For my money, NYC’s celebration is just plain tacky compared to THIS… (besides, let’s face it, my balls descended a long time ago) … I actually found a flute to contain some champagne (well, technically ‘sparkling wine’)… I went out and watched, while toasting the odd disoriented motorist who drove by… Crystal clear and COLD here… perfect “let’s blow up the Space Needle” weather!
Seemed to start a few seconds early, but once you light that candle it’s hard to say ‘wait a sec!’… Still quite spectacular and had the desired affect of welling feelings of good will and of wishing happiness to friends and family… and complete strangers too…
Anyway, my very best to everyone who puts up with my madness and occasional glints of (if not brilliance then at least) brightness… Given my seclusionary (delusionary?) nature, New Worlds provides a welcome forum to connect and discourse with BRILLIANT HUMANS… so I sincerely thank you ALL.
Well, here’s to 2011. Let’s all hope (and work) for the BEST!
That’s a heck of a roman candle! I’ve done NYC for NY and Seattle for Independence Day. If the latter is any indication I can imagine they do a good NY as well. Of course, my recollections of both are impaired by my chosen impairments for each.
Have a stupendous New Year Mr. Harbor. ‘Happy’ is far too meager a sentiment. Be great and wondrous.
BTW: ‘The Balvenie’ is a REALLY good single malt! ;-}
Besides the ‘uisge beatha’ “whisky” (“water of life”) part, Jeremy should dig the song. Scots to the very core!
Here’s at ya!
You must have heard about my “no intoxicants in January” pledge (part of the ‘wondrous discovery’ nonsense). I didn’t expect such temptation in the first twenty-four hours.
Interesting song. It sounds very little like the old standard I’ve always heard. Is the popular ditty a complete corruption or is this a more avant garde relative taking some liberties with the tune?
Max: heard about it… appreciate the gesture, but giggle anyway.
The song? Complete corruption… although Guy Lombardo and ‘His Canadians’ popularised the tune, and SORT of got the point, Bobbie Burns’ original just can’t be topped!
There’s SOMETHING about the old Scots language! When I was in Glasgow many years back, I had some trouble with the speech… until I’d put away three pints o’ the Guinness!… then all became clear!… great blues fans!
I am recalling a very happy moment with my brother. We both had just received ‘MacDuffie’ (“son of the dark faerie”! ;-}) tartan scarves from our Dad… and I’d just received two fifths of Colonsay Isle single malt (from our home island) in the post…
We had a lovely drink up and listened to Captain Beefheart and Tubes… (to avoid argument over his and my own efforts!)
Good Times!
Oh yeah, if you decide to break your ‘pledge for Zen’… at least do it with the GOOD shit! ;-}
Glad I’m not planning a trip over to the isles this month. My pledge is pretty strong, but that irresistible force would very likely overcome my immovable object.
The ‘requirement’ to not drink intoxicants is one of the five precepts, but they’re nothing like commandments, more guidelines. It’s rather controversial exactly where the line should be drawn as you might expect. The wording is ‘I undertake the training to not use intoxicants heedlessly.’ The idea is that the more you’re impaired the less easily you achieve the stillness in meditation that is conducive to awareness. I’ve been flirting with that line quite a bit in the past few months, and my theory is it might be better to start from the point of view of abstinence rather than that of being chronically sloshed (or more likely stoned). Work it back from the light so to speak.
I shall meditate on Pacifica. I know… you will medicate take drugs
The biggest problem with meditation is that just about anything fucks with it. The five precepts are kind of a categorization of things that fuck with meditation in different ways.
1. Don’t kill or harm other beings (can take a while to settle down if you’re in the mindset of another sentient creature in distress at your hand).
2. Don’t take what is not freely given (to steal is to leach – are you a contributor to life or just a user).
3. Don’t engage in sexual misconduct (this one sounds easy until you consider the translation is probably meant to include all forms of heedless sensuality – another way to leach?).
4. Don’t speak falsely (can the mind settle if all avenues to truth have not been cleansed?).
5. Don’t use intoxicants heedlessly (a buzz is its own noise).
Basically, the pledge is to see if I can take all of this seriously for one measly month. Put up or shut up.
Buddhist monastics have something like 137 precepts.
