Trav's Thoughts

Not Hiatus

2012-02-01T00:05:00.000-08:00

I have plenty to say, there just hasn't been much time to say it. Lots going on in the bricks and mortar life these days. Friends call. Friends drop by. Friends have news they want to share.

It's excellent!

But it is taking up quite a bit of time. So consider me on Not Hiatus.

What? You've never heard of Not Hiatus?

Well, it's just a term I use to describe the fact that I'm not taking an actual break from blogging. As I said, I've got stuff to say. I just can't seem to find the time to organize and compose my thoughts.

I'm still making rounds. And I'm still jotting down stuff to tell you. Time will eventually free itself up again, even in short quantities, and I'll tell you some stuff whenever it does.

Until then, carry on.

Wait...I almost forgot. The answer to the questions about yesterday's word is, yes.

OK. Now you may carry on. Look for me when you see me.

The word for today is...

2012-01-31T00:05:00.000-08:00

...raspberries.

Carry on.

Five on Friday Set 105

2012-01-27T05:58:00.000-08:00

Hey gang! Sorry this is posting a little late. Yesterday was...well, it's been interesting and revealing. Nothing is wrong. We've just had some news about a friend of ours and it has kind of dominated the last 24 hours or so.

It's good news for our friend. But it has also put me off my blog game just a tad. So I apologize for getting this post up late and not doing my normal diligence in getting the song information.

Set 105 is random disco. I wanted videos for disco, but there just wasn't time.

Enjoy your weekend!

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

The simple pleasures

2012-01-26T00:05:00.000-08:00

It's good to have a goal. Maru just wants to get in the box.

It does not matter to Maru that he is large and the box is small. Maru's goal is to be in the box.

So Maru perseveres until...success!

A simple need...rewarded. You can follow Maru's adventures daily at I Am Maru.

No, it's really not

2012-01-24T00:05:00.000-08:00

I won't be posting much here about politics, even though this is a presidential election year. But some things just have to be addressed, and this is one of those times.

GOP candidate Rick Santorum has been quoted as saying of rape, that women should "make the best out of a bad situation".

Mr Santorum evidently goes on to say that any woman, even his own daughter, should resist the urge to abort a pregnancy from a rape, and to "accept this horribly created baby, because it was still a gift from God, even if given in a 'broken' way."

I'll give you a minute to double take on that, absorb it, and try to understand such a position.

I know...I couldn't either. I find those comments disturbing. So I wrote to Mr Santorum. The text of my letter is...

I fully support a woman's right to choose.

And then it was over

2012-01-23T00:05:00.000-08:00

So the snow event is over. Last Wednesday the first layer came down. We got about 4 inches by the time it was over. During a lull, I took some pictures.

Then it hit again and put down another 2-3 inches. And then came the big freeze overnight. On Thursday, more snow mixed in with freezing rain all day. Check out the way the trees sag with the weight of the ice.

The big thaw came on Friday. Temperatures got up into the 40s and the rain came. By the afternoon, the trees were nearly bare of snow and the branches were bouncing back.

Too bad the snow and ice on the ground didn't clear up as fast. It takes a bit longer for that top snow layer to clear down to the ice shell. Once that melts, then the snow layer closer to the ground can melt off. It takes awhile.

We were finally able to get out on Saturday, so we both went to work. I missed three days because I can't do my job from home, so I spent a full day getting caught up. Pam only went in to check the office and collect whatever mail had piled up.

We did not get hit as badly as some areas. We never lost power. Although some branches fell from some of the taller pines, nothing hit any structures. Tacoma and Olympia were measuring their snowfall in feet.

Sunday morning we had this slushy mess.

But it didn't keep us from heading out for groceries and then running over to Target before the championship games started at noon.

New England beat Baltimore in the AFC Championship game. San Francisco lost to New York in the NFC Championship. Even though they beat my 49ers, I'll be rooting for the Giants in the Super Bowl.

Five on Friday Set 104

2012-01-20T00:05:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the two year anniversary of Five on Friday, otherwise known as Set 104! Cool, eh?

The first Set on 29 January 2010 had no banner. I hadn't actually intended for it to be a full on weekly meme that others would be interested in playing. But then several blog pals encouraged me to make a banner and add Mr Linky. Now, two years later, there is a small core of us who post our tuneage each week.

So thanks to all who post Sets, sign Mr Linky, and visit each other. I've enjoyed our little community and look forward to another year of fun!

Thank You, written by Alanis Morissette/Glen Ballard, released by Alanis Morissette in 1998

Thank You For Loving Me, written by Jon Bon Jovi/Richie Sambora, released by Bon Jovi in 2000

Thank You For Being A Friend, written by Andrew Gold, released by Andrew Gold in 1978

I Thank You, written by Isaac Hayes/David Porter, released by Sam and Dave in 1968

Thank You, written by Robert Plant/Jimmy Page, released by Led Zeppelin in 1969

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

Snowed in 2012!

2012-01-18T12:13:00.000-08:00

Couldn't get to work due to the latest Pacific Northwest storm of the century. I'm watching KIRO7 Storm Watch coverage. They've got one of their roving reporters out at Queen Anne, which is a steep hill of a street to the north of downtown Seattle. Folks are sledding, skiing, and snowboarding down the street!

I've got great snow tires on my Liberty, but it's not 4-wheel drive. I'm not real confident behind the wheel in these kind of conditions. Fortunately, we don't get the kind of snow that sticks for months during the winter. There's a warmer storm behind this one which will bring rain and melt away the lovely winter wonderland we've got today.

So we're staying safe and snuggly warm in the condo today.

Quick nod to KIRO7...great job of covering the storm. Their reporters have been driving around the Sound, showing the road conditions in real time.

FoF Celebrates this week!

2012-01-17T00:05:00.000-08:00

If you've never played this game with us, this week might be a good time to give it a go. We've reached Set 104, and that means two full years of Five on Friday.

It's a pretty simple game to play. Just pick 5 songs that you'd like to share with the FoF Gang and post them to your blog under the Five on Friday banner. You can use Playlist.com or YouTube videos, or any other medium you like. Once you've made your post, just check in over here on Friday and sign Mr Linky so we can visit your tuneage.

Easy as CAKE!

And you get to fly a special celebratory banner this week.

So it's a win-win! We all get plenty of good music heading into the weekend.

Join us if you dare!

Commemorating the birth of Dr King

2012-01-16T00:05:00.000-08:00

Civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Laureate, the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr, was born 15 January 1929. These are some of the things he said or wrote.

"Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it."

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."

"Let no man pull you low enough to hate him."

"Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true."

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence."

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

These words were all spoken or written more than 40 years ago, and yet they still resonate. I believe that words do have power because of the strength of conviction behind them.

Today I honor the memory of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, but I try to live by his words every day.

The quotes come from The Quotations Page.

YES!!!

2012-01-14T17:40:00.000-08:00

Defense might win championships, but to beat an outstanding offensive team you ultimately have to be able to score with them. So SF played excellent defense for 3 1/2 quarters to force New Orleans into turnovers. And then the 49er offense came to play with 13 points in the final 5 minutes to beat the Saints and advance to the NFC Championship next week.

Actually, I have to say that the 49er defense was outstanding all game. It doesn't look that way if you just check the stats. Saints QB Drew Brees threw for 458 yards on 40 of 63, with 4 TDs. However, SF refused to give Brees a comfortable pocket and forced him into 2 interceptions. They sacked him 3 times, and it's tough to sack Drew Brees. SF held NO to only 37 yards rushing, while special teams controlled the Saints' potent kick and punt return teams.

So yeah, the 49er defense gets a ton of credit for containing the explosiveness of the Saints.

On offense, SF played a typically conservative game. QB Alex Smith did throw the ball a bit more than usual. He finished the game 24 of 42 for 299 yards and 3 TDs. But a lot of those throws were on safe patterns with yards coming after the catch. Most importantly, Smith did not turn the ball over. And his consistent passing helped the 49ers stay balanced. RB Frank Gore had 89 yards on 13 carries.

The Saints still almost pulled off the win. They finally took a lead late in the 4th quarter on a long catch and run. But SF came right back to re-take the lead on a 27 yard TD run from Smith. But then Brees hit TE Jimmy Graham on a 66 yard scoring play, and NO had a 3 point lead.

That left the 49ers 1:37 to try and tie the game. SF has the NFC's best field goal kicker in David Akers. They just needed to get into FG range and force OT, right?

That would have been the regular season conservative drive.

Instead, Alex Smith calmly drove the length of the field. He got the big pass play to TE Vernon Davis to get inside the 20 with less than 20 seconds to play. Then Smith threw a dart to Davis just across into the end zone. Davis held on for the winning score.

Outstanding!!

So defense does win in the playoffs. But at some point, the name of the game is to score at least 1 point more than your opponent.

I don't know what's going to happen next week. I'm just glad my team gets to advance and take its chances, either in Green Bay or at home against the Giants.

Go Niners!

Five on Friday Set 103

2012-01-13T00:05:00.000-08:00

Check that Set number there. It's 103. So next week is Set 104. And that means we'll be celebrating 2 years of Five on Friday. Put on your party hats and your fru fru finery!

For this week, please sling your air guitars and join me as we bang our heads.

Bang Your Head, written by Kevin DuBrow/Carlos Cavazo/Frankie Banali, as released by Quiet Riot in 1983

We're Not Gonna Take It, written by Dee Snider, as released by Twisted Sister in 1984

My Sharona, written by Doug Fieger/Berton Averre, as released by The Knack in 1979

Rock and Roll, written by Jimmy Page/Robert Plant/John Paul Jones/John Bonham, as released by Led Zeppelin in 1972

Slow Ride, written by Dave Peverett, as released by Foghat in 1975...yes, you must listen to the full version for maximum head bang and air guitar potential

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

It's not CAKE

2012-01-12T00:05:00.000-08:00

We didn't have any CAKE. So we had pie...warm, sweet, tasty cherry pie.

YUM-OH!

Now for something silly and cute...

2012-01-10T00:05:00.000-08:00

...because I got nothing to say at the moment.

We've looked under the bed, in the closets, behind the sofa. We even checked the storage unit. Can't find no thoughts nowhere.

Life is like that sometimes.

Five on Friday Set 102

2012-01-06T00:05:00.000-08:00

Heard a song on the radio when I was getting breakfast at the deli in our office building this morning (Edit: that would be yesterday morning, on Thursday) and it took me to 1968. That got me thinking that I should have done a Set last month in honor of my sister, who was born in December 1968.

Presenting Set 102...dedicated to my Lil Sis.

Hurdy Gurdy Man, written and performed by Donovan

Cry Like A Baby, written by Dan Penn/Spooner Oldham, as performed by The Box Tops

Grazing in the Grass, original instrumental written by Philemon Hou, vocal version written by Harry Elston of The Friends of Distinction, as performed by The Friends of Distinction

Elenore, written by Howard Kaylan/Mark Volman/Al Nichol/Jim Pons/John Barbata, as released by The Turtles

I've used this song before, but it's one of my favorites so I'm using it again. Turn Around Look at Me, written by Jerry Capehart, as released by The Vogues

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

Oy

2012-01-05T05:52:00.000-08:00

It looks like we're finally emerging from the busy cave at work. Last week was the frantic ship and process phase leading to the final day of our fiscal year. This week it's the frantic count, reconcile, and adjust phase.

I expect to get back to regular posting and rounds next week...or possibly the week after. I might need a rest!

Pam and I hope your 2012 is off to a flying start!

One is better than none

2012-01-02T00:05:00.000-08:00

And none is how many NFL playoff appearances Oakland and San Francisco have had since 2002.

For three weeks, my Raiders have gotten the exact breaks they needed to earn a spot in the NFL playoffs. The only thing they didn't do? They couldn't win a damn game.

In fact, they went 0-4 to end the season and missed the playoffs yet again. The best thing I can say about the end of the 2011 season for my Raiders is that it has rekindled my sincere and intense dislike for every other team in the AFC West. That severe emotion had been dormant for a long time.

Now it's back with a vengeance.

But I have to wait until next year to see if my Raiders can build on back to back 8-8 seasons.

Still, there is some football joy coming my way.

San Francisco beat the Rams yesterday to lock up the 2nd seed in the NFC playoffs and a first round bye. They'll get at least one home game and if they keep winning and the Packers somehow lose, SF will host the NFC Championship game.

I don't want to get ahead of myself though. This 49er team does have some flaws. They have trouble scoring in the red zone. They aren't particularly potent offensively, although the run game is outstanding and they don't usually beat themselves with turnovers. Plus, kicker David Akers is a tremendous weapon.

The strength of this team is its defense. SF ranks 1st in points against and rushing yards allowed, and 4th in total yards allowed. They are outstanding at forcing turnovers, with a +28 turnover ratio.

They aren't my Raiders, but they'll do. It's a red and gold January for me, rather than the silver and black I really wanted.

Go 'Niners!!

Five on Friday Set 101

2011-12-30T00:05:00.000-08:00

I could tell you that this final Set of 2011 has a meaningful purpose. I could tell you that it effectively wraps up the year and eases us into 2012. I could tell you I put a lot of thought into the songs I selected for this 101st Set.

But I won't.

You see, I've been so busy at work that this final Friday in 2011 snuck up on me. So Set 101 is just a collection of tunes that played randomly during my commute today.

Life is kind of like that sometimes. Catch you on the flip side.

Cherry Cherry Coupe, written by Brian Wilson/Roger Christian, as released by The Beach Boys, 1963

It's Impossible, written by Armando Manzanero as Somos Novios, as released by Perry Como, 1970

Real World, written by Richard Marx, as released on the album Repeat Offender, 1989

Midnight Confessions, written by Lou Josie, as released by The Grass Roots, 1968

Don't Cry Out Loud, written by Peter Allen/Carole Bayer Sager, as released by Melissa Manchester, 1978

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

Joyous Yule!

2011-12-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

Pam and I wish you the comfort, warmth, and joy of your traditions.

This is the first Yule season since 2001 without my sweet Mr Tucker. He went to the Rainbow Bridge in March and I still miss him every day.

I put his stocking out anyway. We've already made a holiday donation in his name to a local no kill shelter. It's the place where we'll go to adopt a couple of new friends when we're ready.

But not just yet.

Enjoy your holiday.

Five on Friday Set 100

2011-12-23T00:05:00.000-08:00

I like that this year's holiday Set falls on a nice round number like 100.

Pam and I wish you all the comfort, warmth, and joy of your holiday traditions.

Joyous Yule to you all!

Good Night, written by John Lennon/Paul McCartney, as performed by The Manhattan Transfer, 1992

A Christmas Love Song, written by Alan Bergman/Marilyn Bergman/Johnny Mandel, as performed by The Manhattan Transfer, 1992

Happy Holidays written by Irving Berlin/It's the Holiday Season written by Kay Thompson, as performed by The Manhattan Transfer, 1992

Christmas Time is Here, written by Vince Guaraldi/Lee Mendelson, as performed by the Manhattan Transfer

The Christmas Song, written by Mel Torme/Bob Wells, as performed by The Manhattan Transfer, 1992

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

The Yuletide Star

2011-12-21T00:05:00.000-08:00

It's time for a holiday tradition here at Trav's Thoughts, and so once again I present my original story.

The Yuletide Star
by Travis Cody (copyright 2007)

Kalfan peered from between the branches of the tree and observed a yellow haired young Human woman sitting on a split log. He knew less than many of his Elven brethren regarding Humans. However Kalfan did know enough to recognize that this one was crying.

It was none of Kalfan's business what had made this Human cry. He told himself he should leave quietly and go on about his own tasks. That is what he should do, and that is what he would do.

As he began to replace the branches of the tree to hide any trace of his presence, another Human entered the clearing. This one was an older woman, with an air of authority over the younger. Kalfan remained where he was to watch, cursing himself for a fool because he knew he should not, and did not understand why he did.

Kalfan had a passing familiarity with the Human language, from customary basic greetings to the assorted necessaries for communication between the races. He could also speak High Dwarf, and make himself understood in the guttural and thoroughly throat constricting sounds that passed for language among the Gnomes. Thus it did not surprise him as he listened that he recognized the series of sounds the older woman spoke to the younger, from greeting to name to question about her presence here. Kalfan pronounced the name softly. Jatay was as close a rendering as he could manage in his own tongue. The sound as he barely whispered it was pleasing to him.

It was a beautiful calling in Elven, thought the young Elf, to go with a shockingly beautiful young woman. Ordinarily the beauty, or its lack, in a Human was something to which Kalfan would be indifferent. However the yellow hair possessed by this Human woman was uncommon in Elven kind. The oddity gave Jatay a grace Kalfan could identify with his own people. Kalfan imagined that if he drew closer, he might see that the woman's eyes were gray, a feature more common to his own kindred than for Humans.

His speculation bordered on the curious, and this did surprise him. Kalfan wondered if perhaps the absence of yellow hair among his people and the possibility of gray tinted eyes in a Human were the reasons for his interest. Such an odd mix was somehow fitting for a being so beautiful, regardless of her heritage.

Kalfan used this reasoning to excuse his curiosity and justify moving to the furthest limbs of the tree, still concealed yet nearly in the open. He quieted in the manner of his kind, and watched.

The older woman made a gesture Kalfan thought was an attempt to coax Jatay from the clearing. The younger woman clearly did not wish to follow. She shook her head and held near to a hastily arranged grouping of stones, wild flowers, and moss.

Kalfan nearly gasped, for this arrangement was Elven. It was a bereft Elf's Wishing Ritual. The stones represented the solid home from which a traveler had left and to which he might return. Wild flowers reminded the one who Wished of the loved one lost. Moss was believed to guide the weary traveler who had lost his way. Combined, the symbols provided a foundation for a Wish from the heart that a lost loved one be shown the way home.

Elves believed in the Wish as a powerful part of their magical heritage. But the symbols and Wish were only a part of the process. A wish was merely a longing for something. To fill the wish with any power, and to expect any response to it, one must cast a True Wish upon the Yuletide Star.

Now the scene of Human young woman and Elven Ritual became clearer to Kalfan. She had lost and was attempting to Wish the lost one back to her.

The older woman finally won the battle of wills, as elders of any race generally will. Jatay meekly followed her from the clearing. Kalfan waited a time to be sure that they would not return, and then climbed from the tree to survey the young woman's preparations.

Everything was correct and in place. The arrangement followed the proper form. All that remained to be added was something personal belonging to the subject of the Wish, and the presence of the Yuletide Star.

