Save Our VA Tucson Protest - 6/26/26

(Wow, a 'full house', twos and sixes)

Only two of us anchored the picket line at the Ajo entrance to the VA for the morning shift change. We were there from 6:30-8:15am.

Responses were similar to previous weeks, 75-85%, with only one undeniable negative, a steady thumb down.

We are entering ‘high summer’ in Tucson. Temperatures are approaching ‘blastfurnace’ intensity, even in our post-sunrise protesting… thus, my frequent standing in the shade of that signature saguaro outside the gate.

–LE -  6/26/26

Late June Tuesday Morning Ride

cloudless 

electric blue 

dome overhead

long shadows

east to west

large skinks

sunning themselves

on the path

crickets

fiddling their

mating songs

in the shade

riverside brush

and trees

mountains

north, east, and south

just suggestions 

in the blue haze

of distance

while those

in the west

seem more like

carnivore fangs

bright

sharp

gleaming 

only a couple of

walkers

and

bikies

out

in the 

early morning sun

an hour and a half

fifteen miles

behind us

when 

at last

home

–LE - 6/23/26

Save Our VA Tucson Protest 6/5/26

Two of us anchored the picket line at the Ajo gate of the Tucson VA from 6:30-8:15am for the morning shift-change.

Responses were a little less than in previous weeks... Perhaps we're all becoming resigned to the chaos of our daily incomprehensible information flow...

There were a couple of definite negatives... from a bouncing thumb down to a 'no' head shake and an older guy in a newer white pickup truck, yelling at us as he turned down Ajo away from us, 'It's all your fault, you communist m.....f.....s'.  Probably NOT a real cowboy or farmer... the truck looked 'pristine'... not used for any kind of real work... IMHO...; -)

Yes, we still had plenty of positive responses, and many pretended not to see us, too tired to respond, or just plain resigned...

New Photo - Sunset From One Of Tucson's Southern Barrios

Sunset From The Barrio In Southern Tucson

Sunset From The Barrio In Southern Tucson

Sunset From The Barrio In Southern Tucson

Dusk From The Barrio In Southern Tucson

Remember, Remember, The Fifth of November...

 A Tribute to the graphic novel and movie, V for Vendetta...

Opening lines: Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot... But what of the man? I know his name was Guy Fawkes and I know, in 1605, he attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament. But who was he really? What was he like? We are told to remember the idea, not the man, because a man can fail. He can be caught, he can be killed and forgotten, but 400 years later, an idea can still change the world. I've witnessed first hand the power of ideas, I've seen people kill in the name of them, and die defending them... but you cannot kiss an idea, cannot touch it, or hold it... ideas do not bleed, they do not feel pain, they do not love... And it is not an idea that I miss, it is a man... A man that made me remember the Fifth of November. A man that I will never forget.

V: People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.

Evey Hammond: My father was a writer. You would've liked him. He used to say that artists use lies to tell the truth, while politicians use them to cover the truth up.

V: Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy. And ideas are bulletproof.

Oh Drat ! WP post 10/16/25

 

Oh Drat !

went to make
my signature
sloppy Joses today
only to find
I didn’t have
most of my
usual ingredients

no problem
inprov is my forte
no tomatoes
and green chilies
what to do
what to do

ah …

roasted tomatoes
tomato paste
more chili powder
salt and black pepper

the result was
less than edifying
really not very good
usually better
the second day
but no second-day
reprieve was granted

that’ll teach me…
my improv hubris
took me down

next time
no tomatoes and
green chilies
make something else

without tomatoes
and green chilies
there’s just no way
to make my signature
sloppy Joses

oh drat ! …

–LE – 10/16/25

CynOp WP post for 10/20/25

 Artifice Our Disguise

Artifices We All Hide Behind…

Yes, Our Truths Hidden Behind Masks

We all wear them, morning to night,

cradle to grave –

Inspired by societies, primitive and new,

to fool us, the gods, and especially the demons –

the demons within, and out in the world.

Welcome to the future, where masks

create and hide the fear and deceit, promoted

by the opportunists in charge, for their own

eternal perpetuation of power, wealth, control –

behooves them to keep us scared –

as Enlightenment principles are turned

up-side-down – as civilization devolves –

the future is here… full of primitive fear

all over again.

