finally onboard
with our hoard
let’s build more cupboards
sorry old hubbards

wiki commons
what for?
to keep what score
to fill our bore
to burden our core?

can’t decide
put aside
may need it later
spreadsheet sentiment incubator
we can be attic curator

for now
for later declutter wow
for renewal of life vow

for now
before we exit with a bow

we have plenty to luau
for now

it’s rare
lunar tiger and valentine same day share
followed by president’s day and alberta family day holidays spare
falling into ramrom reflective snare

a pause
for prosperity applause
just because
countering human tendency to nurse only loss

for it’s plain in human plane
to complain in pain
rather than thanksgiving to celebrate gain

how prosperous
to be able to enjoy friendship pure
through thick and thin together endure

how treacherous
to live out living moments without buckling to pressure
anchored in infallible Rock, a life to treasure

how preposterous
to have health and working for meaningful cause
even without, to rejoice silver linings instead of gathering moss

how marvellous
each uniquely formed and anointed with different gifts
equipped to handle peaks, valleys and rifts

how humorous
just one night
with no curb of rain in sight
we reined in entertainment plight
to montalvo arts center we took flight
to endure 37 shakespeare plays condensed
endorphin released, seratonin dispensed

how amorous
to have noel coward’s insight
to expose lovers’ plight
as “private lives” fight in flight and fright

how prosperous
to have a way out
what upcoming ash wednesday and easter is all about
from jeremiah 29:11 spout “for I know the plans I have for u…
plans to prosper u and not to harm u, to give u
a future and a hope”,
to grope as we slide slippery slope
what prosperous cue

a time to reflect
resolutions to eject
choices to elect
expectations to reject

source: wiki
if everyman…

if i am in a land knowing nobody, i can be somebody
intoxicated with toddy and become bawdy lordy

if i had the means bursting at the seams, i’d do wonders it seems
but all that glitters and gleams gets blown to smithereens

if i had that cushy job, i wouldn’t have to mop and sob
hmm, i’d likely end up a slob, a snob or a glob

if i had more, i’d soar and won’t be sore
if i had that talent, i won’t be such a bore, my ego would roar

if i could erase my pain and shame, i’d gain in life game
if i had everything i wish, any excuse is lame, no cause to blame
instead temptations to tame, irk to flame and maim

if only i do away the crutches, i’d rid of my grudges
if i can get away with my fudges, can i live better with them smudges?

for romans 3:23 say all have fallen short of glory
but we can choose a better life story
or choose doomed gory
no matter how sorry
narrow is the way to divine storey
so choose right lorry
to transport back to Glory

ahh…but don’t be bitter
don’t quit..finish the job, God can’t use a quitter
philippians 1:6 promises life sweeter
cos’ our Creator
“..who began a good work in you,
will bring it to completion..” till He’s due

so boldly usher in the new year, keep the ball moving
fulfill your divine purpose, keep on trucking

meanwhile, if only i could be understood
i would not need to brood
the intensity of my humble intent and star
can only reach so far

a miff with if
only brings grief
transform conditional tiff
to unconditional in a jiff
that’s my resolution beef…

” if i were a rich man,
ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
all day long i’d biddy biddy bum.

Lord who made the lion and the lamb,
You decreed i should be what i am.
would it spoil some vast eternal plan?
if i were a wealthy man.”

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 txakoli
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……

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

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!

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?

today marked an interesting confluence of dots
i was in the mood to lose time in music of sorts
after last night’s family game of scrabble
“can i peek your music playlist”, a ramrom ramble
for music to scramble

lo and behold when i woke up this morning
after listening to “straight no chaser” a capella group crooning
jk’s playlist in my i-tune library magically a-looming
some 8000 pickings a-glistening, my eyes a-beaming
most of which prime for meandering and discovering

the one which perked ramrom’s ears was a duo called thievery corporation
their “the richest man in  babylon” musical rendition
of  george clason 1927 book edition
a culmination
of pamphlets series on basic financial management compilation
converted to a series of financial parables set in ancient babylon nation
book containing basic tenets of how to get ahead financially in any time
not just in babylonian times or in the 1920s sublime
…..i related fit for today’s refracting rhyme

story is about a regular babylonian cad named arkad
stories around this titular richest man in babylon how to control greed to be had
who used some basic financial sense and built up a great deal of wealth, isn’t this timely rad?
amid backdrop of bankrupt fannie, freddie, captains of auto industry and madoff ponzi that went bad

ramrom connects to today’s quote of day
into my inbox did stray
how befitting from american businessman-speaker-author harvey mackay

