Aloha from sunny California,
Thank goodness for my folks. Mom and Dad have made dealing with cancer nearly tolerable and continue to help me with life on a daily basis.
The physical, mental, spiritual, financial, and mental aspects of dealing with a hideous disease can seem insurmountable at times. So much so that I need to draw upon the Ancient Texts from a Galaxy far, far, away from a time long, long ago. My teacher Yoda said to me in the swamp of eternal muck, stench, and despair, “For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes.” Yes, Yoda has some good insights on life.
Excerpts from “Invisible Sun” from “Ghost in the Machine”, the Police
“It’s dark all day, and it glows all night
I face the day with me head caved in
Looking like something that the cat brought in
I don’t ever want to play the part
Of a statistic on a government chart
There has to be an invisible sun
It gives its heat to everyone
There has to be an invisible sun
That gives us hope when the whole days done”
As you can clearly see by my writing, the events of the last year have turned me into a basket case. I wanted to use the Police’s “King of Pain” lyrics in this post but I did not feel clever enough to write,
The MRI shows a new little light spot on my right temporal lobe of my brain today.
The spot could be dead tumor but we do not know for sure.
My current therapy may be working just perfectly to cure the glioblastoma multiforme in my skull.
There is a hopeful technology that creates a virus from my tumor and white blood cells. The virus technology makes sense to me and is being used in a clinical trial.
I have so many good people in my life I want to live for.
I love life and I want to live.
There is always hope if only a fool’s hope.
Tom Petty, “I Won’t Back Down”, Full Moon Fever
“Well I won't back down, no I won't back down
you could stand me up at the gates of hell
but I won't back down
Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around
and I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
gonna stand my ground and I won't back down
Well I know what's right, I got just one life
in a world that keeps on pushin' me around
but I'll stand my ground and I won't back down
Hey baby there ain't no easy way out
hey I will stand my ground
and I won't back down
No, I won't back down”
Peace and Love everyone.
I am bouncing off the ropes and feel good. My life and quality of life are good. I do appreciate the help and prayers. I believe having something to live for makes for a beautiful world and by golly, gee willakers, test, test, sibilance, sibilance, I love life and I am looking forward to catching a beautiful rainbow trout and releasing it unharmed back to the river.
The Alarm, "Strength' Lyrics,
Who will light the fire
That I need to survive
Who will be the life blood
Coursing through my veins
Like a river flowing
That will never change
Someone write me a letter
I need to know that I'm still alive
Someone give me a telephone call
I need to hear a human sound
Someone open up a door
And let me out of this place
I've been caged up for oh so long
I don't know if I'm living or dying
GIVE ME LOVE
GIVE ME HOPE
GIVE ME STRENGTH
GIVE ME SOMEONE TO LIVE FOR
Be well,
Jack “Never Quit” Burton
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Ancient Texts, MRI Results, Surgery, Gandhi, Wild Mountain Yoga, Thank you Dubya, Seat of the Teacher: Breathe, All You Need Is Love
Greetings from Sunny California!
I consulted the Ancient Texts and learned something or perhaps relearned something. “When in doubt, follow the 3 S’s of Anusara Yoga – Shri, Satya, and Svantantrya. Do what is life affirming, truthful, and freedom-enhancing.” That is more complicated than my decision and action process which is based on who and what I love. What I love is life affirming, truthful, and freedom-enhancing. When doing stuff like teaching yoga I think using the 3 S’s gives focus to my teaching and more clarity to the lessons.
My MRI results were interesting. There is a new image on the results that indicates that we will have an MRI next month when no MRI was scheduled. The image could be showing dead tumor from the radiation treatments in December, January, and February. That is what I think the spot the size of a dime is in the area I received the greatest dose of radiation. The spot could also be showing stuff that gives me the “heebie jeebies” so I will not give any energy to those thoughts. My University of California Doctors are happy with the results of my current treatment. I shared some of my metaphysical concerns with my doctors and what I am feeling is not brain tumor induced but part of the normal human experience.
The spot in my right temporal lobe shown in my recent MRI has me energized to ride my bicycle more and do yoga more. If the spot indicates surgery down the road I choose to be as strong and healthy as possible. I am in good shape now but there are several yoga postures I would like to manifest more beautifully. My latest physical goal is to be able to rest the crown of my head on the soul of my foot while balancing on one leg. Will I reach this goal by my birthday? "Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the result", Mahatmas Gandhi. Jack Burton has a long way to go which is so very cool that I get to experience so much improvement in my balance, strength, flexibility, and determination.
I learned an interesting factoid about my emergency craniotomy surgery that Dr. Frankenstein performed on my brain on November 21, 2007. My surgery was a good surgery but more conservative than if I had the surgery done at let’s say Duke or UCSF Medical Centers. However if I would have had surgery at one of those institutions, there would be a much greater chance now that my eyesight would be impaired. I believe I had exactly the correct surgery for me. Thank you Dr. Frankenshtone. I love my vision and thank you Artemis for going to Canada with me for my Waveform Lasik surgery before the technology was approved by the United States FDA.
