out of it

tried to be a good green soldier & walked to the post office this morning and forgot my wallet so couldn't buy postage to mail the box i'd lugged, and so lugged it back home got my wallet & drove it all back to the post office.

walking through alleys lined with trees where all the 17 year cicada mating is going on it was like super high pitched police sirens were going off way in the distance or echoing through a cave miles away, a wild experience.

morning whiz

morning whiz
Originally uploaded by skippy haha

tildes and umlauts

this site has tables of keyboard shortcuts for all the letters with accents and cedillas you could imagine. to type a tilde, you hold down Alt and type the numbers 0241, release the Alt and voilà!
ñ

neighbor's quote

"sorry about that...i'd just woken...and boken."

end of the night

end of the night, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

the aerogarden is trucking right along, the greens are sprouting from every pod. another couple weeks & it'll be harvest time.

all my temecula wine glasses are also holding up, as is the glass i have from west point that says "With Pride We Defend USMA 97." i got it 10 years ago at a dance at west point and i drink OJ from it every morning. right up there with meeting Ray Knight and having Tea Leaf Green say happy birthday to me is the Camp Buckner weekend in august 1994 when my bestest girl friends & i went up to west point for a dance with extremely cute older boys in uniforms. no! sleep! til buckner! we all had just graduated high school & were leaving for college in the next couple of weeks & it was just a really exciting time full of freedom and hormones.

the real mccain

waiting for doggot

waiting for doggot, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

just hoping i say the word

rolling hills of labrador

rolling hills of labrador, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

warm snuggly weekend wishes to you all

barack the vote

my brother chris has started a t-shirt company with a few friends called Royal Teaze. their latest shirt is pretty rackin.

rainbow grace

rainbow grace, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

once was lost but now i'm found

a few amazingly recovered shots from last night are here

so high so low

i had a ladies only modelfest here tonight and it was glorious, and then it was terrible, and now it is glorious again. after about 100 photos the nikon d70 camera started showing CHA and FOR instead of the number count, and i ejected and re-inserted the memory card and the battery between every photo and it was not really working and when i tried to view all them on the computer, the files turned into folders with nothing in them and the letters looked like they were written with wingdings. it looked like all was lost. hours of irreplaceable one-of-a-kind inspired beautiful hard work gone poof like that.

but then i went to cardrecovery.com and downloaded their software and they got my photos back! it's a middlemay miracle!

i'm not sure if it's something wrong with the memory card (sandisk ultra II, 1 month old) or with the camera.

yes, i love technology, but not as much as you, you see... but I STILL love technology... always and forever.

now it's past 5am, the roof of my mouth has been chopped by kettlecorn, ive gotten all the chocolate bits out of the trailmix, there are helmets and sombreros on my bed i think it's time to sleep.

mouse eggs!

i just really laughed big reading kid d's story about a moral dilemma and a dead mouse.

reservoir

reservoir, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

asheville's water source, the north fork reservoir, from around craggy gardens on the blue ridge parkway. water levels are up from last year's drought and the yellow-green of spring is starting to spread up through the wintry brown trees.

omnibus & nacho & i went for a walk up there last night, we walked on the trail from the craggy gardens picnic area to the visitors area, then walked down the parkway which was closed to cars, back to the picnic area. we went through a tunnel and saw santa claus riding a bike and the rocks along the side dripping out melting water. we also saw a turkey flying into a tree which could be confused for a bald eagle or a buzzard.

after a storm

after a storm, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

branches down on the grass, a chair blew over, and somebody's yoga mat flew in the yard from who knows where

aerogarden

aerogarden, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

behold my most beloved of birthday presents. i set it up yesterday and in three weeks this should be bursting with leafy salad greens.

happy mother's day

wet iris, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

to all the mothers of all critters may your day be just lovely

nacho maizey & holden

nacho mayzie & holden, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

17 year cicada nymph

17 year cicada nymph, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

bzzzzzz

unca library graduation day

unca library graduation day, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

2 highlights

through the diligent taping and uploading efforts of my friend ben and the wonders of technology, we can now relive time and time again the minute and a half before the encore started when tea leaf steve said happy birthday to me. it is tied for life highlights with this, in 1986, when i met ray knight of the world champion new york mets.

the whole show is here

3 pups

3 pups, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

i get to dogsit for mayzie the golden retriever this weekend! she's so laid back & sweet. holden & nacho are pretty fired up about this. everybody's getting along and sharing.

quirk

the guy in front of me at the post office rode down the street to the building sitting on a skateboard wearing a mexican wrestling mask.

reminder

a message from my brother chris, when he was in 3rd grade:


Mother's Day is a special day,
It's the 11th in the month of May.
It's a time to thank you mother for everything
she gives you.
It's a day for kids and mothers to express
thier feelings with gifts.

flea free

this is how my dogs stay free of fleas without using frontline (if the chemicals are so toxic they're not to touch human skin, why am i supposed to douse my dogs with them 12 times a year?):

