Power to the People

"How's the war going?" my cat Toby asked while he climbed onto my lap as I sat on the farm's back porch after my walk around the fields and pastures. An unusually warm March breeze wafted over us. 

"It's looking horrible for the Ukrainians," I was sad to answer. "The Russian army is shooting them and blowing them up. The Ukrainians are fighting back with everything they've got, but it doesn't look like they'll be able to drive the Russians out. The whole world is against the war Vladimir Putin started with his Russian army. Well, except maybe China and India, but you never know. Who in this day and age actually thinks you can just roll war machinery into a country, bomb and kill everybody, and take over. There is something seriously gone wrong in Vladimir Putin's brain."

"Yikes!" Toby said, now alert. "Maybe that is why that strange cat prowling out there in the woods at the edges of the pastures calls himself Vladputin. I better step up my patrols so he doesn't get any ideas about taking over here!"

"Ouch! Your claws are flexing on my leg."

"I'm sorry," he apologized, then rubbed his head on my leg.

Then, I said, "Maybe it's a plus that you felines are not very social. Vladputin won't amass a swarm of cats, tell them a bunch of lies about you so they want to come fight you and take over your territory and the barn."

"Good point."

I could see he was thinking this over.

"Say," he said, "you social beings could do a big gun collection and a go-fund-me for ammo. There are more guns here than there are Americans. Pack up all that weaponry and airlift it over there for the Ukrainians. We sure don't need it here. People are just senselessly killing each other and themselves. Couldn't you all get together on that?"

"I doubt it. Americans just aren't getting along with each other very well. Still, I really do like your idea."

"Yeah!" he said. "Kill two birds with one stone."

I tried not to visualize that.

"Here's what I did," I told Toby. "I upped my monthly giving to Doctors without Borders. They help people in Ukraine, and all over the world."

"Also, I emailed my elected officials. I told them to please help stop the use of Russian oil and gas, and, this is important! I told them I don't mind paying more at the gas pump. I'll just cut back a little on other stuff or curb miles of car use."

"Yeah, you could skip my trip to the veterinarian this year."

"Hmmm. I think we'll still budget that in. But you have the right idea. Spending less and eliminating some everyday travels is well worth it for the Ukrainians and doing the next right thing, just like you said a while back. Maybe, just maybe, it'll be the push we need to make a really fast switch to renewable energies so nobody anywhere needs oil and gas."

"I think I hear another two-for!" he said and squirmed around on my lap so I'd pet his favorite spot on his head.

*

For the letters I wrote, I found an A-Z on how to contact federal, state, and local elected government officials. USA,GOV- Elected Officials with plenty more in the site's menus that actually show what our government is made of and how its parts do the work, so you can see our government is not a football kicked all over a political field. 

And, I remembered like in 2020, how to get good, trustworthy, voting information at the League of Women Voters and their really robust ballot site Vote411.org that has every bit of voting information all over the country, in every precinct, in every state, and Wash, DC. All the Republican, all the Democratic, all the Independent, all the Green, whatever others, all, all, all--size doesn't matter--their info is there wherever in America they exist. It's a relief to have up-to-date, reliable information, easy-to-use websites for these many years! It helps a lot to make well-informed decisions about who gets my ballot vote to represent and lead us.

  POWER TO  

 THE PEOPLE 

*

From the Sports Desk:

Our Utah family, Sonja, Jeff, and Elijah volunteered to coach one of Utah's youngest Jazz teams.

Ogden Jazz Man Kingston is ready to play!

Coach Sonja at work.

Mentoring a Jazz team member is Roy High School Royals' Elijah.

Thanks, to Jeff in there helping too and providing the photo-illustrated texts. He also provided the game-streaming links of Elijah's games that took the Royals through playoffs for an exciting overtime game when Elijah's final basket won them a place to play for the championship. They didn't win the championship game, but they're all in it to try next season, for sure.

From Cincinnati, ever more buff Cello Man shared his 365 lb lift moment...

Go, Aidan!!!!

*

From the Make Art, Not War Desk: 

In her words, Paula gives us a "Slice of Tucson" from a freeze a few days ago. She shows us how a local park-art gallery-eatery took care of their freeze-tender cacti...

...also recently, Paula has captured so well what it feels like living through our days fraught with much too much...

tangled in our weed patch

of much too much going on

we make art

we make music

we play games and sports

we gather medicine 

among the weeds

to make ready for sunshine

in our weed patch

in our minds

in our hearts

strong once again to resume

our quest for love

and joy 

to give kindness

and seek peace

Waging Peace...Bert and Toby...

...from Wendy.

If dogs and cats can Wage Peace...so can humans.

“The Fight Is Here; I Need Ammunition, Not a Ride" *

*Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky"

While Putin wages his murderous, misbegotten, evil war, people everywhere are standing up for those he is harming and killing. Honor and dignity and courage of the Ukrainians shine a brilliant light on his dark madness so all the world can see.

