Even at sundown ...

... even though you're in the city
... even though it's getting cold
... even though you're getting old
... count your blessings

... count them all ...

... Thank You, Lord

Well ..., the last of my hummingbird friends for the summer have now left for their return trip - as I have not seen them at my feeder for the last two days. The tiny female flew up to my window three days ago as I was peering through the glass - barely six inches apart from my face. She was chattering away, and I'm sure she was telling me good-bye. I will miss them ...

a worthy tribute ...

Teddy Kennedy

1932 - 2009

Confused ...

I'm confused. "We", the people, elected our leaders to collectively tackle the problems on our behalf that we can not solve as individuals. Yeah, I know it's complicated, no doubt. It is far from "easy". But what are we saying with our rage, our anger, our emphatic dissent? Do we want the problems resolved? Or not. In our democracy, are "we" not "the government" ... "we" now so rant against? "We" ... are not perfect. "We" must know that. But, are we not a nation striving for a "more perfect union ... "?

Healthcare Reform ...

The bottom line: Health care reform is critical to the economic health of our Country and it's economic future (and thus our children's future).

Much debate and handwringing on the details will undeniably be forthcoming (and rightfully so), but moving ahead and getting it done must happen soon (should have happened years ago). Our country can not "bury it's head in the sand" much longer. We simply have to "get it done". The risks of failure are far too high.

This is America. We argue the details, compromise on the details, and move ahead with the "right thing" for the good of our country. Then -- we "fix" the deficiencies as they arise. Otherwise ..... we lose ... our "rightiousness" to lead in the world. A large majority of our population does not understand the "language" of economics, but enough of us do ... and must therefore take the lead in the persuasive effort ... on both sides of every argument. Then move forward with decision making ... and action for the good of our Country and it's citizens. I know that arguments can not be won by shouting. Success ... is far more subtle, and Faith is absolute.

drawn at dawn to the sea ...

... the years go by so fast ... but I remember them all. Still.

the standing ghost ...

... of Blackbeard (Edward Teach) likely prompts one to think of the infamous pirate believed to have lived for a time in this, the oldest "township" in North Carolina - Bath. Today it is a quaint small town on Bath Creek (not far off Hwy 264). This was taken in winter just off the point at Bath's park at the end of Main Street. For history buffs, it's a great little side trip.

Drill baby, drill ... ?

We've got the natural resources, as news articles point out - including the "Bakken" and loads of natural gas, and coal, etc. too. All we have to do is get it out of the ground (at around $16/barrel) right? Wish it were that simple.

One of (the many, many) problems (besides global warming - which is a big one in itself) is "contracts" made by our country many years ago (notwithstanding the current day contracts by corporate America like AIG and the derivatives security bundling commissions still being paid with our tax dollars). Sadly, it is those "Free Trade Contracts" .... "fast tracked" contracts ... contracts which cannot be guided by or negated by Congress or the current President ... contracts which are now irrevocable by any authority residing in our country ... unless the whole world essentially "defaults" (which would probably not be a good thing for mankind). What a mess we have made! And here we are ... stuck ... in our own mess.

But the reality is that OPEC (who has oil AND loads of money, Russia, and Iran + others (who have oil), and China (who have loads of money and are industrializing at the speed of light) have the ability (through unimpeachable "Free Trade" agreements) to "bid up" the price of every drop of oil we can produce here - any time they want to - and there is nothing we can do about it (with perhaps an exception).

We can convert our energy supplies to alternative fuels (wind, solar, nuclear, carbon captured coal production etc., which are all impractical to export (or way too costly to other countries to be exported). We can use these resources to power America, export the technology, and get our country back on sound financial footings (while at the same time slowing global warming and protecting our natural resources and environment). The solutions are immensely complex. For every "pro" there is a "con". For every right, there is a wrong.

We, politically and collectively, have no idea what it might take to make all of us happy, content, and secure ... except for the grace of God. It seems to me that we each know with great certainty what we don't like, what makes us angry, what scares us, and the sources of our discontent. And as of yet, ... we have not developed our collective "ability" to compromise, to check our anger at the door, to embrace "good will", to nourish compassion for others "not like us", to love our neighbors and "the least of these, our brethren". I don't know, it may not even be possible. It certainly is hard to imagine such a world these days, though I have at various times in my life felt there was great reason to hope ... More often than not, ... I still do.

