tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91023608966480702002012-02-11T08:44:11.773-05:00penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.comBlogger1331100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-15369859347614064582012-01-23T07:35:00.003-05:002012-01-23T10:21:54.395-05:00

Leaving up a blog post about Christmas Lights for weeks after the holiday is like not taking your tree down until February ~ tacky. Sorry about that folks, it's just that the first few weeks of 2012 whizzed by and are now mostly a blur. The only events I can recall clearly are a New Year's Eve party with lots of music and dancing (good times), mopping floors at midnight (yay, new job), twelve

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-694361121783365102011-12-21T21:55:00.005-05:002011-12-22T08:48:34.388-05:00

Some strange urge had me driving around photographing more holiday lights. I tried getting a better shot of our picturesque village center, but still haven't hit the right vantage point. All along Main St., and down some side streets too, trees are dressed in lights, and from the lamp posts hang snow flakes, wreathes and Christmas trees. Downtown Lights, Florence Ma This house displays a

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-30189689569530458972011-12-11T23:14:00.001-05:002011-12-22T08:43:44.640-05:00

People are lighting up everywhere around here. And why not ... 'tis the Season!  House with Christmas Lights, Easthampton Ma Driving around looking at decked out houses is a fun thing to do this time of year. House with Christmas Lights, Hadley Ma Traveling around here and there, a few house have stood out and seemed worthy of acclaim. House with Christmas Lights, Leeds Ma This old

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-23911809753721953502011-11-19T08:38:00.018-05:002011-11-21T00:47:22.957-05:00

Doesn't it sometimes feel as if your whole life is being sucked into the ether-world of some artist's imagination? Nari Ward: Nu Collossus That's the feeling I get looking at this picture of Nari Ward's work. LoveFire and I indulged our need for art and adventure by taking a trip up to Mass MoCA in North Adams recently. Ward has a number of pieces on exhibit there, the lot of which he's

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-21634824124382918902011-11-07T08:14:00.001-05:002011-11-25T20:00:54.355-05:00

It's hard to believe the official start of Winter is more than six weeks away. If the massive snow storm that hit us last weekend is any indication of what we're in for this season, then things could get brutal. What's worse than living a week without heat and lights in the Fall? Living without them in the middle of Winter! This poor car lost its rear windows to a fallen branch. The amount of

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-85963728736749515342011-10-20T08:38:00.008-04:002011-11-25T19:59:08.155-05:00

It was raining pretty hard the other morning when, feeling dejected by lack of response from prospective employers, I decided to take a drive out through Huntington, Worthington and Chesterfield. The rural routes that wind through the foothills of Western Massachusetts are usually beautiful, even on rainy autumn days. But instead of leaves, the most colorful thing along the roads were For Sale

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-84134048945187925492011-09-24T23:08:00.003-04:002011-09-28T09:56:09.793-04:00

The journey back into the default world has been a lot more difficult this year. There's something about spending time in Black Rock City that, once getting past the initial shock and freak out over being part of it, makes you want to stay forever. It's a mostly cut and dry environment that makes it easy to come to terms with choice and ability. Unlike everyday life, where it's sometimes hard

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-55733207584473292011-08-07T23:05:00.001-04:002011-08-11T08:09:04.186-04:00

With the big Burn coming up in just a few short weeks, a question keeps surfacing: how far can the heart be opened when unconstrained by fear and ego? Seems like as good a question as any to set out with. One the three of us can hash out while driving 2,800 miles to bring some love to the Gate Department in Black Rock City of Dreams. Anxiety is turning to anticipation as Saturday's departure

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-44348295076547644282011-07-26T23:12:00.000-04:002011-07-26T23:12:03.639-04:00

Much like last year at this time, I've been worrying a bit about getting ready to leave for that crazy place in the dust where all the dreamers go ~ Black Rock City. Pretty sure that last July most of my gear was already packed. We've done some preparing though, just not enough to satiate my deep desire for complete cosmic order. Other stuff keeps getting thrown into the mix and upsetting the

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-88900307631804937552011-07-24T21:05:00.005-04:002011-07-24T21:11:38.366-04:00

Spent a good amount of time sorting through hundreds of pictures RayK took while staying with us a couple of weeks ago. She likes to get close-ups of flowers, and this little purplish-blue one looked especially delicate and pretty. Too bad I have no idea what it is. That's alright though. Sometimes it's enough to just enjoy the presence of lovely things.

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-53030833027070967082011-07-11T22:42:00.011-04:002011-07-21T13:47:59.246-04:00

Summer has set in Western Massachusetts, and it seems like it's going to be a scorcher. The mid-afternoon sun was too hot to work in on this early July day. And the evening bugs were vicious. They're doing well with the excessive rain which also happens to be keeping the grass and flowers alive. Haven't been able to quite keep up with the mowing and weeding, not with the pace of other

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-38142908707416250342011-06-28T22:25:00.001-04:002011-06-28T22:29:47.841-04:00

Never was a big fan of Stew, even way back when beef was still in my diet. But pork is a different story. A lot of chops, roast, ham, and especially bacon, is eaten in my house. Today Pasta e Fagioli was on the menu, something I haven't made in a long time. It seemed to take a lot of work and a long time to cook, but after the first few bites, I knew it had been worth the effort. Curious about

