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I must say I have grown fond of writing down thoughts that came to my mind, and sharing them with you, your comments and banter. To read so many good post of essays, haiku, poems, personal thoughts, humour, arts and photography, I will sorely miss. And that is an attachment in some ways. One thing that I don’t want to lose sight is my belief and faith. And that is not an attachment. It’s my life.
On the other side of life, I received notices from friends in Facebook that they will be off-line during Lenten season as part of fasting. Thinking about fasting, I will be participating as well not in Facebook but from posting blogs. In Facebook that’s where I do most of the spiritual side of me. Lent will start on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter. Just 40 days.
The good news about fasting during Lent, weekend is not counted. Maybe, just maybe, I will participate once a week in the Ragtag Daily Prompt Weekly Photo Challenge and post the Sunday Snippet. Whew, that is a relief for me. This does not mean that I will abstain from reading your post and liking it. I will still be hovering around at a lesser frequency during weekdays.
What I will abstain from is commenting, thus the sound of silence.
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Standing up for his rights
This man has no filter when it comes to his habit of smoking cigars even with the anti-smoking sentiments. He smoked 10-15 cigars a day and live up to 100 years old.
Oh God, I’m pretty sure he told people off to put a filter in their mouths expressing their opinions on people’s choice.
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Impossible Dream
Man of La Mancha had a quest…
Alonso Quixana (Don Quixote) is an aging gentleman who is enamored by and devours books about chivalry. He becomes so absorbed with the subject that he soon escapes reality as he fancies himself a knight, and travels about the countryside performing acts of imagined valor and good deeds. His world, as that of Cervantes, was anything but virtuous or chivalrous.
https://amlifcar41.wordpress.com/2020/10/27/of-truth-and-reality/
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All Directions
Spirit who comes out of the East, come to me with the power of the East, the light of the rising sun. Let there be light on the path I walk. Let me remember always that you give the gift of a new day and let me never be burdened with sorrow by not starting over.
Great Life Giving Spirit, I face the West, the direction of sundown. Let me remember every day that the moment will come when my sun will go down. Never let me forget that I must fade into you. Give me beautiful color, give me a great sky for setting so that when it is time to meet you, I come with glory.
Great Spirit of Creation, send me warm and soothing winds from the South to comfort me and caress me when I am tired and cold. Unfold me as your gentle breezes unfold the leaves on the trees. And as you give to all the earth your warm moving wind, give to me warmth so that I may grow close to you.
Great Spirit of Love, come to me with the power of the North; make me courageous when the cold winds of life fall upon me. Give us strength and endurance for everything that is harsh, everything that hurts, and everything that makes me squint. Let me move through life ready to take what comes from the North.
Giver of All Life, I pray to you from the Earth. Help me to remember as I touch the Earth that I am little and need your pity. Help me to be thankful for the gift of the Earth and never to walk hurtfully on the world. Bless me with the eyes to love what comes from Mother Earth and teach me how to use well your gifts.
Great Spirit of the Heavens, lift me up to you that my heart may worship you and come to you in glory. Hold in my memory that you are my Creator, greater than I, eager for my good life. Let everything that is in the world lift my mind and my heart and my life to you, so that we may come to you always in truth and in heart.
I brought my four nephews to the pinnacle of northern British Columbia, Atlin, soon after mother was buried to witness the northern lights. We stayed at Mt. Monarch and taught the boys the Prayer of the Six Directions (Indian Prayer) in the tundra.
Amen.
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Surprise by Joy Part Duex
This is a photo of presentation of a painting of Kateri Tekakwitha (Lily of the Mohawk) gifted to Pope Francis last year during his visit to Canada for Truth and Reconciliation. Part one can be found here.
Kateri Tekakwitha (pronounced [ˈɡaderi deɡaˈɡwita] in Mohawk), given the name Tekakwitha, baptized as Catherine[3][4] and informally known as Lily of the Mohawks(1656 – April 17, 1680), is a Catholicsaint and virgin who was an Algonquin–Mohawk. Born in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon, on the south side of the Mohawk River in present-day New York State, she contracted smallpox in an epidemic; her family died and her face was scarred. She converted to Catholicism at age nineteen, when she was baptized and given the Christian name Kateri in honor of Catherine of Siena. Refusing to marry, she left her village and moved for the remaining five years of her life to the Jesuit mission village of Kahnawake, south of Montreal on the St. Lawrence River in New France, now Canada.
Wikipedia
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Love Letter
Billet-Doux on Valentine’s Day
The billet-doux still remains enshrined in our heart after so many years.
Focus on the positive: OTD Father died saving the lives of others from drowning, then the undertow claimed his life.
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Legacy
Cousin Mike was sharing the things his father imparted to him. I wrote it down as best I could. In point forms and words I remembered. I am sharing this with you as is.
Gift of food love peace simple uncomplicated to provide to offer food and put on the table to share
Gift of time spend time together family spend with the ones you love
Gift of laughter no gender in Tagalog made others laugh franks spider bad jokes on Homer create a joke forget punch lines
Gift of perseverance not with words but a model it is what it is stop complaining get on with it
February 12, 2023
Gift of generosity pioneer chain of sponsorship to pave the way to Canada
Always choose and celebrate life no matter what.
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Fancy meeting you here
Breathe
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Weather Report
Your social media posts may help experts see the world a little more clearly says the Weather Network.
Who are the experts? Is it the groundhog? Can we really trust meteorologists in predicting whether it would rain or shine relying on Facebook?
I’d rather trust the ducks.
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Question: What is your personality trait?
Do you find the good on a given situation? Are you a become pessimist or optimistic? Do you use the words should or could or would often? These are pitfalls in everyday life.
Do or do not.
Three thing I will change on this schedule:
- Wake up at 6 am
- Change “shall I do” to “I will do”
- Sleep at 11 pm
And yet, here I am still awake examining what have I done?
Photo credit by: Nick Bilton
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Monochrome World
“How are you?” she asked.
Oh you know, we live in such a monochrome world. I said.
“Yeah, I know what you mean. It reminds me of England.” She said.
We were talking about the winter weather but it doesn’t stop us from going out. Her, the daily trip to Starbucks. Me, my daily walk. I just returned from looking for subjects to photograph for this monochrome assignment. It’s dark and gloomy outside. A perfect scene for a simple lighting experience having to deal with many shades of gray.
To be objective looking for a subject, I have to truly look and see what I can discover. It’s not that I am searching for colours, but what image would stand out on a grayscale environment.
In Japan, Washi is a fundamental component of print making. It is also used as a subtle camouflage between the shoji screens against the walls of the surroundings. It is mouldable into clothing or woven into furnishings.
The first there photos are originals in a perfect monochrome settings taken using my iPhone7.
—Andrew Macnab
This bird is so still that can easily be missed blending in with nature. I put the two shots side by side for comparison. I must admit I prefer the lighter version by just moving the dials of the mono feature of the iPhone.
Grace is a multicoloured cat with orange, brown, black, gray and white fur. To see her in monochrome doesn’t do justice to her beautiful hair but the snowflakes are unbelievably visible.
“See yourself in color” in monochrome makes me chuckle. This is just wild. Choosing my clothing is easier when I stick to a monochrome wardrobe. Monochrome means one color in various shade. I can match a green skirt with a top in a pistachio green. Imagine the different shades of green of Ireland. It can be flattering and simplified. I do love pigments, tho.
