The Daily Poem

DOT TO DOT

One more time around the sun

   Marked by this fine day.

Something subtle has begun,

   Difficult to say

Just exactly what comes next,

   Where this start may end.

Dot to dot the line connects,

   Curves around the bend.

Out of sight the future glides,

   Doing what it does;

Out of mind the future hides,

   Never what it was.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 311

Idyllwild, California

Ballad Meter

JOURNAL:  My last day of work at Eisenhower Medical Center!  Handshakes and hugs all around.  It's always a little bittersweet leaving a job behind.  But this time is much less bitter, much more sweet.  As I drove up Bob Hope Drive, I called the kids and wished them Happy New Year, and told them that my sabbatical was officially beginning...NOW: message for Nini, talked to Ellie, message via Suzanne for Kim, talked to CJ and Paige, and finally talked to Rashawna in Dominica who was still up, wide awake, at 0300.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Let the adventure begin!  Mimi was awake watching a movie on the Hallmark channel when I got home.

FANATICAL SABBITICAL

Some say it isn't practical,

A deviance statistical,

A blunder economical,

A notion quite fantastical,

To search for something magical

In regions dripping tropical

By means both loose and nautical,

For ends both Ant and Arctical,

But mostly astronomical

And surely an irrational

Fanatical sabbatical.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 310

Idyllwild, California

Monorhyme

JOURNAL:  Mimi made breakfast of noodles & eggs. A lazy day overall.  Got a massage from Judy Way.  Came home and had some of left over soup and paid bills by the fire.  Mom came up for a while.  She fingered through the pics on my droid, amazed at the technology of digital storage and retrieval.  Tomorrow I begin my year-long sabbatical.

 Farmhouse in Ravello, Rome, 21 May 1931 by M. C. Escher

THE TOPMOST ROOM

Each summer when the sun is warm

   I take the train to Rome,

Ravello where the sun is warm,

   To my room below the dome.

The topmost room where the long blue sea

   Retards my anxious heart,

Ravello where the long blue sea

   Puts back what falls apart.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 309

Idyllwild, California

Ballad Meter

JOURNAL:  We cleaned up the workshop making room for the motorcycles.  Set up the three heavy duty metal shelves.  It snowied about 4 - 5 inches, then started raining.  Mountains of slush everywhere.  Fire in the fire place.  See's candy nuts & chews.  Finished INTO THIN AIR on my Droid and Mimi finished reading GROUNDED aloud.  We've started a World Tour To Do List.  Another viral attaché has attached itself and is beginning its attack on my distracted immune system.

KINGDOMS RISING

Precious metals, precious stones

Scraps of flesh on bleaching bones

Fifty decomposing kings

   On fifty broken thrones.

Streaming eyes and sobbing moans

Fifty queens go underground

Making plans in muffled tones

Hidden deep without a sound

Underneath the future mound

Dancers dancing round and round

Fifty rising princes climb

   The stairs toward higher ground.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 307

Idyllwild, California

Novel Verse Form

JOURNAL:  Said goodbye to Ellie & Derek, Nini & Ray.  Spent another night at Sky Ranch.   Ate another breakfast at Pete's Place.  Took another 8-hour road trip home.  Went by Lemoore on the way home so I could deliver Kim's box of See's Candy.  We took a long walk and had a long daddy-daughter talk.  I learned more things I didn't know.  We ran some errands together, paying off a few overdue bills, and making plans.  We'll talk more by phone in a few days.  A lot of roadrage on the highways as we drove home, or perhaps the rage was in me.  Home by midnight.  Straight to bed.  Mom did really well on the long trip saying that it was difficult but well worth it.

A TABLE IN THE SUN

The overwhelming change of view,

The consequences old and new,

I need the warmth but don't know why;

A table in the sun to cry.

The dreams all chased in circles down,

The foolish feeling like a clown,

One thing alone will satisfy;

A table in the sun to cry.