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-22623929539962126952011-06-08T21:09:00.001-04:002011-06-12T14:45:10.565-04:00

Been keeping a careful eye open for any opportunity lingering nearby, but it might be hard to recognize due to the changing nature of its meaning. Striping it of its monetary component and focusing on its serendipitous aspects yields some interesting possibilities. While a few traditional windows have opened here and there, outside them it looks pretty untamed. Instead of jumping into the fight

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-28802274372271846032011-05-26T23:38:00.004-04:002011-05-28T14:06:34.231-04:00

How is it that the list of things I want to do keeps getting longer while the time to do them is mysteriously shorter each day? It seems that in addition to lowering the expectations I have of myself, I'll also need to reevaluate my whole game plan in order to find time for all of these additional interests. That shouldn't be too difficult considering adaptation is primarily instinctual. Just 

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-8625831650751884822011-05-13T23:02:00.003-04:002011-06-06T09:33:51.337-04:00

At the Grafton NY Peace Pagoda this year, the Nipponzan Myohoji Order will celebrate Buddha's birth on Sunday, May 15th. The Flower Festival will include Traditional Buddhist Ceremony and Islamic, Lakota and Zen prayers. There will be a speaker on "living a long, healthy life" and another informing us about drone warfare. There will also be a Tae Kwon Do demonstration and Pot Luck lunch.

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-3429923848317614642011-05-11T00:14:00.000-04:002011-05-11T00:14:00.576-04:00

Sometimes joy is elusive and it's easy to forget that we're chasing it at all. Been a little off-track lately, indulging the Tiger a bit too often. But straying from intention can help clarify purpose and refocus energy. That of course doesn't excuse my surly behavior. It does remind me that this morose meandering is an old cycle, not all bad and not all good. However, something completely good

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-19878327426634771862011-04-28T23:59:00.009-04:002011-04-30T13:48:17.704-04:00

Ever since my camera died a few months ago, there's been a void in my life. HoneyLoveFire has a camera at the house I can use, but it's kind of big and clunky, and the computer cable is missing, so it's a bit of a pain getting the pictures off it. My old, small digital didn't get great shots, but it was always there when I needed it. Not having it around has been a drag for blogging, because I'd

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-15810919051086376902011-04-10T08:29:00.002-04:002011-04-19T08:02:33.206-04:00

Not many people in the Happy Valley are afraid of a little discussion and debate. Most of them have rather strong opinions and are not too shy about expressing them. For that reason, today's public forum in Northampton with writer and commentator John Nichols should be a lively and informative event. The topic will revolve around the idea that there is a new political era being ushered in by

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-35426287792169147032011-03-27T22:44:00.006-04:002011-03-27T22:57:17.187-04:00

A couple of days ago there were a few small, yellow crocus blooming on a patch of brown grass at the street corner where I turn to leave from work. It's always a relief to see the first blooms of the season, especially on the heels of snow last Sunday, the first day of Spring. But we've been doing this for way too long to have only the weather to talk about. Much more interesting is the fact

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-15389156224313346002011-03-22T20:28:00.000-04:002011-03-22T20:28:53.255-04:00

There's so much going on in the world right now, when it comes to focusing on something to write about, my brain takes off like a steam engine in several directions at once. Though it'd be nice to pursue those thought tracks, until someone offers a stipend, there's only time for reflecting on my favorite subject - the men in my life. In case it's not clear by the picture, this little guy has

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-41750883522185278002011-02-20T22:54:00.000-05:002011-02-20T22:54:09.181-05:00

This image may look like a blur of lights, but actually it's a perfect representation of exactly what was going through my head while sitting atop the Department of Mutant Vehicles (DMV) cargo container at Burning Man this past year. Just climbing up the short ladder to reach the couch on top of the big metal container took some effort because of the spinning in my head. BrushFire was very

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-19521473206495729092011-02-08T23:39:00.002-05:002011-02-16T18:48:32.155-05:00

Residents of Florence woke up to a few more inches of snow this morning. The blue hue of daybreak was lovely against the blanketing whiteness. Even the Burning Man RV looks all cozy out beyond our winter burn circle. Clearing it from the drive way, side walk and porches wasn't so pretty. The puffy white fluff began turning to dense, heavy slush with temps well above freezing. It was amazing

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-79587553046321168182011-01-16T21:25:00.016-05:002011-01-22T17:24:18.038-05:00

If you're looking for something fun to do with the family on Sunday, the 23rd of January, consider heading down to the Brick Church in Old Deerfield for an afternoon concert. From any direction, on a clear day it's a lovely winter ride into Historic Deerfield. This special event will feature the world folk music chorus, Amandla, the alt-county/bluegrass Green River String Band, as well as

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-78692372150084221972011-01-05T21:18:00.015-05:002011-01-05T22:15:32.516-05:00

On this 12th day of  Christmas, the Epiphany, things are busy as ever here in the realm of love's musing. Of the many special moments over the past few weeks, one of the best was the small New Year's Eve burn that HoneyLoveFire and I hosted. What better way to start the New Year than with friends and fire? It took some work, but it's amazing how much can be accomplished with the help of someone

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-77367606695808730702010-12-14T21:05:00.015-05:002011-01-04T08:07:22.978-05:00

