Quite an air this man had about him. A certain class, a particular panache, set him apart.
First African-American actor to win the Oscar Award for Best Actor. So many acclaims, so many accolades, one of the last actors of the Golden Age.
Sidney Poitier: “I do know I’m responsible not for what happens but what I make of it.”
What exactly do I write here?
Good question, good question.
Sometimes it feels like a public writing journal, jottings and random and drafty, not too polished,
I know my intent overall is to share positive energy, on a good day actually inspire some, maybe a lot,
To do good, help others, think differently, more inclusively,
And it’s mine, as long as the blog stays alive, my very own to share,
I’ve been thinking of late, when I’m older, on in years,
I’ll front-load funding this site for a block of time after I’m gone, so I can linger on a bit like an old, dusty book.
I think that’s what I write.
And it makes me happy.
Yep, that’s it in a nutshell,
GOOD
A little primer is all you need to sing this simple, classic Christmas carol…it took me having kids to learn and remember this song…FUN…!
12 Drummers…
11 Pipers…
10 Lords
9 Ladies…
8 Maids…
7 Swans…
6 Geese…
5 Gold Rings…
4 Calling Birds…
3 French Hens…
2 Turtle Doves…
A Partridge in a pear tree.
Working in the warehouse today, standing in-between the looming racks of material,
pallets up high, down low, also looses boxes neatly stacked. I’m between PL1 and PL2.
Gray, rainy day outside, much needed rain for our drought-stricken state. The weather turned wet yesterday, and is expected to continue throughout today.
Near the location I’m working in the vast warehouse to stage material, there is an eight-inch pipe running
parallel one of the main beams that goes floor to ceiling.
When I was here early morning, I could hear the water from the rain on the roof running
down the pipe. Strangely soothing.
The gentle sound has persisted through the morning. It’s in the background, quite subtle, but steady, most welcome,
Welcome solace to the workday pace, heightened as year-end approaches.
Find a little peace, a little joy where you can, every minute, every day.
Sometimes you wake up with a song in your head and you gotta share it.
This one from RUSH. What I think of as the third chapter in their musical canon. GOOD.
“The Big Money”
Big money goes around the world
Big money underground
Big money got a mighty voice
Big money make no sound
Big money pull a million strings
Big money hold the prize
Big money weave a mighty web
Big money draw the flies
Sometimes pushing people around
Sometimes pulling out the rug
Sometimes pushing all the buttons
Sometimes pulling out the plug
It’s the power and the glory
It’s a war in paradise
It’s a Cinderella story
On a tumble of the dice
Big money goes around the world
Big money take a cruise
Big money leave a mighty wake
Big money leave a bruise
Big money make a million dreams
Big money spin big deals
Big money make a mighty head
Big money spin big wheels
Sometimes building ivory towers
Sometimes knocking castles down
Sometimes building you a stairway
Lock you underground
It’s that old time religion
It’s the kingdom they would rule
It’s the fool on television
Getting paid to play the fool
It’s the power and the glory
It’s a war in paradise
It’s a Cinderella story
On a tumble of the dice
Big money goes around the world
Big money give and take
Big money done a power of good
Big money make mistakes
Big money got a heavy hand
Big money take control
Big money got a mean streak
Big money got no soul…
By Peart, Lee Weinrib, Lifeson
Everything slows, anticipation no more, now here. Recollection, a muse from the not too different future follows, kids messing, heart beat slowing, weekend…
“What is our true place in the world? All around it comes at us: what to see, hear, feel, the big three, there like it or not, want it out not, it’s real and now.
What we do with it, how we respond to it, that’s up to us, each of us, each time.
Choose to make it GOOD. Here’s a sample from everyday, just a sample, what my senses say:
Winter lights on the front tree, shining bright in the pre-dawn darkness;
Warm coat against the biting wind on an early morning walk;
Shake of the head, each dog with her collar on, jingle jingle jingle;
Cold water, one big gulp, after a long walk, thirsty;
Crackle of the wall furnace, heat slowing pouring down the hall;
First taste of coffee, hot; first taste of beer, crisp;
Soft skin on my kids’ cheek when I kiss each goodnight, each night;
BLESSINGS.
Kids love new, shiny things. Maybe we all do.
