Spo-Reflections

Yule Shirt

2011-12-18T21:36:00.000-07:00

Once in a while I like to post things here, 'to keep the account alive'

Please see my at Spo-reflections at Wordpress.

Urspo E-mail

2011-10-09T19:07:00.000-07:00

Spo-fans e-mail me from time to time. Sometimes it is a blogger buddy who wants to leave a comment in private; sometimes it is a unknown spo-fan asking medical questions. Happily, I have not received any nasty e-mails.
Once in a while I get an e-mail that makes me wonder. Here is one -

"Dear Urspo,
I have been a regular reader for some time. This is my first time commenting. I see that you are very smart. I want to buy a Kindle, so I can read the books you talk about, so I can be smart like you. The Kindle costs 80$. I will bless you, God will bless you too.

Sincerely Yours,
XX

P.S. Don't send me the Kindle. Please send the 80$. I want to pick it out myself.

750,000

2011-05-13T21:16:00.000-07:00

My 750,000th visitor is coming by soon; what an honor !

2011

2010-12-31T18:41:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year to any Spo-fans who stumbled down the rabbit hole here to find me.

Please visit me at www.sporeflections.wordpress.com

An Update

2010-05-25T20:13:00.002-07:00

Every once in a while I like to post here at my old Blogger site. I fear if I don't post I would be booted.

Anyway, I am blogging away at Wordpress. com See you there !

Leather shirt

2010-02-07T18:39:00.002-07:00

Every once in awhile I post something here at my 'old site; so Blogger won't bump me off !

Please visit me at www. sporeflections.wordpress.com !

Another Video

2009-07-10T21:36:00.003-07:00

A Video

2009-04-23T12:26:00.003-07:00

Spo-Reflections on Clutter - in my mind and at the office

2009-02-19T08:32:00.003-07:00

Nostalgia

2008-10-05T08:20:00.002-07:00

If you have stumpled here by intent or by Fate, I am an active blogger over at Wordpress. I am content there. It has been good enough.
Still, I keep up my Blogger site - it is like having a childhood home you don't want to let go out of nostalgia. Perhaps some day I will return to it.
Periodically I post something new here to 'keep it going'.
Please stop by my Wordpress site - I would be glad to see you.

2008-05-11T09:07:00.002-07:00

If you have wondered here either by intent or by Fate, please come see my at www.sporeflections.wordpress.com That is my current blog.
I've transferred the Blogger entries (my first year at blogging) over to Wordpress as well
See you there.
Michael AKA Urspo

New Photo

2008-03-14T11:51:00.003-07:00

I haven't posted at blogger is a very long while; I wanted to see how easy it was these days.

A Post

2007-12-27T16:03:00.001-07:00

in 2007 I have been using Wordpress.
Most of my blogging buddies use Blogger. It looks like Blogger has improved; I have not heard recent grips about it. So in 2/08 I am considering coming back to Blogger.
If anyone is reading this, could you leave a comment you came and visited
and
could you tell me if you are happy/dissatisfied with Blogger

Regards,
Urspo

Mending - and Moving !

2007-02-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for your kind comments during my sickest days.
Now that I have an ounce of energy, I am going to go ahead and move to Wordpress.
http://sporeflections.wordpress.com/

The folks who have moved there seem to like it: I too will give it a try.
I had hoped to have it all 'fabulous' and ready by now. Oh well, a work in progress it shall be.

Urs,
Urspo

Sick

2007-02-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

I've been very sick the past 3 days; something I picked up in Costa Rica.
I feel very weak and dehydrated.
I'll get back to blogging when I feel better.
See you soon.
I hope to have changed to Wordpress by now, but this will have to wait.

Happy Blogday!

2007-02-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

Today is my blog’s birthday. Spo-Reflections is 1 year old.

I am continually amazed at this journey. In January 2006, Michael of Temporary Trouble Spots conveyed his passion for writing on line. I like reading and writing, and his talks kindled a desire to write something as well. After a week’s hesitation, I began, not knowing what I was doing. It was one of the least thought out endeavors of my life.
For the first months no one knew about it. Michael told me that was typical, and to focus on writing for yourself, not to attract others. I took this sensible advice. I think it was in the summer I figured out how to post pictures. A few people started to leave a comment. I went to other blogs; they came to mine. To my delight people were reading me and returning to read more; to genuinely care what I was saying and doing.

In the end what I really got from this process was the introduction to a whole new type of friends. Although I have not met or spoken directly to any blogger (yet) I nevertheless count them as friends. I look forward to reading them. I am sad when they have a sorrow; I feel joy when something goes well for them.

I doubt I wrote anything of great literary worth in the past year. It has been mostly trivia and mawkish day to day thoughts. But the results of it was my ‘blogger buddies’ – 40 to 50 men and women which I would not barter for gold.

Spo-reflections evolved. Some people came, and went. I look forward to year #2
I hope it is as marvelous as the first.

Thank you dearies, for being part of my world.

If today is snorkeling it must be Wednesday.

2007-02-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

Hohoho
Someone may become cross to have his photo posted, but I thought it a nice one. Ain't he a cutie?

I think it is Wednesday. The days all blur together, what with no newspaper/television and everyday's weather being the same.
Every morning a small troop of spider monkeys scampers around the hotel grounds, hoping to get something to eat. They love chips but nasty potato chips and Doritos are not good for them. We limit our offerings to bananas, which they love as well.

I believe Someone went to town with John, searching for a working ATM machine. We erred that we were going to rely on plastic; people want cash rather.
Doug is no doubt scrounging the countryside for critters. We haven't seen much of him since his equipment arrived.
The Other Michael has a bad back today, so I doped him up with some Motrin etc.
We wrote 20 postcards today. We'll see if they beat us home.
This afternoon we go on a cruise that includes snorkeling. I have snorkeled in many years. There will be a supper on board and a sunset into the Pacific Ocean. Oh what a life.

I hope all my blog buddies are doing OK. The connection here is spotty. So when I do 'connect' I use it to post rather than read. I hope it is not too "February" back home. Rumors are it is very cold especially in the Midwest. I wish I could send some of this heat your way.

It is the birthday of Charles Dickens: act accordingly!

Urs,
Urspo of Costa Rica.

Tuesday's Highlights

2007-02-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

Today we six drove out of town to a canopy tour of the local jungle. Doug at Gossemer Tapestry
http://gtapestry.blogspot.com/ is sure to post better photos and more details. we hiked, and saw many butterflies, frogs, a few birds and no tarantulas.

Some of us were simply exhausted.

Afterwards, we went to the beach. The water is warm and the waves were fun to ride. We had a dissappointing pizza dinner. Tomorrow, we go on a day cruise to snorkel and see a sunset.

That's the summary of it. I am too pooped to post more!

Photo III

2007-02-05T15:11:00.000-07:00

Someone say that this is an 'infinite' pool as it doesn't seem to have an end to it. The water sloshes over into a moat and apparently recirculates.
So far we have seen Spider Monkeys, several beautiful colourful birds, Vultures, Iguanas, Hawks, a Viper (dead), a 3 toed Sloth (not dead), and many insects. Douglas catches them in glass bottles called "Vaso Muerta". I am collecting postcards rather.

Photo II

2007-02-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

in case we have guests, they can always stay in the hammock on outside our Room #3.
Here is Doug, our friends John and Michael, and Urs Truly, out sight-seeing.
We are looking at the volcano. Doug is looking for butterflies.

Some Photos I

2007-02-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

This is the view of our bed and breakfast.

Look, no tarantulas!

Greetings from Central America!

2007-02-04T15:23:00.000-07:00

Hola!
We are finally at our destination, a resort called La Plantacion AKA Big Ruby's, in Quecops Costa Rica. I am happy to see there is internet status; soon I can post some photos. Meanwhile the story so far -
Someone and I arrived in San Jose better off than Doug and the other 3. Doug is sure to talk about it in his own blog; not only was their flight completely screwed up - their luggage remains lost! Can you imagine? Day #3 still dressed in the same Midwest clothes! We all hope the luggage arrives tonight.
Yesterday we four spent an all day tour to an active volcano. It is rather stunning to watch a mountain belch red liquid/rumble and spew steam. In contrast - we watched this from a hot springs resort at the base, bathing in very hot waters heated by the volanco. What an experience to sit under a waterfall with hot water pouring on top of you.
The money is the colon; ~ 500 colones = 1 dollar. We need not have bothered to convert our cash or learn Spanish as (so far) the locals prefer dollars and want to speak English.
Today we took a puddle jumper to the Pacific coast. It is much warmer here on the coast. It is 30 degrees Celsius and the humidity is high.
I sit on a veranda overlooking a jungle. I have a hammock.
Well, I am sure to post some photos after we finally unpack. I have a week to DO NOTHING and I quite looking forward to it.
Urs,
Ur-Spo of Costa Rica
P.S. so far no tarantulas.

Hasta Luega Amigos

2007-02-02T07:10:00.000-07:00

Well Spo-fans, I am off to Costa Rica until mid February.
A group of merry lads, headed by intrepid Scoutmaster Doug (of Gossamer Tapestry) arrives from the bleak Midwest this afternoon.
Someone and I board the same flight for a 5 hour jaunt to San Jose.

Tomorrow we have an all day excursion to see an active volcano.
On Sunday we fly to Quepos, to spend a week on the Pacific Ocean at Big Ruby’s B&B.
What an adventure.
And what a break for me. This will be the first time in 6 years I will turn off the phone/pager. I have ‘cover’ docs when I go on vacation but I carry my cell phone – and there is always a call or two from the office. On this holiday, I can let the world spin without me.

I am bringing my lab top as I hope to keep in contact and post my thoughts.
However, if internet is not available, this may be my last entry until mid February.

Please check in at Gossamer Tapestry. Doug is far more clever than I at taking and posting pictures. Being the nature expert he will tell you more about what we are doing.
I am fortunate to be traveling with him.

So, I will be thinking of you all, hoping all is well.
I will really miss checking in on you.

Be Well Enough.

I Miss Them

2007-02-01T05:54:00.000-07:00

In the past month I have seen a half dozen of my favorite blogs decide to take a break from writing. I don’t know if this is common for blogs to open and shut or take breaks. I hope ‘taking a break’is not a euphemism for stopping forever. A few actually announced they were stopping. Maybe they will come back someday. The announced reasons are boredom or ‘lack of anything else to say’. Good enough reasons to stop writing. It is one thing to endure a boring job but a boring hobby makes no sense. I support people discarding past times that have no more joy.
Still, I hope they do not feel they were uninteresting or what they had to say was unimportant.

It makes me very sad to see folks go away. I’ve been wondering why this effects me so. I haven’t met any of the men and women of blog-land; I have never talked to them. All the same, these virtual friends are important to me. To see them depart is losing people I find special.

I guess I am being selfish. I want them back. But it is beyond my control and ultimately not my decision. I can only wish them luck and let them know I find them and their writings marvelous.

I live with hope that with waiting (and I am good at that) some of them will return, refreshed and with more to say.
Meanwhile the lighthouse is lit, to guide the ships on their paths – or to bring them some day back to harbor.

10th Year Anniversary

2007-01-31T05:52:00.000-07:00

Today is our 10th year anniversary. I met Someone ten years ago when we were both staying at the same B&B in Key West. I was there for my annual holiday; he was there for the first time. We met at social hour. One could say it was a Broadway musical that made the ‘click’. I voiced a fondness for “The Secret Garden”. He recently was in a production of it.
(Since some Spo-fans are smart alecks - he was the Gardener, not Mary Lennox).

I could write all sorts of things about our relationship, but what comes to mind as I write this is the amazement. Has it been 10 years? Didn’t we just meet? More incredible is he bothers to hang in with me. My ADD wiring wasn’t a really a ‘disorder’ until I started to live with another. Bad traits of blurting, the inattention, the difficulty to sit still/finish things around the house all drive him bats. A major mistake is to ask a question only to realize ‘he had said that five minutes ago’. It hurts his feelings so. So there are times I wonder why he bothers to hang around someone like me, or at least without Ritalin.

We aren’t doing much for the day – we will eat out. In two days we go to Costa Rica and we shelled out a lot of $$$ to buy the year’s airplane tickets now. So our ‘gifts’ to each other is the commitment towards the future, expressed in these plans.

I don’t talk about the ups and downs of my relationship on my blog. He likes his privacy – and my family reads this blog. But I am grateful that he is with me. Life without him would feel empty.
I hope that there are 10 years more and then some.

Nasty Food MEME

2007-01-30T06:14:00.000-07:00

1.Your oddest craving?
Olives stuffed with jalapenos.
2. The forbidden food?
No veal.
3. A dish that makes you queasy?
Cheesecake; it gets me quite nauseated.
4. Your least favorite food vegetable?
cauliflower
5. Your worst cooking disaster?
Once I tried to make a ‘daffodil bundt cake. It looked, smelled and tasted bad.
6. A Cooking exercise you don’t do well?
To this day I can’t make rice properly. It never turns out right.
7. Food that arouses the most suspicion?
Twinkies; what exactly is in them?
8. A drink you used to drink but no more?
Whole milk; I don’t do skim milk much either
9. Least favorite fast food chain?
Long John Silver’s; always makes me sick.
10. When in doubt, eat….
Boxed Kraft Macaroni and Cheese
11. A restaurant faux pas that would get you to speak up?
Cold food that is supposed to be hot.
12. Is there something spoiled in the fridge right now?
A cucumber is looking rather pruny with some white fuzz at one end.
13. Food you can’t buy as your spouse/partner won’t allow it in the house
Mayonnaise. He is quite adverse to even its mention.
14. Food your spouse/partner likes that you don’t like.
Chocolate mint ice cream.
15. Your least favorite type of cuisine?
I am not fond of Mandarin Chinese food; too bland
16. I food you hated as a child but now love?
Lots! Tomatoes being the biggest hate to love transformation.

