October Souls

If you've ever seen anything about these [two] girls, you know about sweetness, blessedness oh my, Abagail and Brittany, you inspire me. Check them out on the internets.

OK, October wrapup. here's what I got:

In the month of October I received and did not forward 40 eMails of the spam and get-rich variety. You are welcome. We found a new mountain Home along the Blue River, and will never cease to sing it's praises. The life we live here keeps getting better and better.

you can’t have a past without a present, a future either.

of all the consequences a country could have at least not the ones from making war.

I always start to feel quite a bit better somewhere into my second beer.

He would pay his kids $100 a month just not to ask him stupid shit.

some constructive insomina is happening.

What would it be without your thoughts? Would it be?

who or what is it, that actually goes to sleep anyway?

If you want to know what you love watch what you do when you have a minute.

From the recently departed files:

We recently lost our friend Leonard O'Brien and Linda Montford. Reminders of love, kindness, grace, intelligence, beauty, friends and family. For their families, Cathy and I have a candle burning again tonite.

From some real people:

From one bathtub to another bathtub – All nonsense. Issa.

Without leaving my house

I know the whole universe. Lao-Tsu

[Picture found here.]

Yamamoto Tsunetomo (2)

Some more. He's starting to nail me now.

... The occurrence of mysteries is always by word of mouth.

Lord Naoshige said, "The Way of the Samurai is in desperateness. Ten men or more cannot kill such a man. Common sense will not accomplish great things. Simply become insane and desperate.

In the Way of the Samurai, if one uses discrimination, he will fall behind. One needs neither loyalty nor devotion, but simply to become desperate in the Way. Loyalty and devotion are of themselves within desperation.

After I took up the attitude of a retainer, I never sat sloppily whether at home or in some other place. Neither did I speak, but if there was something that could not be done properly without words. I made an effort to settle things by putting ten words into one. Yamazaki Kurando was like this.

In the words of the ancients, one should make his decisions within the space of seven breaths. Lord Takanobu said, "If discrimination is long, it will spoil." Lord Naoshige said, "When matters are done leisurely, seven out of ten will turn out badly. A warrior is a person who does things quickly."

When your mind is going hither and thither, discrimination will never be brought to a conclusion. With an intense, fresh and underlying spirit, one will make his judgments within the space of seven breaths. It is a matter of being determined and having the spirit to break right through to the other side.

A person with a bit of wisdom is one who will criticize the times. This is the basis of disaster. A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during the good times and will avoid punishment during the bad.

A warrior should not say something fainthearted even casually. He should set his mind to this beforehand. Even in trifling matters the depths of one's heart can be seen.

Until the age of forty it is best to gather strength. It is appropriate to have settled down by the age of fifty.

When discussing things with someone, it is best to speak appropriately about whatever the subject may be. No matter how good what you are saying might be, it will dampen the conversation if it is irrelevant.

When someone is giving you his opinion, you should receive it with deep gratitude even though it is worthless. If you don't he will not tell you the things that he has seen and heard about you again. It is best to both give and receive opinions in a friendly way.

When reading something aloud, it is best to read from the belly. Reading from one's mouth, one's voice will not endure. This is Nakano Shikibu's teaching.

[Image stolen from here.]

Yamamoto Tsunetomo (1)

Some teachings from Yamamoto Tsunetomo.

Learning is a good thing, but more often it leads to mistakes. It is like the admonition of the priest Konan. It is worthwhile just looking at the deeds of accomplished persons for the purpose of knowing our own insufficiencies. But often this does not happen. For the most part, we admire our own opinions and become fond of arguing.

According to the situation, there are times when you must rely on a person for something or other. If this is done repeatedly, it becomes a matter of importuning that person and can be rather rude. If there is something that must be done, it is better not to rely on others.

There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything.

