Monthly Archives: August 2004

Waken yourself, Watch yourself

Beautiful poetry from the Dhammapada. Master your senses, What you taste and smell, What you see, what you hear. In all things be a master Of what you do and say and think. Be free. Are you quiet? Quieten your … Continue reading

Posted in Poetry, Spirit | Leave a comment

Adopting Older Children

This brochure put out by the State of Michigan about adopting older kids says a lot of good stuff. It’s a must read if you are thinking about adopting an older child. And God bless you if you are. People … Continue reading

Posted in Life | Leave a comment

Free to Flow

Has it ever struck you that those who most fear to die are the ones who most fear to live? Life is flexible and free, and you are rigid and frozen. Life carries all things away, and you crave stability … Continue reading

Posted in Spirit, Work | Leave a comment

Attention

Attention is living; inattention is dying. The attentive never stop; the inattentive are dead already. -Dhammapada 21, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Posted in Spirit | Leave a comment

The Outdoors Monster

I’m a mean dad. Did I mention that? Since the weather’s been so nice, I came home, changed clothes, and made the children turn off the TV and g0………… outside! MWAHHahhahahaha! We all went out and played around. The children … Continue reading

Posted in Parenting | Leave a comment

Hold everything

Mr. Freshpants’ favorite lunch sandwich of late is white bread. That is, ham and cheese sandwich, dry, hold the ham and cheese. Two slices of white bread he eats like a sandwich. Personally, he’d prefer to skip the sandwich. He’d … Continue reading

Posted in Family | Leave a comment

Contrast

Yesterday, Petunia grabbed the sidewalk chalk and marked on the blackboard easel we have sitting out on the back porch. She surveyed her work, then turned to look at Olivia, who was observing the older kids’ action from her walker … Continue reading

Posted in Family | Leave a comment

Both sides now

Evidence that I am becoming my father: Child: “Can I have a {snack food/dessert item}? Me: “No, dinner is in half an hour.” Child: “But I’m starving!” Me: “Well have an {apple /unnapealing healthy food}.” Child: “Ugh. I don’t want … Continue reading

Posted in Parenting | Leave a comment

Local Cooling

As a nearly life-long Houstonian, I cannot remember a day like today – a cool breezy day in August. The weather’s so nice here it’s kind of disturbing. I mean, Hell’s not exactly frozen over yet, but things are kind … Continue reading

Posted in Life | Leave a comment

Neural Darwinism

“It is silly reductionism, of course, to claim that you and I are just bags of molecules. But I do not believe consciousness arises from spooky forces. I don’t believe in some Cartesian dualistic domain that is inaccessible to science. … Continue reading

Posted in Spirit | Leave a comment

Poetry: Fine Days

These fine days have been my ruin. On this kind of day I resigned My job in ‘Pious Foundations’. On this kind of day I started to smoke On this kind of day I fell in love On this kind … Continue reading

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment

Easy for you to say

More found poetry from the “make it sound easy” category. All things arise, Suffer change, And pass away. This is their nature. When you know this, Nothing perturbs you, Nothing hurts you. You become still. It is easy. -Ashtavakra Gita … Continue reading

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment