him in my life makes it work better.

 I look at Christ's way and contemplate my contribution to the whole. Perhaps the best thing I can do is live through my heart. Live love, forgiveness, compassion, patience, and service. Be slow to anger. Listen. Allow others their own beliefs without judgement. Yes, live without judgement. I don't walk in anyone else's shoes. I do not know every experience they have lived that shaped them to this moment.

My life is longer and more complicated than what has happened since I was born. From years of digging, I KNOW I have lived in other times and places. Where love lives, hearts are forever connected. Love at first sight is picking up where we left off.  Past life unresolved issues returned to be resolved. At least now I'm aware and take pains to resolve them. I'd rather recycle paper and cans than discordant thoughts and feelings.

Life is fascinating. I am determined to complete mine in peace and harmony and maybe graduate as Christ taught us. To you and yours, Blessings this Easter, whether you celebrate or not.

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

The MS Marlboro Man

We had been to Sargent, Nebraska to visit my childhood friend, Connie, and her family. Driving through the treeless Sand Hills the only change of scenery is the occasional windmill and another herd of cattle. The kids soon tired at my, "Look, there's a new calf!"

It was tempting to drive at top speed to get to "civilization." But... where the roads are built up between the hills, cross winds are dangerous. And cattle have no regard for fences. The grass is greener on the other side, even if it means crossing the road at cow-speed. Whole cows do not make good hood ornaments.

It was a drizzly morning. In the distance, but close to the road, a lone rider worked to organize the herd. We stopped to watch. He wore a black ten-gallon hat low over his eyes. His dark full-length slicker kept him and the palomino's rump dry. Gloved hands held the reins with authority. Straight-backed, he radiated confidence, ability, power, strong-mindedness, and Clint Eastwood no-nonsense ruggedness. I longed to look in his eyes. The Marlboro man, that's who he looked like. I wondered if he could dance. Sigh. I only know two men who can dance. One lives far away; the other doesn't ask.

Years later and twelve days into our Egyptian tour, Minnie and I longed for familiar food: popcorn and potato chips. We ordered tomato soup, potato chips and ice cream on the patio of our hotel. Served in individual courses, the plate and the potato chips were heated. None of it tasted like home. But the movie caught our eyes. "Minnie, which cowboy movie is that?"

She replied, "That's not a movie. It's our Marlboro Man commercials strung together."
We're not the only ones fascinated with the American cowboy. In my imagination, mine can dance.

Last Monday I had lunch at The Ranch on old #61 in Clarksdale, MS. The walls are lined with pictures of visitors, dignitaries and locals. I looked at the picture of hunk, football star Charlie Conerly and learned he played for Clarksdale High School, Old Miss and the New York Giants. When he moved back to Clarksdale, he owned Conerly Shoe Store. He is also remembered for being the original Marlboro man in the commercials.

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Clarksdale, MS Blues Visitors

I had no clue people come from around the world to Clarksdale, MS to see where the Blues were born. One Sunday morning 31 people got off a bus at McDonald's. I commented to a woman on her colorful scarf. She didn't reply. I tried again. The bus driver came over and said they were all from Norway and didn't speak much English. They'd flown into Nashville and were working their way to New Orleans.

We met four young men from Wisconsin at the Juke Joint Festival in April. Nick had worked installing the security system in Wahoo's new jail. He was within walking distance of my home. Ryan, an Aries warrior, defends sturgeons. The are poached for their eggs/caviar. When they are mating, they are vulnerable.

At one of the Friday music-in-the-Park nights, we met a young couple from Manchester, England. They'd flown to New Orleans and were working their way to Nashville. It was a min-vacation to talk with them and remember my trips to England.

A young woman from AZ told me her mother bought her a baby, lime green iguana when she was born. It  slept with her until she was eight-years old and five-feet long.

Just look at all I would have missed, if I'd stayed in Wahoo. Who will I meet next?

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Seasick Deep-Sea Fishing

One winter in West Palm Beach, Florida, JB asked, "Do you want to go deep sea fishing?"
My adventurous spirit said, "Sure. Sign me up." I've never been to sea. Nebraska is land-locked.

The chartered fishing boat rocked a little when we boarded. What I didn't count on was rough water twenty-five miles out to sea. Once we passed the curvature of the earth, I couldn't see the shoreline. I became disoriented, as if flying upside down. It makes me queasy just thinking about it. I marveled how the men's torsos stayed vertical and their knees bent to accommodate the rock and roll.

Within the first hour of our all day excursion, the Captain noticed I was getting peaked and suggested I come inside. Warm, still, smoky air further stirred my breakfast. All I'd had was a handful of fresh parsley to erase the garlic taste from the night before, and it wouldn't stay down. I decorated the boat green on all sides from both decks. We'd paid $750 for the four of us to fish all day. I didn't think it was fair for the guys to go back. I found a corner in the fresh air, let them fish and get their money's worth. I concentrated on the affirmation:  My system is at ease with the rise and fall of the sea. I am calm at sea.

My lifelong dream is to take a several years tour of the world. I'll email family and friends of my whereabouts, along with invitations to visit. Many months will be spent at sea, and I WILL overcome seasickness. Oh. Oh. Excuse me. I need to run to the bathroom.

