WHY THE WORLD WILL END IN 2022 & other resolutions-predictions

 Why the World  Will End in 2022

Since there have been and will continue  to be various calendars applied to whatever time is on  this planet, in this  galaxy, within this universe etc and since the world (as we know it) excepting for that pesky concept of conservation  of matter/energy—will end we can simply modify when we start counting so that 2022 will mark the end just like the wise old owl tells  us that it takes 3 licks to get to the center of a tootsie  pop.  

So that’s prediction. Number one.  Here are  nine more predictions and resolutions coming from the seeking peace and joy realm and spanning what’s left of the year.  

Resolution and /or Prediction  2 —Sharing thoughts about books.... 

Yours truly listens to an estimated 500 books a year—yes that means  I’m listening to books and music pretty much non-stop.  It seems that somewhere  other than  my gray matter  should be used to record at least one  quote/concept/thought to be passed along.  After all, if any of “Seeking Peace and Joy”  ever makes it into a book  I want people to record their reflections for further review.  So... do unto others.  These mini-reviews are probably. Going to be jotted down in some blogs and recorded in  frequent podcasts... depending on which instruments  of mass instruction are most convenient. At the time.  Will the reader have to cross platforms?  Yep.... sorry—it’s the 21st century!

Resolution-Prediction 3 –Getting organized—This Blog has  over 500 entries....500.... if you would have told me I was required to write 500 entries over the course of a lifetime I may have wiggled  a solitary finger and said no way at one point, yet now that we’ve crossed that Rubicon  it’s all downhill from here—unless we’re headed in the wrong direction.   The point is....it is possible to index the entries and I haven’t done  even a half fast  (Thanks Mac) job of using labels so readers can weave their way through new and old entries.  So... as the munchkins  advised the ruby-slippered runaway... let’s begin at the beginning.  Starting tomorrow the process of. Making sure each blog will have at least three categories attached to it begins.  By the end of 2022 (and  hopefully before) every blog  entry will be thusly organized.  Does it mean there will be some square pegs in round holes?  Yep and some triangle screws will be wedged forcibly into trapezoid treehouses too.  

Resolution-Prediction  4. 

Drink More Water

What?  This is self explanatory.  I need to drink more water.  It can be tap water, bottled water, vitamin. Water, and possibly even fire water (well maybe not so much), however I drink too much stuff with sugar and other ingredients.  Now just a note of clarification.  There are no such things as artificial flavorings.or colors.  Anything you can taste  has an actual or real flavor and anything you can see has a real actual color and all ingredients. Are natural unless they are ghosts which  might make them supernatural.   The point is I need to stay hydrated and do all things possible to enhance  my supernatural immunity .  

Prediction-resolution  5... 

I will be using the restroom more frequently  than in 2021.... see resolution-Prediction . Number 4

Prediction-Resolution  6.  

If you read this blog (or listen to the podcast)  you will have the opportunity  to learn at least three  new words (foreign or domestic) or novel concepts each month.   For example  the tiny glob of toothpaste  left on the side  of the  nozzle  should be  referred  to as crest-crust or social  media that is blasting stuff your way  without  your control should be called MMDs  Methods of Mass Distraction.  

Prediction-resolution 7. I will learn to play 24 songs on the keyboard/piano (and describe these efforts in the SPJU.  What’s the SPJU?  remember. I said I’d be introducing a new concept?  The SPJU is the “seeking Peace and Joy Universe LOL”. so I play a little already and yet it’s meager.  I’m not fully engaged most the time when I do and while I can plunk out a mean smoke on the Water or Twinkle Twinkle, its time to be focused enough to echo some real melodies and chords etc.  This will include at least  4 songs I write and play specifically. With the keyboard.  You see, every instrument has some magic locked inside and like all experiences, unless you “paint the fence”, “sand the floor”< and “wax on wax off” it’s not likely you can gain or share the full meaning within.  Therefore  I’m diving in and bringing the SPJU along.  There is a distinct possibility of failure here... but you’ll miss every shot you don’t take.

Resolution-Prediction  8. More “Poetry”

In  the year  of 20 and 21 There were some rhymes and  they were fun Yet. More of them could have been done Describing  prophet, pawn, or nun

for. Rhythmic words  cut through the haze of words designed to clear the maze but often just disturb our days In in wacky large and little ways.

