There are times when one is taken beyond words by the kind actions of another. After work on Saturday night I arrived home a bit late and logged into the Painting Studio to read a comment from Karen AKA Red Kitten. Karen is a MSN blogger that I have known and respected for years though she seldom comments at the Painting Studio. She wrote that there was something at her space for me to read. I went there at the speed of light and read her post. ON THE WINGS OF LOVE http://abnorms.spaces.live.com
Karen, you made a grown man cry good tears. Thank you! Flying Monkeys was a dream that became a reality. An international effort and collaboration that took shape of it's own. I am so proud of the Flying Monkeys and all of the good, fine, beautiful works and words for the betterment. http://flyingmonkeyshome.spaces.live.com/
Space is only as deep as one makes it. Thank you for making my space smile.
Now we shall see what the Flying Monkeys bring to the future for the dream is a reality.
I am so glad.
As ever be well. With love. Stephen Craig Rowe
CREAM LYRICS
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do
I'm tired of weeping, I'm tired of moaning, I'm tired of crying for you
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm tired of weeping, I'm tired of moaning, I'm tired of groaning for you
I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
(Chorus repeated 5 times)
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do
I'm tired of weeping, I'm tired of moaning, I'm tired of crying for you
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm tired of weeping, I'm tired of moaning, I'm tired of groaning for you
I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
(Chorus repeated 5 times)
Introduction: Several nights ago I was chatting with my good friend Jeremy about upcoming birthdays and such. Jer mentioned that the love of his life Sassene one day would like a big bright diamond as a gift. It was late as we chatted and I was over worked, but I could see Jer's laughter as I created and Adventure spoof in the likes of Indiana Jones.
PAINTING STUDIO AND THE TEMPLE OF BALDY DORK FROZEN SKULL DOOM ADVENTURE.
When my friend Jeremy told me that Sassene wanted a diamond. I hesitated because Jer nor I have funds for diamonds. Then I did a Google search for lost civilizations and diamond mines. On page one of the search I read about King Solomons Lost Mines.......The following is fiction and fact of the imagination.
After Googling information about lost diamond mines Jer and I took a trans Atlantic flight to London because the search led me to the International Adventure Historical Society Museum. Located near Picadilly Circus the Museum was a dark old ancient structure. I left Jer at the City of London On Line Game Arcade near Madame Tusards Wax Museum. As we passed the Wax Museum, Jer signed to me and tried to turn his chair toward the door. "Jer, It is just a bunch of wax dummies. You will have more fun at the arcade." Jer was playing some Star Wars Games at the Arcade as I delved into the Archives in the Adventure Museum.
There was so much information about lost civilizations, maps, old books........The archives were in a vast cellar or huge vaulted basement below the streets of London. I was thinking this is kind of creepy and not very well lit as I pulled an unmarked worn thin leather book from the shelf. I was astounded at the content. Page after page of doodles that appeared to be crop circles or mazes. I turned them this way and that, upside down and backwards then saw the puzzle was a map to the Lost Diamond Mines of King Solomon!
I tore out the page and went to find Jer..................Sheesh! When I got to the online game Arcade. Jedi Jer was deep into his game and littered with fish and chips. "Dude!" Jer signed. " This malt vineger is awesome!"
I scribbled Jer a note that we were going to get outfitted and were on our way to Africa.
A call was placed to an old Army buddy for links of gear and provisions. I pushed Jer's wheel chair into the Old London Army and Navy Store in Soho.
" 'Elow mates! Must be Stephen and Jer. " How did you guess....I thought.
We were promptly outfitted with jungle gear and all terrain tires on the wheel chair with spares and extra back packs. The proprietor winked and said, " Ya are off then. No charge. Compliments of the White Star Line and your old pals." Jer signed thank you! I tilted my hat and we were on our way to Africa.
On the flight Jer was quiet. Looking out the window at the clouds the seas below and the lands as they gained sight. I was used to deaf people being quiet and was on my laptop chatting with Sassy. She wanted me to repost something in her guest book. Then Jer and I were about to land. I could tell that he was thinking about the Texas School for the Deaf. Good memories. He looked at me and smiled. Gave me a hi five as the plane landed in Africa.
Two weeks later it was hot and very humid in the depths of the old Congo. The Nile sprang from a spring in Gondor and touched the earth. The water of heaven, Father Sky and Mother Earth. Were raining on California Jer and Painting Studio Stephen.