Now that there's an outlet for my Shakti, my woman power, all of the creative energy that it had fueled has been sucked dry. Hahaha, that's a joke to see if my HoneyLoveFire is paying attention. The release and flow is actually fueling all kinds of new ideas. It's been harder now, though, to make time to regularly sit back and assess this journey as before. It's been a lot more fun enjoying the

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-30326008736945348672010-11-25T08:03:00.002-05:002010-11-26T22:36:41.240-05:00

Late November is such a cold, bleak time of year with it's gray skies, damp air and bare trees. It makes you especially grateful to be inside a warm house steeped in the aroma of baked breads and pies, turkey and squash. You can almost forget for a few minutes that thousands of our fellow citizens are without homes this year. Admittedly, this is true every year in America, but now it's not just

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-51461114845057006612010-11-08T20:23:00.006-05:002010-11-14T19:34:39.597-05:00

There's no For Sale sign on this house. At least not yet. It wouldn't surprise me though, as one of my friends recently noted after perusing the newspaper for work, "there's only a few columns of help wanted ads but page after page of people selling their stuff." Every day in a home of your own is a day to be grateful. Having someone there to help you keep it running is an endless comfort. To

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-38298092014339768982010-10-24T23:52:00.005-04:002010-10-31T01:16:33.409-04:00

If you read this title and immediately think of Led Zeppelin, then it's likely you're at least 30. This song isn't  heard all that often any more, but it sure can bring back a lot of memories for those of us who do remember it. For all you kids, here's a good version someone generously put online: Whole Lotta Love. Trust me - way, way down inside, you need it. The reason this song title came to

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-30910906955394523212010-10-05T08:08:00.019-04:002010-10-08T19:15:33.049-04:00

This is the only cool picture I have of myself from Burning Man. My face is obscured by a mask and goggles because there was a pretty good dust storm blowing on this day in the desert when BrushFire and I went wandering to look at art. What the actual name of this piece is I do not know, but I like to call it The Giving Chair. Hanging from the canopy were several chains with skeleton keys

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-32249546354357191752010-09-27T21:52:00.010-04:002010-09-28T07:36:46.793-04:00

It's hard to believe that Fall is here already. Remember last September when I tried to get out on the Fall Bike Run? No? Good, because it was a little embarrassing. I tried hard to find a biker muse to ride with but never was able to. This year however, an old friend who has rarely missed this Run since they started didn't have to play golf like last year, so he was able to bring me on Sunday's

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-25508517028577960382010-09-23T21:24:00.018-04:002010-09-29T22:49:20.003-04:00

The Black Hole is the name of the camp where most of the Gate staff and some of the crew are located at Burning Man. In reality, BrushFire, Chaos and I were there only 20 days, but it may as well have been 200, because it was packed with that much authentic experience. Turns out my HoneyLoveFire is somewhat of a muck-a-muck in Black Rock City. He's an assistant manager for Exodus and the

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-24361743742119682972010-08-18T23:17:00.012-04:002010-09-24T22:23:07.919-04:00

What an amazing trip we're having just getting to Black Rock City. We left as planned on Saturday, and pulled into Winnemucca, Nevada around 1:30 a.m. this morning, a day ahead of schedule. This will give us extra time to acclimate to the altitude, wash our clothes, pick up last minute supplies and get some rest before going in. As we were packing up to leave, BrushFire said "Oh yeah! We're going

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-2589323578095487712010-08-11T06:28:00.008-04:002010-09-24T22:17:36.165-04:00

Well, this is it! Two more days and we're off to Black Rock City of Dreams. We received our early arrival passes for August 20th and plan to leave on Saturday. Traveling together are me, BrushFire and Chaos. We've all worked hard for this. We arranged our personal lives to accommodate a month away from home, or in Chao's case, arranged to relocate home base. And we've worked many hours on the RV

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-9547731298633428912010-08-04T23:15:00.009-04:002010-08-05T00:09:33.604-04:00

At some point there has to be a turning away from war and violence. Let that point be now and the turning start within our own hearts.

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-20893885816812250012010-07-26T21:44:00.014-04:002010-07-29T08:05:34.987-04:00

Wow, here it is July 26th and aside from tonight, I've only posted twice this month. Lately there hasn't been much time to share my amusing adventures, because BrushFire and I have been busy preparing for the Big Burn next month. We're arriving 9 days before the event opens and have scheduled all of the shifts we need to work in order to qualify for early arrival. Working is going to be a good

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-45552005566710979502010-07-05T22:30:00.005-04:002010-07-12T16:02:09.904-04:00

Had the chance to spend some quality time with one of my back home girls from the Pit recently. We took a walk down to Onota Lake near her house and spent a long time catching up on each other's challenging and exuberant lives. By the time we were finished talking, the sun was going down, and I got this picture of the sunset on the last Sunday in June, 2010. That moment will never happen again,

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-3507262350300920432010-07-01T07:21:00.010-04:002010-07-01T18:25:05.525-04:00

Last night I picked up my tattered copy of Leo Nash's Burning Man: Art in the Desert. This time, instead of mostly focusing on the incredible photography, I read more of the story he tells of the evolution of Black Rock City. Some time ago, it was Nash's descriptions that inspired me to dub BRC a city of dreams. More than that, it assuredly is a city where dreams become reality.All along the

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-10708162855589282682010-06-20T21:17:00.020-04:002010-06-23T21:09:45.876-04:00