1. feed them BARF (bones & raw food diet)
2. once every 2-3 weeks, hose them off
3. lather them up with herbal flea shampoo
4. hose them off
5. pour a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar diluted in a gallon of water over each one
6. when they're dry, and once a day thereafter, squirt some herbal insect repellent on a hard rubber grooming glove and brush them vigorously

it worked last summer and so far so good this year.

nc primary

i think he's less sheisty with money and has taken the high road where the other one has not.

holden got a bath

holden got a bath, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

and then wiggled himself upside down in as much dirt as he could find

peanut butter safes

peanut butter safes, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

the peanut butter & jelly -in-ones are my favorites
i have the process and materials down now

sidewalk lines

sidewalk lines, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

lydia & i aren't sure what these are from. my best guess is acid rain runoff. anybody know?

selling t-shirts

selling t-shirts, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

michelle obama spoke at unca tonight. i didn't see her, i walked through the quad about an hour before it started with the world's friendliest polar bear cub lunging towards other dogs and people and had to get out of there.

birthday greenery

tea leaf green, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

super show in raleigh last night! super people all around on the stage and off! they said happy birthday to me on air! i loooooove them!

april 30

leaf green, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

it's my birthday! the sun is shining! the birds are singing! i'm going to see tea leaf green tonight!

motto

why cheat when it's so easy to break up?

not really

homeless will work for puppy biscuits king charles cavalier spaniel

dots

dots have something in comma

hug a bush

reaching azalea branches, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

azaleas reaching

skippy appleseed

cute 9 year old chubster riding by on a bike: excuse me ma'am?

me unloading cardboard boxes in the driveway: yeeees?

boy: um, do you have like a dollar or two for me & my friend to get somethin to eat after we go to the park? that's where we're going now.

cute 9 year old not-so-chubster on a bike: i'm not with him!

me: i have an apple? you want a couple apples?

boy: naw, we was gonna go to dunkin donuts

me: apples are better for you than donuts

boy: they have biscuits...

me: apples are better for you than biscuits

boy: you dont have like a dollar or two?

me: nope. i'm sorry. all i have is apples. or a gatorade. want a gatorade?

boy: naw that's alright

me: okay come back if you ever want apples

flowering kwanzan cherry tree

flowering kwanzan cherry, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

these trees are ornamental & don't bear cherries.

i think i'm gonna like it here - annie - 1982

grove park inn

grove park inn, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

it's nice how the roof & colors make it look like part of the mountain relatively

precisely

me: what time will your show start?
the high windy band: probably no later than 9 but not before.

redbud booties

redbud booties, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

elf slippers

lookapeer! lookapeer!

when you put your itunes on 'party shuffle' and 'bird calls' from 'three amigos' movie comes on, don't expect your dogs to just lie there.

legalize it!

From NORML.ORG:

NORML's Keith Stroup: Celebrate 4/20-ReLegalize It 4/21!

April 19, 2008

Dear Friend of Freedom,

I’m writing today to urge you to be a part of history. That’s right, I said history.

For the first time in nearly 25 years, NORML is spearheading a campaign in Congress to end the federal prohibition of marijuana. Congress created cannabis prohibition, and the courts say time and again to reformers: ‘Congress is the place to change marijuana laws.’

Bi-Partisan Support in Congress for Reform
To wage this long-overdue effort, NORML has teamed up with two of our closest Congressional allies: Democrat Congressman Barney Frank from Massachusetts and Republican Congressman Ron Paul of Texas. Over the past several months I have worked closely with these courageous Representatives to draft legislation that would strip the federal government of its authority to enforce marijuana possession laws. This legislation is now pending before Congress as House Bill HR 5843, an ‘Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults.’

Yes indeed, for the first time in more than two decades, we have legislation in Congress that, if enacted, would end the federal prosecution of adult marijuana consumers!

The Federal Marijuana Decrim Bill
As introduced, NORML’s proposal would eliminate all federal penalties prohibiting the personal use and possession of up to three ounces of marijuana. Under our measure, adults who consume cannabis would no longer face arrest, prison, or even the threat of a civil fine. In addition, this bill eliminates all penalties prohibiting the not-for-profit transfers of up to one ounce of pot. In other words, for the first time since 1937, the possession, use, and transfer of marijuana by adults would be legal under federal law!

I must admit, in my 40+ years working on marijuana law reform, I’ve rarely been as excited about the introduction of a piece of legislation – or its prospects of success – as I am today. That is why I’m humbly asking you to join me in making this effort the success I know it can be, but only with your help.

Sustained Funding Drives Successful Congressional Educational Campaigns
Waging and maintaining a high-profile Congressional campaign like this one requires sustained funding, and it requires the involvement of tens of thousands of dedicated citizens like you. By donating $50.00 or more today to NORML’s 2008 ‘Re-Legalization’ Campaign, you will enable us to:

Lobby the Democrat Congress for hearings in support of ending the federal government’s war on weed;
Build a broad coalition of diverse and powerful allies to petition Congress to pass HR 5843 ;
Coordinate national media efforts to generate frequent news stories and television appearances favorable to HR 5843.

Of course, generating substantive support for HR 5843, requires more than just your financial assistance; it also requires a small donation of your time.