Kalfan considered. It was truly none of his business that a Human had begun an Elven Ritual, although the very idea was of general interest to his people. Further, it was none of his business whether this Ritual succeeded. It was also, he reminded himself, none of his business to meddle in the affairs of Humans.

Relations between Human and Elven races had been strained in recent times. The Elves waned in power and desire to remain in the world as it gradually changed. There were fewer places where Kalfan's people could reside without the intrusion of Human growth. Kalfan was young enough to concede that many Human advances had proven beneficial to his kindred. But he was also Elf enough to understand that many precious and promising Elven lives had been lost in battles, fulfilling alliances with Human and Dwarven kind against the encroachment of evil influences.

Kalfan surveyed the young woman's preparations a final time. Concluding that he could do nothing to aid in the Wishing Ritual, and convincing himself finally that it was truly none of his concern, Kalfan strode quietly from the clearing.

*****

Kalfan climbed without a sound from the branches of a tree, notching an arrow to his longbow. He could make out the tips of the stag's antlers. Quietly, he crept forward, keeping himself down wind as he had been taught.

Suddenly, the stag raised its head and stood listening. Kalfan crouched silently, barely breathing. The stag scented the wind, remaining still, statuesque and beautiful. Then it bounded behind dense foliage and was gone.

Kalfan did not swear. It was a simple fact of a hunter's life that, on occasion, prey would catch the faintest warning. The young Elf took this in his stride, knowing that as he grew in experience, such failure would be less and less frequent. He sighed, slung his bow and replaced the arrow in his quiver. Still crouched, he took a sip of water from the skin at his belt, and contemplated his next move.

Capping the skin, Kalfan froze. A soft sound came to the Elf’s ears. It was singing, nearly as pleasing to the ear as the clear notes his mother played on her lute. Kalfan cocked his head and presented more of his ear to the sound. Indeed, the gentle voice rivaled the music of his mother. That was no mean feat nor idle compliment from the Elf, for his mother was the foremost minstrel in Elven Home.

Kalfan's curiosity took the better measure of his sense. Younger Elves were generally more inquisitive than their elders, though the discovery of new sensory pleasures was enough to pique any Elf's impassivity. Kalfan followed the sound quietly, as calm and careful as previously he had stalked the stag.

After winding his way through the trees and bushes, Kalfan came to a small thicket. Concealed within the dense foliage he peered through a slight gap in the leaves and found the source of the soft, sweet music.

It was the same young Human woman he had seen days before. Jatay, he recalled. She was sitting cross legged upon a bed of soft grass. Before her on the floor of the thicket was another Wishing Ritual. Her eyes were closed, and she was humming softly.

Kalfan was no more than six strides from the young woman. He could view Jatay's face, as well as the Ritual she had laid before her. It was closer to true than the remains of the first try Kalfan had witnessed. This time, Jatay had included a personal item of the person she had lost. It was a leather strap, possibly a belt, with a small leather pouch.

All that remained for the Ritual to be attempted in earnest was a visit from the Yuletide Star.

The Yule season was a time of extreme emotional poles for Elven kind. It was a time of birth as well as a time for those grown weary of life in this world to leave it and seek the Eternal Place of Elven Lore. It was said, and passed from generation to generation by those versed in the lore, that any of Elven blood may seek the Eternal Place simply by Choosing the Path.

The Ceremony for the Choosing of the Path was performed on the third night after the appearance of the Yuletide Star in the Elven sky. The Elven sky was that portion of sky that traversed between the branches of the Great Tree found within the exact center of Elven Home. The Yuletide Star itself was known by Humans as the northern star, and it was visible to all peoples year round. Only during the special Yule season did it become the Yuletide Star to Elven kind. At that time, as the Star passed resplendent between the branches of the Great Tree, many things were possible in the reflection of its precious light.

Births during the shining of the Yuletide Star were doubly blessed. The journeys of those seeking the Eternal Place of Elven Lore were best embarked during this time. Thus the two emotional poles, birth and the life beyond, were celebrated during the Yule season, beneath the light of the Yuletide Star.

Jatay stopped singing. Kalfan could see again the tears on her face. His heart was saddened. Troubled, Kalfan wondered why the distress of a Human woman should so affect him.

The young woman heaved her shoulders in a sigh of discontent. She opened her eyes, and Kalfan was struck by the distinct gray color and Elvish slant. As he looked closer, Kalfan realized that this woman was more Elf than Human. Now he had the answer for many things.

She was a Halfling. That explained how she could know of an Elven Wishing Ritual. It also explained the enchanting way she sang, and the nearly irresistible need in Kalfan to know who she was and why she tried the Ritual.

Kalfan rose quietly and stepped from his concealment.

The young woman did not react as one might expect. She was not alarmed by the other presence. Nor did she seem disturbed that the other was an Elf. She looked directly at Kalfan, but she did not smile.

"Many pleasant greetings," Kalfan said. He bowed at the waist, never taking his eyes from the young woman's.

Jatay nodded, but did not speak.

Kalfan moved closer. He did not sit until invited, following Elven custom. He surveyed the young woman's preparations and as he did so, he stole several glances in her direction. She watched him.

"I Wish," Jatay said. She spoke in his own tongue which, while it did not surprise Kalfan, nevertheless gave him pause. He stepped back a pace.

"Do you wish me to go?" This was a polite inquiry among Elves when a greeting has not been returned.

"I Wish," repeated Jatay. Her eyes clouded and she began to cry. In the Human tongue she said, "I Wish for him to return."

Despite every policy of his people, despite every Human custom that he did not know, despite every caution he should employ, Kalfan dropped to his knees beside Jatay and gathered her in his arms while she cried.

After several moments, she composed herself. Kalfan noticed that she was older than he had at first thought. His own people found judging age in other races difficult, since theirs is a long lived race. Humans age and die at a much faster rate, and Halflings are doubly difficult to gauge. Kalfan now guessed Jatay to be in her middle to late teen years.

"Do you fare better, now?" Kalfan asked.

Jatay wiped her eyes and sat straighter. "Yes, thank you," she answered in Elven. She continued in the Human tongue. "Do you understand if I speak this language?"

"Some," he confessed. "But you must speak slowly."

She smiled. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

"No matter. I have seen you before. Your Ritual interests me."

Her eyes clouded. "I have no right to perform it."

"You have every right. If I see correctly, you are more Elf than Human."

"These things are not well-looked upon by my people."

"Then why do you stay with them?" Kalfan did not understand non-acceptance. Humans were of such amazing diversity that this seemed a contradiction. The Elven way was to accept all Elves as they are. This young woman, Halfling or no, would be counted Elf in Elven Home.

"I stay for my mother," Jatay replied. "I have no one else, since he left, and nowhere else to go."

Kalfan decided to let that lie. She may not accept that she could find a home among Elven kind, especially since she had been left behind by the Elf who was her father. She was of two peoples, trying to make a place with those who rejected her, based on her perceived rejection by her father.

"For whom do you Wish?" Kalfan surprised himself. He sought confirmation of his speculations, but this was a highly personal question, and one which an Elf should never presume to ask of another Elf.

"My father," Jatay answered promptly. "He left many years ago, to fight in a great battle. I know very little of him, save some of the things he taught me. I was so young and remember so little, save this Ritual."

"He told you of this?"

"I remember clearly. He made me repeat the instructions until he was sure I could recall them. Then he told me that if I ever had need of him, I should Wish, and he would come."

Kalfan pointed to the belt and pouch. "These things are his?"

"Yes. He left them with me as remembrance. I like to think he loved me, but I remember so very little."

"You have done well in your preparations. These items reinforce the Wish."

"Inside the pouch is a gemstone my father gave to my mother. I am told he loved her at one time. I thought the gemstone would help."

Kalfan looked at her seriously. "The gemstone is a more potent personal affect than the leather of these other items. Gems will hold the essence of a person far longer, and they are more likely to capture the essence of an Elf."

Carefully, Jatay extracted the gemstone. Kalfan gasped, stunned by what his senses told him. Tensely, he reached for it. His finger moved slowly closer to it, until the tip rested gently against its polished surface.

Kalfan's hand jerked back, startling Jatay. The Elf sat back on his heels and began to speak slowly in his own language.

"For Elven kind, kinship is a thing of great reverence, measured through the ages by unbreakable bonds. Gemstones, such as the one you hold, are elements by which kinship can be identified. When we touch one, we can sometimes tell whether the one who possesses it is related to our particular kin line. When I touched your gemstone, I felt your kinship to my clan. In our common history stands an Elf of my clan, and I strongly suspect that this Elf may have been your father."

Kalfan looked at Jatay to see the shock registered on her face. Jatay had known her father was Elven, but she had never expected to meet another, much less one who would admit kinship to her.

"You would say this, without knowing me. But the people of my own village whom I count as kin, by blood and by marriage, disavow me."

Kalfan smiled. "You do not know enough of Elven ways to understand. As I said, kinship is as important to us as breathing. We are so few in number as a race, and it is rare for an Elven couple to have more than one child. When we find a lost kinswoman, we embrace her, regardless of the circumstances of her birth. Or the mix of blood in her veins. Elf is Elf."

"Lost kin," Jatay said sadly.

"I can think of three Elves of my clan whom you may call Father,” Kalfan said gently. “He would know you in an instant, since such close blood ties as parent to offspring are stronger than any other bond. These three Elves fought in a great battle a number of years ago. It may be than one of them is the father you seek."

"Why would he not have returned?"

"My only answer to you has to do with the difference in Human and Elven years in this world. Your father has generations of Human lifetimes ahead of him. Your mother is soon to leave this world by the inevitable sands of time that bring death to Human kind. Perhaps, he did not wish to watch the ravages of age, if as you say he truly loved your mother."

"But what about me? I would hope he could at least take me with him, once my mother has passed. I am part Elf."

"I cannot say further what motivates another Elf, Jatay. But you may come with me to Elven Home and find out these things for yourself."

"I have yearned for this,” Jatay said, so quietly that even Kalfan's sharp ears barely heard. He waited quietly, and watched as emotions he did not completely understand played across her face.

“Perhaps my Wish has worked,” the young woman finally said. “Perhaps meeting you is in part a response to my Wish. I would go to Elven Home, if you will take me there."

Kalfan smiled again. "Of course I will take you. We can make your wish properly in two days time. On the eve of the day after next, the Yuletide Star will shine bright between the branches of the Great Tree in Elven Home. On that night, we will face the northern sky, and you will prepare the Ritual again, and make your Wish. On the following day, we will arrive at Elven Home, and we will know the truth."

*****

Jatay and Kalfan sat quietly in yet another clearing, leagues away from where they had met and spoken two days before. The night was dark, sparsely lit by the glow of a thousand stars in the night sky. One star alone concerned the pair. The Yuletide Star shone brightly in the northern sky, just as Kalfan had promised.

Jatay laid out her Ritual, as Kalfan had seen twice previously, but this time with the gemstone placed in the middle of her mix of stone, wild flowers, and moss. The gemstone glowed softly in the air of anticipation surrounding Halfling and Elf.

Kalfan instructed gently from his place at the edge of the clearing, behind is newly accepted kinswoman.

"You must find the Yuletide Star and place an image of it in your mind's eye. Then close your eyes, but keep that image strong, as though your eyes remained open and you were looking directly at it. Concentrate on the image, and form the Wish in your mind. Speak it three times aloud, then open your eyes and gaze immediately upon the Yuletide Star. As you see the Star with your physical eye, say the Wish again."

Jatay calmed her mind and took several deep breaths to soothe her heartbeat, making ready to follow Kalfan's instructions. As she did so, the Elf felt serenity settle about her, and a soothing peacefulness filled the clearing, engulfing them both. The prejudices she had endured relaxed their hold as she fully embraced this most Elven part of her.

Kalfan thought that fear dictated much of Jatay's former unease. She had endured such pain because of her Human kin's unwillingness to understand or accept difference. All her life she must have craved the acceptance of those she considered her people and her peers.

"Kalfan," she called, her voice barely a whisper in the stillness. "My Wish has come true."

"I do not understand."

"The Wish was never for my father to return to me, though those were the words I spoke. I realize it now. What I wanted was to belong. To be accepted for who and what I am. But I didn't truly know who or what I was."

"I cannot pretend to understand these feelings of yours. What makes this moment different from all the rest?"

Jatay turned to the Elf. "You have shown me. The way toward acceptance from others is to be at peace with myself. That is what I must have, but it cannot come through wishing."

Kalfan pondered this. He did not understand Jatay's need for this soul searching. Nor did he understand the confessed need to belong and to be accepted. For him, it was a matter of course to know his place in Elven Home. He was secure. But he was pleased to be a small part of her journey to this knew knowledge of herself. Jatay's two halves may war on the outside, her two sets of kinsmen may distrust one another, but within her, those parts that made up her being would never be in opposition again.

"Will you still come with me? You have suffered needlessly. I have told you how we value kinship in Elven Home. Your father would value you, as all Elves would, as I have learned to do in just the few days of our acquaintance. You are my cousin, and I would have you near."

Jatay smiled and Kalfan felt light in his heart.

"Yes, Kalfan, I will still come with you. I have come to know many things about myself in these last few days. I accept myself, and the knowledge that this is all I need. Still, it would be nice to hear that others of my people want and need me."

"Jatay," said Kalfan, rising to cross the clearing. He knelt next to his kinswoman and circled his arms about her. "We must love ourselves, it is true. But never think that acceptance and love of others is unnecessary or even secondary to love of oneself. This is why we gather together as a people, and this is what makes life worth living. To think as one, to be as one, and to live as one is to be lonely. But all thinking as one, all being as one, and all living as one, this is truly to be as one."

Together, in the brilliant light of the Yuletide Star, Kalfan and Jatay turned their steps toward Elven Home.

The End

For want of a real national champion

2011-12-19T00:05:00.000-08:00

I've explained in the past how much I disapprove of the current BCS process for determining what they call a college football national champion. To reiterate, I think it's stupid and decidedly unfair. There are 35 bowl games and according to the BCS, only one of them has any real meaning because the winner of that game is declared the champion of college football.

Stupid.

This year, of the 68 teams invited to play in bowl games and the 2 selected to play in the only meaningful game...

13 finished 6-6 overall with one at 6-7
15 finished at 7-5 overall
14 finished with losing conference records

Would you believe that there are several bowl games in which both teams are 6-6? Believe it. There are even a couple of games featuring two teams that are 6-6 overall with losing records in their conferences! Why do teams like that get to go to post season games?

Because there are 35 of them! Stupid.

There is even one game that features a 6-6 team with a losing record in its conference against a team that finished 6-7 because it lost its conference championship game.

Stupid, I say!

Why am I going on about this if it makes me so irritated? Because I do enjoy college football and I think it's long past time that the powers that be start rewarding the athletes and schools with a legitimate playoff system to determine a legitimate national champion. Every other level in football has a playoff system, from pee wee to the NFL.

So I made a reasonable system based on a set of criteria I determined to be important and to which I had easy access. I'm not a computer so my criteria had to be stats I could find for every team and keep track of relatively easily.

So what's my criteria? I'm glad you asked. I assigned points as follows:

Wins = 20pts each

This is obvious. Winning your games matters.

Road win bonus = 5pts each

Winning away from your own comfort and fans is important.

Opponent winning record bonus = 10pts

You have to play the schedule and you don't have any control over how good your opponents might be in any given year. But you should also get credit if your schedule ends up being tough. So 10pts to teams whose cumulative opponents result in winning records.

Category bonus for top 20 finishes in passing yards, rushing yards, points for, and points against = 5pts each

These particular categories summarize a team's proficiency on both offense and defense and does consider winning margin. That sometimes seems unsportsmanlike, but if a team's schedule is not as tough, it does call attention to how much better a team might be than its schedule might otherwise imply.

Conference winner bonus = 15pts

Because winning your conference matters.

What's my result after adding up all the points? Well, the 11 conference winners get automatic invitations to my 16 team tournament. They are listed in the order they finished in my rankings after the points were added up.

LSU (13-0, 8-0) from the SEC, 330pts
Oklahoma State (11-1, 8-1) from the Big 12, 280pts
Oregon (11-2, 8-1) from the Pac-12, 275pts
Wisconsin (11-2, 6-2) from the Big Ten, 270pts
Southern Miss (11-2, 6-2) from Conference USA, 265pts
TCU (10-2, 7-0) from the Mountain West, 10pts
Arkansas State (10-2, 8-0) from the Sun Belt, 245pts
Northern Illinois (10-3, 7-1) from the MAC, 240pts
Clemson (10-3, 6-2) from the ACC, 235pts
Cincinnati (9-3, 5-2) from the Big East, 220pts
Louisiana Tech (8-4, 6-1) from the WAC, 200pts

Teams that receive at large invitations come from the top five point totals amongst non-conference winners, listed in the order they finished in my rankings after the points were added up.

Houston (12-1, 8-0) from Conference USA, 280pts - lost to Southern Miss in the conference championship game
Boise State (11-1, 6-1) from the Mountain West, 275pts - lost to eventual conference champion TCU
Alabama (11-1, 7-1) from the SEC, 270pts - lost to eventual conference champion LSU
Virginia Tech (11-2, 7-1) from the ACC, 265pts - lost to eventual conference champion Clemson, once during the season and again in the conference championship game
Stanford (11-1, 8-1) from the Pac-12, 250pts - lost to eventual conference champion Oregon

Seeding my 16 team bracket is easy. Sort them by total points. Ties go to conference winners. Now while it does matter to win your conference, I do allow for non-conference winners to take higher seeds if they finished with more points than a conference winner. Let's face it...some conferences really are stacked with better quality athletes, and sometimes a really good team doesn't win its conference.

So after all the math, here's my bracket.

#1 LSU vs #16 Louisiana Tech
#8 Southern Miss vs #9 Virginia Tech
#5 Boise State vs #12 Arkansas State
#4 Oregon vs #13 Northern Illinois
#2 Oklahoma State vs #15 Cincinnati
#7 Alabama vs #10 TCU
#6 Wisconsin vs #11 Stanford
#3 Houston vs #14 Clemson

The opening round, quarter finals, and semi finals of my tournament would all be played on the three Saturdays in December prior to Christmas weekend, with the championship game played on New Year's Day. Higher seeds get home games. Money from ticket, concession, and sponsorship sales would go to the schools that way, split evenly. The championship game is played at a neutral site that can rotate between major bowl sites...Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl. That gets the game moving around the country and preserves some of the pageantry and tradition of the old system.

Maybe my proposal isn't perfect.

But can you say a system is better that sends Alabama to the BCS title game against LSU? Alabama didn't win its division and therefore didn't even play for its conference championship. Whereas Oklahoma State, which finished 2nd in my system for a #2 seed, won its conference but gets shut out of the BCS title game.

