Back and Forth

Mesquite pod wall hanging at the arboretum. Copper.
This is just the thing... to offset pictorial representions.

First Light on Magma Ridge

Left Phoenix and drove into the sunrise through the East Valley.

A sense of vastness. So much development all the way to Florence Junction.

Arrived to see the intense light shine upon this massif. Mines on the other side.

Fortunately, the vehicle held up... about to turn 130K miles. Up for a hike.

Destination

Hoping to get to Superior, to the Boyce Tompson Arboretum, this morning.

Some foreboding about the vehicle; as good as it's going to be. Risky trip.

Heavenly Father: Thank you for the time I have to get away. Please be with me as I travel  this morning and keep the truck going without a hitch. Lord, I need to have an excursion, I need to see a part of your world different from what I see every day. Thanks for the camera and the enjoyment I get from the processing. Lord, bring me home safe. I ask this in Jesus' name.

Obsession

David Proctor preached on the blood of sacrifice last Sunday.
On Hebrews 9... without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Who's fault was Jesus' execution. Judas'. The Jews. Pilate. Fate.
It was all our faults piled upon him; thank you, Lord Jesus. Thank you.

I could help but recall that priest. "The Protestants are obsessed with sin."
Rather, I feel relieved of it, by the Grace of God and His only begotten Son.

I pray the gifts of the Spirit to carry on in hope and joy. Amen.
This is my prayer. This is my belief. This is really all I have.

Eyes Wide Open

My brother and I watched the American football guys against Portugal.

U.S. thought they had it won with regulation time done; got lackadaisical.

Had five minutes added to clock and with ten seconds to go... tied up.

Well, they've gone as far as they ever have and this Thursday - Germany!

Ride of a Lifetime

Monday next we go to Revelation 19:11-21.
I'm already quite ahead of myself. Trouble.

The trouble with Ajay? Does he wish to be saved?
Has he come to any conclusion? Will he act?

The problem was mine as well. Wanted to go to Grand Canyon University.
Checked out First Southern Baptist. Gary Young. Said I was a seeker.

There was that fellow from New Zealand. Looked down his nose.
How contemptible it was to contemplate real estate prospects there.

Then there was the problem with Bob the Elder.
Telling him of my dilemma, I perceived him getting angry.

Later at North Phoenix the woman brought me up short:
"Why do you always wear the same pants?" Dickie's, you see.

Then to Love and strangeness, with First Baptist in between.
"Between a rock and a hard place." to Paul Eppinger. Stunned.

Nothing but disappointment. Now Charlie is doing it.
I'll bet Jeannie let the cat out of the bag, but no dough.

Should I ask the entire Bible study class on behalf of Jobes?
Or the guys this Monday. Disappointment and waiting.

Now then; there, there, old chum. Buck up!
There she is, finally back from break. Time for pie?

Ready, willing and able but too old by a long shot.
Anyway, I've got to see what happens. So dramatic.

Would be nice to have a partner in crime, so to speak.
Thieves in the night, riding on, preaching the Word. Amen.

Student of Life

My battery went down to nearly nothing. Is it charging OK?
Seems like it should have been pretty well charged from last session.
Perhaps it wasn't plugged in properly. Who knows?

Consequently, at coffee and pie with Stephany, I had to go to my Bible for companionship in the occasion. And yes, here is the "occasion of sin" concurrently. How can I tell her? I'd like to tell her of Stephen...

“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52“Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”      Acts 7:51-53

Yes, I'd like to read it aloud to her.
There must be something just so.
Romans 8:38-39. Hold it... get it right.
She seems not much the reader; hence.

Twisting the Night Away

Haven't been out in a very long time.
Went down to the Lost Leaf. Tribute band.
Human Torch. They did Beatles exclusively. Loudly.
I lasted a half an hour. Had a cider. OK, I guess.

Prior to this, attended a poetry slam here.
The book selection left something to be desired.
The performers we deadly serious. Fine.
The language in some quarters was atrocious.

