The Native Iowan

I have been on the road a lot these past few days. I listening to talk radio as I drive. PLenty of good laughs…

A couple things of note I have recently heard:

1) A jaw dropping advertisement I had to listen to twice before I got it right… “Do you anti depressants work? If not call us and we’ll give you a free test…” I may be simple minded but are there enough of the modern society regularly taking anti depressants to justify such an ad?

2) Sydney recently had islamic fueled riots. A mullah labeled by the Leader of Opposition as “preacher of hate” got on the news and invited Tony Abbott over for a bbq. He was rational and well spoken. Is it a case of the pot calling the kettle black?

3) Julia Gillard’s approval rating have risen recently by a % or two. This still puts her behind the Pm she ousted, Kevin Rudd, in the eyes of the public.

life is good.

And she knows it…

I just heard that my old friend, Horst Detke, passed away.

Horst was a child of the European war, an immigrant with a skill, an entrepreneur with great skill, and one hell of a story-teller.

Horst has been unwell for a couple years and I have not laid eyes on him for ages but I recall his stories (he loved long, stupid sexy jokes) and his friendship.

Heres to Horst.

Another page turns…

As my friend just said, “the page turns”.

Uncle Ted, AKA Smiling Bear , sang his death song as he fell to his death.

We mourn his death as we celebrate our living. Our tears are often that of relief and guilt.

Which is OK.

The seasons change. The bounty of the land must be harvested, as the days shorten, and the scent of a chilled wind fills the air.

An era, a generation … the page turns.

A fruitful and propitious end.

A cycle complete.

Life is good…

Car ripped off after accident

POLICE are investigating a traffic accident in front of the fishing village market late Tuesday night.

The car slipped off the road and rested on the fence of a nearby residence.No one was hurt in the incident.

Police said the driver may have escaped.

Separate investigations are also believed to be underway into parts of the car which were believed to have been stolen following the accident.

Most of the parts of the vehicle, including the back door, seats, parts of its engine, car stereo, all four wheels of the vehicle were reported missing after police were called to the scene.

The Solomon Star caught up with the vehicle owner at the scene, who was in a state of shock at the sight of the car body, which was all that is left.

“I couldn’t believe that almost all the parts of the vehicle have been taken out after the accident,” he said.

“Who would have done such things?

“I was only alerted of this late this morning (yesterday morning) and when I rushed over I was even more shocked at the sight of the empty car,” he said.

… The newz is that a friend fell to his death in the wilderness of the Mission Mountains in Montana.

Loss is poignant. Life is beautiful.

And gravity never sleeps.

Here’s to you Ted. Your wit and presence shall be missed.

Can you feel it? I bet you can… look outside…

I couldn’t figger out why I have not been sleeping… look outside…

I blamed my  sleeplessness on business… look outside…

Damn, gonna be hard to get much sleep… look outside…

They call it a Blue Moon… look outside…

The next full moon will be on Friday, August 31, and will be quite special because it is the second within the calendar month. (The first one was on August 1.)

The next blue moon won’t happen until July 2015.

… look outside…

01 Bad Moon Rising

I see the bad moon arising.
I see trouble on the way.
I see earthquakes and lightnin’.
I see bad times today.

Don’t go around tonight,
Well, it’s bound to take your life,
There’s a bad moon on the rise.

I hear hurricanes ablowing.
I know the end is coming soon.
I fear rivers over flowing.
I hear the voice of rage and ruin.

Don’t go around tonight,
Well, it’s bound to take your life,
There’s a bad moon on the rise.
All right!

Hope you got your things together.
Hope you are quite prepared to die.
Looks like we’re in for nasty weather.
One eye is taken for an eye.

Don’t go around tonight,
Well, it’s bound to take your life,
There’s a bad moon on the rise.

Don’t go around tonight,
Well, it’s bound to take your life,
There’s a bad moon on the rise.

One of those phlashes… a big, dopey-grin phlash…

An important conversation on a remote beach. An important question. Expectations of an important answer…

A decade+ later, a puzzling moment, and the reply remains…

Think Up

And it is very good. 11c when I left Aus this morn. Much, much warmer here in Honiara. A lot dustier too.

Chicken and tube streak on the bbq with Annie and her girls. I love hanging out side as the tropical day ends and night descends.

A good flight in. Lots of work to do.