A Quotation for writers.

2007-01-29T13:10:00.000-07:00

The other day was the birthday of Virginia Woolf.
She said:

"So long as you write what you wish to write, that is all that matters; and whether it matters for ages or only for hours, nobody can say. But to sacrifice a hair of the head of your vision, a shade of its colour, in deference to some Headmaster with a silver pot in his hand or to some professor with a measuring-rod up his sleeve, is the most abject treachery."

Seemed apt for blogging.

A Devine Joke

2007-01-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

Recently I was reminded that God has a sense of humor.
I saw in consultation an 18yo woman, brought in (quite against her wishes) by her father, who was very concerned that she had something the matter. Turns out she had some mild bipolar depression, but the real explanation of ‘what is the matter’ wouldn’t have gone over too well. They were concrete people, so my attempt to explain the dynamics would have fallen flat. I thought I would share them with you.

After the consultation I felt absolutely rotten. When emotions hit like this it is always a good sign in a shrink to sit up/pay attention as to what went on there. And I figured it out. I was the victim of subtle psychology. The father, humble simple living man, devout in his religion not mine, was making me feel miserable that I was doing well/had money and I did not have his lot or views of life.
I remember a teacher calling it the Revenge of the Underdog; you are not allowed to kick a hurting dog but it is OK for him to bite you.
He had his conviction of belief, but at the price of a joyless, know-nothing else attitude towards life. He had a sort of minimum wage from God, and in return gave up all the joys of life – joys God also made I must add.

Where is God’s joke in this? God gave him a daughter who wants the maximum. She wants to travel, go to school, see countries and explore new ideas. She has talent to write and to make music. Father wants her content with his crust of bread living; she is keen to attend Life’s banquet. Yes, she was mess (history of mood swings, street living, drugs etc.) but her path in Life will be to go forward, not back to the little world of married/at home/homeschooling 5 children like her father wants her to be.

I’ll try to get her mood swings down to a dull roar, and get her to stop heroin. After that her Great Work begins.

My Water Pitcher

2007-01-27T07:34:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post this pitcher I created.

Last weekend our bear club Bears of the West hosted a fund raiser. It was at a store where you buy finished bits of pottery and paint them with glaze. Some of the proceeds went to ‘One in Ten’ which is a gay youth service centre here in Phoenix. It was a fun evening.
I purchased a plain pitcher and got five types of glaze – light blue, dark blue, purple, pink and green. These colours are a combination I learned from a psychic I visited once upon a time in New Orleans. She said my aura was deficit in these colours and I should surround myself with more of them. Well, I don’t know about that, but I do happen to like this colour combination. One of my homemade shirts has these 5 hues and it makes me feel good to wear it, so perhaps she was accurate.
Rather than painting pictures, I took rough pieces of sea sponge and dabbed the colours onto the pitcher. Someone decorated a plate.
I am pleased at how it turned out. The pitcher has a ‘cool’ feeling to it, just right for holding ice water.

Last Night's Travels through the Universe

2007-01-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

Last evening I ‘made rounds’ on my blog reads. I visit ~ 50 on a regular basis. I try to look at them every day. I don’t always leave comment, particularly if time is limited. It cheers me to see new postings, particularly if the blogger isn’t one to post often. I usually read in the evening. Being on the west coast that often means I am ‘last in line’ to drop a comment at the more popular sites.

Last night Wednesday I did a foolish thing. I had an iced tea with my dinner. This broke one of my rules which is ‘no caffeine after 3PM”. I was wide awake at 1130PM and there was no sleep in sight. I was going to be up for awhile.
Four unexpected hours gave me an opportunity to read new blogs. I felt like Santa Claus, going from house to house while everyone was asleep. I left some comments– these writers who do not know me will be surprised to see me I suppose.
I first started with ‘friends of friends’, the blog names I keep seeing in the majority of links or comments of mutual friends. Some of these were very talented: some were cute as a bug: a few are very popular – one fellow seemed to average 20-30 comments per entry.
Then I got lost. I played a little game with myself. I would go to A, find a link there to a new person B, who would link to C, and so on. As each blog seemed to have a dozen or more links there was no lack of variability.
The further I traveled, the fewer names were recognized. My blogger buddies are kind to list me in their links, but as I wandered away Spo-Reflections was no longer mentioned.
I was in unfamiliar territory. They did not know me and I didn’t know them.

The journey gave me a sense of awe. I truly appreciated the ‘web’ of the WWW. I envision a huge three dimensional model with each person linked to his or her links and so on, in a large criss-crossed mesh with no boundaries. In an infinite universe, every point is the centre.
The Catholic Church believes in a concept called The Communion of Saints, where the Saints of heaven are all connected and interacting with each other. I wonder if our little blogging world is a taste of such.

Like a child who has gone too far away, I longed to be back in the familiar and comfortable. On my way home I was surprised to find one or two other ‘usuals’ were up and posting early this morning. I left a ‘first comment’ of the day, and finally got into bed. Part of sleeping well is the having a sense of peace, that things are well enough for you to go to sleep. Knowing 50 people (at least) out there who know and care about me lulled me to sleep.

Ravings

2007-01-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

Today’s entry is to rave a bit. So if I shock or offend I apologize ahead of time. I try not to be ugly or bitchy in these entries (lest I get phone calls from home). But it is therapeutic to get things expressed.

Rave 1#) Pills.
When did we become a nation so needy for pills? People want pills for this and that and they want more and more of them. Anything goes wrong in their life and they call me for more medications. I make sure my patients know that there are usually non medicine options to their treatment, or at least adjuncts. Few ever take these alternatives; fewer seem to clean up their habits/lives that contribute so much to their conditions.

On a different note, I am sick of taking my own medicines. But I would be a hypocrite to stop them.

Rave #2) Patients.
How do they expect me to help them when they continue to drink and smoke pot? I don’t have overt issues with alcohol or pot per se but I don’t have issues with sugar either – until you have diabetes. If you have complaints of lack of motivation, depression, no concentration, apathy and loss of sex drive – and smoke daily pot – I can’t fix you.
Dammit, they call it ‘dope’ not ‘smart’.

Rave #3) Politics.
I’m not going to even start.

Rave #4) Premiums.
Recently my liability insurance sent me a letter that had at least four incorrect statements therein. The main zinger was ‘you owe us 7000 dollars’ After a rollercoaster day of emotions it was finally cleared up that they were wrong but you would think that the insurance company would know what the hell they are insuring for in the first place. Bastards.

Rave #5) Plants
In our recent Arizona cold spell most of the outside shrubs and plants died of cold and frost.

Rave #6) Penguins.
The one on the television just exploded. Frightful mess.

Spo-Reflections on a Tuesday Night

2007-01-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

Yikes I have a truckload of notes to write tonight. I’ll have just enough time to eat some supper, go for a walk, do my paperwork and go to sleep – only to wake up and do it all over again. I recall a Japanese film about a couple who live at the bottom of a sandy pit. Every day they have to evacuate the fallen sand that fell the previous night. Over and over repetition. So much of life is like that; the daily routine of the same.

So there is not much time to write this evening.

I recommend you go to Temporary Trouble Spots. Michael Guy recently posted an interview on a podcast. It was good to hear, not only to hear his cheer voice again but to here his thoughtful exploration on what blogging means to him. It is inspirational to keep writing.

It reminded me that one of the main reasons for starting my blog last February was a desire to write. I did not know what I would write, but I wanted to write something. So it did. The photos and the links/comments came later. Months later, people were actually reading my scribbles - and coming back too. Friendships blossomed: now I seem to be in a network of writers from all over, and all sizes/shapes and sexes.

As year #2 approaches next month, I hope to do more essay writing, and less recording of daily doings recording. But we shall see. I don’t have a “Hari Selden plan” for this. In the style of traditional psychoanalysis, free association and expansion lead in time to Truth. What needs to come out will come out; no need to hurry it along.

May your sleep be sound this night. With dreams of fish and turtles from the deep sea

Spo-Reflections this Monday Night.

2007-01-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

I have reached a dry spell: I don’t feel anything creative or thoughtful to write these days.
Perhaps I am merely distracted with work and preparations to get out of the country in two weeks’ time. Perhaps the Muses went to Central America a few weeks ahead of me.
Let’s hope the Fates went to Ohio rather than Costa Rica.

Yesterday for the first time it snowed in Phoenix!! It didn’t last long but it was snow – a wet heavy type (when you have lived in Michigan you can discriminate snow types like some discriminate fine coffee). It did not stick. It seemed apt for St. Agnes Day, traditionally the coldest month of the year.
Alas, the frost killed the potted pepper plants. Oh well. Time to grow new ones anyway. The tomato seeds germinated but the pepper seeds (so far) have not germinate.

Someone and I started walking this year. When we don’t get to the gym we go for a half hour walk after supper around the neighborhood. I enjoy these walks. My great aunt did this and lived well into her 90s. Walking is excellent for both mind and body.

We had a small Weather Channel Party to await Doug at Gossemer Tapestry's interview.
Doug, you were fabulous! Next time you get Jim Cantorri as the clown who interviewed thought butterflies 'mammals"?? You handled that well!

In the next four weeks all sorts of events occur; we have our 10th year anniversary, we go to Costa Rica, my blog turns 1 years old in early February. I am also scoping out Wordpress as so many people give + feedback on it. I am still figuring out how it works, prior to making a leap.

Claudius the cat is getting old. He sleeps a lot more, seems less active. I wonder if he has a sort of bereavement depression since Tiberius died last September. I wonder if he is lonely.

Now I have paperwork to do. Then I will stretch and read blogs.

Sleep well all; and dream of waterfalls and chocolate ice cream.

Some Sextets

2007-01-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

Operas I never tire of hearing

La Boheme (still lovely after all these years)
Dialogues of the Carmelites (my favorite; the finale alone is worth going)
Die Walkure (another one with an awesome ending)
Peter Grimes (I don’t care what Someone says, it is brilliant)
Salome (such nasty fun)
Der Rosenkavalier (such fabulousness)

Operas I Want to Hear Again

Queen of Spades
Lady MacBeth of Minsk
Jenufa
The Macropolous Case
Der Meistersinger
The Pearl Fishers

Operas I Really Want to Hear (but have not yet)

Der Freishutz
Die Frau Ohne Schatten
Billy Budd
The Handmaid’s Tale
Nixon in China
Don Carlos

Operas I can do without, I’ve had my fill thank you.

Barber of Seville (too many notes)
Hansel and Gretel (enough of the food fights in modern kitchen settings)
Marriage of Figaro (this one needs a rest)
Pelleas et Melisande (I swear nothing happens in this opera)
Carmen (too many bad productions. In the Arizona Opera production Don Jose shot her in the back as she walked away).
Any opera company doing Sweeney Todd (doesn’t seem to work).

The Eve of St. Agnes

2007-01-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow Sunday is St. Agnes Day.

Tradition is: young maidens on the Eve of St. Agnes will dream of their future husband.

St. Agnes Day is traditionally the coldest day of the year.
In theory it is supposed to get warmer now with each day.

It certainly has been ‘cold’ here, what with temperatures dropping down into the lower 30s even into the upper 20s – in Phoenix. It only gets into the lower 60s now. And it rained! Making everything seem chilled and damp.

Today is the day I traditionally read the poem “The Eve of St. Agnes” by Keats.
It is a long poem but very lovely. I remember my high school English teacher reading this out loud to us.
The poem is too long to reproduce here, but here is the link for those interested;

http://www.bartleby.com/126/39.html

Here’s looking forward to some warmer/brighter days.

Alphabet MEME for Hanuman

2007-01-19T06:03:00.000-07:00

A- is for Aardvark, because it’s the law!
B- Best Friend? Scott
C- Cake or Pie? Fresh Fruit rather for me.
D- Drink of Choice? Tea, hot or cold, green/red/black/white or oolong. OOXX
E- Essential Item? Teapot
F- is always for Fabulous of course.
G- Gummi Bears or Worms? I Love the Gummi Bears!
H- is for Hanuman (the dear!), who asked me to do this MEME.
I- Indulgence? Haven’t bought one of these in years.
J- Jury Duty. I try every time to get on one but with my credentials I am dropped like a hot potato.
K. Kids? None
L- Life is incomplete without? Art - and Macaroni and Cheese.
M- Marriage Date? Perhaps, now we are going to have the 10^th year anniversary?
N- Number of Siblings? 3 brothers, each well over four feet.
O- Oranges or apples? For what? eating? Or juicing? I choose oranges.
P- Phobias/Fears? Tarantulas, being sued, nuclear holocausts, Mormons.
Q- Favorite Quote? An orchestra of scorched cats.
R- Reason to Smile? I dodged a $7,000 insurance premium this week!
S- is for Spo. It has been one of my favorite nonsense words for years, so long now I don’t recall where it originates.
T- is for Tarantulas with big, nasty pointy teeth.
U- is for Ur, meaning the primordial state of something.
V-Vegetable you hate? Cauliflower. I don’t like the stuff.
W- Worst habit? Blurting. Although I quickly grasp what others are saying, I get impatient to respond. A major faux pas at home, by the way.
X- X-Rays you’ve had? Lungs and teeth.
Y- Your favorite food? Indian.
Z- Zodiac? Cancer. In Chinese, I am a ‘Tiger”.

How Does That Make You Feel?

