Ya gotta meet Molly...

Meet Molly.She's a grey speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when Hurricane Katrina hit southern Louisiana. She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled. While there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected, and her vet went to LSU for help, but LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case. You know how that goes.

But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he changed his mind.He saw how the pony was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't seem to get sores, and how she allowed people to handle her.She protected her injured leg. She constantly shifted her weight and didn't overload her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious survival ethic.

Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee, and a temporary artificial limb was built. Molly walked out of the clinic and her story really begins
there.

'This was the right horse and the right owner,' Moore insists. Molly happened to be a one-in-a-million patient. She's tough as nails, but sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain. She made it obvious she understood that she was in trouble.The other important factor, according to Moore , is having a truly committed and compliant owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care required over the lifetime of the horse.

Molly's story turns into a parable for life in post-Katrina Louisiana .The little pony gained weight, and her mane finally felt a comb. A human prosthesis designer built her a leg.

The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life, Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports.

And she asks for it. She will put her little limb out, and come to you and let you know that she wants you to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take
it off too. And sometimes, Molly gets away from Barca. 'It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse,' she laughs.

Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay, the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation
centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people her pluck. She inspired people, and she had a good time doing it.

'It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to play in life, Moore said. She survived the hurricane, she survived a horrible injury, and now she is giving hope to others.'

Barca concluded, 'She's not back to normal, but she's going to be better.To me, she could be a symbol for New Orleans itself.'

This is Molly's most recent prosthesis. The bottom photo shows the ground surface that she stands on, which has a smiley face embossed in it. Wherever Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind.

Monastery Life

A young monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned to helping the other monks in copying the old canons and laws of the church by hand.

He notices, however, that all of the monks are copying from copies, not from the original manuscript. So, the new monk goes to the head abbot to question this, pointing out that if someone made even a small error in the first copy, it would never be picked up! In fact, that error would be continued in all of the subsequent copies

The head monk, says, 'We have been copying from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son.'

He goes down into the dark caves underneath the monastery where the original manuscripts are held as archives in a locked vault that hasn't been opened for hundreds of years. Hours go by and nobody sees the old abbot.

So, the young monk gets worried and goes down to look for him.

He sees him banging his head against the wall and wailing.

"We missed the R !
We missed the R !
We missed the R !"

His forehead is all bloody and bruised and he is crying uncontrollably. The young monk asks the old abbot, 'What's wrong, father?'

With A choking voice, the old abbot replies,

'The word was...

CELEB R ATE !!!

The Helping Hand Award

I have been honored with another award from The Busy Mind of a Quiet Man who passed this on to me today. And like him I find the recognition humbling and I, too, am happy to share my stories and whatever with the hope that perhaps it does touch someone, makes someone laugh, encourages or gives someone hope. It is my feeling that that is what we are all here to do for one another. The Helping Hand site is a moving site to visit.

This has caught me at a very busy time and I, too, am going to have to bend the rules of acceptance and shorten the list so that I can pass it on.

All the people that I follow give me so many wonderful, inspiring, humorous moments, but there are four that have continued to make a difference in my life with the things they write and they are:

Maithri whose compassion and love for all people has been and is moving and inspiring to me.

Lilly who makes me laugh, makes me feel good and we can't have too many of those in our lives!

Dianne another one who makes me laugh, shares my passion and concern for our world and speaks with much eloquence.

mom/caryn who has a delightful post and speaks so lovingly of her family and her life.

Here are the rules so they can follow them -- also unlike me and my busy mind friend! if they accept the award.

The Rules:
1. Select 10 bloggers: 5 you consider your blogging Helping Hand then "Pay it Forward" by extending your "Helping Hand" to 5 additional bloggers in support and encouragement for their efforts.
2. In passing on the Emblem, each recipient must provide the name of blog or blog author with a link for others to visit. Each recipient must show the Emblem and put the name and link to the blog that has given it to her or him.
3. Link the Emblem to this post: Helping Hand: Much Obliged and Paying it Forward so that others will know its origin and impetus.
4. If you have not already done so, show your recipients some love by adding them to your blog roll, Technorati Favorite list, or in any other way to further let them know that their blog voice is important to you and being heard.
5. Add your name to The Helping Hand meme and don't forget to leave a comment as a permanent record of all Helping Hand recipients.
6. Display the rules.

An Interesting Social Experiment

From The Effective Club

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousand of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

How many indeed, seems it might be time to stop and not only smell the roses, but listen to the music that is all around us every day in so many ways, in the laughter of children, in the voices of friends. Take a moment today, stop for a moment and listen to the music.

Lesson for the Morning

A man boarded an airplane in New Orleans, with a box of crabs. A female crew member took the box and promised to put it in the crew's refrigerator, which she did.

The man firmly advised her that he was holding her personally responsible for the crabs staying frozen, and proceeded to rant and rave about what would happen if she let the crabs thaw out.

Shortly before landing in New York , she announced to the entire cabin, "Would the gentleman who gave me the crabs in New Orleans , please raise your hand?"

Not one hand went up..so she took them home and ate them herself . . . Lesson here?