“being rich isn’t about money.
being rich is a state of mind.
some of us, no matter how much money we have,
will never be free enough to take time
to stop and eat the heart of the watermelon.
and some of us will be rich
without ever being more than a paycheck ahead of the game.”

george clason’s book is perfect if u learn by reading the experiences of others
their plunders and blunders
most interesting story is about “7 cures for a lean purse”

1. start thy purse to fattening by setting aside one-tenth of what u earn for the future
2. control thy expenditures; don’t spend beyond what u can suture
3. make thy gold multiply, ah the familiar ring of money maketh money
don’t stash in mattresses when u can double, triple and quadruple the honey
4. guard thy treasure from loss – u should only invest in things where the principal is safe
i recall the infamous 1% rule, an old fave of prudence rave
particularly interesting given that book was written in 1927, and in 1929 the stock market caved
5. make of thy dwelling a profitable investment-but we know when we become overspending slave
6. insure a future income for retirement and to pass on when passed, to posthumously claim u gave
7. increase thy ability to earn-criminals who squandered our hard-earned savings, why we them save?

let’s connect back to thievery corporation
a washington dc-based recording artist and dj duo collaboration
consisting of rob garza and eric hilton
speaking up on sins and follies of capitalistic-democratic kingdom

here is lyric extract of “the richest man in babylon”

there is no guidance in your kingdom
your wicked walk in babylon
there is no wisdom to your freedom
the richest man in babylon
your beggars sleep outside your doorway
your prophets leave to wonder on
u fall asleep at night with worry
the saddest man in babylon
the wicked stench of exploitation
hangs in the air and fingers on
beneath the praise and admiration
the weakest man in babylon
there is no hope left in your kingdom
your servants have burned all their songs
nobody here remembers freedom
the richest man in babylon

ramrom connects to don mclean
singing psalm 137:1

by the waters
the waters
of babylon.

we lay down and wept
and wept
for thee Zion.

we remember
thee remember
thee remember
thee Zion

and to wrap it all up for the reason for the season, here’s the real christmas wealth tree
check the biblical story of Jesus and the wealthy pharisee nicodemus in book of john chapter 3

in sync with spirit of beijing olympics
i swam 88 lengths at rinconada for kicks
it felt good
to be in endorphin mood
new routine to brood
best is yet to come understood

88 strong strokes hit the counter point
while a 110 stretches the loins joint
i love the rhythmic breath intakes and the bubbles made
in sync with bobbing movements of my head

lap swimming
and life maneuvering
is alot like dirty dancing

as i was driving back
96.5 was aptly playing the theme song track

now i’ve had the time of my life
no I never felt this way before
yes i swear it’s the truth
and i owe it all to U

’cause i’ve had the time of my life
and i’ve searched through every open door
’till i found the Truth
and i owe it all to U

so we’ll just let it go
don’t be afraid to lose control….

recalling earlier april entry
eshet hayil divine dancing decree

some of you may have seen this nugget
from george carlin, a comedian rugged
who apparently, from e-circulation received
wrote this after his first wife deceased
and who recently himself rested in peace

so circulating “carlinism” below to introspect
the paradox of life to inspect
faux or not, in honor of george and paying last respect
i left the prose intact
ramrom formatted for effect

the paradox of our time in history is that
we have taller buildings but shorter tempers,
wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
we spend more, but have less,
we buy more, but enjoy less.

we have bigger houses and smaller families,
more conveniences, but less time.
we have more degrees but less sense,
more knowledge, but less judgment,
more experts, yet more problems,
more medicine, but less wellness.

we drink too much, smoke too much,
spend too recklessly, laugh too little,
drive too fast, get too angry,
stay up too late, get up too tired
read too little, watch tv too much
and pray too seldom

we have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
we talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

we’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life.
we’ve added years to life not life to years.

we’ve been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
we conquered outer space but not inner space.
we’ve done larger things, but not better things.

we’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
we’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
we write more, but learn less.
we plan more, but accomplish less.
we’ve learned to rush, but not to wait.
we build more computers to hold more information,
to produce more copies than ever,
but we communicate less and less.

these are the times of fast foods and slow digestion,
big men and small character,
steep profits and shallow relationships.

these are the days of two incomes but more divorce,
fancier houses, but broken homes.
these are days of quick trips, disposable diapers,
throwaway morality, one night stands,
overweight bodies, and pills
that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

it is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
a time when technology can bring this letter to you,
and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete..

life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away…
george carlin (may12,1937-june22, 2008)

from carlin to berlin crooning in my head
in His time, all of us be permanently laid to bed
to be resurrected or in hell dwell, based on while-alive choices made?