–LE

I Had A Friend And Muse

 I Had A Friend

in our journey from birth to death

we cross paths with multitudes 

some walk with us for a ways

then leave for different by-ways

sometimes our paths cross again

but the rivers we tread

and the persons we became

keep changing, not the same

even deep emotional connections

diverge, thinning to nothing or

splitting by social pressures 

conditioning and misunderstanding

the result is the same … 

my only friend, the end …

fervently hoping for a friend's contentment 

along and to the chosen road's end

–LE - 10/8/25 

PS: I lost a friend and muse today... No, not by death, just an unwanted parting of ways  (at least for me)... This poem is for and inspired by you; I'll miss you...

 It's been awhile since I've posted here. This meditation was inspired by my recent birthday. I always take the ocation to reflect on as much of my life as I can remember up  to that point, and to speculate a bit about my future... not to dwell on, but to briefly consider.

Mortality Meditation

The older I get, the more I seem to consider the end of my journeys around old Sol, especially when I go to bed. I sometimes wonder if I'll wake in the morning. This is not every night, but seems more frequent as I continue to age. It's not that I have a fear of not waking, it's morbid(?)-curiosity. I wonder if I'll know which morning I won't wake up, that is, if my brain quits in my sleep.

It's been said that sleeping is practice for dying. In deep sleep, I'm aware of nothing. When I wake, it seems that little or no time has passed since I lay down. I truly expect that if the end comes in my sleep, the experience of my deep sleep will be the same as death. Though I might awaken for that experience, my ending… I wonder.

Of course, the situation would be different if I came to my end due to an accident or intentional termination ... however it's brought about. Perhaps brief and/or extreme pain ending in my deep sleep-like conscious-lessness.

I'm very healthy, no physical or terminal illnesses that I'm aware of short of 'life' itself. Sure, there could be something going on that will catch up with me when I least expect it, but nothing that looks imminent. So, why do I periodically wonder if I'm going to wake up in the morning? Statistics, mortuary tables, watching and/or hearing about the decline of so many others of my age?

–LE 

Common Sense

What is ‘common sense’ but what benefits the majority, the planet, and all its inhabitabts.

Common Sense

We’re always advised to use it
but not to abuse it
what’s ‘common’ for one of us
not necessarily so for the rest

like everything else in existence
common sense evolves, changes
from one generation to the next,
often unrecognizable decades hence

but for the ruling classes, the
economic elite, the status quo
IS common sense for their
vested interests against the rest of us

everything in the universe is subject
to entropy, all systems mineral, organic
political, economic, including
‘common sense’

since everything is in flux, we
can devise a more nuanced
a more beneficial sense of what
it means to be common sensible

something that uses logic and
intuition and creative thinking
to resolve our mutal personal,
social, and ecological problems

build a healthy, sustainable environment
for all of Mother Earth’s inhabitants
not prioritizing the vested interests
of the demagogues, ‘elites’ in their own minds

–LE

 

Breakfast at the Birdfeeder Diner

Breakfast at the Birdfeeder Diner

wrens and sparrows arrive first
5:30 am sunrise long shadows
barcode the entryway

a flock of morning doves land
survey the ground, then hop up
on the birdseed buffet

pecking away nudging early
risers out of the way, need seven
times their weight for the day

the big boys twice the size arrive
two-tone gray and translucent blue
push all the others out of the fray

all the light-weights amble at the feeder
base pecking up crumbs and husks
the big boys missed in their haste

in less than an hour, two feeders
stripped bare, and the breakfast diners
go searching for another buffet

all while a neighborhood cat-posse skulks
around the outer wall and fence, eyeing
their potential ‘bird-breakfast’ buffet

–LE

Father's Day

I had a visit with my Dad on Father’s Day a few years before his death. This poem is the result of that visit. I wrote it that night when I got back home. So, it’s about 20 years old now.

Father’s Day

Sitting at the kitchen table (Dad’s desk),
I flick the lighter and linger under each of our cigars.

After the lighting puffs, a couple of long drags,
Rolling the heavy smoke, savoring its texture and flavor,
Letting a little roll out of the mouth,
Pulling it up through the nose,
Finally expelling it deep into our silent conversation.

