Don't Miss This...

If you love the game like I do 

you'll be there or be square, if you can stand that !

 

The Castle Lady

          

Google Takes Over Blogspot

     This is literally what has happened in a matter of months. I figure that the minute we were enticed to add Google Plus to these accounts we'd been had by the powers that be. It was almost concurrent to the takeover of Blogger by Google. When I saw that in the news it sounded ominous then. Now it's just a pain in the drain. The powers that be are merely the machinations of Google trying to take over the planet. I remember when they criticized Bill Gates on the same premise. All I know is that I can no longer find two of my blogs on my so-called dashboard and the one Blogspot that I did not switch over to Google Plus tries to give me access to my dashboard but absolutely refuses to stop giving me error message pages blocking access to the dashboard that tries to come up. What we have here is a failure to make an upgrade an actual upgrade and a possible conspiracy.

     All that Google Plus nonsense is for all the thumb typers anyway and their teeny, tiny P.C.s which we could crush like bugs on a windshield. You can't write much of anything that way so what do they care about blogs? If you can get one sentence out of them each hour on those things you're getting more dialogue than they will ever convey to their parents, verbally or otherwise. A tweet may be sweet but a letter is better. You can quote me on that- and you'd better! Maybe I should copyright it right here and now so my rights won't be infringed by some half-wit trying to take credit where credit isn't due.

     Can you feel the sarcasm yet ? It wouldn't be so bad if I could call someone up and read them the riot act. They must be too shy for that sort of thing so we don't even get the pleasure of being given a wrong number. Perhaps we could take the planet back if we do one thing in particular that our competition would never do in a million years. Answer the phone. What do you think ? I think our First Amendment rights are being violated. I'll find out when I post this and I hope everyone understands that freedom came with a price. Someone had to stand up and tell someone off. I hope that whoever knows what's going on reads this and then feels ashamed. It's our only hope.

 P.S. Hmmm. Back to normal heee hee hee
It pays to tell people off. Trust me.

Conceit: The Evil Invention

     Inventions capture curiosity and the keenest interest of humankind more than any branch of science and it has always been this way. Ask any applicant who's ever sat in patent office waiting to be the next approved. We prize the tinkerers and fabricators of our world because of the possibilities behind each device. All of it is fueled by great and complex imaginations. I'm sure everyone has, at one time or another, toyed with the idea of inventing something that will make a lot of money. Imagination is one of the most precious attributes we inherited from God, our creator and we, in turn, were his greatest invention because we were made as duplicates, capable of even greater inventions, according to Jesus. (John 14:12)

     However, these same attributes which contribute so much to our increasing cache of innovation can turn ruinous in certain instances, bringing to mind such thing as the A-Bomb, the fateful Hindenburg or the Titanic. Most of human manufactured disasters occurred because of error or misuse but there is also willful and wanton destruction at the behest of human imagination such as 9-11. Our world is staggering back from the glut of violent or greedy acts, increasingly.

     We stand back, even those of us who profess no allegiance to religion or God, asking, "How can such evil exist in beings who are also capable of great compassion, mercy and charity toward other humans and creatures suffering?" As a student of the Holy Bible and believer of God's sacrifice of His son, Jesus, for all our sin, I feel compelled to introduce you to another creation of God- His only failure- Satan. You may ask if this is possible for an omnipotent God. In this particular case it is but only because the failure began with Lucifer. If you read the 14th chapter of Isaiah you will get a true and faithful portrait of Satan. It illuminates what he was and what became of him.

     That event brought about the ruination of this once honored angel who, with words of plain conceit, brought about the first fall of God's creation. What he became is the archenemy to God and the rest of His creation. Lucifer's attempted act of usurpation brought about his sole invention; conceit. He uses it in continuity.

     Conceit is the catalyst to every weapon Satan uses against us. He generally chooses the path of least resistance when he comes at us and conceit makes his work easy. It is so prevalent that it's unusual for people to guard themselves against it. We often confuse self-esteem with conceit concerning ourselves and how we view others. It can be a dangerous assumption.