Dripping wet, caws and calls, growels and chirps. Pushing the wheel chair slip and sliding.
" Hey Dude! Look at the size of that mosquito!" Jer signed.
That is not a big bug it is a giant tetesie fly! Smack! Thwack! Buzz it away...............
We were tired and searched out. The map was a dead end. Or so it seemed.
The green was all about. Jungle in and every where. Silence.
A profound still and quiet as the rains became a mist. That began to clear and from the hill side we could see a valley that began to glow as the sun cut the mists.
Then the wheelchair began to slide down the hill. I dug in my bootheels to try and stop the slide and held tight to the chair. Jer looked at me and smiled. I smiled back but knew that both of us were scared..........
We lost control of the wheel chair and slipped, slid and tumbled through the dense vegetation down the hill side to the valley below. It was a most harrowing experience to say the least.
With a thud and a crash we reached the valley. Stunned but intact with stars swirling around our heads we looked about. This was no ordinary valley. There were ruins of ancient buildings and I could hear music. This is most odd, I thought, because the music was not mumbo jumbo jungle music. It was Patsy Cline singing "Crazy". There was a curl of smoke in the distance where the music seemed to come from. I pushed Jer and the chair toward the smoke and sound. As we made our way through the ruins of a lost civilization the music was getting louder. We approached a ranshackle wooden structure that was European in design and quite out of place in the ruins. There was a sign above the door that read. LADY JANES JUNGLE TAP BAR AND GRILL. Jer was like, "Wow Dude!" We were both hungry and thirsty.
The screen door opened and a very striking woman stood on the porch sizing us up and down. Jer was smiling and I touched the brim of my hat then said. "Good day!" To the lady and after introductions she invited us in. As I suspected and old juke box was at the end of the bar. Lady Jane offered us refreshment. I ordered a gin on ice with a twist of lemon and Jer had a banana and wild berry smoothie.
"So, what brings you to these remote parts?" Lady Jane asked as Jer slurped his smoothie.
I hesitated with my reply because I did not want to let the cat out of the bag. " Well, we were up there." Pointing to the hill top. "Then lost control of the wheel chair and fell to the valley."
Lady Jane winked and said, " Guess you are looking for King Solomons lost diamond mine."
Jer's eyes went wide and I nearly choked on my gin. She was friendly so I showed her the map.
She took one look at it and laughed. Then said, " You both look hungry, we will talk about this over dinner."
During dinner she told us that she used to be married to Tarzan but that things did not work out after they moved to the United States. Tarzan had a difficult time finding work, took to drinking and one day he and his chimp ran off with the carnival. She sighed and said that she worked for a few years as an exotic dancer, saved her money and built the tavern in the ruins. I was wondering about the brass pole near the juke box. She also told us that she knew the location of the lost diamond mine of King Solomon and that she would take us there in the morning.
After a good nights sleep we loaded Jer and his wheelchair into the back of Lady Janes beat up old pick up truck and took off through the ruins. An hour or so later we arrived at the base of a volcanic mountian. She stopped the truck and pointed to a cave. "There is the entrance to the lost mine. Mind you, it is guarded by the Yahoolie tribe and if they catch you they will eat you." I had read about the Yahoolie and knew that they were only three feet tall with protuding bellies and wore bones in their noses. A fierce independent tribe. Jer and I thanked Lady Jane and worked our way to the entrance of the cave.
Near the opening we found skeletal remains. Some animal.....but mostly human skulls and bones. It was very creepy and the cave was dark as a moonless night. We found a sign in the rubble that read: Welcome to King Solomons lost diamond mine....NOT! We each lit a torch and ventured into the cave.
Shadows danced on the walls and after some time we could hear drums and chanting. The " Unga bunga, unga bunga, unjga bunga, cowa bunga" Was un nerving and vibrated the cave floor. The cave was getting wider and in the distance we could see light. A orange and reddish glow. We then came to a ledge and could see the heart of the volcano. Streams of lava flowed and there were some ancient buildings. Near the center was what appeared to be a temple. We found a stair way and a ramp that led to the strange looking place below. The drums and chanting stopped as we reached the floor.............
