Mozart’s Starling by Lyanda Haupt

Mozart’s Starling by Lyanda Haupt 

Wonderful book about human/natural world interactions, It was fresh and well-written.mixing stories of her experience raising a starling with historical material about Mozart's starling, scientific information about birds, and reflections on the nature of pets and our interactions with wild things. And yes, Mozart did have a pet tame starling that flew around in his home, adding to what was a joyful blend of chaos, commotion, and brilliant composition. Parallels and observations are made to and with the author's own beloved tame starling, Carmen. A good read. (Haupt has posted videos of Carmen on Facebook.)

August Poetry

The birth of August is upon us, as the fair haired sun rises in the sky
With songs of the cicada unwinding, the sand hill Cranes sail by
The heat is hovering all around us, we feel heavy in it's grip
To break free from it's bonds, from it's clutches we must rip
Shade gives little relief, to this melting, bending soul
A river full of water, is not enough to quench this foe
Only darkness breaks the curse, that the day could not hide
Relief is but short...and that too must subside
For August is just arriving, her journey's just begun
It's only just beginning; her moment in the sun 

🔥Resistance. Every. Day🔥

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Called Rep. Pete Olson and Senators Cornyn and Cruz:

I’m calling today about the national housing crisis due to rising rents. Millions of Americans are paying as much as 70 percent of their income for rent and the construction of affordable housing has stalled. I’m asking you to co-sponsor the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (H.R. 1661/S. 548), which stimulates housing construction and availability.

Thank You note: Thank you for your pledge to refuse corporate PAC campaign donations. Thank you for placing the voices of your constituents above corporate influence.

Addresses:

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI): 170 Westminster St, Ste. 200, Providence RI 02903

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT): 1 Church St, 3rd Fl, Burlington VT 05401

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Sent email to Rep. Pete Olson and Senators Cornyn and Cruz:

I am concerned about the Farm Bill now in conference committee. The Senate version that passed with strong support strengthened SNAP to provide critical nutrition to elders, people with disabilities, and low-income families. I’m asking that you only support a bill that maintains the Senate provisions. I want my tax dollar to help feed hungry families.

Thank you note to Senator Richard Burr (R-NC):

Thank you for your unequivocal acknowledgement that covert social media interference in American elections by foreign countries, as took place in the 2016 presidential election, is a threat to all Americans and the sacred integrity of free and fair elections. Thank you for your leadership.

Address: Russell Senate Office Building, 217 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC 20510

Thank you for your pledgeto refuse corporate PAC campaign donations. Thank you for placing the voices of your constituents above corporate influence.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): 2400 JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury St, Boston MA 02203

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA): 915 Second Ave, Ste 3206, Seattle, WA 98174

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Thank You note to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA):

Thank you for working on sentencing reform that has bipartisan support. Fair sentencing benefits low-level nonviolent offenders, taxpayers, and society overall. Thank you for your leadership.

Address: 721 Federal Building, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309

Thank you notes to:

Thank you for your pledge to refuse corporate PAC campaign donations. Thank you for placing the voices of your constituents above corporate influence.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY): Leo W. O’Brien Federal Office Building, 11A Clinton Ave, Room 821, Albany NY 12207

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ): One Gateway Center, 23rd Fl, Newark NJ 07102

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Thank you notes to:

Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD): 44 Calvert St, Ste 349, Annapolis MD 21401

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA): 1904 3rd Ave, Ste 510, Seattle WA 98101

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO): 1220 S. College Ave, Fort Collins CO 80525

Thank you for your pledge to refuse corporate PAC campaign donations. Thank you for placing the voices of your constituents above corporate influence.

August Thoughts

Wear the old coat and buy the new book.

Austin Phelps

August Poetry

From the great trees the locusts cry
In quavering ecstatic duo-a boy
Shouts a wild call-a mourning dove
In the blue distance sobs-the wind
Wanders by, heavy with odors
Of corn and wheat and melon vines;
The trees tremble with delirious joy as the breeze
Greets them, one by one-now the oak
Now the great sycamore, now the elm.

