still crazy after all these years…
27th milestone cheers!

there must be 27 ways not to leave your lover
27 reasons to hang on to the 4-leaf clover

1.    for we’re destined God’s gift and blessing to each other
2.    for together, we can travel further

3.    for great eats to snare and share
4.    for lows along with highs to bear

5.    for fresh-brewed expresso 27 years straight
6.    for home-cooked meals our tummies to satiate

7.    for as complementary opposites, we opened up more options
8.    for mustering only the “best” decisions

9.    for cautious caring - yea, don’t mess with his date
10.  for 24×7 consistency and loyalty, but don’t u be late

11.   cos’ we can’t get there alone
12.   cos’ you’re shrewd to the bone

13.   cos’ we can count on u to raise jk right
14.   cos’ we can agree to disagree in a fair fight

15.   cos’ we harmonize more than we terrorize
16.   cos’ you’re the responsible surprise and prize

17.   cos’ without your touch, the garden won’t bloom
18.   cos’ the grass gets cut and weeds are doom

19.   cos’ bills somehow get paid
20.   cos’ things get done without words being said

21.   so we have to stay stuck, together we cluck
22.   so we depend on each other to increase our buck

23.   so we can better live out our callings and dream
24.   so we can fill and overflow life’s brim

25.   so we can extend blessings and give to others more
26.   so we can divine purpose together soar

27.   so looking forward to new chapters to score and roar…

so, join ramrom to celebrate and positively brood
let our souls sync and sing in marley mood

bob marley spotted in essaouira, morocco

i wanna love u and treat you right
i wanna love u every day and every night
we’ll be together with a roof right over our heads
we’ll share the shelter of my single bed
we’ll share the same room, yeah! - for Jah provide the bread
is this love - is this love - is this love
is this love that i’m feelin’?

and…

one love, one heart
let’s get together and feel all right
as it was in the beginning (one love)
so shall it be in the end (one heart)
give thanks and praise to the Lord and we will feel all right
let’s get together and feel all right

squishing 2 hebrew words recently acquired
so ramrom researched and rewired

1 samuel 7 revealed “mizpah” this past sunday
used by brian morgan in context of imploring us to examine our idols to slay
mizpah, a place referenced in old testament, also meaning “watch”
idol choices made which our lives could botch
mizpah - an emotional bond between people who are separated
includes bonds that death serated
cross-ref’d in genesis 31:49 which quotes “may the LORD watch between u and me
when we are absent one from the other”, to protect us from temptations glee

today, i picked up “emoonah”, hebrew for “faith”, explicated by marcus borg
in his july 1 2009 article in  “explorefaith” dot org

faith in a greater power that watches over u
my synthesis of “mizpah emoonah” hue
to reflect upon one’s choice of life rudder and pew

source: wiki

how befitting, a michael jackson croon at time of composing over 96.5fm koit impact
“u and i must make a pact
we must bring salvation back
yes - where there is love”…and mizpah emoonah,
He’ll be there, i’ll bet my mullah

ramrom morphing dare to bare…
He’ll reach out His hand to u
u must have emoonah faith in Him in all u do
just call His name and He’ll be there…

He’s always there to comfort me and u
’tis wise to build one’s world of dreams around Him
i’m so glad that i found heavenly dew

He’ll be there to mizpah-protect u
with an unselfish love that respects u
just call His name and He’ll be there

mj, rock your soul in the bosom of abraham…..
God bless thee, u “suffered” in entertaining the whole world
rest in peace eternally, away from worldly twirl
away from earthly mayhem…

source: wiki
“paris, je t’aime” movie fueled this reflection
wayne dyer’s “excuses begone” flamed inspiration
2 iconic celeb passings today brought about introspection

the neighborhood seems to have gone to the ravens
sinister-looking blackbirds cawing that descend from dark caverns
i’ve been noticing them crows hovering since economic meltdown last year
triggering superstitious feelings from lurking memes of fear

learned about memes from wayne dyer’s “excuses begone”
like viruses, bad habits and excuses that replicate, infiltrate and spread, like nuclear bomb
according to richard brodie, author of “virus of the mind”
mind memes “have already infected governments, educational systems, and inner cities”, humanity is in a bind
“leading to some of the most pervasive and troublesome problems of society today,
youth gangs, welfare cycle, deteriorating public schools, growing government bureaucracy - such dragons hard to slay

today was a sad day for 2 stars
farrah fawcett returned to venus and michael jackson to mars

so ramrom reflectively sings
an extract from prav’s world “time has wings”
“…we’re here for a little while, we’re only passing by
time has wings and the golden moments quickly fly…”

so excuses begone
don’t be forlorn, let bygone be bygone
so goes the saying “we are what we eat”
“all that we are is the result of our thoughts” a buddhist doctrine repeat

so be alert and aware, harken to dharma of the soul
get aligned, contemplate and let thinking unfold
like dan caro, think possibility, not succumb to meme limitation
keep the faith, play your cards without intimidation
be willing like virginia woolf to “arrange whatever pieces come your way”
“make it work” the infamous tim gunn mantra play

take responsibility for your action and passion
conquer richard lipton’s biology of belief, pay the right attention
when u change the way u look at things, the things undergo mutation
“we are not victims of our genes”, so climb to a higher cove
to materialize “unlimited capacity to live a life overflowing with peace, happiness and love”

