another day, and a tough night,

and the traffic has picked up on Route 25, and I'm sorry for yesterday, angry words, and all I want is for us to healand I need to dig deep into my soul

how to deal with hurt without inflicting hurt?   that is the question  … Read full post »

Just saw "The Vow." Really liked this film but it brought back painful memories from my past that I can't blog except maybe in poetry. "The moments of impact end up defining who we are." (from the film) A great insight.

Reminding me of Howie Day's great song, "Collide."

Linda and… Read full post »

You let someone into your heart before you know it, without planning, after they have made themselves vulnerable to you. A recognition.

Listening to what remains a great, great song: Philedelphia, Springsteen.

I will resume phone banking for Obama today. Less than an hour, Tuesday and Thursday, but i… Read full post »

For someone who talks as much about courage as I do, I certainly have a problem dealing with fears. I know that exercise would help and plan to do so today. I gain distance and detach this way.

Speaking as a Conscientious Objector/pacifist and loyal American, I hope and pray that… Read full post »

A quiet day at home, mostly. I am editing the poetry manuscript. Both of our laptops crashed. I am receiving very good I Ching messages, predicting progress, but warning to proceed slowly. Found a Howie Day CD with the song "Collide," a great song, at a yard sale, also a little book… Read full post »

before the hum of traffic picks up on Route 25

and after the darkness is transformed into white mist and soft green, the bird cries sooth my mind, the crow, one of my spirit birds delivers a wordless message

wordless messages are perhaps the most profound

Lily, the cat and a… Read full post »

busted

I left my fishing pole and bike on the porch, violating condo rules   then someone from the association came in and saw our poor housekeeping   I could obsess over this   feel some paranoia because of the Obama stickers on my car   this is all silly and… Read full post »

I dreamed that I was about to be but under for a major operation, but was not quite prepared for it   I dreamed that I was searching in the corner of our attic in the old New York house to solve some mystery   my sister was nearby

when I was a… Read full post »

she's a Krazy-Cat, Fiona

she follows me around the house, whining   no matter how much love you give her, it's not enough   I chase her up the stairs and down, just to keep her occupied   she can't go out but never stops trying   we have a huge screened porch b… Read full post »

I think we have resolved the situation with our landlord. he will get back to us about our rental deposit. We still are not feeling terribly trusting, though. Hopefully, when the month is over, this situation will be completely resolved. But I believe we made progress toward final resolutio… Read full post »

A lady from my past left a message. We worked together in a setting where I experienced a lot of trauma. Part of me would like to be friends with her but I also don't want to be submerged again in feelings about that job situation. I don't think she realizes how… Read full post »

"I want to run, I want to hide, I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside, I want to reach out to touch the flame, where the streets have no name"

U2

comforting sound of rain

outside the window   cleansing rain   healing music   I should take my NCAA… Read full post »

Taking care of family business and phone banking for Obama, the latter hard for me because of my introverted side. But I do it anyway, half an hour at a time. For my country.

We are facing a stressful situation with the final inspection of our old apartment and I hope things… Read full post »

It takes a while to reorient, to feel like yourself, after you have been traveling, even for a short time. It's good to recognize that, second day back from DC...

I'm somewhat caught up with Joplin, Missouri's recovery from the tornado disaster of last year. Obama will speak at their newly… Read full post »

One of my poems published in Sacred Journey and I will copy it below, though I have shared it before here. It is a very good spiritual journal I feel good about it, having received another rejection just today. Awaiting word on publication of my column on marriage equality, which should be… Read full post »

Back home from DC back to the cold, hard reality of dealing with our move-out inspection with the former landlord. But it's good to be back in the mountains and our place, which we really like.

I had a dream about being loved unconditionally by an animal, maybe one of… Read full post »

We spent the night in Takoma Park, MD, which abuts DC. I like this better than being at the center of DC. We are staying in a Latino neighborhood, and it's kind of pleasant. Heading back to NC today.

Saw The Dictator yesterday. What I like about Sacha Cohen's work is… Read full post »

Stayed the night in Tacoma Park, a little way from DC. God, the driving in DC. But of course, it is an extraordinarily vibrant city. I would never want to live here, though.

On our drive up on Route 81, our path was parallel to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, except for… Read full post »

On our way to DC from NC. We stopped in a motel in Staunton, VA. I'm starting to feel relaxed again. Traveling does that for me, clears my head and is rejuvinating. All the way up I played good music by Bon Jovi, Springsteen, a few others. Two of the ones… Read full post »

There are times in life when you interact with someone with whom you simply do not feel emotionally safe. Emotionally safe. What does that mean?

*It means you feel that the person does not have your best interests at heart.

*It means that you feel the person is profoundly manipulative.

*It… Read full post »

Continuing to face down stressful situations involved w/our old landlord and apartment. I will not go into details but it involves doing the right thing by him AND standing up for ourselves. "Seek justice for yourself AND others." Don't run from trouble, face it squarely and do the best you can.… Read full post »

Another literary rejection. But a nice exchange with NY Times journalist Peter Baker by email. You have to keep going, or give up. But sometimes a hiatus is called for.

An argument with my wife. But we are moving back to a good place. You have to get the feelings out… Read full post »

Wrote another political essay and submitted it. We are traveling to DC this week. We will take Route 81 up, so much more beautiful than 95. We will be visiting with my sister.

Besides the essay, this is a pretty lazy day for me. my daughter and grandchild are over here;… Read full post »

When you find yourself completely alone,

then what happens to your mind and heart and soul? It depends a lot upon your belief in the possibility of life-change. Do I believe that people can change at a deeper level? Do I believe that life is a mystery, and that miracles can… Read full post »

When I reach the end of my rope,

that's when I seem to come up with a new idea, something to carry me forward to the next "level." We've all heard the expression, "necessity is the mother of invention." And in my experience, I have found that to be true.

After… Read full post »