I’m looking into a mirror that reflects the future–
A mathematically probable future…
I consider that probability as we sip coffee–
He, through Parkinson’s shakes.

I once saw him break a pair of pliers with one hand,
Sheared the pivot pin in two–not for show,
Just getting a grip on something that wouldn’t be gripped.
A wave of shakes forces him to save his coffee
By setting it down.

I help him re-light his cigar… another long slow drag
Expelling it into our silent conversation.

We are both fathers. He’s mine.
This is a celebration of that distinction–
But it gives me the opportunity to see my future–
A mathematically probable future.

He has collected uncountable treasures over the years–
“But it’s all worth money, it’s valuable,” –to someone,
Somewhere–maybe…but for all of it, there’s no cash,
No savings–no future.

I consider the collected treasures in my own apartment–
“I’ve hung on to this stuff because I thought I’d enjoy it
When I retired and had time for it; now, it’s too much;
I’m too tired and weak, not interested in it any more.”

Better decide what’s important now–enjoy it now,
Just in case the Future Mirror predicts true.
But then, the future’s in flux.
Nothing is impossible, only mathematically improbable…

Another long slow drag…rolling the heavy smoke,
Savoring its texture and flavor,
Letting a little roll out of the mouth,
Pulling it up through the nose,
Finally expelling it deep into … silence.

–LE

The Primordial Ooze

The Primordial Ooze

the darkness is
growing and I'm old
so what to do
one thing only
fight the growing
dark strike a spark
a match a candle
light a bonfire

spark it
wherever opportunity
presents tinder
make daily choices
that brighten not
darken our
collective
futures

don't be deceived
all actions have
costs impact
ever brighter
futures or breed
dark superstitions
reverse evolution
sliding back into the

primordial ooze

--LE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early Onset Dementia --LE - Ink (Micron Pens)
on Multimedia Paper 8x8"

SS & Medi-dare

 SS & Medi-dare

SS retired - required - inspired
just plain tired - almost expired
expiration date all up to fate
emancipated  and medicated
perhaps need bruja-ha
or shaman help truer

SS short-shrift - left adrift
SS sucking sound as
austerity abounds - moving
wealth by fiat to leach-class
warehouses for the greed
brokers and their want-a-bees

medicare not really there
less money for private
providers pirate connivers
no vision nor dental -
no meds less parts
C thru Z - extra fees

Where's my bruja?

--LE

 

            VA Parking Lot

Past Professions (poem)

Past Professions

 

I’ve worked as a

plumber a

roofer a

strummer a

short order cook

a

waiter a

carpenter a

technical

writer a 

machinist a

qc inspector

a

programmer a

teacher an

ma instructor a

jack of trades a

master of none

a

six decade

wage-slave

career

finally done

 

--CN

 

In the Misty Woods - Watercolor

In Praise of Mediocrity

In Praise of Mediocrity

It slowly dawned on me sometime between my 30th and 40th birthdays. You know, the realization that even though you’ve always believed yourself to be something special, better than “average,” whatever that means… In reality, you are just that, average, mediocre, middling, You’re pretty good at some things that you’re interested in, but not so great with most everything else. And you never will be, even with dedication and perseverance. At most endeavors, you pretty much suck, just like most of the rest of us. Even so, most of us are able to “get by.”

When the realization first strikes, you’re devastated, in denial, depressed; the whole macho self-image collapses. But once you get past the initial shock, things begin to mellow out. No more rationalizing your near misses and downright failures. You quit blaming everyone and everything else for your lack of splendor. That takes most of the pressure off. You can start living with more realistic expectations, like that you’re probably not going to be a great rock/movie/journalist star, or become one of the influential elite in any category; learn to be satisfied with what you have, friends and family.

It’s actually liberating, in that it allows you to relax and just live your life the best you can, without apology or regret. You take your life in stride, accept your limitations, and do your best to enjoy the show. And you might as well enjoy it, it beats the misery of whining and crying about it. You create your own heaven or hell, depending on whether you enjoy the show, or beg for the mercy of oblivion. I’ve tried both, and enjoying the show works much better, at least for me.

