Friday, August 25, 2017
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Steady Progress
Karen and I have been busy working on making our new house our home.
We have improved the back yard with new plants, trellis, pots, fencing, steps, pavers, etc.
There are still some boxes remaining in our garage waiting to be unboxed, sorted, and moved. We want to park one of our cars in the garage for easy loading and unloading in the garage, especially during our coming wet autumn-winter season. With 45 inches of rain per year average, a sheltered place for our car will be useful.
I joined the local LA Fitness gym. It is 2.8 miles from my new home. It has all the facilities, equipment, and amenities I will need for exercising. It also has a very nice heated lap pool. I will try their yoga classes.
Walking for 30 minutes in the morning and/or evening. Beautiful summer weather here in Vancouver for pleasant walks.
My new (6/6/17) pacemaker seems to be working OK. My sprained right hand and broken right ring finger are steadily healing. I now have a team of physicians and good health care support here in Vancouver.
I had hoped to study Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong here in Vancouver with Sifu Brian Knack. However, unfortunately, he retired and moved from the area. I am researching Tai Chi Chuan training options in Vancouver. There are many options in nearby Portland. However, commuting from Vancouver to Portland and back to Vancouver is very time consuming and inefficient considering typical traffic patterns.
We have improved the back yard with new plants, trellis, pots, fencing, steps, pavers, etc.
There are still some boxes remaining in our garage waiting to be unboxed, sorted, and moved. We want to park one of our cars in the garage for easy loading and unloading in the garage, especially during our coming wet autumn-winter season. With 45 inches of rain per year average, a sheltered place for our car will be useful.
I joined the local LA Fitness gym. It is 2.8 miles from my new home. It has all the facilities, equipment, and amenities I will need for exercising. It also has a very nice heated lap pool. I will try their yoga classes.
Walking for 30 minutes in the morning and/or evening. Beautiful summer weather here in Vancouver for pleasant walks.
My new (6/6/17) pacemaker seems to be working OK. My sprained right hand and broken right ring finger are steadily healing. I now have a team of physicians and good health care support here in Vancouver.
I had hoped to study Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong here in Vancouver with Sifu Brian Knack. However, unfortunately, he retired and moved from the area. I am researching Tai Chi Chuan training options in Vancouver. There are many options in nearby Portland. However, commuting from Vancouver to Portland and back to Vancouver is very time consuming and inefficient considering typical traffic patterns.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Family Reunion
We returned yesterday afternoon from six days in Southern California. We stayed at my brother Paul and Janet's home in Lake Arrowhead, at my brother Phil and Margaret's home in Carlsbad, and in Ontario. We flew on Southwest Airlines from Portland to Ontario, and back from Ontario to Sacramento to Portland.
We visited with my mother's family (Blaize/Ast) side. About 35 people of all ages met up at Lake Arrowhead for the reunion.
My brother Phil, still recovering from brain tumor surgery, was feeling a little better, could move about with a walker, eat, chat, and rest. He had went through 10 weeks of severe illness.
Back now in Vancouver. Our task is to continue to move into our new home and property.
We visited with my mother's family (Blaize/Ast) side. About 35 people of all ages met up at Lake Arrowhead for the reunion.
My brother Phil, still recovering from brain tumor surgery, was feeling a little better, could move about with a walker, eat, chat, and rest. He had went through 10 weeks of severe illness.
Back now in Vancouver. Our task is to continue to move into our new home and property.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Tao Te Ching, Chapter 6
Dao De Jing, Laozi
Chapter 6
"The Tao is called the Great Mother:
玄牝之門.
是謂天地根.
綿綿若存.
用之不勤. - Chinese characters, Chapter 6, Tao Te Ching
ku shên pu ssu, shih wei hsüan p'in.
hsüan p'in chih mên.
shih wei t'ien ti kên.
mien mien jo ts'un.
yung chih pu ch'in.
- Wade-Giles Romanization, Chapter 6, Tao Te Ching
"The valley spirit that doesn't die we call the dark womb
as real as gossamer silk and yet we can't exhaust it.
The valley spirit that doesn't die we call the dark womb the dark womb's mouth
we call the source of creation as real as gossamer silk and yet we can't exhaust it."
- Translated by Red Pine, Chapter 6
"The spirit of the valley does not die
It may be known as the mysterious feminine
The gateway of the mysterious feminine
May be known as the source of heaven and earth
Endless, continuous, seeming to exist
To practice this is not effort."
- Translated by Bradford Hatcher, 2005, Chapter 6
"La Esencia del Todo no muere.