The wish for things that did not come,

The adding up that did not sum,

One final strategy to try;

A table in the sun to cry.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 308

La Mesa, California

Kyrielle

JOURNAL:  Up and at 'em again this morning.  Drove to San Diego for Mimi's Mammogram and Physical Exam.  Then over to CJ & Paige's to drop off Great Grandma Trudie's Christmas present for Adin & Lily.  Spent about an hour there playing with the kids.  CJ & Paige showed us the flat screen TV they bought with their Christmas money.  Nice.  Then to Costco to exchange Mom's boots.  No size 91/2 available.  Got ten passport pictures each as needed for Visas.  The lady behind the photo counter couldn't help but ask why we needed so many passport pictures.  Then to Aaron Brothers so Mimi could buy a sketchbook and watercolor block for the trip along with some Micron pens.  Feeling blue today, but tears won't flow.  Just tired, I guess.  So many feelings spent over the past week.  My heart spilling prayers for Kim all day.  I'm grateful for my children and grandchildren and for all the blessings that have come our way recently, but my heart is heavy for Kim.  I pray she'll agree to go to rehab.

FOOL'S GOLD

A word to the wise will suffice

But a fool though you say a thing twice

   Will still do it wrong

   And he'll string you along

Insisting you pay the same price.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 306

Oakhurst, California (Sierra Sky Ranch Resort)

Limerick

JOURNAL:  What a great day!  Breakfast at Pete's Place, then off to Yosemite.  Bought chains for the cars in Fish Camp and into the Park we drove at 25 miles an hour top speed.  But the fresh snow from last night made every turn of the road of delight.  We hiked up to Bridalvale Falls and then drove by El Capitan, getting out to admire its majesty.  Mom was in heaven.  We all had a really good time.  Back in Oakhurst we had pizza at Round Table for dinner and then Nini took us over to Me&Ed's Pizza for some Cinnamon Roll Poppers.  Yum!  Hugs all around and we said our goodbyes.  I really like Ray and Derek.  They are both good men that are worthy of my daughters.  At last!  Tonight I am one happy man!

EMBLEM & ESSENCE

Gravity pulls and the orbits ensue

   Satellite longing to have and to hold

   This is the star of the story that's told

With room in it's sky for a zodiac zoo.

   Wishes come true on the outskirts of town

   Starlight and moonlight on angel wing down

   Winging and singing and sporting the ways

   That everyone gets what the melody plays

Love is the emblem of all that can turn

   Close to the heart in a round of good cheer

   Over and over in harmony's sphere

Where joy is the essence of all that can burn

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 305

Oakhurst, California (Sierra Sky Ranch Resort)

Noel Verse Form

JOURNAL: Took us a while to get going, and a good thing it did, because Mom changed her mind and decided to come along.  We left Idyllwild around nine.  Got to Oakhurst at five.  The girls were already here.  Ellie with Derek, and Nini with Ray, but sadly no Kim.  As soon as we settled in we congregated in the main room of the lodge by the grand piano and opened presents.  You'd have thought Ellie & Nini had never tasted "See's Candy" before.  They gobbled it right up.  The kids went in on Logitech webcam for me, which I'll put to good use.  We had a delicious dinner in the dining room.  Pine Encrusted Hallibut and Prime Rib.  It started to snow around ten.  We all went out on the covered porch to watch it come down.  Big powdery flakes.  We stayed up playing Taboo until midnight. 

SWAN SONG

What could be finer than finally running away,

Give them your notice and take your last paycheck and go,

Toss from the window an echo of hip-hip-horray?

This is the moment you've often rehearsed for the show,

Playing each time you're beset by the work-a-day blues.

Nothing you do can unsettle your cubicle gloom,

Nothing you don't can reverse all the time that you lose

Locked ergonomically in to your featureless room.

Time doesn't wait for a dream to wake up and be real,

Now is the moment to jump from your chair and be gone,

Bolt like a flash with a brilliantly thunderous peal,

And wail Pavarotti's rendition of Song of the Swan.

What could be finer than finally running away,

Toss from the window an echo of hip-hip-horray?

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 304

Rancho Mirage, California

"Sonnetelle"

JOURNAL: A chill 34 degrees in Idyllwild this morning.  A few patches of snow remain.  San Jacinto Peak is bright white in the morning sun.  Reading Ephesians over coffee in bed, then on to Grounded by Seth Stevenson as he crosses the North Atlantic.

Mimi and I decided we really don't want to do an extended ocean-crossing voyage.  We did SF to Ft.. Lauderdale via the Panama Canal and it was fun, but...not THAT fun.  We'd rather spend our precious time on land or close to it enjoying more than the 1250-square-miled circle of empty sea day after day that Seth described so eloquently.

Down the the hill to work for my Next-To-Last shift at the hospital...!