I completed my second yoga class in Nevada City, California at Wild Mountain Yoga. The instructors are good and the students are nice. It is fun for me to experience new styles of yoga and yoga teachers. I think my fellow Anusara Yoga practitioners would enjoy yoga at Wild Mountain Yoga. I am experiencing as many yoga instructors as I can now that I am on a path to being a certified yoga instructor. I will probably certify in Anusara because the teaching methodology and practice is gorgeous and feels good to me and has freedom for the practitioners.
Below is a paraphrase of an entertaining article I want to include in this post for my gentle readers, http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford/ .
"Thank you Dubya for your embarrassing rejection of science, your refusal to support any climate change initiative, for furthering the war-for-oil agenda, for blocking stem-cell research, for serving all your masters in Big Energy, Big Agribusiness, Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Auto. Thanks for gutting the Constitution and front-loading the courts and trying to hack away at women's rights, gay marriage, privacy rights and on and on.
Because it turns out, inviting all that darkness and corruption and holding back all the energy of progress and change is less about hastening the Second Coming (sorry, better luck next time), and more like pulling back on a slingshot. It just gets tighter and tighter and the pressure builds until eventually you just gotta let go, and then boom — or I should say, Obama.
Maybe King George is exactly what we needed. Maybe Bush's brand of frighteningly inept politicking has been just the right kind of sociocultural emetic to induce a true purge of our congested system, just the thing to finally snap us out of our lethargy. Hell, sometimes you gotta go deep into the darkness to realize just how much you need the light.
So thank you, George, for exemplifying and embodying everything that's wrong with the neocon agenda, for serving as the final death knell of the failed conservative movement, of a once-noble Republican Party that's run out of ideas and has turned bitter and nasty and paranoid.
Thank you, Dubya, for setting the stage for Obama and Hillary. Because the truth is, even as recently as eight years ago, if you'd have asked if we as a nation would be anywhere near ready for a female or black president, it would have felt incredibly premature, a good 20 years off before we could entertain such an idea. But so potent has been the recoil against everything you stood for — the misogyny, homophobia, classism, fear of "the other," of foreigners and minorities and alternative beliefs — that we are ready to be inspired and reinvigorated sooner than anyone thought possible.
Thank you, George W. Bush
Without your dark and spectacular failures, we wouldn't be so ready to leap forward. Kudos!"
By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist
Friday, June 13, 2008
Jack Burton commends Mark Morford on his fairness and restraint in commenting on King George the duly, U.S. Supreme Court appointed President of the United States of America. I think King George should feel what it is like to be in Guantanamo for the rest of his natural life. George can go to jail after his presidency because tricky Dick may be able to do more harm than Mr. Mission Accomplished. What do you think about water boarding and electro shock you spineless, thin lipped, beady eyed coward? I suppose Jack Burton can be a little more divisive that Mark Morford. I feel good about the restraint I used in this post on my thoughts and feelings towards a very despicable manifestation of a human being. I suppose my comments about George "Silver Spoon Up His Butt" Bush has just put my home on the Office of Homeland Security's Threat Level Red. That's OK. I see color and do not typically solve problems with black or white, yes or no, this or that, and with us or against us dogma. I believe in an abundance of solutions to issues and my tool box has many tools I wield skillfully. I suppose that is why I am employed as a problem solver.
Seat of the Teacher:
Take a deep breath and hold briefly at the top of your inhale. Fully exhale and return to your natural breathing rhythm. Notice the bright green new leaves of Spring on the trees. Listen to the songs of the birds and the calls of the crows and Stellar Jays. Are you fortunate to hear the screams of the Osprey fishing? Feel each breath bring new energy and goodness into your being. Direct the goodness to parts of your being you wish to make strong, compassionate, loving, more free, or more stable. Life is good. Breathe.
Peace and Love,
Jack Burton
All You Need Is Love
The Beatles
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.
There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be in time
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
I consulted the Ancient Texts and learned something or perhaps relearned something. “When in doubt, follow the 3 S’s of Anusara Yoga – Shri, Satya, and Svantantrya. Do what is life affirming, truthful, and freedom-enhancing.” That is more complicated than my decision and action process which is based on who and what I love. What I love is life affirming, truthful, and freedom-enhancing. When doing stuff like teaching yoga I think using the 3 S’s gives focus to my teaching and more clarity to the lessons.
My MRI results were interesting. There is a new image on the results that indicates that we will have an MRI next month when no MRI was scheduled. The image could be showing dead tumor from the radiation treatments in December, January, and February. That is what I think the spot the size of a dime is in the area I received the greatest dose of radiation. The spot could also be showing stuff that gives me the “heebie jeebies” so I will not give any energy to those thoughts. My University of California Doctors are happy with the results of my current treatment. I shared some of my metaphysical concerns with my doctors and what I am feeling is not brain tumor induced but part of the normal human experience.
