Hello all.
It's been a while, hasn't it? A few weeks or so, I'd say. Perhaps it's been more, but I can't recall too rightly. Things are going well, I hope? Nice 4th and all that, yes? You'll have to catch me up on what you've been up to, if you don't mind.
The reason why I'm writing you this day is because I've been out under the stars again. Last night, your humble narrator stood outside with his head tilted up, mouth open like a bird waiting to be fed. I'm sure I've told you this before, but I don't really see a lot of stars out at night. That's because there's too much light pollution emanating from the city. You see maybe a dozen stars out on a clear night. The southern sky is always filled with this sick, orange glow, too.
But last night... I could see a lot more stars than I usually do. I saw Cassiopeia in the northeast sky, the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper circling around the Pole star, I thought I even saw a Snake uncoiled across the western sky. The moon playing hide and seek with me, hiding between the house and the willow tree.
In the southern sky however, in the thick of the light pollution, was the brightest object in all the night sky. The planet Venus shone through in defiance of the light pollution and in the orange desert of the night sky watered my soul.
I stood pondering this twinkling planet until the glowing star of my own in front of my lips needed to be extinguished. With a final puff, I toss my smoke and go back to bed.
Happy 4th of July, Americans. Happy Saturday everyone else. :)
Thanks for stopping in,
Grape.
P.S. Last week(June 30th), ed passed his 4 year anniversary here rather quietly. He's an old timer, alright. He's been here so long, his memories are in black and white. One day, you'll tell your children "I knew ed when SoulCast was still in beta!" :D
GrapeKoolaid posted on Jul 04, 2009
| views: 228
Comments
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uniquely-ironic said on Jul 04, 2009....
Hey Grape! I went star gazing last week. The fog is usually my enemy here. Saw the north star right off the bat, the others as it got darker.ed stopped by to wave on his anniversary, but I thought it was 3 years. Yes, I miss the days of fish smacking.Hope you are well. -
fragglesrock said on Jul 04, 2009....
happy 4th to you! awesome that you were able to enjoy the night sky :) i love going out to the country for that particular reason. grab a blanket, lay back on a hill and enjoy the best show ever! nothing much to update here, except i quit smoking! monday will mark 3 weeks!
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Alyss said on Jul 04, 2009....
<waves>
Independence Day wishes to all my USA friends.
Hope you're able to celebrate it with your loved ones.
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GrapeKoolaid said on Jul 04, 2009....
uni: How far inland do you have to go to escape the fog? [shakes fist at the fog]
You know, I think you're right about it being 3 years. See? That's how old he is. He bends time. :)
frags: Quitting smoking is huge news! Congratulations! 3 weeks?!! How are you holding up so far? More importantly, how are your loved ones? :)
Alyss: [waves]
Though I must admit there is a small part of me that wishes to be a subject of the crown. I have gone to places with a crown on my head on the 4th before.
Not this year, though. This holiday will be spent quietly at home relaxing. I couldn't commit to an all day affair, you know?
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uniquely-ironic said on Jul 04, 2009....
bends time?! Bwa ha ha ha! I could see that! "bend time he does" (think yoda) I usually have to wait until I'm at least 20-30 miles inland, but occaisionally we get a break in the clouds by the bay. (rarely with the ocean) -
beyondtheveil said on Jul 04, 2009....
Gotta love that night sky. I read where on the best of nights (in dark areas) you can see about two thousand stars. Going by that I guess we can see maybe a thousand. It used to be better at the edge of the city, but progress keeps coming.
I don't think Ed can bend time, I think grape screwed up and is trying to cover it.
It'll be my grandkids I tell about Ed, I don't want my kids to read my shit.
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gingersoul said on Jul 04, 2009....
BeyBey.......LOL.....i love your comment!...
Grandkids? Oh, man, this is way too ahead of time for even being taken in consideration by me....;-p
Btw...aren't you celebrating the 4th as your fellow yankee-dooddles?
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beyondtheveil said on Jul 04, 2009....
soulgirl- I don't have any grandkids yet and they may be a long time coming. In fact, there's only one of my kids I think will reproduce.
There aren't any yankee-doodles in my two state area. We got rid of them long ago. We were going to hometown for 4th but decided against it because of the rain. So I'm grilling burgers and making guacamole dip.