This is going to be hard to believe but *surprise* there is yet another new muse in my life. As soon as I saw this guy, there was no doubt it would be an LTR. And the best part about it is that my boo, BrushFire, is good with the deal and doesn't even mind watching me hold him in my arms. When you live a life true to your heart, there's no controlling how much love it may come to encompass. And

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-10566462244728134192010-06-14T07:45:00.021-04:002010-06-17T22:38:46.549-04:00

When heading north on I-91 from Springfield toward Northampton, there are three different exits you can take depending on how you feel and which part of the city you want to get to. Driving back from BrushFire's around 11:30 a.m. yesterday, it was still overcast and wet, which made it feel like early morning. The idea of a cup of coffee from Manhan in Easthampton formed, so I took the first exit,

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-29466418167903398072010-06-08T07:19:00.005-04:002010-06-11T08:03:58.051-04:00

The most surprising thing at PDF wasn't Hasbro's giant My Little Pony effigy, though it was among the most offensive. It also wasn't the inescapable mix of loud drum, psytrance, reggae and techno music converging outside our camp. We were far enough away that the constant noise was enjoyable. And I wasn't too shocked at the abundant nudity or adult nature of so many of the theme camps. Having

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-73320200164048645982010-05-25T21:52:00.019-04:002010-05-27T06:27:21.645-04:00

May is quickly moving into June, and with Playa del Fuego coming this weekend, this is the last opportunity of the month to sit back and reflect on where this muse adventure has brought me. One of the ideas that has been rolling around in my head is that living your dreams can be somewhat disquieting. That's because there's a large amount of uncertainty to contend with. The road to Black Rock

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-23049884299320898492010-05-21T15:11:00.005-04:002010-05-21T15:55:59.906-04:00

There's a real treat in store for those who love peace and music and can make it to the Temple Israel in Greenfield, MA this Sunday evening at 7 P.M. The Amandla Chorus will be performing their Spring Concert with "songs of peace, justice and freedom from around the world."For more details, visit www.amandlachorus.org

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-34271731628352562442010-05-11T21:34:00.013-04:002010-05-12T08:37:52.812-04:00

It's been a busy couple of weeks, running around town with my daughter to shop for baby shower decorations, keeping up with chores around the yard and the house, and visiting BrushFire as often as possible for fun and to work on the RV. Tonight I'm missing him a lot. Circumstances are keeping us apart, and being away from him is causing a certain longing that I haven't felt since chasing my Sweet

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-44878955582240641782010-05-03T21:51:00.016-04:002010-05-12T08:26:08.305-04:00

Tonight I spent some time working on this Rubber Duckies in the Rain quilt for my daughter's baby, my first grandchild, who is due to make an appearance in this realm sometime around mid June. The material came as part of kit, but I'll be adding my own border. I was happy to finish stitching the outlines to the outer squares tonight. All that's left is quilting a pattern inside each one of the

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-78120136016338444142010-04-26T19:17:00.007-04:002010-04-27T08:25:06.026-04:00

The DJ on the radio the other day asked listeners, "Do you know what happens to people who suddenly get everything they want?" After a five second pause of silent airtime, he responded "they live happily ever after."Having a man in your life sure takes a lot of time and energy. Being around someone who makes your molecular structure vibrate at a slightly higher wavelength is draining by itself.

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-27841961342028284482010-04-13T21:06:00.021-04:002010-04-19T10:12:31.712-04:00

Sometimes when a man looks at you a certain way, you have to sort of suck in your lips so that he can't see the elation his gaze has caused. Once he knows that he can pierce your heart with only a glance, it's possible he'll turn into a real dick and start jerking you around.But I'm confident that's not going to happen with this man, BrushFire, who has been stoking the flame of my Burner heart

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-47120484916379202002010-04-07T00:50:00.003-04:002010-04-07T21:34:18.083-04:00

It's going to take a while to compose a proper post introducing the amazing muse who has been commanding my time and attention over the past couple of months. In the interim, I thought it would be nice to post one of my favorite Rumi poems, a translation by Colemman Barks from The Essential Rumi.Sublime GenerosityI was dead, then alive.Weeping, then laughing.The power of love came into me,and I

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-769864054711138662010-03-22T20:00:00.044-04:002010-03-25T07:11:58.575-04:00

Saturday March 20th marked the seven year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. In February of 2003, before going to war, millions of people around the world gathered in major and minor cities to demonstrate their opposition to a U.S. led invasion of Iraq. This weekend the crowds of protesters opposing the migration of war into Afghanistan were only a fraction of the size they were back then. Are

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-92063534649062980552010-03-15T20:47:00.017-04:002010-03-18T07:58:46.583-04:00

There are so many things that could and would be getting done were it not for the fact that life has brought me here, now. All these years and still learning to slow down and savour the moment. Maybe that lesson is finally beginning to sink in. Or, maybe I needed something unusually interesting to focus my energy. Most likely it's this giddy stupor that I can't seem to pull myself out of.

