Quote From A North Native American

Before our white brothers arrived to make us civilized men,we didn't have any kind of prison. Because of this, we had no delinquents.Without a prison, there can be no delinquents.We had no locks nor keys and therefore among us there were no thieves.When someone was so poor that he couldn't afford a horse, a tent or a blanket,he would, in that case, receive it all as a gift.We were too uncivilized to give great importance to private property.We didn't know any kind of money and consequently, the value of a human beingwas not determined by his wealth.We had no written laws laid down, no lawyers, no politicians,therefore we were not able to cheat and swindle one another.We were really in bad shape before the white men arrived and I don't knowhow to explain how we were able to manage without these fundamental thingsthat (so they tell us) are so necessary for a civilized society.
John (Fire) Lame DeerSioux Lakota - 1903-1976

Are You There, God?

" Are You There, God? was sent to me from Shortie, who in turn received it from a good friend of hers.

Are You There, God?

Are You There, God?====================There once was an older, destitute man. He had lost hisfamily, his dignity, his work and all his worldlypossessions. The only thing he had left was his faith in God.One day, he walked along the city sidewalks; homeless as hewas. Peering around the city buildings, the passing cars, andsidewalk shoppers - he remembered a time when he had the loveof his wife, the comfort of home, and the camaraderie of hismany friends and successful business partners. Just for onemoment, he could feel the love and passion he once used toenjoy. But then he looked up into the sky, and he could seethe graying clouds rolling overhead; and the wind began to flypast his ragged shirt sleeves.Realizing that he was who he was, he knew he had to findshelter before the rains began to fall. Across the street, hesaw the old city park that he used to visit when he was just achild. In the far end of the park, he spotted the old gazebohe'd frequented with his high school sweetheart. Suddenly, therain began to fall. These weren't just ordinary raindrops -they were hard, heavy, and oversized droplets of water thatpelted his head and neck like small stones. His walk turnedinto a fast run as he struggled to get under the shelter ofthe gazebo. Shaking off his shirt and wiping the wetness fromhis cheeks and forehead, the man sat back on the two-seaterswing beneath the gazebo. Then he shook his head in disbelief."Is this what life is all about?" he asked, shaking his fistand peering up toward the gray skies, "What more do you wantfrom me?"Just then, the sky began to clear and above the skyscrapershe could faintly see some bright hues of red, purple, pink,and even blue. It was a rainbow; and the sun's rays began toshine through the break in the clouds. Now sobbing, the manlooked back up into the sky, and he asked,"Are You there, God?"But there was no audible reply.A few moments passed when a park ranger made his way up to theold gazebo. "Top of the day to you, sir," he said to the man.The man glanced at the ranger as the voice sounded vaguelyfamiliar. Sure enough, the man remembered the park ranger as afriend he once knew many, many years in his past."I think I know you," the man replied to the ranger, "aren'tyou Ed from the country store?"The ranger was slightly taken aback as he too recognized theman. But the ranger's name was not Ed; that was his father'sname. "My name is Paul," he said, stretching out his hand tothe man on the swing, "Ed was my father.""Oh," replied the man, "I'm Mark Baker," he paused to shakePaul's hand.The similarities were uncanny, but Mark certainly rememberedEd, and this ranger was the spitting image of him."How'd you know my dad?" asked Paul."Oh, it was so long ago...you wouldn't want to hear how wemet," replied Mark.Taking a couple steps beneath the shelter, Paul said, "Humorme."Mark explained that he and Ed had met each other in the localhospital. Mark had gone there to pick up his lab tests wherehe and Ed had struck up a conversation while they sat in thewaiting room. By the time all was said and done, he discoveredthat he was the perfect match for Ed - the perfect kidneymatch. "Needless to say," said Mark, "one thing led to anotherand we were kidney partners for life.""What happened to you?" asked Paul."Wall Street called me, greed took me, and I played my lastbit of luck," he replied. Sighing aloud, Mark blinked to clearthe water from his eyes, "and then I lost it all.""I remember you," said Paul, then he pulled out a photographfrom his wallet, and pointed to two men standing side-by-sideby the old country store, "that's you, and that's my dad."Peering at the old black and white photograph, he couldfaintly make out the faces of the worn picture, "Sure doeslook like me, doesn't it?" asked Mark.Paul began smiling and he replied, "It is you," then he took adeep breath, "do you know how long I have been looking for you?"Mark simply shook his head, "Well, you found me...I wish underbetter circumstances."Just then, Paul placed his hand upon Mark's shoulder, "I wishmy dad would've been able to see you again. He talked aboutyou all the time...and especially right before he died," Paulsighed, "because of you, he was able to watch me graduate andget my high school diploma, and later, he got to hold hisnewborn grandson -- my son.""Wow," Mark replied, "I didn't realize that one kidney coulddo all that.""You don't understand, Mark," said Paul, "when he died, heleft you the old country store and the house. It's beenwaiting for your return but you never came...until now."And suddenly, Mark had received his answer...and his solutionto his homelessness. It had been there the whole time but ittook him losing everything before he would rediscover therainbow of hope once again.Even in your darkest hour, when you ask - God shows up in themost unlikely places.

