On crisp cold mornings, just before dawn, you might spy the Goddess rapidly working her magic brush over the edges of windowpanes, along the bushy banks of a bubbling stream tumbling with ice crystals or on the spiny tips of the naked branches of winter. She seems driven to leave exquisite patterns of breathtaking and unmistakable beauty on all she touches. If you are an early riser adept with a steady hand and good camera, you may capture the essence of her unique work just before the sun rises to veil the earth in a full rosy glow.
Before the brightest sunlight rises to highlight her frosty artwork, she retires, exhausted from dancing in the moonlight. She falls into a deep sleep where she dreams she has become part of the landscape, deep within a puffy blanket of snow.
Only the creator of such a precious art fantasy could sleep after creating such a tedious project, knowing her fragile and priceless work would sparkle and melt in the first rays of dawn. The knowledge does not deter her from recreating yet another intricate spectacle with the next morning light, just before the flash of dawn illuminates her earth-born gallery.
WENDELL WINDPOWER – blue in the face from explaining cost effectiveness
Wendell is blue in the face, having lost all patience from attempting to educate and explain how cost-effective it is to utilize wind power! Wendell is passionate about his beliefs. Although his frustration makes him suck in his breath at the adverse reactions of so many intelligent people, he does not waver from his mission.
Difficult for him to understand why he was living on a dying planet starving for renewable and affordable energy. Still, so many people were hopping into their sport utility vehicles, mindlessly driving faster than the speed limit to rush getting to Burger King, only to toss the used containers out the window as they speed back home. As he looks up to the sky, his mind is focused on the following elementary steps he attempts to explain daily to the multitudes of skeptics he encounters. Steps in wind energy generation
The wind blows on the blades and makes them turn.
The blades turn a shaft inside the nacelle (the box at the top of the turbine).
The shaft goes into a gearbox which increases the rotation speed enough for the generator.
The generator uses magnetic fields to convert rotational energy into electrical energy. These are similar to those found in regular power stations.
The power output goes to a transformer. The transformer converts the generator’s electricity at around 700 Volts (V) to the correct voltage for the distribution system, typically 33,000 V.
The national grid transmits the power around the country. Wendell wonders how many lifetimes it will take before more inhabitants of planet earth realize we are using up something we can never regain. He continues to look optimistically toward the day when another, less expensive, less intrusive, more technically advanced method of generating the power we are all so dependent on can be discovered and implemented.
He is proud to be one of seemingly few who sell power back to the power company today and has little compassion for those who constantly complain about how their energy bills are escalating! He will not be swayed by power monopolies to allow chunks of his state to be used to deliver power to states outside his own, leaving residents shaking their heads when opening their current power bills.
Fourth of six children, Otis was born in Dawson, Georgia to a sharecropper, Otis, Sr., I, moving at age 2 to Macon, Georgia, the man considered one of the greatest American Popular Music makers and a seminal artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. The gospel influenced singer who sang at the Vineville Baptist Church Choir himself influenced many soul artists of the 1960’s.
DECORATIVE WALL MASK – OTIS REDDING
Decorative wall mask depicting Otis Redding, Owner of the “BIG-O Ranch”
BIRTHDAY: SEPTEMBER 9, 1941 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY OTIS!
1951 – Took drum and singing lessons.
1955 – Ballard-Hudson High School, sang in the school band
1956 – Quit school to support his family and worked with Little Richard’s backup band, the Upsetters. Performed in talent shows at the historic Douglass Theater in Macon. Otis, Sr. by then had contracted tuberculosis and was often hospitalized.
1958 – Joined Johnny Jenkin’s band, the Pinetoppers, driving the band, singing, and touring southern states.
1960 – With the band Pat T. Cake and the Mighty Panthers, he toured southern states.
1960 – Son Dexter was born with Zelma Atwood. In the mid-1960’s Otis moved to Los Angeles with his sister Deborah. Zelma and children remained in Macon, GA. The couple had four children: Dexter, Demetria, Karla and Otis, Jr, III.
1961 – Signed with Confederate. Recorded his second single, “Shout Bamalama” (a rewrite of “Gamma Lamma”) and “Fat Girl”, together with his band Otis and the Shooters.
1962 – A Stax recording session captured his first single, “These Arms of Mine”.
1962 – Volt releases “These Arms of Mine” and “Hey, Hey Baby” Single sold over 800,000 copies
1963 – Records “That’s What My Heart Needs” and “Mary’s Little Lamb”
1964 – Otis released through Stax his debut album, Pain in my Heart
1965 – Records his second studio album, The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads
1965 – In a 24-hour-period on July 9-10 in Memphis, he and the studio crew arranged ten of the eleven new songs for his next album entitled Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul.
1966 – Performed in Los Angeles at Whiskey-A-Go-Go on the Sunset Strip. Toured Europe, singing in major cities like Paris and London.
1966 – Stax studio attempted to discourage but recorded “Try a Little Tenderness” previously recorded by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.
