A Man of Percy Bysshe Shelley

In college, I did not know it at the time but I had signed up for an English class taught by a man who later would become a very dear friend. He was the scholar that scholars would like to emulate. In the summers, he returned to his London flat in his homeland where 600 year old libraries were as common as black ravens in London Tower and publishing houses of scholarly works and noted authors had been on the same street for centuries. He loved good brandy. He was constantly writing forwards for his publisher's clients as well as for his own publications, new or a re-edit of a previous publication. He dressed in fine tweeds and to some in our gourp, his very large collection of American Jazz was a bonanza when he held discussion groups and potlucks. The man loved American Jazz.

At Christmas, he would send me copies of works of art that his family held in their English estate that were beautifully handcrafted lithos the size of over- sized note cards. Since life isn't perfect, my collection of those were lost to a divorce that didn't have to be as bitter as it was, but turned out that way. Over the years, I have thought of him. Several years ago, he did pass. Yet, like the lines of Shelley, his memory holds as much guilded gold as the Taj Mahal.

Two weeks ago, I ran across an index of authors that were listed as scholars in certain fields. In the English literature category were page after page of published works on his life's work--the works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. And  when I had finished the list, what I had heard Neville recite time and time again unbiddenly came to mind:

Death is the veil which those who live call life.

They sleep,and it is lifted.

 



 



Yarn Art in an outdoor setting.

A Splash of Color on a Bleak Winter's Day

Sail boats at a marina in North Texas

Boats this size can sail on the Great Lakes with
 an eye on Marine Warnings for 6-8 foot waves or above and fast moving storms

I like change. In fact, I have been known to embrace it. But somethings just are not the same as the genuine article. I'm talking about the difference between a puddle and a lake. There again, I am not a negative person. When I have posted to this blog it is nearly one hundred percent positive for the city of Dallas, it's park system and all the things that are available here as a great city. But.....I have watched the Marine Industry in the Dallas Market for many years. And the sailing clubs that are on the larger puddles in North Texas, including beautiful White Rock Lake, make up a lot of the sail boat market. What I don't understand is when do these boats actually meet the water and sail away for the day--or two--or even three? I see the boats canvased in the fall, uncovered in the spring, sit most of the summer and then recanvased in the fall.When I see regattas, they are in dingies with a short pole mast. This past summer, I saw a young chap and his friend with an old catamaran actually doing what sail boaters do with boats. He did it a couple of times and that was that.Later,when I saw him, he wanted to sell me a change in my electric provider. That was telling me that he was done taking his catamaran out on the puddle again. His interest had changed that fast. Boats are a lot of work any way you look at it.  So this year when the annual Port Huron to Mackinac race is run on Lake Huron or the Chicago to Mackinac race is run from Chicago, on Lake Michigan and through the Straits of Mackinac, my heart pounds a bit more than normal, or better yet, hoping so see one more time, beautiful and romantic era  the three-mast skooner Arkansas Best Freight sails out of Saugatuck, Michigan in the summers, if they still have that unusual flagship for a trucking freightline company. I'd have to put that on my bucket list for sure. So, there isn't any disrespect to the lakes here in North Texas. It is water that we need. It can be recreational to a limited extent, but when it comes to sail boats.....well, you can't beat the Great Lakes and I say that with love. A very,very large amount of love!

Lake Highland Center Begins Construction

Gravity Still Wins

with a multi-level parking garage. It's not what everyone thought that they would see. There is a pad with pipes coming out of the cement for plumbing and appears to be condos or apartments . Still, the past two years have been a delight  with no construction. We all knew that eventually that day would come and so it has.
 



New art on display

The balancing act

Video being made for social media

                                                  


During the trip to check out the construction, I discovered two new metal art pieces that have recently been displayed by the Office of Cultural Affairs for the City of Dallas.  Sweet.  It just continues to prove that everything in life is a trade off. You give up something and you get something else in return. The construction of a peaceful block of land was obtained from old apartments. The solitude of water, beauty and wildlife gave way to construction and for that construction sacrifice, the city set two new works of art.

Spring this year will see more construction but 20 feet below on the walks to the the Lake Highland Train Station  along the creek, new beauty will explode and the area will transform and morph into what the developer originally saw in the property.

Have Been Chasing Grimlins All Day Long

Yesterday afternoon went out for a couple hours waiting on the pharmacy to fill my scripts and color was the king pin target. Every thing was bleak and grey and wintry. Shots with some color might have been the target but it was a bit more difficult. The only thing that stood out from  a hill top was some boats on the lake.



Blades with little wheels

A Big Wheel

 

A New Look for a New Year

Sung to the tune of Stars and Stripes Forever: Be kind to your web footed friends, 'cause that duck may be some body's mother!