2007-01-18T05:56:00.000-07:00

This is entry #250!!
I haven’t done a “How Does That Make You Feel? Thursday” in a while. So here's one...

Said by a patient this week -

“If you don’t help me find happiness, you haven’t done your job and I shouldn’t have to pay you.
But if you don’t charge me, that will make me happy, so then you’ll have done your job and I should pay you.”

How does that make you feel?

Another Apology

2007-01-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

The BBC would like to extend another apology on behalf of the auther of the last entry. It was meant to be funny, and tongue in cheek, and with no merit of truth. In his attempt to be clever Dr. Ur-Spo suggested outrageous things like naked airplane passengers, murders at volcanos, and unfounded incredible neurotic anxieties. Even the photos are inaccurate; the mosquito is a cadfly and the spider is a cartoon. So once again Blogger has removed his brain for cleaning and discipline.

The only truths in the spo-reflection were a small concern about arachnids with big nasty pointed teeth and that Doug is indeed a smarty pants.

The Terrible Ts of Travel

2007-01-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

In 2 weeks we board a plane to Costa Rica. I have never traveled to Latin America but I’ve read Joseph Conrad so I know what happens there. I thought if I would write out my fears.

Fear #1) The Transport issue.
This is a very long flight. The Fates, always with a sense of humor, have us on the same plane as the traveling companions coming from Chicago. That means a very long flight with Doug and his partner the AKA the Wild one. The former is apt to talk about cheese; the later is apt to run up and down the aisle naked, drink, and raise all sorts of hell.
Note to self; bring plenty of Valium and pepper spray.

Fear #2) The Tongue issue.
I am working like mad to learn Spanish. I can recognize and understand a lot I hear but I can barely ask for the time of day, let along more complicated expressions like "Please remove the spider monkey get in my hotel room". The language handicap also leaves me at the mercy of Doug. Not only is he the only one of us with fluency in Spanish but he’s a smarty pants.
Note to self; Plans to push Doug into a volcano if he’s naughty are thwarted by his necessity to tell us how to get home. Stinko.

Fear #3) The Typhoid issue.
Between my love for history and my medical training I know of all sorts of tropical nasties just waiting our arrival. Has anything really changed since Panama workers were wiped out en masse? The readings on Costa Rica history all start with explorers and settlements that “did not survive due to the tropical diseases”. Unless the government banned mosquitoes, what happened to all the Dengue and Yellow fevers?
Then there is the water/fresh food concerns of picking up some unwelcome wee beastie. I may not eat for a week.
Note to self; get Someone to taste test everything first.

Fear #4) The Terrorist issue.
Scoff and snicker as you may, our party of six is going not too far from the Nicaragua border. Now that whatshisface is back in power there, will there be a fresh flow of Sandinistas in the northern hills of Costa Rica? Will we get special tour rates for an invasion?
Note to self; don’t mention the “R” word in Costa Rica (Reagan).

Fear #5) The Tarantula issue.
Bastards. These walking pestilences still give me the willies. I have improved that if I encounter one out of doors I will not have a heart attack but only run, screaming like a girl. However, I know they smell fear and I won’t be at all surprised to discover they are plotting something even as I type this.
Note to self; bring duct tape to seal off the room.

And

Fear #6) The Tea Issue.
I am going to a country that is best known for its coffee. Where will I get a decent cup of tea?
Note to self; take your medication now.

Curious Things Around the House #6

2007-01-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

This is a painting titled ‘Woman holding Flowers”
It was painted by a patient when I was just out of residency. She gave it as payment for her treatment. She had schizophrenia. She was trying very hard not only to keep the voice down in her head but to live as an artist. It was her passion, although at the time I knew her it was not her livelihood. She worked in a restaurant washing dishes.
If you look long enough you can see the outline of a person holding what looks like brown eyed Susans (Rudbekia). There are two small dots for eyes; the yellow streaks at the top are the hair.
Above and behind the eyes next to the bit of turquoise, is a plastic gem glued into the canvas. I believe it is where the woman’s soul is supposed to originate.

Someone does not like this painting, but I am rather fond of it.

I’ve often wondered what happened to her; where is she now and how is she doing. That is the trouble of ex patients. They don’t drop you notes 5-10 years later to tell you how they are, and I can not go looking for them. I only hope that what encounter I had with them made some sort of positive difference in their lives.
Her gift of art remains long after the others who merely paid their bill with money.

Random Thoughts IX

2007-01-14T11:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the Gay Rodeo was in town. Someone and I volunteered to man the Bears of the West Booth for 2 hours. I wanted to look good for the club, so I got out my cowboy hat (from my two-stepping days), a cowhide shirt, tight jeans, and black boots. Apparently the 'good impression' worked a bit too well. No one signed up to join but I was cruised by several people. A few gave me their cards. A fellow from Utah was rather fresh- right in front of Someone- which made Someone a bit cross.
This morning at breakfast, while wearing a rather nondescript shirt, our young waitress commented how good I looked. "You get hit on by everyone" Someone said.

So I am getting in touch with "my inner-Musetta" it seems.

I've not been to a rodeo before (in contrast to Someone, who kept quoting something from "Mommie Dearest"). It was not well attended. I suspect because it is cold here. "Cold" means 40 degrees or less. (5 degrees for my Candian chums). While I may hear snickering from those in Montana or Michigan or Canada, this is very cold for Arizona and we are chilly.

My tomato seeds are germinating, but no pepper seeds so far; this makes sense as it is only a week since they were planted.

Joshua of Smiley fame sent me an invite to join Wordpress (the dear!). If I can figure out how to translate this blog over without a massive loss of data I will do so.

We made our holiday plans for 2007. (so far) they consist of going to Oshkosh WI, Western Michigan, at least one trip to Chicago, 2x to various parts of Ontario, Santa Fe, and of course Costa Rica. The later is less than 3 weeks away.
Doug at Gossemer Tapestry is the ringleader of that circus. All I have to do is show up.

Well it is paperwork time and laundry. Later I will get on line and check in with my 40-50 blogger buddies.

1 Y K

2007-01-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

Partially to learn more computer skills, and partially out of curiosity, I put up a 'counter' on my blog on 3 January.

Ten days later, I have hit 1000.
100 hits/day?! as Joel woud say.

Quite a difference from last spring, when I got one reader/month!

The Things One Finds in Costa Rica

2007-01-11T23:20:00.000-07:00

3 weeks from now we go on our annual winter holiday. Normally we go to Big Ruby’s, a bed and breakfast, in Key West. I’ve been going there every year since 1990. It is where I met Someone. It is where I met many a fine fellow.

This year we forgo Key West to go to the Big Ruby’s B&B in Costa Rica.

So in 3 weeks we get on a plane and fly to San Jose, not Miami.

This will be a new experience for me. Being a biologist/botanist by training (and traveling companions being who they are) I bought a book to check out the flora and the fauna. Here are some fun facts;

Costa Rica has 5% of the world’s biodiversity.

It has 1,250 species of butterflies.

850 species of birds, more than Canada and USA combined.

It has 6 species of wild cats.

70 species of bats.

1.400 species of epiphytes. (epiphytes are orchids you sillies)

The geology has active volcanos. We will take a day trip to the most active one and go hiking.

We will also be on the look-out for howler monkeys, kinkajous, and whatever beasties are lurking in the jungles.

17 More Things About Spo

2007-01-11T05:56:00.000-07:00

1. When you are cute, Spider writes all about you.
2. I dislike cheesecake. It induces nausea.
3. An expression that makes me smile every time I use it is comparing a noisy group to “An orchestra of scorched cats”.
4. Another one I like to say - “Sooner I’d eat rats in Tewkesbury than….”
5. I still have no understanding how to operate the 4-5 control panels that go with HAL, the entertainment centre in our house. Worse, Someone’s real name is Dave.
6. I have never changed the oil on my car myself.
7. One of my ex-patients is now on the radio, and well known. It makes me happy to hear his voice; that he is doing OK.
8. Recently a patient came in prior to his 2 year deployment overseas. He needed his depression as ship-shape as possible prior to going. He informs me half his people are on medications for depression. Wow.
9. I have 14% body fat. Gnash your jealous teeth!
10. I have 30 Hawaiian shirts in my closet. Over half are homemade.
11. Last month Target had a tree ornament consisting of 2 red cardinals in a nest. Any bird watcher knows that red cardinals are male, and 2 male cardinals would never nest together – so they must be queer birds indeed. We purchased it of course.
12. Speaking of birds, my favorite family of birds are the Owls. I love owls. They call to me.
13. I do not have triskaidekaphobia.
14. Someone and I did our annual ‘where would we like to go this year?” roster. We came up with 10 vacations to take in 2007. Now we have to be more realistic as to time/money/work away, and widdle them down to 4 weeks worth.
15. Melinda’s makes my favorite hot sauces. They are vegetable based so they have more flavor, less like ‘vinegar with mashed peppers’.
16. Drivers who smoke and throw their butts out the window – oh this burns my bacon worse than being cut off.
17. Since 2003 I get continuing medical education courses via audio CDs. 2 arrive each month. I have heard over 100 lectures this way.

The Shadow

2007-01-10T06:27:00.000-07:00

I am happy to get positive feedback from Spo-fans that not only are the “Jung” entries understandable they are enjoyable. People want more. I am pleased to do so; it keeps me on top of my training to write about them.
I miss teaching and this fills some need of mine.
Last “Jung 101” was about the Archetypes. The one I want to write about today is an important one, called the Shadow.

The Shadow in the inferior/uncivilized base qualities which stand in compensation/balance to the Ego. It is ‘the thing a person has no wish to be’. It is a wild and tameless energy, but not inherently ‘evil’; it is evil when not allowed conscious connection/space in the psyche. Remember, there is no such thing as a ‘bad’ or a ‘good’ archetype. But being out of touch with the Shadow is particularly dangerous. One can not exorcise the Shadow (or any complex/archetype); one had to own up to it.

The question is not ‘do I have a Shadow?” it is “Where is my Shadow today?”

We’ve all known people possessed by Shadow. An easy and contemporary example is Darth Vader, a man possessed by the “Dark Side of the Force”. Star Wars is full of Mythos and classic Jungian psychology, which probably accounts for lots of Star War’s allure. (All those archetypes running around on screen!).

A basic rule in psychology is; What we don’t incorporate into our psyches or process consciously we project out onto others. The Shadow is particularly prone to projection, as few are wise enough to own up to it. So we readily put it onto others.
“I don’t have a problem, but he sure does!”.
One sees projection in nasty people focusing on others’ faults.
The ‘brighter’ one tries to be i.e Shadow-less, the greater the projection.

More deadly is when a whole people/culture ‘decide’ to project their communal Shadow onto another group. When I was in school, the classic example to illustrate this was Europe in the 30s/40s, projecting its Shadow onto the Jews and trying to eliminate this ‘evil’. In American history, the Shadow has been projected first onto the Native Americans (oh, those devilish Indians! said my Puritan forefathers as they were being nasty to each other). Then, onto the British, then North with the South (and vice versa), the Chinese in the West, the Irish in the East, Japs in the 40s, Commies in the 50s, Negroes in the 60s. There is no lack of examples.
Nowadays, the GLBT community, the Mexicans (at least where I live) and Muslims are the recipient of Amercia’s projected Shadow by conservative and religious groups, leaving the projecter spotless and sinless. In its anxiety, the USA seems to be doing a lot of Shadow projection rather than owning up to its’ dark side.
I’ve wondered if the world doesn’t consider us a laughingstock with our projections.

So be mindful of the Shadow. As a conscious part of your Psyche it provides energy and zest. As an unconscious conspirator with other archetypes, it means Ruin.

OK, here it is again.

2007-01-09T20:07:00.000-07:00

For those Spo-Fans clamoring for a photo of the hat and me,

here it is!

Jack Radcliffe I am not.

Curious Things Around the House #5

2007-01-08T18:47:00.000-07:00

This is part of my Pacific Northwest art collection. It was made by a Pacific Northwest Native American, of the Haida Clan. Its purpose is to keep off the rains of the Pacific Northwest. It was made by a contemporary artist. NW Pacific rain hat are decorated with totem animals.
Mine has Orca, or Killer Whale, on both sides in a mirror image.

It is a collector’s item so it will never see a drop of rain!

On rare occasion (out of whimsy) I put it on, and try to imagine what it would be like to live in what is now called Queen Charlotte Island of B.C.

The Farm Report

2007-01-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

Today I planted my hot pepper and tomato seeds.

10 Hot Peppers < Cyklon, Fatalii, Fresno, Habenero, Lemon Drop, Peruvian Purple, Jalapeno, Santa Fe Grande, Aji Amarillo, and Red Cap Mushroom.

3 Dozen Tomatoes < Aker's West Virginia, Noir de Crimee, Great White, Heidi, Omar's Lebanese, Green Zebra, Hellfrucht, Manyel, Marmande, Black Prince, Golden Monarch, Zogola, Nebraska Wedding, Mule Team, Box Car Willie, German Red Strawberry, Black Plum, Druzba, Riesentraube, Hillbilly Potato Leaf, Anna Russian, Brandywine, Kellogg's Breakfast, Stupice, Cherokee Purple, and Opalka.

That sounds a lot, but I doubt it will all grow. I am taking a risk. I am using old seeds and things collected from past years. It is an experiment to see what germinates and what I get.

Nothing thrills as planting seeds!

Advice is Sought

2007-01-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

At the end of the month, Someone and I will have our 10th year anniversary.
10 years! Can you imagine? I am amazed he has put up with me, let alone for 10 years!

