The Musings of Ug

the outside in

2011-07-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

When you peek around corners and turn over rocks, you may find unexpected things. Don't let fear of the unknown keep you hidden and small. It takes a brave foray into the world to find the most precious treasure: your self.

who needs the stars?

2011-07-13T21:18:00.000-07:00

When you smile, You Shine. When you laugh, You Shine. When you discover beauty, You Shine. When you are silly, You Shine. When you are thankful, You Shine. When you are fighting to be heard, You Shine. Even in your sleep, you poke bright, little holes in the darkness with each and every breath. Thank you for lighting my way.

the road traveled together

2011-06-21T16:12:00.000-07:00

Enjoy what your friends bring into your life, but never forget to give something in return. The best friendships are a two-way street.

YAWN!! Stretch.....

2011-06-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Ug has reawakened from a long hibernation! Stay tuned for the many thoughts and dreams he has to share....

a view from above

2010-03-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

Did this trial in life blindside you? Did it knock you from the path you had chosen?

Or were all the days leading up to it a preparation for This?

In times of crisis, spend a moment of reflection on how you are uniquely prepared to make it through.

the worry closet

2010-03-09T23:13:00.001-08:00

There are certain times in life where there is so much trouble piled up on the inside, that one more misfortune sends it all toppling down around you. Don't let it knock you down. Just like that overstuffed closet, you need a little cleaning out, you need some organization. Put the big things back in first, and toss out a few of the smaller ones. You will find room enough.

Postcard Giveaway in Honor of Ug Fans Everywhere!

2010-03-02T14:58:00.000-08:00

Ug has reached 1,111 site views! It's a random number, but he is a random little bear that gets excited about stuff like that.

In honor of this achievement, Ug has printed up 7 of his classic blog posts as postcards. The card includes a picture of our dear little Ug on the front, and the text of the post on the back. He will give these postcards away for free.

If you are interested, please leave a comment in the comment box. Friends, family, blog-acquaintances, and complete strangers are all eligible. Ug will perform a random drawing on Saturday, March 6. Ug crosses-his-heart that the drawing will be fair. He will just draw one name out of a honey pot. He will then announce the winner, and contact you for mailing information. (Please DO NOT leave any private contact information in the blog.)

Ug may also be kicking off a tiny little nook in a tiny little Etsy shop very soon. Check back occasionally for updates on that!

Thank you for visiting!

fear itself

2010-03-02T12:18:00.000-08:00

Get to know your Fears. Make them your friends. Some may be worth knowing, and some are a little nuts. Once you know the difference, you can relax in their company, and be selective in their advice.

flower power

2010-02-27T22:36:00.000-08:00

In the great outdoors, flowers are remarkable. They are beautiful, they smell good, and they have a magic ability to make you look really good in pictures... In the great indoors, flowers are exorbitantly expensive, they wilt within hours, and you will inevitably have dead flowers in a vase for longer than you had live flowers in a vase. It's a highly overrated industry. Kind of like owning a goldfish.

Just go out and pick one now and then.

ouch happens

2010-02-27T15:11:00.000-08:00

Boo-boos of the heart can be the most painful wounds you will receive. Give them attention, give them time, and most importantly, give them chocolate. It's a socially acceptable way to self-medicate.

a lesson in cave dwelling

2010-02-26T22:07:00.000-08:00

There are few things worse than having blank walls. Don't let them happen to you.

a deposit on life

2010-02-17T22:28:00.000-08:00

Quarters In. Quarters Out. Happiness In. Happiness Out. Sadness In. Sadness Out. Polyester Stuffing In. Polyester Stuffing Out. Love In. Love Out.

There's only so much room in that little piggie bank of yours, so think carefully when you make a deposit. (Or you can be like me and just shove it all in there to sort out later...)

once upon a time ...

2010-02-04T22:22:00.000-08:00

The truth in a fairy tale is that a happy place does exist. It is not in a lavish castle, or on a pretty horse, or in Prince Charming's arms. That happy place is inside your own heart. You can bring it with you wherever you go, and with whomever you may travel.

taking flight

2010-02-03T23:16:00.000-08:00

Soaring is remarkably hard work. You might get scared. You might stop believing in yourself. You might get slightly loopy from a lack of oxygen. Those are just little bumps on the Jet Stream of life. Come down, take a rest, build yourself a little nest. Don't view that as failure. You will stretch your wings again and take off refreshed.