Arrival

Did my first video and finished with this shot.
It's really good and I getting confidenter and confidenter.
But the Devotional guide said to put trust in The Lord.
And so I will. Please God to keep healthy and stable.

Problem Solved

Continue having problem with camera upload.
Am installing Canon processor... we'll see what gives.
No; that didn't work. Re-installing camera application.
Aha! That did it. We have uploads. We have a chance.

She's here! Stephany is here. Hallelujah! We'll see how it goes.

Oh, well... we had a talk. She's got a boyfriend. No dice.
Still, we get along very well and I'm glad to have her waiting.
My hours have gotten so haphazard, falling asleep early, out late.
So long as I don't succumb to the food there, I'll be alright.

Just Coffee, Please

She's not here. I found myself getting impatient with the service right away. Only one waitress here for the whole place. How par is this for the course? Just asked for more coffee and she - wait a minute; another waitress has arrived, but not Stephany. Ah, well... the proverbial way it goes.

Lauren at church gave me this book. On the face of it, it would appear to stand opposed to the Buddhist notion of the cycle of despair, which is what I'm experiencing presently. It's a meditation upon Psalm 37.

      Do not fret because of evildoers,
            Be not envious toward wrongdoers.

      For they will wither quickly like the grass
            And fade like the green herb.

      Trust in the LORD and do good;
            Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

      Delight yourself in the LORD;
            And He will give you the desires of your heart.

      Commit your way to the LORD,
            Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

      He will bring forth your righteousness as the light

            And your judgment as the noonday.

      Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;

            Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
            Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

      Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
            Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

      For evildoers will be cut off,
            But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.

      Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
            And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.

      But the humble will inherit the land
            And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

      The wicked plots against the righteous
            And gnashes at him with his teeth.

      The Lord laughs at him,
            For He sees his day is coming.

      The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow
            To cast down the afflicted and the needy,
            To slay those who are upright in conduct.

      Their sword will enter their own heart,
            And their bows will be broken.

      Better is the little of the righteous
            Than the abundance of many wicked.

      For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
            But the LORD sustains the righteous.

      The LORD knows the days of the blameless,
            And their inheritance will be forever.

      They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,
            And in the days of famine they will have abundance.

      But the wicked will perish;
            And the enemies of the LORD will be like the glory of the pastures,
            They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

      The wicked borrows and does not pay back,
            But the righteous is gracious and gives.

      For those blessed by Him will inherit the land,
            But those cursed by Him will be cut off.

      The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
            And He delights in his way.

      When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
            Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.

      I have been young and now I am old,
            Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
            Or his descendants begging bread.

      All day long he is gracious and lends,
            And his descendants are a blessing.

      Depart from evil and do good,
            So you will abide forever.

      For the LORD loves justice
            And does not forsake His godly ones;
            They are preserved forever,
            But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.

      The righteous will inherit the land
            And dwell in it forever.

      The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
            And his tongue speaks justice.

      The law of his God is in his heart;
            His steps do not slip.

      The wicked spies upon the righteous
            And seeks to kill him.

      The LORD will not leave him in his hand
            Or let him be condemned when he is judged.

      Wait for the LORD and keep His way,
            And He will exalt you to inherit the land;
            When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

      I have seen a wicked, violent man
            Spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.

      Then he passed away, and lo, he was no more;
            I sought for him, but he could not be found.

      Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright;
            For the man of peace will have a posterity.

      But transgressors will be altogether destroyed;
            The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.

      But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
            He is their strength in time of trouble.

      The LORD helps them and delivers them;
            He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

            Because they take refuge in Him.

Well, I am at once convicted and repentant... taking heart in The Lord.
Yes, later today will indeed go to The Refuge and hope for the best.
But now I'm exasperating with the camera... it won't upload.
Lord, if it's not one thing it's another and I'm sorry for my sins.

Ooolala

So glad to be here with Stephane.
Have a tune in mind - here you go.

Just downloaded Romeo and Juliet.
And Macbeth... would like to see Branagh's!

Found this for most excellent dining music.
Even though merely a cheeseburger and fries.

