In Honor of the Servicemen and Servicewomen who have given their lives for the freedom of others.

1. Go to http://www.clustrmaps.com/admin/action.php

2. Fill in the required information….your blog’s name and your email address.

3. Respond to email verification that will be sent to you from cluster.maps

4. You will receive 2 emails…(1) confirming that you want to join cluster maps; (2) you will receive a new password for Cluster Maps and then you have to re-sign into Cluster Maps with the new password directly from the email you receive.

5. CHANGE your password to your own preference.

6. Next  you have to paste the HTML code to your Blog.  Go to Cluster Maps  subsection called “Instructions”—click on “Instructions”

7. When the page appears with Instructions…look to the RIGHThand side of the page as you face it.  You will see “Sub Pages” written with a yellow background. Scan downwards until you reach “Clustermaps on Iblog”—-click on this link.

8. YOU will now need to complete 2 Phases:

Instructions from source on Cluster Maps.  ALL of instructions below from Cluster Map site and full credit is given to them:

(1)PHASE I: Copy your ClustrMaps HTML code

1. Log in to your ClustrMaps ‘Admin’ page by clicking on the Admin link at the top of any ClustrMaps page, or going directly to: http://www.clustrmaps.com/admin/action.php (use your URL as your username, and the password you have been sent, or the password you changed it to)

2. On your admin page, you will see a box containing the relevant HTML code (option [A] or [B] are both fine). Click in the box with your mouse and select ALL of that text (you can use the two keyboard keys CTRL+A to select all of it)

3. Now copy that HTML (you can use the two keyboard keys CTRL+C to perform this, or right-click with the mouse and select ‘Copy’); you will then paste it into your web page later on below.

(2)PHASE II: Blog-specific alterations for iBlog users

4. Now you must log into your blog hosting account, using the sequence you would normally use, say, if you were about to change your blog settings or preferences or user profile information. Do this in a separate browser window if possible, or in the same window you are currently using if that is simpler for you.

5. You now need to alter the ‘code’ on your page where the map is going to appear. To do this, follow the specific sequence for WORDPRESS.

• copy the ‘ClustrMaps HTML’ provided by us (’minimalist’ option [B]);
• log in to your WordPress account;
• go to Dashboard… Appearance… Widgets… Text… drag to Sidebar
• select edit…, paste the ‘ClustrMaps HTML’ into the large text area, then Save

6. Go to this page of Cluster Maps, if my explanation is not clear enough:  http://blog.clustrmaps.com/html-setup/clustrmaps-on-wordpress/

Best of luck to you!

English: The NGC 2024 the Flame Nebula in Orion Credit:Davide De Martin – http://www.skyfactory.org (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

tonight i am thinking of my brother, Bill

and how i miss him from this life

it is two months today since he has  gone, leaving me with no fill

tears are falling and my heart feels cut like a knife

then i happened upon  an old Inuit tale

that said that perhaps the stars are not stars

and i became still and very pale

but i read on and heard the stars are openings from afar

where the love of our lost ones pours through

their light is shining upon us to let us know that they are smiling

and we never have to say adieu

  they are tiptoeing through the night sky dancing

Planetary nebula NGC 5979 (Photo credit: Wikipedia

****************************************

My brother, Bill, was fifteen months younger than myself. He died less than a month before his 62nd birthday. He died from myotonic dystrophy, a genetic disorder that is much like muscular dystrophy. The disease is characterized by muscle weakness and a gradual death of nerve cells within the body organs.  With my brother, his speech became more and more slurred, then he could no longer swallow, as the epiglottis no longer functioned, and the food would travel down his windpipe, rather than the alimentary canal. This resulted in respiratory problems and pneumonia. He eventually chose to be tube-fed. He had great difficulty walking, as his muscles would contract and then not release. Then his ability to breathe lessened and he was nearing the need for a ventilator, but his heart gave out before that could be placed.

Bill was a very unassuming individual. He went about his life quietly as he matured. When we were kids, he would always play the Catholic priest and give us Stark candy circles for communion. He had a talent for drawing that was curtailed with his muscle degeneration. He was kind and helpful to others and would often give a room to someone who needed a place to stay. Bill did not advertise his generous nature, but if he saw that you needed something, one day it would appear in your mailbox—as he did for me after a visit, and noticed my cooking utensils were dull and few. A week after he visited, a block of sharpened knives appeared at my front door! I have heard similar tales of his generosity.