Max: the biggest problem with medication is that just about anything fucks with it…
I’ve now listened to ‘Auld Lang Syne’ probably a hundred times… and shed a tear through half of ‘em. It’s a really lovely performance and I think exactly wha’ Mr. Burns hae in mind!
The vision of Cameron and me sitting in the basement with our tartan scarves about our necks toasting each other with the good shit will ALWAYS bring a smile to me mug mate!
Max: the fifth precept is brilliant. Note that unlike most religious/philosophic disciplines, there is NO PRO-scription!… It’s just “KNOW what you are DOING”…
An important detail! Personally, I lapse into ‘heedlessness’ more often than I’d like!
Happy New Year New Worlders!
For my money, NYC’s celebration is just plain tacky compared to THIS… (besides, let’s face it, my balls descended a long time ago)
… I actually found a flute to contain some champagne (well, technically ‘sparkling wine’)… I went out and watched, while toasting the odd disoriented motorist who drove by… Crystal clear and COLD here… perfect “let’s blow up the Space Needle” weather!
Seemed to start a few seconds early, but once you light that candle it’s hard to say ‘wait a sec!’… Still quite spectacular and had the desired affect of welling feelings of good will and of wishing happiness to friends and family… and complete strangers too…
Anyway, my very best to everyone who puts up with my madness and occasional glints of (if not brilliance then at least) brightness… Given my seclusionary (delusionary?) nature, New Worlds provides a welcome forum to connect and discourse with BRILLIANT HUMANS… so I sincerely thank you ALL.
Well, here’s to 2011. Let’s all hope (and work) for the BEST!
Love,
Sky
Comment on January 1, 2011 @ 12:36 am
That’s a heck of a roman candle! I’ve done NYC for NY and Seattle for Independence Day. If the latter is any indication I can imagine they do a good NY as well. Of course, my recollections of both are impaired by my chosen impairments for each.
Have a stupendous New Year Mr. Harbor. ‘Happy’ is far too meager a sentiment. Be great and wondrous.
Comment on January 1, 2011 @ 11:41 am
I will do my level BEST my brother! Ack Bat Ya! ;-}
Comment on January 1, 2011 @ 12:11 pm
Max: there ARE times to be impaired by your own ‘impairment’ of choice! This is ONE of them:
“We twa hae run about the brae!”
Happy 2011
Comment on January 1, 2011 @ 1:42 pm
BTW: ‘The Balvenie’ is a REALLY good single malt! ;-}
Besides the ‘uisge beatha’ “whisky” (“water of life”) part, Jeremy should dig the song. Scots to the very core!
Here’s at ya!
Comment on January 1, 2011 @ 2:38 pm
Hearin’ it in Bobbie’s own words, it surely takes on REAL meaning… what pain! what joy! what BEAUTY!
A Scots man I am… so this is ‘embedded’ so to speak in my very GENES… and a good thing too, I expect.
Forgive past transgressions… Remember friends and family past… clae the slate! Embrace the FUTURE! (It’s all we hae!)
Love,
- Sky Harbor.
Comment on January 1, 2011 @ 5:37 pm
You must have heard about my “no intoxicants in January” pledge (part of the ‘wondrous discovery’ nonsense). I didn’t expect such temptation in the first twenty-four hours.
Interesting song. It sounds very little like the old standard I’ve always heard. Is the popular ditty a complete corruption or is this a more avant garde relative taking some liberties with the tune?
Comment on January 1, 2011 @ 5:38 pm
Max: heard about it… appreciate the gesture, but giggle anyway.
The song? Complete corruption… although Guy Lombardo and ‘His Canadians’ popularised the tune, and SORT of got the point, Bobbie Burns’ original just can’t be topped!
There’s SOMETHING about the old Scots language! When I was in Glasgow many years back, I had some trouble with the speech… until I’d put away three pints o’ the Guinness!… then all became clear!… great blues fans!
I am recalling a very happy moment with my brother. We both had just received ‘MacDuffie’ (“son of the dark faerie”! ;-}) tartan scarves from our Dad… and I’d just received two fifths of Colonsay Isle single malt (from our home island) in the post…
We had a lovely drink up and listened to Captain Beefheart and Tubes… (to avoid argument over his and my own efforts!)
Good Times!