Watch what you say and to who -- I won't restrict this to men!

New Wine for Seniors

California vintners in the Napa Valley area, which primarily produce Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio wines, have developed a new hybrid grape that acts as an anti-diuretic.

It is expected to reduce the number of trips older people have to make to the bathroom during the night.

The new wine will be marketed as

PINOT MORE

I hope you all realize that from time to time I have to take a break and post something totally silly. There is so much pain and anguish in this world that sometimes the only way to catch your breath is to find something -- however silly or foolish to move you beyond to that place where you can breathe again. That is what the occasionally silly, crazy things are for -- for me and hopefully for you -- just a little laugh therapy can work wonders. We still have work to do.

Ruby Tuesday

Welcome to Ruby Tuesday! Hope you'll join us!
This week was supposed to be red signs, but due to the weather I haven't been able to get out to look for some. So, I thought each of these were signs in their own way.

A Ruby Red Christmas tribute to the men who have given their lives for our country. A friend of mine sent me this photo. I thought it was a good time/place to share it.


Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell...

My World

This is my world without snow and one I am so looking forward to seeing again!
 

Brilliant sunsets over the harbor!
 

Sail boats out on the Sound.
 

Beautiful flowers and colors everywhere!

 

Monochrome Monday

 

This is the beach near the harbor, the sand looked gray, the fog was gray, the water was gray, the sky was gray. It was almost like standing in a void where there was nothing. Very eerie in it's own way.

Happily, He's Almost Gone!

Frank Rich has an excellent OpEd piece this morning and I urge you to read it. This is just a glimpse.

"We like our failed presidents to be Shakespearean, or at least large enough to inspire Oscar-worthy performances from magnificent tragedians like Frank Langella. So here, too, George W. Bush has let us down. Even the banality of evil is too grandiose a concept for 43. He is not a memorable villain so much as a sometimes affable second banana whom Josh Brolin and Will Ferrell can nail without breaking a sweat. He's the reckless Yalie Tom Buchanan, not Gatsby. He is smaller than life.

The last NBC/Wall Street Journal poll on Bush's presidency found that 79 percent of Americans will not miss him after he leaves the White House. He is being forgotten already, even if he's not yet gone. You start to pity him until you remember how vast the wreckage is. It stretches from the Middle East to Wall Street and even into the heavesn, which have been a saafe haven for toxins under his passive stewardship. The discrepancy between the grandeur of the failure and the stature of the man is a puzzlement. We are still trying to compute it."

The whole article is worth reading. It just makes me wonder all over again how this man was ever elected president -- but then he wasn't really, was he? More squirrelly politics and too many people not paying attention, too much shoulder shrugging. I do hope we've learned the lesson to be learned here. And I hope somewhere along the line we get an improved voting system.

More Photo Fun

We could all use this kind of protection!



You have a question???



Watch that hand!



How about this for a basketball?

Ah, How Time Flies -- Like it or Not!

Last night I watched a really old movie starring Julie Andrews and Rock Hudson titled Darling Lili, from 1970. She was so young and so beautiful! And then I remembered that sometime ago, to commemorate her birthday, she made a special appearance at Manhattan’s Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP.

One of the musical numbers she performed was 'My Favorite Things' from the legendary movie 'Sound Of Music'. I'm sure you've heard it, but the lyrics she used are still a hoot and fun to hear again. I thought I'd pass them around to share an "all too true" look at aging. Damn! just why I can find humor in that I'm not sure, but I am sure it's better to laugh about it than cry!


(Sing It!) - If you sing it, it’s especially hysterical!!!

Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache, When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.

A New Award!

Inspiration for the Van Gogh's Ear Award

You may know the story of Vincent Van Gogh a well known artist in history. Although a brilliant painter in his later years went quite insane he received the nickname of fou roux ("the redheaded madman"). The most bazaar of Vincent's behavior is when he cut off the lower part of his own left ear lobe, which he wrapped in newspaper and gave to a prostitute named Rachel in the local brothel, asking her to "keep this object carefully. After this he suffered recurrent bouts of mental illness, which led to his suicide July 29, 1890 he was 37 years old. His works of art are priceless.


The point of this award.

We are all artist in are own way be it art, photography, writing, philosophy, comedy, blogging and we all go a little crazy sometimes. But if you ever feel so crazy to cut off your ear and give it to a prostitute "Seek Help"!


Always remember you're unique.
Just like everyone else.

Roger passed the award to so many wonderful people but there are a few that I would like to pass the award to...

And I was one! And so very honored this morning to receive this Van Gogh award from Mary at Work of the Poet, who has such an inspiring website. I've certainly been encouraged to use my camera (actually Adams) more and more and it's just added to the fun of blogging.

I would like to pass this on to those who have also inspired me -- you don't have to do a thing but accept the praise of your work and share it with others if you like.

CR at Little Bang Theory
Deborah at Notes from the Cloud Messenger
Rob at Inukshuk Adventure
Susan at This Irish Photographer
Thank you to Mary and to all of you!

