E is for Elementary Education

For grades K-6, I attended Richards Gordon Elementary. I must admit I always thought the name was Richard Gordon Elementary, but having done some research at the St. Paul School District website I found out differently, as noted above. I also found out that the building, located at Dayton Ave, & Fry St, was built in 1911 and named for (duh) Richards Gordon-a prominent St. Paul clothier and hat maker at the time. The school closed in the mid-70s. The building is now an office building, pictures of it can be seen here: http://www.richardsgordon.com/index.html

"To write it out is to let it go." --Rod McKuen

When I was in junior high (what they now call 'middle school' locally) there was an commercial on television featuring those clear body Bic ball point pens. The ones they now call Bic Cristal. There were several variations on the same theme, but the one I remember most went something like this: There was big mechanical arm with a Bic pen clamped to it. The arm was poised above a huge writing tablet, on which it wrote in large swirls and circles with the pen-- like a giant Spirograph. In walks a scientist and his assistant. The scene shifts to show us a close up of the pen clamped in the machine--said pen is almost out of ink! Where upon the scientist breaks out in an exuberant dance and happily proclaims,
"At long last! My life long goal will be fulfilled! I will be the first ever to have retained a Bic pen from the first time it wrote until it ran out of ink!" Just then the doorbell rings and someone is delivering packages for which he needs a signature. They sign for it with the pen from the machine. You hear the sound of the truck driving off and the scientist turns back to his machine.... and of course the pen is gone! Oh no! he used the pen to sign for the package and the deliver man kept the prized pen! Ahhh!! He has to start all over...

The point (no pun intended) of the commercial was that Bic Pens lasted along time, were reliable, and were cheap to replace.

I, however; took the goal of that commercial to heart. My goal and purpose in life was to hang on to a Bic pen until it ran out of ink. I became obsessed with it. I quickly figured out that medium point pens go through ink a lot faster then their fine point counterparts. I also thought blue went faster then black ink, but that might have been an illusion. I shared this goal with several of my classmates who just laughed. One teacher heard about my goal and said, 'Why not? A goal of any sort is a good thing.'
Like the scientist, I found out it is difficult to hang on to those pens until they go dry. My quest continued into high school, by which time it seemed like I was the only one who remembered that commercial, and I got some strange looks from people insisting the had my 'special Bic pen' and they had to give it back!

I finally reached my goal during my senior year. And in time had not one, but several EMPTY Bic pens. I kept them like trophies in a drawer in my dresser. I don't know what ever happened to them. I suspect one day my Mom was looking for a pen and discovering that they no longer wrote, threw them out as trash.

So then, having achieved my life goal, I was goal-less. I was just thinking I haven't had that kind of goal in a long time--one that I put consistent energy into. Several people over the course of the years have told me I should 'do' creative writing. And I've made attempts to write and/or journal in the past. I did take Creative Writing and poetry seminars and classes in junior and senior high school. so I have decided to give it another try. This is the first effort.

total Serenity Prayer....

Complete, Unabridged, Original Version.
God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen. Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

About the death of my brother, Bruce--sure to be the first of many postings

Bruce played cards-(500) with a group of my Dad's friends once a month. He started as a substitute player, and then became a pretty much a regular. The group meets at various places for brunch, and then goes to someones house to play. They were going to play on July 14th, so my Dad called Bruce several times, and getting no answer, left messages for him on the answering machine. It was really not like Bruce to not return phone calls, so my Dad started to get worried. He called the Twin Lakes Alano Society where Bruce attended meetings. He talked with one of Bruce's friend Harlen (Harley), who had not seen Bruce recently and said he would ask some others if they had seen/heard from Bruce lately. Please keep in mind, this is summer--many people travel, take time off, etc. It was quite likely one person to not have seen my brother, and think that someone else had.

