Proverbs are interesting and complex things. They appear, on the surface, to be gems of wisdom which have been passed down through the ages. I don’t know how many times I have nodded my head and accepted without further discussion until someone pointed out to me that most proverbs have an opposite. It seems so obvious to me now that I can’t believe I didn’t note the contradictions myself. Next time you find yourself nodding along to a proverb, stop and think of its opposite.
Look before you leap.
He who hesitates is lost.
Opposites attract.
Birds of a feather flock together.
Hitch your wagon to a star.
Don’t bite off more that you can chew.
Many hands make light work.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Clothes make the man.
The squeaking wheel gets the grease.
Silence is golden.
Clothes make the man.
You cannot judge a book by its cover.
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
Don’t beat your head against a stone wall.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
Don’t cross the bridge until you come to it.
Two heads are better than one.
Paddle your own canoe.
Haste makes waste.
Time waits for no man.
You’re never too old to learn.
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
A word to the wise is sufficient.
Talk is cheap.
It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
Nice guys finish last.
Eliza Waters, Anita Dawes and Jaye Marie have chosen a cool approach to Sunday that appeals to me, too! Pictures or even just one picture. Although, I did find making a decision for just one was challenging. I’m guilty of taking lots of pictures. 😃
Typically I end with my song choice for today but… Humans are not intended to be caged, we tend not to behave well. But out of respect I will not take this conversation further because once you put it out there, it never goes away. Instead, let’s talk about these amazing guitar players, BB. King. Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, and Jimmie Vaughn instead of what’s really behind my song choice. I’m sure you’re familiar with the adage Silence is Golden.
“The thrill is gone
The thrill is gone away
The thrill is gone baby
The thrill is gone away
You know you done me wrong baby
And you’ll be sorry someday” ~ BB King
BB King recorded his version of the Thrill is Gone in 1969. I was a teenager just beginning to appreciate good music when I discovered BB. When it hit the charts it rose to number 3 on Billboard’s Hot 100, and became his popular hit of his career. It received a Grammy in 1998. I still love this song.
“I feel wonderful because I see
The love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don’t realize how much I love you”~ Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton’s You Look Wonderful Tonight is my favorite although he’s probably more known for his I Shot the Sheriff. Clapton is ranked 2nd in Rolling Stone’s top guitarist. Here I tend to lean toward Bob Marley’s version more than Clapton’s cover version. I guess it depends if you like reggae straight or with a touch of soft rock. I remember seeing an interview where Marley said he changed the lyrics from I shot the police to I shot the sheriff to keep the radio stations happy.
“I get a constant busy signal
When I call you on the phone
I get a strong, uneasy feeling
You’re not sitting there alone
I’m having nasty, nasty visions
And baby you’re in every one, yeah
And I’m so afraid I’m gonna find you with
A so-called smoking gun”~ Robert Cray
Robert Cray’s Smoking Gun hit number 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1986. I simply fell in love with how he played the guitar more than the words to the song though there were times I wondered how I would feel if he was holding that smoking gun. 1986 was during the dark days of my first marriage, he accused me constantly of every thing under the sun. Cray performed as an opening act for Clapton in his early days and in his later days played guitar on a few of Clapton’s releases. I didn’t agree with the Rolling Stone’s snub for top 100 guitarist.
“Dengue woman
Stay away from me
Dengue woman
Stay away from me
You got your fever and your rash
Over me
That’s why
Everyday you bring me misery
Everyday you give me misery
I think about jumpin’
Jumpin’ in the deep blue see”~ Jimmie Vaughn
Jimmie Vaughn had the pleasure of opening for Jimi Hendrix. My first exposure to him was actually in the movie Blue Brothers 2000 where he played one of the fictional Louisana Gator Boys with BB King. I like his guitar skills, his political inclinations with Ron Paul not so much. Putting his political stupidity aside I still enjoy Dengue Woman. I love the sound of the guitar. Jimmie’s brother Stevie made the Rolling Stone’s list for guitarist before he was killed in a helicopter crash.
