Saturday, November 29, 2025

November Gardening Chores

Red Bluff, North Sacramento Valley, California, USA
USDA Zone 9




Removing dead and non-productive summer vegetable crops.
Turn in composted steer manure and compost into the cleared vegetable garden.
Ordering from seed and garden catalogs.
Planting potted trees and shrubs.
Putting winter crops in the ground and harvesting greens: onions, lettuce, radishes, garlic, beets, chard, cabbage.
Placing cold sensitive potted plants in protected areas or indoors.
Planting bulbs.
Prune and mulch dormant perennials.
Prune fruit trees.
Storing and repairing tools.
Cleaning, storing, repairing and removing gasoline from equipment.
Fertilize with 20-9-9 or 16-16-16.
Trees without leaves need little or no watering.
Reduce or eliminate watering, watering as needed, depending upon rainfall, normally 3.1 inches in November.
Picking pumpkins, squash, colored corn, and other crops for Thanksgiving decorations.
Pruning grape vines.
Picking and storing peppers.
Raking leaves and add to compost piles and mulch layers.
Lawn care: aerate soil and fertilize.
Digging holes and post holes in cooler weather.
Burning dead trees and shrubs in burn pile.
Watering potted plants.
Reading gardening books and catalogs. 

November: Quotes, Lore, Poems

Gardening Essentials


"As the biocentric view suggests, the garden prospers when control is balanced by equal measures of humility and benevolence. A balance is struck. Control, servitude, respect, imagination, pragmatism, an ecological conscience, compliance, and a certain measure of mysticism and altruism all meld together to provide nurturance. Try to separate the various aspects into their constituent parts - grant any one of them the status of fundamental gardening definition and one soon skews the entire process. Put them back together again in the service of the two-way street called nurturance, and we express the state of grace called gardening."
- Jim Nollman, Why We Garden: Cultivating a Sense of Place, 1994


"Why do plants have such a positive impact on us?
There are a number of reasons, including:
They have a predictable cycle of life that provides comfort in our time of rapid change.
They are responsive but non-threatening.
They form no opinions or judgments about their caregivers.
They soften our man-made environment.
They enable us to change or improve our environment.
They promote relaxation and tranquility."
- Gardening - Therapy for Mind, Body and Soul, Proxima Health System, Atlanta



Friday, November 28, 2025

Dragon Qigong, Swimming Dragon Qigong, Walking Dragon Chi Kung

"The Chinese Horoscope 2024 reveals that the Year of the Dragon, specifically the Wood Dragon year, will bring authority, prosperity, and good fortune."

 I have been studying books and videos on the subject of Dragon Chi Kung and Dragon Bagua Zhang, Swimming Dragon, Walking Dragon, and Tai Chi Dragon.


Reading "The Four Dragons" by Damo Mitchell; "The Swimming Dragon" by Tzu Shi Kuo and T. K. Smith; and "Dragon and Tiger Qigong" by Bruce K. Frantzis.

For full information on the books, instructional DVDs, UTube vides, links, resources, and quotations on the subject of "Dragon Qigong" see my webpage on the subject. 

I am also completing my own version of Lessons on Dragon Qigong with instructions on that webpage.  


"It is easier to leave a circle than to enter it.
The emphasis is on the hip movement whether front or back.
The difficulty is to maintain the position without shifting the centre.
To analyze and understand the above situation is to do with movement and not with a stationary posture.
Advancing and retreating by turning sideways in line with the shoulders, one is capable of turning like a millstone, fast or slow, as if whirling like a dragon in the clouds or sensing the approach of a fierce tiger.
From this, one can learn the usage of the movement of the upper torso.
Through long practice, such movement will become natural."
- Yang Family Old Manual, The Coil Incense Kung


"The East Asian Dragons are often associated with water, rain, vapors, fog, springs, streams, waterfalls, rivers, swamps, lakes, and the ocean.  Water can take many shapes and states, and Dragons are shape shifters and linked with transformation, appearing and disappearing, changing into something new.  Water is found in three states, depending upon the surrounding temperature: a solid (ice, snow), a fluid (flowing liquid), and a gas (fog, vapor, steam).  Since rainfall is often accompanied by thunder and lightening (thunderstorms and typhoons), the Dragon is sometimes associated with fire; and, since hot water and steam are major sources of energy in human culture, this further links the Dragon with the essential energy of Fire.  The Dragon is thus linked with the chemical and alchemical transformative properties of two of the essential Elements, both Water and Fire.  Dragons are generally benign or helpful to humans in East Asia, but their powers can also be destructive (e.g., flooding, tsunami, typhoon, lightening, steam, drowning, etc.).  There are both male and female Dragons, kinds or species of Dragons, Dragons of different colors and sizes, and mostly good but some evil Dragons.  Some Dragons can fly, some cannot fly; most live in or near water, a few on land.  The body of a Dragon combines features from many animals, representing the many possibilities for existential presence.  The Dragon in the East has serpentine, snake, or eel like movement qualities: twisting, spiraling, sliding, circling, swimming, undulating, flowing freely like water."
[See: The Dragon in China and Japan by Marinus De Visser, 1913] 





Dragon Chi Kung features exercises that involve twisting, turning, screwing, spiraling, curving, wiggling, undulating, spinning, sinking down and rising up, swimming, circling, swinging, or twining movements are often associated with snakes, serpents and dragons.  There are many Qigong sets and specific Qigong movements that have been called "Dragon" forms, sets, or exercises.  Baguazhang martial arts feature much twisting, turning and circling; and, also include many "Dragon" sets and movements.  Silk Reeling exercises in Chen Style Taijiquan include twisting, twining, circling, and screwing kinds of movements. 

