Dragon Monkey Ramble

While I was watching Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, I became obsessed with the Chinese name of one character - Bia Huli: the Jade Fox. I thought it might be nice to present a friend of mine (who rather likes foxes) with the Chinese Character for Fox. My first discovery was that the “Huli Jing” are all the mischievous fairy spirits of Chinese myths. (Although modern understandings and usage of the “huli jing” are not always polite.) The Chinese word “Huli” - often for “fox” - seems to have a suffix on it. The actual word for fox is “Hu”. This amused me.

So I went looking for the Character “Hu”, which is some how connected to the White Tiger (we’re back at the movie for a moment) and that led me to the discovery that Chinese Mythological Cosmology has, like western Wicca and Ceremonial Magick, a four-animal/ colour/ element pattern as well (I expected it to be five, since I know of the five elements of Taoism). And from there it was a quick link to Chinese Astrology.

Which isn’t really astrology: there are not signs in the heavens assigned to each of the 12 Animals of the cycle. Rather they are perceived as a sort of phase or stage through which all things pass. But I was surprised to learn that there are not only Year signs, but also monthly signs and even hourly signs. That one is what people see in you, the second is what motivates you and the third is called the “secret sign”, revealing your true, inner nature.

It was amusing for me to think of all those place mats in Asian eateries that have the “year sign” which is only what “others see in you”. And to think, of all the people saying, “It says I’m pompous?” And all the friends say, “yes.” And the response is suddenly, “I can be pompous because my Chinese Astrology says I am.” An instant confusion of the inner and outer personas on the part of the person, himself!

So, yes, I was born in a Dragon year. But in a Monkey Month… and, I’m sure it will come as no surprise, in a Rabbit Hour.

BuffaRamble

Had another reader ask Google if I was Jewish or not. Really: ask me! Or read the blog?

I spent nearly two hours reconnecting with an old friend yesterday: that was awesome. It was like we’d not ever been apart. It was also scary to see how many places our lives overlapped. We’ve got a very common blog-list. In fact, on one weblog recently we agreed with each other in conversation - yet we didn’t know each of us were us. That makes a total of three reconnections this weekend, and about 15 in the last 3 months. Still, it would be great to hear from the people listed on my “missing friends” page… Pace, Joe, Michael and Michelle. And my most recent realisation is I’ve lost touch with Jeff Ferris, from SF.

Been sending out resumes. Been filing out applications. Been networking. Been selling myself hard. It’s only been 2 weeks, however: I’m amazed that Todd kept this up for a year! It’s exhausting. I woke up saturday having dreamed about Amtrak - a place I’ve always wanted to work. Saturday was Transportation Day! Craigslist job postings, by the way: good resource, but often filled with spambots and hoaxes. When they offer $50K for typing… something is wrong.

On the other hand, it is from craigslist that I’m getting results - one interview seems to be branching into a second interview. I’m overjoyed about that!

My landlord, Bill, is one of the sweetest people on the planet. Still, as soon as I get a job, I think I’ll be looking for an apartment - this house is so HUGE that being left here alone is something I don’t wish to contemplate. Plus I found out that to work for Buffalo you have to live in Buffalo. I’m actually a block beyond the city limits. So I can’t do anything about it. I knew members of the NYC police force who lived in NJ. I know at least one (now-former) member of the Buffalo force who lives in Niagara. Why does a drug rehab worker have to live inside Buffalo to even get an interview with the city?

There are like 15 other rehab programmes here! Resumes continue apace!

Buffalo has this amazing grocery store: Wegmans. It’s like a cross between Safeway (in CA) or the more-upscale Ingles (in Asheville) on the one hand and Trader Joes. It has a HUGE selection, and the prices are very reasonable. Prices in Buffalo are variable: Soy Milk is like 30 cents less than Asheville, but other things are nearly double; yet at Wegmans most things are normal priced compared to Ingles. Nothing is as expensive as shopping in CA except for fruit (it is Winter!): navel oranges are like 3 for $2 which is way pricey. But we’ll see what happens come spring. Tops, the other grocery store here, reminds me mostly of Key Food in NYC or Cala in SF, or Bi-Lo in NC. It’s crowded, grubby and filled with off-brands.

I’ve got swipe cards for Wegmans and Tops :-)

RJ asked me how I was feeling this morning: my response was “rather sensitive, like the princess and the pea”. By which I mean one tiny thing out of sorts currently knocks me for a loop. I woke up at 8:30 this morning with only one thought: WTF Is my passport? After tearing the room (and the car) apart for 20 mins, I found it. It was not where it was supposed to be… but I was nearly crying by the time I got a hold of it. What woke me up with that thought? What caused me to suddenly realise the PP wasn’t in the valet box on my desk? Who knows. Glad I realised it was missing. But yes, it’s a case of the “Jumpsie Wumpsies” as the Countess says in The Women. Considering I’m normally the very calm guy (who helps epileptics, gives first aid, stays calm in a crisis at work, takes forever to get to “upset” let alone, “angry” etc) being edgy is a new feeling.