*

From the Make Art, Not War Desk:

Paula is sharing recent colors and observations of her "Sit Spot" in her Tucson yard on the foothills of the Catalina Mountains that define one edge of the valley...

Before we sign off tonight, let us hold the Ukrainians in light and open our hearts to others. Never, in my lifetime, has it been more apparent how much we mean to each other, and how important truth, justice, kindness, security, food, shelter, decency, and love are to make coherent systems that support human life and the life of our planet. 

Wage Peace.

Make Art, Not War.

Make Art, Not War & Random Acts of Kindness

"Well, Toby, just for a minute there yesterday, Persephone was in charge. Sure was good walking here at the farm in 60-degree sunshine!"

"Too bad the Goddess of Winter is swooping back. I'll just be hanging out here in the barn in my warm 'igloo'." He added, "Thank You, very much."

"I listened for the frogs yesterday on my walk. Maybe too soon though."

"Blech!" he said. "I don't really care. They taste terrible."

"Well, maybe your mama didn't skin them, roll them in milk then bread crumbs, and sauté them in butter. Oh so totally yum!"

"Good grief, no. I don't even know what became of my mother. I just remember crawling up the side of a cage in some store at a mall."

"Ah, that would be when I spotted you in the Humane Society store back in Tucson."

"Yes, those were the condo years. Now that you've been hunkered down so much with this pandemic going on, you know what that cage and that condo were like for me."

"Did I detect a note of resentment, there, Toby?"

"Nah, not really. I loved to play with all the toys you got for me and the cat trees, the screened-in patio, and lying on your stomach to take an early afternoon nap together. Oh, and chewing off your shoelaces in the closet. "

Hmm, I think he's still processing our former condo life.

He went on, "The cockroaches tasted okay but don't begin to compare with these Pennsylvania rats and mice. So much nutrition! So much excitement! But, I'll admit, back then, condo life was a lonely time. "

"Were you bored?"

"Not exactly. But it was kinda weird. Here, I can hang with my buddies Frezz, Bert, and Sebastian. And, my natural inclinations help prevent rodent population explosions. I have to keep my eye on that white rooster strutting around trying to be the bigshot of the barnyard. But then, there are the goats and the mare that add a sparkle to my day, and Wendy opening canned cat food. It's so cool, too, when there's a new baby goat."

"Well, that's why I come over for a walk, don't you know. Life is a little weird, too, in a senior living place during a pandemic. Adding to all those things you named, when I come over to the farm for a walk or a visit, I get to see one or another of my family, and you, and Karma kitty (he grimaced), Wendy's birds..."

"Birds! he interrupted, Birds!!! Did you say birds?"

"Calm down," I said. "Do you remember the Conure that flew onto Wendy's blond hair out here in the barnyard?"

"Yes! he would have made a tasty dinner."

"Aarrrgggh! Perish that thought!"

"It's my DNA," he said. He licked a paw and scrubbed his face for a little while.

Then, he perked up, "You said birds. Are there more than one?"

"Yes, besides Picasso Luckibird (he didn't get eaten!), there are four Parakeets--Claude, Diego, Vincent, and Toulouse."

"Well," he said, "I'd cut them some slack and leave them alone since they probably live in a cage. Besides, it's more fun hunting out here."

"Speaking of hunting," I said, "What do you make of all the guns people have?"

"I'd say, get a grip!!!"

He went on, "I'm a hunter but I don't need big fire-power. Tooth and claw works for me. He carefully cleaned between each stretched-out, claw-tipped toe."

Then, he said, "You humans have a gun problem."

"Yup," I said. "Too true."

"And," I added, "it looks like we're about to have a war problem."

"What's the matter with all you humans? I thought you worked on diplomacy with these numbskulls grabbing stuff that's not theirs, being mean and cruel, rattling swords and such. You and your family give me and these animals here a great life, plant trees, and gardens, but look what some of you humans are doing to other people who are your own species!"

"Well," I said, "not to mention, what humans are doing to other species, the air, the water...soil...oceans..."

"Back to this war problem," he said. "That's new. Well maybe old, but news that it's back. Is war in your DNA?"

"You'd think so since we've made so much war machinery. And, enough bombs that if they all went off there wouldn't be anything left living on the entire planet."

"Man, talk about die-offs! You humans could do that? Now you're scaring me."

"I'm scaring myself, too. Pretty soon my mind will be back under the bed."

"And I'll be up a tree!"

He climbed up on my shoulder where he likes to go sometimes. 

He told me, "It's time to make Art, not War"...

While he purred on my shoulder, I thought, "He must be channeling the '60s hippy love-children. Yes...he's onto something.

*

Let's go to the Arts Desk:

From Paula in Tucson we have the final, 12th installment of her color journal...

She included this composite of all 12 months. They are a celebration of color and observations she made right there in their Tucson yard...

There's plenty more to see on her website, too...

