musings of an old hippie

A Great New Podcast

2012-02-01T12:56:04-05:00

I've told you before about the wonderful work being done by The Story of Stuff Project. They have numerous videos on YouTube that give information in a really understandable and entertaining format that will accomodate the shortest of attention spans.

Now, Annie Leonard has struck gold again with a great new podcast . That link will take you to her very first one which talks to people in cities about how they were able to totally ban the use of plastic bags. It's less than 18 minutes long and has lots of thought provoking material. Give it a listen and then tell your friends to do the same.

If each of you gets 3 other people to become more environmentally aware, and they each get 3 people in on it, before you know it everybody will be in the the good stuff!

I saw a great bumper sticker yesterday that was short & to the point:

STOP BITCHING - START A REVOLUTION

I couldn't have said it better myself!

namaste.

I've made a difference!

2012-01-25T09:59:46-05:00

Some days I feel like I'm just shouting into the wind when I write or talk to people about the things that are on my mind. But today I know I have made at least one person really think about choices made.

I sent my beloved to the grocery store with a short list of things that we needed. When he came back the first thing he said, with an excited tone of voice, was "Honey, come see what I bought!". Hmmmm.....

#1 He followed the list with only one extra item = frugality, planning, budget, not buying on impulse.

#2 He read the labels on everything for nutritional information = awareness of good nutrition, good comparison shopping.

#3 He was excited and pleased with himself for having done this and enjoyed it! = After 30 years he has finally drunk the Kool Aid!!!

Now seriously, he has been learning and changing a lot of things in his life during all those years but now he's finding it to be an enjoyable challenge to live an examined life. He's thinking more about lifestyle choices, the environment, the needs of others, the economic challenges ahead. I'm really so proud of him!

I only hope that It won't take 30 years of blogging to help someone else begin to engage that thinking gear!

namaste.

when words can't say it all

2012-01-22T19:09:32-05:00

There's an awful lot going on in my life right now. I hardly know where to begin telling you about it, much less what to say about it all. Some of it is very personal, some is political, some is felt throughout my community. I often find pictures and music help me to express what mere words don't seem to cover.

My beloved was in the hospital for five days with what in the past was a life threatening health problem. This time it was resolved without surgery, he's home, happy and healthy again.When he's gone, Joni Mitchell says it best:

Tomorrow I am accompanying a friend to the Hershey Medical Center, 2+ hours away with a forcast tonight for freezing drizzle. We can't postpone, we will prevail. I'm going along as her advocate, her backup and her friend. It's the beginning of a long road that I'm sure will prove to be interesting, enlightening and a learning time for both of us.

"The one who has a good friend doesn't need a mirror." - Rumi

I'm looking forward to some surgery myself, for a torn meniscus, in about ten days. I'm told it will be minor with a quick recovery. Let's hope that's true but I've been lied to before. Oh well, it's just a knee.

"Oh, my friend, all that you see of me is a shell and the rest belongs to love." - Rumi

And, here in central Pennsylvania, we all mourn the loss of Joe Paterno, our long time friend, father figure and, minor detail, winningest college football coach in the country. He was a pillar in our community and, despite the recent controversy over his handling of the Sandusky allegations, he will be remembered for his hard work ethic, his generosity to the students, the University and the area, and the fact that his football players all got a great education at PSU, both in their chosen field and in how to live life as good men.

One last "White Out" for Joe Pa.

namaste to us, every one.

namaste.

5 minute management course

2012-01-09T16:40:47-05:00

Some important life lessons, passed on by my childhood friend, Jeanne Simpson Gurtler.

Lesson 1: A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings. The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbor. Before she says a word, Bob says, 'I'll give you $800 to drop that towel.' After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves. The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs. When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, 'Who was that?' 'It was Bob, the next door neighbor,' she replies. 'Great,' the husband says, 'did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?' Moral of the story: If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.

Lesson 2: A priest offered a Nun a lift. She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg. The priest nearly had an accident. After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg. The nun said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?' The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again. The nun once again said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?' The priest apologized 'Sorry sister but the flesh is weak..' Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way.. On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129.. It said, 'Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory.' Moral of the story: If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.

Lesson 3: A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a Genie comes out. The Genie says, 'I'll give each of you just one wish.' 'Me first! Me first!' says the admin clerk. 'I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.' Puff! She's gone. 'Me next! Me next!' says the sales rep. 'I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.' Puff! He's gone. 'OK, you're up,' the Genie says to the manager. The manager says, 'I want those two back in the office after lunch.' Moral of the story: Always let your boss have the first say.

