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July 22, 2015 I'm going to start today to record on a daily basis whatever happens to strike my fancy. So, it is a very cool breezy day. I just posted 5 short book reviews to The Monthly Reading Challenge. I'm suppose to put away some winter wood today from the woodpile outside but I'm playing hookey from work to write so starting this blog will get done. I'm having a daily fight with a flock of English Sparrows that are trying to take over my barn. They are making a terrible mess so they have to go. I have destroyed several nests so far they don't leave but they get out of the barn when I am around. I'm just starting the fight so I guess I don't know how far I have to go to discourage them. I'm trying not to spread myself to thin on WDC because I find so many things that are interesting here and I am trying to work on a new story. I really enjoy sitting at my desk with a cup of tea and reading blogs on WDC. |
Do a bit of research on your Zodiac Sign. What are the associated characteristics of people with your sign and how do you exhibit those characteristics? Aquarius is a miscellaneous set of stars all at different distances from us, which have no connection with each other except that they constitute a (meaningless) pattern when seen from a certain (not particularly special) place in the galaxy (here). Richard Dawkins Quote from:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarius_(astrology) "Constellation: Aquarius is a winter constellation in the northern hemisphere, found near Pisces and Cetus. It is especially notable as the radiant for four meteor showers, the largest of which is the Delta Aquarid meteor shower in late July and early August." http://www.gods-and-monsters.com/aquarius-myth.html The link will take you to the Aquarius Myth. It interests me that the payment for Ganymede to his father was, " a herd of the finest horses in the land". I understand some things about astronomy. But, astrology as an influence on someones life makes me want to disassociate. However, I cannot dispute that personalities can be astonishingly accurately described by those who follow astrology. Some words to describe Aquarius: Independent: I can link this one with stubborn since I follow a path of my own which always seems to be against the flow of a course others would have me follow. Extremest: Absolutely, I can never figure out why people don't try harder to be absolutely honest in the face of adversity. Stubborn: I just like to do things my own way. Detached: I say things that are true even though I often don't realize how it will affect others. Plus, I tell things as facts not as I am angry about it. It's the way people are. I like to figure out the why behind the action. The explanation clarifies the situation. I'm not usually very tied to problems because I have already put the solution into movement or just moved on to another problem solving initiative. loyal: I see the problems others face even when individually I know people make a lot of their own troubles. I know a lack of knowledge means and inability to see the quicksand before people step into it and sink. friendly: I try Humanitarian: If I could figure out how to stop wars and destruction, and start planting and growing food and making the world better I would be doing it. Intelligent: I like to think so. Aloof: Often keep to myself when I could be out there mingling. I don't believe in the word shy. Unpredictable: Can you figure out why I often do something that is not expected? As for water--one of my favorite Humanitarian efforts are the people drilling water wells in Africa and other countries. Humans are 98 per cent water. There are seven oceans. I live near the great lakes. When I was studying Biogeography we did a lot of class discussions about the book we were reading (The Song of the Dodo by David Quammen) and about historical myths. Like did dragons really exist at a time when man was on the earth or was there a large bird that breathed fire, etc.? Astrology myths may have a basis in biology that we don't recognize? As for the birthstone for this birthday. I have owned two different pairs of garnet earrings and a garnet ring at one time or another in my life. All of them were stolen.  ![Merit Badge in The Monthly Reading Challenge
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Congratulations on finishing [Link to Forum Post #3207655] for September 2018 *^*Delight*^**^*Bookopen*^*!