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

2009-12-21T14:50:00.001-08:00

May the whole world twinkle for you. Enjoy your holidays!

the gift that keeps on giving

2009-12-16T16:09:00.001-08:00

Stuff your tummy, stuff the stockings, and this year, stuff your own little friend.

winter's bubble

2009-12-14T08:41:00.000-08:00

Shake your life up and down and sideways. Watch the pretty glitter and snow swirl all around you. Listen to the quiet tinkle of life's music.

Calliope's Corner

2009-12-08T16:08:00.000-08:00

“The boy and his heart had become friends, and neither was capable now of betraying the other.” The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Beauty in the form of a book.

oh rain puddle, how I love thee

2009-12-07T23:08:00.000-08:00

Can you feel that invisible tug calling you to splash? Once, it was a great ocean to your tiny feet. Look how big you are now! Go on ... step in ... the water is fine.

there's no moment like the present

2009-11-21T14:29:00.001-08:00

When you feel a "back-in-my-day" moment coming on, keep in mind that today is your day, too.

generation gap

2009-11-21T14:04:00.000-08:00

Hang off the couch upside-down. Old people can't do silly things like that, so if you manage to do it without needing rescue, congratulations! You are still a young'un!

Blueberry Visions

2009-11-14T23:40:00.000-08:00

Blueberry is a homely little puppy that Ug befriended somewhere along the way. She is an observer of the world around her. She relates to Ug stories about people and their journeys. Today, her story is ...

Of Babies and Sticks.

She was handed a stick. It was a favorite toy in her tiny little baby hands. Her mother watched her carefully with it, so there would be no tripping, no running, no flailing at the other children. She had often banged on the fence, on the bench, on the sidewalk, delighting in the dull little thudding sound it made. She had sometimes scratched into the dirt, and poked leaves into the sandbox with it. Sticks were pleasant things.

Yet, today, she knew more about the world. She was almost 2 years old, after all. There were new games to play.

She walked carefully with her long stick at her side. She went straight over to the slide where a tiny puddle had formed from the drizzle of an early autumn morning. She placed the stick into the water for just a moment. Then, with a mission on her mind, she bent over to the sidewalk. Her little stick leapt lightly on the concrete as she made two eyes with water droplets. She took the stick back to draw up a little more water, and then she went to add the nose, and the mouth. She giggled triumphantly at her creation. Back and forth, from puddle to ground, the stick traveled. Long strokes, light strokes, she sketched faces and lines, circles and zig-zags, all with colorless water on colorless concrete. The merry sun dried her pictures up, and she would begin again with her stick-brush moving effortlessly.

Her mother stood in awe. In an unanticipated moment, the baby days of banging and beating and burying were gone. Her child had birthed art right in front of her very eyes. It was a pure example of the splendidly logical creativity of a toddler. All it took was water and a stick to harness the joy of self-expression.

sweeter then sugar

2009-11-11T22:14:00.000-08:00

a little voice humming softly as she plays, tiny lips puckered for a kiss, big girl splashes in yesterday's puddles, a bendy stick to give the tree a smile, such small dabs of paint on a huge sheet of paper, hours spent in windowsill wonderlands, wrinkly bathtub toes, incomprehensible attempts at words, the silent breath of sleep, strokes on my cheek and strokes on yours, my baby love

holes ... the mystery of the great unknown in your own backyard

2009-11-11T21:54:00.000-08:00

Don't put your hand in them, and don't get stuck in one... but go ahead and drop small objects down there, because that is just plain fun.

on the playground of life ... be good

2009-11-09T18:12:00.000-08:00

Be kind to the meanies.

Be sweet to the sourpuss.

Be brave for the scaredy-cats.

Be hopeful for the hopeless.

Be giving to the greedy-gus.

Be talkative to the timid.

Be patient for the antsy-pants.

Be loving to the bullies.

Goodness is not perfection. It is the ability to give of yourself.

take a bow!

2009-11-09T00:03:00.000-08:00

A hearty thank you to plentymorefishoutofwater.blogspot.com for a super-duper award!

*Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass the award on to five most deserving bloggy friends.

*Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author and the name of the blog from whom s/he has received the award.

*Each Superior Scribbler must display the award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains the award.

*Each blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr Linky List. That way, they'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives this prestigious honour.

*Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I now pass this award onto ....

Welcome to Shannon's Sparkles and Sunshine

Annalogue

Life in Daba Town

5 Orange Potatoes

Burb's Buck & Buntline Inn

There! I think I accomplished everything. Whew, had to work for that one....