I would like to give him something special that day – but I can’t think what.
What he deserves is a medal.

So, does any one have any ideas as to what would be appropriate, nice, special or fabulous?

Help!

Apology

2007-01-05T06:12:00.000-07:00

The BBC would like to apologize to every one in the world on behalf of the author of this blog. Ur-Spo has been posting entries far too serious as of late what with talks of Archetypes and Spo-reflections and other intellectual postings of depth that are far, far too serious so last night Blogger had his brain removed.

We suggest you use this time to make silly noises, leave nonsensical comments, throw pies in the faces of your coworkers, and cruise the web for pictures of Jack Radcliffe.

The Archetypes

2007-01-04T06:08:00.000-07:00

What is an Archetype?

Oh Oh. I am getting into difficult waters which always true when you try to explain or talk about the Archetype in Jungian psychology. Like light, when you try to explain ‘what it is’ it gets complicated. You can sense them and see their effects but never know them directly. So to describe them in blunt words is challenging.
Let me start with a metaphor to my difficulty; Anna Russell’s narrative of Wagner’s Ring Cycle of Wagner. She is spot on accurate in describing the basic principles of this 20 hour saga – yet in its comic simplicity it conveys nothing of the splendor/complexity or numinous. Trying to put Jungian terms into simple language for others to understand runs the risk of making it sound absurd or silly. But I will try my best.

In his travels and studies Jung saw in every culture (past and present) basic human draws to things, certain types of people and universal objects.
Examples: the mother, the father, the ruler, and the shaman.
Examples of things; the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, and Water and Fire.
Through time and evolution of both the brain and culture, we are ‘wired’ to be emotional towards many things. He called universal connection the Collective Unconscious. At the heart of any Complex is something called The Archetype.

Archetypes are inherited innate and a priori modes of perception, linked to instincts, which regulate our perception. They are primordial ideas, common to all mankind, and they express only through Archetypal images. They are charged with emotion and function autonomously from the unconscious. Works of Art, Myths, and Symbols get us in touch with Archetypes.

I better give an example.
Let’s use the Father Archetype.
When you relate to your father, you relate not only to the physical man who is your father (in all his good and bad) but you come in contact with The Father - what the Father means throughout history/society and in your culture.
For those who know Tarot, the Card “The Emperor” in an archetypal image of The Father and all He can be, both good and bad. You recognize him/feel him maybe sometimes without conscious thought. The Card accesses the Archetype and its paternal energy, or libido as Jung called psychic energy. Jungian psychoanalysis is a exploration first of the personal, but also of the Collective. It is about how to you relate/connect to the Archetypes.

There are many Archetypes, some more ubiquitous and powerful than others.
Some famous ones are the Shadow, the Anima, the Trickster, The Self. I’ll write about some of these in later “Jung 101” entries.
Archetypes are universal but the people/symbols we use to get in touch with them change over time. The Western mind often – but not always – identifies with the Greek Mythos. But any culture’s Gods and Figures do fine. Mercury = Loki= Spider = Raven = Trickster.

Blogs that are no more

2007-01-03T06:19:00.000-07:00

The Muses still away on their holiday visit with the Fates. They are skiing in Colorado but the Furies snowed them in (bitches).
So I am left without inspiration. I am drawing a blank.

Long time friends of Spo know 2006 was my first year at blogging. I ‘met’ dozens of people. I discover more all the time. It is thrilling. I seem to be growing friendships with dozens of far-flung correspondents.

The flip side to this positive process is the half dozen bloggers in 2006 who have gone away. I suppose blogging is like any other hobby; people’s interests in it wax and wane.
I appreciated that a few explained their departure – it left me with some closure and no worry they were abducted by aliens. And a few came back to my delight; apparently ‘refreshed’ and ready to do more.

Still, a few of them have simply disappeared without explanation. Would you believe my feelings are hurt? It is like starting to read a novel that seemed good – only to have it yanked away. There is a feeling of loss. I go back to these stopped blogs and check from time to time, to see if they came back. I get to know some one – only to have them go away without a word. In a ‘real world’ social setting, my Midwest upbringing immediately would go to ‘did I do something wrong?” There is nothing like a blank slate on which to project fantasies, probably mostly untrue (but the truth is not disclosed).

Still, I hope that the 5-6 bloggers that seem ‘gone’ do come back in 2007.

For I did like to read them.

Spo Resolutions

2007-01-02T08:11:00.000-07:00

My goodness I came up with gobs of New Year’s Resolutions!
Many were leftovers from 2006 – resolutions that did not quite warrant as ‘met’.

Here are a few of them –
1 I’m leaving this one blank lest my mother read this.
2 I need to return to exercising 3x a week, even if it means a half hour walk
3 I want to gain some bulk, especially in the legs; so it is hit the gym time.
4 I promise Someone that I will not leave shoes and half consumed glasses sitting around the house.
5 I also promise Someone not to ‘talk’ to each other when we are on the other sides of the house. I am a bit hard of hearing, and the shouts back and forth of ‘what?” and clarification are not efficacious to communication.
6 Both the piano and the pan pipes want practice.
7 No more Ramen Noodles or nasty Chips!
8 Drink more red wine.
9 Meet at least one blogger in person.
10 Continue to squirrel away each month some money to the SEP.
11 Take a cooking class.
12 Redecorate the guest room (it still has the previous owner’s children’s murals on the wall).
13 Attend an opera that I have never heard before (Santa Fe Opera may be the answer for this one).
14 Daily stretches
15 Try to entertain/host some sort of social do each month, even if it means having a chum or a couple over for a simple dinner.

If all goes well, I should be musical, studly, limber, and in touch more with my inner-Martha Stewart, by 2008!

January Shirt

2007-01-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

It is a new month – and a new year!
May it be a good one for all of us.
January’s shirt is my Yellow Shirt. I made it specifically for my upcoming trip to Costa Rica. I call it the ‘3 Bs” shirts – Boys, Butterflies, and Bears – as it has some of each on the yoke. I like the colour yellow; it is a very cheerful colour.

January is usually the month when I start to organize the seed catalogs and put together a garden. Now that I live in Arizona, I start my garden now. This year I am using collected seeds from previous years. I am taking a chance to see if anything germinates. I will limit my garden to peppers (sweet and hot) and tomatoes.

I do a ‘year’s spread’ of the Tarot; one card/month. I now have enough decks to pull one card for each month.
The Tarot Card of the month of January is the Strength card. And just in time; I am not feeling too strong these days so I will focus on what strengths I have.

I look forward to a year of blogging, and hearing how everyone else’s year goes.

New Year's Eve

2006-12-31T00:09:00.000-07:00

“It’s New Year’s Eve and hopes are high”

My hopes are not that high. We will be home tonight. Neither one of us wants to brave the Phoenix traffic. Arizona drivers are nasty but on NYE they must be even more hazardous.

So we are going to watch Sunset Boulevard and watch the ball drop in Times Square. This occurs at 10PM local time, so we can go to sleep afterwards if we want.

Such a decadent lifestyle we lead.

When we were children, we kids had a superstition that the last word of the old year should be “rabbit”. We got that off of an activity calendar. I only remember this as Brother #3 calls each year to ask if I am still doing that. Yes, I do.

Someone is from the South, and will prepare black eyed peas tomorrow. It is a new tradition for me. Bloggers from the South; do you do this as well?

Another ritual of Someone is to have all the Christmas decorations down by tonight. Can’t have them linger into the New Year it seems.

I purchased my new (handwritten) journal; a pale green journal with a dragonfly on the cover.

I make a dozen or more New Year’s resolutions as I find so much in me that I want to improve. Someone finds this strange that I make so many. Many of these are goals rather than personal growth/habit clean ups.
Last years’ list did not do so well, so there are plenty of carry overs into 2007.

Well, I am off to the annual read of “The Little Match Girl”.

Peace and Health in 2007 to the forty to fifty bloggers I met this year.

Prosperity for all, if that is possible.

Channeling Dr. Smith

2006-12-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

I recently saw a snippet of a “Lost in Space” episode.
I forgot that Dr. Smith is such a raving queen.
Such shrieks! Such swishy hand gestures!
And the sarcastic remarks and bitchy complaints!

Dr. Smith, Witchipoo. Hoodoo (from Lidsville), and Bugs Bunny shaped my childhood.

Maybe in 2007 I should get in touch with my “inner-Dr. Smith”?

Tomatoes

2006-12-28T20:16:00.000-07:00

Spo-fans know I like to grow vegetables, and heirloom tomatoes are my favorite.
If you are planning a garden next year, may I suggest you try some of these!

Matina or Stupice or Sophie’s Choice - these are my ‘early’ tomatoes.
Most early tomatoes are bred to put out soon but have no taste. These 3 have real tomato taste. Back in Michigan I had toms as early as June.

Anna Russian
Dzuba
Box Car Willie
German Red Strawberry
Choose one of these old fashioned ‘red’ tomatoes. More dear to me than rubies

Cherokee Purple – My favorite ‘purple’ tomato. Legend has it the Cherokee People developed it. This tomato has a purplish skin and a smoky taste. However, it doesn’t make a good sauce as the sauce is brown!

Opalka – best ‘paste’ tomato. Polish tomato shaped like a large hot pepper, it hardly has any seeds or juice. They are excellent for saucing.

Brandywine (Sudduth’s strain) My favorite ‘pink’ tomato, and one of the best tasting tomatoes I know. But get Sudduth’s strain as there are many cheap imitations. I suppose if you only had room for one tomato it would be this one. However, they don’t put out much fruit in erratic weather. So I put in a few plants to make certain of enough produce.

Reisentraube – a cherry tomato that puts out – a lot. Almost foolproof, the countless cherries have real tomato taste (unlike the nasty things in the supermarket).

Nebraska Wedding – My favorite orange tomato. I love the sound of its name too.
If you can’t get this one, try Kellogg’s Breakfast or Earl of Edgecombe.

Marizol Gold – a tomato that has gold/red/yellow and orange colouring throughout. Very pretty on a plate. Alternative; Hillbilly Potato Leaf.

Manyel – prettiest, bestest yellow tomato there is.

Green Zebra – small green and yellow striped toms with a bit of ‘zest’.

Noir de Crimee – my favorite ‘black’ tomato. It is really dark red with green jelly. I’ve heard it called the world’s ugliest best tasting tomato. (Sometimes it is called Black Krim)

Omar Lebanese – just for fun. This variety produces “Monster” size tomatoes! We’re talking several pounds. But they are also delicious.

Some End of the Year (Spo) Reflections

2006-12-27T20:33:00.000-07:00

I write my reflections mostly ahead of time, when there is a ‘No Show’. A “No Show” is a scheduled patient who does not appear – or call to cancel or explain. It happens frequently in medicine but perhaps more so in psychiatry as there is more ambivalence about seeing this sort of doctor. "No shows" evoke a positive emotion – they give me time to return calls/write ‘scripts or take a break. I am on salary, so I get paid if I see people or not.

I am glad 2006 is winding down. When I look back on 2006, it overall a fatiguing. I still write a diary. At the end of each year I read these journals to recap and remember the year. This year’s read evokes a ‘how dull’ reaction. Apart from some pleasant trips, the rest of the year (my daily life) wasn’t very interesting. Mostly it was work and the effects of long work hours. I try not to record a lot of details about work in my journal book – and I’ve put much of my philosophical writing into this blog rather. So the diary is sparse.

I arrive at the end of 2006 tired. I am also not in good shape. I used to be much better with exercise and yoga. Everything in Phoenix is a car trip and through lots of traffic – between the driving effort and the work hours, I’ve had less time to exercise. I need to do better in 2007 or I will be dead by 50.

On the positive, the budget for the year ended ‘in the black’ with some put away for retirement. I earned more this year than in the past years. I’ll have to calculate if my charity donations increased in proportion. When I have money fears, I tend to get cheap.

The end of the year brings in the seed catalogs. These make me excited and hopeful.
These brightly coloured photographs of flowers and vegetables evoke dreams of far off spring gardens. I don’t garden much any more (this being Arizona). But I try to do something. Hot peppers in pots, and container tomatoes. I may have to forgo the heirlooms for (ugh) hybrids developed for small pots and containers.

We were to go to Palm Springs for New Year’s Eve but our usual spot wanted a 5 day minimum stay. Stinko. So we are likely to stay home.

Famous Last Words - Past and Future

2006-12-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

“It has all been very interesting!"
Lady Mary Wortley Montague.

"Either that wallpaper goes, or I do."
Oscar Wilde

When he was told the angels were waiting for him, Ethan Allen quipped, "Let 'em wait."

"I am so very happy,"
Gerard Manley Hopkins

"More light, more light."
Goethe

Madame de Pompadour cried out to God, said "Wait a minute!" and rouged her cheeks red.

"I suppose I am turning into a god?"
The dying Emperor Vespasian

"Don't let it end like this. Tell 'em I said something."
Pancho Villa

Gertrude to Alice B.: "What is the answer?" [Silence] "In that case, what is the question?"

"If this is dying, I don't think much of it,"
Lytton Strachey

“Dying is easy. Comedy is hard."
Edmund Kean

"It's been so long since I've had champagne."
Chekov

Now, compose your own tentative dying words!
an example to inspire:

“Can I turn off the pager now?”
Ur-Spo (provisional)

Merry Christmas !!

2006-12-24T06:16:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas to all!

If I were able, here are the Christmas prizes I would give each of you today.

MEK at Bear in a Box - his own theatre and a new job.

The Persian at Becoming Visible –a new job tied up with a beau.