Hugh Hodge, the host of Off-The-Wall Poetry Performing in Cape Town, South Africa contacted me by e-mail confirming that he will have a Monday night spot for me when we arrive.  Each week they have a featured poet who reads for 45 minutes followed by an Open Mic Reading by those in attendance.  I feel so honored to have been invited to be their guest for an evening of poetry!

Chedk out the OFF-THE-WALL website:

http://otwtom.blogspot.com/

Hugh Hodge, Poet

Editor of New Contrast

Host of Off-The-Wall Poetry Performing

Census dropping.  Flexed home early at 1700.  Met Mom and Mimi at Gastronome for a birthday dinner.   Natalie was waitressing there and showed us her engagement ring.  Looks like she and Dimitri are finally going to get married.  Probably in May.  Great news.

FAST FORWARD FAST

Maybe I'm just in the throes of success,

Toppling bonkers cherubically sweet,

Noisy as heck on this mountain of feet,

Paired for my pleasure and ready to press,

Soulful and strong from the depths of distress,

Onward and up to the castled retreat.

Maybe it's time for a tether ball match,

Back on the playground in circles of fun,

Out in the bright shouting buckets of sun,

Recess in session with visions to hatch,

"Give me a boost and I'll open the latch!"

Running away with our homework undone.

Maybe I'm younger than old needs to be,

Fooling myself and the people who blast

Tale upon tale leaving nothing for last.

Nothing is best with a fine slice of brie;

Something is better with one spot of tea.

Maybe it's time for a fast forward fast.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 303

Idyllwild, California

Novel Verse Form

JOURNAL: Woke up in our Encinitas bungalow at Mark & Kits feeling refreshed.  Didn't want to get out of bed.

Mimi waking up from sweet dreams.

Mimi made coffee in little ball canning jars that she thought we could safely take without breaking and return next week when we're down again for her doctor's appointment.  We drove to Dr.Kwok's office in El Cajon.  Received a glowing "bill of health", but reminded to lose 25 pounds and exercise 5 days a week, and eat less fatty foods.  I'm counting a few bouts of traveler's diarrhea to take care of that for me.  He graciously wrote me one year prescriptions for my three daily pills, so I don't have to go hunting for medicine in strange countries.  We discussed required vs recommended vaccines, settling on Thyphoid and Yellow Fever.  He agreed that I should take along Diamox, Azithromycin, and Doxicycline (cheaper than Malarone and just as effective).  He said he'd sign any health-related letters I might need if I just write them up for him.  Great!  Now I just have to track down my immunization records.  Mom was up in the living room when we got home.  We spent some time together and then we headed out for a dinner party at Quiet Creek Inn with Mike & Jim (the owners) and Chris & Meg who have been in Idyllwild three years like us and also live on Scenic Drive.  Mike & Jim said they thought we enjoy getting to know them.  I felt so honored being special guests at Quiet Creek.  We all had a great time sharing stories and getting to know each other.  Chris is a software designer working from home, and Meg is actress.  She has done mainly advertisements, but just got an appearance on a TV show.  Very sweet.  The food was delicious and the Chianti smooth.  Home to bed.  We started reading Grounded: A Down to Earth Journey Around the World by Seth Stevenson.  As soon as I started reading, Mimi fell asleep.

THE RAREST REVENUE

Go figure what the cost will be

   And calculate the profit / loss.

Come sit beside the crackling fire

   And tell me what you think we lack.

Come set me free with your desire.

Our love's the rarest revenue

   That any company could have.

The way we touch each other's thoughts

   Is better far than dreaming of...

The truth of you cannot be bought.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 302

Encinitas, California (Mark & Kit Lathrop's at 164 Edgeburt Drive)

Novel Verse Form (3A1B.4A.3C1D.4C.2B2D)

JOURNAL: Still raining.  Has been for five days straight.  Roads flooded and lots of mini landslides.  We stopped in Warner Springs for a late breakfast at the golf course cafe.  Then stopped again at Julian Pie Company for desert.  They was a crowd of workers making pies by the hundreds!  They said they probably make a million pies a year.  Amazing.  They sure are delicious!  Kathy Thomas called from New York to tell us that Marty was rained in.  His car was under water in the below ground parking structure.  So we sent him a cashier's check for North American Life.  Then did a bit of last minute Christmas shopping.  CJ, Paige, and the kids opened the gifts we brought.  CJ & Paige really enjoyed the "See's Candy" we gave them.  It was so much fun watching the twins get their Leapster Explorers booted up.  I took a nap on the floor in the twins' room while Paige went to lead an Abs Workout at the gym.  Then we all went over to the Paraiso's: watched The Santa Claus starring Tim Allen, baked Christmas cookies, and drank eggnog.  Then off to Our Bungalow in Encinitas.  Mark was up, Kit was asleep.  Had a glass of Pinot Noir and went to bed. 