And the locusts in brazen chorus, cry
Like stricken things, and the ring-dove's note
Sobs on in the dim distance. 

September Menu

September Menu

1. Bacon Sandwiches, Oven Fries

2. Slow Cooker Chicken

3. Baked Fish, Carrots/Thyme, Coleslaw 

4. Chicken - Spaghetti Casserole 

5. Steak, GMP, GB

6. Leftovers

7. Out

8. Macaroni and Cheese, Corn, Salad

9. Schwan’s 

10. Tuna Salad

11. Oven BBQ Chicken, Beans, Coleslaw 

12. HB Pie

13. Leftovers

14. Out

15. Scrambled Eggs, Schwan’s Sausage and Potatoes 

16. Slow Cooker Beef

17. Baked Fish, Potatoes, Coleslaw 

18. Chicken Tenders, Carrots/Thyme, Corn

19. Pizza

20. Leftovers 

21. Out

22. CB Hash, CSC

23. Veggie Soup

24. Fried Shrimp, FF, Coleslaw 

25. Schwan’s 

26. Spaghetti and Meatballs

27. Leftovers 

28. Out 

29. St. Wieners, Corn

30. Pork, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach 

Around OakMeadows

Around OakMeadows 

I watched The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on Netflix and it was wonderful. I decided to watch it with some fear and trepidation because the book was so good that I was certain to be disappointed with the movie.  But it was beautiful and sensitive and the actors were perfect.  At least 5 Stars. 

I am coping a little better with the loss of my darling Bandit. I’m still expecting to see him in one of his usual spots. 

******

Well, I just heard on the news that FBI Agent Peter Strzok was fired for criticizing Candidate Horriblis. Evidently there is a GoFundMe page to help with his legal expenses and loss of income. I am sitting here writing this with tears of rage and frustration on my face. Those utter bastards. I hope I live to see them all rot in prison. Of course, I’ll contribute to the GFM page but never, ever did I think I would see this level of utter corruption in America. Never.

That’s enough for now. Got to go meditate and get my BP back down. 

August Thoughts

A room without books is like a body without a soul.

Cicero

August Poetry

Great is the sun, and wide he goes
Through empty heaven with repose;
And in the blue and glowing days
More thick than rain he showers his rays.

Though closer still the blinds we pull
To keep the shady parlour cool,
Yet he will find a chink or two
To slip his golden fingers through.

The dusty attic spider-clad
He, through the keyhole, maketh glad;
And through the broken edge of tiles
Into the laddered hay-loft smiles.

Meantime his golden face around
He bares to all the garden ground,
And sheds a warm and glittering look
Among the ivy's inmost nook.

Above the hills, along the blue,
Round the bright air with footing true,
To please the child, to paint the rose,
The gardener of the World, he goes. 

Robert Louis Stevenson

RIP my darling Bandit

It seems unbelievable that Bandit is with us no more. His strong presence has been part of my life for 15 years. His absence leaves a a hole in my heart big enough to drive a truck through.  His body had worn out and could not be repaired but his presence was there to the very end. Now while his molecules go back into the earth, his essence, his spirit becomes a part of the life force that is so pervasive yet so incomprehensible. 

If I’ve learned anything in my 70 years, it is that we are here to care for one another and that the time we have to love each other is very fleeting. Do it now. 

August Thoughts

Every man prefers belief to the exercise of judgement.

Seneca

August Poetry

A drop fell on the apple tree,
Another on the roof;
A half a dozen kissed the eaves,
And made the gables laugh.

A few went out to help the brook,
That went to help the sea.
Myself conjectured, Were they pearls,
What necklaces could be!

The dust replaced in hoisted roads,
The birds jocoser sung;
The sunshine threw his hat away,
The orchards spangles hung.

The breezes brought dejected lutes,
And bathed them in the glee;
The East put out a single flag,
And signed the fete away. 

Emily Dickinson

A Walk through NYC Central Park