At 5:29 am (USA Central Standard Time), Sunday morning, March 20, 2016, it might be said again that traveling Cousin Eddie arrived in his beat-up RV for a 6-month visit.

Eddie (Randy Quaid) made his first appearance the 1989 movie “Christmas Vacation” when he and the family drove up for a stay with light-bulb-happy Clark “Sparky” Griswold (Chevy Chase). Now, that was a movie with electricity – most illuminating.

On March 20, 2016, at 5:29 am Dallas time, the vernal equinox arrived like Cousin Eddie to lighten up our world. (Of course, Cousin Eddie is a made-up character, but the vernal equinox is not made up – it is high up and right on time.)

“Vernal” means “spring,” and “equinox” means “equal night.” This is one of the two days in the year when the sun stands directly over the equator (that big belt circling the center of the earth). Because the sun is staring right down at the equator, its rays are distributed evenly to the northern and southern hemispheres. The equinox day is as close to equal in light and dark as any day can be. As such, the day is one of great equality for those residing on the surface of our planet.

Go out and bask in the uniform warmth of our star and share its encouraging rays with a friend. While you’re there, recite this equinox couplet, as you wander hatless through the fields of spring blooms:

Our sun plays no favorites in its sway

But favors all equally this day.

In the fall, you can hum these same two lines, because the other day-equal-night day is the autumnal equinox, which occurs on the first day of fall.

This year (2016) the autumnal equinox will again fall on September 22nd (the same as 2013). And again, we can bask with perfect equity in the same amount of “golden bennies from the sky.”

“Golden bennies from the sky” is a happily remembered phrase that welcomes the first day of the early northern spring when the golden beams (bennies) of the sun finally shine through the gray clouds of winter, melt our frigid dispositions, and excite us to run onto the greening lawns, throw Frisbees and generally act a little crazed.

Spring had sprung and I guess we had sprung a little with it.

Which isn’t a bad thing — to have a little fun in the sunshine of spring, to let our hearts be warmed by nature, and to be bighearted to those around us. Cousin Eddie was bighearted. He had a springtime smile in the icy snows of winter, because I think he’d learned the lesson of the vernal equinox:

Sun equinox high brings an easy smile

That shines bright inside for winter’s child.

However it is said, perhaps the lesson to be learned from the joys of these first days of spring is to remember to share those joys when nature has turned dreary and drab.

Enjoy the bright days of equinox high,

Remember in turn your days in the sun.

And share the light shining there in the sky,

To brighten a child’s oneday funday run.

I like Cousin Eddie.

He may not have much.

But he sure seems to have his share of fun.

Winter, spring, summer, and fall — don’t seem matter at all.

When Cousin Eddie smiles out that beat-up RV, searching for a stall.

Maybe I should learn from that high-up sun’s equinox arc.

And leave a space for him and his to park.

He may not have much.

But I sure do like

Cousin Eddie.

Keep an eye to the sky

A smile in greeting

The door open

For a friend

&

Thanks

Sun

Grandpa Jim

PS: This is a reprise with appropriate augmentation of the post of March 20, 2013. Be cheered with the growing light of spring — again . . . and again.

Sir Richard Geoffrey Ingelger of Jobs, First County of the Sweeping Lands, joins the fray. We find the worthy lord in discussion with his ready, willing and someways confused WardBoss, FawnFizzle. The setting overlooks the work of the Count and his SCRUMPs. And the plans of the two address the girl, LoveJoy KickStart, and her travels to dwarfs and guppies.

It is early yet and time to become involved.

Read more on the Homepage.

Wonder more of where.

Will this all go?

Grandpa Jim

Quckly now! Quickly!

It fast approaches: The next of the Do’s — Segment 3.

As an aside, how do you pronounce “Do’s?” That is a very good question.

Do’s is the plural of the verb do, to do. So, “Do’s” sounds like dews, the light dew on the ground. Do and dew are samesound words.

That’s what it sounds like, but that’s not it. Do’s is the manner of contract and agreeing, “the binding words of oral agreement in The Now & Present Days,” to quote the most formal dwarf RhineHold HuffSpot from Segment 1, “LoveJoy KickStart and The Macaroni Band.”

Not all in the NewDays are so formal. Remember the words to LoveJoy by the Queen in Segment 2, “Queen Mary Plantagenet & The New Sub-Woofer”: “Don’t look so surprised. We two are not that very different. No, the Guppies join for friendship. With you, the dwarf and others, we shall Seek the Right and March to Fight, if such must be. This is now beyond any agreement or contract, and it is by far the oldest and truest of the Old Ways.” Queen Mary understands more deeply The Do’s and their meanings.

