Come What May (country song, Colvin and Earle)

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is Monday, March 3, 2025 in my corner of blog land. Much change affot for many folks here in the good old U.S.A.

Hence the choice of title for this post, a song titled, Come What May.

The annual observance of the Catholic tradition of Lent begins this coming Wednesday. It is a period of introspection, self-exam, prayer, fasting, and doing good to others. For those who relish this tradition, I would commend to your reading or listening a book titled, The School Of Jesus Crucified, by the late Father Ignatius. It is a book centered on the passion of Christ and written as if it were Christ giving the discourse.

In Judaism, the Festival of Purim recently occurred. This commemorates the Biblical story of Esther being used by HaShem (God) to put down the efforts of the evil man Haman to have the Jews wiped out.

In both cases, God is the centre of the observation.

On a third note, "Biblical Archaeology Review" celebrates its 50th anniversary this Spring. They have put out an issue focused on the last 50 years in Archaeology, discoveries, and changes within the discipline itself. Google "Biblical Archaeology Review" for more info.

Reading month is underway! I am currently in my second read for the month, the autobio of former Vice-President, Michael Pence. He is its author and audio narrator. My first read was by author Dr. Doug James, The Life and Times of Walter Cronkite. My third read will be a work of fiction.

I commend all the above to you for your potential further exploration. Meantime, thanks for dropping by, inviting someone else to do the same, and may HaShem bless and keep us until we meet up again!

Mellow Rock,

David C. Russell, Author

 

Looking Back Briefly (topic by Author)

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is February 26, Wednesday, in my corner of blog land.

The frigid, frosty weather has broken and in my corner of blog land we are enjoying above-freezing temperatures though under ten degrees Celsius during the day. It instills hope for the emergence of Spring.

I turned another year older, and still get a tad anxious when change is in progress!

This post, I think about the business landscape in my corner of blog land and North America.

I want to pay tribute to some murchandisers that are now becoming has-beens.

I was in my twenties when department stores Robert Hall and MontGomery Ward closed shop. Sears, happened a few years later as did K-Mart.

Now the flourish of closures seems to be a fad of sorts:

BowFlex, Big Lots, JoAnn Fabrics, several Rite Aid stores, Big Lots, Red Lobster, Spirit Airlines, and perhaps more to come including the cut-back on Fed Government employees.

I loved the prices of products at Big Lots, the biscuits served with meals at Red Lobster, my wife bought her yarn at JoAnn Fabrics, Rite Aid was not only a pharmacy but a good stop for needed incidentals.

BowFlex made a portable treadmill of sorts that one could conveniently store under a piece of furniture.

K-Mart had come up with a snappy jingle in the '70s.

What is a memory you have from a business that is either about to close, or has closed?

The reason according to economists for the current diminution is interest rates. Also that old bugger, slow sales and patronage.

Something like a down-turn seems to be on the horizon doesn't it?

The challenge is in whatever circumstance one finds they are in, be content. Or adopt the slogan, This too shall pass.

Until our next visit, thanks for stopping by. Invite a friend to read posts past and present here at Grafted In.

HaShem bless and keep us,

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell, Author

 

Light For My Path: From Whence (topic)

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is Thursday February 20, 2025 in my corner of blog land.

Frigid temps and recent snowfall have about convinced me that 'climate change' occurs as intended every year, when scheduled by the King Of The Universe! End of topic.

Moving on, I want to share a recently written poem with you. It's based on a writing exercise titled, The World Is A Poem.

I reference recent news items and try to do so poetically.

Tell me what you think in a comment, OK?

Rock Hall Of Fame

David Russell

April is filled with ups and downs

New MLB season, NCAA crowns

Its men’s winning basketball team

After taxes filed and people scream.

April showers with burst of Spring

Add to the luster April brings.

Game on, too for the rock hall of fame,

1200 decide inductees named.

Billy, Joe, Cyndi, Mariah

Are but four names out to try-ya,

Time after time one may muse,

Catch me when I fall if you choose

Dream lover take me away says a third,

You’re so beautiful to me - Joe can be absurd.

Chubby asks how low can you go? Let’s do the twist;

Outcast rebounds with hip-hop few know;.

April to be sure will come and go

Can you name the 2024 inductees?

Do you rereally, really know?

