first…Kinky Boots
then…Hello Dolly!
Divine.
Inspiration
Beard of the day
Peace Beard
Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)
‘nough said.
Dreamers
America is a place born of dreamers.
The United States of America is greater when it is open and accepting of new dreamers dreaming their own dream of a better life and a better world.
When we close our minds we cease to grow and we begin to live in fear. It is then when we begin to die and we become irrelevant.
The man in the photo above is a friend who is an immigrant, or as he prefers it emigrant. That photo is of him the day he was sworn in as a citizen in 2002. He came here with $92 in his pocket and before he could get permanent employment he was involved in a motor cycle accident and wound up in the county hospital on the state’s dime. He was told he would probably never walk again.
Today he is a multi millionaire many times over and owns the leading coaching company in the world. He lives here in San Diego and I regularly attend his seminars. Hit play on that video and don’t tell me you didn’t tear up at least once. It’s set to Neil Diamond’s Coming to America.
The point is he had a dream. He came here. He got off to a bad start, but like most first generation immigrants he succeeded. Also, like most of them, he succeeeded very well. He didn’t take an American born citizens job, he hires hundreds of them to run his company. His name is Brian Buffini.
Immigrants made the USA what it is.
Don’t let a small minded fearful bully stop immigrants from making us who we are.
First they came
Capital Treasures 4
After our enjoyable visit at the National Gallery it was time for our appointment at The African American History Museum.
National Museum of African-American History & Culture
Definately an amazing museum and wonderful addition to the Smithsonian, this museum is worth the visit. Still being the new kid on The Mall it was packed and tickets hard to come by. We enjoyed it immensely, but we will make a point to come back at a later date when it isn’t so crowded and can be enjoyed as a Museum of its caliber should be. I know they have a lot of people waiting to get in and that tickets are limited in number, but I think they could do better limiting the number of tickets issued to an even smaller number.
Contemplative Court Waterfall Fountain
The Contemplative Court Waterfall Fountain was worth the trip itself alone. Overwhelming. Fearsome had some tears to catch as I began to sob. Cleansing.
Jackie Robinson #42
Fearsome had more tears to catch as I choked up over Jackie’s jersey. One can see the faint reflection of Fearsome’s San Diego Padres hat in the glass just above the shoulder to the right of the Jackie’s face.
Jackie Robinson is truly an inspirational man of honor. Integrating baseball was not an easy task. Jackies strength was in his own personal restraint and self discipline. Fearsome highly recommends the movie about Jackie’s life. The movie is simply “42”. Jackie is one of Fearsome’s heroes.
Capital Treasures 3
After our time at the Hirshhorn we crossed The Mall to check out have some lunch over at The National Gallery of Art. After sharing a wonderful lunch in the Garden Cafe we discovered their current exhibit Frederic Bazille and the Birth of Impressionism.
Fabulous!
A Pierre-Auguste Renoir on the left of Federic Bazzile painting his Still Life with Heron on right.
Federic Brazil was an early impressionist who came of age with Renoir, Monet, Manet, Cezzane and likes. They were a close group and there are many paintings where they painted the same subjects and each other.
Fearsome stands amount the Beards of the great impressionists.
This last painting above is a Bazille that includes many of his impressionist friends in his studio, Bazille is the tallest standing beside the easel. Bazille’s parents always kept him in a studio in Paris and his young impressionist friends, including Renoir & Monet, often stayed and even lived with him in his various Paris studios. Note the painting on the upper left above the man on the stairs as it is the painting of the male nude featured above.
Bazille joined the Army at 29 years of age and left his young impressionist friends behind to only be tragically killed on his first assignment. He never gained the refinement nor fame that his contemporaries did due to his unfortunate untimely death.
Rumors do swirl around why he left and joined a faction of the army to fight on the front lines. Was he in love with one of his contemporaries that couldn’t be fulfilled? Did he need to get away? Was it almost an act of suicide? Or was he just looking for male companionship in the trenches? Rumors that will never be confirmed.
Homosexuality was quite frowned upon at the time and the place where he and his friends lived and bromanced. His counterparts went on to marry, he ran away. He housed and supported them and maybe it was only friendship. We will never know. We do know that the loss of his life at such a young age deprived the impressionist movement of a budding young talent who had hardly began his journey.
Frederic Bazille
Beard of the day
2Cellos Beards
Any pair of beards that can enjoy life and share such beauty, certainly deserve a Beard of the day slot here on Fearsome Beard. Damn they are inspirational.
Glorious
I fuckin’ love Macklemore
Beautiful.
Inspiration of the day
NYC police officer standing up for human values. May many good people follow his lead. He inspires. He calls himself Huge Fat Loser since he chronicles his weight loss on the internet. He is a winner.
Where it began
I was but a young boy when people like me lived in the shadows.
Stonewall Inn New York NY circa 1969
Thanks to a few courageous souls who had had enough, I’d never really fully know that life they were forced into.
Rebel Alliance
Mayors stand up for what is right, yes this is a link…go ahead click it…you know you want to.