Dr. Benton Quest and Nick – all heating bills paid for

Morgan at Blog Eat Blog World – a trip to Cairo

Bunny at Bunny Lynn Boofy – a truckload of glitter

Heather at Butterfly in Disguise – a weekend alone at a spa resort

Captain Caveman – a plane ticket to the US to meet some of his fans (Florida or Arizona)

Steve at Chez Stephen – Chocolate for days

Mark at CityWoof – good health, and a six pack of real RUSH

Eileen at Cliffie’s Notes – a paid vacation to the Great Barrier Reef

Daniel at Dan in the Desert – a photo album for all those lovely shots.

Dan at DanNation – oh he has everything so a shopping spree at IKEA to see the aliens.

David at David’s Daily Drama – 2 front row tickets to the Diva concert of his choice

Will at DesignerBlog – dinner with Martin Katz and David Daniels

Steve and Chris at Devious Steve O– warm clothing and firewood for NH living

Jock at Dishonesty Honesty – he still needs a hug; that, and a new house in a different location, perhaps out of state/out of Arizona.

Robert at The Gay Spot – good health

Doug at Gossemer Tapestry – a fen permanently cleared of buckthorn.

Lemuel at Greedy Maelstrom – a classroom full of bright students in 2007

Homer at Homer’ World – A trip to Crete to see the Bronze Age Ruins.

Pete at It’s Just Nothing – Something

Jason at Let’s Say You’re Right –a weekend at the Plaza in NYC for two

Tony at Life’s Colorful Brushstrokes – a Palm Springs Weekend with Youknowho

Greg at Life in a Day – a new book store

Foxy Stone and Lo– 100g bag of Margaret’s Hope 2^nd growth Darjeeling Tea

Maddog in the City – A kingsize, titanic, unsinkable Molly Brown tank of Diet Cola, and towels in every colour of the rainbow.

Maggie at Maggie’s – A trip to Mexico right about now.

Joe at Mind of the Bear – some resolution in 2007.

Bigg at My Confessions – also some resolution in 2007.

Bruce at Not So Different – Something Different all right;

John at Open a Window – 2 weeks off to study for his boards

Andrew at The Other Andrew –A plane ticket to US to meet us all

Derek and Mike at Past, Present, and Future – another one who has everything, so how about a weekend for two in Alaska to see the Kodiak bears?

Michael at Pipedreams – a hot date

Scott at Purple Twinkie – real black licorice

Kelly at Rambling Stern View – a tripod for his digital camera

Rodger at Rodger Dodger – packets of heirloom seeds from SeedSavers.org

Scott and Buckaroo at Scott-O-Rama – another set who have everything, so a shopping spree at Nordstrum’s for these two.

Bruce at Senseless – a vacation to swim with the dolphins

Deanos at Some Call it Love – a weekend for two at the Plaza.

Joshua at Smiley – a rented convention resort to host a weekend of bloggers from GMR

Keith at Sorted Lives – crab legs for days and a beau

Brett at Spider’s Web – bread pudding for days and a beau for him too. (or a rental?)

Steve at Steve’s WhirlyWorld – a new job and a buyer for his condo.

Michael at Temporary Trouble Spots – an all expense paid week to Palm Springs in February.

Hanuman at Tiger by the Tale –a dinner with Shah Rukh Kahn, or psychiatric papers to commit Mumsy to Belleville (you choose Haunuman; Sophie’s Choice!).

Wenchy at WenchyStar – all vet expenses paid for in 2007

Joel at Would I? – a boyfriend just like one in his photos.

Ynager65 – horseshoe sandwiches for days

And for everyone and anyone I forgot – peace in 2007.

The Grinch Meme

2006-12-23T00:02:00.000-07:00

In the true Grinch fashion, I stole this from a Who named Doug!

1. What do you hate most about Christmas? Shopping for presents. And getting them in time to get them into the post in time for Christmas delivery.
2. What is your least favorite piece of Christmas music?
That would be the ‘Christmas Song’ – Chestnuts roasting on an open fire….
This modern ditty, so slow and non-PC should be buried.

3. Your least favorite Christmas decoration?
Aluminum shiny strands of Christmas garlands.

4. Your least favorite Christmas treat?
Egg Nog. It is way too rich and sweet for my taste.

5. What traditional Christmas food OTHER THAN FRUITCAKE (too easy) is best sent down the garbage disposal?
How ironic! Normally I would vote for my mother’s green bean casserole. But you know, I am going to make it this year as I miss being at home for Christmas.

6. Which animated Christmas TV special leaves you wanting to rip the wallpaper off of the walls?
The SECOND Charlie Brown Christmas Special. A cheap attempt at capitalizing on the success of the original one.

7. What was you least favorite Christmas gift ever?
I recall gloves when I was 8 not going over too well.

8. What is your least favorite Christmas activity?
Untangling and putting up Christmas lights.

9. Who on your Christmas gift list is the hardest to shop for?
My Father. Not only does he have everything/wants nothing, whenever he gets an inkling of an idea, he announces it – and then a week later goes buys it himself. Bum.

10. How would you spend this time of year if you weren’t caught up in all of the holiday madness?
I would like a weekend in some secluded winter spa, lots of snow outside, and lots of hot water inside – with masseurs with strong hands to rub my limbs and apply hot stones to my back.

Winter Solstice

2006-12-21T22:12:00.000-07:00

It is the Winter Solstice; the darkest time of the year. My ancestors (all coming from northern climates) would celebrate this time with fires and lights, to welcome the return of the Sun. Springtime is around the corner and new life. Just as it is the darkest; the light returns.
I like the Winter Solstice. I light a few candles, and I think.
I think my last entry upset and worried some when I said 2006 was overall a bad year. I think I was having a bad day and ruminating on the World's Woes too much.
Rodger at RodgetDodger recently reminded me in a few comments that life ain't too bad. Thank you Rodger and others toofor reminding me that 2006 was the year I fell down the rabbit hole into that fabulous Wonderland of Blogging. I have enjoyed it a great deal. I have grown fond of my fellow bloggers, men and woman. I very much look forward to reading them each day. I laugh at their jokes. I get sad when they hurt. While I have never met or talked to any of them (so far) I consider them friends. I am thankful for all of you.
So these are good thoughts on this darkest of days. I welcome the Sun and a 'new year' with hopes of growing friendships. Who knows, I may meet one or two of you!

Please stop by on Christmas; I will have virtual Christmas 'prizes' for everyone.
Yours,
Ur-Spo

27 Things about Spo

2006-12-21T06:16:00.000-07:00

1. I stutter when I get to excited or have too many thoughts I want to say simultaneously.
2. I am 5ft 10.5 inches tall. That’s for the bean counters who want to know how really tall I am.
3. My favorite living composer is Arvo Part.
4. I have a Haida Bent Box. It will some day contain my ashes.
5. Remembering the date I went ‘on line’ is easy. I dialed up to see that Princess Diana died in a car accident. I thought it was a joke.
6. I have not been to 6 States; Vermont, Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas.
7. Guilty comfort food oh so delicious but oh so nasty < Ramen Noodles.
8. I was harassed throughout grade, junior and into high school. Two of the bullies are now dead from reckless living. The other is an alcoholic. I earn six figures.
9. Lunch is a lonely time. The majority of them I eat alone, so I read a lot.
10. In 2007 I hope to go to Costa Rica, Oshkosh Wisconsin, a family reunion, and the annual trek to Canada.
11. Someone would like his own pet, so a puppy may arrive next year.
12. My father is a ‘boat nerd’. This means he adores and watches the freighters going up and down the Great Lakes. We kids knew how to identify freighters rather than cars.
13. At family get togethers, we often look at old slides from the 60s to 80s. Half of them are photos of freighters.
14. My mother is an amateur singer. She is an Alto. She does not like pieces by Francis Poulenc. I do.
15. Speaking of Poulenc, my favorite opera is “Dialogues of the Carmelites”. The ending is one of the most dramatic and moving things in music/on stage.
16. My favorite vintage Diva is Ethel Waters.
17. My favorite vintage group is The Boswell Sisters. (especially Connie)
18. My nephew was born on 4/23, which is Shakespeare’s birthday. So I tend to give him books and literature for his birthday. He’s was the only 6yo I know who could quote Macbeth.
19. The woman who inspired me into going to medicine was my pediatrician. I am very certain she was a dyke.
20. I want very much to see the great Aztec Calendar that is in the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City, but I am too fearful to travel to Mexico City.
21. I collect rubber stamps.
22. At family reunions I am the only one who can explain the ‘first cousin/second cousin/first cousin once removed etc.” connections. This is clear for me; no one else gets it.
23. I am avoiding reading “The Pickwick Papers” as it is the last major work of Dickens I have yet to read. After that there is no more.
24. I miss planting daffodils in the fall. I love daffodils in the spring time.
25. We turned on the heat yesterday. Our Midwest blood is thick enough still to delay the Arizona furnace this late.
26. Speaking of Arizona, Phoenix has the nastiest drivers I have ever seen, and I have been to Boston.
27. 2006 overall was not a good year. I hope 2007 is better.

Cheap Christmas Trash

2006-12-19T22:20:00.000-07:00

Cheap Christmas Trash!
I heard this expression first in a play. I forget the title of the play, but it was about a set of sisters in the South. One kept using this expression to comment on another, in reference to the other’s liberal sexuality (i.e. she was a tramp).

She was “cheap Christmas trash”.

This expression gives me a chuckle. It has an oxymoronic feeling to it, as I try hard to make Christmas and its decorations neither cheap or trashy.
However, we used to have an aluminum Christmas tree stand with green and red votive candles. I thought it sweet. Someone definitely put it in category of “Cheap Christmas Trash”. He was glad when it finally cracked.
We have some old plastic ornaments that every year do not get put on the tree – perhaps they count for CTT. But at the moment we don’t seem to have CTT out.

Is Christmas really Christmas without some kitsch?

I need a chuckle and a smile today – please tell me about

A. Your favorite piece of Cheap Christmas Trash
B. What you do with it each year
C. Is it a source of friction in your household?

Christmas Ghosts

2006-12-18T21:34:00.000-07:00

Ghost of Christmas Past
My favorite TV special was “Rudolph”
My favorite carol was “Deck the Halls”
My favorite decoration was a wreath.
My favorite Christmas food was gingerbread cookies
We would go on an annual trek to Bronner’s in Frankenmuth Michigan. An unwritten Michigan law requires all State Citizens to go there once a year around Christmas time for chicken dinner and shopping.
My family once put out beer and pretzels for Santa. Feedback was he was pleased for the difference. I recall putting out some carrots for the reindeer too.
The childhood tree had big screw in bulbs. The bulbs were kept in an old KFC bucket in the basement.
There was a strict rule of ‘how early’ we kids could get up and descend on the loot. My brothers often woke at 5AM and tried to pass the time with board games until the ‘hour’.
Our Christmas stockings were made from some sort of Woman’s magazine pattern. I still have mine.
The Christmas season began with the church’s annual potluck dinner and Christmas workshop. The later is where you made handmade ornaments. My mother tells me her the church still does this, 40 years later.
Once, in my childhood, we looked up from Christmas tree decorating to see Santa Claus peeping in! My brother and I went into hysterics.

Ghost of Christmas Present
My favorite TV special is the “Grinch”.
My favorite carol is “In the Bleak Midwinter”.
My favorite decoration is holly leaves.
We have a large, silver, Pottery Barn reindeer candelabra. It has 10 little globe candles to go on the antlers. I light it only on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
I miss having a real wood burning fireplace.
Someone likes to go to the movies on Christmas day – new concept for me.
This year I play ‘midnight mass’ bell choir at 4PM. We go next door to the neighbors for Christmas eve dinner.

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
My favorite TV special will be Project Runway Xmas
My favorite carol will be Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
My favorite Christmas food will be Snowman Peeps.
My favorite decoration will be cheap Christmas trash.
I hope next year to be home in Michigan for Christmas.
Santa Claus will give me what I really want hohoho.
(remember these are shadows of what Christmas may be only; I read that somewhere).

The King, The Warrior, The Magician, and The Lover

2006-12-17T20:19:00.000-07:00

In my last entry on Jungian psychology I talked of complexes. Most folks are familiar with Freud’s Oedipus Complex. Freud thought is universal and central to human development. Jung thought it only one of countless complexes. He thought there are far more primal and universal and important ones to be in touch with and resonate.

Four Complexes especially appealing to the male Psyche are the King, the Warrior, the Magician and the Lover. These 4 are important to both male and female psyches, but I will focus on the male versions. It is hoped a man is in touch with and has healthy relations with these four ‘fellows within him’. Mind! There is no such thing as a ‘good’ or a ‘bad’ Complex. They all have good and bad elements. Any one of them too weak or with too much power/libido is hazardous.
If they ally with the Shadow of our psyches they can be terrible.

The King
The King is the Ruler, the part of you that has mastery of life and realm. He makes the decisions (based on council) and runs the state. And he takes the brunt went things are bad. A man with good King elements rules out of respect, not out of fear. A man with bad King? Well, we all know these types. You see them in tyrannical bosses, in weak presidents manipulated by others, and in tyrants who do not care for the kingdom’s well being but only in his own power and needs.

Good Kings; Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings, Captain Picard in Star Trek The Next Generation, Abraham Lincoln (although he had a good dose of Magician to him as well)
Bad Kings; Idi Amin, Henry VIII. I think George W. Bush has a lot of bad King to him.

