Sunday, July 15, 2012
About my Grandmother
Unearthed some shards from the past, mostly about my grandmother, Anastasya Kondub Kujan.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Winsome is...
Word History: Winsome people easily win friends, so it is not surprising that winsome and win have a common root. Their shared element win- comes from the Indo-European root *wen-, meaning "to desire, strive for," and has a number of descendants in the Germanic languages. One was the prehistoric Germanic noun *wini- meaning "friend" (literally, "one who desires or loves" someone else), which became wine in Old English and is preserved in such names as Winfred, "friend of peace," and Edwin, "friend of (family) possessions." A different form of the root with a different suffix became Old English wynn, "pleasure, joy," preserved in winsome. Finally, the verb win itself is from this root; its meaning is an extension of the sense "to strive for," namely, "to strive for with success, be victorious." Outside of the Germanic branch of Indo-European, we see the root, for example, in Latin venus or Venus "love, the goddess of love," and the verb vener
re, "to worship," the source of English venerate.
re, "to worship," the source of English venerate.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Uncle Otzi?
Here he is - the 5,000 year old man with whom I share my Haplogroup. The remains of "Otzi the Iceman" were discovered well-preserved in snow in the Italian Alps. Scientists were able to extract a wealth of information from samples of his DNA that link our genes - including enough data to reconstruct what he looked like (a little like my brother!)
To view a short video about Otzi, copy and paste this link: http://www.5min.com/Video/Scientists-Release-New-DNA-Profile-of-Frozen-Iceman-517285905
To view a short video about Otzi, copy and paste this link: http://www.5min.com/Video/Scientists-Release-New-DNA-Profile-of-Frozen-Iceman-517285905
Monday, February 13, 2012
Why I will no longer “Stop & Shop” in Westport
I've shopped at Stop & Shop in Westport, Connecticut forever, first with my mom in the 1960’s when it was a little store; as a teen in the 1970’s; in the 1980’s when it became a Super store and I was a mom with three kids and through the 1990’s and 2000’s when I became caretaker for an elderly parent. Spending an average of $150 per week, 52 weeks a year, for about 30 years equals close to $240.000. How has Stop & Shop used my investment? One obvious thing is the new logo and color scheme. From new uniforms for the employees to printing the redesigned logo on every conceivable piece of merchandise – advertisements, bags, signage, receipts, courtesy cards, key fobs, ad infinitum. New colors and designs are nice, BUT not when important stuff is not addressed, like making sure its food and facility are safe and creating a shopping experience that is easy, enjoyable and affordable. Where do they go wrong? Here is a start:
• PARKING::: The lot is filled with giant SUVs, most of which are parked near the entrance. If I park my little car in a space that has clear views on either side I will inevitably come out of the store to find that I am surrounding by giant SUVs that I can’t see around or through. This means blindly backing up out of my parking spot which I do slowly and carefully – even so I've nearly run into a dozen people who are walking to the store as I am backing up. (How I would solve the problem: designate areas for parking by vehicle size, small vehicles in front, large ones in back.)
• ENTRY?::: The store entry/exit area is a confluence of people entering, exiting, checking out, getting a cart, returning a cart simultaneously in a small area with no marked lanes, signs or direction. When entering the store, you have your choice of two ways to begin shopping: if you turn right you will have on your left the back end of the checkouts, to your right, a DVD vending machine, a People’s Bank and the store customer service desk which combined, takes up about half the size of the store. If, instead of turning right at the entrance, you proceed to your left, you have to maneuver between tables containing special holiday offerings on your right, and on your left a seating area for workers and others taking a break, and next to that a self-checkout. In between these areas there are people entering, exiting or stopping to chat. (How I'd solve the problem: redesign the cart area, move the DVD vending machine, relocate the specialty items section to the area next to the pharmacy (where the self checkout counter is located); move the self checkout to the space where the specialty items were.)