This disease is so strange…when we were growing up together, it was not noticeable, except for his tiredness during the day, and his inability to sleep at night. This turns out to be a symptom of the disease. Bill enjoyed elementary and high school–and was in the US Army in the paratrooper division when the disease manifested itself. Around the age of  27, the myotonic dystrophy ballooned! His walking and speech became increasingly difficult, and he was honorably discharged from the Army.

He eventually moved to Missouri and then Kansas, where he met Harriette, his wife of the last ten years. I was happy for him that he found someone he could love and who loved him. He deserved that in this life.

I was able to see him in January in Kansas, as he had to go to a nursing facility. My older brother, Claude, and his wife, Kerri, were kind enough to take me with them to visit him for a week.  But you know, that week was not enough! What amazed me so, was his calm way of preparing everything so that Harriette would not have difficulty in taking over once he left us. He went about it so diligently and without any pompous noise. He just did what he had do in such a  matter-of-fact manner. He didn’t worry about leaving or fear his death—his only concern was to make things easier for his wife. Even in his last days,  he was so giving. I wonder if I could be like that!
I do miss him and guess that is just one more person I will have to look forward to speaking to when I am in that next place…nevertheless, the tears are many and often…still….tears in between the tears.

We also lost our sister, Barbara, to the disease three years ago. There are 16 people among my siblings and first cousins who have the disease.

Related Article:

http://www.genome.gov/25521207  Learning About Myotonic Dystrophy

I am raging with anger today…the only way I can get it out…is by expressing WHY…and sending PRAYERS of Hope into the universe…PRAYERS of Love Crystals to heal humanity…We have to speak about these things and rid our beings of them.  At first, I shunned the news reports. My insides were exhausted from their pain. Then I was again exposed to them–news from friends, events I have read about from other bloggers, the radio…I could not escape.  Then I asked myself WHY? WHY can’t I get away from this!  I want to run and hide!  Then I thought further — yes, it is so much easier to live apart from it…but it is still there…and these who are suffering need our voices! They need our joy…they need our light…they need us to speak for them and tell them we are sorry for their suffering.  They need us to make movement in our beings to vocalize what they cannot. They need us to find a way to bring this to the attention of all–so that somehow, a new movement is begun to lift us up and beyond our savage ways and greed.

Transparency is our only tool to make the world a better place. I do not know what else we can do!

We are meant to be LIGHT to one another…regardless of your culture, your race, your religion,  your spirituality…we are human beings and we are hurting each other into annihilation!

This is WHY…these are the SUFFERINGS I have met with this week in the News and in the Blogs I have read and I cannot bear the suffering alone anymore…and I am sure there are so many of you out there suffering with me.  We need to stop the inhumanity of man!

I pray for those who have suffered from my hands…for those who have suffered from the hands of others…and for those who have caused the suffering–that they may wake from their coma and be peacemakers.

* the men and women, innocent children, babies that have been killed by the USA drone attacks!

* the three young women and child that were kidnapped for 10  Y E A R S

* the 3 year old boy who was scalded to death last week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by a boyfriend enraged!

* the men who have been beaten to death, women who have been raped, boys who have been raped, children who have been tortured in the Congo, mining coltan so that we can use our cell phones and the computer I am using to type these words.  Nokia is one of the companies that conducts business with these people.

* the guns that are delivered to developing countries–who is making money from these gun purchases? Corporations here in America. Every time one of us buys a gun, we add to their wealth, their greed, their unconcern for those to whom they sell the fire arms.

* the Native Americans who have been given the worse land in this country on which to live and still do not have their freedom on these lands, with  the constant inhumane federal regulations that supersede their own human rights.

* the Fracking of Mother Earth–destroying the FOUR water basins here in the USA.  The “fracking of Africa” by European corporations who do NOT want to spoil their own lands, so they go into Africa and offer money to use the land. One more time Africa is being raped by the new colonial power: CORPORATE GREED.

* the homeless on our streets—who is there to speak for the mentally challenged, for the impoverished, for the financially drained?  We have tons of buildings that stand empty because of bureaucracy and stupid coding laws–done in the name of safety.  SO I suppose it much safer to let entire families live on the streets without shelter?

