Visions of Poetry

Wednesday May 3 2017  STEP BY STEP

STEP BY STEP

Kathleen Martens

May 3, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

It’s almost bedtime

And my blog is not written

Because with my MAC

I have become smitten.

Remember my love affair

With my screen and keys,

I can now do things

My eyes see.

I can follow the map

Of lists and clicks,

And what I’ve learned

In my brain now sticks.

Step by step

I learn something new,

And my understanding

Gives me more to do.

And time passes

Ever so quickly,

And this new computer

Not quite so prickly.

So I am practicing

As so to improve,

And my working on photos

Is going quite smooth.

So forgive my lack

Of words to say.

It is probably a relief

For you this day.

I’m enjoying my trip

All over again,

As I organize and improve

Photos of my friends.

A few little tricks

And enhancement is there,

And memories are wonderful

And saved with care.

So good night my friends

I will bid my adieu,

The hours of this day

Are just too few.

Thank You God for the knowledge my brain can still retain.

Thank You God for this beautiful day of sunshine.

Thank You Lord for all Your bountiful blessings of both rain and sunshine.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

Tuesday May 2 2017  WOW!  WHAT A MARVELOUS DAY!

Yesterday while taking a class at the Apple Store I asked a few questions regarding my computer and mentioned to the staff how my computer doesn’t always have the best manners.  It was suggested by one of the workers that I should have a ONE TO ONE session over the telephone so as to disarm my most recently purchased computer of all her tantrums.  The store set up a telephone appointment for me this morning at 8:00 a.m. to talk to one of their Apple technicians.  I had no idea the value of such an appointment.  I share this information with my readers who are trying to master the new Apple computers.  I find mine to be quite a bit different from my old user friendly MAC. 

And one telephone call later my life has been changed!  I was about to boot the little monster out the door and regress back to ages past by reverting back my ancient (10 year old) computer.  But, I am now quite happy because Apple Care came to the rescue. Perchance you may not know this bit of information, I would like to inform you that if you own an Apple computer of any kind (iphone, iPad, desktop, laptop, or iMax, free tutelage is provided.  And if there is any other “i” thing available you would probably be eligible to receive that service also. 

I have now taken many classes at the store, but I sometimes can’t follow because I am taking notes, and then when I look up I didn’t see the sequence of clicks and don’t know where to find the places to click.  Remember, getting old causes one to slow down a bit.  At least that is what I blame it on.  Since I have taken several one hour classes at the store I think I prepared for the ONE TO ONE session I had today.  Though Apple does not take control of the computer the teacher can join you by seeing your screen and giving you promptings with THEIR RED ARROW that skitters around where it is needed.  I loved it. 

Repetition (and notes) are my way of being able to retain information.  While on the phone I was able to luxuriate in doing just that.  My assistant was extremely patient and always helpful.  Her little red arrow was like a magic wand opening up my eyes.  I must admit I haven’t tried doing anything by myslf since she signed off but I want things to percolate a bit and then challenge myself to do it on my own.  One good thing is that I will still be taking classes (sometimes signing up for the same class more than once) until I understand this computer even better than I did my last one.

When all was said and our goodbyes were done I felt exhilarated!  I felt as if I had met a new friend; not only my computer but with the technician as well. Though I may never meet her, today she unselfishly offered me a part of herself by sharing her knowledge with me.  I can never thank her enough.  It’s a big world and it takes a lot of people to make it go around.  Today I thank my latest angel for coming into my life with such patience and understanding to help an older brain grab on, and hold on, to the information which had eluded it!  And that brain would be mine!

WOW!  WHAT A MARVELOUS DAY

Kathleen Martens

May 2 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

Wow, what a day! In an excellent way.

I fell in love!  And with the help of a cloud above

I am now aware!  Because of Apple-Care

A new romance kindled, which had dwindled.

I now see light, which was out of sight.

Help desperately needed and Apple-Care heeded.

So much I learned of what I yearn.

It made me jolly, due to the help of Holly!

What an amazing gift!  Without a rift

She filled up the hole of what I didn’t know.

Courage she gave as she trundled brave!

Many thanks to Apple care from whom she was paid.

There is no way I can adequately portray

With words stated because she is so highly rated!

Her knowledge and help, was so well dealt!

Her teaching was awesome, causing my heart to blossom.

Perhaps technology is now tops in the “OLOGYS”!

