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 |   Theses are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call life. |
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These are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call Life. I blog with these groups:     "Blogging Circle of Friends "  [E] 
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Blogging Circle of Friends - Day 3488 May 4, 2024 Our next adventure has us hoping on The Ghan for one of the world's great train journeys. We get to travel through the heart of Australia in luxury while enjoying the all-inclusive food and beverages, well-appointed cabins and the Off Train Excursions that allow you to get a feel for the places the train travels through. I upgraded to a Gold ticket so I have a cabin all to myself. This is the kind of stuff you can do on a virtual trip. I like the space to be able to go off and write without feeling like I am being anti-social. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g255093-d12951577-Reviews-The_Ghan... We'll be starting in Adelaide and since the train doesn't leave until noon, I have time for a bit of shopping at the Rundle Mall and the Adelaide Arcade. I make sure to purchase a great hat and more sunscreen for the trip. I expect I'll need them both. I found an inexpensive hiker hat that will do perfectly. As we settle onto the train, I enjoy my spacious cabin and a glass of wine. I know its early, but I feel like celebrating. I take some time to check out some possible adventures that are available to us as we venture forth. Lyn's a sly fox   listed these: https://www.pinkroadhouse.com.au/oodnadatta-track/ https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/northern-territory.html https://alicespringsdesertpark.com.au/ https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/ One of the things that stands out is the Desert Art Trail. I really enjoy the artwork of indigenous artists in Canada and am curious what the Australian Outback has in store. The colours on the website are more earthy, not as vibrant, but are just as soul enriching. A couple of places intrigue me - The Aruleun Arts Centre and the Mbantua Gallery. The Arts Centre will give a good overview of all the area has to offer and the Mbantua Gallery website has some fabulous artists including Jessie Hunter Petyarre and Joycie Morton Petrarre. Jessie's family paint stories associated with Atnwengerrp and Irrweltye their mother's country. I find her work pops with colour and makes me smile. https://mbantua.com.au/ https://araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au/art-collections https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/alice-springs-and-surrounds/day-trips.htm... Tonight we'll be dining in the Queen Adelaide restaurant. I'll be savouring the mouth-watering dishes such as saltwater barramundi and grilled kangaroo fillet as we travel along our route. https://www.journeybeyondrail.com.au/guest-information/food-beverage/queen-adela... BCoF smaller prompt is about Australian literature: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_literature Scroll through the different sections and discuss things you know about authors and the topic they wrote about. I really like reading authors and buying books when I visit places. I bought at least a dozen books when I was in Scotland in 2017 (for real). I got a chance to spend a couple hours at the International Book Festival in Edinburgh. It was so fabulous. But we are virtually traveling in Australia, so.... I just finished The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. She now lives in Australia, but she is from New Zealand. Does a Kiwi count? The book is based on a true story of Lale Eisenberg who was the tattooist in Auschwitz-B during the Holocaust. He and his wife Gita eventually moved to Australia in 1949. The series for this started May 1 and I wanted to finish the book before watching it. It was very moving. Thomas Michael Keneally, is an Australian novelist, playwright, essayist, and actor. He is best known for his non-fiction novel Schindler's Ark, the story of Oskar Schindler's rescue of Jews during the Holocaust, which won the Booker Prize in 1982. Apparently he was the first Australian to win the Booker Prize. The book would later be adapted into Steven Spielberg's 1993 film Schindler's List, which won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. I did not read or see this movie, but one day I might. Colleen Margaretta McCullough was an Australian author known for her novels, her most well-known being The Thorn Birds and The Ladies of Missalonghi. I read The Thorn Birds and watched the series with Richard Chamberlain. Germaine Greer is a liberation (or radical) rather than equality feminist. Her goal is not equality with men, which she sees as assimilation and "agreeing to live the lives of unfree men". "Women's liberation", she wrote in The Whole Woman (1999), "did not see the female's potential in terms of the male's actual." She argues instead that liberation is about asserting difference and "insisting on it as a condition of self-definition and self-determination". It is a struggle for the freedom of women to "define their own values, order their own priorities and decide their own fate". I may just need to read this book. I have put in on my list on Good Reads. |