The spot in my right temporal lobe shown in my recent MRI has me energized to ride my bicycle more and do yoga more. If the spot indicates surgery down the road I choose to be as strong and healthy as possible. I am in good shape now but there are several yoga postures I would like to manifest more beautifully. My latest physical goal is to be able to rest the crown of my head on the soul of my foot while balancing on one leg. Will I reach this goal by my birthday? "Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the result", Mahatmas Gandhi. Jack Burton has a long way to go which is so very cool that I get to experience so much improvement in my balance, strength, flexibility, and determination.
I learned an interesting factoid about my emergency craniotomy surgery that Dr. Frankenstein performed on my brain on November 21, 2007. My surgery was a good surgery but more conservative than if I had the surgery done at let’s say Duke or UCSF Medical Centers. However if I would have had surgery at one of those institutions, there would be a much greater chance now that my eyesight would be impaired. I believe I had exactly the correct surgery for me. Thank you Dr. Frankenshtone. I love my vision and thank you Artemis for going to Canada with me for my Waveform Lasik surgery before the technology was approved by the United States FDA.
I completed my second yoga class in Nevada City, California at Wild Mountain Yoga. The instructors are good and the students are nice. It is fun for me to experience new styles of yoga and yoga teachers. I think my fellow Anusara Yoga practitioners would enjoy yoga at Wild Mountain Yoga. I am experiencing as many yoga instructors as I can now that I am on a path to being a certified yoga instructor. I will probably certify in Anusara because the teaching methodology and practice is gorgeous and feels good to me and has freedom for the practitioners.
Below is a paraphrase of an entertaining article I want to include in this post for my gentle readers, http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford/ .
"Thank you Dubya for your embarrassing rejection of science, your refusal to support any climate change initiative, for furthering the war-for-oil agenda, for blocking stem-cell research, for serving all your masters in Big Energy, Big Agribusiness, Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Auto. Thanks for gutting the Constitution and front-loading the courts and trying to hack away at women's rights, gay marriage, privacy rights and on and on.
Because it turns out, inviting all that darkness and corruption and holding back all the energy of progress and change is less about hastening the Second Coming (sorry, better luck next time), and more like pulling back on a slingshot. It just gets tighter and tighter and the pressure builds until eventually you just gotta let go, and then boom — or I should say, Obama.
Maybe King George is exactly what we needed. Maybe Bush's brand of frighteningly inept politicking has been just the right kind of sociocultural emetic to induce a true purge of our congested system, just the thing to finally snap us out of our lethargy. Hell, sometimes you gotta go deep into the darkness to realize just how much you need the light.
So thank you, George, for exemplifying and embodying everything that's wrong with the neocon agenda, for serving as the final death knell of the failed conservative movement, of a once-noble Republican Party that's run out of ideas and has turned bitter and nasty and paranoid.
Thank you, Dubya, for setting the stage for Obama and Hillary. Because the truth is, even as recently as eight years ago, if you'd have asked if we as a nation would be anywhere near ready for a female or black president, it would have felt incredibly premature, a good 20 years off before we could entertain such an idea. But so potent has been the recoil against everything you stood for — the misogyny, homophobia, classism, fear of "the other," of foreigners and minorities and alternative beliefs — that we are ready to be inspired and reinvigorated sooner than anyone thought possible.
Thank you, George W. Bush
Without your dark and spectacular failures, we wouldn't be so ready to leap forward. Kudos!"
By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist
Friday, June 13, 2008
Jack Burton commends Mark Morford on his fairness and restraint in commenting on King George the duly, U.S. Supreme Court appointed President of the United States of America. I think King George should feel what it is like to be in Guantanamo for the rest of his natural life. George can go to jail after his presidency because tricky Dick may be able to do more harm than Mr. Mission Accomplished. What do you think about water boarding and electro shock you spineless, thin lipped, beady eyed coward? I suppose Jack Burton can be a little more divisive that Mark Morford. I feel good about the restraint I used in this post on my thoughts and feelings towards a very despicable manifestation of a human being. I suppose my comments about George "Silver Spoon Up His Butt" Bush has just put my home on the Office of Homeland Security's Threat Level Red. That's OK. I see color and do not typically solve problems with black or white, yes or no, this or that, and with us or against us dogma. I believe in an abundance of solutions to issues and my tool box has many tools I wield skillfully. I suppose that is why I am employed as a problem solver.
Seat of the Teacher:
Take a deep breath and hold briefly at the top of your inhale. Fully exhale and return to your natural breathing rhythm. Notice the bright green new leaves of Spring on the trees. Listen to the songs of the birds and the calls of the crows and Stellar Jays. Are you fortunate to hear the screams of the Osprey fishing? Feel each breath bring new energy and goodness into your being. Direct the goodness to parts of your being you wish to make strong, compassionate, loving, more free, or more stable. Life is good. Breathe.
Peace and Love,
Jack Burton
All You Need Is Love
The Beatles
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.
There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be in time
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Consider All the Possibilities, Valium Induced Magnet Ride on Friday, Baby Blessing, Wild Mountain Yoga
Aloha!