After asking around, it became apparent to Harley, and Bill T., that no one had seen Bruce since the end of June, when several members were at his house to help him paint--he was preparing to sell the place. Harley and Bill decided to do a "health and welfare check". Unfortunately, they found Bruce dead. He was sitting up in his recliner, with head back, as though he went to sleep and never woke. My Dad got a call from the Brooklyn Park Police at around 11:30, Friday, July 13th, to inform him his son was dead... Bruce was 52. My Dad called me at 6:30 the next morning to inform me. I was mad, and still am ticked with him--why did he wait until morning. "Well, I knew I wouldn't sleep, and didn't want to disturb yours..." sheesh!

Anyhow, Bruce's body was 'significantly decomposed.' The Medical Examiner had to use fingerprints for a positive identification. It is now thought he died around 7/1; although he put 7/13/07 on the death certificates. And I used that date on the funeral brochures I made up--because at that time, we didn't know the actual day-- and to our minds, he lived until my Dad got the phone call.

Bruce had several health problems. When he was 40, he had double coronary bypass and aortic valve replacement surgery. He always struggled with high cholesterol. Although he was successful in his battle against drugs and alcohol, he was never able to completely stop smoking. A few years ago he had a blockage in ah, I think it was a groin region artery if memory serves (which it may not!). Then last September, he was at work one day and he leaned over to pick up a pencil from the floor, and woke up in the emergency room at a local hospital. Tests showed he had 90 percent blockage in one of his carotid (neck) arteries. He had surgery to open and insert a stent there.

He had also was experiencing progressing muscular weakness in his thighs/legs. He had a lot of tests, and a biopsy was done on muscle tissue from one thigh early last Spring. No cause was found. The doctor called it 'Idiopathic Myopia'--a catch-all phrase which basically means 'muscular loss due to unknown origins.

On Sunday, July 15th, the Old Testament reading at church was from Leviticus 18:1-5, 19:9-18 (ESV). My attention was taken by verses 19:9-10: When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to the edges, neither shall you gather the gleanings after you harvest. And you shall not strip you vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner. I am the Lord your God. I wrote in the margins of the bulletin (a habit from when I had to take sermon notes for Confirmation class, many years ago): When God reaps, he does not strip us bare- he leaves gleanings for us-- thoughts and memories of our loved one. He leaves gleanings for the poor, and those who are still sojourning--we are those who still travel this weary world. He as 'reaped' Bruce, and taken him home. Our memories of our son, brother and friend- are the gleanings.

G is for GRIEF!

Bruce A. Rahn

1954 - 2007

Recovered Alcoholic

Bruce Rahn is my brother. Some friends doing a health and welfare check on him found him dead from natural causes at his town house this weekend. I will write more later, when my mind can put more then two sentences on the same topic together at the same time.... there is much feeling/emotions swirling in my heart right now. Please pray for me and my family, especially for my Dad.

For now I will borrow from an e-mail sent out by Bill B., a chaplin at the Alano Society where Bruce was a member and on the board:

This is a request for prayer both for the fallen and the friends.
It is with great sadness and shock that we learned this evening of the passing of Bruce Rahn. And I ask for prayers for Bruce; his family and his friends.
I also wish you to pray for Harley and Bill T. who discovered Bruce's body this evening.............apparentlly he passed several days ago.
Bruce was a veteran, a loyal friend of Bill W., and a faithful servant at Twin Lake serving on the Board and volunteering when ever possible.
Bruce also volunteered at Minneapolis Intergroup and loved to bowl and play cards.

D is for Depression

I am disabled, I have a mental health diagnosis of major (aka: clinical) depression. I have had severe episodes of Depression since my teens, but it was not officially diagnosed as such until 1997, when I was hospitalized for suicidal thoughts.

What is Major Depression?**
Major depression is a brain disorder that is much more than temporarily feeling sad or blue. It is a serious medical illness that affects one's thoughts, feelings, behavior, and physical health. It is a biologically based brain disease, not a weakness....Some people have one episode of depression in a lifetime, but many have recurrent episodes. Others have ongoing, chronic symptoms. Gee, I'm doubly blessed. I get it both ways!! Seriously, the chronic symptoms are managed through medication, and I usually (but not always) realize when things start to slide into a more major episode, at which time I seek psychotherapy/counseling Since 1990 I have had three major episodes which have ultimately resulted in job loss. It is because of this I receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). As I mentioned in the "B is for BVHE" post, I like my current part-time position. But if something should occur on my part or theirs, I have SSDI to fall back on.

