tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81821121582781509452024-03-12T18:21:23.694-07:00.Debra Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13455047894767524091noreply@blogger.comBlogger324125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-45363463600803775912015-02-17T09:50:00.000-08:002015-02-17T09:50:21.760-08:00Traveling through Italy via Movies and Literature<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Lot # 70: ON HOLIDAY <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FOonEuwM7hE/S_pxjPBNoJI/AAAAAAAABbM/JjTsyvQnv_M/s1600/my-house-in-umbria-poster-0%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FOonEuwM7hE/S_pxjPBNoJI/AAAAAAAABbM/JjTsyvQnv_M/s400/my-house-in-umbria-poster-0%5B1%5D.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474813147163238546" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 350px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 242px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><i>In the garden, the delphiniums were in flower. Through scented twilight the girl in the white dress walked with a step as light as a cobweb. That evening, she hadn't a care in the world.</i></span><br />
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Mrs. Delahunty, <i>My House in Umbria</i></div>
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Mrs. Delahunty: I may be dead next month. The moon may have crashed into the earth. Who knows what dreadful things may come to pass? But at the moment, I'm happy. What else matters? </div>
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Colonal: <i>Carpe Diem</i></div>
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Mrs. Delahunty: I'm never really sure just what that means.</div>
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Colonal: Oh. Seize the day. Embrace the present. Enjoy life while you've got the chance.</div>
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Mrs. Delahunty: <i>Carpe Diem.</i> I'll remember that.</div>
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<i>My House in Umbria</i> </div>
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Lately, I am aware that I have to do just that, <i>carpe diem</i>, because everything seems to have a feeling of impermanence. Not in a dark somber way but in the way that you feel that something's moving and changing. </div>
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I wonder why after you hit a certain age, you wake up with memories of people and places that you haven't thought about in a long time. Often fragments of youth-inspired dreams come back to your mind with a strong force. When I was a teen, I wanted to travel to Europe and it became one of my main goals to tour England, Scotland, Ireland as well as France and Denmark. After much saving, planning and determination, I finally was able to make the unforgettable trip. I think my early obsession with travel was connected to my love of romance novels. Though the love story obsession was left in my teenage years, the enjoyment of other lands and people remained. </div>
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I think that's why I love Maggie Smith in <i>My House in Umbria</i>. The film is set in Italy, where she plays the lead character Miss. Emily Delahunty but (as she tells us) her name is not important. In fact, we learn that she has many other <i>nom de plumes </i>and we realize that she actively creates her<i> </i>own fluid identity. She's a writer of romance novels who feels most alive when she's helping others. In one scene, she invites a group of complete strangers to move in with her after a train explosion. Through her engagement with the other characters, we fall in love with her quirky personality. Whenever I want to imagine myself in another life this movie does the trick. </div>
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If you can watch <a href="http://youtu.be/oWCuqsVcw3M" target="_blank"><i>My House in Umbria</i></a> and not yearn to <a href="http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/vr/review.asp?n=2098">travel to Italy</a>, you are a strong person. If you are having an Italian themed movie night, you might watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0328589/combined"><i>Under the Tuscan Sun</i></a> or go out to see<a href="http://www.letterstojuliet-movie.com/"> Letters to Juliet</a>. Both of these movies will make you feel as though you have been in Italy or that it's essential for you to <b><i>go there now</i></b>! </div>
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I have read the memoir, <i>Under the Tuscan Sun</i> (<a href="http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=198">Frances Mayes</a>), and found it to be richly satisfying. I loaned this book to a close friend who found it tedious with detail about the Italian countryside, garden restorations and house renovations. However, I like these<i> </i>details of ordinary life. I like to see how people make decisions and what occupies their time. I'm interested in both real and spruced<i>-</i>up life. (A little magic making fantasy is fine with me.) Another popular book made into film that has an enchanting section on an vacation in Italy is <a href="http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/eatpraylove.htm">Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir, Eat, Pray, Love</a>. (Julie Roberts plays the author Gilbert in the <a href="http://youtu.be/mjay5vgIwt4" target="_blank">movie</a>.) There is another saturate-yourself-in-Italy movie that I have already mentioned in previous blogs, <i><a href="http://oasiswritinglink.blogspot.com/2009/10/wisteria-and-sunshine-mrs-fisher.html">Enchanted April</a></i>, which documents a life transforming month in an Italian Medieval castle. Gorgeous scenery!<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="style_5" style="line-height: 21px;">In the </span><i><span class="style_6" style="line-height: 21px;">London Times</span></i><span class="style_5" style="line-height: 21px;">, a small classified ad appears:</span></span></h3>
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“To those who appreciate Wisteria and Sunshine: </span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">To let for the month of April - a medieval castle on </span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">the Italian Mediterranean shore.”</span></h3>
Photographs and movie <a href="https://inlovewithengland.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/enchanted-april-movie-review/" target="_blank">review here.</a><br />
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If you want to explore Italy or imagine yourself there in real life, try <a href="http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&id=46">Rick Steves' link</a> to travel. Now I wonder, which movies you watch (or books do you read) that bring you into lovely romantic Italy? Have I missed any?<span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">Do you hear Italian music... </span><br />
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Waking up on the Island of Enchantment that is also know as Puerto Rico, I plan to bake a fragrant pan of vegetarian lasagna, toss a green salad and toast garlic bread.<br />
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I promise myself that at every moment<i> I will carpe diem</i>!<br />
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On a side note: my struggling gardenia bush finally bloomed after three years of waiting, hoping, and supplementing it with coffee grounds. <br />
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I like to believe that this momentous occasion is symbolic, <span style="font-size: 130%;">perhaps it's foreshadowing a trip in the near future? </span></div>
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Cynthia Pittmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12656761837022197235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-23966262779296456332014-12-11T10:54:00.000-08:002014-12-12T06:50:25.893-08:00Where is your home? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Oasis Reflection: Obstacles are a matter of perception...</span></i>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Ventana "Windows" Park in Condado. San Juan, Puerto Rico</td></tr>
