Empathetic
It is on nights like this, with my belly full
and my chest empty, that the moon points east
to her darkened half, and I ache to follow her arc
into the nothingness,
because I understand the void.
On November 22, 2005, the Union County Board of Education approved a plan to reassign certain (insert old school name) Elementary School students to (insert NEW school name) Elementary School. The board amended that decision on June 6, 2006 when it redistricted some of these students back to (Old) Elementary School for the 2006-2007 school year, and then to the new Elementary at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year. The purpose of this letter is to inform you that your child is among those students who will be reassigned to (Old) Elementary School at the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year...What the fuck!? The poor kid has been in a tizzy about changing schools - he's painfully shy and not comfortable in new social situations anyway. I spent twice as much time (and gas) on the running back and forth between these 2 schools to get him enrolled. I've already filled out all the transfer forms and spent an hour in the friggin office of the new school filling out new enrollment forms. And then they send me a letter to tell me they've changed their friggin' minds!? And to top it off, of all those people I talked to at both schools, no one could mention that this had all changed again three weeks ago?!
This is Alexis. It's been a long time since I posted her picture, if I ever did, I'm not at all sure I ever have, here anyway.
SUPERmodel) so, yes, I was watching. Anyway they'd show a few bathing suit shots, a runway strut, and a bit of an interview with her, or with someone who seemed to be 'evaluating" her. Our intent, as a publisher, is to publish nothing but poetry and prose
of the highest quality and literary standards. If it takes the reader on
a journey, touches their soul, activates their sympathetic nervous
systems, transports them to another place all while listening to the
rain, and the hum of the world fades into its background, this is
what we intend to publish.
Here at the site we intend to provide words, images, and sounds
to entice our readers', to enhance their experience in every sense.
This pic is for Eve and Fineartist, who saw my post about this chair (that I got for health reasons) and voiced some confusion as to how, exactly, one would sit in it. This is how you sit in the chair, although you can also sit with your feet on the floor in front of the chair. It works, I'll tell ya that... I was in bed by 12:30 last night. I haven't even bothered trying to go to bed before about 3am in many months, and typically wasn't able to fall asleep until something more like 5am. My feet and legs didn't ache because there's no way for me to sit on them in this chair, and the restless leg syndrome didn't start up even once. It was beautiful to fall asleep so quickly, and stay asleep for so long. I slept 10 hours last night. I've been averaging 3-5.
The 70th weekly Tar Heel Tavern will arrive at Another Blue Puzzle Piece this Sunday.
For folks who are inspired by a theme, I suggest "quality of life". I hope this can encompass lots of possibilities: light-hearted or serious, musings about family and friends, vacations (both going and returning), good food, good music, good photos, and whatever else contributes to the quality of our lives.
Contributions may be sent to tht70@nc.rr.com by Saturday evening. The sooner the links arrive, the better the quality of the host's life, and (probably) the better the quality of the Tavern. It's kind of a reciprocation thing.
I'm looking forward to the experience of hosting the THT. I'll do my best to make it fun, tasty, crunchy, chewy, bright, shiny, and generally a quality life experience.
"The process of creating art turned out to be a reciprocal process for Stephanie E. Robinson. As her artwork evolved, it served to remind her of the cycle of life and conflict and how, like seasons, we move through them and evolve."Since receiving her link, I've contacted her about buying a copy of her print "Seasons of the Soul" and can't wait to get it! With the most cliched comment of the day, I say, "It speaks to me.
Grace.His post definitely fits the theme, and I'm honored to include it.!
A son to eat lunch with.
Anger turned toward compassion.
Sacrifice for something greater than one's own needs.
Tears shed for hurt and loneliness, assuaged by a loving spouse.
I could not possibly replace the feelings that were inspired in them to have settled a mystery, nor could I replace the gratitude for my friendÂ’s act of reciprocation. A while later, I shipped another poundcake to Los Angeles, and in return, I found a cooler on my doorstep containing gourmet pasta, organic pasta sauce and a huge chunk of fresh parmesan cheese from a high-end shop in the LA area.His poundcake story is exactly what I was looking for with this theme: an instance in which an act of giving, made with no ulterior motives, inspired someone else to give back. Thank you Ron!
The Levering Orchard is 98 years old. Frank Levering's grandfather first planted the cherry trees here, and Frank and his wife Wanda Urbanska took over the operation of the farm in 1986, a move that they wrote about in their book Simple Living.No doubt that there have been generations of giving to the earth to have enabled the orchards to reciprocate with such a huge bounty of fruit. Just look at the size of those cherry trees!
Why not design a new system for health promotion and primary and secondary prevention? If well done, the results would be amazing.Sounds like the way to remove (or better yet, avoid) the thorn to me!
This past week, I lost a treasure in my life. Her name was Sandy. We first met when she and her family moved next door to my childhood home when I was only six years old. Her husband worked with my Dad at the same company, General Electric. My mother and Sandy became immediate friends. My mother has always had an intuition for people and she knew Sandy was genuine in her feelings. That's what made them the best of friends for such a long time.God bless Jude, you'll be in my thoughts. Thank you for sharing your family's story with us in the Tavern this week.
Beep Beep. An electronic summons came from the black Nextel phone hanging on my belt. Before I could pluck the device from its clip, a female voice blasted from the tiny speaker embedded on the phones cover. "Are you almost finished editing your story?"Congrats on getting on the WCNC.com ebsite Ken, I'm amazed at the fact that you could get there so quickly, find the employee/interviewee, and get the goods! I just hope that eventually, we learn what was so important about that bag!