Thursday, November 27, 2025

Brief Spiritual Lessons and Koans Database Project

Master Subject Index

Brief Spiritual Lessons, Brief Religious Teaching Stories,
Brief Philosophical Lessons, Brief Reflections
Brief Essays, Sermons, Tales, Koans, Meditations, Lectures
Brief Dialogues, Encounters with Sages, Puzzling Questions

Taoist, Chan Buddhist, Zen Buddhist, Philosophers
China, Japan, American Pacific West Coast
Brief Spiritual Lessons Database Project
Koan Database Project
Master Subject Index


Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo

Green Way Research, Vancouver, Washington
Second Draft, April 4, 2023. PDF File, 94 Pages

Blue Cliff Record (BCR), All 100 Cases Buddhist
Tao Te Ching, Daodejing (DDJ), All 81 Cases Taoist
Gateless Barrier (GB), All 48 Cases Buddhist

Book of Serenity (BOS) All 100 Cases Buddhist
Transmission of Light: Keizan Biographies (TOL) All 53 Biographies Buddhist

365 Tao (DMD) 99 One-Page Meditations Taoist
Dogen's Shinji Mana Shobogenzo Koans (DSMS) 10 Cases Buddhist
Lieh-Tzu: Guide to Practical Living (TGPL) 7 Cases Taoist

Fireplace Records (TFR) 15 Cases Philosopher

Master Subject Index of the Koan Database Project. PDF File, 94 pages.
Second Draft, April 4, 2023. Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo
Green Way Research, Vancouver, Washington


Brief Spiritual Lessons and Koans Database Projects Information

PDF files are searchable. Use the keyboard strokes: Ctrl + F This will open the Search or Find box.
Cases = Brief spiritual teaching stories, dialogues, koan puzzles, wisdom tales, Chan/Taoist teaching, Lore, Fables, Records, Cases, One-Page Meditations
Internet Links in PDF Files are clickable/searchable.







Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Quintain Poetry Rhyme Schemes

 Rhyme Schemes for Quintains

By Michael P. Garofalo

 

Q = Quintain Rhyme Scheme
Quintains, Pentastichs, Tankas, Quintillas
End of Line rhyme
Sorted by Rhyme Pattern

AAAAA Bellingham Q #1517, 1580, 1586, 1632, 1643, 1697, 1814, 1908
AAABB Cayucos Q # 423, 1744, 1759, 1807, 1810, 1892
AAABC Ferndale Q #824, 1742
AABAA Forks Q #477, 1801, 1858, 1866
AABAB Illwaco Q # 1648, 1740
AABBA Limerick Q #577, 927, 1113, 1642, 1652
AABBB Eureka Q #7, 1554, 1584, 1883, 1960
AABBC Astoria Q # 1616, 1680, 1803
AABCC Mendocino Q # 1869, 1980
AACBB Envelope Pepperwood Q #1213, 1617, 1806
ABABA Sicilian Q #702. 1107, 1611
ABABB English Q #726, 1197, 1498
ABACC Inverness Q # 1788, 2131
ABBAA Spanish Q #1464, 1465, 1485, 1575, 1666, 1800, 2211
ABBBA Queets Q #1609, 1743, 1776
ABBBB Newport Q # 1667, 1674, 1669
ABBCB Ventura Q #1000, 1618
ABBCC Yachats Q # 1781, 1804, 1505
ABCBA Envelope Q #288, 1806
ABCBB Coos Q #669, 1213, 1577, 1767, 1784, 1984
ABCCA Brookings Q #1113, 1967, 1974
ABCCC Fortuna Q #1460, 1777, 1865, 1955
ABCDA Crapsey Q #170, 214, 280, 1191, 1489, 1499
ABCDC Monchielle Q #1594
ABCDE Concrete Q #1203, 1441, 1473
ABCDE Didactic Q #1551, 1852
ABCDE Free Verse Q #4, 1730, 1861, 1867, 1877, 2081
ABCDE Gogyohkas Tanka Q # 1661, 1504, 1760, 1762
ABCDE Imagist Q # 1716, 1723, 1751
ABCDE Minimalist Tanka Q #141, 222, 1769
ABCDE Pentastich Q #194, 585, 597, 1730, 2011
ABCDE Prose Poem Q #1455, 1561, 1672, 1867, 1877
ABCDE Tankas Traditional Q #603, 604, 2021, 2031
ABCDE Wakas Q #603, 902, 1022, 2041
!@ #@! Shape/Concrete Q #1441, 1203
X$&eG Typographical Q #187, 189, 470, 1012, 1203, 1553, 1940
xxxxx Free Verse Q # 4, 1730, 1861, 1867, 1877, 2081
xxxxx Iambic Pent Q # 1960, 1980,
xxxxx If-Humor Q # 1505, 1939, 1955, 1967
xxxxx Ms. Ai Q # 21, 1328, 1520, 1723, 1912, 2019, 2518, 2915, 2974

Quintains - Research

Poetry - Research

Quintain Poetry Rhyme Schemes

Bundled Up: Volume 1
1,000 Quintain Poems

 