As I pushed Jer toward the temple we had a feeling that we were being watched. As we entered the temple the chanting started again. We made our way toward an alter like table in the center of the temple and there saw a diamond about the size of a lime. My fingers were trembling as I touched and then held the diamond in my hand. The chanting stopped at that moment and was followed by a yell. " Baddy ya di yadda!" That was answered by a hundred voices. There was an opening at the other end of the temple and I pushed the wheelchair toward it as fast as I could. The feared Yahoolie were pissed off and chasing us like a pack of mad dogs. Arrows and spears were falling all around us as we ran toward the opening the floor became wet and we slid into the opening which became a stream. I held tight to the chair as the waters rushed us along we could see daylight not too far ahead. All of a sudden the stream spat us out through the side of the volcano and we were falling in a waterfall.
We landed with a splash and made it to shore. The angry Yahoolie peered over the edge and saw my hat and a wheelchair tire floating in the foaming waters. We made our way into the brush. "Good thing you had that spare tire." I said to Jer as I put on my extra hat. The Yahoolie were no longer a threat and we began to make our way home. Jer signed with one hand. "Dude! Where is the diamond?" I pointed at Jer's other hand which was closed in a tight fist. In all the excitement I handed the diamond to Jer. I placed a hand on Jer's shoulder and said, " Let's go home! " Jer looked up and smiled as I clicked my dirty boot heels three times and PRESTO! We were outside of Sassene and Jer's apartment in California. She was standing in the door way scowling and tapping her foot. Our safari gear was a mess and we looked shabby. "Where have you two been?" Sassy rapidly signed. We tried to look innocent and were Um! errrrrr!
Then Jer approached Sassy and outstreached his arm and opened his hand. The diamond sparkled in the light and Sassene cried with joy! A diamond is forever even if it is only make believe. Sassy and Jer waved as I tilted my hat and went back to the Painting Studio.
As ever be well.
Stephen Craig Rowe
Please visit My Dear Friends Sassene: http://mypersonalstory.spaces.live.com and
California Jedi Jer: http://starwarsfan77.spaces.live.com
Photo and graphic arts in this post are
The work of Sassene.
What is your favorite dish on the Thanksgiving table?
Submitted by Kadeeae.
SAUDADE, Is a Portugese word. Given to me in love and friendship. The closest translation is. Nostalgia, home sickness or a special place in the heart and soul for the All. A word that touches the core of the being. In a poetic or fine art setting. That is unique, special, held close to the heart. And shared with the World for the Betterment. Nice word that. Betterment. As ever be well. Stephen Craig Rowe
| Children's Health Insurance Program | |
| Message | President Bush vetoed the State Children's Health Insurance Program. As a life long fine arts painter and poet I know that my works have inspired others to go on and do good works for the betterment. I am a proud veteran yet all of my 60 years have seen wars and wasted money spent on killing rather than healing. It makes me sad that This Great Nation serves those who are with out conscience to serve themselves with total disreguard, and oblivious to the needs of the people, the children, the elderly that still hold holy the dream of the American people. Oh, some votes will come from the internet and this will be childs play. Those who register and vote will make the call. Override the veto of President Bush and serve the American people, serve the children of your community, for the children are your legacy and the American dream. Be well. Stephen Craig Rowe |
| Ray LaHood (R), Richard Durbin (D), Barack Obama (D) | |
| Subject | SCHIP |
| Message | http://www.democrats.org/FightForKids |
With Stephen's permission, I am writing to you in hope to get your attention. We've been talking about how we want to voice our beliefs in making this world a better place to live in.
Before I begin to discuss our goals, I would like to emphasize that I had nothing to do with Stephen linking me or Jeremy on his post. Stephen feels the importance in introducing his visitors to real people. Jeremy is one of them, he is deaf, confined in wheelchair since birth. Despite his bad english writings, and disability, he is a real person with feelings. Just like many other handicapped people, they can cry, laugh, and express themselves. They can just do pretty much almost everything as we can do.
Maybe they cannot walk like us, but they can move around with the assistance of wheelchair or walkers. They may not be able to hear, but they can see. They may not be able to see but they can feel, and hear things. It's us people that take things for granted in this world. We tend to look down on these people thinking that we are better than them. There is no such a thing as imperfection in my opinion. I truly believe that we all are created perfect in God's eyes regardless of any flaws that we might possess.
Stephen and I were talking about how people can be so intimidated by handicapped people. We both wish that people would stop being so judgmental, and help one others. There are too many people lacking compassion in this society. It is our duty to figure out a way to reach out to everyone, and be an example of what a good person should be. We may not be rich, nor somebody famous, but we are real. We have feelings, and have the dreams to make this world a better place. I was thinking of how we can do that. I've told Stephen that in order for us to help one others, we must start within ourselves. Take a good look in the mirror, and see if there is anything that needs to be fixed first. We cannot help other people if we are not taking good care of ourselves.
