What to do with myself

Wow... sitting here typing up a few blogs when it strikes me that this is one of the first evenings spent without being in Moondancers company when Linda Ronstadt's version of the Dusty Springfield hit started playing... and there we have the theme for the day... I could not find a video of Linda's version but here is Dusty's;

I just don't know what to do with myself - Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David
I just don't know what to do with myself
Don't know just what to do with myself
I'm so used to doing everything with you
Planning everything for two
And now that we're through

I just don't know what to do with my time
I'm so lonesome for you it's a crime
Going to a movie only makes me sad
Parties make me feel as bad
When I'm not with you
I just don't know what to do
Like a summer rose needs the sun and rain
I need your sweet love to ease all the pain

I don't know just what to do with myself
I don't know just what to do with myself
Baby if your new love ever turns you down
Come back I will be around
Just waiting for you
I don't know what else to do
Like a summer rose needs the sun and rain
I need your sweet love to ease all the pain

I don't know just what to do with myself
I don't know just what to do with myself
Baby if your new love ever turns you down
Come on back I will be around
Just waiting for you
I don't know what else to do
No no no
I don't know what else to do
I'm just so crazy for you
No no no no
I don't know what else to do
I don't know what else to do
No... it is not as bad as the lyrics but yeah... I don't know much...

I don't know much - Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville
Look at this face
I know the years are showin
Look at this life
I still dont know where its goin

I dont know much
But I know I love you
And that may be
All I need to know

Look at these eyes
They never seen what mattered
Look at these dreams
So beaten and so battered, hooooh

I dont know much
But I know I love you
And that may be
All I need to know

So many questions
Still left unanswered
So much
Ive never broken through

And when I feel you near me
Sometimes I see so clearly
The only truth Ive ever known
Is me and you

Look at this man
So blessed with inspiration
Look at this soul
Still searching for salvation

I dont know much
But I know I love you
And that may be
All I need to know

I dont know much
But I know I love you
That may be
All I need to know

I dont know much
But I know I love you
That may be
All there is to know.
Till tomorrow when we meet again I will do some of the things that need to be done...
"Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that's where you renew your springs that never dry up." Pearl Buck (1892 - 1973)

Words are not enough

Sparrow has a weekly Haiku contest, the theme this week was THINGS YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR, my choice was her own that I am gratuitously stealing as I do not have the words to express my thanks enough for having the life I have with the people that I have in it;
Enfolded in love

My price paid in coin so dear
I am His alone

So simple yet so profound... Thanks Sparrow, I am linking your blog as well.

KatieB is wondering why blogging has been sparse lately, well... between being as busy as a mongoose in a henhouse at work and spending time with Moondancer, there has been a lack of time to blog... I am not complaining though... bear with me as I try and get all that needs to be done before year end. I have a few drafts for some more intresting blogs lying in wait... now to grab the next chicken...
Thanks Doug for your Savage Chickens! Today's one was worth a thousand words.
"Do not count your chickens before they are hatched."
Aesop (620 BC - 560 BC), The Milkmaid and Her Pail

Flowing

Sitting in my office today I realise that accepting is better than resisting...
Usually I do not talk about work here but lately I have been frustrated by a few things that have happened, now I realise that life is just to good to get all upset about some petty issues at work. So I sit back and watch the world around me change once again. This time I am just a passenger and I may as well enjoy the ride... I am not paying after all.
"Never work just for money or for power. They won't save your soul or help you sleep at night."

The Sad Goodbye

Scully at Skywritings has closed her blog for personal reasons, we are poorer not being able to read her writing any more, you will be missed, my friend half a world away. The Roxette song sort of portrays my feelings about this... Here is Laura Brannigans excellent version that Per Gessle helped produce...

[via FoxyTunes / Roxette Laura Brannigan cover.

The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye

Red like fire was the day I met you.
I tell you now, there are no regrets.
In this room there are many memories.
Some are good, some I try to forget.
I thought we were the chosen ones,
who were supposed to fly.

We're very much the same, you and I.
The sweet hello, the sad goodbye.
Still waiting to get hurt, time after time.
The sweet hello, the sad goodbye.
When love lies in our hands, we seem to run and hide.
And I can't help but wonder why.
The sweet hello, the sad goodbye.

My heart was like a runaway train, babe.
I don't believe I've ever felt more alive.
In this room I hear voices linger.
We never talked about the price.
You know you're not the only one,
who knows how to cry.

We're very much the same, you and I.
The sweet hello, the sad goodbye.
Still waiting to get hurt, time after time.
The sweet hello, the sad goodbye.
When love lies in our hands, we run away and hide.
And I can't help but wonder why.
The sweet hello, the sad goodbye.
The sweet hello, the sad goodbye.

We're very much the same, you and I.
The sweet hello, the sad goodbye.
Still waiting to get hurt, time after time.
The sweet hello, the sad goodbye.
When love lies in our hands, we run away and hide.
And I can't help but wonder why.
The sweet hello, the sad goodbye.
Goodbye.

