Sand under Glass

Talent comes in many forms, in many mediums. In thinking about the artists over so many centuries, we must come to appreciate, admire them and their work. Music? Architecture? Painting?  So much talent.

This was the work of Kseniya Simonova in a Tribute to Princess Diana in Britain's Got Talent from October 2019. Her creations are so unusual and striking there is no description adequate enough.

As art and talent blend, we are privileged to be a part of their world.

Be surprised and enjoy.   After all, surprise and enjoyment is awfully important now.

What the hell do you want now?

I didn't do it.

Day 1---I Can Do This! Got enough food and wine to last a month.

Day 2---Opening my eighth bottle of wine. I fear wine supplies might not last.

Day 3---Strawberries: Some have 210 seeds, some have 235 seeds. Who knew??

Day 4---8:00 PM. Removed my day pajamas and put on my night pajamas.

Day 5---Today I tried to make hand sanitizer. It came out as Jell-O shots!

Day 6---I get to take the garbage out. I am SO excited. I can't decide what to wear.

Day 7---Laughing way too much at my own jokes!!

Day 8---Went to a new restaurant called "The Kitchen". You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal. I have no clue how this place is still in business.

Day 9---I put liquor bottles in every room. Tonight, I'm getting all dressed up and going bar hopping.

Day 10---Struck an conversation with a spider today. Seems nice. He's a web designer.

Day 11---Isolation is hard. I swear my fridge just said, "What the hell do you want now?"

Day 12---I realized why dogs get so excited about something moving outside, going for walks or car rides. I swear I barked at a squirrel. He laughed.

Day 13---If you keep a glass of wine in each hand, you can't accidently touch your face.

Day 14---Watched the birds fight over random bird seeds. The Cardinals led the Blue Jays, 3-1.

Day 15---Repeat.

Written by some clever people. 

So young. They were so young.

Hump Halsey flight crew, part of the 58th division,

This blurred photo showed a cluster of airmen, awfully young guys. But then, 1941 needed all the young guys that could be gathered. They are leaning on each other, arms draped over their shoulders. The eleven were a team of their own brothers.

But really look at them. What do you see? Who has a different expression?

My dad is in the back row on the right. He and his best buddy John were then and for the rest of their lives close friends. All of the eleven were about twenty-one years old.

B-29-superfortress

Their plane was a B-29 Super Fortress, Organ Annie was its moniker, its sexy girl nose art. All B-29s had their own seductive, sensual lady draped across the nose. Sometimes, crews jumped up and slapped whatever part that could be reached. Those parts were mighty faded over time.

Museum  Enola Gay

Organ Annie and crew were based on the Mariana Islands at Tinian, along with hundreds or more of other B-29 Super Fortresses. They flew the CBI, China-Burma-India hump.

Dad spoke of one particular B-29 that was parked a distance from others and their crew and pilots had been sequestered from others. Their pilots were Paul W. Tibbets and co-pilot Robert Lewis, both of whom were in their late 20s when they flew the Enola Gay to drop the first atomic bomb.

The nose art was standard sexy women, but had been painted over with the words "Enola Gay". 

Look at the photo at the top, again. Ten of the crew were together, friends. One is is different. Notice the man on the middle row, far left. Captain Zeb was their pilot; he is looking down. All pilots wore aviator sunglasses.  

Like many pilots, Captain Zeb kept himself isolated, removed from his crew. Getting too friendly clouded their judgment. After all, he was an old guy, being twenty-two.

                                   B-29museums 

Video is about 20 minutes long.  I watched it twice, thinking about the men who flew in it, like my father.

About 7 minutes is worth watching.

Their missions changed history. Dad was a bay gunner in their plane. They flew 12 hours to drop incendiary bombs on industrial sites. Then it turned around to fly another 12 hours, stopping to refuel in China. The B-29 was credited with stopping the war. What they and Enola Gay did was to shorten and then end the war. (It is estimated that since the Japanese would not surrender and that the civilian population would be called to defend Japan, nearly 1 million in all would die.)

They were so young, all the men and women who fought in WW2.  

What do you think of my dad's crew of men? What about Captain Zeb?  

Oh, dear Lord, they were babies.

Pinterest

Remembering our Brave

Ye have slept on the ground before,

And started to your feet

At the cannon's sudden roar,

Or the drum's redoubling beat.The Day of Memories!—Remembering what?

The cannon's roar, the hissing of the shot?

The weary hospital, the prison pen?

The widow's tears, the groans of stalwart men?

The bitterness of fratricidal strife?

The pangs of death, the sharper pangs of life?

Nay, let us quite forget the whole of these

Upon our sacred Day of Memories.

by Amos Russel Wells

Home of the Throwed Roll

Along the Mississippi

Old Man and Old Woman had driven on Interstate 55 many times, too many to mention.  This time they were driving from Beaumont, Texas, the day after Christmas. Christmas in Beaumont with Golden Boy, their youngest son, had been painful and disappointing for too many reasons to count.