I’ve learned that the trains in the area make just enough noise to keep me awake suddenly. Trains used to help me fall asleep: but these are, in fact, idling on the track and so make LOTS of noise.

It is amazing to be this close to Brodie. To go over twice in 7 days was amazing. To see his family, to drive around… it’s like we’re dating. I mean… you know. It’s like the whole reason I’m here. Last week I showed up at his work palce with a potted miniature rose.

The look on his face made my entire lifetime.

Pre-move Ramble

I’m listening to NPR, and trying to decide what the likelihood might be of breakfast out in the world this AM. I’m going to have to go out for Coffee, anyway.

McCain/Schwarzenegger in 08? Is the VP limited by placed of birth as the President is?

24 Years of a Clinton/Bush Dynasty is enough: not a one of them has expanded freedom, or done a damn thing to make me safer - except take away my freedoms, make it harder to travel… if one more of my friends whistles “O, Canada” I may have to start a half-way house in Buffalo. We’ll name it “The Underground Railway.”

What’s left… purchase some heavy duty garbage bags, one load of laundry, some stuff to jam in the car. Nothing else, really.

I had intended to leave today - but there’s this storm. The predictions include ice and rain from just north of Asheville to Wytheville, VA. “Wintery Mix” from Wytheville through West Virginia. And then Snow from there up.

Evidently, from NPR, it’s tying up flights and roads. A 40 Car Pileup in Texas, 8 inches of snow in St Louis, and what all… so OK. 24 more hours in Asheville. Not so bad, really.

I will note that, in the last 12 hours, the predicted severity has lightened. If I had plunged ahead yesterday and not stopped because of the weather, I’d be on the road now. Part of what’s keeping me trapped in my chair is just the “jumping over the edge” fear. I’ve folded my parachute, I’ve gone up in the aeroplane, the jump door is open, the light is green, the six guys in front of me have gone, the captain is yelling “jump”, I’m only hesitating for a moment to relish the whole fear/adrenaline/sex thing.

Or, in this case, to admit physical exhaustion.

Mmm. Microsoft wants to buy yahoo?

Oy.

Glorious

About 24 Hours ago Autumn arrived: it was accompanied by strong gusts of wind and a sudden and precipitous drop in temperature (from 21c to 6c on Wednesday night and 5c on Friday morning). There were suddenly leaves in the air and the smell of wood fires lighting up all over the place. The air was crisp and clear. The stars were as bright as aeroplanes in flight.

And all was gloriously right on Thursday afternoon as I slept in a really freaking chilly apartment, under a blanket, a comforter and a sheet, along with a heating pad (for my back, which has for some reason gone out).

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech ha’olam
shelo chisar be’olamo davar uvara vo veri’ot tovot ve’ilanot
tovim leyhanot bahem beney adam.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Who left nothing out from Your world, and Who created in it beautiful creatures and beautiful trees for human beings to enjoy.
(source)

I was reminded that most of the northern world is having Thanksgiving now: the Chinese Lunar festival, Canadian Thanksgiving, Sukkot, Diwali… all fall early in the Autumn, during harvest. Ours, falls in early Winter which makes no sense.

I feel like giving thanks now.

For weather
For scooters
For wonderful housemates
For boyfriends
For vacations
For car rentals
For job searches
For baking
For Buffalo
For Tai Chi
For diurnals
For breviaries
For African bishops
For American monks
For seminary choirs
For readers
For comments
For Fr E
For Fr G
For Fr B
For forgiveness
For bread
For friends in San Francisco
For leaves falling
For stars
For blue skies a colour only imagined
For mountains
For 20-year-old tweed jackets
For Brodie’s Mom - who is awesome
For flannel sheets
For broken aeroplanes
For delayed flights
For Burmese cooking
For Hunan dumplings
For butternut squash with vegetarian chilli
For these and all God’s Mercies, may the Lord make us unfeignedly thankful!

Personal Ramble

S’praznikum! A Merry Harrymass to you, one and all and may Dumbledore bless us, every one. My book will be here tomorrow.

I’ve had a crappy week. It’s not crappy now… but in general it was crappy. Actually a lot of good happened but my head was in the wrong place. It resolved after a conversation with Brodie last night, but I think the resolution *started* on Wednesday morning.