Symptoms**
The onset of the first episode of major depression may not be obvious if it is brief or mild. Unrecognized or left untreated, however, it may recur with greater seriousness or progress to a syndrome that includes a profoundly sad or irritable mood lasting at least two weeks and accompanied by pronounced changes in sleep, appetite, energy, ability to concentrate and remember, interest in usual activities, and capacity to experience pleasure.

Treatment
Of all the mental disorders, depressive illnesses are among the most responsive to treatment. With available treatment, 80% of people with serious depression can improve and return to their normal daily activities and feelings, usually in a matter of weeks. But if an individual's depression tends to recur once treatment is discontinued--a significant number of people have recurrent depression--the the illness can be handled with ongoing treatment....Major depression is a medical illness that produces emotional symptoms, so both medication and psychotherapy mat be needed to treat it. The objective of treatment is to lessen the duration and intensity of the episodes of illness and to prevent their recurrence. I currently take three medications to help control my depression: Seroquel (minimum dosage at night to assist with normal sleep), Effexor XR, and Wellbutrin. I am not currently in therapy of any kind, a psychiatrist oversees my medications quarterly. The most troublesome side-effect I have is excessive sweating and being prone to overheating. Both Effexor and Seroquel can cause this. I have come close to heat stroke only once, and never want to do so again. I know to carry water and/or sports drinks with me when I walk, ride a bike, and expect to be out in the sun. I always have a container of fluid in the cup holder in my car. I have permission of the stores I service to carry and consume water while working, as long as I am discreet about it.

**taken from Understanding Major Depression: what you need to know about this medical illness, published by National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)

C is for ...

C is for Cars. Neither of my parents drove when I was growing up. My Dad took the bus to work, we lived just around the corner from a stop on the 21A Selby-Lake busline. When we moved to West St. Paul in 1976, we were just a block off of the 7A Thomas-Smith busline. My Mom was a homemaker and also an 'ironing lady'; i.e, she took in laundry--mostly work and school uniform shirts. She washed and ironed them, and hung them on a long closet type rod which hung in between the living and dining rooms. I used to love the smell of newly starched and ironed shirts. Later, she got a job at ABC Diaper Service, which was a short 3 block walk up Selby. I It was one block away from Richard Gordon Elementry School. I think she started there when I was in 5th grade. This was the time schools were just beginning to serve 'hot' lunches. Previous to this, students were dismissed to go home for lunch.
My Dad finally learned to drive when he was in his 50's. Looking back-although I am sure my siblings and I may have missed out on some activities during our youth- I feel it is a good thing he did not drive until we were grown. He is an alcoholic... now with almost 30 years sobriety!
I learned to drive in my mid-20's. Like my parents, until then I lived and worked handy to my places of employ, except for one job. Then I payed a co-worker $10.00/week to give me a ride to and from. Anyway, I digress. This is a list of the cars I have owned:

• 76 Mercury Monarch
• 87?Dodge Colt
• 91 Dodge Shadow
• 97 Dodge Shadow (I loved the Shadow! Still do)
• 95? Dodge Caravan
• 97 Ford Taurus
• 83 Saab (genuine beater car--the right quarter panel was held together with duct tape)
• 89 Mitsu Montero
• and currently: 97 Dodge Caravan

Cars are such wonderful things! I put $1300 into the Caravan during February to keep it moving, and two months later in April, I spent another $500 on it to make sure it would stop!!