Q = Quintain Rhyme Scheme
Quintains, Pentastichs, Tankas
End of Line Rhyme
Sorted by Scheme Title

Astoria Q = AABBC
Bellingham Q = AAAAA
Brookings Q = ABCCA
Cayucos Q = AAABB
Concrete Q = !@ 5 @!
Coos Q = ABCBB
Crapsey Q = ABCDA
Didactic Q = ABCDE
English Q = ABABB
Envelope Q = ABCBA
Envelope Pepperwood Q = AACBB
Eureka Q = AABBB
Ferndale Q = AAABC
Forks Q = AABAA
Fortuna Q = ABCCC
Free Verse Q = ABCDE
Free Verse Q = xxxxx
Gogyohkas Tanka Q = ABCDE
Iambic Pent Q = xxxxx
If-Humor Q = xxxxx
Ilwaco Q = AABAB
Imagist Q = ABCDE
Inverness Q = ABACC
Limerick Q = AABBA
Mendocino Q = AABCC
Minimalist Tanka Q = ABCDE
Monchielle Q = ABCDC
Ms. Ai Q = xxxxx
Newport Q = ABBBB
Pentastich Q = ABCDE
Prose Poem Q = ABCDE
Queets Q = ABBBA
Shape/Concrete Q = !@ #@!
Sicilian Q = ABABA
Spanish Q = ABBAA
Tankas Traditional Q = ABCDE
Typographical Q = X$&eG
Ventura Q = ABBCB
Wakas Q = ABCDE
Yachats Q = ABBCC

 

Quintains - Research

Poetry - Research

Bundled Up: Volume 1
1,000 Quintain Poems

Quintain Poetry Rhyme Schemes

By Michael P. Garofalo

Updated January 16 2026

 

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts

 

The Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts


The Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts are an essential part of Zen practice. They are taken in ordinations and recited at other ceremonies such as weddings and funerals, as well as every month in the renewal of vows during Full Moon Ceremonies. One translation commonly used at Zen Center is given below.

 

Three Refuges
I take refuge in Buddha
before all beings,
immersing body and mind
deeply in the Way,
awakening true mind.

I take refuge in Dharma
before all beings,
entering deeply the merciful ocean
of Buddha's Way.

I take refuge in Sangha
before all beings,
bringing harmony to everyone,
free from hindrance.

Three Pure Precepts
I vow to refrain from all evil.
I vow to make every effort to live in enlightenment.
I vow to live and be lived for the benefit of all beings.

Ten Grave Precepts
I vow not to kill.
I vow not to take what is not given.
I vow not to misuse sexuality.
I vow to refrain from false speech.
I vow to refrain from intoxicants.
I vow not to slander.
I vow not to praise self at the expense of others.
I vow not to be avaricious.
I vow not to harbor ill will.
I vow not to disparage the Three Treasures.

Virtue Ethics

 

 

Yamas and Niyamas of Hinduism

Yamas:  Moral Observances and Restraints

 

1.  Nonviolence, Not Harming, Not Killing   Ahimsa 

2.  Truthfulness, Not Lying, Not Gossiping, Good Speech   Satya 

3.  Not Stealing, Paying Debts, Not Gambling, Keeping Promises, Not Wasting   Asteya 

4.  Divine Conduct, Immersed in Divinity, Celibacy, Following Marriage Vows   Brahmacharya

5.  Patience, Restraining Intolerance, Don't Argue, Slow Down   Kahama

6.  Steadfastness, Persistence, Perseverance, Industriousness   Dhriti  

7.  Compassion, Kindness, Helpfulness   Daya

8.  Honest, Law Abiding, Not Cheating, Fair   Arjava

9.  Moderation, Proper Eating, Simplicity, Not Greedy   Mithara and Aparigraha 

10.  Purity, Cleanliness, Proper Language, Keep Good Company   Saucha

 

Niyamas:  Spiritual Practices, Religious Observances, Values

 

1.  Remorse, Humility, Apologize, Acknowledge Wrongdoing, Correct Your Faults   Hri

2.  Contentment, Serenity, Gratitude, Simplicity, Following Spiritual Values   Santosha 

3.  Giving, Charity, Liberality, Volunteer, Support Worthwhile and Spiritual Causes   Dana

4.  Faith   Astikya 

5.  Worship, Surrender to God, Love of God   Ishvara Pujana 

6.  Scriptural Listening   Sidhanta Shravana

7.  Cognition, Self-Study, Meditation, Seek Knowledge, Follow Guru   Mati  and Svadhyaya

8.  Sacred Vows   Vrata

9.  Recitation   Japa

10.  Austerity, Fervor, Effort, Work, Energy   Tapas 

 

-   Yamas and Niyamas

    From the Indian scriptures, The Upanishads: Shandilya and the Varuha.

    From 600-100 BCE

    Hinduism's Code of Conduct

 

    See also Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, Circa 2nd Century CE

    (Yoga Sutra, Verses 2:30 – 2:34.)