I caught a funny commercial the other day that made me laugh out loud. The commercial was for some bone headed Investment Company or pharmaceutical company and had a slogan something like, “Anticipate All the Possibilities”. This is Jack “No Limits” Burton’s response to obvious misuse of the English language.
No Limits
How may we imagine or predict all the possibilities?
W assist each other realize what is possible.
We show each other a world of infinite possibilities without limitations.
A thousand trillion human lifetimes may only faintly illuminate some of what is possible.
Visualize a beautiful possibility for those you love.
Let us follow our hearts and find divine bliss.
I get to sit in a noisy, clunky, cold, magnet for nearly 2 hours this Friday morning and drop a blue valium. Woohoooo! Oh sure, valium is fun. Actually I hardly notice the valium at all. I basically meditate and practice yogic breathing, pranyama, the whole time I am in the magnet. I will visualize the tumor leaving my body and my brain being healthy.
Two of the most physically and metaphysically beautiful people I know have completed the holy trinity. They are due for a baby in July. I went to a baby shower/blessing for them and it was way cool. I met several people there and had a good time. I gave a one word blessing and the word was “Love”. Of course it took Jack “No Loss For Words” Burton about 5 minutes to set up and deliver the one word blessing to the nearly captive audience of about 40 people. Long Live Love!
While I am in California I got a four day pass to do yoga at Wild Mountain Yoga in Nevada City. My first class was very good. It was a BKS Iyengar style and fun. It is going to take me awhile to accumulate my 200 hours of yoga teaching to become a certified yoga teacher so I am experiencing as many teachers as I can. I have learned something from every teacher.
Peace and Love,
Jack Burton
“Our inability to forget is far more devastating than our inability to remember.” Mark Twain
I caught a funny commercial the other day that made me laugh out loud. The commercial was for some bone headed Investment Company or pharmaceutical company and had a slogan something like, “Anticipate All the Possibilities”. This is Jack “No Limits” Burton’s response to obvious misuse of the English language.
No Limits
How may we imagine or predict all the possibilities?
W assist each other realize what is possible.
We show each other a world of infinite possibilities without limitations.
A thousand trillion human lifetimes may only faintly illuminate some of what is possible.
Visualize a beautiful possibility for those you love.
Let us follow our hearts and find divine bliss.
I get to sit in a noisy, clunky, cold, magnet for nearly 2 hours this Friday morning and drop a blue valium. Woohoooo! Oh sure, valium is fun. Actually I hardly notice the valium at all. I basically meditate and practice yogic breathing, pranyama, the whole time I am in the magnet. I will visualize the tumor leaving my body and my brain being healthy.
Two of the most physically and metaphysically beautiful people I know have completed the holy trinity. They are due for a baby in July. I went to a baby shower/blessing for them and it was way cool. I met several people there and had a good time. I gave a one word blessing and the word was “Love”. Of course it took Jack “No Loss For Words” Burton about 5 minutes to set up and deliver the one word blessing to the nearly captive audience of about 40 people. Long Live Love!
While I am in California I got a four day pass to do yoga at Wild Mountain Yoga in Nevada City. My first class was very good. It was a BKS Iyengar style and fun. It is going to take me awhile to accumulate my 200 hours of yoga teaching to become a certified yoga teacher so I am experiencing as many teachers as I can. I have learned something from every teacher.
Peace and Love,
Jack Burton
“Our inability to forget is far more devastating than our inability to remember.” Mark Twain
Friday, June 6, 2008
Honored To Be Placed in the Seat of the Teacher, Laughing, Mom, Rock is Heavy, John F. Kennedy, A Farewell to Kings, Yoga, Ted Kennedy
Aloha!
I taught my second yoga class ever on Tuesday. I am honored to teach about 20 yoga students of varying experience. Teaching yoga is different than practicing. I accomplished my intention for class which is to safely make people feel good, make them aware of their innate strength, grace, power, and beauty and challenge everyone while not overwhelming beginners.
I encourage my students to laugh. I think I was demonstrating half moon pose, tree, standing hand to toe, or a bound side angle pose and I said something like, “Now we will do the other side” which elicited some laughter from some of the students that toppled over in the forest as we were doing some tricky balancing. I think three times I used the line, “Now to make the posture more advanced and bring your practice to the next level, smile.” It was fun and I look forward to teaching my next class.
Mom has been taking great care of me. She is a wonderful roommate, house keeper, cook, gardener, landscaper and friend. We had our first yard debris burn Saturday and the coals lasted until Monday. We burnt allot of yard debris.
My neighbor is selling her home after her recent divorce and has donated some river rock and some rotten wood to me free for the hauling. Rock is heavy.
John F. Kennedy said something like and I am only cleaning up the sexist language in this paraphrase, “Today’s problems will not be solved by cynics and skeptics that are limited by obvious realities. We can build a future from people who dream of things that never were.
I was listening to Rush’s Album, “A Farewell to Kings” the other day and I will share a couple of excerpts.