watching every motion in this foolish lover’s game
haunted by the notion somewhere there’s a love in flames
turning and returning to some secret place inside
watching in slow motion as you turn to me and say
take my breath away
my love, take my breath away

this showed up in my inbox today
from my tanahkow buddy in singapore, all the way
now i put it here for all to savor life’s gems and clarified clay

for effect, it got ramrom re-formatted
hope your heart will be ignited

given at the graduation ceremony of an american university
where she was awarded an honorary phd

– this was the speech –
http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/annaquindlen/
made by pulitzer prize-winner author, anna quindlen, who beseeched:

“i’m a novelist.
my work is human nature.
real life is all I know.
don’t ever confuse the two,
your life and your work.

u will walk out of here this afternoon with only one thing that no one else has.
there will be hundreds of people out there with your same degree:
there will be thousands of people doing what u want to do for a living.
but u will be the only person alive who has sole custody of your life.

your particular life.
your entire life.
not just your life at a desk, or your life on a bus,
or in a car, or at the computer.

not just the life of your mind,
but the life of your heart.
not just your bank accounts
but also your soul.

people don’t talk about the soul very much anymore.
it’s so much easier to write a resume
than to craft a spirit
but a resume is cold comfort on a winter’s night,
or when u’re sad, or broke, or lonely,
or when u’ve received your test results
and they’re not so good.

here is my resume:
i am a good mother to three children.
i have tried never to let my work stand in the way of being a good parent.
i no longer consider myself the center of the universe.

i show up. i listen. i try to laugh.
i am a good friend to my husband.
i have tried to make marriage vows mean what they say.
i am a good friend to my friends and they to me.
without them, there would be nothing to say to u today,
because i would be a cardboard cut out.
but i call them on the phone, and i meet them for lunch.

i would be rotten, at best mediocre at my job if those other things are not true
u cannot really be first rate at your work if your work is all u are.

so here’s what i wanted to tell u today:

get a life. a real life,
not a manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger pay check, the larger house.
do u think u’d care so very much about those things if u blew an aneurysm this afternoon,
or found a lump in your breast?

get a life
in which u notice the smell of salt water
pushing itself on a breeze at the seaside,
a life in which u stop and watch how a red-tailed hawk circles over the water,
or the way a baby scowls with concentration when she tries to pick up a sweet with her thumb & first finger

get a life
in which u are not alone.
find people u love, and who love u.
and remember that love is not leisure,
it is work…
pick up the phone.
send an email.
write a letter.

get a life
in which u are generous.
and realize that life is the best thing ever,
and that u have no business taking it for granted.
care so deeply about its goodness that u want to spread it around.
take money u would have spent on beer and give it to charity.
work in a soup kitchen.
be a big brother or sister.

all of u want to do well.
but if u do not do good too,
then doing well will never be enough.

it is so easy to waste our lives, our days, our hours, and our minutes.
it is so easy to take for granted the color of our kids’ eyes,
the way the melody in a symphony rises and falls and disappears and rises again.

it is so easy to exist instead of to live.
i learned to live many years ago.
i learned to love the journey, not the destination.
i learned that it is not a dress rehearsal,
and that today is the only guarantee u get.
i learned to look at all the good in the world and try to give some of it back
because i believed in it, completely and utterly.

and i tried to do that, in part, by telling others what i had learned.
by telling them this:
consider the lilies of the field.
look at the fuzz on a baby’s ear.
read in the backyard with the sun on your face.
learn to be happy.

and think of life as a terminal illness,
because if u do,
u will live it with joy and passion as it ought to be lived”.

eins, zwei, drei
du bist frei

partaking roast duck and dumpling delight tonight
finishing off czech meal with becherovka, trip highlights to sight and write

a trip is like a bellcurve
4 sigmas of swerves, bracketed by 2 tailends of begin and end surf

euro2008 football frenzy followed us no matter where we went
every main square  transformed with big rig screens and tents-a focal point to chant and rant

salzburg was tailend starting trip gear
feistung castle chamber music, sidetrips to mondsee and hallstatt lake ville to veer

und die weisse biergarten launched our spirits with good beer and cheer

via innsbruck, trip cresendoed to dolomite heights
intaking breath-taking air and sights
pordoi pass is for serious bikers, hikers and nature spectators

with winding detours for bressanone and vipiteno foothill town appreciators

from italian alps to julian alps in slovenia
a rowing adventure on lake bled had dad in hernia
made up for it with memorable degustation at hotel toplice jublianya

next after an altsteirische schmankerlstubn lunch in graz, we wandered to wundabare wien
highpoint was delectable seafood at umar’s in naschmarkt, tres tres bien

not so bien was a butt agony in narrow maltesekirche pew
to pay a “freddy staudigl licht-und-klang trompete” penance due

jk headed for berlin while we continued to prague
an “u fleku” czech biergarten experience to shrug
guard-up for pickpockets, tourists to mug
rains pelting now, so a garrison keillor’s “love me” book is perfect to curl up and snug

next, tailend finishing stop at karlovy vary spa resort – our weary bodies to lug…..