The sweet hello, the sad goodbye.
The sweet hello, the sad goodbye.
The sweet hello, the sad goodbye.
This song used to reflect a lot on my own life, now I can say the only the Sweet Hello applies...
"Saying goodbye doesn't mean anything. It's the time we spent together that matters, not how we left it." Trey Parker and Matt Stone, South Park, Tweek Vs. Craig, 1999

Open Door

Read the words... Open Door by BWO:
I've heard a lot of songs that were sung out of tune
But I learned to find the heart hidden deep in the dunes
It brings it to the fore what it means to be there
When I hang on the core I've got music to share

Coming from above coming from afar
Coming from within is the voice of my heart

Chorus
Heaven's got an open door tonight
Heaven's got an open door tonight
Heaven's got an open door tonight
We have found the time to get it right
Heaven's got an open door tonight

I used to have a dream gonna fly like a bird
Where I traveled way beyond of my own little world
Now I found the place I can spread out my wings
Keep on searching for the space I can rule like a king

I've seen a lot of things that have changed who I am
Turned a twist on Mother Earth holding back Uncle Sam
Like every story told always comes to an end
Closing chapters of a book let a broken heart mend

Coming from above coming from afar
Coming from within is the voice of my heart

Chorus

All that I can say all that I can do
Every tune I sing I decide to be true
Everywhere we go taking in something new
Every time we play everything that we do
Chorus
Amazing?
So give thanks to the open doors we have each day/night. Here is the video for you to enjoy as well. Bodies Without Organs may have a weird name but some of their songs lyrics have amazing hidden meanings which I find very inspiring.

I will have another song of their's up sometime that has some thoughtfull lyrics as well...
"Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door." Dr. Laura Schlessinger

Thunder from the sky

Several bloggers like Ahab, AD and Skywriter have memed or mentioned their best aircraft, here are mine as well as the reasons why they have a place in my memory;
The Allie - SA-316 / SA-319 Alouette III

The Puma/Oryx
Both these Choppers were operated by 17 Squadron as well as others but I think 17 Sqd. are the blokes that pioneered Border Operations. To a soldier on the ground there was no better sound than that of the choppers coming in for a Casevac, bringing in supplies or support troops or causing Mayhem to the terrorists with the .50 Brownings or 20mm Cannon on one of the Allie Gunships of the Romeo Mike force at Ondangwa.

The Imp - AEROMACCHI ATLAS MB326M IMPALA MARK I AND MARK II
"Eagle One this is Zero Three Delta! Acquire target at Romeo Victor... Green smoke Foxtrot Foxtrot!" and then the boys in Blue would do the rest while the troopies hunkered down in hastily dug slit trenches and hoped the pilot was not colour blind.
The Dak - DOUGLAS C47 DAKOTA
Our lifeline in many ways, these old warbirds would drop the Bats during ops. and do the milk runs between bases as well, many a letter from home was brought north from Grooties in the belly of a Dakota.
The Herc - LOCKHEED C-130 HERCULES
There is nothing like blasting off from Mpacha airfield using JATO in one of these birds and watching some of the troopies turning green while you enjoy the G forces. The landings were pretty awesome as well, pilots used to use evasive tactics and dropping down in steep dives was one of them. Leaving your innards at 20 thousand feet is quite a thrill.
The Mirage - DASSAULT-BREGUET MIRAGE F.1, Mirage III, 111EZ, AND 111CZ
These were our ultimate backup and a few Cubans regretted tangling with our Top Gun's.





Sabre - CANADAIR CL13B SABRE MK VI
Korea was the proving ground for Jet Warfare and our pilots were in the thick of things once again.


Mustang - MUSTANG P-51D-20NA
As a kid I always wanted to fly one of these, only later did I learn that my mom's first fiancee was killed in Korea flying one...






Harvard - NORTH AMERICAN HARVARD
Tough and temperamental, I was told if one could learn to fly this critter one could fly any plane after that... if you survived that is...
Most of the pics come from the SAAF Museum site.
Still need to tidy up the code and formatting of the page but I think you get the picture?
The quote sums up my feelings on having to use these wonderful machines, great as they were would it not have been better to have used the energy for peace?
"We merely want to live in peace with all the world, to trade with them, to commune with them, to learn from their culture as they may learn from ours, so that the products of our toil may be used for our schools and our roads and our churches and not for guns and planes and tanks and ships of war." Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890 - 1969)

