Most people would never admit it...

(THERE REALLY ARE LOTS OF PICTURES FOLLOWING THIS COMMERCIAL BREAK!)

Edie Brickell said it best in this song (within the first 30 seconds):

The lyrics go:

"I'm not aware of too many things,
I know what I know if you know what I mean
Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box
Religion is the smile on a dog."

While we're in the video vibe, take a look at this by En Vogue, "Free Your Mind".  One small change is necessary, however.  Sing to yourself, "Free your mind, your ASS will follow... Carry on! 

Let's deconstruct the first song a bit.  Most of us would usually read the information written on a cereal box in a very casual, happenstance, sort of "I have nothing else to do while eating my breakfast" manner. An informal, by-chance occasion.

"Religion is the smile on a dog."  Is that dog really smiling, and how would you know he is, in fact, smiling.  The writer of this song is saying to us, "The 'smile on a dog' is as much of our own perception and opinion (whether the dog is actually smiling, or not) as much as religion is s much of our own perception and opinion."

What being said, I learned in one of my many psychology courses that whether they would actually admit it or not, most people have a combination of several beliefs, rather than an "all or none" take on the subject.  Whether they choose to admit it or not, most people have a combination of beliefs.

However - the world would have no diversity at all if if wasn't for the place that those "All or none" people hold.  Without those people, the world would be more of a puddled gray color than it is already rapidly becoming. 

Please do not misunderstand my intentions.  Without the Indian (India) Hindus, we would not have that beautiful temple just a few miles from my home, and I would not have 8 Indian restaurants to tempt me every day of my life.  There is so much more to these people than a temple and a wonderfully flavored cuisine.  I also share with them many of their core beliefs. 

Take Buddhism, for example.  Tina Turner credits becoming Buddhist for the change in her life that brought her out of the hideous "Ike  / Tina" years to becoming a world superstar, and the best selling female artist of any year that she has ever gone on tour as a solo artists. If Buddhism brings this change in life, where can I get a big bucket of it? 

The same can be said for Amish, Hare Krishna, and many more people who can be identified by a way of life.  If it were not for the way they live their lives, my life would be drab, indeed.  It is the sacrifices these people have (most unknowingly!) made to make my life that much more colorful.


Rather than embrace a new experience (taste, smell, texture, sight, sound - belief!), many people are afraid of these changes.  A popular quote from Yoda (Star Wars) comes to mind:

"Fear leads to anger, Anger leads to hate, Hate leads to Suffering."

Take a look at the single word that starts the ball rolling - "FEAR!"

If you never lose your curiosity, avoid laziness like it is the plague, and use your senses to the best of your abilities to continually explore the world around you, your life, and those around you, will greatly benefit from these efforts. 

Has anybody ever come back from the beyond to tell you what is going on "over there?"  If they did come back and tell you, you should have your own segment on the Oprah Winfrey Show while she was still running, and you had the chance. 

The moral of this story:  Once we are born, we **all** are going to die.  I don't care how much denial you choose to surround yourself with, the fact that those of us that live on this earth are going to die is just that - an unavoidable fact.  How you choose to live during your journey is your choice.  If you choose to live in a tight, constricted, self-imposed prison, you will pay that price.  You will have to take my word for it when I tell you that the results of choosing that life are not pretty.  The same results will be accrued by being lazy enough not to fight it off when you see it coming your way!

Let's talk about "Being different."

Before we 'hang a right', and head down this road, I am going to have to ask you to fasten your seat belts, because it is guaranteed to be a bumpy ride!  

In vain, I searched for a specific video clip of the movie "Sybil", starring Sally Field as Sybil.  This 1976 movie was originally a book written by Flora Rheta Schreiber about Shirley Ardell Mason, otherwise known as "Sybil".  Shirley's (Sybil) entire psychosis and the ensuing 16 personalities were formed because her mother was cruel to her, and her father allowed the abuse to happen initially, and to continue.  Sybil was forced to become a multiple personality to be able to deal with the abuse that she suffered.  She could have avoided 15 of those personalities had she initially come to the conclusion that it is, in fact, perfectly acceptable to hate your own mother.  We are taught by **THIS** society that parents, grandparents, etc, are "know all / be all", and that they must be reverenced and respected at all times.  This is quite another issue for an entirely different blog, but somebody has to do it, so here goes:

"Love, respect, devotion, friendship, loyalty, and any other attachment that one human being might have for another is **EARNED** and maintained, and is absolutely **NEVER** given by default, no matter who the person (parent, grandparent, etc) thinks they are." 

Please understand that the phrase "I brought you into this world, I can take you out." is spoken by Hoosier parents across this country place entirely too much undeserved importance on the very tiny (comparatively speaking!) space that they occupy on this planet, and those folk are sorely in need of education, couth and some class, in general. 

If you feel the need to do so, please go back and reread that passage a few times, and allow it to soak in a bit.

When Sybil (Shirley Mason) came to the realization that it is perfectly acceptable, and is, in fact, expected to hate a person that does cruel things to you - either mentally, physically, or both! - she had a life-changing break through. 

Shirley Ardell Mason (Sybil):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Ardell_Mason
(and you can find a bit more on Shirley Ardell Mason by doing an internet search on her.)

The movie:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sybil_%281976_film%29

The "Forgiveness" thing is entirely overrated by people who do not understand it.

Dr Phil:  "Forgiveness is for the giver, not the recipient. Why would you give a gift to someone who has horribly wronged you?  What type of person does that?  Forgiveness is saying, 'I release myself from the oppressive burden that I have allowed you to place on me. I will not wake up one more morning of my life, and place that heavy cloak of pain and anger that your actions (or lack of actions!) have placed upon my back.  I will not do it one more day.  Not for you. Not for anybody else.  I release you from my life, now get the hell out!"

I have performed this very action with most of my own immediate family members - you can do the same with yours!

Oprah:
"Forgiveness is knowing the past will never be any different."

Please note that none of these quotes say, "Forgiveness is saying to the perpetrator, 'Oh, the pain that you dealt me is perfectly OK!  I'm thrilled that you chose to hurl it in my direction, and in fact, why don't you toss a bit more my way???"

That quote is no more absurd than believing that forgiving is for the perpetrator. 

We are going to land this thing:

Much in the same manner as Sybil's mother told Sybil, "Come and get your cookie!" (while the child was walking down a flight of steps), the child unsuspectingly and trustingly reached out for the bait - the cookie - that she was offered.  Then, her bitch of a mother intentionally tripped her, and she fell down the steps.

Segway:
I am here to tell you that if I was Sybil, and in many ways, I can associate with the life that was hurled at her,  once I 'came into myself', I wouldn't have hesitated to visit that bitch's grave (her mother's!), and I would have taken a healthy piss on top of that grave right then and there in the middle of the cemetery!

How does this rant tie in with "Being different"?

Like a cat scratching in a cat box to cover up his doo-doo, to cover her 'Pentecostal' tracks and to force it down my throat, my mother would tell me, "It's OK to be different?"  Can you believe it?  What the hell does she know about being different, other than using 'being different' (the cookie in the above example!) as a weapon, instead of using "Being different" as the reward that it was intended to be.

Consider air. Yes. Air.  We all need air. If you go 4 minutes without air, you will have severe brain damage, or death.  HOWEVER, if somebody would drag you to a gas station, and stick one of the hair hoses (attached to the compressor!) down your trachea, and push the button, I GUARANTEE you that your chest will explode, killing you instantly.  We all need air to survive. Air in this quantity, however, will most definitely kill you.

