This Moment: 10 July 2012 - DMV Drivers License Division

Every grey vinyl and metal seat for the first three rows is occupied by drivers waiting for their number to be called. 252 is now being served. Now 253 is being served at Window 4. A child directly behind me is listing the upcoming days and their temperatures in an alternating whining and sing-song voice. The noise in this room is as loud and assaulting as Walmart acoustics. My daughter has her blond hair piled on the top of her head in a loose knot. The skin of her forearm looks ghostlike in comparison to my olive. A child dressed only in a patterned diaper is pounding the chairs in front of where I am seated. It is unbearably hot outside, and despite the cool circulated air, heat lingers in pockets each time the door opens. Number 256 is called and my daughter walks to Window 7 to renew her license. The next time she is required to renew it, she will be four years older and experienced in the world as an adult and will no longer require my help. I wonder what the next four years are hiding behind it's back. It is likely my daughter may be married, with a child, my grandchild. I am certain the years hold departures in its tight fists. The test came back negative. A relief. Also a frustration. More blood tests are required to find the source of his ailment. The years will find the answer.

Song of the Day: For You - Keith Urban

Keith Urban
For You

You don't think about right.
You don't think about wrong.
You just do what you gotta do...

Regardless of how the men and women serving in the wars think or feel, they serve. And they serve again. And again. And again.

Only one percent of Americans have skin in this war.

When they get back home, let's help them.

Here are current statistics:
Percentage of Americans serving in the military: 1%
Active-duty suicides: 154; 1 per day in 2012
Veteran suicides: 18 per day in 2012
Number of calls every month to VA Suicide Hotline: 500,000
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder statistics: 10-30%

Resources:
U.S. War Cost in Iraq and Afghanistan 2003-2012: 111.1 billion
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. With over 200,000 Member Veterans and supporters nationwide, IAVA strives to build the New Greatest Generation. Our programs empower our community online and offline, and include Smart Job Fairs, our signature New GI Bill calculator and Community of Veterans, a veterans only social network. But don't just take our word for it. TIME magazine recently said "IAVA...remains the most important organization representing the new generation of veterans."

Joining Forces

1% of Americans may be fighting our wars, but we need 100% of Americans to be supporting our troops and their families. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden are asking Americans to get involved in any way they can.

Make the Connection Hear honest and candid descriptions from Veterans of what life was like for them with PTSD. A variety of Veterans—men and women, younger and older—share their emotions, actions, and symptoms; how they learned they had PTSD; and what they did to get on a path to recovery.

Wounded Warrior Project
Mission: To foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation's history.
Purpose:

To raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members.

To help injured service members aid and assist each other.

To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.

Veterans Crisis Hotline The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Song of the Day: Rain - Patty Griffin

Patty Griffin
Rain

The last few days it has felt like I live two houses down from the sun. My vegetable garden is loving it, but my potted flowers look like they've all but given up the ghost.

Temperatures are predicted to get up into the 100's, so me and my flowers are hoping for rain.

How is the weather in your world?

I hadn't heard this song until I found it over on mightygirl's playlist. Check out her blog. She is one funny gal.

Artist of the Day: Under the Bridge - Patrick Bornemann

under the bridge patrick bornemann  artcalifornia

artist bio: My name is Patrick, I like to describe myself as a globe trotter and world citizen. I was a hungry Art student; I went in Art school in Paris, Marseille, Nice and Venice. I use only natural pigments because of the connection they have with earth. I play with colors. I mix them creating new harmonies, new vibes, new combinations and new schemes. I learned a lot while working in art studios with master painters in Nice, Paris and Venice. When I moved to California, I developed my true passion and skill in fine arts. I love to paint subtle day to day observations that go unnoticed by the average eye. Travelling is always an inspiration because of the diversity of environments.

---

We have family from San Francisco staying with us this weekend, so San Francisco-based artist Borneman's original painting of the Golden Gate Bridge is perfect for the final image of the week.

Every time I visit San Francisco, I think I could live there. Then I price the houses and decide maybe not. I love the diversity, the proximity to the ocean, the museums and art galleries, the eco-friendly artist community culture, the blogging community, the parks, the shops, the food, the friendly people, the fog, even the crazy-steep roads.

I haven't left my heart in San Francisco, but sometimes I think I've left my wistfulness, or maybe just my hipster wannabe self there.

Land of Deseret: 4th of July Parade 2012 - Small town Utah Photo Essay

What I most enjoy about parades in cities across the country, is that each reflects its population. The small town featured here is hardly primarily agrarian, but it once was, and so tractors and horses are still appropriate parade features. Mormons are the majority religion here, so two temple-themed floats are also appropriate. From the two bagpipe brigades, I assume there is a large Scottish population.

