June 10, 2019

  • When the Bull Throws Us to the Ground

    there are always strings attached
    when two people are mismatched
    straight out of the gate
    the bull is bucking hard
    teeth are loosened and jarred
    trampled sod is our fate
    when that bull throws us to the ground

    we got to cut those strings
    we got to cut those ties
    the happiness it brings
    cuts the grey out of blue skies

    love blooms when it's ready
    helps the heart beat steady
    the world spins around
    that's the way it should be
    breathing deep, breathing free
    as we land face down
    when that bull throws us to the ground

    we got to cut those strings
    we got to cut those ties
    oh the joy that it brings
    cuts the grey out of blue skies

    we're gonna get hurt
    we're gonna lose our shirt
    we're gonna get busted up
    zoom in for our close-up
    we're gonna get smeared
    and then we're gonna get jeered
    we're gonna grin and bear it
    that's just what love does
    it's just what we do
    in a less than perfect world

    we'll keep cutting those strings
    we'll keep cutting those ties
    how long till others realize
    all the joy that it brings
    in cutting the grey out of our skies

February 18, 2019

  • Dead Man Walking

    (c) 2019 James Heald
    --chant royal--

    I am a dead man walking
    streets littered with broken dreams
    no amount of sweet talking
    will silence the frightened screams
    of people lost without hope
    ready to swing by the rope
    as I stand here in the rain
    I hear the voice of their pain
    behind them are better days
    days that will come back again
    once their hearts are set ablaze

    God is a consuming fire
    who sent His Son after me
    consequences were dire
    for telling Him let me be
    He told me take up my cross
    then count life as total loss
    you know I killed Him for it
    but His love was infinite
    I chose to accept His grace
    with His light my path is lit
    with His strength I run the race

    with Christ I am crucified
    I am dead, buried, and gone
    for He crossed the great divide
    and became my Liaison
    with my Father in heaven
    the Creator of all men
    He loves with a mighty love
    as He reigns from up above
    and I, this dead man walking,
    live in the light of His love
    my actions do the talking

    keep the commandments of God
    hold to the faith of Jesus
    His word is the shepherd's rod
    on Him should be my focus
    I bear His great commission
    here I complete my mission
    where He leads I will follow
    even into the shadow
    of the valley of my death
    where I will meet my Hero
    and then breathe my final breath

    I am a dead man walking
    called from darkness into light
    I am a dead man stalking
    corridors of endless night
    in valleys of decision
    deception and delusion
    I share my testimony
    and find this serenity
    in the darkest of places
    knowing that the blind will see
    joy will light up their faces

December 10, 2018

  • 2018 Review in Pictures part two - self-portraits

    January - Central Park - Ashland, Kentucky

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    February - Central Park - Ashland, Kentucky

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    March - Central Park - Ashland, Kentucky

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    April - Front Street by the Ohio River - Cattletsburg, Kentucky

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    May - Central Park - Ashland, Kentucky

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    June - confluence of the Tug Fork and Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River - Louisa, Kentucky

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    October - Smoky Bridge overlook - Carter Caves State Resort Park

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    Oldest House in Ashland - Central Park - Ashland, Kentucky

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    November - Deck of the Nina, a replica of the caravel of the same name that sailed under the command of Christopher Columbus in 1492 - Port of Ashland boat ramp - Ashland, Kentucky

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    Central Park during the first week of the Winter Wonderland of Lights - Ashland, Kentucky

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December 9, 2018

  • 2018 Review in Pictures part one

    January - I was experimenting with the settings on my camera. I like the vignette for this image using the Toy Camera setting. The bridge is in Central Park, Ashland, Kentucky.

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    March - my laptop keyboard gets used every day and needs a cleaning.

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    April - a tug on the Ohio River is pushing its cargo toward the North Ceredo railroad bridge, connecting the railway between West Virginia and Ohio.

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    May - I found this between the bridges connecting US 23  in Ashland with Rt. 52 in southern Ohio.

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    June - this tree overhangs the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River at the confluence with the Tug Fork. The Tug Fork forms the border between Kentucky and West Virginia. This was taken on the Kentucky side of the river. A bridge connects Lousia, KY, with Ft. Gay, W. Va.