~Minja](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-The_Monthly_Reading_Challenge-1945677_12.gif) Research It?apondia#1781748 |
I have a stressful day at work today ... What strategies do you use to manage stress in your life?  “We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.” ― David Mamet, Boston Marriage https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/stress Occasional screaming helps! One time a long ago I caught myself screaming at the children. I opted to never scream at them again. After I achieved this new habit, I over heard one of my sons saying to the others, "I liked it better when she was screaming at us."  Proof that you just can't satisfy everyone.Music, I believe that music can stop most problems if you play the kind of music that soothes your soul.  Mindfulness helps keep people organized and therefore less stress. It can help solve stressful situations if you stop and meditate for a few moments. There is a free app called Calm advertised on TV. I put it on my kindle. It is fun and soothing.  Sometimes I picture a meadow full of wild flowers. It's better than watching the news.  One of my cats responds with a cuddle and loud purring on stressful days. She seems to know when things aren't going well.   A long dog walk on a sunny day is nice but we have only had a few sunny days in the last two months. My dog likes to play fetch in the living room so he keeps me laughing at his antics.I think it takes fore sight and a combination of strategies to conquer stress. Just remember, "Stress can't kill anyone it's the fear of stress that damages health." Plus, give your body a break, eat and drink healthy sustenance.  } Live, it's the best kind of revenge on all the pushy problems humans encounter on a daily basis. ![Merit Badge in Golden Reader Award
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Congratulations on finishing your [Link To Item #2174465] for 2018 *^*Bookopen*^*!
~Minja](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-Golden_Reader_Award-1945677_14.gif) apondia#1781748 |
| By Apondia Where in the world would you like to visit the most? Assume you are not worried about money in any way. While you're traveling, give me a status update on January so far. Smooth sailing, or turbulence? is prepped to reward another contestant with a MB today! *Plane*{/center}  “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. ... https://www.keepinspiring.me/24-quotes-about-travel-to-inspire-your-next-vacatio... The moving between one place and another can be a trial. I like to travel back-roads even when I'm shopping so I can see other homes and parks. I don't travel because I have made a choice to give homes to pets. If I owned a camper, I would load them all in an go to campgrounds. Places with walking and bicycle trails would appeal to me. If I could find a responsible person to stay with them and could afford travel I would tour public libraries in the UK. Especially the Bodleian because it has been featured in lots of fantasy stories I've read. Hawaii, Seattle, and some islands on the West Coast and Israel would be considered. Canada has a train ride across the continent that I would enjoy. There are some combination train and cruise vacations combining Canada and Alaska site seeing. Yep, a lot of wilderness involved. January So Far? Cold. Blogging is inspiring me because I am actually completing the blogs. My reading has slowed down because we found some TV shows we have never seen on a different channel so we watch more. As, a rule I turn the TV off most of the time. I am not a fan of local news because most of it is about Erie and I don't go there more than once or twice a year. Some of the blogs we are writing close to subjects I have completed before so I'm looking for ways to introduce new material about old subjects. researching subjects is always looking for new views is interesting. I hope this is what you want concerning January. ![Merit Badge in Courage
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Congratulations on an honorable mention in WDC Scavenger Hunt 2011! Attached is your GP prize. Thank you for your participation. *^*Smile*^*
Wishing you all the best in future endeavors!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Courage.gif) Travel Onward With Words |
“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” -Ernest Hemingway What are your thoughts on this quote by a writer many consider a master? Who are some other writers you admire or consider masters? I think in this circumstance the word master means to have complete knowledge or understanding of an art or ability. Such as using the written word.Hemingway had a life filled with movement. His father taught him to fish and hunt. He worked as a journalist. In the war he drove an ambulance and delivered chocolate to soldiers on the front lines. He was wounded by a nearby exploding bomb and by the first girl he wanted to marry, She married someone else. Later in life he found love and married. One of his first jobs was as a cub reporter and later in life he worked as a journalist. There are lots of stories about his life and how he wrote his books. He offered writing advice to others and studies of writings aided his advancement as an author. In the end, he spent time in the mayo clinic. He was subjected to shock therapy for depression. In and