Consider FOOD.  Yes - FOOD!  Some less so than others, but we all need food to survive.  If, however, a person would strap you to a table, put a funnel in your mouth, and keep pouring it full of food, you will most certainly die!

Do you see where I am going with this?  I'm already there!  The moral of this story is this:
"Anything that we need to survive can also be used as a weapon against us."

Additional information:
There is a special place in Hell where people will burn extra crisp that choose to use the good things in life as a weapon against the unsuspecting.   

Back to the difference, and what most people won't admit:
I am a very spiritual person. I did not say "Religious".  There is a vast difference between "Spiritual" and "Religious".   A Spiritual person's circle is much larger than a "Religious" person's circle.  A Religious person is trapped within that one religion.

My beliefs system consists of Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, American Indian, Wicca (Pagan), just to name a few.

Physically, there are few man-made things that are more beautiful than a Catholic Cathedral - or a Hindu Temple. 

Even though I am a pro-amateur photographer, I cannot wholly subscribe to  "A picture is worth 1,000 words."  Every day that I visit the Missouri Botanical Gardens, the Saint Louis Cathedral Basilica,  or I find a breath taking view of another subject, I think to myself, "I wish (fill in the blank) was here with me to enjoy this!"  I know many people would take a 'general photograph', and go on about their way. When they get back home, and review the pictures that they have taken, there is something obvious that is lacking from the pictures. Many times, it is 'motion'.  When you walk by a large bed of tulips, for example, it is the flickering of the petals that help with the 'moment' you are experiencing.  It is also the warm spring sun, the smell of the trees blooming, and a gentle breeze blowing on your face that is assisting with the warm, fuzzy feelings that the tulip bed is giving you.  When you get the pictures home, you have only that - the pictures - to convey your preserved memory to anyone who might be viewing them.  If your urge is to "just delete them', your pictures cannot stand on their own.  The must be able to convey your intended message by themselves - without the gentle breeze, the sun on your face, or the smell of the trees blooming. 

In summary, the entire above diatribe says this:

1) Your spiritual or religious beliefs are just that - they're YOURS!  They are no better or worse, or more or less legitimate than another persons beliefs.  Your chosen beliefs are merely different, and do not hold a higher place than another person's.  In the Christian belief system, Catholics are no more legitimate than Lutheran's, and Christians are no more legitimate and are no more important than Islamic, Hindu or Buddhist beliefs - and many others. You are all on the same 'bus' together, you're just in different seats!

2) Being "different" is a 'good thing', and should not be used as a weapon against those who are.  I believe that people who choose to use 'different' as a weapon against those of us who actually DARE to be different are going to burn in Hell with the hottest, brightest of flames.

3) I can present you with the best pictures that I know how to take.  There is no way possible that photography can do these places of beauty the justice they deserve.  You have to "be there" to get the full impact of the scene that I am trying to present to you, and if / when you are there, you have to 'be in the moment' .  You can't be thinking about a bill that has to be paid, about a coworker, etc.  You have to be in the 'here and now'.  Doing so, dear readers, will allow you to live the life you were intended, to the best of your ability. 

In doing these things, you become mentally more malleable. (Try to say that without an "M"! )  A building, for example, that was built with a bit more 'flex' will withstand an earthquake better than a very rigid structure.  The same can be said for our lives.  If you have a bit of 'flex', you become a safe place to fall, rather than a sharp projection to avoid. 

I am certainly not implying that one should go about their lives "willy nilly", or in a haphazard, 'Devil may care' sort of fashion. Please do not misunderstand my intentions. 

While I am in this arena, I loath the word "Tolerant'.  In my mind's eye, "Tolerant" is on the same bus as "Patient".  "Tolerant" means, 'I really don't like that, but I will tolerate, or put up with it just to keep the peace."  Uh. No, thanks!  I don't want anybody to merely 'put up with me'. Either you love me, or you can get the Hell out. There are over 6 BILLION people on this planet. Trust me when I tell you that some are better matches than others, and there are great matches for everybody on the planet. Why the hell should I be around someone who is merely 'tolerant' of me, when that same space can be occupied by someone who LOVES to be in my world?

"Patient". I taught myself how to read music, and fairly well, if I might say so myself.  I taught myself how to knit, and I am at a professional level.  I also taught myself how to use the graphics programs "GIMP" and "Blender" (both are free downloads).  People often tell me, "You must be patient!"  In return, I state, "You don't know me very well, do you?"  When they look at me a bit puzzled, I tell them, "Patience are for lazy people who sit around and wait for something to happen.  PERSEVERANCE is the quality that someone has who 'gets things done.  I have Perseverance, and anybody that knows me well enough can tell you that I am the least patient person they know!"

TO THE PICTURES! :

The World's Largest collection of Mosaic Art - you can see the folds in the disciples clothing, and the skin tones change in their faces / hands, and many other details, all depicted in mosaic tile.  There is a museum in the basement that chronicles each step of this process, including the building of this magnificent building.

The Archdiocese of the Catholic Church / St. Louis

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
443 Lindell Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63108

The website:
http://cathedralstl.org/site/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

The St. Louis Cathedral Basilica Wikipedia entry :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_Basilica_of_St._Louis

(Click on each pic for a larger view!)

 This is the first example of "There is no possible way that a picture can do this view justice."

To give you a general idea of the size and beauty of this space, there are 11,000 pipes from the pipe organ in the space behind this shot.

This is the first view you see when you walk through the front doors.

In 1912, installation of mosaics in the interior began. Completed in 1988, the mosaics collectively contain 41.5 million tesserae glass pieces in more than 7,000 colors. Covering 83,000 square feet (7,700 m²), it is one of the largest mosaic collections in the world, and is the largest in any church or cathedral.

More close-up detail of the mosaic art in this Cathedral.  Please note that none of these colors are paint.  Some of the mosaics are completed in the "Byzantine" fashion, and others are of Italian influence, but all are composed of tile - not paint.

 This sample was of an apostle that is in the cathedral, itself.

The artists rendered this segment of the mosaic tile twice - once for the church, and once for the museum. It was recreated in whole, using the same techniques and materials as the one created for the church.

In the basement museum, there are several photographs of the artist(s) doing their magnificent work to complete this project.

Many of these tiles have a gold backing. 

After these tiles were set in mortar, and while the mortar was still wet, a small hammer was used to tap random corners of the tiles, to make them sit uneven in the mortar, to make the gold sparkle when viewed from our perspective.

 While the mosaics in the side chapels and sanctuary walls were designed and installed by Tiffany Studios, the mosaics in the main cathedral areas were designed by Albert Oerken. Installation of the mosaics was completed by dozens of artisans, including Hildreth Meiere, Ravenna Mosaic, Inc,. and Emil Frei, Inc., of St. Louis. The narthex of the church depicts the life of King Louis IX of France, namesake of the city and church, the rear dome includes mosaics of significant archdiocesan events, while the main dome by Jan Henryk de Rosen depicts Biblical scenes from both the Old Testament and New Testament.

Several shots of one of the 2 huge Rosette windows.  I couldn't determine which shot I liked the best, so I will post them all.

 I had to lay on my back on the marble floor of the Cathedral to get this shot. There is no possible way that my camera can depict the size of this dome!