A Farewell to Kings and Closer to the Heart
When they turn the pages of history will they read of us with sadness,
and the seeds that we let grow.
Cities full of hatred, fear, and lies.
Scheming demons dressed in kingly guise.
The hypocrisies are slandering the sacred halls of truth.
Ancient nobles showering their bitterness on youth.
Can’t we find the minds that made us strong?
Can’t we learn to feel what’s right from wrong?
And those that hold high places, must be the ones to start.
To mold a new reality, closer to the heart.
Yoga is all about expressing goodness and beauty from the heart.
Despite the horrible, sensational, journalism you may be reading about Ted Kennedy, I have hope for a cure for me. Sometimes cancer is cured, even glioblastoma multiforme. It is true that generally doctors talk about treatment rather than a cure because that is the reality for many patients. Fortunately, Jack Burton is not a statistic. Jack Burton is a person with many good people surrounding him for support. I do have and edge on some others afflicted with terrible diseases. I have learned to tap into the goodness that surrounds me which gives me power, courage, strength, speed, and some whacky visualizations about condors and vultures eating dead cancer cells. I may have to send the vultures after cholesterol soon. My cholesterol and triglycerides are all in the healthy, excellent range as last week’s blood test proves. I may just send the visualizations off to other patient’s that may need help after I am cured soon.
Peace and Love,
Jack Burton
I taught my second yoga class ever on Tuesday. I am honored to teach about 20 yoga students of varying experience. Teaching yoga is different than practicing. I accomplished my intention for class which is to safely make people feel good, make them aware of their innate strength, grace, power, and beauty and challenge everyone while not overwhelming beginners.
I encourage my students to laugh. I think I was demonstrating half moon pose, tree, standing hand to toe, or a bound side angle pose and I said something like, “Now we will do the other side” which elicited some laughter from some of the students that toppled over in the forest as we were doing some tricky balancing. I think three times I used the line, “Now to make the posture more advanced and bring your practice to the next level, smile.” It was fun and I look forward to teaching my next class.
Mom has been taking great care of me. She is a wonderful roommate, house keeper, cook, gardener, landscaper and friend. We had our first yard debris burn Saturday and the coals lasted until Monday. We burnt allot of yard debris.
My neighbor is selling her home after her recent divorce and has donated some river rock and some rotten wood to me free for the hauling. Rock is heavy.
John F. Kennedy said something like and I am only cleaning up the sexist language in this paraphrase, “Today’s problems will not be solved by cynics and skeptics that are limited by obvious realities. We can build a future from people who dream of things that never were.
I was listening to Rush’s Album, “A Farewell to Kings” the other day and I will share a couple of excerpts.
A Farewell to Kings and Closer to the Heart
When they turn the pages of history will they read of us with sadness,
and the seeds that we let grow.
Cities full of hatred, fear, and lies.
Scheming demons dressed in kingly guise.
The hypocrisies are slandering the sacred halls of truth.
Ancient nobles showering their bitterness on youth.
Can’t we find the minds that made us strong?
Can’t we learn to feel what’s right from wrong?
And those that hold high places, must be the ones to start.
To mold a new reality, closer to the heart.
Yoga is all about expressing goodness and beauty from the heart.
Despite the horrible, sensational, journalism you may be reading about Ted Kennedy, I have hope for a cure for me. Sometimes cancer is cured, even glioblastoma multiforme. It is true that generally doctors talk about treatment rather than a cure because that is the reality for many patients. Fortunately, Jack Burton is not a statistic. Jack Burton is a person with many good people surrounding him for support. I do have and edge on some others afflicted with terrible diseases. I have learned to tap into the goodness that surrounds me which gives me power, courage, strength, speed, and some whacky visualizations about condors and vultures eating dead cancer cells. I may have to send the vultures after cholesterol soon. My cholesterol and triglycerides are all in the healthy, excellent range as last week’s blood test proves. I may just send the visualizations off to other patient’s that may need help after I am cured soon.
Peace and Love,
Jack Burton
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Saturday Market, Clean Water, Yoga, Teaching Yoga, Dogs, No End In Sight, I think I am going to be a Presidential Appointee
Aloha!
Saturday Market last week was fun. I hung out for an hour while I was waiting for my Mom’s Amtrak train. I bought Mom a way cool set of earrings made out of recycled materials that will be perfect for the Fourth of July. Mom likes the earings.
I met Judy who is a five year colon cancer survivor at the market. Judy and I know what causes cancer is unclean air, water, and food. So what if there are other factors that may contribute to cancer formation? Are clean air, food, and water things most human beings value? Perhaps the best way to cure cancer globally is to prevent it? I just love inhaling a nice big breath of ionized McKenzie River Valley air while drinking a nice cold glass of my clean well water. I have been eating the food with food in it and not the food with artifial colors, flavoring, preservatives or other artificial food.
I have been taking as yoga classes as I have opportunities to. I am experiencing as many teachers as possible. I have a great admiration for the teachers who teach in the Anusara tradition.
