Clutter Bug..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the Cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 30 years.
She is a published author of the best selling novel, "The Scam" Just Google
Bettejo to obtain your copy!
www.bettejodux.com

Clutter Bug

My transgression is not the kind you can repent or atone for. Besides most devout non-believers don’t do guilt. It can’t even be corrected by my favorite solution, get to work and fix it.

It has nothing to do with age. I've been a clutter bug since forever. I’m a helpless, hopeless, clutter bug. I really dislike clutter but clutter likes me. It clings to me like sticky pink bubble gum on the underside of a desk. I think it’s been with me always. It drove my neat and tidy mother nuts. She’d straighten out the mess one day and it’d be back a shambles the next. Fortunately she was a sweet, good natured mother-most of the time-and we’d have long conversations about how to keep things tidy. We’d work together happily-my mother, and me- setting things straight.  Cleaning things up. Admiring the good work. Patting each other on the back. “A place for everything and everything in its place,” she’d say. But nothing worked.

I tried. Honest. I did my best. But it didn't last. My poor mother.

We compromised when I suggested I stuff the stuff under the beds and, once a month we’d diligently restore order. Actually we loved working together. We whistled while we worked.

That worked.

She’d check my room everyday, pleased at its apparent neatness, and as long as she didn’t look under the bed-or detect an odor- she was happy. She gave that up when I started collecting lizards and frogs. First of all they refused to stay put. Once she came in to find a large frog/lizard convention assembled on any flat and handy surface.

She put her foot down- just missing a slither-and no matter how hard I tried to convince her I was studying them, or that more lengthy lectures-I was trying to learn their lingo- would convince them they should stay put, we gathered the critters and found them all good homes where they could eat lots of flies.

Do any of you have a similar personality disturbance? Or weird kids? Young parents take heart.They’ll probably turn out okay. I did. Sort of.

Old’a guys? Got a pile of stuff that refuses to vanish? Toss a pretty scarf on top of the mess and call it artsy. Or place some cleaning tools around it, artfully, like you’re in the process. A little whisk broom, a darling dustpan, an empty box or cutesy wastebasket. Be clever. Fool the eye.

I’ve found a scatter of plastic flowers or leaves works.

If you don’t have or can’t afford to use a dishwasher and the sink begins to over flow, rinse out the top debris and hope nobody checks the bottom.  Have little signs that say: No White Gloves. Or suggest the clean freaky visitor drop by soon and help clear the muddle.

But remember, you gotta get serious once in awhile or else you’ll have to burn the house down. Burning the house down is not healthy

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"College Ain't For Everyone.." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years... Today she talks about  unemployment and how college may not be the
right choice for everyone...   Enjoy! ;D)

College Ain't For Everyone

We now are hearing a new buzzword in our ever-changing economy and world – the underemployed. In the past, we used to talk about the percentage of unemployed, but now we have grown a new crop of people – the underemployed.

With the rising cost of doing business, many companies are cutting staff to economize, doing more with less and sending people to the unemployment line.

Many of my friends are among the underemployed. They are highly trained individuals with degrees in many areas – teachers, paralegals, nurses, medical assistants – who are being forced to take positions that are way under their pay grade and skill set to help make ends meet.

We are turning out many college students who are well-qualified but cannot find jobs in their fields. They are burdened with school loans that are next to impossible to pay back without gainful employment. They will take any position just to bring in some money so they can try to get by.

Society has slowly moved away from encouraging our children to learn a skill. Vocational programs and trade schools, once very popular, are being phased out by school budgets and educators. As a result, we have a shortage of electricians, plumbers and hands-on tradesmen who are still a real necessity in this world.

Maybe it is time to rethink how people can make a good living. Getting a master’s degree is not always the answer. For professionals, it is a must to keep up with the competition, but it’s not always the way to keep the bills paid.