 

Monday, November 24, 2025

Subject Index to the Gateless Gate Zen Buddhist Koans Collection

 

Gateless Gate, Gateless Barrier
(Wumenquan, Mumonkan)
48 Koans GB

Compiled around 1250 CE

 

Gateless Gate GB Gateless Barrier 48 Cases Buddhist Text Authority:
The Gateless Gate: The Classic Book of Zen Koans. Translated with commentary and notes by Koun Yamada Roshi. Wisdom Publications, Somerville, MA, 2004, 2015, 301 pages. Numerous Appendices, Japanese-Chinese Name List, Essays. ISBN:978-0-86171-382-0. VSCL, Paperback.

Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo

Subject Index for the 48 Cases in the Gateless Barrier (GB). Second Draft, August 12, 2023, 20 Pages, PDF.


Alphabetical List of the 48 Case Titles in the Gateless Barrier (GB)
 Second Draft, August 12, 2023, 3 Pages, PDF.

List of Cases by the 48 Case Numbers for the Gateless Barrier (GB) Second Draft, August 12, 2023, 3 Pages, PDF.

 

Subject Index to 1,975 Zen Buddhist Koans


Zen Buddhist Koans and Information:
https://www.egreenway.com/buddhism/koansdup1.htm

 

 

The Gateless Gate: The Classic Book of Zen Koans  Commentary and translation by Koun Yamada. Foreword by Ruben L. F. Habito. Wisdom Publications, 2004. 336 pages. ISBN: 9780861713820. "In The Gateless Gate, one of modern Zen Buddhism's uniquely influential masters offers classic commentaries on the Mumonkan, one of Zen's greatest collections of teaching stories. This translation was compiled with the Western reader in mind, and includes Koan Yamada's clear and penetrating comments on each case. Yamada played a seminal role in bringing Zen Buddhism to the West from Japan, going on to be the head of the Sanbo Kyodan Zen Community." VSCL, Paperback. I used this book to prepare the First Draft (March 25, 2023) of indexing for the Gateless Gate; indexing stored in the GB database (GB = Gateless Barrier or Gateless Gate).


The Gateless Barrier: Zen Comments on the Mumonkan. By Zenkai Shibayama. Shibayama Roshi (1894-1974). Translated by Sumiko Kudo. Introduction by Shibayama Roshi. Preface by Kenneth W. Morgan, Colgate University. Boston, Shambhala, 2000. Glossary, index, 361 pages. ISBN: 9781570627262.  "For more than seven centuries the Mumonkan (Gateless Barrier) has been used in Zen monasteries to train monks and to encourage the religious development of lay Buddhists. It contains forty- eight koans, or spiritual riddles, that must be explored during the course of Zen training. Shibayama Zenkei (1894-1974), an influential Japanese Zen teacher and calligrapher who traveled and lectured throughout the United States in the 60s and 70s, offers his own commentary alongside the classic text. The Gateless Barrier remains an essential text for all serious students of Buddhism."  These lectures (Teisho) on the Gateless Barrier were given at Colgate University in 1974. VSCL, Paperback.


Sunday, November 23, 2025

Familiar Tai Chi Chuan Ideas


Tai Chi Chuan Practice and Training

Common Themes, Topics, Ideas, Suggestions, Principles, Concepts, Tips


One Sentence Taijiquan Notes by Mike Garofalo

Lift the head, tuck the chin, extend the neck, feel upright and rising.
Stand strong and balanced, then move slowly and gracefully.
Imagine resistance, water boxing, dealing with an opponent, Da Lu, pushing hands, sensing incoming energies, feeling the Other.

Be loose and relaxed, avoid over-exertion, use coiling energy.
Keep moving, flowing, shaping yourself in body-mind.
Shoulders down, gentle breathing, energized back, dignified bearing.
Be more stylish, artistic, beautiful, sensuous, dancing, formal.
Yin more than Yang, soft over hard, water over stone, gentle over muscular.
Follow the Teacher, coordinate, create unity, move together, act as one.
Act from the center, find the Dan Tien, Centering, secure internal energy.
You are responsible for your own self-defense, safety and fitness.
Develop and maintain the Inner Smile, positive disposition, enthusiasm.
Work within one's steady breathing, learn different breath/movements.
Enhance and maintain one's potential energy reserves for power.
Keep the knees over the feet, and don't over-extend in lunges.
Taijiquan, Tai Chi Chuan, Shadow Boxing, Grand Ultimate Boxing, Cotton Fist, At the Edge Fist, Mind/Fist Arts, .... whatever.
Differentiate between solo and group practices and training.
Learn the names of each numbered movement sequence.
Learn offense and/or defensive applications for each named movement.
Daily practice, review, and repetitions are essential to progress.
Distinguish substantial from unsubstantial, weighted from empty, rooted from moving, stable from unstable.
Be delicate, be gentle, be refined, be fluid, be slow.
Concentrate, remember, embody the patterns, display the Form.
Strengthen the glutes, quads, calves, ankles, and feet; Legs Powers, Thigh Chi.
Stay level, avoid to much bobbing up and down, smooth level movement. 
There is a natural automatic discomfort with falling, we wanting to stay standing and moving upright, we want to work effectively with the forces of gravity.
Working within and slowly out from your current limitations, injuries, mental or physical health problems, or other obstacles. 
Appropriate music might make your Taijiquan practice enjoyable in new ways.
Inhale while pulling in and gathering, exhale while pushing or striking out or blocking; sometimes holding breath; sometimes the opposites. 
If your huffing and puffing, breathing to fast, then you are out of shape but persist after resting and slowing down some; vary and improve your workouts. 
Think process, think evolving, think changing, think becoming; then stop thinking.