Alas  new rhymes are now in store on topics one should not ignore IWith hopes of causing laughs  galore or thoughts one’s never dared before

resolutions-Predictions  9 & 10 Pointing out Fear and Taking the risk and Responsibility 

i will use first person. Entries  more often....and shall be open with my fears and condemnation of said fears.   These are two separate  yet closely linked  things. And it seems necessary to  come right out and say so.  In may of the 500 some odd posts prior to this  I have avoided first person language in an effort to distance myself from some of the notions that most the readers (My readers?)  have been exposed to and done so because I don’t want anyone to feel targeted or more importantly  blame me for targeting  ideas and folks.  I use terms like “we often” when it would be more accurate to say “you know I  often”.... so the thing is... maybe this shows fear and I’m so tired of being afraid and I’m so tired of people being afraid and being sold  the fact that they should be afraid.  If you are. Afraid. Like everyone else than you AND I. Are cloaking the process of being  responsible for inaction.  Well though is not enough.  If I and maybe we don’t choose risk and responsibility let’s not shout. Out about our “rights” in the coming  year.  You see living in the now and seeking peace and. Joy really do require acting in an engaged way.  They require saying  ‘fear” is real, yet it only lasts until we learn to grab lessons from “failure and then fear is  just a prompt to provide a menu of risks worth taking.  If I want. You to take this blog or the podcast. Into your heart and soul then I have to admit it comes  from my heart and soul as fed by the people I know, the people i read, the songs I hear and play and on and on.  the time has come for me. To say I am here... it is now... let’s walk forward in the light we  can create and share

Peace, Joy, and Love

Jim January 2022

another set of building blocks

BUILDING PEACE AND JOY—YOUR TURN?

In keeping  with my commitment to toss out  these building blocks here comes the final couple for this  song/poem.  Yes , I feel a little sheepish just after celebrating the champ Dr. Seuss—however if you  compare yourself to others on a constant basis, peace and joy will almost always run slightly ahead of you and only now and then spit into the wind catching you  on your brand new T-shirt.  As it has always been, I write the new stuff fresh while  popping out the existing lines from memory or with changes that hit me in the moment.  So if I had some ado to spare I’d use it here but I think it’s upstairs in the drawer where I have 21 ties I’ll never wear, a sock I’ll never find the match to, and a couple of electronic adapters that I’ve used three times in the past quarter century.  So with no further ado here goes 

Working Title —Junkyard Wings

Galileo winks right at the pope

“We’re at the center?”  I’d say nope.”

If you weon’t hang me from a rope

I’ll show you with my telescope

Comes the warrior. Susan. B.

Till we  all can vot none can be free

Finally got the men to  nod and agree

One more stride toward liberty   (Chorus—sort f )

When will we learn to grasp new things

Hear what soulful wisdom sings 

Act like  servants even if we’re kings

Dawn  our fragile halo and junkyard wings?

**New and Final Block for now*

Bobby says. Be thankful for the stuff you’ve got

If they ask you “why?”  Ask back “Why Not?”

Add al little  stew to another’s pot

Do not forget  it means a lot

And

Chorus

I’ll try to record a tune with this  today...—If  not... Dare to breathe in  your values and share your feelings and ask Why Not?

Peace

BUILDING PEACE AND JOY—YOUR TURN?

In keeping  with my commitment to toss out  these building blocks here comes the final couple for this  song/poem.  Yes , I feel a little sheepish just after celebrating the champ Dr. Seuss—however if you  compare yourself to others on a constant basis, peace and joy will almost always run slightly ahead of you and only now and then spit into the wind catching you  on your brand new T-shirt.  As it has always been, I write the new stuff fresh while  popping out the existing lines from memory or with changes that hit me in the moment.  So if I had some ado to spare I’d use it here but I think it’s upstairs in the drawer where I have 21 ties I’ll never wear, a sock I’ll never find the match to, and a couple of electronic adapters that I’ve used three times in the past quarter century.  So with no further ado here goes 

Working Title —Junkyard Wings

Galileo winks right at the pope

“We’re at the center?”  I’d say nope.”

If you won’t  hang me from a rope

I’ll show you with my telescope

Comes the warrior. Susan. B.

Till we  all can vote none can be free

Finally got the men to  nod and agree

One more stride toward liberty   (Chorus—sort f )

When will we learn to grasp new things

Hear what soulful wisdom sings 

Act like  servants even if we’re kings

Dawn  our fragile halo and junkyard wings?