The Cathedral has a large organ that was originally built by the Geo. Kilgen and Son, Inc. in 1915. Originally, the organ had two four manual (keyboard) organ consoles, one in the gallery with the organ, and another console behind the sanctuary. In 1946, Kilgen put a new organ into the Cathedral. The 1946 organ had 77 ranks of pipes, 14 of which came from the older organ. In 1948, an Echo Organ from Carnegie Hall, New York City was installed in the Cathedral. In 1984, the M. P. Moller organ company refurbished the organ.

In 1997 the Wicks Organ Company of nearby Highland, Illinois began a restoration project. They added more ranks of pipes, which brought the organ to 96 ranks of pipes. The company also added some digital stops to the organ. A new four manual organ console replaced the old Kilgen console behind the sanctuary, and the second gallery console was refurbished. Wicks also updated the organ's electronics.

In the winter of 2002 the gallery organ was expanded, and a new dome division of pipes was added to the organ. The final step in the project, the replacement of the original gallery console (and a smaller two manual console that took its place) with a five-manual console was completed in 2010. The Ragen Organ Console, named for its donor, Professor Brian Abel Ragen, was taken from St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City and completely restored. It is now possible to control every part of the organ from either the gallery console or the moveable sanctuary console.

This picture is the original Kilgen console, which was moved into the basement museum, and can be viewed by visitors.

____________________________________________________________________________

THE HINDU TEMPLE / ST. LOUIS, MO

The Hindu Temple's Website:
http://www.hindutemplestlouis.org/

Please click through the galleries!  There are several Indian (India / Pakistani / Middle Eastern) restaurants in the St. Louis area.  I don't know if this is a good thing / bad thing, but the proprietors of these restaurants know us (Mark & myself) personally!  WE LOVE INDIAN & HARE KRISHNA FOOD!

Happy Adventures!
Remember:  Free your mind - your ass will follow!

- Michael

I reached my goal today, and life goes on....

Since I know better than t look a gift horse in the mouth, I'm not going there.

The bathroom scale was in the same place in the room as it always is, it was at the same time of day, etc. Nothing in my routine has changed. 

I am most thrilled to crow about reaching my final weight loss goal this morning.

     Starting weight:  210 lbs with a 40 inch waist
  -  Ending  weight:  140 lbs with a 28 inch waist
         Total weight:     70 lbs and 12 inches off my waist

What changes today?

Nadda. Nothing.  Zilch

Same crap - different day.

Depending on my mood after I finish shopping the huge Wentzville Flea Market this morning, I am making the choice as to whether I want to have a celebratory lunch at My Just Desserts restaurant / cafe in Alton, IL, or go back to my Indian friends at Haveli Restaurant for another lunch.

My Just Desserts is a bit out of my way, but it is well worth it. I would have the chicken salad sandwich with chopped olives in the mix and Mrs. Ledbetter's Chocolate Pie a la mode (the best damned pie on the planet!), and do some antique shopping while I am in Alton.

It's not a splurge, actually.  I have a couple bites of fruit for breakfast, and an extremely light supper. That's the way things balance out in my world.

I reached my goal within the week that I said I would when I started this whole ordeal.  One week before the World Naked Bike Ride, when I will be wearing a glittery hot pink budgie smuggler! (Bikini)

Back to the same ole grind....

- Michael

Sometimes, ya just don't know whatcha got!

 (Are they high, Clarice?)

You will have to please pardon the Steel Magnolias paraphrasing!


Per our normal weekend routine, Mark and I scoured the estate sale listings for the St. Louis area using these 2 sites:


www.estatesales.net


and


http://gsalr.com/garage-sales-st-louis-mo.html  .


Mark's work hours currently do not allow us to have a 'normal weekend' together, so we had to improvise. His weekend is Friday - Saturday, instead of Saturday - Sunday.  Most of the functions (the art fairs, Japanese and Greek Fests, Gay Pride Fest, and many more) run the normal weekend, Saturday and Sunday.  We can attend Saturdays together, but if I want to go on Sundays, I often go by myself (which isn't a bad thing entirely, and that is another blog for another day!)


If I haven't done so earlier in the week, by Thursday night, I scout those 2 websites, and plot out any estate sales that might have items of interest that I didn't know I couldn't live without until I saw them listed for sale!  This weekend was no exception.  At an increasing rate, more and more estate sales are being listed for Fri - Sun, instead of Sat - Sun, to include one more day in the sale. 


We always arrive at the estate sale at least 15 minutes early, to get a number (which allows us to get in the door of the sale at a certain point in the waiting line), and to be standing outside the house waiting for the doors to open. We are always within the first 20 people in the house, and usually the first group they let in the doors. 


Also occurring at an increasing rate is unadvertised pre-sales.  We often arrive at an estate sale, and the large ticket items are already marked "Sold".  How can this be, when we're the first people in the house, and often the first customers in any certain room of the house?  The answer is simple:  The individuals in charge of running a particular sale will often allow antique dealers, resale shops, etc., in before the advertised sale date, to make pre-sales.  I would have nothing negative to say about this practice IF they remove the pictures of the pre-sold items from the websites (www.estatesales.net , etc) so the public isn't misled into thinking these items are still available. Most of the regular estate sale shoppers find one or two items in the pictures of the estate sale listing that they are interested in, and that is the reason they drove to any one particular estate sale. If the item in the picture is no longer available, there is no other reason for the shopper to come to this estate sale, when he / she could have attended another sale with items present in which the shopper is interested. 


Anywho.... Mark and I arrive at this estate sale:


3906 Roundtable Ct.
Saint Louis, MO 63129


which is being held by this company:


Midas Touch Estate Sales
703 Dutch Mill Drive
Ballwin, MO 63011


One of the morals of this beloved story is "If you jack me up, I will not hesitate to bust you out using whatever means I find necessary, and any venues that I have available to me!"


The story continues....


So, we arrive at this sale.


Actually, I am looking for an acoustic piano to complete my musical instrument collection. Even though digital pianos are phenomenal, and I have several of them, I am seeking an acoustic piano to aid my daily 2 hour practice sessions.  An acoustic piano has elements associated with it (the touch / feel, sound, etc) that a digital piano can 'come close to reproducing', but when it really comes down to it, there is no substitute for an acoustic piano. If I play for a nursing home, school, church or other function, and they have an acoustic piano (and I am accustomed to playing even the best digital piano), it feels like you're wearing somebody else's shoes.  It will work, but not the best feeling you can have in the world, and not the best job you can do at the moment.


This digital piano (manufactured in 1998) is available for sale:

I know I can't be the only person sitting out here on this limb, but I know very well that the internet is an affordable, easy-to-use resource for information that is available to virtually anyone.  If you can afford today's cable TV, a cell phone, or a couple meals at a restaurant a month, then you can afford to use the internet as it was originally intended - for informational purposes.  The only excuse to not use this resource is either some lame attempt at gaining control over the people in your corner of the world (Another subject for another blog), or pure laziness.  Plain and simple - and nothing more to it. 


Before we attended this sale, I did a very quick internet search. You can do the same search using Bing, Alta Vista, Dogpile, Webcrawler, Google, Yahoo, or any other web search engine of your choice.


The *first* page of search results returned this website:


http://www.mypianofriends.com/i-am-looking-at-buying-a-roland-kr-75.-is-it-worth-1000-dol...-186454.html


Please find on that website the following paragraph (In reference to the Roland KR-75 digital piano listed in the ad for the estate sale):


"It is worth $1000, only if the original owner has already had the piano serviced to replace the known-issue with the keys splitting. I purchased one recently for $1100. The piano looked and sounded great on the exterior, and basically IS in great shape, except when one key went bad, upon repair we learned that all of the keys are split and this is a known issue. Roland would have repaired it at no cost for the original owner with the original proof of purchase, but we would have to pay full-price even though it is a known major defect.