Keep a Beginner's Mind, Learn Something, relish the experiences.  



Repost from July of 2020


Tai Chi Chuan Website

Yang Style of Tai Chi Chuan 24 Short Form

Yang Style of Tai Chi Chuan 108 Long Form

Tai Chi Chuan Quotations and Classics











Saturday, November 22, 2025

Washington State Girls Varsity High School 4A Division Championship, Final Round

Washington State Girls Varsity High School 4A Division Championship

Round Two

Saturday, November 22nd, 9 am, Sparks Stadium, Puyallup, Washington.

Skyview High School, Vancouver, 15-3-4
vs
Issaquach High School, Tacoma, 18-2-1

More Details and Photos to Follow

Final Score:

Issaquach 1 and Skyview 0


Final 4A Division
Girls Varsity Soccer Championship WIAA
November 21-22, 2025

1. St. Si HS, Snoqualmie, 17-5-1
2. Tacoma HS, Tacoma, 20-2-1 
3. Issaquah HS, Issaquah, 19-2-1
4. Skyview HS, Vancouver 15-4-4


Skyview High School
Vancouver, Washington
Division 4A WIAA
Girls Varsity Soccer Team 2025

Season Results (15-4-4)
as of Sunday, 11/23/2025

Central Catholic High School 3-0 Win
Curtis 0-0 Tie
Ridgefield 1-0 Win
Sumner 1-1 Tie
Columbia River 0-0 Tie
Mountain View 7-1 Win
Chiawana 2-1 Win
Prairie 6-1 Win
Rogers (Puyallup) 3-0 Win
Heritage 7-0 Win
Battle Ground 7-0 Win
Camas 1-1 Tie
Union 3-2 Win
Battle Ground 8-0 Win
Camas 0-1 Loss
Union 3-1 Win
Puyallup 1-0 Win
Camas 1-0 Win
Tahoma 0-1 Loss
Stadium 4-0 Win
Mead 1-0 Win
Tahoma 2-1 Loss
Issaquah 1-0 Loss

23 Games as of Sunday 11/23/2025
15 Wins
4 Losses
4 Ties
15-4-4

Goals Scored = 60
Goals Given Up = 13








We were pleased to read in the local Columbia Newspaper that our St. Helen's 4A League Girls Varsity Soccer coaches voted for the best players in League in 2025:

Makenna Flinn, Defender, #17, Skyview, First Team
Brinlee Williams, Goalkeeper, #0, Skyview, First Team
Quinn Lundy, Defender, #9, Skyview, Second Team


















Grandma Karen, Makenna Flinn #17, Grandpa Mike
Washington State 4A Soccer Championship, Puyallup, 11/21/2025
Karen and I attended 18 Skyview HS Girl's Varsity Soccer Games in 2025
Makenna Flinn was a First Team All League Center Defender for two years.


Breakfast at the Silver Cloud Hotel.
Lovely dining area with window views of Tacoma Harbor and hillsides.

Tacoma Harbor
lights on all night---
shimmering
colored arrows of light
skim the sea

silver clouds
crawl up the cliffs
intertwined in the trees---
Ranier looms
over Puyallup

her last
high school
soccer game---
old memories
are reborn

said her thanks
saluted her teachers and coaches
thanked her parents
thanked her teammates---
"#17 Out!"


Train horns and rumbling all night along our west edge of Tacoma Bay. Numerous fishing piers in our area.


Sean and Alicia Flinn drove Karen and I to the game in Puyallup on Saturday morning; and, all the way 140 miles south back to our homes in Vancouver. 

No rain, temperature 54F. Nice Stadium next to County Fairgrounds complex. Heavy suburban population area. Nice lunch of burgers and fries. Drive home. 



Friday, November 21, 2025

Washington State Girls Varsity High School 4A Division Championship

Washington State Girls Varsity High School 4A Division Championship

Round One

Friday, November 21st, Noon, Sparks Stadium, Puyallup, Washington.

Skyview High School, Vancouver, 14-2-4
vs
Tahoma High School, Tacoma, 15-1-1

More Details and Photos to Follow

Final Score:

Tahoma 2 and Skyview 1





























Grandma Karen, Makenna Flinn #17, Grandpa Mike
Karen and I attended 18 Skyview HS Girl's Varsity Soccer Games in 2025


Sean and Alicia Flinn drove Karen and I to the game in Puyallup on Friday morning. No rain, temperature 54F. Nice Stadium next to County Fairgrounds complex. Heavy suburban population area.

We ate at Starbucks before the game and ate dinner at a Southern Food restaurant.
We stayed overnight at the SkyLight Hotel overlooking the Tacoma Bay.




Thursday, November 20, 2025

Aberdeen to Olympia, WA

 More Details and Photos to Follow.

Drive from Westport to Aberdeen, then to Olympia, then to Vancouver.


Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Gray's Harbor, WA, Shellfishing

 More Details and Photos to Follow.

Our rental home was near Westport.

Nice weather. Beachcombing.

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Westport, Washington, Clam Digging Trip

More Details and Photos to Follow.

Our rental home was near Westport.

Nice weather. Beachcombing. Dog walking. Mushroom hunting.