“live as if you were to die tomorrow.  learn as if you were to live forever.”
“lives, like money, are spent. what are you buying with yours?”
respectively, mahatma gandhi and roy h.williams implore

wisdom according to mark twain
catch his thought train
“20 years from now u will be more disappointed by the things u didn’t do
than by the ones u did do. so throw off the bowlines. sail away from the safe harbor
catch the trade winds in your sails. dream…discover…explore.”

more significant “…those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint….”
so be like the eagle in isaiah 40:31 to soar and life score

as psalm 16:11 turns to the Lord to claim
Thou wilt show me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy;
at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore”

’tis simple trust and obey - exhort your Creator and Him adore
it’s a ramrom circular caw
go, yield to Divine to conquer your dharma, sharpen your saw

today’s entry is dedicated to mama “june” kwan
who would have been 79 today, our hearts hold her fond…

…a little bit of this, a little bit of that
it doesn’t take much to get life-fat
a little bit of laughs, a little bit of pain
i’m tellin’ u it’s all in the game of life to tame

down pintxos with zurito and chakoline
an array of choices to make, resist or glean
how to lick life’s pintxos platter clean
cuidado - excess of obsess yields consequences of sin

in 2 weeks, we covered 3700 kilometers by car
from lyon to nice, san sebastian, barcelona, millau, avignon afar
our soul re-awakened to what could be had
to not think through “what next” will be tragically sad

when we still have the chutzpah to om-pa-pah
eyes to see, marvel in awe, ooo la lah
ears to listen, tastebuds to sample and baste
tongues to twist and culinary delights taste
legs to walk and pace from place to place
minds sharp enough for local haunts to trace
arms to hug and embrace hospitality grace
get lost to be amazed in love’s labyrinth maze

when we get on each other’s nerves
more than we enjoy each other’s serves
when travel yields more bruise
and becomes a chore, opt for cruise
before resorting to a nursing home noose
if u can, dwell first in chocolate mousse
before oblivion snooze
that’s when we sit on our buns
soak in and stare at rise and set of suns

someone sent me a story some time ago
now retold with ramrom modification glow

there were once 2 brothers who lived on the 75th floor
one day the lifts were not working so stairs they had to claw

after struggling to the 25th level, panting and tired
they decided to abandon their bags quagmired
they continued on and struggled to the 40th floor
then younger brother started to grumble, tempers soar
and they continued to squabble
all the way to the 50th floor as they wobble

they then realized that they have only 25 levels more to climb
decided to stop quarreling and continue climbing in peace sublime
they silently climbed on and reached their home at long last
each stood calmly before the door and waited for the other, the key to cast
but lo and behold, their realization told
the key was in their bags left on 25th floor cold

this story is reflecting on our life…
many of us live under the expectations of our parents and friends, “their success” to strive
we seldom get to do the things that we really like and love while subjected to so much pressure
by the age of 25, we get tired and decided to dump this load of measure and stressure

we then enter next third of life slogging and dream ambitious wishes and scheme
but by the time we reach 50 years old, we start to lose our vision, dream and steam
we began to feel unsatisfied and start to complain and criticize
we live life as a misery as we are never satisfied, potential unrealized
reaching 50, we realize that we have little left for complaining anymore
and we try to walk the final episode in peace and calmness but sore

we think that there is nothing left to disappoint us, only to realize that
we could not rest in peace because we have an unfulfilled dream that could be had ……
a dream we abandoned 50 years ago
but ramrom declares,….. say it isn’t so….

for the last third of one’s life should be the best chapter to boldly  scribe, tow and glow
and i thank God for His blessings flow
what a wonderful world…

wouldn’t you know we’re riding on the marrakesh express
wouldn’t you know we’re riding on the marrakesh express
they’re taking me to marrakesh
all aboard the train
all aboard the train……

finally reunited with our wine
unshackling ourselves to prune the vine
aging over 10 years in erwan’s cave
now we shall revel the last laugh
c’est ne pas grave

hey dude, don’t be afraid
to imbibe and good times raid
we have found nirvana and liberated the slave
now go and rave, no need to $ave
we took a little trip to st nazaire les eymes hometown
first stop was de nardi’s boulangerie  for croissants golden brown
to accompany confitures de marie-francoise, don’t forget crispy crust baguette
a table aussi - mf’s homemade yogurt, le petit dejeuner is perfectly set

there was music playing everywhere
the music came from within my heart

how did it happen
how did it start
i only know that we fell in love
i guess the answer lies up above
and so we sing , yai yai yai, ya ya ya yai yai, of golden years a-teaming
and as we stomped through route national thorough-fare a-gleaming

it’s all coming back
montage of gastronomic livery attack
fond fine friends to re-tack
a sojourn yielding slack for bric-a-brac

go to grenoble market, pick up gourmet grub
fix rendang curry, partake melange of amuse-guele our stomach to rub

jambon persille, fromage de tete, moules, anchois et pied de porc
mingle them morsels with 1993 barbaresco to hit the spot
wok-fried courgets-carotte-chou bathed in garlic, taipan’s curry over basmati spiked our langues
soothed by roquefort, st marcellin and reblochon swivelling in aged nebbiolo, our tongues tingled and sung

finished meal with marie-francoise strawberry delight
oh, a stroll through bois de biviers lightened our stomachs to snooze well through the night
strawberries, cherries and an angel’s kiss in spring
our summer wine is really made from all these things
take off your silver spurs and help us pass the time
and we will give to u summer wine
oooooooohhh summer wine

when i woke up the alpine sun was shining in my eyes
awaiting homemade pate, tripe, poulpe et cuisses de grenouilles to feast and prize
stay tuned for further emission of joyous sights and sighs
as we foray chemin de vie, unveiling truths and highs…

today’s quote
is catalyst for today’s gloat

from lou holtz
american football coach
2008 college football hall of fame he did encroach

quotes he,
with sting of bee:

“ability is what you’re capable of doing
motivation determines what you do
attitude determines how well you do it”

so then
ramrom to append and apprehend

what shapes our attitudes?
a whole array of values and rectitudes
me thinks its attributes
are embodied in the beautitudes

wiki: beautitudes, russian orthodox icon

shifting to a different altitude
just got off phone with canuck goon and gleaned this platitude
befitting the place we find ourselves right now
trying to redefine and refine retirement with a bow

the magic acronym for this enlightened phase
is “ski” - spending kid’s inheritance with grace
and be mindful to direct praise
to Providence who owns it all anyway, the rightful place

so next blog entries shall bemuse
adventures of  “gone ski-ing” to amuse

l’chaim
a ramrom chime

ski-ing, rather… for real…check below

the beat goes on
harvesting precious friendships spawn
unbelievable yesterday
that’s all i can say

first seed to sprout
“things are different now” song with jini to spout

rush to lunch
with my www buddy with mai-tai punch

then bingo to enjoy
as part of celebrating 90th birthday of friend of neighbor joy

then off to bullis and catch up with email and hp alumni activity
came home to a surprise dinner with my gno buddies

ramrom’s intent now to busy
an entry to celebrate with bc
intertwined souls seeded in the seventies
paths crossed in hargreaves and asc
reunited again across analog figments sea

ramrom morphing touch upon public domain circulation
“the seed” purely for entertaining introspection

a successful business man was growing old
it was time to choose a successor bold
rather then choosing one of his directors or his children on this matter
he did something different and called all the young executives to gather

“it’s time for me to step down and choose the next ceo,’” he said
“i have decided to choose one of u” to take over the stead

the young executives were in shock
but the boss continued suspense to rock
“i am going to give each one of you a seed today
– a very special seed” i must say

“i want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today
with what you have grown from the seed i have given u, to display
i will then judge the plants that you bring
and the one i choose is the next ceo to spring”

one of the man named jim
went home and excitedly, told his wife the challenge with gleam
she helped him get a pot, soil and compost
and he planted the seed with fervor utmost
watering it every day and watch to see if it had grown, like a good host

after about 3 weeks, some of the other executives began to spout about
their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow and sprout
jim kept checking his seed
but nothing ever grew despite all the feed

4weeks, 5weeks, 6weeks went by
still nothing to jim’s eye
by now, others were talking about their plants that were meilleur
jim didn’t have a plant, he felt like a failure

6 months went by – still nothing in jim’s pot
he just knew he had killed his seed, not a promising spot
everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing
jim didn’t say anything to his colleagues, however taunting

he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil
he so wanted the seed to grow, not turn out a spoil
a year finally went by, time’s up for the competition
all the young executives brought their plants to the ceo for inspection
jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot
but she asked him to be honest about what happened - good, bad, not or rot

jim felt sick at his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment
but he knew his wife was right, all he can hope is atonement
he took his empty pot to the boardroom, disheartened but without sigh, no groan
when jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown
that the other executives had sown
they were beautiful - in all shapes and sizes, jim felt alone

he put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed
a few felt sorry for him, some consoling genteel rebuff
when the ceo arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young execs
jim just tried to hide at the back behind the backs

“my, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,” said the ceo
today one of you will be appointed the next ceo”, the only one in the know
all of a sudden, the ceo spotted jim at the back of the room with his empty pot
he ordered the financial director to bring him to the front, to be put on the spot

jim was terrified… he thought, “the ceo knows i’m a failure! maybe he’ll have me fired!”
“what had happened to your seed?” - to hear the answer, the ceo aspired
jim told him the story as he perspired

the ceo asked everyone to sit down except jim
he looked at jim, and then announced to the young executives without a whim
“here is your next chief executive! his name is jim!”, he beamed

jim couldn’t believe it, he couldn’t even grow his seed
how could he be the new ceo?, the others plead

the ceo piped
as the time is ripe
“one year ago today, i gave everyone in this room a seed
told u to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today” was all i need

but the blunder, he admitted with thunder
tearing the baited silence asunder
i gave u all boiled seeds; they were dead – it was not possible for them to grow
all of u, except jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers, what a nice show

“when u found that the seed would not grow, u substituted another seed
jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it, indeed
therefore, he is the one who will be the new chief executive!” he splendidly decreed

and what’s the moral behind this story, you ask?
ah, ramrom relishes this task

if u plant honesty in your life, u will reap trust
if u plant goodness, u will reap friendship robust
if u plant humility, u will reap greatness
if u plant perseverance, u will reap contentment to immerse
if u plant consideration, you will reap perspective
if u plant diligence, you will reap success to give
if u plant forgiveness, u will reap reconciliation
therefore be careful what you plant now, pay attention
for it will determine what u will reap later the contention