In China there was once a man who liked pictures of dragons, and his clothing and furnishings were all designed accordingly His deep affection for dragons was brought to the attention of the dragon god, and one day a real dragon appeared before his window. It is said that he died of fright. He was probably a man who always spoke big words but acted differently when facing the real thing.

[Pic found here.]
My friend Amos gave me this book when I was in Portland. Thanks AmoJuan.

There

on the edge
here I am again
right now
is anyone over there?
on the other side?
do we just queue up?
here
pathetically staying
here?
the damn grass looks so green
over there

it only happens here?
this is where love is
love don’t wait
only selfish waits?
jesus, I’m tired of waiting
for there
is no there
is there?

Image copied from here.

A Widow For One Year - Book Report

I just finished this John Irving classic. I'll have to go to Amazon.com soon and get some more now that I've read all of the books of his I have on my shelf. In this story damn near everyone is a writer. In some ways it's like a textbook for writers. As usual, by the time you're in a chapter or two John has a cast of characters developed that you already know very well. He is the master of characters.

You know I don't like to give any of these stories away. You can find other reviews where folks divulge such information (just search the internets). It's fiction, there's some sex, pain, suffering, life, Amsterdam sex, in that order. Recommend = absolutely. Great story, superbly told.

bobJuan Irving in Training.

Blue River Mountain Retreat

Cathy and I just returned from 7 nites and the days in between at the Blue River Mountain Retreat just south of Alpine. We have found our new mountain vacation place, oh my. It's so good we hesitate to tell anyone about it, so we can keep it for ourselves. But, you know that's not the way we roll.

The retreat is located about 10 miles south of Alpine along the Blue River. It's actually in New Mexico, it figures, the Land of Enchantment. Though we drove some new roads, and of course had to go to the Beautiful Place, and the East Fork of the Black River, there's no reason to get in your car once you get there. It's peaceful and there are wonderful hikes that start just outside the cabin door.

We made some new friends, Mike and Kris. Kris was house sitting for Don and Janie who own/live at the Retreat. She is an expert in all things along the Blue, especially the trails. Mike used to work for the Forest Service back in the day a little further south in the Clifton district. He's friends with Don, Janie and Kris too. We are thankful to have the chance to meet such wonderful people along the Blue.

When we got into Phoenix last nite, I realized we hadn't been to a restaurant or seen a traffic light in 6 days. You can catch all our pic from the trip here.

Heading to the Mountains

We're heading up to the Blue River Mountain Retreat for a week. Pics and stories to come. This is my to do list!

Red Thread

I had to find out for myself
for those who merely believed
seemed only merely happy
the flame of my red thread
would not be quenched by
magical spells or doused by
hand-me-down mores or extinguished by
popular beliefs or even pete’s sake
for christ’s sake

and so i set out
to free myself from the tyranny of
virtuousness, respectability, accountability,
predictability, and all them othertabilitys
most certainly self controlability.
never again would i be detained or restrained.
free at lastability!

i did the things i wanted for a change.
and a bit of the everything too
oh my
there was no end to it,
my red thread is
an eternal blazing flame

then in february i saw you in trailz
buying some screenz and incense
you were barefoot and
your hair was longer and
your skin was tanner and
your wa was like it ever was and
i followed you home
like a puppy

after 40 years of the burn
my bones and my cells know
it's good, really good, here
with you
and your fire.

[Image found here]

Camelback Mountain

I see you around town
watching me
watching you
wanting me

everytime you come it’s dark
and hot
sometimes there’s blood
everytime there’s pain,
pleasure
and sweat

I’ve seen you with that squaw
I have others too you know
I never deny
my secrets and pleasures
even to those who consider me
a 30 minute conquest
up and down my frontness
like a piece
of equipment

but you my tender lover
start slow
and finish even slower
quietly penetrating the darkness
of my backness
your soft touch
just before sunrise
we peak

each time you withdraw
is the beginning of our next time.
I’ll be watching you.
Look, you’ve come again
and brought me another poem.