A red small insignia is enough for the solid black ink.
Let the scene see you. A freight ship with red skirt.
Night photography capturing North Shore with a tinge of red light.
Such a typical weather when I stepped out of Pan Pacific around 10am. At least, it’s not raining. The blue, red and yellow made up for a dramatic scene.
At the end of the day, view from my balcony.
As I discovered in WordPress, there is so much going on in Monochrome Madness. I must check them out and learn from these great photographers.
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The Years Are Short
Hi Linda,
It’s been a long time since your last musing. I haven’t forgotten your writings. I kept part of you in my draft for the longest time. I sometimes visit this post to watch the video but it’s now private. Here’s hoping all is well with you.
“I think I had allowed myself to forget about the joys in everyday life. The flowers in my garden, the conversation with friend, cooking a meal, my peaceful haven of a backyard and my walk to pick up the mail. I forgot to appreciate a call from my daughter or a visit from my parents. I needed a wake up call and am happy to have received it in the form of Gretchin Rubin’s video. My daughter has returned to live at home after graduating and I am treasuring every minute we have together, even times that seem mundane. We don’t have to be taking shopping trips or going to the movies, we can be setting the table or folding laundry. I will treasure it, because all too soon…. she will find a different job and move far away. The years are short and this is it !!”
via The Years Are Short.
I’m looking back at some of the writings I kept and feeling nostalgic. I certainly hope that it doesn’t have any pernicious effect on others.
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And the answer is…
Horton hears Who that there is a strange animal in the kingdom, Bear. Horton befriended Bear.
Since Horton is 100% believable, Bear was converted. It’s a Bear thing, a necessity.
Meanwhile, Horton is reaching out to the “speck of dust” that he hatched with his long trunk saying you’ll be safe up there.
And that is what Dr. Seuss thought when he rearranged the elephant and bear during his coffee break.
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Say what?
This list is a strange language with fancy words to use to boggle people’s minds. Spelling bee, anyone?
- Sesquipedalian. …
- Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobic. …
- Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. …
- Floccinaucinihilipilification. …
- Antidisestablishmentarianism. …
- Boondoggle. …
- Circumlocution. …
- Gasconade.
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Bonus: Another Day
I am so looking forward to today. I wrote it down on my calendar. I even received a phone reminder.
Before I go to sleep, I enjoy going through my mind the pleasure of tomorrow. Wake up slowly and enjoy two cups of coffee, feed the kitties, do a daily reading of Living with Christ, and eat: all done leisurely. Then take a shower Dress up and do the only one thing in my to do list. Hair cut.
And then I realized today is Sunday. Did I lose or gain a day?
Lately, I am concerned with my memory of the ability to retain things on my to-do list. I keep the list to a minimum of three, the rest is a bonus.
In my mind, the list is long
Something on your “to-do list” that never gets done.
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Swing it
Disappearing Act
I have been exchanging emails with the happy engineer in WP to get proper instructions to change my site name. I received the links on “how to” but I can’t seem to grasp the lingo between site and domain name. There is a warning sign that if I do change the name, all of my past posts will vanish!
Yikes! More email exchanges.
Finally, a third happy engineer deciphered my message, breaking down my concerns with his answers and seven simple steps.
I managed to change my site name and imported all contents from the old site to the new one.
Now, this post is a test run. We shall see if my followers will let me know if it worked. 👌
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Hub of Seasonal Fun
Want to be entertained? There’s a place for that and it’s free. Plenty of parking spaces. It’s very central and public transit accessible under one big roof with many different amenities. A perfect place rain or shine. The Grand Court of Metropolis in Metrotown.
Yes, it’s a shopping centre that is bustling with people. I came here on boxing day just to take a picture of people. It was fun to cut across through the sea of people. I was in and out of this mall. For all retail stores, the message was SALE – SALE – SALE.
The Grand Court is below the west side mall which is maybe four blocks distance away from where I took this photo. Here I stand looking down at the Washed Ashore Art Exhibit. There are nine giant marine animals made of rubbers and plastic debris collected from the shore. The sculptures are beautifully made yet it conveys the tragedy of plastic pollution in our oceans and waterways and encourages conservation. It’s a travelling educational exhibit combining science and environmental impact.
And here’s a doodle classroom titled “Get an A in doodling.” Another interactive project. When it comes to drawing, the kids get A+. The adults can show their talents on the higher wall Bansky style.
The latest event was the Chinese New Year. We were entertained by the traditional dragon dance and various dance groups. These grade four students performed a fish dance. Interesting to see that there’s only one male fish.
Watching the master calligrapher is so fascinating to notice that his hand never touches the red ribbon to write the Chinese characters which means “Wishing you good health, joy and prosperity.”
“I used to think that without photography, I am nothing. It wasn’t until I had kids that I realized that without love, I am less than nothing. ~ Chien-Chi Chang, Magnum photographer”
As much as I take pleasure in using the iPhone to take pictures, most of my subjects have a story. Photos come to life when the photographer includes a message of the image.
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No pressure at all. Take your time.
Phil emerged from his burrow and was frightened by the sight of the dark, undesirable aspect of his unconscious mind. The groundhog is back to haunt humans when the season reaches the crunch. The large rodent immediately scurried back underground, forecasting an indefinite extension of the cold season of the soul.
Groundhog sees Jungian shadow, predicts everlasting winter of the soul.
Source: bevearton.com
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many theories, half-truths
A sense of direction is a fascinating topic. There are incredible stories about cats or dogs who were able to find their way home after so many years. Just relying on the power of their senses, they are very good at getting their bearings. This may be different for indoor pet cats. There are some precautions you can immediately take to prevent your cat from getting lost. Take them out for a walk. It’s all about orientations.
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Knowing me, knowing you
Blue Skies
And so it begins. All 26 of them arrived safely in a sun destination of blue skies with this blinding ball of light intense glare. Soak it in while they can.
It’s an all-included resort. Food and alcohol are flowing. Heaven and hell in one package. Videos and photos are shared amongst the family left behind. The family is thrilled to see that they are having a good time.
I went to bed saying my usual soliloquy: “Lord, protect them. Amen.”
Woke up this morning, still sleepy, glaring at my iPhone with a message from my sister.
“Boy, I had a nightmare last night/ too much tequila lol! Slept walked and saw a person coming into the room. I crawled out of bed and I thought I was at home and crawled towards Angel (which I thought was the door), touched Angel (and thought was a dead body), I screamed, Rachel screamed and Angel woke up. Crazy.”
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Don’t start…
Don’t start what you can’t win. Make sure that you are protected from what will precipitate an ensuing puzzling behaviour.
In my daily walk, not only do I stop and smell the roses, but I also stop to make connections and conversations with people. Am I weird? You betcha.
On my way home, two young men approached me and asked:
“Sister, are you a Christian? Do you believe in Jesus Christ?”
Me thinks… Hmmm… These men are ordinary looking wearing jeans and a warm toque hat holding a thick book I assume is a Bible. Interesting opening line. I was thinking to respond facetiously by saying “yeah, I have a direct line with Jesus or we’re BFF.” I thought for a while and responded hesitatingly…
“Ehem… I am a catholic (with a small c. Let’s see if they are good with definitions.
“Catholic churches are corrupt.” said he.
Gong bell! Wrong answer.
“Nononono… I don’t discriminate” I smiled and turn my back.
This is my Sunday Snippet to celebrate the National Puzzle day that RDP precipitated.
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Discovery
Write about a few of your favorite family traditions.
A prompt! What a great discovery. I’m thrilled. Reminds me of the long-defunct daily prompt three years ago.
Awesome! Party time.
This is very helpful should I run out of ideas to write. No need to join a group post.
As for tradition, Fiddler on the Roof is currently performing at QE theater. This is what my family looks like.
TRADITION.
If I were a rich man… Do be do be doo…
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One Camera, Many Stories
The campus ground of UBC is one of the many places that are conducive to walking and sightseeing. It’s a home for many students, with plants, trees and domestic birds. There is a particular gigantic tree that is adorned with birdhouses for finch, sparrow, chickadee, wren, woodpecker, crow and even bees. There is a wooden bench with stories of four students titled “Places of Refuge.”
What is a home? When I moved to Vancouver, I thought that a home is a safe place, a place of prosperity. But now I understand that home is home because of identity. Home is home because of your people. I don’t call Vancouver home because my parents are not here, but it is a good place. I have gained many things since being here — knowledge, experience, and a better understanding of how the world works. But, it is difficult to adapt to a new environment, to be what the environment wants you to be. You can experience challenges anywhere. People just collide sometimes. ~ Makerduek, South Sudan
Every time I think I might be taking my life for granted, I think about my parents. My father was a brilliant student at university and, just before he could graduate, they had to flee the country while my mother was pregnant with me. So, whenever I start to complain about university work, I think of my father and how he had to leave in the middle of his degree just because someone decided to start a war. My parents are proud to be immigrants; everything they have in Canada, they created for themselves. I feel disconnected sometimes when I realize how much other people take for granted. ~ Tara, Croatia
The most surprising thing about coming to Canada was seeing a person walking ahead of me and holding open a door until I could put my hand on it. Where I come from people were taught to kill. The first thing they would want to do if they saw me was hit me with a machete. And then, just two and half years later, the first person I see, their concern for me is: Can I hold open the door for you? I don’t think anyone else at UBC was walking around feeling so amazed at doors being opened. ~ Willy, Rwanda
My parents have lived in the same house for my entire life. It’s a quiet place — the yard ringed with trees where birds nest, close enough to the ocean that you can smell the salt. When I was young, we acted as a host family to students from the international school who stayed with us during breaks and sometimes for years after they graduated. The house was always filled with different voices and different stories. It was there that I first realized how lucky I was. While so many others came from such difficult circumstances, I had nothing to run from, nothing to escape. ~ Chris, Canada
This iPhone serves me well in documenting memories. One camera is all I need.
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What it takes
It’s all in your head
Rest before you get tired is my mantra to recharge.
Tired. I am always tired. Fa-ti-gue. It’s such a joke that my doctor once said she will charge me $Five bucks every time I say it during a consultation. There were at least five doctors that replaced her until a new one came from the UK. She is just great. She listens and referred me to the Centre for Chronic Disease I completely forgot about until one day I received a call from them. Two years later when I was on the list since September 2018.
I’m finally in. The work of managing unknown ailments takes understanding one’s self-care.
I am not alone.
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Good Boy
If you could make your pet understand one thing, what would it be?
Lucy, you are such a good girl. Thank you for staying with me for all these years.
Grace, you are so sweet. How can I even get mad at you with that mischievous face.
Adi, Mr. Magoo, you are such a fur baby, soft to touch. Give me a hug with that mean face that doesn’t suit you.
Me: I will take this as a compliment.
Today is National Compliment Day. Go ahead and compliment one another.
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The Art of Handwriting
We are celebrating National Handwriting Day today.
At work, I changed my preferred name because my employer keeps on shifting me from one position and department. With my line of work, I received volumes of inter-office mail with notes from the sender. I kept this pink note because of the humor between me and the sender.
It’s short and quick — but I miss the time it takes to write and the time it takes to savor reading one.
Does anyone write longhand?
It’s dying art, does it? Lately, I’ve been consciously taking down notes using a lead pencil, my favorite writing tool.
“A letter is a blessing, a great and all-too-rare privilegethat can turn a private moment into an exalted experience.”– Alexandra Stoddard
“There’s something about the act of writing that is valuable in itself. I worry that our kids aren’t being taught this much anymore. And while they are incredibly computer-literate and tech-savvy, what about penmanship?
I don’t think even the coolest tablet or smartphone can take the place of a well-made fountain pen and fine writing paper, and I don’t think they should.”
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Once again, it’s not a sin
Do you ever confess your temptations to anybody willing to listen?
Once again, it’s not a sin.
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60 Minutes report on Divine Intervention
A recent episode of 60 Minutes saw correspondent Bill Whitaker visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France. The footage offers inspiring views of the popular pilgrimage site, as well as interviews with faithful visitors seeking to be healed and even one nun whose sudden recovery after visiting Lourdes has been deemed miraculous.
Sr. Bernadette Moriau
The 60 Minutes report goes into great detail on how reported miracles are investigated and authenticated. Whitaker spoke with a team of physicians who examine each case under various criteria, in order to prove that a miracle occurred.The massive size of each case folder is a testament to how deeply they study their cases before coming to their conclusions.
Whitaker even had a chance to interview Sister Bernadette Moriau, the 83-year-old nun who is recognized as the recipient of the 70th miracle said to have occurred at the Lourdes Shrine. Sr. Moriau explained that she had a “dark diagnosis” of full paralysis that was completely healed within three days of visiting the shrine. Sr. Moriau explained that while she was at the shrine she heard a voice in her head:
“I really had that feeling that the Lord was walking with us. And I heard him giving me these words: ‘I see your suffering and that of your sick brothers and sisters. Just give me everything.’”
She said that when she returned home she was in debilitating pain for three days until she suddenly felt the strength to walk to the chapel to pray. While in prayer, she began to feel a great heat inside of her and suddenly she felt urged to remove her foot and back braces, which she previously needed to walk. Suddenly her foot was straightened and her back was no longer in pain.
In order to validate the miracle, Sr. Moriau subjected herself to rounds of testing, both physically and mentally, but no scientific or medical explanation of her sudden recovery was ever identified. Her case was eventually recognized as the 70th instance of a miraculous healing taking place at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.
There’s more packed into the 60 Minutes report than would be possible to cover here, and the expressions of St. Moriau as she explains her miracle are worth a watch on their own.
Source: Aleteia
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Original
Semper Fidelis. Always Faithful.
What a man. What a great man of faith.
At 6:20 am on January 19, 2023. he went to eternal rest with his maker carrying him to the end and beyond.
Love is based on an intrinsic human quality that one has to help out in times of need. Valor is the by-product of love; the love for humanity to help those who are in need.
Love and Valor
To have finally met this man (Carrington) and brought happiness to him, that is something.
Brothers in Arms
Jesus Gonzalez, left, now 76, is reunited with James Carrington, right, at the Ormond Nursing and Care Center in Destrehan on Monday for the first time since saving his life in 1944.
World War II veteran reunited with man who aided his escape from Japanese prison
This is a bitter sweet reunion between the two friends. Mr. Gonzales is right it’s a dream come true! I shed a tear to their reunion knowing that this kind of situation rarely happen in real life.
Jesus Gonzalez and James Carrington – WW II Heros Meet
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Calling All Writers
I have an assignment to put these two statements together or intertwined them in two paragraphs. Somehow, I’m having a brain fog and it’s choking me how to construct it. The statements are night and day. Click on the image for better reading.
I know there are many here that are professional writers and I need your help. I’m tagging the group RDP. Please don’t consider this request as disposable,
Thank you for your help. Due on Friday, tomorrow.
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Timeline: Camera Obscura
First there was the photo booths, followed by Polaroid. Then came disposable cameras, point and shoot, Apple iPad, iPhone 5C, iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 plus. These are photo devices that I used as far as I can remember.
I love the booths and Polaroid. Instant gratification of how the shots turn out. Gather as many peeps in the booth, the funnier the photos come out. For a mere buck, it gives four different pictures. Cheap thrills.
Then it gets expensive.
Disposable cameras are great on a need to have basis. Point and shoot requires rolls of films. Then the films have to be processed, developed and printed. What size do you want? Matted or glossy? Rush or regular? Cost all adds up. The finished product is a surprise. With 24 prints, maybe half is good if your lucky. Over exposure, blurry, or what is this? Storing the pictures into albums and the films in shoe boxes take spaces.
Photography became easier when the digital age came. No more films. Reusable gigs. Store them in the Clouds. Cost effective. Love it.
What do I do with these pictures?
One example is incorporating it with favourite poetry or essay. The prose remains, photos change in time.
Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is a way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples, and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.
Poem: by William Martin, Make the Ordinary Come Alive
Lucy, my niece, was the first model used for this sage advice. She is all grown up studying in university. Our family is growing rapidly, more children. Death is part of living.
Looking Back as an ending from Albert Camus
“In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.
In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.
In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.
I realized, through it all, that…
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.”
– Albert Camus
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Sooner or later
I before E is the best way to remember the spellbinding attention when to use rule of C. The rule is immanent to loosen its grip with autocorrect.
English is a confusing language.
What I’m trying to say is I love this group, RDP. Easy to remember and spell.
After thought as later:
IMMANENT
“a question as to whether altruism is immanent in all individuals or is instead acquired from without.”
Another one: to visit a dying person in the hospital to say goodbye or to pray for a peaceful death is a dilemma. Thinking of Tito Jess.
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It’s Blue Monday
It’s dark and cold rainy day. For a week. A week of blue. But have no fear, there’s always a fizzy or fuzzy way of picking up the day,
Go to your nearest Starbucks and order a sparkling cold brew. Better yet, hit the nearest bar for an effervescent bubbly with an umbrella and a twist of lime.
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I am only a man
He is just another man, a real person that I would have very much wanted to meet personally. Unfortunately, he was born way ahead of me and died 20 years before I was born. If you ask him who he is, the response was “I am only a man, just like you.”
“It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely
beautiful pictures,” said St. André Bessette.
André Bessette is a native of Canada born frail in a poor family in Quebec. He became an orphan at the age of 12 and had hardly any education at all. In his early twenties, he entered the Holy Cross congregation in Montreal. Nobody wanted him. The main task given to him was menial as a porter, someone who opens the door and greets people who come to visit the Oratory. Yet he did his duty for 40 years accepting the little he had and turning it into a holy act.
One would not think that he lacks formal education when he is an effective teacher of faith by his action, love, kindness, and example. He used the simplest means. It is his complete trust with divine providence is what made him an exceptional person.
His dream was to build a church devoted to St. Joseph. He trusted that if he is really doing the Lord’s will the Lord would bring it to fruition. And it did happen.
How I would have wanted to see him open the door for me when I visited the Oratory in Mount Royal. I felt small as an ant standing at the first rung of the steps looking up at the Oratory.
In a world filled with educated minds and an era of countless celebrity, glitz, and glamour, I am amazed at what a simple man can do.
Brother André is what I call him and has left me a legacy to place my trust in Jesus.
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Writing to remember
Brain fog is seeing without my glasses. No lenses, everything is a blur.
I want to remember as much as possible
the events of my life be it pleasant or
unpleasant as long as I can. There are
times that I want to remember less.Someone told me instead of remembering,
remember to forget. And I ponder about this
and what came to mind, sooner or latter
a time will come, it will happen without even
having to remember.
When it comes to FOG, it’s an acronym I made up such as “Focus on Gratitude” or “Focus on God.” pinned on my door to read before I walk out of the house.
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Dear Lens Artists
I truly enjoy taking photos, there is so much to learn just reading your post. I kept one shot of 2022 as a reminder to pursue and learn. it’s one of the many journals on sale at Indigo/Chapters.
I’m not a photographer nor I own a real camera. I still have no idea how to be in your level. I just want to say thank you for this game.
Best Wishes, Perpetua
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Photographs and Memories
“I am absolutely have no idea what I’m doing.” is the title of a 17-month 2022 day planner that I fancy. Took a picture just in case I want to buy it.
Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms. – George Eliot
A gallery of pets from cat to dog to bird to snake. What is there not to like living when there take care of pets as companions.
Sometimes life is merely a matter of coffee and whatever intimacy a cup of coffee affords. – Richard Brautigan
Coffee. Who doesn’t enjoy a cup of Java. It really doesn’t matter the status in life: rich or poor, employed or bin diver, never give up going for coffee.
The truest test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching. John Wooden
Butt … everybody is watching …
People watching other people watching … with powerful camera on their iPhones … taking photos all over the place seems to be the norm. So, be on the lookout.
Part of the fascination that photography holds is its ability to unlock secrets kept even from ourselves. Like dreams, the photograph can uncork a heady bouquet of recognition which can escape into the cognitive world. – Jack Welpott
Gardening is a common passion for people. There are many groups of gardeners that are addicted to it and loads of humour garden all over the world. It may be winter here, but on the other side of the world, it’s blooming.
Cat, I’ll let you in on a little secret. We don’t all love our jobs every day. And doing something you have passion for doesn’t make the work part of it any easier…It just makes you less likely to quit. – Kate Jacobs
These are just a few activities that keep my interest going while I will continue trying to figure out the meaning of life.
I will carry on as if I know what I am doing.
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ADI ? – 2021
What a rag doll. He just folds, flops, and flips over when held. Actually, he didn’t want to be held. He was a loner until he met Maurice and Lucy, my cats.
His name was Adi.
Ever since he had the pleasure of being with my cats, he wants out. Kicked the door and sounded the blood curling meow. He terrorized his owners to let him out to visit my cats. To simplify life, I gave a written note to the owner that Adi is more than welcome to visit anytime. Here’s a key to my apartment. This way, I won’t be woken up with knocking on my door.
He’s nickname is “dish washer” because he ate all the leftover cat food and licked the bowls clean. He loved Maurice than Lucy. It’s a male bonding thing.
When Maurice died, Adi still came. I loved his quiet presence.
Being a purebred cat, he had many complications. Even when he was sick, he insisted coming to my place. I wanted Adi to die naturally like Maurice instead of being euthanized. But he wasn’t my cat.