I have taught one yoga class to about 20 people. Next Tuesday I teach my second class. It is my honor to be placed in the position of the teacher. I teach in the Anusara tradition and incorporate much of the Ashtanga teachings when sequencing postures. Next class I am going to walk around and offer individual refinements to students’ postures. I like offering suggestions to students to help them more fully manifest their asana.
My dogs are doing great. Salena is a little stiff in the mornings and on some of our walks but the 12 year old girl looks good and is happy. Mojo is awesome and is always ready to go for whatever. Mom put together a nice fruit plate for my neighbor that has been taking care of my dogs.
I saw a good documentary on the Iraq War titled “No End In Sight”. It documents many of the decisions made and the results of the decisions. One of the decisions mad was the presidential appointment of Jerry Bremer.
Jerry Bremer is trained in the art of culinary cooking and taught cooking classes in Vermont before being called to duty in Iraq[12]. From his extensive travels throughout the world, Bremer has mentioned that his favorite cuisines include French, Middle Eastern, and Chinese cuisines. He is also interested in gardening, and he owns a vegetable garden.
What are the salaries of presidential appointees? Presidential appointees are paid according to the Executive Schedule. There are five salary levels, ranging from $114,500 to $157,000. Of course there is per diem, all expenses paid travel for the appointee and family members, way good parties, etc.
Peace and Love,
Jack Burton
Saturday Market last week was fun. I hung out for an hour while I was waiting for my Mom’s Amtrak train. I bought Mom a way cool set of earrings made out of recycled materials that will be perfect for the Fourth of July. Mom likes the earings.
I met Judy who is a five year colon cancer survivor at the market. Judy and I know what causes cancer is unclean air, water, and food. So what if there are other factors that may contribute to cancer formation? Are clean air, food, and water things most human beings value? Perhaps the best way to cure cancer globally is to prevent it? I just love inhaling a nice big breath of ionized McKenzie River Valley air while drinking a nice cold glass of my clean well water. I have been eating the food with food in it and not the food with artifial colors, flavoring, preservatives or other artificial food.
I have been taking as yoga classes as I have opportunities to. I am experiencing as many teachers as possible. I have a great admiration for the teachers who teach in the Anusara tradition.
I have taught one yoga class to about 20 people. Next Tuesday I teach my second class. It is my honor to be placed in the position of the teacher. I teach in the Anusara tradition and incorporate much of the Ashtanga teachings when sequencing postures. Next class I am going to walk around and offer individual refinements to students’ postures. I like offering suggestions to students to help them more fully manifest their asana.
My dogs are doing great. Salena is a little stiff in the mornings and on some of our walks but the 12 year old girl looks good and is happy. Mojo is awesome and is always ready to go for whatever. Mom put together a nice fruit plate for my neighbor that has been taking care of my dogs.
I saw a good documentary on the Iraq War titled “No End In Sight”. It documents many of the decisions made and the results of the decisions. One of the decisions mad was the presidential appointment of Jerry Bremer.
Jerry Bremer is trained in the art of culinary cooking and taught cooking classes in Vermont before being called to duty in Iraq[12]. From his extensive travels throughout the world, Bremer has mentioned that his favorite cuisines include French, Middle Eastern, and Chinese cuisines. He is also interested in gardening, and he owns a vegetable garden.
What are the salaries of presidential appointees? Presidential appointees are paid according to the Executive Schedule. There are five salary levels, ranging from $114,500 to $157,000. Of course there is per diem, all expenses paid travel for the appointee and family members, way good parties, etc.
Peace and Love,
Jack Burton
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day, John F. Kennedy, Strength, Gratitude, Alone with my thoughts, I am not alone, Eugene Riverbend Annex
This Memorial Day, I would like to paraphrase one of John F. Kennedy’s inspiring quotes that give me hope. “The world’s problems will not be solved by people whose horizons are limited by obvious realities that make them cynical and skeptical. We need people who can dream of things that never were.” Kennedy’s wording was good but I think his wording was limiting. Just because something has always been a certain way, does not mean it needs to remain so. Is it better to give up essential liberty for a margin of security? Jack Burton does not do better when better is not good. Jack Burton does good. Guess what, we can have liberty, security, peace and love. We are American. We are citizens of the world. We can dream of and make a peaceful, loving world that has never existed on Earth. I am a veteran of the U.S. Army and I do support the troops. I want to see our military people safe and in fact, every being of the world safe and "free".
I’ll share one other Kennedy quote/paraphrase that I read and then I am off into a more personal, factual, ramble of a blog entry.
“The United States has a special, threefold responsibility:
- A responsibility to our citizens
- A responsibility to the world that are effected by our decisions
- A responsibility to the next generation of humanity”
I was going to paraphrase John Kennedy more but I did not think it was useful and in fact distracted from John's beatiful sentiment.
