Red Pumps

More properly, and since that was decades past, I can easily refer to the aforementioned “Red Pumps” as stripper shoes. “CFM” footwear?

Stiletto heels. Bright red.

This was old Austin, and I was stuck somewhere between an Aries, a suite of Virgos, and some Gemini. Others, too. I was still a regular at Magnolia Cafe, Threadgills, and, timing was early double-aughts. Pretty sure about that. Okay, I’m less than sure. Mid 90’s to early double-aughts?

Follies and fantasies of youth?

For some reason and I can’t find any reference in my own material, although, I was sure I did reference this, maybe in a horoscope?

It was another hot Texas summer in Austin, and there was a whole raft of these young women, a tightly knit group of strong female characters. Individuals, but also a crowd. I floated merrily on the periphery — facts, age, relationships — all posted me carefully on edge of the group, a walk-on, bit-player, that’s my position.

One spring evening, I was someplace, they were someplace else, and there was a situation, ex-boyfriend or something, and somehow, there were three cars but only two drivers.

“Here, Kramer, you drive the truck.” It was just s short trip from the compound to the warehouse, not really even across town, and much less of a distance than I’ve walked before, so it wasn’t a big deal. Hope springs internal, always did.

Three-on-the-tree, 3/4-ton Dodge Ram. Fitting it belonged to an Aries?

My old joke, “I can’t drive an automatic.”

Not entirely uncommon, I had left the trailer park barefoot, because I had no distinct plans that evening, and no need to wear shoes, or even sandals. Not going out to eat or anything, probably riding with a friend, perhaps one of the aforementioned females of interest.

“Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel…”

• Hamlet (I.iii.64-5)

The misty times of memory are getting worse, and I recall less detail, other than, for a brief moment, I was driving south on Congress Ave., cop behind me, and while I had a valid license, I didn’t have footwear, and I would’ve been hard-pressed to explain the red pumps on the seat next to me.

It’s been ten years, and maybe more, since I last laid eyes on you…

“Well, it’s been ten years and maybe more since I first set eyes on you.
The best years of my life gone by, here I am alone and blue.” (Heartbreaker)

They all are. Interesting counterpoint, the sister showed up between the San Marcos and Blanco River, and when she said hello, I couldn’t remember her name — just her sign.

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Salient take-away image for me, driving south, around, before, Y2K? Big, manly truck, and me, minimally clad with no footwear except for a set of red pumps on the seat next to me.

All is now lost in the sands of time.

via Book 5

“17. To crave impossibilities is lunacy; but it is impossible for the wicked to act otherwise.”

• Excerpt From Marcus Aurelius

“It is crazy to want what is impossible. And impossible for the wicked not to do so.”

(Orignal location)

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius (Loeb Classical Library)

Delphi Complete Works of Marcus Aurelius – Marcus Aurelius

Meditations – Marcus Aurelius & Gregory Hays

Meditations: A New Translation (Modern Library)

As always a free version is hosted on astrofish.net right here.

#meditation

The Poet

• The Poet

Intriguing intro to the updated edition, by Stephen King, whom I respect. Heard the sequel was good, so I thought I would start at the beginning.

“But it’s hard to hold a grudge against the dead.” Page 21.

Just getting introduced.

As much as anything, after reading the text, what I recall? I was deeply involved, hooked, from that Stephen King intro, as much as anything. He suggested that the book scared him. I was less than a third of the way through the novel, when I shelved it for other tasks, like summer fish. I knew, moving forward, as twisted, as the tale was? It would be best, for me, if I just finished it all before I tried to sleep.

I was nodding out sleepy, but wide awake and alert because there are a few extra twists near the end. It’s not over until it’s over, and even, then, there was room for more.

I’m still looking for another series that’s been as enjoyable as the Sandford/Davenport/(effing)Flowers collections, and I’m not sure, looks like there are three in this group thus far, but the level of intensity is weirdly, I don’t know, addictive?

With the first denouement, according to the kindle, I had another 10% of the story left? I knew it wasn’t over.

Makes for exciting reading. I didn’t bother with reading notes, just a weird sense of the way it jumps around in narrative form, but still, tautly woven together.

When I got around to deciding if I liked it or loved it? I adored it. The premise and the extras, front-loaded, unbeknownst to the reader?

I kept thinking it was along some of the same ground as a Grisham novel of recent experience, but no, I could find no real-time connection. I think some of the background in one is the foreground in another.

There’s the wounded, flawed basic narrator, and he’s amusing to follow, blundering along with budding romance. Yeah, demands of the plot and such.

Very glad I started at the beginning, two more to go.

The Poet

• The Poet
• The Poet

classics

“No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you."

– Book of Job 12:01
 12:2 “No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.”

Not to go all biblical n’shit?