Es la Mujer Misteriosa, Madre del Universo.
El camino de la Mujer Misteriosa
es la raíz del Cielo y de la Tierra.
Su duración es perenne, su eficiencia infatigable."
- Translation from Wikisource, 2013, Capítulo 6
Valley Spirit, Gu Shen, Concept, Chapter 6
Das Tor des dunklen Weibs,
das heißt die Wurzel von Himmel und Erde.
Ununterbrochen wie beharrend
wirkt es ohne Mühe."- Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 6
"The spirit of emptiness is immortal.
It is called the Great Mother
because it gives birth to Heaven and Earth.
It is like a vapor,
barely seen but always present.
Use it effortlessly."
- Translated by John H. McDonald, Chapter 6
Chapter 6
"The manifestations of Infinity never cease manifesting.
Infinity is the primal creator, the oneness of male and female.
Infinity is the gate though which heaven and earth manifested.
It is invisible to the senses, yet totally permeates all things.
It is inexhaustible and eternally available for any purpose."
- Translated by John Worldpeace, Chapter 6
Infinity is the primal creator, the oneness of male and female.
Infinity is the gate though which heaven and earth manifested.
It is invisible to the senses, yet totally permeates all things.
It is inexhaustible and eternally available for any purpose."
- Translated by John Worldpeace, Chapter 6
"The Tao is called the Great Mother:
empty yet never-ending,
it gives birth to unlimited worlds.
It is always at hand within you.
Use it gently, and without force."
- Translated by Rivenrock, Chapter 6
"The spiritual valley can never be extinguished.
It is correctly referred to as the mysteries of the receptive.
The entrance to mysterious receptivity is correctly referred to as
the origin of the whole universe.
It is continuous and unbroken!
Its usefulness seems to persevere without effort."
- Translated by Nina Correa, 2005, Chapter 6
"The valley spirit not expires,
Mysterious woman ’tis called by the sires.
The mysterious woman’s door, to boot,
Is called of heaven and earth the root.
Forever and aye it seems to endure
And its use is without effort sure.”
- Translated by D. T. Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 6
"Like the sheltered, fertile valley,
the meditative mind is still,
yet retains its energy.
Since both energy and stillness,
of themselves, do not have form,
it is not through the senses
that they may be found,
nor understood by intellect alone,
although, in nature, both abound.
In the meditative state,
the mind ceases to differentiate
between existences,
and that which may or may not be.
It leaves them well alone,
for they exist,
not differentiated, but as one,
within the meditative mind."
- Translated by Stan Rosenthal, Chapter 6
"The concept of Yin is ever present.
It is the Mystic Female from whom
the heavens and the earth originate.
Constantly, continuously, enduring always.
Use her!"
- Translated by C. Ganson, Chapter 6
it gives birth to unlimited worlds.
It is always at hand within you.
Use it gently, and without force."
- Translated by Rivenrock, Chapter 6
"The spiritual valley can never be extinguished.
It is correctly referred to as the mysteries of the receptive.
The entrance to mysterious receptivity is correctly referred to as
the origin of the whole universe.
It is continuous and unbroken!
Its usefulness seems to persevere without effort."
- Translated by Nina Correa, 2005, Chapter 6
"The valley spirit not expires,
Mysterious woman ’tis called by the sires.
The mysterious woman’s door, to boot,
Is called of heaven and earth the root.
Forever and aye it seems to endure
And its use is without effort sure.”
- Translated by D. T. Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 6
"Like the sheltered, fertile valley,
the meditative mind is still,
yet retains its energy.
Since both energy and stillness,
of themselves, do not have form,
it is not through the senses
that they may be found,
nor understood by intellect alone,
although, in nature, both abound.
In the meditative state,
the mind ceases to differentiate
between existences,
and that which may or may not be.
It leaves them well alone,
for they exist,
not differentiated, but as one,
within the meditative mind."
- Translated by Stan Rosenthal, Chapter 6
"The concept of Yin is ever present.
It is the Mystic Female from whom
the heavens and the earth originate.
Constantly, continuously, enduring always.
Use her!"
- Translated by C. Ganson, Chapter 6
"The valley spirit dies not, aye the same;
The female mystery thus do we name.
Its gate, from which at first they issued forth,
Is called the root from which grew heaven and earth.
Long and unbroken does its power remain,
Used gently, and without the touch of pain."
- Translated by James Legge, 1891, Chapter 6
"The valley spirit dies not, aye the same;
The female mystery thus do we name.
