Hold Off

Bible study this evening continues with Song of Solomon. My love the dove. Made for each other and all that. Discussion about decent, healthy sexuality.

Kids in the class so pastor modulates. The pastor says sex is good within marriage but not to think getting married solves the itchy urge, etc. Some old farts too; one gits a goin' on technique and pastor put the kibosh on that.

The key citation regarding companionship and speaking ever kindly to each other. Oh yes, we second that; don't holler - heard you the first time. I'm thinking...

I had wanted to prepare for class sitting in the sunshine at this table but got caught up processing photos and the yaddas on Facebook and Twitter. Funny yesterday in that I follow one of the Phoenix City Councimen. The subject of road conditions came up and I had my say. Afterwards the afterthought that, hey, you really don't want to draw attention to yourself criticising people who can complicate your life. Getting on their radar, as it were. I've had some run-ins and I don't care to again. Good thing that ticket was vacated so I didn't feel compelled to make a stink.

Ah, compulsion. Sex. I was dying to volunteer this concerning continence. Don't think it would have been 'appropriate' nor do I want any trouble with those local authorities.

I'm OK!

A rainy day yesterday. Not much activity. Reading this. Classical globalists.

Spices, yes, but lots of incense and tusks too. Dyes. Shipped out wine and olive oil.

But mostly gold and silver, which bankrupted them after a long while. Imperious kaput.
Was predicted by John the Evangelist circa 90 CE. We're not kidding. Have a look.

Here we have First Christian Church in central Phoenix. Have visited several times.
Years ago. In the 1980s, as far as I can recollect. Recall one woman going on and on
about her alcoholic father. Sort of put me off. Had nice chat with an older woman.
Told her I was flummoxed; out of sorts. She said, "Go home. Get under covers. Pray."

Here's to Rumpole!

Won my court case. Would like to celebrate but just having a quiet evening. Felt confident about proving I fed the meter. It was just that I couldn't get the bank nor the city to share deep data about the transaction. So it was up in the air.

Did get a bunch of shots downtown waiting on the court session. Long day. Process tomorrow.

Cover me...

Touched upon Joseph in Egypt this morning. Not only about overcoming hardship trusting in The Lord, but also being given responsibility. I've gotten of lightly. 

While listening to the lesson noticed the girl in front of me with her hair tended prehistorically. Took a surreptitious shot. Jusy may have a piece here.

After service, went to Biltmore to take some pictures of Wright motif decor. Didn't get to take a nap this afternoon. Falling asleep presently.

My court appearence on the parking ticket is tomorrow afternoon. I've got the documentation to prove I fed the meter but if anything can go wrong, I'm sure it will.

Them Thar Hills

Little energy for writing things up here as have jumped into Twitter and not much else to say. Did get to take a ride and do the Black Canyon Trail. (Did I already say that?) Got a bunch of discounts from Red Box so watched several films the last several days.

The Ballad of Lefty Brown a hoot. Written by foreigners with a crush on the genre. Stilted script and a play of types. Funniest thing was it takes place in Montana and the keep referring to the capital as Bismarck. Do I send a dunning e-mail? Do I denounce them on their FB page? LOL The cinematography was great.

Went to park this after. Sat with fisherman and chatted. Catfish - he hoped.

Ubiquity

Was up early. Before sunrise. Did get on the road not too far up north.

Daisy Mountain morning sun. To Rock Springs to look at the pie and onto Black Canyon Trail for s bit. Nice County park too. Wrapped with noontime shots of Daisy Mountain.

Scarfed some rocks and cactus cuttings. Home and cultivated. Took about thirty shots but am bushed. Will process tomorrow.

When's reveille?

Beautiful tufted sky this afternoon. 

Then Bible study. Song of Solomon.

For behold, the winter is past,

The rain is over and gone. (2:11)

Presently in hot tub, feeling no pain. Literally...

although I did pass on dolloping some Irish Creme in me coffee on the way out this after. Not a very productive day but got done what I needed to do.