Read on, may you, and soon, more find.

Segment 3 is almost right here.

Who will you meet?

Next.

Grandpa Jim

PS: The first two Segment stories are under “The Do’s Series” pull-down above. Don’t miss ’em.

Segment 2 of The Do’s Series is now on the Homepage.

Where has the girl gone and who is queen?

What gift is there to offer?

Hurry.

Be the first to hear:

The new CD.

Things are doing and dancing and playing.

Don’t miss the progress

of the story.

Grandpa Jim

The second segment of the new The Do’s Series will appear here on the Homepage in the next day or two — perhaps sooner.

Be ready to follow our young adventuress to the next stage on her now continuing and complex saga.

Where is she going, and why and what is the relationship between story, song and picture?

Discovery is in the pursuit, and following is the path to knowledge.

Follow LoveJoy and learn more.

Grandpa Jim

Read below or on the Home page.

The opening of The Do’s Series is here with Segment 1.

Meet the mysterious and comely LoveJoy Kickstart and her distant new friend, RhineHold HuffSpot.

Between the two in an unusual setting is an even more unusual presentation of macaroni and musical magic.

How can this be? How can this marvelous thing be?

Think for now and wait for more.

Grandpa Jim

The Do’s Series: Segment 1

Of The Nature of Pasta

© Grandpa Jim

Rain falls straight and thick. All around is leaning wet.

The girl pulls the slicker tight to her body, bends her hooded head, reaches out a tanned hand, rings the bell, and waits.

Scraping sounds follow the heavy door as it cracks open and stops. Yellow light seeps into the night.

At first she sees no one.

“You are not a midget,” a voice states from below.

“Good evening,” she lowers her eyes, “Master Dwarf.”

The smaller person’s brow furrows.

“You are right, my worried halfling, I am not a midget.” The young girl smiles. “Are you looking for a band?”

“A small one, yes.” The dwarf bends and looks past her. “Do you have such? I see no others”

“They are here.” She pats a pocket of the slicker. “I think you will be surprised to see them.”

A puzzled expression crosses the dwarf’s face. He hesitates, pushes the door open, turns, and walks down the hall. “Follow me,” he calls back.

The Music Room is big, no windows, a slightly raised platform at the far end.

The girl points to the stage. “Can we set up there?” The hood of her slicker falls back to reveal flowing chestnut hair.

“Of course.” The dwarf offers an exaggerated bow. “As M’Lady wishes.”

The young woman curtsies politely and flashes long dark eyelashes at the little man. She straightens, strides with sure steps across the room and drops to one knee.

From a slicker pocket, the maiden raises a closed hand and places it on the polished wooden surface. Slowly opening the fingers, she arranges small bent pieces on the surface of the stage. From another pocket, she places a tiny instrument near each.

“What are those bent tan bits?” the dwarf asks and points. “Is that a stringed player?”

“This is a guitar. I’ve placed other instruments here and here. The ‘tan bits’, as you call them, are pasta. For the moment, elbow macaroni.”

“What is ‘pasta’?”

“An ancient food first found in a distant place called ‘China.’ Old tales tell that these pasta macaroni were brought back in the Long Ago by a traveler named ‘Marco Polo.’”

“Marco Polo! I know this name. It is a game. The little ones play it. The blindfolded one says ‘Marco’ and the others must say ‘Polo’. It is how they play.”

“These play.” A small black purse appears in the girl’s hand. Unclasping the lock, she places a thumb and forefinger inside. Lifting the pinched fingers, she rubs them quickly together. Powdery flakes float down.

“Fairy dust?” the dwarf asked.

“Parmesan.”

“Parmesan?”

“A very old cheese. From the land of ‘Italy’ in the Long Ago.”

“Old cheese? The Long Ago? I do not understand.”

Loud music and happy singing rise from the stage:

“Sunday, Monday, Happy Days,

Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days,

Thursday, Friday, Happy Days,

The weekend comes, my cycle hums

Ready to race to you.”

“The Fonz! It is he. A macaroni is now him?” The dwarf drops to his knees, leans closer and squints at the small players. “And the rest of the pasta are now his friends? All playing the tiny instruments?” Head moving up and down, the dwarf’s body shakes and quivers as he hums along to the music, tears streaming down his face. “How can this marvelous thing be? How can it be?”

The music slows and ends. Standing, the dwarf turns to the girl. “My name is RhineHold HuffSpot.” Taking a deep breath, the dwarf pulls himself to his full height and continues. “Are you, Oh Hooded One, now ready to close the space between us and make the contract of agreement?”