If that hasn't been done, then I would suggest you get the original owner to do so before buying it, or have them reduce $500 to $600 off of the price because that is what it will cost you to repair the keys once the problem surfaces."


A second website says, "These keyboards were manufactured in 1998.  That is 13 years ago.  Since these keyboards are basically computers with piano keys attached, how much would you pay for a personal computer that is 13 years old?  The answer: Little to nothing.  Considering the known issues with the keys on these instrument (They will have to be replaced at your own cost), and the fact that this 'computer' is 13 years old, they are worth little to nothing. I certainly would not pay more than $300 for this instrument."


Michael speaking:  "These Roland keyboards have the old 3.5" floppy disk drives in them. They ARE MIDI compatible, but have no other way of hooking up to your computer other than through an antiquated system that today's computers no longer supports.  Knowing what I now know, and all things considered, if I tested the piano (and I did!), and all keys are playing as expected at this point (And they are!), I still would pay no more than $200 for this instrument, and even in that case, I wouldn't admit how much I payed to another person!"


How much are they asking for it, you ask?  $2,500!  Yes, $2,500!  Even on 'half-price day' - the last day of the sale - the price would be $1,250, which is still FIVE TIMES more than the maximum price of this keyboard should be.  I would shoot somebody at close range, and directly in the forehead if they paid $2,500, $1,250 and maybe even $250 for this piano! To quote Franken-Furter in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", when he killed Meat Loaf in the walk in freezer (dusting his hands off), "What? It was a mercy killing, really!"


I know it is a free, enterprising country, and / or / but, folks need get off their lazy duffs, and do some homework before presenting themselves to the public.  Laziness (Sloth!) is not in the "Top 10" (Commandments), but it IS listed in the "Sub 7" (Deadly sins!)  Ignorance is no excuse.


The "Way over priced old digital piano" was strike one.


I was still doodling around with this piano when Mark made a quick sweep through the house. He was interested in these chairs, to go with our retro home:





Please remember - we were in the first group allowed in the house to shop when they opened the doors. 
As Mark relayed the story to me, these chairs had tags on them marked "Sold".  How is this possible that we were the first people in the house, and items were already sold?  These unscrupulous people held an unannounced pre-sale, and left the pictures of the merchandise that had been pre-sold on the website. These chairs were the **ONLY** reason Mark wanted to go to this sale. 


The moral of this story is that this sale was a general bust, from all points of view. These lazy-assed people didn't do their homework before trying to seriously rob people by overpricing virtual junk AND they had an unannounced pre-sale. 


Incidentally, the other sale that we went to this weekend also had items marked "Sold" due to a presale. HOWEVER, the proprietors did say on the website that they intended to sell antiques and large items on a pre-sale basis to those who are interested. OK.  Fair Game.  We were warned, and that is the way it should be listed. 


There are many people who run these estate sales that are as fair and square as they can be. The same can not be said for EVERYBODY running these sales. There are some individuals who will not hesitate to bring out their shady side.


The split second that Mark saw the "SOLD" sign on these chairs, he came up to me and said, "OK, I'm ready to go (leave the sale). They had an unannounced pre-sale.", and he headed for the door.  I didn't get past the first room of the house, and I followed him out the door.


We left the estate sale arena for the day, and I went to the Guitar Center to buy cables for some of my amps in my music room, and our weekly dietary splurge was at Haveli Indian Restaurant on Page Avenue:


http://havelistl.com/


and


http://havelistl.com/special_event.pdf


After a few plates of soul-satisfying Indian food
(and my Galub Jamun! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulab_jamun),





we went to the Indian Bazaar just a few blocks down the street, owned by the same lady that owns the restaurant.  This is an Indian-Pakistani grocery and supply store. I bought another box of Garam Masala - a certain spice mix used regularly in Indian cooking.   I use this spice several times a week in my daily lunches.


Yes, dear readers. I got stiffed by some crooked people of this country, but I turned to the many bright colors, people and tastes of the rest of this world to take me to another place for a welcome reprieve. 
My Indians / Pakistani / Syrians - and many other nationalities - LOVE ME!


(and Midas Touch Estate Sales from the St. Louis area will screw you like there is no tomorrow, but depending on your point of view, that may or may not be a bad thing!


I know my readers are 'smarter than the average bear', and they have already figured out that I am sending a copy of this post to Midas Touch Estate Sales.


- Michael

My loot from the Gypsy Caravan Flea Market

(For current Gypsy Caravan info, please visit:
http://www.stlsymphony.org/gypsycaravan/
(There is a natural crescendo to these things, you know!  I have to make a couple rounds before I actually get this thing off the ground.)

When my body will allow me to do so, I occasionally ride a tour bicycle. Specifically, it is a 2007 REI Novara Randonee:

This photo is a stock photo of the Novara Randonee.   Before I took my bicycle out of the shop (the REI store - www.REI.com ), I had the professionals install my iBike cyclometer, the aerobars - so I can take a little nap while pedaling! - a front luggage rack, and an extra water bottle cage.  I also bought my BOB trailer and Ortleib pannier touring bags, and I had everything installed before I left the shop.  My $1,100 bicycle turned into a $6,000 bicycle.  Yes, I am name dropping with a vengeance.  The reason for this blatant name brand dropping is simple:  Considering the occasional exception, as the old adage goes, "You get what you pay for."  If you buy a cheap bicycle with cheap equipment, and you choose to ride it for any real distance, it **will** strand you in the most inopportune spot.  There is also a good chance that cell phone reception will be poor in the place that your bargain bicycle decided to call it quits. 

I put almost 4,000 miles on this bicycle, which includes crossing the state of Missouri back-and-forth via the Katy Trail, all or in part, 3 times.  Each trip is 511 miles, and I did a Century ride (100 miles) every weekend.  With the exception of normal maintenance, I have never had a break down.  The moral of this seemingly expensive, extravagant saga is this:  You will NEVER regret buying an item of considerable quality, even if it means spending more money than on the the economy version.  I guarantee you that you will be cursing like a well seasoned sailor when your economy equipment poops out, and you have to either pay more $$ yo have it repaired, or better yet, pay more $$ to buy better quality once the poor quality item gives up the ghost.  If you would allow yourself to do so, please think of it as this simple math equation:

       The Price of the inexpensive item   
+    The Price of the more expensive, higher quality item that you should have purchased in the first place  =       More money than if you would have just purchased the better quality item FIRST!

My point?  I will very happily spend more money for a better opportunity, a better experience, or a better item.  I'm worth it, plain and simple.

Back to my loot at the Gypsy Caravan Flea Market.

If you go to this Flea Market (held only on Memorial Day in the St. Louis area!), you have 2 choices to get in the door. 

1)  Pay the $20 fee and enter two hours before the tidal wave of shoppers - many thousands of people, actually!  The advantage is that you get to shop from 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM, and even though there are an increasingly higher number of individuals taking advantage of this opportunity each year, there is a really good chance that you will be the only person in a vendor's booth at that particular time. 

2) Pay $5 for "General admission" after 9:00 AM.  Even though parking is abundant, equally abundant are the number of shoppers. You will FIGHT for a parking space anywhere on the premises of UMSL, the college campus where this event is held.   If you didn't being along a 'little old lady shopping cart', anything that you purchase will become a heavy burden before you spend at least 2 hours walking through this event, and lugging your treasures back to your vehicle.  Also attached to this option is the added privilege of fighting 50 - 75,000 people to squeeze into the vendor's booths to do your bargain hunting.