Back in the ’90s, my son was a hands-on learner. His classroom was not between four walls, but learning a trade and a skill. He followed his passion and is now a successful luthier (someone who refurbishes and refinishes musical instruments, such as guitars) on the West Coast. He was a self-starter, learning simply by trial and error, and my husband and I could not be more proud of him.

We should encourage our public schools to once again teach the trades because there are many jobs waiting to be filled.

We also have many displaced veterans returning from war who are in need of employment. Some had to leave their jobs to serve their country. Many had skills and educations in areas all across the board, and have been replaced in their long absence. Others are coming back with disabilities and will need retooling in new trades.

In our ever-changing world, we need to rethink our educational options. Yes, it is great that we are educating future doctors, lawyers and professionals, but we need to consider the trades as well.

Who will fix our plumbing problems, build our homes and pave our roads? There are a lot of service jobs just waiting to be filled with capable, hardworking people who can support a family with these modes of trade. We need to offer these skills to our high school students.

Getting people off the unemployment line should be a priority in this country. We need to start regrowing our population and rethinking the potential job market that is in need of qualified people to fill those jobs. Let’s offer our students every possibility to succeed. A conventional college education is not always the answer.

This blog recently appeared in the Buffalo News;
http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?avis=BN&date=20130827&category=OPINION&lopenr=130829251&Ref=AR&profile=1074

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"Reinventing Photography..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

James "Kimo" Rosen is currently retired and living life on the  Cosmic Garden
Island of Kaua'i. The photo above was taken in 1979 in the foothills of Santa Barbara
with Kamala the Old English  Sheepdog and a young Mr. Rosen.
Today's blog is all about the reinvention of photography... Enjoy!

Reinventing Photography

Technology continues to astonish me.

 I have not owned a cell phone in over ten years but as a retired professional photographer with a Bachelor of  Fine Arts Degree in Professional Photography I just may have to splurge with Nokia's newest state of the art camera phone that does it all, including the kitchen sink!

Nokia now makes a cell phone that has a built in camera better than any point and shoot on the market and comparable and beyond many professional SLR camera's.

The new phone boasts a 41 megapixel camera,41 megapixels is the highest megapixel I have heard of in any camera, and now your phone will be  capable of producing  quality photos that were only possible with high end  professional photo equipment.

Photography is definitely  being reinvented when your phone is now capable of taking better quality photos than your camera.

The irony is surveillance cameras are still of low quality and many times even in court fail to identify the  accuser beyond a reasonable doubt. The question remains with technology at a all time high when will surveillance camera's come into the world of modern technology?

Read all about Nokia's new 41 megapixel camera smart phone, this  phone does everything including the kitchen sink!

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/baig/2013/07/11/nokia-lumia-1020-windows-phone/2508711/

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"CROWING ROOSTERS..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Pronounced Dukes)

Bettejo Dux has lived on Kaua'i over 30 years and is an
accomplished Novelist.
www.bettejodux.com

CROWING ROOSTERS

On Kaua'i wild chickens even hang out the Library!

….Barking dogs and other natural noise makers unite, you keep us in touch with nature. On Kauai we live so close to mother earth it should be our major tourist attraction.

Everywhere you go you see them: mother hens with a surplus of baby chicks waiting for a green light. They wait at cross walks for someone to follow across an intersection. They stand in groups on green grassy islands in the stream watching the cars go by and wonder where everyone is going. So fast. Such a large flock of real noisemakers.

I wonder about people who prefer the grinding gurgles and growls that metal, non- living critters with four wheels instead of two legs and hard shiny stiff stuff instead of fluffy, colorful feathers.  Kauai’s wild chickens are some of the most beautiful birds on the planet. Their plumage- white and black and brown and yellow and red-is an artist’s dream. What I love most about Hanapepe-other than Talk Story Book Store and the magnificent Storybook Theater of Hawaii and the Friday night people parties- are the roosters who seem to own the place. They strut around like celebrities showing off their stuff.