IN THIS NIMBUS ECHELON

Self-conscious in this nimbus echelon,

I look around, but all I see is me;

Unsure of what I used to lean upon.

My feet seem larger than they need to be.

The wobble in my step has balanced out.

The tremble in my hand has gone away.

But now the surest thing retains a doubt

Because it isn't real unless I say.

I make the scene I'm acting in as if

I know the best of what should take the stage.

The audience is smooth, but I seem stiff.

I think they know I'm reading off the page;

Self-conscious in this nimbus echelon,

Unsure of things I used to lean upon.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 301

Idyllwild, California

"Sonnetelle"

Journal:  Down to Palm Desert today.  Talked to the Pharmacist at Vons.  Not particularly helpful.  Will do a bit more research before my appointment with Dr. Kwok on Thursday, and make my final decision then.  The good news is that the Vons' MD prescriptions inlude Diamox (altitude), Azithromycin (diarrhea), and Malarone (malaria).  We will definitely get the Yellow Fever vaccine, but Rabies & Japanese Encephalitis are very pricey!  The rabies vaccine is a series of three which cost $250 a piece, and J.E. is a set of two at $170 each.  I also need to find documentation for my Hep B & C vaccines that I've had, as well as MMR and DPT.  Hopefully Adventist Health has them.  If not, I'll have to get titres drawn.  Did a bit of Christmas shopping in La Quinta.  Almost ready for Sky Ranch.  Returned to IDY in time for Mimi's massage with Judy Way.

I'm reading Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer with the Kindle App on my Droid.  His description of Nepal and the Himalayas is making me excited to go to Base Camp in October.

THREE HUNDRED

Sitting at this milestone

   Lost for words I wait,

Silence like a megaphone

   On this auspicious date.

Nothing whispers in my ear,

   Blank the onward way,

Soon the magic of a year,

   But this is just a day.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 300

Idyllwild, California

Ballad Meter

Journal:  Rain drizzling on the roof today has not stopped.  It's rather hypnotic.  Made a fire in the stove and stayed in today.  Got my Traveler's Report from Vons today and set up a face to face appointment with Larry the Pharmacist in Palm Desert for tomorrow to discuss things in a bit more detail before I decide on what vaccines we need.  He said the only absolutely required is Yellow Fever.  Also set up a doctor's appointment with Dr. Kwok in San Diego for a physical exam and a review of prescriptions.  Hopefully he'll give me a year's supply so I don't have to worry about finding any meds overseas.  I also want to get some prophylactic meds like Diamox and Azithromycin.  Helped Mimi complete her online travel form on the Vons website to get her shots going as well.  She's going to need Hep B&C which I've already had.  We've been enjoying OUR WORLD SCHOOL about Sue and her four kids who just finished a one year around the world trip.  They used the same Eagle Creek backpack/suitcase that we just bought at REI.  I guess that means we're on the right track.  Mimi had her final Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting tonight where she handed off the Presidential gavel to Nick Todd.  Mom's coughing up lots of crap from her lungs, but sounds 100% better.  I still have that sore spot on the left side of my throat and eustachian tube.  Will have Dr. Kwok look at it tomorrow.  Dave & Joanie are going to meet us in Dominica!!  We booked our Amtrak tickets for February 6, 2011.  Also booked a room in Miami for the night of February 11.  The itinerary begins!

I WANT TO TEACH

I want to teach the world to play again,

To spin their coins like jolly bottle tops,

Exchange their pound of yen for an ounce of zen,

And dance around the other shoe that drops;

Put gold back in their teeth again and smile,

Put silver in their spoons and brew some tea

For time with time for tea and laugh a while

To wile away their short eternity.

There's something in the way things are that's wrong.

It's hard to say just what, but still I know.

It's like the tingle's missing from the song,

The "Bravo!" at the ending of the show.