Tomorrow, am thinking about a ride to New River. Maybe Agua Fria running. Can pick up on Black Canyon Trail toward Bumblebee and the Bradshaws. Shouldn't stay up too late for to catch noonish sun.

I Can See!

Got me new specs. No big deal.

I may be ugly but I smell good.

Got a haircut too. Made great buy!

Pinaud lotion usually $15... got it @ 7.

Heavenly Father: Thanks so much for giving me the wherewithal to deal with the financial needs as they crop up. May I ever see You in my life and all about me. In Jesus' name. Amen. I really am grateful to be able to get along quite well under circumstances.

Take It Light

“Let us pardon reciprocally each other's folly.
That is the first law of nature.”   Voltaire

Je viens de télécharger plusieurs œuvres de Voltaire, dont "Candide" que j'ai lues il y a près de cinquante ans. Je me souviens de l'avoir fait sur la pelouse devant la bibliothèque Duane à Fordham. "Le meilleur de tous les mondes possibles."

Tout est pour le mieux et nous devons cultiver notre jardin. Des conseils pratiques, non? Beaucoup à faire à la maison; le nettoyage de printemps avance rapidement - mais pas maintenant. LOL Je me pardonne mes folies d'entretien ménager.

Not Exactly Sardonic

Early Sunday morning. In the tub. Getting stretched out. Church later. Bit of a stretch there too. I've a friend who belongs where I used to go. He's always wanted to pastor his own congregation. He started an 'alternative' sort of service and keeps inviting me. I don't respond but do wish to be polite.

He calls it "Olde Time Agape" and features gospel sing-alongs. Country people. Nostalgia. Agape is, of course, faithful love in Greek. I wouldn't want to say to him that I'd like to invite him to. Latin High Mass - for old time's sake. Sarcastic? Yes. Leave it alone.

I'm highly secularized. Spoke with present pastor yesterday evening, just about the same time as this shot. He tends to put everything through Biblical perspective, coming up with citations for this or that. I appreciate it but see things more matter-of-factly, here and now.

But I do go back. Presently reading Voltaire, who is prolific indeed. Having simply glanced in the past, something of a refresher, especially his deft quotations.

"God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well."

Procrastination, con'd

When having my eyes examined, my blood pressure taken. I've put some weight on and spend too much time in the easy chair. It was up some. Since losing weight it had gone down without meds so I sort of skated for a while. Been meaning to go for a prescription renewal but put it off. 

Some little complication, but all worked out today. Transitioning from private insurance with one provider to Medicare HMO with another. The old physician can't refill without seeing me and isn't provider anymore. Just had to get ducks in a row and made appointment to see new doctor next week. Haven't used the Medicare at all and basically glanced at the informational manuals from the provider concerning co-pays, etc. Some concern that there might be some negative cash flow. No fundamental difference from previous plan and petty cash costs, including prescriptions. It's got more to do with the supplemental insurance. 

So, all should be copasetic by next week. 

Health pretty good except for needing a beta-blocker.

Rather a drear day today, overcast and not going anywhere. Thinking about dinner!

Nice old picture redone in new app. Old stomping grounds. Your home your castle.

Used to live in Camp Verde - before the traffic got there. Late 1980s. Much trekking.

Gotten really bad on SRs 89 and 260. Worse here, of course. Unavoidable. 

Procrastination

Been intending to get a new pair of glasses for some time. See deals on the Internet but I'm way past due on a fresh prescription - like, it's five years old. Well, my glasses got knocked off a table at home. I stepped on them. Jury-rigged wearability. Not exactly comfortable ordering online so I searched for the best retail deal I could find.

One place, unmentioned, offered what seemed to be a good one. Insurance paid the exam. The other day, when I made the appointment for today, I browsed what they had and picked one out. Was told 50% off sale going on. I looked at the sticker price on the frame and figured that was the price of the specs. Deal.

Get done with exam and go to settle up. Whoa... lenses are cost too! I grumped but they were half off as well. But still - I am not a professional shopper and I can't get out of those places fast enough. I figure I need them right away, let's get done, that's it. I can use the new prescription to get a cheaper back-up pair. Anyway, not getting the exam done before the crush cost me.