Its gate, from which at first they issued forth,
Is called the root from which grew heaven and earth.
Long and unbroken does its power remain,
Used gently, and without the touch of pain."
- Translated by Stephen McIntyre, 2009, Chapter 6
谷神不死, 是謂玄牝.玄牝之門.
是謂天地根.
綿綿若存.
用之不勤. - Chinese characters, Chapter 6, Tao Te Ching
ku shên pu ssu, shih wei hsüan p'in.
hsüan p'in chih mên.
shih wei t'ien ti kên.
mien mien jo ts'un.
yung chih pu ch'in.
- Wade-Giles Romanization, Chapter 6, Tao Te Ching
"The valley spirit that doesn't die we call the dark womb
as real as gossamer silk and yet we can't exhaust it.
The valley spirit that doesn't die we call the dark womb the dark womb's mouth
we call the source of creation as real as gossamer silk and yet we can't exhaust it."
- Translated by Red Pine, Chapter 6
"The spirit of the valley does not die
It may be known as the mysterious feminine
The gateway of the mysterious feminine
May be known as the source of heaven and earth
Endless, continuous, seeming to exist
To practice this is not effort."
- Translated by Bradford Hatcher, 2005, Chapter 6
"The unlimited capacity of valleys;
the unbelievable power of Spirits;
and the unending life of immortality are called the Profound Origin Mother.
The beginning of the Profound Origin Mother is the root of Heaven and Earth.
Endlessly, endlessly!
It is existing.
Yet its usefulness is invisible."
- Translated by Tang Zi-Chang, Chapter 6
the unbelievable power of Spirits;
and the unending life of immortality are called the Profound Origin Mother.
The beginning of the Profound Origin Mother is the root of Heaven and Earth.
Endlessly, endlessly!
It is existing.
Yet its usefulness is invisible."
- Translated by Tang Zi-Chang, Chapter 6
"The Tao never dies;
It is a deep womb.
And the opening of the womb
Is called the root of heaven and earth.
It exists for ever,
And its use can never be exhausted."
- Translated by Gu Zengkun, Chapter 6
It is a deep womb.
And the opening of the womb
Is called the root of heaven and earth.
It exists for ever,
And its use can never be exhausted."
- Translated by Gu Zengkun, Chapter 6
"The mystery of the valley is immortal;
It is known as the Subtle Female.
The gateway of the Subtle Female
Is the source of Heaven and Earth.
Everlasting, endless, it appears to exist.
Its usefulness comes with no effort."
- Translated by R. L. Wing, 1986, Chapter 6
It is known as the Subtle Female.
The gateway of the Subtle Female
Is the source of Heaven and Earth.
Everlasting, endless, it appears to exist.
Its usefulness comes with no effort."
- Translated by R. L. Wing, 1986, Chapter 6
"La Esencia del Todo no muere.
Es la Mujer Misteriosa, Madre del Universo.
El camino de la Mujer Misteriosa
es la raíz del Cielo y de la Tierra.
Su duración es perenne, su eficiencia infatigable."
- Translation from Wikisource, 2013, Capítulo 6
Valley Spirit, Gu Shen, Concept, Chapter 6
"Der Geist des Tals stirbt nicht,
das heißt das dunkle Weib.Das Tor des dunklen Weibs,
das heißt die Wurzel von Himmel und Erde.
Ununterbrochen wie beharrend
wirkt es ohne Mühe."- Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 6
"The spirit of the valley never dies.
It is called the subtle and profound female.
The gate of the subtle and profound female
Is the root of Heaven and Earth.
It is continuous, and seems to be always existing.
Use it and you will never wear it out."
- Translated by Chan Wing-Tsit, 1963, Chapter 6
"The spirit of emptiness is immortal.
It is called the Great Mother
because it gives birth to Heaven and Earth.
It is like a vapor,
barely seen but always present.
Use it effortlessly."
- Translated by John H. McDonald, Chapter 6
A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo for each one of the 81 Chapters (Verses, Sections) of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes 25 different English language translations or interpolations for that Chapter, 5 Spanish language translations for that Chapter, the Chinese characters for that Chapter, the Wade-Giles and Hanyu Pinyin transliterations (Romanization) of the Mandarin Chinese words for that Chapter, and 2 German and 1 French translation of that Chapter. Each webpage for each one of the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching includes extensive indexing by key words, phrases, and terms for that Chapter in English, Spanish, and the Wade-Giles Romanization. Each webpage on a Chapter of the Daodejing includes recommended reading in books and websites, a detailed bibliography, some commentary, research leads, translation sources, a Google Translate drop down menu, and other resources for that Chapter. These are hypertext documents, and available online under Creative Commons 4.
