I Am The Passenger

Published March 16, 2016 by Nan Mykel

Simply beautiful and well put and truthful. Reminds me of “Denial of Death” by Ernest Becker. So close to the bone! I never realized how it would affect the animal kingdom!

Juliet Naked

Iwoke up this morning with a bad case of the blues. I’m not really sure what to write. Depression has her way with me in my sleep and then clings to me like a caul when my eyes open and I have to pretend to be functional.

Things seem OK, then not OK. The tiny tragedies that make me crumble taper off, then return in a full-force gale. I can’t handle some of the basic pressures of being alive. There seems to be no end-game or goal – no purpose – to any of it. We are born. We become instruments of a machine far larger than our minds can comprehend. We reproduce. We die.

We die.

What an impossible burden to place on a species, the consciousness of death. And we, among all of our neighbors on this planet, are alone in our understanding of Death’s inevitability. I’m not…

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I Watched Bernie on Charter Schools

Published March 14, 2016 by Nan Mykel

Diane Ravitch's blog

I watched the replay of the Ohio Town Hall specifically to understand what Bernie said about charter schools.

The teacher who posed the question was a TFA charter teacher. She asked a leading question. She asserted that in Ohio, charter schools lead the state in helping poor black and Hispanic children, then she asked whether they should play a role in solving the problems of these children.

To begin with, her assertion was inaccurate. It was propaganda for charters, which in Ohio have experienced numerous financial and academic scandals. In addition, she failed to mention that charters are far more likely to be low-performing than public schools. (See: here and here). Ohio has charter operators who give large campaign contributions and evade accountability. Some Ohio charter owners have made millions.

Bernie Sanders responded that he supports public education, and he supports public charter schools. He then talked about the…

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Our Blog Poet on Accountability

Published March 12, 2016 by Nan Mykel

Diane Ravitch's blog

Some Dam Poet writes about accountability:

“Accountability”

Accountability is for students
For janitors and teachers
For those who flip the burgers
For those who clean the bleachers

For those who wash the dishes
For those who build the roads
For those who catch the fishes
And do the laundry loads

For those who do the weeding
For those who walk the dogs
For those who clock the speeding
For those who slop the hogs

For those who build the school
For those who fix the pipe
For those who truck the fuel
And pick the fruit when ripe

It isn’t for the wealthy
Or those that they install
In Chi Town and in DC
It’s not for them at all

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D A V I D, The Greek Antique

Published March 11, 2016 by Nan Mykel

We always thought her meek and mild

until the day that she went wild

and fell in love with an antique Greek,

or should I say a Greek antique?

She gave a moan and then a shriek

that echoed through the whole boutique

and withut a pause

with hands like claws

she clasped him to her ample bust,

moved not by piety I think but lust.

As a matter of fact he was scantily clad

and to tell the truth I think she was glad.

SUCH A DIRTY WORD, BUT…

Published March 10, 2016 by Nan Mykel

babypi_2

I won’t say the word so you won’t run off before I use another word: JOURNAL of poems, 29 drawngs, quotes, letters and more by a survivor. That comprises the second half of my book FALLOUT. My site –nanmykel.com my books Fallout — contains the titles of its 26 chapters. Never thought there could be so much stuff on the topic? Check it out. I listed the contents because just the chapter titles are informative. Possibly one of the more interesting chapters is Chapter 21, The Role of the Mother, including an exploration of the role she played in my life. A drawing from the journal in 1974 is of me and my mother, on page 218, and I’ll try and add it to this post in a couple of days. Available on Amazon under my name.

THE EARTH IS FLAT AFTER ALL

Published March 8, 2016 by Nan Mykel

097

THE WORLD IS FLAT AFTER ALL

Dubbed Democracy, it used to be

top of the line, the lead ship, at sea,

and on the land it served us well,

until the strains of its death knell

fell,

baring an underbelly swole

with all the pilfered things they stole

in broad daylight, and on t.v.!

Gone is the half-belief in he

who’ll take us safely to the shore

while staying steadfast to the core.

The compass nestles in the deep

while those on board remain asleep.

They used to say the earth was round,

that right makes might, but I found

that all I knew I now know not,

nor how to tell the truth from rot,

and not so sure that we’ll endure,

to make a safe arrival.

Nan

Poet/try

Published March 3, 2016 by Nan Mykel

COMPUTER DATE

My dearest new computer mate,

oh yes, I’d like to have a date.