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What is your view?<br />
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Recently, I've been reading <a href="http://www.raintaxi.com/on-moving-a-writers-meditation-on-new-houses-old-haunts-and-finding-home-again/" target="_blank">On Moving: A Writer's Meditation on New Houses, Old Hauts, and Finding Home Again by Louise DeSalvo</a>. the author addresses the topic of "home"and the strong desire people have to choose the perfect home. I started to think about how often people move and how most of us hope that a new location will solve most of our problems.<br />
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However, I am sure that we bring our problems with us wherever we go. What I mean is that the cause of our dissatisfaction is often not external, but internal. It's part of our personality and/or is shaped by our attitude. I admit that like DeSalvo, I love to travel. I love to imagine my life in those new unknown places; nevertheless, it's healthy to remember that our disturbances come with us wherever we find ourselves.<br />
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What do you see in the photograph above? Do you notice the rock in the center? The water flowing over the rocks to form a small pool of water in the right foreground? Or the deep blue ocean in the distance? Our perspective informs what we allow ourselves to see and experience. The rock can be seen as an obstacle to blocking access to the water or an interesting formation to scale up and over - an opportunity to see the unobstructed ocean from the top. However, what we <i>see</i> remains with us no matter where we go. <br />
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I believe that we have to be bravely curious about our obstacles in life and learn from these ever present <i>rocks.</i><br />
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<i>But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully, <br /> Come, you may stand upon my <br /> Back and face your distant destiny, <br /> But seek no haven in my shadow. <br /> I will give you no hiding place down here.</i><br />
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Excerpt from "<a href="http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=AngPuls.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=1&division=div1" target="_blank">On the Pulse of Morning</a>" by Maya Angelou<br />
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Simon and Garfunkel "I am a rock"
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© 2014 <a href="http://www.oasiswritinglink.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia Pittmann</a></div>
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Cynthia Pittmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12656761837022197235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-34227903174955721872014-11-12T19:22:00.000-08:002014-11-12T19:23:40.101-08:00SSSSSSSSSSHH!!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Bear is hibernating.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Right here at Blogland Lane. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">He doesn't know if a Bear has ever done this before in our community. But he is doing it. Right now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Please do not disturbing him. He needs his rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">(Well, at least, please don't disturb him for a week or two.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs, everyone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">P.S.: If you're wondering where he's sleeping, it's in the hole that </span><span style="background-color: #eefff3; color: #313131; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cynthia Pittmann discovered. He just needed to enlarge it a bit. Thank you, Cynthia!</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-14965826948297217302014-11-03T07:40:00.000-08:002014-11-03T07:43:12.640-08:00I Fell into a HOLE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
LOT #70 <br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">I fell into a hole.</span></i></h3>
It really was just a broken place in the sidewalk but I had a flash of insight, which is why I' m writing about it here. The fall was accompanied by one of those familiar <i>memories of the future</i> where an event seems to be repeated but it's the first time it happens - as in<b> <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/extrasensory-perceptions/question657.htm" target="_blank">déjà</a></b><a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/extrasensory-perceptions/question657.htm" target="_blank"> <b>vu</b>.</a> Has this happened before, I questioned. I tried to think of similar experiences of falling. The first memory I thought of happened after moving into a new house in Puerto Rico. I was jogging and following my bliss down a quiet side street<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">in a romantic dreamy fog when </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1896081140"></span>Photo credit<span id="goog_1896081141"></span></a></td></tr>
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I noticed a large Victorian house to my right that was set in the middle of a lush green yard filled with slightly overgrown but cultivated plants. (It looked like this photo of a sub-tropical <a href="http://www.cityofspringfield.com/heart.htm">Victorian home</a> in Springfield, Georgia.) Still thinking about the possible residents of this romantic looking home, my senses were jarred by the view of a new condominium building project. Reflecting about the possible demolition of the aging house, I was suddenly shin deep in a small metal encased hole in the sidewalk. I was cut and a bit in shock. I realized that the accident happened because someone did not replace a cover over a water meter. At first, I was angry because of the missing cover, but then I wondered why I didn't see the hole right in front of me. I felt uneasy as I remembered that <direplaced a="" accountable="" also="" and="" angry.="" are="" be="" became="" br="" by="" cement="" company="" consequently="" could="" course="" cover="" covered.="" covers="" damages="" dare="" discovered="" do="" employed="" even="" fall="" fit="" foot="" for="" frequently="" gage="" gaping="" government="" heavy="" held="" hole="" home="" i="" in="" increasingly="" indignantly="" irresponsible="" just="" later="" leave="" left="" limping="" made="" metal="" meter="" not="" of="" off.="" off="" or="" over="" ow="" people="" person="" piece="" properly.="" rain="" readings.="" realized="" safe="" seems="" slovenly="" someone="" sometimes="" states="" sued="" take="" tamper="" that="" the="" they="" this="" though="" thought="" to="" trap="" water="" while="" who="" with="" work.="" would="">when I was younger, I was often told that </direplaced><br />
<direplaced a="" accountable="" also="" and="" angry.="" are="" be="" became="" br="" by="" cement="" company="" consequently="" could="" course="" cover="" covered.="" covers="" damages="" dare="" discovered="" do="" employed="" even="" fall="" fit="" foot="" for="" frequently="" gage="" gaping="" government="" heavy="" held="" hole="" home="" i="" in="" increasingly="" indignantly="" irresponsible="" just="" later="" leave="" left="" limping="" made="" metal="" meter="" not="" of="" off.="" off="" or="" over="" ow="" people="" person="" piece="" properly.="" rain="" readings.="" realized="" safe="" seems="" slovenly="" someone="" sometimes="" states="" sued="" take="" tamper="" that="" the="" they="" this="" though="" thought="" to="" trap="" water="" while="" who="" with="" work.="" would=""><br /></direplaced>