“My name is LoveJoy KickStart, Dwarf Master RhineHold HuffSpot, and I am now ready to make the contract of agreement between us.”

The dwarf intones the opening: “Then and thus shall it be said and done in The Do’s Words, which are They The Segments, the binding words of oral agreement in The Now & Present Days.”

The girl and dwarf bow deeply to each other.

“I, RhineHold HuffSpot, now make the offer to you of your task to do. Do you, LoveJoy KickStart, commit to present The Macaroni Band with The Fonz each Tuesday a week at the sitcom gathering of the Family HuffSpot, with acknowledged and agreed times off for glue days and new bread, until our ways do part and this spoken agreement then end?”

“I, LoveJoy KickStart, do accept and commit. And do you, Master Dwarf, commit for the consideration of the contract to make weekly deposits of twenty-four-and-one-half Mr. BoJangles. . . .”

“That is a princely sum!”

LoveJoy continues, “Twenty-four-and-one-half Mr. BoJangles to my account in the Large Place of Tight Sums, until our ways do part and this agreement then end.”

The dwarf hesitates, takes another deep breath and answers. “I do commit.” Head back, eyes to the ceiling, the dwarf sings the ending in a full bass voice. “Be it so pronounced in The Binding Speech of The New & Free Peoples. We are both to each other sealed and contracted. The space is closed and drawn shut. It is done.” He looks down. “They are so small, and their music is so good.”

“And so loud. You will not be disappointed, RhineHold HuffSpot.” From a bag in her hand, the girl sprinkles specks of dust onto the stage.

“More Parmesan?” the dwarf asks.

“Reggiano. Another cheese. To return them to the that, from which and where they were before.”

“I would see.” RhineHold reaches for the bag.

“You may not.” LoveJoy folds her fingers into her hand, protecting the powder. “The Do’s Are Done and The Segments Are Set. This is not of yours.” She places the bag deep in a side pocket of her slicker. Bending, she retrieves the macaroni and playing instruments, and hides both away in other pockets.

“The Band and the Fonz are so small.” The dwarf lord’s words are soft and distant.

“For some, size matters little. This you know well, Dwarf Friend RhineHold HuffSpot.” She shakes her long chestnut hair into the hood of the slicker, pulls the dark covering tight around her thin body and moves with sure, strong steps out of the room, down the long hall to the open door. “For some, size matters little,” echoes back as her figure disappears into the night.

“Your words are true, M’Lady.” The dwarf lord raises a hand to honor the parting.

From the wet outside, he hears her far voice. “Never underestimate The Fonz, Master Dwarf. Never underestimate The Fonz.”

Here follows a video of the Happy Days Theme Song with The Fonz. The picture quality is regrettably poor. These frames are from the Long Age. The sound is sure and as strong and true as that of The Macaroni Band and The Fonz to play next Tuesday a week at the sitcom gathering of the Family HuffSpot. Never underestimate The Fonz. And I would advise all to: Never underestimate LoveJoy Kickstart, either.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W6y7YhHdVE[/embedyt]

A new short story will post soon.

Stay tuned close to this site.

Don’t wander far afield.

LoveJoy KickStart

Is on her way

For a visit

& a

Tune

Or Two

With YOU!

Grandpa Jim

An interval of silence interrupted them.

Goofy ran for the door, hammer in hand, and smashed.

Bugs have been with us forever.

“Does this happen often?”

“What? Oh, sorry. Gosh, no. Yes, I mean sometimes. Where were we?”

“The third question: ‘Why do you think you’d be good at this job?’”

“Right, yep. Let me see now. People say I make them laugh.”

“You’re applying for the position of Agile Scrum Master.”

“That’s it. Yep. And I’m agile. I sure am. That’s me.”

To be “agile” is to be able to move quickly. To be an “Agile” leader in software product development is to practice the “Agile methodology” to facilitate a team to exchange information and quickly accomplish certain defined short-term goals. Think of a pack of rugby players pushing, changing and self-organizing to advance the ball. That’s a “scrum” in the parlance of the rugby game. It is fast moving and adaptive and, at the same time, quite a nice mess. The Agile Product Scrum Master manages the development process, sort of like the coach signaling time, calling the players to the side and quickly allowing the exchange of information without slowing the overall progress toward the goal. You know, we’re all enjoying the products of Agile Scrums today. Simply check your phones, pads and computers for the frequent deliveries of new software updates. Those are the products of the scrumming process, the quick development and delivery of new software products, and that’s what the Scrum Master manages so well.