He must have been at least 15 years old.
It’s time for me to clean up my iPhone and move all the thousands photos of Adi to the storage. Took me that long to mourn for Adi. I miss him.
Thanks for choosing me, Adi.
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Wish or Resolution
Resolution. I think about it. Wish about. Fantasize about. I’d say mañana. But, I still persevere and learn from others. Others would rather play boggle.
- Lower my expectations
- Goals not resolution
- Read more books
- Don’t make resolutions
- Diet starts tomorrow
- Survive the year
- Relax at gym
- Join a group
- Fold laundry later
Aren’t these easy enough to keep? I’ve done these before. Unless, someone comes up with another idea, I’m open to suggestions.
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Keeping me happy
This morning I watched through the kitchen window, a squirrel in a dead tree on the creek bank. No more than a tall skinny pole without any branches. When I first noticed the squirrel, it ran to the top, sat on it’s hind quarters, and appeared to be eating something.
It leaped to the tiny branch of another tree, hanging upside down and exposing the pretty reddish gold fur of it’s belly, until the swaying of the branch slowed. With a flip of it’s tail, it righted itself and kept moving. A second squirrel appeared near the first. I watched the agile creatures, slightly envious. Seemingly weightless, with great flourishes of their fluffy tails, dancing among the treetops.
From the warmth of the kitchen, I watched as a lady cardinal was chased away from the suet block, by a small lady woodpecker. She was chased away by a small male woodpecker, who was expelled by the large male cardinal. Then the little female woodpecker came back and refused to be intimidated by the cardinal, and ate some suet.
I had put the summer’s remaining sweet potatoes in the oven, making the kitchen warm and sweet smelling as I enjoyed the avian entertainment.
I plucked a leaf from the cinnamon basil plant on the window sill, crushed it in my palm, and held it to my face. Herbs are the best kind of aroma therapy. And flowers are the best kind of visual therapy.
There’s a creamy white amaryllis with 2 large blooms, and many more to come. A red one that should begin blooming in the next few days. The pretty red poinsettia has scarcely lost a leaf since I brought it home in November, and there are blooms on the red and white potted geraniums in the sun room.
Nearly everything I need to keep me happy until spring.
January 2023
Source: Story Hub written by Susie Ford Rohr
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Changing seasons
Back to ordinary times. Let’s make this ordinary period extraordinary.
A miracle happened: another day of life. – PAULO COELHO
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Tradition
Happy Three Kings!
The grandkids were all excited that the Three Kings are coming following Christmas. It means they will get extra gifts. Gifts not under the Christmas tree but in your shoes.
Bring out the shoes and line them up by the doorway, stairs or window.
We follow this tradition and hand it down the generations celebrating the last day of Christmas.
“We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.”
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Oh the places we go and do …
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…
Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
When we were younger, our bucket list included mostly places we want to travel or things we want to do before we die. Now we are older, we travel back in time to check the bucket list for a yay or nay. The question is would we do it again? Which one would you not do ever again? That’s a hard one. But it’s fun to travel down memory lane.
Here’s a compilation of anti-bucket list what some people are sharing:
- Camping. My idea of roughing it is walking (to the breakfast buffet) thru the plant filled atrium at the Embassy Suites.
- Get married again. Been there, done that 3 times…..
- I will never go to the Florida theme parks in the summer again. Hot, 10000% humidity, rain, long lines and crowded, for a 4 minute ride. Never again.
- Never wear high heels again.
- No more roller coasters and no more waterpark slides.
- Buy a brand-new car.
- Wear a bikini
- Drink Boones Farm Strawberry Wine
The list is endless.
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Falling at The Wrong Hands
As a reader, it’s interesting to see how people interact behind the keyboards. There is one particular posts that I enjoyed thoroughly in a group “The Other Side of Art.“ John Atkinson’s artwork was shared without citations. Part of the rule is to provide proper citation. In the comment section, the author was requested to correct it and “admin” was notified.
Next thing I knew, the original post no longer appears and a similar post showed up shared by “admin” V Sco Jabbah.
Wow! This post garnered about 1.3K reactions. Interestingly enough, another comment showed that this post is incomplete and was asked to correct it. Do you think an admin would accept the challenge?
Well! It was challenged by the member who made such comments. The member shared the whole art of John Atkinson. This post went viral and exceeded more reactions, shared all over FB and more comments. Fabulous.
Christmas is not over yet and I was about to share the member’s post since it’s authentic and not the admin.
Lo and behold, the member’s authentic share is no longer in the group but the admin’s post still there.
Well, Mr. Atkinson, sorry that your art fell into the wrong hands of The Other Side of Art.
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Thanksgiving Thursday
Bless us O Lord, for this thy gift which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ Our Lord, Meow.
It’s Thanksgiving Thursday. I started this Thursday prompt for my own sake that there is always to be thankful for in my other social media to remind me that there is always to be thankful.
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You can stay at my house
Image Source: Tent City Nati
Story Source: You can stay at my house
It was Christmas Eve at the famed Riverside Church in New York City, and with William Sloan Coffin, Jr. scheduled to preach, the pews were packed. The Christmas Pageant was on and had come to the point where the innkeeper was to say that there was no room at the inn for Joseph and Mary pregnant with Jesus.
The part seemed perfect for Tim, an earnest youth of the congregation who has Down Syndrome. Only one line to memorize and he had practiced it again and again with his parents and with the pageant director. He seemed to have mastered it.
So there Tim stood at the altar, a bathrobe over his clothes, as Mary and Joseph made their way down the center aisle. They approached him, said their lines, and waited for his reply. “There’s no room at the inn,” he boomed out, just as rehearsed.
But then, as Mary and Joseph turned to travel further, Tim suddenly yelled, “Wait!” They turned back startled. “You can stay at my house,” he called.
Tenting is only a stop gap way of living.
- Image Source: Tent City Nativity
- Story Source: Story Source: You can stay at my house
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Strange, but true
Wistful Thinking
Once a year, either on Christmas or New Years, food served consists mostly of our favourite dishes.
There’s a few of us looking at the dishes served salivating to taste them with great nostalgia how we consumed so much of these as if there is no tomorrow.
I said to my sister, just try one or two. Then drink lots of water to cleanse your system. It’s ok. I was egging her as if I was the demon behind her.
Temptation. Our mind has no border.
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Fate or Faith
Some says that the path we take is fate or faith. That it’s already written for us. That it’s only by faith your life depends on.
It’s all a mystery as I ponder about what has been and what could have been. There are so many roads I’ve taken without a thought following that small still voice that only the ear and the eye of my heart can discern.
I cannot, if I would, complain
The New Year’s Burden Catherine Davis
Of a mean lot and curse my luck
(Though luck for luck, as gain for gain,
I cannot say that I’ve been struck
By how much mine exceeds) but hold
That this same luck has come to me
Never so empty-handed, cold,
As my more favored levity:
And if it casts off heaviness,
This is my burden, none the less.
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Final Encounter
Flight 2023 Instructions
ALL ARE WELCOME. PASSPORTS NOT REQUIRED,
Good blessed day and welcome to Flight 2023. We are ready to take off into the New Year.