The Magician
The Magician is the Magus, the Shaman, the part of you with creativity, intuition and the ability to see beyond the logic. He does not rule (being too busy learning life’s secrets) but advises the King and others. Merlin was by King Arthur’s side to give good council. Men in touch with the Magician make good scientists, teachers, doctors, therapists, and pastors. They can be mysterious and a bit fearsome as they know the secrets. A good magician is the guru you trust; the bad magician is the charlatan, the quack who hoodwinks and betrays you.

Good Magician; Einstein, Pasteur. Bad Magician; The leaders of Enron

The Warrior
This is the one who fights for the right, knows when not to back down and when not to fight. Of the 4 Complexes, people have the hardest time with him. Often people want him gone, or reduced or chained up. But where would we be without our Warriors? They make the world better. Bad Warriors are the mindless Soldiers who pillage and rape and kill without reason. Bad Warriors of the male gender can not tolerate or allow the Warrior in Woman. Warriors are not brutes, Many great Warriors were not violent or ‘macho’ men either.

Good Warrior; Martin Luther King, Gandhi, some AIDS activists I knew.
Bad Warrior; religious extremists of many types who must eradicate others not like them.

The LoverHe is the one in tune with the sensual world. He is in touch with the Erotic and with Creation. Those in tune with the Lover make good poets, writers, artists and musicians, not just good sex partners. They make human life lovely and intercourse (social and sexual) numinous. Gay men are usually far more in tune with the Lover than straight men. But the ‘negative’ side is seen when the Lover is “trying to be the King’. When this happens, mindless, anonymous never ending affairs and exploits ensue, and no work gets down/the house falls apart, the bills don’t get paid.
Good Lover; Any great artist, poet, or creator of things marvelous.
Bad Lover; My example Casanova. While he seduced countless women, they were all empty exploits that left no Love behind. I recall a play in which he dies and goes to hell and the Devil commands him to wear a Clown suit for eternity. He is rebuffed; after all, he was Europe’s greatest lover! So the Devil allows him to get out of it if the Don can identify one of his exploits. He fails but when he learns that one of them really loved him, he decides he was a fool, and takes the suit.

How Your Mind Works

2006-12-14T22:59:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I thought I would throw out some Jungian psychology.
I was trained in a variety of analytical schools of theory, but in the end I went with the Jungians. This is not only to introduce people to Jungian psychology but to keep me in touch with my training.
Carl Gustav Jung (for those who don’t know of him) was a Swiss doctor who trained under Freud. He was considered Freud’s ‘heir apparent’. Their fallout has been the stuff of countless papers and books. To summarize their differences; Jung was an introvert. He saw more to man than the sexual instinct. He also developed a theory about a unconscious beyond the Personal Unconscious, called the Collective. (more on the Collective some other time). Freud and Jung went separate ways: Jung founded his own school of psychology.

It was Jung, not Freud who was really into ‘complexes’; a Complex is a complicated mixture of instincts, personal conscious and unconscious material, with a bit of the mentioned Collective Unconscious.

The human mind (goes the theory) works a bit like this; the Ego is the CEO of a board meeting. Around the table sit all the complexes that make your psyche. In a well mind, the complexes all have their say but it is the Ego that makes the executive decisions. in Pathology, a Complex or Two tries to take over and become the CEO. It decides it will be the Ego. If the Ego is strong enough it will rebuke -
Example: Joan in Mommie Dearest at the Pepsi Meeting “Don’t F*k with me fellas!!”
However, it is common for a Complex to 'get in the driver's seat' and try to run the whole show.

The word ‘shrink’ derives from the analytical process to deflate swollen complexes back into perspective. The Ego can not exorcise them; only shrink them to their appropriate size and space. And overall one doesn’t want the complexes to sit mum. Makes for a dull mechanical life; an adventureless tale.

There are a lot of complexes, and I will write about some of the more pertinent ones in other ‘lectures’.

How Does That Make You Feel?

2006-12-13T23:08:00.000-07:00

This “How Does That Make You Feel?” is about Las Vegas, which I call Lost Vegas.
This weekend is Someone’s birthday. We are driving to Lost Vegas. It is our first time to drive there, but if Steve at WhirlyWorld can do it, so can we.

As the weekend is all about the birthday boy we are going to a casino resort, of which he is fond. Someone likes to gamble, and he is very good at it – not that he always wins but he allots so much money for it; money he considers the ‘money to play’ for the pleasure it derives. If he wins, great! If he looses, well, that’s the amount he chose for the entertainment of gambling. I don’t gamble as I am a sore loser. I just know there is some one at security laughing at my loss and saying ‘sucker!”.

We have a friend who lives there (he works at the Wynne). We’ll see his house and his neighborhood, so we’ll see more than just the strip.

We will see “Ka” by Cirque de Soliel. We like Cirque. We very much enjoyed “O”; we did not care for Zoomanity; a couple of topless tarts swimming in a large champagne glass does not float our boat. We hope Ka is better.

I don’t gamble but I enjoy watching people gamble and Lost Vegas is chock full of entertaining people and not just on stage.

I can’t make up my mind about Lost Vegas. It is either marvelous or a nightmare or both. I suspect a casino resembles the first level of Hell, with its bright lights, noise, smoke, crowds and even more noise.
I have been to Lost Vegas two times; the 1st time I stayed at The Bellagio, and the 2nd time at Mandelay Bay. This 3rd time (for the experience) we will try The Luxor ( I will think of Morgen at Blog Eat Blog World).

A trip to Lost Vegas - “How Does That Make You Feel?”

A Letter to My Patients

2006-12-12T21:26:00.000-07:00

This one was written after a very long and frustrating day……

To my patients –

-I try very hard to be on time and keep on schedule. I know what it is like to wait hours and hours for a doctor appointment, so I try to be prompt. I know your time is as valuable as mine.
So, please be yourself on time. If you are very late, please remember the policy is to reschedule you; we are not a ‘drop in clinic’. If you are slightly late you expect to be seen as you are here – and you want your full time. Naturally if you need more time in your appointment I won’t cut you off. However, this makes the next patient have to wait for their appointment. So the day gets thrown off. And if delays due to other people’s emergencies don’t evoke empathy, merely ire, please schedule your appointments first thing in the morning before the day’s matters occur.

-I have 900 people on file. I don’t remember all your names/faces and all your information off the top of my head. (Trade secret; if your doctor can instantly remember you and your case that is usually a bad sign). Please don’t be insulted that I have to check your chart for details or ask you on matters you think I ‘should know’.

-Alas, the clinic doesn’t leave me space in the day to take phone calls. I think I do a very good job at returning phone calls. But I often have to return the morning calls at lunch time and the afternoon calls in the early evening. Please take this into account when you are pissed that I did not call you back within the hour of your phone call on what primary care doctor can I recommend. Urgent matters I call back right away by the way.

-I believe that you are responsible for the recommended changes in your treatment. When you come in and report you are still doing crack or drinking on your meds or not taking your meds or still doing the behaviors that makes so much grief, please don’t be too surprised that your ‘meds are not working’.

-When you come in to talk about ‘life issues’ I listen/make a few suggestions but these are matters that are best processed in regular appointments with a therapist. Often you want to deal with ‘life matters’ by opting to take a pill. For life issues, this usually doesn’t work well. Prozac won’t solve your parent/child conflict; Wellbutrin won't cure your unhappy marriage. You tell me you can’t find make the time to talk to someone/can’t afford therapy but when I add up the co-pays on your meds and many office visits for ‘med checks’ this looks equivalent to talking to someone on a regular basis.
P.S. I’ve done some arithmetic. If you lay off the 100 dollar/week drug habit you can afford a therapist.

- I am out of touch with several other branches of Medicine, so don’t be shocked and alarmed I don’t know the difference between your two options for knee surgery, or which medicine for high blood pressure you are considering has the least amount of side effects. And I can’t explain what another doctor meant or is doing. Ask that doctor for clarification.

-Finally I am not God, or your Parent, or a Magician, although a part of you wants me to be these things (and I have to be watchful that the reciprocal part in me that wants to take on those roles does not overcome). I am a human being who makes mistakes. I can be tired, sick, and even at times not very bright. Please give me some slack if your appointment was canceled due to me having the flu or a death in the family.

Random Thoughts VIII

2006-12-11T20:16:00.000-07:00

The artificial tree is up, and its lights work, but it remains half ‘spread’ and the other half looking like it just came out of the box for the first time – which is true. We’ve been concentrating on the lights outside to do the inside work. How odd to see tree half out of its box…..

Speaking of lights, we re-wired the outside spectacle and did not blow a fuse last night. We were pleased.

Thank goodness for the internet and catalogs from which I do most of my Christmas shopping these days. I still have to find prizes for the four nieces and nephews. Someone and I are on a budget for each other and I am half way done with that list.

And now for some James Joyce like prose;
I am playing the Christmas CDs each year I tend to get one more but Someone tried to put a stop to that but I’ll fix your wagon you want Christmas music I'll give you Christmas music Partridge Family Christmas CD there we are (or Donny and Marie) and Yes I said Yes I will Yes.
Sorry.
As I am also found of Dickens, I naturally read A Christmas Carol. Charles would be a bit annoyed to know this is his most popular work. There is more “ghost story” than seen in the TV and movie versions.

My favorite ‘new’ tradition is Dylan Thomas “A child’s Christmas in Wales”.
My favorite ‘old’ tradition is “Eloise at Christmastime” by Kay Thompson.

Would someone send us some snow?

Nasty Christmas Lights

2006-12-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

We have just finished putting up the Christmas lights.

We remain a couple.

Nothing is so irksome and removes the holiday spirit as putting up Christmas lights.

In our neighborhood, the neighbors put up lights the day after Thanksgiving. And they put up lots. Nothing subtle in our neighborhood. Someone is far more neurotic about 'what will the neighbors think?" so the our 'dark' house on the block was making him anxious. So, out came the lights.
Naturally, the precise way I put the lights away last year was to no avail. I wonder if there is some evil Christmas Elf (or Gnome) whose job it is to tangle these things into knots. This task of untangling is the nadir of the holiday. Then there is the unpleasant discovery of which ones are no longer light up. Three of the four strands of the "better" lights (purchased at Bronner's, no less!) are half out each. I was for putting up less lights. Rather, we drove all over town to find the replacements and more.
Then comes the ladder, the mixmatched orders to each other, and the spats about what should go where/I don't care you make the decision. By the end of it we are both rather cross and ready to strangle each other with the cords we could not untangle.
But it is all up. Then comes the 'hook up'. We have two outside outlets so the massive amounts of fabulous is going through two holes.
Tonight we turn it on and see how good or hideous it is.

Now I need a nap.
I'll catch up on my blog reads this evening when I can focus my eyes.......

Sunday Morning (Spo) Reflections

2006-12-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

My best friend moved to rural Wisconsin. Whenever I call him he badgers me to move there (after all, it is the Badger state). We should close down Arizona and move to Wisconsin and start ‘Chapter Two” of life. He is clever that he puts out all the right baits. There will be seasons again and acres of cheap land next door to grow organic vegetables. We could set up a Bed and Breakfast (how about the name “Bachelor Boys Bed and Breakfast”?). I would be closer to Chicago, friends, and family. Oh, the list goes on.
And, I could even practice medicine as a solo practice again. On my terms.
It all sounds attractive. Peter Pan take me away!

Being of Midwest conservative stock, I have always taken the ‘safe’ routes. I went to college rather than traveling the world. I went to medical school rather than some alternative jobs that I fancied. I took a comfortable State job rather than going into psychoanalysis. I work for others rather than figuring out how to make it on my own.

I admire people in life and literature who have the courage to say "The present situation is not acceptable. It will not to continue. I will move on." They make changes, even if it means walking into the unknown without security. I have never done that apart from coming out. (which was liberating beyond words).
Most of these courageous people had nasty knocks on the way, but many go onto fulfilling their Self.

I fear I will turn into “Randy” rather. Randy was a friend who wasn’t happy in his 20 year old job. He ground his teeth on the way to work, and ground his teeth on the way home each Friday, knowing it would start up again on Monday. He came alive and was happy in other things. But he would never make the changes to make the other things ‘his life’. Why not? Security. He wanted a sure income and the familiar. So far as I know he is still there – either depressed or heading for a heart attack.

I suspect something will change in the land of Spo in 2007. Someone is not happy with his job and is looking for a change. This will mean another move for us.
Perhaps ‘Chapter Two” will be so?

The Weird MEME

2006-12-08T22:45:00.000-07:00

I’ve been tagged to be weird by Dr. Benton Quest
I always do what a doctor tells me to do.

1 – all water has to be recycled, either down the drain or on the ground; never trapped in a bottle going to the dump.
2 – while I am very comfortable in a naked situation (spa, club, beach etc.) I don’t wear short pants as I am vain about my legs.
3 – certain CDs are played on certain days/seasons. Jethro Tull is an ‘autumn’ CD; some Inuit chants are for January; Bing Crosby’s Merry Christmas is for Christmas Eve Day.
You get the picture.
4 – photos of tarantulas send me into a panic/phobic attack.
5 – blood and gore while working in an ER doesn’t faze me; but I can’t watch it on screen in a movie.

6 – My brain has a direct connection with Eartha Kitt Ms. Kitt likes to channel through me to sing songs not in her usual repetoire. Spontaneous Eartha Kitt singing drives Someone nuts.

Office Party Obligation

2006-12-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

Warning; this is a kvetch entry…

I am going to an office Christmas party this weekend.
I am not looking forward to this.

From a psychiatric point of view, the “Holidays” should be banned like asbestos. Both are hazardous to mental/physical health. Between November and early January I deal mostly with people depressed or unhappy about their situations at this time of year. It is a very busy and stressful time in my field. A ‘good Christmas’ means no one kills themselves.

