Reblogged from leaf and twig:

Fleeting is spring's splendor
so sweeter is the view.

Beautiful flowers, beautiful thoughts. This blogger always gives me a lift.

Today marks the 43rd anniversary of the Kent State shootings. On May 4, 1970 as students were protesting the ‘Cambodian Incursion’ and the Vietnam war in general, National Guardsmen fired 67 rounds of ammunition over a period of 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others, one of whom suffered permanent paralysis. (read more)

Just out of college and still actively involved in protesting the war, the shootings were horrifying–the worst yet of escalating violence between student protestors and law enforcement.

Here is the still poignant “Four Dead in Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.”

A few years ago, our daughter and her husband moved to the frozen lands of Minnesota. They bought a business that makes warm clothing. How smart is that? And, their products are made from organic wool, recycled sweaters and repurposed buttons. Truly fabulous.

Watch this video that explains it all.

Check out Northern Woolens website to order.

Tonight I watched a tribute to Levon Helm call “Love for Levon.” A whole slew of grey-haired musicians like Roger Waters, Greg Allman, Joe Walsh, and many more sang their hearts out for Levon and his music for a couple of glorious hours.

I remember back in the early seventies in Austin. For about a year, there was a bar called Bonnie’s (I think) that became ‘the place’ to be on Wednesday nights. It was a little ramshackle place with a large outdoor patio. Beer was a quarter or fifty cents–what ever was really cheap back then. At the end of the night, every time, whatever band was playing that night, played the Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” The whole audience sang along. That song signaled the end of the evening and if you didn’t have someone to go home with yet, that was the cue to find someone fast.

The tribute to Levon, made me cry. It made me miss my youth. Now, I’m OK with who and what my life is now, but really, those were the days.

So, I’m gonna take a load off fannie (mine being considerably larger these day), have a beer, or three, and watch that show again.

Dear Northeast Baptist Hospital,

You may be “tobacco-less”, but your employees and others are not. Since there is no trash can or ashcan nearby, smokers walk over to the edge of the back parking lot, down the walkway leading to Los Patios and the Greenway trails path.  Here they drop their cigarette butts and trash. This picture shows a small area of the litter.

SAD

Northeast Baptist smokers defile natural area

Richard and I go walking almost every Sunday (and some other days) on the Salado Creek’s Greenway Trails. This is a San Antonio City project, paving trailways through natural areas alongside Salado Creek. The trails are walk, run, bike and dog friendly. And, the people are friendly. There’s always a “good morning” or wave whenever you pass. We catch the one down behind NE Baptist Hospital at Los Patios and walk to Lady Bird Johnson Park and back.  Check out this link to see where you can find the trail nearest your neighborhood.

We see the seasons change and wildlife like deer and birds–including big vultures.

Here are a few pictures from this morning.

There are some of the largest Chinaberry trees I’ve ever seen.

There’s always friendly people

There’s lots of Cardinals!

There are a lot of dead trees, too, due to the drought.

Richard and I went to the Texas Book Festival – San Antonio Edition today. It was held at the Central Library and at the Southwest School of Art, which is right across the street. Lots of books, booths, activities, speakers and such. My friend Mary Cantu, founder of Spareparts, was there with her reuse, re-purpose, recycle art projects for the kiddies and adults alike.

We brought her some of Richard’s best shortbread, chocolate topped cookies for her eating pleasure.

It’s nice to see books and reading encouraged and authors sharing their stories. Most of them were from San Antonio and Texas from what I could tell. That’s a big Yippee! too.

Richard and Mary Cantu from Spareparts

Kym’s Kids were some of the many volunteers

Some of the book booths

This is a local book press, which is nice.

UPDATE: March 2, 2013

This is a cautionary notice about Facebook–for everyone, but especially for you to share with your children and grandchildren.

My 18 year old grandson, Justin, was arrested in his home in New Braunfels, TX by Federal Marshals and ICE on Thursday, February 14, 2013. He was charged with Federal felony terroristic threats. His bail is $250,000.

This all stemmed from a very stupid comment he posted on Facebook, which he had retracted.UPDATE 2/17/13 I learned this was a post was taken completely out of context. Both parents admonished him for it, acknowledging it was a fictional representation of someone other person’s mind.

As of February 15, he is being held in Bexar County Jail in San Antonio. He was allowed to call me from there and this is how I got some information. My son went completely incoherent with panic–and outrage. Justin, on the other hand, understood exactly what a mess he is in and realized his huge mistake–albeit too late. So far, he sounds calm, and is just waiting to find out where he will be held waiting for trial. We all know that could be a year or more.

Justin is not involved in drugs, alcohol, or weapons. He had a good job. His only vice is video games.