Two American Bald Eagles at White Rock  with the former H.L. Hunt's  Mt. Vernon in the background.The mansion is a duplicate of Thomas Jefferson's, Mr. Vernon.

Deep Ellum, Texas aka East Main Street,Dallas Eclectic art,song and much more. It was also the home for a while of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Another interesting fact: The Belo Mansion on Ross Avenue in the downtown art's district was a funeral home and held the funeral service of Clyde Barrow.

We are pleased to introduce you to our new official look on our website. Work on the blog has yet to begin but it is scheduled to be updated also.

 

Every One Is Making List

The 11th District of the Federal Reserve Dallas

After the remodel, the Federal Reserve System Seal is Displayed

about what happened in 2012. Why? The Networks will give you that 'all important list' of 2012 tomorrow night. It's called,"fill".

 What concerns me more is the decisions going on inside this building and how the top guy will vote with all the other counterparts from the other districts. This is the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas for the 11th District. Chances are some of you have currency in your wallet with this seal and from this district, if not from other districts, too. Most, could not name the districts of the Federal Reserve Bank System much less name the Chief

Jay Leno has a skit that is used on his show from time-to-time. He would go out on a street corner near the L.A. Studio's where the show originates and ask average Americans questions about our government or basic American  facts such as: What other job does the Vice-President of the United States perform? It is sadness and comic all rolled into one.

Kids can't learn basic civics or American History in school because the teachers are to busy taking care of paperwork that has no meaning to their students and as it sounds, will soon be added with other duties like going to the firing range to keep up their certification as a firearm holder as part of their teaching duties. While the seriousness is genuine.....schools are not the place and certainly teachers are paid to teach, not perform all this other stuff they must do that takes away from actual classroom study.

This afternoon, I took each grade when I was in school and recalled my teachers and how the day was spent. Then, I took my kids teachers and grades and recalled everything their teachers did during the course of the day. It was not a shock......my teachers taught! My kids teachers were totally distracted from teaching. Oh, I know. There will be those that defend the teachers today and the skills that they have with modern technology allows the kids to learn more on their own and the teachers are just supervising the course study. You don't want to know what my reply to that would be. Keenly, I made a successful career on observing in the business climate the things most people missed and acting on those things that had been overlooked or missed or discarded as not being important at the time.

So, when I see the skit on Jay Leno, I'm very interested in hearing how the participants answer and what level the questions are rated that are being ask. It's still sad and still very,very funny. But, it should also be a red flag as to what really is being taught in our schools. To me, driver ed doesn't count as something learned at school. No, I'm sorry. My dad taught me to drive and it didn't happen at my school.

This post isn't about teachers. Rather, it is about my interest in the genesis of thought at the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas and how the chief here votes with the other district chiefs. But, most importantly, it is about how so many things come together to form the many decisions made daily that border with so many more that really--in the all-and-all of it-- really is the hand of fate and no matter what you try to do, in the end, it still comes back to the hand of fate. Even the bible speaks of our lot being cast. I'm not saying not to give a task your best. I'm not saying that at all. What I am saying is that if things don't turn our exactly as you planned, don't be disappointed. I've never wished to be someone else. Why? because their fate may be 30 years less than mine. I know people that wished that they were someone  else. I'd never wish that. I just want to be who I am. So far, I've out lived a lot of my friends. If I had wished to be them, I would now be dead. So I don't concern myself with things that I have no control over. Trying to do your best and be your best each day is all anyone can do. Faith,Hope and Charity (love) is what really matters.

Ever look at the tripod that holds the red kettle's of the Salvation Army. It's three legs could very well be, Faith,Hope and Charity and as much as it also represents the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Things in life come together at just the right times that are called an Epiphany. I call them Eureka Points. I'm constantly feeding my brain and let my brain do the work. Then, I'm brushing my teeth or showering and bingo! I have an Epiphany or Eureka Point. But, you must feed your brain. Garbage in isn't always garbage out. Sometimes, a little garbage acts like a catalyst. You learn over time how much you feed it at a time and how much you add as catalyst. 

So, my list for 2012 at 11:59:59 on December 31,2012 will simply be:

I made it through 2012!

 

Christmas May Be Over But........

there are a few things that need to be cleaned up, first. I wouldn't mind cleaning this one up. This unique display is at the Sewell Family of Dealerships, Sewell Cadillac, specifically, on Lemmon Avenue across from the old Braniff International Headquarters buildings at Love Filed.

I like the ornaments. But the tree was a whopper!

Honey, where do you want me to hang this one?

 The Sewell family have been delivering quality autos and service for over  a century. They are a great family, great dealerships and our thanks and holiday wishes go out to the Sewell family and each of their employees. Have a great 2013.