HIGH FLYING (with photo)

HIGH FLYING

Flying up so high
at the end of a string,
I’m just a small kite,
but I can do
‘most anything
in the breezes
of spring.

I can soar
with the seagulls
when the wind is just right;
I can float with the clouds
so puffy and white;
I can dance
with the raindrops
if they happen to fall;
and I do tricks
and somersaults
when the wind’s
blowing really hard.

I love it up here
and would never
trade the view
that I have
as I’m flying
way up in the sky.
And most of all,
the very best thing,
I love making
the children smile
down there below,
even on a cloudy day
when the chilly
March winds blow

(c) barbara kausteklis 3-8-12

Written for "Thematic Attic Thursday/March Winds."

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/83607/cpc-thematic-attic-thursdaymarch-winds/

Thanks always for your visits comments.

~barb~

THROUGH ROUGH SEAS AND CALM (Blogophilia 2.5)

Blogophilia 2.5 Topic: "...on the rocks"

Bonus Points:
(Hard, 2pts): incorporate the 80/20 principle
(Easy, 1pt): mention an Olympic sport which uses heavy metal

Final date to post BLOG: March 10th, 2012 - Saturday, midnight Pacific Time
Final date to post ALL GUESSES: March 9th, 2012 - Friday, midnight Pacific Time

Please highlight or otherwise point out your bonus points attempts.
Guess correctly who submitted the topic... and a correct guess at who submitted the picture earns you additional points!!

Guess correctly the secret "word or phrase" earns a chance at more points. Including the secret word or phrase within your blog content earns an additional point!!

*****************




THROUGH ROUGH SEAS AND CALM

In so many directions
toward hither and yon,
my little ship sets sail
to places far and wide,
Through rough seas and calm,
And it doesn't matter much
that my ship's rather small,
for I'm glad to be sailing
upon these seas at all.

I know that I'll get there
one of these days,
to wherever I'm going,
to those places beyond
and destinations unknown,
setting sail every day
with the best of intentions
of getting it just right,
and making it safely
back to home port
each night.

But not everything
goes exactly the way
I want and know it should
Sometimes they go awry
and I'm left in the lurch
and not knowing quite
which way to turn.
But I must say though,
considering everything
that actually could go wrong,
the 80-20 principle
does seem to apply.
And I'm relieved that
though 80 percent of
the good things that occur
come from only 20 percent
of what could cause them;
Those odds still seem
quite good.

And at those times
when things might appear
to be so very wrong,
the rudder broken,
the compass askew,
rough waters ahead,
I look for that beacon
of light to guide my way.
And once again
our tiny ship sets sail
as we try to avoid avoid
whatever obstacles
that threaten our trip,
navigating choppy seas
and making sure not
to sail off course
and end up on the rocks.

And when things get
just a bit too much,
I imagine how
the Olympics must feel
as I imagine I'm competing
in the hammer throwas I heave the anchor
over the rail.

And I look forward
to calmer waters
as the storm subsides
and my little ship sails
toward the horizon ,
sails billowing in the wind,
my head resting on her bow
and my imagination
embracing the dream
once again.

(c) barbara kausteklis 3-6-12

Written for Blogophilia 2.5/
". . . on the rocks."

http://www.myspace.com/blogophilia/blog/545397254

GUESSES
Topic submitted by: David II

Picture submitted by :David II




Phrases: Follow the leader, leading the pack, the thrill of the hunt, leader of the pack, on his trail, close behind, red riders, red rover-red rover, hound dog, leading the way, my favorite martian, little red riding hood, riders of the purple sage, shock and awe, fearless leader, nose to nose, following the scent, shoulder to shoulder, in hot pursuit, nosy, outfoxed, foxy, fox hunt, fox and hound, thrill of the chase, hounded, beagling, eager beagles, red coats, pack of dogs, neck-and-neck, closing in, hill and dale, wide-eyed, wide-eyed and bushy tailed, hunting season, catching up, tally ho, leading the field, following your nose, ain't nothing but a hound dog, uphill and down, in hot pursuit, riding the range

The Hammer Throw is an Olympic Sport using heavy metal.
"The hammer is a metal ball that is connected to a strong chain. The hammer thrower swings the hammer around him a few times and then lets go."
(From http://www.english-online.at/sports/athletics/track-and-field.htm)

And the 80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle)

The Pareto principle (also known as the 80–20 rule, the law of the vital few, and the principle of factor sparsity) states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.
(From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle)
****************

Thanks always for your visits and comments

~barb~

IN THE SOUND OF THE WIND (or A BIT OF MARCH MADNESS) with photos

IN THE SOUND OF THE WIND
(or: A BIT OF MARCH MADNESS)

I hear my name
in the sound of the wind,
March breezes blowing
and spring ushered in,
sometimes marching,
occasionally dancing
to its own special song.
And when I look up at the sky
from down here below,
and see what I see
way up there so high,
I’m as puzzled as can be
as I try to figure out
what March is saying to me
in such unpredictable ways.

Sometimes I’m simply
left scratching my head
and thinking that surely
I should have stayed in bed
as on some days there’s
no logical explanation of why
things happen the way they do
and seem to go so very awry.

It’s madness, I say,
March Madness to be sure,
the comings and goings
from just who knows where,
sometimes so exotic
and other-worldly it seems
at other times just the opposite,
so calm and serene.

So for now I just take it
one step at a time
and day by day,
considering everything
that happens to come my way.

And as winter turns
once again into spring,
I’ll be looking for the rainbows
that come after the rain;
and I’ll be watching for butterflies
and puffy clouds in the sky;
and I’m sure that madness
that March seems to bring
will be be behind us soon
as we soar toward April
with the flowers of spring.





(c) barbara kausteklis 3-5-12

Written for "Magic Monday/
“Marching Into A Magical Madness.”

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/82186/marching-magical-madness/

Thanks so much for your precious comments
and for finding this piece and the others posted.

~barb~

ACROSS THE MILES . . . .

"Maryblue" by RC


ACROSS THE MILES

Lifting us up
when we fall
and picking us up
when we’re down,
always sharing a smile
and never a frown,
every so often
an angel comes my way.
And I can’t help but notice
when that happens to me,
my eyes open wide
so delighted in what I see.

And when it does
and this precious angel appears
at just the right time
and easing my fears,
I just have to say
how grateful I am
for this treasure
who has found me
across the miles
and turned tears
into smiles.

(c) barbara kausteklis 3-4-12

Thanks so much, RC, for your beautiful art,
and Mary Margaret, for your beautiful friendship.

Written for CPC "A Simple Sunday"
featuring the art of RC.

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/82855/simple-sunday-suprise-artist-featured/

Thanks for your visits and comments 
as I'm so very blessed by each 
and every one of my friends.

Big Hugs.

~barb~

MAKING IT THROUGH (a Collab with Photo)

Celebrating 38 years of marriage this month,
this week's Collab theme was rather timely for me.




MAKING IT THROUGH

We'll make it through
this valley of tears;
we've been through
so much already
in all of these years.
We're going to make it,
no matter what it takes
for if we travel together,
we have absolutely no fears.

And with you by my side,
nothing can really go wrong
two hearts beating together
so much stronger than one
as dancing in a cobalt sky
until day slips into night,
we soar to new heights,
overcoming any obstacles
that get in our way
even when the clouds
are stormy and gray.

I know that together
life won't get us down;
we can make it through
any tears or heartbreaks,
conquering any troubling aches
for being together makes us
so much stronger than one.

(c) barbara kausteklis 3-3-12

Thanks so much for your lines:

Angel Love, ddpc50, Flossie, Michelle K,
Marcia, Mikey and Me, Barbara K

Written for the CPC "Saturday Share."

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/83098/saturday-share-17/

LINES SELECTED
(including my own and used pretty much in order):

We'll make it through this valley of tears (REQUIRED)

together we have no fears. (ddpc50)
When you're down and sad I wipe your tears (Flossie)
We’ve been through so much in all of these years (Angel Love)
We’re going to make it no matter what it takes (barbara k)
We can make it through any heartbreaks (Angel Love)
Conquering all the troubling aches (Michelle K)
Being together makes us so very strong (barbara k)
With you by my side nothing can go wrong (Angel Love)
Two hearts beating as one so strong (Marcia)
Dancing in a cobalt sky until day slips into night (Mikey)
We can soar to brand new heights (Angel Love)
We’ll overcome any obstacles that get in our way (barbara k)
Even when the clouds are stormy and gray (Michelle K)

Thanks always for your visits and precious comments.  


