Siggy's Blurbs

The Waning Summer

siggy — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:38:50 +0000

I put out a fresh supply of sugar water for the hummingbirds fully aware it is probably the last time for 2010. It is already September 5 and I expect any day the last hummingbird will come and the summer will be over. It is becoming too cold for them and they have a long journey ahead of them.

I Have To Face The Day As If It Mattered

siggy — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:29:29 +0000

I have to face the day as if it mattered (and it will). That means I do not spend the day in the clothes I slept in. I dress, shower, shave, and brush my teeth. Then I figure out what needs to be done the most and work my way down the list.

I do not linger around and bemoan my fate. There are always things that need to be done. Some are more important than others. You can have too much time on your hands.

When you act as if the day truly matters to you, depression will not stay because you are physically moving. Every day you have choices.

When you pick wisely, you have something to show for your waking hours. And it all starts in the beginning of your day so act as if it matters and it will.

Labor Day Weekend And Someone Turned A Switch

siggy — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:04:51 +0000

It was labor day weekend and it was if someone turned a switch. It felt as if fall had come. It was 72 degrees in the house and I had to put on a sweater this morning. For a number of months the temperature of the house had hovered around 80. Our house retains the heat well. Suddenly I became aware this season was over. Summer has less than three weeks to go officially but Autumn had come already.

The Maker Awaits Us All

siggy — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:21:03 +0000

The Maker awaits us all. Why do we act so surprised when He comes a knocking. Yes, my kidney function is declining but we are all going to go. Sometimes it comes suddenly and sometimes we have some time to think about it.

Life is indeed very precious. And we can’t always chose our time. In fact we never know for sure. All we can do is wring every bit of life out of every day, every hour, minute given to us. And praise the Lord in the process. That is all we can do. Praise The Lord for every minute, every day afforded to us.

Our Perennial Fight About Stuff

siggy — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:58:36 +0000

Our perennial fight about stuff. In the garage is a Hammond organ. It is there because I did not want it in the living room. It does not work. I doubt anyone wants it. My wife thinks it is worth something. I just want to trash it.

That is the fight my wife and I have over and over –about stuff. It is hard to get rid of any books. Unfortunately when you have too many books the really good ones get buried.

That does not make any difference. She insists on keeping them. So our book shelves are bulging .

I collect music. My wife at some point discovered E Bay and bought lots of used LP’s and CD’s and now my music collection is out of control.

We have fight after fight about things–too many things in our house–a lot of things that are not being used.

Is that what all couples have–issues that will not go away and can’t be resolved no matter what?

The Little Red Gerbera Daisy Keeps Putting Out Flowers

siggy — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 12:12:36 +0000

The red Gerbera Daisy keeps putting out more flowers. I looked really carefully and noted there was a second one coming up, too. This is the first one that did not die after I bought it. Another words, did not put out more flowers. A small thing but it gives me pleasure.

I Praised The Lord For The Drizzly Day

siggy — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:39:34 +0000

I praised the Lord For the drizzly day. I drove up the River and stopped at several landings. I still remember how uncomfortable the heat waves were. They were not too far from my memory–the ninety degree days and accompanied high humidity.

I flushed one blue heron at one landing and a bat darted out above me into the road, which was kind of unusual since it was nine thirty in the morning and bats are nocturnal.

Anyway, I am going to to enjoy the rain and lower temperatures today. I know the heat and humidity will come back. Summer was not over yet.

I Call It Seredipity–The Butterfly Bush–Really A Weed

siggy — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:54:26 +0000

I call it serendipity–the butterfly bush really a weed. Two years in a row it came up in almost the same spot. We could see it from our office window. My wife said it was hard to transplant. The butterflies loved alighting on its orange flowers. I did not cut the lawn too well two years in a row. Our lawn had turned into a meadow and there it was two years in a row. I considered the plant a gift. Like manna from heaven.

There Was A Surprise In The Middle Of The Field

siggy — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:37:21 +0000

There was a surprise in the middle of the large field glanced from a speeding train. I no longer remember what state I was in. I was traveling to California. There was a male turkey with its wings completely unfurled. I had never seen a male do that. I, of course, have seen pictures of it but this was a first time I ever saw it in the wilds. I was thrilled to say the least.

The Red Gerber Daisy Was Completely Unfurled

siggy — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:11:00 +0000

The red Gerber daisy was completely unfurled in the pot situated on the corner of our driveway. I thanked God for it. And enjoyed its beauty. It was the first one we ever had who kept shooting out new flowers and did not die after I bought it home. I have no explanation for the new flowers. I wish I was that wise but I appreciated the new flowers it kept growing. Life is composed of many simple pleasures and this was one.

I Did Not Feel Good Right After I Awoke

siggy — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:37:39 +0000

I forgot that was normal for me–not to feel good right after I awoke. I felt awful the first twenty five minutes. That was a sign my manic episode was over. I usually drink coffee upon awakening. For months every morning I had felt fine(during my manic episode) and this morning I had to remind myself that was one sign my episode was over. I had already started lowering the dosage of one medication. (the one that gets raised when I have an episode). My sleep patterns are beginning to change to one more normal for me. My episode is winding down.