She has opened my eyes, my limit the skies!

Info linked together and hopefully won’t sever

Until I can do it again, and embrace my computer as friend.

Thank You God for sending the perfect angel into my life today!

Thank You for all the unseen gifts I receive each day from You!

Thank You God for exclamations marks because I really needed them today!

GOD BLESS YOU!  I PRAY YOU HAVE A MARVELOUS DAY TOO!

P.S.  Thanks little angel down there in Texas!

P.S.S.  God, thank you for telephones.

Monday May 1 2017 FROM THE INSIDE OUT

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Kathleen Martens

May 1 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

From the inside out

Without a doubt

This person of “I”

Is mighty dry.

The older I become

Moisture seems to run.

Regardless lotion’s lather

Dry is the rather.

Waterless eyes

Is my cry,

And arid skin

To my chagrin.

Mouth is puckered

When I’m tuckered

And when I awake

Water I take.

Other places as well

Where, I will not dwell,

Just say moisture is needed,

And must be heeded.

From even my nail beds

Moisture seems bled,

And oh my feet

I must daily treat.

And my scalp

Needs some help

And probably my brain

Has some strain.

I do what I can.

Salt I ban.

 I lick my lips,

As water I sip.

No matter the amount

It seems not to count

Because it goes right through

And I must drink anew.

When getting old

One must be bold

As we seem to be doomed

To shrivel like a prune.

So I have eye salve to use in my eyes each night.  I must use an artificial saliva rinse for my mouth which I use several times a night to keep my mouth membranes from adhering to each other.  I use a lip balm on my lips.  I use no makeup but I slather a thick cream on my face morning and night.  I have moisturizer for my scalp, special care products just for my feet and lotions for my hands and body.  I eat as healthy as I possibly can.  Even with all the fruits and vegetables I consume I am still dry.  If my outside looks like it does I wonder what my innards must look like.  I KNOW!  I JUST HAD A LIGHT BULB MOMENT!  Maybe, just maybe, I AM BECOMING A PRUNE because I certainly eat enough of them each day.  At least they keep me moving! 

NOTE:  The above is 101 for: BECOMING OLDER.  It’s just one of many curriculums!

Thank You God that I have the privilege of being older.

HAVE A WONDERFUL FIRST DAY OF MAY! 

I smile as I think back to the time when each May 1^st  the teachers would have the classrooms circle around a pole on the playground with colorful streamers as we children would go under and over with our  crepe streamers weaving a beautiful design down the pole.  For some reason May 1^st was always a day of celebration at school but I never really understood why.  Or perhaps if I did understand it I just don’t remember it now.  (A future lesson in 101 for BECOMING OLDER)!

Sunday Sabbath April 30 2017  GOODBYE APRIL

THE HEART HAS HEARD

Kathleen Martens

April 30, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

Significant time

Ticking away,

Not only the close

Of another day,

But a month

Comes to an end,

And before we know it

The year will end.

Once it is gone

It never again exists

Except in photos

We carry in fist.

Memories we cherish

Yet some not made

And if we are careless

Photos disappear or fade.

Pictures may vanish

For a plethora of reasons,

And our past events

May fade through the seasons.

But the greatest loss

Are the memories we don’t make

Because of the effort

It may take.

The now is the present,

We mustn’t squander it away.

When we tuck children in

We have one less day.

We should make moments count

As we live each hour.

Don’t allow “life”

To steal our power.

Be not too busy

To make moments count

Because the ones squandered

Seem to mount.

And children grow up

And we are alone.

An occasional visit,

Or moments on phone.

But nothing counts

Like living “real-time”.

We must enjoy the NOW

Before age confines.

Speak love in action

If we can’t say it in word;

However love is expressed

The heart has heard.

Thank You God for the rain we had today.

Thank You for Your peace in my heart.

Thank You that I have lived and enjoyed this beautiful month of April.

GOD BLESS YOU ON THIS BEAUTIFUL RAINY SABBATH!

Saturday April 29 2017  PERHAPS WE SHOULD ASK THIS QUESTION

PERHAPS WE SHOULD ASK THIS QUESTION?

Kathleen Martens

April 29, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

This day holds the hour

In which we are living.

In this precious moment

What makes life worth living?

Have we spoken one kind word

Another can tuck away?

Have we caused a smile

On someone’s face today?

