Poussé à boire

Le pasteur a parlé d'une jeune fille persnickedy...
tenue le travaille à un spectacle de Noël.
Elle a été accueillie et the show must go on.
Ainsi, deux Stella à mon très bon ami.

Je mourrais pour elle, mais pas ce soir.
Soyez prudent. Ne prenez pas de chances...
que vous le regretterez. Comprendre, mon enfant?
Soyez quelqu'un heureux soucis ou vous. Amen

Elle est mon amour vrai, pour la plupart.

Jew vant vires?

We've got plenty below Dunlap here in town.

So funny, Larry on Curb Your Enthusiasm...
in back yard... relaxing with paper... looks up.

Talk about a triple take - $5M crib in Brentwood... wires!

Dripping the Brew

Yeah, trying to figure out what's with the difference about the brew.
"Pardon me, sir; do you really feel that's your problem? I mean really."
They're big fans of conspiracy theories - who did what to whom...

"Let me stop you. People... issues... can't resolve. Take the point."

OK... semantics, all right?

After the Holidays

At a service, I couldn't very well note everything.
Asked this woman Bible scholar about something I'd missed.

Of all things, a note gets passed in class; suspected a come on.
Not! Got back to me vis inquiry. Some note you got there!

She liked her picture much and let me publish it.
She wants it for a website profile... asked me to help.

Had to say not until after the holidays. Busy; busy.
The e-mail she gave me was no good... later, for sure.

Dawn's Study

It's like you don't want to "go there" but one needs to rather.
Got into Revelation in our Bible study; breaking out of Temple!

Woman gets me going... metaphors... meant similies... yikes.
Had to josh with her to ease things up as in the proverbial:

Let's dress up and do church!
Praise the Lord!!!

(Zip me up, please.)

In a Family Way

My immediate family proven doomed, I look forward to spring!
Several good rains would be nice. Charge ground. We need it.
Survival another "natural" matter altogether... my home's a cave.
Entirely trusting in The Lord - the "help" seems stuck in a case study.

Missed not having Chapel this evening, though I do pray constantly.
Heavenly Father this and that, all the time, everywhere - sturdily.
Remember going forward toward Gary Young; "Has Jesus saved you?"
Many times, I responded. Told him I felt like coming forward weekly.

It's pouring rain presently. Feels wonderful. Sounds splendid.
Above be some drips IFO coffee place. An enemy of mine butted in:
"Drip?" she snarked one morning; thought merely of "house" blend.
A vicious ingrate and evil woman, hope she's gotten saved too.

Rainy Day Room

Holed up in coffee place doing photos, as mentioned.
On the way, a quick one. Risky, shooting and driving!
Bit of controversy vis the O'Connor woman. Thought...
something about her inability to keep her trap shut.

Will look it up later. At my leisure. For now, this:
reminded of being cooped up in the Rainy Day Room;
Until at least eight or so. Behaving self - occupied.
How ironic, having to deal with them again. Focus.

Recalling Kitty Genovese

She was attacked and no one did anything about it.
They were petrified. One night in Queens. Overnight.
Earlier today: "Whether cowards or slackers; no good."
A confrontation presently with "Brophy Brats" going satanic.

Blimey... comes with the territory, and I'm just across.
Vicious sons of bitches, they are: received many complaints.
Over the years, many (some particular) folks, squaques!
Definitely no good; i.e., the confederated papist queerdom.

That's saying something! Good thing it's still a free country.
Have been pestered all day by their minions. Dominatrix idiots.
In Guccis, believe it or not! The brats needed to be clued in:
"Sounds like you boys require baptism. Come on up. Anytime."

Made a move to another venue toward processing shots.
(Have to get done and go watch some hockey with the fellows.)
Beyond me as to why they've gotten so stuck up. Deadly wrong!
It's not beyond me to cognate what their collective problem is.

Splendid Entrance

Ah, yes, the experience... got to wandering about society!
We finally got mutually notified and met for Christmas Eve.
A beautiful service at church. Gifted her later. Book stuff.
She's a striking woman, and strikes me most as a workout partner.