Brady's Oyster Shack for oysters and fish.
Grundson Fishing store near Westport docks.
Hot Coffees
Fireplace chats
TV indoors

Fancy high-qulity Chef's meals

Clam Digging at 4:30 pm

Monday, November 17, 2025

Twin Harbors and Grayland Beach, Washington, Razor Clam Digging

 More Details and Photos to Follow.

Drive from Vancouver to Longview, then on WA 4 through Cathlamet and Naselle, then on 101 to South Bend, and Raymond. Then on 106 to Tokeland, Grayland, and Westport.

Our rental home was near Westport.

Nice weather. Beachcombing.


Sunday, November 16, 2025

Documentaries on Television

Repost from 2016:

This past week I was resting and trying to recover from symptoms of a cold.  I watched television, read, and played with CorelDRAW.  I enjoyed watching documentaries.

The "Magical Andes" was a spectacular tour of the Andes Mountains and the people who live there in South America.  This massive mountain range from Argentina to Columbia is 8,000 KM or 4,970 miles.  I have lived my whole life close to mountains.  I have toured, hiked, and camped in the San Gabriel mountains and San Bernardino mountains near Los Angeles, the Sierra and Cascade mountains in Northern California, and the Cascades in Washington and Oregon.  Views of mountains, up close and from afar, have been a dramatic experience in my life.  I don't think I will ever visit the Andes, but the Cascades (Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainer) will provide my fair share of mountain living.  This fine documentary film will take you directly into the Andes.

The business side of professional soccer and its impact on a working class community is shown in the documentary "Sunderland."  This team was loosing in 2017-2018, and dealing with failure is the challenging topic.

I enjoyed the doucmentary on "Design" featuring top design artists from around the world.

All of these fine documentaries are on Netflix, and probably on other television streaming applications a well.


Image result for andes mountains

Andes Mountains





The photograph above is of Mount Shasta, California. It was taken by Evi Shoemaker of Rancho Tehama, California. Mount Shasta is a 14,179 foot (4,322 m) stratovolcano. It is the second highest peak in the Casade Range, and the fifth highest peak in California. It is a member of the Cascade Volcanic Arc. It is located in Siskiyou County, California, in the United States of America. It is considered to be one of the Sacred Mountains on Mother Earth. 


When I was 65 years of age I once climbed to about 10,000 feet on this volcano.  Most of the time we visited the sourrounding forests below 8,000 feet.

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Skyview HS Girls Varsity Soccer Team 2025 - Washington State Final Playoff Quarterfinals

Saturday, November 15th, 2025, 1 pm

At Kiggins Stadium in Vancouver, WA, Clark County
2025 WIAA Girls Soccer Playoffs: Quarter Final Round

Skyview HS Storm (14-2-4) from Vancouver, WA,
play the Mead Panthers (11-3-6) from Spokane, WA.

Overcast day in 50F weather.

Karen and I will attend. Also attending: Sean, Alicia, Hanna, Matt, Ryan, Joey, and April. Many other Skyview parents, grandparents, families, and friends were in attendance. The Skyview HS cheerleaders and 50 students cheered for the Storm

The Skyview Storm Won the game 1-0.


Skyview High School
Girls Varsity Soccer Team 2025

Season Results (15-2-4) as of 11/16/2025

Central Catholic High School 3-0 Win
Curtis 0-0 Tie
Ridgefield 1-0 Win
Sumner 1-1 Tie
Columbia River 0-0 Tie
Mountain View 7-1 Win
Chiawana 2-1 Win
Prairie 6-1 Win
Rogers (Puyallup) 3-0 Win
Heritage 7-0 Win
Battle Ground 7-0 Win
Camas 1-1 Tie
Union 3-2 Win
Battle Ground 8-0 Win
Camas 0-1 Loss
Union 3-1 Win
Puyallup 1-0 Win
Camas 1-0 Win
Tahoma 0-1 Loss
Stadium 4-0 Win
Mead 1-0 Win

21 Games as of 11/16/2025
15 Wins
2 Losses
4 Ties
15-2-4

Goals Scored = 59
Goals Given Up = 10

The Skyview-Mead [Storm-Panthers] game featured rugged defense by both teams. Many players on both teams fell to the ground, the play was aggressive, the referee blew the whistle a lot for pushing/tripping, and four yellow warning cards were issued. Skyview had a few more offensive shots on the goal, and controlled the ball more of the game time.

A brisk shot by Suki Mohammadi #2, in a tight group of players around Mead's goal, was caught but then dropped by the good Mead Goalkeeper. At the end of the game, with less that 2 minutes left, Suki Mohammadi seriously injured her kneecap on a collision with the Mead goalie. 

Our Goalkeeper, Brynnlee Williams #0, played an excellent game as did our three Defenders: Lundy, Flinn, and Sanchez.

Skyview will now be seeded in the State of Washington overall girls soccer high school Semi-Finals for 2025. This will be the Final 4 competition.

MaxPrep reports that we will play the Tahoma HS Bears (19-1-1) next near Tacoma, on Friday, November 21st, at noon. We played Tahoma before this year, and Tahoma won 1-0.


Karen and I have attended nearly all the soccer games this 2025 season, as have her parents, as well as Hanna Flinn and Beryl Flinn.






We have enjoyed the play of the entire team and the very good coaching this entire 2025 season.


