Sunday, July 27, 2008

“Intercourse”

You mean…?



Intercourse, was the name of the book to be discussed. I wondered which definition of the word it meant?
When I first see the word I think of it meaning a sexual encounter, but I also chuckle as I recall another definition.

Years ago, when I was a shy, newly married young woman living up in the twin city suburbs, we moved into a new home. A neighbor was having a party and to make people feel comfortable they were playing the game of Charades, where you act out a word and the group guesses it. (Although acting like an idiot to help people guess the word you’ve been given makes me wonder how comfortable you're really going to feel!)

Anyway, it was my turn and the word I drew was: “intercourse”!

I panicked… but then I thought I would be OK if I could get them to guess the word on the first attempt to mean "communication".
Smart, right?
But they didn't guess it.

I was frantically trying to think of another way to demonstrate the word when one of the older married men apparently guessed my embarrassment and started laughing out loud.
While referring to the word I was trying to get across I asked desperately, "Do you get it?"
And he replied, "Yes… but not often!"

In the hysteria that followed, I didn’t have to continue with the game!

They were a great bunch of neighbors!


Monday, July 14, 2008

Photos of storm from webcam...

The eerie spiraling tail heading upwards during

the recent tornadoes north of Cannon Falls

show the town in the dark

although it was still afternoon.

The greenish hue filled the atmosphere

as the storm proceeded to let out its fury.

A few days later, this picture from the webcam caught
a mysterious cloud or ice crystals
hovering over the main street in Cannon Falls.
Or was it something else?

What do you think?

Friday, July 11, 2008

Sommerblumen im Garten...


Ein schöner Garten in Deutschland...
.

A beautiful collage of flowers...
the work and pleasure of my cousin
at his lovely summer cottage
in
Germany.

Vielen Dank, Rolf, für einen entzückenden Blick von Ihren schönen Blumen.




Monday, July 7, 2008

On a dark night...

With bats flying overhead

and the crackle of the burning wood

creating spires of leaping flames...


the children are snug by the bonfire...



They draw frames with sparklers...




And make a lively picture in the black night.




And draw nigh to the end of another day.




.

Friday, July 4, 2008

And the rockets' red glare...
.

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:

'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

.

From the other verses written by Francis Scott Key

when Fort McHenry was being bombarded on

September 14, 1814.

History: In 1814, about a week after the city of Washington had been badly burned, British troops moved up to the primary port at Baltimore Harbor in Maryland. At dawn on the 14th, Key noted that the huge American flag, which now hangs in the Smithsonian's American History Museum, was still waving and had not been removed in defeat. The sight inspired him to write a poem entitled Defense of Fort McHenry; later the poem was set to music that had been previously composed for another song by a Mr. Smith. The end result was the inspiring song now considered the national anthem of the United States of America. It was accepted as such by public demand for the next century or so... Finally, on March 3, 1931, the American Congress proclaimed it as the national anthem, 116 years after it was first written.

Information from website of National Institutes of Health,

Department of Health & Human Services

.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008


"Dwarf Porn" was the topic...
And then I was on the radio!


Dwarf Porn” or something like that was the topic being discussed on the Ian Punnett morning talk show on FM 107.1.
I was scheduled to be on the air following it. When calling in to a talk show you are put on hold until they connect with your line. But you can hear the conversation going on at the time.
I had received an e-mail earlier from the show’s host asking me to call in. I used to read my blog on his show so he knew of my interests… one of them being horses.

He had given his wife a birthday present of horseback riding lessons and she was afraid of horses. So he thought I could give her some suggestions.
And so I sat, waiting on the line, trying to tune out the discussion on porn, although it was never explicitly described. But keep in mind that I also had to listen for the cue that they would announce that I was on the air!
It finally came.

Now I am very excited that his wife will get to know horses. Not just the riding part. It’s also what you learn about yourself that is interesting too.
Like the time I was intimidated when getting ready to interview a CEO and I reminded myself, “Rosie, you have worked with a stallion. You can do this.”

Or the look I gave some city guys who were thinking they were pretty hot. And I thought, you guys haven’t seen anything until you’ve see a stallion full blown!

Or the time some kindergardeners were visiting from a big city school and were brushing our stallion. Because he was so relaxed, his “private part” descended and began swinging back and forth.
I was on the other side of the horse and as I glanced underneath him I noticed their heads swinging like pendulums as their eyes followed his “part”. I was trying so hard not to laugh out loud that when they asked about it I explained using the correct anatomical terms… because I couldn’t think of the words - “private parts” - at the time!
I have no clue as to what their parents heard when they got home.
Most have come back each year though.
This year I had to explain where baby horses come from.

But back to the radio talk show.
When you work with horses you probably learn as much from them as you teach them. What I mean is that I have learned where I have fear or where I am not assertive, probably due to fear! And the horse will pick up on this.
And because he’s so much bigger he can emphasize the points I need to learn!

While talking on the radio I explained to the host’s wife that she was not the only one afraid of horses. I was too.
"But", she said, "you love horses".
I agreed. And I think it’s my love for them that helps me work through the fear. I suggested to her that you get respect for the horse and then you find out what he can teach you.

I thought over my statement when off the air. It didn’t seem to be a very encouraging answer. Why hadn’t I said that after you get respect for the horse you can become friends with them?
And then I realized that with some of my horses I am not at the “friend” stage yet. Although they are fine horses, I don’t fully trust them.

I mean that I don’t trust that they might be able to get past their own fears and rely on me. Instead of running when they are scared, they would stand and trust me to get them through the situation. It also means that I can trust them to protect me at other times.
I believe this mutual trust is a key with true friendship in all our relationships.
I hadn’t realized how important this was.

Just something more that these wonderful animals are teaching me.