My friend Jeanne sent me a picture of a mojito this afternoon in a text. AH, now that sounds perfect for today. Aggravating the pancreas… is a negative, numbing the migraine is a positive. Bonus, if I drink enough I’ll numb all the other aggravation.
Doesn’t the mint and lime look good together. I love being able to pick fresh mint and adding it to water as well as to mojito’s. I’m so lucky it is growing so profusely in my rail planter.
Cancer Culinary toolkit:
Mint is a digestive aid, and it is antimicrobial as well as being rich in Vitamin c and beta-carotene.
Writing Today:
I’ve written a poetic response to a Stream of Consciousness prompt and another poetic response to a paint chip prompt in addition to reworking this poem that I originally wrote in 2017. Three poems today. Yay!
Lyn’s Last Journey Her name hangs by a string
dangling from her big toe
protruding from a dark box.
Her unfinished obituary
lies on the ancient desk
shrouded in dust.
No one remembers
when she was more than mortal
but her.
Oh, how her howls rushed through
the leaves of time. It was a lonely
journey being her, the social misfit
trapped and helpless facing failure.
She endured days of misery.
Lies, incompetence,
and cruelty were the norm.
in the turbulent times
until that fatal flawed moment.
She never saw her end being
a mere string with a hand gripping
the gloomy box that holds what’s left
of her…Lyn, a figment in her own mind.
Dear Johnny,
Zac finished first yesterday with your name tribute on the hood leading the way. Zac said Where to begin! Last night was a blast!! Had an awesome battle with Kyle Robinson in the feature, in the end we came home in First! Thank you so much to everyone who helps! I watched Kim’s video feed of the race last night.
CJ had a lobster sandwich and red hot dogs at a place called a Bite of Maine in Virginia Beach for his 16th birthday dinner. He never had the opportunity to take them from the trap fresh and pop in the steaming pot like you. And those red hot dogs we’re so familiar with in Maine aren’t available here in Jersey either.
Gramma misses you.
Garden update:
I checked the garden out, phew the veggies fared really well. I did have to drain a few of the pots of the excess water but overall things went well. It’s 93 degrees here so it won’t take long to dry things back out but at least everything got a thorough rinsing. Husky 100’s, cucumbers and beans, and the zucchini all looking healthy. The husky 100 plant is almost taller than me. ( the middle circle) Crazy how big it got.
This beautiful sunflower was a gift from the birds that we feed. ❤️ I love her imperfections.
Have you ever thought how much strength a sunflower must have to stand so tall in the scorching heat of the day and withstand the torrential downpours of Mother Nature.
I love that sunflowers were chose as a symbol of peace after World War II. I wish there were more symbols of peace now instead of seeing the steady increase of gun sales.
Yesterday blogging didn’t happen because my migraine spiked really bad . The impending storm probably added to the pressure my head was feeling. Staring at a computer wasn’t in the picture with the auras. So much for setting a new record. Oh well. It is what it is.
Garden:
I secured my tomato cages and trellises before Tropical Fay visited New Jersey. I took some pictures of my flower beds before the storm arrived. It was a good thing I did because the wind broke four of my gladiolus, snapped the yellow lily and the white lily and splayed my rose bush knocking lots of blossoms off the bush.
Thankfully, my veggies fared better.
Reading:
I read one of Ray Bradbury’s short stories Cat Pajama’s out loud to Macavity. He wanted to curl up in my lap while the wind was whipping and the rain slamming against the glass. I think the storm was upsetting my fur baby. It reminded me of the last time I read Cat’s Pajama’s. My granddaughters were down from Maine visiting with us. Grandma and Grandpa took turns reading to them before bedtime. Cat’s Pajama was a hit even with the age difference. The older granddaughter thought she was too old for bedtime stories.