     In the verse James 4:10 we are urged by Paul to humble ourselves so the Lord can raise us to the level he desires for us. When we give into conceit, either by offense or ambition, we can easily become the tool of Satan. He loves conceit because he fuels himself and his minions on the momentum of it. As the quintessential bottom-dweller he will manipulate you through conceit and, he believes, bring you down to his level and that's where he does his dirty work on your true self-esteem. If you want to check yourself for this pitfall ask yourself how easily you are offended. Be honest with yourself.

     Getting control of your character and your self-esteem will require that you humble yourself. You can do this more easily if you will recognize and acknowledge God's sovereignty. Then, turn a deaf ear to Satan's dialogue which is demeaning or degrading and filled with lies and confusion. Thwart his attempts at putting you down by asking our almighty Father to lift you up. If you ask, He will do it. (Job 5:11)

     If this is a struggle for you, remind yourself that Jesus met with a similar struggle (read Luke, chapter 4) and came out victorious because he was given authority by God, the Father to rebuke Satan's words and still humble himself before God who had given him that authority. (Philippians 2:5-8) This displays true and proper self-esteem which will carry you with confidence. I cannot guarantee how others will perceive your new found assurance but you will please God and that is a blessed assurance. The best kind.

© February 6, 2012, Evelyn M. Wallace

All rights reserved by author

Be blessed,

The Castle Lady

Winter Woes

     I don't like to be negative for a new year but I think I'm going to scream if I see another snowflake or if I touch another thing that's as cold as ice. I have never experienced a winter in Denver like this one. To have day after day after day of freezing temperatures without a let up or change is just not Denver and more like Alaska! It's been like this since the beginning of December and January has continued the trend to the bitter end. You know the weirdest part? We still get sunshine nearly every day just like always. It's almost like a constant artic blast is coming through from the north pole of Saturn. Ever get one of those chills that no amount of warmed up bed buddies or fifty blankets can shake ? That happened to me around the end of December just before bed time. I'm considering moving south. South America that is !

     After the anniversary date of my Mom's birthday, which was on the 25th, I started thinking about how much she hated snow and cold. Winter has never bothered me until this recent two month bout but she never ceased to complain about it and I marvel that she never moved any place warmer. Her best friend, Willa, of whom I'm in regular contact moved to Arizona some years ago and now I wonder if she ever dreamed of packing her bags in winter and going to be with her friend before the first snowflake hit the ground. I'll bet she did but she never threatened to do so. I think she felt trapped in winter, as well.

     Today it didn't get above 20 degrees but I put on all my warm clothes, grabbed my basketball and hiking boots and took my trek into the winter wonderland that is now my home. I've always been in awe of how the world looks under a blanket of snow and if you're bundled up warm it's a bit refreshing to walk around in all that blowing snow and icy wind. However, it does get old and perhaps the reason why I enjoyed winter most of my life is because Denver's weather usually doesn't stay the same within the same day, normally. I have come to embrace the constant changing weather of my native locale and this just doesn't feel like home.

     Winter ? Bah, humbug !

 

Brrrrr,

The Castle Lady

      

Wopila Kaniyeyapi

Happy Thanksgiving everybody !

Happy Thanksgiving everybody !

The Castle Lady

The Day After Kennedy Was Shot

My earliest toddler and childhood memories are surreal to me. I'm not sure when they became that way but it seems like my memories from that period of my life have always been wrapped in some type of haze. I can make a few summations about the phenomenon that would probably have psychologists and psychoanalysts running for their pads, pencils and their phones to call me. The earliest memory I have that is crystal clear to me is the Saturday after Kennedy was shot in Dallas. Being a mere five years old at the time, I got up and turned on the television to watch my favorite cartoons.