Excerpt From
The King James Version of the Bible

astrofish.net/shop

Pink Cake: The Quote Collection – Kramer Wetzel

Pink Cake

Pink Cake: A Commonplace Book
– ISBN–10: 1434805751
– ISBN–13: 978–1434805751

Leo Cards

In my “Every Day Carry” tarot deck, the Thoth Deck, the Leo Cards I plucked out?

Always start — and finish with “Lust” from the Major Arcana, Number 11. In that Rider-Waite deck? This is strength, still a majestic Leo lion.

The Full Moon is near noon on Monday, a Full Moon Monday, with the moon, as expected, on a Leo/Aquarius axis. However, the The Leo Cards tell the story, slightly rearranged.

• 5 — Strife, 5 of Wands (Saturn)
• 7 — Valour, 7 of Wands (Mars)
• 6 — Victory, 6 of Wands (Jupiter)
• 11 — Lust (Major Arcana)

This Full Moon is bringing some “closure” — look at my order for the cards, “Strife” followed by “Valour” leading to “Victory.”

There are two elements in heavy play, way I interpret this. One is the mystical side of the intellect, symbolized by Aquarius, the Moon is in Aquarius. There’s an intellectual component one must acknowledge, and balance that against the raw emotions of the fiery Leo.

There is a small — or large — victory, as foretold.

“It’s in the cards!”

Or not.

Strife is about what’s been going on, globally, locally, in a damn near every person’s life, seems like.

Valour is about valiantly facing that strife, taking it as it comes. Since the Suit of Wands deals with the element fire? An impassioned approach serves; show that heart-felt desire for an answer. Or whatever it is we’re seeking?

Victory comes from working towards that. Overcome strife with valor.

Lust — strength — depends, but as I used to explain, over and over, “Faith and Good Works” are no comparison to Lust.

Lust moves mountains, while “good intentions” is still trying to find the coffee maker.

Leo Cards

Enjoy that Full Moon. Follow the passions, as dictated by the mind of the cool, rational Aquarius Moon.

Mars is currently in Aries, with Mars being in Aries for an extended run, as noted before. Saturn and Jupiter are Capricorn, and although not technically a conjunction, the essential flavor is there. This is a rerun of 1960.

I keep waiting on somebody to quote back to me, “We’ve never seen this before!”

Historically, we have. In part, the plague in Western Europe, hundreds of years ago. Or, even the Spanish Flu, now cited ad nauseam. It’s part of a predicable pattern of Saturn and Jupiter, which, as seen above and below, shows up in The Leo cards.

Is it really connected?

The elements that spin up for this kind of a Full Moon event are the heated fires of passion fed by the cool wind of Aquarius Air Intellect.

Leo Cards

Best way to win? Be passionate and innovative.

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tl;dr

Too Long; Didn’t Read

Oddly enough, I had to spell that out in response to a question. This isn’t a condemnation, nor a critical response, but more along the line of passive observation. Again, this is, warnings apply, an observation, not something I’ve done myself.

The last four or five months left a lot of people scrambling, like, on a permanent vacation mode without a lot of income. I lost upwards of three-quarters of my subscribers. Filled in with a number of new and mostly returning phone clients, or formerly in-person, now over the phone. While I’ve done some Zoom stuff, I don’t use Zoom, Skype, or even native Face-Time for readings. I’ve used a headset and phone line for 30 years, no reason for me to change what works for me.

However, what I’ve seen, two, maybe three people have started to thrive in the sinking economic times.

Part of this is the “If I only had some time, I could write that novel I wanted to write.” Been a couple months, I know, Mercury Retrograde bookends, but the rest of the time? Anything?

There are a ton of variations on the theme, but it’s all about a side-hustle, a Do-It-Yourself idea.

Any plan, any idea, and the usual, “If I only had enough time,” and that excuse doesn’t work.

During the last few months, a couple of my patrons have done well, quite well. Maybe not huge financial successes, but a solid footing for a future, and cash income is always a good way to know what I’m selling has value.

One person, the retail front collapsed. In a heart-beat, there was a shift, and change, and the delivery service opened up. That’s a simple pivot that worked. Great example. Then, too, looking at what generates a positive cash flow, then accentuating the positive about that particular area.

“We’re not doing ‘in person’ events right now….” So I’ve done a few ‘online-styled’ events. Not my choice, but it works, after a fashion.

“Do what you love and the money will follow,” while it’s ultimately true, adjusting, and mitigating, then making further adjustments, as need be?

“If I only had enough time, I would….”

Guess what?

Need help with timing, for a front-facing launch?

astrofish.net/shop

Demons

Image is from a recent New Yorker Magazine, so no copyright infringement. The notion, though, is simple. We’re not talking in person, not as long as this corona-virus, whatever is going on. Nope, not in person. That noted? Best way to reach me?

• E-mail (it never closes)

Phone? If I don’t recognize the number as an appointed call? I might not answer at all.

Text? Too much comes in, and I don’t get around to answering.

So when the demons come a-calling?

Yeah, e-mail is best.

“But I don’t like using my e-mail!”

Fastest, most reliable way to get my attention.