Chapter 6, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. Complied by Mike Garofalo.
Chapter and Thematic Index (Concordance) to the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
English Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index
Spanish Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices
Taoism: A Selected Reading List
Chapter 6, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. Complied by Mike Garofalo.
Chapter and Thematic Index (Concordance) to the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
English Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index
Spanish Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices
Taoism: A Selected Reading List
Friday, July 14, 2017
One Broken Finger at a Time
Yesterday, unfortunately, I broke my right ring finger and bruised the end of that finger.
We taped it to my right middle finger. We have been applying ice to the finger.
I will go to a local Urgent Care clinic today for an examination, X-rays as needed, and a recommendation.
A unhandy setback that will slow me down.
We taped it to my right middle finger. We have been applying ice to the finger.
I will go to a local Urgent Care clinic today for an examination, X-rays as needed, and a recommendation.
A unhandy setback that will slow me down.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Even the Ring Finger Remembers
“The body uses its skin and deeper fascia and flesh to record all that goes on around it. Like the Rosetta stone, for those who know how to read it, the body is a living record of life given, life taken, life hoped for, life healed. It is valued for its articulate ability to register immediate reaction, to feel profoundly, to sense ahead.
The body is a multilingual being. It speaks through its color and its temperature, the flush of recognition, the glow of love, the ash of pain, the heart of arousal, the coldness of non-conviction. It speaks through its constant tiny dance, sometimes swaying, sometimes a-jitter, sometimes trembling. It speaks through the leaping of the heart, the falling of the spirit, the pit at the center, and rising of hope.
The body is a multilingual being. It speaks through its color and its temperature, the flush of recognition, the glow of love, the ash of pain, the heart of arousal, the coldness of non-conviction. It speaks through its constant tiny dance, sometimes swaying, sometimes a-jitter, sometimes trembling. It speaks through the leaping of the heart, the falling of the spirit, the pit at the center, and rising of hope.
The body remembers, the bones remember, the joints remember, even the little finger remembers. Memory is lodged in pictures and feelings in the cells themselves. Like a sponge filled with water, anywhere the flesh is pressed, wrung, even touched slightly, a memory may flow out in a stream.
To confine the beauty and the value of the body to anything less than this magnificence is to force the body to live without its rightful spirit, its rightful form, its right to exultation. To be thought ugly or unacceptable because one’s beauty is outside the current fashion is deeply wounding to the natural joy that belongs to the wild nature.”
- By Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype, 1996
Body-Mind Practices, Somaesthetics
The Five Senses
Touch, Skin, Feeling, Hands, Tactile
Body-Mind Practices, Somaesthetics
The Five Senses
Touch, Skin, Feeling, Hands, Tactile
Sunday, July 09, 2017
Why Walking Helps Us Think
"What is it about walking, in particular, that makes it so amenable to thinking and writing? The answer begins with changes to our chemistry. When we go for a walk, the heart pumps faster, circulating more blood and oxygen not just to the muscles but to all the organs—including the brain. Many experiments have shown that after or during exercise, even very mild exertion, people perform better on tests of memory and attention. Walking on a regular basis also promotes new connections between brain cells, staves off the usual withering of brain tissue that comes with age, increases the volume of the hippocampus (a brain region crucial for memory), and elevates levels of molecules that both stimulate the growth of new neurons and transmit messages between them.
The way we move our bodies further changes the nature of our thoughts, and vice versa. Psychologists who specialize in exercise music have quantified what many of us already know: listening to songs with high tempos motivates us to run faster, and the swifter we move, the quicker we prefer our music. Likewise, when drivers hear loud, fast music, they unconsciously step a bit harder on the gas pedal. Walking at our own pace creates an unadulterated feedback loop between the rhythm of our bodies and our mental state that we cannot experience as easily when we’re jogging at the gym, steering a car, biking, or during any other kind of locomotion. When we stroll, the pace of our feet naturally vacillates with our moods and the cadence of our inner speech; at the same time, we can actively change the pace of our thoughts by deliberately walking more briskly or by slowing down."
