Silhouette — Granddad and Grandson (Kenne Jaxon) at Sunset
if—
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with wornout tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run –
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!
— Rudyard Kipling
if…else statement
Izzy was his name
Looking to execute “if”
Condition is true
True was his game
Looking to execute “else”
Condition is false
When Earth’s last picture is painted, And the tubes are twisted and dried, When the oldest colors have faded, And the youngest critic has died, We shall rest, and faith, we shall need it — Lie down for an eon or two, ‘Till the Master of all good workmen Shall put us to work anew!
And those that were good shall be happy They’ll sit in a golden chair; They’ll splash at a ten-league canvas With brushes of comet’s hair; They’ll find real saints to draw from — Magdalene, Peter, and Paul; They’ll work for an age at a sitting And never be tired at all!
And only the Master shall praise us, And only the Master shall blame; And no one will work for the money. No one will work for the fame. But each for the joy of the working, And each, in his separate star, Shall draw the Thing as he sees It. For the God of Things as They Are!
Yesterday, our friends, Kathy and Bob McNeily lost one of their best friends, Doc. “Hate that we only had 7 years with him as he certainly was one of the best dogs I have ever had with the sweetest temperament,” Kathy wrote in Facebook.
Anyone who knows dogs knows that Golden Retrievers are known for their temperament, often described with words as “kindly, friendly, sweet and confident”. Shaun Mullen has written on his blog, Kiko’s House:
“It’s not hard to see why Golden Retrievers are among the most popular breeds in the U.S. year in and year out. They’re cuddly cute as puppies and beautiful as adults. They’re great around kids, energetic, intelligent, intensely loyal and easy to train. In fact, they often train their owners.
But American golden retrievers are also are ticking time bombs.”
Mullen ends his blog entry by stating:
“As with humans, lifestyle can make a difference. Studies show that dogs that are lean and fit have a lower risk of cancer, as well as other health problems, but there is no evidence that exotic diets make a difference.
Not much of a defense in the face of an unrelenting epidemic without end.”
The loss of a best friend is always followed by some difficult moments, which is a necessary part of the friendship process. When we understand the power of the dog, we understand the process of this very special process.
There is sorrow enough in the natural way From men and women to fill our day; Why do we always arrange for more? Brothers and sisters, I beg you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
Buy a pup and your money will buy Love unflinching that cannot lie– Perfect passion and worship fed By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head. Nevertheless it is hardly fair To risk your heart to a dog to tear.
When the fourteen years which Nature permits Are closing in asthma, or tumour or fits, And the vet’s unspoken prescriptin runs To lethal chambers or loaded guns, Then you will find–it’s your own affair– But…you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.
When the body that lived at your single will, When its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!) When the spirit that answered your every mood Is gone–wherever it goes–for good, You will discover how much you care, And will give your heart to a dog to tear.
We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way, When it comes to burying Christian clay. Our loves not given, but only lent, At compound interest of cent per cent. Though it is not always the case, I believe, That the longer we’ve kept “em, the more do we grieve: For, when debts are payable, right or wrong. A short-term loan is as bad as a long– So why in–Heaven (before we are there) Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?
Silhouette — Granddad and Grandson (Kenne Jaxon) at Sunset 
Untitled Image by Katie Turner Bailey (1999)
Soleri Figure Geometric — Computer Art by kenne
“Seen Around Tucson” — Image by kenne
Becoming is Superior to Being 