out of the clinic more than one time he eventually evaded efforts to watch over him and shot himself. In life and colleges he is lauded as a professional with amazing talent in the craft of story writing. In his own thoughts, he did not recognize himself as a master of the ability to write. One of the things he seemed to recognize about any art or craft is that there is always something else, no matter how small, to learn. Producing imagery with words is an intricate craft. Perhaps some days a writer feels successful and other days they don't feel successful. People who have amazing life experiences and end up talented enough to write are often introverted. The actions they portray and the contacts they have in society can be misunderstood. Social interaction can be extraordinarily complicated and dismaying. While he was alive he was often portrayed in bad publicity. Quotes: “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.by Terry Pratchett” “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”Louis L’Amour https://writingcooperative.com/18-motivational-quotes-to-bring-out-the-writer-in... “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” ― Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/writing I always loved Louisa May Alcott's story telling ability. a more modern author that I appreciate is Laurie R. King because she can take you into the life of today or yesterday and make you watch someone else for a change. Marcus J. Boro for his ability to look at and express reality to the reader. The last several years I have read about 55 to 60 books a year in fiction and nonfiction. There are so many good authors out there now. ![Merit Badge in Blog Camping
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Thank you for joining me on another August adventure. Hope you join me for the book signing tour next August. *^*Heart*^*](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-Blog_Camping-1788309_13.gif) Today I read online that "people have a finite ability to remember". It's a Sunshiny Day. See Ya! |
Open your local paper or browse online for a news story headline that grabs your attention and share it with us. Try to venture outside your comfort zone and read a story you wouldn’t normally read or even one from another country!  Unrest Continues as Poland's Government Moves Further to the RightThere has been a wave of demonstrations since the election of Poland's right-wing government in response to its increasing attacks on individual rights. Byline Flora Bagenal Jun 1, 2018 This is a story from Pacific Standard a supporter of independent Journalism. The New York Times posted this story headline this morning, In a Divided Poland, Pope John Paul 11 is Claimed by All Sides. Byline Marc Santora https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_evolution_of_Poland I started out reading a story about unrest in Poland that was posted in the New York Times. Than I was intrigued to read about the divisions of Poland that were mentioned in the story.Poland is divided into sections that are responsible for laws and living conditions. Poland is a country that is broken into different parts. Women there are protesting extreme abortion laws. The government is passing laws which limit personal rights. Poland is approximately 85.8 per cent catholic. It is a member of the European Union, NATO, and the Organization for Economic co-operation and Development. Lithuania politics continue to contain corruption as Headlined by their media. https://www.borgenmagazine.com/many-democratic-nations/https:/ There are currently 123 democracies in the world of all 192 countries I found this video at Freedom House.org Many signs show people in different countries are fighting to hold back governments that are seeking to curtail the personal rights of individual. It seems to have been building since 2017. In the USA one of the signs is the constant use of psychological pressures to conform to political influence. I tried without success to find out how to draw all the information I found together and aim it in one direction. I guess the direction just indicates the USA is not the only one fighting to keep our freedoms without entering into a bias war. More voices being raised everyday. See Ya! apondia#1781748 |
Besides the craft of writing, are you an artist in any other medium? Sculptor, singer, dancer, painter? Share a story about your talent! Aaaannnnd... I’ll be awarding another MB this Creation Saturday  “Everyone has talent. What's rare is the courage to follow it to the dark places where it leads.” ― Erica Jong There are a lot of different definitions for the word artist. I like this one that I found in Google:a person skilled at a particular task or occupation. "a surgeon who is an artist with the scalpel" synonyms: expert, master, maestro, past master, adept, virtuoso, genius, old hand, skilled person; https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1&q=define+the+word+artist I've taken classes in a lot of different subjects. I graduated from a School of Journalism at Edinboro State College of Pennsylvania. I took lessons for several years in riding showing, and training horses and helped teach at a stable. I took lessons when I was in my 20's in Dog Grooming and took a kennel course which contained dog training. I raised sheep and dairy goats for eight years and my