Veggie Burgers:
Two cans of garbanzo beans (chick peas) drained and rinsed I mashed them but you can toss in food processor
1/2 green pepper finely chopped
1/2 yellow onion finely chopped
1 carrot shredded
1 yellow squash scoop out seeds and then finely diced
4 whole mushrooms finely diced
3 cloves of garlic diced
1 egg
2 tbsp of olive oil
2 tbsp of tahini
1 tbsp of black pepper
2 tbsp of Italian seasoning
1 tsp of salt
Mix together, put in fridge for an hour or longer for flavors to blend. Makes 8 patties.
Shape into patties bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes and then turn and bake final 10 minutes.
I had Swiss chard ready in the garden so I chopped it up and tossed it in. You can add cilantro to this recipe as well but I didn’t have any so I skipped it this time.
They came out awesome. Vic did a lot of complaining, swears I’m trying to kill with veggies.
Culinary tool kit against cancer:
Chick peas are anti-inflammatory as well as being loaded with protein. Their high fiber helps flush toxins from our body.
Chocolate is anti-inflammatory and it has four times the anti-oxidants found in tea.
Cilantro and coriander is a digestive aid, as well as an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial. Cilantro is helpful for anxiety. Unfortunately, I have lots of that lately.
Birthday and a Dark Memory
CJ is sixteen today. He’s my oldest grandson. I wish we could go to see him in Virginia but that’s not in the game plan with COVID-19 and my health. This is the second year in a row we haven’t been able to get together. Last year on CJ’s birthday we were inside a church for Johnny’s service in Skowhegan, Maine.
There were two songs played during his service. One song was by Brad Paisley, When I Get There and the other song was by Band Perry, If I Die Young.
CJ complained about how grownups don’t really hear. Johnny said, the same thing about grownups. They don’t listen. One of the lines in the song, is funny how people start listening when you’re dead. Did I listen enough? I’ve wondered that a lot in this past year. If nothing else I hope you never ask that question of yourself. Anyone can hide. Facing up to things, working through them, that’s what makes you strong.
“A penny for my thoughts, oh no I’ll sell them for a dollar
They’re worth so much more after I’m a goner
And maybe then you’ll hear the words I been singin’
Funny when you’re dead… how people start listenin’ “~ Band Perry
“Courage isn’t having the strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have strength.” Napolean Bonaparte
Tanka is a classic form of Japanese poetry related to the haiku with five unrhymed lines of five, seven, five, seven, and seven syllables. (5, 7, 5, 7, 7)
I started reading Queenie by Candice Carty- Williams today. Very relatable writing style. I typically prefer the classics but this spring I’ve read five contemporary authors. I think every author needs to fine tune their skill set by expanding their minds in directions they don’t normally dwell. My favorite genres are history and biographical and how to. I’ve added mystery and young adult into the mix.
Crocheting:
I’ve begun the first stripe on my sweater. The colors are working well together for me. The lower band is rose and the body is magenta with three thin rose stripes to tie the colors together. I’m liking the way it is coming together in the cotton yarn.
Tonight, was my weekly writing group meeting on zoom so I grabbed turkey noodle soup with carrots and peas out of the freezer for dinner. Sometimes, you just need comfort food and soup is definitely that.
Culinary tool kit”
Adding some more tools to your cancer fighting toolbox.
Cherries are anti-inflammatory and they look really good in the super markets right now.
Chicken has an interesting role because it is a possible metal detoxifer as well as being an anti-oxidant. Organic chicken is an awesome source of niacin and selenium according to Rebecca Katz although recent articles debate the benefit of eating chicken. This is one I would say use personal judgement on because there’s still so many outliers.
My song choice for today is When You Say Nothing at All by Keith Whitley. Yes, there are moments when silence is the best way to decompress which I needed more than anything. The conversations I did have today were enjoyable. Thanks Marcus and Char, you made today much easier.
Vic and I played cribbage with our usual bantering. Our simple exchanges bring me joy, especially when he gives me one of his mischievous smiles. Macavity and Yeats both gave me the best snuggles ever.
I worked awhile on the vignettes but became frustrated so I decided to work on a poem. It’s still a work in progress and without a title.
lyncrain 