Lesson 4: An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing. A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, 'Can I also sit like you and do nothing?' The eagle answered: 'Sure, why not.' So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it. Moral of the story: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Lesson 5: A turkey was chatting with a bull. 'I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree' sighed the turkey, 'but I haven't got the energy.' 'Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?' replied the bull. They're packed with nutrients.' The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree. He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree. Moral of the story: Bull Sh!t might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.

Lesson 6: A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him. Morals of the story: (1) Not everyone who sh!ts on you is your enemy. (2) Not everyone who gets you out of sh!t is your friend. (3) And when you're in deep sh!t, it's best to keep your mouth shut!

THUS ENDS THE FIVE MINUTE MANAGEMENT COURSE And send this to five bright people who have enough sense of humor to take it!

the story of stuff

2012-01-06T10:10:00-05:00

Was one of your New Year resolutions to cut back on the amount of stuff that's overflowing your closets, drawers, garage, etc? Or was it to limit consumption of stuff made with non-renewable energy sources? Or to just be a better Earth Buddy?

These are all at the top of my To Do List and have been for a long time. It's really difficult to keep your eye on even great goals like these when the world is constantly bombarding you with advertising that encourages you to buy more, have more, get your fair share, plus some. BUT, if everyone of us doesn't get into a different pattern of consumption of the world's resources there is going to be hell to pay. Maybe not in the lifetime of old farts like me but definitely in the next generation's. I know you love your kids and grand kids so you owe it to them, as well as yourself, to make sure there is a viable planet left for them.

I've been doing a lot of reading on this subject and I hope that you'll find it important enough to follow through with some of your time & efforts.

To ease you into a huge amount of information let's try some videos. Everyone enjoys taking a little time for an entertaining (while sneaking in lots of education) video or two. The story of stuff is on YouTube and has some of the best videos I've found to help you get more interested in this huge subject. Take 5 minutes right now and get a wake up call. I'll bet you'll find that you want to watch all of their videos and then you'll be better prepared to jump into this important battle.

As Pogo said, "We have met the enemy and he is us!"

namaste.

this quote keeps running through my mind

2012-01-04T01:36:00-05:00

"With life as short as a half taken breath, Don't plant anything but Love."

Rumi

namaste.

A very late Christmas wish

2012-01-03T13:28:25-05:00

Yes, I know that it's January but as I was sorting through a stack of unread e-mails I found this from my dear friend, Mike.

Dear Santa,

I don't want much for Christmas, I just want the person reading this to
be happy. Friends are the fruit cake of life --- some nutty, some soaked
in alcohol, some sweet but mix them together and they're my friends . At
Christmas you always hear people talking about what they want & bought.
This is what I want: I want people who are sick with no cure, to be
cured. I want children & animals with no families to be adopted. I want people & animals to
never have to worry about food, shelter & heat. I want peace on earth,
goodwill and love for everyone!

Maybe, if we all work toward even one of these wishes, we'll all feel a little better about ourselves this time next year!

namaste.

what can I say without being trite?

2012-01-01T14:03:37-05:00

OK, it's 2012. Now what? Lots of resolutions that I forget or break in 32.5 hours? Nah. Been there, done that.

Instead, let's try to raise the general mental consciousness by a point or two. I'll begin with one of the great philosophers of our time.

namaste.

a small moment

2011-12-02T10:32:33-05:00

I was watching "Framed" on Masterpiece Contemporary on WPSU, our local PBS station. It was a wonderful film throughout but one small part stuck with me that I want to share with you.

"Snatching a moment to keep forever out of the River of Time."

Isn't that something we all try to do through writing, photos, music, storytelling.....

Below is one of my attempts. The day was an absolutely perfect time to be out in the central Pennsylvania woods.

namaste.

words to live by

2011-11-30T19:42:11-05:00

This came to me via a much forwarded e-mail, so I have no idea who wrote it originally. I added the pictures from a Rumi site.

I do know that on a day of deep, dark depression it could save a life. Perhaps mine, perhaps yours or someone whom you love enough to share this.

1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to
     be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. You are special and unique.

8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

10. When you think the world has   turned its back on you, take another look.

11. Always remember the compliments you received.
      Forget about the rude remarks.


Good friends are like stars..... You don't always see them, But you know they are always there.

Great words to live by. I'm taping them to my bathroom mirror to read every day. It's too easy to forget the good things in the rush of every day life.

namaste.

November 30, 2011