I want to teach the world to play again,

Exchange their pound of yen for an ounce of zen.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 299

Rancho Mirage, California

"Sonnetelle"

Journal: Worked EMC 0900 - 1930.  Lots of goodbyes.  Jim let me go a couple hours early!  I knew Mimi was singing the blues and wanted to be home with her.  As soon as I took her in my arms, she burst into tears.  All the changes, plus this time of year that brings back Jon's death, have really put a dark cloud over her head.  We watched Sarah Palin's Alaska about dogsledding, and Mimi fell asleep on the couch. 

REVERSAL OF FORTUNE

Tomorrow morning finds all this a dream,

   A splinter in my streaming eye;

The fates all doubled up in belly laughs;

   My tale in pictographs of ruin

On crumbling walls of castles in the sky,

   With stoic statues trying not

To smile, as my phantom figure floats

   Between my wild oats and home.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 298

Rancho Mirage, California

Novel Verse Form

Journal: 0900-2130 at EMC.  So excited, I just can't help talking about my upcoming trip...to everyone.  Sent out an e-mail informing Poetry International that I was on an around the world trip.  I got a response from Liesl Jobson in South Africa inviting me to come to their Tuesday poetry reading.  When I got home Mimi was asleep in bed, but Mom was awake.  They had watched a movie together.  Mom is starting to miss us already saying, "This is going to be the longest year of my life."  Went to sleep to the sound of drizzling rain on the roof.  Cozy.  Mimi woke up with a start from a bad dream.  She dreamed I had run off the road and crashed the car on my way up the hill on this dark rainy night.

GATHERING FACES

Today I leave behind

   the solitude of desolate regret,

To gather faces one by one

   around this smiling globe;

To join the human race,

To take my thankful place,

My life a gift of grace.

The many streams that curved me

   here are nothing now but sweeps of mist,

My ancient past a relic vapor

   lost between the pages' press;

And so I'm free to go,

A speck within the flow,

An airborne Jacques Cousteau.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 297

Rancho Mirage, California

Novel Verse Form

Journal:  Worked as both ACM and SUP today from 7A-7P.  Melissa drove Mimi down in Mom's car (and then drove ours back--how nice!) and Mimi drove me over to Jodie Woodall's house to pick up the long awaited motorcycle.  I drove it home.  It was just misting in Palm Desert, but as I mounted the hill it became a light freezing rain.  I had to stop and warm up under the eaves of the Mountain Center Post Office on the way home.  Cold and wet by the time I got home.  It's a good bike.  I think it'll be perfect for her.  Hopefully she'll get her license before we go so we'll have the option of renting motorcycles along the way.  Took a hot shower and climbed into bed.  All the goodbyes--Chamber & Art Aliiance & Gallery--have given Mimi the blues tonight.

THE GALAXY OF TWINS

A distant star of low degree,

Caught up in gravity's immense abyss,

Alone inside an empty sea,

A zone where none can find and all will miss

Its special form of chemistry.

A twinning dual of mirrored eyes

In orbits paralleling two for two,

Forever splitting, Y's on Y's,

In ways beyond our earthly view,

Forever lifting skies on skies.

I found it in the lonesome night;

I pulled it from my window's square of stars.

And now, my love, I give the sight

To you and only you; this place of ours,

This secret twinkling point of light.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 296

Idyllwild, California

Quintain Stanza

Journal: Down to Hemet with Mimi.  Went to Compass, Wells Fargo, and Bank Of America inquiring about 0% Foreign Transaction Fee credit cards.  No luck anywhere.  Lunch at Taco Bell.  Bought a year's supply of Low Dose Aspirin.  Bought some heavy duty metal shelving for the workshop.  Got to put my shop in order before we leave.  It's going to take some doing.  After all the shopping was done we went to see Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie in "The Tourist".  A good old fashioned mystery!  Mimi made a a big taco salad when we got home.  See's Candy for desert.  Mom started on Zithromycin today for her bronchitis.  After dinner we built a fire and played Rummy on the couch.  Work called during the afternoon asking if I could do ACM (Admissions Case Manager) as well as Nursing Supervisor tomorrow from seven to seven.  What could I say but yes? Only five more shifts to go.

DOMINION'S TOLL

Dominion took its toll on those

For whom the Starters chose

To give the power for this time.