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GrapeKoolaid said on Jul 04, 2009....
uni: Or... You could go out into the ocean... Then you'd see tons of stars, I'd bet. :)
btv: A thousand? I'm envious... There I was, so happy with my 30, thought I'd write you all about it... :(
You're an old timer here too, you know? I asked for your ID and you handed me a rock. :P
amore: Hope you have fun at your little outing today. :)
btv: grillin' burgers and no yankees? I'm envious again... Only if I could eat solid foods... :(
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gingersoul said on Jul 04, 2009....
BeyBey........yes, you are right......no yankees....we have pinata all over the places though......lol......
Rain, uh? Dallas heat is almost bearable today, sunny and breezy...
Guacamole is good.........;-)
Grapey......grilled bacon wrapped shrimps on the menu here.....but i know it might be hell residence for you... -
GrapeKoolaid said on Jul 04, 2009....
amore: That does sound good... I'd love to partake as soon as my intestinal issues get resolved.
[stomach grumbles]
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fearing said on Jul 04, 2009....
Oh Hi Grapey! I'm so glad you posted something. I enjoy your music posts but love to "hear" you write much more.I'm sorry that you don't get to see too many stars. On a clear night, I can see tons of them.Happy 4th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
beyondtheveil said on Jul 04, 2009....
ginsoul- Grilled bacon wrapped shrimp?....damn....wish I'd thought of that.
And I was looking at big shrimp on sale yesterday. It never entered my mind.
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gingersoul said on Jul 04, 2009....
BeyBey......next time remember, ok? They are so easy to prepare.
Ah, what would you do without me?.....;-D
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GrapeKoolaid said on Jul 04, 2009....
fearing: Happy 4th to you, too. :)
You know, I'm not at all upset about not seeing too many stars... I tale delight in them when I do.
btv&ginger: Put a little piece of pineapple in the middle and I'll be there. :)
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woman said on Jul 04, 2009....
I love the stars Grape. I took my children, and now I take my grandchildren outside at night to see them. We bring a big blanket and spread it on the lawn, we lie down, snuggled close, and we look up. We have to hold on tight to each other and the blanket so we don't fall into the sky. It is darkly velvet with diamond stars everywhere. I wish you could see them, as they are here.
Happy 4th.
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MissMimi said on Jul 04, 2009....
GrapeApe! You were a busy little grape today here at SoulCast. I was just wondering the other day where you were. I must say, I always smile when I see a post by you. See? :D
Beyond, just so you know, I'm coming over to your house for burgers and guacamole. :)
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beyondtheveil said on Jul 04, 2009....
mimi- You better hurry. There's one patty left and the bottom of the bowl for the dip.
But you won't mind after one of my drinks.
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CreativeWoman said on Jul 05, 2009....
Hi, Grape! Nice to see you again. :-)
There are lots of stars in the night sky where I live. Sometimes the stars are so bright that it feels illuminated as I walk from the car to the house. The only other outside light here is a pole light at the edge of the cattle lot. I always thank God for them on such beautiful nights.
CW
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RollingC said on Jul 05, 2009....
Hey Grape....good to see you again. I too go stargazing and I do it twice a week because of my part-time job. It's been kinda cloudy with lots of rain lately but still I enjoy seeing, if not the stars, then the sunrise with it's brief variety of colors painting the sky. For a few minutes of everyday in our lives, there is a prelophera (if I spelled that correctly) of color in our morning sky to beat the band. And in the setting sun also but methinks it's better at sunrise.
Lately I've just tried my hand at dyeing clothes. You know, the jeans start to fade and dyeing them makes them look like new again (well, almost) and it's fun....just did my first electric tee shirt and I'm surprised at how it came out. I think I just found a new hobby.
:^)
Rc
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GrapeKoolaid said on Jul 05, 2009....
Man... You folks are giving me night sky envy... [grumbles]
Lady: Fall into the sky... That's a real pretty way of putting it... :)
Mimsy: Had a few things to say I suppose. I'm not making any promises or anything, but I was thinking about writing with a bit more regularity...
btv: So there were drinks involved yesterday too, huh?
CeeDub: My friends and I used to go out to central WI for about a week during the summer and I remember being able to clearly see the Milky Way. That I always found pretty amazing.
RC: Dyeing clothes as a new hobby? That's pretty cool. Stargazing as a part time job? That's pretty awesome, too. Tell me more about them, if you'd like.
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queenparanoia said on Jul 05, 2009....
hello grapey... ;-) -
Hegemone said on Jul 05, 2009....