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-75892890004421860912010-03-08T07:28:00.008-05:002010-03-09T06:42:59.724-05:00

This is a picture of the sun setting on February 12th over Cooper's Lake Campground in Slippery Rock, PA. It's not as beautiful as the picture CodyB took of the purple sunrise over Ryan Road in Florence, MA the following Saturday morning, but at least I was awake to see the sunset. Sleeping in is not something I do often, but lately there have been several mornings when there has been good

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-42076177139169856762010-02-24T22:31:00.011-05:002010-02-28T07:17:11.923-05:00

It's hard to believe that it's been well over a week since returning from Frostburn, my first regional Burn. I've been bragging about going on this Winter camping trip for a while, and although I'm home now, I've also learned that you never completely come back from a Burn.But I know there are at least a few people waiting to hear about this adventure, and finally there's a moment to sit down and

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-34336239877535346262010-02-14T00:01:00.012-05:002010-02-18T16:09:52.094-05:00

Lucky for me, this year V Day will be spent experiencing the love of the great outdoors in Winter. I've scheduled this post to go up on the exalted holy love day while I'm safely away in Slippery Rock, PA at my first ever regional burn, Frostburn.Much as I do sort of wish there were a honey bear around to give me a little sweetness any day this month, it would not substitute for the immediacy of

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-88816956106967859592010-02-08T22:07:00.013-05:002010-02-10T08:19:04.849-05:00

A few weeks ago some of my hot mama girlfriends from the Pit came up to visit. We cooked a ton of food, set the smoke alarms off a couple of times, spruced up our hair a little bit and hit downtown Northampton. Our first stop was The Basement where a very nice folk-rock band was playing which sounded great but was a little too mellow for the girls. So after a quick drink we headed over to

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-67763622817573426372010-01-31T07:26:00.004-05:002010-02-05T06:46:13.365-05:00

"Is it ever okay to indulge your obsessions?" and "what kind of a freak have I become?" were the two questions running through my head Saturday night as I went from one surface to another with a wet rag in an attempt to rid my kitchen of dust and grime. Some friends had invited me to their house party, a dress-up event that looked to be pretty wild, but I reasoned that it would be better to stay

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-86043420327874820342010-01-27T14:40:00.004-05:002010-01-27T14:53:40.270-05:00

This Rumi poem is a special offering to the Sweet Man of My Dreams, who feels he has nothing to offer. Once you've given everything, once you're completely empty inside, remember...More is RequiredYou've disappeared into the way?Leave even that behind. Sitwith the essence inside love.In that Chinese mirror you'll seehundreds of sword blades. Don'tbe afraid to use them. You'vegiven up everything.

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-6526822202947458032010-01-23T20:46:00.001-05:002010-01-24T08:58:04.615-05:00

A few days ago when my Match.com subscription was about to run out, men suddenly started sending me Winks. In the previous three months, the only guy who had the courage to send an initial contact email, instead of a timid Wink, was Braveheart. He and I share a special understanding of Ecstatic Love that comes from reading too much Rumi. We had hoped that connection would extend into other areas,

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-5488726921775518332010-01-18T17:22:00.030-05:002010-01-21T08:05:52.680-05:00

All my life, it's been my father who's inspired me to dream when it comes to business. From owning his own for many years, to organizing events and activities for his local B.P.O.E, to the current home based gig running bus trips to sporting events and tourist areas, he never lacks ideas for making money. He'll often mention investment opportunities, and when I told him about this commercial

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-44989220760020854592010-01-15T09:13:00.014-05:002010-01-16T13:22:43.557-05:00

There are times when, in spite all the exciting adventures and despairing sojourns there are to write about, the anguish of humanity directs my thinking and compels my writing. The earthquake that struck Haiti Tuesday night was another devastating blow to a people who have already suffered so much, for so long. Partners In Health has worked on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years. You can

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-39961985421270794192010-01-06T07:13:00.040-05:002010-01-09T16:14:04.107-05:00

Here's something you may not know. For Christians, Advent is the period of time leading up to Christmas and it began on Sunday the 29th of November with the lighting of a purple candle. The Christmas season began on December 25th and ended on Twelfth Night, the 5th of January. Today is the Epiphany, the day when the Wise Men, also known as the Magi, arrived in Bethlehem. They were high-ranking

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-39655760804488996462010-01-01T09:51:00.050-05:002010-01-22T16:15:12.067-05:00

"If it's not bliss to spend hours staring at each other, or just being in each others presence, it's not a love affair, it's a deal of some sort."Match.com MemberThe Blue Moon that graced the sky this New Year's Eve got me thinking about other rare and precious phenomena, namely true love and friendship. The busy pace of modernity hinders our ability to meet new people and develop meaningful

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-73086437787399427712009-12-24T00:17:00.023-05:002010-01-03T08:13:19.335-05:00

"The road is long and, in part, unknown. We recognize our limitations. We will make the human being of the 21st century - we, ourselves."The 21st century has arrived, and all I want for Christmas is Che Guevara, so I bought him (no batteries needed). Actually, how he would feel about being made into a commodity was my thought while purchasing a T-shirt with his face on it. At least it wasn't a

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-17442131490388418012009-12-21T00:35:00.017-05:002009-12-22T09:51:52.242-05:00

It would be a good idea to stop blabbing about every guy I sleep with. Once I finally meet my true love, the reputation I'm creating for myself isn't going to help him realize that it's our hearts that are one. He will need to quiet any doubts that arise from reading these muse chasing adventures and simply taste the love offered by my humble hand.Offer sweet love to my heart's current desire, my

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-89147430425297943582009-12-13T00:54:00.028-05:002009-12-16T13:18:18.546-05:00

