Words

Words.

A man I know of, only by the words he has written - is dying a horrible death, by cancer - that has spread throughout his body.

By most measures, he is probably not what you would deem a good man - but I have enjoyed his written words, the weaving of stories - always with keen humor - and the humanity and empathy that are expressed by his words.

His eye is well tuned to observe his fellow man.

The news of his imminent death gives me pause, for I have not yet written the greater part of the words that I will hopefully leave behind one day.

But I hope to be able to write with the humanity and empathy that his words have revealed for me.
I'm not a good man, and I'm not a bad man. I'm just a man with a boat - and a tool box. Passing through. Helping out. Searching. Learning.

Pardon me, I have some words to go write.

I am a Student of The Way

I am a student of The Way

The world is my Dojo

We are not separate, but partners in a dance of life and learning

My body is my instrument with which I create my art

My mind is my refuge - in which I seek Zanshin - to allow me to respond as needed

My life is dedicated to the service of others - and exploring how to weave The Way into my daily life

My day is filled with opportunities to incorporate The Way into my daily practice

My soul is unhindered by the past, embraces the future - and whispers of the possible

There is no first attack in The Way

My art is just one tool of The Way, there are many tools - all may help me journey along my path

To teach The Way is to fulfill The Way

There is no belt that matters, no fixed place called Dojo - there is only The Way

What I think I have achieved, passes as dust - treat each day as your first day of entering The Way

"I Long..."

"I Long..."

I long for work that is meaningful to my soul - fulfilling the dual need/want - to work with my hands, and with my mind
I long for the wide open spaces
I long for the cool crisp air of the Pacific Northwest, the smell of the ocean, and the sight of the mountains
I long for the green verdant trees of my beautiful Pacific Northwest
I long for the cool deep blue waters of the Puget Sound
I long for quiet walks in the wood - with the wind whispering in the tops of the trees...
I long for the sound of running water...of a forest brook, or a mountain river...

After Windows Update - strange X's on every search bar, button, or picture

This just started happening on my MSI laptop.

• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/forum/ie11-iewindows8_1/xs-on-every-search-bar-button-for-login-on/b2302fc5-db16-462c-91e9-153a08de4d90

• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/forum/ie11-iewindows8_1/ie11-win-81-white-cross-on-background-of-images/7db8bc7d-28ce-4f8f-be9a-0e3ae469923f

After updating the Display Device Driver, problem solved.

True Friends

True Friends are so very rare in life.

I have been so very blessed to have some great ones.

As the shadows lengthen, and Summer ends and turns to the Autumn of life - the shadow of the Shade at my shoulder brings no trembling thought or fear of the setting sun that must one day come - for into that deepening night, I will take the memories of those friendships - that shall light the way as the journey continues....

To all those friendships that have spanned the years, this video gives just a hint of the essence of how those are cherished.

A Meditation: Love

Love is what is left after the passion has died away. It is the glowing ember of care that lasts through the coldest winter.

It is the choice made - and kept. It may be damaged - but never beyond repair - as long as two souls work in union as one.

Even when everyone might assume it has withered to dust - it still exists - waiting for the moment to re-ignite.

Love is acceptance.

Love is a promise.

Love is never a duty.

Love is never diminished by being given - only by being withheld.

Love transcends the boundaries of our mortal selves and transforms us.

Doctor Who: "I Am An Idiot!"

Captain Corelli's Mandolin: "This is what love is..."





Nanny McPhee: "Snow in August"





Love Actually: "Restaurant Proposal"

Gift Idea for Graduating Seniors

This summer, many seniors will be graduating from either high school, or university - an excellent gift package, if I may be so bold as to suggest - that if read and internalized, will pay dividends for the rest of their lives, three books:

The Art of War, by Sun Tzu
- a great read - that can be consumed in small tasty morsels of thought - that will illuminate many aspects and layers of strategy versus tactics.

The Prince, by Niccolò Machiavelli
- Not intended as a suggestion on "how to" - but rather, expository - in helping someone new to the corporate workforce develop an awareness of how deep and complex the machination of foes can be - and illuminating in understanding the why of their behaviors.

The Book of Five Rings, by Miyamoto Musashi
- a great read on strategy and tactics - in both the larger, as well as smaller scale. Truly, as the person matures through successive plateaus in their career - they will re-read this book - and continue to see deeper meaning in the same brief snippets.