     Instead of watching my usual round of shows I watched a film of John F. Kennedy being shot over and over again. I waited patiently for hours, changing the channels and hoping that something would finally make it through the constant footage. One particular segment was a film taken from directly behind the car and at street level. I watched this particular clip on every channel I tuned in on and so the memory of it is as clear as a bell- a memorized vision so to speak. I watched as his head suddenly moved forward as if it had been pushed then immediately his head went backward with the same sudden, jolting motion. At that point Jackie had turned to him and her alarm was already evident and his head made another sudden jolting movement toward her. As I continued to watch, her reaction looked hysterical and before the film abruptly ends she was trying to climb out the back of the car perhaps thinking of her own safety.

     Many years later, books and films were written and produced which suggested otherwise from what I witnessed. The titles are almost endless but a few that I personally own are On the Trail of the Assassins by Jim Garrison, Crossfire The Plot that Killed Kennedy by Jim Marrs and Best Evidence which was written by David S. Lifton. Even though two of these books claimed to be the inspiration for Oliver Stone's film JFK none of these extensively written and researched books correspond, completely, with what I witnessed that day in watching that particular film over many times. I'm not sure how many times I watched it but if it was fifty separate viewings I would not be surprised. I wouldn't be surprised if I found out that I watched more times than that and I couldn't count that high anyway. Not yet. My memory of what I watched says that he was shot three times and at three different angles. Eyewitnesses in Dallas shortly afterward stated that they heard shots come from the grassy knoll near the site but that would've been in the direction which his head never moved away from and if they had come from that area then Jackie would have been shot as well.

     I'm not trying to split hairs but it has seemed to me that nothing has been quite right about people ever since that day. I learned that no one is safe and that human life couldn't be more fragile. I learned that respected men in important offices may lie to save their own skin. I learned that a good man might have dangerous enemies. Perhaps everything that I experienced prior to that Saturday was a viewpoint about people and life in general that made for a secure existence and everything since then woke me up to a reality I have had to accept regardless of my finer sensibilities and aspirations. No wonder my memories prior to that day seem surreal. Everything changed after that and I knew for certain that nothing would be the same.

Respectfully submitted by,

The Castle Lady  

A Complete Person

     Last year, in June, a Marie Claire magazine article stated that 32% of women in the U.S. between the ages of 50 and 55 were unmarried. It expounded on the world of singleness for women as being much more liberated from past conventions than at any other time in history. The stories of several women pointed out that they had not always been single or unattached but had found life better in a singular state than that of dating or being married. I enjoyed the article because I suppose it made me feel more reassured that all the questions and remarks I have fielded over the years about my singleness were now as outdated as calling someone a spinster at a certain age. I have taken that guff for granted all my life, so much so, that I'm not about to start worrying or caring about it now. I don't have a remembrance of ever feeling as if anything was missing in my life- from the time I was fifteen years of age up to the present- by not being engaged or married. Dating is still of interest to me so I am not a hermit-type and I honestly don't feel I need someone to accompany me to go anywhere unless they just want to come along for the ride or vice-versa for that matter. 

     Apparently, this is a concept that the rest of the world couldn't even fathom up to only a few years ago. Meanwhile, I have obliviously continued on with living my life- working, traveling, writing and checking out this ever fascinating world we live in without caring whether a male was by my side or not. I can go either way but I don't understand the imperative need of companionship. My singularity has reached a vintage that is heady, exhilarating and even empowering.

     After putting down the magazine I started thinking about where I'd seen indicators that someone might think I was not normal or for me to question myself of where I fit into society- bite my tongue ! How many of you out there remember the movie Jerry Maguire in which Tom Cruise (who played the title role) stated to Renee Zellweger who played Dorothy- these three words which took on a life all their own for chick flicks then and on into the future. They were: "You complete me." I remind myself that he said those words- not his girlfriend- who betrays herself by rejoindering, "You had me at hello."

     While the rest of sisterdom broke out in tears or even began to cheer I sat there with a totally puzzled look and asked myself, "Whaaat?" How does someone complete another person? If you are feeling shattered or incomplete no one is going to repair you with a proposal. I am going to say this here and now and I don't care if anyone likes it or not. If you do not bring a whole and entire person into a marriage relationship then you are going to be that relationship's weakest link. Furthermore, that relationship is not going to complete, re-solder or mend your broken pieces. Humpty Dumpty was left hanging by all the King's horses and all the King's men, remember?