And, yes you can make a conscious decision to enjoy it or not. Sometimes it takes some mental discipline, meditation, joking about it, or just taking a long walk, but you can make the conscious choice whether to enjoy it or hide in fear of it. It’s up to you. Ah, for a life of mediocrity…

–CN

 

The Basics of TM - a community service

The Basics of Transcendental Meditation (TM)

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a technique for quieting the mind, that is, to consciously still the constant internal dialog that we all experience, which seldom abates except during periods of unconsciousness, such as sleep. It is a technique for achieving a purely natural and relaxed frame of mind.

It is not: an out-of-body experience; an altered state of being; past lives regression; self-hypnosis, or any other esoteric, spiritual-metaphysical manifestation.

The following set of simple instructions is for those who would like to give it a try, but lack either the money or time commitment necessary for formal classes.

Where to practice

It’s best to practice meditation in a private, quite, and comfortable place with as few distractions as possible. Outside is fine if there are no, or minimal distractions. Some common distractions include: needy pets, cell phone notifications, TV, radio, conversations of others close by, etc.

Posture

Professional instructors will tell you that you must sit in a straight-backed chair or sit cross-legged, with your buttocks on a slightly elevated surface or cushion. This is to keep your back as straight as possible, while maintaining the natural curve at the base of your spine. While this is a good practice for your posture, balance, and physical stamina, it is not strictly necessary for successful meditation.

Once you have your setting (place and seated position) for meditation, all that remains is a mantra, one or two syllables (or words) to distract that internal dialog. Typical examples include: OM, one, love, god, joy, good morning, here-now, etc., or make your own up; any will work, depending on your temperament.

Meditate

• Seat yourself comfortably and/or as described above.
  

• Take a couple of deep cleansing breaths (beneficial, but not necessary).
  

• Close your eyes and breathe gently, while gently and slowly repeating your mantra, over and over again until the internal dialog starts slowing down. It may not happen immediately, but will happen more quickly with practice.
  

• Let your repetition of the mantra slowly dissipate away, while gently breathing.
  

• Start repeating the mantra whenever you realize that you’re in the midst of the dialog, or just thoughts drifting here and there.
  

• Repeat these steps for the time you’ve allotted, or you fall asleep, which can happen – and nothing to worry about unless it becomes habitual, in which case sleep is probably needed more than the mediation, at least for the time being.

 

Coming out of the meditative state

When the time you’ve allotted is finished (usually 15 to 20 minutes, twice daily for beginners – find a time that works best for you), stop repeating the mantra, slowly start moving, shifting your body, slowly open your eyes, (you may need or want to stretch a little) and gently return to your ‘normal’ activities.

Final note

All the directives concerning time and posture are suggestions. Don’t let any of them prevent you from giving TM an honest try. If you can’t devote 15 minutes twice a day, no problem. Once a day is better than none a day, etc.

Hope this has been helpful. I’ve been practicing TM and Zazen for many years. Though I’m no ‘master’ nor professional instructor, I was trained in a seminar at Oberlin College in ‘72 by Maharishi-certified instructors. I’ll elaborate the basics of Zazen in a future post.

Sunrise in the rock garden

 Something Old

Studies with primary colors

Red, Yellow, and Blue pencils

My first studies with colored pencils and primary colors.

Leaving FB

 

I'm finally fed up with FB, its censorship, its constant load on my browser, causing constant buffering. I'm sick of its 'suggestions' for my reading interests, establishment trolls, etc. I'm also tired of politics in general. Too many posting there who don't bother to educated themselves about what is actually going on here (buy the flag waving, Bible thumping BS, hook, line, and sinker), the unvarnished truth of our ignominious history and our current position as the world's leading terrorist organization, not to mention the decimation of our own country by our owners and their lickspittles, the governing class. 

The whole political system is corrupt (has been practically since its beginning), bought and paid for. I refuse to be sucked in by the main stream media, the propaganda arm of the ruling elite (our owners). The only hope for humanity and the planet is a truly progressive insurgence all around the world. Failing that, there's nothing for me to pay any attention to. So, I'll be posting my interests here, with just the occasional political rant when I just can't stand to be quiet anymore...

~CN

Pictures from Mt. Lemon and and its views of the Sonoran Desert in April 2019.