Did I mention she's French? Not exactly. Private affair there.
She's raised her son herself and has done very well. Keenly.
She seems not to take any guff; he's prepping for medicine.
Oh, my... the most totally organized place, surgery. Been there.

Did I mention we can speak French together? Told her, clearly:
J'ai été formé à la chirurgie. Croyez-moi, s'il vous plaît.
Well, lets hope so. Many years ago. Diligent as could be.
Oh, yeah; Baylor trained fellows working with chamber people.

Black Ice

It was the most exquisite experience.
I've been slightly commiserating with a lovely woman.
Have I mentioned her? Yep, the French lady. Very classy.
I'd been thinking of making her acquaintance for some time.

We had an uneasy negotiation with regard to a rendezvous.
Made a sort of date, a meet you half-way, tentative arrangement.
It fell through and communication broke down. Traveling matters.
I'd thought I'd made a great logistical determination. I missed her.

Went to a local street light show. (Will post later.) Nice.
Then to Spud's to process. She lives in the neighborhood.
I don't think she'd be comfortable watching the Cardinals!
We won't even consider "what people will say" in that process.

It's an alright place, taking people as the come, in stride.
We shoot the breeze. Normally soft stuff... medicinal brandy!
This morning all the snow back east we be riffing. Watching.
The interrelational tales "gits ta goin'." War stories. OK.

Black ice is awfully dangerous. Misty Pacific Northwest.
A quick freeze and, please God, keep us safe ongoing.
Here in Phoenix, a downpour after a dry spell hazardous;
exhaust residue collects on the road surfaces - ugh-oh.

Just thought of my friend Leroy, late of here.
We'd share the music. Whoa; talk about jive lessons!
He's moved to Midland, Texas, of all places. Miss him.
Got a better job and I hope he has no issues locally.

Waste of Bubbly?

Friend sent me photo of yummy for Christmas in Martinique.
All his recipes are Creole. Can't make heads or tails of them!
But it looks like sausage, and the solution is clued clearly.
Carl le chef dit qu'ils devaient utiliser de la bière.

Et boire le champagne, boucheuses vieux.

Très beau

Très occupé ces derniers temps avec des photos et de Noël.
Beaucoup à dire sur les récents événements locaux.
J'ai pris des notes. Il s'agit d'un fichier.
Je suis très amoureux; s'il vous plaît garder avec soit.

Happy Christmas

Christmas morning and I'm so tired after delivering many gifts.
Presently, time merely for a good laugh - glad French lady arrived.

Great Shot

Christmas Eve and much to do.
Laundry done... no ironing... no cooking.
Feeling alright; not looking forward to traffic.
Have to get to church early for a space, I suppose.

Dead to World?

After finishing last of gifts, which were of course photographic, retired to local pub and had a Stella. The band, the advanced garage combonation, was pretty tight. Found out they used to side for Carvin Jones, a local favorite. Blue Tatoo. Frank on the kit... will have to remember that.

Merely the wrapping left. A wonderful lady at church let me use her printer; mine has its cartridge all dried up. Very inconvenient. But it all worked out.

Getting purrty hungry now.

This is for my sisters:

And here's for the lady who helped me -

Finally, one for my brother.

Glad to be done with them.
There's just the mounting and presentation.
Oh; and thanks to Luis Jimenez for the mustang...
he had a terrible accident turning this out.

Saints, Patience of

A downpour this evening. Very pleased to see and feel. Lovely.
Raindrops on foliage. Very pleased... except... well... inadequacy!

Nevertheless, reminds me of my first study:
dew drops on rhododendrons in Oregon. Pretty good.

Oh, I remember why I started this post -
the prophets and saints have much prayed and testified;
leads us to not so much have to ourselves, in a sense.
But, having received the benefit, we should carry on.

And follow through.

The Evil Men Do

Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me;
For I am afflicted and needy.
Preserve my soul, for I am a godly man;
O You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You.

