Healing With Stars, and Music

Scarlet reminded me to do some more work with a song I have been wanting to sing... by posting all the words to it, under her own poem. Here:
people.tribe.net/14d36a72-...00fda/blog

I had this in the recesses of my mind... to study the song in it's entirety... for my hospice visits. Because I had recently heard that it was composed in fifths... which is a particularly soothing, and healing musical pattern. (Don't ask me, I'm no expert in musical matters.)

Anyways... the words are quite beautiful, in my opinion. And appropriate for end of life visits...

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Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveller in the dark,—
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

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Doing a little research I found this article, about an MD/ harpist who is using "Twinkle, Twinkle" with dementia patients:

www.dailypress.com/health/w...690.story

Looking forward to next week's visits.... and my "new" song!

Amma

Is the Economy Giving You the Feeling That It's All Over? Well, Here's a Really GREEN Summer Project For Ya!

Instead of taking an expensive vacation, you can stay home and build some bookshelves.... that can later be turned into your coffin.

Eniad actually posted some simple plans for these here on on Tribe. ( people.tribe.net/71246863-...57b293c7a8 ) So I started poking around the internet for information, and found out that, wow!! These are some good looking shelves!!

Here is a website with some photos (and other coffiny ideas.)

www.inhabitat.com/2006/09/2...-for-life/

Hmmm... interesting...... Who woulda thunk up such a thing?

Amma

PS. I would leave mine unfinished, so that it will go up in flames easily and non-toxically. (One could even choose her own beautiful urn, and display it in the place where the clock is shown in the photo. hmmm.... ) Oh... and if you prefer to be buried, here is a link to some places that will allow that in a simple wood coffin: www.naturalburial.coop/about-...burial/ .

Oldest Depiction of Female Form Shows that Modern Archaeologists are Pornsick Misogynists

Dr. Socks covers the story here:

www.reclusiveleftist.com/2009/...nists/

The responses are almost as good as the blog entry itself! My favorite is:

"oh holy crap. they really think that? “educated” people?? is there no hope?"

No, my friend. There is no hope.

Amma

Edit: OK. Well maybe it is not the archeologists at all, but rather the "news" reporters in the U.S. Oh, HOW SHOCKING!

Musta been Olbermann reporting. Or maybe Tweety??

I Sure Hope I Never Have to Board a Plane with This Man

Dennis Kucinich is asking for it:

www.youtube.com/watch

If he boards the same plane I do this summer.... I am outta there!

Amma

My Doggy Room is Being Rehabbed Now ... Aaaccckkkk!

Which means that my own space is continually invaded by little four leggeds. They are everywhere! Which... they often are anyways. But, when I have a "doggy room" it is also possible for me to confine them there and have a break. As it is... the only "break" I am getting is during crate time. And, that is limited to night-time and naps.

On the bright side, though, I will soon have a fresh and shiny doggy room. With a ceramic tiled floor that will be ever so much easier to keep clean and disinfected. And it will still open out onto to deck, which leads to the doggy gravel pit (which is essentially a HUGE litter box for dogs.) I marvel at how long it has taken me to figure all of this out. To build a rescue perfect space.....

While I am waiting, I thank goodness that my kitchen is now completed! I can go there to escape for a few moments when I need to. And I get to enjoy this awesome coffee (and wine) bar, much of which was gifted to me by my DH and kids for Mother's Day.

Amma

"True compassion is not just an emotional response,

but a firm commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change, even if they behave negatively. Through universal altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility for others: the wish to help them actively overcome their problems."

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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Received this as the word of the day from Gratefulness.org . It struck a chord with me. Plus, the Dalai Lama is in the U.S. now, so I thought it appropriate to share.

Yes, it is amazing to me that so many folks seem to believe that Compassion is merely an emotional response. These same people say things like "I could never rescue a pet and then let it go to another home." or "How can you stand to walk into those high kill shelters?" They are probably the same folks who used to say "I don't see how you can go to work and look at bald kids with cancer all day" back when I was a BMT nurse. Same folks that rail against all forms of hunting .... even those that feed indigenous populations.

My response has always been thus: "Just because I don't see pain, doesn't mean it doesn't exist." or, the kinder/ gentler, "I do what I can. Your gifts are not mine and vice versa."

I realize now that my own Compassion wears thin with "comfortable" people. Not with dogs, or cats, or sick children, or the caribou based economy of the Inuit. The very people that my questioners probably enjoy being around.... are the ones that rub me the wrong way. So, just for this week, I am practicing spending time with folks who enjoy life only when they are surrounded by trophy dogs and well coiffed children.

Blech.

I am glad His Holiness can look at THAT all day and not get burned out!

Amma

Tiny Houses That Rock!

I think I want one of these:

www.tumbleweedhouses.com/

For a summer/ retirement house.

Now... where to put it. Oh yeah.... it's on wheels. So no real decision about that required.

Amma

Tiny Rescues

I really thought I had rescued some itty bitty dogs when the Shih-Doxies arrived.

But that was before I saw Chi-Chi-Li. This little Pom-Chi weighs 3.3 pounds. At four months of age. Cute as can be!

Amma

We're Still Not Telling Everybody's Story in This Country: Hollywood Proves to be as Sexist as Washington

“Three of the nominated films this year (had) 26 men and one woman — ‘Slumdog‘ and ‘Milk,’ and ‘Frost/Nixon.’ You know, we accept it. It’s not unusual. But we would go nuts if three of the nominated films had 26 women and one man. It would be a very, very unusual thing. We’re still not telling everybody’s story in our country and that’s where we are.” -- Meryl Streep, 3/7/09

Who new? Who even thought about it? (Besides Meryl?)

I thought Hollywoodians were mostly "Progressives?" We keep hearing they are "Liberals."

Coulda fooled me!

Amma

PS. I realize I am quite late in posting this. But that doesn't negate it's salience as an issue for women in the performing arts. I read it back in March, shortly after Meryl said it.... but it got past my radar for great Feminist quotes of the 21st century. I apologize.

Beginning My Delta Pet Training Today

Something I have wanted to do for years ... is about to get a jumpstart! I will be attending a day long workshop with this organization:
www.deltasociety.org/ today.

My hope is to eventually have a dog or two that will pass muster as a therapy pet. That way I can combine my two vocations: care of the sick/ dying and pets.

This, as you may remember, is Jackie. She will likely be my first visiting pet. The program requires that I have a day of education first, and then Jackie begins on her training.

Wish us both luck!

Amma