<direplaced a="" accountable="" also="" and="" angry.="" are="" be="" became="" br="" by="" cement="" company="" consequently="" could="" course="" cover="" covered.="" covers="" damages="" dare="" discovered="" do="" employed="" even="" fall="" fit="" foot="" for="" frequently="" gage="" gaping="" government="" heavy="" held="" hole="" home="" i="" in="" increasingly="" indignantly="" irresponsible="" just="" later="" leave="" left="" limping="" made="" metal="" meter="" not="" of="" off.="" off="" or="" over="" ow="" people="" person="" piece="" properly.="" rain="" readings.="" realized="" safe="" seems="" slovenly="" someone="" sometimes="" states="" sued="" take="" tamper="" that="" the="" they="" this="" though="" thought="" to="" trap="" water="" while="" who="" with="" work.="" would=""><span style="font-size: large;">I had my</span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> head in the clouds. I was a daydreamer. </span></b><i> </i></direplaced><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sRJvkWw-LtY/VFFA6z_Wz0I/AAAAAAAAC-A/ZPSm3oLqx6U/s1600/cali_pacific_coast_highway_650x366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sRJvkWw-LtY/VFFA6z_Wz0I/AAAAAAAAC-A/ZPSm3oLqx6U/s1600/cali_pacific_coast_highway_650x366.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep your eyes on the road! (<a href="http://www.weather.com/sports-rec/outdoor-beach-marine/california-coastal-erosion-20120603" target="_blank">photo credit</a>)</td></tr>
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<direplaced a="" accountable="" also="" and="" angry.="" are="" be="" became="" br="" by="" cement="" company="" consequently="" could="" course="" cover="" covered.="" covers="" damages="" dare="" discovered="" do="" employed="" even="" fall="" fit="" foot="" for="" frequently="" gage="" gaping="" government="" heavy="" held="" hole="" home="" i="" in="" increasingly="" indignantly="" irresponsible="" just="" later="" leave="" left="" limping="" made="" metal="" meter="" not="" of="" off.="" off="" or="" over="" ow="" people="" person="" piece="" properly.="" rain="" readings.="" realized="" safe="" seems="" slovenly="" someone="" sometimes="" states="" sued="" take="" tamper="" that="" the="" they="" this="" though="" thought="" to="" trap="" water="" while="" who="" with="" work.="" would="">Once while driving on the scenic panoramic route on California's coastal highway (California State Route 1), I was so captivated and excited by the view that I nearly drove off the cliff. Talk about entering the moment! So I remember that time of falling into the hole and wondered if I was daydreaming. I keep thinking of Alice and <i>her </i>adventures while she was falling into a hole. I'm showing myself in my own <i>looking glass</i> by observing the way I react. </direplaced></div>
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Thinking now, I remember that I had sprained my ankle exactly twice in my life, and both times I had to be rushed to the emergency room. The first incident happened because I was riding on the butterfly handlebars of a new pink Schwinn bike that my younger brother was steering. (I was twelve.) I was thrilled with the fun loving ride until my foot caught up in the spokes of the front wheel. The second time occurred at the same age. I was when I was sitting on the wheel cover of a tractor driven by my father and my foot slipped into the wheel. In both incidents, I remember the face of the driver, my brother and my dad, looking pained and guilty, which may have contributed to my profound hurt at being wounded. I felt <i>seriously</i> sorry for myself both times. I have an insight as I realize that I want someone else to be guilty and sorry when I am hurt. </div>
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The incident of falling into an uncapped-water-meter hole on the sidewalk repeatedly returns to my mind because I notice that I'm looking for someone to blame. <br />
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Years ago when I moved to Puerto Rico, I complained to my director about the parking problem at work. I am a bit ashamed to admit to it now but I was overly critical. It bothered me that people would park their cars everywhere and sometimes double park so that I could not leave. In busy times, cars were parked on the sidewalks or drivers would create a middle parking lane behind the legally parked vehicles, which made it impossible for them to leave because they arrived early enough to park their car in an assigned space. My director listened to my explanation about being late to class because I was blocked in and she said, "Yes, this is a small island and parking is competitive." Was I supposed to infer that people didn't have a choice but to break the rules? My angry reaction to illegal parking occurred many years ago. I've learned that rules are flexible and subject to interpretation by the drivers.<br />
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The most recent time I fell into a hole, I realized my orientation had changed. I no longer took it for granted that the sidewalk ahead would be evenly paved over. I accepted that I needed to <b>look out for myself</b> in this life. I know I cannot prevent every falling incident (read mistake) from occurring but I noticed that I have accepted responsibility for my own well being rather than blaming others. I realized that thinking or focusing on someone's behavior (rather than my own) resulted in my victimization. I have to pay attention in life.<br />
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Living in Puerto Rico (where my expectations are frequently challenged) has taught me to pay attention. I'm grateful for this experience.<br />
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© Cynthia Pittmann </div>
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<a href="http://oasiswritinglink.blogspot.com/2014/10/reflection-on-insights-gained-from.html" target="_blank">Oasis Writing Link™</a><br />
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Cynthia Pittmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12656761837022197235noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-50870438455902230222014-08-20T12:58:00.001-07:002014-08-20T13:02:05.349-07:00Work and Inspiration<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Change/
I’m organizing people, tasks, plans
at work and in my dreams. I’m
living my work life twice,
once awake and once asleep.
Let me out!/
Walking down the street,
I’m shucked as new corn –
Exposed, raw, open.
It’s New York City in the fall
Curtains blown through -
caught, held, pinned.
(Muse refuse?)/
Outside the box
walking through Washington
Square in clear air
Green corners filled out
In secret places
rendezvous and parlez-vous
“Bonjour mes amies!”/
Feeling life, living, alive
Holding together, letting go
Convex, concave
light and loose …
willpower? – it’s now or never./<br />
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<span class="st"> © Cynthia Pittmann 2014</span><br />
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Cynthia Pittmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12656761837022197235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-89056897360258837562014-04-09T06:00:00.000-07:002014-04-09T06:00:33.663-07:00Red Hibiscus on Lot #70 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: medium;">The hibiscus flower and its short life reminds me that all life is brief as are all experiences. </span></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.garden.org/plantguide/?q=show&id=2133" target="_blank">Hibiscus </a>is
a relatively common flower that I've encountered in California and
other places in the United States. However, in Puerto Rico the Hibiscus
is the <a href="http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/aboutflowers/stateflowers/puerto-rico-state-flowers" target="_blank">Flower of Puerto Rico </a>and
has some differences from the common flower I've seen elsewhere. They
grow to a smaller size than elsewhere and are individual single flowers
supported by a long leafy base. Nevertheless, I consider all of these
tropical flowers wherever they are grown to be delightful. Knowing that
the bud will open one morning into a flower that will last but one day,
does not detract from their beauty. In fact, when the potted hibiscus
blooms on the porch (as it did this morning), I remind myself to delight
in this moment because in 24 hours this bloom will close and be <i>gone forever</i>. Isn't that an important reminder about all life and experience?<br />
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I'm reminded by the Hibiscus to appreciate the beauty of all life
experience because each event is here now, and never will return in the
same way. For example, our children are only young for a short time.
When the two year old innocence is gone, it is replaced by another
version of that same child. Every stage of growth is wonderful and <i>awful </i>knowing
that it will be experienced as both a blessing and another loss. The
nostalgia you feel when looking at your children's childhood photographs
provides evidence that this is true.<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">We have to learn to love, appreciate deeply, and then let go and move on to embrace the next moment.</span><br />
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Every difficult moment has it's own life expectancy, too. We should
cultivate observing the gift in this transitory moment regardless of
judgement. Breathe and
notice. This skill requires attention and a willingness to experience
each moment in all of its thrilling (or frightening) beingness.<br />
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The hibiscus flower and its short life reminds me that all life is brief
as are all experiences. It is indeed important to know this fact and to
confront forgetfulness - to remember, I am alive. You are alive. What <i>are</i> we waiting for? <span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Let us embrace this moment!</span></div>
Cynthia Pittmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12656761837022197235noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-63052662467768456682014-02-10T05:07:00.000-08:002014-02-10T05:07:20.654-08:00Letting Go on Lot #70<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Life and Letting Go<br />
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Sitting on the porch step perplexed and<br />
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Pondering wherefore, whence and whatever! </div>
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However, how come, hence and finally,</div>
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What goes around, comes around.</div>
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Return, depart and what happened? </div>
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My little boy is growing up, </div>
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Just the way he should. He's </div>
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Moving out and becoming </div>
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All that he wants to be. </div>
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I'm happy-sad, spilling over </div>
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Confusion and curtailed honesty.</div>
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Must be strong. Be well. Be <i>better</i></div>
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But <i>my boy</i> is moving out. Starting</div>
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To fly (I almost pushed him </div>
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Out of this house-nest)</div>
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So say it loud! </div>
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Say it clear! Deep breath:</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Be well! It's time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Bye hon. Bon voyage! (and </span></div>
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Buck up, Mom.) </div>
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PS.</div>
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Sending love and hugs! </div>
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Cynthia Pittmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12656761837022197235noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-33503535929887875382014-01-24T12:42:00.000-08:002014-01-24T12:43:24.885-08:00Wake Up and Write - 7 Reasons #70<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Oasis Feature ~ <a href="http://oasiswritinglink.blogspot.com/2014/01/creative-writing-7-reasons-to-wake-up.html" target="_blank">Creative Writing</a> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Early Morning Surfer" San Juan, Puerto Rico</span></td></tr>
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Do you ever wonder how to develop your creativity so that your writing ideas are fresh and inspired? I am sure that the key to unlocking new ideas is to foster an ongoing relationship with your creative self. You can develop this ability. Decide to be dedicated to your own projects and make them a priority in your life. If your time is constantly compromised because of work demands, family duties and social commitments, be warned. You have to choose to develop contact with yourself first over being on call for everyone else. If you are a <i>people pleaser</i> making this decision is a lot harder than it seems. It forces you to reexamine how your life is organized and insists that you commit to fitting in alone time which is devoted to writing.<br />
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As a morning writer, you have to have the same dedication as the surfer in the above photograph. Waking up early, he walks to the water, carries his surfboard and enters the chilly ocean long before an ordinary swimmer feels the need to take a plunge. Every morning, you must write a few pages about anything. It does not matter if you write about nonsense because the initial point is to develop the habit of writing. Over time, your writing content will change. Many writing coaches suggest that it is important to write in the morning; however, over the years of my own writing practice, I know that it provides the perfect way to develop your insight and creativity. When you wake up and write, you gain these and many other benefits. <br />
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<i>7 Reasons to Wake Up and Write</i></h3>
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1. Remembering your dreams: When you start a morning writing practice, you are able to remember your dreams better. At first you will likely remember only dream fragments, but later you begin to discover that the more you record, the more you also remember your dreams. Dreams provide you with clues about your life and make visible the creative force of the unconscious.</div>
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2. Understanding yourself better: Writing over time allows you to realize who you are and identifies your values. As a consequence, it becomes easier to say no or yes to people without feeling pressured or compromised. <br />
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3. Clarifying your intentions: Through the process of writing, you may write about why you made certain life decisions. These written explorations help to strengthen your resolve because you remember how you arrived at these decisions.<br />
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4. Discovering hidden motivations: Nothing reveals dishonesty as much as writing a long rationalization about how and why you are right. In fact, the real reasons behind a particular action become clear as you see your words on the page. <br />
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5. Knowing what is bothering you: It is so much easier to know the truth about your feelings if you write down some of the disturbing mental noise that bothers you upon waking. Without writing, these worries often accompany you during the day. Often just writing about anxiety lessens it or may even take it away.<br />
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6. Improving your life: A regular morning writing practice provides you with a sturdy framework that helps to build self trust and confidence. It enlivens your day with zest and lends purpose to the years. <br />
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7. Making ideas real: Dreams and ambitions identify what you desire but writing about them helps you to become proactive. Through regular writing, you are able to move forward and accomplish these life goals. <br />
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Finally, I suggest that you extend your morning practice into your day by carrying a notebook and pen with you everywhere. I do not recommend that you use an electronic device because the temptation is too great. You will take out your smartphone to make a note; for example, and before you realize it, you are surfing the net, socializing on Facebook or reading Email. With <i>paper and pen </i>handy, when you have a few spare moments, you can continue writing and exploring the ever-enriching conversation with your creative self. <br />
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Happy writing! </div>
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Cynthia Pittmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12656761837022197235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-38525400964899578472013-10-03T05:55:00.001-07:002013-10-03T06:07:04.433-07:00Perception on Lot 70<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Oasis Exploration: Relationships in Color and Time<i><br /></i></h2>