**New and Final Block for now*

Bobby says. Be thankful for the stuff you’ve got

If they ask you “why?”  Ask back “Why Not?”

Add a little  stew to another’s pot

Do not forget  it means a lot

And

Chorus

I’ll try to record a tune with this  today...—If  not... Dare to breathe in  your values and share your feelings and ask Why Not?

Peace 

“Belated Birthday Building Blocks

BUILDING BLOCKS 20202

Yesterday  marked the birthdays of  three important people.  The guy who wrote  “over the Rainbow” and Life’s only a paper moon —something. Arlin I think although I read that wasn’t  his real name Zimmerman.  He was maybe only the third most significant. Person. Born on that day... second and first are probably a tie for many and that’s an argument I don’t want to have, however, in seeking peace and joy I’ve found some people  like to run fast to the opposite corner and scream at almost any idea.  

The other two  people are Susan B. Anthony and Galileo.  Anthony, of course was. A leader in the women’s rights movement and the movement for  having little coin dollars that people  mistook for quarters.  To that  I say come on US mints and treasury what kind of discounted respect were you thinking about in that design?  That was an insult to all the hard work done by people seeking civil rights for so long and would be the same as putting a mustache on Washington and printing a paper half dollar.  Anyway Susan B. Was a driving force and women now share the blame for electing some of the people we have in office.  

then there is Galileo .  Now  he had a last name...but you’ve  got to respect a scientist who was known by a single name.  That means he was the  Cher, Madonna, or Prince of his time.  Here’s a guy that  pretty much invented the telescope so that he could  see heavenly objects or some cute Italian  chicks  a few blocks away...no to the contrary Galileo who was prosecuted by the church held fast to his religious.belief even though he was hauled up before the board of inquisition where he didn’t party like it was. 1999.  basically Anthony had a vision of a more equal society and Galileo made sure we could  have a clearer view of our cosmic sircumstance including. The fact that. We were not the center of the universe.  Both of these people were awesome.

So what does this have to. Do with “building” blocks?  These people  were there to lay the foundation for so much to follow and offered the ‘building blocks”  for many to follow.  If they can undertake these. Tasks then I can keep my promise to toss out a rhyme or a song lyric to be.  So with no further or prior. Ado... Enjoy... I’ll give you the story behind. These when  the blocks all fall together.  For now I end with. The building blocks below....have a great day

Block One Galileo winked and told the Pope

We’re the center? I’d. Say Nope

Please don’t  hang me from a rope

I’ll show you my telescope

There was the warrior. Susan  B.

Until all vote, none can be free

At last  enough men said  I agree

Came one more stride towards liberty

When will we learn to grasp new things

Accept what soulful wisdom brings

Hear the  bird of peace each time it sings 

Dawn our fragile halo and junkyard wings?

Peace,

More soon

A song of peace and joy?

 PEACE, JOY AND LEARNING  TO BE STILL

Twenty some years ago the Eagles of Hotel California fame not of  let’s say Boston. College or Philadelphia, released a song titled  “Learn to Be Still.”  Some mornings I wake up pretty still so to speak and others are like today.  I can’t wait to pick up my guitar or take out the trash or wipe a little flour  off the counter or even goodness me clean up a around the toilet.  So, before I sat down to write this I’ve already done  many of these things and now maybe, just maybe, I’m still enough to put some thoughts together in a way that reaches out from behind  all the noise.  

Here goes... 

So today is  a day for. Writing a song...some days I can just feel  that inside.  I have some lyrics bubbling. Up and a couple of chord combinations that have been waiting  for the lyrics of some kind to enhance.  Earlier in the week I read a quote about  songwriting.  Arlo Guthrie (mostly known for  Alice’s  Restaurant) Described song writing as if it were fishing.  Lyrics or words  go by. In a stream and  eventually , as long as your hook is in the water, you will catch the right ones.  He does, however, add that you shouldn’t fish downstream from Bob Dylan.  

That being said, I thought I’d offer up a few lyrics that have been rolling  through my mind this morning.  Of course, listen.to Learn to Be  Still from the Eagles and then maybe a song titled “Last Resort” that will let you know how  my state of mind was (not a very peaceful or joyful one)  first thing today.  Now I’m going to share  a verse from two. Songs I’ve been working. On  One is nearly finished but the melody or chord progression isn’t quite. There yet and the other one  is part of the song I’ll likely  work on most the rest of today until I record a podcast this afternoon.