a young woman went to her mother and told her about her life
and how things were so hard for her, o why all this strife
dunno if she was gonna make it, just wanna give up and depress drive

i am tired of fighting and struggling
as one problem gets solved, another bad moon arising

“come to the kitchen” mama said to help her out of the mire
she filled 3 pots with water and set them to boil on high fire
then she placed into the water carrots, eggs and ground coffee beans in that order
she let them sit and boil, without saying a word, without any bother

in 20 minutes, she turned off the burner
– dished out the carrots and placed them in a bowl
– pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl
– ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl
“tell me what u see” she asked, turning to her daughter

why, ‘carrots, eggs and coffee,’ she replied
“come closer, feel the carrots” mama plied
‘hmm, kinda soft’ said daughter, wondering what’s being implied

“take an egg and break it” mama toyed her to toil
she proceeded to shell the egg and noted it’s solid hard-boiled

finally, mama asked daughter to sip the coffee
wow such rich aroma and taste -‘what does it mean, mother?’ she pled with glee

mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity
boiling water with same intensity
yet different outcomes as each reacted differently

“think of this: which am i?”, an epiphany to spawn

the carrot went in water strong, hard and unrelenting
however, after being subjected to boiling water, it softened and became weak without crunchzing
the egg had been fragile with thin outer shell protecting liquid interior
but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside hardened, harder than its shell exterior
the ground coffee beans were unique, however
after they were in the boiling water, they transformed the taste of the water

“which are u?” mama asked, revelation to spawn
“when adversity knocks on your door, how do u respond?”
“are u a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean, which to pawn?”

am i the carrot that seems strong with carotene brawn?
but with pain and adversity, do i wilt, become soft and lose my strength and be withdrawn?

or am i the egg that starts with a malleable heart but changes with heat?
did i have a fluid spirit beat
or do i after a death, a breakup, a trial or financial hardship,
become hardened, stiff with negative nip?
does my outer shell look the same, but on the inside, deep and dark
am i bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart hark?

or am i like the coffee bean plain?
the bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain
when the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor
if u are like the bean, you’d endeavor
when things are at their worst, it’s the cue
to get better and change the situation around u

when the hour is the darkest and trials are at their greatest bevel,
do u elevate yourself to another level?
how do u handle adversity?
are u a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean thirsty?

recalling earlier “i wish u enough” ramrom treat
may u have enough happiness to make u sweet,
enough trials to make u strong,
enough sorrow to keep u human kong
enough hope to make u happy life long

the e-story goes on to close
the happiest of people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the most
of everything that comes along their way
the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past clay
u can’t go forward in life until past failures and heartaches to let go and slay

when u were born, u were crying and everyone around u was smiling
so my friend
live your life so at the end
you’re the one who is smiling and everyone around u is crying

114. Sat 12 Jan ’08

lala-lalala…hic

this week left tracks in plano texas
to understand the software business of taxes
then ventured to fredericksburg virginia nexus
after 2 inflight movie reveries, now ramrom reflexes

“jane austen book club” dives into 6 lives
male-female, straight-gay, sister-brother, father-mother, single-married and ex-wives
a good 21st century cross-section of looking for love in all the wrong places
resolving hurt through characters in 6 jane austen book braces

matters of the heart at heart of survial are timeless in nature
regardless which century, geography, society for it concerns the “need2love & be-loved” human creature
author karen fowler brilliantly weaves and connects her characters and themes with austen selections
something all of us can identify in our vulnerable conflicts and contentions

sense & sensibility, pride & prejudice starts off anthology
of themes recurring in mansfield park, emma, persuasion, northanger abbey
revolving around 6 characters at different dilemma alley

sylvia is devasted when her husband of 32 years left her for fleeting fling
jocelyn – sylvia’s best friend, a spinster fearing rejection focuses on dog-breeding
prudie, a young french teacher “avec mere, vraiment fou et non-communicatif mari” fills void with student encounter
60-something bernadette, married 6 times establishes book club to emma-matchmake one another
accident-prone allegra (sylvia’s lesbian daughter) quits her lover and replaces with tending doctor
lastly grigg, a middle-aged science fiction fan and computer whiz, is strangely unattached pride& prejudice vector

the next movie is rush hour 3
slanted slapstick “brotherly” love spree
between jackie chan aka inspector lee and kenji
americain bond between detective bro james carter, and cabdriver george, golly gee

me reflect
u make your own reality effect
happiness is the decision u make
right choices to take
at wrong turns, apply brake
to be loved, one must first love
to be served, one must first serve

forgive to mend rift
goodness to sift
gift begets gift
each other’s heart to lift
where do broken hearts go
can they find their way home
back to the open arms
of a love that’s waiting there
and if somebody loves u
won’t they always love u?