- Ferris Jabr, Why Walking Helps Us Think
Walking - Quotations, Sayings, Comments
The way we move our bodies further changes the nature of our thoughts, and vice versa. Psychologists who specialize in exercise music have quantified what many of us already know: listening to songs with high tempos motivates us to run faster, and the swifter we move, the quicker we prefer our music. Likewise, when drivers hear loud, fast music, they unconsciously step a bit harder on the gas pedal. Walking at our own pace creates an unadulterated feedback loop between the rhythm of our bodies and our mental state that we cannot experience as easily when we’re jogging at the gym, steering a car, biking, or during any other kind of locomotion. When we stroll, the pace of our feet naturally vacillates with our moods and the cadence of our inner speech; at the same time, we can actively change the pace of our thoughts by deliberately walking more briskly or by slowing down."
- Ferris Jabr, Why Walking Helps Us Think
Walking - Quotations, Sayings, Comments
Thursday, July 06, 2017
Work Completed: Phase One
We define "Phase One Completed" as when a room in our new home has no storage boxes in it, most of our current belongings fill the room in a relatively normal manner, the room is functionally useful, and we are both satisfied with the progress.
We have completed Phase One for the front entrance living room, the main large bedroom, and Karen's office in the first small bedroom, and the two bathrooms.
The golden retriever dog is my daughter's dog. This is the front entrance living room.
Karen's office in the first small bedroom. This is her main "communications" center. A comfortable rocking chair behind her makes for a good place to stay in touch with others with the phone, texting, or social media; and, a nice place for reading books or her Kindle. She is the family business manager.
We are now working on our large family room that we call the "Wood Room." Not near Phase One Completed.
We have completed Phase One for the front entrance living room, the main large bedroom, and Karen's office in the first small bedroom, and the two bathrooms.
The golden retriever dog is my daughter's dog. This is the front entrance living room.
Karen's office in the first small bedroom. This is her main "communications" center. A comfortable rocking chair behind her makes for a good place to stay in touch with others with the phone, texting, or social media; and, a nice place for reading books or her Kindle. She is the family business manager.
We are now working on our large family room that we call the "Wood Room." Not near Phase One Completed.
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Busy Moving 2
Got the Main Bedroom back in order.
Got an office workstation set up for Karen in 2nd bedroom. Cable TV and high speed Internet.
Set up an area for potted plant nursery in southwest corner of back garden.
Set up hoses and watering areas.
Cleaned off the outside back porch.
Keep a close eye on Bruno in the back yard: temptations include chickens, dogs, ducks. Bruno can dig under fences.
Working today on installing wood shelving in Wood Room (large room with wood floor).
Moving books from boxes to shelving.
Install sliding screen door on outside of sliding glass doors in the Wood Room.
I will include some photographs later today or tomorrow.
Got an office workstation set up for Karen in 2nd bedroom. Cable TV and high speed Internet.
Set up an area for potted plant nursery in southwest corner of back garden.
Set up hoses and watering areas.
Cleaned off the outside back porch.
Keep a close eye on Bruno in the back yard: temptations include chickens, dogs, ducks. Bruno can dig under fences.
Working today on installing wood shelving in Wood Room (large room with wood floor).
Moving books from boxes to shelving.
Install sliding screen door on outside of sliding glass doors in the Wood Room.
I will include some photographs later today or tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Recover and Get Well, My Brother
My brother, Phil, has been slowly and with much difficulty, "recovering" from brain surgery to remove a non-cancerous but very serious tumor. He still has painful headaches and some infection. He needs home nursing and physical therapy. He has been in and out of the hospital for five weeks. Everyone is very worried!!
In July, we plan to attend the Blaize Family and the Garofalo Family reunion in the San Bernardino Mountains in Arrowhead, California. We may stay at my brother Paul's house, with Paul and Janet, and families. I will definitely go to see my brother Phil in San Diego.
In July, we plan to attend the Blaize Family and the Garofalo Family reunion in the San Bernardino Mountains in Arrowhead, California. We may stay at my brother Paul's house, with Paul and Janet, and families. I will definitely go to see my brother Phil in San Diego.
Monday, June 19, 2017
Busy Moving
Karen and I are now moving into our new house. "New" to us in June of 2017. This well maintained house was built back in in 1972. It is 45 years old.
We are very busy!
We got the keys to our new home on Friday, 6/16, at 3:30 pm.
On 6/19, we got connected online via our provider, XFinity/Comcast, to 266 television channels (news, sports, movies, documentaries, community, health), many HD quality channels, DVRs, 200 Mbps Internet, pay per view or pay channels, streaming, Wifi, applications, and a telephone with unlimited nationwide calling and messaging. I think it is called the X1 Premier Triple Play Package. What a substantial WiFi Internet upgrade from Red Bluff, at less cost.
On 6/19, my son helped me replace all the door latches and deadbolts. He assembled the new Toro lawn mower, and mowed the back yard and Karen mowed the front.