We, of course, take special interest
in the Skyview soccer team Defense:

We carefully watch Goalkeeper Sure-Handed Brynnlee Williams #0, Wing Defender Speedy Leilany Elias Sanchez #8, Center Defender [our grand daughter] Mean Machine Makenna Flinn #17, and Wing Defender Cannonball Quinn Lundy #9. 

Last year, in the 2024 season, for our entire Conference, Brynnlee was voted the Most Outstanding Defensive Player, and both Makenna Flinn and Quinn Lundy were voted First Team Defenders in the League.

This Stout 2025 Skyview Defense (Williams, Sanchez, Flinn, Lundy), in addition to all the fine Skyview mid-fielders that helped in defense as needed, recorded 12 shut-out games out of 21, only gave up 2 goals in only one game this season, had four ties against very good teams, and only gave up 10 goals total in 21 games. We lost only 2 games, both by a low score of 0-1. Also, both Makenna Flinn #17 and Leilany Elias Sanchez #8 have also scored 3 offensive goals each this season for the team.


Our local Columbia Newspaper in Vancouver, Washington, has articles featuring the Skyview HS Girls Soccer team games. The articles include photographs, videos, interviews, and commentary.

Win Over Stadium 4-0


Friday, November 14, 2025

Subject Indexes to The Sound of One Hand 148 Koans Collection

 The Sound Of One Hand (SOH)


The Sound of One Hand: 281 Zen Koans with Answers. Translation, research and commentary by Joel Hoffmann. Introduction by Dror Burstein. NRYB, 2016, 304 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

There are 144 koan cases, starting on page 75. The full text for each case is followed by possible acceptable answers or responses to the koan. The first 74 pages are very brief questions and answers regarding 137 other cases, without the full text for each case. Therefore, the total cases discussed are 281 koan cases. I have indexed only 148 Cases.

Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo.

Subject Index to the Sound of One Hand 148 Koans. PDF, 10/26/2023, 30 pages.

Case Number List to the Sound of One Hand 148 Koans. PDF, 10/26/2023, 6 pages.

Case Title List to the Sound of One Hand 148 Koans. PDF, 10/26/2023, 6 pages.


Subject Index to 1,975 Zen Buddhist Koans
Indexing and webpage by Michael P. Garofalo.
578 pages, December 28, 2024, PDF


Buddhism: Bibliography, Links, Information, Resources
. Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo.


Taoism: Bibliography, Links, Resources, Information. Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo.

 

Thursday, November 13, 2025

727 Riddles, Puns, Brain Teasers, Corny Jokes, Quips, Humor

  

727 Riddles, Corny Jokes, Witticisms, Brain Teasers


Riddles, Puzzles, Paradoxes, Humor

Curious Questions, Brain-Teasers

Koans, Quizzers, Jokes, Nonsense

Knock Knock Jokes, Corny Jokes

Spoonerisms, Clever Statements

Cliches, Bad Jokes, Quips, Puns

Fallacies, Witticisms, Definitions

Discordian Statements

727 Quotations

Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo


727 Riddles, Corny Jokes, Witticisms, Puns, Brain Teasers


No Advertising, No Pop-Up Ads, No Boxed Ads!

No Cookie Requests, No Videos, No Commercials!


727 Riddles, Corny Jokes, Witticisms, Brain Teasers


Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Skyview HS Girls Varsity Soccer Team - State Finals Playoff 2025

Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 5 pm
At Kiggins Stadium in Vancouver, WA, Clark County
2025 WIAA Girls Soccer Playoffs

Skyview HS Storm (13-2-4) from Vancouver, WA,
play the Stadium Tigers (11-3-1) from Tacoma, WA.

The Skyview Team was dominant Offensively all evening, and the Skyview Defense was excellent. Skyview won: 4-0. Pleasant weather for the game. Many Tiger fans came down from Tacoma for the game.

Skyview High School

Girls Varsity Soccer Team 2025
Season Results (14-2-4) as of 11/13/2025

Central Catholic High School 3-0 Win
Curtis 0-0 Tie
Ridgefield 1-0 Win
Sumner 1-1 Tie
Columbia River 0-0 Tie
Mountain View 7-1 Win
Chiawana 2-1 Win
Prairie 6-1 Win
Rogers (Puyallup) 3-0 Win
Heritage 7-0 Win
Battle Ground 7-0 Win
Camas 1-1 Tie
Union 3-2 Win
Battle Ground 8-0 Win
Camas 0-1 Loss
Union 3-1 Win
Puyallup 1-0 Win
Camas 1-0 Win
Tahoma 0-1 Loss
Stdaium 4-0 Win

20 Games as of 11/13/2025
14 Wins
2 Losses
4 Ties
14-2-4

Goals Scored = 58
Goals Given Up = 10

Skyview will now be seeded in the State of Washington overall girls soccer high school Finals for 2025. This will be the Final 8 competition.

Karen and I have attended nearly all the soccer games this 2025 season, as have her parents, as well as Hanna Flinn and Beryl Flinn.

We have enjoyed the play of the entire team and the very good coaching this entire 2025 season.


We, of course, take special interest
in the Skyview soccer team Defense:

We carefully watch Goalkeeper Sure-Handed Brynnlee Williams #0, Wing Defender Speedy Leilany Elias Sanchez #8, Center Defender [our Granddaughter] Mean Machine Makenna Flinn #17, and Wing Defender Cannonball Quinn Lundy #9. 