Anyway here are those lyrics and they have to do with seeking peace and joy.

How much longer until we see some rain?

Will it wash away this dust that has settled on my brain

Is that light in the darkness. An oncoming train

Have the  dreams all vanished or do some remain

These are the questions that seep into my soul

Do I stand back and. Wait or crank it up, crank it  up let it roll?

A 

Other song... 

 And the sage said as  she  sighed

When’s the last time that  we’ve tried

To build together. Not divideAsk what others feel inside

Set your  bank account aside  and 

Let your souls decide

So it’s going to be a peace and joy roller coaster today...because  while. The lyrics come forth I will gain peace, yet joy might not come till the song is done and sometimes that’s a day and sometimes that’s. A bit longer...

Oh well my  soul is engaged now and that’s. Where the journey always  feels best to me.  

Find a song to sing... More Sooon

Peace and joy blowing in the wind and always in the air

Peace and joy is not blowin’ in the wind but is usually in the air

It is getting to that time of year when sunrise comes a little later thanI’d like.  Right now, we are only a few days shy of the Autumnal Equinox (a pretty sofisticated way of saying the first day of fall I’d say).  Given the fact I like to take my “longer” walk in the morning, I started thinking about finding my “safety” vest because it won’t be long before I will want it when I’m out w2alking.  Unfortunately, I didn’t find it this morning, and unfortunately, I don’t have the slightest notion where it is—though right now I know a lot of places it’s not—so that’s a win right?  

Not finding the vest means I’m going to wait a few more minutes before  hitting the walking path so it will be fairly light by the time I finish up.  It’s not like a few minutes can make that big of difference right?—-Wrong!  A few minutes before  8 o’clock in the mornings of March 3rd 2000 and April 15 1997 life was way different from what it was after the birth of my daughters just a few minutes later.  So what difference will I choose to make in these few minutes today?

Since it will be starting to get light and since I walk  on a trail that is fairly close to a busy  highway, I decided that it would be okay to make a little  noise this morning with “Richter’s Folly” better known as a harmonica.  

What in the world does a harmonica have to do with Peace and Joy?  for me it is something that makes music.  You really can’t technically hit a bad note on the “harp” and it’s easy to achieve harmony with almost any note or chord in a song.  With just a little practice you can play a lot of simple blues, make a train sound, a frog sound before you know it the opening  of “Love Me Do comes streaming out—-way cool!

By pure coincidence  when I just heard a duck out on the river... that’s one of nature harmonica sounds if I’ve ever heard one.  

Well here’s this few minutes and I’m going to play the harmonica in a few minutes because I thought “crap I’m frustrated and how am I going to go from here to a more peaceful spot?  Music almost always does it for me and unlike a guitar or a grand piano, I can carry this little. Metal music machine with me and practice a bit and have a great walk.  

Well it’s. About time for me to blow—so I’d better sum up.

first, welcome fall ifIforget in a couple days.  Second, Not finding what I think I wanted led to finding another source of peace and joy into my life today.  Maybe that famous philosopher who leads the “world’s  greatest rock band” was right—You can’t always get what  you want, but if you try some....you get what. You need.

Yes and will I get a little Dylan and Neil Young in somewhere near the Black River—yes.  Will there be a feeling of. Joy?  I’m thinking so.  

Well it’s time for me to blow so to speak—how many ways are there to seek peace and joy?   Well the answer  my friend is blowin’ in the wind—the answer is blowin’ in the wind.

Let’s go nuts the musical

Just a little Nuts (the Musical)

WARNING THIS SONG CONTAINS INUENDO THAT MAY BE OFFENSIVE TO SOME...IF YOU ARE  OFFENDED I AM BOTH SORRY AND A LITTLE SADDENED, HOWEVER, MY PURPOSE WAS TO TAKE A SHOT AT THE VANITY OF  SOME MEMBERS  IN OUR CULTURE.

Verses 1 & 2

Well you can have your Pecans in a pie

Your Almonds  Slightly Toasted

Of course there’s salty peanuts

And Chestnuts can be roasted

You can crush your peanuts up and make them into butter

Now listen very closely to what I’m about to utter

I will make a valiant effort not to stammer or to stutter

If you  vow to keep your mind from falling in the gutter

Chorus 

What I’m about to share,I hope you’ll keep between us

To write these little songs, it doesn’t take a genius

When they shout “hey you right there”it probably doesn’t mean us and 

No one really cares about the size of your peanuts—or cashews or hickories or macadamia —

Verse 3-4?