Stupid.

So what if those games were actually played in my tournament format? Who knows what could happen? I don't.

But I do think that the winner on New Year's day would be a real National Champion. And I'd watch my tournament. I won't watch any bowl games this season, and I will not watch the BCS title game.

In fact, I won't watch bowl games ever again. College football needs a playoff.

Five on Friday Set 99

2011-12-16T00:05:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Five Degrees of Musical Progression, Vol 4! The challenge was to come up with a progression of songs for this week's Set.

Your options were...

Come up with a progression that simply strikes your fancy.
Define 2011 with a progression.
Come up with a progression that sets up your expectations for 2012.

My progression is a combination of all three options.

I know! Since it's my game I decided to over-achieve. As Mr Bugs Bunny would say, ain't I a stinker???

Hehehe.

So here's my progression.

We begin with a track representing one of the major highlights of my year. It happened for my birthday. I got to see Taylor Hicks in April! This song is called Maybe You Should, written by Taylor Hicks/Gary Nicholson/Mike Reid, as released by Taylor on the CD The Distance in 2008.

Track 2 features Mike Reid, a former NFL football player for the Cincinnati Bengals (1970-74) turned songwriter. He collaborated with Taylor on Maybe You Should. Mr Reid was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005. In 1985, Mr Reid scored a #1 hit and won ACM Song of the Year and 1986 ASCAP Country Song of the Year with Lost in the Fifties Tonight. Writing credit is listed as Mike Reid/Troy Seals. The song was performed by Ronnie Milsap and is one of my all time favorites.

But now where to jump for track 3. Hmmmm. You might see a hint in the lyrics to track 2, but I didn't jump to The Five Satins. Instead, I noticed that Ronnie Milsap recorded his album Lost in the Fifties Tonight for RCA Records. RCA began turning out hits in Nashville from a brand new recording studio in 1957. Since Elvis Presley recorded many of his hits at RCA Studio B, I made a big leap to The King. This is It's Now or Never, written by Wally Gold/Aaron Schroeder, released in 1960.

You know, now that I listen to that song again, I recognize that it has a Cha Cha Cha beat. So you know what? I'm going to make an even bigger leap. I can so jump from Elvis Presley to Tea for Two, originally released in 1925 with music by Vincent Youmans (lyrics by Irving Ceasar, but this video is instrumental for the dance), particularly when the Cha Cha Cha is presented by the outstanding Joanna Leunis and Michael Malitowski.

Alrighty then. I've been quite eclectic through these 4 tracks. But now you may find yourself wondering, Travis...you said you were going to present a progression that combined all 3 options, because you're an over-achieving stinker.

Wait...that didn't come out right.

But yes, friends and neighbors...I led off with a 2011 highlight. Then I had 3 random tunes just because they struck my fancy. Now, I shall end this Set with Track 5...an expectation I have coming up in 2012.

It can't be just any expectation because it has to progress from track 4. And it does. The song Tea for Two originally appeared in No, No, Nanette, a 1925 musical. As you may know, Pam and I love musical theatre and have a subscription to Seattle's 5th Avenue. In 2012, we would love to take a long weekend and go to New York to see as many shows as we can on Broadway. The song representing that wish for 2012 is Bring Him Home from Les Miserable, as performed by the brilliant Colm Wilkinson.

Yeah, I know I've used this one before in a regular FoF. But three things...

We saw Les Mis at the 5th this year, so it fits this FDoMP.
Nothing beats that last note, so it should stand for this or any FDoMP.
Because it's my game and I say it fits this or any FDoMP.

Hehehe!

I hope you enjoyed my Set, and I hope you took some time to play along. But even if you didn't play, there's always next time.

Have a grand weekend!

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

The Bill of Rights

2011-12-15T00:05:00.000-08:00

I commemorated the ratification of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution last year, and I would like to do so again.

Originally posted on 15 December 2010: In one of the earliest bipartisan compromises in the history of American government, Federalists agreed to create a Bill of Rights that would immediately amend the Constitution. Anti-federalists demanded these amendments to prevent a federal government that would impinge upon matters that they felt were strictly rights of states and individuals.

The Bill of Rights was drafted by Congress on 25 December 1789, and ratified by 3/4 majority of states on 15 December 1791. The document was written by James Madison, loosely adapted from the state of Virginia's Declaration of Rights.

These are the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution. I write them in full, because certain words and phrases are often cherry-picked by those with agendas. Or to put it more diplomatically, sometimes people find themselves saying things like "that's not what it says" or "I didn't realize it said that". I quote directly from this National Archives website.

To date, there have been 17 other amendments added to the Constitution for a total of 27.

The Constitution was written to form the binding federal structure that established governance of the people, by the people, and for the people...for "ourselves and our posterity". That means that the founders clearly understood that times change, and what seemed perfectly sensible in the 18th century might be at best charmingly anachronistic in the future, and at worst, absurd.

Politics and cynicism often subvert the meaning of the things written in our Constitution. But if you're an American, it is incumbent upon you to know what is written in the entire document so you may...

...honestly understand your rights and responsibilities.

...hold accountable those elected to make decisions in your name.

...appreciate what you passionately defend.

Happy Bill of Rights Ratification Day!

John Lennon, 9 Oct 1940 - 8 Dec 1980

2011-12-12T00:05:00.000-08:00

I let the day pass last week without comment, but not unobserved. Today I re-post my thoughts from last year to commemorate the date the John Lennon was killed.

From 8 December 2010: There will be many profound words spoken and written about John Lennon's legacy. His music will be featured on radio stations and Ipods. His lyrics will be quoted.

Rightfully so. Deservedly so.

People will gather outside the NY apartment building where he was murdered. They will remember the moment they heard the news that he had been shot, and then they will remember the moment they heard that he was dead.

It was a Monday night. I was 16 years old. It was the winter of my senior year in high school. I was gradually recovering from a devastating knee injury from the last football game I ever played, and coming to terms with the end of my dream of becoming a Marine. I was watching the football game between Miami and New England. Miami won 16-13. I had to look that up because I didn't remember.

Howard Cosell told me and millions of others that John Lennon had been murdered.

I wasn't devastated, but I was affected. I wasn't dead, just momentarily crippled. My knee was going to heal reasonably. We couldn't afford the surgery, so I'd have to make the best recovery I could without it. Barely a month after the injury, I was hardly able to put much weight on the knee, even with the aid of crutches. Although I would never play football in college or be a Marine, I was still going to have a life and a future.

John Lennon was dead.

There are the obvious songs to post in tribute to a man who wrote so many wonderful lyrics and so much intriguing music either as a solo singer/songwriter or in partnership with others. I wanted something less obvious, although no less significant.

I liked his solo work, but I loved his work with the Beatles. On 8 December 1980, fans finally knew there would never be a Beatles reunion. So that's what I want today. John Lennon as part of John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

My Ipod is on Beatles rotation. So take another day and remember John Lennon, and The Beatles, with joy.

Army vs Navy

2011-12-10T11:45:00.000-08:00

Today marks the 112th time that the US Military Academy has played the US Naval Academy in football. The first game was played on 29 Nov 1890. The Midshipment have won 55 of the 111 previous games, including the last 9 in a row. The Black Knights of Army have won 49 of the games. There have been 7 ties.

Neither team will play in a bowl game this year. Navy is 4-7 going into today's game while Army is 3-8. On the positive side for both teams, they finished in the top 5 in the nation in total rushing yards per game. Army is first, averaging 351 yards rushing per game. Navy is fourth at 314 yards per game.

I am in favor of a playoff system to determine the national champion in college football and will once again boycott all bowl games. I do love some of the tradition and pageantry in college football. That's one of the things that draws me to this game every year. I love the spirit clips the students from both academies make. I love the seniors who introduce themselves and the branches of service they will enter upon graduation.

This game reminds me that there are young people in this country who do understand the words duty, honor, country, and commitment. And they come from all backgrounds.

Once the competition has ended, the losing team goes to its student section. The players are called to attention on the field with the students in the stands. And the band plays the school alma matre. The winning team stands at attention behind them in respect and solidarity. Then both teams proceed to the winning teams students for a repeat of the ritual.

Football, and as such sport itself, is in its proper perspective for these young men. Playing is fun. To play with intensity is important. To win is important. But above that, to play with honor and respect for your opponent is more highly valued. This game defines sportsmanship.

Congratulations to the seniors from both academies. I thank them for their commitment to becoming the future leaders of our armed forces, and wish them well as they graduate next spring to the defense of our country and our liberty.

United States Military Academy

Duty, Honor, Country

United States Naval Academy

From knowledge, seapower

I include the graduating class of seniors from the US Air Force Academy in my admiration and gratitude. Air Force finished 7-5 and won the 2011 Commander-in-Chief's trophy, beating Navy 35-34 in OT in October and Army 24-14 in November. The Falcons will face Toledo on 28 December in the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman.

I know I just gave the sponsor of a bowl game some exposure here. But my intent was to praise and to honor the young men from the US Air Force Academy, who have won the Commander-in-Chief's trophy 18 times since it's inception in 1972 against 12 times for Navy and 6 times for Army.

United States Air Force Academy

Integrity first, Service before self, Excellence in all we do

Five on Friday Set 98

2011-12-09T00:05:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I dig bands fronted by rockin' chicks. One of my favorites is The Pretenders featuring Chrissie Hynde. And she could write, too.

Enjoy Set 98 and have a great weekend!

Brass in Pocket, written by Chrissie Hynde/James Honeyman-Scott, 1979

Back on the Chain Gang, written by Chrissie Hynde, 1982

My City was Gone, written by Chrissie Hynde, 1982

Don't Get Me Wrong, written by Chrissie Hynde, 1986

I'll Stand By You, written by Chrissie Hynde/Tom Kelly/Billy Steinberg, 1994

And don't forget...I've offered up another game of Five Degrees of Musical Progression for 16 December. That's next Friday!

This time around, I've suggested three possible avenues to take in building your Set. Ready?

This one is "easy". Just come up with whatever strikes your fancy.
Define 2011 with a progression that reflects how your year went.
Set the stage for what you expect in 2012.

For more details, check here.

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

7 December 1941

2011-12-07T00:05:00.000-08:00

What follows are the words I wrote last year on 7 December. I post them again because I don't think I can say what I feel about this day any better.

The sound bite catch phrase is "freedom is not free". Freedom and liberty mean so much more to me than a sentiment that fits on a bumper sticker. True acts of patriotism come from what we do with our freedom to choose and our liberty to act.

I believe that honor is found in the act of service and not only in the type of service. Duty, honor, and country are important words to me that evoke a sense of national identity and dedication to the ideal that we all have an obligation to remember our history and those who came before us. Their actions in the face of overwhelming adversity should be recalled and commemorated so that we can learn from them.

We do not live in a vacuum of now, where what happens in the next five minutes is distinct from all that has happened before. We are our history. Our respect and understanding of it impacts our choices, which in turn affects the legacy we leave behind when we become part of the history of the generation that follows.

I don't live each moment of my life wondering how I'll be remembered. But as I learn and grow throughout my life, as I make decisions and choices, as I act and relate with others around me, I create my legacy and impact the legacy of those around me.

I won't be remembered as someone who impacted the world with any kind of significance. I'm OK with that. But it doesn't mean that I will consciously live insignificantly in this world.

Today is the 70th commemoration of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which launched the United States into nearly four years of global war.

There is only one confirmed surviving veteran of World War I. Mrs Florence Beatrice Green from Britain is 110.

One day we'll say the same of our World War II veterans. It is the nature of time.

Accounts vary as to how many uniformed survivors remain today. The number is estimated at between 3,000 and 8,000. It is important to remember this history, if for no other reason than to honor the service and sacrifice of those who gave a piece of themselves to the defense of their country and their fellow citizens. We must never take these events for granted. We must not relegate them to some past that has no relevance to our present.

Simply, we must remember...

...the 1,177 men who went down with USS Arizona.

...the additional 1,158 service personnel killed during the attack.

...the 68 civilians killed during the attack.

...the 1,178 military personnel and civilians wounded during the attack.

...rescue and medical personnel, and others manning small harbor craft, who braved oil slicks and searing heat to pull victims to safety and render first aid and comfort.

...the numerous and varied acts of heroism above and beyond the call, such as Ship's Cook Third Class Dorie Miller USN, serving on USS West Virginia, who carried many of his wounded shipmates to safety and attempted to rescue his mortally wounded Captain. Then he manned a 50 caliber Browning anti-aircraft gun for which he had never been trained. He earned the Navy Cross for his actions.

...the crew of USS Nevada, who managed to get their battleship underway during the attack and tried to steam out of harm's way, ultimately running aground in order to avoid being sunk in the middle of the harbor.

...the pilots and service crews who were able to get a few P-40's and P-36's off the ground from Haleiwa airfield. These planes engaged enemy aircraft and shot down as many as 11, losing 4 of their own.

...Navy and civilian salvage crews, who worked for more than 20,000 hours on over 5,000 dives. Their efforts helped put 11 ships back into service from 1942 through 1944. They were also able to re-float 4 sunken battleships, which were ultimately returned to service and saw action against Japan later in the war.

...all veterans of the Pearl Harbor attack.

To all who performed above and beyond the call in the early morning hours of 7 December 1941, and in the subsequent days leading to 15 August 1945 when Japan surrendered and World War II came to an end, I offer my deepest respect and gratitude.

I wish those who remain peace in the twilight of their lives. They earned it.

The wind...it whirls

2011-12-05T00:05:00.001-08:00

We've been on the go since Thanksgiving here in the Pacific Northwest, creating our own little whirlwind of fun and frolics. We've been reconnecting with friends in the area. It seems we've got dinner plans every other evening. And when we're not having dinner with friends, we're meeting for cocktails or game night.

My ribs are beginning to ache from all the laughing.

We're having a great holiday season. Posts may be sporadic in this space through December. Consider Trav's Thoughts on semi-hiatus for the rest of the holiday season. I'll be here for Five on Friday for sure. Anything else will be as time permits.

Keep smiling. Have fun. Make your holiday season what you want it to be. Don't let anyone tell you how you should celebrate. Celebrate in the way that seems best to you and your family.

Joyous Yule!

Finally Five on Friday Set 97

2011-12-02T21:30:00.000-08:00

Sorry gang! Blogger had some kind of issue last night and into this morning. This is the first chance I've had to get my Set organized.

I've been feeling mellow all week, but it wasn't until Thursday afternoon that I heard the song that brought me to the perfect Set to match my mood. So without further stuff and nonsense, here is Set 97.

I'm Sorry, written by John Denver, #1 hit released in 1975

Fly Away, written by John Denver, #1 hit released in 1975

Rocky Mountain High, written by John Denver/Mike Taylor, released in 1972

Sunshine On My Shoulders, written by John Denver/Dick Kniss/Mike Taylor, #1 hit released in 1973

Annie's Song, written by John Denver, #1 hit released in 1974

And don't forget...I've offered up another game of Five Degrees of Musical Progression for 16 December. You can get the details here.

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up

2011-12-01T00:05:00.000-08:00

Re-posting, as has become tradition here at Trav's Thoughts. Every year, approximately 6.2 million people die from cancer. This post is dedicated to anyone who has lost someone to cancer, to anyone who may be battling cancer right now or know someone who is, and also to all of you cancer survivors out there.

It's Jimmy V week in college basketball. It's a week of nearly 50 college basketball games in 10 days across the country, including the Coaches vs Cancer Classic, the ACC/Big 10 Challenge, and the Big East/SEC Challenge. The games feature healthy young men and women playing the game with passion and emotion.

The games also help raise awareness about cancer and funds for cancer research.

In what has become an annual post for me, I ask you once again to take 10 minutes and watch Jim Valvano's inspiring speech at the 1993 ESPY awards.

Jim Valvano (1946-1993) died of cancer less than two months after giving this speech. In the 19 years since the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research was established, it has raised more than $100 million.

The motto for the foundation is "Don't give up, don't ever give up".

NC State, coached by Jimmy V, beat Houston in the most improbable upset ever to win the 1983 NCAA Basketball Championship. They never gave up. And they created March Madness.

You may click here or on the graphics in my sidebar to read more about the work the V Foundation and the Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund do, and to make a donation should you choose.

Please remember the words of Coach Valvano..."Cancer can take away all my physical ability. It cannot touch my mind; it cannot touch my heart; and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever."

Peace to you all.

Senseo vs Keurig

2011-11-30T00:05:00.000-08:00

I have an original Senseo coffee machine that my folks got for me when the units were first introduced. I loved it then and I still do. It uses coffee pods to make a great single cup with a frothy foam. You can buy the ones Senseo markets under their brand, if you can find them on a store shelf somewhere. My Safeway doesn't carry them anymore. I may have seen them at Fred Meyer once, but we don't shop there much these days.

Folgers coffee pods work with it. You can probably find other brands that make coffee pods too. I'm partial to the Senseo ones.

The brewer is a bit on the noisy side. The pods are messy after use. The water reservoir is hard to clean. The spout has a tendency to drip for awhile after the coffee pours. And even though you can use other brands of coffee pods in place of Senseo's, there really aren't all that many varieties. Plus they can be expensive when you do find them.

We also have a Mr Coffee machine that we bought last year around this time. But Pam and I have widely different morning schedules and it isn't always convenient to make a full pot. We might do a full pot on weekends. Or when we're having company.

But what we really like is a single cup brewer. So this past weekend we picked up a Keurig Mini Plus Brewing System as an alternative to the Senseo machine. I can report that we love it!

It isn't much quieter, but like the Senseo, the Keurig is very easy to use. The K-cups don't leak and are easily dropped into place, then removed after use and tossed in the garbage...without dripping onto the counter or into your hand as you move from the brewer to the trash. The Keurig brews within 2 minutes, pours quickly, and doesn't drip after it finishes pouring. And the variety of coffee flavors is amazing. We're drinking our way through the assortment that came with the machine, plus an extra box of mixed flavors we picked up.

So now we have three choices when it comes to coffee brewing. And a lot of variety in our coffee flavor selections.

We like choices. We like variety. Choices and variety are good things to have.

So, Senseo vs Keurig...is there a clear winner? I'd have to say it depends on what I'm in the mood for. Although it isn't an espresso machine, Senseo does pour a nice frothy cuppa, and sometimes I want that. Keurig pours a clean cuppa with lots of flavor variety, and sometimes I want that.

Hmmm...perhaps I should experiment some more.

Tuesday Thoughts

2011-11-29T00:05:00.000-08:00

I have a couple of thoughts to share on this last November Tuesday.