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One recent Saturday at the<a href="http://artistasdepuertorico.ning.com/profiles/blogs/matricula-para-cursos" target="_blank"> Esquela Artes Placticas </a>in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, I encountered the concept of color gradation. The painting exercise we practiced was to take a color and mix it with white or black until an ever lightening or deepening shade results. While mixing and studying the color change, I reflected on how color represents time and that the subtle color variations are like moments in life. Most of the time we are not aware of subtle shifts in color. Green is green. Red is red. Blue is blue. Time is like that too because we notice that it's the morning, afternoon, and night. However, when a color is mixed with white or black in varying degrees subtle shades become visible. It is clear that green is a myriad of possible greens. Red and blue are potentials of color in which to dive! Our awareness of time is similar to our awareness of color in that we don't usually remember the moment. Anyone who has practiced <i>present moment </i>awareness knows this shift in perception. If you've gone on a <i>mindfulness </i>retreat, you know what I mean. Even the slogan <i>Just Breath </i>is a focusing practice that brings you into yourself so that you become aware of the real moment.<br />
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I remember a practice that I learned from reading G. I. <a href="http://www.dolmenmeadoweditions.com/4_Gurdjieff/Gurdjieff.htm" target="_blank">Gurdjieff </a>that is called (self) remembering, which is at any moment you turn your attention back on yourself and realize something such as, "Hey, I'm here. I'm alive." It's a practice of noticing that you are in existence. This <a href="http://www.satrakshita.be/self-remembering.htm" target="_blank">self-remembering</a> changes your daily experience of time. I have practiced this technique on and off for years but at one time I consciously dedicated my focus to self-remembering for many daily moments for several months. What I discovered is that it altered my perception of time and my feeling of a solid boundary between my body and the space around it. Most of us experience time and life in chunky ways that are carefully divided by daily (and seasonal) routine. We break it up every day into pieces such as waking up, eating, going to work, exercising, and sleeping. The routine defines how we experience time.<br />
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For most of us, it is only when an event occurs that breaks our daily pattern do we shift in our awareness of time. Consider an unexpected event to your normal routine; for example, the arrival of an out of town guest. Suddenly you find yourself actively engaged in lively conversation at a restaurant well into the evening. <i>It's past your bedtime! </i> You're so engaged in the moment that you forget all about your routine and your strategy of life management that organizes life into predictable chunks of experience. These occurrences let you know that time and pattern are constructs that make your life manageable but also invisible. Unconscious routine can obscure gradations of color. However, a person's ordinary engagement with time can shift by consciously practicing various techniques. To illustrate, the method of periodically focusing on your breath can help you become aware of time and thereby, shift your ability to see, know and engage in more subtle ways. Try the self-awareness exercise below and pace it to your ever slowing and deepening breath.</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>I am here. I breathe. I am filled. I am empty. Inhale. Exhale. A moment. A string of moments. I am in life. I am life. Breathe.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Certainly the experience of breathing is ordinary but the awareness of breathing is another thing altogether. Conscious breathing can deepen your contact with a non-ordinary experience of life. Just as color has degrees and shades within what is normally classified as GREEN; time has degrees and shades that are made visible by strategies of consciously remembering.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Each moment is a prism of quiet vibrancy. </span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">People have asked me that [what is the experience of inner awareness] <br />before, and I always feel that they expect to hear the dramatic account <br />of some sudden miracle through which I suddenly became one with the <br />universe. Of course nothing of the sort happened. My inner awareness was<br /> always there; though it took me time to feel it more and more clearly; <br />and it equally took time to find words that would at all describe it.</span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">~~ Krishnamurti.</span></span></i></div>
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Color Gradations with 20 steps: Complementary, Monochromatic, and Analogous <a href="http://beckerart.weebly.com/color-wheel-and-gradations.html" target="_blank">Demonstrations </a><br />
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Also published in <a href="http://oasiswritinglink.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Oasis Writing Link (TM)</a></div>
Cynthia Pittmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12656761837022197235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-62391491613194627222013-08-27T09:32:00.000-07:002013-08-27T09:36:10.033-07:00Spinning Color Wheels: REVISITING EARLY DREAMS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: medium;">REVISITING EARLY DREAMS</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I had my first painting class last Saturday at the <a href="http://www.eap.edu/en/abouttheeap.html">Escuela de Artes Plasticas de Puerto Rico</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was a class on <a href="http://www.worqx.com/color/color_basics.htm" target="_blank">color theory</a>. I arrived for the first class two weeks ago and the start date was postponed until the next Saturday. I arrived on the next Saturday and discovered that the professor was absent. By the third class, I expected that we might not have class or maybe some other changes could occur. Perhaps the room location would be changed? (Ah, life in Puerto Rico!) It's okay though. I did not mind the changes because they gave me more time to become accustomed to the routine of driving to Old San Juan, which involves finding parking, figuring out how long it takes to walk to the classroom and of course (for me the <i>essential</i> information), locating the nearest place to have a cup of coffee. More importantly, I had time to deal with the stress of revisiting <b>the </b>old dream of studying art. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I'm in a period of life called "the redo" as in the common expression, "I want a do-over!" This "redo" does not include everything done in life (meaning regrets) but rather what was not done, which could also, but not necessarily, mean regrets. This understanding signifies that I realize that it's hard (if not impossible) to do everything in one life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I highly recommend that you revisit your early dreams. At some point in life, I think everyone should take a look at the remaining memory-bits of their earlier choices (and their consequences) and try to re-construct them. Asking questions such as:</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">What did I decide? What were the consequences? What choices led to the life I am living now? How would I like to shift the current direction of my life? </span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Periodically, we should give ourselves permission start again</b>. In order to have a happy and satisifying life, it's essential to avoid<b> heavy regrets</b> about life decisions. <b>It's so easy to say, "It's too late."</b> How many people look back and say, "I wanted to be an/a __________(artist, singer, dancer, musician, pilot, actor or?) and my __________ (parents, husband, school counselor, children, fear, logic, or?) made me choose _______(business, teaching, homemaking, and so on). We all make decisions that blame circumstances (such as the preceding) or ourselves and we accept that their direct consequences; however, we don't always know that, in fact, many times we did not decide. We delayed our decision so long that the choice no longer was visible.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">We don't realize that <b>not deciding is also a decision</b>.