1966 – Stax booked a concert in London. Redding is interview at “the Eamonn Andrews Show”. Booking agent Bill Graham proposed that Otis play at the Fillmore Auditorium in late 1966, (paying Otis Redding $7,976 in 2020 value!).
1967 – Monterey Pop Festival, closing act on Saturday night. Sang “Respect” and “Satisfaction,” ending with “Try A Little Tenderness.” This would be his last major concert.
1967 – Wrote with Steve Cropper, recorded “Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay”. First posthumous album to reach #1 on the UK Albums Chart. Otis received numerous posthumous accolades.
1967 – By the time he moved from Memphis to Macon to continue writing “Sweet Soul Music” he developed polyps on his larynx. Unsuccessful treating with lemon and honey, he was hospitalized in September 1967 at Mount Sinai Hospital in NY.
1967 – “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” was written with Steve Cropper, recording the ending with an extemporaneous whistle.
1967 – Despite a warning from James Brown not to fly in his Beechcraft H18 airplane on December 9, Otis Redding, Jr. took his last flight. Cause of the crash is not known.
1967 – His service was held on December 18 to allow the 4,500 people to travel to an overflowing 3,000-seat hall. Jerry Wexler delivered the eulogy, saying: “Respect is something Otis achieved for himself in a way few people do. Otis sang “Respect When I Come Home.” And Otis has come home.” This is inscribed on a memorial plaque on the lakeside deck of the Madison convention center, Monona Terrace.
2002 – City of Macon honored Otis Redding, Jr. by unveiling a statue next to the Otis Redding Memorial Bridge crossing the Ocmulgee River.
2006 – The Rhythm and Blues Foundation named Redding it’s 2006 Pioneer Award.
2007 – Zelma Atwood Redding founded the Otis Redding Foundation which continues to offer in Macon programs offering music and arts education.
2013 – The Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame inducted Otis Ray Redding, Jr. at Cleveland State University, Ohio.
Curiosity is the key that unlocked many doors for Grand Mother Wisdom. Although her aura may suggest that she has always been a sage and wise mentor, she remembers the days when innate curiosity was the driving force that helped her earn her present status. She spent much time listening to her inner voices while observing and testing the advice of her elders, aging, and sage-ing.
As a young maiden, Grand Mother utilized her own curiosity for lifting the heavy burden of victimization in which she was taught to believe. Now her belief is that every maiden must listen intently to her elders, and using the tools of curiosity, emerge with an original idea belonging exclusively to self. The pride in the journey of discovery unraveling your own mystery is the reward of wisdom.
GRAND MOTHER WISDOM WALL MASK with FLAMBOYANT PERSONALITY
She firmly believes her purpose is to offer the idea that curiosity flows into knowledge, resulting in power. Interest, wisdom, power, yes, that’s it! Her utmost hope is that curious young maidens everywhere will open their eyes wide and “hear” this most vital message, although she knows no one can hand down the message to another. One must embark on the quest for knowledge, the key or the exclusive secret to one’s own wisdom.
Grand Mother likes to keep a low profile observing more than dictating her own message. It is not her method to press but rather impress upon young maidens that solitude and privacy can be most beneficial if they “hear” their innermost selves. Grand Mother would prefer her message seem to come from within, knowing that the message will be far more vital, longer-lasting, and immensely more empowering if perceived in that way.
EDNA is not all she appears to be by choice. For many years, she has worked on the sometimes painful detail of pulling off an entirely new image of herself for many years. Her history does not deter her in the least from creating her air of aristocracy.
DAME EDNA of OGUNQUIT WALL MASK
Edna is not, in fact, Edna at all, the birth name listed on the birth certificate was Edwin, and the sex of this baby was listed as male. Edna emerged long before society had begun to accept transgender individuals. Since childhood, Ed’s dream has been to become an actor, wear elegant costumes, and create an illusion of the person he wanted to be in his heart. Ed had always wanted to be the person he saw himself as inside. He dreamed of being a singing artist with flair equal to that of female singing artist Cher. She had made appearances on stage wearing elegant dresses and costumes handmade with the most delicate details and “wow” factor. Wild horses could not pull this secret from anyone who knows his truth, and they are a select few individuals.
Edna has fun with life, feels much better about herself now since making her decision to publicly become Edna. She is a spontaneous and charitable person who loves to entertain the rich and famous at her private, peaceful, elegant Victorian seaside home. She goes to great lengths to create extravagant gourmet dinner parties, laboring over each detail to present an atmosphere of perfection to the delight of all her esteemed guests. The audience applauds and stands in adoration with each dramatic entrance she makes, and she does love to be dramatic! Cooing and remarking about the latest elegant dress she ordered custom made, the audience is mesmerized. Edna’s invitations are strictly by word of mouth and are delivered only two days before the event. Her parties are the talk of the town for weeks afterward, as mostly more liberal, out-of-town people make up the guest list.
Edwin now prefers to be identified as Edna, she/her and simply wants to be remembered as a unique and sophisticated kind of gal who loves to entertain in a lavish style.
Swan Island in the Kennebec -- 