Celebrate Cannabis On 4/20 — Help Re-Legalize It On 4/21!
For a moment, just imagine the impact of 1,000 phone calls to Congress – all on the same day, all at the same time, all with one single message: stop arresting responsible marijuana consumers! Now imagine the impact of 10,000 phone calls – or even 50,000 calls – jamming the Congressional phone lines! That’s the outpouring of support we need to show to Congress, and it’s the type of support we intend to generate – with your help.

You are receiving this heartfelt appeal from me today, as are hundreds of thousands of other NORML supporters. And on Monday, April 21, we need every one of you to send an unmistakeable and unforgettable message to the 110th Congress.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
LET’S MAKE APRIL 21 A DAY THAT CONGRESS NEVER FORGETS!

NORML needs you to call your Congressional Representative on Monday, April 21, and deliver the following message:

“Millions of hard-working Americans use marijuana. Most consume it responsibly, in the privacy of their own homes, and in a manner similar to alcohol. Why then are we spending millions of dollars each year to arrest these otherwise law-abiding individuals? It’s time to end the madness; it’s time to stop arresting responsible marijuana consumers. I urge you to support House Bill HR 5843, an ‘Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults’.

(You can contact the office of your US Representative directly dialing the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121.)

After you have done so, we also ask that you please e-mail this message to Congress. Simply click here and enter your zip code and NORML will instantly send a pre-written message in your name to your Congressional Representative.

Imagine the ‘buzz’ on Capitol Hill as thousands upon thousands of phone calls and e-mails begin pouring in to the Congressional offices in support of legalizing marijuana. Never before has the marijuana law reform movement made this sort of political statement to Washington; we intend to make it a statement that our elected officials won’t soon forget. As I said at the opening of this letter, we truly will be making history!

Sincerely,

R. Keith Stroup, Esq.
Founder
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
legal@norml.org

it is so easy to call that number (202-224-3121), read that paragraph, and send that email. stop the reefer madness! today!

i just did it myself. you call & tell the lady your zip code. she connects you to your representative. when they answer, say you live in ____ (your town) and would like your representative to support House Bill HR 5843, an ‘Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults.’ they say 'thank you, i will pass that message along.' SIMPLE.

holden a joint says do it!

green the country

from the recent vanity fair green issue article by Robert f. Kennedy, Jr. - "The Next President's First Task: Politics & Power"

The United States has far greater domestic energy resources than Iceland or Sweden does. We sit atop the second-largest geothermal resources in the world. The American Midwest is the Saudi Arabia of wind; indeed, North Dakota, Kansas, and Texas alone produce enough harnessable wind to meet all of the nation’s electricity demand. As for solar, according to a study in Scientific American, photovoltaic and solar-thermal installations across just 19 percent of the most barren desert land in the Southwest could supply nearly all of our nation’s electricity needs without any rooftop installation, even assuming every American owned a plug-in hybrid.

let's do this. free from oil asap.

photo voting

i took 14 photos for the 'day in the life of asheville' photo project that happened Friday and Saturday. dozens of people are submitting photos to a flickr group and local judges will pick a set to be printed and hung at the Pack Library. you can submit 15 photos to be judged & pick one as your favorite that automatically gets hung. i have one i'm leaning towards but if anybody cares to opine anonymously on this poll or anywhere else please do. you can vote unlimited times.

here are the photos - http://flickr.com/photos/skippyhaha/sets/72157604627950112/



i have until april 23 to decide if i should enter, and thank you!

self portrait 2005

self portrait 2005, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

speaking of black widows, here's a fingerpainting from 2005 that i called 'self portrait.' the hourglass is full of marriage license, the marriage was 5 years ago today. at this point i had never seen a real black widow. since then i have seen dozens. i think karma sent them to live with me.

(latrodectus mactans) post from 2006

moving

moving, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

he may pork her

he may pork her , originally uploaded by skippy haha.

finish your breakfast

black widow

black widow, originally uploaded by skippy haha.

another motherfucking black widow in a different fucking window. the house is absolutely infested i am convinced. while moving this week i have killed 3 others. all small like this. but all block weedows, i am positive.

Kali Yuga Seeds

Tea Leaf Green's Kali Yuga from the album Living in Between available on the box set "Seeds" - released April 22nd, 2008 - Earth Day on Surf Dog Records, video by AG



Kali-Yuga

how far will we go on monday
i asked cause our speed had increased
that germ of transcendence is
always within us, at least

i know we’ve got to keep on going
a fast car won’t ever rust
and these hands of invisible organic forces
are pushing and pulling us

it’s a long way
through Kali-yuga
age of iron
cooled in the ocean
and mountains
are for exploring

devils have danced on my doorstep
and angels have sung in my yard
wise men are hiding in the mountains
while most of us are working too hard

speed is our last great invention
we race and we roll to arrive
by mineral, by mountain, by magnet and meteor
it’s hard enough to just get by

it’s a long way
through Kali-yuga
age of iron
cooled in the ocean
and the mountains
are for exploring

dgold.info/green for all tea leaf green lyrics

"that germ of transcendence is always within us, at least"
a lyric doesn't get better