Take whatever nuts they give you because beggers can’t be pickers

Eat them  by the handful or crammed inside a Snickers

Eat those babies whole or chopped up into pieces

;oOr covered up in chocolate like in M&Ms or Reeces

Most all kinds of them are healthy

So let’s hear. No ifs, ands, or buts

Unless you are allergic I’m telling  you go nuts

If you have a chance share some with a friend

That’s it in a nutshell, this song is at an end

Chorus

Chase the blues away with peace and joy

YepSOME DAYS JUST DO  THIS—AND FILL  MY SOUL WITH A SONG—SORRY

So yesterday around  2 my time (as if I own a time lol) Idecided to run up  our small hill of a driveway to get the garbage can.  Given the forecast and how the weather seemed around sun up I didn’t. Expect what I found when I strolled out in my classic  black hoodie.  Now I have had this hoodie for 15 years and I hope to have it a few more... I guess it is one of those things that own me more than I own it.

Okay let’s get down to it.

The day  is freaking spectacular!!  Almost no breeze and the sun is shining brightly.  All of the sudden I’m feeling a rush of joy and peace  and  lo and behold my mind kicks into gear with the following set of lyrics.  For those of you not familiar with the flawed yet marvelous creative mind...this is the crap that happens.....

Anyway here are the words that came bubbling out and the video is below.  Enjoy

Chasing  the Blues. Away

The breeze it is light and 

The sun  it is shining

There’s no one around that. I can hear whining

These are the days that chase the blues away

There’s kids flying kites. And there’s kids blowing bubbles

Makes me forget  nearly all of my troubles

And makes me. Forget that there is any other way

Than how f I  can seek  peace and joy every day

These are the days that chase  all the blues away

I’m going to get my. Guitar and sit out in the sun

And I really don’t care if. My work’s not all done

I’m going to sing. Every song I ever learned how to play

Because these are the days that chase the blues. Away

I’m gonnna grab my guitar and sit  out in the sun

I don’t really care. If my work gets all done

I’m gonna sing every song I  know how to play

And these are the days, these are the days, these are the days that chase the blues away

And here’s a link to some products that will chase your blues away from one of my very first and new sponsors take a look great products for summer

https://whal3n.bigcartel.com/

Reflections on mirrors and peace and joy the musical

 Reflecting on mirrors pun  intended and peace and joy

 Just a short video about mirrors life peace and joy

The tribute song to the writing and reading communities

 This goes out to all the people who have been involved in my development as a writer and musician and basically as a person I hope you enjoy it if not we’ll try to listen through and will do a better job next time    Yes and the lyrics to the song or basically the rhyme from the page before

Create Your Own "Day"

CREATE YOUR OWN DAY

Sort of late in the evening (after the  Queen Movie which I am referring  to it by because I can’t spell the real title this early in the morning—-or anytime). I did a check of my social media eempire LOL.  You know my blogs,a quick look at twitter, and Facebook.

Well one of the marvelous  people who belong to “don’t Keep Your Day Job (a Facebook group)  has declared  tomorrow  as “International Sing in Public Day.”  

I know there are national holidays and several of these “international Days popping up all the time.  Like two or three Mondays ago was National Margarita  day and there was just the International Women’s  Day.   

I absolutely  believe  in ALL of these days.  I do want to apply to be on the selection committee because I think we are celebrating  some things too much and some too little.  For example  I would support  the International Day of laughing at yourself first thing in the morning when you look in the mirror day”,  and The National  Day of licking the cake batter  spoon or beater day.  I would  promote the  semi0annual  “give a hug to the person who just leaned over to tie their shoe and the string broke day.’  

Okay  back to the top.  This person who promoted her own day  is/was  a genius… first singing in public even if it’s  in your car with the window rolled down just  a  little sounds like a great way to bring some peace and joy into the world.  If you are a songwriter maybe you could think up just one new verse for tomorrow and post it to  youtube  or Facebook.

As for today make a list of “days” you’d like to celebrate and let’s see if everyday  can become the “intergalactic Day of Personal Peace and Joy featuring (insert your day).

Today  in my mind it is the National Day of getting my crap together  after being gone last week day…”  I might as well celebrate  the things I am doing no matter what they may be in the moment.

Okay get to work figuring out your  National or International Day and let’s share!!!!Hey