I am trying my best to not do any strenuous lifting or pulling, not lift more than 10 pounds, and rest more until September of 2017. I am hoping my heart pacemaker implantation surgery on 6/6 will continue healing well.
On Wednesday, 6/21, we drove 500 miles south to Red Bluff. We met the Valiant Moving Company movers at South Main Mini Storage at 3:30 pm. We rested in the Comfort Inn motel room. They finished loading at around 10 pm.
On Thursday, 6/22, we checked out of the storage office, rested indoors, and enjoyed Mexican dinner with Debbie, Marya, Jordan, and Tami. Since temperatures soared to 107F, we rested in an air-conditioned room.
On Friday, 6/23, Karen and I drove 500 miles north to Vancouver, Washington.
On Saturday, 6/24, the movers arrived and unpacked all of our belongings.
On Sunday, 6/25, Alicia and Sean helped us get our beds set up, and moved our belongings from their house to our new house. Both girls also helped. We slept in our new home for the first time on Sunday night.
On Monday, 6/26, Mick helped us with shelving installation and other projects.
Obtaining and storing needed household supplies. Learning and discovering. Sorting boxes, unpacking, shelving ... We have moved something into this house every day since 6/16.
Since we live so close to our children now, we all help with house sitting and dog care and house care, when we travel. We keep a security eye on all our homes.
Travel in the Northwest USA and British Columbia
We are very busy!
We got the keys to our new home on Friday, 6/16, at 3:30 pm.
On 6/19, we got connected online via our provider, XFinity/Comcast, to 266 television channels (news, sports, movies, documentaries, community, health), many HD quality channels, DVRs, 200 Mbps Internet, pay per view or pay channels, streaming, Wifi, applications, and a telephone with unlimited nationwide calling and messaging. I think it is called the X1 Premier Triple Play Package. What a substantial WiFi Internet upgrade from Red Bluff, at less cost.
On 6/19, my son helped me replace all the door latches and deadbolts. He assembled the new Toro lawn mower, and mowed the back yard and Karen mowed the front.
I am trying my best to not do any strenuous lifting or pulling, not lift more than 10 pounds, and rest more until September of 2017. I am hoping my heart pacemaker implantation surgery on 6/6 will continue healing well.
On Wednesday, 6/21, we drove 500 miles south to Red Bluff. We met the Valiant Moving Company movers at South Main Mini Storage at 3:30 pm. We rested in the Comfort Inn motel room. They finished loading at around 10 pm.
On Thursday, 6/22, we checked out of the storage office, rested indoors, and enjoyed Mexican dinner with Debbie, Marya, Jordan, and Tami. Since temperatures soared to 107F, we rested in an air-conditioned room.
On Friday, 6/23, Karen and I drove 500 miles north to Vancouver, Washington.
On Saturday, 6/24, the movers arrived and unpacked all of our belongings.
On Sunday, 6/25, Alicia and Sean helped us get our beds set up, and moved our belongings from their house to our new house. Both girls also helped. We slept in our new home for the first time on Sunday night.
On Monday, 6/26, Mick helped us with shelving installation and other projects.
Obtaining and storing needed household supplies. Learning and discovering. Sorting boxes, unpacking, shelving ... We have moved something into this house every day since 6/16.
Since we live so close to our children now, we all help with house sitting and dog care and house care, when we travel. We keep a security eye on all our homes.
Travel in the Northwest USA and British Columbia
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Dao De Jing: Resources, Indexing, Concordance
Tao Te Jing by Lao Tzu
Resources, Index, Concordance, Commentary, Recommended Reading,
Selected Translations in English, Spanish, and Chinese
Chapter Index to the Tao Te Ching
Concordance to the Tao Te Ching
English Language Versions of the Tao Te Ching - Translator's Index
Spanish Language Versions of the Dao De Jing
Thematic Index to the Tao Te Ching
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices
Taoism: A Bibliography
An Old Philosopher's Notebooks
Cloud Hands Blog Posts About the Daodejing
A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo for each one of the 81 Chapters (Verses, Sections) of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes up to 25 different English language translations or interpolations for that Chapter, 5 Spanish language translations for that Chapter, the Chinese characters for that Chapter, the Wade-Giles and Hanyu Pinyin transliterations (Romanization) of the Mandarin Chinese words for that Chapter, and 2 German and 1 French translation of that Chapter. Each webpage for each one of the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching includes extensive indexing by key words, phrases, and terms for that Chapter in English, Spanish, and the Wade-Giles Romanization. Each webpage on a Chapter of the Daodejing includes recommended reading in books and websites, a detailed bibliography, some commentary, research leads, translation sources, a Google Translate drop down menu, and other resources for that Chapter.