Hanapepe is still old Hawaii. A quiet two lane street surrounded by gift shops, restaurants, art galleries and living things of all dimension. Some times you even see healthy happy canines meandering. I think they have a radar sense alert for the rare four-wheeled, shiny stiff stuff wagon- with driver- who would round them up and send them to jail, but I’ll bet there are few who live in Hanapepe who would call the authorities.

Thankfully, also, the  ‘jail’ they’re rarely sent to is a gorgeous place full of gorgeous people. That’s Kauai, too.

In my neck of the woods we have several feral pigs families- mamas, papas and babies-who sniffle around at night. They know this territory like no one else on earth and they are fearless. Harmless. Jovial. They cross the street when they have to, but mostly they live and love the jungle about which I’m surrounded. I see their tracks. Once a baby piglet-in broad daylight- walked right in the house and ‘snuffled’ hello. I think he was looking for a handout. Great smells were coming from a friendly Kamado Kub grill. His mother called and he took leave, but we half expect him back.

Down here we have goats that bleat and sometimes run away from home. With half the neighborhood in full pursuit. Bulls bellow, cows moo, calves answer softly. Bees hum and buzz and doves coo. A raucous macaw indulges in screamers and my grown up puppy barks. We live in belle air Kauai. No toxic sprays for us.

So, someday, if you want an earful, drop in for a visit. Wear boots, bring your own pitchfork, make sure you’ve had all your puppy shots and enjoy. Enjoy.

Until then don’t stop to smell the flowers, be still and know that thou art part of nature, too.

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

Elderts , Deedy and Aloha..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

May God Bless The family and friends of Kollin Elderts,
 Chris Deedy and the Deedy family.

Elderts , Deedy and Aloha

The Verdict is finally in after  6 days for  the controversial trial of Special Agent Christopher Deedy.

A mistrial was granted because of a hung jury in the  fatal shooting of Kollin Elderts.  A mistrial means the case will be retried.

 It's a lose-lose situation because all the "if" and "could haves" won't bring back the life that was taken.

What ever side people were on, passion was strong and many words spoken that probably should not had been spoken. Nobody wins, everyone loses...

Our condolences to all friends and family of Mr. Elderts.  Our prayers go out to  Chris Deedy and  the family and friends of both parties in this sad case.

Let's  move on towards bringing "Aloha" back to Hawai'i. Aloha needs to begin with you (me) I'm in, how about you?

P.S.
Interesting story, showing how split this jury was, exclusive, juror speaks on KHON!
http://www.khon2.com/2013/08/26/deedy-juror-speaks-exclusively-to-khon2-news/

Jury Foreman speaks on KITV;
http://www.kitv.com/news/agent-on-trial/uncut-mcdonalds-surveillance-video-of-shooting/-/20982886/21118728/-/6dybl5/-/index.html

Can Deedy get another impartial jury? Hawai'i News Now explains;
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/23273270/can-deedy-get-another-impartial-jury-many-dont-know-who-he-is

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"2+4+9+1=16,A Formula for Disaster..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Councilman Gary Hooser the co-author of controversial bill 2491
is causing chaos on the Cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i. My question? Is the flower Lei
Hooser is wearing a GMO or Non GMO Plumeria? Inquiring minds would like to know?

2+4+9+1=16,A Formula for Disaster

Why is Councilman Gary Hooser's controversial bill "2491"  tearing a community apart? The bill in short puts huge limitations on seed companies operating on Kaua'i. The companies believe if the bill is approved and enacted they may be forced to leave thus causing huge unemployment numbers on an island still suffering from the last recession.

I did some google research into numerology and here is what I  came up with;


 If you add 2+4+9+1 (2491) it equals "16." The number "16" according to  a website titled," The meaning of numbers"http://www.timstouse.com/Numerology/whatnumbersmean.htm sugguests,"Mysteries are revealed, and emotions are stirred at the deepest level. Intense lessons such as betrayal, abandonment, and loss of property are not unusual."