Calliope's Corner

2009-11-08T23:23:00.000-08:00

Rejection and Failure are the formidable gates through which you must pass in order to Accomplish and Achieve. If you let fear drive you away, you will never reach your true destination.

One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began ...

-from THE JOURNEY by MARY OLIVER

Ug Sprouts Volume II

2009-11-08T23:15:00.001-08:00

Enjoy your new homes little Ug-lets!

Happily adopted on 11/3/09.

when the teddy bears have their picnic

2009-11-04T22:39:00.001-08:00

Dear Loyal Ug Fans,

Momma Bear will be taking Ug away to a family gathering this weekend. He may be unable to post again until next week. Don't lose heart! He will return refreshed, and full of more random thoughts. If you are a new follower, you may want to take this opportunity to peruse, ponder, and reflect on the archive of his musings.

Sincerely,

Momma Bear and Ug

peekaboo!

2009-11-03T22:44:00.000-08:00

Bugs are Mother Nature's way of reminding you that in many ways you are still just a big baby.

Ug Turns 50

2009-11-02T22:39:00.000-08:00

In celebration of Ug's 50th post (and his 50 days on Planet Earth), Ug granted an exclusive interview to reflect and to celebrate. An excerpt is included below.

Blog Reader: "So Ug ... I'm sorry, can I call you Ug? You have had quite an eventful life so far. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?"

Ug: "It would have to be gaining the love and trust of so many wonderful Followers. Their positive feedback and comments have truly humbled me."

Blog Reader: "What is it about you that has captured so many hearts?"

Ug: "I'm pink. People love pink. Also, I think I get to the point. Blunt bears are the best bears. Maybe their teddy bears at home ramble on too much."

Blog Reader: "What do you consider your greatest piece of advice so far?"

Ug: "Snuggle ... Even if you don't like it. I think that hit home for a lot of people."

Blog Reader: "What do we have to look forward to in the next 50 days, should you be so fortunate to blog that long?"

Ug: "Oh, I'm a bear that is full of surprises. I may have some new friends pop in, I may visit new places, but of course, I'll be dispensing more of my random thoughts to those that wish to read on."

Blog Reader: "Thanks, Ug! You really are a cool little fabric being."

Ug: "Thank you, O Reader, for reading my 50 posts!"

don't count your pennies before they hatch

2009-11-01T23:40:00.000-08:00

Great riches can be found in the money you give freely to those in need. It makes your minuscule paycheck seem immense.

parenting pets

2009-11-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

Cats are really just 2 year olds in little furry bodies (with claws).

The Death of a Pumpkin - by Ug

2009-10-31T23:03:00.000-07:00

O Jack O'Lantern with your light puffed out,

The saddest of creatures to see,

Your flame was a sight on this scary night,

And now there is just poor little me.

The ghouls and the goblins have gone to sleep,

And here I sit wishing you'd stay.

Why is it pumpkins seem to be destined

To darken and then rot away?

If I kept you tucked underneath my bed,

You'd stink the place up pretty fast,

So I'll toss you out but I'll fuss and pout,

And swear off all pumpkins at last.

In remembrance of our October days,

I'll eat pumpkin pie a la mode,

And have a picture of us together,

Along with this sad little ode.

You were so spooky, you were so scary,

All the things a pumpkin should be,

Thanks for the frights and for making this night,

A very Happy Halloween!

good ole vitamin c

2009-10-30T16:53:00.000-07:00

An apple a day keep the doctor away. Thank goodness! I would hate for it to be a lemon a day ... or a pineapple a day ... or worse yet, a coconut.

the bermuda triangle and washing machines

2009-10-29T21:44:00.000-07:00

Those that keep neat drawers are no more likely to find a pair of matching socks than the messy rest of us. Accept your mismatched socks and move on.

Ug Sprouts

2009-10-28T22:08:00.001-07:00

Some weird and wonderful creatures from the world of Ug.

Happily adopted on 10/25/09.

circle time nightmares

2009-10-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

When you are scared out of your wits, just find someone to hug.

Calliope's Corner

2009-10-26T23:49:00.000-07:00

Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius. - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

the sky is the limit

2009-10-24T23:53:00.000-07:00

Your family will give you a little push now and then. They want to you to soar, and there is no stronger wind then love and encouragement.

I procrastinate because I can.

2009-10-20T23:35:00.000-07:00

Procrastination is just the mind's way of warming up. We are intellectual sprinters, after all. So take your time, and stretch, and breathe. In and out. Relax ... go see a movie.