Please make sure your Positive Attitude and Gratitude are secured and locked in the upright position. All self-destruct devices: pity, anger, selfishness, pride, and resentment should be turned off at this time. All negativity, hurt, and discouragement should be put away.
Should you lose your Positive Attitude under pressure during this flight, reach up and pull down a prayer. Prayers will automatically be activated by Faith. Once your Faith is activated, you can assist other passengers who are of little faith.
There will be NO BAGGAGE allowed on this flight.
God, our Captain, has cleared us for take-off. Destination – GREATNESS!
Wishing you all a New Year filled with new HOPE, new JOY, and new BEGINNINGS!
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Wild about ‘shrooms
Fall is the best time foraging for wild mushrooms. They come in different colours and sizes.
Want to get high? There are wild mushrooms out there that can provide euphoria. Wild mushrooms may appear to be esculent and you have to be an expert in edible fungus.
Trial and error, you may see God for eternity or maybe in Purgatory or maybe in Dante’s Inferno.
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Thank You Note
Hi everybody.
I have to start by saying thanks
Thanks for a wonderful year
Not only to you, to God number one
To you number two
And for all the wonderful things...
You know, when I look
at a beautiful day,
I’ll say, “God is there.”
I say it’s happy
because birds are tweetin’ ...
Sun i shinnin’ ...
Wind’s blowin’ ...
The leaves flyin’ ...
A fantastic monologue from the show “A Storm For Christmas.” It was perfect flick while viewing it during our snowstorm. Now back to liquid weather.
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Call me Cliff
The young ones,
Darling we’re the young ones,
And young ones shouldn’t be afraid.
That’s a better song for spiderling rather than the itsy bitsy winky speedy pider…
That nursery brings back memories of singing it to my nephew over and over again driving up to the a mountain in Kauia to make him stop crying.
Ear worm.
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O Come Let Us Adore …
Joy. That’s. It.
Let me share this poem by Rilke posted by Robin Bates.
Without your simplicity, how could this
have happened — what shines now in the dark of night?
The God who thundered over the nations
makes himself mild and through you enters the world
Were you expecting something greater?
What is greatness? He moves straight through
all measurements we know, dissolving them away. Even the path of a star is not like that.
Behold: these kings standing here are great
and drag into your lap rare treasures
that each believes to be the greatest.
Perhaps you are astonished at their gifts.
But look into the blanket in your arms,
how He already surpasses all of them.
Amber that is traded near and far,
rings of gold and costly spices
that drift for a moment on the air:
these are quickly fading pleasures
and leave behind a vague regret.
The gift He brings — as you will see — is joy.
I can taste that lasting sweetness what Joy brings. Joy to you all.
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Come Yuletide
As far as business is concerned especially the malls, Yuletide starts as soon after Halloween.
There are so many stories to be told during Christmas gatherings. There is but only one good story written in letter on Christmas Eve 1914 by a soldier…
24/12/14
I have just been through one of the most extraordinary scenes imaginable. To-night is Xmas Eve and I came up into the trenches this evening for my tour of duty in them. Firing was going on all the time and the enemy’s machine guns were at it hard, firing at us. Then about seven the firing stopped.
I was in my dug-out reading a paper and the mail was being dished out. It was reported that the Germans had lighted their trenches up all along our front. We had been calling to one another for some time Xmas wishes and other things. I went out and they shouted “no shooting” and then somehow the scene became a peaceful one. All our men got out of their trenches and sat on the parapet, the Germans did the same, and they talked to one another in English and broken English. I got on top of the trench and talked German and asked them to sing a German Volkslied, which they did, then our men sang quite well and each side clapped and cheered the other.
I asked a German who sang a solo to sing one of Schumann’s songs, so he sang The Two Grenadiers splendidly. Our men were a good audience and really enjoyed his singing.
Then Pope and I walked across and held a conversation with the German officer in command.
One of his men introduced us properly, he asked my name and then presented me to his officer. I gave the latter permission to bury some German dead who are lying in between us, and we agreed to have no shooting until 12 midnight to-morrow. We talked together, 10 or more Germans gathered round. I was almost in their lines within a yard or so. We saluted each other, he thanked me for permission to bury his dead, and we fixed up how many men were to do it, and that otherwise both sides must remain in their trenches.
…
Will try and write more in a day or two. Keep this letter carefully and send copies to all. I think they will be interested. It did feel funny walking over alone towards the enemy’s trenches to meet someone half-way, and then to arrange a Xmas peace. It will be a thing to remember all one’s life.
Kiss the babies and give them my love. Write me a long letter and tell me all the news. I hope the photos come out all-right. Probably you will see them in some paper.
Yours, Jake
Source: Letters of Note
Image Source: Internet unknown
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Who called me?
Finding your roots
Love letter
Visitors, Welcome!
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Halloween. Trick or treat. Wear a costume. Watch Stephen King’s movie in Netflix. Tell gruesome stories of ghost and haunted house. Better yet, read or watch the news!
STOP!
This weekend, rally against Iran all day happened. Traffic was gruelling.
Stay safe. Be safe. Fireworks tonight. Protect your furry friends and love ones.
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Painting or Art
Flower Power
It’s the flower that draws you to a plant that would make you smile. Even when I plant just one sunflower on my deck in the third floor that blooms brightly and makes people smile when they see the tallest flower ever. My next door neighbour gets most of the flowers I planted.
White flowers are my favourite especially mass planting. Sweet woodruff, lily of the valley and snow drops are common in my garden. These were planted as a sign of my passive resistance for those people that loves to pick flowers. Pluck away, there so much flower power with the dainty white petals.
Recently, I started taking photos of all the flowers in the garden and shared them with the gardening groups I joined in Facebook. Unfortunately, most of them will remain nameless since I did not take note of the name of the plants.
The flower of the giant wild cactus on top of the mountain in Cuba is a hummingbird magnet.
As for the perfect flowers, Dandelions are the prime example of “bloom where you’re planted.” Children are drawn to these bright yellow petals. How many mothers have received a bouquet of dandelions from their children? For sentimental reasons, parents will keep the flowers and press them between the books for keepsake. Love or hate them, they are here to stay.
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Super Heroes
Be proud of your heroes and show the starbursts in your life. Wear your heart on your sleeves.
His van was covered with superheroes toy each representing a character in the Bible. Stickers galore … “ Smile. Jesus Loves You. (Yah, and me too.)
He told me his story. Fascinating man. More lucid than me. He’s a fool for Christ’s sake and proud of it.
Praise.
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Cheap
Want to buy a negligee? Another meaning for dishabille.
When Rihanna attended a Paris Dior show in nothing but a black mesh negligee, proudly showing off her baby bump, legions of fans (and the audience in attendance) did not clutch their pearls but applauded.— Christina Binkley, Town & Country, 23 Aug. 2022
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Photograph and Memories – Treasures Hunt
When I grow up. I want to be a digger. Buy the biggest digging machine and unearth what ever treasures I can hunt. Here, my nephew, loves to dig with his bare hands to find seashells. A sand dollar is rare to find.
Grace was just a kitten that my cousin Joni proudly added to her collection of cats as if three is not enough. Grace is now living with me with my cat, Lucy, when Joni died three years ago.
One has to experience the rising of the sun at least once in your lifetime. I woke up with the birds during my retreat on top of Mt. Beatitude. Priceless.