Foremost, I would like to express my gratitude for my friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, care givers whether they be past or present. Lyrics from a song sang by the Alarm in the mid 1980’s come to my mind. The song is a beautiful, hard driving song and I recommend a listen to those who enjoy the rock and roll genre. Below are excerpts from the song.
The Alarm, “Strength” lyrics from the Album Strength released in 1985.
Who will light the fire
That I need to survive
Who will be the life blood
Coursing through my veins
Someone write me a letter
I need to know that I'm still alive
Someone give me a telephone call
I need to hear a human sound
Someone open up a door
And let me out of this place
GIVE ME LOVE
GIVE ME HOPE
GIVE ME STRENGTH
GIVE ME SOMEONE TO LIVE FOR
Thank you all for the love hope and strength. Thank you for giving me so very much to live for. Oh sure, I may make the effort to survive cancer look easy, fun, sexy, and perhaps even effortless. If you are not laughing out loud, I am in between winces because I have just bit my tongue that was planted firmly in my cheek. I suppose I am feeling a bit of the weight of the scary cancer diagnosis, the emergency brain surgery the day before Thanksgiving, a week in the hospital during Thanksgiving, 33 confining radiation treatments, 1 hour and a half long, clunky, noisy, Magnetic Imaging Resonance (MRI) rides every other month, daily chemotherapy since 3 days before Christmas, and medical bills up the yoohoo.
Being alone with my thoughts 44 miles away from the nearest, lighted traffic signal with only two, elderly, lovely, German Shepherd Dogs to share a roof with can be an unhealthy thing. I have found that too much time to ponder life’s trials allows the mind to wander into unproductive areas of being. Too much time can give the mind time to wander and wonder what is physically going on between a human being’s ears. Is what I am feeling side effects from my powerful medications that could be doing damage to healthy brain tissue? Is what I am feeling cancer growing at an alarming rate? Is what I am feeling damage done by enormous strength? These are probably normal feelings.
However, I have the support of many good people and in fact the universe. I have visualizations of osprey and wolves picking off viable cancer cells and killing them. I have visualizations of condors and vultures spiriting off the dead cancer cells on uplifting thermals of clean, vibrant, nourishing blood. Thank you for the strength. I propose what I am feeling is the strength and power of the universe helping to cure the cancer within my body with good, loving, life force energy.
I am not alone. I asked my mother to come up and stay with me for awhile. Bless her heart, Mom arrived on the Amtrak on Saturday. I was at the Eugene Train Station yesterday to meet her and we walked around the Eugene Saturday Market for awhile. What a cool place the Eugene Saturday Market is. Good organic food, unique locally produced goods and crafts by our neighbors can be bought at the market. It is a good time and I bought Mom a cool pair of earrings perfect for the Fourth of July made from recycled materials that normally would have ended up in a landfill.
I visited a few coworkers at my old job at the Riverbend Annex, in Springfield last week. It was very uplifting for my spirit to see these good, hard working, and talented people again. I hope to make arrangements to visit more with them as a group and as individuals in the near future. Seeing them again, touching, and talking with them was definitely an infusion of viable lifeblood into my circulatory system that benefited from the good energy immediately. My visit with my old coworkers was hastened by my appointment I had with my new primary care physician. I like and trust my new primary care physician. Did I tell you that his assistant is drop, dead gorgeous, errrr……I mean very good at her job? I am going to have a cholesterol panel done soon and we will see if I am able to make a primary care physician assistant appointment.
I have my next subjects for my next blog entry later this week. Fishing, Dogs, Compulsions, Yoga, Yoga Teaching, Eugene Saturday Market, Chainsaw, Saving Trees. I want to end this post so as to not make the post tool arduous for my gentle readers and to enjoy a lazy, Memorial Day with my mom in the beautiful, McKenzie River Valley with my dogs and a short hike along Horse Creek.
Peace and Love,
Jack Burton
“Like I tell my wife, an adjective can ruin a perfectly good noun. I drive as fast as I can see. Power to the VW drivers.”
I’ll share one other Kennedy quote/paraphrase that I read and then I am off into a more personal, factual, ramble of a blog entry.
“The United States has a special, threefold responsibility:
- A responsibility to our citizens
- A responsibility to the world that are effected by our decisions
- A responsibility to the next generation of humanity”
I was going to paraphrase John Kennedy more but I did not think it was useful and in fact distracted from John's beatiful sentiment.
Foremost, I would like to express my gratitude for my friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, care givers whether they be past or present. Lyrics from a song sang by the Alarm in the mid 1980’s come to my mind. The song is a beautiful, hard driving song and I recommend a listen to those who enjoy the rock and roll genre. Below are excerpts from the song.
The Alarm, “Strength” lyrics from the Album Strength released in 1985.