Shadow Shot Sunday #33

It took me an hour to finally find this photo taken in my apartment in Portland. I always loved the way the sunlight filtered through the lace curtains. And after seeing Mary's photos on http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com, this morning I simply had to find this one to share for Shadow Shot Sunday. Click on the Shadow Shot icon in my sidebar to join us!

More Tricks With Photos for Saturday Morning

Beware of those manikins!


My, my that is a lot of smoke or a hot horn!


There may be more reality here than they realize!

That Seagull in the Snow Sing Along

About ten days ago I posted pictures of seagulls in the snow down near the harbor. The one below in particular looked really pissed off. My friend at www.rinklyrimes.blogspot.com saw it and decided to give him his hour of fame by writing lyrics to the tune of Winter Wonderland and it's priceless! But that was about the time my computer problems started and I didn't ever get it over to my blog from hers. So I'm doing it now. You gotta sing along with this one!
 

Seagull in the Snow
I've been out in all weathers,
And it's ruffled my feathers,
But this is a first:
I hope it's the worst.
Who would be a Seagull in the Snow?

I can feel my beak freezing
And it isn't too pleasing,
And as for the feet
They long for some heat.
Who would be a Seagull in the Snow?

I can tell you life is getting dicey;
All the worms are deep beneath the ground!
Look at my expression! It is icy!
You are by the fire I'll be bound!

See, my eye! It's so beady!
It's a sign that I'm needy.
Though I'm on the beach
I can't raise a screech!
Who would be a Seagull in the Snow!

Have a good weekend!

The Party of Whiners

From Alberto Gonzales to Rush Limbaugh and everyone in between, the Republican Party is whining as Obama prepares to move into the White House. So, Bush just had bad luck with bad things happening on his watch? Or maybe the GOP’s bad luck just happened to send Bush to the White House in the first place???

But according to Paul Krugman, click here to read his entire column; and I agree, the fault lies with the Republican party itself. Forty years ago the GOP decided, in effect, to make itself the party of racial backlash. And everything that has happened in recent years, from the choice of Mr. Bush as their champion, to the pervasive incompetence of his administration, to the party’s shrinking base, is a consequence of that decision. The conservative think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation specifically urged the new 2000 team to make appointments based on loyalty first and expertise second.

There was contempt for expertise and it in turn rested on contempt for government in general. Ronald Reagan declared that “Government is not the solution to our problem, Government IS the problem. So why worry about governing well?

The Republicans back in the 80s began to take advantage of the situation in the south which originally focused on opposition to the Voting Rights Act but eventually took a more coded form: “You’re getting so abstract now you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things and a byproduct of them is blacks get hurt worse than whites.” Or, government is the problem because it takes your money and gives it to Those People.

Krugman says the racial element isn’t all that abstract, even now: Chip Saltsman, currently a candidate for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, sent committee members a CD including a song titled “Barack the Magic Negro” and according to some reports, the controversy over his action has actually helped his chances! Is that outrageous or what!

Still there are some commentators warning President-elect Obama against bold action and have held up Clinton’s political failures in his first two years as a cautionary tale.

But America today is very different country from what it was in 1993 – not just a country that had yet to see what happens when conservatives control all three branches of government, but also a country in which Democratic control of Congress depended on the votes of Southern conservatives. Today, Republicans have taken away almost all those Southern votes – and lost the rest of the country. It was, indeed, a grand ride for a while, but in the end the Southern strategy led the GOP into a cul-de-sac.

Krugman believes that Obama has room to be bold. If Republicans try a 1992-style strategy of attacking him for promoting big government, they’ll learn two things: not only has the financial crisis discredited their economic theories, the racial subtext of anti-government rhetoric doesn’t play the way it used to.

Of course Republicans will make a comeback, that’s a given. But barring some huge missteps by Obama, that's not likely to happen until they stop whining and look at what really went wrong. When and if they do that they will discover that they need to get in touch with the real “real America,” a country that is more diverse, more tolerant, and more demanding of effective government than is dreamt of in their political philosophy.

Obama has an enormous task ahead of him and while I surely wouldn’t want to be in his shoes, I do have total confidence that he has the wisdom, the courage, the foresight and the determination to lead this country out of the incredible mess we find ourselves in today due to the contempt that the Republicans have had for government in general.

The New Day Is Here

And the new day for our world is in our hands, it can be as bright as we choose to make it. It won't be a bright new day however unless we all participate, unless we all take part in bringing about change, in spreading joy and love and beauty wherever and whenever we can -- big things, litttle things, it's not the size that matters. And not just waiting for an opportunity to present itself, open your eyes and look around you, open your heart to all you see --the opportunities are there, everywhere waiting for us. Have a bright and beautiful weekend.

No, I'm not really just a goody-two shoes, I just believe we can all make a difference, the choice is ours.

Great Goodbye to 2008!

I found this YouTube and it is so funny and just had to share it. Enjoy!

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Sky Watch #22

Share your skies with us! Visit the Sky Watch site and join us!



December in Seattle has been a strange one this year, but the skies never disappoint me!

Bambi and Thumper Do Exist!

May you always have
Love to Share,
Health to Spare,
and Friends that Care.