“be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” galatians 6:7 docked

happy birthday to bc and i
here’s a knowles shaw joyful refrain to wrap up and tie

sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
we shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

reminiscing neverending party stretch
enduring blessed “life is good” match

still basking in the delight
of the party last friday night
so wonderfully fed
so warmly cared
a divine time had
with special friends bred
thank u most
to timtee host
for the birthday toast
l’chaim - together we coast!

now still relishing “jang su jang” korean sunday lunch treat
then we got intro’d to “kyo po” supermarket before home retreat
there we sampled “soondae” for the first time
a blutwurst stuffed with dangmyeon, an acquired taste sublime

wiki

also rewinding last night’s treat with gno subset
indulged in “the way of the world,” a restoration comedy act

now indulging myself on mother’s day to do what i love best
to reflect, refract and put connecting dots to test
as i whimsically weave patterns with witty  zest
if it hits pithy prolific crest
it deserves ramrom repose rest

unlike a 1corinthian13 love
“the way of the world” expresses a different kind of dove
william congreve, a british playwright bloke
a brilliant entanglement of relationships he stroked
all the world’s a stage players bearing names their characters evoked
pray tell, what does mirabell, petulant, wishfort, foible, fainall, waitwell satirically invoke?

the ludicracy of contracted love, his penmanship spoke
the shallowness of pursuing worldly love to poke
consumed in deception and infidelity like addictive coke
diving deep to expose sallow motives, congreve eloquently stoked

in “way of the world” love is but a transaction
a gaming attraction and distraction
scheme a contraption well
dicey dance of dowry to ink, coffers and egos to swell
infidelity and love under pretense
instead of true armour of intense d’amour incense
there are strings attached
pockets not hearts to be matched
schemes upon wishfort to be hatched
and hatch a patch to oust fainall wretch

recoiling pearls from sir walter scott
in epic poem “marmion”, famous stanzas sought
“o, what a tangled web we weave
when first we practise to deceive!
but when we’ve practised quite a while
how vastly we improve our style”

indeed the way of the world
around deception twirl
temptations abound and swirl
beguiling mind and heart to curl

ah, sabbath
rejuvenating rest and rebirth
to dabble in rhyming mirth

melina mercouri crooning…
“and if u make it on a bleak day, a freak day or a week day
well u can be my guest
but never ever on a sunday, my sundae, the one day
i need a little rest”

connecting to genesis 2:3 a-swooning…
then God blessed the 7th day and sanctified it,
because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made

yes maurice, thank heavens for little girls
some of us grow up to be mother pearls
came across this on the internet
irresistable ramrom touch to get set

(sally’s shot in wee perth garden)

a man stopped at a flower shop to order flowers for mother’s day
to be sent to his mother who lived two hundred miles away

as he got out of his car, he noted a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing
“what’s wrong?” he asked, his heart a-throbbing, his mind absorbing
“i wanted to buy a red rose for my mother
but i only have 75 cents…a rose costs two dollars” she muttered

the man smiled and said, “come on in with me…i’ll buy you a rose.”
so he did  just that plus ordered his own mother’s flowers, nothing verbose

as they were leaving, he offered the girl a ride home
“yes, please! u can take me to my mother’s dome”
she directed him to a cemetery, placing the rose on freshly dug grave loam
an epiphany with aplomb, the man back to the flower shop did roam

he cancelled the floral send order, it was clear what to do
picked up a bouquet instead, mother’s love to rightly woo
driving two hundred miles to his mother’s house, love in person to coo

to all mothers out there, a happy mothers day moo!

wiki

brilliant insight from mark twain started my day bright
as today’s quote, it sure hit the nail right with might
“forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it”
now soaking the day’s perfume He dabbed on my washed feet

forgiveness, today’s verse-i-hung
auf deutsch, es ist verzeihung
forgiving pains self-inflicted
forgiving pains upon others afflicted
forgiving disdains and restraints that constricted

sun shone gloriously today
bidding me back to water play
rinconada pool finally got new boiler heater
oh what a welcome greeter
to dip in waters 81 degrees fahrenheit
past dips have been a 60 degrees cold bite

extra sweet
gave myself a chico treat
that mother blessed me
guiltless glee
a magnifique mother’s day-cum-anniversaire gift u see

tomorrow i literally go take a hike
with lin and helen, rancho trails we like
then looking forward to ending day in party delight
blight takes flight

no more brood, get in the mood
for life is indeed good

watching tina turner now
verzeihung to take a bow

what’s love got to do, God’s got to do with it
1 corinthians 13:13 of “faith, hope and love…the greatest of these is love” bit hit
i’ve been thinking of a new direction
but i have to say
i’ve been thinking about my own protection
it scares me to feel that way
echoing job 9:2 “how can a man be in the right before God” but to obey

what a sweet and merry way
to hear potpurri of madrigals, jazz, gospel to usher in may
to renew the heart, soothing woes away
cresendoing and preparing the spirit for sabbath day

synchronized intent captured in robert frost’s “pasture”
what a delight to hear it captured in song gesture

“i’m going out to clean the pasture spring;
i’ll only stop to rake the leaves away
(and wait to watch the water clear, i may):
i sha’n't be gone long…..

