Good, Bad, Ugly

Strange how the media seem to harp on all kinds of news about the politicians when it is scandalous but when one does something worthwhile they ignore it, so here is a little blurb of interest that should be out there for all to know and see . . Kentucky Republican Senator Paul Rand and his partner teamed up to do pro bono eye surgeries for those who cannot afford it and save a lot of folks from becoming blind.   They deserve some kudos . . . don't you agree!!!

The cartoonist don't miss a trick . . . Promises, promises, promises . . . snake oil anyone?

Something to think about.    

Our oceans are dying

A new invention for clearing some of the plastic from our oceans

This young student came up with the idea and plan to clean up some of the messes with his new invention.

Birds suffer as well as the fish themselves
There was a very sad story in one of the computer newspapers about a yachtsman named Ivan Macfayden who sails from Australia to Japan every year and has done so for years.    He told of his trips and the sea birds following his yacht and the sea animals that played along side of the boat.    He told of the beauty of the ocean and how much he looked forward to his trips.    This time he found silence and desolation in the three thousand nautical miles.  All there is out there now is garbage by the tons, all the way down, pieces as big as trucks and plastic bags everywhere you look.  He even saw a factory chimney.  They came across huge fishing boats  using huge floodlights trying to find tuna and they stripped every living thing.   The ocean has been dying slowly for many years but the big earthquake in Japan last year added much more misery to it.   
A suggestion was made to burn off some of the debris but the environmental damage of burning fuels would be worse than leaving the debris.   Then came news of a young student  who has invented a machine that will sweep some of the plastic away.    Hopefully we will hear more about him and his invention.  

This is just the tip of the iceberg as we see some of the debris arriving at our shores.   We have much to learn and much to think about as we spent years dumping into the ocean , but the huge storms are leaving so much more damage which effects the sea creatures and the fish we depend on for eating.  We are in for a long and sad time so be aware and keep your eyes and ears open in hopes of doing some one thing that will help clean up the ocean.   How fragile it is.

Hump Day, always a good day in our week.   The days seem to be flying by and holiday time is approaching faster than any of us are ready for.    I wish the merchants would slow down on rushing the goods out before time.   Halloween is yet to be celebrated and Thanksgiving is almost ignored by the rush to get all the goodies out there to sell for Christmas presents.    I'm not in that big of a hurry....slow down and enjoy one holiday as it comes.    In fact, slow down and enjoy today . . . all day.   Make a pact with yourself to be much more careful about how much debris you create;  recycle and help keep your spot in the world a big and brighter place.   Another one small step for mankind . . . and you . . . today is a hug day so get out there and do your bit.    Hugs to all.

Places

In Argentina 7,000 plants made up this guitar.   A country of musicians who love to dance , tap their feet and make you smile.   Wouldn't it be fun to have some castanets and stomp your feet to some lively music.

Up in Port Orchard, Washington the store owners are sprucing up for a special Halloween celebration and the 100th Anniversary of the Log Cabin which is still in use and a special stop for all.    Daughter Christine and her group are working hard along with the artisans who will come up with some clever ideas..  

In India there are three headed snakes...yuck!  I shake when I see a garden snake.

This reminds me of trying to put one of those old girdles on .  I wonder if they ever get stuck , sure looks like that little tug boat has a big job.   I am sure the captain knows what he is doing, or at least the tug boat captain does.     

Beauty in the tree roots.   An awesome sight.   I wish there had been more detail to share.   The roots look so delicate for such a large tree.    It reminded me of nature playing builder as a fence is forming to protect the tree.  

Our world is a marvelous and strange place.   There are so many places to visit and so much to see.  Just remember if you do go on a trip anywhere, take lots of pictures and send them on so I can blog about you.   I am off to have my coffee and wake up.   So, go and concentrate on work today.  The quicker you get the hard jobs done the faster the day will go and you will be proud of yourself.   Pride is good . . . makes us strive for a pat on the back for a job well done.   We can all use a good word now and then, keeps us on our toes.    Use your Tuesday seconds doing good deeds today, small insignificant ones that will bring a smile to someone in need of a 'pat on the back'.    Hugs to all.

 

Beauty and The Beasts

Vancouver looks inviting

but Banff looks like a great little place to vacation

or Mendocino wouldn't be a bad spot to seek a break from winter.   Yes, the Oregonian magazine came through on the computer with suggestions for winter vacations.     I'd say Banff, what would you say?  I'd really say an tropical island when the winter weather rears its ugly head.   It takes time and money so with holidays in sight I'd say it is nice to see the pictures and enjoy the different views, but wishful thinking doesn't hurt anyone.  When I win the big one we'll all go....smile.

Here we go again as the dreamers dream on of becoming the next president . . . it's going to be a long hard couple of years as more join in the parade...both say no, no, no, not me...but . . . hopefully we will have a choice of a strong and leader who will undo the damage that has been done to our country.   'We the people' have  not lost our right to vote.