I took two clients out for their 6 AM smoke break. Point of fact, two of my current favourites - which will give the wrong impression. I think in the current community of 15, there are 3 I don’t yet know very well and 3 that I don’t like. Everyone else is among my list of favourites. One thing that is always a struggle for me is to treat them all equally while being honest about my feelings especially in my weekly sessions of supervision.

Which is where we’ll start. Earlier this week I was asked to be supervisor - officially and on paper - for the 3rd shift staff: not just “here do this” supervisor, but actually meeting with the staff and providing supervision with them for one-hour each week. This is amusing to me: it’s the sort of thing that therapists do for each other. Sadly it was discovered that I’m a year short of qualification. Seemingly: one needs a degree in human services plus 3 years of employment… OR just a BA in any field plus 4 years of experience. Lo, I’m a year short.

But in other work news, I was given a raise on Friday, retroactive to the first of the month. Dang, but that made my day.

Wednesday Morning, taking two clients out for a smoke break, I sat down on the ledge and looked to my left: there was a silver four-leaf clover such as one would find on a charm bracelet. When this was not claimed by any client, I kept it. I felt as if I’d found a good luck charm… especially as the week progressed.

I’ve been out of touch with 12.5-25% of my heritage. I’m not sure how much: my paternal grandmother was either full or half-blooded Creek Indian. We’ve not been in touch with that side of the family since my parents’ divorce in 1965. I was one. Anyway… so I’m tinkering around with my facebook page, stating my “heritage” which is - apart from the aforementioned Creek - is English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish… perhaps a smattering of German. Grandpa was, in fact, born in Canada (which, I guess, makes Mom half Canadian and me 1/4 so. But I’ve never heard anyone refer to themselves as a Canadian-American. Anyway…

I discovered various flags for several Native American nations. There wasn’t one listed (on facebook) for the Creek nation which sent me on a Google. I learned more, last night, about Creek Indians than I’d learned in the last 40 years. First, there is a flag:

Very pretty… but there is this other flag:

After research I found that this was the flag of my ancestors when they signed a treaty with the Confederate States of America. Thus, I’m rather certain I come to my Confederate claims honestly: as both maternal and paternal forebears were honoured to wear the Grey. Rather Muslim looking, no?

I learned the tribe is called the Muscogee Nation as well, although I’m not an Okie. They’re (we’re?) mound builders as well. I found a recipe for Creek fry bread (it’s pretty much like everyone else’s) and this meditation on the horned snake.

Don’t worry: I won’t be going native over night. I’ve been through enough culture swaps. But I did entertain the concept of enrolling in the Muscogee Nation but I don’t know how to set about validating Grandma Suzie’s ethnicity since she’s dead.

The conversation with Brodie was what I needed: a realisation of place of position. One hesitates to use the phrase which was very commonplace in “the movement” in the 80s but we’re talking “Two Spirit Stuff” and making sense of the universe. It put my head in the right place - and the rest followed.

Friday Ramble

I’ve had my morning coffee - yes, I know it’s 4 AM: that’s what happens when you work 3rd shift! Anyway… I’ve had my morning Coffee and now I’m feeling zippy. ‘Cept I’m at work. So here’s a Late Friday/Early Saturday to-do list ramble.

Rhubarb Pie
Trip to Bank
Lunch w/ Rector
Photos of Motorcycles on the Parkway?
Phone call to Fr H
Summer Sunrise
Rhubarb Pie
Visit Trinity?
Upgrade WordPress
Borrow Todd’s Tablet and doodle.
Finish sewing a shirt - modify said shirt so it hasn’t any button cuffs.
Tie-dye said shirt?
Summer Sunrise
Rhubarb Pie
Skype with the Man.
Contemplate the possibility of Broadfall Shorts, which I think would look like denim Lederhosen, but still, might be fun.

Work.

Shortly I’ll be switching my Fridays from 3rd shift to second: this means I’ll get home at midnight on Friday… sleep… and wake up to a perfectly normal weekend - not having to go back to work until Monday night at 11:45 PM. I have no idea what this means other than, suddenly, I’d be able to do something of a Saturday evening: my goodness, there may be beer in the future!

Not bad for Friday and now it’s 4:30 and I think I shall read some.

Be-bop a re-bop, rhubarb pie!

Weekend Ramble

About 2/3 of the way through Soulfully Gay (linkage on the side, there, with the book’s cover). Off this fine summer weekend to the May Faire at St Mary’s Church. I’m looking forward to some arts and crafts and some dancing and some eating (I’ll not be eating at the Church, but as I’m downtown, eating will happen.) I ’spect pics, too.