Riding around a little, no shots presented. Had a conversation with someone last night about the parks in Phoenix as compared to many other cities. The fellow happened to be a landscape designer. I complained that all the city parks were the same, templated as it were, and no flowers. Nor do they prune the trees. He said the parks here were not designed for people but for dogs.

Did some more repotting. Here, a couple new ensembles. 

Cell: (c) SKG

Some Other Time

Be My Valentine LOL

Made this several years ago. Just redid it with gusto.

Well, the thing of it is, she might like it. She whomever.

There's a young woman sitting across from me at the coffee place. She looks sad, lonely. I'm just from Bible study and am not quite concerned about the circumstance. Anyway, I thought I'd send her some flowers. You know, just ask her what's her e-mail and send her a picture. Yeah, right, you say? Well, you just never know. 

Then again, once gave the above to a live one. She never even thanked me. Way it goes. Never got the chance to wax poetic upon lotus blossoms or nothing. Perhaps I recall on account of her being the last one I'd bother myself about. Heaven forfend I should bother her.

Were there really someone really there to be real to be there, I'd do this up special. Matter of fact, that's the next project. Get finished here. Have a movie downloaded. Dinner awaits. I can cook!

SPQR Yourself

Something of a tangle with a Twitter post earlier today. Enjoy Lucy Worsley immensely and all that. A splendid BBC presenter, right up there with Michael Wood and Homer. She made a post touting someone's book about the poor Romanovs done in by the commissars. Couldn't exactly say good riddance, but came near. The Brits are much enveloped in mystique and sentiment for their lost imperial grandeur... the Caucasian bourgeoisie, especially, while they are inundated by Muslims on account of same imperial policy, former subjects of the Raj within the Commonwealth having the right to emigrate to the U.K. 

Odd subject; England is not, nor Scotland, but Britannia. Have you ever noticed that when there's a casting call for a film, a costume drama about the Romans, Brits get the call. An American accent just won't do. Well, I suppose I channeled that "How come?" You figure it's a class thing playing classical shtick. Anyway, from whence does it derive. From Rome, who held plenty in bondage. That's what I imparted; I saluted the Russian Republic and their fledgeling democracy after the Bolshies stole the revolution. They had their own problem - the Third Rome, the old Byzantine emperor the vice-regent  of God, thence to the father Ruskie czars. Defunct!

Ought I have stayed out of it? Could have gone further, the corporatist State and its flunkies on the tit. Simply made a liberating point. Americans can handle it. What was Churchill's adage? Two nations divided by a common language. No shit.

Hitting the Wall

Photo work proceeding apace. Nothing much else doing.

Nice day at church yesterday but very much a closed society.

Spent about six hours online between browsing and tweeting.

Facebook too. Minimal society there as well. Time for a movie.

                                                           **********

An excellent film. Very touching memorialization and well written.
Several journeyperson actors and three masters. Great, sad story.
I've been through those parts - back way to Prescott through Yarnell,
but never to Juniper Tree. Now I've a destination. Here's Thumb Butte.

Lucky Joy to Behold

Doing yard work, happened upon these shamrocks. How rare does it get? Shady spot since September; northern exposure under the eave. Mossy too.

Found a pot too and dug it out.

Will fondly nurture. Comes Paddy's Day?

Detoured

Much of my quasi-literary energy has been diverted to Twitter this past week upon FISA revelations. If you don't know, I can't help you.

And not much to say. Blogging about oil changes not exactly cutting edge. Gardening too. Time to do Spring cleaning.

Concurrent with multi-volume Christian history, have gotten underweigh with this. The Tarawa landings were horrific, many Marine units involved experiencing 70% casualties. Something to bear in mind when exercising free speech on Internet.

Choices

I'm still quite full from working on a rack of ribs yesterday. Peripherally interested in football game. Sort of a sentimental thing, replete of memories of championships past, watching with my Dad. Didn't feel the need to go out, be with a crowd, as I usually do, and busy cooking.

