Freedom Park: Flowers and Trees

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Flowering Plants, Autumn Leaves

On this walk through Freedom Park, I saw bees on flowers and beautiful wispy purple grasses. I saw green plants and trees in autumn color.

Water, Fountains, Ducks, Concerts

I saw water, fountains, ducks, pathways, a playground, picnic tables, and an amphitheater.

So Long Without Knowing

How did I live so many years and never realize that park was there? I suppose the obvious answer is that I do not live in that city. I am sure there are many wonderful parks in many cities, and I am ignorant of the existence of most of them.

Lingering Over Bees on the Flowers

I’m not able to post video on this blog, but I spent a long time holding the camera right over a honeybee as she moved from flower to flower. I was able to get a few photos, too.

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Do You Feel Grateful?

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So Much Right, So Much Wrong

In this time when we hear of (or experience personally) violence, war, loss of jobs, homes and health, how does it feel to you? There is so much right in the world, and so much wrong in the world, all at the same time.

Half Full vs. Half Empty

How do you see your glass of life?  What is happening for you? Are you happy? Are you hurting? Are you in loving relationships? Are you broken-hearted? Are you healthy? Are you fighting to regain health or to maintain what you have?

How Does Your Life Feel to You?

Are you mostly happy? Are you mostly sad? Do you feel valued and appreciated? Do you feel alone and unimportant? Does the future seem bright? Do you feel that your best years are behind you?

Where will you go from here?

If you  look at your life, yourself, your loved ones, your abundance of whatever is good in your life, and if you look at what makes you sad or anxious, where will you go from here? What are you thinking right now? What will you do next?

For Me?

I am grateful to have loved ones nearby. I miss those who are not with us. I am grateful to be able to work and go to school. I am grateful to have a place to live, food to eat and heat for the coming winter. I am grateful to feel grateful. I know that there are many who feel a sadness so heavy they cannot feel gratitude for anything.

Loneliness and Stress During the Holidays

Do you feel lonely or stressed, more than usual, during holidays or holiday seasons? What do you do to get through? What do you do to help yourself feel better? Do you find yourself isolating? Do you reach out to others for support? Do you eat or drink too much? Are you angrier or sadder than usual?

How Do You Help Yourself or Others?

If you feel lonely or stressed during this time of year, what do you do to get through? What suggestions do you have for others? What has helped you? What would you like for others to do for you? How can others know that you need help?

Thanksgiving Day

This is a time for me to stop and reflect, a time to be grateful for what is good in my life. It is a time to pray for loved ones who are not with me and for those who are suffering on this day. I want to look at myself and my life and see what is good and be thankful.

From Gratitude, Change

I want to see what needs to be different in myself, my life, and the world around me. I want to recognize that I can do something to make that change happen. Out of gratitude for what is good, I want to make things better for myself and for others.

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Freedom Park: Ducks in Groups

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If Only I Had an Acre of Land

That’s how much you have to have in order to keep ‘farm animals’ in the city, in my city anyway. I say I like the animals on the farm, but still I choose to live in the city.

Watching Animals Interact

It’s so neat to see how animals behave alone, with one other and in groups.

Swimming Club

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Freedom Park: Ducks in Twos

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Ducks, Ducks, Ducks

I could not be a hunter. The only way I shoot ducks is with a camera.

Pity Those Who Wait For Me

I tend to be the tail end of anything, anywhere. In a group, I’m lagging behind.

When A Child, Also When An Adult

When I was a child, I was always stopping to look at things. It was difficult for my poor mother to keep me going at the pace of the rest of the family (or herself). I am still that way. When I saw the ducks, that was the end of my walking for at least 10 minutes or more. I watched and took photos for a long time.

A Few of Many Photos

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Susanna Speier’s H1N1 Politiku Post Now Up On Huffington Post

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H1N1 Haiku (Politiku) On Huffington Post

Susanna Speier just activated her H1N1 Politiku post on Huffington Post.

She Asked People to Write Political Haiku (Politiku) About H1N1

So, I did, of course. I wrote lots of H1N1 haiku.

She Posted This One

My job required it.
I had to get the vaccine.
Ohhhh, I hate needles!

The Rest Are Here

Here are the rest of my haiku pieces about H1N1.