~barb~

RESTORED AND RENEWED (a Sedoka with photo)

RESTORED AND RENEWED

Leaping into March,
Spring restores my heart and soul,
flowers blooming ev'rywhere.

Sweet breezes blowing
and spring showers refreshing,
rainbows arch across the sky.

(c) barbara kausteklis 3-2-12
(photo and words)

A Sedoka written for CPC "Friday Fling/
The Friday Fling Takes a Flying Leap-year Into March."

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/82897/friday-fling-takes-flying-leap-year-march/

The Format according to ShadowPoetry.com:

A Sedoka is a Japanese form, "an unrhymed poem made up of two three-line katauta with the following syllable counts: 5/7/7, 5/7/7. A Sedoka, pair of katauta as a single poem, may address the same subject from differing perspectives. Katauta is an unrhymed three-line poem the following syllable counts: 5/7/7."

Thanks always for your visits and comments.


~barb~

NOT BY ACCIDENT (Blogophilia 1.5)

Blogophilia 1.5 Topic: "Going the Extra Mile"

Bonus Points:

(Hard, 2pts): include a dream symbol
(Easy, 1pt): include a George Carlin quote(s)

Final date to post BLOG: March 3rd, 2012 - Saturday, midnight Pacific Time
Final date to post ALL GUESSES: March 2nd, 2012 - Friday, midnight Pacific Time

***************







NOT BY ACCIDENT

It couldn't have been
an accident,
two unlikely souls
brought together,
you and me,
so very different we are
in so very many ways.
No, it couldn't
have been an accident;
it was clearly
meant to be.

For you taught me
that when two together
climb the mountains
of this world
and of this life
and traverse the valleys
found along the way,
that there isn't any mountain
in our dreams of night
or fancy flights



(or those we
experience so often in life)
impossible to climb
and no valley
that we can't get through.






You taught me
that a smile shared
can do so much
as you cheered me up
and made me smile
so many times
when I could have
simply cried all day.
You taught me
that by just a little bit
of encouragement,
a smile,
a pat on the back,
just a few words,
I could do so many things
that I never imagined I could.

And you taught me
that going the extra mile,
never stopping short,
never giving up,
is the best way to be,
the only way to be
as countless times
you went that extra mile
for me.

And you taught me
that balance is the key,
and every day
I try to do exactly that.
As George Carlin put it,
and he said it
so very well:
"I take it slow,
I go with the flow,
I ride with the tide
. . . .
I'm hanging in,
there ain't no doubt.
. . . .
And I'm hanging tough,
over and out."

It was most definitely
no accident,
that across the years
and across the miles,
two unlikely souls
were brought together
in a most unlikely way,
you and I
and you certainly went
that extra mile for me

(c) barbara kausteklis 3-1-12

Written for Blogophilia 1.5/"Going the Extra Mile."

http://www.myspace.com/blogophilia/blog/545361655


GUESSES

TOPIC: Nissmech

PICTURE: Marvin




PHRASES: martian, desolate, deserted, ups and downs, extra-terrestrial, from a distance, in the distance, moonscape, red rocks, red planet, lost in space, dreamworks, Death Valley, peaks and valleys, highs and lows, end of the world as we know it, roll over red rover, gray-scale, sepia, space walk, mars rover, hazy, blurry, climb every mountain, on dry land, drought, parched, thirsty, women are from venus/men are from mars, my favorite martian, Marvin, mars bars, on dry land, wasteland, sandy

DREAM SYMBOL USED:

Mountain (from http://www.spiritcommunity.com/dreams/dream-symbols.php):
"Climbing a real mountain is not always fun but it usually challenging and rewarding. Some say that the mountain may represent spirituality while others suggest mental development and self-awareness. The most literal interpretation of climbing a mountain is that it represents attainment of goals. If you are ascending a mountain you may be are working hard and trying to accomplish your goals, whether they are spiritual, emotional, or material."

"Mountain is a challenge or obstacle. Depending on your mind set, you may see a mountain as representation of something that you feel is an overwhelming obstacle, or you may view it positively as a great challenge you are ready to take on. A mountain can represent your life, your job and task your involved in, a project or a goal."

GEORGE CARLIN QUOTE USED:

"I take it slow, I go with the flow, I ride with the tide . . . . I'm hanging in, there ain't no doubt. And I'm hanging tough, over and out." (From LIFE IS WORTH LOSING -- 2005)

***************

Thanks always for your visits and comments.

~barb~