If you happen to see a tall, handsome, bald man who can make things glow and laughs at being called Bolt, tell him to please call me. Just kidding. My new flame is still coming around and showing a respectable amount of enthusiasm even after being "blogged" about and griped at. And my own interest remains high despite his being a freak. It's all about balance.Tonight the conditions were good for

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-69597848739426788412009-12-07T11:08:00.026-05:002009-12-10T19:02:44.023-05:00

The morning after being up all night for the first time with a new lover may not be the best time for starting a new blog post. It would probably be better to wait a few day, let things ruminate and see what develops before talking about it. But what the hell, it always takes a while to write a proper post. By the time this is finished, I'll have sufficiently edited out anything too risqué.I

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-40344538010968789282009-12-01T08:09:00.010-05:002009-12-02T17:38:41.678-05:00

It matters not if I ever hold the Sweet Man of My Dreams in my arms. My longing for him has put me in touch with a love that is vast and deep and endless. His Friendship has freed my heart and added a precious gem of color to the swirling kaleidoscope of my soul.What's Not Here, a Rumi poem translated by Coleman Barks in The Glance.I start out on this road, call itlove or emptiness. I only know

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-31477465043166349482009-11-24T22:29:00.027-05:002009-11-28T13:42:33.277-05:00

A friend recently stated in a rather matter of fact way, "you could use a Young Buck." Oh really, I thought. Is that what I need? He thinks all this brouhaha is about romps in the wild. Of course it is. But it's also about so much more. There's a chapter in Marion Zimmer Bradley's book, The Mists of Avalon, titled King Stag, and in one scene a King hooded in the skins and antlers of a Stag, runs

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-78432402835453734452009-11-18T06:59:00.017-05:002009-11-20T08:09:52.715-05:00

Though there are a number throughout the world, it was a surprise to learn that in the United States there are only two Peace Pagodas. One is in Leverett, Massachusetts and the other is in Grafton, New York. A third is under construction in Eastern Tennessee. Back in the early 90's, as a student in the Peace & World Order program at BCC, I had the good fortune of contributing a few hours of labor

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-37950753354209889152009-11-16T09:23:00.006-05:002009-11-16T10:09:28.525-05:00

Everyone deserves a lover who will cherish them above all others. Anyone who has felt the blessing of being held sacred in the eyes of a Friend has known true love. This quest is about finding mutual adoration.If fortune is going to be your companion,love must have something to do with you.Whoever is not reduced to drunkennessby lovewill forever suffer sobriety.But whomever love chooseswill be

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-20459698296373217062009-11-11T08:41:00.013-05:002009-11-13T08:05:04.187-05:00

Since I promised to let everyone know how my meet-up with the dude from Match.com went, here's the verdict: the details warrant further investigation. The only fact that's been established at this point is that he's definitely interested in one thing. And since he was so honest and brave in asking for it, I think I'll give it to him, right here, right now.From The Glance: Songs of Soul-Meeting,

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-38395666363524806982009-11-08T07:35:00.034-05:002009-11-15T08:56:11.671-05:00

Life, full even on dull days, has been overflowing lately. In an effort to prepare for a new job and fill the man-void in my life, I've been keeping busy by taking a certification course, renting out an empty bedroom, going on trips with family and friends and exploring the further reaches of the soul with a new Rumi book, The Glance. Oh yeah, and I joined Match.com about three weeks ago. Let me

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-31231067128827433792009-10-25T21:20:00.002-04:002009-11-04T16:45:49.311-05:00

There are many things that I'm grateful for in life, but nothing surpasses the appreciation I have for my daughter and the kind, beautiful, smart woman that she is. Think about it, not all kids turn out great. But mine has. And it's not due entirely to my influence. My friends and family helped me to steer her in the right direction. But she's the one who stayed the course.We've been lucky to be

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-67299117486976842952009-10-18T23:45:00.025-04:002009-10-27T08:11:15.261-04:00

Maybe it's some type of odd compulsion, who knows, but whenever I find a patch of cool looking moss, especially when it's growing on a rock, or when there's a freaky looking mushroom patch, I like to take a picture. What I'll ever do with all of these pictures is yet to be decided, probably nothing because they're not all that special. At least there's this blog where a few of them can be seen

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-64176571431874843112009-10-14T21:34:00.028-04:002009-11-16T21:30:19.103-05:00

In a recent conversation, the woman I was speaking with referred to a month as a minute, saying "I may be in the area for a minute or two." Thinking about a month as only a minute in a person's lifetime prompted me to consider time from a more finite perspective. This in turn fueled a sense of urgency to make each minute matter. There are, after all, precious few moments available in this

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-87650910235825155852009-10-03T09:20:00.028-04:002009-10-05T18:42:47.329-04:00

Let me tell you about the women in this pictures. These are strong women. These are women who can take care of themselves. These women don't need men which is probably why none of them have one. Just kidding, at least one is married. Any one of these women can hold pace or excel working alongside a man. The number of ass-busting hours these women put in every day amazes me. And when they're done

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-20626147428213460042009-09-28T15:21:00.055-04:002009-09-30T09:39:46.958-04:00

After a rough start, this past weekend turned out to be full of dream chasing adventures. It wasn't looking good on Friday after realizing that I'm only willing to pursue Sweet Man of My Dreams so far. A few months ago I'd have done about anything for the chance to spend a few hours with him. Things have evolved. My reverie now is toward people and situations that offer mutual benefit. It's these

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-27813373283877146732009-09-27T22:01:00.005-04:002009-09-27T22:34:16.452-04:00

It's boastful to want to put this picture up so soon, but I just couldn't hold back from bragging about the fact that I did get out for a scoot this weekend. Saturday was a great riding day and Bike Night in Adams had an awesome turnout. It about over twenty years now that I've known Gary, who is the brother-in-law of a dear friend of mine. He doesn't want anyone to know it, but I'm telling the

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-37668384471289646522009-09-27T07:30:00.001-04:002009-10-20T07:32:31.772-04:00

They're not stunning or even that good, but here's a link to some pictures of Bike Night and the Fall Run, from September 26th & 27th.