And treasure boxes; treasure boxes to tuck away all those new, shiny things; they become less shiny with time; then they become treasures.
Under the bed, in the nightstand, into the closet, up in the rafters the treasures go. Hold on for years, decades.
Magic to look at, the magic doesn’t dissipate; it’s innate.
Treasures, little treasures.
These all from the Triton Museum, Santa Clara.
Chalk art festival outside on the grounds; sampling of the exhibits on the inside.
Inspired. Chalk it up. GOOD.
Another one that spoke truth to me somehow; not sure why; but from the first time until right this moment, this song, speaks.
REM.
THANK YOU.
“Me In Honey”
I sat there looking ugly, looking ugly and mean
I knew what you were saying, you were saying to me
Baby’s got some new rules
Baby said she’s had it with me
It seems a shame to waste your time on me
It seems a lot to waste your time for me
Left me to love
What it’s doing to me
There’s a lot of honey in this world
Baby this honey’s from me
You’ve got to do what you do
Do it with me
It seems a shame to waste your time for me
Left me to love
What it’s doing to me
Knocked silly, knocked flat, sideways down
These things they pick you up and they turn you around
Say your piece
Say you’re sweet for me
It’s all the same to share the pain with me
It’s all the same, save the shame for me
Left me to love
What it’s doing to me
Baby’s got some new rules
Baby says she’s had it with me
There’s a fly in the honey
And baby’s got a baby with me
That’s a part, that’s a part of me
Left me to love
What it’s doing to me
Left me to love
What it’s doing to me
What about me?
What about me?
Writer(s): Berry, Mills, Buck, Stipe
Pretty well can’t say enough good things about this dude, Daveed Diggs. Beyond his beats, his words, his Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson…I just pretty well love everything I’ve learned about him.
He inspires, plain and simple.
And he’s a WARRIORS fan from Oakland, California. All the better, dig it, dig Diggs, Back to the Bay…
[Intro]
Nestled in an enclave in Cali
Where demonstrations and rallies
Have a long history of making waves and tastes
Shaping language and style substantially
Standing for the best in the wake of the worst tides
We’ve seen in a long time
From a long line of lyricists, linguists, and yes, panthers
Not to mention regular people so inundated with game
That the slang rivaling Shakespeare seems common
As it should
Here where Gertrude Stein claimed there was no there
Has grown a scene which has newcomers clamoring to understand
And get a piece
And they holler at fever pitch
And confidently riding the crest of this epic sound wave is a team that in true Bay fashion redefined the rules of the game
And then made the new ruler undeniable
And as a new season begins we prepare to bring it back
Bring it back, back, back, back
[Chorus]
Back to the Bay
Finna bring another one back to the Bay
Show the whole game how to act in the Bay
Squad stacked in the Bay
You can hate but you can’t ignore the facts in the Bay
[Verse]
Look the earth we stand on is Klay
And the turf we claim is carefully placed
On a strong foundation, a nation
And watch us paving away in amazement
And the sweat breaks out with a smile and a head shake
You can taste the spice
Chef Curry, cooking up look at em shook as they know their ankles may break
And they could rant all day
Got Durant comin’ over to play
But real talk? Who wouldn’t want to live in the Bay
Best place in the Golden State
Face the music, hyphie
But never lost the blues and the polka
The gospel of Matt Barnes
Yeah, we still believin’
Stand tall, stay centered
That JaVale McGee
But they key thing, no matter what their eyes seen
They can’t see us, we dream in Draymond Green
Cooler than Pachulia’s stare, we gets busy
But stay calm and drop bombs like Iggy
We way too Jiggy, we way too focused
You know this, from the O to the So’ to the Valley Jo’ to San Jo’, this
Isn’t metaphorical around here the town and the crowd gets
Call it Roaracle how loud is the town business
Loud enough to shut ’em down
Loud enough you feel it every time we come around
Loud enough to shake the ground and still keep ’em flocking to Oakland
Keep talkin’ while we win another trophy
[Chorus]
Back to the Bay
Finna bring another one back to the Bay
Show the whole game how to act in the Bay
Squad stacked in the Bay
You can hate but you can’t ignore the facts in the Bay
—
And if you want to hear it? HERE.
1/2_Full, All GOOD 