So here it is Monday already, where did that weekend go?   I hope you had a good one and did something fun to uplift your spirits.    I got to work with Christine on the computer yesterday and learned a lot about getting around the different areas although you can be sure with my memory I wont remember it.  It was fun to be on Skype and have a tutor on the other end.  We are working on my new project "Pictures From A Moving Car" and once she has all of the input done I'll have a new poetry and picture book out there on Amazon so be on the look out as it will make a great Christmas gift. I'll let you know, there is nothing like tooting my own horn.  I am just very pleased with the outcome of this one and hope a lot of folks enjoy it.  I did 'good' even if I do say so myself . . . almost broke my arm patting myself on the back.

Enjoy the new week.  Take one day as it comes and make it memorable.    Keep in mind those who are not as fortunate as we are.   Do a good deed at least once a day.   Send someone a verbal hug and make them smile as it could be the only bright spot of their day.     Sharing YOU is the best thing you can do.   Hugs to all.

Big Mac

How true!

the caption is lost but it is some kind of a wild animal that once existed but is long gone. . . sure looks like an ugly and angry beast.

There was a caption about MacDonald and its first opening and Mr. Willard Scott was Ronald Mac Donald.    I remember when the hamburgers were twenty five cents each and it was our fancy restaurant for a treat out.    Now world wide and going strong.  I bet the owners could pay off our national debt and not even lose a night of sleep.

Here it is Sunday all over again.    What would we do without our Sundays?    I usually go grocery shopping early but this week I am pretty well stocked up so I will get to watch my favorite political shows and hear what the experts have to say.   Bob Cheever puts on a good program, well monitored and does not allow all that screaming back and forth to get a point or two across.    So off to make the coffee and find something to start the day off, and then I might just wake up.     I hope your Sunday is special, like you, and your seconds are spent in harmony and peace.   Reasons to smile, and don't forget to walk into a hug or two.    Hugs to all.

Musing

Good Saturday Morning . . . I am just returning from an overnighter at Coos Bay and I have a tale to tell.    First let me tell you my granddaughter is a pro when it comes to driving;  must take after her mother who is also an excellent driver.   I get to be chauffeured these days and a good thing as I'd never be able to handle the drivers who really do not know how to follow the rules of the road.  I would become Maxine using the correct finger and probably get pulled over for being not very polite in our un-polite society.  But that is neither here nor there, I want to tell you about the mystique of road fog.   It is awesome and my pictures came out one big blur so I can't show you what I saw.

The fog bank comes in over the ocean, and like the mist it is, covers everything in its pathway.    There are huge bubbles of the mist that swirl and move creating all kinds of shapes and mysterious forms over the entire area.    In some spots it came towards the car like an eerie ghost looking for a place to hover over or into.    It seemed white but was gray and if the sun peeked through it blinded  so you actually had a problem seeing the road ahead.    The speed dial changes rapidly from the ongoing fifty-five
to thirty if you dare.    There are those who come barreling around the twists and turns like it was a sunshine day, no lights, fast and  furious and ready for an accident.   We were lucky as we missed hitting a deer by inches and we still don't know how we missed hitting it.  It came out of the dense fog from across the road and ran right in front of the car.  Pat has a good fast foot and saved the day and the deer.

We had this fog both going and coming.  It is part of our weather pattern here by the ocean.    It rolls in of a morning, hangs around awhile then dissipates leaving behind clear skies and lots of beautiful scenery.    The one thing that it does as it is leaving is to enable the sun to shine through the trees and it forms shadows across the road.  It really is very beautiful.

So we are back from our little mini overnighter.   The car has had its checkup and the broken lock has been fixed.    The Mill Casino was a busy place and the usual delicious early-bird dinner has been upped in price but lacked the usual taste and texture that it did have for so long.   We always ordered the Prime Rib and it was always so good with a side salad that had cranberry and nuts within the tasty greens and tiny tomatoes;  but, not this time, the meat was more fat than lean, tough to chew and the salad was just greens with a piece of red onion and a one tiny tomato.    So, Like all the changes we are fighting politically;  we are now having to fight those end results in the stores and restaurants.   The new machines are noisy, moving and fun to play and love to be fed.   I even met a friend there I didn't expect to meet and we had a lot of laughs.   I came home a bit bent, but not broke so am not unhappy about my mini vacation.   I would like to have won a big one so I could treat you all special . . . but you'll have to be satisfied with my 'poor' -ness, and know that I did think about you and hoped you had a great Friday and are now enjoying your weekend.     Ah, home . . . no place like it.   

Love one another . . . be sweet, be kind, be gentle and save a hug for me.    Hugs to all.

