conundrum

My head is exploding with things to be said;

but my heart just can't find the words.

beyond the horizon

 

Our futures are waiting for us, just beyond the horizon.

president's day - VIDEO

Once upon a time, February 22nd was George Washington's birthday in 1732.

So it's probably not such a coincidence that on February 22nd, 1885, the Washington Monument was dedicated. At 555 feet, it was the tallest structure in the world and today must, by D.C. law, remain the tallest building in the capital.



Anyway, now the day is dedicated to all our Presidents.

(as if they all deserved it)

So what I've done here is a short video montage of all the "official" Presidential portraits, so far, with a little music behind it.


You might be thinking I used "Hail to the Chief" in the clip

(it would make perfect sense after all) but I didn't for a couple of reasons. First off, it's not long enough, it's not a particularly good tune and marching music drives me up a tree. So I found something just as patriotic, much more interesting and a better representation of my left of center political views.



Enjoy. . .

valentine's day

Valentine's Day is the day set aside to remember not only who, but what we love and to be thankful that we can feel the joy of love at all.

Yeah, I know sometimes love hurts and I know it's the worst hurt in the universe. And it's all too rare when it's right.

But when it is, you feel like you're walking on air, like there's nothing you can't do and, you can't wipe the silly grin off
your face.

Enjoy it my friends.

13 years

Today is an anniversary for Maxine and me.
On February 9th, (in the year of our lord) 2000, we rolled into town, settled down and began calling Key West our home.

 It hasn't always been easy (life never is) but we've met some good people, made a few great friends and it's always
been fun.

I've long since come down off the edgy, corporate advertising angst I came here to escape and Max?
. . .Well she's become a fearless fighter of the large dogs that get walked past our house every morning.

It's been 13 years and a pretty cool ride.

rook

Looking a lot like the chess piece, this is the top of the tower that rises above the Baptist Church on the corner of Fleming and William Streets.

What grabbed me was the contrast between shadow and light and the contrast between the defensive battlement attitude of the architecture and the welcoming joyful noise singing out
from downstairs.

the nature of things

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Click arrow to start video. Run time, 2:27

night flight

On my
just barely morning walk today,
I passed this flight of stairs.

The image,
in natural light,
struck me as just a bit mysterious and romantic.

happy merry

créche consciousness

I found my way over to the United Methodist Church to catch a bit of the living nativity scene.Re-enacted mostly by the children of the congregation, reverently costumed as angels and shepherds, it was a very nice re-telling of the story we all know so well.

Whether any of us believe the nativity story as historical fact or allegory, we have to admit that mostly everyone on the planet is aware of the tale.

For some of us there's never been a time when we can remember not knowing about Caesar's census, the star in the east, three wise men and no room at the inn.

The peace and kindness of the story of the Israelite's birth is in dramatic contrast to the vicious and violent story of his demise. Yet I suppose that's very much a parallel to the world we live in. Dog eats dog all year long but, for at least one day - Christmas - we lay down our aggression, greed, pain and worry, to just be.

If any story, fairy tale or not, can have that kind of effect;
I'd say it's a pretty good one.

a meeting of the minds

"A meeting of the minds" digital illustration ©2012 Arthur A. Winstanley