one supernatural being who never disappoints
once chosen walk-in-faith, His abounding love anoits

poet and novelist kahlil gibran insightfully penned
“we choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them”

this one’s for u krystal
thanks for driving this wandering minstrel

lovin’ u is easy cause you’re beautiful
makin’ d4D learnings with u is all i wanna do
lovin’ art of auditing is more than just a dream come true
and everything that i do is out of lovin’ u
la la la la la hic..la la la la la hic...
do do do do do
arg ah-ah-ah, minnie riperton screech
a memorable learn-teach?
heart and mind to reach
a-toi de-moi, le chic-hick georgia peach

============================

116. Mon 21 Jan ’08

deferred raisins

a movie buff i am not
video encounters are more meant-to-be attention caught
tv dial happened to rest on turner classics, poitier back2back run
my eyes glimpsed start of “a raisin in the sun”
the more the script unpeeled
the more i got reeled
so many bitter truths unveiled
modern parables, emotions evoked and flailed

the first play written for broadway by lorraine hansberry, a black woman
the first play with a black director lloyd richards on broadway, a turning-point moment
addressing so many issues important during the 1950s in the united states
the twists and turns of geico-adline “human beings behaving human” fates

drawn from her own life experiences
growing up in chicago southside at height of nation grappling issues on races
prominent themes of being held captive to dreams deferred
title of play from black poet-novelist-activist langston hughes’ “harlem” referred

covering the whole gamut loot
tensions of darwin selectivity of aryan snow vs black soot
disappointments limiting if one chooses to be blind coot
a mother’s love and foresight, her game changing courage is worthwhile to hoot
acceptance and rejection, humans2humans
be meek or greek, to aimlessly roam or be conquering romans
influences to be or not-to-be, to peck or be pecked
hopes dashed, haves vs have-nots vs to-be-had
to succumb, courage to breakaway, to rise above bad

hansberry’s drama asks difficult questions about assimilation and identity
do i celebrate my heritage or integrate or totally bury
to marry and be swept away to romantic roots or doctor be
to abort to combat repeating history of trapped poverty

too good2betrue quick solutions to situations
usually lengthen journey to desired destinations
if u let materialistic love supercede things that deeply do matter
like civility and ties u can count on and uplifting family harmonic weather

homage paid on this civil rights day
yesterday, “sanctity of life” had its say

langston hughes’ poems and essays celebrate black culture, creativity, and strong contention
“harlem” written in 1951 captures the tension
of the need for black expression
against backdrop of oppression
a timebomb of dehumanized suppression
leading to consequent explosion
quips hughes:

what happens to a dream deferred?
does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
or fester like a sore
and then run?
does it stink like rotten meat?
or crust and sugar over
like a syrupy sweet?
maybe it just sags
like a heavy load

or does it explode?

============================

124. Thu 13 Mar ’08

shadowlands

past tuesday evening, watched a movie on life of cs lewis
the shadows that lurked in him brought to bear, life’s convoluted twist
the searing pain of watching cancer eat your lover and love
the testing of one’s faith dips into treacherous emotional cove
that cast the character of his flowing pen
his many prolific writings and poetic zen

contrast to eliot spitzer’s shadows brought to light
like many others gone before him, self-brought-on plight
the double lives, and many masks
pride goes before a fall, from proverbs 16:19 husk

and yea, shakespeare, thou speakest mortal truth
from “as you like it” booth

“all the world’s a stage
and all the men and women merely players
they have their exits and their entrances…”

and then, in the shadowy recesses of my mind…

the shadow of your smile
when you have gone
will color all my dreams
and light the dawn

now when i remember spring
all the joy that love can bring
i will be remembering
the shadow of your smile

all the mind’s an imagery play
which shadow will u slay?
which will u keep at bay?
which will u replay?

till we etherize and no more shadow cast
to where doth the soul blast?
what faith would u astral entrust?

