UkeOke: Swing Low – Lyrics

Posted on 2016/08/10 by circuskitchen

Wednesday,  August 10th 2016

On the occasion of camping with my kids sans Daddy -with Daddy to join us tomorrow and everything going swimmingly but for daughter lamenting lack of said Daddy come singing this song come bed time- here are the lyrics.

(And given both our circumstances, station on Earth and Heavenly privilege of serenading children to sleep in homemade sleep sacs; in open tent, surrounded by ocean breeze, on city island, accompanied by the rhythm of lapping waves AND humming crickets… may I posit the substitute of “the ocean” for the term “Jesus” in our humble, secular, grateful, finite and eternal incarnation of this iteration of experience.  It just makes more sense.  Pardon.)

#Ukulele

Swing Low (Sweet Chariot)

Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.

I looked over Jordan, and what did I see
Coming for to carry me home?
A band of angels coming after me,
Coming for to carry me home.

Sometimes I’m up, and sometimes I’m down,
(Coming for to carry me home)
But still my soul feels heavenly bound.
(Coming for to carry me home)

The brightest day that I can say,
(Coming for to carry me home)
When *Jesus washed my sins away.
(Coming for to carry me home)

If I get there before you do,
(Coming for to carry me home)
I’ll cut a hole and pull you through.
(Coming for to carry me home)

If you get there before I do,
(Coming for to carry me home)
Tell all my friends I’m coming too.
(Coming for to carry me home)

Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.

 

But that I could record it in these surroundings.  We’ll see.

 

 

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#Compliments

Posted on 2016/08/09 by circuskitchen

This:

Give Me Compliments [2:15]:

 

And this:

Florida Teacher begins each day complimenting his students one by one [1:10]:

 

 

Shnell bitte bitte shnell bitte bitte compliments SHNELL!

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Olympian Refugee Swimmer

Posted on 2016/08/08 by circuskitchen

August 8th 2016

Not being a fan of nationalism, I haven’t been overcome by feverish enthusiasm as the 2016 Olympics have gotten underway.  But I AM a fan of grit, determination and indomitable spirit.  And come to find out, THIS year for the first time, the Olympic Committee -in light of the unprecedented global scale of refugees- has created a REFUGEE TEAM, competing under the OLYMPIC flag itself.

And here we meet Yusra Mardini, who knocks my socks off with her brilliant optimism and  astonishing disposition.   Yes it’s worth noting that when her family was fleeing Syria across the treacherous waters between Turkey and Lesbos and their boat took on water and began to sink, but they were saved when Yusra and her sister jumped in the water to pull the boat by swimming for over three hours to safety.

 

Boom just like that I’m a fan.  She didn’t qualify to advance in the Butterfly but she’s competing in the 100m Freestyle this Wednesday.  GO YUSRA GO!!!

 

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$1,000 Day-Date with My Daughter

Posted on 2016/08/01 by circuskitchen

Monday, August 1st 2016

Over the weekend ClaraJane had Daddy help her count and organize all the money around the house she could get her hands on.   $22.31 to be exact, and she is *dying* to take it to the bank.  (My girl!)    Today is the day and off we go.

 

2016-08-01 11.16.11

Writing out the Deposit Slip

 

Although I don’t think she understands what it means, she was HOPING this deposit would take her over the $1,000 mark.

 

2016-08-01 11.27.55

Success!

 

Here she is showing off her accomplishment -as printed on the bank receipt- to the security camera in the bank:

 

2016-08-01 11.28.53

Ta da!

 

Not bad for 5 years old!  Of course she’s had help.  Any and all money gifted to her goes into this Savings Account, towards “college,” travel or some other unspecified major life endeavor down the road when a young person’s core values are more solidified and desire is beyond the reach of mom & dad’s bank account.   Daddy is reminded we should probably park some of this in CD’s periodically over the years.  And I am reminded;  we still need to set up her college savings account!  As well as continue fighting for the Sanders’ Political Revolution Platform (which includes affordable higher education)… but I digress.

This baby seems to derive pleasure from the mere act of SAVING.  My son on the other hand more seems to enjoy the thought of S P E N D I N G.   Like, in general.   We’ll see.

chasing pig

Nooooooooooo!

 

Anyway, to complete our Mommy-Daughter Day (having gotten *Mommy* to her bank also), we set about to spending a bit as well.  First at a coffee shop in a setting so beautiful I refrained from taking photos, and then off to mani-pedi’s!  (My second so far this year, her second so far this lifetime.)

2016-08-01 12.54.23

Frozen metallic teal-blue toes & golden fingertips for m’lady?

 

Seeing her jostled around by the adult-sized massage chairs is one of the funniest things I’ve seen lately.

2016-08-01 14.20.42

I Love you Funny Face

 

Thanks for the Mommy-Daughter Day Date, daughter!  You’re hilarious, gorgeous, brave, charming, intelligent, articulate, inspiring, so much fun, I love you so much and I’m so proud of you!