• AISLES::: every aisle now has about three “Point of Purchase” displays (for "impulse buying). These self contained shelving units measure about 2’ x 4’ and are placed at an angle, displaying items from mayonnaise to toilet tissue. The angle and weight (too heavy to move) of these displays prevents two carts from traversing the aisle simultaneously – one person must stop to let the other pass. Forget it if you want an item in back of a display. Stopping to retrieve it will stop the flow of traffic. The result? If I can’t get to my merchandise, I will just buy it somewhere else. Most importantly, how are these obstacles not a fire hazard?!?! (How I'd solve the problem: POP displays would not be allowed in the aisles. If needed, make them flush with, or built into, the existing horizontal shelving.)
• SHELVING::: I'd buy it if I could reach it. I have climbed up shelves many a time to retrieve items but now the effort is too much. (Is this a grocery store or a gym?) (How I'd solve the problem: redesign stacking vertically so that the same items are available at different heights.)
• PRODUCE::: I'd buy it if I could get to it!! These aisles are blocked by “POP” displays AND grocery store staff with their work carts, loading and unloading merchandise. Why do this task during busy shopping times? Stop blocking the aisles! Do you NOT want me to shop here?? (How I'd solve the problem: no merchandising, employees or carts during peak hours.)
• QUALITY::: I've purchased items whose expiration dates have come and gone – this I don’t notice until I am at home, of course, because I’m too busy trying to maneuver around people and things in addition to - oh yeah, shopping - to read labels. Returning items is never a problem though; customer service gladly refunds the purchase price when I return to the store with the item and receipt. However, the last store slip-up was the final straw: I had gone into the store at around 5:00 pm to use the bank and grab a quick meal. After fighting my way through the store obstacles, I grabbed some hot chicken wings from the deli section (2.99 for 4 pieces) and a box of croissants from the store bakery (3.99 for a package of 4). I just had to check out...
• CHECKING OUT::: With saving time in mind, I often choose the self checkout. The way it works is something like this: hold your item with its bar code facing the bar code reader until you hear a sound like “boop”, then a computer voice says something like: “Package of croissants, 2.99. Please place your item on the belt” and when you do, the belt moves the item to the rear of the check out area - at least, it is supposed to; in reality what happens is that the belt, due to a design flaw, doesn't move your item all the way to the end of the check out area which triggers the computer to say “If you are done scanning, please press finish and pay”. You push the items to the end to the end of the belt and return to the front and scan more items, which again don’t make it to the end, triggering the computer voice... Meanwhile, people have formed a line waiting to check out and now you have an audience. Also, the check outs are located across from the Peoples Bank, a small area that employs 3 tellers who sit behind a glass counter and a couple of feet in front of them an employee whose job is to stand in front of the tellers to direct customers to a teller. (Really.) So, while I am racing back and forth (working for free, btw) the computer voice instructs me to scan, clear the belt and bag items, four full-time [paid] bank employees - who seem to have more time than they know what to do with - join the audience to watch my free show.
• BAGGING::: you've "finished and paid" but you still need to bag your items. Because customers behind you have already started scanning and sending their items through, some of their stuff bumps into yours that you haven’t bagged yet, causing you to rush and do things like throw cans of tuna on top of soft bread. (How I'd solve the problem: redesign the food belt with a steeper angle with the items going directly into bags. Don't allow scanner to work if someone is still bagging their order.)
• LEAVING::: having survived the parking, aisles and check out there is one task left, leaving. It's not as easy as it sounds; the exit is also the entrance; people are getting carts, putting away carts, going to the bank, using the DVD vending machine and, inevitably, you or another shopper encounter a former classmate you haven’t seen in years, or another parent with whom you must discuss a school event, etc. Once past these obstacles and through the exit door there is usually a table set up by the scouts, swim team, or charitable organization asking you for one more thing. In the parking lot, your little car has been surrounded by giant cars with darkened windows so you can’t see through or around them. You back out of your spot slowly and carefully but still narrowly miss someone walking to the store. (How I'd solve the problem: see “entering store” and designate an area for socializing/selling/fundraising away from traffic.)