Before the holiday break, one of the women I work with passed her US citizenship test and participated in a ceremony to become a naturalized citizen of the United States. Unless you know someone who has done that, I don't think you can understand how important it is to the individual, and how truly proud they are.

I admit that I take for granted some things about living free in this country. Not a lot...I was raised to understand my civic duty and contribute to the health and well being of my community. But sometimes I lose track of how easy it is to walk out of the home I own, get into the vehicle I own, drive a couple of blocks to the grocery store, and pick up just about anything I feel like eating in that moment.

I appreciate the history and the people who have made it possible for me to do stuff like that. But that isn't the first thing I think of when I want a pizza, you know?

I'm rambling a bit. I get to be a citizen of this country by accident of birth. My colleague chose it, worked for it, and earned it. I have profound respect for her.

The other thought I have today is frustration with people who throw the First Amendment around like a shield against consequences. The text of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution reads this way...

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Nowhere in that passage does it say anything about relieving any person or persons of the consequences of what they say. So exercise your right to speak your mind. But be aware and prepared that someone may just decide to exercise their right to object to what you say and speak their mind about it.

If you can accept that someone can say what they want in response to what you say, then you truly understand and respect the spirit of the First Amendment. If you can also see that the amendment protects speech from government interference and censure, then you truly understand and respect the actual purpose of First Amendment.

So...citizenship, rights, consequences, and responsibility. I guess those are some pretty good thoughts to have on a Tuesday, or on any day.

Five Degrees of Musical Progression, Vol 4

2011-11-28T00:05:00.000-08:00

Remember this? Volume 3 was way back in April. I started thinking about doing another one to celebrate the end of the year. And wouldn't you know, Cherie suggested it in comments last Friday!

In case you don't remember what I'm talking about, the basic idea is to start with a song and then let something about the song...a lyric, the artist, the way the record was produced, etc...lead you to the next track. And keep following that progression until you have a 5 song Set.

When we did this back in April, I gave you the first song. This time around, I'll give you three possible avenues to take in building your Set. Ready?

This one is "easy". Just come up with whatever strikes your fancy.
Define 2011 with a progression that reflects how your year went.
Set the stage for what you expect in 2012.

What do you think? Are you up for it?

Let's set the date to post our progressions for 16 Dec. That gives everyone three weeks to get organized and decide on a Set. Then it's your choice whether to post the explanation of your progression with your Set, or post it later and give us all a chance to interpret it.

I hope you play along. And if you've never tried this fun way to enjoy music, this might be a good way to introduce yourself to it.

Five on Friday Set 96

2011-11-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

I trust that everyone had a wonderful meal yesterday. We did. Butterball offered a boneless turkey breast...about 3lbs. So we roasted that up and it was just the right size to give us a nice meal with some left over for sammiches today.

We cheated on everything else...Stove Top stuffing, asparagus and sweet potatoes out of a can, and Idahoan brand instant mashed potatoes (4 minutes in the microwave). Topped it off with cranberry sauce - not the berry kind. And some great bread from our Safeway bakery.

Pie was pumpkin by Sara Lee. We also have a Sara Lee cherry pie that we'll bake up over the weekend.

Sucks that my 49ers couldn't pass block last night. But I'll still take 9-2 over where they were last year.

OK. So what's on tap for Set 96. Well that's a very good question and I'll answer it.

The group is called Pentatonix. They are one of three finalists on the show Sing Off. I am so impressed by these 5 singers. Remember, there are no instruments...only vocals.

If you haven't watched the show yet, check out the finale Monday night.

Got a bonus track for you from this past Monday's show. This is the Dartmouth Aires putting on a whale of a show with Shout. They made the finale, along with a third group called Urban Method.

Have a great weekend!

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

Cue that theme music!

2011-11-23T00:05:00.000-08:00

It's the Grand Finale!

Yes indeed. We've got our fru fru finery, our bread and cheese, and our double-step-over-lip-lock-chocolate-fudge-supreme-layer-CAKE. Oh, and our nice merlot. We are ready for 2 hours of frivolity.

And when you get to the end of this post, you'll know which of our three remaining pairs has danced away with that Glittering Globe of Glory!

First off, let's have a few encores from Monday's performance finale.

I'm not convinced that the freestyle from Rob and Cheryl was worth a perfect 30, but I did enjoy it. Click here if the video doesn't play.

I loved the Cha Cha Cha from Ricki and Derek. Click here if the video doesn't play.

The judges gave the other two freestyle performances perfect scores of 30 and thought that Ricki and Derek only deserved 27. We thought their freestyle was dance of the night. Click here if the video doesn't play.

Here's our leader board after Monday's two dances.

57 Rob and Cheryl
54 Ricki and Derek
54 JR and Karina

We'll add one more score from the judges before eliminating one pair, and then the remaining two couples will dance a final time before the winner is crowned.

Of course we have our pros leading off the show. You know I like that. And all of our celebrities are back as well.

Lady Antebellum is in the ballroom, accompanied by Kym, Dmitry, Peta, and Val. Not a bad song, but I thought it was made better by the beautiful Rumba.

The first round of competition features our couples dancing a favorite and hoping to better their original score.

Ricki and Derek dance Tango. This was fantastic the first time. I love the drama in this dance. I thought this was one of Derek's all time best efforts for choreography because the Psycho music was so challenging. I think this time around, Ricki improved on her footwork. That's something she has struggled with all season, according to the judges. And her shoulders. Now that she has figured out how to keep them down and back, her posture looks a lot stronger. This was a calculated choice, because it's tough to improve on how well they danced it the first time. It all comes down to detail, and I think that's what made this performance even better than the first time.

Rob and Cheryl dance Foxtrot. I think this is a good choice, because Rob has improved so much since they danced this and I think the style suits the personality we've seen emerge over the last 7 weeks. Unfortunately, it took him too much time to relax into the musicality. The beginning was stiff and he had a couple of footwork bobbles. The dance ended well, but I think he missed an opportunity to really improve on this. It was a little sloppy. I do appreciate the journey he and Cheryl have been through, and I like that he chose this routine. The problem I have with it is that there isn't any amount of charm that overcomes the mistakes at the beginning the threw off the timing.

JR and Karina dance Jive. This is the Jive that Len didn't care for because he said it had too much Lindy Hop influence. I did like this Jive, probably for that reason because I love Lindy Hop. They'll change the choreography to take some of that out, and remove the opening lift. The problem I have with the dance this time around is that they didn't connect all the movement. There were a couple of moments when they stopped, almost like they were waiting for the counts to catch up to the music because they didn't put in enough steps. In retrospect, I think they should have stuck with the original routine because it had more excitement. This one looked like it was just thrown together and I didn't like it.

Now the judges rank the couples to award points. Third and 26 points go to Rob and Cheryl. Second and 28 points go to JR and Karina. First and 30 points go to Ricki and Derek. I'll agree with that ranking.

Here's our combined leader board with the third round of scoring added to Monday's two dances.

84 Ricki and Derek
83 Rob and Cheryl
82 JR and Karina

Here we go now with the first elimination. Finishing in third place...Ricki and Derek.

Thought so. I thought she got jobbed for scores last night, but I also thought that the fan bases for JR and for Rob would overwhelm hers.

So Rob and Cheryl will face off against JR and Karina with an Instant Samba to Shake Your Bon Bon for the final scores of the season. JR and Karina go first, followed by Rob and Cheryl.

Ah...here comes the parade of eliminated celebrities. Ron and Peta return, but his Cha Cha Cha isn't much better than it was in week 1. Elisabetta and Val return...I thought she had potential but didn't have the fan base to stick around long enough.

Kristin and Mark return with a new routine, to which they added a second pro dancer. I agree that she was probably eliminated too soon, but keep in mind that if you don't grab the fans, then it doesn't matter how much potential you have as a dancer. That was a fun Jive routine. I'd have thrown an 8, maybe even a 9 for that.

Chynna was an early favorite of mine with partner Tony. She couldn't survive the mistake in her Mission Impossible routine. I love that they get a chance now to do the dance as it was meant to be done. With the pressure off, Chynna reminds us of the talent she had. It's a shame she couldn't get it the first time around, and didn't have the fan support to make it through eliminations. Who knows, maybe she still would have been eliminated after this dance. But then again, maybe not. She was really good. I would have thrown 8s across.

Carson and Anna get a chance to put together a new routine to Madonna's Vogue. Now that's entertainment. Fun stuff.

Nancy and Tristan return with their Broadway Foxtrot. This dance makes me smile.

Next up it's Chaz and Lacey, accompanied by Lacey's dad Buddy Schwimmer. Love it! You know, Buddy is a former world class swing dance champion and still a first class teacher.

David and Kym return with their Broadway Quickstep routine, dressed up with our Dance Troupe. That was fun!

Lady Antebellum are back with one more song, accompanied by our Dance Troupe.

Hope and Maks return with one of my favorite routines of the season...their sunny Quickstep.

OK. Here we go with Instant Samba.

First up, JR and Karina...Samba was one of my favorite dances from these two. JR doesn't look good at all this time around. The dance looks off time and out of step. Judges say 10s across for a total of 30.

Now Rob and Cheryl...Rob looks very relaxed and in control. Samba was also one of my favorite performances from him. Gotta say it...Rob had a better performance than JR. Judges say10s across for a total of 30.

I get what the judges did there. The fan vote should decide it. But if they were going to throw perfect scores regardless of what they say in the dancing, what was the point of doing it?

Here's our grand finale leader board:

113 Rob and Cheryl
112 JR and Karina

OK. We've been through nearly 2 hours of frivolity. Here are the final results. Finishing second...Rob and Cheryl.

That means JR and Karina are the Season 13 champions!

Wahoooo! Congratulations to JR, and to Karina for winning her first Mirror Ball Trophy.

I enjoyed this season. There are always pleasant surprises and sometimes shocks when the celebrities actually get on the floor and start dancing. But I'm always entertained.

Thanks to all for putting up with my silly obsession. Season 14 is due next March.

Later gang!

Cue that theme music!

2011-11-22T00:05:00.000-08:00

It's live from Hollywood!

Well gang, we've reached the performance finale of Season 13. Of course, that means that we get to see each of our remaining 3 pairs perform two dances, one of which is the highly anticipated freestyle where anything goes.

First, each couple dances a style they haven't yet tried.

Ricki and Derek dance Cha Cha Cha. Carrie Ann visits rehearsal. One of the things I appreciate about Ricki is that she usually dances with confidence and assurance no matter if she's nervous. She may be insecure in some of the styles, but she usually keeps her composure. Her posture is always contained and controlled, even if she gets the steps wrong. I really liked this Cha Cha Cha. Ricki has an elegance and grace about her that is very appealing to me. I liked her musicality in this piece. The dance had sensuality and a bit of cheekiness. It wasn't perfect, but it was definitely smooth and relaxed. Judges say 9s across for a total of 27.

Rob and Cheryl dance Waltz. Bruno visits rehearsal. I really wanted to like this dance, but the musicality felt off to me. It looked like they were dancing at a different tempo than what I was hearing. I think I know why...I often can't hear the rhythm. Rather I hear and feel the melody. And I think they were dancing to the rhythm. That's why it looked awkward to me. I did see some issues with his posture. He kind of hunched a bit, and I think that pulled him off balance in a couple of places. I did like the rise and fall, but his footwork occasionally looked plodding. It was a good effort, but in a Waltz I want a fairy tale and I thought this dance fell short of that. Judges say 9s across for a total of 27.

JR and Karina dance Cha Cha Cha. Len visits rehearsal. I love this music for Cha Cha Cha. He's dancing through that ankle, but he doesn't look as smooth on his feet as he did before the injury. But the thing I like about this dance is his confidence. He was confident, even when he missed a step and got ahead of the music. He performed the character, and that hid a lot of the problems and mistakes in the actual dancing. He went off time. And it seemed like Karina may have scaled back the choreography in this dance to spare the ankle for freestyle. I didn't see enough Cha Cha Cha content for my taste...certainly not as much as Ricki and Derek had. Judges say 8,7,9 for a total of 24.

Here's our leader board after the first round:

27 Ricki and Derek
27 Rob and Cheryl
24 JR and Karina

Next up, it's freestyle. These dances can go horribly wrong, or amazingly great.

Ricki and Derek...Derek has chosen a combination of ballroom and Latin styles for a show dance routine. I prefer when the pros show off the technique they've been teaching all season. This dance had energy and a ton of content from almost every style. Plus it had crazy lifts and tricks that were well integrated into the choreography. That last spin at the end was so fast it made Ricki dizzy when Derek finally put her down. Wow! All the movement was connected throughout, and some of it was hard to connect. This freestyle definitely lived up to my expectations. Derek has won every final he's been in, and he and Ricki certainly laid down the challenge with this performance. Judges say 9s across for a total of 27.

Rob and Cheryl...Cheryl choreographed one of the best freestyle dances for Drew Lachey. Cheryl had also chosen more of a show dance for Rob, which I think makes the most sense for Rob. I think this is his strength, and Cheryl was smart to emphasize it and show off how far Rob has come in this competition. This dance began with a Foxtrot feel and ended with Quickstep. In the middle, it had difficult lifts and tricks. I loved the concept and the staging of the dance, and I thought the presentation was outstanding. There's no doubt that all those lifts were difficult and Rob handled them pretty well. That's a winning freestyle right there. Judges say 10s for a total of 30.

JR and Karina...Little bit of a scary rehearsal with Karina really wanting to got for some outrageous tricks and JR putting on the breaks. And Karina panicked some about the lifts during dress rehearsal. They've gone for Salsa inspired choreography...with a really great lift at the beginning that could have gone very wrong, but didn't. They have quite a bit more side by side than the other two pairs. This kind of routine really needs to be in synch and sharp for me to enjoy, and I didn't think it was. There were some very difficult tricks and they certainly had the energy. But I didn't care for the performance. Most of it felt out of balance to me. However, I appear to be in the minority because the judges and the ballroom audience thought it was great. Judges say 10s across for a total of 30.

Here's our leader board after both dances:

57 Rob and Cheryl
54 Ricki and Derek
54 JR and Karina

I'm OK with any of these three couples winning. I have a soft spot for Karina since she is the only pro in this season's final who hasn't won, and I think JR certainly has the fan base to win it all. Our preference is for Ricki and Derek, but I feel like she had to win the night to make the final two. I have a sneaky suspicion that Rob and Cheryl have the momentum now to pull off the upset.

Congratulations to all three pairs. Each couple has one more dance for scores tonight during the results show. Then one pair will be eliminated and our final two will get a final dance.

Tune in tonight to see who takes the coveted Fabulous Mirror Ball Trophy! And check back tomorrow for my final encores and results recap.

Later gang!

Saint Sanguinus

2011-11-21T00:05:00.000-08:00

Saint Sanguinus is the first book in a new vampire trilogy, written by my blog pal Julia Phillips Smith. Pam and I read it together this weekend. We only put it down twice, and it was a struggle to leave it both times.

The first time was Saturday night so we could go to sleep. The second time was Sunday afternoon to watch Pam's Seahawks play the Rams. As soon as the game was over, we put Sunday Night Football on mute and finished the book.

It's a captivating story of...well, I don't think I'll tell you. I think instead that I'll encourage you to read it for yourselves. If you have an eReader, you can download the book from Amazon and Smashwords for $2.99.

I'll say this also...Julia has crafted a believable mythology for her vampires. They are dark and ravenous; monsters more in the tradition of the vampire as deadly dangerous and blood thirsty. But it's not a horror story. It's a dark romantic adventure with appeal to men and women.

Trust me...Pam and I both liked it.

Pick this one up. The characters stand up off the page to tell their stories. Julia has a writing style that is comfortable. She invites you into the story and keeps you there. She understands how to build the story to a climax that closes this first chapter and sets up the next.

All together an outstanding debut.

Senior Day

2011-11-19T16:30:00.000-08:00

After stumbling to an 0-2 start, Notre Dame has gone on to have a respectable season.

Today was Senior Day for the Irish. I offer my congratulations to this group of seniors who struggled as underclassmen, made it through the firing of the coach who recruited them to Notre Dame, and have adapted successfully to a new system designed more for the kids who will remain after this group graduates in the spring.

Best wishes to these Notre Dame seniors. May you find success in your future endeavors.

Robert Blanton
Braxton Cave
Lane Clelland
Patrick Coughlin
Dayne Crist
Taylor Dever
Steve Filer
Darius Fleming
Michael Floyd
Jonathan Frantz
Mike Golic Jr
John Goodman
Gary Gray
Jonas Gray
Mike Grieco
Ethan Johnson
Ryan Kavanagh
Kapron Lewis-Moore
Nick Lezynski
Dennis Mahoney
Dan McCarthy
Anthony McDonald
Matthew Mulvey
Brandon Newman
Andrew Nuss
Sean Oxley
Andrew Plaska
David Posluszny
Mike Ragone
Trevor Robinson
David Ruffer
Chris Salvi
Ryan Sharpley
Ryan Sheehan
Jamoris Slaughter
Harrison Smith
Deion Walker
Hafis Williams

And to these juniors who may leave school early for the NFL, I hope you stick around but wish you all the best if the decision is to go.

Theo Riddick
Manti Te'o
Cierre Wood

Five on Friday Set 95

2011-11-18T00:05:00.000-08:00

I had a great memory this week associated with the music in this Set. I'll keep the memory to myself, but I'll share the music.

Have a grand weekend! Make some new memories!

Stand By Me, written by Ben E. King/Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller, as released by Mickey Gilley, 1980

You Don't Know Me, written by Eddy Arnold and Cindy Walker, as released by Mickey Gilley, 1981

The Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time, written by Baker Knight, as released by Mickey Gilley, 1976

That's All That Matters, written by Hank Cochran, as released by Mickey Gilley, 1980

Put Your Dreams Away, written by Richard Leigh and Wayland Holyfield, as released by Mickey Gilley, 1982

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

Cue that theme music

2011-11-16T00:05:00.000-08:00

It's encores and results!

When you get to the end of this post, you'll know who made next week's finale. But first, it's encores!

We liked the Argentine Tango from Rob and Cheryl. Click here if the video doesn't play.

We really liked the Argentine Tango from Ricki and Derek. Click here if the video doesn't play.

It was so close...our choice for dance of the night could easily have been the Samba from Rob and Cheryl. Click here if the video doesn't play.

It was scored as perfect, and so earns dance of the night honors. It's the most excellent Samba from Ricki and Derek. Click here if the video doesn't play.

Outstanding!

