We Are Linked To The Littl’ Bug
Nicholas’s mom (Katie) is great about sharing photos of the Bailey Family, far away in Fort Collins, CO.
If you want to see what the Bailey’s are up to, click on Littl’ Bug on the Blogroll. Now if we could only get others in the family to start using technology to share and reduce the distance between love ones. But not to frat, I will keep pursuing.
kenne
Friends & Family Share Jill’s Joy
Joy hosted and Jodie coordinated a baby shower for Jill. The shower, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. was slow to start. 
(Not familiar with baby showers, this might be normal.) Looking at all the food, I for one was figuring that Joy and I would need to start calling people after the shower to invite them to a last-minute party.
But, after a while many were able to make the event and in the end all the food and most of the champagne was gone. Now I know not to worry about something, about which I know little.
As the photos demonstrate, everyone had a good time and Jill was pleased. The guests participated in several games, including using Play Dough to create baby boys.
For some, it was a real challenge to create the anatomically correct boys. Not surprisingly, the baby with the biggest penis won the prize.
Since I was not involved in providing input, the event didn’t include music by the Frog Band. But, I did create a photo-opt with Jill playing with the Band. The frogs were pleased!
kenne
Photo-Artistry by kenne
Invoking the Full Meaning of Life
How best to express sharing new life,
when each moment deserves its own face
What seems apropos for the moment,
when the next foster a new experience
Is it in a number?
Number of days
Number of thoughts
Number of heartbeats
Number of turns
Number of prayers
. . . you can count the ways,
when only you who will know the score
Is it in a word?
Loving
Caring
Sharing
Giving
Sheltering
. . . you communicate thoughts and feelings,
when manifested in knowledge and experience
Or is it in art?
Transforming thoughts
Expressing feeling
Experiencing emotions
. . . you desire to evoke life,
when distance can’t separate a lifelong bond
— kenne
(Photo: Dripping Spring, Texas. Additional photos.)
Let’s go
Let’s go, let’s go,
The road is waiting.
Let’s go, let’s go,
Time is wasting.
Let’s go, let’s go,
The heart is yearning.
Let’s go, let’s go,
The brain is questioning.
Should I, should I not
Should I be, should I act
Should I, should I
Being or doing?
Let’s go, let’s go,
The pipes are playing.
Let’s go, let’s go,
The light is dancing.
Let’s go, let’s go,
The child is calling.
Let’s go, let’s go,
The brain is questioning.
Should I, should I not
Should I be, should I act
Should I, should I
Being or doing?
Let’s go, let’s go,
Tomorrow is awakening.
Let’s go, let’s go,
The times are changing.
Let’s go, let’s go,
The wind is pushing.
Let’s go, let’s go,
The brain is questioning.
Should I, should I not
Should I be, should I act
Should I, should I
Being or doing?
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Let’s go, let’s go.
kenne
(I love this Associated Press photo of George Carlin, so I’m sharing it with the following poem.)
You, George Carlin
You,
George Carlin
were a genus
among geniuses
an original
You,
George Carlin
found your voice
by being out of step
and using two-way words
You,
George Carlin
spoke for us
yet to find our voices
as we recognize truth
You,
George Carlin
causing us to listen
knowing freedom
to exercise our demons
You,
George Carlin
observed our institutions
making nothing-off-limits
developing lists of our follies
You,
George Carlin
bridged the generations
making funny faces
becoming the voice of Fillmore
You,
George Carlin
were a provocateur
self-expressed new wave,
remaining old school
You,
George Carlin
Made radio human
with sorted disc jockeys
and the hippie-dippy weatherman
You,
George Carlin
made words heard
but never believed
now everyone else will listen
— kenne
(P.S. The N.Y. Times had a great article on Carlin. Click here.)
George Carlin
Like so many people, I grow up listening to George Carlin – yes listening to George on the radio and his albums, all long before TV and cable. After hearing of his death, I started going through my old LP’s. Sure, I also went to his web site, which I suggest you do, but after finding one of the old albums, I scanned as much of the cover the machine allowed and tweaked it in Photoshop. The cover image dates back to 1972, when he was a young 35 years old and of course, had all that hair.
Carlin was able to take things people do, most of which is crazy, but considered normal, and tell us how crazy they are. He had many funny routines, all centered on the things we say, do, or think, like “Have A Nice Day,” “The 11 O’clock News,” “A Place for My Stuff” and “Interview with Jesus.” One of my favorite recent routines is “Modern Man.” George will be missed.