Oh yeah, if you decide to break your ‘pledge for Zen’… at least do it with the GOOD shit! ;-}
Comment on January 1, 2011 @ 5:52 pm
Max: besides, it’s not ABOUT ‘intoxicants’… well maybe that’s not QUITE true!
Comment on January 1, 2011 @ 6:33 pm
Glad I’m not planning a trip over to the isles this month. My pledge is pretty strong, but that irresistible force would very likely overcome my immovable object.
The ‘requirement’ to not drink intoxicants is one of the five precepts, but they’re nothing like commandments, more guidelines. It’s rather controversial exactly where the line should be drawn as you might expect. The wording is ‘I undertake the training to not use intoxicants heedlessly.’ The idea is that the more you’re impaired the less easily you achieve the stillness in meditation that is conducive to awareness. I’ve been flirting with that line quite a bit in the past few months, and my theory is it might be better to start from the point of view of abstinence rather than that of being chronically sloshed (or more likely stoned). Work it back from the light so to speak.
Comment on January 1, 2011 @ 6:46 pm
Max: An honourable and important precept!
Clear out the bullshit! So my teasings are only meant as THAT! Simple jests from simple people!
This might help:
Sky Harbor: Pacifica…
Or NOT.
Comment on January 1, 2011 @ 7:46 pm
I shall meditate on Pacifica. I know… you will
medicatetake drugsThe biggest problem with meditation is that just about anything fucks with it. The five precepts are kind of a categorization of things that fuck with meditation in different ways.
1. Don’t kill or harm other beings (can take a while to settle down if you’re in the mindset of another sentient creature in distress at your hand).
2. Don’t take what is not freely given (to steal is to leach – are you a contributor to life or just a user).
3. Don’t engage in sexual misconduct (this one sounds easy until you consider the translation is probably meant to include all forms of heedless sensuality – another way to leach?).
4. Don’t speak falsely (can the mind settle if all avenues to truth have not been cleansed?).
5. Don’t use intoxicants heedlessly (a buzz is its own noise).
Basically, the pledge is to see if I can take all of this seriously for one measly month. Put up or shut up.
Buddhist monastics have something like 137 precepts.
Comment on January 1, 2011 @ 10:36 pm
Max: the biggest problem with medication is that just about anything fucks with it…
I’ve now listened to ‘Auld Lang Syne’ probably a hundred times… and shed a tear through half of ‘em. It’s a really lovely performance and I think exactly wha’ Mr. Burns hae in mind!
Comment on January 2, 2011 @ 3:49 am
The vision of Cameron and me sitting in the basement with our tartan scarves about our necks toasting each other with the good shit will ALWAYS bring a smile to me mug mate!
Comment on January 2, 2011 @ 4:43 am
Max: the fifth precept is brilliant. Note that unlike most religious/philosophic disciplines, there is NO PRO-scription!… It’s just “KNOW what you are DOING”…
An important detail! Personally, I lapse into ‘heedlessness’ more often than I’d like!
Comment on January 2, 2011 @ 4:52 am
Notice how ‘Auld Lang Syne’ ends on the 4th… just sort of HANGS there… as we gaze into the misty yon…
Gorgeous performance!
Comment on January 2, 2011 @ 7:26 am
1. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
2. (please see #1)
That is ALL.
Comment on January 2, 2011 @ 7:34 am
Please keep your ‘immovable object’ to your self!
(there’s that damned SWORD again! ;-})
Comment on January 2, 2011 @ 7:53 am
Re #17: What if you’re a masochist?
Comment on January 2, 2011 @ 8:14 am
Max: (don’t quite know how we got HERE from a pretty fireworks pic)
If all that is sweet is pain, and all that is pain is sweet, then we’ve sort of travelled right OFF the MAP! haven’t we?
It’s a thin line my friend, RAZOR thin!
Comment on January 2, 2011 @ 10:39 am
Leaving Max’s sado-masochistic fantasy FAR in the rear-view-mirror!…
For Auld Lang Syne… that song’s GOT me by the fuckin’ throat!
Never one to question the lyric of a MASTER…
(oh hell, why NOT?)
“should old acquaintance be forgot…”
or how about
“Should old acquaintance be FOR NAUGHT…”
(been there, DONE that!)
Just sayin’
Comment on January 2, 2011 @ 11:03 am