Month: December 2013

A Unique Spurtle to Stir the Porridge.

mikemjensen Cursing Black's Gold, Interesting Stuff (to me anyway), Porter Rockwell Tags: , Leave a comment

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While doing a little research on, of all things, the history of oatmeal for the next Porter Rockwell novel, I stumbled upon this Scottish poem. It’s fun to read, so I leave it for you to enjoy as well:

Our gudeman came hame at e’en,
And hame came he,
And there he saw a shining sword
Where nae sword should be:
What’s this now, gudewife,
And what’s this I see ?
O how came this sword here
Without the leave o’ me ?
A sword! quo’ she,—aye, a sword! quo’ he.
Shame fa’ yere cuckold face,
And waur may ye see,
It’s but a porridge spurtle
My mither sent to me.
A spurtle! quo’ he,—aye, a spurtle ! quo’ she.
Far hae I ridden, love,
And meikle hae I seen,
But silver hiked spurtles
Saw I never nane.

(This is one verse of a song collected by David Herd in 1776.)

Sometimes I’m Just Silly

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Sometimes I’m touched by the simplest things. Tonight, it’s hearing a song by Kermit the Frog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSFLZ-MzIhM

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Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what’s on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we’ve been told and some choose to believe it.
I know they’re wrong wait and see.

Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.
Who said that wishes would be heard and answered when wished on the morningstar?

Someone thought of that and someone believed it.
Look what it’s done so far.
What’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing and what do we think we might see?

Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.
All of us under its spell.
We know that it’s probably magic.
Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
I’ve heard them calling my name.

Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors.
The voice might be one and the same.

I’ve heard it too many times to ignore it.
It’s something that I’m supposed to be.

Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me.

The Day After Christmas

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After all the presents are opened and the day has moved past the night
The day after Christmas and all its mess begins at the first break of light.

The tree now looks so lonely and bare, the presents guarded now gone.
Ornaments not quite so cute, the lights not so bright; if we turn them on.

Space in the living room is at a premium, how long to keep this stuff?
The wreathes, the knick knacks, the little displays. Enough is enough!

Tradition states, we recall, that all must remain at least to New Years Day.
It’s a whole ‘nother week and then, the work begins to put it all away.

Each year I swear as I pack up each and every Christmas Decoration box
I won’t do it again next year, no I won’t, I don’t like it, “not even with a fox”.

Not a light to hang, not a Santa to play, not even a ribbon or bow
Next year, I’m not even going to hang any advantageous Mistletoe.

But the year rolls on and the seasons change and while I eating the Bird
I get excited to go outside and decorate, to light my little part of the world.

Oh the Season is the Season and I can’t help but to play and participate.
I think, however, I need to remember, It’s only the Day After that I hate

The (A) Meaning of Christmas

mikemjensen Life's Truths, Twice the Christmas Tags: , , , , , , , 4 Comments

Christmas, for me, is all about tonight and early tomorrow morning. The culmination of all the festivities, the lights, the trees, the goodies, the songs, and the whole crazy month of December and then some, bringing us to the one night when we all get together, make the phone calls, and think of those who are dear to us. The family and friends gathered together in a family room, exchanging gifts and sharing a joyful time is what it’s all about. Yes there are rough patches in getting so much family together, but there always is. On Christmas Eve, it’s just fun.

I know Jesus fits in the middle of this as Christmas, remembering the greatest gift of God to us all. It saddens me, however, when that thought is used as a stick to make people guilty to be excited about the candy n the stocking and the gift shopping and wrapping. Let’s be honest, most of the things we deem “tradional Christmas” has absolutely nothing to do with Luke 2.

Don’t get me wrong, I love taking my own personal moments, usually during a rendition of “Oh Holy Night” and think of the bigger picture. Of Grace. Of miracles. Of God. I cherish those moments. But Tonight, its about the presents. It’s about the ones around me. It’s about thinking of those who are not. It’s a time to laugh together. To hug. To kiss under the pagan mistletoe and feel and share the love of others.

Jesus is invited too. But not at the exclusion of everything else. It doesn’t have to be a black and white thing. Christmas is a time for all of it.

With that Have a very Merry Christmas Eve!

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My Gift

mikemjensen Twice the Christmas, Writing Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

I don’t have much. But I do, through Amazon, have the ability to make my Kindle book “Twice the Christmas” available for free through the Christmas days ahead. It’s my gift to anyone who would like it. You don’t need a kindle to read it, just the desire to accept a gift.

If you enjoy it (or don’t) I would greatly appreciate a review of whether you think. Or don’t. There’s no strings attached. I will not receive any royalties, emails, names, etc.

I don’t have much, but I can still wish a Merry Christmas to anyone who would like to hear it.

Merry Christmas!

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It’s Christmas Time

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It officially Christmas Season now that Thanksgiving is over and it’s December. No one can really argue anymore. No more complaining about Carols on the radio, at least about being played out of season. Christmas displays in the store are now acceptable, lights on houses are safe from mocking, and Christmas Tree Stands are relatively free from being blamed as being too early to be fire hazards.

I love the Christmas season.
I’m broke as hell. I have no real contact with my children (their choice, not mine), Nothing is different for me from last month. I have no more money or things and expect to gain no more from this season. But I love it.

It’s one month where ordinary things are made pretty. Lights make the nights bright, and my reflections turn to a hope of a better world than it was just a few days before.
I love wising people Merry Christmas. A great reason to openly wish others good will. I love watching the excitement of others, both giving and receiving. Any joy added to the collective mood of the world is welcomed to me.

Enjoy the season with me. Enjoy what you have and what you have. Don’t get caught up in what material things you wish you had. But don’t be afraid to hope or things that would truly make you happy. I pray to a Superior Being that I hope only will grant those things that help and not hurt.

I pray that I get to see my kids again, to hold just one of my kids again and to feel them hug me back.
I pray this world moves towards being like the place I see my world becomes this month.
I pray that people find their light of hope in the dark places of their life.
I pray we all find something for which to smile and maybe even laugh.

I pray we all experience a Merry Christmas Season.

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