Siggy's Blurbs: Siggy's Edge of Country …

The birds must be hungry.  There is a flurry of activity outside our front window.  I did sprinkle some handfuls of birdseed on the snow earlier in the morning.  I have seen many mourning doves and slate covered junco feeding on the ground.

We are getting a steady stream of downy woodpeckers feeding on the suet placed by the trunk of the large pine tree.  I am still waiting for the entrance of the red bellied woodpecker.  I am always awed by its sight.

There are usually a few tufted titmouse at one time coming to and fro the feeder just outside the window.  They like the sunflower seed I put out for them.  Once in awhile I see a chickadee or a cardinal.  I love watching them.

Maybe, today I will see an unusual species.  You never know.  Today I will have more time to watch the birds.  It is snowing and there is no where else to go.

Tags: bird feeder, bird seed, bird-watching, birds, cardinal, chickadee, downy woodpecker, it is snowing, living room window, mourning dove, pine tree, red bellied woodpecker, slate covered junco, snow, snow covered ground, suet, sunflower seed, tufted titmouse, winter
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Sometimes you just have to let things go.  It does not matter if you or your mate was right.  You have to give your mate a clean slate every day.  ‘Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath’–lines from the New Testament.

The devil uses unforgiveness to pit one mate against the other.  And we are all imperfect.  And each day each person make mistakes so it is important to let them go and start the day afresh.

There is wisdom in those lines from the Bible.  If you do not forgive the other for their failures, resentment builds and drives a wedge between you.

Forgiveness allows you to love your partner fully and with humility.  Each person knows in their heart that they are not perfect so why should you expect your partner to be otherwise?

Tags: Bible, clean slate every day, devil, don't let the sun go down on your wrath, drive a wedge between you, everyone makes mistakes, failures, forgiveness, God, humility, know in your heart, let things go, love your partner, New Testament, no one is perfect, resentment, start each day afresh, we are all imperfect, who is right, wisdom, your mate
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There is something peaceful about a snowstorm.  Everything is white–the trees the roads-everything.  I know I am not going anywhere.  There is nothing I need except my electricity.  Even if that went out I would simply bring out my candles.

At this point I do not know how long it will snow.  The flakes are tiny so I know the snowfall will be appreciable.  I will just wait it out and enjoy it.  Perhaps take a walk in it and glory in God’s handiwork.  Or just look out my windows.  And enjoy my wife’s company.

Tags: candles, electricity, everything is white, God, God's handiwork, look out my window, my wife, peaceful, snow, snowflakes, snowstorm, trees
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It is never too late to say “thank you” to your wife.  In every marriage you fall into tasks:  you divide the work among you.  Each person does certain things.  It is often tasks we like doing.

It is easy to take the jobs your mate does routinely for granted.  My wife loves the computer and keeps it running smoothly.  She also balances the checkbook and does our laundry.

It is very easy to take these things for granted.  Somehow I have to look at the things she does, stop taking them for granted and also acknowledge and thank her.

It is never too late to do this.  There is nothing worst then a disgruntled mate.  Everyone wants to feel appreciated.  Noticing what your mate does is a good start.

Tags: a good start, balance the checkbook, computer, daily tasks, disgruntled mate, divide the work, do laundry, everyone wants to feel appreciated, housework, marriage, my wife, never too late, say thank-you, take for granted, your mate
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I usually carry two pens on me and every corner of the house has jars of pens nearby particularity the living room.  I actually get anxious when I am too far from a pen.  I only buy Bic pens:  they are cheap and usually work.  When one starts to falter, I simply throw it away.  I do not use expensive pens.  I simply would lose them.

Two wives have made fun of me for I never want to be too far from a pen.  I have actually had fights with one about going out and buying another package of Bic pens when I had to look a little too long for a pen–maybe ten seconds instead of five.

The other is a little more tolerant about that and kind of laughs at me.  Maybe, that is why we are still married.  I get nervous when I am out and I only have one pen on me.  What if it runs out of ink or stops working?  Obviously I write.

Tags: Bic pens, buying pens, expensive pens, I get anxious, I write, jars of pens, laughs at me, look for a pen, lose pens, my wife, pen runs out of ink, pens, still married, tolerant, writers, writing
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I do not have to own every good thing that comes my way.  With some things it is very difficult:  I collect music and books.  There is always another interesting book and another new piece of music I desire.

The trick is to be happy with what you have and occasionally when something comes your way, be happy.  One reason coveting is wrong there is no end to it and being perennially dissatisfied is one result.

There is a certain freedom to saying “No!” to good things and there is even another result:  more and more you let the universe surprise you when something good falls in your lap.

When you make a conscious effort to be satisfied with your possessions, you allow serendipity and gratitude to enter your life.  And peace and contentment may also follow.

Tags: be happy with what you have, be satisfied with what you have, books, collect books, collect music, covet, coveting is wrong, desire, do not have to own every good thing, freedom to say "no", God, good things, gratitude, let the universe surprise you, music, no end to coveting, owning things, peace and contentment, perennially dissatisfied, serendipity, your possessions
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It is never too late to start a new tradition with your kids.  It still remains to be seen if it turns out to be a new tradition but I remain hopeful.

I never saw my two kids at Christmas time.  I was divorced since 2002 and I never remember seeing them then.  It was always a painful time for me.  I was always reminded my two kids lived with their Mom.

Last night I had my two kids over for Hanukkah (I am Jewish, too).  I decided to celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas early last night.  Hanukkah is eight days long and my “window” is much larger to see them.

I made potato latkes (potato pancakes) and cheesecake cupcakes for dinner for them and my wife.  We exchanged Christmas presents.  It was a pleasant evening and gave me hope that I might have started a new tradition.