Friday post on Thursday

I have a similar picture hanging on my dining room wall, an elderly man with only a loaf of bread. . . a feeling all its own...Bless us oh Lord  . . . our daily bread . . . so many would be happy to say this prayer today and every day as they wait for the economy to change for the better.    Join the group and say a prayer as one never knows 'when the other shoe may drop.'

Speaking of food, here is a quickie . . . a pan . . oven at 350 degrees . . .
16.5 ox tube of Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookie dough.
20 oz. can of apple pie filling;   1/4 cup of sugar with 4 teaspoons of cinnamon added.
Spread 1/2 dough in pan;   cover with cinnamon and sugar;   add apples , then the rest of the dough for topping.   sounds good to me.

Orchids in Bloom in the back yard on an Oak Cork tree.   How beautiful.

Now we should have had these a long time ago when we could ride a bike.  Just think of the journeys we could have taken . . . next time round maybe.
 

Only a child could be so cruel.....smile.

A hand held shredder . . . I could use one of those.   I think I like the one I have as I don't have to hold anything in my hand but the one paper I want to shred.

When you read this I'll be half way to Coos Bay with Patricia and Erin.    It should be fun and our first over night in a long time.    Hopefully the weather will stay beautiful.  We have had exceptionally great weather this week.    So mind your manners and behave while I am off having fun.    I will catch up when I return.    I know you are all staying cool, calm and collected now that the Government is back up . . . the Congressmen and Senators left town before the sun went down.    I wonder how many will actually take time to have a town hall meeting . . . taking bets?    You already knew the ending so don't act surprised.   Let us just hope that old adage of 'what goes around, comes around' and we will have our day when we vote the incumbents out and hopefully find a strong, honest, able man to undo all the empty promises.   Hope it isn't too late.     That Texas man has his foot in the door already...trying real hard to get his voice out there.    People are pushing for Hillary but I think she stubbed her toe when she joined the hope and change group and didn't stand up to be counted.    A case of actions speak louder than words.    Okay, I'm on a roll, why, who knows....it is evening...the news is on and I am hearing all kinds of stuff.....who said I'm deaf....I don't think so, selective hearing isn't all bad.     Take good care of YOU.    Eat , Drink and be Merry for another weekend is coming up . . . didn't you just have one?   I think so.     Share the hugs and kisses and that beautiful smile.   Hugs to all.

Halloween History

Halloween Witches . . . yes, that is my two beauties via a computer trick . . .isn't that a kick?

I learned something new yesterday, well I usually learn something new or different every day.  But Halloween is coming and I never gave much thought to its beginnings until I read about it in a little magazine the Seventh Day Adventist leave behind after their  monthly visit.    I usually entertain two gentlemen, each time the leader, who is a neighbor, brings along one of his friends and we have some delightful conversations.    Those of you who dread the visitors are missing out as they are not out to convert you or to hit you up for anything other than  to 'share the word' and make your day a bit brighter.  I admire their courage especially in the 'modern' world of taking God out of everything.  So give them a break next time you get a knock on the door, say hello, listen for a second, and send them off with a thank you for having the courage of their convictions.   Meanwhile, back to my tale of Halloween.

 It all started in the Fifth Century B.C. E.
 The Celts observe the festival of Samhain at the end of October when they believe ghosts and demons roam the earth more so than at other times.
The First Century, C.E.  The Romans conquer the Celts and adopt the spiritualistic rituals of Samhain.

Seventh Century C.E. Pope Boniface IV is said to have established the annual celebration of All Saints Day to honor martyrs.*  
* Hallow is an old word meaning 'saint'.  All Hallows' Day  (also known as All Saints Day) is a holiday to honor dead saints.  The evening before All Hallows' Day was called All Hallow Even, later shortened to Halloween.
Eleventh Century C. E. The second of November is designated as All Souls' Day to commemorate the dead. observances surrounding All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are collectively called Hallowtide.
Eighteenth Century C.E.  The name of the holiday, Halloween (Hallow Evening) appears in print as Halloween.
Nineteenth Century C.E.  Thousands of people who move from Ireland to the United States bring with them Halloween customs that, in time, combined with similar customs of emigrants from Britain and Germany, as well as Africa and other parts of the world.
Twentieth Century C.E.  Halloween becomes a popular nationwide holiday in the United States.
Twenty-First Century C.E.  Commercial interest in Halloween grows into a worldwide multi billion dollar industry.

The information was gathered through several specific areas acknowledged in the booklet.    So now you know a bit more about Halloween, or maybe you already knew, but . . I learned something new and wouldn't you know the Irish had a hand in it.    Leprechauns, little people, ghosts and goblins, we grew up on the tales.

So dress up, join a fun party and if you don't have one to go to, then knock on your neighbors door and bring him or her a treat.    Don't forget the smile and the hug and you will find the door open and maybe a libation or two . . .cider is good.    Hugs to all.