Old Woman strongly suggested they stop and get some food.  Old Man said he was just fine, and she could wait a while.  Old Woman replied in no uncertain language that they had better stop or there’d be pee all over Old Man’s precious car. Old Man harrumphed.

Lambert is a former Sikeston Bulldog football, wrestling and track coach.

Passing by Sikeston, Missouri, a sign announced “Home of the Throwed Roll”, and this would suit them both just fine, since they weren’t talking with each other at this time. 

Old Man parked his precious car, and Old Woman got out even before the engine stopped running.  By the time Old Man had opened his door and slammed it, Old Woman was inside and sitting at a table, menu open and coffee in hand.

The Throwed Roll was unusually quiet this day right after Christmas which suited Old Man just fine with his failing hearing.  Old Woman could have done with some laughing and people around, since she enjoyed visiting with people on next table over or behind.

A chirpy little waitress named Patty took their order of ham and beans for Old Man, and turkey with stuffing for Old Woman.  Old Man canceled his order and instead asked for meatloaf, after Old Woman announced that she wasn’t going to ride with someone who had just eaten beans.

Plates delivered and Patty asked if they would like some rolls.  Why, yes, Old Woman nodded.  Patty called to Norman Lambert, owner of the restaurant, for rolls and Patty moved out of the way.  You’d better get ready, she whispered as Norman launched the first roll to Old Woman, who had excellent reflexes.

YouTube

The soft-ball sized roll hit her hand with a WHAP, just like being caught in a ball mitt. Then Old Man caught his roll, barely containing it. Patty set a bowl of smooth butter and a jar of sorghum molasses on their table, asking if they’d like to put some on their roll.  Why, yes, Old Man nodded. Patty wiped her hands on her apron, and then burrowed her index finger into each roll.  Then Patty slathered a sizable amount of butter in the well, followed by thin line of molasses easing out from about a foot above.

Old Man and Old Woman gasped and then laughed, finally making eye contact. Three rolls later they were back on the I-55, heading home, talking to each other like old couples do.

Throwed Rolls has probably saved many relationships over the years.

My parents are Old Man and Old Woman. I had heard this several times a year. They both passed in 2005 and then 2011. This is a repost from 2017. I miss them. They told some great stories.  Some of those stories have found their way to my fingers. 

Sorry that this post is so long. My stories are normally brief, but this was non-fiction.

Facts about Lambert's Cafe

Minor Level Destruction

Wikipedia

Samuel stared through the bars of the playpen as he groaned at just another incarceration.  What had he done?  Just the usual stuff, but this time?  

First, he had coughed up a ball of green-yellow phlegm, and spit it on a really old carpet beyond the bars, one that had been in great-grandma's house.  Heh, heh, heh. Then, Samuel had been charged with screaming loudly, marking graffiti on public walls in a diaper medium, and randomly destroying stuff. Good times.

But last one? It was epic.  With just a plastic knife, Samuel had repeatedly stabbed the arm of the couch, tossing foam and stuffing wherever they fell.  It did not end well. 

It was a reach for him, Samuel realized.  "Keep it simple" he reminded himself. Next time.

Samuel then realized that his diaper was beyond damp, and had begun  dripping.  With strong lungs only a two year-old toddler possesses, Samuel cried and sobbed. Mommy, mommy!  Sometimes being one who is not-yet-potty-trained is a blessing.  

A lot is forgiven when a diaper is full. 

This a post from 2014, using words from Wednesday Words. As always, great fun was had by all.

Quarentine Memes

What does "Meme" really mean?

There are some bloggers are amazing at finding and then posting some crazy, funny, sometimes a little raunchy memes.  But ALWAYS funny and unique. (William Kendall at Speak of the Devil has talent for these).  Well, I am not that creative. Quarantine opens the floodgates of creative memes. That is all there is to it.

50 best quarantine memes

more of the same

Good spatial training

She is the next super model.

Dexter was an interesting TV show.

I feel your pain.

You are not worthy.

In searching for memes that reflected my peculiar and tilted character, I was sucked into the Google World of Memes. This is a third hour and I am taking a break. Everyone needs wine now and then, but mostly now.

Holiday Sock Drawer Conference

sock drawer country

It was time for the Annual Sock Drawer Conference.  Halloween was over, and now it was time to settle down to business.  Mated socks sorted out the un-mated.  Static held them all together.

New socks had joined the Drawer, with holidays ahead.  Some Turkey Socks and many new Christmas socks had been welcomed, mantled labels removed.  Again, language was limited to their country of origin.  “Made in China, 50% cotton and 45% polyester, with 5% spandex!”  

The Sock Drawer philosophy needs to be explained.

The mantra of the Drawer was to serve the Wearer, pure and simple.  No matter the inclement weather or the racing around the owner might do, the Socks were ready to be the tractor, one who pulled or pushed the Wearer.

As a precursor to the meeting, the Sock Drawer sang its national anthem:
  
 “Heel and cuff, instep and toe.  We welcome you to our Land.  Gusset and heel, tightly wove.  Cotton or whatever. The threads of socks that have gone before,  join us in homage to you with our voice. Static and lint  all abound, We welcome you to our Land.” ***

With that, the elderly Sage Surgical Sock with worn chevron rubber footing cleared its throat, pounding the stump of a pencil, and announced, “Let us begin.”