B is for:

BVHE (the distribution arm of Disney Studios). I am working part-time foe Mosaic Sales Solutions, they are a marketing firm. One of their major contracts is BVHE, and that is the division I work for. I have four 'big box' stores locally that I maintain/display/reorder BVHE DVD movies for. BVHE also includes: Hollywood Pictures, Touchstone, Miramax and now Pixar. It is part time. I work most Tuesdays when one of the above studios is releasing a new movie in DVD. Those days I may have to visit all 4 stores on 'Blitz'--to make sure the new title and all the promotional material is displayed properly. Other then these Tuesdays, I will usually be scheduled to visit each store several times a month to check proper placement of BVHE titles on the planogramed (POG) movie shelves, and re-order low and out of stock titles. These merchandising visits can usually be done any time during the week, just as long as they are transmitted before Friday evening. I enjoy my work, and the people I work with.
The only problem I have with this position is it can be sort of 'feast or famine' with hours at various times of the year; although there has been opportunity for extra hours working with the Movie Crews at Best Buy, and other short-term assignments.
I don't consider this to be my primary source of income. I am on SSDI--for a mental health diagnosis-- I have Major (aka Clinical) Depression. The government wants me to work! They allow me to make up to like, $650/month with out it affecting my benefits. They have a lot of support programs to help people get back to work. I have been able to take care of a lot of debt I have had for several years... I looked for work for almost a year before deciding, with a job coach's encouragement, to apply for SSDI. I have always intended to work at least part time. SSDI is my primary income. If by some miracle I find a position to work full-time in, SSDI will (I hope) still be there for me to fall back on--if something should happen (condition tends to re-occur do to stress). I will not have to go through and reapply, or have a waiting period.

A is for:

A is for Ann. That's my middle name. At first my parents were gonna call me 'JudyAnn'. A lot of kids during the 50s had double names like Mary Ann, Betty Lou, Jim Bob, Jerry Lee. But it was decided to call me just Judy. Oh, and it is just plain ANN, no 'e' at the end, as Roman Catholics are wont to do. The only times I recall being called 'Judy Ann' is when I was upstairs in my room listening to music, or more likely had my nose buried in some book I was reading, and didn't respond to the first 2-3 times my name was called. Then it was usually bellowed loudly by my Mom!

Lesson/reflection: I'm glad it is just Judy--even if alot of people parrot Cary Grant and go "Judy, Judy, Judy" when I'm introduced. And I know it could have been Judith. But I am Judy.

Alphabiograhy

My nephew, Kyle has what I think is an interesting school assignment for "Language Arts" (what ever happened to English/Spelling and Reading). He has to write an Alphabiography. It is like writting the story of your life, except you are supposed to write seperate essays for each letter of the alphabet, then collect them all together in booklet format.
He and his classmates have been working on this in class and at home since October. Now they are editing and reviewing their work.

I wish we had assignments like this when I was in Junior High School: grades 7-9 (except now they call that "Middle School" and it is grades 4-8--insert eye rolling emoticon here!). Then I thought, life is continuous lesson, so I am going to write my own Alphabiography using this blog. I may not always go in alphabet order, and some letters may get more then one entry-- well, they should, I am almost three times older....

They are supposed to add a reflection/life lesson at the end of all the essays.

One last note about Kyle's class and the assignment: the teacher has read to the class a book titled "Totally Joe" by Jamie Howe. This book is written in the form of an Alphabiography of the main character, Joe Bunch. Joe is a 7th grader, who is gay. The book details the normal struggles of adolescents, and how Joe is percieved to be different, and how he handles being labeled, and admitting to his family and friends that he is a homosexual. I have read the book cover to cover. It is a well written book. That said, however; I do not believe it should be read aloud to a class. Yes, the book can be made available for students to read. It does have a place in the classroom and school library. But to force students who may not be mature enough to understand what is going on, or able to handle peacefully their classmates who may not be mature enough to take it seriously to listen to it or read it for class, I think is just wrong. It should not be a part of the curriculum.