Who won SB59 this year?

Or the local fishing tournaments or even picture of the year?

Will Canada become the fifty-first state?

How bout Panama Canal, or even Kuwait?

Miss America, Universe, anyone know?

Probably not, that tradition’s so old.

 

 End

I am currently in the middle of creating a lengthy story titled, Order Please. My main character, named Van, recalls his younger years of life lived from the standpoint of being on the Autism Spectrum. It is "creative nonfiction" inspired by my son and daughter-in-law's family unit. Thanks to son and daughter-in-law for being examples of ongoing dedication to parenting.

On the other end, I am reading "Still Alice" by author and Neruo-scientist, Lisa Genova. Her main character has developing onset of Alzheimer's disease at age fifty. It is informative, entertaining, inspirational and thought provoking all in one. I recommend!

In less than two weeks, National Reading Month will be here and celebrated across North America. Will you join me in reading things that interest you during this time?

Let's do this together!

The title of this post, Light For My Path, is inspired by an online devotion published by 

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

A Bible verse and hymn text make up the collection of readings. One can also opt to hear an audio recording of a given reading.

Light for my path, also describes the role of God (HaShem) in one's life.

Light can be inner clarity, a thought or idea, something heard, something seen, something touched, something tasted. Add another example if you'd like.

Until next visit, may the light for your path instill tranquility and onward progress to you and your journey.

Thanks for stopping by.

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell, Author

  

YouTube • Kdin - Topic If I was a Houseplant

Hello Grafted In Readers,

Today is February 12, 2025 in my corner of blog land.

We are getting snowfall here, and four to six inches are predicted. Here is in lower Michigan, so nothing extraordinary being Winter.

A few weeks ago, My wife and granddaughter gave me a house-plant, a philodendron. I had a plant like this during my college years, so have two companions during the day when all are gone from home.

My plant and our King Charles Spaniel. 

I did a little Google session to learn some care tips:

- Soil?  That's up to the plant owner.

Water:  Once a week generally.

Coffeegrounds and egg shells?  Use sparingly.

If you wish to add any tips, do comment.

I found a song titled, If I Were A House Plant, (post title). You can hear this ditty on YouTube. It's genre is mellow rock for sure.

Until next visit, take care, Happy season of life, and we'll talk reading and writing before March, which is National Reading Month.

I have four books to read during March. That's next post.

May Adonai bless and keep you and all you hold significant.

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell

 

I Saw The Sign ('90's pop song)

Hello Grafted In Readers,

Today is Monday February 3, 2025, in my corner of blog land. Winter has been here with its most recent gift, four inches of snow. Meltdown occurring today as temperatures will be slightly above freezing and sunny, yay!

I guess we are to have six more weeks of winter as the legendary groundhog (woodchuck) reportedly did not see his shadow on Feb. 2nd. Hmmm.

For reading, are you thinking about indulging in Reading Month, which is annually held in March?

Currently, I am reading a historical fiction novel by one Susan Barker. It's title, The Incarnations, is set in China, Beijing to be precise. It can be rather gruesome on occasion, but skip those parts if so inclined. The main characters are a married couple and their eight-year-old daughter named, Echo.

Next, I will be dalving into a couple titles by Lisa Genova, medical fiction titles around neruologic issues.

Health Note

We used to have a family friend, Joe R, who would refer to myself and my brother as "the boys with the two first names."

Here is a little quip about a disease that could be described similarly:

Biliary Cholangitis: (From KidsHealth online

According to KidsHealth, "biliary cholangitis" refers to an infection of the bile ducts, often causing symptoms like abdominal pain, fever, chills, and sometimes jaundice (yellowing of the skin), and is considered a serious medical condition requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics or surgery to relieve any blockage causing the infection; it's important to seek immediate medical attention if you suspect biliary cholangitis. 

On our next visit later this month, I will share an excerpt from a work in progress by yours truly.

Thanks for stopping by. I'm waiting to hear a comment from you or a simple greeting.

May the Lord bless and keep you always,

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell, Author

 

My Love Has No Bottom, My Love Has No Top (Lyric, singer Nancy Wilson)

Hello Grafted In Readers,

Today is Friday, January 24, 2025 in my corner of blog-land.