*** Sung to the tune of “Oh, Tannenbaum”.

Source

This was originally posted in October 2013. Further posts were made, perhaps will be posted again.

The bold underlined words are from Wednesday Words, created for writers to explore different genre. This  Wednesday challenge was originally created by Dorothy, who passed the torch to other bloggers. Please head over to these blog sites, who will steer you to the site. River and Lee

Playing with words is the best thing ever.

To be aware is the first step.

Source

Lift your chin. Square your shoulders.  Pull it together.  Nothing is wrong with you.  Work harder. Get over it. Go to church. Or, at least, keep it to yourself.

A community like mine was where there were no secrets and lots of gossip.  Whatever one said or did was under scrutiny, where it merited truth or concern or not.  It was the Midwest, after all, where values and commitment mattered more than any personal failure or need. 

What about those who could not lift a chin? Square shoulders? Pull it together?

I will tell you, since I know. 

Those people were given a fair amount of criticism and reprimands. Everyone has problems, everyone has suffered losses, but they deal with it in the Midwest way. The stigma of a mental illness reflects on the family, after all.  

I remember the very day when I was visiting home, we all were sharing a breakfast and a scheduled bus went up the road to the county seat.  Dad smirked, "There goes the silly bus."

Silly bus? These were people who had developmental problems which required extra services.  These were people who suffered mental problems and couldn't deal with life in general.

When questioned, Dad said, "In my day, they didn't need all that. They were taken care of at home. Those others, well, they should just get out there and work. Just work it out. Don't need help."

Didn't he know? Didn't he see me?  Didn't he see himself?

I have struggled through chronic depression all my life.  My "sadness" was deep. It has taken years of therapy, assisted by antidepressants, to reach a steadiness. God gave me what I needed, putting me in a place where I could reach it.

Dad? His father died when Dad was 9 years old and suicide was always on his horizon.  World War 2 pushed that into PTSD and opened a floodgate of his own depression. When he went into a spiral, we all felt its effects, God help us.

One day, many years after sitting at breakfast, my sister was home. Dad mentioned the silly bus, and my sister replied, "Dad, my son (with autism) would be on that bus." He never said it again.

But then again, autism and many others in the realm of developmental issues was not dealt with in Dad's era. My parents asked me (a teacher) if this couldn't just be whipped/beat/spanked out of him. I spent the next hours explaining exactly what children and adults experience with autism and what is known or theorized about it.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  Never before has mental health been recognized as so important, impacting society in ways never imagined. Has that changed how those who suffer with such are been helped? Really good question.

October is Depression Awareness Month. The first full week of October is Depression Awareness week. Never before has Depression been recognized and diagnosed as a silent struggle so many experience and suffer. 

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day. 

Lift your chin. Square your shoulders.  Pull it all together.  Nothing is wrong with you.  Work harder. Get over it. Go to church. Or, at least, keep it to yourself.

This post is dedicated to those who relate or can relate to what is written here. I posted it back in 2018. My sister wrote to me about Dad's comment and how he changed after she informed him about what is truth.

A Tree Grows in a Forest

Art comes and is done in all mediums. Some we can approach, experiment with, and enjoy. But ones done in wood are beyond my comprehension. Those below are done by incredibly talented people.

Gabi Rizea

  

Not much else to say about these creations. Just sharing some things of beauty, to raise our eyes to nature.

Check this site out.  PInterest, a place of beauty.

It's the simple things

Life has been simplified worldwide. What was our outdoor and friendly life in malls, beaches, and other social places, now is defined by what brings joy and happiness to our simplified, ongoing lives.

"It is the simple things in life that you treasure." Such is the truth shown below.

                                         

                                          

Find joy. Be amazed. Take time you have. Share your gifts with others. Keep it simple. It is worth it.

Four Old Ladies

Just holding things together

varieties of zippers

Think about this one:  What invention created originally in 1851  has simplified life immeasurably, made possible other inventions? Oh sure, some will mention the microwave or inflatable tires, but this one affected every day life around the globe. It is The Zipper.

The earliest form of the zipper was designed by Elias Howe, who cared more about his sewing machine success.

Forty-two years later, Whitcomb Judson also tried another version of the device, but had little success.  Didn't make any money.

Source: Gideon Sundback

Then finally, Gideon Sundback in 1913 had perfected the zipper, called the "Hookless Fastener". 

 He held the patent, and did quite well.  No, change that.  He did extremely well.   One thing led to another, and the modern zipper has been ever improving and finding new uses.

So hoist a pint to Gideon Sundback! He zipped up more than clothing.

Why did this word get chosen? In the A to Z bloghop 2014, I fervently picked this word. Having reached "Z" , zipper made it easy, I had had a pair of boots with a zipper closing. When the zipper came off the teeth, I used Gorilla Glue to get it back on track. And the zipper still does its job, even in year 2020.