The Acorn I Found On The Ground I Marvelled At

siggy — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:04:27 +0000

The acorn I found on the ground near my house I marveled at. It was August 12 and the acorn was an harbinger of fall. There were not many around. Summer was only midway.

It was so perfectly round. Its cap would not come off. Before I know it the leaves will start coming down. And next winter will come but there is always the illusion each season is here forever. The acorn that fell in the middle of summer reminded me before we know the next season will be here.

Fall Is About Six Weeks Away

siggy — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 13:41:16 +0000

Fall is about six weeks away. The temperatures are high but not as unbelievable high as they were a few weeks ago. I even saw two flocks of small blackbirds. They usually come through the area two times a year –fall and spring.

There was the feeling summer was going to turn into fall. I was enjoying the lower temperatures although I knew they would go up again.

Anyway, there was the distinct feeling summer was winding down. I picked my first cherry tomato yesterday. Summer was on it way out.

Discouragement As A Sin

siggy — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:50:41 +0000

Discouragement is really a sin. Down deep within you you know you are not doing your calling. It gave me hope when I realized that. I had to switch gears. I had to answer my tiny voice prompting me and obey it and that gave me hope. I have been discouraged as of late. I needed to obey the tiny voice I had beeen ignoring.

Coco, My Other “Pup”, Was Content Being Outside By Herself

siggy — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:47:51 +0000

Coco, my other “pup” was content chewing on a bone, all by herself, outside. She was two years already but I still called her my “pup”. Her brother was in the house lying down.

I loved Coco who was an long haired female almost totally black. She enjoyed her privacy. Her mother, a golden retriever, was named Sweetie so I could not name Coco that. Coco also was a real sweetheart.

Her nickname was wiggles. I did not know I could love dogs (and cats) so much. Each animal has their own personality. And they are all different. And I love each one.

All this is new to me. I did not have any pets growing up. My Mom was too fussy so she could not tolerate any. So here I am with seven cats and four dogs, a real menagerie. My wife loves animals. And I do too. I had to become an adult to find that out.

It Amazes Me Every Time

siggy — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:56:10 +0000

It amazes me every time I go to a four way stop in Newport and each car lets the other make a turn. I know drivers in other areas of the country are not so polite. I have lived or driven in NYC and NY and drivers are not that polite. It is dog eats dog to use a clique. It never fails to amaze me. Is it the slower pace here? I just don’t know. Central Pennsylvania is another world.

The River and The Mountains and Sky Are Everchanging

siggy — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:16:10 +0000

The River and the mountains and sky are ever changing. Every time I go to the river everything changes. The light hits the water differently. Shades of gray and blue are ever present. I am awed every time. And thank God I am able to view this beauty.

Sometimes I view the River from a passing car other times I am standing at its shore. I never know what I will see exactly. This week early in the morning I flushed a blue heron and watched it fly to the other side joining another one in flight there.

I feel blessed living so close to such a magnificent River and Mountains. Every day I am reminded of that. There are many people who do not live so close to a major River. And a good part of my life I did not either.

We Cancelled Our Dish And I got Depressed

siggy — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:30:31 +0000

We canceled our Dish and I got depressed. We realized we were paying $600 a year for it. Money got a little tighter the last few months and it was just too much money for that privilege.

Nevertheless I became depressed after we canceled that service. On the upside we had lots of DVDs and old videos to watch. There were plenty of films I have not seen. I still have not watched Ken Burns series on jazz my wife got me for Christmas maybe five years ago.

All of that did not matter. I still became depressed. Like I lost a friend. Something I took for granted. And now it was gone.

Nicknames For My Dogs

siggy — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:14:37 +0000

I have several nicknames for my dogs. My daughter says you can’t change the name of you pet once you give one for your dog. I beg to differ.

Pax my 90 pound Rottweiler mix is now is now Big Woof or Woof for short . He is the most vocal of our four dogs. And he is beginning to respond to the last name.

Coco is now called Wiggles for obvious reason when she sees you she wiggles all over the place when she sees you..

The other pup Tilla originally Atilla The Hun, now shortened to an affectionate Tilla, now has been called at various times Junior Woof or The Olympian or Small Woof.

The last other dog we have is named Sweetie and her name describes her to a tee so she will not get any other name. It fits her perfectly.

Can Fear And Love Exist At The Same Time?

siggy — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:06:13 +0000

Can fear and love exist at the same time? They can but not too well. One can not love freely if you are afraid. Somehow you have to settle your fears–your fear of rejection, of being close, of being transparent.

Nothing is permanent. Love is fluid. It changes from day to day. That is why commitment to one another is so important. It rides out the rough moments and if you know in back of your mind you are loved that is all you need to know.

Fear only gets in the way. Forgiveness at the end of each day is the glue that makes it work. No one said love was easy. You have to put aside your fears.