February 2013 Open Mic

 

The sassosphere microphone is open.

Please step up and dish whatever you like.

Comments

[treesta]

Good morning. Yesterday, and into next week, our 5th grade reading teacher is having her students read and analyze this Mary Oliver poem:

The Summer Day

by Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

I can't wait to share what they've come up with.

[Flannista]

Mornin', treesta.

This Mary Oliver poem was the theme of my 50th birthday celebration 10 years ago. I asked invitees to share what they planned to do with their "one wild and precious life".

I had forgotten about this poem and am going to use it in my next storytelling workshop in corporate America. I'd love to compare corporate analysis with what your Fifth Graders come up with.

[treesta]

I'll make sure to write everything down, Flann. I'm so excited to watch one of the lessons with this poem. I'm giving the teacher my favorite Mary Oliver books of poetry to acknowledge what she's doing with and giving to her children.

[Flannista]

What is your favorite Mary Oliver collection, treesta? I'm liking her earlier stuff much better than her later stuff.

Got about four hours of sleep. Mike was still at it when I left. No matter how little sleep I get, I still get up and work out. I'd rather do that than take anti-depressants.

[Flannista]

Saw this on Facebook yesterday and laughed my butt off . . . you know how people leave notes in corporate America about not messing with their stuff in the refrigerator, etc.? Check out these responses to passive-aggressive notes such as those:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinlarosa/the-26-funniest-responses-to-passive-aggressive-notes

I think the "manger" one is my favorite.

[treesta]

I actually don't have a lot of Mary Oliver's early collections, Flann. Redbird is my favorite collection, though some of my favorite poems are from her earlier collections: Wild Geese, In Blackwater Woods.

Mary Oliver was my 'gateway' poet, by the way, and Sassistas my 'gateway' avenue to poetry.

[Matissta]

I love the responses. Working in an office you often see signs like this. And often I roll my eyes. The things that people get upset about...

In this case I particularly like these: 6, 10, 14, 15, 19, 21, 23 & 25.

Currently, in my office there is a sign in the bathroom about washing your hands because it's flu season. Oh so if it weren't flu season, you wouldn't need to wash your hands after going to the bathroom? (The disgusting thing is I can't tell you how many people don't.)

[Flannista]

Just spent about an hour finding just the right image of the statue of Wall Street bull for the opening of this video. I was stunned by how many images are of the rear end of the bull. What does this mean?

[Matissta]

Maybe because Wall Streeters only seem to care about themselves. It represents the "kiss my @ss" philosophy as the rest of the public sees it.

[PEACEsista]

Calling all prayer warriors, on behalf of my uncle Andy, who is in treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia at the Mayo Clinic. My father died of the disease in 2003. Uncle Andy is responding well to treatment and if successful it may give him 2-3 more years. His white cell count was initially 69,000. Normal is 3,000 - 5,000. His count is down to 39,000 after the first couple chemo treatments, which is considered to be good progress. Uncle Andy is my dad's youngest brother. He is an Episcopal minister and he and his wife Lu believe in and have witnessed the power of prayer. They would welcome yours. Thanks.

Coincidentally, I am donating two units of platelets today. Platelets are used primarily to aid patients in cancer treatment. They have a shelf life of only five days.

[Flannista]

Well, sh!t, PEACE, and, of course, prayers are ascending.

Unbelievable, just unbelievable, the crises and losses of beloveds you have had to bear over the last several years.

Is this the uncle/priest who delivered Peter's (and wife's) wedding homily? I remember that it was quite lovely.

[Matissta]

PEACE, I'm so sorry to hear this news. We will certainly add him to our list of prayers. As Flann asked, is it the same uncle who was the minister at Peter's wedding? I remember him fondly. A sweet guy.

[Matissta]

Drink up, everyone! It's National Margarita's Day. Flann and I will have to postpone the holiday until she returns home, however. Drinking a Margarita by yourself is never fun.

[Flannista]

Well, this margarita news gives Mike and me a reason to live.

[frida]

Peace to you, PEACE. My Dad was a doctor at the Mayo Clinic so I can imagine your Uncle there, in loving arms and in freezing cold. I will pray all will be well...

[Matissta]

In the category, "I can't make this sh!t up".

A warehouse worker who had a temporary job packing stress balls punched his boss in face after being dismissed. He then produced two knives when his co-workers tried to help.

My guess is the company will go bankrupt over this incident, because this is obviously proof those squishy balls don't help relieve stress.

[treesta]

If you want to smile...

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/moments-that-restored-our-faith-in-humanity-this-y

(dcsistah posted this on her facebook page)

[PEACEsista]

Oh, treesta, I LOVED that link ... broke my heart and made me smile at the same time.

Thanks, friends, for your prayers and loving support. Yes, it is Uncle Andy who married Peter and many years earlier, noway and me, too! Uncle Andy and Aunt Lu offered loving support to both my dad and mom at the end of their lives for over a decade. Any time I tried to thank them, they deferred, saying that my parents had been there for them in earlier years. This was a good lesson for me, in showing how the love one gives freely to others in this life may be returned later, when most needed.

Hope your video presentation to the client today was a big success, Flann ... and hoping that you get a good night's sleep, too!

[Matissta]

Flann & Mike are rewarding themselves with a wonderful sushi dinner. She's catching an early flight tomorrow morning. Hopefully the weather won't cause any problems for her.

And PEACE, Uncle Andy has taught us all a valuable lesson. Thank you for sharing it.

[Flannista]

Hey all. Back from the studio and sushi.

I can't wait to get home.

xoxo

[Flannista]

Heading to the airport. PLU-LEEEEEEZE wish me good plane-ma.

[Flannista]

At the airport. Flight on time so far.

It pays to have friends in high places. I'm a little ashamed to admit this, but I was upgraded to First Class, but a window seat. I have one of those bladders that means I run to the bathroom about once an hour, especially if I have a cup of coffee in the morning. I hate to inconvenience the passenger in the aisle seat. My friends at the US Airways counter know this about me and kept a look-out the past two days to see if an aisle seat in First Class would open. One did! Now I can have my morning coffee!

Sometimes, it's the little things.

[treesta]

Here's hoping lots of little things come your way today, Flann.

[Flannista]

Thanks, treesta.

I no sooner walk in my door than Matissta and I have to head into downtown DC to see our hair stylist, Miss Thing. I'm thinking of a ruby/purple combo for my hair. What do you think?

[treesta]

Go for it. You've earned a splashy splurge. Mix yourself a nice Bloody Mary and enjoy it while you're sitting in Miss Thing's chair.