Shalom Shalom, welcome to my latest OBS Post where I attempt to overload your synapses with good stuff. This is the place where positive decisions lead to positive outcomes! So don’t be a scaredy cat, come out of hiding and jump on the bandwagon of positivity. A little bit of kindness goes a long way and that includes manners. As Ms. Manners would say: “Good manners pave the way to success!”

From my earliest age I had one goal in mind and that was to be different. I never wanted to be part of the status quo. I wanted to be unique and myself. I am still working on that, but I am different (lol)!

There are oh so many things I want to relate that it is coming out as a word explosion and letters are scattered everywhere. It is up to me to clean up the mess. I don’t have a cleaning person to handle my letter litter and must do it myself. BTW every time I write have to the grammar police think I have to change it to must (there it did it again). Why is that? The grammar police are not a fun group, I can tell you that for sure.

But getting back to this positive stuff—there have been many positive movements in history, and I am not trying to be Goody Two Shoes (see below commentary on colloquial expressions), but somehow, we have to balance out and exceed the negative vibe on the planet and plan our own futures (perhaps one without politicians). The peculiar thing is we cannot get too serious, or we lose the sport of life. So, we must do a little grin and bear it mode while waxing enthusiastic. The most important thing is to not get caught in the trap.

And by trap I am thinking watching, listening, and reading too much news. Yes, it is important to stay informed about stuff, but we don’t want to drown in it and that can happen oh so easily thanks to the availability of information on quite a grand scale aka the internet. So, like most things, news in moderation, you will be surprised at how good you feel. Pick your pundits carefully. I especially cut off the loud ones who are always shouting their opinions. My rule of thumb is if you must shout at me, I will turn you off faster than you can blink. You know a whisper can be more powerful than a shout. This is coming from a news junky!

Notes Notes & More Notes

• The Farm Era is over. It lasted a few short months (eight to be more precise). We sold our rig, traded in the F350 for a thoroughly cool Explorer (it has this great black cherry color her name is Cleo short for Cleopatra as she is quite elegant. So, we are now living in Tampa.

  You can take the boy out of the city (but not for very long I surmise)! So far Tampa is turning into a really cool city. I am liking the vibe and appreciate the numerous eateries from the exotic to the banal (fast food). There is a small-town feel to this just under 400,000 population city. Like I said I like the vibe and the dogs are settling in too!

• Facebook tells me I have 5000 friends, but I am not allowed any more. How peculiar I think to myself. Facebook tells me I cannot have any more friends as I have reached the pinnacle of 5000 and can go no more. That sucks! I want to shake my fist in Mark Zuckerberg’s face and demand more friends. Alas and alack! What’s a poet to do? They tell me I can add followers. What fun is there in that I crave friends not followers—how droll!
• I was chatting with my friend Sam in Germany, and I said all this moving around keeps me on my toes. Now I am wondering why I would like to even be on my toes??? If you say that someone or something keeps you on your toes, you mean that they cause you to remain alert and ready for anything that might happen. This expression comes from sports and the fact that when you actually lift your heels and shift your weight to the balls of your feet and your toes, you are ready to jump into action! There are many other strange expressions like “I’m all ears” (what a strange visual), or “Count on Me” or what’s your pet expression? Email me or leave a comment. I am looking for some strange expressions so “Hold your hat!”
• A couple of things poetically, I was recently honored with the Lifetime New Generation Beat Poet Laureate award. I will also be the Poet in Residence at the Jack Kerouac House in St. Petersburg.  https://stpetekerouachouse.com/

New Generation Beat Poet Honored with Prestigious Lifetime Award

On September 2, 2023, Florida resident Larry Jaffe, was honored by Deborah Tosun Kilday, founder and CEO of the National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc. with a Lifetime New Generation Beat Poet Laureate award and title.

Each year the National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc. based in Connecticut, recognizes a select few artists and writers worldwide who are recommended and recognized by their peers for devoting their lives to the betterment of society through writing and education.

Larry Jaffe is an internationally known award-winning writer, author and poet who uses his writing skills to promote artist and human rights and end human trafficking. He does this by holding workshops and seminars to educate people. He was recently appointed Poet in Residence at The Jack Kerouac House in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Jaffe has been a member of our Beat family for several years as the Florida Beat Poet Laureate and now that he is in his new position. We welcome him and know he will put it to beneficial use enlightening the public to the value of the beat poetry movement.

The National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc. continues to preserve the writings of the original “Beat Generation’ but strives to keep evolving to create a “New Beat Generation” of Poets, Writers, Artists, and Musicians. It provides worldwide hosting, collaborating, and fostering joint partnerships for Beat-themed poetry readings, workshops, plays, radio shows and much more locally, across the United States and worldwide. The NBPF supports the further development and exposure of non-traditional poetry from people of all ages, backgrounds, and sexual orientations. They believe this creates supportive communities, creating safe venues for anyone interested in this type of writing to present their work, and this extends to individuals, organizations, and representatives of universities and colleges.

To learn more about the National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc. Go to the website: http://nationalbeatpoetryfoundation.org

Poem of the Week

THE BEAT GENERATION STILL LIVES

The Beat Generation lives on
Those who matter carry the torch.
Those who live adjust words to moods.
Those who care, maintain the planet.
The Beat Generation lives on
Matching them with snaps of fingers
Like the ticking clock—snap
Like the beating heart—snap
Like the fall of rain—snap
Like the rays of sun—snap

Videos for Your Pleasure

Check out this parody video about “natural” foods. It is a hoot but unfortunately true. This is a trademark from the so-called False Advertising Industry. You will be surprised at the number of unnatural things are found in “natural” foods. The USDA Organic Seal guarantees food contains no Genetically Modified Organisms, no toxic pesticides, and no growth hormones or antibiotics.

Stand by Me

And for your musical pleasure here is a most cool vid of one of my all-time favorite songs Stand by Me originally sung by Mr. Ben E. King. I chose this version because of the beautiful job done by this Cris Mate restoration.

And to just sweeten the pot another recording of this wonderful song by the folks at Playing for Change. I love this version too!

Have a great weekend and new week!