Blogging Circle of Friends - Day 3487, May 3, 2024 Take advantage and do your laundry and whatever because we're going to be roughing it on a train next. we're all staying at Hilton Sydney. https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Sydney/entity/CgsImO_m76TC4eXkARAB?g2lb=250... There are a lot of great things to do and see in Sydney but you have one day so pick from the links what appeals to you and discuss what you discovered. Make us envious. Let your imagination get carried away. https://www.thecrazytourist.com/25-best-things-sydney-australia/ https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g255060-Activities-Sydney_New_South_Wale... Being a virtual tour and a practical person, I packed off my winter gear that I used in Antarctica and sent it home. No sense dragging around that heavy stuff when Sydney is lovely. I break out my floaty skirts and a good pair of walking shoes. I sent any laundry to be done to the hotel service so that I could take every opportunity to enjoy this city. The hotel itself is to die for... after being in such extreme conditions in Antarctica, I was only too happy to snuggle into a cozy bed, take a shower and enjoy the huge pool. But I was not going to limit myself to the hotel. After a quick zip around Paddy's Markets and grabbing some fresh fruit and some cheap books. I headed for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I wanted to climb this great structure and see the views from the top. I was not disappointed and the pictures I took were stunning. After that climb I headed for Bondi Beach for a dip into the ocean. It was so sunny and warm - a real contrast from Antarctica. There seemed to be almost as many people there as there had been penguins the day before... but the sand was so much nicer than the glacial ice. I enjoyed a walk along the shoreline. The sand made for a great workout for my feet and legs. After the beach, I headed back to the hotel for a shower and got myself ready for the Historic Pub Crawl and the spooky ghost tour. It was intriguing to sample various bars while learning the history and ghost stories of the area. I loved hearing all the tales of gang life, brothels, unsolved murders and spooky delights. I was glad some of my writing friends joined me because its always nice to shudder and experience the shivers up the back when you are not alone. By the time we arrived back at the hotel in the early hours of the morning, we were all ready to collapse into our beds and get some well needed sleep. Being warm and cozy was wonderful. At some point on this virtual tour I took some time to venture into Sappho Books, Cafe and Bar. It is a second hand bookshop with a wonderful cafe. It also has a wine bar at night. I wanted a cool place to browse books, enjoy coffee and take some time to write in a unique spot. The cafe serves delicious food in a beautiful garden courtyard. It was a great writing retreat. If I have time I may see if anyone would like to go back at night, as this place this "comes alive as the wine bar kicks off, usually with live music. The wine list is interesting and carefully chosen, the cocktails have funky literary names, and there is a good selection of both regular affordable and craft beers. Tapas in this case are international in their inspiration." |
Blog City: Day 3083 Prompt: "In every walk with nature, one receives far more he seeks." John Muir Being surrounded by nature has a way of bringing me back to myself... to that calm part that connects with the world as a whole. You can't help but be grateful for that kind of connection. We are all part of nature and it is good to remember that, especially when the supposed civilized world tries to tell us differently. Taking time to slow down and savour the world around you is exquisite. Watch a butterfly flit through the sun. Listen to the birdsong all around you. Watch the squirrels scamper and play among the branches. Feel the breath of a breeze rustle your hair and skim over your skin. Taste the sweet tartness of raspberries growing on wildly growing vines. Smell the freshness of the earth and the muskiness of decaying leaves. The forest is alive at every level from the microbiological all the way up. It is awe inspiring how much the world so fully lives... if you slow down and take it all in. As I consider my virtual trip to Antarctica I see a very different view of nature, but although it is covered in deep snow and ice, nature is still very much an active thing. The whales, penguins and seals are huge things to marvel at as we make our way through our virtual encounters. The cold. The ringing silence... that is filled with all the Antarctic has to offer - nature is not silent... even if the snow muffles the sounds. It is all so pristine here and the tour guides make sure we respect that... as we make sure to disinfect our boots before going between various penguin sites. Blogging Circle of Friends: Day 3486 Travel Prompt: Antarctica is the site of some of the world’s most cutting-edge research. There are dozens of scientific research centers here, and one of the most interesting things to do in Antarctica is to take a tour of one of these fascinating facilities. The Vernadsky Research Base on Galindez Island opens its doors to visitors all while studying everything from meteorology, ecology, biology, glaciology, seismology and physics. It was at this research station that the hole in the ozone layer was first discovered. Another cool and unexpected aspect of this research center is the Vernadsky Station Lounge, one of the southernmost bars in the world. We did try the vodka, which had been distilled on site. It was pretty good. I decided to pay the $3 instead of handling over my bra - it wasn't very exciting - unlike a few others, that will remain nameless.... It was interesting to help examine green snow and check out the satellite studies of the visual evidence of climate change. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-bar-at-vernadsky-research-base-antarctic... I also managed to buy a t-shirt and a magnet as a souvenir of what is considered the southernmost souvenir shop in the world. I got some postcards... some as keepsakes and some I mailed to family, friends and even one to myself so I could have a keepsake of it and the stamp. Lyn's a sly fox is still insisting we still sleeping in our sleeping bags and I am fine with that, as the views at night are amazing. There are no threats of being eaten - all the polar bears are at the north pole. Vernadsky Station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmFjTJJkiZM Solo Trip to Antarctica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDap9qxb96k |
Blogging Circle of Friends: Day 3485 In May, we're going to do a virtual online traveling experience. Each day you'll received information to choose to blog about/ Day 1 30 day Activities :Kayaking with the whales and watching penquins and sampling local cuisine. 30 day Camping in Antarctica isn’t an activity for everyone — cozying up on the frozen ground in sub-zero temperatures isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. However, if you’re willing to sacrifice the luxuries of a comfy bed surrounded by four walls, you’re in for one of the coolest sleepovers you’ll ever have. While every boat tour company’s “campground” varies, one option could be Hovgaard Island on the west-facing side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Some outfitters provide tents while others opt for a more au natural experience of only a waterproof, cold weather sleeping bag (bivy sack) and thermal mat. Sleeping under the infinite number of Antarctica’s twinkling stars is a surreal experience and knowing there’s nothing between you and all of Antarctica’s frozen glory is truly a magical feeling. I've chosen the au natural for us. https://www.2foodtrippers.com/antarctica-food/#:~:text=Oh%20Pemmican%2C%20the%20... Men need to increase their caloric intake to 4500 and women to 3900 to handle the temperatures. I'm assured we won't gain weight. https://www.adventurouskate.com/kayaking-antarctica/#:~:text=Kayaking%20in%20Ant... BCoF Are you familiar with any of these authors or books? or discuss one of these quotes: “Antarctica. You know, that giant continent at the bottom of the earth that’s ruled by penguins and seals.” ― C.B. Cook, Twinepathy “I want to visit the snow in Antarctica before global warming turns it into a tropical paradise.” ― Steven Magee https://www.wayfairertravel.com/inspiration/books-about-antarctica/ Okay, like I love these virtual adventures.... Lyn's a sly fox you are a rockstar for doing this! I'm up for it! A Kayaking adventure that is such a beautiful way to be up close and personal to nature. It was so great to have an intimate little group of our own as we headed out for this adventure. I loved being able to reach down and touch the water. I took advantage of grabbing a piece of ice from the water and sucking on it. It was so cool feeling the air bubbles pop in my mouth. We saw penguins, seals, and whales gliding through the water just inches from us. It was both terrifying and awe inspiring. The water was as calm as glass and it was nice to be gliding quietly through the water and feeling the chilly droplets fly off my paddle and land on my face. I was so glad I opted to have a camera mounted on my helmet. I was able to get photographs without having to juggle a camera or worry about dropping in in the ocean. Sleeping under the stars was divine. We set up our bivy sacks in the snow, crawled into our sleeping bags, and settled in for a magical night that I'm sure none of us will ever forget. I didn't want to fall asleep, but all the fresh air and exercise had me slipping off for one of the best sleeps I've had in ages. |
Blog City - Day 3078 Let this quote inspire your writing: “We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” ― Anais Nin I like this quote as it is very true. Tasting life twice. The first time you feel the exhilaration of the time and place. The moment is in its full bloom with all your senses engaged. The second is after you have had a chance to sit with it, mull it over and come back to it with new insights. Both experiences are defined. Those you experience as 'good' have a sweetness to them and memories that are like honey. Those experiences you deem as 'bad' are painful in the moment. Excruciating in their intensity. Time and distance from the situation may bring insights and help you grow as a person. Depending on the intensity, those experiences may take a long time before they are able to be poked or prodded back into memory. Some may even have holes and pockets of lost memory particularly if your mind and body have tried to protect your from excessive harm. But in writing about them you can decide how close and how much you want to delve into their narrative. You may keep your distance and fictionalize them or you may dive in and do some soul searching. Either way, you decide what you can and cannot face and how much you want to share and if you will ever share it. Blogging Circle of Friends - Day 3482 Let this quote inspire your writing “The scariest moment is always just before you start." ― Stephen King I can so relate to this quote. My mind can build a situation up into something so much bigger than it is. I play with possible fallouts. I can work