And the dawgs are happy.

and under the furniture. All scattered memories of times past…

As I pack for yet another journey, another round in the ring. As I tidy up my messes accumulated, and shift and prepare. The two big steamer trunks I travel between here and the Solomons with patiently waiting. Both easily loaded to the requisite 32 kgs. I have some towels and sheets to take back to the Honiara house. Some tools and gear for Gizo. All now being stacked in prep for the packing.

And as I pack, like an archeologist uncovering my own past, I find evidence of life in this time and place…

The wad of hair, the scrap of wrapping. In the linen closet. I disturbed it as I moved, again, some clothes I don’t wear but refuse to throw out. The scrap of wrapping from Mendozza’s birthday in June. The hair is an artifact of a balding old guy.

A deflated balloon with a MacDonalds-soccer logo, a leftover from one of the many sporting events we’ve attended this year. Looking like a used condom (and of course it is red) is appears to have been left to deflate in a corner in the guest room closet. Lord knows how long it has been there. I struggle to convince myself it’s safe to pick up.

A stack of documents and pictures and old note books, all in manila envelopes, needs to be treated with respect… My first communion picture (with sister Richardene and father Alberts). A travel note-book filled to over flowing with oneliners, small sketches, and pages of verse and commentary from my tramp steamer days in the early 80s. So much here of value. I take the time to clean a messy drawer so these lie safe.

A fat, blue crayon in the furthest reaches of the deepest corner under my sprawling countertop in the office. Even deeper, in the shadows next to the crayon I find a “nerf bullet”.

All are treasures. All make me smile. Life is indeed guuud…

more later

I met for lunch today. A friend from the old Gizo days. Always a positive pleasure. He and his wife. Both glorious, both fun, both doctors.

The topic for today… He just returned from the London Olympics. I have met a number of people who are Olympiads. But I have never met another soul that has been an official team member to the past five (yes 5) olympic games.

My buddy is the doctor to the Irish Olympic team. He says the London games were the best ever.

He is retiring on a high. A record number of medals for the Irish Team. It was a frenetic and fun discussion with so much to be retold over a few short hours.

I feel honoured and smile like a fool. I am happy for my friend’s experiences and his tales of  olympic engagement. I am positively ecstatic over the official team shirt he gave me. Call me simple but it’s bitch’n and I am smiling…

Editor’s side note…. of course it makes perfect sence that Ireland’s Olympic team doctor lives in Brisbane, Australia.

It is a conundrum, I scratch my head and wonder,

as life’s rich and wonderous pageant sedately strolls past.

The price of oil, the war “over-there”, the drought in the south, the floods in the north,

as life’s rich and wonderous pageant sedately strolls past.

Advances in medicine keep us old too long, famine and death form a band around the globe, the stock markets sing, The rich get richer, the poor get poorer,

as life’s rich and wonderous pageant sedately strolls past.

We rush up and down expensive motorways, seconds from death without a care, angered by a pot-hole, or a slow driver, bumper to bumper, everyone in a hurry,

as life’s rich and wonderous pageant sedately strolls past.

It is a conundrum, the glory and pain, the mistakes and misappropriations.

But it may make sence if viewed with slow smile; one that loves the children and small animals, understands the aged and infirm, can take the time to relax and ponder life’s simple pleasures,

as life’s rich and wonderous pageant sedately strolls past.

Gillard praises Lilo for the wrong reasons… 11% growth comes through the rape and pillage of the natural resources in the Solomons. It is not something to be proud about nor something you really mention in polite company let alone brag about.

I guess we’re suppose to say “hurray”.

I like the low crime rate comments… My house in Honiara was attacked last night by 6 machete wielding guys who broke some doors, grabbed some grog and ran off after scaring the shit out of all n sundry, even my big nasty dogs…

Indeed, a “proud and capable nation”…

Gillard praises Lilo, proud of our success

Australian PM Julia Gillard is happy with the progress in the Solomon Islands.

Prime Minister Julie Gillard has praised her Solomon Islands’ counterpart Gordon Darcy Lilo for his efforts in ensuring that the country continues to make progress and now holds the record for the region’s highest economic growth rate.

Gillard could not hide her joy at seeing Solomon Islands continue to thrive and make head-ways in all most all directions since her country led the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands in 2003.

She recalled that in 2003, instability in the Solomon Islands threatened not only the safety of its citizens, but the foundations of its society and government.

Then Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza requested Australian help to maintain law and order, strengthen public institutions, and promote prosperity and stability.

