some things *never* change:

a hit for the temptations in 1970. funny, with the exception of a few things ('the beatles new record's a gas' might need to be updated...lol!) this could have been written today. rather sad to think that we never, EVER learn!!!

People moving out, people moving in. Why, because of the color of their skin.

Run, run, run but you sure can't hide.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Vote for me and I'll set you free.

Rap on, brother, rap on.

Well, the only person talking about love thy brother is the preacher

And it seems nobody's interested in learning but the teacher

Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration,

Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation.

Ball of confusion.

Oh yeah, that's what the world is today.
Woo, hey, hey.

The sale of pills are at an all time high.

Young folks walking round with their heads in the sky.

The cities ablaze in the summer time.

And oh, the beat goes on.

Evolution, revolution, gun control, sound of soul.

Shooting rockets to the moon, kids growing up too soon.

Politicians say more taxes will solve everything.

And the band played on.

So, round and around and around we go.

Where the world's headed, nobody knows.

Oh, great GoogaMooga, can't you hear me talking to you.

Just a ball of confusion.

Oh yeah, that's what the world is today.

Woo, hey, hey.

Fear in the air, tension everywhere.

Unemployment rising fast, the Beatles new record's a gas.

And the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation.

And the band played on.

Eve of destruction, tax deduction,

city inspectors, bill collectors,

Mod clothes in demand, population out of hand,

suicide, too many bills,Hippies moving to the hills.

People all over the world are shouting, 'End the war.'

And the band played on.

Great GoogaMooga, can't you hear me talking to you.

Sayin'... ball of confusion.

That's what the world is today, hey, hey.

happy autumnal equinox

ok, so i'm a day late in posting my "happy fall" blog...sue me!! lol!! i love the autumn season, despite the fact that i have RAGING allergies this time of year. (and i started autumn 2008 being sick with a bad cold and fever!) still.....there is a crispness in the air....and it gives me hope that cooler air is just around the corner....you know...in january. hahaha! (hey! i live in atlanta....we don't really have winter anymore!) today was perfect southern fall weather....sunny, low 80s and a brisk breeze. AND......the moon was out in the day. tried to get a pic of it with my cell camera, and we all know how crappy those cameras are, but hey.....ya work with what ya got! seeing the moon and the sun in the sky at the same time is rather magical.....GOD's light show!

as a side note: "dancing with the stars" started their new season tonite, too!! i'm jazzed, and still thankful to that show for 'inspiring' me........

even sick: life is good!!

puppy love......

i had an epiphany the other day! i'm sure it's a realization that others have come to before, altho i've never heard it vocalized or seen it written down anywhere. seems so logical, tho, that i *can't* be the only one to realize why we, as humans, are so attached to dogs. we love them because they give us unconditional love. most of us don't ever have that feeling.....love REGARDLESS.....and we crave it! we should take a lesson from our furry friends and learn to love each other the way they love us!! ah.......wouldn't the world be a much happier place???

reading: in his steps by charles m sheldon

listening to: i love lucy

mood: sick

amen.....

a franciscian benediction

may GOD bless you with discomfort

at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships

so that you may live deep within your heart

may GOD bless you with anger

at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people

so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace

may GOD bless you with tears

to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war

so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and

to turn their pain into joy

and may GOD bless you with enough foolishness

to believe that you can make a difference in the world

so that you can do what others claim cannot be done

to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor

amen

too much on my mind to be clever.......

sisterhood: apparently i don't know the meaning of the word. i have a lot of improving and personal growth ahead of me. i need to be a better friend.

in more important news: i have mentioned before in my blogs about the kids we work with at church. most of them are from lower income families who live week to week in run down hotels. many have a parent in jail, or who is addicted to some sort of substance. just last week i was told by a 14 year old that her mother tells her that she is "fucking stupid" nearly every day. one of our girls (that we know of!) has been molested. one has had to hide in the bathtub on more than one occasion when gunfire was going on outside her bedroom window. very few of them have coats to wear in the winter, and most haven't eaten on sunday when we see them. if you could see the places that some of these kids live it would break your heart. but....they're all GREAT kids, and i would die for any of them. recently, there have been some changes at our church in our youth and children's ministers, and i have been more than a little bit angry at some deceptions and secrets, and came very close to wanting to just quit working with these little angels. tonite we got the news that one of "our kids"...a little 6 year old boy, passed away over the weekend. he was at home alone with his 10 year old sister at the time, but he passed away of natural causes. (an intestinal blockage) the kids were all upset tonite, crying, asking questions about heaven and what happens when you die. needless to say: i'm saddened by the loss of this child, but i'm also saddened that children have to endure the kind of life that these kids have to endure, and that they have to deal with death and violence at such tender ages. i was talking with a friend on the phone this evening, and he made the comment that "we are all responsible" for kids who have to live like this. i had never thought about it in those terms, but how true it is!!! we might not be able to save EVERY child, or show EVERY child GOD's love, or feed EVERY child, or be there for EVERY teenage girl whose stepfather "touches" them........but if we can save ONE, feed ONE, love ONE, help ONE.....then it's all worth it, and the world will be a better place. and, wouldn't it be wonderful if all this energy being invested in our presidential campaign was diverted to actually doing something to make the world a better place.......and helping these children: the next generation?????? look in your own neighborhood........they are there, and they'll be the ones running this planet when we are nothing but a memory.