Have quite an appetite; has been quite the day.
Back in the day, I'd love her instantly. Give it time.

Meanwhile, it's freezing cold in here. Yet...
I think of those poor feral cats in my yard. 

Not too much. They, er, cope, don't they?
Eula had them on the run for years; now, not.

Going Back

Around sunset... not quite yet.
Time to get the camera and all set.

My Norton application is down. Just tried to do a fix.
I'll have to re-install, I guess, and am about to do it.

OK. The uninstall/re-install is underway.
Just took the picture. Ha. Get the picture, pal?

There's a waitress at Denny's who's a listener.
We talked about a PTSD fellow out of Iraq.

She's awfully young, but carries herself well.
Going back to see her later. Round midnight.

Continue to wait upon Norton download.
Had an interruption with the WiFi service.

I figure that by the time it's done it'll be 11.
She should be there... that would be very good.

Good to be off several days. Good the ginseng!
Think I'll stop off at home and take one. Meds too.

Going to process photo now. Looking forward.
Taken at 35th and Peoria... will it play? Silly.

There we go. Just about as is. Yeah; take meds.
Just hated it; he would ask, "Take your mediscene?"

Then I felt, believed there was nothing wrong.
But there is. An adaptability issue, I suppose.

Just thought to e-mail Irene. Give her report.
I'm sure she'll appreciate it. I miss her. She's OK.

OK, that's done. Wonder what's up with Martine?
She had her chance... several. Saw her prayer request.

Still hung up over her son, it seems. An issue.
And ran into Shillington - no word there. Go figure.

Not only looking forward to seeing Stephane...
can't wait 'til church tomorrow. Pick up Ajay!

Should be interesting. How will Charlie be?
How will they all be? Which reminds me!

I've go to see what the hymns are tomorrow.
Please excuse me while I look in mailbox.

Got it. Don't think I'll be singing tomorrow.
Problematic as Ajay will need ride back.

Will have to time it perfectly to be there.
For the Main Service, that is. Plan to. Yeah.

Norton session done. Scanning presently.
Should be here just a little while longer.

Should I eat at Denny's? Or wait for later?
Thought about BBQ and slaw from Walmart.

Could do a 4 buck deal. Maybe so. We'll see.
Scan completed. All is well. All is safe. Amen.

Ave

Apropos of nothing, I just swiped this.
Still biding time until a human involves their self.
Going to a party at Jan's tomorrow. We'll see.
One more day of work then well deserved weekend.

Biding Time

Have to stay awake at work. Five hours to go. 
Have promised Virginia that I'd not fall asleep again.

What to write about. I had thought to make a post regarding the Bible study I attended last Monday. (Revelation.) There was a new fellow there and I found myself counseling him to read 1 Corinthians 13 which touches upon the gifts of the spirit and how that informs church form and polity. At any rate, The Lord put the words in my mouth. I'm feeling very confident that The Lord is with me.

Yet I am alone and in great need for like society. I don't get any likes from church members for my posts on Facebook. I don't know what they think of me. If only I could make a connection, a decent, viable connection with someone at church. Charlie is great but he's not a contemporary. And he's not the sort of guy to hang with. Then there's the women. Janet is cool, but aged. The only other woman there of any interest is Emily, young enough to be my granddaughter. She is beautiful. Were I a man of means I'd ask her to bear my children. That, of course, would require sex and marriage. Totally impossible. Mind boggling to think of it.

I'll just have to be patient in this regard.

Moi... bleu?

Had a splendid time this evening. The DBacks won and I went out for music.
Chars features Ladee Jai every Tuesday. (Used to be Lady J.) Enough for me.

Have to get well rested before work. Clean up. Find camera... convenient.
Should get this under-weigh as well. Loaned from Charlie. Get it back soon.

Don't Mean a Thing

I'm awfully paranoid I'm going to drop my new camera.
After not being able to find the point and shoot, I got it.
I get too that I've got to pick up good at home.
The depression and paranoia generally are over.