Now here's a reminder of our leader board after three dances on Monday:

67 Ricki and Derek
65 Rob and Cheryl
56 JR and Karina
49 Hope and Maks

The judges select the Samba from Rob and Cheryl as the encore.

First results...Rob and Cheryl and in the finale!

A group called Cobra Starship is in the ballroom. I have no idea who this is. Oh...it's club music. That's why I don't know it. We do get to see Tristan, Kym, Sharna, and Sonny Peterson dance to the music.

Macy's Design A Dance features Anna and Derek dancing Paso Doble to Bad Romance. Wow! That was so good.

The AT&T Spotlight performance features kids from The Gold Studio...Kyle Scanlan, David Guzman, Jacob Guzman, and Matt Gilmore...who dance despite stereotypes against male dancers and the bullying that can sometimes come from it.

Now it's The Muppets! Muppets make me smile.

Final results...Earlier we learned that Rob and Cheryl are in the finale. Ricki and Derek are also in the finale. JR and Karina are in the finale as well.

And that means Hope and Maks are eliminated.

I try to be positive with the celebrities that come on the show. But I'll be honest. Hope's attitude really irritated me this week. The styles didn't suit her and she didn't dance well Monday. The judges tried to be constructive. And she decided that the appropriate reaction was to say, "F*** the judges. I don't even want to look at them."

So back to the soccer pitch, my dear, where that kind of attitude works a little better. See you in goal for the US national team at next summer's Olympics in London!

Tune in next week for the finale. It's down to JR, Ricki, and Rob for the coveted Fabulous Mirror Ball Trophy. It's anybody's game now!

Cue that theme music!

2011-11-15T00:05:00.000-08:00

It's the Final Four, live from Hollywood!

Our 4 remaining pairs take on three dances this week in the quest to make next week's finale. The pressure is on baby!

First up is Latin.

Hope and Maks dance Paso Doble. I don't like the beginning. Too much fooling around. Hope was terrific last week, but I think this dance is awful. Her posture and frame are slouched and sloppy. Her footwork is poor. I think she had the attitude of Paso, but none of the skill or technique. It's fine to attack the dance, but there also has to be control and performance. I didn't care for her musicality. She lacked the fluidity that she found last week, and the whole performance suffered. Intensity is one thing, but over-intense just ruins the mood. Too bad. Judges say 7s across for a total of 21.

JR and Karina dance Paso Doble. JR badly turned is ankle in rehearsal. Karina took a bit of a pounding too. They are pushing themselves hard and increasing the level of difficulty. Admirable, but you don't want to go too far with that. I'm sure the injury is causing him some pain...that leap at the beginning wasn't as crisp as I would normally expect from JR, and his balance is off a bit. His posture suffered as well. He's also having a lot of trouble connecting the movement. Not sure if the grimaces are part of the character of the dance, or if they are for the pain. There was a lot of potential in the choreography. It's a shame he's injured. He tried to go for it and just couldn't get there. And then he twisted the ankle again. Props for the effort. Judges say 8,7,8 for a total of 23.

Rob and Cheryl dance Samba. The problem I always see with Rob in Latin styles is stiffness. He is usually precise with his footwork, but it takes him awhile to get relaxed in the dance. Not this time! He comes out with confidence and terrific musicality. So often the male celebrities get rushed in Samba, but Rob has got everything under control in this performance. I was a little concerned about that float they started with, but they made it work. Rob had exactly the right hip action. Cheryl's choreography was outstanding. The performance was wonderful. It definitely had that party flavor. Rob is peaking at just the perfect time. What a great journey. Excellent work young man! Judges say 10,9,9 for a total of 28. Wow on the 10. The 9s were definitely deserved.

Ricki and Derek dance Samba. I'd like to see her stop worrying so much about being great and just dance. Then she'll be great because she just is. Perfect music! I love this performance. It's fun and happy. I would have liked to see her shake her shoulders a little more toward the end of the dance. I thought she hung onto it just a little too much and let it be just a touch too proper. However, she was focused on keeping her shoulders down, so that probably was why she didn't let loose and shake them harder. In retrospect, probably a good decision. The overall performance was outstanding. Derek's choreography was excellent. To my untrained eye, I thought she had her footwork squared away. Not much to pick at this time around. Judges say 10s across for a total of 30. Yup! Len says she got her feet right, so she got her feet right!

Here is our leader board after the first round.

30 Ricki and Derek
28 Rob and Cheryl
23 JR and Karina
21 Hope and Maks

Sandor and Parissa, extraordinary dancers and choreographers, join our pros and Troupe for a demonstration of Argentine Tango. That was amazing.

And now our pairs each dance Argentine Tango.

Hope and Maks...Her flat feet are really a turn off. Her legs and lower body have always been her weakness. That was completely exposed in this Tango. And Maks didn't do her any favors with some of the ugliest lifts I've ever seen. There was nothing graceful in the movement with her feet flexed and knees bent awkwardly. However, I do think Hope's upper body was very well controlled. I liked her posture and connection to Maks. I think the choreography was good and quite ambitious. I think she had the attitude, and there were moments that were sensuous. But overall, I didn't care for the performance. Judges say 8s across for a total of 24.

JR and Karina...I hope JR is able to overcome the ankle injury and perform well. Sometimes you can do it, and JR did. I loved their footwork. Everything was precise and clean. All of the movement was fluid and connected. He managed the lifts very well. In fact, the way he kept a strong base in and out of the lifts was really terrific. I only knew he was in pain because we knew that he had the injury. Otherwise he put it aside and just danced. JR channeled all of the frustration of being injured into that 90 seconds and threw down a great performance. Well done. Judges say 9s across for a total of 27.

Rob and Cheryl...The confidence is clear in Rob's posture and his control of the movement. I think that was one of his strongest performances yet. The footwork was very difficult and there were some tempo changes that he managed really well. He had solid technique. His lines were wonderful. I didn't see any of that old stiffness. He was immediately relaxed in the style and the movement was fluid and smooth. I liked the chemistry he and Cheryl had. I really enjoyed that performance. Judges say 9s across for a total of 27. Outstanding.

Ricki and Derek...I've got a high bar for these two in this dance. I like that they all got legitimate Tango music for this round of dances. The lifts Derek chose looked so effortless. There was a floating quality to them. The tempo changes in the movement felt seamless. The movement from dance into lift and then from lift to dance was fluid. Derek's choreography made maximum use of Ricki's strengths. Their shapes and lines were terrific. I loved that performance. It was controlled and contained, but also passionate and dramatic. Judges say 9,10,10 for a total of 29. Excellent!

Here is our updated leader board after two dances.

59 Ricki and Derek
55 Rob and Cheryl
50 JR and Karina
45 Hope and Maks

Our third dance is the Cha Cha Cha relay. Everyone dances to the same song in sequence. The winner gets 10 points, 2nd place gets 8, 3rd place gets 6, and 4th place gets 4. This is hard for me to judge because it goes by pretty fast.

Ricki and Derek go first. I would have liked to see a little more hip action, but I thought she did well. Hope and Maks are next. Her frame wasn't very good, but she did have good hips. JR and Karina are next. He struggled through it. It was probably one dance too many on that bad ankle. Rob and Cheryl go last and they made the most of that spot. They finished strong and I wouldn't be surprised if they take the 10 points for first place.

I thought they all did pretty well. Judges say...4 points go to Hope and Maks, 6 points go to JR and Karina, 8 points go to Ricki and Derek, and 10 points go to Rob and Cheryl.

I thought so! They were great!

Here is our final leader board after all three dances.

67 Ricki and Derek
65 Rob and Cheryl
56 JR and Karina
49 Hope and Maks

It was really a good show. I enjoyed almost every performance. I did feel badly for JR with the ankle injury. He had the strong dance for Argentine Tango, but the other two weren't as good as they would have been had he been healthy.

We thought Hope and Maks struggled in dances that weren't really suited to her strengths. Sometimes that happens. Her best week was last week.

We thought Rob and Cheryl had a great night. If they have the fans, they could pull off an upset.

We're locked in though. It's Ricki and Derek for us all the way to the end.

You know the drill...tune in tonight for results. And check back here tomorrow for my encores and results recap.

Later gang!

Saint Sanguinus, by Julia Smith

2011-11-11T00:30:00.000-08:00

You'll find my Five on Friday Set if you scroll down. You'll also find my Veterans Day tribute to those who have served and who currently serve our country in the armed forces.

I'm excited to have a guest post here today. Please welcome Julia Smith from A Piece of My Mind. She is publishing her very first novel, to be released next week.

The Unknown Soldier’s Last Battlefield

My debut novel SAINT SANGUINUS begins with a Dark Age Welsh warrior during his last moments on the battlefield. This is an image I find particularly poignant.

Perhaps because my birthday falls on Remembrance Day in Canada, and on Veteran’s Day in the US, but I have always felt a keen kinship with soldiers and warriors. In particular, when any mention is made of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, I can become instantly emotional.

So perhaps that’s why this story began for me with an ending, with the last gasping moments of a warrior’s life, when he finds himself pinned to the ground by a spear.

What would happen if this skilled warrior—outraged by being cut down in such a common manner—cursed God with his dying breath, rather than praying to be taken into God’s care?

What would happen if his curse called forth a vampire to offer that which he so desperately desired—another chance at life?

What would it be like for him to discover he’d been made into a guardian between humans and vampires, pledged to ensure neither side annihilates the other?

There have been so many young men who have perished on battlefields throughout history. As a fellow Peace Blogger, I hope there may be future generations who never have to send any further young people to take their last breath in a foreign land, on a bed of blood.

You can visit me at www.juliaphillipssmith.com, on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter.

Thanks Julia! Good luck with the book!

Veterans Day

2011-11-11T00:15:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I manage to put together the sequence of words that conveys my message in the best possible way. When that happens, I don't rewrite...I simply re-post.

I posted this same commemoration in 2010 and in 2009, and I can't think of any better way to honor Veterans.

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, major hostilities in World War 1 ended with the signing of the Armistice.

Whether you call it Veterans Day, Remembrance Day, or Armistice Day, please turn your thoughts to the men and women of the armed forces who have defended our freedoms.

Thank you to all of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and members of the US Coast Guard for their service and sacrifice. May you all be safe today, and in all the tomorrows of your service. And if you must make the ultimate sacrifice, may you go to your rest with the humble thanks of a grateful nation and her citizens.

This I also send to the men and women of all other nations who defend freedom and justice around the world.

Five on Friday Set 94

2011-11-11T00:05:00.000-08:00

Pam asked to do another Set. I suspect that's OK with y'all.

She may be trying to tell me something.

Right back atcha Lady.

Could I Have This Dance, written by Wayland Holyfield and Bob House, released by Anne Murray, 1980.

And I Love You So, written by Don McLean, released in 1970.

Sunday Morning Sunshine, written by Harry Chapin, released 1972. Yeah, I know we just had this one a couple months ago. But Pam wanted it again, so she gets it.

If, written by David Gates, released by Bread in 1971.

The Goodbye Girl, written by David Gates, released in 1977.

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

Happy Birthday USMC, 10 November 2011

2011-11-10T00:05:00.000-08:00

The United States Marine Corps was established 10 November 1775 as the Continental Marines to provided infantry support to the Navy. Today, USMC stands as our amphibious force-in-readiness capable of rapid deployment as first responders to international incidents. As of October 2010, there are currently about 203,000 active duty Marines, with another 40,000 in the reserves.

Marines have seen action in the Revolutionary War, Quasi-War, Barbary Wars, War of 1812, Seminole Wars, Mexican-American War, American Civil War, Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, Boxer Rebellion, Banana Wars, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War I, Somali Civil War, Kosovo War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War, and Operation Odyssey Dawn.

In 236 years of history, Marines have been decorated by the governments of France, the Philippines, Korea, and Vietnam. Marines have been awarded nearly 300 Medals of Honor and scores of other decorations for valor in action.

The current Commandant of the Corps is General James F Amos. The Assistant Commandant is General Joseph F Dunford. Sergeant Major of the Corps is SgtMaj Michael P Barrett.

From the Halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

Today, cake-cutting ceremonies will be held in honor of the Corps' birthday. The first piece of cake goes to the oldest Marine present, who will hand it off to the youngest. Then, Marine Corps Order 47 will be read. This is Commandant Lejeune's Birthday Message:

If you have a chance, please cruise by Castra Praetoria and wish 1stSgt Mike Burke and his Ninjas a Happy Birthday for their Corps. And also offer your congratulations to Sgt Burke, as his selection to the rank of Sergeant Major has recently been approved.

Semper Fi.

Cue that theme music...

2011-11-09T00:05:00.000-08:00

It's encores and results!

That's right friends and neighbors...by the time you get to the end of this post, you'll know which of our remaining couples made the Final Four and will be one week closer to that Glittering Globe of Glory.

Let's begin with what we liked about Monday's performances.

Hope and Maks make the encores for the first time. This Quickstep was wonderful. Click here if the video doesn't play.

I won't say that JR and Karina didn't deserve a perfect 30 for their Waltz. I will say that I wasn't as in love with it as everyone in the ballroom was. Click here if the video doesn't play.

I will say that I don't think JR and Karina should have gotten 30 for their Instant Jive. I did enjoy it, but we didn't think it was perfect. Click here if the video doesn't play.

I didn't think the Instant Jive from Ricki and Derek was perfect either. I know it was flawed. But I enjoyed it more than the Jive from JR and Karina. Click here if the video doesn't play.

Many will disagree with me, but Pam and I enthusiastically endorse the Waltz from Ricki and Derek as dance of the night. We were in love with this dance. Click here if the video doesn't play.

It's not that we didn't enjoy JR and Karina. It's not that we don't think they are an excellent pair. I'm not suggesting any intentionally unfair disparity in the scoring from the judges. I just think that the score for JR and Karina's Jive was over generous. And I think that the judges picked nits in Ricki and Derek's Waltz that they ignored in JR and Karina's performances.

That's all I'll say about that.

Here's a reminder of our leader board after Monday's performances:

60 JR and Karina
52 Ricki and Derek
52 Hope and Maks
51 Rob and Cheryl
44 Nancy and Tristan

Our Lady pros lead off the show. OHMYGOSHTHATWASHOT!!!!!

First results...JR and Karina are in the Final Four. Hope and Maks are in the Final Four.

Andrea Bocelli is in the ballroom, accompanied by Chris Botti on trumpet. Our Dance Troupe gets dolled up for a wonderful Foxtrot. Excellent.

Macy's Stars of Dance features Cirque du Soleil and their new show, which is a tribute to Michael Jackson, called The Immortal World Tour. And we get a premier. That looks like it's going to be a great show.

Flo Rida is in the ballroom. Meh. That's just not the kind of thing I enjoy.

Final results...Ricki and Derek are in the Final Four. Rob and Cheryl are in the Final Four.

That means Nancy and Tristan are eliminated.

I agree with that decision. She went just about as far as she could go, and I think she did it with class.

So our Final Four couples are:

Ricki and Derek
JR and Karina
Hope and Maks
Rob and Cheryl

Later gang!

Cue that theme music

2011-11-08T00:05:00.000-08:00

It's live from Hollywood!

Our 5 remaining pairs return for two individual dances this week as they perform for a spot in the Final Four next week. One of those dances is the instant Jive, which requires the couples to prepare Jive choreography ahead of time, then set it to the music they pull out of the hat on show night.

Cool!

First it's the ballroom round.

Rob and Cheryl dance Quickstep. This is such a technical dance. Any issues with frame or posture are going to be really evident. I really like this piece. I think Rob's posture is really good. The footwork was a little rough to start, but the overall effect of the dance was excellent. He looked mature and elegant, and in complete control of what he was doing. The energy in the dance was spot on. And Rob's lines...crisp and precise. Cheryl has really done a fantastic job with him week after week. That was a completely sophisticated and entertaining Quickstep. Well done young man! Judges say 9s across for a total of 27. Great score and well deserved. I have no problem with him making the Final Four.

Hope and Maks dance Quickstep. Maks took a kinder, gentler approach in rehearsals this week and I like the absence of drama. But this style makes me very nervous for Hope. The intro to the dance seemed awkward to me, but once they got into hold, I was pleasantly surprised. The dress hid a lot of the unattractive quality in her legs. (I should explain...I like the power in Hope's legsses, but I don't like the way they look when she dances) Her dancing was much more relaxed and fluid. Maks didn't spare the choreography and some of those runs were quite difficult. Hope handled them very well. The dance was happy and light, and I really felt the connection between the two of them. I enjoyed the performance. Well done my dear! Judges say 9s across for a total of 27. Another well deserved score. Just two weeks ago I was ready for Hope to go. Now, maybe not.

Ricki and Derek dance Waltz. I expect a lot from this dance...it's my very favorite style and Derek is one of my favorite choreographers for it. Ricki can do everything this dance demands...the only thing that can mar it would be her shoulders. Perfect music. Perfect choreography. And I thought it was a perfect performance. Their lines together were so beautiful. The dance was so smooth and refined. They never rushed. They danced as one. I never saw all the little things the judges picked on, except for that stumble right at the end. That's because I don't have an eye for that stuff. I was just lost in the lovely performance. Pam called it mesmerizing. Judges say 9,9,10 for a total of 28. I didn't figure Carrie Ann or Len would throw the 10s because of the bobbles they pointed out.

Nancy and Tristan dance Tango. I think this is a great style for her. Now we'll see if she can pull it off. From the waste up, I thought she looked just fine. Her posture was good and her frame was controlled. She usually keeps her shoulders back and that helps with her balance. Her problem has always been in her legs, and that pulls her off balance.. Her footwork is generally fine, but she doesn't extend her legs through each step and it makes her look awkward sometimes. I think this was a credible Tango. She captured the character of the dance in attitude and drama. Judges say 8s across for a total of 24. Credible gets her a solid score, but she'll really need her fans to vote to make it through to the semi-finals.

JR and Karina dance Waltz. I like that they have the same dance as Ricki and Derek. I expect as much from this performance as I did from the other two. Another outstanding musical selection. I don't like this choreography as much as I liked Derek's though. This was a different style of Waltz that didn't sweep around the ballroom the way I prefer. It came up the floor with turns and spins...those were beautifully performed. Then it went back down the floor and there were more turns and spins...again beautifully danced. I enjoyed the performance, but I didn't love it like I did Ricki and Derek's. I didn't feel the magic the judges and the audience in the ballroom felt. Judges say 10s across for a total of 30. I don't dispute the perfect score, but the dance didn't grab me. I just didn't feel it.

