Retired Navy after 23 years. I retired at the age of 40 years old. I've been out longer than I was in. All of the ships I served on have been made into razor blades. I had fun and I lived my life the best I could. Most of my shipmates are gone and I try to stay in touch with the remainder. It continues. Substance abuse counselor, builder of wooden boats, furniture maker, prison non-violence workshop facilitator, life observer, activist, reader, writer, geriatric subject of interest, generous tipper. I stay involved.
Inspired by a look-up of “marcusean”. Capitalism, industrialization, and consumerism run like rivers swollen with storm water overflowing their banks. The spillage and flooding into the surrounding plains are easily identified with flea markets, yard sales, and landfills, the delight of future anthropologists. The people, the communities, attached garages, and storage closets are the back-rivers … More Stresses are Cumulative
Here is a photo of a short story I wrote for this blog in February of 2016. I found these pages tucked inside the front cover of Billie Urabazo’s book, “Now and Again”. The full title is, “Maintenant et de Nouveau; Now and Again”. You must look for it. It is a clever publication of … More So Much Fun! (I’m easily entertained.)
WE ARE ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE In case you didn’t notice, we are all uphill as well. Sitting outside and seeing with the only eyes I have the way parts of the earth are put together. I see that the roadside flowers that have infiltrated my perennial garden are demonstrating their artistic worth. A … More We Are All On Top Of The World!
HORSES AND BOATS I’ve had two experiences that feel the same. I’ve been out in the ocean alone riding through waves at night in a rubber raft with an outboard motor. I was riding up the waves that travelled toward me and under me and rushed on toward a distant shore. In between the waves … More Horses and Boats
THE 4TH OF JULY (fucking yay) It is the fourth and it is after dark, after nine P.M. I sit and listen to explosions from the Harbor and the noise reverberates around the hills and up the rivers and off the islands and boats filled with glassy-eyed people taking it all in. What is the … More My Annual Rage Against The Celebration of Fictitious Patriotism. Always posted on the 3rd of July to beat the crowd.
Two instances this A.M. regarding how words come into being. Not words per se. Words formed in ways and uttered to define new or improved life styles. Words that I still key on in my mind to the ways they were used when I was a living, breathing man of the world. In the first … More Pour Over? Just a cup of joe please.
Yesterday I completed co-facilitating an Alternatives to Violence, AVP, workshop in Maine State Prison. It was a Basic workshop using two brand new inside facilitator apprentices. You can go to http://www.avpusa.org to get an idea of how this process works. Worth a look-see. After the workshop I come home and undress, put on pajama bottoms … More Marking Our Own Trails
ONE OF THOSE DAYS What do I need? First of all, to explain, I am feeling my age and today is one of depressing thoughts and grim outlooks. So, I have reverted to playing with the macabre. A defense mechanism no doubt. Just the same it works and if it works, use it. Here is … More I Need…
Which (the title) has very little to do with anything I want to discuss today. It just sounds profound to utter things like this. “With each new solution, one can expect a new set of problems”. “Every solution creates its own problems”. Did you know that the developer of the first freeway knew from the … More Every New Solution has a New Set of Problems.
Goodbye Notes Part Five Here’s to that New York City cop with the red hair and the huge feet. You must have been over 6 feet tall, you goon. During the 70’s activism phase of my life when I marched to shut down nukes. It was 1979 to be precise. Millions of people were upset … More Goodbye Notes Part Cinco
Playing Fair and Being Kind 