just wondering....

first of all....i need to preface this blog by saying that i am NOT a political person. i probably should be more aware and involved than i am, but my personal opinion is that for the most part, government in this country is just a big money game. it's ALL corrupt. i also should say that i abhor our "two party" system, and frankly, i think that either way we go in this upcoming election...we're screwed. i am not advocating either candidate or either party in this "vent!" i am not republican OR democratic!

having said that, tho, i feel the need to ask why SO much attention is being focused on the fact that sarah palin is a hunter. i am NOT a hunting advocate in any way, shape or form, but neither am i a racist. in fact.....racism bothers me just as much, if not more, than hunting does. i have gotten so many emails and bulletins about......and i quote....this "evil bitch" because she hunts for sport, and not ONE SINGLE email about obama's blatant racism. and no....i'm not quoting the media machine when i call him a racist. i read HIS book that HE wrote in HIS words!!!!! i seriously doubt that any one who's doing the name calling has read either his books, or any other candidate's books for that matter. i also have to wonder how many vegetarians are doing the "evil bitch" name calling. in fact.....i happen to know for a fact that the last person i received this 'tender message' from isn't a vegetarian. i realize that hunting for sport and eating meat for food are two different things entirely, but then again: is it really? hunting happens to be more humane than the way animals are raised in cages for our consumption, but we seem to have no problem with THAT! i happen to be an avid animal lover....in fact, i like most dogs i know more than i like most people. however.....it's a shame that the way we treat animals ranks higher in most people's minds than the way we treat each other. we're good at spewing venom at someone for killing an innocent animal, but we could care less about someone else sewing the seeds of hate that will affect millions of PEOPLE in this country. we look at history and wonder how something like the holocaust could have ever been allowed to happen. i have to say, that from all i've been hearing and reading since the campaigns for this election started......i don't wonder at all. we don't care about what's really important anymore....treating each other with kindess, equality and respect. it makes me angry, and it makes me sad. GOD help us.

now.....let the flame throwing begin. i'm totally prepared for it, because we're not only good at name calling and hate mongering, but we, as humans are REALLY, REALLY good at believing that we have a right to OUR opinion, but no one else has a right to thiers.

heart songs.....

you know.....i had intended to write a nasty blog venting about hypocrisy and a few other things stuck in my craw, but then i heard this song on the radio tonite. i am not a weezer fan, but these lyrics just really connected with me. music is *such* a gift from GOD.....my healing, my therapy, my sanity, my friend. when things are going wrong (or i'm just bitchy and want to vent) music can somehow make it right! there isn't time for my to list all of my own personal "heart songs".....we'd be here until this time tomorrow....or longer......so i'll just let these lyrics speak for now:

Gordon Lightfoot

Sang a song

About a boat

That sank in the lake

At the break Of the morning

A Cat named Stevens

Found a faith

He could believe in

And Joan Baez

I never listened

Too much jazz

But hippie songs

Could be heard

In our pad

Eddie Rabbitt sang

About how much

He loved a rainy night

Abba, Devo, Benatar

Were there the day

John Lennon died

Mr. Springsteen said

He had a hungry heart

Grover Washington

Was happy on the day

He topped the charts

These are the songs

These are my heart songs

They never feel wrong

And when I wake

For goodness sake

These are the songs I keep singin'

Quiet Riot got me started

With the bangin' of my head

Iron Maiden, Judas Priest

And Slayer

Taught me how to shred

I've got to admit though

Sometimes I would listen

To the radio

Debbie Gibson

Tell me that you think

We're all alone

Michael Jackson's

In the mirror

I've gotta have faith

If I wanna see clear

Never gonna give you up

Wish me love Or wishing well

It takes two to make

A thing go right

If the Fresh Prince

Starts a fight

Don't you worry

For too long

'Cause you know

These are the songs

Back in 1991

I wasn't havin' any fun

'Till my roommate said

"Come on and put a brand new record on"

Had a baby on it

He was naked on it

Then I heard the chords

That broke the chains

I had upon me

Got together with my bros

In some rehearsal studios

Then we played

Our first rock show

And watched the fan base

Start to grow

Signed the deal that gave

The dough to make

A record of our own

The song come

On the radio

Now people go

This is the song

These are my heart songs

They never feel wrong

And when I wake

For goodness sake

These are the songs

I keep singing