Thank you, but "No, thank you!"  Each year, I am sitting in the parking lot in the best possible parking space of the entire venue at 6:30 AM.  I have my little granny shopping cart with me as I stand in line at 6:45 AM, waiting for the gates to open at 7:00 AM for the $20 "Early Bird Shopping Special".  My strategy is to do a quick, but thorough shopping spree, and to be through all $500 vendor booths before General Admission is allowed in the gates at 9:00 AM.  Only by a margin of a couple minutes each year, I have accomplished this task. 

I also have utilize the "Let It Ride" principle, as follows:  "If I see an item on my 'first pass' that I absolutely cannot life without, I will buy it on the spot.  Since I have a readily identifiable look, the vendors will happily mark an item as sold, and put it in the back of their booth if it is too heavy for you to carry around.  You can then come back and pick it up on your way out, or you can put it in your little cart and take it with you.  **IF** you find an item that you are interested in, but you can 'live without it', you can "Let It Ride".   You can finish your shopping speed round, and come back to see if the item is still there on your second, slower, more deliberate shopping pass. If the item is there, it was meant to be - buy it!  IF it wasn't meant to be, somebody snatched it up before you returned to the vendor.  The major rule of this little game is that you gamble only with what you can afford to lose.  If the item is something that you have been looking forever, and the deal is great - GET IT NOW. If not, "Let it Ride!"  I played this little game with several items that I had my eye on at this past Gypsy Caravan (and any and all other Flea Markets that I attend).

I noted a Fender Amplifier for $24:
 
 


This little amp would be perfect for my vintage 1966 Wurlitzer electric (not electronic!) piano.  I saw this amp at the FIRST booth - out of 500! I decided to 'Let It Ride'.  I shopped two more booths, and lo and behold, the 'vintage lady' was there!  She sells mid-Century (1950's - 1970's) decor.  I am looking for another lamp for my vintage house - a hanging spaghetti lamp for $40:



I decided to "Let It Ride", and come back for it later. 

Because I hate suspense, I must tell you that when I returned for the amp, the lady in the booth whispered to me, "A gentleman was just looking at that amp, and he said he would be back in a couple minutes for it, but since you were here at 7:00 AM, and 'first come, first serve', I will sell it to you!"  Two seconds later, I learned that the older gentleman that also held an interest in this amp was standing right behind me!  I beat him to it by 2 seconds!

The lamp:  Somebody had beat me BACK to the lamp by just a couple minutes!  See how it works?  If you play "Let It Ride", you will win some, and you will lose some.  Never gamble with items that you do not want to lose!

H O W E V E R . . . .

I found yet another Hammond clock at a vendor's booth.  The motor turned easily when cranked with the the fly wheel knob on the back, but it had no electrical cord, and would need to be rewired.  The gentleman had $8 on the clock, and I already had 2 of these models (The Chronmaster from Hammond):



Because I couldn't help myself, I told the shopkeep the story of how the Hammond clock was the predecessor of the Hammond organ, and the Hammond organ was invented from the principle of the clock, and that they (Hammond clocks) were made from 1928 - 1941.  They are collectible, but on average, they are not very valuable. The only exception to this rule is the "Gergory Clock", which is an art deco calendar clock from Hammond:

Designer / Decorator Christopher Lowell once redecorated a room, and placed this particular model of Hammond clock on the mantel of the fireplace in the room he redecorated.  Within 15 minutes of that show running, this clock shot up to $600 on eBay!  Since that time, the price has fallen back down to $30 - 60, depending on the day and the market. 

Anywho.... I told the shopkeep the story of THIS particular model of Hammond clock, and I continued down the row of vendor's booths.  I was out of this man's booth by about 30 seconds when I ran into THIS clock at a booth. The price:  $5 !  I already have one of these models, but for $5, I had to have TWO!  SOLD!  No "Let It Ride."  I bought it immediately.  Of course, I took the clock back to guy #1 to show him the clock that I had just spun the Christopher Lowell story about.  He said, "What are the chances of you telling me that story, and 30 seconds later, finding that same clock in the next booth?"  What a quinkie dink!

My next purchase:
A bundle of socks for $5 from the "Sock Lady".  Everybody that goes regularly to the Wentzville (MO) Flea Market on Sunday morning  - EARLY - and everybody that goes to the Gypsy Caravan Flea Market knows the 'sock lady'. She's an icon. 

I also bought some gardening tools - a trowel, a weed puller and a small rake.  They are all metal, and I paid $1 for the package.  I use these little tools all season long.

I also bought a Steve Winwood CD ("Roll With It") and a David Bowie CD - $4 each.  That was a bit steep for CDs at a flea market, but I wanted the songs on the CDs, and I didn't feel like low balling the guy.

Unless I believe that an item is seriously over priced, I don't talk the vendor's down, or low ball them.  I paid $350 for a Hammond E-100 / Leslie 122 combo that is worth $3,500.  I know people that would try to talk them down to $250, and if they couldn't get the set for $250, they would walk away from the deal!  I quickly handed the lady the $350, and told her "Have a nice day!"  For many shoppers, the fun is all in the deal, and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the item in question.  As I have stated many times in the past, "People are not my hobby!  I have other hobbies, and none of them relies on people to function."  I do not gain status, prestige or a higher position by taking advantage of another person, and the sauce for the goose is as good as sauce for the gander.  People who try to take advantage of me are in for a rude awakening after having attempted such a fiasco!

I paid $5 for a memory!  I can't say that I have a lot of happy memories from my childhood. If you know where I came from, and you are honest with me and yourself, you would agree.  The retro "melted popcorn decorations" were a memory from my childhood that I cherish.  I got the "Raggedy Ann and Andy" melted popcorn decorations for $5!  They're going on the wall in my office:




My last purchase was an item that I have been waiting 6 months for!  I don't often eat 'fair food', but there are a couple guilty pleasures that I allow myself.  I love the forearm-sized corn dogs from "Elvis' Place".  These people are a huge food vendor that set up at the Gypsy Caravan Flea Market and the Great Forest Park Balloon Race, and a couple other local venues.  ONE corn dog is all you need! 

To paraphrase: "One man's junk is his loss!"

- Michael

When The Pillars Come Tumbling Down....

Yesterday, Thursday, May 26, 2011, was Oprah's final farewell on NBC.

This is a clip of her final farewell, the story being told by Barbara Walters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5Y9PrQirvA

___________________

Oprah was a pillar in my life.  It would be an accurate statement to say that she has - on rare occasion - made statements that I personally thought could have been better phrased, or she missed an occasional opportunity, the good things she has accomplished, and the good deeds she has done makes any missteps pale in comparison.   Another way of making that statement would be "She has accomplished far more good than any harm done on this planet."   With lightning speed, I can spit out a list of names, like a machine gun, of people that I personally know well, and to which I cannot and will not apply the same statement. 

___________________

It doesn't matter one way or the other if you have had the same job, ate at the same restaurants or - God forbid! - worn the same clothes or had the same hair style for the past 25 years, one thing I can guarantee you is that the only thing that is consistent is change.  As much as you might believe that you or anyone around you "hasn't changed a bit" since the last time you saw them, I am willing to place a wager on the fact that they have, indeed, changed in one way or another.  Some of these changes might be immediately noticeable.  If they are driving a new car, have a new hair style - more grey hair has replaced their youthful color - or they have gained or lost a few pounds are examples of immediately noticeable changes.