• HOME::: When I returned home and unpacked my groceries from my last shopping trip I opened the bag of chicken wings (remember the chicken wings?) and I saw that there were not 4, as the contents stated, but only 3. Too tired to fuss about it, I bit into one, but what’s this?!!? Red at the bone! Not fully cooked! I spat it out and tried another, also red at the bone, the third and last one, red inside – same as the other two. At least there are croissants, I remembered. I took one out – it was as hard as a rock, so were the other three. I considered returning the rock hard croissants and undercooked chicken to the store for a happy refund but decided it would be too much work and I was too tired. Instead, I brought the chicken and croissants outside and threw them into the woods for the wildlife. (How I'd solve the problem: have employees check merchandise dates outside of their designated areas (e.g.: produce workers check bakery items, bakery workers check frozen food, etc.) I wish the store had a suggestion box - even a virtual one on its website - I'd like to tell them a thing or two.)
• PARKING::: The lot is filled with giant SUVs, most of which are parked near the entrance. If I park my little car in a space that has clear views on either side I will inevitably come out of the store to find that I am surrounding by giant SUVs that I can’t see around or through. This means blindly backing up out of my parking spot which I do slowly and carefully – even so I've nearly run into a dozen people who are walking to the store as I am backing up. (How I would solve the problem: designate areas for parking by vehicle size, small vehicles in front, large ones in back.)
• ENTRY?::: The store entry/exit area is a confluence of people entering, exiting, checking out, getting a cart, returning a cart simultaneously in a small area with no marked lanes, signs or direction. When entering the store, you have your choice of two ways to begin shopping: if you turn right you will have on your left the back end of the checkouts, to your right, a DVD vending machine, a People’s Bank and the store customer service desk which combined, takes up about half the size of the store. If, instead of turning right at the entrance, you proceed to your left, you have to maneuver between tables containing special holiday offerings on your right, and on your left a seating area for workers and others taking a break, and next to that a self-checkout. In between these areas there are people entering, exiting or stopping to chat. (How I'd solve the problem: redesign the cart area, move the DVD vending machine, relocate the specialty items section to the area next to the pharmacy (where the self checkout counter is located); move the self checkout to the space where the specialty items were.)
• AISLES::: every aisle now has about three “Point of Purchase” displays (for "impulse buying). These self contained shelving units measure about 2’ x 4’ and are placed at an angle, displaying items from mayonnaise to toilet tissue. The angle and weight (too heavy to move) of these displays prevents two carts from traversing the aisle simultaneously – one person must stop to let the other pass. Forget it if you want an item in back of a display. Stopping to retrieve it will stop the flow of traffic. The result? If I can’t get to my merchandise, I will just buy it somewhere else. Most importantly, how are these obstacles not a fire hazard?!?! (How I'd solve the problem: POP displays would not be allowed in the aisles. If needed, make them flush with, or built into, the existing horizontal shelving.)
• SHELVING::: I'd buy it if I could reach it. I have climbed up shelves many a time to retrieve items but now the effort is too much. (Is this a grocery store or a gym?) (How I'd solve the problem: redesign stacking vertically so that the same items are available at different heights.)
• PRODUCE::: I'd buy it if I could get to it!! These aisles are blocked by “POP” displays AND grocery store staff with their work carts, loading and unloading merchandise. Why do this task during busy shopping times? Stop blocking the aisles! Do you NOT want me to shop here?? (How I'd solve the problem: no merchandising, employees or carts during peak hours.)
• QUALITY::: I've purchased items whose expiration dates have come and gone – this I don’t notice until I am at home, of course, because I’m too busy trying to maneuver around people and things in addition to - oh yeah, shopping - to read labels. Returning items is never a problem though; customer service gladly refunds the purchase price when I return to the store with the item and receipt. However, the last store slip-up was the final straw: I had gone into the store at around 5:00 pm to use the bank and grab a quick meal. After fighting my way through the store obstacles, I grabbed some hot chicken wings from the deli section (2.99 for 4 pieces) and a box of croissants from the store bakery (3.99 for a package of 4). I just had to check out...