Today is a clear cloudy day. Vancouver is known as wet coast. A single big blue drop of rain now sits at Vancouver Convention Centre overlooking the snow capped mountain of the North shore.
Ha! I can’t believe that I captured a perfect circle of the reflection of the bridge. I’m not even a professional photographer just using my IPad.
Jimmy is so good to her little sister. I just love the intent look of Layla’s disheveled hair as Jimmy reads proudly to her ever since he learns to read.
Have a dog. Have a cat. Have a pet companion, you’ll never feel lonely and homeless. I wonder how he received a Harbour Air umbrella. I did have one before. I found it abandoned downtown. What a treasure to find abandoned umbrella.
There are plenty of Soviet trucks left behind in Cuba repurposed to haul a load full of tourists to take us to the jungle. Unfortunately, our trip was delayed due to tire problem.
Autumn is the time when leaves and berries of this shrub turns purple. I want this shrub in my garden to go with my burning bush.
In closing, this is the beginning of my long search of John Bunyan, author of the book Pilgrims Progress. This photo was taken in one of the canals in London not knowing that I will find the gravesite of Bunyan at Bone Hill as well as William Blake.
To quote his writings
As I walk’s through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place, where was a Denn; And I laid me down in that place to sleep: And as I slept I dreamed a Dream.
Follow your heart.
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Go Figure
Bedtime
The Big Squeeze
“When you’re alone and life is making you lonely,
you can always go. Downtown.”
Vancouver has grown exponentially for a young city. Downtown is where the action to work and live. Many yuppies long to work for big firms and reside close to the beach. Buildings are now a combination of offices and residential area. Tall buildings are popping up like mushrooms. So far, the tallest building is Shangri-La, 62 storeys.
“When you’ve got worries all the noise and the hurry, seems to help I know. Downtown.”
Here’s an interesting little yellow house beside a high rise condo. The two-storey 1400 square feet house was built in 1888. This can easily be replaced by another vertical dwelling but one has to find a place to relocate the house. Tag price of Leslie House is $18.7 million, last time I checked. That’s my sister posing for me as I was giving her a brief tour of the city.
“Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city. Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty. How can you lose?”
This area was built for Winter Olympics 2010. What a great venue for a party or protest. Another place I enjoy just sitting around watching the harbour planes, cargo ships, cruise ships, tug boats, SeaBus or people. In winter, this is the location for Christmas Market. My family has an annual tradition to rent a room at Pan Pacific Hotel for a night out at the market.
A new triangular shaped campus right at the centre of livable city by the Beach District. It opened in July 2020. Must be hard for students to study when the beach is just around the corner.
I used to work downtown and was static when I rented an apartment by the beach and aquatic centre. The office is walking distance. I loved it.
“Things will be great when you’re Downtown. No finer place for sure. Downtown.”
A new city is booming called Metropolis in Burnaby City. When I moved here 30 years ago, I loved the stillness of this area. Sleepy town. At the time, there was only one tower, Rogers tower. The buildings are ordinarily tall with low residential areas in between. One thing this area becomes attractive is the green spaces in the surrounding buildings.
For the sake of “home improvement” many apartments were torn down and dwellers were displaced. Thankfully, renters were given five years notice and some moving incentives.
“The light’s so much brighter there. You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares. So go downtown. Where all the lights are bright. Downtown. Waiting for you tonight. Downtown.”
From the three storey Manor House where I live, night lights are constant. I no longer need to go Downtown. Currently, Manor House is on the market. Mind you, this whole area is slotted for redevelopment. Aaah … progress.
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Afterglow
“It is only her in large portions of Canada that wondrous second wind, the Indian summer, attains its amplitude and heavenly perfection, — the temperatures; the sunny haze; the mellow, rich delicate, almost flavoured air: Enough to live — enough to merely be.” – Walt Whitman, Diary in Canada
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Catch me if you can
This hairless cat just loves suntanning by the window beside a blue cat. First time I’ve seen a blue cat before.
When I took the photo, lo and behold, I noticed there is a third one.
One of these is not like the other.
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Quarter Past Six
Wetcoast
Earth, the final frontier
Photographs and Memories
There are at least 7,001 islands in the Philippines during low tide. The number might go down during high tide. That’s the on going joke. I was born in Davao far away from the mainland, Manila. The cheapest way to transport a family of 13 is by ship. Being on the ship is my first recollection of travelling. It took a week by sea voyage to get to Manila. My mother must have moved us two or three times. Was it fun? For a child, it was for me.
My grandfather was a captain of a ship and he owned one of the islands, Stanlake. It’s a good place to live off grid with no electricity and running water. It now belongs to the Santa Cruz family but my mother made a wise decision to forfeit her rights. My cousin started a blog about it here.
Airplane was my next memory of major travelling moving to Canada. There were eight of us. My mother and seven siblings still dependent to her. A move running away from a country under martial law and dictatorship of Marcos. We never looked back.
Canadian Airlines Model Plane
Recently, we finally celebrated my sister’s husband’s life, Jim, after two years of lockdown. He was a flight attendant for Canadian Airlines. Sometimes, I get a good deal in travelling as a standby tapping into his privileges. The only stipulation is that I have to “dress up” since I represent my brother-in-law and just in case I will be placed in first class.
When I was leaving Switzerland for DC, the flight was fully booked and there was no room in economy. I was placed in first class. Imagine being served champagne. Such a luxury. What a thrill that lasted briefly for another passenger was willing to pay for my free seat. I have to vacate the seat. Heh!
When I grow up, the next wheels I want to own is a red bike similar to this. My first car was a red four-door Ford eight cylinder sedan. It was heavyweight and powerful. I was the first one to own a car in the family. Needless to say, I became the chauffeur. This car was so solid that it protected me from a hit and run driver. The driver was caught and his car was more of a wreck. My car’s engine is still in good condition but the insurance company won’t pay for repair. Hence, I bought a used car this time, my sister’s Honda. That was my second and last car.
It was during Expo 86 when the Skytrain was introduced in Vancouver. I must say, the train changed my means of transportation. By year 2000, I no longer need the Honda to go to work. It was a major undertaking for the City to build a better mode of people mover from Skytrain (Canada, Expo and Millennium Lines) SeaBus, AquaBus, B-Lines, and West Coast Express. Many have utilized these means, became popular and now travelling within the city is packed!
I love train travelling and just watch the scenery as it zooms away. European and British trains provided me with the luxury to sit back and relax. In India, train ride was an experience that one has to have mettle.
“Man is only a pilgrim on earth.”
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Celebration of Life
The word bleary first appeared in 14th century. Fast forward to 20th century, there would be plenty of dry eyes in the British Royalty with the end of an era of Elizabethan age.
God Rest in Queen Elizabeth II.
When I was in London, I have to wake up very early to take the tour of Windsor Castle, eyes wide shut.
Wake me up when we get there!
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Warts and all
When I was young, I used to catch tadpoles and frogs. I love watching the tadpoles turn into a frog or toads. Mother used to scare me that I will get warts from handling them. That did not stop me. I never got a single wart. Amphibians do not carry this virus.
Since migrating here in Canada, I haven’t seen a single frog. So I joined this group at Vancouver Island.
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Is there a doctor in the house?