There are many more, generalized changes that might not be, upon casual inspection, so easily recognized.   The most obscure would be on a cellular (not the phone!) level.  Every day, your body is replacing old cells with new cells. Every day, your weight fluctuates - one way or the other.  Those things happen every single day, and they vary and are dependent on your activity level.

Over the past 25 years - the entire duration of the Oprah Winfrey Show (since 1986, the year of my high school graduation!) -  my place of employment, my place of residency and my personal friendships and relationships have changed drastically.  My television watching habits tend to revolve and change around the other events that are taking place in my life.  The time you work, sleep and play will all determine if and when you watch TV.  Over the course of those 25 years, I have worked every shift available on the time clock, from day time hours to burning the midnight oil.  Incidentally, I absolutely loathe working overnight shifts, and will never do it again.

There have been times in that quarter of a century that, by chance or by determination, Oprah and I have been in the same place at the same time, as so to speak.  As previously stated,  Oprah's show started the year I graduated High School.  Because of a jacked-up religion that my parents pretended to belong to, I was not allowed to have a television in my home until I moved out of the house.  Personally, I believe that watching TV, cutting your hair, wearing make-up or slacks, or having an occasional cocktail will **NOT** send you to Hell.  Those restrictions are so placed to enforce control, and have nothing to do with your final destiny.  Book it. Learn it - and go forth and live. This life is not a 'Dress Rehearsal'.  Live it like you mean it, and live life with an urgency.  

That, my friends, was my first purchase:  A used TV, and one with knobs instead of buttons, and no remote control.  My name is not "Mr. Money Bags", being a new high school graduate meant that I worked at a fast food restaurant for a number of years, and made money commensurate with that type of job.  Cable TV was unaffordable at that time, and I was stuck with local Quincy, IL  and Hannibal, MO channels (WGEM, etc).

I would like to believe that it was more than a matter of convenience that off-and-on, I have watched Oprah sporadically since her first show.  I cannot and will not make the statement that I have never missed a show. In fact, in total, I am quite certain that I have missed YEARS of shows,  HOWEVER....  I like my pillars to stay exactly where I originally left them, never moving. 

_________________________

Incidentally, Judge Judy's autobiography is titled, "Don't Piss On My Leg, And Tell Me It's Raining"

Judge Judy, I concur!

________________________

A good example of the crap that he occurring at an alarming rate is this story:

Let's use the government as an example.  They 'break your legs', then they give you a pair of crutches and say, "There - aren't you thrilled that I gave you a nice pair of crutches!"  My answer: "Uh - NO! I didn't want my legs broken in the first place, and I didn't want the crutches in the second place!"

Another good example is the remodeling of the Linnean House (a green house) at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. You **ALL** know that I visit the Missouri Botanical Gardens once or twice a week during the entire growing season, and several times through the fall / winter.  I am a huge supporter of the Gardens.  However, they have contracted the same 'disease' that I am describing in this blog.  The Linnean House - the second oldest green house west of the Mississippi River has recently undergone renovations.  BEFORE the renovations, this green house had a walkway going through the center of it, and camellia trees and bushes planted on either side of the walkway, the full thickness of the building.  After an entire winter of renovations, this structure has reopened as it originally was - a part of the Missouri Botanical Gardens.  I was one of the first to visit on the first day it was opened.  I approached this renovation with an open, receptive mind.   When I walked in, I noticed immediately that the entire RIGHT SIDE of the planting space was covered in brick pavers.   Here is the gist of what happened: They ripped the place apart, and when they put it back together again, rather than replant it as it originally was, they took half of the plants away!  No, people!  NO!  You are **NOT** doing me a favor or enhancing ANYTHING by taking something away from me, and giving me only half of what I originally had in the beginning!  Making me worse in the end than I started in the beginning isn't helping or improving anything!  Let's revisit that Judge Judy autobiography again:
""Don't Piss On My Leg, And Tell Me It's Raining"

This is just another symptom of how the world is turning in this era.

_________________________________
}
Although 'I'm not going there', I have to wade out in the mire a bit to give you an accurate point of view.

From the time of my birth, I have not then nor do I now have strong family ties.  It was Judge Judy Sheindlin (being a good Jewish woman!) that said, "Always stick by your family - UNLESS  they bring you down!  In that case, DUMP THEM!" 

Baby, you don't have to tell me twice!  'Nuff said - and consider it done!

I have never had family support for anything I have ever attempted to do.  EVER.  Instead, they ooze jealousy and rudeness.  I taught myself to play keyboards, and to read music.  I taught myself to knit at an advanced level, to speak a foreign language, and I have bicycled back and forth across the state of Missouri (via the Katy Trail) 3 times.  To make themselves feel better about being who they are - or are not - I often have lazy people try to brush off my accomplishments by saying, "Oh, you must be gifted, to have such talent!"  I will answer with an unparallelled quickness, "Ma'am, the gifts I have received are not readily apparent, and are a by-product of the things that I have worked hard to achieve. I have been given **NO** gifts, and everything that you see before you is a result of hard work and determination, and nothing more."

I am blind in one eye, I have one arm that is 4" shorter than the other, and has severe nerve damage, I have skin that falls off, guts that fall out, (all!) my teeth have already fallen out, and I have a leg and a half - just to name a few.  If I have, more or less, half a body, and I have accomplished the things that I have done and continue to accomplish, I am so inclined to think that someone that was born with fully functioning faculties should be able to do **TWICE** as much as I have accomplished, rather than very little or nothing at all - and make bad excuses for why they will not, not cannot, accomplish those things, and more.

Anywho - I have had no family support.  Since birth, I have had to make my own surrogate support network by hitching my wagon to higher, brighter stars.  Hindsight being 20 / 20, I am eternally grateful for having hitched my wagon to Oprah's star, and those around her (Dr. Phil, etc).  As God is my witness, I solemnly swear that the life lessons and teachings of Oprah and Dr Phil, alone, have saved my life, and those around me!  There is no doubt in my mind that without the guidance of these fine people, many years ago, some large man named "Bubba" would have happily made me his permanent girlfriend in prison!  I would have killed more than one person by now, and that statement isn't a stretch of the imagination, by any means. My mother's first cousin is a semi-famous serial killer.  There are also **lots** of thieves and other unsavory characters on that side of the family, so it should come as no surprise to any of my readers as to why I formally divorced my family.  I, for one, do not live under the delusional cloud of, "Oh, you should always stick by your family."  I am pretty sure that the families of Charles Manson, Adolph Hitler, Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden don't miss them, either!  You say, "Oh, it can't be that bad!" I say, "Just because Charles Manson didn't kill as many people as Adolph Hitler did doesn't warrant him a halo, if you know what I mean."

To continue my saga:  I will readily admit that my life would be drastically different TODAY had it not been for Oprah and Dr. Phil being in my life.  I can take the teachings and the example that they have taught me, go forward, and be perfectly thrilled that I have as much as that. 

I cannot, however, help but feel a sense of abandonment.  A complete loss, actually, in a funerary sort of sense. 

It was once said of a Fabergé egg that "they come from an era that quality once was, is not now, and never will be again."  The same can be applied to Oprah.  Since history tends to speak for itself, I am inclined to think that if this quality is taken from me, what will I be given in turn?  Better quality?  Not likely.  Please watch this next short clip from "Designing Women", to get the gist of my next statement (You are looking for the 1:20 point in this video, but you can also watch the entire video on YouTube to catch up:)

(RIP to Alice Ghostly and Dixie Carter - two more examples of quality from days gone by.  Who, you will ask, is replacing these talented ladies?  I know that you know what I mean.  I am afraid that they are being replaced by the next "Brittany WHO????")