Well, sounds like a peaceful moment in time. Interesting how sometimes things will stand out almost seemingly in spite of what's trying to block them huh? Glad you stopped in! -
RollingC said on Jul 05, 2009....
Actually I got a part-time gig as a security guard at night roving in a gated community. Actually (luckily) it's a quiet one by the railroad tracks close to the Zoo in the southwest portion of Dade County not too far from my house.Since it's at night, 11-7, I get plenty of time to look at stars and the moon. Plus keep track of the local wildlife. When I started there were lots of stray cats lounging around but they've been disappearing slowly until one night I saw why. Some foxes have moved into the neighborhood and probably live by the RR tracks since that 's the only place there's very little human activity. I've seen them and even saw one of them (there's a red fox and a gray fox) chasing down one cat and almost got it but it went up a tree.I've never seen a cat move that fast.As far as the tie dyeing, it's something I been meaning to do as my favorite and comfortable jeans start losing color with the washes you get this feeling that you're going to have to buy new jeans to replace the old ones so..., I found this place in the net and they ship from California the different color dyes and bonding liquids that you need for a very affordable price.The instructions go from simple to complicated and they give you free advice and you can call anytime during office hours. I started with the simple one and even managed to complicate that one a bit. One doesn't even have to cut the packet as it dissolves in warm water....dye and packet.... but no problem...nothing some soap, water and a brush couldn't cure and take the color out of my fingers.You can even do it in your washing machine (and that's what I did).It came out great.....the jeans look brand new now and a T-shirt that I threw in after I wrapped some rubber bands around it look great (they give you a T-shirt on your first order)When I get the handle on posting pictures on Soulcast I'll put one up for you to see.Rc -
RollingC said on Jul 05, 2009....
PS... I have a full time job and the part-time is for extra cash as I finally want to go to South America to visit relatives and take a well earned vacation for a couple of weeks. Plus saving some extra money for home projects.Rc -
GrapeKoolaid said on Jul 06, 2009....
qp: Hello your majesty. ;)
Hege: It's about time, too. I was away for about two weeks or so before I posted something, I think. I've been gone for longer, but I always come back, I guess. I'm glad I stopped in, too.
RC: That sounds like a pretty nice gig. I live in a gated community and we have a guy that drives around in a covered golf cart at night. A real friendly fella. I'll have to make it a point to be nicer to him on account of you now. :)
Full time and a part time job, huh? You must be hungry for something. I don't know what it is, but I sure hope you get it. And soon, too. So that you won't have to work all the time.
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RollingC said on Jul 06, 2009....
Thanks Grape.... The vacation is one of them...but necessity is the mother of invention as they say. I needed extra money since the separation/divorce and I even rented out a room to a young couple...I've known the guy for years from work actually...and I'm learning that cutting expenses is just as good as making more money when it comes to cash flow ( I even blogged about it under Frugality with vinegar ).Rc -
GrapeKoolaid said on Jul 06, 2009....
There you go. :)
The idea of cutting expenses is something that's been weighing rather heavily on my mind, lately. One of my daily expenditures being cigarettes at this point. I don't want to part with tobacco, though... Perhaps I can switch to a pipe...
I'm thinkin, I'm thinkin...
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RollingC said on Jul 07, 2009....
Depending on how much you smoke (and what brand) and what your health is like at the moment you'll realize it's something you should give up. The lucky few that have the will power to control it to a couple of cigarettes a day are doing ok. Actually I really like smoking but it got too expensive and my lungs were starting to feel it after all those years. It's been a couple of years now and the clean breathing that I do now is something that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.Rc -
GrapeKoolaid said on Jul 07, 2009....
But a pipe?
It's so distinguished... I think I'd feel like Sherlock Holmes. Say things like, "Hmm... Yes... Quite right." and talking out of the side of my mouth because I'm holding on the pipe with my teeth and stuff.
:D
The ultimate question is how my lady would feel about it.
Well?
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beyondtheveil said on Jul 07, 2009....
If you get a pipe, I'm going to call you SherlockKoolaid. -
RollingC said on Jul 07, 2009....
Pipe smoking is really the best and most refined of all the direct consumer uses of tobacco I think. It smells quite good and you can either inhale it (if you get used to it or have a filter in the pipe) or not. It's healthiest not to and I think I'll call you Sherlockoolaid also like Beyond suggested. :^) Rc
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