The problem with this society is that people tend to take things for granted. They tend to fight for power, money, and fame that they forget that life is not all about that. Life is about how you make it, and how you give one others of yourself, and the love that you give. Love should be unconditional, and free. Love is the best gift of all. Not everyone is fortunate to know what love is. In order to know love, you must have compassion, and respect for one others.
It is the INJUSTICE in this world that angers us. We strive to make a difference in our world. We want to make our world a better place to live, but we cannot do it alone. We need your help in any way you can provide. We would appreciate whatever you can afford to give, or free time to volunteer. In order for us to succeed in carrying out our plan to make this world a better place, we need more helping hands.
There are many children without wheelchairs because their families are too poor to afford one. Believe me, I would know, because I am living with Jeremy, and his wheelchair is not so cheap. It costs over 4,000 dollars just for basic wheelchair that is comfortable enough to last a whole day in. There was this 6 years old boy that his poor family struggled to pay 10 thousand dollars for a special custom wheelchair, and it got stolen by some gang. I thought it was so downright cruel. Why can't people just respect our things instead of seeing our things as "valuable" stuff. Just because we paid for certain things that we need to get around does not mean that we are rich or whatever. Speaking of charities, there are programs that you can help donate money to where they will provide the needs to handicapped children around the world. You can make a huge difference in a person's life by being a giver without expecting anything in return.
Stephen asked me to please ask you to please give support to the Flying Monkeys space, he was saddened that no one gives a frank to visit it and leave comments. Please do not be rude not to leave a comment. Please take a minute out of your busy schedule to visit and pay your respect. There are people that working hard to make Flying Monkeys space a good place to go to. The problem is that people tend to be judgemental like people don't bother to visit Jeremy's space because of his poor english writing or nonsense pictures, but he is a real person with feelings! People don't stop and think that maybe Jeremy gets hurt whenever he checks his stats to see who came into his space, and realize no one bothered to leave a comment not even to say "Hi"! It hurts me to see Jeremy get hurt, but that's the real world. I don't care if no one visits my space, I don't consider myself to be important, but I would appreciate it very much if you would please respect Stephen enough to visit the links that he put up on his posts. Please have a heart.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read this post. Have a good one!
With regards,
Sassy
Please visit these links:
Please visit Jer if you are a friend of mine, you are a friend of my friends...... http://zeldanintendofreak.spaces.live.com As ever be well, Stephen Craig Rowe
Please check these links out to learn more about how you can contribute in helping one others
and there are many more links you can look up on Google...
AS LIBERTY SPREAD HER WINGS AND SOARED
As Liberty spread her wings and soared a small boy sat alone on the edge of a pier in the Great North Woods. There was no one else on the lake and the morning mists had risen. He took his eyes from the fishing bobber and looked at the island as the sun sparkled the water and listened to the small waves splash and slap the foam on the shore. There was a twitter of birds, croaking of frogs, buzz of insects and sounds of the forest. He was vacationing with his Grandparents far from the city. A pair of dragonflys spun around the end of his fishing pole and he thought of the Dragon that lived under his bed, back at home. He was just a little boy and knew the Dragon was not quite real. Then again he was wont to think that if he were born in days of old that he would have drawn the Sword from the Stone with ease, walked on water, and become a hero in all manner of lore and stories. Just like any other little boy.A caw in the air cleared his thoughts as he looked at the island and the main feature that was the Eagle's nest in the highest tree. He often took the old row boat made for a man to the island. It was no small task for a child to manage the oars but he would lift, splash and pull, lift splash and pull until he got to the island. After pulling the bow upon the rocky shore and a bit into the grasses he would walk the island. There were no signs of any other ever being there. No human signs or litter. The little boy would then walk to the base of the tree below the Eagle nest and look at the fish bones. Then look up at the nest and wander about the island sniffing plants, wild flowers, ferns, pines, birch, berries and wild grapes. How blessed he was to be so free and alone.At the edge of the old pier that creaked when one walked on it, and some boards were missing and half of it was covered with moss, sat the small boy watching his bobber bounce in the small waves when there was a shadow that startled the child and he almost dropped his fishing pole. It was the Eagle. Quietly gluiding with magnificent wings spread not ten feet from the pier. The child stood and spread his arms trying to look like a bird as the Eagle seemed to look him directly in the eye. For a moment, time seemed frozen and there seemed to be a communion. Then the Eagle took flight and I nearly fell off the pier.In the distance I heard a call. " Stephen, Stephen it is time for lunch." It was my Grandmother Evelyn. A voice like no other, a song in the woods. The boy gathered up the fishing gear and returned to the cabin.At the table with a plate of steaming food. She asked, " Did you catch any thing? "The little boy said, " Yes, but the fish got away."The Eagle in my eye is forever a memory and a melding that I can not explain.Liberty Spread Her wings and SoaredAs ever be well. With love, Stephen Craig RoweThis week I met Rob Marcello from the band Danger Danger.He is a good man and a good friend.