• CHECKING OUT::: With saving time in mind, I often choose the self checkout. The way it works is something like this: hold your item with its bar code facing the bar code reader until you hear a sound like “boop”, then a computer voice says something like: “Package of croissants, 2.99. Please place your item on the belt” and when you do, the belt moves the item to the rear of the check out area - at least, it is supposed to; in reality what happens is that the belt, due to a design flaw, doesn't move your item all the way to the end of the check out area which triggers the computer to say “If you are done scanning, please press finish and pay”. You push the items to the end to the end of the belt and return to the front and scan more items, which again don’t make it to the end, triggering the computer voice... Meanwhile, people have formed a line waiting to check out and now you have an audience. Also, the check outs are located across from the Peoples Bank, a small area that employs 3 tellers who sit behind a glass counter and a couple of feet in front of them an employee whose job is to stand in front of the tellers to direct customers to a teller. (Really.) So, while I am racing back and forth (working for free, btw) the computer voice instructs me to scan, clear the belt and bag items, four full-time [paid] bank employees - who seem to have more time than they know what to do with - join the audience to watch my free show.
• BAGGING::: you've "finished and paid" but you still need to bag your items. Because customers behind you have already started scanning and sending their items through, some of their stuff bumps into yours that you haven’t bagged yet, causing you to rush and do things like throw cans of tuna on top of soft bread. (How I'd solve the problem: redesign the food belt with a steeper angle with the items going directly into bags. Don't allow scanner to work if someone is still bagging their order.)
• LEAVING::: having survived the parking, aisles and check out there is one task left, leaving. It's not as easy as it sounds; the exit is also the entrance; people are getting carts, putting away carts, going to the bank, using the DVD vending machine and, inevitably, you or another shopper encounter a former classmate you haven’t seen in years, or another parent with whom you must discuss a school event, etc. Once past these obstacles and through the exit door there is usually a table set up by the scouts, swim team, or charitable organization asking you for one more thing. In the parking lot, your little car has been surrounded by giant cars with darkened windows so you can’t see through or around them. You back out of your spot slowly and carefully but still narrowly miss someone walking to the store. (How I'd solve the problem: see “entering store” and designate an area for socializing/selling/fundraising away from traffic.)
• HOME::: When I returned home and unpacked my groceries from my last shopping trip I opened the bag of chicken wings (remember the chicken wings?) and I saw that there were not 4, as the contents stated, but only 3. Too tired to fuss about it, I bit into one, but what’s this?!!? Red at the bone! Not fully cooked! I spat it out and tried another, also red at the bone, the third and last one, red inside – same as the other two. At least there are croissants, I remembered. I took one out – it was as hard as a rock, so were the other three. I considered returning the rock hard croissants and undercooked chicken to the store for a happy refund but decided it would be too much work and I was too tired. Instead, I brought the chicken and croissants outside and threw them into the woods for the wildlife. (How I'd solve the problem: have employees check merchandise dates outside of their designated areas (e.g.: produce workers check bakery items, bakery workers check frozen food, etc.) I wish the store had a suggestion box - even a virtual one on its website - I'd like to tell them a thing or two.)
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Looking for Kujans, Mrykalos and members of Haplogroup K
According to the National Geographic Genographic project I am a member of Haplogroup K. I'd like to find out more about my people!
So far, I know that my mother's maiden name is Mrykalo and she is from Koniuky (sp?) Ukraine. I think her mother's name was Anastasia and that she had step-siblings from her mother's prior marriage. She also had two younger brothers, perhaps one was named Peter. My father's name was Alexander (Aleksai?) Kujan and his parents were living in the US, had children here (Anna, Joseph and Mary?) then moved the family to Eastern Europe* and had more children (Alexander and...?). WWII caused his family to break up - children born in the US were sent back here. My father met my mother in a displacement camp in Germany and then came to the US in the late 40s. I grew up as a Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Catholic (church of the Holy Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary!) in Connecticut. Alexander died in 1970 and Maria is still living though information is not easy to come by. I think anyone who experienced living in and around Germany during the war years finds it difficult to speak freely about that time and about their families.
According to test results, many Ashkenazi Jews are members of Haplogroup K though apparently there was a group that branched off - are these the Greek Catholics? There are a lot of ?s still but it is early in the search. The more info the better, so if you have any, please send it here!