Resources, Index, Concordance, Commentary, Recommended Reading,
Selected Translations in English, Spanish, and Chinese
Chapter Index to the Tao Te Ching
Concordance to the Tao Te Ching
English Language Versions of the Tao Te Ching - Translator's Index
Spanish Language Versions of the Dao De Jing
Thematic Index to the Tao Te Ching
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices
Taoism: A Bibliography
An Old Philosopher's Notebooks
Cloud Hands Blog Posts About the Daodejing
Tao Te Ching
Chapter Number Index Standard Traditional Chapter Arrangement of the Tao Te ChingChapter Order in Wang Bi's Daodejing Commentary in 246 CE Chart by Mike Garofalo Subject Index | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 |
| 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 |
| 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 |
| 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 |
| 81 | |||||||||
A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo for each one of the 81 Chapters (Verses, Sections) of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes up to 25 different English language translations or interpolations for that Chapter, 5 Spanish language translations for that Chapter, the Chinese characters for that Chapter, the Wade-Giles and Hanyu Pinyin transliterations (Romanization) of the Mandarin Chinese words for that Chapter, and 2 German and 1 French translation of that Chapter. Each webpage for each one of the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching includes extensive indexing by key words, phrases, and terms for that Chapter in English, Spanish, and the Wade-Giles Romanization. Each webpage on a Chapter of the Daodejing includes recommended reading in books and websites, a detailed bibliography, some commentary, research leads, translation sources, a Google Translate drop down menu, and other resources for that Chapter.
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Nuclear Disaster
I am interested in solar power.
I just finished reading:
Fukushima: The Story of a Nuclear Disaster. By David Lochbaum, Edwin Lyman, Susan Q. Stranahan, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. New York, the New Press, copyright 2014 by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Notes and references, index, 309 pages. ISBN: 9781595589088.
"On March 11, 2011, an earthquake large enough to shift the Earth's axis by several inches sent a massive tsunami speeding toward the Japanese coast and the aging and vulnerable Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power reactors. The world watched in horror as the reactor's safety systems failed and explosions turned concrete and steel buildings into rubble. In just a few hours a terrible natural disaster triggered a technological catastrophe - a triple meltdown that became the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl."
This book rigorously documents the tragic and unrecoverable losses from nuclear power plant failures due to flooding and electrical power disruption.
Over 20,000 people died from the tsunami. The earthquake was 9 level jolting for over 3 minutes.
This book also covers the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear accident in Pennsylvania. It draws out insider information about the nuclear power industry, regulatory controls, safety, vulnerability, planning, consumer demand, geography, technology, governmental management and oversight, scientific concerns and experts.
Explosive!!!
I just finished reading:
Fukushima: The Story of a Nuclear Disaster. By David Lochbaum, Edwin Lyman, Susan Q. Stranahan, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. New York, the New Press, copyright 2014 by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Notes and references, index, 309 pages. ISBN: 9781595589088.
"On March 11, 2011, an earthquake large enough to shift the Earth's axis by several inches sent a massive tsunami speeding toward the Japanese coast and the aging and vulnerable Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power reactors. The world watched in horror as the reactor's safety systems failed and explosions turned concrete and steel buildings into rubble. In just a few hours a terrible natural disaster triggered a technological catastrophe - a triple meltdown that became the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl."
This book rigorously documents the tragic and unrecoverable losses from nuclear power plant failures due to flooding and electrical power disruption.
Over 20,000 people died from the tsunami. The earthquake was 9 level jolting for over 3 minutes.
This book also covers the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear accident in Pennsylvania. It draws out insider information about the nuclear power industry, regulatory controls, safety, vulnerability, planning, consumer demand, geography, technology, governmental management and oversight, scientific concerns and experts.
Explosive!!!
Friday, June 16, 2017
What Do They Here?
"But these are all landsmen; of week days pent up in lath and plaster─tied to counters, nailed to benches, clinched to desks. How then is this? Are the green fields gone? What do they here?"
- Herman Melville, 1851, Moby Dick, p. 13
Could we not add, in 2017, transfixed by televisions, glued to computers, plugged into AC/DC, moving things endlessly, wrapped in chores, ... "What do they here?"
So, what we are doing here is moving into our home in Vancouver, Washington. Our realtor gave us the keys to the house today.