“It was Australia’s honour to answer that call, as did other friends and neighbours,” PM Gillard said.

And a proud Gillard said just nine years on, things have changed dramatically.

“Solomon Islands is achieving the highest economic growth rates in the region, at almost 11 per cent last year.

“It has some of the lowest crime rates in the region and is teaching its neighbours how to run correctional facilities to UN standards,” she said.

Gillard said perhaps most impressive of all has been Solomon Islands’ very successful hosting this year of an array of regional and international events.

“Solomon Islands today is a proud and capable nation. It is a nation firmly in control of its own destiny. It is a nation that is open for business. And it is a nation that we call a friend,” Gillard said.

It is a worry; how the person you’d not seen for years, and you have just been thinking of, walks across the road. The virtual road is wide and long. I recall being run over by a busload of ancient seers on the virtual highway. Of the great ride that was. The early days of the big n beautiful world of connectivity we now live in.

It is a worry; as you check your step and turn the other way. The past to be shunned. The memories to be feared. Or worse, to be cherished too much. To be an anchor.Impeeding progress. Death in any instance.

It is a worry; time, again when the lessons we learn are ignored, or worse.

A contemplative moment.

High on the hilltop. The weather rages around us. Chill wind blowing from the southwest. It is winter here in Gizo. Will need a thick blanket tonight. I’ll leave the doors open to allow weather to influence my dreams. It’ll be like sleeping on the deck of a boat at sea.

It’s a dark, dark night. Very quiet. Not sure what’s out there. In the gloom. Lurking with intent. Lots of wind. A bit of rain but nothing too heavy. Nothing too heavy, yet.

Has been a frenetic past few days. Business demands have been high. The work though quite rewarding. It’s always magical to find smiles and even laughter in the stress and struggles of daily life. This week was good as we actually got a couple great belly laughs out of it all.

Saw a specter of a person I once knew. I was shocked. A once reasonable and respectable person in an advanced state of degeneration. So sad. How can you help one unable or unwilling to help themselves? Is there such a thing as a lost cause? Or perhaps there is a triage in life where some souls are lost simply because there are others who are better benefited by assistance?

My youngest son regales me of his adventures on a remote Island in the north Marovo Lagoon. Rovana is a neat place. Paul has decided to go and pioneer this area. We had a functioning outpost on Rovana a few years back but it got neglected and is in need of lots of attention. With a small team of workers Paul is living rough and working hard. Catch as much fish as you need before each meal is the menu. They are loving it. Selling a bit of fuel, a small trade store. A bakery comes next. Looking to promote a weekly market day on the island. It is an enthusiastic plan well suited for youthful vigor.

The Captain on our barge died of a heart attack last week. Went from OK, to not well, to dead in a short period of time. Captain Frank will indeed be missed.

This week’s reading has been scant. But a few pearls appear: “All classes alike thus build their plans, the rich to spend more and save less, the poor to spend more and work less.”

The morning is as wind blown as the night. I woke frequently. Much like a night at sea. A fresh gust or a change in direction and you’re up giving the world a look-see, pumping the bilges and lying back down.

No fancy coffee brewing gear at this house. Resorted to a pot of “Uncle-Tyke” style coffee.  Bring the water to a near boil in a saucepan, add your coffee and keep from boiling too much. Add a few drops of cold water to sink the solids.  Ladle off the top trying not to pick up too many grounds. A proper cup of “MUD”.

A couple grandsons came to play. They are small and make me smile. We have a birthday cake for 3 yr. old Dylan. This eve we’ll let him make a mess of the cake. Good fun. Maxxwell is only a few months old so is far too small for a rough-houser like me.

Brought a ham up for the boys. It’s in the oven slow roasting. Pork with ginger baked rice is the menu. We sliced some pieces and fried with eggs for a late breakfast. Tossed in some red-rocket chilies. Very interesting when you munch on a whole fried chili.

Should run over and see my buddy over on Babanga this afternoon. Hans runs the best lil’ resort in the islands. http://www.sanbisresort.com/ I spoke with him this morn and he’ll send a boat for me when I’m ready. I dig having friends with cool pubs and great boats. It makes life easy. But the weather prompts me to stay indoors. May be time for a lazy day up on the hilltop.

A lazy day up on the hilltop would be good, very good.

More later

… looking at you…

… on the streets of Honiara…

Give me that old-time religion,

Give me that old-time religion,

Give me that old-time religion,

It’s good enough for me.

Girl told to strip off