Hi guys! That's it - just sayin' hi if anybody's here. WAVE. nt

Hope all is going well for you. It seems like we're all pretty much taking the day off.

I can bury myself in some other unreality.

Good to see ya! :pals:

Getting ORGANIZED!!!???

Waving!

;-)

(who do you REALLY wish was the nominee!)

It was nice to be able to vote for him again.

I haven't been on the computer much today. :hi:

I just finished watching three hours of C-Span with Fraulein Doktor Rice presenting the Chimp's 2009 foreign relations budget to Joe and his committee. Livvy just awakened me from a hopeless stupor by reminding me of Thomas (the train) and Friends. Thomas is just a vehicle, I've learned. It's the Friends that drive the engine.

Tonight I heard just a thread of a thought on NPR before my mind fell out the door as I turned the corner to home. She was saying that the reason the merchants of war continue to prevail over the purveyors of peace is that they have more faith in the efficacy of war than we do in the power of peace. A matter of faith? And last week Obama inspired me to begin re-reading Shirer's, TR&FOT3dReich. Have I strayed afar from the Path, dear friends? Have I lost sight of the Goal? Do not these questions mean it is so?

that peace is an option, not to mention a necessity. It is easy to fight, but hard to find peaceful solutions to problems.

War is a no-brainer. You just throw out a bunch of people to kill each other, destroy the land, waste brazillions of the all mighty dollar, and everyone is busy in a mindless way. And seldom is anything resolved. The problem that was being fought over is still there, and/or embedded in a perhaps different, but more volatile mindset. Survivors walk away confused, angry, and with a gnawing sense of guilt. Those that are the most "evolved" spend the rest of their lives struggling with these emotions, and as we have seen with this latest fiasco, some can not do it, and take their own lives.

Peaceful resolutions require thought, consideration, teamwork, compromise, and understanding. It's hard work, but the results are usually more permanent, with each participant feeling a sense of involvement, like they made a difference. They walk away with a sense of ownership because their voice was heard, and they were a part of the process.

I've seen it with the kids I've taught in my many years of teaching. Those that I've been able to guide into peaceful resolutions to the typical problems that are so important to children, feel good about the solutions, and more often then not, the resolution is permanent (at least for that specific traumatic, world-altering problem! LOL).

Once in a while a parent will thank me for something I've done for their child during the year. One comment that has meant more to me than any other was, "You taught my son compassion. I don't know how you did it, but he's a different kid. Thank you."

It's a mindset, peace. It's powerful, and I believe!

Good to have you back, VI.

Kind of an OT -- I read a thread that told of schools in England teaching Philosophy for Children at a young age. They say that now the kids discuss their disagreements and debate, sure, but that they are learning to listen to the other side. Wouldn't that be wonderful here? That's probably what you're doing with your kids.

And -- Fraulein Doktor Rice -- I can't tell you how much that made me laugh!

for your continuing encouragement, milady. You are most generous of heart.

Yet we are only waves, are we not, forming but to dissipate upon the sea with no existence apart from the causes and conditions giving rise to the swell of our intentions? To what perfection might such impermanence aspire? Of the sea but not apart from it; by the sea but not for it.

Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin'.

And it's a hard rain's a'gonna fall.

Seems our group is getting smaller.:hi: :grouphug:

Just thought I would stop bye and say hi. I haven't been around much lately. I have spent more time lurking and reading than about anything else. I post from time to time.

In actuality I got very frustrated from the constant trashing of Iowa and the caucus system. People seemed to want to follow their emotions and not the facts. Emotions are impossible to debate with fact.

I am not supporting either of the candidates as of yet. I will vote for the eventual nominee. It is distressing to me that we are left with these choices. They were choice number 6 & 7 for me. I guess it was a fantasy for me to think people would think for themselves and not be guided by the media.

I truly believe there is a place for Joe in this mess. We need his abilities more than ever. I continue to follow his career with great interest. He is a true Statesman!!

We are buried under another blanket of snow......I decided not to work today....windchills are near -20. It's much warmer by the fire...

Hope all is well with everyone!!!!......

:) :) :)

:hi:

It's good to see all you guys too....I can't believe how you all have stuck together....

although.....yes I can. There seemed to be many people of similar beliefs in here. More mature than some of the other places.

Now.....you once determined my name as having to do with a big eyed bug....with rather large antennae. Today you associate large proboscid with this particular insect you feel best describes Bellator. As we know proboscid could have to do with a particular elephant appendage....ummm....as one guy to the other this could be construed as a compliment.

I'm hear to tell you.....none of this has anything to do with Bellator.....:rofl:

Good to see you too ya ole fart!!....:hi:

http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0014-3820(195003)4:1%3C43:TEDOAB%3E2.0.CO;2-E

However, I have now come to suspect that the Bellator to which you refer is a game character.

I took some time off from life so to speak....from my carreer.....a couple of years. I wasn't married and free at this point to do this.
I worked various jobs,.....lots of manual labor and moved around quite abit. I even spent some time in a spiritual Eco village in the mountains along the Appalachian trail. I met people from all walks of life and from all over the world. They didn't have a clue about my background or even care. It was an experience I'll never forget. I learned things that can't be taught in school.....valuable lessons I'll never forget. I spent hours by myself in the forest.

I came back home to be near my family. I used to walk for hours on nature trails. It's the best therapy ever. I would go walk and think....observe. It was a quiet time in my life.

I was so disgusted by what was going on with our political process.....and the incessant lies coming from our elected officials....blatant obvious lies. I thought .....how can I or we change this??

One thing I decided was to always be truthful. I would be a warrior for truth. I would be a warrior for my fellow man.

I have always been intrigued by the Roman empire...and the language (latin)
Bellum is war....Bellona is the Goddess of war.
The name I choose was Bellator servitium..... Warrior servant

I am back on my career path now with a different perspective on life......much different..

I will follow the right person....Senator Biden was the right person. I am completely sure of that. I guess thusly my frustration.
I will adapt and move forward and will always speak truth....