children were in Pennsylvania Dairy Goat 4-H. Any 4-H is a learning environment. I took an accredited course in Veterinary assistance which had a lot of animal biology which by-the-way is kin to Human biology. In college, I took courses in human anatomy, zoology, beginning environmental biology, health, excel, word, and computer savvy, and bio-geography and photography. Plus, some writing courses other than journalism. I attended a Christian college for a year and took classes in Bible and music theory and Guitar. I took one on one Guitar lessons for another year. At the end of 2018. I took two short classes in Herbal medicines and how to make herbal teas, tinctures, and salves. I also took a short class in plant Identification as it pertained to herbs in the wild. I have taken two classes on  One was a writing class which I used to write short stories and one in beginning poetry. I'm not a poet but it was fun and I learned a lot. Also took the class in reviewing. I think New Horizons Academy is a very good place to learn.When I was raising children I learned to crochet and knit. I made mittens,gloves,and hats to keep everyone's hands and heads warm. Experience wise I taught cub scouts, bible school, after school children's recreation at a church, groomed dogs for years in Texas, trained horses, taught riding, sang in choirs, and helped run a dinner at thanksgiving for people who did not have families to go to. Worked in a shop making furniture and worked in a Donut shop for awhile making donuts and running the counter and cash register. I think I'm an artist at learning things. Just stop and take an assessment of what you will know when you are 60, or 70, or 80. Then think about your Doctors and advisors being 30 years younger than you are. I can see why older people get disgusted with young people now and then. Mostly, I like to look at what younger are experiencing at this age and what the world was like when I was 20 or 30. I read a lot of history and so I see that often history repeats itself in cycles. Life is surely interesting. Now I'm rambling so Bye, Bye. ![Merit Badge in New Horizons Academy
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Congratulations on winning Second Place for your entry to the September third round of the WdC Birthday Celebration Reviewing Event .](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-New_Horizons_Academy-1450269_9.gif) apondia#1781748 |
Tell us the story of your name. How and why was it chosen? You can choose to talk about your real name, your WDC username, or even your handle if you like! “Funny, isn't it? We hear the same name and while they see dark, I see light.”― Nadia Hashimi, The Pearl That Broke Its Shell https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/baby-names My mother died when I was 6 so I don't have too many personal experience memories. One thing I remember is her bending over me on a sofa and telling me that my brother picked my first name because he had a girl friend by that name. He is 5 years older than me. So, I guess he was 5 at the time. She also told me that he taught me to color. One day, I was writing an article, about winter tadpoles in the natural pond on our property. This was sometime when I was choosing a name to use on . I used, A Pond and fastened IA on the end and became APONDIA. I just liked the sound of the word. Now, I use it when I am playing kindle games too. I like to name pets. I'm always disgusted when I here a dog or cat is called SAM or George or some other common human name. We have a pony named Sprinkle after the sprinkles on cookies or cupcakes. I prefer exotic names. I had a thoroughbred named Power Hustler. He had a special little jump and twist when you first mounted that put his previous owner on crutches for a while. I owned a quarter horse, whose registered name was Tweet Hornet. When I was a child, our family dog was Rags and later my own young family had a dog named Happy. We had a Great Dane named Porky and a Saint Bernard who was very large named Avalanche. If he sat on you, you would be squashed. Naming things is kind of an interesting thing to do. When we were farming we called the farm Pallet Place because pallets were cheap and we used them for fencing to keep the animals home. Now the pallets are all down and burned leaving a large lawn and lots of time on a mower in the summer. Today, that yard has 2 to 3 feet of snow. All white. Very cold. Sunshine today. Birds flooding the feeders. See Ya! |
If you were a fighter pilot in the Navy or Air Force, what would be your Call Sign? I decided to fly through the air and live in the sunlight and enjoy life as much as I could. Evel Knievel Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/flyA Call Sign is a unique designation given to a pilot in a naming ceremony. The pilot does not necessarily have any input about what sign they get. The naming is usually influenced by some kind of problem the pilot experienced as he was training for the job. What you may see on the movie screen was most likely one of those fictional ideas dreamed up by the writer of the script. Since I'm not very tall, I could be flying under the name Flying Shorty. ![Merit Badge in Consistent
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Congratulations on finishing your [Link To Item #monthlyreading] goals for August 2018 *^*Bookopen*^*!