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    July - the careflight team out of Huntington, W. Va. managed to fly into Ashland for a first responder summer camp held by the Kentucky Highlands Museum and Discovery Center. This was the first time the helicopter was able to visit, as the first two years of the camp bad weather kept it grounded.

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    September - This building used to be a community college before becoming a teachers' college, located at 15th Street and Carter Ave. in Ashland, KY. Later it was home to the Ashland Independent School District main office. It's a shame that it has fallen into disuse and has been vandalized. It's pretty much a given that one day this structure will be torn down.

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    October - The "Memphis Belle" is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. I got to see her on a trip with my sister, who was singing the National Anthem at a dedication ceremony honoring Gold Star Families in the memorial park at Wright-Patterson AFB. Later she and I toured the museum, the first time in over 30 years.

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    November - Yardarms, rigging and canvas on a replica caravel based on one of the ships sailed by Christopher Columbus on his legendary journey in 1492.

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April 27, 2017

  • one haiku and three tanka

    These were written this past March as the cherry blossoms were coming out. It's April and National Poetry Month, and Poem-in-Your-Pocket day at the local library.

    I've written maybe six poems so far this month, and have three days to make up for it. Gonna be a fun weekend.

    a cherry blossom
    flying on the wind to the sky
    I see in your eye

    ---

    once I walked a path
    lined with bright pink cherry trees
    blossom on the wind
    caught on my outstretched fingers
    t'was easier to catch than love

    ---

    mist on the river
    moonlight in the cherry trees
    a gentle east wind
    I walk through dew-covered grass
    wishing we could share this night

    ---

    heavy with their blooms
    tree branches wave in the breeze
    to their long lost friends
    seeking the warmth of springtime
    and longing to kiss the sun

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January 24, 2017

  • INT/FJ and Poor Sleeping Habits

    Over the last several months on Facebook, I've been part of several groups focused on discussing personality theory based on the works of Dr. Carl Jung. The groups are made up of members who identify themselves as INFJ or INTJ. This is based on the results of the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, which breaks personality down into sixteen different types. When I took the test, there was one question that I felt I could answer two ways. I gave one answer first, then went back and changed that answer. The result looks like this:

    Introverted - iNtuitive - Thinking / Feeling - Judging

    From all the reading I have done on the subject, I do have a lot of traits belonging to both personality types. The result is that I do a lot of overthinking and overfeeling. The end result is seen in my shopping habits. I will look at a product, think about it, think about it some more, and ultimately will make the purchase based on emotion rather than intellect. It is not like this when I am shopping for groceries. I already know what I want from that standpoint, and when I am sure I have money for it, I will try something new. But jeans, magazines, books, among other things I think about a lot. I either need it and it is critical, and the purchase is made, or it is something I do not need, and have extra cash and can make the purchase, or I'm not sure what I want and will look around for a while before deciding whether or not I will buy it now or later.

    There are times when it feels like I have four tornadoes in my head blowing around. They are about -10 degrees off true, and things just cycle through at speeds between F3 and F5 when compared to actual tornadoes. It isn't always pleasant, and has caused me a lot of sleep. It is even worse if there is a girl on my mind that I am interested in. When that happens, I have to work hard to make sure it isn't some obsession setting in. Been single too long, and with my record in relationships, I can't handle it very well in my mind or in my heart. I figure I got one last burst of energy for the search, and when it is gone, Game Over.

    I've read the struggles of other people like me, and some of it is heartwrenching. Some hate feeling too deeply. Some hate thinking too deeply. They can't turn off their thoughts or their feelings, and they don't particularly care about the things that come to mind, especially when trying to get to sleep. Past mistakes, things they should have said or done, and other weird stuff that shouldn't matter now overload them. Happens to me, as well. I've been dealing with broken sleep habits for over three months. Most of the time I go to bed, sleep a couple of hours, then I'm up for four hours before going back to sleep. I've had to stop cardio therapy because of this. No real sleep at night, and that would only affect my performance in rehab.

    I am hoping to go back to rehab next month. I want normal sleep habits restored, and it is going to take time and discipline to get it right. I need the cardio, and I need more of it. The weight has to come off, and to make it happen, the overthinking and overfeeling have to be dialed down for a while. Wish me luck.