* the elderly who are put into the “gas chambers” called nursing homes? Why? Because we can not bear to take care of our own parents? So we stick them away…out of sight…and go on with our lives.  Nursing homes today are a million times worse than they were forty years ago when I worked in them– despite the outward appearance. We have managed to sophisticate our image to hide the abuse.

* the lack of funds for education hidden under the guise of new competency testing. Testing is nothing but a money-making scheme of Corporate America once again fleecing our society.  If we do not educate our children, then what do we have for our future? Do you really think Corporate America cares about your child? Your children? They do not care IF you have employment. They care about one thing: their pocketbook!

I am exhausted and I am sure that there could be so much more added to this bleak picture.  We have to be Light Beings to each other—we need to leave our comfort zone and do whatever little bit we can do…for some, it will be simply accepting another person into your circle of caring…for another it may mean walking in a protest march or organizing one…for another it may mean changing your attitude, your perception of the world, and live with a little less, while giving a little more…for another it may mean speaking up for someone who cannot speak…

We must do something…before it is too late…

I will try to be a love crystal to those whom I meet. I will try to sign whatever piece of paper comes my way that needs my signature to help make the world better. I will speak out about injustice– even if it annoys others.

We need to help each other make this world a better place for our children…for each woman…for each man….for each person on this Earth! and we need to protect Mother Earth!

Een welgemeende dank aan Patty van http://petitemagique.wordpress.com mij hebben genomineerd voor deze prijs!

A heartfelt thank you to Patty of  http://petitemagique.wordpress.com for nominating me for this award!

Since we are able to do the awards over a period of seven days, my first SEVEN  Nominees are:

* Noeleen   http://wordsfallfrommyeyes.wordpress.com/   Noeleen writes with truth…her honesty is felt deep within her writing…Noeleen writes about her son, Daniel, and her deep love and care of  him and for him — and how messed up the court system is! Mothers have an awesome responsibility and duty—Noeleen walks the talk courageously! She goes beyond herself and her fears –for her son, Daniel! In between all of that—which is a monumental task–she takes time to visit my blog, reads me and leaves comments to boot! A great team member!

*  The Elusive Scribe       https://theelusivescribe.wordpress.com  Here is a sampling of her writing from “Delight in the Darkness”—– “We revel under the blackness of the night,where shadows play and fires burn…” Just one example of her passionate metaphors and the deep sensitivity you will find in her writing!  And these opening lines from “Murmur” give you another taste of her writing: “In the dead of the night I hear, whispers made by the shadows near, I can catch phrases in between the din,piecing them together feels like a sin…”  Her visits to my blog’s writings, keeps me writing…this prompts me to choose her as a Team Member! I encourage you to visit hers and do the same for her! You will be pleasantly surprised!

* Sheri     http://en.gravatar.com/sheridegrom   Sheri writes fantastic book reviews and is also an advocate for Healthcare reform in this country and is an active legislative analyst. Her reviews flow so beautifully– you find yourself inside the books she writes about. Sheri’s passion for healthcare reform is personal and done with grace and intelligence. A worthy woman to follow and read! She also takes time to visit my little blog and gives meaningful replies and encourages me as a person! She is a great team member!

*MM Mohan      advocatemmmohan.wordpress.comM M Mohan’s blog of writings and poetry is an inspiration to me! His poetry touches me to the core of my being. He brings to light the inner workings of the heart and soul, helping us to reflect on the deeper meaning of our interaction with one another and with our inner struggle of becoming. I am voting for him as a Team Member because he has created a connection with all of us on WordPress …beyond the borders of India.

* Liz Terry  http://lizterryblog.wordpress.com/  Liz is the author of   Postcards from France –“this is book of comic short stories about her life as a British ex-pat living in South West France” [http://www.lulu.com/shop/liz-terry/postcards-from-france/paperback].  Liz also posts articles and information about the LGBT community–this I think is great! The articles she posts increase the understanding of all of us and encourages us to see that we are all human beings on our journey through life!  I was delighted by her visit from the UK to my blog here in the little Palmyra countryside of Wisconsin.  I have selected her as a team member for her willingness to travel abroad to meet me and encourage me with her words!