Enjoy the photo essay of my favorite images from the Fourth of July parade.

Highway Patrol

Honor Guard

Fire Department

The Sound of Freedom Float

Easy Rider Patriot

Bagpipe Brigade #1

Hometown Heroes Float

Troops

Mascot

Model U.S. Air Force Jet

A Legacy of Temples Float (you know you are in Utah when there is a temple float)

Dance Team

Heritage Museum Float

Candy Man

Get Big Or Die (zoom in on the red t-shirt)

Temple & Geneaology Float (a parade float combination you will only ever see in Utah)

Eagle Float

Bagpipe Brigade #2

Seagull Float (the seagull is Utah's state bird)

Stilt Man

Unicycle Rider

Color Guard

Origami Dragon Float

WWII Ace Pilot on John Deere Tractor

Spotted Horse (this is my favorite photo)

Fancy Horse & Buggy

Colt (fyi: the colt is not pulling the buggy)

Ranch Horse

Poem Therapy 8:35 P.M. July 5, 2012: A Short History of the Apple - Dorianne Laux

apple story yuliya

A Short History of the Apple
Dorianne Laux

The crunch is the thing, a certain joy in crashing through living tissue, a memory of Neanderthal days. —Edward Bunyard, The Anatomy of Dessert, 1929

Teeth at the skin. Anticipation.
Then flesh. Grain on the tongue.
Eve's knees ground in the dirt
of paradise. Newton watching
gravity happen. The history
of apples in each starry core,
every papery chamber's bright
bitter seed. Woody stem
an infant tree. William Tell
and his lucky arrow. Orchards
of the Fertile Crescent. Bushels.
Fire blight. Scab and powdery mildew.
Cedar apple rust. The apple endures.
Born of the wild rose, of crab ancestors.
The first pip raised in Kazakhstan.
Snow White with poison on her lips.
The buried blades of Halloween.
Budding and grafting. John Chapman
in his tin pot hat. Oh Westward
Expansion. Apple pie. American
as. Hard cider. Winter banana.
Melt-in-the-mouth made sweet
by hives of Britain's honeybees:
white man's flies. O eat. O eat.

--- While I read this poem, I was eating a square of dark Colombian chocolate embedded with passion fruit nibs. A strangely delectable combination. This poem led me to think of the history and origins of the passion fruit. I know nothing at the moment, but give me a good Google surf session and I'll know something. Isn't it interesting that fruit is usually associated with sexuality, or transgressive acts in literature and religious texts? Perhaps, because biting into fruit is aggressive and sensual. What I know, is that eating fruit is one of the great pleasures of life. The berries my father planted last year are ripe, and I am indulging in one of the big seven: gluttony, indulging handfuls of strawberries, gooseberries, red and golden raspberries, currants, huckleberries, and black berries as they ripen. Many times, I have to compete with the birds. As for apples, I know about the different varieties, and the role this luscious fruit has played through the centuries in history and legend. As for cooking, I've never made an apple pie, but I've made apple crisp, and cinnamon baked apples. Both are delicious. I eat an apple every day. My dogs are not fans of the fruit. Of course, I know about the apple as an archetype in mythology and the Bible: Eve let the snake tempt her with an apple, which led her to "tempt" Adam, and then everybody got kicked out of the Garden, and then all womankind got a bad rap for too many centuries to count. Sigh. I mean, if the story were anything other than a metaphor, doesn't Adam come across as more passive wimp than victim of seduction? While I'm on the subject of Adam and Eve, explain this: if Eve was made from Adam's rib, how is it that every embryo follows a female template for the first six weeks? That means every man on the planet was female for the first six weeks of his existence, until the male sex chromosome kicked in. Oh science, you think you know everything!

Artist of the Day: Bento Red Octopus With Sushi Lunchbox in Background - Derek Cadena & Brent Rodgers

bento red octopus with sushi lunchbox background

derek cadena and brent rodgers twolittlefruits

artist bio: We are Derek Cadena and Brent Rodgers of 2LF! We have been selling our artwork in cute boutiques, galleries and online for the past 7 or so years. We enjoy making art that entertains us, and, we hope that you find an intense joy accompanied by retinal tickling every time you look at a 2LF creation.  "Art should be as logical as the songs we sing to our pets" To see more of our work or to find out more about 2LF Studio visit us at www.twolittlefruits.com

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I love the wit and originality of 2LF's mixed-media original artwork. The duo's name, two little fruits, tips the viewer off to their humor.

Both artists approach content and technique differently, yet their complimentary styles create an engaging viewing experience.

You are going to love these guys!