Have we lifted another’s name

In prayer to our Father?

Or are we so busy

That with others we do not bother?

What is the purpose

For the existence of each man?

Is it to give or take,

Or do for others when you can?

Perhaps we should ask this question

Of ourselves each and every day;

What today can we do

So this world’s a better place to stay?

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

I HOPE YOU HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY!

I HAD AN AWESOME DAY!!!  I learned something new!  More about that later!

Thursday April 27 2017  AND THEN I AM DONE!!!

“We can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough.” Quote by Helen Keller

I was wondering what to write when I came across the above quote.  I’m in a quandary as I need to leave for an appointment soon, write my poem before I go, and then ultimately return and focus on the project I have been working on this the last year: THE ALBUM.

In my craft room awaits the last six pages that are laid out and waiting for their design.  AND THEN I AM DONE!  WRONG! 

Then I begin writing on all the pages as to who is who in each photo.  AND THEN I AM DONE? WRONG AGAIN! 

Then I plan to take a digital photo of each page which in itself will take quite awhile.  AND THEN I AM DONE?  NOPE, NOT YET! 

Then I must slip each page into a clear sleeve so they are protected in the album.  WHEW! THEN I MUST SURLY BE DONE!  WRONG AGAIN!

When all the pages are ready to be put in the three-ring-binders I must then update 5 biographies of my mother’s siblings and mount all 13 biographies and insert them in strategic order.  AND FINALLY I’M DONE???  NOPE! 

One last details remains after that.  Well…actually two: one small, one big.  The last detail is to design a title page.  AND THEN…the most time consuming of all…DELIVERING IT IN PERSON TO MY SISTER FAITH IN CALIFORNIA!!!!

AND THEN I AM DONE!!!

And the clock is ticking.  Helen Keller was right!  “We Can do anything we want if we stick to it long enough!”  We do it one step at a time; one hour, one day, one year.  We just need to stick to it!

AND SAY GOODBYE

Kathleen Martens

April 27, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

A dream is but a dream

But a timetable sets the goal in place.

And the end for me will be in sight

When I see the smile on my sister’s face.

What a journey it has been,

Yet I still have a mountain to climb

Because it is not done, until it is delivered!

And that will be so sublime.

I can’t say it wasn’t tedious,

Though it was long hours of fun for me

Because I realize I will have left behind

A beautiful treasure for others to see.

I will never regret the hours

As the weeks seemed to fly.

I was able to cherish these old photos,

Enjoy their memories and say good bye.

And I just realized I’m still not done

Until I’ve created one last page,

Adding the story of why this album was built

That it go forth in future age.

Thank You God for the opportunity to be able to do this keepsake for my sister.

Thank You God for my strength each day.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

GOD BLESS YOU

Wednesday April 26 2017  INFORMATION DAY

Yesterday was a day of accomplishment.  I finally actually carried through with something I have wanted to do for the past two years.  When I left on my trip two years ago my husband suggested I take his I Phone with me.  So I did.  Well, a month or so into the trip it gave up its ghost and died as I was driving into Denver Colorado.  A month-long bevy of trip photos were lost, or so I thought.  Even the Apple store told me they could not be captured.  Fortunately for me, I was heading to see a friend and her husband is a program designer and an unbelievable IT guy.  He used his account to somehow recover my photos.  It took several days for this to transpire but he did it.  I bought a new I Phone while in Denver and he was able to download everything he removed from my card onto the new phone.  I suppose if I had made a big enough stink that the I Phone store may have been able to do it for a fee. I thank God that I was able to recover the photos from the phone because I find that those are the photos that capture life between the poses.

When I arrived home from my trip in July of 2015 I purchased a new IMac, as my older Macs could not support the new technology of my new camera.  I’ve had the “new” IMac for two years now and have just recently had the opportunity to take time to use it.  And boy howdy, was I ever lost in the maze of all that I did not know.  I decided to take time to attend classes and workshops in order to become more literate with the new technology.  The classes are available through the Apple Store.  I became so comfortable working on my old equipment because it was easier to do what I knew how to do than it was to take time to learn something new.  Hmmm….I wonder if that has anything to do with the aging process? 

I have decided I WILL NOT GIVE UP that which I want to learn just because it takes me a bit longer to learn it and retain it.  As long as I can I will gratefully learn what I am able.