So far, I know that my mother's maiden name is Mrykalo and she is from Koniuky (sp?) Ukraine. I think her mother's name was Anastasia and that she had step-siblings from her mother's prior marriage. She also had two younger brothers, perhaps one was named Peter. My father's name was Alexander (Aleksai?) Kujan and his parents were living in the US, had children here (Anna, Joseph and Mary?) then moved the family to Eastern Europe* and had more children (Alexander and...?). WWII caused his family to break up - children born in the US were sent back here. My father met my mother in a displacement camp in Germany and then came to the US in the late 40s. I grew up as a Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Catholic (church of the Holy Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary!) in Connecticut. Alexander died in 1970 and Maria is still living though information is not easy to come by. I think anyone who experienced living in and around Germany during the war years finds it difficult to speak freely about that time and about their families.
According to test results, many Ashkenazi Jews are members of Haplogroup K though apparently there was a group that branched off - are these the Greek Catholics? There are a lot of ?s still but it is early in the search. The more info the better, so if you have any, please send it here!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Pain Management
The broken wrist is on the mend. Jill visited with some bubbly Vueve cliquot. Hilarity and a cool photo technique ensued.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Sammy attempts to Deck the Halls
This is Sammy's first Christmas and first snowfall. The video shows her extending her enthusiasm for the season to Ebony, who has a different outlook on holidays, the weather and a happy puppy.
Xmas tree like object 2010
I made this year's tree out of books (it gave the left side of my brain a real workout!) Needed: the right amount of balance, tension, and patience.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
"It's All Relative: Three Generations of Art"
"It's All Relative" Debuts April 15 in Westport;
Artist reception April 16 at Westport River Gallery
A new exhibit in Westport entitled "It's All Relative: Three Generations of Art" debuts with an artists reception on April 16 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Westport River Gallery Annex, 23 Post Road West, at the intersection of Route 33 and Riverside Avenue. The exhibit runs from Thursday, April 15 through Wednesday, April 28. The wine and cheese reception April 16 is free and open to the public with live music performed by flutist Jane Shelly from Wilton Music Studios.
"You're invited to see how a related group of artists, mostly from this area, interpret the world around them. Come see the show at Westport's newest boutique gallery and talk to each unique family member." said Alexandria Donovan, participating artist.
The accomplished and collected artists and family members in the show include Alexandria Donovan and Peter Donovan of Westport, Patrick Donovan of Washington, DC, Susan Donovan of Bronx, NY, Amy Ford, Marika Ford and Mary Kujan of Southport, CT, Melissa Ford of New York City and Colombia, South America and Ian and Sara Roche of Weston, CT. A variety of media will be represented, from large scale oil paintings and Ukrainian primitives to Lomographic prints. The works range from award winning and internationally published works to outsider and emerging art.
The Westport River Gallery Annex is next to the main gallery at One Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m. and by special appointment. For more information call the gallery at 203-226-6934 or visit westportrivergallery.com.
Artist reception April 16 at Westport River Gallery
A new exhibit in Westport entitled "It's All Relative: Three Generations of Art" debuts with an artists reception on April 16 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Westport River Gallery Annex, 23 Post Road West, at the intersection of Route 33 and Riverside Avenue. The exhibit runs from Thursday, April 15 through Wednesday, April 28. The wine and cheese reception April 16 is free and open to the public with live music performed by flutist Jane Shelly from Wilton Music Studios.
"You're invited to see how a related group of artists, mostly from this area, interpret the world around them. Come see the show at Westport's newest boutique gallery and talk to each unique family member." said Alexandria Donovan, participating artist.
The accomplished and collected artists and family members in the show include Alexandria Donovan and Peter Donovan of Westport, Patrick Donovan of Washington, DC, Susan Donovan of Bronx, NY, Amy Ford, Marika Ford and Mary Kujan of Southport, CT, Melissa Ford of New York City and Colombia, South America and Ian and Sara Roche of Weston, CT. A variety of media will be represented, from large scale oil paintings and Ukrainian primitives to Lomographic prints. The works range from award winning and internationally published works to outsider and emerging art.
The Westport River Gallery Annex is next to the main gallery at One Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m. and by special appointment. For more information call the gallery at 203-226-6934 or visit westportrivergallery.com.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Remember September
And not to forget MV in September...the perfect time to be there, weather-wise, crowd-wise, all-wise. Looking back at 2009, I see that I have had some good fortune and I am grateful.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Key Rest
I liked the warmth, the humid air in winter, the color of the water and the sunsets. I could have spent more time with the parrots and more time exploring the gardens. Bicycling was fun as long as I looked straight ahead. And the sunsets - an event that is celebrated each day. Glad I was part of it.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Ebony how you've grown!