* Gabrielle   http:myheathenheart.com   Gabrielle is anything BUT a heathen!  She is a warm, compassionate and passionate human being who has widened her vision of the world to care about all of humanity! Her blog is “mega-interesting!”– If I may be so bold as to coin a new phrase.  She lays bare the facts about the misogynistic attitude of religion, the greed of corporate powers who care only about profit and not about the price of humanity that gets them their wealth; about how people everywhere –you and I—are connected to what  happens to the poor of the Congo so that we can have our cell phones and computers–sobering thought to the soul! The videos that accompany her blog clearly demonstrate Corporate Greed–ie. Nokia, for one —who care little about the women and children who are raped and brutalized, and brutally killed,  because of their greed. We are all part of the problem–we need to speak up for those who die for our luxuries. Heart-wrenching! Gabrielle wandered on to my blog—her visit brought me back to hers! And that is how a team works! She is amazing in her truth and deep honesty! She is an inspiration and encouragement to me!

* John Castellenas     http://johncoyote.wordpress.com    His vision as written on his blog is  “Old Native American wisdom. We need to gather as one people to save earth and all people.”  John is Native American and he writes to us today bringing the wisdom of his elders to our doorstep! Beautiful and deep writing! I selected him as a Team Member because I feel he brings the wisdom we all need to hear to save ourselves and Mother Earth.

The RULES  are as follows:

1.The Nominee of the Wonderful Team member Readership Award shall display the logo on his/her blog.
2.The Nominee shall nominate 14 readers they appreciate over a period of 7 days, all at once or little by little.
3.The Nominee shall name his/her Wonderful Team Member Readership Award nominees on a post or on posts during 7 days.

Over a period of 7 days (1 week), the Nominee shall nominate a number of readers that he or she appreciates – this can be done at any rate during the week. It can be all on one day or a few on one day and a few on another day, as most convenient to the Nominee.

The Nominee shall name his or her Wonderful Team Member Readership Award nominees on a post or on posts during the 7 day (1 week) period.

English: Bird watcher at Lambley Reed Pond A spring fed pond and area of unimproved grassland, owned by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org.uk/nature-reserves/reed-pond/ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For those of you who do not know the weed called Creeping Charlie, be thankful! It is a ground ivy and is extremely problematic because it infiltrates anywhere there is brown earth and a possibility of sunshine! It probably grows even in the shade! It chokes the life out of the grass and other flowering plants. I never had it until  some new soil was imported to my lawn five years ago. Now it is a never ending battle!

Yes, Creeping Charlie is a concern of mine and now I have discovered that it is even growing inside of me! I have come to realize that my selfishness and self-centered behavior  is like an obnoxious weed — it infiltrates my motives of being — and it was a startling discovery for me! I have always thought of myself as mostly nice and not too evil, good sense of humor, helpful here and there to others, persevering, and, I thought, quite altruistic.  Then this morning, after the hundred years I have lived, I discovered how my once positive trait of being persistent, has turned me into a person who is so self-centered.  I wanted something that I could not have. I was not satisfied with what I was given.  Then I was reminded of the last lines of a poem I had written recently, ” …if someone special is at your door…do not ever ask for anything more.”  I had to eat my words…[this has happened more than once, you would think it would silence me.

I allowed my persistence, that could be a virtue, turn me into a horrible human being.  I used every manipulation I could dream of in pursuit of what I wanted. I used my persistence to the -nth degree. I used logic…at least what seemed logical to me. I used humor. I used pleading. I used what ever words I could come up with. All to no avail. I failed in my selfish quest — and it was justice served that I failed. Now I am left with great sadness.  I did not consider the other person. I did not put the best interests of my friend first. I failed at the friendship and I am left with a bitter pill to swallow. Now I have nothing and it was because I could not accept the gift I was given.

In an effort to console my wounds, I wandered on to WordPress and came upon a blogger who I admire very much, Advocatemmmohan, and he had just posted a new poem. [ http://advocatemmmohanaksharaalu.wordpress.com/author/advocatemmmohan/%5D        His poem,  “Bird Watcher,” — it is worth your time to visit and read.  The last line of his poem reads, In every incident, if your soul is able to stand like a Bird Watcher , it is nothing but a Stitha Prajna Yog.  