January 10, 2017

  • So the first week of the new year is out of the way. Last night I was walking down Central Ave, along the north side of the park. The Christmas lights for the Winter Wonderland of Lights were off. It marks the time for us to return to the regular, cold-hearted people that we really are the rest of the year. I know it sounds cynical, but it is what I thought last night standing there at the corner, waiting for the light to change.

    I picked up some videos from the library, then stopped by a convenience store for some Cherry 7-Up. Before I got home, there were two girls, I think they might have been mother and daughter, who asked if I could give them some spare change for something to eat. I dug out two dollars for them. They said that they were going to spend today looking for jobs. They had been to all the restaurants on the west end of town, and I suggested they go to the unemployment office, and then hit the restaurants on the east end. Taco Bell, KFC, Subway (I know the younger girl could get a job there), Tudor's Biscuit World, Long John Silver's, McDonald's, Tim Horton's make up that part of Restaurant Row. I think they stand a better chance of getting a job along that stretch of town. Or maybe they can get hired on for cleaning. This town is not a healthy place to be where jobs are concerned.

    Growing up, this town had three bookstores in the area. Ashland News Stand and Game Room, The Book Rack, and Little Professor are all gone. Not sure about the Paperback Exchange. As for magazines, Kroger and Wal-Mart have a poor selection of reading material. Lots of magazines on food, handcrafts, guns, health, but nothing for me. I have to go to Huntington, WV, for reading material.

    For future posts I'm going to shoot for a 500 word count. Might do them every ten days or so, except on Saturdays. Other miscellaneous posts will be made here and there based on what I like as far as poetry or photography.

    Let's see what happens next.

    A brief post script about this past weekend.

    I wrote and delivered my first sermon to my home church this past Sabbath. It was the calmest I have been in a long time. I have four more sermons to prepare for this year, and it is possible I will add one or two more to the church schedule. The sermon will be posted in a day or two on this site.

December 14, 2016

  • Turn out the Light

    just let it fall
    just let it fall
    just let it fall
    just let it fall tonight
    you know it will be alright

    you know it is going to rain
    you know it is going to snow
    you know it it going to hurt
    you know it is going to fade away
    be patient waiting for the day
    you know it will be alright
    turn out the light

    just let it go
    just let it go
    just let it go
    just let it go tonight
    you know it will be alright

    soon enough we take the stand
    soon enough we make our stand
    soon enough we make our play
    be patient waiting for the day
    you know it will be alright
    turn out the light

    just let it roll
    just let it roll
    just let it roll
    just let it roll tonight
    I know we will be alright

    soon enough this night will pass
    soon enough the die is cast
    we will see a brand new day
    be careful in what you say
    we know it will be alright
    turn out the light

     

  • Consistency

    Once again I'm going to try to be more consistent in blogging. Going to try to have something new every week starting in January.

    Other than that, I don't have much going on. I'm still writing for www.ashlandbeacon.com. I'm still playing in Adobe PhotoShop. I'm trying to write short stories now, and have one in the works.

    And I am still under doctor's orders not to develop pneumonia, while at the same time lose some weight.

    More later.

  • In the Distance

    in the wilderness is a table set by Your hand
    where we may taste and see the glory of the Lord
    we are but a tired and weary bunch, a lost band
    seeking to find a place where we can room and board
    from a distance we could see Your banner raised high
    it was Your love for us that we could not deny

    You shared with me a place to put my burdens down
    You took me by the hand and pulled me from the brink
    You gave to me a loaf of bread to pass around
    You gave to me a cup from which I was to drink
    from a distance I could see Your banner raised high
    it was Your only begotten Son we crucified

    You bid me come, for together we must reason
    You share with me Your hopes, dreams and desires
    then ask me to work til the end of the season
    with hungerings and thirstings for Your holy fire
    in the distance You show me Your banner raised high
    You bid me come and follow, and learn how to die

    in the glory of Your life I learn how to give
    as I strive to enter into Your perfect rest
    in the glory of Your death I learn how to live
    as I strive to be ready for the final test
    in the distance angelic voices are raised high
    in praise as the gathering of the saints draws nigh