sara teasdale’s “life has loveliness to sell”
rang a timely tinkling bell
“for one white singing hour of peace
count many a year of strife well lost”, signalling grief to cease

my favorite - only voices and cathedral ceiling acoustics
with closed eyes, i drifted with “shenandoah” rolling gymnastics
most surprising to hear bob chilcott’s billy joel rendition
of “and so it goes“, here’s a snippet of experienced perdition

“i spoke to u in cautious tones
u answered me with no pretense
and still i feel i said too much
my silence is my self defense
and every time i’ve held a rose
it seems i only felt the thorns
and so it goes, and so it goes
and so will u soon i suppose…”

cresendo ending saturday
with duke ellington’s “come sunday”
and mercer-arien “come rain or come shine”
a perfect finish to a musical evening divine

“heaven is a goodness time.  a brighter light on high.
do unto others as u would have them do to u.
and have a brighter by and by…..

i believe God is now, was then and always will be.
with God’s blessing we can make it through eternity…”

“you’re gonna love me, like nobody’s loved me
come rain or come shine
we’ll be happy together, unhappy together
now won’t that be just fine
the days may be cloudy or sunny
we’re in or out of the money
but i’m with u always
i’m with u rain or shine”

just what i needed Lord, so sublime
grime and slime
washed away, no longer mine
we will be fine

just returned from “king and i” musical zing
quenched context behind “knowledge is king”
indeed mongkut did sing
“it’s good to be king”
echoed in history of the world,  badda-bing
led my mind wandering….

seeking kingly perfection
is such a distraction
a dangerous contraption
baiting false security and surreal expectation
yielding frustration
upon falling short in condemnation

human perfection has no margin for error, no room for compassion
it harbors fears and disdains embarrassment hence avoids attention
it’s binary arrogant, either u meet my standards or u don’t damnation
it’s a jealous, calculating king while u are lesser, imperfect subject slave condition

set of perfect standards can never be met
deviations it can never accept
woe to one when out of step
how can there be joy in such a relationship bet
feeling useless, an abject reject
how can human perfection be love object
for if one does some thing out of true love
it doesn’t demand one to fit like a glove

1 corinthians 13:4-7
describes perfect divine love poured from heaven
love is patient and kind..not crude
is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude
it does not demand its own way
it is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged and it does not slay
it does not rejoice about injustice clout
but rejoices whenever the truth wins out
love never gives up, imbued with fragrant sense
it never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance

mongkut experiences love toward his end
lets off perfect guard, becomes soft and human when perfection quest cannot sustain and attend
but getting2know and appreciate anna, well it’s too late baby now, it’s too late
too late to rewrite ending chapters when it’s nearing death date

stumbled upon mental floss today
ripe to prevent ramrom decay
8th annual “10″ issue
exfoliated latin tissue

i zeroed in on phrase number 9 gory
remember u must die - “memento mori”
fit to claim ramrom title glory
for it tells a good story

“u can interprete the phrase in two ways”
eat, drink, and party down faze or amaze
“or, less hedonistically, be good so u can get past the pearly gates
forgo temporal pleasures in favor of eternal bliss in heaven,” it grates
the phrase also served to prevent swelling heads
plebians whispering “memento mori” into roman soldiers’ ears
to keep their egos in check, ouch such sharp spears

humble stumble
human lives crumble
humans fumble
only way for life to rumble
is through the One that rose from death’s tumble
an easter mumble

because He lives, i can face tomorrow
because He lives, all fear is gone
because i know He holds the future
and life is worth the living
just because He lives

brr, drastic temperature drop today
so urge to dip in pool is kept at bay
that frees up time to blog
dots to connect and unclog
yesterday night
enjoyed chancel choir with musical might
highlight was blog title - hadyn’s “mass in time of distress”
along with mark hayes’ arrangements to de-stress
“little david play on your harp” imploring
ending with joshua’s jericho victory cresendoing

weekend entertainment was anne of green gables
a peninsula youth theater production in mt view performing arts stables
reminding me of my own youth
accepting unknowns and disappointments can actually soothe

bc recently shared quotes from “wild, witty, women”
poet nikki giovanni summoned
“we love because it’s the only true adventure”

and there are those who love Him because He first loved us
1 John 4:19

indeed franz haydn - a lovely missa in angustiis

Kyrie eleison..
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
misere nobis…dona nobis pacem

today marked 77th swim, since i began a battle of the bulge
averaging 0.7 minute a lap pace to enjoy and indulge
unwavering 70 laps per session goal i did keep
to-date a total of 77 miles to rip and reap
a reward of 7teen pounds less, the scale did beep

spring still vacillating between winter chill and summer heat
like world in turmoil, nature’s lost its beat
past 7 months’ gift of time flew at frenzy clip
spiked by 7 life blips, now reflecting to sip

first we were bereft when john suddenly left
then maryanne upon thanksgiving blew her last breath
that thanksgiving week, i cramped for CIA exams and passed
followed by jk’s pomp and circumstance, it came to pass
then mother got spared further suffering in feb
7-weeks (49-days) later end of march, a closure fab
topping as magnificent 7th - recent trip to vegas, fun moments to grab
friendships rekindled, good eats, jersey boys, phantom of opera, a 7th heaven wrap

matthew 7:7 comforting cue
ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you

john newman memorial - april 11, 2009

it seems like only yesterday
you diligently tended the garden from going astray
you kept the weeds at bay
can you prune our hedges too, by the way

