"I think nobly of the soul." (Twelfth Night)

This morning, as promised, I had a program in the Terrace Room for the Library Club. The theme was that poetry need not just come in the form of a "poem" but can be found anywhere in nature; the Florida full moon, Astaire and Ginger dancing, Gene Kelly singing in the rain, a newborn baby. One need only sharpen all the senses to make many things in life--poetry. Touching a loved one is poetry; smelling the aromas of a bakery is poetry; seeing a flock of birds in formation is poetry; eating a six lb. lobster is poetry; hearing Streisand sing is poetry. You have these extraordinary senses--use them and create poetry for your SOUL. Well, anyway I did an hour's worth of readings before an enthusiastic and spellbound audience of about three guys and twenty women. I could have done another hour's worth, but they refused to toss anything into the hat as I passed it around.

Now that that's over, I do look forward to my blogs. If I'm not writing something, I go mad. Otherwise I'm playing Jewel Quest on the computer, and that game alone is going to drive me to drink. Rhoda and I have reached an "upper" and more difficult level, and you can spend an hour on one "solitaire" hand and not be able to finish clearing all the cards from the "table". It's addictive, frustrating, but strangely enough--relaxing.

Tonight we are going to a "Boomers' Club" meeting in the Clubhouse, and they'll be serving Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches. I haven't a clue as to why they call themselves Boomers except perhaps they created them??? The real boomers I suspect are still working.

"The poet's eye in a fine frenzy rolling, Doth glance from heaven to earth; from earth to heaven." (Midsummer Night's Dream)

I am now proud to say that since Aug. 8, I have published 134 blogs. If you haven't read any yet, you better get started. Better yet, buy my book; it has 370 pages. I'll be bringing a copy of the Memoirs and a few copies of Shadows in the Sunset to the program I am giving Friday, Jan. 11 for the Library Club. For those who plan to attend and need a reminder, it will be in the Terrace Room at 10:30...not 10:00. And for those who are not privy to the HLI Newsletter, the title of my program is "The Power & Passion of Poetry & a Pot Pourri of Me." And the blurb goes: "Through reading and discussion of excerpts from some of the classic works of poetry as well as a selection of poems from his newly published books, ADDENDA and SHADOWS in the SUNSET, Dr. Norman Ross will attempt to show how to 'reinvent' yourself through the magic, the mystery, and the dynamics of great poetry--and to convince you that poetry is a part of your life."

By a "pot pourri of me" I simply mean that I will read a couple of my own poems to whet the audience's appetite. Bring money as I will be passing the hat around afterwards as did the bards of old. Processed canned food would also be acceptable. Of course, I don't mind giving my time for a good cause, but Friday I will have to wake at 8am in order to get to the program on time....or before. Since I find myself sleeping usually until 11:30 or noon, this will be a philanthropic deed of sacrificial proportions.

It may (or may not) be of interest to you, but my daughter, Bonny and my grandson, Sean will be coming here from California for a few days toward the end of the month. Bonny has celebrated the 20th Anniversary of her shop, "Dogs, etc.". And Sean is taking a hiatus from his painting. I'm looking forward to seeing them and having some fun.

"There' s place and means for every man alive." (All's Well...)

Let's just discuss the New Hampshire primary results. At this time, the count is not in, but it appears that Obama is leading Clinton. My personal choice on the basis of her experience would be Hillary. She is a very sharp lady, and it would be historic to have a female president. I'm not a misogynist. Her sex or religious orientation mean nothing to me in the voting booth. On the other hand, although Obama does not have the experience, he is a very bright guy with a huge charisma that appeals to people across all lines. I feel the same about a black president as I do about a woman. Color matters not to me. I was the only teacher in my school to go to the "March on Washington" and listened to Martin Luther King. The issue that matters most to me is the war in Iraq. There must be a way to extirpate ourselves from that huge morass. I cannot bear the thought of the misery and grief that families of those who die in this war are suffering. I've been there and done that. This is not to say that if a Democrat is elected, that the troops will come home the next day. It's a truly complicated and tragic situation. Whomever the Democratic Party nominates I will vote for. Change is in the air.

Today I went to the VA to see my psychiatrist at 1pm and my psychologist at 2pm. And I'm not ashamed to say it or to write about it. Even though some might think I am a dangerous cereal killer. (Protect your Corn Flakes). Actually, I'm just a poet and a tail gunner who's depressed. Anyway, I've been going to the VA "shrinks" for many years. I see these doctors about every 2 or 3 months because they are there for me to "vent". And I vented the loss of my mobility--which is a huge loss. Suffice it to say that I now cannot walk very far without severe pain. My primary care doc at the VA put in for a scooter for me and I have an appointment at the VA "wheelchair clinic" at the end of this month for them to determine if I am eligible for a scooter. I'm going to hate getting into one of those things ("hate" is not strong enough)--but as the medics told me, I have to move on. So, move on I will. (But don't wake me up before noon).

"Our doctors say this is no month to bleed." (RII)

I had many good wishes for a "Happy New Year", but I'm wondering when those wishes are going to be manifest? So far, it's been--well, not disastrous--but shall I say "distasteful"? First, I had to bring my '99 Malibu in for A/C repair. The A/C was only blowing warm air. Ironically, when I asked them to fix it so the air would be cold, it happened to be about 49 degrees outside with the wind chill. To make matters worse, the bill came to $163. When I picked up my car driving Rho's over to Firestone, I left her '95 Cavalier there for an oil change--but it also needed to have the "intermittent" wiper switch repaired, and also someone or something had ripped the mirror off outside the passenger window and it had to be replaced...ergo $348. Then on Thursday and Friday the Dow plunged into the Atlantic Ocean somewhere and cost my IRA over 3 figures. So what's so "Happy"? I guess the answer to that is I have been waking up every morning--but not before noon.

To carry on with my whining, I brought Rhoda to her eye doctor on Friday for a checkup on her post cataract removal procedure. Her appointment was for 1:40pm, but we didn't get out of there until 3:30 or so. Her doctor's excuse was that his nurse didn't tell him that a patient was waiting. Yeah? Tell it to the Marines. These doctors down in the "Sunshine" state are in the habit of scheduling two or three patients at the same appointment time--but they don't tell you that. I happen to be very fortunate in that I have most of my MDs at the VA and I never, ever have to wait more than 15-20 minutes past my time. Why? Because every appointment is for either 40 minutes or one hour. So my advice to future retirees--if they don't want to sulk in waiting rooms--is to join the Army for a few hours and then after your discharge for mental illness sign up for the VFW or American Legion and then at the VA Medical Center in W. Palm Beach. And there's no need to thank me for this advice. I offer it of my own free and philanthropic will.