Somewhere in Norway, there is a sign how to stay healthy and stay from the doctor’s office.
What if you have more than one to pinch other maladies!
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Seek and You Will Find
I have a favourite residential area that I make sure I walk around whenever I visit my doctor. The street is lined with all kinds of trees courtesy of Vancouver City. The city wants an image of having green environment.
Even the residents created street garden. I think they are gorilla gardeners that want to beautify their sidewalks. The city doesn’t mind. It is most enjoyable to see every corner of different vegetation growing according to the gardeners taste.
Isn’t that a noble idea to find Little Free Kids Library along the street. This area must be family oriented. A good way to share books. I checked if it has Calvin and Hobbes, my favourite comic book but not luck.
Further down the street must be a hood of dog lovers. Take a stick, leave a stick. Behind is a note for the human to curb their dogs. No pee pee around this area, please.
Take a book, share a book with book lovers. As much as I want to take a book to add to my collections of unread books, a photo will suffice.
To complete the the title of this post, it goes: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
The best part of this find. I wasn’t even asking, seeking or knocking. It was all free.
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Weather Report
Sophie’s Choice
I started this plant from seed and it was so full of leaves. Today, it was all twigs.
What happened to the leaves of apricot hyssop? A fat juicy green worm feasted on it.
Well, this worm will not survive in the balcony so I placed it in the garden where it can munch away hoping it will turn to something with wings. The hyssop will survive.
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Vancouver Sun
By royal decree, my sister, proclaimed that another month will be added called “Beachember.” She is a sun lover.
When we were growing up back in the Philippines, Mother used to send us out from 7 to 10 am to sun bathe. During this time, the heat of the sun is soft and we get our vitamin D.
As we grow older and wiser, instead of sunbathing, we prefer forest bathing. I introduced my sisters what I learned from a psychiatrist who provided group walks in MeetUp. We even signed up a UBC study group to help grad students for their thesis. The first session that we were supposed to attend, there was a warning of bear on the loose. Needless to say, that’s the end of our study group in this area.
As for me, I did gorilla gardening, with invitation. My neighbour has been watching me putter around at The Manor and asked me for help in having a floral garden instead of vegetable patch. It was fun transforming her front yard and moving some of my plants at her yard. I even made a small area of salad garden just for her.
Sun season is so short. When it’s out, here we come!
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Childhood days. Let’s go wild.
Healing Power
Coffee has healing power. It brings me back to life . It’s the first thing I take before my happy pill.
On my first day at work, my manager invited me to have a cup of coffee. Wasn’t that nice?
Fast forward.
One day, I heard her exclaimed, “I’m dying for a cup of coffee.“ In an open area setting, we could hear what others say.
Whoa! I maybe the Health and Safety Representative for the district. I don’t want any death injury at work.
So I said: “Let me buy you a cup of coffee.”
She responded: “Since when did we become friends?”
I retorted: “We’re not friends. I just don’t want to see you die.”
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Playground
Now. Don’t Wait.
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
Warning by Jenny Joseph
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Who has seen the Wind?
Do we have to see it to believe it?
Who Has Seen the Wind?
BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI
Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.
Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I:
But when the trees bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.
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Self Made Person
Means to an end
Photowalk Meetup is trending here in Vancouver. I joined it even though I’m not a photographer. My only means in taking pictures is an iPhone in order to go for structured walks. The group leader is a professional photographer and I heared about photographic niche, groove and ruts from him. None of these terminology is important to me since I just want to focus in fun.
Recently, I started cataloging photos of all the flowers I planted in my garden from full plant to close-up of a single flower. Most of these plants are nameless except for the lavenders. My motto is “plant your own garden, decorate your own soul.”
Photography and gardening keep me focused. Just as much I’ve taken so many photo shoots, only one is lucky enough to pass my myopic eyesight. However, I discovered that gardening and photography both have creative and therapeutic processes.
In old age, we should have enough passions strong enough to prevent us turning in on ourselves – Ursula K. Le Guin
One thing I know, rut will grow when joy is lucking. Images produced by photojournalist on “assignment” are unbelievable yet I can only take them in small dosage. I suppose I want to pretend life is Rosie, a well gardened mind.
From fragrant favorites like the honeysuckle and jasmine, to humble beauties like the daisy and wild wallflower, to literary symbol-corsages like the violet, which Emily Dickinson cherished above all other flowers for its “unsuspected” splendor, and the almond blossom, on which Albert Camus predicated his timeless metaphor for strength through difficult times – The Moral of Flowers, The Marginalian
Take time. To reclaim how to take time, say hello, exchange stories, fun and laughter is a basic formula in doubling enjoyment. I got lucky with this photo how it shows the warmth of their faces them holding a bouquet of lavenders.
Heavens, she’s in heaven embracing the best lavender in the garden. Provence lavenders. She only has to wait annually but worth it.
These are the faces of people that reap the rewards of my garden.
The one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
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Go Fly A Kite
GasTown
Favourite. It’s a secret.
I have so many nephews and nieces that it’s difficult to choose a favourite. So, when one of them asks me who my favourite child is, I whisper to his or her ear, “You are. Keep it a secret. Your cousins will be jealous.”
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you
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Surprised by Joy
What would your reactions be when you found out that the painting you were commissioned to do was gifted to Pope Francis recent visit to Canada?
Surprise by Joy!
Icon of St. Kateri
The painting of the Icon of St. Kateri, below, was gifted to Pope Francis on the occasion of His visit to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows (OLSS) Church, in Maskwacis, Ab. on July 25, 2022. Gratitude for the gift of this painting is extended to Fr. Mario Fernandes, OCD, Susan Hauck, and the Artist, Dan S. Siglos.
The artist, Dan S. Siglos, explained the following: Yellow represents God the Father, Orange represents God the Son, and Red represents God the Holy Spirit. Regarding the Clothes, the Seven ‘Points’ in the design of St. Kateri’s green dress symbolizes protection, the perfection of God and the seven days of Creation; Triangles represent the Trinity, There are Triangles on St. Kateri’s head band, collar, cuffs and orange shawl. The Turtle on her necklace symbolizes St. Kateri’s Tribal Clan, the Turtle Clan. St. Kateri’s love for the celestial realm is represented by the Moon. The Twelve Lilies represent the Twelve Apostles. The White Lily is the symbol of Purity and Virginity. St. Kateri is known as the ‘Lily of the Mohawk’.
Source: http://www.skt4.ca/
Brief background:
Dan S. Siglos was commissioned to paint St Kateri by his sister, Susan Papas Hauck. Dan researched about her and felt a connection. He took his time painting/meditating.
Susan Papas Hauck presented the painting of St. Kateri on her feast day to Fr. Mario in April 15, and was placed in the church in Alberta. She also made prayer cards 3×4 inches, a photo of St. Kateri on front and inside is her prayer, and Infant Jesus with the relic fabric touched by the miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague at His Shrine. At the back is a powerful 9 days or 9 hour prayer. Susan’s intentions was “May St. Kateri intercede for us and Infant Jesus, prayers to stop this pandemic, heal the sick, stop abortions, guide, protect and bless us all abundantly.”
Modesty aside, Dan, Susan and I are siblings. I am so honoured to be affiliated with them. i’m just a story teller.