Do I want to say more about the injustice of the situation? You bet! But right now I only ask two things:

Please pray for Justin and his family

Please share this with your children, your grandchildren and any of your friends’ children. Warn them about the dangers of posting rants, bad language, or jokes that might be misconstrued as violent acts.

It’s not a joke or a rumor. It happened.

UPDATE: February 21, 2013

Justin was transferred to Austin for jail. He will not get bail and must reside in the Del Valle complex until he goes to trial. He has not seen or been appointed a lawyer. This kid is not a terrorist. We do realize just writing what he did is a crime, but it seems it would have to be tied to real intent somehow.

We can write and talk on the phone.

Justin was finally appointed an attorney. The attorney’s assistant has been to see him. There appears to be no clear cut idea of what the evidence is or what law enforcement plans to do with Justin as far as charges. He is not yet indicted and, is in fact, slated to be moved once again to Hays Co. or Comal Co. jail to be indicted. Why?, because he was actually living in New Braunfels at the time of the post and the arrest.

What a travesty this whole thing is turning out to be, what a miscarriage of justice and waste of taxpayer money. What a waste of time for law enforcement who should be trying to avert real threats and catch real criminals.

Justin is hanging in there but sounds more and more depressed every time we talk.

Udate: April 4, 2013

Justin has now been incarcerated for 45 days without an indictment. He was transferred to the Comal County Jail last week. As of yet, he does not have a new court-appointed attorney. The jail administration has not offered to get him one. I told him to be more pro-active and ask. His new charge is “Terrorist threat with intent to disrupt government services.” Again, that was not his intent. Bail is the same $250,000. He does sound like he’s hanging in there, bored and unsure of the future for sure!

Continue praying, please.

This is from the bible verses of John 5:1-10.  There was a pool in Bethesda surrounded by five colonnades.  A great number of diseased, lame, or otherwise afflicted persons lay by the pool. At certain seasons, an angel of the Lord would go down and trouble, or agitate, the waters.  Those who made it into the waters as they were roiling, would be healed.

There was one paralyzed man who had lain by the pool for 38 years.  His physical state did not allow him to ever make it down to the pool in time to be healed. When Jesus asked him why he had been there so long without being able get in the water on time to be healed the man said, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Now sometimes this verse gets the negative treatment. What’s wrong with this guy he can’t drag himself down to the water in 38 years. Everyone else can get down there. What a whiner, he expects someone to help him down to the pool. After all “God helps those who helps themselves.” Those people on welfare and food stamps, they should just get off the couch and go get a job. They’re just lazy and looking for a handout. All those kids with no health insurance. So what if that single-mom is working two jobs just to provide the basics. We shouldn’t have to pay for those kids healthcare. Certain politicians think the way to balance the budget is by cutting all human services programs.

Everyone needs a little help sometimes. After all, Jesus didn’t berate this man, he healed him. It’s hard to pick oneself up by the bootstraps if you don’t have boots. Sometimes it’s hard for us to ask for help as it can be interpreted as a sign of weakness.
The platitude that states “God won’t give you more than you can handle” doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help from your fellow humans as well as the spiritual implications.

It’s ok to give help–joyfully, and without judgment.  It’s ok to ask for help without guilt or supplication.

OK, that’s my rant for the day.

When I was growing up, every new year’s day my mother made all the family–and anyone who came over–eat black-eyed peas for good luck. It’s a Southern thing. If you didn’t like black-eyed peas, you had to at least eat a spoonful because it was too risky to tempt fate.

So as tradition dictates, each new years day, I eat black eyed-peas. I also attempt to make a realistic New Year’s resolution. I give it considerable thought, as I wish to continue improving my character flaws, lose weight, and/or cultivate more brain power.

I found some very good suggestions floating around the internet I’d like to share.

Here’s one entitled “12 powerful resolutions you should make every year” by Marc and Angel Hack Life. These two consistently put advice for personal improvement in easy to follow steps. I especially like the one about ‘balancing life with necessary rest.’  I see many people forget the importance of Sabbath time–the time to reflect and listen and have some quiet time in your brain.

This blog post, “Zen and Art of Credibility Maintenance” by Gary Whitford helps create good resolutions for any level writer. Good communication is a major key to success and personal credibility.

The website “Statistic Brain” gives you all the data you every wanted to know–or not–about making resolutions. How does your favorite rank?

This is a little prayer-like resolution from me. Remember to say “thank you.”
Every time I am ungrateful, you give me more. Every time I panic, you give me calm. Every time I whine you let me remember how blessed I am.  Thank you, Lord.

What’s your new year’s resolution?