Be gracious to me, O Lord,
For to You I cry all day long.
Make glad the soul of Your servant,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
And give heed to the voice of my supplications!

In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You,
For You will answer me.
There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord,
Nor are there any works like Yours.

All nations whom You have made shall come and worship
Before You, O Lord, and they shall glorify Your name.
For You are great and do wondrous deeds;
You alone are God.

Teach me Your way, O LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.

I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And will glorify Your name forever.
For Your lovingkindness toward me is great,
And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

O God, arrogant men have risen up against me,
And a band of violent men have sought my life,
And they have not set You before them.
But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.

Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
Oh grant Your strength to Your servant,
And save the son of Your handmaid.

Show me a sign for good,
That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
Because You, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Christmas approaching, there are several woman on my mind. It's so terribly convenient to be free an clear of their inanity. Oftentimes over the years this feeling would come on: so I'd sing to myself, "Got a bunch of women on my mind; one wants to hold me, another wants to scold me, the rest want to punch me out." toward this too shall pass. No problem.

The problem last evening was whether or not to make another request of friendship with a couple of good old boys at church. (The Facebook thing.) I wasn't good enough or something previously. Though I've no idea of the suppositions people like them make, I do know they are parochial gossips. I did follow through with another request. (We'll see.) They're both involved in the selection of the musical program, which is awfully tedious and buggered by too much noise from the garage band they've got "leading" the choir. It's totally incongruent. Strikes me as some sort of coterie.

Long history myself in dealing with the boys, buggered or not. In fact, the more I think about it, the less I feel the love I felt for the French woman there - the women enable the old boys, don't they. She's been unresponsive and I get the impression she's a gossip too, or at least under its influence. There's a queer fellow adjacent to us in assembly; he and his matronly friend go at it regularly. Couldn't believe it when I heard her divulge of another fellow. Blimey, I had intimated some things to her, in confidence. The queers are just another twist on telegraph, telephone and tell a woman.

So it's ironic that the military goes queer presently. That will make it much more easy to remain pacifist. How dumb can they get? Pretty stupid. God save the Republic.

Local Trek

Went out at dawn for pictures of solstice sunrise.
Initial rays hereupon; remain handicapped by inadequate camera.

"Oh, it'll all work out for the better. You watch."
I've come to expect a lack of cooperation, you see.

No matter. Plenty of other things to do -
did some decorating today too. Done soon.

Hello, Cruel World

The pastor got ahead of the story last Sunday. He'd begun a series of talks constituent to Advent and had invited some first graders to share in lighting a candle each week prior to the preaching. There were four candles to be lit, the first three being representative of prophesy, faith, and amusement. This day's, the last, was worship as illustrated by the sojourn of the magi.

Now that always reminds me of a legend foisted upon us by my parents. My younger brother once got cute referring to the Three Wise Guys and that was reprised year after year; you heard it once, you heard it all... ho, ho, ho for the company. (The company always got treated better than the children!) The pastor didn't go there - he went another way. You'll see.

Herod, when informed of the birth of Jesus, had a conniption. In a jealous rage he slew the innocents. More than disfunctional; downright mean. Felt threatened, in the vernacular. Thus:

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and
is desperately sick; who can understand it?"

He pronounced Herod to be macabre. Only he said, "Maacobbray." I turned to my French companion and chuckled. She didn't laugh, nor flinch. I did not disturb her. I love her.

Yes, macabre villiany indeed.
His jealosy exacting vengeance.

His violence misdirected.
His actions futile.

An angel visited the other kings... return another way.

You can look it up.

Capturer une étoile

Commence à ressembler à Noël?
Etoiles de ce rire; absolument!

Killing Time

At coffee before Chapel.
Have been wanting to have coffee with someone for months.
Have gotten fond of her; not in same place, I suppose.
As if i should assert myself! Nothing but trouble.

Relax.

What do you want for Christmas?

Made a friend at church. I think she took ill and disappeared today.
Missed her but hope to socialize around holidays. We'll see.