Wednesday whackyness

MizMinka has a Monday Meme thing going so I am borrowing it for Wacky Wednesday!
Were you named after anyone? Yes, My dad's best friend's name as a first name and my dad's as second name, I use part of my name as Blogname, the meaning of my first name is "Bright Fame" and the second is a Scottish Clan name. My brothers also have two names each. Sort of a family tradition.
When was the last time you cried? Sunday, when I realised how much I have to be thankful about in my life.
Do you like your handwriting? It is mine but quite unreadable if older than a week, I prefer typing.
What is your favorite lunch meat? Pastrami with sweet mustard... preferably Leroi's.
Do you have kids? Yes, two and they are the best! I am so proud of both of them. They are the greatest gifts God has given me.
If you were another person would you be friends with you? Yes! One has to be friends with yourself to be friends with other people.
Do you use sarcasm a lot? Occasionally, when it seems fitting.
Do you still have your tonsils? Yes, and I rarely get ill. My immune system is still in one piece, not so my bones.
Would you bungee jump? Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in a heartbeat, I still want to skydive as well.
What did you have for breakfast? Wheatbix with milk and brown sugar.
What is your favorite cereal? Coco Pops! (Chocolate!) but it is a luxury, wheatbix is my staple.
Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Yes if they have laces, otherwise they are slip on's or Bike Boots with Velcro.
Do you think you are strong? Yes, but I do not rely on my strenght alone, I have a helping hand that is always there when needed, thank you Jesus.
What is the first thing you notice about people? Eyes.
Red or pink? Red if I have to...
What is the least favorite thing about yourself? Procrastination! Need I say more?
Who do you miss the most? My Mom...
What color pants and shoes are you wearing? Grey cargo shorts, slip on ankle boots.
What was the last thing you ate? An apple...
What are you listening to right now? My mp3 collection... as I take a break from crunching numbers at work.
If you were a crayon, what color would you be? What?!
Favorite smells? Bacon frying, the smell of rain, coffee, the smells when MX bikes leave the start gate. Last one is a complex smell of petrol, burnt oil and damp earth... heavenly!
Ok, those are my answers, what you want to do with those snippets beats me, but it made me think of some memories and things I still want to do...
"Facts are stupid things." Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004)

Here follows a short bulletin

Been meaning to do some linky love for a while now...
MizMinka has some great stuff to read and she also loves the Lord, maybe not putting up as much Gospel related stuff as I have been lately but hers are well worth a read.
For those who do not know yet, Moondancer and I are now know as US... Fait accompli!
Just a reminder that my friend KatieB is still blogging as well. Some of her musings are worth commenting on.
I trust you all will bear with me as I speak what is on my mind lately, I am not becoming a preacher or a minstrel but God and romance are keeping me rather occupied lately hence the tone of the postings lately.
On a serious note or as I see it sublimely ridiculous, nay, hilarious, I have been accused of stealing... how I do not know as the system I manage just cannot be stolen from, I really think there are crazy people out there that need serious help. Must put that on my prayer list tonight... The poor detective that is investigating this said that a good percentage of these cases are made just to cause the accused embarrassment but waste a huge amount of their time that could be spent investigating real cases. I now see why the police want to fine people laying false charges with huge fines.
So if I stop blogging... please bail me out!
"Fear does not have any special power unless you empower it by submitting to it."
Les Brown, Communication Bulletin for Managers & Supervisors, June 2004

In the name of the Father

I was reading on another blog about an action that Christians should become involved in to voice their displeasure at the comments of a columnist in a Sunday paper, the blogger was calling for a boycott of the paper in question, that got me thinking of what we as Christians sometimes get ourselves involved in in the name of the Father.
We Christians must be aware of the faults of the past so that we do not repeat history. The Catholic Church had the inquisition, Martin Luther was antisemitic, wars were fought in the name of The Father... all those things were done because they lost sight of the love of God.
All our actions should be tested against what Jesus taught when he said in John 13 and 15, especially these verses; John 13:33-35 KJV)
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Once again I am struck that Jesus stresses being like children, children seem to grasp the concepts of this love so much easier than grownups. We want to complicate what God wants to keep simple. I want to be childlike when I walk with God, that way I will not let my will interfere with what he wants to teach me.
Coming back...
Our actions should always be to apply this simple guide, how would we like to be treated in the situation? This principle is the basis of our walk in this world, if we cannot do it with the love of God then we should rather turn away and go and pray about the situation. For what we see with our eyes can be changed by closing them in prayer. The fight should be fought in the spiritual realm. That is the true power we have to change things that are wrong in this world.
Ephesians 6:11-13(KJV)
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
So when faced with a situation let us rather turn the cheek and put on God's armour and prepare for battle... on our knees and handing it over to our Father, God himself. Who then can be against us?
"We grow because we struggle, we learn and overcome."
R. C. Allen

Mentor

I must have been four years old when my grandmother and great aunts got hold of me and taught me to read, they were all teachers and thought it would be an excellent idea to do so. It was great but in school I often got bored as I would grab my textbooks or prescribed books early in the year and read them all at breakneck speed.
As I grew older I voraciously consumed the contents of both the school and local library. But one book has got me coming back time and time again, it is my Mentor, my Bible.
Other people have had mentors in their lives, mine has been the Bible, sometimes neglected but always at my bedside, within reach when needed in the past and these days once again a regularly read book. I have always been able to find answers to problems in life in it's pages, pages that now bear witness to my life with tear stains, some torn pages as I looked for verses in haste and filled with underlined passages and notes to self. Each mark and line a moment in time when I was taught another lesson in the path to God. Another lesson in being the man He wants me to be. I think I could not have asked for a better mentor...
"Mentor: Someone whose hindsight can become your foresight."