Papa to the Rescue

What a turn of events!
Was solicited by a young man in The Gambia. Sort of.
All hard to contemplate... are we being played?
It seems he and his family have a legitimate need.

Jobes Bojang tells me he's an orphan with three siblings.
I sent him $20 for Christmas. A bit of an epic. Suspenseful.
It evidently went a long way. Instead of rice by the cup... a bag.
After a while, I sent him $200. Then it got complicated.

He wants to go to school. I think he's 19. But intelligent.
Secondary level schooling seems to bear a fee there.
I decided to help him, however bare my own resources.
All along I'm in mind of this, and my heart goes with him.

In a sense, it taxes my mind. A long way off and mysterious.
I find myself trusting in The Lord in this regard. Hopefully.
I need to pray more and better. Jobes wants me to quit smoking.
Wish there was someone for me in the here and now. Sheesh.

Timing's Not Everything

Waiting on Ajay. Will he show up?
Hard to say. Will he come to church?
Difficult to know. Shall I worry about it?
No. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Update: Ajay did not arrive today, as far as I saw.
Went to church alone but glad to see Charlie right away.
The preacher talked about spousal duties... ugh!
I got very sleepy. Bible study commenced on Ezekiel.

Slim Down

Too much telling David about Langley.
And what would he make of the culinary institute.
Ah, yes... struggling through Calvin. Quite the chore.
Definitely need to go back and skim it. Plus others.

Then there was General Slim and the guns pointed wrong.

Grows on One

This is Jobe Bojang on the right and Darboe Ousman holding up the left.
This story remains to be told. I shall have to write it up here very soon.

Respect Yourself

Sought to make closure with the MC site. Unfortunately.
Looks like complete rejection of yours truly. Unfortunately.
At a loss for words, referred them to Cara Mia. Unfortunate.
Fortunately, I trust in God to undo the sense of unworth.

And God, I believe, has found me worthy of joy.
I've a son now. In Africa. Yes, was solicited. But...
God, I believe, finds him worthy as well. Seems OK.
I am glad and hope my sad face will lighten up.

Camelback Passing

Never was a climber, and now any thought of it is daunting.
How much I do enjoy taking shots and tweaking them.
Glad that there are some people onn Facebook who like them.
Goes a long way to alleviate the sorrow that so many people don't.

Like me. I must try better therefore to be liked. If I care.
So many instances of things which provoke my worser self.
Knowing that I can do better is comforting. I really must.
Take every moment as it come and be gentle and kind.

Time For a Nap

Have to take care of some personal business.
There's a fellow in Africa depending on it.
Once had a pen pal in Uganda. I think.
Yes... to Western Union, then some sleep before work. 

Wise Guy

Exasperating yet funny. Just saw a typo from way back. Significant.
Anyway, enjoyed the Ranger game last night. Beat Montreal. Cool.

I don't know any of the personnel! Didn't follow all season.
And the locals are here as well. If I were a man of means...

I told my brother a while ago that I was living a fool's paradise.
Lately I feel as if I've died and gone to heaven. Maybe. We'll see.

Meanwhile, all sorts of health issues to deal with. Brother could care less.
He's going to get his. Sadistic little shit. Along with the well poisoners.

Moving

The pope, of whom I know not much, is in the Holy Land.
Of course, the political lines have been drawn. He deals with it OK.

Here's Himself placing the Lord's Prayer in the temple wall.
Makes me think of this; think I'll post it to Facebook. OK.

Dispatch!

Going to go crosstown in a while.
Head over to Urban Bean and chill.
Maybe one of them will show up.
Oh yeah... Lindsley... she's too much.

Perhaps a tub before; limber up a bit.
It really does feel good. And comforting.
Old joke: "Whats Strategos up to these days."
Funny too, Stratego with my brother long ago.

What's her name?

Problematic as to where this place is. Martin took the shot.
If it's near Parsonfield, I surmise it's the Ossipee River. Mill site.
I thought Colonel Granville of the Continentals hailed from New Hampshire?
Just haven't had the time to get it cleared up. Talk about a muddle!

