Tuesday, April 13, 2004

The Taxman Cometh

The taxman cometh, The taxman cometh!
On the eve of the eve of tax day,
Many calculating without delay --
Dare I say?!
Hey, hey....
Yea!

Stella's doneth, Stella's doneth!
Her tax forms on their way.
She's out to play --
That I may.
Give pay?
Nay!

The taxman cometh, the taxman cometh!
No hitting head on bricks of clay
Your hair won't turn gray --
Don't fret or fray!
Just pray --
TODAY!

Good luck!

Sunday, April 11, 2004

First and Lasting Impressions


Eighteen months ago. I went to the car dealer to pick up my new vehicle. My officially-unofficial name for my new wheels is "blurple," based on the combination of colors. Before setting out to take ownership of blurple, I perused my CD collection to choose just the right one to initiate the CD player and to create that special bond that comes with the memory of your first drive in your brand new spanking (who spanked it?...I didn't) "home" on the road. I love the blues. So blues it was! B.B. King and Eric Clapton together in "Riding with the King." Ahhh. Just writing this brings back the rapture of that moment. Special moments. I had another one this morning. I unwrapped my newly purchased "Concert for George" CD. I slipped disc one into the drive and hit play. I settled in on my very comfy hunter green corduroy couch -- one kitty quickly claimed her space on my legs that were outstretched on what I have named the feline 'ottoman' empire. My other kitty, who knows not to compete with kitty #1, jumped to the arm of the couch and assumed her sphinx pose. I pulled the booklet out of the CD case and began to read the intro written by Paul Theroux. He writes about how this concert came to be, and described how George Harrison's presence at this concert was unmistakable -- in part due to the honor paid George by the transcendence of songs performed by his friends. Paul Theroux's words are so beautifully written, in such a way that the heart of the concert is palpable. He describes the radiance in the eyes of the performers, "a kind of rapture," that he says George gave them through his music. He adds that it was not bereavement at all. Paul Theroux shared one of George's beliefs -- one that comes from the Bhagavad-Gita, in which Krishna says to Arjuna, "There was never a time when I did not exist, nor you. Nor will there be any future in which we shall cease to be." The music of this CD and the first-time experience of listening with soulful-ears was one of those exquisite first and lasting impressions. While I was in elementary school (a very loooooong time ago), we had a fundraiser. Something new, right? Yeah, right! Instead of catalogs for choosing an array of gift options, we had just one item to market. It was a boxed collection of famous quotes to live by -- framed by the cut-away interior of the box itself. One quote left its first and lasting impression with me....all these years! The quote was from Thoreau. It read (to my best recollection): "We are a part of all we meet." So simply stated - so truly experienced. So for all of you readers in the blogosphere, you are a part of who I am and become. I sincerely hope that this first impression...my first real post to my newly created blog (thanks to Steve of YDD--my SO) ...becomes a part of you and leaves a lasting impression. First sip from Stella's cup

Saturday, April 10, 2004

Cat-A-Bout

Stella's cats snuggle as Stella remains wakeful!

Stella's First Post

Stella sings stellar songs!