“But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

“As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You,
that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me."

The pastor spoke on John 17 the other evening.
Today he mentioned some eternal truths about Christmas.

So what's the story?

Christmas brings hope in the Gospel; nothing is impossible.
A time for reconciliation and open-heartedness.

Our joy is full in the season. Jesus is the reason.
"Some folks'd rather live with their problems
than trust in God's solutions through grace."

We celebrate the free gift of salvation.
"Freely you received, freely give."
Truly, that is more blessèd.

Conflict Resolution

Went to Bible study this evening. Our teacher was ill, so we didn't carry on with her syllabus. Instead we watched a tape of Charles Stanley preach on dealing with conflict. Serendipitous.

He mostly dealt with interpersonal conflicts and gave as a scriptural example Paul's conflict with Peter in Galatians 2. For myself, in my predicament, the matter spoke to me insofar as being a spiritual Jew in a Gentile world where one's sense of holiness is immersed in many a vulgar circumstance. The issue of loneliness came to the fore - no one at church has ever asked me to share in any social life inclusive of watching these games; I don't finagle to invite myself. Feel out of place for the vulgarities in a bar but it's nothing I can't handle.

But the issue of hypocricy comes to the fore. And then what the preacher called a "divided mind" under the circumstances. Well, it's not that complicated, but I do wish I had more of a domestic life such that I didn't have to go out to see the games. Yet I do like the sense of community one has in sharing a group experience. Even so, I do sense the double-mindedness of it and the spiritual instablity consequent.

Dr. Stanley says that conflict is inevitable...

but our response to it is our choice.

He offered Ephesians in resolution:

So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Don't be too hard on yourself?
I like people; maybe I'll lead some of them to Christ.

Heaven Help Us All

Just love taking pictures and processing them.
I delude myself to think anything will come of it.

And I like to write, though the experiences are diminishing.

Things to write about, that is... don't get around much at all.

The kachina tells a story.

A gift to my father thirty-odd years ago, I happened to be at a crafts fair around this time before Christmas. It was available in a sort of silent auction. I called my brother and sisters and asked if they'd like to pool some money to put a bid in and present it to our Dad at Christmas. They were agreeable and my hundred dollar bid was successful. He loved it.

It came into my possession after he had passed.

While photographing it, it fell and broke its legs.

Estranged from my brother and sisters, it's unlikely that we'll "get together" for the holidays. I'm never invited to their homes and mine hasn't been tidied up in some time. So this remembrance of Christmas past will have to do to put me into the "spirit" and remind me I'm not to blame for this. They really don't think much of me. Never did. Maybe cause I'm untidy.

Bit of a Conflict, cont'd

Had been driving a cab "part-time" towards cash flow.
Three days work good for 45 hours on the road.
Took some time off last month - difficult to go back.
I don't like it. Wish I could find something else.

Just need to make ends meet. House paid for.
Expenses are deceptive and mount up.
Am discouraged thinking I'm unemployable.
Have to go back this week. Just have to.

But today... the Jets take on the Patriots.
God help me.

Bit of a Conflict

The iconic Morris Berman photo courtesy LSU.
Arizona Cardinals approaching oblivion, I revert.
Earliest football memories Charlie Connerly to Gifford and Rote.
And Sam Huff, Rosey Grier, and Andy Rubostelli on defense.

Some conflict in going from church to a grill to watch the games.
Not a drinker, and I don't judge the guys who "love their beer."
Nor do I have a state-of-the-art television. Never digitalized.
So I have to go out. I do prefer watching with a crowd. No big deal.

Spat in Javaburg

Don't like it when the riff-raff don't bus their tables in coffee houses.
Like, where do they get off? A common courtesy well established.

Nor when I have to listen to nit-wits.
A while ago some twit was going on loudly:
"Oh Gawd, yadda, yadda, yadda. Oh, Gawd."
Told him to tone it down. He smirked.

His ditsy interlocutor complained.
Won't go back there neither.