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">On a personal note, I don't think I'm alone when I say that many artistic people find themselves in non-artistic fields just because they did not choose. Certainly, we can argue that our creativity has been put <i>to use</i> in another "more practical" career; nevertheless, that earlier desire often demands our attention. It can still push retired people, for example, to take dance, voice, pottery, modeling class or to show up for an audition at the local community theater. <b>What I'm suggesting is that this "foolish" behavior is worth it</b> and nudging you to start now. Don't wait until you have the time. Further, this choice to actively engage the remnants of the earlier less encumbered you, can awaken the memory of wonder, i.e., the ability to appreciate and experience <b>unencumbered joy.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Be warned! Making the choice to revisit your lost dreams causes mental and emotional turmoil. For example, for the last few weeks my nighttime dreams have been influenced by symbols of that earlier time in life (and the earlier me) where I changed from being a carefree idealist to a "poser" pragmatist. I choose the word "poser" because those who genuinely know me realize that I remain an idealist. You might say that I suffer from a Pollyanna-ish optimism and try my hardest to keep her under cover. I'm a look for the silver-lining kind of person. Indeed, I force myself to squarely deal with the dreaded practical problems all of us encounter in ordinary life. It's fine. I have no problem with keeping my feet on the ground. However, I know that a real emotional/psychological breakthrough can be made by jumping out of an airplane- of course wearing a parachute! (I did that!) And if that experience was one of your early dreams, you don't actually have to jump out of an airplane but <b>just engage the dream and at least (below) <a href="http://www.myboysandtheirtoys.com/2012/07/summer-fun-with-alex-toys-super-parachute-review-giveaway/" target="_blank">play with a parachute (photo credit)</a></b>. Or maybe go<a href="http://www.seepuertorico.com/interests_and_activities/extreme_sports/zip-lining" target="_blank"> zip-lining</a>? (I want to do that!)</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Q7rV34LPtI/UhvXs9mmUpI/AAAAAAAACQY/P6kSpIUZcuU/s1600/colorful+parachute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Q7rV34LPtI/UhvXs9mmUpI/AAAAAAAACQY/P6kSpIUZcuU/s400/colorful+parachute.jpg" width="400" /> </a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">My homework assignment is met with some anxiety. Recreate (with acrylic paints) the color wheel using the <a href="http://www.painting-with-a-palette-knife.com/acrylic-paint/" target="_blank">three primary colors yellow, red, and blue (photo credit)</a>. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CfYFcWRS2Zo/UhvabnJVu_I/AAAAAAAACQ0/iSXVeY3LLM0/s1600/tricolor1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CfYFcWRS2Zo/UhvabnJVu_I/AAAAAAAACQ0/iSXVeY3LLM0/s400/tricolor1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It has to be exactly 15 inches in diameter and "look pretty." How do I do that? Below is what the homework assignment should look like...</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5p-Yp1OwQvc/UhvZZgw8sCI/AAAAAAAACQw/j7_YmliAKA8/s1600/art-factory-color-wheel.jpeg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="383" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5p-Yp1OwQvc/UhvZZgw8sCI/AAAAAAAACQw/j7_YmliAKA8/s400/art-factory-color-wheel.jpeg.png" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Only, a reasoning and/or creative person must be aware that the brushed in and home-mixed colors might not behave! I am a novice but at least I'm choosing how to <i><span style="color: blue;">spin my wheels</span></i>. I wonder what kind of dreams I will have tonight? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">"Spinning Wheels" by Blood, Sweat and Tears</span></span></i></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">What goes up must come down<br />spinning wheel got to go round<br />Talking about your troubles it's a crying sin<br />Ride a painted pony<br />Let the spinning wheel spin...</span></span></i></h2>
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Cynthia Pittmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12656761837022197235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-2079891424165420602013-08-15T15:03:00.001-07:002013-08-15T15:04:40.644-07:00#70 Walks through Old San Juan, Puerto Rico<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"> Cats are everywhere! </span></i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l9RYgzElAA0/Ug0_L9rq0nI/AAAAAAAACPc/_S4bUzxNoIA/s1600/cats+in+old+san+juan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l9RYgzElAA0/Ug0_L9rq0nI/AAAAAAAACPc/_S4bUzxNoIA/s640/cats+in+old+san+juan.png" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Taking an early morning walk in Old San Juan last Saturday, I noticed
the cats on the sidewalk grooming and gently curious. I fell in love with a little kitten who wanted to chew
on my big toe! When I reached down to play with her, she reached up and with two paws together, she grabbed hold of my glasses. Such a friendly kitten and so much trust towards a complete stranger! I worried about her safety. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">However, I discovered that caring local community has come together to help these cats. If you would like to read more I've posted two links below, which provide information about the cats in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/save-a-gato/" target="_blank">Cats in Old San Juan</a></span><br />
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"The cats are a part of the Old San Juan experience, much like the cats
and chickens that are a part of the Key West experience. Some of these
cats are said to be descendants from the original cats that arrived on
the ships when the first Spanish settlers came to the island. But the
cats need help to stay healthy and alive. That is where the <i>Save a Gato</i> (<i>Gato</i> means <i>cat</i>
in Spanish) organization comes into play." <br />
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<img alt="Feral Cats in Old San Juan" class="alignright" height="200" src="http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/wp-post-images/unusual-osj-1g.jpg" title="Feral Cats in Old San Juan" width="300" /><br />
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"The problem is that cat populations will explode without intervention. <a href="http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/save-a-gato/">Save a Gato</a> is a volunteer organization that manages the feral cats in
Old San Juan by providing food and water. They also have a trap, neuter,
and return (TNR) program, during which they also give necessary
vaccinations." (Read more<a href="http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/unusual-osj-sights/" target="_blank"> here</a>.)<br />
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(Click on the title for more about this organization and how you can contribute.)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'm Only a Cat</b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">I'm only a cat,</span><br />
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and I stay in my place...</span><br />
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Up there on your chair,</span><br />
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on your bed or your face!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">I'm only a cat,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
and I don't finick much...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
I'm happy with cream</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
and anchovies and such!<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">I'm only a cat,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
and we'll get along fine...</span><br />
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As long as you know</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
I'm not yours... you're all mine!<br />
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<b>Author Unknown</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Also published in <a href="http://oasiswritinglink.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Oasis Writing Link</a><b> </b></span></div>
