MOON RISE

There are some wonderful things about having a poor memory. I can read a book I've read before - see a movie - have an entire conversation - and not be bored, because I don't remember reading/viewing/talking it before.

So when I say I have never seen a moon rise, I must qualify that I do not remember actually seeing the moon rise before this evening.

I have seen the sun rise - in fact, a lot, because that's about the time I feed the horses. And I've seen the sun set, and even have seen the green flash (sorry, Blake).

And I have seen the moon set a number of times, because if it's anywhere near setting, I will stay up, sitting on the porch, and let my dog roam for however long it takes to set behind the Huachuca Mountains. There's a moment right at the end where the trees along the top are silhouetted by the moon behind them - and it's just awesome.

So tonight I was spoiling Najale and Sally, as I do every evening, with a handfull of carrots (also a training technique; Najale doesn't get a single bite until he allows, politely, no less, Sally to come up to the gate and get the first carrot - he does it, very begrudgingly, but he does do it).

It's also a wonderful opportunity for me to test my night-blindness level. I live out in the country - with light pollution laws (that expression bothered the hell out of me until it became a factor in my life), no street lights, no city lights (except on the north horizon) and an incredible view of the stars every night - even when there is a full moon.

So when I walk out when it's dark... it is DARK. Makes me much more aware of the moon cycles, because it's much easier when there is some moon light. Otherwise, I am trusting my dog to walk the correct way to the gate, and following him.

And just happened to notice that the horizon was getting lighter and lighter - and I stood there (and annoyed the heck out of the horses, since I temporarily held back the carrots) and actually saw the moon rise.

Wow.

SELF-PORTRAIT

Harmony offered a challenge via her blog to post a photograph of ourselves.

That, of course, brought on this tirade rather than a photograph:

ATTENTION: I am SO SORRY that we ALL have been duped (myself included) into believing that unless we are an anorexic and/or bulimic fashion model, (6'1", 105 lbs.), we are not beautiful.

Women, we are beautiful at 185 lbs. (me, yesterday on the scale at the gym) and when the dimension-limited camera lens makes us look wider than we actually are (and much wider than we actually want to BE), we need to accept that, celebrate it, and DEAL with it in a positive manner.

That being said, I will post my own photo on my website… someday.

And now I feel honor-bound to actually DO it.

What? So it's just my BACK?! Come on, one step at a time.

A MAJOR STEP FORWARD

This was lately brought to my attention - do you realize that regards of WHO wins this presidential election (well, I mean, unless there is a major write-in campaign for Mickey Mouse)....

... WE WILL HAVE A LEFT-HANDED PRESIDENT.

And although I have a soft place in my heart for lefties, it was disconcerting to learn which other presidents have been left-handed (Ronald Reagan was left-handed - why does that bother me so much?).

But I am CERTAIN that THIS time, more civil rights will be granted to LEFTIES.

Let me know if you agree.

HOW TO GET THERE FROM HERE

I love when I am falling asleep at night to realize that I am thinking about the attack on Pearl Harbor, and then track back my thoughts to figure out how on earth I go to thinking about Pearl Harbor (in this case, Pearl Harbor, atomic bomb, Enola Gay, my dad, Michigan, joining the church).

Last night, I really was thinking about Pearl Harbor, and it suddenly occurred to me that I had no idea WHY the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. I mean, I know it was to make a statement about who was going to be the power in the Pacific, but what was really going on? Was it the U.S. shipping embargoes? Japanese invasion of South Korea? Someone in the military ruling who had a really bad migraine one day? And would and/or WHEN would the U.S. have decided to get involved in stopping Hitler's rampage in Europe IF Japan had not attacked?

History, it is said, is written by the winners. Living in a British military compound in Germany, I learned that they have a completely different view (i.e. history books, teaching) of what we call the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, WWI and WWII. Every country does it; it's how, perhaps, we keep our unity - "but since we were obviously correct...."

Then is history, at least so far, pride?

Anyone any ideas? Anyone except actual historians (I don't want to hear how I've got everything so far wrong).

EH?

Remind me again, where do I live? Arizona, right? Where people move because it's sunny and warm, eh? (that's my Canadian accent there).

So someone please explain to me why it is hailing outside right now. SERIOUS hail. I am worried about some windows being broken, and the winds are just SLAMMING the house.

If anyone follows weather, there's a storm coming into Baja California, and we seem to be getting some of that pushed over on us.

TAGGED... MAYBE?

I'm not even certain that I have been tagged, but since both Harmony and Jen have been....

Wait a minute, it's supposed to be fourth photo from the fourth file...

Hmm.. must be from when I was first considering how to change our ugly dark fireplace mantel to something less discordant.

So let's try THIRD photo from the THIRD file...

Well, it's a photo obviously Harmony took, and now I have BEEN there fishing with Colin and his buddy, so it looks nice, but still . . .

How about SECOND file, second photo...

Gorgeous (and in Arizona) - but downloaded from the Internet.

Forget it. I'm not a photographer. Next time I'll begin the tag, and get a photo that I took of something!!

MATTHEW 25:35,36

Just follow-up for those of you who had the patience to read my hungry blog - it's nice.