Not a bad game. Found myself rooting for New England, Brady and Gronkowsky the only players I know. Hard loss for them.

There was the regularly scheduled prayer meeting at 6pm, in conflict, one might say. I'd pressed myself to get out of bed in the morning for the services - had I done enough? Normally, I might have gone, however much difficult it is doing so alone. I must confess I do get bored.

It's an old story. I remember looking at some rules drawn up in Ephesus circa 200 CE pertaining to 'entertainment' the disciples were directed to refrain from attending. The games and the theater; taverns were off limits too. I read the document closely... were the rules only for staff or all the members? Looked like the ordained leaders only - or specifically. (Am I splitting hairs, rabbi?) I suppose another perspective would include all.

At that time, the games were bloodlust, the theater blasphemous and taverns a lot looser than they are here and now. All enthralling, no doubt. But I see no harm in sport, movies and visiting with friends at the pub. Yeah, they can all be wicked, but that's sort of what it takes to be a Christian, to be there, but not. 

Anyway, food for thought. The pastor preached on way of the flesh versus those of the Spirit yesterday morning. Today, by myself, it might be nice to have such company but, still digesting as I am, I'm going to the nice theater. Have downloaded Maigret and Poirot, Redbox has a twofer deal. I'm not going to worry about said conflicts.

Are we having fun yet?

Read until dawn this morning and slept until 2pm. Oy... nothing done at all.

In easy chair surfing until sundown, did have a couple of shopping adventures.

New WalMart at Metro Center; just pick up online order. Long time no here.

All the old anchors gone or going under, it is stimulating activity and memories.

Then to Fry's with brisket on sale for smoking tomorrow. However, 75% off ribs!

Super Bowl. We'll be there, politics notwithstanding. Cowboy beans and coleslaw.

Everybody rooting against New England. LOL Am leaning that way, with Brady.

Nearing midnight, much to do. Church tomorrow. Hope I get some sleep. Sheesh.

Am reading a history of the early Christian church. Have scanned before, but presently going slow. Very interesting dynamic, how it insinuated itself into the Roman intelligentsia and imperial politics after severe persecution, which more or less created the lay of the land in the West. Much ado in the East and Africa as well, and much bickering.

On the Town

Got out but will do the oil change tomorrow. How exciting! 

Contemplating live blogging the event. Went to O'Reilly's; great deal.

Now I've just got to find my oil filter wrench. Believe I know where it is.

Used to keep all the auto service items in an old refrigerator in carport.

City comes by and say it's against the code. Well, I never. Fluids, you know.

Stopped by an observation post to see how the sunset was doing.

Not so hot. A bit smoggy. The west side not much to present.

Can't see the White Tanks. Yuk... all the traffic headed out to Surprise.

Hate it when it's heavy and you can;t get in the turn lane, then, when

you do, they won't let you into the flow. A Phoenix art form; merging.

Yonder

This morning has been hysterical. Surfing the news then Facebook and Twitter, the Nunes Memo, the Donald destroyers, the deluded, the deranged. And it's become afternoon. I've got things to to!

Did get to a good spot to capture moon. As good as I could without tripod or doing fully manual adjustment. Not bad but could be sharper. Increase shutter speed too as auto-sensors have it wide open for the dark all about - then you'd see lunar terrain as well.

Shouldn't make to much fun of Internet lunatics. Are I one? LOL I am missing (a wee bit) someone. Way it goes. I'm used to it.

Progress

Slowly getting a handle on the new processing application but far from grasping its potential compared to the sampled pictures. Also a matter of finding interesting shots. Have gone into archive redoing some but really don't want to get involved in that. I don't have as much control as I'd like. When you work on one color it seems to affect another - a very bright, washed out sky here turns orange and the hue adjustment can't do the deep green along with getting the sky towards blue. Don't want these to look garish either.

Took a few shots of the big blue moon last night but they were awful. Have moved myself up near the Phoenix Mountains in Moon Valley this evening for to try again. Quite a few manual adjustments and if you extend the field to include foilage or terrain the moon light glares. We'll see how it goes.