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

The Exchange that completed two Circles

This is an original work by George Watson Hall III, "Robin," for short. He is the artist who cleaned the murals in the Saunders County Court House in Wahoo, NE. I received this work in an odd exchange. His wife gave me a Christmas gift at work. In the package I found a pair of turquoise earrings. No one else had anything extra in their gift. She wasn't there to ask.

A couple of days later, Robin called. "The earrings were a gift to my wife from her mother and were accidentally placed in your box. If you would return them, I'll give you one of my works."

"Of course I will, and you don't owe me a thing!" But he did give me this work anyway. And I love it!!!

His wife had another surprise. Many years earlier, she'd found a dainty pinky ring on the streets of Boston. She said it didn't feel like it belonged to her, but she held onto it. Many years before, I'd lost a cherished ring my Aunt Bobbe gave me. I accepted hers. It has a center opal surrounded by amethysts, my birthstone. We were both joyfully satisfied.

Art: George Watson Hall III
Copy: ©2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Nature Creates

 A drop of ice water made a bear climbing the grain in our table.

 Love is everywhere.

A drop of coffee made a heart.

These pictures were NOT altered. I caught love and creativity in the act.

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Our Animal Kingdom: Madchen, Schatzie & Buckshot

Madchen (long A) and Schatzie paired for life.

Although not related, both are rescue cats from different years. 

They groom each other and snuggle to sleep.
At night, they take turns going out.

Buckshot

the unwanted addition
third wheel
different species

All he wants to do is play with them.

They want no part of it.

He says, "With my blanket in tow, I could go anywhere."

He gets excited when neighbor dogs

show up in our yard

and he doesn't like to have to "sit"

to be hooked to his long leash

 

He liked his blanky so much,

he nibbled it all gone

We found his "colon sweep"
 recycled in the yard.
He's just fine.

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Koala on a Nickel

Both second grade classes I read to are fascinated with nature. From the Wildlife Education, Ltd. series of Zoo Books, we talked about koalas this week. The students already knew they have a big black nose and fuzzy ears, and that they cling to trees.  Nocturnal was a new word.  "If you get to see them in a zoo or game park, it would be in the daytime and they wouldn't be wide awake. That's why people think they're lazy, but they can move real fast to find food. And they will climb up a tree 150'."

Marsupial was another new word. Not one to use everyday, unless you're studying Australian animals with over 170 pouched varieties. We might not get further than Australia this semester.

What most surprised us is that a newborn koala fits on a nickel. The gestation period is only 30 days. The baby is born blind, hairless and ear-less.  Using it's front legs, it crawls into its mother's pouch and attaches to her teat, or it dies. Her pouch is entered from the bottom, where a kangaroo pouch is entered from the top.

The book compared the koala with a human baby. Both look like a shrimp in the early stages. The koala stays in the pouch for about six months to finish growing. Mother opens and closes it to keep her baby from falling out. When baby gets too big, it rides on her back.  

Their front leg hands have pinky, ring, and tall man. The index finger is a thumb that lays parallel to the other thumb. Their back leg hands have pinky and ring, with tall man and index growing together, and a thumb that has a small ball on its end. And their fingernails are very long and sharp. "If you ever get a chance to hold a koala, put one hand high on its back and the other under its bottom, or it will sink its claws in your shoulder."

Koalas eat very specific eucalyptus leaves that are poisonous to other animals, which makes their life difficult outside of Australia.

There are big cats, snakes, elephants and other creatures in the series. I'm looking forward to them, too.

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Gand Canyon orange

2009 Red Convertible Travel Series

Giraffe Family Portrait

Mom Giraffe wants a simple family portrait for the grandparents. "Line up."

"But Mom, he's touching me."

"Stop it! Line up. All of you. Stand still a neck-length apart!"

In a whisper, "Mom, there are two-footeds watching us."

"There are no such things. Say tall trees."

Click.

photo by Leroy & Alice Pataocka Fortner in South Africa

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Mouse House

This morning we had flurries and sunshine with an abundance of wind: March has arrived.

Yesterday we took Buckshot to the woods to run and check on our motorhome.  We want to keep him in shape.  He recently outran a pit bull.

I reached from the side and carefully opened the door of the motorhome.  Nothing came racing out.  The house was quiet.  For the first time in years, Asian beetles, ladybug look alikes, were nowhere to be seen.  I kind of missed their football huddles in the corners of the ceiling.  Sniff! Sniff!  Nothing dead, even though traps were sprung and bait was missing.  The drapes were still closed across the windshield.  Four-footed attempts to take the house for a joy-ride were abandoned.  They probably couldn't get it started.  It is tricky.  The rest of the windows were still covered with their heavy, fabric over slatted blinds, and the bed wasn't lumpy.

The aftermath of their activity reminded me of a NASCAR campground the day after the race.  Crap everywhere!  Anything paper was shredded: paper towels I forgot to store in an overhead, inaccessible cupboard; a single kleenex; the cardboard back of a small tablet, and the motor vehicle title in the glove box. In the glove box!  Do they think we won't sell it, if we can't transfer the title?  Oh, oh, I get it.  This is their play house.  Babies learned to shuck sunflower seeds left in their sleeve on the dryer.  Twenty-foot races were run from the dash to the back wall of the kitchen.  I'll bet they got a kick out of watching their size increase the closer they got to the full-length mirror.

We're bringing the house to town for cleanup soon.  I'm hoping the shake, rattle and roll will pop all creatures out into the woods rather than our in town yard.

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series