Here's our leader board after round one:

30 JR and Karina
28 Ricki and Derek
27 Rob and Cheryl
27 Hope and Maks
24 Nancy and Tristan

Next up, it's the instant Jive.

Rob and Cheryl dance to Maneater. I didn't care for the opening because it exposed one of Rob's biggest weaknesses, which is that he can often be very stiff. Once they got into the Jive steps, he loosened up. Some of his footwork was crisp and clean. I thought his flick kicks were good. But I didn't think the energy was what it should have been and a certain sharpness was missing. He needs more time to add the finishing touches that complete the performance. There weren't any real mistakes, but I think with more time to prepare with the music, Rob would have done better. Judges say 8s across for a total of 24. Solid score.

Hope and Maks are up next. She is so much more relaxed this week than she has been in past performances. This can't be the same girl I've been watching for 6 weeks. Her energy is up. She's hitting all the steps. She's engaging with the crowd. Her kicks look great. It's like something clicked on in her head and she just started getting it. This was way better than the first Jive. And Len took off his Cranky Pants to praise the dance. He even stood up! Great job! Judges say 8,9,8 for a total of 25. Well done again! Makes me wonder how Hope would have progressed if Maks had taken this less intense approach to teaching her from the beginning of the season.

Ricki and Derek dance to Land of 1000 Dances. Love this musical selection. They had perfect music for both dances. The first time they danced Jive, I thought it was great. I expect a lot here. She looked to Derek quite a bit for guidance into the next series of steps. She covered it well, but there were moments of uncertainty that sometimes stalled the connection from movement to movement. And no wonder! That was really ambitious and demanding choreography. The dance was really fast. I thought the performance was fantastic. They could have gone for something a little more simple and possibly nailed it. But I like the aggressive choice and I enjoyed the performance. Judges say 8s across for a total of 24. I don't agree with that score. There were certainly a few bobbles, but I thought the overall effect of the performance was 9s.

Nancy and Tristan are up next. The problem for Nancy in this dance is going to come from her legs...she just doesn't raise her knees and doesn't get good crisp kicks. She lost her place a little bit, but Tristan helped her cover. When she was confident in her steps, I thought she did pretty well. Her swivels were terrific and I loved the cartwheel at the end. Again, the dance was credible. Unfortunately, credible isn't going to be good enough. All of the deficiencies she has in her dancing were evident. But here's the thing...her journey in this competition was the story in that Jive. She trusted Tristan to get her through it. When you learn to trust your partner, that's a win. Judges say 7,6,7 for a total of 20. Ouch. She'll really need the votes.

JR and Karina dance to Tutti Frutti. That's a fantastic musical selection for Jive. I enjoyed the first Jive they did, although the judges gigged them for too much Lindy Hop. This is more ambitious choreography. The dance is full of tricks, but I thought they also had moments when the movements weren't completely connected and smooth. I thought the musicality was off a couple of times. The dance was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the performance, but as with their Waltz, there was something off for me in this dance. I'm not in love with it like the judges were. I'll have to watch both dances back to see if I'm overly critical. Judges say 10s across for a total of 30. This score I'll dispute. In my opinion, they had too many musical breaks for that to be perfect. And if Ricki and Derek lose points for foot bobbles, then JR's bobble on the slide at the beginning should have kept this from a perfect score.

Here's our final leader board for the night:

60 JR and Karina
52 Ricki and Derek
52 Hope and Maks
51 Rob and Cheryl
44 Nancy and Tristan

I like JR and Karina, but count me as part of the small group who wasn't over the moon about either performance. And that has pushed me to my choice for the season...all my votes went to Ricki and Derek. That's my pair.

Pam was irritated with the judges for withholding 10s from Ricki and Derek for what she thought was a mesmerizing Waltz, and for not throwing 9s across for their Jive. She thought they were picky on both performances, and she thought they were overly generous with JR and Karina. So she has chosen also...it's Ricki and Derek for both of us.

Tune in tonight for results. And check back here tomorrow for my encores and results recap.

Later gang!

Peace in Review

2011-11-07T00:05:00.000-08:00

Friday was another amazing Blog Blast Day, the 8th since Mimi was inspired by her Papa's blue marble back in 2006.

I always find the run up in the weeks prior to Blog Blast Day to be full of excitement and inspiration. Then we get to Peace Week and the magic of Dona Nobis Pacem takes over. Beautiful Peace Globes suddenly seem to design themselves. Peace posts seem to write themselves.

It really is fascinating. We spoke with one voice on one subject for one day. These are some of the posts that really stood out to me.

Crow's Feet - Michele reminds us that every small thing we do to advance the cause of Peace in the world is important. You might also check out her Peace Thimbles.

This Eclectic Life - Shelly brings us a unique perspective on bias and how to recognize it in yourself.

House of Lime - Michelle tells a moving story of meeting an electrical engineer from Turkey turned artist so his children can have a better life.

Louie's Chaos - Louie reminds us about the importance of love and respect.

The Matriarch's Corner - I got past the spider on Kathy's blog and I'm glad I did because she has a profound statement to make about peace. I can even respect the writing spider, as long as I don't have to actually have a real one nearby.

The World's Most Stunning Cat - Here we are introduced to The Priority Boxes Art Series or Peace Box Project, established by Frank de las Mercedes, an artist from Nicaragua.

My Political, Philosophical, and Musical Ramblings - Richard Bell has written an excellent essay on inner peace, and how a movement such as Blog Blast can have a most powerful effect on the world.

A Chat with Jennie Marsland - Jennie shares a profound observance about peace and how we can achieve it.

Foxxfyrre's Honk'nHoll'r - Head over to FoxxFyrre's place for an extraordinary poem about a path to take toward peace.

Thanks to all who heeded Mimi's call. We'll do it again, same time next year. But remember, between now and then, we don't just do Peace on one day. Peace should be in our hearts and in our actions always.

Dona Nobis Pacem

Dona Nobis Pacem

2011-11-04T00:15:00.000-07:00

Do you know about backwards day? I remember it from elementary school. Teachers generally called the attendance alphabetically by last name from A to Z. Often students sat in rows from A to Z. And students sometimes lined up for things from A to Z.

Backwards day turned all that around, so everything was from Z to A.

I was mostly indifferent to it. My last name starts with a C, so I usually fell in the top 3rd of the class when we lined up. For backwards day, I was in the bottom third. In 6th grade, I think I ended up about 7th or 8th in line. There were 30 kids in my class, so you can do the math to see where I ended up when we reversed the order.

I never gave much thought to what it meant to be first or last in those situations. I knew about winning and losing from football and sports, and of course I understood the difference between championships and finishing dead last. But the real difference between first and last in line wasn't something I contemplated much.

Then I met Beth A, the girl in the first desk whose name was always read first for attendance and who led the class in line to the cafeteria for lunch and assemblies. She was first in line when we lined up alphabetically during a fire drill. She was first in line in the morning when we lined up to get into the class room.

Being first was very important to Beth A. Beth A was a bossy little brat just because her name always made her first in line.

Cynthia V was always last.

I rarely noticed Cynthia V. I couldn't see her in class because her desk was behind me. She never seemed to say much. She was quiet and kept to herself. She always seemed to be on the edge of things, almost as though if the line moved too fast, she'd fall behind and eventually fade into the distance.

So backwards day. We sat in our same desks in our same places. We just turned them around. Our teacher had a desk in the front of the room and a table in the back. He sat at that table in the back for backwards day. And we all turned our desks to face that table.

I couldn't see Beth A anymore. I did see Cynthia V. She had dark hair. She did raise her hand a lot. She knew a lot of answers...she was smart. When we lined up, she just walked at the head of the line. She didn't care if anyone acted up or messed around...the hall monitors wrote slips for those kids. Cynthia just walked to wherever the line was headed, and we walked there too.

It was very comfortable to be led by Cynthia on backwards day, because she wasn't trying to lead anyone. She was just Cynthia V, whether it was a regular day and she was last, or backwards day and she was first.

I saw Beth A every day. But on backwards day, she wasn't in front of me anymore and she faded. And when things got back to normal...when we turned back to the front and became A to Z again...the veneer was broken for me. Beth A became just a little girl who took her prestige and self worth from her position in class, made possible because some teachers like order and order is often best served by alphabetizing.

Cynthia V was virtually invisible to me until backwards day. Once I saw her, she became real. But then when things got back to normal...when we turned back to the front and became A to Z again...she was still there. She was still smart and had a lot of answers. She had a sweet laugh. And she became my friend from that backwards day and on through high school.

Intended or not, backwards day taught me something valuable. It taught me that there are a lot of people who get left out simply because we can't see them as we look forward. Backwards day revealed one of those people to me.

I knew about changing circumstances by the time I reached 6th grade. I had mine changed by divorce. Then my 6th grade teacher changed them for me with backwards day.

Those two lessons, and the natural course of maturity, helped me to understand how to begin to change my own circumstances.

A simple thing...turn the class around and see it from back to front instead of from front to back. It was like unlocking a stiff neck and restoring the swivel so I could look to my left, and to my right, and behind me. Total perspective change.

You might be wondering what this has to do with peace. Or maybe you've figured out my message on this 8th Blog Blast Day. It's really very simple.

We all impact others as we move through our lives. We know about that impact because we see a lot of it happening in front of us. We impact our families...parents, siblings, our own children. We impact our co-workers and our friends. We impact the kid at the fast food counter who reminds us that we probably want fries with that burger.

But there is also an impact of which we may not be as readily aware. It's the impact we have on people we're not seeing because we're not turning our heads. We're not looking left, or right, or behind us. We don't consciously intend to ignore them, but they get ignored anyway because we become so narrowly focused in our perspective.

Peace begins within each of us. We find it. We nurture it. We settle into it. We live in it. We rush back to it when something disturbs us.

Our awareness of it can generate ripples that spread in all directions, as long as we don't selfishly keep it all for ourselves. Or rather, as long as we consciously make an effort to share it.

And finally, just after two bells at first watch on Blog Blast Eve, 21:04 hours, or 9:04pm, I've discovered what my 2011 Peace Globe should be. It's a thing that has one of the most positive impacts on people I've ever known. Anyone can do it. It takes no preparation.

It spreads peace ripples. And I remember so vividly now the first time I saw Cynthia V with hers.

Dona Nobis Pacem

Five on Friday Set 93 - Dona Nobis Pacem

2011-11-04T00:05:00.000-07:00

You knew I'd be grooving on the peace tunes for Set 93. What else would I post?

Dona Nobis Pacem

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

100 Reasons to Blog for Peace

2011-11-03T00:15:00.000-07:00

Mimi laid down the challenge, and I took it up. There is a story in these 100 reasons, although that wasn't what I set out to do. I find that is a normal state of affairs with this Blog Blast movement.

A Summary of Trav's Reasons

28 July 2011 to 3 November 2011

Reason 100: Because "Words are...the most inexhaustible source of magic; capable of inflicting injury and remedying it." Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

Reason 99: Because every time I make a new Peace Globe, whether for myself or for a friend who asks for my help, I feel positive energy. And every time I post a Peace Globe on my blog, I feel like I'm spreading positive energy.

Reason 98: Because Peace Bloggers remind me, through their words and images, of the commonalities we all share as human beings.

Reason 97: Because I think blogging for peace can change destruction into construction.

Reason 96: Blogging for peace reminds me that I'm responsible for the way I move through the world and interact with others.

Reason 95: Because putting something in writing, like creating a Peace Globe and writing a post on 4 November 2011, is a great way to start yourself on a path to more definitive action in your community.

Reason 94: Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines willingly risk all for duty, honor, and service. I blog for peace because I want them all to come home from their service to live out and enjoy the fullness of the life they put on hold.

Reason 93: Because I believe that words are powerful, so this matters.

Reason 92: Because each time I blog for peace, I learn a little more about myself.

Reason 91: Because I want to be the kind of person who looks for solutions instead of wasting time assigning blame.

Reason 90: Because I have a voice and this is one of the positive ways I can use it.

Reason 89: Because I want to be who I am and cherish what I have and believe what I will, in peace with others who may be different and cherish different things and believe something I don't understand.

Reason 88: Because revolutions are made of ideas and today's reality doesn't have to be tomorrow's.

Reason 87: Because I am not daunted by those who dwell on what is not rather than find the potential in what can be.

Reason 86: Because I believe what Mohandas Ghandi said, "A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history."

Reason 85: Because a peaceful state of mind requires dedication to achieve and vigilance to maintain. One of the ways I attend to that dedication and vigilance is to blog for it.

Reason 84: Because acting out in violence may get you the attention you want in the short term, but it does not lead to long term constructive solutions.

Reason 83: Because being active for peace builds a wellspring of tranquility that I can tap when I'm feeling unsettled.

Reason 82: Because "you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one".

Reason 81: Because I want to live in the world that Martin Luther King Jr envisioned, where we all are accepted for the content of our character and not judged by the color of our skin.

Reason 80: Because "Yes We Can Can", song written by Allen Toussaint, released by The Pointer Sisters in 1973.

Reason 79: Because "I'm Here to Love You", song by The Doobie Brothers, circa 1982.

Reason 78: Because I want to be part of a world in which no human being should ever again perpetrate such an atrocity as the Bataan Death March on other human beings, nor have to endure the pain and life long memory of having such an atrocity perpetrated upon him.

Reason 77: Because someone believed in me when I needed it most and showed me another path besides anger and bitterness. Why shouldn't I try to do that for someone else?

Reason 76: Because when you know what you want, all that's left to do is put a plan together and then execute on the plan. You want peace? Start with your own space, put together your plan, and then execute. Make a Peace Globe part of your peace plan.

Reason 75: Because I believe in a collective consciousness that tells me that what I think and feel can impact my fellow man, and I'd like the things I think and feel, and my impact on my fellow man, to be positive and peaceful.

Reason 74: Because even though I cannot know what is going to happen tomorrow, it gives me comfort to know that I'm a Peace blogger.

Reason 73: Because at the Little League World Series, kids from across the globe come to Williamsport to play baseball. They live in dormitories that cater to the things 11, 12, and 13 year old boys like...swimming pools, video games, ping pong tables, foosball, table hockey. They play to win, and that is important. But equally important is the friendships they make with kids from other cultures who, they often find, are the same as they are. I blog for peace in the knowledge that one day, the life in those friendships will overcome the need for war.

Reason 72: Because it is astonishing how much more negative than positive is in the air these days...from news media to opinion journalism to bloggers. Take an hour out of your day and tally up your own negative vs positive behaviors. I try to be honest with myself and when I find I'm tilting toward too much negative, I take charge of my attitude because that's what I control. I blog for peace because it is an inherently positive thing to do.

Reason 71: Because I get tired of watching people behave as if anyone who isn't "us" is "them" and "they" must be feared, hated, and destroyed. Peace blogging is inherently inclusive.

Reason 70: Because even though humans may be aggressive by nature, that doesn't mean we have to be warlike in response to every challenge.

Reason 69: Because I believe that the joys in life are the right of every human being on the planet, and not just those who are fortunate in the random circumstances of their birth.

Reason 68: Because there will always be things in life that irritate me, like whistling in a cubicle environment. Being a peace activist reminds me that these irritants are temporary things and not worth fighting over.

Reason 67: Because Easy to be Hard, originally from the musical Hair, circa 1967, released by Three Dog Night in 1969

Reason 66: Because, "Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful, and optimistic. And we'll change the world." Jack Layton (1950-2011), leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, who lost his battle with cancer and passed on 22 August.

Reason 65: Because we are so much more than the sum of our political opinions or cultural differences. Two people who disagree have disagreement in common. Imagine what other common ground they might find if they looked beyond disagreement.

Reason 64: Because convincing someone that they are wrong is not nearly as important as understanding why you think you are right.

Reason 63: Because I want the trillions of dollars spent on active wars to be brought home and put to work eliminating unemployment, hunger,and poverty.

Reason 62: Because being willing to stand and defend does not mean I condone hitting first.

Reason 61: Because On the Turning Away, written by David Gilmour and Anthony Moore, recorded by Pink Floyd, released in 1987 on the album A Momentary Lapse of Reason

Reason 60: Because it can be challenging enough to make a prosperous life without the added difficulty of slogging through constant conflict.

Reason 59: Because I don't know how to be indifferent to the suffering that goes on in the world. I blog for peace because to be idle is to lend some measure of credibility to the idea that it's enough that I am not suffering in this moment. When one suffers we all are the worse for it.

Reason 58: I blog for peace so that I shall continuously renew the patience and persistence I need to re-dedicate myself every year to a path of fulfillment based in knowledge, responsibility, service, and respect for diversity.

Reason 57: Because we really do live in a nutty small world.

Reason 56: Because I believe that a willingness to compromise is one of the cornerstones of lasting peace.

Reason 55: Because I think that it must be easier to turn the sad faces of poverty into the hopeful faces of contentment in an atmosphere of peace than in one dominated by conflict.

Reason 54: Because acts of terror are wrong.

Reason 53: Because we should never fear to exercise our right to revel in frivolity.

Reason 52: Because I Think About You, written by Don Schlitz and Steve Seskin, released by Collin Raye in 1996.

Reason 51: Because of the permanent stuff.

Reason 50: Because rights come with responsibilities.

Reason 49: Because claiming some kind of superiority over others based on fear and hatred of difference is repugnant.

Reason 48: Because there's a lot of beauty in the world, and everyone should get an opportunity to experience and enjoy it.

Reason 47: Because peace takes work and I am dedicated to doing the work I can in the way that seems best to me.

Reason 46: Because People Make the World Go Round, written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, released by The Stylistics in 1972.

Reason 45: Because sometimes you have to stop and take a breath to control that first angry impulse to lash out in violence against a party that has hurt someone you care about, otherwise you'll be no different than the bully.

Reason 44: Because in celebrating what makes us different, I think we might find way more to enjoy about each other than to dislike.

Reason 43: Because I'm selfish dammit! There's stuff in the world I want to see. I want to go places and meet people, and be safe while I'm doing that. I want to learn about other cultures, and maybe have other people be interested in learning about my culture. I'm the Dancing Worker Bee for Peace dammit!

Reason 42: I dislike stuff, and I make mistakes, and I get angry, and I lose my patience, and I swear at traffic, and I get frustrated, and I hold grudges. I have some bad habits. But I'm not afraid. I blog for peace because life can be hard, and overcoming the hard stuff is sweet.

Reason 41: Because I'm willing to stand up for the rights of someone else, and not just to make noise about my own rights.

Reason 40: Because I think it is wrong to oppress others in the name of protecting what you claim are your rights.

Reason 39: Because People Got to be Free, written by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati, released in 1968 by The Rascals.

