Welcome to the Ratrace - are we too busy keeping up to even enjoy life?

Dr Steve Taylor

Views in verse on perspective.

 
There was a time when we worked and then stopped to enjoy our lives.
Perhaps technology has left many of us with a view that we must be busy
all the time now (handheld devices etc).

I see the productivity indicators these days that are based on standard
working hours and I can only seriously wonder how accurate they can be.
These days I start work when my bum hits the bus seat going in and
I don't stop till I leave the evening bus. I try not to work at home though.
Seriously your personal relationships are far too important
to be given 'short shrift' except where circumstances demand.

In my (peak hour) afternoon walks through the heart of my city (Sydney) I
am constantly walking into or indeed trapped behind people walking blindly
with their 'heads in their hands'.  A guy I was approaching a set of lights with,
some two weeks back, heard the crossing alert and then without looking up
strode directly into the intersection to be confronted by three lanes of traffic
moving off from the other side. Luckily, they had all been waiting there
on the light change.

In contrast a guy that I work with a few weeks back said to me that he
had awoken to a hundred emails and just couldn't face them that day
so "just deleted them all". He was claiming back some time that day to be
lived 'on his terms'. "It's all rubbish, anyhow" he added. "I talk to people!"

A recent paper by an academic Steve Taylor encourages us to claim back
some of our lives from the daily rush we are embarking upon. His view is that
productivity is not any better for simply 'getting things done'. There must be time
for enjoyment, listening, enlightenment and learning in order for us to improve
upon what it is that we do anyhow. Dr Taylor would have agreed with my workmate.  

I am sure too that sometimes you should need to claim some time
back for yourself. Happiness cannot be drawn from situations where nothing
is ever happening on your terms. 


          "What we end up doing is spending all of our time rushing to the future,

                                               instead of living in the moment".

                                                                   - Dr Steve Taylor Leeds University

  

These Days

Bright lights may tempt your fate

the road brings sights unseen 

Each new day sharpens the senses 

success brings valleys green

Opportunity comes far a-field

travel's my constant friend
Yet solace dumbs sincerity
The truth is there to bend

How many times can you bury your head

at the end of a working day

Having given your time to people and place 

and anything that will pay?

These days a lotta time goes by 

Where you just don't say 

what you feel 

But with every turn of the road 

and  every tug at the wheel

I'm going back to what is real

My life has been a whirlpool

Where I've mixed both right and wrong 

As the road has been my driver

I've learnt to play along

Given all of this

my family has waited

at the end of an endless queue

Where priority fools intention 

and good men found are few

So how many times can you bury your head

at the end of a working day
Having given your time to people and place 
and anything that will pay

These days a lotta time goes by 
Where you just don't say 

what you feel 

but with every turn of the road 

And every tug at the wheel

I'm going back to what is real

Earlier today 

I came upon some people

Up on a rugged mountain bend

Huddled around a biker 

who came to a sticky end

Got me to thinking 

Of  life and death

And all that comes between

Makes you wonder 

what it's all about

...what life really means?

As I drove away 

I swore right then 

this month will be my last

Chasing orders 

on outback roads

My tour of duty past

My tour of duty past

These days a lotta time goes by 

Where you just don't say 

what you feel 

but with every turn of the road 
And every tug at the wheel
I'm going back to what is real

I'm going back to what is real

from my desktop - grahame j flynn

Liz Hurley, Hugh Grant, Bill Clinton, Shane Warne ...what is it about some people? Some people indeed!

Views in verse on 'the mantis syndrome'. 

I am told that the 'praying mantis' enters the act of sexual gratification knowing that by the end of proceedings, it may well come away without it's head. The latter having been zealously devoured by it's 'can't get enough' partner during the said sexual act.

Curious indeed...?

We would never think though that we could reproduce this predatory kind of behavior in the 'real world' at all...would we? Or is it a 'thing' that perhaps only celebrities do to get them through the day? I'd like to think so, ...yes.

What do you think? No ...I don't think so either.