     I don't think my resolve will ever be a popular decision. Remaining single is no picnic. It's difficult being chief cook and bottle washer to you and yourself alone but it does have its perks. However, this is not the kind of life for most people and I won't recommend it either. It states in the Bible that it is not good for man to be alone and I think that equally applies to women. You can carry something away from my elaborate tirade today, however, no matter what state you find yourself in- married, dating seriously, living together or precariously single. If a relationship isn't going well or you're thinking that being single might better suit you, be prepared for some soul-searching and being about the business of learning to like and then, ultimately, love yourself. Learn to listen to your inner dialogue. Examine your head and determine if you really know where your life is headed and if you want to continue the way you are or stop and do something entirely different. The possibilities are endless and it's one of the most wonderful aspects of remaining single. Goodnight- and good luck !

 

Completely wild about you !

 

The Castle Lady  

        

       

And the summer ends...

     I don't know about you but I always feel a little wistful at summer's end- so much so that I have written poems about it. One in particular that I put up on the blog which is now hosted by Word Press comes to memory and is probably my most poignant. (Check August 2009 archives http://thecastlelady.wordpress.com for the poem Goodbye to Summer.) The great thing about summer's end is that autumn happens to be my favorite season and it was always that way. This year the second half of August was so hot that when the weather changed to rainy and cold last week I started waking up refreshed and with all my zip back. I started a poem at the beginning of this summer which I thought would be a great muse catalyst and I rather waited for the poem to write itself- as I have done in the past. It's the newest entry titled The Designed World and I'm working on a translation for my French blog http://matite.over-blog.com which will go up in a couple of days.

     Perhaps grief got in my way but most likely the delay happened because there is only so much leisure time for my mind anymore. It's unfair but true. I am now doing all the work that life imposes on us completely by myself and it doesn't leave much room or time for the work I feel is more important than grocery shopping or cooking and cleaning. Today I was thinking about the English platitude: two heads are better than one and now I think I agree with it on principle alone. Somehow even a small contribution in handling matters around the house or finances makes all the difference in the time factor and it feels more human. If you don't believe me try going it alone some time, if you don't already have that deal. It's not just the workload, though. I used to bounce quite a few ideas off my Mom just to get clarification. We were opposites in quite a few opinions and tastes but it helped me make decisions and choices faster. Go figure.

     At any rate, I always find that autumn gives me more energy, the natural odors and aromas smell fresher and the mornings more invigorating than at any other time of year. I wish I could find a locale that is like autumn all the time but I have a feeling that no such place exists. It is a time not a place. Soon it will be time to put away that lawn mower and go dance in the leaves.

     Heaven !

Enjoy it like I do !

 

The Castle Lady 

         

  

Secrets...Government or otherwise

     If the PRISM scandal didn't concern or scare you then you are officially the bravest, blindest or most moral person on the planet. I have been undertaking some serious contemplation on the issue of privacy and government spying. I felt this would be an excellent time to get into it by looking at the picture from a broader perspective. Here's something that has been completely reversed in my estimation. For as far back as the 60s or possibly longer, people have talked about government secrets. I'm sure the Rosenburgs made this side of the issue much hotter than it should have been- no pun intended, really ! From a practical viewpoint we don't want people who are privy to inside government information telling the rest of the world such knowledge. Our current security surveillance is technologically advanced with drones and other devices which we don't even know about, I'm certain. That is supposedly to keep us all safe- not knowing. Whether you agree with this or not is your privilege as an American citizen but believe me, most of us do not want certain data about how our government is run to be revealed to officials in foreign countries- allies or no. That classified information should remain just that for the overall good.