myself up into worrying about things that may not even happen. And that fear has the potential to paralyze me from even taking the first step into starting. If I can break through the fear and step out into the adventure of starting whatever it is, I can find my imagination has generated worries that aren't even a remote possibility. As I move through the process I build my confidence and laugh at myself for being so frightened. Once I have accomplished the thing, I feel the sweetness of having tackled something so grand. The feeling is so addictive you want to move on to try something new. If you keep going in a forward motion you don't have time to dwell on the scary stuff. But if I stop, my system clogs up and I forget that sweetness of fulfillment. I have to fight through the film of fear... and that fear builds with each passing moment as I put off getting started. |
Blog City: Prompt: Eclipse What does the word 'eclipse' mean to you? And what about the darkness in some areas of life where we need to seek clarity and light? So I did venture out today. Ran errands and checked out a new cafe - Stockyards Coffee. I wanted a place where I could see the outside world without having to be gawking at the eclipse. It was funny to see how we all gathered outside to witness the event. It did not get as dark as I had imagined. What you see on the TV screen is so very different as the eclipse itself is highlighted and the sky around it is dark. That did not really happen. The sun still shone, but not quite as boldly. And it was a bit cooler. I found it interesting that it was cloudy this morning, but cleared up in time for the eclipse and now a few of the clouds are hovering back in. It'll be another 120 years before this happens like this in our area again. It happened in 1925 - a total eclipse. Canadian Coverage: Nasa: Now today's blog asks more thought provoking questions. What does 'eclipse' mean to you? What about the darkness in some areas of life where we need to seek clarity and light? I like these questions. I have been reading a lot of books lately that have discussed the idea of loving your whole self - the good parts and the shadowy darker parts. We all have things about ourselves we are not so happy about or want to admit, but they are there. And just because they are darker or shadowy-er does not mean they are not important. We are loved for all our parts and so we need to embrace those parts and bring them into the light. Awareness helps us to heal those parts that have suffered so long in silence. We are the sum of all our parts. All those flaws and foibles make us human. Sharing those parts of ourselves makes us vulnerable. In doing so, we can help others to heal and bring the light into their scary parts. You can't heal what you don't acknowledge. |
Blogging Circle of Friends - Day 3457 March 30, 2024 “But it is a sort of April-weather life that we lead in this world. A little sunshine is generally the prelude to a storm.." ― William Cowper I read this and it resonated with me. How we all tend to live a life like that and we really don't need to. We are actually raised to live like that; a social conditioning that limits us. And most of us are not even aware we have a choice. We can in fact decide not to fall victim to our weather bound tendencies that act like the rollercoaster of the season. How might we do that, you may ask? Those sunny days we are on a high, feeling good and bringing good things to us with our higher frequencies. Then something happens and we let in the negative vibrations and things begin to crumble and the next thing we know we are dealing with turbulent storms. It's exhausting, really. How do we live above this rollercoaster? It has to do with our vibrational frequencies and the fact that like attracts like. Vibrate on a high positive frequency and the world is a beautiful, sunny place. And you will attract those wonderful vibrations to you. Things will be sweet. But vibrate on a low negative frequency and the world becomes stormy. You will attract the gloom and doom. And believe it or not this goes deeper that having a good or bad day, it goes deep within your cells, your make up... your health. I always had this thought that it was the negativity in your life that would eat you alive. I figured my Dad kept all his crap to himself and didn't deal with the painful emotions that were deep in him. Those things ate him alive. He died of cancer at the age of forty-four. My Grandmother, his mother, also had cancer at the same time, but she maintained her faith and stayed more positive. She conquered her cancer and it was not until Alzheimer's tackled her that she lost her faith and her way. She had weathered a lot of storms and always came out on top... until then. Then I got my hands on Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn. Reading her thoughts and ideas made those ideas I had make sense. Though instead of being eaten alive, he was probably attracting more negativity to himself. We are magnetically charged meat suites. We attract what we put out there much like a tuning fork. We vibrate on a frequency that matches with others. Grabhorn's book does an amazing job of explaining why we have war and rape and all those nasty things in our world. It's not God's doing, its ours. We attract it and it is magnified by the social vibrational forces around us. And yes, we can learn to change our frequencies to attract positive things by feeling good. This doesn't mean burying our head in the sand and avoiding things. It means finding something that makes us feel good, increasing our positive higher vibrational frequencies and then taking the steps we need to take from a calm place. It is amazing how the answers will come if you calm down and listen. Acting from a place of calm intention is so much better than rushing in to FIX something with a 'hi ho silver' attitude - the one we have been raised to believe is the way to deal with issues. Taking time to shut up and listen to our small wee voice inside us after we take a moment to think about something that makes us feel good goes a long way to making things better... and avoiding those April storms. It sounds simple. It is challenging to do, but so worth it in the long run. I challenge you to read Grabhorn's book and see for yourself. It can make the world a better place. 627 words.     |