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The Farce of the DNC Convention

Posted on 2016/07/31 by circuskitchen

July 2016

Here is a closer (and I think very well done) look at at exactly what happened at the DNC Convention in Philly 2016; just so we know.   It is so sad the queen has to go to such lengths to secure her coronation.  Not her fault that a decent, trustworthy and honorable man of the people would win our hearts and minds with his integrity first.  (Saying nothing, as I prefer, of the Psycho Cheeto that is her official opponent.)

See for yourself.

The Farce of the DNC Convention [15:00]:

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The Sacrifice of Aslan

Posted on 2016/07/29 by circuskitchen

July 2016

Here is the Chronicles of Narnia movie where the great lion Aslan sacrifices himself to the Snow Queen.  I cannot help but think of Bernie Sanders in this way.  ♥

Aslan arrives at the stone table and dies [6:17]:

 

And rises again!

Aslan’s Resurrection [2:20]:

 

“She knew not of the Deep Magic.”

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Phillin the Bern – Livestream Times

Posted on 2016/07/28 by circuskitchen

July 24-28th 2016

Here is the account of my self-styled activism in support of Bernie Sanders and in protest to the DNC/HRC conglomerate around the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia PA.  I must say I am proud of my kids who were without a doubt among the youngest Revolutionaries on the job.

We didn’t get what we wanted (a Bernie Sanders nomination), but it was surely glorious to try.  How I loved this time when it was actually -technically- POSSIBLE!  It was quixotic for sure, but I rather fight for what I believe in than give up just because it seems impossible.

(Over and over my Uncle Jack’s famous words would come to me; “I’d rather trust a man and be wrong than not trust him and be right.”  I’d rather lose at fighting than win at quitting.)

I also got to spend days romping throughout a WONDERFUL city FILLED with my PEOPLE; like minded Bernie-loving souls.  (Alas there were almost ZERO $hillary supporters to be seen. Why would the scant amount of big donors and superpredators I mean superdelegates be outside on the streets when there are air conditioned convention centers and suites to enjoy?  How embarrassing to learn your candidate has been cheating all along right?  Unless you have no shame.  Oh, that’s right.  No shame.  But I digress.)

And how amazing of Facebook to give us this (what was then) cutting edge technology of Livestreaming.  So fantastic to have real time interface with happenstantial audience members ANYWHERE.  It’s like a blend of live amateur news broadcast, live twitter feed and Skype.

Anyway, as we are faced with the incomprehensible POTUS choice between “Everything that is wrong with our political system” ($hillary) and “Everything that is wrong with our culture” (Chump)… about this amazing time in Philadelphia when Bernie Sanders was still  a CANDIDATE for U.S. President, all I can say is;  Those were the days.

2016-07-24 Livestreaming the Bern [41:07]:

 

#StillSanders  #BernieForever  #PoliticalRevolution

 

 

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Laybag Times – Philly Edition

Posted on 2016/07/27 by circuskitchen

July 25-27th 2016

The Laybag… it’s a bean bag, it’s a hammock, it’s a floaty thing.  New to our flamly this summer for $32 bucks, we keep using it over and over.  It defies description and speaks for itself.   Here we are using it on breaks between fighting for the Political Revolution in Philadelphia.

2016-07 LAYBAG TIMES – Philly Edition [1:22]:

 

 

P.S.:  #BernieFOREVER!

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Phillin’ the Bern with my Kids – 2016

Posted on 2016/07/26 by circuskitchen

Sunday, July 24th – Thursday, July 28th 2016

Remembering the incomparable experience of protesting the 2016 Democratic National Convention with my kids in Philadelphia.

Those were the days

 

I will ALWAYS relish these days where the ENTIRE city was ONE GLORIOUS, UNDENIABLE, INSURMOUNTABLE celebration of the promise that is BERNIE SANDERS.

But for the reality that it was surmountable after all; by the corruption that is the DNC-$HILLARY Hubris machine, serving up the Orange Horror that is Tweethead J. Chump to the world on a tacky gold plated platter.

Even my five year old both chanted and understood this simple truth:

TRUMP BEATS HILLARY,

BERNIE BEATS TRUMP.

 

But even in the face of the crushing loss we suffered, nothing can take away the memories we created or the hope we generated in those incredible days.

 

 

 

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Three Minute Ovation

Posted on 2016/07/25 by circuskitchen

Monday, July 25th 2016

Few things are more beautiful to me than the historic reception Senator Sanders encountered upon his taking the stage at the 2016 DNC Convention in Philadelphia.

Three-minute Standing Ovation for Bernie Sanders at the DNC 2016 [3:02]: 

 

This was also incredibly moving.

Watch Sanders cry during DNC roll call [1:23]: 

This shot also includes a close up of the mysterious gash which appeared on his face since he day before… but that’s another conspiracy theory story.

#StillSanders

#BernieForever

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