Summer lightened: Muse or Dunderhead?
Possibly a-musing. Possibly clowns storming the views.
The mists reveal and conceal while opinions congeal.
(Who doesn’t love sparkling jello? Jelly brain not so much.)
Summer’s first light flight of “Dunderhead or Muse?”
Lady Manners says, “Laugh with one, not at one” But you can laugh at two if you want. (A.Mucha1860-1939/US PD:reprod of PD art/artist life/Commons.wikimedia.org)
They were walking down the street…shooting as they went.
(Sounds like a joke’s opening right? Well, there are jokers…)
Police responding to a car about cars in driveways being broken into – police cars.
Encountered several young males in a car loaded with stolen ammunition, handcuffs, several police jackets, bullet proof vests, and at least one gun.
One captured suspect was wearing an ankle monitoring bracelet.
Where to start ?
The cop at home didn’t even know his car had been broken into.
One word, sir:”Garage”.
Used to be cops parked out to deter neighborhood crime. Now, a cop car is just another Stop and Rob convenience store.
Feeling really safe, Judge.
Does anyone actually watch for ankle monitor violations? Take any action?
They do on TV’s “Shameless”. Poor Fiona. But that’s TV. Fiction. Expecting too much for reality.
(Hey, know those Invisible Dog fences that jolt dogs into staying home…?)
La-la-la. Failed that final, but they’ll never know. Mind if I use your phone? (1865.Corot/US PD:pub.date/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Shocked was one local teen. (Hey, who says kids don’t pay attention to current events?)
Failing to pass and earn high school graduation, she did a copycat bomb threat just before the ceremony.
Pomp and Circumstance would be canceled and her family would never know?
(Well, maybe later she would tell them. After all the gifts and parties…)
Now she’s got a real excuse for not being college bound. A court date.
(She won’t need to shop for party dresses or mini-fridge.)
With Mother’s Day and Graduations, feeling swamped by emotional sweetness, words of encouragement, and wisdom by the penny.
No wonder intended victims audiences glaze over. Snoozeville.
Flowery phrasing, lofty ideals, and lengthy wandering speeches don’t offer much for the harsh demands of everyday life.
Seek guidance from those who know: greeting card companies and inspirational posters?
(German fairy tale.Offterdinger/Leutemann/Harke/US PD:exp.CR/Commons.wikimedia.org)
This Mom does know best.
If you haven’t listened to Sandra Bullocks’s brief speech to graduating high school students, do so. Please.
(Note: 5 year olds and high school seniors have a lot in common. Both are eager, bright-eyed, naive of the world, hopeful, and ready to leave parents. One group is just taller.)
Oh, you’ve heard bits and pieces, but let her finish her thoughts. (short video)
- “Don’t pick nose in public…” She continues with a broader thought: “Use a tissue. It takes a little effort, but solves the problem. That works with other things in life, too” (paraphrasing – listen for real.)
- “Hug with both arms” She’s right about that leaning.
- “Stop worrying.” “Find joy. It’s all you’ll remember.”
- “Raise the bar high.” Failure isn’t failing – things just turn out a better way.
- “If someone doesn’t want to play with you, it’s okay. It’s okay. Not everyone is going to love us; go find someone who does want to play with you and who appreciates what you have to offer.” Solid truth for life and career.
- And best of all follow her Every Morning Rule: each day turn up the music loud and dance a bit because it will make you walk differently when you go out the door.
Simple. Plain. True. Practical.
Can you imagine if every child heard these words each morning?
Can you imagine if these ideas were posted and even recited daily in schools?
Not from the Bible or any religious guide. (So who would have grounds to complain?)
These are from a Hollywood celebrity, so there might be a chance?
John Lennon dreamed.
Asked everyone to “Imagine“
Life Coach Chelsea Clinton asks everyone to use anger. With vague broad ideas and vague generalities.
Unusual as anger generally considered counterproductive, impulsive, emotion driven, and anti-logical.
Anger can be motivator, but count to ten first, ok? (Parents always said that, right?)
Great. Stupid weather app’s basic forecast. That silly “Have a nice day” platitude as leaving the dock. Not one word of solid advice to help weather a storm. Where’s the darn muse when you need an answer? (British Artists’ Suffrage League/Hentschel Ltd, London/LoC/US PD:exp.cr/Wikimedia.org)
Sandra Bullock offers some specific actions that will make a difference.
Quiet words that could brighten the world.
Who could ignore advice from Mom?
OK, teenagers.
But later on – when they are far away and having a hard time – they will remember.
(Besides she’s a celebrity mom…more than that, she’s been there for them and not just with a check.)
Turning up the music. Then outta here.
Muse gotta dance.
Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Read more “Muse or Dunderheads?”
- “Rescue me. Mudflap Muse or Dunderhead?” (2013.Mud in your eye. Yeehaw.Still.)
- “Muse or Dunderhead? C- or See Plus?”(2013. Perfect for travelers. Yep, still good)
- “Muse or Mushead redux” (2012. It only seems like yesterday .Wait. Same stories lingering?)
- “Muse or Mushead” (2012. Dunderhead reveal)
Bemused. Flight of fancy.©
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Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
One question: where has the Eagle landed? I haven’t seen it in ages, and didn’t realize it still is around. I rarely make it to Watergate, so that explains that. Still, you would think…
And then there’s this, from Politico. It made me smile, for some reason. A bit over the top? Maybe. But just maybe.
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They got tired of getting the crane and hauling the Eagle up and down during hurricane preparations. It sat in that weedy field after IKE (Worried about it then, but it hunkered down held by ropes and looks fine). Then it moved – but just across the street back to the yard with the offices just west of it. Glad they decided to put it back in the spotlight. Always liked it.
Thanks for that link. Smiles always appreciated. Glad you landed to chat
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Always loved Mucha and that suffrage league one is pretty good.
Did I read about ankle violations? That could be me. Perhaps I have a chip in my ankle for errant behaviour?
I often wonder why y’all make so much of high school graduation. Where I come from it’s merely a stepping stone in life, or to life, but no great shakes in terms of achievement. Which is probably why we only graduate from university.
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Been holding that suffrage league poster for a while. The full illustration is quite good. Ankles get chipped from too many years of bracing, perhaps?
What is really disturbing are the “graduation ceremonies” for pre-k and Kinder. Some are posh schools emphasizing their excellence. Others just want photo op and a cute party to impress parents. We fought like crazy to keep middle school (grades 6-8) from doing some extravaganza. (Certain parents – it wouldn’t be PC to say whom – kept saying “but they may never experience graduating from HS”. To which we responded “Maybe if you don’t give in to a middle school “prom” and graduation, they would be motivated to work for that reward at the end of HS.”) Very different view and value of things.
HS graduations are much too overblown – and expensive here now. Long tradition. Perhaps started when HS was pretty much all the schooling required for life? You could even teach if a HS grad when my mom was growing up. (High school ended at grade 10, also. Until the labour unions pushed to hold the kids in schools a bit longer.
Could proms have developed as substitute “coming out parties” since most did not meet grand society’s family/money connections for debutantes? (Need to do some research.) Or just any excuse for a party.
Mom used to say when I longed for “designer”/store bought clothes “You’re a child. Those things are for adults. If we gave you all those things now, what would you have to look forward to?”
A proper time for everything, and everything at the appropriate time. Sigh. With all being winners and wonderful now, delay gratification and having goals to work towards seem so old fashioned.
Thanks for hobbling over! Paw waves to Snowy and Pippa
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Nice job! And thanks for a Mucha I hadn’t seen before. Always a joy. XOXOX
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Really surprise some coffee shop or tea company hasn’t adopted that one. Are you dancing for summer yet? Hope it’s a lovely span of wonderment. Thanks for sitting down to chat
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Always loved Sandra Bullock. Down home and not the phony Hollywood type.
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She’s one special person. So glad her speech has gained an audience. Down to earth. Well grounded. Busy doing instead of talking. Thanks for tuning in
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I remember Sandra Bullock’s quote “I was a brownie for a day. My mom made me stop. She didn’t want me to conform.” which is good thinking because really although we might seek guidance (or distraction – for better or worse) from those around us, we do best when we make our own way.
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The young need to see those being brave, taking calculated risks, and those who fail, but don’t give up, and finally achieve.Kids must be taught resilience and toughness – as well as being considerate and kind.
Sandra is one great mom – she’s been actively supporting that school and those kids since Katrina. Many talk. Many tell others to do something. Many write checks. She just shows up and takes action without trumpeting it all everywhere. Fine lady. (sounds like her mom was quite a force, too) Thanks for flowing through
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“Who Watches The Watchmen?”, indeed.
Thank Dog you’re here to cast a light on corners that have been shrouded in darkness by those with not-so-hidden agendas, my friend.
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A bomb threat to avoid telling parents they aren’t graduating? Sounds like they thought that one through! I’m not a celebrity watcher, but Sandra Bullock is one of my favorites.
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Blame is on “cause and effect” not learned somewhere…and the news story about the college girl that did it earlier in the month? Agree it’s nice to see notice of a mom – who happens to be a celebrity, but gets hands-on involved – highlighted. So many stories about the out of control ones, you begin to think all people are like that. Thank for celebrating along
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