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Freedom Park:Signs Along the Path

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Freedom Park: Introduction

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My First Visit to Freedom Park

I don’t know how I missed Freedom Park. Maybe I missed it, because I don’t live in Charlotte, and I have never before  visited anyone in Charlotte who took me there.

A Great Park

I learned recently that Freedom Park is the oldest park in Charlotte. I have lived in North Carolina for almost all of my life, but I never knew about it.

Maybe I Have Heard of It

I’m sure I’ve heard the name, but I never had the ‘in person’ experience until now. In fact, I’ve probably even posted about events there! Ha! It just never clicked, because I’d never been there before.

If I Lived in Charlotte …

If I lived in Charlotte, I’d want to live near the park.  The people who can walk to Freedom Park are the luckiest ones. I saw many cars in the parking lot. So, it must be a park that many people enjoy.

Looking Forward to Going Back

I’m already looking forward to the next opportunity to spend some time in such a nice park.

Water and Trees in Freedom Park

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Haiku About H1N1 – Due by NOON November 15, 2009

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Write H1N1 Political Haiku

A friend just sent me an email asking people to submit haiku about H1N1.

My First Time to Respond

She sends me these things all the time. Usually, a writer is looking for someonen to interview about a specific topic. So, I move on to another email. But, this time was different.

I Like Haiku

Here is what I have to say about Haiku.

It’s fun. It’s easy.   << 5 syllables
There’s really nothing to it.  << 7 syllables
Write in a rhythm.  << 5 syllables

Would You Like to Participate?

Here is the information my friend emailed:

31)Summary: Looking for epidemiologists and medical professionals with literary inclinations
Name: Susanna Speier
Category: Health/Fitness
Email: susanna AT susannaspeier DOT com
Title: H1N1 Politiku
Media Outlet: Huffington Post
Deadline: 01:11pm PACIFIC – 15 November
Query: Looking for epidemiologists and medical professionals with literary inclinations to write an original Politiku (political haiku) about the H1N1
epidemic for my The Huffington Post Politiku column. Deadline is November 15th Additional info available on my website:
http://www.susannaspeier.com/politiku/h1n1-politiku-call-for-submissions/

Here is the link for the post requesting submissions of H1N1 haiku:

H1N1 Politiku – call for submissions

Here Are My H1N1 Haikus

I wrote a lot of them after reading the email. Then, when I went to the web page, I saw that she only wanted one per person. Aw   So, I wrote one in response to one that was already posted:

To Elizabeth (Teacher of Epidemiology. Thwacker of vaccine alarmists),

Your haiku is sharp
Stings like a shot in the arm.
Immunize us all.

Then, I posted the ones I wrote after learning about the request for H1N1 haiku:

Hi Susanna, A friend told me about your project, and I wrote these haikus before coming to this page (and seeing your one-haiku rule). You can pick the one you want to post.

H-1-N-1 hmmmm
At first, it was called swine flu
Now, we call it BAD!

No children in here!
Hospital won’t allow it.
Might bring/take swine flu.

My job required it.
I had to get the vaccine.
Ohhhh, I hate needles!

No longer winter
Now it comes in springtime, too!
and summer and fall

Old and sick feared flu
They were the ones who might die
Fear now for children

What a bad virus
How can we protect ourselves?
Wash hands well, often

No one sneezed near me
Must have rubbed eyes/nose after
I touched a doorknob

What a topic, this!
H-1-N-1 writes itself
Live and breathe haiku

Oh, how sad this is.
All because of a pig (not!)
So many have died

How can we do it?
Wash hands. Soap, water. Often.
Please protect yourself

Water, green veggies
Vitamins C and D, too
And, get enough sleep!

Staying well, healthy.
This is my goal this winter.
No H-1 for me!

I should not worry.
I worry for those I love
And, those you love, too!

Time to wash my hands,
Eat well, drink enough water
And, get enough sleep.

This flu began small
Quickly it spread far and wide
Exponentially

I was on a roll, so I wrote one more:

Her rules: Submit One.
Did I follow her rules? No.
I submitted all

Why Will My Politikus (political haikus) Not Qualify?

This is who she wanted to write for her column:

Are You a Scientist or a Heath Policy Expert?

If you’re an expert on this topic, I’d love to feature your Politiku along with a Tweet length bio, specifying your expertise to supplement.

