Blog No. 2 Up and At 'Em

I've got another blog now--Nemesis Watching. I'll still use this blog, but the other site is more for the nitty-gritty, prosy side of life, whereas this one is more for creativity, literature, and art. I'll be writing about unemployment, economic and social ills and issues, and other such topics. Thanks for reading! Love you all near and far!

Behind the Scenes: Blog Stats and a Thank-You

I frequently use the hashtag #readersmakeithappen in my tweets relating to my blog. This blog does happen because of you. I took some screenshots of my stats so you can see one of the things that just make my day: knowing you're out there, reading my posts.

 This week...

Of all time, as of 12.9.11

 

 Most viewed posts this week...

Most viewed of all time as of 12.9.11

My traffic sources

And there you are, dear readers!

If I solely wanted to yammer on, "express myself," and demand someone pay devout attention to and understand me, I can hire a therapist for that. This blog is for you--an invitation to reflect on life under this sun with me, if only for a few minutes out of your busy day. To you who accepted that invitation, you have my gratitude.

Well Now. This is a Something.

"How To Self Publish (And Seem Like You're Not)”

I don’t altogether approve of her fudging the facts to her readers nor with her philosophy that “writing is a lot like lying” (italics mine). However, I will say this: that girl has got moxie and talent three ways to Sunday. My hat’s off to her for her spunk. I might even buy her book.

Here is her author blog,  and her other blog is here.

Miscellanea Item No. 1

Friend of mine started a blog. Follow her: she's worth listening to. :) Kuyperian Librarian

Foundations I Art Class Project

Our professor assigned a folio project for our class. The first page requires us to answer the question "What is art?"
We can quote others if we wish, or we can write our own definitions. Here is mine.

Art results from the methods in which the artist may manipulate various materials in diverse styles — via color, form, and other sensorial elements and principles — to evoke specific emotional, intellectual, and/or physical responses from his or her audience,  be it admiration, fear, disgust, wonder, etc.

What do you think? Have I missed something? Or should it be narrowed down somewhat?

The One Wish Granted

My impossible made possible is that I could have a sprawling house large enough to shelter and bring up every unwanted child. All of them. That I could have enough money to educate them in whatever discipline they had a natural talent for – music, math, art, science. That I could keep, love, and mother them until they were old enough to live and thrive on their own.

I’d take them all. No questions asked of you, the parents. No judgment for why you don’t want him, why she doesn’t fit in with your schedule, why they’re mistakes you have to wipe clean, why they’re accidents or ugly mementos.

I’ll take them. You don’t have to see them ever again.

Just don’t kill them, please. Please, don't.

Can it be?

Jesus said, "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." *

And just as humankind almost reeled into despair at those words, He uttered the greatest, loveliest catch to a death sentence in the span of time: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." **

Can't quite make that register in your brain and heart? Here's a secret--you don't have to do one better than the Pharisees. No, really. It's ok. Our Brother and Father said so. You're free.

"Oh but nothing's free," you hear over and over, "SOMEBODY had to pay, your freedom cost SOMEBODY a great deal, so you'd better toe the line, or the best you'll get is scant acknowledgment that He saved you from sin and an obligatory corner shanty in Heaven."

Yes. Our Brother, Father, and Comforter paid. The price was high. But They did it because they wanted to. Not out of obligation. What's dearly bought is dearly cherished.

So no more cringing in the dust, crawling along on your belly, and feeling like you need to pay Him back for paying your debt. 

Arise, and breathe the free air.


*Matthew 5:20
**Romans 8:1-4

A Moment of Thanksliving

Mine is this...my thanks to God for His gift of a humiliation.

An outstanding growth of character came from my Biology and Chemistry classes my first semester sophomore year. I've always been gifted in the area of English, words, and writing. I'm not bragging: I acknowledge it is a treasured gift from my Father. However, prior to the aforementioned semester, I esteemed my gift lightly--I had an unkind attitude towards others who weren't on the same level of understanding English as I was. I never spoke these things, but I would think, "Wow, you're stupid if you can't get this--what is wrong with you?! This is simple." During the course of that semester, I failed basically every Chem. and Bio. lab, quiz, and test--I studied, I got a tutor, and nothing worked.

I've been gifted--however, that's no free pass for me to despise others because they can't do what I can. I pray I never forget those moments of complete confusion and dismay during Chemistry and Biology, because I need them to remind and move me to compassion on those who struggle.

I am thankful for God's gift of humiliation, and I am thankful that He even gave me the ability to learn from it.

Hugo

Hugo

a protest is in order.

So much that people write on cats—

All the mystery expounded ad infinitum,

Saying, “Ah, that poem is a cat, and is so much more,”

then oblige a maudlin Lassie scribble,

saying, “There’s a good boy,”

have done with it,

And jump right back to writing psalms to their spastic god.

You sit, your tail fwapping in glee and speculation,

basking in the world that is your bone-yard.

A historical background of Celtic poetry

"The high status of poets within Celtic societies is well attested and was maintained down to the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries. In Gaelic societies the name for a poet, file (or filid - plural), is derived from a root word meaning "to see". [sic] Celtic poets may be better known as bards and though the Irish and Scottish peoples poets also came to be known as either file or bard, originally there was a distinction in rank between the two with the hereditary file having the higher status and greater training." --on Celtic poetry from The Poet's Garret. The rest of the site is worth a read.

"I would build that dome in air, / That sunny dome! those caves of ice!" --Coleridge

Will my world of words prosper? or will it flutter down in ashes from the fire, the residue of the warring clash of dream and reality?

I'm just curious.