Seeking

A word or two for new-found friends, fellow seekers of life in all its forms

Blessed and happy, yet never content for long to be bound by our workaday roles, we cross borders, boundaries, three states, two countries, a continent to come together in search of something we know is not home.

An eagle or twenty, king fisher, gulls, gulls & gulls.
And don’t forget the heron, goofy as he stands, graceful as he flies.

We are seeking something. Show us more life.

Is it in the ripple of the bow as it cuts through a morning bay, still and calm as glass? Is it in the drops of paddle spray that hits our faces as we bounce and strain against the afternoon’s turn of wind?

We are seeking something. Show us more life.

Certainly it is in the powerful, yet gentle burst of porpoise breath. First behind us, now in front. Be still. They are there, and there, and there.

We are seeking something. Show us more life.

Below the hull, it is in the forests of kelp, the meadows of rock weed, rock gardens of barnacles, starfish & urchins.

The one thing we say we are here to seek is the mystical, graceful curve of the orca. Are they near us today? Can we go after them? We can catch ‘em, I know we can.

Finally we see them, far and farther off; even so, they are there.

So now we’ve seen them, and still we seek. Show us more life.

And holding us together are the selfless ones; the ones who’ve given up the touch-base home to be the seekers who show the way.

Would we even truly seek in this way if not for cook, guide, dishwasher, weather-watcher, safety officer, storyteller, naturalist and cheerleader to shoulder the burden of things we would prefer to take for granted?

They seek and find the orcas. Surely they also find something in the ever-changing faces of those in their care.

And so together by choice, chance and fate, we seek life.

In a magical week of water, wind, clouds, sun and rain, we have found it many places we expected; in the flora and fauna of sky & sea.

But unexpected, we have found it also, and perhaps most profound, in the and spirit of the new found friends, those who seek beside us.

Bound

Bind me, tie me, anchor me with your love.

Give me the latitude and impetus to explore the corners of the wild universe, but never let me forget that you expect me home by dinner, encircled by your arms at midnight.

The more steadfast you possess me, the farther I am inspired to reach away.

Some say "Hold on loosely." To that I say "No."

Hold me tight, bind me in your devotion, possess me in your heart, and then delight as you see me sprint away from you, like a newly-balanced toddler, running, running, wobbling, daring, ever looking back to see how far you will let me go.

Always farther than I want. Each time farther. And the farther I go, the longer I stay away, the faster I come running back to have you bind me again.

Unguarded heart

Fire the Centuries. No retirement, no unemployment insurance, no job retraining. If they have not saved up for this day, let them eat cake.

Yes, they have served their mistress well. Guarding the gates, fighting back those whose sought to peek in, rebuffing those who dared think they might enter.

They did these things well. Exactly as instructed, and she is not grateful. There is no justice.

Find a new fortress. This one is now laid bare, open to all marauders.

Two in one day

Yes, amazing I know. Especially since I am the only one who ever even looks at this. But then, who could blame you for not looking...there has been nothing here.

That's all about to change my friends (promises, promises). In any event, here is something that seems to be getting a favorable response. I hope you enjoy.

A love no less


Find a love who will lift you up

Find a love whose heart’s desire is to see you soar to heights and happiness beyond your imagining

Find a love who will meet your shortcomings with humor, tenderness and compassion

Find a love who longs for not what you can give, but for who you are

Find a love who is steadfast for you even as you are fickle

Find a love who is not afraid to grow and be led by the worlds you open

Find a love with an adventurer’s heart, a warrior’s soul and the spirit and wonder of a wise child

For you my love, find a love no less than this

Copyright © 2006 Leisa L. Ashbaugh

A 13-month hiatus

I was not sure if a 13-month hiatus even qualifies as a hiatus, so it looked it up.

Main Entry: hi·a·tus
Pronunciation: hI-'A-t&s
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin, from hiare to yawn -- more at YAWN
1 a : a break in or as if in a material object : GAP b : a gap or passage in an anatomical part or organ
2 a : an interruption in time or continuity : BREAK b : the occurrence of two vowel sounds without pause or intervening consonantal sound

Well, 13 months is a hell of a gap, so I guess I'm ok using that word.

