Self-examination

 

Whenever I stop for a moment and analyze this blog, I find the most prevalent aspect is its diversity.  You never know what the topic or subject will be.  I’ve always thought that the Element of Surprise should be on the periodic table.

 

zc

Public Service Announcement

 

I’ve known many bobble-heads in my time, although it isn’t appropriate to point them out.  My definition of a bobble-head is a person who agrees with and nods yes to everything their boss says, no matter how utterly ridicules it is.

They tend to drive me nuts.  Attempting to curry favor or get ahead by other means than ability and knowledge.  To me, they are the slime on the surface of the pond, the weeds in the garden, or the politicians in the crowd.

What would you like to hear? Whatever you just said, I agree.  Yes, good idea Boss. 

There needs to be a section on every job application specifically designed to weed out the bobble-heads.  It could only be in the best interest of the company.  There is an old saying that if you have two employees who think alike, one of them is not needed.

 

 

 

ZC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is no defense

 

Mightier than the sword 

"Wooden Fish - Come on Down"

 

So many people are excited to be on a television game show that an over-flow room was created to hold them all.

I noticed we have our own version of an over-flow room at the back of the house.  It has several things waiting to once again join the on-stage activity of the household.   They sit quietly, just waiting, hoping to be called next.

 

 

          zc

Monsters are Real

To the animal kingdom, we are the monsters.  We are the ones killing for sport, we are the ones destroying the atmosphere, the lakes and rivers.  To each other, we smile as a greeting, the animals see us showing our teeth, which is to them a sign of aggression.  We hunt deer from up in the trees and build duck blinds to shoot at passing ducks, which is another form of hiding under the bed, to grab them as they saunter on by. 

We construct arenas to battle each other.  It is not the animal kingdom creating  noise pollution, starting fires or hunting things to extinction.  Only the monsters engage in that behavior.  We alter the weather patterns by covering the surface of the planet with cement and only after do we consider the consequences.  We build massive housing projects, knowing there isn’t available water to support it. 

We allow technology to take the lead, following blindly wherever it takes us, giving our houses and cars control over what happens next, never once considering that in the evolution of monsters they could be next.

ZC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Treadwell Collection

 

There is a small area on the bottom of my shoe, in front of the heel but not actually touching the ground.  I don’t know if there is a name for this space, but I can tell you, it is here where I get the ideas for this Blog.  Never the big headlines, but just the crumbs that have slipped past the dustpan, or held tight as the streetsweeper swooshed by.

All sorts of strange things are collected in that space.  I just need to sort through them once I get home.   They tend to gather there as I walk around.  Ideas from the city, smells from the farms I happen to pass, and bits of old assignments whenever I happen to pass the local school. 

Sometimes, although not often, I’ll pick up a sound, or maybe just a fragment of a tune.  I’ll be scraping the various items off of my shoe and suddenly a melody will pop into my head.  It has to be from my shoe.  That’s the only thing I’m working on at the time.

 

 

           zc

 

After Closing

 

The jukebox had fallen silent and was no longer lit.  One person was stacking the chairs upside-down on the tables, while another swept the floor along the front of the bar.  A lone billfold lay beneath the brass rail, where boots had rested throughout the evening.

Sandy pulled it out away from the bar with the broom and tossed it onto the bar.  “Someone, no doubt, will be coming back for this.”  

Wanda stopped wiping down the bar and picked up the wallet.  Without looking inside, she tossed it behind her, next to the cash register.

“Aren’t you even going to look to see whose it is?” Sandy asked.

“Don’t care.” Came Wanda’s reply, and she went back to cleaning up.

Just then a knock came frantically on the front door.

Sandy looked up at Wanda and said, “Guess who?”

Wanda gave Sandy a stern look and said, “Don’t open it.”

Looking very confused Sandy said, “It’s probably the wallet guy.  Don’t you want to give it back?” 

In a low voice Wanda said, as she moved out closer to Sandy, “It’s a scam.  They leave a fake wallet behind so they can get back in after closing time and then rob the place.”

“How do you know it is a fake?  You never even looked in it.”

Wanda took Sandy’s broom and laid it against one of the tables.  “If I’m wrong, we end up with a very annoyed customer who may or may not come back.  But if I’m right – we get robbed.”

“Should we call the police?” Sandy whispered.

“No, not yet.  So far there hasn’t been a crime.  But if they keep banging on the door, then yes.”

The two women stood quietly and waited.  There was nothing.  Then someone was trying the doorknob.

“Are you sure it’s locked?” Wanda asked.

Sandy looked panicked and quickly felt her apron pocket for the keys.