Eisenhower on Military Spending

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children . . . Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron."
--Dwight D. Eisenhower
Excerpt from "The Chance for Peace" address delivered before the American Society of Newspaper Editors, April 16, 1953
http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/chance.htm

According to the 2007 Time Almanac, the United States 478 billion dollars (or $1604 per person) for military expenditures annually. That amounts to 48% of the military spending world wide. The next closest country is England, which spends 48 billion USD. Now I grant it, that figure probably includes salary and wages for current Armed Forces members, and uniforms and such.

Still I think we should be able to say 'hey, wait a minute, I don't want $1604 of my dollars to buy weapons--convert it to international implements of peace, humanitarian efforts; with things like basic health care for third world countries, basic farm implements like rakes and shovels, better home building materials for earthquake and hurricane prone areas, etc.

the longest Bible based answer I have give so far on Yahoo! Answers

some one asked:
If Jesus is so meek and humble, why does he command 'every kneel shall bow, every tongue confess' to obey him? kind of seems like a dictator or a self-absorbed ego-maniac...

And I answered:
two similar verses appear in the New Testament(Romans 14:11, KJV) "For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
This verse alludes to Isaiah 45:23 (KJV) "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."
In Isaiah, God the Father is speaking through the prophet Isaiah. Paul is the writer of Romans. If you believe in the Holy Trinity, it would seem reasonable that what God the Father states about himself in prophecy would also apply to God the Son.

The second instance is again written by Paul in Philippians 2:10-11 (NKJV), which occurs at the end of what I consider a Holy Spirit inspired teaching:
(Phl 2:1) Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, (Phl 2:2) fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (Phl 2:3) Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. (Phl 2:4) Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Phl 2:5) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Phl 2:6) who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (Phl 2:7) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. (Phl 2:8) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Phl 2:9) THEREFORE GOD ALSO HAS HIGHLY EXALTED HIM AND GIVEN HIM THE NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, (Phl 2:10) THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF THOSE IN HEAVEN, AND OF THOSE ON EARTH, (Phl 2:11) AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. (all Philippians verses from NKJV) So now we have the third part of the Trinity (Holy Spirit) asserting that together and seperately, that because God has done such great things for us, we should show our humility through our actions--in this instance bowing our knees and confessing to that Jesus Christ is Lord!
---------- Source(s):
http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/v...

Free Hugs Campaign - Inspiring

Original from Youtube - http://youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION: Sometimes, a hug is all what we need. Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man whos sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives. In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal. As this symbol of human hope spread accross the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign BANNED. What we then witness is the true spirit of humanity come together in what can only be described as awe inspiring. In the Spirit of the free hugs campaign, PASS THIS TO A FRIEND and HUG A STRANGER! After all, If you can reach just one person... Music by Sick Puppies. (Visit http://sickpuppies.net or http://myspace.com/sickpuppies for the music) ------------------------------ ------------------- PS. The response to this video has been nothing short of overwhelming and touching. Hugs to every single one of you who messaged. There has been thousands of emails from all over the world by people seeking to participate in the Free Hugs campaign and asking for permission. You do not need permission. This is the peoples movement, this is *your* movement. With nothing but your bare hands you can make THE difference. Imagine all the people.

Unconscious Mutterings (week 199)

Free association is described as a "psychonanalytic procedure in which a person is encouraged to give free rein to his or her thoughts and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without monitoring its content." Over time, this technique is supposed to help bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can then work through to gain a better sense of self. That's an admirable goal, but for the purposes of this excercise, we're just hoping to have a little fun with the technique.
"Rules are, there are no rules." There are no right or wrong answers. Don't limit yourself to one word responses; just say everything that pops into your head.

Don’t feel like retyping the words? Just copy and paste the following into your blog:

1. Rhyme :: rythem and reason
2. Substantial ::errors occured
3. Instant ::coffee
4. Greed ::can kill
5. Brad ::who?
6. Season ::liberally with pepper
7. Accomplished ::stores complete and uploaded
8. Invite :: trouble
9. Sparkle :: glass cleaner
10. Rainbow ::Foods

http://subliminal.lunanina.com

Veteran's Day, 2006

My prayer for you and the world on this Veteran's day: Lord, may some child sometime in near future ask "What was a Veteran?" And a parent will have to think to answer, because wars will cease to exist, and there will be no more Veterans...