Kenne
What? (A poem written while en route to a Lake Charles Casino, June 23, 2008. He’s the pool guy, she’s the gambler.)
More trucks in used car lots,
less on the freeway
Fewer at Starbucks,
but not at my icehouse
Fast traffic on the right,
slow on the left
Fire sales on
“mother” of Texas trucks
While I go on listening
to the sound machine
Bringing back memories
of the Double Bayou
Yellow buses grazing
under a cotton-ball sky
Arriving at the casino,
where all the SUV’s have gone
Wake me when it’s over,
for it’s a family affair
But, just remember
I ain’t your dude
So you can’t buy me with
a “Two-Step” lottery card
Make it a beer or two
at the pool-side bar
Times are different,
so continue lying to me
— kenne
Not Quite a Fountain Yet
Most of the work on our new fountain is now completed. However, water running from one bowl to another has been delayed till the arrival of a custom padistal on which the smaller bowl will rest.
The fountain and the area around it has combined the harmonious less-is-more Zen design with the soothing effects of flowing water to create a powerful sense of tranquility and enlightenment. By placing the natural elements of stones and water, incorporating straight lines and round shapes, with an emphasis on harmonious spatial beauty, the Zen garden will provide a place of peace and tranquility. 
When completed the fountain will serve as a focal point, yet not overwhelm the area.
Once everything is completed, the Frog Band will have a Now & Zen concert for our friends.
Peace,
kenne
This is my new blog.
I’m interested is sharing ideas,
progressive thought, photos, poems
and answers to how we can make
this earth a better place for all.
kenne
Reading at Brazos Bookstore
If you are an author, the place to read and discuss your publication(s) in Houston is the Brazos Bookstore. The New York Times has called the Brazos “Houston’s premier literary marketplace – a Mecca for touring authors since 1974.” Therefore, for local writers 
Dave Parsons and Cliff Hudder to be “recognized in your own home” made for a very special evening, we will long remember. As fellow members of the Montgomery County Literary Arts Council, I didn’t hesitate to mark my calendar when getting word on their June 12th readings at the Brazos.
After introducing Dave and Cliff, 
Dave began the reading session by reading from his books of poetry, “Editing Sky” and “Color of Mourning.” Having read both books, it’s always a pleasure to hear Dave read his own poems. I find Dave’s poems to be very existential, having also lived much of my life “ . . . based on false premises.”
Next on the evening’s agenda was Cliff reading from his recently published novella, “Splinterville.” Since I had not yet had an opportunity to read Cliff’s award-winning novella, listening to his entertaining read was the perfect promo to do so. Cliff’s writing illustrates what talent can do to make a snapshot in our history very interesting, especially since I’m not one to always read the footnotes.
To share the special evening with friends and peers, Dave scheduled time for food, drinks, and conversation at the nearby Stag’s Head Pub. If only there were a way to “bottle” it, I would do so, sharing such moments with others needing to quench a literary thirst. To drink from such a bottle is to become drunk on life — recalling William Yates line,
“The problem with some people is that when they aren’t drunk, they’re sober.”
— kenne
Texas Democratic Party State Convention
On Thursday (June 5, 2008), Joy and I drove to Austin to attend the 2008 Texas Democratic Convention. Back in March, we began actively supporting Hillary Clinton, voting for her in the primary elections and attending the precinct caucus after the polls closed. Before this historical primary, most people voting were not aware of the “Texas Two-Step”—you vote and then you caucus.
Clinton won the popular vote on Election Day—step one. Then, after the polls closed, each precinct held a caucus, and we were selected to be Clinton alternates to the Montgomery County Senate District 4 Convention. A few weeks later, at the County Convention, I was elevated to delegate and ended up being selected as a Clinton alternate to the State Convention.
We knew my role as an alternate would be limited unless I was elevated to a delegate, but no such luck. All forty Montgomery County delegates were in attendance. As a result of the step-two caucus process, Obama will have more Texas delegates at the Democratic Convention in Denver—that’s the Texas Two Step.
From March’s beginning, we knew that the chance of becoming a delegate could have been better, but we looked forward to attending this historic convention. In the weeks leading to the convention, it became apparent that Clinton was being pressured to end her race, but she continued to put up a good fight. Then, in the final week, Obama became the presumptive Democratic nominee. Even so, at the convention, the Clinton people maintained their strong support for their candidate, but in the end, knowing that being united, as democrats, would be necessary to change the misdirected leadership of the last eight years. Not since 1968 have I seen a campaign generating this energy for change.