since you went away
we miss the neighborly care you displayed
how you picked up our mail and garbage-can attendant play

you got us hooked on sudoku
with passionate gusto, you  kept on skiing and biking too
how you kept up with all these, we have no clue

farewell john, take eternal rest from labor
thanks for the fond memories to savor

life’s indeed a great buffet
now we can see you having a field day
having all the ice cream, literally a 7th heaven restful stay

source
no fooling when dealing with life after death
the plausible answer is different depending on your beliefs and faith
what is significance of prayers on 49th day after demise lurked
why google, to quench curiosity perked

first captivating hit was tibetan book of the dead “bardo thodol” video, a 45-minute clip
explaining view of what happens to one after life on earth flip’d
3-phase “bardo” representing 3 “liberation” chances, the soul energy could traverse
rooted in buddhist karmic principles terse
by recognizing the heavenly realms, we can attain nirvana pureland dew
instead of entering into the lower realms where the cycle of birth and rebirth continue

the 1st bardo comes at the very moment of death, entering the “clear light of the ultimate reality”
aka “whitelight” phase and first chance determination if one can be liberated eternally
if he can recognize signs of “supreme state” at the moment of death, he will attain liberation
alas, few make it to remain in the Clear Light forever - “dharmakaya” condition

the un-liberated will then descend into the 2nd bardo - two weeks of labyrinth romps
encountering deities of sorts - peaceful, knowledge-holding, wrathful demons - God in various forms
if his life on earth was well lived, he will now be in a state of purity and grace
entering into the joy of the God, attaining liberation, a heavenly place
if on the other hand he has lived an ignoble and impious life
the effects of his bad karma will launch him to next bardo, a 3rd degree liberation to strive

in the 3rd bardo, the soul encounters the Lord of death
a fearsome demonic deity appearing in smoke and fire, subjecting the soul to a judgment fate
if the dead person protests that he has done no evil
et voila, the Lord of death holds up before him the incriminating karma mirror

’tis wise to follow bardo thodol’s instructions
recognize the voidness of all these beings, mere mindplay projections
for in so doing, he can attain liberation
otherwise, the un-liberated soul will now be drawn toward rebirth, to his consternation

the lights of the 6 “lokas” will dawn again; into one of these worlds the soul must be born,
and the light of the one he is destined for, will more brightly than the others be shone
the still terrifed soul cowers, seeking shelter in what appear to be caves or hiding-places
but which are actually womb entrances
bardo thodol warns and urges him not to enter them birth trenches
if he un-attaches from worldly pleasures and meditates upon the Clear Light instead
it’s still possible to achieve the third degree of liberation and avoid rebirth stead

journeying through 3 bardos takes 49 days it seems
either enter cycle of laborious painful earthly life to “get it right” or eternal heaven gleams
now i have context for the 49-days prayer ritual, what it means

we received positive validation and vibes that pure heart got liberated, made it to pureland
from rental car being upgraded from hyundai, a toyota instead to land

then chuck got relieved from kaiser command center watch and enjoyed hotel room upgraded to suite
parking spot unbeknowst in front of burning of prayer scroll site and our last supper restaurant were super sweet

on morning before heading to airport, banking matters taken care of, sans plight
but thereafter, somehow we missed exit to airport to catch sfo flight
which created nice hurried confusion at counter, voila - our seats got promoted from near loo to first class delight
thank U, heavenly Lord for the mighty gracious oversight

source wiki

if we wish to die well
we must learn to live well
- a dalai lama wisdom swell

so pray tell
what do we make of heaven and hell?
for how doth a finite mind
understand the Infinite kind

thanks to chuck pointing me to basic buddhist tenets in poem form
from the last book of sir edwin arnold’s “the light of asia” -  a tidbit ramrom
source wiki
measure not with words the immeasurable
nor sink the string of thought into the fathomless
who asks doth err
who answers errs,  say nought!

just learnt spanish word codo = elbow
lots of elbow room here to mow

much transpired
much perspired
since last i wrote
rode rococo-rock road
singing, la…la-la-la-la-la

met nan again at rinconada park before my dip
said she’s heading for cubberley for a shower blip
told her to finish her lunch of carrots while i lapped
then chaffeured her to cubberley for free tab tap

while waiting for master’s program to empty lanes and wrap up
a conversation with carol the coach, swim techniques to sup
she saw me swim the first lap, my lazy “codo” caught
lift up that elbow, hand in water first, she freely taught

unfazed
so i tried to unlaze
suddenly, it got more tiring
than garbage yardage retiring

after helping nan transport her 4 bags plus luggage
and after jk moved out, i got in the mood to junk garbage
lurking in shelves, closets, boxes, stashed in old bags
gathering dust like old hags

codo now greased
filed returns to uncle sam for refund please
cleaned out life spam
magazines, old statements, receipts shredded and torn
clothes weathered and new unworn
things thought we would use, we could have sworn

then elbowed my way to fun
get recreation after the run
make time to party-hardy with flair

first purim debut as moroccan and taipan french legionnaire

had tea at crown and crumpets salon in ghiradelli square
to relish in  “persuasion” insights unveiled by prof cozzens, an opp rare

interviewed at starbucks a harker college applicant to emory
sauntering before and after to dalehurst koffee klatch at peet’s across starbucks in a hurry
saw “music man” performed by peninsula youth theater in mountain view
did shoreline wonderful wednesday walkie-talkie with wwwbuddy long overdue

discovered life tucked in emerald hills
a community up winding slopes from redwood city with views from window sills
added more alumni activity thrills
processing hp alums to various network tills
good thing no association dues-bills

discovered a band called elbow
lifted lyrics from “any day now”
that raised my brow

