Fire and Smoke

Well, we started the weekend out with morning burning on Friday evening. I was thinking about writing about fire as a meditation tool, and comparing it to doing candle shen (qi gong). Then there was the observation that the fire in the backyard a few days ago burned so easily and quickly, and a lot seemed to be accomplished in a short time. The fire on Friday was slow and arduous to start and to keep going, and the amount that i perceived to be burning was much less than the previous time. Hence, there was a comparison and thought between a quick combustion and a slow burn. Interesting.

Saturday morning came early. I came downstairs and looked over at Sam and thought, "shit". His face was puffed and red to the point where one eye was swelling close. Anyways, after a few telephone calls and a peruse on the internet, i made the decision to take him into the emergency room. Once there, we encountered a fairly full waiting room, including a family w/seven kids. I have no idea why they all where there and why they all had to be seen. Hopefully they were all alright and their parents knew better than to use an emergency room as a doctor's office.

We were seen in fairly good time - perhaps an hour. We received the prescriptions and were back home before noon. The afternoon was spent at the pool.

This morning, we went back to the pool, only to find that a lifeguard hadn't shown up. So, I'm wresting with the responsibility issue. There were lots of parents who had dumped off their kids - no lifeguard, and a few adults. Although i used to be certified as a lifeguard and can still swim fairly well and long, I don't want to be held accountable for children whose parents don't feel accountable - but in fact, I still do feel like I am responsible.

Lately, though, i have not been able to do much of anything about anything. It's frustrating, but I'm learning to just sit back and watch things unfold. Part of this is like sitting and listening to someone and not offering my opinion unless it's asked for. Part of this is standing by and watching people's interaction. It's another thing to sit by and watch someone drown. However, if they are adults or children of adults who are not taking responsibility, is it still my obligation to step in, or do i observe and let things unfold?

I came home. Hopefully, the lifeguard will show up.

School's Out For Summer

Hey, tomorrow is the last day for the boys this year. Yippee.
Today, I had to scramble around to get Sam's end-of-the-year party together. Everything delivered and distributed to seven classes. Wow. It's amazing. I started planning it back about 6-8 weeks ago, sent out various e-mails to the people who might be involved, and only received responses from 4 people...two of them ended up helping me get it together. The day before the party, here are a few people leaving messages like, are we going to decorate the room, etc.? It's frustrating. Then, the day of the party the teacher calls at 11 as askes where i am, eventhough i left all of the roomparent's an e-mail asking them to meet me at 11:30. Only one of them showed up to help load things in! Crazy.

Now, it's behind me. I'm going to enjoy a nice long weekend at home. The pool opens, some people will get together, i'll be cleaning up the backyard some more.

The biggest thing is that we have a little burn-pit in the backyard right now. There is so much brush from the clean up and there's no way a chipper could get back there. So, i've resigned to burning brush. Sam and I have gone to the firestation to check on the rules for burning, so i'm within limits.

Lucky likes to play outside while we're working on it - actually yesterday was our first fire, and it was cool to watch. Looks like i'll be working on that project for a good part of the summer!

Cleaning Up

Well, this week was about reclaiming.
My friend, Joanna, found a handy guy to come and do things for her around the house. Luckily, he agreed to come and do some work for me too. He has lots of cool tools. This week, I would come home from work around 2:30 and start working in the yard with him. It's much more fun to work with someone else, i think.

Anyways, a couple of years ago a couple of very large trees came down in my yard and broke down the chain link fence. At the time, I didn't care too much, but had a few guys come over with chainsaws and clean up the biggest part of the mess.

Now that we have Lucky dog, it became imperative to either put up a temporary fence or fix the one we have. So, Darrell has been over fixing the fence so Lucky will stay contained. It's been a job. The trees and bushes have grown into the fence. Darrell and I have been cutting brush for two days. Actually he finished the fence last night and started working on the deck. There is still so much more to do.

Max has his second play-off game today in a few hours. If we win, we keep playing. If we lose, we are done for the season. Although they lost this week's game, Max hit another 2-run homer and a 2-run triple. It's been really fun to watch him lately.

This week we also started looking at working towards Max's bar mitzvah. I have become disillusioned with the shul that we are members of. It's a long story, but basically, i found someone else to tutor Max and oversee his bar mitzvah, and now i will write a letter to our temple and end our membership. It's a bit sad for me. I'd like to support groups that expand minds. However, i feel there was an element of coercion that didn't sit well with me. Organized religion has had it's place in my life. Now, though, perhaps it is time for something new.

Schedules

This week is a bit crazy. I'm not writing as much as i'd like to, although i have been writing some off-line.

Lately i've been at the baseball field a lot. Max has been hitting really well - he has hit two out-of-the-field home runs and his fair share of to-the-fence triples, doubles and singles. Last night, he had a concert (viola). Not your screechy-type concert, but fairly good for middle school kids.

This weekend looks like it has lots of choices too. Last weekend, we spent all afternoon and evening at Riverside park at a party, hanging out, and listening to a free concert on Saturday. Sunday, my friend, Al was thrown a surprise birthday party....so it's been busy and it doesn't seem to be letting up.

This weekend, there are lots of things to do - free or minimal charge stuff. One thing is James Wanless (Voyager Tarot creator) at the Phoenix & Dragon - complete with chocolate fondue. Yum. Saturday there are gem & mineral shows and Sunday is a Pow Wow. And, I might have an out-of-town guest come and crash - someone who will be a vendor at the Celtic Festival (Saturday) up in Duluth. Lots of action...sort of...

Well, this is the second time i've tried to write this post. The first time got eaten by the machine.

Tonight i think i'll try to relax and listen to the raindrops fall from the leaves. It's nice and quiet (almost). Driving in the rain was horrible today. Makes me want to move away from Atlanta. Listening to the rain is soothing...quite opposite effects from the same rain storm.

May Day

Today is May Day. The day for Maypoles, dancing and celebration of spring. Beltane (the time between the equinox and solstice), or close to it. Along with that, i think of morse code. So, in honor of the day, I made a special posterboard or treasure board.

I'm not sure exactly what other people call it, but my friend, Joanna did one for New Years. I suppose it sets an intention, or a visualization of what is going on in the mind. From what I understand, it's like a map of some sort, to help manifest what's going on inside.

So, my pictorial map is of sustainable community. Perhaps apropos for May Day.
A place where people can live, or just visit for a time. Sustainable, with organic gardens, common buildings with rooms for yoga, tai chi, meditation, or other gatherings. Holistic health practitioners, etc. Also, different living quarters for guests and residents.

I tried to take a picture of it to show... Some of the pictures and words are very small, but you can get the idea!