======================

126. Sat 29 Mar ’08

zoya booya

today’s accidental marble quirk
5-parts into 1 continuous reel on dish network
an induction
to a danielle steel’s production

about zoya, a russian countess escaping 1917 revolution
about her hardships, struggles and re-invention

in making a new life for herself and children in america
about healing with rebellious daughter sasha
who died in coma but a chance revived
grandma zoya regained raising sasha’s daughter zoey survived

with a memorable closing line, finally zoey payoff from invested sasha cost
“time is very kind to us…it gives us back the time we lost”

so lost was i that i didn’t hear lunch call
to paradise lost i fall

to regain my sanity
i invoked ramrom sanctity

birthed this refrain
milton’s paradise lost and regained

ideal deal
no need to cook to hunger fill
ingrates, do all this for them, still
they don’t know it’s such a steal
wait till
i send them a bill
for slaving over stove to fix meal

to not have to yell for affection
was my intention
is it too much to get your attention
yet instead i got tension

picture heaven or will it be hell
when there’s no need to yell
when there’s no one to tell
what use is dinner bell

cos’ no one’s home for dinner
hey, good way to get thinner
what good to be a winner

for all alone, kitchen is dimmer
be careful what u wish ringer  

ideal deal
my lips to seal
for ideal
to be real
hurt to deal
fluster to reel
not to kill

need to heal
for next meal

until i keel
numbed forever to feel

======================

128. Sun 6 Apr ’08

no fooling

no fooling we’re into month of april
yea, chaucer’s “aprill with his shoures soote
the droghte of march hath perced to the roote,
and bathed evry veyne in swich licour
of which vertu engendred is the flour”

though spring has sprung
a cold nip still lingers in my lung
pbcc andy drake continues with james’ fiery tongue
live wisely in troubled times, the message rung

but what lingered more
is andy’s reference to 1 timothy, chapter 6, verses 6&7 hitting the core
about “contentment is great gain”
“for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it”
so other than living for Him, all will be in vain

watching movie 7th sign as i scribe this homily
how apropos, about Jesus’ return to earth in the year 1989 to judge humanity
with actress demi moore as abby
hanging on to her dear life and her baby
linking back to andy’s sermon about “living wisely in light of the Lord’s coming”

pat boone crooning #1 1957 movie theme hit “april love”
today’s song from from ramrom cove

“sometimes an april day will suddenly bring showers
rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet
but april love can slip right through your fingers
so if she’s the one, don’t let her run away”

leading me to just a letter capitalization morphing of del shannon’s refrain…

i’m a-walkin’ in the rain,
tears are fallin’ and i feel the pain,
wishin’ You were here by me,
to end this misery
and i wonder–
i wah-wah-wah-wah-wonder,
why,
why, why, why, why, why she ran away,
my little runaway,
run, run, run, run, runaway.

so “contentment is gain” indeed is moral of the play

the forum in ancient times was a central area where commerce and justice administration took place
it’s about community and gathering, deals to handshake, societal rules to make, face-to-face
there was no speed, no email then, no internet, no cell phones, no skype, no facebook
go to the marketplace and neighbor, favor and savor, that’s all it took

shuttling from forum to forum of late, like pseudolus to intake and calculate
schemes and dreams, different playbook scripts depending whether leader, hr or finance to create
composing my version of cantos from scenes of dante’s divine comedy and sondheim’s musical score
where in future shall i rest my core without muscles sore and mind bore, my energy to roar and soar

the funny thing is the human in hr doesn’t need the blend of human i have to offer
seems like i am better off to lead and mind the company’s coffer

such is the paradox
when one is out-of-box

need for greeks, romans, diversity inclusion
trick is how to harness value for a good conclusion
people are assets, hard to draw out, easy to say
which pasture do u want to graze, pay and play?

to be, u have to become
a set of trade-offs to succumb

better still, be still
Wisdom in proverbs 3:6 to direct will
since common sense is uncommon
therefore Wisdom to summon

u reap what u sow, more than u sow, and later than u sow
the Helper holds the harvest, this much i know
listen deep, align and glow with the flow

so much has transpired
since entering hr world aspired
so many mixed moments respired
some perspired, some inspired

from sorting donated sunsystems supplies at r.a.f.t.
to living in various communities, relationships and ideas to craft
from juggling balls of interesting shapes and color
to constantly reconfiguring the kaleidoscope parlor

mama’s breakfast, swan oyster depot, basque cultural center, cuisine to partake
“blues in the night” in sf theater for decompression sake
last night, “emma” in mountain view to intake
meanwhile email hell takes the cake
commitments to bake, not to break
fellowship discovered and raked

from santana row wahoo taco’s mixed with jazz
to annual intercon at cuesta, ties renewed razzmatazz
from design4delight wallet exercise at fairmont
to climbing cable cars to westin for inspire07 taunt