This stout defense, in addition to all the fine Skyview mid-fielders that helped in defense as needed, recorded 11 shut-out games out of 20, only gave up 2 goals in only one game this season, had four ties against very good teams, and only gave up 10 goals total in 20 games. We lost only 2 games, both by a low score of 0-1.


Skyview will now be seeded in the State of Washington overall girls soccer high school Finals for 2025. This will be the Final 8 competition.

Here is the Finals Schedule

Skyview HS Storm (14-2-4) from Vancouver, WA,
will play the Mead HS Panthers (11-3-6) from Spokane, WA.

Date: Friday, November 14, 2025.

Location ????  Time???






Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Veterans Day

I say thanks to all the veterans of the United States military, first responders, law and order officials, hospitals, etc.  Volunteers and employees guard our public health and safety.  We thank them all.    We pay our respects to our fallen comrades.

Young and old we cheer for peace, prosperity, longevity.

I volunteered to serve in the United States Air Force from 1969-1973.  I was assigned to Air Training Command, Personnel, Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Mississippi.  Hurricane Camille hit Keesler in August of 1969.  I was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant (E5).

I don't say much in my blog about current politics.  
I am a Independent who votes mostly for Democrats. I am a Liberal; support diversity, equity and equality; and have a secular Woke Epicurean Pragmatic outlook. 

I strongly disagree with the current (2025) ideas of Trump Republicans who are cutting programs and services for Veterans. Mr. Trump has shown disrespect for and dishonors our USA Veterans; and he is himself a rich draft dodger.

Walking Into Insights

"Every day, in the morning or evening, or both, take a walk in a safe and peaceful environment for less than an hour.  The can be a great fountain of youth.  Choose a place to walk that has no kind of disturbance.   Walking done in a work environment and when your mind is busy is different; it is not as nutritious as the walking you do for yourself in the morning or evening in a quiet, peaceful, and safe place."
-  Master Hua-Ching Ni, Entering the Tao, 1997, p. 135


"As I went walking
That ribbon of highway
I saw above me
The endless skyway
I saw below me
The lonesome valley
This land was made for you and me."
- Woody Guthrie, This Land is Your Land


Walking - Quotations. Edited by Michael P. Garofalo.

The Spirit of Gardening.  Edited by Michael P. Garofalo.


"Our philosophies must be rewritten to remove them from the domain of words and "ideas," and to plant their roots firmly in the earth."
- William Vogt


"If you look for the truth outside yourself,
It gets farther and farther away.
Today walking alone, I meet it everywhere I step.
It is the same as me, yet I am not it.
Only if you understand it in this way
Will you merge with the way things are."
- Tung-Shan




Monday, November 10, 2025

Positive Aging Principles

"Through processes embedded in valued subjective experience we have learned that disciplining how we think and feel about ourselves and our health is as important to well-being as any physiological markers of disease.  Positive Aging describes a process whereby we take control of our own late life experiences by discovering meaning in growing old that transcends the deteriorative processes of aging.  Positive Agers posses four characteristics: (a) mobilizing resources to meet the challenges of aging, (b) making life choices that preserve well-being, (c) cultivating flexibility to deal with age-related decline, and (d) focusing on the positives (verses the negatives) in old age."
-  Robert T. Hill  


Seven Strategies for Positive Aging
1.  You can find meaning in old age.
2.  You're never to old to learn.
3.  You can use the past to cultivate wisdom.
4.  You can strengthen life-span relationships.
5.  You can promote growth through giving and receiving help.
6.  You can forgive yourself and others.
7.  You can possess a grateful attitude. 
-  Robert T. Hill, Ph.D.,
Seven Strategies for Positive Aging, 2008

Seven Strategies for Positive Aging.   By Robert D. Hill, Ph.D..  New York, W.W. Norton and Co., 2008.  Index, references, 63 pages.  ISBN: 978-0393705232.  VSCL.   

Making Aging Positive by Linda P. Fried 

Aging Well:  Recommended Readings, Quotes, and Resources

Living the Good Life: Principles, Recommendations, Wisdom

Virtues: Quotations, Sayings, Recommended Reading, Resources





Sunday, November 09, 2025

Attention

 “Do stuff.  Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration's shove or society's kiss on your forehead.  Pay attention.  It's all about paying attention.  Attention is vitality.  It connects you with others.  It makes you eager.  Stay eager.” -  Susan Sontag

"Attention (prosoche) is the fundamental Stoic spiritual attitude. It is a continuous vigilance and presence of mind, a self-consciousness which never sleeps, and a constant tension of the spirit. Thanks to this attitude, the philosopher is fully aware of what he does at each instant, and he wills his actions fully. Thanks to this spiritual vigilance, the Stoic always has "at hand" (procheiron) the fundamental rule of life: that is, the distinction between what depends on us and what does not." p. 84

Philosophy as a Way of Life: Spiritual Exercises from Socrates to Foucault.By Pierre Hadot.  Edited with an introduction by Arnold Davidson.  Translated by Michael Chase.  Malden, Massachusetts, Wiley-Blackwell, 1995.  Index, extensive bibliography, 320 pages.  ISBN: 978-0631180333.  VSCL.


"Everywhere and at all times, it is up to you to rejoice piously at what is occurring at the present moment, to conduct yourself with justice towards the people who are present here and now, and to apply rules of discernment to your present representations, so that nothing slips in that is not objective."
- Marcu Aurelius, Meditations