Big Ball Baby

I stood on my own after a hard day's work
Each shot tasting better than the last
The bar was noisy,
the band was loud
my time for staying past
Yes my time for staying near past

Then from out of nowhere
she came right up
and just kind of swept me along
Her body was lean
her lines were clean
Just as the band played this mad song
while the whole 'floor' sang along:

"Big ball baby won't you dance with me?
I've been waiting all day for this
Good time boy won't you party with me?
Let's start the night with a  kiss
Yes, yes...let's start the night with a kiss"

We danced for a while
up on the crowded floor
She was popping down pill after pill
The throbbing beat
Her growing heat
She mesmerized me still
Yes yes she mesmerized me still

Her lips were close
her body was hot
I quivered from my toes to my head
She flicked me a smile
Stared straight into my eyes
moved up real close and said
Yes, yes she got real close and said:

"Big ball baby put your arms around me
Each day's feeling longer than the last
Good time boy won't you drive me home
My time for dancing's past
Yes ...yes ...my time for dancing's past"

When we stopped at her gate
She ran straight to the door
the handle she did shake
Without looking back
She ran straight inside
Leaving a cool looking dude in her wake
Yes, yes, he stood there in her wake

He looked over at me
gave me a knowing smile
and spoke in a calm kind of voice:
"I've got no idea what she says to you guys
But man she always makes this choice
Yes man she always makes this choice"

 "I'm sure she's glad you brought her on home
Please take some thanks from me
She often does this 'coming in late'
you know she just don't drive you see
No ...no she just don't drive you see"

Then he was gone with no more to add
And as he did he waved his ring
Then once more I heard her cry out loud
and once again I heard her sing:

"Big ball baby dance close to me
I've missed you all the day long
Take me in your arms
make love to me
Cause my feelings are so strong
Yes, yes, my feelings are so strong"

(then I heard her say:...)

"Big ball baby won't you lay with me
I need you at the end of the day
To chase away the pain
please hold me close
And keep the sun away
Yes ...yes ...let's keep the day at bay"


Grahame Flynn - Sent from my iPhone

Ian Thorpe - our great champion - faces new challenges in his life - let's give him every support

Views in verse on depression.  


Ian Thorpe's family and friends have today advised that he has been fighting a long battle with depression and related alcohol issues. It appears that he has been admitted to a specialist clinic for treatment. Well done to all involved for calling it out. 

One can only hope that this great Australian Olympic champion can attack this threat to his well-being with the same energy and zeal that has typified his life to-date as we know it.

Hang in there champ ...everyone is with you! Lift your head, just for a moment, to see.

Dark Reptiles

Dawn breaks bitter light

Stirring stone refuge once more

intruding again on broken sleep

Red eyes stare down the door

Movement doesn't come easy

Reticent to leave the source

Where can one go to find refuge?

Fate steer me that safer course 

Inviting faces challenge the mask

The now freeing frame distracts

As routine brings timely release

In hiding the guarded facts

How can I improve  my position here?

Can warmth not ease the doubt?

As the stalking dog ...he pads nearby

He's always, always, about.

Over the shoulder a shadow looms

night can't be far away...

Bent in regression a constant curse; 

Call dark to shroud the day!

So bring me sleep to salve my life

In an all too brief reprieve

The gloom closes in yet sleep does not come

the subconscious defying the need

Where do you go; where do you go?

To escape this moribund place
Waiting for heat 
from much needed sun 
with a gripped gnarling face

   
epilogue:

    The ones that I love

    They take good care

    They know the struggle in me

    The ones that I love

    They know me well but

    Their love can't set me free

Forwarded from my I pad - Grahame J Flynn

Valé ...another victim of the unforgiving society we embrace with as much fervour as we can possibly muster

    Philip Seymour Hoffman

Views in Verse on tragedy

Valé!

The race is done.You are at rest.

Is God in ...?

I drove off today in search of the

day I lost

Somewhere the night before

Fifty miles on I stop...

