ART

"All art requires courage"

...Anne Tucker

jjf age 4

Surfs up!

...the very next time he was at this beach,

he waited for the perfect set.

he stood right up,

and rode the wave in!

jjf - age 6

t.g.i.f.

~ Whether it’s a chat with our attorney,
or a short converstion with a contractor
or bank teller – it’s apparent that everyone
is anxious about the economy.
How did life in the great USA
get so crappy, so fast?
Charisma doesn’t necessarily
spawn beneficial change.
We shall see.

However, who would expect a vodka company
to come up with a warm fuzzy commercial?
This makes you feel good,
even without a sip of booze…
now, be kind, it won't cost you a dime!

~ Our Little Man, JJF, will celebrate
a birthday this month. Oh, how life
has changed since I was his age.
For instance, our now glitzy
bursting-with-opulent-fun trips to
Las Vegas, would’ve looked like this,
when I was 3:


~ sprinkles of wisdom:
"Don't wait for something big to occur.
Start where you are, with what you have,
and that will always lead you into
something greater".
Mary Manin Morrissey

"Everyone has inside them a
piece of good news.
The good news is you don't
know how great you can be!
How much you can love!
What you can accomplish!
And what your potential is! "
Anne Frank

"Years wrinkle the skin,
but to give up enthusiasm
wrinkles the soul".
Author Unknown

from the darkside:
~ Demon mummies
(from:http://www.pinktentacle.com )
"It might seem odd that Buddhist temples
in Japan house the occasional stray
mummified demon (oni), but then again
it makes sense to keep them under the
watchful eye of a priest, instead of letting
them prowl the streets. Zengyōji (善行寺)
temple in the city of Kanazawa
(Ishikawa prefecture)
is home to the mummified head of a
three-faced demon. Legend has it that
a resident priest discovered the mummy
in a temple storage chamber in the
early 18th century. Imagine his surprise".


~ to end on a light note,
here is a reminder to all
you river rats. we are only a few
months away from our
secret cove. be ready!


b.q.

Thursday Thank-Q

CAN WE FIX IT?

YES WE CAN!

Thank-Q, my Little Man, for helping your Popi.

Thank-Q, my M.A.N., for teaching new things with great love.

b.q.

Happy, Hapa, & Genious

Let's start with our 4 extraordinary daughters.
Something about Hapa children is, without a doubt,
the magic of both worlds. Eur-Asian.
In this case, 50% Japanese + a sparkle of
Irish, German, & perhaps a dash of
French & American Indian
(the last 2 seem more rumor than fact in my book).
Beautiful minds & hearts.
A bonus of beauty in their appearance & souls.
Each one with her own special story.
Stay tuned.
My Girls, my happy heart.

Oh, yes, my credo : If my Girls are ever in harm’s way, I am a explosive unstoppable Mama Bear. NEVER, EVER mess with my Girls. I will hunt you down, & haunt you into the next world.

A little sidebar:
I know nothing we endure day -to-day
is close to the enourmous task tackled
by two special parents, Jon & Kate Gosselin.
Feeling like an overwhelmed
going-off-the-deep-end mommy?
Can’t take it anymore??? Take a very deep breath,
& please watch a few episodes of
JON & KATE PLUS EIGHT, now on TLC.
Enough said.

Incidentally, we are honestly of true Samurai blood. Always be tough, never give up. I remind my children, they will remind their children. So, the Spirit lives on. Generation to generation. Yamato Damashi!

After raising 4 uniquely dazzling daughters, a Granddaughter would have a challenge to bring something new to the All-Girl Family table. No sweat. She is a delicate gift of pure beauty and cerebral wonder. Our own special version of Zippy; a precious gift, bursting with imagination.
(Thank you, Haven Kimmel,
for A Girl Named Zippy - a great read!)
Are we witnessing a photographic memory in our
young cup of magic, or is she just soaking up
every bit of life from dawn’s crack to the
first glint of moondust?
Curiosity with gleeful intelligence and compassion.
Tough as nails; as awesome as any rainbow.
Like her Mom, always making me SMILE.
Always bringing Balance to the Force.
Happy is as Happy does.

A note about a great thinker, Thomas Sowell, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.
(Incidentally, his comments about the current Presidential race are the most intellectually correct that I’ve seen. He sees right to the core of the truth.
Truth which could make or break this nation.)

Now, switching subjects to one close to my heart.
The research and resulting books Mr. Sowell wrote
about late talkers, & the often misunderstood
Einstein Syndrome children = priceless.
Thank you, Thomas Sowell, for shining a light on
the intriguing life of our Grandson.
My Little Man.
Intense curiosity in his mesmerizing eyes,
incredible hands, skills & comprehension
so far beyond his age.
Approaching each day so eager to figure out
how things are put together, building,
deconstructing, & always watching.
A busy brain, a very busy brain.
Teaching himself to walk at 8 ½ mos by
intensely watching his Big Sis.
Just jumping on to ride a 2-wheeler & skateboard
at the tender age of 3.
Watch, question, learn, DO IT!
Mundane conversation, not for him,
but look in those huge eyes;
always analyzing, always observing…
movement, performance, technique, relationships.
Teaching himself everything possible,
quickly, precisely.
Curious & happy.
A young Genius in the making.
Oh yes, & idolizing his Big Sister to the max.

b.q.