Now for my excuses, or should I my life? A brief history of Leisa's Life in 13 one sentence installments:

1. February 2005 - Inspired by the new year, I had created goals, dreams, aspirations that THIS, 2005 would be the year to, fall in love, buy a new mountain bike, buy a house, change jobs to work for Mission Control full time, go on a tropical vacation, write & blog & write & blog until I was rich, famous & published -- and that was just for starters.

2. March 2005 - While testing a new mountain bike (the one of my above-mentioned dreams), a slow tip-over, foot caught in the pedal spill rendered my leg quite fully & spiraly broken in two. Ouch!

3. April 2005 - Recovering from surgery and a major interuption in my life's plan, as in butt firmly planted on couch or in wheelchair for a good 8 weeks before I was allowed to hobble with a cast, fearing I would go quite insane - saved by visits & support from loving and generous friends (and of course mom & dad).

4. May 2005 - Finally the OK to walk (hobble really) in a cast and in true over-the-top Leisa form, I embarked on a 12-day cross country trip that included at least 10 different trips to the airport, SEA to CHI& back to lead Mission Control on one foot, Seattle to SFO with the dog, Gael, rent car & drive to Santa Rosa, Saturday turn in Gael to CCI, then SFO to LAX to deliver Mission Control to my first corporate sale, and then back to SEA. All this, one footed, with luggage, dog & powerpoint projector in tow.

5. June 2005 - a blur, but I do recall finalizing plans for a cruise to the ABC islands with 3 of my fave gal pals in August. Something to look forward to. Oh yes, and to LAX & back to start WDLP.

6. July 2005 - Hot, hating summer without being able to walk, run, or play much. Looking forward to Cruise.

7. August 2005 - Quit Entirenet and begin at Mission Control as FTE. Cruise, much fun, HOT. Great time with the gals.

8. September 2005 - A blur, ramping up at Mission Control.

9. October 2005 - Blurier. Ramping up, not so uppity. Dean says he is leaving Mission Control, that scoundrel. He didn't even have the decency to ask my permission. On my own again, naturally.

10. November 2005 - Now it gets downright foggy. Just remember not achieving the sales goals I had set for myself and how NOT much fun that was.

11. December 2005 - Uh huh, and hoping that hitting the holiday "reset" button (typified by a semi-comatose, yet to all appearences conscious and sentient state) would make all the difference.

12. January 2006 - oops - it didn't. A new year and in my frame of mind at the time, looking back at the year that started out grand and ended up not at all how I had planned (and not in a good way.)

13. February 2006 - It is clear some changes will be made. I get fierce about not accepting the status quo.

14. March 2006 - MC & me are on the same page, time for a change. Update resume and 13 days later, a GREAT new job!!! At Microsoft, with people!

Holy smoke and now it May. Too much to tell in this post. I promise more.

Someone else's pith

Well I haven't been too forthcoming with many pithy posts for you (although I have several in draft), so I thought the least I could do was to share some pith & insight from the very classy Peggy Noonan regarding the blogzilla vs. main stream media (aka in blog cirlces as MSM).

Read. Learn. Enjoy.

UPDATE

My favorite sentence (emphasis added):

"I have seen friends savaged by blogs and winced for them--but, well, too bad. I've been attacked. Too bad. If you can't take it, you shouldn't be thinking aloud for a living."

Indeed. Words to blog by.

Who said it

I promise, this is not a political blog, but some things I just can't resist. Dems are slamming President Bush for considering offering as an individual option privatizing a portion of Social Security for younger workers.

But, who said this?

"Well one thing you could do is to give people one or two percent of the payroll tax, with the same options that Federal employees have with their retirement accounts; where you have three mutual funds that almost always perform as well or better than the market and a fourth option to buy government bonds, so you get the guaranteed social security return and a hundred percent safety just like you have with Social Security."

For once I agree with.....drumroll.....Bill Clinton. Hat tip Q & O