For America, it has been a pretty full month of events. We have a former U.S. President back in the role and whitehouse as of this past Monday at noontime.

Fires continue to roar and upend the lives of people in Southern California. They probably wish it would rain, pour, do something to quench the blazes.

I saw this caption in an online version of the "Christian Science Monitor" email news highlight:

Monitor Highlights

LA fires claimed places of worship, but congregations still are helping others

This story is about COMMUNITY

Organized religion provides space for worship and spiritual study. Amid disaster, it can also provide a built-in system of caring and an active faith.

Kudos to those in Spiritual communities who are loving their neighbor and themselves simultaneously!

SideNote:  If you have access to a mobile device or desktop computer, are a lover of modern western music, check out the mix on

"wjct radio HD3, Anthology.

You will hear songs from the past that may spark memories from your life at that time.

Thanks for dropping by, and perhaps we will meet again soon!

The presence of HaShem (God) be with us always.

Mellow Rock,

David C. Russell, Author

 

Help! I Need Somebody (The Beetles Standard)

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is Friday, January 17 in my corner of blog land. Most of this post will concern a request of me to you.

Simply stated, If you are reading this blog for the first time, or the 100th time, would you please say Yes, or leave a sentence in the Post Comment?

I recently learned that there are statistics and there are statistics.

What that means is there are Google Analytics one can view for a more treu statistical report of blog readership.

The statistics easily accessed include readers maybe, and bots that crawl the web and notice a given blog. So, one can have for example, eight readers and two bots for a total of ten. Only the analytics, as I understand all this, represent a more valid picture of the readership. Hmmmm.

If you can do this at any time, or before February 15, 2025, fantastic, and a big thanks from me!

On the lighter side, Just finished a rather dramatic title, "Ends With Us", author is Colleen Hoover. It's a story about spousal abuse ending with a definite decision to do so.

Now, about to read some short stories by the late Rex Stout, mystery writer from the 20th century.

Until next visit, may God bless and keep us and allow his presence to shine on us, and shine from us to our world!

Mellow Rock,

David C. Russell,  Author

 

The Israelites (Desmond Dekker And the Aces, 1970)

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is January 7, 2025 in my corner of blog land. Winter is here. Some snow on walks, temps in the mid twenties and low teens, Fahrenheit, daytime, nighttime, respectively. Burr.

For reading pleasure, I am embarking on a 1935 novel by Sinclair Lewis, "It Cannot Happen Here". It's 'political science' imagining democracy succumbing to a totalitarian regime. This happens over time in developed subtle ways via the author's construction. Well worth reading!

This post,(The Israelites, its title) like earlier ones from some time ago, takes a brief look at the heritage Christians are indebted to Judaism for passing on to us. I am posting an online overview concerning the First Century existence of a movement known as the Pharisees. The "church" castigates them wholly, and pictures them by behavior and expression as ignorant, uninformed, self-absorbed, self-righteous unloving claiming to serve HaShem (God).

Again, this is an overview not an exhaustive study found through the Google A.I. resource.

I would assert the Pharisees generally exemplify devotion, inclusivity, attempting to be God-fearing, sincere, not entirely misdirected as many would assert. Here is the excerpted presentation in part, thanks to Google A.I.

Off hand, also thank Suzanne J (reader) for her interest in understanding this topic in general. Let's keep learning!

The Pharisees were a Jewish social movement and school of thought in the Levant during the time of Second Temple Judaism. Following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, Pharisaic beliefs became the foundational, liturgical, and ritualistic basis for Rabbinic Judaism.Pharisees

Dissolved: 73 AD

Founded: 167 BC

Headquarters: Jerusalem

Historical leaders: Simeon ben Shetach; Salome Alexandra; Hyrcanus II

Ideology: Theocracy; Oral Torah; Populism;

 

Pharisees & Sadducees | Definition, Beliefs & Differences Video

As also members of the Sanhedrin, we could think of the Pharisees as the middle-class Jewish rulers of Jesus's day. Holding jobs like merchant, they were more on the level of the masses. Yes, they too were usually wealthier, but they weren't, shall we say, out of touch with the common man.

Pharisees & Sadducees | Definition, Beliefs & Differences

Study.com

Comments welcome. Hope we meet again in the near future. May Adonai bless and keep us!

Mellow Rock,

David C. Russell, Author