You’ve Read Mine Here, Now Read The Rest

Read her request for H1N1 Haiku, and read the ones people have submitted. Then, watch for Susanna Speier’s column on Huffington Post, and read about the medical professionals, educators, scientists and health policy experts who participated.

[UPDATE: November 19, 2009 The H1N1 Politiku piece is now up on Huffington Post.]

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NASA: Water on the Moon

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Google It

National Geographic

NYTimes – Science

Nature.com

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Morning At Lake Norman

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Living by the Lake

I love water. I’d love to be able to live with water right outside my window. Life on a lake, a bay, a river, an ocean, or even a house boat would be lovely.

Zooming by the Lake

Alas. There is no river, lake, bay or ocean outside my window.  And, my photos are from 65mph as we zoomed by.

Still, It’s Pretty in the Morning

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Veterans’ Day 2009

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Who Do You Know? Who Do  You Love?

Who in your life has served in the United States Military? I think we all have had family members who have served.

Thank You

Thank you to people who voluntarily put themselves in harm’s way with the goal and desire of keeping the rest of us safe.

Offer a Tribute

Please feel free to use the comments to offer thanks or praise for someone you know or love who is currently serving, or has served, in the U.S. Military. (Feel free also to offer generic thanks to any or all who wear the uniform)

Remember

On this day we remember all those who have lost their lives while in the service of this country.

Peace

On this day, I wish for peace in this world: peace within families, peace between tribes, peace between nations, peace between ethic groups, peace between races, peace between people of all religions and beliefs. I wish for a world where there is no longer a reason for people to go to war. I wish for all who fight to be able to return safely to their loved ones and their homes.

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Happy 40th, Sesame Street! :)

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Google’s Great Logos

I love to go to google.com and see a special logo. This week, all week, the logos have been about Sesame Street’s 40th birthday.

Where Were You 40 Years Ago (and, years since then)?

Did you watch Sesame Street when you were growing up? I did not. I wonder if I watched TV when I was a toddler and preschool age. I doubt it.

Sesame Street Logos All Week

Here’s the one from today:

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Pumpkin Mushrooms

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Pumpkin-Colored Mushrooms

I saw them one day before I photographed them. The color was beautiful. They were a bright orange, just like pumpkins.

Too Late!

I only waited one day, but it was too late.   The color had already begun to fade.

What is it about my yard?

Is it soggy? What makes an entire town of mushrooms pop up overnight?

Photos

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Health Insurance Reform Passed 220-215

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I’m Glad Someone Finally Called It Health INSURANCE Reform

This debate has been going on for far too long. People have been arguing about changing the health CARE system. But, it really is about how people can PAY for health care. It is all about ACCESS to affordable health care.

Why Do People Want to Protect Unethical Entities from Ethical Legislation?

I’ve been watching people get out-of-control about politics for a long time. And, I still do not understand why any working class or middle class American responds with fury to any attempt to do something that would benefit them and hold insurance companies accountable for their business decisions.

Why Would You Cut Your Own Throat To Put Money In A Rich Man’s Pocket?

That’s what people are doing when they oppose “health care reform”. This is not about health CARE reform. It is about reforming the less-than-ethical practices of too many insurance companies, and providing a way for ALL (almost all) people in this country to have access to health care.

What About Religious Beliefs?

So many people who are intensely opposed to “health care reform” claim to be devoted Christians. How is withholding access to health care ‘Christian’ (or Muslim? or Jewish?). Are we not our brothers’ keepers? Are we not to care for the sick? Are we not to love others as God loves us? Why would we oppose legislation that will allow all of us to have access to health-promoting wellness visits and basic health care?

The Debate Moves to the Senate

Now the debate will move to the Senate. I’m sure things will stay lively. Read more  here and here.

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Green Space In The City

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Walking With A Friend

I went for a long walk with a friend. We walked on a sidewalk beside a green space.

Green Space

The green space was made of large scooped out areas filled with vegetation. The scooped out areas were water basins to catch rain runoff. There were small birds in the grasses in the basins. I’m sure there were other small animals  I could not see.

Flood Plain

The green space was created by the city after it demolished 50 or 60 homes that had been flooded over the years. There are photos along the  walking path that show the flood waters covering cars and parts of houses.

Photos of the Green Space

I did not take a lot of photos, but here is what I have.

This little plant is used to attract certain birds. That’s all I know about it. If you know what it is, please comment.

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