Reason 38: Because blogging for peace is a community thing, and I like being part of this community.

Reason 37: Nelson Mandela said, "I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself". I blog for peace because if you can't first dream of what peace could be like, how can you understand how to make it, live in it, and keep it?

Reason 36: Because Share the Land, written by Burton Cummings and Kurt Winter, released in 1970 by The Guess Who.

Reason 35: Actor Betty Buckley said, "Everything good that I know was taught to me by great teachers and I feel like giving back and sharing the technique is the thing to do." She was talking about acting, but the sentiment applies to us all as we move through life. We all learned from someone. And if we're paying attention, we're open to learning something new every day. I blog for peace because it is both a way to keep learning from others, and a way to share some of what I know.

Reason 34: Albert Einstein said, "Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty." I blog for peace because it is an inherently compassionate thing to do.

Reason 33: Dr Martin Luther King Jr said, "An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." I blog for peace because it reminds me that my choices impact others in ways I can't always see. I want that impact to be a positive one, even if I never see the result.

Reason 32: Because For What It's Worth, written by Stephen Stills, released in 1967 by Buffalo Springfield.

Reason 31: Because everyone in the world deserves to feel the joy of freedom, and to express that joy in the way that seems best to them.

Reason 30: Because blogging for peace is one of the ways that I believe in and work for peace.

Reason 29: Because posting a Peace Globe and sharing my thoughts about Peace is part of my way to try, err, succeed, and never abandon the journey toward peace in my heart, in my community, and in my world.

Reason 28: Because I believe that the future is what we make it. I'm going to do everything I can to make that future bright and shiny.

Reason 27: Because we don't know when the last moment of the last day will be, and I want the time between now and then to be as full of peace and love as I can make it.

Reason 26: Because I think that the best answer to a negative attitude is a positive one.

Reason 25: Because before one can succeed or fail, one must first step forward and try.

Reason 24: Because I like to see the marvelously diverse ways Peace bloggers use to express their wishes for Peace in their lives. Check out some of those ways in the Peace Globe Gallery.

Reason 23: Because I cannot sit on the sidelines and enjoy the fruits of peace won by others. Joining the Blog Blast is one of the ways I earn a part of the peace for myself and for my community. I just don't want to get to the end and wonder whether there was something else I could have done.

Reason 22: Because a young man named Matthew Shepard died on 12 October 1998 because he was gay and the two men who beat him and left him tied to a fence to die in the Wyoming countryside didn't like that. I blog for Peace in memory of people like Matthew.

Reason 21: Because time is going to pass whether I blog for Peace or don't. So I'm blogging for Peace.

Reason 20: In the Lord of the Rings films, Lady Galadriel (played ethereally by Cate Blanchett, says "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." I am just arrogant enough to believe that I can change the future by my actions, and so my actions include blogging for Peace.

Reason 19: Because I can't control what someone else is going to do, and sometimes I can't control my own circumstances. The only thing I have control over is my decisions...to act or not. I choose to act as a Peace blogger.

Reason 18: Because I enjoy the process of making Peace Globes...from deciding on a template, to figuring out the design, to manipulating the paint program, to pronouncing the Globe complete. And finally, I enjoy emailing my work to Mimi because she delights in receiving and collecting them.

Reason 17: Because Jalal ad-Din Rumi, a 13th century theologian and poet, said "Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there." Perhaps Peace also lives in that field. Care to join me?

Reason 16: My dear friend Mimi, founder of the Blog Blast, said "The more you align yourself with creative souls, the more creative you become yourself and the more your passion is fed by their energy." I blog for Peace because I believe in the truth of that statement, and because I want to join my creativity and passion for art in all its forms to something powerful and worthwhile.

Reason 15: For my grandpa.

Reason 14: Gandhi also said, "Whenever you have truth it must be given with love, or the message and the messenger will be rejected." Blog Blast began in love. The love of a girl for her Papa, and his love for her, became the spark of love for humanity. Mimi's message is love. The story is about love. And the result of the message is the sharing and spreading of love. I blog for peace to be a part of that message and to help perpetuate that love.

Reason 13: Because everyone in the world isn't going to like me or the way I live, and that's OK. All they have to do, and all I have to do, is respect traditions and cultures that are different than mine. As long as the way each of us lives does not hurt others, then respect on both sides leaves us each living as best suits us, in peace. I blog for peace because I have respect.

Reason 12: Because our troops are coming home from Iraq, and I wish to honor their sacrifice to duty by wishing them peace in all the tomorrows of their lives.

Reason 11: Because our troops are still in harms' way in hot spots throughout the world, and I wish to honor their sacrifice to duty by working to bring them home safe and whole.

Reason 10: Because sometimes you just have to stand up and be counted.

Reason 9: Because there is enough volatility in the natural processes that make up this planet on which we live. There is no need for humans to add to that volatility with unnecessary conflict and war.

Reason 8: Because Blog Blast isn't a fad or a bandwagon. It is a movement. It is a chance for bloggers to spread the word...because peace comes from us as individuals, spreading out in ripples across our own little corners of the world.

Reason 7: Because Peace is a constant and worthy struggle.

Reason 6: Because I believe in the magic I feel in this movement.

Reason 5: Because today's reality need not be tomorrow's.

Reason 4: Because of posts like this one, Write on My Heart with Every Word.

Reason 3: Because of posts like this one, The Doll Box.

Reason 2: Because of posts like this one, Papa's Marbles, The Silence of Peace.

Reason 1: Because I know that the last five years of involvement with this movement have fundamentally enhanced the person I am and will continue to be.

Dona Nobis Pacem

On the Eve of Blog Blast

2011-11-03T00:10:00.002-07:00

I did it last year, and I've done it again this year. I'll do it again next year and that makes it a tradition and part of Blog Blast. So yeah, I made a graphic for it.

I've been counting down the days to this year's Blog Blast for Peace with peace quotes. Here is a recap of the quotes I chose.

5 October 2011

"It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it." Eleanor Roosevelt

6 October 2011

"The pursuit of peace and progress cannot end in a few years in either victory or defeat. The pursuit of peace and progress, with its trials and its errors, its successes and its setbacks, can never be relaxed and never abandoned." Dag Hammarskjold

7 October 2011

"This world of ours... must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect." Dwight D Eisenhower

8 October 2011

“I am an American; free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as my inferior, except for his own demerit.” Theodore Roosevelt

9 October 2011

“How would your life be different if…You stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter? Let today be the day…You look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey." Steve Maraboli

10 October 2011

“What is objectionable, what is dangerous about extremists is not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents." John F Kennedy

11 October 2011

"The wave of the future is not the conquest of the world by a single dogmatic creed but the liberation of the diverse energies of free nations and free men." John F Kennedy

12 October 2011

"Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." Sydney Smith

13 October 2011

"Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism." Hubert H Humphrey

14 October 2011

"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it, you can never get it back." Harvey MacKay

15 October 2011

"It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life." Bilbo Baggins

16 October 2011

"Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere." Unknown

17 October 2011

"Honor the past. Live in the present. Create the future." Unknown

18 October 2011

"The most important trip you take in life is meeting people halfway." Henry Boye

19 October 2011

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." Ralph Waldo Emerson

20 October 2011

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." Lao Tzu

21 October 2011

"Nobody can hurt me without my permission." Mahatma Gandhi.

22 October 2011

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality." Dr Martin Luther King Jr

23 October 2011

"The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step. So we must never neglect any work of peace within our reach, however small." Adlai Stevenson

24 October 2011
"Armageddon is not around the corner. This is only what the people of violence want us to believe. The complexity and diversity of the world is the hope for the future." Michael Palin

25 October 2011
"Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your daily modus operandi and change your world." Annie Lennox

26 October 2011
"Treat others as you want them to treat you because what goes around comes around." Unknown

27 October 2011
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." Leo Buscaglia

28 October 2011
"What is the quality of your intent...My intent will be evident in the results." Thurgood Marshall

29 October 2011

"To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing." Unknown

30 October 2011

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." Albert Einstein

31 October 2011

"One voice, one subject, one day." Mimi Lenox

1 November 2011

"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Thomas Jefferson

2 November 2011

"In Republics, the great danger is that the majority may not sufficiently respect the rights of the minority." James Madison

3 November 2011

"Diversity need not be divisive."

I don't know if anyone has been formally credited with saying this, but I say it so I'll call it my quote.

I hope to see all of your fantastic Peace Globes and read your thoughtful words about Peace.

Dona Nobis Pacem

Welcome to Peace Week, Day 4

2011-11-03T00:05:00.001-07:00

It's the eve of Blog Blast 2011 and I hope you'll join us with a Peace Globe and your thoughts about Peace and what it means to you. As you know, I've been counting down the days to 4 November, first with 100 reasons to blog for Peace, and then with 30 days of Peace quotes.

For this year's Blog Blast, founder Mimi of Mimi Writes has designed a number of excellent new templates. So as part of my Peace Week celebration leading up to Friday, I decided to update all of my past Peace Globes with the new templates. I'll reveal them to you over the course of the week, beginning today and culminating on Friday with my 2011 Globe.

I didn't make a new Peace Globe for November 2009. Rather I took the opportunity on Blog Blast day to reflect on my journey as a Peace Blogger.

Last year I wrote of peace ripples and my observations of an imperfect peace as a worthy goal. And I wrote A Peace Sonnet. My Peace Globes in 2010 did not use any of Mimi's templates. Instead, I made my Peace Globes out of images that touched Pam and I and spoke to our thoughts.

I used Mimi's new templates to update them.

This is Pam's...

And this is mine...

Now I'm committed to the movement. It is a highlight of my online presence. I am also an activist in my bricks and mortar world.

You are hereby formally invited to participate. Do it! You know you want to. All the info you need is at Mimi Writes.

I believe that words are powerful, so this matters.

"Diversity need not be divisive."

I don't know if anyone has been formally credited with saying this, but I say it so I'll call it my quote.

Reason 1: Because I know that the last five years of involvement with this movement have fundamentally enhanced the person I am and will continue to be.

Cue that theme music...

2011-11-02T00:20:00.000-07:00

It's encores and results!

For Halloween Night, our 6 remaining couples gave us some spooky themed individual performances and then teamed up for a team dance challenge. Let's see what we liked.

Last night I wasn't sure about the score of 24 from the judges for the Cha Cha Cha from David and Kym. After watching it back, I'll agree with that score. I enjoyed the overall effect of the performance. Click here if the video doesn't play.

I thought the Team Tango was better than the judges gave credit. Forgive me for grabbing the clip with the ad at the beginning. Click here if the video doesn't play.

The Paso Doble from Ricki and Derek was outstanding. Click here if the video doesn't play.

I think I'll give dance of the night honors to Team Paso. It wasn't the best team dance I've seen, but it was pretty dang good. Sorry, I grabbed the clip with the ad at the beginning again. Click here if the video doesn't play.

Yup...those will do nicely.

Here's a recap of our leader board after scores from both performances were combined.

53 Ricki and Derek
51 Rob and Cheryl
50 Hope and Maks
48 JR and Karina
47 David and Kym
44 Nancy and Tristan

So Justin Bieber is in the ballroom. OK.

The judges select Team Paso for the encore performance.

First results...Rob and Cheryl are safe.

The AT&T Spotlight performance features a young woman who overcame a brain tumor at age 16 to resume her career as a ballet dancer. Here name is Victoria Rose Viren. She dances with Kyle Robinson to a live performance by Christina Perri. That was wonderful.

Here's a treat...Derek dances Argentine Tango with Allison Holker. Yes, that Allison Holker from So You Think You Can Dance, one of my all time favorite alums. Yeowza. That was brilliant.

More results...Ricki and Derek are safe. JR and Karina are safe.

Bwahahahahahahaaa!! T-Mobile has a new commercial about their 4G network. You've probably seen it. The tag line is "walking in a 4G wonderland". Here's the funny part...I heard that as "walking in an orgy wonderland". Ooops! Bwahahahahahahaaa!

Justine Bieber returns to perform with Boys II Men, accompanied by Mark and Chelsie. I have always enjoyed the way BIIM harmonize.

Final results...Hope and Maks are safe. Nancy and Tristan are safe.

That means David and Kym are eliminated.

Oh that's a shame. I thought Nancy or Hope should have gone. I thought David was going to join Ricki, JR, and Rob in the Final Four. But the fans came through for Nancy and Hope. Good for the ladies!

We're down to 5 couples now and another step closer to someone dancing off with that Glittering Globe of Glory.

Later gang!

Welcome to Peace Week, Day 3

2011-11-02T00:05:00.000-07:00

I hope you'll join us this Friday for the 8th Blog Blast for Peace. As you know, I've been counting down the days to 4 November, first with 100 reasons to blog for Peace, and then with 30 days of Peace quotes.

For this year's Blog Blast, founder Mimi of Mimi Writes has designed a number of excellent new templates. So as part of my Peace Week celebration leading up to Friday, I decided to update all of my past Peace Globes with the new templates. I'll reveal them to you over the course of the week, beginning today and culminating on Friday with my 2011 Globe.

Mimi declared a Revolution of Words in 2008. We blogged for Peace in June and November that year. I used the same Globe twice, just changing the colors and words slightly. Pam wanted a specific quote for hers. In June, I wrote about being an idealist. I wrote about idealism again in November, with a call to action and a challenge to own the actions we take in defense of our citizenship.

You can click those links to see the post and the original Globes. Here they are on the updated templates.

For me in June 2008...

For Pam in November 2008...

Slightly modified for November 2008...

I believe that words are powerful, so this matters.

"In Republics, the great danger is that the majority may not sufficiently respect the rights of the minority." James Madison

Reason 2: Because of posts like this one, Papa's Marbles, The Silence of Peace.

Cue that theme music...

2011-11-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

It's live from Hollywood!

Our 6 remaining pairs return for Halloween Night. Top 6 gang. That means we're getting ever closer to handing out the coveted Fantastic Mirror Ball trophy.

And it's Team dance night!

The ballroom is looking particularly creepy, as is the band.

First it's the individual dances.

David and Kym dance Cha Cha Cha to Abracadabra. I like the theme and the choreography. But this isn't really David's style. He's much too stiff. Cha Cha Cha is supposed to be cheeky and fun. It's also supposed to be very loose in the hips and I didn't think David got there in this dance. I think his strength in this particular piece was his acting. He played the magician quite well. I also liked his posture and frame. But below the waist it was just a little clunky for me. Also, I'm concerned sometimes about his musicality. I thought it was lacking in this dance. I did enjoy the overall effect of the performance though, so well done there. Judges say 8s across for a total of 24. OK. I'll have to watch it again to buy that score.

JR and Karina dance Tango to Ghostbusters. Now that seems like an unfortunate music and style combination. Oh my...we've got drama in rehearsal as Karina steps up the pressure. I felt the Tango rhythm, but the song just doesn't make me think Tango. And since I'm a visual guy when it comes to understanding the dance I'm watching, I have to say that this was disappointing. I didn't like it. I should have turned the sound off so I could follow the actual dancing without the influence of the music. The judges were mixed...they pointed out some issues with JR's footwork and timing. Bruno admitted that the musical phrasing of the song contributed to some of the issues. But Len said the performance was substandard based on the bar that JR has set for himself. I didn't care for it because of the unfortunate pairing of music and style. Judges say 9,8,8 for a total of 25. Even at "substandard", that's a good score.

Nancy and Tristan dance Jive to The Devil Went Down to Georgia. The concern I have is that Nancy has not shown the ability to get her knees up, and that is important to crisp and precise flick kicks in Jive. I like the way Tristan choreographed this piece. But it's like I thought. Nancy just isn't getting her feet off the floor or bending her knees. She hasn't emphasized the kicks and that made the dance look sloppy and sluggish to me. On the positive side, it looked like she was enjoying herself. But unfortunately I think she missed on the major Jive elements...she was off the beat, she lost her choreography in places, her footwork wasn't crisp or precise, and she didn't have the bounce that makes Jive so much fun. That's too bad. Judges say 7s across for a total of 21. I think they were kind with that score.

Rob and Cheryl dance Tango to the theme from the Addams Family. Now this music makes sense to me for Tango. Even though the tempo is somewhat upbeat, I can understand a Tango danced to this much better. Unfortunately, most of the dance looked awkward to me. I liked the way Cheryl put the piece together, and that they played Gomez and Morticia. Those characters were all about Tango, and it made the theme of the dance even easier to understand. And I think they finished strong, but I thought the beginning and middle got a little out of control. And I didn't really find anything romantic or sensual in it. Rob and Cheryl normally have very good chemistry, but I didn't feel it this week. Evidently I'm on a completely different page than the judges, who mostly loved the performance. Judges say 9,8,8 for a total of 25. OK. I can't say yea or nay to that.

Ricki and Derek dance Paso Doble to A Beautiful Nightmare. Ricki injured her ribs in rehearsal...an inflamed nerve that requires rest to heal. But she's dancing. I like the Little Red Riding Hood theme. That was a strong and powerful performance. They had a great song that fed the passion inherent in the style, and Derek used that and the theme of a wolf to great effect. Ricki's major technical issue is her shoulders, which always seem to tense and raise. Big no no. But somehow that never seems to impact her ability to extend through movement and create fantastic shapes and lines. What I liked most about this was the contrast in movement...they whipped through and then held the pause, then eased into the next whip, then the pause. I also liked the enticing way Ricki drew her skirt up. That's good Paso because it takes your eye through the dance. Excellent work. Judges say 9s across for a total of 27. Yup.

Hope and Maks dance Samba to Werewolves of London. Maks has an injured toe, so Teddy from our Dance Troupe helped out. Hope looks much more relaxed this week. She lost her steps just a little bit in the middle of the dance, but she got back on track quickly. For the most part I thought she did OK. I still don't find her all that sexy, but I'll call this a credible Samba. Her legs were still a bit spindly and rubbery. She did get her hips moving reasonably well. I still think she has so many technical issues, but I felt that her musicality was better and she seemed like she was enjoying herself. Well done my dear. And well done to Maks...that was some great choreography and a terrific theme. Judges say 8s across for a total of 24. I guess that'll work.

Here is our leader board after the individual dances:

27 Ricki and Derek
25 Rob and Cheryl
25 JR and Karina
24 David and Kym
24 Hope and Maks
21 Nancy and Tristan

Next up is the team dance round. We've got Team Tango versus Team Paso. The scores in this round can really stretch out the leader board.