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-62223713284271250532009-09-21T20:18:00.054-04:002009-09-26T23:20:49.788-04:00

In her book Even the Stars Look Lonesome, Maya Angelou tells a story about how the place in which you live your life every day can either heal the body and spirit or diminish them. Her story suggests that when proceeding from a place of strength and repose, from a home, life's challenges don't feel quite as daunting and great joy is easily found in simple encounters.The small New England town of

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-31465452670847842942009-09-19T18:37:00.039-04:002009-09-21T07:59:45.706-04:00

Why is it that we tend to make certain mistakes over and over again? I thought I had learned to be patient and wait for help with tasks that are too big to handle alone. But apparently not. My impatience, blind determination and failure to use my brain threw me into quite a tiz today. Though tears are my usual reaction to rage and plenty were shed, there's also a certain resolve that comes once I

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-30623257087514437352009-09-12T21:18:00.053-04:002010-05-25T19:06:34.957-04:00

If you think about it, there are very few circumstances in which we are willing to accept all or nothing propositions. If we did, I suspect we'd all have a whole lot of nothing. When I set out on an adventure with CodyBCleo early Saturday morning, she made it clear that I could go back home or accept the possibility that we may never actually reach our destination. We were on our way to do

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-86011719563441626862009-09-10T21:39:00.020-04:002009-09-10T23:02:12.455-04:00

Every Thursday from 5:30 until dusk, there's a car show in the parking lot of the Elks Club in Florence. Every Thursday, as I pass it on my way home from work, I think about checking it out. Today I did. But my real motivation wasn't the cars, it was the bikes. There weren't too many there, but these old Harleys and Indians were very cool.1948 Harley-Davidson FLYes I am going to make it out on

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-50540220723601403832009-09-07T15:02:00.003-04:002009-09-10T17:46:22.155-04:00

A while back I started writing my motorcycle memoirs thinking the story would be pretty interesting. After all, I grew up with an uncle who rode with the Warlocks motorcycle club, spent my teen years living a couple of houses down from one of their hangouts, and at age 18 moved to an apartment above a bar that the Hell's Angels frequented because their clubhouse was in the same small town. But I

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-77684079425842179672009-09-06T13:03:00.007-04:002009-09-06T20:55:00.006-04:00

This post is a preview of a plan I'm developing to make it out on the Fall Run. It's been two years since I've been out riding, and this annual event sponsored by Custom City Cycle of Adams, MA is coming up in just a few short weeks. It's a great ride, and I have a plan to find a hot biker dude to bring me along. Please stay posted to see if I'm successful. And in the meantime, don't be shy about

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-44889909115473447242009-09-05T11:53:00.047-04:002009-09-06T07:35:40.892-04:00

Just because I went alone to opening day of the Three County Fair doesn't mean I couldn't have had a date if I wanted one. For whatever reason though, very few men inspire me now that it's become much more difficult to find one. Most of the men who catch my eye are partnered, and the ones who are not, well, it quickly becomes obvious why they're not.I would bet that the financial stress so many

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-21779098676953669542009-08-29T08:11:00.034-04:002010-02-09T21:06:20.147-05:00

Often is seem that friends show up exactly when you need them. That's how it felt Friday when one of my BFFs, Toots, drove an hour from the Pit to come up and visit so we could go out perusing local hot spots. Since it's the weekend before Labor Day, and it was raining, there wasn't anything too exciting happening. But we wore our dancing shoes anyway, because a woman should always be prepared

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-14626476346564513992009-08-27T22:51:00.013-04:002009-09-07T08:09:49.849-04:00

I started writing this visualization exercise for a man I'm crazy about. He can't seem to figure out what direction his life should take, and I came up with this to try to help him get in touch with his deepest desires. But I have no reason to believe he ever bothers to read this blog. So fuck him. I'm finishing this exercise for my chick friend, CodyBCleo, because she said she'd be interested in

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-31902094407255112622009-08-26T20:04:00.019-04:002009-08-27T22:45:30.947-04:00

It's a lot of work taking care of children and animals, which is why I don't have either. Well, my only child is a married adult, and there's one old cat who hangs around, but other than that I'm on my own. And since I needed some distraction this week, I invited my niece RayK up to help take care of my daughter's dog. So, for the past three days I've been busy feeding, entertaining and cleaning

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-69492862958168162802009-08-23T21:57:00.045-04:002009-12-20T09:06:51.754-05:00