Ebony (l) and Josie (r) love to watch the birds. When Amy first took them in, Ebony could fit in a cupped hand and Josie was his big sister/protector. Now Ebony towers above her. Will he keep growing? Is he part Jaguar? El calls him Mick Jaguar :)
My Christmas tree-like object
This year, we did not go out and buy a Christmas tree - I made one instead! I trimmed some branches from a giant hemlock in the yard, placed the branches in a large pot filled with pine cones and arranged the trimmings into an xmas tree shape. I added strings of lights and some meaningful decorations. ~~ I was influenced by Charlie Brown who showed me that sometimes a sad little tree (or, in this case, a random collection of evergreen branches) just needs some love and ornaments. Also, the following: "Necessity may be the mother of invention but poverty is a great aunt" and "A little makeup goes a long way". MC 2009 everybody!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Mysterious Kujan, Poland
The town of Kujan is in the northern part of Poland, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, with a population of about 200. Favorite past times appear to be going to the lake and foraging for mushrooms. An internet search uncovered a photo of a building in the town of Kujan. Is it a train station? I edited the original - zoomed, cropped and photoshopped it. Mostly, cropped out hanging laundry and random wires. Questions abound: why is laundry hanging at a train station? If this is a train station, wouldn't there be more overhead wires? If it is not a train station, why advertise the name of the town on the side of the building? Is this name also on the other side of the building? (Calling Sherlock Holmski to help solve the case!)
Friday, July 3, 2009
Cafe des artistes
I am still sorting and organizing the accumulation of stuff from the past ** years and went on line to research storage solutions. And while on line why not learn about one of the murals at Cafe des artistes by Howard Chandler Christy (Spring, 1934) who's postcard I happen to have on my desk? Who is the model and why does she look so very, very familiar??? So far, research has not revealed her name. Scary sometimes how the past is present.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
rain rain
It's been raining nearly every day for weeks and here's the forecast for the next ten days: rain, cloudy, rain, thunder showers, showers, showers, few showers, thunder storms, partly cloudy (!), thunderstorms and thunderstorms...it's a great time to catch up on writing, housework and all things indoors.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
We only touched them with our eyes
Hawaii - beautiful place.
A sweet smelling place.
My skin loved the air, the sun...
there are words to come.
A sweet smelling place.
My skin loved the air, the sun...
there are words to come.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
And a great day it was!
An intelligent, handsome guy in charge of the country, a facial and reflexology, a dress on sale that fit (!), a loving and fun family, wine that flowed like water and a chef that had a way with fire - what more could a girl want? To top it off an evening out at a local karaoke bar with talented singer and a fan. Happy day.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Worldwide Oneness Share-mony
(from www.celebrantusa.org)
When and Where:
At 12 noon on Inauguration Day 2009, Tuesday, January 20th in Washington DC, according to the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Mr. Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States. On behalf of Celebrants worldwide we invite everyone on Earth to come together wherever you may be and take a moment out of your day and consciously send up into the atmosphere “good vibes” to mingle and mesh to create a great big, multi-colored wish umbrella as we bring in and ring in our intentions for a unified world where healing, peace and compassion is possible for all.
Together we can make a better World
These (below) are new translations of verses by Ralph Alan Dale from the Tao Te Ching, written by the master Lao Tzu, from a century before Socrates. Verse 54, takes us out from ourselves to the world, on our humble mission as humankind to help heal the world via this ceremony and to unleash the power of people sharing our world-wide wish for peace.
Together we can make a better World
These (below) are new translations of verses by Ralph Alan Dale from the Tao Te Ching, written by the master Lao Tzu, from a century before Socrates. Verse 54, takes us out from ourselves to the world, on our humble mission as humankind to help heal the world via this ceremony and to unleash the power of people sharing our world-wide wish for peace.
Verse 54: THE WHOLE IS IN EACH PART
Whatever is planted deeply is not easily uprooted.