I stopped in at Swannanoa Scooter to set up an appointment for a spring cleaning. The scooter’s kinda angry with me for leaving her alone for the winter. Since it’s warmer, it’s time to scooter! It was such a joy to walk into the service dept and have everyone come over to me at the counter and ask where I’d been and how I was. Seth was all like “We were getting worried that something had happened.” These guys make me feel good about bringing them my business. That’s next Friday. What the heck, maybe I’ll get pics of that as well.

Made a “Jay Bakker” kind of connexion the other day with someone talking about wanting to start a Revolution style church in Asheville.

We’re getting all kinds of good news here in the house. That’s all I’m saying for now - but glory to God for all things.

Beltain Ramble

Hurray, Hurray the first of May! Outdoor…

Etc.

I love spring. Even past the allergies, life happens. It’s warm, like a comfortable bath (it’s 30 today, without the humidity yet) and it’s riotous, like kids running out of a school at the end of the term. There are normally flowers except for the fact that the late freeze kinda killed them all off, but ok.

Glorious.

May is also the anniversary of my brother’s death - 5 May - along with his best friend, Brian, in a motorcycle accident in 1983. We’ve upped the ante a bit for spring: Brian’s father, Ed, passed away this weekend, making the beginning of spring extra painful for that family (along with 22 April being the anniversary of the death of their daughter).

Please keep them in your prayers.

There was a reason our ancestors (of Northern European sorts, anyway) celebrated rebirth rites at this season of the year. It was paired with the death rites in November. This is the other side of the coin: nothing is wasted all is gathered together. “For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended”. Spring is just the otherside of Fall, Easter just the other side of Good Friday. One can not be without the other: nor s one even meaningful without the other: there is no feast without the fast.

(To hear a modern song - not safe for work - based on the doggerel at which I hinted in the first line, click here)

Blogging from Mom’s: a Ramble

I’ve just installed a wireless router for my Mom. This means, of course, that when I come for a visit I’ll be able to use the internet. This is not a bad thing… but it is a selfish gift! No one else comes to this house expecting WiFi. (Mom wants Dad to become entranced with the idea of using a computer in the living room - not her machine - but we will have to wait and see about that.)

We’re off to a Church Dinner tonight at Mom and Dad’s UMC. Spent the day shopping (etc) prior to setting up this wireless connexion. Mom was showing me all the places where the Tornadoes tore through here last month, including the one that ripped through the woods half-way between their current house and their last apartment. And we’re under a Tornado alert now… zippy.

<Update> (8:10pm) Mega Storms - but heading to Ft Benning. Baseball Sized Hail.< / Update >

Drove down here from Hamilton yesterday having spent five totally awesome days with my Brodie.

I’ve not been blogging so much this last week, but I’ve been checking out the RSS feeds. Besure and check my Google Reader Share for any thing I’ve found and wanted to send your way.

When I lived in NYC my favourite restaurant for out-of-towners and important dates was La Fondue on 55th between 5th and 6th. This place is closed now - although another establishment has taken up the name: I don’t think it’s the same at all. One item on their menu was the “Croque Monsieur” (as well as the Croque Madame). It was basically a ham sandwich swimming in melted cheese. I’d always assumed it was a house product with a made-up name until today, when I saw this recipe posted. Elise notes it’s a good way to use up left-over ham.

Vernal Ramble

Does lemongrass leave an odd taste in anyone else’s mouth? We’re talking like for hours, here… I love lemongrass. Makes good Thai. Makes good tea. But there’s this stuff it leaves in your mouth - and I’m not talking “aftertaste” so much as the oral version of “Gee, I smell you had garlic for lunch yesterday, huh?”

Spring is here - it’s beyond gorgeous. We saw a butterfly, a wasp and a bumblebee yesterday. Hmmm. That’s like a joke, huh? “A Butterfly, a Wasp and a Bumblebee fly into a bar and order a drink. But the Bartender says ‘We don’t serve Butterflies here’.”

There are flowers everywhere. And birds. And at night there are crickets and frogs. The windows are open. The smells… argh. I wish I could blog the smells! The winter’s death smell giving way to flowers and pollen and that mild, warm wet that is Spring.

In the Spring a fuller crimson comes upon the robin’s breast;
In the Spring the wanton lapwing gets himself another crest;

In the Spring a livelier iris changes on the burnish’d dove;
In the Spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.

Or, in this case, a middle-aged man.

My grandmother will be at Mom and Dad’s for Easter this year (eastern and western feasts falling on the same day). I’ll be visiting them… And because I’ve got all of the preceding week off, I’ll be travelling north again, to Hamilton, Ontario, albeit by a more direct route this time. There will, of course, be pictures!

In the fridge there is a second attempt at “spicy thai peanut butter cookies”. They’ll be put in the ove this afternoon. Will blog if successful. The last batch was tasty, but I’d not repeat it.