Spoke with Martin a few minutes yesterday. Very strained. Sensed hostility.
He was "house sitting" while his folks take in Pittsburgh. Again. Stadium thing.
Suggested that they take in the Warhol Museum. That would be a trip!
Too much to consider the mother at work's son and that weird name.

Gathering the Tribe

Was sent some pictures of grandparents.
No time now to go through all the hoops.
Grandma looked delightful and Grandfather cool.
I posted them to Facebook... ah, this will do. Neat.

The pastor preached on the Fifth Commandment today.
Honoring the parents - and the grandparents, I suppose.
How to tell of the Knoxes too. Haven't got a handle on that.
It is merely advantageous to report we descend from Henry.

Stuck Up

Oh happy day.
Just found an Elton Fax webpage.

This makes me think of another friend of ours.
From Cottonwood. Have been holding off on a confrontation.

Intersected

Up early this morning. Went to Denny's on Bethany down the road.
Going out to have a smoke, impressed by birdsong. Unable to make.
Two Chinese maples, I believe, held a bevy of chirpers going nuts.
Got very lucky hence; the waitress comped me the coffee. Fantastic.

I had been feeling a little out of sorts; I missed being with someone.
Someone who could definitely identify the birds and the trees.
And because the traffic was interfering with the pleasure...
not to mention a contraption set up to clean Venetian blinds.

No Comment

The Actual View

Welcome back!
This is a bit of an experiment.
Just wanted to see if I could renew this blog.
Everything looks "all systems are go" for take-off.

Here's Piestewa Peak.
Ever a reminder of the misfortunes of war.
And the maxim, "Be prepared."
For a firefight in this instance.

Meanwhile, we note that the Hopi are a peaceful people.
I must take the time to read up on them. There's this too.
I've an eagle kachina on my Facebook page.
He takes prayers to heaven. Please God.

In a Life

If I were to write an autobiography, where would I start... and what would it matter? This is where I grew up, leaving in 1970. The Boulevard Gardens in Woodside, NYC, NY. I remember playing in the shrubs and lacerating my shin on a sharp stump; it tore a hole in my leg and I bled like a pig. My father carried me to the car to go to the hospital. I remember getting into a lot of trouble and was not a happy kid. That just about summarizes my childhood.

It is ironic that I can access people who were with me at this time, during these early years. Sometimes I feel I might go through the Alcoholics Anonymous procedure of apologizing for any damage done to them. So I do, generically. I had a memory of running through the pictured place, on the grass (taboo) and jumping the chains, promising God that I'd be good. I suppose I'm still the same... life's not exactly a bowl of cherries, but I do ask God to help me be a good man nonetheless.

There was difficulty in being, in feeling included. Bad feelings of rejection. My own behaviors might be at the root but it was really tough getting along with some of the other kids who made it difficult to get along with others, the hostility recirculating. All so long ago now... fifty years ago.

Take a Chance

More fun with the sketcher.
At Metro Starbucks... lonely as ever.

Looking Up?

Just passing the time, working with the sketcher. Piestewa Peak.
Indicative of my present circumstance... a daunting (impossible) climb.
Have not been working out as planned... knees are gimpy.
I've yet to go to Web MD to look into the kidney situation.

Worth the gas?

Went for a ride around Camelback Mountain this morning.
Echo Canyon is closed, and few opportunities for good shots.
This from the grounds of The Phoenician. Nice to process as "piece".
Soon the football playoffs to begin, I hope I have an active weekend.

I did stop in O'Brien's to watch football, but I think I'll reaccess...
there's never anyone here to talk to - the bartenders are nice...
there's WiFi... there's trivia, but no one to relate to, to groove with.
Think I'll take in the second half at home... plenty to eat.

Quack Yourself

I was so pleased this morning to discover another photo application.
Photobucket used to have free painterly processing, but no longer.
Photosketcher it is for the oils and watercolors... but no frescoes!
Now, hope this will get my arse in gear and get out there and hike.