LIBERTY AND DRAGON-ECLIPSE, MAGIC, MYTH AND SOMETHING ABOUT THE MOON
Liberty stepped softly from the clouds and spread her wings then soared. White feathers stretched as she sailed and the Sun light glinted all around her, in the clear blue and the twilight she found the Dragon and thwacked him on the snout. There was a quiet rumble and a puff of smoke as the Dragon began to wake. One red eye, then the other opened, to see Liberty. The Dragon then smiled and wagged his tail. Or rather, slapped and thumped it in the Cave.
Liberty was rubbing her right elbow and smiling at the Dragon as she folded her wings and said,
" Dragon, did you see the Eclipse last night? It was so glorious and a moment to behold."
The Dragon sat upright and wiped the sleep from his eyes, took a drink of dragon brew and cleared his throat, then said. " Of course I saw the Eclipse, I made the Moon look red!" With a small puff and an expression of indignation. Rather child like in a dragon sort of way. Liberty was right there.
"Silly Dragon, you had nothing to do with the Eclipse or the color of the Moon. These are not the Olden Days." She said, in a firm but gentle voice.
The Dragon put his claws together, looked down and there was a slight twitch of his tail. He was silent for several moments, staring off into Space. Liberty just stood there and touched his head, graced his brow and patted him like he was an old dog. Warm and friendly. The love of eternety returned and there was a spark in his eye as he said.
" Yeah, I know the Olden Days are gone. That is why I slumber so. You look better than ever! Why do you keep rubbing your elbow?" The dragon then took another draw of the dragon brew as Liberty smiled and replied.
" It is nothing, but a slight pain from holding the Torch. More of this later." She said and sat next to the Dragon with a wing and an arm around him.
Head to head they nustled in silence as the worlds and words spun about them. The memory of the Olden Days and the New Worlds and thoughts of their place These Days. Oh, there the memory of Liberty and Dragon danced with the Lords and Ladies, the Faries and Angels people of the forests, rock, stone, river, streams, oceans and all the Saints and Fires that glimmer in the night and imagination. That have ever been and ever shall be......Then Dragon held out his hand and said with a smile. " Sissor, rock, or paper?" Liberty laughed out loud! A laugh that rings in all things, it was so sharp and sweet.
She smiled at the Dragon, rubbing her elbow. Then Said, " Dear Dragon, it is written somewhere that in the Beginning Was the Word. The Word became that which gave us life in the mind of humanity. There we have given Humanity the beauty of the Myth, the Magic and healing quality of words. The poets and the Muse. The Dream of the Other Worlds and the beauty of All."
There they both sat in profound silence and reviewed the sad state of human history. All the terror, wars, greed, disaster, famon, starvation, man's cruelty to man's own kind and the rape and pilliage of the Planet that gave them birth. Sacred sweet life, the ability. The desire, the Dream.
Liberty, sighed and said, " My elbow is sore from holding the Torch," as she held the Dragon and wept.
The Dragon, wiped her tears and said, " Dear Liberty, though they need us not in the times of their own making and folly. They need us forever in the beauty of the Myths, Magic and Glory of it All.
"Yes, there we shall ever be." Liberty spread her wings and soared with a song of Freedom holding high the Torch for All to see the Light.
"Yes, there we shall ever be." Liberty spread her wings and soared with a song of Freedom holding high the Torch for All to see the Light.
To me, the beauty of the myth, is as dear as the reality. There we are able to examine our heritage as our heritage is paramount to the future. We need and desire fiction that is more than entertainment. Thus, we were given the Word and the desire to share.
As ever be well, With love, Stephen Craig Rowe
am re-posting this out of love, honor, and respect. 9/17/2007 Talking About Saudade * Missing You SAUDADE, A poem in... read more
on QotD: Thanksgiving Treat