Whatever is embraced sincerely does not crave escape.
Ever since we lost our intuition as our main guide in life,
these virtues have had to be consciously cultivated to survive.
Cultivate them in yourself and they will be genuine.
Cultivate them in your family and they will surely flourish.
Cultivate them in your community and they will be long lasting.
Cultivate them in your country and they will be widely propagated.
Cultivate them in the world and they will certainly become universal.
In this way you will know others by what you do yourself.
You will know families by what you contribute as a family.
You will know the world by what you do as a planetary citizen.
How do we know all this?
Because we know that each part is the whole,
and the whole is in each part.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Lance Orlando Billy Chance
When I adopted him his name was Lance. Lance was not a name I cared for very much and I wanted to change it. I was determined to find a geographic name (like our other pets Shannon and China) that fit and that maybe rhymed with Lance (I know! France!) France would have been a great name except for the fact that James had just broken up with his first love who had had significant French connections and I didn’t want to remind him of his ex- every time I called the cat.
I was determined to find just the right name. To find a geographic place name I perused the index of an atlas. I made a matrix that took in the following: black and white, geographic place name, sounds like Lance, toothbrush moustache (like Charlie Chaplin), vampire (he had big fangs)…One name seemed to fit a lot of criteria and that is how he came to be called Orlando*. Then I tried to call him from the yard one day. The name Orlando has too many syllables if you are in a hurry and want to get the cat inside. Its not like Spot - or Bingo, even. So, Orlando did not work on this level. Back to the matrix.
Unbeknownst to me Grandma living downstairs had other ideas and started to call the cat Billy. Concurrently, upstairs, I had begun to calling him Trance (rhymes with Lance, geographic place name [short for Transylvania], vampire reference). For a reason which I don’t recall, Trance became Chance.
When I found out about Billy I realized Fate had intervened and so, in cooperation, I incorporated this name into a bona fide title for him: Sir William Chancelot, the cat. Downstairs, he was Billy; upstairs he was Chance (sometimes, when he misbehaved and I had time, I would reprimand him with a sharp William).
Interesting footnotes: Looking through his paperwork one day I came upon the fact that he had originally been adopted from a shelter in Virginia and his name there was Oreo. His second owner had changed it to Lance. Also, when doing some internet research, I found that cats that looked like Billy aka Chance were known as Hitler cats (aka Kitlers) because of their toothbrush moustache. You can Google it. Maybe he ran away in search of his identity?
*Orlando is a place in Florida where sea world is; sea world has black and white orcas. The actor Orlando Bloom was in a movie about vampires.
I was determined to find just the right name. To find a geographic place name I perused the index of an atlas. I made a matrix that took in the following: black and white, geographic place name, sounds like Lance, toothbrush moustache (like Charlie Chaplin), vampire (he had big fangs)…One name seemed to fit a lot of criteria and that is how he came to be called Orlando*. Then I tried to call him from the yard one day. The name Orlando has too many syllables if you are in a hurry and want to get the cat inside. Its not like Spot - or Bingo, even. So, Orlando did not work on this level. Back to the matrix.
Unbeknownst to me Grandma living downstairs had other ideas and started to call the cat Billy. Concurrently, upstairs, I had begun to calling him Trance (rhymes with Lance, geographic place name [short for Transylvania], vampire reference). For a reason which I don’t recall, Trance became Chance.
When I found out about Billy I realized Fate had intervened and so, in cooperation, I incorporated this name into a bona fide title for him: Sir William Chancelot, the cat. Downstairs, he was Billy; upstairs he was Chance (sometimes, when he misbehaved and I had time, I would reprimand him with a sharp William).
Interesting footnotes: Looking through his paperwork one day I came upon the fact that he had originally been adopted from a shelter in Virginia and his name there was Oreo. His second owner had changed it to Lance. Also, when doing some internet research, I found that cats that looked like Billy aka Chance were known as Hitler cats (aka Kitlers) because of their toothbrush moustache. You can Google it. Maybe he ran away in search of his identity?
*Orlando is a place in Florida where sea world is; sea world has black and white orcas. The actor Orlando Bloom was in a movie about vampires.
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