"Designing Women", "The Golden Girls" and "The Nanny", just to name a few sitcoms, come from an era that isn't too far in the distant past where comedy was more innocent and free-flowing than it is today.  That, my friends, is another sign / symptom of deteriorating quality.

In response to "Will I be getting better quality, once THIS quality is gone?", I have only to say this:

Customer: "The fish...what kind of fish is it?"
Julia: "It's sort of compressed"
Customer: "Is it fresh?"
Julia: "Well, let me put it this way:  You're in a 'Burger Guy', it's compressed, breaded and deep fried, and costs 89 cents.  What do you think?"

The same statement can be applied to the fading quality of virtually anything being produced these days:

"It's 2011, the next-best-thing is what's on board, nobody cares, it's all about whatever makes the most $$ the fastest, about the quality: What do you think????"

While you have that clip pulled up, please look at 7:32, when the manager tells Julia that she is doing very well at her job, and that she might have a future at "Burger Guy University".  After he walks away, she sarcastically mumbles, "Oh, that is just a dream come true!" 

Much to the chagrin of those around me, I quote those 2 references quite often in my daily life.

It is in this era that teenagers are graduating high school with no real skills.  Have you checked their grammar / spelling lately?  I cannot and will not communicate with people who will not speak or type in complete sentences.  Don't try to TEXT me.   If you don't think I am worth the effort it takes to "Buy a Vowel", then don't bother me.

In the past, 8 year old girls were doing detailed samplers.  You know - they were creating things that took real skill and talent.  Now, they are on their own "Smart Phones", and have never been introduced to real talent or skill.  I have a news bulletin:  "THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GROW UP, AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES PUSHING YOUR WHEELCHAIR!"

Can I just share with you Mark's little experience at the Doctor's office a couple months back?  The nurse  asked him to step on the scale to weigh him.  He asked her if he should take off his jacket first. She said, "Sure - you can just hold it!"   Was she not thinking that the jacket weighs the same whether it is on his back, or if he is holding it in his hand?  Do YOU really want this woman drawing up a syringe, and giving YOU a shot?  I am here to tell ya - the quality is **NOT** getting any better out there.

If for no other reason, this is why I go to every art fair in the St. Louis area during the spring / summer / fall.
You won't find any ducky-goosey craft crap at these fairs. These artists have worked years to fine tune their art.  Some of my favorite art fair artists include (but are certainly not limited to:)

** Bruce Holwerda


(Click on the "Oldies But Goodies" gallery, and when you get the error message, click on "Take Me Back".  The Gallery magically appears!)
http://store.bruceholwerda.com/
Look at the action happening in their heads!

**Betsy Youngquist


http://byart.com/galleries/byart_galleries.html
Betsy's work has won Best in Show at the St. Louis Art Fair - one of the best in the country.  She uses glass eyes, doll heads, arms / legs that were "seconds" that were found buried beside a doll factory.  Her sculptures are covered in beads.

Another by Betsy (one of my favorites! A bunny body, and a doll's head):


Marc Sijan:

LOOK AT THESE SCULPTURES!

More of Marc's images:
http://tinyurl.com/MarcBlog2

These are just a very few samples of  *quality* whose status is changing from "Vulnerable" to becoming a "Critically Endangered" species.

While we are on the subject of quality, let's visit a commonly used electronic device:  The MP3 player. Five (5) years ago, I purchased a 2 gig MP3 player - an iRiver.  This device straps onto your arm via an arm band, and still has a visible screen. I won't even entertain the thought of owning an MP3 player that has just one button, and no visible screen.  My MP3 player cost $165 for just 2 gigs.  As a reference, I just went to Best Buy's website, and found an MP3 player with 8 gig (4 times the memory of the one I use daily!) for $49.00.  I paid $120 more, for 1/4 as much memory!

::::HOWEVER::::   Sitting on this desk beside me are 4 (four) MP3 players that Mark has purchased in the past few years, from a few months ago to a few years ago.  He has used the FOUR players a combined total of less than 2 hours.  I use mine a half an hour every-other day, and all day long when I was tour bicycling.  These things that he has purchased all have "internal rechargeable batteries", and the charges on them lasts just a few minutes, at most, before needing to be recharged.  In my MP3 player, I use batteries that my digital camera have already deemed 'spent', and they don't even have enough juice to power-up the camera one more time.  I save these AA batteries, and use them in my MP3 player.  Remember - I use this MP3 player for 30 - 45 minutes every-other day.  The 'spent' batteries last another SIX MONTHS each in my MP3 player!  Here is the comparison: Mark's four MP3 players all have 'rechargeable' batteries, and can't hold a charge for more than a few minutes.  **MY** MP3 player uses 'spent' or 'second-hand' batteries, and I use them for 6 months before finally discarding them.  The point I am making here is: My old, more expensive and weaker (memory size) equipment is STILL being used regularly, and is of better quality than the current MP3 players.  Please let me reassure you that it will be a cold day in May in Georgia before I trade my equipment in for the LESSER quality of the equipment being produced today.

This blog could go on for days, but in the immortal words of Sophia Petrillo ("The Golden Girls"):
"But, I digress!"

The following is just a tiny list of a few things that I have learned through the Oprah Winfrey show:

Oprah Winfrey:

1) "Forgiveness is not a gift for the perpetrator.  Forgiveness is a gift for the GIVER.  Forgiveness is coming to the realization that the past is not going to be any different."
2) "Wow!  I never thought of it that way!"
3) (Oprah has always been a big fan of "The Wizard of Oz", and Glenda's quote, "You have always had the power within you to do whatever you want to accomplish."

Deep down inside my tough little heart, even though I hate to fight for *anything*, from the moment of my birth, if I am forced to, I will fight my way out of a corner.

I was 18 yrs. old when Oprah's first show aired.  I knew from the time I was a small child that if I wanted anything, **I** was going to have to do it for myself.  If I wanted talent, I would have to spend the time and energy to hone that skill.  I learned that there is nothing "too fancy" for me, for I deserve the best.  I will let no person tell me otherwise.  If I wanted to look good, I would have to preen myself. I was not surrounded by people who valued (or values!) these attributes.  I have an acute appreciation for fine detail and craftsmanship.  Laziness and Jealousy are close bedfellows, one feeds off the other, and both are characteristics of people who do not value these attributes. 

It takes hard work and determination to hone a talent, to keep well groomed, and to continue to actively explore your world.  The gifts I have been given are not readily apparent to anyone but myself. My musical abilities are not the result of a "God given gift or talent."  People tend to use that phrase as a brush-off, or as a weak excuse to not do the work involved themselves.  I am not a patient person, people.   I will tell people that I have no patience.  "Patience" is for people who want to sit around and wait for something to happen.  "Perseverance"  is a trait that I harbor that allows me to get up off my duff and "GET IT DONE!"  Perseverance is the word, people - not Patience. 

Several years ago, I had to make a conscious choice:  If the time ever comes that I need my family for whatever type of assistance that I may require, should I keep them near me, and tolerate the battery acid that they spew in the general direction of anyone that gets splattered, or do I 'wing it' and tip-toe through the world on my own, with a "que sera, que sera" attitude.  Let me reassure you, dear readers, that the choice and the outcomes of my decisions are never really that easy, nor are they that 'cut and dried."