 Paula's Website

*

Then, for the first time in two years a trip into Philly for a concert. Keoni played viola in the Curtis Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra at Kimmel Center (yes, ID, Mask, Vax Card!)

Everyone who ever watched Stanley Kubrick's 2001 will instantly know this snippet I managed to grab during the concert...

*

We were inspired this afternoon with a text so poignant that it cries out to be repeated. Granddaughter Sonja reported this from Jeff who took their seven-year-old son Kingston to the doctor today...

From the inaugural Random Acts of Kindness Desk:

"Kingston caught a cold so Jeff took him to the doctor to get checked for the flu, covid, and strep to be sure. He was negative for everything. But the doctor was so good so I wanted to share.

He asked Kingston if he had any brothers or sisters

Kingston said he has 1 brother... then he backtracked and said, "well I have 2 brothers, but 1 passed away."

The doctor then said, "Oh, well then you will always have a brother here and here (he pointed to his heart and mind).

Then the doctor said, let me listen to your lungs (with the stethoscope 🩺)

After he listened for a minute, the doctor said, "Yep, I can hear your brother saying I love you."

*

Welcome! all acts of kindness, anywhere and everywhere.

Zine

 

Well, there you have it. It was intended...

1. For a short video. one-handed, but couldn't make it work.

2. Or, a YouTube slideshow video, but it stopped photos to video feature.

3. A Vimeo, alas, now a time-chewing, bewildering mass of choices and learnings.

So, Happy Valentine's Day anyhow. And, LOVE!

Help! Persephone, I Need You.

February 3, 2022

Chilled, drizzling rain

washes snow off

every branch and twig

of every tree. 

Mud-splashed snow heaps

by driveways

and gray, snow-levees

along plowed streets

will dissolve entirely

from the land.

*

February 8, 2022

At the Weather Desk: Recent calls to interview the Goddes of Winter went unanswered. But we did record her answer service message...

            "Can't you see I'm busy!!! You have a window? Open it!"

Well, we have the groundhog report to go on. Six more weeks with the Goddess of Winter. 

Hmmm. It's all foggy and dark out my window.

*

Toby is napping somewhere up among the hay bales in the barn.

So, I spring-cleaned.

Persephone, where are you???

_________

Now, from the Arts Desk: We are happy to have the 11th installment of Paula's nearly year-long project inspired by daily observations while in her Tucson backyard then translated into their colors...

...and we look forward to seeing her project's conclusion when January 2022 is ready.

And in Missouri, sister Jeanenne got her watercolors out this week and shared her renderings. We're hoping for more of these from her...

Over in Cincinnati, Aidan finds time now and then to make something on his iPad with Procreate which he shares with us...

Not too long ago, Kingston shared a drawing with us, too...

Thank you, Paula, Jeanenne, Aidan, and Kingston for your contributions! We love every one of them.

We Need Each Other

"Say, Toby, Wendy says that patch of sparse fur up on your left hip looks like you maybe got into a catfight. This morning she saw this cat out on the edge of one of the pastures. She got this picture..."

"That's him!!!! That's Vladputin!!!! That cat thinks he's so cool. He just came strolling over here to take over my pastures and woods. Somebody should get rid of him!" Toby's hair on his back stood up. "First, it's the roosters, especially the big white one. Now it's this guy bullying his way onto my territory. Next thing you know, he'll try to take over my barn. You better believe my hellcat came out and he'll have to think twice about barging his way over here again." He looked so agitated that I sat down with him and he climbed up on my shoulder. I could feel his heart beating rapidly.

"Is this what the pandemic, and politics, and climate crisis feel like to you humans?" he asked. 

"Mmm-hmm. Sort of. You remember the long list of catastrophes we made a little while back? So, yes, I think I understand what it must feel like to have Vladputin threaten your territory."

His warm furry side against my ear made it easy to hear Toby's rapid heartbeat. Soon the rate simmered down and he began to purr. We sat together like that for a long time and he dozed off. I hope he dreamt of warm sunspots to nap in.

Art in the Time of Covid

Noting Directionless Blah of our times, in Tucson Paula took up her art supplies and rendered her expression of it...

I am unable to think of any combination of words that better express our time of
Directionless Blah.

Further, Paula finished three months' calendars of Desert Life and Colors at her Tucson home. The observations and colors take me right back to the sights and smells of the desert southwest.

She shared the color chart she put together, too. I envy the green.

Also from Tucson, Carol snapped this hawk perched on a folded umbrella outside her front window where it watches for birds that run into the glass...

Note the dove sitting on the far branch. Yes, it escaped.
(Those are the Catalina Mountains in the background. My view of them was similar out my front window nearby Carol and Janie's.)

My little stuffed friend given to me at Christmas time.

Give yourselves a break today

Let go of your muddle and make no hay

Let go of yester

Ditch the fester

It's still a pandemic and it's Sunday, okay!