Since they paired us up, you must be

an educated man, and free.

I got your pix–which one is you?

And by the way, what do you do?

“Describe yourself,” you say–Mein gott!

You really put me on the spot!

I’m a genuine human being,

a little nicer than I seem.

I brake for dogs and wreck for cats;

I like long dresses, gloves and hats,

though sometimes lounge around in jeans.

I joined church while in my teens

and let me say that I am well

aware of how to keep from hell.

No holding hands on our first date

and let me tell you very straight

I drink no booze and smoke no pot.

Computer mate, I am no sot!

But if you’re Christian and you’re good

and make up to me like you should,

I think that in a while we might

just make a pair that’s outta sight!

(Previously in Pickin’ Fleas)

People Suck!!

Published March 3, 2016 by Nan Mykel

What more can I add?”

Raising Peanut

So yesterday was Spread the Word to End the Word day. A movement to remove the words retard/retarded from our society. This was suppose to be a day of awareness and support for all these wonderful people who never deserve to be put down. Just a day for the community to rally around these kids to help make the world safer and more accepting for them. Sounds great right!?

Unfortunately, there are some mean, cruel, horrible people in our world! A few families that I follow on Instagram posted beautiful photos of their children and asked others to help end the word. These kids range from 1 year to 10 years old. Beautiful little kids with amazing families that love and cherish them. On these public posts, people actually used yesterday to attack these innocent kids!! Leaving mean messages about how their kids were not beautiful, how we need to…

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Spread the Word to end the Word

Published March 3, 2016 by Nan Mykel

” RETARDED” adoptingjana.wordpress.com

I’ve used this word in the past. I’ve said to to describe things I didn’t like or agree with. I’ve said it with no regard to how it could hurt someone to their very core. I have added to the spread of this word. Since Jana has come into our lives, I cringe any time I overhear this word used. A small part of my breaks because I know that most likely one day I will pick Jana up from school and she will be in tears because someone called her that name. I will have to hold her and explain to her that people are mean sometimes. And that they don’t always understand how bad words can hurt us. Then I will send her back to school and pray another day will pass where she isn’t torn down.

Today, March 2nd, is national Spread the word to End the Word day. You can actually visit R-Word.org and sign an online pledge to promise to not use the R-word again. You can read stories from amazing kids who have been broken by this word. To see how such a small word can dramatically affect so many lives.

Join the movement and help remove this demeaning word from our society!!

Rivera
mrcatsoe.wordpress.com
alwazlrng@gmail.com
108.248.42.7 Having spent years working with the “challenged” community, I very much do appreciate your post. 🙂

Raising Peanut

STW2016Logo_With_Date-01

Retarded.

I’ve used this word in the past. I’ve said to to describe things I didn’t like or agree with. I’ve said it with no regard to how it could hurt someone to their very core. I have added to the spread of this word. Since Jana has come into our lives, I cringe any time I overhear this word used. A small part of my breaks because I know that most likely one day I will pick Jana up from school and she will be in tears because someone called her that name. I will have to hold her and explain to her that people are mean sometimes. And that they don’t always understand how bad words can hurt us. Then I will send her back to school and pray another day will pass where she isn’t torn down.

Today, March 2nd, is national Spread the word to End…

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SHATTERED BOUNDARIES

Published March 2, 2016 by Nan Mykel

$fractal-136113_1280 design in passionate colors, Pixabay, Public Domain$

A 21ST CENTURY WOMAN LEAVES HER BODY BEHIND

This fictionized novel builds upon centuries of beliefs of Hinduism and the Kabbalah to the effect that one’s spirit form can leave the body and travel, more recently referred to as OOBES (out-of-body-experiences). The ability to leave her body follows a near-death experience, after having been struck by lightning. She reads the literature on the phenomenon, and learns that it is dangerous to stay away from the corporeal body for too long a time. However, she has become involved in situations that demanded her (invisible) participation, and when she finally returns to her home, she finds that her funeral is in progress.

AN EXCERPT:

Night sounds grow fainter and she becomes aware that she is flying–or being flown–once more, and that she is surrounded by all manner of shapes and forms. Of course that is the question: Are they life forms or death forms? Living or dead? They extend to the horizon, in all directions, but there is space between them. Some of the beings are entering or leaving what appear to be vast portals…Wherever this may be, there is no welcoming committee.