The holidays were always a “hard” time for me.  It is never too late to start a new tradition.

Tags: cheesecake, Christmas, Christmas presents, cupcakes, dinner, divorce, eight days, Hanukkah, holidays, Jewish, mother, my kids, my wife, painful time, potato latkes, potato pancakes, start a new tradition
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I could not understand why it was so difficult to pick a major in college forty years ago.  I went two years and eventually dropped out without picking a major.

Decades later I realized I was a “generalist”:  I wanted to know everything, about everything.  All my life I have read omnivorously.  And anything that I came across and interested me, no matter the subject.  I also read in quick bursts.

What I did not realize for a long time I was laying down the foundation to be a writer.  To be a writer you need a broad base of knowledge to draw upon.  There are few areas if any I am an expert of but I do know a bit here and a bit there.

The world is really divided into generalists and specialists.  And both need each other.  A liberal education still has value.  The world still needs someone to see the big picture.  Otherwise we get lost in the details.

Tags: be a writer, broad base of knowledge, drop out of college, expert, generalist, learning, liberal education, lost in details, pick a major in college, reading, see the big picture, specialist, writer, writing
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I have to allow my wife to disagree but it is difficult and that causes me all kinds of problems.  We had little fights, usually, when I have felt she was unreasonable and had no business meddling in something that was my really my business (???).

For example, our car needed vacuuming and I wanted to go into town to the local car wash to use the vacuum cleaner.  She said we have a perfectly good Shop Vac to use on the car.  That was true.

To use it, I had to run an extension cord outside and drag out the Shop Vac from the basement.  I would rather plunk three quarters in the machine in town, quickly vacuum the car and be done with it.  When she found out what I did, she gave me the silent treatment for a few hours.

The latest spat was when I was making cheesecake cupcakes and I ran out vanilla.  She said I would be fine if I swish out the bottle for the remaining part of the recipe.

I ran down to the store for more vanilla.  She was not too happy with me and I became angry at her for giving me a hard time.

To me, it was “small shit” and I could not understand why it was so important to her.  The problem was really my reaction to her.  I became angry, raised my voice.  It is amazing what couples fight over.

To me life is too short.  What usually happens is our will clashes.  And then sparks fly.  I guess this is the perennial fight between couples:  how they resolve differences.

How many marriages broke up because he left toothpaste smeared on the bathroom sink one time too often?  Or some small thing like that taking the couple over the edge.

Marriage is working out every detail between the partners.  And there are probably some problems you will never resolve but hopefully not too many over the span of the relationship.

Hopefully most of the “rough” edges” between the two of you get smoothed out over time.  Too much unresolved conflict is not healthy.

Tags: argue, basement, become angry, car wash, cheesecake, clash of wills, couples, cupcakes, disagree, fight, health, life is short, marriage, meddling in my business, my wife, our car, problems, raise my voice, resolve differences, shop vac, silent treatment, sparks fly, toothpaste, unresolved conflict, vacuum cleaner, vanilla, what couples fight over, your partner
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My one pup (he is at least two now) “Atilla” is a “funny” dog.  When he wants attention or thinks he is not getting enough, he locks himself in either the bathroom or our office.  And waits until we get him.  We usually hear the door quietly close.

Sometimes when he is in the office with us he will close the door behind us to make sure no other animal will come in to compete for his attention.  We have four dogs and eight cats.  At least this is our guess.  You never know for sure what is in a dog’s mind.

Tags: a dog's mind, animals, Atilla, bathroom, cats, close the door, dogs, eight cats, four dogs, funny dog, get attention, our office, pets
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There is always something to write about.  It is a question of picking up a “thread” in your life and following it on paper if you are so inclined.

There is no such thing as writer’s block unless you have picked yourself clean and not allowed yourself any empty spaces or “down time” to put it another way.

Every day you have concerns and different thoughts are going through your head.  You just have start somewhere and follow it where ever it goes.

None of that happens if you do not allow yourself quiet moments.  Your brain really never stops.  You just have to physically stop and record and follow at least one line of thought.

Although it is always up to you whether you want to write and follow your thoughts on paper (or the keyboard).  It is always up to you.  Writing is only one form of communication.  You live to write, not write to live.

Tags: author, communication, computer keyboard, empty spaces, follow your thoughts, live to write not write to live, paper, quiet moments, record your thoughts, something to write about, start somewhere to write, want to write, writer's block, writers, writing, your brain never stops
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It was in the late sixties I started keeping a journal.  It was a pivotal point in my life.  Forty years ago I knew my emotions were frozen.  I could not cry.  I did not know how I felt at any moment.  I was deeply depressed.

My journal was a start.  It gave me somewhere to go safely.  It was my only outlet (outside of sports) at the time.  My writings back then were not that good.  I poured out my depressed feelings.

Eventually some of my entries became poems and even got published.  That was the furthest thing from my mind when I started.

At some point years later I made an important shift:  instead of accenting the negative I started writing more and more about the positive in my life.

I never would have got there if I had not written first about all the things that were bothering me.

At some point I started recording the humorous things that happened around me.  It became another way to diffuse the “craziness” I saw.

I found out decades later I liked making people laugh at open mikes.  And I wrote more and more funny poems.

None of this would have not (???) happened if I did not start journalling in the late sixties.  Now my blogs have almost replaced my journal.  Though entries in my journal still trickle in.

Tags: accent the negative, blogging, blogs, could not cry, depressed, emotions frozen, feelings, funny poems, journal entries, journalling, keeping a journal, late 1960's, make people laugh, my journal, open mike, pivotal point in life, poems, poetry, publishing poetry, somewhere safe, sports, write about humorous things, write about the positive, write about what is bothering you, writers, writing
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