Jeff Herwatt's Daily Missive!

Today Dean and I went north to Occidental to pickup plants at a plant sale.  And after the sale Dean took me on a Garden Tour of a very old (40+ years) garden at the Western Hill Nursery.  Enjoy some of the interesting plants we saw.

I grew up in the 70's.  As a child I remember Gas Rationing, I remember long lines, and Odd days and Even days.  I remember fights breaking out at the gas pumps, but I remember gas only being $0.30 a gallon.  I remember the Gas Crisis in the early 80's, when I was in Basic Training, and went for Christmas with my uncle and Aunt in Tennessee.  I remember the OUTRAGE back then, that the Gas Crisis was just an attempt b y the Gas Companies to push the Prices up OVER A DOLLAR A GALLON!  Then I shipped out to Germany, and had to deal with gas prices in Europe, which in the early 80's were over $3 a GALLON, OUTRAGEOUS.  And now, some 20 years later we are looking at $4 a gallon here in the states.  Can you believe it!

Gas Prices in San Francisco reach a new High

Sometimes meaning comes from the most unexpected places, but you see it and recognize it for what it is, a glimpse of what is real and what is important. Sometimes the message is powerful enough that it dramatically impacts or even changes your life. Sometimes you might eve n better understand yourself or your life from a message in a bottle, or this case a window.

5/2/08 message in a window...

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean.  Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others.  Use the power of your word in the direction of the truth and love.

from The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book by Don Miguel Ruiz

Nothing other do is because of  you.  What others say and do is a reflection and projection of their own reality, their own dream, their own drama.  When you aqre immune to the opinions and actions of others you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

from The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book by Don Miguel Ruiz

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when yopu are healthy as opposed toi when you are sick.  Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse and regret.

From The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book by Don Miguel Ruiz 

Find the courage to ask questions and express what you really want.  Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings; sadness and drama.  With just this agreement, you can completely transform your life.

From The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book by Don Miguel Ruiz

Today at japan town in san francisco there was a major police ptesents. There must have been 10 to 1f police per block along the parade route.

4/20/08 major police presents cherry blossom parade

Today's realities are war, crime, hunger, sickness, aging - to mention a few.  But my born again Christian friends tell me their is reason to hope.  "Look towards the future," they tell me.  "The bible tells us of a 'of new heavens and a new earth."  They tell me that the righteous ill dwell therein.  I have always struggled with this "new heaven' and new earth thing.  I mean weren't the current heaven and earth made perfect and for all times,  They have always said the new earth will be a "perfect righteous society" and the new heaven will be a "perfect heavenly kingdom", well, I am still trying to figure out how God created these flawed ones, and if he made a mistake once, how do we know he won't blow it again?  And if God has figured out his error and can fix it so it doesn't happen in the next version, why isn't he correcting the version we live in?

People do not seem to understand the magnitude of their creative power, they do do use it actively, and therefore see themselves as victims. They pray for luck, bargain with the universe, and see others as the source of their pain and joy. Their attention is directed outward. They are tossed by their experiences like a leaf on the wind, going where ever it takes them. Never realizing the have a choice, and at any moment can stop being a leaf and start being the captain of their voyage, chosing the destinations