     The obvious disadvantage is that we may not be able to trust our government agents with this knowledge. History has taught us otherwise. If the Snowden deal hasn't taught us that lesson then we had all better start paying attention. Snowden didn't tell me anything I hadn't already suspected but I have a suspicious nature toward clandestine deals and subterfuge of any kind. He has brought to light downright deception on the part of the government- that's true- but he hasn't made me feel that his actions are of character, either. Almost every elected and appointed government official were willing to forgive him and that's where I part ways with all of it. Mistrust of the government on a broad scale started shortly after our involvement in Vietnam and I believe it has proliferated exponentially since then to a grand scale. It makes having a good and secure democracy nearly impossible.

     In situations of trust it is imperative that it be earned. No one trusts anyone or anything if they have proved to be anything but trustworthy on large or small issues. It is time for the people who have been elected to government jobs and offices to start showing true character by showing they are trustworthy. For many years, from the White House on down, the American people have tolerated lies and deception for too long and we must all do our part to get back on the road to trust by starting with the truth and continuing to walk in that path. I'm issuing this challenge to everyone, however. Trust begets trust and mutual gains can be had by showing respect to those who deserve it. Let your Bible be your guide.

 

It is no secret that I'm for doing the right thing!

 

The Castle Lady

 

  

                     

There are fairs and then there are fairs...

This past weekend I finally attended a book fair which has been held every year for twenty nine years running here in Denver. I have wanted to attend this two-day expo for many years, based on recommendations, but for some reason something else always came up. For 2013, I decided that nothing would stop me from going. There is a huge venue just outside the city off a main highway called the Denver Merchandise Mart (now just referred to as the Mart) where the Rocky Mountain Book and Paper Fair has been held (most likely since they started) and it's a great place for just such an event of this size. During the two day event  one has the opportunity to talk to experts in their fields of specialty. This year they had four confirmed speakers who were conservators themselves. I had a chance to talk to Karen Jones, a local book restorer, after her two hour workshop on book preservation. I needed some advice on the extremely rare book I purchased about the best way to restore it- being as how it is a 180 year old book whose pages still turn and is entirely legible with the images clearly visible and unmarred ! Other speakers gave lectures on conservations of textiles, paintings, decorative and historic objects along with the subjects of books and paper items. One, Christopher Lane, presented a short hour-long talk on how and why to build collections with emphasis on antique prints and maps.  

I knew pretty much what I could expect to see when I got there because I've heard about the fair from other attenders- whether they were regulars or not. If I nailed this one down to basics I'd say that this is the type of fair for people who really enjoy the arts, sciences and literature. An antiquarian's dream, basically. For me, every booth was intensely interesting with the exception of western and southwestern Americana which is more of a background interest since I am somewhat overexposed to those genres being a native Coloradoan. It seemed to me every medium and subject was touched on whether it is maps and cartography, rare, collectible or specialty books or post-cards- the latter of which has been a passionate collecting hobby of mine from an extremely young age. My collection is probably small by comparison to other life-long collectors but I have a very well rounded and international set, most hand picked by me from the areas in question. A small amount were gifts from other travelers who were thoughtful friends. A good portion of my collection are antiques bought from antique stores- even some historic view post cards which appear to be double images but must be viewed through a special lens viewer to make the subject appear three dimensional. They had several vendor booths there who had brought vast collections with them. I found out about a special post card collectors club there from one of the vendors and I think I'll go to their next event and check them out !

Other items you will see at such a fair are print artwork- both collectible and rare plus exotic and ethnic posters, framed art, ephemera and travel memorabilia alongside old travel brochures and ads. There were eighty-one exhibitors in all this year but I was only able to really get into half of those and went home reeling from the overwhelming amounts of materials I had looked at and perused. Having to walk away from so many things I would have loved to buy and take home was equally overwhelming. The one irresistible item, the aforementioned book, which will become essential very soon was wrought with beautifully lithographed photos of Ireland including many castles caught. It is in excellent shape and had been published in 1833. Later I found an interesting flaw in two pages of text that will make this a very rare book and worth quite a bit more money, eventually, after I restore it.

Treasuring each and every bit,

The Castle Lady