Living in a nice home, in an established neighborhood, will be one foundation of our upcoming experiences and adventures.
Lots of family have volunteered to help us move. I've hired movers to transport our stored belongings from Red Bluff to Vancouver. We will hire other people as needed to help us move into the house.
Personally, with my left arm, I cannot lift objects over ten pounds, push or pull vigorously, or lift my elbow above my shoulder. These restrictions, because of my recent 6/6 heart pacemaker implant, will last until July 10th or later as needed. I seem to be doing fairly well thus far.
^^^^
Vancouver, Washington, Northwest USA is located in the Columbia River Valley. The general area has variety of many big plants: evergreens and deciduous trees, ornamentals, shrubs, broad leafs, pines, firs, spruces, cedars. Trees are everywhere here in the "Evergreen State." This is quite a dramatic contrast with the North Sacramento Valley orchards and farms where we lived for the last 19 years. For anything to live in Red Bluff, we needed irrigation for seven months of the year.
Annual Rainfall (Average) in places we have lived:
Los Angeles, California 14.93 inches
Red Bluff, California 24.52 inches
Biloxi, Mississippi 64.89 inches
Vancouver, Washington 39.30 inches
Alexandria, Indiana 41.00 inches
^^^^^
^^^^
Vancouver, Washington, Northwest USA is located in the Columbia River Valley. The general area has variety of many big plants: evergreens and deciduous trees, ornamentals, shrubs, broad leafs, pines, firs, spruces, cedars. Trees are everywhere here in the "Evergreen State." This is quite a dramatic contrast with the North Sacramento Valley orchards and farms where we lived for the last 19 years. For anything to live in Red Bluff, we needed irrigation for seven months of the year.
Annual Rainfall (Average) in places we have lived:
Los Angeles, California 14.93 inches
Red Bluff, California 24.52 inches
Biloxi, Mississippi 64.89 inches
Vancouver, Washington 39.30 inches
Alexandria, Indiana 41.00 inches
^^^^^
Thursday, June 15, 2017
The Wisdom of Sifu Patrick Kelly
I recommend that you take a look at Sifu Patrick Kelly's webpage. He teaches in Auckland, New Zealand.
"True Taiji Practice is not limited. It is open to all spheres of life while remaining centred on the refinement of inner spiritual essence. Taiji (Tai Chi), the Supreme Ultimate, is in practice what the 'Dao de Jing' (Tao Te Ching) expresses in principle. These principles remain universal throughout the known worlds, undiminished by their common reduction to intellectual ideas, emotional values, or religious rules, by the various races of the Earth. The universal principles and the method for bringing ourselves into harmony with them could be called the worldwideway, but are really beyond any name. True Taiji is an evolving connection to that.
The great purpose of Taiji is the great purpose of life itself - Spiritual Evolution. Named 'Emptiness, Immortality or Enlightenment' by the Daoists and Buddhists, 'Self Realisation' by the Yogis, 'To Awaken and Merge with the Source' by the Middle Eastern Gnostics and Western Mystics. All people come on to the Earth with this purpose, but most quickly forget why they are here. Once enmeshed in the outer physical world their whole life serves merely the survival of the body (which includes the brain). The great physical and social edifices of human society, intended as forms within which humanity may evolve, become prisons. Many dream of a way out but few find the practical path to freedom.
Individual conscious perfection exists in potential as a spark within every human being. There is a pressure from within and without to develop this possibility. The forces maintaining the universe are complex and the reasons for many things in life unclear. Why do some struggle to realise their inner potential while others dissipate it through a life of ignorance, weakness and neglect? For those who sadly allow this spark to fade there is little individual hope, though their life and death still contribute to the general evolution of humankind. For those who actively choose inner growth there appears the question of the 'Path' or 'Way'.
True Taiji training begins with the physical, then centres itself within the 3 levels of the Deep Mind, while aspiring towards the Beyond and the final realisation of freedom from those 3 worlds of human existence. Ideally this aspiration towards the Beyond (which admits the first ray of light from the Divine Self) exists from the first moments of training, but if not then true training will gradually align the inner motives and intentions, hidden within the Deep Mind of all people, towards the Beyond, inducing this aspiration to appear. Without that aspiration the results of the training will be subverted by the ego - which has a presence on each of the 3 internal levels. True Taiji training methods change and evolve as each person reaches out for, connects with, merges into, then finally fully and naturally expresses the Beyond back into the 3 worlds of human existence. At this advanced stage, all methods disappear and life itself becomes the highest training ground."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)