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Cynthia Pittmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12656761837022197235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-53289300310424852692013-06-16T20:31:00.000-07:002013-06-16T20:31:34.384-07:00TIME TO RELAX — BLOGLAND LANE AT ITS BEST!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It has been very wet and cool recently in River City, so I decided to shun the foul weather. My best option: Blogland Lane (of course).</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I decided to kick back, and smell the flowers, and lie on the grass in the beautiful, warm, sunshine. Ah, a Bear's true life indeed!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cFYzT3pjLf8/Ub6Bg5SwnYI/AAAAAAAABdw/2fykewqnMV8/s1600/Bear:Grass.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cFYzT3pjLf8/Ub6Bg5SwnYI/AAAAAAAABdw/2fykewqnMV8/s1600/Bear:Grass.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I was wondering who might spend some time here this summer. It does become very lonely when I walk through town, staring at closed up cottages and shops. We could have a Lawn Bowling tournament, or a Water Polo tournament, or something in between. Bar-b-q lunch; fishing derby — you name it and we can try it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs to all!</span><br />
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Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-82779430550969494472013-05-25T14:31:00.000-07:002013-05-25T14:31:04.867-07:00WHAT BLOGLAND LANE IS NOT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Twin Peaks</span></div>
<br />Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-34266523391146594782013-05-16T20:38:00.002-07:002013-05-16T21:03:48.650-07:00IN WHICH THERE BE GEESE ON BLOGLAND LANE!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I might not have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes. Geese! Canada Geese! On the Blogland Lane Common! </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNgItt1bNwk/UZWni8OwwpI/AAAAAAAABZA/sNfN8LEnVGg/s1600/IMG_0420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNgItt1bNwk/UZWni8OwwpI/AAAAAAAABZA/sNfN8LEnVGg/s320/IMG_0420.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately, they were a bit surprised by the presence of a Bear. They kept a watchful distance, and I could get a picture of only one. Sigh! We could be such good friends if we got to know each other a bit better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Having more humans here would also help, I think. I don't think</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">. . . but then, . . . well, there might be problems. I know that Humans are pretty shy about making friends with Bears. (My friend, Joanne, tried it once, before she met me, and I think she and the Bear managed to terrify each other.) Anyhow, when Humans see I have a tent and a campfire, they might not be so paralyzed or transfixed. That might help them accept the fact that Bears can be reasonable citizens of such a lovely place as Blogland Lane! Or, at least, this one can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'll see you when you get here, folks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-49973466339859122622013-05-07T20:50:00.000-07:002013-05-16T20:07:08.514-07:00IN WHICH BEAR APOLOGIZES FOR HIS LATENESS IN POSTING, AND GETS HIMSELF RE-ACCUSTOMED TO LIFE ON BLOGLAND LANE.<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I know; I had promised to put up a picture weekly. But, well, life got in the way of my plans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So, to make up for my neglectfulness, three pictures of snow in River City (or lack thereof). We went through these in the space of about a week, or so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Today, temperature reached almost 30 degrees again (which is 86 °F). That is way too hot for a Bear in his right mind (or not). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'm going to try to relax a bit more this summer, spend more time at the lake, here at Blogland Lane. I like to swim, so I'll probably be doing a lot of that. But I'll try to be discreet and not scare off you Humans. Imagine, for example, you're out having a wonderful, relaxing swim, and a Brown Bear pops up out of the water beside you. If you know me, your going to pat me on the head or shoulder, and say, "Hi, Bear; great to see you!" But if you don't know me, you might pass out. Then I'd have to carry you to shore and find some smelling salts. So this is just an advanced advisory: there will be a Bear swimming in the lake, but he is not dangerous. (Only his jokes are.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Anyhow, I found my tent had survived well over the winter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">These big, sturdy tents made by Woods Canada will stand up to just about anything. Why is why I like them. As did my daddy before me. (And I got a great picture with the sun setting.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Anyhow, I've found my campfire ring, and I'm going to light up a good fire on, bake up some bannock and some sweet fry bread, and treat you royally when you come by. And if you're a little skitterish around the Bear, just relax. Come up slowly the first time or two, stick you your paw (I mean hand), and if you seem decent, I'll give it a good shake (but not too enthusiastic; I know Humans are more fragile than Bears) and sit you down. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And if nobody comes around, I'll just sit here and write some poetry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs. </span></div>
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Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-20128116190749635082013-04-21T07:00:00.000-07:002013-04-21T07:00:02.951-07:00IN WHICH BEAR TRIES AGAIN TO POST A PHOTO<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Hello, again! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Things have not been going as I hoped. After I posted that snowy picture, I got so tired that I started hibernating. (That's a thing we Bears do in the winter.) </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;">Winter started the day of that snow storm, in mid-October. It's now past mid-April, and there's still snow on the ground and ice on the river. A long winter. Sigh!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I've have just recently come out of hibernation and immediately got involved in the A-Z Challenge blog hop. (I think that's close to being the official title.) Sunday is our off day — or is that day off? Anyhow, I got this picture, of a couple of Geese. Can you believe Geese showed up last week, winter or not? They were on the river just outside my den.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The temperature tried very hard to get above freezing yesterday, meaning we may yet have spring this month. And if we do have spring, that will make it easier for me to travel from home to Blogland Lane, and back. In fact, I'm thinking I might spend some of my summer here. (Promises, promises; yeah, I know.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Anyhow, I've decided to keep my promise and post a picture a week over here, to prove to the world there is life on Blogland Lane.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Happy Sunday, everyone. Blessings and Bear hugs!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Addendum</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Zoe, of you're awake, please send me an e-mail at rbcomm(at)sasktel(dot)net. I'd like to have your e-mail address so I can chat with you. Pls. & thnx.</span></div>
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Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-7451434332141846152012-10-26T15:16:00.001-07:002012-10-26T15:17:24.522-07:00Hello from Town Hall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jpQSC9bbVS4/UIsLVs6_A8I/AAAAAAAAN9Q/tTtDxR88KEg/s1600/409162_347169118642164_337671456258597_1478893_639420290_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jpQSC9bbVS4/UIsLVs6_A8I/AAAAAAAAN9Q/tTtDxR88KEg/s400/409162_347169118642164_337671456258597_1478893_639420290_n.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
HELLO!<br />
<br />
This is kj, the laid back mayor of Blogland Lane who is content to let our collective blog chug along at two miles an hour.<br />
<br />
BUT NOW:<br />
<br />
Since Mr. Bear is going to be posting his photos and since Mim is experimenting with her Water Lily Girls, is anyone interested in having a gallery show of anything: photos, paintings, poems, stories, collages, anything?!<br />
<br />
And maybe we should talk about the large nest that has mysteriously appeared in the northern corner of Blogland Lane...<br />
<br />
Love<br />
kjkjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122196887043345981noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-63463562523328742622012-10-22T23:18:00.001-07:002012-10-22T23:26:39.476-07:00IN WHICH BEAR TRIES SOMETHING NEW<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Well, it has been an interesting summer. Don't have much to say except that I came out of hibernation in March, they went back to sleep until April. Then I got up, and did, well, things a Bear would normally do, like eat and sleep. And try to stay out of trouble. (That is difficult for me.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Anyhow, over the summer, I was doing this and that, and waiting for hibernation until next spring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever notice how quiet it is around Blogland Lane? Beautiful houses, delightful shops and the like. But nobody seems to be here. Not even the Blogland Lane Municipal Office. All so very strange.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Anyhow, Bear decided to change that. Maybe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Bear is going to start putting up photos. In front of my tent, and over to the side a bit (so they don't get too smoky from the fire). At least one a week. And after I've got a few up, um, well, . . . I'm not sure what will come next. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And I'll see if I can set out some tea with hunny, and maybe some cookies. (Humans like cookies; I know that for a fact.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Anyhow, it has been snowing up in the hills, so I thought I would start with a snow picture.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KnXRT2CEvUo/UIYypy_LsYI/AAAAAAAABKY/k9nbRhIb8eA/s1600/IMG_1133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KnXRT2CEvUo/UIYypy_LsYI/AAAAAAAABKY/k9nbRhIb8eA/s320/IMG_1133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That does look kinda blizzardy, doesn't it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The other thing that came to mind, just now, was a quotation. Something about stating things. Oh, yes: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." That was from a chap somewhere in Asia, named, . . . named, . . . ah, yes! His name was Lao-tzu. I think. Anyhow, I've taken the first step, and there will be more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Blessings and Bear hugs to all!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-79940638398131074932012-08-18T04:58:00.001-07:002012-08-18T04:58:48.855-07:00Second testI tried a new app for the iPhone to do posts and managed to get it to post...but on the wrong blog. (blogland!). So I'm trying this again. <br />
<br />
I've been working on the water lily pics, redid the turtle one so that it looks more like they are on water and a new one with the kayak ( work in process) and talking to the fishes in color.<br />
<br />
Hope this posts!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3z3pypriY2k/UC-Ci9yi8tI/AAAAAAAAICM/uBeHYI21QYI/s640/blogger-image-2071912056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3z3pypriY2k/UC-Ci9yi8tI/AAAAAAAAICM/uBeHYI21QYI/s640/blogger-image-2071912056.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-glOJ-Ba_gJM/UC-CjnHBbhI/AAAAAAAAICU/4VWUs-JfY1Q/s640/blogger-image--896071888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-glOJ-Ba_gJM/UC-CjnHBbhI/AAAAAAAAICU/4VWUs-JfY1Q/s640/blogger-image--896071888.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3pIaktb_w_E/UC-CuEybraI/AAAAAAAAICc/qracLZxRJs4/s640/blogger-image-542005059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3pIaktb_w_E/UC-CuEybraI/AAAAAAAAICc/qracLZxRJs4/s640/blogger-image-542005059.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-4383359724389679582012-08-18T04:48:00.001-07:002012-08-18T04:49:04.319-07:00Test from iPadI'm testing a new app that is really for the iPhone but I'm trying it on the iPad. I've been working on the Water Lily pics this week - see what you think!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QRYpe7QBFtQ/UC-BFvRXDWI/AAAAAAAAIB0/o6oMv1uhl1g/s640/blogger-image-1673416501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QRYpe7QBFtQ/UC-BFvRXDWI/AAAAAAAAIB0/o6oMv1uhl1g/s640/blogger-image-1673416501.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hcdAwa0Ni1o/UC-BGb5s7rI/AAAAAAAAIB8/Rv0btEYvhOU/s640/blogger-image--249286561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hcdAwa0Ni1o/UC-BGb5s7rI/AAAAAAAAIB8/Rv0btEYvhOU/s640/blogger-image--249286561.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WKRmJUC65yY/UC-BHE4mmDI/AAAAAAAAICE/c3S-2LvZ5DI/s640/blogger-image-831728958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WKRmJUC65yY/UC-BHE4mmDI/AAAAAAAAICE/c3S-2LvZ5DI/s640/blogger-image-831728958.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2The Meadows The Meadows27.37018 -82.478986tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-1418635773555367562012-02-26T11:11:00.000-08:002012-02-26T11:11:44.137-08:00Signing Limited Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7mnUNMxA3A/T0qDcfDIvWI/AAAAAAAAA5I/7iQTlJAng-o/s1600/Signing+200+smiling+with+Ion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" lda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7mnUNMxA3A/T0qDcfDIvWI/AAAAAAAAA5I/7iQTlJAng-o/s320/Signing+200+smiling+with+Ion.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Numbered and signed copies of Death Bed are now available on <a href="http://www.noexit.co.uk/dbspecial/">http://www.noexit.co.uk/dbspecial/</a> My publisher made sure none of the books was left unsigned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-22152100749572800352012-02-25T01:29:00.000-08:002012-02-25T01:29:47.823-08:00IN WHICH BEAR RETURNS TO BLOGLAND LANE.If you wonder where Bear has been, the answer is "Hibernating."<br />
<br />
Actually, Bear has been trying to hibernate. But the weather has been too warm for that. <br />
<br />
So Bear will try hibernating at Blogland Lane, and see what happens.<br />
<br />
"See you in the spring," said Bear.Rob-bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-73529174900208152822011-12-12T20:45:00.000-08:002011-12-12T20:52:30.634-08:00Moonlight on Blogland Lane<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g3nLFgOlzZI/TubYlgGUQ7I/AAAAAAAALcQ/KBK5VryLFZk/s1600/382828_2229488828434_1584243549_2927339_1168874618_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685469718385017778" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g3nLFgOlzZI/TubYlgGUQ7I/AAAAAAAALcQ/KBK5VryLFZk/s400/382828_2229488828434_1584243549_2927339_1168874618_n.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">attribution unknown</span></div><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Just stopping by to wish my friends and neighbors a good evening and a good holiday season. The moon has special powers, do you think so too? I know it's true that hospital emergency rooms and mental health centers have much more activity when the moon is full. And since our bodies are mostly water, and since the moon controls the ocean tides, it all makes sense. Right? </span></span>Best wishes, kj</p>kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122196887043345981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-27083482409722123272011-12-02T08:21:00.000-08:002011-12-02T08:21:52.880-08:00Author on Blogland LaneJust a quick update - my books have been selling like crazy - Number 1 Bestselling Female Detective on kindle, selected as a Great Crime Sleuth on Lovereading, great reviews in the major journals, fanbase growing apace... and I finally have a website, courtesy of my wonderful publisher. Check out my news on <a href="http://leighrussell.co.uk/">http://leighrussell.co.uk/</a> and don't forget to contact me if you'd like a signed inscription for one of my books! <br />
Have a wonderful Christmas to all my friends and neighbours on Blogland Lane.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EC_r6N7c3Qw/Ttj7ELN2IoI/AAAAAAAAA2c/lsRUH1w69Bc/s1600/Leigh+Russell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="133px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EC_r6N7c3Qw/Ttj7ELN2IoI/AAAAAAAAA2c/lsRUH1w69Bc/s200/Leigh+Russell.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182112158278150945.post-46788772652461329782011-11-30T22:41:00.000-08:002011-11-30T22:46:28.689-08:00Blogland Lane Builds Its Holiday Tree<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kxa7carZ_a0/Ttch0wzyYXI/AAAAAAAALRM/BteqoEU9x3c/s1600/IMG_3409.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681046645290197362" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kxa7carZ_a0/Ttch0wzyYXI/AAAAAAAALRM/BteqoEU9x3c/s400/IMG_3409.jpg" /></a><em> red bows, blue lights, one center piece,</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>and lobster traps</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>You'll find the community holiday tree at the pier next Pieterbie's beach house.</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>Tis the season.</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>♥</em></div>kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122196887043345981noreply@blogger.com0