Blog City: DAY 2339 July 22, 2022 “From time to time in the years to come, I hope you will be treated unfairly, so that you will come to know the value of justice. I hope that you will suffer betrayal because that will teach you the importance of loyalty. Sorry to say, but I hope you will be lonely from time to time so that you don’t take friends for granted. Whether I wish these things or not, they’re going to happen. And whether you benefit from them or not will depend upon your ability to see the message in your misfortunes.” ― John Roberts Allow this quote to inspire your post. "See the message in your misfortunes". I like that line. This life is not an easy one. No one lives in a bubble and adulting is challenging, even at the best of times. The thing to remember is that 'this too shall pass'. All things - good and bad, regardless of our perception, will pass on. Nothing stays the same. We grow and change with the times. We are the culmination of what we have been through. Nature may give us our skin colour, eye colour, height and so forth, but nurture passes with us as we move through this life, gathering stories. Nurture colours our perceptions. What keeps me centered is trying to live in the present. The past is past. The future has not yet come, but the present is a gift to enjoy and savour in all its delights. Some may be sour and cause us to pucker up, but others could be sweet. You can't have one without the other... and you can't appreciate the sweet without having experienced the tart, tangy, sour or salty. Life is a buffet. Try a little of everything. |
Blog City: Day 2324 July 6, 2022 Prompt: Life is about collecting memories. Write about this in your Blog entry today. Collecting Memories They say 'Life is what you make it'. A mosaic of memories People, places, events All coiled into your DNA Like a map of your life Each piece a step forward Along a path so uniquely yours Each moment pressing into the foundation Of what makes you tick How you move through this world Is influenced by those bits and pieces Each fuels your passions Makes you who you are I would not change any of them Even the harder challenges and failures Have built the me that I am today My compassion comes from a place with rough edges. My heart connects to those who are experiencing what I did My experience makes me open to their pain and anguish I move into a place of helper or mentor Knowing I can offer guidance I may not have had. I also lean into the compassion and guidance from others As they are there for me. Then I pay it forward. My curiosity is sparked by the psychological impact Of how experiences and memories entwine Each person perceiving the same situation in their own way Each taking from it and making it there own Some people struggle and argue Some people turn hateful Some, like me, are opened by the experience And let their vulnerability Transend time and space and build compassion It does not happen over night. It builds over time. Memories, tempered by time Become who we are And that influences how we interact with this world. It is all about choice and perception Some take a negative path, Others stay positive in the face of adversity. It is all up to you. How will your collected memories colour you? Lines to this point = 43. This piece may need some work, but I like it so far. |
Blogging Circle of Friends: DAY 3421 July 2, 2022 Music: 💙 Carly  mentioned she likes to sing to lift her spirits. What song lifts your spirits? Do you play the song or do you just sing it yourself? I will make up my own words or belt out songs with the radio (in my car or at home). The one song that always used to make me smile... when I was frustrated by my (now ex) husband. You are my Sunshine.... only I changed the words: You are my asshole My only asshole You frustrate me Beyond belief. You are my asshole My only asshole Please go take A flying leap. These words change at times, but the sentiment is there. It got so I could hum it with him in the room and he had no clue what words I was really thinking! But other than that... I am open to an eclectic taste in music. As I have gotten older I tended to listen to Contemporary Christian music.... not the gospel stuff - that stuff is a bit much. The commonality in all these songs... is their lyrics. I love the words, the melody and the harmony.... it just resonates with me and my soul. Here is a sampling: Nichole Nordeman's Brave Lauren Daigle's You Say Laura Story's Blessings This one is a favourite these days: Christina Perri - A thousand Years. You Are The Reason - Leona Lewis & Calum Scott I love this song - Love Me Like You Do - combined with Pride and Prejudice.... I love this movie. |
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I'd need some company after that ghost tour.
