15 Healthy and Fun Tips for Your Children for Father's Day !

From the Maryland Department of Education
1. Take a Color Walk ! Pick a color, find it on your walk.
2. Plan a Menu ! Build Menus with the Food Pyramid.
3. Go to the Library ! Talk about your books at dinner.
4. Be a Journalist ! Record family interviews Daily.
5. Balance a Checkbook ! Learn how to keep track of your money.
6. Plant Flowers ! Decorate a pot of flowers for a friend.
7. Go to the Park ! Enjoy a picnic and then play a game.
8. Ride a bike ! Discover a new bike trail.
9. Use Sunscreen ! Buy a fun bottle and use it daily.
10. Use your imagination ! Dream up your perfect Vacation.
11. Make a time Capsule ! Fill it with meaningful items.
12. Play Charades. Try describing your day without any words.
13. Learn Fractions ! Measure all the ingredients in one meal.
14. Eat your fruit ! Make a rainbow fruit salad.
15. Track your health ! Make a special Place for Health Records and papers.

Leaning on a traffic meter

Leaning on a traffic meter

we shared a pint of gin.

He was old and we were drunk.

We laughed and stumbled,

in the whirlpool of a drunken night.

Suddenly recalling our stumble

into each others smiling eyes.

We asked each other what was going on,

blacks and whites gone wrong.

A question seldom voiced,

to our colored opposite most able to answer.

We parted and I did not forget

the smile in our eyes.

Matthew W. Tippett  1993

 GOOD MORNING AMERICA

we are not sure at this time what happened in the middle east

last night.

the censors aren't done yet.

does it make much difference

when the richest nation in the world's children are afraid to

face up to their selves.

how long ago were the chinese run over by tanks?

but my dinner was from thailand

the shrimp was fresh

in Europe peasants still share the same bowl for dinner.

all the food in one pot, and the family coming to share.

I ate a bagel this morning

and leftover thai food.

and kids smoked dope before they left  for school this

morning

the press actually tries to bring skeletons out of peoples closets

and we all drive big cars,

and if we have a conscience,

we drive cars that don't use much gas.

in china they share bikes

in there is a bike out in front of the building when you leave you

have a ride to the next building

in america you have to schedule and ask a child to clean their room

in  some places even in america people don't know what a vacuum is

the college boards are not exams that mean a whole hell of alot.

but people often compare the amount of beer that they can drink

when they have nothing else to do.

we are bored because we stopped thinking years ago

Copyright 2011 Matthew Ward Tippett 

Whether or knot

CIRRUS MEANS "CURL" - THESE ARE THE WISPY "MARE'S TAIL" CLOUDS.
CUMULUS MEANS "HEAP" - THESE CLOUDS ARE PUFFY, LIKE COTTONBALLS.
NIMBUS MEANS "RAINSTORM" - THESE ARE DARK RAIN CLOUDS. 

STRATUS MEANS "SPREAD OUT" - THESE CLOUDS FORM FLAT LAYERS.

IF THE TOPS OF THE NEW CRESCENT MOON ARE TURNED UP, THE NEXT QUARTER WILL BE DRY. IF THE TIPS ARE TURNED DOWN, IT WILL BE WET.

COFFEE CLUES
WHEN BUBBLES IN YOUR COFFEE COLLECT IN THE CENTER OF THE CUP, EXPECT FAIR WEATHER. IF THEY FORM A RING OR CLING TO THE SIDES, EXPECT RAIN.

Anger all the way

My weekend, I spent alot of time watching. Al Jazeera and Egypt. I find it amazing then, to look and see that people are fighting the enactment of mandated health care in the U.S. People are fighting to make to make it so that one can acquire a weapon faster from a gun dealer. We are angry because BP cannot self-regulate ?

What is going on here ? There are people that are fighting to keep evolution out of classrooms ? Dinosaurs and people did not live together on the Earth. There are people fighting for Democracy in this world still. We are actually giving the wealthy tax breaks ?

Sad. Be true to yourself.

Christmas Day

Christmas day

and all the children smiled,

amidst the presents piled.

Old and young sat round the fire

though late last night did Santa tire.

And hearts were cheered with yearly grace

that slows us in our lifelong haste.

Children compared their new given gifts,

introduction to the art of giving.

Seeking most to go out and play

on a new bought Christmas sleigh.

The young faces gleamed

with that joy that for a moment seemed,

to lift the very souls round,

gathered to a future glory yet unseen.

(Copright 1996 Matthew Ward Tippett)

TELEVISION

Brought about with dreams of future,

television has become our bane.

Become our expression,

our ideas and sight.

What will happen to the brain.

(1986-Matthew Ward Tippett)

From the Library of Congress Website

Charles Simic on Writing Poetry

A few things to keep in mind while sitting down to write a poem:

1. Don't tell the readers what they already know about life.
2. Don't assume you're the only one in the world who suffers.
3. Some of the greatest poems in the language are sonnets and poems not many lines longer than that, so don't overwrite.
4. The use of images, similes and metaphors make poems concise. Close your eyes, and let your imagination tell you what to do.
5. Say the words you are writing aloud and let your ear decide what word comes next.
6. What you are writing down is a draft that will need additional tinkering, perhaps many months, and even years of tinkering.
7. Remember, a poem is a time machine you are constructing, a vehicle that will allow someone to travel in their own mind, so don't be surprised if it takes a while to get all its engine parts properly working.

Sunday Morning

Tasting that day in my chest. I woke without a point today, that being the point, never totally without. Grey skies make my eyes feel softer when I gaze out your window. Haunted lately by an old dream and a new. Needing to release and release. Making a point to ease out.