Oh boy. Here I am laying the last edit to my story and quitting time is less than a half hour away. I look down at the black box in my hand wondering if I should lie. When the assignment editor wants to know if you are close to handing in your finished product, it means she is looking for a lens to send to breaking news. Time for some OT.
I'm pleased that we have an opportunity to remember how satisfying it is to participate in a support economy. I'll be even more pleased when we create--actually, recreate--a support economy. It really isn't far removed, even now. My grandparents fondly remember when the cheerful (and reciprocated) support of neighbors was a routine part of their lives.Thank you etbnc, for joining with such a well written and thoughtful piece. I hope that all of the Taverners take this chance to read this, and properly welcome you into this little thing we call the Tarheel Tavern.
Time to start all over.An interesting, introspective and ever-changing piece of poetry Dave. Thanks for that!
Rejecting the humbug. Inventing afresh.
Sorry
Mr. Parks,He goes on to make point after point proving that not only are kids not neccessarily the "Anti-Christs" that Mr. Parks makes them out to be, they're often our heroes. See, as humans, we tend to be more aware of our own faults and short-comings, and as adults, find that looking at a kid is a lot like looking into a mirror. Justin just manages to remember to look for the good things about the young people around him. Thanks for that Justin, I'll try to remember that trick, the next time my 17 year old is being sarcastic and stubborn, I'll try to remind myself that those qualities are the humor, intelligence and strength I'd hoped he'd learn as he grew up!
I came across this article "The Anti-Christs Live Amongst Us" as it was reprinted in "NC Rumors"; and I'll have to say that when I first read it - I was pretty angry. It seemed like yet another, tired, "those darn kids these days" rants.
A lot of us fell in love with science because of early experiences in school -- teachers who made science intriguing, exciting, maybe a little bit dangerous. But tightening budgets are making it harder and harder for public school teachers to provide the books, equipment, and field trips to make science come alive for kids.It's definitely a worthy cause, and Bora has already raised over $550!
DonorsChoose.org gives us a way to help teachers get the job done. A bunch of us at ScienceBlogs have set up Bloggers Challenges which will let us (and that includes you) contribute to worthy school projects in need of financial assistance. We'll be able to track our progress right on the DonorsChoose site. And -- because we like a little friendly competition -- we'll be updating you periodically as to which blogger's readers are getting his or her challenge closest to its goal.
You don't need to give a barrel of money to help the kids -- as little as $10 can help. You're joining forces with a bunch of other people, and all together, your small contributions can make a big difference.
I don't know who listed BloggingPoet.com on the Strategic Board but thanks whoever you are. The Board is an aggregator that has been sending me 15-20 referrals daily for about three days now. Before three days ago I had never heard of the Board. They've also got an add your blog feature so perhaps you should give them a try. As for what they allow I've no idea.Of course, Billy completes the circle (again) by linking to the site he speaks of.
Even better news is that our ScienceBlogs host, Seed Media Group, offered on Friday to give a dollar for dollar match for every donation up to a total of $10,000. I should note that this offer came entirely without any coaxing on our part, as relayed to us by Sb den mother, Katherine Sharpe:And that's how it works. One good turn deserves another.It's true: Michael Tive walked into my office yesterday morning with the news that the people who control the purse strings at SEED had read about your challenge and were moved to be part of it.This kind of support makes me happy that I made the decision to join Sb.
Below Morning's Edge
The cannas have begun to show,
a paradox of petaled sunrise
risen atop stoic stalks
leaves held together, as always,
slipped one inside another like
pages of poetry - twisted,
hidden in the dark crescent
just below morning's edge.
Four long months of Carolina summer
they stand proud, June through September.
I wonder, come the third Thursday
if the thanks they give is for the fall,
for the chance, at last, to let the sun set.
Are they glad?
to loose their curled secrets?
to lay them down and sleep?
and the dusting powder, in a round pink box, with a beautiful pink powder puff. I loved the smell when I was young, loved that damn powder puff too. I thought it was the most elegant thing I'd ever seen. I'd go in the bathroom and open the box so carefully just to smell it, just to feel that powder puff. If you've ever smelled Ambush (which I doubt you have, even if you have the newer version, which stinks) you'll understand that every time I opened that box, not only did the smell fill that tiny bathroom in Coxsackie NY, it most likely filled the better part of the house. It's an intense fragrance. 
Super Nova indeed. That makes me smile. And cry a little.Al Qaeda in Iraq chooses Zarqawi successor
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Al Qaeda in Iraq said its new leader named on Monday would keep up a campaign of beheadings and suicide bombings begun by the Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed by U.S. bombs last week.
"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late."The first one epitomizes my motivation for fundraising for the AHA Heart Walk. The second is something I have learned since starting. I hope that those of you that have donated have felt it too.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
We’re so happy that you’ve chosen to nominate someone who Peppers Your Community. Be sure to return to the site between July 24 and August 11, 2006 to view the finalists and vote for your favorite. If your nominee is selected as a finalist, his or her charity of choice will receive $2,300. Nominees voted to be the grand prize winners will receive a $23,000 check to benefit their charity of choice!I need you guys to go to the site during those dates and vote for her when the time comes! Pleeeeeeeese!?
So tonight's update looks like this: Thanks to a donation (another donation) from E2, my running total stands at $1,025. 
Scott's customers haven't done a lot yet, but I have faith that they will. They're good people, and they know how much this means to him. But for now, the team total is $1,055. Still no word from the radio stations I've contacted, but it's only been one (weekend) day. So I'm not sweating that yet. The more I think about this AHA lady who called and left the message, the more excited I am to see what she has to say. I'm looking forward to setting up the meeting and talking to her. 