“got a lot of spare time
some of my youth and all of my senses on overdrive
don’t play coltrane you will sleep at the wheel
eyes on-horizon, don’t sleep at the wheel…”

goodbye to u, our beloved mere
you’ve tended us with your loving care
you taught us how to strive and dare
bad company to avoid, bargirls to beware
earn our keep, make our mark and not to swear

goodbye my mere, it’s hard to say goodbye
but a life confined is no life, leaving u high and dry
now that the cold nip is in the air
northern lights beckon, snow is everywhere
now we see pure heart a twinkling star in pure land over there

we will be known forever by the tracks we leave…..american indian proverb

this entry is dedicated to nan
designed to interweave in universe plan

a fortnight before christmas with nip in the air
i headed out to dip in rinconada pool with quivering dare
shucks - i looked at wrong timetable and have an hour to spare

spotted her on a nearby bench
with roller luggage and sleeping bag, the park is her ranch
wispy silver hair and beckoning tired glare
instinct drove me to her to render care

what landed u here, how long has it been?
thus began her story given a listener keen

used to work at stanford but got myself in a pickle
now living on social security trickle
lost my mobile home, lost my car
got alot of family scars, am no longer a star
daughter-in-law can’t stand me
software engineer son in san jose had to choose, u see
i had to go and been out on the fringes some 5 years
got auto immune condition, learned to deal with tears
i miss my 2 grandkids, such cherished dears
but now reduced to memory smears
i’ve toughened but the bleak future sears

i cried for and with her, lost my smug
i felt helpless and could only offer a prayer and hug
we talked about conversations with God
how He has protected her all this time from sod
how He humbled her and unravelled her kinks
there is something in store for her, she hopes and thinks
meanwhile further into societal oblivion she sinks

an hour flew by and time for me to amalgamate as i stroke
nan’s given me alot to stoke
a few naive bubbles broke
a reality poke

here is nan without a box to live in fit
i know of one who owns a box but deprived of enjoying it
then there’s another who has a box but it’s cold, empty and lifeless
another who filled a box with life but living on subprime edge reckless
then i read of corrie ten boom’s home flung open to strangers
love boxed in awaiting dangers

life in a box
is a paradox

i am just a poor boy and my story’s seldom told
i’ve squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises
all lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear
and disregards the rest, hmmmm

when i left my home and my family, I was no more than a boy
in the company of strangers
in the quiet of the railway station, running scared
laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters, where the ragged people go
looking for the places only they would know

li la li…

in the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade
and he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down or cut him
till he cried out in his anger and his shame
i am leaving, i am leaving, but the fighter still remains

yes, nan out on the street still remains

thanks, naxos moorani

my, my
keong hee huat chye
bu lui, ang-pow bu lai

today marks chinese new year of the ox
we hope it portends bullishness, a year that rocks

to kick it off, taipan laid out 9-dish feast
thanks jk to capture shot
enough to last us awhile at least
enough to scare away the gloom beast

also yesterday
i treated myself to somerset maugham “the circle” play

thanks to judy, i discovered petite pear theater in mountain view
and tugging “of human bondage” movie dew
maugham’s fms (federated malay states) reference in play jogged the cue

things do come full circle
in life’s theatrical
mother lady kitty deserting hubby and arnold child
to run off with lord porteous, love-intoxicated, free and wild
after 30 years, kitty shows up in arnold’s life
and behold, thinking of eloping with lover ed luton is elizabeth, arnold’s wife
ed luton, a bloke running a plantation in “federated malay states” fms
happened to be visiting arnold and elizabeth on furlough, his love to profess
to run off with him to malaysia, his lover to test with zest

maugham hinting how women deal with suppression
lulled into marriage to survive and trapped from true love expression
so life regresses as it progresses?
a circular karmic logic indeed the play professes

strains of harry chapin folk song
a singing memory strong

all my life’s a circle
sunrise and sundown
moon rolls through the nighttime
till daybreak comes around

all my life’s a circle
still i wonder why
seasons spinning ’round again
years keep rolling by

bringing me full circle to revelation 1:8
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
who is, and who was, and who is to come,
the Almighty

and in revelation 22:13
I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the end,
the first and the last.

fulfilling prophecy in isaiah 44:6
I am the first and the last

Alpha and Omega
are the first and last letters of the greek alphabet
signifying that God is
“the beginning and the end,” or eternal.

hmm, is ramrom making a square out of divine pearl?