“Mr. Goofy, are you there?”

“Uh? Uh . . . Uh . . .”

“You seem to be thinking?”

“Think . . . Yep, I was watching a scrum – in my mind. About to call time. Get the team together. Exchange some ideas.”

“Excellent, excellent. That’s just what we’re looking for.”

Goofy has been at this for a long time. He first arrived on the scene in 1932, and he had a bunch to learn. First, he had to get younger and lose the beard. In those earlier scrum cartoons, he was foolish and harmlessly eccentric. With time, he started thinking and acting younger and moving faster. He would always be one of Disney’s most loved characters, and he worked to make the transition from black and white, to color cartoons, TV, movies, cable, hand-held gaming and beyond. I like to think of Goofy as strong, resourceful, plucky and goofy.

“Wonderful. We’ll see you Thursday then.”

“Yes and yep. I’ll be there. . . . Hey! I see you!”

Goofy grabbed the hammer, jerked back and launched the missile through the air, smashing with a deafening crash, deep into the drywall.

“Got ‘em that time. Gotta’ be quick with bugs. Ya’ sure do.”

It is estimated that there are 10 quintillion (10,000,000,000,000,000,000) insects on our planet today. That is a bunch of bugs, but nowhere near the number of bugs inhabiting our software at this very moment. Most are harmless and hardly noticed. There are those, though, that can smash a party and send the guests screaming onto stools, and there are those, even worse, who can crash your operating systems with the blue screens of death. Those are the bugs to be dealt with swiftly and effectively by an Agile Scrum Master and his fast-moving Team. That’s what a Scrum does best, and every Scrum needs a good Scrum Master.

“I get it! You are a genius, Mr. Goofy. What a brilliant exhibition of scrumming. You are exactly the dog for the job. You’ve taught me and those old bugs some new tricks today. Yes, Mr. Goofy, you certainly have. We’ll see you Thursday.”

The recruiter ducked under the hammer protruding from the wall and exited with a smile.

“Yep. I always make ‘em laugh.”

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s_7H3HQcH8[/embedyt]

Now are the Days of The Mall.

As Gandalf lowers the crown to the head of Strider — now King of Gondor, who mumbles a healing song, we hear the soft call in the cool breeze, turn, lift the keys to the car, amble to our transportation and leisurely head to the vast indoor arena of merchandising known in our world as The Mall.

The Mall of Mid-Winter is a comfort, peace and retreat from the rushed wars of the holidays past. Along the long cloistered halls is a noisy lull between the seasons. No grand events are scheduled. The prelude with little anticipation draws a welcome sigh. We go not so much to shop as to wander, wait and watch. A covered coffee in one hand, we sit – gelato in the other, by a shooting fountain, catching sigh of a rainbow in the floating spray above. We brush between the racks of the 65%-off and more sales. The items are more given than purchased. There is no real pressure to buy, and the clerks are smiling. These are the days without a name, The Days of the Mall. Our hearts soar to find so meaningless and meaningful the mindless activity of focused inactivity, and we say a silent prayer that The Mall should always find it so.

Exiting a departmented store, we glimpse The Mall Tree silent in its graceful soaring, naturally ornamented without pretense of false tinsel. Our fingers reach to a pocket with the temptation to write “organic” on a sticky note and affix the title to the base of the botanical wonder.

At our passing, the gaping maw of Tiny Mall Orchid yawns more lap dog at our heels than bark to drive our traffic to the nearest shop.

Even the squinting alien housed in Yellow Alien Orchid is content to offer no real menace at this time of honored amnesty.

Pink Panda Ninja Orchid wings a smile, its chomping teeth at rest until the flags of frenzied flusterment are again unfurled and the recumbent shoppers arouse and launch their next real assault at the retail mart.

On a comforted chair outside a dressing room, we enjoy the rest of Denimed Right Knee — little surprised when our partner emerges not to buy a thing.

With soft white Cactus Dreaming, we bench our ship and gaze without aim at the distant galaxies.

Cactus Dagger on spindle top does not our rest to ruin. We awaken from pause and reverie to the busy bustle of castle mall and the walk of royalty with no need to mend.

One day soon these things will change. Dark rush will again invade these halls. Til’ then, it is good to know that quiet can touch and calm even the most busy of battlefields near our homes.

Still, there can be a sleeping beauty, and it may be good on future trips to be careful about the gaping maw of Tiny Mall Orchid, the spindle tip of Cactus Dagger and all the others.

They may now appear at rest, but a careful shopper is cautious always.

Enjoy the mall — what it can offer and all its risks.

Grandpa Jim