Happy 4th of July! (Independence Day for the U.S.A.)

Hopefully, we will have another gorgeous day this 4th of July, like we did last year, with the parade route filled with good cheer, children and smiles.

The Story of the Star Spangle Banner

Click HERE to view the story behind the national anthem for the United States.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

Photo by Debbie Dewitt

Tornado!

Southern U.S. tornado image from Google images

Birmingham, Alabama, after the tornado

photo from Google images

This past week, a line of EF level 5 tornadoes ripped through 6 southern states, demolishing homes, businesses and cities, killing 350 people, and leaving thousands homeless. Since many of these businesses were in small towns, many people are now without homes, members of their families, neighbors and employment. Included in this tornado path was the University of Alabama. In some cases, entire towns were leveled.

What is amazing is that shelters set up for the victims of this natural disaster are virtually empty because neighbors are taking in the newly homeless. Not only that, a bold effort is taking place to engage actively in rebuilding the businesses and homes. Love... is what it's all about.

Tornado season has just begun in the southern United States. If you would like to donate $10.00 to the Red Cross to help, please text REDCROSS to 90999. 

Thank you! 

~ Jeanne 

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Sepia Saturday: Ana de Mendoza, Princess Eboli from Verdi's "Don Carlo"

Once, I had to remove my right contact lens for a day and replace it with an eye patch. A colleague passed by my office and made a comment about Verdi's opera, Don Carlo whose character, Princess Eboli, dons an eye patch. (Too bad she shares her title with a fatal bacteria.) This colleague is also the chairman of our World Languages and Literature Department, so of course, she provided me with some wonderful sites to support her statement. When I viewed these videos, I thought this would make a great 'Sepia Saturday' contribution! I hope you enjoy them...

Information on Ana de Mendoza, Princess of Eboli:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ana_de_Mendoza,_Princess_of_%C3%89boli

Videos of opera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrbPQjftR CA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWuGKwGK4I8&feature=related

Monday Poetry Respite sans le TFE's assignment

While we wait here at the Poetry Bus Stop, and TFE takes a 'breather,' below is a little bit I wrote a while back. If you become confused regarding who is experiencing the emotions, memories in this poem, that's good! I deliberately wrote this to illustrate the flow of memory and emotions between Mother and Daughter. 

Breath

by Jeanne, her Mom's daughter

Behind her sleeping eyes,

a youthful face remains within

the gentle embrace of her heart,

impish blue eyes, trying her patience,

the quiet soft puffs of sleeping breath.

She smiles, wondering

what this wee one dreamt,

so small, so peaceful,

then erupting passion

and the sighing relief in its passing,

growing, knowing that surely

there will return a forgiving kiss.

Eyes closed, she remains

in cherished supplication

wafting on the quiet breath

of the one who calls her Mom.

Monday Poetry Respite...Go Yankees!!!!

Well, our beloved TFE asked us to listen to a DREADFUL musical piece, and I really didn't care much about listening to it. At first, I posted this as verse; however, I realized that writing stream of consciousness would be more appropriate, so here it is. Those who enjoy reading the Molly Bloom's chapter of James Joyce's Ulysses might enjoy this, too. If you don't, well, there's always next week. 
Meanwhile....YANKEES WON TONIGHT, SO THEY WILL GO ON TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!!! Go Yankees!!!!!!!

Fragmented Foray upon my Cochlea

Anxiety, no sleep my mind where is my mind oh here it is right where I left it I can feel my heart beating is this all a nightmare which way should I turn so many doors so many options ah sweet serenity weightless waitless no need to focus ugh dissonance oh no I detest dissonance I'd rather be listening to my Ralph Vaughan Williams or Billie Holiday so much better than this and bellanova's rendition of "Stairway to Heaven" is so cool why didn't TFE listen to MY Playlist I wish this wretched violin would play something consonant consoling not what I wanted to hear today like sharp fingernails slowly making their way across a clean chalkboard oh the hair cells along my basilar membrane reach out in agony to hold tightly onto the ones along the back of my neck misery does love company where's my aspirin my eyes follow the red line to the end of this piece peace there I'm off a little Celtic Reverie to massage my brain

Jeanne I. Lakatos 2009