An ambitious title, but if you expect to read some great insight into the mysterious realm of the heart, forget it. There's no information here that isn't already known. This post is simply to amuse those who actually know something about the subject.It's believed that love is always patient and kind, but can love not also be restive and cruel? Yesterday I spent a lot of time feeling like a heel

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-22845408083430919682009-08-18T21:38:00.044-04:002009-08-20T04:41:29.320-04:00

You don't really need to go anywhere to be aware of the magic that flows through your life every day. The mysterious forces of the universe operate everywhere. Yet some places emanate magic more than others. Forests are especially good places to relax and regain a sense of connection with the world and our place in it.Those of us who live here in the Valley of Hampshire County, Massachusetts,

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-32136311783248660282009-08-11T18:16:00.026-04:002009-08-13T07:10:46.391-04:00

You know you're living the good life when your morning commute to work is detoured down a back road that has a farm like this one on it. Road work on Rt.9 in Hadley (near the new Lowe's which is being built near the the new Home Depot, sigh) sent traffic down Mill Valley Road this morning. Since I haven't had much time to get out for inspirational blogging adventures, I took advantage of this

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-89872878210688787862009-08-03T08:06:00.024-04:002009-08-04T20:39:35.253-04:00

There have been so many adventures out dating over the past few weeks that I need to stop and think about it in order to remember them all. They've been with a new flame who doesn't seem to mind being mentioned in this blog. So, since he might be around for a while, I'll call him Lucky Seven. One special place we visited recently is the Amanouz Cafe in Northampton, which serves terrific Moroccan

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-61700729452730173502009-07-28T21:59:00.011-04:002009-07-30T21:48:35.044-04:00

Once in a while time goes by so fast it makes you fearful that you might completely forget to live your life. I can image waking up one morning with only memories of dreams past. That's why it seems so important to be fully present in every moment. I don't know of any other way to appreciate this existence and all of it's gifts and challenges.It doesn't feel like eight days since my last post. A

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-105908068613219892009-07-20T10:14:00.042-04:002009-07-23T17:57:08.038-04:00

Four day weekends are just not long enough to get caught up on the household chores and do all the fun things I'd like to do. But, since I'll soon be transitioning into a lower paid job, I figure I'd better make the best of this summer while there are still vacation days to be had.This long weekend was spent mostly with my niece RayK. The highlight was going to the Green River Festival on

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-77172868981756231532009-07-12T10:27:00.031-04:002009-07-18T09:20:14.550-04:00

Now that there's finally a beau in my life, expect to hear about a lot of interesting dating adventures, especially since he's a 20 year veteran musician who plays in two bands and enjoys getting out to re-connect with people. Left completely to my own devices, there's not a lot of getting out. Often I depend on the enthusiasm of others to drag me away from my home where I'm content working

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-42674259796592046952009-07-10T22:57:00.010-04:002009-07-14T20:54:37.690-04:00

Susan Tedeschi's song, Soul of a Man, is a lament to an unrequited but cherished love. It's a mystery why certain men command our hearts. Sometimes they love us back, sometimes they don't. If it happens to be the sweet man of your dreams, it doesn't matter which, you love him anyway. I don't know why this is. All I know is that when I look into the eyes of my Sweet Man, time stops and I see the

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-11362586330199353872009-07-04T23:52:00.030-04:002009-07-07T23:05:19.419-04:00

This year's 4th of July celebrations have me thinking a lot about the relationship between independence and happiness. It seems as if happiness should never be based on anything outside of oneself, be it possessions or people, and yet so often it is external circumstances which determine our joy and gratitude. Saints, Sufis and Buddhists may understand how true happiness can only be found within,

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-5710719230768043942009-06-29T17:44:00.028-04:002009-07-11T18:21:35.677-04:00

Fireworks are always pretty spectacular, but the Kiwanis Independence Day Festival this past Saturday the 27th in Easthampton yielded fireworks and festivities that together were extra special. By mid-day nearly everyone in the town of Easthampton was either walking up to Galbraith Field to listen to one of two bands (no charge!), enjoy concessions and stake a place for the fireworks or they were

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-6528288338133344222009-06-25T17:26:00.009-04:002009-06-25T21:33:29.202-04:00

It's been said that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Really, there doesn't need to be a fence at all, thy neighbor's lawn is always greener, trimmer and weed free. This fact was once a source of anxiety for me. I thought my own lawn care philosophy, who cares as long as it's green, was inadequate. And to be honest, I do sometimes still stress out a little bit when it

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-82884296310451077672009-06-20T16:50:00.011-04:002009-06-21T11:36:21.017-04:00

* Happy Birthday *June 20, 2009, 8:58 A.M.5 lbs 3 oz, 18" longYes, this is the most beautiful newborn baby you are ever likely to lay eyes on. If you don't believe me, you can look more closely at some photos.My strong, beautiful niece, CassieK, delivered a daughter and became a mama today. There was a room full of friends and family during the birth, including my ten year old niece, now an aunt

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102360896648070200.post-13023858808050955272009-06-16T21:12:00.013-04:002009-06-17T21:29:32.663-04:00

Last weekend flew by so fast that I now wonder if it ever really existed. Though time did stop for a while on Sunday, Friday and Saturday came and went in a flash. It's always this way with life, flying by unless we're completely attuned to the moment. It reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw today: Now Is All You Have.My daughter and her husband held a large graduation party at their new house on

penrapturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747230314291575185noreply@blogger.com1