incredible life journeys in hr allhands, trainings, asian panels, survivor yul kwon seen
how others become what they are, where they’ve been
such rich input, so what can it mean, what to glean
some days confident and bright hope
some days in confusion mope

to be or not to be
constant morphing me

in the end
what will to bend
answer revealed below append

one evening driving home, hit by a gong
a bright big vermillion sun low on the horizon
sparked my rendition of beatles song

one day you’ll find
that i have gone
but tomorrow may rain,
so i’ll follow the Son

when the moon is in the 7th house
and jupiter aligns with mars
when u listen to sonar waves deep, callings arouse
your universe engages to sync with cosmic stars

transposing cacophony to symphony
of ethereal motif, what to let it be

whitecaps crash on the cragged rocks
to knock off your socks

emptying to fill and distill
essence of life to spill

when you’re wary and weary
leery and feeling small
when tears are in your eyes
He will dry them all

when it’s springtime in the delfi
a gentle wind whispers back to you
ancient oracle up on mountains high
dilvulging wisdom to bleary minds of gruel

can we have an owner in enabler’s clothing, o delphi oracle?
help us o wise one, we need a “pecir” miracle

the earth rumbled
the rocks tumbled
thunder roared
as delphi scored

enable first yourself with the Source
before u enable others with their force
to accomplish goals bigger than oneself
seek truth to find freedom from “pecir hell”

yahoo yassou
avec un bisou

dawned upon me while in crete
taipan my beloved morphed to zorpan the cheek

navigating single-laned hairpin curves, narrow-jammed streets
we have arrived, driving like local mad greeks

together 25 years we’ve journeyed this far
thru hills and valleys, fine tavernas, ouzo on sea, air, land by car

our thanks to dotty, a great audit team, kay and nico
stars destined us a wonderful voyage greco
not meant-to-be in pylos this time around
instead crete and santorini gems we found

started off with sights and sounds of bustling athens
amidst reminders of glorious past, acropolis beckons
greeted by warm aegean sea of humanity everywhere we went
delfi, sounion, iraklion, chania, agios nikolaus, matala, knossos, santorini blessings God-sent

drop technology into caldera with santorini

writing this blog, gazing out from panoramic villa window tiny

if i had to choose 1 place in the world to be in
#1 choice now is lyrical santorini sans din
painting with colors, pixels and in word
sharing journeys taken, inspired spurt

at flint center tonight, mesmerized by david copperfield slick tricks
how apt, an outpouring of america’s lyrical magie in my head clicks

i never believed in things that i couldn’t see
i said if i can’t feel it then how can it be
here is david that encompasses 2 life precepts
how we filter with our mental biceps

one – u can do magic,
u can have anything that u desire
magic, u know
you’re the one who can put out the fire

two – a sublimal admission
that life’s a bubble of our own illusion

then there’s warrior and psalmist david and his magic solution
who in deepest depths and soaring heights turned to heavens for collusion
struck in awe by the magic of his Maker
yet in a fallible moment, seduced bathsheba and became a wife-taker

u know darn well
when u cast your spell
u will get your way
when u hypnotize with your eyes
a heart of stone can turn to day

magic
can be tragic

thanks again lee for the tix
hope you’re enjoying cancun with the kidz
reporting back we could not find
david of the rabbit kind
so u got your wish my dear
tada, copperfield made coelho disappear!

soon upon us from coast to coast
those downunder are first to toast
past year to introspect and roast
clean out the ledger, new year to post

what to delete, what to store
what do u want less, what do u want more
what remains as festering sore
what resolutions to create galore
how to better and strengthen inner core
brokenness to restore
each other further bore
release the spirit to greater heights soar
row harder towards lighthouse, don’t drop the oar
get rid of that bad habit or apnea snore
what drumbeat to follow or ignore

robert burns marks every hogmanay, new year’s day
glasses clinked, voices bray and bodies sway
reviving and reveling friendships, times of “old long since”
the future lived out in present become memoirs minced

should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne

einen guten rutsch to slide into neujahr to start and cheer
prost to each other with a cup of kindness beer
for a good beginning, a rosh hashanah
rid the blah, usher instead rah-rah
fa-lalalala, patati patata
obladi oblada
life goes on
till dawn is gone

don’t let grinch steal your christmas
allow me to arm u with my heart verses

joan’s resting in a better place
no pain, no bitterness, no malaise
she left us with plenty of tender memories
to brave our own temporal life journeys

so let not your heart be troubled
instead, in God and each other, comfort and strength doubled