Letter To Me

I heard a song on a country station, I believe the name of the song was " A Letter To Myself". Don't know the artist but, it was a good song. The person was writing to himself when he was 17. So I thought of giving it a try. It would go like this:

Dear Joe,
How are you doing at the age of 17? Thought I should write you and tell you that your life is going to be filled with a lot of up and downs. Where to begin is hard to say since I have lived it out. Guess I should tell you that you will make some good and some bad decisions. Like right now reading this letter. I will tell you that your heart will be broken several times until you meet the one you will call your soulmate. I would tell you her name but, then you would not live your life out and you will loose everything you will have in our future. You will get married and will be miserable and have things you hold dear taken, broken and sold right in front of you. You will have a son that you will and still do love very much plus, you will gain two step-daughters. I would tell you to change things but, the things we did in my past will definately change our future and life would not be worth living because what we have now is great for us. So just keep living in your present to keep our future the way it is for us.
Here is a saying for you to always remember "Live To Ride and ide To Live".

From Yourself, Joe

Whittle While You Work!

After I had posted the "Old Man", I thought it would be nice to show you the some other things I have whittled. I made a letter opener for Shortie and so far a couple of crochet hooks (sizes L and M ). Have other whittling project in mind and as I get better at whittling there will be many more.

One Month And 200 Band-Aids Later

Well, One Month And 200 Band-Aids Later, I finally finished my first whitling project. I have named this " Old Man". It took a lot of patience and I created this peice of work with my two hands and my creative mind. To whomever comes here to view my blog, please, let me know what you think.

All Alone In A Crowd Of People

Ever feel "All Alone In A Crowd Of People" well, I am. I went to have bloodwork done today and found out that the State of Indiana cancelled my medical. "What the f*#@!" is all that went thruogh my head. How am I suppose to support my family? How am I suppose to see Doctors to keep myself healthy to make sure my family will be okay? All I keep thinking about is "Why do I even bother speaking out since my words fall onto deft ears!" "Why do I even bother to exsist?" I find no reason to stay on this earth and be somewhere but nowhere at the same time. I feel that the rest of my family has given up on me and my family. it seems that they haven't let go of the past and keep rehashing it up. Why can't anyone just bury the past? My mind is on a rampage and is going out of control. I can't think straight oh Hell, I can't think at all. I feel that I have trapped my family into my downward spiral with my hands and feet tied. I have asked for help but, have received nothing. I am the Black Sheep; the gum scraped off the bottom of your shoe. Why does society make it so f*#@ing hard for people to survive. HAVE YOU EVER TRUELY FELT ALL ALONE IN A CROWD OF PEOPLE?

Moon Worm

Here's a photo I took during a lunar eclipse. I was shaking from the cold and this is what my digital camera caught. This a really cool FX and all I did was freeze my but off while getting this photo.