First up is Team Tango featuring JR and Karina, David and Kym, Nancy and Tristan. Their unison is very good to begin. Nancy led off the solo sections and did a fairly good job, although I thought I saw a balance issue. I thought David was very strong during his solo section. I thought JR was an excellent anchor in his solo. I'm on the wrong page again from the judges...they thought the solo sections sucked. I liked the way the pros used the floor and I thought the choreography was terrific. The synchronization between the three couples was the best part. Judges say 8,7,8 for a total of 23. Ppppppffffffffftttttttttt. I think the 7 is too low. I would have thrown 8s across.

Next is Team Paso featuring Ricki and Derek, Rob and Cheryl, Hope and Maks. I liked the beginning of the piece...very dramatic. I thought the tempo suited Rob's precision, and he did a terrific job leading off the solos. Hope looked a little sloppy, although she captured the Paso attitude in her posture and attitude. Ricki and Derek were strong anchors, throwing down some difficult elements in their solo. The unison at the end was nearly flawless, particularly with the capes. I really liked the theme in the choreography. It was very powerful and dramatic, and super cool. Judges say 9,8,9 for a total of 26. I'd give them the win too.

Here's our leader board with combined scores from the individual and team rounds:

53 Ricki and Derek
51 Rob and Cheryl
50 Hope and Maks
48 JR and Karina
47 David and Kym
44 Nancy and Tristan

I thought Team Tango got jobbed a bit on scores. I did think Team Paso won the round, but I didn't think the solos in the Tango were as awful as the judges did. I guess I'll see if I saw what I think I saw when I watch the clips tomorrow.

I'm still settled on Ricki and JR. Pam had a hard time narrowing down to two, because she's enjoying Rob and David as well as Ricki and JR. Harumph! She kept her votes to herself and didn't tell me!

As always, tune in tonight for results and check back here tomorrow for my encores and results recap.

Later gang!

Welcome to Peace Week, Day 2

2011-11-01T00:05:00.000-07:00

I hope you'll join us this Friday for the 8th Blog Blast for Peace. As you know, I've been counting down the days to 4 November, first with 100 reasons to blog for Peace, and then with 30 days of Peace quotes.

For this year's Blog Blast, founder Mimi of Mimi Writes has designed a number of excellent new templates. So as part of my Peace Week celebration leading up to Friday, I decided to update all of my past Peace Globes with the new templates. I'll reveal them to you over the course of the week. We began yesterday and we'll culminate on Friday with my 2011 Globe.

After my early basic attempts at Peace Globes, I wanted to step things up. So for the third Blog Blast Day, I learned how to manipulate my graphics program and add words and pictures.

I was also reminded that peace isn't just about words. Words must lead to actions. And so I wrote my next Peace post with activism in mind. You can read it here, and see the original Peace Globes I made for it.

These are the updated versions.

One for me...

One for Pam...

And one for Mr Tucker...

"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Thomas Jefferson

Reason 3: Because of posts like this one, The Doll Box.

Welcome to Peace Week, Day 1

2011-10-31T00:05:00.001-07:00

I hope you'll join us this Friday for the 8th Blog Blast for Peace. As you know, I've been counting down the days to 4 November, first with 100 reasons to blog for Peace, and then with 30 days of Peace quotes.

For this year's Blog Blast, founder Mimi of Mimi Writes has designed a number of excellent new templates. So as part of my Peace Week celebration leading up to Friday, I decided to update all of my past Peace Globes with the new templates. I'll reveal them to you over the course of the week, beginning today and culminating on Friday with my 2011 Globe.

My early Globes were very basic. There are a couple of reasons for that. One is that I just didn't have all that much experience with doing any kind of graphics on my computer. The other reason is that the movement was new and we were all just getting our feet wet with it.

I didn't write anything on that very first Blog Blast day in November 2006. I had only just started my blog the week before. But I "met" Mimi through my pal Vinny's blog. I wasn't sure about this peace movement in the bloggosphere, so I checked into it and found out that it wasn't some silly fad or meme. It was a genuine idea from a genuine person. And so I made my first Peace Globe. Here is the updated version on a new template.

Then June 2007 rolled around, and I was ready. I had gotten to know more about Mimi and her ideas. I wrote this post and made the Globes you'll find if you click on the link. Here is how they look on the updated templates.

One for me...

One for Pam...

And one for Mr Tucker...

29 October

"To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing." Unknown

30 October

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." Albert Einstein

31 October

"One voice, one subject, one day." Mimi Lenox

Reason 6: Because I believe in the magic I feel in this movement.

Reason 5: Because today's reality need not be tomorrow's.

Reason 4: Because of posts like this one, Write on My Heart with Every Word.

Five on Friday Set 92 and Five years of Trav's Thoughts

2011-10-28T00:15:00.000-07:00

There's a lot going on today. We've got Halloween coming up on Monday. We've got my 5 year blogiversary. We've got Set 92. We've got Peace Week about to begin, with Blog Blast Day exactly one week away.

Yowza!

So 5 years ago today I opened this blog. From then to now I have published 1,642 posts, been visited 104,215 times, and received 21,608 comments. I don't know whether that's good or bad. But I send my thanks to all for hanging out with me over the years.

What music makes sense for a 5 year blogiversary? I don't know. I didn't know until it was getting pretty late last night and I was staring at a blank page.

Then I had a clever idea. Well, I thought it was clever.

One, Three Dog Night
Two Divided by Love, Grass Roots
Gimme Three Steps, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Four Letter Word, David Cook
Five O'Clock World, Vogues

Get it? HA! I counted to 5 in music!

One, written by Harry Hilsson, as released by Three Dog Night, 1969

Two Divided by Love, written by Lambert, Potter, and Kupps, as released by The Grass Roots, 1971

Gimme Three Steps, written by Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant, as released by Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1973

Four Letter Word, written by David Cook, Claude Kelly, and Matt Squire, as released by David Cook, 2011

Five O'Clock World, written by Allen Reynolds, as released by The Vogues in 1965

If you'd like to join in, here are the guidelines:

Go forth and enjoy music!

30 Quotes and 100 Reasons

2011-10-28T00:05:00.000-07:00

In exactly one week, we blog for Peace. Are you ready? Do you have your Peace Globe?

If you don't, why not? What are you waiting for?

You are hereby formally invited to participate. Do it! You know you want to. All the info you need is at Mimi Writes.

I believe that words are powerful, so this matters.

I missed my quotes and reasons yesterday, so you get a double dose today.

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." Leo Buscaglia

"What is the quality of your intent...My intent will be evident in the results." Thurgood Marshall

Reason 8: Because Blog Blast isn't a fad or a bandwagon. It is a movement. It is a chance for bloggers to spread the word...because peace comes from us as individuals, spreading out in ripples across our own little corners of the world.

Reason 7: Because Peace is a constant and worthy struggle.

Cue that theme music

2011-10-26T00:05:00.000-07:00

It's encores and results!

So Monday's performance show had some drama, some harsh criticism, and some disrespect. Then there were some fine performances mixed in. These are the dances we really liked.

We liked the Foxtrot from Nancy and Tristan, but we don't think it was worth 24 points from the judges. Click here if the video doesn't play.

We really enjoyed the fine Quickstep from JR and Karina. JR keeps getting stronger each week. Click here if the video doesn't play.

After a bit of a stumble last week, Ricki and Derek claim dance of the night honors with their Quickstep, just edging out JR and Karina in our opinion. Click here if the video doesn't play.

Here is a reminder of our leader board after Monday's performances:

29 Ricki and Derek
29 JR and Karina
24 Nancy and Tristan
23 David and Kym
22 Rob and Cheryl
20 Hope and Maks
19 Chas and Lacey

Let me take a moment here to address the dust up between Maks and the judges. Maks had an excellent point about inconsistency in the standards the judges apply from celebrity to celebrity, and even sometimes from pro to pro. I've been watching this show from the very beginning, and there has always been a double standard. I've gotten used to it and it mostly doesn't bother me anymore.

However, there is no excuse for the disrespect shown on either side. Both parties crossed the line. It's embarrassing to have to watch the judges shout over each other, or try to come up with witty descriptions of the contestants that end up just being insensitive. But in my opinion, Maks crossed that line just a little more with his comment that DWTS was his show. I'm not going to try and interpret what he might have meant. I'm going to take his words at face value.

My response to Maks thinking that DWTS belongs to him and has success because of him is this...the original professional dancers from Season 1 included Louis Van Amstel, Edyta Sliwinska, Jonathan Roberts, Ashley DelGrosso, Charlotte Jorgensen, and Alec Mazo. Maks didn't show up until season 2, and has participated in 11 of the 13 seasons. He has never won. He has finished 2nd twice, 3rd twice, 4th, 6th, 7th, 10th, and 12th twice.

That would indicate to me that the show doesn't necessarily belong to Maks, and often gets along very well without him.

I have tremendous respect for Maksim Chmerkovskiy as a dancer and as a teacher. I enjoyed his work with Kirstie Alley in Season 12. He has made some of the most memorable dances in the run of DWTS. But he can often be a jackass...to his partners and to the judges. There is no excuse for disrespect.

OK, that was more than a moment. I'm shaking that stuff off now. Let's get to the show and some results.

The judges select the Quickstep from JR and Karina as the encore.

First results...JR and Karina are safe.

Kristin Chenoweth returns to perform a song from her new album, accompanied by Tony and Dasha.

More results...Ricki and Derek are safe. Nancy and Tristan are safe.

Macy's Stars of Dance is a tribute to Broadway, choreographed by Kenny Ortega and starring Corbin Bleu. That was terrific! It was music from 42nd Street, West Side Story, and In the Heights. Outstanding work! Yes! The clip is posted already. Watch it...it's 3:43 well spent.

Now Martina McBride is in the ballroom performing her current single, accompanied by Val and Chelsie. Very nice.

More results...David and Kym are safe.

Cool! Mark and Lacey dance with a bunch of little kids in a Halloween number. Excellent! Lacey choreographed that piece. Well done girl! This isn't really a good recording, but it's a great performance.

You know, next week's show airs on Halloween night. I'm looking forward to some spooky numbers.

Final results...Rob and Cheryl are safe. Hope and Maks are safe.

And that means Chaz and Lacey are eliminated.

That's probably the right call. Chaz was struggling to keep up and I think that was directly attributable to his weight. But having said that, I thought he put up with an awful lot of crap comments, from Bruno in particular. I don't know if I'd have been quite so gracious after being called an Ewok or a penguin. Bruno may have thought that was clever. I thought it was rude and insulting.

I have tremendous respect for Chaz to put himself out there. Well done Sir.

Tune in next Monday for a special Halloween themed show.

Later gang!

I continue to count down to 4 November with 30 Peace quotes and 100 reasons to blog for Peace.

"Treat others as you want them to treat you because what goes around comes around." Unknown

Reason 9: Because there is enough volatility in the natural processes that make up this planet on which we live. There is no need for humans to add to that volatility with unnecessary conflict and war.

Cue that theme music

2011-10-25T00:05:00.000-07:00

It's live from Hollywood!

This week our 7 remaining couples dance to music from Broadway. I love me a good musical!

And...every couple has two dances. First an individual dance to a Broadway hit, then the group dance.

First up, it's a performance from the company of Sister Act. Excellent!

Rob and Cheryl dance Cha Cha Cha to Walk Like a Man from Jersey Boys. I like the song, but I had some trouble getting into the Cha Cha Cha rhythm at the top of the beginning. I think it was a credible dance, but there were some issues with musicality and I think that comes down to the song. It was hard for me to follow the beat, so I had a tough time following the movement. I can say that his foot placement was very clean and precise. But I didn't think Rob was relaxed with the style. I didn't feel any of the cheekiness I like in a Cha Cha Cha. There were some nice moments, but as a whole I thought the dance was just average. Judges say 8,7,7 for a total of 22. I agree with that score.

Nancy and Tristan dance Foxtrot to Always Look on the Bright Side of Life from Monty Python Spamalot. Now this could be good, if she lets go and performs with confidence. She has it in her face. The problem is that her legs seem nailed to the floor. She get any knee bend when it was called for, and she also continues to have issues with her posture. She did start getting into it toward the end and seemed a bit lighter on her feet. I think she enjoyed that dance more than any she's done so far. And I did like the performance. It had a proper Foxtrot flavor and they also added some nice Python character to it. Judges say 9,7,8 for a total of 24. I don't know about the 9. Nancy had way too many technical and posture issues for a 9. But as I said, I enjoyed the performance.

David and Kym dance Quickstep to We Go Together from Grease. Now that's a great musical selection for Quickstep. Kym is rockin' the Sandra Dee yellow dress too. Love that! There was a real 50s flare to the choreography, particularly to start the dance with hand jive and a few steps in tribute to the show. Unfortunately, the dance got out of control right out of the gate and looked sloppy. It seemed like David was trying so hard to control his exuberance that he let the steps get away from him and lost his timing. His musicality was off, and that impacted his ability to hold synchronization with Kym. It was the first time in several weeks that he didn't provide a strong lead for Kym. Judges say 8,7,8 for a total of 23. Kym was ambitious with the choreography, but I think this dance was a miss.

Ricki and Derek dance Quickstep to Luck be a Lacy Tonight from Guys and Dolls. That was wonderful choreography. I thought it captured the flavor of the musical, which is right in the wheelhouse for Quickstep. And they danced it beautifully. That's how you come back from an off week. It was fast and high energy, with a tempo change or two for balance. Ricki kept up. Sometimes the female celebrities get dragged around the floor during Quickstep, but not this time. Her musicality was outstanding. And the performance was clean, crisp, and precise. Classy, sophisticated, and elegant. Well done! Judges say 10,9,10 for a total of 29. You gotta work to get that 10 paddle from Len.

Chaz and Lacey dance Tango to Phantom of the Opera. He's really getting the steps. His posture is very good. He kept his shoulders back, which helped with his balance. That was really quite good. He was in control and seemed to be leading Lacey through it. I think he captured the drama of the dance and the attitude. I disagree with the judges about how Chaz handled this dance. I thought he took a huge step forward in his control of the movement and his musicality. We're getting down to case now, and I do agree that he needs to step up his performance. Lacey tried to increase the difficulty, but she also has to make a dance that Chaz can do. I thought his performance was pretty good. The problem is that even when he improves, he's still quite a bit behind the rest of the celebrities. Judges say 7,6,6 for a total of 19. That's harsh. I don't think the dance was that bad, but maybe it just wasn't difficult as some of the other performances. It's just tough when you have such a likable person hitting that moment in the show when the judges try to counterbalance the fan vote.

Hope and Maks dance Rumba to Seasons of Love from Rent. Too much drama in their rehearsal. If she can't get this out of her head, she's going to dance herself right off the show. That was a good effort, but she still looks so awkward to me. I found her a lot sexier in goal on the soccer pitch than I do on the dance floor. This Rumba wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either. I didn't find it sexy or sensuous. She doesn't look comfortable with the movement. I think everyone got it in their head that she had potential as a dancer. But I think the reality is that she's like any of the male athletes that didn't have the rhythm, musicality, or softness for dance, and I think that because she's a woman, no one has wanted to say it. So I'll say it...she's awkward and doesn't have the coordination for dance. And that's OK. Judges say 7,6,7 for a total of 20.

JR and Karina dance Quickstep to music from Chicago. Wow. That was some tough choreography. Karina said in rehearsal that she was going to make an ambitious dance because she had faith that JR could handle it. This had lots of runs and spins. And it seemed to keep getting faster as it progressed. One thing I really liked was that JR didn't bounce during those runs. He managed to glide across the floor. I thought the dance had a great flavor to it. It definitely captured the period in which the musical Chicago was set. I enjoyed the whole performance. JR's personality and charm were the stars, and his ability carried the rest. It would have been so easy for JR to get ahead of the dance because of the way the tempo kept building, but he stayed in complete control. Judges say 10,9,10 for a total of 29. Len is still hanging onto that 10 paddle.

Here's our leader board after that round of dancing:

29 Ricki and Derek
29 JR and Karina
24 Nancy and Tristan
23 David and Kym
22 Rob and Cheryl
20 Hope and Maks
19 Chas and Lacey

Warning!! Mid-show rant ahead!

End of mid-show rant.

Oh...that's right! We've got a performance from the lovely, charming, and supremely talented Kristin Chenoweth. She is joined by our pros for a stellar performance of Maybe This Time and I Could Have Danced All Night.

Now we have our group dance, choreographed by Kevin Maher with some assistance from Carson Kressley. By assistance, you know that I mean moral support and sparkly silliness, right? No scores for this round. It's just for fun.

And it was fun! I thought they all did a great job. It was cohesive and I thought they all blended well together.

Good show. We narrowed our focus and split votes evenly between Ricki and JR. We think those two should be in the finale, with perhaps Rob or David rounding out the top 3 for freestyle.

Tune in tonight for what promises to be a great results show...well, great if you like Broadway. And check back here tomorrow for my encores and results recap.

Later gang!

I continue counting down to 4 November with 30 Peace quotes and 100 reasons to blog for Peace.

"Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your daily modus operandi and change your world." Annie Lennox

Reason 10: Because sometimes you just have to stand up and be counted.

Creative burst

2011-10-24T00:05:00.000-07:00

It's a good thing that my poetry place, Poetry by Travis, comes up in my dashboard whenever I sign on to Blogger, otherwise I might completely forget that I have some small claim to the name of Poet. The last post over there was way back in February.

I don't know where my mojo has gone.

I wanted a burst
Of creative energy
So I tried Haiku

Yeah, I know that's kind of lame.

Leaves of red, gold, brown
Lash'd by howling mad zephyr
Crisp chill of autumn

Lame again. That's what happens when you try to force it. But then came this...

I sense her nearby
Her footfall echos in the
Mist, like gentle rain

That's much better. True Haiku captures the feel of nature and beauty.

OK...it was a short burst, but it's better than nothing I guess.

Still counting down the days until 4 November with 30 days of quotes and 100 reasons.

22 October

23 October

"The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step. So we must never neglect any work of peace within our reach, however small." Adlai Stevenson

24 October

"Armageddon is not around the corner. This is only what the people of violence want us to believe. The complexity and diversity of the world is the hope for the future." Michael Palin

Reason 13: Because everyone in the world isn't going to like me or the way I live, and that's OK. All they have to do, and all I have to do, is respect traditions and cultures that are different than mine. As long as the way each of us lives does not hurt others, then respect on both sides leaves us each living as best suits us, in peace. I blog for peace because I have respect.

Reason 12: Because our troops are coming home from Iraq, and I wish to honor their sacrifice to duty by wishing them peace in all the tomorrows of their lives.

Reason 11: Because our troops are still in harms' way in hot spots throughout the world, and I wish to honor their sacrifice to duty by working to bring them home safe and whole.