Fifty miles from my door

I carry too a passenger 

who is eating me alive

Running from yourself 

Sure isn't easy...

all I could do was drive

I get out by a picket fence

Reflecting lives lived once within

Little to say but

Front door open ...back door too

Spirits left cold therein

Cross after cross pock this town

outnumbered 

only by stray dogs

Precious little life

in this park here either

Save the crumpled 'wino' logs

A preacher calls

 "there's comfort here"!

Hard to believe by his grin

Everyone playing on

something special on

evil, guilt or sin.

How desperate am I

to tackle this state...?

I gotta lead with my chin

But before I enter...

I can't help but ask

"...is god (really) in?"

"In fact...

Why not take me to him now?

He must be aware of my state

I have some issues

That we must address

best handled face to face"

"I'll tell him true of my own view

that all the world's in pain

Bent, broken,

and disconnected and

lost in personal gain"

I ask the thoughts

of a nearby woman

Just to get me back on track

She confides: 

"fact is man ...I only come here 

for the soup that's out the back" 

As I join the queue 

a guy demands

"First we need to know

where you're from...?"

"And look son...for a 'fair price' too

we can send some product along"

Then he says:

 "trust in God

and you will never ever fear"

To this I reply:

"I feel your hype my friend

but if salvation's really near..."

"My maker must have a halo bright

Something I can aspire to...

I've been searching...

Yeh, I've been searching...but

There's nought like that round here"

And to what avail... 

I challenge myself

To find someone who'll listen...?

Intervention must start with me

To free me from this prison

Cold stone arches 

Hold little appeal

in taming an untamed head

And taking the easy road 

is...'easy '

Time after time instead...

I slip into a strip bar

two doors up

to find a smile for the road

Didn't find a smile...no...

Not at all

But I sure enough dropped my load

Not much left of this goddam day 

Dusk dim 

the falling sun's rays

I ask a street kid 

for directions

He manfully shows me the way

Forwarded from my Ipad - Grahame J Flynn

 

Barack Obama ...the odd plaudit shouldn't go astray

Views in Verse - on artistic endeavor






It is not easy to praise 'Pollies' given their amazing ability to disappoint. However despite Barack Obama's heralded arrival to 'the Office', he appears to get little other than criticism (or at least that is how it appears from this side of the Pacific). I only wish to make one observation that I believe has tremendous importance on his part.

When he was cajoled from all quarters as to why he should 'man up' and charge into Syria; he didn't ...to his credit. And why should he? ...given the western world's 'successes' from past interventions in the middle east. But 'man up' he did and he continues to use diplomacy instead of guns.

That is not to say that Syria is not an ongoing human tragedy however traditional methods adopted by the US in particular would carry nothing but greater pain in a part of the world where patient support and understanding are bound to create more effective impact on required outcomes.

Who will ever forget 'the unforgettable' image of G.W. Bush standing safely on the deck of his aircraft carrier off Iraq declaring "mission accomplished"; despite the fact that the real war was yet to begin given this intervention there being pitted against the very nature of it's historical intra-relationships.

The memory of this untidy hubris will stay with many of us who lived through this unfortunate period (perhaps it did with Barack Obama also). G.W. no doubt still enjoys the same video as an option to his John Wayne movies on Saturday nights at the ranch.


War is Over!





Hello Australia...!!!
my name is 'Yoko'
well known in art you understand!!!
you know me too
for the peace movement that
I founded:
'The Plastic Ono Band'

Now with this tour
I was considering
a similar slant...
...perhaps...'rubber'
yes rubber could work this time
with an unmistakable 'image'
you Aussies could relate to:
'gum boots on a clothes line'

With further thought
on the plane coming over
I decided to return to my roots:
?????????????
I looked around to see
the western world currently engaged
in far more pressing pursuits

So...
here's my theme
I'll use to promote it
far too good to allow pass-over
I think it's clear to you all by now
"I've succeeded ...'war is over'"

If you think me 'trite'
...you're wrong
'cause I know which side
my 'celeb' is buttered on
Forget the art
When people turn up...
"I know they come to see
...John!!!



from my I-phone Grahame J Flynn