It is time to put the people first!
“It’s been a long time
Of waiting and forgetting
Remembering the coming back
I am not crying about the leaving
Remembering the falling down
The laughter of the curse of luck
From all of those sons-of-bitches
Who said we’d never get back up”
(With apologies to Lyle Lovett)
kenne
40 Years Ago Today
BULLETIN (AP)
(LOS ANGELES) – AN ASSAILANT – APPARENTLY STANDING AT POINT-BLANK RANGE GUNNED DOWN NEW YORK SENATOR ROBERT KENNEDY AND FOUR OR FIVE OTHER PERSONS EARLY TODAY IN LOS ANGELES. KENNEDY HAD JUST CLAIMED VICTORY IN THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL RACE OVER SENATOR EUGENE MCCARTHY. HE WAS STANDING IN AN ANTI-ROOM OF THE AMBASSADOR HOTEL WHEN THE GUNMAN CUT LOOSE WITH A VOLLEY OF SHOTS. KENNEDY WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD – ALTHOUGH FIRST REPORTS SAID HE WAS SHOT IN THE HIP.
This is the actual copy from an AP Teletype machine just to the right of the one I was working in the STRACOM tech control room, Sukiran, Okinawa, 4:35 PM J.S.T., June 5, 1968. Like many, I had been following the primary closer and was shocked by what I was reading. A few hours later, the following came over the AP Teletype:
AP38
BULLETIN
LOS ANGELES – SENATOR KENNEDY DEAD. . .
AP38
MORE BULLETIN
AN AIDE OF THE NEW YORK SENATOR ANNOUNCED AT 5 A-M (EDT)
THAT KENNEDY DIED AT 1:40 A-M (PACIFIC TIME).
HE WAS 42 YEARS OLD.
WITH KENNEDY AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH WAS HIS WIFE, ETHEL, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY
AP40
-CORRECTION–
KENNEDY DEATH AP38 MAKE TIME OF DEATH 1:44 (NOT 1:40).
R.F.K. “Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others. Or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.”
“Whatever people may say and whatever history may write about Bobby, and whatever history may write about Bobby, he had a genuine compassion, a real love of people, humble people, poor people – I think the word now, is underprivileged people – not in a pompous or pedantic way, but genuine.” The words of former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan (74 at the time) have appeared on television
History shows that Richard Nixon went on to be elected president and we only speculate what the last forty years would have given us if Bobby Kennedy had been elected. Would we have chosen faith in people over fear? Would we have required sluggish bureaucracies to respond more rapidly to social needs? The following is shared from June 14, 1968, Time Essay:
“John W. Gardner put it best at Cornell’s commencement earlier this month when he imagined himself as a 23rd-century thinker. He had discovered, he said, that ‘20th-century institutions were caught in a savage crossfire between uncritical lovers and unloving critics. On the one side, those who loved their institutions tended to smother them in an embrace of death, loving their rigidities more than their promise, shielding them from life-giving criticism. On the other side, there arose a breed of critics without love, skilled in demolition but untutored in the arts by which human institutions ate nurtured and strengthened and made to flourish. Between the two, the institutions perished.” 
Now, forty years later Joy and I are getting ready to travel to Austin to attend the Texas Democratic Party Convention at another historical time in American political history. Hopefully, this will in time be looked back upon as a time in which our nation’s leaders restored reason over emotion.
(The items contained in this entry came from scrapbooks I kept during 1967-68.)
— kenne
The Frog Band
New Back Drop For The Frog Band
The hole and pile of dirt behind the “Frog Band” is the first stage of putting in a fountain that will add a new sound to the backyard concerts. The Frog Band is really jumping!
kenne
Time of The Heart
High above the shore
stands the fool on the hill
Watching the setting sun,
while chanting the reflection –
“Use me while you can,
for if you but blink,
I will be gone
no more on this watch.”
— kenne
ON THIS I AGREE!
“My fellow Americans: We are a country in debt and in decline — not terminal, not irreversible, but in decline. Our political system seems incapable of producing long-range answers to big problems or big opportunities. We are the ones who need a better-functioning democracy — more than the Iraqis and Afghans. We are the ones in need of nation-building. It is our political system that is not working.” — Tom Friedman N.Y. Times June 29, 2008
kenne
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