Now, hurry up and run, darn it! The whole race is gonna be over before you even get out there! You are giving me a heart attack cutting it this close!

Calliope's Corner

2009-10-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

Calliope likes to drop by and visit Ug now and then. She adores literature and poetry. Ug loves the plethora of quotes she shares. She is pretty smart for a lop-eared rabbit.

A Question by Robert Frost

A voice said, Look me in the stars

And tell me truly men of earth,

If all the soul-and-body scars

Were not too much to pay for birth.

knock knock

2009-10-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

"Hello, Ug," said Calliope.

"Hello, Calliope," said Ug.

the tall, twisty slide of life

2009-10-19T00:07:00.001-07:00

There are always ups and downs. Up is rewarding and difficult. Down is fast and scary. If neither of those options work for you at the moment, just hang on for dear life until the other kids make you move.

And the winner of Best in Show ..[drumroll].. Hotdog!!!

2009-10-17T23:02:00.001-07:00

Any food that requires 2 or more condiments should not be considered an eligible member of the food pyramid.

love and contact lenses

2009-10-15T22:28:00.000-07:00

When you have lost something important, you may have to do a little crawling to get it back. Just make sure it really IS important, because there can be a lot of dust bunnies involved with that.

Sing Along With Ug

2009-10-14T23:13:00.000-07:00

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

Here is your challenge, oh Reader! Sing along with Ug. It may be silly, and you may embarrass yourself. That is exactly the point.

MUSIC, please....

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away.

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamt I held you in my arms. When I awoke dear, I was mistaken, so I hung my head and cried.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away.

GOOD JOB! You have a very nice singing voice.

(Ug is not taking credit for this song, just typing out some of the lyrics for the forgetful.)

first prize

2009-10-13T13:40:00.000-07:00

Thank you to LA Jenno and her blog http://lajenno.blogspot.com/ for Ug's prestigious award posted to the right.

As required by the rules of this award, Ug is supposed to share 7 little known facts about himself. Ug is a very poor public speaker, so he asked that I pass on the note below:

As also required by the rules, Ug would like to pass this award along. Ug bequeaths it to Annalogue at http://annalogue.us/ who spills the beans about the ups and downs of her creative journey in brutal honesty, and has inspired Ug on his own quest.

in teary times

2009-10-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

The answer to the word WHY looms so large that it encompasses us. You have to let the question go, let it float freely away from you. Someday, when it is a small speck against the horizon, you may finally be able to see the answer.

avalanche on debt mountain

2009-10-09T23:23:00.000-07:00

Your first credit card purchase should be a very large shredder with a lifetime warranty.

i also dabble in Play-Doh

2009-10-05T22:25:00.001-07:00

Art is a contact sport, and you play against yourself. Have fun, no rough stuff, and give your competitor a high-five at the end of the game.

mirror, mirror on the wall

2009-10-03T23:33:00.000-07:00

You don't need a crown to be beautiful. You just need to love who you are. (And you might want to brush your hair once in a while. That helps, too.)

the late late late late late show

2009-10-03T23:26:00.000-07:00

When you reach the "Paid Programming" portion of your day, it is time to acknowledge that you may have a problem.

x marks the spot

2009-10-02T15:04:00.000-07:00

Find a secret hiding place. It is a reminder that there is a special part of the world made for you.

a badge of courage

2009-09-30T23:27:00.000-07:00

When Love passes by, never be too shy to wave hello.

Great Figures in History #1

2009-09-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

The inventor of modern refrigeration, Carl von Linden, was a great, GREAT man. He single-handedly gave us the gift of ice cream at midnight, frozen fish sticks, and the freedom to not keep chickens in the backyard.

Simultaneously, however, he invented leftovers. So maybe he wasn't that great after all.

morning already?

2009-09-28T23:39:00.000-07:00

Some days it is just hard to get the ball rolling. So maybe you should start with a smaller ball and work up.

word world

2009-09-28T22:18:00.000-07:00

Swim in a sea of books. Repose on the classics. Breathe in the alphabet. Dabble in the dictionary. Pirouette on proper punctuation. Go ga-ga for grammar.