To some degree or other, I live my life at some level of constant fear or apprehension.  "What if...."
"What if...something would happen to Mark?  What would happen to me, the house and the "kids"?
"What if....I would finally become wheelchair bound, and require an increased level of personal care?"
"What if....?"
"What if....?"
"What if...?"

I had to make a choice not unlike Shelby's choice in the movie "Steel Magnolia's", when she realized that she was pregnant, and that even though she could get pregnant, the pregnancy would tax her body to the point that it would kill her:
"I would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special."

I had to make the choice between having non-guaranteed support, and of living a life where I merely exist in a tight, constricted world around people who have ulterior motives with little or no ambition, or teeter through life on my own, and enjoy a life that is as filled up with as much vitality as I can possibly squeeze in 24 hours.

The physical challenges that exist in my body have made my choice a bit easier, in fact.  I view living my life as a form of "Currency".  How much (effort, money, pain and other challenges) does it take for you to live your life from day to day?  Those that manage to live their lives with less effort, have a lot of money, virtually no pain, etc, might not pay a lot 'upfront'.  Their lives come at a lower cost.  I have had severe arthritis since birth.  I am on disability, and I have multiple birth defects. The price I pay to live my life is a bit more steep than some folks. Granted, there are people who pay a higher price than my own - a much higher price, in fact.  If you will allow yourself for one second, to change your point of view, you will see that those who pay a higher price (I am talking about more than financially here, folks) to live their lives tend to be the ones that enjoy their lives the most. We want to get more for our currency - more for our "money!"

Therefore - I made the choice to surround myself with a FEW people that brighten and enhance my life, rather than surround myself with MANY people who do have no desire to beautify the world in any way.

Consider this quote from George Washington Carver:

"No individual has any right to come into this world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it"

Those are words to live by, people.  That finger isn't pointed at me, alone.  I'm pretty sure it covers you, too!

Here is another quote from George Washington Carver:
"Fear of something is at the root of hate for others, and hate within will eventually destroy the hater."

And one from Mark Twain:
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."

To make a long story even longer, before Oprah came on the scene, while she was doing her work, and after she is finished, I have always and will always know that I have had the power within myself to do the best at the things that I desire to master, and to live the best life that I can possibly muster the energy to do so.  I didn't need Oprah, Dr. Phil, Maya Angelo, or anybody else to tell me how to do so, but knowing someone out there "has my back" holds a lot of value in my heart.  When they are no longer there, I feel threatened, vulnerable and exposed more than I find comfortable. If you know me well at all, you will know that I am very comfortable being exposed, and being myself.  IF I come to the conclusion that I am over-exposed to the point where I feel that I need to say something about it, I am horribly uncomfortable. 

Quotes from Dr. Phil McGraw:

1) "Rise above your raising!"
(Get his book "Life Strategies" - that book will cover this category nicely.)

Maya Angelo - our own St. Louis native:

1) "You did what you knew to do. When you knew better, you did better."
2) "When someone tells us who he (she!) is, ALWAYS listen to them!  If they are telling you that they are a bad person, through their words or through their actions, it is best that you BELIEVE them!"

Those are off the top of my head. Entire books have been written on their quotes.  I suggest you seek out those books, and read them for yourselves.  A good place to start is Dr. Phil's "Life Strategies" book.  I would be in a very different place in my life at this very moment, had it not been for the forces of these 3 people in my life. Now you can clearly see why I don't like them taken from me.  When the quality is taken away, I am left with the crap, and that, my friends, leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

- Michael

Will you have fried rice or noodles with that?

So...
We went to the Chinese Culture Festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.




www.mobot.org


The Chinese Fest isn't as big as the Japanese Fest in the fall (held every Labor Day Weekend), but it is growing quickly.  We decide to eat lunch at the food court before entering the venue.  Our choice:  Emperor's Palace (the biggest Chinese Buffet in the St. Louis area) has a booth set up there, and we decide that this establishment is where we wish to spend our $$ - and our daily allotment of calories.


http://theemperorspalace.com/


I mean... C'mon.  How much food can I get for $7?  The calories can't be too high, eh? 


Why is it, I ask of you, that when my ass was fat, nobody gave me food. Nobody. When they took a gander in my general direction, were "they" thinking "That chap has already had enough food - I'm not going to give him MORE???  The point is that when I was not watching my calories or trying to eat healthy, if I wanted food, I had to buy it myself.  Now that I have forced myself to realize that I have several dietary restrictions (extremely limited gluten / flour intake, extremely low fat, low calorie, and relatively low sugar), people are hurling food in my general direction. 


The $7 sampler plate that we ordered consisted of a bit of EVERYTHING at the booth.  We ate until we though it wasn't safe to engorge ourselves any more, and I had to go back up to the booth and get 2 "To Go" containers for the food we couldn't poke in our mouths.  At these events, we usually get just a bit more food than a sample, but not enough for a full meal.  The folks that were working this booth saw my skinny ass approaching, and they decided that they needed to help me by throwing food at me.   I do know one thing is certain:


You will definitely get your money's worth if you go to this booth! 


There were a couple items on their menu that were "American Chinese" food, but most of it was fairly authentic, which is a rare find, in itself, due to the fact that many restauranteurs are selling out to a weaker and increasingly lazy American public by saying, "I will alter my menu according to your tastes." rather than "This is the food I offer you. This is the manner in which I like to prepare the food that I serve, and the image I like to portray to the public.  It is wonderful if you like the food I serve. If you do not, I am sure there is a restaurant that will become a sell-out to you, and be your permanent bitch by changing their menu to suit your spoiled tastes, rather than to stick to their guns, but I am not that particular restaurant. Good luck to you in your search!"


Another little episode happened in my vicinity while we were enjoying our lunch.  A little boy was sitting at the table next to us.  I had an Almond Fruit cup (Almond Tofu / Fruit Cocktail / French Vanilla coffee creamer on top) sitting next to my plate.  This was to be my desert. I have had this particular menu item several times in the past, and it is a personal favorite.  The little boy (age: 6) said, "Mommy, what is that?"  She answered, "Oh, that is yogurt. You won't eat that. You'll just say 'Yuck', and you won't eat it."


My intent is not to tell that woman how to mother her child. She should be aware, however, that she is quickly creating another individual that closely resembles herself, and you must trust me on this one when I say that we already have entirely too many people that live like that in this damned country. (Every one of my immediate family members comes to mind.  Specifically, my sister, Jennifer, her daughter, Ashley, and to a large degree, her son, Jared).


What would I have done, instead of telling that child the same thing?  I would have immediately told that child that he made an excellent choice, and I would have purchased one fruit cup for him, and one for myself.  **That**, my friends is how to create an open mind.  After all, an educated mind is an open one.  A closed mind is, well - just that!


If you start introducing a child to other cultures **from birth** that child will grow up in a diverse world. where he will use his senses to the best of his ability to live on this planet, instead of using them to control those around him (which is what happens when one says, "I won't eat this.... I won't eat that.... I won't go there...I won't do that."  THAT is all about control, not likes / dislikes, if you stop and think about it.  A child that is exposed to different experiences will have a greater understanding of the world around him, and he will live a fuller, enriched life.  If you want to know what the lack of this exposure will do to a child, you need to look no further than my own immediate family - and I do mean every one of them.  Your view won't be pretty, folks, and it doesn't look like it's going to get any better from here on out, if you know what mean.


- Michael