I did not know what Stitha Prajna Yog meant. So I did some research…and then my heart wept some more. I became aware of how self-centered I was. “…to be established in wisdom” was one explanation that I found referring to the meaning of Sthita Prajna…”sthita” meaning “established” and “praina” meaning “wisdom.” [http://www.kriya.org/resources__spj.php]    Another site explained it further saying that a person who possesses this, acts as “one” with others and is a person who is tranquil and quiet. This person does not allow the emotions or desires of the heart to force a reaction to a situation.  But, instead, finds joy within — not contingent upon external factors.  It concluded by saying, this person “will never act in a way to cause harm to others because this person sees everyone as her/his own spirit”  [http://satsang-foundation.org/?p=535}

This person has self-acceptance and self-love. For it is true, unless we indeed accept and love ourselves, we will always fall short of truly loving the other person.

So…now, I must become a “Bird Watcher.”  I have much growing to do…along journey ahead…and I can only hope for forgiveness for the  lack of growth in myself and for causing sorrow to my friend.

sadness…do not allow sadness to mess with your judgment

sadness….do not allow sadness to manipulate your goodness

sadness…do not allow the negative thought to enter your mind

Say “STOP” and go on and find your inner core…the open door!

English: Emotions associated with sadness (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

P.S.   Thank you to Elaine for the word, “STOP!” and for helping me to realize I had the power in me all along to make a choice for my life…

thank you to

QueridaJ
intotheindigo.wordpress.com x
queridaj@gmail.com

and

Ami Fidèle
amidereve.wordpress.com x
fidelee_@hotmail.com

Unabashedly I will admit that while I get quite tickled pink about receiving a nomination the requirements make me less than eager….i like nominating…but seriously people are going to fall asleep reading my pathetic attempts at balancing randomness vs. wittiness…so I’m gonna fudge the rules just so I can get on to my favourite part: Nominations!…and hopefully help bloggers that I know get to discover each other’s talents =) wow does anyone want to queue the sing-along?

A Most Gracious Thank You to Ami Fidele =) http://amidereve.wordpress.com

….no question about his talents and the magic he wields with his pen and that wondrous imagination.

The proper rules are as follows….you’re welcome to carry on the tradition:

The Liebster Blog Award

1. Accept the award, post the picture of the Liebster Award on the top of your post and say who nominated you for the award and list their blog site.

2. List 11 random facts about yourself.

3. Nominate 11 other bloggers for the Liebster Award and list their blog sites.

4. Notify the bloggers of their award.

5. Ask the award winners 11 questions to answer when they accept their Liebster Award.

6. Answer the questions left for you by the blogger who gave you the award.

Honourable Mention go to the following:

advocatemmmohan         http://advocatemmmohan.wordpress.com/
advocatemmmohan.wordpress.com x

Prashant   http://justspokenthoughts.wordpress.com/

A soldier with a positive heart.  Prashant wrote: “Every cloud has a silver lining. If you haven’t been able to find yours – then paint it yourself !

http://ypsjadon.wordpress.com/

Yjadon’s  poetry is positive and beautiful…filled with HOPE and Belief!

http://poesypluspolemics.com/2013/04/15/marathon/

Paul Lenzi

http://mywaytotruth.wordpress.com

1.      http://subhanzein.wordpress.com/

2.      https://johannisthinking.com/

3.      http://marinakanavaki.com/

4.      http://seshatwuji.wordpress.com/

5.      http://boomiebol.wordpress.com/

6.      http://cruisingthroughmylife.wordpress.com/

7.      http://awakeningpsyche.wordpress.com/

8.      http://ilovegreeninspiration.com/

9.      http://13syllable.wordpress.com/

10.  http://asoulswalk.wordpress.com/

11.  http://ericalagan.net/

And just so I completely do not derail this rules business I’ll answer 3 of the questions asked by Ami, please feel free to answer the same or make up your own or do your own thing (but don’t say I told you so

6. What’s your writing process like?

-scribbles on various pieces of papers/notebooks…hardly readable hence why I usually type them out the very next day…sometimes if I feel like it, I will just type out a piece and save it as a draft, sometimes I finish it and change nothing and sometimes I come back to it and it’s lost.

7. Among your work, do you have favorite poem? If so which one and why?

I have always like a certain poem entitled “Oh Icarus!” but no one else seems to like it as much as I do… =)

8. What’s your favorite book and why?

too many to list…actually I keep a list of my favourite reads…over the years my definition of what I favour has grown…even horrific/tragic/unpleasant/questionable narratives written superbly warrant a place on the list.