And...According to Creusot, it symbolizes the construction and the destruction.

According to Guy Tarade, 16 (2491) is the number of Lucifer.
https://www.google.com/search?q=what%20does%20the%20number%2016%20%20represent

When the numbers of Bill 2491 are all added together you get 16.   16 is numerical value  of Lucifer. 

Need I say more, vote no on Lucifer, and 2491!

This is from Facebook Page, "Pro GMo Hawaii;"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pro-GMO-Hawaii/615389521823058?fref=ts

This blog also appeared as an  opinion article in the  (08-28-13) edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island News,"2491 adds up to Lucifer’s number."
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-august/article_5e1e6680-0fa8-11e3-908e-001a4bcf887a.html

P.S. an interesting article in the Hawai'i free press links  Hooser's old campaign site to Holocaust deniers;
http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/ID/342/Sen-Gary-Hooser-campaign-website-linked-to-Holocaust-deniers.aspx

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"EIGHTY-THREE YEARS YOUNG..." " Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday on Monday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic garden island
of Kaua'i over 30 years. She is an animal lover, people lover and lover of life.
Bettejo's blogs are so popular we're publishing  them on Monday's and Wednesday's!

Today Bettejo blogs about being young and healthy at 83....Enjoy!

You can order a copy of her Novella "The Scam "below.www.bettejodux.com

EIGHTY-THREE YEARS YOUNG

EIGHTY-THREE YEARS YOUNG…and growing. Hope all of you who are here, are suffering from glowing good health. Hope all of you making the journey, get here in style.

How did I get here? I can’t blame it on Colette, my Vitamix, since I only just discovered her. Or Macha, my shillelagh. 
(A shillelagh is an Irish walking stick,the bartender in the Irish pub keeps a shillelagh behind the bar just in case there's trouble.)

Named my Vitamix after Colette, a sassy French writer and WW2 heroine. I identify with her. “You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm,” says it all. Don’t you just love it?

Called my shillelagh Macha after a Goddess of ancient Ireland. Associated with war, horses and sovereignty, which about covers it, but if you have a computer look her up. There exists a gorgeous painting of her and her horse. He looks like Ari. She had long red hair -bet you didn’t know I was a red head once-and her hair, her sash and her horse’s tail, all the same color, fly in the wind. Loved my red headed year, give or take an eon or two, and would give an eyetooth for the gorgeous long skirt she wore in the painting.

She had tattoos on her right arm and wasn’t wearing a shirt. I’ll skip that part.

Guess I could ‘blame’ Ari, Boots, Duke and the cats for getting me here. They are all the dogs and horses and macaws and cats the world has ever known rolled up in one.  There is no sadness or there loss, there is life and happiness in their eyes. This works for loved ones we’ve lost, too. Every human being is them rolled up in one. If a few unfortunate memories are active, they can be deleted from the your screen.

“If you want to have the kind of relationship that your heart yearns for, you have to create it. You can’t depend on somebody else creating it for you.” --Gary Zukov

Love that.

I also think the art of creativity is a need in every human heart. The most unhappy people I’ve known have no creative skills. The happiest are the most creative.

Imagination plays an important role, too. As a devout non-believer I love to play with fantasy. I love to write fantasy. I can get lost in fantasy. It’s a gift, I think. “Imagination is the highest kit one can fly,” Lauren Bacall said. She was born September 16, 1924. Her death was an Internet hoax. As of this date, August15, 2013, she is 89. Six years older than I am.

A fun fantasy is that we could meet. If she comes to Kauai I’ll take her out to lunch and gift her with an autographed copy of The Scam.

Sitting in my outdoor computer room, Boots at my feet, books on my shelves and mottled sunlight on the Walking Iris, listening to a playful wind singing in the trees, sipping Chardonnay--ooops, only William Faulkner drank when he wrote.

A perfect day, wish you were here.

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