Let your pencil pour it all back out of you like a happy rain.

the young and the reckless

2009-09-26T22:25:00.001-07:00

Now and then, take your shoes off and walk in the grass. You will stay in touch with the familiar feeling of childhood. Just watch out for poo-poo, of course.

it's in the numbers

2009-09-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

Some annoyingly accurate advice from the experts:

1. Get 8 hours of sleep.

2. Take a brisk walk for 20 minutes.

3. Wear an exponential amount of sunscreen.

4. Drink 64 oz of water.

5. Stop and smell multiple roses.

6. Eat 100% less bacon and butter.

Yes, it is very disappointing that all of those things work so well.

put your hands up, and step away from the soda

2009-09-25T23:51:00.000-07:00

Whatever your vice may be, don't let it take you down.

just look up here at the light and smile

2009-09-24T22:36:00.000-07:00

True beauty is an honest heart, a warm smile, and the confidence to be you. Unfortunately, that may not come across in your driver's license photo ... but who looks at those things anyway?

life in the sandbox

2009-09-24T13:58:00.001-07:00

Let's see... Hmmm... There really isn't anything good to say about sand, is there? Thinking. Thinking. You throw it, it gets in your eyes. You walk in it, it gets between your toes. Castles crumble. Toys that are buried get lost. The hole you dug for hours caves in. You have to share your bucket with the other little children. Later you will require a BATH.

It looked so promising. Sand is your first lesson in disappointment.

Okay, moving on.

when you fall flat on your bottom

2009-09-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

It is funny. It really is. After we laugh, we will all help you get up.

reminders to pray

2009-09-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

the ocean, the stars, babies, husbands, illness, death, forests, waterfalls, disappointment, depression, gratitude, thunderstorms, earthquakes, family, aspiration, sacrifice, example, the gospel, true love

find your own style, but ...

2009-09-23T15:41:00.001-07:00

You can skip brown lipstick, super short haircuts, and oversized sweatshirts. I have photographic evidence of your mother to prove it.

at the end of the line

2009-09-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

Most of life is about waiting. Waiting to grow up, waiting to find love, waiting to finish school, waiting to have a family .... waiting, waiting, waiting. But don't just sit at the bus stop twiddling your thumbs. Learn, love, grow! Stay busy each day. Everything you accomplish will help you when you finally reach that destination.

friends will come, and friends will go

2009-09-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you may be left behind, and sometimes you may do the leaving. But if you are lucky, you will always have a few treasured friends that stay pretty much forever. Treat all your friends, old and new, as if they are that special someone.

a bright start

2009-09-22T15:00:00.001-07:00

Make your bed everyday. I am really not sure why, but your mother will be happy.

find the joy in your journey

2009-09-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

Climb a mountain, no matter how small.

(And try not to make everyone miserable while you do it.)

fancy pink

2009-09-20T15:36:00.000-07:00

There are 64 colors in that brand new box of coveted crayons. Someday, when you have the power to scribble on your own walls, don't ever paint them white or brown. You'd never choose the white or brown crayon, would you?

Wallflower 101

2009-09-19T23:15:00.001-07:00

Embrace your wallflower-power. Say hello to the wallflower to your left. Then say hello to the wallflower to your right. You are now a wallflower with butterfly wings.

personal space

2009-09-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

Snuggle. Even if you don't like it.

things above ... and below

2009-09-19T12:16:00.001-07:00

If you don't look up you will never see the stars ... or the spiders. You may want to check your shoes for those, too.

the nature of trees

2009-09-19T00:24:00.000-07:00

Trees are nice things. Old trees are even nicer. Cell phone towers masquerading as trees are not nice at all.

just a floral print in a world of stripes

2009-09-19T00:12:00.000-07:00

Don't lose yourself to be like them. Find the people that love you as you are. They are out there.

the future

2009-09-19T00:02:00.000-07:00

If you look out a window, but only see your own reflection, you aren't looking far enough.

The Humble Beginnings of Ug

2009-09-18T23:13:00.000-07:00

Beginnings are nice things.

Ug began when the last thread was cut, his head was firmly planted on his body, and his eyes stitched in place. His new mother exclaimed "Ug!" because ... he was not quite the image of perfection. This was her first attempt at growing a bear, and things had not come together exactly right. His head was misshapen, and his legs were overstuffed. His right arm was not completely attached to his body, and his seams were sadly askew.

But beginnings are nice things, even in the face of something entirely unexpected.

Ug's face beamed with quiet bemusement. It seemed he found the world an odd and interesting place, and he had lots of thoughts to share. His mother set out to discover more about the random thoughts in that polyester-filled head. She put them down on paper (with a few of her own, of course).

There is little wisdom in the new world of Ug, but he is always happy to share his daydreams.