We gladly took the wand of awe

With innocence to draw

Upon the mind of the Sublime,

Forgetting whose the glory was,

Imagining because

We had the wand it must be ours.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 295

Idyllwild, California

Novel Verse Form

JOURNAL:  Home all day cleaning, organizing, filing, tinkering with HP Mini and Droid.  Fire in stove upstairs.  Twinkle hanging around curious about everything.  Mimi had her final day at the Chamber office from 1200 to 1500.  Then she came home and made dinner.  Back for a meeting with Nick and Blake, handing off Chamber President stuff.  Mimi told Mark, Marla, and Rashawna today.  Rashawna couldn't believe what we were telling her.  It's still hard for us to believe.  It's hard to say it without laughing.  Sent an Event Proposal to the Association of American Poets.

WRITTEN IN THE SKIN

The body speaks a language all its own.

Unspoken words now written in the skin

Reveal their gestured selves in ways unsaid,

In tones beyond the metrics of the head.

Received from fingertips and palms, the weight

Of air across its wing creates a slate

That chalks with bone white dust its true intent

And leaves its secret self alive and spent. 

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 294

Idyllwild, California

Rhyming Couplets

Journal:  Moved two-drawer wooden file cabinets up into our bedroom and set them up as bedside stands.  We like them.  Spent a couple hours getting all my new techno gadgets with their power cords and adapters placed in ziplock bags for travel.  Did a bit of filing of important papers.  Have a lot more to do.  Walked downtown for my 4 PM massage with Judy Way.  She has the genuine loving touch.  Then Mimi and I went on the Holiday Inns Tour.  Nine Idyllwild Inns participated.  Then we went for the first half of the Idyllwild Arts Academy Jazz Retictal at Stevenson Hall.  There was standing room only.  We were sitting on the floor by an open door.  Got too cold to stay for the second half.  Called Paige & CJ and told them the news of our upcoming trip.  Mom's been in her robe all day with a sore throat.

Idyllwild PIlates & Massage

http/www.idyllwildpilatesmassage.com/

Contact Judi Way

THE NUMBERS GAME

There's danger in the numbers game;

The uncut story can't be told.

Ebola hides behind the gold,

With other things that have no name,

Like luckless cards that always fold.

They want to know, I want to tell;

We speak in superstitious code,

Afraid the digits may explode

If suddenly their candied shells,

Like big green M&Ms, erode.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 293

Rancho Mirage, California (Borders Books at The River)

Quintain Stanza

Journal:  Colton for two-drawer files made of wood.  Then to REI to return Mimi's shoes.  Got a solar battery charger in exchange.  Then on to Foot Solutions where Mimi spent an hour getting her feet measured, arches analyzed, and gait evaluated.  Ended up with two pair of special shoes that should keep her feet from aching as we travel.  Then to Costco for some Christmas shopping.  Lots of fun!  Found just the perfect gifts for Lily & Adin.  Once into Rancho Mirage we went to Borders to look up Eurail info and a latte.  Then went by EMC to show Merlyn a few details about how the Nursing Supervisor Shift Report works.  Hard to give a crash course in Excel in 30 minutes.  Finally asked her to just e-mail it to me if they need it revised during 2011.  E-mail and internet makes us all just a click away from each other, no matter how many thousands of miles separate us.  Home a little after midnight.

CONDITIONS CHANGE

Conditions change like hurricanes

Through silent music halls,

And keys fly off both loud and soft

When thunderous cannon balls

Go rumbling down like squalls.

And trumpets play the marching fray

In gales of brassy whine,

Allegro lifting roofs of riff

From docile glass to raging stein,

From status quo to redesign.

D. Edgar Lamp

The Daily Poem - 292

Rancho Mirage, California

Quintain Stanza

Journal:  Mimi drove me to work this morning.  She researched telephones for international use, and decided on the Motorola Droid from Verizon with services in 200-plus countries.  She came by and gave me my new phone around noon.  We ate lunch together in the cafeteria.  Toward the end of the shift I bought five of Melissa's drawings.  Let her know about our trip and the closure of the Gallery.  Busy day.  Took my Caribbean Islands guide book (Lonely Planet) but didn't get a chance to crack it open once.  We went to The Yard House for dinner of the way home.  Mom was up when we got home around midnight.  She's been having afib since 0200 this morning.  She went to church and played the piano with her afib in full swing.  Amazing!  I think she's going to find her second-wind in 2011, with us gone. 

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Idyllwild to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage: 

 
View Larger Map