In times past I have weaseled out of most of these office events by conveniently scheduling concerts or away trips on the proposed night. But this year I goofed; the tickets for “Doubt”are on the 8th, not the 9th as I thought. I had no excuse when asked by the bosses would I come.

Working relationships get a bit confused and giddy in social gatherings, particularly if cocktails are involved. It’s even worse with a bunch of people trained to observe and analyze what is being said and not said. We are supposed to ‘let our hair down’ some but I’ve seen the consequences of the fools who did. Not pretty. I still remember the drunken resident schmoozing with the Head of the Department in the University of Chicago Department Office Party. The horror.

Don’t poop where you eat.

Perhaps I am merely embarrassed that after a year working here I still don’t know people’s names. I don’t see or interact with staff other than the receptionists (these too come and go. Just as I get to know their names they rotate/move on). I suspect I will look foolish as I introduce Someone to the woman whose office is next to mine and say ‘I forgot your name, could you tell me again?”.

By not wanting to go, perhaps I am acting out some resentment towards the clinic. I have never worked so hard as at this place. The Burger King pace and the long hours made 2006 a weary year. Spending my free time with the clinic doesn’t sound appealing.

Ah well, stiff upper lip and try to make the best of it......

Aunt Peg

2006-12-07T07:25:00.000-07:00

I’ve been to Michigan and back again.
I was home for a funeral. My great Aunt Margaret “Peg” died this week. She was 96.

A remarkable woman! She did not take any medication in her life. She wasn’t ‘against them’ – she simply did not need any! Her blood pressure, cholesterol, and thyroid functions were good; her joints were OK; she wasn’t in pain. She merely died of ‘old age’.
She was the youngest of 5 children, my grandfather being #3 of 5.
Aunt Peg was the family genealogist. She was proud of our roots, which she traced back to 1630 to England and beyond. (Like Prior Walter in "Angels of America", we are a long descended WASP family from New England and England). When I showed interest, she was thrilled to share it with me. So we two were the keeper of the family history records.
Our only quibble was she liked the good, noble heroic deeds of our ancestors. I liked the dirt and scandals.

I had forgotten she was a professional model in her youth. During the 1930s and 40s she had photographs in national magazines like LIFE. I’ve seen a few; she is stunning. She resembled Norma Sherrer. Aunt Peg kept her looks too. Lucky woman.

We laid her to rest in Oakland County in Michigan – in a cemetery where the last 7 generations of my ancestors lie buried. She is buried near John R (who came to Michigan in 1780), and his descendants John A. , Edward J. , Klebar, Edward G. and Edward G.
Edwards G was my grandfather; my father is Thomas R.– and then there is I. I am generation #12.

She was the last of that "10th generation". Now my parents are in the ‘oldest generation’ and I am in the middle generation.

I will miss her.

Spo Recess

2006-12-05T05:38:00.000-07:00

I have to fly to Michigan today for a family matter; I'll be back this weekend. See you then.

Meanwhile, here is a rather interesting photo on which to speculate.

"Tree"

2006-12-04T05:52:00.000-07:00

This will be my first year with an artificial tree.

When we lived in Michigan we had 2 trees, sometimes chopped down by ourselves, but usually purchased in a snowy white garden lot. The fresh trees and the sprigs made the house smell lovely. I was in charge of keeping the trees watered. After the holidays I always chopped up the trees for wood. It was a good system.

I recall maybe 20 years ago or so my mother proposing that we get an artificial tree. You would have thought she was proposing roasting children. The Horror! So it never happened. Actually, we four boys had a little artificial tree. It was very old, small, poorly made, and assembled in 5 minutes. We kids set it up in the basement for our homemade ornaments from church school projects.
That was what artificial tree meant to me < small, cheesy and not at all like the real thing.
I’ll have the real thing thank you.

Then we moved to Arizona.

We were told early on about the difficulty with having a real tree here. They are dry to begin with, and quickly go bad. Last year we were determined to get a real one. We waited until the last minute. I worked real hard at keeping it watered. It came down about 2 days after Christmas (I like a tree up for New Years’ Eve). It was a lot of effort, and left me tired.
So right after last years’ Christmas, we bought a fake tree in one of those after Christmas sales. It has been sitting unopened for a year in its box, in the garage, waiting for its debut. It hasn’t seen light since some one in China packed it up.

I am not sure of this. There is a Trojan Horse element of a nonspecific sort that leaves me dubious. I’d be lying though if I said I was going to miss the cutting/sweeping of pine bits and the daily waterings.
We set it up this weekend.
So, does anyone have an artificial tree, and are there any ‘tips’ to them?

A Psychological Test & Survey

2006-12-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

You have seen “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” countless time, no?

The gay allegories and subtexts in this childhood Christmas special have been discussed many times, and by writers and bloggers more clever than I.
Joel Perry wrote a hilarious critique on the show.

Still, the Herbie as ‘dentist’ and Rudolph’s (hidden) red nose can’t be beat.
Even at 8yo I had a ‘Gee, I know just how you feel” emotional reaction to Rudolf and Herbie.

OK, then -

Are you Herbie the Elf *?

Or Yukon Cornelius ?
*see comments section

A Christmas Jingle

2006-12-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Santa's Whisker's Need No Trimmin'

'Kisses Bears and Not the Wimmin.

December Shirt

2006-12-01T06:14:00.000-07:00

It is December. Today is AIDS day. One of my first patients was “Oscar”. Oscar died of AIDS. He was the first of many.

This is the “Bamboo” shirt, made from fabric found in Key West. It is from my ‘early’ period (when I was still learning how to use a sewing machine).

It is the month of Someone’s birthday. Being close to Christmas it makes it even more tough to think of a birthday prize for him. In recent years I have given gadgets, like ipods and fancy watches. I can’t think of anything so far. Anyone have any suggestions?

It is getting cold here in Arizona – down below freezing in the evening time. The news is treating it like the arrival of a hurricane. We have yet to turn on the heat but we will in a few days if this keeps up.
We haven’t put up the Christmas decorations yet; haven’t had the time. But the Christmas CDs are playing – I have a few I like for the ‘early part’ of the season. I reserve a few for more around the Christmas week.
I haven’t done any Christmas shopping – time to get cracking.

The Tarot Card for the month is The Chariot – and none too soon! The Chariot means success and victory through hard work - and mastery of the balance of light and darkness.

How Does That Make You Feel?

2006-11-30T06:01:00.000-07:00

It's time for "How Does That Make You Feel?"

My famiy’s name begins with “R” but to avoid embarrassing them I will call us the name “Ralph”.
In my family of "Ralph", a “Ralph” prize is a gift that the receiver hopes/expects to use his or herself. The recipient may not need/want it at all – let alone think about getting one.
An example of this:
Some years ago I lived in Chicago. My father came for a weekend visit. One Saturday morning I heard him banging away downstairs in the kitchen, trying to find something. He called up that he can’t find my coffee machine or any coffee – where is it located?
I explained – again – that I don’t drink coffee, so I don’t have either. I have plenty of tea.
He said no thank you, and went down to Dunkin Donuts for get his coffee.

That Christmas, he gave me a Mr. Coffee machine.

Receiving an “Ralph” prize.

How does that make you feel?

Danish Gingerbread Cookies

2006-11-29T06:10:00.000-07:00

My mother’s best recipe is for her gingerbread cookie.
Over the years I have found when I make some for parties or giveaways, they are always loved. The recipe is often asked for.
I want to pass it on to any cookie makers looking for a new cookie for the season.

Danish Gingerbread Cookies
~100 cookies, depending on the size of your cookie cutters.
I usually double this recipe, as I give lots away.

1 cup softened butter
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup
2/3 cup honey
1 t grated lemon rind
1 t vanilla
1 t ginger
½ t cloves
1 t cinnamon
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
~ 4 cups of flour

Day #1
Cream butter and sugar. Add corn syrup, honey, lemon rind, vanilla and the spices.
Add the salt and the soda. Now, add the flour, a cup at a time, until it is soft dough you can pick up as one large ball. Refrigerate the ball of dough in a covered bowel overnight.

Day #2
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll chunks of dough onto a floured surface, about a ¼ inch thick. Cut out fabulous patterns using your extensive cookie-cutter collection. ( Holly leaves and Gingerbread boys taste the best ).
Place on greased and floured pans; bake for 7 minutes; cool on a wire rack to room temperature, prior to frosting.

Day #3 (can be combined with Day #2)
Frosting time!

1lb confectioner’s sugar
4 T melted butter
1 t vanilla extract
Milk (or soy milk)

Using an electric mixer, combine a 1/3 of the sugar with the butter; add the vanilla to make a paste. Add the rest of the sugar, keeping it moist via milk. You want it smooth enough to spread but not runny. (If it is too runny, add more sugar; too thick add more milk).
Use food colouring, decorating bits etc. and channel Martha Stewart.

(Or better yet, channel my mother).

This year I am making gingerbread javelinas.

The Shoulds

2006-11-28T06:08:00.000-07:00

“Shoulds” are matters one feels badly about not doing. Guilt and/or shame arise when these are not done. Some Shoulds are philosophical or moral; others are voluntary decisions – ‘I should be doing this every day because if I don’t there are consequences”.

How many “Shoulds” can I come up with? Every day I should do the following:

A morning prayer of thanksgiving for the day.
Practice relaxation breathing techniques
Floss my teeth.
Make the bed
Eat some sort of breakfast
Drink green tea
Strain the cat’s litter box.
Read – and respond – to email.
Put any dirty dishes into the dishwasher.
Water all the plants in containers.
Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables.
Practice the piano.
Practice the pan pipes
Do another Spanish lesson on the Rosetta Stone
Take all daily prescriptions and vitamins
Fetch and open the mail
Give Someone a hug
Write all progress notes and evaluations that occurred that day.
Return all phone calls from work
Read some of the daily newspaper that arrives each morning.
Prepare and eat a balanced dinner.
Brush the cat.
Write a daily blog entry.
Visit blogs (nicknamed 'making rounds')
Do my daily routine of yoga/stretches
Read something/anything, not work related.
Write in my diary.
Evening prayer of thanks for the day being done

Somewhere in all this I am supposed to hold a job and do the things I would like to do!

(post-script: perhaps, on a good day, I do a fraction of this list. These are 'shoulds" not what I do. Such is life.)

Christmas Prizes

2006-11-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

My grandmother called gifts ‘prizes’. Example; ‘what kind of prize did you get for your birthday?” and “I don’t want any prize for Christmas”. The expression would have died off but my mother could not stand it. She thought it sounded we had to earn/win something. So, we kids picked the expression up in merriment and as spoof of Grandmother.
To this day my family gives and exchange prizes.
An annual Thanksgiving tradition is ‘prize discussion’ at dessert time. Over pies and tea and coffee, we discuss ‘how we are going to do it’ this Christmas.
You would think after 40 or so years we would have a routine but every year some new sort of system is proposed. The explanation for this may be simple; the family keeps expanding with marriages and children.
I suspect it mostly comes from our need talk and organize and reorganize and make lists.

So, I want advice. We have the 2 parents, an uncle (with little $ but we want him as part of this), 4 brothers, their 4 spouses. There are 4 children now. That totals 15 people.
This year’s modest proposal is each person draws a name out of a hat and there is a limit to spending. Reasonable enough, but it is already unraveling (as is the wont). People feel the four children should get something from everyone.

So, for bloggers with big families – how do you “do Christmas?”

Desert Museum of Tucson

2006-11-25T20:51:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson.
We saw the local flora and fauna.
Here are some cacti for the area.

Here is a local deer.

Here is a Mexican Wolf for Mr. Foxy Stone.
Here is a dear little javelina.
The black bears were not cooperating for the photographers.

So here is a photo of our two friends Stan and James.
My but I have woofy friends.

The Alphabet MEME

2006-11-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

A is for age: 44
B is for beer of choice: Watney’s Red Barrel
C is for career: Physician; Board Certified in Neurology and Psychiatry
D is for favorite Drink: Tea (2nd growth Darjeeling)
E is for essential item you use everyday: A pill box
F is for favorite song at the moment: In the Bleak Midwinter
G is for favorite game: Cryptic Crossword Puzzles.
H is for hometown: Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan
I is for instruments you play: piano and the pan pipes
J is for favorite juice: grapefruit
K is for kids: 2 nephews rather
L is for last kiss: today
M is for marriage: Maybe next year, when we do the 10th year anniversary?
N is for name of your best friend: Scott AKA Scooter
O is for overnight hospital stays: mid 90s, for pneumonia; while in hospital my telephone was stolen.
P is for phobias: tarantulas, and being late to the airport.
Q is for quote: “Only the wounded physician heals.”
R is for biggest regret: I wasn’t brave enough to go to the northwest when I could.
S is for Shirts: I have made 3 dozen so far
T is for time you wake up: 530 AM
U is for underwear: Mostly boxers.
V is for vegetable you love: Homegrown tomatoes
W is for worst habit: ruminating on things
X is for x-rays you have had: chest and wrist
Y is for yummy food you make: gingerbread cookies (I will post the recipe next month)
Z is for zodiac sign: Cancer

Happy Thanksgiving

2006-11-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

As today is Thanksgiving, I am canceling How Does That Make You Feel? Thursday to write something else.

For which I am thankful

I am well
I have Someone
I have a loving family
I have good friends. My best friend Scott would walk the world over to get a blade of grass that I wanted if I asked him.
I have a house
I have great neighbors.
I have employment.
I have enough money really.
I have health insurance.
Despite several dark times, I have survived them.
I have the blogger world - with 40 new friends and probably more to come.
I have seen most of the places in the world I have wanted to see.
I have spent my entire adult life trying to ease the sorrow of my fellow man, so I believe my life has not been a waste, or a regret.