Who will light the fire
That I need to survive
Who will be the life blood
Coursing through my veins
Someone write me a letter
I need to know that I'm still alive
Someone give me a telephone call
I need to hear a human sound
Someone open up a door
And let me out of this place
GIVE ME LOVE
GIVE ME HOPE
GIVE ME STRENGTH
GIVE ME SOMEONE TO LIVE FOR
Thank you all for the love hope and strength. Thank you for giving me so very much to live for. Oh sure, I may make the effort to survive cancer look easy, fun, sexy, and perhaps even effortless. If you are not laughing out loud, I am in between winces because I have just bit my tongue that was planted firmly in my cheek. I suppose I am feeling a bit of the weight of the scary cancer diagnosis, the emergency brain surgery the day before Thanksgiving, a week in the hospital during Thanksgiving, 33 confining radiation treatments, 1 hour and a half long, clunky, noisy, Magnetic Imaging Resonance (MRI) rides every other month, daily chemotherapy since 3 days before Christmas, and medical bills up the yoohoo.
Being alone with my thoughts 44 miles away from the nearest, lighted traffic signal with only two, elderly, lovely, German Shepherd Dogs to share a roof with can be an unhealthy thing. I have found that too much time to ponder life’s trials allows the mind to wander into unproductive areas of being. Too much time can give the mind time to wander and wonder what is physically going on between a human being’s ears. Is what I am feeling side effects from my powerful medications that could be doing damage to healthy brain tissue? Is what I am feeling cancer growing at an alarming rate? Is what I am feeling damage done by enormous strength? These are probably normal feelings.
However, I have the support of many good people and in fact the universe. I have visualizations of osprey and wolves picking off viable cancer cells and killing them. I have visualizations of condors and vultures spiriting off the dead cancer cells on uplifting thermals of clean, vibrant, nourishing blood. Thank you for the strength. I propose what I am feeling is the strength and power of the universe helping to cure the cancer within my body with good, loving, life force energy.
I am not alone. I asked my mother to come up and stay with me for awhile. Bless her heart, Mom arrived on the Amtrak on Saturday. I was at the Eugene Train Station yesterday to meet her and we walked around the Eugene Saturday Market for awhile. What a cool place the Eugene Saturday Market is. Good organic food, unique locally produced goods and crafts by our neighbors can be bought at the market. It is a good time and I bought Mom a cool pair of earrings perfect for the Fourth of July made from recycled materials that normally would have ended up in a landfill.
I visited a few coworkers at my old job at the Riverbend Annex, in Springfield last week. It was very uplifting for my spirit to see these good, hard working, and talented people again. I hope to make arrangements to visit more with them as a group and as individuals in the near future. Seeing them again, touching, and talking with them was definitely an infusion of viable lifeblood into my circulatory system that benefited from the good energy immediately. My visit with my old coworkers was hastened by my appointment I had with my new primary care physician. I like and trust my new primary care physician. Did I tell you that his assistant is drop, dead gorgeous, errrr……I mean very good at her job? I am going to have a cholesterol panel done soon and we will see if I am able to make a primary care physician assistant appointment.
I have my next subjects for my next blog entry later this week. Fishing, Dogs, Compulsions, Yoga, Yoga Teaching, Eugene Saturday Market, Chainsaw, Saving Trees. I want to end this post so as to not make the post tool arduous for my gentle readers and to enjoy a lazy, Memorial Day with my mom in the beautiful, McKenzie River Valley with my dogs and a short hike along Horse Creek.
Peace and Love,
Jack Burton
“Like I tell my wife, an adjective can ruin a perfectly good noun. I drive as fast as I can see. Power to the VW drivers.”
Thursday, May 15, 2008
San Francisco Haight Asbury Trip, Good Friends' Hostel, Life Force Energy, Yoga Class
My trip to San Francisco and meetings with my Drs. and caregivers was great. My Mom made the travel arrangements for me. Mom achieved some wonderful results and made the trip to San Francisco and back in one day easy. Mom and I walked around the Haight Asbury district for a few hours and enjoyed the park and a good meal.
I stayed Tuesday Night at my good friend's home that is 60 miles closer to the Eugene Airport than my home. Mark Clemens affectionately refers to his home as "the hostel".
Thank you for the energy. Sometimes kicking the cancer habit is a walk in the park. Sometimes dealing with everything is a very human experience and is the anti walk in the park. Thank you for the kind words, thoughts, feelings, and help.
I am teaching my first official yoga class this coming Tuesday. It is my honor to be seated in the place of the teacher and I hope to honor all my teachers as I teach. My goal is to make the class safe, fun, and challenging for all practitioners no matter their level or intention they have that day for class.
Peace and Love,
Jack Burton
I stayed Tuesday Night at my good friend's home that is 60 miles closer to the Eugene Airport than my home. Mark Clemens affectionately refers to his home as "the hostel".
Thank you for the energy. Sometimes kicking the cancer habit is a walk in the park. Sometimes dealing with everything is a very human experience and is the anti walk in the park. Thank you for the kind words, thoughts, feelings, and help.
I am teaching my first official yoga class this coming Tuesday. It is my honor to be seated in the place of the teacher and I hope to honor all my teachers as I teach. My goal is to make the class safe, fun, and challenging for all practitioners no matter their level or intention they have that day for class.
Peace and Love,
Jack Burton
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