Now, the information I refer to in the title of this blog:

Here is the scoop about the Apple Store and the classes they offer.  Are you aware that as an I Phone owner you can sign up at the Apple Store and take all kinds of classes to learn how to use your I Phone?  Your little I Phone is like a small computer at your fingertips but it has a bit different personality than the big MACS.  I am tired of not being able to use what is available to me when I need its services.  That which I choose to use; I do so purposefully, and carefully.  By that I mean: I do not allow the phone to overtake my living my life in reality.  I do not search face book or post to it though I have a presence on face book per chance I may need it someday for a special purpose.  I give out my cell number to very few people because it does not have clear reception where I live.  When I am traveling, unless I use my I Phone for an emergency, or as my GPS, my phone is tucked in my purse.  When it rings I only answer known friends and family to see if it is urgent.  If I am in situations when I cannot be disturbed I simply turn my phone off.  Remember, you and I are the ones that control the phone.  It only controls us and gobbles up our time if we allow it to do so.  I long ago quit allowing my pocket genius to control my life.

A second bit of information for you is that if you own another MAC computer of any kind you are also eligible to sign up for classes at the Apple Store.  I have taken several courses this week (two yesterday) and I am amazed at how trained the Apple personnel are.  I have learned so much useful information.  What a shame to buy something so expensive, that has so much potential, and not take the opportunityto learn all you can.  Remember, knowing how to use your I Phone and Mac computer with expertise can save you much time and exasperation.

And the best part; all of these classes and work sessions are free!  However, you must sign up online in order to schedule the appointment.  When I first began using Macs about 15 years ago I had to pay for the sessions.  As technology changes, so the classes change, as does the need to learn more.  It is great that I no longer need to pay for the sessions.  Somehow taking advantage of what the Apple Store offers causes me to feel a little bit better about spending so much for something so small.

AS TECHNOLOGY PROGRESSES

Kathleen Martens

April 26, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

Technology today can be such a beast,

It changes so rapidly and does not cease.

It’s like a worm that silently sneaks in

Becoming a giant you must conquer and win.

And oh those changes seem to never stop.

And then when it seems I’ve finally reached the top

Something new comes along, frustrating me more.

The faster I peddle, the less I score.

So to stay on task I fervently seek

That knowledge and wisdom my mind will keep.

In order to battle this old-age brain

I refuse to be lazy, and do my best to retain.

As technology progresses, if we refuse to grow

We wake up in a world that we no longer know.

And though that may happen all too soon

Until it does, I’ll set my sight on the moon.

Thank You God that You encourage me to strive with perseverance.

Thank You God for the desire to learn.

Thank You too Lord for the lovely rain You pour upon our land.

Thank You for the delicious soup I had for breakfast.

I am on an adventure today with two long-time friends; lunch and St. Vincent de Paul!  Our favorite place to shop!

Have a wonderful day!

GOD BLESS YOU!

Tuesday April 25 2017  SPRINGS’S BOUQUET

SPRING’S BOUQUET

Kathleen Martens

April 25, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

Evening light dapples new growth

In silence of coming night.

Bringing alive purple and pink

Peering through foliage tight.

In somber reverence

My heart stood still

Filling up new memories

To remember at will.

A magical touch of early Spring,

As if stardust brushed the leaves.

Fronds of ferns of delicate lace,

Their beauty my eyes see.

A cobbled path winds its way

Meandering through bows and ferns.

In quiet stillness a settled presence

For which my heart doth yearn.

In bridal white trilliums blossom,

Fragile… pure…divine…

Bowed as if in silent humbleness

In thanks for being created so fine.

Their dazzling brilliance causes my smile

At the delight they offer so free.

Their glory is, that they bloom

For the two or three days we see.

And bluebells ring in silent song

That only the heart can hear.

In royal majesty decorate the earth

Like bits of God scattered near.

And bleeding hearts oversee all

As with an ever watchful eye,

Robed in pink with drops of lace

Catching light from the evening sky.

And bright red tulips join the dance

Of Spring’s awesome debut.

A presentation of heartfelt love

From God, to me and you.

Thank You God for seasons!

Thank You God that my favorite season is always the one I’m experiencing.

Thank You God that You are such an awesome Creator.

Thank You God for the beauty of today.

HAVE A GREAT SPRING WHEREVER YOU MAY LIVE!

GOD BLESS YOU.

P.S.  Remember to open your eyes to what is around you!