(And)

Homegrown tomatoes
Tea
Wine
&
Soup

Mozart
Mahler
Brahms
&
Arvo Part

Enya
Loreena McKennitt
&
The Boswell Sisters

Shakespeare
James Joyce
&
Dickens

And the Marx Brothers.

Lorreena

2006-11-22T06:27:00.000-07:00

Now that the holiday season is approaching, I can get out the Christmas CDs. I have plenty. I wanted to share with you one of my favorites albums, by Loreena McKennitt.

Loreena McKennitt is a Canadian singer whom I used to know slightly. She is a friend of friend in Stratford. I remember her over at his house back in the early 80s when she was a chorus girl at the Festival. He would design some of her greeting cards. Later, when she came to Chicago for a concert, I met up with her afterwards. (The audience was half empty; me and several displaced Canadians, wild with happiness as they could not normally get a ticket to see her back home).
Over the years she has become internationally famous and I am no longer in touch with her. But I adore her music. It is a combination of Celtic, Moroccan and other folk music. She is popular with the New Age folks, Mystics, Celtic music lovers. Her lyrics often are ballads, with lyrics from the poetry of Yeats or Shakespeare. This is her “Christmas” album “To Drive the Cold Winter Away’. I use the term “Christmas” loosely as while there are carols referring to Christ’s birth the whole album has a more ancient feel to it. I call it my “Solstice” album. Missing are the usual Christmas tunes. Rather she has a combination of ancient carols (example; the Wexford Carol) and some of her own. Her song” Snow” is gorgeous.
I point it out as a marvelous holiday CD. I point her out as a marvelous singer.

By the way, she now has her new album out! It only took 10 years of waiting!

Even the Pope has a Confessor

2006-11-21T06:06:00.000-07:00

This clever statement was coined by C.G. Jung. He is emphasizing that even caretakers need some care taking from time to time. When I attend a movie in which a therapist is talking about his/her problems with their own therapist, I often hear snickering in the audience. They think ‘how can this person be caring for others if they have to be helped themselves?” I think differently; this person is getting supervision and assistance and is a wise counselor indeed. A basic premise in psychology is one doesn’t easily see one’s own Shadow; you need others to help you see it and deal with it.

Back in Evanston I had my mentor and analytical professor across the hall for assistance. I knew he had someone as well.
In Michigan I was a member of a ‘men’s peer group’. This consisted of eight counselors, all men, who met for breakfast every other week. We discussed cases and somewhat took aided each other’s hang-ups and troubles. I miss being part of this group. I was somewhat ‘odd man out’ as they were all social workers; I was the only psychiatrist. But it kept me in touch with my counseling skills. And in exchange I helped them with ‘medication questions’. Mostly I miss the camaraderie

I don’t have such a set up here in Arizona as I don’t know anyone and my job is not set up to ‘meet people’. I work long hours; I get my lectures and updates on CD-ROMs (no longer going to conferences and conventions). I work with another doctor but when I am in clinic “A”, he is in “B” and vice versa. He is a ‘different cup of tea” so what little professional and personal interaction we’ve had hasn’t been fruitful either for ideas or for friendship.

Blogging has taken over for the mentioned group. It is where I go to escape the day, unload and to think. Now if only I could some of you over for breakfast

The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas

2006-11-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

Every few years I change jobs. I worked for 8 years in Chicago, combining a State job with a private practice. Then there were 4 years in Michigan, when I worked in two clinics.
Now I am in year #2 at another clinic in Arizona.
These changes have all been changes in location; I am considering next time a change in career.
Back in my teens I thought it would be a good idea to change careers every 10 years or so and do a variety of different jobs. It sounded exciting. Now it sounds scary. I am trained to be a physician, and one with a specialty. What else can I do? I have the yearning but no ideas. I am not trained to do anything else. I know from my patients it is hard enough to change jobs in your 40s, but change careers? I see some things that strike my fancy, such as running a Bed and Breakfast, but I only see the personae of these jobs, not the real work. And I am not a business man. My only regret from my father was not learning about how to make money.

One of my favorite short stories is by Ursula K. LeGuin. It is “The ones who walk away from Omelas”. Read it some time. It is about the brave souls who decide their present lives (and the system in which they live) can no longer suffice. They go onto something new. And they don’t know where they are going. But they go nevertheless.

I am working up the courage to “Walk Away from Omelas”.

Random Thoughts VII

2006-11-19T16:41:00.000-07:00

We had a very nice time in Palm Springs.
We saw your chums Doug and Leon. The B and B was on the quiet side, so we had the place mostly to ourselves.
Not much was done, other than walking, shopping, eating and sleeping.
We had splendid meal at a place once owned by Gary Cooper.

Doug showed me how to put more than one photograph up in a blog entry.
I am so pleased to be on the road to more photgraphs in my entries!! Thanks Doug!

Well, I need to do laundry, some leftover paperwork from last week. After supper I look forward to seeing how everyone in blog-land is doing.

It is good to be home.

Off to Palm Springs

2006-11-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

Well, dearies, we are off to Palm Springs for a weekend in the country.
I'll bring my laptop as I've reached the stage where I go through blog-withdrawal if I can't check in on you all every day.
However, if I can't access, I'll see you all Sunday evening.
Have a pleasant weekend!

UrSpo of Palm Springs nee Arizona

How Does That Make You Feel?

2006-11-15T23:10:00.000-07:00

It's another
"How does that make you feel?" Thursday

For some time the Aliens have been away from
Spo-Reflections. They are busy at IKEA, setting up pseudo-Swedish Christmas decorations. The blue and yellow bulbs are really surveillance cameras to monitor human behavior. Bless their hearts (both of them) they want to observe the yearly ritual called ‘holiday shopping’. When Eartha Kitt’s mind is too busy, they use mine for consultation. On this topic I advised them ‘don’t bother’, but they are keen to fathom the spirit of Christmas retail shopping.
They get it mixed up with Hallowe’en, which is not surprising, considering Hallowe’en items for sale are up at the same time as the Christmas things.

They asked if I would get up early the day after Thanksgiving to go shopping.
I told them I would sooner eat rats.

Shopping the Friday after Thanksgiving!

How does that make you feel?

Some late night thoughts for a Tuesday

2006-11-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

Well, we had plenty of food and no lack of leftovers. We will be eating off of this 'simple supper' for a fortnight. We must remember not to make so much food next time.
However, Someone was happy that his guests were happy, so I am content.

Gads, but I am tired. I am too pooped to surf the blogs and see how my 40 or so chums are doing.

Anyway, we leave for Palm Springs in 3 days! We will drive out and see Doug and the Wild One and have a pleasant weekend.

This is a photo of me from last year's trip to Palm Springs.
I like it as the lighting makes me look real butch.

OOXX

UrSpo of Arizona.

Dodo Prizes for Everyone

2006-11-13T23:00:00.000-07:00

And the winners are....

We are going to make all of them!

I should have seen this coming. When Someone has business folks over, he gets anxious there won't be enough food. So he decided to have all the entries as entrees. We are make the 2 deserts, the ham AND the grilled tuna, and all the sides - with two appetizers.

And to start it all off - Doug's infamous salsa.

So, like in Alice in Wonderland and the caucus race, everyone wins -but oh my goodness we have a lot of cooking to do!

Food Election

2006-11-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

Here’s a different sort of election in which to vote;
Someone is having business associates over for dinner this week.
What shall we serve? Please pick one from each category ---

For appetizer
1) Shrimp and cocktail sauce
2) Vegetarian Spring Rolls and mustard dip
3) Salsa (Doug of Gossemer Tapestry’s recipe) and Chips

For entrée
A) Honey Baked Ham or
B) Grilled Tuna Steaks.

For side
I) Green Salad
II) Edamame & Corn Succatash
III) Homemade Macaroni and Cheese (I may stuff the ballot box on this one!)

and -

For dessert
a) Carrot Cake or
b) Fresh Fruit Compote.

Vote early; vote often!

- UrSpo of Arizona. (D)

How to Tell When You Are Tired

2006-11-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

This is a title of book I read years ago. I forget the contents, but it was about men and their long work days. The hypothesis of the book: people are driven to work more, and as a result we are a nation of tired people.
I don’t know if we are more tired than previous generations. Some studies suggest we are getting less sleep than the past generation. My issue is with technology and 21st century luxuries we should be LESS tired not just as tired as our ancestors. The labor and time saving devices have NOT saved time. They have sped up life’s conveyor belt, like Lucy in the chocolate factory scene. Speed is bad for the health.

Studies (as well as common sense) tell us we are healthier, happier, and saner people when we get enough sleep – and time off. Yet there is less and less tolerance in the work field for this. People are made to feel guilty for missing work for illness or for psychological necessity (i.e. vacation). Then there is the grandiose lie that the world will stop spinning if we desert our work post. Bosses imply it; workers believe it.

When I moved to Arizona I replaced 2 doctors. Neither seemed to have been very good, but they both worked all the time, including major holidays. I get to work before 7AM, work until 5PM, and often have hours of paperwork as well as phone calls. So I am no slacker. Yet my assumption that we did NOT work on Memorial Day, 4th of July etc was met with disbelief.
So I am disrupting the culture here; I don’t expect to work on major holidays. I take the European approach that four weeks/year is minimal not maximum time off. Both are getting me dirty looks that I am ‘not working enough’ or a poor team player. (on the other hand the secretarial staff are thrilled that for the first time they don’t have to work on Memorial and Labor Days any more, as the doctor isn’t in).

I hope you all get enough sleep and get appropriate amounts of vacation and ‘down time’.
It is vital to your health. And don’t feel guilty for it.

I am Uncool

2006-11-10T06:24:00.000-07:00

I’ve reached the age of ‘uncool’.

I was christened with this title last week when I flew home. It was 10PM. I announced I was fatigued and going to bed. Brother #4 was just getting ready to start the night and go out. He snorted in contempt and thought I was no longer different than the parents.
He vowed he would be different when he got to my age.

Well bro, I vowed the same thing too when I was your age.

Here are the tell-tale signs that I am “uncool”;

-The night is now for sleeping
-I have more lines than a movie script. (see above photo)
-I stopped listening to the Grammy’s as I don’t recognize anyone and besides all that racket sounds terrible anyway.
-I get cold, and need a coat.
-Stretching is a necessity, not just a pleasantry
-Gray suits are out now as they make the gray in my hair really obvious.
-I used to sing in the shower. Now I think in the shower (gee, maybe I should put down treads here).
-Vacations are turning from action time to down time. Mother’s notion of a ‘book by the pool’ no longer sounds dull and boring.
-I got my new suit at Brooks Brothers.

I would write more but my mind goes blanks these days. …….

How Does That Make You Feel?

2006-11-09T06:13:00.000-07:00

Arizona defeated our ‘one man/one woman’ proposal.
The first state ever to do so.

We re-elected a Democratic governor and have more Dems going to Washington.

The House is ‘blue’ and the Senate is ‘bluer’.

What changes! Arizona is more purple.

How does that make you feel?

3 Way MEME

2006-11-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

This MEME works better for bloggers who regularly read a lot of blogs.
You respond to each question by picking 3 blogs from your usual reads.

3 Blogs you are just beginning to read?
WenchynStar – a friend of Sorted and Spider. What greater recommendation is there?
Becoming Visible – a fellow who has been dropping by my blog; he/his blog seem interesting.
Lone Wolf in the Highlands – the poems and the stories alone are worth a drop by.

3 Blogs that make you smile or laugh the most?
Bunny Boofray – her ongoing reports from the trailer park are a hoot
Sorted Lives – both the photos and the entries are witty and hilarious.
Ynanger65 – how he finds the awful video clips I don’t know

3 Blog that provide you with the most learning?
Doug at Gossemer Tapestry – for bugs/butterflies and things of science
Will at DesignerBlog – for history and politics
Scott at Purple Twinkie – for food

3 Blogs that ‘look the best”?
Heather at Butterfly in Disguise
Spider at A Spider’s Web
Kelly at Stern Point of View

3 Blogs you won’t read at work?
Captain Caveman
Life is a STD
Daniel, Guy in the Desert (all for the same reason!)

3 Bloggers you wish “they would post more often”?
Joe at Mind of the Bear
Steve at Chez Stephen
Deanos at Some Call it Love

3 Bloggers that get you out of your usual mode of thinking?
Matthew at Bear in the Box
Foxy Stone at Lone Wolf in the Highlands
Hanuman at Chai and Sympathy. (alas he recently closed shoppe to my sorrow)

3 Bloggers with the best photos?
Rodger at Rodger Dodger
Jason at Let’s Say You’re Right
Andrew at The Other Andrew

3 Bloggers that make you want to reach through the computer screen and give them a hug?
Joel at Would I?
John at Open a Window
Jock at Dishonest Honesty

3 Blogs with the best ongoing story line(s)?
My Confessions
Devious Steve O
Maddog in the City

3 Bloggers with the best ongoing theme(s)?
Tony at Life’s Colorful Brushstrokes – those wonderful word games!
Spider (again) – his Sunday snippets and Tell me Tuesdays
Lemming Girl at Cliffie’s Notes – does everything pertain to fish?

And 3 Blogs that inspire you to ‘keep going” with your own.
Michael's Temporary Trouble Spots
Dan's DanNation
Homer's Homer’s World

I am supposed to tag 3 people, but it seemed a lot to do. So, if 3 (at least) want to take it up, I’d be pleased as punch.