And so, whenever I hear, or see, or am "advised" that something should make me "mad" - the real effect on me ... is that it actually makes me sad, ... and yes, there is a fleeting "twinge" of anger and frustration that quickly turns to just ... a flatline disappointment.

And yet again, I'm still a news junkie ... hoping (sometimes against hope) that the news ... will be good.

When you least expect it ...

I babysat tonight while the kids went to a movie and supper. I fixed (heated up) some supper for the grandkids. When I sat down to eat with them, Zoe noticed the pen in my shirt pocket, and said "Do you think that pen in your pocket makes you cool?" ... lol.

Trying hard not to laugh, I responded with a straight face by saying: "Yes, most definitely, it does make me VERY super cool. I would have to say, Zoe, that YOU are very astute." With that comment from me - both Zoe and Ethan burst out laughing, and needless to say - so did I.... Zoe will be 4 in May, and Ethan was 6 in December.

Children can be so funny! (and when you least expect it :-)

On the edge of night ...

... sometimes I forget that only a few minutes away is a great place to walk and take in a sunset. Sometimes I just need to get outside, get some fresh air, and feel the end of the day. Yet another gift of evening, quietly looking at the sky's reflections on the water ... or positioning myself along the bank of Lake Crabtree, just so I can catch that one brief second ... that allows that kayak, or maybe a canoe, to slip right between the setting sun ... and my camera ... when the sun is just right in the sky, the water gently calming as darkness approaches, and the wind becoming as still ... as the cool night ahead. And, I am thankful once again ... for being there.

War between the pess-opt-imists ...

... In a world of "expert" economists and rapid-fire forecasts depicting what the future holds ... one can find an equal and opposite optimistic and pessimistic view emphatically stated ... daily within the public media.... I won't join either of those two crowds. But, I will say that I hold out for "hope" ... even as "audacity" is much less commonplace than a year ago. As a famous President once said, when once we faced a terrible possibility many years ago, "the only thing we (actually) have to fear ... is fear itself". If we have pride in our country and belief in our leaders, then there is no (good) reason to fear the worst ... for that kind of fear can send us all careening off a cliff in mass. Have faith, and do what your heart and that faith tells you is right. That is all any of us can do, as it really is not "in our hands", individually ... It never has been.

a Rainbow for the Stimulous Bill ...

... This evening, Friday the 13th ... the "Stimulous Bill" passed it's final hurdle in Congress. Coincidentally, I decided to run out to Lake Crabtree dam (where I go often just to catch a sunset) and see what the sky had to say to me ... When I observed a small rainbow in the fast moving clouds I had to think: ... It MUST be a good day :-) So to the rainbow, I whispered ... "Bring it on"

the roads less traveled ...

A winter walk at Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge in far eastern NC is quite a bit off the beaten path, but well worth the 3 hour drive from my home in Morrisville. This is the time of the year when you might see some of the thousands of Tundra Swans that over-winter in this region (having traveled over 4,000 miles from northern Alaska to get here). But more than that, it is a place of sanctuary and solitude, a place to pray and to contemplate the world of nature and all the things that comprise ... the roads less traveled ...

... the thirteenth harvest ...

... it occurred to me as I took this from the balcony / deck of my place yesterday ... that the sun was setting beautifully ... and it was January 13th. Still too soon for me to get used to the idea that it was 2009. Soooo ..., here's to a sunset harvested with my camera on 13/13/2008 ... :-)

a Revolution ...

... the Cone Mills community is being brought back from the dead, the out-sourced, the long-forgotten 'Revolution Cotton Mills' in Greensboro, NC is still standing ... and showing new signs of life ...

Christmas ... 2008

... a Christmas pallette ... Sometimes it's best to avoid a clear focus, squint your eyes, and look at things not so much as how they are, but rather how you see them ... because ... there's absolutely no reason not to ...