Last night I had the strangest dream
I ever dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war.

I dreamed I saw a mighty room
The room was filled with men
And the paper they were signing said
They'd never fight again.

And when the papers all were signed
And a million copies made
They all joined hands end bowed their heads,
And grateful prayers were prayed.

And the people in the streets below
Were dancing 'round and 'round
And guns and swords and uniforms
Were scattered on the ground

Last night I had the strangest dream
I ever dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war.
--Artist: Simon and Garfunkel
Title: Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream
album: Wednesday Morning 3 AM

Now is the time for turning..

“Now is the time for turning. The leaves are beginning to turn from green to red to orange.

The birds are beginning to turn and are heading toward the south. The animals are beginning to turn to storing their food for the winter.

For leaves, birds and animals, turning comes instinctively. But for us, turning does not come so easily.

It takes and act of will for us to make a turn. It means breaking old habits. It means admitting we have been wrong, and this is never easy. It means losing face.

It means starting all over again. And this is always painful. It means saying I am sorry. It means recognizing that we have the ability to change. These things are terribly hard to do.”

But unless we turn, we will be trapped forever in yesterday’s ways.

Lord help us to turn, from callousness to sensitivity,

from envy to contentment,

from carelessness to discipline,

from fear to faith.

Turn us around, O Lord, and bring us back toward you.

Revive our lives as at the beginning, and turn us toward each other,

Lord, for in isolation there is no life.”

--Yom Kipper liturgy

My true color shining throug...

arial;">
Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.

...On the Pascal Mystery

"In his death, Jesus shed the limitations that were part of his earthly experience, and once those limitations where shed, thd Spirit was released.

I have an image for all this which is not very theological. It comes from an old Abbott & Costello movie, I believe. Through some fantastic means the two of them had become ghosts and could not be seen. In order to make themselves known, they put on clothes made of ordinary materials. Because they were ghosts they could pass through walls and floors without difficulty. However, when they tried it with their non-ghostly outfits, the clothing simply fell to the floor as they passed through the wall. I sometimes imagine that in his experience of death, Jesus passed downward through the floor and left behind all the limitations which were part of his human condition. He still remained like us, but because he accepted even death he shed the limitations which are part of our human conditions in this life." --Keith Clark, Capuchin; An Experience of Celibacy,Ave Maria Press 1982,p. 74-75

Unconscious Mutterings (week 163)

Free association is described as a "psychonanalytic procedure in which a person is encouraged to give free rein to his or her thoughts and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without monitoring its content." Over time, this technique is supposed to help bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can then work through to gain a better sense of self.

That's an admirable goal, but for the purposes of this excercise, we're just hoping to have a little fun with the technique. Each week I'll post ten words to which you can respond to with the first thing that comes to mind.

"Rules are, there are no rules." There are no right or wrong answers. Don't limit yourself to one word responses; just say everything that pops into your head. AND you don't have to have your words up on Sunday. Take all week if you want! Read the FAQ for more information.

1. Sugar rush:: Commercial break during March Madness


2. Chemical::Addiction


3. Suspension:: School


4. Defending:: My opinion


5. Conference:: Call


6. Dance:: Like nobody's watching


7. Weather:: Is it Spring yet?


8. Fuel:: Fan the flames


9. Heartbreak:: Hotel


10. Insult:: Put Down

Gordon Parks 11/30/1912-3/7/2006

"My experience--though I would never wish it upon anyone else--has helped make me whatever I am and still hope to be. . .I have come to understand that hunger, hatred, and love are the same wherever you find them, and it is that understanding that now helps me escape the past that once imprisoned me." - Gordon Parks, A Choice of Weapons

Gordon Parks, photographer, filmmaker, poet, composer and novelist, died March 7th. This is his obituary from the Associated Press:

Gordon Parks, who captured the struggles and triumphs of black America as a photographer for Life magazine and then became Hollywood's first major black director with "The Learning Tree" and the hit "Shaft," died Tuesday, a family member said. He was 93. Parks, who also wrote fiction and was an accomplished composer, died in New York, his nephew, Charles Parks, said in a telephone interview from Lawrence, Kan."Nothing came easy," Parks wrote in his autobiography. "I was just born with a need to explore every tool shop of my mind, and with long searching and hard work. I became devoted to my restlessness." He covered everything from fashion to politics to sports during his 20 years at Life, from 1948 to 1968. But as a photographer, he was perhaps best known for his gritty photo essays on the grinding effects of poverty in the United States and abroad and on the spirit of the civil rights movement. "Those special problems spawned by poverty and crime touched me more, and I dug into them with more enthusiasm," he said. "Working at them again revealed the superiority of the camera to explore the dilemmas they posed." In 1961, his photographs in Life of a poor, ailing Brazilian boy named Flavio da Silva brought donations that saved the boy and purchased a new home for him and his family. "The Learning Tree" was Parks' first film, in 1969. It was based on his 1963 autobiographical novel of the same name, in which the young hero grapples with fear and racism as well as first love and schoolboy triumphs. Parks wrote the score as well directed. In 1989, "The Learning Tree" was among the first 25 American movies to be placed on the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. The registry is intended to highlight films of particular cultural, historical or aesthetic importance. The detective drama "Shaft," which came out in 1971 and starred Richard Roundtree, was a major hit and spawned a series of black-oriented films. Parks himself directed a sequel, "Shaft's Big Score," in 1972. He also published books of poetry and wrote musical compositions including "Martin," a ballet about the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press

I wrote the following tribute to Mr. Parks for his on-line guest book at http://www.legacy.com/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=16998419
In the early 70's I was young white girl in junior high when I read the autobiographical 'A Choice of Weapons' written by Mr. Parks. Since a great deal of the book takes place in the Twin Cities, I thought it was 'neat' because I lived not far from some of the landmarks described in it. But it also opened my eyes to the greater world around me. To understand what the previous generation endured in the Great Depression if you were not rich or middle class to begin with. To realize that not everyone goes to bed with a roof over their head, that not everyone has the same chance at landing a job, that we can choose how we react to situations in our lives which seem beyond our control. That each of us has 'A Choice of Weapons'. Since that time I have long admired Mr. Parks.

What makes this occurance especially poignant for me is he died one day after former Minnesota Twins player and Baseball Hall of Fame member, Kirby Puckett. (3/14/60-3/6/06)
The media were so caught up in Puckett's death, there was hardly any mention at all for Gordon Parks. The St. Paul Pioneer Press had a small article the day after, and that appears to be all they did--although I admit I don't always read the full paper cover to cover. But Kirby---he was all over the front page, the local section, the sports page, they published a special section commemorating his life. Ironic, is it. When Gordon Park was born, no black man (yes, I know the politically correct phrase is African-American; but I went to an inner-city high school. No one used that phrase) was allowed to play on a baseball team. He lived lived during the tumultuous Civil Rights movement of the 1950's and 60's. Mr. Parks was a gifted photographer. He taught himself how to take use a camera and take great pictures. He was the first black fashion photographer, working for Vogue magazine. He later became the first black photographer to join the staff of Life magazine. He wrote had several photography techniques, at least one is still considered to be basic reading for photography courses. He was also a gifted writer and poet, one of his books Half Past Autumn is a retrospect containing nearly 300 of his photographs.

Don't get me wrong. I love baseball. I much admired Kirby Puckett. He was a great player and always had a great smile and a lot of enthusiasm for the game. But I just wish that at least locally, more people realize that Minnesota lost two great icons this past week.

The guy who takes a chance, who walks the fine line between the known and unknown, who is unafraid of failure, will succeed." -Gordon Parks