2009 beginnings of sorts
amid stock market spurts, sputters and aborts
so it seems
a new era of constructive change and responsibility begins
44th president imploring us to unrelenting get-going
the arduous and perilous work of america re-making
an end to greed, waste and overconsumption
get back to biz of restoration

our nation at war is costing us a pretty penny
our badly-weakened economy
our woeful account of greed and irresponsibility of few at expense of many
our collective failure to make hard choices, complacency cluttered
our savings and homes lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered
our health care is too costly
our schools fail too many
our ways of using energy fueling supplier strength and weakening the land of milk and honey

we don’t know what we have till we lose it
we destroy or build when we have nothing to lose, when bottom we hit
for sure nothing happens if we just sit
our sins to confess and admit

come jan26 we enter 2009 lunar year of the ox
i figured obama born in 1961 turning 48 august 4th 2009 must be a bull to help us detox
mahatma gandhi once uttered “we must become the change we want to see”
whether obama can lead us to execute that change began yesterday, from sea to shining sea
are we ready to be all we can be
in the new u.s. renaissance army?

bullish or bull or becoming?
to be or not to be, that is the question timelessly a-beckoning

in God we trust
forget not 1956 act of congress we must
for in luke 17:21, “the kingdom of God is within you”
“for the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power” 1 corinthians 4:20 cue
“for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” in Romans 14:17 pew

wiki source

ramrom ends with a benjamin franklin ramble

“if u would not be forgotten,
as soon as u are dead and rotten,
either write things worth reading,
or do things worth the writing.”

so bullish or bull or becoming? a bbb or not2b gamble?

what a week
despite a sudden back crick
yahoogroup and linkedin community building tricks to lick
chicago musical, cantor arts and chico social uptick

thanks paul to share
robin mckenzie’s “treat your own back”, how back2care
lord lordosis, the inward curve in lower back to protect and spare
i found out jan13 if u lose lordosis, spasm attacks
slouching posture and sitting too long yielded crippling smacks
thanks to literal “backsupport” divine hotline appealed
lordosis is restored and healed

and what a pilot chelsey spectacle
hope rekindled, what refreshing miracle
plane winding up safely on the hudson
us airways with count of 155-person
on flight 1549
all alive and fine
hmm…mere birds bringing down man-made bird
humbling squeals of last resort to the Supernatural One were heard
a different kind of lordosis to lord one’s destiny spurt

apropos reflection wrapping up the week today
pbcc bernand bell’s revealing genesis 3:8-13 part 2 of eden play
the first sin passed down, first act of wrong choice
vs today’s sermon on “hearing God’s voice”

in eden began human inclination to succumb to serpent
eyes opened to good and evil, a perilous descent
losing lordosis vital dent
now we have to choose the right bent
for a life well-spent
or to choose slouch
be a crouching grouch
or choose His love to vouch

wiki source

in-a-gadda-da-vida, honey,
don’t u know that I love u?
in-a-gadda-da-vida, baby,
don’t u know that I’ll always be true?

o, won’t u come with me
and take my hand?
please take My hand!

started 2009 with a bang
let’s stage a surprise potluck4taipan clang
pulled it off with help of friends and family
to jumpstart our year with glee

with upcoming obama inaugural address
a pbcc 2009 inaugural sermon bell rang, a dent in ramrom impress
in particular was how bernard  “but now” biblical verses together press
how the jews were once God’s chosen people, but now via Christ’s redemption
gentiles once excluded are but now under His inclusion

an extrapolated ramrom conjecture
things of past shaped the “but now” present which will in turn shape the future
yes, dream of the future taught by the past
but now, do something that matters for time may not last
for future to blast

strains of seals and croft
in my mind aloft
“so - i wanna laugh while the laughin’ is easy
i wanna cry when it makes it worthwhile
we may never pass this way again….”
mingled with yoko ono strain
“yesterday may haunt us forever
today may pass in fear
tomorrow may never come”

end times stanza
what’s it with gaza?
satyam ceo making 1 billion dollar cash entry
cfo contemplating suicide, what other cookies and rookies in the pantry
it’s all fake
your confidence to shake
the world is doomed
but now, with price paid on the cross, eternal hope for all has bloomed

neapolitan writer-engineer luciano de crescenzo’s quote to ring
“we are each of us angels with only one wing,
and we can only fly by embracing one another”  ding ding ding

so let sea of humanity reach out and embrace each other
instead of violence, greed, misunderstandings and lies to smother
for tomorrow may never come for all we know
but now, all of us have access to the Father through Christ by one Spirit, we can love sow

ephesians 2:12-13
remember that at that time u were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in israel
and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
but now in Christ Jesus u who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

colossians 1:21-22
once u were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior
but now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present u holy in His sight,
without blemish and free from accusation

1 peter 2:10
once u were not a people, but now u are the people of God;
once u had not received mercy, but now u have received mercy.

1 peter 2:15-17 give us cornerstone to anchor upon for the but-now-today
for it is God’s will that by doing good u should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;
live as servants of God.
show proper respect to everyone:
love the brotherhood of believers,
fear God….

(but) now, i found, that the world is round
and of course it rains everyday.

living tomorrow,
where in the world will i be, tomorrow?
how far out am i able to see?
or am i needed here?

if  i remember all of the things i have done,
i’d remember all of the times i’ve gone wrong.
why do they keep me here?

wow, a blessed visit from one of 8 cousins residing in down under
into ramrom’s hotel california, today sea pearl and family did wander
nathan and simone had no idea they had an aunt of ebullient pedigree
united by a piece of grandmere in all of us in the family tree
our hubbies had no clue what lurks in the history about to set free

we had a jolly time down at silicon valley’s billabong
under the shade of our silver birch tree
we laughed and we ate and we drank coffee on the boil
cousins came a-waltzing with ramrom and me