~Minja](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Consistent.gif) apondia#1781748 apondia#1781748 |
Tell us about the pet you had for the longest amount of time or the one that made the most significant impact on you. If you have never had a pet (I’m sorry), what pet would you want? She was not quite what you would call refined. She was not quite what you would call unrefined. She was the kind of person that keeps a parrot. Mark TwainRead more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/parrot I've written before in my blog about the parrot that was being harassed in a store. When I could not get the clerk to stop the little boy who was harassing the parrot I bought it and took it home. That was in the 1973. I had kept parakeets before and always thought I would like to have a parrot. Never buy a parrot unless you: 1. Want a pet that will be with you for life. My parrot is 46 years old. Actually, she is older than that because I've owned her 46 years. I think she could have been 1 to 2 years old when I bought her. 2. No something about the kind of parrot you want. My parrot is a female, lilac crowned, Amazon. 3. Are prepared to be laughed at on a regular basis. I did not know much when I bought this bird. Parrots and parakeets are similar and different. I bought a book so I could feed it right and train it. Don't believe the book when it says they can't survive low temperatures. When heat failed in our house I put the bird with her cage wrapped in a towel in a part of the room without drafts. When I could not find regular parrot food or afford it I fed her field corn off the cob from the barn and popcorn and snacks from the kitchen. Lilac crowned parrots are well known for their irascible temperament. Besides being cranky, snappish and other types of I bite. She was harassed by different people who were hoping I would be her target at some point. She started out in a small cage, which I saved money and put her in a larger cage as soon as I could. Then in 2005, There was a lot of parrot fairs going on because of several bird clubs had sprung up in the area. I found a deluxe large cage which she moved into with enthusiasm. She doesn't bite me. She talks. She likes to watch cartoons and she loves music. She laughs at things I do. More than one cat has learned to keep paws to themselves when the cat thought it would just stick a paw in the cage. Sometimes, I have clipped her wings but, as a rule, I never do. It just isn't necessary. She was imported from Mexico and came with a shot record. Now, Lilac Crowned Parrots are protected in Mexico. It is no longer necessary to import them, because the bird enthusiasts of USA have learned how to hatch out birds for the pet trade. Many parrots that you see in homes are so much a part of the family they morn their owners when they lose them. Also, they were hatched in cages. They live longer in captivity than they would in the wild. Unfortunately, the pet trade has probably put a lot of birds out there that should not have been sold. People who did not understand the commitment bought birds, then would not keep them, when they found out the work and length of life involved in a pet bird. So, places sprang up to take in the unwanted birds. Taking in a second hand bird can be a problem because they learn bad habits and bad words. Pet birds are extremely loving. They like jokes and understand more than people often give them credit for. I do wonder what will happen if I die first. But, we have been together a lot of years. A health worker came into my home one time and told me I should get rid of all my pets. That was about 10 years ago. Why should I stop living because I am older than a health care worker? I've put a lot of learning effort into giving my pets and myself a healthy and happy life. I will be here as long as I am here and so will my pets. Don't ask me to be you. I'm me. I like me. I like you. Our differences are interesting. If you have lived with a human for 47 years would you kick them out, because you are getting older? I suppose that has happened too? Oh Well. The neighbors were shooting a gun in a blizzard this morning. I hope they knew to wipe the melted snow off the barrel before it rusted.   Yesterday's thunder storms turned into today's snowy blizzard. There was a squirrel in the bird feeder outside my window but, the dove ran it out. Now the birds are swarming the feeder. See Ya ! |
How is your online persona different from your real world persona? How much attention do you pay to your personal privacy when communicating with others online? “We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship.”― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory Actually, I'm pretty sure I'm in the real world. For instance, I'm willing to discuss my blog face to face with anyone as long as they are straight forward about talking to me. Most people I know say they have friends that can tell them anything they want to know about anyone. If I really wanted to know things about someone I would ask them and tell them why I was asking. When I worked in a donut shop in 1995 there was a lot of turnover of help. The people who did the hiring would go to employees and ask them what they knew about people who were putting in applications. This was not face to face talk with the applicant. Nepotism (the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.) for hiring is constant. Because of this, jobs have become scarce. Once people have their friends and relatives inside of any place of employment they can make and break the employer by their actions for or against the company. Because of this I don't have much real personal privacy. As you know, I believe the ability to get and give information over the internet is important. I believe in education of the public. Home schooling started because some people began to realize that not all students are properly educated in our public school systems. I'm speaking of the USA now. A couple years ago a brotherhood in Europe was convicted of harassing the public in one country. When some of the members were arrested and incarcerated other members fled the country. Which country let them in according to a media account? The USA. On the other side of the story. People have to band together to get justice in many cases. Organized people bring about good things as well as bad. It's just a matter of what the subject is and how it is being handled. I try to live as if I'm not being watched daily and ignore the hang up telephone calls that come in on a regular basis. I'm sure if I knew as much about my neighbors as they think they know about me it would level the playing field. I have more I could say about privacy but, we are having thunder storms and one is hitting right now. I need to post if I still can before I lose the WiFi. Happy Trails. Reference: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/privacy https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1&q=Nepotism+definition apondia#1781748 |
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