what better place to take a fraud detection class
on illuminating deception, none other than las vegas
a faux world of sounds abound, sights and lights to conceive
bellagio, venice, paris, rome, rio, you-name-it, to make believe
a shakespearean world of actors onstage
take in what u like or turn the page

let me take you down, cos i’m going to strawberry fields
nothing is real, and nothing to get hung about
fluff city feel forever
cirque soleil “beatles love” at mirage was indeed clever

eiffel tower, provencal eats under parisien blue skies
picture newlyweds on gondola with mist in their eyes
4 ex-hp pals gather in venice caneletto for lunch
entree delights of memories to munch and crunch

caesar’s palace beckons u to shop in the forum chic
dance with bellagio’s fountains, take your pick

check out polar bears cast from 18000 carnations

gawk at stunning glass flower art constellations

colorful clouds towering over your head
have petrussian caviar dreams and bollinger wishes in bed

las vegas is in my ears and in my eyes
there beneath the fake blue suburban skies
i sit, and meanwhile back
lost in the sea of slots and black jack

vegas in the sky with diamonds
vegas in the sky with diamonds
aaaahhhhh…
follow her down to a bridge by a fountain
where rocking horse people eat marshmellow pies
everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers
that grow so incredibly high
taxis appear on the north or south shore
waiting to take you away
climb in the back with your head in the clouds
and you’re gone

aaaahhhhh….
look at all the lonely people
where do they all come from?
all the lonely people
where do they all belong?

as we live a life of ease
everyone of us has all we need
sky of blue and sea of green
in our yellow submarine

at sahara, no mirage
the platters sing, someday you’ll find
all who love are blind
oh, when your heart’s on fire
you must realize
smoke gets in your eyes

a story of rose appeared in my e-mailbox yesterday
content of which i share its pearly ray
to ponder on growing old vs growing up
life is what you choose, what and how you sup

first day of school, the professor challenged us
get to know someone, to quench our thirst
i stood up and looked around
a gentle hand upon my shoulder found

a wrinkled, little old lady beamed at me
her smile lighting up her entire being like shiny sea
hi handsome, my name is rose and i am 87 years old
can i give you a hug bold, you to behold

of course you may, and a giant squeeze rippled through my cartilage
why are you in college, at such young, innocent age?
i’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of kids, she joshed
i always dreamed of having a college education, now getting one, of course!

after class, to student union building we walked to share a milkshake
instant friends we became, everyday mesmerizing conversations make
a “time machine” she shared her wisdom, experience and friendship spread dear
rose became a campus icon over course of the year

she loved to dress up and reveled in attention bestowed by all
she was living it up and having a ball
at semester end, rose was invited to speak at our football banquet
as she stepped up to the podium, her 3×5 cues dropped which stirred a racquet

frustrated and embarassed, she apologized
i gave up beer for lent, oh this whiskey is killing me, my jitters dramatized
i’ll never get my speech in order, so
just let me tell you what i know, off the cuff i go
we do not stop playing because we are old
we grow old because we stop playing, she told

there are 4 secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success
you have to laugh and find humor everyday, in life to caress
you’ve got to have dreams, fill your life to the brim
cos’ when you lose your dreams, you die – she beamed
we have so many people walking around who are dead and don’t even know it
there is a huge difference between growing older and growing up, she lit

if you are 19 years old and lie in bed for 1 full year
and not do one productive thing, you’ll turn 20 years old, my dear
if i am 87 years old, just stay in bed and never do anything
a year later, 88 years old i ring

anybody can grow older, it doesn’t take talent or ability
the idea is to grow up and always find in change, opportunity
the elderly usually have no regrets for what they did
but rather for things they did not do, kid
for you see, the only people who fear death are those with regrets
concluding her speech, she sang “the rose” for us to place our life bets

at year’s end, rose finished the college degree she begun all those years ago
one week after graduation peacefully in her sleep, rose gave up her mojo
over 2000 college students attended her funeral
in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example
that it’s never too late to be all you can possibly be
that’s all you need to earn life degree

these words, in loving memory of rose, to live life optimal
growing older is mandatory; growing up is optional
we make a living by what we get
we make a life by what we give, you bet

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage
if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it, is the message

bette midler sings:
some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed
some say love, it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed
some say love, it is a hunger
an endless, aching need
i say love, it is a flower
and you, its only seed

it’s the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance
it’s the dream afraid of waking
that never takes the chance
it’s the one who won’t be taken
who cannot seem to give
and the soul, afraid of dying
that never learns to live

when the night has been too lonely
and the road has been too long
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong

just remember in the winter
far beneath the bitter snows
lies the seed that with the sun’s love
in the spring, becomes the rose