Not just mayors but governors. Good politicians with a moral compass who wish to pass a viable planet on to their children stand up.
The message that made me post a link to that article is that this is not a time to get bitter. Now is the time to lead. Lead by example. Lead with good honest morals. Lead by taking steps to not only meet the standards set for us by the Paris Agreement, but exceed those standards. Lead by taking these steps in each of our daily lives and in our communities, cities and states.
Say “Fuck You” to the weaklings who put personal gain and personal comfort over the love of their fellow man, the planet, the animals, the unborn descendants of us all. Those assholes aren’t leaders, those assholes are spineless greedy selfish cowards.
Don’t let such short sided dimwits make you angry & bitter, that’s what they want. Follow the lead of these courageous Mayors and Governors. Follow the inspired responsible one’s lead, starting with your personal choices and follow them with your support. Together we can un-do any mess and any harm that those that are misguided ignorant narcissistic demagogues dish out.
Love, smiles and purr
Yes Fearsome is posting a cat video, kittens no less. It will make your day a better day.
This is just one of the many reasons we support The San Diego Humane Society. This feature short highlights their kitten nursery that cares for, nurses to health, spays, neuters and manages to find homes for more than 5,000 kittens a year. Yes that is FIVE THOUSAND kittens per year.
The San Diego Humane Society “got to zero” in July 2014 and has remained at zero since that date.
“Zero” means that zero rehabilitatable animals are euthanized by this facility. We are proud to stand with and support such a facility.
Could it be that maybe we are fostering a second Yorkie? Maybe a cousin of Phoebe?
Why yes we are, and her name is Betty!
Betty
Values
“A Nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but it’s lowest ones”― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
“We’re all human, aren’t we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
“Good works is giving to the poor and the helpless, but divine works is showing them their worth.” ― Criss Jami, Killosophy
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”
― Albert Einstein
“No one has ever become poor by giving.”
― Anne Frank, diary of Anne Frank
“Don’t tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value.”
― Joe Biden
“Those who don’t value their words, will never value your wishes.”
― Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words
-Some Fearsome thoughts- …It is time I again contemplated values. My values, good values, value of others, value of the material and value of the spiritual. Contemplation helps me to re-enforce my core beliefs and personal morals. I post these quotes for inspiration from words that resonate with me.
I’ve found in my life that by living my values, I lead by example. In some way we all lead others and in some way we all follow others. I sincerely hope I follow good ones and that those I lead have found a good leader. Each day I must try to simply do my best. I must strive to do good and share goodness.
We can each make the world a better place. We simply have to start with ourselves and start right where we are.
Why not start right now?
Joe Biden stands with us
If you are so inclined to believe in equality and respect for all, please consider reading Joe Biden’s latest Washington Post Editorial.
Thank you Joe Biden for being a man of reason, integrity and respect. We are grateful that you are a part of our culture and our lives. Keep up the good work leading by example with true American values.
Finding words
Is it that I don’t have anything to say? No I really don’t think it is that.
Is it that I am too rushed and don’t set aside time? Very possibly.
Could it possible be finding the words to express myself? Most likely.
I have a lot to say. By saying it through the written word I go deeper. When writing I learn. Expressing myself through writing helps me explore me.
Why oh why don’t I stop more often and write? Why don’t I discipline myself? Is it possible to make it a habit?
Since starting Fearsome Beard I have learned more about myself as well as grown in ways I never expected, it was all through writing. I had never written before in my life. I have never journaled, kept a diary, written prose nor hardly ever even written a letter. I recorded nothing.
Posting pictures of a beard seems like a daily place holder. I’m not saying that posting those beards isn’t. However I do have to find them and I do usually post one that reflects a thought or mood or at least a fondness I am feeling. I also caption them ever so slightly with a word or two. It’s a good daily habit as it brings me here and it does take effort. Effort no matter how minimal.
Writing takes a bit more effort and often requires a little inspiration. I have found that the more I do it, the easier it is. Finding words is an art that comes easier and easier with practice and habit.
I guess my contemplation on this cool San Diego evening is a thoughtful challenge to myself, to express myself through written word more often. I do not want to get so caught up in the whirlwind of my daily life that I forget me.
I love blogging.
With gratitude
Ellen,
I am unable to Thank You enough for your strength and courage.
What is the key?
It’s you.
May the force always be hers
Beautiful…
Thanks Carrie for helping this little boy dream.
An Angel
There is no mistake that Dolly is one of my many angels.
I’ve known this since that time I first ever remember hearing her voice come from the lone single rear speaker of that AM radio in the back of my mother’s white 1967 Buick as dad drove us through darkness along the back roads of Tennessee. That night we were en-route to visit mom’s family out in cotton country along the mighty Mississippi.
Dolly was singing her ‘Jolene’ that long dark night. I can remember the warmth, care and love in her voice as if it were yesterday. I’ve loved her ever since. I know to my core she loves me too. That’s just Dolly. She is pure love.
Dolly Parton, Peace Train.
